“What on earth happened? You should have at least sent word.”

“Brother Woo-chi. It just happened that way.”

Jeon Woo-chi scolded So-ah, who had returned after a full day.

“Your body isn’t even fully healed, you brat…”

“My body isn’t fully healed? Me?!”

At that, So-ah refuted with a wide smile blooming on his face.

“What is it?”

“What do you mean?”

“What kind of ‘luck’ did you see this time, that you were singing that song again?”

“Aha!”

So-ah immediately understood what he meant.

It was because he had hummed the popular song [The Chivalrous Men of the Martial World] whenever something good happened.

Even Chairman Yeon knew about it (when he had cut open the belly of the Sunfire Lizard and obtained its inner core, So-ah had a history of being scolded for singing in front of Chairman Yeon).

“You’ll probably be surprised when you hear it.”

“So what is it? Did you really dig up some wild ginseng?”

Jeon Woo-chi couldn’t hold back his curiosity and pressed him.

Chairman Yeon was just as curious.

Before he knew it, Chairman Yeon was also staring at So-ah with eyes full of questions.

‘Phew… how do I explain this?’

But as he tried to explain the trial of the third room of the Ghost Valley Mountain Manor, So-ah’s mind went blank.

Jeon Woo-chi knew about the <Ghost Valley Mountain Manor Map> and had already experienced the trial of the second room with him in the Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons, so it would be easy to explain, but Chairman Yeon, who had no knowledge of illusions or sorcery, would be terrified…

‘Ah! I don’t know!!’

So-ah thought it would be better to just calmly tell them what he had experienced and opened his mouth.

“Once upon a time, yesterday!”

“Yesterday?”

“Yesterday…?!”

In an instant, Jeon Woo-chi and Chairman Yeon pricked up their ears like grandchildren listening to a story from their grandfather, their eyes wide.

***

“So. The trial of the third room of the Ghost Valley Mountain Manor happened in a dream?”

“And in that dream, you fought a duel with the Great Sage, Equal to Heaven, Sun Wukong, and repeated dying and coming back to life a whopping 700 times. Is that what you’re saying, Young Hero Jin?”

At So-ah’s words, the expressions of Jeon Woo-chi and Chairman Yeon went through a strange change every moment.

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“So… the designer of the <Ghost Valley Mountain Manor>, who left behind the <Myriad Streams Returning to One Divine Core>, was Dokgo Yeong-tan, known as the greatest hermit of the Zhou Dynasty?”

“No, is it really possible for the experience gained in a dream to be applied in a real fight, Young Hero Jin?”

How many times was this?

Due to his personality of hating to repeat the same words, So-ah’s irritation flared up.

“Brother Woo-chi. And Chairman Yeon! I may act recklessly at times, but have you ever seen me make things up? I’m really disappointed. I’m a person who has survived in the martial world with trust alone. Huh? Phew!”

Only then did Jeon Woo-chi and Chairman Yeon nod their heads.

The 700 reincarnations in a dream and the battle with Sun Wukong that So-ah had mentioned.

And the efficacy of the <Myriad Streams Returning to One Divine Core>, which was truly indescribable.

How could anyone easily accept that myth-like story?

But if the one telling the story was So-ah, the story changed.

The So-ah that Jeon Woo-chi and Chairman Yeon knew was an indomitable man who could accomplish even the impossible, and a man of heavenly fortune who swept away all fortuitous encounters.

‘Yes… what can’t that brat do? I’d have to believe him even if he said he made a dragon out of a loach.’

‘Young Hero Jin is truly a person for whom the expression ‘heavenly fortune’ is not enough. My goodness!’

Of course, So-ah himself,

‘I’m really lucky.’

…was thinking that.

“So? Then how much has your martial arts improved this time? Well, you were already at the Profound Realm before, so are you at the Life and Death Realm now or something?”

Jeon Woo-chi asked half-jokingly, half-seriously.

…with a feeling of almost giving up.

“I can’t give you a definite answer because I don’t know what the Life and Death Realm is.”

“?!’

“What’s certain is that I’ve reached a completely different realm than before.”

“You… no way… did you really surpass the Profound Realm?”

In an instant, Jeon Woo-chi’s face was filled with astonishment.

And what about Chairman Yeon?

He was making a dumbfounded expression as if he were listening to a story from another world.

