Chapter 753: Hero Appears.

Swish-!!

Thump-!!

Fierce energy swirls around the tip of the massive fist.

The gathered and compressed surface rapidly descends.

Soon, it makes contact with the ground.

Kwareudeuk-! Kuahahah—-!!!

The floor explodes, scattering fragments in all directions. Energy erupts simultaneously, creating a gust of wind.

A tremendous vortex.

Within it, terrifying destructive power is clearly visible.

Even.

Thump-!

Thump-thump-!!

The shock seemed far from over, continuously roaring.

Pajik-! Kwadeudeuk-!!

The sound only follows after the movements.

Speed exceeding the speed of sound.

That was the realm of speed the two individuals displayed.

Flutter-! A yellow robe flutters as the giant crouches down.

Yellow energy surged from the toes of the one who lowered their stance.

Fierce Tiger Battling Dragon Strike.

Keureureung–!!!

Using the recoil, he swung his fist, and the energy took the form of tigers, several of them charging towards the opponent.

“Kkeuut-!”

Seeing this, the old man swung his blunt weapon fiercely, shattering the tigers, but unable to block them all, he had to take the impact.

Thump-!

His body, struck by the energy, swayed and fell from the air.

Seeing that, the man. Hwangbo Yeolwi of the Fierce Tiger Fist quickly leaped towards the falling old man.

Kkueuk-!

Energy gathered once more in his clenched fist.

Fierce Tiger Consecutive Strikes.

The fist, embodying tigers, rapidly poured towards the old man.

It was an impossible situation to dodge.

The old man gnashed his teeth upon seeing this.

Swish-!

One hand.

More specifically, his index and middle fingers, joined together, performed a peculiar movement.

At that moment.

Kwahahah—-!!!

Hwangbo Yeolwi’s fist landed directly, and heavy destructive power erupted in all directions.

“Hmm!”

Hwangbo Yeolwi frowned, looking at his swung fist.

He seemed displeased about something.

It couldn’t be helped.

“What are you?”

At the voice, Hwangbo Yeolwi turned around.

There stood the old man who had just taken the attack, speaking to him.

This meant… he hadn’t been hit by the attack.

“Just what the hell are you?”

The old man, frowning as if he couldn’t believe it, asked Hwangbo Yeolwi.

“I am the head of the Hwangbo family…”

“That’s not what I’m asking.”

He could already tell that much from the previous introduction.

He wasn’t asking just to hear the same answer repeated like a parrot.

“How can you see me?”

His expression was one of disbelief.

How could that guy possibly see him?

The old man was filled only with questions about this.

Even as he spoke, he ran a hand down his chest.

Woong.

A subtle energy that others couldn’t feel.

Confirming it only deepened his confusion.

‘Clearly, the curse is still intact.’

It was a curse etched onto his body over seven days and nights before the match.

Normally, it should have lasted at least an hour, and no one outside the pavilion should have noticed it, yet…

What on earth is that guy?

‘What makes him… able to look straight at me?’

It was incomprehensible.

Furthermore, there were others who couldn’t believe this situation.

“Was the Hwangbo family head always this strong…?”

“Just now… what was that strike?”

It was the people watching the battle inside the pavilion.

The battle that had suddenly begun.

It seemed the Hwangbo family head, who wasn’t in the pavilion, had intervened and was blocking it.

Everyone had to widen their eyes at the martial prowess displayed by the Hwangbo family head.

“Was the Fierce Tiger Fist always this strong?”

“Rumor had it he was sickly… were all those rumors false?”

“Sickly, my foot… he seems to have gained immense enlightenment over the past few years.”

Everyone knew that the Hwangbo family’s martial arts were potent with destructive power.

Due to that burden, warriors of the Hwangbo family had historically retired earlier than average.

Thus, seeing Hwangbo Yeolwi, who hadn’t shown himself for years, many had judged that he would be no different.

“This current state of his…”

As if all those words were mere rumors.

Hwangbo Yeolwi was displaying a much more powerful form.

The onlookers, being strong individuals themselves, knew.

Each of Hwangbo Yeolwi’s actions possessed immense power.

He looked twice as strong as the image he projected in the past.

“Hoo.”

Hwangbo Yeolwi took a breath.

The question of how he could see the old man. He didn’t bother to answer it.

He simply honed his body for the task at hand.

Kkueuk.

He slightly extended his clenched fist, focusing his gaze.

His entire body felt light.

The surging energy was enough to warm his body, and unlike the heavy energy, his feet felt incredibly light.

He could extend them as he wished.

Strength burst forth more powerfully than he expected.

It felt like breaking through a wall.

It was as if his fallen prime had returned.

Things he couldn’t do were happening effortlessly; how brilliant was this?

