Murmur murmur.
At the foot of the mountain, the White Horse Temple’s elite special unit—the Soul-Severing Corps—was stationed.
They were there in case anyone tried to interfere with the duel.
“Wait here. Until the victor descends.”
At the Soul-Severing Corps Leader’s words, Tang Gon gave a short laugh and glanced at Bu Eunseol.
“Seeing them go this far, it doesn’t look like they’ll pull any dirty tricks.”
“Go and win.”
At Bu Eunseol’s words, Tang Gon nodded and immediately unfolded his movement technique.
Swish.
As he entered the path leading up the mountain, hazy fog began to rise.
‘A formation.’
With an unperturbed expression, Tang Gon pressed forward with his movement art until he reached the pavilion.
There stood Hyeok Sagang, arms crossed.
As before, at his waist was not the snow-white whip used by ordinary White Horse Temple martial artists, but the transparent, gleaming White Horse Whip.
It appeared to be a whip imbued with special power.
“You’re late.”
To Hyeok Sagang’s remark, Tang Gon replied calmly, “Were you afraid? Enough to set up the formation in advance?”
Hyeok Sagang wore a cruel smile.
“I had to cage the rat first.”
Thud.
When Hyeok Sagang stomped his foot, fog surged outward in all directions.
At the same time, enormous transparent walls slowly rose around them.
“No need to be surprised. It’s merely to prevent escape.”
“If I had escape in mind, I would have exposed your identity before even entering the White Horse Temple.”
“Whatever. One of us must die.”
Srrk.
Hyeok Sagang grasped the White Horse Whip at his waist.
The long-coiled whip appeared to exceed at least three jang in length.
Considering martial principles, against an enemy wielding such an excessively long weapon, it was best to take up a short weapon and force close combat.
Yet Tang Gon drew a single throwing knife from his robes.
It was an ordinary throwing knife—the kind Tang Pae had often used.
“Hahaha. So that’s what you brought.”
Hyeok Sagang laughed calmly.
His White Horse Whip, capable of being swung at ultra-high speed and stretching over five jang, could—if he wished—create a wall of true qi around his body akin to a protective gang qi, blocking any weapon from reaching him.
Yet his opponent intended to fight with merely one throwing knife?
‘Even the Ten Fingers Eternal Return—called the pinnacle of hidden weapon arts—would be useless against the White Horse Whip Method.’
Hyeok Sagang sneered inwardly.
There was no need to use the martial arts transmitted from the Clear River Realm; he would sever this man’s head with the White Horse Whip Method alone.
“Hyeok Sagang.”
Tang Gon looked down at the throwing knife in his hand and said, “If you can avoid this, then victory is yours.”
“Hahaha.”
Sensing that Tang Gon was preparing a one-hit-kill hidden weapon technique, Hyeok Sagang actually burst into laughter.
A one-hit-kill move meant that if it missed, a huge opening would be exposed.
In other words, if he could simply receive and survive this single technique…
Victory would be his in an instant.
Whooo.
Tang Gon’s pupils dilated dramatically, then began emitting a mysterious radiance.
At the same time, the fine hairs on the back of the hand gripping the knife contracted, and the veins repeatedly constricted and expanded.
As he poured every ounce of energy into raising his internal force, the blood flow throughout his body accelerated fiercely.
“Hmph.”
Snorting, Hyeok Sagang struck first before Tang Gon could attack.
Chwaak!
Suddenly the White Horse Whip at his waist soared skyward and began moving like waves.
He unfolded the Drifting Phantom Shadow Form—capable of instantly repelling any hidden weapon.
Swiik! Swiik! Swiik!
With the sound of razor-sharp wind slicing through the air, the transparent White Horse Whip coiled protectively around his body.
The fundamentals of throwing knife techniques lay in capturing the opening revealed when the enemy attacked or moved, and severing their breath in one stroke.
Knowing this full well, Hyeok Sagang preemptively unfolded a defensive form to avoid exposing any weakness.
“Heh heh heh.”
Having created a massive wall with whip gang, Hyeok Sagang sneered.
Even if the greatest genius of the Tang Clan—Tang Cheon-gun—were to return to life, he could not land a hidden weapon against this Drifting Phantom Shadow Form.
Swoosh.
At that moment, Tang Gon’s throwing knife finally cleaved the air.
Shuuuuu.
The knife Tang Gon launched emitted an enormous tearing sound as it flew straight toward Hyeok Sagang’s brow.
