Chapter 1544 – 1544. Ascending To The Light
They didn’t attack until I had put on my clothes and grasped my sword. They were watching me, confident in their victory.
“You’re calm. Did you know we were coming?”
The old beggar said. Unlike his cold and composed voice, his eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
“You’re openly trying to kill me, how could I not know?”
“Why didn’t you run?”
“Why would I run from the likes of you?”
“Foolish. Your body isn’t in normal condition right now. You’re poisoned by the Mountain Qi Poison, and for the next three hours, you won’t be able to use most of your internal energy. Even if you try to gather it, it will scatter. You will die here today. And I don’t plan on letting you die peacefully. The Beggar Clan brothers who died by your hand wouldn’t want that!”
The old beggar’s eyes widened. He took a stance, extending his palm forward. I could feel his internal energy surging and gathering in his palm.
“First, I’ll cut off your arms and legs, then boil you alive! Afterward, I’ll hang your head on a spear to comfort the souls of those who died because of you!”
“Senior.”
At that moment, Dokgo Cheongha stepped forward.
Holding swords in both hands, she was emitting a chilling aura. Sensing that cold energy, the old beggar suppressed his fighting spirit for a moment.
“…Young Clan Leader. Hmm. Do you have something to say to me?”
“Give me a chance.”
“A chance?”
“A chance to subdue this demonic fiend. I won’t kill him. I want to prove the Dokgo Clan’s Sun and Moon Overlord Sword against him.”
Dokgo Cheongha said.
The old beggar understood her intentions. Having lived in the martial world for hundreds of years, there was no way he wouldn’t see through Dokgo Cheongha’s obvious scheme. She was trying to gain fame by defeating me.
“…Very well. I’ll leave it to the Young Clan Leader. But, you must not kill Lightning Blade. Lightning Blade’s life belongs to the Beggar Clan!”
“I understand.”
Dokgo Cheongha stepped forward, taking a fighting stance.
I was so dumbfounded that I let out a hollow laugh.
“These guys, just because I’m letting them get away with it, they think I’m a pushover. Do you really think the likes of you can do anything to me?”
“Don’t bluff. We know your condition better than anyone!”
“You arrogant wench. I’m going to fuck you raw.”
“How vulgar!”
I pretended to charge at Dokgo Cheongha, then abruptly changed direction. I smashed through the window and went outside.
“This bastard! Running away now!”
Whether the surprised Dokgo Cheongha followed or not, I first got out of the building. If we fought inside the brothel, the courtesans could get caught in the crossfire and die. I had to avoid that at all costs. They were beautiful women too precious to die here.
Thud!
I landed on the ground with a hero landing. The impact sent a jolt from my knees to the top of my head. I clicked my tongue. Due to the effects of the Mountain Qi Poison, I couldn’t use more than 10% of my internal energy.
Thud!
Dokgo Cheongha landed in front of me as well. She confidently pointed her twin swords at me.
“Did you think you could escape?! This place is already surrounded by our Dokgo Clan warriors! Lightning Blade Yeom Guseok! There’s no way for you to run!”
As she said, the area was filled with Dokgo Clan warriors. They had blocked off any escape routes with layers of encirclement.
“I didn’t run away. I just changed the location.”
It was the moment I stood up. Dokgo Cheongha charged at me as if not giving me a chance to settle. Her movements were light yet swift. And her twin swords were as sharp as a storm.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
I quickly raised my sword to block Dokgo Cheongha’s attacks. I was gradually pushed back. With only 10% of my internal energy, it was difficult to withstand Dokgo Cheongha’s attacks.
The corners of Dokgo Cheongha’s lips curled up slightly. Others might not see it, but I, who was fighting her head-on, could see that smile.
‘She must be smiling, thinking about the fame she’ll gain by defeating me. And it seems the Beggar Clan promised her something too…’
But too bad. I had no intention of losing. And I certainly had no intention of dying here. Whether it was the Dokgo Clan or the Beggar Clan, they targeted me, so they would have to pay the price.
