Chapter 512: Just Let Me Hold It Once (19)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 512: Just Let Me Hold It Once (19)
Shing—
His hand shot out.
In response, the tip of his raised sword swept through the air in a fluid arc.
The space was enveloped in darkness, veiling his sight.
Yet, within that blackness, the old man’s blade seemed to possess a light of its own.
For a martial artist, darkness was no true obstacle. A body coursing with Qi could see straight through it.
Fwoosh—!
KWAAAAA—!
A single sword stroke stirred a gale. The wind gathered at his feet, anchored firmly to the ground. His footwork became a storm in its own right.
Crackle.
Then, Lightning Qi intertwined with the wind.
Only after the old man had swung his sword four or five times…
Swish—Shik!
…did the sound belatedly catch up.
His movements left a constant stream of afterimages in their wake—a sight possible only for one who had surpassed the speed of sound.
The Azure Heavenly Sword.
A sword art nurtured and perfected by the Namgung Clan over long centuries.
This ultimate technique, sheathed in Qi and imbued with lightning, unfolded ceaselessly from the old man’s hands.
Though age had wrinkled his skin and stolen the vitality of his youth, his profound mastery was more than enough to execute the art. No, it was more accurate to say it had grown even more refined over the long years. He had lost raw strength, but his method of wielding power had become exquisite.
The old man had confidence in his sword. He knew it was far sharper now than it had been in his prime.
Tap.
The tip of his foot brushed the floor.
He leaned forward and shot ahead, having infused Lightning Qi into the soles of his feet to propel his speed. Using that recoil, he channeled the energy up into his right arm.
Steps of the Blue Dragon—a footwork technique researched to its extreme to maximize agility and synergy with Lightning Qi. The old man, having mastered it, moved swifter than anyone. The afterimages he left behind were so vivid it seemed there were multiple copies of him.
That was his speed.
However.
I can’t reach him.
Even as he gradually increased his velocity, the wrinkles on the old man’s forehead remained deeply etched.
He couldn’t reach.
Not with his sword wreathed in Lightning Qi, not with his body hurtling forward like an arrow, not with his footwork that outpaced sound itself.
In the end, he could not cross a certain line.
Heh.
Was it a problem with the space itself? He had been suppressing his power to avoid destroying this place recklessly. Was that the issue?
Indeed…
The old man inwardly shook his head. He had drawn his sword in humiliation, but he had not fallen so far as to let his mind crumble. It was simply a matter of not reaching. His sword and his body could not touch that man.
That fact carried a weight of meanings that struck the old man forcefully.
His blue eyes turned toward the man. In a gap within the thick darkness, where not a single lantern burned, he could see a pair of red eyes glowing with a peculiar crimson light. It was a gaze utterly unwavering.
How could he be so serene, even after this exchange?
Witnessing this, the old man was forced to revise his calculations.
Has he been hiding his strength all this time?
The Tiger Warrior, Gu Cheolun.
A dozen years ago, he was the leader of the Heavenly Dragon Army, the Alliance Leader’s direct subordinate unit. Before that, he was a genius hailed as the greatest prodigy of his generation, granted the title of Divine Dragon. Now, his presence had faded into the background as the Lord of the Gu Clan.
The Heavenly Venerable had a vague understanding of what kind of man Gu Cheolun was. It wasn't widely known to the world, but… Gu Cheolun was the man who had met and subdued all of the Four Devils and Five Emperors. What’s more, it was said he had endured a joint attack from two of them and emerged victorious.
It was nothing short of astonishing. It wasn’t that such a feat was impossible for the Heavenly Venerable himself, but considering Gu Cheolun’s age at the time—just past thirty—it was an absurd achievement. Of course, since he had slowly receded from the spotlight after that, it was a fact the Heavenly Venerable had momentarily forgotten.
Was that why? The Heavenly Venerable couldn’t make sense of the current situation. No matter how strong the Tiger Warrior was back then…
This situation makes no sense.
Swish—!
His sword once again sliced through empty air. This time, too, it found nothing.
He turned his gaze, seeking Gu Cheolun. But there was no need. Gu Cheolun had never once left the Heavenly Venerable’s field of vision.
It was as if…
“Catch me if you can.” Is that what he means?
That was the impression he gave.
Heh.
The Heavenly Venerable let out a dry laugh. To him, of all people? It was the height of arrogance. Yet, even as he thought it, he had to grudgingly admit the truth evident from their brief exchange: Gu Cheolun was a man who could afford such arrogance. If anything, it was astonishing that he had lived while concealing such presence.
Any more of this will be troublesome.
The Heavenly Venerable’s grip tightened. He had no intention of killing Gu Cheolun. His goal was merely to deliver a message: that disrespecting the Namgung Clan was an act he could not overlook. As the representative of the Namgung, he could not back down. An insult to the clan demanded a fitting punishment. Therefore, the Heavenly Venerable could not retreat. The Namgung was him, and he was the Namgung.
BOOM—!
The Heavenly Venerable focused power into his dantian. If he couldn’t reach, then he would simply have to change the conditions until he could.
FWOOOSH—!
