Dark Heaven Village
Lee Kwang first turned his gaze towards Jin So-cheong.
“You go first.”
“Yes.”
Jin So-cheong stepped forward, holding a spear without raising any objections. His face bore a look that could be mistaken for determination, but I knew it was a reflection of his extreme emotional suppression.
The Grand Commander of Golden Eagle Guards took out his unique weapon, the Circle, only to put it back again. He then spoke in a calm voice,
“Well, since you said it’s a sparring match, I suppose there’s no need for weapons.”
I thought that made sense, but Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong reacted differently. Lee Kwang wore a look of disbelief, while Jin So-cheong’s expression was one of genuine surprise as if asking, “Really?” Just as the sparring match seemed ready to start, Lee Kwang interjected,
“Hey.”
“What?”
“While I understand White Tiger’s pride, wouldn’t it be better to use a weapon now?”
The Grand Commander yelled in frustration,
“Am I supposed to go all out against a kid like that? You underestimate me too much, Azure Dragon.”
“Well, if you think so, then I guess that can’t be helped…”
Lee Kwang’s words trailed off as he returned to the observation seat. I turned to him and asked,
“Isn’t that guy also a member of the Four Great Experts of the Imperial Palace? Was that really a wise comment?”
“Haha…”
Lee Kwang gave a wry smile.
“Just watch. If things go wrong today, we might be clearing one corpse.”
I didn’t quite understand what he meant.
The Grand Commander of Golden Eagle Guards!
A member of the Previous Four Great Experts of the Imperial Palace, known as White Tiger!
Clearly, he was at least on par with the best of the best, if not an absolute master. I had longed to hone my skills and achieve my own strength in the face of such a formidable opponent. So, I couldn’t fathom why Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong were responding this way.
And then it happened.
Just as the sparring match began, and precisely three seconds in…
Whoosh!
“Uwaahhh!!”
A loud explosion was followed by a scream. The Grand Commander’s left arm was covered in blood, having been sent flying to the far end of the sparring stage. His arm trembled as he stood there in utter shock—a clear indication of being in absolute defense.
“……?!”
I was taken aback.
In the initial three seconds, Jin So-cheong’s basic Lan technique collided with the Grand Commander’s White Jade technique. With every twist and maneuver of Jin So-cheong’s spear, the Grand Commander hastily stopped his defensive techniques and began to launch his divine art to protect himself.
In the second second, Jin So-cheong launched the Lan technique again. Oddly enough, the Grand Commander couldn’t seem to escape the trajectory of the attack, flailing around in confusion instead. While Jin So-cheong remained steady, the Grand Commander appeared to be running in circles.
By the final third second, as Jin So-cheong deployed the Lan once more, the Grand Commander’s left arm became bloody as a loud thump cried out.
‘What?!’
I couldn’t comprehend it.
What Jin So-cheong used was not a special technique or secret skill of the Heavenly Ruthless Spear; he merely executed the basic Lan technique three times. Yet, somehow, the Grand Commander had shown an incomprehensible reaction and was now on the brink of death.
Standing on the sparring stage, Jin So-cheong quietly said,
“Should I kill him?”
At that, Lee Kwang responded from below,
“Why not? It’s his own fault.”
“……”
Bang!
In a fit of rage, the Grand Commander pulled out his Circle. The Circle was a large, round weapon that could be wielded with one hand, excelling in both close combat and throwing. As a powerful energy seeped into the Circle, a faint ominous aura began to leak from its edge, exuding deadly intent.
The Grand Commander declared,
“Azure Dragon… You’ve raised a little tiger, haven’t you?”
“I warned you, didn’t I? You should’ve brought a weapon.”
“Since I’ve lost three techniques, I’ll return the favor and make your little apprentice taste the same!”
Clap!
With bravado, the Grand Commander hurled the Circle forward. The weapon, with its blade known as the Moon Blade, unleashed a wave of dark, powerful energy that seemed to fill the space with bloodlust.
Swish, swish, swish!
The horrifying trajectories of the Circle expanded, making it hard to even breathe. The arc it traced through the air became immeasurable, shifting the very atmosphere.
‘A finishing blow!’
