Chapter 86: Creating Martial Arts (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 86: Creating Martial Arts (3)
"Hah!"
One of the experts from the Iron Blood Demon Group lunged forward, launching an attack.
It was a probing move, meant to gauge Red Shadow’s skill. However, they had miscalculated. Red Shadow didn't do "probing." He was the type who preferred to settle things swiftly and decisively.
"Fool! There is no scouting in a real fight!"
Clang! Squelch! Thud!
In exactly two moves, the Iron Blood Demon Group expert was flat on his backside.
"What?"
No one saw it. No one saw how Red Shadow had even drawn his sword.
Was he always that fast?
I found myself wondering about the teacher who had raised Red Shadow. His swordsmanship was far more practical and battle-hardened than that of the Iron Blood Demon Group warriors, who had crossed countless lines between life and death themselves.
Just who could have trained him?
It was a question I hadn't really considered before, but seeing him act like a seasoned veteran made me truly curious about his master.
While I was lost in thought, a heavy thump echoed from the stage.
Red Shadow kicked off the ground. In response, two more experts from the Iron Blood Demon Group rushed toward him, refusing to back down.
"They’re going to end up in a double-suicide at this rate!" one of the Iron Blood warriors shouted, his face contorting.
"Don't make me laugh!"
The retort rang out from the stage. Even in the heat of the fight, Red Shadow had found the breath to talk back.
Once again, a golden radiance spilled from Red Shadow’s sword, spreading outward.
What kind of sword technique is that? Is there even a style where the blade glows gold?
I racked my brain, searching through every scrap of information I possessed, but I couldn't find a single martial art that fit the description.
Come to think of it, I never even asked Red Shadow what his signature technique was. He might think I’m indifferent to him. No, I wonder if he even remembers. He has amnesia, but surely he hasn't forgotten his own martial arts.
I felt a pang of guilt as I watched him.
The phrase 'Living in a house for three years without knowing the master's name' came to mind. I realized I had been far too negligent toward Red Shadow. I decided I would have to ask him once the duel was over.
"Urgh!"
A short cry of pain escaped from the stage. It was a small sound, audible only to me because I was close; the murmuring crowd behind me couldn't have heard it.
Before I knew it, Red Shadow had repositioned himself behind his opponents. His speed was even greater than I had imagined.
I suppose I’ve been underestimating him.
Seeing Red Shadow like this filled me with pride. No matter what anyone said, he was my sworn brother and my guard.
The combatants had separated, but it wasn't immediately clear who had won. It was also impossible to tell who the cry of pain had belonged to.
However, the victor was soon revealed.
The uniforms of the two Iron Blood Demon Group experts suddenly split wide open, right down the center. Their chests were completely exposed. Seeing both of them humiliated in the same way, the surrounding Iron Blood warriors fell into a stunned silence.
They hadn't imagined, even in their wildest dreams, that their comrades would be defeated so thoroughly in just a few exchanges.
"That’s enough. Let’s go."
Sensing the atmosphere turning sour, I figured it would be best for our health to leave quickly.
But the Iron Blood warriors didn't budge. Instead, they surrounded us, their killing intent beginning to flare. They looked ready to draw their swords at the slightest provocation.
Red Shadow’s hand drifted toward his hilt, his expression darkening, but I stopped him.
"Young Hero Red. Now is not the time."
I spoke to the group in a calm, steady tone. Inside, my heart was hammering against my ribs as if it wanted to leap out of my throat, but I suppressed it. If I was going to use bluffing, I had to make it convincing.
Think about it—when Zhang Fei faced Cao Cao’s massive army at Changban Bridge, was he really fearless? Every time I heard that story from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, I wondered.
It had to be a lie. Zhang Fei’s legs must have been shaking. People say he fought with a resolve to die, but that’s just a way to polish his image after the fact. If he wasn't scared, why did he stay on his horse while facing the army? He clearly intended to gallop away if things went south. If he wanted to fight like a true man and a warrior, he would have stood tall on his own two feet.
