Chapter 499: Just Let Me Hold It Once (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 499: Just Let Me Hold It Once (6)
KABOOM—!
A titanic explosion tore through the sky.
Swoosh—!
The sound came a moment later, but his head was already turning. His body had reacted before the noise could even reach him.
Swish—! Snip—!
He was certain his evasion had been swift, yet a razor’s edge still managed to shear through his hair.
A few strands of black hair drifted lazily through the air. Watching them fall, he intensified the output of his aura.
Vwooom—!
Qi erupted from his heart, flooding through his meridians and saturating every fiber of his muscle.
His Qi sense sharpened to a knife’s edge. As his perception expanded, the world’s movements crystallized with a clarity far beyond what he’d perceived before.
Something was coming.
A sword strike.
He expelled heat from his back. His heart hammered once—thump!—and a violent burst of thermal energy shot out behind him.
Fwoosh—!
A short, concussive jet of flame erupted from his back, propelling him forward with explosive force.
Gu Yangcheon’s body became a blur. Slipping past the sword strike by a hair’s breadth, he instantly closed the gap to the Monster of Wudang.
“Hah…!”
The Monster of Wudang exhaled sharply. The boy was much faster than anticipated.
He fluidly adjusted his grip on the sword. Though surprise flickered across his face, his core remained unshaken, his foundation solid.
A seamless sword art unfolded at blinding speed. It was so rapid that, despite being wielded by a single blade, it created the illusion of a multitude striking at once.
Gu Yangcheon reached into the gaps. The narrow openings within the storm of blades.
He twisted his body as if searching for the eye of a hurricane.
Even in that fleeting instant, his eyes never stopped moving, analyzing the sword’s trajectory and contorting his body accordingly.
‘This kid…?’
The Monster of Wudang was stunned. Dodging the flurry of blades was one thing, but how was he moving with such impossible precision?
There was no hesitation in his motions. The slightest graze would mean a fatal wound, yet Gu Yangcheon advanced relentlessly, as if fear were a foreign concept.
Any martial artist who had reached the Fusion Realm would naturally possess such mental fortitude, but…
‘I don’t understand.’
The boy before him was far too young to have forged such indomitable resolve.
Was this, too, a matter of sheer talent?
If so, then the heavens themselves were to blame.
Did they intend to plunge the world’s martial artists into despair by birthing such a monster?
A surge of exhilaration mixed with a chilling dread washed over the Monster of Wudang.
He twisted his torso, altering his sword’s path. He admitted his mistake in holding back to test the boy’s limits.
The Monster of Wudang channeled his Taoist Qi into the tip of his blade.
Fwoosh—!
A Taoist of Wudang. The unique, grassy fragrance said to be inherent to their Qi wafted through the air.
But in stark contrast to the pleasant aroma, the sharpness seeping into the blade was viciously potent.
One strike.
As the Monster of Wudang extended his sword, it left a visible scar in the air—an illusion as if space itself was being torn asunder.
Gu Yangcheon had already put several paces between them, but…
Voom.
A faint Sword Resonance hummed.
“Tsk…!”
Kra-ka-ka-ka-ka—!
Dozens of streams of sword aura shot outwards in a deadly, all-encompassing net.
The moment he saw them, Gu Yangcheon activated the ring of his Gu Flame Wheel Art.
Fwoosh! A ring of fire ignited at his waist and rapidly expanded outwards.
A strange light entered the Monster of Wudang’s eyes as he watched.
‘Blue flames?’
The flames were a vivid blue. Unlike the deep crimson inferno the Lord of the Gu Clan had once been famous for, Gu Yangcheon’s flames were, inexplicably, azure.
Moreover.
‘What is this?’
The moment he saw those flames, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine, raising goosebumps on his forearms. It was a primal, instinctual pressure.
Thud—!
Gu Yangcheon stomped hard on the ground.
FWOOSH—!
The fiery ring around his body instantly swelled, spewing forth torrents of flame.
Kyaaaaaaah—!
The flames shooting into the air morphed with each stream, taking the shape of beasts with gaping maws.
Dozens of these fiery phantoms lunged forward, swallowing the sword aura whole.
Boom—! Boom! Boom!
The colliding energies set off a series of explosions in the sky, lighting it up like a firework display.
‘He’s insane.’
Watching the spectacle, the Monster of Wudang couldn’t help but let out a disbelieving laugh.
The density of his own Qi was far superior, but the overwhelming internal energy contained within those blue flames simply ignored the difference, erasing his attacks from existence.
Just how much internal energy did this boy have stored in his dantian to accomplish such a feat?
‘It’s not just talent, is that it?’
He also possessed a flawless foundation, allowing that monstrous talent to blossom to its fullest. Was he deliberately showing off?
While the Monster of Wudang was momentarily captivated by the spectacular display…
Fwhoosh—!
