Chapter: 340
Kuuung-!
Under the darkened sky, a tremendous vibration reverberates.
It was a vibration so vast it felt like it could make Mount Tai tremble.
Kwaddeuk-!
The relentless surge of energy rushes in, sweeping everything away as if a tidal wave were crashing over dry land.
Trees that once arranged in disarray fall over, toppling under the chaotic winds.
Rocks are embedded here and there, leaving massive imprints on the uneven ground.
Phew!
The mixed force of the energy spreads outwards.
To say this situation was created with just a single stretch of power would be an outrageous understatement.
“What the…?”
Peng Ah-hee, witnessing it firsthand, unconsciously spat out her puzzlement.
What did she just witness? Who was the person standing in front of her?
What caught her eye was a figure clad in a black uniform. It looked almost like the attire her brother always wore, yet—
The feeling evoked was similar but mixed with an aura of black hair that had a completely different vibe.
Should I say it feels infinitely darker?
‘Who is this person…’
As she watched the young man blocking their path, time seemed to slow for a brief moment before the realization struck her.
“…Non-Confucius?”
Even after uttering his name, her surprise surged.
One of the Six Dragons and Three Peaks.
The Dragon Fighter, Bi Eejin.
A descendant of the sage, among the three lords.
He was born and raised in the Bi family.
He had attended the Yongbong assembly only once years ago.
A man who had earned the nickname “Dragon.”
However, his activities had been almost nonexistent afterward.
He was a young man the rumors swirled about endlessly.
She had heard he entered Shinryonggwan, yet he also hadn’t shown any significant presence since.
Rumors even floated around asking, ‘Is there really a fighting dragon?’
‘What the…?’
Peng Ah-hee felt the need to question her own eyes.
The sword dancer lying collapsed on the ground was breathing heavily.
At the very least, he was a character who had crossed over the peak.
Yet, that very sword dancer was rendered helpless before this opponent.
He sent such an expert flying with a single strike.
‘Was the fighting dragon this powerful?’
Could it be that he had even touched the realm…?
“Stop gawking. First, stop the bleeding.”
“…!”
As the dust settled from the air that had been kicked up.
Amidst the lingering traces of energy, Turyong addressed Peng Ah-hee.
To be precise, his words were directed not at her, but at Dang So-yeol.
“If you want to die, I won’t stop you, but if not, you need to hurry.”
The copious amount of blood pouring from her thighs and shoulders was alarming.
In desperation, Peng Ah-hee attempted to pour in energy to staunch the bleeding.
It didn’t appear to be an easy task.
Turyong glanced at her and clicked his tongue.
Tch.
“…Kids these days don’t seem to fight hard enough, so it’s no wonder they lack treatment skills.”
“Huh? What did you say…?”
“Nothing.”
Turyong shook his head lightly and looked off into the distance.
Ugh…
Something was groaning and writhing nearby.
It was Cheol Ji-seon, who had been knocked far away after the earlier attack.
“Cough….”
Cheol Ji-seon kept clearing his throat.
Fortunately, it appeared he was not severely injured, as he wasn’t bleeding.
Turyong turned to Cheol Ji-seon and said, “You did well.”
A fleeting pause.
The reason Cheol Ji-seon had acted recklessly by jumping at the Black Night Princess was due to Turyong’s earlier shout.
Of course.
It was Cheol Ji-seon’s decision to leap into the fray.
What did he believe when he jumped in?
Turyong also found it a thoroughly baffling choice.
He’d like to ask more about it, but that wasn’t the time.
“If you’re up, take those women and escape.”
“Uh… Yes?”
Cheol Ji-seon, just managing to steady himself after dealing with the shock, heard Turyong’s command.
To take Geommuhee and Peng Ah-hee, who were collapsed on the floor, along with the injured Dang So-yeol.
“Uh… where to?”
“Well, I don’t know exactly, but it should be safer than here.”
Thud.
Each subtle movement from Turyong cracked the bones as if to emphasize that the earlier blow wasn’t a mere illusion.
The remnants of energy still felt heavy in the air.
“Well, what do you think the Confucius will do?”
