Chapter 126
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: I Defeated Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo!
Facing the Supreme Ultimate Fast Art, Guanyin's Pure River Hand, there is no time to think. One must simply evade.
As I was about to use Heaven-Flying Divine Steps, a thought flashed through my mind.
‘Crimson Sunset Fist!’
If Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo has Guanyin's Pure River Hand, then I have the Crimson Sunset Fist.
‘That's right! It's one of the three Twelve Supreme Ultimate Fast Arts I've mastered.’
As I recited the incantation, a heavy energy erupted from my right fist, surging like a red sunset.
*Kiiing!*
Its speed was comparable to light itself.
Just as more than thirty of Guanyin's Pure River Hand's blue hands, already unleashed, were streaking toward me in a long, terrifying line, closing in to a distance of four feet, the red sunset of the Crimson Sunset Fist shot out.
I had no intention of clashing head-on with Guanyin's Pure River Hand. With my lower internal energy, I would be the only one to lose.
*Shwiiik!*
The red sunset of the Crimson Sunset Fist grazed past the blue hands of Guanyin's Pure River Hand and shot upward.
Both Guanyin's Pure River Hand and the Crimson Sunset Fist are Supreme Ultimate Fast Arts, so fast that it's impossible to say which is quicker.
Therefore, I would certainly be hit first by Guanyin's Pure River Hand, which she had unleashed earlier.
But she wouldn't escape unscathed either. Is the Crimson Sunset Fist a Supreme Ultimate Fast Art for nothing?
The moment I was struck by Guanyin's Pure River Hand, she would be struck by the Crimson Sunset Fist.
I saw a flicker of relief on her face as Guanyin's Pure River Hand reached my eyes.
And I also saw her trying to withdraw more than half of her internal energy. Her intention was not to hurt me.
But doing so would be a discourtesy to me.
*Swish!*
The Sensory Art I had overlaid on the Immortal Wanderer's Path activated the Heaven-Flying Divine Steps, pushing me out of the range of Guanyin's Pure River Hand.
Without the Sensory Art, evading a Supreme Ultimate Fast Art would be impossible.
In that instant, I unleashed another Supreme Ultimate Fast Art, the Thousand White Resilience.
It's a projectile art that shoots internal energy like an arrow.
*Twang!*
The explanation is long, but unleashing the Crimson Sunset Fist, evading, and then launching the Thousand White Resilience all happened in the blink of an eye.
*Thwack!*
"Heuk!"
*Thud!*
"Ack!"
The moment I took a heavy blow to my left shoulder, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo let out a short scream.
From the impact, I spun to the left, staggered upon landing, and then stood firm.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo fell like a bird with a broken wing, hitting the ground before stumbling back to her feet.
Blood was flowing from her right shoulder like water from a spring.
She had never expected me to launch the Thousand White Resilience after the Crimson Sunset Fist.
And I hadn't expected her to unleash Guanyin's Pure River Hand twice in a row. I dodged the first, but was hit by the second.
Indeed, the outcome of a duel is decided in unexpected moments.
The Immortal Wanderer's Path is a formidable martial art, but it couldn't catch Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo. What caught her, and what struck me, was a Supreme Ultimate Fast Art.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo and I stood facing each other.
Zen Master Yeong-gak, Sang Gang-jo, and So Yang-gun looked extremely surprised but said nothing.
Watching the cloth on her right shoulder turn red, I felt uneasy.
A sense of bitterness outweighed any joy or satisfaction from defeating her. Still, as long as I walk the path of the practical martial way, this was a duel I would have had to face someday, so I have no regrets.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo didn't grimace at all; instead, she smiled brightly.
"I lost."
She was bleeding from her right shoulder, while mine was just throbbing. It was indeed her loss.
Since I remained silent, she spoke again.
"I used my full strength."
From my perspective, she had indeed given it her all.
"To pierce through my protective energy... what kind of finger art was that?"
