As the trap was triggered, a strong earthquake shook the entire battlefield.
In the chaotic melee, the Array Formation Teams from the Heavenly Demon Sect faced off against the Entity. Among them, the leader of the Mugeuk Chiljeong Corps cursed the sudden disaster.
“Reorganize the formation! Close the distance!”
Although the leader of the Mugeuk Chiljeong Corps tried to push for it, the tremors distorted the formation as they struggled to respond to the agile movements of the Badger Entity.
Kyaaaak!
“Cough!”
“Ahh!”
The Entity exploited the openings, causing a corner of the formation to collapse. Sensing that the Qi was crumbling, the Entity’s eyes gleamed as it unleashed attacks in all directions.
In an instant, the remaining power felt drained, and even as the squad leaders gathered what energy they had left to withstand the Entity’s assault, it became clear that they could only manage a few counterattacks before reaching their limit.
Is this it?
Such thoughts crossed the minds of the Mugeuk Chiljeong members.
Dududu!!
Boom!!
In the distance, the sound of galloping hooves grew closer, accompanied by the firing of tear gas. The Mugeuk Chiljeong members grimaced and coughed at the pungent cloud, but the Entity reacted with far greater intensity than they did.
Kyaaaak!!
The Entity forgot even to attack, hopping around wildly.
“Now’s our chance! Regroup and reorganize!”
The coughing martial artists snapped back to reality and gathered, while the Bicheongmacha drew near the Badger Entity.
“Now!”
Chwirrrrr!!
At Tang So-yeol’s command, Tang Do-yeon threw out iron chains. After confirming that the chains wrapped around the frantically leaping body of the Badger Entity, Tang So-yeol secured the chain to the body of the Bicheongmacha.
Clunk!!
With the weight of the Badger Entity now attached to the Bicheongmacha, the cart shook and slowed considerably.
However, Tang Do-yeon continued to drive the cart without any concern.
Puhihihiheng!!
With the powerful calls of the horses, they resumed their rush. The Badger Entity, now dragged along by the chain, dug its claws into the ground in desperation but was pulled away without resistance.
Kkiik kkiik!
Tang So-yeol couldn’t bear the weight of the Entity and saw the cart’s body slowly enduring damage as she thought,
“Once this is over, it’ll be faster to make a new cart.”
But now wasn’t the time to worry about the future.
The earthquake had thrown all Array Formation Teams off balance.
Judging that there was enough distance for the Mugeuk Chiljeong to stabilize their formation, Tang So-yeol released the connected chains.
Kyaaaak!!
The Badger Entity, dragged along for dozens of meters, let out a furious cry, but by then, the Bicheongmacha had already sped far away.
Even after that, the Bicheongmacha dashed through the battlefield.
“Cough!”
It plunged into the fray, delivering hidden weapons to the martial artists of the Blood Sect that were attacking the Array Formation Teams, assisting those shaken and pressured by the quake with nets, chains, and poison bombs.
As Tang So-yeol rushed through the battlefield, extinguishing urgent fires, her gaze returned to the center of the battlefield.
Before her, a massive hole gaped open, far too large to simply call a pit, and Tang So-yeol clicked her tongue.
“Tsk.”
She worried about Ho Cheon-an and his group being sucked into that pit, but charging the Bicheongmacha into it was out of the question.
Chirp chirp.
As Tang So-yeol was clicking her tongue at the pit, Seo Gong was also staring into it.
Seo Gong recalled the past.
At some point, he realized he was different from his kin. This wasn’t merely a change in size or strength; it was an instinctual understanding that the transformation was far deeper.
After that, he sought out Spirit Herbs, consuming them to gain power.
In doing so, Seo Gong gradually became a different entity, and at some point, he started living alone, for he could no longer mingle with his once-kind kin.
Many springs and winters passed as he foraged for Spirit Herbs, safeguarded his nest, fought or fled from other Entities, and survived.
Then one day, a human suddenly appeared before him.
Until then, Seo Gong merely considered it a matter of course since humans were plentiful in this world, and he frequently encountered them.
While this one was stronger and reeked of blood, he still dismissed it as just another human, merely thinking of relocating his nest elsewhere.
Killing a human recklessly would only lead other humans to swarm like bees, so he thought to intimidate or drive it away.
As Seo Gong brandished his tail, demonstrating his might, a nostalgic scent suddenly wafted into the air.
The smell of the blood of kin.
He began to sense that the human before him had a familiar scent.
It wasn’t the scent of past kin that was ubiquitous. It smelled like kin that shared the same blood as his own, one who was both physically and mentally transformed now.
Seo Gong thought absentmindedly.
Could this human be kin by blood, just like him?
It was a contradictory thought, yet he held onto it.
