Chapter 111: Supernatural Power and Mysterious Phenomena (3)

Swish.

Changing Form and Switching Positions, taken to its extreme.

Tzeng-!

A tearing sound that rent the air.

What remained behind was Ma Pyeong-sam, who had once again widened the distance, and Ma Sok, who stood firm as if rooted to the earth.

A fight between extreme speed and extreme weight.

The clash of an extreme attack and a solid defense left nothing behind but a momentary tearing sound.

“Your sword is light.”

Ma Sok said, righting his sword that had been like a shield.

The words, which at a glance seemed like a provocation, were also the truth.

This was because the very existence of a reverse-grip dagger was no different from mutual destruction.

The reverse grip itself was a way of holding the sword that focused not on cutting the enemy with the blade, but on embedding the sword’s body into the enemy.

This meant there was no turning back, so the term mutual destruction was not incorrect.

Either you must kill, or I will die.

That was the essence of the reverse-grip dagger martial art.

To put it another way, Ma Pyeong-sam, who had instantly widened the distance after his attack, had not projected his full power from the start.

That was precisely the point Ma Sok had indicated.

“There’s no need to use my full strength.”

Ma Pyeong-sam, whose words were as light as his lightweight body art, charged in again.

Tzeng!

An upward reverse-grip thrust was deflected.

Kagagak!

A horizontal slash that followed in combination slid across the blade of Ma Sok’s diagonally swung sword.

Swat!

He twisted his body to avoid a dagger thrusting diagonally.

Thud!

A kick aimed at an opening was blocked by Ma Sok’s knee.

A relentless exchange of offense and defense.

Although Ma Pyeong-sam was the one attacking unilaterally, those with a discerning eye would have sided with Ma Sok’s response.

That was how firm and solid Ma Sok’s defense was.

Ma Sok of the Soul-Chasing and Life-Taking Squad.

I knew that his alias was a tribute to his tenacious perseverance.

In truth, it is a common theory that weapons are useless to a warrior of the highest level, but the world does not always follow common theories.

This is because weapons are also an important factor in determining the form of a martial art.

It meant that it would not be easy for Ma Pyeong-sam, who wielded a dagger, to break through the defense of Ma Sok, who had firmly blocked his path.

The person who knew this best was likely Ma Pyeong-sam himself.

As proof, Ma Pyeong-sam’s lightweight body art, which had been stealthily cutting through the air, had suddenly stopped.

“This won’t do.”

“Are you surrendering?”

Ma Sok asked back with an expression devoid of expectation. It was likely a habit of his, a stratagem to provoke.

“It means I’ll face you properly.”

And with those words…….

Flex!

The muscles of Ma Pyeong-sam, who had boasted a nimble appearance, expanded.

I knew the identity of that martial art, which resembled the widely known Bone-Shrinking Art in the Jianghu.

“Ignition Art……”

Its official name was Latent Power Ignition Art.

It was an advanced demonic art that amplified one’s strength for a short time without any loss of true essence or true qi, a secret martial art of the Soaring Shadow Ma Clan.

It could be called a divine art that allowed the warriors of the Soaring Shadow Ma Clan, who inherited the lineage of assassin martial arts, to perform unparalleled feats under the sun.

A master who had truly reached the Realm of Demonic Transcendence had now manifested here.

The complete Realm of Demonic Transcendence was no different from the Fifth Stage I had achieved, so it was not an overstatement to call him a true being of supernatural power and mysterious phenomena.

“I’ll take it from here.”

I stood in front of Ma Sok.

Separate from my trust in the man named Ma Sok, it was not right to let Ma Sok, a master of the State of Harmony, engage in a life-or-death battle with a master of the Realm of Demonic Transcendence.

It would be right for me, who had recovered my true qi with the time Ma Sok had bought, to step forward.

Just then…….

Thwump-

“Keok!”

Thud!

The being of supernatural power and mysterious phenomena who had unleashed his Ignition Art was sent flying and crashed into the ground.

“Tsk, I kicked him lightly, but he went flying. Was he a weakling?”

The Unrivaled Force, Wiji Han.

It was the manifestation of a true being of supernatural power and mysterious phenomena.

* * *

-Alliance Leader, I have a request and have committed a discourtesy.

-Speak.

-That is…….

Upon hearing Lee Chun-baek’s request, the Unrivaled Force, Wiji Han, hurriedly summoned the Chief Strategist of the Evil Faction Alliance, the Heavenly Brain Sima Yi.

