‘Fast!’
The Death Wraith’s pursuit speed was several times faster than Bu Eunseol had anticipated. At this rate, he’d be struck from behind and lose his life without even a chance to fight back.
‘There’s no choice but to fight!’ If he couldn’t shake off the pursuit, he had to face it, whether it meant life or death.
Tap.
Bursting out of the wide-open red gate of the martial hall, Bu Eunseol drew his black sword with lightning-fast motion.
Clang!
But the Death Wraith, as if he’d caught up in an instant, stood tall in front of the massive gate of the martial hall.
“….” With only the crimson-painted gate between them, Bu Eunseol and the Death Wraith locked eyes. As the tense standoff continued, beads of sweat began to form on Bu Eunseol’s forehead. Yet, even after half a moment, the Death Wraith showed no reaction despite maintaining his stance.
‘I see.’ Realizing something, Bu Eunseol’s eyes widened. ‘The Death Wraith can’t leave the restricted area!’ Once outside the martial hall, the sound indicating a restricted area no longer rang out. This confirmed that the restricted area extended only to the interior of the Hwa Wu Sword Sect’s martial hall.
“….” Even as Bu Eunseol stared intently, the Death Wraith didn’t so much as glance at him. His eyes, visible above his mask, seemed to gaze far into the distance.
Swish.
Carefully stepping backward, Bu Eunseol soon sprinted away with all his might. ‘All I could do was desperately escape.’ Since mastering the Beast Way, this was the first time he couldn’t detect even a trace of an attack. He couldn’t even guess what kind of weapon had been used. The Death Wraith’s skill might even surpass that of the chief instructors.
Whoosh. Tap.
Having run frantically, Bu Eunseol arrived at the southern edge of Hell Island. A black ship was anchored in front of the observation stone, and the setting sun glowed beyond the horizon.
“Phew.” Stopping his sprint, Bu Eunseol’s back was drenched in sweat.
Rustle.
As he halted, a few strands of hair fell to the ground. Some of the hair severed by the Death Wraith’s attack had fallen again.
“I’m a frog in a well…” Picking up the fallen strands, Bu Eunseol’s eyes gleamed with a forlorn light. “No, a frog that couldn’t even climb out of the well.” The Death Wraith’s martial prowess was at a level he couldn’t even fathom.
Yet, the cut on his hair was rough.
“But that man…” The murderer who killed her grandfather had sliced through the living flesh and blood of human arms as smoothly as glass.
It was a realm even masters who had honed their swords for decades could scarcely reach—a truly boundless state. To exact his revenge, Bu Eunseol would have to surpass that realm.
Swish.
At that moment, a shadow approached from the opposite side, backlit by the setting sun. A rugged figure with a massive sword slung over their shoulder.
“Bu Eunseol.” Astonishingly, the sword-wielding boy called his name calmly. "I’ve been looking for you for a long time.” Bu Eunseol stood frozen, not moving a finger.
‘He seems similar.’
He gave off a presence akin to the Death Wraith he’d just encountered. One careless move, and that heavy sword would likely cleave him in two.
“My name is Pang Ak,” he said. “I trained in the Blood Flame Blade Sect here.” Pang Ak, introducing himself calmly, flashed his eyes at Bu Eunseol. “I heard you’ve mastered the Beast Way. Is that true?” How did a disciple of the Blood Flame Blade Sect know about him?
But Bu Eunseol wasn’t particularly surprised. This place was full of factions. If Pang Ak’s group included someone from the Hwa Wu Sword Sect, it wouldn’t be surprising for him to know about Bu Eunseol.
“No need for more words, right?” Pang Ak, staring at Bu Eunseol as he pressed his lips shut, slowly drew the massive sword from his shoulder.
Clunk.
His stance was peculiar. Pang Ak raised the large sword above his head as if chopping firewood—a signature starting stance of the Blood Flame Blade Sect technique. But Bu Eunseol stood still, not even drawing his sword. He instinctively knew that the moment he reached for his sword, a lightning-fast strike would come flying.
“You’ve already figured out the Blood Flame Blade Momentum,” Pang Ak remarked. The fearsome aspect of the Blood Flame Blade Momentum was its ability to strike the moment the opponent moved.
