Chapter 90

Dang Ran-yeong tapped his whip handle and said,

"It would be troublesome if you try to leak information about me to the Martial Arts Alliance."

"Young Master Dang, I have enough integrity not to do such things. What I'm talking about is after our deal ends."

Cheong-ra shook his head as he spoke. He had discovered the culprit behind planting a spy in Moon Lake Sect as ordered by the Sect Leader. So he could return to his sect now, but Cheong-ra didn't want to.

'I can't just leave those who might harm my sect unchecked.'

Having received permission from his master to do as he pleased, he wanted to fight the Blood Cult as much as he could. The events at the Hengshan Sect were firmly etched in his mind. The thought of Moon Lake Sect suffering the same fate was horrifying.

"After I finish my business in Beijing, I plan to visit the Martial Arts Alliance. Seeing that Young Master Geum was dispatched, it seems the Alliance hasn't completely abandoned the Blood Cult issue. Since I have a connection with the Alliance Leader, he'll welcome me."

"Well, whatever."

Dang Ran-yeong reacted indifferently, as if to say do as you please. Nevertheless, Cheong-ra strangely found himself watching Dang Ran-yeong's reaction. It was just a business relationship, so why did he feel like he was defying or going against the other? After a moment's hesitation, Cheong-ra revealed more of his inner thoughts.

"I don't know what Young Master Dang thinks, but I believe our traveling together under the name of a deal is also a kind of fate. So, would it be alright if I occasionally visit The Pavilion of Golden Fragrance after this is over?"

He couldn't help feeling regretful at the thought that this relationship would end completely after this affair. He thought that his relationship with Dang Ran-yeong hadn't been that bad so far. Feeling a bit embarrassed, Cheong-ra lowered his gaze slightly and added,

"Well, I'm not suggesting anything special. Just meeting occasionally to drink for an hour or two, playing the zither, and chatting. I'd like to play you other songs besides 'A Red Flower in the Snow'."

As he said this, Cheong-ra recalled the kiss on the ship and the subsequent rejection. Would Dang Ran-yeong refuse even such a light proposal?

Thinking that if the other disliked or found it bothersome, there was nothing he could do, Cheong-ra raised his head and froze. Dang Ran-yeong's gaze was not just dislike or annoyance, but very cold. Beyond cold, a clear, deep displeasure was rising in his eyes, tinged with cruelty.

He hadn't reacted at all when Cheong-ra talked about working with the Martial Arts Alliance earlier, so why was he reacting like this now?

Flustered, Cheong-ra couldn't bring himself to voice this question and just swallowed dryly. A dull pain arose in his chest. Even though he knew the other was far from being affectionate or kind, and had told himself many times that he had no expectations...

Dang Ran-yeong reached out to Cheong-ra, who was frozen from the emotional shock. Before he could react, a large hand gripped his neck. The hand that suddenly grasped the nape of his neck pressed down forcefully.

As Cheong-ra was about to fall face-first onto the ground, a fierce wind brushed over his head.

Cheong-ra's eyes widened as he immediately planted his hands on the ground and spun his body to assume a combat stance. The sword in his hand, which he had drawn without realizing, flashed sharply. He rose in one motion, putting strength into his feet, and glanced quickly behind him.

An arrow that had passed through where Cheong-ra's head had been moments ago was quivering, embedded in the fortress wall. Once again, Dang Ran-yeong had saved his life.

Before he could even say thank you, more arrows came flying in succession. This time, Cheong-ra also perceived the arrows and dodged while staring in the direction they came from.

There stood a Blood Cult member wearing a red mask. Behind him were dozens of Blood Cult members wearing wooden masks. The red-masked cultist was shrugging his shoulders while holding a large bow. The gesture, full of excitement, seemed oddly out of place in the current situation.

"Tch."

Clicking his tongue in annoyance as he looked at Cheong-ra, Dang Ran-yeong was already holding his whip again. The tip of his whip lashed out, striking down the sharp arrowhead that was flying towards them. It was an incredibly precise and sharp whip technique, bordering on the miraculous.

"Yao Guang pays his respects!"

The red-masked figure raised both arms high and made an exaggerated fist-palm salute. Then, in an strange androgynous voice that made it impossible to tell if it was a man or woman, they greeted politely. This too was oddly mismatched with the current situation. At the same time, the Blood Cult members all charged forward. Their movements were silent, without a single battle cry, like well-honed daggers.

