Chapter 898
“Wow, this….”
Mount Hua’s disciples retreated.
If Chung Myung and Tang Gun-ak faced each other, even if it wasn’t a life-or-death duel but merely a spar, it was clear that dealing with the aftermath would be challenging.
However, along with concerns about being swept away, a clear sense of anticipation began to appear in their eyes.
Tang Gun-ak.
Now that he has become so familiar with Mount Hua, they often do not realize his majesty. However, he is Gaju of the Sichuan Tang Family, competing for supremacy among the Five Great Family.
His reputation in Kangho goes without saying, but it’s the weight of the name ‘Tang Gun-ak’ – the ‘Poison King’ – that is even more powerful than the title of Gaju.
The Poison King, Tang Gun-ak.
The name is by no means inferior to the revered leaders of the Ten Great Sect who showed great authority in the Yangtze River. No, in some ways, it is evaluated as more.
Such a person is now exuding his momentum without hiding in front of Chung Myung.
No matter how much Chung Myung is called Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword and is evaluated as a talented person who will lead the future generations of Kangho, there is no way that he can be compared to Tang Gun-ak yet.
Nevertheless, none of Mount Hua’s disciples who were watching this strange confrontation cast a worried look toward Chung Myung. They just look forward to the outcome of this game with excited eyes.
What was visible in their eyes was simply an unwavering belief in Chung Myung.
‘It’s a new feeling.’
Baek Cheon’s tightly closed lips trembled slightly.
The appearance of Chung Myung and Tang Gun-ak, who faced each other, overlapped with what he had seen in the past. The two that faced each other at Jo-Gol’s house. And the ten moves spar that took place.
That was the beginning of a relationship.
But Baek Cheon knows. The spar of that time could not be called a proper spar. Tang Pae broke in the middle of it and ruined the spar, but it was just a match that started with the rule that the winner would be recognized as long as Chung Myung blocked 10 moves.
But now, unlike then, the two stood facing each other without any conditions.
“…Isn’t this too sudden? Even though Sect Leader is present.”
Baek Cheon shook his head when Yoon Jong spoke in a slightly hesitant tone. And he spoke in a firm tone.
“Sect Leader will understand.”
“But… Isn’t it true that the closer you are, the more respectful you should be? To start a spar as soon as we meet each other.”
“You’re not wrong, either. But….”
Baek Cheon spoke clearly without taking his eyes off the two.
“Sometimes, it’s just the way it is. In certain relationships, courtesy isn’t necessary.”
The feeling of the flowing air touching his fingertips was vivid.
Tang Gun-ak, who was convinced that his concentration had reached its peak through that sensation, stared blankly at Chung Myung standing across from him.
He desperately suppressed his lips that were instinctively curling into a smile.
‘Life is unpredictable.’
When he first met Chung Myung in Sichuan, would he have imagined that he would be engaging in such a grand spar with that brass young swordsman?
Watching Chung Myung effortlessly take on his momentum without any hesitation, Tang Gun-ak felt a mix of pride and a surge of competitive spirit.
He must have grown stronger.
There’s no doubt about that.
That young swordsman has always done things beyond his imagination. So, naturally, he must have grown strong enough over these three years to shatter Tang Gun-ak’s predictions.
That’s why he wanted to know.
How strong this young friend has become. Whether Chung Myung’s strength is still within Tang Gun-ak’s handleable range.
It was at that time when the ever-increasing concentration pulled his whole body’s muscles tight.
“Ah, how scary.”
“…….”
Chung Myung, in contrast to the intensely focused Tang Gun-ak, casually joked in a relaxed posture.
“You don’t have to be so scary. It’s just a mere spar.”
“…mere?”
“Yes, mere.”
Tang Gun-ak, who was staring at Chung Myung, who spoke without losing his composure, smiled.
“Let me ask you a question.”
“…What?”
“Do you think there’s anyone else who has been so bold in front of me and still survived?”
“…….”