Like Xiang Yu did.
Regardless, I learned two things from that scene: momentum and bluffing. If you mix those two perfectly, you can become just like Zhang Fei.
And right now, I needed both.
I used my thumb to nudge my sword upward. Instantly, the ghostly energy from the Ghost Sword flooded the surroundings. Lately, the ghostly energy had become so potent that it gave me goosebumps just to draw it, so I had been avoiding using it.
As expected, the Iron Blood Demon Group warriors mistook the eerie aura for my own overwhelming momentum. This was the moment for the bluff.
"What do you think you're doing? Are you looking for a fight? Move! I do not waste my time fighting cowards who cannot accept the results of a fair duel!"
As I spoke, I pushed the sword up a bit further. The ghostly energy intensified, swirling around me. The men flinched and stepped back, intimidated by the aura. They were convinced it was my killing intent.
Taking advantage of their hesitation, I took a step forward. They instinctively shuffled aside. I had made it about ten paces when someone decided to ruin the moment.
"If we let them go like this, our honor will be dragged through the dirt! Even if we die, we must settle this here!"
The voice goaded the other Iron Blood warriors. Their killing intent flared up again, and they looked ready to strike. It seemed a bloodbath was unavoidable.
But if we fought here, we would never make it out alive. Even if Red Shadow was a master, he couldn't take on dozens of Iron Blood experts at once. He wasn't Zhao Zilong from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, capable of sweeping through Cao Cao’s army of a hundred thousand.
In this touch-and-go situation, I remained calm. The reason I, a mere third-rate martial artist, had survived this long was precisely because of my composure.
In fact, I had been waiting for this.
You walked right into my trap.
To escape this hostile environment, I needed a scapegoat.
I channeled internal energy into my right wrist and gave it a shake. Without a sound, the Soul-Soothing Three Spirit Bell rang, and the Ghost Sword slid out of its scabbard on its own.
The Iron Blood warriors froze, their hands hovering over their hilts. They never expected to witness the legendary feat of Manipulating Sword with Qi right before their eyes.
I shook my wrist more vigorously. The Ghost Sword drifted slowly toward the man who had been shouting about honor and provocations. The ghostly energy overflowing from the blade was enough to make the hair on everyone's arms stand on end.
The Ghost Sword stopped right in front of the man’s nose.
I walked leisurely along the path the sword had cleared, shaking my hand again. The Ghost Sword began to circle the man. Everyone watched, mesmerized, their mouths agape. Even as warriors, they were completely captivated by the sight of Manipulating Sword with Qi—a technique most only heard of in legends.
"If you want to fight, step forward yourself! Why goad others? Do you even call yourself a warrior? A true warrior carries out his will with his own hands, not by borrowing the hands of others! One who only stirs up trouble with words is a scholar, not a martial artist! If you want to fight us, come at me yourself!"
With the Ghost Sword spinning before his eyes, radiating ghostly energy, no man—no matter how brave—would dare to lift a finger. The combined effect of momentum and bluffing was working just as it had for Zhang Fei against Cao Cao’s host.
"If you don't want to fight, get out of the way!"
I could have just walked around him, but I shouted for him to move. It was all part of the battle of wills.
The man shuffled awkwardly to the side. I slung the scabbard over my shoulder, and the Ghost Sword flew back, sliding perfectly into its sheath behind my back. To an observer, it looked as if I had sheathed the sword without even looking.
It was a demonstration that I had eyes in the back of my head—a warning not to try anything as we left.
As I walked forward with the sword over my shoulder, the Iron Blood warriors remained as silent as the grave.
Zhang Fei must have felt this exact same thrill when Cao Cao’s army retreated.
Watching these men stand paralyzed, fooled by my momentum and bluffing, I felt a surge of exhilaration.
This is why people pretend to be masters.
It was a pleasure a weakling could never know. I suppose I’ve become addicted to this thrill, which is how I ended up in this mess in the first place.
