Chapter: 888
Gugugugugugugu—!!!
“Ugh!”
“…This… This!”
In an instant, the air shifts.
The men of the Maeng army clutched their chests, feeling as though they were being seared by flames.
It wasn’t just the heat. Pressure reverberated from all directions.
The air felt dense.
Just breathing became exhausting. Those who had reached the pinnacle of their power barely managed to endure.
Krrrr….
“Grrr….”
Those beneath them fell over, foaming at the mouth. Their mental fortitude seemed unable to withstand it.
And the intensity only escalated.
The heat surged alongside relentless pressure.
Any moment now, someone could die from being crushed by it.
“The Holy King.”
Ki-ki-kik-!
At that moment, the Sword Emperor Jinryeong spat out the words and grasped his sword.
Giiinn—!!
Then, the sword cried out.
Emitting a deep vibration, the black sword howled. The name it bore began to push back the overwhelming pressure.
The energies of the sword and Gu Yangcheon created a clash of currents.
Ki-ki-iing—!!!
Vast powers collided, distorting the space around them. Neither side was willing to give an inch.
And this may be expressed differently:
“…The Holy Dragon Lord isn’t being outmatched by the Guardian Lord?”
“That’s absurd—!”
It meant that Gu Yangcheon was on par with the Sword Emperor.
The youngest king. The future greatest ruler of the world.
Countless terms could describe the pinnacle of talent, but none compare to the Sword Emperor.
No, if anything, there are even more terms for the Sword Emperor.
Guardian of the Murim Alliance and one of the top ten masters.
Along with the Plum Blossom, he’s even considered one of the closest martial artists to the three Buddhas.
Even this alone highlights the worth and power of the Sword Emperor.
“The Holy King wouldn’t be overpowered by such a swordsman…?”
It was an utterly absurd sight.
Unbelievable. Surely, if I had only heard it, I would have dismissed it.
“Really… Really.”
In reality, this was how Gu Yangcheon appeared.
Sparks flew, radiating heat.
It was so blistering that the atmosphere felt like midsummer, and the weeds nearby were aflame, making their presence undeniably felt.
Get too close, and you’d burn to a crisp.
This was a situation where you could instinctively feel it.
Hence, no one dared approach.
“The Holy King.”
The Sword Emperor again softly called Gu Yangcheon.
In response, Gu Yangcheon frowned and smiled.
With that smile, a far-off air of combat radiated.
Sensing that, the Sword Emperor’s expression hardened.
‘It’s hot.’
Even the aura of combat was scorching. The heat clung to his body wrapped in steel.
How on earth could Gu Yangcheon be here? The Sword Emperor pondered that even as he pushed away the energy.
‘What’s someone who should be in Sacheon doing here?’
Just days ago, I was certain he was in Sacheon. What on earth had prompted this appearance?
When did he return?
‘Did he come after hearing about my father?’
Given the circumstances, it seemed plausible, but he couldn’t accept it. When had he received the information, and if that info reached Jeonseo-gu, when did that happen?
No matter how he calculated, the timing of Gu Yangcheon’s arrival was exceedingly strange.
‘Is it possible he arrived in just a few days?’
It could be. If he had poured all his energy into speed, perhaps it were possible.
‘But then, he must have exhausted most of his strength.’
Even after racing like that, how does he still manage to emit this much fighting spirit?
The Sword Emperor simply couldn’t comprehend.
“Why is it so quiet?”
“…”
The Sword Emperor tightened his grip.
Wuuuung—!! The energy around the sword intensifies.
“If you called, then speak. You seem to have something to say.”
“Have you forgotten where this place is?”
“I haven’t forgotten. It’s the Murim Alliance, isn’t it?”
“Knowing that, what kind of nonsense is this?”
“That’s what I mentioned, isn’t it?”
Gu Yangcheon narrowed his eyes. At that moment, the energy felt slightly weaker.
Was he lacking in power? No. The Sword Emperor remained vigilant.
“Just answer my questions directly. If you don’t, I’ll have to put in some effort to hear your answers.”
Effort?
The Sword Emperor was about to talk about that.
“Hence, simply indulge me for a moment.”
Before he could even speak, he needed to lift his sword.
He tilted the sword to the left. At that moment—
Boom—!!
“…!”
An enormous shock slammed into the black mask. It was Gu Yangcheon’s foot.
For a brief moment, he let his guard down. The Sword Emperor steadied his breath and turned his body.
He slid his foot along the surface and summoned his energy.
Gu Yangcheon, observing this, blasted sparks into the air.
Kwaaaaaaaaa—!!!
The flames exploded, sending Gu Yangcheon soaring into the heavens.
