Chapter 37
Joy Ends, Sorrow Comes (4)
Kang Yongwoon didn’t hear Jin Jo-yeon’s heart-wrenching cries.
He didn’t trust the illusions he could see; he focused solely on what his Divine Eye revealed.
A rain of attacks? Hmph. That’s just an illusion.
The truth was completely different.
The real danger is all around—front, back, sides, and above.
So, what was the best response?
Right there!
A space came into view.
Directly in front of Baekryeong.
Judging by my remaining inner power and injuries, I can’t drag this fight out with this opponent. I need to finish it as quickly as possible.
While the enemy was distracted…
Ta-at!
Kang Yongwoon surged forward.
Amidst the storm of foul inner power pouring toward him, he began to counter Baekryeong’s real attacks.
“Eight-direction storm with the Heavy Secret Art.”
Kang Yongwoon’s iron sword traced a heavy arc, sweeping widely across the front.
Whoo-ung!
The iron sword, infused with the subtlety of the Heavy Secret Art, completely deflected Baekryeong’s delayed but powerful strikes.
Bang. Bang. Kwa-ang.
“Kuh-huh!”
Kang Yongwoon gritted his teeth.
He had blocked all of Baekryeong’s techniques, but he couldn’t control the remaining force.
Thunk.
His body cracked where the leftover force brushed against him, thick streams of blood scattering.
“Still… push forward!”
Even the Divine Eye had its limits.
The inner power from the Great Heavenly Skill was already draining fast. He had to finish the fight as quickly as possible.
Tat!
“Haah!”
With a fierce shout, Kang Yongwoon poured his inner power through his Dragon Spring Point and lunged at Baekryeong.
Bueonjjeok!
The innate energy of the fully exerted Great Heavenly Skill ignited a brilliant aura along the iron sword.
Fusss!
The lingering foul aura around Baekryeong burned away, scattering like ash.
A flash.
Baekryeong’s pride-darkened eyes shifted.
“Fine. If I cannot kill you here, I will die trying. Kuaaah!”
Baekryeong didn’t step back.
Standing straight, he fully opened his dantian, unleashing a decisive move.
“Jeol. Ryun. Mong. Hwa-an!”
Bueonjjeok.
Kwaaa-ung!
The concentrated foul inner power in Baekryeong’s hands began to spin fiercely…
“Take this!”
Just as Baekryeong’s technique neared completion, Kang Yongwoon’s iron sword penetrated the center, slicing through.
Jjeoeoe-eong.
Something incredible happened.
With a sound like a temple bell shattering, Baekryeong’s technique collapsed, scattering into mere wind.
“Krrgh!”
“Y-you damn…!”
Kang Yongwoon let out a low groan, overwhelmed by the residual force from the clash. Even Baekryeong, stunned by the absurdity, momentarily lost her words.
Kang Yongwoon felt a surge of frustration.
Damn! With only the remaining Great Heavenly Skill, I can’t even unleash the full power of the Sword Qi Master!
The Sword Qi Master’s power had only shattered Baekryeong’s technique. He couldn’t even leave a mark on her body.
Truly a serious problem.
Now, what’s the best move… huh?!
A thought struck him.
Should I summon Extreme Skill at the same time?
In every fight until now, he had mainly relied on the Great Heavenly Skill.
When that was depleted, he would use the relatively weaker Extreme Skill to assist. Meanwhile, he had used the Divine Eye to maintain an advantage.
I alternated inner power before. Would it be okay to raise both at once?
Thinking it over, it seemed possible.
The elders of Gungchang had confirmed that invoking Extreme Skill wouldn’t violate or hinder his innate abilities.
“You brat. Did you think pushing forward to me would make a difference? Huh?”
Baekryeong now crossed her hands, ready to end the fight.
Her hook-shaped hands tore mercilessly at Kang Yongwoon’s body.
Baekyo!
Following the tips of her hands, sharp sounds of splitting air echoed. Foul energy from her fingertips aimed straight at Kang Yongwoon’s neck, heart, and dantian.
Too close!
The distance was dangerously short, too narrow even for the Three Calamity Sword Method.
But his body reacted first.
Tu-ung. Huwahak!
The Tanzer Fist activated, knocking Baekryeong’s hook-like fingers over his head.
Thud-thud.
Flesh tore with each strike, streams of blood spraying like water along the wounds.
It’s okay.
Kang Yongwoon’s gaze remained firm.
I can block this.
With the nearly depleted Great Heavenly Skill and the aid of the Divine Eye, he continued the flow, deploying the Myeonjang Technique taught by Elder Jang Sambong.
Hwi-uu!
Like caressing a child, the soft hand motion met Baekryeong’s second set of fingertips.
Paaang!
Like shaking out a towel, a crisp sound erupted.
Amazingly, Baekryeong’s second strike didn’t touch him and flowed sideways.
Then…
Paa-aek!
Through the opening of the Tanzer Fist and Myeonjang, his iron sword swooped down like a striking rod.
Taaang!
The perfect Lotus Rod Technique hit Baekryeong’s final fingernail precisely.
A surge rose deep in his chest, but Kang Yongwoon didn’t exhale it. He swallowed it and stared down Baekryeong.