“Brother Woo-chi. The realm has no meaning in terms of classification. Sometimes, the Transformation surpasses the Profound, and the Profound surpasses the Life and Death. What’s important is whether that person can use the realm they have acquired in a real fight or not.”

“Oh my! Master Jin. You’re so great. So what is it? Did you surpass the Profound Realm or not?”

At So-ah’s somewhat philosophical words, Jeon Woo-chi frowned and pressed him.

It meant, “Shut up and get to the point.”

“Phew! What a temper!! Come over here, Brother Woo-chi.”

“Huh?”

“Chairman Yeon, if you want to see, come with us.”

“Ah… aha! I understand.”

Seeing is believing.

So-ah intended to answer by showing his martial arts directly to Jeon Woo-chi and Chairman Yeon, who would not understand no matter how much he explained.

***

“Hmm…”

‘What is that…’

Jeon Woo-chi and Chairman Yeon were staring at So-ah with indifferent expressions.

Suddenly, saying he would show them the achievement of his martial arts, So-ah had taken the two to a deep valley in the mountains…

They had been full of anticipation, wondering what great thing So-ah would show them.

But contrary to their expectations, So-ah was very slowly.

And with very gentle movements, he was just performing a simple-looking form in the air.

‘What is it? Shouldn’t he be showing something like a fist qi or a fist gang?’

‘Hmm… I think I can do those movements too.’

As So-ah’s movements continued, Jeon Woo-chi and Chairman Yeon felt frustrated.

Moreover, on the face of So-ah, who was performing such a form, there was even a great sense of pride, so the two could not even show a disappointed expression.

A single punch was directed towards the forest.

A single palm was shot into the air.

A single kick, delivered indifferently, was extended towards a large rock.

Soon…

So-ah, who had performed a total of 10 forms very slowly, stopped his movements and curled the corners of his lips.

“Brother Woo-chi. Chairman Yeon. Did you see? How was it? Amazing, right?”

“Hmm… So-ah. I’m also a person who has learned martial arts, but… frankly, with my short insight, I don’t really know.”

“Me too, Young Hero Jin. Of course, it was a great performance of a form with no flaws, but wouldn’t it be difficult to use such slow movements in a real fight?”

At that,

“Hahaha!”

So-ah, as if he had expected it, burst into laughter at their reactions.

‘…Why is Young Hero Jin like that?’

Chairman Yeon, feeling a question at So-ah’s sudden action, just tilted his head, and Jeon Woo-chi, who was frustrated, openly grumbled.

“You brat! Explain it so I can understand. I’m telling you I don’t know what kind of progress you’ve made.”

“One…”

“What?”

“Two…”

“?!’

“Three.”

Jeon Woo-chi’s eyes flashed.

It was because he was bewildered by So-ah’s action of suddenly counting numbers.

However, So-ah didn’t care and continued to count.

“Four…”

‘Is that brat really crazy?’

“Five.”

…….”Ten!”

At that moment.

Would such a sound be made if hundreds of thunderbolts exploded?

In front of the huge roar that suddenly tore their eardrums, Jeon Woo-chi and Chairman Yeon couldn’t help but cover their ears.

And…

“Ugh!”

“Ugh…”

Soon, a five-colored light burst out brilliantly in the area.

That light was something that could not be fully seen with the naked human eye.

It was like the light of the sun, so Jeon Woo-chi and Chairman Yeon couldn’t even open their eyes properly.

***

A moment later…

After the feast of dazzling brilliance subsided and the dust wind that had engulfed the surroundings slowly settled.

“Th-This is?”

“What on earth?!”

Jeon Woo-chi and Chairman Yeon could see the devastated area in front of them.

“When I was performing the forms earlier, I sent the Gangqi into the air and condensed it. The reason I counted to ten was a kind of experiment to freely control the explosion timing of the highly concentrated Gangqi and the air.”

“Wh-What did you say?!”

“Young Hero Jin!!!”

At So-ah’s words, the two could not hide their astonishment.

The release and manipulation of Gangqi.

It was a symbol of an absolute master for a martial artist.

That was why when a martial artist used Gangqi, the world called him a peerless master.

Of course, So-ah was also one of the top masters who could use Gangqi.

But simply being able to use Gangqi and freely manipulating the explosion timing of Gangqi like just now was the difference between hitting a wooden doll with a wooden sword and flying in the sky on a sword with sword-riding flight.

In other words, it was a world of difference.

