Chapter 222

Chapter 222

In this Jungwon Murim, there are countless martial arts.

While some martial arts are limited to just swinging weapons, there are also Sugong that minimize water resistance and enable free movement of the body underwater.

Some martial arts are even created on the premise of flying through the sky, and there even exist martial arts that steal others’ inner power.

While there are martial arts that suppress opponents with momentum even when slowly swinging a sword, there also exist forms of martial arts that can strike down opponents with fists from a hundred steps away.

Thus, the word “limit” barely existed for Murim’s martial arts. However,

‘What on earth is happening?’

Nevertheless, Bulgwae was now somewhat intuiting.

That what’s happening now isn’t due to martial arts.

That it’s impossible with martial arts.

Kwaaaaa—!!!

“Hmm……!”

Bulgwae, who reflexively raised his fist to receive the hammer falling while tearing through the air, let out a groan at the impact reverberating through his entire body as if to shatter it. What he could easily counter and even counterattack until just now had become difficult even to receive.

‘What on earth is this situation?’

Yeokgeungyeong is a martial art that cannot be used with ordinary concentration.

However, his concentration hadn’t been depleted. Bulgwae had familiarized his body with Yeokgeungyeong for far too long and knew almost exactly how much concentration using Yeokgeungyeong required.

Normally, even maintaining Yeokgeungyeong for an entire Shijin would leave strength to spare. Based on experience, the Yeokgeungyeong he’d just begun using should still be maintained for much longer to be normal. There’s only one method to stop maintaining Yeokgeungyeong: intervening in the virtual Hyeoldo to shatter the very foundation of Yeokgeungyeong.

However, he felt no such sign, and Yeokgeungyeong shattered as if it were nothing.

As if the world refused to permit the expansion of his influence and pushed Bulgwae away.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Songbyeokjinin.”

“It seems you truly cannot properly use Yeokgeungyeong.”

“……Hmm. How do you know that?”

Bulgwae, who snapped to attention at Songbyeokjinin looking at him in surprise, answered quietly and quickly scanned behind Songbyeokjinin before widening his eyes. A familiar face standing behind Songbyeokjinin.

“I see. So that’s what happened…….”

“Now I understand. How it came to this.”

When the suddenly appearing white-robed scholar pointed to him calling him Sinnyeo’s direct lineage, Bulgwae considered those words a type of deception. Since they knew he was searching for Sinnyeo’s direct lineage, they would also know why he was searching.

The reason he was searching for Sinnyeo’s direct lineage was to cut off their breath.

Knowing that major premise, there was no reason for the opponent to reveal their identity themselves. At least Bulgwae thought so. Whoever the opponent was, Bulgwae was confident he could cut off their breath.

But what if the premise itself was wrong from the start?

“So you revealed your identity because you were confident I couldn’t take your life…….”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Sinnyeo is an existence who can bind all those countless Magyodo with just one oath. If it’s her bloodline, they must have great mastery in Sulbeop as well.

“Haha. Hahahaha……!”

Kwaaaaaaang—!!!

Bulgwae, who deflected the hammer swinging from the side with full strength, drew up his inner power while streams of blood light like Yacha poured from his eyes. The following roar.

“That arrogance will hasten your death!”

Sesugyeong

Golden Seogi shoots toward heaven.

Contrary to Buddhism’s teachings that emphasize compassion, watching the Seogi rise as if refusing to tolerate even the slightest Samawaedo, Songbyeokjinin broke into a sweat. Though he cannot unfold Yeokgeungyeong, Bulgwae’s method that hasn’t yet disappeared.

‘Just being unable to unfold Yeokgeungyeong is already a great help.’

Sesugyeong.

Certainly a powerful martial art. However, Yeokgeungyeong and Sesugyeong are connected martial arts. Sesugyeong unfolded without Yeokgeungyeong could be called incomplete.

Then it’s feasible. Alone, he still couldn’t win, but if combining attacks with the giant, it’s sufficient.

“From here, leave it to me.”

“You’ve all fulfilled your roles. Surely no one expected you to show that level of ability.”

Baek Risan, Wangpal, and Baek Riseon achieved feats impossible with the abilities of Hugijisudeul. What remains is only his part.

Songbyeokjinin, who regulated his breathing, loosely drew up his inner power and quietly took a low stance. And.

“I’m going……!”

The moment red and blue energy gathered on Songbyeokjinin’s Cheonggangggeom along with his Kiai.

Clap!

With the sound of clapping hands.

Bulgwae’s form disappeared.

“……Eunsinul!”

At Bulgwae’s form disappearing in an instant, Songbyeokjinin, who involuntarily prepared for Eunjamsul, spread his Gigam searching for Bulgwae’s form. But Bulgwae’s presence was nowhere to be found.

“For a warrior monk of Shaolin Temple to have learned such sophisticated Eunjamsul, truly living up to reputation……!”

“But aren’t you ashamed! For one called Sipcheon to hide and plan for later, come out openly and fight fair and square!”

“Jinin. I sent Bulgwae outside though.”

“……What?”

“Literally. Since it seemed dangerous, I sent him outside the Jinbeop.”

At Baek Riseon’s words, Songbyeokjinin, who was grasping the situation for a moment, rolled his eyes and looked at Baek Riseon. The following question.

“That, that’s possible?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you do it from the start…….”

“There were various reasons, but first, it was necessary.”

“……Necessary?”

“Yes. One way or another, wasn’t Bulgwae Eoreushin blocking the giant?”

