Chapter 132
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: There's No Set Time for Learning (2)
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It didn't take long to come face-to-face with the lord of the Fighting King Demonic House. After a single word—that an inspector from the Divine Cult had arrived and the lord should be notified—the group was able to enter the inner courtyard where the lord's chambers were located within half an hour.
They didn't even confiscate their weapons, unlike at the Red Snake House.
This was due to the customs of the Fighting King Demonic House.
They were a martial arts collective that navigated the world with nothing but their two fists, wielding no weapons whatsoever. Since their entire bodies were already weapons, they saw no need to disarm their guests.
One might see it as a sign of fairness. But it wasn't done to make a good impression on others.
It was born of confidence. The absolute conviction that they could shatter any weapon with their bare fists was their true weapon.
Perhaps that was why.
The lord, Jo Gwang, didn't bother to verbally explain his situation and ask for his guests' understanding.
*Fwoosh! Fwoosh! Fwoosh!*
Jo Gwang's martial arts, as he moved alone in the training yard, were dazzling enough to make one's head spin.
He had an average height and build. But the muscles of his exposed upper body were so tightly woven that they left onlookers mesmerized.
The body of a true warrior, who had not neglected his daily training, did not fear the fangs of the beast called time. Despite being over fifty, his physique had lost none of its elasticity, drawing admiration from all who saw it.
Wi Hongryeon, however, was not pleased.
“What the hell does that old man think he's doing?”
The eyes of Jo Yang, the man who had guided them here, flashed.
“Is there a problem?”
“A problem? You think there isn't one?”
Wi Hongryeon's face was twisted in a scowl.
She wasn't surprised that Jo Gwang was showing off his training so openly.
“An inspector from the Divine Cult's main headquarters has arrived. Whether he's training, stuffing his face, or rolling around with some woman, isn't it common sense for him to come running out to greet us?”
“Watch your mouth.”
“You're the ones who threw courtesy to the dogs. Why should I be the one to watch my mouth?”
Jo Yang said no more. He simply clenched his fists tighter, making a menacing sound.
A vicious killing intent flared in Wi Hongryeon's eyes.
“You want to die?”
“…”
“Stop flexing those fluffy cotton fists and go get your lord. Before I tear this whole place down.”
*Ssshaaa.*
A powerful demonic energy flowed from Jo Yang's body.
It was a unique demonic energy, rarely seen in other demons. While it carried the ominous air typical of such power, it also felt remarkably well-refined.
But that, too, was brief.
“You will wait.”
“What?!”
“No one may disturb the lord's training. Even if the Cult Leader himself were here, our lord would not stop his practice.”
It was an astounding statement. The words were so far removed from common sense that even Wi Hongryeon was left speechless.
Jong Risan spoke up.
“You, what is your name?”
“I am Jo Yang.”
“I trust you know who I am, as I explained at the entrance.”
“You are the Lord of the Giant Whale House.”
He showed no surprise that an inspector and the Lord of the Giant Whale House had arrived together. Perhaps he didn't even feel they were worth his attention.
Jong Risan, too, paid no mind to the man's reaction. He hadn't revealed his identity to shock him.
“If I had come alone, this might be understandable. We are both heads of the Seven Houses. But this man is a special inspector sent by the Cult Leader himself.”
“…”
“I know your lord's personality, but this is unacceptable. It's a disrespectful way to treat a guest.”
His words were reasonable.
But reasonable words did not work on everyone in the world.
“I know nothing of such things. I only know that the lord will not stop his training midway.”
Jong Risan's face hardened.
“Are you trying to complicate matters?”
“We are only following our lord's orders.”
It wasn't an evasion of responsibility. Judging by Jo Yang's resolute tone, the members of the Fighting King House seemed to prioritize their lord's words even over those of Lee Cheonsang.
It was an utterly frustrating situation. They weren't just unmoved by his words; they seemed to be ignoring them completely.
