Chapter 165: The Thing I Want to Show You. (5)

The Thing I Want to Show You. (5)

“What in the world happened?”

“…How can there be such a difference in skill.”

The very top of the pavilion, offering a bird’s-eye view of the martial arts stage.

The place, where only high-ranking officials of the Murim Alliance were gathered, was filled with an unidentifiable atmosphere.

Starting with anticipation, moving to surprise, and now, sheer astonishment.

The martial arts match, held as the final, was shocking to that extent.

So much so that even those who had experienced countless battles as warriors of the Central Plains found themselves swallowing hard.

Hoooong-!

The somewhat murmuring sounds instantly fell silent.

A heavy inner energy began to fill the pavilion.

Squeeze. His clenched fist tightened.

Jang Cheon stared intently only at the martial arts stage, his intense eyes wide open.

‘…That….’

Barely half a moment. Only that much time had passed, yet the martial arts stage had already become a chaotic mess.

Jang Cheon swallowed the saliva that kept rising and thought, ‘Is he not truly a monster?’

The material of the martial arts stage was made from the famously hard rocks of Mount Bigusan.

Its hardness was such that it couldn’t be easily broken, and it only showed marks when struck by first-rate sword energy.

‘To crush that as if it were tofu.’

It was destructively powerful, unbelievable for the strength of a boy who looked like he barely survived half his life.

Yet, he was also skilled in wielding his power.

At that age, possessing just one of those would be enough to be called a genius. Yet, that boy had achieved both. And he was terrifyingly proficient in both.

“…Haa.”

It was a sigh of exhaustion uttered not by Jang Cheon, but by someone else.

And this sound represented the feelings of everyone gathered here.

The reason was simply helplessness and jealousy.

All of them had to fall into contemplation and despair at the fact that they felt jealousy towards that boy.

Jealousy to the extent that renowned generals, who had spent decades risking their lives in the Central Plains, felt it.

Because it was such absurd talent.

‘My son.’

Jang Cheon wanted to close his eyes right then. The downfall of his own child, whose talent he had believed without doubt reached the heavens, was a deeply painful matter.

Jang Seonyeon had never caused his father distress since birth. With outstanding talent and exceptional character, he was a child already confirmed for the position of head of the Jang family.

He was a child they thought would leave a significant mark on the history of the Central Plains if he continued to grow like this. But he was now facing a wall no one could have imagined.

A very massive wall called Gu Yangcheon. A wall so absurd, it seemed he might never overcome it.

Jang Cheon simply prayed. That his child would not collapse there. That was all he wished for.

******************

It’s chaotic. That phrase would be fitting.

Dust flying in the wind and debris swirling in all directions. The constant groans of pain mixed with the sounds of martial artists’ inner energy exploding.

Amidst that chaos, Jang Seonyeon swung his sword.

Whee! The sword shot forward. Condensed inner energy enveloped the blade, leaving faint afterimages in the air.

There was no waver. Having swung his sword for so long, he couldn’t falter.

Woong…! The quietly resonating sword hum signaled the proper manifestation of his martial arts.

First-rate inner energy, the sword energy surrounding his blade was certainly threatening. It was sword energy so refined it couldn’t possibly be called the level of a late-stage disciple, but… if it couldn’t connect, it was all futile.

Kwaak! “Kkeuk…!” From within the barrage of sword strikes, a hand reached out and grabbed Jang Seonyeon by the collar.

The opponent hesitated not even in a situation where merely brushing against the sword was dangerous. No, perhaps it’s better to say they hesitated not because they knew they wouldn’t be hit?

Koong! As if ignoring the chaotic movements entirely, he was violently thrown. Jang Seonyeon’s body rolled forcefully across the shattered stage floor.

“Keoheok…. Heoek….”

How many times has this been already?

It must have been at least five times. I stopped counting from then on.

“Haa… Heoek.”

Rough breaths came out continuously. His body ached all over, but he couldn’t afford to rest.

Ppaak! “Keuhok…!”

Jang Seonyeon’s jaw shot upwards. He’d been hit by a kick.

“Spacing out during a match?”

The subsequent calm tone forced Jang Seonyeon to regain his focus.

He definitely wasn’t spacing out. He just couldn’t see. Couldn’t see Gu Yangcheon approaching. Or attacking. He couldn’t see anything.

‘Damn it…!’

Is this even possible?

