Chapter 75
‘Ah… no!’
A moment of surprise.
And…
Kwareureung!
A momentary explosive sound that echoed throughout the entire Twin Dragon Fortress.
The source of the loud noise was So-ah’s Heaven-Shattering Consecutive Cannon, and the one who was greatly startled was Jang Beon-pal.
‘Ah…!’
So-ah couldn’t help but feel a sense of regret.
The unique lightning of the Great Whale Heart Law in the form of a fist gang.
Moreover, he had perfectly unleashed the Heaven-Shattering Consecutive Cannon using 10-star full power.
Unfortunately, in that brief moment, Jang Beon-pal had crossed his hands in a cross shape and blocked the fist strike.
But it wasn’t without gains.
Who was Jang Beon-pal?
Wasn’t he one of the Ten Great Masters of the Unorthodox Path with the nickname Green Forest Demon Emperor?
Such a Jang Beon-pal could not hide his great astonishment at the preemptive attack of a young man who had just reached the age of majority.
In addition, he had been pushed back more than a dozen steps.
If the people of the Jianghu had witnessed the situation, they would have been more than just surprised.
As expected, the students and the mountain bandits were currently staring with wide eyes, their shoulders trembling.
‘As expected of the God of War’s disciple. I’ve never received such a powerful fist gang in my life.’
Jang Beon-pal blamed himself for his carelessness.
But that self-blame did not last long.
Because soon, So-ah’s body, flying like a fierce tiger, came into his sight.
‘Keuk…!’
The fist strike that followed again.
Jang Beon-pal crossed his huge arms in a cross shape as before, and barely blocked the fist gang through his powerful protective ki.
But the aftermath of the lightning contained in the Heaven-Shattering Consecutive Cannon spread to his body like a spreading flame, and for a moment, lightning flickered on Jang Beon-pal’s body.
Just then.
‘I’m not so easy as to use something that didn’t work once again, old man!’
This was a feint.
If someone were to say that they used a 10-star power fist gang as a feint, they would probably snort.
But who was So-ah?
‘My stamina is infinite.’
Since So-ah’s greatest strength was his endurance, he was confident that he could unleash such a fist gang a hundred times.
“Keok!”
An unbelievable thing unfolded.
A groan erupted from Jang Beon-pal’s mouth.
Following the feint of the Heaven-Shattering Consecutive Cannon aimed at his chest, the knee of the Heaven-Shaking Thunderclap, which followed like a flash of lightning, was embedded in Jang Beon-pal’s lower abdomen.
For a moment, the mountain bandits convulsed like old trees struck by lightning.
‘Senior Brother…’
‘So-ah…’
‘Instructor Jin…’
In a corner of the students’ hearts, something hot that was hard to express welled up.
It must have been a sense of elation…
In the Jianghu, one or two ‘peerless invincible ones’ appear in each era.
The masters of the old days, who were passed down like myths.
For example, the great hero Dugu, who was said to have pacified the world with a single great sword, and Bodhidharma and Zhang Sanfeng, who were the founders of Shaolin and Wudang.
More recently, the God of War, Moyong Cheon, and the Heavenly Demon, Wi-ji Un, were such ‘peerless invincible ones’ of their era.
But for the past few decades, no talent worthy of succeeding Moyong Cheon and Wi-ji Un as a ‘peerless invincible one’ had appeared.
Didn’t even Moyong Cheon, after creating the Ten-Second Invincible Arts, pacify the entire Jianghu before he reached the age of forty?
In contrast, the activities of the current key figures of the Jianghu were insignificant.
Of course, there were the Ten Great Masters of the Unorthodox and Orthodox Paths, but considering their age and experience, they were lacking to become ‘peerless invincible ones’ like Moyong Cheon or Wi-ji Un.
But at this moment.
‘This brat will become the peerless invincible one of this era!’
Jang Beon-pal was convinced.
It was a ridiculous sight.
He had been hit by the knee of a young brat and his body had been thrown back a full 5 zhang.
Although he had avoided a fatal wound because his protective ki was so strong, his lower abdomen was still churning, and a shallow burning sensation was warming his whole body.
But.
But why was he smiling?
Why was a loud laugh about to burst out at any moment?
“Kuhahaha!”
In the end, Jang Beon-pal could not hold back his laughter.
“Amazing. Truly amazing. I had expectations because you were the disciple of the God of War, but I never thought you would be this good.”
Jang Beon-pal brushed off the ashes of his clothes that had been burned by the aftermath of the Heaven-Shaking Thunderclap and poured out a torrent of praise.
But So-ah’s heart was not so comfortable.
