Chapter: 727
Thud thud—!
Blood pours onto the cracked ground.
The amount of blood flowing from his mouth was quite considerable. His trembling body suggested he had reached his limit.
I shifted my gaze to the side.
A sword lay next to the blood.
The inspector shivered, having lost his sword.
It was a sight that needed no further explanation.
Hmm.
The world had sunk into a thick haze.
As I looked at the young man kneeling against the gray background, Peng Woo-jin reacted.
Disappointing.
This was far from what I had expected.
Was it Jin Im-seok, perhaps?
Peng Woo-jin had different expectations of him.
I thought he’d manage to hold out a bit longer and, in turn, make things a tad more entertaining.
Did I set my expectations too high?
In this extremely regrettable situation, Peng Woo-jin’s heart was growing cold.
At the same time, his eyes were moving.
Leaving the opponent who had already been defeated, he stepped down from the stage.
Peng Woo-jin turned his head to look for someone among the countless spectators. It didn’t take long before he found someone.
Finding her wasn’t difficult.
In a world where everyone was gray, all he had to do was spot the one person shining brightly.
Haha.
Upon finding a young man, Peng Woo-jin couldn’t help but smile.
He was still a vast light.
In the murky gray world, only this young man held a blue glow.
You look splendid today as well.
At first, the light seemed somewhat shallow.
Just ashes.
Or maybe a spark.
I sensed that kind of light from the boy, who was much younger than me.
Isn’t that interesting?
Peng Woo-jin became intrigued by the flame. As time passed, the spark began to blaze vividly.
It was color.
The world that Peng Woo-jin had lost when he turned ten.
A colorful scene flickered before his eyes.
How beautiful.
The red light that was shimmering turned blue for some reason.
Yet its beauty remained unchanged.
Moreover, it didn’t shine alone.
Surrounding the blue light were other colors.
The daughter of a Tang clan whose name he didn’t need to remember.
She was radiating a green glow while he wasn’t looking.
Bright.
How did a woman without any color come to possess such hues?
This wasn’t the first time Peng Woo-jin had seen those who possessed color.
There had been several others he encountered during his life.
Like Cheonan, the head of Shaolin.
And the sword master called the protector of the blind.
Does the strength of a martial artist manifest through color?
He had thought that way when he was younger, but it didn’t take long for him to realize that wasn’t the case.
His father.
The head of the Peng clan bore no color.
In fact, color was more apparent in Shin, who was called the best in the Central Plains.
If that’s the case, what is color?
If the difference in strength doesn’t determine the color…
Then what reason could there be for the colors that he saw?
Though he always lived with such doubts, Peng Woo-jin never managed to figure it out.
He simply accepted it.
It’s splendid.
In a world devoid of color, the colors he saw were far too enchanting and alluring.
It had been ages since he questioned why he was able to see it.
What mattered now was simply that color existed. That alone.
It was like a ray of light in a lost world.
Perhaps due to that, something peculiar happened in Peng Woo-jin’s life.
Those without color began to appear like dust.
They didn’t feel human.
Even if they had the same heart, it became challenging to recognize them without color.
Not worth remembering.
A multitude of stones littered the ground.
And that was all they seemed to be: neither more nor less.
Would it be any different if he were his father?
Even though he bore the same hair and eyes, Peng Woo-jin had never given much thought to his father.
Could it be because the head of the family was incompetent?
Or perhaps due to his struggle against incompetence in an ugly manner?
Neither.
It was simply because they had no color.
He held no interest in those lacking color.
Not even blood relations were exempt from this indifference.
An incompetent father and incompetent brothers.
He could only talk with his younger sister, Peng Ah-hee, since she possessed even a hint of color, no matter how shallow.
How tempting that was.
A being capable of creating color around them.
He had seen those who lost their color, but he had never encountered anyone who could create color. Yet when he stood beside this young man, he found himself gaining color.
So then.
Shouldn’t you also show something?
As he watched his opponent rise, Peng Woo-jin wore a smile.
Trembling limbs.
