Chapter 63
Actually……
I’m also a person and a human being with thoughts.
Do I not know how crazy I’m acting right now?
I know.
The Yuk Gwang, who is currently in front of me, fuming with rage and glaring at me, is much stronger than the Boar Boss, Protector Gwak, Baek Gui-ho, Assassin Noh Ho-yeong, or Ho-yeong’s father, Noh Jeong-ju, whom I’ve dealt with so far…… He’s the ‘real deal’.
Is it just his martial arts skills?
He’s one of the thirty ‘Guardian Messengers’ of the Cult of the Evil Path, and even I in my past life have heard of Yuk Gwang’s reputation from his time in the Yangtze River Waterway Company, so it means I’m fully aware of how big of a fight I’m getting myself into.
But……
But the reason I’m pushing forward with determination is……
It’s not because I’m a reckless person, nor is it because I’m hot-tempered.
I’m simply,
‘Because it’s an opportunity.’
It’s because I know this is a golden opportunity that won’t come again.
“Jin So-cheon. You’re truly as insane as I’ve heard.”
At that moment.
Finally, Yuk Gwang looked down on me and started to bare his teeth.
So I also revealed my hidden claws and said.
“D*mn it, Yuk Gwang. I don’t know where or how you heard rumors about me, but whatever you heard, just know that it’s just the tip of the iceberg.”
“What?”
“Gwang-ah. Yuk Gwang-ah. This damn uncle. I’m the best lunatic of all time, someone no one in the world can easily judge. So, the rumors you’ve heard about me are just a fraction, and whatever you imagine, I’m a destroyer of common sense that far surpasses your imagination.”
Suddenly.
Goooo……!
A dense murderous aura erupted from Yuk Gwang and his two subordinates.
To what extent? For a moment, Yeon-u, Yi-dong, and Sam-dong were so terrified that they turned pale and froze. Il-dong, at least, was tensely facing them. Only Master Dongbyeok and I were able to maintain our composure.
“『email protected』#$%^&^&……”
At that moment, a very low.
As if whispering in my ear, a foreign language slipped out of Master Dongbyeok’s mouth.
Then, a look of shock flashed across Yuk Gwang and his subordinates’ faces.
“……Is it an illusion technique?”
Yuk Gwang, caught off guard, asked Master Dongbyeok while sweating.
Master Dongbyeok nodded and replied.
“The illusion is just a warning. If you act rashly, I can make your internal organs explode.”
I don’t know much, but……
Judging from their conversation, it seems that as soon as Yuk Gwang exploded with his murderous aura, Master Dongbyeok activated a technique he had already prepared, and its effect became an illusion that influenced Yuk Gwang and his subordinates……
“Amazing. A sorcerer who wields such transcendental techniques. Who is the old man?”
“You don’t need to know. All I can tell you is that right now, no one can engage in a bloodbath within the Dawn Heaven Sect. Of course, unless it’s a sorcerer with higher magical power or Taoist power than me…… But such sorcerers are only found in the Demonic Cult, the ‘Heavenly Demon Sanctuary’, so I can at least protect the Dawn Heaven Sect.”
Only then……
Even while listening to the conversation, I could vaguely sense an invisible ‘wave’ being directed solely at Yuk Gwang and his subordinates, something I couldn’t clearly ‘recognize’.
Of course, even this was only possible because my senses were close to a ‘sixth sense’ that surpassed ordinary people. Other martial artists, especially ordinary ones who are skilled in martial arts but ignorant of sorcery, would never be able to perceive this unknown realm.
“Now, now…… So, let’s calm down.”
I intervened in the tense atmosphere and cleared the air of the thick murderous aura.
“Sixth Guardian. Why are you suddenly crossing the line and ruining things? What’s this, what’s this? Making things difficult for each other.”
“……”
“Let’s fight. We can’t back down, and I can’t join the Cult of the Evil Path, so there’s no other way, right? I’m a martial artist, and you’re a martial artist. We’re the kind of people who are quicker to throw a punch than to exchange a hundred words.”
“I, I’ll do that…… But wouldn’t it be better to ask the old man to release his technique first?”
“Ah……”
So that’s how it was.
Whether it’s a Guardian Messenger of the Cult of the Evil Path or whatever.
