Chapter 106
Jaseong became puzzled due to Poison Valley not revealing themselves.
He hid himself in a corner of the black market and activated Seeking Light in the Darkness.
Suaa—
The energy all around was revealed in an intricate web.
Beyond the thunderous sounds of blades and fists clashing, the flow of each person's breath and internal power was detected one by one.
However, as soon as Jaseong activated Seeking Light in the Darkness,
Shiiik— Shiiik—
A chilling friction sound, as if thousands of strands of silk were scraping the floor, echoed around.
'... Speak of the devil and he shall come.'
Next, a strange flute sound pierced the air.
Ddiririri— Ddiririri—
The flute had a bewildering effect on the mind as its sound filled the air.
With it, countless snakes began slithering out from every crack and hole in the ground.
Shiiik! Shiiik! Shiiik! Shiiik! Shiiik! Shiiik!
From massive snakes spanning several yards to ones barely five inches long, red ones, black ones, patterned and unpatterned—truly every imaginable venomous snake was flooding out like a black river.
[Leader. It's that woman from before.]
Gu Janghu sent a quick sound transmission. Jaseong also spotted her.
A woman descended the central stairs of the black market.
She was the successor of Poison Valley and possessed a body immune to all poisons—Dokgo Yeon.
Her bloodless, pale face and waist-length jet-black hair gave her a complexion as white as Lee Rin's, but her aura was completely different.
If Lee Rin, the young mistress of the North Sea Ice Palace, had the healthy, frosty whiteness of a winter morning, Dokgo Yeon resembled the eerie moonlight of someone who had risen from a grave.
With her and the arrival of the Thousand Snake Formation, even Kang Ryong and Heuk Muguk, who had been locked in battle, froze in their tracks.
'Is that... the Thousand Snake Formation only the successor of Poison Valley can use...? But I've never seen that woman before. Was there ever a female successor in Poison Valley?'
Heuk Muguk and Kang Ryong watched Dokgo Yeon warily.
Yet, Dokgo Yeon, who had appeared so suddenly, showed no hostility for some reason.
Instead, she spoke surprisingly with lips blue as ice.
"You have both worked quite hard."
Dokgo Yeon stopped in front of Kang Ryong and Heuk Muguk as she spoke. At her words, Heuk Muguk asked,
"Who are you? Those snakes look like Poison Valley's Thousand Snake Formation...."
"You're the Black Star Sect's head disciple, the great hero Heuk Muguk, aren't you? I am Dokgo Yeon, daughter of Poison Valley."
"... Dokgo Yeon? That's a name I haven't heard before."
"I've only just announced myself to the martial world, so that's understandable. But—are you two going to keep fighting?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"You haven't heard that the Blood Cult has already seized control inside the Tianxia Association?"
At that, the faces of Kang Ryong and Heuk Muguk changed subtly. Watching them, Dokgo Yeon flashed an icy smile.
"If we keep fighting amongst ourselves here, we'll only wear ourselves down and be destroyed. And who stands to gain? The Blood Cult scum will just stride over our corpses with a smile."
At Dokgo Yeon's words, Kang Ryong frowned.
"Stop going in circles and get to the point."
"It's a simple proposal."
Dokgo Yeon walked forward at an unhurried pace. Snakes slithered behind her, tracing winding S-shaped patterns along her path.
"From now, let's form an alliance between the three sects."
"An alliance?"
"The three of us will join forces to deal with the Blood Cult within the Tianxia Association, and then share the rewards afterward. The brothels and black markets managed by the Tianxia Association are vast; there should be more than enough for us three to divide."
At her proposal, Heuk Muguk and Kang Ryong fell quiet, each watching the other for any hints.
It was a shrewd suggestion.
If the three unorthodox sects fought a three-way battle here, no one could predict the outcome.
Besides, if the Blood Cult already had the upper hand in the Tianxia Association, they could ill afford to waste their strength in such a fight.
In other words, they were all forced to accept Dokgo Yeon's proposal.
However, for Jaseong's group, this was an unfavorable development.
[Great hero, things have gotten odd since that woman appeared.]
Lee Rin frowned and sent a sound transmission to Jaseong.
Originally, they planned to let Kang Ryong and Heuk Muguk wear each other out and then swoop in for an easy victory.
But if the Twin Dragon Clan, Black Star Sect, and Poison Valley joined forces, everything would change. Jaseong's group wouldn't have the strength to stop them.
[Now what do we do, leader?]
Gu Janghu asked through sound transmission.
He held a short sword warily, just in case the snakes from the Thousand Snake Formation approached.
Jaseong pondered for a moment. Soon, he reached a conclusion.
"We'll have to break that alliance before it is established."
"Huh? How?"
Jaseong's solution was surprisingly simple.
* * *
Soon after, Kang Ryong and Heuk Muguk accepted Dokgo Yeon's alliance proposal.
"Hmph! I don't like it, but it does make sense."
"Fine. Let's take care of the Blood Cult scum first."
Dokgo Yeon grinned inwardly.
'What naive fools. They accepted my alliance proposal as if it were genuine.'
In truth, contrary to her words, Dokgo Yeon had no intention of sharing rewards.
If the Association Leader of the Tianxia Association held the Evil Path Association Leader's seal, how could that be split three ways?
For Dokgo Yeon, the alliance would last only until the Blood Cult was dealt with.
Once the Blood Cult inside the Tianxia Association was eliminated, she had no use for the Black Star Sect or the Twin Dragon Clan.
'The moment they outlive their usefulness, I'll use the Ten-Thousand Death Soul Powder. Then, Heuk Muguk and Kang Ryong alike will dissolve into nothing in the Poison Mist.'
The secret Poison Valley weapon, Ten-Thousand Death Soul Powder, could poison every living being within a radius of thirty yards once released.
Not even a supreme expert could survive its grasp.
Unaware of Dokgo Yeon's dark intentions, Heuk Muguk found himself lost in irrelevant thoughts.
'The more I look, the more stunning she is... How can such a beauty come from the face of Poison Valley's monstrous head...'
Heuk Muguk's eyes slyly swept over Dokgo Yeon's figure. His lecherous nature surfaced even now.
By contrast, Kang Ryong had no thoughts but the fight.
"My blood was just getting up, and now the mood's been spoiled."
Kang Ryong muttered, disgruntled.
Honestly, if his strategists from the Twin Dragon Clan hadn't sent him a sound transmission recommending the alliance, he would have kept fighting Heuk Muguk.
"Now then, shall we discuss a concrete plan to eliminate the Blood Cult inside the Tianxia Association?"
"Got any good ideas?"
"First, we'll torture a few of the higher-ups here..."
But just as Dokgo Yeon continued her sentence,
Kwaang!!
A man burst into the chaotic black market with a thunderous crash.
He broke down a wall in a single blow and sent a Twin Dragon Clan fighter flying.
He was dressed in a black dragon robe, his face hidden by a mask.
"T-the Association Leader has arrived!"
All the surviving Tianxia Association officials and black market merchants at once cupped their fists in salute.
"Greetings, Association Leader!"
"Greetings, Association Leader!"
At that cry, the gazes of Kang Ryong, Heuk Muguk, and Dokgo Yeon all flashed at once.
The person they had searched so long for had suddenly appeared before them.
'Is that Gun Hanmaek, Association Leader of the Tianxia Association?'
'Just when I was getting bored, a prey shows up. Hehehe.'
'Something's fishy. Why would the Tianxia Association's leader show up so suddenly...'
Dokgo Yeon's suspicion was sharp. In truth, the man who appeared wasn't the real Association Leader Gun Hanmaek, but Jaseong.
There was a simple reason he donned a black dragon robe to pose as the Association Leader.
'... This is how I'll break the alliance of Black Star Sect, Poison Valley, and Twin Dragon Clan.'
At that moment, Heuk Muguk drew his sword with a shing!
"So you are the famed Association Leader of the Tianxia Association, Gun Hanmaek. Where are your subordinates—why are you alone?"
Just as Heuk Muguk said, there was no one around Jaseong, disguised as the Association Leader.
"Don't tell me he came alone? Facing this many enemies?"
Instead of answering, Jaseong looked at the Black Star Sect, Poison Valley, and Twin Dragon Clan martial artists surrounding him.
And then, he spoke words that shocked everyone's ears.
"What a flock of small fry you've gathered."
"... What? Small fry? Is that what you call us?"
"You swarmed here because none of you were confident in your own strength."
"......!"
"If you're so confident, come face me in a fair one-on-one. Whoever defeats me in single combat, I'll hand over the Tianxia Association Leadership. As per the laws of the Dark Path."
At Jaseong's bold declaration, the experts surrounding him could hardly believe their ears.
There were rumors that the Association Leader was powerful, but here stood two figures rumored to be the next leaders of the unorthodox sects.
Namely Heuk Muguk and Kang Ryong. On top of that, the successor to Poison Valley was here too.
And yet he showed such confidence.
"Unbelievably arrogant. To spout such nonsense in front of me, the heir of Sword Demon..."
Heuk Muguk gripped his sword, radiating murderous intent. Conversely, Kang Ryong's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Kehaha! You've got guts. Not bad for the king of the pleasure district!"
Heuk Muguk and Kang Ryong, burning with the desire to win, looked about ready to attack Jaseong at any moment.
In contrast, Dokgo Yeon kept a cool head.
"Wait. Do we look like fools to you? Why should we fight you one-on-one when we have the numbers advantage?"
She made a pointed argument, but Jaseong was unconcerned.
"Scared?"
Just two syllables, but the impact was tremendous.
"... What did you say?"
For the first time, Dokgo Yeon's pale cheeks flushed red.
A dangerous ferocity flickered in her eyes.
"How dare you say the successor of Poison Valley is scared. What nonsense!"
At that moment, Kang Ryong stepped forward.
"Step aside, Poison Valley. No more words. Like he says, I'll settle it one-on-one."
Almost instantly, Heuk Muguk stepped forward too.
"You step aside, Kang Ryong. That arrogant one is my prey."
"Heuk Muguk, I'll kill you slowly after I deal with him. For now, back off."
"Hold on. Have you all forgotten the alliance just made?"
"Kukuku. What's the point of an alliance, Poison Valley? The Tianxia Association Leader has walked right into our hands."
"Kang Ryong!"
Moments ago, Black Star Sect, Poison Valley, and Twin Dragon Clan had sealed an alliance—but now, things were suddenly falling apart.
Watching this, Jaseong smirked to himself. Everything was going exactly as he planned.
With a delicious prize right in front of them that no one wanted to share, how could the unorthodox sects maintain their alliance?
'With this, phase one is complete.'
Jaseong had shattered the alliance of the three unorthodox sects in an instant, showcasing his resourcefulness. And he wasn't done yet.
Shuaaak!
Suddenly, Jaseong unleashed the Shadowless Body Technique and leapt into the air.
Thanks to rigorous training, he had attained the fourth level—True Shadowless Body—making him appear to vanish at incredible speeds.
'That's an amazing movement skill! Did the Tianxia Association Leader have such a technique?'
Heuk Muguk, astonished by Jaseong's footwork, grew even more determined to give chase.
His own speed was remarkable too, thanks to Black Star Sect's secret movement technique: Black Star Flowing Shadow Steps.
Kang Ryong was no less formidable.
"Kehaha! I, Kang Ryong, will bring you down!"
Kwakung! Kwakung!
Kang Ryong's huge frame stomped the ground as he leapt after him.
The Twin Dragon Clan's Dragon Soaring Heaven Step was unrivaled for explosive speed.
"Tch! Such simple idiots...!"
With things turning out this way, Dokgo Yeon had no choice but to give chase as well.
Her movement was as smooth as a snake's glide.
It was Poison Valley's secret movement skill: Serpentine Shadowless Steps.
It was especially useful for pursuit in dense, forest-like environments.
Because these three rising stars' movement techniques were so extraordinary, their subordinates naturally fell behind.
[Young master! Don't go too far ahead!]
The Twin Dragon Clan's martial artists sent a sound transmission to Kang Ryong.
[Miss! If you race off like that, the snakes from the Thousand Snake Formation can't keep up!]
Poison Valley's guardians also cried out anxiously.
Still, the three rising stars could not slow down. Their eyes already burned with competitive fire.
'I can't let him escape!'
Heuk Muguk's sword gleamed in the moonlight.
'The head of the Tianxia Association is mine!'
Kang Ryong's wild laughter grew louder.
'The Evil Path Association Leader's seal must be with him. Poison Valley must have it!'
Dokgo Yeon pulled out the Ten-Thousand Death Soul Powder from her robes.
All three, wary of one another, nevertheless gave it their all to keep Jaseong in sight.
Seeing this, Jaseong accelerated even more, leading them into a canyon.