Chapter 141
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Blowing Off Steam (1)
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Sword Emperor Jang Cheon-gyeong and Namgung Yeonhwa had departed, and Kang Mujin returned to his daily routine. As usual, he climbed the mountain to chop wood and conduct tailored training sessions.
For Heavenly Pole Divine Spear Guo Yunbaek, he provided the key to breaking through his blocked wall. Given how obsessed with martial arts Guo Yunbaek was, there was no need for separate training—the man would push himself anyway.
The sparring took place on the mountain.
Holding it at the clan estate would leave no space intact, and Mujin had no desire to shatter the current peace.
"Little brother."
"What now? You already broke through the wall."
"You can't just be satisfied with overcoming a mere wall."
"'Mere'? Aren't you being a bit harsh?"
"To navigate the dark currents ahead as a hero, you need to grow stronger than you are now."
"Who said I want to be a hero?!"
"Heroes aren't made by choice—they're forged."
The nuance was entirely different. Heroes were said to be born of fate, but if they were forged, that implied manipulation! Even blatant orchestration was fine as long as no one knew.
"I don't want to be some hero!"
"So you're fine with the clan getting swept up in bloodshed? Their parents, families, and disciples dying without a care?"
"You've got you, big bro."
"I'm not the vessel for a hero."
Quit acting humble!
I knew it wasn't humility—he was just too lazy and trying to dump it all on me! To outsiders, he might seem like a wise man who knew his limits, but his true intent was worlds apart. Shove every annoying task onto his little brother and spend his days sweetly with his wife and kids.
People of the world! This is the kind of guy my brother is!
Kang Muho wanted to barge into the bamboo grove and shout it from the rooftops.
"You think someone like me could be a hero?"
"Aaaah!"
"Admitting it hurts your feelings, huh?"
"What do you want me to do?"
"Win."
What nonsense.
So he couldn't respond. He acknowledged his brother's prowess. But labeling him a hero was hard to swallow, even for blood kin. Honestly, a mastermind of conspiracies suited him far better. It was a rare talent he was squandering. People were born with innate dispositions and thrived by following the right path.
A chill ran down his spine.
Just imagining it was terrifying. Picture his brother as the villain—that would be a cataclysm. Not your average baddie, but one forged from petty greed. Countering him would be a nightmare. Thank goodness he had family holding him back.
Oh no!
This wasn't the time to let his mind wander. He needed to focus on surviving the moment.
His brother clenched his fist.
"Shall we see your little brother's sword aura?"
"Urgh, Pine Tiger Dominion!"
Kang Muho drew out his sword aura like a dense thread, weaving it into a net of qi energy. A qi net to trap all under heaven. It was the best he could muster right now.
Kwaaaang! Jjeojeojeok!
Crash!
The intricate qi net shattered under one punch. Why did sword aura, no fragile glass, make such a sound? It wasn't just his imagination.
"Same thing."
Mujin unleashed a similar amount of inner energy as his brother.
Yet to Kang Muho, it loomed like an insurmountable cliff. He'd even clashed with Sword Emperor, but never felt this hopeless. His brother, back from his journey, had surpassed his former prime and grown even stronger in the interim.
Gasp!
Did you see that fist of fire plummeting from the sky?
It was happening.
Kwaaaaang!
Like a meteor accelerating downward, the blazing fist slammed down, cratering Kang Muho into the earth. He lay sprawled in a giant '' at the center of the fist imprint. Thankfully, no one saw—courtesy of Mujin's consideration for his heroic dignity.
"Go see Father."
"...You devil!"
Father, your unfilial son couldn't stop his brother... Gahk!
Reporting back home meant a welcome beating as standard protocol.
After disciplining... training his brother, he immediately summoned his father. To avoid any mishaps if he didn't show, he made it official.
The clan elders no longer opposed Mujin. Power aside, heavyweights visited constantly—figures far beyond them. Casual scoldings like old times were impossible now. He often caught his great-grandfather itching to speak but holding back.
They were wary in a whole new way.
"Father, dodging me like this is a problem."
"Dodging? Who said I was dodging?!"
"Look me straight in the eye when you say that."
"I am looking!"
As his son's eyes flashed suspiciously, Kang U-gyeong realized the good old days were gone. His damn son had a sharp memory, dragging him out to nitpick his training progress.
"What the hell have you been doing out there?!"
"Tell me about it—trouble keeps finding me. I prefer staying home."
"Ahem. Duty calls when trouble arises."
"You wouldn't be trying to shoo me out, would you? I love you, Father. Of course not—you wouldn't."
"...Of course not. You're my pride and joy."
Kang U-gyeong desperately wanted him gone, but he didn't betray that folly. His own son, yet unpredictable now. For a peaceful life, he had to coax him carefully and keep him safe.
"Father, lies aren't good."
"Lies?! No, absolutely not!"
"You don't really think that way. Hehe."
"...Don't laugh! Damn it!"
His son's fist was incoming. Dodging failure would be unfilial. Then he'd blame him for it.
'Why couldn't you dodge, huh?'
Kang U-gyeong executed Pine Wind Step, shifting direction before swinging his sword. Pure white sword qi erupted, blocking his son's advance.
Paaang!
Like swatting a fly, Mujin's casual palm strike deflected the sword qi, altering its path.
Gasp!
Shocked, Kang U-gyeong hastily formed sword shadows. Having surpassed peak realm into super-peak, it was worlds apart from before. Mujin was pleased with his father's growth.
"I'm proud!"
"While hurling palm winds... You little punk!"
Praising while unleashing barrages of palm winds.
Kang U-gyeong squeezed every last drop from his dantian, struggling desperately. He was pushing beyond his limits.
Mujin's leisurely palm winds irked him deeply. Casual strikes that chilled to the bone each block—perfect for age-related ailments.
"Your close-quarters has improved. Guess I'll close in tighter. Sparring so intimately with Father fills me with emotion."
Don't get emotional, you brat!
As his son switched to close combat, Kang U-gyeong's breath caught. He'd known he was strong, but the overwhelming pressure exceeded imagination.
'This much!'
He didn't love the bragging, but pride swelled. The troublemaker once compared unfavorably to his brother was now endlessly strong.
"Don't look away."
Paaang!
The fist piercing his sword's trajectory chilled him. No time for sentiment—one hit could maim.
"Son, you trying to kill your old man?!"
"I'm controlling it fine. See? You dodged."
"That was me... Hngh!"
"I made it so you could."
A gap the width of paper.
Kang U-gyeong fought his son like dueling through sheets. Slack off even slightly, and he'd be the overripe fruit splatting on the ground.
Especially wasteful swordplay was dangerous. Each move had to set up the next.
Chiiing! Jjeeeong!
Desperation peaked, granting Kang U-gyeong a mystical experience. He merged with his sword, sensing vividly. Not clashing with fist or blade, but flesh to flesh. His swings grew faster, more precise.
Woooong!
Every sense alive, harmonizing with inner energy. He felt the flow from dantian through his body—a first.
He couldn't lose this sensation. This was true Sword-Mind Unity.
First, know thyself. Then the sword. Uniting self and sword required this process. Mere resonance wasn't true swordsmanship.
Papapap! Shwaaak!
Kang U-gyeong reacted as if his sword had eyes. He read his son's assaults. Paths once dodged desperately were now anticipated and blocked.
Tatatatang!
Fists and sword clashed like hammering metal, vying power. Calm as the eye of a storm between father and son, but blinding to onlookers.
Whoooing!
The training ground shook with fierce qi waves. Isolated from outside, or the whole sect would've rattled.
"I see it! Your fist paths are visible now!"
"Father has potential, as expected. In commemoration, I'll step it up. With you so enthusiastic, it'd be unfilial not to match you."
Why phrase it like that?!
Gasp!
What he'd feared came true. His son's fist paths darkened again. He realized—Mujin had been toying with him.
Gulp!
Swallowing dryly, Kang U-gyeong swung wildly, liver scent thick. Without utmost effort, life flashed before him like a lantern show. Deceased parents' faces startled him.
-Rest now.
Their faint advice snapped him alert. Or he'd rest forever.
Gasp, gasp!
He didn't know how hard he'd pushed. Never gone all-out like today. Past spars left sweaty feet, but this reset the bar.
"Seeing Father fight for survival moves me. Must be parental love."
"...!"
Too exhausted to reply, Kang U-gyeong collapsed. His words didn't register. Recovery first. He wanted to lie flat and sleep.
"Hear me? What about the Clear Spirit Oil then?"
"I hear you. Loud and clear—Clear Spirit Oil!"
That's my dad.
Like father, like son—Mujin knew who he took after. He'd once thought himself adopted during his wandering days, but no—purely his father's blood. He felt guilty for doubting, vowing as a martial artist to aid his growth.
"Open wide."
Mujin uncorked the vial, extracting six drops via void grasp and politely feeding his father.
Swoosh!
Nearly passing out as the elixir flew in, Kang U-gyeong sat cross-legged and absorbed it with inner energy.
Pa!
Mujin smoothed his father's meridians for smooth energy circulation. Time to digest the new Sword-Mind Unity insight.
Insights came in flashes or lifetimes. Best to assimilate immediately—missed chances might not return.
He guided toward advanced Evolution Art paths, refining clan martial arts.
Suuuup, whoooo!
Kang U-gyeong's ragged breaths fused with Evolution Art, cycling repeatedly. Twelve Minor Circulations formed a Major—one.
Not reaching Three Flowers Gather at Summit or Five Energies Toward Origin, but peak for a father. His inner energy rivaled top masters. Fitting for a sect leader.
Flash!
Eyes open, Kang U-gyeong's gaze sharpened. Long cultivation yielded pure orthodox art stronger than demonic or evil arts, with counters. Why orthodox masters resisted evil arts.
Yet Demonic Cult of the Demon God's sorcery differed vastly. Thus, he blended War King Art traits into Evolution Art for countermeasures.
-I've told you, it's my merit.
'I know, man. Still, no need for credit grabs. Act magnanimous like a Demon King.'
-Planning to freeload forever, eh?
'Sharp as ever.'
-Think I don't see through you?
'So what if you do?'
He didn't deny Demon King's role in restructuring. But caution lingered—might he pull tricks? They acted like mind-mates now, but betrayal loomed.
-Time to trust by now?
'You trust me?'
-Yes.
'Demon King through and through—lies so smoothly.'
Mujin didn't blame him. Bickering aside, similar natures undeniable. Birds of a feather.
Control remained his. Demon King must play smart to reclaim his body.
Sip!
Kang U-gyeong surveyed the unchanged grounds with fresh awe. Mind-body resonance transformed. New info flooded from unseen sources.
"Welcome to another world, Father."
"This how you see the world?"
"No way—mine's way different."
"You punk, gotta one-up me?!"
"Martial arts have no end."
His son's truism left Kang U-gyeong in awe. After marriage and wandering heartaches, undeniable now. Son had worked for him too. Shame on his doubts.
"Round two then? Hehe."
"You rascal!"
Mind changed fast. Joy and mischief danced on his face.
No difference between good and evil asuras.
"You'll last longer now."
"Today... Hngh!"
For his father's toughness, Mujin trained tirelessly. Stronger dad meant more fun punching.
"Live long, Father."
"...Just kill me!"
The devoted father-son bout ended harmoniously today too.