“No, that’s not it.” Observing Bu Eunseol’s stance, Pang Ak took a deep breath and nodded. “You’ve sensed the path of my blade momentum with beast-like instincts. Through the Beast Way.” At that moment, a strange thought crossed Bu Eunseol’s mind.
Which faction did this man belong to? Was he part of the same group as the masked figure he’d just encountered? How did he know not only his appearance but also the intricacies of the Beast Way’s abilities? As his thoughts spiraled, Pang Ak suddenly began speaking oddly.
“As expected, you… you’re destined to become one of the Ten Demon Successors.”
Swish.
Pang Ak’s stance changed abruptly. From the Blood Flame Blade Momentum, poised to unleash a Heaven-Collapsing Strike, he shifted to a bizarre stance, as if casting a net.
“The seed of the Demon Breed must be cut down before it sprouts!”
‘The seed of the Demon Breed?’ At that moment, a realization flashed through Bu Eunseol’s mind like lightning.
—Hmph, do you think everyone gathered here wants to become one of the Ten Demon Successors?
Those were the words of Seo Jinha, a disciple of the upper ranks who had displayed swordsmanship comparable to his own. From that single remark, Bu Eunseol had inferred that this island held not only demonic prodigies but also spies infiltrating from the orthodox sects.
‘This Pang Ak is one of them…’
Clang!
At that moment, a gleaming blade halted at Bu Eunseol’s forehead. In the split second he was distracted, Pang Ak’s swift blade had struck, and his body reacted instinctively to block the technique. Had he not mastered the Beast Way, that single strike would have taken his life.
‘I need to cast aside distractions!’ Crying out inwardly, Bu Eunseol gripped his black sword with both hands. Just moments ago, Pang Ak had used a blade technique other than the Blood Flame Blade—a technique far more powerful than the Blood Flame Blade he’d only recently learned.
“Bu Eunseol, you die here!”
Clang!
The black sword and the blade clashed again. In that instant, a powerful force traveled through the sword to Bu Eunseol’s wrist.
“Ugh.” It felt as though a sharp needle was piercing his wrist, stabbing through every corner of his body.
Pang Ak’s blade technique not only exerted a powerful pulling force but also sent a tremendous surge of energy into his body with every clash of weapons.
Crack.
Each time, Bu Eunseol felt his wrist and every bone in his body shudder from the impact.
‘The Pang Clan of Hebei…?’ At that moment, Bu Eunseol recalled a memory from years ago, when he was assisting his grandfather with a ritual.
—Tch, this one was killed by a master of the Hebei Pang Clan.
His grandfather, Bu Zhanyang, had shaken his head upon seeing a body placed on the ritual table.
—How do you know?
—There’s not a single external wound, but the bones are riddled with fine cracks. This is the mark of someone struck by the Five Tigers Gate-Severing Blade of the Hebei Pang Clan.
Clicking his tongue, Bu Zhanyang sighed and spoke.
—The masters of the Hebei Pang Clan rarely show themselves in the martial world… This one must have committed a grave sin.
Soaking a clean cloth in a basin of warm water, Bu Zhanyang murmured in a low voice.
—When fighting a master of the Five Tigers Gate-Severing Blade, you must counterattack by exploiting their Absorbing Force Technique. Engaging them head-on led to this state.
Finishing his recollection, Bu Eunseol’s eyes flashed. Back then, he couldn’t comprehend his grandfather’s words, but now, having studied swordsmanship in the upper ranks, he understood their meaning.
‘Counterattack by exploiting the Absorbing Force Technique…’
Swish!
At that moment, Pang Ak’s massive blade came crashing down toward Bu Eunseol’s shoulder.
“Hah!” In that instant, Bu Eunseol drove his black sword into the ground with all his strength.
The Five Tigers Gate-Severing Blade Technique. The signature blade technique of the Pang Clan, which dominated Hebei, carried the weight of Mount Tai. Moreover, every strike pulled the opponent’s weapon toward it, unleashing a tremendous surge of energy at the moment of impact.
‘What?’ Pang Ak’s eyes widened as he swung his blade toward his shoulder. He had expected Bu Eunseol to raise his sword to block near his shoulder, but instead, he drove his sword into the ground?
Whoosh.
