Chapter 511: That's Why Your Martial Arts Will Be Strong

TL: FoodieMonster007

"The Elder went there."

Geom Mugeuk thought about the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. He imagined the man walking alone with a giant dao on his back. Ja Jyeong must have believed he could handle the Elder and went to manage that part of the plan himself.

"Master could be in danger."

Worry was evident on Seo Daeryong's face.

"How can we find out where that is?"

At Seo Daeryong's question, Geom Mugeuk's gaze shifted naturally toward Ja Jyeong.

Ja Jyeong, who was in a conversation with Bang Cheongmun of the Mount Phoenix Sword Sect, happened to glance in their direction as well. He offered an amiable smile.

From that single expression, Geom Mugeuk felt his premonition was correct. He considered the situation a success.

Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly in return. The moment Seo Daeryong saw that smile, he knew. Geom Mugeuk was about to open the gates of hell.

Geom Mugeuk spoke to Ja Jyeong.

"I have a question for our esteemed hero."

"Ask away."

The martial artists from the orthodox sects who were nearby held their breath, listening intently to the conversation.

Geom Mugeuk asked bluntly.

"Where?"

A faint smile appeared on Ja Jyeong's lips. He understood what Geom Mugeuk was asking. Of course, with everyone watching, Ja Jyeong feigned ignorance.

"What are you talking about?"

Geom Mugeuk's eyes grew cold.

"There is something you don't know about me."

As Geom Mugeuk's demeanor toward Ja Jyeong shifted, all the orthodox sect martial artists tensed up.

Geom Mugeuk ignored them, keeping his eyes fixed only on Ja Jyeong as he continued to speak.

"The reason you're still alive right now isn't because of the orthodox sect members here. It's not because of your backer, either."

Every word from Geom Mugeuk was low and intensely cold.

"You're alive because of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon. It's because I don't know exactly how he is entangled with you people. So I'm asking. Where is Elder Blade Demon right now?"

Ja Jyeong looked directly into Geom Mugeuk's eyes and replied.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

He was confident. Surrounded by people from the orthodox sects, Geom Mugeuk would never attack him. His eyes seemed to communicate as much.

So what? You're going to attack me here, with so many orthodox sect masters around? Then this incident will be confirmed as your doing.

"Why are you doing this?"

Geom Mugeuk could see it clearly. This was not a person who would answer just because he was asked. He was very skilled at hiding his true self. Indeed, if he were not that kind of person, how could he have concealed his identity as a demon while living so flawlessly as a hero?

Geom Mugeuk turned to Bang Cheongmun.

"Please step back for a moment with everyone here."

It was obvious he considered Ja Jyeong the culprit.

"What are you trying to do?"

Bang Cheongmun was flustered by Geom Mugeuk's sudden action. Based on what was just said to Ja Jyeong, it seemed the Young Cult Leader and the Sanzu Hall Director truly believed the Blue Cloud Hero was responsible.

"I will determine who the culprit is, right here in front of you all."

Ja Jyeong shouted to Bang Cheongmun.

"Don't fall for the Demonic Cult's trickery. Please help me."

Even if the Blue Cloud Hero had not requested help, it was a situation where they could not simply back down.

Just as Bang Cheongmun was about to say he could not do that.

SPLASH.

Bang Cheongmun flinched, surprised to find himself suddenly floating in the sky.

What in the world?

He looked again and realized it was not the sky. He was standing on water, but the water was so clear that the sky's reflection was perfect, tricking him into thinking he was airborne.

The moment he understood, he plunged.

PLUNGE.

Bang Cheongmun sank into the water. He struggled and fought against it, but it was useless. The surface of the water grew more distant.

He was slowly suffocating. The terror of asphyxiation combined with the pitch-black of the abyss became too much for Bang Cheongmun to bear.

…I'm going to die like this!

Geom Mugeuk watched him in silence.

In that very instant, everything vanished.

Bang Cheongmun knew. What he had just experienced was Geom Mugeuk's energy.

Gasps of awe rippled through the crowd. It seemed everyone had felt the same energy. Each person, however, experienced it differently. The stronger their martial arts, the greater the fear they felt.

That beautiful sky, the water, and the abyss.

