novelraw Chapter 374 : Yong Hwarin’s Martial Accomplishment (2)
Chapter 374 : Yong Hwarin’s Martial Accomplishment (2)
Chapter 374: Yong Hwarin’s Martial Accomplishment (2)
Jaegal Yohye asked,
“Can Young Master Yong defeat them?”
“Do you want an honest answer? Or a modest one?”
“An honest one.”
“They are no match for me.”
Jaegal Yohye was taken aback, not expecting Yong Hwarin to speak with such confidence.
“Is that true? Their level is comparable to that of the elder ranks of the great sects.”
Having not seen Yong Hwarin for a long time, Jaegal Yohye couldn’t gauge his true ability.
So she thought he was boasting.
But Namgung Yoo, Pang Giok, Namgung Suyong, and Tang Cheolgi showed no surprise.
That made Jaegal Yohye look at them as if they were crazy.
“Hwarin, I have a favor to ask.”
When Pang Giok spoke, Yong Hwarin turned his head.
“What is it?”
“Take one arm off that bastard San Bi.”
Shangguan Mijong, though somewhat comforted by Pang Giok’s support, was still consumed by grief and anger over what had happened to her father and younger brother.
It was out of affection for Shangguan Mijong that Pang Giok made the request.
“Since this is a friendly duel, that might be difficult. But I can’t just let that bastard be. I will make sure to punish him.”
“You’re the only one I can ask.”
“My heart is the same as yours. Just wait. Watch how my younger brother deals with them.”
After being defeated, Myung Ok Sunja retreated with a despondent expression.
She was one of the Four Talents, along with Jeong Hang, Wun Mang, and Cheong Mong, recognized as the next major pillars of the Nine Great Sects.
Her being so easily defeated cast a shadow over the martial artists of the Nine Great Sects.
It was bitter for them to have to place their hopes in the people of the Heavenly Central Sect, whom they had so long belittled and dismissed.
Jong Seok stepped forward and said,
“My martial art is the Black Death God Poison Technique. If you’re unlucky, you might die. So don’t hold a grudge against me.”
At his words, So Yonghwa smiled faintly.
“Then don’t cry if you lose an arm or a leg.”
So Yonghwa paused briefly, then picked up a spear.
It was a wise choice—facing a poison-user in close combat was disadvantageous.
“The best choice.”
Tang Cheolgi, standing behind Yong Hwarin, muttered.
Poison techniques tended to be weaker against spearmen.
‘Is that truly the case?’
Yong Hwarin muttered inwardly, observing Jong Seok’s movements.
‘Fortunately, it seems he has gained some insight.’
The first to move was So Yonghwa.
He shot forward like a lightning bolt, thrusting his spear.
The spear shadow stretched out as if the spear had grown three jang longer.
It was merely the afterimage left by the spear’s incredible speed.
But Jong Seok avoided the strike and closed in on So Yonghwa.
Because the Black Death God Poison Technique was executed with the hands and not with a weapon, he had no choice but to approach at close range, putting him at a disadvantage.
Of course, So Yonghwa did not allow him to get close.
With precise spear movements, he blocked Jong Seok’s approach. The intricate and mysterious spearplay left even the martial artists in the arena, despite themselves, marveling at his skill.
“No wonder he’s called the Invincible of the Three Arts.”
So Yonghwa read the flow of the poison qi and moved with confidence.
Once the flow of qi was perceived, avoiding it was no problem. And with that, he stopped wasting time.
As he thrust the spear, he advanced at the same time.
It became impossible to tell whether the spear moved first or his body.
Yet Jong Seok did not falter.
“You will fall.”
As So Yonghwa pressed forward, Jong Seok answered,
“That will never happen.”
“Your poison qi has already scattered. You have no way of winning.”
So Yonghwa had been waiting for Jong Seok’s poison qi to dissipate into the air.
But Jong Seok tilted his head back to avoid the spear and seized So Yonghwa’s outstretched fist with his left hand.
“Let go, or you’ll be hurt.”
“Really? If you believe my poison qi has vanished, then you’ve already lost.”
At his words, a chill ran down So Yonghwa’s back.
The poison qi that seemed to have dispersed in the air suddenly gathered in Jong Seok’s right hand.
‘So the Black Death God Poison Technique can both emit and reabsorb poison qi…’
The poison qi scattered into the air did not vanish but could be reabsorbed by the user at will.
The poison qi of the Black Death God Poison Technique was especially quick and volatile. Once inside another’s body, if suppressed, it could create explosive force.
When So Yonghwa opened his entire internal energy to push Jong Seok back, Jong Seok thrust his poison-filled right palm toward So Yonghwa’s chest.
Thwack!
But So Yonghwa’s hand landed on Jong Seok’s shoulder first.
Even so, So Yonghwa was not unscathed.
Jong Seok’s hand brushed past So Yonghwa’s chest, scorching it black.
So Yonghwa halted the duel and sat down, circulating qi to block the poison.
Jong Seok, struck in the chest, also staggered and fell on his rear.
So Yonghwa’s true qi had collapsed his center.
With one person sitting in qi circulation and the other fallen, the outcome became unclear.
After watching for a moment, Monk Gak Woo shouted.
“Since both fall under the agreed rules, both have lost.”
In other words, it was a draw.
But ultimately, since So Yonghwa had defeated both Myung Ok Sunja and Jong Seok, his side still had two members left, while the opposing side had only Yong Hwarin remaining—so in effect, victory was theirs.
“Ah, the Three Demonic Heavens still have two left, yet we’re at a disadvantage.”
Voices of despair spilled from the Nine Great Sects.
