Chapter 290

Chapter 290
By my calculations, opponents up to the rank of second-generation disciples were foes I could quickly overpower silently, ensuring no casualties among the Jong-nam sect while I operated alongside the Sajes. For that reason, I had prayed to avoid crossing paths with anyone from the first-generation or higher.

‘Damn it, you’ve got to be kidding me.’

To my dismay, they possessed the caliber of a Hall Master. The massive blades held by the pair of mature warriors remained perfectly steady, aimed straight at us.

“Reveal yourselves.”

Although they merely directed their weapons forward, an oppressive weight washed over me, as though a massive barrier blocked our path.

“Are you planning to step forward only once these youngsters have lost their lives?”

There was no doubt regarding the targets of their words. Left with no choice, Geum-pyo, Eun-ho-Lee, and Sa-ryeon-Hong, who had remained hidden deeper within the cavern, gradually stepped into view.

“You appear far too youthful to waste your breath in a dreary cavern like this.”

Even with our countenances concealed behind masks, had they estimated our maturity simply by analyzing our statures and gaits? Their gazes reflected decades of seasoned discernment in reading individuals. He sighed with genuine pity. Then, his eyes shifted between my form and the Sajes.

“If you were coerced by that individual and forced into this place against your will, reveal it at once.”

The mature swordsman directed his finger squarely at me.

“…”

“…”

Right after, the Sajes likewise shifted their attention in my direction.

“Have no fear. As a representative of Jong-nam, I will not be bested by someone of an Old Monster (No-goe) description.”

I instantly realized the absurd misconception he had formed. Regardless of my well-developed frame, labeling a youthful man who had barely entered adulthood as an “Old Monster” felt entirely preposterous. Though Eun-ho-Lee twitched briefly in surprise, the mature expert shook his head upon realizing that the Sajes had no intention of lowering their weapons.

“So, you truly are co-conspirators?”

“These youths would never have set foot in this cavern if they were ignorant of Jong-nam being present.”

“How utterly ridiculous, then. Entering this place despite being fully aware of Jong-nam’s presence.”

A mocking smirk replaced the sympathetic look on the seasoned warrior’s face.

“I had hoped to resolve this without spilling blood.”

“Cheon-ji, remain alert. That previous technique was far from ordinary.”

“Worry about yourself, Hall Master.”

Upon catching the name “Cheon-ji,” my brow knit together in severe irritation.

‘Out of everyone, it had to be him…’

For within the ranks of Jong-nam currently bearing the moniker of Cheon-ji, there lived only Gun-cheon-ji, the warrior destined to be renowned as the “Jong-nam Bi-ho”. I had previously speculated that the enigmatic master tracking our movements might be this very man. Nevertheless,

* Dae-sa-hyeong.

I could not afford to lose focus. Regardless of whether this beast’s lair belonged to a mere cub or a fully grown predator, failing to maintain composure meant we would be torn apart regardless.

* The rest of you handle the mature swordsman on the right side.

My directives were straightforward. I intended to deal with Gun-cheon-ji myself, while my Sajes engaged the second foe. The goal was for the Sajes to maintain their ground entirely until I could join them. The real challenge lay in how rapidly I could overpower Gun-cheon-ji.

Whish, whish, whish, whish, whish—

Executing the “Eight Myriad Divine Steps of Tae-eul,” I evaded the oncoming charge of the mature swordsman and lunged straight toward Gun-cheon-ji.

Clang—

A single clash of our blades resounded, prompting a smirk to form on Gun-cheon-ji’s features.

“Well, well… Old Man, do you think you can face me?”

His weapon covered every possible trajectory, intercepting the Black Dragon Sword. His defense was direct and unadorned, which meant it left absolutely no vulnerabilities. Yet, more than anything else,

“Who exactly are you calling an Old Man!”

Ever since my rebirth, I remained conscious of the advanced years I had accumulated, but receiving the treatment of an elder while inhabiting this youthful physique felt entirely unjust! Charging forward like a bolt of lightning,

“What?!”

