novelraw Chapter 25 : Chapter 25
Chapter 25 : Chapter 25
Chapter 25 - Goodbye, everyone!
Hwiiing!
Diancang Mountain, where darkness had settled deep down to the ground.
For now, it felt as if the damaged pavilions and the dug-up training ground had never existed in the first place.
In this space where darkness had turned everything into nothingness, only two things could be perceived.
The dreary blowing wind and a gaze bright enough to shine even with just the new moon.
Sabak sabak.
The sound of Biyoung's footsteps was quieter than the rustling of fallen leaves in the wind.
That was a characteristic not just of Biyoung, but of all the masters of the Diancang Sect.
The Diancang Sect, which emphasized the quick sword, pursued a lighter and more nimble footwork than any other sect.
If one's steps were light, not only did their movements become swift, but it also became possible to move without making a sound.
Thus, the people of Jianghu used to describe the Diancang Sect as ‘the most suitable sect for assassination’.
Of course, the members themselves found this very unpleasant.
‘The security is lax.’
The only bandits he had found upon arriving at the Martial Arts Hall were the ones guarding the post.
And even they were nodding off, dozing.
Well, who would think of stealing from a group of bandits?
Especially after climbing this ridiculously rugged Diancang Mountain.
If it weren't for the special safe found in the Martial Arts Hall, they might not have even stationed a guard.
Biyoung entered the Martial Arts Hall with nimble steps.
“……”
The other pavilions were not in their proper state either, but the inside of the Martial Arts Hall was truly in a miserable state.
The facilities were damaged here and there, several large holes were drilled into the walls, and a large pit was dug where the floor should have been.
It was the space where Biyoung had spent a long time reading manuals and researching sword studies.
He felt his blood boil, but he calmed his mind and approached the pit.
A wide cloth covered the large pit, big enough for five or six people to fit in.
Just as the security was lax, the safe was also left in a state close to neglect.
‘They must be complacent since even Jang Pae couldn't get it out.’
Although he had ignored him to his face, he was on the stronger side for a bandit.
To the extent that one might wonder what would have happened if he had learned the martial arts of an orthodox sect from the start.
It seemed there was a reason why the Tiger-Bear Stronghold had requested help from Jang Pae.
Since even Jang Pae had failed to take out or open the safe, it would be safe for the time being.
Wi Sung, the leader of the Tiger-Bear Stronghold, must have thought so too.
But he couldn't be complacent.
Right now, they had only asked for help among fellow bandits, but later on, they might ask a martial arts master.
By offering to share the profits, whatever came out.
And that was precisely the reason why Biyoung had put on a mask and appeared here before restoring the Diancang Sect.
Seueuk.
When he removed the cloth, something shiny under the large pit came into view.
Biyoung intuitively remembered that it was a material he had seen several times in his past life.
Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron.
Despite its black color, it emitted a brilliant light even with just the dim moonlight.
Just like Biyoung's pupils.
‘It’s not as big as I thought.’
It was smaller than the safes ordinary people would think of.
Well.
Considering the price of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron, which was more expensive than gold, even that must have cost an enormous amount.
‘Sect Leader…….’
A safe created after all the first-rate masters of the Diancang Sect had disappeared.
A safe that couldn't be opened with mediocre skills, and might have never been discovered by people forever.
For what purpose did the Sect Leader bury this deep under the ground of the Martial Arts Hall?
Biyoung recalled the face of the rigid Sect Leader for a moment, and was about to jump down into the pit.
At that moment,
“Who’s there.”
“!”
Biyoung's feet froze cold.
It was only natural for a thief's feet to freeze when caught stealing.
But that wasn't the only reason Biyoung was surprised.
‘There was…… no presence at all?’
After clearing the Conception and Governor Vessels, all the senses in his body had become sensitive.
He had reached a state where he could hear the sound of footsteps from over ten jang away if he put his mind to it, yet he had not felt any presence of someone approaching at all.
On a quiet night where not even the sound of insects could be heard.
‘A master?’
To think that a master capable of concealing his presence to this extent was residing in the Tiger-Bear Stronghold.
No.
Perhaps they had already invited someone to open the safe.
“I asked who’s there.”
