Chapter 14

'Why is that person here...?!'

Cheong-ra opened his eyes wide in surprise. Even so, he didn't forget to pay attention to the spirit beast. With the sudden appearance of Dang Ran-yeong and the need to watch over the junior brothers' safety, his senses became even more acutely alert. In the darkness, Dang Ran-yeong's face, illuminated by the torchlight, flickered ominously.

"However, you should hand over that beast to me. I was chasing it first, you see. Isn't that right, Hwan-hong?"

"You are correct, Young Master."

Today, Dang Ran-yeong had brought along one maidservant. The smiling maidservant with a slightly chubby face had sharp claws fitted on her hands like gloves. Her face was beautiful, but a scar on her chin was a flaw. When the maidservant moved her fingers neatly, it made a chilling metallic sound.

"Could it be... the Green-Eyed Poison Dragon, Dang Ran-yeong?"

As someone uttered Dang Ran-yeong's notorious name, which no one was unaware of, the martial artists were startled. In the midst of this, the only one maintaining composure was Cheong-ra, who was facing off against the spirit beast. Having resolved to deal with the spirit beast first, he gathered his internal energy. Just as his sword was about to pierce the bear's eye at lightning speed, someone noticed the movement first.

A hidden weapon struck the sword blade, causing the sword trajectory to twist and stab the bear's shoulder instead of its eye. In an instant, his arm was greatly shaken with a force that seemed too powerful to be just a thrown projectile. Thanks to this, Cheong-ra had to hurriedly dodge the enraged spirit beast's attack and retreat back.

"Even after I told you it's mine, you dare lay a hand on it?"

At the chilling voice, Cheong-ra bit his lip. When Dang Ran-yeong's attack landed, an exhilarating thrill surged through him to the point of surprise, causing his face to harden coldly to conceal the disturbance. Quickly turning his head, his gaze met Dang Ran-yeong's, who had been looking at him. The handsome face wore a sinister smile.

"Since Young Master Baek Ri and I have shared drinks before, and you're quite pretty, I'll let you off this once."

Before he knew it, several hidden weapons had appeared in Dang Ran-yeong's hand. With each movement of his hand, the hidden weapons disappeared like ghosts, then needles appeared and vanished, and then new hidden weapons reappeared. Even Cheong-ra, who was accustomed to swift techniques, couldn't grasp the profound and highly difficult Needle Arts.

"But I warn you, there won't be a second time."

His voice was so calm and composed that it didn't sound like a threat. However, no one present took Dang Ran-yeong's words as a joke. Recently, Dang Ran-yeong had a history with those who ignored his warning; their limbs were dismembered, and then thrown onto the streets. As everyone was in a tense standoff, unable to do anything, Sect Leader Shim Ryang asked.

"Does that mean Young Master Tang intends to capture the spirit beast himself?"

"Well, what if I do?"

Dang Ran-yeong spoke as he consecutively threw seven hidden weapons into the air and caught them in sequence. The way he looked at the people in distress made it hard to believe he was from a righteous faction, as he seemed to be enjoying the situation.

"The way you're all flustered is quite amusing, so I might as well watch a little longer."

"How can you make light of a situation where people's lives are at stake? If you're not going to help, then don't interfere!"

While everyone was enraged, only Cheong-ra calmly assessed the situation. No, he appeared to be assessing it. However, his true intentions were completely different from the others. He was the only one here who felt a strange temptation from Dang Ran-yeong's arrogant warning that there wouldn't be a second time.

What would Dang Ran-yeong do if his warning was defied? A strong urge arose in him to find out.

However, seeing the frightened junior brothers, it was not something he should do to provoke such a dangerous person. Instead of indulging his desire, Cheong-ra glared fiercely at Dang Ran-yeong. Sensing Cheong-ra's intense gaze, Dang Ran-yeong turned his head again. For some reason, he curled his lips upward as their eyes met. In the meantime, the enraged Shim Ryang shouted loudly.

"No matter how arrogant you are, you can't go this far!"

"It's you who is being arrogant, Sect Leader."

The moment Dang Ran-yeong finished speaking, the martial artists near him collapsed powerlessly to the ground. A nearby martial artist exclaimed in shock.

"It's a poison gas! Everyone, cover your nose and mouth..."

But even before he could finish his words, that martial artist also fell to the ground. Judging from the groaning sounds and slight movements, it seemed to be a paralytic poison rather than a lethal one. In an instant, as several people collapsed, the formation that had been blocking the spirit beast's escape route also crumbled.

"This cowardly bastard!"

Enraged by the collapse of several disciples, Shim Ryang jumped around but hurriedly retreated. This was why the Tang Clan was so feared. For ordinary experts, it was difficult to deal with dozens of people, but a martial artist who had mastered the poison arts to the extreme could incapacitate dozens with a single poison gas attack.

