Chapter 422
Chapter 422
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 422
Chapter Title: Facing Reality (3)
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Eon Yong-un crooked a finger toward Won-cheol right away.
"You first, alone, Monk Won-cheol."
At those words, Won-cheol regulated his breathing.
"Hoo."
Then, tilting his upper body diagonally, he extended a half-palm forward, assuming the characteristic Shaolin stance.
Thus, Won-cheol's body was ready to fight in the manner he had trained his entire life.
However...
"...!"
Suddenly, his body refused to move.
'...No openings at all.'
Eon Yong-un had been a tough opponent from the start.
It had been that way since their first clash at the Righteous Assembly.
But now, after time had passed, the Eon Yong-un before him was an opponent beyond mere "tough."
'...This sensation, I've only felt it from Master.'
Of course, he couldn't place Eon Yong-un on the same level as his master, who made opponents feel like they were facing a thousand-year-old tree.
But it was clear that he was beginning to exude a similar aura.
'You've taken another step forward.'
As sweat beaded on Won-cheol's forehead...
Eon Yong-un spoke up.
"Where's the one who agreed to spar?"
With those words, Eon Yong-un's figure blurred into afterimages as he charged at Won-cheol.
Sssshaaaaak!!!
To counter Eon Yong-un's movements, now too fast for the senses to track...
Won-cheol unleashed his fist energy wildly, like casting a net.
Ssak! Ssak! Ssak! Ssak!
He intended to play pure defense and keep a conservative distance.
'At my current level, even thinking of counterattacking is a luxury.'
In that instant.
A black vortex swirled from Eon Yong-un's left hand.
Shuuuwaaak!
The golden fist energy Won-cheol had unleashed warped toward Eon Yong-un's hand, as if sucked in.
"...Wh-what?!"
Eon Yong-un immediately dispersed the vortex and plunged into the opened space.
Shak—
Then, he rained punches down on Won-cheol.
Thud! Thud!
Thud-thud-thud-thud!!!
Won-cheol thrust out his Hundred-Step Divine Fist to shake him off.
"A-Amida Buddha!!"
But Eon Yong-un twisted his body like lightning and leisurely retreated, slipping out of Won-cheol's range.
"Hahk. Hahk."
Won-cheol felt utterly drained after just one exchange.
No, it wasn't just a feeling.
He had actually poured out his energy wildly to fend off Eon Yong-un.
"Huk. Hahk."
Won-cheol, long marked as Shaolin's successor and lavished with elixirs and supreme arts, possessed profound inner energy beyond his years.
Yet fighting like this would empty his vast dantian like a parched rice paddy in no time.
'And the Dragon of Aberrations is a swordsman, no less.'
As Won-cheol caught his breath...
Eon Yong-un, who had retreated some distance, spoke.
"If I were a real demon, Monk Won-cheol, you'd be dead right now."
"...I know."
"Do you really? The technique that warped the trajectory of your attacks just now was my own adaptation of the Blood Demon's Energy Absorption Method."
"......"
"If a demon used it, it would have sucked out your true energy. The Blood Cult ultimately splintered from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. The demonic prodigies you'll face ahead may use similar tactics. You can't afford to panic like that."
"...My apologies. We monks rarely get chances to face real demons."
"Yes. You haven't. You even went inland on that school trip. And your sparring partners have all been Righteous Murim masters who know your clan's history inside out."
"......"
"That's why I'm teaching you now. Have you caught your breath?"
At Eon Yong-un's question, Won-cheol assumed his stance again, his body aching all over.
Eon Yong-un chuckled and spoke.
"That was to heighten your vigilance with an attack style you've never seen. This time, I'll warn you first."
Then, he drew Regret from his waist and cut his left hand.
"I'm using the Blood Tide Technique now. It won't be like ordinary sword energy."
Once more, Eon Yong-un's body blurred into motion.
Ssaeak! Ssaeak!
Ssaeak!
Perhaps yielding one move.
Eon Yong-un's movements were a bit slower, but the blood energy swirling around Regret changed forms wildly, as forewarned.
Bang! Bang!
Bang! Bang! Boom!!!
As Won-cheol busily extended his fist rings, he hurled a question.
"The sword energy strikes freely like it's alive. Is this what Blood Cult techniques are like?"
"Theirs feel different—more sinister and dangerous. The bloody scent numbs the senses, and they can make blood vessels explode for self-destruction if needed."
"...But the Blood Demon was subjugated, wasn't he?"
