Chapter 72: Lone Life-Death Sword
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 72: Lone Life-Death Sword
“Hoo…”
Outwardly, he didn't appear severely injured, but Ki Mu-hyeok's body was a mess of internal wounds.
‘He’s really pushing my buttons.’
He had endured the ultimate technique of the Martial Alliance Leader, known as the Fist King.
Of course, it wasn't unleashed with full power, but Ki Mu-hyeok felt a shock so immense it felt like his body would shatter from that single blow. Had he not protected himself with the Five Elements Divine Art, he would have lost consciousness and been flung off the dueling stage.
Kagagak…
His sword, used to brace himself against the dueling stage floor instead of a cane, dragged with an unpleasant scraping sound.
“Leader.”
To buy himself a moment to recover, Ki Mu-hyeok challenged the fairness of the test.
“Even for the Leader, I don’t think it’s right to change the difficulty of the test based on your mood, do you?”
A hint of sarcasm, born from his surging frustration, crept into his voice.
Perhaps finding Ki Mu-hyeok’s protest entirely reasonable, the esteemed figures watching also nodded.
“Indeed, that last attack was…”
“The Leader went too far.”
“Questions of fairness are bound to arise.”
The countless people watching via broadcast felt the same. They erupted in complaints, as if they themselves had been struck by the Martial Alliance Leader’s suddenly several-fold stronger attack.
[Isn't he doing this on purpose to make him fail??]
[Seems like discrimination because he's not a Rising Star from one of the Eight Great Sects...]
[Only a few moves left, so suddenly it's 'you have to survive to pass' LOL]
Those who had been cursing Ki Mu-hyeok were now, somehow, cheering him on.
But Yeo Pil-geuk paid no mind to the reactions around him. He simply stared directly at Ki Mu-hyeok and spoke.
“Your gaze has sharpened. Have you finally decided to give it your all?”
“…”
Ki Mu-hyeok flinched at a gaze that seemed to see right through him. It was true that he wanted to display his skills before the numerous cameras and watchful eyes. However, he had never dared to be complacent against the Martial Alliance Leader.
“Give it my all…? I’ve been doing my best from the start.”
“You’ve been efficiently striking and retreating, just enough to pass the test. Is that truly your best?”
“…”
An efficient sword technique that minimized sword movements and internal energy consumption. It was a practical style he had honed and developed since his days as a vagrant. But Yeo Pil-geuk was now saying that wasn't enough.
Feeling as though his methods were being denied, Ki Mu-hyeok irritably swept back his disheveled hair and asked.
“So, am I supposed to risk my life and try to cut you down, Leader?”
A fierce vagrant’s temperament, like a wolf baring its fangs and snarling, seeped into his reply.
Gulp…
As the Rising Stars watching the standoff grew even more tense, Yeo Pil-geuk smiled faintly and replied.
“That wouldn’t be bad. Or perhaps you might find an even better way?”
Yeo Pil-geuk’s eyes, speaking in riddles like a Zen master, curved into crescent moons. Within that gaze was a warmth directed at the distant junior martial artist. However, no mercy could be felt in the Fist King’s fist as he prepared his ninth move.
‘What in the world is he doing?’
It seemed he had no intention of answering Ki Mu-hyeok’s question.
Kwoooosh…!
With a sound like thunder, the Leader’s fist was raised once more. Overwhelmed by the aura of an Absolute Master that suppressed his entire body, Ki Mu-hyeok couldn't move rashly.
‘I can’t dodge this.’
Ki Mu-hyeok bit his lip tightly. There was no way Yeo Pil-geuk hadn't grasped his level. This meant he was about to unleash that fist, having judged that Ki Mu-hyeok could handle it.
‘How do I block it? Is blocking even the answer? Perhaps a counterattack would be better…’
He desperately racked his brain for a solution. But no answer presented itself. Only a sense of helplessness, as if standing before a colossal wall, filled him.
And then, the Martial Alliance Leader’s ninth move unfolded.
“Golden Ape Meteor Fist, Secret Technique. Second Form: Meteor Dustfall.”
At that moment, Ki Mu-hyeok saw a vision of a golden meteor shower pouring down before his eyes. A sudden surge of defiance welled up within him.
‘I’ll break through this, no matter what!’
Ki Mu-hyeok gritted his teeth and charged fearlessly towards the raining meteors.
