Black Wolf Three Swords (2)
Since venturing into the martial world, Hyeon Yucheon had never once unleashed his full power.
Not only had he failed to find a worthy opponent, but even half his strength had always sufficed to resolve any situation.
The closest he'd come to going all out was a friendly spar with his senior brother Eum Ji-myeong, who had reached the super peak realm.
Even then, it hadn't carried any killing intent, so it hardly counted as full power.
"Heh heh heh, this brat's truly lost his mind."
"There aren't many in this world whose arts resemble the sect leader's."
"They might fool others, but not us three."
The Black Wolf Three Swords scoffed at Hyeon Yucheon's bold declaration.
Their words held some merit.
These three had witnessed and felt Cheon Baeksang's martial arts more than anyone—even more than his last three direct disciples.
And one more thing.
This vast Central Plains teemed with bizarre and exotic martial techniques.
Thus, techniques manipulating invisible qi like the Formless Flash Quick Sword that symbolized the Demon Sword Ghost Elder, or sword strikes so blindingly fast they seemed unseen, were not unheard of.
In short, there was plenty of room for deception against Demon Sword Sect disciples.
'The young and inexperienced might fall for it, but not us three.'
That was the shared conviction of the Black Wolf Three Swords.
"Whether my sword is false or true, you'll know once you experience it."
Hyeon Yucheon showed no sign of intimidation at their threats.
On the contrary, his desire to demonstrate and prove himself surged.
"Come at me with all you've got!"
No sooner had eldest brother Cheonu, First Sword, spoken than Hyeon Yucheon unleashed every ounce of his power for the first time since entering the martial world.
The first thing he did, naturally, was open his inner power.
Infinite inner power surges forth!
When Hyeon Yucheon first unleashed his inner power, the Black Wolf Three Swords all sneered.
Especially Cheonjwa, the youngest, who prided himself most on his inner strength, dismissed it as some trifling power from a mere kid.
But the true shock came now.
Whoooosh!
Hyeon Yucheon had inherited every last drop of inner power from his master, the Demon Sword Ghost Elder Cheon Baeksang.
In terms of inner power alone, that meant he was close to being the unrivaled best under heaven.
Crackle! Crackle!
The three, who took the brunt of Hyeon Yucheon's inner power surging through their bodies at once, felt it of course—as did Eum Ji-myeong and Jeong Inheon, standing far off—like needles stabbing every inch of their flesh in phantom agony.
Amid that prickling pain, Cheonjwa muttered unwittingly.
"This insane inner power... it feels just like the sect leader's..."
As if entranced, Cheonjwa blurted it out, only to clamp his mouth shut at his eldest brother Cheonu's words.
To them, Cheon Baeksang was like a father who had bestowed surnames upon them.
Evoking him through some unknown boy was borderline blasphemy.
'No, it can't be!'
Even now, when admission seemed due, Cheonu shook his head fiercely.
Perhaps it was stubbornness, or deliberate denial despite knowing better.
They had no choice; acknowledging Hyeon Yucheon's existence equated to accepting Cheon Baeksang's death—and that, they absolutely could not stomach.
No, they refused to.
"All three of us attack together!"
Cheonu commanded.
For three super peak experts to join forces carried immense weight.
It meant the foe was at least upper super peak—or a step higher, the Entering Divinity realm that their revered Cheon Baeksang had attained!
Nod.
Cheonjung and Cheonjwa nodded gravely.
Whether this youth was the true disciple or not, he was undeniably a powerhouse they couldn't ignore.
Only super peak or higher could emit inner power that prickled like this.
"Haaap!"
Born at different times but vowed to die together, the three shouted in unison and unleashed their signature joint formation technique.
Three as one, wheeling like a chariot to crush the foe!
Individually exceptional, their true forte was this synchronized assault formation.
The tale of how it even earned praise from Cheon Baeksang himself, who entrusted them with his guard, had become legend in the Demon Sword Sect.
Whoooosh!
Refusing to yield to Hyeon Yucheon's overwhelming aura, the three merged as one.
They circled relentlessly, taking turns to press him.
Each of their strikes felt world-shaking.
But Hyeon Yucheon was unleashing full power for the first time in his life.
Their attacks seemed...
'Slow, drifting lazily toward me.'
The world felt halted, tediously boring.
Phantom steps dominate the battlefield!
With dazzling footwork, Hyeon Yucheon instantly made fools of the three.
He slipped straight through their prized Black Wolf Demon Three Chen Formation.
And that was just the beginning.
"I'll show you. Master's arts."
Gritting his teeth, Hyeon Yucheon poured everything into it.
Unleashing the Formless Flash Quick Sword at full power was a near-first for him.
Thus, he skipped the early stances he often used and drew a late-stage technique of devastating might.
Invisible sword-gang thrusts forward in silence!
This stance required mastery of at least ten stars in the Formless Flash Quick Sword—a high-difficulty technique unleashing formless sword-gang.
Shhh!
Unlike the Black Wolf Three Swords' raucous joint assault, Hyeon Yucheon's strike was stealthy and eerily quiet.
Just like the Demon Sword Ghost Elder.
Slash! Crunch!
The attack was silent, but those struck reeled back explosively, limbs severed.
