822——————==

True Martial Home

“Don’t create any tragedy, huh?”

I could almost see why Grand Master Jang Sam-bong might want to kill me. People react differently when they discover the past life of a reborn person. But it felt peculiar that, instead of avoiding a tragedy, he seemed intent on decapitating me.

“Why do you want to kill me?”

“To lessen the suffering of the innocent.”

“Suffering, you say….”

“For you, this life might be just one, but everyone else suffers from the twists of fate. If the continuity of the world isn’t guaranteed, I believe killing you is the right answer.”

“…….”

“If you plan to hate me and take revenge as a reborn person, that’s fine too.”

I thought I understood what he was saying.

From the perspective of the world facing destruction, perhaps it was inevitable to act like Jang Sam-bong. My attempts to save the world may, in fact, be causing suffering to all beings.

‘But not just yet.’

I calmly said to Grand Master Jang Sam-bong, “Please wait a bit longer. If I can just find out the whereabouts of the Four Great Spirit Deities from Yacha, I will willingly die.”

Grand Master Jang said, “Is that what life is?”

“What?”

“Yacha, each life you pass by cannot be called ‘life’ in a true sense. You are a being that has escaped the world’s laws in a different way than the [Old Ruler]….”

“…….”

“No matter how hard you try with a passionate spirit – it’s even worse than merely living to survive, it could be called a calamity instead.”

His words struck painfully inside me. It was something I’d already been feeling deeply.

“I know I’m drifting further away from humanity. However, with every beginning comes an end. Since I have started this journey, I must see it through to the end. And before I lose my humanity, I must gather clues no matter what.”

“Yacha, you are far too obsessed with your humanity. What is the reason for that?”

“I believe that seeing an end while not being human is meaningless.”

Grand Master Jang tilted his head.

“I don’t quite understand….”

“What is it that you don’t understand?”

“Why do you seek that ‘meaning’ in the war against the gods? For a reborn person, good and evil, black and white is meaningless; so why this obsession? It’s more puzzling than whether you walk the Demon Path or not.”

“…….”

I felt like I’d been rendered speechless.

Meaning.

What seemed like a simple question felt strangely piercing, leaving me at a loss for words.

‘Huh…?’

I’d gained enough knowledge and experience to even disturb the Eight Parts of the Divine—so how could I not answer such a simple question? Why was it so difficult?

As I wrestled with my own confusion, Grand Master Jang said, “Baek Woong. Don’t commit suicide. That’s running away.”

“I won’t allow such an ending. Don’t do anything pointless and raise your sword as a martial artist.”

I was taken aback by his words.

“Isn’t that easier? Why won’t you let me follow the direction I want? If I die without getting information about the Four Great Spirit Deities, won’t that be another waste of time? Ultimately, it’s for the world.”

Grand Master Jang’s white eyebrows drooped slightly.

“Baek Woong, stop wrapping your justification in pretty words. This isn’t for the sake of the world; it’s for your own sake. You’re not even sure of that.”

“…….”

“If you want to deny my words, prove it with your martial arts. Show that you are not the King of Tragedy.”

“What….”

“Don’t stray too far from the path of meeting the Martial God.”

He looked strangely sad.

I couldn’t grasp it.

What did Grand Master Jang want from me?

And what did he want to see in me?

‘If I wanted to commit suicide, I could do it right now. But….’

I felt as if I might lose something significant if I did that. While he couldn’t stop my suicide, I had a sense that it wasn’t the answer. His killing intent toward me was genuine, but I could also feel that Grand Master Jang had a resolved determination as he stood there. It was an intuition shared only among martial artists.

Sigh.

Suddenly, I felt exhausted. Nothing was resolved, yet the situation was becoming increasingly urgent.

I wanted to save this world, but had no plans in mind.

Though I endured the relentless despair with willpower, an overwhelming sense of futility swept over me, leaving me feeling drained. And so, as if letting go of something, I stood before Jang Sam-bong and drew my sword. My once chaotic thoughts aligned, and my focus sharpened for the duel.

Suu

“Very well.”

If it were Grand Master Jang, who had taught me the Peerless Technique, then I’d happily entrust my life’s end to him. I didn’t particularly like the idea of suicide, so I preferred to die fighting against an ultimate martial artist.

Ching—

As I raised my sword, Jang Sam-bong stepped forward three paces and lightly crossed blades with me. This was one of the Wudang Sect’s sparring rituals where, when the swords intersect, the duel begins. The thought that I had come this far to duel with Jang Sam-bong made my heart race with strange excitement.

‘Haha….’

I chuckled to myself even as I faced the near-death struggle of this suicidal duel, having yet to gather any information from Yacha. Why, then, was my heart racing? I didn’t expect to feel this surge of a martial artist’s pride.

Zzeng!

