The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

The teacup that the Beggars’ Gang Leader dropped shattered into pieces.

More than half of the hot tea remained, splashing in all directions.

Baek Ryu-san quickly lifted his foot to avoid it, but the Beggars’ Gang Leader did not.

His worn-out straw shoes and the ragged hem of his pants were soaked in the scalding tea.

“Are… Are you all right?”

“No…”

However, the Beggars’ Gang Leader seemed like a man who did not even recognize the heat.

He suddenly howled and roared.

“Noh Shik, you worthless fool—!”

Gal Dong-tak’s massive axe, wrapped in formidable Qi, had spun through the air. A mere human body would have been sliced apart in an instant.

The Beggars’ Gang Leader’s eyes gleamed.

“You ran out like a madman, only to die so meaninglessly!”

And then, two drops of tears rolled down his face.

Baek Ryu-san, who had just seen the Beggars’ Gang Leader leisurely sipping tea moments ago, was left speechless by his transformation.

“Calm yourself, for now.”

“Calm? Did you just tell me to calm down?!”

“He’s not dead.”

“Noh Shik was shredded to death… What?”

“Look carefully.”

The Beggars’ Gang Leader was also a supreme martial master.

But was it because of old age? Or was it the shock of seeing his treasured disciple seemingly perish?

He had failed to see it.

The Beggars’ Gang Leader squinted his wrinkled eyes.

“It’s terrifying to look at… Hah.”

The path Gal Dong-tak had swept through—

The force had been so overwhelming that even the floor of the dueling grounds was scraped away.

Yet, while fragments of the shattered Black Bamboo Staff were scattered around, there was no trace of Noh Shik.

No torn clothes, no severed limbs rolling across the ground.

No trace of blood anywhere.

“He is holding on.”

The Beggars’ Gang Leader continued to watch as Gal Dong-tak spun, still generating a storm of Aura Qi.

Upon reflection, that too was strange.

If Noh Shik had been shredded, Gal Dong-tak should have stopped spinning—so why was he still whirling like that?

Eventually, the Beggars’ Gang Leader realized it as well.

Noh Shik was still alive.

He was clinging tightly to Gal Dong-tak’s massive neck and back, holding on for dear life.

The brilliance of the Aura Qi and the intensity of the rotation had simply obscured him from view.

The Beggars’ Gang Leader awkwardly wiped his nose and dabbed at his eyes.

“That brat… he’s just like a cicada.”

True to his words, Noh Shik looked exactly like a cicada clinging to an ancient tree.

Somehow, he had managed to slip through the gaps in the axe’s swings and latch onto Gal Dong-tak’s back.

“Then why did he scream…? No, knowing that coward, of course he did.”

“Ahem, that’s understandable.”

“Hmmph.”

Noh Shik’s screams had been so convincing that everyone assumed he was either dead or gravely injured.

Feeling embarrassed, the Beggars’ Gang Leader sat back down.

Had Noh Shik heard their conversation, he would have found it deeply unfair.

He was truly feeling a terror akin to death.

“Huaaaah!”

And so, he screamed once more.

Gal Dong-tak spun ferociously, as if he believed himself to be a spinning top.

The centrifugal force was so intense that Noh Shik feared he would be flung off at any moment.

If that happened, this time, his body would truly be torn apart.

The mere thought of it was horrifying.

As Noh Shik continued screaming into Gal Dong-tak’s ear, Gal Dong-tak also let out a roar.

“Uwaaaah!”

“Huaaaah!”

Gal Dong-tak, swinging his axe as he spun, and Noh Shik, clinging onto his back as if he were giving him a piggyback ride—

The sight of them spinning in unison, screaming together, looked anything but like a serious duel.

But Noh Shik was dead serious.

‘At this rate… I’m going to die.’

From the beginning, Yi-gang had designated Gal Dong-tak as Noh Shik’s opponent.

Naturally, Noh Shik had assumed he was being used as a sacrificial pawn—but Yi-gang had said otherwise.

“Train with the intent to win. If you do, you will succeed.”

Noh Shik hadn’t agreed, but Yi-gang had been unwavering.

He explained the nature of Gal Dong-tak’s martial style and techniques as he had analyzed them.

Among them was a technique called Explosive Whirlwind, which involved coating both axes with Sword Aura and spinning at high speed.

When Noh Shik first heard this, he was dumbfounded and asked, “You expect me to fight against that? I can’t do it!”

“Then either get shredded to death, or if you want to live…”

‘Charge in.’ That was what Yi-gang had said.

