Shaking the World (3)
Yang Cheon let out a long breath.
A healthy flush had returned to his face.
He looked down at his own hand.
The motion of clenching and unclenching his fist felt strangely natural now. So this was it. They say that to truly realize how precious something is, you must first lose it—and then regain it.
Yang Cheon had no choice but to acknowledge his own mistake.
I thought it was just that I had too many things on my mind, that I was simply a little tired. That was all.
He hadn’t even noticed that something was wrong with his own body. He had only felt that he grew fatigued faster than before and that his senses had dulled compared to his younger days.
Thinking back on it now, it was utterly absurd. He had not only reached the realm of Mugeuk, but had continued to charge forward within that realm, becoming an absolute being who gazed down upon the very peak of the world.
Martial God.
In that domain, age held no meaning. On the contrary, maturity, wisdom, and enlightenment only deepened. There was no reason for one’s skill to decline.
And yet he had lamented the cruelty of time, claiming that growing older had reduced him to this state. It really was laughably ridiculous.
Yang Cheon closed his eyes.
Yeon Hojeong’s voice echoed in his ears.
“The leader of the Four Yin Cult is strong. Strong enough to defeat you, Vice-Leader Yang. A warrior of that caliber used an art whose power is immense but whose weakness becomes obvious the moment its nature is revealed. Why do you think he left you alive?”
“The man himself probably doesn’t know. The reason is simple—he views the world through corrupted true qi. If he had fought someone to the death, it might have been different, but merely examining wounds from a fight that wasn’t even a proper battle would never yield an answer. He never forced out his utmost power, after all.”
Yang Cheon let out a bitter sigh.
“I didn’t even fight him properly… Haha.”
It was infuriating to have been done in by the Four Yin Cult Leader, but more than anger, he felt surprise. Strangely, he wasn’t as furious as he had expected. Since he had simply been outmatched, he could accept the defeat even if it left a bitter taste.
What truly enraged and humiliated Yang Cheon was the fact that he had only examined his wounds without ever fighting properly—and that, as the man who bore the title of King of Combat, he had lost his very identity.
He had wanted to turn the powerless and demoralized Dark Faction into another sun of the martial world. His personal ambition had been great, but he had pushed forward with the conviction that only he could accomplish it.
Thus he had founded the Black Dragon Department and built a force so formidable that even the Martial Alliance watched it with wary tension.
But he was the King of Combat. The king of battle. The unrivaled champion whose martial prowess in combat was considered the greatest under heaven.
Yet because he had become a lord, he had forgotten the very foundation that had made him who he was.
It was truly, unbearably shameful.
I told myself I would become a different kind of ruler from the countless monarchs who had existed throughout thousands of years of history. That I would become a bold, magnificent lord worthy of the name King of Combat.
Yang Cheon let out another sigh.
Yet look at me now. I have failed both as a lord and as the King of Combat.
Huuuuurk.
A dark crimson energy rose from his fist.
The aura of a lion that trampled the continent dwelled within it. It was far darker than when he had sparred with Yeon Hojeong, and not a single speck of impurity could be found. It was an extremely ferocious power.
This was the true Black Lion Qi.
It was still incomplete, as he had yet to fit in the final piece, but even so, it was an invincible divine art that boasted overwhelming density and versatility compared to the Blood Lion Qi.
“……”
“The world is facing upheaval. There is no reason for us to live cautiously within it.”
Yang Cheon turned his gaze toward the window.
“Four Yin Cult… You bastards have crossed the line.”
Their relationship had always been one of mutual deception and exploitation. Once the other party lost their usefulness, they would be discarded without hesitation.
But the Four Yin Cult Leader had not only corrupted the true qi of the Dark Faction’s lord—he had even plotted to turn him into a puppet. That act could never be forgiven.
“I will kill you with my own hands.”
A thick killing intent poured from Yang Cheon’s eyes.
Kugugugung!
He hadn’t even released his internal energy, yet the entire audience chamber shook.
Merely revealing his murderous intent caused the air itself to vibrate. Stone dust trickled down from the ceiling and walls.
This was the true power of an absolute expert who had entered the realm of Mugeuk. It was also why his disciple, Bu Seon, could not meet her master’s eyes directly even after reaching a similar level.
A short while later.
“Vice-Leader.”
“What is it?”
“Someone has come from Botam.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes flashed.
“From Botam?”
“Yes.”
“My disciple said the situation there had been cleanly resolved.”
“They said they would explain the details after meeting with you, Vice-Leader. However, after a brief investigation, it appears they have come seeking help in determining the position of the next Sword Queen.”
Yang Cheon’s eyes grew cold.
Seeking help to decide the next Sword Queen. In other words, they intended to borrow outside power to seize control.
I thought they would simply fight among themselves, but they’ve come to ask the main house for help?
It had been his own decision to send his disciple and cause internal strife within Botam, yet the situation was so absurd he almost laughed.
Those who had never once dirtied their hands with ink were truly terrifying in their own way. They were clumsy and foolish, yet precisely because of that, one could never predict where they would leap.
Still… this isn’t bad.
Botam was a sword sect that had produced Sword Queens for generations.
The power of a Sword Queen was far greater than most imagined. Though they rarely stepped forward in the gangho, each time one appeared, they displayed enough strength to shake the entire world.
Their might was so great that people said a new seat had to be created among the Ten Great Masters of the World every time a Sword Queen emerged.
If the main house intervenes in Botam’s chaos, we will gain a bridgehead to involve ourselves in their politics.
He had only meant to prevent them from interfering in his own affairs, yet they had reached out first.
This was an opportunity. A golden chance to create a useful long-term piece.
“Let them in.”
* * *
Shiiiiiiiik!
An extremely destructive strike left a trail of light as it pierced through the air.
