Chapter 749: Reform

KWAANG-!

“Cough!”

Hit in the abdomen, Peng Zhou flew back rapidly and rolled on the floor.

His massive body rolled across the martial arts stage before barely regaining his stance.

“Kuhuk…”

Just as he clutched his abdomen, seemingly unable to shake off the pain.

Hwiririk-!!

KWADEUDEUK–!!

His sword flew past him and embedded itself forcefully into the floor.

Peng Zhou looked at his beloved weapon that had flown beside him.

It was the weapon he had dropped sometime before.

“Seriously, what the hell.”

A rough voice followed.

“What the hell are you doing?”

The feeling of disbelief was evident.

Spoken in a tone laced with annoyance, such a voice began pouring down on Peng Zhou.

“Did I ask for too much? I just told you to hold on for a mere hour. Can’t you even do that?”

“…!”

A foot appeared right in front of his nose.

Peng Zhou quickly turned his head, but.

The incoming foot changed its angle and struck Peng Zhou’s shoulder.

Ppaak-!

“Keuk!”

A massive impact exploded on his left shoulder, and Peng Zhou twisted his body.

He felt intense pain, but it was bearable.

So, moving his body, he grabbed the sword embedded in the floor.

Seueuk-!

The sword was pulled out, instantly engulfing itself in dark energy.

But.

Tuk-.

“…!?”

Suddenly, Peng Zhou’s footing became entangled.

Another foot had dug in, disrupting his footwork.

“Your inner demon is practically a badge of honor, isn’t it.”

Kwadeuk-!

“Kuuhuk!”

A fist slammed into his face.

His upper body went flying, crashing to the floor before bouncing back up.

“That alone makes for a perfect excuse, doesn’t it?”

Another fist came down hard on his rising chest.

Kuung-!!

Tung-! KWADEUDEUK–!!

Peng Zhou’s body was buried into the ground, cracks spreading in all directions.

“Kuhuk-!”

Blood spurted from his mouth.

“Why are you wrapping your own idiocy in some bullshit excuse.”

Despite this, the words and fists didn’t stop.

KWAANG-! KWAANGKWAANG-! KWAANG-!!

The relentless barrage of blows continued.

Just as Peng Zhou’s consciousness was about to snap from the repeated agony.

Uttuk-!

As if it had been waiting for that moment, the assault stopped.

Ttuk.

Ttuk….

Peng Zhou faintly opened his eyes at the soft sound.

Wondering what the sound was, he could see it immediately.

It was Gu Yangcheon. Blood was dripping from the fist he held.

That blood was likely his own.

“Kkeul… cough…”

Peng Zhou spat out a mouthful of blood and trembled slightly.

“This… bastard… I… I am… the Peng Family Head… the Sword King… Peng…”

“What? Are you trying to introduce yourself?”

Gu Yangcheon chuckled at Peng Zhou’s words, then, Hwiik-!!

He grabbed Peng Zhou, who he was holding, and threw him away.

Tuduk-!

He barely managed to land on the floor.

Staggering, Peng Zhou moved his body.

“Keok… cough.”

What was that just now?

What situation had unfolded?

‘…I… by that brat…’

Could it be that he was defeated by Gu Cheol-un’s son, of all people? That damned brat’s son.

Seueuk.

Peng Zhou touched his own cheek.

Even the slightest touch on his greatly swollen cheek sent pain through him.

Of all places, his cheek.

It felt particularly painful, just like the cheek he’d been hit on by that guy back then.

“Kkeudeuk-!”

Gritting his teeth, Peng Zhou glared at his opponent, Gu Yangcheon.

“Look at me.”

Seeing that, Gu Yangcheon immediately smirked.

“After getting beaten to a pulp, why are you looking at me like that? Do you still not know your place?”

“You damn bastard-!”

Peng Zhou’s face contorted like a demon’s.

He knew he was strong. How could he not?

He had seen the martial bout with the Divine Dragon, and he had also seen him fight the brat from Hwasan.

Knowing that, he knew Gu Yangcheon was strong, but.

‘This is unbelievable.’

He hadn’t thought he would be pushed this far.

‘Just what is that monstrous guy…!’

