ISS-Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Sswaeaeaek—!!!

The projectile that flew in an instant pierced where I was and left a long trail. And in addition, the sword disappearing from my hand.

‘It disappeared…?’

I put strength in my eyes to check if Red Energy was condensing and kicked off the floor to get up and prepare for the next attack. And at that moment.

Tteutteotteong!

The sword fell before me again.

‘…..’

In a moment of silence, I stare at the sword in silence. The projectile showing no signs of flying, as if telling me to hurry up and pick up the sword.

Certain. This test is trying to make me pick up the sword. Then.

Why?

Without rashly picking up the sword, I continued my thoughts while being alert of the surroundings.

‘There’s a reason I must pick up the sword.’

I can only think that way. It’s not enough to just dodge by seeing this projectile. This gateway is as good as telling me so.

But then what should I do?

‘What can I do with a sword?’

Of course, since I’m a martial artist, I can do many things with a sword. I can extract Sword Qi to kill the opponent, and I can unfold a sword barrier to defend against flying attacks. But the fact that a sword barrier can’t block the projectile has already been revealed.

Then I must use the sword for its other purpose. That means,

Kill the enemy. That is the capability this gateway desires from me.

“Seueuup.”

I took a deep breath and before picking up the sword again, I calmed my mind and organized my thoughts.

‘This is a gateway that tests martial prowess.’

Of course, it’s correct that it tests martial prowess. But is martial prowess something that only tests the level of martial arts?

No. In Gangho, the strong one is the one who survives. Even if one can’t extract Sword Qi, even if one can’t contain splendid variations in the sword, all that matters in the martial world is winning against the opponent. That’s why the Hall of Martial Prowess paradoxically cannot be seen as testing only martial prowess.

‘There have been a total of five places the projectiles flew from until now.’

Although the projectiles fly at speeds invisible to the eye, I can tell where they’re flying from by looking at the traces on the floor. And if I know where and how they flew, the enemy’s intent becomes visible.

I confirmed the traces on the floor and half-closed my eyes.

‘This is…’

I gradually see it. The intent.

‘Let’s think.’

All attacks and techniques have intent. Even third-rate swordsmanship at the marketplace has the meaning it wants to achieve with that technique. But look at these traces.

‘They’re concentrated on the left.’

Is it simply because I moved left a lot?

No, it’s not that. The reason many traces remain on the left is—.

‘They prevented me from going left.’

They prevented me from going left. There’s a reason I shouldn’t go left.

The traces clearly show a tendency focused on restraint rather than killing. And situations where restraining attacks mainly occur?

‘Restraint to aim for a certain decisive blow, or attacks to protect a certain target.’

If they were trying to restrict my movement and land a fatal blow, the traces wouldn’t be concentrated only on the left. Then what remains is one thing.

The left is the answer.

‘…..’

I considered whether to look toward the left without picking up the sword for a moment, then shook my head. If the attack starts because I didn’t follow the proper method, I’ll have to take a risk to pick up the sword.

This is a test. ‘Tricks’ within the rules can be understood, but ‘schemes’ outside the rules cannot be permitted.

‘Alright. Let’s do this. Friend.’

Tteok!

I spoke and slowly approached the sword and reached out my hand. And.

The moment my hand touched the sword, my vision was dyed with Red Energy.

‘As expected…!’

Kwagwagwagwang—!!!

I gritted my teeth and pulled my body back while confirming the floor now bursting like explosives. Fortunately, it seems the impact isn’t like explosives too, as I was just pushed back slightly and that was the end.

But that’s not what’s important. What’s really important is one thing. That my vision is becoming useless.

‘Front, back, left, right.’

Red Energy devours all directions. Red Energy stays and marks the entire range where explosions burst, and because of that, I rather can’t see the fatal blow. However.

‘It doesn’t matter.’

If I can tell where it’s coming from, how to dodge is also clear!

Kwagwagwang—!

One step forward, three steps sideways. One step diagonally.

The rolled foot stepped on the ground and pushed to float the body. A body rotating like a windmill in the air in an instant.

“Haap!”

Kkung!

The moment I stepped down, a tingling impact rang through my ankle. But I can be certain.

The explosion that will appear now will become propulsion that pushes me.

Kwaaaaang—!!!

At the powerful force covering from behind, I instinctively spread my body wide and rode the wind. And at that moment, a mountain of red lines unfolding before my eyes.

‘If I try to break through, I’ll die…’

The moment I took one step back, I confirmed the projectile storm sweeping the front and forced my lips up.

‘This is crazy.’

Cold sweat is drenched on my back. Even knowing it’s a dream, my heart is pounding from the fear of death. A situation where if I misjudge even slightly, my whole body will become a beehive. However.

Rather because the situation is worsening, I can feel that I’m getting closer to the path of life now.

‘What should I do?’

Now I’m half-adapted, so I continued my thoughts while moving my steps to avoid the projectiles from where I am.

‘If I can’t get over that wall, I can’t break through this situation.’

The gap between when Red Energy appears and when the next projectile shoots and cuts through the air is only an instant. And the wall I saw was so thick that I absolutely couldn’t break through in an instant.

Of course, a master of Qinggong might be able to break through. But with my skill, reaching the edge would be all.

This wall cannot be broken through. That is my conclusion.

