Chapter 136
Chapter 136
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 136
Chapter Title: The Sword Speaks
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'There's something more to this.'
Sensing something was amiss, Yeo Hwan-jin halted his attack and put some distance between them.
*Drip. Drip.*
In that brief moment, blood trickled from the cuts all over Bu Eun-seol's body, inflicted by the Flowing Cloud Sword.
This was the first time he had failed to completely evade an attack since unleashing the Extreme Speed Formless Step. Yet, Bu Eun-seol's eyes burned like an active volcano.
"You seem rather composed."
Yeo Hwan-jin remarked with a smile, noticing the fiery fighting spirit that blazed in Bu Eun-seol's eyes.
"Is it because you haven't sustained any fatal wounds?"
At that, Bu Eun-seol, who had been glaring at Yeo Hwan-jin with those blazing eyes, grinned.
"Now then, let us begin."
Those were the very words Yeo Hwan-jin had spoken before unleashing his Flowing Cloud Sword.
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had intentionally remained on the defensive, observing the sword technique.
"Heh heh heh. So I was the one being observed."
Yeo Hwan-jin smiled, even after realizing this.
"It's useless. It wouldn't matter if you watched it a hundred times."
His Flowing Cloud Sword had no set forms to begin with; it was a technique that embodied the principle of formlessness triumphing over form.
Even if Bu Eun-seol were to watch his swordsmanship for three days and nights, there would be nothing to gain.
"The Flowing Cloud Sword is like a gust of wind."
*Swish!*
Yeo Hwan-jin thrust his sword again, aiming for Bu Eun-seol's throat with lightning speed.
*Clang!*
But with a metallic ring, his longsword was blocked by the Ink Sword, sending sparks flying.
'What?'
For a moment, Yeo Hwan-jin couldn't hide his surprise.
'How did he meet my blade?'
The essence of the Flowing Cloud Sword was like a single leaf swaying in the wind.
In other words, it was a fluid sword style of the highest realm that would simply yield to an enemy's attack, then strike at their openings.
No matter how many times an opponent launched a powerful assault, the blade would only be pushed back, never clashing directly.
"You were lucky!"
Yeo Hwan-jin once again unleashed the profound Flowing Cloud Sword, utilizing the principle of Floating Shadow, Transmitting Form.
*Clang! Clang!*
But Bu Eun-seol's Ink Sword, like a bee seeking the scent of a flower, precisely struck Yeo Hwan-jin's longsword aside.
'Am I fighting a ghost?'
Flustered, Yeo Hwan-jin briefly withdrew his sword and stepped back.
Though he had a golden opportunity to press his advantage, Bu Eun-seol simply smiled, not giving chase.
"What in the world is going on?"
Yeo Hwan-jin furrowed his brow, his expression one of utter disbelief.
"My Flowing Cloud Sword, which yields even to the lightest breeze..."
In response, Bu Eun-seol pointed to the hand in which Yeo Hwan-jin held his sword.
"A sword used for a long time carries the habits of its master."
Bu Eun-seol took a deep breath before continuing.
"And I simply listened to them."
"Hahaha."
Yeo Hwan-jin, who had been staring blankly, burst into laughter as if he'd heard the most absurd thing.
"What nonsense. Habits left on a sword? Does the sword have a mouth to speak with?"
Such a reaction was perhaps only natural.
If one could discern a swordsman's habits and quirks just by examining their blade, then no martial artist in the entire Murim would ever entrust their sword to another for repairs.
"You don't believe me."
Bu Eun-seol smiled at Yeo Hwan-jin's reaction as if it were expected.
The minuscule traces left on the longsword, impossible to see with the eyes or feel with the hands...
Only Bu Eun-seol, who had synchronized the extreme senses of the Beast Dao with his spirit, could perceive them.
"When you use the sword with the principle of Floating Shadow, Transmitting Form, you press your thumb and index fingernails into the hilt to inject your qi. I assume it's to lighten your grip."
Bu Eun-seol said with a relaxed expression.
