Chapter 1272: Scorched World

“……Young Master Baek-nim!”

Poison Phoenix, who had been inside the cave, dashes outside.

“Noonim……!!!”

Tang Cheongi urgently tries to grab her, but his hand doesn’t reach due to her speed.

It was an immense shock. The ground shook entirely, and the whole cave trembled greatly. It was enough to make all the martial artists caught in the surge stagger.

‘Is this martial arts too?’

Was what he just saw martial arts? It must have exploded quite a distance away, yet cold sweat was clearly visible on Tang Cheongi’s back.

‘…It sounded like a scream.’

The sound of the explosion was like a scream. It was a scream mixed with resentment.

A sound that seemed to tear at the ears, to rip out the heart. Hearing that sound, the martial artists stiffened.

‘What on earth…’

What had happened? Tang Cheongi looked ahead with surprised eyes.

The space where the shockwave erupted. It was a place filled with dust and dirt.

Hudududuk.

As the shock subsided, the air pressure dispersed.

As the raging dust settled, a changed landscape peeked through.

“Ha….”

Tang Cheongi let out a gasp. The area that had been covered in bushes was completely gone. It had become a desolate place, as if it had always been ruins.

Seeing that, Tang Cheongi’s hands trembled.

Could that really be the aftermath of martial arts? Especially the human who used it.

‘Baek Yangcheon…?’

Could he really be a martial artist of the same age as himself?

While he stood there gaping, mouth agape.

“Young Master Baek-nim…!”

Poison Phoenix passed through the dust. Only then, seeing that, did Tang Cheongi loosen his stiffened legs and rush out.

“Kkuek…!”

He gritted his teeth and ran.

Fortunately, he reached the destination not long after.

“……Noonim!”

Poison Phoenix, who had arrived first, was standing there for some reason, not going any further.

As Tang Cheongi approached her side.

“…Keok.”

A groan came from ahead. His head turned accordingly. Then, the scene before him came into view.

“What is that…?”

The Apostle Namgung Jin. The Sword Dragon, enveloped in lightning energy, was slumped down, and the one gripping Namgung Jin’s neck was Baek Yangcheon.

Seeing him sent shivers down his spine.

‘This is…’

An overwhelming presence. Even just standing there holding Namgung Jin’s neck, one couldn’t get close.

Baek Yangcheon was looking at Namgung Jin with indifferent eyes, and that gaze was like…

‘…looking at trash.’

Something that wasn’t a living creature. A gaze that didn’t see him as human. His legs went weak from that look.

Then.

Seueuk.

The strength left Baek Yangcheon’s hand. Namgung Jin collapsed onto the ground with a thud.

At that moment.

“……Young Master Baek!”

Mi Hyoran runs up from behind. She rushes over, checks Namgung Jin and Baek Yangcheon’s condition, and her eyes widen.

Only after hearing Mi Hyoran’s voice did Baek Yangcheon turn his gaze towards the group.

Heumchit.

As the gaze approached, everyone nearby was startled.

Because Baek Yangcheon’s eyes were so sharp.

“Ah.”

Then Baek Yangcheon relaxed his expression. Although his eyes were already fierce, so the difference wasn’t huge, strangely, his stiffened body relaxed with that subtle change.

Baek Yangcheon looked at Mi Hyoran and said.

“I caught him.”

…

…

To those few words, no one present could reply.

No.

They couldn’t.

---

After the storm had swept through.

They returned to the cave before properly cleaning up.

Leaving the aftermath of the battle behind, everyone gathered in one place, looking at one being.

“……You really captured an Apostle.”

Is this even possible?”

The one tied up and unconscious before them was none other than an Apostle. Specifically, the Sword Dragon Namgung Jin.

“……”

Tae Hoan, watching this, frowned. He had heard the intention, but he hadn’t truly believed it was possible.

‘Subdue an Apostle?’

Was that even possible? Tae Hoan’s level was by no means low. He was already considered an expert, more than enough, and was the deputy commander of the Divine Dragon Unit.

Yet, even for him, subduing an Apostle was a feat of a different caliber, but that person had done it nonchalantly.

‘Nonchalantly?’

It felt ridiculous even recalling it. Should one call that nothing?

‘…That shockwave.’

The distant sound of air being pierced. The lingering aura’s after-effects along with the vibrations.

It was an intense momentum, enough to be described as dreadful.

The fact that such a thing was used nonchalantly made no sense.

‘What on earth is their identity?’

More than the fact that an Apostle was subdued, the identity of the being who subdued this Apostle, Baek Yangcheon’s identity, was more intriguing.

Even before entering this place, he had seen Baek Yangcheon as an unusual existence.

‘Has he changed after coming to this strange world?’

Or perhaps he was already a bizarre entity from the outside.

All that could be known now was.

‘Strong.’

That martial artist named Baek Yangcheon was unbelievably strong.

He was not someone who should be classified as a mere late-stage disciple.

‘…How.’

Could he be like that? Puzzlement arose. At the same time, suspicion sprouted.

‘Perhaps.’

