Chapter 167
Chapter 167
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: The Divine Brush Scholar
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A suffocating silence descended.
Within that silence, Cheon Yi-gae alternated his gaze between Cheonhwi and the eaves above, cold sweat trickling down his back.
'He was hiding the whole time...?'
His back grew damp with sweat.
He might not have devoted himself to martial arts, but he had still reached the Ultimate Realm.
Yet he had sensed nothing.
From the moment the man had scaled the wall to perch on those eaves.
What that implied was clear: the hidden figure was at least a realm above his own.
'...Not the tail, but the body itself?'
His heart pounded.
For the past few years, he had chased them relentlessly, yet never even caught a proper glimpse of their traces.
But now, their outline was coming into view...
'Damn it. If I'd known it would come to this, I should've quietly brought the Taiji Gentleman along.'
Once he learned the Blood Dragon Sect cultivated the Hidden Heart Qi Art, he had avoided contact with the Taiji Gentleman as much as possible to maintain secrecy in his movements.
But now that things had turned out like this, he regretted not bringing him.
'Is that guy the only one I can rely on?'
His gaze shifted to Cheonhwi.
Thank goodness he had desperately requested the Mount Hua Sect Leader's aid, just in case.
'He's young, but his skills were acknowledged by the Sword Saint himself...'
At that moment, a chilling voice rang out again, slowly breaking the brief silence.
"You've brought an interesting one. Cheon Yi-gae."
The familiar tone made the bridge of Cheon Yi-gae's nose wrinkle.
"Do you know me?"
"Heh heh, of course I do..."
The voice brimmed with amusement.
"Haven't I been waiting in the Blood Dragon Sect all this time just to welcome you?"
"...!"
Cheon Yi-gae's eyes widened in shock.
That was information known to only a tiny handful of people.
For this voice to know it meant...
'No way, a spy?'
At that moment.
"So, when are you going to show yourself?"
Cheonhwi cut in.
Right now, he was filled with anticipation.
The Hidden Heart Qi Art was deeply connected to the sound-transmission technique this man had mastered.
And it was a superior art at that.
"If you don't come out, I'll come to you."
With those words, he unleashed the Soaring Heaven Steps.
With each step, the surrounding scenery pushed back and shifted in an instant.
"...!"
The elderly scholar in shabby robes flinched in surprise as Cheonhwi appeared and jumped to his feet.
"What, so that's your face? Doesn't match that forceful voice at all."
The old man's features were kindly.
He looked like a benevolent grandfather who had never killed, let alone struck, another person.
'But his insides are vicious.'
Cheonhwi caught the stench of filth hidden beneath the kindly expression and neat attire.
No matter how well concealed, a thick scent of blood emanated from the old man's body. And his squinted eyes, half-hidden by long eyebrows, radiated murderous intent.
This was no mere one or two kills.
After a brief moment of mutual scrutiny, a heavy voice rumbled from the old man's lips.
"You're no ordinary fellow."
"Yeah? You look pretty ordinary to me. Can't even follow with your eyes at this level."
His eyes chilled at the provocation.
Yet the boiling rage within was plain to see.
"So, are you going to teach me how scary the world can be?"
"......"
The old man straightened his hunched back.
In an instant, the air grew heavy, and his presence etched itself into Cheonhwi's vision.
'Impressive internal energy.'
Cheonhwi quickly sized him up.
The energy he exuded ranked among the highest Cheonhwi had encountered so far.
"But internal energy isn't everything."
Cheonhwi flicked his hand.
The old man's emitted aura scattered in a breath, and the air returned to normal.
The old man's eyebrows twitched.
"You possess skill exceptional enough for such overconfidence. Hard to believe you're a later-generation disciple. But..."
The old man's beard quivered.
"You're still a greenhorn."
"Me? Or you?"
"Heh heh. The fact that you said that proves you're the greenhorn."
He remained composed despite the taunt.
"The jianghu is a place where a knife could fly at you from anywhere, anytime. Excessive confidence only hastens death..."
"That's for the powerless. Why hide if you have power?"
Cheonhwi cut him off sharply.
"......Arrogance that pierces the heavens. Someday, it will be your undoing."
