‘Where have you gone?’
Chung Myung walked down the lake, eyes wide open.
It’s limitless.
It appeared to be somewhere between a lake and a pond from the outside, so it didn’t appear much larger, but the depth was incomparable to that of a lake.
He now understands why that massive Inkscale Blood Serpent showed up here.
The surroundings gradually darken as he descends.
He expected to see the bottom right away because the water was clear, but it was so deep that it was beyond the reach of light.
Chung Myung pursued the Inkscale Blood Serpent as he descended.
‘I can’t go even if I die unless I have something to gain!’
Chung Myung bites his lower lip.
He is looking for Jamokcha, but if he has gone to this much trouble, he should give them the Naedan! Maybe it’s because he’s a beast, but he’s rude! Manners!
It wasn’t Chung Myung who refused to take it because his opponent refused to give it to him.
‘I’ll take it away if you don’t give it to me!’ Isn’t that the fundamentals? That’s what I’m sure the Taoist scriptures say.’
– What are you on about, you jerk?
‘No? If not, no worries! ‘
He is unaware of Tao’s path but is aware of Chung Myung’s path.
‘Let’s put the snake soup aside for the time being! First and foremost, the Naedan!’
Chung Myung’s eyes widened as he dove deeper. Chung Myung’s eyes are penetrating the darkness accurately now that the surroundings are completely dark.
‘OK, I can see every move you make…… Huh?’
‘What is it……?’
Tuuung!
Chung Myung’s body, which had been struck by lightning, was swept away by the wind… … . He flew away like seaweed being swept away by the waves.
“Keuuh!”
He screamed, but nothing came out of his mouth. It was natural given that he was in the water.
Chung Myung regained consciousness and raised his head.
‘What was it?’
The issue was quickly resolved.
Tuuu! Tuuung! Tuuung!
The current flies toward Chung Myung like a huge air current, with a huge resonance that seems to ring throughout the lake.
‘Water Bomb?’ (수탄(水彈))
Water shells the size of humans flew one after the other toward Chung Myung. The Inkscales Blood Serpent appeared to be stalking Chung Myung from afar.
‘You’re doing the most adorable things!’
Something along these lines…
‘Huh?’
“Uryaryaryarya! Keuruk!”
Chung Myung was swept away by the strong current and spun around like a top after failing to avoid Water Bomb properly.
‘Oh, I drank the water.’
‘Who is that punk?’
He is unable to move freely because he is submerged. He would yawn and easily avoid the speed of the Water Bomb if they were out of the water.
Furthermore, the Inkscale Blood Serpent was increasing the range of the Water Bomb rather than decreasing its power, indicating that he intended to throw Chung Myung out of the water rather than kill him.
Even those trained in Water Art can only hold their breath in the water, so what can Chung Myung do?
(I think it means the strategy of defeating enemies with water. For example, it is a strategy to defeat the enemy by locking the front and back of the enemy and then filling it with water to submerge all the enemies.)
Whether he realized it or the Inkscale Blood Serpent calculated it, Chung Myung would eventually rise above the water if he didn’t let him approach it.
But!
‘That’s a snake’s thought!’
How dare you use your brain to outwit humans!
Chung Myung drew his sword back. And he swung it forward, infused with a lot of internal strength.
Before the sword slipped from his grasp, he tightened his grip on the handle.
Chwaaak!
The sword moved quickly through the water.
Tuuung!
Tuuuuung!
Despite the Water Bomb’s repeated fire, Chung Myung’s sword outbursts advanced.
‘There!’
Chung Myung’s eyes glowed. The bottom of the lake became visible gradually. The Inkscale Blood Serpent was swimming away right there.
‘No matter how hard you try to flee, you are a rat in a jar!’ It’s a snake in a lake, not a snake in a lake! ‘
Chung Myung swam straight towards him.
