Chapter 499: Give it to me just once.

Kuuuung-!

A massive explosion erupts in the air.

Shweeeeeeek-!

The sound reached me. My head had already turned.

My body had reacted before the sound even reached me.

Shweik-! Seogeok-!

I had definitely turned quickly, but a sharp blade grazed past my hair.

I could see a few strands of black hair fluttering in the air.

Seeing that, I raised my aura further.

Giiiiing-!

My internal energy surged, starting from my heart.

It began expanding through my meridians to every corner of my muscles.

My sensory perception heightened accordingly.

As my vision expanded, movements appeared much clearer than before.

Something was coming towards me.

It was sword energy.

I unleashed heat from behind my back.

My heart pounded once with a ‘Kung!’ and the heat exploded from my back.

Pwaaaang-!

Short, fierce flames burst from my back.

I used that explosion to increase my speed.

Gu Yangcheon’s body shot rapidly through the air.

Barely dodging the sword energy, I reached Goiseon’s front in an instant.

“Huh…!”

Seeing that, Goiseon gasped. It was because the speed was much faster than expected.

He nimbly corrected his sword stance.

Even if he seemed flustered outwardly, his mind remained unshaken.

A fluid sword path shot out at high speed.

It was so fast that even though it was a sword path wielded with just one blade, it looked like he was using multiple swords.

From within those gaps, Gu Yangcheon reached out.

Through the gaps of the swirling swords.

He twisted his body as if searching for the eye of a storm within a vortex.

His eyes moved ceaselessly even in that split second.

Grasping the sword path, he twisted his body.

‘This guy…?’

Seeing that, Goiseon was astonished.

Setting aside dodging the swords right in front of him, how was he moving like that?

There was no hesitation in any of his movements.

Even a slight graze could inflict a fatal wound, yet Gu Yangcheon approached relentlessly, as if fearless.

A martial artist who had reached the Hwa-gyeong realm would naturally possess this level of mental fortitude.

‘I don’t know.’

The kid in front of me wasn’t old enough to have built up such mental fortitude.

Should I even call this the realm of talent?

If so, it’s heaven’s sin.

Is heaven planning to cast countless martial artists into despair by leaving such a monster on this earth?

Goiseon felt both rising ecstasy and chilling fear simultaneously.

He twisted his body, changing the sword’s path.

He admitted his mistake in trying to test the waters.

Goiseon infused his sword tip with Dao energy.

Hwaaaahwak-!

The unique scent of grass, said to be contained within the Dao energy of the Wudang sect, rose fragrantly.

However, despite the pleasant aroma, the sharpness permeating the sword was vicious.

One sword strike.

As Goiseon thrust his sword, a trace remained in space. It created an illusion as if the void itself was tearing.

Gu Yangcheon had already created a distance of a couple of steps, but…

Woong.

Along with a slight resonance of the sword’s name.

“Tsk…!”

Kwaaaaaaaah-!

Dozens of sword energies shot out in all directions.

The moment he saw this, Gu Yangcheon spun the rings of his Blazing Wheel Technique.

Hwareureureuk-! The rings around his waist rapidly expanded with the flames that appeared there.

Goiseon’s eyes held a spark of interest upon seeing that.

‘Blue flames?’

They were blue flames.

Unlike the deep crimson flames the previous Gu family head used to exhibit.

Gu Yangcheon’s flames were blue for some reason.

Furthermore.

‘What is this?’

The moment I saw those flames, I felt inexplicable goosebumps rise on my forearm.

It was an instinctive sense of pressure.

Kooong-!

Gu Yangcheon stomped hard on the ground.

Hwaaaaaahwak-!

The rings around his body instantly grew in size, spewing flames.

Kyaaaaaaaah-!

The flames shot into the air changed shape with each tendril.

They resembled beasts with their mouths wide open.

Dozens of fire beasts swallowed the sword energies.

Kwang-! Kwangkwang-!

As the energies collided, explosions occurred in the air like fireworks.

‘He’s insane.’

Seeing that, Goiseon couldn’t help but laugh.

Although the density of my energy was much stronger…

…the overwhelming internal energy contained within the flames disregarded and erased it.

How much internal energy must one have in their dantian to do something like that?

‘It’s not just talent, is that it?’

The foundation is also sufficient to unleash that bizarre talent.

Is he trying to show me something like this?

While Goiseon’s eyes were momentarily captivated by the spectacular sight…

Hooook-!

Suddenly, intense heat was felt right in front of my face.

‘Oops…!’

I quickly turned my eyes.

Gu Yangcheon had already encroached into Goiseon’s space.