Thud.
A hole the size of half a finger had been drilled into the center of a boulder five jang away.
Considering the explosive nature of the sword qi—which had been like a living volcano—the mark it left was shockingly small. It was an absolute sword that could have easily reduced several boulders of that size to dust.
Yet Dang Gwan, who had witnessed the strike, could not dismiss its power as weak.
On the contrary, he felt a chill run down his spine.
Is this the extent of it?
Goosebumps rose across his entire body.
He can condense such immense power to this degree and release it?
The small trace was not something to be ignored. Rather, the fact that the trace was so small made the strike even more terrifying.
Yeon Wi’s Absolute Single Sword carried destructive power so overwhelming that even the First Martial General, Beon Jak, would have struggled to withstand it. In other words, unless one was a member of the Holy Heavens, no one could block that sword.
Drawing out such immense power was difficult, but maintaining and controlling it was many times harder.
Yeon Wi had taken a power that exploded like a volcano and compressed it into something as small as a campfire. Though its size was tiny, the heat had been condensed to the limit—enough to evaporate an entire lake.
What a monstrous martial art.
Srrrk.
Yeon Wi sheathed his sword.
“How embarrassing.”
“What do you mean?”
Yeon Wi clicked his tongue.
“What I pursue is not an absolute single sword, but the Three Swords. Yet I cannot even properly control the first of them.”
“……?!”
“Originally, there should not have been even the slightest trace… yet such a large hole was left behind. What I wanted was penetration and diffusion, not simple piercing.”
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“The path of martial arts truly is one of endless suffering. I thought I had done enough, but I am still far from the end.”
Dang Gwan felt utterly speechless.
“Is that really what you’re going to say right now?”
“Hm?”
“In the current murim, excluding the strong of the Holy Heavens, how many people do you think could block that single sword?”
These words had come from the prideful Dang Gwan. It was the highest possible praise.
Yeon Wi smiled.
“I appreciate the compliment, but I am simply trying to complete what I pursue. I am grateful that you consider it impressive, but what is far remains far.”
“Haa…”
“To me, the Tang Family Head’s Ten Thousand Heavenly Arts and Fire Rain Arts appear far more remarkable. I have never seen any other martial art that can manipulate true qi with such delicacy. In terms of pure technique, I doubt any martial art under heaven could catch up to them.”
Dang Gwan let out a small chuckle.
“That doesn’t feel like comfort at all. Unlike me, who pours out every hidden weapon I have, the Yeon Family Head pursues absolute killing with a single, simple sword. Somehow I feel rather shabby.”
It was uncharacteristic banter from Dang Gwan. Of course, despite his words, his pride in the Ten Thousand Heavenly Arts and Fire Rain Arts was no less than Yeon Wi’s pride in his Absolute Single Sword.
“Besides, aren’t you still far from completing those arts, Family Head? Even handling the Ten Thousand Heavenly Arts and Fire Rain Arts separately would be difficult, yet you wish to combine them into a single work of art. With my crude imagination, I cannot even picture it.”
“Enough. Let’s stop flattering each other. It’s making my skin crawl.”
Yeon Wi burst into hearty laughter.
Dang Gwan asked with a curious expression.
“By the way, do you think that boy will try to take that sword?”
“Hm? What do you mean?”
“I mean your eldest son.”
“You mean Hojeong?”
“Yes.”
Yeon Wi tilted his head.
“I have no intention whatsoever of passing this sword on to Hojeong.”
“Eh?!”
Dang Gwan’s face filled with disbelief.
“You’re not going to pass that sword to him?”
“Ah, of course if my eldest wants it, I will teach him. But will he want it? He is already steadily creating his own path of martial arts.”
Yeon Wi shrugged.
“Who knows? Given his growth rate, he may have already surpassed even my current realm.”
“Nonsense. No matter how much of a genius he is, that’s impossible.”
“Haha.”
“Anyway, if you’re not passing it to Yeon Hojeong, who are you planning to teach it to?”
“……”
“I only have one son named Hojeong.”
“You’re giving it to the second son? That sword?”
“Why couldn’t I?”
Dang Gwan frowned.
“I’m not looking down on the family head’s son, but… will the second one be able to handle it? It would already be fortunate if he doesn’t fall into heart demons while trying to chase after that sword.”
Yeon Wi’s sword was as dangerous as it was powerful. Its level was so high that approaching it with half-baked enlightenment could actually cause one to regress.
Yeon Wi smiled.
“If he cannot handle it, then I will simply teach him once he has grown enough to do so.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Dang Gwan’s words trailed off.
In this regard, he felt they were truly different. He had no intention of passing on the completed Ten Thousand Heavenly Arts and Fire Rain Arts to anyone but his true successor.
Because that martial art—that single absolute study—would become the very authority of the family head.
“And that time will not be too far off. Ji-pyeong’s enlightenment regarding the sword is astonishing. In terms of the sword alone, he may even surpass Hojeong.”
“That boy Yeon Hojeong said the same thing. I can hardly believe it.”
“Hahaha.”
As if trying to change the mood, Dang Gwan threw out a joke that was very much like him.
“Whoever you pass it to, you’ll need them to return from that place safe and sound before you can even worry about such things. Put aside those happy worries for now.”
It was a brutally harsh joke.
Yeon Wi gave a bitter smile and looked up at the sky.
“I refuse. I have chosen to believe that my children are not the kind who would die in a place like that. So I will worry about it starting now.”
Despite his words, Yeon Wi’s worries only grew deeper as time passed.
It was also the reason his Absolute Single Sword was growing at such a rapid pace. He had swung his sword endlessly just to forget his anxiety.
After staring at the sky for a long time, Yeon Wi closed his eyes.
“Come back safely, you troublemakers.”