“Senior Ho Martial Artist!”
“Senior!”
The group quickly rushed in to protect Ho Cheon-an. Tang Do-yeon examined the details of the fallen Ho Cheon-an and sighed.
Although he had lost consciousness from the sudden shock, if he could just groan and move his body slightly, it seemed he would soon regain his senses.
“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be a serious injury.”
As Tang Do-yeon quickly performed first aid on Ho Cheon-an’s body, he informed the others who were confronting the Heavenly Demon.
‘This is dangerous.’
The moment Wi Seoryeon unleashed Black Dragon Qi, Tang Do-yeon perceived Wi Seoryeon differently.
Rather than a human, Wi Seoryeon looked like a Black Dragon capable of swallowing entire rivers and collapsing mountains.
If entities or monsters that would appear in legends truly existed, they would radiate such intense energy.
In Tang Do-yeon’s eyes, Wi Seoryeon was a monster unmeasurable by any common sense or martial artist’s standards.
While administering first aid, Tang Do-yeon glanced at the group facing such a monster. There was Hyeok Gi-rin, who was now in Hwa-gyeong, Tang Do-yeon at the Peak Stage, Miss Yeo Il-ye, and even Black Cat.
With Black Cat, who wielded Hidden Weapons, and Yeo Il-ye, whose internal energy far surpassed ordinary Peak Experts. And then there was Tang Do-yeon, who could support distant attacks with Hidden Weapons and spellcasting.
It wasn’t just Ho Cheon-an who had grown stronger during those three years spent in Array Formation.
Like Hyeok Gi-rin, Yeo Il-ye, Tang Do-yeon, and Black Cat too had progressed significantly.
If the entire strengthened group were to rush at Wi Seoryeon, could they win?
The conclusion that formed in Tang Do-yeon’s mind was singular.
Definite defeat.
Even if three Peak Experts rushed at a Hwa-gyeong master, they couldn’t defeat Wi Seoryeon, who was inspecting the wound on his right fist resulted from his clash with Ho Cheon-an.
It was a conclusion that defied common sense. How could three Peak Experts be incapable of defeating a single Hwa-gyeong master?
Yet, Tang Do-yeon’s insight only sent forth a premonition of overwhelming victory for Wi Seoryeon.
At this rate, it would indeed be certain defeat.
Thus, Tang Do-yeon devoted all his strength to restoring Ho Cheon-an’s consciousness.
‘That monster must have had some reckless reason for charging in alone.’
Hoping that some strategy Ho Cheon-an had envisioned would become the key to escaping this situation, Tang Do-yeon pressed on Ho Cheon-an’s acupoints.
While Tang Do-yeon was performing first aid to restore Ho Cheon-an’s consciousness, Wi Seoryeon, who was examining his own wounds, let out a slight regretful sigh.
The wound on his right hand. And the energy of Ilroe that had permeated it.
Ilroe’s energy was indeed powerful.
It had pierced through the Black Dragon Qi, inflicting a wound on Wi Seoryeon’s hand, with some energy even penetrating inside.
However, it was nothing more than a light internal injury that could easily be shaken off with just a single wave of Qi.
‘It’s my fault for expecting such a detailed technique, like the small wound left by my father’s hand.’
How could a Peak Expert plant a technique that lasts a month or two within another’s body?
Realizing he had been overly hopeful, Wi Seoryeon let go of his disappointment.
“Pass me the bandages.”
“Sure!”
From a nearby tree where Hidden Bodyguards had been hiding, they appeared and offered bandages to Wi Seoryeon.
The faces of the group stiffened.
They didn’t think the Heavenly Demon would move alone, but the presence of such a master suddenly appearing so close sent chills through them.
“Back off.”
“That’s not possible.”
Hyeok Gi-rin took a step forward. Perhaps judging his momentum as a threat, two additional Hidden Bodyguards revealed themselves nearby.
“Not a finger can be laid on Senior Ho!”
“That’s for me to decide.”