Even the young lady from the Namgung family he fought yesterday showed absurd skill, but… it wasn’t nearly this level.

Is this what they call talent? This is…

‘Monster….’

The thought suddenly surfaced, making Jang Seonyeon flinch and bite his lip.

Because the words PPeng Woojin had spoken came back to him.

-Do you think you can win? Against that monster?

The Jang Seonyeon back then thought he could do it. He thought it wouldn’t be difficult. Wouldn’t it? He was the chosen one, and that guy wasn’t. It should have been obvious.

‘But why…!’

How come he couldn’t even track the guy’s movements?

Jang Seonyeon could only hide his trembling lips.

The difference in class. Never had that common saying felt so real. Just a few exchanges were enough to realize this fact.

Gu Yangcheon seemed like a being from another dimension. Or perhaps not human. Otherwise, such talent shouldn’t exist in the world. Isn’t it too absurd for us to be in the same world?

Zzzt-

Sensing movement through his ki, Jang Seonyeon hastily raised his sword to defend.

Koong!

The moment he raised his sword, the impact sent Jang Seonyeon flying. He had diligently wrapped his inner energy around it, yet the opponent’s attack tore through it like paper.

Just as his airborne body seemed about to roll across the stage again.

“Hey.”

With a short utterance, Jang Seonyeon’s body was caught by Gu Yangcheon’s hand.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Gu Yangcheon’s voice was fierce and rough, like a beast growling.

“What did I tell you earlier? I told you to use everything you’ve got.”

“…Haa…Haa….”

“You used it just fine before, why the hell are you acting up now? Is it too shitty to use against me?”

“…What…are you…talking about….”

“Right, I know the answer you’ll give is obvious even if you say it like this. I was a bit stupid.”

Gu Yangcheon wore a displeased expression and then let Jang Seonyeon go. Jang Seonyeon immediately got up, now free.

‘How…What should I do?’

His mind, shaken by the utterly absurd situation, couldn’t recover.

Jang Seonyeon knew. The reason he could get up like this was because Gu Yangcheon was letting him.

It was only natural. Despite rolling on the ground in pain for so long. Not a single drop of blood flowed on his body. This meant his body wasn’t significantly injured. The inner energy within him was the same. Although he clearly took impacts from his sword path being cut off and his martial arts blocked, there was no external damage.

‘…Does this mean he controlled…this?’

It meant Gu Yangcheon attacked while controlling every aspect of this. And during the match, no less. Jang Seonyeon couldn’t help but realize how terrifying and wondrous that was.

“Now, listen carefully from now on. I’m going to tell you something that will become flesh and blood.”

At Gu Yangcheon’s voice, Jang Seonyeon snapped back to attention. The distance of the voice sounded farther than expected. Gu Yangcheon, who had been right in front of him moments ago, was now standing at the edge of the stage. What was he doing over there…?

“…!”

A sensation running from his back straight to the top of his head made Jang Seonyeon’s eyes fly open.

The wind blew. As it was winter, a cold wind blowing wasn’t strange, but what he felt wasn’t cold wind. It was heat. Intense heat was blowing from all around. Centered on Gu Yangcheon’s body, it violently swirled outwards.

‘…What is this absurdity.’

The reason for his disbelief wasn’t just the heat.

The reason Jang Seonyeon couldn’t help but be surprised was that this suffocating, hot heat was entirely made of Gu Yangcheon’s inner energy.

‘Just how much inner energy must one have…!’

The stage was by no means small. In fact, it was excessively wide, making it hard to understand why such an inefficient stage was built. Does this mean Gu Yangcheon possesses enough inner energy to fill such a vast space completely with heat?

The problem wasn’t just that.

Hwa-reureu-reuk-!

A chilling sound came from somewhere. Flames mixed with the heat swirling around in the wind. The burning flames began to roar as if ready to devour Jang Seonyeon, dominating the surroundings.

“I’ve been thinking about why you’re not using your power. Right? It’s obvious you can’t win just by looking, yet you’re struggling in the wrong direction. I thought you weren’t such an idiot.”

At Gu Yangcheon’s voice, Jang Seonyeon swallowed dryly. The sticky killing intent emanating from his voice felt like it was crushing his shoulders.

“You.”

Unlike the growing aura consuming the surroundings, Gu Yangcheon’s expression was utterly nonchalant.

“Scared, aren’t you?”

His tone was light, matching his expression, but the meaning behind it pierced Jang Seonyeon’s vulnerability.

