Chapter 731: Falling Dragon (Falling Dragon)

-I forbid it.

Said Gyukcheonbong, the guardian of the Shaolin Abbot and one of the Hundred Great Masters.

-Yuyeon. Do you know what you are saying right now?

-I know.

Despite his resolute attitude, Yuyeon did not waver.

-I want to face him.

-So, you want me to change the match bracket? Do you think that makes any sense?

I want to face So Yeomra in the fourth round preliminaries. That’s why Yuyeon came to speak with Gyukcheonbong.

Upon hearing that, he wore an angry expression.

-This is chosen fairly by the league….

-That it isn’t fair… is something everyone already knows.

At Yuyeon’s words, Gyukcheonbong scowled.

-What? You currently-!

-However, I believe that is also the Buddha’s will. As I am a person of Shaolin.

There must be a reason for that, too.

No matter how unacceptable it seemed to him, if Abbot Cheonan had accepted it and attempted it, it would be the same as the Buddha’s will.

Yuyeon tried to understand it that way.

But.

-…Please, grant this one wish of mine.

-Yuyeon!

-I must meet him somehow before it’s too late.

Ouch-!

The pain in his chest that he felt with every movement.

Enduring it, Yuyeon thought.

Before it’s too late.

Before I get hurt more.

When I can properly show my strength.

I had to meet him somehow.

-Yuyeon. Don’t you know what this martial tournament means to Shaolin?

-I know. That’s why I stepped forward.

-Knowing that…!

-But this is something I must do.

Yuyeon took repeated breaths and spoke to Gyukcheonbong before him.

-Because I am the one destined to be Shaolin’s roof.

-…!

-Because I am the one who must stand at the summit under Shaolin’s name someday.

He knew well the expectations Shaolin placed on him.

How could he not know? Knowing it so well made his life even more sorrowful.

-That is why. I must face him.

He steadied his voice, which threatened to tremble.

-If I don’t, the regret left within me will become my wall until the moment I die.

-…Hmph…!

-I will repeatedly regret recalling this moment, and it will block the path forward for me.

-You…

At Yuyeon’s words, Gyukcheonbong said with a frown.

-Are you daring to blackmail me, using yourself as collateral?

-Namu Amitabha.

Yuyeon did not deny his words.

If his request wasn’t granted now, he would fall prey to inner demons and be unable to do anything.

Then, wouldn’t Shaolin’s aspirations also be unattainable?

That was the meaning implied in Yuyeon’s words.

-This brat… truly…!

Gyukcheonbong, understanding his intent, was about to roar in anger, but.

-Stop.

-…!

At the voice from behind, the old man had to freeze.

-Cease.

It was Shaolin’s Abbot, Cheonan.

-…However.

-Grant the child’s wish. I will convey the message to the Sword Saint myself.

-Abbot-nim…!

Gyukcheonbong spoke, seemingly surprised, but Cheonan merely looked at the kneeling Yuyeon with his characteristic eyes.

-Yuyeon-ah.

-…Yes.

-Is that truly your wish?

-…I am sorry.

-No, do not apologize. What you wish to do is, perhaps, also the Buddha’s will. Even if it’s a forceful request, granting it is not difficult.

Cheonan dragged his aged body closer to him.

-Because what we intend to do is also a forceful request that goes against the will.

-….

Yuyeon could not add any words to his own self-professed statement.

It was because Cheonan’s voice was filled with sadness.

-We who are violating our beliefs. We must seem truly murky to you.

-That is not so….

-I know. We merely follow, believing it is what must be done. It is insufficient to escape the guilt.

Cheonan stroked Yuyeon’s hair with a calm hand.

-Do as you wish. However….

The stroking hand paused after a few gentle passes.

-I hope you do not forget where you must go in the end.

-….

Where he had to go.

The summit where he must stand under Shaolin’s name.

-Yes… I will keep it in mind…

To that stifling and heavy statement, Yuyeon replied, biting his lip.

It was a forceful request obtained that way.

And yet, it was an opportunity thus gained.

Kwajijijik-!

“…!”

Watching the world crumble, Yuyeon’s eyes trembled.

‘…What…?’

What just happened?

He harbored the question but didn’t dwell on it.

Yuyeon’s staggering body moved quickly.

Kwadeuk-!

Impact surged from the left.

Yuyeon immediately twisted his body, but.

“Tsk.”

With a short clicking sound of the tongue, Yuyeon’s body recoiled.

Kwadeudeuk-!

“Kkeuk!”

Kwak-!

Scattered.

Golden afterimages continuously scattered in the air.

These were traces formed by his own energy, fragments of Hwang’a Gangnam.