As if time halted, Jang Sam-bong’s attack and my sword collided, and we immediately exchanged our first strikes. The moment our swords crossed, I poured my entire concentration into a thrust aimed at Jang Sam-bong. It was a simple stab that stripped away all unnecessary embellishments, making it my best strike.

In that moment, it felt as if half-moons swirled around Jang Sam-bong’s body. But it wasn’t just an illusion; two half-moons sparked with light, aiming for my neck.

‘So it is true.’

Having sparred many times with Jang Sam-bong, I recognized this technique and surrendered mentally.

North Ming Drying Heaven.

Peerless Shadow.

This Peerless Shadow, known as North Ming Drying Heaven Slash in the celestial realm, was a technique that Jang Sam-bong hadn’t managed to pass on to the human realm, though it was not part of the Seven Great Techniques. After ascending to the celestial realm, he had even used it to deliver a fatal blow in a single strike, becoming the completed technique of swordsmanship.

Hu Woong.

Time felt like it was slowing.

The half-moon had reached my neck, and I realized I had to choose between defense or evasion. However, with this Peerless Shadow, regardless of the choice, he could continuously slice through without wasting any time. If I defended, it would break through my block, and if I evaded, I might lose a limb.

Since this was an over-the-top technique, I still couldn’t comprehend it with my current abilities. I could grasp other combined techniques to some degree, but not this one. The fact that he used Peerless Shadow meant Jang Sam-bong was determined to kill me.

It was a terrifying sword energy, but it wasn’t included in the Seven Great Techniques because it lacked the principles required for the Peerless Technique. If it were overloaded with such principles, it would complicate one’s comprehension of the Peerless Technique.

Realizing that my only answer against this Peerless Shadow was the Three Treasure Technique, I desperately held onto the elements of Heaven, Earth, and People while attempting to evade. And as if it were a promise, when one half-moon struck my sword, the other glided past my throat.

Slice.

A bloodline was drawn across my throat, but it was merely a flesh wound. Feeling more relieved than I anticipated, color returned to my face, and I quickly pivoted to counterattack against Jang Sam-bong. However, upon seeing him calmly adjusting the balance of Yin and Yang with both hands, my expression solidified.

Peerless Technique!

‘Ugh, too slow….’

I was fully engaged in attack, with no chance to retreat. The instant my sword tip ventured into his zone, Jang Sam-bong’s Peerless Technique activated, and I felt a powerful wave of energy drain from my entire body. My sword vanished, and I could only retreat hastily behind the Three Treasures.

“……!!”

This was the real terrifying aspect of the Peerless Technique. It might not retaliate immediately, but once an attack is nullified, the feeling of lethargy was unavoidable. This lethargy could expose deadly weaknesses against masters, and the greater the energy expended in that initial strike, the more intense the lethargy became.

It felt like my breath had been forcefully taken away. I instinctively felt myself withdraw, and Jang Sam-bong, without letting up on his Peerless Technique stance, came at me with another attack. It was as if he were playing with a mouse like a cat, waiting for my response. Gritting my teeth, I defended against Jang Sam-bong’s blow and transitioned into a defensive posture.

The Peerless Technique wasn’t an active martial art.

Once I switched to defense, I was cornered into a dead end.

Yet, as if anticipating my move, Grand Master Jang grabbed his sword with both hands and stepped forward. I felt a crushing pressure as if a mountain were closing in on me. I was indeed psychologically intimidated by having my spirit dampened by the Peerless Technique.

‘Still, surprisingly… it’s doable!!’

The pressure remained, but it didn’t feel much different from the times I had practiced and sparred with him endlessly. In fact, considering the difference in ability, I felt I was faring well right now. Encouraging myself, I charged at Jang Sam-bong while he retaliated using the combined technique, Heavenly River Dragon Wave, one-handed.

Boom!!

So, we battled for about one hundred and fifty seconds.

Every attack I made was either blocked, deflected, or nullified by the Peerless Technique, but it seemed Jang Sam-bong couldn’t easily finish me off either. He unleashed countless combined techniques, yet I was somehow managing to endure with the Three Treasure Technique and the Protection Energy Technique.

Could I… possibly win?

Against that Jang Sam-bong?

I secretly held a glimmer of hope until I abruptly realized something and halted.

“…….”

As I stopped, Jang Sam-bong also ceased his movements. I stared at him with hollow eyes and asked, “Grand Master Jang… why are you holding back?”

“Are you saying I held back?”

“Otherwise, there’s no way I could have lasted this long. Normally, I would have fallen within fifty seconds—how is that possible?”

“…Haha.”

He gave a bitter smile.

“You’ve misunderstood. I’m doing my best. While I’ve been careful to seek opportunities to end this, I’ve never held back.”

“Then….”

