Chapter 126

Chapter 126
# Chapter 126: Eagle’s Eye Clarity

Um Hu studied her disciple, struck by just how bold he was.

He had actually noticed her watching.

*How could he possibly have known? I kept far enough back that there was no chance of being spotted.*

From where Um Hu stood, she could observe every shift in posture and movement her disciples made; to them, however, that distance should have seemed an uncrossable, vast expanse. Even a disciple of such extraordinary talent that the Ten Heavenly Martial Venerables themselves would gasp in wonder at his gifts ought never to have sensed her presence there.

“Your disciple Baek Yang-hui greets you, Master.”

He offered her a full, respectful bow, conducting himself with perfect courtesy, then answered the question she had not yet spoken aloud.

“I knew you would not send Seol-ha off on her own.”

“Is that truly the only reason?”

“It is not the only one, no. Seol-ha is too precious, too beloved a disciple to be sent out alone—would you not agree?”

That was far from the whole truth, of course. Just the day before, he had reached a momentous realization.

*I have finally broken through to the Peak Realm.*

In practice, his already sharp perception of qi had grown even more refined, keener than ever before.

To be sure, had Um Hu—one of the Ten Heavenly Martial Venerables—truly intended to hide her presence completely, he would never have picked up on it. But Um Hu chose to keep watch over her disciples rather than maintain total stealth. Certain they would not detect her anyway, she had let her qi extend outward ever so faintly, listening to every word and moment that unfolded.

*That trace was so faint, I would never have felt it at all if I did not carry memories from my past life.*

He had confirmed it was her from that faint, familiar sense of unease and recognition, and for one simple reason.

*Her devotion to her disciples is just as fierce in this life as it was in the last.*

The deeds of the Ten Heavenly Martial Venerables were known far and wide, even their lesser acts. And so he had heard the stories.

*She once eradicated an entire sect simply because they had harmed a disciple she had taken in.*

Righteous path or demonic, she had wiped out their entire bloodline over injury to one of her students. It spoke clearly of her immense, unwavering protectiveness. Given the nature of the Sacred Sound Jade Ling Sect, such devotion made perfect sense. Its mysterious arts were passed down directly from one master to a single chosen heir, and finding someone worthy of inheriting them was extraordinarily rare. Even Um Hu herself would have spent another decade or more searching if not for Jeon Gal Seol-ha. Seen in that light, her fierce protectiveness was only natural.

*Bringing Seol-ha along was definitely the right choice. I thought of it as a backup plan, but it has worked beautifully.*

He had won Sowolhyang’s favor through Jeon Gal Seol-ha, secured the aid of a powerhouse like Um Hu, and all the while helped his junior sister with her Full Moon Guidance. It was a perfect arrangement—all three gained.

“You there. What was it you said earlier? That I ought to drop dead? Go on—say it again.”

The Blood Night Seven Blades were pinned in place by invisible qi, forced to their knees. Their faces were flushed with panic and dread, and he could not help but scoff at the sight.

“W-who might this senior be?”

Um Hu gave no answer, only glared at the warriors of the Blood Night Gang. Her gaze was colder than glacial ice. Sensing mortal danger, their leader trembled in terror yet spoke up, desperate to save himself.

“T-this matter concerns only our own dispute—we seek merely to recover what your honored disciple stole from us. We beg for your understanding, Senior…”

*That man has gone too far. Nothing angers Master more than treating people as mere possessions.*

As expected, Um Hu snapped her fingers.

*Snap.*

“Gahhh!”

The leader was slammed face-first into the dirt. It did not end there; a crushing weight bore down on him as though a titan stood atop him.

“Vile creature of the unorthodox path—say that again.”

“I-I beg you, spare me!”

“Hmm. I think not. I told you to speak. Did you truly regard a human being as nothing more than property before me?”

“N-no! Have mercy! Spare my life, and I shall vanish from your sight at once!”

The leader had finally grasped his situation. But now that their paths had crossed, Um Hu had no intention of letting such lowlives go unpunished.

*Snap.*

“Gahhh!”

“Urk… ugh…”

The invisible qi of one of the ten most powerful figures in the realm filled the air. The Blood Night Seven Blades and every other gang member were lifted helplessly from the ground.

*She is going to kill them all.*

That would not do. He had arranged this fully aware that Master was watching; if he let her take charge now, he would face her displeasure later. He needed to show her what he could do.

“Master.”

“Speak, young hero.”

“Must you waste your strength on such trash?”

“Hmm?”

His sword slid smoothly from its sheath.

“It has been some time since we last met, and I know you are eager to see how I have progressed. Allow me to entertain you instead—let me show you what I can do.”

Um Hu’s eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint, pleased smile touched her lips.

“Now that you mention it… young hero, you have reached the Peak Realm.”

“What?!” Jeon Gal Seol-ha cried out in shock.

“Senior brother is a Peak master?”

“Did you not know?”

“I… we have not fought since we first met.”

“It is a pity, Seol-ha. You trained tirelessly to catch up to him and finally reached the First-Rate Realm, only to find he has once more moved ahead.”

Um Hu spoke the truth, and Seol-ha’s expression fell.

*Peak Realm at just sixteen? Is that even possible?*

To reach Peak before turning thirty was enough to be hailed as a genius. The Peak Realm was a towering, nearly insurmountable barrier. And he had done it before he was even twenty—barely more than a boy? For Jeon Gal Seol-ha, who had striven so hard to match him, the realization felt as though all her strength had drained away. But she clenched her slender fingers into a fist.

