Chapter: 825
Bang-! Boom-!
In the training hall set up in the Seongryongdae dormitory at the branch, a rough sound echoed loudly.
Shhhh-! I turned my head at the sound. The tip of a sword grazed my cheek.
I took a step forward and bent my upper body. Another sword flashed past where I originally stood.
I stretched out my fist and struck the air. As if it had been waiting, a sword flew in and shattered against my punch.
Even with such short movements, countless attacks kept pouring in. My body moved tirelessly to match their pace.
Rolling my eyes, I slightly raised my spirit. Soon, I felt the presence of opponent energies from all directions.
I twisted my waist slightly and wrapped my energy around my arms.
‘Just one.’
I shifted my gaze. The target was not the closest one but the farthest away.
Applying a bit of force to my feet, I increased my speed.
“…!”
In an instant, I reached my goal. My opponent seemed surprised for a moment by my sudden appearance but…
“Guh!”
He quickly adjusted his grip on the sword and changed his stance. It seemed like he was trying to switch from an offensive position to a defensive one.
Seeing that made me smirk.
That’s a good tactic.
Not engaging in a pointless power struggle would help them minimize the damage they’d take.
But…
‘That kind of defensive method seems unskilled.’
It looked like he had only focused on attack training. His posture was shabby. No, it wasn’t even shabby enough to call it that.
‘At least in my eyes.’
When I regarded him as an “opponent,” that’s how it appeared.
Thud-!
“Huh!?”
The outstretched fist suddenly pierced his solar plexus.
Landing a hit wasn’t difficult. As I mentioned, his posture was weak compared to his level, leaving him full of openings.
My punch smashed through the energy surrounding his body, landing a direct blow.
“Cough…!”
The individual hit by my fist—the Yeoltujeongeom—fell to the ground, retching.
I was aware of his pale face, but it wasn’t the moment to focus on that, so I immediately turned away.
An attack had already reached my back.
This time, it was a fist. A very big fist at that.
The energy surrounding it had considerable compression power. Blocking it recklessly looked likely to hurt a bit.
Should I dodge? Or should I absorb it? My hesitation was short.
Crash-!
My relatively small fist collided with the massive one.
When our fists met, a tremendous shockwave erupted.
Yet, amid all this, only the opponent suffered damage.
The man who charged at me while unleashing his energy clutched his arm and created distance. In comparison, I remained unfazed.
I spoke while observing him.
“You’re focusing too much on one area. You should’ve anticipated the counterattack.”
The amount of energy he had was significantly greater, but the reason for the situation was quite simple.
A disproportionate amount was gathered at just the impact point of the fist.
If it turned out like that, adjusting even slightly could strain the wrist.
This was an attack that reflected a lack of foresight in durability.
“Ugh-!”
The man who received my counterattack was briefly stunned, yet quickly prepared to jump back to regroup.
It looked like he was trying to reopen the distance. That was also a decent strategy.
The issue was…
Grasp-!
“…!”
You’re saying I anticipated that and had already been stepping on his foot?
Once his lower body was seized, his movements were restricted. I could sense his panic.
I spotted him attempting to yank his foot free, but I was already swinging my other leg while still keeping my foot firmly pressed down.
The calf that sped up struck his side, and at the same time, I released my foot. Then…
“Guh-!”
Crash–!!
Before his scream could finish, he crashed into the wall.
“Two down.”
As I whispered those words, energy surged from both sides.
Two flashes of energy shot towards me.
Not only did they capitalize on my focus on combat, but they also exploited blind spots. It was a clever move.
The positioning was also spot on.
It was an attack with no way to dodge, neither up nor down. It provided clear evidence of their coordination.
It had started off chaotic, but after a few cracks, it seemed to be coming together.
Now…
‘What should I do?’
Should I just take it easy? Or should I retaliate differently? Letting a little damage through isn’t the worst idea.
At this level, they were sort of passing. It would seem wise to be lenient in this situation.
