Disasters are also a part of nature. The Sword Demon often said this as he tirelessly worked to create an earthquake with his sword.
After spending a great deal of time and enduring countless trials and errors, he finally mastered it, and the essence was the following:
Beneath the earth, there are energy veins known as earth veins that flow like rivers. By forcibly injecting one’s own energy into these veins and detonating them, all of that power can be unleashed onto the surface.
This was the true form of the sword technique “Earthquake” which the Sword Demon had created and Baek Woo Jin had perfected.
However, the earthquake Baek Woo Ji unleashed now was far from the catastrophic disaster that would make people tremble at just the name. His current level was still far from enough to create an explosion that powerful.
Though it lacked the killing power to harm anyone, it was enough for now.
The goal is the core of the formation.
All that mattered was causing some kind of disruption to the core that was buried somewhere beneath the ground.
By the time more than half of the energy in his dantian had flowed into the earth, changes began to appear around them.
“Yo-Young master Baek! The formation’s weakening!”
The dense forest that had surrounded them began to clear, and the chaotic energy gradually settled down.
The core must have been damaged by the artificially created earthquake.
“Whew!”
Baek Woo Jin drew his sword and brushed off the dirt before turning to Jegal Yeon Ji.
“We should be able to reach the core safely now, right?”
“Yes…!”
Just moments ago, she had difficulty taking even a single step, but now she moved forward quickly.
That’s how much the flow of the formation had weakened.
Before long, they arrived at a spot beneath a large tree, where red, white, and blue cloths were tied and fluttering in the wind.
“This is the place.”
“Good.”
When they dug around the area she pointed to, the core object made of wallnut wood emerged, just like in the village. A crack in the center showed the damage it had sustained from the earthquake.
“If I just do this…”
Instead of destroying the core, Jegal Yeon Ji buried it in a slightly different spot from where it had originally been. As soon as she did, the surrounding energy surged and the forest began to disappear entirely.
The true appearance of the area that was hidden within the forest’s illusion slowly came into view.
“This place…”
A short distance away, they saw the entrance to an enormous cave. Next to it stood a large altar that was used for rituals. It was stained with dried blood and looked as if it had been painted bright red.
Colorful cloths hang from the tree where the core was hidden, and an altar…
“There are traces of people around. Maybe …”
“They must have brought the missing people here. And then offered them to that.”
When Baek Woo Jin pointed at the bloodstained altar with his finger, Jegal Yeon Ji grew shocked by the gruesome sight, shut her eyes tightly, and hid behind him.
“Woo Jin-ah!”
“Baek Woo Jin!”
Shin Ye Hwa and Tang Seon Yeong who had been waiting outside rushed in as soon as the formation was broken. Their eyes widened in horror at the scene before them.
“Ugh…”
“This is disgusting.”
Shin Ye Hwa clutched her chest and started gagging, while Tang Seon Yeong frowned and turned her head away.
Baek Woo Jin, however, kept his gaze fixed on the dark, looming entrance of the huge cave.
“Get it together, everyone.”
Just as his firm voice echoed, a thunderous sound came from the cave.
Boom! Boom!
Astonishingly, it was the sound of footsteps. Whatever had been lurking deep within the cave was now taking one heavy step after another and moving toward the outside.
“What in the world…?”
Tang Seon Yeong bit her lip. The thought of what kind of being could make the ground tremble with each step sparked both curiosity and fear.
The earth-shaking footsteps grew closer, and through the darkness of the cave, a faintly pale figure began to emerge.
“Th-That’s…”
“This can’t be…”
A voice filled with the loss of will to fight was heard, and finally, the creature that had fully revealed itself let out a wail.
– Keuheheheung!
– Heo-heo-heong!
– Heo-heong!
The roar that reverberated through the mountains came from a tiger.
A huge one at that, with silver fur so bright it gleamed.
It was none other than the legendary creature known as the White Tiger, a mystical beast that was once counted among the divine spirits and, in the past, was said to have been revered by humans as the Mountain God.
This being was known to be benevolent to humans and only raised its claws and fangs against those who disturbed the peace.
“Th-Those eyes…”
They glowed with blood-red pupils. The mark of one consumed by demonic energy was staring directly at them.
“Tiger Calamity!”
Tiger Calamity.
This was a term used to describe a tiger afflicted by demonic energy, as well as the misfortune that befalls humans due to such a tiger.
The legendary being, who should have been sleeping while receiving praise from humans, now stirred with a burning hostility toward humans.
“Ah…!”
In the short moment of a cry, the pure white paw of the Tiger Calamity closed the distance in an instant, casting its shadow over their heads.
