Chapter 639: White Night (White Night)

An anomaly occurred while I was passing through the forest.

“Haa… ha…”

It was a forest path leading to Hanam, a place I had set up for camping while passing through.

Leaving the carriage with fluttering red flags behind, I went a little deeper into the forest.

“Hoo…”

Behind the gravel field, where a stream flowed gently, a woman was kneeling halfway.

Clatter–!

The woman was barely holding herself up, using her sword as a cane.

“…Haa… hoouu…”

Swish.

The blonde woman gasped for breath, wiping away sweat.

Her vision was blurry, and her body looked exhausted, as if it could collapse at any moment.

It wasn’t just what was visible.

The woman knew.

Her body had long since reached its limit, and it wouldn’t be strange if she collapsed right then.

However, the woman couldn’t collapse.

At least not in front of the person standing before her.

“Kkeu…”

The woman let out a groan and managed to push herself up.

Her whole body felt agitated.

This had been her state ever since she began this journey that wasn’t quite a journey.

Yet, she had no regrets.

It was all because she had wanted it.

“Hoo…”

The woman tried to calm her unceasing breaths and clasped her hands.

Hiding her trembling, she offered a bow with her hands.

“…Thank you for the lesson… I am grateful.”

“Mm.”

The blonde woman.

As Wi Seol-ah bowed, the person before her nodded.

The gravel field was already a mess.

Long, rough sword marks were scattered everywhere, and the ground, churned up by the aftershocks, was visible, but…

Only the space where the man stood remained intact.

Like a fierce typhoon had passed through.

That spot alone was a paradise.

Wi Seol-ah swallowed hard as she looked at it.

‘…I didn’t even touch him.’

Even though I swung relentlessly like that.

My sword didn’t even graze him, let alone make him move even a single step.

Just how vast was the difference in our levels?

Groooo….

Wooonng-!

The sword stuck in the ground still vibrated with sword energy.

It had been a while since he retracted his energy, yet the blade still hummed with vibrations.

This signified Wi Seol-ah’s high level of swordsmanship, but it was likely meaningless to her opponent anyway.

“It’s hardly worthy of being called a lesson. You likely felt nothing, young lady.”

At the man’s heavy voice, Wi Seol-ah swallowed dryly.

“…I apologize.”

“I didn’t say that expecting an apology. It was purely my intention.”

Squish.

Leaving the piled gravel behind, the burly man, Gu Cheol-un, slowly moved his feet.

Towards Wi Seol-ah.

“I don’t think there’s any more meaning in sparring. You know that well, young lady.”

“…”

Wi Seol-ah had to bite her lip at Gu Cheol-un’s words.

The difference was just too vast.

There was no more to learn from sparring.

Wi Seol-ah sighed inwardly at Gu Cheol-un’s seemingly cold but clear words.

“Thank you. I have received much fortune from you, Family Head.”

Her choice was acknowledgement.

Gu Cheol-un nodded at her words.

Then, he spoke towards Wi Seol-ah.

“I don’t know what you think, young lady, but if you desire a path beyond this, you should probably seek out your grandfather.”

“…”

Wi Seol-ah’s eyes twitched at Gu Cheol-un’s words.

It was because of the mention of her grandfather.

Wi Seol-ah couldn’t easily respond to Gu Cheol-un’s words.

“Hmm.”

Seeing that, Gu Cheol-un showed no particular reaction and continued walking.

He hadn’t asked the question expecting an answer in the first place.

It was merely part of his advice.

Whether to act on it or not was the other person’s decision.

As Gu Cheol-un walked, he suddenly surveyed his surroundings.

The quiet and silent forest.

It had been about ten days since he set out on his journey.

How much further was it to his destination?

It probably wasn’t much longer.

At most, less than seven days and nights remained.

‘Hanam, perhaps.’

Gu Cheol-un identified his destination and took out a letter from within his robes.

It was a letter from the Alliance, specifically about a grand event to be held in a few months.

The Dragon Martial Arts Festival.