The human approached Seo Gong, and he accepted its hand. Although a fleeting thought of danger crossed his mind, he ignored it.
Having faced countless changes through the years, Seo Gong felt the moment he sensed the existence of kin brought an acute awareness of his loneliness.
In the hope of being with his kin, he couldn’t extricate himself from that belief.
Blood flowed from the man and coursed through Seo Gong, giving him stronger conviction. Look, even as our blood mingles, there’s no issue at all. This man, no, this ‘kin’ in human form is the same existence as I am.
Through an unmeasurable exchange of blood, Seo Gong became certain that the man was human and kin, and he learned to communicate with his kind in a new language.
Although it was called ‘blood speech’ in human terms, Seo Gong had no way of knowing that.
Afterward, leaving his nest to follow his kin, Seo Gong lived in a cave with the subordinates of his kin. The kin, busy as they were, hardly came to see him, but Seo Gong desperately suppressed his feelings of regret. With so many subordinates around, they must be busy.
He bore the pain of having his blood drawn.
He knew well that his kin didn’t favor him too much.
Refusing to have his blood drawn might mean he wouldn’t be able to stay with his kin.
After all, it was said to be necessary.
Though he lost a little strength each time, it was something he could endure to be with his kin.
He hated being thrown into a relentless void of loneliness.
Then one day, Seo Gong set off with a subordinate of his kin on a long journey.
He could neither meet his kin nor could he live with just one subordinate.
He was simply getting weaker as blood was drawn periodically.
Still, Seo Gong could not resist.
He had already come to know loneliness.
Compared to the years he had lived, this was but a short time. So he thought, let’s just endure a little longer.
He endured, and he continued to endure.
Then one day, a figure appeared before Seo Gong, exuding the scent similar to his kin. Was it a member of his kind?
There was no doubt that the blood was connected…
As he considered such thoughts while staring at Ho Cheon-an, his kin’s subordinate excitedly issued a kill order, but Seo Gong refused.
He could not kill this human, who might be of his kin.
Amidst this, a conflict erupted, and when Ho Cheon-an killed the subordinate, Seo Gong chose to remain still. There were numerous subordinates, and only one human presumed to be of his kin.
There had been something he didn’t like about the subordinate, who constantly issued rough orders and drew blood.
The young kin didn’t seem to have learned language yet, for they couldn’t understand whatever was said.
He could only barely convey intentions through the gestures of the kin subordinates.
Doubt crept into his mind, questioning whether it was wise to follow such an immature being, but Seo Gong decided to take a chance on this side.
Days passed.
As he waited with unease, not fully communicating with the young kin, his kin brought humans along.
Would they draw blood again?
Please, stop it already.
I just want to meet my kin.
Seo Gong, who had intended to release the tension, saw the surprised face of Ho Cheon-an and simply closed his eyes, giving up. What wrongdoing could the naive young kin possibly commit? It was I who was foolishly clinging to hope without reason.
As he was about to give up, the humans brought food.
Very, very nutritious food.
Seo Gong devoured the food in an instant, filled with hope. He understood that Spirit Herbs were precious not only to humans but also to his kin.
Could it be that this young kin bore some fondness for me unlike the others?
As such thoughts crossed his mind, Seo Gong hoped for the young kin, who couldn’t even speak properly, Ho Cheon-an.
Thus, even when the little human clung annoyingly to him, he exercised patience.
When his health started recovering reasonably, Ho Cheon-an showed signs of leaving. The gestures suggested they wanted to leave together, but since no words were spoken, he couldn’t be certain.
Seo Gong pondered.
The kin had instructed him to stay here, and the young kin was showing signs of wanting to leave.
However, the thought didn’t last long.
Though naïve, he didn’t want to part from his kin. Furthermore, the young kin couldn’t handle things alone. A guardian to guide should be needed.
That’s it! Let me be the protector of my kin! Surely, they’ll understand!
Deciding on this conclusion, Seo Gong shrank his body and dashed toward Ho Cheon-an.
Dududu!!
Clunk!
As he ran across the cracked ground, the vibration from the Bicheongmacha jolted him from his thoughts.
Down below, his kin and the young kin were fighting.
It was time to make a decision.
Should I allow my kin and the snake to harm the young kin and the humans?
That simply couldn’t happen.
Deciding resolutely, Seo Gong began to move.
Zziiing!
He ripped open pouches of the Spirit Herbs bestowed by the fearsome human who commanded the powers of the heavenly dragon and stuffed them all into his mouth.
But it still wasn’t enough.
Crack!
Seo Gong also bit down on a case containing Inner Dans from the Entities they had hunted together with Ho Cheon-an and his group, shoving its contents into his mouth.
This wasn’t Spirit Herbs – it was energy absorbed, and he would certainly face trouble later, but now wasn’t the time to be picky.
