Chapter 576: Facing the World's Greatest Martial Artist
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 576: Facing the World's Greatest Martial Artist
".............."
The countless spectators surrounding the training ground stood frozen, their mouths agape in sheer horror.
What had just unfolded before their eyes was utterly impossible.
The hero of the Great War of Righteousness and Demons, the man who had once saved the Murim from the Demonic Cult.
The World's Greatest Martial Artist, said to have no equal under the heavens.
Lee Jae-won, the Alliance Leader of the Cheonmu Alliance—the most powerful martial organization in the world—had been slammed face-first into the ground in a pathetic display.
And he had been brought low by a Rising Star who was significantly younger than him.
How could they not be horrified?
He was a man who commanded a level of trust that bordered on religious faith. Some even worshipped him as a living god.
Yet that very Lee Jae-won—
The man who held their absolute, faith-like trust—
The man revered as a deity—
Had been planted into the dirt.
And it had happened in an instant, without him even being able to offer a hint of resistance.
The shock was so profound that no one could find their voice. What on earth had just happened?
Meanwhile, Lee Jae-won still wore a dazed expression. He hadn't fully grasped the situation yet.
It had happened the moment he swung his hand to send a gale toward Jang Sun-woo. The gust of wind flying toward Sun-woo had suddenly reversed its trajectory and surged back at him.
Caught in that abrupt whirlwind, he had been swept away before he could even think of resisting, spinning through the air like a windmill.
Then, his body had crashed straight into the ground.
In a truly unsightly, humiliating posture.
‘You son of a bitch...!!!!’
The moment he realized he had been grounded by Jang Sun-woo, Lee Jae-won screamed curses in his head. A bottomless sense of shame and insult surged from the depths of his soul.
He had been slammed into the dirt like a dog in front of a massive crowd. He, the supreme sovereign of the Murim, who was considered to have no rival in the world.
He felt humiliated by his current state. He felt insulted that he had shown such a pathetic side of himself to so many people.
‘Jang Sun-woooooo!!!!’
Lee Jae-won shrieked internally. He couldn't handle the soaring rage.
‘You dog-like bastard... I’ll kill you... I’ll kill you... I’ll kill you!’
Soon, a murderous intent began to flicker in Lee Jae-won's eyes. The will to slaughter the boy erupted within him.
Thump.
Lee Jae-won quickly scrambled to his feet.
"Are you alright, Alliance Leader?"
As he stood up, Sun-woo asked him with a look of feigned concern.
"......I believe an explanation is in order," Lee Jae-won said, his expression dark and ominous.
"An explanation?" Sun-woo asked back, looking confused.
"How... how is it that you have mastered the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth?!"
Lee Jae-won bellowed, his voice infused with internal energy so that it thundered throughout the grounds.
Vrooooooom!
The area around the training ground began to tremble incessantly under the weight of his voice.
"The Great Shift of Heaven and Earth?!"
"The martial art used by the King of Demons?"
"Why is a technique of the Demonic Cult appearing here?"
"He’s a cultist!"
Upon hearing those words, the crowd fell into a state of chaos.
What was the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth? Was it not the supreme martial art of the West, originally from Persia, and the Cult Protection Martial Art that only the leaders of the Demonic Cult could learn?
The most wicked and powerful of martial arts had just revealed itself. How could they not be thrown into turmoil?
"........I believe there has been a misunderstanding, Alliance Leader."
In response to Lee Jae-won's accusation, Sun-woo spoke with a calm expression.
"I have not learned the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth."
"Are you implying that I, the Alliance Leader, am lying?"
Lee Jae-won's face twisted into a mask of feigned indignation.
"It is not that. I am saying that you are mistaken."
Sun-woo continued, attempting to pacify Lee Jae-won.
"There is no mistake! I clearly felt the direction of the gale being reversed. Is that not the very essence of the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, which can redirect force at will?"
Lee Jae-won glared at Sun-woo with eyes as cold as ice. He had felt it. He had seen the whirlwind he created being flipped in an instant. If this wasn't the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, then what else could it be?
"It is not the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth."
Sun-woo shook his head.
"What?"
"What I used was Douzhuan Xingyi."
Sun-woo spoke in a composed tone.
"What!?"
Lee Jae-won asked back, his face full of disbelief.
