Hadn't he brought trouble upon himself with two moments of hesitation?

He should abandon Gongsun Seung and prepare for the future.

Even if the boy held clues to what Jinkagu sought, he had to leave now.

Once the Tang Family's martial artists established a perfect encirclement, even he wouldn't find it easy to escape.

But, but.

That smile of No Gwanyeong kept restraining his steps.

Those eyes that looked down like at an insect, that arrogance as if he thought himself victorious.

It displeased him.

To prevent the poison from spreading, he couldn't even speak properly.

Already blood was flowing from his nose.

He could no longer endure the poisoning.

Though he must know he was dying, he acted confident.

Accept death?

Death?

Don't be ridiculous.

We have struggled our entire lives to escape that shackle called death. We struggled to live, and day by day we suffered through a painful existence to end a fate as inescapable as heavenly punishment.

And before me, you act noble and face death confidently?

Grind.

Jin Il-hak stopped walking.

With cold eyes fixed on No Gwanyeong, he gripped hidden weapons in both hands.

Yes, if death is your wish, I'll grant it.

But your death won't be beautiful.

Whoosh!

Jin Il-hak's swinging hands spewed fire, and dozens of hidden weapons flew toward No Gwanyeong.

One last time.

No Gwanyeong, who had stopped using his internal force to block the poison, began operating it once more.

Hidden weapons? What good was blocking such things?

He had already accepted death.

The poison spread rapidly, turning his skin black, and the spinning sensation intensified, but No Gwanyeong was happier than ever, more refreshed than ever.

From the moment he accepted death, time flowed strangely slowly.

The hidden weapons seemed to approach slowly, and memories of his past life flickered through his mind like a lantern show.

He had lived his entire life like a stray dog.

He had struggled desperately not to be disrespected by others, training without rest.

But after long years, what remained was a stubborn, lonely old man. When he gained strength, everyone tried to use his name as a halo for themselves, but no one truly accepted him.

Having lived so, it was natural to age so. He resigned himself to it.

What did it matter to be alone?

Didn't everyone fear him, and at least outwardly pretend to care for him?

When he thought so, he met Cheonyeong.

A remarkable child the more he knew him.

Drawn to him for reasons he couldn't explain.

He had mocked it as talent, but when he realized that the boy's effort surpassed even his own, No Gwanyeong began to take interest.

While he grew lonelier as he grew stronger, how would that child live? How far would he grow?

He liked how that child laughed and responded when he casually told him to call him brother. When asked to join him, he had calmly said he would consider it, hiding his joy, and became an elder to be by his side.

Family. Yes, he had gained a family.

Like the sworn brothers with different blood.

He could face death without loneliness in the Tang Family's embrace.

And now he would try.

He who had harmed others his whole life but never helped.

To save Gongsun Seung, to make a more meaningful choice.

Boom!

The ground trembled from his forceful stomp.

The poison spread along the operated internal force, mixing with it.

Puff!

The nosebleed that had been flowing doubled, and his insides seemed to rot like pus. Yet he had never been happier. Never been more content.

His final move.

His name would remain long in the Tang Family's history.

The Ghost Hand filled with all his might—the Invisible Hand.

"I am! An elder of the Tang Family! No Gwanyeong!"

No Gwanyeong shouted powerfully with a smile so bright it seemed grotesque, throwing his body toward the hidden weapons.

But at that moment.

Whoosh!

A sound piercing the air rapidly approached and passed by No Gwanyeong.

Clang! Clang-clang-clang!

The objects that passed by shattered all of Jin Il-hak's hidden weapons that were about to touch No Gwanyeong's body. Not a single one escaped.

Whoooosh!

And with a long, resonant sound, a figure silhouetted against the moonlight cast a massive shadow.

"...You came."

No Gwanyeong's face flushed. A smile more welcome than any other moment in his life bloomed at his lips. As if someone he had waited for his entire life had appeared.

Clang-clang-clang!

The hidden weapons shattered.