How could a person possess such an energy? And how could he neutralize someone with energy alone?

Bang Cheongmun found it unbelievable. He had heard rumors that the Demonic Cult's Young Cult Leader was strong, but he never imagined this level of power.

If he decided to, we would be… annihilated.

With a fearful heart, Bang Cheongmun stared at Geom Mugeuk. His eyes remained as clear and deep as ever.

A thought occurred to him. Perhaps Geom Mugeuk was a person just like the energy he had just displayed. A deep abyss was hidden within those clear eyes.

In contrast to his terrifying energy, Geom Mugeuk spoke calmly.

"I swear on my name as the Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. If I have judged wrongly, I will take responsibility."

What if this was a ploy by the Demonic Cult? A plan to kill the Blue Cloud Hero…

In that moment, Bang Cheongmun realized something. There was no way someone this powerful would go to such lengths just to harm a mere hero, who was not the leader of the Murim Alliance or the Demon Slaying Brigade. He would not do this, especially not while staking his own name on it.

Bang Cheongmun spoke to the leaders around him.

"Since the Young Cult Leader of the Divine Cult has gone this far, let's step back for a moment."

The leaders of the invited sects exchanged glances with one another. A few of them thought they should intervene. However, after facing the overwhelming energy Geom Mugeuk had just shown, they did not dare to step in.

If problems arose later… Bang Cheongmun, who made the decision, would have to take responsibility.

After they had moved back, Geom Mugeuk turned to Ja Jyeong.

"You were trying to corner the Sanzu Hall Director and force him to use the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique, weren't you?"

Ja Jyeong denied it to the very end.

"Is this your way? Framing and eliminating anyone who gets in your way?"

"Yes, this is our way. Your way and my way, our way."

"I, the Blue Cloud Hero, will never yield to the threats of the Demonic Cult! Come at me, Young Cult Leader!"

Those words were not meant to provoke Geom Mugeuk. They were for the people of the orthodox sects.

Then, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.

"I'm not the one who will fight you."

Geom Mugeuk said to Seo Daeryong.

"Sanzu Hall Director."

"Yes, Young Cult Leader."

"You will face this man."

Seo Daeryong was inwardly surprised. He had not expected to be told to fight.

What surprised him even more was the telepathic message that followed.

[Kill him with the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique! Use the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique from the very beginning.]

Seo Daeryong was startled.

You really want me to kill him?

He did not even know if he could kill the man, but another worry troubled him more.

If I kill him, how will we find out where Master is?

However, Seo Daeryong quickly pushed his worries aside. If Geom Mugeuk said to kill him, he would kill him. There had to be a reason.

"I will face him."

Seo Daeryong stepped forward.

"You're probably planning to have the Young Cult Leader step in at the end, after I've exhausted my inner arts."

He was trying to prevent Geom Mugeuk from intervening, and Geom Mugeuk played along with his wishes.

"Even if the Sanzu Hall Director loses, I will not step in. I also swear this on my name as the Young Cult Leader."

When Geom Mugeuk said this, Ja Jyeong no longer tried to provoke the orthodox sect members. If Geom Mugeuk had not made that vow, he would have found a way to incite them. He knew very well how to provoke the pride and honor of the orthodox sects.

But the Sanzu Hall Director? He could kill him. He knew all about his level of martial skill.

I'll kill you with my own hands.

And so, the two men faced each other.

[Didn't I tell you? That adversaries exist in this world.]

Seo Daeryong replied to Ja Jyeong's telepathic message, seeing that Geom Mugeuk was putting him forward instead of killing Ja Jyeong himself.

[It seems that adversary is truly me.]

With that final telepathic exchange, the two of them clashed.

From the very first move, Seo Daeryong unleashed the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique.

SHWAAAAAAK!

An attack of tremendous power flew forward. It was the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique, the First Technique, the Annihilation Blade Slash.

If this had been the Seo Daeryong from a few days ago, Ja Jyeong might have blocked the attack using the orthodox martial arts he had displayed as the Blue Cloud Hero.

However, Seo Daeryong's inner arts had improved greatly after he consumed the Azure Jade Divine Pill. He had also received practical duel instruction from Geom Mugeuk.

