Chapter 150: Capability of the Greenwood Chieftain (2)
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I will listen to it slowly. After everything is over.”
Although he spoke in a roundabout way, I understood what he meant well.
‘Oh! So you’re going to spare my life?’
Although it could be called a master’s confidence-filled declaration, from the perspective of the subordinate listening to it, it was extremely irritating.
Perhaps due to the boiling divine power of fire, my heat toward that steel-like enemy only grew hotter.
However, even so, I did not let go of the leash of reason.
Since it was not a situation where I was fighting alone, what was needed right now was cool-headed reason rather than reckless instinct.
‘Would the Unified Fist be able to break that martial art called Soft Vajra?’
The Unified Fist is a strike that gathers the forces of the Heavy Earth Divine Art and the Three Talents Unified Qi Art into one, based on the Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand.
Except for Master Heavenly Demon’s perfect Heavenly Demon Kalpaless Hand, it was virtually the strongest move I could implement.
As it took time to prepare and activate, it was hard to use normally, but what if it was now, with experts who could draw his attention?
‘By the way, that martial art called Soft Vajra… feels somewhat familiar?’
A martial art that contains the impact and returns it.
Defense is offense.
Furthermore, the offense and defense within range are very solid.
The forms of the martial art, which firmly guard one’s original territory, are quite familiar.
“Huh?”
As I listed that fellow’s strengths, several characteristics came to mind.
It forces the opponent to fight within one’s territory.
It drags the opponent down into one’s territory and pushes them into a pure fight of skill.
This is a martial art I know.
“…Shaolin?”
[Yes. Although a few other techniques have been added, it is correct that its roots originate from Shaolin.]
At Master Zhang Sanfeng’s reply, I realized one more thing.
‘Come to think of it, Master Zhang Sanfeng knew that martial art. That means it was a martial art he had experienced back when he was on earth, right?’
Perhaps that martial art was the technique of the troublesome expert Master Zhang Sanfeng had spoken of.
‘I covet it…’
It seems to be a martial art utilizing Shaolin’s unique internal art, but what if I add Wudang’s unique softness to it?
Although I don’t know the exact verbal formula, wouldn’t it be possible somehow if I base it on the divine power of earth?
The divine power of earth has a temperament of containing and condensing, then discharging when the time comes.
If I utilize this well, I feel like I can exert a power similar to that.
‘My body was tempered evenly by my masters. That stone monkey verified this.’
I try to set up a pillar myself in the foundation built by the great gods of martial arts.
I feel like I can do it.
As thoughts move, the body acts.
While reorganizing the board centered on the divine power of earth, Shaolin’s Heavy Earth Divine Art began to help as if it had been waiting.
‘Although inexperienced… it seems like it will work.’
I don’t expect the efficacy of being invulnerable to blades and swords from the start.
But what if it is only the part that absorbs the shock?
““Your gaze has changed.””
For the first time, the Green Forest expert’s footsteps moved forward.
“Watch out!”
While the other three kept their guard and widened the distance, I stepped forward and crossed the gauntlets on both my arms toward the falling axe strike.
It was the same attack, the same defense as when taking the previous strike.
Boom!
“Hmph!!”
An immense pressure pressed down on both my arms.
If it weren’t for Master Heavenly Demon’s gauntlets, they would have snapped in half just like that.
However, the magic treasure lived up to its name, enduring the sharpness.
All that remained was the destructive power laden with immense weight!
Previously, I had flown back like a skipping stone.
“He blocked it?”
Not this time.
Although there was still a shock that felt as if my arms would fly off, I blocked it!
Using that momentum, I penetrated inward.
At that moment!
Thump!
As if waiting, he lunged with his iron tower-like body to perform a body slam.
He pushed me with a powerful leaning technique.
If I was pushed back by this attack, what followed was obvious.
‘I’ll take it!’
If my neutralizing force had reached the peak, I might have redirected it, but this fellow’s strength was at a level that could snap my softness.
