Chapter 204: Awl in a Pouch (4)
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Sswae-ae-ae-aek!
The sharpness of the spear blade thrust out like a fired arrow exceeded imagination.
Even though it didn’t even touch the skin, the entire neck throbbed. It was an actual combat spear technique where thick killing intent and eerie sharpness stood out.
‘Fast.’
It was fast, but not to the extent of not being able to respond.
Azure Tiger’s upper body moved slightly to the side.
Teo-eong!
The spear shaft soared into the sky.
Not only did he change the course of the spear with a short and elastic half-palm, but he even bounced it off.
He could know with that one move. That Azure Tiger’s skills were genuine. His fist combat was capably at a level that had reached the peak.
‘He’s strong.’
Azure Tiger’s eyes shone.
‘He’s strong, but lacks experience…’
It was then.
Pa-ah-ah-ang!
The leg technique flying in while bursting the air was even fiercer than the spear technique.
Azure Tiger was surprised. At a speed even faster than the spear technique which was close to a surprise attack, the destructive power that felt like it would push his entire upper body back was a bonus.
Kwang!
Azure Tiger’s body staggered.
It was a heavy blow. If he had not crossed his arms to block it, it was a strength to the extent that his neck bone would have broken at once.
‘His close combat is stronger?’
Does it mean the spear technique wasn’t his main martial art?
Ta-ah-ang!
Just that was surprising, but that was not the end.
Even though he executed a leg technique with large movements and strong power, the footwork digging in during that short moment was merely light and nimble.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s two fists spewed fire.
Ta-ta-ta-ta-tang!
Azure Tiger’s skill to receive all of the pouring linked fist techniques with both hands was also incredible.
Peo-eo-eong!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s long robe could not overcome the air pressure and burst.
Jji-i-i-ik!
The shoulder area of Azure Tiger’s clothing, where a sharp piercing hand brushed past, tore lengthily.
It was a close match. Of course, Azure Tiger was intentionally not using killing moves, but their fundamental skills themselves seemed similar.
Hu-uk!
Was his pride hurt by continuing to retreat?
Azure Tiger, who struck away Yeon Ho-jeong’s fist with an elastic short strike, instantly dug into his embrace.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s eyes sparkled.
‘Like a beast.’
It is completely different from the formal martial arts of the Orthodox.
A close combat art where the forms are free, and it is greatly influenced by the caster’s senses.
It was the martial art of the Unorthodox. Unlike the martial arts of the Orthodox, which exert great power if anyone steadily learns them, it was a fighting method greatly influenced by innate talent and forcedly developed reaction speed.
Azure Tiger’s fists and palms aimed at various parts of Yeon Ho-jeong’s upper body.
Peo-peo-peo-peong!
Yeon Ho-jeong blocked Azure Tiger’s attacks with god-like movements.
It was a highly elastic confrontation unfolding at an ultra-close range. The clothes on their upper bodies were becoming tattered from the shockwaves that could not be fully dissipated.
“It’s incredible.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon, who approached Ga Deuk-sang’s side, spoke with a heavy voice.
“It’s an amazing skill. To think he would engage in an equal match with Third Senior Martial Brother…”
“That’s not it, Junior Martial Sister.”
“Yes?”
Zhuge Ah-yeon looked at Ga Deuk-sang with questioning eyes.
Unexpectedly, Ga Deuk-sang’s expression was profound. He seemed surprised, seemed to be admiring, and also seemed to be secretly worried.
“The third really… there’s nothing he can’t do.”
“What does that mean?”
At that time, Pae-yul spoke in a small voice.
“He is purposely matching his level with the opponent.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon’s eyes grew large.
“He is matching it?”
“Yes.”
Tang Sang-ah also cut in with an enchanted-like voice.
“The third’s skill is much stronger than that person called Azure Tiger. But on the outside, they are forming a close match. It’s really amazing.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon was inwardly doubtful.
Since he possessed strong martial arts, she thought wouldn’t feigning a close match with someone weaker than himself not be a very difficult task.
Ga Deuk-sang said.
“Even for a national player whose Go has reached the peak, it is difficult to make an inferior player mistakenly think they are of equal skill. That applies to any field.”
“…Ah!”
“It’s not simply matching hands, but continuing the match to completely make the opponent misunderstand that they are of similar skill. It’s an impossible task without tremendous actual combat experience and a free method of manifesting martial arts.”
Ga Deuk-sang smiled bitterly.
