Chapter 63
Reunion (3)
Kumryeong’s counterattack pushed Kang Yong-un to his limits.
He twisted the sword path with every ounce of strength he had.
The Thunder God Art that had been pouring uselessly into empty air suddenly bent like a bow.
Shwaaaak!
Dozens of blades fell at once, clashing against Kumryeong’s fearsome strikes.
At the moment of impact—
‘What—?!’
Kang Yong-un was shaken.
The Thunder God Art had been powerful enough to slay even White Spirits, yet it failed to completely split apart Kumryeong’s counterattack.
Ssszzzt.
The opponent’s innate energy was definitely digging into his own.
But the density of that foul inner force was simply too high. His usual speed—enough to slice through White Spirits—couldn’t reach its full potential.
On top of that—
Spurt. Spurt. Spurt.
Blood splashed from wounds across his body.
He couldn’t block all of Kumryeong’s moves.
“Kuhuhuhu… not bad at all, brat. Fine then, let’s see if you can handle this—haah!”
Kumryeong’s left hand slashed the air, spreading wide.
A buzzing noise like a swarm of bees filled the cave, and in an instant dozens of crimson palm shadows multiplied and rained down at once.
Spark.
A spark flickered at the corner of Kang Yong-un’s eye.
‘An illusion. The real one is only one—at the heart.’
The moment he confirmed with his heart’s eye, his instincts screamed.
‘Tanza Fist won’t work. Neither will Myunjang nor Lotus Blossom Staff.’
Only one art could match it: Thunder God Art.
Kumryeong was no ordinary White Spirit. He was on an entirely different level.
“Uaaaah!”
With a guttural roar, Kang Yong-un spun his sword.
He poured both Great Heaven Divine Power and Ultimate Power into his blade at once, lifting it quickly and clashing head-on.
Kwaa-rrraaaang!
The shockwave ripped his clothes to shreds, exposing torn flesh beneath.
But he did not fall.
He endured, unyielding.
“Heh!”
Kumryeong let out a sound—half admiration, half mockery.
But he didn’t pursue Kang Yong-un into the cave. Instead, he crooked a finger.
“You’re quite something. Heh. Fine. From here on, I’ll fight you a bit more seriously, brat. Come out here.”
Of course, inwardly his thoughts differed.
‘Inside the cave, I’m at a disadvantage.’
He avoided a head-on clash of strength.
‘Just what is this brat’s true nature? How does he wield such a bizarre inner force?’
It wasn’t Buddhist power, nor Daoist.
It was clear, pure—like the very blue sky itself.
‘It’s not the usual strength…’
He realized the fatal flaw of the Thunder God Art, infused with innate qi.
‘How can my Soul-Destroying Qi be split apart so smoothly, like tofu?’
He needed space—room to maneuver.
If he kept fighting head-on, even he might be in danger.
“Are you a mole, brat? Don’t cower inside. Come out and fight me properly!”
It was obvious provocation.
The elders of the Heavenly Vault immediately spoke to him.
[Yong-un, hold your ground.]
[When facing a strong foe, don’t meet them head-on. Seek out their weakness instead.]
[Don’t give up your terrain advantage.]
[Inside the cave, it will be harder for him to evade your innate energy. Endure it, Yong-un.]
Kang Yong-un knew this truth as well.
But—
Thump. Thump. Thump.
His heartbeat told a different story.
—I want to fight honorably. Isn’t it already unfair that my innate qi holds special power against those who defy the heavens?
It was as if his heart itself shouted this truth.
“If I only fight within this cave…”
Step.
Kang Yong-un stepped forward.
“…then I’ll always be fighting from inside caves.”
He had to overcome this.
If he avoided hardship now and only clung to advantages, there would be no future. What if next time he faced such an enemy, there was no cave?
A fierce grin spread across his face.
“Alright. Fine. Let’s do this.”
Staring at Kumryeong, he strode boldly forward, standing with his back to the cave.
At that moment—
[Hahaha! The time has come once more!]
[I rejoice, Yong-un. Now is the moment for your Thunder God Art to reveal its true form!]
[You already possess it, child.]
[Remember!]
[Unleash the Thunder God Art without restraint!]
Surprisingly, the elders who had just counseled caution now urged the opposite.
They balanced their care for him with the true path he must walk.
“Come, apostate sorcerer!”
“Oh? So you even know that much? Then I’ve got one more reason to rip you apart!”
Vrrmm.
A heavy resonance filled the air around Kumryeong.
Kang Yong-un silently raised his sword before him.
He gathered Great Heaven Divine Power in his right hand and Ultimate Power in his left, fixing his gaze upon Kumryeong.
‘Thanks to the elders, my Ultimate Power has grown, and my pupil arts have become more efficient. I can fight him now.’
Enough to battle without regret.
Moments later—
“Dieee!”
Kumryeong struck first.
He soared into the air and crashed down, unleashing apostate palm arts in a storm.
‘Illusions.’
The real targets: his heart and throat.
Immediately, Kang Yong-un unleashed the Thunder God Art, meeting the assault head-on.
Kwaaang! Kwaaang!
The same clash repeated again and again.
Though it looked like a direct collision, Kumryeong’s incredible movement skills diverted the Thunder God Art at slanted angles each time.
And with each clash—
Slash. Spurt.
Another deep gash appeared on Kang Yong-un’s body.
‘Damn it.’
His chest ached.
‘If only I could use movement techniques like that…’
He could see it. He could vaguely understand it after watching so long. But when he tried, it simply wouldn’t come.
More accurately, he lacked the skill.