Seeing someone clutching a sword like a crutch was a sight to behold.
[Could you grant me just one favor?]
Before ascending the stage, Gu Yangcheon had asked him for a favor, piquing his interest.
If it hadn’t been for that, he wouldn’t have engaged in this affair.
Or would he have?
Perhaps, even without that request, he might have gone through with it.
That young man also bore color, after all.
Only…
It’s just so painfully shallow and insignificant.
A dying ember.
The colors that had once felt vibrant were steadily fading.
And with them, Peng Woo-jin’s interest began to wane as well.
So, what does the author want from you?
Just one sword would suffice.
This moment alone was all he needed to ascertain the author’s worth.
Though he could regard him favorably due to possessing color, he harbored doubts about placing high expectations.
Look.
Isn’t the color fading even now?
He had managed to pull himself up and clutch the sword, but one glance made it clear.
There was no fighting spirit to be felt.
If a swordsman holds no will to fight, what remains?
Thoughtlessness.
It felt as if there was nothingness.
How unfortunate.
This time, it seemed he was mistaken.
With that thought, he drew his sword.
The promise must be kept.
By doing so, he would also attain what he desired.
Swish.
He swung based on the blade, not the edge.
I’ll finish this with one strike.
As he moved his body with that thought…
Thud.
“…!”
Peng Woo-jin quickly leaped back, retrieving the sword he had been swinging.
“…Huh?”
About five or six steps. The moment he gained that distance…
He wiped the smile from his face while looking at his opponent.
A wrecked stance.
The still trembling body.
Nothing had changed, and yet Peng Woo-jin found himself narrowing his eyes at his opponent.
Color.
The colors that had blossomed like morning mist had vanished.
But…
What’s this?
What was it that appeared so vivid?
Even though the color had faded, for some reason, the young man stood out clearly.
What in the world could this mean?
As he pondered, he quickly realized.
Ah, I see.
The color hadn’t disappeared.
It had transformed.
The golden hue that once blossomed had vanished.
The blackness around the edges had deepened.
The moment Peng Woo-jin perceived this…
Saaahhh…
“Hooh.”
Jin Im-seok, the young man, had turned completely black.
Peng Woo-jin averted his gaze to the referee.
The judges’ reactions below the stage remained unchanged.
They were just assessing whether or not to intervene.
This implied that others could not perceive the changes taking place.
Hahaha. Is this the case again?
Seeing this, Peng Woo-jin couldn’t help but giggle.
It seems I was mistaken.
He had been wrong, while the young man had been right.
The realization delighted him to the point of losing his composure.
Squeak.
The youth began to move.
Jin Im-seok, who had presumably already reached his limit, started to shift his body.
He looked so dark that it was hard to discern what expression he bore.
While Peng Woo-jin watched Jin Im-seok with keen interest…
“Ah.”
Jin Im-seok, who was in motion, blurted out a short phrase.
With that, pupils appeared in his eyes.
Yellows sparkled within those irises.
The moment he laid eyes on them…
Chills ran down my spine.
Goosebumps crept along Peng Woo-jin’s back.
Saaahhh…
Then an overwhelming energy surged from Jin Im-seok’s body.
This is…
Confirming the aura, Peng Woo-jin nodded.
It’s a killing intent.
That dreadful energy emanated entirely from the urge to kill.
How could someone emit so much murderous energy?
The astonishing scene made him gasp in awe.
But he couldn’t simply stand there, awestruck.
Peng Woo-jin smiled and drew his sword.
Bam!
As Jin Im-seok’s energy surged, he dashed toward Peng Woo-jin in an instant.
Ki-ki-ki-ki—!!
Swords collided.
That instant…
Crack!
Peng Woo-jin’s footing sank into the stage floor as he was pushed backward.
What is this?
It was an entirely different level of power than before.
This is intense—!
The previously light sword now bore down with pressure.
Peng Woo-jin adjusted his grip, shifting his position.
Squeak! Jin Im-seok’s sword narrowly missed him.
Immediately after deflecting the incoming blow, Peng Woo-jin regained his composure and retaliated.
