novelraw Chapter 365: Listen, My Disciples
Chapter 365: Listen, My Disciples
I looked around and raised my right hand.
“Extreme Yang.”
Then I raised my left hand.
“Extreme Yin. These two naturally try to remain in the state of yin and yang. That’s their nature. The essence. By forcing the yin and yang drawn from within to clash...”
I curled both hands as if I were holding small orbs, then brought them together.
“They collide. Things like water or fire that have form will be extinguished. But this is qi—so it’s different. You could say it’s made of countless tiny particles of qi. As numerous as the stars in the sky, but each so small it’s practically formless. You can’t see them individually.”
“......”
“Each particle resists in its own way, struggling to maintain its nature. But I—the one conducting all this—continue to force the yin and yang to clash. Even so, those tiny things resist with a primal instinct to preserve their essence. There’s no way to explain it further. It’s just... the fundamental nature of the world. Countless little bastards all blowing their tops at once.”
After seeing the Cult Leader nod, I continued.
“Those countless particles explode—boom, boom, boom, boom—again and again without end. And in the midst of that, I’m still pushing more energy into it. So when Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance finally detonates, it produces explosive power that far exceeds the limits of my internal energy. Cult Leader, you following so far? I’ve explained this as sincerely as I can.”
Thankfully, the Cult Leader nodded.
“I understand the concept. But how can one unleash Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance with just an abstract idea? That’s the theory, not the execution. Be more specific.”
I slapped my own cheek.
‘I’m going to die at this rate...’
Honestly, that was everything.
How do you recite the chant for a martial art that doesn’t even have a chant? With my head bowed, I stared at the ground—then suddenly looked at one of the children.
“...Is it hard for you to understand, too?”
The child shook their head and replied.
“I understand. But like you said, even if I build internal energy, I don’t think I could do it like you.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
I turned to the Cult Leader.
“Can I demonstrate? I won’t complete it. If it goes off here, we’ll all die. That’s not a threat. I have no intention of dying.”
The Cult Leader nodded.
“Show me.”
The Lecher spoke from the side, his voice uneasy.
“Be careful. Please.”
“Of course I’ll be careful.”
I wrapped Golden Tortoise Free-Wandering Technique around my right hand. A faint flame began to dance in the center of my palm in the form of qi. On the left, I summoned a pure white flame using Moonlight Cold Heart Technique. When I slowly merged the two and enclosed them with my palms, a strange sound echoed out. It was like a distant explosion—so far away it only barely reached us.
“......”
I drew out internal energy and turned the space between my palms into a vortex like a dragon’s pool. Any more and it would’ve actually triggered Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance, so I immediately pulled back.
“See, the internal energy travels from the dantian through the meridians to the palms. You could say it forms a passage. But because of the collision, it feels like the energy’s being forcibly drawn out. The yin and yang, trying so hard to exist independently, ignore my will or the state of my dantian. In that moment, Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance takes control and uses my internal energy. It’s a reversal. The Taiji usually means harmony—but this phenomenon is an inversion where subject and object are flipped. That’s why I call it Inverted Taiji. Cult Leader?”
The Cult Leader of the Blood Cult nodded.
“I understand, but it’s still lacking.”
“This technique is terrifying. Of course it can’t be mastered with a few words. Right? First of all, you need to possess opposing types of qi. Even that condition is difficult. And here’s the important part...”
I looked at the children and pressed my index fingers together.
“The energies must be exactly equal in strength. If Extreme Yang is stronger, it’ll just consume the Extreme Yin and leave behind worthless scraps. You have to draw out equal forces and maintain balance—then let Sun and Moon take the lead. Only when the two sources collide can they emit light...”
The Cult Leader rudely interrupted my lecture.
“So that’s why the previous Cult Leader constantly went into secluded training—to balance himself.”
“Since he had such deep internal energy, he probably needed even more time to stabilize it. The same goes for you. You must find your opposite. Perhaps that search is the beginning and end of Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance. The reason you struggle with it is because you’ve only ever pursued one essence. If that essence was, for example, blood qi—then it alone can never reach Inverted Taiji.”
The Cult Leader fell silent.
“......”
He looked as if something had finally clicked. At the same time, he seemed to be searching my words for flaws—but I realized the situation was too dangerous, so I told the complete truth. Because not just the Cult Leader, but the children were listening as well.
