Chapter 485

Chapter 485
Chapter 485. Terms of Animosity (3)

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An unalterable destiny never shifted its course. This was the fundamental truth realized by **Yong So-ah**, who had spent years observing forthcoming events while drifting through the rapid currents of time.

The grand progression known as history resembles the vast Yangtze River or a boundless ocean formed by the convergence of countless smaller rivers. Trying to dam a single rivulet only spawns an unpredictable, catastrophic aftermath. A person’s sole option was to redirect the current. Even then, stopping the immense tide remained impossible. One could only foresee the trajectory and steel oneself against the worst inevitable devastation.

*‘What is fated to occur will inevitably transpire.’*

This was a conviction she had held without question ever since witnessing her own kin consumed by a roaring blaze.

[If your conviction is so absolute, then take his life.]

**Yong So-ah** was far too resolute to be swayed by the malicious taunts of an ignorant fool.

[Because it might just be your very intervention that drives the **Gu** Sect Leader to become that monster!]

Yet, inexplicably on that particular day, the turbulence within her chest refused to settle. Instead, an unfamiliar urge to rebel took root. She could not comprehend the origin of this feeling, as **Yong So-ah** had never once allowed another soul to disturb her emotional equilibrium throughout her entire existence.

That rebellious spark quickly flared into wrath. Acting as though she were holding him accountable for the bleak destiny he forged, she ultimately spared the life of **Gu Song-baek**.

*‘A new nightmare surely awaits me.’*

In the visions that would haunt her sleep hereafter, she expected to witness **Jin So-un** breaking down in utter hopelessness beneath the cruel misdeeds of **Gu Song-baek**.

But—

*‘This is…’*

It was an anomaly without precedent. A timeline that had stubbornly refused to budge despite her utmost efforts had suddenly shifted. In the very first vision she experienced following the incident at Mount Mosan, a different reality unfolded.

**Gu Song-baek** was positioned right next to **Jin So-un**. Though missing an eye and relying on an artificial leg, he marched at the vanguard of the forces, single-handedly decimating the ranks of the Demonic Cult.

“Haha— **Yong**… **Sunbae-nim**. Do partake of some wine.”

**Yong So-ah** raised her eyes to scan her surroundings.

“**Jin So-un** is absent.”

“**Jin**… **Dan-ju** is—hehe—currently keeping company with **Song So-jeo**…”

“I am aware.”

Cutting off **Gwak Su-san** mid-sentence, **Yong So-ah** rose abruptly to her feet.

Within the peaceful courtyard of Hwapoong Manor, **Yong So-ah** began to walk, the pristine fabric of her white martial robes whispering softly against the ground. Though the empty garden offered a serene atmosphere, it simultaneously radiated an unsettling, unnatural dread.

*‘Puzzling.’*

It defied explanation. This inexplicable foreboding, and—

*‘For what reason am I seeking him out?’*

She questioned her own feet as they guided her toward **Jin So-un**.

[Are you absolutely positive!]

He was a man capable of comprehending her depth, yet an adversary who hurled vitriol at her. An anomaly who recklessly derailed an unbending timeline. A hazardous wild card capable of spawning infinite misery. Her prophetic ‘dreams’ had never guided her falsely.

Yet, after encountering that man, a crack appeared in her absolute certainty for the very first time. The thought that she might be mistaken crept in. No, rather— would it actually be a relief if she were incorrect?

*‘To think that I… could harbor such weakness…’*

**Yong So-ah** had journeyed to Hwapoong Manor solely to validate her visions.

“I wish to understand **Gong-ja Jin**.”

To confirm her own correctness and expose **Jin So-un**’s fallacy.

“Oh my, whatever makes you so self-conscious?”

*Thump—*

She intended to watch the demise she had foreseen for him. To be present at the final breath of the arrogant man who defied the natural order.

“…I truly desire to discover more. Regarding **Gong-ja Jin**…”

*Thump—*

Her goal was to deride his foolish pride when he eventually fell, a fatal wound driven straight through his chest.

Yet—

[If your convictions are so absolute, then end his life!]

That venomous exclamation reverberated within her, shattering the placid stillness of her usually tranquil mind.