Gun-cheon-ji’s gaze widened in utter astonishment as he deflected the Small Tae-eul Sword Art. His bewilderment surpassed even his reaction to our initial surprise attack. What are you so astonished—

“Y-you’re actually younger than I am?”

Blast it. His authentic realization only fueled my irritation. Had this been a calculated ploy to unnerve me, I would have admired his tactical brilliance.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang—

Pressing the advantage while he was unsettled, I aimed for his lethal areas, yet Gun-cheon-ji managed to deflect every strike of the Black Dragon Sword through nimble maneuvers. Gun-cheon-ji cast a glance at his blade before fixing his eyes on me with lingering incredulity.

“Just how old are you anyway?”

Did he truly expect a masked adversary clad in dark attire to openly disclose his age? Shunned any verbal response, I focused sword qi into the Black Dragon Sword and unleashed it.

Swoosh!

The sharp bursts of energy targeted Gun-cheon-ji’s throat, chest, and core. Rather than retreating in his dazed state, Gun-cheon-ji pressed forward and slashed his weapon.

Pop— crack-crack!

Under normal circumstances, a martial artist would simply deflect incoming energy, yet Gun-cheon-ji nullified my attacks by unleashing countering waves of sword qi directly against mine. Rather than absorbing the impact through a defensive guard, he matched outward power with equal force. Such a display demonstrated the formidable height of his current martial achievements.

‘Has he already become a mature predator?’

The future “Jong-nam Bi-ho” who led the Special Task Force was an adversary that even demonic practitioners preferred to avoid. While our forces were engaging threats head-on, the precise rear assaults delivered by the Special Task Force against the Demonic Cult proved devastating enough to turn the tide. The critical issue was the gap separating his present capabilities from the formidable master I remembered from my prior existence. If his prowess had already attained the peak of the “Jong-nam Bi-ho”, overpowering him quickly would prove impossible. My sole comfort lay in hoping the other opponent had attained the title of Hall Master via connections and organizational maneuvering rather than genuine combat mastery.

Manifesting thirty phantom blades, I concealed eight authentic strikes within the illusions and launched a heavy thrust.

“Phantom techniques?!”

Gun-cheon-ji’s forehead creased momentarily before he grasped his hilt with both palms, adopting a centered posture. The weighty, majestic forms flowing from his movements belonged to Jong-nam’s most celebrated style, the “Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven.” This specific discipline was regularly deployed when countering Hwa-san, whose techniques specialized in deception and rapid shifts.

Clang-clang-clang— clang-clang-clang— clang-clang-clang—

Acting as an impenetrable barrier, Gun-cheon-ji countered every phantom and authentic blade, leaving him only slightly out of breath.

‘Naturally, has his training against Hwa-san made him adept at seeing through phantom arts?’

Both located in Shaanxi, Jong-nam and Hwa-san shared a historic bond as both allies and competitors. Though not by deliberate design, their mutual vigilance during their growth meant their respective arts evolved to exploit the other’s vulnerabilities. While Hwa-san favored an offensive style that felt blinding and sinister, Jong-nam specialized in an unyielding, dense defensive approach. The “Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven” represented the pinnacle of Jong-nam’s philosophy among their vast teachings. For martial artists relying on misdirection and fluid alterations like those of the Tae-eul-mun, such a defensive style was a nightmare to encounter.

“Your blade possesses considerable density. Most practitioners of deceptive arts favor a swifter, less burdensome swing. Have you overextended your force?”

Did he truly possess the calm required to evaluate combat styles in the middle of a life-or-death struggle? Admittedly, I was guilty of the same, yet it irritated me nonetheless.

“See if you can decipher this as well!”

While unleashing the Small Tae-eul Sword Art through the Black Dragon Sword, I thrust my left hand forward, executing the “Ten Thousand Flowers Invincible Fist.”

Swoosh—

In an attempt to dispel the air-rending sword qi first, Gun-cheon-ji met the initial wave with his blade. Right then,

Boom, boom, boom—

Gun-cheon-ji’s expression distorted with shock.

