The Hand That Shatters the Heavens
Jegal Yeon found it difficult to accept the reality unfolding before her eyes.
Her trembling pupils refused to settle.
It had been nothing more than an outstretched hand.
Yet with that single gesture, the man had blocked a sword.
Even against a warrior from the Saheol Alliance, one that had pushed them to the brink of defeat.
Her shaking head turned toward Dan Hyunwoo.
Who is this man? Does he know Sister Sehui?
He had killed them all in a single stroke.
She couldn’t even tell how he had done it.
But one thing was certain.
There was no one in the Jegal Clan who had reached such a realm of martial arts.
A terrifying chill crawled across her skin.
Her eyes naturally followed his back.
No—it wasn’t just her.
Every member of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes stared at him in utter awe.
Even as they stood drenched in the pouring rain of blood.
Dan Hyunwoo walked toward Heugam.
Heugam felt the hand gripping Moyong Sehui’s collar tremble faintly.
Me… trembling?
He had never shaken once in his entire life.
Not in the face of death, not even when confronting renowned masters.
Yet now he trembled.
As if gripped by bone-chilling cold, as if death had already been decided.
Heugam swallowed dryly and spoke.
“Who the hell are you? Reveal your name.”
“Who gave you permission?”
“……What?”
“Who gave you permission to ask who I am?”
“……This crazy bastard……”
“It seems you have no intention of releasing the hand that’s holding Moyong Sehui.”
“……?!”
The severed right arm holding Heugam’s Small Heaven Blade soared into the air.
This time too, the man hadn’t done anything visible.
Yet it had happened in an instant.
Not even enough time to blink—an absolute split-second.
No scream came out.
Because he had seen the Small Heaven Blade flying through the air land neatly in the man’s hand.
“Hah… Hollow Hand Grasping Objects!”
The words of shock spilled out in place of a scream.
But in the end, he still had to scream.
Thud.
He had thought only his right arm had flown off.
But his left arm had also fallen to the ground, gushing blood.
When had it been cut?
Why were both his arms lying pathetically on the dirt?
“Aaaaagh!”
A long, horrified scream tore from his throat.
As the breath within the scream grew hot, he finally understood why his subordinates had died all at once.
It was too fast.
So fast that even he—a notorious elder of the Saheol Alliance—couldn’t perceive it.
Drip, drip, drip.
The blood pouring from both severed arms told the story.
This person was something that should not exist in this world.
Something that had transcended humanity itself.
Now his entire body began to shake.
The emotion called fear had suddenly, violently seized him.
Swish.
Dan Hyunwoo gently caught the collapsing Moyong Sehui.
Through her blurry, unfocused gaze, Moyong Sehui felt the gentle touch and asked,
“D… Dan Gongja?”
The moment she called his name, a familiar hand ruffled her hair.
Only then did Moyong Sehui realize.
That this wasn’t a dream. That the real Dan Gongja was holding her.
And that she had survived.
“Yuhwa.”
“I’ll treat her right away.”
Hwa Yuhwa took Moyong Sehui from Dan Hyunwoo’s arms.
She clicked her tongue in clear displeasure.
“Tsk, how did she end up like this……”
It had only been about two weeks since the girl had left the Dan Manor after saying her goodbyes.
Yet she had returned in such a wretched state.
Dan Hyunwoo’s gaze turned toward Heugam.
The moment it landed on him, Heugam flinched.
To think that he—a seasoned old monster—would be this startled!
Dan Hyunwoo spoke.
“You treated Moyong Sehui like a toy and played with her.”
“Wait… listen to what I……”
“I never gave you permission to open your mouth.”
“……?!”
The instant Heugam’s heart thudded violently in terror—
Heavenly Demon’s Single Strike
Dan Hyunwoo’s fist slammed into Heugam’s chest.
Exactly where he had struck Moyong Sehui moments before.
“Kuhk!”
His chest caved in with a single blow.
His lungs were crushed.
What had just come out wasn’t a scream.
It was the air exploding from his shattered lungs, forced out through his mouth.
Dan Hyunwoo’s hand rose again.
Thud—!
The same spot was struck once more.
An impact like his entire body was being torn apart surged through him.
A shock that seemed to bend even his spine.
Booom—!
Heugam was driven straight into the ground by Dan Hyunwoo’s fist.
Crack!
The earth beneath his back split open, forming a deep crater.
Even if his arms had still been attached, he wouldn’t have had the strength to twitch a single finger.
The man looked down at him arrogantly, exactly like Heugam had looked down at Moyong Sehui.