Hesitating and trying to counter it from a distance would only be a foolish waste of effort—one that would end in death.

The only way was to slip between the gaps of the axes and strike directly.

Yi-gang had spoken with absolute seriousness, and although Noh Shik had been doubtful, he had trained according to Yi-gang’s instructions.

Yi-gang’s movements, as he helped Noh Shik train, had been even faster than Gal Dong-tak’s.

Perhaps it was because he had practiced against Yi-gang that Noh Shik had successfully wedged himself between the gaps of the axes.

However, he had failed to use that opening to subdue Gal Dong-tak with lightning speed.

Instead, Gal Dong-tak’s log-like forearm had slammed into Noh Shik’s face. Sensing imminent death, Noh Shik had barely managed to cling on for dear life.

But now, even that was reaching its limit.

‘I… I can’t see.’

The centrifugal force made it feel as if the blood in his skull was rushing to one side.

His neck stiffened, and his vision darkened.

Noh Shik, on the verge of passing out, struggled desperately until the very last moment.

He wrapped his right arm tightly around Gal Dong-tak’s neck.

Then, he slipped his left hand behind Gal Dong-tak’s head and locked it firmly onto his own right forearm.

With all his strength, he squeezed, pressing against both sides of the carotid arteries.

Kkuuuuk—

This too was a technique Yi-gang had taught him.

It was a unique martial art, distinctly different from the conventional techniques of the Central Plains.

“If executed properly, even a commoner could strangle a bear to death.”

That was what Yi-gang had said.

When Noh Shik had shown his disbelief, Yi-gang had suggested they test it—by choking Noh Shik himself.

Yi-gang hadn’t even used his inner strength, yet before Noh Shik could blink a few times, he had completely blacked out.

Recalling that moment, Noh Shik applied all his force.

“Kehk!”

There was a reaction. Gal Dong-tak’s face turned bright red as he struggled for breath.

But Noh Shik was just as shocked.

“What is this neck made of—some kind of log?!”

Gal Dong-tak’s neck was at least twice as thick as an average person’s.

Moreover, his massive physique meant that his neck was covered in fat, making it difficult to apply pressure to the carotid arteries.

“D-die already!”

“Kehk, kehek!”

Gal Dong-tak choked, unable to breathe.

At that moment, Noh Shik resented his own martial sect, the Beggars’ Gang.

Because beggars couldn’t carry blades without ruining their ability to beg, the Beggars’ Gang only trained in staff weapons such as cudgels, canes, or rods.

If only Noh Shik had even a single dagger, he could have brought down this boar-like brute in an instant.

“Grrk, kweeeek!”

Still, it seemed his attack was working.

Gal Dong-tak finally stopped his monstrous spinning.

Instead, he swung his axe wildly in an attempt to shake Noh Shik off, but Noh Shik clung to him and nimbly dodged each strike.

Puhk!

“Guooorhk!”

In his reckless struggle, Gal Dong-tak ended up injuring his own shoulder.

In the end, he abandoned his axes altogether.

He let go of both of them.

From the VIP seating area, Gal Sa-hyeok, who had been watching, jumped to his feet in outrage.

“What do you think you’re doing, dropping both of them?!”

Gal Dong-tak realized his mistake, but removing Noh Shik was his top priority.

“Crush him! Crush that beggar to death!”

“You mountain bandit, watch your mouth!”

Gal Sa-hyeok and the Beggars’ Gang Leader snarled at each other.

Meanwhile, Gal Dong-tak managed to grab Noh Shik, who was still clinging to his back.

With overwhelming strength, he pried apart the arms choking his neck.

He seized Noh Shik’s arm, intending to slam him straight into the ground.

Buuuk!

But Noh Shik’s tattered sleeve tore off with ridiculous ease.

Unable to control his own momentum, Gal Dong-tak stumbled and crashed, while Noh Shik tumbled onto the floor.

“Krrgh!”

“Hah…!”

The duel was still ongoing.

Both men immediately scrambled to their feet and glared at each other.

By sheer coincidence, an axe lay at each of their feet.

At the same moment, Noh Shik and Gal Dong-tak grabbed the axes and hurled them at each other.

Whoooosh!

Gal Dong-tak’s throw was, of course, terrifying—but even Noh Shik’s hastily thrown axe carried a dangerous force.

The axes they had thrown crossed paths midair.

Their momentum was fierce.

But while the force was overwhelming, their aim was completely off.

The axes veered wildly off course—flying straight toward the audience instead.

“Uwaaaah!”

“Urk!”

Fortunately, no one was struck by the stray axes, and no casualties occurred.

It was never Noh Shik’s or Gal Dong-tak’s intention to attack innocent spectators.

There was a reason for their absurdly inaccurate throws.

As Noh Shik hurried to get up, he suddenly covered his mouth.

“Ugh…!”

“Bleeergh!”

Gal Dong-tak was the same.

Spinning endlessly in place had left both of them nauseated. The sight was almost ridiculous.

But Noh Shik had it even worse—he had been clinging to Gal Dong-tak, inhaling his sweat-soaked stench the entire time.

And Gal Dong-tak, in turn, had been unable to breathe properly due to Noh Shik’s chokehold.

The two of them vomited side by side on the dueling stage.

“So disgusting…”

“This is supposed to be the final duel?”

The excitement of the spectators had understandably cooled.

While the Beggars’ Gang Leader seemed to be enjoying himself, Gal Sa-hyeok sighed and rubbed his forehead.

Regardless of the crowd’s reaction, the two fighters on the stage remained serious.

Noh Shik wiped his mouth and grinned.

“Ugh, hah… huuuh… So, you lost your axes, huh?”

As a result, Gal Dong-tak was now weaponless.

Of course, Noh Shik had also lost his Black Bamboo Staff…

“You idiot. I’m still stronger, even barehanded.”

Gal Dong-tak also wiped his mouth and stood up.

He wasn’t wrong.

Even in hand-to-hand combat, Gal Dong-tak had easily overpowered Noh Shik before.

However, Noh Shik simply scratched his stomach lazily, looking unimpressed.

“You never know who’s stronger until you actually test it.”

As he scratched, black grime flaked off his filthy belly.

Gal Dong-tak winced in disgust.

A few spectators in the audience seats could be heard gagging.

“So disgusting.”

“Come at me, boar.”

Gal Dong-tak charged forward immediately.

His massive fist tore through the air as it flew toward Noh Shik.

Noh Shik raised his arms to block, but the impact sent him flying backward.

At last, Gal Sa-hyeok, who had been standing anxiously in the VIP seating area, finally sat down.

It was only natural—there was no way his son, Gal Dong-tak, would lose to a beggar.

The fact that Noh Shik had lasted this long already seemed like a miracle.

Even the other experts in the audience agreed.

Those who had been rooting for Noh Shik’s tenacious effort now wore grim expressions, considering what would happen if he lost.

However, the Beggars’ Gang Leader alone remained serious.

Baek Ryu-san quietly observed the Beggars’ Gang Leader.

Noticing Baek Ryu-san’s gaze, the Beggars’ Gang Leader grinned.

His missing front tooth matched his rough demeanor perfectly.

“You think Noh Shik is going to lose?”

“To be honest, yes.”

“That’s understandable. Look at that fool. He’s barely holding himself together.”

There was no need to put it so bluntly.

Noh Shik’s staff techniques were decent enough.

After all, striking Gal Dong-tak’s body repeatedly was not so different from Descending Dragon Eighteen Palms.

It wasn’t quite at the level of the Dog-Beating Staff Technique, but it was still a palm technique only passed down to a select few within the Beggars’ Gang.

It was respectable in its own right, but the real problem was his opponent.

Even if Noh Shik managed to land one or two successful palm strikes, Gal Dong-tak barely flinched.

On the other hand, every time Noh Shik blocked one of Gal Dong-tak’s rather unimpressive punches or kicks, he staggered.

“That kid, you see…”

The Beggars’ Gang Leader suddenly revealed something surprising.

“He was supposed to be the successor beggar.”

“The successor beggar… you mean?”

The successor beggar was the chosen heir to become the next Beggars’ Gang Leader.

Other sects also appointed future sect leaders, but the position of successor beggar held even greater significance within the Beggars’ Gang.

The gang, which denoted status through the number of knots on a person’s robe, designated elders with Seven Knots. However, the successor beggar wore Eight Knots —a clear indication of their importance.

And yet, that very Noh Shik had once been the designated heir of the Beggars’ Gang Leader.

“He was a slippery rascal, but he was a fine successor in his own way. However, we had no choice but to replace him with another.”

“Was there a particular reason for that…?” Baek Ryu-san asked cautiously.

The Beggars’ Gang Leader answered nonchalantly, “Noh Shik was the only one suited to inherit the Beggars’ Gang’s poison arts.”

“Poison arts…”

Baek Ryu-san murmured.

The Beggars’ Gang’s poison arts were already well-known.

There had always been debates about whether the origin of Ten Thousand Blossoms Rain—a secret concealed weapon technique—belonged to the Beggars’ Gang or the Tang Clan.

But that was a story from long ago. Who would have thought that the poison arts were still being passed down?

“That poison arts technique can only be learned by chosen individuals… The former elder personally selected Noh Shik.”

“I see…”

“There could never be a poison arts-using Beggars’ Gang Leader… After he was stripped of his Successor Beggar title, that brat lost his way for a while.”

It seemed that Noh Shik had experienced quite a complicated life within the Beggars’ Gang.

That explained why he had been practicing the later forms of the Dog-Beating Staff Technique.

“…Fortunately, he seems to have come to his senses now.”

The Beggars’ Gang Leader smiled faintly.

At that moment, Baek Ryu-san finally recognized the effects of the Beggars’ Gang’s poison arts.

Gal Dong-tak’s punch, aimed at Noh Shik’s face, missed by a significant margin.

“Huh…?”

Noh Shik hadn’t dodged—the attack had simply gone off-target.

Even in the midst of it all, Noh Shik withdrew his hand from scratching his belly and swiftly smacked Gal Dong-tak’s face.

Puh-buh-buk!

Gal Dong-tak’s nose burst into a bloody mess as he flailed his arms wildly.

Yet, somehow, Noh Shik managed to avoid getting hit.

“You… what did you do to me?”

“What do you mean? I just fought hard.”

Noh Shik’s palm was stained with something pitch black.

Gal Dong-tak’s vision blurred, and suddenly, he saw two Noh Shiks in front of him.

“Poison… it’s poison, isn’t it?”

“You don’t even know about the Beggars’ Gang’s poison arts?”

Few people were unaware of the fact that the Beggars’ Gang had poison arts.

However, not many actually feared it.

Very few members of the gang practiced poison art, and even those who did weren’t known for possessing any truly terrifying secret arts.

Enraged, Gal Dong-tak roared and charged at Noh Shik.

“Graaaah!”

However, Noh Shik dodged effortlessly, without much effort.

Gal Dong-tak collapsed onto the ground in disbelief.

“Huff, huff.”

The Beggars’ Gang’s Poison wasn’t a refined one.

It was different from the sophisticated and covert poison arts of the Tang Clan of Sichuan and unlike the vicious and deadly poisons of the Five Poisons Sect.

The Beggars’ Gang simply used old, accumulated knowledge to create poisons, smearing them onto their hands or clubs and repeatedly beating their opponents with them.

And from the very moment Noh Shik had clung to Gal Dong-tak’s neck, his hands had been coated in a poisonous ointment.

The pungent stench of Noh Shik’s own body had masked the smell of the poison.

Gal Dong-tak’s face turned bright red.

As he lay on the ground, unable to stand, Noh Shik stepped forward and declared, “…It’s my victory, boar.”

Using poison in a duel was generally considered forbidden.

However, the Beggars’ Gang’s poison arts were well-known, and in an earlier match, Green-Faced Willow Demon had already demonstrated a dazzling display of poison arts.

There was no reason for dispute.

Noh Shik trembled, overcome with joy.

“I won. I actually won!”

Unlike before, the audience seating had fallen completely silent.

…Clap, clap.

In the suffocating silence—

Someone belatedly started clapping.

Clap, clap, clap!

Then, others slowly followed, clapping and cheering.

“Waaaaah!”

“The beggar took down the bandit!”

Regardless of how it had happened, a victory was still a victory.

Just as the Heaven’s Secret Scholar smiled brightly and was about to declare the result of the duel—

The Beggars’ Gang Leader shouted desperately, “You fool! Don’t let your guard—!”

At that very moment, Gal Dong-tak, who had been kneeling, suddenly lunged forward and tackled Noh Shik.

Caught completely off guard, Noh Shik’s arms were pinned, and he was slammed backward.

Thud!

“Guhh!”

The sound of his head striking the dueling stage rang out clearly.

Noh Shik lost consciousness on the spot.

Heaven’s Secret Scholar, flustered, rushed to check on both fighters.

Noh Shik was unconscious. And so was Gal Dong-tak.

They had collapsed on top of each other, both unconscious.

“T-this means…?”

It was impossible to determine who had been incapacitated first.

Heaven’s Secret Scholar hesitated and murmured in a small voice “A… draw?”

A chilling silence settled over the audience at the absurd outcome of the final duel.

Then, one voice shattered the stillness.

“I will not accept this—!”

Someone leaped down from the VIP seating.

“This outcome is unacceptable!”

It was Green Forest Tyrant King Gal Sa-hyeok.