Chapter 857: Ilcheonkyo.

The Gate Master of Gyecheon stumbles backward after taking a blow to the knee.

He clenches his fist, intending to land another blow, but…

“Tsk.”

Ouyang Qian, who was about to continue his attack, suddenly creates distance.

A sword grazes past his face.

Even while taking the hit, he was attempting a counterattack.

‘Damn, he’s tough.’

Even after taking hits like that, he counterattacks. That’s some serious regenerative power.

‘At this rate, I’ll have to rip off an arm.’

Will he regenerate from this? My guess is no. If he does, then removing the limb entirely would be the correct approach.

However.

Swish.

The incoming assault was gradually intensifying.

‘Oh, really?’

Despite continuously inflicting damage, the Gate Master of Gyecheon hadn’t fallen. Watching him, Ouyang Qian thought:

Is his will exceptional? Or is his body gradually adapting?

Or perhaps…

‘Am I getting tired?’

He realizes it as he feels fatigue setting into his body.

He’s pouring excessive power into his swollen acupoints, so the rate at which he’s getting tired is increasing.

‘Hmm.’

This isn’t good. It seems I don’t have enough stamina for a prolonged fight.

‘Subduing him will be difficult.’

It would be different if I could use fire, but that’s too much right now.

I just need to kill him somehow.

[Grrr.]

The Gate Master of Gyecheon starts gathering strength. His movements were becoming increasingly violent.

I can feel his determination to endure the moment, somehow.

The opponent seems to be overexerting himself too. Watching him, Ouyang Qian takes a slight breath.

‘Looks like he’s waiting for reinforcements.’

It seems he’s waiting for someone else.

Then again. Wouldn’t there be other people in this vast underground?

‘I did kill everyone I saw, but….’

There must be more. That’s obvious. What if reinforcements arrive right now?

‘That could be quite dangerous.’

Objectively speaking, that was the case.

Namgung Bi-ah needed rest. Wi Seol-ah was here, so she could help, but… the fight would likely turn disadvantageous.

However, Ouyang Qian knew that perfectly well, yet he wasn’t particularly worried.

‘Reinforcements? Let them come if they can.’

If there’s anyone who can come, that is.

I’ve already made my move on their end.

So right now, I just need to focus on the fight ahead.

“Sssshhh-.”

He takes a deep breath and twists his waist.

Thump-! The energy from his heart spreads through his body. Pain causes his brow to furrow.

Tuapacheonmu.

With a powerful blow, it pierces straight into the Gate Master of Gyecheon. The opponent hastily raises both hands to block, but…

Kugugugugugu—!!!

His fist explodes upon contact with the opponent’s hands, sending him flying backward.

[Keeeuuuhh-!!]

The Gate Master of Gyecheon, absorbing the impact with his toes, barely manages to stop.

Seeing that, Ouyang Qian tilted his head.

‘What is it?’

It was weaker than I expected.

I definitely poured energy into it properly, yet the impact was less than expected.

My body is indeed tired, but this is different.

‘Could it be….’

What could be the problem? After thinking for a moment, Ouyang Qian narrows his brow this time.

‘Is it the nei? Is that the problem?’

Not ma gi, but nei.

I briefly reduced my ma gi to use Tuapacheonmu just now. Could that be the problem?

‘Hmm.’

I’m not sure. I need to test it a bit more.

I step on the ground, intending to charge at the Gate Master of Gyecheon…

Thump-!

‘Hm?’

But this time, the ground is the problem.

‘Oh no.’

The ground felt strange. I moved expecting it to break, but the ground didn’t even shake.

It’s different from before.

Fortunately, my movements weren’t thrown off, but it’s bothersome.

As I get closer, a sword flies towards me. I duck and evade the blade.

I thrust my fist straight into his abdomen.

[Kugh!]

It landed properly. The Gate Master of Gyecheon’s body floats up after taking the punch.

But…

Swish-!!!