"We subjugated him, but the Blood Cult's roots lie in the Jin Clan, one of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Eight Great Legacies. That clan still remains."
At Eon Yong-un's answer...
Won-cheol felt regret.
Not that the answer was insufficient.
'I regret not being there myself.'
There had been reason—Shaolin needed to guard the Central Plains for the subjugation to succeed.
'Still, I couldn't stand on the front lines to save the world.'
But Won-cheol knew enduring it was a Shaolin disciple's duty.
That roles differ to protect the realm and bring peace to the common folk.
Yet he now realized that Shaolin as it was fell short of fulfilling its role.
'Even a swan gliding gracefully above paddles furiously below.'
As that thought crossed his mind, Won-cheol spoke.
"The other Shaolin disciples should know this too."
Eon Yong-un nodded in satisfaction.
But contrary to his expression, his hands grew fiercer.
"We'll arrange exchanges or whatever later. First, take care of yourself, Monk Won-cheol. Jeong-hyeon!"
"Yes! Young Master Eon!"
"You join in too! Both of you, attack together!"
"Yes!"
The spar continued long after Jeong-hyeon joined.
Until their clothes were rags and their bodies exhausted.
Click.
Eon Yong-un sheathed Regret at his waist and asked Won-cheol.
"How was it?"
"...Hahk. Huk. It was enlightening. I faced my own shortcomings and Shaolin's."
"Not you, me."
"The Dragon of Aberrations... you mean?"
"My other brothers just call me a monster after spars. Even Jeong-hyeon here won't be honest. I want your thoughts, Monk. How was facing me after so long?"
"I can feel your martial arts have advanced further."
"That's it?"
At Eon Yong-un's return question, Won-cheol looked troubled.
"Even after teaming with Jeong-hyeon Dojang and still falling, with my lacking achievements, can I dare babble nonsense to the Dragon of Aberrations...?"
"Don't you have Master of Infinity as your teacher, reaching the pinnacle of martial arts? I figured you'd have a different eye. That's why I'm asking."
"...If you insist, I do have something to say."
"I'm all ears."
"At first, I was shocked. I thought wandering death zones wouldn't elevate your arts. But seeing you another step beyond us monks, I was in awe."
"And?"
"...Compared to the realm you stand in, your body seems a bit heavy."
Won-cheol recalled how he sensed that as he spoke.
'The Formless Sword's Body Transformation Technique.'
No one in the current Murim didn't know Eon Yong-un's fateful encounter.
'He might not fully utilize the suddenly increased foundation, or his heart could be heavy.'
But knowing didn't make it easy to voice, so Won-cheol just shared his impression and fell silent.
Meanwhile, Eon Yong-un let out a soft breath and turned.
"As I thought. Anyway, let's end today's spar here."
His shoulders looked broad yet heavy.
'How heavy is the weight of bearing the Formless Sword's lifetime?'
Won-cheol gripped his suddenly feeble-seeming fist, wishing to share that burden. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The northern reaches of the Great Pa Mountains, dividing Sichuan and Shaanxi.
In the crevices of this notoriously rugged range lay the stronghold of the Bandit King, who commanded all seventy-two bandit lairs under heaven.
A pure white hawk flew into this place called the Bandit Mountain Manor.
Hoolook!!
Bandits instinctively nock arrows at anything novel, thinking first of profit, second of shooting.
As the guards did so unconsciously...
Kikigeek.
The Twin Ghost Blades, left arm of Bandit King Do Jung-gwang, urgently shouted.
"You idiots! Lower your bows! It's one of ours!"
"Ours? How's a beast ours or yours?"
"Beast? It's smarter than you, punk."
Smacking the retorting lackey's head, the Twin Ghost Blades grabbed some jerky and dashed to the main hall.
"Second Boss! Young Master Gong Yun! Response has arrived!!"
Upon reaching the main hall...
Response, already perched on Namgung Yun's shoulder, glared at the lackeys as if telling them to manage properly.
Hooluk!
"W-We didn't shoot. You don't peck either."
Namgung Yun was reading the letter.
Quickly scanning it, he proudly displayed the letter and spoke.
"This is what I am to him. One of those friends Eon Yong-un can't do without."
Yet the letter Namgung Yun waved was utterly businesslike.
『Good work.
Be extra cautious, as the Fourth Young Lord's scrutiny may be uneasy, and there could be fallout from the Demonic Cult's Little Cult Lord struggle.
Report even trivial matters frequently.
I'll handle the request.』
The Twin Ghost Blades tilted his head and asked.
