Chapter v18c8

## The Voice-Changing Man

– Azure Dragon Falls to Earth

“Chief Commander Blood Mark, what’s the holdup? Was your mission to subdue the Yoo family, or to engage in idle chatter?”

A voice boomed, echoing throughout the hall. It came from beyond the door, but it was as clear as if it had been spoken right next to them. A testament to the speaker’s profound internal energy. The masked man, Blood Mark, who had been confronting Yoo Jae-Ryong, whipped his head around. The arrogant demeanor he had displayed moments ago vanished. It was as if the simple act of turning his head, using his neck muscles and bones, had transformed him. He looked terrified.

The masked men guarding the entrance parted, creating a path for a single figure to enter.

“C-Commander!”

Blood Mark stammered, his voice trembling. Yoo Jae-Ryong groaned inwardly as he heard the title.

‘Is this the real boss?’

But…

‘Huh?’

Something was off.

Yoo Jae-Ryong stared intently at the figure who had entered the hall. Whether it was a fight or a business deal, understanding your opponent was crucial.

This man, addressed as “Commander,” was dressed slightly differently from the other masked men. It was difficult to discern in the darkness, and those who operated in the shadows rarely revealed their true identities. But he could tell that this was the true leader. The man he had been dealing with moments ago was just a commander, albeit the Chief Commander, which meant he was probably second in command. But he paled in comparison to this “Commander.” Their aura was completely different. There were many things in this world that a piece of black cloth couldn’t conceal, and aura was one of them. But it wasn’t the appearance of a formidable opponent that troubled Yoo Jae-Ryong.

‘That’s… impossible…’

He felt like he had met this masked Commander before. The aura was familiar. It was distorted, but there was an undeniable sense of familiarity. A thousand questions swirled in his mind, forming a cloud of suspicion.

‘Familiar?’

Familiar? What nonsense was this? This was the man who had destroyed his business and slaughtered his men. How could he possibly feel a sense of familiarity? The choice of words was wrong, utterly wrong. The dissonance was so jarring that he felt a surge of nausea. He wanted to spit. But it was just a feeling, a vague, formless sensation. His mind was clouded, unable to grasp the truth. He couldn’t identify the emotion he was feeling.

“I have one question.”

Yoo Jae-Ryong said. He had to confirm this feeling.

“I have no answer.”

The voice was muffled, grating, and unpleasant. It was a minor detail, easily overlooked, but Yoo Jae-Ryong didn’t let it slide.

“Do you have a cold, or do you always sound like a pig being slaughtered?”

His initial question hadn’t been out of genuine curiosity, but rather an attempt to hear the Blood Man’s voice. The content of the answer didn’t matter. But the Blood Man, sensing his intention, had disguised his voice.

“It’s tough being at the bottom. I’ve been overworked lately, my health has deteriorated. You understand. We don’t have much time left, anyway.”

The masked man retorted. His voice was still disguised. He had disguised his voice upon their first meeting? While wearing a mask? It was suspicious. To deliberately alter his voice meant he had something to hide. Did that mean he was someone Yoo Jae-Ryong knew well enough to warrant such caution? The thought made him even more determined to uncover the truth. He had nothing to lose. He was ready to go down fighting. A merchant had to know the difference between what could be traded and what couldn’t. He had no intention of begging for his life.

“Well, I tried to understand, but I can’t. Have we met before?”

Flinch!

It was a fleeting moment, a barely perceptible flinch, but he didn’t miss it. Words weren’t the only form of communication. Nonverbal cues were often more reliable than words, which could be easily manipulated.

“It seems we have met. Haven’t we?”

“Who knows? Does it really matter?”

The masked man was implying that it was pointless to dwell on such things, as he was going to die anyway.

“Still playing dumb? Why don’t you just tell me? Consider it a parting gift.”

Yoo Jae-Ryong vowed to uncover his identity, even if it meant dying in the process.

“Kill yourself, and I’ll tell you.”

Yoo Jae-Ryong’s face contorted in anger.

“I’ll pass on that offer.”

He focused on the man’s voice. Even with a deliberate disguise, speech patterns were difficult to change. He tried to prolong the conversation, hoping to catch a tell, but failed. The masked figure’s replies were too short. He couldn’t identify him through his voice. But there was another method.