Whoosh whoosh-!
“Ugh!”
“What the–!!”
That’s just not my style.
Flames exploded from my body in an instant. The approaching individuals flinched and altered their movements.
Having already been rushing forward, retreating was not an option, so accepting the impact was the right choice.
Thus, I immediately amplified my self-defense energy.
It seemed they had no intention of halting their attacks. They appeared fully committed to pushing forward while enduring the flames.
Talk about guts.
I decided to give them extra credit for that.
Fwoosh–!!
The flames swept past. Those who had steeled their resolve were scorched.
At that time…
“What?”
“What is this…?”
Everyone’s eyes widened at the strange sensations. Their focus seemed to have sharpened.
They endured the flames and assaulted again with full force. It was probably their choice.
But things deviated from expectations.
The fireballs shot towards them were, contrary to appearances, entirely cold.
Of course they would be. It was merely a deceptive play.
I could have unleashed a brutal and scorching explosion, but I chose not to.
What I truly wanted was to create confusion with a trick.
The plan was successful.
Shudder.
An extremely tiny gap formed.
I didn’t miss that opportunity.
Crack-!
“Guh!?”
I dealt with the closest opponent first. I had planned to strike his wrist to make him drop his sword.
‘Oh.’
The sword just dropped in surprise. He didn’t let it fall though. Despite not holding back, his reaction was commendable.
I had to admit I was impressed.
‘What was your name again?’
Did they call him Seonghyeokjin? He was the guy who performed decently well in the arena and was present during the Baekgeup Demon incident.
“Grah!”
Shaking off those thoughts, I delivered a powerful knee to his chin. He staggered and collapsed as if struck cleanly.
‘Three down.’
As I counted, I flicked my fingertips.
Snap-! Sparks flickered from my index and middle fingers as they rubbed against each other.
A flicker of flame quickly swelled.
A little thicker. A little sturdier.
Yet, it wasn’t overwhelmingly strong.
If I had to compare intensities…
Yeah.
‘Strong enough to block a sword once.’
Crack-!
“Guh!”
The one attempting to slice through the flame grimaced. He managed to cut, but his speed seemed oddly sluggish.
It seemed he had to apply immense force to cleave through.
“What kind of flame…!”
It’s just a spark, so why does it feel so heavy?
The character bit his lip in embarrassment.
That’s why he didn’t notice.
“You’re late.”
“…Huh!!”
I grabbed him by the collar.
While I could have struck him in the chin or the solar plexus, I had a purpose. Holding him tight, I simply hurled him backward.
“Gah!?”
Even thrown quite unexpectedly, he hastily prepared to roll out of the way.
Yet that intention failed to come to fruition.
Thud!
“Guh!?”
“Ugh!”
The airborne individual collided with the fierce swordsman who had jumped in from behind, collapsing in a heap.
It was an effort to regain control of the situation by stepping in after observing.
And so…
“Ugh… Ugh.”
“Cough… cough.”
The duel concluded.
The ones who had fought ferociously now crawled weakly along the ground. I stood at the center, observing them.
“Hmm.”
I nodded as I looked at those groaning in pain.
‘Pass.’
Not too shabby. No, actually, quite good. It matched up much better than expected.
I figured they’d be fine with just a little more effort.
However, the issue was…
“Ahhh…!”
“Damn it… how is there such a gap?”
The faces of the fallen were far from pleasant. I thought I had gone easy, but was it too overwhelming?
I had made efforts to control my strength, yet their self-esteem crumbled so easily. That part was genuinely regrettable.
‘Hmm.’
Should I at least praise them for a job well done? But in that state, I doubt it would even help.
Should I just insult them? Ask these guys if they thought it was impressive to look like that after just a minor effort?
“Yeah, that seems better.”
What kind of praise is that? If I were to speak, this was a better route. Just as I was about to say something, suddenly…
“Sir-! That was amazing!”
“…!”
Those who had been knocked down immediately turned to the seductive voice.
At the far end of the training ground entrance stood a charming beauty(?) named Yeonhong, cheering exuberantly.
“…“
Upon seeing that, my expression soured instantly.
“Wha, what’s this…?”
“You were watching, Lady…!”
“You all looked so cool! Great job, everyone!”
“…Oh my….”
“Ugh, ugh.”
As I spoke, trying to keep a comforting tone, the expressions of the men brightened.
Is this all it takes…?
‘…Damn it.’
I was at a loss for words. Especially since I knew what Yeonhong truly meant.
‘How could she behave this way?’
A once stoic and indifferent figure, the Dark King wouldn’t even flinch if their own arm exploded.
But how could cross-dressing change someone so drastically?
No matter how I looked at it, it was utterly baffling. Especially the voice; that inflected tone and behavior—I just couldn’t adapt.
“Wonderful effort, everyone…!”
“Oh, no. It was merely part of the training.”
“That’s right. As martial artists, you should certainly put effort into training—you mustn’t lose strength even in defeat.”
“Your Excellency… you truly have endured. Alright, let’s move on to the next training session. Surely you aren’t tired?”
“Of course not! Who would be tired?!”
“…”
They departed as if to show Yeonhong an even more impressive side. I could only look on with a face full of disdain.
‘What a load of bullshit.’
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.
What a ridiculous scene it was, but in the end, it proved beneficial so I had nothing to say.
‘Did they say it was easier to manage if they looked like this? Was this what they meant?’
The words of the Dark King floated back to my mind. If this was truly the case, did he foresee such a scenario?
If so, he must indeed be an incredibly formidable individual.
Furthermore…
‘With such a change, it’s no wonder I never recognized them.’
Now I grasp why the Dark King’s true identity had remained concealed until now.
Having seen such skill in gender-bending disguise, who would dare question it?
In the current Yeonhong, there was not a hint of manliness nor any trace of the Dark King’s presence at all.
Just then, our eyes met. The moment she caught my gaze, she flashed a smile so bright it made me startle.
Trying hard to look away, I addressed those nearby who were staring at Yeonhong in a transfixed manner, much like the others had.
“Alright, next.”
As I called out, several of them flinched.
When they hesitated to step forward, I shot them a glare.
“Not coming out? I don’t have time, so hurry…”
Just as I was about to push them, a voice reached my ear.
-Your Excellency, there’s a visitor.
It was Dang So-yeol’s message.
Oh no.
‘They arrived sooner than expected.’
I’d been thinking they would show up at least after noon, but here they were at the crack of dawn.
-Should I tell them to wait while I practice?
-No, I’ll go now. Just head back to your room.
-Understood.
Finishing the communication, I clicked my tongue. I still had a few more left to deal with, but now things had become messy.
“Something came up, so each of you practice individually.”
“…!”
Upon hearing that, their expressions lit up. They seemed to understand it meant they could wrap up now.
“Just know we’ll start right after this.”
“…“
As I said that firmly, their bright expressions immediately crumpled.
Witnessing this, I couldn’t help but chuckle as I walked away.
‘I’ll recall the faces of those who’d just been crushed.’
I looked forward to seeing them again. I planned to be even harsher next time.
*
The place I arrived at after walking was the branch’s VIP room.
Without hesitation, I found the door and opened it.
Creek, creak.
When I flung the door open and walked inside, the person waiting frowned upon my entrance.
I looked at him and smiled.
“Long time no see?”
“…”
“Why don’t you at least smile when saying hi? It’s embarrassing.”
Ignoring his reluctant reaction, I pulled a chair and sat down.
“You don’t need tea, do you? I haven’t prepared anything in particular. If you really want, I can get you some water.”
“Ha…”
The old man reacted as if absolutely stunned by my remarks.
“You really aren’t in your right mind.”
“I was just trying to do something nice, so hearing that is kind of disappointing.”