But…
Shh!
“!”
Suddenly, Jin Im-seok’s murderous intent surged toward Peng Woo-jin as if it were a sharpened blade.
Seeing this, Peng Woo-jin quickly altered his trajectory and swung his sword.
Black Smoke Chaotic Blade.
The sword reeking of strong energy unleashed a flurry of attacks indiscriminately.
Kang! Kang! Kang!
With each swing, he deflected the killing aura, blocking all incoming assaults.
It wasn’t a difficult task.
However, immediately after the defense ended, Peng Woo-jin’s expression turned somewhat sour.
How curious.
The intensity of the killing intent exceeded his expectations.
It felt akin to breaking scrap metal.
So, it’s definitely a murderous intent, but does that mean its strength is on par with martial energy?
What kind of martial arts was behind this?
Curiously, Peng Woo-jin tilted his head.
Pick!
Before he knew it, a suddenly lunging Jin Im-seok grazed Peng Woo-jin’s cheek.
A brief spray of blood brightened the open air.
Faster than before.
Compared to their first exchange, he had become significantly quicker.
Was it not just strength, but speed that had also surged?
I guess this fellow might as well be a different person.
The same held true for the sword.
Thwack! Crash!
Though once weak, it had adhered to the basics, now, Jin Im-seok resembled a beast.
He swung his weapon purely on instinct.
The sword was cloaked in a thick aura, unmistakable to anyone who looked closely.
What was far too crude to be deemed swordsmanship had transformed into something raw and powerful.
“Ha-ha!”
Peng Woo-jin erupted into laughter.
Rather than retreating and avoiding death, he dove in even deeper.
Pick! SWIPE!
The cruel killing aura cut through his skin.
Although injuries rapidly heated up, Peng Woo-jin paid it no mind.
The more pain he felt, the more his body ignited with fervor.
How enjoyable.
What had caused this young man’s sudden transformation?
At this point, it no longer mattered.
This is fun.
Finally, he was having a blast.
Peng Woo-jin’s gaze was locked solely on Jin Im-seok’s eyes.
Those dazzling yellow irises.
Even with their capacity filled with murderous thoughts so loathsome, they seemed breathtaking to Peng Woo-jin.
I will kill. I’ll definitely kill you. I’m going to kill you!
Perhaps due to that, it seemed Jin Im-seok’s muttering fell on deaf ears.
Clang! Bang! Bang!
Peng Woo-jin’s precise, frantic movements kept knocking aside the killing attack.
While he blended evasive tactics with alternating force and withdrawal, Jin Im-seok evaded like a ghost.
He shouted at him.
SWOOSH! Jin Im-seok’s shoulder bled from a superficial attack.
Since his previous assault had proved ineffective, Jin Im-seok appeared to have waited for the chance to cut inward.
“Kill!”
He extended his sword toward Peng Woo-jin.
Whump!
This time, Jin Im-seok’s sword pierced through Peng Woo-jin’s shoulder.
It penetrated smoothly, breaking skin and allowing the blade to emerge on the other side.
Very good.
Peng Woo-jin grabbed Jin Im-seok’s arm, as if dismissing the pain entirely.
Join!
“Hoo… Hoo!”
“Hahahahaha—!!”
Because of their close proximity, the angle of Peng Woo-jin’s sword was insufficient to fell Jin Im-seok, while his body pinned down Peng Woo-jin’s shoulder.
The fight became impossible unless one side relinquished their power.
Moreover, the moment one side relaxed, it would fall into dire consequences.
“Now, what’s your next move, Jin Gong—!”
There was seemingly no other way left. As he deliberated, Peng Woo-jin’s eyes widened.
Snap!
Without a moment of hesitation, Jin Im-seok sunk his teeth into Peng Woo-jin’s nape.
In response, Peng Woo-jin released the grip on his sword.
He then swung his empty hand, landing a punch on Jin Im-seok’s abdomen.
KABOOM!
A shockwave erupted, sending Jin Im-seok tumbling across the ground.