This time too, the guy counterattacked. Hair cut off by the sword drifts through the air.

‘…I see.’

Only after seeing that did Ouyang Qian become certain.

‘This seems to be…

‘The nei isn’t working?’

It seemed the nei itself was the problem. The moment he realized it, he overlaid it with ma gi.

He then struck the opponent’s left shoulder forcefully.

[Keeeuuuhh!]

This time, it’s different from before.

The pained expression and the impact felt were completely opposite.

It was as expected.

‘Ma gi works, but nei works less.’

It’s not that it doesn’t work at all, but it seems to be significantly weakened.

‘And.’

Crackle.

He stomped on the ground with his foot.

Unlike before, this time it breaks.

‘Is this space like that too?’

I don’t know the principle behind it, but it seems the nei is indeed the problem.

‘Tsk.’

It was a truly troublesome space. But knowing is enough.

Ouyang Qian immediately released all his energy and filled himself with ma gi.

Hand-to-hand combat began again. Though you could call it hand-to-hand combat, the situation was the same.

It was violence.

Bang!

When a sword is swung, he dodges and lands a punch in the opening.

If the opponent tried to create distance, he’d catch up and beat him; if he tried to counter, he’d block it and beat him again.

He breaks it. He added more power to destroy the entire body.

Bang-! Bang-bang-! Bang-!!

To the ears, it sounded like a heavy impact, not like mere punches.

That means it’s a strong and brutal method.

‘This crap.’

Ouyang Qian, who was unleashing the attacks, didn’t look too pleased.

Honestly, it was a bit tough.

‘His speed is catching up.’

Even if I keep attacking and breaking him, his rate of recovery is fast.

I can only use simple attacks, so it can’t be helped.

At this point, I should be using strong firepower, but since I can’t use fire attacks, only Tuapacheonmu remains.

‘But this isn’t enough.’

Ma gi can be mixed into any martial art, so I could do it if I wanted to, but…

Tuapacheonmu wasn’t enough. It’s a martial art with strong recoil, and it’s uncertain if my acupoints could handle it.

In this situation, all I can do is endure and keep attacking.

[…Kuh…hehe.]

Suddenly, laughter was heard from ahead.

Seeing that, Ouyang Qian asked while moving his fist.

“What are you laughing at? You wanna die?”

[Khehe…It’s because it’s amusing.]

Srrrring-! The sword moved,

Ouyang Qian quickly dodges his head. The sword blade passes by a hair’s breadth.

‘I thought something was strange… Now I understand.’

Ouyang Qian leaps high, creating significant distance.

‘You. You’re tired, aren’t you?’

“…”

At the Gate Master of Gyecheon’s words, Ouyang Qian silently took a breath.

‘Your punches are getting weaker. They still sound like thunder, but the power that was like a comet just before is quite different.’

Oh no, I’ve been found out. Ouyang Qian finally chuckled wryly, as if disappointed.

‘Furthermore, seeing as you aren’t using your main attack, fire, it must mean… there’s some kind of problem.’

The old man is sharp. Ouyang Qian slightly loosens his shoulders and bites the edge of his lip.

Yeah, it was about time he started noticing.

‘As expected… Heaven is on my side.’

“Old man. If you keep spewing that bullshit, it won’t just end with you looking pathetic.”

He hides his ragged breathing.

How much nei is left? It seems about less than 20% remains.

Is it because my main attack, fire, is restricted? I’ve used too much unnecessary power.

It’s an extremely difficult situation.

Ouyang Qian knew that, but he didn’t show it.

“So what? What about it?”

I can’t unleash flames.

His body seems to be getting stronger, so if it becomes a long fight, I might be pushed back.

But.

So?

“That doesn’t mean you’ll win.”

‘Are you trying to make a last desperate stand? Neither you nor those women should have come here.’

“Bullshit.”

I’ve finished catching my breath.

The problem is that while I was stabilizing my breathing, that guy must have recovered more.

