Chapter 1311: I Think I Already Know The Answer? (Part 1)

- You can never bring down an absolute expert with poison.

Indeed, that was a correct statement.

- The Sichuan Tang Family has never produced the world's number-one master even once. It's because of the clear limitations of poison.

That may also be an accurate statement.

- If the Tang Family doesn't change, it can never surpass second.

That statement, too, was painful but precisely accurate.

The poison of the Tang Family had not made the Tang Family the world's best, nor had it made the members of the Tang Family the best in the world.

Therefore, the Sichuan Tang Family could only be the rulers of Sichuan, not the the rulers of the world.

But in response to all these statements, there was one thing the Tang Family wanted to say.

'So what?'

Among those who pointed out the Tang Family's weaknesses, was there one who wanted to become enemies with the Tang Family?

Were there forces that dared to wage war against the Tang Family, despite its flaws?

None. Absolutely none.

A martial arts sect full of flaws.

Yet, it was more revered than any other sect, more feared than any other sect in the world.

Even with flaws, the Tang Family was still the Tang Family, and even if it couldn't become the best, it was still the Tang Family.

Hwaaaaah.

A thick cloud of black poisonous mist rose from within Tang Pae's sleeves.

As if it were spewing from the fiery pit of hell.

The dense poisonous smoke, impossible to see through even with trained martial arts, carried by the force emitted by the Tang Family, engulfed the Blood Cultists. [It's not right, but I'm just going to keep referring to them like that...it's convenient]

"This, this is!"

The faces of the Blood Cultists instantly turned pale.

Hadn't they already seen what happened to those who defied the poison mist?

They must avoid it. They must not be swept away!

But even though they knew, there was no way.

This was a canyon. A narrow canyon blocked on both sides by cliffs. With allies at their backs, the only available space to move was forward and upward.

Moreover, the poison mist spread above their heads.

"Retreat!"

Someone shouted loudly.

Those who received the order quickly leaped backward.

It should never be allowed for those pursuing to retreat.

But the Tang Family would never allow them to retreat so easily.

Sweaaak!

Through the violently pouring poison mist, like lava from an erupting volcano, something swiftly shot out. [omg...an actual 'volcano'...]

"Ugh!"

A perplexed sound burst from the mouths of those who were calmly retreating.

Sssnk! Sssnk! Sssnk!

"Kuk!"

"Ugh!"

Those wounded, unfamiliar with the attack, groaned in pain.

Although they were very familiar with pain, they couldn't help but scream for a moment when they were hit by an unexpected attack.

"Don't panic, and retreat! It's nothing... No..."

The voice of the one who was loudly giving orders was abruptly cut off.

The bodies of those wounded stumbled.

The world in front of them began to spin round and round.

'P-poison?'

This was a severe symptom of poisoning.

But when? They had never come into contact with the poisonous mist.

The person, swaying with severe dizziness, suddenly looked down at their arm.

There was a very small wound.

It looked like a tiny scratch from a child's play, made with their fingernail, but the area around it was turning purple.

'T-this much damage from a mere scratch...'

They were the chasers of the Hao Sect.

Given the nature of their mission, they were naturally familiar with poisons.

So, all members should have a reasonable immunity to poison.

However, what kind of toxin could poison the Hao Sect's chasers so rapidly?

The amount of venom that brushed against their arm as it passed wouldn't be more than a single drop!

"K-kku...!"

Thick purple blood vessels began to bulge on the entire body of the Blood Cultist.

It seemed like the blood would burst out of his skin at any moment.

The intense dizziness and pain made it difficult for them to even stand properly.

But more horrifying than that was the fact that their body, as if paralyzed, did not move as their mind wished.

In the eyes of a Blood Cultist, the black toxic mist creeping closer was visible.

The slow spread of the poison fog was no different from the approach of death.

They widened their bloodshot eyes in shock.

'Ah, no...!'

Aaaargh!

Before their thoughts could continue, the toxic mist engulfed them.

Squelch.

Once again, as several Blood Cultists were swallowed by the toxic mist, Gwak Cheol intervened. [...forgot his name...he's their chief]

In an instant, he lost nearly ten subordinates.

They couldn't use their hands or feet, let alone speak.

'To such a person!'

Gwak Cheol's eyes were filled with anger.

When he entered the canyon, they had confirmed that the Tang Family member's martial arts didn't seem threatening at all.

With that level of strength, they should have been able to create chaos with just five or six subordinates.

However, the result was the opposite.

Instead of crushing the opponent, his subordinates were writhing in pain, their bodies halfway melted.

'What kind of poison is this?'

Who wouldn't know that the Tang Family's poison was unparalleled in the world?

It wasn't for nothing that the Tang Family was referred to as the 'Manipulator (租宗) of Ten Thousand Poisons.'

The poison of the Tang family was the object of caution for all sects in the world.

But still, he had heard that the Tang Family's poison possessed such terrifying power.

"Leader!"

Gwak Cheol bit his lips.

Even at this moment, the toxic fog was spreading.

Considering it logically, they should withdraw behind the canyon until all of that mist dissipated.

But until when?

If the poison of that Tang bastard was all gone, of course, they should do that.

But who could guess how much poison was left in those wide sleeves?

