Chapter 137
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Heart Demon, Huh?
Ju Woo-myeong and Dan Mok Un-roe stood facing each other.
Ju Woo-myeong's hand, gripping the sword hilt, trembled ever so slightly.
It was due to the anticipation that Dan Mok Un-roe would quench his thirst for more strength.
On the other hand, Dan Mok Un-roe's hand shook faintly from tension.
An opponent he'd already sparred with several times.
Each time, he'd felt blocked by an impenetrable wall.
Today, he was challenging that wall once again.
"Oppa."
Even from afar, Dan Mok Un-hye recognized Dan Mok Un-roe at a glance.
Gong So-yu smiled as he watched her eyes sparkle.
Because of his own recklessness, he'd nearly hurt Dan Mok Un-hye.
Fortunately, the tournament had opened today as well, and Dan Mok Un-roe had advanced all the way to the semifinals.
Since the outcome was positive, he comforted himself that things had turned out for the best.
[Don't do such reckless things from now on.]
If it hadn't been for Gong Son Bi-yeon's mental transmission.
Since it was clearly his own fault, Gong So-yu could only pout her lips.
"What do you think?"
Gong Son Mu-oe asked Ha Mu-baek in a subtle tone.
He was rooting for Dan Mok Un-roe.
"If we're judging by their current levels, Woo-myeong holds the advantage."
Ha Mu-baek's calm reply.
Those words reached Dan Mok Un-hye's ears too, and her face grew slightly downcast.
"No, no. Un-hye, you can only know by actually fighting!"
Noticing her shift, Gong So-yu spoke up in a bright, lively voice.
Before he knew it, Dan Mok Un-hye's fingers had dug deeply into the half-eaten rice ball.
The swords glared at each other with sharp glints.
Dan Mok Un-roe kept his eyes fixed on Ju Woo-myeong's blade.
The moment a smile tugged at Ju Woo-myeong's lips.
He kicked off the ground.
His sword flew straight toward Dan Mok Un-roe.
It traced the path of the Supreme Clarity Sword Method.
A sword path he'd seen countless times already.
That's why Dan Mok Un-roe could respond with composure.
But soon, his movements grew a bit unsteady.
The Supreme Clarity Sword Method was moving far faster than usual.
'Un-roe, your spar... I watched Ha-min's spar closely too. If you can do it, then so can I.'
Doubling the speed Dan Mok Un-roe had demonstrated, as a way to handle variations.
Ju Woo-myeong employed the same tactic.
Dan Mok Un-roe gritted his teeth and swung his sword.
From the start, to match the fluid changes of superior sword arts, he'd accelerated his blade.
But now that his opponent had sped up too, he had to move even faster.
'Ugh. How did he block something like this?'
Dan Mok Un-roe recalled Yeon Ha-min's recent match.
In terms of sheer variability, Baek Ri-pyeong's Celestial Nature Sword Method outclassed Ju Woo-myeong's Supreme Clarity Sword Method.
He was barely keeping up with the accelerated Supreme Clarity changes himself—how had Yeon Ha-min blocked that Celestial Nature Sword Method entirely?
He marveled anew at Yeon Ha-min's talent, then steeled his resolve.
'If Ha-min could do it, then I can too!'
Dan Mok Un-roe focused intently.
And moved even faster.
'That's right. I've already done it.'
He thought back to his quarterfinal against Beom Il-so.
Beom Il-so had already turned his sword variations even more chaotic by ramping up speed, just like him.
The Heavenly Sword Sect's Heavenly Transformation Heavenly Path Sword Method.
One thing was certain: this sword art was far more unpredictable than the Supreme Clarity Sword Method.
That realization steadied Dan Mok Un-roe's sword even further.
'Is that all?'
Ju Woo-myeong noticed the change in Dan Mok Un-roe.
From their past spars, he knew Dan Mok Un-roe carried a psychological burden against him.
He'd planned to press that mental edge.
But as expected of the one who'd blocked and triumphed over the speed-boosted Heavenly Transformation Heavenly Path Sword—Dan Mok Un-roe was holding off the accelerated Supreme Clarity Sword Method too.
No, he was gradually encroaching on Supreme Clarity territory with his Three Talents Sword Method.
An unbelievable sight for anyone from his own Wudang Sect.
