Chapter 140

“Heavenly Demon… you say…?”


The former demon lord who turned the Central Plains Martial World into a wasteland and disappeared eighteen years ago.


“Why…?”


But why is this person in the mental world of Sima Mantian, a kid with no connection at all? It doesn’t make sense.


It shouldn’t be happening.


The shoulders of Pure Hook, kneeling on the ground, tremble. The fragment of the Heavenly Demon looks down at Pure Hook and speaks in a calm voice.


“I like this place. It’s fun to be together. The space is also spacious.”


“…What do you want to say?”


The fragment of the Heavenly Demon shrugs. It was a really refreshing attitude.


“I don’t have anything particular to say. I’m just a guest anyway. As long as you don’t do anything stupid, I don’t care if I stay here or leave.”


However, the black eyes narrow slightly.


“But if you’re going to run away, you’d better run fast. Unlike me, who has no particular feelings for you, that guy-.”


A huge shadow falls over Pure Hook.


The sky is covered, and a black thundercloud approaches.


“He’s very angry because you and your friend have been tormenting the race he cares about.”


“…Huh?”


Blue lightning strikes towards Pure Hook.


·


·


·


Light gradually returns to Mantian’s dazed eyes.


‘Tagoo~ Tagoo~!!’


(Partner! Snap out of it!)


The voice of Tagujang, heard in his head, completely snaps him out of it.


‘…What happened?’


He grabs Pure Hook. He has no memory of what happened after the eerie voice echoed in his head.


He looks at Pure Hook in his hand, but there’s nothing particularly… although it feels like the sinister red aura has calmed down, there’s nothing noticeably unusual.


‘Was I so tired that I lost consciousness for a moment?’


Just in case, he decides not to touch it directly and wraps it in cloth to store it.


Later, he should go to Shaolin Temple or Wudang Sect to perform an exorcism.


Anyway, now-.


“Young Master, are you okay?”


He nods to Poong Ran, who is asking him.


“I was just tired for a moment. I’m fine now.”


Everything is over.


***


“Nothing is over.”


The mental world, dark but visible.


A familiar world he often visited in his dreams.


“Partner.”


But the presence in front of him was not familiar at all.


“…Who are you?”


He frowns at the man who looks like him but is different, with white cracks all over, greeting him familiarly.


“The spirit of the Dog Chasing Stick Technique, Tagujang.”


At the words of the man in front of him, who calls himself Tagujang, Mantian’s face hardens.


“…Where did Tagujang go?”


“I am Tagujang.”


Even if it’s a bad dream, it’s not easy to let go.


After learning the Dog Chasing Stick Technique from his master, he has spent his life with his precious partner.


‘Tagoo~ Tagoo~ The broken Tagoo again~!!’


‘Hehe~ Tagujang is really hopeless!’


They won together, and they lost together.


‘Partner! If you keep mocking me as a relic, Tagujang uncle will get angry~!’


‘Well… but Tagujang… you’re a relic that gets pushed by the Fudo Myo-o…’


Even if he jokingly calls it a relic, it’s his most precious martial art.


“What did you do to Tagujang?”


“……..”


In the peaceful silence, his grip on the staff tightens.


“Right now, I’m-.”


With a hardened face, he shouts loudly.


“I’m asking what you did to Tagujang uncle!!”


The space shakes with the loud voice, but.


“Well, there’s not much else to say in this situation.”


The fake Tagujang’s mouth curves into a smile instead.


“Then I’ll go by the book, partner.”


He holds the staff, Tagujang, in his right hand and takes a stance.


Tha-ack-!!


In an instant, he closes the distance.


“Like I said earlier…”


Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Overhead Strike


He swings the staff down.


“……!!”


Mantian hurriedly raises his own staff to block the basic form, and the fake Tagujang smiles wickedly at him.


“I am the real Tagujang.”


A heavy blow presses down on his entire body.


“Don’t make me laugh!”


Instead of struggling with strength, I tilt the staff and aim for his hand, but.


Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Slanting Strike on the Dog’s Back


The fake Tagujang leisurely steps back and lowers the tip of the staff.


Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Pressing the Dog’s Shoulder


Immediately, he kicks off the ground and stabs my right shoulder.


Crack-!


“Don’t make me laugh? Why? Let’s laugh as much as we want.”