“What under heaven is this…!”

A sudden realization of miscalculation crossed his features. It was only natural, given the immense volume of inner power I had channeled into that energy blast.

Crash— crash—

Gun-cheon-ji’s grip, trying to counteract the force as he had done previously, was deflected forcefully backward. Seizing that sudden opening, the blunt force of my strike advanced like a piercing projectile.

Thump, thump, thump— Thump, thump, thump—

He attempted to nullify the “Ten Thousand Flowers Invincible Fist” by deploying his “Blue Cloud Heaven Steel Hand” in a frenzy, yet he failed to parry every strike, absorbing several clean impacts.

“Khh…”

I unleashed the Small Tae-eul Sword Art again at Gun-cheon-ji as he retreated a couple of steps.

Swoosh—

Striking with lightning speed, the Black Dragon Sword twined around Gun-cheon-ji’s blade like a serpent, deflecting his defensive power. Just as I sought to pierce his “Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven” and secure another solid blow,

Tear—

“…!”

Dropping his frame extraordinarily low, his dark robes tore along his spine as my edge scraped past. It was an unmistakable maneuver. A counter-attack launched from an unexpected angle by driving a heel backward from a deeply bent posture.

‘The Whirling Kick!’

This was undeniably the “Whirling Kick”, a signature move of Gun-cheon-ji. True to form, the moment I looked up, his boot was already looming mere inches from my face. I rapidly brought my left arm up to intercept the blow.

Thud!

Despite mitigating the brunt of the collision with the section protected by my “Flying Dragon Bracer,” a sharp ache shot through my arm as if the bone might fracture. Had that strike connected with my skull as intended, maintaining consciousness would have been a grueling task. Regaining his footing via the momentum of the kick, astonishment marked his expression.

“Ha! You recognized the Whirling Kick? Tell me, who are you beneath that mask?”

A swirl of conflicting thoughts filled his eyes as his damaged robes rippled around him.

“Judging by your voice, you cannot have even crossed thirty years of age… what sort of prominent clan produced a monster like you?”

Ought I to feel relieved that the Tae-eul-mun remained an obscure name in the Jianghu? Even attempting to view the situation favorably, the sentiment remained irritating. My grip tightened organically upon my weapon.

“Have you forgotten the entire purpose of donning a disguise!”

Swoosh—

I unleashed the Small Tae-eul Sword Art abruptly, but having adapted to its rhythm, Gun-cheon-ji masterfully intercepted the Black Dragon Sword with minimal exertion. Then, he spoke with an air of sheer disbelief.

“Do you truly believe you can cut your way past us and escape?”

I offered no reply. It was a foregone conclusion to me that I would bypass Gun-cheon-ji and the rest of Jong-nam. Instead, I deployed the Great Tae-eul Sword Art while weaving in direct thrusts from the Small Tae-eul Sword Art. Even so, no immediate opening presented itself.

“…You genuinely believe a breakthrough is possible.”

A chilling edge entered Gun-cheon-ji’s tone, bearing an oppressive gravity entirely distinct from his previous manner of speech.

“Does the name of Jong-nam carry so little weight to you?”

His demeanor shifted to that of an apex predator incensed by a minor scratch from a harmless hare. It was the characteristic rage of the elite, who suffered far more from a bruised ego than from physical injury.

“Such that a band of youngsters dares to trespass so arrogantly?”

Honestly, I had no simple answer. Following my return, I had ascended to a superior standing and amassed greater martial might compared to my past life, yet the towering bastions of the Nine Sects and One Gang alongside the Five Great Families remained formidable. I simply ceased to fear them upon recognizing that those massive structures offered no salvation for someone like me. The person I am today is no longer a helpless creature cowering before a beast as I once did.

Seeing my silence, his lips curled into a grimace.

“Very well, I must provide you with an unforgettable lesson.”

A massive pressure gathered along his blade, an intense manifestation that far surpassed standard sword qi enveloping the metal.

“Of the sheer majesty and terror inherent to Jong-nam.”

