Becoming the Swordmaster Rank Young Lord of the Sichuan Tang Family Chapter 255

Episode 254. Hongyeonnachalgeom Son Yeonsu

‘now!’

Hongyeonnachalgeom Son Yeonsu, Jeolmyeongmado Gu Inryeong, and Byeokantuma Hwang Jagyu quickly decided that they had to escape immediately. This was right after they saw Cheonghyeolmajo Yuk Jinmyeong lose consciousness and begin a full-fledged transformation.

The four of them used their magic powers, which had been strengthened by the reverse blood magic, to pass through the gates of life and death almost simultaneously. I don’t know for sure, but since Yuk Jinmyeong was like that, the rest of them would soon undergo a full-scale transformation. Before that, they had to secure their safety.

‘If you can keep enough distance from him, you can somehow survive.’

Son Yeon-su, Gu In-ryeong, and Hwang Ja-gyu – this was the common thought of the three. If they each ran away in different directions, one would be caught, but the other two would have a high chance of surviving.

This was not simply because their pace was quick enough to match their accomplishments.

First of all, the place where the main temple of the religion is located is Cheonsan. In other words, once they leave the main temple, they can easily hide in the vast Cheonsan Mountains. Now that they have reached the extreme demonic realm and can completely control the demonic energy within their bodies, they can almost completely hide their presence. If they decide to hide, even the most sensitive of the Hwagyeong masters will not be able to find them easily. If they take advantage of this gap and complete their transformation, they will be able to act as complete extreme demon masters.

furthermore.

It was difficult for Dang-myung to focus solely on chasing them right now. The reason was that Yuk Jin-myung, who was undergoing a complete transformation, was still here, and the cult leader was perfecting his magic by chanting an unknown spell. There was no time to pursue them far away. That was why the three of them exchanged glances and flew at once as if they had made a promise. Even if one of them was caught, the other two would almost certainly be able to escape.

Of course, this was against orders, and it was a matter that could anger the cult leader, but for the elder demons, safely completing the impending transformation was more important than anything else. They had risked their lives to attempt to cross the threshold of life and death and had just reached the extreme state they had longed for. As they were able to completely control their demonic energy, they were able to naturally overcome the bloodthirsty demonic attack and escape the danger of demonic possession. Now, all that was left was to enjoy their position as strong men, but if they were to leave this world without being able to properly fight back because they were busy with their transformation, they would not be able to close their eyes even after death.

But their escape did not last more than three steps.

Where━

The voice of incredulity continued for a long time, and the new form of Dang-myung-myeong disappeared. Immediately afterwards, the one who appeared again was Hong-yeon-na-chal-geom Son Yeon-su. The new technique of shadow that allowed for extremely stealthy and nimble movement at close range was spread out in full force.

‘this.’

Son Yeon-su, whose path was suddenly blocked, was greatly embarrassed and retreated. He had never even thought of charging straight through. This was because a purple vortex was continuously spreading out from both hands of Dang-myeong. The demons who had been raised as the leader’s signal since childhood and had considerable skill had died immediately after coming into contact with it. Even if they had reached the ultimate state of evil, it did not mean that they were invulnerable to poison, so it was right to be on guard. Furthermore, although it had recently declined, the Sacheondang family was traditionally known as a family renowned for poison and secret techniques. The thought flashed through his mind that someone as small as the head of a small household in such a place might possess an extreme poison that could easily kill even the most powerful of the extremes of evil and fire. Just by the fact that he had infiltrated this place alone, it was obvious. It was natural to assume that he had a means of dealing with the leader, who was a master of the ultimate state of evil.

Meanwhile.

Unlike Son Yeon-su, Gu In-ryeong and Hwang Ja-gyu, who rushed in opposite directions, also failed to escape. This was because Dang-myeong unleashed his divine shadow and immediately swung both hands to move the purple poisonous poison as soon as he reached Son Yeon-su. For the same reason as Son Yeon-su, Gu In-ryeong and Hwang Ja-gyu also had no choice but to retreat.