Even the current Chung Myung finds fighting a giant snake in the water difficult. However, if the Inkscale Blood Serpent is completely dismembered with Nakmaedanha, the head can be easily cut off.
After that, he can pull the Naedan out of the lake.
As if Myung is aware of it, the Inkscale Blood Serpent swings its tail as hard as it can toward him.
‘Hey, eating me with your mouth open wide would be easier.’
Then he simply goes in, cuts the Naedan, and splits the stomach.
Perhaps it’s because the beast is uselessly intelligent, but he doesn’t employ simple and ignorant methods. Perhaps he realized Chung Myung’s sword could sever his stomach.
Swaeaeak!
Chung Myung’s eyes widened as he noticed the dark tail moving through the water. He will be pushed away if he tries to accept it. Instead of that!
Kwadeuduk!
Chung Myung uses a sword covered in sword energy to confront the black tail.
‘Eucha!’
‘You can’t flee if it’s like this!’
When the Inkscale Blood Serpent noticed Chung Myung stuck to his tail, it twisted its entire body in an attempt to shake him off.
Chung Myung, however, did not fall no matter how much he turned over and shook his tail. Even when he reached the bottom, he turned into a ghost and avoided it.
The Inkscale Blood Serpent’s only option is to bite with his mouth. But that was exactly what Chung Myung desired. When the beast rushes with his mouth open, he will go into it, shouting “That’s right.”
The Inkscale Blood Serpent, which had only been swinging its tail, tightened its jaw and slammed into Chung Myung.
‘That’s right, it’s a snake’s head.’
Chung Myung quickly drew the sword that had struck the tail. Then he turned and slammed his body into the giant head that charged at him.
Chung Myung is the only one whose power has been halved because he is underwater. No matter how hard he hit, it wasn’t the same as hitting outside the water.
Kwadeuduk!
Chung Myung’s sword is lodged in Inkscale Blood Serpent’s nose. The enormous jaws opened in agony, then quickly closed again.
Chung Myung gripped the sword more tightly.
‘Naedan, please give me the Naedan!’ You filthy snake! ‘ (Naedan, is 내단)
The Inkscale Blood Serpent repeatedly tried to shake off Chung Myung.
Kung! Kung!
He attempted to hit Chung Myung with his tail several times, but due to pain or other factors, the beast was unable to hit Chung Myung properly and instead hit himself.
‘That’s why he’s such a monster.’
Despite its small size, Chung Myung would have suffered greatly if he had swam around the lake.
But, whether through stupidity or habit, the Inkscale Blood Serpent clings to his method and refuses to change it.
It saved Chung Myung time and effort. It’s only that…
‘All right, my breath…’
Chung Myung took a step back and kicked Inkscale Blood Serpent in the face. And he thrust his sword forward.
He will run out of air if he takes more time, so he should end it here and go above after taking the Naedan.
Chung Myung accelerated his pace. The sword’s edge shone purple and began to glow brightly in the dark water.
The inside of the water was then clearly visible.
Chung Myung was met with determination on the face, tail, and body of Inkscale Blood Serpent. The beast that easily fled to the water appeared to have no intention of staying in the water.
The Inkscale Blood Serpent menacingly raises its head.
Chung Myung tightened his grip on the sword as he prepared for the final blow.
‘You were brave.’
‘But that’s exactly what it’s all about.’ If you’re going to be reborn, don’t mess with people and live a decent life. If it had been like that in the first place, I could have just taken Jamokcha and left. ‘
The Inkscale Blood Serpent trembled as it sensed Chung Myung’s momentum. Despite his obvious fear, he only shook his head more threateningly.
‘Let us now get down to business…..’
‘Huh?’
Chung Myung’s face was distorted to the extreme.
“Pull it out! Pull it out! In any case, we should take care of it before that Bleed Eel or something comes back.”
“This is it, right?”
“Pick everything around you!”
“Yes!”
Mount Hua’s disciples knelt on the ground and began to pull Jamokcha out.
