Chapter 129: Achieving a New Realm of Martial Arts (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 129: Achieving a New Realm of Martial Arts (2)
“Witch! I have come to avenge my father, whom you murdered. Stretch out your neck and prepare to die!”
“My brother’s soul still wanders the Nine Heavens! I will soothe his spirit by taking your life, witch!”
“I shall have vengeance for my senior brother!”
The shouts of those claiming they had come for revenge against Chu Bong-hwa were as varied as they were loud.
“Shut your mouths! Every man I killed deserved to die!”
Chu Bong-hwa’s sharp retort only served to further incense the gathered martial artists. It was like pouring oil onto a raging fire.
“This witch has clearly not repented! We came to pass judgment now that she has been taken prisoner by the New Dragon of Sichuan, yet she remains as arrogant as ever!” one man shouted, full of bravado.
I finally understood what was happening. Word must have spread that I had captured the Blood Witch, and these people had swarmed here, relying on my reputation to try and get their hands on her.
The man who had shouted drew his sword and cried out, “Let us eliminate this witch and restore justice to the Murim!”
The surrounding martial artists drew their weapons in unison, chanting, “Kill the witch!”
Chu Bong-hwa gave a thin smirk. “I have never backed down from a fight! Come then!”
As she raised both hands and activated her Small Hand Skill, her palms began to turn translucent. Seeing this, the faces of the gathered martial artists turned pale. It seemed they had assumed her dantian had been destroyed or her martial arts sealed since she was my prisoner.
“Call for Young Hero Eo!”
Terrified by the sight of a perfectly capable Blood Witch, they began screaming for me. A sigh escaped my lips. It was obvious they weren't here for revenge; they just wanted the fame of being the ones who killed the Blood Witch. Revenge was merely a convenient excuse.
I stepped forward and spoke. “I am Eo Ja-seo.”
When I clasped my hands in a polite greeting, the men spoke excitedly. “Are you Young Hero Eo? Good. Why is that witch allowed to roam free like this?”
I spoke to the man in a calm, persuasive tone. “The Blood Witch, Chu Bong-hwa, has repented and intends to spend the rest of her life performing good deeds. Therefore, I ask my fellow brothers of the Murim to trust me and withdraw.”
“How can you trust such a witch, Young Hero Eo? A person’s nature does not change overnight.”
“She has already given me her word, and I have placed a restriction upon her. If she leaves my side or attempts to harm me, the restriction will kill her instantly, so you need not worry. If I observe her committing any evil acts contrary to her promise, I shall punish her myself.”
I took great pains to explain this to them. If I had followed my true temperament, I would have told them to get lost, but since I was now famous as the righteous "Great Small Hero," I had to coax them properly.
“We came here for vengeance against the Blood Witch! We care for nothing else!”
When they continued to be unreasonable, I raised my voice and recited something I had heard an apostate monk say back when I was a waiter.
“Allow me to say one thing. In the Buddhist faith, there was once a venerable monk named Kanadeva. He spread the Dharma with such passion and grace that he became a target for non-believers. Eventually, one such man stabbed him in the stomach. To his panicked assassin, the monk said, ‘If you go down the mountain, you will be caught and suffer greatly; flee toward the peak instead.’ He tried to help the very man who sought to kill him, saying, ‘You have a master and an enemy only because you have not yet attained enlightenment; these are but your thoughts, not reality.’ When his disciples arrived and tried to pursue the assassin in a rage, the monk stopped them. His final words before entering Nirvana were: ‘Hatred is never ceased by hatred; it is only ceased by endless love.’ I not only believe in the words of Kanadeva, but I strive to live by them. Therefore, even if I cannot become a man like Kanadeva, I have chosen to follow his will, and I cannot stand by and watch you harm her!”
Usually, such a speech would lead to some level of understanding, but these men were so blinded by the desire for fame that it was like chanting sutras to a cow’s ear. Instead, they threatened me.
“We are but foolish sentient beings and cannot understand such sermons! We must satisfy our grudge!”
For a crowd that couldn't be persuaded or moved, fear was the best remedy. I needed to subtly threaten them so they would back off.
“Very well! If you insist on revenge, you must defeat me first! I shall accept your challenges!”
As soon as I spoke, the Blood Witch’s cold voice drifted from behind me. “There is no need. This is my problem; I will handle it. Those who want something from me, come forward. If you can kill me, then do so. But do not resent me if I kill you instead.”
The martial artists hesitated for a moment, intimidated, before shouting back, “Fine! You witch! Dying by your hand wouldn't be a bad way to go!”
The situation turned dire as they stepped forward in anger. It seemed they believed I wouldn't actually let them die.
“I am the one who took her in, so the fight and the responsibility are mine. Direct your frustration at me!”
At my words, the Blood Witch’s face contorted as she stepped forward. Fearing she might ruin everything, I quickly sent her a message via Sound Transmission.
