Chapter 639: White Night
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 639: White Night
The anomaly struck while they were deep within the forest.
“Hah… hah…”
They had set up camp for the night along a forest path leading to Henan. Behind a carriage flying a red flag, deep in the woods, a woman knelt on a patch of gravel beside a gently flowing stream.
Clang—!
She was barely holding herself up, leaning on her sword like a cane.
“…Hah… hoooo…”
The blonde woman panted raggedly, wiping sweat from her brow. Her vision was blurred, and her body looked so exhausted it seemed she might collapse at any moment.
It wasn't just an appearance. Wi Seol-Ah knew her body had long since reached its limit. It wouldn't be strange if she lost consciousness right then and there.
However, she could not fall. At least not in front of the person standing before her.
“Kugh…”
Letting out a pained groan, she forced herself to her feet. Her entire body screamed in protest. She had been in this state ever since they began this journey—a journey that felt like anything but.
Yet, she had no regrets. This was exactly what she had wished for.
“Hoo…”
Trying to steady her ragged breathing, she brought her hands together. Hiding their trembling, she formed a respectful gesture.
“…Thank you for your… guidance.”
“Mm.”
The man standing before Wi Seol-Ah nodded.
The gravel patch was a disaster. Long, jagged sword scars gouged the earth, and the ground was torn up from the aftermath of swirling strikes. But the space where the man stood remained perfectly intact. Amidst the wreckage of what looked like a violent typhoon, his spot alone was a sanctuary.
Wi Seol-Ah swallowed hard at the sight.
…I didn't land a single hit.
Even though she had swung relentlessly, she hadn't even forced him to take a single step, let alone reached him with her blade. Just how vast was the difference in their levels?
Vroooom….
Vmmmm-!
The sword she had thrust into the ground still hummed with Sword Resonance. Though she had withdrawn her Qi some time ago, the blade continued to vibrate. While this signified her high level as a swordsman, to her opponent, it was likely meaningless.
“It is hardly worthy of being called guidance. You likely learned nothing from it, Young Lady.”
Wi Seol-Ah swallowed dryly at the man’s heavy voice.
“…I apologize.”
“I was not looking for an apology. I was merely stating a fact.”
Crunch.
Leaving the mangled gravel behind, the massive man, Gu Cheolun, began to walk slowly toward her.
“There is no more meaning in exchanging blows. I am sure you are well aware of this, Young Lady.”
“...”
Wi Seol-Ah bit her lip. The gap was simply too wide. There was nothing more to be gained from sparring with him. At Gu Cheolun’s cold, clear assessment, she sighed inwardly.
“Thank you. I have received much from you, Lord Gu.”
She chose to accept the truth. Gu Cheolun nodded.
“I do not know your thoughts on the matter, Young Lady. But if you wish to walk a higher path, you should probably go see your grandfather.”
“...”
The corners of Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes twitched. The mention of her grandfather left her unable to offer an easy reply.
“Hmph.”
Seeing her reaction, Gu Cheolun didn't press further. He continued walking; he hadn't expected an answer. It was merely a piece of advice. Whether she acted on it was her decision.
As he walked, Gu Cheolun scanned the desolate, quiet forest. About ten days had passed since they began their journey. How much longer until they reached their destination? It couldn't be far. At most, less than seven days and nights remained.
Henan, is it.
As he considered their destination, Gu Cheolun pulled a letter from his robes. It was from the Alliance, regarding a major event to be held in a few months: The Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament.
A grand festival for martial artists hosted by the Alliance.
Gu Cheolun’s expression remained impassive, but a flicker of heat seeped into his eyes. Was he interested in the tournament? Impossible. Such things were meaningless to him.
It was just…
Indeed.
He wondered what kind of performance his child would put on. It was nothing more than curiosity.
As Gu Cheolun thought of his only son…
“Lord Gu.”
He shifted his gaze toward the voice ahead. A woman with a small frame and slightly upturned eyes stood there. It was the second child of the Gu Clan of Shanxi, Gu Yeonseo.
With a hesitant expression and a small voice, she spoke to him.
“They say the meal is ready… I was wondering if, perhaps, you would eat with us…”
At her characteristic caution, Gu Cheolun simply nodded.
“I will be there shortly.”
“Ah…! Yes!”
Gu Yeonseo’s face brightened considerably. Seeing her reaction, Gu Cheolun felt a strange emotion. Among the myriad of feelings, the most prominent was self-reproach.
Is it almost time?
