Chapter 676
The flames that started from the Flame God Palm spread rapidly in all directions from the entrance of Mount Aino.
Whirr. Kwaaaa!
If there were a scorching hell as described in Buddhism, this would be the scene.
Ceaseless scattering of ashes and acrid smoke. And the Fire Demon engulfing everything like a wave.
Thud, Gugugugung!
The earth shook as rows of giant trees fell, and mountain birds took flight all at once.
It was a sight that Jeok Cheon-gang, honorary chairman of the Forest Protection Association, would have rolled his eyes at, but fortunately, there were no noticeable animals nearby, so it seemed the Animal Protection Association wouldn’t need to get involved.
‘They’re quick on the uptake, being wild animals. Did they all run away already?’
Actually, it doesn’t matter how it turns out now.
I don’t particularly want to deprive a poor family of roe deer of their home and lives, but stopping Dark Heaven’s scheme and saving other people’s lives is more important.
‘If the ominous feeling I felt is true…’
There’s no more room to hesitate.
As I ran swiftly, I spotted a wall of flames blocking my path about ten yards ahead and reached out into the air.
‘Inventory open. Summon.’
It was the right choice not to take out Baek Sang when defecting from the Western Region.
If it had been confiscated, I wouldn’t be able to use it at this crucial moment.
Swish.
A cool sensation filled my grip. The flames flickering all around were reflected on the transparent, pure white blade.
‘Now.’
Now that the surroundings were already turning into a sea of fire, I didn’t do anything foolish like shooting out Scorching Yang Energy.
What I needed now was strong power and speed. Along with concise yet perfect movements and flow.
Whoosh!
With a short burst of air, the Raging Wind that shot out from the tip of the diagonally swung blade tore through the flames.
Whirr, Whoooosh!
A path opened with an explosion.
I crouched low on Muyaho’s pure white fur and whispered in its ear, which had been momentarily hesitant due to the flames.
“Let’s go.”
Krrr.
The White Tiger, Muyaho, replaced its answer with a low growl and darted forward like a ray of light.
The flames surging like waves closely pursued us, but even in this chaos, it knew its destination exactly.
Papat!
The scenery quickly flashed by. The moon high in the sky was hidden by clouds, and as I continued to move forward with the flames behind me, I muttered at a strange sense of familiarity.
“Could it be…”
And the next moment, I suddenly closed my mouth at a thought that flashed through my mind.
No, perhaps it wasn’t just a possibility.
The fact that this path and the surrounding scenery, which should be unfamiliar, felt familiar meant only one thing.
‘Poison-Blooded Land.’
Mount Aino, which had once plunged the entire Southern Barbarian region into terror after the destruction of the Five Poisons Sect, became known as the forbidden land of the Southern Barbarian region.
And the Poison-Blooded Land, located in the deepest and most hidden part of Mount Aino.
If my guess was correct… we were heading straight for that Poison-Blooded Land. Perhaps to the most dangerous place in the Southern Barbarian region.
‘But by now, that place must be guarded by a considerable force.’
The Southern Barbarian Beast Palace wasn’t just some backwater sect full of riffraff.
When five Millennial Poison Spiders, an extremely rare poison, appeared and the Poison-Blooded Land, which no one had discovered for a long time, revealed itself, the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace dispatched a considerable number of troops.
This was to eradicate any remnants and dangers of the Five Poisons Sect that might remain.
‘Even if they were aiming for the blind spot, they hid in such a place?’
And it didn’t take long for the question I had in mind to be resolved.
At some point, my steps gradually slowed.
I sensed something from Muyaho’s bared teeth and immediately realized something had happened. Soon, I recognized that the faint, fishy smell permeating the acrid smoke was the blood scent of humans.
‘I see. So that’s what it is.’
I muttered inwardly and looked at the entrance to the Poison-Blooded Land. The place, gaping like the jaws of a giant monster, seemed full of unknown dangers, just like the first time I came.
No, perhaps even more so than before.
‘Well, it wouldn’t be an ultra-high-level quest if it were easy.’
Somehow, things seemed to be going too smoothly. But unlike Baek Sang, I had come too far to turn back now.
If I avoided the immediate danger in front of me, an even greater danger would come crashing down behind me.
Like the flames sweeping through the forest and approaching from behind, even at this very moment.
I got off Muyaho’s back and stroked the underside of its chin, which it usually liked, and said,
“It seems like this is where we part ways. The difference from last time is that you don’t have to come back this time.”
– Krrr?
“Go back before it’s too late. You can break through the flames and escape.”
– Krrreng?, …?.
Muyaho stared at me with a small whimper.
I could feel the conflict and fear rising in the clear blue eyes of this intelligent White Tiger.
As a being with excellent instincts, it seemed to have already guessed.
That it was easy to enter, but difficult to leave.
That it might never see Yal Mok again.
Nevertheless, the reason it couldn’t turn back as easily as last time was probably because some affection had built up between us.
“I’m not going to die either. So don’t worry and leave first. Your master will be waiting for you.”
With reassuring words, I gently stroked its neck, and only then did Muyaho slowly nod and dart away, which had been paused for a moment.
– Kuaaaang!
Whoosh!
Not towards the hill where the flames hadn’t reached yet, but towards the entrance of the Poison-Blooded Land.
“Hey! You idiot!”
I spat out a cry mixed with panic, but it was already too late to catch it.