Just then, Seo Ryang stepped forward.
“Dongpil.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Hold these for me.”
Seo Ryang unfastened the Seven Nights Saber and the Meteor Twin Sabers from his waist and handed them to him.
Ma Dongpil, who had unexpectedly received the three blades, looked at Seo Ryang with a puzzled expression.
*Clang!*
Drawing the Dragon Scale Saber from his back, Seo Ryang rolled his shoulders as if warming up.
Jo Yang's face became rigid.
“What are you doing?”
Seo Ryang didn't answer. With a calm expression, he simply continued to loosen his shoulders, his waist, and then his knees.
Jo Yang asked again.
“I asked what you are doing—”
“Shut your damn mouth!”
*CRACK!*
Wi Hongryeon's voice was laced with a deeper fury than ever before.
“Whatever the Inspector is doing, what business is it of a punk like you to be pestering him with questions?”
“The Inspector is behaving unusually. And in our house's inner courtyard, no less. Are you telling me to just stand by and watch?”
“Isn't your lord doing something pretty damn unusual right now, too?”
In that moment, an intense killing intent erupted from Jo Yang's body.
“I'll say this one last time. If you don't watch your flippant tongue…”
“Spout that bullshit one more time, and I'll use the forces gathered here to turn your inner courtyard into a wasteland.”
*Click!*
A perilous wave of energy emanated from Wi Hongryeon as she gripped her Tiger Roar Sword.
“And don't you worry, I'll make sure to send you and your lord straight to the afterlife.”
“You bewitching—!”
Jo Yang couldn't finish his sentence. Seo Ryang, who had finished warming up, had glanced over at him.
Though it was only for a brief moment, when his eyes met Seo Ryang's, he felt the illusion of his body being sucked into a bottomless abyss.
*Gasp!*
Cold sweat broke out all over his body, and the strength drained from his limbs.
*Thud!*
Jo Yang had fallen to his knees. His gasping breaths, pale face, and faintly trembling hands proved he had suffered a great shock.
After looking at Jo Yang for a long moment, Seo Ryang turned his gaze away.
His eyes fell upon Jo Gwang, who was still moving with fluid power amidst the chaos.
“Well, this isn't so bad. I've been running my mouth too much lately and wanted to give it a rest.”
Seo Ryang rolled up his sleeves, and thick veins bulged on his forearms.
At the same time.
*KWAAAANG!*
In a single leap, Seo Ryang soared through the air and landed in the center of the training yard.
He had launched himself with explosive footwork, yet he landed with the lightness of a feather.
*Fwoosh!*
The fist that had been striking the empty air stopped for the first time.
Jo Gwang's fist was frozen exactly half an inch away from Seo Ryang's solar plexus.
Jo Gwang's face stiffened.
“If I hadn't pulled my punch, you would be dead.”
“So what?”
“…”
“Judging by your reaction, it seems you knew we were here.”
Seo Ryang smiled.
“How long do you plan on keeping this up?”
A fierce brutality coiled beneath his playful tone. It was completely different from how he'd spoken to Hong Gwan and Jong Risan.
Fire blazed in Jo Gwang's eyes.
“Until I am satisfied.”
“Is that so?”
“So you will wait until my training is finished.”
“Is there really a need for that? Isn't it better for two to dance on a fine moonlit night than for one to dance alone?”
*Swish.*
Jo Gwang corrected his stance.
A strange light flickered in his eyes as he scanned Seo Ryang from head to toe.
“Are you offering to help with my training?”
“Do I look inadequate?”
“You look more than sufficient. To have such presence at your age… it's astonishing.”
“I was surprised, too.”
The Dragon Scale Saber, which had been resting on his shoulder, slowly lowered to a middle guard.
“I've never met a lord of the Seven Houses with such poor manners. Though I've only met two of you.”
“Do you have a complaint?”
“Not anymore.”
“…”
“I've decided that holding a grudge against a brick wall is a pointless waste of emotion.”
