Chapter 58

Then, the last one must be that guy.

Namgung Woo’s eyes turned towards Sori Hyung-rang, who couldn’t find his opponent.

The Yang Brothers charging at Gorokgal, Paeng Ha-ryeong engaging in a fierce battle with No Hae-rip.

Then, it must be Namgung Woo’s turn to face Sori Hyung-rang, who was left alone.

“Huh, this brat is quite arrogant.”

Sori Hyung-rang dragged his chipped sword on the ground, letting out a sinister laugh.

Judging by his confident attitude, he must be at least a Peak Master. Sori Hyung-rang had seen many young martial artists like Namgung Woo.

Fools who, accustomed to being called Late Blooming Prodigies, overestimate their own abilities. The pleasure of showing these Late Blooming Prodigies the harsh reality when they act as if they’ve crossed the peak.

“Let me tell you something. The martial world is cold. Only those in sects that coddle you will show you warmth.”

“You talk too much. I like that.”

A crack appeared in Sori Hyung-rang’s smile. He was happily pondering where to start cutting, but instinctively felt something was off.

However, Sori Hyung-rang ignored it.

It’s just bravado. He might be stronger than expected, leading to a prolonged battle, but he could always retreat if needed.

Having lived as a fugitive marked by the martial world, Sori Hyung-rang had plenty of desperate measures to escape.

‘Right. He has some experience. His expression control is decent, but let’s see if he can stay composed after losing an arm.’

A sharp blade, capable of cutting through steel, gleamed on Sori Hyung-rang’s chipped sword. He charged at Namgung Woo, releasing a strong aura.

‘Got him…!’

“Huh…?”

Just swing the sword.

That would sever the arm of this clueless young brat.

But his body didn’t follow.

“Ah, ah…?”

A sound of air escaping came from Sori Hyung-rang’s mouth, as if his freedom had been forcibly taken away.

Sori Hyung-rang saw.

He saw the young man before him.

And he saw the massive presence looking down at him from the sky.

“You said you’d cut off an arm. You enjoy others’ pain.”

Namgung Woo’s calm voice sounded to Sori Hyung-rang like the voice of a heavenly judge declaring his sentence.

He couldn’t resist. Feeling his soul completely crushed, Sori Hyung-rang accepted Namgung Woo grabbing his shoulder and forcing him to kneel without any resistance.

And then.

Crunch!

“Ahhh!”

“You know how to scream. Does your own pain hurt?”

Sori Hyung-rang couldn’t tear his eyes away from Namgung Woo’s blue-white eyes. The last shred of his mind exerted its utmost concentration to comprehend what had just happened to him.

‘A, a technique? Is it a technique? No, no… this is just pressure… so strong it feels like a technique…!’

Sori Hyung-rang’s teeth chattered.

“Yo, you’re a Peerless….”

“Enough. From now on, only answer what I ask.”

Namgung Woo cut off Sori Hyung-rang’s words.

Experience can’t be ignored, after all. Sori Hyung-rang seemed to vaguely grasp Namgung Woo’s true nature.

‘By the way, amplifying presence with the Upper Dantian isn’t bad, but it’s still far from being used in combat.’

The pressure Sori Hyung-rang felt wasn’t just from receiving the aura of a Peerless Master.

Paeng Hu-sang had shown the martial art Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade, which incorporated the Upper Dantian’s power.

Through that, Namgung Woo gained some inspiration. The Void Spirit Divine Art is empty yet full. What if he could fill his opponent’s Upper Dantian with his own presence? The result was Sori Hyung-rang before him.

The maximized presence naturally acted as extreme pressure, crushing the opponent’s soul.

It’s still in its early stages, but what if it develops further?

Like the Five Tigers Severing Gate Blade, which predicted the opponent’s movements and severed the threads of martial arts, becoming one with the martial art.

‘It’s just the first step, but this isn’t bad.’

Putting aside the joy of the Upper Dantian’s awakening for later, Namgung Woo focused back on Sori Hyung-rang and the current situation.

“I ask. Are you three the only members of the Bokmang Association gathered here?”

“…I, I don’t know….”

“You don’t know?”

“Th, the Bokmang Association… even the members don’t know who the members are.”

“Then why are you three traveling together?”

“B, by chance…. Me and Blood-Blind Elder, we, we originally traveled together, and No Hae-rip happened to cross paths while targeting them….”

“You decided to team up?”

Sori Hyung-rang’s head shook rapidly up and down.

“So you don’t know how many are left or who they’re targeting?”

Feeling Namgung Woo’s interest waning, Sori Hyung-rang desperately spoke.

