Chapter 89: Growing (4)

“Huff! Huff!”

It was only after half a day that the martial confrontation with Li Chianshang came to an end.

Of course, it couldn’t even be called a confrontation. Li Chianshang had merely received the martial arts of Xuliang, without launching a single proper attack.

However, Xuliang had delivered his best strikes for half a day, overcoming the overwhelming presence of Li Chianshang at every moment. No matter how strong Xuliang was, he couldn’t help but feel exhausted.

Xuliang, sprawled on the ground, had a face that had turned pale.

He couldn’t even think about maintaining etiquette in front of the sect leader. He was so exhausted that even the muscles in his chest had gone numb.

‘Even when I endured the Heavenly Net, it wasn’t this bad.’

In other words, in just half a day, he had accumulated more fatigue than he had in a week.

Li Chianshang, who was looking down at Xuliang, who was only gasping for breath, was completely fine.

His clothes were somewhat dirty from the various sword winds and dust, but compared to Xuliang, who was completely worn out, it was nothing.

Li Chianshang glanced down at the sleeve of his robe.

“What a remarkable fellow.”

Normally, with the inner strength radiating from his entire body, not a speck of dust should have touched his clothes.

However, due to the half-day confrontation with Xuliang, dust had settled in various places, and the tip of his sleeve had even been slightly cut.

It was the mark of a successful single strike.

‘How long has it been?’

The martial arts of the demon god, which did not allow close combat.

Even before entering seclusion a year ago, he was an absolute strongman known as the Heavenly Demon. Even then, it was rare to find someone who could touch the hem of his clothes.

But today, his disciple’s sword had cut his sleeve. And it was the martial arts of a young man in his mid-twenties.

The implications were significant.

‘You’ve grown this much, huh.’

Of course, this was the result with the intention of teaching.

If Li Chianshang had taken it seriously, Xuliang’s life would have been taken in five moves, let alone a cut on the sleeve.

‘No, that’s not it either.’

Li Chianshang’s eyes gleamed.

‘What is engraved in the soul is death itself.

But for now, the survival instinct takes precedence over the attack instinct. If I take it seriously, he’ll run ten miles away in an instant.’

He’s a survivor. And he would only draw his sword when he felt confident.

In other words, he’s no different from a wild beast. Even the fiercest beasts, which look rough and vicious, will tuck their tails and retreat if they feel they might get hurt.

‘...Interesting.’

Li Chianshang’s expression seemed indifferent.

In reality, his heart was as cold and hard as a transparent rock.

But today, while teaching his disciple, he felt the greatest excitement he had in several years.

It was not only interesting but also made him feel a sense of vigilance.

Feeling interest in someone means that he is still under the influence of the demon.

“Grr.”

Xuliang slowly raised his upper body.

His body wasn’t in pain. It just lacked strength. His inner strength was completely drained, and he had to use only his physical strength to get up.

Li Chianshang asked.

“Did you gain anything?”

“A, a little.”

He nodded. There was no need to ask what he had gained.

“I just received it. What you gained is the result of your own efforts, not my teaching.”

“Cough! I don’t even have the strength to move now.”

“There will be no more confrontation. Come to the pavilion.”

Li Chianshang walked to the pavilion without looking back, showing no intention of helping Xuliang.

Xuliang grumbled inwardly.

‘A cold-hearted person, a person who doesn’t know respect.’

Or maybe he’s not even human.

‘What kind of being is he?’

His current strength was only half of his prime.

But the attacks he poured on Li Chianshang for half a day were not simple. Regardless of his strength, it was the first time he had focused so much on attacking someone.

Yet, the only thing that happened was that his clothes got dusty.

‘A monster, a monster. Damn, the leader of the Yi Tian Alliance, that old dog. He sent me to assassinate such a monster?’

Forget assassination, just don’t get eaten. The moment that monster appears in the martial world, you’re done for.

‘Anyway.’

Joy filled Xuliang’s face as he finally managed to stand on his feet.

‘Still, I gained a lot.’

Fighting against a super expert with a presence as great as Li Chianshang is itself a form of learning.

After half a day of swinging his sword, there was no way he wouldn’t have gained something. He could recognize and correct the gaps in his sword technique that he had never thought of before.

For a high-level expert like Xuliang, actual combat is learning.

It wasn’t actual combat, but the intensity of this exchange was even greater than actual combat, transforming his sword technique into something smoother and more aggressive.

‘After making me feel suffocated all the time, he gives me such a blessing.’

Xuliang, who was moving with a smile, involuntarily groaned.

“Grr.”

Damn, the pain only comes now.

With a strange, awkward gait, he struggled up to the pavilion, where Li Chianshang was drinking alone.

Xuliang grumbled.

“Does it taste good when you drink alone?”

He was surprised by his own words.

Li Chianshang’s response to Xuliang, who was nervously glancing at him, was surprisingly surprising.