Heugam realized it then.
That the time of his end had come.
And he thought he understood something else.
That this man was the very person he had been seeking.
“Are you… are you the owner of the Six-Horse Golden Plaque?”
“……”
“I’ve finally found you. But I never imagined you’d be this powerful… From now on, you won’t be able to live quietly. Countless people will come to find it……”
Swoosh—!
In that instant, Heugam’s head flew off.
His mouth, rolling across the ground, remained slightly open as if trying to finish his next words.
So this bastard came for the Six-Horse Golden Plaque.
Heugam was a considerable expert.
An old monster who had once shaken the entire Murim.
If even someone like him had set his eyes on the Six-Horse Golden Plaque, then others would surely come to Hangzhou in search of it as well.
The Central Plains had begun to move.
Yu Sucheon ran like a madman.
Even though the wounds he had received from the fight between Jeok San and Seok Cheon throbbed painfully.
Dan Hyunwoo and Hwa Yuhwa had left behind not a single trace.
Whatever absurd martial art they used, not even a footprint remained.
After wandering for a long time, Yu Sucheon finally found the trap and leaped inside without hesitation.
“I have arri… ved?”
Ah, fuck. This is embarrassingly awkward.
Everything was already over.
Man, how anticlimactic.
Damn it, that bastard Dan Hyunwoo—how is he so fast?
The bloody figures staring at him filled him with shame.
His face turning red was just the bonus.
But the embarrassment didn’t last long.
Moyong Sehui? Why is that kid……
She was a complete wreck.
He tried to rush over to her.
But Dokgo Jin of the Dokgo Clan and Yang Bicheon of the Divine Spear Yang Clan—both members of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes—blocked his path with sword and spear drawn.
“You bastard! I can feel the inner energy of the Saheol Alliance from you. Are you in league with them? I’ll kill you right now!”
“What the hell is this now?”
Swish!
Yu Sucheon stared blankly at the incoming sword and spear.
Their skill was decent, but their level didn’t even register to him.
He twisted his body slightly and lightly tapped the side of the spear shaft aimed at his vital point.
Yang Bicheon’s body spun wildly.
Yu Sucheon grabbed the spear shaft and yanked it upward.
Yang Bicheon’s body shot into the air.
Thud—!
He gathered his inner energy and slammed the spear down.
Right toward Dokgo Jin, who was charging with his sword.
“Aack!”
“Kuhk!”
Their heads collided with a loud watermelon-splitting sound.
“Pathetic small fries. Tsk.”
The eyes of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes widened at the sight of Yu Sucheon’s martial prowess.
It wasn’t at Heugam’s level, but he was still an incredible expert.
They had already been crushed into silence by Dan Hyunwoo’s power.
Now that another monstrous expert had appeared, cold sweat poured down their backs.
Dan Hyunwoo said,
“The people you just knocked down are part of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.”
“What? The Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes… you mean those direct descendants from the orthodox clans……”
Aaaagh! A scream erupted inside his mind.
He had just beaten up the precious children of the Eight Great Clans.
Oh shit, what a disaster.
Yu Sucheon quickly helped Dokgo Jin and Yang Bicheon to their feet.
He even brushed the dirt off their clothes and gently rubbed the spots where their heads had collided.
“I didn’t know. So please calm down… stay calm… and don’t tell your fathers… Oh, you’re not curious about my name? You are? I’m called Jeon Akgwan.”
“……”
He had thrown out Jeon Akgwan’s name.
That should keep him safe now.
Dokgo Jin and Yang Bicheon glared at Yu Sucheon as if they wanted to kill him.
But that was all.
He was an opponent they could never defeat.
Not only was he at an unreachable realm, but he didn’t seem to be their enemy either.
Of course, they would still tell their fathers.
Yu Sucheon hurriedly ran over to Moyong Sehui.
Even though those two bastards were boring holes into the back of his head with their glares.
Hey, stop staring already.
“Is Sehui okay? Wow, she’s completely wrecked. Who the hell beat her up like this?”
Hwa Yuhwa pointed at Heugam’s severed head with her finger.
Hmm… He had wanted to get revenge for her, but that was impossible now.
How could he possibly fight Heugam?
Besides, the guy was already dead.
Moyong Sehui opened her eyes.
Dan Hyunwoo looking at her with concern, Hwa Yuhwa diligently applying acupuncture and feeding her medicinal pills, and Yu Sucheon with his furrowed brows.
Her heart felt at ease, and tears threatened to fall.
She had thought she would never see them again.