“Step forward from the Three Demonic Heavens.”
At Monk Gak Woo’s words, Moon Wu stepped forward, as if the order had already been decided.
The Young Valley Lord of Blood Demon Castle, Moon Wu, thought his turn might not come and so took the initiative.
He wished to defeat Yong Hwarin with his own hands, for the enormous damage Hwarin had inflicted on Blood Demon Castle.
San Bi had his own calculation.
Even if Moon Wu lost, he would weaken Yong Hwarin sufficiently, and then San Bi would have the advantage when facing him afterward.
If Moon Wu won, all the better—but from his own experience, San Bi thought Yong Hwarin was above Moon Wu.
“This Young Master shall face you with the Yang Demon Divine Hand.”
As Moon Wu declared first, Yong Hwarin responded.
“My martial arts are the Soaring Dragon Emperor Sword and the Azure Bamboo Sword.”
The moment Yong Hwarin’s words ended, Moon Wu charged forward with swift movement arts.
Already having quietly entered Sword Unification, Yong Hwarin drew upon the energy of the Gentle Wind of Temperament and unleashed Severing the Tide.
Moon Wu had aimed to catch him off guard, but instead found himself pressed back and gritted his teeth.
The Yang Demon Divine Hand was a technique that tempered both hands to the level of the Indestructible Vajra Body, such that even a treasured sword could not leave a scratch.
Even blades infused with sword qi could be received without a wound.
Furthermore, it exuded the palm force of Yang steel qi, renowned as an unbeatable palm art.
One hand seized the opponent’s sword, the other blasted palm force—an inescapable assault.
But whenever Moon Wu tried to grab Yong Hwarin’s sword, it slipped away and stabbed into vital acupoints, breaking his momentum each time.
After fighting Moon Wu for about a quarter hour, Yong Hwarin suddenly sheathed his sword.
“What are you doing?”
“I thought I could handle you with just my fists.”
“You arrogant bastard!”
Yong Hwarin handed the White Tiger Demon-Subduing Sword to Mo Biyoung behind him and clenched his fists.
“This is the Dragon-Fighting Fist passed down in my clan.”
“And you dare speak of fists before my Yang Demon Divine Hand?”
Moon Wu swung his fist, and Yong Hwarin met him head-on.
In close combat, their fists moved faster than the eye could follow, each exchanging blows with incredible intensity.
“Amazing, truly amazing. To exchange fists so freely at such speed—there is much to learn from this.”
All around, people cried out in astonishment as they watched the fight.
When Moon Wu realized he could not overpower Yong Hwarin with fist or palm techniques, he stomped the ground and leapt into the air.
He thrust his hand into his robe, pulling it out filled with hidden weapons.
“Hidden weapons!”
At the shout, cries of cowardice rose up.
But San Bi muttered,
“They don’t even know what the Yang Demon Divine Hand truly is. One of its other applications is hidden weapons.”
Moon Wu, still full of pride, loudly proclaimed his technique.
“Dark Blossoms White Rain!”
Cries of shock erupted throughout the arena.
Tang Cheolgi, in particular, was deeply shaken.
The most famous hidden weapon technique of the orthodox sects was Ten-Thousand Blossoms Rain.
It was the Sichuan Tang Clan’s peerless hidden weapon art, said to be unavoidable once mastered to perfection.
And now Moon Wu displayed Dark Blossoms White Rain—the demonic path’s counterpart, a nightmare for orthodox martial artists.
Hundreds of hidden weapons blanketed the sky, flying toward Yong Hwarin, drawing gasps of awe.
A master of Yong Hwarin’s level might evade Dark Blossoms White Rain, but at the very least would have to disgrace himself by rolling on the ground.
That was precisely Moon Wu’s aim in unleashing his ultimate move.
Jeong Hang, Wun Mang, and Cheong Mong also looked on, wondering if they could escape such a technique themselves.
‘Rolling on the ground is the only way…’
Even they could not imagine any other means of avoiding it.
Such was the nature of Dark Blossoms White Rain, sealing all avenues of escape.
Moreover, the hidden weapons were imbued with formidable qi.
Yet Yong Hwarin stood calmly, watching them approach.
When they drew within striking distance, he stomped his foot.
Boom!
At that sound, his figure vanished.
“What!”
The onlookers cried out in shock, as if he had used Alteration of Form and Illusion.
In truth, he had employed Wind-Horse Flashing Step, reading the qi within the hidden weapons and slipping past them.
The moment he emerged from within the barrage, he charged at Moon Wu.
Whoosh!
In an instant, Yong Hwarin was before Moon Wu.
Moon Wu did not know how Yong Hwarin had broken free of Dark Blossoms White Rain, but instinctively launched an attack.
Crack!
But his two hands were easily seized by Yong Hwarin.
At the same time, Yong Hwarin grinned and slammed his head forward.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
Headbutts rained down without pause, flattening Moon Wu’s nose and sending his white teeth flying.
With both of Moon Wu’s wrist pulses seized, his meridians sealed, his qi ceased and he could not even deploy Protective Qi.
“S-stop…”
As Moon Wu pleaded, Yong Hwarin released his hands and stepped back.
With a regretful expression, he said,
“Are you just going to stay standing like that?”
Moon Wu stared at him in confusion, until Yong Hwarin walked toward him again.
“So you can still stand?”
Only then did Moon Wu realize he was still on his feet. He immediately collapsed to the ground.
He had sat down deliberately to admit defeat.
For one of the demonic path, it was humiliation; for the orthodox martial world, it was exhilarating.
With Myung Ok Sunja defeated and Jong Seok ending in a draw, the previously bleak atmosphere had now reversed.