## Chapter 99 – 99. 진흥촌
#99. Jinheung Village
The Mad Demon Sword spewed out sword energy.
But I didn’t swing the sword.
As the magic power that burst from the mana circle swept through my entire body, my vision cleared, as if the hazy mist surrounding my brain had lifted.
Only then did I sheathe the sword, withdrawing my energy.
‘…I almost blew that guy’s head off.’
It was too much. And unlike me. Not only that, but my behavior towards the investigation team leader and in the barracks was quite different from usual. No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had become rougher.
‘Even when I was with Jo Yeon-hee, I was subtly coercive…’
Of course, the result was good.
Anyway, at this point, I couldn’t deny that I had been affected by demonic energy until now.
But that didn’t mean I was consumed by demonic nature. They said that if you were consumed by demonic nature, you would lose your reason, but I never felt any inconvenience in using magic while coming to Jinheung Village.
‘Losing reason means there’s a problem with brain activity, and there’s no way you can use magic as usual in that state.’
But the dating app clearly displayed a message that I had resisted demonic energy. This didn’t make sense.
‘There’s no possibility that the app lied to me. If there’s any possibility, it’s the nature of the demonic energy itself.’
I remembered what Cheon Yeo-hwa had told me while coming to Jinheung Village.
-Being captured by demonic nature and being affected by demonic energy are different stories. Demonic nature turns humans into demons who have lost their reason, but demonic energy only changes a person’s personality.
According to Cheon Yeo-hwa, those with strong mental strength are not easily captured by demonic nature even if they learn demonic arts, and even skillfully handle demonic energy.
She added that this tendency is especially common when those who have learned orthodox martial arts learn demonic arts.
‘The inner energy of orthodox martial arts is ultimately the energy of pure nature. The magic power I possess also contains the purest mana of nature as it is. That’s why I was able to resist demonic energy.’
Only then could I understand the message that I had resisted demonic energy.
If the magic power of an ordinary magician is said to be fifth-grade water, the magic power flowing in my body was no different from first-grade water. Thanks to this, I was not captured by the demonic nature of the Mad Demon Sword and became a demon, but instead, as much as I handled demonic energy, I could not escape the influence of demonic energy, so this incident occurred.
‘This sword energy must be due to demonic energy.’
There was no way I could handle sword energy without even learning mediocre martial arts. This was nothing more than a fake sword energy created by the demonic energy that sympathized with my intense emotions.
“Hoo…”
I took a deep breath in and out. I stirred up my magic power and drove the demonic energy into my dantian.
If I didn’t pay attention, I couldn’t drive out the demonic energy even if I stirred up my magic power. This is because demonic energy is also part of my energy. The fact that I was still affected by demonic energy even though I had been using magic power like crazy while coming to Jinheung Village was proof of that.
To be honest, it was a bit shocking. I couldn’t imagine being swayed by such a tiny amount of demonic energy. It was fortunate that I realized it now, or I would have almost killed someone.
“Miss, would you like to have a meal with me if you’re okay?”
…But that’s that, and this is this.
After sheathing the Mad Demon Sword, I immediately ran towards the man who was flirting with Cheon Yeo-hwa and kicked him as he was.
Crack!
“Cough?!”
With a blow containing magic power, the men flew away, rolling several times on the floor.
It was clearly excessive to suddenly draw a sword against a righteous martial artist who was not a member of the Demonic Sect or the Orthodox Church, but I was not generous enough to forgive a guy who hit on my woman.
No, if I put up with this, I’m a pushover.
“Hyun-woo, it seems you’ve succeeded.”
“In what?”
“Demonic energy, I mean.”
Cheon Yeo-hwa whispered in my ear.
“…Did you know?”
“I was going to forcibly extract the demonic energy if it seemed dangerous… I never imagined you would voluntarily escape the encroachment of demonic energy. It took this lady almost three years.”
“…It wasn’t a big deal.”
“Hehe, as expected of this lady’s lover.”
In fact, I still don’t know how I escaped from the demonic energy. But I wasn’t so clueless as to bring up that word now.
