Chapter 3 : Old Grudges

Chapter 3: Old Grudges

The young successors, who had been watching, blinked blankly, unable to even process what had just happened before their eyes.

But they snapped back to reality at the sight of a long trail of blood flowing all the way to their feet.

"……What?"

"Lee Hoseong lost?"

"Uhhhhh?"

The last one was so shocked he couldn’t even speak properly.

The youngest disciple of the Murim Alliance Leader.

The half-wit of the fallen Sichuan Tang Clan.

Anyone would have thought the outcome had already been decided.

However.

"Uggghhhk!"

Lee Hoseong groaned in agony, clutching the shoulder where his arm had been severed.

Meanwhile, Tang Sewoon stood there as if nothing had happened, his cold gaze scattering across the air.

Anyone could see that Sewoon was the victor.

But how in the world did that bastard win?

Worried that he might come after them next, their faces turned deathly pale.

Yet Sewoon didn’t even spare them a glance.

He was merely introspecting, retracing the martial arts within him.

‘What a shame. I still couldn’t use the complete One Point Kill.’

Sewoon’s thoughts were true.

Even though it was a One Point Kill that overcame the absurd gap between third-rate and first-rate martial artists.

As he had thought, not even thirty percent of its proper power had come out.

‘The insight remains, but the qi and body aren’t complete.’

Martial arts consist of mind, qi, and body.

In other words, a combination of enlightenment, internal energy, and physical condition.

The insight into the One Point Kill he had gained before regression remained intact. That was because enlightenment belonged to the mental realm.

However, the qi he now possessed and the body he had were far from normal.

It was due to the Heavenly Punishment he bore. A malformed dantian.

Because his dantian recognized internal energy as poison, the only internal energy he could use was five years’ worth stored in his meridians through movement-based cultivation.

‘Only three years’ worth remains now.’

That one strike had used up two years’ worth of internal energy.

One Point Kill was a martial art that required a great deal of internal energy.

Its essence was a life-risking surprise attack with no second chances—an assassin’s technique.

A martial art that poured all one’s energy into a single move to cause an explosive strike.

Others would surely dismiss it as inefficient, or a bizarre technique from an unorthodox path.

But if thought of in reverse, there was no martial art more suitable for someone like him, who couldn’t maintain his energy for long.

"Cough."

At that moment, blood trickled from the corner of Sewoon’s mouth.

The aftermath hit him late.

‘Ghhk!’

Crack! Crunch!

A pain comparable to being disemboweled shook Sewoon.

It felt as if deadly poison was spreading through his entire body, starting from his dantian.

Just using the energy in his meridians had caused such a backlash.

There was only one way to resolve this horrific pain.

—If you wish to stand above the heavens, you must embrace all evil and strangeness within you...

—Rejoice. The Heaven-Defying Qi will save you.

The martial art he received from the Blood Demon after being handed the Demonic Sword, Execution.

Using the Heaven-Defying Qi.

‘Not yet.’

Though his eyes were bloodshot from the strain, Sewoon clenched his teeth and endured.

He couldn’t use it here.

Not while ‘they’ were watching, he couldn’t reveal his demonic qi.

‘If so—.’

With the faint internal energy he had, there was only one thing he could do now.

In that moment, a chilling light flickered in Sewoon’s eyes.

Step, step.

Sewoon slowly began to approach Lee Hoseong.

Srrng.

A cold gleam shimmered from the daggers in both his hands.

“W-Wait.”

“What are you trying to do?!”

“T-Tang Sewoon!”

“H-Hiiik!”

Realizing what Sewoon was about to do, the young successors gasped in horror.

Then, without exception, they all fled in haste.

Cutting off Lee Hoseong’s arm hadn’t been enough—Sewoon now intended to snuff out the life of the Murim Alliance Leader’s disciple.

“Uuegh! Uueeugh—!”

Lee Hoseong convulsed as he watched Sewoon take a step closer.

The boy, who had wet himself, was crawling toward the door in a pitiful mess, as if he were facing a murderous demon.

But Sewoon had no intention of reversing his decision.

Wooong!

Once again, a gloomy wail echoed from the dagger held in both his hands.

Memories of the past surfaced before Sewoon’s eyes.

–Ptooey. You filthy little insect, how dare you defy me?

Lee Hoseong had mercilessly trampled Sewoon, who had rushed in to protect Seori.

He stripped Sewoon naked and threw him outside the brothel, where people came and went, like a discarded rag.

