LD Vol.2 Chapter 22

Young Fellow, Wash Your Feet and Go to Sleep

The back of his head suddenly grew cold.

“Sword energy!”

Damn it, this was something that wasn’t even announced!

In the brief moment when Bi Ryu-yeon turned around and waved his hand once at Hyo-ryong and Jang-hong, who were standing behind him, six fierce and incomparably sharp crescent-shaped sword energies rushed towards him, targeting the back of his head and his rear.

Oh, but when he tried to dodge the underhanded and shameless attack aiming at the back of his head and his rear, damn it, the space was too narrow. Due to the limited space, smooth evasive movement was impossible. The space was narrow, but the sword energies had flown in unexpectedly, densely filling that narrow space. In other words, it meant that he couldn’t dodge them.

“Damn it!”

Bi Ryu-yeon had no choice but to raise his hand. Instantly, his right hand glowed white and then descended like lightning. A lightning-fast and strong strike, the Leaping Thunder Hand! The supreme technique called the Leaping Thunder Hand, which is said to utilize the power of thunder, was executed.

The sword energy and the thunderous power collided head-on. Who said it couldn’t be dodged? I didn’t say it couldn’t be blocked. Of course, if he had a more superior power, he could have even annihilated it. Bi Ryu-yeon tore apart the group of sword energies flying towards him with a single simple hand movement. As the thunderous power of the Leaping Thunder Hand and the unannounced sword energy collided head-on, a dazzling flash erupted and a loud bang rang out. And a huge shockwave engulfed the surroundings!

The building shook, and the storm tore off the walls, drawing geometric shapes. The sword forest shattered into pieces, and thousands of sword fragments fiercely scattered in the air like leaves swept by the storm. It had the power to make it perfect for a trip to the afterlife with just a single hit.

“Clang! Clang! Clang-clang!”

The bell rang loudly due to the aftereffects of the impact. However, unable to withstand the force, the bell soon shattered and rolled on the floor. It took some time for the storm that had completely turned one side of the building into an irreparable ruins to subside. The damage was even greater because forces beyond the limit had collided in an instant in a confined space.

It was only after a long time that the storm began to subside, and the dense dust that had filled the corridor with a yellow color finally settled.

“Since the bell rang, does that mean I pass?”

Bi Ryu-yeon smiled brightly as if he had gone through nothing and looked towards one end of the corridor. Standing there silently was a man holding a long, heavy, and sharp broadsword with a tiger pattern ornament. His sword was a large sword, much larger and sharper than ordinary swords, and the enraged tiger pattern adorning the hilt was very impressive. And Bi Ryu-yeon could recall that he had seen that enraged tiger pattern ornament before.

Angry Roar! The enraged tiger!

It is the famous symbol of the renowned sword family, the Ho Sect, which has recently gained fame in the martial arts world. Even within this Nanchang, there were hardly anyone who didn’t know this emblem, that’s how famous it was. Of course, Bi Ryu-yeon also remembered it as he had visited the Ho Sect not long ago. However, while he had seen the sword, he had never seen the man holding the Angry Roar Sword.

And if one looked closely, one could notice that the giant overlord sword the man was holding had a different shape compared to the ordinary Angry Roar Swords he had seen surrounded by numerous warriors at the Ho Sect. Of course, this was assuming Bi Ryu-yeon’s observation skills were that exceptional and he had an interest in the man’s sword. However, the fact that his sword was an inch longer than the swords held by the clan’s disciples at that time, or that the sword’s ornaments were more elaborate and exquisite, or lastly, that the color of the sword blade was a noticeably gloomy black, was not particularly relevant to Bi Ryu-yeon.

And the fact that the sword was the sacred supreme sword, the Supreme Fury Roaring Sword, which was passed down only to the successor just before becoming the clan leader, was even more irrelevant. It was a sword that the master had given to the man, entrusting him with himself and everything of the clan. The man gripped his cherished sword even more tightly. Perhaps it was because of the responsibility and expectations placed on the Supreme Fury Roaring Sword, but his sword felt heavier than ever.

