The Tang Clan (7)

Flash!

“Heo-eok!”

Do Min’s eyes opened with a rough breath.

“Huuu.”

Faint true qi leaked out with her low breath.

The blowing wind formed a small vortex around Do Min, then disappeared. The wind moved according to the rotation of her qi. The current Do Min, who had climbed one step through realization, was truly at the level of a master standing right before the peak realm.

“Not bad.”

Satisfaction filled the voice mixed with a metallic sound.

Do Min sprang to her feet and bowed to Oh Gyeong with an emotional face.

“Thank you, Old Master.”

“What is there to thank me for? It is all your talent and skill.”

“No. If you had not transmitted this martial art to me, Old Master, how could I ever dare dream of reaching such a realm…”

She could not even finish her words because of joy. Do Min’s flushed face was filled with all sorts of emotions, delight, gratitude, and a trace of worry.

Oh Gyeong smiled and spoke.

“As I told you before, the Myriad Beginnings Dharma Art you learned is the divine art that forms the foundation of the Return-to-Origin Divine Art I created. Both Myriad Beginnings and Return-to-Origin pursue boundless freedom, but while Return-to-Origin is the sunset, Myriad Beginnings is the east. Myriad Beginnings means myriad streams, so when you make use of your varied talents and learn countless martial arts, it will firmly support you from behind.”

Generally, there are those who dig into a single field and aim for the realm of an artisan.

Murim people are the same. Whether it is the sword, the spear, or the fist, there are many who see things through to the end with a single martial art.

Conversely, there are also many masters who reach the extreme while learning countless martial arts in a varied way.

Oh Gyeong realized that Do Min was a child born with many talents. Whether she reached the extreme would depend on her own effort, but it was clear that the Myriad Beginnings Dharma Art was the martial art that suited Do Min perfectly.

“Even so, to have already reached five-tenths mastery is impressive.”

“It is thanks to you looking after me well, Old Master.”

“Heh heh, all I did was whip you along and tell you to work hard.”

When he taught disciples as a master rather than an instructor, he had been stricter than anyone.

But now he wasn’t. He had aged as much as one could age, and his view of the world had opened wide. Oh Gyeong now knew that simply teaching harshly was not always the answer.

In truth, unlike her usual playful personality, Do Min knew how to make effort on her own. Her greed for martial arts was also strong, so it was better to guide her training in a way closer to letting her roam freely.

“Even excluding Heavenly Maiden Scattering Flowers Palm and the like, you may now begin properly learning hidden-weapon arts. I hear you are already learning medicine from Physician Lee as well, so if you learn them well, there will be a synergistic effect.”

“It is an honor!”

That was when it happened.

Rumble!

In that instant, Do Min quickly threw herself beside Oh Gyeong, lowered her stance, and looked toward the southern slope path.

Oh Gyeong quietly admired her. For someone whose Myriad Beginnings Dharma Art had only just reached five-tenths mastery, the quality of her movement was very good. She had not even had time to make the achievement she had gained her own, yet she was already this good.

‘Truly astonishing talent.’

It wasn’t talent that should remain in the place of a mere maid. The more he saw, the more he wanted to teach her more martial arts.

On the other hand, tension was clear on Do Min’s face.

“This sound…?”

“It is a shockwave.”

Oh Gyeong exhaled smoke with a huu.

“It is also the sound of the Patriarch grabbing Steward Han by the hair and shaking him.”

Pababak!

Han Cheol-sang’s appearance as he retreated madly was very rough. His hair was disheveled, and his clothes were torn and ripped in various places.

But he did not even recognize his own state.

Hwaaaaak!

He had no opening to deploy Life-Snatching Saber. Naturally, for the powerful Heaven-Shattering Saber, he could not even recite the mnemonic.

A single strike of Wind-Facing Form left him gasping for breath and caused abnormalities in his true qi circulation. It was because the force it projected was so powerful that it interfered with the flow of internal and external unity.

He was fortunate that no part of him had been blown away. If not for Lotus Eighteen Steps, he might truly have died.

‘Such strength!’

What was even more shocking was that this was only the first technique.

He had said he had created seven techniques in total, so if the first technique possessed this much power, how terrifying would the power of the six remaining techniques be?

“Second technique of the North Wind Sword.”

Chwareureureuk! Titing!

The shattered stone fragments collided and made a chilling sound.

After Wind-Facing Form, the Heavenly Wolf Sword flew in once again between the two vortexes that had split upward and downward.

It was not a thrust, but a slash.