Kwaaang—!

“Urk.”

The moment I deflected the explosion’s aftermath with my sword, I almost dropped the sword from the sensation ringing through my wrist.

‘It’s gradually getting stronger.’

The attacks that were dodgeable and deflectable until a moment ago are gradually coming stronger. Probably meaning don’t think for long and act.

Whether to retreat or advance, I must decide now.

“Fine.”

Kkadeuk!

I gritted my teeth and tightly grasped the sword gripped in my hand. Right. Isn’t it a story with no choice from the beginning?

If I retreat, I’ll just repeat this. If I drop the sword to buy time to think, I might of course be able to make a cool-headed judgment.

But in the meantime, fear will settle in my heart and weigh me down. And with my vision covered by fear, I won’t be able to make proper judgments, so.

“Let’s do this. Whether I’m suitable to be your owner!”

Right now, immediately.

I must advance.

Kkung!

The step I took strongly pressed the ground. And at that moment, red lines dyeing my vision.

What’s given to me is an instant. But I still don’t know the enemy’s position. Then what should I do?

‘I just need to read the intent…!’

A heavily guarded place.

That place must be the enemy’s weakness!

Kwareureuk—!!!

Internal energy that flowed down like rapids from my Dantian to Yongcheon creates a vortex in the center of my soul. Along with a storm of internal energy rotating once within a small range.

If I fail, there’s no turning back. The probability of success is fifty-fifty.

Then I don’t think about injury.

I added a little more probability.

Yuweolbo (Flowing Moon Step)

Chapter of Illusion

Sakwol (New Moon)

Kkwaddeuddeuk!

“Keueuup…”

With the sound of muscles tearing, intense pain climbed up from my toes and burrowed into my mind. Thanks to that, a rather refreshingly awakened mind.

In an instant, the frontal field of vision brightens with a flash. Countless numbers of red lights block before my eyes. And.

Behind that.

In a perfect windless zone without any red lines.

I extended my sword.

Sswaeaeaeaek!

Like a kaleidoscope, time slowed down sluggishly. Both myself flying and what’s flying toward me.

Now I can tell. That what’s flying is an iron bead.

Within the perceivable range, everything clearly reveals its color. The bead that reached right before my throat the moment I realized it.

Even looking at that, I don’t twist my body. Because I know it’s useless to twist. And.

The moment I extended one more chon (inch).

Kwaddeuddeuddeuk—!!!

At the end of my hand gripping the sword hilt,

Something formless crumbled.

[Test completed!]

[You have passed the Hall of Martial Prowess.]

[Confirmed breakthrough of extreme difficulty gateway. Releasing function unlock limit of the manor to the highest grade!]

“…Huuuhhh.”

Ttaenggeuraeng!

With a soul-draining sound, I dropped my sword and collapsed on the floor. Cold sweat flowing not just on my back but my whole body, even though it’s clearly a dream.

‘How did I even do that…?’

If I had been even a moment late, even moved wrongly by a fingernail’s width, I wouldn’t have lived. It was that precarious and dangerous a test. However.

I survived.

I finally survived.

[The test will conclude with naming the manor.]

[Please name the manor.]

I lay sprawled on the floor blankly staring at the pure white sky with nothing in it, then let out a hollow laugh seeing the text that appeared before my eyes.

‘Not satisfied with just choosing an owner, now you want me to name you?’

A mystical object, a spiritual artifact. It’s not something that can be dismissed as just a haunted manor. If it can create such a sophisticated illusion formation, isn’t that something equivalent to a divine weapon?

Naming such a manor. Of course, I should ponder carefully. However.

‘It’s already decided.’

Several times, dozens of times, hundreds of times.

When I wanted to have my own sect, I never pondered over a name. Because it was already decided.

“Uicheon (Righteous Heaven).”

Just so, may the heavens be righteous—Uicheon (Righteous Heaven).

“I’ll name it Uicheonmun.”

The moment my words ended, my vision gradually began to darken. And drowsiness rushing in.

[Confirmed.]

[From now on, the manor’s name is Uicheon…]

I slowly closed my eyes without seeing the end of the text. And.

When I opened my eyes again.

[Current time: Sasi (9 AM~11 AM)]

It was morning.

***

“…Huaaaam.”

Osi (11 AM~1 PM).

After cooking rice with the groceries I bought last evening and eating, I yawned lazily and stretched my body.

‘What happened last night feels just like a dream.’

When I woke up.

There was no change around me. It’s not like some great power was imbued just because I passed the test. Only that the bedding was drenched with cold sweat.

But it wasn’t a pipe dream. I definitely passed the test. As proof, I’m still alive even though a day has passed, right?

‘It’s regrettable there’s no ability of mystical objects, but it’s enough to not keep experiencing mortal crises.’

I purchased such a huge manor at a price equivalent to free. Just that alone is overflowing value.

I chuckled while stretching my waist fully and picked up my sword. Yesterday I unavoidably had to skip it due to the chaos, but training is something done every single day.

And the moment I drew the sword from its sheath.

‘…What is this?’

[Uicheon]

I reflexively reached out my hand to stroke the blade looking at the letters engraved on it.

[You have contacted a divine object.]

[Opening Uicheonmun’s status window.]

“What?”

The next moment at the window that appeared, I was at a loss for words.