novelraw Chapter 86 : Chapter 86
Chapter 86 : Chapter 86
Chapter 86 - What Flying Beggar
“Haap!”
Having reached close range, Ji Seok-gi put all his strength into his right foot.
Soon, a foot filled with a powerful energy flew towards Biyoung’s side.
It was the Thousand-Pound Horizontal Strike technique, named for swinging a thousand-pound iron block.
‘Take this!!’
However, the solid impact sound that Ji Seok-gi had expected did not come.
Bwoooong!
“???”
With a hollow sound of cutting through the air, Ji Seok-gi’s body rotated once.
From behind him, who had barely corrected his posture, that bastard’s voice was heard once again.
“Instead of forcibly regaining balance, you maintain it by completing a full rotation……”
‘……What is this?!’
Ji Seok-gi’s face hardened.
The Thousand-Pound Horizontal Strike he had just used was the fastest offensive technique he could use.
When his right foot reached Biyoung’s side, he thought it had landed perfectly, but in the blink of an eye, the opponent was once again behind him.
“That’s Iron Striking Martial Art, isn’t it?”
“!”
That was not the only surprising thing.
They had only exchanged a single attack, yet this young punk had completely seen through the martial art he had used.
For Ji Seok-gi, it was a series of events he had never experienced in his life.
‘Am I dreaming right now?’
Despite having pinched his cheek to check, Ji Seok-gi couldn’t help but think that thought once more.
“How do you know our union’s martial art!”
“I saw it a few times before. I had a younger brother who was much better at it than you.”
“There’s a limit to bullshit!”
Ji Seok-gi let out a roar and swung his foot once more.
It seemed that Ji Seok-gi thought Biyoung was mocking him.
In fact, from his perspective, it was natural.
If someone was better at Iron Striking Martial Art than him, they would have to be at least a Four Knots.
How could such a person be this young man’s younger brother?
‘Geez. I can’t even tell him the truth.’
Biyoung smiled wryly and extended one arm forward.
At that sight, Ji Seok-gi’s eyelids shot up to the sky.
‘Reckless……!!’
Fist and foot.
In terms of speed, the fist is superior, and in terms of the technique’s power, the foot has the advantage.
This was common sense among common sense that one could know without even having to be taught martial arts.
And yet, to extend one arm to block not just any kick, but the Thousand-Pound Horizontal Strike?
That was the same as begging, ‘please break my arm.’
‘Alright. If your wish is to have it broken, I’ll grant it.’
Ji Seok-gi clenched his teeth and poured all his internal energy into the right foot that was executing the Thousand-Pound Horizontal Strike.
It was a powerful blow, so much so that the swelling of his leg muscles was visible to the naked eye.
Kwaaaang!!!!!
Was this really the sound of body and body colliding?
A loud roar that made one doubt it echoed resoundingly through Diancang Mountain.
“………….”
For a brief moment.
The two men stood still as if in a freeze-frame.
Their arm and leg remained in contact.
Without any particular conversation, the two men just met each other’s gazes.
The only difference was that one’s gaze was full of leisure, while the other’s eyes were bloodshot.
“I told you…….”
Biyoung opened his mouth with a truly complicated smile.
“When someone is talking, you should listen.”
As if opening a door, Biyoung smoothly pushed the arm that was in contact forward.
And then…….
Dangle.
Ji Seok-gi’s one leg bent in a strange direction.
Surprisingly, the leg of Ji Seok-gi, who had executed the Thousand-Pound Horizontal Strike, had been broken……!!
“Keueuk……!”
Ji Seok-gi finally let out the groan he had been holding back and collapsed.
For the leg that used the Thousand-Pound Horizontal Strike to break.
That was an assumption he had never once considered.
Even the thickest trees or walls made of stone would shatter with a single blow from the Thousand-Pound Horizontal Strike.
And yet, for his leg to break against an arm that didn’t even look particularly thick……!!
He felt the mental shock was greater than the pain of his broken leg.
