Chapter 143

Chapter 143
## Chapter 143: He Who Ties Unties (3)

“Stop this madness! Calm yourself!”

Cheol Woo’s powerful grip tightened around Black Wolf, who was thrashing with manic energy. The creature’s strength was so overwhelming that even Cheol Woo, utilizing the full potency of his Reverse Diverging Aura World Force, struggled to keep it pinned.

He used his entire body to lock the beast’s torso in a desperate grapple, but Black Wolf continued to roll and heave against the earth, attempting to break free from the restraint.

After a short but intense interval of grappling, a peculiar tremor hummed through the atmosphere, and the dense, milky haze that had trapped them dissipated instantly.

With the evaporation of the mist, the wild ferocity driving Black Wolf began to fade.

Once the creature’s limbs finally went limp, Cheol Woo uncoiled himself and slumped onto the ground, gasping for air as he lay on his back.

Black Wolf shook its head, clearing the lingering mental fog, and trotted tentatively toward Cheol Woo.

“Are you back with me now?”

In response to Cheol Woo’s weary inquiry, Black Wolf began to lick at his face.

“You stupid hound!”

Cheol Woo delivered a sharp smack to the beast’s skull as it tried to groom him.

Black Wolf let out a sharp whimper, reminiscent of a stray being disciplined with a stick, and retreated with its tail tucked firmly between its hind legs, looking thoroughly dejected.

“You deserve that for losing your mind like a maniac.”

The unrelenting pressure of the hidden killers had triggered Black Wolf’s transition into its feral form. Cheol Woo had banked on the beast’s heightened instincts to navigate the danger, but the Mist Lock Illusion Array proved to be an equalizer that confused both humans and animals alike.

Once the array took hold of its mind, Black Wolf had become a mindless engine of destruction, striking at anything that moved.

Its power, fueled by its status as a spirit beast, was a force even Thunderbolt found difficult to parry, and its speed far outstripped the elite assassins. Cheol Woo had been forced to intervene personally to ground the beast, an act that required him to abandon his own feral form.

Despite the loss of Cheol Woo and the wolf, Sima Geon had resolved to push forward.

To stay and assist them would have required Sima Geon to drop his own feral form, a tactical sacrifice he couldn’t afford. He couldn’t predict the duration of such a delay, and every second wasted put Thunderbolt, Manchu, and Gwa Yu at risk of being picked off. Ultimately, Sima Geon’s choice was rooted in his unwavering trust in Cheol Woo’s mental fortitude and combat skill—qualities tempered by the agonizing process of achieving an indestructible body. He knew no illusion, no matter how intricate, could break a mind like that.

“It looks like that foggy trap finally broke.”

Cheol Woo scanned the clearing, his expression puzzled.

“It seems a bit sudden, doesn’t it? Our little scrap didn’t last that long. regardless, we’ve fallen behind. Move out, Black Wolf.”

Cheol Woo gave the beast a firm nudge with his foot, and with a powerful howl, Black Wolf lunged forward. Despite their detour, the creature’s sharp nose made finding their companions a simple task.

“The enchantment… it’s gone.”

Gwa Yu gestured toward the horizon where the last vestiges of the fog were vanishing.

“So it seems. That vibration must have been the signal.”

“Who managed to break it?”

Thunderbolt approached Sima Geon, looking for answers.

“That remains a mystery.”

Sima Geon remained cryptic, prompting Manchu to survey the perimeter.

“Perhaps it just failed? They seemed more interested in killing each other than us toward the end.”

“That’s a possibility. The Mist Lock Illusion Array is known for that specific instability. It’s the reason it is typically reserved as the final defense for the Blood Forest.”

Gwa Yu wiped a layer of cold sweat from his brow.

Leading the party through the maze of illusions had been an exhausting ordeal. Already drained from previous combat, Gwa Yu was reaching his limit. The sheer psychological weight of the array had left him teetering on the edge of burnout.

“It’s a relief, anyway. We can take a moment. The deputy leader and the wolf will catch up, and you clearly need to recover.”

Sima Geon disagreed with Thunderbolt’s suggestion.

“We cannot afford to linger. Delaying gives them time to regroup. Gwa Yu.”

“I am here.”

“Do you have the strength to continue?”

“I do.”

Gwa Yu forced his breathing to steady and met Sima Geon’s gaze.

“Good. How close are we to the primary stronghold?”

“We are nearly upon it.”

“Then let us proceed.”

