Chapter 742: From the Beginning.

The Yeomok, which had begun tearing endlessly.

Watching this, I clicked my tongue.

“Tsk.”

Is this not enough? I had hoped, but as expected.

The old man’s gaze turns this way.

Our eyes meet, and his gaze speaks.

Asking if there’s nothing more.

Asking if this is the end.

He can afford to act like that while moving so ferociously?

It’s truly laughable.

“Ha.”

I exhale a laugh and gather my strength.

I didn’t stop creating Yeomok. I had to do it simultaneously.

Only then could I block even his movements.

Hwaruk-!

Trying to do it simultaneously, my energy felt like it would tangle. It was precarious, but I managed.

Pouring out the Yeomok, I gripped the Yeomok Seongchang in my hand.

I’m using martial arts simultaneously.

If I made a mistake, the flow of energy would twist, leading to Juhwainma.

So what? If you’re afraid of that, you shouldn’t have started a fight like this.

Kwak-!

I stomped on the ground.

Ink splattered.

“Hoook-!!”

Then, I threw the Seongchang with all my might.

Kiiiiiik–!!

The Seongchang flew, making a tearing sound.

Just before the tip of the spear reached the old man.

Sarak.

A crisp sound was felt from somewhere.

The scent of flowers brushed against my nose.

I can see it.

Hwaaaaaa-!

Plum blossoms bloomed from the old man’s body. From the blooming petals, leaves floated in the air.

Plum leaves, seemingly thin and soft.

Though those leaves seemed to flutter powerlessly.

Tung-! Tung-tung-tung-!

“…!”

My eyes widened at the scene that unfolded next.

The spread leaves were blocking the pouring Yeomok.

What power could these small leaves possibly have to block that?

‘So that’s how it could be done.’

He could have definitely used this, yet he insisted on swinging his sword.

Is he saying he’s giving me plenty of leeway?

This is really pissing me off.

Seogeok-!

While the leaves were blocking the Yeomok.

The old man sliced the Seongchang. The Seongchang, split in half, passed by the old man.

Slicing the Seongchang so casually, it was unbelievable, but…

‘This was also calculated.’

Something I had already anticipated.

‘Explode.’

Kwaaaaaang-!!

I immediately detonated the Seongchang split in half.

It’s an attack that utilizes the explosion if it’s not bound by the mind’s eye.

The old man is engulfed in the explosion.

Seeing that, my legs gave out.

Teolsseok-!

“Heok… Heok.”

I’m out of breath.

My stamina was also running low.

No matter how much stamina I had, it was natural for it to run out after pouring out this much.

Wiping the flowing cold sweat, I looked straight ahead.

It should have been a mess, but the floor was filled only with ink, as if nothing had happened.

And then.

Sarak… Sararak….

Petals were flowing down from where the Seongchang had exploded.

Perhaps burned by the flames, the petals gradually faded. I frowned watching them.

A barrier formed by plum leaves was spread out in a circle.

Did it block the explosion with that?

[My, my.]

The old man’s voice was heard.

Sarak-!

As the barrier disappeared, the old man revealed himself.

He looked exactly the same as before.

[If it had been even a moment later, you would have succeeded. I admit it, brat. You are strong.]

His expression was genuinely surprised, but it felt annoying.

It didn’t work anyway, did it?

“…”

[To use martial arts like this. Who is your master?]

“…Would you know if I told you?”

[Ah, that’s right… Since he’s already dead and gone, telling you would be pointless.]

I really hated the way he smirked.

He’d probably know if I told him.

‘You taught me these things, how could you not know?’

Even if the Fist King taught me hand-to-hand combat, I learned everything else from you.

Though I’ve never called you that, I consider you my master.

Having that thought, I erased it from my mind.

What business does someone who isn’t even from Mount Hua have playing the disciple?

That name belongs to Yeongpung. More precisely, it’s a name Mount Hua disciples should have.

‘Hoo….’

Catching my breath, I lifted my head.

‘I see.’

Cooling my head, I finally realized.

‘I was jealous.’

I felt jealousy towards Yeongpung.

Ever since I heard he became the successor of the Mount Hua Seon Geom.

Ever since I heard he inherited the true lineage of that old man.

It seems that subconsciously bothered me.

Realizing this, I started to laugh.

‘How foolish of me.’

It’s not even funny.

‘Why am I, who isn’t even from Mount Hua, getting jealous?’

I’ve never learned the sword.

I’m a martial artist; Mount Hua’s sword techniques were meaningless to me.

I’ve never learned his internal energy cultivation either.

Although I received help due to my Dao energy, I don’t know Mount Hua’s internal cultivation.

Moreover, in my past life, I even erased Mount Hua.

How could someone like me become that old man’s successor?

Seuk.

Knowing this, I still raised my fist.

‘Know your place.’

I realize my place once again.

‘I can’t win.’

I really can’t win against that.

I charged forward knowing this from the start.

Why?

Did I think I could win if I set conditions like these?

No.

I knew I couldn’t win the moment I saw him.

It was simply the fact that he treated Yeongpung as his successor that angered me.

That’s why I charged at him.

Even though I thought of myself as fake, hearing him say that seemed to have angered me.

How much have I struggled until now, and he says that?

It’s because of such trivial emotions.

‘Honestly, I’ve been struggling like hell.’

It wasn’t just for my own goals, but also because Shin Noya was involved.

He even said it himself.

That he was entrusting what he couldn’t handle to me.

Therefore.

‘He should yield at least this much to me.’

I had to get at least one thing.