The reality of the Three Talents Sword Method pushing back the Supreme Clarity Sword Method bit by bit.
The smile on Ju Woo-myeong's lips deepened.
This was exactly what he'd wanted.
Yeong Ho-jun had been outstanding, but Ju Woo-myeong still thirsted for more.
Having faced him directly, he could declare it confidently.
Dan Mok Un-roe's Three Talents Sword Method surpassed even Yeong Ho-jun's Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Method at the Myriad Realm.
So Ju Woo-myeong switched sword styles without hesitation.
Taiji Subtle Sword.
Wudang Sect's ultimate technique unfolded once more from his hands.
"Ugh."
As the sword art shifted, a groan escaped Dan Mok Un-roe's lips.
It wasn't fast.
Wasn't powerful.
Wasn't firm.
Wasn't dazzling.
Wasn't unpredictable.
Yet.
He couldn't pierce through it.
No matter how swiftly he unleashed the Three Talents Sword Method, it was always blocked.
No matter how fiercely he swung, it deflected with effortless softness.
What on earth was this sword art?
Still, Dan Mok Un-roe focused on Ju Woo-myeong's blade.
Searching for an opening.
If he kept his eyes locked and his concentration unbroken, a gap would surely appear.
With that faith, he watched.
Since awakening this ability, he'd spotted openings in every opponent he'd faced.
He'd seen them in his spars with Ju Woo-myeong too.
Even his Supreme Clarity Sword Method had flaws.
Dan Mok Un-roe simply hadn't had the skill to exploit them, so he'd lost.
So this sword art had to have openings too.
He pressed his assault relentlessly.
Ju Woo-myeong calmly parried Dan Mok Un-roe's strikes and countered.
"Hoo. Truly heaven-sent talent. To wield the Taiji Subtle Sword to such a realm at that young age."
Gong Son Mu-oe marveled.
In his eyes as well, Ju Woo-myeong's Taiji Subtle Sword was flawless.
"I didn't realize it had reached that level."
Even Ha Mu-baek let out a quiet exclamation.
Ju Woo-myeong had climbed higher than even he'd anticipated.
How diligently must he have trained to achieve that?
Talent plus effort had forged that realm.
'But Un-roe doesn't lag behind in talent or effort. He just lacks time.'
Ha Mu-baek deemed Dan Mok Un-roe's talent heaven-sent as well.
Was the ability he'd awakened anything ordinary?
The only shame was that he'd only begun martial arts this year.
With comparable talent and diligence, the barrier of time was insurmountable.
Time flowed on.
The fierce exchange continued unabated.
Clang!
Clang clang!
Clang!
Yet the two fighters' demeanors differed sharply.
Dan Mok Un-roe gritted his teeth, wielding his sword in desperate fury.
Ju Woo-myeong moved his blade with consistent poise.
The spectators watching the match sensed it too.
Despite Dan Mok Un-roe's stunning performance in the quarterfinals, he was gradually being overwhelmed by Ju Woo-myeong.
'Wh-what...'
Around that time, Dan Mok Un-roe confronted an unbelievable reality.
'It's... gone.'
Ju Woo-myeong had already cycled through the Taiji Subtle Sword up to its final form.
Dan Mok Un-roe had watched those same variations repeat.
Yet.
No opening.
No break in the flow where the connection faltered.
It flowed endlessly, like a river.
'How......'
He kept swinging his sword regardless.
The first such experience since awakening his ability.
'Ah.'
No, not the first.
There had been this before.
'Instructor.'
During his one-on-one spar with Ha Mu-baek.
No matter how he looked, he couldn't find a single gap in Ha Mu-baek's movements.
It was due to the overwhelming difference in their levels.
'Then Woo-myeong too?'
Dan Mok Un-roe's eyes quivered faintly.
Did Ju Woo-myeong possess such a vast gap in skill over him?
Was this his true power, revealed only through the Taiji Subtle Sword?
A flurry of thoughts swirled in his mind.
As distractions crept in, his sword work faltered.
Ju Woo-myeong wouldn't miss that opening.
The Taiji Subtle Sword began to press Dan Mok Un-roe harder.
And Dan Mok Un-roe, unable to withstand the pressure, yielded helplessly.
