Chapter 89 of 100
Chapter 89
7 min read1,784 words
Chapter 88. A Critical Moment (3)
Seohwi knew the warning window would appear.
If he kept eliminating the Changryongmun warriors, there would come a moment when Sangcheonjang would take advantage of his opening.
Of course, he couldn't rule out the possibility that Sangcheonjang might fight his subordinates as targets.
However, Seohwi judged that he wouldn't make such a choice.
He is less skilled than Igumyeong, a disciple of Goo Jong-myeong.
The opponent wouldn't be too pleased about receiving help from someone weaker than himself.
Moreover, Seohwi believed that Igumyeong could sufficiently suppress his subordinates, considering their abilities.
He must have also thought that targeting Seohwi would be better to win the favor of the Changryongmun warriors.
▶ Counter.
▷ Defend.
▷ Flee.
Honestly, he wasn't afraid.
Although the opponent had higher combat power, he believed that he could overcome that level based on his battle with Baek Yang-cheon.
Furthermore, Seohwi had his own strategy to deal with him.
<You have chosen 'Defend.'>
Zzzz!
A powerful sword qi was generated from a slightly distant place.
This choice was different from 'Flee,' which would reveal his position with a flash of movement, but it allowed him to respond without showing his back.
Seohwi instantly twisted his body, but the enemy's attack was even faster.
The sword qi grazed his shoulder and passed by.
“Gah!”
Seohwi, who was pushed back significantly, quickly regained his stance.
Looking at the area where he had been hit, a faint smile began to spread across Seohwi's face.
Seohwi [Commander of the Yin Ying Unit]
Health 320,000 (↓100,000) / 1,200,000
Internal Energy 2,180,000 (↓220,000) / 2,400,000
‘This works.’
Seohwi used the So Shin Su Ma Gong's defensive technique, Bing Yuan Jie Jia.
By defending with it, his internal energy decreased instead of his health, dispersing the damage.
Moreover, by using internal energy to protect his body, he avoided critical injuries and significantly reduced the damage.
“What was that just now...?”
Sangcheonjang, seemingly shocked, paused his movements and asked.
Indeed, even if the sword qi didn't hit precisely, it should have pierced through a part of the body.
But the sword qi was deflected without penetrating, leaving him baffled.
“Is the third-ranked person in Tai Huang Jiao this much of a pushover?”
Seohwi stared at him calmly and asked.
“...What?”
“Why are you so surprised? I already knew everything.”
Sangcheonjang's expression hardened at those words.
His tone turned cold as he spoke, almost to himself.
“...The Master said you were a dangerous person. Indeed, you shouldn't have been left alive.”
Seohwi smiled faintly.
“Hey, do you think I fell for your trick?”
“...?”
“Not at all. I just wanted to see the trap you set. Through that, I wanted to know who's behind you... and how your relationship with Jin Man-jung and the Changryongmun leader is connected.”
Sangcheonjang's eyes widened in surprise.
Seohwi, however, didn't wait for his answer and moved.
The turn-based system had already activated for the warriors on the other side.
Poof.
Seohwi vanished in an instant.
At least, that's how it felt to Sangcheonjang.
Looking around frantically to find him, a powerful storm of energy shook the area, sending Changryongmun warriors flying in all directions.
‘What...’
Boom! Boom!
The storm of energy was incredibly fast and powerful.
Seohwi was easily and continuously unleashing wind swords that he might not have been able to generate even at full strength.
Sangcheonjang kept thinking that Seohwi's martial arts were similar to what he knew.
Indeed, the martial arts being displayed were none other than the Feng Xin Jian, one of the Four Great Extreme Demon Arts.
‘How can he have this power...’
An incomprehensible situation.
He soon realized how dangerous his momentary lapse in concentration was.
[A Perfect Opportunity! Seohwi has found a gap in Sangcheonjang. How will you respond?]
‘Just as I expected!’
Seohwi's eyes sparkled.
He had tried an attack using the turn-based system, but he didn't expect it to unfold this way.
Sangcheonjang had created the gap himself.
After a few lines of dialogue, his relaxed guard led to gaps appearing not just in him but in the many enemies around.
Seohwi could move instantly, and by choosing 'Approach the enemy,' he could almost teleport to the opponent.
As he moved, the target he desired appeared.
He confirmed the gap window over Sangcheonjang.
▶ Attack.
▷ Use martial arts.
▷ Use the tool box.
▷ Approach the enemy.
‘I need to choose Attack.’
This time, Seohwi's choice was the first one.
There was a reason.
The best form of attack to use Feng Xin Jian.
He could prepare the movements of Feng Xin Jian while moving.
<You have chosen 'Attack.'>
-3 seconds rewound.
Sangcheonjang slowly turned his head.
Seohwi, who was leaping forward, bowed his head in mid-air.
He had to perform the connecting movements of Feng Xin Jian before reaching the opponent.
He executed the lower half of the movement, extending his head.
Of course, this prevented him from reaching the opponent, but...
<Feng Xin Jian is used.>
Nonetheless, he achieved his goal.
Boom!
Feng Xin Jian erupted in front of Seohwi, extending straight forward and hitting the opponent's body.
Sangcheonjang was sucked in by the wind pressure, almost flying into the sky, and Seohwi saw him rolling on the ground when he landed.
‘What?!’