Wasn’t his position the Evil Faction Alliance Leader?

In reality, him taking a step was the same as raising an army, so there was also a reason why it was right to follow a clear procedure.

“You’re… going out again?”

“That’s right.”

At Wiji Han’s firm reply, a sullen look appeared on Sima Yi’s face.

It was rare for the ever-loyal Sima Yi to show such an expression.

‘Hmm.’

Seeing that look, Wiji Han had no choice but to admit that he had been going out frequently lately.

“…….”

It was even more awkward that he just glared without saying a word.

Enduring the pressure, Wiji Han spoke again.

“I have no intention of changing my mind.”

“……If the Supreme One wishes it, then you must.”

Persevering through the persecution to see his will through, wasn’t this the true path of the Supreme One of the Evil Way?

In truth, the reason he had summoned Chief Strategist Sima Yi was not to ask for permission.

The Supreme One of the Evil Way was absolute, a being who did not need to obtain anyone’s permission.

However, Wiji Han knew.

He knew that the insight of this intelligent and loyal strategist named Sima Yi had been of great help to him.

His intuition, sharpened by the expansion of his spirit, had detected something amiss, but he didn’t know what it was, so he thought it would be right to discuss it with his strategist.

“What are your thoughts?”

At Wiji Han’s question, Sima Yi stroked his jawline with his fingers.

“The Rogues’ Guild……”

Muttering and stroking his jawline was a peculiar habit that appeared when the Heavenly Brain Sima Yi was deep in thought.

When Sima Yi’s brilliant mind and the Evil Faction Alliance’s vast amount of information were combined, his ability to capture fragments of the truth was said to be unparalleled.

After a moment of thought, Sima Yi spoke.

“Isn’t that level of conflict common in a succession battle?”

“That’s true, but then there’s no way to explain that kid’s intervention.”

Wiji Han retorted.

An equal dialogue between the Chief Strategist and the Alliance Leader.

It was the method Wiji Han and Sima Yi mainly used when searching for the truth.

“I understand he has a close relationship with the Mistress of the Flower Moon Pavilion.”

“There’s that, but there must be another reason.”

“On what grounds?”

“Just a hunch.”

“Is that so.”

Although Wiji Han said ‘just a hunch,’ Sima Yi took it seriously.

This was because he knew from experience that the Alliance Leader, who had reached the highest realm, often vaguely described things he found hard to explain with words as a ‘hunch,’ and that these hunches had an astonishingly high accuracy rate.

“It’s probably because of that kid.”

“Hmm.”

At the repeated mention of ‘that kid,’ the furrow on Sima Yi’s brow deepened slightly.

Dancheon Myeong.

The benefactor of the Evil Faction Alliance Leader.

Sima Yi had met him in person, but he was a difficult man to gauge.

Though he was a young man of barely twenty, he exuded a sense of worldliness, as much as the worn-out beggars of the Beggar’s Gang.

It was clear he was duplicitous, yet there was no sinister air about him. That’s why he was an even more inscrutable, mysterious figure.

In any case, the important thing was that Sima Yi also believed, as the Alliance Leader said, that the man named Dancheon Myeong was not one to act rashly.

“It wouldn’t make sense for him to have summoned me for a mere succession battle in the Rogues’ Guild.”

Wiji Han was right.

It was certainly strange to summon the Evil Faction Alliance Leader just because the Rogues’ Guild’s succession battle had escalated.

Of course, one could think it possible and move on, but the fact that it was strange could not be denied.

If the Rogues’ Guild Master had requested it, he might have just accepted it as such.

But since the one who did it was Dancheon Myeong, the second son of a prestigious Orthodox family, it was worth careful consideration.

As he conversed with the Alliance Leader, the fragments of information in Sima Yi’s mind began to form a structure.

The woven pieces of information became words and revealed their existence to the world.

“Heuksu Mun, the Blazing Flower Sect, the Iron Mountain Demon Lord, the Heavenly Demon……”

The Unrivaled Force Wiji Han was also a sufficiently intelligent man, so he could see the commonality in the words Sima Yi was muttering.

Come to think of it, Dancheon Myeong’s path always had…….

“The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

Their traces were strangely intertwined.

As if reflecting Wiji Han’s mood, his robe fluttered slightly. It was a miraculous feat performed by sheer presence alone, without the circulation of internal energy.

“Those bastards have reached out to the Rogues’ Guild?”

“It’s not confirmed.”

“We’ll just have to confirm it.”