Like the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, Douzhuan Xingyi was a secret technique and family martial art of the Moyong Clan that could return an opponent's technique or change its direction at will. It was something only those of the Moyong bloodline could learn.
How could Jang Sun-woo, the disciple of the Poison King, have mastered it? It was nonsense.
"You brat! How dare you lie to my face!"
Lee Jae-won raised his voice, looking utterly incensed.
"It is no lie."
Sun-woo continued calmly.
"Douzhuan Xingyi is a secret technique and family art that only those of the Moyong bloodline can learn. How could someone like you have mastered it?!"
Lee Jae-won's brow furrowed deeply.
"I happened to have the chance to witness Douzhuan Xingyi by chance. I was able to replicate it after seeing it just once."
Sun-woo spoke in a low, steady voice.
"Absurd! How can you claim to have mastered a martial art just by witnessing it once!"
Lee Jae-won's expression remained one of pure disbelief. It was impossible. Replicating something as profound as Douzhuan Xingyi just by looking at it was unheard of. If it were a simple sword technique or footwork, one might mimic the form, but Douzhuan Xingyi was different. It was impossible without the Moyong family's unique mental method and specific internal energy circulation.
"You are lying to hide the fact that you've learned the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth!" Lee Jae-won roared.
"I have not learned the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth. Alliance Leader, I can prove it."
"And how exactly do you intend to prove that!"
Lee Jae-won narrowed his eyes. He was certain Sun-woo was playing some kind of trick.
"Is the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth not a demonic art? If I had learned it, Demonic Energy would be flowing through my body."
Sun-woo looked at Lee Jae-won and explained as if teaching a child.
"So, check for yourself. See if there is any Demonic Energy flowing within me."
Sun-woo looked at Lee Jae-won with a remarkably confident attitude.
"..........."
Faced with such boldness, Lee Jae-won fell silent. He was at a loss for words because of Sun-woo's sheer confidence.
‘Where does this confidence come from?’
Lee Jae-won was puzzled. No matter how he looked at it, that move felt like the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth. But since the boy was acting so defiant, a seed of doubt was planted. Usually, someone in this position would be trying to flee the training ground, not standing their ground like this.
"Fine! I shall personally inspect your body. And if I find even a trace of Demonic Energy, I will shatter your Dantian on the spot!"
Lee Jae-won declared loudly. His voice was thick with resolve.
"As you wish."
Sun-woo replied calmly. He slowly stepped forward, offering his Dantian to Lee Jae-won.
Seeing this, Lee Jae-won slowly reached out toward Sun-woo's Dantian.
Slap.
Lee Jae-won's palm made contact with Sun-woo's Dantian.
Twitch.
Sun-woo flinched slightly as the palm touched him. A hint of tension arose at the thought of entrusting his body to Lee Jae-won.
‘This bastard, he’s so damn suspicious.’
Sun-woo cursed inwardly. He didn't like Lee Jae-won's persistence.
Vrooooom.
Suddenly, internal energy began to flow into his Dantian. It was the energy of Lee Jae-won's Great Void One-Qi Art, prying its way in to check for Demonic Energy.
‘.......Great Void One-Qi Art.’
Sun-woo felt a sense of comfort as the familiar energy entered his body. After all, Sun-woo was the one who had achieved the Ethereal Body through the Great Void One-Qi Art. He couldn't help but feel a sense of ease rather than discomfort.
Vrooooom.
The energy of the Great Void One-Qi Art began to spread through all his fine meridians and blood vessels. It seemed Lee Jae-won intended to find even the smallest lingering trace of Demonic Energy.
‘Waste of time, you idiot.’
Sun-woo sneered inwardly while looking at Lee Jae-won. He found the man's actions utterly meaningless.
By completing the Ethereal Body, often called the body of an immortal, Sun-woo had emptied everything from his Dantian. Whether it was the energy of the Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art or the Great Void One-Qi Art, it didn't matter.
In such a state, there was no way Lee Jae-won would feel anything. He would find absolutely nothing.
A thick smile began to form on Sun-woo's lips.
‘Fuck... what... what is this... why... why can't I feel any Demonic Energy!?’
On the other hand, Lee Jae-won, who was channeling his energy into Sun-woo's Dantian, was overcome with bewilderment. He had searched every nook and cranny of the meridians and blood vessels, but the presence of Demonic Energy was nowhere to be found.