“Alright. Then tell me your name. At least that much. I don’t need your real name. What name are you using now?”

“Slaughter. Dragon! Commander Slaughter Dragon of the Slaughter Dragon Unit! That is my name.”

His answer was short, but it was enough to ignite Yoo Jae-Ryong’s suppressed fury. His eyes blazed with anger. There was no need to wait any longer. There was something even harder to conceal than speech patterns: martial arts. Martial arts techniques weren’t just about swinging a sword. They embodied a person’s entire life, their experiences, their struggles. To master a martial art was to completely immerse oneself in its form, or vice versa. A martial art was a reflection of its practitioner, their face, their very being.

‘Swords are honest!’

There was no sound more honest than the clash of steel.

Yes, he would find out through combat.

“Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea!”

Yoo Jae-Ryong lunged, his sword held high. Like a dragon leaping from the water, his Azure Dragon Sword spiraled towards Slaughter Dragon’s heart. Just as the tip of his sword was about to pierce his heart, Slaughter Dragon drew his sword, a blade named Dragon Slayer.

Clang!

“Gasp!”

Yoo Jae-Ryong’s eyes widened in shock as the partially drawn blade intercepted his Azure Dragon Sword with perfect precision. It was a flawless defense, as if he had anticipated every variation of the “Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea” technique.

“How… how is this possible?!”

Yoo Jae-Ryong flipped backward, retreating hastily. Slaughter Dragon didn’t pursue him. He calmly finished drawing his sword and let it hang loosely at his side. Then, he beckoned with two fingers.

“Come.”

Yoo Jae-Ryong was enraged by his dismissive gesture.

“Fine! I’ll come!”

He tightened his grip on his sword, his knuckles turning white as he channeled his internal energy. He was ready to exhaust himself completely.

“Take this!”

He unleashed the eighth technique of the Azure Dragon Thirteen Styles: Dragon Fang Rips Through Clouds. It was one of the most aggressive techniques in the Azure Dragon Thirteen Styles, its name signifying the power of a dragon’s fangs tearing through clouds.

Clang! Clatter!

But once again, Slaughter Dragon effortlessly deflected his attacks with a few flicks of his wrist. Yoo Jae-Ryong’s Azure Dragon Swordsmanship vanished like magic, neutralized by a few simple gestures. And what was most astonishing was that Slaughter Dragon hadn’t moved an inch.

Yoo Jae-Ryong was dumbfounded. At this rate, he would be defeated before he could even figure out his opponent’s martial arts.

“O-one more time! I just slipped! I won’t fail this time!”

Slaughter Dragon scoffed.

“It won’t make a difference, Yoo Jae-Ryong, even if you try a hundred times! You’re powerless! Surrender the key! How much more humiliation do you need to understand?!”

‘Calm down. Don’t fall for his provocations. Find yourself.’

Yoo Jae-Ryong closed his eyes, ignoring his taunt. It was dangerous to close your eyes in the middle of a fight, but it was even more dangerous to lose yourself to anger.

“Hoo… hoo…”

He focused on his breathing, calming his raging heart. The mind and body were interconnected, so by controlling his breath, he could control his emotions. As his mind calmed down, he started to see things he hadn’t noticed before.

‘This is strange.’

His opponent was reacting to his Azure Dragon Thirteen Styles with incredible familiarity. It was as if they were sparring partners, effortlessly deflecting his relentless attacks. There was no hesitation, no surprise in his movements. It was as if he could see right through his techniques. He definitely knew Yoo Jae-Ryong.

‘Who is he?’

This was dangerous. His opponent knew him inside and out, while he was still in the dark. The longer this went on, the more disadvantageous it would become. His energy was draining away like sand through his fingers.

He would reach his limit soon. His arms felt heavy as lead, his breath ragged, his body fatigued, while his opponent remained calm and composed. He effortlessly deflected Yoo Jae-Ryong’s attacks, showing no signs of fatigue. He couldn’t delay any longer. He had to make a move, a gamble. Otherwise, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

When Yoo Jae-Ryong opened his eyes, his gaze had changed. The slight tremor in his swordsmanship had vanished. His body had influenced his mind, and now his mind was influencing his body.

Swish!

He raised his Azure Dragon Sword, gripped tightly in both hands, at an angle. A sharp aura emanated from him.