“I was thinking of breaking a bone somewhere, but it happened on its own.”
As if he had received enough punishment, Biyoung threw a straight tree branch from nearby.
“It broke cleanly, so if you make a splint with that and get it treated, you should be fine.”
“……Who on earth are you!”
“Haha. Do people who come to spy ask directly? Try to figure it out with your own skills.”
Biyoung’s laughing figure was like a protagonist from a painting, but Ji Seok-gi was not in a position to enjoy the scenery.
However, clues that he hadn't seen in detail during the chase now began to come into view.
‘A dark navy martial arts uniform…… the wing pattern embroidered on the chest…… then truly…….’
Could it be true that the Diancang Sect had annihilated the Tiger-Bear Stronghold?
Ji Seok-gi, the Flying Wanderer, had climbed Diancang Mountain to confirm that very fact.
The rumors circulating in the world were so strange that even the Beggars' Union had intended to find out the truth.
‘Then this punk is…….’
A more secret rumor that did not circulate in the marketplace.
At the center of that rumor was a man.
A young, handsome man who had protected the Yi Family Clan’s merchant caravan from Jang Pae of the Tree-Uprooting Stronghold, and had beaten up the formidable guards of the O Family Manor before collecting the borrowed money.
In particular, among the guards was a man named Nangsu, whose victory even Ji Seok-gi himself could not easily guarantee.
Although it was a bit late, Ji Seok-gi was finally able to figure out the man’s identity.
“Are you Young Hero Biyoung?”
As if his sudden change in speech was funny, Biyoung smirked.
“That's right. I'm Biyoung of the Diancang Sect.”
Diancang Sect.
And Biyoung.
Everything the Beggars' Union had wanted to confirm was revealed to be true.
Although, he had failed spectacularly in concealing his spying.
As Ji Seok-gi lowered his head in despair, Biyoung clicked his tongue, tsk tsk.
“Why did you spy anyway? If you had just walked up to the mountain gate openly, I would have told you the truth. While even treating a beggar to tea he doesn't deserve.”
At those words, Ji Seok-gi smiled bitterly.
“Are you telling me to expect a warm welcome when going to a place that might be a tiger's den?”
In fact, most people in Jianghu would sympathize more with Ji Seok-gi’s story.
Entering a group with uncertain information on one's own is no different from declaring, ‘arrest me.’
“Really? Usually, nothing happens.”
“………….”
However.
For someone with overwhelming martial power, the situation is different.
A handsome young man tilting his head in front of him.
In Biyoung’s case, that is.
“What's your name?”
“Ji Seok-gi.”
“Jwi-saekki (Rat bastard)?”
“It's not Jwi-saekki, it's Ji Seok-gi!”
Ji Seok-gi shouted, forgetting the pain in his leg.
“Ji Seok-gi. I've never heard that name before.”
“…….”
Ji Seok-gi was originally a person with no greed for money or fame.
But seeing Biyoung’s completely clueless expression, he felt his face flush with embarrassment.
Any swordsman who had set foot in Murim would have surely heard the nickname Flying Beggar.
However, there seemed to be no falsehood in Biyoung’s tilting head reaction.
“Do you have a nickname?”
“I have the nickname…… Flying Beggar.”
“Flying Beggar? You weren't even that fast.”
“!”
Embarrassing.
Insulting.
And shameful.
Ji Seok-gi, the Flying Beggar, wanted to refute, but he couldn't bring himself to open his mouth.
Having fled first only to be caught immediately, he couldn't say that he was originally skilled in movement techniques.
And not just once, but twice.
However, the cruel feelings Ji Seok-gi was experiencing were not particularly Biyoung’s responsibility.
As the saying goes, in a place without a tiger, a fox is king. The Beggars' Union's Footless Movement Technique began to see the light of day after the Diancang Sect’s fall.
Ji Seok-gi had earned the nickname Flying Beggar ten years after the Vast Sky Eagle Body Method disappeared from Jianghu.
