Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Subduing Demon Hall
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I'd sparred with Lee Gwang dozens of times, far more than that even. For years, he'd drilled me relentlessly, using spars to correct my stance and teach me the finer points quickly. Of course, I was never a match for him—I always got thoroughly thrashed.
But right now, that history didn't matter. The killing intent swirling around him was unmistakably real. He was ready to cut me down at any moment. This was fundamentally different from the spars meant to train a successor.
I swallowed hard.
"Wait a second!"
"What?"
"Why do you hate the Fire God Style so much?"
"......"
The question caught him so off guard that even the cold, ruthless Lee Gwang faltered. His expression shifted, clearly baffled.
His spear tip twitched, and with a sharp *pop*, the hair by my temple exploded. At my current level, I couldn't even tell what he'd done. He'd long surpassed the realm of definable techniques or forms. As I froze stiff, he spoke.
"I'll give you credit for guts. Only someone extraordinary could ask something like that in this situation."
Was that praise or mockery? I forced a weak laugh.
"...If I'm gonna die, let me at least die knowing."
"Hmm."
Unlike before, his killing intent had softened a bit. He pointed his spear tip at the ground and spoke slowly.
"You must know that the White Lotus Cult purged the Thunder God Style, dismissing it as worthless. The Wind God Style led that purge, and countless Thunder God Style masters lost their lives in the process. The survivors fled to the Central Plains and went into hiding."
"I know that. But the Fire God Style didn't take part directly, did they?"
"Right. The Fire God Style, led by that old hag Han Baek-ryeong, just stood by and watched. That's what pisses me off."
"What?"
"My master and Han Baek-ryeong were close friends. But when the Thunder God Style was framed and driven out, she didn't defend us or lend a hand. She just sat on the sidelines, afraid the flames would spread to her own group. Could you trust or befriend someone like that?"
"......"
*Shiiik*
His spear tip swung back toward me. The energy shot out straight, slicing toward my heart like a blade. He was wielding formless energy as an offensive weapon, killing me before the fight even began. Only a master who had grasped advanced intent could fight this way.
"Baek Woong. I don't know how you sweet-talked Han Baek-ryeong into writing that letter of recommendation for the Iron-Blooded Witch. Your internal energy, so close to the Heavenly Spirit Pill, is impressive too. But none of that gives me a reason to pass on the Thunder God Style legacy."
The formless energy crushed down on me like a mountain, weighing on every inch of my body. It ignored differences in internal energy depth—only sheer will could overcome it. Struggling, I shot back.
"What do you want from me?"
"I told you from the start."
His eyes flashed.
"Prove your talent and resolve—with your martial arts!"
*Quaquaquang!*
"......!!"
In the next instant, I felt my body launch into the air, soaring through it. In that split second, I'd surged my internal energy to the max and somehow avoided a direct hit, but his spear strike had slammed into my front. It looked like a simple forward thrust, but it hit harder than any master I'd ever faced.
"Keheuk!!"
Spitting blood, I flew back over four *zhang*, utterly dumbfounded. I'd realized he'd gone easy on me. The problem was, even with that mercy, I hadn't blocked or dodged a blatant frontal thrust.
'What kind of skill gap is this...?'
Lee Gwang didn't let me land undisturbed. In an instant, he was right in my face, swinging his spear at invisible speeds. Gritting my teeth, I swung the Dragon Abyss Sword, trying to block with sword energy. But his spear strikes twisted in incomprehensible angles, hammering my vital points.
*Boom*
"Uwaaak..."
In a flash, I'd taken over twenty spear strikes and was flung to the ground. I bounced off the stone floor two or three times before crashing into the edge of the training ground. My whole body throbbed, my mind on the verge of blacking out, but I hurriedly unleashed a movement technique to right myself.
"Good, that's more like it."
His voice, laced with killing intent, brushed past my ear.
"Lie there still, and I'll burst your heart."
*Pubububuk*
*Pubuk*
"Ugh."
