“Senior, step back!”
“It’s dangerous!”
Black Cat and Hyeok Gi-rin urged me to stop, but I drew my sword and said, “This is the best option.”
The escape route was blocked. Defeating Jeong Cheol was the only way to survive, and to take him down, I had to risk my life and launch an attack.
…Even the peak stages were struggling against Jeong Cheol. Honestly, the only way to attack him was through a suicidal charge.
Perhaps sensing the determination behind my words, Miss Yeo Il-ye wiped the blood from her mouth and rose to her feet. Black Cat grit her teeth and unleashed her Nine Yin technique, while Hyeok Gi-rin crouched down, readying himself to spring forward.
Tang Do-yeon and Tang So-yeol also approached from either side, steeling themselves for the risk of an attack.
It seemed our group was aware that continuing like this would lead to certain defeat, silently preparing to unleash all their strength.
It was truly a life-and-death gamble.
“Haaaap!”
The one to signal the beginning of the offensive was Black Cat. With a momentum like a tidal wave, she launched a powerful attack at Jeong Cheol.
As Black Cat pressured Jeong Cheol, Tang So-yeol and Tang Do-yeon unleashed their hidden weapons, slicing through the air. Jeong Cheol frantically swung his sword, deflecting the incoming attacks.
Kuuuuung!!
Just when Black Cat’s Nine Yin technique diverted Jeong Cheol’s focus, Yeo Il-ye’s momentum caught his attention.
Despite her injuries, Yeo Il-ye emanated a fierce energy and threw her sword at Jeong Cheol.
He was momentarily taken aback, but the thought that it was the best choice quickly crossed my mind. After all, Yeo Il-ye’s physical condition couldn’t endure Jeong Cheol’s techniques. Thus, it would be better to launch a desperate throw with all her strength, even if her energy was weakened.
Zseeek!!
“Keuk!”
It worked! Jeong Cheol staggered back a few steps after receiving Yeo Il-ye’s sword.
Her concentrated attack was indeed powerful, but the Nine Yin technique was preventing Jeong Cheol from fully countering with his usual strength.
Zzzzzt!
Ice flowers blossomed on Jeong Cheol, pushed back by Yeo Il-ye’s attack. His body was forced into the area dominated by the icy aura created by the Nine Yin technique.
“Enough is enough!”
Whaaaam!!
A vast amount of energy exploded from Jeong Cheol. If Yeo Il-ye hadn’t traveled with him and gotten used to the overwhelming flow of internal energy, she might have been shocked by the sheer force.
The massive flow of energy shocked Black Cat’s technique away and restricted my companions’ movements.
I realized that an opportunity had arrived.
Krrrriiing.
I heard a phantom sound.
In this extreme situation, perhaps my resolve to take a step that could be my last had gained insight into martial arts.
Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique.
The cloud that surprises a person has no heart.
It essentially taught that thunder comes, implying I might have grasped the essence of the technique as thunder rumbled in my mind now.
As if to confirm that my assumption was correct, the flow of Qi became much smoother all at once.
Like a spring, charging up, I gathered internal energy like storing pressure in my legs.
Preparing the first form of the Seven Thunder Defense Technique, the One Lightning Direct Thunder Step.
As the accumulated energy awaited a moment of spark, creating thunder that resonates with the air and the lightning that tears the earth, my legs stored enough internal energy to explode at any moment.
The intense flow of energy hammered on my body, but I ignored it.
Jeong Cheol wouldn’t understand my struggle, but I had been thoroughly beaten by Yeo Il-ye. I had certainly experienced enough pressure from an overwhelming flow of energy.
Of course, the intensity of the peak stage Jeong Cheol and the end of Hwa-gyeong were completely different.
If Yeo Il-ye’s energy was just wind, Jeong Cheol’s explosive energy was like a sandstorm.
That said, the methods of enduring were similar.
Kwahahhhh!!!
As the flow of energy hit its climax, I opened my eyes and looked ahead. Coincidentally or intentionally, Jeong Cheol was staring at me, and our gazes met.
Crack.
In media, they often depict gazes as lightning. Have you ever seen a scene where two people glare at each other and lightning sparks from their eyes?
In my heart, sparks flew as I looked into Jeong Cheol’s eyes.
In that moment, a surge of emotion welled up. Was it hate? Anger? Or perhaps sadness? Some indescribable sensation overflowed momentarily.
Something hidden in the depths of my heart, in a place even I didn’t know, suddenly erupted.
Yet that feeling quickly faded away.
Kwahhhhh!!!
The spark erupted in my leg, causing the Enlightened Cloud Thunder technique’s power to explode. Even in that brief moment, the pain felt like tearing my muscle apart. But the cost of that pain was certainly evident.
At that instant, I became a bolt of lightning.
Of course, I didn’t literally become lightning… but I was fast enough to make me doubt that I could charge at such speed.
Was I at a crossroads between life and death?
In the sensation where a moment felt infinitely stretched, I gazed at Jeong Cheol. It seemed he hadn’t anticipated my speed either, as I could see his eyes widen.