Would it not be better to stick together?
The question carried an underlying request for safe companionship throughout.
Hearing this, Turyong chuckled.
“I must stop that. Where would I go?”
“Huh? That thing…?”
Turyong’s gaze fixated where the Black Night Princess had been sent flying moments ago after the strike.
At that, Cheol Ji-seon frowned slightly.
He felt as though he had taken a direct hit.
Wasn’t it almost costing him his life?
The force had been strong enough to transform the landscape.
Even now, the traces left behind on the ground and the energy still lingering there felt suffocating.
Had Turyong sensed Cheol Ji-seon’s reaction?
He made an unusual gesture before responding.
“I would’ve preferred to finish it with one blow, but he’s certainly not the type to fall that easily.”
“But…”
Even so, he wished for just a bit of time to breathe.
Wouldn’t fleeing be the better option in this situation?
Cheol Ji-seon thought as much.
However, Turyong’s mindset appeared to differ.
“It’s unacceptable to turn tail and leave your opponent behind.”
“Bi, Bi Confucius?”
“Especially against an adversary that exudes such ominous energy.”
His seemingly jovial expression was oddly intimidating.
Is it really reasonable to laugh in such a scenario?
“No, sir… the opponent is unreasonably powerful.”
“So?”
That, indeed.
He may have touched realms that defied understanding—an existence that no one dared to imagine.
Even Cheol Ji-seon couldn’t gauge the opponent’s level.
Black Night Princess.
The authority those four characters radiated was sufficient to invoke trepidation.
Once lost to the Murim Alliance several years ago, she was said to be the master of the Black Night Palace.
One of the strongest among the Sima emperors.
Rumors claimed she had been dealt with by the Murim Alliance.
There was much talk about her whereabouts being unclear.
For some inexplicable reason, she was currently raiding this place.
Was the entity from earlier truly the Black Night Princess?
If so, it’s likely she was a martial artist who had reached an unfathomable realm.
Unlike Turyong, he displayed no fear. He smiled—a testament to his confidence as he said, “What’s the point of fighting when your opponent is strong and you just evade?”
“One…”
“Fear may warrant retreat, but a warrior cannot afford such a luxury.”
Crack.
The sound came from his clenched fist.
It echoed loudly, dominating the silence.
He tried to say more.
Thump.
“Tch.”
Turyong shoved Cheol Ji-seon aside.
What was this? A sudden shift in demeanor raised questions.
BAM!
Something shot past, grazing Cheol Ji-seon’s cheek.
In unison, Turyong extended his tightly clenched fist.
Kuuung-!
The black energy that soared past Cheol Ji-seon collided with Turyong’s punch.
In the ensuing chaos—
Bang!
A bizarre sound reverberated, followed by energy bursting forth everywhere.
The resulting force was so intense; if one failed to brace themselves, their body might get thrown away by the pressure.
After a brief storm passed through.
The energy that had come flying from the other side fragmented, scattering like shards.
“Haa… haa….”
Cheol Ji-seon sank to the ground, gasping for breath.
Had Turyong not shoved him, his head would have been severed.
A mix of relief and fear surged to his throat.
Relieved that he had survived, yet—
“… Hoooo…”
The pertinent issue was the heavy breathing emanating from behind.
“… Incredibly surprising,” he managed to mutter.
Crackle! The figure reemerged, bursting forth with energy.
It was indeed the Black Night Princess, who had been struck by Turyong’s attack.
“That woman too was astonishing beyond belief… and this was truly unexpected.”
Wincing from the pain in her ribs, she limped forward.
At that moment, she raised her defense, attempting to harness her energy.
It was a misguided choice.
From the very start, she should have focused on safeguarding herself.
Although she managed to block the attack, it disrupted the flow of energy within her body.
She felt several cracks spreading through her system.
Each step brought pain surging forth.
As she moved her body, the princess fixed her gaze on the one who had assaulted her.
“Who are you?”
This generation undeniably brimmed with exceptionally talented individuals.
The Princess understood this.
Yet this was already a far cry from the realm of a late index fighter.
While she shared blades with the sword dancer, the degree of shock was near terrifying.