Hwangbo Yeolwi felt like he could explode with power at any moment, but he was holding back with all his might.

Because that wasn’t the order given to him.

-Th-that person… is the Hwangbo family head?

-Why did the Hwangbo family head suddenly appear…

-Who is he fighting? I can’t see them…?

Voices could be heard.

They were spectators who hadn’t managed to escape yet. They looked at Hwangbo Yeolwi with faces full of anxiety.

That person had said.

That those watching now would become excellent mouths in the future.

And that through them, he could achieve what he desired.

That person had said so.

Recalling this, Hwangbo Yeolwi simply took a step forward.

Tung-!

A short leap.

The sound followed belatedly the moment his body approached the old man.

Tiger Rend Advancing Kick.

Swish-!!

His leg, condensed with fierce energy, shot towards the old man.

The old man raised his blunt weapon to defend.

Kuang–!!

The blunt weapon couldn’t absorb all the impact.

The old man, failing to defend, was sent flying and bounced off the ground.

Tung-! Kwadeudeuk-!

“Kkeuk!”

Grabbing the ground, he barely supported himself.

It was a force that, had it been even slightly delayed, would have penetrated to his internal organs.

‘This…’

The old man furrowed his wrinkled brow intensely.

An unexpected problem.

The Hwangbo family head seeing him through the curse was a problem, but it was also problematic that he was a being somewhat difficult for him to handle.

‘…There’s still time left until the spell is complete.’

He looked up at the sky.

The lines were much clearer than before, seeming like they would connect completely soon, but there was still a little time left.

The old man grasped this and clenched his teeth.

Can I endure until that time?

‘This is the point where I caused a disturbance. If so, the arrival time of the Grand Masters will likely be sooner than calculated.’

He had tangled the magic formation to buy time until other Grand Masters arrived.

So, normally, there should have been no problem, but…

‘Things got complicated with that guy’s appearance.’

That the Hwangbo family head was in Hanam was a fact he knew, as he already had information on those present here.

He hadn’t expected that the man would actually come here in this situation to fight him.

Moreover.

‘He’s that strong.’

It was completely different from the level he had assessed beforehand.

At best, a level slightly better than the initial stage of Hwagyeong.

He thought that would surely be the case, given his body was weakening after its prime.

‘This…’

After fighting him directly, he was nowhere near that level.

If it’s this much…

‘He should have been confined in the pavilion and restrained.’

How could the Hwangbo family head possess such strength?

It was highly questionable, but now wasn’t the time to ponder such things.

For now…

‘It would be best to leave this place.’

His pride was hurt because his long-prepared plan had gone awry.

It was absurd that a problem arose because of just one guy like that, but…

‘I can’t ruin everything just to protect my petty pride.’

The old man kept in mind something more important than pride.

He decided to evade the situation for now rather than deal with the anomaly.

It was the correct course of action according to the plan, as he had intended to deliver his message and leave anyway.

So, he joined his index and middle fingers again, preparing to move.

“Hmm!”

Thump-!!

“…Hut!”

As if not intending to be fooled twice, Hwangbo Yeolwi charged, shattering the ground.

Fast.

At that speed, he would reach him before even attempting the spell.

“Kkeuk!”

The moment the old man finished assessing and hastily raised his blunt weapon to defend.

[That’s far enough.]

“…!”

“…!!”

Udeut-!

Huwoowoowook—-!!!

Hwangbo Yeolwi’s fist stopped right in front of the old man’s nose.

The condensed internal energy burst like wind, swirling outwards.

-Uwaaaak-!

Several people screamed from the wind mixed with debris.

Hwangbo Yeolwi, who had stopped abruptly, began to sweat coldly.

What could be the reason?

It was clearly a strange situation.

Everyone inside the pavilion was more focused on staring at the empty air than at Hwangbo Yeolwi.

“…There’s… there’s something.”

“Who is it? Could it be… reinforcements?”

The center of the focused gazes.

Something was there.

Woooowooong—!!!

What appeared first was a blackened sphere.

Beneath strange lines and dark clouds.

An unknown sphere floated far in the air, and below it, someone was floating, just like the old man had been.

This time too, it was black martial attire.

The figure with hands behind his back, his robes quietly fluttering, looked no different from the old man, but…

Upon confirming this, not a single person failed to stiffen their expression.

“Th-that… what on earth is that.”

It was different.

Something was on a different level.

Dugeun-! Dugeun-!

My heart pounds.

An intense presence was felt.

Just looking at it made the hair on my entire body stand on end.

Intuition followed immediately.

The reason Hwangbo Yeolwi froze with his fist extended.

Could it be because of that unknown being?

The Fierce Tiger Fist had just displayed such martial prowess, yet for some reason, he remained rigidly frozen, unable to move even slightly.