“Hey! You can’t pull it out like that! You have to take out the soil altogether to make it last longer! It is to keep them alive if you don’t want it to dry one by one…..Oh, Sahyung! It’s not like that, dig the spot around it!”
Fortunately, Jo Gol, who is an expert in herbal medicine, screamed and took command of the situation. Mount Hua’s disciples, who knew nothing about herbs besides bellflower, simply nodded and collected Jamokcha as Jo Gol instructed.
Mount Hua’s disciples rose from their position, having gathered Jamokcha and carefully packed them in the sacks they had brought.
“Did you pick them all?”
“Yes.”
“Look again! Is there anything left?”
“We’ve got everything!”
Baek Chun gave a nod.
“All right! Let’s go!”
Mount Hua’s disciples left Shindam quickly. First and foremost, the fact that Inkscale Blood Serpent will emerge from the water again and that it will be in another person’s holy place was a burden.
It was claimed that the Namman Yasugung Clan had nothing to do with it, but they couldn’t shake their unease after becoming accustomed to Jungwon customs.
“That’s enough!”
“We got Jamokcha at last!”
Mount Hua’s disciples were overjoyed when they saw the sack of Jamokcha.
Yasugung Ju, who had been standing there silently watching, slowly approached and reached out.
“Give it to me.”
“…y- yes?”
“The sack with the Spirit Herb. Give it to me.”
Baek Chun gave Yasugung Ju a slight sidelong glance.
‘Why is the man who has been sitting still suddenly requesting Jamokcha?’
No way?
Baek Chun, who was thinking about many things at the time, unintentionally took a step back.
Yasugung Ju frowned slightly as he observed their cautiousness.
“You’re not going to give it to me?”
“Oh, no. That’s not it….”
Yasugung Ju gives a nod.
“Well, I see. You’re doubting me right now.”
The disciples of Mount Hua’s complexions hardened in unison.
In fact, if Yasugung Ju has a different heart, they will be unable to protect Jamokcha on their own. No, even protecting their lives can be difficult.
“Tsk tsk, you pathetic bastards. You’re so nervous.”
Yasugung Ju chuckled.
“If I had decided to do so, would it be a hurdle to take it away?”
“…I suppose so.”
Baek Chun finally sighed and relaxed.
“I’m sorry, it’s very important to us.”
“I understand, I don’t want to steal it or do harm, so give it to me.”
He held out a sack of Jamokcha to Yasugung Ju without hesitation. They will only hurt each other’s feelings if they hesitate even here.
Yasugung Ju smiled and took the sack, which he then opened.
Then he took half of Jamokcha and began replanting it on the ground.
“…May I ask what you’re doing?”
“You’re here to collect this herb, aren’t you?”
“Yes, as I had mentioned.”
“Is this enough for you?”
“……Ah.”
In reality, this is not certain. The more, the better, and it’s even better if they can keep it in the future.
“If all of them are pulled out from here, no one can know where the next will grow again. If you plant them in a similar environment, they will continue to grow steadily in the future?”
“That’s for sure.”
“We haven’t been able to touch it because it’s within the boundaries of Shindam, but her are not, so if you just contact me, I can secure the herb and send it to Mount Hua. Wouldn’t that be convenient for you too?”
“Oh…….”
Baek Chun’s pupils dilated.
‘Are you going to do that?’
Perhaps Yasugung Ju is more drawn to Mount Hua than he realized.
“Here it is.”
Yasugung Ju handed Baek Chun the sack containing the last of the Jamokcha. A new field of grass had already sprouted at his feet.
“Greed is how everything goes wrong. To live with nature is to get only what is needed now, and wisdom to give away what’s left.”
“I’ve learned a lot, Gungju nim.”
“Kahahat.”
Yasugung Ju turned away, laughing loudly.
When he sees that mountain-like back, Baek Chun opens his mouth.
“Is it all over?”