Not only Jegal Yeon Ji but also Shin Ye Hwa who had recently reached the peak of first-rank, and even Tang Seon Yeong who had reached the peak master level. They all couldn’t react to the movement before their eyes.
The only one who responded was Baek Woo Jin.
Boom!
The sound exploded as claws that were hard as diamonds clashed with a sword engulfed in inner energy.
“Urgh…!”
Blood spurted out of Baek Woo Jin’s mouth as he got on one knee. He was overwhelmed by the massive force pressing down on him from above.
“Baek Woo Jin!”
The hand grasping a dark blade sliced through the air. The sharp dagger filled with sword energy struck the body of the Tiger Calamity that was crushing Baek Woo Jin.
Thud! Thud!
The dagger barely pierced its flesh, then fell to the ground as if it had fulfilled its purpose.
A trickle of blood oozed from the pierced skin, but that was all. Instead, the Tiger Calamity let out a furious roar and turned its gaze toward Tang Seon Yeong.
“Move!”
She only reacted thanks to Baek Woo Jin’s rough voice.
Instinctively, she threw her body back and barely dodged the massive paw of Tiger Calamity, which crushed the spot where she had just been standing.
Looking at the beast, she erased the ominous future she had almost faced.
“I coated the dagger with deadly poison! It’s bound to work….”
Before she could even finish her hopeful words, black smoke billowed from the Tiger Calamity’s wound, and its skin began to regenerate immediately.
The black smoke lingering in the air came from the deadly poison that had seeped out of the dagger she had thrown.
“Th-This can’t be…!”
The poison on the blade was the Seven-Step Soul Severing Powder, one of the deadliest poisons handled by the Tang Clan; it was known to sever life before its victim could take seven steps. It was a poison so lethal that only non-human beings, like demons, were accepted as targets. Although she had brought only a small amount, she believed it would at least have some effect.
-Koheuuuuhong!
A furious howl echoed, covering the mountain. Hope faded from everyone’s eyes.
“It’s a complete monster, this thing.”
These were the words Baek Woo Jin muttered as he struggled to rise.
Even his eyes could barely keep up with the creature’s movements. If his years of experience hadn’t alerted him in advance, he would’ve been crushed under its paw before he could react.
It took a lightning technique just to block one attack.
He had to use the explosive force of lightning to fend off the attack. If he had responded in a normal way, he would’ve missed the moment and been struck down, or even if he had blocked it, the creature’s power would’ve crushed him.
It truly was a monster among monsters.
Meanwhile, Baek Woo Jin’s body was rapidly reaching its limit. He had used nearly half of his internal energy just to summon the earthquake, and the bandages wrapped around his shoulder were already soaked in blood and had long since lost their function.
Facing it head-on with our strength is impossible.
The difference in size was too great to win by force alone. The only way to block its attacks was to redirect the power and deflect them.
Baek Woo Jin immediately opened his gourd and poured the alcohol into his mouth, filling it to the brim.
At the same time, he tried to replenish his drained energy, if only a little, and to push aside the negative emotions rising in his mind.
“Puhaaa!”
Amid the overwhelming excitement, the alcohol slowly began to take effect.
Cold logic was gradually being numbed and pushed back, while his suppressed instincts started to take over and lead him.
A light smile appeared on his face; he grew flushed from the heat and the alcohol.
“Now this feels just right.”
Drunkards, after all, lose their sense of fear, even when facing an opponent several times stronger than themselves.
Just moments ago, the creature had seemed larger than life, but now it appeared a little smaller.
Of course, that was just how it looked.
“Hey, you! Wait a minute, alright?!”
Shouting like a drunken fool, Baek Woo Jin hollered at the creature which growled in irritation but didn’t move its feet.
“Miss Tang!”
Seizing the moment, Baek Woo Jin quickly approached Tang Seon Yeong.
She grabbed onto the front of his robes as soon as he reached her.
“Baek Woo Jin, let’s run away. There’s no way we can win against that. You know it too, right? That thing…!”
He quietly wrapped his arms around her trembling shoulders and patted her back gently.
“Yeah, yeah. We’ll run.”
But there was no time to just stand and hold her.
“Miss Tang, I need to ask you a favor.”
“…Tell me.”
“Give me some poison.”
“If it’s the Fiery Pungent Poison…”
When she began rummaging through her pocket, Baek Woo Jin shook his head.
“Not that. Something stronger, much stronger—”
“—If possible, something like the one you used on that tiger earlier would be perfect.”
Tang Seon Yeong’s face twisted in disbelief.
“Are you crazy?”
Before she could say more, Baek Woo Jin quickly covered her mouth with his hand.
“Mmm! Mmm!”
