This… Won’t Work

A bitter chill hung over the Jeokyang Clan.
Everyone’s gaze was fixed upon one place.

“So.”

The Patriarch seated at the head of the hall spoke.
His gaze fell upon those gathered below him.

“You are saying that after losing the fight, the Dark Shadow Unit Leader fled with that boy.”
“…Yes.”

The Deputy Unit Leader of the Dark Shadow Unit lowered his head.
The Patriarch burst into laughter.
The Patriarch appeared amused, but his killing intent grew denser with every laugh.
The hems of everyone’s clothes fluttered despite the absence of wind.
It revealed just how profound the Patriarch’s cultivation was.
The Patriarch’s laughter abruptly stopped.

“Then why did you return?”
“I believed reporting what happened took priority over following the First Young Master and the Unit Leader.”
“Reporting that my son suffered a miserable defeat and fled?”

Jeokyang Hu had not fled. The Dark Shadow Unit Leader had taken him away by force.
However, Jeon-il did not correct him.
Instead, he spoke.

“The man named Gyo-ha used a strange ability.”
“A strange ability.”

The Patriarch gestured for him to continue.

“It appeared to absorb the First Young Master’s Heretical Qi.”
“His Heretical Qi?”

At that moment, one of the elders beside him cautiously spoke.

“The Second Young Master said something similar.”

Second Young Master Jeokyang So.
He wasn’t present. His previous failure had cost him the right to attend the council.
Interest appeared in the Patriarch’s eyes when he heard that.
At the time, he had dismissed it as an excuse. Now, however, things were different.

“Go and bring So here.”
“Yes.”

One of the unit leaders bowed.
Meanwhile, Jeon-il and the members of the Dark Shadow Unit kept their heads lowered to the floor.
Before long, the door opened and Jeokyang So arrived.
Jeokyang So’s face had grown gaunt.
It was clear how severely he had suffered.
He cautiously looked around.
He appeared utterly cowed, with none of his former confidence remaining.
Several elders sighed at the sight.
With Jeokyang Hu gone and Jeokyang Gwang dead, Jeokyang So was the only remaining successor candidate.
Of course, the Patriarch would not grant him the position so easily.
If So proved unworthy, the Patriarch would likely appoint no successor at all.

“…Y-you called for me?”
“Repeat what you told us before.”
“Yes?”

As Jeokyang So blinked in confusion, one of the unit leaders clarified.

“He means your battle with the man named Gyo-ha.”
“Ah, Gwang and I went as soon as we heard…”
“Enough.”

The Patriarch cut him off.
He then looked at Jeokyang So and spoke.

“You said he absorbed your Heretical Qi?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“Was it something like the Essence-Absorbing Art?”

The Essence-Absorbing Art was a martial art that absorbed Yang-Qi.
It was one of the more famous Heretical Arts, but its method was extremely restrictive.
It required sexual relations or contact with intimate parts of the body.
Jeokyang So shook his head.

“It was different. Mere contact was enough for him to absorb it.”

The Patriarch turned his head.

“Jeon-il, was what you witnessed the same?”
“It was.”

The Patriarch stroked his beard at Jeon-il’s answer.
At that moment, one of the elders spoke.

“Could it perhaps be a Demonic Art?”

The others nodded as well.

“I have heard that some Demonic Arts can absorb another person’s qi through physical contact alone.”
“Nonsense. If it were a Demonic Art, there is no chance the Murim Alliance would have failed to recognize it.”

Gyo-ha had departed from the Murim Alliance.
The Murim Alliance overlooking a Demonic Art? That was impossible.
Aside from demonic practitioners themselves, no one knew the Demonic Arts better than the Murim Alliance.

“Hmm.”

The Patriarch sank into thought. However, everyone around him could tell.
The Patriarch found the situation fascinating.

“Perhaps it reacts only to our clan’s Heretical Qi.”

The murmuring grew louder.
They knew that their internal energy was no ordinary force.
Many practitioners went mad or suffered qi deviation while learning it.
It was every bit as temperamental as the Demonic Arts.
Moreover, they had also heard the reports concerning yokai.