In this way, the three elder minds were temporarily trapped in a hemispherical purple membrane, but Dang-myeong did not stop there and skillfully manipulated the poison mark by changing the direction of the long heart here and there to pressure them. It was not that difficult for Geom-shin. It was not much different from drawing a familiar sword path. It was like swinging a very long and light sword.

‘Just block the retreat route appropriately. There’s no reason to launch a pointless attack.’

Dang-myung never got impatient. He knew that it would be more advantageous for him as time went by. Of course, the Demon Lord was up to some tricks, but it wasn’t something he could solve by moving impatiently.

Let’s focus on getting rid of the troubles that have suddenly reached a critical point without wasting much of our energy and strength as originally intended━ As soon as Dang-myeong made up his mind and took action, it wasn’t long before the elder minions began to feel very anxious.

“That son of a bitch, he’s going to try and kill us… …!”

“That young one is incredibly cunning. Look at how he doesn’t attack directly, but instead focuses on swinging his sword to block our escape route. He must be waiting until we are defenseless.”

“Nachalgeom is right. This is like a cat playing with a mouse. It’s humiliating. There’s no time left. I think we should break through now, even if it means taking some damage.”

“Then, Jeolmyeongmado, please open the way first. We will follow behind you.”

“Don’t talk nonsense, Toomaya. Just a handful… … No, even a much smaller amount was enough to kill the cult leader’s receivers. Considering the power of the reverse blood magic, it’s reasonable to assume that even a small amount is enough to kill instantly. But you want me to go through that with my bare body? I can’t do it. You do it.”

“How ridiculous. Wasn’t it your older brother who said that you should accept the damage? Did you change your mind? Or did old age set in?”

“What? A rascal? This rascal… … ?!”

“First of all, don’t argue. The two of you. Even what Elder Brother Gu said is right. That is a deadly poison that you should be careful not to touch. Even if you stop breathing right now and break through, there is a possibility of being poisoned through the skin. No one would want to take such a risk when they are about to undergo a complete transformation. You never know what kind of adverse effects it might have. But that doesn’t mean you can just stay here. That’s exactly what that young, blue-eyed punk wants.”

“So what do you want to do?”

The elder minions chatted, moving like loaches to avoid the pressure of the poisonous poison, which felt like a sword being swung by an experienced swordsman. The evasion itself was not difficult. The lavender whirlwind simply moved along a hemispherical shape and entangled them. All they had to do was retreat.

The conversation continued quickly after that, but no sharp solution was found. They were clearly aware of the danger of the purple whirlwind, but they also clearly recognized the necessity of breaking through it, and they were keenly aware of the intentions of the Sacheondangga Sogaju, but the elder mines were only concerned about their own safety.

This forced standoff continued for a while.

The expected change occurred when Dang-myeong let out a long exhale about ten times.

Drumroll please!

Drumroll please!

The sound of bones breaking is heard repeatedly. An old man with a deformed sword that looks like the teeth of a beast and a middle-aged man with blue eyes wearing strangely colored armor suddenly stop moving. It was Gu In-ryeong, the deadly horse, and Hwang Ja-gyu, the wall-mounted horse.

Then, their new forms rose into the air, and just like the Blue Blood Demon King Yuk Jinmyeong, a crimson glow flowed from their entire bodies, and their hair and fingernails fell out and grew back. Their transformation had also begun in earnest.

“… … .”

홍염나찰검 손연수는 입술을 질끈 깨물었다. 힘을 합쳐도 이 난관을 헤쳐 나갈 수 있을지 장담하기 힘든 마당에 두 사람이 의식을 잃고 말았다. 이제 도주는 꿈도 꾸기 힘든 상황. 그녀 또한 이 자리에서 무방비하게 환골탈태에 임해야겠지.

아니나 다를까.

우두두두둑━!

