Chapter 161

Chapter 161
## Chapter 161: Hidden Chronicles (1)

“Haha! This sensation is truly incomparable!”

Ma Wook, the youthful leader of the Red Flame Clan, hoisted his goblet toward the ceiling and let out a boisterous cry.

Even though his frame was littered with gashes from the skirmish that had persisted until dusk, the agony had been eclipsed by the sheer exhilaration of their triumph.

“Tsk, those savages. I finally understand why the patriarchs warned us to avoid them like the plague.”

Left Sword, the head of the Ghost Spirit Clan, began dousing his shoulder with harsh spirits.

As the crusted gore and grime were rinsed from his lacerations, his features contorted in a rhythmic dance of torment and relief, causing his limbs to tremble.

“Hmm? Now that you mention it, I recall similar warnings from my youth. Those disciples of the Tiger Bone Hall were every bit as feral as their reputation suggested.”

“Precisely. Despite sending a massive force to strike at the Southern Martial World, they still possessed enough bite to give us a grueling struggle. If the Poison Blood Demon hadn’t been present, our corpses would be the ones rotting out there. Come, drink to our survival.”

Left Sword extended a full cup toward Yin Tickso, who had become uncharacteristically quiet.

Yin Tickso accepted the vessel without a word, his demeanor shifting away from his usual volatile self.

The man who was typically the most prone to erratic outbursts and blunt honesty was, for some reason, remaining stoic and withdrawn.

“What is it? Something on your mind?”

Left Sword inquired while passing the drink.

Yin Tickso tapped his glass against the other’s with a slow, deliberate motion, drained the liquid in a single gulp, and spoke with a sharp edge of annoyance.

“That miserable old wretch.”

“Who? The master of Tiger Bone Hall… wait, you mean the previous one?”

Yin Tickso signaled his agreement to Ma Wook’s query and then tugged his garment upward.

“What?”

“You actually took a hit?”

Ma Wook and Left Sword spoke in stunned unison.

“After I perfected the Immortal Spirit Subduing All Poisons Technique, I genuinely believed I had achieved a physical state as hard as diamond. I even put it to the test during the earlier stages of the fight. It seems I was mistaken.”

Yin Tickso grabbed the bottle from the table as he settled into his seat.

“It turns out the low-level grunts simply lacked the strength to mark me. But when that old man from Tiger Bone Hall drove his fingertips into my flank, I felt a shock that nearly sent me through the roof.”

His face twisted into a scowl, clearly irritated by the memory.

“That’s peculiar. From where I stood, the strike didn’t look particularly devastating.”

Left Sword tilted his head in confusion, visualizing the clash between Yin Tickso and the former patriarch, Mun Eok.

He had felt a flicker of surprise when Mun Eok’s fingers breached Yin Tickso’s side, but since Yin Tickso had immediately retaliated and ended the old man, he had dismissed it as a flesh wound.

“The injury wasn’t fatal. My internal organs are intact. However, the reality is that the old man managed to crack my ‘diamond body.’ It suggests that against a truly superior opponent, I could be in genuine peril.”

Despite Yin Tickso’s grim realization, Left Sword remained nonchalant.

“How many warriors of that caliber even exist? If it bothers you that much, just keep a few Poison Blood Demons as your personal guard. To be honest, they’re more powerful than you are anyway.”

While it could have been taken as a slight, Yin Tickso merely erupted in a dark laugh.

“Hahaha! You aren’t wrong. They’ve been forged through legitimate martial traditions, after all. Their prowess in actual combat is nothing to scoff at.”

“Then just push your training further. Elevate your prowess, and you’ll be the one nobody can touch.”

Ma Wook offered Yin Tickso an encouraging gesture.

“Don’t fret over my progress—keep an eye on yourselves. You both looked a bit underwhelming out there. More formidable enemies are coming, and that level of skill won’t be enough to survive.”

“Easy now, don’t talk down to us. We’re working ourselves to the bone.”

“He’s right. Growth doesn’t happen in a single night. Hell, maybe we should consider learning that Immortal All-Poisons Subduing Spirit Technique ourselves.”

Yin Tickso gave a mocking snort at Left Sword’s suggestion.

“I’m willing to put you through it if you’re serious. Are you ready for the true agony?”

“Hahaha! I’m just making conversation. I wouldn’t touch that technique for a mountain of gold.”

Left Sword, who was well-acquainted with the horrors of the All-Poisons Subduing Spirit Technique through Yin Tickso’s descriptions, shuddered and shook his head vigorously.

“On a different note, have you heard anything about the elders preparing to intervene?”

Ma Wook, having just finished another glass, spoke with a touch of gravity.

“Yes. I expected them to move much sooner—they certainly took their time. I suppose their pride makes them slow to get up.”

