The Heavenly Demon Who Reigns

Whoosh-.

Every time Cheon Seong swung his sword, the blade reflected the light of the torches, flying chaotically around the training ground.

Since the day had already completely set, even if the inside of the training ground was lit by torches, the surroundings couldn't help but be dark.

Usually, one would not train when it got this dark, but Cheon Seong had been swinging his sword every day until the day set for several years.

"..."

Normally, it would be time to finish, but Cheon Seong was swinging his sword until a much later time than usual.

The time was already approaching midnight.

As if trying to somehow make up for the gap from stopping his training early yesterday and the day before, not only was it late, but a sense of impatience seemed to be felt from Cheon Seong's sword.

"Phew..."

Cheon Seong, who let out a deep sigh and stopped the sword he was swinging. And he lowered his sword and continued to breathe heavily.

'If I go on like this, I'll just be swinging my sword meaninglessly.'

After training today, Cheon Seong suddenly had that thought strongly.

No, perhaps he had known that fact well from before.

That no matter how much he practiced the sword technique to the point where blisters burst, his progress would be as slow as a snail crawling, or that he could not advance any further than this.

Especially after hearing Cheon Myeong's sharp advice, that thought began to grow stronger.

"..."

Cheon Seong, who was standing still for a long time. A trace of deep thought was felt on his bowed face.

Although that thought seemed to be quite long, Cheon Seong soon shook his head and raised his sword again.

Creak-.

And at that moment, the sound of the door opening was heard from the entrance of the training ground.

Hearing that sound, Cheon Seong stopped his movement and turned his head towards the entrance.

'...Hwang Dongyeong?'

The person who appeared as the door opened was Hwang Dongyeong.

Confirming that, Cheon Seong let out a low sigh.

Was he here to nag again because the training had gone on for too long?

As soon as he saw Hwang Dongyeong, that was the first thought that came to Cheon Seong's mind, so he didn't feel very good.

"I get it. I'll be out in about half an hour, so if you're thinking of nagging, don't say anything."

He wasn't in a good mood because his training wasn't going as planned, and he felt that if he got into an argument with Hwang Dongyeong over this, his mood would only worsen.

So Cheon Seong had tried to shut Hwang Dongyeong's mouth in advance, but Hwang Dongyeong finally opened his mouth towards Cheon Seong.

"Is your training not going as you wish?"

"..."

"Seeing that you're not answering, it seems my thoughts are correct."

Was Hwang Dongyeong now trying to nag him with a new type of nagging?

Although he didn't know where he had been until now, Cheon Seong couldn't help but feel quite offended when he suddenly appeared and spoke in that way.

"Yes, you're right."

"..."

"No, not just today, but even before, it has never gone my way."

That fact would be best known by Hwang Dongyeong, who had been by his side all this time.

But to speak in a way that seemed to dig into his heart like that.

Although Cheon Myeong had said something similar, he hadn't felt so upset at that time.

"So what, are you telling me to stop wasting time on this and go home quickly, wash my feet, and go to sleep?"

"..."

As Cheon Seong said that, Hwang Dongyeong said nothing.

Looking at him, Cheon Seong still seemed unable to calm his excitement, but he soon thought that he had said something quite harsh to Hwang Dongyeong.

Still, wasn't the person who had silently stayed by his side until now none other than Hwang Dongyeong?

Although it was a mission given by the Guardian Hall and he couldn't help it, the person who had spent more time with him than his own father, Cheon Jin, could be said to be Hwang Dongyeong.

"Earlier, I was a bit..."

Clang-.

Belatedly, Cheon Seong tried to apologize to Hwang Dongyeong for his slip of the tongue.

However, at that moment, a sharp metallic sound rang in his ear.

Seeing Hwang Dongyeong who had drawn his sword towards him, Cheon Seong was momentarily bewildered.

"..."

Why was Hwang Dongyeong drawing his sword towards him?

Could it be that he had gotten angry because he had spoken in that way and had drawn his sword in a fit of anger?

Although he had that thought for a moment, Cheon Seong thought that no matter what, that was impossible.