Wi Seoryeon gestured for the revealed Hidden Bodyguards to withdraw. Without question, they retreated and disappeared.
The scene, where Wi Seoryeon demonstrated an absolute trust in his own strength, cast a shadow over the group’s faces.
Wi Seoryeon had sent back the Hidden Bodyguards with a gesture and then examined his own condition, forming a fist wrapped in bandages. Blood seeped through the wrappings, but even witnessing that, it was hard to feel that Wi Seoryeon was injured, as the momentum he exuded was overwhelming.
“It’s been a while since I’ve felt excited, so I’ll deal with it directly. If anyone wants, feel free to come at me.”
“Is that really necessary? I’ll take you on myself.”
“… Wouldn’t it be better to stick together for now?”
At Black Cat’s suggestion, Hyeok Gi-rin shook his head.
-Even if they teamed up to bring down the Heavenly Demon, there were still Hidden Bodyguards present. No matter how much the Heavenly Demon may allow teaming up, they wouldn’t just watch if anything happened to him.
-Most importantly, that ominous energy emanating from the Heavenly Demon is no joke. If something goes wrong, it could put many people at risk.
Hyeok Gi-rin’s warning made Black Cat step back silently.
Hyeok Gi-rin was the highest expert among the group.
Thinking that following his judgment was the best course of action, they deferred to him.
Wi Seoryeon and Hyeok Gi-rin faced each other.
“Ho, so you’re a disciple of the Jeomchang Faction.”
Among the many martial arts in the world, the Four-Finger Saber Technique was particularly distinctive among them.
Wi Seoryeon’s eyes sparkled as he instantly recognized the signature moves of the Four-Finger Saber Technique.
“I’ll go!”
Bam!
Before his words had finished, Hyeok Gi-rin charged towards Wi Seoryeon. Wi Seoryeon, naturally unleashing Black Dragon Qi, thought to himself.
“This will be a boring hunt.”
‘Although I sensed the danger of Black Dragon Qi, it seems that’s all there is.’
Wi Seoryeon could intuitively guess what was going through Hyeok Gi-rin’s mind. It wasn’t because Wi Seoryeon was particularly clever, nor was Hyeok Gi-rin’s intuition lacking.
It was simply that Wi Seoryeon had experienced similar situations countless times before.
Black Dragon Qi is dangerous. One can be bitten in the blink of an eye.
However, if one collides with it, it’s possible to carve a path and defeat the opponent.
Because I am a Hwa-gyeong master and the opponent is a Peak Expert.
In a real exchange, a chance for victory could definitely arise.
That’s what he must be thinking.
But that was a miscalculation.
As Wi Seoryeon equipped himself against Hyeok Gi-rin’s extending sword, a twinge of regret flickered within him. Being part of Ho Cheon-an’s group, he had hoped for something different, but how naive was that?
Hyeok Gi-rin was unable to break the mold.
The realm depicts strength. This was the common sense of the Martial World.
But is strength truly just the representation of a realm?
Can a Peak Expert truly never defeat a Hwa-gyeong master?
No, that’s not true.
While it’s rare for a martial artist to win against someone of a higher realm, it’s certainly not impossible.
And yet, people focus solely on the realm rather than acknowledging the strength a person possesses.
The resolve of those rushing toward the Heavenly Demon was anything but ordinary resolve.
Hyeok Gi-rin was charging in with all his might, without a single moment of negligence on his part.
However.
How can the sword of one who has yet to properly grasp their opponent reach them?
Unable to hold back the energy pouring from him, Hyeok Gi-rin’s attempt to push back Black Dragon Qi while extending the Four-Finger Saber Technique was thwarted from the very start.
Hyeok Gi-rin’s energy was swiftly devoured by Black Dragon Qi.
A look of disbelief spread across Hyeok Gi-rin’s face. What was happening was something that should not occur according to the Martial World’s common sense.
Energy level partly dictates comprehension of Qi.
To lose in a clash where control over energy is at stake if the realm falls behind is impossible.
With the collision not even having occurred yet, Hyeok Gi-rin could only watch as energy invaded his body.
