Chapter 55: Merciless Wind God (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 55: Merciless Wind God (1)
“Urgh.”
Gap Wonchun, the official observer, had a face contorted in agony.
I looked down at him and spoke with a voice laced with mockery.
“Don’t overreact. Only half my finger went in. Compared to the pain I’ve endured, this is nothing but a drop in the bucket.”
Compared to the sensation of having my abdomen sliced open, this really was nothing.
The reason I had thrust my finger into him wasn't to strike with internal force from the outside, but to directly apply energy to his internal organs.
“Aaaaagh!”
With my internal energy burrowing into him, he would find it difficult even to move.
Thud!
I threw him aside roughly and looked down at him with contempt.
“To think the leader of a sect under Peerless Fortress would act as a mere henchman. How pathetic.”
“Urgh… Do you… do you think you’ll get away with this?”
He was saying the exact same thing as Kang Mu-hyeok.
It seemed he was truly terrified of that man. Of course, having fought him myself, I understood the feeling all too well.
Just then, the warriors of the Terrain Fist Style from the first floor rushed up and surrounded me.
Gap Wonchun, still in pain, let out a bloody smirk.
“You made a mistake laying a hand on me, the observer.”
Among the Terrain Fist warriors, Yun Ja-seo of the Flowing Wave Palm appeared.
He frowned as he took in my blood-stained appearance and the state of Gap Wonchun.
Gap Wonchun immediately tried to take the initiative.
“Unit Leader Yun. This man tried to harm me, the observer. This is an insult to Peerless Fortress…”
“Be quiet!”
Yun Ja-seo cut him off mid-sentence.
Gap Wonchun’s expression turned to one of bewilderment, and he was rendered speechless.
Yun Ja-seo turned his gaze toward me.
“You don’t look to be in good shape. Can you even take the second exam in that state?”
Since I hadn't changed my clothes or wiped away the blood, I certainly didn't look well.
I answered him confidently.
“There’s no reason I can’t.”
“I see you’re feeling bold enough. Go on up.”
When Yun Ja-seo raised his hand, the experts of the Terrain Fist Style cleared a path.
I thought I would need to offer some explanation for what I had done to the observer, but I didn't expect him to let me pass so readily.
“Don’t you need an explanation?”
“I don’t.”
Gap Wonchun was flabbergasted by those words.
“What is the meaning of this? An observer was injured by a candidate during your sect’s exam, and you’re just going to let it slide? This is unheard of—”
Snap!
At that moment, Yun Ja-seo lightly placed his foot on Gap Wonchun’s ankle.
As Gap Wonchun looked up in confusion, Yun Ja-seo pressed down with his foot.
Crunch!
“Aaaaaagh!”
Gap Wonchun screamed as his ankle snapped.
“What—what are you doing?!”
Yun Ja-seo spoke to him in a cold, detached voice.
“Seven days ago, the most talented candidate among those who passed the first exam failed to show up the next day. And the one who passed three days ago didn't show up either.”
Gap Wonchun’s flushed face went pale at those words.
Yun Ja-seo continued, unbothered.
“And today, for the first time, three people passed the first exam on the same day. One of them almost didn't make it here.”
He looked at me. More specifically, he was looking at my blood-stained shirt.
Gap Wonchun panicked and waved his hands in denial.
“What are you talking about? I am merely an observer. How could I possibly know about the personal circumstances of every individual?”
“The first time could be a coincidence. The second time invites suspicion. But when it happens a third time, it becomes a certainty.”
“……”
Gap Wonchun could no longer open his mouth.
Because I was the third witness.
“I believe that is explanation enough.”
At Yun Ja-seo’s signal, two experts of the Terrain Fist Style grabbed Gap Wonchun by the shoulders.
Realizing he was about to be detained, he hissed at me in a low voice.
“You should have run away. Even if I’m gone, once that person finds out, he will come for you—”
Tap-tap-tap!
His mute point was struck, and he could no longer speak.
—Serves him right.
Sodam Sword chuckled, clearly enjoying the sight.
The experts of the Terrain Fist Style dragged the struggling man away.