"And when you switch forms, you have a habit of forming a sword seal with your left hand. It must be to guard against the opening in that brief moment."
Yeo Hwan-jin stared at Bu Eun-seol as if he were looking at a ghost.
'Could it be that this demonic fiend truly has the ability to communicate with swords?'
"How did you... know those habits?"
"I told you. The sword spoke to me."
He felt as if he were being toyed with.
After a moment of deep thought, Yeo Hwan-jin laughed heartily, as if he had realized something.
"How foolish."
"..."
"Even if what you say is true, haven't you just laid out all your cards right in front of me?"
Yeo Hwan-jin smirked at Bu Eun-seol.
"For someone of my caliber, changing a few habits is a simple matter. In other words, you've just thrown away your only advantage."
Masters who had reached the transcendent realm like Yeo Hwan-jin had their bodies under the complete control of their minds. This meant that trivial habits could be corrected in an instant.
"Heh heh heh."
Bu Eun-seol, however, let out a low chuckle.
"Hahahaha!"
"What's so funny?"
"Do you truly believe that what I just mentioned are all of your habits?"
"What?"
"You don't think that the habits you've been unaware of for twenty years... consist of only those few things I mentioned, do you?"
At that moment, the smile on Yeo Hwan-jin's lips froze.
'So that's how it is.'
A meticulous master like Bu Eun-seol would never reveal all his cards.
There were likely countless other habits he was still unaware of.
And any one of them could become a noose tightening around his neck at any moment.
'Unbelievable!'
Gripping his sword, Yeo Hwan-jin drew it once more and unleashed the Flowing Cloud Sword.
*Clang! Clang!*
But each time he executed a move, it was interrupted by the Ink Sword. Bu Eun-seol, having already grasped Yeo Hwan-jin's habits, was preempting his every path.
As his seemingly random Flowing Cloud Sword techniques were all intercepted, a chill ran down Yeo Hwan-jin's spine.
'He truly knows habits that I myself am unaware of.'
With his habits and quirks seen through, his greatest strength, honed for twenty years, was effectively sealed.
*Clang! Thwang!*
The Ink Sword and the longsword clashed repeatedly in mid-air. With each impact, the edge of Yeo Hwan-jin's blade chipped away.
Had he not infused the entire blade with his profound internal energy, the longsword would have already been shattered by the sharp Ink Sword.
*CLANG!*
As the Ink Sword and the longsword clashed violently once more, both men retreated simultaneously.
The relaxed smile that Yeo Hwan-jin had worn throughout the fight had vanished, replaced by a grave expression.
It seemed he had finally acknowledged Bu Eun-seol as an adversary capable of threatening his life.
'I suppose I've closed the gap from that one year.'
By discerning the traces and habits embedded in the sword, Bu Eun-seol had managed to seal the Flowing Cloud Sword and fight on equal footing.
The real battle started now.
*Shing.*
Yeo Hwan-jin held his longsword upright, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.
"Sip-ma-jeon-in. You are a demonic fiend who must not be left alive."
As he raised his sword, a formidable aura, unlike anything seen before, erupted from his body.
As the aura surged, he seemed to grow taller, gradually taking on the appearance of a giant who could touch the sky.
'This is his true power.'
Just by standing there, Bu Eun-seol felt a crushing pressure on his body.
The swirling aura seemed to have transformed Yeo Hwan-jin into a completely different person.
"Interesting. A successor to a Daoist sword art is emitting killing intent."
At Bu Eun-seol's murmur, Yeo Hwan-jin's eyes flashed.
"By killing one great evil, ten thousand innocent lives can be saved."
A faint light emanated from the longsword in his grasp.
"Die!"
Instantly closing the distance, Yeo Hwan-jin leaped into the air, bringing his sword down to cleave Bu Eun-seol's head.
*Ziiiing!*
Suddenly, time seemed to stop, and Yeo Hwan-jin's body, suspended in mid-air, multiplied into dozens of figures.
The attack was so sudden and swift that the Beast Dao activated on its own.
In that instant, his blood circulation quickened severalfold, and his kinetic vision and neural responses expanded by dozens of times.