‘They said the power used by those creatures resembled our clan’s Heretical Qi.’

Not all internal energy practiced by Orthodox factions was alike.
Mystic Qi, Righteous Qi, and Natural Qi.
In the same way, not all Heretical Qi was identical.
Few possessed Heretical Qi as pure as theirs.

“But why are you asking about that?”

Jeokyang So cautiously asked while observing the unsettled gathering.
His gaze briefly landed on the prostrated Jeon-il.
There was no chance So didn’t know who he was.
The Deputy Unit Leader of the Dark Shadow Unit.

“The First Young Master was defeated.”

An elder answered in place of the contemplative Patriarch.
Although he held the position of elder, he was also Jeokyang So’s granduncle.
Jeokyang So’s eyes widened at the unexpected news.

“Then what happened to Brother?”

However, no one could answer his question.
The Patriarch had raised his hand.
His eyes shone coldly.

“Black Shadow Unit Leader.”
“As you command.”

The Black Shadow Unit Leader bowed deeply. No further order was necessary.
The Patriarch had not finished.
He turned toward the elders standing to one side.

“I will require the assistance of you two as well.”

Confusion appeared in the two elders’ eyes. Their target was merely one young man.
There should have been no need for them to act personally.
However, the Patriarch’s next words made them understand.

“Bring him back alive, no matter what.”

An ability capable of absorbing their internal energy.
If that ability was not limited solely to their clan…
And if they could obtain that ability for themselves…
It could change who stood at the head of the Unorthodox factions.
Only then did the others’ expressions change. They realized that this was no simple matter.

“…We will bring him back without fail.”

The two elders bowed to the Patriarch.
They then left the meeting hall with the Black Shadow Unit Leader.

“Now, then.”

The Patriarch turned his gaze toward the prostrated Jeon-il.

“All that remains is deciding their punishment.”
“…This is why those of low birth…”

Someone’s muttering reached Jeon-il’s ears.
However, Jeon-il’s lowered expression did not change.
He had heard such remarks all his life.

Kkiik.

The Patriarch rose from his seat.
He slowly walked toward Jeon-il.
His Heretical Qi intensified with every step.
Soon, the Patriarch’s Heretical Qi filled the entire meeting hall.

Seureureung.

A sword drawn from somewhere flew toward the Patriarch’s hand.
It was a sword that one of the unit leaders had been holding.

Void Manipulation.

“Although you failed your mission, your judgment was correct.”

The Patriarch swung the sword while regarding Jeon-il with indifferent eyes.

Chwaak!

Jeon-il’s left arm fell to the floor amid a spray of blood.

“With this, I absolve you of your crimes.”
“…Thank you for your mercy.”

Jeon-il lowered his head even further.
His forehead touched the floor.
It was his left arm, the one he didn’t use.
The Patriarch had preserved his life as a martial artist. That was enough.
Meanwhile, life began returning to Jeokyang So’s eyes as he watched the entire scene.
Jeokyang Hu’s downfall.
It was nothing short of an opportunity for him.
However, he was not foolish enough to make a move here.
He merely held his breath and assessed the situation.

The wind changed.
Gyo-ha noticed the change as he tore into a piece of dried meat.

‘Looks like they’re finally sending someone serious.’

Jeokyang Hu alone had left him somewhat unsatisfied.
He gulped down the dried meat in his mouth.
His body felt light.
His body was not the only thing that felt different. Gyo-ha frowned and let out a strained groan.

“Kkeung.”

Claws extended from his fingers.
It was proof that his arms were still alive. However, Gyo-ha’s gaze did not turn toward them.
His two legs.
Something sharp emerged from his toes.
Toe claws.

‘So it wasn’t only the claws on my fingers.’

There was a reason he had not noticed before.
The toe claws were far smaller than those on his fingers, so it was understandable that they had escaped his notice.
However, being small did not make them any less sharp.
They were roughly two finger joints long.
They were threatening enough.
He had gained a new weapon.
However, it would take time to use them properly.
He was not yet accustomed to his new kicking art either.
Still, it wouldn’t take long.