“Not only are you delusional, but your actions are equally crazy. Have you really lost your mind?”
“Why?”
The old man frowned.
The owner of Gyecheonmun, Gyecheonmunju, looked at me and asked.
“The fact that you called me here is evidence of that.”
He was treated as a pariah by others in the sect.
Especially considering the situation—calling him forward without any consideration. The absurdity of that scenario was something he pointed out.
“Ha-ha. That’s nonsense.”
I merely laughed at what he said.
“So if I called you here, that means I was in my right mind?”
Ha-! I scattered my energy and generated a wave of pressure in the area.
“Besides, this branch manager is likely one of your people anyway. It genuinely doesn’t matter.”
“…!!”
Upon mentioning Mokriseon, the eyes of the Gyecheonmunju widened.
“…How do you know that?”
I didn’t offer any denial or excuse. Perhaps it was because I spoke with conviction that he reacted as he did.
His response felt slightly more convenient for me.
“As I said last time, how I found out isn’t crucial, right? I’m certainly not planning to tell you.”
“Are you actually staying here while knowing that?”
“Then where else could a member of the Murim Alliance go other than this branch? They even provide housing and meals. There’s no better place to be.”
“…“
“Try not to sweat the personal stuff. If you’re curious, go find out for yourself. The key point is that it’s not about how I know it; it’s that you’ve come here. Isn’t that correct?”
“You…”
“What was Ilcheonggeom like?”
“…”
I asked the question without delay.
“Does he listen well?”
“Haha.”
Upon hearing that, Gyecheonmunju burst into laughter again.
“You’re not even considering the possibility that I disregarded your instruction and headed to see you?”
“Ah… Come on, don’t do that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t annoy me with petty squabbles. If you’d gone there and received a response, you’d be here. So just answer my questions; I’m not a fan of all this thinking stuff.”
Gyecheonmunju narrowed his eyes.
That gaze held a question, one that I couldn’t decipher.
“Are you genuinely a member of the righteous faction…?”
“How does it look?”
“…“
His eyes held the answer to my question.
A look that clearly said “absolutely not.” I didn’t refute either. Truth be told, I’ve never considered myself as one of the righteous.
I really have no desire to be either.
As I stared into his eyes, time passed, and the Gyecheonmunju’s face twisted in thought.
“…Ilcheonggeom was as you described.”
It seemed they also intended to cut straight to the point.
“Really?”
“I communicated your words verbatim, and their response matched what you’d predicted.”
“Hmm, excellent.”
“Yes, it’s as if the two of them were conspiring to make a fool of this old man.”
“Hahaha.”
“Hahaha.”
We shared a laugh at all of it. He nodded slowly at his querying expression.
“If you truly believed that, you wouldn’t have come here.”
“I also had something I wanted to verify.”
“I see? Then, has verification been completed?”
“No, not yet.”
“Then what happens if verification fails?”
“Do you want to know?”
Clatter-! As our conversation progressed, random items surrounding us began to tremble.
Looking at that, I asked Gyecheonmunju.
“I wonder if it’s okay for you to be this confident, coming right into the heart of the main camp. What would happen if you were to lose?”
“Didn’t you say so yourself? The branch manager is on my side. If I said that, would I have recklessly come here?”
“Mm….”
His claim implied that he had prepared something when arriving at the branch.
Hearing that gave me pause.
Should I just kill him?
It was a fleeting thought. One that slipped into my mind without warning.
‘No. That won’t do.’
It shattered my concentration immediately. I had too many resources to exploit and many insights to gather.
Killing him right now would be nothing short of a waste.
So, at least…
“…I understand you’ve prepared something. I also have some inquiries I’d like to make.”
“I don’t intend to just let this slide without further thought—.”
“Ilcheongyo.”
I needed to ask this.
“…”
Gyecheonmunju fell silent. Then,
“Old man, do you happen to know of a place called Ilcheongyo?”
Crash-!
Swords rained down from the ceiling.
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