Chapter 35. Should I Grease the Wheels in Advance?

‘It’s been a while since I had a good opponent.’

In Jin Yeong-in’s opinion, it was no exaggeration to say that there was no opponent as good as Gi Il-do at present.

He had faced several members of the Ghost Soldier Corps over the past few weeks, but there was not a single one among them who had made him tense.

The two Ghost Generals were quite formidable, but that was it.

To Jin Yeong-in, the Ghost Soldier Corps members he had faced so far were nothing more or less than angry wild boars.

No matter how fearsome an angry wild boar may be, it can be hunted if one knows how to deal with it.

However, just from the aura he exuded, Gi Il-do was clearly a martial artist of a different caliber from the angry wild boars.

‘Three-tenths.’

Jin Yeong-in estimated the outcome of the fight through the density of Gi Il-do’s demonic qi.

Of course, he would have to fight him directly to know for sure…

“Come.”

“Alright, here I come.”

As soon as Gi Il-do yielded the first move, Jin Yeong-in launched himself forward without a moment’s hesitation.

Clang, Claang!

Sparks flew as Jin Yeong-in’s sword and Gi Il-do’s dao clashed.

In the blink of an eye, over a dozen exchanges took place.

‘He’s strong, as expected.’

Jin Yeong-in confirmed that his thoughts were correct from Gi Il-do’s calm response.

As if to prove that he didn’t get the position of Ghost Soldier Corps Commander for nothing, Gi Il-do calmly parried Jin Yeong-in’s assault and skillfully counterattacked.

“You handle a sword quite well, but.”

A smile appeared on Gi Il-do’s lips.

“That’s far from enough to call yourself a giant serpent!”

“…!”

An intense demonic qi erupted, and Gi Il-do’s dao transformed into an explosive assault.

‘If I clash with him, I’ll die.’

Jin Yeong-in did not face Gi Il-do’s assault head-on.

The difference in their total amount of internal energy was like heaven and earth.

If Jin Yeong-in’s internal energy was only about a fistful, Gi Il-do’s was at least the size of a small boulder.

If they were to clash internal energy against internal energy, Jin Yeong-in would be shattered in an instant.

‘Ladder to the Clouds.’

Jin Yeong-in’s feet moved according to the footwork of the Wudang Sect, the greatest Daoist sect in the world.

His footwork was so light, as if he were playing among the clouds.

To overcome the strong with softness.

The principle of the Wudang Sect, ‘the soft can overcome the hard’, was embodied in the footwork that helped Jin Yeong-in evade Gi Il-do’s assault.

The martial arts of Wudang had also been studied in the Demonic Prison, so it was not at all strange for Jin Yeong-in to use the Wudang ultimate technique, Ladder to the Clouds!

“Is that the martial art of the Orthodox Faction!”

“Who knows.”

A haze began to rise from Jin Yeong-in’s sword.

A high-purity demonic qi.

The purest demonic qi in the world, the very essence of demonic qi, was imbued in Jin Yeong-in’s sword.

“Does it matter?”

Having instantaneously closed the distance with Gi Il-do, Jin Yeong-in’s sword raged like a fierce wind.

“…!”

A startled Gi Il-do tried to quickly pull back, but once Jin Yeong-in had seized the initiative, he was relentless.

Clang, Claang, Clang, Clang, Clang, Clang, Claang, Clang, Clang-Clang, Clang-Clang, Clang, Clang…!!!

As dozens of exchanges took place in the blink of an eye, Gi Il-do’s expression hardened in real time.

Crisis.

He realized that one wrong move and his neck would be sent flying by Jin Yeong-in’s sword.

Paaang!

The demonic qi that Gi Il-do erupted enveloped Jin Yeong-in.

Rebounding True Qi.

A technique to push back a nearby enemy by instantaneously erupting true qi.

Although it was not as exquisite as a Protective Aura and consumed a lot of true qi, there was no better way to overcome a crisis.

Kwaaaang!

Caught in the Rebounding True Qi, Jin Yeong-in flew back and was slammed into a wall.

Ruuuumble!

The wall collapsed, burying Jin Yeong-in.

* * *

“Keoheok!”

Jin Yeong-in coughed up a mouthful of blood.