Even though his eyes were clouded by his inner demon, Peng Zhou was also a warrior.

He could tell clearly from the gap just now.

That guy’s level wasn’t just strong; it was unnervingly so.

It truly was unbelievable.

Peng Zhou had already been gathering information about Gu Yangcheon.

He knew that guy was called a delinquent back in Shanxi when he was young.

‘They said he was called a “bad father, bad son,” didn’t they.’

The same words he had heard when he was young.

He heard that Gu Cheol-un’s son was hearing them.

How comforting it was to hear that.

There was even a time when he believed it would be a way to suppress that guy, and he rather liked it.

But that was clearly the case.

“You… just what the-“

Mid-sentence, Peng Zhou hastily drew his sword.

Kuuung-!!

Gu Yangcheon’s knee drove into the sword’s path.

“Keuk!”

Kkigig-!

Peng Zhou was pushed back by the impact.

Gu Yangcheon, as if he had no intention of waiting for his words, continued to unleash a barrage of moves.

Kkang-! Kkangkang-!

The sound of fists and blades clashing was strangely peculiar.

This indicated that Gu Yangcheon’s fist power was considerably solid.

Kkik-!

Just blocking was already difficult.

This was a different feeling compared to the fight against Tu Long.

Whereas Tu Long offset all attacks, leaving no openings.

This guy…

‘He’s crushing me with his level.’

As if trying to show off his superior level.

He was focusing on faster, stronger power.

There were many openings.

His movements were large and powerful, so there were definitely plenty of openings, yet.

Ppeoeok.

“Keuhuk!”

He couldn’t aim for those openings.

Gu Yangcheon was much faster to aim for them.

Could that young brat really be at a higher level than him?

‘…Damn it.’

He had to exert some force somehow.

Just then.

“Leg.”

Peng Zhou reacted to the voice that cut through the air.

What did he mean? The moment that thought crossed his mind.

Udeuk-!

“…!!!”

Gu Yangcheon’s shin struck Peng Zhou’s knee joint, and a sound came from the bone.

It was broken. It was obvious without even looking.

Pain shot through his lower body, and his stance collapsed.

However, there was no time to even feel this.

“Chest.”

“…Kkeuk!”

This time, his body reacted to the voice.

Remembering the previous blow, he instinctively blocked his chest, but.

KWADEUDEUK-!

“Keuhup!”

This time, it wasn’t his chest that snapped, but his left arm. What happened? He looked at Gu Yangcheon with surprised eyes.

“You believe that.”

Gu Yangcheon said with a sly smile.

“A Family Head like you, with such a naive mind, how can you be of use?”

“You son of a bitch—!”

Peng Zhou realized he’d been tricked and raged, but.

“You’re not exactly a genius.”

There was nowhere for that anger to go.

Kkwaak-! Gu Yangcheon grabbed the left arm he had just struck.

Pusyuk-!

Suddenly, two fingernails were ripped out from his fingers.

“There, I pulled out two as promised.”

Who was that promise made with?

It was a sudden event, yet he couldn’t even react, let alone scream.

Ppeok-!

“Keup!”

His head shot up into the air.

What had hit him just now? He couldn’t even confirm.

Judging by the impact, it seemed like a foot.

“From now on, it’s just venting.”

Starting from those words, the assault rained down on Peng Zhou.

Hands and feet.

Countless attacks made using them.

The sounds of something breaking and shattering began to erupt from his body.

Udeuk-!

Ppudeuk-!

Gu Yangcheon dismantled Peng Zhou with an expressionless face.

“Keok… kkeu…!”

Peng Zhou, unable to even scream properly.

Perhaps because of that, not a sound could be heard from the surroundings.

“…That… that…”

“To think the Sword King is being treated like this…”

So Yeom-ra, who defeated the Divine Dragon.

Because of the martial prowess shown then, there were definitely those who doubted, wondering if perhaps the Sword King might lose.

But.

“Isn’t that too cruel?”

“Shouldn’t you stop…? He, he might die like that.”

No one had expected him to be trampled so mercilessly.

It was a scene difficult to even call a martial bout.

That was one-sided violence.

