Poison Heavy Mountain, Dok Mu-jeong.
He was a master of the unique Heavy Ten Thousand Poison Aura among Hell’s Blood Fortress’s many poison arts. This technique converted bodily poison into inner energy, unleashing pressure to burst an enemy’s blood vessels—a secret art of Hell’s Blood Fortress.
His nickname, Poison Heavy Mountain, came from the sensation of hurling a poison-forged mountain.
“Then they must be the Blood Hand Ten Poisons…” Black Leopard’s face fell.
Dok Mu-jeong had roamed the martial world for over a decade with his handpicked Blood Hand Ten Poisons. For such a Hell’s Blood Fortress titan to appear in a mere gang-mercenary conflict?
“Block it again,” Dok Mu-jeong said.
Boom. Boom.
Immense pressure, like hurling a mountain, poured from his hands. Black Leopard countered with his swordplay, neutralizing the pressure, but—
“Pfft!” He spat a pebble-sized clot of blood and dropped to one knee. His inner energy couldn’t withstand the repeated Heavy Ten Thousand Poison Aura.
“You blocked it again…” Dok Mu-jeong’s eyes narrowed.
He’d aimed to kill instantly, yet Black Leopard endured once more.
“He can’t be spared,” Dok Mu-jeong said, his eyes blazing with killing intent.
Recognizing Black Leopard as a future threat, he aimed to burst his blood vessels.
“Why does a master like you meddle in this fight?” Im Hwan shouted, incredulous. “What does Hell’s Blood Fortress gain?”
Dok Mu-jeong smirked. “None of your business.”
His gaze was like looking at vermin.
Indeed, he could crush people like bugs.
“Die.” Raising both hands, immense pressure descended with a low vibration.
Im Hwan stared, eyes wide. It was an unstoppable force, like a massive mountain.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a sharp throwing knife pierced toward Dok Mu-jeong’s forehead.
“Hmph!” Dok Mu-jeong redirected some of his aura to deflect it.
But the knife pierced through the pressure, aiming for his forehead.
“What?” Startled, Dok Mu-jeong spun to evade.
Thud.
The knife lodged in a nearby boulder, piercing it like tofu despite being a cheap forge blade.
“This technique…” Black Leopard’s eyes widened, staring at the boulder.
Few in the martial world could throw a light knife so heavily. And a knife technique meant to halt, not kill, was used by only one other person besides him.
Whoosh!
A tall shadow landed beside Black Leopard.
Tall, handsome, wielding a peculiar black-sheathed divine sword.
It was Bu Eunseol.
“Young Master!” Black Leopard leapt up, shouting. “Young Master, how are you here…?”
“Explanations later,” Bu Eunseol said, baring his white teeth at Dok Mu-jeong. “We need to clear out these vermin.”
“Well,” Dok Mu-jeong, recognizing Bu Eunseol, wore a cold smile. “The castle’s enemy delivered himself.”
“A dead man talks too much,” Bu Eunseol sneered.
Dok Mu-jeong scoffed, incredulous. “Arrogant. Think being a Majeon leader makes you untouchable?” Then, as if recalling something, he clapped and nodded. “Well, it doesn’t matter. If I melt the corpses, who’ll know?”
With a smirk, he signaled the Blood Hand Ten Poisons. “Eliminate him and use Bone-Dissolving Powder.” The Blood Hand warriors’ eyes gleamed as they surrounded Bu Eunseol and Black Leopard.
Whoosh. Tap.
Three shadows landed around Bu Eunseol with piercing sounds.
Hyeok Sojin, Myo Cheonwoo, and Yoo Unryong.
“Hell’s Blood Fortress scum, as expected,” Yoo Unryong said, baring his teeth, instantly recognizing Dok Mu-jeong. “Bu Eunseol, I’ll handle these nobodies.”
“Do as you like,” Bu Eunseol nodded lightly.
Black Leopard stepped forward quickly. “Young Master, no.” Looking at Yoo Unryong, he said in a low voice, “The Blood Hand Ten Poisons aren’t ordinary. No matter how skilled he is…”
His words cut off.
Slash!
White light poured from Yoo Unryong’s hand, splitting a Blood Hand warrior in two.
Black Leopard’s eyes widened.
He realized Bu Eunseol’s companions were all Transcendent Realm masters.
“You…” Dok Mu-jeong’s eyes wavered, staring at the bisected warrior. “Ten Demon Warriors!” he roared, his eyes trembling.
Acting like a death god, crushing foes like bugs, Dok Mu-jeong now trembled in fear. He knew, even if resurrected, he couldn’t defeat Bu Eunseol and his group.
“Why… why do Ten Demon Warriors join this fight?” Dok Mu-jeong screamed, enraged. “The Ten Demonic Sects don’t interfere with each other! Aren’t you part of them?”
“There are no more Ten Demon Warriors,” Bu Eunseol said coldly, pointing to the black sleeve at his waist. “We’re all Dongpyoseorang mercenaries now.”
“What nonsense.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter,” Bu Eunseol said with a smile. “I’ll just kill you all.”
Dok Mu-jeong’s face paled.
Those were his own words thrown back at him.
‘He’s serious.’ He sensed Bu Eunseol’s intent to annihilate them.
“So it’s come to this,” Dok Mu-jeong said bitterly, shaking his head.
This battle was unavoidable, with only defeat—or death—awaiting. He’d dominated the martial world, and now indescribable emotions surged.
“This has nothing to do with the castle,” Dok Mu-jeong said quietly, clinging to his last shred of pride. “I was just helping the Wind Tiger Gang leader due to a personal connection.”
Bu Eunseol didn’t respond.
Hell’s Blood Fortress already viewed Dongpyoseorang unfavorably. Without that sentiment, a figure like Dok Mu-jeong wouldn’t have joined such a fight.
“Myo Cheonwoo, Yoo Unryong,” Bu Eunseol said calmly, drawing his sword. “I’ll handle him. You take the Blood Hand Ten Poisons.”
“Don’t order me around, Bu Eunseol,” Yoo Unryong grumbled but gripped his white horse whip, obediently following.
Slash!
Yoo Unryong struck first. His whip split into two beams, scattering the Blood Hand formation.
Boom!
Mist-like palm force spread—Myo Cheonwoo’s Annihilation Palm.
“Ugh.” “Argh.” The Blood Hand warriors groaned, dodging or blocking the whip and palm strikes.
Each graze carried terrifying inner energy, piercing skin and seeping into meridians.
“Argh!” “Aah!” Groans turned to desperate screams.
Myo Cheonwoo and Yoo Unryong, treating each other as rivals, had sparred relentlessly, familiarizing themselves with each other’s techniques. Their attacks flowed naturally, unleashing devastating combined power as if honed for years.
Seamless Harmony.
Their assault, a perfect joint technique, cornered and swept away the Blood Hand Ten Poisons like rats in a trap.
“Let’s begin,” Bu Eunseol said, slowly drawing his black sword.
Shing.
“Use your full strength.” Strangely, unlike usual, Bu Eunseol held the sword in a reverse grip, his stance low.
Whoosh!
Closing the distance instantly, he condensed the blade’s energy, unleashing sword techniques. From afar, it looked like he wielded a dagger.
“Young Master,” Black Leopard said, voice trembling with awe.
He realized Bu Eunseol was demonstrating his dagger techniques more perfectly.
“Ugh.” Caught off guard, Dok Mu-jeong tried to unleash his Heavy Ten Thousand Poison Aura.
But as he moved to release pressure, the black sword slid, coiling around his wrist. He retreated repeatedly to use his technique, but Bu Eunseol gave no opening. It was as if he were showing Black Leopard how to use a dagger in close combat.
“Fine!” Unable to find a flaw, Dok Mu-jeong surged his full inner energy.
Black light shot from his hand.
Poison Blade—a sharp energy condensed from poison, meant to halt Bu Eunseol’s attack.
Slash!
But Bu Eunseol cut through it instantly.
“Got you!” Dok Mu-jeong exclaimed, black poison mist spreading from his body.
The Poison Blade was a feint.
As Bu Eunseol cut it, he unleashed the Heavy Ten Thousand Poison Aura in all directions—a strategy of besieging Wei to save Zhao.
“Predictable,” Bu Eunseol said.
Having faced numerous poison masters, he’d anticipated such a tactic from the moment Dok Mu-jeong formed the Poison Blade.
Hum!
With a low vibration, the black sword drew a semicircle, enveloping Bu Eunseol in circular sword energy.
Supreme Heavenly Flow, Sixth Form: Immutable Guardian.
Whoosh!
Fiery sword energy spread, melting Dok Mu-jeong’s poison mist. Dok Mu-jeong’s figure, emitting the poison, became fully visible.
“No!” Panicking, he flailed, retreating quickly.
Flash!
A beam of light shot from the black sword with fierce momentum. It moved slowly, then accelerated toward Dok Mu-jeong’s forehead. The sword’s immense inner energy made the Meteor Chasing the Moon technique appear to speed up with a time delay.
Drip.
As the light passed, a drop of red blood fell from Dok Mu-jeong’s forehead.
Glaring at Bu Eunseol, he said in a low voice, “The fortress… will have its revenge.”
Thud.
Those were the final words of Dok Mu-jeong, known as Poison Heavy Mountain, Hell’s Blood Fortress’s master.
***
The Wind Tiger Gang vanished from the martial world.
After defeating Dok Mu-jeong and the Blood Hand Ten Poisons, Bu Eunseol led his group to crush the gang. Bu Eunseol, Black Leopard, Myo Cheonwoo, and Yoo Unryong eradicated a sect rooted in Fanjeong Mountain for generations.
Days later, Bu Eunseol and Black Leopard visited Cheonhyerim side by side.
Black Leopard carried a wooden box containing the heads of the Wind Tiger Gang leader, Wang Jin-gang, and his son, Wang Pung-gang.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you,” said Jang Gung, Cheonhyerim’s leader, trembling as he accepted the box.
He lit incense at his daughter’s memorial tablet in the guest hall and carefully placed the box before it.
“Seola, you can finally rest in peace.” His voice choked with emotion as his hair turned white.
Stumbling, Black Leopard quickly supported him. “Master Jang!”
Upon closer inspection, a small dagger was lodged in Jang Gung’s chest. He had stabbed his heart after placing the box at the tablet.
“Thanks to you… I can face my daughter in the afterlife with pride.” Blood trickling from his mouth, Jang Gung clasped Black Leopard’s hands with a faint smile.
“…Thank you so much.” With those words, his eyes closed. His once-warm body grew cold.
After his daughter’s death, Jang Gung had intended to take his own life. But unable to rest knowing her brutal fate, he sold all of Cheonhyerim’s assets to hire mercenaries. Having achieved his vengeance, he departed contentedly.
“Master Jang,” Black Leopard said, lowering his head in pain. “I should’ve foreseen this.”
“It’s not your fault,” Bu Eunseol said gravely. “He fulfilled his wish and left without regrets.” As if to prove it, a satisfied smile lingered on Jang Gung’s lips.
Bu Eunseol’s gaze clouded as he looked at him.
Achieving a goal could be an endpoint or a new beginning. He, too, had been pursuing his purpose relentlessly. Its end might not differ from Jang Gung’s.
“Contact the mercenary team to handle this,” Bu Eunseol said.
“Yes,” Black Leopard replied.
“Then let’s return.” At Bu Eunseol’s words, Black Leopard bowed deeply.
Having completed his duty as a Dongpyoseorang combat mercenary, he now aimed to stay by Bu Eunseol’s side and aid him.