“Young Master Jin!”

“Young Master!”

A startled Danmok Cheong and Baek A-rin tried to approach, but Jin Yeong-in stopped them with a raised hand.

“Keuu.”

Jin Yeong-in wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with a smirk.

“I really took a hit there. Huu.”

Jin Yeong-in stood up abruptly and caught his breath.

“Are you planning to continue?”

“Of course.”

“You must have internal injuries.”

“Not at all.”

“What?”

Gi Il-do frowned.

Generally, being caught in a Rebounding True Qi would result in internal injuries.

Moreover, having flown at a frightening speed and crashed into a wall, his insides should have been shaken up.

The wall had even collapsed.

But Jin Yeong-in looked completely fine.

Of course, it wasn’t that he hadn’t taken any damage at all, but,

‘I couldn’t get internal injuries even if I wanted to.’

While he could be damaged by the ‘impact’ of the demonic qi, a characteristic of the Heavenly Demon’s Physique was to naturally disperse or absorb the demonic qi that penetrated the body.

So, it was impossible for him to get internal injuries.

Moreover, perhaps because the spiritual energy of Sky Mountain had strengthened his body, he was completely fine without a single broken bone.

The back muscles he had trained with the Body-Fortifying method also seemed to have played a big part in absorbing the shock.

“Shall we continue?”

Jin Yeong-in said with a smile.

“…”

Conversely, Gi Il-do’s expression was stiff.

And for good reason, he had never dreamed that he would have to use Rebounding True Qi against Jin Yeong-in, whom he had considered a novice.

To be pushed into a corner by Jin Yeong-in, who was only of the later generation, and have to use Rebounding True Qi?

For Gi Il-do, it was not only a blow to his pride, but also a bad sign.

Of course, it wasn’t that Gi Il-do had no chance of winning.

Having confirmed the significant difference in internal energy, if the fight were to become a battle of attrition, Gi Il-do’s chances of winning were overwhelming.

However, if the fight were to go that way, one of them would surely die.

“Let’s stop here.”

Gi Il-do sheathed his dao.

“Why stop? It was just getting fun.”

Jin Yeong-in’s eyes gleamed with killing intent.

His eyes were slightly tinged with red, and the corners of his mouth were also slightly raised.

It was because his characteristic belligerence and fighting spirit were boiling over from meeting a worthy opponent after a long time.

Of course, in Gi Il-do’s eyes, it would probably look like a young demonic practitioner was on the verge of losing control and going on a rampage.

“Young friend, no, little brother. I think it would be better for both of us to stop here.”

“So, why?”

“Neither you nor I have anything to gain from seeing this to the end.”

“That’s true.”

“I apologize for my subordinates picking a fight with you first.”

“Hmm.”

“Little brother, you should stop by the Life Demonic Institute tomorrow and get some treatment. Then I won’t make an issue of this anymore, and my subordinates will never bother you again.”

Gi Il-do proposed a rather wise solution.

Instead of fighting to the death, he meant to wrap things up with the appearance of Jin Yeong-in being slightly taught a lesson by the Ghost Soldier Corps Commander, Gi Il-do.

“Of course, if you insist on seeing blood, I won’t avoid it.”

“Jin Yeong-in has learned a lesson from the Ghost Soldier Corps Commander.”

Jin Yeong-in clasped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute towards Gi Il-do.

Since Gi Il-do, his superior and elder, had taken a step back, there was no reason to continue being hostile.

“Now that I see it, you are quite polite.”

“Not at all. I was rude earlier.”

In fact, it was Gi Il-do who had come looking for him first and started the fight by calling him this and that, but Jin Yeong-in did not bother to make an issue of it.

Seeing how Gi Il-do handled things, he was clearly a good person, and he didn’t want to create a bad relationship by nitpicking every little thing.

“I don’t know if you’re a giant serpent or not due to my lack of ability, but you’re certainly not ordinary.”

“You praise me too much.”

“Are you really not interested in joining the Ghost Soldier Corps after completing the Blood Wolf Corps? If you join, I’ll treat you well.”

“Not at the moment.”

“If you ever change your mind, feel free to apply to the Ghost Soldier Corps anytime. I’ll give you the position of Ghost General right away.”