Chwaak—! The sword sliced through the flames. If he had been a millisecond slower, Gu Yangcheon would’ve been cut.
Yet still, the Sword Emperor expressed no regret.
‘I let him have it.’
That fleeting moment wasn’t his loss; it was entirely Gu Yangcheon’s creation.
The previous exchange was sufficient.
‘Is it a match of equals?’
From their previous exchange, the Sword Emperor confirmed that Gu Yangcheon was his equal.
Shock rolled through him. How could that little kid be so strong? Pondering such things seemed pointless.
He had no time for distractions.
Kiing—!
The sword’s electricity crackles.
Taesan Chukogeom (Five Swords Built on Mount Tai).
The Sword Emperor’s unique martial arts unrolled from the tip of his sword.
A softly drawn single blade cut through the air.
Kuung—!!
Was it an attack? No.
With that one precise strike, the ambient pressure dissipated.
Only then did the martial artists gasp for air.
This sword.
Choaaaaaaah—!!!
A second slash shot into the air.
The size of the flying sword strike was enormous.
Gu Yangcheon reached out with his fist.
Fwoosh fwoosh—!!!!
In the shape of a beast.
A flame resembling a fierce animal collided with the sword energy.
Boom—!!! Light erupted in the atmosphere like fireworks.
Gu Yangcheon’s eyes darted, taking in the dispersed light.
Three swords.
“Tsk.”
I pivoted to the left and extended my hand. Bam! I swatted away the suddenly flying sword. Adjusting the angle, a wave of sword energy leaked onto the floor.
Kwaaaaah—!!
A deep, elongated sword mark etched itself into the ground.
‘This old man is more reckless than I thought.’
I suppressed a chuckle. I’d heard that the Sword Emperor’s blow was rough and heavy rather than delicate, and it was indeed true.
It felt unbearably weighty.
And it wasn’t even done yet.
The Four Swords.
Even if that blow failed, it wasn’t the end. I heightened my spirit while simultaneously gathering strength in my heart.
Gu Flame Wheel Technique.
Blue flames burst from my body. Partly to amplify my power from the heat, but also to obscure my vision.
Shhhhh—!!!! Chwaaaaak—!!
A fierce wind gust broke out as if a storm were brewing.
A sound erupted immediately after the sword attack. It was a stunning speed.
Thanks to the flames, there was no damage.
I managed to let the fourth sword strike slip through.
Yet still.
‘Not yet.’
Taesan Chukogeom is built on five strikes. And it could be said to exist only for the final blow.
‘The first to the fourth serves merely as a warm-up.’
It was meant to gradually build power bit by bit. The amassed strength would finally explode at the end.
“Hoo.”
With a short exhale, the Sword Emperor steadied his grip on the sword.
‘Does the void mean nothing?’
An aerial combat without a platform.
It’s an environment that inevitably weakens swordsmen.
Yet the Sword Emperor acted as if he held no concern and simply moved his sword.
His intention was to slice down Gu Yangcheon.
No, could it even be described as a slice?
Observing the movement of his swordplay, Gu Yangcheon frowned.
‘That’s closer to crushing.’
Even in ignorance, does such raw power exist?
I wasn’t so sure that even Tangdeok or Dowang fought like that. The Sword Emperor was far more intense.
‘The guardian that doesn’t crumble.’
They call him a mountain in himself, and I could acknowledge that he indeed resembled a mountain.
But.
Ka-krang—!!!
“–!!”
Gu Yangcheon raised his arm and blocked the blade of the Fifth Sword.
He merely lifted an arm. Even so, it didn’t tear through his arm, and the sword came to a halt.
“What…!”
Even the greatest swordsman in the world widened his eyes in astonishment.
It was only natural.
‘There’s a way to handle this!’
A ghostly energy entwined around his arm.
It wouldn’t break. This trait, at this moment, was hauntingly useful.
Moreover,
Whirl—!
The ghostly energy unraveled from his forearm and bound the Sword Emperor’s blade.
“…Huh.”
The Sword Emperor tried to yank his sword free upon seeing the situation, but it wouldn’t budge.
It was all wrapped up.
With that thought, Gu Yangcheon’s hand relaxed.
Hurrrrr—!!!
Heat coalesced over his hands, forming a gemstone.
No second thoughts; he directly plunged the gem into the Sword Emperor.
Bah-oom—!
Then with a slight quiver.
KUAAAAAAAAHH—!!!
The gemstone detonated.
*
Thud thud thud—!!
Sparks fell from the air, smoldering to the ground.
Though the heat remained, potent enough to scorch the earth, it didn’t.
Because the caster had no desire for destruction.
“…”
As he lightly landed, he scanned the surrounding area.
People stared at him in stunned astonishment.
Though their gazes were prickly, he didn’t dwell on it too much.
Crack—!
‘This isn’t good.’
Pain shot through his arm—the arm that had blocked the Sword Emperor’s last strike.
The defense held thanks to the ghostly energy, but it hadn’t absorbed the full impact.
Yet it wasn’t as if it left him immobile; perhaps just a little bit strained.
He shook his hands off and focused straight ahead.
Thump.
As he touched down, another presence landed nearby.
It was the Sword Emperor.
“Cough.”
The Sword Emperor coughed and spat out blood.
Fortunately, it wasn’t much.
‘What a letdown.’
Had it landed properly, it would have been over. The Sword Emperor hadn’t fully absorbed his attack.
‘I let it slip at the end.’
Just as Gu Yangcheon had latched onto the sword, the Sword Emperor had let go of the sword at the moment Gu Yangcheon had sought to restrain him.
This was his oversight.
‘I should’ve properly secured his arm.’
The impact on his arm was greater than anticipated, causing a brief moment of faltering in judgment.
The Sword Emperor didn’t waste that opportunity.
He wiped the blood from his lips and glared menacingly.
The energy in his eyes was anything but ordinary.
“Are you truly planning to make a mistake?”
This was the Sword Emperor’s inquiry.
“Mistake?”
“You’ve crossed the line. By doing this, you’re leaving me no choice but to mark you as an enemy of the Murim Alliance. Can you not see that?”
“I considered it.”
Why had he not thought of that? Certainly, he had pondered it. He merely made a choice after considering it.
“I thought it through.”
Hisss… Energy flowed within his body.
“Upon concluding, I felt it wouldn’t make much difference.”
“What do you mean?”
“It doesn’t matter if you’re an enemy or not. Quite frankly, I’m indifferent.”
Hwarururuk—!! The gathering flames gradually took shape.
What began forming was a spear.
“So please, at least offer me an answer. If you don’t wish to make an enemy of me.”
“…What utter arrogance.”
“I hear that often.”
He hoisted the spear, aiming it at the Sword Emperor.
Now he could maintain his form without needing to exert additional energy.
“Where is our father?”
“The current lord is a sinner.”
“Yes, that’s what I’ve heard.”
Fucking ridiculous.
“He committed a crime and is currently incarcerated by the Alliance. Do you really think your actions will help him?”
“No, I suppose they wouldn’t help much.”
“…What?”
The audacity of his response caught the Sword Emperor off guard.
If his father was indeed a sinner, then that would hold true. Causing a ruckus like this would only bring harm and not benefit.
That would likely be true for both his father and the Gu Clan as well.
But.
“That might hold true if my father was genuinely a sinner.”
In his mind.
“My father is not the type of man to commit a crime.”
His father wasn’t the sort to sin.
“So stop trying to deceive me.”
He infused more flames into the captured spear, steadily increasing both its size and compression.
“Whether you’re playing games against me or scheming behind my back, I could usually endure it. But this is truly unacceptable.”
“The Holy King.”
“There are some things that simply shouldn’t be touched. And yet, at best, it’s the Murim Alliance?”
He smirked.
“If that intimidated me, I would never have shown up.”
“…”
He focused his legs, feeling his soles dig into the earth.
“What recklessness.”
The Sword Emperor’s gaze shifted to icy cold. The atmosphere shifted abruptly.
“From this moment, I shall treat the Holy King as my enemy.”
A chill brushed against his skin. Had he treated him as a comrade until now?
It felt oddly simple.
“I will execute the enemy of the Murim Alliance right here.”
“Go ahead.”
He lunged forward, throwing the spear with all his might.
Kiieee—!!!
The holy spear sliced through the air toward the Sword Emperor.
Then, the Sword Emperor raised his sword.
Though the sword he had lost was spinning on the ground, he always carried a spare blade.
Taesan Chuko Sword.
Biggie.
Taesan Jinryeong Island.
Light radiated from the Sword Emperor’s blade.
Just before their energies clashed so fiercely.
Whirl—.
From somewhere, a golden light drifted into the fray.
And then.
Bang—!
With a small sound, a change occurred.
The plunging spear shifted course and shot skyward, while the Sword Emperor’s blade had been stopped from connecting.
Because someone was now stepping upon the blade of his sword, preventing the Sword Emperor from swinging it.
It was likely this same presence that had interfered with his spear.
Not only had they intervened, but they also thwarted the forthcoming attack.
He squinted, trying to see the culprit.
“…What do we have here?”
The figure wore a mask. A being enveloped in golden energy around their feet and sword.
He recognized the person instantly.
‘Lord Shinryong.’
The newly appointed leader of the Shinryong Alliance.
It was he who intervened between him and the Sword Emperor.
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