Chung Myung’s eyes widened slightly. But soon those widened eyes drew a soft line.
Chung Myung replied with a grin.
“Yes.”
“…What?”
“There must be. Shouldn’t there be at least one?”
“…….”
“Or I could be the first.”
At the end of the short conversation, Chung Myung and Tang Gun-ak looked at each other and then laughed.
The conversation they had now was the one they had when Chung Myung and Tang Gun-ak first met at Sahae Merchant in the past. (Sahae Merchant is Jo Gol family’s merchant)
Right. Certainly, as Chung Myung said, he survived despite acting bold towards Tang Gun-ak and was even the first person to become his friend.
“How about it? Will it be just ten moves again this time?”
“…It seems even a hundred seconds might not be enough.”
“You’re being too modest for someone who is Gaju of the Tang Family.”
“It is precisely because of my pride as Tang Gaju that I couldn’t say a thousand moves.”
“…You’ve become very easy-going in the meantime.”
“It’s thanks to someone.”
Tang Gun-ak smiled lightly.
It wasn’t a joke; he genuinely felt that even a thousand moves might not be enough. He has been trying to suppress Chung Myung by continuing to build up momentum, but he can’t seem to catch Chung Myung’s energy at all.
‘I feel like I’m hitting the flowing water.’
He wants to know.
The fierce battle at the Yangtze River.
Chung Myung survived against that Jang Ilso. That fact alone had earned him a reputation that shook Kangho.
But both he and Chung Myung know. Being able to stand up to Jang Ilso doesn’t mean he was on par with Jang Ilso.
If then,
What about the current Chung Myung now, not Chung Myung then?
Do Chung Myung now have the power to face that Jang Ilso and Evil Tyrant Alliance?
‘I’ll know once I confirm it.’
A throwing knife (??(飛刀)) was pulled out of Tang Gun-ak’s sleeve. Energy like a sharply forged famous sword flowed from the body of Tang Gun-ak, who held the throwing knife between his index and middle fingers.
And at that moment.
Seureururung.
Chung Myung slowly pulled up the Dark Fragrant Plum Blossom Sword. He took his stance, holding the sword shining in the sunlight pointing downwards.
His stance was soft, without a hint of force. But as soon as he saw this, Tang Gun-ak felt oddly suffocated.
It’s just a lower stance with nothing special. But it was definitely different from what Tang Gun-ak has seen so far. He couldn’t tell exactly what was different, but it definitely was.
Tang Gun-ak’s lips twitched slightly.
He was thinking about saying ‘be careful’ but stopped. The person standing in front of him would not necessarily need such consideration.
Squeeze.
Tang Gun-ak’s finger grabbed the throwing knife between them as if he were going to break it.
Once, Chuhonbi (追魂匕/???/ Soul Chasing Dagger) that used by Tang Bo.
As soon as the internal strength that soared from the Dantian was injected, the Chuhonbi burst with a sword cry (??(劒鳴)Source).
Tang Gun-ak’s eyes met Chung Myung in the air.
Paenggeruereu.
Out of the blue, the Chuhonbi in the hands of Tang Gun-ak appeared in the air.
Paaaaaang! Chaeaeaeaeaeng!
At the same time, two types of loud noises erupted and echoed everywhere.
Gwak Hwe opened his eyes wide.
‘What is this?’
Despite watching right in front of him, he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.
‘N- No. Wait a minute.… so, the two people were confronting each other… Suddenly, a throwing knife appeared from above and a sound erupted?’
There are two things that are different from the beginning.
It was just Tang Gun-ak with his hand extended forward and Chung Myung holding his sword diagonally upwards.
“N- No….”
A voice that felt like salvation was heard in the ears of Gwak Hwe, who felt confused because he could not understand it at all.
“…That’s crazy.”
“Too fast.”
“I can’t believe I’m seeing this in my lifetime.”
Looking back, Baek Cheon, Yoo Iseol, and Jo-Gol were shaking their heads in disbelief. Gwak Hwe asked because they seemed to understand something.