Hyeok Sagang’s eyes widened as he watched it.
Not because he could not avoid it—but because the speed of the knife’s launch was unimaginably slow.
Twitch. Twitch.
The knife flew toward Hyeok Sagang more slowly than a caterpillar crawling.
Watching this, Hyeok Sagang’s pupils flashed.
‘Is this supposed to be the Tang Clan’s supreme hidden weapon art?’
It seemed the knife would take at least half a ke—or even a full ke—to reach him.
Moreover, no wave of true qi could be felt from the knife; it had clearly been thrown with negligible power.
‘Should I just swat it away?’
At that speed, he could simply strike it down right now.
‘No—it might be a feint of emptiness within emptiness.’
Perhaps he wanted Hyeok Sagang to swat the knife and expose an opening.
Hyeok Sagang firmly raised his energy and continued unfolding the Drifting Phantom Shadow Form without pause.
Yet it still seemed the knife would take another full ke to arrive.
‘He couldn’t possibly have unfolded the Constant River Advancing Leaf, could he?’
In the martial world, there was said to exist one profoundly mysterious hidden weapon technique.
A legendary art called Constant River Advancing Leaf, which supposedly allowed one to imbue a single hidden weapon with all of one’s internal energy and even draw upon the natural forces of the surroundings.
Compressing such immense repulsive force resulted in the projectile being launched at an infinitely slow speed.
But that was purely theoretical; it had never actually appeared in the martial world.
Could Tang Gon have mastered Constant River Advancing Leaf?
Crawl… crawl…
The knife still flew straight toward his brow in a straight line, agonizingly slow.
Whatever technique it was, merely using such an extraordinarily slow throwing knife art proved it was an extraordinary secret technique.
‘Hmm.’
Too much knowledge can be a hindrance.
Seeing this slow knife art, every martial technique Hyeok Sagang knew came flooding to mind.
Yet he could not possibly determine what art Tang Gon was using.
Divided mind.
To subdue an enemy, one must maintain perfect composure and unify body and spirit as one.
—If you can avoid this knife, then victory is yours.
Moreover, right before the fight began, Tang Gon’s words had branded themselves like fire into his mind.
The declaration that he would launch only a single technique had caused Hyeok Sagang to become fixated on the idea of a one-move duel—ironically draining his mental strength to the extreme.
‘With just one sentence, this bastard…?’
Only then did Hyeok Sagang realize that Tang Gon’s single remark had cracked his spirit and created divided mind.
In this state… no technique could be executed with stability.
“No way in hell!”
In the end, Hyeok Sagang halted the Drifting Phantom Shadow Form and struck the knife with full power.
Since it had been launched so slowly, it must surely contain tremendous force.
Clang!
But an unexpected thing happened.
The knife he struck with all his might using the White Horse Whip was like something thrown by a three-year-old child, containing no power at all.
“The Clear River Realm’s Emissary only has this much patience, it seems.”
By now, dark radiance had gathered at Tang Gon’s fingertips.
Flash!
A single line sliced across heaven and earth.
At the same instant, Hyeok Sagang froze like a wooden puppet, unable to move.
It was the final secret art Tang Pae had passed to Tang Gon before dying—
The inescapable line of death.
“With just one technique…”
With his throat pierced by the line of death, Hyeok Sagang made a gurgling sound.
“…to bring down this Pavilion Lord.”
Though Tang Gon had received his father’s secret martial transmission, he had held no certainty of certain victory against Hyeok Sagang.
He knew Hyeok Sagang would deliberately use the White Horse Whip to create a whip gang and counter hidden weapon arts.
—To defeat an enemy stronger than yourself, turn their strength into their weakness.
Then suddenly, the teaching Tang Pae had once given him while scolding him came to mind.
—If you absolutely must land a hidden weapon on the enemy, first shatter their spirit to force an opening.
Tang Gon had not forgotten that teaching.
He deliberately imitated the legendary hidden weapon art Constant River Advancing Leaf to create chaos in Hyeok Sagang’s mind, and when the opening appeared, he unleashed the line of death.
Tang Pae’s Slash of Death.
Tang Gon had named this final supreme secret art of the Tang Clan after his father.
“You too…”
At that moment, Hyeok Sagang, eyes bulging, roared with malice.
“Will die soon!”
Thud.
In the end, he collapsed and breathed his last.
A rather empty death for the final moments of the White Horse Temple’s White Lotus Pavilion Lord.
“Father.”
Tang Gon gazed at the distant sky.
Though revenge was complete, he felt no joy or pride.
Only tender longing for his father filled his heart.
“I will surely raise our clan to stand tall in the martial world.”
Only now did Tang Gon truly realize.
His father had always loved him.
Only his gruff personality, and his determination to build a powerful Tang Clan, had prevented him from expressing it well.
Stagger.
Tang Gon turned wearily.
For this single-technique duel, he had spent days calculating in his mind.
In terms of pure martial level, he could never have defeated Hyeok Sagang, a Clear River Realm Emissary.
Thus he had poured every ounce of skill, mental strength, and energy into this gamble.
And it had succeeded.
Step. Step.
As Tang Gon tried to leave Hongjeong Forest, he tilted his head.
Even though Hyeok Sagang was dead, the formation around them had not dissipated.
‘Could it be…’
A foreboding premonition struck him. Tang Gon unfolded his Shattering Force Finger and struck the fog-shrouded transparent wall with full power.
Crackle crackle.
Only blue sparks flew.
The wall showed no sign of breaking.
Moreover, a strange scent reached his nose.
It was the smell of gunpowder—recognizable only to artisans who had crafted countless hidden weapons.
“No way.”
Only then did Tang Gon realize that the entire area had been turned into a deadly trap.
Hyeok Sagang had prepared for the possibility of defeat by burying an enormous quantity of explosives throughout the vicinity.
Ssssss.
Acrid smoke and odor began rising from somewhere.
The buried explosives were about to detonate.
Moreover, the formation enveloping this place was of a solidity that could not be broken in a short time.
Oooong.
Taking a deep breath, Tang Gon raised the Heaven and Earth Shared Will—one of the Eight Great Secret Techniques.
‘I’ll do my utmost.’
The chance of surviving here was slim. Yet he felt no fear or even the slightest worry.
Because he had unfolded his martial arts without regret, following his father’s teachings.
‘If one comprehends the Way in the morning, one may die without regret in the evening.’
Boom!
Suddenly, purple lightning struck down from the sky,
Crack!
The circular formation wall—which had withstood even his full-power Shattering Force Finger—collapsed in an instant.
Crackle crackle.
From within the blazing purple flames, a figure emerged.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“You—”
Tang Gon’s mouth fell open.
Bu Eunseol’s martial robes were soaked entirely in bright red blood.
He had likely dealt with the entire White Horse Temple detachment waiting at the mountain’s base.
“How did you get here?”
“A White Horse Temple member who rose to become a Clear River Realm Emissary wouldn’t handle things cleanly, would he?”
“That’s…”
Tang Gon, about to speak, suddenly felt dizzy.
It was as though all the blood in his head had rushed to his feet.
Boom!
With another thunderclap, when Tang Gon opened his eyes, the surrounding scenery had risen thirty-odd jang into the air.
Bu Eunseol, holding him tightly, had unfolded Thunder Void-Breaking Rush, piercing straight through the formation and soaring into the sky.
BOOM!
At that moment, an earth-shaking explosion roared from below.
The buried explosives had finally detonated.
“Uh…”
Stunned, Tang Gon looked down—
Flash!
In an instant, his body felt sucked somewhere, and pain tore through his mouth. Because Bu Eunseol, while embracing him, had unfolded Swift Beyond Shadow at full power, resulting in the rushing air filling his mouth to the bursting point.
Boom!
Another peal of thunder rang out, and before long they had left the White Horse Temple’s sphere of influence and entered the western flower region.
Thud.
When Bu Eunseol landed,
“Ugh…” Tang Gon let out a pained groan.
Bu Eunseol’s movement art had been so fast, and the aftermath of Thunder Spirit Energy left his entire body numb.
“Sorry. Time was of the essence.”
At Bu Eunseol’s apology, Tang Gon waved his hand.
“Sorry? Thanks to you, I lived.”
“Now that it’s all over, ascend to the position of Family Head.”
“The Rekindling Merchant acted on Clear River Realm orders to steal your martial arts. Don’t you intend to follow that thread?”
“Emissary or whatever—to the Clear River Realm, they’re all expendables. And besides…”
Bloodlust flashed in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
“I’m going to crush their main base anyway. I have no interest in mere underlings.”
Tang Gon swallowed hard.
Even the Clear River Realm Emissary who had toyed with the Tang Clan was, in Bu Eunseol’s eyes, nothing more than small fry.