"...Isn't this just 'report often'? It's like the warrants from the yamen telling them to catch scum like us."
"You don't get it. See 'trivial matters' and 'frequently'? 'Trivial' includes personal affairs. Of course, I won't prattle on about such things. But interpret it as him worrying about this Namgung Yun that much."
Do Jung-gwang smirked smugly at Namgung Yun and proffered his own letter.
"Congrats then. Interpret this too."
The sender of Do Jung-gwang's letter was Gong Son-mukol.
It was filled solely with inquiries about his health from start to finish—nothing substantial.
"It's concern for your well-being, Senior. If you can't read, shall I teach you while you're here?"
"Kid, I know Thousand Character Classic! I mean, I wrote about my golden basin retirement, but why only this crap?"
"...Ahem. Golden basin requires full recovery first, no? I'm here anyway. Consider me a hostage."
"Argh. Who'd hold the Sword Emperor's grandson hostage and what'd happen?! You scare well, punk. Just go already! Why stick around?!"
"Anyway, the promise will be kept. No worries."
It wasn't a lie.
'Just missing "someday."'
As Namgung Yun thought this hardly counted as deceit compared to Eon Yong-un's cons...
A strange murmur came from outside the hall.
"...But?"
"...I'll go!"
A lackey burst in.
"Seeecond Boooooss!!!!"
"You punk. Guests here, and you slam the door? What of my dignity?! My side's pierced, not deaf—speak softly. Nearly deafened me!"
"A messenger from the Fourth Young Lord has arrived!"
"What? Messenger? Not assassin?!"
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The entrance exam passed without incident.
"From this moment, you shed your examinee status and become cadets."
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult seemed preoccupied with internal crackdowns and maintaining old alliances, so no foul play in the exam.
"After spring break, there will be an entrance ceremony. Cadet status can be revoked anytime, so heed the admissions office guidance and mind your conduct carefully."
The hastily prepared 'Necromancy Aptitude' gate succeeded thanks to Mount Mosan's disciples and my all-nighters, selecting twenty special admits safely.
As I and my brothers, plus the brothers and faculty smiled at welcoming another class...
Hoolook!
Response, sent to Namgung Yun, flew in and perched on my shoulder.
I immediately checked the letter tied to its leg.
The letter said Baek Gwang-ho had sent someone to Do Jung-gwang, summoning to Changnok Island.
"Seniors. If the professors ask, say we have Student Council business."
"Understood. We'll relay that."
Handing off to the grad student seniors, I signaled my brothers to follow and headed to the Student Council room.
There, I passed the letter around.
When it returned to me...
I wrote a new one and spoke.
"As you saw, Baek Gwang-ho's moving. Eun Ha-seong."
"Yes?"
"Go to the main building now and deliver my letter to East Tower Leader. Tell him to cover for us with the Chancellor."
At my words, Jeon Gal-seol frowned and spoke.
"If Grandfather needs to cover with the Chancellor... it's dangerous, right?"
Eun Ha-yeon and Dang Ok-gi followed.
"You're going personally?"
"Kyak!"
"Have to go myself. It's that kind of matter. Spring break too, perfect."
"Then me too..."
I flatly rejected Eun Ha-yeon's follow-up.
"Miss Eun is Cheongjuk's Autonomy President. Gotta handle new students. Miss Jeon Gal too, mind the Student Council."
Then selected one cadet from each of the four dorms.
"So-rung and Jang-ho, Ok-gi and So-jin sis. One from each dorm makes good cover for professors."
Then...
Won-cheol raised his hand eagerly.
"This monk wishes to join too."
Good for show and strength, so I nodded.
"Fine."
I ordered the named brothers.
"Those called, change to travel gear within half a gung and assemble light for the road."
They assembled swiftly at my command.
"Time's pressing. We run."
We activated lightness skills and headed south.
At the three-way fork south of Dangang-gu, we took the rarely chosen middle path.
Peng So-jin asked.
"I get we're crossing the Yangtze now."
"And?"
"But Haomen HQ's in Hangzhou, so Wuchang's faster—no, left path. For Great Pa Mountains' Bandit Manor, east via Sichuan's quicker. Why the middle official road...? Wait, are we heading to the Eastern Patrol Marshal?"
"Yes."
As my brothers gasped simultaneously...
"Baek Gwang-ho doesn't move this openly. This is calling me."
I grinned and continued.
"The Fourth Young Lord's matter might resolve easier than thought. I'll explain en route—hurry."