Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: A Long Fight
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In that brief moment, Jinwoo discerned the difference in weight between Wi Seongcheon's two arms. Wi Seongcheon's strikes didn't discriminate between right and left.
But in that barrage of attacks, whenever he used his right hand, unlike the left, there was always a 'hesitation.'
*He's trying hard.*
The injury to his right hand hadn't fully healed yet. That much was clear. But it wasn't unusable. Just because it carried less power didn't make the strikes any less painful.
The way he tried not to show the hand injury was pitiful.
Jinwoo's movements toward Wi Seongcheon weren't fast. There was no need to rush. Jinwoo's hands slowly rose.
The palm strike that extended just as slowly suddenly accelerated midway. In that process, Jinwoo's palm strike was dyed gold.
Before he knew it, it had become a massive force large enough to envelop Jinwoo's entire body, bearing down on Wi Seongcheon.
*'Tathagata Divine Palm...!'*
A famous Shaolin technique, just like the Immovable Diamond Divine Method. Wi Seongcheon leaped to the side to evade the oncoming Tathagata Divine Palm. That was the moment.
Jinwoo, who had already assumed a fist stance, snapped a punch toward Wi Seongcheon. It was a distance too far for the fist to connect, but the 'projected' fist strike blocked Wi Seongcheon's movement.
*'Hundred-Step Divine Fist too?'*
Wi Seongcheon twisted his body and swung his left hand. The relaxed left hand whipped out like a lash, sweeping away the Hundred-Step Divine Fist strike. Jinwoo fired off more Hundred-Step Divine Fists in succession, and Wi Seongcheon focused not on advancing but on deflecting Jinwoo's strikes.
That created a difference in their movements. While Wi Seongcheon's hands were occupied deflecting the already-launched fist strikes, the Immovable Diamond Divine Method exploded through the gap.
In short range, the explosive power of the Immovable Diamond Divine Method could be called the fastest in the martial world without exaggeration.
*'He dove right in.'*
Jinwoo, who closed in in an instant, reached out with his hand. Everyone would think it was too late, but Wi Seongcheon didn't. With Flow Reversal deployed, Wi Seongcheon's reaction speed surpassed human limits.
Heavy Hand, Light Body—Soothing Path. Against Jinwoo's oncoming hand, Wi Seongcheon's hand advanced. Jinwoo wasn't flustered by Wi Seongcheon's reaction.
He had observed Wi Seongcheon's bizarre movements from his fight with Jinbae.
*'So that's it.'*
Wi Seongcheon's hand, which received Jinwoo's, was pushed straight back. It clearly connected, yet it felt like it hadn't.
It was a strange sensation, as if their hands were connected as one.
*'To relax the body to this extent. It's astonishing.'*
Jinwoo didn't withdraw his fist. Instead, he pushed forward with even more force.
Wi Seongcheon leaned back his upper body as he was pushed, dangling his right hand down toward the ground.
His right arm, relaxed to the extreme, surged upward. The motion was large. It was a punch meant to force retreat rather than strike true.
Jinwoo had been waiting for it. His hand spun around.
*Crack!*
Wi Seongcheon's face twisted. At this close range, Jinwoo calmly opened his palm to receive Wi Seongcheon's fist.
Large motions naturally carried more power, but Jinwoo was convinced Wi Seongcheon's right hand wasn't fine, so he opted for defense.
As a result, Jinwoo's hand didn't budge, while Wi Seongcheon's struck fist let out a pained ring.
Jinwoo was certain of victory. Wi Seongcheon gritted his teeth and swung his right hand again. The trembling at his fingertips was all too clear in Jinwoo's eyes.
It was a pitiful frenzy. What more did he hope to achieve by pushing that injured right hand to its limit?
*'Does he think it's too early to give up?'*
Or was he clinging to some faint hope? It wasn't incomprehensible. Even in this situation, no one wants to let go of that 'maybe...'