And another hidden weapon drew a parabola, curving widely to target Jin Il-hak.

"W-what? The Returning Blade Technique?"

Shocked, Jin Il-hak had no choice but to stop his attack and retreat.

Again.

The highest realm among Jinkagu's hidden weapon techniques.

The current Returning Blade Technique drew a smoother, gentler curve than any wielded by Jinkagu's members, yet it targeted the neck sharply and precisely.

Jin Il-hak, retreating, lifted his contorted face to look at the sky.

"...Cheonyeong."

Boom!

The shadow fell powerfully to the ground as if drawing a boundary between enemy and ally. The ground trembled finely, and light dust rose like mist settling below the knees.

But the form was clear, and the presence pressing down on the surroundings was immensely vast beyond imagination.

Cheonyeong, looking at Jin Il-hak with narrowed eyes, spoke calmly.

"Wait there for a moment."

"...!"

It was a strange feeling.

Cheonyeong's words approached like a word-spirit that suppressed the will, making Jin Il-hak's heart drop.

Did he dislike the fact that he felt intimidated?

"You bastard!"

Jin Il-hak gripped hidden weapons again.

But he couldn't throw them.

Whoosh!

A massive object flew with a fierce wind sound.

"Huh!"

Boom! Crack!

A large iron ball passed by Jin Il-hak, who dodged to the side, and embedded itself in a thick tree.

"I told you not to move, you assassin bastard."

It was Yongcheon, a man with a body a head larger than ordinary people.

And beside him.

"Is it you? Did you kill our Myeong-chun?"

Sanghui, gripping heavy swords in both hands, descended with frost-sharp expression, and.

"You damn bastard. You're dead today."

Baekta, fists clenched, glared with eyes full of killing intent.

As they positioned themselves in a "品" formation ahead of Cheonyeong to surround Jin Il-hak, his eyes trembled.

These guys...

"Stop. You can't go further. Until the Family Head returns from his business."

"We want to tear you into ten, twenty pieces right now, but your treatment is for the Family Head to decide, so we're restraining ourselves. So don't move."

At the threats from martial artists much younger than himself, Jin Il-hak's anger surged, but he couldn't move easily.

The three blocking him.

And the numerous killing intents felt throughout the forest.

On the ground were the Dokgak-gwi, and throughout the trees, the Green Warrior Unit held hidden weapons full in both hands.

Damn, damn.

He had already missed three opportunities.

When he tried to seize Gongsun Seung, when No Gwanyeong appeared, and when he tried to kill him.

But he had to escape.

Though the surroundings were filled with Tang Family martial artists, there must be a gap somewhere.

Jin Il-hak gathered his strength while contemplating escape, rolling his eyes to carefully examine his surroundings.

First.

Ping!

Jin Il-hak threw a hidden weapon to gauge the encirclement's strength.

As he moved, Yongcheon, as if waiting, shouted with a voice that seemed to shake the forest.

"Watch out for hidden weapons! Use the trees as much as possible!"

With the shout, the encirclement's structure changed, and the attack began.

And in the meantime, Cheonyeong approached No Gwanyeong's side.

"Sit, Elder."

"Family Head."

"Tell me the path of your meridians through sound transmission. I will stop the poison from spreading."

"Hmm, but I'm already..."

"That won't do."

"...?"

"I haven't allowed it. Who are you to abandon your life on your own? I clearly told you to watch. From my side."

"Ah!"

At Cheonyeong's words, No Gwanyeong's eyes widened.

"I can't send you away yet. The Tang Family still needs you, Elder. We need an adult like you to scold and nag us younger ones toward a better path."

"Hmm..."

No Gwanyeong's face contorted.

He was grateful.

Despite the poison spreading beyond recovery, he was saying such things.

"Family Head, it's too late to reverse."

"It's not too late."

"Family Head."

"I know. I understand the terror of Burial Poison far better than you. So, quickly. If the poison reaches the marrow, there's nothing more I can do."