This was not an attack Ja Jyeong could block with ease.

KWAAANG!

Two streams of enhanced qi collided in mid-air.

Ja Jyeong was surprised and flustered. Seo Daeryong was much stronger than he had thought.

He's this strong?

The problem was that the attack was so fast and powerful that he had no choice but to use the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique to block it. Otherwise, his arm would have been blown off.

The watching orthodox sect members could not hide their surprise at the unexpected power. The exchange happened so quickly that they had not yet clearly recognized that the Blue Cloud Hero had used the same martial art.

Only Bang Cheongmun, the most skilled among them, tilted his head in slight confusion.

The Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique, the Second Technique. The Annihilation Blade Tidal Wave.

Blade energy spread out like a wave. Ja Jyeong had blocked the First Technique with all his might, so how could he possibly block the Second?

This time as well, Ja Jyeong countered with the Annihilation Blade Tidal Wave.

KWAAAAAANG!

A deafening explosion erupted. A fierce blade wind spread in all directions, pushing back the onlookers.

At the second clash, Bang Cheongmun's eyes widened. The other leaders also wore expressions suggesting something was strange.

And when the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique, the Third Technique, the Bloody Annihilation Blade Wind, collided, everyone understood.

"It's the same martial arts!"

"The hero has learned the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique!"

Everyone was horrified by the fact that Ja Jyeong knew the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique.

Seo Daeryong now understood Geom Mugeuk's intention. He had to display the technique so that everyone would realize the martial art Ja Jyeong was using was also the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique.

This was only possible because Geom Mugeuk had accurately seen through both his and Ja Jyeong's skills. In the end, he had accomplished what Ja Jyeong had been trying to do.

If you want to live, you'll have to use the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique!

Having been exposed, Ja Jyeong blatantly unleashed his demonic qi and rushed toward Seo Daeryong.

Seo Daeryong also swung his blade to meet him.

KWAANG!

The two giant daos collided with a roar, the impact transmitting through their hands.

Surprisingly, what Seo Daeryong felt was this.

It's bearable!

If it had not been, he would have dropped his blade.

He had started learning martial arts late in life, but he had trained harder than anyone.

"I don't have enough time to train."

To his complaint, Geom Mugeuk had once told him this.

"That's why your martial arts will be stronger."

"Huh?"

"Because the experience of living your life diligently during the day can sometimes overcome training that consists of only swinging a blade all day. Believe in yourself! Believe in your experience, and believe in your clever self!"

Normally, Ja Jyeong clearly possessed superior skill. However, he also had an unexpected weakness. Using the martial arts of the orthodox sects for so long instead of demonic arts had held him back.

Conversely, Seo Daeryong was in a state of being keenly honed. Because of this, the two engaged in a fierce match.

CHWAAAAAK! TTAENG! TTAAENG!

A series of deadly attacks flew back and forth. Sparks flew every time their blades collided, which they brought down on each other as if to split the sky.

The ground was deeply gouged. The rocks that decorated the flower garden were shattered and scattered.

Seo Daeryong was lost in a state of selflessness. He did not even realize he was in a fight that made the jaws of the watching orthodox sect members drop. The training he had done by carving out time and cutting back on sleep was now guiding him.

At the decisive moment, his body moved just as Geom Mugeuk had taught him. He executed his movement art, lifting his body and striking down lightly as if throwing his blade.

SHWAAAAAEK!

PUAAAAK!

For a moment, both men's movements stopped.

The one who spewed a mouthful of blood from his lips was Ja Jyeong. Seo Daeryong's blade had passed through his shoulder and was embedded deep in his torso.

Seo Daeryong's hand trembled. It was the first time he had killed an opponent after fighting a master of this caliber.

When he was learning the move, he had thought, 'I guess there's a technique like this, too.' But in a real fight, that single move was a truly decisive technique that could determine victory or defeat.

You taught me such an incredible technique so casually?

Ja Jyeong looked up at Seo Daeryong with a grim face.

"You… you bastard."

His expression showed he could not believe he had lost to Seo Daeryong. Not to the Young Cult Leader, but to this puny guy?

Thinking that even getting angry was shameful, he forced a smile at Seo Daeryong.