Crushed, pulverized, and fading away.

Shaolin’s ultimate techniques, which he believed would never break.

Were being pulverized by mere bare hands.

‘This is impossible…!’

Yuyeon moved, gritting his teeth.

He tried to create distance, but he couldn’t.

Before he knew it, his collar was grabbed, preventing any escape.

Hwang’a Gangnam does not permit the opponent’s approach.

Yet, it clearly should.

The opponent, as if unaffected, crushed his armor with their hand and broke through.

And then.

Huuk-!

Kwadeudeudeuk-!!

With a thrown punch, the armor burst as if shattering.

“Keoheok!”

The recoil immediately hit Yuyeon.

The armor encasing his body was broken.

Pain reached his dantian, and his knees buckled.

Teolseok.

“Heo-eok… Keo-heok…?”

Gasping out the pain, he thought.

This situation was unbelievable.

What happened?

‘Clearly…. Clearly.’

From the start of the match, I charged forward, unleashing Hwang’a Gangnam with the intent to seize the advantage.

And then.

And then…?

‘It broke….’

It broke.

Hwang’a Gangnam was ruthlessly crushed by the opponent’s touch.

Hududuk.

As his energy fell to the ground, Yuyeon lifted his head.

The opponent was already there, looking down at Yuyeon.

It hadn’t even been thirty seconds since the match began.

In that situation, Yuyeon was already kneeling.

“Like I told you.”

Heumchit.

At the opponent’s voice, Yuyeon trembled.

“You could die if you mess up, you know?”

“…”

Eyes of blue.

Even though he desperately wanted to avoid the gaze, Yuyeon dared not turn his head away.

“Tsk. What are you even trying to fight like that? Look at you now. You can’t even maintain it properly.”

His nonchalant tone left him speechless.

He was right.

Yuyeon couldn’t properly control his energy due to the wound in his chest.

Because of that, he was much weaker than usual and couldn’t execute the movements he wanted, but.

‘Even so.’

He shouldn’t have been defeated so miserably.

So how did this happen?

Yuyeon already knew the reason.

‘…He’s strong.’

It’s because the opponent is strong.

The young man before him. The ideal and goal he dreamed of were just too strong.

That’s why this happened.

Kkuk.

He clenched his fist.

And pushed himself up.

Extreme pain shot through his chest.

Was it the aftereffect of the recoil?

Yuyeon thought so and tried to resume the fight, but.

Kuung-!

“Keoheok!”

A flying kick sent Yuyeon’s body soaring into the air.

He rolled on the ground with the impact.

After rolling a couple of times, Yuyeon barely managed to regain his stance and anticipate the next attack.

However.

“…Hoo… Hook….”

Gu Yangcheon stood before him, motionless.

What was he planning to do next, standing there like that?

Just as Yuyeon was enduring the pain and observing him.

Gu Yangcheon slowly raised his hand.

Uung.

He created Ki energy at his fingertips. It was sharp and distinct Ki energy.

Is he trying to attack with that? Why would someone who uses fist techniques create such Ki energy?

How should I counter that…

Chwaak-!!

“…!”

As Yuyeon was thinking, his eyes widened at the scene unfolding.

“What is this you’re doing-!”

And then he shouted loudly.

He couldn’t help it.

Because Gu Yangcheon had suddenly slashed his own chest with Ki energy.

Jureureuk.

Deep blood flowed from the wound, soaking his martial attire.

Though it wasn’t obvious because he wore black martial attire, one could tell the wound was deep.

“Siju-!”

“Shut up.”

“…!”

“Don’t yell so loudly. Am I hurting, or are you? Anyone seeing this would think you’re the one bleeding.”

Despite the considerable pain, Gu Yangcheon didn’t bat an eye.

“You told me yourself. To do it properly.”

“What does that…!”

“Then isn’t this fair?”

Gu Yangcheon laughed, bleeding.

“This way, you won’t have any excuses.”

“…What?”

At his words, Yuyeon frowned, seemingly unable to understand, but.

“Because I was in pain. Because my body wouldn’t cooperate. So I lost even though I could have won. You can’t say things like that anymore.”

“…!”

At the subsequent explanation, Yuyeon gasped.

No way, he cut himself for such a reason? And such a deep wound at that?

It was an absurd act.

“Even if that weren’t the case…! Whatever happened, I would have accepted the outcome of the match…!”

“It’s really strange. Why do you keep doing this to me?”

As he spoke, Gu Yangcheon raised his hand in the air.

“At first, I thought you hated me…. But it doesn’t seem like that’s all there is to it. Or, well, even if that’s not the case.”

And then.

“This is just something I want to do. So shut up and watch.”