But soon, Jeong Cheol’s expression morphed into one of murderous intent. If he could, he would probably want to kill me four times over.
However, it wasn’t a situation that would allow him to execute that.
The whip from Tang Do-yeon charging in from the side and Hyeok Gi-rin’s impending attack from behind would surely follow.
In that fleeting moment, I was filled with certainty.
This would work.
The image I had envisioned in my mind and the reality began to align.
Black Cat’s Nine Yin technique wore down Jeong Cheol’s energy, and he, unable to endure it any longer, had released his internal energy at a great cost. This had created an energy vacuum. I, taking that void, had perfectly targeted Jeong Cheol and forced him into a dilemma.
Would he attack me or deflect Tang Do-yeon’s whip?
If he defended against both, he wouldn’t be able to handle Hyeok Gi-rin’s attack coming up from behind.
Though all of them were peak stages, there is a hierarchy in those stages. If we were to consider purely the achievements in martial arts, Hyeok Gi-rin was the closest to Hwa-gyeong compared to the rest of the group.
Originally, Hyeok Gi-rin was a consummate peak stage and had even attained realization.
No matter how strong Jeong Cheol was, it was impossible for him to withstand a full-power strike from Hyeok Gi-rin while unprepared.
With that judgment established, I felt more at ease.
No matter what choice Jeong Cheol made, the only one in danger would be my life; my companions could escape.
As the situation unfolded where I alone faced possible death, I felt the weight on my heart lift.
With a sense of lightness, I activated the Enlightened Cloud technique once more.
Wrrrrrung.
A thunderous sound filled with less energy than before reached my ears, but I paid no heed and filled my stable legs with internal energy.
Jeong Cheol was definitely following our path. I didn’t know how much he had been behind us, but he had certainly been observing us for at least a day or two. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have found us disguised as Jeokgwi Daebyeol. He also wouldn’t have thought to corner us and finish us off in this cave.
There was a way out.
If Jeong Cheol had truly been watching us while waiting for the right moment, he would have seen me training as well. Then, he’d understand my capabilities and limitations.
What would he think of my current state compared to the sweaty mess I was in when merely utilizing the First Swing of the Azure Cloud Sword?
Surely, he’d perceive me as unleashing a desperate move with no way out.
And that judgment was indeed correct.
Until a thunderous thought rang in my mind.
It provided me a single, fleeting chance to move.
Watching the murderous intent flickering in Jeong Cheol’s eyes, I was sure he was determined to kill me this time, even if it meant sacrificing himself to the whip from Tang Do-yeon.
I didn’t even consider the possibility of evading Jeong Cheol’s attack entirely. I would be sacrificing limbs to withstand heavy injuries just to save my own life.
Just once. After provoking Jeong Cheol into attacking, I intended to escape with my life.
With that resolve, I locked my eyes on Jeong Cheol, and in the slow passage of time, I witnessed him pull something from within his cloak.
I even saw him throw it onto the path I was barreling down.
It was a rugged, round object, resembling red marble. It looked as if it was formed from lava sticking to a rock.
I recognized it well.
An explosive inner dan.
Though it possessed gunpowder, it wasn’t capable of detonating with the force of a sealed oil barrel bursting. In the world of martial arts, it served the role of a bomb.
Once I infused my Qi into it, activating its internal energy, even a small shock could cause an explosion rivaling that of a bomb. Seeing it fall in an arc toward me, I instantly unleashed the remaining internal energy and executed the One Lightning Direct Thunder Step, but…
Kwahhhhh!!!
There was no escaping the blast radius. In an instant, the explosive force slammed into my body, engulfing me in scorching agony. Raising my hands to shield my face was the best I could do, but as my entire body writhed in pain, a jarring impact hit my back.
Thud!
And then, intense pain shot through my shoulder. Amidst that pain, I struggled to open my eyes to grasp the situation.
Dizziness and ringing in my ears blurred my vision, but I was able to discern the combat unfolding around me.
As Tang Do-yeon charged, throwing her whip, it seemed Jeong Cheol’s sword had sliced through it.
Although my ears were ringing, they weren’t completely ruined; I could still vaguely hear the resounding clashing of swords from Jeong Cheol and Hyeok Gi-rin.
Ah.
It’s over.
As my whole body throbbed, that thought emerged in my mind. Black Cat had pushed her Nine Yin technique to its limits, and Yeo Il-ye had done the same.
Tang So-yeol, weaker than me, could barely be counted, and Tang Do-yeon also had unleashed all her hidden weapons, utterly exhausting herself.
Hyeok Gi-rin still had some energy left, but with no one capable of fully exerting their strength, he would soon be overpowered.
I recalled the explosive inner dan Jeong Cheol had detonated and gave a cough that was more chuckle than anything.
It was an obvious story with an obvious conclusion.
Like throwing away a single note, it was a tale where an outcast had prepared a means to save his life in an emergency.
The strong challenged the weak and lost, resulting in a predictable ending.
Regret.
That was the only word flashing in my mind. I had been pompously intoxicated by being a veteran of the game “Martial World,” thinking I could easily be like a god among them.
