Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Bee Wing Resonance
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Generally speaking, it takes at least three or four second-rate experts to handle a single first-rate master by deploying underlings.
Even then, all they can do is buy time by dragging things out. To truly finish the job, you'd need five second-rate experts.
'But she ordered just the two of us—me and Seol-ha—to fight that bastard.'
No, how the hell are we supposed to win this?
It made his confident smile from moments ago, when Yin Hu had asked if they could do it, feel utterly hollow.
"You two brats. Surrender quietly, and everything will be settled."
Ignoring the Black Killer Sword, he asked Yin Hu.
"Master. What happens if we lose?"
"I never go back on my word. I'd have no choice but to release him."
Yin Hu continued in her graceful tone.
"Which means I'd have to stand by and watch that demonic scum keep getting in the way... and in my disappointment, I'd want to keep the young hero by my side to teach him for a long, long time."
Her words instantly erased any thought of just going through the motions and ignited a burning resolve to win no matter what.
-Junior Sister. I'll take the main offense. You keep your distance and harass him with sound attacks. Your role is to disrupt his rhythm so I can gain the advantage. If you understand, nod—don't answer out loud.
Unable to transmit thoughts, Je-gal Seol-ha nodded as instructed.
The first move wins. The moment he drew his sword, Yang-hui stepped into the Heavenly Ghost Steps.
Infusing speed into swiftness and illusion into the mix, he kicked off the ground with his true power unleashed, preparing his sword stance with everything he had.
Heaven-Covering 108 Swords, Sixth Stance.
Wind God Eagle Return.
Like an eagle soaring skyward in an instant upon catching the updraft, he generated force in place of wind by stomping his lead foot.
The Harmonious Heaven Energy, sunk down to the Dragon Fountain Acupoint, surged up amplified in its unique way as it passed through the meridian.
'If I can, I'll end it in one strike!'
"Die!"
He poured every ounce of inner energy he could draw at once through his underdeveloped meridians—six-tenths of his full power.
The blade, laden with ferocious energy, targeted the Black Killer Sword's vital points all at once.
Startled by the mysteriously advanced stance from such a child, the Black Killer Sword hurriedly swung his sword.
Chaeng! Chae-chaeng!
Four clashes in a brief instant.
Yang-hui grimaced.
"Damn it, shit!"
He'd anticipated it, but none of his offense was landing.
Even giving it his all, he was only second-rate. It wasn't enough against a first-rate foe.
His initial assault blocked, now it was the Black Killer Sword's turn.
"Not bad for a kid!"
Chae-aeng!
Blocking the Black Killer Sword's thrust, Yang-hui was sent flying far back.
Even after landing, his clothes fluttered violently for a while, as if buffeted by headwinds.
It was because he'd vented the unresolved force backward.
'Not some half-assed amateur.'
The Black Killer Sword was a demonic cultivator, but he'd properly trained authentic martial arts, with solid fundamentals to boot.
"Kid, at your age with second-rate skill, your head must be sharp too. You can't possibly beat this old man, so let's make it easy."
As he spoke, the Black Killer Sword kept his eyes not on Yang-hui or Je-gal Seol-ha, but on Yin Hu standing behind them.
To him, two kids weren't even worth considering as opponents.
'Man, this feeling is a first.'
In his past life, he'd entered the martial world already at peak realm.
In other words, he'd never been dismissed for his skills anywhere until now.
His pride was quietly stung.
"Doesn't it embarrass you to call yourself an elder while begging a kid for a look?"
"...What an insolent little shit."
"Can't blame me for being cheeky against an elder who can't back up his age."
As he provoked, he thought of ways to seize the momentum.
'It's not impossible. He can't go for killing blows.'
Meaning he had to aim purely for subduing.
But on their side, they could exploit the freedom of their forms in offense.
-Junior Sister, restrict his movements with sound attacks.
He launched himself forward with the transmission.
Boooong!
A sword emitting the Phoenix Wing Hum. He leaped high and swung wide to claim the high ground.
'Fighting a master by leaving the ground—stupid move, but!'
Chararang! Chararang!
Je-gal Seol-ha's sound attack limited the Black Killer Sword's actions.
In that gap, Yang-hui packed nine stances centered on the Heaven-Covering 108 Swords' Seventh Stance into a single sword strike.
'White Feather Pressing the Dipper!'
Chae-chae-chae-chaeng!
Any sword strike from above down is among the most powerful forms.
As the Black Killer Sword reeled from the unexpectedly fierce power, Yang-hui spun and unleashed a second barrage.
Heaven-Covering 108 Swords, Fifth Stance.
Eagle Feather Scatter.
A stance that attacks from all directions—or in other words, the one that crams the most exchanges into a single clash.
Add Je-gal Seol-ha's support to that.
-Junior Sister, sound attack!
Chararang!
Sound waves faster than any sword strike slammed into the Black Killer Sword's lower body, infused with energy.
At the same time, Yang-hui unleashed multiple sword stances at his upper, mid, and lower guards.
Pit!
"Kuhk!"
Yang-hui succeeded in leaving a shallow cut on the Black Killer Sword's forearm and curled his lips smugly.
"How's it feel, elder, to bleed against a green kid?"
"...Brat. Even this old man has a limit."
"What'll you do if I cross it? Kill me? You can't. All talk, as usual."
"..."
The Black Killer Sword fell silent. His eyes sharpened fiercely.
Kang!
The Black Killer Sword closed in instantly and thrust a sword stance.
Thanks to his heightened senses, Yang-hui blocked it successfully, but...
He felt a sharp ache in his wrist.
'Physical strength, inner power superiority—all on his side. The only reason this fight's even possible is...'