“Come!”

“I’m coming!”

He decided to stake everything on the Azure Dragon Thirteen Styles, the culmination of his lifelong training. Yoo Jae-Ryong leaped.

‘Here it comes!’

For the first time, Slaughter Dragon, who had been standing motionless, reacted. He finally assumed a stance.

The most powerful techniques in the Azure Dragon Thirteen Styles, the secret swordsmanship of the Blue Dragon Manor, were concentrated in the double-digit techniques. The tenth technique, Azure Dragon Leaps Over the Sea, signified the dragon’s power to churn the ocean, and the eleventh technique, Azure Dragon Soars Through the Heavens, represented the dragon’s ability to fly across the sky. These two techniques, combined with the twelfth technique, Azure Dragon Calls Forth Wind and Rain, formed a devastating triple-strike combo.

The secret technique of the Azure Dragon Thirteen Styles, the Three-Stage Chain Attack: Soaring Dragon Ascends.

Slaughter Dragon raised his sword high above his head, and then swung it down with blinding speed.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

The diagonal, whirlwind-like strikes of the “Azure Dragon Calls Forth Wind and Rain” technique were effortlessly neutralized by Slaughter Dragon’s sword, which seemed to anticipate every move.

“….”

He blocked the heavy downward strike of the “Azure Dragon Leaps Over the Sea” technique, stepping back to absorb its force.

“!!”

The final technique, “Azure Dragon Soars Through the Heavens,” was unleashed as Yoo Jae-Ryong landed, spinning his body and launching himself upwards. He poured all his remaining energy into this final strike.

But Slaughter Dragon, as if he could see right through his trajectory, sidestepped the attack, narrowly avoiding the deadly blade.

“!!”

A failed attack created an even bigger opening. A dragon without wind and rain was as vulnerable as a naked man.

‘I’ve been waiting for this!’

“You’re defeated, Yoo Jae-Ryong!”

Slaughter Dragon leaped, his Dragon Slayer sword radiating a blood-red aura.

Dragon Slaying Decapitation: Azure Dragon Falls to Earth!

It was a technique specifically designed to counter the Soaring Dragon Ascends.

“Gasp!”

Yoo Jae-Ryong hastily lowered his sword to block the attack.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

But it was impossible to withstand the force of Slaughter Dragon’s sword in his current, unbalanced state. Yoo Jae-Ryong coughed up blood and was sent flying like a kite with a broken string.

Thud! Thud!

He bounced twice on the ground, rolled, and then collapsed.

“It’s over!”

Slaughter Dragon said, turning away. But then…

“…it is.”

A faint voice came from behind him.

“Not… yet!”

The second time, the voice was clearer.

Yoo Jae-Ryong struggled to his feet, using his sword as a crutch. Blood streamed from his mouth, his internal injuries severe.

“How pathetic, Yoo Jae-Ryong! Do you even realize how pitiful you look, struggling in the mud of despair?”

Slaughter Dragon scoffed.

“I don’t care how pathetic I look! I still have something to protect! And my final transaction isn’t over yet!”

Clang!

He raised his sword with his mangled right arm and flicked the blade with his left index finger.

Ting! Ting! Ting! Ting!

Once, twice, three times, four times…

He flicked the blade relentlessly, ignoring the pain as his fingernail cracked and blood seeped from his fingertip.

“What’s that noise? Are you trying to annoy me to death?”

“The secret technique of the Azure Dragon Thirteen Styles: Old Dragon’s Roaring Sound! This is just a warm-up before I send you to hell!”

“You’re the one going to hell!”

Yoo Jae-Ryong charged again, unleashing the Soaring Dragon Ascends. Slaughter Dragon laughed incredulously.

“Hah! Have you lost your mind? Do you think you can succeed by repeating the same attack? In your current state?! You fool!”

He was right. The Soaring Dragon Ascends, significantly weakened compared to his previous attempt, was easily neutralized. Slaughter Dragon mocked his foolishness.

“I knew it wouldn’t work!”

“What?!”

There was actually another stage to the Soaring Dragon Ascends. But it was a technique that required the user to be willing to die. And Yoo Jae-Ryong knew that this was the time.

“Yeong-Ah! Seon-Ah! You must survive!”

He burned away the last of his life force, seeking a momentary surge of power.