The Tang Clan (8)

Tang Jin-hyeon’s eyes shone with a strange light.

‘He is moving.’

Returning Wind Formation Form was the last of the first five techniques of the North Wind Sword, the Chained Five Swords, a martial art that gathered all the sword winds released in every direction and grinds the opponent up.

There were eighty different forms of silk-reeling force alone, and when combined with the silk-reeling force emitted by the swordsman himself, that made eighty-one. The eighty-one strands of silk-reeling force, melted into the swordsman and the four storms of sword qi, moved as if alive and crushed the enemy.

Because of the pressure of the silk-reeling force and the tornado winds, anyone trapped within would be subjected to tremendous pressure. At Han Cheol-sang’s current level, blocking or avoiding it would not be easy.

That was why he had intended to withdraw it, even at the cost of internal injury.

‘Let’s see how he responds.’

At that moment, the true qi circulating inside Han Cheol-sang was undergoing an astonishing change.

Pabababababak!

Fire qi formed countless fire needles through its master’s powerful will. Those fire needles, following the explosive operation of the Red Lotus Divine Fire Art, pierced numerous points in Han Cheol-sang’s limbs and torso.

In that brief time while Returning Wind Formation Form raged, they pierced acupoints throughout his body and forced it to move. It was Fire God Opens the Court of the Red Lotus Divine Fire Art, something he had not dared to deploy until now.

It was a secret technique that stimulated the acupoints of a body unable to move because of severe injuries, forcing it to move so that its master could fight until the very end.

That art of Fire God Opens the Court activated like lightning and gave Han Cheol-sang freedom.

Han Cheol-sang’s body, having gained freedom, began to unfold one martial art according to its master’s will.

Life-Snatching Chained Saber.

It was the true supreme art of the Life-Snatching Demon Lord, the fiercest commander under the Eight Wastes Alliance Leader, the most brutal warrior whom even the other Demon Lords never dared to fight.

What made Life-Snatching Chained Saber truly terrifying was that its chained techniques had no end.

In other words, the true great completion of Life-Snatching Chained Saber lay in a ferocious offensive that poured out attacks until all one’s internal energy was exhausted, without giving the enemy even an opening to attack.

It was an extremely swift killing saber that unfolded everything from the first technique to the last more than ten times in the space of a breath.

‘I can do it.’

Watching the North Wind Sword’s Chained Five Swords, Han Cheol-sang’s pride was wounded. It was because he had been confident he wouldn’t fall behind anyone when it came to chained martial arts.

His wounded pride called forth stubbornness, that stubbornness set desire ablaze, and that burning desire instantly dragged out a confidence close to arrogance.

It was a terrifying will that, when it came to chained martial arts, he would not fall behind even the Ten Venerables Under Heaven, no, that he would surpass even them.

‘I am stronger!’

Flash!

Starting with the first technique, Life-Severing First Blade, and continuing to the final secret technique.

In the space of a breath, Life-Snatching Chained Saber unfolded twice.

Kagagagagang! Kagagang!

One of the tornado winds pressing in wavered under the rushing Life-Snatching saber qi.

Blood vessels burst in both of Han Cheol-sang’s eyes.

“Uaaaaaah!”

Kagagagang! Peoeoeoeong!

Tang Jin-hyeon’s eyes widened.

One of the tornado winds, with its prey right before it, was being smashed apart from the middle and scattered by Han Cheol-sang’s tremendous chained strikes.

‘How can this be?’

It was a truly astonishing sight. Tang Jin-hyeon had not yet dispersed the power of Returning Wind Formation Form.

He was breaking through sword wind personally released by a transcendent master through his own strength alone. It was martial learning worthy of being discussed under heaven, will pushed to the extreme, and the power of a soul proving itself without even caring for its life.

Kwakwang! Chiriririring!

As soon as Han Cheol-sang escaped, the three tornado winds collided and gave off a chilling sound.

Pabababababak!

He did not even realize that the Returning Wind Formation Form was merging behind his back. From Han Cheol-sang’s blood-tear-filled eyes, the somewhat dazed eyes of a martial artist, a spirit full of madness was pouring out.

‘Fast.’

He advanced while swinging his saber without pause. He was heading toward Tang Jin-hyeon.

