131
Chapter 131: I’ve Never Walked an Easy Path.
Szzzt!
The space distorted under the ferocious display of the Heavenly-Shattering Divine Palm. As a terrifying shockwave surged forward like ripples spreading across a pond, Kang Ho-baek’s old and tattered sword emitted a dazzling brilliance that belied its shabby appearance.
One Path Forward Sword (一路進劍).
It was a sword technique that condensed the essence of martial arts Kang Ho-baek had accumulated while walking the path of a righteous warrior. This sword clashed against the Heavenly-Shattering Divine Palm.
Kang Ho-baek’s sword descended upon the space that rippled like a raging sea. The shockwaves from the Heavenly-Shattering Divine Palm had already distorted the space, and now, concentric waves erupted from Kang Ho-baek’s sword, adding to the chaos.
Collision of shockwaves.
The aftermath caused the innocent sand dunes to tremble violently, and a massive dust cloud rose like a mountain. The thick dust obscured vision, but the overwhelming force emanating from the Paewangseong Lord’s palm pushed the dust cloud aside. With a single gesture from the Paewangseong Lord, the view cleared instantly.
As the dust was swept away, Kang Ho-baek accelerated his movement, his thighs bulging as he charged forward. His figure vanished momentarily, leaving only a trail of sand split in two as if something had passed through.
The Paewangseong Lord was no different. He disappeared from his original position, and the sand around him erupted like a fountain.
Kwaaaang!
The two masters, now streaks of light, folded space toward each other and struck simultaneously. As their blades and palms clashed, the Paewangseong Lord spoke.
“Are you buying time? Alliance Leader. If you’re waiting for the Iron Mountain Fist King and the three Martial Forces stationed at the Hunan branch of the Martial Alliance, give up.”
The Paewangseong Lord had been closely monitoring the Martial Alliance’s movements. Since the Alliance’s envoy departed for Guizhou, the forces waiting at the Hunan branch must have been prepared by the Alliance Leader for this very moment.
But the Iron Mountain Fist King and the three Martial Forces would not arrive here. By now, the Iron Mountain Fist King would face one of the Four Kings Unit of the Paewangseong’s Castle—the Ghost Whip King.
Crack!
The Paewangseong Lord, having spoken, caught Kang Ho-baek’s sword between his index and middle fingers and pushed it aside, then extended his left hand to strike Kang Ho-baek’s temple. Kang Ho-baek twisted his sword upward, then abruptly bent it vertically, aiming to slash the Paewangseong Lord’s wrist.
“Were you only concerned about the Martial Alliance? With the three sects entangled like this, what will you do if the Black Night Palace seizes the opportunity?”
The Paewangseong Lord flicked away the sword thrusting at his wrist and used the recoil to deliver a punch toward Kang Ho-baek’s dantian. Kang Ho-baek bent his knee and blocked the punch head-on with a knee strike.
Bam!
“This Paewangseong Lord focused more on today’s battle than the opening ceremony. For today, I mobilized three of the Four King Units and five of the Seven Great Swords of Paewangseong. Do not worry, Alliance Leader.”
The Paewangseong Lord’s words implied that even the Black Night Palace’s attempt to profit from the chaos had been accounted for.
“As expected of the Paewangseong Lord. You’ve prepared quite drastically.”
Despite exchanging dozens of blows in the brief moment they caught their breath, the Paewangseong Lord and Kang Ho-baek conversed as calmly as if drinking tea.
The Paewangseong Lord observed Kang Ho-baek’s calm eyes gleaming beneath his bamboo hat. His left hand clenched into a fist, while his right hand curved like a hook.
‘Even if the Hwasan Sword Saint is here, he cannot turn this situation around. Does he have another hidden card?’
Fist, Palm, Finger, Claw.
The Paewangseong Lord’s Heavenly-Shattering Divine Palm did not waste a single motion, not even a single joint of a finger.
A fist strike could suddenly unleash a series of finger winds, or three fingers might tear through the air before closing into a palm strike.
With his ever-changing gestures, the Paewangseong Lord instantly suppressed Kang Ho-baek’s space. The fierce shockwaves from the Paewangseong Lord’s hands clashed against Kang Ho-baek’s straightforward sword strikes. Yet, Kang Ho-baek did not fall behind in the slightest.
