Chapter 138
Chapter 138
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Lightning's Breakthrough
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Jong Chil's hellish daily routine continued unabated after that. By day, he endured what passed for training but was really torment at the hands of the Sword King and Sword Demon. By night, he drilled his footwork without end.
A month slipped by like that. Jong Chil's days remained unchanged, and so did his footwork.
"Hoo. Why the hell is this happening? If only I had a straight answer."
Jong Chil finally collapsed to the ground. It was half surrender. He'd practiced footwork for a full month, yet made astonishingly zero progress.
At least the first day had smoothed out his qi flow a bit. After that, nothing but stagnation.
"No matter how incredible Dan Daxia's footwork is, this is ridiculous."
As Jong Chil let out that sigh, someone appeared behind him. The arrival was so abrupt that even he jolted in shock.
"Gah!"
Startled, Jong Chil rolled forward, spun around, and dropped into a stance. Razor-sharp fighting spirit blazed in his eyes. From sensing the presence at his back to readying himself—it happened in a blink. The payoff of the Sword King and Sword Demon's brutal drills.
A man's figure filled Jong Chil's vision. His eyes widened in shock as he stared. Tension drained from his body in an instant. The man was none other than Dan Hyeong-u.
"Da-Dan Daxia."
"So it was you after all."
Jong Chil flinched at Dan Hyeong-u's words. Truth be told, Dan Hyeong-u had known for nights that someone was out here practicing footwork. Everything unfolding in the Henan Escort Bureau—and all across Heochang—fell within his senses. No way he wouldn't notice.
Jong Chil's footwork was too raw to miss. Had it been the Thunderbolt Squad training, it wouldn't have looked like this.
Jong Chil's face grew taut. He steeled himself in his mind a few times, mustered his courage, and finally asked.
"What in the world is wrong with my footwork?"
Dan Hyeong-u fixed him with a steady gaze at the question. Then he drew his sword and swung it lightly downward.
"Show me."
The words and motion were plain enough, but they hit Jong Chil like a hammer to the skull.
"N-No way..."
Dan Hyeong-u nodded and sheathed his blade. No further explanation needed.
Jong Chil stood frozen for a moment, then burst out in a voice thick with outrage.
"So that's it? No chance for me anymore? All because of that one damn day?!"
Dan Hyeong-u regarded him quietly. Jong Chil's anguish struck a chord deep in his chest. He stood motionless, imagining himself in Jong Chil's shoes. Unfair.Empty. He nodded to himself. Yeah, that tracked.
In the midst of those thoughts, something struck him—he'd just empathized with another person's view as if it were the most natural thing. Standing in someone else's shoes. Anyone could do it. But not him. Not until now.
"I'm human too."
Dan Hyeong-u murmured it, eyeing Jong Chil. A subtle smile tugged at his lips.
"It's not hopeless."
Jong Chil's eyes bulged. No, more than the words themselves, Dan Hyeong-u smiling at him floored him. Then the meaning sank in, and shock doubled.
"R-Really?"
"You could die."
Jong Chil gulped down a dry swallow.
"But I would've done it."
With that, Dan Hyeong-u unsheathed his sword.
Jong Chil panicked hard. Dan Hyeong-u was gearing up for something lethal. Fail, and it was lights out. The man's face still bore that smile, but there was zero chance he'd pull the strike.
"Don't want to die? Then move."
The command dropped, and Jong Chil's body obeyed before his mind caught up. Instinct screamed first; footwork unfurled on reflex.
Flash!
A streak of lightning ripped from the night sky. Dead on where Jong Chil had stood a heartbeat before.
Boom!
Cold sweat soaked Jong Chil's back. Dan Hyeong-u meant to kill him. The realization spurred his body into motion again.
Flash!
Boom!
Now drenched head to toe in icy sweat. He'd dodged death twice by some miracle. But that was it—the end. His movement stalled, and there came Dan Hyeong-u's sword arcing down.
That instant, all his training ignited. Before, fear would've locked him solid. Now? His feet danced on their own.
Flash!
Crackle!
The bolt grazed his collar. Dizziness hit hard. Just a skim, and his tunic crumbled to ash. Body contact? Game over.
Jong Chil shot a desperate glance at Dan Hyeong-u. Unbelievably, the man's stance and expression hadn't budged an inch. Then the words replayed in his head.
'Dan Daxia might, but I'm Jong Chil!'
Screaming it inside, he lunged into another step.
Flash!
Another razor-thin dodge.
"Hah... hah..."
Jong Chil heaved for breath. No more Heavenly Thunder crashed down. Dan Hyeong-u simply stared.
"Now I'll kill you for real. But don't die."
Dan Hyeong-u's eyes ignited. Murderous intent poured from him like venom. So thick, so vicious, Jong Chil's body seized up—paralyzed.
His face drained white. This was no bluff. Dan Hyeong-u would end him. Life's memories flickered past like a lantern show.
Jong Chil clenched his jaw. Overcome it. Push through. The killing urge was real... but so was the unspoken wish that he survive.
"Hah!"
With a shout, he shoved the intent back—just a sliver, but enough to move.
Down slashed the sword.
Flash!
Rumble!
A colossal bolt hammered down. Vastest, fiercest yet.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
The ground lay in ruins.
Dan Hyeong-u eyed the wreckage with a faint grin. He turned to Jong Chil—now three zhang from his starting spot.
Sword sheathed, Dan Hyeong-u pivoted and took a step.
Vanished.
Jong Chil stared at the empty space. Is this footwork at its peak?
"Kekekeke."
Laughter bubbled up. Euphoria flooded him, uncontainable. It exploded outward.
"Hahahahaha!"
The laugh boomed across the night sky.
The next day, Jong Chil lounged at the training ground, utterly at ease, awaiting the Sword King and Sword Demon. Last night's revelation was unreal. So potent he'd drilled through the night and still couldn't rein it in.
And he'd learned why proper footwork had eluded him before—viscerally.
Only possible by shattering the wall amid true mortal peril. Past drills had pushed him to death's door, sure—but never real death. He knew they wouldn't kill him.
Even denying it mentally, his body knew better. No true threat registered.
Dan Hyeong-u yesterday? Polar opposite. Genuine kill intent. No breakthrough? Dead man. And Jong Chil wouldn't have held it against him.
'Damn right. He's my benefactor.'
Grinning wide, Jong Chil stepped forward.
Swish.
No whistle of air. He stood at the far wall. One more step—opposite side.
Not vanishing-reappearing like Dan Hyeong-u. But fast. Too fast to track.
"This oughta let me bolt."
Confidence radiated from him.
Moments later, the Thunderbolt Squad filed in. They shot him odd looks. Jong Chil never showed this early. Usually dragged in like slaughter-bound cattle. Voluntary today? Weird.
The stares faded quick. Routine drills kicked off—the kind that bored spectators insane.
Jong Chil just smiled. No envy now. Footwork wall smashed. Heavenly Thunder next. Dan Hyeong-u's aid mandatory? Maybe he could solo it.
"Not yet, though."
Timing was off. Mastering this new stepwork taxed him fully. Profound stuff. Lifetime's work, maybe. But quit? Never. Life-bought.
"What's got this punk grinning like an idiot?"
Smack!
Jong Chil clutched his skull, crumpling in agony.
"Urk."
He'd toughened up—no screams anymore. This? Groan escaped unbidden. Fiery glare back: Sword King, as expected.
"Whoa, check those eyes. Might actually swing back?"
Jong Chil slid his gaze away. Too soon. Needed more polish. Short hops only now—Sword King-level foes? They'd exploit every gap. Top-ten experts.
"Heh. Training time?"
Sword King scowled like he'd bitten sour fruit.
"What'd you eat, kid? Acting all gung-ho today?"
"Figured I'd hustle harder from now on. Problem? Back to normal?"
"You little—"
Smack!
"Urk."
Head clutched anew. Worse than the first. Overnight lab for max pain, no doubt.
'Damn it. You'll see.'
Inward grumble only. While Sword King pummeled, Sword Demon arrived.
Jong Chil's brutal grind restarted.
Chapter 6: Blood Shadow and Killing Shadow
Blood Shadow caressed the sword at his waist. He stood in Flower Shadow Tower, one of the Blood Demon's lairs. A lavish brothel near Dongting Lake, renowned for its grandeur.
If Moon Shadow's intel on awakening the Blood Shadow Sword held true, one man alone could pull it off right now. And leveraging that man meant needing Killing Shadow's muscle later.
"Wonder if the Leader will greenlight it."
Blood Shadow muttered, but he trusted the Blood Demon would. Bit delayed, sure—but Blood Shadow Sword's power meant harnessing the demonfolk.
Worst case, no power gain? Still, unleash the demons to amplify worldly chaos. Freed from Golden Demon Art, their rampage was a given.
Stepping into Flower Shadow Tower, beauties swarmed him like they'd been waiting. Every courtesan here was a stunner.
Under their lead, he ascended to the penthouse. VIP status: the owner was Flower Shadow, one of the Blood Demon's shadows.
The top floor? Blood Demon's sanctum. Kept vacant unless he occupied it. There, a benevolent smile welcomed Blood Shadow.
"My respects, Leader."
Blood Shadow bowed deep, reverence pouring out. Blood Demon was the sole object of his esteem.
"How fares Moon Shadow?"
"Unchanged."
Short reply, then the full debrief on Moon Shadow dealings. Blood Demon savored every detail with keen interest.
"Fascinating. A secret in the Blood Shadow Sword? And Moon Shadow—how'd he uncover it?"
"From the Heavenly Secrets Array."
Blood Demon's eyes flashed.
"How deep into the Array do you reckon Moon Shadow's delved?"
"Unclear. He's a tough read..."
Blood Demon nodded.
"Fair enough. Moon Shadow's just slippery enough."
Ten years grooming him—from age ten. Heavenly Qi Master's picked successor, hijacked by Blood Demon.
"Blood Shadow Sword, hm..."
Blood Demon lapsed into thought. Even he hadn't cracked the Heavenly Secrets Array's depths. Original in his hands—no tampering. Secrets woven into the text itself, invisible to him... but not Moon Shadow.
Worth the Heavenly Demon's backing.