Chapter 170
The Three Venerables of the Black Path.
The Twin Demonic Old Freaks.
The Rain and Heaven Demonic Sword.
Terrifying titles that made the opponent tremble just by hearing them...
No Yeong-myeong was a being worthy of such titles.
At least, for the past few decades.
But...
'...!'
In an instant, No Yeong-myeong could not help but doubt his own ears.
—Yeong-myeong-ah, let's pl-a-a-a-y!
Who in the world could call No Yeong-myeong in such a way!
They say that when a person gets too angry, they become calm.
Right now, No Yeong-myeong was exactly like that.
And...
The brilliant five-colored light beam that had entered No Yeong-myeong's sight was slowly, slowly...
...beginning to materialize and be imprinted on everyone.
That light beam was none other than.
"Hey, old man No!"
...So-ah's group, huddled together on a flying carpet.
"..."
As soon as he appeared on the ground, So-ah provoked No Yeong-myeong again.
But for some reason, No Yeong-myeong just glared at So-ah while controlling the zombies.
Nevertheless, So-ah's provocation continued without end.
"Old man No's reaction is really not good today. By now, you should be making a fuss, saying 'Gal!!!' and then muttering something about this old man... have you gone senile with age? Do you know who I am?"
But the level of that provocation was close to a crazy level today.
'I don't know... I don't know.'
'Wow... So-ah's eloquence is really... scary. It's a great relief that I didn't meet him as an enemy, a great relief.'
How bad must it have been for even Jeon Woo-chi and Myo-seon to think that it was creepy?
It wasn't just the two of them who were surprised.
The disciples of the Emei Sect, who were trembling at the sight of the summoned zombies, also clicked their tongues at So-ah's vicious eloquence and their faces turned pale blue.
But.
"It's you again... Jin So-ah."
Today's No Yeong-myeong showed a much calmer appearance than at the Hero Tournament.
Instead.
Although he had only uttered one sentence, a ruthless killing intent that would fill the entire Mt. Emei hung in the air.
'It's an astonishing level of killing intent.'
'It feels like all the pores in my body are going to open... if a civilian were here, they would have spewed blood from their seven orifices and died!'
A faint fear crept into the hearts of Jeon Woo-chi and Myo-seon.
As expected, among the disciples of the Emei Sect, whose mental power and martial arts were relatively weak, there were already some who were spitting blood from their mouths.
'It's a killing intent that contains the meaning that he will definitely kill me.'
So-ah, while interpreting No Yeong-myeong's intention that way, still did not lose his sneer.
"Old man No. Why are you so calm? They say that when a person suddenly changes, they die. This old man seems to be going to die today."
At that.
[So-ah. What are you thinking? That guy is using the Ghost Demon Jiangshi right now. If you provoke him so recklessly...]
Seeing So-ah's provocation, which was really too much, Myo-seon even went so far as to send a telepathic message.
But.
[Myo-seon-ah. I have a plan, so that's why. Be nervous and raise your internal energy in advance.]
So-ah's answer was extremely serious.
Only then did Myo-seon realize that So-ah's groundless provocation was based on a thorough calculation.
'By any means, I have to touch No Yeong-myeong's inferiority complex and pride. So I must make a one-on-one duel happen!'
In fact, So-ah's intention was this.
Since So-ah had achieved the secret of the Heart Lamp, his senses were at their peak.
Therefore, even while riding the carpet, he had already sensed the existence of a horde of zombies under No Yeong-myeong's command.
That was why.
That was why So-ah had tried to provoke No Yeong-myeong as much as possible by using all the methods he could.
Jeon Woo-chi and Myo-seon.
Furthermore, even if they were to join forces with the disciples of the Emei Sect, the fight with the Ghost Demon Jiangshi would clearly become a terrible bloody incident.
Most of the people in the room would die or be crippled, and with his own power alone, it would be difficult to even face No Yeong-myeong.
'I have to kill No Yeong-myeong first. To face the zombies while leaving that guy alive is a suicidal act!'
So-ah, while hiding his inner thoughts, scratched No Yeong-myeong's pride to the point of tearing it.
"Oh my! Old man No. You can't act your age, and you're carrying around strange things again. Well... since your martial arts are not so good, you have to rely on the zombies. Of course, of course!"
"..."
"Was it seven years ago? The one who couldn't even beat me when I was only fifteen and ran away. Even now, seven years later, you're still using shallow tricks. Aww! I was going to settle an old score today. It seems I'll just be breaking zombie heads all day and night."