*'Your internal injuries aren't fine either, are they?'*
Finger Thrust Art, Tathagata Divine Palm, Hundred-Step Divine Fist, and so on. The long-range techniques he used to pressure Wi Seongcheon were to gauge his responses.
Because he knew Wi Seongcheon had used a form of the Absorbing Star Great Law against Jinbae.
Wi Seongcheon hadn't used the same Absorbing Star Great Law as in his fight with Jinbae. Likely due to his internal injuries.
The fact that he tried to end fights quickly so far was probably because his body wasn't in peak condition.
*Thud!*
The gritted-teeth punch was futilely blocked by Jinwoo's hand. Wi Seongcheon pressed forward even more, thrusting out his left hand. A straight punch aimed at the solar plexus—sharp in speed, but predictable.
So it was blocked. Nothing difficult. Just as it was about to connect, Jinwoo pulled his body back and pressed his hand down from above.
Wi Seongcheon's fist plunged futilely downward, and his body crumpled.
*'Not at full strength must be regrettable, but what can you do?'*
Jinwoo's smile deepened. There had been multiple moments where he could have sealed the victory.
Even just now, if he'd countered instead of deflecting, Wi Seongcheon couldn't have endured.
But Jinwoo didn't.
There was no need to hurry. Victory was already assured, but Jinwoo himself wasn't satisfied with just winning 'now.'
It wasn't just Jinwoo. His battle-sharpened skin sensed the audience's gazes. The spectators watched with eager eyes, anticipating *how* Jinwoo would torment Wi Seongcheon.
When they looked on so desperately, shouldn't he meet their expectations? That was Jinwoo's thought. For a moment, he set aside the mercy befitting a Buddhist disciple. More important was restoring the dignity of Shaolin, which had once fallen.
And so.
As the audience desired, Jinwoo reached out to torment Wi Seongcheon further.
What the audience desired didn't happen.
It was an instant.
Wi Seongcheon's right hand twitched upward, and Jinwoo casually moved to greet it. As always, Wi Seongcheon's right hand hesitated, slow.
As Jinwoo's attention focused on the right hand's movement, and he smirked leisurely, resolved to toy with Wi Seongcheon.
Tension loosens. The certainty of victory had momentarily narrowed Jinwoo's vision. That was the gap Wi Seongcheon had aimed for.
*Smack!*
That strike was faster than any attack Wi Seongcheon had unleashed so far. The right hand, deliberately hesitated and moved largely. The moment Jinwoo's eyes followed it, he struck.
Wi Seongcheon didn't aim higher. Raising the arm changes one's stance. It might get noticed.
Only subtly,
Without greed.
Wi Seongcheon's hand smashed into Jinwoo's side. Jinwoo gasped and twisted his body. *Done.* Wi Seongcheon felt a calm certainty.
*'My flow.'*
Everything as hoped. Jinwoo was convinced of Wi Seongcheon's injury, guarded the right hand more than the left, then turned vigilance into leisure.
If Jinwoo had wanted a quick finish, he wouldn't have induced this flow, but fortunately, Jinwoo acted exactly as Wi Seongcheon expected.
*'You wanted to play with me, right?'*
Wi Seongcheon's actions weren't reckless. He'd confirmed it multiple times. Jinwoo kept postponing kill shots to torment him, deliberately hesitating with the right hand to turn vigilance into leisure.
*'But, senior.'*
Staggering Jinwoo glared at Wi Seongcheon with wide eyes. No trace of amusement remained in them. Only shock and rage.
*'The right hand pain is real.'*
When leisure is pierced.
Reactions vary by person, but Wi Seongcheon already knew how Jinwoo would respond.
"Grk!"
Jinwoo was enraged. The surprise strike wasn't fatal. His tough muscles and qi rebounded it resiliently.
But being struck in this situation enraged Jinwoo. That strike just now. Its speed.
Jinwoo realized Wi Seongcheon had been hiding his power all this time.
And he raged at being deceived.
*'But you see.'*
Wi Seongcheon's body ducked low.
*'I'm used to pain.'*
His right arm shot up. No hesitation in the motion. In that instant, Jinwoo panicked. A right hand without hesitation—but the injury was real.
He'd confirmed it multiple times on contact. Even if everything Wi Seongcheon showed so far was acting. The right hand injury was genuine.
The tactile feedback and resonating bone sound on contact couldn't be faked.
So Jinwoo extended his palm. To receive Wi Seongcheon's fist, as before.
But a fist changes its striking method based on how it's clenched. The moment it connected, the bent middle finger joint suddenly protruded.
*Crack!*
Jinwoo's face twisted. The power of the received fist was worlds apart from before. It felt like piercing through. Jinwoo swallowed the pain and pulled his hand back.
He wouldn't let go. Though the right hand wasn't fine, he'd gathered all power into one point for maximum impact. His bones ground again as if crumbling, but it was just pain.
Wi Seongcheon was convinced he could still use his right hand.
Thus, Wi Seongcheon's hand no longer hesitated. He reached to grab Jinwoo's retreating hand. Jinwoo's expression changed.
Wi Seongcheon didn't use weapons. What to guard against were the bizarre Absorbing Star Great Law, joint locks, and Golden Claw Technique. His mind cooled sharply. Wi Seongcheon hadn't used Golden Claw Technique or joint locks so far.
He'd thoroughly excluded them, using only strikes. Because Jinwoo intended it. He had no thought of properly clashing hands with Wi Seongcheon.
But deceived by Wi Seongcheon's imperfect body, he'd come too close.
Hands entangled. He'd allowed proximity. Too late for Immovable Diamond Divine Method. No, he wouldn't use it.
Shaolin had countless empty-hand techniques. Golden Claw? Basic technique learned upon entry. Jinwoo still believed in his superiority.
The thrust was sharp, but that was it. Retreat in fear of Golden Claw from an injured hand?
*'Insult...!'*
Yes. Wi Seongcheon clearly saw fury cloud Jinwoo's eyes. Vigilance became leisure, then rage. His cold reason was heated by anger and humiliation.
He'd spoken of upholding Shaolin's dignity. Thus, Jinwoo wouldn't retreat. Especially knowing Wi Seongcheon's injury.
Jinwoo's fingers writhed like five snakes, entwining Wi Seongcheon's palm. He precisely targeted the 'crack' in the bone felt amid strikes.
Complete evasion impossible. Prolonged hand-to-hand forbidden. What was needed now was resolve for a quick finish and readiness for pain.
Wi Seongcheon's hand moved fluidly. Midway, his thumb caught on Jinwoo's palm.
Jinwoo immediately grabbed Wi Seongcheon's thumb.
*Snap!*
The thumb bent backward. A smile tugged at Jinwoo's lips. But the 'hand' didn't stop. The broken thumb flipped entirely, as if to be torn out.
As the thumb joint bent and flipped, the 'range' of the right hand's movement increased.
With the thumb broken, grip weakened. But precisely targeting the vital spot reduced required force.
*Snap!*
Breaking sounds crossed. The curled fingers dug precisely into Jinwoo's wrist joint.
Jinwoo gasped. Despite the sudden pain, he didn't panic greatly. Instead, face twisting, he thrust his opposite hand toward Wi Seongcheon.
The brilliant light of Buddha Radiant Heavenly Bright Divine Art wrapped Jinwoo's hand. Tathagata Divine Palm at close range.
If it hit.
*'He might die...'*
The chilling possibility made Jinwoo's hand 'hesitate.'
Exactly as Wi Seongcheon hoped. When the hesitated Tathagata Divine Palm didn't fire properly.
Opening his stance, Wi Seongcheon's body fully exposed. He immediately reached out and seized Jinwoo's hand wrapped in Tathagata Divine Palm light.
*Boom!*
Jinwoo's inner energy flowed into Wi Seongcheon's body. He'd converted unhealed meridians to Flow Reversal, but Jinwoo's power surging through made his mind reel.
Without Dawn Heavenly Divine Pill opening his middle dantian and clearing blocked meridians, it would have been overwhelming.
Circulation.
*Boom!*
Qi exploded between their connected hands. Without precedence, both staggered back.
Jinwoo tasted metallic blood in his mouth. He swallowed it. Rage turned to panic. Wi Seongcheon charged, blood trickling from tightly clenched lips.
"Kuh!"
Jinwoo tried to stop him, but his arms wouldn't move as intended. The right hand that unleashed Tathagata Divine Palm tingled.
Flow Reversal had tangled his qi and blood. And the left wrist was shattered.
Wi Seongcheon was the same. Yet he didn't hesitate. His right hand rose. Thumb bent, unable to properly clench a fist.
"Crazy...!"
An un-Buddhist curse escaped Jinwoo's lips. Panicking at Wi Seongcheon's recklessness, he moved to counter. Fist? Palm?
Neither. In an instant, Wi Seongcheon vanished from Jinwoo's sight. Not truly gone. The moment Jinwoo focused on the right hand. Wi Seongcheon lowered his stance.
When eyes looking up shifted down.
Jinwoo saw Wi Seongcheon charging low, flattening his upper body ferociously.
Wi Seongcheon's attack was neither fist nor palm. Not right hand. Explosive speed from Heavy Hand Light Body's extreme relaxation. Midway, he twisted slightly, leading with shoulder.
At collision: Heavy Hand Light Body—Unyielding Mind and Body. In one instant, he tensed the relaxed body rigidly.
That too, just an instant.
*Crunch!*
Wi Seongcheon's shoulder slammed into Jinwoo's abdomen. Jinwoo's mouth gaped. He vomited blood uncontrollably. Yet he clung to consciousness, spreading his legs wide to brace against the charge without falling.
Wi Seongcheon's arms wrapped Jinwoo's waist. Jinwoo no longer retreated. Because Wi Seongcheon didn't push further.
When his waist was gripped, Jinwoo couldn't fathom what Wi Seongcheon intended.
What was this? Jinwoo didn't know such fights. Of course not. Attacking with shattered hands? Counter-breaking this side's joint with a bent thumb? Now bare-body charging with a shoulder bash.
Was this a martial artist's fight? Street brawlers without proper training would be more refined.
Moreover, now the waist was grabbed. Sensation returned to the right hand. No time for discrimination. Jinwoo tried to smash Wi Seongcheon's back, but Wi Seongcheon lifting Jinwoo's entire body was faster.
Jinwoo panicked again. He'd expected Wi Seongcheon to use body weight to slam him down. He'd braced legs and waist against that.
Lifted instead?
*'No way!'*
Defense over attack. Instinctively, Jinwoo cupped his head with his right hand.
*Crunch!*
Wi Seongcheon slammed Jinwoo to the ground. Felt like his back shattered. Jinwoo's mouth gaped.
The body that crashed rebounded upward.
*'Thanks, senior.'*
Wi Seongcheon thanked Jeong Mi-ju. The arena floor, coated in Mysterious Rock Hard Iron, was incredibly sturdy.
When slamming Jinwoo, Wi Seongcheon released the waist. He'd protected his occiput, but the impact shook Jinwoo's consciousness. And the hand was still back.
Against the oncoming Wi Seongcheon, Jinwoo tried to move his left. Wrist... broken. How to block with this? Jinwoo's mind blanked. Many options available, but judgment lagged, delaying action.
Crucially, Jinwoo hadn't anticipated Wi Seongcheon's 'attack.'
No, was that an attack?
Wi Seongcheon kicked off the ground, leaping low. There, Jinwoo confirmed the form of Wi Seongcheon's attack.
But realization came too late. Shattered left hand lacked blocking power, right still cradling head.
Mid-leap, Wi Seongcheon raised his elbow, plummeting onto Jinwoo's body. Aimed at solar plexus. Blood sprayed from Jinwoo's mouth. Immense pain made him scream with the blood fountain.
*'You were strong.'*
Wi Seongcheon's body rotated fluidly. He targeted Jinwoo's trembling left arm. Grabbing it, he hooked both legs over Jinwoo's neck and chest.
Thus fixing Jinwoo's body with legs, he pulled with all his might.
*Snap!*
Muscles encased rigidly with inner energy, but joints are inevitable. Jinwoo's arm broke easily.
"Kwaaaak!"
A scream burst from Jinwoo. But he hadn't given up. Buddha Radiant Heavenly Bright Divine Art's light enveloped him.
He'd minimized battle aura use, wary of Absorbing Star Great Law, avoiding even body-protecting aura. But not now.
*'Too late, senior.'*
If he'd led with body-protecting aura and settled with qi projection from the start, couldn't have pierced like this. If so, I'd have used other means.
But Jinwoo moved as Wi Seongcheon desired.
Because Wi Seongcheon intended it. Result: the flow Wi Seongcheon wanted formed.
*'Body-protecting aura now is too late.'*
I'm different now too. Unlike with Jinbae, Wi Seongcheon's middle dantian was wide open, inner energy vastly increased. No need for Qi Explosion Point to breach Jinwoo's aura.
Wi Seongcheon's body wrapped in body-protecting aura. Jinwoo twisted his broken arm forcibly, wrenching his body.
To shake off Wi Seongcheon somehow. Wi Seongcheon yielded, moving with Jinwoo's swing.
As Jinwoo's body twisted sideways, Wi Seongcheon's foot touched ground. He immediately lay back again. Jinwoo's arm pulled taut again.
The audience held their breath. They saw Jinwoo flat on the arena floor, Wi Seongcheon standing over, wrenching and pulling Jinwoo's left arm backward.
Jinwoo thrashed his right arm in fury. But swinging behind yielded no power. Even Finger Thrust Art lacked prior precision.
Instead, even that frantic right hand was caught by Wi Seongcheon.
"...Hoo."
Wi Seongcheon swallowed once.
Placed foot on Jinwoo's back,
And dislocated Jinwoo's right arm joint too.
"Kwaaaa!"
Jinwoo screamed. Still, not yet. Not over. Jinwoo desperately thought so. Arms broken, but legs remained. Inner energy plentiful.
So, somehow! Tensing waist and legs. Though Wi Seongcheon stood on his back, he tried to rise.
Wi Seongcheon was honestly impressed by such Jinwoo. Still not giving up? Could declare victory here. Wanting clearer result? No choice then. Wi Seongcheon released the still-pulled arms. Actually dislocating was one method, but
"I don't hate you that much, senior."
Rather grateful.
Wi Seongcheon muttered, wrapping both arms around Jinwoo's neck. Legs tightly coiled Jinwoo's waist. Jinwoo's bloodied face twisted.
He struggled to escape the choke, but dislocated arms wouldn't obey. So he surged stronger body-protecting aura to repel Wi Seongcheon.
But Wi Seongcheon wasn't repelled by Jinwoo's aura. Neutralizing with his own, he absorbed it via Flow Reversal.
It felt nauseating. Wi Seongcheon swallowed vomit, throttling Jinwoo's neck hard.
*'I, I'*
Can't lose here. Can't lose again. Shaolin, I—amid choking suffocation, Jinwoo desperately thought.
*'You were strong, really.'*
Without laying groundwork, psychological warfare, couldn't have won. Buddha Statue Jinwoo. His capacity exceeded Wi Seongcheon's. Straightforward clash... loss.
*'Senior's downfall: too early victory certainty,'*
*Crunch.*
and
'Too bound by Shaolin's dignity.'
Jinwoo's eyes glazed. He convulsed. The radiant body-protecting aura dimmed.
Jinwoo's body went limp.
It was long.