Even these three super peak experts, who shook the rivers and lakes, were no exception.
Drip, drip!
First, blood trickled from eldest brother Cheonu's arm, at the forefront.
The result of Hyeon Yucheon's Formless Advancing Sword.
Shudder!
Yet Cheonu ignored the wound, trembling.
From defeat? Fear of loss?
No such thing.
Had these three dragged it into a prolonged battle, Hyeon Yucheon's performance might have faltered.
He might even have lost.
But their shock stemmed from something else.
"Th-this is undoubtedly..."
Cheonu froze like a stone statue mourning his father.
Cheonjung and Cheonjwa were the same.
It was a technique they'd watched until nauseous, from their object of utmost reverence.
How could they not recognize it?
"Sect leader! It's the sect leader's art for sure!"
"The inner power... even the proficiency level!"
Cheonjung and Cheonjwa trembled, on the verge of tears.
For over five years, they'd roamed the wilds like savages, crisscrossing the jianghu unbound.
Some had asked: Why suffer like third-rate ronin when you're super peak masters? Don't waste your talents—join a grand cause.
To that, the three had answered in unison:
The very man who took in us former third-rate ronin, trained us in martial arts—that's our sect leader.
The world may be corrupt, but can a son betray his father?
They revered and missed the Demon Sword Ghost Elder that deeply.
And not just that.
Drip!
At those words, Cheonu wept—followed by Cheonjung and Cheonjwa right there on the spot.
Not from being outmatched by a youth or Hyeon Yucheon's superior skill.
His identity and prowess were now verified—which meant...
The sect leader is truly gone!
They'd denied his death so fiercely that now, confronted with certainty, tears finally flowed.
Others might think differently, but these three had never believed Cheon Baeksang dead.
Isolated or kidnapped by traitors' schemes, perhaps—but that superhuman could never die.
Yet if, as Hyeon Yucheon claimed, he had perished and passed everything to this boy, his death was undeniable fact.
Sob! Wail!
At last, the three wept as if bereft of all they had.
Sadder than sons losing their birth father.
Like parents sending a child to the grave first.
To them, Cheon Baeksang had been everything; they couldn't let go easily.
Right then.
"Don't grieve so much. Master left a message."
Hyeon Yucheon extended his hand toward the three sobbing middle-aged men, startling even himself with their raw sorrow.
They might not believe him, but who was Hyeon Yucheon?
As he'd said, the legitimate heir who'd inherited everything from the Demon Sword Ghost Elder.
"To youngest Cheonjwa: Fix that hot-tempered bull-like nature. To second Cheonjung: Don't grow arrogant relying solely on your clever mind. And to eldest Cheonu..."
Hyeon Yucheon relayed the implanted experiences and thoughts of his master verbatim.
"Put aside that mule-headed loyalty and pursue what your heart desires freely."
This was Cheon Baeksang's sincere wish.
He knew well that after his death, these three—especially eldest Cheonu—would chain themselves to his shadow, unable to leave.
He truly wanted their happiness.
Aside from his vengeance.
"How could you possibly..."
To Cheonjung's question of how he knew, Hyeon Yucheon smiled and replied.
"You know Master learned the Full Body Heart Transfer in his youth, right? The clan's visiting elder technique. Through it, I inherited everything from him."
At that, the Black Wolf Three Swords halted their tears, each slapping knee or forehead in sudden realization.
Thus passed the storm of raw emotion!
Swish!
Finally composing himself, eldest Cheonu signaled his brothers.
No more words or debate needed.
"First Sword Cheonu of the Black Wolf Three Swords pays respects to the new sect leader!"
"Second Sword Cheonjung of the Black Wolf Three Swords pays respects to the new sect leader!"
"Third Sword Cheonjwa of the Black Wolf Three Swords pays respects to the new sect leader!"
In unison, they knelt on one knee before their new sect leader, Hyeon Yucheon, and offered formal clasped hands.
The orthodox heir bearing all of Cheon Baeksang's memories and knowledge—the future leader of the Demon Sword Sect.
Who could be more fitting as their new lord?
"This is a bit bewildering."
Hyeon Yucheon felt flustered watching them pivot so swiftly.
"Not at all, Sect Leader!"
"Forgive our earlier rudeness."
Cheonjung and Cheonjwa bowed politely.
"The previous... Sect Leader told me to find what I truly wish to do. And no matter how I think, there's only one thing."
Cheonu rose, bowing once more to Hyeon Yucheon.
"To rebuild the Demon Sword Sect alongside the Demon Sword Sect Leader and exact vengeance!"
Indeed.
Like Hyeon Yucheon, the Black Wolf Three Swords now burned to shatter this damned martial world.
Having wandered in denial of Cheon Baeksang's death, nearly abandoning the Demon Sword Sect.
Now, truly convinced, they joined under the new Demon Sword Sect Leader, the Demon Sword Prince Hyeon Yucheon.
For the Demon Sword Sect, perpetually short on peak experts, this meant three super peak masters added at once.
"I will become a sect leader you three need never be ashamed of."
Hyeon Yucheon clenched his fist.
Since taking the helm, the Demon Sword Sect was steadily growing stronger.