[*Hack… cough… gasp…*]

As she gazed into the vacant stare of **Jin So-un**, whose life force was rapidly ebbing away beneath a shroud of crimson wounds, all logical thought evaporated.

*Swoosh—*

“Regarding… regarding… regar—?”

Instinct overrode intellect.

“Gong— **Gong-ja**…”

*Squelch, squelch, squelch.*

And yet, an immense wave of relief washed over her. Because **Jin So-un**—the very entity she had fiercely sought to eradicate as a dangerous wildcard—

“**Yong So-ah**!!!!”

—was still drawing breath.

It had been my singular desire. I wanted Hwapoong Manor to remain standing. I wished that this sanctuary, which felt just as welcoming and secure as the **Tae-eul Sect**, would be spared from turning into a scorched ruin. I only wanted to prevent that duty-bound woman from mourning. That was the full extent of my hopes.

“So why must this happen?!”

*Swoooooosh—*

Responding to his fierce resolve, his dantian unleashed a torrential surge of inner force far exceeding any previous display. Channeling this raw energy, his entire muscular structure expanded, threatening to tear right through his robes.

Launched with the velocity of a blinding beam, the **Red Light Sword** zipped forward to impale the target’s chest.

*Zzzzt—*

Yet, the form of **Yong So-ah** dissolved into nothingness like scattering ash the moment the blade struck home. Detecting an aura nearby, I propelled myself off the dirt.

*Thud.*

The ground tore open under the force of my leap, sending clouds of debris swirling into the air.

*Swoooooosh—*

Deploying the streamlined and highly lethal **Socheon Sword Technique**, I executed seven consecutive slashes against **Yong So-ah** in the span of a lone second.

*Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh-swoosh-swoosh—*

The whistling of severed air rang out repeatedly, yet the tip of the **Red Light Sword** failed to connect with flesh. I summoned even greater reserves of inner power. The volatile energy flooded across the twelve primary meridians before surging outward into the furthest reaches of the eight extraordinary vessels.

My speed accelerated drastically, and my perception sharpened to a razor edge.

*Boom!*

I closed the distance toward **Yong So-ah** so rapidly it seemed as though the intervening distance had compressed. For a brief instant, a flicker of emotion marred that otherwise stoic countenance. Reappearing instantly, I cut off any path of retreat with a blindingly rapid strike that defied comprehension.

[**Baekwol-jecheon-samsik**]
[First Form]
[Extreme Speed]

The sonic boom trailed closely behind the moment the **Red Light Sword** sliced through empty air.

*Screeeech—*

No crimson sprayed. Only a handful of loose hairs and a torn scrap of fabric drifted downward. Having anticipated the trajectory perfectly, the individual casually adjusted his hair with a flick of his wrist. Immediately following this, he forcefully sprang into the air from his stance.

Right where he had broken contact with the ground, the **Holy Fire Demon-Slaying Hand**—infused with the precise, destructive nuances of the **Gongmyeol-gwon**—detonated with immense force.

*Boom-boom-boom!*

*‘More speed!’*

Initiating the **Ssangcheon Sword Formula**, I trapped my opponent within a tempest of lethal blade arcs. Predicting my intent completely, he utilized the **Thousand-Pound Weight** method to drop like a stone and evade the swirling gale. Tracking his descent, I unleashed the **Manhwa-mujeok-gwon**, yet he counteracted it flawlessly using the **Yang-ui-gwon-beop**, parrying the incoming impact away.

*‘Even more speed!!’*

Anticipating his mandatory path of evasion, I discharged the **Mueum-cheongsu-in**. Against this completely silent and invisible strike, he deployed the **Pungroe-jang** to disperse the hidden pressure of my palm.

*‘Faster still!!!’*

How could I have been so blind? It was obvious that he would possess some method to conceal his aura. Why did I let my suspicions slip at the final stretch? It was clear he harbored a hidden agenda.

Because I succeeded in preserving Hwapoong Manor, I foolishly assumed the crisis had passed. Dropping my guard caused me to overlook my doubts. Even though I had been intensely skeptical from my arrival up until today, I relaxed my vigilance at the most critical juncture.

“Aaaaah!”

