Chapter 64
I poured magical energy through my fingertip into the monster’s eye.
The monster wouldn’t die from such an attack anyway.
All the magic except for the internal energy I used to protect my arm was channeled through my fingertip.
The magical energy I had absorbed from killing other monsters had long since been used up, so the amount of magic I could squeeze through my internal energy wasn’t much.
However, if the target was the eye, that alone was enough.
“Auuuuhhh!”
With a scream of pain, the monster flailed, its jaws snapping.
Unable to withstand the force, Cheon Mujin was thrown back and rolled across the ground.
Was it anger, instinct, or both?
The monster, having caught sight of the fallen Cheon Mujin with its remaining eye, lunged.
Its attack was filled with intent to kill Cheon Mujin at all costs.
Thud!
Seol Yuhwa leapt from the side, hitting the monster and sending its body flying.
The monster rolled unexpectedly, its feet digging deep into the snow and soil.
And then—
Smack!
Seol Yuhwa blocked the monster’s forward momentum, moving at a speed that was hard to believe a single leg could produce. She gritted her teeth.
Crack!
A horrifying sound rang out from the wrist that collided with the monster’s paw, as if dust had been brushed aside.
It didn’t break, but it was certainly fractured.
Despite losing two limbs and an eye, and being severely injured, it still had immense strength.
“Hgh!”
Swallowing the excruciating pain from her arm, Seol Yuhwa tightened her muscles and held her ground.
If she were pushed back, Cheon Mujin would be exposed to the monster’s attack.
Responding to Seol Yuhwa’s determination, a shadow formed above her head.
Hyun Goun, who had leapt in one motion, swung his sword downward from above.
The motion was so large and reckless that under normal circumstances, he would never perform such a constrained attack.
“Grraaaah!”
“You beast!”
The monster twisted in response to Hyun Goun’s overwhelming aura, its attack, which had sent Seol Yuhwa flying, now heading for him.
In an instant, the monster’s claw and Hyun Goun’s sword clashed.
The sharp metallic sound of metal on metal rang out, and Hyun Goun felt his body pushed back. Using his internal energy, he twisted his body to regain control.
Spinning with the force of the recoil, Hyun Goun’s sword struck the monster again.
This attack carried the resolve of someone who would never let go.
Twisting his chi and enduring the screams of muscles and joints, he swung without the slightest intention of stopping.
Hyun Goun’s sword completely immobilized the monster’s limbs.
In that moment, Seol Yuhwa pulled Cheon Mujin away, creating distance.
Cheon Mujin, barely able to move, dragged his feet across the snow, leaving two blood-streaked lines.
“Hurry, hurry…!”
The bleeding was worsening.
He had already suffered internal injuries equivalent to coughing up blood, and now he collided with the monster again.
His body must be a complete mess inside.
Seol Yuhwa, focusing entirely on pulling Cheon Mujin to the healer as fast as possible, didn’t even glance at Hyun Goun, who was fighting the monster.
“This is going to kill me,” she murmured.
“I won’t die.”
Cheon Mujin, forcing himself to stand, shook his right hand, covered in the monster’s blood.
He moved his convulsing legs.
“People have to live by the words they speak.”
He smiled faintly, staggering forward.
When he approached the monster, Hyun Goun, desperately keeping the monster occupied, was drenched in blood.
The monster’s wounds were already healing.
Severed limbs, critical injuries, all had stopped bleeding, and even scratches were covered by fur.
This is why only a master of Fire Realm level could take down a dragon-class monster alone.
If you cannot finish it in one blow, the battle drags on, giving the monster the advantage.
To prevent that, you need the power of a Fire Realm master, or someone who can use extreme Yang energy to cauterize the wounds.
In the current situation, time only worked against them.
So—
“I’ll finish this.”
Cheon Mujin, having recovered a handful of magical energy just before withdrawing his hand from the monster’s eye, took a steady breath.
The cold air filled his lungs, invigorating his body slightly.
He had only one strike, but it was enough.
Hyun Goun just needed to create an opening to strike the monster’s neck.
A deadly aura emanated from Cheon Mujin, aimed at dispersing the monster’s focus to create an opening.
The monster, reacting to this, twitched its remaining eye.
The opportunity was near.
Sensing this, Hyun Goun gathered all his remaining internal energy.
“…Stop!”
Cheon Mujin’s hand pressed on his shoulder, restraining him.