Sima Geon took the lead, moving past Gwa Yu.

Gwa Yu’s specific talents had been essential for navigating the mist, but with the air clear, there was no reason to keep him in the vulnerable front position.

Before long, the central headquarters of the Blood Forest loomed before them.

Sima Geon paused, his eyes narrowing as he read the environment.

He could feel the presence of assassins lurking in the shadows, their breathing suppressed to almost nothing. These were no mere foot soldiers; these were veterans. A few possessed such refined stealth that they were nearly invisible to the untrained eye.

“Gwa Yu.”

“Yes.”

“Is it alright if I level this place?”

Gwa Yu paused for a heartbeat, then gave a firm, resolute nod.

“Do it.”

Sima Geon gave Gwa Yu’s shoulder a supportive pat before turning to his other companions.

“Stay back. I don’t detect any immediate threats nearby, but keep your guard up.”

“Understood. We’ve got your back.”

Sima Geon gave a short nod and stepped into the open.

The Heavenly Demon Sword hung at his waist, swaying with his measured stride.

Suddenly, Sima Geon’s body launched upward.

Defying gravity, he soared over the peak of the main hall’s roof in a single bound, drawing his blade mid-air.

*Paassss!*

The air shrieked as a massive wave of sword energy erupted, descending like a physical weight upon the structure.

Ten Thousand Forms Sword, Flying Stream Scorching Blaze!

The hidden killers within the hall had no time to react to the sudden, overwhelming assault.

*Kwaaakwang!*

“Ugh!”

“Aaaaagh!”

The sounds of agony rose as the torrential sword strikes tore through the building.

The roof disintegrated into a cloud of splinters and tiles. The massive support columns, hewn from ancient timber, snapped as if they were made of straw.

Assassins were obliterated instantly, some torn apart by the energy, others crushed into the earth by the falling wreckage.

And Sima Geon was only getting started.

After flattening the primary hall with just two devastating swings, Sima Geon became a blur of lethal motion.

Whatever stood in his path was erased.

Structures large and small, along with the killers hiding within their walls, were swept away by his relentless advance.

The warriors of the Blood Forest—men forged into weapons through brutal conditioning—found themselves paralyzed by the sheer, crushing aura Sima Geon projected. They were helpless to stop the destruction.

“Hahahaha!”

A roar of chaotic laughter echoed through the rocky terrain, followed by a series of brutal, unrefined attacks that began to rain down.

Cheol Woo had arrived, venting the frustration of his ordeal with the array by swinging his massive fists with reckless abandon.

Empowered by the dark energy of the Ink Gang Asura Qi, his Overlord Sixteen Fists and Soaring Heaven Three Strikes brought a level of ruin that defied logic.

A few desperate assassins tried to mount a counter-attack, but Cheol Woo—who could shrug off a perfect ambush—wasn’t about to be hit by an amateur. Even when a blade found its mark, it couldn’t penetrate the barrier of his Ink Gang Asura Qi.

“Heh… where did… such a… demon… come from…”

Residual Poison muttered with a weak, disbelieving laugh. His one perfect opening had resulted in nothing.

He had waited with the patience of a grave, utilizing the Turtle Breath Great Law to remain undetected until the perfect moment.

His sword should have surged from the earth and ended the man instantly.

Instead, his blade had shattered against the target, and a massive hand had closed around his throat.

“Have you lost your mind, old man? What were you trying to hit?!”

Cheol Woo hauled Residual Poison out of his spider-hole by his collar, his face red with fury. He had nearly faced a permanent, emasculating injury before he’d even found a wife, and the old man was laughing about it.

Residual Poison’s mirth was short-lived.

The Ink Gang Asura Qi had already flooded his system, shredding his internal organs the moment his blade struck. A prior kick had already turned his ribcage into splinters.

Cheol Woo tossed the dying man aside like a piece of trash and looked for a new target, but Sima Geon signaled for him to wait.

“Show yourselves.”

Sima Geon’s voice was low. When no one moved, his Heavenly Demon Sword moved like a flash of lightning, ending the life of a perfectly hidden assassin before returning to its sheath.

“This is your final warning. Come out.”

Slowly, the survivors began to emerge.

They had no alternative.

They knew they couldn’t hide from Sima Geon or Cheol Woo, and staying hidden only guaranteed a swifter death.

From beneath the rubble, from behind scorched trees and hidden burrows—seven men stepped forward, their faces pale with the realization of their defeat. In less time than it takes to burn half an incense stick, the bulk of the Blood Forest’s strength had been wiped out.

