Chapter 14
. The Twin-Colored Demon (2)
The more he drew up his inner energy, the stronger the pain became—but the Twin-Colored Demon endured it.
All he cared about was defeating the detestable man before his eyes.
Soon, qi surged around him like a storm, and his fierce twin palms split the air.
It was an attack meant to simply crush with brute force.
“I’ll end you in one strike!”
A simple attack, yet brimming with terrifying might, rushed straight at Seok Jin-ho.
But Jin-ho only laughed.
To think this fool was so full of himself while throwing around such crude techniques was laughable.
Whoosh—
Instead of blocking, Jin-ho let the Demon’s twin palms pass harmlessly by.
He could have received them head-on without difficulty, but there was no reason to fight on the enemy’s terms.
With a few nimble steps, he deflected the blow and immediately closed in.
After all, few in the martial world had more experience fighting stronger foes as the weaker party than Seok Jin-ho himself.
“Wh–what…?”
The Demon’s eyes widened in shock.
He understood what Jin-ho had done—it wasn’t beyond comprehension.
But to actually execute such movements in reality was something he had thought impossible.
Thud-thud-thud!
Jin-ho didn’t care about his astonishment.
In an instant, he had slipped into the Demon’s guard, stabbing fingers into his dantian and striking acupoints all across his torso.
It was the same technique he had once used at Shaolin Temple, blocking meridians to seal energy.
The difference was that back then his inner force was shallow—now, he had surpassed even one full gapja of cultivation.
Crunch!
And Jin-ho didn’t stop at sealing.
He had never once let anyone who bared fangs at him go unpunished.
“Guhh!”
A strike surged upward from below, blasting the Demon off his feet.
The blow landed clean and true, leaving him sprawled helplessly on the ground.
But he was not dead.
“I still have questions for you.”
Jin-ho had used only his raw physical strength, enough to inflict agony but not to kill.
Grabbing the Demon by the hair, Jin-ho dragged him across the ground like a sack of grain.
The Demon’s body trembled uncontrollably, wracked by the backlash of the Heavenly Thunder Art.
“Th-thank you! Truly, thank you, benefactor!”
“Best you deliver the finishing blow yourself. That way your heart will be at ease—and no remnants left behind.”
Meow—!
Out of nowhere, Heukhwi the black cat appeared at Jin-ho’s side, letting out a long cry.
He looked for all the world like a triumphant general returning from battle.
Jin-ho chuckled.
“Oh my?”
But Peng Na-yeon’s reaction was different.
Rather than being startled by the sudden appearance, her eyes sparkled.
She had always adored anything small and cute, so her gaze was immediately fixed on the cat.
Still, she did not recklessly rush over.
Instead, she poured out her affection in waves of burning stares.
“Ughhh…”
If not for the Demon’s groans, she would have forgotten everything else and simply watched the cat—stretching out her hand, then pulling it back, over and over again.
“Young miss—!”
At that moment, another figure arrived.
A burly middle-aged man appeared with a desperate shout.
“Uncle!”
“You—you’re safe! Thank heaven!”
He was in such a rush that his hair was disheveled and his clothes in disarray.
But none of that mattered to him—he nearly wept with relief at seeing Na-yeon unharmed.
“I’m fine. This gentleman saved me.”
“My apologies, young miss. I should have been more vigilant…”
“No, it’s me who should apologize. I was the one who sneaked out.”
Na-yeon bowed her head deeply to the man—Baek Sang-geon.
After all, this whole mess had begun because of her willful decision to secretly wander the martial world alone.
Having now fully realized the consequences of her rashness, her apology was sincere.
“No, no. At your age, it’s natural to yearn for freedom. I was the same. The fault lies with me for not being careful enough.”
“No, it was my mistake. I only caused you needless worry, uncle…”
Her voice trembled, and tears welled in her eyes.
Sang-geon, huge and powerful though he was, was utterly flustered. He had no idea how to deal with a crying girl.
Meow.
Heukhwi just tilted his head, watching the exchange as if wondering what the fuss was about.
“Ah!”
The sound reminded them of Jin-ho’s presence.
Both turned toward him at once.
“I hear you saved the young miss.”
“Not saved, merely lent a small hand.”
“My deepest thanks. Without you, she would not be standing here unharmed.”
Despite being far older, Sang-geon bowed deeply, again and again.
Had Jin-ho not arrived, he would never have been able to see Na-yeon safe.
“Truly, thank you, benefactor.”
Na-yeon straightened her clothes and also gave a bow.
But her eyes held more than gratitude.
An incredible expert… battle-hardened.
Na-yeon, better known in the martial world as the Blade Blossom of the Five Beauties, was above all a martial artist.
