Screeeech!

The Manggongbaek twisted its body in pain as its wound was pierced, pulling away from Cheonyeong while keeping its fangs in his shoulder.

But the more the creature exerted force, the more Cheonyeong's hand, deeply embedded, tore the creature's flesh.

Was it because he was drenched in the blood pouring from the opened wound?

His hazy mind became clear.

No, the pain sharpened his consciousness.

It wasn't from the fangs being embedded.

The Manggongbaek's blood.

That which carried intense heat was melting Cheonyeong's skin.

But why?

When part of the blood flowing down his body seeped between his lips, Cheonyeong felt a burning thirst.

As if swallowing boiling water, the heat passed through his throat, burning his internal organs and creating an unbearable thirst.

Toxic Blood.

Unlike the pain of his body melting, it created a sweetness in his mouth that made him crave it.

Reason was lost, and only greed remained.

Blood...

Cheonyeong instinctively bit the Manggongbaek's neck.

He chewed the flesh and drank the blood.

Even as his body melted from the heat mixed with poison, his hands tore at the flesh, ripped it apart, dug into it, and his throat gulped ceaselessly as he drank.

Screeeech!

The Manggongbaek shrieked and thrashed wildly.

At some moment, as Cheonyeong felt satisfaction from the Manggongbaek's blood, a single incantation appeared in his mind like a spell.

"Earth is the body of man, unchanging and filling below; Metal is the dantian, shining brightly without hesitation in change; Water flows downward, moistening the foundation; Wood within this stands straight and powerfully shoots toward the sky."

A strange light began to emit from Cheonyeong's body.

Crash!

As the light became excessive and exploded, focus disappeared from the Manggongbaek's eyes, its neck hideously broken.

The Manggongbaek's head, which had been tottering, fell heavily to the ground.

"When the path begins, Fire finally exerts its power, reaching the dantian first, rising and burning to open the gate of Strong Bow."

It was the Samyang Divine Skill's incantation.

Cheonyeong's internal energy, which had remained at Two Heavens just before reaching the middle dantian, left the dantian and surged madly, pounding the heart's gate.

Boom! Boom boom!

Like a hammer of history carrying tremendous force, it struck ceaselessly, and the gate could no longer withstand it, shattering and bursting open.

The heat-laden internal energy that had accumulated at the entrance poured in like a rapid current, and the heart beat powerfully, sending blood to all limbs and hundreds of vessels.

Whoooosh.

Numerous water channels formed along the blood vessels in the body, awakening the blood pathways, and as the blood vessels were preserved, the hair burned by the melting heat began to grow again, and new flesh began to sprout beneath the skin.

The Samyang's Strong Bow—the middle dantian—had finally been opened.

* * *

Having been directly covered in poison, Nangong Hyeok lost consciousness for half a day, and only regained it through Byeon Gil-tae's efforts to draw out all the Samyang's heat. The moment he awoke, he searched for Cheonyeong.

"Th-The Tang Family Head is..."

At the words painfully uttered by him, unable to even raise his body, everyone's faces darkened.

"He is still within the poisoned mist."

"What?"

"The Manggongbaek thrashed for a while. Releasing poison like never before, it killed everything living around it."

When they had brought out Nangong Hyeok.

The range of the poisoned mist had expanded several times.

The Nangong family's martial artists had no choice but to retreat from the poison and reestablish the encirclement.

At the regretful voice of Nangong Seong-lim, representing everyone, Nangong Hyeok struggled to raise his body.

"Father."

"Support me, quickly."

"...Father."

"We must save him! We must!"

Nangong Hyeok struggled with his weakened body to rise.

"That is not possible."

Byeon Gil-tae blocked his action.

"Release me! Why do you stop me!"

"Sword Emperor, moving now is not advisable."

"What?"

"I am not as skilled as the Family Head in controlling poison. I have only managed to prevent the poison from spreading by imitating what I saw before."

"..."

"If you move forcefully, the poison will spread again."

"What does that matter?"

"Sword Emperor..."

"Are you saying I should simply leave him to die in that thick poison!"

A desperate intensity appeared in Nangong Hyeok's eyes.

"I cannot do that. How can I abandon one who came forward to help the Nangong family? Seong-lim, Seong-hwi. My sons. You are of the Nangong family. How can you merely watch the death of one who helped the family with good intentions? Even if I die, we must save him."

Though he spoke thus, the weakened Nangong Hyeok could only plead with his two sons.

"Children, quickly..."

As he made the request again, Nangong Seong-lim reluctantly helped him up.

But he was stopped again by Byeon Gil-tae's hand.

"Why do you do this! Release me!"

"Sword Emperor."

"..."

"The Family Head instructed me to save you."

"Wh-What?"

"Seeing you poisoned, his eyes conveyed that message."

"..."

"I cannot easily abandon the life entrusted to me."

"Ah..."

A sigh escaped Nangong Hyeok's lips.

"Sword Emperor."

"..."

"The Successor Beggar, friend of my Family Head, could not rush in to save him. The Green Blue Sect's senior disciple, who received even more help, also could not. I stopped them."

"..."

"Please do not tarnish his noble intention to save you."

Nangong Hyeok seemed to lose all his strength.

He understood the heart behind those words clenched in determination.

He could no longer insist.

It felt futile.

What could he possibly do?