체념과 동시에 손연수의 몸에서도 소리가 났다. 환골탈태의 조짐. 전신의 뼈가 잘게 조각났다 붙었다 하기를 반복하는 듯하다. 손연수는 연신 헛바람을 집어삼켰다. 순간적으로 가해지는 격렬한 고통이 단숨에 정신을 아득하게 만든다.

‘여기서, 의식을 잃을 수는……!’

손연수는 필사적으로 정신을 붙잡았다. 어떻게든 깨어 있어야 한다는 생각이 들었다. 이대로 의식을 잃게 되면 다시는 눈을 뜨지 못할 수도 있었다. 호신강기가 전신을 뒤덮고 있다 해도 방심할 수 없다. 상대는 여차하면 강기(罡氣)를 동원할 수 있는 화경의 고수였으니까.

육신의 개변은 계속됐다. 뼈가 으스러졌다 붙길 반복하고, 전신 근육의 얼개가 새롭게 짜지는 감각이 고통과 함께 느껴진다.

‘……시간이 얼마나 흐른 거지.’

손연수는 이를 악물고 버티다 문득 의문을 느꼈다. 체감상 꽤 많은 시간이 흐른 것 같은데도 환골탈태는 여전히 순조롭게 진행되고 있었다. 몸에 별다른 위험이 닥치지도 않았다. 어쩌면 술법을 완성한 교주가 당연명을 처단한 것인지도 모르겠다는 생각을 할 때쯤━

흐려져 가는 의식을 붙들고 체내를 관조하던 손연수는 어느 순간 무언가 이질적인 기운이 호흡에 섞여 들어오고 있다는 것을 알아차렸다.

‘독기(毒氣)……!’

누구의 소행인지는 뻔했다. 사천당가의 소가주가 줄곧 휘두르던 연보랏빛 회오리가 그녀의 뇌리를 스친다. 그럼에도 호흡을 중단할 수는 없었다.

환골탈태는 생사현관이 타통된 육신이 제 스스로 개변을 행하는 현상이다. 일시적으로나마 육신에 대한 통제권을 박탈당한다는 의미이기도 했다. 경우에 따라서는 격통 속에서도 의식을 잃지 않고, 도리어 견고한 의지를 앞세워 환골탈태에 적극적으로 개입━ 근육의 얼개 등을 완전히 원하는 대로 짜는 일도 가능했지만 그 과정에서 지속적으로 진기가 주천해야 하기에 호흡만큼은 어찌할 수 없다.

‘안 돼, 안 된다! 그만!’

손연수는 뜻대로 멎지 않는 들숨에 당혹해 하면서 속으로 비명을 질러댔다. 호흡에 섞여 들어온 독기의 양은 그리 많지 않았지만, 그럼에도 곧장 그녀의 폐장을 상하게 했다. 몇 번 들숨이 반복되면서 독기가 지속적으로 유입된다. 다른 내부 장기들도 독기에 닿자 썩어 들어가는 것처럼 상태가 나빠지기 시작했다. 무림 고수의 체내는 보통 두터운 진기로 보호받는데, 그럼에도 이처럼 빠르게 장기들이 상하는 것을 보면 극독이 분명했다.

독기는 내부 장기에만 머물지 않았다. 규칙적인 맥동에 따라 전신을 휘돈다. 십이경맥을 비롯한 주요 기맥과 근육들에도 상해를 입혔다. 잘게 부서진 틈을 타 뼛속 깊이 독기가 파고들기도 했다.

‘본녀가 이리 죽을 수는……!’

손연수는 육신을 관조하며 통한했다. 독기가 체내를 유랑하며 닿는 곳 전부를 무너뜨리고 있었다. 심장과 폐를 비롯한 내부 장기부터 경맥과 세맥, 힘줄과 근육, 골수까지 독기가 구석구석 스민다. 그럼에도 즉사하지 않은 이유는 무얼까. 그녀는 오래 통찰하지 않고도 이유를 짐작할 수 있었다. 환골탈태의 과정 자체가 육신 수복 능력을 극한으로 끌어올린 까닭이겠지. 또 한 번, 심장 박동이 느려졌다 빨라진다.