It felt like my guts were exploding. In truth, he'd zipped past with phenomenal footwork, pummeling my abdomen dozens of times with Thunder God Fist. But the agony was like my organs burning away—I blacked out for a moment.
When I came to, dozens of seconds had passed, and his voice rang out.
"Wipe the blood from your mouth."
Looking down at his words, my clothes were soaked in my own blood, fresh crimson trickling steadily from my lips. Internal injuries. I wanted to collapse and pass out comfortably, but I forced myself to endure with sheer grit, wiping my mouth with my sleeve.
'Damn it. I'm really gonna die.'
He was holding back just enough to acknowledge something in me. That amplified the pain. If he'd meant to kill me, my head would've been gone in the first few seconds—no prolonged suffering. As I cursed inwardly, he spoke.
"You're a strange one. You use Thunder Shadow Step properly, but your swordsmanship is still beginner-level? With all that overflowing energy, you only know Heavenly Thunder Strike? Pathetic."
This guy?
Rage surged through me. Having given up on surviving this, I had the spirit to defy him. I spat blood and shot back.
"I know there's a next stage to the Thunder Shadow Swordsmanship."
The problem was dying to the Eight Demonic Sects before learning it. He sneered.
"If you know, why not learn it? Where's your master hiding that he didn't teach you?"
"He died of illness. Because he couldn't achieve Thunder Spirit."
"......"
"I need to get stronger. Strong enough to crush my enemies."
As I mustered my resolve, a glint flashed in his eyes.
"You look young—what enemies are you talking about? Not your original master's killer, I bet."
"You're right. But I have to cut that bastard's head off."
"Why?"
Staring straight into his eyes, I said.
"He killed my friend. Until I avenge him, I'm not truly alive."
I was surprised at how calmly the words came out.
Such a flat tone. When I should've been raging with fury to convince him, here I was reciting it like a book. Even a child would've sensed something off.
'Hah. In my tenth life, maybe I should just practice acting.'
I'd poured my heart into it, but if it didn't come across that way, it was pointless. I smirked inwardly, but his killing blow didn't come.
......
....
What?
I stood there for a long while, but the silence dragged on.
Glancing up at him, he said with a stiff expression.
"That's no kid's mentality. Baek Woong, you've survived some hellish battlefields."
"......?"
"Jin So-cheong."
*Shiiik*
"Yes, Master."
Out of nowhere, Jin So-cheong appeared in the yard. Lee Gwang handed him a pouch of silver and said.
"Take him to Village Chief Kang's clinic and show them his injuries. Bring him back once he's healed."
"Understood."
Jin So-cheong clasped his fists and led me away.
'Did I... survive?'
But as Jin So-cheong grabbed my collar and dragged me off, I'd already lost consciousness. Even that brief ordeal had been too much—I couldn't stay awake.
It didn't take long for Jin So-cheong to deliver Baek Woong to the Kang family clinic, one of the Guanzhong Six Great Families specializing in medicine, and pay the fee. Kang Son-mu, the family head and one of Guanzhong's top physicians, examined Baek Woong and let out an awed breath.
"He's barely clinging to life."
"Will he be okay?"
The physician Kang Son-mu replied.
"Yeah... unbelievable, but he's healing naturally."
"What?"
"Look here."
Kang Son-mu's hand pointed to Baek Woong's chest. The skin had split open from spear strikes, flesh torn, white bone peeking through. A grave wound, yet the flesh was visibly wriggling, slowly knitting back together. Kang Son-mu shook his head in disbelief.
"I've heard that at the pinnacle of internal energy, one can use qi for natural healing... but seeing it today for the first time. Can a human even possess such energy?"
"......"
"Anyway, he'll recover fine without much help from me. I'll speed it up though—probably good as new in four or five days."
"Please do."
"But who turned someone with that level of energy into this state?"
Jin So-cheong ignored the question and stepped outside. After lingering a moment, he headed back to the Azure Dragon Martial Hall.
*Paat*
His figure shot swiftly into the Crouching Dragon Hall within, stopping before Lee Gwang, who was sipping warm tea.