When discussing martial arts, there is a subtlety that people often talk about.
Softness subdues strength.
However, the reality is that in most cases, strength cuts through softness.
Because the subtlety of softness overcoming strength is rare, it is widely talked about.
If I cannot redirect it, I will take it.
The divine power of earth, which joined forces with the Heavy Earth Divine Art, and the divine power of metal compensated for the shortcomings.
‘It’s the same… as back then…’
The sensation when I first deployed the Unified Fist.
In my body, the arrangements of my masters were laid out in layers.
Lined up like filters, they filtered and filtered again the forces trying to harm me.
As long as I wasn’t severed in one go.
If it was simply taking the force.
Boom!
‘It works.’
I blocked the second blow as well.
In its aftermath, a yellow clay-like color spread like smudges on the skin from my forearm to near my elbow.
Sprouting buds to bloom cotyledons, extending branches to set up a pillar.
A single pillar I tried setting up myself rose like that.
The eyes of the Green Forest expert whose attack was blocked flew wide open.
“…Soft Vajra?”
Although different from his own, a martial art with a similar pulse was deployed.
He had no choice but to be surprised.
“This is not the time to be distracted by me!”
Although it was a good thing for me.
While I kept the Green Forest expert’s gaze bound, the others moved.
As I hastily dodged to the side, a chillingly strong blue light became a flash and extended toward the Green Forest expert.
Puff!
Although he dodged the attack targeting his heart by twisting his body at the last moment, he had no choice but to yield his shoulder.
Although a black smudge formed near his shoulder as if he tried to block it somehow with Soft Vajra, the blue sword light pierced through that Divine Steel Body.
“Impudent!”
The Green Forest expert, whose shoulder was pierced, swung his opposite fist irritably.
“Kakh!”
The shoulder of the Namgung Clan expert whose sword was caught in the shoulder collapsed, and he was thrown back.
The youth of the Namgung Clan intervened and blocked the Green Forest expert’s attack, which was about to deliver a decisive blow to kill him completely.
Clang!
Perhaps because the wound penetrating his shoulder was not shallow, the Green Forest expert failed to achieve his goal.
“Hah!”
Papat!
Taking advantage of that gap, the Beggars’ Sect figure kicked the Green Forest expert’s chest three times in succession.
Although it didn’t seem to inflict a large blow, the Green Forest expert gnashed his teeth as if his pride was wounded.
“You damn bastards!!”
Ruuuumble!
At the momentum of the Green Forest expert raising his killing intent, the surrounding leaves scattered violently.
At the same time, an energy like black flames rose as if burning atop that massive axe.
“I’m going crazy… You were holding back your strength?”
At the strength he displayed as if showing that it was real from now on, a hollow laugh escaped me unconsciously.
He is a truly tiresomely strong person.
Even so, I couldn’t get scared and tuck my tail.
“Fine. Let’s do this.”
I also have a hidden card.
‘If necessary, I will kill him even if I have to show my bottom limits!’
Perhaps recognizing that my momentum was extraordinary, the Green Forest expert’s gaze, stained with rage, directed toward me.
At the moment we confirmed each other’s resolve like that,
Pweeeet!
A whistling sound was heard from somewhere.
‘An enemy?’
It wouldn’t be an ally. Because if another ally had been nearby, they would have intervened long ago.
As expected, the one approaching was a bandit.
“We must go, Big Brother.”
“…”
“Anhui is not a place to stay long with an injured body. Sweeping those guys away right now wouldn’t be a problem, but if you want to pull your body out, you must hurry.”
However, the one who closed the distance nimbly urged the Green Forest expert to retreat, pressuring him.
‘Did it work?’
I, who had been locking eyes with him, could tell.
The fighting spirit subsided from the Green Forest expert’s eyes.
“You, what is your name?”
Perhaps vexed at just retreating, he asked for the future.