If they made a mistake, they could end up just watching without doing anything until those guys broke through the canyon.

In that case, Kwak Cheol would find it challenging to escape with his life.

"We're breaking through."

"Le-leader?"

"Push away the poison mist with your inner force. We just need to touch him. He's nothing special if we can get close. Kill him."

Mic drop. [ i give up ]

There was no room for objection. Just follow.

As if they had never been flustered, an intense murderous intent emanated from the eyes of the Blood Cultists.

"Go!"

With a loud roar, the Blood Cultists charged forward again and again.

They thrust their thin blades into the scabbards and pushed their inner force into both hands as much as they could.

But at that moment, from within the dense poison mist, a green-colored dagger emerged unexpectedly.

Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!

The dagger, no larger than a child's palm, plunged all the way to the roots into the heads of those leading the charge.

If the dagger had been launched from the hands of Tang Pae in plain sight, they could have easily avoided it and still survived.

While the dagger was undoubtedly dangerous, it was still just a simple weapon.

However, the situation, with the poison mist completely blocking their view and their desperate charge, turned an ordinary dagger into a completely different weapon.

Thud! Thud!

Without even shouting, they fell like dominoes, overcoming the fallen comrades while exerting their inner force.

"Haahhhh!"

Perhaps out of desperation, a fierce scream erupted from the pursuers, who had made secrecy a virtue.

Puaaaang! Puaaaang!

Successive bursts of inner force pushed back the poison mist.

Once they confirmed they could push it away with their inner force, a momentary blue light flickered in their eyes.

"Enter!"

While those who had expelled the poison mist paused for a moment, those behind them advanced, pouring out their inner force once again.

Even though they were facing an unfamiliar situation, their movements seemed as if they had trained dozens of times.

It was a scene that clearly demonstrated how well-prepared they were.

No matter how powerful the venomous mist Tang Family possessed, it was meaningless if it didn't touch their bodies.

Those who expelled the toxic mist regained their confidence and moved forward.

Their approach was indeed correct.

It was the only poison Tang Pae had.

"Quickly push forward..."

Puaaaang!

The color of the toxic mist changed from black to red in an instant.

The ones at the forefront drew their swords not out of reason but out of instinct.

And that instinct saved them.

Kagaagagak!

As they unconsciously swung their swords, something red entangled in the poison wrapped around their thin blades.

"A net?"

If they had tried to block the net with their hands, it was obvious what kind of fate awaited them.

'I-I survived...'

In the red-tinted net, there would likely be the vicious Tang Family's poison in abundance. Merely touching it could dissolve a person into a handful of blood.

As those with thin blades blocked the net, a collective sigh of relief escaped their lips.

However, at that moment, someone who felt a chilling sensation from above urgently raised their head.

Something above... 

'Hm?'

There was nothing.

His eyes revealed nothing but a blurry sky.

Suppressing his confusion and unease, he lowered his gaze again.

Then, in a sudden thought, he hesitated.

'Wait a moment?'

A blurry sky? Was the sky originally cloudy today?

He opened his eyes wider.

"Ah..."

As if he were looking up at the sky from the sandy deserts of Tibet (西藏), something seemed to obscure the view...

Before his brain could organize his thoughts, his mouth opened involuntarily.

"Duck! Above!"

He tried to retrieve the sword and throw his body backward, but the tightly entangled net did not release them easily. Eventually, he quickly let go of the sword and threw his body, but that momentary hesitation determined his fate.

Chwaaaa!

Along with a sound like a rushing wave, things poured from the sky, relentlessly striking the bodies of the blood users.

'Sand?'

It didn't hurt. There weren't even any injuries. Just very small grains of sand had hit their bodies. However, the Blood Cultists quickly understood the situation.

They had to.

Stinging.

The feeling of being lightly pricked by needles spread across their bodies.

The eyes of the Blood Cultists were deeply dyed with despair and fear.

They had heard of this.

Tang Family's sand.

The fine sand infiltrated the skin and pores, poisoning people.

An extremely potent sand with no antidote.

That sand supposedly severed not only a person's life but also their soul.

"Soul-Severing Sand (斷魂沙)!"

The excruciating pain, as if hundreds of sharp razors were slashing their entire bodies, swept over them.

Swept away by it, they screamed like beasts and writhed in agony.

Their bodies trembled incessantly.

The pain was so intense that even losing consciousness was not allowed.

In the midst of the dreadful moans and convulsions, they could only hope that someone would end their lives.

Swoosh! Squelch! Squelch!

In that moment, several daggers flew through the toxic fog, successively piercing the vital points of the blood users.

Thud. Thud.

Those who had struggled in pain collapsed like rotten straw bundles.

Perhaps, at the moment their lives were cut off, they felt gratitude toward Tang Pae.

Gradually, the toxic fog subsided.

Tang Pae, who had revealed himself, pulled back the darts with a tug of his fingers.

Tap.

While holding ten daggers in his hand, Tang Pae glanced at the Blood Cultists who couldn't approach and said.

"Let me give you a question."

"...?"

"Will my poison run out first, or will all of you die first?"

The Blood Cultists' shoulders twitched.

Smiling, Tang Pae added.

"I think I already know the answer?"

The daggers once again sliced through the air like shining light.

On that land where the daggers had shone the brightest a long time ago.