Kwaaaaaaaaah—!!

An immense flame erupted from his fingertips into the air.

Blue flames soared ceaselessly towards the sky.

Yuyeon watched it, feeling his body slowly begin to tremble.

All of that was his energy.

An amount that would deplete the energy in one’s dantian after just a few seconds of release.

Yet Gu Yangcheon was releasing it for ten seconds. Twenty seconds. Over tens of seconds.

After releasing the flames for a long time for no apparent reason.

“This much should be enough.”

Gu Yangcheon stopped the flames he was emitting and said to Yuyeon.

“Exactly half. I’ve emptied half my energy.”

Only then did Yuyeon realize.

Gu Yangcheon had not only wounded himself but also depleted his energy.

The reason being.

“Now I should be similar to you.”

To create a situation similar to his own.

Just the wound and the cost for that purpose.

He had gone that far without hesitation for it.

“How about it? Does it seem a bit more manageable now?”

“…Siju….”

“Originally, I planned to do this before the fight, but.”

Swoosh. Gu Yangcheon stroked his chest.

As he moved slightly, his hand came away coated in blood.

“I didn’t expect you to charge in like an idiot the moment the fight started. Are you retarded? Why would someone who’s injured use their energy like that? You’re not crazy, are you?”

“…That’s…”

“You said you’d beat me. You shouldn’t do that. It doesn’t make sense unless you’re planning to lose. Oh, were you perhaps planning to lose?”

“No….”

Yuyeon gritted his teeth and pushed himself up.

The surroundings were eerily quiet.

The voices that had cheered for him had long since fallen silent.

Just like what just happened.

The surroundings were overwhelmed by the flames he emitted.

All eyes were fixed not on him, but on Gu Yangcheon.

He felt like his spotlight had been stolen in an instant, but he didn’t mind.

Perhaps, he might have been hoping for this.

As proof, though his body ached, his mind was clearer than ever.

“I… will defeat you.”

“Sure.”

Unwavering words. Hearing this, Gu Yangcheon chuckled.

“Like I felt earlier. It’s refreshing.”

“…”

“In this life, no one has ever said that to me before. They all ignored me until they got beaten and then realized.”

Tududuk-!

The flowing blood thickened.

Gu Yangcheon wasn’t even stopping the bleeding.

“But you are different…. I wonder why that is.”

“…”

Hearing the question, Yuyeon uttered no words.

Yuyeon himself couldn’t yet define what this feeling was.

If it were admiration, it would be admiration.

If it were respect, perhaps.

It looks close to competitiveness, but perhaps its essence is the two above.

Yuyeon thought so.

“Did I do something to you? No…. I haven’t done anything yet.”

It’s fine if you don’t remember.

As long as I remember. That’s enough.

Yuyeon raised his fist in silence.

“…I thank you for your consideration, Siju. I have regained my focus.”

He bowed respectfully, assuming a proper stance.

“I will face this with sincerity.”

“…Mm.”

Seeing that, Gu Yangcheon scratched the back of his neck, looking troubled.

“Ah… really.”

And then he said with a short sigh.

“The more I see you, the more I like you. I shouldn’t be feeling this way, though.”

What could that mean?

Just as Yuyeon was about to question it.

Ttubeok.

Gu Yangcheon took a step forward.

At that moment.

Hwaaaaaaaaah—!!

An immense energy began to erupt from Gu Yangcheon’s body.

“Kke… Heup!”?

Deoldeoldeoldeol.

Yuyeon’s body began to tremble uncontrollably, far more than before.

The moment he faced the energy, his muscles felt like they were hardening.

What is this? Is it killing intent?

The previous martial tournament.

The fight between Jin Imseok and Bi Seongdo.

Yuyeon witnessed immense killing intent there.

He couldn’t help but be astonished upon seeing it. How could a person emit such potent killing intent? He even thought such thoughts.

‘Th-this….’

It couldn’t even compare to that.

That was an energy so terrifying it was daunting to even call it killing intent.

He felt like he was losing his mind.

“What did you say again?”

Towards such a Yuyeon, Gu Yangcheon slowly approached.

“You asked me to do it properly, didn’t you?”

He repeated Yuyeon’s words back to him as if savoring them.

“Alright. I’ll respect that.”

Meanwhile, his smile didn’t fade and only deepened.

The energy and the fierce smile intertwined.

It was a unique experience for Gu Yangcheon.

At a point where his cultivation grew and enlightenment deepened.

This was the first time he was unleashing his full power in such a situation.

So, if there was one thing he wished for.

“Try to handle it.”

He truly hoped Yuyeon wouldn’t break from this fight.

That was his only, minuscule wish.