Yun Ja-seo said to me, “Noon is fast approaching. Hurry upstairs.”
I gave him a fist-and-palm salute and ran up the stairs.
As I climbed, Sodam Sword’s voice echoed in my head.
—They aren't fools, after all.
It seemed so.
Three talented individuals taking their exam had been intercepted. No matter how much time had passed between the incidents, it would have been stranger if they hadn't noticed.
Seeing how they imprisoned Gap Wonchun—a sect leader and an official observer—without a moment's hesitation, it seemed the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect had been waiting for an opportunity.
—This might have been the spark.
That was possible.
The truth I knew was that the Merciless Wind God would die before long. This incident might have been the starting point of that conflict.
—The key is for you to give them a justification.
Right.
Not long after the Merciless Wind God’s death, Muchen Sword Emperor Tian Wuxing becomes the Lord of Peerless Fortress. That meant he had seized control of the entire fortress.
To prevent that, I had to reveal his secret.
Setting aside the fact that I was an outsider to Peerless Fortress, I currently had no way to deal with the fake Muchen Sword Emperor. The only person here capable of standing against him was the Merciless Wind God.
—You’re worried about Baek Hye-hyang too, aren't you?
How could I not be?
She had lured that man away in my stead. She wasn't a woman who would be easily defeated, but I couldn't help but be concerned.
The only way to know for sure if she was alive was to corner that fake Muchen Sword Emperor.
—And that’s only possible if you meet your biological father.
My so-called father is certainly a hard man to see.
I had to pass the remaining exams just to get a glimpse of him.
When I reached the eighth floor, I saw three people standing in the training area.
Seomun Geuk, the Unit Leader of the Literary Spear Style, stood leaning on a long iron spear. Beside him were Lee Jeong-gyeom, who was letting out a massive yawn, and Jin Yong, the grandson of the Ardent King Hegemon.
Jin Yong looked at me with a disappointed expression.
Deep down, he must have hoped I wouldn't show up.
“Hmph. I thought you’d given up.”
Inner thoughts are meant to stay in your head, yet he blurted them right out.
Every time I saw him, I felt like he reminded me of someone; his personality was surprisingly similar to Song Jwa-baek’s.
‘Lee Jeong-gyeom.’
He had arrived first yesterday but had been nowhere to be seen. Where on earth had he been?
Seeing him standing there so nonchalantly, it didn't seem like anything had happened, which was quite mysterious.
As I approached the training area, Unit Leader Seomun Geuk spoke.
“It is now noon. Since all three of you have arrived on time, we shall begin the exam.”
I looked down at the floor.
A red circle, about twenty feet in diameter, was drawn there.
I had heard about the second exam from Zhu Yebin, the future Young Master So, before coming here.
If the first exam was breaking through to the eighth floor, the second exam was a duel against the Unit Leaders of the eight branches of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect.
Of course, it wasn't just a simple duel; I had heard it was a fight within that circle while blindfolded.
—What’s that incense burner for?
Inside the burner was a stick of incense with a red line marked less than a finger’s width from the top.
If one could hold out until the incense burned down to that red line, they would pass the exam.
—So you have to rely entirely on hearing and energy sense.
This was significantly more difficult than the previous exams.
“I shall explain the second exam.”
Unit Leader Seomun Geuk began to explain exactly what I had already heard.
At that moment, three men emerged from the opposite door.
They were Yang Do-bang, Unit Leader of the Pine Cloud Palm Style from the second floor; Hwang Sin-jae, Unit Leader of the Gohyeon Wind Pavilion from the third floor; and Jo Ryang, Unit Leader of the Shadowless Sword Style from the seventh floor.
As I wondered why they were here, Seomun Geuk spoke.
“Normally, we give candidates the choice of opponent, but since your martial prowess is exceptional, we have brought Unit Leaders befitting your skills.”
—They took away the easy options.
It was just as Sodam Sword said.
Being a Unit Leader didn't mean they were all equally strong. Among them, only two had reached the Supreme Peak Realm.