So-ah waved his two arms and tilted his neck, pretending to warm up.
Only then did Jeon Woo-chi also inwardly grasp So-ah's intention.
'So-ah is carrying out a wide-area provocation to draw out a one-on-one duel with No Yeong-myeong! Well... that would be the best plan now.'
Even while having such thoughts, Jeon Woo-chi immediately prepared to fight.
While raising the magical power and the internal energy of his dantian, which were engraved on his mind and body, he was with the Heavenly Will Brush pulled out so that he could strike at any time, and in the leather pouch at his waist, hundreds of talismans were also prepared.
'I came here with the determination to die anyway. I will definitely be a source of strength for So-ah.'
A fighting spirit appeared in Jeon Woo-chi's eyes.
Before he knew it, the fear that had been shaking his heart had completely disappeared.
Just then.
"You're using a shallow provocation..."
As he said that, No Yeong-myeong's eyes sank coldly.
"To use such a clumsy incitement... you are not worthy of being the disciple of the God of War, Moyong Cheon."
'As expected...'
So-ah could not hide his difficulty.
It seemed that No Yeong-myeong had been seeing through his thoughts all along.
As if he were a person sitting on top of his head.
But that did not mean that No Yeong-myeong's mental power was not shaken.
At least, since No Yeong-myeong had appeared in the martial world, today was the most he had ever been enraged.
Was that why?
"Pfft. I'll do as you wish. You said you wanted to settle an old score with this old man, but in fact, the one who wants it more desperately is me."
Although No Yeong-myeong had seen through So-ah's scheme, he was planning to move as he wished.
Instead.
"In the most painful way in the world. I will kill you, disciple of the God of War."
Definitely!
He would definitely make it so.
No Yeong-myeong firmly vowed.
***
The zombies, who were filled with madness, burst into a roar.
The demonic beasts seemed to be completely obedient to the command, and when No Yeong-myeong did not permit murder, they drooled from their mouths and their eyes flashed.
[Brother Woo-chi. And Myo-seon-ie. You know what to do in an emergency, right? Leave No Yeong-myeong to me and it's unconditionally the zombies. We have to stop the zombies first. Otherwise, we can't save the lives of the Emei Sect people.]
[Don't worry, So-ah. I am confident that I can tie up the zombies' feet by releasing the dazzling light I showed you before.]
[Don't worry about this side either. With the secret of the Sunflower Manual, it won't be difficult to buy time.]
Just before exchanging blows with No Yeong-myeong.
So-ah exchanged a short telepathic message with Jeon Woo-chi and Myo-seon.
The confident words of his colleagues felt truly reassuring.
In the past, both Jeon Woo-chi and Myo-seon.
...were recognized as colleagues that he had to protect.
But Jeon Woo-chi, whose magical power had improved by leaps and bounds, and the current Myo-seon, who had learned the Sunflower Manual, had become an unparalleled great strength.
'Just No Yeong-myeong... if I can just annihilate that brat. Let's quickly beat him to death and catch the zombies.'
If you ask if he was confident of that?
He could not be sure.
That was So-ah's honest feeling.
But So-ah had never relied on certainty or probability in solving any matter until now.
Hadn't he always tried the impossible, and had overcome that impossibility and had lived?
'Because that's Jin So-ah, and that's the Ten-Second Invincible Arts.'
So-ah clenched his fist.
A blue lightning flickered.
"Old man... let's really end it today. This tedious fight."
***
'My goodness...!'
'I can't interfere at all...'
'This is crazy, this is a really crazy fight!'
So-ah and No Yeong-myeong.
No Yeong-myeong and So-ah.
The duel between the two was a quick battle without a moment's hesitation.
The people who were watching their duel did not dare to think of interfering.
Because in the face of the manifestation of the great power, where every single strike was made of gang-ki, everyone, regardless of friend or foe, was in a moment of solemnity as a martial artist.
In that moment.
—Kwa-a-a-a! I want to fight. We need blood!!
An unbelievably surprising thing happened...
The horde of zombies, which had been craving blood while waiting for a command, was getting excited, containing human language.
At that, while Myo-seon and the disciples of the Emei Sect let out a cry of astonishment, Jeon Woo-chi, on the other hand, murmured in a low voice with a calm expression.