“Who are you?”

The first to speak was Bi Ryu-yeon. He seemed quite curious about the identity of the man who had suddenly appeared and slashed sword energy at the back of his head. However, judging by the bright smile still on his face, he didn’t seem to have any particularly ill feelings towards the other person.

Eventually, an icy cold voice leaked out of the man’s mouth. His eyes were silently burning with uncontrollable anger.

“Do you remember the Ho Sect?”

It was a question blurted out under the assumption that the other person would know, but Bi Ryu-yeon simply betrayed the man’s expectations. Bi Ryu-yeon had to ponder for a while before he could finally remember where that place was.

“The Ho Sect? Ah, I visited there not long ago.”

As soon as he heard his words, a divine light exploded in the man’s eyes. It was a gaze filled with a chilling and intense murderous intent that was spine-chilling.

“You dare to describe turning a martial arts sect into a wasteland as merely a visit?”

A fierce shout that sounded like a volcano erupting. The man seemed unable to hold back the anger hidden within him any longer. His emotions were now raging to the point where they could no longer be controlled by reason. The hand that gripped the huge broadsword until it bled, the eyes that flickered with madness and anger, the lips that were bitten so hard that blood seemed to ooze out at any moment, from every angle, he was the typical image of a person consumed by the madness of revenge.

Generally, those who are blinded by revenge are a troublesome bunch because they critically lack a rational thought process in their heads. Therefore, it is the best strategy to avoid encountering them if possible. But now, there was a person obsessed with revenge standing in front of him with a sword.

“Ho Cheon-gang, the chief disciple of the Ho Sect, challenges you here and now to wash away the shame of my sect. Draw your weapon!”

The man in blue martial arts attire spoke confidently, raising his sword forward. There was not a single unnecessary movement in his disciplined actions. So, in the eyes of ordinary people, it could be seen as sufficiently intimidating. Surprisingly, the man was none other than the senior martial brother that the Ho Sect disciples had believed in and waited for. He was the very person who was absent from the scene(?) due to his entrance into the Heavenly Martial Arts Academy at the time of Bi Ryu-yeon’s visit to the Ho Sect.

However, Bi Ryu-yeon’s face, who had received Ho Cheon-gang’s challenge, still showed no sign of being shaken. He only displayed an incomprehensible smile…

“A challenge? Is it the trend these days to replace a challenge request by unexpectedly sending sword energy at the back of the opponent’s head? Is it perhaps a unique and distinctive challenge method of this place? Or could it be that you mistook an ambush for a challenge?”

His tone was polite to the point of being cynical.

“Th-that was merely a greeting, there was no other intention.”

When Ho Cheon-gang hurriedly made excuses in a flustered manner, Bi Ryu-yeon looked around the corridor that had been reduced to ruins. And after intentionally scanning the corridor, he spoke.

“Don’t you think it was too grandiose for a greeting?”

“Y-you insolent fellow!”

Judging by his complexion that alternated between red and blue every moment, it seemed that he had almost no reason left in him now. From now on, emotions would begin to dominate his body and mind. But he still hadn’t exploded and was swallowing his anger inwardly. He couldn’t launch another attack without warning. If it were repeated once more, regardless of his intentions, he would undoubtedly be branded as a despicable coward who targeted the opponent’s back without notice. So, Ho Cheon-gang endured for now.

Paying no heed to Ho Cheon-gang, who was in the midst of an intense struggle with himself, Bi Ryu-yeon diligently analyzed the situation. And he summarized it simply.

“So, what you’re saying is that I visited the Ho Sect and absurdly caused damage to the Ho Sect. To take revenge for that, you will defeat me and restore the prestige of your sect! Of course, it’s questionable whether I did something that made you hold a grudge against me.”