"Tsk... tsk."
Gong Son Mu-oe clicked his tongue in pity.
Just like Yeon Ha-min moments before.
Dan Mok Un-roe's spirit was on the verge of breaking.
"It's unavoidable. Overcoming it is his own burden."
Ha Mu-baek stated flatly.
No trace of regret colored his voice.
"Isn't he your disciple? You're awfully cold."
"I told you, he's not."
Gong Son Mu-oe just smirked at Ha Mu-baek's response.
Dan Mok Un-hye, who had been listening to their exchange.
Felt her brother was going to lose.
The instant that thought struck her.
"Oppa!!! Don't lose!!"
Dan Mok Un-hye shouted at the top of her lungs.
A purely instinctive cry.
Her desperate plea reached Dan Mok Un-roe's ears.
But that was all.
Dan Mok Un-roe continued to be pushed back.
'Hye-ah.'
He'd wanted to show her a proud victory in front of her.
But the opponent was too strong.
He wished to draw strength from his sister's cry, like Yeon Ha-min had.
But there was no way.
Not against this flawless sword art devoid of openings.
Dan Mok Un-roe was at a complete loss.
"Hmm. Heart demon, huh."
Ha Mu-baek perceived Dan Mok Un-roe's condition.
"Huh? Heart demon? That kid?"
Gong Son Mu-oe responded in surprise.
A heart demon didn't visit just anyone. It came only to those who'd reached a certain realm.
In other words, Dan Mok Un-roe was strong enough to face one.
"His exceptional ability turned to poison. He relied on it over his own instincts, without even realizing."
"Like that......"
Gong Son Mu-oe let out a regretful sigh.
"Overcome the heart demon, and he'll ascend to a whole new realm. Succumb to it, and this is his limit."
Ha Mu-baek spoke indifferently, as if discussing a stranger.
"Tsk. Cold-blooded, you are. Cold."
Gong Son Mu-oe muttered, clearly displeased.
Gong So-yu gave a small nod of agreement.
Dan Mok Un-hye stared solely at Dan Mok Un-roe with a face full of desperate hope.
Now the arena brimmed with the movements of Ju Woo-myeong's Taiji Subtle Sword.
Dan Mok Un-roe had been backed all the way to the edge.
Before long, the smile on Ju Woo-myeong's lips faded.
His once-trembling hand now moved with serene calm.
The pounding in his chest had vanished.
Instead.
The thirst surged even fiercer.
His body still burned hot.
He'd hoped Dan Mok Un-roe might sate it somewhat.
But suddenly, it all felt dull.
The moment he recognized that.
Ju Woo-myeong's sword halted.
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
"What?"
The abrupt turn left the spectators buzzing in shock.
Dan Mok Un-roe stared at Ju Woo-myeong with wide, stunned eyes.
"Boring. What the hell do you think you're doing?"
Ju Woo-myeong asked, gazing at Dan Mok Un-roe.
A provocative tone unimaginable from the Ju Woo-myeong who'd first arrived at the Fierce Dragon Corps.
He too had undergone great changes here.
Dan Mok Un-roe looked back at him, utterly baffled.
"Since when did you stoop to winning by sniping gaps and acting so pathetically?"
Blunt words.
"Pathetically?"
Dan Mok Un-roe murmured softly.
An utterly repulsive term.
Him, pathetic?
"Yeah. Pathetic. Un-roe, strong opponent or not, victory possible or not—you always clashed with everything you had. So what's this mess? That deranged act from the moment you decided no gap meant no win?"
Ju Woo-myeong had Dan Mok Un-roe's state pegged exactly.
He knew there was no gap in his Taiji Subtle Sword—and that Dan Mok Un-roe had nearly surrendered the fight right then.
He hadn't unleashed the Taiji Subtle Sword just to witness this.
Dan Mok Un-roe had no retort to Ju Woo-myeong's piercing words.
"If that's how you're gonna fight, why even hold a sword? Just forfeit."
Anger laced Ju Woo-myeong's voice.
Wrath at a betrayed conviction.
"This isn't the match I expected from you."
With those final words, Ju Woo-myeong raised his sword once more.
In that brief pause, his aura had transformed.
A murderous intent to end it instantly rippled and surged from Ju Woo-myeong's form.