Each time Kang Ho-baek’s sword, imbued with pale sword energy, swung, the shockwaves of the Heavenly-Shattering Divine Palm split apart, carving a path straight toward the Paewangseong Lord.
Kang Ho-baek silently advanced along the path his sword had created.
Just as he had stubbornly walked the path of a righteous warrior, earning the title of Great Righteous Swordsman through his relentless journey from the bottom.
As if pleased by this sight, the Paewangseong Lord burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Here I come!”
“Be careful.”
The Paewangseong Lord, exhilarated, twisted his hands as a fierce aura erupted from his entire body like flames. Kang Ho-baek, his bamboo hat tilted, raised his sword in an arc, his sharp gaze unwavering.
As if declaring that those unworthy should not witness the life-and-death struggle of these two masters, a thick sandstorm swallowed their surroundings.
***
Mu Hwi’s eyes flickered momentarily as he blocked Sima Gang’s spear strike aimed at his waist. He didn’t know why, but his gaze moved instinctively, as if he couldn’t afford to miss something.
“Brat. Do you have time to worry about the Alliance Leader?”
Mu Hwi, who had been watching Kang Ho-baek’s profile as he pierced through the violent shockwaves with a straight sword thrust, quickly averted his gaze.
Kwaang!
A heavy impact erupted from the blade of the Sim-myeong Sword. It was the sound of Mu Hwi deflecting Sima Gang’s spear thrust as the latter twisted his waist.
Sima Gang had precisely predicted Mu Hwi’s swordplay, which sought to bloom plum blossoms, and exploited the gap in his chain of techniques to block the sword’s movement.
Just as the spearhead seemed to retreat after being repelled, it writhed like a snake, the shaft bending abruptly as it thrust toward Mu Hwi’s chin. Mu Hwi jerked his head aside, but a red line was drawn across his jaw.
The subtle sensation of flesh being split traveled from the spear tip down the shaft. Sima Gang savored it as he extended his left hand. At the end of Sima Gang’s palm strike, sword energy shot out from the tip of the Sim-myeong Sword like an arrow.
Mu Hwi had dodged the spear by tilting his head and twisting his body to exploit Sima Gang’s opening. Seeing Mu Hwi never take a hit lying down, Sima Gang suppressed a laugh.
In the past sixty exchanges, Mu Hwi had never once been at a disadvantage alone.
“Good! You know how to fight, young one.”
Sima Gang’s excited voice was accompanied by the spear’s wild undulations. Like dozens of snakes lunging, the transformed spear strikes targeted vital points across Mu Hwi’s body, only to be blocked by scattered petals.
Mu Hwi, seizing the gap in the barrage, pressed the spear shaft down with the Sim-myeong Sword while sliding the blade forward as if scraping along it.
Screech!
Sparks flew as the spear shaft and sword edge grazed each other. The Sim-myeong Sword, racing along the shaft, was moments away from slashing Sima Gang’s right hand gripping the front of the spear.
But Sima Gang adjusted the distance between his hands on the shaft. Narrowly gripping the spear’s end with both hands, he bent the shaft backward, counter attacking Mu Hwi.
Thud!
Mu Hwi suppressed the spear strike with the Plum Blossom Scattering Hands, but the tremendous recoil forced him to stagger back.
‘I need to lengthen my breathing.’
Taking a deep breath, Mu Hwi pushed the Purple Sunset Divine Technique to its limits. The purple sunset draped over his shoulders glowed even more brilliantly. As Mu Hwi stepped forward with his right foot, the purple sunset trailing to the ground writhed.
From Mu Hwi’s perspective, a wave of dark brown spear energy surged toward him. Sima Gang’s Black Oiled Spear displayed, was a spear technique that showed changes no less than the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique. In response, the Sim-myeong Sword also split into dozens of strands, scattering purple petals.
Sima Gang gripped the spear with one hand, pulling his arm back sharply while tensing his muscles. With a twist of his wrist, he hurled the spear forward.
Black Smoke Piercing Hole (黑煙貫窷).
The spear, wrapped in spiral energy, pierced through the dozens of sword shadows and petals in an instant. Facing the spear strike aimed at his chest, Mu Hwi drew narrow arcs in succession, executing the Plum Blossom Radiance (梅花忍冬) technique.
Boom!
A heavy impact rang out as the Black Smoke Piercing Hole was momentarily halted. However, the relentless, violently rotating spiral energy overwhelmed the Plum Blossom Radiance, causing it to collapse.
