Chapter 166 – Interrupted Battle (2)

With the intention of showing what I was capable of, I drew my sword.

Srrr.

“Here I go!”

As soon as I drew my sword, I exerted all my inner strength.

A dense sword energy that burned like flames, surpassing the form of a cluster of light. The sword, surrounded by flames, fiercely cut through the air.

Horizontal Sky Army.

The storm of sword energy, which had become even stronger as I reached the peak of my power, filled my vision.

A small disaster created by a human body. Most people wouldn’t dare to even resist it and would be cut down in an instant.

Well, Paeng Ojin isn’t just anyone.

“Wow.”

Whoosh!

With a short exclamation, I lightly swung my sword and easily dispelled the storm. It didn’t matter. It was what I had expected.

The Horizontal Sky Army was only meant to deceive Paeng Ojin’s senses. I used a flashy sword energy to cover my eyes and hid my presence behind the inner energy that scattered in the air.

And at the moment Paeng Ojin swung his sword, I also swung my sword, which burned fiercely like flames.

Eight Directions Gale.

I aimed for his side. A piercing thrust that never missed.

…Yeah. It didn’t miss.

Kaaang!

A clear sound of impact. The sound of the sword bouncing off Paeng Ojin’s empty hand.

As the attack returned in vain, his body was fully exposed. Paeng Ojin’s flying kick aimed at it. It was too late to correct my posture.

I quickly brought my left shoulder forward. My elbow naturally rose to become parallel with the ground.

Thump!

“Kreuk!”

A powerful impact erupted from Paeng Ojin’s Yongcheon blood. I gritted my teeth and focused my mind. I could endure it.

Starting from my elbow, the force was divided into the upper arm and the forearm. The power directed towards the upper arm was distributed to the shoulder, the body, and then passed through the thigh to make the ground firmly grasp.

The force directed towards the forearm flowed through the wrist and the grip, and then flowed into the sword.

Wooong.

I raised the corners of my mouth as I heard the sword’s trembling sound.

It was something that was originally impossible.

However, when the peak of my physical body and the power of the Mu Ryeong Shin Gong were combined, I could achieve almost perfect control over my body.

I couldn’t do anything crazy like taking Paeng Ojin’s power as my own like I did when I stepped on the Jin Gak, but I could disperse the impact throughout my entire body.

As a result, the flying kick that Paeng Ojin had aimed at me only pushed my body back slightly.

I launched a counterattack towards the bewildered Paeng Ojin.

“Haahh!”

An unexpected moment, an attack that exceeded expectations with an overwhelming force. As soon as he realized it, a sharp energy rose from Paeng Ojin’s sword.

Chapter 166 – Interrupted Battle (2)

A blue sword energy that slightly curved along the shape of the sword. Paeng Ojin’s sword, which somehow resembled a beast’s fang, was struck down like a lightning bolt.

“Huep!”

A blue afterimage.

Kwang!

And a delayed explosion.

“Damn it!”

Even after I deflected his sword, I had some strength left. This was not something I could endure, no matter how much I dispersed it throughout my body.

Instead of resisting, I threw my body back to minimize the impact.

A completely collapsed posture, a body hovering in the air.

It was a perfect opportunity to add another attack, but instead of pursuing me, Paeng Ojin nodded in admiration.

“Ha! It’s unbelievable to see it with my own eyes. Are you the same age as Soso?”

It seems like it’s still too early to face Hwakyung.

I rolled on the ground and answered.

“…I’m one year younger.”

“No matter how you think about it, Soso has good eyes. If you had paid a little more attention…ahem.”

Paeng Ojin, who was grumbling for a moment, asked me as he raised his sword again.

“By the way, do you feel anything? If you’re in a state of half-suspension, achieving the Shin Gum Hap Il, you should feel something.”

“Yes. Well…a little?”

When I received Paeng Ojin’s attack just now, during the moment when I focused solely on myself.

Things that I usually didn’t notice began to be felt.

For example, the pulsing blood flow, the creaking of joints, the contraction and relaxation of muscles, and a handful of Jin Ki that naturally soared towards the heart from the Danjeon.

It kept bouncing back against a solid wall, but it wasn’t completely fruitless.

I could sense it instinctively. This wall is hard, but it has holes all over it.

If I could hit it a little faster and stronger, I’m sure I could break it down.

When I told him about it, Paeng Ojin smiled with satisfaction.

“You’re making faster progress than I thought. However, let me correct one thing. The wall between the half-suspension and the lower suspension is easy to break through, but it’s also sturdy. Think about it. If you’ve reached the peak and pierced half of the wall, how do you break through the other half?”

