The Second Star Awakens
What distinguishes a master from a novice?
There are many factors, such as internal energy and mastery of forms, but in combat, the greatest distinction between a master and a novice is "naturalness."
A natural stance—it sounds grand, but to put it simply, it is a posture full of openings.
Yet, a true master delivers the optimal strike from that very stance, seemingly devoid of preparation or defense.
Yes, just like Jeok-un standing before Jegal Tan right now.
Just as a silent breeze brushes past one's cheek without warning, so too does a natural attack.
It slips through the gaps in one's perception, striking in the blink of an eye before the victim can even register what is happening.
I almost...!
Jegal Tan broke into a cold sweat without realizing it.
If that last strike had targeted his vital points, he would have undoubtedly suffered a devastating blow.
Though there was a clear difference in their realms, carelessness in the Jianghu was always a deadly poison.
With a sharp whistle, Jeok-un's fist flew in once more, targeting the blind spot of his awareness.
Once again, a destructive, mysterious energy swirled around his fist.
That unknown power was as hot and massive as a boiling furnace.
In response, Jegal Tan swung his judge's pen, pouring eighty percent of his strength into the counterattack.
A heavy crash echoed as their exchange concluded.
“!!”
Yet, once again, Jegal Tan was forced to slide backward.
“Now, didn't I tell you not to let your guard down?”
“...”
Jeok-un offered his advice with another smirk.
Jegal Tan's face hardened.
But it was not out of anger at the mockery.
To think my nephew was this strong...!
It was because he had truly acknowledged his opponent.
Even if he hadn't exerted his full power, Jeok-un's strength, which had ruthlessly shattered his defensive qi despite Jegal Tan being a Peak Master, was the real deal.
It wasn't some wicked art or underhanded trick.
Very well. If you wish to face me as a true martial artist...
Then I shall do my duty with everything I have.
With that thought, Jegal Tan summoned all of his energy.
The energy rising from his body like a haze was pure and flawless.
It was the epitome of an orthodox martial artist.
Uncle is the same now as he was back then.
Jegal Tan had always been this way.
Even when the pillar of the Jegal Family, Jegal Mun, met a tragic end.
And even when Jegal Wi-yeon ran the family into the ground, Jegal Tan remained unshakeable.
And he resisted until the very end, only to be framed and killed.
It was a death truly fitting for his uncle.
Though the outcome was tragic, one couldn't help but admire his unyielding spirit.
Though Jeok-un acknowledged Jegal Tan in his heart, he charged forward once more.
But you still need to take a beating, Uncle!
The power of Tam-rang surged into Jeok-un's fists once more.
Thanks to the Overlord's Divine Qi, the power of the Lesser Celestial Star Skill amplified several times over as he lunged at Jegal Tan.
The judge's pen flies with the fluid grace of a swallow, tracing a lethal arc toward the target.
At the same time, the steel pen flew as gracefully as a swallow, aiming directly at Jeok-un.
A judge's pen was a weapon even more specialized in thrusting than a sword.
It was easy to dismiss because it didn't look like a standard weapon, but those who had faced it judged it to be far more troublesome than most vicious hidden weapons.
Especially when backed by the maximum internal energy of a Peak Master.
The moment their techniques clashed, another explosive boom erupted.
The clash did not end with a single exchange.
As the two engaged in an endless, fierce tug-of-war, a barrage of explosions rang out continuously.
“You're quite something, nephew!”
“You've finally snapped out of it, I see!”
“Watch your mouth!”
Jegal Tan scolded him with feigned sternness, but a pleased smile kept slipping onto his face.
The human body is composed of hard bones, softer muscles, and pliable skin.
And what these three elements have in common is that they are all weaker than steel.
In other words, when colliding with iron, bones break, muscles tear, and skin rips.
Yes, that was common sense, yet...
What on earth was this sight unfolding before their eyes?
All the members of the Heavenly River Squad were frozen in shock.
The clash between Jeok-un and Jegal Tan defied all logic.
A steel pen and bare hands were colliding, yet it sounded like thunderbolts exploding.
Wasn't the Second Young Master only taught the Lesser Celestial Star Skill? How is he doing this...!
This is... the Lesser Celestial Star Skill?
Wait, then what the hell was the Lesser Celestial Star Skill I've been using?!
Moreover, they could not believe that the martial art holding a Peak Master at bay was merely the clan's basic technique, the Lesser Celestial Star Skill.
Only then did the members of the Heavenly River Squad truly realize the vast gulf between themselves and Jeok-un.
The power of the Overlord's Divine Qi is even greater than I thought.
While Jeok-un's innate talent played a role in allowing him to fight Jegal Tan in his prime to a standstill,
the largest factor was undoubtedly the Overlord's Divine Qi, which had evolved from his Overlord's Qi.
His physical limitations.
Because of his cursed dantian, Jeok-un could not properly accumulate qi, leaving his total reserve of internal energy severely lacking.
Yet, the reason he could fight on equal terms was the ability of Tam-rang, which amplified a single unit of energy into two, three,
or even five times its original strength.
It was a growth rate incomparably faster than what he had achieved at the same age before his regression.
As this absurd battle between a Peak Master and a peak-stage First-Class master continued,
Is this the limit of his temporary energy amplification?
A strange light gleamed in Jegal Tan's eyes as he watched Jeok-un.
Treating Jeok-un as an equal opponent, Jegal Tan had been thoroughly analyzing his strength, and he had finally reached a conclusion.
Deciding it was time to end this commotion, Jegal Tan spoke.
“Let us go back now, nephew.”
“It's because you're so stubborn that you're still single and unmarried, Uncle.”