He suddenly felt an immense heat bloom right in front of his face.
‘Damn it…!’
He snapped his gaze forward. Gu Yangcheon had already invaded his personal space, and held within his small palm was a single, brilliantly glowing orb.
The Monster of Wudang knew at a glance the terrifying amount of energy compressed within that small sphere. It was dangerously potent.
Krrrrk—!
He poured a massive amount of internal energy into his sword. At the same time, as if impatient, Gu Yangcheon uttered two words.
“Flame Jade.”
He detonated the compressed energy right in the Monster of Wudang’s face.
The world vanished into blinding white light. Immediately after…
KABOOOOOOOM—!
A cataclysmic explosion erupted, completely engulfing the Monster of Wudang.
The energy blast radiated outwards over a vast area, generating a massive shockwave. The resulting sandstorm was thick enough to blind everyone temporarily.
Gu Yangcheon stood firm in the heart of the storm, his brow furrowed. He scanned his surroundings, visibly dissatisfied. Then, as if pinpointing a target, he twisted his torso and lashed out with his hand.
Flames coiled tightly around his clenched fist.
Clang—!
Something collided with his knuckles and was violently deflected. A sharp pain lanced through his hand, and Gu Yangcheon grit his teeth.
What had grazed him was unmistakably a sword strike.
‘As I thought.’
Just as he’d expected. Gu Yangcheon wrinkled his nose in frustration.
FWOOSH—!
The sandstorm obscuring his vision was suddenly ripped upwards into the sky, blown away by a powerful gale surging from below.
The wind was so intense that the vast cloud of dust covering the area was completely swept away, vanishing without a trace. With his vision clear, Gu Yangcheon stared intently ahead.
There stood the source of the wind, completely unharmed.
“…Well, now…. I’m speechless.”
The Monster of Wudang laughed hollowly, scratching his head.
Despite taking a secret art head-on, his body showed no signs of injury. Well, considering he already looked like a beggar, it was hard to tell if he was any dirtier.
‘That’s not it.’
The important point was that the attack hadn’t worked at all.
Gu Yangcheon couldn’t hide his disappointment at the fact.
‘I should have gotten closer before setting it off.’
A split-second decision. If only he had taken one more step forward. It was a genuine shame.
Sensing his regret, Elder Shin’s voice echoed in his mind, laced with disbelief.
[If you had, your chest would have been sliced open.]
He knew. That was precisely why he hadn’t been greedy.
[And you’re still spouting nonsense about it being a shame?]
I was just thinking I could have sacrificed my chest.
[That’s bullshit.]
Yes. It is.
That’s why he hadn’t done it.
The him from not so long ago might have taken that gamble, but…
‘…I have to hold back now.’
He had to start changing that reckless fighting style.
It wasn’t that he was scared. It was just…
‘My life has gotten a bit more expensive.’
There were too many things he still needed to accomplish. He figured he had to use this life wisely until everything was done.
Besides…
‘…The Dishonored Venerable told me to fix it, too.’
The Dishonored Venerable had repeatedly pointed out the limitations of his self-destructive methods. So he was trying to change, starting now.
‘It’s not easy.’
Fighting while consciously holding back was difficult. The problem was compounded by the fact that his opponent was stronger than him.
‘I can’t believe he took no damage at all.’
He’d thought it would at least land a glancing blow, but the Monster of Wudang was perfectly fine.
Just as Gu Yangcheon was feeling surprised at the Monster’s true strength, the Monster of Wudang was experiencing a mirroring shock.
“…Is the Gu Clan some kind of den for monsters?”
“Pardon?”
“The Lord of the Gu Clan was one thing, but you’re even more outrageous.”
“You know my father?”
“Not well. I only saw him once, briefly.”
The image of the monster he had witnessed back then overlapped perfectly with the boy standing before him now.
The power of the technique he had just experienced. Feeling the lingering tension after barely evading it, the Monster of Wudang consciously altered his breathing pattern.
‘Finally.’
It felt as if all remaining sentimentality had been stripped away. His intellect had been telling him to treat the boy as an equal, but his heart had still seen him as his disciple’s friend, a mere junior. That final exchange had washed away those lingering feelings completely.
Feeling his heart settle into a calm focus, the Monster of Wudang relaxed his body.
Shhh.
His stance loosened slightly. Was he stopping? The moment Gu Yangcheon tilted his head in confusion…
Ssssss…
“…!”
An icy chill shot down his spine, and Gu Yangcheon’s eyes narrowed to slits. He could feel it—something fundamentally different was emanating from the Monster of Wudang.
Was this his true power?
The presence radiating from the man was on a completely different level from before.
[That bastard is the real deal, too.]
A hint of excitement tinged Elder Shin’s voice. But unlike the old man, Gu Yangcheon’s lips twitched.
‘This is insane.’
It seemed the man was preparing to get serious. Just catching a glimpse of his true power was enough to understand.
