Chapter 41

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 41

Chapter Title: Demonic Arts? Excuse me, these are orthodox martial arts though? (1)

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Those who wander the jianghu have long enjoyed ranking people by tiers and judging superiority within those ranks.

But.

Martial arts is an endlessly long path, walked in solitude.

How could one possibly divide it into first-rate, peak, or even the baseless supreme peak?

Yet there was one undeniable fact no one could refute.

There existed a realm that only warriors who had honed themselves to the absolute limit could glimpse.

A realm transcended beyond human flesh and soul, where one finally establishes the direction of the martial way they pursue.

The warrior achieves the Realm of Creation and becomes a star.

Thus, Forming Gang.

A state where one can fully manifest their will in their own two hands.

The conviction of one who has become a singular, complete star.

In other words, their Unique Heart Image could even twist the laws of the world.

Warriors who reached this realm were so rare they could be counted on one hand.

Even among them, who had reached farther could only be gauged in imagination or by directly comparing their skills.

Thus, asking who the Supreme Under Heaven of the era is might spark fierce debate.

But ask the renowned Realm of Creation warriors who is the most troublesome opponent, and they would all agree on one name.

The Sword Demon, Wi Jiryang.

Battles between absolutes are often depicted as heavens collapsing and earth splitting.

It's common enough to witness terrain changing overnight from clashing gang qi.

"Martial Arts Return to Origins."

At least in the Sword Demon's domain, such things did not occur.

As Wi Jiryang held his sword vertically and murmured lowly.

Jet-black energy surged toward the sky, tearing through space-time like it formed a massive ring around them.

In that instant.

The natural qi filling heaven and earth, and the inner energy overflowing endlessly within the body, vanished as if they had never existed.

Instead, an infinite silence descended, as if martial history had rewound to the primordial dawn of martial arts.

"Tch."

The moment she encountered the Sword Demon's Unique Heart Image, which she'd only heard of.

Seo Dohee clicked her tongue, tossed aside her great axe, and drew her twin axes.

As the two warriors sank into a trance, ceaselessly clashing sword and axes to test each other's limits.

The anomaly appeared abruptly.

The area under Martial Arts Return to Origins allowed only Wi Jiryang and his projected foe to exist.

The Sword Demon's infamy owed much to this Unique Heart Image that forced one-on-one duels.

However.

"Master, I'm here to hel──! Gahk!"

At the unprecedented intrusion of a man at the domain's edge, the Sword Demon's eyes widened as he turned his head.

It was the perfect chance to strike at the opening.

But Seo Dohee, too, whipped her head around in shock at her disciple's voice, impossible in this place.

Geum Sihyeon, who had raced here on lightfoot skill from afar.

Failed to adapt to the bizarre phenomenon where his inner energy vanished instantly and tumbled, rolling several times across the ground.

"……."

"……."

The killing intent drained from the bodies of the two absolutes who had just been fiercely battling to the death.

The Sword Demon in shock at the unprecedented phenomenon he'd never witnessed.

The Bandit King half grateful, half exasperated at his foolish disciple.

* * *

The midterms had escalated from a light bandit suppression to uncovering a Blood Cult plot, but still ended on a happy note.

Bringing the Medical Hall members had been a stroke of genius.

There were plenty of injuries, but everyone recovered quickly without major wounds or lingering effects.

The past always gets romanticized into fond memories.

Back then, he'd thought he was really dying, wondered if there'd be a second round, vowed never to go near Mount Taebaek if it reset.

Now, only the positive memories remained.

The expressions on the faces of those who broke the formation and rushed in to save them.

Blood pouring from his arm, yet checking on him and Luri first, the teardrops shimmering in his and Sojeo's big eyes.

Even the heartwarming scene of the usually bickering Moyong siblings, like sworn enemies, immediately asking after each other upon regaining consciousness.

……Of course, he regretted his impulsive actions a bit afterward.

This meddlesome nature was a disease incurable even by death.

……Yeah. At that moment, he went full hero syndrome. Lol.

Anyway.

He'd rushed on vague instinct, only to find Master bare-handed, wrestling some stranger WWE-style without using inner energy.

Learning the guy was the Sword Demon? Yeah, that was terrifying. Really, really terrifying.

Felt like he'd get run through any second, his old-man brain paralyzing him.

Fortunately, he didn't harm Master further, left me unscathed, and slipped away somewhere.

Good outcome, so all good.

Though he wasn't into older types.

Master's "teaching pouch," peeking through torn clothes and compression bandages from the Sword Demon's cuts, was pretty impressive too.

If he became Alliance Leader.

First law: Ban on compression bandages.

"Tangwa? None?"

"What tangwa for a patient?"

Everyone ended with minor injuries, down 1-3 days.

Except one bad kid still sprawled in the Medical Hall, refusing school like a delinquent.

Having pierced noses with him and Sojeo, he'd been saddled with taking turns nursing her whims.

Luri, cheeks puffed sullenly.

Sighing down at that flat plane that barely needed even a main bandage puff.

"Just fondle Pikaping plenty and rest up."

"Pikaping……?"

Oh.

Didn't know despite being a stalker?

"It's a thing. Cute electric mouse that ends sentences with 'pika.'"

She's a patient, after all.

Fired up his artistic soul after ages, capturing Pikaping's adorbs pose on paper.

"Pika……!"

Luri took the drawing, face like she'd been shocked.

As expected of a primitive ancient Central Plains folk, stunned by 21st-century anime style's impact.

30 minutes later.

Deeply regretted his rash action.

He'd broken the stalker's seal, unleashing a new concept freak on the gallery…….

* * *

Despite the provocative title, the video uploaded to Mutube under 'BloodyQueenTube' didn't initially stir much buzz.

Entirely the filmer's fault.

Shot from afar, quality blurry as hell.

Filmer kept shaking the screen, no idea what they were doing.

No sound at all, zero cinematic value, just crude footage.

Paradoxically, that's why it survived on Mutube.

Corpses blurred out in the foggy background.

Ecstatic moans censored by absence.

Shaky cam cleverly skipping gore moments.

Slipped past review unscathed.

Soon.

Those enduring the entry barrier.

Captivated by raw, unfiltered combat vibe rare on Mutube, started watching one by one.

Even in poor quality, the sword wrapped in stellar brilliance scattered everywhere.

The sword-user dodging lethal blows precariously yet enduring had a magic pulling viewers to clench fists in support.

Finally.

Tossing the axe for pure internal energy clash, sighs escaped viewers.

Obviously mismatched.

Sword-user deeper in skill, but axe-wielder's energy reserves overwhelming.

Regret at the hollow end.

Axe-wielder's aura dispersing.

Visible exhaustion from afar.

Then the sword-user shakes off the hand, swings──.

Camera jerked wildly, missing the decapitation.

But the reversal from dire straits delivered chills of satisfaction up the spine.

Borrowing a Greek term from distant West: catharsis surged.

Soon.

Little by little.

Reactions piled up, popularity rose.

Exposed to more people.

More reactions.

Views begat views, crude video went viral.

Then, those itching to share knowledge piled on varied opinions.

Posting a tearfully emotional comment.

Moyong Seol's face was the opposite: stiff.

She'd fainted too, so heard the conclusion secondhand.

Impressed by the feats and intent of the man clearly Geum Sihyeon in the video.

……But who, how filmed this?

And why upload publicly to Mutube?

Doubts swirled deeply.

Unfortunately, her imagination didn't reach the filmer reveling in extreme excitement and pleasure while watching views and reactions climb.

Bzzz──

Scanning comments for hints of Taebaek Mountain events, a new message pinged Moyong Seol's eyes.

"……What bullshit is this?"

Which bastard dares trip up our Sihyeon?

Utterly outraged, Moyong Seol slammed the desk and stood.