Those were Hwang Sin-jae of the Gohyeon Wind Pavilion and Jo Ryang of the Shadowless Sword Style.
—Still, that’s impressive.
They weren't called one of the Four Great Martial Sects for nothing.
Even Gap Wonchun, who claimed to be the leader of a sect, was only at the peak of the First-Rate Realm. Yet, the fact that two mere Unit Leaders of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect were masters of the Supreme Peak Realm spoke volumes of the reputation of the Four Great Martial Sects of Peerless Fortress.
—He’s the strongest one, right?
Jo Ryang, Unit Leader of the Shadowless Sword Style.
With only my lower Dantian open, it was difficult to accurately gauge his prowess. He would likely be Lee Jeong-gyeom’s opponent.
—And your opponent is that Gohyeon Wind Pavilion guy? Must be him.
He was a master who had just entered the Supreme Peak Realm.
Judging by his energy sense and the aura he radiated, his skill was likely similar to mine when I only used my lower Dantian.
And Yang Do-bang of the Pine Cloud Palm Style would likely face Jin Yong.
“Heh.”
Jin Yong let out a scoff, his face full of confidence.
Why was the guy who arrived last for the first exam acting like this?
“Finally, an exam worth taking.”
Lee Jeong-gyeom replied to his comment.
“You seem confident.”
“Since I first learned the basics, the training I’ve done most was blindfolded meditation to focus on my energy sense. It might be hard for you lot, but for me, it’s no different than fighting with my eyes open.”
There was a reason for his confidence. It seemed that while Ardent King Hegemon Jin-gyun failed to teach him character, he had certainly put him through rigorous training.
Lee Jeong-gyeom gave a bright smile and said, “Oh! Then you’ll be the first to pass.”
“Naturally.”
Hmm.
Does this guy really not know?
—Know what?
As far as I knew, the Wudang Sect had a place called the Hidden Cloud Cave, a cavern where not a single ray of light entered. I knew that the young disciples of Wudang spent 108 days eating and sleeping there to master the art of moving in complete darkness.
—Didn't he say he learned from some Wudang guy too?
Lee Jeong-gyeom’s master was Taoist Master Zhongxian, the Taiji Sword Emperor, one of the Eight Great Masters. There was no way he hadn't put him through that training.
Based on what he said, being blindfolded wouldn't be much of an issue for Lee Jeong-gyeom either.
—Therefore, that guy is an idiot.
It seemed so.
In truth, what made this exam difficult wasn't the blindfold, but the spatial restriction. Fighting within a twenty-foot circle is hard enough even with your eyes open; once your vision is blocked, one wrong move could send you out of bounds.
Jin Yong spoke to me in a sneering voice.
“Your luck ends here.”
I couldn't even be bothered to reply. When I didn't say anything, his face contorted hideously.
Whether you’re angry or not, I have zero interest in you.
Seomun Geuk handed us thick black cloths and said, “If you are ready, step into the circles.”
Yun Ja-seo, Unit Leader of the Terrain Fist Style, was kneeling on one knee before a middle-aged man with a handsome face and piercing eyes who was quietly reading a book at a desk.
“The Mucheonjeong Sect has crossed the line, Sect Leader.”
“Where is he?”
“I have him locked in the underground prison. He’s keeping his mouth shut, but is there anyone who doesn't know Sect Leader Gap is a man of the Mucheonjeong Sect?”
The middle-aged man spoke without taking his eyes off the book.
“I expected them to interfere anyway.”
“If we leave it be, they will surely continue. We must call a meeting of the sect leaders and issue a stern warning.”
“Hmm.”
“He made a mistake, unlike his usual self. Unlike before, we have more than enough justification this time.”
Yun Ja-seo glanced to the side.
Beyond that door lay the training area on the eighth floor. The second exam was currently being held there.
“You seem to have taken a liking to him.”
At the middle-aged man’s question, Yun Ja-seo gave a faint smile.
“Not only did he thwart the Muchen Sword Emperor’s plans, but he is also a man who can hold his own against the descendants of the Eight Great Masters. Who could be more suitable as your successor, Sect Leader?”