Meteor Dustfall was a move that unleashed dozens of fist strikes in an instant. He had to swing his sword ceaselessly to avoid being swept away. Amidst the meteor shower, Ki Mu-hyeok swung his sword like a madman.
But he couldn't block everything. Chwaak!
A fist strike, narrowly grazing him, tore through Ki Mu-hyeok’s muscles and rattled his bones. Blood dripped from his grip, which had absorbed the recoil, and his legs, supporting his footwork, felt heavy as lead. His arms screamed with every swing of his sword.
“Huh, he’s completely lost himself.”
Changcheon Sword Elder Na Il-cheon tapped his thigh with his palm, keeping rhythm. Ki Mu-hyeok, advancing as if possessed, swinging his sword like a god, drew admiration from the most senior martial artist in the Korean Martial.
Even as he precariously fended off the Leader’s fierce assault, to the point of making onlookers anxious, Ki Mu-hyeok’s eyes grew clearer than before.
‘The Leader’s words… I think I vaguely understand what he meant.’
Amidst the torrent of fist strikes, Ki Mu-hyeok replayed Yeo Pil-geuk’s words in his mind.
-A Peak Master is one who has built their own world through martial arts.
He had thought the Leader was just eager to rampage on the dueling stage as if rejuvenated, but on second thought, it was advice he couldn't simply dismiss.
Peak Master.
While often depicted as nothing special in novels or movies, in the Martial, a Peak Master referred to those who had established and perfected their own martial arts. The vagrant Ki Mu-hyeok of his past life had also surpassed that realm and perfected his own martial arts. Perhaps that's why he had somewhat underestimated it, thinking that now, with sufficient time and internal energy, it was merely a step to lightly tread upon and overcome.
But if he were to easily step over the stairs he had completed in the past like this…
‘He wouldn’t reach a higher place, but merely walk the same path again.’
Ki Mu-hyeok finally cut down the last of the meteor shower with his sword.
Chwaaaaaak!
Then, overcome by exhaustion, he staggered and eventually dropped to one knee.
“Haa, haa…”
His heart pounded as if it would burst. His martial robes, grazed by the fist strikes, were torn to tatters.
“You finally seem to have reached your limit.”
Yeo Pil-geuk walked over and stood proudly before Ki Mu-hyeok, who was hunched over, gasping for breath, and asked.
“One last move remains. Will you endure it to the end?”
At the Martial Alliance Leader’s cold tone, the people watching the broadcast with bated breath grew furious. Ki Mu-hyeok had already shown a performance worthy of applause just by holding onto his sword until the very end. In a situation where anyone could see he had reached his limit, asking him to endure one last move felt like mocking his opponent.
“Haha…”
But at that moment, Ki Mu-hyeok struggled to his feet and raised his head. Contrary to everyone’s expectations, he was smiling with an expression of pure delight.
“Of course.”
Ki Mu-hyeok felt his heart pounding wildly. Not from breathlessness, but from the excitement born of a sudden realization.
‘It was a message to reflect on the path I’ve walked as a martial artist.’
The sword of Lone Noble Ki Mu-hyeok. He had no intention of telling anyone, nor did he wish to take on disciples, so he hadn't given his sword technique a specific name. But he did have a name for it in his heart.
‘Lone Life-Death Sword.’
The vagrant’s sword, learned by traversing life and death alone. It was founded on the insights gained from struggling solely to survive. That was the martial art that the being known as Lone Noble Ki Mu-hyeok had established in his past life.
‘But it’s no longer a garment that fits my body.’
At this very moment, Ki Mu-hyeok realized that to advance further, he had to break free from the martial world he had established in his past life.
“If there’s a garment that suits me better, I should change into it.”
Ki Mu-hyeok, muttering to himself, raised his trembling arm and pointed his sword at Yeo Pil-geuk. He would add a new brick upon the stairs he had built in his past life. So that he could ascend even higher.
“…It seems you’ve gained something. Good. Since it’s the last move, I, too, will go all out.”
Yeo Pil-geuk, nodding with an indifferent expression, slowly clenched his fist.
Ki Mu-hyeok staggered back, creating distance.
Kwoooosh…!
The Martial Alliance Leader’s tenth and final move carried a power of a completely different caliber than before. Even the leaders of the Eight Great Sects were flustered, feeling a might more potent than the combined force of the previous eight and nine moves.
“Leader! No matter how excited you are, that’s going too far!”
Changcheon Sword Elder Na Il-cheon, who had been watching with interest, raised his voice and shouted. The other leaders of the Eight Great Sects also warned him to stop.
