Chapter 56: Don't Be Mistaken
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 56: Don't Be Mistaken
Thud!
Ki Mu-hyeok's body shot forward in a straight line, kicking off the floor as if to shatter it. The Metal Energy enveloping his entire body added explosive power to his sprint.
"You're rushing to your death."
Gu Ja-seung watched him with cold eyes, then swung his sword in a wide arc. He seemed poised to cut down the intruder in a single strike.
However, his sword failed to reach Ki Mu-hyeok.
Screech!
Ki Mu-hyeok stopped as if slamming on the brakes, leaning his upper body back to dodge his opponent's sword. The blade grazed past his eyes by a hair's breadth.
‘Switch.’
If Metal Energy had the characteristic of making the body hard and strong like steel, Water Energy made the body soft and pliable overall.
As he enveloped himself in a blue haze, his joints felt no strain even with sudden changes in direction. Ki Mu-hyeok circled to Gu Ja-seung's left and struck with his sword.
Clang!
"Ugh!"
To Gu Ja-seung's eyes, the opponent, who had been charging with fierce momentum, seemed to freeze like a still image, only to instantly accelerate again and swing his sword.
It was an attack that couldn't even be called a technique, created simply by adjusting his tempo.
‘He's no ordinary foe.’
Wariness flickered in Gu Ja-seung's eyes, which had previously dismissed the intruder.
Because controlling power and speed with such proficiency required exceptional intuition and experience.
"…You don't seem to be a mere petty thief."
As Gu Ja-seung fully unleashed his Internal Energy, his martial robes began to flap wildly.
He was the Great Heaven Sect's youngest elder and a Peak Master vying for the future position of Sect Leader.
Gu Ja-seung, his presence growing stronger, advanced with powerful strides, closing the distance.
"Seeing you keep your mouth shut, it seems I'll have to break one of your limbs before we can talk."
A scoff.
Even with his mask on, a sound like air escaping, a laugh, slipped out. As a subtle Killing Intent flickered in Gu Ja-seung's eyes, a translucent Sword Qi formed on his blade.
"You arrogant fool!"
From Gu Ja-seung's sword unfurled the Great Heaven Sword Art, the martial art representing the Great Heaven Sect and the one that had brought the sect to its current standing.
His heavy sword, brimming with rhythm and power, pressed from all directions, attempting to trap Ki Mu-hyeok within its sword domain.
It was a suffocating sight, but Ki Mu-hyeok watched his opponent's sword path intently with deep,沉着的 eyes.
‘Switch again.’
The fading blue energy was replaced by golden energy. He instantly unleashed the concentrated power from his hardened body.
Ki Mu-hyeok's sword found the precise point to sever the flow of his opponent's sword path and struck down forcefully. This was to achieve a greater effect with less power.
CRASH!
"…!"
As the two swords clashed, Gu Ja-seung and Ki Mu-hyeok were pushed back, sliding. Their feet dragged, carving two parallel furrows in the floor, and there was little difference in their lengths.
Gu Ja-seung's expression was one of shock.
Though not one of the Eight Great Sects, he was an elder of the Great Heaven Sect, recognized for his talent and skill.
He had chosen the Great Heaven Sect because he preferred to be the head of a snake rather than the tail of a dragon; if he had truly set his mind to it, he could have become an elite martial artist of one of the Eight Great Sects.
‘A mere intruder is a match for me?’
Even as Gu Ja-seung stared at his opponent with astonished eyes, Ki Mu-hyeok didn't stop. He freely switched between Metal and Water Internal Energy whenever needed, swinging his sword.
Clang-clang-clang!
The sword paths of the two masters intertwined like a tangled mess. The swords were so fast that sparks continuously flew between their blurred trajectories.
‘I'm getting used to it little by little.’
In the process, Ki Mu-hyeok was rapidly growing proficient at handling the Internal Energy of the Five Elements Divine Art. Blades grazed his clothes; dangerous situations where a moment's distraction could cost him his head occurred repeatedly.
It was a real battle that demanded extreme concentration. The Five Elements Divine Art's principles he had learned intellectually, the newly acquired Internal Energy, and Ki Mu-hyeok's swordsmanship began to harmonize naturally.