The middle-aged man addressed as Sect Leader.
He was Jin Seong-baek, the Merciless Wind God, leader of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect and one of the Eight Great Masters.
The fact that his expression didn't change in the slightest at Yun Ja-seo’s words made it clear why the title "Merciless" was attached to his name.
“That remains to be seen.”
“…Are you really planning to give Lee Jeong-gyeom a chance?”
“He was a bold lad. He spoke his mind before me without being intimidated in the least. I can see why Baek Hyang-muk and Taoist Master Zhongxian took him as a disciple.”
Jin Seong-baek had called Lee Jeong-gyeom for a personal meeting after the first exam. Curious as to why the "face" of the Martial Alliance was taking the exam, Jin Seong-baek had summoned him for a conversation. And he had liked the boy more than he expected.
“Still, since you speak so highly of the other one, I suppose I should take a look.”
Jin Seong-baek closed the book he was reading.
Surprised, Yun Ja-seo asked, “Are you going to watch in person?”
“They’re blindfolded anyway, so a brief look shouldn't hurt.”
“You won’t be disappointed.”
Yun Ja-seo stood up and led the way. Jin Seong-baek followed behind him with his hands clasped behind his back.
The door opened quietly, revealing the exam taking place in the eighth-floor training area.
The test: survive within the circle while blindfolded for the duration of the incense stick.
Until now, no one had ever passed this test.
“Ho.”
Yun Ja-seo let out a soft exclamation as he watched the candidates.
The one on the far right, blindfolded, seemed to be Jin Yong, the grandson of the Ardent King Hegemon. He was holding his own well against Yang Do-bang of the Pine Cloud Palm Style. He seemed accustomed to fighting without sight. However, he was dangerously close to the edge of the circle, looking quite precarious.
On the other hand, Lee Jeong-gyeom, who was fighting Jo Ryang of the Shadowless Sword Style in the center, never strayed more than two steps from his starting position. Despite Jo Ryang having far more experience, Lee Jeong-gyeom possessed incredible martial talent.
“I see why you praised him so much, Sect Leader. He is truly remarkable.”
However, Jin Seong-baek’s gaze was fixed not on Lee Jeong-gyeom, but on Ha Un, who was taking the exam on the left. He was even frowning.
‘Ah… does he not like him?’
Ha Un was also blindfolded and fighting Hwang Sin-jae of the Gohyeon Wind Pavilion, but he wasn't showing anything particularly extraordinary. He fought more stably within the circle than Jin Yong, but he couldn't be compared to Lee Jeong-gyeom.
‘He truly is worthy of being the joint successor of the Eight Great Masters.’
Yun Ja-seo had to admit that Ha Un’s talent seemed to fall short in comparison.
At that moment, Jin Seong-baek spoke.
“That boy. He’s hiding his strength.”
“Pardon?”
Yun Ja-seo couldn't hide his confusion at the sudden remark. He couldn't understand in what way the boy was hiding his skill. Suddenly, Jin Seong-baek shouted toward the training area.
“If you continue to hide your strength, I will fail you!”
At those words, Ha Un’s movements suddenly stopped. It was as if he had reacted consciously to Jin Seong-baek’s voice.
‘Could it be?’
Hwang Sin-jae of the Gohyeon Wind Pavilion didn't miss the opening and threw a slow kick toward Ha Un’s face. He had deliberately minimized the sound of his movement.
Then, something unbelievable happened.
Ha Un, who until now had been barely managing to respond to attacks while navigating the circle, caught the slow-moving kick with one hand.
‘What?!’
He blocked it so easily it was as if he wasn't blindfolded at all.
A flustered Hwang Sin-jae twisted his body, attempting to use a leg technique to break free and retreat, but—
Snap-snap-snap!
Ha Un dodged every strike with just a slight tilt of his head. Then, he lunged into Hwang Sin-jae’s chest and delivered a single punch instead of a sword strike.
Thwack!
“Guh!”
Hit by the punch, Hwang Sin-jae was sent flying out of the circle, rolling several times across the floor.
Yun Ja-seo was left speechless by the sight.