As his black sword, caught in the Absorbing Force Technique, moved in an unexpected direction, Pang Ak’s blade, descending vertically, veered slightly off course.
“You!” With his attack missing, Pang Ak spun his blade to sweep at Bu Eunseol’s waist.
Swish.
But Bu Eunseol, undeterred, moved his sword in an erratic direction. As his strikes repeatedly missed, Pang Ak scoffed.
“Using petty tricks, huh?” He called it petty, but Bu Eunseol’s actions were extraordinarily bold.
How many in the martial world would have the courage to make erratic movements instead of blocking when an enemy’s blade came flying?
‘This isn’t enough.’ Neutralizing the attack by exploiting the Absorbing Force Technique was one thing, but it wasn’t enough. This method wouldn’t defeat Pang Ak—it would only drain his stamina further.
Whoosh!
As his massive blade rained down like a meteor, Bu Eunseol spread his arms as if welcoming a guest. But the Absorbing Force Technique’s overwhelming power pulled his black sword toward Pang Ak’s body.
—I’ll teach you how to wield the principle of striking after the opponent in swordsmanship.
As his black sword moved uncontrollably, the voice of Dan Cheonyang, explaining techniques in the upper ranks, suddenly echoed in his mind.
—Speed is relative. You don’t need to be exceptionally fast—just half a step faster than your opponent.
‘Use the Absorbing Force Technique to unleash swordsmanship faster than his blade.’
Flash! A glint of realization sparked in Bu Eunseol’s eyes.
Paah! At that moment, Pang Ak’s blade sliced through the air, aiming for Bu Eunseol’s torso. But unperturbed, Bu Eunseol swiftly extended his sword toward Pang Ak’s throat.
Whoosh. His movements were smooth, yet his black sword reached Pang Ak’s throat in the blink of an eye.
“What?” Greatly startled, Pang Ak halted his blade technique and leaped back.
‘How could such a slow sword technique be faster than my blade?’ Clenching his teeth, he unleashed his blade technique once more.
Rumble.
With a faint thunderous sound, dozens of blade shadows enveloped Bu Eunseol.
Whoosh!
But as Bu Eunseol slowly extended his sword again, it pierced through the blade shadows, targeting his throat.
“Ugh!” Pang Ak tilted his body, narrowly dodging the black sword aimed at his vital point.
Bu Eunseol’s swordsmanship was smooth, so why was it faster than his blade technique, which fiercely sliced through the air?
“Hah!” Channeling all his inner strength, Pang Ak unleashed his blade technique again.
Using the intense Absorbing Force Technique, he aimed to clash Bu Eunseol’s black sword with his massive blade.
“What?” But just as his black sword seemed about to collide, it suddenly changed direction, targeting his throat again.
‘Is this ghostly bastard using the force of my Absorbing Force Technique to unleash a swift sword?’ The Five Tigers Gate-Severing Blade Technique destroyed an opponent’s insides by clashing weapons. To execute its secret technique, every strike required a powerful Absorbing Force Technique. And Bu Eunseol was using that pulling force to swiftly wield his sword, subtly altering its direction at the last moment to attack Pang Ak.
‘No way!’ The Absorbing Force Technique of the Five Tigers Gate-Severing Blade could pull even a boulder from three yards away. To deftly exploit such immense force was a feat even master swordsmen could rarely achieve.
Swish swish!
At that moment, Bu Eunseol unleashed his sword technique slowly once more. His movements were smooth, his techniques simple, yet they were slightly faster than Pang Ak’s blade slicing through the air.
“Fine!” Roaring, Pang Ak twisted his grip on the massive blade. Wielding it like chopsticks, he unleashed a rapid blade technique.
Roar!
A sound like an enraged beast echoed, and sharp blade strikes poured down like a storm, accompanied by a fierce gust.
Paahhh!
As the blade strikes unfolded, a powerful pulling force enveloped Bu Eunseol’s black sword.
Tremble.
Though the black sword he held shook like a leaf in the wind, Bu Eunseol’s eyes showed no trace of wavering. ‘The stronger the Absorbing Force Technique, the faster my sword becomes.’ The Five Tigers Gate-Severing Blade was less a mystical technique and more one that overwhelmed opponents with raw internal energy.
Without clashing weapons, it couldn’t unleash its true power.
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