On his not-so-large palm, he held a single, radiant orb.

Goiseon knew it the moment he saw it.

Just how much energy was compressed into that small orb.

Dangerous.

Kkooook-!

I channeled a considerable amount of internal energy into my sword.

At the same time, Gu Yangcheon seemed unwilling to wait.

“Flame Orb (Yeomok).”

He detonated the compressed energy right before Goiseon’s face.

My vision was consumed by a bright light. Immediately after.

Kuaaaaaaaah-!

A tremendous explosion occurred, engulfing Goiseon.

The energy burst out over a wide area, creating immense wind pressure.

The sandstorm that swept across the ground was enough to momentarily blind everything, making it impossible to see.

Gu Yangcheon frowned amidst the storm.

He looked around as if displeased with something.

Then, as if having found it, he twisted his upper body and reached out.

Flames coiled around his clenched fist.

Pwaaaang-!

Something collided with the surface of his fist and exploded.

Feeling a sharp pain, Gu Yangcheon gritted his teeth.

That was definitely sword energy that grazed me.

‘As expected.’

As if it were exactly as predicted, Gu Yangcheon wrinkled the bridge of his nose.

Hwaaaahwak-!

The sandstorm obscuring his vision suddenly surged upwards into the sky.

It was the aftermath of an inexplicable wind erupting from below.

The wind was so strong that all the wide dust clouds obscuring the surroundings were blown upwards and disappeared.

With his vision cleared, Gu Yangcheon looked straight ahead.

There stood the very source of this wind pressure, completely unharmed.

“…Well, this is… I have nothing to say.”

Goiseon laughed hollowly, scratching his head vigorously.

Despite taking a secret technique head-on, Goiseon’s body was pristine, as if nothing had happened.

No, considering he was already in tatters, perhaps ‘pristine’ isn’t the right word.

‘That’s not it.’

It didn’t work at all. That’s the important part.

Gu Yangcheon couldn’t help but express his regret at that fact.

‘I should have detonated it a little closer.’

A choice made in an instant.

If only I had taken one step closer.

It was truly regrettable.

At Gu Yangcheon’s regret, Shin Noyah spoke with exasperation.

[If you had, your chest would have been sliced open.]

I knew that.

That’s precisely why I didn’t get greedy then.

[So why are you spouting such nonsense about regret?]

‘I was thinking maybe I could have just offered my chest.’

[Bullshit.]

‘Yes. It’s bullshit.’

That’s why I didn’t do it.

If it were me just a short while ago, I might have done it, but…

‘…I need to hold back a bit now.’

By now, I had to consider changing that fighting style.

I wasn’t scared.

It’s just that…

‘My life has become a bit more valuable.’

There are simply too many things I need to accomplish with this life.

I figured I should manage it well until the job is done.

Besides, anyway…

‘…Paejon also told me to fix it.’

Paejon had also repeatedly mentioned the limitations of that method.

I was trying to change it now.

‘It’s not easy.’

Fighting while aware of that made it difficult.

The problem is that my opponent is stronger than me.

‘I didn’t think there would be absolutely no damage.’

I thought he’d at least take some damage, no matter what.

Goiseon was completely unharmed.

Just as Gu Yangcheon was slightly surprised, thinking Goiseon was much stronger than expected…

…conversely, Goiseon was feeling the same about Gu Yangcheon.

“…Is the Gu family some kind of monster den?”

“Yes?”

“It was the same with the previous Gu family head, but you’re even more so.”

“Do you know my father?”

“I don’t know him well. I only caught a brief glimpse.”

The monstrous figure I saw back then…

…overlapped with this kid’s appearance.

The power of the technique I just felt.

Barely dodging it and feeling the lingering tension, Goiseon took a breath.

‘Finally.’

It felt like all the remaining emotions had finally been purged.

My mind screamed at me to see him as an equal martial artist, but…

…in my heart, the feelings I had viewing Gu Yangcheon as my disciple’s friend, and moreover, a junior…

…were all washed away by that last exchange.

Goiseon felt his chest settle calmly and relaxed his body.

Seureuk.

Goiseon’s stance loosened slightly. Was he trying to stop? The moment Gu Yangcheon tilted his head, seeing that…

Seueueueue….

“…!”

Goosebumps prickled down my spine, and Gu Yangcheon’s eyes sharpened.

It was because I was sensing something from Goiseon.

Is this the real deal?

A presence entirely different from before emanated from Goiseon.

[That guy’s the real deal too.]

Noyah’s voice gained heat.

Unlike the old man’s excitement, Gu Yangcheon’s lips twitched downwards.

