Chapter 146

The Ghost Gate Master attacks the Ghost Gate Master.

Song Woojeol, of course, and even Byeok-un, who was in a state of serious confusion over how to stop the second Ghost Gate Master, watched the scene with a dazed expression, as if their souls had left their bodies.

“He dodged it…”

“An afterimage. Could it be… the martial arts of the Ghost Gate Master…?”

However, no matter how shocked they were, it was nothing compared to the astonishment of Namgung Woo, who witnessed a being with the exact same appearance, attire, weapon, and martial arts as himself.

Even though his common sense had been completely shaken since coming to this world and entering the incomprehensible strangeness of the Ghost Gate, Namgung Woo had not anticipated something like this.

But his panic didn’t last long.

Even though he was faced with a situation beyond his expectations, it still fell within the scope of his knowledge.

‘A doppelganger?’

The shape-shifting ghosts who could change their forms at will.

If the master of the Ghost Gate, who controlled them, could change his form into that of a human, wouldn’t he also be able to mimic the power he possessed?

Though the fact that it was himself was quite unpleasant, it was still understandable.

Perhaps because he was facing the original master he had imitated.

Rather than immediately attempting an attack, the creature quietly observed Namgung Woo, staring at him intently.

Meanwhile, Namgung Woo moved step by step cautiously and stood in front of Byeok-un.

“You held out well.”

While running over, Namgung Woo had seen Byeok-un’s struggle.

He had witnessed the life of a person who burned everything they had in a single moment to fight.

Innate Life Force is something everyone possesses, but not everyone can use it.

It might sound confusing, but the principle is simple. Humans cannot control every part of their bodies from the start.

There is no human who can control their pupils, heart, or unconditioned reflexes at will.

Even martial arts, created to transcend human limits and reach a higher state, failed to fully control these aspects.

If the body is like that, what about human instincts?

Innate Life Force is the purification of life force.

Using it means burning away one’s remaining lifespan, akin to running toward death.

Therefore, the greatest enemy in using Innate Life Force is one’s own survival instinct.

Only those who can suppress the natural instinct to live with an iron will and possess unyielding courage in the face of death can fully utilize Innate Life Force.

There are those who, fascinated by this immense power, twist their consciousness to remove their instincts or seek explosive bursts of latent power through brainwashing, but how can such crude methods compare to the radiant mental strength of humans?

Byeok-un also borrowed the special martial art of the Unyielding Wind Blowing Art, but that did not diminish his resolve.

As a person before a martial artist.

Respect wells up for someone who burns their own life to protect their subordinates.

“From now on, I’ll take over.”

Perhaps this was Byeok-un’s limit.

With Namgung Woo’s intervention, Byeok-un wouldn’t have to squeeze out the last drop of his Innate Life Force, allowing him to live a bit longer, but a candle whose wick has completely burned out won’t last much longer.

“Wait a moment! Who are you?”

At Byeok-un’s shout, Namgung Woo kept his gaze fixed forward and replied.

“Namgung Woo. The Great Master of Changcheon Pavilion.”

“The Great Master of Changcheon Pavilion…? No, more than that, Namgung? The Great Master of Changcheon Pavilion is a survivor of the Namgung Family…?”

When the Martial Alliance Leader asked Byeok-un to find a survivor of the Namgung Family, Byeok-un had personally investigated the survivors of the Namgung Family.

It was when Gakwon had just taken office as the Alliance Leader. At that time, Byeok-un hadn’t accumulated as much experience as now, and Namgung Sol didn’t even know he was from the Namgung Family, so Byeok-un found no one.

However, he had vaguely found traces of survival, so Byeok-un reported to the Alliance Leader, “It seems there are still survivors,” which was all he could do. After that, Byeok-un became the leader of the Wind Chasing Unit and got busy, burying the past in his memory.

“No, more than that! That’s the Ghost Gate Master! Be careful when using martial arts! He will copy any martial art he sees!”

Namgung Woo probably already knew, but just in case, Byeok-un shouted a warning.

“Yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Namgung Woo replied to Byeok-un’s advice, though he had no intention of following it.

‘Copying martial arts, huh. Really… you too easily gain power.’

Just like Namgung Woo himself.

Gaining power without any cost.

But that creature doesn’t understand the weight of that power. It just wields the given power recklessly.

Namgung Woo didn’t want to lose to such a being.

That defeat wouldn’t just be a simple loss; it would negate the entire direction Namgung Woo had believed in—that easily gained power cannot be easily used.

He had pondered. How should he use this power?