This was an extreme sense that had not even been manifested until now.
'Is this also because the spirit of the Beast Dao and the Ban-geuk-sim-beop have connected...'
Putting his surprise aside, Bu Eun-seol observed Yeo Hwan-jin's sword in the time-stopped state.
Each of the dozens of Yeo Hwan-jin's bodies was performing a different movement.
This resembled a bizarre demonic sword art more than a technique of the orthodox faction.
'Even with the Extreme Speed Formless Step, I can't evade this completely.'
*Swoooosh!*
In that moment, time resumed its flow, and the sword qi from the dozens of Yeo Hwan-jins in their different stances engulfed Bu Eun-seol's body.
"It's over."
Just as Yeo Hwan-jin smiled, having delivered his decisive blow,
*Clang-clang-clang-clang!*
Accompanied by the incessant clash of metal, a spherical light emanated from Bu Eun-seol's body, which had been swallowed by the sword qi.
"What!"
Yeo Hwan-jin's eyes widened.
Crouched low, Bu Eun-seol was striking down every single one of the hundreds of streams of sword qi pouring down on him.
'This is impossible.'
The number of sword forms, unleashed simultaneously from different movements, was impossible to count or comprehend in such a short time.
Yet, Bu Eun-seol was parrying the hundreds of sword forms perfectly, as if he had known them all along.
The absolute defense technique of the Cheon-geom-hoe, capable of defending against any sword form that reacted to killing intent.
The Neung-hyeong-eo-geom was unleashed.
*Clang-clang-clang-clang.*
Finally breaking free from the storm of sword qi, Bu Eun-seol shot towards Yeo Hwan-jin like an arrow.
Yeo Hwan-jin had been certain of his complete victory.
He had never expected a counterattack and was completely defenseless.
"Urk!"
Yeo Hwan-jin hastily swung his longsword to assume a defensive stance.
*Flash!*
But the lightning-like flash that erupted from the Ink Sword was faster. The Unrivaled Lightning Flash had been deployed.
To not miss this fleeting opportunity, the Unrivaled Lightning Flash, a killing sword of extreme speed, was more suitable than the Mu-sang-cheon-ryu.
*Squelch!*
With the sound of tearing flesh, the Ink Sword, like a demon's tongue, pierced through the center of Yeo Hwan-jin's chest.
*Shink.*
As Bu Eun-seol withdrew the Ink Sword,
*Gush.*
A trickle of fresh blood flowed from the corner of Yeo Hwan-jin's mouth.
"Ughh."
Seemingly devoid of the strength to stand, Yeo Hwan-jin staggered and collapsed, leaning against a nearby tree stump.
"*Huu. Huu.*"
His face was deathly pale from the blood that escaped with every breath.
"A single strike... like a bolt of lightning."
Even as he felt death approaching, Yeo Hwan-jin did not lose his smile.
"But the technique that blocked my Hundred Breaks Chain Form is even more astonishing. Is it a sword art from Nang-ya-gak?"
Bu Eun-seol looked into Yeo Hwan-jin's fading eyes and spoke in a low voice.
"Neung-hyeong-eo-geom."
"Neung-hyeong-eo-geom? I've never heard that name before."
"It's a defensive sword form created by the Cheon-geom-hoe. It reacts to killing intent to parry attacks."
"Reacts to killing intent... Ah, I see."
Yeo Hwan-jin shook his head with a sense of lingering regret.
"In the final moment, it was my mistake to abandon my sect's sword art and use the Hundred Breaks Chain Form he taught me."
"Hundred Breaks Chain Form?"
It was the name of an unfamiliar sword art.
Bu Eun-seol scanned Yeo Hwan-jin with a sharp gaze.
"Was that the technique you just used?"
"It was."
Yeo Hwan-jin continued, gasping for breath with blood trickling from his lips.
"All the Dae-ui-go-su were taught a sword form capable of destroying demonic martial arts. The one I received was..."
Yeo Hwan-jin's words trailed off.
Having lost too much blood, he died on the spot, his eyes wide open.