Cheonhwi scratched his ear.
"Got it, so just come at me already?"
With that, he stared at the wall.
"No matter the Turtle Breath Great Law, it's been over two hours. Aren't those guys gonna suffocate down there?"
"...!"
The old man's eyebrows shot up.
"Kill him."
He issued the command in a sinister tone.
Pa-at!
No sooner had the words left his mouth than ten warriors burst from behind the wall.
Their lightness skills soared toward the sky.
Agile, free-flowing movements infused with intense power.
'Gathered a handful of elites, huh?'
Cheonhwi looked up at them.
In that instant, their airborne bodies spun.
Pabababat!
Hidden weapons and darts rained down like arrows.
Sharp and incredibly fast, poised to riddle Cheonhwi in a flash.
And as expected, they bore down on him. A venomous smile curled the lips of the attackers.
But the smiles vanished in the next moment.
For the hidden weapons and darts passed straight through Cheonhwi.
Puk! Ting—
The warriors snapped to attention upon seeing them embed in the ground or ricochet away, quickly scanning their surroundings.
As they whipped their heads around.
"Is that all the preparation you had?"
A voice came from behind.
Reflexively, they leaped back and reformed their ranks.
They exchanged subtle glances.
Taat!
Dust scattered in all directions.
First strike wins!
They charged before Cheonhwi could attack.
They knew dawdling against such a master would only raise their chances of defeat.
'Well, now. Look at these guys.'
Decisive and swift.
And not just that.
Their movements were systematic, on a whole other level from the Blood Dragon Sect disciples.
No, beyond any unit Cheonhwi had seen in his previous life.
'Each one at least Peak Realm. Gathered nothing but elites?'
It might have caught Cheon Yi-gae off guard.
But the opponent was Cheonhwi.
He took in their assault with his eyes, then lifted his left foot high and stomped down.
Axe Marching Foot!
His heel, laden with internal energy, smashed down like a swinging axe, shattering their weapons.
Kwajijik!
The impact sent the weapon-wielders reeling with internal injuries.
"Kuhk!"
"Ugh!"
"Urk!"
Five or six warriors vomited blood.
Deep wounds—the dark blood mixed with bits of viscera.
"Don't stop!"
One uninjured warrior shouted, preparing to attack.
"...!"
But Cheonhwi was already gone.
Peok!
His waist bent forward.
The warrior didn't even scream, collapsing to his knees without a word.
"......"
The warriors gulped dryly at Cheonhwi's sudden appearance.
Their minds were in turmoil.
They had prepared a joint assault too much for Cheon Yi-gae to handle, everything meticulously set.
Yet here they were, plans in ruins, facing an unknown foe instead.
And this opponent was no mere expert.
The warriors hurriedly transmitted soundlessly.
『Fall back for now.』
『Then prepare the joint assault again...』
As they exchanged via transmission.
"Hey, don't whisper with sound transmission. Just speak normally. Why bother?"
Cheonhwi's gaze fixed precisely on them, making the two falter.
"...!"
"H-how...?"
"Easy."
Cheonhwi grinned.
Reading sound transmission was simple.
Qi fluctuations flowed between them.
But detecting it required mastery over all surrounding internal energy.
Cheonhwi eyed the stunned pair.
"I'll give you a chance. Try using that weird internal art those guys down there used. Who knows? Maybe it'll let you win."
He pointed at the Blood Dragon Sect disciples.
They still trembled, unable to move.
The warriors' faces twisted.
As he said, the Hidden Heart Qi Art excelled at boosting power. But it had a fatal flaw that more than offset that...
Unleashing it consumed all accumulated internal energy.
Seeing them hesitate, Cheonhwi murmured lowly.
"Still not gonna?"
With that, he slowly drew his sword.
"Then no choice."
In that instant, his form vanished.
And simultaneously.
Sgak!
One warrior's head flew.
The airborne head tumbled to the ground, rolling to stop before them.
Meeting the bewildered eyes of the severed head, chills crawled up their spines.
Then an indifferent voice sounded.
"Decide for yourselves. Die as is, or unleash the Hidden Heart Qi Art and die."