Wiji Han promptly stood up.

“I’ll be back.”

Sima Yi did not stop his lord.

“Stay safe……”

Swish.

Before he could finish his words, Wiji Han’s figure had disappeared, so it wouldn’t be wrong to say he couldn’t stop him.

“Sigh.”

Today, too, the strategist would have to handle the Alliance Leader’s share of the approval documents.

Sima Yi felt a little sad.

Just a little.

.

.

.

Wiji Han, who had vanished from the Alliance Leader’s chamber, reappeared on the roof of that very same pavilion.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

Lee Chun-baek replied to Wiji Han’s words.

His composure, being able to remain so calm in front of the Evil Faction Alliance Leader of all people, was impressive.

“The future of the Orthodox Murim is bright.”

It was a realization that, though overshadowed by Dancheon Myeong, the man named Lee Chun-baek was also no ordinary person.

At those words, Lee Chun-baek smiled faintly.

“I am but a wanderer.”

A wanderer, strictly speaking, stood between the Orthodox and Unorthodox, so it was a reply that held many meanings.

“Does that mean we have a chance too?”

Lee Chun-baek only smiled and did not answer.

“Can you keep up?”

“I will try my best.”

“Good.”

For a moment, energy gathered at Wiji Han’s Dragon Spring Point.

Fwoosh-

Faster than an arrow, Wiji Han’s figure shot forward, tearing through the atmosphere.

Wiji Han knew that Lee Chun-baek was following right behind him.

‘Not bad.’

He wasn’t bad.

* * *

Time returns to the present.

“Tsk, I kicked him lightly, but he went flying. Was he a weakling?”

The Unrivaled Force Wiji Han, who had just kicked away a martial artist who clearly seemed to belong to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, muttered.

Leaving aside the opportunity to launch an additional attack on the sprawled enemy, Wiji Han’s steps headed toward Dancheon Myeong.

It was the arrogance of an absolute being, one with firm confidence in his own martial arts.

“Greetings to the Evil Faction Alliance Leader.”

The way he greeted with clasped hands looked as if he had expected his arrival. That bold appearance was both displeasing and delightful.

“Explain.”

“Ma Pyeong-sam. He is a high-ranking member of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s intelligence organization, the Hidden Shadow.”

“A big catch.”

Wiji Han replied, swallowing his admiration for the chief strategist’s intelligence.

“He likely colluded with Geombigak to take over the Rogues’ Guild and blind the eyes and ears of the Evil Faction Alliance.”

Two sentences explained the entire situation.

For the Unrivaled Force Wiji Han, who disliked complexity, it was a truly satisfying report.

To the extent that if that kid had been of the Evil Faction, he would have wanted to make him his successor.

“I’m in your debt again.”

Although he had lived his entire life carving out his own path, for some reason, he felt like he kept falling into debt to Dancheon Myeong.

“Since the Unrivaled One has graced us with his presence, it cannot be called a debt.”

“I am the one who decides.”

As they were conversing, a robust martial artist bowed respectfully to the Unrivaled Force.

It was a face the Unrivaled Force knew well, Ma Sok of the Rogues’ Guild.

“Greetings to the Alliance Leader.”

Ma Sok, having paid his respects, raised his head stiffly and continued speaking…….

“However, that man is my share.”

This, too, was the spirit of the Evil Way.

Crack-

The man named Ma Pyeong-sam, who had been kicked by Wiji Han, had already gotten up and was regulating his qi.

Though he had given up his offensive intent, his composure in regulating his qi in the middle of enemy territory, and in front of the Unrivaled Force of all people, was truly legendary.

“Hmm.”

The martial arts are a complex thing.

To know and fully display one’s own skill is martial art, but to correctly perceive another’s skill is also martial art.

There was no way Wiji Han’s discerning eye, which was approaching the end of the martial path, could fail to see the difference between that demonic follower and Ma Sok.

“I value your spirit highly, but would you do me the honor of upholding the prestige of the Alliance Leader who has stepped forward for a martial artist of this Alliance?”

In truth, it was a command disguised as a request…….

“……I understand.”

Ma Sok accepted the command and upheld the Alliance Leader’s prestige.

The Unrivaled Force Wiji Han’s gaze looked at Ma Sok, then finally landed on Dancheon Myeong.

Although a master of the Demonic Path stood before him, the Unrivaled Force Wiji Han was able to smile broadly.

“Watch carefully.”

It was because he could repay this debt right away.

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