‘Just a little more.’
Gu Ja-seung of the Great Heaven Sect was an opponent who could not be called easy, even as a mere formality. Every time he met the heavy sword, his bones ached, and a single mistake could lead to irreversible consequences.
‘But it's worth it.’
Ki Mu-hyeok was the kind of person who found it more comfortable to dance with swords on a tightrope. Adrenaline surged, sharpening his senses even further.
His lacking Internal Energy compared to his opponent was compensated by his innate intuition, countless experiences of crossing the line of death, psychological warfare, and strategic calculations. It was a very familiar situation for him.
"What in the…!"
On the other hand, his opponent couldn't help but grow increasingly bewildered by the intruder's attacks, which were becoming fiercer and more precise.
Gu Ja-seung sensed that the intruder who had infiltrated the Great Heaven Sect was no ordinary foe. Instead, his anger cooled, and a chill ran down his spine.
‘What in the world happened?’
Gu Ja-seung, his wariness growing, adopted a defensive swordsmanship, which coincidentally allowed Ki Mu-hyeok to launch more daring and aggressive offensives.
CRASH!
The two, having clashed their swords forcefully, separated and stood apart. Ki Mu-hyeok briefly regulated his ragged breathing and checked the time.
‘About five minutes have passed, I think.’
He had sustained minor injuries, but nothing to worry about. His mask wasn't torn, and there was no sign that Gu Ja-seung had recognized his identity.
‘I should try this one last thing before leaving.’
Whoosh—
The air around Ki Mu-hyeok began to grow increasingly cold.
Metal Generates Water.
The saying 'Metal Energy nourishes Water Energy' was like the principle of water droplets forming on cold metal.
Moreover, the Water Energy Ki Mu-hyeok possessed was based on Extreme Yin Energy. The rapidly chilled Water Energy cooled the Metal Energy, and the now cool Metal Energy further nourished the Water Energy.
CRACKLE!
The two unified energies turned pure white, manifesting an Ice Art.
Gu Ja-seung's eyes widened at the sight of the white wind swirling around Ki Mu-hyeok's body.
"An Ice Art…?"
It was a choked gasp. Gu Ja-seung's gaze began to waver, and for the first time, he took a step back.
‘What? Why is he retreating when he was fighting so well?’
To be frank, there was no reason for Gu Ja-seung to retreat from this fight.
Though Ki Mu-hyeok's skill had improved by leaps and bounds, it wasn't enough to overwhelm an elder of the Great Heaven Sect.
Gu Ja-seung, on the other hand, would only gain an advantage by dragging out the fight.
"Wait, just a moment!"
But Gu Ja-seung spoke, his expression now anxious and different from before.
"When I saw you using that strange Internal Energy, I initially thought you were from the Unorthodox Faction. A thief who came to steal our sect's martial arts or treasures. But this Ice Art…"
‘And he's even speaking formally? Something's up.’
Ki Mu-hyeok offered no reply, simply staring at his opponent with a cold gaze.
He judged that if he let Gu Ja-seung misunderstand, he would talk himself into it.
And that reaction seemed to give his opponent a certain conviction.
"As expected…"
Even though there was no one else around to hear, Gu Ja-seung lowered his voice significantly and continued.
"Are you… from the Sun Moon Sect?"
Sun Moon Sect?
Ki Mu-hyeok was surprised by his opponent's unexpected words, but he showed no outward sign.
‘Asking someone who illegally infiltrated their headquarters if they're from the Sun Moon Sect…’
His mind raced, drawing conclusions from the current situation.
‘It's highly likely that the Sun Moon Sect is the higher power of the Great Heaven Sect, as Master speculated. Even if not, it means they have at least a close relationship.’
Having organized his thoughts, Ki Mu-hyeok slowly lowered his sword and stood at an angle.
"You're at least perceptive."
He replied in a gruff, altered voice, casually slipping one hand into his pocket.
He slipped his hand into his pocket to find his phone and turn on the recording function.
Gu Ja-seung's expression stiffened.
"Why is the Sun Moon Sect doing this?"
"Are you truly asking because you don't know?"
"…If you would enlighten me, I will listen attentively."