It was fortunate that the man didn't shout at the top of his lungs.
A considerably deep, low-pitched voice.
Biyoung turned his head and stared in the direction the voice came from.
And then, he had to swallow a laugh.
“You…… do you usually sleep there?”
Someone was there.
In a corner of the damaged Martial Arts Hall.
Judging by the aura flowing from his body, he was no ordinary man.
But, he wasn't the level of master that Biyoung had expected.
If he had approached without a presence, it would have been a problem, but in this case, the situation was a little different.
The man hadn't moved from his spot in the first place.
The man had been sleeping soundly over here since before Biyoung arrived.
Why are you sleeping standing up here, leaving a perfectly good lodging?
“Just answer the question.”
“Hey. It’s not good for your health to sleep standing up like that. You don't seem that much older than me.”
He wasn't as big as the seven-cheok giant Jang Pae, but he was still a head taller than Biyoung.
Perhaps because of his slender build, he felt even taller.
“I heard you don’t grow tall if you don’t sleep properly, but seeing you, it doesn’t seem to be the case.”
It was a smile that seemed too relaxed for a thief.
Biyoung's face, faintly illuminated by the dim moonlight, was truly picturesque.
But unfortunately, it didn't seem to appear that way to the person standing in front of Biyoung.
Shiiik!
Before the thrown scabbard could even hit the ground, the tall man was right in front of Biyoung's nose.
‘Ooh.’
Biyoung was genuinely impressed and took a couple of steps back using the technique of the Flying Eagle Steps.
Paang!
A heart-stopping sound of cutting through the air pierced Biyoung's ears.
“Huh……?”
A sound of escaping air leaked from Biyoung's mouth.
He thought he had dodged it with ease, but the front of his martial arts uniform had been slightly cut.
‘He’s tall, his limbs are long, and his sword is long. His range is longer than I thought.’
Biyoung was not flustered even though the attack had landed.
No, on the contrary, the corners of his mouth had risen quite a bit.
To think there was such a usable talent among the bandits.
His expression brightening when he found an interesting opponent was the same now as it was when he was the ‘World's Fastest Sword’.
Pababak!
The tall man's attacks continued without rest.
But there was no way Biyoung, who had newly adjusted his sense of distance, would allow any additional blows.
He should have been getting anxious as his attacks were repeatedly neutralized.
But the man continued to pressure Biyoung.
‘There’s no emotional wavering. It’s like fighting a Jiangshi.’
The more they exchanged blows, the more interesting he was.
If this were a duel, no, even if it were a real battle, he would have exchanged a few more moves with the man.
But on this day, at this moment, Biyoung was not a man of Jianghu, but just a petty thief.
‘I wonder how his internal energy is.’
Biyoung, who had been only evading, moved his sword for the first time.
Sparks flew as the scabbard and sword clashed.
Kang!
With a ear-piercing shockwave, the man's sword danced in the air.
He had lost his grip on the sword, pushed back by Biyoung's internal energy.
Compared to his swordsmanship, his internal energy was at an ordinary level.
Biyoung clicked his tongue with a sense of regret and approached the staggering man.
Pabat!
Biyoung instantly struck his paralysis point, and the paralyzed man fell sideways.
“See. Your body doesn’t listen to you because you sleep standing up.”
Biyoung said so and looked down at the man.
His lower jaw was slightly long, but he was a handsome man, rarely seen these days.
If Biyoung was an unfinished masterpiece, this man felt like he was already a completed one.
Even though he had heard a joke that would make anyone's blood boil, the man's gaze was utterly indifferent.
A gaze is not something that can be put to sleep just by striking a paralysis point.
The man's temperament must have been like that from the start.
It was difficult even for a supreme master to maintain composure on the battlefield, so he was a peculiar fellow in many ways.
“Don’t feel too bad about it. We’ll see each other again soon enough.”
Biyoung said that and then flew his body into the pit.
“Let’s see…….”
Since the sound of clashing swords had been made, people would soon come rushing in.
He could open the Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron if he forced it.
But in his current state, it would consume a lot of internal energy, and he could accidentally create a deeper pit.
So instead of opening the door, Biyoung decided to take the whole thing.