“I don’t want to admit it, but traveling with the third means there’s never a dull moment.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon looked at Yeon Ho-jeong with newly amazed eyes.
‘You, what is your true identity really?’
He naturally accomplished things that ordinary people couldn’t even think of, as if breathing. It seemed there was absolutely no limit to the abilities he possessed.
“However…”
Zhuge Ah-yeon-yeon looked at the six masters with tense eyes.
The six masters emitting eerie killing intent were, surprisingly, not participating in that duel.
“It’s dangerous, that method.”
“Yeah. It’s dangerous.”
“Would doing this be able to prove that we are from the Martial Ancestor Sect?”
“Well… I don’t know well either, but I don’t think the third would have stepped forward without such certainty.”
Zhuge Ah-yeon quietly looked at Ga Deuk-sang.
“As expected, Eldest Senior Martial Brother knows the third the best, right?”
“Huh?”
“I heard you argued quite seriously two days ago.”
Ga Deuk-sang snorted.
“The third and I have different perspectives on viewing the world. If we hadn’t acknowledged each other, we would have drawn swords from the start, let alone building a friendship.”
“Heh.”
“I don’t like the method, but he’s still the third, right.”
Ga Deuk-sang smiled bitterly.
“He will manage well somehow. We have that much trust, mutually.”
Pa-ah-ah-ang!
The explosive sound tearing the air was particularly loud.
Azure Tiger’s eyes, having retreated three or four steps, deepened.
‘He’s an incredible guy.’
It was a terrifying close combat art.
Up, down, left, right, he could not guess at all where and what attack would fly in from. Even with the response ability polished like a beast and the predictive ability solidified through actual combat, he could not read the guy’s next move.
‘And.’
Teo-eo-eong!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s body, which had been thrusting up low, instantly floated into the air and unfolded a flashy leg technique.
Peo-peo-peong!
It was the Linked Triple Kick. It was an irregular attack technique, a skillful martial arts switch to the extent that even a master considerably adept in actual combat would suffer if they went ‘oops’.
‘He has learned various martial arts.’
Azure Tiger accepted Yeon Ho-jeong’s attacks, and saw a whopping five types of just his close combat arts alone.
Even Azure Tiger, who was adept at fist combat, had rarely seen a person who had learned this many martial arts. And they were not similar types, but close combat arts with completely different characteristics.
‘So this is the Martial Ancestor Sect?’
A linked technique of martial arts with completely different characteristics, types, and purposes.
Could there be another method this intuitive in proving oneself.
‘But this much is insufficient.’
Azure Tiger’s eyes emitted a terrifyingly blue light.
‘If it stops at merely this level, you will absolutely not be able to see the Elder.’
He recalled the words of the Elder, Yang Cheon.
‘It is naturally important to prove that those guys are from the Martial Ancestor Sect. However, the truly important thing is separate. It’s precisely how much they can run wild without lines.’
‘…?’
‘Before wishing that those guys are truly from the Martial Ancestor Sect, I wish for them to be guys who know how to prove their own worth. If they are guys who perfectly catch my fancy, I won’t mind even if they are from the Orthodox factions.’
‘…I understand.’
‘A talent who can run wild without lines. If they also have brains on top of that, bring them unconditionally. It doesn’t matter even if it’s somewhat dangerous.’
Azure Tiger accurately knew the reason the Elder had sent him.
It was the same for the other Twelve Earthly Branches, but he was especially adept at controlling his emotions.
That was also because of his martial arts characteristics. It was because the more one learns sensory martial arts like a beast, the more important reason is.
When such Azure Tiger saw it, the current Yeon Ho-jeong was somewhat ambiguous.
‘He proved that he is from the Martial Ancestor Sect with the variety of his martial arts. I can overlook that much, but.’
Azure Tiger’s eyes deepened.
‘Will he inevitably cross the line, or will he be satisfied with just proving it.’
It was then.
Peo-eong!
Yeon Ho-jeong, who pushed Azure Tiger away with a particularly powerful fist wind, kicked up the spear shaft that was caught at his feet before anyone knew it.
‘Spear?’
Azure Tiger’s eyes shook.
‘He also knows how to use a spear?’
Does it mean the initial spear strike was not a move to draw out the opponent’s carelessness?
In an instant, Yeon Ho-jeong’s palm was seen in Azure Tiger’s sharp eyes.
Calluses properly embedded like grains, which could not have formed unless he gripped and swung something.
‘Spearman!!’
Pa-ah-ah-ang!
Yeon Ho-jeong leaped into the place where the six masters stood.
