CLS-Chapter 464

Chapter 464:

Strange.

This feeling could only be defined that way.

Wei Yan-ho could not define Cheok Su-gwang, who stood before him emanating his aura, at all.

What he felt from the Sword Sovereign was the righteous path.

One who walked the path of the sword righteously. He felt the upright path of the sword that was matchlessly straight.

And what he felt from the Sword Immortal was the immortal path (seondo).

It was different from those who pursued truth through the sword. Those who would ascend to enlightenment through the sword were ethereal. As if the sword was not their essence.

What he felt from Gwon Geuk should be called the path of dominance (paedo).

He felt the strong will to achieve and destroy everything with just those fists.

But this person was, how should he put it…

Infinitely free. Sometimes he seemed profound, but sometimes light, sometimes sharp, sometimes heavy.

Various tendencies seemed to be gathered together. That was extremely strange and also…

‘Chaotic.’

Wei Yan-ho frowned.

It was unpleasant enough to feel displeasure.

That should be called chaos. It felt like various energies were mixed together haphazardly within one person.

Wei Yan-ho realized.

‘Master’s martial arts were orthodox after all.’

It was a martial art that was so difficult to define that classification was hard, but now he could be certain. Master’s martial arts were the most orthodox of orthodox. The fact that he felt displeasure seeing those unorganized martial arts was proof of that.

Nevertheless…

‘There are aspects that connect in some way.’

Isn’t that what Ten Thousand Swords (Mangeom) is all about?

It’s about melting all sword techniques that exist in the world into one. Cheok Su-gwang’s martial arts, with all sorts of energies mixed together, could be said to be similar.

The difference was one thing.

Ten Thousand Swords originally aimed to establish the world’s sword techniques and create one transcendent sword. But Cheok Su-gwang’s martial arts was formed by gradually taking and combining other people’s martial arts through fight after fight.

Martial arts created with purpose, and martial arts created through repeated battles.

The results were similar, but the processes were different. That was creating this difference.

“Long words won’t be necessary. I’m coming.”

“Ah, wait a moment.”

Wei Yan-ho raised his hand to stop Cheok Su-gwang.

“Still, you seem to be far above in age and experience, so isn’t there something like giving me three seconds?”

“I don’t know such things.”

Cheok Su-gwang stared intently at Wei Yan-ho.

“Three seconds on the battlefield means dying three times. I’m not that arrogant. Whether it’s you or anyone else, I won’t do the stupid thing of giving away three seconds.”

“You’re definitely a practical person.”

Master also said that guys who talk about giving three seconds should have their skulls smashed before the three seconds are up. Those who teach that lions do their best even when catching rabbits would give away three seconds when there’s a rabbit with a knife in front of them?

That was beyond stupidity.

Wei Yan-ho nodded, having confirmed that at least his opponent wasn’t stupid.

“Then wait a moment. Hey! Ink!”

“Yes, I’ve been waiting.”

As soon as the word “ink” came out, Zhuge Moon-in stepped forward and threw his sword to Wei Yan-ho.

Thunk!

Wei Yan-ho caught the sword and smacked his lips.

‘When will my sword be completed?’

How long has it been since they took it away saying they’d refine it, yet it still hasn’t returned.

At this point, he should suspect that old man coveted the sword and ran off with it, but… it didn’t seem like that old man would do such a thing.

If he needed money, he was someone who could make a fortune just by making and selling a few weapons. It probably wasn’t easy to adjust a sword made by Master. If it was a sword just anyone could handle, Master wouldn’t have made it his beloved weapon either. Master was that kind of person.

Whoooosh.

Wei Yan-ho swung the sword a couple times to get a feel for it and nodded.

“I’m ready.”

“…You’re going to fight with that sword?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t you have a beloved weapon?”

“I do, but I sent it for repairs. I have to use this as a temporary measure until it comes back.”

“Hmm.”

“Don’t worry. I won’t make excuses.”

“I don’t listen to excuses anyway.”

Cheok Su-gwang smirked.

On the battlefield, there’s no such thing as a beloved weapon. If you lose your sword, you have to pick up a spear, and if there’s no spear, you have to pick up even a stone. The excuse of losing because you lost your beloved weapon doesn’t exist. Moreover, how could someone already dead make excuses?

“Interesting swordsmanship. Who is your master?”

“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t know… no, you would know. But it would be better if you didn’t know.”

“I’ll hear it through your sword.”

At that moment, Cheok Su-gwang raised his speed like lightning and rushed toward Wei Yan-ho.

He was so fast that it felt like Cheok Su-gwang’s body disappeared from that spot and instantly appeared in front of Wei Yan-ho.

One strike.

Cheok Su-gwang thrust at Wei Yan-ho’s chest with the momentum of his charge. It was practical. Rather than aiming for a part that could kill in one blow, there was a will to thrust one strike anywhere on the body, even if it wouldn’t kill in one blow.

Wei Yan-ho didn’t counter his sword but stepped back.

“Urk?”

But Cheok Su-gwang was different from those he had faced so far. Without even thinking of reorganizing his disrupted stance, he pursued Wei Yan-ho.

Clang! Clang! Clank!

Wei Yan-ho and Cheok Su-gwang’s swords collided several times in midair. Wei Yan-ho’s face slightly contorted.

‘Is he closer to the Demonic Cult side?’

The way he charged without caring for his own body was similar to the Demonic Cult members he had fought before. If there was a difference, it would be that while they truly didn’t care for their own bodies, Cheok Su-gwang was pressuring Wei Yan-ho as if attack was the best defense, blocking any chance for counterattack.

Bizarre.

Wei Yan-ho could realize while receiving Cheok Su-gwang’s sword.

‘I have preconceptions.’

The sword should be free.

