Chapter 207
Chapter 207
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Translator: penny
Chapter Title: Ecosystem Disruptor (6)
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Puk!
Seeing the hole punched into the spot where he'd stood just moments ago, Neung Pung-un felt a chill run down his spine.
'...Swordsmanship?'
Something had flickered at the edge of his vision—that was all. If he hadn't followed that ominous intuition, it would have pierced right through his crown.
'I couldn't react?'
Something even the senior brother of the Plum Blossom Sword Sage couldn't manage?
He didn't even have time to recover from the shock.
"Grit your teeth."
Flash!
The silhouette ahead seemed to sink away, only for the opponent to appear right in front of his nose, grinning wickedly.
'Completely missed the movement.'
In his shock, amid the alarm bells ringing in his mind, Neung Pung-un instinctively reached for the scabbard held horizontally at his side with his left hand.
Bang! Shing.
The swung scabbard flew off as a sharp gleam emerged.
Seeing the keen edge of the Plum Blossom Sword calmed his heart somewhat.
"Annoying."
A massive wave of terror raced up his spine once more. In the end, Neung Pung-un forgot even his promise and unconsciously recalled the strongest technique in his heart.
The beginning and end of the Mount Hua Sect.
The essence of the Mount Hua Sword lineage that had kept the sect's name high for hundreds of years.
- The Twenty-Four Forms Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
Instinctively sensing danger, Neung Pung-un skipped the early forms and unleashed the strongest defensive technique, the 11th form: Plum Blossom Honeysuckle.
- Plum Blossom Honeysuckle.
Like the plum blossoms enduring winter.
Kiiiiing-.
A deafening sword cry erupted as countless sword lights flickered around him.
The sword lights drifting and flashing across his body each left afterimages like flowers.
"Sword flowers? Finally got serious, huh."
It was just as he said.
Sword flowers could only be bloomed by those who had grasped the essence of Mount Hua techniques.
Like plum blossoms surviving winter, unyielding sword flowers flickered and melted into the form, wave after wave.
Proof that he had already infused the lofty sword intent of Mount Hua, which pierced through forms.
Papapak! Papapak!
The Plum Blossom Honeysuckle form swirling around Neung Pung-un's body made it clear why Mount Hua was counted among the world's top sword sects.
"Still needlessly flashy as ever."
Clang! Clang!
With casual swings of his sword, the sword flowers were sliced off in chunks.
'My god! What is this!'
Whoosh!
The power in that half-hearted strike was tremendous; air burst explosively along the sword's path.
"Kuhuk!"
Caught in the blast of wind, Neung Pung-un was pushed back while still unfolding his swordsmanship.
'This strong! In terms of sword mastery, doesn't he tower far above even the elders at headquarters?'
Thud. Slide.
He quickly stabbed his sword into the ground to halt his sliding body from the impact and regained his momentum, but in his wavering vision, Chu Un-hwi was nowhere to be seen.
'Where?'
Chilling.
Sensing something piercing his crown, Neung Pung-un whipped his gaze upward like the wind.
Parararak-.
There he was.
Chu Un-hwi, backlit by the silver moon, slashing his sword down toward him.
"Told you? Grit your teeth."
Grin.
Confirming the opponent's lips curling wide, Neung Pung-un unleashed the qi he'd been holding back in a rush.
For some reason, he was certain he'd need his full power to block the next strike.
"Pretty quick on the uptake."
"Haaaa…."
Conditioned by the instinct of death, Neung Pung-un skipped the early and mid forms of the Twenty-Four Forms Plum Blossom Swordsmanship, recalling the ultimate and final form as his sword tip trembled.
Whoooong.
Along with the resonant sword cry, a thick plum blossom fragrance wafted from his sword tip.
Woooong.
Twenty-Four Forms Plum Blossom Swordsmanship. The twenty-fourth form.
- Plum Blossom Fragrance Spanning Ten Thousand Li.
The plum blossom's scent reaches ten thousand li.
Kwagagagagak!
The sword light unleashed at full power rose like a dragon whirlwind.
Kwagagagagak!
In that fierce vortex, hundreds, thousands of sword flowers bloomed and withered repeatedly.
"Oh no!"
Having instinctively unleashed the final ultimate technique, Neung Pung-un panicked.
'Not only did I break the promise and use swordsmanship, but internal energy too….'
Even if it was his body moving unconsciously in the face of death, Neung Pung-un felt despair.
"I'll end up killing my friend."
He was suspiciously strong, but no one could block the final form of Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
The Plum Blossom Fragrance Spanning Ten Thousand Li wasn't something you could endure just by being good in a fight.
"I've made a huge mistake."
As Neung Pung-un hastily withdrew the form with a sigh.
"Mistake my ass. Chick's got guts."
Incredibly, a exasperated voice came from within the whirlwind where sword flowers flickered.
Saaak.
Followed by the sharp sound of silk being sliced by a blade, a single thread of sword shadow shot in.
'My god. Slicing through Plum Blossom Fragrance Spanning Ten Thousand Li? Am I dreaming?'
Faced with this unbelievable reality, Neung Pung-un swallowed his astonishment.
But he couldn't even continue the thought.
Thwack!
The moment a heavy thud hit his crown, his vision went black.
***
When Neung Pung-un, who had lost consciousness, opened his eyes, he saw the tattered sky above the forest.
Amid the disordered sword scars left by the Twenty-Four Forms Plum Blossom Swordsmanship, faint moonlight filtered through the severed leaves and tree debris.
"Huk! Where am I?"
As he abruptly sat up, he clutched his crown and groaned.
The vivid sword strike that followed came to mind.