Jegal Tan stared at his smirking nephew with cold eyes.
He channeled his energy into the judge's pen held in his hand.
A materialized energy, incomparable to mere sword qi, fluttered like threads of silk.
It was Sword Thread, a supreme technique that symbolized the Peak Master realm.
Though Jeok-un had somehow amplified his energy to match him so far, he had not shown any technique beyond basic fist qi.
It meant his comprehension had not reached that level yet, likely because his power was forced.
I won't cut him with the Sword Thread. I will focus entirely on subduing him.
As if responding to its master's will, the judge's pen let out a low hum.
Jegal Tan kicked off the ground and lunged forward.
I will show you the power of the Jegal Family!
The judge's pen, wrapped in Sword Thread, shot toward Jeok-un's chest.
He intended to break a few ribs and render him unable to fight.
Yet, looking at the pen rushing toward him with terrifying momentum, Jeok-un did not waver.
Instead, a calm, curious light shone in his eyes.
Jegal Tan believed he had figured Jeok-un out completely.
Shall we wrap this up?
But there was one thing he had failed to realize.
And that mistake would prove fatal.
Jeok-un began to violently circulate his Overlord's Divine Qi.
And this time, it was not the Lesser Celestial Star Skill, but the Great Celestial Star Divine Skill passed down by his father.
The one thing Jegal Tan had failed to notice.
It was that Jeok-un had not used his full strength even once until now.
His heart beat violently.
Every single nerve ending stood on edge.
This moment, which could only be entered when standing at the precipice of life and death.
This was also Jeok-un's favorite moment.
A bizarre phenomenon occurred.
As his heartbeat slowed and grew heavy,
time slowed down for Jegal Tan, who was rushing toward him.
His opponent's movements appeared incredibly sluggish.
This strange sight was the proof.
Awaken—
The proof that the second star after Tam-rang, the Giant Gate, had awakened.
Jeok-un took a step back and crossed his hands in a circle, as if drawing a Taiji diagram.
Then, he clenched his right fist with bone-crushing force.
If the first star, Tam-rang, was "Amplification,"
then the second star, Giant Gate, was "Concentration."
One might wonder.
Why amplify the power only to condense it?
In an instant, all energy vanished from every part of Jeok-un's body except his right fist.
Concentration meant focus.
Gathering all power into the single necessary point, completely stripping it from everywhere else.
In the common sense of the Jianghu, this was an absurd concept.
A body part completely devoid of qi became no different from that of an ordinary person who knew no martial arts.
A punch from a mere third-class warrior could kill him.
Yes, it was like fighting while standing on the edge of a blade.
Yet, Jeok-un actually enjoyed it.
Even in the slowed time, the judge's pen moved forward, gleaming with a chilly light.
The aura of the Sword Thread was terrifying.
If it so much as grazed him, he wouldn't just be injured; his torso would be sliced in half.
Ah, this is fun.
Who would emerge victorious?
The duel, the fight, the battle.
The blood inherited from his ancestors thrilled him.
With a mad grin,
he thrust his fist in a straight line along the shortest path toward the incoming judge's pen.
In that instant, the speed of the world snapped back to normal.
Jeok-un's fist and the judge's pen collided dead-on in midair.
A shockwave incomparable to anything before swept through the area.
The wave was so intense that, for a split second, the falling rain seemed to stop.
But only for a moment.
The rain, which had paused briefly, began to pour down once more.
The sound of someone falling to their knees and coughing up blood echoed simultaneously.
Jegal Tan, who had taken a direct hit to the abdomen, was kneeling on the muddy ground.
Fragments of the shattered judge's pen lay scattered all around.
Jeok-un's fist had completely obliterated his full-power Sword Thread and landed the blow.
Jegal Tan was in utter shock.
The Great Celestial... Star Divine Skill? How...?
The moment he saw it, he knew.
Jeok-un had used the Great Celestial Star Divine Skill, the secret art of the family head.
But how could Jeok-un know it?
As the shock piled up, his mind spun.
Suddenly, his vision blurred, and his body collapsed.
Jeok-un caught his unconscious uncle and whispered softly, so only he could hear.
“Uncle, please gain some situational awareness before we meet next time.”
No, what does that mean...?
In his fading consciousness, Jegal Tan wanted to demand a proper explanation from his nephew,
but he quickly blacked out.
“...”
“L-Leader.”
With Jegal Tan down, the Heavenly River Squad fell into a sudden panic.
What are we supposed to do now...?
During the long era of peace, their swords had grown far too dull.
As they stood frozen in confusion,
Jeok-un, holding the unconscious Jegal Tan under one arm, drew his sword.
He drew Il-cheon and slashed a horizontal line across the ground.
Jeok-un declared flatly,
“Cross this line, and you die.”
“!!”
Jeok-un's eyes were like those of a cold-blooded killer.
Only the sound of the pouring rain filled the air.
Not a single footstep was heard from the Heavenly River Squad.
Overwhelming terror.
Faced with a predator, the prey had completely frozen.
Watching them, Jeok-un sneered coldly.
“As expected of the Jegals. You're all so smart.”
“!!”
Just as the squad members grit their teeth in humiliation and insult,
Jeok-un threw Jegal Tan, whom he had been holding under his arm, toward them.
“Ugh!”
“L-Leader!”
While they were distracted trying to catch Jegal Tan,
Jeok-un turned and kicked off the ground, dashing forward like lightning.
In an instant, he was far in the distance.
No one from the Jegal Family dared to pursue him.
And as if knowing they wouldn't dare follow, Jeok-un ran toward his destination without looking back.
Now, it truly begins.
Toward his home, Sadocheon.