“Don’t be so dismissive. Granted, they are relics waiting for the grave, but these are figures who once ruled the world. There’s no telling what kind of hidden strength they still possess.”

“Are you implying we might be defeated?”

Ma Wook shook his head, sensing the dangerous tone in Yin Tickso’s voice.

“No. With your presence, defeat is impossible. I’m simply saying it won’t be a effortless slaughter like the one we saw today. We’ll likely pay a heavy price in blood. As you pointed out, we still have a long way to go.”

Yin Tickso’s stern expression relaxed slightly as he noticed Ma Wook’s humble admission.

“Battles like the one today…”

“Valley Lord.”

The voice of the Blood Slaughter Master sliced through Yin Tickso’s sentence.

“Enter.”

When the Blood Slaughter Master pushed the door open and stepped inside, Yin Tickso held up his glass and questioned him.

“What is the meaning of this?”

His tone was thick with the annoyance of having his leisure interrupted.

“A visitor has arrived.”

“A visitor?”

Yin Tickso looked genuinely confused.

They were sitting in the former office of the Tiger Bone Hall master, a room still reeking of fresh blood—who would possibly come here seeking an audience?

“Is it an envoy from the Heavenly Demon Cult?”

Left Sword asked curiously.

“No.”

“Then it’s likely someone looking to swear fealty to our cause.”

Ma Wook added with a confident grin.

“Is that so?”

Yin Tickso asked again.

“It would be best if you spoke with him yourself.”

The Blood Slaughter Master exited without another word and returned a moment later accompanied by a middle-aged man.

The newcomer’s physical state was horrific.

His left leg was a useless weight he dragged behind him, while his right arm was twisted at a sickening, broken angle. One half of his face was a ruin of melted scar tissue from severe burns, with the disfigurement continuing down his throat—it was evident his entire body had been scorched.

“State your identity.”

Yin Tickso scrutinized the man from head to foot with a look of boredom.

The middle-aged man inclined his head slowly, his voice emerging as a grating, metallic rasp.

“Jong Yo of the Ghost Gate Clan offers his salutations to the Lord of Myriad Poison Valley.”

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“We meet again, Diamond Yaksha. And…”

The Blood Light Martial Emperor shifted his focus toward Sima Geon.

“Divine Demon Leader.”

“Indeed. It has been quite some time.”

Sima Geon offered a brief, respectful nod toward the Blood Light Martial Emperor.

“I was under the impression you had traveled to distant lands, yet here we are crossing paths again.”

“Circumstances dictated my return. There were certain matters I needed to verify personally.”

“Hmph. I heard reports that you turned away assistance, claiming your ties to the Heavenly Demon Cult were an obstacle. But now that the end is near, you’ve come crawling to save your skin, have you?”

Before the Blood Light Martial Emperor could finish his taunt, Sang Gwan Cheon—who was covered in gore—bellowed with the fury of a cornered animal.

“Keep your tongue still! We never requested aid and we never will. These individuals are not here because we summoned them.”

The Blood Light Martial Emperor looked down at Sang Gwan Cheon with eyes full of contempt.

“I was somewhat apprehensive about encountering them at the Heavenly Pavilion. To be honest, anyone affiliated with the Heavenly Demon Cult would feel the same—it’s not personal, they are simply that lethal. But then word reached me that some pathetic fool had rejected their help. ‘We will defend our lives ourselves’—it was the best news I’d heard. At the same time, I wanted to see the face of the idiot who could be so incredibly short-sighted.”

The Blood Light Martial Emperor smirked at Sang Gwan Cheon, whose face was a kaleidoscope of shifting emotions, and then pressed the issue.

“Did you truly cast them aside solely because of their history with the Heavenly Demon Cult?”

The gaze of everyone present fell upon Sang Gwan Cheon, heavy with silent accusation.

Sang Gwan Cheon straightened his posture and proclaimed with defiant pride.

“Absolutely. How could we ever trust our lives to the dregs of the Heavenly Demon Cult? I would rather face extinction than endure such a disgrace.”

“Kuhahaha!”

Thunderbolt Monk Chuseung let out a loud, mocking laugh.

The Blood Light Martial Emperor joined in the laughter but winced, pressing a hand against his torso—the blade lodged in him must have grazed an organ, sparking a sharp jolt of pain.

“So that is where you stand. Do you still intend to protect these failures after hearing such words?”

Sima Geon gave a soft, amused chuckle at the Blood Light Martial Emperor’s inquiry.

“It appears you are laboring under a delusion.”

“A delusion?”

“Do I strike you as someone who has come here to play the savior?”

“Then why are you here? Why did you strike down those youths?”