‘This is driving me crazy.’

It seems he’s planning to fight for real.

Just seeing a glimpse of his seriousness was enough to tell.

‘Strong.’

That Goiseon was strong. I had underestimated him a bit, seeing his bizarre personality fitting his moniker and his swaggering demeanor.

Seeing that immediately changed my mind.

That guy was the real deal.

I don’t know exactly how strong Goiseon is,

‘but he’s at least stronger than the current Sword King.’

He seemed stronger than the current Namgung family head.

‘Where was a man like that during the Heavenly Demon War?’

Did he perhaps die?

I only know that the Sword Demon Progeny possessed Nei-ah.

I didn’t know about Goiseon’s fate after passing it on.

Woong.

The energy lingering in the air vanished.

Gu Yangcheon knew that was a precursor.

Watching Goiseon grip his sword, Gu Yangcheon said inwardly.

‘This won’t do.’

[Kid?]

‘I’m going to use ‘that’.’

Shin Noyah spoke, sounding surprised by Gu Yangcheon’s words.

[…Are you sure that’s alright?]

‘I don’t know about that… but if I don’t use it, things will get really bad.’

[…]

Noyah seemed to agree, offering no response.

Taking this as affirmation…

…Gu Yangcheon cautiously moved his hands.

Just then, Goiseon spoke to Gu Yangcheon.

“You probably figured it out anyway, but this is the real deal starting now. Be careful.”

Gu Yangcheon chuckled at Goiseon’s words.

“How kind of you.”

“It’s a minuscule shred of guilt. I’m embarrassed to be doing this much for a junior.”

Goiseon, openly showing his displeasure,

…lightly moved his sword and took a step forward.

Instantly.

Pat.

“…!”

Goiseon vanished from Gu Yangcheon’s sight.

The moment he saw that, Gu Yangcheon tensed his heart. Internal energy burst forth.

Based on his heart, he expelled the internal energy.

He immediately sent all that energy to his senses, spreading it in all directions.

Just once.

I just need to catch him one time.

With that thought, Gu Yangcheon pushed his senses to their limit.

Meanwhile, Goiseon…

‘Sorry.’

…had already burrowed into Gu Yangcheon’s left side.

A speed beyond Gu Yangcheon’s level to perceive.

Goiseon intended to strike Gu Yangcheon unconscious just like this.

I mustn’t get any more heated.

If I did, it would become too serious, irreversibly so.

I was already too heated as it was, so I really had to stop here.

Tuk.

Goiseon’s toes touched the ground.

Even then, Gu Yangcheon hadn’t detected Goiseon. It meant the speed was far beyond perception.

He turned his sword, making his back visible.

Since he couldn’t cut him, he changed tactics.

This would cause issues with speed, but that should be acceptable.

Just as Goiseon thought that and prepared to swing his sword…

…at that moment, Gu Yangcheon’s eyes locked onto Goiseon.

‘What?’

He found me?

Breaking through this speed?

Goiseon was aghast at the absurd situation.

‘He surprises me right up to the very end.’

Truly, right until the very end, he shows impossible possibilities.

Still, this should be unavoidable.

Goiseon swung his sword, imbued with all the shock he felt.

Hooowook-!

The flat of his sword shot towards Gu Yangcheon at incredible speed.

It was too late to react.

Goiseon thought so, but…

Kkang-!

“…?”

A clear ringing sound.

What was that sound? Confused by the unexpected noise, Goiseon turned his eyes.

“Huh…?”

The direction of the sound was none other than from Gu Yangcheon,

…and the reason was that Gu Yangcheon’s arm was blocking Goiseon’s sword, causing the sound.

“What the….”

It was surprising enough to have spotted Goiseon at that speed.

But to break through it and block it?

Moreover, why did it make such a sound?

Such a clear sound could never be produced by a sword hitting an arm.

It sounded more like… iron striking iron forcefully.

Just as Goiseon’s expression turned puzzled with questions…

…another anomaly occurred.

Seueueueuk-!

“…What!?”

The bandage tied around Gu Yangcheon’s left arm, which had blocked the sword, loosened slightly.

It then moved rapidly, binding Goiseon’s sword.

Startled, Goiseon tried to quickly retrieve his sword, but…

Kkoook-!

…the bandage held fast, grabbing Goiseon’s sword without being cut.

Just then.

“Gotcha.”

Gu Yangcheon’s voice, full of laughter, was heard.

Immediately after, right against Goiseon’s chest, the same blue orb from before was held close.

“You crazy….”

Along with Goiseon’s short exclamation…

Kwaaaaaaaah-!

The Flame Orb detonated.