The moment was drawing near. He had tried to postpone it, but time was the one thing Gu Cheolun could neither grasp nor stop.
The boy has passed the age of twenty.
The time to appoint him as the Gu Clan’s Young Lord was approaching.
Nothing is easy.
With all he had done and the matters that had piled up, nothing was simple.
Fwoosh—.
A warm breeze blew, a temperate wind mixed with the seasons, proving it was still summer. As Gu Cheolun prepared to walk on…
Vmm-!
He stopped in his tracks, feeling a vibration against his chest. He immediately reached into his robes and pulled out a yellow lucky pouch. With a gesture more urgent than usual, he tore it open.
Riiip-!
The fabric tore like paper, and the object inside floated into the air: a red jade marble.
Gu Cheolun’s brow furrowed. This was the Jade of Noble Thought, one of the eight treasures of the Gu Clan. He had given it to his first wife, Mi Hyoran.
The Jade of Noble Thought possessed two powers. First, it would react when the holder of its twin infused it with Qi. And since Gu Cheolun had told Mi Hyoran to use it only when she was in danger… and knowing her personality… she would never have used it unless the situation was dire.
For it to be glowing means…
Squeeze.
Gu Cheolun clenched his fist around the marble.
Crrrack-!
For an instant, the gravel beneath his feet trembled. The situation was escalating rapidly. Heat began to fill his body. Fortunately, the marble possessed a second power.
Crack-!
Gu Cheolun crushed the marble in his hand.
Fwoosh-!
In that instant, Gu Cheolun’s body was engulfed in flames, and—
“Oh, right, Lord Gu. Also… huh?”
When Gu Yeonseo turned back to look at him, the gravel patch where he had been standing was empty.
* * *
Grrrrr….
With a growl that echoed through the clearing, the colossal body swayed and was forced to its knees.
Kooong-!!
The impact sent a tremor through the ground. From its left shoulder down to its waist, and with most of its snout annihilated, the demon collapsed.
This was a body that three Fusion Realm martial artists and one at the perfected peak of the realm couldn't penetrate, even with a combined attack aimed at breaking its barrier. Now, it was collapsing with ease.
Karrrrk…!!
The beast howled in agony. Watching this, the Dishonored Venerable, Bijuu, let out a sudden laugh.
“Heh. How tenacious.”
With half its upper body blown away, it should have died instantly, yet the beast was still howling. Its life force was truly grotesque. But the most amusing part…
More so than such a bizarre beast…
…was the person who had reduced such a monster to this state in a single blow.
Bijuu shifted his gaze. The man responsible was standing right next to him.
The man walked forward, treading on the snow. He stood over eight cheok tall with broad shoulders, his red robe with gold trim fluttering in the wind.
Shiiiii….
Heat radiated from his right shoulder, and his hair was turning a deep, fiery red.
“Heh heh.”
Bijuu let out a laugh of disbelief. His face was smiling, but his body was reacting differently. Goosebumps broke out on his arms, and a cold sweat ran down his back. Just looking at the man put his body on high alert.
Anyway, those with that surname are all on a different plane.
The man passing him now had already reached the Beyond the Heavens, more than enough to be called a monster.
Even if I were to regain my full strength, I couldn't predict the outcome of a fight.
On the surface, it seemed his prime self was superior, but one could never know. This man had reached a level Bijuu couldn't fathom.
Grip.
Bijuu suppressed the competitive spirit rising within him. Seeing such a powerhouse was stirring his fighting spirit.
Why in the world is he here?
The Guardian of Shanxi. One of the Beyond the Heavens whom the Alliance tacitly overlooked. The son of a close friend and the father of his disciple.
And perhaps… one who had reached the Transcendent Realm.
The Tiger Warrior, Gu Cheolun.
He slowly walked over and stood beside Bijuu.
Saaaaa-!
The heat made Bijuu’s throat dry. The chill of the snowy forest was gone, replaced by swirling hot air.
“You used a rather inconvenient method.”
At the heavy voice, Bijuu cracked a smile. He knew what Gu Cheolun meant.
So he found out.
Bijuu looked at Gu Cheolun, who didn't spare him a glance, staring only straight ahead.
“You weren't showing yourself, so I committed a slight rudeness. My apologies,” Bijuu said.
He didn't know how long Gu Cheolun had been there, but Bijuu knew he had been watching. So, he had done something a little foolish. He had told his disciple to run while he held the monster off. Of course, he wasn't serious; Bijuu had no intention of dying.