‘Why! Why isn't it there!’
Lee Jae-won screamed internally. He had put on such a grand show of rebuking the boy, acting as if he had caught a minion of the Demonic Cult. If it became known that he failed to find any Demonic Energy, many would mock him. They would say the Alliance Leader was so petty that he tried to frame a Rising Star just because he was embarrassed about getting hit.
It was a horrifying thought.
‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!’
Lee Jae-won cursed repeatedly in his mind as he searched again and again. He looked for even a speck of Demonic Energy that might have been left behind.
After some time had passed...
Slide.
Lee Jae-won slowly pulled his hand away from Sun-woo's Dantian.
"Well? Did you feel any Demonic Energy?"
Sun-woo asked, looking at Lee Jae-won.
"........I felt nothing."
Lee Jae-won spoke with a scowl, his pride clearly wounded.
"That’s a relief. Then I suppose you finally believe me."
Sun-woo grinned as he spoke.
"............It seems I was mistaken."
Facing that smile, Lee Jae-won finally conceded. He couldn't think of any further grounds for an argument.
Buzz, buzz.
As soon as Lee Jae-won finished speaking, murmurs began to erupt from all directions.
"What? So he didn't learn the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth?"
"I guess he’s not a cultist after all."
"The Alliance Leader was too hasty. How could he push someone so aggressively like that?"
"The Alliance Leader was foolish... he should have confirmed it properly first. Tsk tsk."
"He made such a grand proclamation...... it seems the Alliance Leader has lost his touch."
The spectators each threw in their two cents, heating up the atmosphere. The main topic was criticism of the Alliance Leader.
‘Grrrr! You sons of bitches!’
Lee Jae-won cursed inwardly. Just moments ago, these people were praising him for catching a demonic minion, and now their attitude had flipped so drastically that his blood boiled.
"I'm glad. It ended as just a simple misunderstanding on the Alliance Leader's part."
Sun-woo spoke, emphasizing the word "misunderstanding." It was as if he were mocking him.
"I... apologize."
Lee Jae-won apologized while looking at Sun-woo. He wanted to scream and throw a tantrum, but there were too many eyes watching. In this situation, the best course of action was to show the magnanimity of a great man by admitting his mistake.
"It was an understandable mistake. After all, how could you not be confused when someone masters another clan's secret technique just by seeing it?"
Sun-woo spoke with a nonchalant expression.
"I appreciate you saying that."
Lee Jae-won expressed his gratitude. Even though he hated the reality of it, he felt that humility and pretense were necessary.
"Now that the misunderstanding is cleared, why don't we finish what we started?"
Sun-woo spoke with a calm face.
"What we started?"
Lee Jae-won asked, looking puzzled.
"Shouldn't we resume the martial duel?"
Sun-woo looked at Lee Jae-won with a straight gaze. Sun-woo wanted to duel. Specifically, a duel with Lee Jae-won, the man called the World's Greatest Martial Artist. He wanted to know how much the gap between them had narrowed. That was the only reason he requested the resumption.
‘Look at this brat.’
Lee Jae-won frowned as he looked at Sun-woo. He felt a surge of irritation at the confidence Sun-woo showed in requesting to continue. The boy wasn't afraid of him. Lee Jae-won had radiated a significant amount of internal energy to intimidate him, yet the man before him treated him as if it were nothing. As if he felt no fear at all.
That fact was incredibly unpleasant.
"You're right. The duel must continue."
Shriiiing.
Lee Jae-won placed his hand on the scabbard at his waist and drew a precious sword that radiated a brilliant, ethereal light.
"Wait, what!?"
"The Alliance Leader is using a sword!?"
"Ho ho... to think I'd see this..."
The spectators were shocked. No matter which Rising Star he faced, Lee Jae-won had always fought barehanded. But now, he had drawn his sword against Jang Sun-woo. How could they not be stunned?
"Come."
Lee Jae-won pointed his dazzling sword at Sun-woo.
"I won't hold back."
Upon hearing those words, a small smile played on Sun-woo's lips.
Whish, whish.
He then unfurled the Dragon Tail Soft Sword that was wrapped around his waist. He intended to give it his all.
Now, with their weapons drawn, Lee Jae-won and Sun-woo faced each other with deadly serious eyes. A massive storm of fighting spirit began to swirl between the two men.