Seuseuseu…….
A halo of light more brilliant than the moonlight formed on Biyoung's blade.
Biyoung, who had activated his Sword Aura, struck down hard around the safe.
Kwagwang!!!
Kwang!!!
Kwang kwang kwang!!
With an explosion reminiscent of thunder, debris of rock scattered in all directions.
The impact was so strong that the roof of the pavilion trembled faintly.
“……!”
Even the tall man, who had been looking on with indifferent eyes all along, had his pupils tremble like the roof of the pavilion at this moment.
He had probably never seen such a destructive and brutish slash before.
“What is this commotion!”
“Isn’t that thunder?”
“Light! Light the torches!”
Torches were lit here and there in the stronghold, and the area became brightly lit.
Biyoung, regardless, continued to swing his sword.
KWANG!!!!
“The safe!! It’s in the direction of the safe!!”
“Everyone grab your tools and move towards the Martial Arts Hall!”
“You son of a bitch! If the safe is stolen, our lives are stolen too!”
The sound of rough footsteps was heading this way, but Biyoung showed no signs of being rushed.
How much is Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron worth?
It had to be delicately carved out to increase its market value (?).
He didn't want to damage any surface other than the door.
“Just a little more……!”
Carving out the safe embedded in the rock in a neat square was certainly not an easy task.
It was on a different level from whether one could use Sword Aura or not.
It required a slash strong enough to make a sound like thunder, and at the same time, the direction of the blade had to be handled delicately.
He would rather open the door made of Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron than take out the safe in its original form.
There was a good reason why the bandits had chosen the door.
“Done!”
Finally, the safe was in Biyoung's hands.
He was worried it might be too heavy, but thankfully, it was light enough to be held in one hand.
“Don’t move!”
The bandits had already formed a line outside the pit.
Ominous weapons, including swords, sabers, and spears, were all aimed at Biyoung.
“Who are you?”
Although the torches were lit, it was hard to recognize his face because of the mask.
The thief in the black martial arts uniform unhesitatingly revealed his identity.
“I came from the Tree-Uprooting Stronghold!”
“!”
“The Tree-Uprooting Stronghold…… Isn’t that the stronghold of Leader Jang Pae who visited a while ago?”
“He said he couldn’t open it back then……”
“Does that mean…… Jang Pae is trying to take the safe for himself by doing this?”
Normally, one should doubt the thief's statement, but since Jang Pae had visited a few days ago regarding the safe, it created a plausible scenario.
The poor Jang Pae, who was already public enemy number one with his Dantian destroyed, had another threat added to his list like this.
‘Hehehe.’
Biyoung couldn't keep his mouth shut as he watched the bandits believe his words so perfectly.
His cheekbones soared high, but thanks to the mask, no one could read his expression.
Meanwhile, the bandits who had identified (?) his identity growled as if they would come down into the pit at any moment.
“You son of a bitch with guts the size of your liver…… Do you know where you are to be stealing?”
“Today will be the day of your ancestral rites!”
“Since we’ve dug a pit, we’ll make this your grave. Kehkehkeh.”
Biyoung, with a smile on his face, held a sword under one arm and the safe on the opposite side.
Then, he asked the bandits.
“Do you think you can?”
“?”
Biyoung slightly lifted his heels.
Just because his hands were not free didn't mean the ‘Vast Sky Eagle Body Method’ became impossible.
This was because all the body methods of the Diancang Sect were designed to have the optimal movement in any situation.
Biyoung's feet, which had condensed his internal energy for a moment, shot out like a spring.
Pabak!
Biyoung, who had climbed the walls of the pit on both sides like lightning, soared above the new moon.
Biyoung's movements, becoming one with the moon and rotating in the sky, were nothing short of marvelous.
“Uh……?”
“Huh?”
Watching Biyoung soar high into the sky in an instant, the bandits were not just surprised but felt their souls leave their bodies.
When something is too absurd, one doesn't even get angry.
All the bandits raised their heads and sent a blank gaze into the air.
“Goodbye, everyone!”
Towards their dumbfounded faces, Biyoung waved his palm gently.
And soon, Biyoung's shadow completely disappeared beyond the pavilion.