A major festival for martial artists hosted by the Alliance.

Gu Cheol-un’s expression was indifferent upon seeing the letter, but a spark of heat lingered in one corner of his eyes.

Interest in the Martial Arts Festival now?

Impossible.

Such things were meaningless to Gu Cheol-un.

It was merely…

‘Indeed.’

What kind of performance would that child put on?

It was just curiosity about that.

As Gu Cheol-un thought of his only son like that…

“Family Head.”

He shifted his gaze towards a voice from ahead.

There stood a woman of small stature with slightly upturned eyes.

It was Gu Yeonseo, the second daughter of the Gu family of Shanxi.

She spoke to Gu Cheol-un with a hesitant expression and a small voice.

“Dinner is apparently ready…. I was wondering if perhaps you would dine together…”

At her characteristic, watchful behavior, Gu Cheol-un nodded without much reaction.

“I’ll be there shortly.”

“Ah…! Yes!”

Gu Yeonseo’s face brightened considerably at Gu Cheol-un’s reply.

Gu Cheol-un felt a strange emotion at her visible reaction.

Among the myriad emotions, the particularly strong one was likely…

Self-reproach.

Moreover.

‘Is it about time?’

Time seemed to be approaching.

He tried to postpone it somehow, but time was something Gu Cheol-un couldn’t grasp or stop.

Time comes.

‘The child has passed the age of twenty.’

The time to give the Young Master position of the Gu family was gradually approaching.

‘It’s not easy.’

Whatever it was. Because of what he had done and the accumulated matters, nothing was easy.

That was his thought.

Hwaaa-.

The wind that blew was warm.

Like proof that it was still summer, a warm breeze mixed with the season.

As Gu Cheol-un felt this and calmly prepared to walk…

Woong-!

Halt.

Feeling a vibration near his chest, Gu Cheol-un stopped walking.

Immediately, he grabbed something from within his robes and pulled it out.

What was held in Gu Cheol-un’s large hand was a yellow fortune pouch.

Unlike usual, he tore the pouch with a somewhat hurried gesture.

Teeeear-!

The fabric tore like paper, and the object inside floated into the air.

A red jade bead.

Gu Cheol-un’s brow furrowed upon seeing it.

The bead’s name was the Jade of Noble Thoughts (Gui-sa-ui Ok).

It was one of the eight treasured artifacts possessed by the Gu family, and an item Gu Cheol-un himself had given to his first wife, Mi Hyoran.

The Jade of Noble Thoughts possessed two powers.

One of them was that the bead would react if the person possessing a matching bead infused their inner energy into it.

And.

As Gu Cheol-un had instructed Mi Hyoran to use it only in dangerous situations…

Given her personality, she wouldn’t have put herself in danger.

‘But for it to be glowing…’

Squeeze.

Gu Cheol-un clenched the bead.

Squeeeze-!

For a moment, the gravel around his feet trembled slightly.

It seemed the situation was developing rather rapidly.

Gu Cheol-un slowly gathered heat into his body and thought.

Fortunately, the bead not only sent a signal to the other party but also possessed another power.

The second power was precisely that.

Crackle-!

Gu Cheol-un crushed the bead he was holding.

Then, Whoosh-! Gu Cheol-un’s body was engulfed in flames for a moment.

“Oh, right, Family Head. And… huh?”

When Gu Yeonseo, who had been walking ahead, turned back to look at Gu Cheol-un…

No one was standing on the gravel field where he had been.

---

Grrrrr….

With a roar echoing around, its massive body shook and knelt.

BOOM-!!

As it knelt, it created vibrations in the ground.

From its left shoulder to half its waist.

The monster collapsed, most of its snout obliterated.

A body that three martial artists of the Hwa-gyeong realm and one perfected peak-realm martial artist couldn’t breach even when they combined their attacks to break through the barrier and inflict damage…

Was falling so easily.

Karrrrk…!

The creature let out a cry, seemingly in pain.

Seeing this, the Hegemon, Bi Ju, suddenly chuckled.

“Hah. How tenacious.”

