Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Myojin Sect (6)
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Shwick!
The tip of the Cooperation Sword sliced through the empty air.
'When?'
The man who had been standing there just moments ago was gone without a trace.
'I measured the distance and moved.'
Thrusting into empty space felt like being possessed by a ghost.
"If you want to end the conversation, I'll oblige."
Jeong Yang flinched.
He stumbled back at the voice coming from right beside him.
"How did you dodge that?"
"You think I'd explain it so you could understand?"
A frivolous tone laced with an eerie chill.
"If you're curious, experience it yourself."
Shing.
A sword was suddenly in his hand.
'Dangerous.'
Before the alarm bells rang in his mind, his body moved on instinct.
He gathered all the power of one geup from his dantian and stomped down with a true step.
Boom!
The ground where he stood exploded with a thud, shattering the surrounding scenery as it flew away.
Shwick!
It was truly a hair's breadth moment.
Seeing the flash of silver sword light streak through where he had been standing, Jeong Yang's heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
'An incredible fast sword. If I'd tried to block it head-on...'
If he hadn't moved on instinct, he would have been in serious trouble.
Tatata-tak.
Not underestimating his opponent, Jeong Yang retreated three zhang before grinding his teeth.
"You... You've been hiding your true strength."
"You just couldn't see it."
"From now on, I'll go at you with my full power."
One step.
He shook his right hand to gauge the sword's weight. He surged his power to cleave the opponent in two with a single strike.
Two steps.
The one geup of power rising from his dantian flowed grandly, extending to his limbs.
Three steps.
Sending power to the Yongcheon acupoint in his sole to propel himself like the wind, while drawing up demonic power in his left hand.
The infallible secret technique that would double his one geup of power.
'I don't know how you dodged my sword, but there's no second stroke of luck.'
Perfect death was prepared in three steps.
That was when it happened.
'Hm?'
For some reason, the energy flowing from his dantian wouldn't rise to his shoulders.
'Why isn't the power...'
No matter how many times he tried to muster the power from his dantian, it refused to flow.
Like a man standing before a severed leg.
Then he noticed the branch master, standing there with a dumb look, mumbling with his mouth agape.
"Th, throat..."
Throat? What's wrong with my throat?
Jeong Yang touched the area near his Adam's apple and finally understood the situation upon seeing the blood staining his fingertips.
'I've already been cut?'
Dodging that silver flash had been an illusion.
As the thought hit him, he realized why he could still breathe and think despite his throat being slit.
'My body hasn't even realized it's dead.'
It transcended instinct or the sixth sense entirely.
His unconscious breathing, pounding heart, and flowing hot blood continued vigorously, unaware that death had arrived.
For this to be possible...
'How high a realm must one reach?'
Thinking of the depth in that sword, his hostility vanished.
In its place rose awe.
A voice spoke.
"Your breath will end within seven steps."
The Reaper had spoken.
Words from such an unfathomable being were surely true.
Then, having already taken three steps...
'Only four steps left?'
Suddenly, anxiety gripped him.
It wasn't regret over his thirty years of life ending in an instant.
Though his arduous life becoming for naught was surely cruel, it was the way of man.
Taking his fourth step, Jeong Yang asked,
"What's the name of the technique?"
"None. I just came up with it on the spot."
On the fifth step, awe in his voice, Jeong Yang pleaded,
"Please. Tell me the name of the technique that brings my death."
Let me name it.
The Reaper nodded playfully.
"You've never heard it."
Good. Truly good.
On the sixth step, he didn't open his mouth.
"......"
He had to conserve even the strength to speak.
Gathering all his mind and energy, he simply thought.
A clear name befitting a ghostly sword technique.
On the seventh step, a red line spread across his throat as blood trickled down.
His vocal cords severed, bloody foam bubbled from his mouth.
But with all his effort, Jeong Yang came up with a name.
"Seven Steps Soul Sever."
Seven Steps. Within seven steps.
Soul Sever. Even the soul is severed.
'Who in the world could withstand this sword?'
The technique that would lead countless experts to hell began with him—what glory was this?
"This Jeong Yang! Dies to Seven Steps Soul Sever... Grrk."
Jeong Yang's head slid along the red line and fell with a thud.
The severed head was smiling.
Seeing the head frozen in a grin, Chu Un-hwi chuckled.
"Seven Steps Soul Sever, my ass."
The guy had no talent for naming.
"Better than some tacky Seven Steps Soul Sever..."
After a moment's thought, Chu Un-hwi snapped his fingers.
"Seven Steps Chomp fits perfectly."
Seven Steps Chomp (七步喫).
Using the "chomp" from fully devour.
"Chomp away for seven steps, then 'Chomp!' you're done. Perfect, right?"
Turning his head, he saw the branch master, ropes just loosened, trembling.
"Hey."
"Y-yes, sir."
As he approached, the branch master knelt straight.
"Trying to leave?"
"No, sir."
Watching him futilely try to retie the cut ropes around himself, Chu Un-hwi asked again.
"Branch master. Between Seven Steps Soul Sever and Seven Steps Chomp, which is better?"
His face pale with terror, the branch master answered.
"S-Seven Steps Chomp!"
"Right? Yeah?"
See? I have a talent for naming.
Smiling, the branch master, thinking he'd grasped a lifeline, spat praise.
"Isn't Seven Steps Soul Sever too outdated?"
"Whereas Seven Steps Chomp just rolls off the tongue."
"Your insight is truly remarkable, hero."
"You get it."
Amid the endless flattery, Chu Un-hwi smirked.