“So-ah. Is… that really possible? Huh? Wow… does this make sense?”

“I’ve lived a long time, but this is the first time I’ve seen such a spectacle. In my youth, when Master Yonggak of the Jongnam Sect was performing a sword dance, I had an eye-opening experience once… this is several times more shocking than that!”

The two couldn’t close their mouths, as if they were dumbfounded.

Well.

Why wouldn’t they be?

Even So-ah himself was looking at his own hands alternately with a complicated expression.

‘Grandfather. At this level, I’ve really become strong, right?’

Suddenly, So-ah shifted his gaze to the clear sky.

For some reason, he felt like he could hear Moyong Cheon’s voice.

—Hoho! So-ah. Now, even this old man is no match for you. Thank you, for growing up so well. I’m proud. My disciple. My grandson.

‘Grandfather…’

So-ah clenched his two fists.

***

“No, you brat! What if something goes wrong?”

“Brother Woo-chi. You don’t really think something will go wrong with me, do you?”

“Ah…”

“You saw it. My martial arts. I’m just a demigod now. No, a God of War.”

He couldn’t refute it.

If he hadn’t seen it, it would be a different story…

The So-ah that Jeon Woo-chi saw was a perfect fit for the expression ‘God of War’.

No!

Perhaps even the expression ‘God of War’ was not enough to describe the ‘monster’ he had become.

“Still… if I send you off like this, what kind of scolding will I get when I go back to the main office? Let’s not do that and go safely, safely. You said the Blood Demon was in a state of Qi Deviation, right? Then it’s right to join forces with the allied forces of the main office and wipe them out all at once. Isn’t that right?”

However, Jeon Woo-chi tried hard to persuade So-ah with a gentle tone.

It was because So-ah had uttered the ridiculous words that he would invade Potala Palace alone.

“I’m not saying I’ll uproot the remnants of the Blood Cult by myself. I’ll go first and check out the situation. Huh? I’ll also observe the Blood Demon’s condition. You can think of it as a preliminary investigation.”

“Still, no. Don’t say such useless things. A brat who almost died. Even if you’re not a God of War, but just an immortal, this is not it.”

Usually, Jeon Woo-chi could not break So-ah’s stubbornness, but this time, he had no intention of giving in even a little.

No matter how strong So-ah had become, the Blood Demon was the God of Death of blood who had easily brushed off the joint attack of So-ah himself and the absolute master, Wi-ji Chan, and had pushed the two to the brink of death.

Moreover, in the current situation where it was unknown how large the forces of the Blood Cult staying at Potala Palace were, Jeon Woo-chi judged that a sudden action was dangerous.

Just then.

“Brother Woo-chi…”

“No.”

“Ah~ Brother!”

So-ah suddenly grabbed Jeon Woo-chi’s hand.

“Brother. You know I’m a person who can’t stand losing. Besides, you’re the one who knows well that I’m not a person who would do something reckless, right? Don’t you know the reason why I never acted rashly, saying I would get revenge after losing to No Yeong-myeong? I don’t even start if I’m not sure in the first place.”

“So-ah…”

“Brother. I really. I want to take that old man Blood Demon’s head with my own hands. No! I have to. I’m begging you, Brother Woo-chi.”

So-ah, who had said that, suddenly bowed his head to Jeon Woo-chi and gave a silent bow.

“Ah…”

So-ah had never shown such a side to him before.

Jeon Woo-chi couldn’t help but be lost in deep thought.

“Master Jeon Woo-chi. It’s not my place to interfere, but can you break Young Hero Jin’s stubbornness? Besides, now Young Hero Jin won’t lose even if it’s not the Blood Demon, but the Blood God.”

Chairman Yeon, who had been silent, supported So-ah’s opinion.

“Brother! I promise. I’ll definitely take that old Blood Demon’s head and hang it on the main gate of Potala Palace.”

“Are you really confident?”

“I am So-ah. Jin So-ah.”

“Ah! You crazy brat.”

“Kilkilkil.”

“What am I going to do with you, what am I going to do. Phew!”

Jeon Woo-chi let out a deep sigh.

But in his heart, he secretly,

‘For some reason, I feel like he can really do it. Ah! That brat, he’s a handful.’

Why on earth was the image of So-ah causing an unprecedentedly huge mess at Potala Palace so clearly drawn in his mind.

(End of Chapter)

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep