Chapter 71
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: King of the Green Forest (2)
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“King of the Green Forest.”
Maeng Yo, the King of the Green Forest, the true master of its Seventy-Two Fortresses.
Maeng Yo, holding a giant axe in each hand, burst into a loud laugh.
“Khahaha! I was getting quite bored. To think someone like you would show up.”
Maeng Yo was welcoming Jinmyeong. But contrary to his smiling face, a thick killing intent made Jinmyeong's entire body tingle.
“What brings you here? No, wait, if you've come here, it must be to take my head.”
An enormous bounty was placed on the head of the King of the Green Forest.
There was no shortage of people who came flocking, lured by the reward.
But Maeng Yo was still alive and well. That meant those who came for the bounty had lost their own heads instead.
“It’s been a while since someone came for my head.”
As those who sought Maeng Yo’s head began to die one after another, his fame started to spread throughout the Central Plains.
Eventually, as rumors spread that Maeng Yo, while not on the level of the Three Sovereigns and Ten Kings, was a master not to be underestimated, the number of people after his head began to dwindle.
“Now, let's fight at once!”
“…I’d rather not.”
“Hm? You wouldn’t?”
At Jinmyeong’s refusal, Maeng Yo looked dumbfounded.
“I didn’t come here with the intention of fighting you.”
“Then why in the world are you here? A man like you would have no reason to come here if not for my head, would you?”
Maeng Yo’s question was reasonable.
This Green Forest Mountain was the main headquarters of the Seventy-Two Fortresses.
If not for the bounty on Maeng Yo, the King of the Green Forest, there was no reason for a master of Jinmyeong’s caliber to be here.
“I came looking for something. I didn’t come because of you. In fact, I was hoping not to run into you at all.”
“And you expect me to believe that? A man who was staring so intently at the fortress?”
Maeng Yo didn't readily believe Jinmyeong’s words.
“I was just overwhelmed by the sight of the fortress I'd only heard about, admiring it.”
“Khuhuhu. Right! This fortress is indeed magnificent.”
At Jinmyeong’s words, Maeng Yo nodded with a pleased smile.
“So, what did you come looking for?”
“You’re not just letting it go.”
“Do you take me for a fool?”
He had tried to gloss over it by praising the fortress, but it seemed Maeng Yo wasn't as foolish as Jinmyeong had hoped.
“There’s no reason for me to tell you that. More importantly, how did you know I was here?”
“Hm? I don't know. I just suddenly felt a gaze on me.”
Both the Heavenly Demon and the Mad Demon had said it wasn't easy to sense Jinmyeong’s presence.
It wasn't that nothing could be felt from him, but it shouldn't have been enough to be suddenly detected from within the fortress.
‘Is it some kind of instinct?’
Maeng Yo didn't say he felt a presence. He said he felt a gaze.
It seemed to be what was commonly referred to as an animalistic sense.
“So, who are you?”
“Can’t you just let me go, thinking of me as a passerby?”
“What nonsense.”
Jinmyeong asked, pointing in a direction away from the fortress, but Maeng Yo just grinned and tapped his axes together.
“Isn’t this what you wanted too?”
Maeng Yo grinned, feeling a thrill from the aura Jinmyeong was emitting.
“Of course not. I’m so scared of the King of the Green Forest that I want to run away this instant.”
“Khuhuhu. At least wipe that smile off your face before you lie.”
What Maeng Yo saw was the fierce smile playing on Jinmyeong’s lips.
And a similar smile graced Maeng Yo's lips as well.
*Whoosh!*
Maeng Yo, approaching Jinmyeong at incredible speed, swung his giant axe. The swords in the wooden box on Jinmyeong’s back shot out in an instant to block the attack.
“Hoh.”
Maeng Yo quickly distanced himself from Jinmyeong, looking at the controlled swords with interest.
“So you're that famous New Demonic Sword Controller I've been hearing about.”
“…So it seems.”
He had identified him just by seeing the five controlled swords.
It was only natural.
In the Central Plains, Jinmyeong was the only one who used five controlled swords.
“I was thinking I’d like to meet you once. And here you are, having come on your own two feet.”
Even when he heard that Jinmyeong had faced the Cloud Dragon Sword and the Twin Elders of Kongtong, Maeng Yo hadn't paid him much mind.
But if he had faced the Purple Mist Divine Sword, Mae Jinpung, that was a different story.
“I take it you haven’t heard that I struggled against the Purple Mist Divine Sword?”
“I heard you fought on par with that old man.”
“……”
In reality, it wasn't a fight on par; he had been unilaterally pushed back.
But that didn't seem to matter to Maeng Yo.
“Khahahat! You block well!”
Maeng Yo continuously rushed at Jinmyeong, swinging his axes.
And Jinmyeong used his controlled swords to block Maeng Yo’s attacks.
‘He's absurdly strong.’
Every time he blocked Maeng Yo’s attack, the controlled swords were sent flying back.
‘I think he's the strongest person I’ve met so far.’
In terms of pure strength, Maeng Yo was likely the strongest.
‘He feels even bigger than he looks.’
In the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, there were a few individuals famous for their strength.
The Heavenly Demon’s fourth disciple, Gye Buil, was one, as were the disciples of the Giant Demon who followed him.
But Jinmyeong was feeling something from Maeng Yo that he had never felt from them.
It was an immense pressure.
“This is fun.”
When Jinmyeong instantly retreated, Maeng Yo came to a halt.
“Come on, now it’s your turn to attack!”
As Maeng Yo raised both arms and spoke, Jinmyeong nodded.
Then, the five controlled swords hovering around Jinmyeong shot towards Maeng Yo.
*Clang!*
“Khm!”
A smile spread across Maeng Yo’s lips as he blocked Jinmyeong’s sword, which was wreathed in White Flame.
“You truly are incredible.”
Maeng Yo swung his two giant axes with both hands, continuously deflecting Jinmyeong’s incoming swords.
The sight was enough to make even Jinmyeong click his tongue in amazement.
‘Has there ever been an opponent who could block my attacks this well?’
There was one.
The Purple Mist Divine Sword, Mae Jinpung.
But even Mae Jinpung didn't feel like he was blocking the swords head-on like Maeng Yo was.
As if to prove he possessed strength befitting his stature, Maeng Yo was meeting Jinmyeong’s attacks from the front.
“Khahahaha! My hands are tingling!”
It seemed that even for Maeng Yo, continuously blocking Jinmyeong’s attacks was taxing.
Nevertheless, he kept laughing.
‘I’m getting tired of this.’
That hearty laugh was paradoxically draining Jinmyeong’s energy.
‘I need to end this quickly.’
Jinmyeong focused his mind.
“Oh?”
Then, the movement of the swords changed.
Maeng Yo watched the swords’ movements with a look of wonder.
“This is true Sword Control! Not that half-baked version from before!”
It was different from a moment ago when they were simply shot forward at high speed.
Jinmyeong’s swords were now executing sword techniques.
“That’s right. So, try and block them well.”
Since he still couldn't execute techniques with all five swords, three of them had returned to Jinmyeong’s side.
“Hoh! This is the Purple Mist Sword Arts!”
Maeng Yo wore an interested expression as he watched the Purple Mist Sword Arts unfolding from the left.
“And this one is a sword I’ve never seen before.”
The sword unfolding on the right was the Lightning Sword, created by the first Heavenly Demon.
With two completely different sword styles unfolding from the left and right, Maeng Yo also looked flustered.
“Haat!”
Thinking he could no longer afford to be complacent, Maeng Yo struck Jinmyeong’s swords with great force.
Then, through the opening he created, he rushed towards Jinmyeong and swung his axe.
*Clang!*
But his axe was blocked again by Jinmyeong’s sword.
The difference from before, however, was that Jinmyeong’s sword had received his attack with incredible softness.
“…You can even use the Taiji Sword?”
A sword that could softly receive any attack.
He had never imagined that Jinmyeong would be able to use the Taiji Sword.
“I’m just imitating it.”
“I never thought someone like you existed in the Central Plains.”
Every martial art has a corresponding internal energy cultivation method.
Therefore, Jinmyeong, who had learned a different internal energy method, couldn't produce its true power.
That was why Jinmyeong thought his swordsmanship was mere imitation.
But Maeng Yo, who had faced the swords directly, thought differently.
Although he had only seen the Purple Mist Sword Arts, the Taiji Sword, and the unknown swift sword, it felt as if Jinmyeong perfectly understood those martial arts.
“I really want to stop fighting now.”
Jinmyeong retreated, widening the distance from Maeng Yo, and immediately moved his controlled swords.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Seeing Jinmyeong retreat, Maeng Yo tried to charge, but the controlled swords clung to him, hindering his movement.
In that time, Jinmyeong continued to increase the distance and extended his index finger.
*Thwack!*
Jinmyeong’s Finger of the Heavenly Demon struck Maeng Yo’s abdomen.
“Ugh!”
Struck by the Finger of the Heavenly Demon, Maeng Yo staggered backward.
But he soon began to block the incoming attacks again.
‘He took that and that’s all the damage he took?’
It wasn't as if he had held back his power like he did with Sama Geuk.
Normally, an attack of that magnitude would have pierced his stomach, but Maeng Yo merely grimaced and stepped back.
‘I have no idea how tough he is.’
Even as wounds from Jinmyeong’s swords multiplied on his body, Maeng Yo continued to close in on him.
“Tsk!”
Jinmyeong once again aimed the Finger of the Heavenly Demon at Maeng Yo’s head.
“Keok!”
He was hit by the Finger again, but Maeng Yo’s head just snapped back.
‘If I keep attacking, he’ll die.’
Just as Jinmyeong was thinking that and extending his index finger towards Maeng Yo again.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, the sound of something cutting through the wind was heard.
Maeng Yo had closed the distance and swung his axe.
‘Fast.’
Jinmyeong retreated to dodge the attack, but Maeng Yo immediately stuck to him, relentlessly swinging his axes.
Maeng Yo moved with a speed that belied his size, cornering Jinmyeong.
“How long are you going to run?”
As Jinmyeong continued to back away and create distance, Maeng Yo finally roared.
“I’m a bit of a coward.”
“Keuk!”
Jinmyeong did his best to tie down the approaching Maeng Yo’s legs with his controlled swords and the Finger of the Heavenly Demon, struggling to create distance.
And Maeng Yo was enduring Jinmyeong’s attacks and closing in.
‘It’s not completely ineffective.’
Although he was enduring Jinmyeong’s attacks well, it wasn't as if he felt no impact at all; Maeng Yo’s movements were gradually slowing down.
‘At this rate…’
As his movements continued to slow, he began to allow more of Jinmyeong’s controlled sword attacks to land.
The number of wounds on Maeng Yo’s body began to increase steadily.
‘I think I can kill him.’
Jinmyeong was confident he could kill Maeng Yo.
But he wondered if that was the right thing to do.
‘Didn't Gang Muhwi need the martial art he obtains here?’
For the sake of Gang Muhwi’s fortuitous encounter, he shouldn't kill Maeng Yo.
*Hwiing!*
As Jinmyeong was lost in thought, a sudden, chilling wind swept over him.
“Where am I?”
Having run here and there while attacking and fleeing from Maeng Yo, he was now far from the fortress where they had first fought.
And upon realizing he was now standing near a cliff, Jinmyeong couldn't help but feel a strange sense of excitement.