‘First, I’ll subdue Dokgo Cheongha!’
Dokgo Cheongha’s sword aimed for my shoulder, thrusting in. I could clearly see her sword. I could even predict where she would aim. The problem was that with only 10% of my internal energy, it was difficult to respond.
‘Heavenly Heart.’
[Activating Heavenly Heart. Duration: 1 minute.]
My physical abilities increased, and the internal energy that had been scattered by the Mountain Qi Poison began to gather.
I opened my mouth wide. I bit down on Dokgo Cheongha’s sword, which was rushing towards my shoulder. Surprised, Dokgo Cheongha focused her internal energy into the sword. It was useless. My teeth were faster, shattering the sword.
Crack!
The sword blade shattered like broken glass.
“You, you shouldn’t be able to use your internal energy…! How?!”
“Oh dear. It seems the Mountain Qi Poison was defective. You should have prepared better.”
“Y, you…!”
Dokgo Cheongha kicked off the ground and did a somersault in the air. At the same time, she put the rotational force into her sword and swung it. I quickly retreated. The white sword energy barely grazed my chin. She didn’t stop. She continued her attacks as if in a frenzy.
Her feet jumped up as soon as they touched the ground. She spent more time in the air than on the ground.
‘Is she a specialist in aerial combat? It’s too unorthodox and tricky. I see why they call her a swallow.’
Dokgo Cheongha was truly like a swallow.
But it wasn’t complete. Her swordsmanship needed to reach at least the fifth stage to unleash its full power. It was that difficult and complex.
‘But not now. Even if she’s a swallow, she’s just a fledgling. Her openings are too obvious.’
The foundation of the Thunder Sky Style is the Eternal Sky Style. The Eternal Sky Style is about being able to continue fighting in any environment. That’s what the Eternal Sky Style aims for. Being in the air is no different. The Thunder Sky Style, which is based on the Eternal Sky Style, is the same.
I kicked off the ground. I jumped into the air like Dokgo Cheongha and clashed weapons. Surprised, Dokgo Cheongha’s eyes widened.
Thunder Sky Style (雷天流) – Empty Path (虛道).
Crackling. A platform made of lightning qi rose beneath my feet. I stepped on the lightning qi that rippled like waves and continued my attacks in the air.
The situation had changed. Dokgo Cheongha was busy blocking my attacks on the ground, while I continued my attacks in the air.
Sweat droplets scattered in the air from Dokgo Cheongha. She was panting. The energy in her sword, which was blocking my attacks, was weaker than before.
“Enough playing around.”
I swung my sword down from above, aiming for her crown. Startled, Dokgo Cheongha blocked it by holding her sword sideways.
‘That’s a feint.’
The real attack was my left fist. My fist dug into her firm abs. I controlled my strength to avoid rupturing her internal organs.
“Kuh-uh-uh!”
Dokgo Cheongha’s body flew backward, her mouth wide open.
‘Fleeting Moment.’
[Using Fleeting Moment. Remaining stacks: 6]
Moving faster than the flying Dokgo Cheongha, I grabbed the back of her head and slammed it into the ground.
Bang!
Dokgo Cheongha’s face was buried in the ground. I grabbed her hair and lifted her up.
“Kuh… ugh….”
Her nose was bleeding, and her lips were split. Her eyes were also shaking. One more hit here, and I could definitely knock her out.
‘If she were a normal person, her head would have exploded… As expected of a martial artist, she’s holding on quite well.’
Her face was a bit of a mess, but thanks to her natural beauty, she was still beautiful. I wanted to take off her clothes right now, spank her ass, and devour her pussy.
However.
“Young Clan Leader!!”
“You bastard! The Young Clan Leader!!”
The Dokgo Clan warriors charged at me all at once.
‘Right. It’s not too late to deal with these guys and then devour her.’