With half its upper body gone, it should have died instantly, yet the creature was still howling.

It was truly a tenacious and interesting life force.

What was amusing was…

‘More than such a bizarre creature.’

That there was someone who reduced such a monster to that state in a single blow.

Bi Ju shifted his gaze and looked beside him.

The very person was standing right next to him.

A man walked over, stepping on the eyes (of the fallen monster).

A height just under eight feet and broad shoulders.

Not to mention the red robe with gold trim fluttering in the wind.

Shhhhhh….

His right arm, emitting heat along the shoulder line, and his hair, gradually turning red simultaneously.

“Hoho.”

Bi Ju, watching this, chuckled incredulously.

His face was smiling, but his body was in the exact opposite state.

Goosebumps rose on his forearms, and inexplicable cold sweat trickled down Bi Ju’s back.

His very flesh warned him just by looking.

That was the feeling Bi Ju experienced.

‘Seriously, those with that surname are all on a different level.’

The person passing by him now seemed to have already reached the ‘Beyond Heaven’ realm, enough to be called a monster.

Or perhaps…

‘Even if he regains his full strength, I can’t predict the outcome of a match.’

It seemed his own prime was still superior, but…

That was uncertain.

Since it had reached a point where he couldn’t feel it, he couldn’t be sure of anything.

Press.

Bi Ju suppressed the fighting spirit rising within him.

Seeing a strong opponent without reading the room kept provoking his fighting spirit.

‘Why on earth is that person here?’

The guardian of Shanxi.

A ‘Beyond Heaven’ realm expert tacitly acknowledged by the Alliance.

The child of a close friend and the father of a disciple.

And.

‘Perhaps.’

Someone who might have reached Transcendence.

The Tiger Hero, Gu Cheol-un.

He slowly walked over and stood beside Bi Ju.

Saaaaaa-!

His throat felt dry from the heat he felt.

The chill that had been rising somewhere vanished, replaced only by hot air circulating around.

“You used a rather inconvenient method.”

Bi Ju smirked at the heavy voice.

It was because he knew what Gu Cheol-un was referring to.

‘Looks like he found out.’

Thinking so, Bi Ju looked at Gu Cheol-un.

Gu Cheol-un was staring straight ahead, not sparing Bi Ju a glance.

Seeing this, Bi Ju spoke.

“Since you weren’t showing up for quite a while, I committed a slight discourtesy. My apologies.”

Bi Ju didn’t know when Gu Cheol-un had arrived, but he knew he had been observing the situation.

Thus, he did something rather trivial.

He uttered words telling the disciple to run while he blocked.

Ah, naturally, he didn’t mean it.

Bi Ju had absolutely no intention of dying.

As expected, the disciple with stubborn pride acted as if angered, and…

Such actions were enough to draw out the observer.

“…Father…?”

Gu Yangcheon voiced out, seemingly flustered by the situation, but…

Gu Cheol-un didn’t turn his gaze this time either.

He only looked straight ahead.

Krrrreuu…!

The kneeling monster moved.

It was rapidly regenerating its lost body.

Flesh and bone filled the empty spaces, slowly but surely.

It was a truly grotesque sight.

Kyaaaaa–!!

Merely a few seconds.

In that short time, the body that had lost half its parts was fully restored.

It was an astonishing speed.

Once its body was restored, it immediately charged towards Gu Cheol-un.

Thump-! Kwaaak-!

It charged with tremendous speed.

Shiik-!

Its sharply protruding claws aimed directly at Gu Cheol-un.

However.

Hwa-reuk-!

This time too, heat flared briefly.

Kwaaak-!! Pang!

Keureuk-!?

The monster’s arm, which was about to attack, and its upper body exploded once again.

Traces formed on the edges of the burst flesh.

Skin blackened as if scorched.

Just like before, it began regenerating quickly.

Gu Cheol-un, seemingly unfazed, clenched his fist upon seeing that.

Hwiik-!

He swung his fist at the creature with a rough motion.

Kwaaaang—!!

