Chapter 101

Chapter 101

Huff!

Even as sweat poured down like a waterfall, Kang Chowon swung her sword without letting out a single groan.

With the vicious resolve that she would rather swing her sword one more time than waste her strength groaning, Kang Chowon’s eyes made anyone watching shudder.

And Horyeung was observing that sight.

“As the Young Master said, all martial arts begin with the basics. No matter how powerful or dazzling a technique you try to unleash, it always begins with swinging and thrusting the sword.”

Even though Kang Chowon gave no reply, Horyeung continued speaking.

“And your fundamentals are sturdier than most. Fortunately, having been able to train with the Young Master from the start will raise you even higher.”

Swish!

The sword cleaved through the air, slashing down from above.

With that as her last motion, Kang Chowon forced her trembling arm to steady itself and lowered the sword.

“Hoo……”

Her hot breath flowed out like smoke.

Kang Hosan, who had watched Kang Chowon from beginning to end, could not help but be shocked.

“Now, Hosan, it’s your turn.”

Letting out a groan, Kang Hosan lifted the sword Kang Chowon had been holding.

‘It’s heavy!’

It was a weight no ordinary person could possibly wield. The blade seemed ready to slip from his grasp at any moment, but somehow Kang Hosan managed to raise it.

“Now then, Hosan, you’ll swing it five hundred times.”

“What? Chowon did half of that!”

“Chowon’s fundamentals are solid, so she’ll be fine. If you had built your martial arts from the beginning according to the Young Master’s instructions, it would be different—but since you learned your basics incorrectly before, your martial foundation is a little unstable.”

In truth, it was not that unstable. It would only become troublesome when he encountered an opponent equal to or stronger than himself.

At that point, the sturdiness of Kang Hosan’s fundamentals would be what determined the outcome.

If the roots supporting the tree were not firmer than the opponent’s, defeat was inevitable.

Just as Kang Hosan let out a deep sigh and prepared to swing his sword—

“The Young Master is calling for you! Hurry and come!”

At the shout calling Horyeung and the siblings, the three immediately stopped what they were doing and dashed off.

Their swiftness was so sharp that Jongpal, who had summoned them, nearly felt intimidated.

“…Why are they so fast?”

Jongpal hurried after them as well.

“Everyone’s here.”

Youngho nodded as he saw not only the Asura Squad but all the others gathered before him.

“Good. I suppose I can say it now. As I’ve mentioned before, from this point on, we’ll be traveling the Jianghu.”

Jongpal raised his hand.

“Yes, speak, Jongpal.”

“Why must we follow along as well? Won’t we only be a hindrance to you, Young Master?”

Youngho smiled in satisfaction, as if it were a fair question.

“You certainly are burdens to me.”

“…That’s rather harsh, isn’t it?”

“In any case, I could handle things alone. But lately, the Demonic Cult has begun to concern me.”

“The Demonic Cult?”

“Yes. This matter I could resolve by myself—but war is different. War is not something I can solve alone. You all know it too, don’t you? The balance between the Orthodox and the Unorthodox—and the Demonic—is about to break.”

Everyone already knew. It was obvious that the entire martial world had grown unstable of late.

Youngho met each person’s gaze one by one as he spoke.

“I do not wish for you to die. Not because you are precious to me, but because you are elites I have raised.”

The word elites made even the Asura Squad tense.

After all, the Asura Squad was none other than Youngho’s elite unit.

In truth, Hyeokong had already grown strong enough to be considered on par with Jang Dan, the Asura Squad Leader, and even the ordinary Asura Squad Members present were nearly at the level of Unit Leaders from other units.

They were, in every sense, worthy of the word elite.

“You are still green. You’ve learned how to survive through my training methods, but you have not yet learned how to kill.”

“….”

Everyone simply listened. They knew his words were true, and they knew he was leading them down the correct path.

“Killing in real combat is different. Especially Demonic practitioners—they do not die as easily as you think. There are plenty who can still move for a short while even after their heads are severed.”

To think you had killed your opponent, only to find they were still alive—that was a horrifying thing.

If they were alive, it meant they still had consciousness. And if they had consciousness, they could kill you by any means possible.

“Even if you pierce their hearts, even if you sever all four limbs, Demonic practitioners are tenacious. They will struggle desperately to kill you.”

Youngho grinned.

“From now on, you must become ruthless. Well, as members of the Unorthodox Faction, your stomachs are probably strong enough—but do not forget that where I am going is hell.”

“At your command!”

***

A year had passed since the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering, and now Youngho was finally moving in earnest.

And Hyeon-gang, who had returned home for the first time in a year, could only laugh in disbelief at this bizarre situation.

“I’m really going insane.”

Thus, without even celebrating his return, Hyeon-gang was forced to set out on a journey through the Jianghu.

Step. Step.

At a glance, the group walking down the road looked like experts.

There had to be well over a hundred of them.

The common people lowered their gazes, doing their best to avoid eye contact with the Martial Artists as they went about their business.

Among the Martial Artists, Youngho walked quietly, gazing at the massive fortress ahead of him.

‘They must have skimmed quite a lot.’

He was currently heading toward the Sahyeon Sect, located in Jiangxi.

Recently, it had produced a master who had reached the Transformation Realm, stirring much talk throughout the Jianghu.

‘Though no doubt they’ve joined hands with the Demonic Cult.’

Youngho drew two lines across the words Sahyeon Sect written in the book he held.

‘Still, Chief Aide Cheongsol is truly meticulous.’

Managing the rising morale of the Unorthodox members would already be difficult enough, yet he was even keeping watch for Demonic Cult spies…

He truly handled his work well.

