Clash with the King of Ronin (2)
The strong always recognize the strong.
That was the case right now with Hyeon Yucheon and Jeong Chilgyu.
The points that surprised them were slightly different, though.
Raw, unrefined sensation.
Hyeon Yucheon felt it the moment he approached him.
Similar to the Demon Sword Ghost Elder... but overflowing with even more madness and ferocity—a young man like that.
Jeong Chilgyu was just as shocked.
To be honest, before facing him directly, Jeong Chilgyu hadn't rated Hyeon Yucheon all that highly.
They said the student surpasses the master, but producing one monstrous expert after another from the same sect was no easy feat.
Especially when that master was the greatest in history, the unrivaled number one of the unorthodox world—the Demon Sword Ghost Elder. He had figured his youngest disciple, scooped up like beans under a lightning strike, would inevitably show his limits.
But what was this?
Ching!
They clashed in the blink of an eye, exchanging a single sword strike and spear thrust without any proper forms.
It was a brief collision, and through their weapons, the two sensed each other's breathing.
"You're definitely a tiger. I'll discern whether you're a great tiger or still just a cub."
Jeong Chilgyu's hair was full of singed white strands, but his eyes still burned with the fire of youth, and his distinctive molars looked razor-sharp.
"Bring it on."
Hyeon Yucheon replied with a relaxed voice.
But inside, he was astonished.
This is a type I've never encountered before.
He had met plenty of strong foes on Jeong Chilgyu's level.
This King of Ronin, the Immortal Fighter Jeong Chilgyu, was one of the top-ranked among the Ten Great Unorthodox Masters, and Hyeon Yucheon already had victories over two of those ten.
And that wasn't all.
He had even crushed Hong In-gyeol, the Dragon Elder of the Beggars' Sect, who was one of the Heaven's Five Venerables supporting the orthodox martial world.
Yet strangely, Jeong Chilgyu showed no fear or intimidation whatsoever.
On the contrary, he unleashed a sharp, untamed wild martial art.
Jeong Chilgyu thrust out his signature long spear.
His specialty—and the martial art symbolizing the King of Ronin—was this unique technique called the Life-Death Bind.
This Life-Death Bind became swordsmanship with a sword, spear arts with a spear, and could be adapted to any weapon.
In fact, the previous King of Ronin had wielded an axe, and he'd executed the Life-Death Bind without issue.
Originally, this Life-Death Bind was a martial art focused on surviving fierce combat, perfectly suited to the Immortal Fighter who never died on the battlefield.
Paaaat!
His long spear shot forth like a bolt of lightning, aiming straight for Hyeon Yucheon's crown.
The strike was so fast it rivaled the Demon Sword Sect's swift sword.
Fast and powerful.
Hyeon Yucheon felt it and retreated three or four steps.
Hyeon Yucheon's instinctive retreat.
For some reason, pushing forward felt like it would lead to serious injury.
And sure enough?
Pababat!
Jeong Chilgyu's spear bizarrely curved and surged ahead in a transformation.
Had Hyeon Yucheon confidently pressed on to suppress the spear's power, his chest would have been pierced.
It wasn't just brute force and speed—it had the subtlety of variation too.
This was the charm of the Life-Death Bind, which unleashed its full might on the precipice between life and death.
"Not bad instincts for a brat."
Jeong Chilgyu grinned.
"Not bad vigor for an old man."
Hyeon Yucheon didn't back down either.
Sneer!
The two shared a glance and a laugh before charging like madmen.
This was their second clash after the initial tangle.
Chaeng, chang!
Kwaaaang!
They twisted together, engaging in brutal close-quarters combat without proper forms.
These two masters swung sword and spear wildly at each other's throats in a frenzy—no refined techniques, just raw savagery.
Some watching would feel their blood boil with primal instinct; others might wonder how absolute masters could fight like this.
"That's the King of Ronin's specialty—mud-wrestling brawls."
Cheonu, the eldest of the Black Wolf Three Swords, muttered worriedly.
The Black Wolf Three Swords knew the Immortal Fighter Jeong Chilgyu well.
Having guarded Demon Sword Ghost Elder Cheon Baeksang closer than anyone, they couldn't not know.
Surprisingly, the Black Wolf Three Swords disliked Jeong Chilgyu.
He reeked too much of danger.
Their instincts proved right.
As the Black Wolf Three Swords tensed with inexplicable unease, the two tangled like neighborhood kids in a primal scrap.
But soon, Jeong Chilgyu revealed his true colors.
He unleashed the most destructive close-range technique of the Life-Death Bind.
Peok, peuk!
The Life-Death Deathmatch form wasn't limited to spear strikes.
Fists, palms, foreheads, kicks—he battered, kicked, and shoved Hyeon Yucheon relentlessly to pin him down.
To onlookers, it looked like Hyeon Yucheon was caught in the onslaught, but he never yielded.
"Heh heh heh."
On the contrary, he laughed as if relishing this childish brawl after so long.
People saw the Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon as some refined young lord who'd never struggled, but far from it.
Surprisingly, Hyeon Yucheon didn't hate this kind of fight.
Paat!
While fiercely defending against the Life-Death Deathmatch, Hyeon Yucheon kicked sand with his toe.
Straight into Jeong Chilgyu's eyes.
"You coward!"