He was helpless against sorcery?
◈ ◈ ◈
Thanks to Master Dongbyeok’s sorcery, which intervened at the right time.
In the calmed atmosphere, I presented Yuk Gwang with a draft of the duel plan.
First of all……
I intended to completely settle the intertwined grudges between me and the Dawn Heaven Sect, and Yuk Gwang and the Cult of the Evil Path, with this duel as the final act.
That was also the ‘basis’ for me perceiving Yuk Gwang’s visit as an ‘opportunity’ rather than a ‘crisis’.
In other words.
Even if I were to fight without setting these conditions and win.
It was obvious that even stronger members of the Cult of the Evil Path would come looking for me later.
Of course, I’m not the type to avoid a fight, but I can’t just keep fighting all the time, can I?
Fortunately, my condition struck directly at Yuk Gwang’s ‘pride’.
“Sect Leader. Does that mean you’re confident you can defeat me?”
“I don’t know if I’ll win or lose. No. Logically speaking, wouldn’t it be more accurate to say that you have a higher chance of winning? So, I think you should be able to accept these conditions.”
“Fine. If you defeat me, I’ll stake my position and name and propose to the headquarters that they overlook all the past wrongdoings of the Dawn Heaven Sect. Is that enough?”
“Good.”
“However, you must also make a promise.”
“What is it?”
“If you lose, the Dawn Heaven Sect will be closed and disappear from Chang’an.”
“That’s a given.”
“Furthermore, this duel will be a fight to the death.”
“Why? Do you want to kill me?”
“Wouldn’t that be a given as well?”
“Fine. It would be greedy to expect to survive after fighting someone of your caliber anyway. Conversely, I can kill you too, so I have nothing to lose.”
“Hahaha!”
Yuk Gwang is……
That damn Yuk Gwang kept laughing as if I was cute, and it was annoying.
So, I almost gave him a Praying Mantis Chestnut, but I, the master of schemes, the possessor of patience, and the sage who knows better than anyone that enduring three times can prevent murder, held back like a true sage.
“Sixth Guardian.”
“What is it again?”
“And how about we have the duel in a month?”
“Khehehe. Are you afraid to fight now? Or are you trying to buy time to ask for help from the Seokga Estate or the Mount Hua Sect?”
“You’re joking. Do you think I’m a fool who believes that I can overcome this situation by using such a makeshift plan to avoid the immediate crisis? I’m a real man who lives his life with the spirit of a head-on challenge, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“Indeed……”
“However, it’s because I’m thinking of publicizing the duel between the Dawn Heaven Sect Leader and the Sixth Guardian of the Cult of the Evil Path, Yuk Gwang, to solidify this matter as an official martial arts duel in the Jianghu.”
“Is there really a need for that?”
“Of course. That way, neither you nor the Cult of the Evil Path can say anything later, right? Same goes for me. In short, we’re staking the authority of the Dawn Heaven Sect and the Cult of the Evil Path on this duel. In other words, it means that we accept the outcome and won’t do anything shady behind the scenes in the future.”
Once……
If Yuk Gwang accepts this offer, this duel will be unconditionally advantageous to me.
Of course, the outcome will depend on me on that day, but if I win for sure.
Later, the Cult of the Evil Path won’t be able to plot against the Dawn Heaven Sect because of the Jianghu’s attention, and this will be like eliminating an enemy in my Jianghu journey.
“Sect Leader. You have a cunning side.”
“I’m a bit of a master of schemes.”
“Fine. I know, but I’ll play along.”
“That’s right. As a senior in the Jianghu, the Sixth Guardian must have some pride, so it would be embarrassing to keep calculating and hesitating any longer, right?”
“Didn’t you say there’s no such thing as a senior in the Jianghu earlier?”
“The situation makes the person. I said that because I was at a disadvantage then, and now I have the upper hand. Then, we have to clearly distinguish between seniors and juniors.”
“You’re so arrogant.”
“Likewise.”
Then Yuk Gwang……
As if he was dumbfounded, he let out a chuckle and abruptly stood up.