'Are these the ones brought by the Blood Cult member who escaped earlier?'

Momentarily worrying about Geum Sa-cheon's safety, Cheong-ra swung his sword. The sword of a Blood Cult member rushing towards him clashed with a sharp clang. Then, with white robes fluttering, his body spun around.

When he had turned halfway, he cut off a wrist, and when he completed a full turn, he deflected another cultist's sword. Then his sword blade flashed as it extended towards yet another cultist. The movement was as beautiful and graceful as if he were performing a sword dance.

The martial arts level of each of these cultists was lower than Cheong-ra's. However, with many attacking at once, his attention was scattered in all directions, making it difficult to perceive things happening further away.

For instance, the bowstring that the red-masked cultist was aiming.

Ping~! With a sharp sound cutting through the air, another arrow was shot at Cheong-ra. However, before it could reach its target, a red whip tore through the air and struck it down. No, it didn't just strike it down. The cross-section of the arrow that fell to the ground in pieces was as clean as if cut by a sword.

"What kind of trick is this?"

After deflecting a few more arrows persistently targeting Cheong-ra, Dang Ran-yeong's aura became ominous. His gaze, glaring at the Blood Cult members, was filled with murderous irritation.

Even if he wanted to kill the red-masked cultist immediately, there were dozens of Blood Cult members in between. Dang Ran-yeong sighed softly, and a deep green light filled his eyes as his pupils gradually changed color.

True to his nickname "Green-Eyed Poison Dragon," his eyes turned a vivid green. These eyes, like carved jade, were a characteristic that only appeared in those who had been close to poisons from a young age, had intensively trained in the Tang Clan's poison techniques, and simultaneously possessed a certain level of inner energy.

A dark navy-colored poison energy also gathered at the tips of Dang Ran-yeong's hands. No matter how skilled, no one could withstand human wave tactics.

Except, that is, for the Tang Clan's poisons.

With a flutter of his robe, Dang Ran-yeong's hand suddenly held a peacock feather. The peacock feather, imbued with the poison energy flowing from his fingertips, was filled with bone-piercing needles, one of the Tang Clan's Twelve Types of Needles, strong enough to pierce bone.

Soon, countless hidden weapons were shot like arrows in all directions except where Cheong-ra stood.

"Guk...!"

Black blood spurted from the mouths of Blood Cult members pierced by multiple needles, showing how deadly the poison was. Some lucky ones barely managed to dodge, but the rest couldn't and collapsed to the ground all at once. Dang Ran-yeong, frowning deeply, muttered as if displeased,

"How trivial..."

It was an expression that clearly showed why he didn't like using poison. It was an arrogance that would make the Blood Cult members already crossing to the afterlife vomit blood if they heard it, but it suited him well.

Dang Ran-yeong immediately leapt forward, trampling on a Blood Cult member writhing at his feet. Crack! The sound of a wooden mask being crushed and a life ending came from under his foot.

With just one more step, Dang Ran-yeong's form had already reached the red-masked figure. Lightning-Chasing Body Technique. This footwork, as fierce and swift as thunder, was a Tang Clan technique for creating distance from enemies to use hidden weapons, but Dang Ran-yeong was using it in the opposite way.

Tang! A thunderous sound that was hard to believe came from a whip rang out.

As he swung the whip, the flying dagger that had somehow appeared in his hand aimed for the opponent's chin. It was a vicious attack that looked like it would pierce right through the lower jaw. As Yao Guang barely dodged by twisting their head, the tip of the whip struck the waist of another Blood Cult member. The sound of bones breaking was clear. The cultist died instantly.

"I hope you won't be boring."

Dang Ran-yeong smiled coldly as he retrieved his whip. No, he seemed to be retrieving it, but its tip was aimed at Yao Guang's heel. The whip path of the Blood Sky Poison Dragon Whip Technique was like a dragon with poison fully risen, ready to tear flesh apart.

"Kugh!"

Yao Guang groaned and quickly pulled their foot back to dodge. With just a light flick of his wrist, Dang Ran-yeong's whip, which had failed to strike the heel, curved and this time aimed for an acupoint. Dodging that as well, Yao Guang discarded their bow and drew the sword at their waist.

When the whip and sword clashed, there was a cracking sound like ice breaking. It was because sword energy had collided with sword energy. As this was the most skilled opponent among the Blood Cult members he had faced so far, the corners of Dang Ran-yeong's mouth curved up in satisfaction.