Chapter 888: I missed you.

gugugugu---!!!

“Guh!”

“…What the…!”

The air changed in an instant.

The warriors of the Alliance clutched their chests, overwhelmed by the scorching heat.

It wasn’t just the heat. Pressure vibrated all around.

The air felt heavy.

It was exhausting just to breathe. Those whose cultivation had surpassed the peak could barely endure it.

“Ggureureuk….”

“Kkeoeoeo….”

Those below that level collapsed, foaming at the mouth. Their mental fortitude seemed unable to withstand it.

Moreover, the intensity grew stronger and stronger.

Along with the heat, the pressure soared endlessly.

It was a situation where someone might die, crushed by the pressure at any moment.

“Star King.”

kkigigik-!

Just then, Jinryeong Geomje spat out the words and gripped his sword.

Giiiiiiing---!!!

Then, the sword cried out. Emitting deep vibrations, the blade wailed, and the sword aura thus created began to push back the pressure.

Geomje’s energy and Gu Yangcheon’s energy clashed.

kkigigigigik---!!!

Vast energies collided, distorting the very air. Neither side yielded an inch.

And. This meant, in other words…

“…The Seongryong Brigade Leader isn’t being pushed back by the Suho Brigade Leader?”

“That’s impossible-!”

It meant Gu Yangcheon was a martial artist on par with Geomje.

Youngest King. Future Number One Under Heaven. The Last Disciple of the Greats, etc. There were many titles for Gu Yangcheon, but Geomje was no different.

No, if anything, Geomje likely had far more.

Guardian of the Murim Alliance and ranked among the top ten masters. Furthermore, he was evaluated as the closest martial artist to the Three Saints, alongside Maehwaseon.

This alone showed Geomje’s value and power.

“And Star King isn’t being pushed back by that Geomje…?”

It was truly an unbelievable sight.

Unbelievable. If I had only heard about it, I would have certainly thought so.

“It really… it really is.”

Gu Yangcheon’s appearance truly reflected it.

Flames fluttered, emitting heat.

It was so hot that the surroundings felt like midsummer, and nearby weeds burned, clearly showing its presence.

Get closer, and you’ll burn to death.

It was a situation where instinct told you this.

Therefore, no one could get close.

“Star King.”

Geomje called Gu Yangcheon’s name softly once more.

Gu Yangcheon frowned and smiled.

Along with the smile, an immense killing intent erupted.

Feeling it, Geomje frowned this time.

‘Hot.’

Even the killing intent was hot. Hot enough for the heat to cling to his body wrapped in qi.

How on earth was Gu Yangcheon here? Geomje pondered this even while pushing back the energy.

‘How could someone who should be in Sichuan…’

He had known Gu Yangcheon was in Sichuan just a few days ago; what was this appearance now?

When did he return?

‘Did he come after hearing news of his father?’

Judging by the circumstances, it seemed so, but he couldn’t believe it.

When did he get the information, and if that information went by carrier pigeon, when was that?

No matter how he calculated it, the time of Gu Yangcheon’s arrival was utterly strange.

‘Did he arrive in just a few days?’

It was possible. If he poured all his energy solely into lightness skill, it might be feasible, but…

‘Then, he should have exhausted most of his energy.’

Even after rushing like that, he still had the capacity to emit this much killing intent?

Geomje couldn’t understand.

“Why so quiet?”

“…”

At the voice, Geomje tightened his grip.

Uwoooong---!!! The sword aura intensified.

“If you called, speak. You seem to have something to say.”

“Have you forgotten where this place is?”

“I haven’t forgotten. It’s the Murim Alliance, isn’t it?”

“Knowing that, what is this you’re doing?”

“That’s why I told you.”

Gu Yangcheon narrowed his eyes. At that moment, his killing intent slightly subsided.

Was his strength lacking? No. Geomje didn’t let his guard down even then.

“Just answer my question properly. But if you won’t do that, I have to try and get the answer.”

Try?

Geomje, who was about to speak about that…

“So, please entertain me for a moment.”

Before he could say anything, he had to draw his sword.

He angled the sword face to the left. At that moment…

Kuung-!

“…!”

He deflected the foot with his sword face and immediately raised his energy.

Gu Yangcheon saw it and sprayed flames into the air.

Kwaaaaaaaa---!!!

The flames exploded, and Gu Yangcheon shot up into the air.

Swish-! The sword sliced through the flames. If he had been a moment slower, Gu Yangcheon would have been cut.