He wanted to use it for people. He saved Paeng Ye-ryeong, stopped the Beijing turmoil, and protected countless lives.

He wanted to use it for justice. He stopped the injustices faced by Song Chaeji and Yang Sodang, helped the Jegal Family, who were victims of a war started by greed, and led the war to victory.

He wanted to use it for the sake of the power’s owner.

Because his martial arts were the martial arts of the Namgung Family.

He wanted to rebuild the Namgung Family and fulfill his responsibility as the successor of its martial arts.

Therefore, Namgung Woo had to win.

He had to win.

Thud.

With determination, Namgung Woo unleashed a powerful strike.

The Infinite Steps compressed the space between Namgung Woo and the Ghost Gate Master.

Without any clumsy probing to gauge the opponent’s level, he went all out from the first move.

The sword stance the creature had already seen.

Let it copy. He would break it head-on.

Single Flash of Extreme Light: Split Light Flash.

Once again, the Single Flash of Extreme Light changed form.

Namgung Woo was becoming accustomed to dismantling his own martial arts and reassembling them into different forms.

If the Crescent Moon Slash was a wide-range slash maximizing the reach of the Single Flash of Extreme Light, the Split Light Flash was a double slash, splitting the Single Flash of Extreme Light into two.

Even if the creature copied the Crescent Moon Slash to counter, it would only block the first slash and be cut by the second blade.

However, what entered Namgung Woo’s eyes were not one but two sword auras from the Ghost Gate Master.

Clang! Clang!!

Two consecutive clashes of aura energy.

The creature had instantly mimicked the Split Light Flash Namgung Woo had improvised on the spot.

‘This guy…’

The exchange continued.

Whenever Namgung Woo attacked, the Ghost Gate Master copied it exactly and countered.

It was like a game of Go where one mimics the opponent’s moves.

Placing stones symmetrically around the central point to mimic the opponent’s strategy and gain the same advantages.

A simple but strong technique.

Even top Go masters would play mimic Go.

Yet, Namgung Woo relentlessly unleashed his martial arts.

If the Single Flash of Extreme Light was blocked, he switched to Thunder Cloud Steps.

If the Thirteen Thunder Swords were blocked, he used the Changgung Boundless Sword Technique.

He pressed forward with the Infinite Steps, mixing in the Swallow Spin Step to create openings.

And all of Namgung Woo’s efforts were perfectly replicated by the Ghost Gate Master.

“This is bad! I told you to conserve your martial arts…! Ugh!”

“Leader! Pull yourself together!”

After cutting down a shape-shifting ghost that was rushing toward him, Song Woojeol hurriedly grabbed Byeok-un’s swaying body.

The weight in his hands felt too light. Byeok-un’s once firm and muscular body had lost its vitality and withered like a dried-up tree.

It was the fate of those who overused their Innate Life Force. But Byeok-un pushed away Song Woojeol’s supporting hand.

“Idiot! The battle isn’t over yet! As the deputy leader, protect the members!”

Byeok-un’s words, prioritizing his subordinates over his own condition, made Song Woojeol’s heart ache.

Not only because their leader cared for them so deeply, but also because Byeok-un, who could once read all the winds of the world, could no longer even sense what was happening right beside him.

“It’s alright, reinforcements are here!”

“Reinforcements…?”

With a puzzled thought that he hadn’t sensed anything with the Wind Evasion Technique, Byeok-un turned his head to see the Changcheon Pavilion and other martial artists who had followed Namgung Woo.

They were exterminating the shape-shifting ghosts in place of the exhausted Wind Chasing Unit.

“Ah……”

It’s over.

Byeok-un finally realized he had no strength left.

The skin that once heard the whispers of the wind no longer felt even the pressure of Song Woojeol’s grip.

“…Woojeol.”

“Yes, Leader.”

“…Your eyes are special. Watch that fight carefully. It will be the foundation that leads you to the next level. If you are to become the next leader of the Wind Chasing Unit, you must do so even more.”

Byeok-un spoke of the next leader of the Wind Chasing Unit.

Accepting his own death, he worried about what would come after.

“Leader…”

“But you don’t have to be like me.”

From the time he joined the Martial Alliance until now, Byeok-un had devoted half his life to the Wind Chasing Unit alone.

But he didn’t want Song Woojeol to follow the same path.

“We are the wind. Just blow where you wish.”

Those were Byeok-un’s last words.

Listening to the leader’s final words, Song Woojeol looked straight ahead with tear-filled eyes.

Namgung Woo and the Ghost Gate Master.

As if following Byeok-un’s last wish to watch their fight carefully.