Chapter 237
Chapter 237
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 237
Chapter Title: First Time? (2)
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Right after the clash between Anti-Dragon Palm and Hundred-Step Divine Fist.
I charged straight at Won-cheol.
And swung Regret, wrapped in sword energy.
Screeech! Screeeeech!!!!
Screeeeeech!!!
I was a swordsman, and Won-cheol was a fist fighter.
A duel between one wielding a blade and one with bare fists clenched.
If this had been a fight between ordinary folk, the one with the weapon would have had the overwhelming advantage.
But Won-cheol was no ordinary man.
His limbs, shrouded in golden light, precisely blocked the trajectory of my swinging Regret.
Boom!!!
Boom! Boom!!!!
The pinnacle of the Central Plains martial world, Shaolin.
It wasn't just by allocation that he stood at the forefront among the geniuses who had earned the chance to learn there.
Kak-won, who first unleashed Dragon Coiling Fist, was the archetype of Shaolin's later-generation disciples.
And Kak-sim, who followed with Dharma Thirteen Swords, was the outlier.
'Won-cheol is the essence.'
The Shaolin spirit of tempering bones and body, accumulating strength and qi to reach the pinnacle of martial prowess.
It was already evident from his clear eyes and honed physique.
But its true value was confirmed in Won-cheol's immediate counterattack.
Screeeeech!!
His form was merely bare-handed combat.
Yet with golden light enveloping his entire body, every part of him was a weapon.
Boomph!!!!
Extend a finger, and it became a piercing spear.
Screeech!
Boom!
Raise the hand blade, and it was a sword.
Clench the fist, and it turned into an iron hammer.
Boom! Boom!
Each technique pouring forth belonged to Shaolin's Seventy-Two Supreme Arts, heavy and profound beyond measure.
Boooomph!!!!
It was no wonder the original story's characters had given him the moniker "Dragon Fighter."
'Even Jeong-hyeon couldn't win their first bout.'
But I wasn't Jeong-hyeon.
I moved my hands and feet busily.
Twist! Twist!
I dodged what I could by weaving my body this way and that.
For what I couldn't dodge, I parried with Regret.
There was no room for leisure.
Won-cheol had closed in right under my nose.
"Hmph."
Thinking he'd entered a range where I couldn't easily unleash Anti-Dragon Palm or sword strikes, he grinned.
But I had the Heaven-Splitting Fist Method, refined from the Pearl Eon Family's Cloud Ladder Flow.
I subtly twisted my body and unleashed lightning-fast punches with my left hand.
Whap! Whap! Whap!
Screech! Whap!!!!!
Won-cheol's face twisted in realization at the barrage of fist strikes like beams of light.
But his body moved faster than his expression.
Distinguishing in that instant which strikes to take and which to evade.
Thud! Thud!
He shrugged his shoulders to absorb a few hits in advance.
And countered with his own fist strikes.
Whap! Whap! Whap!
Crack!
After several exchanges like that.
At some point, we ended up face-to-face, arms crossed in a deadlock.
In that moment, Won-cheol grinned and spoke to me.
"You have real skill in fist arts as well."
"My family is what it is."
The Heaven-Splitting Fist Method was something I'd only picked up during break, but it wasn't the time to mention that mid-spar, so I just said it casually.
But Won-cheol brought it up further.
"The Pearl Eon Family is renowned for fists too. Ah, then your revival..."
As Won-cheol, holed up in Mount Song, muttered about outdated news.
I immediately headbutted him.
He instinctively tried to pull back, but he was a beat too slow.
Crack!!!
Won-cheol, struck on the bridge of his nose mid-retreat.
Blood streamed from his nose as he looked flustered, but I was just as bewildered.
I chuckled and said,
"I get it if you're provoking on purpose, but letting your mind wander mid-spar is a mistake."
"...This monk's mind wandering during a duel. My master scolds me often for it. Thank you for the lesson, Dragon of the Nether."
And with that, Won-cheol's attacks grew even fiercer.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Dozens of exchanges had passed since Eon Yong-un and Won-cheol began trading blows.
Their duel clearly transcended the level of later-generation disciples.
At point-blank range, sword energy and golden light tangled chaotically; whenever distance opened, Anti-Dragon Palm inevitably clashed with Shaolin supreme arts.
Won-cheol's robes were in tatters, scratches everywhere.
Eon Yong-un's condition wasn't much different.
"Hmph."
"Hoo."
Yet they were smiling amid it all.
The younger Eon brothers had gathered, watching the spectacle.