“Do you understand now why I said this is a martial art with no chant? You must start by understanding the principle deeply, then cultivate it in a way that fits your own condition. That’s true for everything in life.”
The Cult Leader nodded.
“Continue.”
I realized the Cult Leader of the Blood Cult had returned from being a slaughtering lunatic to a disciple learning martial arts—but I barely let it show. Meanwhile, I kept switching between being a teacher and a madman, back and forth.
This time, I deliberately looked toward the children.
“Listen well.”
“......”
“Logically, Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance can be performed by two people.”
The Cult Leader interjected.
“Why the sudden change of topic?”
I held out a hand to stop him.
“Think about it. The theory supports it. Yin-Yang dual bodies are rare. So are martial artists who possess both Extreme Yang and Extreme Yin. It’s inefficient. Most people dive deep into one path. Am I wrong?”
The Cult Leader nodded.
“You’re right.”
“Let’s say, for simplicity’s sake, a male master cultivates Extreme Yang and a female cultivates Extreme Yin. These two, after hearing my explanation, could theoretically perform Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance. However, what happens in the palms must be in agreement—synchronized. Before I created this technique, it didn’t even have a name. It had no substance. Let’s say a man meets a woman and experiences a feeling he’s never known before. What would that be called?”
The Cult Leader interrupted again.
“What does that have to do with Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance?”
I ignored him and focused on the children.
“...Just like Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance that didn’t exist before, you children are the materialization of yin and yang harmony. That harmony isn’t some inverted force—it’s natural. So the Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance born from a harmonious man and woman is you. Compared to you, my technique is nothing. Each one of you is a greater miracle than this technique. No matter what happens, this teacher will protect you, so there’s nothing to fear.”
As I rambled in my daze, I noticed the entire world had turned purplish-red.
“......”
In this state, I felt I could activate Dark Fragrance Drifting and absorb any blood needles that might fall with my body. I took a deliberate step toward the Cult Leader. Thankfully, he didn’t read any deeper meaning into it.
The Cult Leader asked,
“What kind of martial art is that?”
“This is Zaha Divine Art. I’ll say in advance—I can’t explain this one.”
“Why not?”
“Because it has neither chant nor theory.”
The Cult Leader murmured,
“How can a martial art without chant or theory even be performed?”
“That’s why I named it after myself. Everyone should develop their own technique worthy of their name. This came from my heart—there’s no way to teach it. Right Guardian—no, Cult Leader. Can I ask you a favor?”
“Go ahead.”
While maintaining Zaha Divine Art, I exhaled.
“If you kill the children, you won’t survive either. That’s an undeniable fact. Look at my current state. And not just me—”
I deliberately pointed to my companions and took another step forward.
“Look at the faces of the Jecheon Alliance Leader, the Drunk, the Sword Demon, the Ghost Demon, and the Lecher. If you kill the children, you’ll die right here.”
“Is that so?”
I shook my head.
“Let’s not leave things to fate today. I don’t know what your Blood Cult will become—but don’t let it start with this. ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) Ideally, I hope you become a Grandmaster of the Demonic Path, feared by even the Cult Leader, the Martial Alliance Leader, the other Three Calamities—and me. Truth is, even that guy from the Black Path could commit the same massacre with just one sword if he went mad. It’s nothing special. Any fool could do it. So why would the Cult Leader of the Blood Cult do something so mundane?”
“......”
“I hope you become the strongest under heaven who defeats the Three Calamities. If you spare these children, then let’s part ways here. You’ve rapidly advanced your internal energy—some long training is in order. Study Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance in depth. You won’t reach it if you cling only to blood qi. Once you’ve mastered it, come find me. Let’s settle things then. You know, just being a master of the demonic path doesn’t earn you respect. Becoming a Grandmaster, however, inspires awe. That’s why I call the Sword Demon my elder and show him respect. Haven’t you already gathered everything you need to climb to the next level? You were probably planning to kill me after hearing my explanation of the technique.”
The Cult Leader nodded.
“You’re quite perceptive.”
“I never die easily. You can see that for yourself. Instead of being some monster everyone reviles, wouldn’t it suit you better to become a Grandmaster of the demonic path...? Cult Leader, I beg you. Please spare the young disciples.”
The Cult Leader looked at me with a troubled expression, then glanced around the room.
A fleeting moment stretched into what felt like eternity.
