NOVEL NEXT Chapter 184: White Monkey Demonic Hand, Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley (4)
The running Yi-gang heard the story so far from Neung Ji-pyeong and his group.
On their way to the Kunlun Sect, they suddenly encountered a demonic martial artist called White Monkey Demonic Hand, who mentioned something about a ‘blood ritual’ and kidnapped Peng Gu-in.
From Neung Ji-pyeong’s perspective, it was hard to grasp the sequence of events, but fortunately, there was a martial master from the Kunlun Sect here.
Go Yo-ja, who knew much more about the Demon Cult than the people of the Central Plains, said, “White Monkey Demonic Hand…! So that was it.”
“Do you know about him?”
“Yes, he was an expert from the True Demon Palace faction of the Demon Cult. His martial technique was bizarre and reached the Supreme Demon realm.”
“He must be a martial master.”
Yi-gang asked this, but the answer was obvious.
White Monkey Demonic Hand was a martial master. Here, only someone like Go Yo-ja could match him.
Not every person who became a demonic practitioner was necessarily executed, but Go Yo-ja speculated this.
Neung Ji-pyeong asked anxiously, “What does it mean that they offer sacrifices!”
He was clearly the leader of the group. He was anxious about the situation where one successor was captured by a demonic martial artist.
“It’s one of the evil arts practiced by the followers of the Demon Cult. I’m not sure why they want to perform a blood ritual, but if it’s true, the situation is urgent.”
Yi-gang clenched his teeth.
“We need to hurry.”
Yi-gang’s movements became even faster.
Despite using light footwork at full speed, Yi-gang surged forward.
Tang Eun-seol was falling behind, while Neung Ji-pyeong barely managed to keep up with Go Yo-ja.
Unknowingly, Neung Ji-pyeong sighed as he watched Yi-gang.
“Ah… how could he have changed so much in just a few years.”
Just moments before, when he swung his sword without recognizing Yi-gang, he had already sensed it.
It was a sharp surprise attack.
The sword technique of Shadowless Sword Pavilion was intensely practical. If things had gone slightly wrong, it could have killed the lord’s child.
However, that sword was blocked by Yi-gang.
Was it just blocked? Right after the swords clashed, Neung Ji-pyeong felt a chilling sensation as if his upper body was being cleaved in half.
What would have happened if Yi-gang hadn’t recognized Neung Ji-pyeong?
Neung Ji-pyeong couldn’t even fathom it.
Even as Neung Ji-pyeong was deep in thought, the group continued to race forward.
As Go Yo-ja said, they were close to Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.
Contrary to its name suggesting a valley, the actual terrain was more akin to a small basin.
Large rocks difficult to climb surrounded it like a fence, and there was just one gap leading inside.
Dozens of straw ropes stretched across this gap, blocking it, seemingly emphasizing that entry was forbidden.
And in front of it, White Monkey Demonic Hand and Yi-gang were facing each other.
“Heh heh, so persistent! Piss off before I kill this guy right now!”
White Monkey Demonic Hand was clutching Peng Gu-in’s neck with one hand. With his acupoint pressed, Peng Gu-in was groaning and feeling humiliated.
“If you’re conducting a blood ritual. Then you’re going to kill him anyway, right?”
“Heh, heh heh, that’s right.”
White Monkey Demonic Hand chuckled spasmodically. He seemed truly mad.
And Yi-gang had many bad memories about people who chuckled like that.
“If you want to go inside, just go. Why do you need a blood ritual?”
“You cheeky brat. If I don’t perform the blood ritual, I’ll surely receive divine punishment, won’t I!”
White Monkey Demonic Hand suddenly pointed to the sky as he said this.
Of course, the sky was not visible due to the fog.
Yi-gang snorted.
“…I didn’t know you had enough conscience to fear divine punishment.”
“Conscience? It’s not about that…”
Next to Yi-gang stood Go Yo-ja, Neung Ji-pyeong, and Tang Eun-seol.
Surrounded, White Monkey Demonic Hand rolled his eyes while pulling on Peng Gu-in’s neck.
“It’s not about conscience, just…”
Yi-gang cut him off.
“I’m not interested, and this is a warning.”
“Ihihi.”
Mad as he was, it didn’t seem like White Monkey Demonic Hand lacked discernment.
A situation where one Supreme Peak master and three Peak experts had him surrounded. White Monkey Demonic Hand must have felt the crisis.
“Worry about the divine punishment you might receive. Or maybe you’ll die here torn apart…”
“Are you threatening me, boy?”
As White Monkey Demonic Hand tightened his grip on Peng Gu-in’s neck, Peng Gu-in’s face turned dark red.
“Make your decision.”
“…”
Threatening a mad fiend was not an easy task.
Especially when that fiend was a great martial master and holding a hostage by the neck.
“If you touch him more, you will definitely die.”
Yet, Yi-gang’s voice did not waver.
As White Monkey Demonic Hand, who was determined to enter Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley, he couldn’t ignore it.
He slowly relaxed the strength in his arm.
Peng Gu-in breathed in roughly.
“Heh heh, such impressive defiance; I can’t resist it.”
Internally relieved, Yi-gang did not change his expression.
White Monkey Demonic Hand agreed to negotiate.
“If I let go of this bulk…”
“I won’t chase you.”
“How would I know that?”
“Do you think we are like those Demon Cult followers? We keep our promises.”
As Yi-gang said this, White Monkey Demonic Hand burst into loud laughter.
“Do you take me for a fool?”
White Monkey Demonic Hand ran his right hand’s fingernail across Peng Gu-in’s nape.
As blood streamed down, Yi-gang also shut his mouth.
-That Demon Cult fellow believes that there are still secrets of the Heavenly Demon at the Seven Stars Altar.
Go Yo-ja telepathically communicated to Yi-gang.
-We can’t hand over the Seven Stars Altar… but we can’t let this friend die either…
“Telepathy is forbidden, stupid Taoist.”
White Monkey Demonic Hand noticed Go Yo-ja’s lips moving and realized they were using telepathy.
Since they couldn’t even exchange telepathic messages, Yi-gang had no choice but to make a decision on his own.
Peng Gu-in, with both his paralysis and mute acupoints pressed, was no better than a log. If only he could resist a little, there might be a chance…
“I’ll go to the middle.”
Yi-gang loosened his sword and threw it to the ground.
As the Shooting Star Fang rolled on the ground, both the group and White Monkey Demonic Hand were startled.
Yi-gang raised his hands and walked a few steps forward.
“Leave Young Master Peng on the ground and slowly back away. Then I will take him. In the meantime, you can run or not.”
“That sounds somewhat reasonable.”
If necessary, White Monkey Demonic Hand could kill Peng Gu-in at any time. Without his sword, Yi-gang dared not attack White Monkey Demonic Hand.
At that moment, Yi-gang naturally scratched his neck.
It was an angle that White Monkey Demonic Hand couldn’t properly see, but to Tang Eun-seol, Yi-gang’s fingers were clearly visible.
Jianjing acupoint… Amen acupoint… and then he touched a few other acupoints in sequence.
“Put it down quickly.”
“Let’s take it slow.”
Unnoticed by anyone, Tang Eun-seol slightly twisted her wrist. A few hidden weapons inside her sleeve rolled into her hand.
White Monkey Demonic Hand grinned and grasped Peng Gu-in’s forearm instead of his neck.
“Alright, I’ll put it down.”
White Monkey Demonic Hand, smiling as he spoke, seemed to readily accept the negotiation.
However, Yi-gang did not let his guard down.
From White Monkey Demonic Hand’s perspective, the most efficient choice was obvious.
Even if he returned Peng Gu-in, it would be better to return him with a hole in his stomach.
That way, Yi-gang and his group would be too busy tending to Peng Gu-in to pursue them.
That’s the kind of thinking befitting a demonic martial artist.
Tat!
Knowing this, Yi-gang moved quicker than White Monkey Demonic Hand.
The moment he stepped forward, Tang Eun-seol also reacted.
Thud—
Several small iron beads flew out of Tang Eun-seol’s hand all at once. Instead of power, they flew silently and covertly, making no sound as they cut through the air.
It was a unique item that could use hidden weapons to seal acupoints.
One must know the method of acupoint sealing used by the opponent to be able to quickly unseal it, and Yi-gang had precisely observed the moment White Monkey Demonic Hand used to seal Peng Gu-in’s mute acupoints and relayed this to Tang Eun-seol.
Thuk, thud—
The moment Peng Gu-in’s mute acupoints were unsealed coincided with Yi-gang springing into action.
Go Yo-ja chanted a mantra.
“Svāhā-!”
The mantra imbued with Taoist power had an effect similar to a lion’s roar.
Go Yo-ja’s pure energy temporarily scattered White Monkey Demonic Hand’s demonic arts.
It was enough time for Yi-gang to pick up his sword and charge.
Because he had drawn up the Heavenly Thunder Bell as much as possible, Yi-gang’s eyes shone fiercely.
“Guk—!”
White Monkey Demonic Hand, terrified, tried to use Peng Gu-in as a shield, but Peng Gu-in, whose mute acupoints had been released, spat blood in White Monkey Demonic Hand’s face. He had bitten the inside of his cheek to produce the blood.
Yi-gang’s sword traced a long arc.
Squeak—
It was a masterful strike.
Yi-gang severed White Monkey Demonic Hand’s left arm.
Peng Gu-in, along with the arm that had been holding him, tumbled to the ground with a thud.
“Eehihi!”
White Monkey Demonic Hand emitted a strange groan that was indistinguishable between laughing and crying, swinging his remaining right arm.
It was imbued with Hand Aura.
Kraang!
Despite being surrounded by sword energy, the meteorite sword staggered back.
Using the powerful recoil, White Monkey Demonic Hand retreated instead of charging forward.