With his body growing heavier, he staggered and opened the ceiling door to climb on top of the Bicheongmacha.
“What’s this?”
Chirp chirp!
Seo Gong pointed his tail at the pit. Ignoring Tang So-yeol’s incredulous expression, he took a seat upon the spear.
“…Ha.”
Seeing Seo Gong turn around as though he wasn’t going to shoot, Tang So-yeol sighed.
How hadn’t she realized Seo Gong was a combatant rather than just a pet?
Reflecting on her foolishness, she lamented the facts.
“Go on. Help them.”
Chirp chirp!
Whoosh!!
With the harpoon shot diagonally, Seo Gong soared high into the air.
Just then, the winds stirred up by the Mosan Sect’s Taoists blew away the dust, revealing the scene within the pit.
Soaring high, Seo Gong witnessed the Blood Ancestor in the pit and thought,
Kin.
No, there was a human there who he had mistaken for kin.
Seo Gong knew that the Blood Ancestor had tricked him with some means. When had he realized that?
Was it when he witnessed the Blood Persons handle Entities repeatedly? Or perhaps when he watched the Blood Ancestor appear alongside the Blood Serpent, hiding inside the Bicheongmacha? Or was it now, facing countless Entities on the battlefield?
Seo Gong shook his head.
No, that wasn’t it.
The blood sorcery broke when he no longer yearned for his kin.
Though Seo Gong didn’t know he was under blood sorcery, he instinctively understood that the sorcery had broken.
It was because he no longer felt anything upon seeing the Blood Ancestor.
As Seo Gong glided down, he looked at Ho Cheon-an.
He now knew that he was no longer just a young kin. He wasn’t someone to be tutored in blood speech nor merely a young being to be encouraged, nor a being in need of protection from the Entities.
Yet, the humans, whom they called by numerous titles, had freed him from the loneliness that had once terrified him more than death.
Those who offered Spirit Herbs while scratching at his itch with metal rods.
The little humans who couldn’t bear to look at him when covered in grime.
The humans who disrupted his rest, touching him whenever they got the chance.
As he traveled with Ho Cheon-an in the Bicheongmacha, he realized that these beings wouldn’t leave him to suffer in solitude.
Just curling up by their feet would signal that he was there, that they acknowledged his presence.
While they weren’t his kin,
They were the ones who had washed away the acute loneliness piled within his heart over hundreds of years.
They were the ones who lavished affection and interest on him to the extent that it was bothersome.
Thus, Seo Gong resolved to fight to protect them.
Shhaaaaack!!
At the sight of the deadly snake Entity rampaging, Seo Gong shrank back, instinctively gripped by fear.
Gulp.
Yet, Seo Gong swallowed the Spirit Herbs and Inner Dan to rescue Ho Cheon-an.
He burned the power from all the Spirit Herbs and Inner Dans without hesitation, worth several decades of food, but still, he didn’t feel an ounce of regret.
Using that power as a foundation, Seo Gong began to grow larger as he fell toward the pit. His body felt heavier, and as the pit appeared smaller, at one moment…
Seo Gong realized instinctively.
No longer was the Black Serpent a source of fear!
In the animal world, what defines strength and weakness?
Sharp claws?
Crushing strength?
Strong legs?
A useful tail?
No.
It’s mass.
More precisely, it’s weight.
Heavy creatures, regardless of their brutal attacks or lack of efficient offensive tactics, can crush smaller opponents merely through their muscular weight.
Seo Gong realized that he had gained the size to face even the natural enemy, the snake, as he consumed countless Spirit Herbs and substandard Inner Dans and let out a courageous roar.
Zziiiiing!
Seeing the bravado and immense size, both the Blood Ancestor and the Black Serpent were taken aback, pausing in surprise.
Kuuuuuung!
Seo Gong’s tail, thicker than the Black Serpent’s, sliced through the air, producing a chilling sound.
Boom!!!
The enormous body of the Black Serpent was slammed down by Seo Gong’s tail, shaking the ground.
The Black Serpent, caught off guard by the monstrous swipe of Seo Gong, was momentarily stunned, while Seo Gong himself rolled to absorb the shock of the fall from such height.
Shhaaaack!!
Upon recognizing Seo Gong’s identity, the Black Serpent hissed in anger.
How dare this wretched creature show its teeth—or rather, its tail! This was something he simply could not endure.
The tail swipe had been sufficient to disrupt the pit, causing the Blood Ancestor to lose sight of Ho Cheon-an, as he attempted to control the Black Serpent with rippling blood techniques, but the serpent was already charging at Seo Gong.
Seo Gong retaliated by lashing his tail back.
Szzziing!!
The tail strike staggered the Black Serpent, but filled with rage, it attacked again, wrapping around Seo Gong’s body.
Crack!