He was still not within striking range, yet he kept swinging his saber. And the speed was incredibly fast. It was a saber speed Han Cheol-sang had never shown before, and even for Tang Jin-hyeon’s current level, it was a swift saber art difficult to react to.

At that moment, Tang Jin-hyeon recalled the rough voice of the Life-Snatching Demon Lord melted into the memories of the Eight Wastes Alliance Leader.

‘To cut and cut again so they cannot even think of counterattacking, to cut down every enemy until my life is exhausted, to cut and cut until I even cut myself down in the end. That killing martial art is this humble general’s Life-Snatching Saber.’

Those words showed the nature of the martial art called Life-Snatching Saber, and at the same time, touched upon its ultimate essence.

Han Cheol-sang had not reached the ultimate essence of Life-Snatching Chained Saber. But he had stood upon the path toward that essence. In truth, in the span of a moment, his saber speed was gradually, unmistakably becoming faster.

Tang Jin-hyeon’s eyes softened.

The powerful desire of Han Cheol-sang, who had never once burned with competitive spirit until now, could be felt. The will to win, a spirit a martial artist naturally ought to possess, that heart that wanted to defeat the opponent became the catalyst that shattered Han Cheol-sang’s current realm.

‘That is how you do it, Brother Han.’

Paaang!

Tang Jin-hyeon retreated thirty meters in an instant, then once again kicked powerfully off the ground.

Flash!

Tang Jin-hyeon charged toward Han Cheol-sang, who was wildly cutting through empty air.

Before anyone knew it, the Heavenly Wolf Sword had entered its scabbard and held the will of explosion. Tang Jin-hyeon’s figure as he charged, gripping the scabbard with his left hand and the hilt with his right, was extremely aggressive and fierce.

When his figure reached the countless lines drawn by Life-Snatching Chained Saber.

Chaaaaaang!

The Heavenly Wolf Sword, gathering the power of wind into a single point, displayed an explosive draw.

Kwaaaang!

A single sword strike swept away everything before him.

Struck by the mighty sword power, like a cannon blast, Han Cheol-sang’s body flew backward.

“Heok!”

Han Cheol-sang sat up with a sharp gasp, then immediately gritted his teeth and lay back down.

He felt intense pain from his side. Since a fistful of flesh had been torn away, that was only natural.

‘Bandages?’

It was a large wound, but it had been treated well with medicinal herbs and bandages. Even though he had lost consciousness, his true qi was alive and constantly seeping into the wound.

He wouldn’t be able to deploy martial arts for a while, but moving itself wasn’t impossible.

‘Where is this?’

The sky was still dark. Only the moon’s position had changed.

His back ached in sharp pulses. He felt bumpy gravel.

‘The riverside?’

At that moment, a familiar voice came.

“As expected, you are different. I didn’t think you would wake this quickly.”

Han Cheol-sang raised his upper body again. His face twisted on its own from the terrible pain, but he couldn’t help getting up.

Tang Jin-hyeon was sitting right in front of the river. Han Cheol-sang could see his back.

“Kkeung.”

Han Cheol-sang forced himself to rise and walked to Tang Jin-hyeon’s side. His steps were unsteady, but he endured with superhuman patience.

Han Cheol-sang slowly sat beside Tang Jin-hyeon, steadied his breath, and asked.

“How much time has passed?”

“An hour.”

“I was lying down for quite a while.”

“That was fast. I thought you would be down for two hours.”

“You left me here instead of carrying me to my quarters?”

“Your internal energy is based on fire qi, isn’t it? Even if it was a bit uncomfortable, I thought staying here, where there is moisture and a suitable amount of cold, would stimulate your internal energy. And well, I treated your wound too, didn’t I?”

Han Cheol-sang gave a small laugh. Then he frowned again. The wound on his side had begun to hurt.

As he held his side and looked at the river, he tossed out the words.

“I was surprised.”

“By what?”

“By the fact that I had that much pride too.”

“Everyone has that much pride. You just tried hard to ignore it, Steward Han.”

“I was able to look back on myself well thanks to this opportunity.”

“Then that is enough.”

“However, I still haven’t crossed the wall.”

“True.”

Tang Jin-hyeon, who had been gazing at the river with calm eyes, turned his head and looked at Han Cheol-sang.

“But you did put a hole in that wall.”