[Stay still, no matter what I say. We have to settle this here and now. If we don't, people will keep swarming you for revenge forever.]
She replied back through Sound Transmission.
[Even so, when did I ever become your subordinate? Let me be clear: we are companions, not master and servant.]
I gave her a small smirk. It seemed she hated the idea of being known as my subordinate. Then again, it made sense—why would a master of the Extreme Intent Realm be the subordinate of a third-rate fraud?
[Of course. But if I don't put it this way, I won't be able to protect you even if the Nine Great Sects come knocking. I’ve built some rapport with a few of them, so I can act as a shield. Just bear with it, even if you don't like it.]
And just like that, I had effectively made her my subordinate.
“Fine! Then I shall represent everyone and duel Young Hero Eo.”
Suddenly, a sturdy man stepped forward. I looked at him, wondering who was acting so bold, and was immediately struck with shock. The aura and fighting spirit radiating from him were not those of a mere expert.
He’s not below me.
That was the first thought that crossed my mind the moment I saw him.
“May I ask your esteemed name?”
The man looked to be in his thirties, with a body devoid of any excess fat. Since I couldn't see any weapons on him, he was undoubtedly a master of fist techniques.
He clasped his hands in greeting. “I am Han Wol-baek!”
Gasp! I nearly jumped out of my skin at the name.
Hearing it, Hyung You-jeong shouted, “I know that name! Are you perhaps the disciple of the Fist King, Seok Jeong?”
The man, Han Wol-baek, nodded. “That is correct. I am that Han Wol-baek.”
Good heavens. A disciple of the Fist King? Why on earth would someone like him come all this way claiming a grudge against the Blood Witch?
Despite everyone’s shock, I maintained a calm expression. If you show panic, you’ve already lost half the battle. It gives the opponent a weakness to exploit and causes you to lose momentum.
I asked in a nonchalant voice, as if it were no big deal, “What brings the disciple of the Fist King here?”
Han Wol-baek’s eyes gleamed as he looked at me. “A distant relative of mine was killed by the Blood Witch. I have come for revenge.”
“Hahahaha!”
What a load of nonsense. Revenge for a distant relative? To think he’d use such a flimsy excuse.
“What is your true purpose?”
Han Wol-baek smirked. “To be honest, I was passing through on business and heard that the strongest master in this area was the New Dragon of Sichuan. I came to duel you.”
I had heard rumors about this. Han Wol-baek, the disciple of the Fist King, was a martial arts fanatic who traveled the Murim seeking duels. It was said that even the Fist King tried to stop him, but Han Wol-baek insisted it was necessary to gain real-world experience.
If even the Fist King had given up on him, I could guess what kind of person he was. He had simply slipped in with the other martial artists when they gathered at Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress.
No matter how much I had toughened myself up, I couldn't possibly duel the disciple of the Fist King. Even if my skills were decent, they couldn't compare to his. Yet, I couldn't exactly tell Jeok Yeong to do it for me when the loss was so obvious. Besides, there was no way Han Wol-baek would accept a substitute.
“Will you accept my challenge?”
I countered his question. “Do you represent these people?”
“Of course! Isn't that right?”
When Han Wol-baek glanced at the crowd, one martial artist protested. “Wait! What do you mean? You and we are—”
“Do you not want revenge?”
When the people nodded at Han Wol-baek’s question, he spoke loudly. “Then what is the problem with me doing it? If I defeat the New Dragon of Sichuan, I will let you have your revenge.”
“But if you lose…”
“Silence. I am Han Wol-baek, disciple of the Fist King.”
His overwhelming aura made the martial artists shrink back in fear. He truly possessed the spirit and fighting intent worthy of the Fist King’s disciple. He was strong enough to suppress the momentum of the entire crowd in an instant.
How do I get out of this?
No matter how hard I thought, no clever plan came to mind. I glanced at the Blood Witch, but she shook her head. It seemed she wasn't confident about facing the Fist King if she accidentally injured Han Wol-baek.
If I had to duel him, I had to end it in a single move to have any hope.
Should I trust in the Ring Control Flow?
With the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash and the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet, I might be able to pull something off. If I used the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash backed by two jiazi of internal energy to deceive his eyes and then attacked with the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet, there was a slim chance of victory. Though I hadn't mastered the technique for long, I had to bet everything on it now.
“Very well. I consider it an honor to duel the disciple of the Fist King.”
“Don't mention it. I’ve heard much of your exploits at the Nine Demons Chamber. And I wanted to see if what Grandfather Phoenix King said was true. He praised you so much—praises I’ve never even heard him give me—that I just had to meet you.”
He grinned at me. Grandfather Phoenix King? Ah, so that was it. He was annoyed that the Phoenix King had praised me, so he came to humiliate me. I should have known from the moment someone of his caliber asked for a duel under the guise of a "duel-trip."
The Fist King and the Phoenix King were close friends who spent time together at the Murim Alliance. Naturally, stories about me must have reached his ears, sparking his competitive streak. People who believe their martial arts are the best in the world always want to compare themselves to others.