Despite this, Geomje didn’t regret it.

‘He aimed for it.’

That fleeting moment wasn’t his regret, but something Gu Yangcheon had created.

The exchange just now was enough.

‘Does this mean we’re equal?’

From the recent exchange, Geomje confirmed Gu Yangcheon was his equal.

Shock washed over him. How could that young child? The question was pointless.

He didn’t have time to be swayed by such things.

Giiing-!

The sword aura spread.

Taesan Chuggeom (Five Swords of Mount Tai).

Geomje’s unique martial art unfolded from the tip of his sword.

A single, softly drawn sword strike cut through the air.

Kuuung--!!

Was it for an attack? No.

With that single strike, the pressure spreading around subsided.

Only then did the warriors gasp for breath.

This sword strike.

Chwaaaahwak---!!!

The second sword strike soared into the air.

The size of the flying sword energy was immense.

Gu Yangcheon thrust out his fist.

Hwarureureuk---!!!

Guyeomtaerang.

Flames shaped like beasts met the sword energy.

Peoong--!!! Light bloomed in the air like exploding fireworks.

Observing the scattering light, Gu Yangcheon’s eyes darted rapidly.

Third sword strike.

“Tsk.”

He twisted his body to the left and reached out. Bang-! He struck the sword face that had flown in unnoticed. Angling it, sword energy shot towards the ground.

Kwaaaaaa--!!

A deep, long sword mark, like the character ‘one’ (一), was engraved into the ground.

‘He’s a more brutish old man than I thought.’

He chuckled. He had heard Geomje’s sword style was rough and heavy rather than precise, and it was certainly true.

It was incredibly heavy.

Moreover, it wasn’t over yet.

Fourth sword strike.

Even though the attack failed, it wasn’t over. He generated qi in his body and simultaneously put strength into his heart.

Guyeomtaeryuna.

Azure flames burst from his body. He had added power to the heat, but it was also to obscure vision.

Swishhhhhh---!!! Chwaak---!!!

It was a fierce wind pressure, like a storm brewing.

The sound came immediately after the sword strike passed. The speed was incredible.

Perhaps thanks to the flames, the hit didn’t land.

He succeeded in evading up to the fourth strike.

However.

‘Not yet.’

Taesan Chuggeom consists of five strikes. And, it was safe to say it existed for that final strike.

‘From the start, the fourth was just for warming up.’

It was to build up power gradually, and the strength accumulated would explode in the end.

“Hoo.”

As if proving it, Geomje gripped his sword with a short breath.

‘He doesn’t care about fighting in mid-air?’

Aerial combat without footing. An environment where a swordsman’s power inevitably weakens.

Yet, Geomje moved his sword as if unconcerned by such things.

It was to cut Gu Yangcheon.

No, would it be right to call that ‘cutting’?

Seeing the moving sword strike, Gu Yangcheon scowled.

‘That’s closer to crushing.’

Even if he’s brutish, does he have such brutish strength?

I don’t think Dangdeok or Dowang fought like this. Geomje was far more aggressive than them.

‘The unwavering guardian of the Alliance.’

They said he was Mount Tai itself; if this was Mount Tai, he could accept it.

But.

Kkaang---!!!

“–!”

Gu Yangcheon raised his hand and blocked Geomje’s fifth strike.

He just lifted his forearm. Yet, his arm wasn’t severed, and the sword stopped.

“What the…!”

Even the world-renowned Geomje’s eyes widened in surprise.

It couldn’t be helped.

‘I have my own ways too.’

Gui Jeong was wrapped around his arm.

It absolutely wouldn’t break. This characteristic was incredibly useful right now.

Moreover.

Hwiririric-!

Gui Jeong unwound from his forearm and bound Geomje’s sword.

“…Huh.”

Geomje saw the situation and immediately tried to pull his sword free, but it wouldn’t budge.

It was bound.

Thinking so, he opened his palm.

Hwarureureuk---!!!

Heat gathered above his palm, creating a Flame Prison.

There was no hesitation. He thrust the Flame Prison directly at Geomje.

Ung-!

Then, along with a small vibration.

Kuaaaaaaaa---!!!

The Flame Prison exploded.

---

Hoo-doo-doo-dook--!!

Embers fell from the air onto the ground.

The heat remained, so it should have burned the ground, but it didn’t.

That was because the caster didn’t want it to.

“…”

Landing lightly on the ground, he looked around.

People were staring at him with shocked eyes.

The gazes were uncomfortable, but he didn’t pay them much mind.