At that moment, when I was momentarily stunned by this unexpected event, the White Tiger, which had charged into the hazy Poison Mist with a thunderous roar, staggered out.
– Krrk. Cough.
“…Do you want some Blood Poison Liquor?”
The White Tiger, which avoided my gaze with a pause, slyly nodded.
* * *
Muyaho adapted to the Poison-Blooded Land faster than I had expected.
It not only drank the Blood Poison Liquor but swallowed it down, and with its keen reflexes, it dealt with the poisons that rushed in from all directions. It also leaped over a swamp with a large width that even supreme masters who had learned some lightness skills would hesitate to cross, in a single bound.
However, the deeper we went, the more cautious its movements and breathing became.
Swaaaaa
Due to the Poison Mist that had invaded the interior of the Poison-Blooded Land, it was difficult to distinguish the surroundings. Only the sound of something brushing against the grass and the sound of water droplets could be heard sporadically, and the surroundings were eerily silent.
‘It wasn’t this bad when I came with the Beast Miao King last time.’
I had felt it since I smelled the Blood Scent at the entrance, but this was by no means a good sign.
Perhaps… no, with a very high probability, the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace troops that had been dispatched to the Poison-Blooded Land a few days ago were probably no longer in this world.
‘If that’s the case, it must be that bastard’s doing.’
An ultra-high-level master whose name, alias, and face were unknown.
It was something that the one who had stained the Western Region with blood in a short time without even a moment’s delay and kidnapped Heukung and Yohee could do.
Perhaps it wasn’t just one, but ‘them.’
Dark Heaven.
The power of those who appeared after the Demonic Cult was terrifying, even based on what had been revealed so far.
In particular, the martial prowess of Blood Lord and the Western Heavenly Demon, whom I had directly clashed with… even I, who had grown rapidly through countless training and life-and-death battles based on the system, couldn’t dare to guarantee victory.
‘Although I haven’t experienced it, the Southern Demon Empress must also be a skilled person who is no less than them.’
That’s why I, who was heading into enemy territory alone, couldn’t help but be nervous.
When I faced Blood Lord, the Sword Saint Ma Jonghak was there, and in the battle against the Western Heavenly Demon, which was closer to death than ever, Jeok Cheon-gang’s help was there.
‘But if the Southern Demon Empress is here…’
Will I be able to meet my comrades and family again alive?
Thud
And just as a drop of cold sweat that had formed without me even realizing it was sliding down my neck.
Lick.
A sensation as rough as sandpaper.
Seeing the White Tiger, Muyaho, licking my neck and pretending not to know, I couldn’t help but let out a burst of laughter.
“Are you telling me not to be nervous?”
– Grrr.
It’s nothing special, but strangely, my mind becomes at ease.
When I think about it, I’ve experienced countless near-death crises so far, so why am I sweating now that I’ve come this far?
If I’m this nervous, my body will stiffen and it will be difficult to fight properly.
‘Yeah, damn it. It’s not like it’s the first time.’
I reminded myself of the essential virtue that the successor of the Scorching Flame Sect and the descendant of the Fire King must have, the no-turning-back spirit, and extended a palm towards the Poison Mist.
Whoosh
A burst of air that breaks the silence.
Scorching Yang Energy, which is extremely compatible with poison. Among them, as the heat of the Flame God Palm, which is indescribably powerful, spread out, the thick Poison Mist shattered and scattered, and the dark Poison-Blooded Land turned red.
Ssssk!
Strange forms of poison that hastily move away from the light and heat.
I glared at the finally revealed maze-like path and roared with power,
“Come out! You bastards!”
– Kuaaaang!
What on earth happened?
At some point, Yohee, who had suddenly come to her senses, blinked in the darkness where she couldn’t see an inch ahead.
“Ah…”
Her voice, which was always seductive, was half hoarse, and her whole body ached in various places, perhaps because she hadn’t moved for a long time.
And only then did fragments of memories slowly begin to surface.
Without realizing it, her heart sank, and her body, which had been relaxed for a moment, stiffened again like a stone statue.
Unbelievable memories flashed through Yohee’s silently trembling eyes.
Screams. Corpses. Blood.
And the face of one person who created all of that.
Just as Yohee was about to reflexively scream, a voice muffled in the darkness was heard.
“Calm down, Yohee.”
“Hiss…!”
“There’s nothing to be surprised about. It’s me, it’s me.”
Yohee barely swallowed her scream and calmed her pounding heart.
A familiar figure was caught in her eyes, which had slowly become accustomed to the darkness.
“H, Heukung? Is it really you, Heukung Hyung?”
“That’s right. Don’t you remember?”
It took some time for the memories to return sequentially.
Yohee recalled the image of Heukung resisting to the end against and muttered.
“I had forgotten for a moment without realizing it. But why is your tone different from usual…”
In the darkness not far away, Heukung, who had been waiting for Yohee to wake up, wore a bitter smile.
“There were various circumstances. Circumstances that I couldn’t easily tell you.”
A polite tone and manner of speaking.
Yohee felt unfamiliar with this appearance of Heukung, who always smiled and called her Nui, but that wasn’t important right now.
“Where is this place? Where is he?”
“I don’t know either. When I opened my eyes, I was here.”
A body bound by chains and a body that doesn’t budge.
Just as Yohee was groping around with despairing eyes, a faint light poured in with a heavy noise.