Chapter 1141: Scorched World.

Whoooosh–!!!

My hair had been whipping around in the wind for ages. The harsh pressure of the gale made my brow furrow naturally. I ended up just covering my eyes.

‘…Where are you trying to go?’

Pae-jon. How long had I been flying, grabbed by this ill-tempered old geezer?

As far as I could tell, it was at least half a day’s journey. If I’d been flying at this speed for half a day straight, just where in the world had we come to?

‘I wonder if we’ve even gotten out of Hanam.’

It was entirely possible. I didn’t know if there was any particular reason to leave Hanam, but roughly calculating, it meant we might have escaped if things went south.

While we were flying like that for a long time.

Kuuuung–!!!

With a burst of impact, Pae-jon lands. Just as the ground shattered and bounced up…

Whoosh–!

Pae-jon let go of the hand holding me. My body spun round and round. I channeled energy into my body and landed properly.

“Hoo–!”

I let out a breath. Pae-jon grinned and said to me.

“It feels quite refreshing to run after so long. Not bad.”

“…I nearly died, you know.”

What was I supposed to do, being grabbed by the neck and flung away suddenly? Relaxing my tense body, I said to Pae-jon.

“Why did you bring me all the way here?”

It was a place I didn’t even know. The area only showed forests and trees. What was the reason for dragging me all the way here? To my question, Pae-jon looked at me, his eyes gleaming.

“Don’t we have something to talk about? And it’s you, not me, who wouldn’t want to do that where Geom-jon, that old fellow, is, right?”

“…….”

I had nothing to say. He was right.

“You rascal. If you blurt out all the important stuff and then run off to Hanam, I don’t know what you expect me to do. Did you want me to tell Geom-jon, that old man, everything?”

“…No, that’s not it. I was in a bit of a rush, so I couldn’t help it.”

Not it, my foot. I did run away. Because if I hadn’t, who knows how that old man would have reacted.

If there was anything I could rely on.

‘At least he wouldn’t report me to Geom-jon.’

Still, having lived as long as I had, I knew Pae-jon’s personality to some extent. I had at least some faith that he wouldn’t do anything foolish.

Especially since it wasn’t about anything else.

‘It was about my martial arts.’

He was a man who had made the Great Accomplishment of Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu his life’s goal. Not only could he not find a disciple, but he was also a man who considered rejuvenation due to his aging body. Since I had appeared before such a man, there was only one thing reflected in his eyes.

‘Martial arts.’

The Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu I learned. What was contained within it. That alone would be everything Pae-jon was thinking about.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ve listened to your story and thought about it.”

As if to prove this, Pae-jon spoke, looking at me.

“I don’t know if what you say is true or not. Because it’s unbelievable… However.”

It was an absurd statement. I didn’t say it thinking Pae-jon would simply believe me. However, his expression seemed to anticipate what he would say next.

‘Whether he believes my words or not isn’t important.’

I wasn’t asking him to believe my words. What he needed to believe wasn’t something like words.

“In the end, what’s in your body is Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu. That’s the only thing I want to see.”

He believes in martial arts. If Pae-jon only desired martial arts, not victory or defeat, I thought he would believe the power contained in my body, not my words.

“I’ll ask again.”

Clench.

Pae-jon clenched his fist. It was a rough fist that looked twice as big as the young Pae-jon’s fist that I knew.

“Are you truly my disciple?”

“…I suppose so.”

At this point, yes.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then, how far have you learned Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu?”

“…Up to the Fifth Form, Pa-cheon.”

“Pa-cheon?”

Pae-jon tilted his head. His expression was clearly puzzled.

“What do you mean? The Fifth Form shouldn’t be Pa-cheon?”

“Really?”

Was that so? The Fifth Form I learned was indeed Pa-cheon?

“I don’t know what this martial art called Pa-cheon is. Show me.”

After saying that, Pae-jon approached a nearby rock and sat down. Then, resting his chin on his hand, he watched me with apparent interest.

Ha.

‘Now I get it.’

Seeing that fellow’s reaction, I understood. The fact that he deliberately came from afar. And the fact that he dragged me out here specifically to show him martial arts instead of talking.

‘He’s curious.’

If I had truly turned back time as I said. And if I was truly his disciple as I claimed.

‘The Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu I learned.’

What the difference was between that and the Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu he was currently creating.

‘That guy is only concerned about that.’

Whether I was truly his disciple. Whether I had really regressed. None of that mattered.

‘The difference in the Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu I learned.’

Pae-jon only cared about that.

‘…Seriously.’

It’s absurd that he’s this consumed by madness.

“I always think this.”

“What is it?”

“You’re truly amazing, Elder.”

“…Hmm?”

“I often get called crazy wherever I go. But I always learn so much from you, Elder.”

Meaning, there are many crazier people in the world than me.