It looked like bullying the weak.

Everyone trembled at that uncomfortable feeling.

It meant the difference was that overwhelming.

Moreover, the one being beaten was one of the Six Greats, and the opponent had only just passed his coming-of-age.

It was a sight that was hard to believe.

Kuung-!

“Kuhup.”

Tuduk-! Peng Zhou, hit in the face, spewed blood, staggered back a few steps, and knelt.

“Keok… heo… Heok…”

Although he wasn’t exactly known for a neat appearance originally, Peng Zhou, as the head of a prestigious family, always dressed impeccably.

But now, his appearance was vastly different from before the bout began.

Not only was his martial attire ruined, but his face was so swollen from the blows that his original appearance was completely gone.

He was bleeding and looked like he was struggling just to breathe.

Everyone covered their mouths at the utterly pathetic sight.

“I genuinely don’t understand.”

Seeing that sight, Gu Yangcheon slightly stretched his neck and said.

“Family Head-nim. You’re weak, so why did you act out?”

“…!”

The sharp words pierced straight through his chest.

Ttuk.

A drop of blood fell.

It was blood flowing from the surface of Gu Yangcheon’s fist.

“Kkeu…eu…heu…”

Seeing that, memories of the past surfaced.

Gu Cheol-un’s appearance began to overlap with Gu Yangcheon’s.

“…Bastard…”

His heart pounded.

Perhaps because it felt like the same situation he was in back then, Peng Zhou’s emotions boiled over.

A lot of time had passed since then.

Even though over ten years had passed, why was he in the same situation as back then?

What’s more, his opponent was that guy’s son.

To think he was suffering this humiliation even at the hands of the son of the man he wanted dead.

And in front of all these spectators…!

“I’ll… kill… I’ll kill him…”

A rage incomparable to the time with Tu Long.

Peng Zhou was rapidly losing his reason.

He no longer thought of it as a martial bout.

He gathered all the strength in his body, intending to use even his innate vital energy if necessary.

“Hmm.”

Seeing that, Gu Yangcheon nodded his head.

Was it because Peng Zhou started exerting his strength?

No. It wasn’t that.

Uung.

It was because of the energy he felt from his own heart.

Uuung-!

A signal felt from the demonic energy.

Gu Yangcheon felt it, covered his mouth, and chuckled slightly.

‘Done.’

After beating him thoroughly, it seemed like a little over an hour had thankfully passed.

The time he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

Having confirmed that, Gu Yangcheon…

“Yes, you… I will kill you no matter what it takes-!”

Ppak-!

“Keok!”

He approached Peng Zhou, who was spewing resentment, and struck him hard on the jaw.

Thump…. Boom-! Peng Zhou, who was uttering his words, lost consciousness and collapsed.

Gu Yangcheon kicked the fallen Peng Zhou, casually sending him aside.

A useless fool who couldn’t even be considered a toy.

Gu Yangcheon’s gaze towards Peng Zhou was filled only with indifference.

‘Tsk.’

Just wasted the feel of the fight.

Maybe it’s because I’ve only been beating up decent opponents lately. It feels like a waste of the effort I put in.

“W-what…? Uh…”

Seeing Peng Zhou collapse, the referee wore a dumbfounded expression.

It was likely because he hadn’t expected him to fall like this.

The Sword King (Dao Wang) had been defeated.

One of the Six Greats, the head of the Peng family. He was defeated by someone who had only just passed his coming-of-age.

Being beaten with such an overwhelming difference that he passed out, it was natural for the referee to be flustered.

“Sh-Shanxi guy…”

Just as the referee tried to speak, holding back his confusion.

Gu Yangcheon, who had already forgotten about Peng Zhou and was staring into space, reacted.

Seueu-.

He moved the demonic energy within his heart and sent it flowing rapidly.

The meaning of this energy was none other than:

‘Begin.’

It was a type of signal, and.

As it spread out.

“Gu Yangcheon wins…”

Just before the referee could announce Gu Yangcheon’s victory.

Deolkeong-!

A massive vibration erupted, and.

Kuuung—-!!!

The Martial Arts Alliance.

More precisely, the Henan region began to shake violently.