Having taken a life with a single stroke, Cheonhwi locked eyes with the rest.
Fear began to sprout in their hearts at his abyss-black gaze.
"......"
But they bit their lips, suppressing the rising dread.
They had endured too many hardships to falter at this.
"Don't forget our goal."
"I know."
"The Hidden Heart Qi Art isn't time yet."
Steadying their resolve, they attacked once more without waiting.
"Still haven't learned."
As they refused to draw on the Hidden Heart Qi Art, Cheonhwi moved.
His form shot forward.
The warriors paled momentarily but scattered in all directions.
'Pointless.'
Cheonhwi didn't miss.
Swae-ae-ak!
Sharp sword qi sliced the air.
"...Hup!"
A longsword warrior frantically tried to deflect the incoming qi. But it grazed his shoulder.
One arm soared into the sky.
And then.
Whik—
Cheonhwi surged ahead.
His sword swung mercilessly.
Sharp sword lights exploded everywhere, claiming lives.
"You're the sixth."
Cheonhwi swung at the neck of a pale-faced, internally injured warrior.
That was when.
Kwang!
A powerful rebound force met him. Cheonhwi retracted his sword and eyed the newcomer.
"Oh? Coming at me yourself?"
The old man's face twisted.
"You've raised a monster right under our noses."
Muttering, he glanced at his palm.
His palm, unscathed since mastering the Bright Jade Hand, bore a long blood trace.
At that moment.
"D-Divine Brush Scholar?!"
A startled cry rang out.
Cheon Yi-gae stared at the old man, eyes bulging.
Divine Brush Scholar?
As Cheonhwi watched silently.
"Long time no see."
The Divine Brush Scholar spoke flatly.
"Why are you here...?"
Cheon Yi-gae's mind reeled.
The Divine Brush Scholar was a great hero who had purged countless jianghu criminals and demonic cultists thirty years ago before retiring from the world.
Five years ago, when he secluded himself fully, the Murim Alliance and the Righteous Gathering had jointly honored his righteousness in a grand celebration...
For him to be here meant.
Cheon Yi-gae trembled.
"You did this...!"
Hearing the fury-laced shout, the Divine Brush Scholar's eyes curved like half-moons.
"You dog! When did you discuss the future of the righteous sects?!"
"This is for that future."
"What nonsense...!"
The smiling Divine Brush Scholar's lips moved.
"Preparations are complete. Activate it."
In that instant, the warriors scrambled, stabbing the hearts of the Blood Dragon Sect Leader and disciples.
Sgak!
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Simultaneously, the Blood Dragon Sect members' bodies convulsed, blood streaming from their eyes.
Drip, drip. The falling blood soaked the ground as they collapsed one by one.
Whik—
Then the warriors who had stabbed climbed the wall, muttering incantations.
"What the hell are they doing?"
As Cheonhwi watched them.
"We have to get out of here!"
Reading the ominous signs, Cheon Yi-gae bolted.
But...
"Where do you think you're going? I prepared this formation for you."
The Divine Brush Scholar blocked his path.
"Formation...?"
"Thank you, Cheon Yi-gae. I planned to deal with you alone, but you brought along someone who might become a thorny foe later."
"Y-you bastard!"
Cheon Yi-gae unleashed Explosive Divine Palm.
Pa-ang!
But his palm force passed through the Divine Brush Scholar's body and vanished into the air.
"...!"
"The formation is already active."
The Divine Brush Scholar's form blurred.
"Farewell. At least you're not alone at the end—shouldn't that be comforting?"
Cheon Yi-gae spat venomously at the fading figure.
"You son of a bitch! You won't die easy!"
"I know."
The Divine Brush Scholar calmly shifted his gaze to Cheonhwi.
"Oh, right. I should thank you too. Because you dragged things out without killing my subordinates right away, I could complete this formation."
His lips twisted.
"Didn't I tell you? Your arrogance would one day trip you up."
With those final words, he vanished completely, and the scenery dyed blood-red.
Brilliant, vivid crimson like fresh blood.
Feeling the changes around him, surprise flickered in Cheonhwi's eyes.
'He activated this formation?'