Chapter 563: I am…

It had been about two years since I started training.

It had been a year since I opened my Mind’s Eye (心眼).

During that time, I was learning the three forms (三式) of the ‘Fist of the Raging Dragon’ (鬪牙破天武).

And.

FWOOOOOSH-!

It had already been about half a year since I started receiving training from Father.

The training rooms of the Gu family are mostly made of stone rather than wood.

The reason being, if I messed up, I could burn it all down.

If I became proficient, I could control it to prevent it from catching fire, but.

There were situations where I couldn’t do that, and this was to prepare for those cases.

And right now, it was exactly one of those times.

FWOOOOOSH-!!

Flames were soaring, filling the training room.

Meaning embers were flying everywhere, heating up the walls.

[Grrr…]

A groan escaped me.

Trying to compress these wild flames into one spot wasn’t easy.

I had already experienced something similar while training the ‘Flame Prison’ (염옥), but this was on a different level.

This wasn’t just about compression and rotation.

After casting and completing it, I had to maintain it alone.

[Telling me to maintain this is insane.]

My internal energy (내기) kept draining.

Even if it wasn’t as much as in my past life, the amount of internal energy filling me internally should have been considerable.

Just to create this one thing, I was using more than half of it.

Despite repeating this countless times for months.

Krrrrrrk-!

[… !]

The result was the same this time.

The sphere I barely managed to form cracked, and soon after, it exploded.

KWAOOOOH-!

Light burst out in all directions.

Since so much internal energy had been gathered, the explosive force was immense.

If left like this, it was moments away from destroying the training room and everything else, but.

Fortunately, such a disaster didn’t happen.

Because there was someone in the training room to stop it.

KOOOOONG-!

The exploding blast was blocked by the barrier set up inside the training room, unable to proceed further.

Meaning even that vast explosion couldn’t penetrate this shallow barrier.

And so, as the surging aftermath gradually subsided.

[Failed again, huh.]

[…]

I turned my head at the heavy voice.

The owner of the barrier spread throughout the training room.

The Gu family head, the chivalrous Gu Cheol-un, my Father, was standing there.

I replied while retracting my energy.

[…Tell me about it. It’s not easy.]

How many times has it been?

It was too late to count, but by days, it was exactly half a year.

I guess you could say I’ve been trying like crazy within that time.

Though I haven’t succeeded even once.

[That’s natural.]

Father said, looking at me.

[Since you haven’t reached the realm, it’s only natural.]

[…Yes. That’s right.]

Haven’t reached the realm.

Nothing could be more accurate than that statement.

As Old Man Shin (신 노야) mentioned before.

What I’m trying to do now is the realm of ‘Mind’s Conception’ (心想).

Leaving internal energy aside, it’s a so-called transcendent realm that must be used solely with the power of the mind.

It’s a place one might barely reach after perfecting their learned martial arts, transcending them, and becoming one with them.

Knowing that, I’m still trying to do it.

[Hoo.]

I wiped away the flowing sweat.

After spending all day repeatedly compressing and rotating energy, cold sweat was trickling down.

[Are you planning to continue this time as well?]

That’s what Father asked me.

Continue?

[I have to try.]

I replied that I would.

Hearing that, Father’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

[Why is that?]

[…What?]

I was taken aback. It’s because I didn’t expect Father to ask something like that.

[Why do you keep trying to achieve this? As I said, it’s something that doesn’t fit your realm.]

[…Hmm…]

A pointless act. Father didn’t say it exactly like that, but the nuance was along those lines.

It was true.

Not having reached the realm, deliberately doing this was incredibly inefficient.

But.

[Then, why are you helping me, Father?]

[You readily stepped up when I asked, didn’t you?]

[…]

Half a year ago. I had gone directly to Father to ask for a favor.

That power Father showed at the Tang family (당문) back then.

I said I wanted to learn it.

Father wore a puzzled expression about this, but.

He didn’t refuse.

And so, half a year has passed, leading to now.

From then until now, contrary to expectations, Father had been teaching me quite intensively.

I had said that, expecting to be rejected.

[Didn’t you ask for it?]

[Is that the only reason you’re helping me, even after saying it’s impossible?]