A heavy energy surged through his meridians and flooded his body. The Heavenly Venerable’s blue eyes gleamed with renewed light.
Simultaneously.
KWAAAAAK—!
An immense pressure erupted from his form—a vast energy capable of crushing the very space around them. It was the Namgung Clan’s secret art, the Master of Swords.
Rumble….
As the pressure exploded forth, the walls of the space trembled. Even with utmost restraint, they could not fully withstand it. Controlling the roaring Qi, the Heavenly Venerable shifted his grip on the sword.
Gu Cheolun took the full brunt of the Master of Swords. For a moment, his body must have been restricted. Just as the Heavenly Venerable’s energy-charged sword was about to unleash a flash of light toward him…
Chill—!
“…!”
The Heavenly Venerable abruptly halted his movement and twisted his body. A sudden, chilling sensation had brushed past him. As he retracted his motions and contorted his form by erupting his Qi, something pierced the spot where his chest had been a moment before.
Shiiik—!
It was Gu Cheolun’s arm.
Then.
Fwoosh—!
A small flame sparked to life in Gu Cheolun’s hand.
KWAAAAAAAAAA—!
An enormous burst of fire erupted. The heat was intense enough to melt the walls and beyond.
What…?
The Heavenly Venerable’s eyes widened in disbelief. How? He should have been fully suppressed by the Master of Swords, yet he moved instantly? His mind went blank at the completely unexpected turn.
And his speed? If he hadn’t twisted his body with all his might, the blow would have landed.
Fwoosh.
The sound of a spark crackled before him. The Heavenly Venerable immediately twisted his sword into a defensive stance.
CRUNCH—!
“…Keoheok…!?”
The sound of shattering bone came from his shoulder. The flame had vanished, and Gu Cheolun had struck the Heavenly Venerable’s shoulder. He hadn’t been able to block it.
Only then did the Heavenly Venerable realize the spark sound had been a feint. But it was too late. His shoulder was shattered, his stance broken. He needed time to recover—a mere instant to others, but in a battle between masters, it was the difference between life and death.
In that moment, the Heavenly Venerable intuited his own defeat.
And yet…
“…?”
Nothing followed. Gu Cheolun took no further action while the Heavenly Venerable struggled to regain his posture. As the bewildered Heavenly Venerable paused his assault, Gu Cheolun simply stood still, watching him.
Finally, as the Heavenly Venerable stared in confusion…
“Now.”
Gu Cheolun slowly began to speak.
“Are you done with your sloppy carelessness?”
“…!”
“If so, then properly raise your sword again.”
The calmly spoken words pierced the Heavenly Venerable’s chest. A wave of inappropriate shame shot to the crown of his head.
“Ha… haha…. Well now.”
The pride he had been clinging to crumbled. The Heavenly Venerable realized his mistake.
“I’ve shown a shameful side of myself…. My apologies, Lord Gu.”
A difference in capability. He had underestimated his opponent far too much. Even after recognizing from the first exchange that Gu Cheolun was not to be taken lightly, he had still erred. Gu Cheolun, knowing this, had granted him a realization—albeit in a miserable fashion.
Understanding this, the Heavenly Venerable bit his lip. In truth, hadn’t he known the moment he saw Gu Cheolun? Just the fighting spirit and immense presence he emitted were enough to show he was a man who could stand as an equal. Yet, his own pathetic pride had blinded him to the fact.
He had to let it go.
Wooooong—!
The Heavenly Venerable’s aura transformed. A wind began to blow. Lightning Qi seeped through his entire body, creating a recoil that surged power through his aged form. He released all the power he had been painstakingly holding back for fear of collapsing the space.
K-K-K-K-K-K-K—!
A crack appeared in the empty air, light seeping out from within.
Mind Sword.
The form of the Mind Sword unleashed by the Heavenly Venerable illuminated the surroundings. His Qi drained away; his chest burned hot. His dantian trembled violently, and Qi leaked out frantically to withstand the strain. Swallowing a pained groan, the Heavenly Venerable felt the immense difficulty of using the Mind Sword now, unlike when he first learned it.
Has an Inner Demon come for me?
Since the Mind Sword was a power of the mind, being caught by an Inner Demon would make it far more strenuous. He gritted his teeth. But it didn’t matter. This was no time for such concerns.
The sword image of light aimed its tip at Gu Cheolun. A Sword Aura also permeated the blade in his hand. The Lightning Qi pierced through Gu Cheolun’s heat and dominated the area.
He took a step forward.
HWAAAAAAK—!
The Master of Swords manifested once more, interlocking with the Lightning Qi and growing in size. The presence of the Heavenly Venerable, having unleashed his full power, doubled, enough to devour the heat and presence Gu Cheolun had been emitting.
He took a second step. Zap—! Lightning Qi sparked. The Heavenly Venerable vanished from Gu Cheolun’s sight.
One Sword.
The Sword Aura, containing all the enlightenment the Heavenly Venerable had achieved, drew a line of death toward Gu Cheolun. Simultaneously, the Mind Sword also emitted its light. In this confined space, there was nowhere to escape. The wind leading the gale mixed with Lightning Qi and transformed into thunder.