“Thank you for your kind words.”

Jin Yeong-in and Gi Il-do created a warm atmosphere, as if they had never fought for their lives.

Since they had no ill feelings towards each other in the first place, there was no reason they couldn’t get along.

“Ah, may I say one more thing?”

“Feel free.”

“You will have to pay for the wall. And while you’re at it, I would appreciate it if you could also pay for the gate that your subordinates broke.”

“…”

Gi Il-do broke out in a cold sweat as he recalled how much money was in his pouch.

* * *

Gi Il-do chatted with Jin Yeong-in for about an hour before leaving.

“Hmm?”

As Gi Il-do lifted his collar, a hidden wound was revealed.

There was a very fine cut running diagonally along the collar, and blood was slowly seeping out.

In the heat of the moment, he hadn’t noticed it, but to think there was such a wound on his neck.

“Well now.”

Gi Il-do took out a handkerchief and gently pressed it against the wound.

It didn’t hurt.

But a chill ran down his spine.

If Jin Yeong-in’s sword hadn’t been broken by a third and had been a complete sword…

“…I almost went to the afterlife.”

Gi Il-do finally realized that he had almost died and clutched his startled chest.

It wasn’t that he was afraid of death.

He was more afraid that the honor of the Ghost Soldier Corps would be tarnished if he died.

If the Commander of the Ghost Soldier Corps were to die at the hands of a later-generation prodigy who had defected from the Orthodox Faction, it was obvious that the Ghost Soldier Corps would become a laughingstock.

‘A novice defected over, but a monster came instead. It was a good thing I ended it on good terms.’

Gi Il-do was pleased with his own judgment.

Later-generation prodigies who could display such skill at Jin Yeong-in’s age were extremely rare.

Of course, it would be a different story for the direct descendants of the Seven Demonic Families or the disciples of the Cult Leader, the Iron-Blooded Demonic God, but at least it was an undeniable fact that he showed extraordinary talent.

‘Completing the Blood Wolf Corps will be a piece of cake for him. Soon, an outstanding later-generation prodigy will be born in Our Cult. Should I grease the wheels in advance?’

Gi Il-do thought that Jin Yeong-in might rise to a high position in a short period of time and contemplated whether to invest in his future.

Of course, there was something he had to do before that.

‘I need to tighten discipline as soon as I return. How dare they smear shit on their commander’s face?’

Gi Il-do resolved to be very harsh with his subordinates for the time being, to put it crudely, to chew them out.

If his subordinates hadn’t been beaten up after picking a fight, Gi Il-do would never have had to swallow his pride in front of some young punk.

* * *

Time flew by, and three months passed, and it was the day before entering the Blood Wolf Corps.

Even on the day before entering, Jin Yeong-in went to the Body-Fortifying Prescription and trained the Body-Fortifying method.

Since the Blood Wolf Corps was said to value basic physical strength and mental fortitude, he couldn’t afford to be lazy with his training until the very last day.

“You’re entering tomorrow, right?”

“Yes, Fourth Young Master.”

“Take this.”

Yeom Bi held out a round container.

“What is this?”

“It’s a wound-healing ointment used by my family. I’m not worried about you, but you’ll probably get hurt in various ways. Apply it then if you get scratched or cut.”

“Thank you.”

“Have a safe trip.”

“Yes, you too, Fourth Young Master, please take care. I will see you in three months.”

“Alright.”

On the way home after parting with Yeom Bi.

‘Tomorrow is the first step to becoming a martial artist of Our Cult.’

He felt a new sense of emotion.

It was hard to believe that he had returned to the past, and now he was about to face the selection process to become a martial artist of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

As the saying goes, ‘the fortunes of life are unpredictable,’ and it seemed that life was truly something one could not predict even a step ahead.

‘I wonder how he’s doing.’

He suddenly thought of ‘that person’ in the Central Plains and felt a little wistful.

‘He must have been in a lot of trouble because of me. He must resent me a lot.’

Although he hated almost everyone belonging to the Righteous Heavenly Alliance, ‘that person’ was an exception.

The Dark Dragon, Dang Cheon-wi.

It was a day that reminded him of the younger brother with whom he had been close and had shared a friendship as comrades during his time in the Orthodox Faction.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep