Chapter 368: Give It Nicely, or Suffer Painfully

TL: FoodieMonster007

Baek Jagang felt the Brawling King's fighting spirit rage around him. The sharp energy dug into his flesh, tearing at him and demanding he charge forward.

His first thought was…

This man has seen real combat!

Baek Jagang's chest burned and his fists clenched. This opponent stimulated a martial artist's primal urge for destruction, the desire to sweep everything away in a single brawl.

The Brawling King felt a similar, yet different emotion. Baek Jagang's relaxed gaze and his single comment, "Isn't your vacation a bit too extravagant?", made every hair on the Brawling King's body stand on end.

One wrong move and I'm dead!

This heart-stopping tension was precisely the feeling the Brawling King loved most.

He imagined the Evil Alliance Chairman lying dead. Just the thought sent a thrill through his body. It promised a joy greater than all his past victories combined, a pleasure he would never experience again.

I will definitely win.

The intense fighting spirit and heat from the two men swept through the area.

Feeling the swirling energy, Hyeok Sagun belatedly stepped out of the carriage. The plan proceeded as scheduled, but strangely, he had a bad feeling. The Evil Alliance Chairman's calm reaction was understandable. He was an extraordinary man.

But the bodyguards' reactions bothered Hyeok Sagun. Though Hwang Seokgyeong blocked their path, they stared calmly at the Brawling King. They looked as if they had anticipated this very moment.

Hyeok Sagun feigned ignorance and addressed the Brawling King.

"Instructor Hwang, didn't the Chairman ask you a question? For what reason do you dare to block the Chairman's path?"

Liege, the day has finally come. I pray you achieve your great ambition!

Finally, the Brawling King subdued his fighting spirit and spoke calmly.

"Did you say my vacation was extravagant? That's fine. When this vacation is over, I'll be returning to the most extravagant position in the Evil Alliance."

Baek Jagang actually smiled when his opponent revealed his clear intent to kill.

"My position isn't as extravagant as you might think."

"I'll experience that emptiness for myself."

The Brawling King lightly struck his right fist against his left palm.

PANG!

The deafening crack of air signaled hidden masters to reveal themselves.

The first to appear was a middle-aged master carrying a blade curved like a crescent moon.

the New Moon Blade.

He was one of the Seven Evil Masters. After the Light Flash tried to kill Bi Sayin, another of the Seven Evil Masters had now appeared as an enemy.

the New Moon Blade greeted Baek Jagang politely, "It's been a long time, Chairman."

"Have you been well?"

"Thanks to your excellent leadership of the unorthodox murim, I have been well."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"I apologize in advance for how things have turned out."

"It's fine, these things happen."

Baek Jagang did not ask why the New Moon Blade sided with the Brawling King. The Brawling King must have offered him a sufficient reward. Baek Jagang considered it natural for people to follow their own interests.

The second person to appear was an old man covered in wrinkles. He looked over a hundred years old, though he was not.

the Green Slayer Ghost.

He was a master from a previous generation who belonged to no faction. A legendary figure branded a public enemy by the orthodox, unorthodox, and demonic factions, the infamous villain was here in the flesh.

The Green Slayer Ghost's appearance was more surprising than the New Moon Blade's. His inner arts were far more profound than contemporary masters, making him a much more difficult opponent.

the Green Slayer Ghost acted familiar and asked Baek Jagang, "I saw you when you were a child. Do you remember?"

Baek Jagang shook his head.

"Well, you were only about this big."

He lowered his palm to his waist, as if measuring a child's height. Then his hand suddenly snapped up and unleashed a palm technique.

SWOOOSH!

KWAANG!

Bodyguard Captain Ingung blocked the palm technique, which surged forward with green energy.

Overpowered, Ingung was pushed back. The other bodyguards supported his back and lent him their inner arts. He only stopped sliding backward when two more men joined them.

the Green Slayer Ghost revealed his few remaining teeth and grinned. "Oops, my hand slipped."

Ingung and the bodyguards quietly stepped aside.

Baek Jagang stood behind them and silently watched the new figures appear.

This time, a grotesque, hunchbacked old man walked out slowly.

the Poison Tyrant.

He was a poison master who had once made a name for himself. He disappeared after being branded a public enemy for using a forbidden mass-slaughter poison. Now, he had shown himself here. This Poison Tyrant was the one who created the poison used on the Head Strategist.

Bodyguard Captain Ingung's expression hardened when the Poison Tyrant appeared. The Poison Tyrant was more threatening than any enemy who had appeared so far.

"Antidotes!"

At Ingung's command, the bodyguards all took Antitoxin Beads from their robes and put them in their mouths.

The Poison Tyrant cackled mockingly. "How long do you think you can last with those pathetic Antitoxin Beads?"

Even the Antitoxin Bead had its limits. If the Poison Tyrant suddenly used poison in a chaotic battle, even the Chairman could be endangered. Their own safety was a secondary concern.

the Brawling King, the New Moon Blade, the Green Slayer Ghost, and the Poison Tyrant.

However, they were not the only ones prepared.

About fifty martial artists revealed themselves from all directions. They surrounded the area with blazing eyes. These were the followers of the Brawling King, who would later be known as the Fighting Wolf.

They were extremely belligerent masters, crazed for battle and unafraid of death. If the other masters were tigers, these men were hunting dogs.

Hyeok Sagun smiled as he looked at them. These men had prepared for this day for a long time. They would have prepared more under normal circumstances, but this was enough.

Even the Chairman won't be able to withstand this.

PANG! PANG!

The Brawling King clapped his fist and palm together again to get everyone's attention, then issued a command.

"Kill the bodyguards first, then join the main fight."

The Fighting Wolf all drew their weapons in unison, radiating killing intent.

The Brawling King felt no shame in ganging up on someone. If he did, the Poison Tyrant would not be here.

Baek Jagang now understood why Geom Mugeuk had pleaded with him yesterday. His opponent would use any means necessary to kill him. Geom Mugeuk had asked him not to seek a fair fight.

The bodyguards, with Antitoxin Beads in their mouths, drew their swords. They blocked Baek Jagang's left, right, and rear, leaving only his front open.

The enemies gradually closed in. In the tense situation, someone shouted from a distance.

"Wait just a moment!"

The shout carried clearly to where they stood.

"Hey, you! The tall one, sixth from the left! Put down the hidden weapons and wait a moment!"

The speaker's eyesight was so good that he was right. The sixth Fighting Wolf from the left, a tall man, was indeed taking out hidden weapons.

Everyone looked toward the voice and saw a single carriage rushing toward them.

Hyeok Sagun's expression soured. He recognized the owner of that mischievous voice.

Young Cult Leader!

Indeed, the person driving the carriage was Geom Mugeuk.

The Brawling King raised a hand, ordering the Fighting Wolf to stop their charge and watch.

The approaching carriage stopped in front of Baek Jagang.

"Thankfully, you haven't started yet."

The New Moon Blade, the Green Slayer Ghost, and the Poison Tyrant looked at the Brawling King with puzzled expressions. The Brawling King answered their unspoken question.

"That man is the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult."

The three nodded. They seemed to already know Geom Mugeuk was involved, and they gave him a fresh look.

"He's younger than I thought."

Geom Mugeuk recognized them. He knew who the grotesque, hunchbacked poison master and the master with the curved blade were.

"You're all scarier than I thought."

Geom Mugeuk's attitude was far from polite. It was so relaxed it seemed like a joke, and it made them all frown. They did not know the real jokes had not even begun.

The carriage door opened, and Bi Sayin stepped out first.

Geom Mugeuk introduced him in a loud voice, like an announcer at a duel tournament.

"He is the successor of the Evil Alliance, who has overcome death and returned like an immortal! He may be ashamed of me, but he is definitely my friend!"

Bi Sayin was now unfazed by this level of jesting. He immediately greeted Baek Jagang with a trembling voice.

"It has been a long time, Master."

The Master's gaze upon his disciple was incredibly gentle.

"Is your body alright?"

"Thanks to your concern, I am fine."

Bi Sayin saw the situation and thought he had done the right thing by coming.

Next, the Evil Eccentric stepped out of the carriage.

"This is the Evil Eccentric of the Seven Evil Masters, who has recently tasted the true bitterness of life due to a friend's betrayal!"

How could he say such a thing in this situation? Ah, this guy is truly insane!

the Evil Eccentric pretended not to hear and greeted Baek Jagang with a polite clasped hands greeting.

"Have you been well?"

"It's been a while."

"The Young Alliance Chairman's concern for the Chairman is great."

His words implied he was there for the Young Alliance Chairman. Bi Sayin felt grateful to the Evil Eccentric for speaking up for him.

Bi Sayin recalled how Geom Mugeuk treated him. If Bi Sayin could do even half as well, he was sure he could build a good relationship with the Evil Eccentric.

Next, the Evil Eccentric's gaze turned to the New Moon Blade.

"Why are you here?"

The Evil Eccentric could not understand. Among the Seven Evil Masters, the New Moon Blade was the least interested in the murim's affairs, yet here he was.

"It just happened that way."

"I never thought the day would come when I'd have to fight you."

"What else would you expect from the unorthodox path?"

"True. Since it has come to this, let's fight well with no regrets."

"Let's do that."

The person most surprised and flustered by the appearance of the three was Hyeok Sagun. His original plan was to fall back and retreat once the joint attack began. The bodyguards would be too busy protecting the Chairman to pay him any attention.

But their appearance created a problem. Hyeok Sagun now had to either retreat or move behind Hwang Seokgyeong.

Would that Geom Mugeuk really let him go?

The Brawling King, however, was not shaken by the unexpected variable. His mindset was simple, just crush any variables that appeared.

"Kill them all!"

Just then, others appeared.

"Stop!"

Thirteen masters descended with brilliant movement arts. It was the Thirteen Evil Wolves.

First Wolf shouted at the Fighting Wolf, "Your opponents are over here."

Bi Sayin's eyes met theirs. The Thirteen Evil Wolves gazed at him with fervor.

We greet the Young Alliance Chairman!

Bi Sayin's eyes also grew fervent.

Yes, if I can overcome this crisis! I'm confident I can do well from now on. Yes, I will win! I must win!

The reinforcements were not just them.

Another cold voice was heard.

"Who is the one who framed me?"

The man with a ruthless aura, as if he would not bleed if stabbed, was none other than the Commander of the Extreme Army, Beoncheon. Behind Beoncheon, the elite martial artists of the Evil Alliance's finest, the Extreme Army, revealed themselves in unison.

"How dare you attempt to assassinate the Chairman! Not a single one of you will leave here alive!"

The Fighting Wolf turned to face the Thirteen Evil Wolves and the Extreme Army. Beoncheon then repeated the Brawling King's earlier words.

"Finish these men, and aid the Chairman!"

The elites of the Extreme Army drew their swords in unison at the thunderous shout. The momentum and morale of the Evil Alliance Chairman's side soared.

It was at that moment that Geom Mugeuk saw it.

He saw the Poison Tyrant stealthily trying to put his hand into a pouch at his waist.

Geom Mugeuk knew instinctively that the Poison Tyrant was about to spread a mass-slaughter poison to eliminate the Extreme Army's martial artists first.

Having spent much time with the Poison King, Geom Mugeuk knew the psychology and movements of poison users better than anyone. That was why he had watched only the Poison Tyrant, the most dangerous person here.

The Extreme Army's martial artists likely did not all possess high-grade Antitoxin Beads. Their mid-grade beads could not block the Poison Tyrant's poison.

Geom Mugeuk shouted quickly, "Wait a moment, Elder Poison Tyrant!"

"Let's ask one thing before we fight."

The Poison Tyrant's hand, heading for the pouch, paused.

"Elder, did you use poison on the Head Strategist? I heard it was a high-level poison that even deceived the eyes of the Evil Alliance's Divine Physician."

"Yes, it was a poison I created."

"Is there an antidote? Our Cult's Poison King told me. The true essence of the poison arts lies not in administering poison, but in creating the antidote."

The way Geom Mugeuk spoke created an atmosphere where one would claim to have an antidote even if one did not exist.

The Poison Tyrant took a small pouch from his robes. Fortunately, he had the antidote.

"Here it is."

"Give it to me."

"Why should I?"

"Because if you give it to me now, you'll die a clean death. If you don't, you'll die a painful one."