You can’t master Deceptive Form, Changing Position after just seeing it a few times.
‘Focus, Yong-un. Forget what you can’t do. Focus on what you can—!’
That meant the Thunder God Art.
And one guiding mantra:
One sword, intent borne free. One sword, intent joins the foe.
Pour your will into the strike, then set it free.
Then that intent will naturally connect to the enemy, wherever it needs to strike.
It was a mantra born of inspiration from the elders.
The very one he had once written to his grandfather, the Red Dragon King of Sahyeok Lotus.
‘That’s what the elders meant. I already have it.’
Nothing else fit.
‘One sword, intent borne free. One sword, intent joins the foe.’
Kang Yong-un focused on this mantra.
Each time he unleashed Thunder God Art, he willed his intent to pierce Kumryeong’s vital points.
And then he let it flow—freely.
“Wahaha! Is that all, brat?!”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Kumryeong pressed him mercilessly, sneering.
But Kang Yong-un didn’t flinch.
Tear. Crack.
His already shredded clothes ripped further, his skin and flesh splitting. He ignored it all.
He focused only on one thing:
‘Pour intent. Set it free…’
The mantra he had forged himself.
He only tried to embody it fully with the Thunder God Art.
‘The intent within each strike will reach the foe—!’
Clang! Boom!
With every strike, he immersed deeper into the mantra.
He forgot time, surroundings, everything—until only he and his foe filled his vision.
‘This cursed brat—!’
A strange light flashed in Kumryeong’s eyes—shock, and fear.
‘How?! How is this possible?!’
Even if this bizarre inner force limited him, his own techniques were still fearsome.
‘He’s already shed so much blood—so why doesn’t he falter at all?!’
It was the legacy of the Heavenly Vault.
Though mocked as “grass,” their training heightened Kang Yong-un’s sensitivity to nature to an incredible level.
His Ultimate Power efficiency had risen by 30%, his pupil arts improved as well. That’s why he could still unleash the Thunder God Art.
And more astonishing—
Boom!
‘Damn. I couldn’t even scratch him this time.’
The moment came when Kumryeong couldn’t hurt him at all.
“You wretched brat! Just die already!”
Furious at the humiliation, he pushed his energy even higher.
This time he would end it.
But—
Clang! Crack! Boom!
Once again, Kang Yong-un emerged unscathed—proving it wasn’t luck.
‘Damn. No choice left.’
He couldn’t lose face before his subordinates.
Grinding his teeth, Kumryeong decided to end it quickly—even if it meant trading injury for injury.
At that exact moment—
“Brother Kang!”
“Stop, you bastards!”
“My friend!”
Shouts rang from afar.
For the first time since the battle began, Kumryeong’s focus wavered.
Spark.
A spark flared in Kang Yong-un’s eyes.
Even in that trance, he sensed it—the iron defense of Kumryeong finally opened a gap.
Wooooong!
His sword cried with divine resonance.
And then—
BOOOM!
Lightning burst forth in a blinding explosion.
“Tch!”
Kumryeong reacted instantly.
“Not a chance, brat!”
He invoked his deceptive movement technique—
Shiiing!
But the thunderbolt veered unnaturally, like alive, and homed in on him.
“Wh-what?!”
Kumryeong panicked.
No time to use the technique again—he twisted desperately to avoid it.
Slash!
The Thunder God Art tore off one of his arms.
“Graaah!”
He screamed, staggering back, forced to watch his severed arm fall uselessly to the ground.
“Lord Kumryeong! Enemies are approaching!”
“It seems to be the Seven-Eight Faction, my lord!”
“Their numbers are considerable!”
His subordinates, who had only watched until now, shouted in alarm.
“Shall we engage them?”
“Give the order, Lord Kumryeong!”
“What do we do?”
They were Silver and White Spirits.
Because of Guihwajeon’s order to remain hidden from the martial world, they dared not act without his word.
“Damn it all—!”
Kumryeong’s rage boiled over.
That brat, whom Guihwajeon had ordered them to kill at all costs, had not only survived but cut off his arm?!
“Lord Kumryeong!”
“Please command us!”
The Silver and White Spirits pressed again.
His insides churned with fury.
‘If it were up to me, I’d kill them all right here too…’
But he couldn’t.
Through his severed arm, Kang Yong-un’s strange inner force was already surging dangerously toward his dantian.
Keh.
As Kumryeong halted his attack, Kang Yong-un emerged from his trance, smiling.
“Well? Took a hit yourself, didn’t you?”
He taunted the struggling Kumryeong.
The humiliation was unbearable.
Grit.
Kumryeong ground his teeth.
‘You—I’ll never forgive you!’
Honor and appearances no longer mattered.
He gave a deadly order to two of the Silver Spirits.
“You two. Kill that brat first!”
No matter what—it was worth it to take the brat’s head.
Then retreat.
“Yes, my lord!”
The two Silver Spirits answered as one, unleashing their arts and lunging at Kang Yong-un’s throat.
One in particular could not hide his glee.
“Kehkehkeh! At last, vengeance is mine!”
It was the Silver Spirit who had ground his teeth at Yong-un back in An’gang, Sunyang, and Pyeongri.
But just as he laughed—
“Hey, that’s cheating!”
Kang Yong-un grinned, extending his left hand.
“Don’t blame me. You cheated first.”
Click.
A mechanism triggered.
Shwaaah!
Like a summer downpour, countless tiny, hardened projectiles blanketed the air.
One of Tang Clan’s secret Eight Great Hidden Weapons—
The Torrential Pear Blossom Nails, a weapon specialized in destroying qi.