‘I don’t care if I become a laughingstock.’

But that wasn’t what mattered.

While he had been unconscious like that...

–You bitch, I know you like it, so why are you acting all coy?

Lee Hoseong had returned to the brothel and forcibly violated Seori.

And the next day, Seori hanged herself and left this world.

“Die.”

This bastard deserved to die.

No—he was someone who absolutely had to die.

Sewoon endured the agony and once again roused the remaining qi in his meridians.

Pababat—!

“Uwaaaagh!”

Seeing Sewoon charge like a lightning bolt, Lee Hoseong screamed as if the Grim Reaper had appeared.

Swaaek!

Just as Sewoon was about to plunge the dagger into the bastard’s heart at lightning speed—

Chwaaat!

A shadow suddenly rippled from the ceiling.

Kakang—!

At the same time, a mysterious figure appeared and blocked Sewoon’s attack.

Due to the immense force carried by the sword, Sewoon failed to strike and was pushed back.

Frowning, Sewoon looked toward the group that had been hiding.

‘So they were here after all.’

A squad dressed in uniform black martial robes revealed themselves.

They were the Rear Dragon Guard, a direct guard unit assigned to each disciple of the Alliance Leader.

“Cease your hand, Young Master Tang. We cannot overlook this any further!”

Sun Ugon, the Sword Rakshasa and leader of the Rear Dragon Guard, raised his voice.

His gaze toward Sewoon was filled with displeasure and irritation.

‘Damn. How did it turn into this?’

He had not expected the situation to spiral out of control like this.

Still, now that he had shown himself, he thought things would be resolved quickly.

“What if you don’t overlook it?”

But Sewoon’s retort was something he hadn’t expected at all.

Even in front of the warriors of the Murim Alliance, Sewoon didn’t back down in the slightest.

Sun Ugon nearly laughed out loud at the sight.

‘Hah, the little brat doesn’t even know the meaning of fear.’

Anger soon flickered in Sun Ugon’s eyes.

He thought Sewoon was bluffing beyond his capabilities.

“You brat! How dare you insult the Murim Alliance—!”

Intending to suppress him, Sun Ugon unleashed his profound qi and shouted.

But instead of showing fear, Sewoon twisted one corner of his mouth as if mocking him.

“Murim Alliance? What right does the Rear Dragon Guard have to interfere in a personal grudge?”

Sun Ugon was momentarily speechless, stunned by Sewoon’s words.

“You refrained from interfering until now precisely because this was a personal matter, as mentioned earlier. And besides, Lee Hoseong is still under probation, not a full disciple, so you have no grounds to intervene, right?”

“......Th-that’s...”

Sun Ugon couldn’t say a word.

Because Sewoon was absolutely right.

Though Lee Hoseong had kept it hidden from the young successors, he was not yet a formal disciple.

All disciples of the Murim Alliance Leader went through a probationary period.

It was a time for closely examining whether one had committed any crimes or possessed truly suitable character.

If they failed this test, they could not become a full disciple.

The Rear Dragon Guard's current attachment to Lee Hoseong wasn’t for protection—but surveillance.

And per their original orders, they were never supposed to reveal themselves like this.

‘But how did this bastard know that?’

Sun Ugon wasn’t the only one shaken.

The other members of the Rear Dragon Guard were trembling as if an earthquake had struck their eyes.

Sneering at them, Sewoon continued.

“Well, do you have a reason why you must protect him?”

“For example, you might’ve already stuffed yourself full of dirty money.”

“You bastard—! Just because you have a mouth doesn’t mean you should flap it recklessly!”

When the truth he wished to hide was touched upon, Sun Ugon roared in fury.

Now even a chilling killing intent flickered from his entire body, but Sewoon didn’t stop speaking.

“No, it just doesn’t make any sense.”

Sewoon glared at Sun Ugon, pouring into that gaze the rage he had held back for countless years even before his regression.

“You turned a blind eye while an innocent woman was being molested, yet now you can’t stand to see a villain punished? How the hell am I supposed to accept that?”

“Judgment isn’t something for the likes of you! The Seventh Prodigy is a member of the Murim Alliance and must only be judged by the laws of the Alliance—!”

“Kuhk kuhk.”

Sewoon couldn’t hold back and let out a laugh.

Then, barely suppressing the urge to vomit, he spoke.

“The standards of the righteous path are truly fair and just.”