He then spun around and struck a stone pillar.
The force was so strong that the pillar cracked and began to crumble.
“Uhahahahaha—!”
White Monkey Demonic Hand disappeared into the depths of Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.
His obsession with entering it was palpable.
Yi-gang quickly checked Peng Gu-in’s condition.
“Kr, ugh! Yi-gang!”
“Young Master Peng!”
Still stiff, Peng Gu-in shed hot tears.
“Thank you!”
Overwhelmed by a rush of emotion, Yi-gang patted Peng Gu-in’s body.
“Where were you acupoint-pressed?”
“Cough!”
“Here? Or here?”
“Sp-speak, cough!”
Yi-gang’s hands ruthlessly patted Peng Gu-in.
Only after Neung Ji-pyeong intervened could Peng Gu-in finally release his acupoints.
“Heuk, heuk, thank you, Sir Neung.”
“Hehe…”
It was fortunate that things turned out well; Peng Gu-in almost truly died.
However, his guilt for causing harm to others and the shame of being kidnapped seemed to weigh heavier on him.
“This is no time to stay put, we must capture him!”
Go Yo-ja, with a blazing look in his eyes, urged Yi-gang.
“We can’t let that mad fiend tamper with the Seven Stars Altar!”
Yi-gang agreed with this.
But White Monkey Demonic Hand had shattered a stone pillar just before entering, blocking the entrance.
To pursue him, they would likely need to climb over the rocks.
Just as Yi-gang was about to do so, a terrible scream echoed from within Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.
“Aaaaagh!”
It was the scream of White Monkey Demonic Hand, who had only laughed even when his arm was severed.
Something had clearly happened inside.
And outside, where the group was, something else was unfolding.
Go Yo-ja and Neung Ji-pyeong simultaneously turned around and drew their swords.
“Who goes there!”
Dozens of figures emerged from the fog.
They were wearing black cloaks; they were the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad. Go Yo-ja recognized them.
“The Demon Cultists…!”
Behind them, an old man and a middle-aged man, each with their arms crossed, were Elder White Hand Demonic Emperor and the leader of the Dark Heaven Execution Pursuit Squad.
A chilling metallic sound came from White Hand Demonic Emperor’s mouth.
“The rabble of Kunlun and the Central Plains folks.”
It was the moment Yi-gang grasped his sword again, ready to fight.
-Go inside first and deal with that bastard!
Go Yo-ja sent this telepathy.
Neung Ji-pyeong also looked at Yi-gang and nodded.
Yi-gang pondered for a moment and then slightly bent his legs.
-Then, I’ll be right back.
After ensuring Cheongho was securely in his possession, he executed the secret art of light footwork.
Tat!
He soared up high, then began to scale the rocks, burning with determination.
If a decision was made, acting quickly was the best strategy.
White Hand Demonic Emperor clicked his tongue.
“Damn… sweep them away!”
With that command, he kicked a stone near his foot.
It shot toward Yi-gang’s lower back like a cannonball.
Kwaang!
But Go Yo-ja blocked it.
“How dare you!”
Go Yo-ja chanted a powerful mantra, and the Execution Pursuit Squad members charged.
Yi-gang safely climbed over the rock and entered Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley.
Thuk—
The landing was light.
The sound of swords clashing could be heard beyond the rock.
Go Yo-ja was a Supreme Peak master, and both Tang Eun-seol and Neung Ji-pyeong were also strong, but there was clearly a heavyweight among their opponents.
Yi-gang also wanted to stay and fight.
However, he entered this place, trusting Go Yo-ja’s judgment.
Quickly deal with White Monkey Demonic Hand and return to join the others.
That was Yi-gang’s plan.
The environment inside Heaven-Slaying Demon Valley was strange.
It was enclosed by rocks on both sides, with only the sky open above.
The path was so narrow that it was more like a gorge than a valley.
The area wasn’t large, so White Monkey Demonic Hand was quickly spotted.
Yi-gang had imagined what White Monkey Demonic Hand might be doing.
Maybe he was smashing that altar with his fists.
Or perhaps he was searching everywhere for the secrets left by the Heavenly Demon. Maybe that’s why he screamed.
“Huuk, heuk.”
All expectations were off.
White Monkey Demonic Hand was kneeling and prostrate.
Crying, he was bleeding continuously, unable to properly stop the blood from his severed arm.
“Uhuk, hukhuk… sorry…”
“Hey.”
Surprised, Yi-gang made a noise, but White Monkey Demonic Hand did not turn around.
“Sorry… I’m so sorry…”
Who was he apologizing to?
Did he really receive a divine punishment?
“Not knowing my place…”
The direction in which White Monkey Demonic Hand was prostrate and sobbing, Yi-gang turned his head towards that spot.
And Yi-gang’s pupils dilated significantly.
“…”
It was not the secrets of the Heavenly Demon, but there was definitely something there.
The form of a person sitting on the altar.