Jo Gwang's face wrinkled into a frown.
“You speak carelessly.”
“There's a brick wall who acts carelessly, so this is nothing.”
“Truly…”
“However, before we begin the inspection, I think I can give you a taste of bitterness to correct your attitude. That's why I'm here.”
Seo Ryang's smile deepened.
“You seem to like fighting. I'll show you that there's another dimension to it.”
Despite his anger, he was intrigued by the other's words. Jo Gwang was not a man who had dedicated his life to the Demonic Path, but one who had dedicated it to battle.
“My tongue has run on a bit long, hasn't it? Shall we begin?”
“A fight is always welcome. However…”
“What is it?”
Jo Gwang's face flushed. The excitement of a fighter before a battle was palpable.
“I hope you understand the thrill of a real fight.”
Don't blame me if you die.
Seo Ryang nodded.
“The feeling is mutual.”
“Good. Let's see if that big sword of yours isn't just for show—”
*Flash!*
The Dragon Scale Saber flashed through the air, striking down as if to split Jo Gwang's skull in one go. It was a strike as swift as lightning.
It could have been considered a surprise attack, but Jo Gwang harbored no resentment toward his opponent.
On the contrary, he was delighted. Once a fight had been decided, words were unnecessary, and a surprise attack was just one of the pleasures of battle.
The fact that his opponent understood this made him all the more appealing. So Jo Gwang thought.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang!*
The Dragon Scale Saber faltered.
In that short interval, he had thrown a series of punches with both fists, striking the flat of the blade repeatedly. The rapid blows had dispersed the demonic energy imbued in the saber. It was a martial art dazzling not only in its speed but also in its precision.
A strike with no further meaning, the tip of the Dragon Scale Saber, which had been heading for the ground, instantly changed course and thrust toward Jo Gwang's chest.
Jo Gwang couldn't help but admire him inwardly.
He had instantly changed the trajectory of the heavy weapon, which had been swung to cleave him in two, into a thrust. It was a technique impossible for anyone not masterful in wielding a large, heavy weapon.
*Fwoooosh!*
Jo Gwang's body instantly closed in on Seo Ryang.
His footwork for closing the distance was exquisite. With a single step, he had not only dodged the blade and slipped into an opening but had also created an optimal attack path.
*Swiiiiish!*
Jo Gwang's fist flew toward Seo Ryang's chin.
A fist with no particular aura, but a single blow from it would shatter a jawbone nine times out of ten.
Just then, Seo Ryang's foot stomped the ground. It was a powerful step, taken just before Jo Gwang closed in, as if he had anticipated the move.
*KWAANG!! Kzzzzzzzt!*
The tremendous stomp sent Jo Gwang's body flying backward. It wasn't an attack, but the shockwave was immense.
Ecstasy filled Jo Gwang's eyes.
“Incredible!!”
They had only exchanged two moves, but he could tell how well his opponent understood real combat. He was extremely excited to have finally met a worthy adversary after so long.
A deep demonic energy flickered in Seo Ryang's eyes.
Unlike Jo Gwang, he had no intention of sharing any feelings with his opponent.
“Commander Wi, and Lord Jong!”
All eyes turned to Seo Ryang.
“Summon the troops at once and attack the inner courtyard!”
*Fwooooosh!*
As he fully unleashed the Nine Hells Demonic Art, red lightning swirled around his body.
Seo Ryang laughed like a demon.
“You have permission to kill anyone who resists!”
Jo Gwang was aghast.
“Wh-what are you talking about?!”
“Didn't I tell you? I said I'd show you a new dimension of fighting.”
*FWAAAAANG!*
Instantly closing the distance, Seo Ryang unleashed a hellish storm of blades.
“Let's see the skills that gave you the balls to pull this shit.”
*Kwarurung!*
The flames of the Infinite Saber and the ice storm of the Great Crimson Lotus engulfed the training yard.