“Yes, now Chung Myung only needs to come…..”
Mount Hua’s disciples looked at the peaceful lake with apprehension.
“Why isn’t he coming?”
“Is he dead?”
Yoon Jong erupted in response to Jo Gol’s words.
“Why are you saying happy things? He can’t die like that!”
“Isn’t that a bad thing to say, not a happy thing?”
“…It was just a slip of tongue.”
It was during an argument between the two.
It’s starting to boil.
“Huh?”
A few tiny bubbles floated across the calm lake.
It appears to be boiling.
As the bubbles grow larger and larger……
“Kuahhh!”
Chung Myung’s body soared above the water with a strange scream.
Splash!
Chung Myung, who jumped into the air and then fell back into the water, left the lake after a few steps.
“Ugh, it was suffocating.”
Chung Myung stomped out of the water after finally reaching the shore. Water dripped from the entire body.
Everyone looked at him with wide eyes.
“What about the Naedan?”
“There wasn’t.”
“Huh?”
“The beast didn’t have any. Ei, I just exhausting my energy for nothing.”
Chung Myung shakes his hand, as if he doesn’t want to continue speaking.
“That great spirit creature didn’t have Naedan? Is that possible?”
“Oh, how do I know. I’m sure he’d sell it or hide it somewhere. Anyway, I didn’t have the Naedan! God d*mn it, I’ve been through a lot!”
“……Why are you yelling?”
Yoon Jong, who was chastised for no apparent reason, pouted.
When Chung Myung saw the sack in Baek Chun’s hand, he frowned slightly.
“Did you pick them all?”
“Only a half.”
“Well….”
After seeing the newly created Jamokcha field, Chung Myung nodded as if he understood the situation.
“Then we’re done! Let’s go!”
“Huh?”
“Let’s go!”
Chung Myung pushed Mount Hua’s disciples away with his hands. He made a chasing motion as if he were chasing a fly.
“Why are you in such a hurry…….”
“Because I don’t want to be here anymore. Let’s go. This is enough! I’m going back to Mount Hua! Or Sasuk can just live here!”
“Oh, come on.”
Baek Chun eventually had to get out of Shindam as if pushed back. Other Mount Hua disciples followed Namman Yasugung Clan to the location without hesitation.
Even if they did get the Naedan, it wouldn’t have been theirs in the first place, so I had no regrets. In any case, they got the Jamokcha they were after.
‘Anyway, mission accomplished!’
They just wanted to return to Mount Hua as soon as possible, thinking of the faces of Sect Leader and Elders who would be overjoyed.
“Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
Mount Hua’s disciples and Yasugung Ju moved slowly toward the Namman Yasugung Clan.
‘Huh?’
Yoo Iseol, who was following everyone from behind, returned a slight glance. She returned to the side where Shindam was and ran through the bushes after tilting her head for a moment.
Bubbling.
Soon after, there was a commotion in the middle of Shindam, and the Inkscale Blood Serpent poked its massive head out of the water.
‘Alive.’
It’s a non-hostile expression. She was perplexed by that ferocious momentum a while ago.
‘Why?’
Chung Myung, who is cruel even to humans, employs a spiritual creature… … . Yoo Iseol, who was in agony, exclaimed suddenly.
Behind the massive body of Inkscale Blood Serpent, there was a glimpse of something small.
The body is completely white.
And fiery red eyes.
Of course, it was a large snake the size of a human, but it was a round snake that looked cute because it was so small compared to the Inkscale Blood Serpent.
‘Baby…’
A smile bloomed around Yoo Iseol’s lip as she saw three babies with their heads sticking out side by side behind Inkscale Blood Serpent.
“Aren’t you going?”
“…I am.”
She smiled at the pups of Inkscale Blood Serpent in response to a voice from behind her back.
‘Grow healthily.’
“Don’t hurt people.”
She ran toward her brother’s disciples as if nothing had happened after returning the bushes to their original state.