“You’re afraid you’ll lose to me even after using it. You want to leave yourself an excuse when you’re lying there beaten. That’s why you’re not using it.”

At Gu Yangcheon’s words, Jang Seonyeon bit his lip.

‘How does he know…?’

He wasn’t talking about the previous statement. It was about how Gu Yangcheon knew about the energy within his body.

‘Did he notice something in yesterday’s match?’

Those without divine energy couldn’t sense divine energy. It wouldn’t matter if they were the Three Venerables or the Four Demonic Sovereigns. In fact, not even his own father, nor the abbot of Shaolin Temple, would notice it. Since the ‘Dancing Warrior’ mentioned it directly, it was certain. That guy was convinced. Convinced that there was something special about him.

‘That guy too… Could he have received the Baptism?’ He thought it, but he knew it wasn’t the case. He couldn’t sense any divine energy from him.

“Looks like you’re thinking about bullshit again.”

“…!”

“You’ll piss yourself like that, you bastard. When you’re fighting, you should only watch the fists.”

Why the sudden talk about pissing? Jang Seonyeon wondered, but the thought quickly vanished.

More accurately, Gu Yangcheon made it disappear.

“Kkeureuk….”

A groan escaped his lips. Because a terrifying killing intent began to erupt from the opponent. It was so strong that the killing intent took form and began to constrict Jang Seonyeon’s neck.

Such potent killing intent at a righteous sect’s martial arts tournament, was he insane? Jang Seonyeon immediately glanced urgently towards the referee, but…

“Heo…?!”

The referee was merely observing the situation with the same expression as before.

‘He… doesn’t know?’

Goosebumps prickled his skin. That potent, sticky killing intent was being directed solely at him. So that others wouldn’t feel it, only him.

“Since you keep having stupid thoughts and trying not to use it, I decided to make things certain.”

The flames swirling in the air spun rapidly before being sucked back into Gu Yangcheon. More precisely, they began to gradually condense into Gu Yangcheon’s arm. That was dangerous. It wasn’t just intuition; he could tell just by looking.

“If you don’t use it, you’ll die.”

He said it as if it were nothing, but Jang Seonyeon knew there was no lie in those words. The killing intent, strong enough to make him faint right then, was proof.

And as if to prove this once more.

Gu Yangcheon extended his flame-covered arm towards Jang Seonyeon. A casual fist, without even properly taking a stance. It was clearly a trivial movement, but the result brought forth by that insignificant fist was anything but.

Kwaaaaaa-!

The flames, shaped like a dragon, roared as if to devour the stage and flew towards Jang Seonyeon. It felt like he wouldn’t even leave bones behind if caught in the blast.

In the end, Jang Seonyeon released his dantian and drew up his energy. He felt a strange sensation as his body strengthened and muscles expanded.

Hook!

As he exhaled the pressure, the constricting killing intent loosened.

The moment right before facing the flames. Jang Seonyeon thrust his sword forward without hesitation.

Paaaaaaa!

The enhanced sword energy sliced through the flames with a single strike.

The flames vanished, and the inner energy that created them caused ripples in the air. He had blocked it properly. Jang Seonyeon swayed slightly from the excessive energy consumption, but quickly regained his stance. He felt relieved that he had blocked the brutal attack. Although fatigue set in from drawing upon his energy for two consecutive days, it didn’t matter. The divine energy within his body had given him the confidence that he could ultimately block and overcome any attack or killing intent from the opponent.

‘I did it….’

Screech-crunch-

“…Huh?”

With a blank reaction, Jang Seonyeon looked at his right arm. A sound of something breaking came from that direction. Then he saw it. His right arm was violently broken.

“Good job.”

Gu Yangcheon’s voice came from nearby as Jang Seonyeon’s vision dropped.

Koong!

He fell to one knee, his gaze lowering. Jang Seonyeon couldn’t even scream from the sudden, overwhelming pain.

“Didn’t I tell you? I start with the arm.”

Gu Yangcheon’s voice clearly held a hint of laughter.

“Now I can beat you a little more painfully. Lucky for you, right?”

Jang Seonyeon’s eyes twitched at the words spoken so kindly, as if anticipating something.

Only then could Jang Seonyeon truly identify the emotion growing in his chest. Something slowly eating away at him, building up like a tower. This was definitely fear.

‘…No….’

Gu Yangcheon’s fist flew towards Jang Seonyeon’s face.