Isn’t he also an Apostle? If one were an Apostle, it seemed possible to change like that.

Because even the Sword Dragon, who looked so weak, had become unbelievably strong.

‘…I must be suspicious first.’

Since Mi Hyoran brought him, it would normally have been overlooked, but now it looked different.

As Tae Hoan was watching the Sword Dragon.

‘He’s suspecting me.’

I could already read the trace of suspicion in his gaze.

‘Was it a bit excessive?’

I used the Heavenly Demon Divine Art after a long time. Thanks to that, I ended up using a bit too much power.

‘Hmm.’

The amount of energy remaining is so-so. The objective was to subdue Namgung Jin, but…

‘…I almost killed him.’

Due to a failure in controlling my strength, Namgung Jin almost flew away completely.

‘It’s fortunate I stopped him at the last moment.’

I released some power at the end, fearing it might truly explode. Although the forest ended up being messed up because of it.

‘Namgung Jin survived.’

As long as the objective was achieved, what else matters?

I nodded.

Just then.

“…Kkuek…”

A reaction came from the bound Namgung Jin.

“Hoo…”

The guy came to his senses and opened his eyes. His gray irises reflected us.

“…”

The guy’s eyes widened, and he immediately put strength into his hands.

Kugugeung–!!

Immediately, his energy repelled, seeming like he was trying to attempt the Emperor Sword Form, but…

“Where do you think you’re going.”

Kwang-!

“Keok!”

I kicked and struck the guy’s jaw. His body shook, and the surging momentum subsided.

“Getting violent right after waking up.”

Tsk.

I clicked my tongue. At the same time.

Uung.

I focused strength into my heart and commanded Tam.

Kwak-!!

“…Kkeueuk!?”

Something extending from the shadows pierced Namgung Jin’s thigh. I controlled it so others couldn’t see.

Namgung Jin’s body, pierced by Tam, trembled. As expected, the bodies of Apostles seemed no match for Tam.

“Young Master Namgung…”

Someone approached such Namgung Jin. It was Mi Hyoran.

Kkeugeuk.

As Mi Hyoran approached, Namgung Jin moved.

Cheolgyeong-!

He couldn’t move any further due to the metal restraints binding him.

“…I’ll kill you…”

Namgung Jin spoke.

“Oh.”

Seeing that, I exclaimed in admiration.

“I thought you could speak?”

He hadn’t said anything since earlier, so I thought he didn’t know how to speak, but fortunately, it seemed he could use language.

Confirming that was enough.

Kwadeuk-!!

I hit the guy’s jaw with my fist. It was slightly wrapped with Tam’s energy.

“Keok…”

Namgung Jin, hit by the attack, swayed and fell. He seemed to have lost consciousness again.

“What is this…!?”

Why did you knock him out…?”

Those who intended to interrogate Namgung Jin. Especially Mi Hyoran showed a flustered expression. Seeing them, I chuckled sheepishly.

“Ah, I made a mistake.”

I said it as if I hadn’t done it on purpose.

“If it’s like this… we’ll have to wait until he wakes up, right?”

I bought some time.

---

Night fell. Namgung Jin hadn’t woken up even by then. It was natural; I had made sure of it.

The resting area Tae Hoan had provided.

I walked out from there. I could feel many presences around, but…

‘This much is nothing.’

I have plenty of energy right now. Deceiving the martial artists’ senses was simple. I passed the guards and approached the place where Namgung Jin was.

“Who…!”

The one monitoring Namgung Jin reacted upon seeing me, but…

Tuk-!

I quickly approached and struck the back of his neck, knocking him out.

The guards collapsed right there, and I followed, approaching Namgung Jin’s location.

The guy was still unconscious, but…

“Hey.”

I grabbed the guy’s face and infused energy into him.

“Wake up.”

To be precise, I removed Tam’s residue inside him. At that moment.

“Keok.”

Namgung Jin’s eyes snapped open. The guy recognized me and tried to move immediately, but…

Kwagak.

“…Kkeugeuk.”

I grabbed the guy’s cheek with one hand and pushed my palm into his chest with the other.

“Don’t waste energy pointlessly, okay? It’s noisy.”

Causing a ruckus at night is a bit much. After subduing him.

“I have something I need to ask.”

I mentioned the purpose of my visit. The reason I sought him out secretly like this.

There was a reason I knocked him out to buy time and ensure we were alone.

Uuung-!!

As I spoke, I spread my Ki barrier. The Ki thinly spread out, enveloping the surroundings.

About half an hour until the guard change. That should be enough.

“You.”

Huuuk.

With Tam coiled in my grasp, I looked at Namgung Jin. His gray irises were densely covered in killing intent. Seeing that, I chuckled.

The way he radiated killing intent made me want to gouge his eyes out, but I couldn’t. This guy wasn’t like other Apostles.

Above all, I had something important to ask him.

Calming myself, I immediately asked Namgung Jin.

“Where did you get the Brain Thunder?”

…

Hearing my words, Namgung Jin’s eyes clearly trembled.