Just then.

[It was amusing enough to watch as a display of talent.]

Seueueueu.

The person floating in the air slowly descended, and as the distance closed, the figure’s appearance began to become clear.

“…Hut!”

“That person…!!”

As his appearance was confirmed, reactions erupted from various places.

A body that seemed over eight feet tall.

Black martial attire and long, dark hair.

And furthermore.

A cracked mask of unknown origin.

Everyone had heard of such an impression somewhere.

Especially the Sword Saint, upon seeing this, couldn’t help but have a strong reaction.

“…That guy…”

The description of the monster who attacked the Wudang sect in the past.

It was exactly the same.

Purple eyes shining beyond the white mask.

The figure who had captured everyone’s attention with his intense presence then looked towards the pavilion and spoke.

[It was merely a display of talent.]

Gugugugugu–!!!

As he spoke, vibrations echoed simultaneously.

It was impossible to tell if it was a vibration that was already occurring or one he had created.

Huwoook-!

For a moment, black energy soared into the sky from his shoulder.

Vast energy, at first glance.

That energy seeped into the floating black sphere, and soon…

Huahahahahah—-!!!

Using the black sphere as a launchpad, he began creating domains in all directions.

In terms of time, it wasn’t even a few seconds.

After that short time passed, an unknown darkness settled over the surrounding area.

-Hee… Hiiik….

-W-what is this… What is this!

The proclamation of unknown energy.

The black mist and domain were enough to instill fear in those nearby.

The mouths of those screaming to get out of the way or begging for their lives were sealed shut by it.

The overwhelming fear rendered them unable to even make a sound.

Tuuk.

The figure’s feet finally touched the ground.

Precisely between Hwangbo Yeolwi and the old man.

[I apologize for disrupting the pathetic festival you created.]

The internal energy contained within his voice was so immense it made one’s ears ring.

Seuk.

The figure’s clasped hands were released, and one hand lowered.

[Originally, I had no intention of interfering like this… but unfortunately, a problem arose.]

Just then.

“…Keuheheok!”

In an instant, Hwangbo Yeolwi, who was nearby, screamed and was flung backward.

Not only that.

Thump-! Kwang Kwadeudeuk-!!

He was thrown with such immense force that his large body shattered the floor and rolled far away.

“…Kuheok!!”

Spitting up blood repeatedly.

Teolseok-!

Finally, he collapsed onto the ground, trembled a few times, and went limp.

It seemed he had lost consciousness.

“…That…!!”

Someone inside the pavilion exclaimed in surprise.

“Wh-when did he even attack?”

He couldn’t hide the cold sweat trickling down.

As far as he could see, the man had merely lowered the arm behind his back, yet Hwangbo Yeolwi collapsed so violently afterward!

“…I didn’t see the moment of the attack.”

“He seemed to be just standing still. How fast was that…?”

“Wh-what on earth is that person’s identity?”

It was just moments ago that they were astonished by the Hwangbo family head’s level.

They were shocked moments ago by the Hwangbo family head becoming an incredible master.

And yet, Hwangbo Yeolwi, who had been like that, fell so miserably.

Moreover, they didn’t even see the moment he attacked.

As a result, something beyond astonishment was filling the faces of the others.

And.

‘…Hmm…’

This was the person wearing the mask.

Gu Yangcheon was no different.

He glanced sideways at the fallen Hwangbo Yeolwi, unseen, and thought.

‘…That old man.’

Why on earth…

‘…Why is he acting so well?’

It was a genuine question.

He had told him to just pretend to be knocked out properly, but who would have known he’d suddenly scream and collapse like that?

Thanks to that, he gaped in surprise.

It was fortunate he was wearing a mask; otherwise, his face would have given him away completely.

“…M-Master…”

Beside him, Pildu-ma looked at him with eyes sparkling as if deeply impressed.

I really don’t want to receive that kind of gaze from an old geezer.

Anyway.

Gu Yangcheon, hiding his surprise, looked at the pavilion.

The expressions of everyone there were a sight to behold.

Was it because Hwangbo Yeolwi performed several times better than he expected? The reactions were incredible.

Yes, these were exactly the expressions Gu Yangcheon had hoped for.

No, perhaps they were even more excessive than he had hoped.

It didn’t matter.

Because excessive was better than lacking.

So, Gu Yangcheon…

[It’s a pleasure to meet you.]

He brought up the words he had desperately wanted to say while looking at them.

This was the starting point of a plan prepared for a very long time.

[I…]

On a day similar to today in his past life.

[The sky of the Demonic Cult that you will come to fear and praise in the future.]

The curse uttered by the woman who tore through the demonic gate and appeared above the Murim Alliance.

[I am the Heavenly Demon (Cheonma).]