Chapter 187: The Great Inferno Battle (3)

*Fwoosh!*

As they retraced their path through the blazing fire, the heat once again scorched their faces.

But the instructors following behind were more captivated by a peculiar feeling than fear.

‘Temporary Instructor Cho Un-hwi.’

The figure walking ahead with his hands behind his back.

There was no overwhelming aura, yet the mere fact that he was leading gave them a sense of reassurance.

‘It’s strange. I’m not afraid.’

‘I feel like everything will be fine just by staying still. How curious.’

‘I heard he’s only a first-rate master, but he seems so relaxed.’

It wasn’t just the instructors.

“Is it really okay to move so openly like this?”

“Well, if he’s moving so confidently, it should be fine, right?”

“Temporary Instructor Cho is unique.”

Eon Ho-seung and the twins also felt the strange atmosphere and tilted their heads.

The most confused was Namgung Il-jun, the most skilled in martial arts.

‘This is a strange feeling.’

In terms of martial arts depth, he couldn’t compare to himself.

Even in terms of internal energy, he was far inferior.

‘Yet, just following him makes me feel at ease.’

He had felt a similar sensation before.

‘It’s like following my father.’

A strong person provides immense comfort just by being nearby.

Without lifting a finger, their mere presence overwhelms the opponent and becomes a beacon of hope.

But Namgung Il-jun shook his head.

‘Feeling the shadow of the Sword Saint in a lowly instructor from Dongcheon Hall?’

Was his mind not working properly due to the heat?

Forcing himself to shake off the feeling, he looked around with a calm eye.

*Step. Step.*

His nephew, walking with a sword without any change in expression.

There was no trace of fear on his face.

‘What should I do?’

This instructor was certainly strange.

He had wanted to understand the source of the oddity he sensed at the pavilion, but the more he dug, the more new things emerged.

‘Is this what attracted Yun-ho?’

As he continued his thoughts.

*Stop.*

The small figure ahead paused slightly.

“Enemies.”

‘Enemies?’

Staring at the raging flames, he saw Cho Un-hwi, who had drawn his sword, quicken his pace and leap into the fire.

*Slash!*

“Ugh!”

As the flames were cut apart, an enemy hidden behind them spat blood and fell.

A single, decisive strike.

A swift and unstoppable sword strike cut through the flames.

***

Once Cho Un-hwi tasted blood, he became like a beast.

*Tat tat tat tat!*

*Slash!*

If there was an enemy, he would leap through the blazing fire and charge into the crowd without hesitation.

*Slash!*

“Gah!”

Even as his sleeves burned, every time his sword flashed, a scream followed.

“Who are you? Where did you come from?”

*Boom! Thud thud!*

“Ugh. It’s hot.”

Enduring the scorching Solar Yang Palm, he skewered his enemies with his sword.

*Drip. Drip.*

Even when hit by the Solar Yang Palm and with his clothes catching fire as he leaped through the flames, he didn’t stop.

In an instant, his sword was already at the enemy’s throat.

The moment he saw the enemy, before they could even muster their will to fight, his sword was already stabbing.

A half-beat faster attack.

But it didn’t seem simple-minded.

The instructors watching the fight felt their souls leave their bodies as they saw him move sometimes fiercely like fire, other times calmly like the wind.

“How can a person move like that…”

“Is that the movement of a first-rate master?”

“It’s like a textbook example of combat in the field.”

It wasn’t ordinary movement.

When running on two legs wasn’t enough, he used his hands to push off the ground, moving like a ghost.

Sometimes he walked with the elegant steps of a scholar, but when he kicked trees and rocks to pounce on his enemies, he resembled a four-legged beast.

“Whoever underestimated him as a country bumpkin must be crazy.”

“It’s like he can read the terrain and the enemy’s movements.”

“It’s beyond the textbook of practical combat it’s ghostly.”

As one instructor said.

Using a mass-produced iron sword, he executed familiar techniques.

The first three moves of the Shinmu Sword Technique.

Not flashy, and without significant internal energy, just simple moves.

Yet every time his sword tip wavered, a fountain of blood erupted.

The simplicity with which he took lives made Yeo Mae-hong tilt her head in confusion.

“Are the opponents he’s facing particularly weak?”

“That’s impossible.”

The most confused were the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad.

Having once roamed Jianghu with the Sword Saint, they accurately read the essence of his swordsmanship.

“A deadly sword.”

“It’s like he’s studied how to kill.”

“He finds the smallest gaps and strikes precisely.”

Having gained experience following the Sword Saint, they saw that this eerie man was a ruthless competitor.

His swordsmanship, which effortlessly created death, was highly practical and allowed no hesitation.

“Elder, he knows the most effective ways to kill.”

Moving a three-inch piece of steel to take lives quickly and precisely.

It’s easy to say, but has there ever been someone who mastered such killing techniques?

The Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad members were puzzled.

“Wasn’t he just a lowly instructor from Dongcheon Hall?”

“How could someone like that be a lowly instructor unless they were blind?”

“He seems more experienced than veteran warriors who’ve fought countless battles.”

“A god of war born to fight.”

The squad members seemed to have forgotten that the person leading them was a lowly instructor from Dongcheon Hall.

“What we saw at the pavilion wasn’t a mistake.”

Watching the ghostly movements, Namgung Il-jun shook his head.

The more he thought about it, the more he realized he couldn’t understand this person, like peeling an onion.