Because he intended to destroy the Clear River Realm—no, the entire Three Realms—completely.
“Then will you return to Majeon now?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
Tang Gon showed a briefly regretful expression, then embraced Bu Eunseol tightly.
“Thank you.”
Suppressing the overwhelming emotion, Tang Gon spoke softly.
“If our clan’s strength is ever needed, contact me anytime.”
Bu Eunseol was uprooting the Three Realms and various other forces embedded in the martial world and the Tang Clan stood ready to give everything to aid him whenever necessary.
“Understood.”
Knowing Tang Gon’s heart, Bu Eunseol patted his back.
“You will do well.”
Patting his shoulder once more, Bu Eunseol nodded.
“See you next time.”
Boom!
Before Tang Gon could reply, Bu Eunseol vanished into the distant sky.
Watching him go, Tang Gon clenched both fists.
“Just wait a little longer.”
Tang Gon made a vow.
He would not let Bu Eunseol bear everything alone.
He would make the Tang Clan strong enough to support his path.
***
The death of the White Horse Temple’s White Lotus Pavilion Lord was quietly handled without ever reaching the martial world’s ears.
The White Lotus Pavilion Lord Hyeok Sagang.
The White Horse Temple had learned that he had been colluding with external forces.
That, too, was the Clear River Realm’s method of cutting tails.
They would recruit high-status, highly skilled individuals as Emissaries, and when their usefulness ended, they secretly leaked information to the organization they belonged to so that the organization would quietly handle the matter themselves.
Meanwhile, the confrontation between Majeon and the Martial Alliance grew ever more intense.
The spark had been the assassination attempt on Intelligence and Secret Affairs Division Lord Seon Woojin.
Under the identity of Seon Woojin, Bu Eunseol had eliminated the Blood Trace—the secret organization of the Chief Instructor.
Enraged, Yeop Hyocheon mobilized Majeon’s elite special unit, the Amcheondae.
But Bu Eunseol deliberately allowed himself to appear gravely wounded by the Amcheondae, thereby exposing yet another major spy embedded in the Martial Alliance:
Dongrim Pavilion Lord Sagong Won.
From the Martial Alliance’s perspective, not only had a high-ranking member been attacked, but a Majeon spy had attempted assassination.
It was an incident they could never overlook.
From Majeon’s side as well, fury boiled over.
An ultra-secret unit that had never once failed had been utterly defeated out of nowhere, and a long-cultivated spy had been killed.
In the end, it became a clash of pride neither side could yield on.
Yet as both maintained a near-wartime posture in continued standoff, enormous costs were wasted on both sides, and large and small clashes erupted across branches.
Finally, after much deliberation, the Martial Alliance issued an order to Seon Woojin.
—Division Lord Seon. How about you negotiate with Majeon and bring about a satisfactory outcome?
The greater the power a high-ranking member wielded, the greater their responsibility.
Thus the Martial Alliance ordered Seon Woojin—the root cause of the entire situation—to negotiate with Majeon.
—Understood.
Having obtained full authority to handle the matter, Bu Eunseol immediately sent a letter to Majeon.
—From the beginning, this situation arose because Majeon sent assassins. If Majeon issues an official apology, we will consider all previous events null and void.
In truth, Bu Eunseol had no intention of resolving the confrontation between Majeon and the Martial Alliance. Thus he openly demanded an apology from the one ultimately responsible for the assassination attempt: the Chief Instructor.
Whether the Dongrim Pavilion Lord was truly a spy could no longer be proven, but the Amcheondae’s attempt on his life was an undeniable fact.
‘They will never accept it.’
Bu Eunseol was certain.
The Chief Instructor would never apologize.
Moreover, the current situation in Majeon was that the Demon Emperor had emerged from seclusion and returned.
Even if the Chief Instructor wished to apologize, with the Demon Emperor back…
Any official apology would have to come from Majeon’s highest authority—the Demon Emperor himself.
—The Demon Emperor requests the presence of Division Lord Seon regarding this matter.
Yet an unbelievable reply came from Majeon.
—The Demon Emperor wishes to meet you personally—the one who suffered harm—to discuss apology and compensation.
Not the Chief Instructor, but the Demon Emperor himself had invited Seon Woojin to Majeon to resolve the matter.
Moreover, this was an official proposal.
From Bu Eunseol’s perspective…
It was something he could neither refuse nor avoid.