‘It’s a relief I brought Yeongmong.’

Not only to assist Cheongsol, but above all—

“When are you planning to come down?”

Youngho looked at the small White Tiger clinging to his shoulder.

“Nya?”

Seonpung tilted his head. Youngho flicked him on the forehead and said,

“Stop acting cute. You’re already fully grown.”

Seonpung’s body could already be considered that of an adult. Though still somewhat lacking as a full-fledged Spirit Creature, a White Tiger was a White Tiger.

“I should thank Yeongmong. You’re so big now that if I didn’t shrink you with the Bone-Contraction Technique, you’d attract too much attention.”

In many ways, Yeongmong had been a great help.

Thud.

As the person at the front halted, Youngho naturally stopped as well.

Soon, Hyeokong approached Youngho and spoke.

“We’ve arrived.”

“Yes, I can see that too. It’s far too large a Building for a mere sect to possess…….”

Youngho let out a faint chuckle.

“Well, does it matter? Stand back. I’ll open the door.”

“Understood.”

The moment Hyeokong stepped aside, the Asura Squad Members cleared a path for Youngho.

Youngho slowly walked toward the massive gate. It looked as though it were twice his height.

He bared his white teeth in a grin.

The Guards stationed at the Sahyeon Sect’s gate had long since been subdued.

Channeling Internal Energy around his fist, Youngho said,

“The first move should always be flashy.”

Boom—!

The instant Youngho threw his punch, a tremendous explosion rang out and the Sahyeon Sect’s gate was blown away.

“It’s an enemy attack!”

“What’s happening?!”

Matching the enormous crash, a great number of Martial Artists rushed out from inside.

Breaking through the dust cloud that obscured the view, Youngho emerged with a chilling smile.

“I am Youngho of the Unorthodox Alliance. By order of the Alliance Lord, I have come to kill you.”

Beside him stood the Asura Squad Members, Horyeung, and several others in a line.

“We already know that every bastard here has learned Demonic Arts, so don’t bother denying it.”

“Kill them!”

At that moment, someone shouted toward Youngho. No—it was likely not directed at him alone.

Before the Sahyeon Sect’s disciples could even move, the silhouettes of the Asura Squad Members shot forward like streaks of light.

Clang! Chang! Kkaklang!

Even amid the clash and collision of weapons, Youngho and Horyeung strolled calmly through the battlefield that had turned into utter chaos.

Jongpal’s swift sword pierced through an opponent’s throat. Kang Hosan’s fierce sword strikes pressed his enemy relentlessly. Kang Chowon’s chilling gaze ensnared her opponent’s mind and body.

Their movements were flawless—perfectly calculated. Youngho advanced with a satisfied smile.

Soon, his steps came to a halt.

With coldness pouring from his eyes, Youngho frowned at the gaze fixed upon him.

“You were the ones who betrayed first. So why are you looking at me like that?”

Sang Gwang, the Sect Leader of the Sahyeon Sect, suppressed his uncontrollable fury and spoke.

“I never imagined you would come in such a manner. To launch a surprise attack.”

“What nonsense are you spouting? We walked in openly.”

“…….”

Sang Gwang could say nothing. In truth, he had already received word that a large number of Martial Artists were moving through Jiangxi.

‘I never thought the Mad Black Sword Ghost would come.’

Had he known that Youngho was among them, Sang Gwang would not have remained idle like this.

At the very least, he would have made preparations—or fled.

This was a man who had withstood the attack of the Heavenly Demon. Though Sang Gwang had recently reached the Transformation Realm and believed himself to stand at the same level as Youngho, just as he had continued raising his realm, Youngho surely had not neglected his training either.

“So what will it be? Will you follow me quietly? Or shall we have a proper fight?”

“…As a Martial Artist, I cannot run.”

Youngho let out a derisive chuckle.

“I’ve heard your answer. Horyeung, you take the Sect Leader.”

“Understood.”

Though suddenly singled out, Horyeung answered with a composed expression. The one taken aback was Sang Gwang.

“Mad Black Sword Ghost, are you not stepping forward yourself?”

“If I stepped in, the fight would’ve ended long ago. You’re nothing more than scarecrows for my brats to gain real combat experience.”

Crunch.

His teeth ground together on their own. For a Martial Artist, there could be no greater insult.

Yet Sang Gwang had nothing to say. He could only measure the gap between himself and the opponent he was about to face.

‘At the very least, he stands in the same Transformation Realm as I do.’

From Horyeung emanated the distinctive Martial Presence of one who had reached the Transformation Realm.

Just as Sang Gwang was about to speak with a solemn expression—

“What are you doing? Aren’t you moving?”

Youngho’s voice pierced through his ears.

“If the two of you fight here, the terrain won’t survive.”

Sang Gwang ground his teeth and glared at Youngho.

“You would do well to keep quiet.”

“Just hurry up and go. Ah, and Horyeung.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Youngho addressed Horyeung, who seemed almost restless with anticipation.

“You lack flexibility, so I’ll say this just in case—you may use Hardened Force now.”

Horyeung briefly took his eyes off Sang Gwang and looked at Youngho.

“I am not that inflexible.”

Soon, the silhouettes of Horyeung and Sang Gwang vanished. They would surely head somewhere far from human footsteps.

‘That would be the best place for the two of them to fight.’

Youngho observed the surroundings for a moment before speaking inwardly.

‘Overwhelming.’

Now that each and every one of them had reached at least Unit Leader Rank, there were few capable of injuring the Asura Squad Members.

And even those were being handled entirely by Kang Chowon, Kang Hosan, and Hyeokong.

‘I can step away for a moment.’

Soon, Youngho’s body began to seep into the shadows.