I didn't answer. I didn't want to reveal what martial arts I had learned. It might be petty, but that's how I felt right now.
However, I had recognized the Supreme Ultimate Fast Art she used at the end was Guanyin's Pure River Hand. That was because she had explained the Twelve Supreme Ultimate Fast Arts to me.
"Since I lost, is the plan to turn the Martial Alliance into the Dong-ro Branch canceled?"
"No. I did that to make you use your full strength."
"Thank you."
"Hurry up and stop the bleeding."
"You do it for me, Yong."
Stopping the bleeding isn't difficult. I thought doing so might ease my mind a little.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo could have stopped the bleeding with her internal energy without touching it, but she didn't. Blood continued to well up from the wound.
As I was stopping the bleeding, she spoke softly.
"I used to resent being born into the Hyukryeon family."
After I staunched the flow, I looked at her, and she gave a faint smile.
"If I weren't the Alliance Lord, you wouldn't keep your distance from me, Yong."
It seemed she had sensed that I was deliberately keeping her at arm's length.
"Then we would have never met."
"People fated to meet will always find a way to each other. It's inevitable."
Inevitable, she said.
I looked at her silently for a moment, then turned to Zen Master Yeong-gak and said drily.
"This time, I will face you, Zen Master."
Zen Master Yeong-gak spoke quietly, as if admonishing me.
"Your right shoulder is severely dislocated."
I looked at my right shoulder and saw it was hanging slightly lower. It was indeed dislocated, but I hadn't realized.
"And it seems you've suffered a significant internal injury."
I silently circulated my energy and found my lungs and heart felt constricted, as if they had taken a shock.
"I will face you when you are fully healed."
"I will."
If we fought now, I would lose a hundred times out of a hundred.
As we returned to the construction site, Zen Master Yeong-gak approached me and spoke.
"Where did you learn the Immortal Wanderer's Path?"
He recognized it. He truly is a remarkable figure.
I didn't answer, just stared ahead and walked in silence. The older the ginger, the spicier it is.
Giving someone like Zen Master Yeong-gak even the smallest clue would allow him to exercise his formidable deductive skills.
In other words, he might figure out that I had been inside the Martial Alliance's armory.
"To use the Sensory Art with the Immortal Wanderer's Path... truly impressive."
I guessed that Zen Master Yeong-gak was now thinking about the martial arts manuals in the armory.
"On top of that, the Crimson Sunset Fist and the Thousand White Resilience... just how many ultimate arts have you learned?"
If he recognized the Immortal Wanderer's Path, the Crimson Sunset Fist, and the Thousand White Resilience one after another, he must also know they are from the manuals in the armory.
After that, Zen Master Yeong-gak said a few more things, but I maintained my silence to the end.
His suspicion that I might have entered the armory is just that—a suspicion.
And the probability of me having entered the armory is less than a sliver. Since the armory burned down and disappeared, I am the armory now.
* * *
At Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo's request, I came to her residence, a three-story pavilion.
Seated there were myself, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, Zen Master Yeong-gak, Sang Gang-jo, and So Yang-gun. Her bodyguard, Hwa Shin, stood behind Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, and Go Un-hyo stood behind me.
Everyone was drinking tea when, a moment later, four men entered and bowed respectfully to Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo.
"Alliance Lord."
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, now changed into a white top and skirt, nodded.
"Be seated."
The four men were the core executives of the Main Headquarters, the Four Heavenly Kings.
Azure Dragon King, Seomun Geol.
White Tiger King, Hyuk Do-pil.
Vermilion Bird King, Gang Yu-geom.
Black Tortoise King, Eom U-beon.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo looked around at those present and spoke quietly.
"I am appointing the Head Hall Master to the position of Supreme Commander of the Dong-ro Branch."
"Ah!"
Sang Gang-jo, startled, shot to his feet and bowed.
"I accept the command."
For the Head Hall Master under the Martial Alliance's Main Headquarters to become the Supreme Commander was a huge promotion. The Supreme Commander is a position that governs an entire organization.