Seeing this, the members of the Demon Subjugation Group—who had been miserably defeated earlier—seemed to regain their pride. They followed behind me with their chests puffed out. Red Shadow glanced at me from the side, his eyes filled with deep respect.
I led the group straight back to my quarters. These underlings needed a lecture.
"Why did you engage in such a reckless duel!"
The moment we stepped inside, I lined them up and shouted.
"We are not here in the Nine Demons Chamber for a sightseeing tour. This is a place where you could die at any moment! Why did you let yourselves be swayed by such obvious provocations?"
At my scolding, Il-myo of the Seven Heroes stepped forward to protest.
"My Lord! We tried to avoid it. But while we were training at the grounds, they kept insulting you..."
"What does a little insult matter? Is an insult more important than your lives?"
It was natural for a weakling to be insulted. I had lived that life for twenty-five years; my ears weren't going to rot just because I heard it for one more day. Still, I had to wrap my words in a pretty package.
"Even if they curse me with every foul word in existence, nothing grieves me more than seeing you all get hurt! You followed me to this place because you trusted me! I would rather be insulted a thousand times than have a single one of you injured! So, from now on, never fall for such pathetic provocations again!"
At my roar, not only Poison Wolf Ibu and Smiling Face Sword, but also So Gu-chi and Sim Geol bowed their heads, their eyes turning red. The Seven Heroes, being particularly emotional, collapsed to the floor and wailed.
"We didn't know you cared for us so much, My Lord. We thought you were cold and had no affection for us... Please, kill us for our disloyalty. How can we call ourselves your subordinates when we didn't even understand your heart!"
Good grief, what a performance. But seeing the Seven Heroes crying out from the bottom of their hearts, I realized I really had been quite cold to them. Still, they were such a bunch of eyesores that I couldn't bring myself to feel much affection for them.
Feeling a sudden wave of exhaustion, I spoke.
"You must be tired today, so go and rest."
I ushered them all out. Only the Twin Heroes of Guiyang remained by my side.
"You two go and rest as well!"
"No, My Lord. We will stay a little longer."
Since guarding me was their only joy, I didn't push them further and let them stay.
"Young Hero Red. The Iron Blood Demon Group might try something again soon, so stay alert."
"Yes, brother."
"Brother Red."
I called out to him in a softer tone. I intended to ask him the question that had been bugging me during the duel.
Red Shadow looked at me as I spoke.
"I wonder if more of your memories have returned."
Red Shadow shook his head, his expression somber.
"I still remember nothing."
"Your face has been dark lately, and I’m sorry for not looking after you better. There’s a saying, 'When one's own belly is full, one does not notice the servant's hunger.' I’m afraid I’ve been acting just like that."
"No, brother."
Red Shadow seemed moved by my words. That phrase was something the Failed Scholar used to say all the time. Since the mood was right, I decided to drop the question.
"I’m curious... what kind of miraculous property does your sword technique have that makes it flash with golden light? Even if you don't remember your sect, surely you remember the name of the technique?"
I figured if he hadn't forgotten the forms, he couldn't have forgotten the name. Red Shadow thought for a moment before opening his mouth.
"My sword technique is the Golden Immortal Demonic Secret. I had a martial arts manual tucked in my robes, and the forms I use match what is written in that book."
I nodded, swallowing a groan inwardly.
Judging by the name 'Golden Immortal Demonic Secret,' there’s a high chance it’s a demonic art. But seeing as he isn't affected by the poison of my Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet, he must have trained in an orthodox internal cultivation method. Did he only learn demonic techniques for his swordsmanship?
Regardless, the name "Demonic Secret" sounded ominous, so I spoke to him.
"Brother Red, don't take this the wrong way. The Orthodox Murim is extremely biased against anything 'demonic.' Therefore, you must never reveal the name of your sword technique to anyone else. If you find yourself in a situation where you absolutely must name it, why not just call it the Golden Immortal Secret?"
Red Shadow trusted me implicitly and would follow whatever I said.
"I understand, brother."
"Good. You should go and rest as well."