***

“We can’t just watch.”

Mo Yong Seon-ya and Yeo Mae-hong felt their hearts surge.

Seeing Cho Un-hwi’s godly movements as he fearlessly advanced.

“He’s truly amazing.”

She had wondered after seeing the swordsmanship that killed the Hidden Moon Flying Thief.

“He was hiding such skills?”

“We can’t be a burden.”

“Right. Going back now would be embarrassing.”

Chatting, Mo Yong Seon-ya quickly stepped forward, leaping through the flames.

*Swish!*

She executed the Jade Sword Technique, a proud technique of the Mo Yong Clan.

*Swish swish swish!*

The green sword energy pierced through the flames, striking an enemy who was caught off guard.

“Ugh! Who are you!”

‘Too shallow!’

When Cho Un-hwi struck, the enemy fell effortlessly, but facing them directly felt several times harder.

“You wench! Die!”

Seeing the fierce glint in the enemy’s eyes as they struck with flaming palms, Mo Yong Seon-ya quickly dodged.

*Bang! Bang!*

Twisting her body to avoid the attacks, she unleashed twenty more moves, making the enemy spit blood.

“Grrrk!”

As the enemy foamed at the mouth and collapsed, Mo Yong Seon-ya finally exhaled.

Beside her, Yeo Mae-hong also managed to take down an enemy after fifty moves.

*Throb. Throb.*

‘Such immense internal energy. My wrist hurts.’

Without a combined effort, she couldn’t have guaranteed victory.

Yet.

*Stab!*

Silently, he stabbed an enemy in the head as they fell from a tree.

“Geez. Are these really the same level of enemies?”

To think he pretended not to know with such formidable skills?

“Hmph! Don’t think a treat will suffice.”

Playfully retorting, Yeo Mae-hong moved again.

***

*Fwoosh. Fwoosh.*

Amidst the scorching heat reaching the sky, Namgung Yun-ho hid in the bushes, holding his breath.

– When you lack strength, there’s a different way to fight.

Recalling the instructor’s teachings.

– It’s not a fight it’s a hunt.

Namgung Yun-ho muttered.

“The basics of hunting are to hide your presence.”

*Inhale. Exhale.*

Trying to erase his breath and relax his body, it wasn’t easy.

The flames and smoke distracted him, and the chaotic footsteps of the enemy induced fear.

But Namgung Yun-ho focused.

“Blend into your surroundings.”

Only then can you mimic a hunter, the instructor had said.

‘It’s quite difficult.’

Using a technique in real combat without practice was challenging.

Imagining being discovered and killed by the enemy made him shudder.

But Namgung Yun-ho believed.

“The instructor never gives impossible tasks.”

If he couldn’t trust himself, he would trust his instructor.

“I am the ghost of Dongcheon Hall.”

If he followed what he learned, he could do it.

He would surely succeed.

The instructor taught him how to survive anywhere, anytime, even before fighting as a martial artist.

‘As if predicting today’s events.’

Fully trusting and trying, he recalled the summer training.

Living in the wild, he became more accustomed to the mountains than the wild animals.

In the mountains and valleys, he was quieter than moss-covered rocks.

‘I can do it.’

Gradually, his heartbeat slowed, and his senses dulled.

“Whew….”

His senses expanded, blending into his surroundings like a rock or stone.

—. —.

Finally, he forgot his breath and himself.

‘I am a rock.’

A moss-covered rock that had been in one place for decades, centuries.

Namgung Yun-ho forgot himself and the swirling killing intent.

***

‘Yun-ho might be in danger.’

Adjusting his steps to be ready to rush out at any moment, Namgung Il-jun was startled.

A member of the Azure Sky Hundred Sword Squad spoke to him.

[Elder, when did the young master learn such stealth techniques?]

[I don’t know.]

At first, it didn’t seem significant.

He was just trying to squeeze his large body into trees and rocks, which was somewhat amusing.

But soon, when his presence disappeared, they were astonished.

[It doesn’t seem like martial arts.]

There are ways to control one’s heartbeat or erase warmth.

But such techniques usually require extensive training.

Disappearing into the surroundings with just a few breaths was unheard of.

[Ha. A mountain bird landed on the young master’s head.]

When a cautious wild bird landed on Namgung Yun-ho’s head and chirped, it was astonishing.

‘It feels like watching Temporary Instructor Cho Un-hwi.’

The surprise didn’t end there.

*Slash!*

“You scum!”

An enemy who had discovered them and charged was cut down at the ankle.

As soon as he spotted the enemy, he rose and cut their ankle.

*Thud thud!*

The squad members rushed in, beheading the enemy.

“Are you alright, young master?”

But Namgung Yun-ho’s gaze was already deeply immersed.

With eyes as lifeless as a rock, he stared at the bleeding enemy.

“If they come to check the body, they’ll stop here.”

Muttering to himself, he covered his body with dirt again, erasing his presence.

Watching his nephew move like he was possessed, Namgung Il-jun clicked his tongue.

‘What on earth did you teach them, Instructor Cho?’

He had vowed not to be surprised anymore, but it seemed he was too hasty.

***

While Namgung Yun-ho learned the predator’s stealth, Baek Ri Seol resembled a predator more dazzling than the flames.

“Hahaha!”

With a long, high-pitched laugh, Baek Ri Seol threw four swords into the air, her blue eyes gleaming.

“Die disgracefully!”