---

Chapter: Tua Pacheonmu Fourth Strike – Changcheon

“The audacity to claim to create the sky.”

As I recalled that the Fourth Strike was truly the meaning of Breaking Heaven, I wondered if this was a name intended by the Pejon.

Creating the sky.

And destroying the sky.

While I couldn’t fathom the significance nestled within these words, I noted that the first, second, and even the third strikes were all direct martial techniques, whereas Changcheon was not a technique for mere strikes.

If I were to make a comparison, it could be likened to the process of activating the body through the heat of the Technique of the Flame Wheel.

Tua Pacheonmu was the martial technique that most easily facilitated transcending through an artificial transformation.

And the Fourth Strike Changcheon was an extension of that.

An artificially induced State of No-Self.

A momentary process that martial artists traverse in pursuit of Enlightenment.

Arriving there artificially.

That was Changcheon.

With each move, unnecessary thoughts were wiped away, hesitation vanished, and energy began to flow naturally throughout my body.

With energy flowing more smoothly, the power of martial arts invariably strengthened.

This signified a kind of physical awakening.

It felt as if my power doubled, yet—

“The rebound is doubled as well.”

The madness of the efficiency of the martial power rising twofold naturally came with intense drawbacks.

At first, I wondered if such a ridiculous martial technique truly existed, but after using it, the realization hit me:

If I misused this, I would die.

The warning that the Pejon had mentioned when I successfully executed it for the first time echoed in my mind.

“Use it only at the very end.”

“Starting too early might spell your doom.”

That’s what I was cautioned, and having used Changcheon, I understood its weight.

Getting used to the Tua Pacheonmu was already excruciating, but the rebound from Changcheon was incomparably worse.

I used it once and then lay bedridden for three days.

Just from a single use of it.

Anyway…

Despite the intense rebound, it could also be said that while using it, an immense firepower accompanied it.

Thanks to that—

“Ugh.”

Even while spitting blood, I felt an unexpected relief.

“Phew… damn.”

I wiped the blood caked around my mouth.

Simultaneously, I stared straight ahead.

The scene had not changed much.

The floor was still saturated with ink, and all around was enveloped in impenetrable darkness.

It didn’t look much different than before.

But—

[…Remarkable.]

As I observed the elderly man before me, I rose from the ground.

My chest felt hollow.

There was a large hole in the old man’s upper body.

The result of Tua Mu Quan, accompanied by Changcheon.

[Since when did this start?]

He asked. Hearing his question, I nodded slightly.

“What are you referring to?”

[I know that all of this is not the result of instinct and chance. Since when was this planned?]

“…”

Since when?

Of course.

“From the very beginning.”

[…]

From the moment I challenged the old man to a duel until this very second, it was all calculated.

Ah, I hadn’t planned for anything concerning Tang Je-mun.

Aside from that, everything else matched.

However—

‘Not everything matched; I had set up several calculations.’

I had anticipated the old man’s actions and prepared five or six countermeasures, acting accordingly.

I recognized that he possessed Gui Jeong.

The effects of Gui Jeong seemed no different from reality.

First, I anticipated that.

‘Ten opportunities.’

The ten chances granted to me by the old man. I recalled that.

For ten rounds, I attacked with all my strength. Was it possible to reach such a being?

‘No.’

Not a chance.

I always said it: Objectively assess yourself.

Whether that old man is real or a fake, I could not win against such a being.

So what should one do?

‘Make it so that I can win.’

If I couldn’t win, I had to create a means to do so.

Thus, I thought to use those ten chances differently.

For that reason, I showcased my full power in the first seven strikes.

During this time, I mustn’t feign.

The opponent would catch on. I had to attack with genuine strength, and indeed, I had done just that.

This was the limit of my striking power.

I’d made it so that the opponent would ‘recognize’ that.

Honestly, it left an unpleasant taste.

‘It was true strength, and yet I couldn’t even singe his sleeve.’

After how many lives I’ve lived, how could I not even graze that old man’s sleeve?

What an infuriating life it was. But what could I do? Even if it’s shit, I had to find a way.