‘Some perfect practice partners are coming.’

People were closing in around him. They moved stealthily, but they could not escape Gyo-ha’s senses.
They were different from the Dark Shadow Unit he had seen before.
They were not merely coming to surround him.
He could sense a clear purpose from them.
Gyo-ha licked his lips at the killing intent he could feel from afar.

“I’ve just finished eating, too.”

Gyo-ha rose with the corners of his mouth lifted.

‘There’s no need to wait for them to complete the encirclement.’

His eyes sparkled like those of a child who had received a new toy.
Gyo-ha soon launched himself in one direction.

Every member of the Black Shadow Unit came from the Jeokyang Clan.
Their competence matched their martial skill. They were confident in this mission.

‘We’re different from those lowborn wretches.’

They were referring to the Dark Shadow Unit.
They found the very idea of the Dark Shadow Unit being mentioned alongside them offensive.
That was why they had mocked the Dark Shadow Unit for failing its previous mission.
Naturally, they didn’t think much of Gyo-ha either.
The others had failed because they were fools.
Even so, the Black Shadow Unit had no intention of being careless.
At that moment, a voice transmission reached the Black Shadow Unit’s Second Squad Leader.

[The target has disappeared!]

It was an urgent transmission.
Had he noticed their approach?
However, the squad leader was not particularly worried.
The encirclement was already nearing completion.
The Second Squad Leader sent a voice transmission to his members.

[Don’t panic. He couldn’t have gone far…]

The squad leader’s words stopped.
He had met the eyes of Gyo-ha, who was smiling at him.

“…So you came to us yourself.”

The squad leader nodded. It was no wonder Gyo-ha had defeated the young masters.

Seureureung.

The squad leader drew his sword as his members rushed in from the surroundings.
The two nearest members had already formed a battle formation.

‘They said he absorbs internal energy.’

The squad leader nodded and shouted to his members.

“Avoid contact as much as possible and use swift sword techniques!”

With that shout, the squad leader launched himself toward Gyo-ha.
The members beside him coordinated their attacks.
Swords thrust toward Gyo-ha from three directions.
Gyo-ha made a light hop when he saw them.
Blood stained his clothes and feet.

‘Whose blood?’

By the time the squad leader realized what that meant, it was already too late.
The Sword Qi wrapped around their blades evaporated.
It was not only the Sword Qi. Even the internal energy circulating through the acupoints in their arms shrank back.
Naturally, their swords slowed.

Hwirik.

Gyo-ha’s body spun.
His heel traced a crescent.

Kwang!

The neck of the member charging from the side snapped. Without stopping, Gyo-ha sent the man’s broken body flying into another member.
The instant the foot that had struck the unit member touched the ground, Gyo-ha’s other foot surged toward the squad leader.
The entire sequence happened in an instant, flowing as naturally as a single movement.
The squad leader hurriedly raised his arm to block.

Kwajik!

His arm broke instantly, and the kick drove through his guard into his chest.

“…!”

The impact left him unable even to scream.
It was not absorption.
That description had been wrong.
Their Heretical Qi vanished whenever they approached Gyo-ha. Internal energy itself became useless.
Moreover, Gyo-ha’s physical strength exceeded human limits.
He was not someone a human deprived of internal energy could face.

“Keulleok.”

The squad leader collapsed to the ground and coughed up blood.
However, Gyo-ha was no longer looking at him.
He was watching the new unit members charging toward him.

‘This… won’t work.’

The unit members erupted in fury when they saw their fallen squad leader.
At the sight, Gyo-ha’s eyes gleamed even more brightly.
Gyo-ha lowered his body as though he would charge at any moment.
The squad leader tried to reach out and grab Gyo-ha, but his body would not move.
Only then did he realize that his chest had been caved in.
His broken ribs were piercing his lungs.
Death was approaching.
Not even an immortal could save him now.
They had believed they were the ones hunting, but it was the opposite.
Gyo-ha was the hunter, and they were the prey.
The squad leader closed his eyes as he watched his unit members being hunted down.