"Dirty bastard!"
The ronin following the King of Ronin cursed, but it was ironic.
Didn't those same ronin laughingly use sand-throwing, poison, and the martial artist's shame—the ground-rolling tumble?
Yet when it happened to them, "dirty" slipped out naturally.
"Kuhuk!"
The Immortal Fighter Jeong Chilgyu was caught off guard perfectly.
Mid his endless barrage of the Life-Death Deathmatch, trying to pummel and trap him, sand got in his eyes. He was stunned.
This noble young lord using gutter tricks?
Jeong Chilgyu didn't know.
Hyeon Yucheon had inherited all of Demon Sword Ghost Elder's memories and experiences, indirectly living through everything he'd faced from the King of Ronin.
So he wielded such tactics with expert ease.
"Watch yourself."
Hyeon Yucheon's counterattack began now.
Hyeon Yucheon spread both hands in the air, unleashing a Formless Flash Quick Sword form.
Stronger than the King of Ronin's memories, deeper and denser than even Demon Sword Ghost Elder's formless sword aura—his attack instantly shoved Jeong Chilgyu back.
Jeureureuk!
Jeong Chilgyu tried to close the distance somehow.
His weapon was a long spear, but he was confident of victory if he dragged the foe into his close-range domain where it shone.
Yet one form sent him reeling back—he was dumbfounded.
And that wasn't all?
If the opponent played dirty, Hyeon Yucheon wouldn't hold back.
Hwaruruk!
Hyeon Yucheon ignited a dazzling blaze in an instant, temporarily blinding Jeong Chilgyu.
Slipping through the gap like a snake over a fence!
Kwajik!
He successfully drove his knee into the left side of Jeong Chilgyu's ribs.
No fancy form or profound essence needed—that was plenty.
Martial arts were born not for noble grace, but to efficiently kill and destroy foes.
"Euk! Ack!"
Hyeon Yucheon's knee, infused with mighty inner power, smashed into his ribs with a crunch. Jeong Chilgyu saw stars.
At his age, passing out would be fine, but he was a true superhuman.
"Urhaaap!"
Even as his stance crumbled.
As distance opened, he exploited the spear's reach, exquisitely targeting Hyeon Yucheon's brow.
Such movement was seen only in wounded beasts or wild animals—the onlookers couldn't hide their shock.
That spear held the King of Ronin's essence, charging forth boldly, but Hyeon Yucheon looked down on him.
A splendid, raw attack, but still too early to pierce through mine and Master's arts.
With that thought, Hyeon Yucheon finally extended both hands.
He briefly considered a Formless Mystery.
But he chose this Formless Radiant Extreme Sword instead of a mystery for a simple reason.
The King of Ronin, Jeong Chilgyu, was aging; facing a Formless Mystery would mean courting death.
Now I see why Master coveted this man.
Hyeon Yucheon was drawn to him.
As a man, as a warrior, he exuded a strange allure.
Paaaaat!
But regardless, the fight needed a decisive end.
The Formless Radiant Extreme Sword was plenty powerful even without being a mystery.
Hyeon Yucheon unleashed his pinnacle formless sword aura swift sword, tangling with Jeong Chilgyu's spear aura in a massive explosion.
Kururung!
Their realms and inner power were so immense that it shook not just the surroundings, but the insides of the Demon Sword Sect.
Dust and smoke billowed instantly; those not masters could barely see an inch ahead.
How much time passed like that?
"De-Demon Sword Ghost Elder... how did he pass?"
Surprisingly, neither Hyeon Yucheon nor Jeong Chilgyu had fallen. Both stood firm on steady legs, still facing off.
"He passed on all his inner power, all his martial arts, and all his experiences to me. And at the end, he went with a smile."
Hyeon Yucheon answered.
There wasn't a shred of falsehood in his words.
When Hyeon Yucheon declared he wanted to shatter the martial world, Cheon Baeksang laughed to the end like a true Demon Sword Sect Lord before dying.
"Ha, haha! That old man went out artistically even in death."
Jeong Chilgyu spat blood from Hyeon Yucheon's attack while bursting into tears.
The moment Hyeon Yucheon saw those tears, he finally understood.
The King of Ronin had come all this way not just to test him, but to mourn Demon Sword Ghost Elder.
Thud!
Having lost the head-on clash, the King of Ronin collapsed to his knees, strength gone from his legs.
He looked up at Hyeon Yucheon and asked.
"Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon. What martial world do you want to shatter?"
Hyeon Yucheon answered without hesitation.
"The martial world of hypocrites and fakes—the one made by the Murim Alliance."
"Then what martial world do you want to create anew?"
It was a sharp question.
Hyeon Yucheon had always wanted to shatter and overturn the martial world, but he'd never pondered what to build in its place.
To that, Hyeon Yucheon replied:
"I won't create or adorn a new martial world. I'll just... let it flow as it will."
A truly exquisite answer.
Jeong Chilgyu beamed at it.
Not the perfect or right answer, but at least, it was one the King of Ronin liked.
"Good, very good."
Blood bursting and tears flowing, he shouted joyfully anyway, then struggled to rise and declared:
"The King of Ronin, Immortal Fighter Jeong Chilgyu, and his two hundred ronin... shall follow Demon Sword Sect Lord, Demon Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon with all our heart and soul!"