“…What, punk?”

“…Never mind. Just watch from over there.”

Anyway, he did take my side. And I am his disciple. So I can do this much.

Thinking that, I put strength into my heart.

Boom–!!

Feeling a recoil, my acupoints expanded. Instantly, the energy of Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu circulated throughout my body.

Swoosh–!!!

Rough and unrefined. And then, a violent force began to rage. Controlling it, I invigorated my body.

Pa-cheon (Sky Breaking) shatters the sky. And to do that, the sky must exist. The Fourth Form, Chang-cheon, had to be cast first.

Flicker–!

Heat surged from the energy controlling my acupoints. The rough energy could shatter my body if things went wrong, but… The body Pae-jon sought. The Heavenly Martial Body. Or rather, the dragon’s body, strengthened through Rejuvenation, suppresses such side effects.

Thus, the sky rose within my body. I gathered the heat generated by Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu directly into my fingertips.

Whoooosh–!!!

“Huh?”

Seeing the energy gathering in my palm, Pae-jon let out a surprised gasp. A gray sphere gradually gathered, taking shape. Soon, it was a perfectly formed sphere. Seeing that, I immediately applied force to my palm and distorted it.

Pa-cheon (Sky Breaking).

Crack–!

The created sky was crushed, and a storm erupted.

Kuaaaaaaaa—-!!!

Waves accompanied by pressure ravaged the surroundings. It wasn’t just a one-sided, wide-spreading explosion, but rather it explosively tore through the surroundings in a spiral, accompanied by blade-like rotations.

Kugagagagak—!!!

Rocks, trees. The ground, the grass. After devouring everything for a while.

Sssshhh!!!

Controlling my energy, I cleared away the aftermath of Pa-cheon. The range was precisely just before the rock Pae-jon was sitting on. Before the energy could reach his toes, I recalled and cleared away Pa-cheon.

Then.

“Haha.”

Pae-jon laughed, looking at me.

“Hahaha—!!!”

Seeing him laugh heartily as if thoroughly pleased, I just stared, wondering why he was acting like that.

“This is the Fifth Form.”

“Yes. That’s what I heard.”

“…You’ve created quite a strange thing. I wondered what you’d insert in the middle. So you ended up choosing to use Chang-cheon?”

I couldn’t quite tell if his expression was disappointment or admiration. His gleaming eyes were just unsettling.

“O-sik Pa-cheon, huh. Not bad.”

Then, he gave his assessment and stood up. And also.

Whoooosh—-!!!

“……!”

A gray sphere floated above his palm. It was Pa-cheon.

‘What the. When?’

I was surprised. Did he copy Pa-cheon exactly? No. That wasn’t it.

‘I didn’t feel him using Chang-cheon.’

Chang-cheon, which grants immense power to the body. I didn’t feel him using it at all. But then, he suddenly created Pa-cheon?

‘…Certainly.’

His energy management was more outstanding than the Pae-jon I knew. I felt like I understood how much Rejuvenation had taken from him.

Whoosh–!!

Pae-jon threw the Pa-cheon he created into the sky. At that moment.

Kuaaaaaa—-!!!

Pa-cheon exploded in the sky. The energy spread out, undulating as if creating waves. It was strong. It was immense pressure.

“Good. I’ll have to make use of the Fifth Form with this.”

Pae-jon nodded as if satisfied with himself. Then.

“Then, after this, I didn’t learn the Fifth Form… no, the Sixth Form?”

“Yes.”

“Why? Did I not teach you?”

“No. It wasn’t like that.”

Too many incidents occurred before I could learn, so I didn’t have time. I was busy enough just achieving Great Accomplishment in Gu-yeom-hwa-ryun-gong. When would I have had time to learn Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu?

“Hmm… Is that so?”

At my answer, Pae-jon tilted his head.

“Why do you ask?”

“No, it just so happens that this is perfect timing.”

“Yes?”

“I saw something good… If it were me, I certainly wouldn’t change anything about the Sixth Form. Because it can’t be more perfect than this.”

“What are you talking abou-“

Before I could even finish my sentence.

Thump.

Pae-jon’s body arrived before me.

Thump–!

Instinctively, my eyes focused. Tuan opened its eyes uncontrollably. My heart pounded rapidly. Instinct stirred the energy in my body, generating formidable energy. It was a clear survival instinct.

“I’ll teach you the Sixth Form starting now. As for the method… learning it physically is probably the fastest, right?”

There wasn’t even time to answer Pae-jon’s words. My arm was already moving.

“The name of the Sixth Form is Il-gwon (One Fist).”

A rough and simple name. Like its name, Pae-jon’s fist lightly extended.

“Learn it well. For no one will be able to stop this.”

What happened next was anything but light.

Thud.

With a small contact.

Rumble.

The surroundings distorted.