Let Yeongpung become the successor of the Mount Hua Seon Geom and inherit his advancements, fine.

It’s not mine anyway.

But.

‘Let’s just take one thing.’

I don’t know about Mount Hua Sect Leader and hero, Mount Hua Seon Geom.

I will be the successor of the ill-tempered Shin Cheol.

I had to do at least that much.

[Brat.]

“Yes.”

[Ten rounds are finished.]

“Indeed. It’s a shame, could you give me ten more rounds?”

[Do you think that would provide an answer?]

“No.”

I felt like I couldn’t win even if given a hundred rounds.

I just laughed.

It resembled the laugh the old man had.

[Now, what will you do?]

“What do you mean, ‘what will I do?'”

I shook the fist I was holding.

“I’ll see it through to the end.”

[Hoho.]

Seureuk.

At my words, the old man’s Gwijeong moved.

A chilling aura brushed past my shoulder.

[I don’t know who you are. However, I apologize for calling you a spy for the Blood Demon.]

-Don’t let your gaze be stolen by the sword.

-A swordsman lives with deception. What you must see is not the sword, but the swordsman.

I recall words Shin Noya once spoke.

[You can tell by facing each other directly.]

[You are a Warrior (武人).]

My chest resonated.

Hearing him say that in that damned voice made it even more so.

[It’s a shame. It would have been good if a child like you was born in Mount Hua.]

“…”

That’s quite a compliment, but…

‘Someone like me and the Daoist sect don’t quite fit.’

If a guy like me lived in the Mount Hua Sect, it would have turned into a complete mess.

Hiding my emotions, I spoke.

“Your tongue is quite long.”

[That’s right. Thanks to that, didn’t it give me time to recover?]

That was true.

Just by resting a little, my breathing was returning.

[So. Don’t forget the promise.]

The voice was heard.

No form was visible.

I frowned.

It wasn’t a problem with my eyes. Quite literally, the form appeared hazy.

Beyond my blurry vision, what appeared was not human.

‘A tree?’

It was a tree.

A giant tree. A brightly shining ancient tree stood there.

It was probably an ancient plum tree of Mount Hua.

Perhaps it was the largest plum tree.

Hwiieek.

Though there was no wind, the tree swayed.

Its leaves scattered.

Its branches danced.

My gaze was captivated.

My breath even stopped at the distant sight.

[This is a reward.]

[Engrave it deeply. It’s a gift because I enjoyed it a little.]

Along with the continuing voice.

Uddeuk.

The movement stopped.

[Plum Blossom Annihilation (梅華殲).]

Petals bloomed from the tree branches.

Thus, the sound of flowers blooming was heard.

Swiik.

Kkang-!

The sound of flowers blooming was duller than expected.

[…Huh?]

A surprised sound.

At that sound, I opened my eyes.

Before me, the old man’s fierce face was visible.

His sword was reaching towards my neck.

He swung his sword as if to behead me in one strike, but the Gwijeong couldn’t cut my neck.

[Brat. You…]

The sword’s edge was blocked by something, failing to achieve its purpose.

What blocked the old man’s Gwijeong was, precisely, my Gwijeong.

I moved my Gwijeong, secretly surrounding my neck.

A precious item that absolutely wouldn’t break.

It was a defense utilizing that characteristic.

Just as the old man’s eyes wavered seeing that.

Kkwak-!

I gripped the old man’s hand.

[…!!]

I felt strength. His movement was trying to pull his hand out somehow.

As soon as I felt that, I said.

“Bind.”

Swiririek–!!

[What!]

The Gwijeong around my neck moved, binding the old man’s hand and mine.

That wasn’t all.

Swiriririek–!!

The Gwijeong the old man was holding loosened and entered my hand.

Immediately, it took the form of a gauntlet.

As the fabric bound, I saw it change from crimson to blue.

[What…]

The old man was shocked by the sudden betrayal of his Gwijeong.

He probably couldn’t believe it. His own precious item crossing over like this.

But what could be done?

“A living master is better than a dead one, you see.”

The fight as warriors ended with the previous ten exchanges.

If so.

‘Now, I have to proceed my way.’

Anyway.

‘I never intended to win by being held back.’

This was calculated from the moment the conditions were set.

To defeat an opponent you can’t beat, you can’t be picky about means or methods.

Udduk-! The old man tries to break free.

His strength was no joke.

It felt like the arm bound by the Gwijeong would be ripped off.

It’s okay though. Didn’t I say it earlier?

If you make something familiar, people adapt to it.

So, if I were to introduce an irregularity, it had to be now.

-Stop.

[…!!]

Hearing the Dragon Speech, the old man’s body stiffened.

Even so, it wouldn’t last more than a second.

Dragon Speech, when used on someone stronger than me, cannot hold them for long and also causes backlash.

Behold.

Uleok-!

Pain welled up inside, and blood formed in my mouth.

Kkulkeok-! I swallowed the blood immediately.

Can’t even hold for a second?

It’s enough if I can hold it even for a moment.

Uddeudeudeuk-!!!

Tuapa Cheonmu swept over my body.

I gathered energy into my fist.

[Eek-!]

The old man, trying to exert strength somehow.

Was Dragon Speech not enough? It was still okay.

Because I had one more way to hold him.

“Do you know something? Tang Jemun is actually a woman.”

[Huh? What do you mean?]

In the moment the old man hesitated.

Tuapa Cheonmu (鬪牙破天武).

Fourth Form (四式).

“Changcheon (昌天).”

The extended fist struck the old man’s chest directly.