To his opponent's question, asked with swallowed pride, Ki Mu-hyeok pondered for a moment before subtly probing.
"Ghost Sound Hall."
He felt Gu Ja-seung flinch. Not missing that reaction, Ki Mu-hyeok spoke in a slightly harsher tone.
"And the Martial Alliance."
"What are you talking about…?"
There was a clear reaction when Ghost Sound Hall was mentioned, but the reaction to the Martial Alliance was subtle.
He couldn't precisely guess how deeply the Great Heaven Sect was involved, or to what extent. So Ki Mu-hyeok unleashed Killing Intent, pressing him with his momentum.
"Are you shamelessly asking again? If a dog fails its master's command, it naturally deserves punishment."
"Nonsense!"
Gu Ja-seung couldn't tolerate the insult of comparing his sect to a dog and shouted in anger.
However, Ki Mu-hyeok didn't react. He waited for his opponent, who had fallen for his provocation, to reveal information himself.
"We failed? That's absurd. Weren't you the ones who failed completely, unable to do anything in the License Exam?!"
"…This incident is your sect's responsibility?"
"On the contrary, we are the ones who should be angry. Do you know how much trouble we went through to erase the traces left in the Martial Alliance? If you had any shame, you'd start by thanking us!"
Ki Mu-hyeok gazed silently at Gu Ja-seung, who was passionately ranting, his face flushed, hoping that the recording function had indeed turned on properly.
He was silent for a moment, then let out a long sigh.
And then he spoke, his voice imbued with a thick Killing Intent.
"Since when could a mere Great Heaven Sect stand so stiff-necked before our sect?"
"…!"
Gu Ja-seung trembled, overcome by surging anger and shame.
An elder of a renowned Mid-Sized Sect, though not one of the Eight Great Sects.
Even if the Sun Moon Sect and Great Heaven Sect had a close relationship, such a remark would be an outrageous insult.
‘I could have a proper Life-and-Death Duel right now, couldn't I?’
Ki Mu-hyeok briefly imagined fighting Gu Ja-seung at full strength, but then licked his lips and decided to save it for next time.
‘This is enough for today.’
Time was pressing, and he had come up with a better plan than fighting Gu Ja-seung any longer.
‘If conflict breaks out between the Sun Moon Sect and the Great Heaven Sect, it'll be easier to investigate.’
For that, it was best for Gu Ja-seung to amplify the misunderstanding.
As a strong candidate for the Great Heaven Sect's next leader, his influence on the sect would be significant.
"Don't be mistaken. You lot are nothing but expendable tools that can be replaced at any time."
"…Even if you are from the Sun Moon Sect, I will not tolerate any further insults."
Gu Ja-seung raised his lowered sword, glaring at Ki Mu-hyeok with eyes full of Killing Intent.
Ki Mu-hyeok chuckled, then surprisingly sheathed his sword.
"Today, I merely came to deliver a light warning. I trust you've understood it well enough."
He turned and deliberately walked slowly out of the corridor, when Gu Ja-seung's voice came from behind him.
"What is your name?"
"You don't deserve to know."
Gu Ja-seung merely glared fiercely at his opponent's retreating back, but did not dare to pursue.
‘Done.’
After confirming that Gu Ja-seung's presence had completely faded behind him, Ki Mu-hyeok unleashed his Lightness Skill at full power and escaped the building.
WEEEEEEEOOOOOH!
Intruder! Find the intruder!
There's a suspicious person! Chase him!
Fire trucks and police cars, dispatched at the sight of the surging flames, and martial artists rushing with Lightness Skill, were visible.
Ki Mu-hyeok narrowly evaded them, and only after reaching a safe location did he finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew…"
If he had been even a little late, the encirclement would have been too tight for him to escape.
However, Ki Mu-hyeok's expression was very bright.
He was satisfied with gaining extensive real-world experience against a Peak Master.
"And it seems I've won the bet with Master."
[On the contrary, we are the ones who should be angry. Do you know how much trouble we went through to erase the traces left in the Martial Alliance? If you had any shame, you'd start by thanking us!]
Confirming the voice was well-recorded on his phone, Ki Mu-hyeok pondered what wish he would ask Master to grant him when they met, and then moved to their designated rendezvous point after his escape.