Je-gal Seol-ha's support. And the depth of his cultivated arts.
The Black Killer Sword's swordsmanship was authentic but only first-rate martial arts.
It couldn't compare to the Heaven-Covering 108 Swords, which held the potential to reach super peak.
'Even so, weighing pros and cons, it's overwhelmingly disadvantageous.'
How could he turn the tide?
What did Master Yin Hu want him to realize in this situation?
He changed tactics.
Instead of pressing the attack, he kept retreating to maintain distance, focusing solely on defense.
-Junior Sister, sound attack!
Chararang!
Thanks to Je-gal Seol-ha's support, he held balance and endured dozens of exchanges.
"This won't do."
The Black Killer Sword eyed Je-gal Seol-ha with annoyance.
He seemed about to switch priority targets for subduing.
'Can't let that happen.'
No matter how low her skill, as long as the Black Killer Sword's attacks weren't aimed at her, exploiting his openings was easy.
Chaeng!
Blocking Yang-hui's strike at his nape, the Black Killer Sword ground his teeth.
"You two brats. No helping it."
In that moment, a vicious aura erupted from the Black Killer Sword's entire body.
A pressure that stiffened the body just from contact.
'Damn. He's mastered Aura of Will.'
Aura of Will. Projecting will as energy to harm others.
One of the three realizations needed to ascend to peak realm.
If strong enough, it could shock the mind with presence alone.
"Honored deceased, forgive me. I've done my utmost to ensure your disciples suffer no heart wounds."
Finishing his words, the Black Killer Sword advanced on Yang-hui.
Yang-hui desperately circulated his energy and raised his sword straight.
"Don't resist. It'll only worsen the shock to your mind."
"Fuck you, you demonic bastard."
"Insisting on rudeness, eh."
Thanks to all the knightly ordeals in his regression life, he'd experienced more worldly bullshit than most.
Who'd have thought he'd end up on the defensive against a mere first-rater, scrambling just to parry.
But.
That was exactly why he could gain something from it.
Chaeng!
'Adversity makes me stronger.'
That's human nature.
Climbing a low hill versus scaling a treacherous peak.
Which grows you faster?
The latter, obviously.
Chaeng!
Aura of Will? Mental shocks?
I'm used to this crap.
To reach super peak, one's intent must be strong enough to manifest in reality anyway.
'Sure, this young body hasn't fully internalized the realization yet.'
But that didn't mean there was no way.
Chaeng!
"Taking the full brunt of my aura head-on while still moving. Impressive poison in you, kid."
"Your, kuh, aura's too weak, that's why."
Yang-hui rattled his Phoenix Wing Hum again at the Black Killer Sword's incredulous look.
Yeah, adversity forges strength.
He'd found the way.
Realized it.
Boooong!
Chaeng!
The Black Killer Sword's expression changed drastically as he parried the sword.
The nature of the sword stance was clearly different from before.
Seeing it, Yang-hui smirked.
"Thanks. You helped me realize it."
Yin Hu had said as much.
That a sword alone could produce countless sounds.
'The Phoenix Wing Hum had me trapped in a mold instead.'
Clashing swords with the Black Killer Sword let him realize it.
The metallic ring of clashing blades was a sound too.
That was the moment.
-Young hero. Remember this. Sound is vibration too.
-Sound is waves, so you can create waves with your sword.
Yang-hui's body trembled like lightning.
Though he couldn't yet embody it with his current skill, the super peak realizations lingering in his mind embraced the new insight.
'Clash of sword on sword varies by force and point of impact.'
A fact he'd learned bodily through fighting the Black Killer Sword.
That's why Sword Mistress said a sword could produce countless sounds.
'The Heaven-Covering 108 Swords emits different cries by realm.'
Sword Cry. The sword's wail is vibration too.
'Then, if I embody sword clashes with energy... and use them to produce different sword cries.'
Unification of sword and sound.
Fusion of sword arts and sound arts.
Boooong!
The Phoenix Wing Hum, previously just a realm and phenomenon of the Heaven-Covering 108 Swords, now carried energy.
Different pitches and intervals.
Sounds, vibrations.
Resonating with energy, they shattered the Black Killer Sword's aura.
Yang-hui wielded his sword like a possessed man.
"What the—?!"
As the Black Killer Sword poured energy into his sword to block, he suddenly realized something.
'Damn! My energy flow!'
Boooong!
Yang-hui's sword didn't wait.
Kagang!
The clash of blades. The Black Killer Sword felt vibrations rattling his internals through the sword.
In other words, a shock that shook him from inside.
A new change he'd never felt before.
Boooong!
The sword sang. Spewing vibrations everywhere.
The Sword Cry transcended mere phenomenon to become an attack method.
"How about it? Thinking of calling it Sword Resonance."
Sword Resonance. Wails vibrating all around.
Different strikes and energies.
Their collisions birthing varied sword cries.
Layering into a cacophony of ever-changing sounds.
An insight drawn from Yin Hu's hint, elevated into a technique.
"Alright, now the real fight starts."
Heaven-Covering 108 Swords, New Ultimate Technique.
Bee Wing Resonance.
Boooong!
The sword strike laden with Bee Wing Resonance's mystery targeted the Black Killer Sword's whole body.
He raised his sword to block, but each time, the sword cries' vibrations pierced inward inescapably.
"Kuhk!"
Striking rock with a sword sends a sharp buzz up your arm.
Each exchange piled that shock into his internals.
"Kuh, keok!"
The Black Killer Sword could no longer hold back and spat congested blood.
In that gap, Yang-hui's sword reached his throat.
"Elder. How's it feel to lose to a snot-nosed kid?"
Yang-hui smirked.
The moment a second-rate skill subdued a first-rate expert.