Beside Lee Gwang lay the Dragon Abyss Sword Baek Woong had carried. Glancing at it, Jin So-cheong spoke.
"Master. Haven't you always said other Thunder God Style disciples are like brothers to us?"
Lee Gwang took a sip of tea before replying.
"I have."
"I think you went too far this time. If Baek Woong's energy hadn't been that strong, he'd be dead."
"If he died, that would've been fine too."
"What?!"
Jin So-cheong cried out in shock. The Lee Gwang he knew would never say such a thing. Ignoring his disciple's surprise, Lee Gwang picked up the Dragon Abyss Sword leaning against the study desk.
"Doesn't it look like a famed sword to you? This is probably the legendary Dragon Abyss, one of the world's finest."
Lee Gwang had vast knowledge of peerless swords and weapons. By his judgment, there was no doubt. Curiosity lit Jin So-cheong's eyes.
"That thing..."
"At that young age, with internal energy one step from the Heavenly Spirit Pill, catching the eye of a White Lotus Cult Dharma Guardian and getting a marriage proposal from their bloodline—yet he rejected it all, brought this sword, and came to me. His own martial arts are already at the entry of Peak Expert."
Muttering that, Lee Gwang looked straight at Jin So-cheong.
"As vast as the Central Plains are, do you think there's any boy who could match even his toe?"
Jin So-cheong shook his head.
"Probably not. Unless it's the White Lotus Cult's Young Cult Leader."
"Exactly. The kid's too exceptional. But what's even scarier isn't what's on the surface. I realized that just now."
"What is it?"
"Steel-like will."
"Will?"
"The stuff about his master sounded fishy. No way to verify, but probably a lie. But when I was about to cut him down, he calmly spoke of avenging his friend. Those words carried the grit of a warrior who's endured decades of asura fields."
"......!!"
"Honestly, it shocked me. That kid already has the mind of a battle-hardened veteran."
Lee Gwang's face was unusually somber, unlike his iron-willed self that never wavered. He set the Dragon Abyss Sword back down and gazed out the window.
"Baek Woong is the rightful successor to the Thunder God Style. It's true I have reason to raise him. But I have no confidence in controlling him once he spreads his wings."
"Did you really think killing him was for the best?"
Jin So-cheong's question had an edge. Lee Gwang chuckled at his upright disciple.
"Haha... I don't even know. First time I've felt this way. Part of me wants to raise him, part wants to kill him for your sake. It's confusing. So-cheong... what do you think I should do?"
Lee Gwang often phrased things to elicit a desired answer—that was his style. But Jin So-cheong realized this question was genuine; he truly sought his opinion.
After much thought, Jin So-cheong said.
"I want to take Baek Woong as my junior brother."
"Even if he might become your enemy one day?"
"I see it differently. Master, don't you have a deep-seated grudge from years ago? If Baek Woong is truly the vessel you imagine, he might stir up massive waves in the world and give you a chance to settle that old score."
"......!!"
Lee Gwang flinched. Jin So-cheong's insight had gone a step beyond his own. Indeed, he harbored a grudge he'd shared with no one but Jin So-cheong. It was impossible to resolve in reality, so he'd lived quietly—yet here was his disciple bringing it up.
After agonizing, Lee Gwang spoke.
"You're saying that kid could grow that big?"
"That's for you to judge, Master."
"Hoo..."
Lee Gwang gazed out the window with clear eyes. The irritation over the Fire God Style introduction was gone; now he coldly analyzed Baek Woong's potential.
After a long deliberation, he said.
"Fine. I think it's possible."
A small spark flickered in his eyes—the resentment he'd nurtured for decades.
"Let's raise him with everything we've got."
In his mind loomed a single giant.
Guarded by three superhumans, untouchable for revenge; power like a god's, feared even by the Great Ming Emperor himself—the absolute sovereign of the martial world! Lee Gwang had honed his blade against that being but given up as impossible. Now, he'd found new hope.