Phew.
After rolling a couple of times, he spit something out.
Flesh and blood.
Seeing that, Peng Woo-jin wiped his nape.
…
There was a wound.
Not critical, so it wasn’t a grave matter, but still distinctly raw.
Had he not dropped his sword and expelled Jin Im-seok, it could have become a serious threat.
…I didn’t expect this.
To bite down on his nape in that scenario.
This wasn’t merely beastly… What a chaotic duel!
“Really… really… this feels incredible.”
As he wiped the blood, Peng Woo-jin found his expression overflowing with joy.
He felt immersed in vibrant colors.
The murderous aura radiating from Jin Im-seok flooded the surroundings.
Amidst it, his brilliant yellow eyes sparkled.
Despite consisting of just two colors, they completely filled Peng Woo-jin’s universe.
More!
He could hardly contain himself.
Show me more, please!
Desire surged within him.
“I beg you, show me more of Confucius’ colors!”
Vroom-vroom-vroom!
The atmosphere turned ominous, resonating with the world as if it were about to shout.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!
The sound roared, and energy built up around Peng Woo-jin’s fingertips.
Drip drip.
Blood trickled from his neck and shoulder.
It hurts.
The agony swelled, as though being consumed by poison—yet the more intense the pain, the more Peng Woo-jin laughed.
At that moment, even the pain felt exhilarating.
Hoo… Hoo…
Meanwhile, Jin Im-seok’s condition worsened.
While the amount of energy he emitted dwindled, its density increased.
It seemed he was beginning to adapt to the murderous aura and gradually managed to regulate it.
Hoo.
Hoo.
The sword in Peng Woo-jin’s hand gradually rotated.
Indeed.
How far could this author reveal to him?
The request from Gu Yangcheon had long been overshadowed in Peng Woo-jin’s mind.
How far can you go?
How much can you endure?
How far will your light shine?
As the battle continued, the colors grew more vivid—so where could this lead?
He yearned to witness it.
He was almost driven mad by the desire to see it.
“Show me, then.”
Your potential to shine.
Vroooom-!!
Jin Im-seok growled.
An unusual phenomenon occurred with the sword he held.
The murderous aura that had been pouring out began to coalesce around the blade.
Is that a martial art too?
Peng Woo-jin, who watched, could feel his own breaths growing ragged.
It was as if the fire ignited within Jin Im-seok’s eyes had turned radiant.
Realizing that, Peng Woo-jin gathered the energy from his whole body.
At least for that friend. He hadn’t intended to unleash his full strength until he met the one he sought, but now he had no choice.
Once he beheld such colors, he had to reciprocate in kind.
Black Iron, All-Out!
Peng Woo-jin readied a technique he was capable of wielding.
It was to empower Jin Im-seok’s importance.
Energy condensed, and tension coursed through the air.
As the atmosphere between the two grew charged, it stood poised for an explosive climax.
Hoo-!
Jin Im-seok’s body swayed erratically.
Crack!
“Huh?”
Thud.
He let out a sudden yelp before collapsing.
Right after Jin Im-seok crumpled onto the stone floor.
“Huh…?”
Peng Woo-jin found himself bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
What the—?!
Jin Im-seok lay motionless, seemingly unconscious. The murderous aura that had radiated from him vanished in an instant.
The vibrant color faded.
His black body returned to its original tone, leaving only the previously existing yellow behind.
…No.
Peng Woo-jin’s heart trembled as he attempted to approach.
The referee had already stepped forward, checking on Jin Im-seok’s status.
Having examined thoroughly, he raised his hand and declared:
“Habukpengga Peng Woo-jin. Victory.”
What followed was beyond Peng Woo-jin’s immediate comprehension.
Did cheers erupt alongside the referee’s announcement? Or was it silence?
He couldn’t grasp any of it.
What he knew was that, instinctively, he turned to glance at Gu Yangcheon.
As he looked at Gu Yangcheon, it seemed like he was smiling contently at the fallen Jin Im-seok, as if he had stumbled upon a rare treasure.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.