Chapter: 379
The emotion I felt while watching the blazing flames was bewilderment.
‘…Have we truly reached the state of Hwagyeong?’
Murong Tae’s heart was in turmoil as he gazed upon the true face of Soyeomra, whose rumors had been rampant. The feeling that followed was jealousy.
The competitive spirit, instinctively possessed by a martial artist, flared up like kindling. Jealousy over the talents of others grew immensely.
Though it was true that Murong Tae had put down his sword, he was still a martial artist himself. Therefore, he couldn’t help but feel astonished and jealous at the sight of a genius worthy of being recorded in history.
A state of mastery reached before even coming of age.
If one reaches that level, can it truly still be called talent?
Many people called Soyeomra a monster, the true star of this era. Yet, ultimately, it doesn’t feel real unless you see it for yourself.
In that sense, Murong Tae had to swallow his pride as he looked at Gu Yangcheon.
‘…I see.’
Having witnessed it personally, the acknowledgment came swiftly. Murong Tae was certain.
The figure before him right now.
This was to say that he was the greatest of the future generation.
The brightest star. Only after feeling its heat first-hand could Murong Tae admit it.
This meant that Gu Yangcheon would become the center of this era.
One.
‘That doesn’t mean I can look at it positively.’
Whether he is the greatest in the future or the center of the current era, it didn’t matter. What mattered to Murong Tae was only his daughter.
-…The blood relatives of the Shanxi Province family meet the lord of the Murong family.
Gu Yangcheon reflected on what he had just said.
‘It’s too late.’
It was already a statement far too tardy.
If he was going to say it, he should have stated it when first asked.
In the past few days, what had Murong Hee-ah done while living with Murong Tae?
He recalled that it had solely been about Gu Yangcheon.
-Confucius.
-Dad, there’s Confucius.
-This is something Confucius likes.
‘…’
Listening to his daughter’s bright laughter and words made Murong Tae feel his heart tear apart.
His precious daughter, whom he had cherished and given everything to.
Now she was smiling foolishly at that loser.
How could he possibly feel good about that?
Even if the guy was the only one who could save his daughter.
Murong Tae struggled to maintain his composure.
But, ironically, it was also his daughter who kept Murong Tae’s sanity in check.
-…Please don’t hate Confucius too much. Just once. Can’t you look at him favorably just once?
However you looked at it, there was no way to see him positively.
For the first time, Murong Hee-ah was being unreasonable with her father.
She was a child who had never acted out in her entire life.
She didn’t want her pain to affect the family.
She had been a child who endured pain without ever showing signs of suffering.
For such a child to make such a painful expression, it was shocking for Murong Tae.
That’s why he had to confront Gu Yangcheon even more.
‘What are you?’
What could possibly allow him to steal away the heart of his treasured jewel?
How great must he be for that to happen?
Murong Tae had to find out.
If in the end, Gu Yangcheon had given up on facing Murong Tae without revealing his name.
As Murong Tae had mentioned earlier, he wouldn’t have taken Murong Hee-ah and left for the Murong clan.
The only person who could cure Murong Hee-ah, who was suffering from her illness, was Gu Yangcheon.
He didn’t know how that kid’s warmth would help his daughter, but it was undoubtedly a method to treat a disease for which even the gods had no answer. Thus, he would never put his daughter’s life on the line.
Instead, he surely must have received a concrete response.
Upon confirming that, Gu Yangcheon would cut all ties with Murong Hee-ah immediately after the healing.
He had probably accepted that.
But in the end, Gu Yangcheon had uttered his name.
Murong Tae felt a displeasure rise within him.
‘If only he hadn’t said anything at all.’
What’s more, Gu Yangcheon seemed to have understood the true meaning behind Murong Tae’s request for his name.
Knowing that, he not only revealed his name but also sought a duel.
‘…I don’t like this either.’
If Murong Hee-ah hadn’t made that request.
He wouldn’t have even had this encounter in the first place.
Murong Tae had to endure the mounting discomfort with great effort.
grrrr…
Now, he needed to teach that foolish kid a lesson.
And he needed to hear an answer.
What can you do for our daughter?
Is there space in that heart of yours for my daughter?
Murong Tae needed to know that.
As he watched Gu Yangcheon charging, Murong Tae’s body shifted. The sword in his hand began to glow.
This was the sword pressure that only a swordsman who had transcended the wall could possess.
Gu Yangcheon had already become a flame and was barreling toward Murong Tae.
‘Fast. Very fast.’
Murong Tae widened his eyes as he observed.
woosh!
He was stunned by the speed that Gu Yangcheon possessed at that moment.
But—
Murong Tae was no slouch when it came to speed either.
The tip of his sword sliced through the air.
The target was Gu Yangcheon’s heart.
Would a senior concede a few moves? Absolutely not.
This was a battle for his daughter. A father does not weigh the odds when his daughter is on the line.
That was Murong Tae’s belief.
As Gu Yangcheon charged in, Murong Tae’s sword blade radiated brilliant light.
shing!
As Gu Yangcheon noticed, his brows furrowed slightly.
swish!
Gu Yangcheon twisted his body to evade the sword.
A trail of sword energy followed behind the blade as it sliced through the air.
thwack!
The trees behind were systematically severed. It was a trace created by sword energy.
Gu Yangcheon didn’t look back. At that moment, he could lose his head if he did.
Instead, he advanced a step closer to Murong Tae.
Pressure radiated from the foot that struck the ground.
This was due to the pivot point established there.
crunch!
His waist twisted.
Accordingly, energy gathered in his fist. After concentrating it at one point, he unleashed it outwards.
whoosh!
The Gu Flame Wheel appeared.
swish!
Flames in the shape of a beast erupted from his palm, wrapping around Murong Tae as it passed.
Seeing this, Gu Yangcheon immediately turned his gaze sideways.
thump!
When he moved his head, he was already aware of the blade coming at him.
Murong Tae hadn’t even been hit by the flames from the start.
Gu Yangcheon wielded his sword, encasing it with power.
bang!
The blade struck, altering the trajectory of Murong Tae’s attack.
Murong Tae had never expected that Gu Yangcheon would counterattack like this.
What? Strike the blade?
In a situation where a sword blade was on course to strike, to alter its trajectory by hitting the blade surface?
That certainly wasn’t the sort of thing one would expect in a duel with a swordsman.
By the way, surrounded by the sword energy, one misstep could lead to a swift demise.
However, Gu Yangcheon simply swung his arms nonchalantly.
What the…
Murong Tae had to change his perception of Gu Yangcheon, whom he’d trapped.
This was a technique that should have been built through countless experiences.
But judging by the info he had about Gu Yangcheon, he seemed far too young from such experience.
Does that mean he’s merely pure talent?
Murong Tae narrowed his eyes.
Though he had no intention of showing his true feelings, he wondered just how far he should proceed.
His heart began to throb increasingly.
Through just their few exchanges, his instincts acknowledged Gu Yangcheon as a worthy opponent.
At that moment.
bang!
Gu Yangcheon, having delved into the path of the blade, extended his fist toward Murong Tae.
One, the approaching fist appeared slightly slow.
Is it a trap?
Just as Murong Tae pondered on severing it, hesitance crept in.
It seemed far too transparent to be seen simply as a ruse.
Then, in that moment.
whoosh!
Flames erupted forth from Gu Yangcheon’s fingertips, obscuring Murong Tae’s vision.
Was that a decoy?
‘What a waste of time!’
At that moment, Murong Tae’s energy radiated outward. He immediately swung his sword to dispel the flames.
Yet, in that fleeting moment, he spotted Gu Yangcheon.
With his hands outstretched, Gu Yangcheon maintained some distance from Murong Tae.
Something had materialized atop his palm.
It appeared to be a massive sphere.
‘…What’s that?’
Murong Tae swallowed hard.
He found himself momentarily pausing due to the immense power underlying the ball.
It felt dangerous.
His instincts were screaming it.
grroooow!
At once, Murong Tae channeled energy into his sword.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Gu Yangcheon hurled the sphere in his hand toward Murong Tae.
The massive orb flew toward him, emitting scorching heat.
Murong Tae swung his sword infused with white energy in response to it.
clash!
Though he knew that avoiding it was the right course of action, Murong Tae found himself unable to.
He had to confront it.
dee-dee-dee
The righteous dragon prepares the sword in honor.
swish!
The Yan Li style of the Murong clan unfurled in Murong Tae’s swordplay.
The orb hurled by Gu Yangcheon closed in.
crash!!!
“…What?!”
Murong Tae’s white sword energy cleaved effortlessly through the ball.
Witnessing this, it seemed more amazing that Murong Tae let out a yelp.
Judging by the energy he sensed, it shouldn’t have been cut so easily.
boom! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The flaming orb erupted in midair, blasting out with a shockwave, yet its intensity seemed lacking.
Something felt off.
At that moment, as Murong Tae sensed something peculiar, he became aware of another presence.
“This…!”
It was Gu Yangcheon’s presence.
Having concealed himself within the shockwave and flames that erupted from the air, Gu Yangcheon had approached Murong Tae’s nose.
He extended his fist.
Realizing now.
From the moment he had sparked flames in his hands and shielded his vision until now.
Every previous move was a distraction aimed for this singular moment.
aha!
‘A monster… A monster indeed.’
Even without exerting his utmost, to be bested by this young punk was absurd.
How could a figure like this even be born in this age? Murong Tae felt a hollow sensation wash over him.
Even as he pondered over it, Murong Tae instinctively raised his sword and assumed a defensive posture.
crash!
The self-defense energy radiating around Murong Tae shattered against Gu Yangcheon’s fist.
He could tell that significant energy had been infused there.
boom!
The fist connected with the sword.
Murong Tae did his utmost to fend off the shockwave coursing through his body, yet his legs lifted off the ground as if he couldn’t absorb it completely.
Immediately thereafter, Murong Tae found himself propelled back in a flurry due to the shock.
“Ugh.”
thud!
He plunged the sword into the ground to slow himself down.
Even so, he could still feel the significant distance he was pushed back.
Once he finally halted, Murong Tae shot a glance at Gu Yangcheon. It was too risky to ignore any potential attack.
However, Gu Yangcheon simply remained standing in the same place where he had been engaged in battle with Murong Tae.
Seeing this, Murong Tae furrowed his brows.
‘Was he waiting for me?’
That stance almost resembled Gu Yangcheon waiting for him to recompose himself.
It was outrageous that he was in this position at the hands of a junior; a cad who had snatched his daughter away.
A flicker ignited in Murong Tae’s mind.
Regardless, there was something else he had to say.
“I’m sorry.”
Gu Yangcheon flinched upon hearing Murong Tae’s apology.
He hadn’t expected the man to offer an apology.
“What are you talking about out of the blue…?”
“It’s an apology for underestimating your worth and failing to train sincerely.”
Murong Tae had viewed Gu Yangcheon as a weaker opponent than himself and hadn’t treated him with due seriousness.
Hence, this expression of contrition was a reflection of a martial artist’s respect.
“You’re strong. So I too will treat you seriously.”
“No, you really don’t have to… I could just say I lost…”
tap tap!
But it seemed that Gu Yangcheon’s words were falling on deaf ears.
Murong Tae readied his sword once more, resuming his stance.
Immediately, the pressure radiated out in all directions.
“…Tsk.”
Feeling that energy, Gu Yangcheon bit his lip.
The level of power was vastly different from what he had first seen.
It was an unmistakable sign that Murong Tae had been handling him too lightly.
Oh no…
This wasn’t right.
Gu Yangcheon frowned. This wasn’t what he had been hoping for.
He had assumed he merely needed to demonstrate his worth to the Maddox Family Sword Master.
Gu Yangcheon grew anxious at Mattox’s intentions, which had suddenly escalated.
‘What to do? Is he seriously taking this to heart?’
If he hadn’t enveloped himself in energy, his clothing would surely have been shredded by the intensity of the Maddox Sword Master.
It was that profound a force.
‘…Should I just bail?’
He felt an intense urge to flee, but looking at that expression, he knew that running away now would only seal his doom.
‘Do I really have to do this?’
Just as he began to ponder whether he actually needed to engage with the Maddox Sword Master earnestly.
thud—
He was involuntarily drawn to a sudden, weighted presence.
Because someone had emerged between Maddox Sword Master and Gu Yangcheon.
No sooner had he arrived than—
WHOOSH!
The intervening figure began to emanate a powerful aura.
The combined pressure of Maddox Sword Master and the heat radiating from Gu Yangcheon were forcefully subdued.
“…Ugh.”
Feeling this, Gu Yangcheon swallowed hard.
It was intense.
Even Gu Yangcheon, having studied Fire Arts, found it oppressive.
As this transpired, what arose was resonance. The Gu Flame Wheel technique coiled within his body.
It resonated with the overwhelming heat that pressed down upon him.
It couldn’t be helped.
This heat was of the same power as Gu Yangcheon’s own.
Just—
Due to the vastly differing levels of refinement, he found himself crushed without even a chance to resist.
The proprietor of the engulfing heat directed his gaze towards Murong Tae, who had drawn his sword.
The man clad in a crimson robe billowed in the wind.
The surging presence began to expand gradually.
“Baekcheon Sword Master.”
“…!”
The man called out to Murong Tae in a low, heavy voice.
Gu Yangcheon could tell.
The rare sight of a man in a furious state.
At that moment, Murong Tae was laid bare to the overwhelming energy.
The man—Gu Cheol-woon—opened his mouth to speak, addressing Murong Tae.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
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