I had gone easy on the beauty Dokgo Cheongha, but there was no reason to go easy on these bastards.
“Fall back!!”
A man’s voice boomed from above. It was the voice of Dokgo Han, the head of the Dokgo Clan. He jumped down from the brothel. He fell like a thunderbolt, with the tips of his twin swords pointing downward. I stepped on the Thunder Sound Step and dodged.
“Not so fast!”
As if he had predicted that I would dodge, the old beggar fell, extending his palm. The internal energy contained in his palm was extraordinary. It was hard to dodge this.
‘You crazy old man. Can’t you see the sword in my hand?’
Everyone knew that a sword was stronger than a palm. I thrust my sword forward. A strong qi was formed on the blade.
The old beggar’s falling body moved strangely and dodged my sword. I knew that was the Beggar Clan’s martial art, the Eight Immortals Movement Technique (八仙身法). It was followed by the Beggar Clan’s signature technique, the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms (降龍八掌).
I couldn’t dodge it. His palm touched my left shoulder.
Bang!
An explosion occurred on my left shoulder. His internal energy invaded and caused an explosion. Fortunately, I was able to withstand it.
“Clan Leader Dokgo! I just realized! He was hiding his strength! Now that the Mountain Qi Poison is useless, we must attack him simultaneously!”
“Understood! I will face him head-on! Elder So, look for his openings!”
Dokgo Hak approached, unleashing sword winds, while the old beggar watched for an opportunity like a snake.
‘This is not a situation where I can hide the Thunder Sky Style.’
With just the Demon Sword Technique, I would have no choice but to be defeated in this situation.
Thunder Sky Style (雷天流) – Thunder Flash (雷閃).
I unleashed sword energy wrapped in lightning in all directions. Startled, Dokgo Han jumped upward.
‘Fall.’
The night sky flashed. A blue lightning bolt fell on Dokgo Han. Dokgo Han couldn’t avoid the lightning in the air and fell to the ground, electrocuted.
‘He was caught off guard because he didn’t know about the Thunder Sky Style! I have to kill Dokgo Han before he gets up again! That’s the only way I can win!’
I rushed towards the fallen Dokgo Han.
The old beggar jumped out in front of me. He moved his palms intricately, blocking my path.
“How dare you! Clan Leader Dokgo! Please get up!”
“Kuh-uh! Th, thank you. I never thought he would drop lightning!”
“He’s an extraordinary master of lightning. It seems he gained some kind of fortuitous encounter.”
The old beggar had created a perfect excuse. If the Demonic Cult questioned my martial arts, I could just say I had a fortuitous encounter.
“You beggar. You smell disgusting. Please, just die!”
“I have no regrets in this life! I can die as many times as it takes if it means I can kill you!”
The beggar extended both palms. His movements were as fluid as flowing water.
‘Whatever it is, I just need to tear it apart.’
Thunder Sky Style (雷天流) – Thunder Qi Blade (雷罡刃).
A blade of lightning aimed for his neck. The beggar’s hands moved, creating afterimages, trying to grab the blade.
No, he didn’t grab it.
His left palm struck the blade from top to bottom. The strong qi scattered. His right palm struck the side of the blade. The powerful impact caused the hilt to slip out of my hand.
“Power alone can’t do anything!”
“Don’t act like you’re hot shit just because you managed to deflect a sword, you beggar! I can kill the likes of you even without a sword!”
He extended his right palm. Despite acting all high and mighty, his left palm was tattered.
I extended my left palm towards him. The impact of losing my right-hand sword made it difficult to put power into it.
Clang!
The two palms collided as if they were joining hands.
I withstood the impact.
Now it was a battle of internal energy. And I was confident in my internal energy.
Crackling!
“To underestimate the Dragon Subduing Eighteen Palms… Huh! What is this?!”
His internal energy invaded me. I gritted my teeth and moved my internal energy. If I was pushed back here, I would die.
“Lightning, star… dragon?”
The beggar looked terrified for a moment.