The reasons to be subjected to revenge? They were more than enough and varied, but Bi Ryu-yeon might be intentionally ignoring those facts. Bi Ryu-yeon asked.

“But then, do you dig deeper?”

It was a question out of nowhere.

Ho Cheon-gang’s unexpected question. Bi Ryu-yeon asked like a supervisor checking a construction site.

‘Dig deeper? Has that guy gone mad?’

Ho Cheon-gang couldn’t understand or comprehend what Bi Ryu-yeon was babbling about.

“What are you talking about?”

What nonsense are you spouting? Ho Cheon-gang asked back with an honest face, unable to understand what Bi Ryu-yeon had said.

“I’m asking if you dig deeper. Don’t you know?”

Bi Ryu-yeon spoke with a reproachful tone, as if asking how one could not know that and that it was really too much. For Ho Cheon-gang, who heard such words, it was absurd and unjust.

“You seem to have quite a dull comprehension. Making someone repeat the same words twice to you.”

With a face that couldn’t be more detestable, Bi Ryu-yeon casually scraped Ho Cheon-gang’s insides like scraping a bowl. Ho Cheon-gang couldn’t even guess whether that guy was sincerely saying such things or intentionally doing so. He was a completely unpredictable fellow. He decided to kindly explain for the sake of the guy who was pondering Bi Ryu-yeon’s sudden words with his eyes wide open.

“My question is whether it’s a case of the blue coming from the indigo, or something like that. In other words, are you stronger than your master? That’s what I’m asking. I believe the head is meant to be used, not for decoration.”

Bi Ryu-yeon smiled brightly, but that smile definitely didn’t give Ho Cheon-gang a good impression, I would bet all my possessions on it. Rather, it only provoked him further.

Ho Cheon-gang choked up again. For a young and passionate man like him, such words were nothing short of a severe insult. However, patience was still clinging to him tenaciously, so he didn’t roar like a beast while swinging his sword simultaneously. But even that reason seemed to be running out now.

“Hahaha… How could I dare to compare my humble skills with my master’s? Don’t do anything foolish!”

Ho Cheon-gang replied, barely suppressing the magma-like rage boiling up inside him.

“That’s quite strange.”

Upon hearing Ho Cheon-gang’s answer, Bi Ryu-yeon tilted his head as if he couldn’t understand at all.

“What do you mean?”

Ho Cheon-gang’s tone grew increasingly irritable and sharp.

“Isn’t it? How could you, knowing and accepting that your skills are inferior to your master’s, still come forward to deal with me, whom your master and the elders of your sect, who were present in large numbers at the Ho Sect, couldn’t handle? You’re not hoping for luck, are you? That’s an act of taking the world too lightly.”

Bi Ryu-yeon’s gaze, filled with all sorts of doubts, turned towards Ho Cheon-gang as if saying, “No way.” His tone was very kind and gentle compared to the content. It was a face that seemed to say, “For me, your judgment of the situation, including your combat power analysis and thinking, is truly an incomprehensible mystery.” Whether he knew or not about Ho Cheon-gang’s state where the thread of reason had weakened to the maximum, Bi Ryu-yeon continuously turned Ho Cheon-gang’s insides out. Ho Cheon-gang’s shoulders were trembling severely.

His sword was firmly grasped in his trembling right hand, seeming as if it would never fall from his hand.

‘Why haven’t I gone crazy yet?’

Ho Cheon-gang was simply amazed at himself. It felt like his mind was gradually turning white.

‘I need to have a formal duel quickly. Quickly, formally… formal…’

To Ho Cheon-gang, who was desperately trying to compose himself by repeatedly chanting to himself, Bi Ryu-yeon delivered the decisive blow that instantly turned his desperate efforts into bubbles.

“Challenging the impossible is something a man should try at least once in his lifetime, but this time, it seems too absurd. In my opinion, it would be highly beneficial for both your physical and mental health to just go home, wash your feet, and get a good night’s sleep.”