So, for Biyoung, neither the nickname Flying Beggar nor his fast movement technique really resonated.
“Anyway, the Beggars' Union has gone to the dogs. Secretly sending people to spy, swinging their feet without a word.”
Biyoung’s words turned into invisible arrows and pricked Ji Seok-gi’s chest.
Although the Beggars' Union did not risk their lives for honor like other orthodox sects, even in his view, today’s events were not very honorable.
“I apologize for that. However, it was because the matter was urgent, I had no intention of harming the Young Hero from the beginning. Usually, I am not discovered, and even if I am, I have never been caught.”
“Well, you were quite fast among the people I've seen recently. To the extent that even our Senior Brother Eung Ga couldn't catch up.”
What Senior Brother?
No, forget that, who on earth were the people he saw in the past that were faster than him?
Towards the bewildered horse-faced man, Biyoung spoke with a deliberately mature expression.
“You should also not get too caught up in the nicknames of the world. You become arrogant without realizing it. Just like today.”
“……!”
His face was young, but his actions were like the words of a senior in Murim.
Depending on how one thought about it, it could be an infuriating act, but in Murim, skill was the law.
“I will engrave the Young Hero’s words in my heart.”
“Good. I don't have any particular ill feelings towards the Beggars' Union either, so let's just call it even.”
Then, as if a thought struck him, he clapped his hands, jjak.
“Ah. Right. You need to treat your injury, so stay at our sect for today.”
“Uh, um?”
It was quite an unexpected proposal, so Ji Seok-gi’s eyes widened.
“Are you telling me to sleep at the Diancang Sect?”
“Yes. It'll be hard to go down the mountain with that broken leg anyway. It's Diancang Mountain, not just any mountain.”
“That is…….”
He was right.
In his current state, even walking on level ground was a struggle.
Besides, hadn't he just used the Footless Movement Technique at full power and then squeezed out his remaining strength to perform Iron Striking Martial Art?
He couldn't go back right now even if he wanted to.
But even so.
Was he supposed to go to the place he had been spying on just a moment ago to get treatment and rest?
It was truly so embarrassing he couldn't lift his head.
As if reading his mind, Biyoung grinned and hammered in the final nail.
“Your identity has been exposed and you're injured, so if you go back like this, you'll surely get chewed out by your superior.”
“……!”
“But if you go back with a good grasp of the Diancang Sect’s internal affairs, wouldn't they go a little easy on you?”
Biyoung’s sweet tongue was swaying Ji Seok-gi’s heart.
Like poison mixed in honey, he knew it could be dangerous, but he couldn't refuse.
“……Hoo.”
After organizing his thoughts for a moment, Ji Seok-gi forced himself to stand up and clasp his fists.
“Thank you for your consideration. Then I will be in your care for one day. Young Hero Biyoung.”
“Good thinking. Then sit there and rest for now. I'll call for someone in a bit.”
“You said…… you'll call for someone?”
“Yeah. What, you want me to carry you?”
As Biyoung suddenly scowled, Ji Seok-gi flinched without realizing it.
A moment ago he was giving advice like a great senior, but what was this childish behavior?
“Ah, I understand.”
“It won't take long. Wait with a comfortable mind.”
After saying that, Biyoung launched his body like a tiger.
Pabababat!
“Heo……!”
In an instant, Biyoung’s figure became a dot and disappeared.
Ji Seok-gi just stared at Biyoung’s movement technique with a dazed face.
It was so fast it was difficult to even follow with his eyes.
And light.
Indeed.
At that speed, chasing me would have been no trouble at all.
For him, who had trained in movement techniques his entire life, it was truly a feast for the eyes.
‘I have never seen such a fast movement technique in my life…….’
His surprise was brief; Ji Seok-gi suddenly sneered at himself bitterly.
“What Flying Beggar. It's truly…….”
A frog in a well.
Wasn't he just that?
Ji Seok-gi collapsed and looked down at his waist.
It was a moment when the three knots on his waist felt particularly shabby today.