"Family Head."

"Tell me the path."

"Hmm."

No Gwanyeong, who had already abandoned hope for survival, barely sent a sound transmission at the repeated urging.

Cheonyeong, listening quietly, nodded.

And gripped a hidden weapon in his hand.

First one.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

Where Cheonyeong stabbed was the starting point where internal force operated in the meditation method No Gwanyeong had learned.

At the pain of the hidden weapon driving deep, No Gwanyeong's grimacing eyes widened.

What was happening?

From the hidden weapon Cheonyeong inserted, a mysterious heat arose and seeped into the meridians.

"Grgh!"

As pain greater than the stabbing struck, No Gwanyeong's face contorted in agony.

"You must keep your mind clear until the end. From now on, I will control the poison. Just maintain your consciousness!"

"Ah, understood."

No Gwanyeong answered, gritting his teeth.

Thud, thud-thud.

Each time a hidden weapon drove into his body, No Gwanyeong's body flinched in pain.

With the first hidden weapon, Cheonyeong blocked the starting point where internal force operated, then with hidden weapons containing Samyang Divine Art, he blocked the spreading poison by section.

The poison's natural enemy was heat.

If certain aspects of the Samyang Divine Art were maximized, the internal force would emit tremendous heat.

Perhaps the reason his own body, when poisoned in the Blue Green Sect, had healed itself was because of this.

When poison entered his body, the Samyang Divine Art naturally generated heat to resist.

Then in a place filled with poison?

Penetrate the Samyang Divine Art to overcome the poison. Of course, this couldn't be called the right method. Poisoning wasn't something resolved so easily.

But it would serve as emergency treatment.

First, he had to suppress the poison and take No Gwanyeong to the Tang Family.

Didn't the Tang Family have martial artists of the Hyeon Gal clan who were versed in poisons? Even if they couldn't solve it, it didn't matter. He would pour all his internal force to extend No Gwanyeong's life, and even if it cost a fortune, he would summon every renowned physician under heaven.

That was family.

"Huu... The emergency treatment is complete."

Cheonyeong, having inserted hidden weapons into sixty acupoints, exhaled in relief.

No Gwanyeong's complexion, which had turned black, gradually began to take on a reddish hue. However, his body was covered with spots. Where the poison, unable to flow through the meridians, had accumulated.

If it stayed long and stagnated, it would rot the flesh, but for now, it was fine.

As long as the heat from the Samyang Divine Art in the hidden weapons was maintained, the poison would be occupied resisting it and unable to harm No Gwanyeong's body.

"It won't last long. But when the heat fades, I will replenish it."

"Family Head, stop now! How can you do this! What is this old man's life worth...?"

No Gwanyeong pleaded.

He had seen the beads of sweat on Cheonyeong's forehead.

He had already seen his complexion turn pale.

There was no doubt he had poured tremendous internal force into the hidden weapons embedded in his body.

"Age doesn't matter."

"Family Head."

"Myeong-chun died from a small carelessness. From now on, I will ensure that no subordinate dies before me."

"But."

"Don't move recklessly. If the hidden weapon touches the acupoint wrong, it could be more dangerous than the poison."

Cheonyeong smiled brightly and pulled out the hidden weapon embedded in Gongsun Seung's acupoint.

"Seung."

"Family Head. Sob, sob, because of me, because of me the Elder..."

"Cry later."

"...Sob, sob."

"I'm counting on you to look after the Elder."

"Yes."

"Then I'll be going."

Cheonyeong spoke to No Gwanyeong and approached the Tang Family martial artists fiercely fighting Jin Il-hak.

It's dangerous.

How can he...

"Family Head! That won't do! You've already used too much internal force."

At No Gwanyeong's cry, Cheonyeong turned his head, smiled faintly, and spoke.

"...I am the Family Head of the Tang Family."

Cheonyeong walked forward.

No Gwanyeong and Gongsun Seung could only watch that solid back.

The Tang Family's Departure from the World