“Hah!”
At some point, Baekryeong had stepped outside the Three Realms, her lips parted in astonishment.
She was speechless.
Even now, you claim this has nothing to do with Shaolin, Shamanism, or Gaebang? How is this possible?
Whatever else, the downward strike of the iron sword clearly resembled Gaebang’s Striking Rod Technique.
Startled.
Could it be…?
Baekryeong quickly scanned her surroundings, wary of a trap or an observer hidden by Gaebang’s elders.
Huuuu!
Meanwhile, Kang Yongwoon calmly raised both Great Heavenly Skill and Divine Eye power in one breath.
Done.
The Great Heavenly Skill began to replenish slightly. Combined with Extreme Skill, he could unleash the Sword Qi Master’s power one more time.
It’s time to finish this!
He didn’t wait any longer.
Tat!
He lunged at Baekryeong, summoning both types of inner power simultaneously.
Great Heavenly Skill. Extreme Skill.
Hoo-ung. Hoo-ung.
The two energies surged like waiting flames.
At that moment…
[Heh heh heh. To bloom, a flower must endure the trials of rain and wind, isn’t that so?]
[By overcoming this trial, child, you too shall bloom!]
The elders of Gungchang, who had silently observed the whole time, offered their significant guidance.
[The sky represents yang, the earth yin. In your case, the Great Heavenly Skill connects to the sky’s yang energy, and Extreme Skill to the earth’s yin energy…]
[Do you know what happens when sky and earth energy collide?]
[Thunder! That is it.]
[Only you in the world can wield this power, child.]
[Collide them. Let the two energies clash. Then the fury of heaven, thunder, will descend upon the world.]
Kang Yongwoon’s eyes flashed.
Thunder! Collide the two energies?!
Doing so would summon heaven’s wrath to earth.
But… how do I make them collide?
Details immediately bogged him down.
Should the collision point be inside the sword? Or target the opponent’s body? Can the energies be focused without colliding immediately?
Questions multiplied.
The Gungchang elders continued to instruct him.
[There are three basic collision points: one, the tip of your sword; two, the space between you and your enemy; three, the enemy’s body.]
[We primarily see these three. As you train further, you can adapt.]
[For now, since we can’t teach you everything, you must trust us.]
[Since this is your first time, target the sword tip. Draw Great Heavenly Skill in your right hand and Extreme Skill in your left, and collide them!]
How could he refuse guidance from the Gungchang elders gathered just for him?
Alright. Sword tip it is!
Kang Yongwoon immediately drew both energies.
Great Heavenly Skill in his right hand, Extreme Skill in his left, poured through the sword he gripped with both hands.
Hoo-ung! Hoo-ung!
Great Heavenly Skill coated the right side, Extreme Skill the left.
Ah, so that’s how. Let the energy flow along the sword’s face.
He applied force, pushing hard.
The two powers clashed fiercely along the sword, surging upward.
At that moment…
Kii-uu-ung!
Kang Yongwoon’s sword roared violently.
Simultaneously, an intense light burst from the iron sword, far beyond anything before.
Startled.
“What… what?!”
Baekryeong, scanning the area, jumped back in shock.
The sword’s luminous mass and the mysterious waves felt directly on her skin were overwhelming.
Zzt. Zzt.
Her skin felt as if it would tear.
Even before fully activating her technique, the force was terrifying.
Danger.
He had to stop her before full activation—or force her to retreat.
“What? I’m even considering retreat?!”
Retreat.
The thought alone angered her.
Baekryeong opened her dantian fully, gathering her strongest technique in both hands.
“Iyaa-ha!”
A move from Dreamlike World.
Bueonjjeok.
Baekryeong’s foul inner power swirled into a sphere, spinning violently toward Kang Yongwoon…
“Take this!”
Kang Yongwoon extended his iron sword.
The two surging energies collided at the sword tip.
At that moment…
Kuwaaa-ang!
With a deafening blast like artillery fire, a white light flashed.
It swallowed Baekryeong’s Dreamlike World technique.
Puh-sseok.
Upon contact with the zigzagging white light, Baekryeong’s foul energy dissipated.
Even her last technique, which she thought could withstand a strike of Great Force, shattered effortlessly.
The power of innate energy alone.
Foul external powers were powerless before innate energy.
“…!”
Baekryeong’s eyes widened.
Her technique, the forward-pushing arm, everything she unleashed was shredded into nothingness.
“H-how…?”
Her wrists, elbows, shoulders, and chest were crushed in sequence. Half of her left chest, including the shoulder, was shredded.
She couldn’t speak further.
Thud.
She collapsed.
I should have finished her at Seolbongsan…
Regret came too late. She died.
Kang Yongwoon looked not at her final form but at his iron sword, now broken in half.
Can I use it one more time?
He had to.
His fight was over, but the other battles continued.
“Kuaaah!”
“You damn bastard! Leave my friend alone!”
Jin Jo-yeon had rushed to save him, and someone’s life was at stake.
Just one breath, please hold on for one more breath…!
Kang Yongwoon poured all his effort into the flow of the Great Heavenly Skill through his Divine Eye.