Kyaaaaa—-!!!

Waves erupted, and the monster, hit on its regenerating side, staggered.

“Crazy.”

Gu Yangcheon spat out rough words watching that.

He, who could barely break through the barrier using all his strength and the martial arts of the mind, had…

Kka-deuk-!

Gu Cheol-un’s fist was effortlessly shattering the creature’s defense.

Kwang-! Kwaang-!

Kyaaak… Kraaaak-!

The creature moved desperately against the continuing onslaught.

Yet, it couldn’t properly counter Gu Cheol-un’s blows.

Thump-!

Kyaaak-!

No matter how massive Gu Cheol-un was, the monster was ten times larger.

As if mocking the size difference, the monster swayed with every single blow.

Perhaps it was weakened from the previous battle, but…

‘…That’s not it.’

The monster’s regeneration or strength hadn’t diminished.

It was a simple principle.

‘…The barrier’s regeneration speed can’t keep up.’

When Gu Cheol-un struck once.

Tzeok-!

The monster’s barrier would break, and even when it tried to fill the gap…

Kwang-!

Keureureuk-!!

It would inevitably break somewhere else.

It was truly one-sided violence.

What Gu Cheol-un was doing to the monster was indeed violence.

How could that be possible?

‘Weren’t barriers only breakable by the power of the mind?’

Based on the information and situations the Hegemon had grasped, he thought so.

What was happening right now?

The barrier being crushed relentlessly under Gu Cheol-un’s touch.

…Could it be?

‘Is every single attack imbued with the power of the mind?’

Does it mean that his movements inherently contained the power of the mind, even without doing anything special?

If so, it was questionable how that was possible.

Furthermore, in the first place…

‘…Why is Father here?’

Why was his father here in the first place?

That was what Gu Yangcheon was most curious about.

The man who should be in Shanxi had suddenly appeared here.

Of course, as if uninterested in Gu Yangcheon’s questions, Gu Cheol-un was only attending to his own business.

Kyaaaaa—-!!

As the monster roared and swung its claws…

Kwadeuk-!

Gu Cheol-un simply crushed the claws.

Hwiik-!

When the massive tail flew in…

Thump-!

It met Gu Cheol-un’s fist and invariably twisted in an odd direction.

Afterward, it repeated the cycle of breaking and regenerating.

Kraaaaa—-!!

The monster, left with only instinct and no reason, charged relentlessly, thrusting its fangs at Gu Cheol-un, its twisted arm aside.

Then.

Kkwaak-!

Gu Cheol-un didn’t dodge; instead, he reached out and grabbed the creature’s snout.

Geugeuk-!

Perhaps the monster’s strength was immense, as Gu Cheol-un’s body, holding on, was pushed back slightly, but…

“Hmm.”

A short, breathy grunt was heard.

Gu Cheol-un tightened his grip and tore the monster’s snout apart.

Tzzzzzzzz-!

Kwaaaaa–!!

The monster, its snout torn, writhed and screamed in pain.

Gu Cheol-un leaped towards it and swung his fist again.

Press-! His fist dug into the monster’s upper body, then Boom-! Inner energy erupted, sending the monster’s body flying backward into the air.

Kuwoooong!!

The massive body that flew high landed on the ground, causing vibrations along with a huge blizzard.

“…”

Having confirmed that much, Gu Cheol-un couldn’t utter a single word.

What words could he even say?

It was such a shocking sight that he couldn’t even think of any.

“…Just now…”

What did I just see?

He was bewildered and confused.

The situation, which had been flowing somewhat despairingly, had turned around in an instant.

Separately from that.

‘…Was Father always this strong?’

He found himself blankly staring at Gu Cheol-un’s back.

To toss the white monster around like a toy, his back, already perceived as large, now seemed even more immense.

He had known it from the start.

That his father was far stronger than the rumors suggested.

‘One of the lower ranks among the Orthodox Sect’s hundred great masters?’

It’s laughable.