If I could somehow replenish my depleted energy, it might be possible… What should I do? Ouyang Qian kept his thoughts racing even as he spoke.

“I know you’re plotting something stupid, but there’s only so much I can pretend not to notice.”

[Ha.]

The Gate Master of Gyecheon lets out a hollow laugh.

‘You already knew?’

“Well, not entirely. I could sense a foul stench coming from that side. A smell thick with desire.”

‘Do not insult me…!’

The Gate Master of Gyecheon snapped angrily.

‘How dare you, who knows nothing…! This is all for the sake of Heaven.’

“It’s always the freaks obsessed with weird religions who say things like that.”

For the sake of Heaven, my ass. What do they even know about what those guys want?

It’s something I can’t understand at all, but.

‘Looking at that body, it doesn’t seem like something trivial.’

The Gate Master of Gyecheon was now completely different from before. I don’t know what method he used, but if he reached that state, I couldn’t just ignore it.

Despite Ouyang Qian’s reaction, the Gate Master of Gyecheon only spat out words filled with anger.

‘You don’t know. Neither the paradise we dream of, nor the treasure we prepared for it.’

“Of course, there’s no way I’d know…”

Just as I was about to dismiss it because I didn’t want to hear it.

“Paradise?”

Ouyang Qian caught a strange word from the Gate Master of Gyecheon’s mouth.

‘Paradise?’

Paradise. It looks like just a beautiful word, but in Ouyang Qian’s mind, it became a word bristling with thorns.

It overlaps with something Blood Demon said once.

‘I think he mentioned dreaming of paradise too.’

Is it purely a coincidence? I have a strong feeling it’s not.

‘The elders will arrive soon. Then, it will be the end for you. I will never let you go.’

Seeing hope, the Gate Master of Gyecheon became triumphant again. Ouyang Qian looked at him and asked.

“…Is that ridiculous body of yours now, too. Something the great Heaven bestowed upon you?”

It was a question meant to probe slightly, but the Gate Master of Gyecheon immediately took the bait.

‘Ha… To say such things even after witnessing the greatness of the Yeouiju. Have you still not realized the reality?’

‘Yeouiju?’

Yeoui…ju (pearl)?

At the Gate Master’s words, Ouyang Qian furrowed his brow. For some reason, he felt like he understood something.

Then, he took something out of his pocket and showed it to the Gate Master of Gyecheon.

‘What are you… Huh?’

The object he showed was none other than a bead. It was a pure white bead, about the size of a sword hilt.

At the object Ouyang Qian took out, the Gate Master of Gyecheon’s eyes widened.

‘You… How did you…!’

“Is this the Yeouiju you mentioned?”

Perhaps when I first arrived here and killed that big old man. I got this item then.

When he showed it kindly, an intense flame surged in the Gate Master of Gyecheon’s eyes.

‘You–! Didn’t I ask where you got that!’

Perhaps enraged enough, the Gate Master of Gyecheon charges at Ouyang Qian.

His appearance was filled with madness, truly terrifying, but.

“Hmm….”

Even in that situation, Ouyang Qian calmly stared at the bead.

For now, even looking at it, I feel nothing.

‘Eating it might be a bit much, right?’

It seems like this is what the guy mentioned, but it’s an item I don’t know what it is.

Consuming something so dangerous right now would be a gamble.

For now, I’ll put it away and deal with the fight first. Just as he finished thinking that.

‘W-wait!’

Seeing something, the Gate Master of Gyecheon urgently cries out,

“What do you mean stop- gulp…?”

Ouyang Qian froze completely as his throat moved on its own.

“Huh?”

He rolls his eyes and looks at his hand.

The bead he was holding just moments ago is gone.

He swept his hand across his chest.

And then he realized.

“…Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.”

He could feel something going in.

He had eaten the bead. It wasn’t his own will.

As Ouyang Qian stood dumbfounded by the ridiculous situation,

Thump-!

With the heartbeat, a change began.