“Please help me up.”
“You should still be lying down?”
Hwa Yuhwa wore a worried expression.
She had even forgotten to use the polite speech she normally reserved for Moyong Sehui.
But Moyong Sehui forced herself upright.
And slowly walked forward.
Toward Namgung Cheol.
The paler his face grew as she approached, the whiter it became.
His jaw trembled as well.
He couldn’t meet her eyes and lowered his head.
Moyong Sehui raised her arm.
Tap.
“……!”
She had slapped his cheek.
But there was no strength behind it, so it was little more than a light tap.
Even so, Namgung Cheol rubbed his cheek.
Because it hurt more than any blow he had ever received.
“Go ahead and lead, Namgung Gongja. Do it as much as you want. Until you die. I don’t care about any of that anymore.”
Those painful words dug into his heart, and Namgung Cheol lowered his head even further.
Dan Hyunwoo asked calmly,
“Lead?”
Moyong Sehui did not answer his question.
But Jegal Yeon did.
She recounted everything that had happened.
Because it was important to stir up the Namgung Clan and see their reaction.
After hearing the story, Dan Hyunwoo remained calm.
But his hand had already risen into the air.
Smack—!
No one had time to stop him.
Dan Hyunwoo had slapped Namgung Cheol across the face.
Moyong Sehui was startled.
Jegal Yeon, who had told him everything, was even more shocked.
Dan Hyunwoo’s hand rose into the air once again.
Smaaaaack—!
For a moment, silence fell over the area.
Teeth flew from Namgung Cheol’s mouth and scattered across the ground.
The son of one of the Three Great Noble Clans of the Murim had collapsed, vomiting blood.
Who in the Central Plains would dare strike him?
No one could open their mouths.
Not even the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, who came from the Eight Great Clans.
Not even Namgung Cheol, who had been beaten into a bloody pulp by just two slaps.
Moyong Sehui felt a slight warmth bloom in her chest.
Dan Hyunwoo was getting angry on her behalf.
With eyes colder than she had ever seen before.
He said,
“We will take Moyong Sehui with us. The rest of you, leave Hangzhou.”
“Just a moment, Gongja.”
Jegal Yeon gathered her courage and shouted.
She had been watching closely as Hwa Yuhwa treated Moyong Sehui earlier.
That astonishingly effective medicinal pill.
It was clearly the same one Moyong Sehui had once possessed.
“Thank you for saving us first. But I cannot overlook you taking Sister Sehui away. We would like to come with you. We also need to repay you for saving our lives……”
“I’ll give you one day.”
“What… do you mean by that?”
“Leave within that time. And take that blood-covered bastard with you.”
“And if we don’t leave?”
Dan Hyunwoo said calmly,
“Then you will never be able to leave Hangzhou.”
“……!”
His tone was calm, but his gaze was terrifying.
Jegal Yeon froze on the spot.
Along with the rest of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
He was serious.
This man wasn’t the type to make empty threats or test people.
Thud!
Her heart felt like it had just dropped to the floor.
Or at least, that’s how it felt.
Jegal Yeon lowered her gaze.
Because she couldn’t even meet his eyes.
“I won’t see you off.”
Dan Hyunwoo left the frozen group behind and headed toward the Dan Manor.
Carrying Moyong Sehui in his arms.
Jegal Yeon stared piercingly at his retreating back.
A man who doesn’t even fear the Namgung Clan. Where did someone like him suddenly come from?
He was right.
If they didn’t leave Hangzhou within a day, they would remain here forever.
As ghosts, wandering this place for eternity.
Jegal Yeon bit her lip and said,
“Let’s go back.”
“You’re just going to leave like this?”
At Jegal Yeon’s decision, Paeng Bo-gwang asked.
She nodded.
“I don’t want to admit it… but we only have one day left. Just as that man said.”
Paeng Bo-gwang nodded without complaint.
After witnessing that man’s martial prowess, he didn’t have the heart to resist.
Jegal Yeon clenched her fists tightly.
I will definitely return to Hangzhou. To uncover the identity of that medicinal pill Sister Sehui had, and to reveal who that man truly is.
She spun around and walked in the exact opposite direction of Dan Hyunwoo.
Together with the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
Hangzhou slowly receded behind them.
And.
Moyong Sehui’s face turned bright red within Dan Hyunwoo’s gentle embrace.
It was embarrassing. Awkward.
The soft touch.
The warm arms holding her.
She felt so ashamed she thought she might break into a cold sweat.
But she also felt it clearly.
She had returned. To the Dan Manor.