If that was the lower tier of the Orthodox Sect’s hundred great masters, the Heavenly Demon War should have ended in the Martial Alliance’s victory long ago.

Father was absolutely not at that level.

Moreover.

‘He even beat Heavenly Venerate.’

He had a record of beating Heavenly Venerate, one of the Three Venerates, in the underground of the Tang family.

‘Of course, even if Heavenly Venerate was in an abnormal state at the time.’

The fact remains that he won against him.

This means Father is comparable to the Three Venerates, or…

‘Perhaps even stronger.’

It wasn’t just anything; Father was the one who inflicted a fatal wound on the Heavenly Demon.

Although he had been weakened by demonic energy due to the aftermath, he had pushed the Heavenly Demon to the brink of death.

‘Just how strong is he?’

Noyaa said that the current world was cursed, making the barriers thicker and lower than in the past.

In such a situation, what level has Father reached?

Where does Father’s realm lie?

‘Is that a place I can reach?’

Suddenly, Gu Yangcheon wondered about that.

Just then.

“Third.”

Gu Yangcheon flinched at Gu Cheol-un’s characteristic deep voice.

“…Yes.”

“How is your condition?”

“I-I’m fine.”

Actually, he wasn’t quite fine.

The wound on his chest was being cauterized by his inner energy, and the energy within his vessel was completely depleted from consecutively using the Sacred Spear, reaching its limit.

However, he didn’t bother mentioning such things.

It was because he felt embarrassed acting weak.

“Is that so.”

Gu Cheol-un nodded slightly at Gu Yangcheon’s reply.

That was it.

“…”

“…”

The conversation between father and son was filled with silence for a moment.

‘…I should ask why he’s here.’

Gu Yangcheon couldn’t bring himself to ask about it.

It wasn’t for any particular major reason.

‘I haven’t seen him since I was scolded…’

Right after Gu Yangcheon failed while practicing the Corrosive Jade Sacred Spear in the Gu family and got severely injured.

He was severely scolded by Gu Cheol-un and hadn’t met him since.

Although he had conveyed messages through the steward appropriately, meeting him in person was a rare occasion.

It wasn’t that he deliberately avoided him…

‘…He did avoid him, didn’t he.’

He corrected himself immediately after thinking.

Honestly, he had avoided him somewhat.

Because of that, the situation was quite awkward.

While such an awkward silence continued…

“Third.”

Gu Cheol-un was the one who spoke first.

“Yes.”

“Is that a martial art you modified yourself?”

“…?”

Just as he wondered what that meant, Gu Yangcheon belatedly understood Gu Cheol-un’s question.

It seemed to be a question about the Corrosive Jade Sacred Spear.

‘Looks like he saw it.’

It seemed his father had seen him modify and use the Corrosive Jade.

‘Then, since when has he been watching?’

He didn’t know. He couldn’t know that much.

What was important was…

‘…Will I get scolded again?’

The fact that he was worried about getting scolded by his father at his age.

Since he had done what he was told not to, he wondered if he would get severely scolded again this time, but…

“Well done.”

“…!”

Surprisingly, Gu Cheol-un uttered praise.

“It wasn’t bad.”

At Gu Cheol-un’s unexpected praise, Gu Yangcheon’s lips involuntarily curled upwards, inappropriately for the situation.

Realizing that, Gu Yangcheon immediately turned his head and covered his mouth with his hand.

Even covering his mouth, the emotion rising within him was clear.

It was truly a childish emotion.

As he tried to forcefully suppress and push it away…

Hwa-reuk-!

“Huh?”

Gu Yangcheon turned his head at the energy he felt from ahead.

It was a somewhat familiar energy.

There…

“…Huh?”

Gu Cheol-un had created the Corrosive Jade on his palm.

A Corrosive Jade harder than Gu Yangcheon’s and possessing much faster momentum.

Did he make it to throw at the monster? Such a thought crossed his mind.

Hwi-iiiiii-!

The Corrosive Jade gradually spun faster and faster.

Kkigig-!

“…!?”

Soon, it began to change its shape.

Hwaaak-!