Bi Ryu-yeon’s words, which seemed to be full of courtesy on the surface, were already beyond sarcasm and close to mockery for Ho Cheon-gang. Although he had twisted his words a bit, if interpreted simply, wasn’t it saying, “Young fellow, don’t make a futile effort that you can’t handle and go home, wash your feet, and sleep”?

“You bastard!”

In the end, Ho Cheon-gang’s anger exploded. There was no more patience. For Ho Cheon-gang, enduring up to this point was already close to a miracle. A terrifying strong sword energy erupted from the Supreme Fury Roaring Sword he was holding. The words he had just spoken about being weaker than his master were merely humility, as it was a fearsome energy that even a skilled master couldn’t ignore.

However, what should not be overlooked here is the fact that Bi Ryu-yeon is not an ordinary skilled master. And that was the greatest misfortune for Ho Cheon-gang.

Bi Ryu-yeon charged forward, paying no heed to the tyrannical sword energy that was extending with a terrifying momentum. The sword energy that had been rushing in from all directions passed by his body in vain, and Bi Ryu-yeon was able to effortlessly drive his right foot into Ho Cheon-gang’s lower abdomen. It was a thoughtless kick. The match was dully decided with this single strike. The direction of victory and defeat was so clear that there was no room for reconsideration. Ho Cheon-gang’s face turned pale. He was so shocked and confused that his tongue stiffened, and he couldn’t even speak properly.

“Th-th-that…”

Ho Cheon-gang’s eyes widened as if he had witnessed an unbelievable fact. The hand holding the Supreme Fury Roaring Sword trembled violently like a willow tree. Ho Cheon-gang couldn’t believe the current reality. It wasn’t because of Bi Ryu-yeon’s foot that was stuck in his abdomen. It was already unjust and infuriating to be hit by a thoughtless kick, but the Leaping Thunder Hand that Bi Ryu-yeon had struck along with the thoughtless kick was even more problematic. – Bi Ryu-yeon had simultaneously driven his thoughtless kick into Ho Cheon-gang’s abdomen and struck his precious sword with the Leaping Thunder Hand. – For Ho Cheon-gang, it was a shock beyond shock. The part of the Supreme Fury Roaring Sword’s blade where Bi Ryu-yeon’s Leaping Thunder Hand had struck was now nowhere to be found. It was no longer there. The remaining half of the broken blade was lying disgracefully on the floor outside the hall like a piece of a broken bowl.

The sacred weapon of the sect had been broken. For Ho Cheon-gang, it was an earth-shattering event equivalent to the jade Buddha statue of Shaolin being shattered or the Bamboo Flute Peak of the Beggars’ Sect being broken.

Ho Cheon-gang was so shocked that he felt like fainting, and his mind went blank, unable to think or reason. Bi Ryu-yeon found his idiotic appearance, with his eyes rolled back and his legs giving out, amusing, so he temporarily withdrew his fist that he was about to strike and began observing his condition. However, Ho Cheon-gang remained still like a petrified statue. His mind had already become completely empty.

No matter how foolish and scatterbrained he may appear on the outside, the one who secretly harbors hundreds of cunning snakes inside is none other than Bi Ryu-yeon. It was only natural for someone who charged at such an opponent without any countermeasures to be beaten and knocked down. Although it was an undesirable outcome for the person involved, it was a natural result.

Although he had spoken politely on the surface, as you know, Bi Ryu-yeon had not an iota of politeness in his heart, so showing mercy was out of the question. Therefore, Bi Ryu-yeon, despite the effort, once again moved his hand like lightning and thoroughly touched Ho Cheon-gang’s entire body. It was the scorching heat of the Three Dog Days Pummeling Fist Technique. After beating up the successor of a sect like a dog on a hot day, he was calmly contemplating the next course of action when a figure appeared and lessened his burden. However, it was definitely not a person he would welcome, not in the slightest.