The Poison Tyrant sneered scornfully. "Yes, I've heard the rumors. The reckless Young Cult Leader is causing a stir in the Central Plains, is he?"

The Poison Tyrant glanced at the Brawling King, asking if it was okay to kill the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult. The Brawling King gave a slight nod. The plan was to make it look like the Young Cult Leader and the Evil Alliance Chairman had fought and destroyed each other. Everyone would believe it if the Poison King's help was supposedly involved.

The Poison Tyrant held out the pouch. "If you're confident you can take it, come and get it yourself."

At the Poison Tyrant's provocation, Geom Mugeuk walked toward him.

Bodyguard Captain Ingung knew exactly what kind of poison master the Poison Tyrant was. He looked back at Baek Jagang, his expression asking if he should stop Geom Mugeuk.

Baek Jagang silently watched Geom Mugeuk. He could guess why Geom Mugeuk confronted the Poison Tyrant. It seemed like it was for the antidote, but it was not.

The Poison Tyrant was the most dangerous one. To return safely, the Poison Tyrant had to be killed first. Baek Jagang himself had been thinking the same thing.

Baek Jagang recalled what Geom Mugeuk had said yesterday.

The honor I believe in lies in the result of killing those who must be killed.

Can you truly kill those who must be killed and return safely?

The others also watched the scene with tense eyes.

Bi Sayin, the Evil Eccentric, the Thirteen Evil Wolves, and Ingung all watched. Though their experiences differed, they had all witnessed Geom Mugeuk's surprising abilities. They wondered if that surprise and specialness would work on the Poison Tyrant.

Geom Mugeuk fearlessly walked right up to the Poison Tyrant.

The Poison Tyrant considered this courage to be recklessness.

He must believe I won't kill him because he's the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, right?

Otherwise, no one in the jianghu could walk up to the Poison Tyrant so confidently. No one could look at him with such a relaxed gaze.

You foolish demonic practitioner, your arrogance will lead you to hell.

Just as Geom Mugeuk was about to take the pouch from his hand.

PWAAAK!

A poison mist exploded around the two of them.

Bi Sayin screamed, "No!"

He tried to run and save him, but a poison mist already filled the area around Geom Mugeuk.

I never imagined he would be defeated so helplessly. You should have had a plan, shouldn't you? I thought you would kill him before he could detonate it. Because you're Geom Mugeuk.

It was at that very moment.

STAB! STAB!

A sword flashed from within the poison mist, followed by the repeated sound of tearing flesh.

WHOOSH.

A whirlwind formed around the two, gathering the surrounding poison.

"……"

The poison mist caught fire and began to burn.

Swirling flames engulfed the area around the two men. Everyone watched the incredible sight with astonished faces.

The poison mist burned away completely, rising into the sky with the wind and disappearing.

Geom Mugeuk and the Poison Tyrant were still standing there.

The Poison Tyrant was still holding the antidote pouch forward.

Geom Mugeuk took the pouch. The Poison Tyrant tried to speak.

PWAAAAK!

Blood gushed from his neck and heart as the Poison Tyrant fell backward.

Everyone stared at Geom Mugeuk, shocked. How could he use such an exquisite technique to gather poison and burn it with pure yang energy? But before that, how did he withstand the Poison Tyrant's poison?

Geom Mugeuk spat out two Antitoxin Beads, which had made his cheeks bulge like a toad's. He did not need the beads but held them to hide his Myriad Poison Immunity from everyone.

"Did you think you could ignore the top-grade Antitoxin Bead used by the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult? You gave me the antidote, so as promised, I gave you a clean death."

Baek Jagang and the Brawling King were doubtful. They thought the Poison Tyrant must have used a poison that even a top-grade Antitoxin Bead could not stop. In reality, the Poison Tyrant had used a deadly poison that no bead could counter, but they had no way of knowing this.

Regardless, the martial artists on the Evil Alliance Chairman's side knew one thing for sure. Geom Mugeuk had saved their lives from a terrible poison.

Geom Mugeuk put the Head Strategist's antidote in his robes and addressed them.

"Alright, now you can all take out the Antitoxin Beads you're holding in your mouths and let's fight comfortably."