한편, 상황은 점점 악화되고 있었다. 손연수가 괜히 죽음을 직감하고 있는 것이 아니다. 원치 않는 들숨이 계속되면서, 그에 따라 독기가 새롭게 유입되고 있었다. 환골탈태로 인한 재생력에 기대는 것도 한계가 있을 터였다.

아니나 다를까. 점차 체내에 독기가 누적되면서, 수복 속도마저 현저히 느려진다.

그랬다.

이 순간, 손연수의 명줄은 시시각각 짧아지고 있었다.

그녀로서는 어이가 없는 일이었다. 겨우 오라비와 같은 강자의 반열에 올라섰나 했는데, 이토록 허무한 죽음이 기다리고 있을 줄이야. 하다못해 강기(罡氣)를 뽑아가며 무학을 겨루다 패해 귀천하는 것이라면 억울함이라도 없겠는데, 제대로 된 강기를 시전해보지도 못하고, 환골탈태에 임해 무방비해진 상태에서 평소 하찮게 생각하며 거들떠도 보지 않던 독 따위에 당해 최후를 맞이하게 되다니……!

심장이 뛰는 게 또 느려진다.

손연수는 다시금 의식이 혼미해지는 것을 느꼈다. 정신을 붙잡으려 해도 뜻대로 되지 않는다.

‘죽는다.’

고통에 잠시 혼절하는 것이 아니라, 그냥 육신이 더 이상 기능하지 못하게 되어 의식이 완전히 끊기는 것이다. 아마 다시는 눈을 뜨지 못하겠지.

그리 생각하자 문득 손연수의 뇌리로 지난 삶이 주마등처럼 스친다.

신강에서도 유서 깊은 마도 명가 중 하나인 마화공손가(魔火公孫家).

비록 가주의 사생아로 태어났지만 제법 뛰어난 자질을 지녀 주목받았던 유년 시절.

성장하는 내내 열등감을 품게 만들었던 오라비 공손태.

한계가 명백한 반쪽짜리 가전 무공.

언제 입마(入魔)에 빠져 죽을지 몰라 전전긍긍했던 세월.

연심을 품은 이가 있었지만 그와의 혼인을 끝내 마다했던 것에 대한 후회.

교에 젊음을 바치고 공적을 세우는 일에 몰두한 것.

포상으로 받은 마도 무학들.

나름의 검술을 정립했으나 언제나 상승 무학에 대한 갈증을 느꼈던 일.

또 한 번 깊은 좌절을 안겨 준, 오라비가 마침내 극마지경에 도달했고 광명좌사가 되었다는 소식…….

온통 좌절과 갈망, 후회로 얼룩진 인생이었다.

뭐 하나 제대로 움켜쥐지도 못한, 손연수라는 이름처럼━ 끝까지 반쪽짜리일 뿐인 삶.

한데 이상한 일이었다.

정작 마지막의 마지막이라 할 만한 순간이 되자, 손연수는 그녀를 직접적으로 죽음에 이르게 한 당연명보다는 이 상황이 있게 한, 조금 더 본질적인 무언가에 대한 원망이 솟구치는 것을 느꼈으니.

그녀를 사생아라 규정지은 곳이자, 이복 오라비인 공손태의 가문인 마화공손가.

평생을 입마(入魔)에 빠질까 두렵게 지내게 만든 마공.

끝까지 도움의 손길을 내어주기는커녕 죽음에 이르도록 방치한 교주.

그것들의 근간이 되는 마도(魔道) 그 자체에 대한 원망이었다.

‘……차라리 절멸해버렸으면.’

짧은 저주와 함께━

홍염나찰검 손연수는 그렇게 조용한 죽음을 맞이했다.