This was a reward for the missions Sang Gang-jo had carried out while wandering the world for many years.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo specified the Dong-ro Branch, not the Martial Alliance's Main Headquarters.
"The Four Heavenly Kings will serve as the Four Commanders of the Dong-ro Branch."
The Four Heavenly Kings shot to their feet.
"To the Azure Dragon Command, White Tiger Command, Vermilion Bird Command, and Black Tortoise Command, I will initially assign one thousand new members each."
Until now, the Four Heavenly Kings had been above Sang Gang-jo, but now he was their superior.
The head of an organization is not appointed based on martial skill.
As of yesterday, the number of new members had surpassed four thousand.
"The Commanders will organize the units under each Command, such as Halls, Departments, Altars, and Banners."
"We accept the command!"
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo extended a hand toward me and spoke solemnly to the assembly.
"The Grand Branch Master present here is the highest authority in the Dong-ro Branch. Pay your respects."
Sang Gang-jo and the Four Heavenly Kings bowed respectfully.
"We greet the Grand Branch Master!"
I stood, returned their clasped-fist salute, and then sat down.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo looked at me and smiled gently.
"Will you gather all the new members and have the Supreme Commander and the Four Commanders announce that they are under your command, Yong?"
"I will."
"Thank you."
Before, I had treated Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo with formal respect, but now I no longer felt the need to.
I thought for a moment before speaking.
"It would be best to appoint you as the Vice Grand Branch Master."
"What?"
Everyone was startled, as if they hadn't expected it at all.
"When I am not here, the Vice Grand Branch Master will have supreme command."
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo's eyes widened in surprise, and she blinked.
"You're telling me not to hide in the back but to step into the forefront?"
Besides, I would be leaving Dong-ro County, so I couldn't let her remain hidden behind a curtain forever.
If I didn't do this, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo would have to continue giving orders from the shadows, without revealing herself.
"You're not known in the martial world, are you?"
"I've wandered for thirteen years without revealing myself. Who would recognize me?"
"I'd like to give you the position of Grand Branch Master, but that might cause problems."
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo held out her hands and waved her palms.
"You can't do that! Ah!"
She grimaced and withdrew her hands because of the wound on her right shoulder.
The Four Heavenly Kings were startled but didn't ask why.
Her bodyguard, Hwa Shin, knew the reason, as she had seen Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo go out for a one-on-one duel with me earlier and had treated the wound herself.
I felt Hwa Shin's cold glare but pretended not to notice.
"Guard Hwa!"
At Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo's call, Hwa Shin immediately bowed her head.
"Your orders."
"What is the meaning of glaring at the Grand Branch Master like that?"
"Alliance Lord, I..."
Hwa Shin flinched.
"...I was wrong."
"If I see you do that again, I will dismiss you."
"I will keep that in mind."
By scolding Hwa Shin, Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo established my authority in front of everyone.
In any case, not just Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo, but everyone, including Zen Master Yeong-gak, seemed to understand my true intentions and looked pleased.
I asked Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo.
"What do you think?"
"It's a good idea, but... I feel sorry toward you, Yong."
"You don't have to."
"It's like we're just putting our chopsticks on a table you've already set and then taking the whole meal for ourselves."
It means the guest has become the host, and that's the truth.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo and the people from the Main Headquarters knew better than anyone that they were in a position where they couldn't make any excuses, even if they had a hundred mouths.
I looked at Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo.
"This should be enough, right?"
"I will work hard until my body turns to dust."
Whether her body turned to dust or the Martial Alliance ruined the martial world again as it did before, I didn't care. I was never interested in it from the start.
Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo clasped her hands and said.
"The executives from the Main Headquarters who were scattered across the land will soon begin arriving at the Dong-ro Branch. When they have all gathered, I will have them greet you, Yong."
"Do that."
In any case, I would be leaving Dong-ro County within a few days. There was no need to inform Hyukryeon Byeok-gyo of that fact.