Taking advantage of the broken formation, the spirit beast tried to flee, so Cheong-ra hurriedly threw himself in front of it to block its path. The junior brothers also fired arrows in retaliation to cover for the fallen. The barrage of arrows made the spirit beast hesitate. Cheong-ra, who couldn't let the bear go like this, narrowed his eyes.

If he couldn't kill the spirit beast, he had to at least inflict deep wounds on it. That way, he could track it through the blood trail it would leave behind. Cheong-ra urgently sent a telepathic message to Lim Jeong.

'Junior Brother Lim, when I give the signal, shoot your arrow at the bear's hind legs.'

Lim Jeong resolutely nodded, acknowledging Cheong-ra's instruction. As he drew his bow taut, Lim Jeong frowned, glanced down at the ground, and jumped up in shock. As a result, the arrow flew meaninglessly into the air with a whooshing sound.

Cheong-ra soon realized why Lim Jeong had reacted that way. It was unclear when it had approached, but a large, long snake was slithering nearby. However, its appearance was not that of an ordinary snake. Its entire body had a glossy sheen, and a horn protruded from its forehead.

'A Venomous Horned Serpent?!'

Cheong-ra, who had maintained his composure even after Dang Ran-yeong's appearance, was finally shaken for the first time. He had heard that the venom of the Venomous Horned Serpent was so potent that almost no one survived after being bitten. For such a venomous snake to approach so close to Lim Jeong, it was hard to believe his eyes.

There was no time to think about why another spirit beast had appeared here. As soon as Lim Jeong screamed, Cheong-ra immediately leaped, leaving the giant bear behind. When the sword that the terror-stricken Lim Jeong reflexively swung collided with the Venomous Horned Serpent's body, it made a metallic sound and bounced off. Cheong-ra was able to narrowly stop the enraged snake from biting and tearing Lim Jeong apart.

Instead of Lim Jeong's body, the Venomous Horned Serpent bit down on the sword blade, making a sharp metallic sound. With the sudden appearance of another spirit beast, the Dragon Gate Sect's martial artists were also at a loss, panicking in confusion. Both spirit beasts were formidable and dangerous opponents. Even Shim Ryang was flustered and unable to give proper instructions.

The golden bear didn't miss this opportunity. It charged in the direction where the Dragon Gate Sect's formation had crumbled, and the martial artists hurriedly dodged. At that moment, Dang Ran-yeong's maidservant threw hidden weapons at the bear. The spirit beast hastily evaded and then stood still, staring intently at something. In the direction of its gaze, an unidentified lump was lying in the shadows between the bushes.

'What is that thing?'

Even with his enhanced vision, it was too dark in that corner to make out the form properly. A low growl came from the bear's open mouth, sounding somewhat mournful to Cheong-ra's ears. Soon, the spirit beast took the unidentified lump in its mouth and swiftly fled back into the mountains. Seeing this scene, Sect Leader Shim Ryang let out a loud sigh of regret.

"To miss such an opportunity that may never come again...!"

Although he glared at Dang Ran-yeong with resentment, Shim Ryang clenched his teeth and remained silent. If he had his way, he would have killed Dang Ran-yeong on the spot. However, as the sect leader, he judged that it would be difficult to deal with a Tang Clan expert like Dang Ran-yeong in a situation like this. Instead, their gaze turned to the newly appeared spirit beast.

Even for a snake that easily exceeded the height of an adult man, the fact that it was a Venomous Horned Serpent was shocking. In terms of possessing an extreme venom, it was in some ways even more difficult to deal with than the bear. Everyone was tense when, surprisingly, Dang Ran-yeong gave the spirit beast an order.

"Yong-rin, come here."

The Venomous Horned Serpent, which had been standing upright facing Cheong-ra, surprisingly obeyed Dang Ran-yeong's command. In front of everyone, it slithered and coiled around Dang Ran-yeong's feet. Then, it rubbed its head against his calf, acting coquettishly.

While everyone was aghast at the sight, Cheong-ra's face froze in cold anger. Shim Ryang's face also turned a dark red as he raged.

"Dang Ran-yeong, you bastard! You're running wild without any fear! I won't forget this grudge!"

"Sect Leader Shim. Were you that upset about the bear's pelt?"

Dang Ran-yeong spoke in a voice as smooth as silk. Then, before Shim Ryang could respond, he continued.

"If so, you don't have to repay the debt. The bear's pelt is probably worth that much, isn't it?"

At this, Shim Ryang flinched. Judging from his reddened face and trembling body, unable to retort, it seemed he had borrowed a considerable amount.

"Why? When you borrowed the money, didn't you know that I was such a cowardly and vile person? You knew it all when you borrowed, didn't you?"

Shim Ryang couldn't answer and only trembled. It seemed that the weight of the borrowed money was heavier than the escaped spirit beast, as he silently retreated with a solemn expression. However, Cheong-ra was different. For the first time since Dang Ran-yeong's appearance, he opened his mouth and sharply questioned him.

"Did you order that snake to deliberately attack the junior brother?"