“Sect Leader. I’ll accept all your proposals. Then, I’ll visit the Dawn Heaven Sect again in a month. At that time, neither this kind of verbal sparring nor any tricks will work. I’ll also publicize this duel, so if you try to slip away like a loach then, you and the Dawn Heaven Sect won’t be able to show your faces. Of course, I plan to burn down the Dawn Heaven Sect before that.”
“Shut up and go now, Yuk Gwang.”
“……”
“It’s time to eat.”
“???”
“The Dawn Heaven Sect does not provide meals to uninvited guests.”
◈ ◈ ◈
“……”
“……”
After the Sixth Guardian left……
A heavy silence fell over the Sect Leader’s room for a while.
It wasn’t something unexpected.
The Sixth Guardian is a big shot, different from those I’ve dealt with so far, and he himself is no different from the ‘Cult of the Evil Path’, so how devastated must the Dongdong Brothers and Yeon-u be feeling right now?
But what I didn’t understand was Master Dongbyeok.
Why does Master Dongbyeok look so gloomy after he pressured the Sixth Guardian so well with his ‘sorcery’?
“Old Man. Why do you look so depressed? The Sixth Guardian couldn’t even move against your sorcery. To be blunt, with that level of ability, wouldn’t it work even against someone stronger than the Sixth Guardian?”
“Ah…… That’s not true.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve also exhausted a lot of my magical power just now, so I’m feeling weak. Also, the Sixth Guardian and his lackeys resisted my sorcery quite a bit. It seems I also need more training.”
“……What do you mean? Didn’t you say earlier that you could protect the Dawn Heaven Sect under any circumstances……? Besides, didn’t you say that no one could break your sorcery unless they were at the level of a sorcerer from the Demonic Cult’s Heavenly Demon Sanctuary?”
“It was a lie.”
“Huh?”
“You mean it was a bluff to pressure the Sixth Guardian?”
Crazy……
“But you don’t have to worry too much. What I said about protecting the Dawn Heaven Sect is true. However, sorcery also needs to be constantly honed to be maintained and developed, so there are some shortcomings right now.”
“You lied quite seriously.”
“The more serious the lie, the more convincingly it needs to be told.”
I agree with that, but.
Ha……
That old man is also quite absurd when you look at him closely.
“Brother.”
At that moment.
Yeon-u, who had been silent, spoke.
“You know how much I trust you, right?”
“I don’t know.”
“Don’t joke around.”
“I really don’t know.”
“Brother! I’m probably one of the people who trust you the most in the world.”
“Go on.”
“……But this time, you were hasty. Honestly, you were reckless. I’ve tried to understand you no matter what, but I think it was too much for even you to accept this matter so easily.”
Honestly……
Since Yeon-u’s words made sense, I asked Il-dong, Yi-dong, and Sam-dong for their thoughts instead of scolding him right away.
“Vice Sect Leader, 1st Unit Leader, 2nd Unit Leader. Do you guys think so too?”
“Yes, Sect Leader. Honestly, when the Sixth Guardian released his murderous aura earlier…… I almost peed my pants. That man…… He was the strongest martial artist I’ve ever seen in my life.”
“I agree.”
“I have the same thought, Sect Leader.”
Definitely……
They were scared.
Murderous aura is that scary.
Yeon-u is a rich, sheltered kid with worries and anxieties filling his head, so I can understand him……
But Il-dong, Yi-dong, and Sam-dong were definitely not scared of the Sixth Guardian at first.
But the way they froze in an instant when he showed his hostility……
How pathetic.
“Guys.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“You guys were always like this. When I fought the Boar Boss, when I fought Baek Gui-ho, when I defeated Noh Ho-yeong and his father, Noh Jeong-ju, you were always worried.”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“……”
“How much more do I have to prove myself for you to fully trust me? Have I not shown you enough yet?”
At my question, Yeon-u shouted urgently.
“But! This time is really different, isn’t it? He’s a high-ranking member of the Cult of the Evil Path. Not only his martial arts, but his background is also incredibly high.”
“That’s why I set the conditions. If I win this duel, the Dawn Heaven Sect will erase a huge enemy. Don’t you know how advantageous that is?”
“Th-that’s only if you win.”
“Believe me.”
“……”
“Believe in me.”
“Brother……”
“Everyone, keep this in mind.”
“……”
“There’s nothing impossible in the Jianghu.”