The upper sword wind and lower sword wind that raised the gale tried to stick together like glue around Han Cheol-sang. Between them, the Heavenly Wolf Sword forced its way in, with a blue storm wind raging around it.

It was the second technique of the North Wind Sword, Three Yang Form.

‘I’ll really die!’

For the first time since entering the Kangho, he unleashed Lotus Eighteen Steps’ secret art, Flowing Water Flower Walk. It was an absolute evasive movement art that required extreme internal energy consumption.

Flash! Kwaaang!

Three streaks of gale collided and produced a massive explosion.

Stone powder ground away by the sword wind was sucked back into the explosion center. Then, in an instant, it spread outward with a hwak and made a thunderous sound.

Jiiiiiing!

The footwork of Flowing Water Flower Walk was fast as lightning and smooth as river water.

Before anyone knew it, Han Cheol-sang had escaped more than fifteen meters from the explosion center and immediately readied Heaven-Shattering Saber.

If he considered the time to counterattack, Life-Snatching Saber would be right, but the sharpness of Life-Snatching Saber could not pierce that wind. Even in a situation where everything was being pushed back, he chose a contest of power. Han Cheol-sang instinctively felt his choice was right.

Amid the sharpened tension, as he saw Tang Jin-hyeon prove it through action and not merely words, Han Cheol-sang felt death become real.

Hwaaaaak!

The fire qi pouring out condensed in an instant and settled on the Death God Saber.

‘First Blade, Mountain Severing.’

Flash!

Han Cheol-sang once again stepped with Lotus Eighteen Steps, forced his way between the flowing sword winds, and swung the Death God Saber with force.

Tang Jin-hyeon’s eyes flashed.

The Death God Saber split the air as it fell. The saber qi, grown enormous like a blade swung in a giant’s hand, descended with enough force to cut through a mountain range.

‘As expected!’

It was a technique he already knew, but it seemed Han Cheol-sang had reinterpreted it in his own way as his realm rose. It was a subtle saber strike, enough that even a transcendent master would be in danger if he responded carelessly just because he knew it.

Moreover, his movement forcing his way through the sword winds losing power was also good. It was the path with the highest possibility of counterattack, but if fear had slowed his reaction, he would not have been able to charge in at all.

Huk!

The flowing sword winds received power again and writhed as they pleased.

Kwaaang!

The Heaven-Shattering First Blade, containing condensed fire qi, left a massive scar in the earth. When the saber strike tore through the ground and reached the river, part of the river water shot high into the sky with a pababak sound.

Hwiiiiiiiiing!!

Han Cheol-sang, who was about to pursue the evading Tang Jin-hyeon and deploy Heaven-Shattering Second Blade, Collapsing Mountain, was shocked.

‘What is this?’

The moment the released sword winds were losing power, they came back under Moonlit Pack-Wolf True Qi’s control and raised a massive wind.

Unlike Wind-Facing Form and Three Yang Form, it was a mad wind spreading in every direction. The wind was so fierce that if not for the Red Lotus Divine Fire Art, even Han Cheol-sang would have found it difficult to control his body.

At the same time, Han Cheol-sang realized it.

‘It’s a barrage technique.’

Flash!

Tang Jin-hyeon, who had been over nine meters away, immediately closed three meters of distance and swung the Heavenly Wolf Sword.

Milky-white sword light poured in every direction, and a blue storm raged along with the sword light.

It was the third technique of the North Wind Sword, Storm Form.

Kwakwakwakwa-kwaang!!

Before the merciless barrage that cut down all eight directions without regard for bearing, Han Cheol-sang’s Heaven-Shattering Saber immediately changed into Life-Snatching Chained Saber.

Jjeojeojeojeong!

Han Cheol-sang’s face turned pale.

‘Damn it!’

Even though he struck away part of the sword strikes pouring down recklessly with Life-Snatching Saber, internal injuries were accumulating. Just from the clash of saber and sword, he suffered extreme losses. The difference in internal energy density and physical strength was severe.

Puhwaaaak!

Han Cheol-sang couldn’t block all the sword strikes of Storm Form. A sword strike that bent in reverse cut across his back, side, and part of his shoulder.

Because he had constantly stepped with Lotus Eighteen Steps even in place, he was barely able to avoid fatal sword wounds. Even for Han Cheol-sang himself, this was the first time he had used footwork while remaining in place. His instinctive response had prevented him from suffering a grave injury.

But.

‘It’s coming again!’

Normally, he would never have been able to read it. Amid the storm-like blade winds, Han Cheol-sang sensed that a streak of sinister killing intent was coiling like a snake.

