Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Hiding One's Edge Behind Laughter
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Thus, Han Ibi had no choice but to draw his Hanjo Sword and prepare himself.
At that moment.
Suddenly, Bok Mu-sin advanced with a forward stance, thrusting his iron cudgel down three times in succession.
It was a strike as swift as lightning.
Han Ibi horizontally raised his Hanjo Sword to begin his defense.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
With three resounding impacts, Bok Mu-sin spun his body once more.
Harnessing centrifugal force, he charged in like a hawk diving to smash Han Ibi's skull.
Han Ibi responded with a similar trajectory. He wasn't avoiding the head-on clash.
Thud!
A massive sound echoed outward.
Once again, Bok Mu-sin struck like lightning with his iron cudgel.
This time, it was a sideways swing sweeping from the flank to the front.
Han Ibi swallowed hard and pushed forward with raw power.
Thud! Thud!
Sparks flew as Bok Mu-sin's stance was forced two steps back.
The onlookers—Je Gal-yeon, Yuk Hyun-rip, and the others—flashed with surprise in their eyes.
Even Han Ibi found it somewhat unexpected.
He knew Bok Mu-sin was more of a brain-over-brawn type, but the force of his attacks was stronger than anticipated.
Of course, it was also due to the deep internal energy Han Ibi had built up over time...
Bok Mu-sin spoke.
"As expected, you're the type who relies purely on brute strength."
Han Ibi's eyes widened in round disbelief.
What kind of nonsense was this?
"Me? Did you perhaps wake up with a stomachache this morning, Brother Bok?"
"Hahaha. I'm not one to be rattled by such mind games."
'Mind games? From me?'
Bok Mu-sin's expression turned deadly serious.
"Even if you wield that weapon properly, no one will fault you."
Han Ibi grew even more baffled.
"Hey, Brother Bok. I have no idea what you're talking about..."
At that moment, Bok Mu-sin suddenly grinned and said,
"Now it seems it's time to get serious. You'll be the first martial artist in history to face this legendary weapon."
He gently stroked his iron cudgel as he continued.
"This Myriad Heaven Cudgel must have longed for this day as well. I saved it for battles against demon heads, but sparring with Young Master Jong Ri isn't a bad choice either."
"I don't get what you're saying, but how about saving it for those demon heads instead?"
"Consider it an honor."
Then Han Ibi called out to Gil Son-rok, who stood apart.
"Son-rok. Is your senior brother always this solemn?"
Gil Son-rok chuckled as he replied,
"Well, depending on the occasion."
'Hmm... It's starting to feel like a rigged game of go-stop. An uneasy, slimy vibe is creeping up.'
Just as Han Ibi opened his mouth to say more.
Bok Mu-sin resumed his Great Sage Equaling Heaven stance.
His bald, bristly face gave off the vibe of a true ape-man.
At that instant.
Bok Mu-sin's body shot forward like an arrow.
It was an overhead thrust using the cudgel.
Han Ibi quickly raised his Hanjo Sword to block.
Another massive thud rang out, sparks flying.
Han Ibi thought,
'What's this? No different from before.'
Then it happened.
A krrik sound echoed as the upper part of the Myriad Heaven Cudgel sharpened into a point.
Like a spear.
In an instant, the conical tip lunged stealthily at Han Ibi's face.
'Gasp!'
Startled, Han Ibi twisted his head to the left with all his might.
By the width of a single cabbage leaf, he dodged the spear tip.
'That was close! I nearly got sidelined with an injury!'
Han Ibi was the most shocked by the scene, but Je Gal-yeon and Yuk Hyun-rip seemed pretty stunned too.
Only Gil Son-rok remained calm, flashing a knowing smile.
Je Gal-yeon applauded.
"As expected, the Jo Yang School's weapon craftsmanship is astonishing!"
Han Ibi shot back,
"I see. Astonishingly sneaky, that is. Hey, Young Master Bok. You were dying to test that thing out, weren't you? That's why you pretended to be weak earlier to build an excuse."
But Bok Mu-sin said nothing.
He resumed the Great Sage stance, then spun the Myriad Heaven Cudgel around to thrust at Han Ibi's lower body.
Han Ibi clamped his mouth shut and raised his Hanjo Sword to block the tip.
Krrik.
With an eerie metallic grind...
A sharp blade sprang from the lower end, stabbing down at Han Ibi's instep.
Splat!
"Ah!"
Gil Son-rok shouted,
"It's over now!"
The blade protruding from the cudgel's end had pierced right through Han Ibi's leather shoe.
At the toe section.
Even the slightest wound meant disqualification!
But something was off.
There was no trace of pain on Han Ibi's face.
Han Ibi muttered loudly enough for all to hear,
"Good thing I curled my toes. Lucky save."
Indeed.
Sensing danger, Han Ibi had quickly curled his toes, so the blade merely stabbed the empty front of his shoe.
Je Gal-yeon and the others wore disappointed expressions.
Han Ibi thought,
'This isn't a cudgel at all—it's a vile weapon that hides variable lengths for sneak attacks. But it's genuinely deadly.'
Realizing his failure, Bok Mu-sin swiftly retracted the Myriad Heaven Cudgel.
At the same time, the sharp blade smoothly withdrew inside.
But in a fluid motion, he leaped high into the air.
Gripping the cudgel with both hands, he smashed it down from above.
Han Ibi had no choice but to raise his Hanjo Sword horizontally again to defend.
But the real shock came next.
The front of the blocked Myriad Heaven Cudgel suddenly bent forward like a serpent striking.
This was maddening.