Cheon Yeo-hwa smiled happily and hugged me. By the way, encroachment of demonic energy, is that a different concept from being captured by demonic nature?
“You have a face that looks like you have a lot of questions, but it seems like we have to deal with that man first.”
The man who had fallen on the floor stood up, holding his sword like a cane.
“You!!”
The man, who looked strangely greasy, shouted at me. There was inner energy in his voice.
‘He’s already up? I kicked him with all my heart.’
The aura emanating from the guy was stronger than I thought. At that level, he was comparable to Elder Soo Yang-geon.
As far as I knew, Elder Soo Yang-geon was a master who had reached the extreme of perfection. He was also a fairly experienced martial artist in his 40s.
On the other hand, that man was at most in his late 20s. But he was at a similar level to Elder Soo Yang-geon.
‘Is he the type of person who is often called a genius?’
Then he should go and practice martial arts, but how dare he try to hit on my woman?
If he had been hit once and fainted, I would have just let it go. But the sight of him trying to pressure me by stirring up his inner energy completely blew away my last remaining patience.
“How dare you launch a cowardly surprise attack…! You must be a cunning member of the Demonic Sect!”
“What are you talking about, you perverted bastard.”
“Wh, what?! P, pervert?!”
The guy’s face turned red and blue. He seemed to be properly scratched.
“…Miss, please wait a moment. I will teach that cunning member of the Demonic Sect how scary the world is.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. The plum blossom pattern drawn on his uniform, he was clearly a member of the Hwasan Sect. Knowing that Cheon Yeo-hwa was a princess of the Cheonma Church, was that why he was doing that?
‘He’s doing that because he doesn’t know.’
Magic power races through my body along the magic circuit. Of course, I don’t use demonic energy. If I use demonic energy and get caught, things will only get bigger.
A strange atmosphere flowed between the guy and me. More and more onlookers gathered around us. Jinheung Village was a rural village, and a martial arts competition between martial artists would be a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle for the villagers, so it was not strange.
What was strange was that other martial artists, including those from the Hwasan Sect, were not visible. It meant there was no one to stop them.
“I’ll tell you in advance. You don’t have to worry about becoming disabled, so feel free to take it.”
“You’re full of crap. Are you going to fight with your mouth?”
“…I’ll kill you!!”
The guy, who seemed to be scratched again by the word “pseudo,” rushed towards me. He wasn’t holding a sword. He seemed to have abandoned his sword after seeing that I was empty-handed, but he would soon realize how stupid that choice was.
‘By the way, how did he understand the word “pseudo”? Did he roughly guess it from the nuance?’
Anyway, that wasn’t important now.
Papapap! The guy quickly approached me with strange footsteps. I instinctively realized that it was a footwork technique.
I was trying my best to follow him with my eyes, but it wasn’t easy to grasp his exact position and sense of distance. It seemed to be the effect of the footwork technique.
“From now on, even breathing will be too much for you!!”
The guy, who had come within reach in an instant, punched me.
Subduing Tiger Fist – Subduing Tiger Strike
Bang! With a strong momentum, I strengthened my body with magic power and blocked it with my arms crossed.
Unexpectedly, a considerable tingling pain came up.
The guy’s attack didn’t end there. Again, the guy, who moved to my side in an instant, stepping on a strange footwork technique, aimed for my side.
Subduing Tiger Fist – Heavy Tiger Leg
I immediately turned my body and stepped back at the knee kick flying with the momentum to break my ribs. I was convinced that I shouldn’t block this one.
As soon as I stepped back, the guy continued to step on the footwork technique and chased after me.
I repeatedly used ‘Thought Acceleration’ to avoid the continuous fierce attacks.
Swish! A fist that stretched out across the air passed right next to my face.
‘…That was a little dangerous just now?’
Of course, it wasn’t a big threat because I was thinking of using a barrier if I was really going to get hit.
“You’re slipping away like a loach!”
A smile bloomed on the guy’s lips as he was convinced of his victory at the sight of me running away here and there without being able to make any decent counterattacks.