Thud.
But for some reason, he got up immediately.
Despite receiving a blow, he didn't seem to have suffered significant damage.
The opponent's stats also confirmed this.
Sangcheonjang [Third-ranked in Tai Huang Jiao]
Health 3,200,000 (↓1,200,000) / 4,400,000
‘Maybe the distance was a bit short.’
Seohwi felt disappointed.
He had reduced one-third of the opponent's health, but it wasn't enough to satisfy him.
The turn-based system, which he used as a combat method, and the single blow he just delivered, which was a one-time approach, made it difficult to deal damage again.
“Gah. This kid... Fine, I'll admit it. I underestimated you because you didn't seem as formidable as the Master described.”
Sangcheonjang, with his upper body torn and blood streaming down, walked towards Seohwi.
Despite his internal injuries, his eyes were very calm.
“I'll give you the treatment you deserve. Gah!”
Soon, his roar was heard.
With his shout, his face gradually turned red.
The red aura spread to his hands and then to the sword, which began to emit flames.
Whoosh.
‘This is...’
The flames on the sword.
They didn't appear light to Seohwi.
The yellowish, sticky-looking flames flowed gracefully.
This must be the Blood Demon Art, the reward from the event.
‘This... might not be stoppable even with Bing Yuan Jie Jia.’
However, a big problem arose due to the opponent's Blood Demon Art.
The defensive technique Bing Yuan Jie Jia, based on the Ice Demon Art, was naturally weak against fire, and could even increase the damage.
“Shall we try again?”
Seohwi's hair stood on end at the chilling words.
The real battle was about to begin.
* * *
Blood Demon Art.
One of the representative arts of the main sect, it is classified as an extreme yang martial art.
While there are several fire-based demon arts, this is the only one that represents the main sect.
In particular, most high-level and top-tier demon arts are based on the Blood Demon Art.
The Fire Demon Art that the Tai Huang Jiao Master had mastered and the Supreme Demon Art that Seohwi had mastered both had their foundation in the Blood Demon Art.
Sssss!
“Gah!”
Seohwi, who exchanged a blow, was pushed back.
On the surface, it seemed he was outmatched in the internal energy contest, but in reality, he was outmatched in the purity of the demon arts.
‘Damn, it's an extreme yang martial art...’
Seohwi bit his lip and thought.
Water and fire are opposites.
Although they were using opposing martial arts, the Blood Demon Art was qualitatively stronger.
Perhaps this was due to the difference in combat power or enlightenment.
As a result, the damage Seohwi felt was several times greater.
Whoosh!
Crack!
Another few exchanges.
In this fight, Seohwi gradually consumed his internal energy.
At the same time, he realized that he couldn't defeat him with conventional methods.
Seohwi [Commander of the Yin Ying Unit]
Health 300,000 (↓200,000) / 1,200,000
Internal Energy 1,160,000 (↓1,020,000) / 2,400,000
Sangcheonjang [Third-ranked in Tai Huang Jiao]
Health 3,190,000 (↓10,000) / 4,400,000
Internal Energy 4,140,000 (↓360,000) / 4,500,000
“Haa. Haa.”
The stats clearly showed the difference.
Bing Yuan Jie Jia's defensive technique was taking more damage from even small attacks of the Blood Demon Art.
In contrast, the opponent wasn't suffering much damage.
Moreover, if they engaged in a direct physical attack, it would lead to a significant loss of internal energy.
“...Not as much as I thought?”
On the other hand, he was smirking.
Unlike his earlier panic, he now believed that this was a winnable fight.
‘Damn... Should I use AI here?’
At this moment, Seohwi was conflicted.
In fact, he wanted to use this combat method's ability on Igumyeong, a disciple of Goo Jong-myeong.
With AI Seohwi, he could win even against an opponent with twice the combat power.
However, if he couldn't suppress this guy, he wouldn't be able to go to the other side anyway.
‘There's no time...’
A quick glance at his subordinates showed that their situation was becoming increasingly dangerous.
Of course.
No matter how many of them attacked, it would be impossible to suppress a warrior with several times the combat power.
“Tsk tsk. No matter how much the Yin Ying Unit guys try, their limits are clear. They haven't even mastered a single demon art that embodies the essence of our sect, have they?”
He was openly mocking them.
This provoked Seohwi's anger.
“...Done talking?”
“Seems like your mouth is still working.”
“Is it just your mouth?”
Seohwi raised his gaze.
Ultimately, the only way to quickly take this guy down was this.
“Experience it. What a fight really is.”
Combat Method
As soon as he chose, his field of view changed, and AI Seohwi and Sangcheonjang came into view.
The first reaction of AI Seohwi was a mocking laugh.
“Hahaha. Hahaha.”
It was an overtly mocking laugh.
“Why are you laughing like that?”
Sangcheonjang reacted to this.
“Shut up. You're about to die.”
“What?”
Sangcheonjang, unable to contain his anger, charged forward.
But AI Seohwi didn't even glance at him.
In the blink of an eye, Sangcheonjang was right in front of him.
“I can do this.”
Swish.
A straight line of the sword was drawn diagonally between them.
And then.
“Gaaaah!”
Sangcheonjang, who was split in half by the blow, rolled on the ground.
AI Seohwi stood there calmly.
“Don't get consumed by the system.”
He said, and then...