Jikkeun-!

‘Damn.’

He felt a throbbing pain in his arm. It was the arm that had blocked Geomje’s final strike.

Thanks to Gui Jeong, the defense was successful, but it couldn’t absorb all the impact.

Still, it wasn’t enough to immobilize him. It was probably just moderately cracked.

Shaking his hand, he surveyed the front.

Thump.

Just as I landed on the ground, another person landed as well.

It was Geomje.

“Cough.”

Geomje coughed dryly and spat out blood.

It wasn’t a large amount.

‘Too bad.’

If it had landed properly, it would have been over. Geomje didn’t take my attack fully.

‘He let go at the last moment.’

The moment Gui Jeong bound Geomje’s sword. Before blocking the Flame Prison, Geomje let go of his sword.

This was my mistake.

‘I should have grabbed his arm properly.’

The impact on my arm was greater than expected, clouding my judgment for a moment.

Geomje didn’t miss that opening.

Geomje wiped the blood from his lips and glared at me.

The killing intent in his eyes was unusual.

“Do you really intend to make a mistake?”

Those were Geomje’s words.

“A mistake?”

“You’ve crossed the line now. This means we have no choice but to consider you an enemy of the Alliance. Have you not considered that?”

“I did consider it.”

Why wouldn’t I consider it? I considered it plenty. I just made a choice after considering it.

“I did consider it, but…”

Swooosh.... Qi enveloped my body.

“After reaching a conclusion, I decided it didn’t matter much.”

“What?”

“Enemy of the Alliance or whatever else you want to call it. I don’t really care.”

Hwarureureuk-! The gathered flames gradually took shape.

What was formed was a holy spear.

“So, please answer me. If you don’t want to make me an enemy.”

“…Truly arrogant.”

“I hear that often.”

I raised the holy spear and aimed it at Geomje.

Now I could maintain it without needing to wrap my mind around it.

“Where is my father?”

“Currently, the Gu family head is a criminal.”

“Yes, I heard that.”

Fucking hell, though.

“He is imprisoned in the Alliance for committing crimes, do you think these actions of yours will help your father?”

“No. They probably wouldn’t help much.”

“…What?”

Geomje was momentarily taken aback by the confident answer.

If my father were a criminal, that would be true. My causing such a ruckus would only bring losses, not benefits.

Not just for my father himself, but for the Gu family too.

But.

“If my father really were a criminal, then yes.”

As far as I thought…

“My father isn’t the type of person to commit crimes.”

My father wasn’t the kind of man who would commit crimes.

“So don’t feed me any bullshit.”

I poured more flames into the holy spear I held. I continued to increase its size and compression.

“Whether you put on a fucking act for me or scheme behind my back, I’d usually tolerate it. But this is just wrong.”

“Star King.”

“There are things one shouldn’t touch. And yet, it’s just the Murim Alliance?”

I lifted the corner of my mouth.

“If I were afraid of things like that, I wouldn’t have come.”

“…”

I put strength into my legs. My soles dug into the ground.

“You’re reckless.”

Seeing that, Geomje’s gaze turned cold. The atmosphere changed drastically.

“From now on, I will consider Star King an enemy of the Alliance.”

A chill ran down my skin. Did he mean he had treated me as a comrade until now?

It felt too easy somehow.

“I will kill the enemy of the Murim Alliance right here.”

“Go ahead.”

Accepting the killing intent, I threw the holy spear forward.

Kiiiiiiiii---!!!

The holy spear tore through the air, flying towards Geomje.

In response, Geomje drew his sword.

His dropped sword was spinning on the ground, but Geomje always carried a spare sword.

Taesan Chuggeom.

Secret technique.

Taesan Jinryeongseom.

Light erupted from Geomje’s sword.

Just as the energies were about to clash.

Swish-.

Golden energy fell between them from somewhere.

And then.

Kang-!

With a small sound, a change occurred.

The holy spear, which had been piercing forward, changed trajectory and shot up into the sky. Geomje’s sword strike couldn’t continue.

Someone was stepping on the sword’s edge, preventing Geomje from swinging it.

That person probably interfered with my holy spear too.

Not only did they intervene, but they also blocked the attack.

I had to narrow my eyes and look at the culprit.

“…Well, look at this?”

The opponent was a masked figure. A figure clad in golden energy around their feet and sword.

I knew who it was.

‘The Sinryong Brigade Leader.’

The leader of the newly established Sinryong Brigade.

That guy was the one who stopped me and Geomje.