Black Wind Tiger

The Black Wind Tiger possessed an attack method in which it fired fangs made of demonic qi. That meant even the top of a tree was not safe. I took the Serpent-Goat Broadsword, which was divided into two parts, out of the leather bag on my back, joined it together, and jumped down to the ground.

I had thought it would be easier to fight on the ground than atop a tree, where movement was difficult. I had also considered attacking from the tree with the Dragon Qi Throwing Art, but the tree was swaying in the wind, so it seemed difficult to hit the Black Wind Tiger.

I glanced at Daaren, who had collapsed. It was not clear whether he was dead or alive. More dangerous than that was probably the Black Wind Tiger.

The Black Wind Tiger had wounds all over its body from the attack of [Dragon Wing], but the bleeding seemed to have stopped. In its burning eyes was a light that seemed to look down on humans. The being like the king of this area was probably this Black Wind Tiger.

“Daaren, a high disciple, could not defeat this demonic beast.”

If I did not go all out and defeat the Black Wind Tiger, it was possible that I would be the one defeated instead. I steeled myself and readied the Serpent-Goat Broadsword.

The Black Wind Tiger began running while growling. Seeing it up close from the front, its force made me want to run away. I endured that fear and did not move until the very last moment, then jumped to the right just before entering the range of the Black Wind Tiger’s claws and activated the secret technique [Yang Fox-Flame]. Then, while flames erupted from the Serpent-Goat Broadsword, I aimed for the Black Wind Tiger’s neck.

The Black Wind Tiger noticed that attack and twisted its body. Because of that, the blade of the Serpent-Goat Broadsword tore through its shoulder instead of its neck. The Black Wind Tiger opened its mouth wide and tried to bite me. I reflexively jumped backward.

Right in front of my eyes, transparent fangs snapped shut with a clack. I felt the blood drain from my face, but I focused my will and shook off the fear. I noticed that the Black Wind Tiger was gathering demonic qi in its mouth. I hurriedly jumped to the right. As if chasing after me, fangs of demonic qi came flying.

I could not dodge them perfectly, and the fangs of demonic qi gouged into my flank. Intense pain ran all the way to the top of my head, and blood spurted from my side. I rolled across the ground while bleeding. When I looked toward the Black Wind Tiger, it was staggering as blood spurted from the shoulder that had been slashed open by [Yang Fox-Flame].

I hurriedly took out a Healing Pill and swallowed it as it was. Then I sprinkled the paralytic drug made from the black mushroom and red-flowered medicinal herb onto a throwing spike, used the Dragon Qi Throwing Art, and threw it at the Black Wind Tiger.

“Guh.”

The throwing motion sent intense pain through my flank. The throwing spike pierced into the wound on the Black Wind Tiger’s shoulder, and the paralytic drug entered from there.

This paralytic drug was a special one that took effect when mixed with blood. Its effect was tremendous, and it was said that even a giant demonic beast would be paralyzed if it entered its blood. I had prepared this paralytic drug with the idea that, if I ended up fighting Daaren and managed to inflict even a scratch on him, I would scatter it.

“Did it work?”

I stared closely at the Black Wind Tiger. Its movements seemed to have grown dull. However, perhaps because the amount of paralytic drug was too small, its movement did not stop completely. I had sprinkled the paralytic drug onto the throwing spike, but most of it had scattered into the air when I threw it.

I ran up, used the unique breathing method and key principles I had learned from the Broadsword Fox-Flame Technique to apply pressure to my Heavy Yin Qi, poured it into the Serpent-Goat Broadsword, and made white flames burst out. The attack of [White Flame] struck the Black Wind Tiger’s neck. When its head fell to the ground, the Black Wind Tiger’s body collapsed as well.

“Haa, haa…… It hurts.”

When I checked the flank that the fangs of demonic qi had pierced through, the bleeding had not stopped. As I was treating it, I noticed the presence of something moving. While pretending not to have noticed, I scattered a little of the paralytic drug.

“W-what? My body won’t mov……”

Daaren, covered in blood and approaching from downwind, collapsed to the ground. A treasured sword was gripped in his hand, and it was obvious that he had been trying to attack me.

Enduring the pain, I stood up and approached Daaren, using the Serpent-Goat Broadsword as a cane. Daaren swung his treasured sword at me. However, there was no strength in that attack. The paralytic drug was taking effect.

I knocked the treasured sword away with the Serpent-Goat Broadsword. The treasured sword left Daaren’s hand and rolled across the ground.

“W-wait. H-help……”

This was a world different from Japan. If I saved Daaren here, he would probably come after my life again. If I had the strength to shrug off such a risk, there might have been another choice. But I had no such option, and I drove the secret technique [Lightning Palm Strike] of Thunder Technique Fist into Daaren’s head.

Daaren died. At that moment, I noticed the presence of a person approaching from behind. I hid in the shadow of a tree and watched the situation.

The one who appeared was Yulong.

“Senior Brother Daaren!”

After seeing the collapsed Daaren and the Black Wind Tiger dead nearby, Yulong seemed to think that Daaren had encountered the Black Wind Tiger and they had killed each other.

“If Kou hadn’t run away, this wouldn’t have happened.”

I wanted to split Yulong’s head open once and see what was inside. Yulong picked up Daaren’s treasured sword and returned to Gyorei Cave.

I came out from behind the tree and looked down at Daaren’s corpse.

“He was humiliated, so he tried to kill the person who caused it. That way of thinking is why he ended up dying.”

He was human, so there would naturally be times when he suffered shame. At such times, it would have been enough to be careful not to suffer shame the next time, or to make an effort. Daaren had been twisted as a person. Even though he had trained until he came to be called a high disciple……

After I finished the treatment I had interrupted halfway through, I obtained four transparent fangs from the Black Wind Tiger. After resting a little, I took them and began returning to Gyorei Cave.

It was shortly before sunset when I returned to Gyorei Cave.

“Senior Brother Kou!?”

Haoxuen, who had returned from the dining hall, saw me and cried out in surprise. Since I was covered in blood, that was only natural. Haoxuen carried me to the apothecary.

Elder Mon was not there, but I received proper treatment from the direct disciples working in the apothecary. I would probably not die now. After thinking that, my consciousness grew distant.