"I was wondering whether to kill you or not, but now I'm conflicted again."
"I-I swear, I won't breathe a word of today. Please spare me."
"No. I was going to, but better to kill you."
"Wh-what."
Seven Steps Chomp what?
Slash!
The Cooperation Sword on the ground flew up on its own and pierced his heart.
"Kuh... euk."
Snarling at the dying branch master, Chu Un-hwi growled.
"I really hate people who change their words based on the situation."
Thud.
Another death born.
Returning to his usual complexion, Chu Un-hwi muttered.
"Seven Steps Soul Sever. Not bad."
The "Soul Sever" has a nice ring.
It sounds pretty fierce and strong.
"Maybe always end with 'Soul Sever' from now on?"
Pretty plausible name.
"Seven Steps Soul Sever, Three Steps Soul Sever, Seduction Soul Sever."
Ah, the last one's a bit different?
Whatever.
Crack!
The oil lamp shattered, and darkness returned.
Crash. Clang. Thud.
Noisy sounds from morning, followed by people running about chaotically.
Rubbing his eyes and throwing off the blanket, the kids who had slept fitfully blinked sleepily, as expected.
"What's going on? Why so noisy?"
"Ugh. I told you, this instructor needs his morning sleep!"
Protesting, Jegal Tan came panting back.
"Seems the branch master was murdered."
"The branch master?"
"The sad part is... Jeong Yang the young hero too."
"What?"
No big deal. Back to sleep.
Burying his face in the blanket again, Instructor Shim Ui and Seo Tae-myeong came running.
"Instructor Chu. Instructor Chu."
"Yawn. Why keep bothering me?"
"Weren't you acquainted? Anything happen last night?"
Staring blankly at the urgent man, Chu Un-hwi replied curtly.
"I went to bed early."
"Right. He stubbornly refused night watch, saying he'd die before standing it."
"Why ask me instead of the one who said he'd watch properly?"
Receiving the gaze, Instructor Shim Ui unusually hemmed and hawed.
"Well... Yesterday's fight was exhausting, so I slept deeply."
Looking embarrassed and avoiding eye contact, Seo Tae-myeong asked the easier target, Chu Un-hwi.
"Notice anything suspicious? Any last words?"
"Well."
This would never end, so Chu Un-hwi gave a suitable answer.
"He was all gung-ho about performing yesterday, but ashamed of his pathetic showing."
"He really said that?"
"Believe it or not."
Turning over, the two chattered for a while before leaving.
Seemed they'd conclude something like, 'Ashamed of his poor performance, he killed the branch master to claim credit but got killed instead.'
"Now I can sleep."
Wriggling deeper into the blanket, Moyong So-hye scolded.
"Really. Instructor, doesn't it hurt that an acquaintance died?"
"Nah. Like someone said, I have no friends, no lover, just live alone."
"You're so heartless."
"Heartless Soul Sever."
Chuckling to himself, he soon snored away again.
It had been a journey with quite the foreign element, but the gains were decent.
"Here. Proof of your exploits."
Showing the document stamped with the Cheongyang Sect's seal, Seo Tae-myeong said,
"Congratulations on your first merit. Achieving results before your full Jianghu journey even begins."
Lucky, really.
Grumbling Seo Tae-myeong looked somehow twisted inside.
But different from the stingy cheapskates he'd seen so far.
"Take it."
Seeing the heavy pouch tossed over, Chu Un-hwi asked,
"What's this?"
"Request fee. As you know, Divine Martial Academy handles sect requests to resolve disturbances, and the sects provide fitting rewards—it's the custom."
What? The Divine Martial Jianghu journey had such a nice tradition?
Eyes gleaming, Seo Tae-myeong's eyes sparkled.
"You didn't know, huh."
"I did."
Seo Tae-myeong opened the pouch and took out just a handful.
"Then you know why."
The hefty pouch shrank dramatically.
Making the most pitiful face, Seo Tae-myeong made a sour one back.
"This fee is divided among all participating students."
"I'm the guardian, right? Hold it for me and give it when the time comes."
"Never met a trustworthy person who says that."
Seo Tae-myeong stared emptily into space.
"My mother always took my New Year's money saying she'd hold it."
"Even at fifty, I've never seen that money."
"Found out later. It became my father's new colt."
His wistful mutter was so melancholic, no retort came to mind.
"Anyway, thanks. Thanks to you, the villagers returned safely."
With that, Seo Tae-myeong said,
"Now hurry off."
"Used me up and kicking me out?"
Grinding his teeth, Seo Tae-myeong furrowed his brow.
"Don't you know your official Jianghu journey started yesterday?"
Already?
"If you don't leave now, the rear group will catch up. That okay?"
"Gasp!"
That's dangerous.
Yeo Mae-hong and Moyong Seon-ya, serious about Myojin Sect, were surely charging full speed toward So-ho.
'Show up slow after everyone arrives?'
They might really strangle him.
Chu Un-hwi's face turned serious.
"Not a trivial matter."
"Got a horse ready. Thanks again."
Before the words finished, he was kicked away and gone. Seo Tae-myeong shook his head.
"How to even evaluate that guy."
The opening for the letter to Jegal family wouldn't come.
Finally, Seo Tae-myeong started.
- To Great Hero Jegal Yang-so, personally.
Observed, somewhat rude and frivolous, but...
After writing a long letter, Seo Tae-myeong smacked his lips.
"Something's missing."
Recalling Instructor Shim Ui vowing to revise it himself, Seo Tae-myeong added one line.
- Does not seem bad as an instructor.
The Cheongyang Sect request was complete.