“What, what happened?”
“It’s just the obvious thing.”
“Yes?”
Baek Cheon said nonchalantly.
“The attacking side threw a throwing knife, and the defending side just blocked it. That’s all.”
“N- No….”
“However.”
Baek Cheon slightly bit his lip, then continued.
“The process was so fast that the sound followed late.”
“…….”
“It’s simple, right?”
‘I don’t know anymore?’
Gwak Hae’s face paled with confusion.
Then…… Just now, Tang Gun-ak flew a throwing knife in front of his eyes, and Chung Myung struck it, sending it upwards, but the process was so fast that all he could see was the throwing knife floating in the air?
‘What kind of spar is this?’
Gwak Hwe gained great confidence through hell-like training. But the events unfolding before his eyes immediately shattered the confidence he had worked so hard to build.
It was a completely different level. Could there be a more fitting scene for the phrase ‘on another level’?
“Gwak Hwe.”
“What? Oh…. Yes! Sasuk!”
“Don’t miss a single moment of this spar.”
“…….”
“It will be helpful someday. Just like it was for us.”
“…Understood.”
Gwak Hwe and Mount Hua’s disciples, momentarily lost in bewilderment, widened their eyes again at those words.
“Hmmm.”
Chung Myung lightly shook off his sword. The dull pain in his wrist evoked a subtle feeling.
“I feel like the name Poison King is a bit overshadowed.”
Tok.
Tang Gun-ak, having retrieved the flying Chuhonbi from the air, shrugged his shoulders.
“Thanks to someone.”
“Tsk. I think I gave away too much.”
Chung Myung complained.
Of course, he knew. It was unlikely that Tang Gun-ak had exerted his full strength in their past sparring. Because it is shameful for a martial artist as proud as Tang Gun-ak to throw down all his might to a rising star.
But even taking that into account, the power and speed of this throwing knife was far surpassing that of Tang Gun-ak of the past.
‘It reminds me of the old days.’
The spar was reminiscent of something that would evoke memories of Tang Bo.
And this situation implied one thing.
It means that since Chung Myung visited the Tang Family in the past, Tang Gun-ak had immersed himself solely in the art of throwing knives, not poison. This means that over the years, he has endlessly refined himself without the slightest complacency.
To overcome the limitations inherent in poison.
“…It must not have been easy.”
Changing one’s foundation is an incredibly painful process, far more so than ordinary training.
But Tang Gun-ak shook his head as if it were insignificant.
“Mount Hua is not the only one.”
“…Yes?”
When Chung Myung tilted his head at the cryptic words, Tang Gun-ak spoke in a calm but firm tone.
“From the perspective of Mount Hua, who runs past everything else in the world, all else might seem stagnant.”
“…….”
“But that doesn’t mean we are just standing still, watching Mount Hua’s progress. We may be slow, but we are moving forward steadily, one sure step at a time.”
Tang Gun-ak clenched his throwing sword tightly.
“So, I have no intention of yielding the lead just yet. It’s my role to bring down the Evil Tyrant Alliance, not yours.”
Chung Myung’s lips twitched slightly.
It was an expression forcibly suppressing the laughter that wanted to burst out from delight and joy.
– I told you I’d be the one to take down the head of that Heavenly Demon little shit! Just stand back and watch, Taoist Hyung-nim!
“Anyway….”
Is one’s blood can’t be deceived after all?
Chung Myung slowly lowered his sword.
What Tang Gun-ak had just said was the best thing a martial artist and a comrade could say.
In that case…
Chung Myung twisted the corner of his mouth and held his sword tightly. The green tassel at the end of his sword fluttered lightly.
He, too, as a martial artist and a comrade, must prove it. He must demonstrate that the time he has spent was not in vain!
Paaaaaat!
In that instant, the throwing knife thrown by Tang Gun-ak turned into three streaks of light, hurtling towards Chung Myung.