“If you are here, then Senior Fist King and Senior Phoenix King must be nearby as well.”
Han Wol-baek furrowed his brows. “Indeed, they were right when they said you were sharp.”
So it was true. But why were the Fist King and the Phoenix King in Sichuan? Something was definitely going on. I quickly cut off that line of thought; I couldn't afford to be distracted. I had to focus every ounce of my attention on the duel with Han Wol-baek.
“I’m starting.”
With those words, he threw a punch. What an insolent fellow, attacking without warning. Sensing something flying toward me, I dodged using the Whirling Wind Overturning Heaven footwork.
Whoosh! BOOM!
A stone lantern stood where I had been a moment ago; it shattered with a thunderous explosion.
“What! Fist Aura?”
The crowd stirred, unable to hide their shock at that single strike. My god, Fist Aura! I was finally facing the kind of master you only read about in martial arts novels. Only someone like the Blood Witch could truly stand against a monster like this.
“As expected, dodging my Shadowless Divine Fist so easily. It seems the title of New Dragon of Sichuan isn't just for show.”
As he finished speaking, Han Wol-baek threw several more punches in rapid succession. To my eyes, those fists looked like dozens. How fast must he be for a few punches to look like dozens? It was the afterimages that made it seem so.
I sucked in a breath and moved frantically using the Whirling Wind Overturning Heaven lightness skill. Everywhere I dodged, the ground gouged out with a roar, sending dust billowing into the air. The Whirling Wind Overturning Heaven performed with two jiazi of internal energy was almost too fast for the eye to follow.
“Oh! Oh! Shifting Form and Position!”
My movements and footwork were so dazzling that people actually mistook it for that legendary technique. When I felt his barrage of punches coming to an end, I stomped hard with my right foot.
Thump!
My body shot forward, closing the distance to Han Wol-baek in an instant. A look of surprise flashed in his eyes. He clearly hadn't expected me to close in so easily.
“Hah!”
With a shout, I poured out two jiazi of internal energy and unleashed the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash. Even with that much power, I wasn't worried about hurting him. He was a man who could use Fist Aura; I had no doubt he could handle this. If I held back out of mercy, I would be the one who ended up dead, so I gave it my all.
“Impressive!”
With an admiring look, Han Wol-baek responded by either blocking the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash with his fists or dodging it.
Clang! Boom! Screech!
The Ghost Sword emitted strange sounds as it collided with his fists.
Now, for the final Returning Elastic Path.
The moment he backed away, the Ghost Sword left my hand. At that same time, Han Wol-baek dropped into a horse-riding stance. Instead of dodging, he looked ready to strike the Returning Elastic Path head-on with his fist.
You madman!
He didn't even know what the Returning Elastic Path of the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash was capable of. As a massive aura erupted from his body, he threw his punch. To me, that fist seemed to expand instantly, as if it were sucking the Ghost Sword in.
“It’s the Demon Subduing Heavenly Dragon Fist!” someone shouted.
The Demon Subduing Heavenly Dragon Fist was the Fist King’s peerless technique, a fist art said to be capable of crumbling mountains. Regardless of what he did, I squeezed out every last drop of my internal energy. Perhaps because I had used so much for the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash, I was running low on energy to inject into the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet.
Dammit, always at the very end.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on gathering my energy.
Ah, it’s moving.
Fortunately, Chu Bong-hwa’s energy was quite substantial; even after the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash, my momentum remained strong. I raised my right hand and threw a punch toward him.
Ping!
The Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet slipped off my wrist and soared into the air. At that moment, the Ghost Sword, carrying the Returning Elastic Path, collided with Han Wol-baek’s Demon Subduing Heavenly Dragon Fist.
Rumble!
A roar like thunder shook the area, followed by a brilliant flash of light. The sheer force of the impact sent the onlookers stumbling back several paces as the air exploded into a violent gust of wind.
The Ghost Sword hung in the air for a moment, trembling weakly as if all its strength had been spent, before falling. Han Wol-baek had been pushed back, his feet carving two deep furrows into the ground.
Clang!
As the Ghost Sword hit the ground, Han Wol-baek took a breath and clenched his fists, preparing to attack again. To still have enough energy to attack after that... he was nothing short of a monster.
But you’ve already lost, you bastard.
When I smirked, his brow twitched. I raised my index finger and pointed at him, and the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet that had soared into the sky came diving down toward him.
Whirrr!
“Watch out!” someone screamed.
Seeing something golden flash through the air and dive toward Han Wol-baek’s head was enough to make anyone panic. I flicked my finger upward slightly.
The Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet grazed the top of Han Wol-baek’s head. Because the air was still turbulent from the aftermath of our clash, his hair flew up and scattered into the air.
“How can this be!”
As I raised my hand, the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet returned to my wrist.
Click!
With that, the winner of the duel was decided.