The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

Tang Eun-seol scattered burning oil all around.

It was a sticky oil made by processing fat extracted from the carcasses of animals using the Tang Clan’s secret methods.

It demonstrated instantaneous firepower, producing high flames and intense heat.

It was enough to disperse the thick fog with heat and rising currents.

The reason Tang Eun-seol threw it around was to increase their visibility.

The fog within a radius of several zhang dispersed in an instant, achieving their goal.

For a moment, the figure of White Monkey Demonic Hand was clearly visible.

“Heh.”

However, the benefits of the burning oil were not enjoyed by Tang Eun-seol’s group alone.

The third unit of the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad, watching from a distance, benefitted the most.

From their vantage point above, everything was clearly visible.

They could see White Monkey Demonic Hand kidnapping a large man and running away, and two orthodox martial artists, a man and a woman, skillfully chasing after White Monkey Demonic Hand.

“Orthodox sects’ fools are quite something. Was a girl from the Tang Clan involved?”

Indeed, White Monkey Demonic Hand moved as the leader of the third unit had anticipated.

However, he hadn’t expected the orthodox martial artists to respond so well. They almost cut the demonic martial artist’s hand, who reached the Supreme Demon realm, in half.

Even without proper tracking skills like the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad, they managed to chase after White Monkey Demonic Hand skillfully.

Their plan to reap the benefits of the situation was progressing well.

A smile appeared on the third unit leader’s lips.

White Monkey Demonic Hand was actually a big fish to hunt down with just one platoon. If they could capture him with minimal damage this time, the third unit leader’s standing would rise even further.

His unit members were scattered around this place and near Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.

Despite the thick fog, there was a way for them to communicate.

One of the methods was using homing pigeons.

Beep—

Homing pigeons, in this context, refers to using trained pigeons, but the Demon Cult used a slightly special bird.

An owl, which had flown from somewhere, landed on a Pursuit Squad member’s shoulder.

The Pursuit Squad member gave the owl a piece of meat and then untied a coded message from its ankle.

The expression on the Pursuit Squad member’s face was not bright after reading it.

“…Unit Leader. There are people approaching near Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.”

“What? Are they from Kunlun?”

Local villagers wouldn’t dare approach Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.

“There are two of them, but since they are keeping their distance, I couldn’t get a clear identification.”

“Dispose of them. They must be prepared to die.”

“Yes!”

It doesn’t matter if the opponents were Taoists from the Kunlun Sect.

For average foes, one unit is enough. Besides, there were only two of them, right?

“We can’t afford more variables… What an opportunity this is.”

The third unit leader’s eyes were filled with greed.

“What kind of opportunity is it?”

Just then, a voice came through the fog, and the third unit leader’s expression hardened.

It was a familiar voice.

“I-Is that the Squad Leader?”

The figure emerging from the fog was the leader of the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad.

The sudden appearance of his direct superior made the third unit leader’s eyes whirl.

The squad leader usually didn’t move without his confidants, but no other members were visible.

Well, there was someone else.

“It’s not just me here, show some respect.”

“Ah, gasp!”

The squad leader had brought someone of immensely high stature with him.

It was an elder from the True Demon Pavilion faction.

White Hand Demonic Emperor Hu Gyeong, none other than the master of White Monkey Demonic Hand himself, the old monster.

The third unit leader quickly knelt to show respect to the elder.

The elder looked down at the third unit leader with cloudy eyes.

“Are you driving Jo Yang into a corner well?”

“I’m giving it my all!”

Jo Yang was the real name of White Monkey Demonic Hand. This old monster had come to personally end the life of his disciple.

“When the time comes, call me. I’ll tear him apart myself. Cough!”

The third unit leader could not even imagine how strong the aged elder could be.

However, it was clear that the credit the third unit leader thought he could monopolize had vanished.

White Monkey Demonic Hand, the orthodox martial artists chasing him, and those loitering in front of Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley—all would die.

The third unit leader was certain of it.

---

Yi-gang and Go Yo-ja quietly headed towards Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley, talking in low voices.

“Have you ever fought with a member of the Demon Cult?”

“Yes.”

“Of course. I’ve met them a few times. I’ve also met those who were expelled from the Demon Cult.”

“How are they?”

Go Yo-ja smiled faintly.

The Demon Cult was the greatest enemy of the Central Plains Murim. Normally, even the orthodox and unorthodox factions, who were usually at odds, would unite against the Demon Cult.

However, the war with the Demon Cult was a long time ago.