“You are pulling ahead again, senior brother. Just you wait—I will catch you, I promise.”

He smiled gently.

“I look forward to it.”

To be someone’s inspiration felt wonderful. He would not mind being surpassed—he would welcome it, in fact. It would only drive him to grow stronger still.

Just then, a voice rang out.

“I have reached Peak too!”

“Pardon? You as well, young monk?”

“Amitabha!”

Golden qi gathered and glowed around Adu’s knuckles. Jeon Gal Seol-ha stared, stunned all over again. That boyish face—scarcely twenty years old, perhaps younger—already at the Peak Realm? His talent matched Yang-hui’s own.

“Speaking of which, young hero—I have been meaning to ask. How did you come to meet Adu?”

“You know Adu?”

“I heard of him from that old bald man. He spoke of the boy who would save the world, raised within Shaolin’s walls, and did not cease praising you.”

*Of course—Shaolin’s Grand Elder is also one of the Ten Heavenly Martial. I must stay in touch with him.*

Wait—if that was so, then the great monk Adu had spoken of… no, it could not be. Surely not. The monk he had heard chattering about pleasure houses could not be the same person.

“Adu,” he said, turning to the boy, “would you like to join in?”

“Yes!”

“Master, may we?”

“By all means. I am curious to see what this young man can do.”

The invisible weight of her qi faded. The Blood Night Gang members, who had been frozen and scarcely able to breathe, gasped for air all at once.

Seeing them, he raised his voice.

“You heard what was said. Let us settle this between us.”

The leader of the Seven Blades rolled his eyes, unable to bring himself to answer.

“Just me and this young monk against you,” Yang-hui went on. “As you can see, neither of us is even half your age.”

“Young brother… I have made a terrible mistake. Please, beg the senior on our behalf—let us go, we implore you.”

Yang-hui scowled, scratching his ear in frustration.

“Who are you calling ‘young brother’? Do you think I am some fool you can trick?”

Silence settled over the group, heavy with despair. Some wept, paralyzed by fear. They were broken—incapable of fighting properly. It would be no contest at all. He would have to give them hope.

“Enough of that. Stand up. If you defeat us, you may leave alive.”

“Truly?”

Hope flared in their eyes.

“A man’s word is worth its weight in gold. Beat us, and you walk free. Lose, and you die. Is that clear? Will you fight now?”

“We… we thank you for your mercy.”

Yang-hui almost laughed. Mercy? What mercy? Did they truly believe they could win? Two young men not yet twenty against seven Peak masters and a dozen more? Common sense told anyone the odds were impossible. And yet, their confidence was returning—he could see why.

Then the sound rang out—sharp, piercing as a hawk’s cry. The aura rippling through the air steadied the Blood Night Seven Blades, and their faces hardened with resolve.

“Mercy, is it? A little early to be thanking me, don’t you think?” He grinned, channeling his inner energy into his sword. Qi shot upward like new shoots breaking through the earth after rain. “If you want it, then earn it.”

At once, the seven drew their weapons and charged as one. They meant to strike together, to take him and Adu by surprise.

*They intend to overwhelm us, no matter what.* Four moved against Adu; three came straight for him. It stung his pride a little—did they think him the weaker opponent?

*You will regret that.*

The hawk-like cry rang out again, carrying a subtle, penetrating force. Eagle’s Eye Clarity unfolded in his sight, and he fixed his gaze on the First, Second, and Seventh Blades. Three blades sweeping toward him. He traced a single line in his mind—the most efficient path to meet all three at once.

“Ambushing your opponents? You should have led with your qi.”

*Clang.*

Steel met steel. Three against one, yet Yang-hui held the advantage.

“Ngh!”

“Such power… from a boy!”

“I have had to fight for everything I have,” he shot back. “And you—grown men, ganging up on someone young enough to be your son. Are you not ashamed?”

“Silence!” the leader roared, sending orders directly to the Second and Seventh through spiritual transmission. *Now—strike with full force!*

They had held back at first, fearing they would be seen as taking unfair advantage. But the boy was more skilled than they had expected—better to subdue him quickly before things grew worse.

“Take this!”

Dark, blood-tinged qi rimmed their blades.

*Second—upper right. Seventh—lower left!* the leader commanded, striking at Yang-hui’s crown. He did not mean to kill—only to force him to raise his guard. At the same time, the others moved to strike at his arms and legs. Once he was off balance, he would fall easily.

*Clang.*

Just as planned, Yang-hui lifted his sword to block the blow aimed at his head. The leader unleashed a technique that bound their weapons together, making it impossible to deflect. His lower body was completely exposed. The leader smiled inwardly—waiting for the others to strike.

*What?*

Nothing happened. There were sounds, yes—but not the ones he expected.

“Cough… cough…”

“Ugh—you… what have you done…!”

Men were coughing up blood, their voices ragged with pain and disbelief. The leader turned, bewildered, and saw his two companions writhing on the ground.

*What in the world…?*

Reading the shock on his face, Yang-hui smirked.

“Confused?”

“What sort of sorcery is this?!”

“Sorcery? None. This is simply Eagle’s Eye Clarity. And you are next.”

The piercing hawk’s cry rang out once more. The sonic force of the technique pressed straight through the leader’s defenses, striking his vital points.

“Cough!”

Blood spilled from his lips. In that moment, Um Hu’s eyes widened in astonishment. She saw what was happening, and it was far more than just the technique she had taught him. She had trained him for years—knew Eagle’s Eye Clarity inside and out. What amazed her was something else entirely.

*What have you understood, young hero? What insight have you gained?*