He’s doing it because I asked.

It was a simple, yet ridiculous reason.

Why didn’t you just do this sooner then?

Such a thought crossed my mind, but I forced myself to erase it.

[And… I don’t think I’ve tried enough to definitively say it’s impossible.]

My damn master once said.

He said to just keep pushing until it works, even if it doesn’t.

Even then, when it doesn’t work, it’s usually because my effort is lacking, but.

At the very least, to have a reason to give up, you need to try hard enough to convince yourself, he said.

At first, I thought, ‘What kind of bullshit praise for effort is this?’

But after living like that, half-forced, my perspective changed.

If you try, somehow it works out.

It’s the same this time.

I’ll keep going until it’s impossible. That was my mindset.

[…]

Father’s expression, watching me, was still impassive.

I was even used to that by now.

Just as I was about to start training again.

Father’s question reached me.

[Why exactly are you trying to achieve this?]

The reason I’m trying to force it.

The specific reason I’m trying to obtain this, even while getting beaten up by the ‘Blade Master’ (패존) intermittently.

[Hmm…]

I pondered for a moment, but there was no need. The answer was much simpler than I thought.

[Because I need it.]

Because I need it. Because I need this power enough to use it right now.

That was all there was to it.

[I have some things to do ahead. And the power you showed is exactly what I need.]

I still remember it.

That brilliant presence I saw at the Tang family.

That mini-sun that devoured all surrounding presence and radiated its own.

I needed that.

If that kind of power belonged to the ‘Nine Flame Wheel Technique’ (구염화륜공), I wanted to obtain it if possible.

That’s why I’m trying to obtain it, even making a request I’ve never made in my life to Father.

Even knowing I can’t do it because my realm isn’t sufficient.

As I thought that and tried to raise my internal energy again.

[In that case, your direction is wrong.]

[What?]

Father spoke words he hadn’t uttered before.

[It seems there’s an issue with your perception. I’ll need to fix that part.]

[What do you mean by that?]

At his sudden words, I looked at Father strangely.

Then.

[If you want to learn it, even superficially, you need to change your perception.]

[What…]

[You are not me.]

At those words, my eyes widened.

It wasn’t that I had some epiphany.

I was just surprised because it was such an obvious statement.

I am not Father. Isn’t that an obvious truth?

Seeing me with a dumbfounded expression, Father continued.

[Only by properly recognizing that difference will you be able to even touch its fingertips.]

I didn’t retort, thinking, ‘What kind of nonsensical crap is that?’

I figured Father wouldn’t say such trivial things without a reason, unlike that old geezer Blade Master.

That’s what I thought.

And indeed.

A few months after I started training, focusing on this matter.

Just as Father said, I was finally able to touch my goal with my fingertips.

---

I look up at the sky.

A small sphere floating in the center of the blackened, scorched space.

All the light brightly illuminating this area was emanating from that sphere.

‘Fire Wheel Star’ (火輪星).

The mini-sun I saw at the Tang family.

It’s a power that, along with its bright light, scatters the surrounding presence, allowing me to hide my own.

Furthermore, it’s also the power I’ve tenaciously learned over the past time.

FWOOOSH-!!

The blue light illuminating the surroundings is distinct.

The Fire Wheel Star was emitting an exceptionally bright light, radiating its presence.

The problem is.

Although it looks not much different from Father’s Fire Wheel Star, except for the color.

If you delve into its meaning, that thing is the complete opposite.

If Father’s Fire Wheel Star swallowed presence to erase the caster’s existence.

The Fire Wheel Star I used, conversely, was for amplifying my presence.

A power contrary to the original intent of the Fire Wheel Star’s use.

This couldn’t be helped.

‘…That’s just how superficial learning is.’

The rotation attempted when casting the Fire Wheel Star signifies absorption rather than amplification.

To devour the caster’s presence and trap it within this sun.

That’s the power the Fire Wheel Star represents, but.

‘If I’m to use it without reaching the realm of the mind, this is the only way.’

I stopped that rotation and tried to use only the form.

As a result, instead of absorbing presence, it ended up amplifying it by rotation.

In other words, it’s a half-baked power.