I suddenly felt annoyed at that confident appearance.
[Weakness Detection]
I saw a gap in the guy that I hadn’t grasped.
I punched there with a lot of magic power.
Bang!
“Cough?!”
Taking advantage of the guy’s surprise at the unexpected attack, I continued to attack.
[Strength Enhancement]
[Haste]
[Balance]
[Berserk]
“Wh, what?!”
Thump thump! Pow!
As I used auxiliary magic in layers along with Weakness Detection, the guy continued to allow direct hits without being able to react to my suddenly increased speed.
The confident expression from before had disappeared without a trace.
The strange footwork technique was useless in the face of overwhelming speed and power.
Pow!!
The last fist I threw hit the guy’s face head-on. The guy, who flew away rolling several times on the floor like before, passed out in that state.
Cheers erupted from the onlookers.
I confidently raised my right arm up and did fan service.
“…Hyun-woo, didn’t I tell you not to use magic as much as possible? You won’t be able to train that way.”
Cheon Yeo-hwa poked my side, as if she didn’t like something.
“I wouldn’t have used magic if I thought this was training. But this is a battle of pride between men.”
In the first place, if I was going to use magic seriously, it wouldn’t have ended with just auxiliary magic.
“By the way, what’s up with that guy?”
As far as I knew, Taoists couldn’t get married. Besides, if he’s in his late 20s, it seems like he’s long past the time to hit on women without thinking.
“…The veil was blown off by a gust of wind.”
“Ah.”
I could tell what had happened from that one word. Even a Taoist wouldn’t be able to resist Cheon Yeo-hwa’s bare face.
“Then there’s no choice. Only gays wouldn’t fall for your face.”
“Gays…?”
“There’s something like that.”
It’s a hideous word that our Yeo-hwa shouldn’t know.
Anyway, I roughly wrapped up the situation and turned around to go back to the tent and rest comfortably with Cheon Yeo-hwa.
“Not yet…!”
A voice filled with resentment echoed from behind.
“I, Cheong-hwa, the second disciple of the Great Hwasan Sect and Sword Dragon, will not succumb to the cunning sorcery of the Demonic Sect!”
The guy with one cheek swollen red suddenly started introducing himself. By the way, Sword Dragon, it was a coveted title.
I felt a faint murderous intent in his eyes as he glared at me as if he would kill me.
‘That’s a Taoist?’
The guy suddenly raised his sword. However, he still had the last bit of reason left, so he didn’t draw the sword from its scabbard.
A thick, light red haze rose above the scabbard. It was sword energy.
‘Well, if he’s from the Hwasan Sect, which is known for its Plum Blossom Sword Technique, he would be upset if he was knocked out without even swinging his sword once.’
After sending Cheon Yeo-hwa behind me, I grabbed the Mad Demon Sword with the scabbard. I couldn’t use sword energy now that I wasn’t using demonic energy, but the difference in output could be made up for with auxiliary magic and magic power.
I wouldn’t use any other magic. It was a good opportunity to see how skilled a professional swordsman was.
The guy who had taken a stance and was glaring at me fiercely approached me with a footwork technique that was quite different from before.
I smelled a faint plum blossom scent at the instantly close distance.
From top to bottom, the sword that was swung in the blink of an eye rushed towards my head. I could feel the guy’s will to hit me with the scabbard since he couldn’t cut me.
It wasn’t that difficult to avoid since I had Thought Acceleration.
However.
“Stop it.”
A white-bearded grandfather who suddenly appeared blocked the guy’s attack with one finger.
“M, Master?”
The guy who introduced himself as Sword Dragon had a look of embarrassment on his face.
He trembled like a herbalist who had met a tiger while digging for herbs, and soon dropped his sword from his hand and slowly started to back away.
“Hoo… I told you not to act rashly…”
I could feel anger in the white-bearded grandfather’s voice.
Immediately after that, the white-bearded grandfather disappeared.
Bang!!
With a clear sound that echoed quite a bit in the open space, the Sword Dragon collapsed on the street with foam in his mouth.
It was a mess.