Baek Riseon, who shrugged his shoulders, continued speaking.

“If I send him outside, we have to face that giant ourselves. That’s not an easy task. So I just left him there, not because I wanted to leave him.”

“I see. Hmm……?”

Songbyeokjinin, who involuntarily agreed with Baek Riseon’s words, fell into thought at a strange feeling. And the following answer.

“Wait.”

“Yes.”

“If Bulgwae who was blocking the giant disappeared… doesn’t that mean we have to deal with that giant?”

“That would be the case.”

“Perhaps is there a method to weaken the giant…….”

“There’s no such thing.”

“……I suppose not.”

At Baek Riseon’s appearance cutting him off with certainty, Songbyeokjinin let out a hollow laugh and looked at the hammer striking down toward his head. And the following answer.

“Well, damn it all.”

They say it’s one mountain beyond another—exactly that.

Songbyeokjinin, who let out a sigh, slowly raised his sword upward. Geomgi gathering in streams on the raised blade.

Geomgi like sunset split the sky.

More endurable than expected.

Seogеok—!!!

“Hmm.”

Watching the fox tail that literally cut the pavilion in half the moment it fell to the side, I shook off my sword. The appearance of the fox tail that came in aiming for me then deflected away at a clever angle.

“As expected, a fake is still a fake.”

Pajijik!

I caught the electric current jumping from my body with my hand and scattered it, then let out a chuckle. No matter how I thought about it, considering the opponent was Heukya, it wasn’t such a threatening attack.

‘The Heukya of the past is needless to say strong.’

What kind of existence is the past Heukya?

The past Heukya half-destroyed the imperial palace alone and sent three beings equal to the Sipcheon of that era to the afterlife. An existence that reigns over the heads of a hundred thousand Yogwi and receives worship from great Daeyogoe numbering in the thousands.

Of course, in that process, Heukya didn’t suffer no damage. Six of the nine tails symbolizing Heukya’s power were severed. The current power would be, so to speak, about half or perhaps one-third.

But what about this fake?

‘It’s actually even weaker than the current Heukya.’

The size of the possessed power is needless to say large. In a way, it might be natural. This Heukya must be an illusion created by spreading this large-scale Jinbeop and drawing most of the power. If there are conditions, this level of powerful force execution would be possible.

However, there’s no artistry in it, no Way. Heukya himself’s delicate control isn’t included. It merely crushes opponents with bloated Yoryeok.

‘If I go a bit more inside and it starts to genuinely become hostile toward me, even then it wouldn’t be easy to endure this comfortably but…….’

Anyway, it’s ultimately the same. Even if I only raise Cheonroesin to the first stage, I can somehow endure.

Paaaaang—!!!

“Utcha.”

The difficulty isn’t as high as expected. I deflected the tail and spread Gigam, then nodded. Because the situation was proceeding as expected.

‘They’re gradually starting to move.’

The method of advancing to the central zone here isn’t catching the Guyeokju but surviving from the Guyeokju for a certain time.

Then those who secured enough candles and have thoughts of advancing to the central zone will obviously gather in Naegung. Though there’s a possibility of exposure to Heukya’s attacks, inside Naegung other forces won’t be able to cause trouble recklessly, and the probability of securing advancement rights to the central zone is also high. However.

What if I’m holding Heukya here?

‘The frozen power structure will move.’

Whether they want to show off their faction’s strength or are blinded by rewards that can be bought with points.

Those trying to advance to the central zone are, one way or another, greedy people. Fundamentally, you could say they’re people who have the desire to crush others and advance to the central zone.

If Heukya is properly attacking others, even such people can’t easily move. Even if they can respond to Heukya’s attacks, if another force aiming for gaps strikes from behind, they’ll be annihilated.

What if I remove that variable called Heukya?

‘Forces will move, and the board will change.’

It will literally become a scene like a storm where variables rage.

If it’s Seonwoo Gang’s disposition, he must be preparing to make big moves within that. The reason I’m attacking Heukya without deliberately searching for Seonwoo Gang one by one is because of that.

Kkigigigigeuk—!!!

“Hmm. Is it about time?”

Mugigo. Byeolgung. And countless other places where I feel signs of people.

I deflected Heukya’s tail with a spark-flying sword and assessed the situation. By now, most forces must have realized that my holding Heukya isn’t a temporary matter.

Those moving cautiously are still watching the situation, but those moving boldly must have definitely gone to strike other forces. And that would be a situation of large forces targeting medium forces, medium forces targeting small forces. Then what would be targeted first?

‘Not Bongung.’

I’m currently fighting beyond Bongung.

No matter how much I’m holding Heukya, the moment others enter Bongung, Heukya’s gaze will turn toward those others. No one wouldn’t know that. So Bongung itself will be excluded from the first raid.

‘Mugigo, Byeolgung, and the prison. About these three.’

Following natural order, those in Mugigo will start by raiding other places. Because that side is the large force with the most people. They’ll try to dominate the surroundings through superiority of strength.

Then what will Seonwoo Gang do? How will he try to gain profit in the distribution of those forces?

Tadak!

Wait.

While immersed in thoughts, I quietly turned my gaze at the heat rising on the wind and gave a bitter smile. Red energy shining from far away.

“Of course.”

Where would that disposition go?

Letting out a hollow laugh, I stared directly at the scene unfolding before my eyes.

Large fires were burning throughout the imperial palace.

At Byeolgung, Mugigo, all those places.