The Blood Light Martial Emperor gestured toward the corpses of the Eighteen Bandits, who lay scattered in a pathetic state.

He burned for immediate retribution for his loyal followers who had served him for decades. However, his physical strength was failing, and the man standing before him was far too skilled to engage recklessly.

“I was simply removing impediments from my path.”

“Impediments…?”

A flash of rage crossed the Blood Light Martial Emperor’s face.

“Furthermore, this is an act of vengeance for my elder.”

Before the Blood Light Martial Emperor could find his voice, Sima Geon began walking toward Ha Hu Yeon.

Even though Black Wolf had intervened to save her life, Ha Hu Yeon’s injuries were more severe than they initially appeared.

“Can you stand?”

“I will manage. However…”

Ha Hu Yeon’s voice trailed off.

Sima Geon placed a comforting hand on her head and scanned the battlefield.

Among the piles of the fallen, he identified the warriors belonging to the Ha Hu Clan.

‘I see.’

His gaze lingered briefly on Ha Hu Hyo, who lay dead with a startled expression frozen on his face.

“Ah!”

Ha Hu Yeon suddenly snapped her head up, her eyes wide with panic as she desperately scanned the area for someone.

“What’s wrong?”

“M-My father…”

Ha Hu Yeon turned her head frantically until she spotted her father, who was barely maintaining his balance with the help of his cousin. She let out a long breath of relief. But as she realized that fewer than ten members of the Ha Hu Clan remained, she lapsed into a heavy silence.

“I apologize. I intended to arrive much sooner, but I was delayed.”

“Do not say that, Brother. You have no reason to ask for forgiveness.”

Ha Hu Yeon, well aware of the reasons why Sima Geon hadn’t appeared at the Heavenly Pavilion earlier, cast a look of pure resentment toward Sang Gwan Cheon.

At that moment, Dang Cheon Hwa began walking across the gore-stained ground toward Sang Gwan Cheon.

“The Poison Freak Elder has arrived as well.”

“Yes.”

Sima Geon shifted his attention to Dang Cheon Hwa.

“Oh, you’ve come at last, Elder!”

Sang Gwan Cheon greeted the old man with a burst of desperate hope.

To the shattered forces of the Heavenly Pavilion, the arrival of the Poison Freak felt like the intervention of a divine legion.

Dang Cheon Hwa ignored Sang Gwan Cheon entirely, taking in the devastation of the area.

The loss of life was staggering. The majority of the dead were from the Heavenly Pavilion’s own ranks and the allied warriors who had joined the defense.

His hand tightened around his staff until it shook when his eyes fell upon the wretched corpse of Sang Gwan Baek.

“Are you pleased with this outcome?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You achieved your goal. Are you satisfied now?”

“I don’t understand what you…”

As Sang Gwan Cheon’s eyes darted around, trying to decipher Dang Cheon Hwa’s intent, the elder exploded in a roar of pure rage.

“You mindless imbecile!”

“Elder!”

Sang Gwan Cheon couldn’t help but bristle at the unexpected verbal assault.

Regardless of their long history, he was still the master of the Heavenly Pavilion. To be humiliated in such a manner in front of his peers was a stain on his honor and the reputation of the pavilion itself.

The expressions of the surrounding leaders darkened as well, mirroring his indignation.

“These men and women flocked to this place to support the Heavenly Pavilion. They were fully aware of the peril, fully aware they might not return, yet they came to serve the greater good. Their lives were snuffed out because of your hollow pride. Because of your useless, stubborn vanity.”

“Your words are far too cruel.”

“Cruel?”

Dang Cheon Hwa’s eyes burned with an inner fire.

His staff whipped through the air toward Sang Gwan Cheon.

Sang Gwan Cheon tried to scramble out of the way, but his efforts were futile.

The staff moved with an unnatural agility, striking him repeatedly without mercy. No one present had the courage to step in, terrified by the elder’s overwhelming aura of killing intent.

Dang Cheon Hwa eventually stopped, seized Sang Gwan Cheon by the scruff of the neck, and bellowed in his face.

“Observe! Look at the ruin your pathetic ego has caused!”

“…”

“How many of these people would still be breathing if you had simply accepted their assistance? Your own uncle wouldn’t have met such a miserable end.”

Sang Gwan Cheon violently wrenched himself free from Dang Cheon Hwa’s grip.

“Have you no shame? A man who is respected as a pillar of righteousness—how can you stand there and suggest we should have accepted charity from demonic filth?”

Dang Cheon Hwa hesitated for a moment, momentarily stunned by the fanatical conviction in Sang Gwan Cheon’s eyes.

“Ha! This clown actually has some amusing dialogue.”

Cheol Woo began cracking his knuckles with a menacing air as he moved closer.