During the great expulsion of the Demon Cult, many of its members poured into the Central Plains, but they were actually the rejects expelled from the Demon Cult itself.

Because of this, the people of the Central Plains had largely forgotten the danger of the Demon Cult.

“Terrible creatures, indeed.”

But the Kunlun Sect was different.

They understood the horrors of the Demon Cult better than anyone.

“Do you know what the characteristics of demonic arts are?”

The orthodox sects’ orthodox arts and the unorthodox sects’ unorthodox arts. Demonic arts were distinctly different from these.

“It’s a cultivation technique that goes against the way of the heavens, isn’t it?”

“That’s half right.”

“And the other half?”

“It may seem ridiculous to discuss the Tao in front of Taoist Baek, but…”

Go Yo-ja respected Yi-gang even knowing that the power Yi-gang summoned that called down lightning originated from the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox.

“Unlike the Taoist cultivation techniques that follow the Heavenly Tao, demonic arts that follow the Way of Defying Heaven manipulate the energy pathways in reverse.”

Thus, one can become rapidly stronger by practicing demonic arts, but at a great risk.

Even at high levels, it’s the same. Even if they reach the Supreme Demon realm, akin to a Supreme Peak master, they can suddenly fall into inner demons and become lunatics.

“What does it mean to follow the Way of Defying Heaven? Naturally, it attracts the wrong kind of things.”

Even if one became an absolute master through demonic arts, one cannot become an immortal.

…Then, could one become an actual demon?

“The techniques used by those who practice demonic arts are derived from that. Like transforming their body into mist or creating illusions. Doing things like absorbing vitality from others.”

Just as Yi-gang borrowed the power of the Heavenly Thunder White-Tailed Fox, it seemed to mean borrowing power.

However, it was unclear what kinds of powers were being borrowed.

“That’s why they are difficult to deal with. You never know what bizarre things they might do.”

Yi-gang nodded.

Go Yo-ja occasionally burned talismans and scattered the ash.

The ashes, glowing with embers, were visible even in the fog and moved slowly in one direction without any wind.

This was Go Yo-ja’s way of finding a path through the fog.

They often talked as they headed towards Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.

It was during this time.

Scratch- scratch—

Suddenly, Cheongho started scratching at Yi-gang’s nape.

“Why, behave.”

Normally, Cheongho was obedient, but he wouldn’t stop.

Cheongho even rudely bit and pulled on the hair behind Yi-gang’s ears.

Yi-gang, who was trying to detach Cheongho, suddenly stopped.

“…”

The fog was still thick. There was no sound other than the wind.

No sign of anyone’s presence was felt.

In front of that calmness, Go Yo-ja also naturally stopped.

The moment Yi-gang and Go Yo-ja’s eyes met.

Something rushed through the fog, slicing through the wind.

It was the right choice not to block it with a sword but to jump up and dodge.

Crash!

A meteor hammer that targeted where Yi-gang’s head had been shattered the tree behind him.

Soon, three more meteor hammers flew towards Yi-gang, hovering in mid-air.

A normal martial artist would have been easily neutralized in mid-air.

But Yi-gang had already physically mastered the secret art of the Cloud Dragon’s Great Eight Forms.

Clang clang clang!

He deflected one meteor hammer each time he changed his defense.

But even for Yi-gang, it might have been difficult to fend off all the meteor hammers.

The last meteor hammer could not be knocked away with the sword.

It whisked past Yi-gang’s sword and face.

A fist-sized chunk of iron made a sound of tearing through the air next to his ear.

The meteor hammer was connected by a chain. It clinked and caught on Yi-gang’s sword.

The meteor hammer spun around and then wrapped around Yi-gang’s neck.

“Got him!”

From beyond the fog, a shout from a Pursuit Squad member rang out.

Pursuit Squad members wielding narrow-pointed swords appeared and charged at him. They had been waiting for the right moment.

“You were hiding in large numbers.”

But Yi-gang not knocking away the meteor hammer was not a mistake.

Instead of smashing into the back of Yi-gang’s head, the meteor hammer was suddenly grasped in his left hand.

He yanked the meteor hammer forcefully.

The strength enhanced by the secret art of physical power was beyond the Pursuit Squad member’s imagination.

The opponent was helplessly dragged in, colliding with his comrades who were charging at Yi-gang.

Crash!

“Ugh!”

In an instant, their formation was disrupted. The Pursuit Squad members lost the element of surprise.

Go Yo-ja was not idle either.