Yet, the technique altered the spear’s trajectory. Mu Hwi fiercely deflected the spear, now aimed at his shoulder, with the Sim-myeong Sword. Even so, Sima Gang stubbornly shook the spear, grazing Mu Hwi’s shoulder.
Sslash!
Despite infusing his Heavenly Silkworm Robe with internal energy, the plum-patterned robe tore like ordinary cloth under Sima Gang’s spearhead.
A searing pain spread rapidly from his shoulder, but Mu Hwi didn’t even blink as he sealed his acupoints to stop the bleeding. Simultaneously, he scattered the force of the Plum Blossom Scattering Hands to deter Sima Gang’s follow-up.
Kwaang!
Sima Gang, having barely stepped into the void, scattered the sword energy petals with sheer force before thrusting his spear again.
“Brat! Does it hurt?”
Sima Gang relentlessly targeted Mu Hwi’s injured left shoulder.
Each time Mu Hwi blocked the heavy spear, blood gushed from his shoulder. Yet, he refused to retreat, instead straining to close the distance.
Spear versus Sword.
The disadvantage in range was extreme. Even more so when the opponent was superior. Retreat was not an option for Mu Hwi.
Sima Gang’s Black Oiled Spear was notoriously unpredictable. Watching the spear bend at impossible angles and lash like a whip, Mu Hwi’s Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique grew even more elaborate, displaying richer variations.
Kwaang!
Mu Hwi stepped forward, wounds on his thigh and right arm, and faced the spear energy surging like a dragon’s whirlwind. Dozens of plum blossoms bloomed as he advanced again.
‘Just two more steps.’
Blood spilled from Mu Hwi’s internal injuries onto his robe, already dyed red.
Finally closing the distance, Mu Hwi’s eyes gleamed coldly. Seeing this, Sima Gang grinned wildly.
“Magnificent!”
Sima Gang raised his spear overhead with both hands, then twisted his waist and shoulders violently, sweeping the spear diagonally. Mu Hwi countered with an upward diagonal slash, executing Plum Fragrance Seep into Bone (梅香成流).
Layers of petals and sword shadows merged into a single current, racing through the air.
The descending spear strike from the upper left clashed with the rising sword strike from the lower right at the midpoint.
Boom!
A violent shockwave erupted as the spear and sword crossed, shaking both masters. Sima Gang naturally stepped back to disperse the impact, but Mu Hwi endured it and charged forward.
‘If I retreat like him, there’s no chance.’
Mu Hwi’s robes fluttered perilously as he navigated the storm of shockwaves. A cold smile formed on his lips.
“Hah!”
Seeing Mu Hwi’s smile, Sima Gang’s face lit up with delight as he brought the spear to his waist.
The spear, gripped firmly in both hands, burned with dark brown energy like flames.
“Brat! You’ve provoked me.”
The spear transformed into countless trajectories, enveloping Mu Hwi from all directions. The Sim-myeong Sword bloomed with plum blossoms, but the hundreds of overlapping spear energies suppressed the plum fragrance and purple light.
Black Abyss Deep Marsh (黑幽深沼).
Sima Gang’s endless spear thrusts swallowed Mu Hwi’s Plum Blossom Nine Transformations (梅花九變), Plum Blossom by the Road (梅花路傍), and Plum Blossom Butterfly Dance (梅花蝶舞) in succession.
The spear tip was like a bottomless black marsh. Now, the Black Abyss Deep Marsh spewed ominous dark brown light, ready to consume even Mu Hwi.
Blood streamed down Mu Hwi’s forehead, forcing one eye half-shut as he raised the Sim-myeong Sword to mid-level.
“Huu.”
Calming his breath, Mu Hwi channeled the Purple Sunset Divine Technique to its peak, pouring all his strength into the Sim-myeong Sword.
Sim-myeong’s eyes darkened for the first time as he saw Mu Hwi’s serene demeanor.
‘This kid…’
The Sim-myeong Sword stood firm like a pillar. Then, countless tremors began to ripple through it. Plum blossoms swirled and bloomed.
Dozens, then hundreds of blossoms appeared, pushing back the Black Abyss Deep Marsh that had effortlessly devoured the Twenty-Four Hands Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
Fragrance Blossom Unmoved by Wind (暗香不動花).