Standing among the survivors was Heo Ok—the catalyst for all the misery that had befallen the group.

“Heo Ok!”

Gwa Yu’s face twisted with a primal rage as he lunged forward.

Heo Ok had been his father’s most trusted confidant, a man treated with more care than the family’s own kin. The memory of his father’s downfall at this man’s hands drove Gwa Yu into a blind frenzy.

Thunderbolt moved to stop him, but Cheol Woo held him back. Sima Geon remained still, watching.

As Gwa Yu charged toward the captives.

The smallest of the group, a man battered and bloody amidst the ruins, moved his lips ever so slightly. Only one person caught the movement.

A minuscule golden needle flew from the man’s mouth, aimed directly at Gwa Yu.

Gwa Yu was too consumed by rage to notice. Even if he had, the projectile was too fast and too quiet to dodge.

The assassin lowered his head, confident in the kill, until a metallic *clink* sounded.

*Tting ttang.*

The sound of metal hitting stone caused the assassin to look up in shock. The needle lay harmlessly on the ground.

Seeing his failure, he exploded into motion, throwing a volley of hidden blades at Gwa Yu—but Sima Geon was already there.

With a casual flick of his sleeve, Sima Geon swatted the weapons aside. The Heavenly Demon Sword was already in his hand, having been the instrument that deflected the initial needle.

*Shriiik!*

A clean, vertical strike split the assassin’s face.

As the wound opened, a realistic human skin mask peeled away, revealing the man’s true identity.

“Heavenly Ice Flower!”

Gwa Yu’s fury doubled at the sight of the man who had worked alongside Heo Ok to destroy the Blood Forest.

Gwa Yu swung his blade without a second thought.

“I knew this was how it would end.”

Heavenly Ice Flower offered a cold, bitter smile and spat a final golden needle—not at his attacker, but at Heo Ok.

“Aaargh!”

Heo Ok collapsed, clutching a needle that was now buried deep in his eye socket.

As Heo Ok thrashed on the ground in a fit of agony, Heavenly Ice Flower showed no remorse. Gwa Yu’s sword descended.

By the time Heavenly Ice Flower’s head rolled onto the dirt, Heo Ok’s screams had intensified. The flesh around his eye was already turning black and liquefying from the potent toxin on the needle.

Gwa Yu stood over Heo Ok, his eyes cold and vengeful, but he held his strike—choosing to let the traitor suffer the slow death of the poison.

But Heo Ok wasn’t the only one suffering.

As he died, the other surviving assassins began to scream, clutching their skulls and writhing on the ground in identical fits of pain.

The group watched the gruesome display in silence, offering no help.

The convulsing lasted for several minutes before finally stopping. Gwa Yu watched the life leave Heo Ok’s eyes, then drove his sword into the man’s heart to settle the debt forever.

Spent and trembling, Gwa Yu collapsed. As Thunderbolt stepped forward to help him up, he noticed something moving.

“Wait… what is that?”

Everyone looked toward the body.

A small, pale worm, no larger than a finger, crawled out of Heo Ok’s ruined eye.

“That’s revolting…”

Cheol Woo turned away, looking like he might be sick.

“There are more over here.”

Manchu pointed out similar creatures emerging from the faces of the other dead assassins. They were smaller, but clearly the same species.

“So that explains it.”

Sima Geon stepped forward and crushed the Soul-Seizing Gu from Heo Ok’s eye under his boot.

“Do you remember the Poison Blood Gu they forced into us back at Black Dragon Valley when we were children?”

“Oh, God.”

Cheol Woo and Thunderbolt winced, the memory clearly painful.

“They used those things to keep us on a short leash.”

Cheol Woo ground the remains of the Soul-Seizing Gu into the dirt with a grimace.

Sima Geon turned to the confused Gwa Yu and explained the nature of the Poison Blood Gu.

“These served the same purpose. It wasn’t just a choice to betray. With these things embedded in their brains, they had no agency. When these worms start to move inside the skull, no amount of willpower can stop the pain.”

Gwa Yu looked down at the bodies, silent.

Regardless of the parasitic control, the betrayal had happened. His family was dead because of them. He felt no room in his heart for forgiveness or pity.

“That is the way of things.”

Sima Geon placed a hand on Gwa Yu’s shoulder, standing in a way that gave the young man privacy as the tears finally began to fall.