"Young Master Cheon Seong, draw your sword."

Hwang Dongyeong said, aiming his sword at Cheon Seong. Hearing those words, Cheon Seong momentarily wondered if he had heard him correctly.

"...What do you mean?"

Cheon Seong asked with a slightly trembling voice.

Isn't it strange? For Hwang Dongyeong, who was in a position to protect him, to be aiming his sword at him instead.

Since he had never thought of such a situation until now, Cheon Seong momentarily felt a sense of fear.

"Let's have a duel."

"A duel?"

"Didn't you say that your training wasn't going as you wished when you were alone? So I will be your opponent."

Was that the meaning of Hwang Dongyeong drawing his sword?

Thinking so, his fear disappeared and Cheon Seong felt a sense of relief for a moment.

But it was a little strange.

For Hwang Dongyeong to suddenly propose a duel with him.

Since he had never had a duel with Hwang Dongyeong until now, Cheon Seong couldn't help but be a little puzzled by those words.

"Why do you suddenly want to have a duel?"

"Don't you have no one to have a duel with now, Young Master Cheon Seong? So I am trying to take on that role for you."

"..."

As Hwang Dongyeong had said, he no longer had anyone to have a duel with.

Well, although he had brought it upon himself... he had not thought that Hwang Dongyeong would be concerned about that part.

'Come to think of it, he did ask why I was keeping Su Yeongseong at a distance.'

Did Hwang Dongyeong have the thought of having a duel with him since then?

Although he didn't know exactly what level of skill Hwang Dongyeong had even after being with him for several years, it was certain that he was stronger than him.

What more needs to be said when he was skilled enough to be part of the Guardian Hall, a place where one could only enter if their skills were guaranteed more than any other place?

Perhaps Hwang Dongyeong was a more difficult opponent than Su Yeongseong.

"I understand. Then I'll ask you."

If he had a duel with a new opponent, there might be some progress in his skills.

Since Hwang Dongyeong had given him that opportunity himself, there was no need to refuse it.

Even if that wasn't the case, Cheon Seong was planning to accept the duel with Hwang Dongyeong to confirm a certain fact.

'I will confirm it with this duel.'

Whether he had the potential to grow on his own.

If he felt that that potential did not remain... he would have to give up and accept it.

"Then let's begin."

"..."

As Hwang Dongyeong said that, Cheon Seong braced himself.

He would have to gather all the concentration he had at this moment.

There would be no need for him to hold back against Hwang Dongyeong.

With the thought of bringing out everything he had honed until now, Cheon Seong took a stance.

Thwip-.

The one who moved first was Cheon Seong.

Cheon Seong, who approached Hwang Dongyeong with a rather nimble stride.

Until Cheon Seong approached him, Hwang Dongyeong showed no movement.

"..."

But that didn't mean Cheon Seong was planning to be careless.

The difference between the duel with Cheon Myeong before and the duel now was that point.

In the duel with Cheon Myeong, he had thought lightly of his opponent's skills in the beginning and had not used his full strength, but this time was different.

Hwang Dongyeong was a master compared to him. And that too, with a quite large gap.

Thinking so, Cheon Seong swung his sword with all his might from the beginning.

Whoosh-.

A battle that took place near the entrance.

Hwang Dongyeong was seen blocking all the swords that Cheon Seong swung without much difficulty.

Thud-.

Due to the rather fierce battle, even the torch standing near the entrance fell to the floor.

Although the surroundings became a little dark because of that, the two continued the duel as if it didn't matter.

'I can't see my opponent properly...'

The only thing he could see was the light of the sword blade created by the reflection of the moonlight.

Hwang Dongyeong's overall appearance was dark and could not be confirmed.

Since he was the only one attacking now, he could continue the duel just by looking at the light of the sword blade, but there was a limit to continuing like that.

"Feel your opponent with your ki sense, not your eyes!"

Why on earth was the advice that Cheon Myeong had given him coming to his mind in this situation?

Although he got annoyed just by thinking of that, he could not deny the fact that his head was full of those words.

'Yes, I get it!'

In the end, Cheon Seong decided to do as Cheon Myeong had said.