The two ultimate techniques—one endlessly transforming to consume, the other condensing all changes into a single strike—collided.
As the dazzling plum blossoms faded like a fleeting dream, all the variations of the Fragrance Blossom Unmoved by Wind condensed into the Sim-myeong Sword, drawing a single, brilliant line.
A thin, radiant purple line sliced through the center of the Black Abyss Deep Marsh.
A shockwave explosion, so intense it swallowed even sound, engulfed the two masters. The Black Abyss Deep Marsh and the Fragrance Blossom Unmoved by Wind vanished together.
“Guhk!”
Mu Hwi, rolling on the ground, spat a mouthful of blood and propped himself up with the Sim-myeong Sword. Unlike Mu Hwi, Sima Gang had only been pushed back, leaving deep grooves where his feet had dug into the ground.
However, the sleeve of his right arm was completely gone, and his lips were noticeably redder than before. The backlash from his ultimate technique being broken was evident.
Sima Gang grinned at Mu Hwi’s pale face, his teeth stained with blood.
“Truly delightful. Hwasan Sword Saint!”
For the first time, Sima Gang referred to Mu Hwi by his title instead of brat.
The clash had widened the gap between them, but Sima Gang made no move to close it.
“Can you hear it, Hwasan Sword Saint?”
Even without Sima Gang’s words, the sounds were unmistakable—clashing metal and shouts from behind.
Just as the supreme masters were locked in battle, the Martial Forces and the late-stage foundation level disciples were fiercely engaged.
Mu Hwi wasn’t the only one whose plum-patterned robe was stained red.
Mujin and Mu-hwa’s robes were also splattered with blood, and Mu-cheol fought desperately, a sword embedded in his back, swinging a massive plum blossom sword. The other disciples were equally battered.
Yet, thanks to their resilience, the Righteous Heavenly Unit held its ground, barely maintaining formation.
But this precarious balance could tip at any moment.
“Kang Ho-baek’s righteousness is a thorny path. Even now. Wouldn’t it have been better to flee with the disciples, as he said?”
Mu Hwi only smirked.
“I’ve never walked an easy path. Walking a thorny one changes nothing.”
“Is that so? Then let’s make it even harder.”
Mu Hwi pulled the Sim-myeong Sword from the ground and raised it to mid-level. Sima Gang reversed his grip, leveling the spear at eye height, shifting his weight backward into a throwing stance.
“I hope you can withstand this, Hwasan Sword Saint.”
Spear of the Black Oiled Spear’s first technique—Night-Piercing Throw (貫夜投).
Whoosh!
The spear tore through the air with a sonic boom, far more powerful than the one Mu Hwi had faced before the ceremony.
The internal energy infused into the spear exploded, accelerating it repeatedly. By the time it reached Mu Hwi, it had accelerated fifteen times, compounded by the spinning spear energy.
The surrounding air split apart, creating a fierce gale that whipped Mu Hwi’s bangs and robes wildly.
Originally, Mu Hwi had planned to use Sword-Breaking Seeking Fault (破劍求過) or Blade-Breaking Seeking Advantage (破刀求先). But suddenly, Kang Ho-baek’s movements flashed in his mind.
The straightforward thrust, like a righteous warrior walking his path. The image lingered before Mu Hwi’s eyes.
Without further thought, Mu Hwi thrust the Sim-myeong Sword forward.
Kwaang!
Planting his foot firmly, Mu Hwi moved as the image guided him.
The motion of a righteous warrior’s path merged with the insights of his past life as a solitary swordsman.
The sword of a righteous warrior, infused with a swordsman’s enlightenment, thrust forward in a single, unwavering line.
Spear-Breaking Seeking Righteousness (破槍求俠).
Crack!
The sound of a giant tree splitting echoed as a fierce wind blasted Mu Hwi’s face.
Kwaang!
Explosions erupted behind Mu Hwi, shaking the dunes like an earthquake.
Sima Gang’s spear, cleanly split in half, had flown past Mu Hwi and embedded itself in the ground on either side.
“Didn’t seem that hard.”
“Hahahaha!”
Despite his beloved spear being bisected, Sima Gang trembled before bursting into laughter.
“Then how about this!”
Sima Gang reached into empty air. Dark brown energy coalesced into a new spear in his grasp.
Mu Hwi’s eyes darkened at the sight.