Seven.

Even if I had to use seven of ten, it would have let the opponent understand.

That was my maximum power.

If I succeeded in that, starting from the eighth, I would create a variable.

To suppress any doubts, I had to create a self-induced variable.

I had more than just flames at my disposal.

The reason for using Tua Pacheonmu was that.

To instill a perception and create a variable to sow confusion.

I also appeared to be doing my utmost to prevent rapid thought processing.

Thus, I had used all ten times.

Honestly, the reasons were twofold, but—

The conclusion of using these ten was singular:

‘Preventing that old man from knowing about my Gui Jeong.’

Then could I have avoided showing it from the start?

‘The old man said he was watching me.’

He was aware that I possessed the Taoist Qi of Shin Noya.

Perhaps he might even know about Gui Jeong’s existence.

Thus, it was rather quicker to proceed this way.

Planning and planning while battling.

Even if it was a dirty means to fight, this was correct.

Though there might be no honor in a street brawl, survival matters.

For me, that was far more important.

[Haha… impressive.]

The old man let out a chuckle mixed with admiration after hearing my words.

Swoosh.

“…!”

I then noticed the old man’s body slowly recovering.

Wait, is this bad?

Originally, being a soul, he wouldn’t die, but isn’t this a bit unfair?

When I thought I had to prepare the next plan—

[You have won.]

The old man said to me with a smile.

[I concede. I lost, and you have triumphed.]

“…”

Ultimately, the old man admitted his defeat.

Thud.

“Huah…”

Hearing that, I finally slumped my body down.

I felt a wave of weakness wash over me.

“Truly exhausting…”

As I sighed and exhaled, the old man merely nodded.

[You believe me that easily? How could you know I wouldn’t spout nonsense?]

“That’s because you said it,” I retorted.

[Hmm?]

“When you match swords, you’ll know. I’m not much different either.”

The old man was no fool to spout nonsense.

This sort of thing was enough to ascertain from the previous combination.

[Even though you seem crafty, this place is quite unique. A peculiar one indeed.]

“I hear that a lot.”

[So, boy—]

“Yes?”

[What was it you said just before?]

“What do you mean?”

[That Tang Je-mun is a woman, you mean.]

“Oh.”

-Tang Je-mun is a woman.

It was something I spouted to buy time to overlay Changcheon.

Regardless of what else was said, that was indeed a gamble.

I chuckled while recalling that thought, relieved it had turned out well.

“Well, who knows.”

[…Huh?]

That was a sign I had no intention of answering.

A look of disbelief crossed the old man’s face.

Looking at him, I moved my hand.

With a flourish—!

Suddenly, the bound Gui Jeong untangled and transformed into a bandage form which I tossed to the old man.

Thud.

The bandage rolled over and landed in the old man’s hand.

“Well used.”

[…]

The old man had a peculiar expression as he looked at the returned Gui Jeong.

[…Boy.]

“I’m listening.”

[Did you say I was your reincarnation?]

“Yes, well. That’s what I was told.”

I stood up once more.

My whole body ached. The repercussions were gradually setting in.

Was the pain also present in the realm of the heart?

I felt a flicker of curiosity about what would happen when I returned to where I belonged.

[Looking at Gui Jeong, it seems…. that might truly be the case.]

As the old man listened to me, perhaps he found faith there.

[Then it’s indeed strange. Why is it that you are not a child of Hwasan?]

“…”

A meaningful statement.

Hearing that, I stretched my neck slightly.

It was something I had heard far too often.

I am the reincarnation of Shin Noya.

When I heard that once, it was also what Huang Abulyeong had mentioned when he referred to Noya.

It had failed.

The Noya, who should have been reborn within Hwasan, had failed the reincarnation process and became a phantom.

That meant it was a matter of great significance.

[Boy. So….]

“Hold on.”

I interrupted the old man’s words, raising my hand.

“I’m sorry, but shouldn’t I be the one asking questions? Why are you sneakily posing queries?”

It had been decided that the victorious side would ask, yet the old man continued to inquire about me.