Azure Tiger shouted.
“Scatter!”
His shout had a feeling of being somewhat late.
Peo-beo-beo-beo-beok!
Two Tiger Ghosts lost consciousness after being hit by the spear-staff technique.
It was a strong and elastic spear technique. If they had been hit with the spear blade instead of the spear shaft, holes would have been pierced right through their temples and they would have died.
Yeon Ho-jeong’s spear spewed fire.
Peo-beok! Ti-i-ing! Seo-geok!
The remaining four Tiger Ghosts staggered and retreated.
They did not let out a groan or a scream. They were those who had been trained like that.
However, they could not hide their expressions. Urgency was completely revealed on their faces.
In an instant, Azure Tiger’s body moved at an incomprehensible speed.
Flash! Teo-eo-eo-eo-eong!
Yeon Ho-jeong’s spear was swept to the side to the utmost.
Peo-eok! Peo-eo-eok!
Along with a heavy reverberation, the two people respectively retreated five steps.
Azure Tiger looked down at his abdomen. Above his clothing with a small pierced hole, blood spread redly.
‘That was dangerous.’
If he had not momentarily retreated, a wind hole would have been pierced in his stomach.
‘To think it’s such a powerful spear technique. Was his main martial art the spear technique, not fist combat?’
At that time, Yeon Ho-jeong’s voice was heard.
“Damn it.”
Azure Tiger looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong frowned and stroked his shoulder.
“As expected, you were hiding your skills? It hurts quite a bit.”
Azure Tiger asked in a low, sunken voice.
“What are you doing?”
“What?”
“Why did you touch my subordinates?”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled fishily.
“Didn’t you say to prove we are from the Martial Ancestor Sect?”
“I said prove it, I never told you to use killing moves.”
“That’s funny. Should I gently send back alive guys who say they will kill us if we don’t prove it?”
“…!”
“And this isn’t a bad thing for that Elder either, right?”
“What?”
Yeon Ho-jeong rested the spear shaft on his acromion.
Within his relaxed gestures, the ferocity of a beast whose distinction between friend and foe was blurred, oozed out intensely.
“The Combat King’s martial arts discuss the peak of the Central Plains. But if the guys fighting under his command are to the point of not being able to withstand even my hands, shouldn’t he rather be thankful that I cleared away the weaklings?”
“…”
“Couldn’t I also avoid useless proof of skill, like an initiation ceremony, while I’m at it?”
Azure Tiger’s eyebrows twitched.
‘What a shrewd guy.’
It meant he had thought of the next matter even before the fight started.
He was a smart guy. He was at least a guy who wasn’t stupid.
Moreover, even that confidence close to arrogance of thinking he could naturally meet the Elder.
Azure Tiger made a judgment.
“You pass.”
“Hmm?”
“I will take you to the Black Dragon Manor.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
“Is this much sufficient?”
“That’s right.”
“Isn’t the verification too half-hearted?”
Azure Tiger turned his body.
“All judgments will be made by him. The mission I undertook ends here.”
“…”
“We will depart right away. Prepare yourselves.”
“Good.”
Yeon Ho-jeong said while smiling.
“Let’s get along well from now on.”
Azure Tiger woke up the collapsed Tiger Ghosts without an answer.
Ga Deuk-sang approached Yeon Ho-jeong’s side.
“How is it? Do you think it will be okay?”
It meant, would it be okay to go straight to Yang Cheon like this.
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded his head minutely.
He substituted the explanation with telepathy rather than words.
[Seeing their response, it is certain. Yang Cheon is currently lacking talents. Even if he bears some risks, if it’s a person with ability and brains, he will willingly want to meet them.]
Ga Deuk-sang smacked his lips.
[It had been sluggish all this time, so I didn’t know a meeting would be accomplished in an instant like this.]
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked.
[Where are the Beggars’ Gang members currently?]
[I don’t know other than that they are nearby. I purposely didn’t put it in my head for fear that I might spill the locations of the members if I get caught.]
[A method to contact them?]
[We can just do as we have been doing until now. Although it’s a somewhat passive method.]
[Please continue to leave traces on the way to this place.]
[Don’t worry. You worked hard.]
[And Successor of the Beggars.]
[Huh?]
[I’m sorry about the day before yesterday.]
Ga Deuk-sang spat out a word.
[Bullshit.]
Yeon Ho-jeong smirked and said to Pae-yul.
“Please prepare, Martial Uncle.”
“Okay.”