She valued martial skill even over beauty itself.
That was why she was famed as the Peng clan’s most promising genius of her generation.
And she instantly recognized Jin-ho’s caliber.
The memory of his final strike cutting through the Demon’s attack was still vivid in her mind.
Anyone can speak theory. Few can embody it.
Jin-ho had done what even she, with all her talent, would not dare attempt.
Thus, her curiosity toward him grew.
“Forgive my rudeness. I haven’t even introduced myself. I am Baek Sang-geon of the Hebei Peng Clan. And this young lady is—”
“I am Peng Na-yeon, of the Hebei Peng Clan. It is an honor.”
Sang-geon blinked in disbelief.
Na-yeon was usually boisterous and bold, like her brothers.
But now, she spoke softly, like a gentle maiden. He wondered if he was dreaming.
“Introductions aside… shouldn’t we deal with this fellow first?”
“The Twin-Colored Demon!”
“This is him?”
Jin-ho deliberately shifted the subject, tossing the still-sprawled Demon before them.
Na-yeon’s eyes immediately sharpened with icy killing intent.
Had Jin-ho not intervened, she would have suffered the most unbearable humiliation.
Her glare promised nothing but death.
“Yes. He made it very clear to me.”
“Then he deserves at least a light lesson. Afterwards, we’ll take him back to the clan.”
Crunch! Crack!
With a cold expression, Sang-geon snapped both the Demon’s ankles.
Then, ignoring acupuncture points, he shattered his dantian.
He left the man alive, but as a martial artist he was utterly destroyed.
Still, his fury was not sated—he glared down as if to finish him off.
“I will deliver the final blow.”
“Of course, young miss.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Though a man had just been crippled before him, Jin-ho was unmoved.
Such things were commonplace in the martial world.
And since he had no reason to linger, he offered only brief farewells before leaping away.
“Huh?”
“Benefactor! Benefactor!”
In the blink of an eye, Jin-ho was gone.
Sang-geon’s eyes went wide.
He had expected much, given Jin-ho had subdued the Demon without a scratch.
But still—Sang-geon himself was a Peng clan-recognized master. To vanish so completely before his very nose…
He didn’t even look twenty…
The shock left him shaking his head in disbelief.
Not since the day he first met Na-yeon had he been so staggered.
“Where could he have gone?”
“He’s not nearby. His lightness skill is astonishing.”
“And his martial ability even greater. He faced the Demon’s Yin-Yang Palms head-on and countered.”
“Remarkable…”
Sang-geon truly admired him.
The Twin-Colored Demon, though despicable, had slain even masters of the Absolute Realm before.
His skill was not to be underestimated.
Yet Jin-ho had bested him in a frontal clash.
“And we never even learned his name…”
Na-yeon’s face fell.
She hadn’t even gotten the chance to ask.
“I will find him. A martial artist of such caliber cannot remain nameless.”
“You’re right. His skill surpasses even the Six Dragons.”
“My thoughts exactly. Besides, we know his face, his height—and that he travels with a black cat. With the clan’s resources, he’ll be easy to trace.”
“Then let’s go at once!”
Na-yeon seized the unconscious Demon by the neck, eager to depart immediately.
Sang-geon smiled, taking the burden from her—better he carry him than she.
“First, let’s get you the antidote for that Scattered Poison.”
“The Peng Clan never forgets a debt. I want to find our benefactor quickly.”
“I’ll do my utmost.”
Sang-geon gathered up everything from the Demon’s possessions and set off in haste.
He, too, longed to know more about the mysterious youth.
Meow.
Back at their residence, Heukhwi instantly began scanning the surroundings.
With graceful leaps, he bounded onto the courtyard wall, surveying his new domain.
“So, you’re declaring this your territory, eh?”
Jin-ho chuckled.
The cat’s territorial instincts were amusing to watch.
Meow!
“Not sure how long we’ll stay here, but at least until the end of the year, I’d say.”
“Master!”
“Oh, you should have sent word ahead! I would have gone to greet you!”
Hearing voices from inside, Tak Yun and Jeong Ma-ryung rushed out eagerly.
Their movements were sharper than before—they had clearly been training diligently in Jin-ho’s absence.
“No need for that. This is my own home, not some strange road.”
“Did your business go well, master?”
“Of course. Quite a fruitful trip.”
Meow!
Suddenly, Heukhwi padded up beside Jin-ho, holding his head high with an air of dignity.
But Tak Yun and Ma-ryung only stared.
“A cat? Where’d that come from?”
“Strange. The only animals in the manor are the dogs and messenger pigeons.”
“Still… what a fine-looking creature.”