As expected, his stubborn disciple had acted out in anger. And that action was more than enough to draw out the observer.
“…Father…?”
Gu Yangcheon’s voice was laced with confusion, but Gu Cheolun still did not turn his gaze. He looked only forward.
Grrrr…!
The kneeling demon stirred. It was rapidly regenerating its lost flesh. Muscle and bone crept back into the empty spaces in a grotesque display.
Kyaaaaa--!!
In just a few seconds, the half of its body that had been blown away was completely restored. As soon as it was whole, the beast charged straight at Gu Cheolun.
Thud-! Kwwaaak-!
It rushed forward with tremendous speed, sharp claws aiming for Gu Cheolun’s throat.
However.
Fwoosh-!
Once again, a brief burst of heat erupted.
Kwaaack-!! Bang!
Krrrk-!?
The attacking demon’s arm and torso exploded once more. The edge of the blasted flesh was charred black. Just like before, it immediately began to regenerate.
Seeing this, Gu Cheolun clenched his fist, seemingly unbothered.
Whoosh-!
With a crude, powerful motion, he swung his fist at the beast.
Kwaaaang---!!
Kyaaaaaaa---!!!
A shockwave erupted. The demon, struck in its regenerating side, staggered.
“Crazy,” Gu Yangcheon spat out.
He had used all his strength and the power of his mind just to barely crack the barrier.
Crrrack-!
Gu Cheolun’s fist was shattering the beast’s defensive barrier as if it were thin glass.
Boom-! Kwaang-!
Kyaaak… Kraaaack-!
Under the continuous assault, the beast moved in a frenzy, yet it couldn't properly counter a single blow.
Thud-!
Kyaaak-!
No matter how large Gu Cheolun was, the demon was ten times his size. But as if the difference in weight class was a joke, the demon was shaken by every single strike. One might think it had been weakened by the previous battle, but…
…That’s not it.
The demon’s regeneration and strength hadn't diminished. It was a simple principle.
…The barrier’s regeneration speed can’t keep up.
When Gu Cheolun struck once, the barrier shattered. Even as it tried to fill the gap, he would simply smash another spot. It was, in a word, one-sided violence.
How was this possible?
‘I thought the barrier could only be broken by the power of the mind?’
Based on the information Bijuu had gathered, that should have been the case. Yet the barrier was being crushed to bits by Gu Cheolun’s bare hands.
‘Does that mean every single one of his attacks contains the power of the mind?’
Did his movements inherently contain that power without him having to focus? If so, how was that possible?
Besides, in the first place…
‘…Why is Father here?’
That was what Gu Yangcheon was most curious about. Why had the old man, who should be in Shanxi, suddenly appeared here?
Gu Cheolun, showing no interest in his son's questions, simply carried on.
Kyaaaaa-!!!
When the demon swung its claws in a monstrous roar, Gu Cheolun shattered them completely. When its massive tail came flying, it met Gu Cheolun’s fist and twisted in a sickening direction. After that, it was a cycle of being broken and regenerating.
Kraaaaaa---!!
The demon, driven by pure instinct, charged tirelessly, thrusting its fangs at Gu Cheolun despite its twisted limbs.
At that moment, instead of dodging, Gu Cheolun reached out and grabbed the beast’s snout.
Grrrrr-!
The demon’s strength was immense. Even Gu Cheolun was pushed back slightly.
“Hmph.”
A short, sharp kiai. Gu Cheolun put strength into his grip and tore the demon’s snout apart.
Riiiiip-!
Kraaaaa--!!
The demon let out a pain-filled scream. Gu Cheolun leaped toward it and swung his fist again. Thwump! His fist dug into the demon’s torso, and then Kwaang! his Qi exploded, sending the massive body flying backward into the air.
Kooooong!!
The demon crashed to the ground, unleashing a blizzard of snow and a powerful tremor.
Gu Yangcheon was utterly speechless. What could he even say? The scene was so shocking he couldn't find the words.
‘Was Father always that strong?’
He stared blankly at Gu Cheolun’s back. To toss a White Demon around like a toy… his father’s back, which had always seemed large, now looked even more immense.
He had known his father was far stronger than the rumors suggested.
‘Lower ranks of the Hundred Masters?’
It was laughable. If that was the lower ranks, the Heavenly Demon War should have ended in the Alliance’s victory long ago. His father was absolutely not at that level.
‘He even beat a Heavenly Venerable.’