"...There's nothing to be so surprised about. The Ghost Demon Jiangshi are demonic beasts that have lost their reason, but since they were made with a strange art by cutting the internal organs, bones, and flesh of the living, they can speak human language, unlike ordinary zombies. The language they used when they were alive. Look. Among them, there are also individuals who are spouting foreign words, not Chinese."
Only after hearing Jeon Woo-chi's words could the disciples of the Emei Sect somewhat compose their astonishment.
But.
Soon, their gazes could not help but be shifted from the Ghost Demon Jiangshi to So-ah and No Yeong-myeong.
So-ah's Heaven-Breaking Consecutive Strike raised a house-sized fist gang and struck No Yeong-myeong's entire body.
The fist gang of a size that the people had never seen before in their lives.
'Does this make sense?'
'Is that the true face of Young Hero Jin?'
'A young master who is only twenty-two years old... has a greater output of internal energy than my master!'
The shoulders of the disciples of the Emei Sect trembled violently.
Although Jeon Woo-chi and Myo-seon knew that So-ah's martial arts were at a level where it was difficult to find an opponent in the entire Orthodox Path, it was not unreasonable for others to doubt their eyes.
But.
"Keu-heut!"
The aspect of the clash, which was revealed as the turbid dust wind that shook the earth subsided...
...was producing an unexpected result.
The fist strike of So-ah, which was surrounded by a huge fist gang, was blocked by the tip of No Yeong-myeong's sword, and from So-ah's mouth, a bright red blood was flowing down.
"So-ah!"
"So-ah!"
Jeon Woo-chi and Myo-seon burst into a cry of astonishment.
The two were on the verge of striking out to help So-ah at any moment.
But...
[Brother Woo-chi! Myo-seon-ah. Never. Never interfere. Even if it looks like I'm going to die. No! Even if I die, never interfere. I have a plan. It's not over until it's over.]
So-ah, who had noticed the momentum of the two, hurriedly sent a telepathic message.
The one-on-one duel with No Yeong-myeong.
Although it was a strategy to tie up the Ghost Demon Jiangshi for a while, on the one hand, it was also the belief of a martial artist who wanted to settle a long-cherished desire that had remained as a regret in So-ah's life.
Therefore, he did not want to be disturbed.
Even if he were to die in this place, So-ah wanted to have a showdown with No Yeong-myeong.
In an instant.
So-ah used his lightness skill to put some distance between himself and No Yeong-myeong.
No Yeong-myeong, instead of pursuing recklessly, maintained a middle stance and prepared to strike with his signature secret art, the Heaven-Breaking Demonic Emperor Sword.
"Hahaha... I guess I won by one move, right? Old man?"
"What?"
So-ah's somewhat out-of-place question.
Although it was So-ah who had spit blood and had suffered a loss, how could he talk about victory?
No Yeong-myeong tilted his head.
But.
"Seven years ago. I had to use all my strength to draw out the Heaven-Breaking Demonic Emperor Sword from you. But now?"
"..."
"You unfolded the Heaven-Breaking Demonic Emperor Sword as soon as we started, right? In other words, it means that you can't respond unless you use all your strength even for my warm-up. Am I wrong?"
"Are you trying to play with words?"
"Aww! You know it."
And then.
Kung, kung, ku-ku-kung!
'Ah! That's right! There was that!'
'Yes... that's right.'
At So-ah's subsequent action, Jeon Woo-chi and Myo-seon's eyes sparkled.
At the same time, even No Yeong-myeong, as if he had remembered something, frowned.
It was the lump of black steel that So-ah usually wore on his arms and legs.
The moment he untied it, the ground caved in, showing how heavy that lump of iron was.
'Yes... that brat was wearing that lump of iron even then. Because that's what the God of War, Moyong Cheon, always wore.'
Only then did No Yeong-myeong realize that So-ah had not been at his full power until now, and he could not hide his astonishment.
But the surprise was just the beginning.
"Brother Woo-chi. Give me my soft-armored mail!"
At So-ah's words, Jeon Woo-chi took out the soft-armored mail that he was keeping in his bag and threw it.
So-ah put on the soft-armored mail in one breath.
Soon...
Lightning began to spark from So-ah's body.
Furthermore, from his two eyes, a blue-green light beam was exploded, his face was dyed the color of a jujube, and the aura of his whole body was truly.
'That is the phenomenon of the peak of enlightenment... what on earth is that?!'
Containing the iron-blooded power that was not lacking to be called a God of War.
"To fight with an old man, I have to borrow the power of awakening."
"A-Awakening?"
"Let's really play now."
(End of Chapter)