The fake Tagujang’s playful voice mocks me as I retreat, my shoulder pressed down and my basic form broken.


“Isn’t it fun to learn and practice from time to time?”


For some reason, he doesn’t attack immediately.


He waits for me to regain my stance and taps my shoulder with the staff.


“…What do you want?”


I didn’t really expect an answer, but the guy suddenly puts on a serious expression.


“For you to get stronger.”


He answers without a moment’s hesitation.


“…What?”


“Then let’s start again.”


The guy kicks off the ground again and unfolds the basic form.


Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Pressing the Dog’s Head Down


This time, the tip of the staff aims sharply at my neck.


A powerful thrust. So I deflect it before it reaches me.


Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Flipping the Dog Skyward


I deflect his staff upward, trying to change its trajectory for a moment.


“Huh?”


The guy suddenly lets go of the staff. A brief moment in the air.


And then he grabs it again.


He holds the staff in reverse grip, twists his waist, and swings towards my lower side, which I didn’t prepare for.


Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Reversing the Dog’s Butt


He swings without hesitation.


“Ugh-!”


The pain spreads through my body, and my lungs expel air.


I roll to the side, tumbling on the ground. After a few rolls.


“Haa… haa…”


I catch my breath, hands on the ground, and the fake Tagujang speaks to me in a sly voice, waiting.


“You shouldn’t fall for such a simple trick, partner.”


He waits for me to get up and take a stance.


“This is why you keep breaking me. I want to stop breaking too.”


As if he’s training me…


I get up from the ground and look at the fake Tagujang. I observe him carefully.


The most noticeable thing is his shadow-like body and the white cracks all over.


Could it be…?


Could it be that he’s the combined existence of all the Tagujangs I broke during training or battles, Tagujang No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, etc.?


Dark Corrupted Tagujang!?


So! Did the cracks appear because I broke him too much!?


Something~ something~ feels like a puzzle is coming together!


One of the fake Tagujang’s eyes rises.


“Partner, you’re thinking something really stupid right now. Just take your stance.”


“…Well, this isn’t important right now.”


I exhale deeply.


“What’s important is that I’m not the type to just take this lying down.”


I take a stance and point the staff at him.


“Haha! That’s more like Sima Mantian.”


The fake Tagujang also smiles satisfactorily and takes a stance again.


Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Vicious Dog Blocking the Road


What to do when a vicious dog blocks the road.


Towards the opponent in front of me, we both simultaneously unfold the same technique.


A clash of the same martial arts.


The sound of staffs clashing accelerates.


…And at some point.


“Let’s stop here for today. It seems we have a guest.”


I get hit on the head by the fake Tagujang’s technique and pass out.


“Then see you next time, partner.”


I wake up from the dream, seeing him off in my fading consciousness.


To dream of being hit by a dark corrupted Tagujang.


It was a complete nightmare.


·


·


·


“Ah…ugh…my head…”


I rub my forehead and temples, waking up and looking at the ceiling.


I see the ceiling of my room.


Right, I remember.


After defeating Jang Do, meeting Guhae and Poong Baek who came looking for me, and coming home.


After confirming everyone’s safety.


Suddenly, fatigue overwhelmed me, and I fell asleep.


Judging by the darkness outside, it must be around 2 or 3 in the morning.


But… why is the light on in my room?


I sit up and look at the source of the warm crimson light filling the room.


“…Huh?”


“…Ah.”


My eyes meet those of a black-haired beauty I’ve never seen before but strangely feels familiar.


As if she’s as flustered as I am.


The black-haired beauty also seems surprised that I woke up. Her playful eyes waver.


If she were an assassin, she would have attacked by now.


And our home security isn’t that lax.


I cautiously ask.


“Um… who are you?”


“Ah… well… I’m… Young Master, your father’s subordinate.”


She didn’t lie.


The black-haired beauty.


A servant, guard, and assassin of the Sima Family.


Jang Sam screams internally.


‘Well, it’s good that you woke up… but why now!?’


Unable to use reverse healing due to treatment.


Quietly resting in the room, worried after hearing Mantian had collapsed.


Sneaking in during the early morning.


Just wanted to see his face briefly and leave.


But he woke up at the worst possible moment.


The corner of her mouth trembles slightly.


The unexpected encounter makes Jang Sam’s heart race.