“Hey, hush. What if you annoy that thing over there?”
She glared at him in frustration. Her eyes were full of irritation as he kept her mouth shut.
“How much do you trust me, Miss Tang?”
She pointed at his hand covering her mouth; she was signaling him to move it so she could answer.
“No need for a response. I already know you trust me completely.”
He smiled foolishly, looking just like a drunkard. But only for a moment, as his expression quickly turned serious again.
“So trust me and hand it over. What you’re worried about won’t happen.”
She hesitated but eventually nodded her head.
As soon as he removed the hand covering her mouth, she let out a deep breath. Then after glaring at Baek Woo Jin, she pulled out a small bottle from her inner pocket and handed it to him.
“The last of the Seven-Step Soul Severing Powder was used earlier. This is a poison I got from the Golden Thread Snake. It’s not as strong as the Seven-Step Soul Severing Powder, but out of everything I have, it’s the most potent.”
The Golden Thread Snake referred to a snake with golden stripes on its body; it was small but incredibly poisonous. It was a rare find, even in the southern regions, and treasured by those who dealt with poisons.
When Baek Woo Jin reached for the bottle, she grabbed his hand firmly and reminded him again.
“Don’t underestimate it. I said it’s weaker than the Seven-Step Soul Severing Powder, but even a small dose of the Golden Thread Snake’s poison is lethal; it can kill someone instantly.”
“Don’t worry. I know how valuable my life is.”
He said this as he twisted his hand free from her tight grip.
“Ye Hwa, Mis Jegal, come here now!”
The two who were still dazed snapped out of it and hurried to Baek Woo Jin’s side.
– Grrrrr.
Their bodies tensed up in fear at the low growl of the Tiger Calamity.
“From now on, fall back. I’ll keep it tied down for a bit.”
“Don’t say such nonsense! No matter how strong you are, that’s impossible!”
Shin Ye Hwa raised her voice.
“I’m not saying I’ll fight it head-on. I’ll just buy some time while dodging. If we all stay together, it’ll only scatter our focus.”
“Yo-Young master Baek… Let’s just run away together, okay?”
“Haah.”
Time was running out. There was no time to explain everything to the panicking women.
His eyes turned to Tang Seon Yeong.
“Miss Tang.”
“…Fine, I understand.”
With a sigh, his hands swiftly struck the exposed necks of the two women, who fell unconscious with a short gasp.
Tang Seon Yeong caught their collapsing bodies.
“If you die, I won’t forgive you. You know that, right? The Tang family never forgets a grudge.”
Baek Woo Jin gave a faint smile and nodded his head at her chilling warning.
“…Come back.”
Leaving those final words behind, she carried the two women and moved away.
“Phew.”
Having safely sent Tang Seon Yeong and the others into retreat, Baek Woo Jin let out a breath of relief and turned around.
“Hey, thanks for waiting!”
For some reason, the Tiger Calamity which was now exuding a deadly aura from its eyes had been waiting for him.
“Since you’re already waiting, just hold on a little longer!”
The tiger cried out even more fiercely, yet it seemed intent on waiting. It didn’t move a single step.
Taking advantage of that moment, Baek Woo Jin opened the lid of the poison bottle he had received from Tang Seon Yeong.
“You know, I value my life.”
But then—
“My comrades’ lives, they seem to be just a little bit more precious.”
He burst into laughter, like a madman, and poured the poison from the Golden Thread Snake’s bottle into the gourd. Then he sealed it and shook it vigorously with his internal energy.
“I wonder what kind of liquor this will make~Ah, achoo!”
After shaking it hard, he opened the lid of the gourd, and the bitter smell of herbal medicine slowly rose.
“Ugh.”
Just from the smell, he knew. If he drank this, his body wouldn’t remain intact.
Even so, Baek Woo Jin raised the gourd to his lips and tilted it back. He told himself that he had no other choice; it was the only option he had.
Gulp, gulp!
As the liquid slid down his throat, a dizzying sensation swept through his body with each gulp.
The poison from the Golden Thread Snake was something he couldn’t fully neutralize with his current abilities, and along with the intense energy, the lethal toxicity began spreading throughout his body.
“Ugh!”
He coughed out a mouthful of black blood.
Every time his energy moved, the poison moved with it and it was tormenting his body.
Baek Woo Jin forced a strained smile and spoke to the Tiger Calamity, which hadn’t taken its eyes off him for even a moment.
“Looks like I won’t be able to fight for long, huh.”
As the energy drawn from the liquor filled his body, Baek Woo Jin grasped his sword once more.
“You don’t have to wait anymore.”
The Tiger Calamity leaped through the air.
Leave a Reply