In that moment, I realized that the Grand Commander had entered an elevated realm among the ultimate masters, unfolding the fatal moves of his proprietary martial arts. He was so pressed that he had no choice but to deploy something lethal. I thought that if I were in Jin So-cheong’s position, I would have no choice but to use Thunder Call to escape.
However, Jin So-cheong did not use any finishing moves. Instead, he took a stance and switched to the Na technique.
The spear’s tip drew the path of the Circle closer. In an instant, Jin So-cheong’s body fluidly merged with the spear as he executed a spinning maneuver. As Jin So-cheong spun on his left foot five times, the space for slaughter became drawn into the spear’s blade, putting Grand Commander at a disadvantage instead.
Thud, thud, thud!
The Grand Commander refused to give up, attempting to regain control of the Circle with his energy manipulation. The Circle, which had previously darted about aimlessly, now dove down below the sparring stage. The weapon burrowed into the ground like tofu, leaving me anxious about when it would pop back up. I shivered at the realization that every technique he executed was a deadly finishing blow.
Jin So-cheong seemed to be smiling slightly. This time, he established the Seven Stars defense while leisurely executing the Thundercloud Palm technique. As he stepped into the fourth stance, the Circle shot up from the ground, aiming for Jin So-cheong’s brain and heart.
Crack!
In that split second, it appeared that Jin So-cheong had executed five flawless moves. The speed was so phenomenal that I temporarily lost track of his movements. Just as I regained my focus, Jin So-cheong darted to the Grand Commander’s face, wielding the spear tip that had pierced through the Circle.
Bang!
“Cough…”
The Grand Commander staggered, his posture crumbling. Once Jin So-cheong closed in, he delivered a knee strike, which the Grand Commander narrowly dodged by pitching his neck back. However, following Jin So-cheong’s rapid succession of strikes, he swiftly pivoted and landed a punch to the Grand Commander’s solar plexus.
Even with graceful footwork, the Grand Commander barely managed to evade that strike, but he couldn’t escape the final arc of Jin So-cheong’s steel spearhead.
Thud!
“Guh!!”
The Grand Commander flew sideways, spitting blood everywhere, clutching his bloody left arm. It seemed he had sustained internal injuries from the earlier attack.
He gasped for breath,
“W-What the hell… Damn it…”
Clang!
Jin So-cheong, as if showing mercy, tossed the Circle back towards the Grand Commander. Until now, the Circle’s Moon Blade had been caught on the spear tip, now returned to Jin So-cheong‘s possession.
Observing from the observation seat, Lee Kwang snickered,
“It looks like you haven’t trained in a while. How can you be unaware of your own strength and your opponent’s?”
“Grahhh!!”
Shwoosh!
As if desperate, the Grand Commander tried to rally his energy and charged forward, but Jin So-cheong extended the spear and neutralized his killing intent in an instant. With a frozen expression as if doused with cold water, Jin So-cheong spoke,
“Calm down. If you move another step, I’ll kill you.”
“……”
Believing Jin So-cheong’s words were no idle threat, the Grand Commander cautiously rose, only to grind his teeth and say,
“I admit defeat…”
“You fought well.”
I stood in disbelief at how swiftly the sparring match had concluded.
The standards of combat power I had held until now felt completely upside down.
‘How is this possible?!’
Although I had been surrounded by the Golden Eagle Guards in the past, I couldn’t even touch the Grand Commander, who possessed peak-level martial arts. So to me, he had always been a mountain that I needed to overcome. Let alone facing the Grand Commander, who wielded his own unique weapon and martial arts, it would have been impossible for me now without using Thunder Call.
But Jin So-cheong had taken him down in less than ten seconds without even using Divine Arts or Thunder Call, nor any tangible finishing move. A shiver ran down my spine.
‘I… completely underestimated Jin So-cheong’s strength.’
I had felt that his talent and strength were formidable, but I had just regarded him as someone amazing without grasping the extent of it. Today, I realized Jin So-cheong had indeed broken through the limits of ultimate strength in his mid-twenties, capable of easily defeating White Tiger, the Grand Commander of Golden Eagle Guards.
In ten years, he wouldn’t flinch even in the presence of the Demon Lords. How powerful had Jin So-cheong been back then?
Lee Kwang’s voice broke through my thoughts,
“Now, my disciple’s initial guidance is finished.”