As the Black Serpent tightened its grip, a painful cry escaped Seo Gong’s mouth. When the serpent raised its head to bite him, Seo Gong countered.
Zhook!
He charged against the wall, grinding the Black Serpent’s body against it.
Usually, when a snake constricts its prey, the prey would have no way to escape and would tire out, destined to be devoured, but this pit was completely enclosed by walls.
“Stop! You ungrateful wretch!”
The Blood Ancestor shouted desperately, unleashing his blood techniques towards Seo Gong, but filled with the longing to rid himself of loneliness, Seo Gong felt no need to obey the Blood Ancestor any longer.
Catching the vicious glare of Seo Gong reflected in the Blood Ancestor’s eyes, he realized that the situation had worsened.
Swiiiing!
“Gah!”
The Blood Ancestor could do nothing but leap up, having no choice but to kick the head of the Black Serpent. Though he might have honed his skills, fundamentally, a snake’s tail could not deliver impactful blows against an Entity unless given rotational force, making it a significant threat to humans.
However, the Blood Ancestor couldn’t launch blood bullets at Seo Gong.
There were two daggers aimed at him in his line of sight.
The Blood Ancestor gritted his teeth and glanced back.
“What are you staring at?”
“Damn persistent ones…”
Before he realized it, Ho Cheon-an and his companions had assembled, forming Six Star Chen. Perhaps from his injuries and internal damage, Ho Cheon-an appeared unwell, but even so, facing two Hwa-gyeong Martial Artists and four Peak Experts wouldn’t be easy for the Blood Ancestor.
“Let’s go! We have to save Seo Gong!”
At Hyeok Gi-rin’s command, Ho Cheon-an nodded, pushing through the pain in his legs toward the Blood Ancestor.
While Seo Gong was fiercely fighting the Black Serpent, he witnessed this scene and thought,
Today, I wanted to display the grace of a protector, but it seems my only role is to offer assistance.
That would be enough, he decided.
He was certain that his companions would shower him with joy for merely contributing to the effort.
Seo Gong activated the power swirling within him even more.
His size grew further. The energies of the Spirit Herbs and Inner Dans ignited.
Already, his body screamed in agony from overexertion, but he ignored it.
As his size increased, the pressure from the Black Serpent’s grip intensified, and pain surged, yet he disregarded it.
He solely focused on observing the Black Serpent’s reactions.
Meanwhile, the Black Serpent couldn’t hide its bewilderment.
It didn’t just randomly wrap around the body. A careless wrap could lead to a body being shredded by teeth or claws.
Yet, with Seo Gong’s body suddenly increasing, the safe grip was disrupted.
Crack!
Thus, the Black Serpent loosened its coil and bit Seo Gong’s side. Its determination was rational; the immense size was no longer easily swallowable, and it would be prudent to nibble and inflict damage instead.
And that judgment determined the outcome.
Seo Gong gazed at the serpent’s body hanging before him and thought,
Is this predator’s arrogance based only on having gained an advantage once?
Wasn’t it a grip he barely maintained, that was about to shatter against the wall?
To so easily throw away such a lead at a hint of danger?
Maybe that judgment from the Black Serpent wasn’t entirely wrong.
Having consumed numerous Spirit Herbs to bolster himself, he hadn’t yet been able to take down the Black Serpent, meaning from its perspective, Seo Gong must have appeared incredibly weak.
But.
It’s not the strong who survive; it’s the survivors who are strong.
Seo Gong bit down fiercely on the serpent’s body hanging before him. The fangs, which could easily crush anything solid, pierced through the tough hide of the Black Serpent deep into its flesh.
Swiit!
Simultaneously, the tail of Seo Gong detached from the camaraderie formed with Ho Cheon-an and the others. The Blood Ancestor stumbled back, and Seo Gong slipped into the gap.
He had placed himself between the Blood Ancestor and the Six Star Chen.
The gazes of Ho Cheon-an’s group and the colossal Seo Gong intersected.
The group, startled by Seo Gong suddenly turning his back against the Blood Ancestor, quickly realized that he had created an opportunity for sacrifice.
The head of the Black Serpent remained pinned to the side, while Seo Gong bit down on the middle of its body sternly, ensuring that it could not escape from a strike at its brain.
But that wasn’t all.
Using his massive size against the wall effectively blocked the Blood Ancestor’s attacks, creating an environment where they could fight freely without worry.
The formation of Six Star Chen transformed into a thunderstorm battalion. The Blood Ancestor, picking up on the circumstances, also began to pelt attacks against Seo Gong’s body, but he alone could not bring down the giant Entity.
Rumble-rumble!!
Seo Gong felt the giant bolt of lightning slicing through the Black Serpent’s body above him.
Indeed, in combat or in life,
It’s better to face things together.