Channeling my erupting fury, I unleashed the devastating **Gwangcheon-sin-jang**.

*Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!*

Once again, acting on prior knowledge, he gracefully steered clear of the entire blast radius of the **Gwangcheon-sin-jang**.

“Wh-what on earth is happening?!”

As the concussive shockwaves of the **Gwangcheon-sin-jang** rattled the foundations of Hwapoong Manor, residents started pouring outside in a panic.

“Is that— **Yong So-ah**?”

“What reason does **Jin So-un** have…?”

“Cease this madness at once! End this fight!”

The commanding orders of both the Hall Master and the Great Hall Master of the **Cheongryong-gak** filled the air, paired with the terrified stares of the onlookers from Hwapoong Manor. Yet, none of it registered to me.

*Grrrr-r-r-r.*

My sole fixation was fulfilling my oath to slay him. My unyielding intent infused the **Red Light Sword**, causing crimson threads of pure murderous aura to bleed outward.

“Are you utterly unwilling to hear an explanation?”

Hearing **Yong So-ah**’s completely detached tone, my bloodlust surged to an even higher pitch.

“If an explanation was ever your true intent—”

I had briefly deluded myself into thinking the **Yong So-ah** standing before me might be a changed soul. I hoped he could diverge from his path. But he remains unchanged.

“You should have engaged in dialogue before executing this.”

He is identical to the **Yong So-ah** from my previous existence. A man completely detached from others, driven solely by his own self-important logic, standing isolated above the masses. In his cold, calculated decisions where he assumes absolute correctness, our agonized pleas hold zero weight.

This was the core reason I despised the celebrated savior **Yong So-ah** of my previous timeline above all others. His grand ‘decisions’ lacked even a shred of genuine empathy for mankind.

“Had you viewed me as an actual human being!”

Wasting no time, I initiated the **Daicheon Sword Technique**.

*Chrrr-r-r-r.*

Expanding outward like an unfolding fan, the **Red Light Sword** generated a sequence of tangible afterimages in the atmosphere. Though a standard feint would never deceive **Yong So-ah**, that was irrelevant.

“You would have spoken first!!!!”

This approach was a novel tactical concept formulated specifically to counter an adversary blessed with precognition. It was a methodology I unlocked only after mastering the esoteric principles of the **Biryu-muhyeong-geom**.

“……!”

Sensing the unnatural shift in the air, he finally dropped into a combative posture.

The Sword-Drawing Stance (**Chul-geom-se**).

This was **Yong So-ah**’s signature quick-draw methodology, a lethal art rumored to leave no surviving witnesses. He was finally committing to the battle with absolute seriousness.

“Cease this instant!!!”

The booming resonance of **Hwang Seo-yul**’s **Lion’s Roar** reverberated across the grounds, but rather than stopping me, it served as the catalyst to unleash my strike.

*Chrrr-r-r-r*
*Chrrr-r-r-r*

The blade manifestations multiplied continuously. Confronted by over a dozen distinct trajectories, **Yong So-ah** correctly identified and parried only the genuine physical strikes, or so he believed.

*Slash—*

An attack he dismissed as a mere phantom sliced clean through his garments.

“……!”

Immediately after,

*Slash— slash—*

The deceptive afterimages he had chosen to disregard began carving through his robes as if they had materialized into solid steel.

*Swoosh—*

A particular trajectory thrust directly toward a lethal area with blinding speed. **Yong So-ah** evaded the point by utilizing the agile **Je-un-jong** movement technique, causing that specific sword projection to dissolve like mist. Yet, a strike he deemed a total illusion opened up a laceration on his forearm.

*Spurt—*

Granted, it was a superficial scratch.

“……!”

Nevertheless, it marked a monumental shift in the battle. Proving that it was no stroke of luck,

*Spurt— spurt— spurt— spurt—*

a succession of fresh cuts began breaking out across **Yong So-ah**’s frame.

“Incredible… he actually managed to draw blood from **Yong So-ah**?”

The martial artists of the **Cheongryong-gak**, who had originally intended to intervene, fell entirely silent, captivated by the unfolding duel.

“What kind of sorcery is this?”