“What?”
“Now it’s time for guidance for my new disciple.”
The Grand Commander, filled with rage, stood on the sparring stage. It was humiliating enough to have been defeated by Jin So-cheong, a mere twenty-something; now he was to face me, a kid! His eyes filled with killing intent as he replied,
“Fine… Send over that brat.”
He was definitely talking about me. When I looked at Lee Kwang with eyes wide open in shock, he shared a transmission,
[Listen well. Make him a cripple.]
Is this how you treat a friend who was once part of the Four Divine Guards?
[Since he foolishly came into enemy territory, just legally crush him.]
I realized then just how terrifying Lee Kwang truly was.
And it struck me that it would be better to kill myself than to make an enemy of him.
Normally indifferent and unconcerned for others, Lee Kwang became a ruthless monster the moment someone became his foe—an iron-hearted presence known as Azure Dragon.
Nevertheless, I had no intention of refusing this opportunity. So, I grabbed my sword and slowly approached the sparring stage.
The Grand Commander of Golden Eagle Guards regulated his breath, seemingly trying to recover his energy and stamina. After having observed his main attack techniques previously, I took a moment to contemplate how best to confront him. I had the feeling that if I attempted to engage him casually like Jin So-cheong, I could end up in serious trouble.
As I stood silently facing the Grand Commander, Lee Kwang offered guidance from below,
“Listen well, Baek Woong. That guy’s unique martial art is the Treasure Light Divine Technique, and his weapon is the Circle. He likes to use the Ghostly Steps technique with the Shifting Form Position to exploit openings in his enemies, and excels at controlling distance with the Circle. So, you’ll gain a great advantage by getting up close.”
Both of us turned our gazes towards Lee Kwang, our expressions mixed with disbelief. The Grand Commander shouted furiously at Lee Kwang,
“Azure Dragon! How the hell did you figure out my martial arts origins?!”
“Haha, do you think you’re the only one who can do research? I did my homework too. And a blue brat like him deserves this much advantage when facing someone like you.”
“Cough…!!”
I watched this scene in utter amusement, but Lee Kwang’s advice was undeniably helpful. I had been contemplating how to approach the fight, but with this newfound understanding, I rushed towards the Grand Commander without further thought.
Using Thundercloud Palm, I rapidly closed the distance and swung for a cut. Although it was just a single swing, it was the fastest and strongest sword technique I could unleash. The Grand Commander barely managed to evade the attack, sustaining a slash on his shoulder.
Whump!
‘Got him!’
Not allowing the Grand Commander a moment to recuperate, I unleashed the Ten Thousand Victories Sword Technique, engulfing my sword in a fiery blaze. While he used Shifting Form Position to evade, unlike before, I was now competent enough to perceive how it flowed. As I charged at him, he appeared flustered, constantly defending himself with the Circle.
Clang!
Clang, clang!
During the twenty seconds of close-range exchanges, I quickly realized how intricately precise and skilled his defensive techniques were. Despite his left arm being injured, showing signs of internal injury from Jin So-cheong’s attack, he still fended off my strikes without significant trouble.
While he had just been easily defeated by Jin So-cheong, he was undoubtedly an extraordinary peak master.
However, an injury was still an injury. As I pressed forward relentlessly with my overwhelming internal power, eventually, the Grand Commander coughed up blood. Unable to maintain his focus, the tip of his pinky finger snapped under the strain.
Not letting go of the opportunity created in that split second, I aimed for his thigh with my sword.
Slice!
“Guhhh!!”
The Grand Commander screamed in agony. My fiery blade had cleaved the top part of his right leg clean off. It was a horrific sight, but I felt no sympathy; instead, excitement surged within me.
‘Let’s kill him!’
If I take him down, the Demon Lords will nearly be finished too!
As I sought to strike down his head,
Wham!
Suddenly, Lee Kwang intercepted my sword with his finger, thwarting my attack in the nick of time. Lee Kwang looked at the writhing Grand Commander, whose leg was severed, and mockingly said,
“Oh, dear… What a shame that my young disciple is unrefined enough to end up in a state like this…”
“Grrrr… Azure Dragon!!”