Among them, Dang Ok-gi shook his head and spoke.
"...Those guys are crazy."
Cheon Jang-ho chimed in at Dang Ok-gi's words.
"Right?! Ugh. Even if they offered me the Supreme Reversion Pill instead of a Great Return Pill, I couldn't fight like that!"
Peng So-cheon, beside them, rubbed his chin and furrowed his brow.
"Supreme Reversion Pill? Does that exist?"
"Ah, Brother So-cheon! It's a figure of speech, a figure of speech!"
Cheon Jang-ho pounded his chest as if his side might split.
Eon Yong-myeong held back the laughing Cheon Jang-ho.
"Pfft."
"Hahaha."
"Ahaha."
As light laughter spread among the younger Eon brothers.
Jeong-hyeon, who had fainted at Yang Ho-cheo's place and returned, spoke up.
"The mood seems good? Is Brother Eon holding the advantage? From what I saw on the way, 'dragon and tiger locked in combat' came to mind."
Wu So-rung answered Jeong-hyeon's question.
"It's evenly matched."
"Yes. He's met a true rival."
"But didn't you faint, Brother Jeong-hyeon? Did Hall Leader Yang say it's okay for you to move around like this?"
"Thank you for your concern, Brother Wu. He said it's fine; I just lost consciousness briefly from exhaustion. Do I look bad?"
Eun Ha-seong spoke up at those words.
"You look fine. If anything, Brother Namgung Yun's expression looks worse. Brother Yun?"
"...A worthy rival."
"Brother Gongyun!"
"...? Did you call me?"
"Your face looks grim. What are you thinking so deeply about?"
"...Nothing."
Meanwhile.
Sikgal Seol-ji let out a deep sigh.
"Just when I think Brother Yong-un has caught up a bit, he shows me exactly how far behind I still am."
Eun Ha-yeon gave a hollow laugh in response.
"...Right? And he drags us along like that, so we can't help but follow."
There are fights in this world that set your eyes ablaze just by watching.
Their words varied wildly.
But the younger Eon brothers' eyes never left Eon Yong-un and Won-cheol's battle.
As they steeled their resolves.
Shaolin's Abbot Gong-hyo was also gazing at the same scene.
Screeeeech!!!
Every time Won-cheol unleashed the supreme arts forged by Shaolin's long history.
The audience in the stands stirred.
"Heavens! Dragon Claw Hand after Lotus Ring Leg!"
But there was one more who astonished them even further.
The Dragon of the Nether, standing toe-to-toe as Won-cheol's opponent.
Eon Yong-un, blocking every unbelievable feat of Won-cheol's martial prowess, shocked them most of all.
This duel between two later-generation disciples might just etch a new page in history.
"...Eon Yong-un blocked that?!"
Abbot Gong-hyo chuckled softly, letting the surrounding murmurs pass.
He closed his eyes and recalled Eon Yong-un's words.
'The victor will record the truth.'
At first glance, it sounded like the words of one who exalted dominance.
If a Shaolin disciple had said it, he'd have been sternly rebuked and sent to meditate in a cave.
Yet somehow, Eon Yong-un's words didn't grate.
They just seemed a bit audacious.
'Because his actions so far haven't strayed from the Buddha's teachings.'
Eon Yong-un's path had endured insults and delusions, saving the suffering beings of the six realms, true to the Buddha's words.
'A wondrous person.'
Even now.
The instructors from the Righteous Martial Academy, gathered from various sects, were all cheering for Eon Yong-un.
'Peng Jae-hyeok has ties to the Eon Family, and Gwangpung Too-gae is Qingzhu Hall's supervisor, so that's fine...'
Even Kyung-hye, Sikgal Min, and Han Yeong were genuinely rooting for him.
And Chang-ryang of Hyangran Hall seemed to be supporting him inwardly.
'What strange times.'
With that thought, Abbot Gong-hyo lifted his eyelids again.
Tracking Eon Yong-un's fierce exchanges with Won-cheol, he pondered.
'...When he spoke so audaciously, he seemed to understand Shaolin's position.'
A man who roamed the world hunting the Demonic Cult.
He could easily resent Shaolin for merely standing firm in youthful vigor.
But Eon Yong-un showed no such sign.
Only expressing his intent to surpass Shaolin disciples who trained solely on Mount Song.
Hinting that with the Demonic Cult war inevitable, they couldn't stay put forever.
Abbot Gong-hyo thought Eon Yong-un audacious once more.
And unwittingly muttered to himself.