Crimson blotches began spreading across **Yong So-ah**’s snow-white attire. Droplets of blood trickled down the form of a man who had famously emerged unscathed from a battle against a small army of three thousand warriors.

*Clang—*

Executing a sweeping arc with the **Seonpung-geom** to clear the surrounding area of dangerous blade projections, **Yong So-ah** leaped backward to create space. His eyes flicked back and forth between the **Red Light Sword** and my face.

“Are you replicating the precise trajectories of your phantom strikes with your physical sword?”

“……”

It was clear why public consensus hailed **Yong So-ah** as an unprecedented genius of the martial arts.

“You aren’t using the afterimages to deceive, but rather converting potential paths into concrete reality.”

His prowess transcended his gift of foresight.

“Regardless of a person’s diligence, duplicating a past motion with absolute identity in the present is theoretically impossible…”

Even stripping away his clairvoyance, his natural martial comprehension stood unrivaled across generations.

“Is it a manifestation of that unique recollection you possess?”

His sheer brilliance cemented his unyielding self-assurance.

“What difference does it make if you figure it out?!”

His unshakeable conceit only fueled my deep-seated animosity.

*Boom!*

A burst of concentrated sword qi erupted, forcing **Yong So-ah** to lose his footing momentarily. Activating the **Daicheon Sword Technique**, I drew the matrix of phantom strikes tighter around his body. Whatever vision of the future he perceived, an attack materializing a fraction of an inch from his face stripped away any advantage that foresight could provide.

*Greeet-greeet-greeet-greeet—*

The screech of grinding steel filled the air as our weapons locked.

*Clang! Clang-clink-clang!*

Radiant sparks pierced the midnight darkness in rapid succession.

*Bang! Crash-bang-bang! Thud!*

Trading blow for blow in a relentless cadence, a distinct realization dawned on me: I possessed the physical advantage. Capitalizing on this raw power, I overwhelmed his defenses.

*Clang-clang-clang-clang-clang!*

Maintaining absolute proximity without granting him an inch of breathing room, I piled on one offensive sequence after another.

*Flash—*

Ultimately, my blade managed to graze the skin near his throat.

*Boom-boom-boom!*

I unleashed a concussive blast from the **Holy Fire Demon-Slaying Hand**, weaving in the complex variations of the **Gongmyeol-gwon** to blind him completely. I exhausted every intricate principle of both the **Biryu-muhyeong-geom** and the **Mueum-cheongsu-in**, driving him further into a defensive bottleneck.

*Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!*

Just as our opposing internal forces collided, sending a shockwave rippling through the environment—

“……?”

He froze completely. The tip of his **Seonpung-geom** dipped toward the dirt. Though his sudden, inexplicable paralysis gave me brief pause, I brushed the suspicion aside. I finally held his life in my hands.

*‘This is your end! Without fail!!!’*

As I lunged to impale his chest with the fully charged **Red Light Sword**, into which I had funneled my energy without a moment’s delay.

*Gurgle—*

an abrupt paralysis seized my limbs. The immense reservoir of inner force that had been circulating smoothly like an open river suddenly spiraled backward. An excruciating agony flared within my lower abdomen, as if a blade were shredding my internal pathways.

“Ugh!”

Meanwhile, **Yong So-ah** observed my plight with his characteristic, deadpan demeanor, entirely unsurprised.

“Channeling your inner force aggressively while your system is compromised by the **San-gong poison** will only lacerate your meridians.”

Exactly when had this happened? Throughout the entirety of our engagement, I had kept my internal energy circulating and remained hyper-vigilant of my surroundings. Moreover, the **San-gong poison** was a sophisticated substance that could not be administered through mundane contact.

“Aaaaaargh—.”

Yet, it mattered little. Even if my meridians collapsed into a total internal energy deviation right here and now, I had to…

“Focus on your recuperation. Our journey must resume shortly.”

Striking my acupoints with a swift motion, he glided past me like a phantom. And right where he stood—

*Creeeeeeeak—*

—How did you manage to foresee this?

**Song Ye-seol**, her throat severely lacerated and her spirit lingering on the precipice of death, was slowly picking herself up from the ground.

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**Writer’s Corner**

Two chapters are being published today. As always, my deepest gratitude.

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