Chapter 22
—Gooooo…!
So-ah focused his mind and raised the internal energy of the Great Whale Heart Law.
In an instant, a profound power and a loud roar enveloped the surroundings.
‘What a truly amazing child… hah…’
The old man in the black robe.
The peerless master who was called the Twin Demon Geezers and had once ruled the Jianghu, the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong.
He was a peerless master who had never been defeated until he met Moyong Cheon.
Although he was now dreaming of a revival as the second-in-command of ‘that place,’ which had disappeared into the back alleys of history, the Grand Master who had once reigned as the invincible under heaven was none other than the Right Heavenly Demon Sword, No Yeong-myeong.
And he was surprised.
It was an unbelievable event that the old geezer of the Unorthodox Path, who could be called a living witness of the Jianghu martial world, was astonished by a mere fifteen-year-old boy.
‘I have to go all out from the beginning. If I lose the initiative, I’ll die just like that.’
So-ah thought.
Just by looking at how the old man had secretly tailed him, breaking through his ki sense, he was a being beyond the heavens.
Then he had no choice but to fight to the death.
—So-ah, in a life-and-death duel, victory is not decided simply by the high or low of martial arts. If you have the desperate will to win at all costs, you can offset that gap. This is a miracle that sometimes happens in the world, and the Ten-Second Invincible Arts is a fighting technique that creates such miracles!
So-ah recalled his grandfather’s teaching.
To vaguely offset the gap with willpower was a foolishly reckless act.
But, at least.
‘The Ten-Second Invincible Arts is different.’
So-ah believed.
The beads of sweat he had shed for six years, the cruel beatings, the grueling internal energy training, and the excruciating pain of his bones being crushed, he had not let go of the Ten-Second Invincible Arts!
It was because he believed in his absolute trust in his grandfather and the value of certain victory that the Ten-Second Invincible Arts possessed.
“Here I come, old man.”
As a bold word came out of So-ah’s mouth, the ground where he had been standing was gouged out.
It was a psychological tactic to disturb the opponent’s mind, and the tremendous aftermath of the Swift Whale Step.
At that, So-ah’s body rushed towards No Yeong-myeong like a bent arrow.
‘Hoho, to manifest the Bow Body Ejecting Shadow with that crude Swift Whale Step!’
No Yeong-myeong was impressed and let out a laugh.
But in a fleeting moment.
The smile on his face disappeared without a trace.
The moment So-ah’s shoulder collided with No Yeong-myeong’s two hands, No Yeong-myeong felt his whole body tremble.
“Hmm…”
No Yeong-myeong had to take a full ten steps back to disperse the shock before he could regain his posture.
But his two hands were still trembling.
It couldn’t be called a great loss, but if someone who knew what kind of person No Yeong-myeong was had witnessed this scene, they would have been utterly aghast.
No Yeong-myeong’s body was harder than steel, so even if an elephant, a spiritual beast of India, were to ram into him, it wouldn’t be able to make him retreat even half a step.
So-ah had made such a No Yeong-myeong retreat ten steps with a simple body slam, so No Yeong-myeong couldn’t control his trembling heart.
But that was just the beginning.
‘No…!’
So-ah’s body shot towards No Yeong-myeong again in the blink of an eye.
A light of disbelief appeared in No Yeong-myeong’s eyes.
‘That is…!’
So-ah’s single punch landed on No Yeong-myeong’s chest.
At that, a thunderous roar as if the sky were collapsing erupted.
“Keu-heut…!”
No Yeong-myeong let out a short groan without realizing it at the fierce aftermath of the single punch.
‘Damn it… it’s not working?’
But in this empty-handed fight, the one who was at a loss was So-ah.
So-ah had just launched an attack in the form of fist gang, which surpassed fist ki.
Fist gang is on a different level from fist ki.
To shape internal energy, overlay it on the fist, and then sublimate it into a single, precise, and swift blow is something that can only be done upon reaching the level of a supreme master.
But even after receiving the fist gang, No Yeong-myeong did not show much agitation.
He just shook his head and retreated.
“I really can’t believe it even after seeing it. To think it would be this much…”
No Yeong-myeong muttered softly.
It was an exclamation, but it also seemed like a lament for having to kill this amazing young master with his own hands.
“Old man. Your body is like a rock, isn’t it?”
So-ah asked nonchalantly.
In fact, So-ah was astonished, but he acted calm on the outside.
‘Do not be afraid even if you are afraid, and do not give up even if you want to give up. Only such a will will save you at the crossroads of life and death.’
So-ah had engraved his grandfather’s teaching in his soul.
Even if he died fighting, he would never show fear.
“Child, I was wrong. It would have been more interesting to watch how much more a treasure like you would grow.”
“…”
“But unfortunately, since you have heard this old man’s title, it cannot be helped. You will die here today.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“Hoho. You please me to the end.”
“You please me too, old man. It feels like my body is loosening up after a long time. Haha.”
“I hate to admit it, but I have no choice but to admit it. Your brawling art certainly resembles that of the old war fiend. I can’t possibly defeat you with empty hands. Funnily enough, you are the first person in ten years to make me draw my sword.”
No Yeong-myeong untied his belt.
At that, a faint golden light flowed from the metal belt.
‘A flexible sword…’
So-ah was thrilled once again.
It was because he recalled the fact that No Yeong-myeong had received the Ten-Second Invincible Arts without even using a weapon until now.
But,
“Oh. You seem to be in the mood to do it properly now? You even took out your sword?”
No Yeong-myeong did not answer So-ah’s question.
The fact that he was using a sword against a young boy was a shame in itself.
But he soon had to change his mind.
“Now! Then shall I start slowly too?”
“What did you say?”
“N-No?!”
No Yeong-myeong’s eyes flipped back.
So-ah had rolled up his sleeves, taken off his shoes, and thrown off the dark iron weights that were on his wrists and ankles.
The iron weights were so heavy that when he threw them on the ground, the ground caved in.
“Y-You’ve been fighting with black iron on your body all this time?”
“Yes. I’ve been living with this on for several years.”
In that moment.
“Kuhahahahaha!!”
A loud laugh that shook the heavens and the earth erupted from No Yeong-myeong’s mouth.
But this was not a simple laugh.
It was the Lion’s Roar of No Yeong-myeong, who had surpassed the initial demonic realm, passed through the extreme demonic realm, and shed the demonic realm, now possessing an internal energy equivalent to seven jiazi.
An ordinary person would have their body explode just by hearing it, and even a master with pure internal energy would have spewed blood from all the holes in their body and died. It was an extremely vicious sound art.
So-ah, upon hearing No Yeong-myeong’s Lion’s Roar, had one thought.
‘Grandpa…’
He missed his grandpa.
The Lion’s Roar had shaken So-ah’s heart to its core.
It was a blow too terrifying for a fifteen-year-old So-ah to handle.
But.
“Your voice is quite loud.”
“What did you say?”
“I’ll take care of that voice for you.”
After provoking the opponent’s mind with another taunt, So-ah finally attacked.
This attack was on a different level from before.
So-ah’s forward leap, with the black iron weights removed from his body, was so fast that it was reminiscent of a flashing light.
‘Is this… extreme speed?’
No Yeong-myeong was once again utterly aghast.
‘He’s the spitting image of the God of War. Huhu.’
In the past.
He recalled his battle with Moyong Cheon.
The martial prowess of the God of War, for which the word “great” was not enough.
The misery of having to kneel before him.
As all those emotions mixed together, a heavy anguish pressed down on No Yeong-myeong’s chest.
‘Child, you are truly lucky. To have seen my Heaven-Shattering Demon Emperor Sword. Kekeke.’
He decided to unleash his lifelong ultimate art, which he had only recently completed.
And so, the two of them collided powerfully in mid-air.
A huge flash of light dyed the 20-odd zhang around the two of them in a white light.
And the aftermath of that white light created a separate space for just the two of them.
As if only the two of them were left alone in a stopped time…
“Keu-heok!”
Just then.
A scream erupted from So-ah’s mouth.
Black, dead blood flowed from his mouth, nostrils, and earholes. The demonic ki emitted from No Yeong-myeong’s Heaven-Shattering Demon Emperor Sword slashed his whole body to pieces, and So-ah was in such a mess that the word “blood man” was not enough to describe him.
However,
“Kuaaaaargh!”
So-ah’s scream was not lonely.
An even more shrill and sorrowful scream poured out from No Yeong-myeong.
“You insolent…”
So-ah, thinking that he could not possibly defend against the sword strike of the Heaven-Shattering Demon Emperor Sword, risked his life and unleashed all the techniques of the Ten-Second Invincible Arts in succession, while at the same time, he struck No Yeong-myeong’s left eye socket with the Human Sword Strike (elbow attack).
Because of that, No Yeong-myeong’s orbital bone broke and pierced his eyeball, and No Yeong-myeong’s left eye would never see the light again.
Thud.
So-ah’s body fell to the ground powerlessly like a rotten old tree.
So-ah’s face had already turned a deathly pale blue like a corpse.
‘Ugh…’
No Yeong-myeong’s internal injuries were not minor either.
He almost spat out a mouthful of blood, but he swallowed it back and re-gripped his flexible sword.
“Farewell. Disciple of the God of War.”
No Yeong-myeong strode forward.
Even in the midst of that, So-ah, who had not lost consciousness, tried to move his body as he looked at No Yeong-myeong’s figure.
But So-ah could only barely squirm and could not get up at all.
Just then.
“How about you stop there?”
Didn’t a low voice come from a distance?
“No?!”
No Yeong-myeong, who had been focused on killing So-ah, was startled by the sudden voice and turned his head.
And there, an old man in rags was standing.
‘That person… the grandpa I saw during the day?’
So-ah recognized the old man.
The old man was the beggar old man to whom So-ah had bought a meal at the inn during the day.
“Who are you?”
No Yeong-myeong asked with a deliberately heavy expression.
“The deceased may not know me, but I feel like I know you.”
“What did you say…?”
“Throughout the world, those who can emit such a terrifying killing intent as you can be counted on one hand. Fortunately, I know most of the figures of the Orthodox Martial Path, so you must be a figure of the Unorthodox Path.”
“…”
“Among them, you are probably one of the three great masters of the Unorthodox Path.”
“…”
“To narrow it down further, are you not one of the Twin Demon Geezers? Am I wrong?”
“Why do you think so?”
“Among the three great masters of the Unorthodox Path, I have shared a drink with the Heavenly Demon, Wi-ji Un, so I can still recognize him clearly even after all these years. Therefore, you are not the Heavenly Demon. Also, the Blood Demon, Tae Ho-gong, was already killed by the God of War twenty years ago. I was there on the Blood Mountain with the God of War to wipe out the Blood Cult at that time and witnessed it myself, so I am certain. That is why I thought you might be one of the Twin Demon Geezers. Of course, it has been a long time since the Twin Demon Geezers have shown themselves, so the people of the world think they are dead, but that is all I can think of.”
“And you still intend to stop me even after knowing that?”
“That’s right. First, I owe that child a debt, so I must repay it.”
“What did you say?”
“Compared to a deceased person like you, my three-character name is truly insignificant, but I am still renowned as a person who is clear about my favors and grudges. Therefore, I must stop you today, even if it means I die.”
“You are…”
“I am the Dragon Head of the Beggars’ Sect, who leads a hundred thousand beggars, Hong In-geol.”
(End of Chapter)