Just standing caused blood to rise in his throat, and unbearable dizziness overwhelmed him.

The old master, who had lived refusing to accept anyone stronger than himself, now thought that all the martial arts he had learned throughout his life were truly useless.

"The Manggongbaek's movements, which thrashed for more than two hours, have quieted."

"..."

"The poisoned mist remains, but he must surely still be alive. I believe so."

Byeon Gil-tae's words were merely hope.

But.

"I also believe so. That fellow is the luckiest person I know."

Baita added.

"Infinite Buddha. I believe he lives."

Yu Seong-yeon, even chanting a Buddhist invocation he did not usually enjoy, was steeling his heart.

At the words of those who had helped the Nangong family alongside the Tang Family Head, Nangong Hyeok could only lower his head weakly.

"I too... believe."

There was no other choice.

They had no way to pierce through that thick poisoned mist and confirm Cheonyeong's life or death.

Then it happened.

"Family Head! Family Head!"

"What is it?"

A martial artist came running desperately to where Nangong Hyeok was being treated.

"The wind is blowing! The wind is clearing away the poisoned mist!"

"What?"

It was good news arriving in the midst of despair.

Those who widened their eyes ran without exception toward where the poisoned mist had been.

"Support me."

"But, rest..."

"Even if I die, it matters not! I must see for myself. Quickly!"

Reasserting his stubborn will, Nangong Seong-lim had no choice but to support Nangong Hyeok.

* * *

The strong wind gradually thinned the poison.

The Nangong family's martial artists approached little by little, narrowing the distance.

"Huh?"

And someone stopped with a startled expression, looking toward the center of the poison.

"Th-That is?"

A long, pale white object lying limply on the ground.

The Manggongbaek.

"It appears to be dead."

The Manggongbaek lay with its tongue extended, and its two eyes no longer glowed golden.

The eyes had turned a deep gray, and its neck was hideously torn open.

"There! A person!"

At someone's shout, the gazes of those gathered turned to one place.

Beside the Manggongbaek's corpse.

A person was sitting.

"Tang Family Head?"

"Cheonyeong?"

The moment close friends who were nearest recognized it was Cheonyeong and tried to approach, Nangong Hyeok, supported by Nangong Seong-lim and drawing near, shouted with eyes suddenly wide open from somewhere he found strength.

"Stop!"

"...?"

"Do not approach and withdraw, quickly!"

"Wh-What, Sword Emperor?"

"Do as I say!"

Nangong Hyeok suddenly seemed to find vitality and shouted powerfully.

In his eyes was contained joy.

Though others did not know, he did.

He had experienced it before.

The radiance that spread around the seated Cheonyeong like brilliance awakened his memory.

"...Treasure Blood."

At Nangong Hyeok's murmur in a entranced tone, everyone tilted their heads in confusion.

It was Treasure Blood.

Where would the preciousness of a spiritual creature reside only in its inner core?

That blood too was precious beyond measure.

Though the exact effect the Manggongbaek's Treasure Blood had on him was unknown, the current Cheonyeong had stepped into the realm of the absolute.

His hair was full of luster, and his exposed skin emitted clear light, was it not?

"Family Head!"

"Yes? Yes, Father."

"Quickly withdraw the martial artists and establish a seal formation around this area."

"A seal formation?"

"Yes! Right now, no one should approach the Tang Family Head, not even small animals should be allowed near."

"What does that mean?"

"Hehe, just as the Successor Beggar said, he truly seems to be blessed by heaven's fortune."

"Understood."

Without detailed explanation, Nangong Seong-lim simply nodded.

His father seemed so pleased...

"Ugh!"

But perhaps from relaxing in joy?

Nangong Hyeok suddenly vomited black blood and collapsed.

"Father!"

Nangong Seong-lim supported him as he sat, checking his pulse.

"Damn, the poison again..."

"It is fine, fine."

Nangong Hyeok smiled faintly and waved his hand.

"You must not move now. You need treatment."

"Yes, that is right. Now my heart is at ease, so I must live. I must live to offer him a cup of wine."

Despite the blocked poison spreading again and his skin changing color, Nangong Hyeok laughed with a chuckle.

"Listen! Listen!"

"...?"

"Please care for my father once more. I beg you!"

At Nangong Seong-lim's words, Byeon Gil-tae, who had been watching Cheonyeong, hurried over and examined him.

"Oh my, the poison is... There is no time to move him. Let him rest here. I will do what I can to prevent it, but we must quickly bring a physician. Hurry!"

"Understood!"

Nangong Seong-lim, entrusting his father to Byeon Gil-tae, nodded. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Changtian Commander, establish a seal formation around this area! I will quickly bring the family's physician."

"Yes! Family Head!"

Nangong Seong-lim ran down the mountain without waiting for a response.

The physician had already been called when Nangong Hyeok was poisoned.

He should be coming, but there was no time, so he had to go ahead to meet him, and if necessary, he would carry him back.

"He really survived."

"Indeed. I said it jokingly, but this fellow truly seems to be blessed by heaven's fortune."

At Yu Seong-yeon's barely relieved words, Baita nodded.

But Treasure Blood...

From what Nangong Hyeok said, it seemed the Manggongbaek's blood had turned crisis into opportunity for Cheonyeong.

Now that he had survived, he felt somewhat envious.

"Damn, that fellow's luck is really something else."

(End of Chapter)