‘Now that old man won’t be careless. It was a golden opportunity.’
Although he had succeeded in his attack, a sense of self-blame for not being able to deliver a fatal blow weighed on his mind.
So-ah had been aware from the beginning that Jang Beon-pal’s realm and the total amount of his internal energy surpassed his own.
Therefore, he had made the first clash, in which he would inevitably be careless, a desperate opportunity, and had gone all out from the beginning.
But Jang Beon-pal seemed fine.
The Heaven-Shaking Thunderclap was a knee attack that was extremely powerful even among the Ten-Second Invincible Arts, and it had the cutting power to cut through even the hardest ore or metal like tofu.
No matter how thick Jang Beon-pal’s protective ki was, he had not expected him to be so fine, so he felt a sense of emptiness.
“Senior. Aren’t you exaggerating your pain? I put my all into it.”
“Keke! How arrogant. To say such a thing after putting your knee in this old man’s stomach! But you have the right to be arrogant. I see you in a new light.”
“It sounds like you’re going to kill me with all your might now.”
“Hoho. You cute brat. Alright. Try to die at the hands of this old man.”
In that moment.
A powerful momentum, quite different from before, soared from Jang Beon-pal’s body.
‘Hah… this is going to be endless.’
The moment he sensed that formless ki, So-ah was convinced that this duel would be a long one.
As it was, Jang Beon-pal’s resilience was beyond amazing.
But when he exploded his internal energy, it felt as if its hardness had been amplified several times.
‘It’s like an iron fortress. Did he learn the Diamond Indestructible Divine Art or something?’
As So-ah was having such a question.
Jang Beon-pal opened his mouth with a leisurely expression.
“I never thought I would have to show the Diamond Indestructible Divine Art to a young brat! You must live up to my expectations. Because you are witnessing the most outstanding external martial art in the entire martial world.”
‘My goodness… it’s really the Diamond Indestructible Divine Art? That’s the strongest external martial art among the 72 ultimate arts of Shaolin, how did a mountain bandit learn it?!’
It was absurd.
Although the origin of all martial arts in the world was said to be Shaolin, the Diamond Indestructible Divine Art was a secret among secrets that few in Shaolin had learned.
But for the Green Forest Demon Head, who was at odds with Shaolin, to have learned it, was a story that did not make sense.
Fortunately, as if he had read So-ah’s thoughts, Jang Beon-pal said.
“Keke. You must be wondering how this old man learned the secret ultimate art of Shaolin.”
“That’s right. The Diamond Indestructible Divine Art is known as a secret of Shaolin along with the Great Vajra Finger, the Dragon Claw Hand, and the Muscle and Marrow Cleansing Sutra… how did a mountain bandit… no, a senior…”
“I stole it.”
“Yes?”
“I had a chance in my youth and happened to steal it. Keke!”
At those words, not only So-ah, but all the people at the battle site shook their heads with astonished faces.
That’s right.
He could have stolen it.
In the Jianghu, where all sorts of fortuitous encounters and strange schemes were rampant, what couldn’t be done?
But the only person who could shamelessly say that he had ‘stolen’ a sect’s divine art would be Jang Beon-pal.
‘I can see why he’s called the number one eccentric in the world, I can see it.’
So-ah thought that Jang Beon-pal was his rival not only in martial arts, but also in many other senses.
At the same time.
‘He stole the Diamond Indestructible Divine Art… no, even if that’s the case, don’t you usually hide such things?’
‘For some reason, his personality seems similar to someone…’
‘Whether it’s a child or an adult.’
In the midst of this, the students, seeing the shameless Jang Beon-pal, naturally thought of So-ah.
***
“Keke, try hitting me more!”
“This time it’s my turn!”
The people who were watching the decisive battle between So-ah and Jang Beon-pal could not say anything.
It was not just because they were overwhelmed by the martial prowess of the two.
‘My goodness… is there such a duel?’
‘It’s to the point where I can’t even speak…’
‘I knew he wasn’t human… but that’s just a monster?!’
It was because the duel between the two was continuing in an unbelievably crude manner.
So-ah’s one shot!
Jang Beon-pal’s one shot!
You and I, exchanging one shot each, the terrible bloody battle of the two, which was reminiscent of a dog fight, made one’s hair stand on end and their teeth chatter just by watching.
‘What amazing stamina. In terms of internal energy alone, I thought he was definitely below me.’
Jang Beon-pal’s heart was a series of surprises.
As expected, So-ah’s Ten-Second Invincible Arts was peerless, but just by looking at the internal energy contained in the techniques, Jang Beon-pal was confident that he could seize victory within 100 exchanges.