However.

‘Even better.’

Ironically, it was actually better.

Amplifying my presence and imprinting it onto the opponent.

It deviated from the meaning of the Fire Wheel Star, but I couldn’t ask for a better power.

Even though it became a half-baked power because I tried to force its use beyond my realm.

It ended up benefiting me instead.

Perhaps that’s why Father said what he did.

The Fire Wheel Star I’m trying to use.

And the Fire Wheel Star Father used are fundamentally different, so I should grasp that.

Meaning I could use it if I did. That must have been the implication.

I lowered my gaze after looking at the sky for a moment.

An old man with a deeply contorted expression is visible ahead. It was Woo Baek.

‘His flustered expression is priceless.’

With Ddol-doli (똘똘이) attempting intimidation with his massive physique.

And the groundwork laid beforehand by Tang Deok (당덕).

And then me, appearing afterward.

The dark space created using Black Heaven (黑天).

And even the Fire Wheel Star within it, amplifying my presence and creating light.

Just seeing this much, Woo Baek must be thinking.

That I’m no ordinary opponent.

I hoped Woo Baek would think so.

It was a point where my intention was working well.

I spoke, looking at Woo Baek.

“Seems like you’re quite tight-lipped, more than I thought.”

Trying to use the way of speaking I used in my past life again makes my tongue feel prickly, but.

I had to endure it.

“This Seat even introduced myself first. Seems that wasn’t enough.”

I said, taking a step forward.

Because I used the Fire Wheel Star beyond my realm, I could feel the backlash not only in my energy but also in my body.

Yet, I didn’t show it.

Because that’s not how the Heavenly Demon (天魔) I envision should act.

For that, I had to grit my teeth and endure.

I continued to walk.

After a few more steps, I naturally knew.

If I walked any further, I would enter Woo Baek’s attack range.

Knowing that clearly, I stepped forward without hesitation.

“…You punk…”

Woo Baek didn’t swing his sword even though I entered his range.

He must be assessing the situation.

It must be difficult to grasp properly, combined with this situation.

“…Did you say Heavenly Demon?”

“Yes. This Seat is the Heavenly Demon.”

It should be an unfamiliar epithet, yet Woo Baek frowned upon hearing ‘Heavenly Demon’.

The reason is probably.

“…I’ve heard the rumors.”

It’s because he knows the stories slowly spreading through the Central Plains.

“About a being attacking martial arts alliances (무림맹) branches by region. The culprit called themselves the Heavenly Demon.”

Hearing that, I burst out laughing this time.

“Haha.”

That way, Woo Baek could know I was laughing behind the mask.

“So that’s you?”

“Seems your ears are wider than I thought. I praise you.”

“…What is your objective? What intention do you have for attacking the Martial Alliance, let alone boldly setting foot in this Wudang (무당)?!”

WHOOOSH-!

A roar erupted.

His voice was filled with murderous intent (도기).

He probably intended to snap the surrounding martial artists, suppressed by my ‘Dragon Speech’ (용언), back to their senses.

“Guh…”

“Elder…”

Even that wasn’t enough to break free from the Dragon Speech.

Watching that, I gathered information internally.

So even this much internal energy doesn’t easily break it?

This was an unexpected gain.

“An objective…”

I pretended to ponder, stroking my chin while hiding my thoughts.

The feel of the mask was slightly bothersome.

After a brief silence, I said to Woo Baek.

“Does an objective really need to exist?”

“…What?”

“You seem to be mistaken about something.”

A distance reachable if I extended my arm.

I spat out my words towards Woo Baek from within that range.

“It’s just Wudang, at most.”

“…!”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but should This Seat be afraid just because I came looking for you guys?”

“You…!!”

“Truly laughable. Old man.”

I continued, watching Woo Baek’s face contort even further.

“Are you telling me you get scared even looking at ants crawling on the ground?”

As I spat those words.

Srrrring-!

Woo Baek swung the sword he was holding.

It was fast.

Not only was he already within range, but.

The sword of someone who had risen to the rank of Elder in Wudang was far faster than sound.

Normally, it would have been difficult even to react.

But.

Thwack-!