Simultaneously, immense energy was felt.

Kkeugeuk-! The Corrosive Jade twisted and crumpled.

Yet, it didn’t explode or become unstable.

Much finer and stronger control over inner energy.

Gu Yangcheon’s eyes sharpened as he watched this.

How could they not?

There lay the proper form of the Corrosive Jade Sacred Spear that Gu Yangcheon had so desired.

Gu Cheol-un created the completed Sacred Spear and held it in his hand.

He hadn’t forcefully created a vessel with his mind to control the explosive power and contain it.

A martial art completed solely through his own power and control.

That was what Gu Cheol-un was showing Gu Yangcheon.

Gu Cheol-un carefully examined the Sacred Spear in his hand and soon spoke.

“It’s somewhat unstable and rough, but it was a considerably good attempt and result.”

He gave Gu Yangcheon a brief impression, scrutinizing it point by point.

And then.

“Continue to strive forward.”

Finishing those words as if having no further lingering thoughts, Gu Cheol-un retracted the energy of the Sacred Spear in his hand.

Hwaak-!

The energy of the Sacred Spear dissipated into the air. Gu Yangcheon asked him in a trembling voice.

“…How… how did you do that?”

It was a martial art he himself had modified and created.

No matter how much higher Gu Cheol-un’s realm was than his own, using it so easily didn’t make sense.

Even using it more perfectly.

How could that be possible? Gu Yangcheon asked with a tone mixed with bewilderment.

Gu Cheol-un turned his head to look at Gu Yangcheon and replied with a look of surprise instead.

“Didn’t you show me?”

“…With that?”

The final blow he had forcefully created to shoot at the monster.

Are you saying he copied it just by seeing that?

What nonsensical talk was this?

As Gu Yangcheon wore an expression of utter incomprehension…

Gu Cheol-un followed up by delivering the final blow.

“Is that difficult?”

“…”

Hearing the answer, Gu Yangcheon thought.

‘Damn life.’

He couldn’t hate talent this much.

As a wave of emptiness washed over him, he was about to sigh, but…

Krrrrrr—-….

He couldn’t even follow through with that due to a sound heard from afar.

‘Damn bastard.’

It was because the monster Gu Cheol-un had sent far away was getting back on its feet.

Even after taking that much damage, it was still getting up?

‘Is there no way to kill it?’

With that level of regeneration and vitality, was there no way to capture it right now?

He was getting sick of such thoughts.

Just then.

Flutter-!

The red robe fluttered in the wind, and a voice was heard.

“Since you showed a good performance, I shall give you a reward.”

“Yes?”

Sabak-!

Gu Cheol-un, having spoken, walked forward with determined steps.

Kyaaaaa—-!!!

From a distance, the monster roared again.

Gu Cheol-un continued to walk calmly towards such a creature.

“Third.”

Gu Cheol-un spoke to Gu Yangcheon.

“This is an order.”

It was a deep and firm tone.

“From now on, do not take your eyes off me for even a moment.”

At that command, Gu Yangcheon instinctively looked at Gu Cheol-un’s back.

“Also, do not become fixated on what you see. This is what the Family Head…”

The continuing words were briefly interrupted.

Taking half a step further, the voice continued.

“Your father’s teaching to you.”

Hwaa…!

With this, heat erupted from the tips of Gu Cheol-un’s feet.

Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened in surprise as he saw the heat.

‘A teaching?’

What was this sudden teaching?

He wondered what this meant.

However, such doubts shattered moments later.

Saaaaaaa!!

The hot heat escaped, beginning to melt the surrounding snow.

Small embers gathered on Gu Cheol-un’s back.

At that moment.

Tick-!

Along with the sound of something frictioning.

Kwaaaaaaaa—-!!!

Immense flames soared into the air.

Ultimate Skill (O-ui).

“Co-Flame Extreme Mountain Enlightenment Form (Gu-yeom-geuk-tae-san-o-hyeong).”

Thus, the sky was engulfed in flames.

The night sky receded, and the White Night arrived.