"…If you kill me, you won't be able to find where the Blood Heaven Blade Demon is."

The moment he heard him say 'the Blood Heaven Blade Demon', Seo Daeryong felt relieved.

This guy, he's not Master's disciple!

Ja Jyeong tried to use the Blood Heaven Blade Demon to survive, but it did not work on Seo Daeryong.

"He told me to kill you, so I'm sure he'll figure it out."

The moment those words ended, Seo Daeryong brought his giant dao straight down.

SEOGEOK!

CHWAAAAAK!

Ja Jyeong's body split in half and fell to both sides. The smell of blood filled the air. All the orthodox sect martial artists watched with shocked faces.

Seo Daeryong's eyes did not register them.

The person he looked for was Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk was looking at him and smiling.

[Well done, my right-hand man.]

At those words, Seo Daeryong's heart swelled with emotion. He was so moved that he felt he would boast about this fight all night, no, for the rest of his life, whenever he had a drink.

Seo Daeryong, whose list of things to be proud of kept growing, had grown again today.

Bang Cheongmun spoke to Geom Mugeuk.

"What you said was right, Young Cult Leader. The culprit was him."

He was now certain that Ja Jyeong was the culprit. A man renowned as a hero of the orthodox sects had learned the Heaven Destroying Demonic Blade Technique? That was something that could never happen unless he was plotting a great conspiracy.

Because of today's events, the truth would become known in the orthodox murim. This incident was a conspiracy planned to drive a wedge between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the orthodox sects.

Geom Mugeuk bid farewell to Bang Cheongmun and the orthodox sect martial artists.

"Thank you for believing me."

In truth, they had been half-forced to believe him because of his overwhelming skill, but it was still gracious of him to say so.

"If you need help, just say the word anytime. We will help you."

"I will. Then, we'll be taking our leave for today."

Geom Mugeuk and Seo Daeryong hurriedly left the place.

"You have an idea where Master is, don't you?"

"No."

Seo Daeryong was startled by Geom Mugeuk's answer.

"Then, why did you tell me to kill him?"

"He wasn't the type to talk anyway. He would have just stalled for time."

Seo Daeryong agreed on that point.

"I still have a long way to go. Seeing me so restless like this. You're not worried at all, are you, Young Cult Leader?"

He had thought Geom Mugeuk was so relaxed because he trusted the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

"If you're talking about the Elder, I am worried. With that stubborn personality of his that hates to inconvenience others, how could I not be worried?"

At that, Seo Daeryong also revealed his true feelings.

"Right? I'm worried sick, too. But why are you so calm?"

Because there was something he believed in.

"Even if I don't trust your Master, I trust my father."

Geom Mugeuk trusted his father, and he trusted the relationship between his father and the Blood Heaven Blade Demon.

When he first met the Blood Heaven Blade Demon after his regression, the man had been confident his father would forgive him even if he killed the Young Cult Leader. He trusted that kind of relationship between the two.

"As long as this incident is related to their past, my father won't just stand by and watch. He's not one to ever entrust his affairs to others."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon opened the main gate and stepped inside. The training ground, which would normally be bustling with people, was completely empty.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon crossed the desolate training ground and entered the main hall. A person was sitting on the grand chair. The Blood Heaven Blade Demon slowly walked toward him.

The person sitting on the grand chair opened his mouth.

"Why don't you ask? If I haven't killed everyone who was here?"

His voice, echoing through the main hall, was thick with phlegm and cracked. It was deep and desolate like the dry land of the frontier. However, the voice was so intense it felt like it clawed at a person's heart with a hook.

"Because I know you haven't killed them yet."

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's tone was calm yet respectful.

"Why is that?"

"Because killing them isn't the purpose of this incident, is it? The goal from the beginning was to lure me and the Cult Leader here."

Having arrived below the grand chair, the Blood Heaven Blade Demon looked up.

An old man was sitting on the grand chair at the top of the stairs. The dense wrinkles on his face made it impossible to even guess his age. However, the light flowing from his eyes was as powerful as staring into the sun.

The Blood Heaven Blade Demon's eyes trembled as he looked at the old man.

"It has been a long time, Master."