The Grand Commander was so enraged and aggrieved that he continued to retch blood. Enjoying the sight, Lee Kwang chuckled softly,
“I’ll provide first aid, so take it easy and rest.”
“Not… necessary…!!”
Clenching his teeth, the Grand Commander hurriedly applied pressure to his leg. Then, using his remaining leg, he executed Lightness Art, leaping onto a building as he bellowed,
[This day will never be forgotten…]
Suddenly something flew toward the Grand Commander. Upon receiving that ‘gift,’ his face twisted in horror. Lee Kwang laughed heartily,
“Make sure you take your leg with you.”
[That’s damnable!!!]
The Grand Commander roared, throwing his severed leg onto the sparring stage.
Thud!
And then he fled. Just as he exited the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School with a blinding speed, I saw Golden Eagle Guards flooding in from where they had been hiding. There seemed to be at least dozens of them, sending chills down my spine.
Once the chaos subsided, Lee Kwang called me and Jin So-cheong to Waryong Hall. He then spoke,
“There’s something strange going on. Didn’t you all feel it during the fight?”
Jin So-cheong responded,
“Yes. It was somewhat odd.”
“What do you mean?”
“That man seemed to attempt something while fighting. But it looked like he was unable to do so due to your distractions, Master.”
Jin So-cheong‘s explanation mirrored what I felt. The Grand Commander, who had been spitting blood, had been glaring intensely as if waiting for an opportunity to enact ‘something.’ After hearing Jin So-cheong’s words, Lee Kwang said,
“Perhaps he had a trump card. However, it doesn’t seem like it was martial arts or anything related.”
“Could he be half-demon?”
“The barrier formed within the Imperial Palace is not ordinary; spirits and demons cannot infiltrate. And I’ve confirmed over the years that he is human.”
Lee Kwang cracked his knuckles.
“We could’ve killed him, but there was a reason we didn’t. First of all, we fear the aftermath. Secondly, there’s the matter of treason, and lastly, there’s that strange energy. Somehow, I felt that if he sustained a fatal injury, it would trigger something.”
“……”
“Now that it’s come to this, we need to prepare to counter the Golden Eagle Guards.”
At that moment, we heard a scream from the outside.
“Ahhh!!”
“What… what is that?!”
The three of us dashed outside.
What we witnessed was unbelievable.
His leg!!
The Grand Commander’s leg that I had severed was rapidly transforming. It writhed ferociously, spewing out blue blood, and then began sprouting tentacle-like appendages in every direction.
In an instant, the leg appeared to morph into a monster, resembling the eight-fingered Foot Fish. It bore a gleaming bald head with dark, bulging eyes. Surrounding disciples watched in horror as the appendages began to target them.
Zip!
Roar!
The outstretched appendages zeroed in on one of the disciples’ hearts, but I quickly rushed forward and swatted it away. Just then, Jin So-cheong and Lee Kwang charged in simultaneously to attack the tentacle-turned leg.
Boom, boom, boom!
As a powerful gust of energy whirled around, the tentacle exploded into fragments. However, a fist-sized piece remained, writhing and attempting to generate more appendages. With a look of dread in his eyes, Lee Kwang stomped down on it.
Crack!
“It seems our friend has developed a taste for seafood.”
I couldn’t muster the strength to respond to his words.
At that moment, pieces of recognition clicked into place in my memory.
‘So that’s it…’
The Grand Commander’s sudden ascent to power within the organization and his suppression of his peers was not because he had achieved an unmatched level of martial arts.
He had absorbed a demonic entity of another race within himself.
I surmised that it had been bestowed upon him by an extra-dimensional being summoned within the Imperial Palace.
At that moment, he had likely been unwilling to unleash the demon’s full potential, fearing he might die fighting Lee Kwang and Jin So-cheong here. But if the Grand Commander did unleash the demon, a truly horrific situation awaited us.
As Lee Kwang reduced all remnants to ashes, he said,
“With things like this happening, there’s no choice but to head to Luoyang.”
“Luoyang? That’s the enemy’s stronghold…”
“Precisely why we’re going. If that man has weakened to this extent, it’s the perfect opportunity.”
Lee Kwang spoke with conviction.
“Let’s breach the Great Jail and rescue General Hwang Yeon.”
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