But far from 100 exchanges, the contest had continued for over 300 exchanges, and by the time the dark night had settled, Jang Beon-pal had not been able to seize victory.
Rather.
*Papapa, kwagagagang!*
Even after unleashing the ‘Formless Thousand Fists,’ which was the most powerful of his empty-handed techniques, he lost his balance and staggered due to the aftermath of the Iron Armor Great Rotation, which was optimized for defense and counterattack among the Ten-Second Invincible Arts.
‘This is my chance!’
So-ah did not miss the opportunity and rushed forward like a flash of light, putting his shoulder to Jang Beon-pal’s armpit.
‘Keuk…!’
Jang Beon-pal’s brow furrowed.
Just by having his shoulder touch his armpit, a sharp pain as if his flesh was being cut by a blade arose.
‘It’s going to hurt a lot, senior old man!’
So-ah smiled with satisfaction.
Because putting his shoulder to Jang Beon-pal’s armpit was not just simply touching him.
It was a technique of the Ten-Second Invincible Arts called ‘High Mountain Eight Walls,’ a peerless study imbued with tremendous rotational force and the principles of brawling.
If Jang Beon-pal had not possessed the body of the Diamond Indestructible Divine Art, his upper body would have been torn to shreds and shattered in an instant.
But that was only the beginning.
Grab!
Although the High Mountain Eight Walls was a finishing blow in itself, since his opponent was Jang Beon-pal, So-ah had only used it as a preemptive measure.
The real blow was from now on.
‘Wh-What is this?’
A look of bewilderment appeared on Jang Beon-pal’s face.
It was truly a sudden moment.
So-ah had tightly hugged his body.
‘What is he doing?’
‘Why is he suddenly doing that…’
Even the people in the room found it hard to understand.
How could they accept So-ah, who had been fighting a bloody battle, suddenly hugging his opponent?
But.
So-ah, while hugging Jang Beon-pal, leaped into the air.
Jang Beon-pal, who was flustered by the sudden feeling of floating, tried to counterattack, but he had a hard time because he couldn’t get a striking distance.
But that was only for a moment…
In the air, the bodies of the two were flipped.
Head to the ground, legs to the sky.
Soon, the reversed posture turned into a huge explosion, and the bodies of the two were slammed into the ground.
The ground shook.
The people’s souls were scattered by the shock, which was like an earthquake.
“Ugh…”
A dusty wind rose like a fierce typhoon and blocked people’s view.
‘That was… definitely Instructor Jin’s Mount Tai Overturn!’
Namgung Mun, who had been severely beaten by So-ah before, recognized that the explosion of the earth was the grappling art of the Ten-Second Invincible Arts, the Mount Tai Overturn.
‘As expected…’
But he could not be sure of So-ah’s victory.
Because Jang Beon-pal was a master who was hard to even imagine.
A little later…
Only after the thick whirlwind had subsided could the people see the bodies of the two.
Surprisingly, the two were standing fine.
Although the ground they had stepped on had sunk and was reminiscent of an underground space.
“Cough!”
It was fresh blood.
A drop of reddish blood fell from the corner of Jang Beon-pal’s mouth.
“Was that also the Ten-Second Invincible Arts created by the esteemed God of War?”
“Yes. It’s the all-weather grappling art of the Ten-Second Invincible Arts, the Mount Tai Overturn, which throws, chokes, breaks, and crushes the opponent.”
“Truly amazing.”
“It’s an amazing martial art, but that was a failure. Originally, after throwing you to the ground, I should have choked you to cut off your blood flow and take away your consciousness, or broken your joints and bones to make you unable to resist, to be able to call it a proper Mount Tai Overturn. But your response was so good that I couldn’t link the movements.”
“Hoho… you’re saying that was a failure. I can’t believe it! You… have paid the price for your arrogance. I have been enlightened today thanks to you. Thank you, brat.”
“You’re welcome.”
“So this old man wants to give you a gift. In fact, I have reached my limit because I do not possess infinite stamina like you. Therefore, with this one blow, I will show you the essence of my lifelong martial arts!”
Jang Beon-pal clenched his two fists and shot out a glare.
The resolute will and firm resolve of a top master of the Jianghu!
He had decided to risk his life and unleash his lifelong study using his innate true ki.
In that moment.
“Yes, I lost.”
“What?!”
“I said I lost.”
“Brat! Are you playing with me right now?”
“I’m not playing. You just said that I paid the price for my arrogance, right?”
“…”
“Since I’ve paid the price, I’ll stop. So, give me the goods.”
(End of Chapter)