Now, however, she found herself utterly flabbergasted.
After hearing the princess’s words, Turyong briefly eyed Cheol Ji-seon.
“I say again, take those women and flee.”
“Do you think I could leave them be?”
As the princess heard Turyong’s request, she readied herself, determined to move.
Simultaneously, Turyong sprang into action.
With remarkable swiftness, he dove in and extended his fist once more.
Reacting, the princess attempted to evade.
“…!”
It felt like her energy was sluggish and uncooperative.
‘Was it the earlier strike that caused this?’
It appeared there were lingering effects.
Regardless, as the princess reached out to channel energy into Cheol Ji-seon—
Turyong pierced the flow and held her back.
You intend to disrupt my martial arts through some gap in energy reach?
Surprise lasted only a moment before the princess furrowed her brows and shifted her legs.
She seemed about to make a move herself.
But before she could even step forth, Turyong’s foot landed first, unsettling the princess’s stance.
Boom!
Because it was a maneuver charged with energy, the sound of the impact echoed clearly.
Under the circumstances, it would seem Turyong had sustained damage too.
Yet, wearing an unbothered expression, he merely thwarted the princess’s attempt.
‘How…?!’
The princess remained perpetually astonished by her opponent.
True, she was swift, but to question whether Turyong was faster than she was? That was not the case.
While Turyong’s movements didn’t outpace her own—
It was mired in a sluggish pace—yet somehow, he still seemed to anticipate her actions.
How could he?
‘What is this…?’
Absurd, indeed.
Thud!
Before she could reach for him, a blow struck her shoulder, pushing her back.
While the failed attack had minimal effect on her defense, it disrupted her posture, impeding her ability to act.
In that moment, Cheol Ji-seon moved to assist the fallen sword dancer.
He seemed to have acknowledged that he could no longer hesitate.
Simultaneously, Peng Ah-hee supported the injured Dang So-yeol.
Although the bleeding hadn’t completely stopped, idleness was not an option.
Noting this, the Black Night Princess gritted her teeth.
To let her goal slip away because she was bogged down by the late index?
That’s simply unacceptable.
She gathered her energy.
The power blossoming forth from her toes attempted to surge out toward her allies.
But even that was thwarted by Turyong’s interference.
It wasn’t a direct block either.
With a nudge here and a nudge there, he tossed the energy aside carelessly.
“… This makes no sense!”
Her own power melded with her abilities.
And to have it disappear with such a simple motion…
The momentary shock was fleeting.
Kuuung!
“Ugh…!”
As energies dispersed, the princess halted momentarily.
With a jolt to her midriff, she felt herself being shoved backward.
As if the earlier blow hadn’t been enough.
Her every motion got curtailed.
Even her energy would no longer respond to her will.
Moreover, while the pain was faint, her attack had reached her instead.
Even though she had gotten injured in the earlier fight with Geommuhee.
That felt entirely different.
“Were you wondering about my name? How kind, yet I’m not curious about yours.”
His grin only widened.
What on earth is so amusing?
Turyong wore an eager smile.
What could be so fun?
For Turyong, the answer remained unchanged.
How could he not find joy in it?
For warriors, combat is like a game.
Even amidst seemingly dire situations.
Contesting became a source of glee for Turyong.
“It’s not as if I’ve been called by many names. At the moment, it’s just one.”
What weight did past titles carry?
It was a name beyond his current capacity to bear.
When called Paejon, back in the day.
He didn’t bother negating it or anything because he had confidence to fit that name.
But now, it felt burdensome enough that he didn’t even want to speak it aloud.
“I am Bi Eejin. My nickname… what was it? Ah, Turyong, right.”
He could barely recall what his nickname was; perhaps he never thought much of it.
Regardless, this name sufficed for now.
Once the princess heard Bi Eejin’s introduction, she remarked.
“… Turyong. Could you be the descendant of the fallen king?”
Among the three lords’ descendants, only the Sword Lord’s lineage was widely recognized.
The Heavenly Lord’s heir could be considered the Sword Dancer or the Thunder Dragon.
When delving into semantics, these were different narratives altogether.
It was common knowledge.
The reputation of their martial arts was formidable.
That alone warrants acknowledgment.
‘…I see.’
The princess recognized the painful reality of being outmatched by someone of the late index right before her.
Acknowledging his potential as a descendant of the fallen was not unreasonable.
Though she had never met him directly.
The time when Emperor Sima Wu, known for many titles, had slain three renowned masters of Sapa in one blow was a story she had heard.
However, she never imagined such monstrous capabilities resided in his descendants.
Had martial arts been passed down through her bloodline?
‘Then, that power earlier… is that the fallen’s martial arts?’
Had this power not been contingent on using his full pressure at that moment?
Only desiring to deliver a blow could have cost her her life on the spot.
In fact, was it the blow itself that had rendered her energy erratic?
Shhh-!
The princess unleashed another surge of energy in an instant.
Even this time, Turyong seemed fully aware, responding adeptly.
Though it appeared slightly delayed, the streamed energy receded before it reached Cheol Ji-seon.
Ultimately, Cheol Ji-seon and Peng Ah-hee whisked away with the two.
Seeing this, the princess ground her teeth.
This was problematic.
The thing lying collaterally had to be a martial artist of the Black Dragon Corps.
In the off chance of mislaying the poison pill—
Such a mistake could spell monumental trouble.
She contemplated disregarding Turyong, present before her, to chase after it.
“You seem to think you’ve some time to spare. Off lost in thought and whatnot.”
The princess jolted back to focus at the sound of that voice.
As she grasped the situation, she swallowed a heavy breath.
It seemed she hadn’t even hit her peak in terms of proficiency.
Reaching the realm of the heavenly king while feeling this tense was a blow to her pride.
Of course, such notions of pride were soon whisked away.
Thud, thud, thud.
That sensation pulsed from Turyong, obscured in turbulent energy.
“Now that the kids have gone, I can get serious.”
The energy surged forth.
“…!”
It was ridiculous beyond measure.
The limits of what a peak martial artist could emit clearly appeared to have been significantly surpassed.
Turyong’s very words implied that he hadn’t even been trying thus far.
As the princess found herself momentarily faltering in step,
Turyong advanced, declaring, “It’s my first time putting this body to use, so allow me to give you a heads up.”
The moment he step forward while talking, he was suddenly right in front of the princess.
“Ten hits.”
Turyong’s form shifted.
“I reckon ten is about my limit, so I’m letting you know in advance.”
As the princess recalled the error she had committed earlier, she summarily enhanced her defensive stance.
“Enduring ten hits means you’ve won,” he stated.
Turyong lunged, his fist extending before her.
Much slower than before.
The princess raised an eyebrow, contemplating why he was extending his arm so slowly.
‘Is this supposed to be a feint?’
His movements felt so sluggish it could invoke thoughts of a ploy.
It was a far cry from Turyong’s earlier efficiency against her.
‘…Should I evade?’
In that moment, she contemplated what choice would be best for her.
Blocking felt impossible based on her earlier experience.
While she might manage to, the danger was overwhelmingly high.
She mused that assuming a feint might be an unwise choice.
Her intent was to maintain some distance.
However—
Whoosh!
“…!”
In the interim of her deliberation, Turyong’s fist closed in alarmingly quickly.
It had seemed slow enough to track, yet how had it approached so swiftly?
The princess grimaced.
Energy flocked toward where Turyong’s fist was about to connect.
Too late, she was resolved to parry.
Moreover, she felt the difference this time.
She’d focused solely on defense.
Though she may yield, it presented a more manageable strategy for her follow-up.
Kwaddeuk!
“What the…?”
Her defensive mechanisms crumbled effortlessly under his fist.
Turyong’s punch burrowed forcefully into her abdomen.
Kuuung!
Once more, Mount Tai quaked.
The intensity of this recent tremor was beyond compare.
Maybe it was a ripple effect from his earlier strike?
A fissure appeared in the darkened sky.
Thud.
Glittering fragments of energy rained down through the cracks.
And in the gaps where the shards had fallen?
A familiar warmth flickered, radiating off a wave of crimson energy.
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