Suddenly drawing his sword, he darted through the ranks of the Pursuit Squad members.

Someone was cut across the chest, and another had his throat slashed. Surely, the Pursuit Squad members had not expected a Supreme Peak master from Kunlun to be here.

Soon, only one Pursuit Squad member remained alive.

He was the one who had been dragged back by Yi-gang. Yi-gang grabbed the Pursuit Squad member’s neck.

“Are you guys from the Demon Cult?”

“Keuk, keheuk.”

Something was off about the opponent.

Yi-gang quickly pressed on the opponent’s paralysis point.

Go Yo-ja frowned upon seeing the appearance of the Pursuit Squad member.

“Could it be… the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad?”

“The Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad?”

“Yes, if that’s the case, then the demonic martial artists are… Oh! That guy!”

Yi-gang tried to cover the Pursuit Squad member’s mouth in haste, but it was futile.

Even if his pressure points were sealed, could his mouth still move? The Pursuit Squad member bit into a poison capsule hidden in his molar and committed suicide.

Yi-gang frowned as if disgusted, and Go Yo-ja pushed Yi-gang away.

“Get back!”

The reason became clear soon enough. Poisonous gas spewed from the mouth of the dead Pursuit Squad member.

Seeing the grass around them turn yellow and die, Yi-gang clicked his tongue.

“…These are dreadful creatures.”

“Didn’t I tell you? How horrific these people are.”

Go Yo-ja had a serious expression.

During the season of cloud sea, the followers of the Demon Cult left the Kunlun Mountains.

That was their rule among themselves.

But encountering a member of the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad here, what did that imply?

The Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad was a special organization that pursued traitors and mad demonic artists.

They have come right up to the gates of Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.

Then, could there be a demonic martial artist nearby…

“Someone is coming,” Yi-gang spoke softly.

Sure enough, someone was approaching.

Unlike the members of the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad, this person made no effort to hide their presence.

“…!”

Emerging through the fog was truly a bizarre person.

Long arms reaching down to the knees. Disheveled white hair. A face covered in blood yet grinning eerily.

It was White Monkey Demonic Hand.

“I came because I smelled blood… seems I came to the wrong place. Ihihihi.”

Yi-gang glanced at someone White Monkey Demonic Hand was carrying on his back.

Then, looking again at the unbelievable sight, his mouth dropped open.

“Uh…!”

“Then, take care. Ihihi!”

Just as White Monkey Demonic Hand was about to turn away, the person he was carrying, Peng Gu-in, shouted out. He too had recognized Yi-gang.

“Brotheeeer!”

“Oy! You startled me.”

White Monkey Demonic Hand tapped Peng Gu-in’s pressure points again.

“A guy with good energy. Well then, goodbye.”

And with that, he disappeared into the fog.

Indeed, his speed was unbelievable for someone carrying a grown man.

Go Yo-ja muttered uncomfortably, “Hmm, no need to get involved unnecessarily…”

“Damn!”

As Yi-gang cursed, Go Yo-ja also realized the problem.

“Could it be, someone you know?”

The word ‘Brotheer’ sounded more like a scream.

But now that Yi-gang had seen Peng Gu-in, he couldn’t ignore him.

“Yes, we’re not sworn brothers, but he calls me ‘brother.’”

“Should we chase him?”

Yi-gang nodded, and they began to chase after White Monkey Demonic Hand.

White Monkey Demonic Hand ran freely as if there was no fog, while Yi-gang and his group pursued him using Go Yo-ja’s spells.

During the pursuit, a sword suddenly lunged out of the fog.

Whoosh!

Yi-gang had been ambushed three times in just one day in this silent Kunlun Mountains.

Gritting his teeth, Yi-gang clashed his sword against the attacker’s.

Clang!

Sparks flew, and Yi-gang’s expression turned into one of bewilderment.

“Sir… Neung?”

“Y-Young Master Yi-gang!”

Out of the fog appeared Neung Ji-pyeong and Tang Eun-seol.

“Perhaps, Sir Neung was also after that weird person…!”

“Yes. Did you also encounter him, Young Master?”

Yi-gang quickly grasped the situation.

That Peng Gu-in had appeared in these Kunlun Mountains.

And that Neung Ji-pyeong and Tang Eun-seol were chasing the bizarre person who had kidnapped Peng Gu-in.

“…First, let’s rescue Young Master Peng.”

Yi-gang’s group and Neung Ji-pyeong’s group, without even a moment to enjoy their reunion, ran together.

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