Just as the Heavenly Venerable’s thunder was about to tear into Gu Cheolun’s neck and erupt into a flash of light…
Gu Cheolun’s eyes moved. His red pupils were fixed clearly on the Heavenly Venerable’s own eyes.
And.
THUD—!
“Heup…!”
With a dull impact, the Heavenly Venerable’s sword was sent flying. The uncontrollable recoil forced an involuntary sound from his throat. What had happened? The Heavenly Venerable swallowed dryly as he tried to process the situation.
Gu Cheolun had struck the flat of his sword with a fist, knocking it away. Moreover.
K-K-K-KWADDEUK—!
The impact spread, and the Sword Aura surrounding the blade shattered. The Sword Aura, polished over decades, was breaking apart from a single, light punch.
Watching the fragments of his Sword Aura scatter, the Heavenly Venerable’s heart grew cold.
But it didn’t end there. Gu Cheolun swung his unused left arm to the opposite side.
Crack.
As his large fist grazed the air, a fierce noise erupted.
Mind Sword.
The Heavenly Venerable’s mental image, his absolute power as a swordsman, was split in two by a single punch.
KWAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!
As the power collapsed, the accumulated pressure dispersed.
RUMBLE—!
The ownerless Qi crashed into the walls, shattering everything in its path. Cracks spread everywhere, threatening to bring the place down at any moment.
The Heavenly Venerable’s mouth fell open at the scene that had unfolded in an instant. How could he be so powerless?
Watching his own Sword Aura dissipate, strength drained from the Heavenly Venerable’s body.
Thud.
“Kk-leuk….”
His martial art was forcibly blocked, and the backlash began to spread. With his Mind Sword shattered, his vessel had taken a direct hit.
Drip, drip.
Blood trickled from the mouth of the kneeling Heavenly Venerable.
“Heok… heok….”
Pain washed over him as if his vessel was cracking, but he raised his head first. Before him, Gu Cheolun stood exactly as he had at the beginning—hands behind his back, red eyes open, looking down at him. He was pristine, as if he hadn’t fought at all.
Seeing that, the Heavenly Venerable let out a hollow laugh.
“…I see…. I didn’t know a thing. I was completely ignorant.”
Not only had he shattered his Sword Aura with his bare hands, but he had also crushed his Mind Sword. And it was an unremarkable motion. Gu Cheolun hadn’t used anything that could be called a martial art, despite being known for his flame arts.
Without wiping the blood from his mouth, the Heavenly Venerable asked, “…How can you live in hiding with such power?”
At this point, curiosity outweighed astonishment. How could he not be curious?
At his words, Gu Cheolun frowned slightly. Seeing his expression, the Heavenly Venerable continued, “Surely, there can be no one in this world who can defeat you….”
No one in the world who could defeat him. The Heavenly Venerable had finally acknowledged it: Gu Cheolun was indeed the Strongest Under the Heavens. To witness such power and deny it would betray his pride as a martial artist.
The Heavenly Venerable was simply curious. “Does…. Does the Wi Clan know about this?”
The Wi Clan—a question about the old man who was the former leader of the Murim Alliance, the Sword Venerable. Did he know of Gu Cheolun’s power?
To this, Gu Cheolun answered affirmatively, “He knows.”
Hearing that, the Heavenly Venerable fell into deeper confusion. “…Then, why….”
Why live hiding such power? The Heavenly Venerable knew the Gu Clan bore many sins. Was he hiding for the sake of those sins?
As that thought occurred to him, Gu Cheolun answered placidly, “Because it is not particularly important. The things that you people consider important are things I have no need for.”
The title of Strongest Under the Heavens, the honor and fame that came with strength, the pride and presence of a martial artist—none of it mattered to Gu Cheolun.
The Heavenly Venerable couldn’t understand. To him, it was incomprehensible. “Then…. What is important? Lord Gu, what is the goal you desire?”
“...”
What in the world was important? At the question, Gu Cheolun thought back. For a long time, perhaps, there had been nothing. On that winter day when he lost everything, he had thrown away even his dreams. He had lived turning away from it all for so long, but now, belatedly, he had found something to seek. For that, he could no longer hesitate.
Without voicing this answer, Gu Cheolun approached the Heavenly Venerable. He had no intention of continuing this exchange. Power gathered in his palm.
Chiiiiik….
The Heavenly Venerable saw it: Gu Cheolun’s hand was turning a deep, ominous red. It wasn’t a flame art—he felt no heat. In fact, he felt nothing at all, which was more frightening.
Ah. The Heavenly Venerable soon realized. That was his death. He couldn’t even guess what form of power it was, and that made it all the more terrifying.
With death hanging at his throat, the Heavenly Venerable spoke wearily, “You may take my life….” “...” “But please, I beg you to show mercy to the Namgung Clan….”
Again, no answer came. There was nothing more he could do. The Heavenly Venerable closed his eyes in resignation.
And Gu Cheolun reached out his hand toward him.
Just as the crimson-stained hand was about to touch the Heavenly Venerable…
“…Father?”
Halt.
A title, heard from nearby. Hearing it, Gu Cheolun’s body froze solid.