Jeong Cheol was the strong one, and I was the weak one.
People often say that winning means being strong, but if that were truly the case, why would they even separate the strong from the weak?
Strength can afford to lose several times, as long as one doesn’t lose their power; they can always rise again. But for the weak, a single defeat often means death.
Lost in my confidence of being a veteran, I had forgotten that fact. I had erased the very person of Yongji Maeng from my thoughts when the choice demanded I accept not a single gap.
And now, the result was laid out right before me.
Tang Do-yeon’s dagger shattered, and she crumpled, spewing blood.
Tang So-yeol had also charged forward but was knocked out by a single kick from Jeong Cheol and lay motionless on the ground.
As Hyeok Gi-rin clashed with Jeong Cheol, his body was marked with injuries. Although it was shallow enough that with some medicine and adjustments to his internal energy, he could heal within half a day, the problem was the energy from the blades that had penetrated during the process. My vision was blurry, and I couldn’t clearly see Hyeok Gi-rin’s expression, but it wasn’t favorable.
Instead of imagining Hyeok Gi-rin’s expression, I wiggled my arms and legs. It was already hopeless for my legs. They had been overexerted to the point I couldn’t move them before the explosion hit.
So I focused on moving my arms.
I had to do something. Even if I died, I wanted to save at least one person.
I felt the explosive force slam my body against the wall, and as I fell to the ground again, my right shoulder felt completely shattered and motionless. Thankfully, my left arm was trembling.
Move.
Slowly. Very, very slowly. My left arm shifted.
Hyeok Gi-rin’s sword flew through the air. As he rolled back, the momentum flipped his body, and blood dripped from his mouth. Jeong Cheol was in a position to strike Hyeok Gi-rin’s neck in an instant.
Seeing that, I desperately commanded my left arm.
Please move.
Luckily, my left arm acted just in time.
Thwack!
Amidst the tense silence, only our ragged breaths could be heard as the small stone I flung hit the ground.
Jeong Cheol’s gaze swung toward me. It was a brief moment when he had forgotten about me, but his eyes turned deadly.
He mumbled something, but my ears, dulled by the previous noise, couldn’t pick it up.
“Senior!”
“No!”
Hyeok Gi-rin tried to rise but fell back to the ground. Even with serious injuries, he managed only to reach his hand forward.
“Hah…”
Looking at Jeong Cheol standing before me, I couldn’t help but sigh in disappointment. Up close, I could see beads of sweat dripping down his face, revealing the fatigue in his eyes. Considering his internal energy, he had exhausted an enormous amount battling Yeo Il-ye, and after enduring Black Cat’s technique, he had released even more energy.
But was it enough?
If only he had managed to hold on a bit longer, we might have had a genuine chance.
Did Jeong Cheol feel the disappointment in my gaze? His face twisted into an angry grimace.
The killing intent radiating from him was suffocating.
He looked ready to kill me five times over. I couldn’t help but chuckle. Would I end up getting torn to shreds?
As I pondered that, watching Jeong Cheol raise his sword, a sudden surge of fierce energy caught my attention. Jeong Cheol flinched and turned around, and I too struggled to shift my head.
Sssssss!!!
The source of that power was Black Cat. With a rapid surge in her energy, I realized she was about to do something and opened my mouth.
“…Don’t…”
But my voice came out more like a dying groan than a shout. Desperately raising my only functional left arm, Black Cat merely shook her head.
There was no way she could release such tremendous energy after having dragged her exhausted internal energy to the brink.
That wasn’t internal energy at all.
It was the cost of life.
She intended to ignite her innate essence to summon that energy.
Using innate essence would definitely result in her death. Once you tapped into your innate essence, you couldn’t stop.
Once that premonitory symptom passed, the moment the essence exited her body, Black Cat’s life would simply burn out without fail.
So, please. Stop.
“No… don’t struggle…”
Jeong Cheol’s goal shifted. Instead of aiming for my neck, he took a step closer to Black Cat, who still had some fight left in her.
It was then that I inadvertently… blinked.
Someone in a black robe appeared, resting a hand on Black Cat’s shoulder.
How? When did they get here?
Seeing the surprised look on Black Cat, I could hardly believe my eyes and forced my eyelids open and shut.
This time, the figure stood right in front of me. I couldn’t see their face due to the robe, but the long white beard hinted at their age.
“Don’t move.”
With hands dancing calmly, the old man poured an overwhelming flow of energy into my body. Typically, energy is wild and hard to control, but the energy he channeled enveloped my body like we were now one.
This emergency treatment healed my wounds in an instant. Though not completely restored, my body stabilized, the ringing in my ears subsided, and my vision cleared.
Just a moment’s infusion of internal energy and a comforting embrace from the elderly figure, and such incredible effects were produced.
As if overwhelmed by the sight of this elderly man who bridged the gap between Black Cat and me, Jeong Cheol too had momentarily halted.
I gazed at the old man in a daze.
With a warm, amused tone, he asked, “Where did you learn the Enlightened Cloud Thunder Technique and the Seven Thunder Defense Technique?”
And that question was entirely unexpected.