Master always emphasized that to Wei Yan-ho. Master didn’t even teach the Mad Sword Style (Gwanggeomryu) he created, fearing Wei Yan-ho would be trapped in that framework. He just told him to swing the sword freely.

But Wei Yan-ho was not free.

Like right now.

Cheok Su-gwang’s sword came down aiming for his head.

Wei Yan-ho naturally raised his sword to block his sword.

But what came next was the problem. When a sword falling toward the head is blocked, where will that sword go?

Usually it would be slightly withdrawn and then thrust at another place. If not that, then it would slash at the side.

None of those Wei Yan-ho had faced so far had deviated greatly from this system.

But Cheok Su-gwang was different.

Screeeech!

He pressed down.

He pressed down with strong force. The moment Wei Yan-ho put strength into his sword to resist, the force disappeared from Cheok Su-gwang’s sword.

“Ugh!”

He was a bit late in releasing the force. Cheok Su-gwang’s sword bounced away as if hit by a cannonball. And using that force, he spun greatly and slashed up from below, aiming to split Wei Yan-ho’s groin.

“Between men!”

As Wei Yan-ho threw his body backward to avoid the sword, Cheok Su-gwang’s sword wriggled bizarrely like a snake and chased after Wei Yan-ho.

He had misunderstood what “practical” meant.

He had vaguely thought it would be like this. He thought practical meant fast, light, and cruel swordsmanship.

That wasn’t it.

Cheok Su-gwang’s sword seemed to be alive.

Having no fixed form didn’t mean there were no techniques. It meant a sword that could do everything possible at each moment. Right now, Wei Yan-ho could realize how terrifying that was.

‘So this is why people don’t want to face him.’

Father had said so.

There’s no one in the world who wants to cross swords with Cheok Su-gwang. His cruel nature of never returning opponents safely even in sparring matches was the first reason, and that bizarre swordsmanship that made everyone who faced it give up was the second reason.

But Wei Yan-ho thought the real reason Cheok Su-gwang was troublesome was something else.

Those eyes.

Those eyes, as if facing a life-or-death enemy, were pressuring Wei Yan-ho.

It wasn’t that he was unaware this was a sparring match. This person didn’t know how to go easy. No matter who he met and how he faced them, he only knew how to squeeze out all his strength to defeat his opponent.

‘I should apologize.’

Wei Yan-ho bit his lips tightly.

He had met countless strong opponents. He had already been defeated before. Yet he had never felt this way toward anyone.

Just words passed down in stories.

Those words saying to do your best in any match, in any case.

Those words that were just bitter nagging, that no one could keep, there existed someone in the world who kept those words.

Swish.

Wei Yan-ho found a minute gap between the swords thrusting at him and stabbed his sword in with sunken eyes. Wei Yan-ho’s sword drove into Cheok Su-gwang’s face.

‘Here!’

There’s nowhere to avoid. No matter how much of a person Cheok Su-gwang was, he had no choice but to retreat. Then he could seize the initiative in one breath…

At that moment, Wei Yan-ho’s eyes grew as large as lanterns.

Cheok Su-gwang didn’t avoid the sword thrusting into his face but rather came closer, then opened his mouth and bit the sword tip with his teeth.

Crack!

Blood shot up to the sky.

An injury. Definitely an injury.

But the result was significant. Wei Yan-ho’s sword was caught in Cheok Su-gwang’s teeth and wouldn’t move.

There was no time to even groan. Cheok Su-gwang’s sword was thrusting into his throat. Wei Yan-ho pulled on his sword while twisting his body.

Scrape!

A chilling sound flowed out. Wei Yan-ho, who had pulled his sword from between Cheok Su-gwang’s teeth, threw his body backward. This time, even Cheok Su-gwang didn’t pursue Wei Yan-ho.

Thud!

Wei Yan-ho, who had landed on the ground, slowly lowered his sword. Then he raised his left hand to grab his throat.

It was hot.

Blood flowing from his slashed throat was running down his neck, soaking his clothes. Wei Yan-ho took his left hand from his throat and brought it close to his face. A hand covered in blood.

Sharp pain was stabbing his throat hotly.

When was the last time he had suffered such an injury?

One inch, just one inch deeper and Wei Yan-ho would no longer be a person of this world.

Of course, Cheok Su-gwang wasn’t unharmed either.

“Ptui.“

Cheok Su-gwang, whose mouth was deeply cut, spat out blood. His tongue probably wasn’t completely severed, but it must have suffered a deep wound.

“I didn’t expect you to escape from there?”

His pronunciation became somewhat slurred. But Wei Yan-ho couldn’t mock Cheok Su-gwang.

‘If Master had seen this…’

He wouldn’t have mocked him. He probably would have been furious enough to make the cave collapse.

“You stupid bastard!”

Wei Yan-ho slightly closed and opened his eyes.

Wei Yan-ho, who had pulled himself together, tucked his sword under his arm and bowed his head deeply.

“I’m sorry.”

Cheok Su-gwang clicked his tongue.

“What a loss. Still, if you had been careless, it would have been much easier to deal with. Now it’ll be quite troublesome. I should have killed you with that one strike.”

Wei Yan-ho stared quietly at Cheok Su-gwang without answering.

Carelessness…

It was laughable.

What was there to be careless about while facing Cheok Su-gwang?

Being praised by those around him as the future Number One Under Heaven and such, he must have unknowingly become intoxicated by it.

Despite not even catching up to the edge of his master’s field yet.

“Let me show you what I received.”

“…Would it be alright to stop here? I think I’ve seen your abilities sufficiently?”

“I haven’t shown you enough.”

Wei Yan-ho’s sword began to emit bright radiance.

“I’ll show you from now on. Here I come.”