“Th, there’s a way to find out! Th, the Bokmang Association members receive a token upon joining, and there’s a technique that resonates when nearby members have the same token. Even if you put it in your pocket….”

“Take it out.”

“Y, yes!”

Sori Hyung-rang, with trembling hands, pulled out a token-like object from his pocket. It looked almost identical to the token. Probably for disguise.

‘The energy contained is very weak. Even with good senses, it would be hard to detect. The contents… probably resonance and owner recognition?’

Compared to the miraculous techniques Yi Ja-ryong showed, this is child’s play.

No special abilities were visible. The energy is so weak that the resonance range must be very short. Only useful for recognizing each other before a fight and retreating.

“If I kill you, this will break too, right?”

“Th, that’s what I heard.”

“And?”

“Huh?”

“Anything else? Better information.”

“That’s….”

Watching Sori Hyung-rang roll his eyes, Namgung Woo pondered.

Should I kill him?

Sori Hyung-rang is clearly an evil man.

A murderer who enjoys killing and inflicting pain.

But Namgung Woo still found killing difficult.

Killing Yi Ja-ryong? That guy had clearly transcended the human realm. And back then, his mind was too filled with excitement from the life-and-death battle to consider such trivial morals.

Also, if Namgung Woo hadn’t killed Yi Ja-ryong then, he would have been the one to die.

The situation was very different from now, where he had an ocean of leisure.

“But I can’t keep postponing it forever.”

He must get used to it.

To survive in this martial world.

There is no rule of law in this world. Conflicts that can’t be resolved through dialogue are everywhere. And all of them ultimately come down to force.

Just as Yi Ja-ryong sought to overthrow Beijing, believing his position had been taken, and just as the Bokmang Association kills innocents based on personal feelings.

“Huh? Gr, Great Hero? Did I say something strange…?”

Namgung Woo wasn’t even listening, but Sori Hyung-rang kept babbling desperately.

Sori Hyung-rang desperately asked, but Namgung Woo didn’t answer the question.

No, he did answer.

Just that Sori Hyung-rang didn’t hear it.

“I’ve made a decision.”

A decision to face this world head-on, without running away.

Swoosh—

Before Sori Hyung-rang could even realize the sword was drawn, his neck slid off diagonally.

How fast was it? The Cheongsu Gate members, who had been watching with wide eyes, only realized Namgung Woo had drawn his sword after he had already passed by Sori Hyung-rang’s body.

Soul-Severing Sword (One-Strike Sword Technique).

A sword technique composed of only one move.

It was an overkill for a thug like Sori Hyung-rang.

The only move was a killing move, so Namgung Woo had never considered it before. But with his resolve, the sword revealed itself.

§

“Gr, Grand Senior Brother. Seong-ha. What I just saw… was it real?”

“…I can’t believe it either.”

“Brother, did you see anything? Really?”

“No… I actually didn’t see anything. That neck, it was cut, right? I only saw it move slightly….”

Wi Ji-ryang honestly spoke of what he saw.

Drawing the sword? Didn’t see it.

Cutting the neck? Didn’t see it.

Wasn’t he paying attention? No.

“That’s why he’s the leader….”

“Hey, brother.”

“Yeah?”

“Th, that 30 taels of silver… you really got a bargain.”

“Huh…? Ah! Ahem, now you understand? You little bird of a sister. Maybe your brother has the eye of a great merchant.”

“Even if you praise me!”

Wi Seong-ha’s punishing kick struck Wi Ji-ryang’s thigh.

The siblings’ playful banter was watched with a chuckle by Yi Gong-seo. The fight happening ahead? No need to worry, right? With such an absurdly strong ally?

But Yi Gong-seo, as the elder of the Cheongsu Gate and the siblings’ protector, didn’t neglect his duty.

“Gate Master, Seong-ha, both of you, watch their fight carefully. There’s much to learn.”

The fight was already being wrapped up.

Paeng Ha-ryeong, who had been holding a slight advantage in a tense battle.

The Yang Brothers, who, being twins, worked in perfect sync, pushing back against a stronger opponent without faltering.

The outcome was inevitable.

From the moment Sori Hyung-rang met his pitiful end, Gorokgal and No Hae-rip began to flounder, unable to focus solely on their opponents.

They must be thinking of escaping. And that became the blade that severed their lifelines.

“…Those two are quite famous even among the many unknowns of the Bokmang Association….”

“They’re really strong.”

Wi Ji-ryang’s eyes deepened.

Just as Yi Gong-seo fulfilled his role, Wi Ji-ryang also had his duties as the Gate Master.

Muttering along with Namgung Woo’s declaration of resolve, Wi Ji-ryang also made a decision.

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