‘A swift sword!’

Flash!!

Before the storm’s barrage had even disappeared, a gale-like sword strike poured down.

It was the fourth technique of the North Wind Sword, Gale Form. Wind-Facing Form also belonged to the category of swift swords, but Gale Form was far faster and more precise. A single flash tore through the wind, and condensed sword wind advanced with enough force to pierce steel.

Peoeoeok!

Part of Han Cheol-sang’s side was torn away entirely.

A burning sensation rose from the wound. At the same time, a chilling cold ran down his spine.

Because he had predicted it beforehand, he was able to deploy at least a half-form of Flowing Water Flower Walk. Because a fistful of flesh had been torn away, he could not easily send internal energy through the blood channels around his side.

Even so, it was a tremendous fortune. If he had not predicted the swift sword, his solar plexus would have been pierced and he would have died instantly.

Flash!

Han Cheol-sang was indeed different. Even though he had suffered a serious wound to his side, he unleashed Life-Snatching Chained Saber’s Death-Severing Slash toward the neck of Tang Jin-hyeon, whose sword was stretched straight forward.

Even if he was startled by suffering a serious wound for the first time in a long while, he did not hesitate. His mindset that he could be injured at any time, and his mental strength as a martial artist, were at the highest level.

Saaak!

The blade wind of Death-Severing Slash left a small scratch on Tang Jin-hyeon’s neck.

Hwareureureuk!

Evading was not the end. Life-Snatching Saber was a chained saber art, a martial art that connected organically to the next technique and pressed the enemy until they died.

Han Cheol-sang’s saber, continuing from Death-Severing Slash to Flying-Arrow Lament, and from Flying-Arrow Lament to Demon Saber Eight Slaughters, finally gained momentum.

Jjeojeojeojeong!

Life-Snatching Chained Saber, empowered by Red Lotus Divine Fire Art, was not a simple killing saber.

If even one strike landed, the infiltrating fire qi would burn the blood channels. It was already a killing martial art discussed among the greatest under heaven, and now that fire qi was added to it, an opponent would suffer such tremendous pressure that even manifesting their martial arts would become difficult.

Of course, Tang Jin-hyeon was different.

With calm eyes and divine footwork, he avoided Life-Snatching Chained Saber while tying the strands of sword wind, then unfolded Heavenly Evasion Steps.

Huk! Kwaang!

“Keuk!”

Han Cheol-sang groaned and flew backward.

‘A body slam?!’

He had entered his guard and struck with his entire body. Even searching all under heaven, there would be very few martial artists who would enter a blade wielder’s guard and execute a body slam.

But that wasn’t the issue.

‘He could have stabbed my stomach or chest from inside my guard. And yet, the fact that he pushed me away means…’

It meant he would show him properly.

As Han Cheol-sang predicted, Tang Jin-hyeon’s sword was spreading the tails of sword wind left behind by Gale Form in every direction.

Woooooooong!!

Before anyone knew it, the sword winds had spread to the east, west, south, and north, and in an instant, they surged toward the sky like dragons.

Han Cheol-sang’s eyes flashed open.

The small whirlwinds became enormous in the blink of an eye. There were even four of them. The four whirlwinds writhing as they wrapped around stone powder narrowed the distance and tried to grind apart the prey within.

The fifth technique of the North Wind Sword, Returning Wind Formation Form.

‘I cannot block it.’

Because of the powerful pulling force, he could not escape even with Flowing Water Flower Walk. Far from deploying martial arts, even lifting the Death God Saber was difficult.

It was an extreme destructive martial art that crushed the opponent with the pressure of wind and ground them apart. The five techniques contained all the paths a sword could draw and the fundamental principles of qi arts within.

In that instant, Han Cheol-sang realized.

‘It was a chained sword art!’

Wind-Facing Form, Three Yang Form, Storm Form, Gale Form, and the final Returning Wind Formation Form.

Astonishingly, these five techniques had the nature of a chained sword art, like Life-Snatching Saber. It was only this much because Tang Jin-hyeon had slowed down while unfolding them. If he had unleashed the chained sword art in earnest, Han Cheol-sang’s entire body would have been ground away long ago.

‘Even in all this, he was going easy on me?’

Admiration rose in him. He felt fear.

And within it, one streak of desire surged up.

‘Even if I die, I will show this much before I die.’

Han Cheol-sang had seen through the principles of the North Wind Sword with death right before him.

In this situation where he could do nothing, Han Cheol-sang’s saber began to move as if possessed.