That was absurd, so I said.

[Oh, you caught me.]

The old man seemed a bit disappointed, his mouth twitching.

That man…? Had he been aware all along?

What a nuisance. How bold can a sage be?

Frowning, I immediately questioned him.

“What are you?”

Finally, it was my turn to inquire.

[As I mentioned from the start, I am of Hwasan…]

“That’s not what I’m asking.”

[Then what are you asking?]

“I have already encountered Hwasan Sword God.”

[…What?]

“Not you, but someone else.”

Upon mentioning Shin Noya, the old man’s reaction became markedly intense.

I observed his response and added an explanation.

While not in great detail, I summarized everything from when I met Shin Noya to now.

As a result—

[…What does that even mean?]

The old man’s expression was mixed with bewilderment.

“The reason I find it difficult to believe you are the real deal.”

[…]

“…It seems circumstantially you might indeed be the Hwasan Sword God, but…”

Circumstances and suspicions both aligned perfectly.

Not to mention the connections to Biwaegun in the west? The plausibility lined up. But.

“I cannot help but feel like you aren’t real. So who, exactly, are you?”

For some reason, this old man didn’t seem real.

What was he?

Why was he here?

As I posed that question, the old man’s response was—

[…]

There was silence at first.

Was he sorting out his thoughts or perhaps merely shocked? Or maybe both? I couldn’t be sure, but I waited for his answer.

I felt that I had to.

After waiting for what felt like a long time.

[So, it’s like that.]

The old man spoke in a calm voice.

[Was it really like this?]

His tone hinted at some kind of sorrow as though he had come to a realization.

[Boy.]

“Yes?”

[You mentioned that the Shin Cheol you know doesn’t recall his last moments.]

“Yes.”

That was how Shin Noya’s memories were.

Immediately after the Blood Demon’s seal dissipated, he had retained the position of Sect Leader and had lived his life.

One day, while going about his days, he found himself sealed within a treasure.

Not only that.

Noya’s memories were incomplete. There were way too many gaps.

As time passed, it seemed he had realized a few things, but that meant he was in a different situation than the old man standing before me.

[Hearing that, I finally grasp the truth.]

“What do you mean?”

[There has always been a part that puzzled me.]

Click.

The old man stepped forward, approaching me.

[Boy, do you know where this place is?]

“…You mean here?”

The ground was covered in ink and the sky cast a shadow of black energy.

“I have no clue.”

There was no way I could know the space inside.

I had simply thought this was a realm of the heart.

To this, the old man replied,

[This was Hwasan.]

“Excuse me?”

What a shocking statement to hear.

“…What did you say?”

Hwasan?

I looked around, puzzled.

What nonsense was this?

How could this possibly be Hwasan?

I had been there and I knew.

Hwasan is a mountain adorned with vibrant flowers and lush greenery.

It thrived under the spirits of martial artists, fertile with blooming plum trees, and was always filled with fragrant blossoms.

Knowing this, I frowned.

[To be precise, this was a former Hwasan.]

The old man continued with a voice tinged with anguish.

[You said that in this world, the Blood Demon had been sealed successfully.]

“…Yes.”

To be honest, the sealing hadn’t been fully successful.

The Blood Demon was still roaming, yet it was true to some extent, so I answered as such.

Hearing my response, the old man let out a bitter laugh.

[Is that so?]

“Why do you say that?”

[Nothing. I had hoped for something but realized it was merely a dream.]

Splash.

The old man sat down weakly on the ground.

At that moment, a ripple spread across the stream where he fell.

It was a tranquil wave.

[It was indeed a strange matter. There was no way I should have faced the child of Hwasan. It seems I was swept away by hope and dreamt, how shameful….]

“Excuse me, but what does that mean?”

[‘We’ could not stop the Blood Demon.]

“Pardon?”

As I felt irritation rising from his incomprehensible words, I was at a loss for words.

How could this be?

[We… ultimately could not stop the Blood Demon, and this place has become the collapsed Hwasan in his hands.]

Those words were shocking.

 

---