When the Cult Leader finally smiled, his eyes turned blood-red despite the world already being bathed in purple from Zaha Divine Art. What kind of monster has this bastard become?
I said to him,
“Are you afraid that if you fail to kill or absorb me, the Demonic Cult Leader will?”
“You’ve hit the mark.”
“Then this isn’t about me. You’re unleashing all the pain you suffered under the previous Cult Leader as Right Guardian. It’s not about me. And...”
I took a step forward and tapped my temple with my finger.
“Look at me. You know my temperament. I have no intention of dying to you, or being absorbed by the Cult Leader. If I find myself in that situation, I’ll detonate Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance from within and take him down with me. So you don’t need to worry.”
The Cult Leader asked,
“So you're saying my massacre is the Cult Leader’s fault?”
“Not just mine—yours too. When did I ever go to the Demonic Cult and slaughter disciples? You’re the ones who came for me and got yourselves killed. You went about it the wrong way. Killing me is actually simple. One day, you come to me alone and challenge me to a duel to the death. No need to bring followers. You’ll be wiped out by Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance anyway. But if you come alone, I’ll have no choice but to accept. Because today, you granted my request and spared everyone here.”
“......”
“I’m a man who repays debts clearly. Let’s choose a vast, open place. There, just the two of us, no interference—true duel to the death. That’s the only way I can die. Any other method won’t work. This is my final offer. Don’t attach any extra conditions.”
The Cult Leader laughed.
“You’re expecting them to gang up on me, aren’t you?”
I shook my head.
“My final offer applies to everyone here. They’ve all learned my technique. Whether they can use it is their own problem, but learning it means they owe me.”
I looked around.
“The same goes for them. Few people can actually use Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance.”
Still maintaining Zaha Divine Art, I said to the Cult Leader:
“If you insist on being a common thug, I’ll fly to you now. Experience Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance in your body and awaken among the corpses you’ve killed. I’ll be right there with you in that hell—to obliterate your soul. So what are you? A thug, or a Grandmaster of the Demonic Path?”
Suddenly, I noticed the disciples’ faces were out of sight. I canceled Zaha Divine Art, and the world returned to its natural colors. All the children were watching me intently.
Out of nowhere, I said to Gwangmyeong Usa,
“Right Guardian...”
“Speak.”
“You too may never be able to perform Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
“Then meet a woman who’s mastered the opposite of your techniques. Have a child. Then you might begin to grasp the meaning of Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance. Once you lay eyes on a child who never existed in this world before, I swear you won’t regret or feel ashamed of backing down today.”
Laughter spread from the rooftop where Gwangmyeong Usa stood.
Suddenly, blood-red wings burst from his entire body. His tattered robe flared like a cloak. As I moved with both Zaha Divine Art and Dark Fragrance Drifting simultaneously, I found myself standing amid the children, staring up at a tangled clothesline.
“...!”
The Lecher must’ve arrived just after me—because the entire line froze in an instant.
Beside me, the Sword Demon and Ghost Demon drew their swords.
Through the icy net, I could faintly see the Cult Leader, cloaked entirely in red, glaring down at me.
“Lord Zaha, do I look like some mere thug to you?”
I shook my head.
“...Of course not.”
The Cult Leader smirked...
Then shot into the sky, soaring away. His red robe flared behind him like wings, spinning as he gained even more distance.
Under the frozen clothesline, the Jecheon Alliance Leader and the men of the Black Path had arrived and were standing motionless.
Watching the retreating Blood Cult Leader, I muttered,
“Damn bastard wouldn’t listen, but I still taught him a martial art. Was that really the right thing to do?”
No one answered. It turned into a monologue.
Exhausted in both body and mind, I slumped down. As Zaha Divine Art dissipated, I could finally see the people around me clearly. There were more children than I’d realized.
Once someone gave the order, the frozen web vanished, and ordinary sunlight poured down.
The Lecher, his face pale from expending so much energy at once, sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to begin breathing meditation.
“......”
Seeing that, the Jecheon Alliance Leader gestured, and the men of the Black Path turned their backs in unison. They maintained formation while keeping watch over the perimeter.
I looked at their backs and finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Then I laid down, gazing up at the ordinary sky, and spoke to the children of Tongcheon Faction.
“Kids.”
“......”
“Heaven-Piercing Sun-Moon Radiance is nothing. Really, it’s nothing at all.”