Broken white marble and golden soil were mixed on the floor. Three silver lines crossed over them, drawing indescribable patterns on the ground. It was not easy to explain the beauty of three throwing knives flying towards Chung Myung, each with different speeds and power.
One approached directly, while the other two revolved around.
The rotating ones were much faster than the one moving in a straight line. So, by the time these three knives reached Chung Myung, it was almost simultaneously...
'No!'
Paaah!
Chung Myung swung his Dark Plussom Blade like lightning, striking down the two knives approaching from the sides.
Claaaang!
Quaaaaaang!
At the moment of impact between the sword and the knife, a tremendous shockwave swept the surroundings. The ground shook as if in an earthquake, and the earth shot up backwards.
Paaah!
However, even amidst this massive shock, Chung Myung remained unshaken, extending his sword forward without wavering. The tip of his sword rushed towards the throwing knife in a flash.
Then, in an instant...
Clang!
The throwing knife, which was flying in a straight line, altered its direction just before touching Chung Myung's sword and shot upwards. It was like a snake coiling to strike its prey.
"Ah!"
"Look...!"
A mixed cry of astonishment and screams escaped from the mouths of the Mount Hua disciples who were nervously watching the battle, hands full of sweat.
The knife swung horizontally and was about to pierce Chung Myung's face at any moment.
However, the target was Chung Myung.
It was a moment that would make anyone panic, but Chung Myung's reaction was surprisingly quick. Almost simultaneously with the change in the knife's direction, his head tilted back sharply.
Swish!
The knife brushed past Chung Myung's face.
"He dodged...!"
And at that moment, Baek Cheon witnessed it.
Whirl.
The throwing knife that had narrowly passed Chung Myung's face changed direction again in mid-air.
"What...!"
Even Baek Cheon, who was known to be unshakable, couldn't help but be astonished. Even Chung Myung himself seemed startled, widening his eyes.
Whirr!
Moreover, with the change in direction near his face, there was no room to evade.
Kaka!
However, Chung Myung had something faster than his body. His sword was suddenly back in his hand, blocking the path of the knife.
Screeeeeech! Screeeeeech!
The knife, despite being blocked by the sword, did not lose its force. It seemed as if it intended to pierce through the sword.
Then!
Screeeeeech!
In no time, the knife, having twisted to the side, barely missed Chung Myung's face and went past.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
The moment the knife hit the ground, it flipped it upside down, creating a massive upheaval.
"...."
Chung Myung slowly turned his gaze to the completely shattered ground. It started with faint red lines appearing on his cheek, then gradually became more distinct.
Drip.
A clear wound was engraved on his cheek, and red blood began to flow.
"...This guy?"
Chung Myung gritted his teeth and turned to glare at Tang Gunak.
"...Are you really trying to kill me?"
Jo Gol frowned.
Initially, throwing knives were weapons that couldn't be easily retrieved once they were thrown. In other words, unlike a sword, when throwing knives penetrated someone's heart, they couldn't be stopped.
That's why those who use throwing knife techniques or memorization techniques in martial arts must be very considerate of the opponent's situation when they use it before the fight turns into a life-or-death situation.
However, the knife that Tang Gunak just released showed no signs of consideration for his opponent. On the contrary, it seemed filled with a firm determination to take the opponent's life.
"If it wasn't Chung Myung, he would have died for sure."
After dodging it once, the throwing blade changes direction right in front of your face and flies towards you again? If Jo Gol had been in the same situation, he wouldn't have even thought about dealing with it properly.
You can handle it if you know it, but if you don't know it, you have no choice but to face it. Don't people call such attacks "killing moves"?
In other words, Tang Gunak is unleashing a 'killing move' right from the start. This is something that should never happen.
"Sasuk."
"Just watch."
But Baek Cheon, who had regained his composure, spoke as if it was no big deal.
"...But...!"
"Using a 'killing move' doesn't necessarily mean he intends to kill the opponent. As long as there is one guarantee, you can use it no matter what."
"Guarantee?"
"..."
At that, Jo Gul remained silent.
Baek Cheon took a deep breath, alternating his gaze between Tang Gunak and Chung Myung.
'Incredible trust.'
He had observed Chung Myung's seemingly impossible growth with his own eyes as he trained them. That was why he harbored no doubt about Chung Myung's strength.
But how could Tang Gunak be so certain?
If he didn't have the unwavering belief that Chung Myung had become stronger, even more so than he'd thought... he wouldn't have initiated a 'killing move' right from the start.
Then, a quiet voice emerged.
"I'm glad."
"Huh?"
Baek Cheon glanced at Yoo Iseol for a moment.
Always inscrutable, it was hard to know what she was thinking. Her gaze was fixed on the two in front, and she muttered lightly.
"There won't be any disappointment."
Upon hearing these words, a faint smile crept onto Baek Cheon's lips.
"That's for sure."
He looked at Chung Myung, who was lightly wiping the blood off his cheek.
"I guarantee you, we can't stop that crazy guy with just this much."
His voice was filled with confidence and trust.
But at that moment, a bewildering voice echoed in his ears.
"Poison?"
"..."
"Dooook? No way, did that guy use poison in martial arts? Ugh! I'm going crazy! Ack ack!"
"..."
Chung Myung grabbed his head and staggered. Baek Cheon's complexion paled slightly. Jo Gol and Yun Jong, with their round faces, turned to look at him in such a state.
"Are you that confident?"
"..."
"He's shed blood plenty of times being so confident... but still being so reckless..."
"..."
Baek Cheon just looked up at the distant sky without saying a word.
Tchiik.
As the blood dripped from his fingertips and hit the solid blue stones, white steam rose. The poison mixed with the blood was unreasonably potent.
Chung Myung glared at Tang Gunak with astonishment.
"Poison?"
"Don't act like it's something new."
Tang Gunak shrugged his shoulders as if he couldn't care less.
"Ugh!"
Chung Myung clenched his stiffening neck.
"Wait, you're saying you used poison during your Afterlife Index training and combat? [Maybe it's a special poison?] Poison? This kind of deadly poison?"
"I didn't want to bring this up, but..."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, isn't it a bit embarrassing for you to talk about the Afterlife Index so openly? You should have some conscience."
"..."
Cheongmyeong's mouth hung open. Was the person who used deadly poison in martial arts lecturing him about conscience?
This was something that even someone as dedicated to martial arts as Chung Myung couldn't easily let pass...
- Oh, cut that nonsense and be quiet!
Oh, shut up, please! I might just tear off that cursed talisman you hung on the shrine.
Tchiik.
Seeing the floor still smoldering, Cheongmyeong ground it with a gritty sound.
"Are you really going to push this far?"
"It's not like that's my intention. It's just..."
Tang Gunak smiles wryly.
"Do you think I have many options when it comes to drawing out all your abilities? I have to use every means available."
"Didn't you stop using poison? Knowing that it's useless against skilled opponents?"
"That's a misconception."
"What do you mean?"
Tang Gunak gazes at Chung Myung with a cold stare.
"Of course, using poison to defeat someone of your level is challenging. But at the very least, it can force you to expend your inner strength to suppress the poison, and if your injuries worsen, it can even trigger the poison."
"..."
"In a fight, every little advantage counts. If using poison, even just a small amount, can give one an edge, wouldn't it be smarter to use it?"
"...uh"
"Between you, who has to exhaust your inner energy to repel poison, and someone like me who can just apply a bit of poison to a weapon before the fight, isn't it obvious who has the advantage?"
…It made sense after hearing it?
Then why didn't that bastard use poison during the war? Was he an idiot?
At that moment, a past conversation with Tang Bo flashed through Chung Myung's mind.
- Why don't you use poison?
- No, you annoying noble! You have to have poison to use it!
- Are you saying your family didn't give you poison?
- Geez, do you know where poison comes from? It's been years since the poison stored in the Tang Clan ran out! When do you think you'll find time to make poison again? If you focus on making poison, you'll be left behind.
- Useless bastard.
- Watch your mouth. If my throwing knife had poison on it, you'd be dead with one strike---ha ha... Let's just talk. Don't draw your sword. Is it because people on Mount Hua only eat grass? You seem to be utterly clueless about jokes.
"Ugh!"
Chung Myung felt his head spinning for a moment but quickly suppressed the poison with his inner energy. His uniquely clear and pure internal energy instantly neutralized the poison.
Only then did Chung Myung catch his breath, grit his teeth, and raise his sword.
"If you come out like this, I can't just stand still."
"No."
Tang Gunak shook his head.
"This is barely anything, right?"
Tang Gunak's hands went in and out of his sleeves. He had throwing knives on his right and thin needles on his left, densely arranged. The blades of the throwing knives glistened with a faint green color in the sunlight.
Chung Myung's face, realizing once again that Tang Gunak was seriously going to try, stiffened slightly.
"Of course, I intend to see how strong you've become. But you should also keep one thing in mind."
"One thing?"
"Who I am."
Tang Gunak's imposing voice weighed heavily on Chung Myung.
"Who the person fighting alongside you is. Who Tang Gunak, the Poison King, is."
Tang Gunak's entire body was enveloped in emerald-colored energy that swelled significantly, and it began to flutter. His released aura scraped against Chung Myung's nerves as if on purpose.
Chung Myung's lips slightly parted, revealing white teeth. His face contorted like a demon's.
"Is it really...?"
Whoosh!
Chung Myung, who gripped his Dark Plum Blossom Sword, suddenly burst out with a storm-like aura.
"You keep saying whatever you want!"
Bang!
At that moment, Tang Gunak stepped forward, unleashing five throwing knives. These five throwing knives, exuding a vivid color, rotated as if intertwined, sped toward Chung Myung.
"Haha!"
Chung Myung let out a cheerful voice as he rushed towards the approaching throwing knives.
Crash!
The Dark Plum Blossom Blade's red energy, like a sunset glow, soared through the gaps between the five throwing knives, and split them apart with incredible speed.
"Kakakaka!
Explosive noises! Spinning throwing knives!
But what soon caught Chung Myung's attention was the fine sand dust that surrounded his head for a brief moment.
'Soul-Severing Sand (斷魂沙).'
The sand imbued with extreme poison scattered, and in front, hundreds of needles rained down. Even among the Soul-Cutting Sand, deadly needles were interspersed.
'Ghost King's Order (鬼王令)!'
Evil scripts known to be used only against the enemies of the Tang Clan enveloped Chung Myung's body.
At that moment, Chung Myung's sword began to tremble, and he began to create something that should have been in Mount Hua.
A crimson plum blossom.