He had defeated one of the Three Venerables in the Tang Clan’s basement. Even if the Heavenly Venerable’s condition had been abnormal, the fact remained. This meant his father was comparable to the Three Venerables—or perhaps even stronger.
It was his father who had dealt a fatal blow to the Heavenly Demon in the past.
‘Just how strong is he?’
Elder Shin had said the current world was cursed, and the walls to advancement were thicker than in the past. In such a situation, what realm had his father reached?
‘Is that a place I can reach?’
Suddenly, Gu Yangcheon was curious. Just then, Gu Cheolun spoke.
“Third child.”
Gu Yangcheon flinched at the deep voice.
“…Yes.”
“How is your condition?”
“I’m… I’m fine.”
In truth, he wasn't. He was using Qi just to stop the bleeding from his chest, and his vessel was empty from overusing the Holy Spear. But he wouldn't act weak.
“Is that so.”
Gu Cheolun gave a slight nod. That was it.
“...”
“...”
The conversation fell into a brief silence. Gu Yangcheon couldn't bring himself to ask why he was here.
‘I haven’t seen him since he scolded me…’
Right after he was severely injured while failing to practice the Flaming Sphere Holy Spear in the Gu Clan, Gu Cheolun had scolded him harshly. They hadn't met since. He had avoided his father, and now the moment was incredibly awkward.
“Third child,” Gu Cheolun spoke first.
“Yes.”
“Is that a martial art you modified yourself?”
Gu Yangcheon understood. He was talking about the Flaming Sphere Holy Spear.
‘So he saw it.’
He didn't know how long his father had been watching. The important thing was…
‘…Am I going to get scolded again?’
He had done exactly what he was told not to. He braced for a lecture, but…
“Well done.”
“…!”
“It was not bad.”
At the unexpected praise, the corners of Gu Yangcheon’s mouth began to creep up. Realizing this, he quickly turned his head and covered his mouth. It was a childish feeling, but he couldn't help it.
Fwoosh-!
“Huh?”
Feeling a surge of Qi, Gu Yangcheon turned back. Gu Cheolun had created a Flaming Sphere above his palm—one that was denser and spinning much faster than Gu Yangcheon’s.
Whoooooosh-!
The sphere began to spin faster.
Kigigik-!
“…!?”
It began to change shape. Fwaaaah! An immense energy radiated outward. The Flaming Sphere twisted and compressed, yet it didn't explode. It was a display of delicate, powerful control.
Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened. There, in his father's hand, was the perfected form of the Flaming Sphere Holy Spear he had so desperately desired.
Gu Cheolun hadn't used his mind to force a vessel for the power. He had perfected and controlled it solely through his own strength.
Gu Cheolun examined the Holy Spear in his hand.
“It was somewhat unstable and rough, but it was a very good attempt and result.”
He gave a brief, point-by-point assessment.
“Continue to strive forward.”
With those words, Gu Cheolun withdrew the energy. The Holy Spear dissipated into the air.
“…H-how… did you do that?” Gu Yangcheon asked, his voice trembling.
It was a martial art he had modified himself. No matter how high his father’s realm was, it made no sense for him to use it so easily—and more perfectly than its creator.
Gu Cheolun turned to him with a genuinely puzzled expression.
“Did you not show me?”
“…With just that?”
“Is that difficult?”
“...”
Hearing the reply, Gu Yangcheon thought: My goddamn life. He had never hated talent this much. A sigh of futility was about to escape him, but…
Grrrrr--….
The demon was getting up again. Even after all that damage, it was still standing.
‘Is there no way to kill it?’
The thought of that regeneration was sickening. Just then, a red robe fluttered in the wind.
“Since you showed me something good, I shall give you a reward.”
“Pardon?”
Step-!
Gu Cheolun stepped onto the snow and walked forward. In the distance, the demon roared.
“Third child,” Gu Cheolun said, his tone deep and resolute. “This is a command. From this moment on, do not take your eyes off me for an instant.”
Gu Yangcheon instinctively stared at his father’s back.
“Also, do not be fixated on what you see. This is the lesson that your father is giving you.”
Fwaah…!
Heat erupted from Gu Cheolun’s feet, melting the surrounding snow. Small embers gathered on his back.
Tick-!
With the sound of something igniting…
KWAAAAAAAAA---!!!
An enormous pillar of flame shot into the sky.
Ultimate Technique: All-Flame Extreme Great Mountain Enlightenment Form.
The night sky retreated, and the White Night arrived.