“…”

“You can see how to cross it now, can you not?”

“Please lay it out for me.”

“The Life-Snatching Chained Saber you used at the end, Steward Han, that saber work was clearly the path toward its ultimate essence. You used the martial art of the Life-Snatching Demon Lord, who dominated all under heaven in the era of the Eight Wastes Alliance, to that degree. There is no way your realm would not rise.”

Han Cheol-sang’s eyes shook.

Tang Jin-hyeon threw a pebble into the river.

“Crossing a wall is something you cannot even get a feel for before you cross it, but after you cross it, you end up thinking, why did I not know this? Not everyone is the same, so it cannot be generalized.”

“…”

“Even so, if I had to point out one common factor, you have to let go of much of who you have been until now. Only then can you see a new path.”

“Who I have been until now…”

“More precisely, you have to look into a new side of yourself that you didn’t know.”

Han Cheol-sang closed his eyes.

“In other words, I still didn’t know myself.”

“That’s not it. You already know, Steward Han. You just cannot explain the unfamiliar side of yourself.”

“…”

“The moment you can understand and explain the new version of yourself, your perspective opens and your heart widens. That alone cannot let you cross the wall, but I think the beginning of crossing the wall lies there.”

“I see.”

Tang Jin-hyeon smiled.

“This much is enough. Some people leap over the wall with a single moment of realization, while others cross it by gradually tearing the wall down. Anyone can see you are the latter, Steward Han.”

“So I don’t have that one big breakthrough, then.”

“That’s what makes you frightening. It means that once you know the method, you can keep developing without end.”

“!”

“With this much, I can leave with peace of mind. You’ve put one hole in the wall, so if you train diligently, you will soon rise.”

Tang Jin-hyeon slowly stood from his seat.

“Patriarch.”

“Mm?”

“Thank you.”

“What is there to thank me for? I’m doing it all for my own convenience.”

Han Cheol-sang stood with a smile. It hurt, but it also didn’t hurt.

He could not express this gratitude fully with the words thank you alone. Truly, Han Cheol-sang wanted to have a drink with Tang Jin-hyeon right away.

But he couldn’t do that. His physical condition was one reason, and Tang Jin-hyeon also didn’t like hearing repeated words of thanks.

This alone was enough. Between the Patriarch and Steward of a clan, this much help could be given as naturally as breathing. That was how he could think of it.

“By the way, that was truly a terrifying martial art.”

“It’s pretty decent, isn’t it?”

“It was far beyond pretty decent. If you polish it in earnest, it looked more than enough to aim for the summit under heaven.”

“I‘m trying to make it reach that level.”

“If I had taken it properly, I would’ve died without being able to do anything.”

“You knew?”

“Yes. Those five techniques were a chained sword art, were they not?”

“As expected, you’re extraordinary. Your eye for martial arts is already no different from mine or Old Master Oh’s.”

“The moment I realized that sword art was a chained art, I was able to break the wall as well.”

Tang Jin-hyeon patted Han Cheol-sang’s shoulder.

“Once you finish breaking through the wall and come over to the other side, let us fight properly. I held back a lot.”

“You held back that much?”

“That much? Steward Han, can you not see your side?”

“What?”

“Anyone struck even once by the North Wind Sword will have their insides destroyed by the penetrating silk-reeling force.”

“!”

“You’re lucky it only pierced through your side. If I hadn’t dispersed the silk-reeling force, your organs would’ve become minced meat.”

Han Cheol-sang felt chills run over him.

“A person with powerful internal energy could negate the penetrating force as well, couldn’t they?”

“Of course.”

“…Then one would have to at least be an equal.”

“That’s why you shouldn’t betray me and should lead the clan well.”

“I’m too afraid to even think of betraying you.”

Tang Jin-hyeon gave a small laugh and crossed the river.

“I’m heading back first.”

“Yes.”

Tang Jin-hyeon had already gone up the hill.

A smile appeared on Han Cheol-sang’s face as he looked at the Patriarch’s back.

‘I really cannot handle him.’

He had never intended to leave in the first place, but how could he abandon someone who showed this much sincerity as if it were only natural and go anywhere else?

Han Cheol-sang gave a bitter smile and held his side, but his face suddenly stiffened.

“Ah, damn it. How am I supposed to cross this?”