"...Let's see first how today's history will be recorded."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I'd lost count of how many exchanges with that grinning bald kid who smirked even after taking hits.
"Hoo."
My whole body was drenched in sweat.
After soloing Hyangran Hall in the semifinals, unleashing qi-infused attacks had pushed my inner energy near its limit.
'I need a change.'
With that in mind.
I deliberately swung Regret wide, exposing an opening.
Won-cheol's attack poured in without hesitation.
Screeeeech!
Charging like lightning, he aimed a straight punch at the gap I'd opened in my chest.
Screech!
Screeeeech!!!
But as if I'd been waiting, I spun and slashed with Regret.
Realizing it was certain death, he urgently flipped backward to escape.
Whoosh! Whoooosh!!!
Seemingly needing a change himself.
From a distance, he roared a Buddhist chant with all his might.
"Amitabha! Buddha!!!"
And leaped several zhang into the air from standstill.
Suspended mid-air, Won-cheol placed his left hand on his dantian as if supporting the heavens, right hand extended pressing down on the earth in a hand seal.
'Subduing Demon Touching Earth Seal?'
Moments after Won-cheol formed the seal said to have subdued all demons by Shakyamuni Buddha.
His body glowed with an unprecedented intense golden light.
Woooong!!!
He spun once in mid-air, then plummeted toward me, palm fully extended.
Screeeeeeeeeech!!!!!!!!!!
Won-cheol falling like a meteor, palm turned to pure golden brilliance radiating light.
Gasps erupted from the stands.
"W-What's that?!"
"Tathagata Divine Palm! It's Tathagata Divine Palm!!"
I was just as startled.
Until now, countermeasures had come instantly upon seeing the techniques, but for Tathagata Divine Palm, no clear sense of how to counter it surfaced.
As I gripped my sword tighter in bewilderment.
My master's voice rang clearly in my mind.
- Where is your sect from?
'Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect.'
- What is the sword of Heaven-Splitting?
My master's words ended there.
But in that instant, enlightenment dawned like a clear sky in my mind.
The answer was already within me.
Wasn't it?
My sect is Heaven-Splitting Sword Sect.
And the sword of Heaven-Splitting is...
'The sword that cleaves the heavens.'
In this moment.
The fierce swords and domineering styles I'd faced flashed through my mind.
'Uncle Mu-hyeok's way.'
Namgung Yun's Imperial Sword.
Kak-sim's supreme Dharma Thirteen Swords.
'Fierce sword.'
Layered atop them, the Heaven-Splitting Sword techniques I'd wielded countless times flickered like a lantern show.
I poured my remaining inner energy into Regret.
Woooong-
'For lacking stamina, borrow from Blood Weaving Technique.'
From the wound on my left hand, I drew blood threads and wrapped them around my body.
Thus, I clearly fixed my gaze on the descending Won-cheol.
And unleashed Heaven-Splitting's fierce sword.
- That is Heaven-Cleaving Mountain Breaker.
Screeeeeeeeech!!!!!!!!
Screeeeeeeeeech!!
With a air-tearing roar, Heaven-Cleaving Mountain Breaker collided with Tathagata Divine Palm, unleashing a deafening shockwave and tremendous gust.
Kwaaaaaang!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tumbling through the gap and crashing onto the arena was Won-cheol.
Boom!!!!!
Of course, my joints throbbed as if I'd been thoroughly battered too.
But I was the one standing on the arena.
I approached Won-cheol, sprawled and gasping, and pointed Regret at him.
"One down on the ground, one standing. The match is decided, no?"
Won-cheol, mid-panting, asked,
"...Hah. Haah. That secret art using blood... You could have used it from the start, couldn't you?"
I could have.
But using it from the beginning wouldn't have yielded the same result.
"In the jianghu, you always hide part of your true power. If you didn't know, etch it in now."
"Heh heh. Learning so much from this spar... This monk admits defeat. It was a fine lesson."
I looked toward the judges' stand.
Instructor Jeong Geuk-gyeong raised his hand toward Qingzhu Hall's flag.
"Martial arts division finals. Victory to Qingzhu Hall!"
"Waaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!"
"The Dragon of the Nether beat Won-cheol! Qingzhu! Qingzhu beat Shaolin!!!"
"The, the world's top later-generation disciple!"
"Eon Yong-un! Eon Yong-un!! Eon Yong-un!!!"
"Dragon of the Nether! Dragon of the Nether!! Dragon of the Nether!!!"
Amid the roaring cheers.
I extended my hand to Won-cheol.