‘He’s strong.’
The Monster of Wudang was genuinely powerful. He had somewhat underestimated him, judging by his bizarre personality and slovenly appearance that matched his title. But seeing this, his assessment changed instantly. This man was the real deal.
He didn’t know the exact extent of the Monster’s strength, but…
‘He’s at least stronger than the current Sword King.’
He seemed more formidable than the current Lord of the Namgung Clan.
‘Where was a man like this during the Heavenly Demon War?’
Had he died?
He only knew that the Demonic Sword Queen had wielded the Thunder Fang. The fate of the Monster of Wudang who had bestowed it upon her remained a mystery.
Voom.
The Qi lingering in the air vanished entirely. Gu Yangcheon recognized it as an omen.
Watching the Monster of Wudang tighten his grip on the sword, Gu Yangcheon thought to himself,
‘This won’t do.’
[Kid?]
‘I’m going to use ‘that’.’
At his words, Elder Shin sounded surprised.
[…Will you be okay?]
I don’t know about that… but if I don’t use it, I’m in big trouble.
[…]
Elder Shin offered no reply, perhaps in silent agreement. Taking that as a yes, Gu Yangcheon carefully began to move his hand.
Just then, the Monster of Wudang spoke to him.
“You’ve probably already sensed it, but the real fight begins now. Be careful.”
Gu Yangcheon let out a small, dry laugh. “How kind of you.”
“It’s a rat’s-dropping-sized bit of guilt. I’m embarrassed to be going this far against a junior.”
The Monster of Wudang, making no effort to hide his displeasure, moved his sword with a light flick and took a single step forward.
Instantly.
Flick.
“…!”
The Monster of Wudang vanished from Gu Yangcheon’s sight.
The moment he saw it, Gu Yangcheon focused all his power into his heart. Qi erupted forth. He blasted this Qi outwards, channeling all of it into his Qi sense and spreading it in every direction like a net.
Once.
I just have to catch him once.
With that singular thought, Gu Yangcheon pushed his Qi sense to its absolute, screaming limit.
Meanwhile, the Monster of Wudang…
‘I’m sorry.’
…had already closed in on Gu Yangcheon’s left flank.
It was a speed that Gu Yangcheon, at his level, should have had no hope of perceiving. The Monster of Wudang planned to strike a non-lethal blow and knock him unconscious.
He couldn’t let himself get any more heated. If he did, he would become too serious, and things would escalate beyond the point of return. He was already too worked up; he really had to end this here.
Tap.
The tip of the Monster of Wudang’s foot touched the ground soundlessly. Even then, Gu Yangcheon hadn’t located him. His speed had transcended the realm of ordinary perception.
He rotated his sword, presenting the flat of the blade. Since he couldn’t cut the boy, he changed his approach. This would compromise his speed slightly, but it should be sufficient.
Just as the Monster of Wudang began his swing…
Gu Yangcheon’s eyes snapped directly onto him.
‘What?’
He found me? At this speed?
The Monster of Wudang was stunned by the absurdity of the situation.
‘You keep surprising me until the very end.’
He truly displayed impossible potential, right up to the last moment. Still, he wouldn’t be able to block or dodge this.
The Monster of Wudang committed to his swing, pouring all his astonishment into the blow.
Fwhoooosh—!
The flat of the blade shot toward Gu Yangcheon at an incomprehensible velocity.
It was too late to react. Or so the Monster of Wudang believed.
Clang—!
“…?”
A clear, metallic ring echoed through the air.
What was that sound? Hearing the unexpected, inexplicable noise, the Monster of Wudang’s eyes darted downwards.
“Huh…?”
The sound had originated from Gu Yangcheon. Specifically, from where Gu Yangcheon’s arm had intercepted his sword.
“What the…”
It was shocking enough that he’d been spotted at this speed. But to have actually blocked it?
And why did it make that sound? Such a clear, ringing tone wasn’t the sound of a sword striking flesh and bone. It was more like… the sound of steel hitting steel.
Just as the Monster of Wudang’s face began to contort with a flood of questions, another anomaly occurred.
Sssssk—!
“…What!?”
The bandages wrapped around Gu Yangcheon’s left arm—the very arm that had blocked the sword—loosened slightly. Then, they shot out like living serpents, swiftly wrapping around the Monster of Wudang’s blade.
The startled Monster of Wudang tried to yank his sword back, but…
Grip—!
The bandages, showing no signs of being cut, held the blade in an unbreakable grasp.
In that exact moment.
“Got you.”
Gu Yangcheon’s voice, brimming with triumphant laughter, rang out.
Immediately after, a blue orb, identical to the one from before, was pressed firmly against the Monster of Wudang’s chest.
“You crazy son of a…”
With the Monster of Wudang’s short, choked curse,
KABOOOOOOOOOOOM—!
The Flame Jade detonated.