“…?!”

If I had been watching from the start, the story would be different.

Woo Baek was staring at his own wrist, caught before he could even properly swing his sword.

“You asked what my objective was.”

Woo Baek’s eyes trembled upon hearing my voice.

“I’ll answer you. You incompetent piece of trash.”

Seeing that, I drew up the demonic energy (마기) from within my body.

“This Seat merely wanted to see.”

The rising demonic energy left my heart and seeped into my body.

Soon, it began to rise like heat haze along my shoulders.

“The Nine Great Sects (구파일방) that make up the Central Plains.”

The rising heat haze soared towards the sky, increasing in scale.

“And the Alliance Leader (맹주) of the Martial Alliance, who is making the current Central Plains rot.”

As I poured out energy, my body screamed.

Honestly, with just the Fire Wheel Star, I was already in a dangerous state.

“The place called Wudang, which he is responsible for. This Seat made a precious journey for that. However.”

I released the strength in my grip.

It was because I hoped Woo Baek would react intentionally.

As expected.

Thwack-! Woo Baek retracted his caught hand and quickly spun his body.

Murderous intent (도기) surged around Woo Baek’s body.

Sharp and fierce. As expected of one of the Central Plains’ top hundred experts.

“Seeing you, I understand. This place too was trash, not worth looking at.”

“How dare you! How dare a lowly being like you insult Wudang-!”

Woo Hyuk’s (우혁) sword, which I’d seen a few times.

A sword technique more skilled and refined than that unfolded from the old man’s fingertips.

The sword imbued with murderous intent was, unlike his rough roar, a delicate sword path.

Subsequently, the serene murderous intent quickly became a star as it unfolded.

The stars blooming from the sword path gathered and gathered, becoming a galaxy.

How beautiful.

It was a sword beautiful just to watch.

Although I viewed Wudang unfavorably, I could acknowledge their swordsmanship.

Which makes it all the more regrettable.

That such beautiful swordsmanship.

Clang-!

Could be shattered by this mere flick of a hand.

“Huuup?!”

Just before Woo Baek’s sword could ride the flow along its path.

My opened Mind’s Eye (心眼) captured how the old man’s sword intended to move.

The flow was clear.

Perhaps due to the old man’s high realm, the sword path was unusually steady, clearly showing its way.

Which made it easier to catch.

All I had to do was reach out to the path it intended to take and sever it.

The sword path twisted.

Thump-!

My body, which was about to exert force, faltered from the backlash.

Creating an opening that wasn’t there before.

Seeing this, Woo Baek quickly moved his body.

It was to cover the opening he knew had appeared, but.

It didn’t matter.

Even that was too clearly visible.

My body was already moving. My right hand had already grabbed Woo Baek by the collar.

Only a thought crossed my mind.

‘Should I drag this out a bit more?’

Should I stall the fight to show a bit more?

Or should I just end it now?

I reached a conclusion the moment I thought it.

I shouldn’t drag this out.

It would be troublesome if the Wudang Sword Sage (무당검선) arrived.

WHOOOOSH-!

Wind gathered in my left hand.

Keeeeeeeeeek-!

Starting from my heart, energy circulated through the acupoints.

I felt the pain of my body being torn by the blade-like energy.

I ignored it. It was a familiar pain by now.

Thump-!

Half a step forward.

My soles slammed onto the ground.

KOOOOONG-!!

Vibrations spread.

My center was secured.

I twisted my waist slightly.

Simultaneously, I controlled the backlash.

It might look like a simple movement, but not a single part could be wrong.

My opened Mind’s Eye observed not only the opponent but also my own body.

I aligned my body according to the visible lines.

Just then.

WHOOOOOOOOSH-!!

As if waiting, a gust of wind permeated my body and flowed to my fingertips.

This was it.

‘Fist of the Raging Dragon’ (鬪牙破天武).

Second Form (二式).

‘Fist of the Crushing Will’ (鬪批意天拳).

The gathered gust violently struck Woo Baek’s chest.

Instantly.

“Gak-?!”

Woo Baek’s body, along with a short grunt.

KWAOOOOOOSH-!

Was torn to shreds by the exploding air pressure.