However, Yeo Pil-geuk acted as if he heard nothing.
“Golden Ape Meteor Fist, Secret Technique.”
Yeo Pil-geuk’s indifferent eyes turned towards Ki Mu-hyeok. The Rising Star before him was in such a difficult state that he looked like he’d collapse with a mere touch, yet his gaze was clearer than it had been since he stepped onto the dueling stage. Naturally, the corners of Yeo Pil-geuk’s mouth also curved upwards.
“Third Form: Golden Dragon Ascends to Heaven—!”
A fist, wreathed in monstrous energy waves, surged forth like a golden dragon, pouring down upon him. Ki Mu-hyeok’s vision, entirely focused on what was before him, saw everything else as a blur.
‘Cut it down.’
He drew forth every last shred of internal energy remaining, using the Five Elements Divine Art. There was only one chance, after all. Ki Mu-hyeok’s concentration was honed to its absolute limit.
“…!”
The power of the Five Elements began to gather in his sword. Metal. And Water. Two powers flowed along Ki Mu-hyeok’s sword. The other three energies also invigorated his entire body.
‘Channel it into one sword strike.’
The moment the golden dragon was within striking distance, Ki Mu-hyeok swung his sword with all his might.
‘Now!’
The golden dragon and the sword collided. Simultaneously, an immense pressure bore down on Ki Mu-hyeok’s body.
Blood vessels burst in Ki Mu-hyeok’s eyes from the terrible pressure.
‘Not yet…!’
He could still endure. Squeezing his Dantian to its limit, enduring his wrist that felt like it would snap, Ki Mu-hyeok held on.
At that moment, the Martial Alliance Leader’s voice echoed in his ears.
[What do you seek to achieve with your martial arts?]
Exchanging ten moves with the Martial Alliance Leader was the process of finding that answer. Ki Mu-hyeok murmured the answer he had found and took a step forward.
“Peerless…”
The ambition to advance so far that no one could follow him as a martial artist. But he wouldn't walk alone, as he had in his past life. Because he would be accompanied by countless people following behind him. His parents, his Master, and his friends. He would walk at the very front, lose no one, and ultimately become the world’s greatest.
Ki Mu-hyeok swung his sword, imbued with that aspiration.
“…Under Heaven.”
The Lone Life-Death Sword, which had barely withstood the golden dragon, transformed. The solitary, sharp sword, obsessed only with its own survival, changed into a soft yet resilient sword that wished to be with everyone.
Guided by the transformed sword, the golden dragon abruptly changed its trajectory and soared straight into the sky.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
The Martial Alliance Leader’s tenth move surged upwards like a dragon’s ascent, then scattered and vanished into thin air.
Ki Mu-hyeok stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly at the sight. Yeo Pil-geuk, who had approached without him noticing, murmured as he watched the scene with him.
“Peerless Under Heaven… That’s a magnificent answer.”
“Did you… go easy on me?”
“Hmm? I don’t know what you mean?”
Yeo Pil-geuk feigned ignorance, shrugging his shoulders. When he twisted the dragon’s ascent upwards at the very end, Ki Mu-hyeok felt the golden dragon comply without resistance. He had been prepared to be unable to get up for a few days after blocking the tenth move… but fortunately, it didn’t seem that would be the case.
Sway.
Ki Mu-hyeok barely managed to steady his swaying body, letting out a low sigh.
“You completely fooled me. I don’t usually fall for tricks…”
“I didn’t expect your sword to transform midway either. You’re truly remarkable.”
The Leader chuckled heartily and patted Ki Mu-hyeok’s shoulder. With a benevolent smile once again gracing his lips, he offered words of congratulations.
“Congratulations on becoming a Peak Master.”
“…Thank you.”
Ki Mu-hyeok replied, feeling somewhat dazed. He hadn’t quite grasped the reality of it yet.
And at that moment, cheers erupted from all directions, loud enough to shake the Martial Alliance.
Waaaaaaah!
The cheers of the Rising Stars, the invited dignitaries, and the people watching via broadcast were so loud they could be heard all the way to the Martial Alliance. Because it was a result that anyone watching had to acknowledge.
“No, I mean, to this extent…”
The man himself, however, looked around with a bewildered expression. His face was broadcast live to the world.
Even after Ki Mu-hyeok descended from the dueling stage, the cheers and applause for him continued for a long time without stopping.