“Are you crazy? Why would I tell you that?”
“…”
A look of bewilderment washed over the Green Forest expert’s face.
Frowning deeply with an expression that showed he couldn’t accept it, he soon pulled out the sword in his shoulder, threw it, and turned around.
“Hmph! It will come out if I poke around the Wudang Sect.”
‘Ah, the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword.’
He must have recognized the Pine Pattern Ancient Sword worn at my waist, which was not drawn.
The Green Forest expert retreated at rapid speed along with his subordinate, as if having no more lingering regrets.
Despite his massive build, he was fast beyond imagination.
“Heuuua!!”
Once the Green Forest expert disappeared, the Beggars’ Sect figure exhaled heavily and collapsed onto the ground.
It was an appearance where one could feel the praise for life unique to those who had crossed between life and death.
On the other hand, the Namgung Clan was different.
“Uncle, are you okay?”
The Namgung Clan youth hurriedly examined the middle-aged man’s condition.
“…Ugh!”
Although he tried his best to suppress his groans, the condition of the middle-aged man whose shoulder was crushed was extremely critical.
Due to the shock of taking that monstrous Green Forest expert’s attack, my arms were also trembling weakly, but I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
Although I had learned it superficially, I was someone who had learned medicine from Master Hua Tuo and Master Bian Que.
The medical skills I learned back then were as ingrained in my body as the martial arts I learned from my masters.
“I know a bit of medicine, may I take a look?”
“Ah! Yes!”
The youth, who was a grand man when seen at the inn, was now teary-eyed like a puppy completely soaked in rain.
“Please! I leave it to you!”
Hurriedly stepping aside for me, he urged with a raised voice.
As I took position and examined the crushed shoulder, Master Zhang Sanfeng’s diagnosis fell.
[Tsk tsk. The joint is torn, and the bone is crushed. What a pity. It was his sword-wielding arm. In that state, it’s better to cut it off. If you leave it to crudely attach it, it will only do more harm.]
My judgment was not much different.
Still, it didn’t seem like there was absolutely no way.
It wasn’t that Master Zhang Sanfeng’s diagnosis was wrong.
“If it is this…”
I pulled out the medicine I had received from Shaolin in the past.
Since they said it was a medicine equivalent to a spiritual elixir used when muscles tear and bones break because Shaolin’s training methods were so harsh, it would be of some help.
Even if wielding a sword was out of the question, it might prevent the arm from being amputated.
Carefully straightening the crushed bones and aligning them, I then applied the medicine to the middle-aged man’s shoulder.
“Ugh…?!”
Perhaps because the pain was severe, the middle-aged man trembled. Just by him not screaming at the top of his lungs, one could tell he was a well-trained person.
Still, I was inwardly relieved. Because feeling pain meant the efficacy of the medicine was being exerted.
However, the Namgung Clan youth, who didn’t know the situation, seemed anxious that something might be wrong.
“Wait! Is that… by any chance… the Mysterious Deep Body-Nourishing Ointment?”
Instead, the Beggars’ Sect figure gasped upon seeing the medicine I pulled out.
As expected of the Beggars’ Sect. They knew a lot.
‘As expected, it was right not to show Yi Hwa’s power in front of this person.’
“Yes. How did you know?”
“Because if it’s an item on the level of a spiritual elixir, the container to store it must also be special. If it’s the Mysterious Deep Body-Nourishing Ointment, it requires a somewhat special container. No, more than that, why does a Wudang disciple have Shaolin’s spiritual elixir… Ah!”
The Beggars’ Sect figure who was rambling gasped once more and pointed at me.
“The Young Heavenly Dragon!”
He recognized me immediately.
It was an alias that truly made my face flush hot no matter how many times I heard it.
The Namgung Clan youth was also gaping in surprise.
However, that was not what was important right now.
To change the subject, I brought up the question I was inwardly curious about.
“Why has the Green Forest come to Anhui?”