“You don’t mean I have to climb Hwakyung or something like that, do you?”

“Of course not. What I mean is that you need a trigger that’s similar to reaching the peak.”

“Ah.”

It was a natural thing to think about. Of course, it would be a little easier to break down a wall that already has a hole than to make a hole in a completely intact wall.

But still, a wall is a wall.

I didn’t reach the peak of the Danjeon because I had an incredible talent. It was because I experienced countless deaths in the trials of the movie.

Chapter 166 – Interrupted Battle (2)

Muin grows the fastest at the crossroads of life and death. Things that were invisible become visible, and things that were impossible become possible.

If I repeated this more than a hundred times and still couldn’t reach the peak, it would be unfair.

But I have to do this one more time?

I should ask if I can undergo the trial of the movie again when I go to Mosanpa in a few days.

As I let out a sigh, Paeng Ojin scratched his head and cautiously opened his mouth.

“Lastly, this might be a little too much, but…”

“I’m listening.”

“Your sword energy is too thick, don’t you think?”

“What?”

Even though I gave it my all, I never had the intention of spewing out sword energy or killing Paeng Ojin.

“A moment ago, do you remember how your eyes looked? You were emitting a cold aura as if you were becoming the sword itself. You had the determination to cut down your opponent with every sword strike.”

“Uh…is that a bad thing?”

“It’s fine for now. However, it’s not good to stay like that. If you make a mistake, as your realm deepens, your sword energy will also become thicker, and eventually, you may become intoxicated with your own sword energy.”

Intoxicated with my own sword energy. I never thought about that. But that makes sense.

“What about Yeonhwa? She didn’t say anything?”

When I glanced over at Hong Yeonhwa, she was tilting her head, listening to our conversation.

“Well, Yeonhwa has already mastered the magic. It’s a natural thing for her to become intoxicated with her energy, so it’s not a big deal to her.”

As I turned to look at her again, Hong Yeonhwa sent a message.

-Isn’t the Ju Hwa Ip Ma ultimately not a demon? Cheonma Shin Gong is a martial art specialized in controlling such demons. As long as you’re next to me, you won’t fall into the Ju Hwa Ip Ma, and even if you do, I can forcibly correct it, so there’s no need to rush.

Hong Yeonhwa, who had even brought back some of the mad masters of the magic school to their senses.

When I told him about it, Paeng Ojin finally nodded his head.

“I didn’t think it was possible…Anyway, there was a plan for everything. That’s why I was hesitant to say it…”

“It’s okay. Isn’t it because you’re worried about me?”

“Hmph, worrying about you is a little embarrassing. By the way, it’s usually only the Muins who barely survive in the bloodbath who experience this kind of thing. Why did it happen to you…Ah, right. You said you were attacked by the Surahyeolbu and the Salsu, right? Maybe that’s why.”

Paeng Ojin, who was curious and convinced by himself, was a little wrong.

This is probably because of the trial of the movie.

As I recalled the sealed memories, what I regained was not just enlightenment.

Well then. The reason why memories are sealed in the first place is to solve these kinds of mental problems, so I have to endure this much since I forcibly opened it.

As the story came to an end, Paeng Ojin aimed his giant sword back at me.

“That’s enough talk. Since what was bothering you has been resolved, let’s start again. You took the initiative earlier, so this time, I’ll go first.”

“What? Where did that come from?!”

“Where is it? Right here!”

A flash of light shot out from Paeng Ojin’s new sword, aimed at my square.

Even though I was helping Son Daejung, I swung my sword with all my might, barely able to keep up with the speed.

***

Sama Yeoryeong swallowed her saliva as she watched Jin Sochan and Paeng Ojin relentlessly exchanging blows.

“Is this really someone my age?”

She knew it in her head. She had seen Jin Sochan fight against a Salsu before.

But Sama Yeoryeong couldn’t help but marvel once again.

Muscles writhing and exploding with explosive power, a fierce energy that made the skin tingle.

A naturally small build and weak strength to match. And because of the declining family, Sama Yeoryeong always struggled with insufficient inner strength. So Jin Sochan’s fighting style was the complete opposite of hers.

Kwaaang!

Despite rolling on the ground with a loud noise, Jin Sochan quickly got up as if nothing had happened, and Sama Yeoryeong clenched her small hand tightly as she watched him.

“If I had that kind of inner strength too…”

This isn’t jealousy. When the gap is too big, people can’t even feel jealous.

If we had to name Sama Yeoryeong’s current emotions, it would be more like envy. Because of this, she didn’t notice that Sama Mang was more focused on her, who had lost her mind, than the duel in front of her.