“You’ve done well. Rest now.”
The dense aura in his voice pushed back Cheon Mujin’s own momentum.
“You’re a bit late, sir.”
“Seems so. My apologies.”
Hyun Joo-gok, lightly tapping Cheon Mujin’s shoulder, stepped forward.
Cheon Mujin smiled faintly at the internal energy flowing out from Joo-gok, tilting backward.
“Sir!”
Seol Yuhwa carefully laid Cheon Mujin on the ground.
The cool sensation of snow on his face made him smile.
“Phew, that was tough.”
“Daring beast.”
Feeling Cheon Mujin was unconscious, Hyun Joo-gok stepped toward the monster, his sword already marked with the proper slashes.
He had thought it was too late when he saw the flaring signal fire and ran full speed.
But—
“You’ve held up well. You’ve grown sturdy.”
“If I hear that praise now, I won’t be able to sleep, Father.”
Hyun Goun chuckled at Joo-gok calming his internal energy and widening the distance.
“From tomorrow, we’ll double Baekjoong’s training.”
“Do as you see fit.”
That’s the head of the family’s responsibility. Joo-gok had a simple task.
“It won’t take long.”
Before finishing his sentence, he closed in on the monster and struck with his sword.
The monster, exhausted from the fight with Cheon Mujin and Hyun Goun, tried to resist, but its venom was blocked by the wall of internal energy, and every strike just worsened its wounds.
Finally—
“Krraaargh!”
As the monster turned to flee, Hyun Joo-gok’s sword cut its neck.
Unlike Hyun Goun’s previous strikes, this one severed bone and muscle completely.
Hyun Goun exhaled in relief at the monster’s decapitation.
“Father, please handle the monster’s remains.”
“Yes.”
Though overqualified, Joo-gok complied due to the circumstances.
“Take this one to the healer first. Its poison is dangerous; treat it immediately.”
“Yes.”
Hyun Goun, having collected the monster’s head and claws, handed them to Seol Yuhwa, who was carrying Cheon Mujin.
“Don’t lose them. They’re needed for analyzing the poison.”
“Yes.”
Watching them dash down the snowy mountain, Joo-gok drew his sword, thinking it was faster than carrying all three himself.
Feeling the tremors from other monsters as the dragon-class creature died, he released a deadly aura.
“I’ll wipe you monsters out.”
With the family head’s return, the Hyun clan went on high alert.
The head’s injuries were severe.
Seol Yuhwa’s left arm was fractured and half-broken, yet appeared as minor injuries externally.
Severe internal injuries, massive blood loss, and poisoning.
It would take months to heal.
But the real problem was Cheon Mujin.
His blood and chi were twisted, organs damaged, bones cracked, and bleeding severe.
His left arm was crushed and half-severed, dangling loosely.
His body was battered, bones fractured, and bleeding extreme.
Even worse, the poison from the monster was far worse than the head’s.
Yet—
“Continue treatment. He will not die.”
The late-arriving Great Ancestor’s order left the healers no choice but to persist.
Rare medicines and elixirs were used.
For five days, they struggled to keep him alive.
When the healers began to despair—
“Uh? Eh? Eh?”
One healer, checking Cheon Mujin’s condition, widened his eyes.
His face, which had repeatedly turned purple and black from poison, had returned to normal overnight.
The healer called for colleagues to check, and all confirmed:
“He’s in a stable stage.”
Even the bones in his arms, barely held in place, were gradually recovering.
Though the process was mysterious, the results were remarkable.
Hyun Goun, hearing the report, rose, weak but relieved.
“Did you expect this?”
“Being of the Cheon bloodline, I thought he wouldn’t die.”
Sitting by the window, drinking straight from the bottle, his father chuckled.
“So that’s what you mean?”
“You’ve never fought alongside Cheonma.”
When the current Cheonma came to the northern front, Hyun Goun was still training separately, too inexperienced for battle.
Joo-gok had led Cheon Ma to the frontlines personally.
“Under a strong master, no one is unmatched.”
Seeing his father sip quietly, Hyun Goun shook his head.
“Father, I have a request.”
“What is it?”
“When Cheon Gongja recovers, please open the family’s treasure vault.”
“Can’t you do it yourself?”
“I’m busy, Father.”
His father smiled at the excuse.
“Don’t worry, I’ll oversee it to ensure the family prospers.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Hyun Goun felt relieved. The family treasure would be safe under his father’s watch.