“Your skills have improved remarkably. You’ve sparred with me over five hundred times and have grasped my minor habits, techniques, and strategies. Even I would struggle to conclude a fight quickly against such a person. And today, unlike before, you’ve shed distractions, standing on the brink of death, allowing you to utilize all of your strength.”

“You can now contest against a master of the Absolute Realm. The last time you were effortlessly defeated by Yeodong-bin was because you didn’t know how to wield what you learned. You finally can use it….”

I awkwardly smiled at Grand Master Jang’s compliment. However, my expression hardened at his following words.

“However, you’ve already missed the opportunity for a decisive move, so you’re still far from victory…”

“What….”

The eerie sound echoed in my ears. It was the sound of my blood swirling within my body, and I knew full well what that meant.

Boom!!

“Cough!!”

The moment his words ended, I felt a violent vortex erupt from behind my heart, realizing my back was exploding. It was evidently a fatal injury; it felt as if three-fifths of my back had blasted away. I collapsed, spitting blood as I thought.

‘…The combined technique of the Seven Great Techniques… the Dragon Sound Spiral Classics!’

As the blood rumbling subsided, the Dragon Sound tore the opponent apart! Utilizing the Spiral Classics and penetration techniques, it could be implanted so that the receiver didn’t notice, and with a simple command, it could explode. Even amongst martial arts, it was known as an extremely high-level technique!

However, it was entirely unknown to the world because it was too sinister and cruel for Wudang’s martial arts, which is why Jang Sam-bong had refrained from passing it on to the next generation. The Dragon Sound Spiral Classics had the properties of a spiral penetration, turning around in my body five times, thus completely ignoring the Protection Energy Technique, shredding the target apart. Jang Sam-bong even once caught a centuries-old ghost beast using it.

‘W-when did this even happen?’

I writhed in a pool of blood, saying, “In the palm techniques… I’ve never… been defeated… how could….”

“The Dragon Sound Spiral Classics isn’t just limited to the palm techniques; it can also be unleashed through sword techniques. I infiltrated the spiral when our swords clashed….”

“I had a feeling this day might come, so I didn’t share this technique with you….”

This was a monster…. How is this even possible?

It shattered everything I knew about martial arts.

The Dragon Sound Spiral Classics required the basic condition that the force had to make contact with the opponent. But Jang Sam-bong had used it through sword techniques! This had never happened in martial arts and overturned the conventions of martial arts completely.

In other words, when fighting Jang Sam-bong, I had to avoid any sword-to-sword contact. But how could I do that against a master of the caliber of Jang Sam-bong? Would it be possible to not defend against his sword with a sword?

I found myself with another puzzling question and bit my lip as I asked, “Why against Yeodong-bin…?”

“Yeodong-bin noticed my Dragon Sound Spiral Classics and let it flow before it could settle in his blood. However, you lack the skill and sensitivity to perceive the flow of the Dragon Sound Spiral Classics that is used casually in a battle…. Of course, you’re not alone; anyone who hasn’t reached the Absolute Realm will inevitably be caught.”

Was that simply a difference in level?

After a moment, I sighed. My whole body felt drained, leaving me without the strength to fight any longer.

“…Please finish it cleanly.”

So this is how it ends.

“Farewell.”

Jang Sam-bong nodded once before penetrating my forehead with astonishing speed using his swift sword.

Whoosh.

This seemed like my 26th death.

“…….”

Yet, the death didn’t rush in. Because at that moment, someone’s back blocked my view.

“You must not kill a reborn person. That’s a shortcut to my goal.”

With a soft voice, the being who had blocked Jang Sam-bong’s swift sword continued speaking slowly.

“From now on, I’ll handle this.”

Clang….

The sound of joints creaking could be heard. Jang Sam-bong reacted, gathering his energy in response to every slight movement. Just from that, I could tell that the individual turning their back to me was an incredible master, and they were adorned with silver accessories on both hands. Most importantly, they were wearing a full-body mask, making it easy to recognize their identity.

Boom!!

In an instant, what seemed like moments of speed were exchanged in the air between these two absolute masters.

Jang Sam-bong seemed to try to find an opening, aiming to kill me, but instead, with his white eyebrows drooping, he quietly spoke.

“O Supreme Being of the East…. Using Baek Woong will only tighten the noose around your neck.”

The opponent wore a look of disdain.

“Hahaha. I only see this as the greatest opportunity.”

“Baek Woong, wait for your death.”

Woosh.

An emerald glow suddenly enveloped me. The moment that occurred, my fatal injury from the Dragon Sound Spiral Classics healed all at once.

This was a recovery technique used to draw upon the powers of the Sacred Altar Tree at the Wood Element.

“You now have the chance to see the Heavenly Unrestrained Technique you’ve been so eager to understand.”

Master of the Twelve Joules.