The man who had previously adopted the demeanor of a seasoned veteran mentoring an ignorant youth was now projecting an icy, lethal intent. Heavens, he was becoming entirely too dramatic.

“To show you that trash like you lack the right to even stand against Jong-nam.”

His murderous aura flooded the cramped cavern. Right at that moment, an agonizing cry rang out from where the Sajes were engaged. Glancing over,

“Ah…!”

“Hah, hah.”

Eun-ho-Lee had sustained a laceration near the collarbone and fell to the earth, forcing the remaining Sajes to form a defensive ring to shield Eun-ho-Lee. Confound it. Had I miscalculated about Jong-nam elevating their Hall Masters purely through political favors and connections? Why must their combat skills be so frustratingly legitimate?

“…You have no business looking away to worry about your companions.”

Incensed that my attention had momentarily drifted, Gun-cheon-ji ground his teeth in fury. An immense, volatile energy concentrated upon his weapon, threatening to detonate at any second.

‘The Great Heavenly Steel Sword.’

This was a disaster. The “Great Heavenly Steel Sword” represented the absolute pinnacle of dense weaponry, earning the fearsome moniker of the “Heavenly Heavy Sword.” It was an oppressive style where lesser martial artists would suffer shattered bones merely by attempting to block, and even a proper parry failed to dissipate the residual force. To think he would unleash such a technique inside this restricted cavern space. Realizing my intent was to neutralize him, he threw caution to the wind and went all out.

I gathered my focus and regulated my inhalation.

‘I must finish this with a single decisive blow!’

Now that my strategy was exposed, speed was of the essence. I began to ready the Shattering Form (Pa-swae-sik) that I had kept concealed up to this juncture. Deploying a technique like the Shattering Form against a martial artist of Gun-cheon-ji’s caliber, with his vast Jianghu experience and innate genius, carried immense risk. No major sect would allow an outsider who understood the core vulnerabilities of their foundational arts to remain among the living. For this exact reason, I refrained from instructing the Sajes in the “Three Forms of Jegal,” and avoided using them myself unless pushed to the brink. It demanded an incredibly delicate grasp of psychological warfare.

Gun-cheon-ji charged forward with overwhelming ferocity.

“Take this!”

As his dense blade descended in a brilliant azure arc, I triggered the Annihilation Fist (Gong-myeol-kwon). As my core energy temporarily depleted, the air directly to Gun-cheon-ji’s left side began to warp visibly.

“Ah!”

Taken aback by the sudden manifestation of the Annihilation Fist mid-swing, Gun-cheon-ji desperately altered the trajectory of his “Great Heavenly Steel Sword” to defend. Seizing the moment after pulling back the strike, I instantly directed a volley from the Small Tae-eul Sword Art toward him.

Swoosh—

Scores of energy blades surged toward his critical points.

“A mere deception!”

Though disconcerted by the punch’s energy, Gun-cheon-ji automatically fell back on the protective stance of the “Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven.” At that precise moment, I executed the highly anticipated Shattering Form designed specifically to counter the “Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven.”

That legendary style established an impenetrable barrier by covering thirty-six distinct cosmic vectors. I targeted the twenty-seventh trajectory of its third variation—the solitary flaw within that absolute guard—and drove the Small Tae-eul Sword Art straight through the gap. It lacked extreme velocity or ultimate sharpness; a perfectly placed thrust sufficed. On occasion, balanced precision outperforms raw power.

Squelch!

The distinct feedback of steel tearing through muscle vibrated up to my hands. Gun-cheon-ji, seeing his absolute defense with the “Thirty-Six Swords Under Heaven” utterly dismantled, stared blankly in absolute shock.

“Cough… by what means?”

Despite the reality of the Black Dragon Sword embedded deeply within his shoulder joint, his gaze darted between my masked face and the weapon in sheer incomprehension. Why the profound astonishment?

Shhh—

Pulling the Black Dragon Sword free from his flesh, a small smile played on my lips.

“Because the right to challenge belongs to me.”