Han Ibi whipped his head away and rolled across the ground to evade.
Thump!
The flexible cudgel smashed into the earth.
Han Ibi felt a chill run down his spine.
The Myriad Heaven Cudgel wasn't just an adjustable-length spear—it was also a freely manipulable segmented staff.
Only then did Han Ibi realize the name derived from "a thousand changes, ten thousand transformations."
It was a living weapon that morphed at will according to its wielder's skill.
The Jo Yang School's advanced weapon engineering made it possible.
Han Ibi thought,
'At this rate, they'll be inventing guns soon!'
Bok Mu-sin's silhouette soared through the air once more.
The Myriad Heaven Cudgel aimed for Han Ibi's throat.
'Hmph. No way I'll fall for some popping blade this time.'
Han Ibi planned to invoke Dark Ghost Power and crush the cudgel in his grip.
'Dark Ghost Power, activate!'
He reached out with his bare hand instead of the sword, attempting to seize it directly.
Just as his palm neared the upper end.
Shrring.
Sharp spikes erupted from the top, like a wolf-tooth club.
Han Ibi recoiled in horror.
Instead, he ad-libbed, leaping diagonally toward Bok Mu-sin and rolling away.
But soon, his vision filled with the cudgel's head—now a segmented staff—hurtling toward his skull.
Han Ibi swiftly stepped into the "Xun" position of the Eight Trigrams and launched himself away.
The Myriad Heaven Cudgel tore into the ground, kicking up dirt.
Then Bok Mu-sin twisted the midsection like wringing out laundry with both hands.
The limp cudgel shrank taut again, regaining its rigid form.
Enraged, Han Ibi snapped,
"That's a truly despicable weapon!"
Bok Mu-sin retorted,
"Despicable? What defines despicability? The Jo Yang School has poured generations of effort into crafting this Myriad Heaven Cudgel. I've spent over twenty years mastering sword, saber, spear, staff, and axe without a single day's break to wield it. We've thoroughly analyzed the counters to every weapon. Who could fault such dedication?"
Han Ibi's eyes lit up.
'Counters... that's the key, huh?'
And then he thought,
'So, what if I neutralize those counters?'
Finishing his words, Bok Mu-sin whipped the now-segmented Myriad Heaven Cudgel around with a whoosh.
Like a flail...
That's when Han Ibi activated his Flying Dart Technique.
And then...
He gripped the Hanjo Sword in one hand and thrust it backward.
As if hurling a javelin.
Gil Son-rok shouted,
"Senior Brother! Be careful! He's skilled in flying darts!"
Startled, Bok Mu-sin assumed a defensive posture.
Han Ibi nailed the moment his aim aligned and hurled the hefty Hanjo Sword with brute force.
The massive blade cleaved through space toward Bok Mu-sin.
Caught off-guard, Bok Mu-sin spun the Myriad Heaven Cudgel in a circle to form a defensive barrier.
Clang!
A deafening crash reverberated everywhere.
Han Ibi had poured his full power into the throw.
Bok Mu-sin's hands nearly tore apart in agony; he almost dropped the cudgel.
As the directionless Hanjo Sword clattered to the ground and Bok Mu-sin caught his breath.
He witnessed a bewildering sight.
Han Ibi was charging at tremendous speed, right up to his face.
As Bok Mu-sin tried to reshape the cudgel again.
Suddenly, Han Ibi vanished.
Or more precisely, he was tackling like a soccer player.
Bok Mu-sin tried to defend his lower body.
But...
Han Ibi's target wasn't his legs.
His body oddly brushed past Bok Mu-sin's left side.
As Bok Mu-sin turned, wondering what was happening.
Han Ibi's hand clamped onto his ankle and yanked upward.
Losing balance, Bok Mu-sin toppled backward.
Still clutching the Myriad Heaven Cudgel tightly...
But in close quarters, its length was a hindrance.
Han Ibi pounced, swinging a fist at his head.
Bok Mu-sin desperately twisted away.
Bam!
The fist slammed into the ground, dirt flying everywhere.
Tremendous raw power!
Another fist came hurtling down.
A chill shot up Bok Mu-sin's spine as he twisted with all his might again.
Bam!
More dirt scattered.
He'd dodged somehow, but he couldn't hold out much longer.
Worried for his senior, Gil Son-rok rushed forward, yelling,
"No! Stop it! Brother Jong Ri!"
Han Ibi sprang up and replied,
"Okay."
Now the Jun Jae Alliance members looked utterly bewildered.
But they soon understood why Han Ibi had stopped...
Bok Mu-sin's silk handkerchief lay in Han Ibi's palm.
All those ferocious punches...
Had been a feint to snatch the handkerchief.
Bok Mu-sin leaped to his feet.
Possible only because he was unscathed.
Gil Son-rok asked,
"Senior Brother, are you alright?"
But without a word, he spat on the ground and walked away.
Han Ibi retrieved his fallen Hanjo Sword and said,
"It was a bit flashy, but neither of us shed a drop of blood, just like you all said at the start. We did good, right?"
Je Gal-yeon clapped and said,
"Very well done. Impressive. Truly impressive."
Then his smile vanished as he continued,
"Hiding your edge behind a foolish grin. So let's do this."
Je Gal-yeon rubbed his hands lightly and went on.
"Young Master Jong Ri, join our alliance. Let's team up. Combine your martial prowess with our wisdom, and we'll surely win today... Ack!"
Je Gal-yeon wore a look of utter shock.
Han Ibi had charged at him before he could finish speaking.
"Looks like you never worried about it becoming my brains paired with your brawn."
(To be continued)