At Sewoon’s quiet murmur, Sun Ugon and all the Rear Dragon Guards flew into a rage and placed their hands on their hilts.

“You bastard—! How dare a mere Tang Clan insult the Grand Murim Alliance!”

Watching them, Sewoon felt secretly satisfied inside.

‘Get them to attack first. Then I’ll have an opening to escape. I won’t become a public enemy of the martial world.’

Yes, Sewoon was already prepared to have a showdown with them.

The reason he provoked Sun Ugon like this was simple.

Because for the sake of the future, these bastards were better off dead now—they were trash.

Lee Hoseong, Sun Ugon, and the entire Rear Dragon Guard would come to be known by another name in the future.

–S-spare my life!

–Yes! I’ll give you every piece of information I know!

–Long live the Blood Cult! Eternal glory!

They would be branded with the disgraceful title of “Worst Traitors of the Murim Alliance.”

The Sichuan Blood Massacre (四川血事), which killed a third of the Alliance’s forces in one blow, was all caused by them.

At that moment, Sewoon secretly funneled the last year’s worth of his qi into the Baihui Acupoint at the crown of his head.

‘Unlock the upper dantian and use innate qi.’

Facing these enemies with just a year’s worth of internal energy was impossible.

Yet, he couldn’t use the demonic qi of Reverse Heaven Energy either, so as a last resort, he planned to open the upper dantian to wield innate qi.

Because it was forcibly opened, the smallest side effect would be a shortening of his lifespan.

But Sewoon didn’t hesitate at all and struck his Baihui Acupoint with the gathered qi.

‘Ggghhhh!’

A searing, agonizing pain engulfed his entire body.

The previous pains felt like child’s play in comparison.

“If you don’t kneel and apologize right now, you’ll suffer great harm!”

Srrrng!

At that moment, Sun Ugon and the Rear Dragon Guards drew their swords.

And at the same time—

KWAANG—!

With an explosive sound, Sewoon’s upper dantian finally opened.

As innate qi—pure life force—spread once more throughout his meridians, Sewoon spoke to his enemies.

“Go ahead, try it.”

“I’ll rip that mouth of yours apart—!”

Pabat!

Sun Ugon and the warriors charged simultaneously.

Sun Ugon had reached the peak of mastery.

The guards, who were tasked with the special mission of protecting the Alliance Leader’s disciples, had all reached the pinnacle of first-rate martial artists, no less than Lee Hoseong.

Swaaaek!

Kwagagak!

Blades of sword qi, capable of slicing iron, rained down on Sewoon like a storm—

Surprisingly, Sewoon’s attention was elsewhere.

Woooong!

Wooooooong!

As if an unborn child inside a womb was sending signals to its mother.

A soul resonance far too familiar was reaching Sewoon.

But rather than feeling joy, Sewoon was filled with bewilderment.

‘Why are you there?’

Because just inside the upper dantian was an ‘object’ that should never exist at this point in time.

The final divine artifact he had poured everything into to kill the Blood Demon.

And the formless blade he had embedded into the Blood Demon’s eye in the end.

Srrrng—!

The Invisible Dagger had transcended time and space and appeared before his eyes.

How could this be?

Had it been hidden inside the upper dantian?

Countless questions piled up one after another.

“Die!”

But now was not the time to worry about the “how.”

Swaaah!

Sewoon channeled all the innate qi in his meridians into the Invisible Dagger.

And just as he was about to launch it—

Suddenly, everything around him froze.

No—it felt like time itself had stopped.

No one could move.

Step. Step.

Then, as if he had been there from the very beginning—

An old man with white hair and beard revealed himself.

He alone moved in this frozen world and gently placed his hand on Sewoon’s shoulder.

“Young one. That power is not something to be used carelessly.”

Swaaah!

At that, Sewoon’s raging innate qi calmed down effortlessly.

The writhing Invisible Dagger also became still.

And then—

Clack!

The world resumed its movement.

“Kghh!”

“Ghak, gahk.”

With thuds, Sun Ugon and the Rear Dragon Guards tumbled disgracefully and groaned.

But that was only for a moment.

“H-hiiiek!”

“Hup!”

When they confirmed the identity of the one who appeared, their faces turned pale like corpses for some reason.

They threw away their weapons and prostrated themselves on the ground.

“We greet the Alliance Leader!”

“We greet you—!”

The strongest man in the current martial world.

The master of the Murim Alliance.

Sword Emperor, Yoo Jinhak, was looking at Sewoon.