However, to follow the opponent with ki sense, not with eyes, how on earth was that possible?

Although he had given him advice, Cheon Myeong had not explained the method in particular.

'If you're going to give advice, you should have said it a little more specifically and accurately...!'

Come to think of it, he was the one who had told Cheon Myeong to be quiet.

If he had known it would be like this, he should have let Cheon Myeong talk a little more...

Although he had that thought now, since it was of no help now, Cheon Seong decided to shake it off.

'For now, I have no choice but to do it my way.'

Thinking so, Cheon Seong swung his sword, but until now, not a single move had properly landed on Hwang Dongyeong.

Whoosh-.

Cheon Seong's sword, which cut through the air.

Having completely lost Hwang Dongyeong's movement for a moment, Cheon Seong hurriedly looked around.

"..."

Fortunately, Hwang Dongyeong was standing quite far away in the direction behind him.

Since there was a torch remaining in that direction, Cheon Seong was now able to see Hwang Dongyeong's appearance properly.

'Fortunately, my ass...'

Until Hwang Dongyeong had moved to that far place, Cheon Seong had not noticed anything.

Perhaps if Hwang Dongyeong had just decided to end it, the match would have already been decided.

Thinking so, Cheon Seong got angry at himself for being relieved for a moment.

'I'm a pathetic guy.'

In this situation, there was nothing that was fortunate for him.

But to think of not fixing that situation and to just keep ignoring it and trying to somehow get by.

Cheon Seong no longer wanted to ignore the situation he was given.

Thwip-.

He would confirm it with this one move.

Although it was a move that had not reached Cheon Myeong, since he thought it was the most powerful move among the ones he had honed until now.

If this one move, which he had put his full strength into, did not work, it seemed that Cheon Seong could cleanly organize everything and start over from the beginning.

Whoosh-.

Cheon Seong, who had approached Hwang Dongyeong while maintaining a low posture, swung his sword vertically.

A sword strike that was clearly different from until now.

Even Cheon Seong himself, who had swung the sword, thought that it was the best feeling among the countless Mad Dragon Demon Blade strikes he had repeated until now.

However.

Ting-.

As if a dragon's tooth had broken, Cheon Seong's sword blade broke in half.

Because of that, the broken sword blade flew off and fell behind Cheon Seong.

Drip-.

Blood flowed from the cut made by the flying sword blade.

Although the wound on his cheek was fortunately not so deep, Cheon Seong's pupils, who were looking at the broken sword, were shaking as if an earthquake had occurred.

'Was it only this much...'

The things he had worked so hard for until now... were they only at a level that could be broken so easily?

Although it was just that the sword had broken, for a swordsman, a sword was the same as life.

For Cheon Seong, the broken sword felt the same as his conviction being broken.

Woong-.

However, at that moment, Cheon Seong's gaze belatedly went to the sword that Hwang Dongyeong was holding.

An unfamiliar energy that was rising from Hwang Dongyeong's sword.

Although he had almost never seen it directly, Cheon Seong was able to immediately realize that that energy was sword ki.

'Why sword ki...?'

If it had collided with sword ki, it was understandable that his sword had broken.

Since his sword had no internal energy at all, it was natural in a way that it could not withstand the sword ki.

But what was puzzling to Cheon Seong was why on earth Hwang Dongyeong had taken out his sword ki in this situation.

"..."

The act of taking out sword ki in a duel was implicitly forbidden.

Of course, there were cases where sword ki was taken out with mutual agreement, but the problem was that Cheon Seong's side could not form sword ki.

So in a situation where there was already a skill gap, if Hwang Dongyeong were to even take out his sword ki, an one-sided result like the situation just now would inevitably come out.

"...What is this?"

Cheon Seong asked, looking at Hwang Dongyeong, who was still holding out his sword ki.

At the same time, a sense of anxiety that was slowly rising.

Cheon Seong was instinctively backing away without realizing it.

"Let's end it now."

"...?"

"Thank you... for everything."

At the same time as those words, Hwang Dongyeong swung the sword with sword ki at Cheon Seong.

(End of Chapter)