"Phew. Feels like a nightmare."
Shuddering, he sat cross-legged and circulated his energy.
As expected of Mount Hua's profound art.
His injured body and pain subsided somewhat, and his raging qi stabilized.
'My swordsmanship was broken. Internal energy backlash caused internal injuries.'
Realizing once more that the nightmare was reality, he clutched his head with both hands.
"I was arrogant. How could I not recognize a true master and act so presumptuously?"
Recalling his own words, his face burned hotter than ever.
"By the way, what happened to Instructor Chu? Why is a master like that at the academy…."
He could make a name for himself in the jianghu right away.
Though they hadn't gone full power, just showing a fraction of skill made the insurmountable gap clear.
But soon, recalling his own situation, Neung Pung-un chuckled.
"I'm in no position to talk about others."
As he muttered.
"If you're awake, quit the dramatics and come here."
Enchanted by the voice from beyond the swamp, he moved his feet.
***
Arriving beyond the swamp, Neung Pung-un spotted Chu Un-hwi lounging obliquely by the riverbank and approached.
Thud.
Recognizing the object kicking his foot as the wine bottle he'd brought, Neung Pung-un sighed.
"Hah…. You drank this all by yourself?"
"Brought good stuff."
Shaking the already empty bottle, Neung Pung-un wailed.
"If I'd known Senior was such a master…. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"Why? Gonna drag a bunch of guys here?"
"As if. At least I wouldn't have spouted embarrassing nonsense without knowing my place and become drinking fodder."
"Quit whining and sit."
Neung Pung-un cautiously took a seat by the pointed finger and stole a glance.
His expression, hidden by loose bangs, was hard to read.
'Impossible to figure out.'
Utterly different from anyone he'd met before.
'Hobby is fishing. Personality lazy as hell. Likes being alone.'
The problem was there were no clues to guess his refined martial arts anywhere.
To him, Chu Un-hwi was a mysterious master who dropped from the sky.
"What? Wanna go another round?"
"No way. Short exchange or not, I'm not blind to the skill gap."
"Refreshing. Was gonna crack your skull if you yapped about sorcery or whatever."
Even now.
Lazy as a bum usually, yet exuding a strangely heavy, intimidating aura.
'Can one person have so many facets?'
He found it fascinating.
"Don't like guys staring."
Neung Pung-un quickly averted his gaze and grumbled petulantly.
"Just glaring at the villain who guzzled my wine."
"Pfft."
Chu Un-hwi pulled a bottle from the bundle beside him and tossed it to Neung Pung-un.
Grab.
Catching it smoothly midair, Neung Pung-un checked the label and gaped.
"Geomnamchun? Top-grade with the imperial seal no less?"
"Pretty pricey."
"Not something you buy even with money. How'd you get it?"
"…Heard curiosity killed the cat?"
Knots forming down his spine, Neung Pung-un quickly shut up, uncorked it, and sniffed.
Then roughly upended the bottle.
"Kuh. True masterpiece. Supreme taste."
"Now explain properly."
"Explain what?"
"Why you're dogging my steps. Honestly weird, right? A Plum Blossom Sword Sage hanging with a lowly instructor."
"What's wrong with liking a good guy?"
"Exactly."
Chu Un-hwi ruffled his hair roughly in frustration.
"Don't skip around. Tell me straight—from where did I catch your eye?"
Cowed, Neung Pung-un sighed and spilled his guts.
"Honestly, it started by chance. An elder from headquarters raved about meeting a genius."
"Baek Ri-seol, huh."
Nod. Neung Pung-un affirmed without hesitation.
"That's when I first learned your identity. Heard various rumors after and got interested."
Couldn't detail sect matters.
"My freewheeling personality makes me an outsider in the sect too, so it really struck a chord."
"Damn it. Shoulda lived quietly."
"Haha. Like I said before, I graduated from Divine Hall. I know how strict and stuffy the Divine Martial Academy is."
And yet.
"Someone turned the stuffy Divine Martial Academy upside down."
Digging up unpolished gems others missed. Living freely alone.
"Especially shocking was fighting the whole academy for that Mohist kid."
Watching in wonder, his actions were truly astonishing.
"More impressive than guarding Great Elder Wang-woo's end was punching the Nangong Family head."
It clicked.
"Had to befriend you. Didn't expect to get wrecked from the start, though."
"Kuh…."
Listening, Chu Un-hwi pinched his brow with both hands.
Never minded others before, but it drew this pest.
'Damn. Won't shake easy.'
From his vibe, he'd follow no matter how much pushed away.
'Bury him for good?'
Chick or not, beat him silly and toss in the swamp?
As sinister thoughts brewed.
"Actually, I knew you found me burdensome."
"Senior. Kid."
"…I pushed despite knowing you hated it because I was in a hurry. For a reason."
That piqued his curiosity.
A friendly guy wouldn't miss people avoiding him.
"What reason?"
"…That is."
Gulp. Gulp.
Wetting his throat with the bottle, Neung Pung-un added glumly.
"Not much time left for me."
"Not much time?"
"Truth is, I came to the Divine Martial Academy for a special mission."
Special mission?
"You, who guarded Great Elder Wang-woo's end, might know."
"?"
"Know about those called the Sa-do?"
"…!"
In a mournful tone, Neung Pung-un continued.
"My mission is hunting them."
Damn.
If they were that dangerous, he wouldn't have accepted so readily.
"No telling when or how I'll die on this risky mission, so how could I not be urgent?"
Chu Un-hwi sighed at the addition.
'This twist I didn't see coming….'
Guess he'd hear out the chick.