The sword of the Jeomchang Faction would not back down.
As the fangs of Black Dragon Qi clawed at him, Hyeok Gi-rin gritted his teeth and rooted himself, launching his body backward.
A flawless technique executed to a perfection that no one could find fault with unfolded.
He rushed in!
In an instant, Hyeok Gi-rin’s sword had reached Wi Seoryeon’s neck.
Although it appeared less fierce than usual, there was enough power behind it to hit Wi Seoryeon.
But the moment Hyeok Gi-rin saw Wi Seoryeon move, he sensed defeat.
Just one step. Then a simple movement of tilting his upper body.
With just that, Hyeok Gi-rin’s sword lost its target.
Had it been the same as usual, Hyeok Gi-rin would have once again launched himself off the ground at this moment, pursuing Wi Seoryeon with even sharper thrusts.
But.
While maintaining his sword power in response to the overwhelmingly dark energy invading his entire body, Hyeok Gi-rin was already at his limit.
Hyeok Gi-rin, unable to even graze the edge of Wi Seoryeon’s body, stumbled away from him.
“Ugh…!”
Hyeok Gi-rin swallowed a groan as he beheld his own waning energy.
The brilliant light his sword usually shone was now frail, about to extinguish at any moment.
Wi Seoryeon watched Hyeok Gi-rin struggling to expunge the Black Dragon Qi invading his body.
As could be expected, the results were no different from any martial artist’s duel. Even just applying pressure with Black Dragon Qi would send the opponent crashing down.
Feeling the familiar chill of solitude surround him, Wi Seoryeon sensed his heated blood quickly cooling.
Why is the Heavenly Demon regarded as a demonic art and rejected?
Because it is different.
Because its training methods, foundations, and goals are all different from ordinary martial arts, it is frowned upon as a demonic art.
That difference leads to misunderstanding.
The more he faced martial artists, the more solitude Wi Seoryeon felt.
No matter who you ask, Hyeok Gi-rin was indeed a master. How many in the Martial World at such a young age had traversed the Hwa-gyeong realm?
Yet even such a master could not grasp the alien nature of Wi Seoryeon.
Hyeok Gi-rin simply could not comprehend the distinctiveness of the reverse heaven (逆天) demonic energy Wi Seoryeon had mastered.
‘Is it really so ridiculous for one martial artist to feel alone in the company of another martial artist?’
Thus, Wi Seoryeon had no intention of backing down.
He had met a martial artist who could truly see him.
‘Ho Cheon-an.’
As Wi Seoryeon gazed at his bloodied fist, a smile crept onto his lips.
He was the only one who had made him feel that he had truly exchanged martial skill for the first time since mastering the Heavenly Demon Arts.
An opponent he could never let slip away.
Someone he absolutely had to claim.
“Ugh!”
Shaking off his thoughts, Wi Seoryeon lightly clenched his left hand as he watched Hyeok Gi-rin, teeth clenched, lifting his sword into the air.
In the end, this is still the Heavenly Sword?
Though Hyeok Gi-rin’s ability to unleash the Heavenly Sword’s power was limited, his movements derived entirely from his will manifested through extremely flexed motions.
But how great could a display from Hyeok Gi-rin, who was struggling with the encroaching Black Dragon Qi be?
Ultimately, the Heavenly Sword couldn’t even be thrown back into the domain of Black Dragon Qi—it was merely a second choice.
Wheea!
Hyeok Gi-rin’s Heavenly Sword, flying in a zigzag trajectory, while swift and striking in its own right, was easily brushed aside by Wi Seoryeon’s powerful fist.
Though he could have avoided it without lifting a finger, Wi Seoryeon chose to unleash his power, wanting to finish Hyeok Gi-rin off and conclude everything neatly.
“Let’s end this here.”
Just as Wi Seoryeon was about to send a fist towards Hyeok Gi-rin, who had barely managed to unleash the Heavenly Sword after exhausting all his strength.
“Stop!”
Ho Cheon-an had awakened.