“It doesn’t taste good.”

“...Ah, yes.”

“Would you like a drink?”

He would definitely get drunk if he drank in this state.

He thought about trying it but gave up. He wanted to leave this uncomfortable place as soon as possible.

“It’s fine.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xuliang mentally slapped himself.

You idiot! When the sect leader offers you a drink, you accept it, not say it’s fine! Are you trying to get yourself killed?

Xuliang looked at Li Chianshang again.

But Li Chianshang nodded cleanly.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Xuliang quickly sat down opposite him. His heart was pounding so hard he couldn’t even feel the pain.

Li Chianshang, who had emptied his cup again, handed a piece of paper to Xuliang.

“What is this...?”

“It’s the weakness in your martial arts.”

“...!”

“Your martial arts are not inferior to the Ten Great Martial Arts. However, since it’s a newly created martial art, there are quite a few areas that need improvement.”

“...”

“I don’t know the techniques, but it will be helpful. This is the true ‘one move’ I teach you.”

“...”

“If you have nothing more to say, you may leave.”

Xuliang looked at the left side of the table.

There, the writing materials were scattered. It seemed he had written it immediately before coming to the pavilion.

Xuliang, who had been staring at the paper, bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

It was a sincere expression of gratitude.

Li Chianshang, who had glanced at Xuliang, poured more wine and said.

“It’s a natural reward for a disciple who surprises his teacher. Don’t worry about it.”

I didn’t know he could say such things.

Xuliang smiled and said.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

“I don’t expect much.”

“Alright.”

With that, Xuliang staggered out of the pavilion.

Li Chianshang continued to drink alone for a while.

Then he came down from the pavilion and looked at the pond.

“I understand why Shi Lang found you interesting.”

The legend of Shi Lang, who could start a war in the country.

If the legend is true, the one who will play a leading role in the war must be the one closest to death.

And that boy understood death better than anyone else.

Li Chianshang looked up.

The sky was dark. It was just past noon, but the clouds were so thick that a heavy rain seemed imminent.

His prediction was accurate.

A downpour began a moment later.

Pouring rain drenched Li Chianshang’s body. He could have avoided the rain with his inner strength, but he didn’t.

The wet body, the washed-away dust.

Flash!

Between the flashes of lightning, Li Chianshang’s demonic eyes glowed fiercely.

“Is it time to wield and swing?”

* * *

“Eh? Young Master!”

“Hey, don’t grab me! Don’t support me! Ugh!”

Wei Honglian, who had been sulking at the sight of Xuliang, was startled and approached him.

Xuliang, who had been groaning, glanced at Wei Honglian.

“What? Why are you here again?”

“...You say such things to someone who’s worried about you.”

“I’m curious.”

“I came to drink. Is that okay?”

“Your manners in speaking. If you want to drink so much, drink alone.”

“I want to drink with Young Master. It’s more fun.”

“Shut up.”

Xuliang, grumbling, plopped down in the training ground.

“Yinghua!”

“Yes, Young Master!”

“Give me some food! A lot!”

“Yes, yes! I’ll bring it right away!”

Yinghua ran off. It was a more urgent sprint than usual.

Thinking that it rivaled the footwork of a high-level expert, Wei Honglian asked.

“Hey, a strong man like you, how did you come back looking like a rotten vegetable?”

Ma Dongbi frowned.

“Watch your words.”

“It’s the truth.”

Xuliang waved his hand.

“Since you’re so energetic, go fight outside, you guys. Ugh, my back.”

“Your back? Does it hurt? Should I massage it for you?”

“Why would you massage a sore spot, you crazy thing? Are you trying to finish me off?”

“Massage, massage.”

“Sigh, how did I end up with such a devil?”

“Devil? Huh? Is that a compliment?”

“Just pull out the sword. It’s heavy.”

The two of them removed the Longlin Sword, the Yucheng Twin Swords, and the Qiyi Sword from Xuliang’s body and placed them to one side.

Xuliang lay down. Even on the bare ground, he felt like he could live.

Ma Dongbi and Wei Honglian rolled their eyes. They had never seen Xuliang so exhausted, so they couldn’t easily speak.

Of course, the silence didn’t last long.

Our Demon Lord Wei Honglian was naturally not the type to read the room.

How could she be so clueless that she’s even said to have a crazy personality?

“Young Master, you must be very tired.”

“Can’t you see? If I close my eyes now, I’ll be out for four days.”

“I see.”

“...”

“...”

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“I don’t really have anything to say.”

“If you have nothing to say, go...”

“My turn?”

“What? What’s with this sudden nonsense?”

After hesitating for a moment, Wei Honglian pointed at Ma Dongbi’s sword with her finger.

“You gave that fine sword to him.”

“Yes, I did. So what?”

“...”

“...”

“...”

“Are you, this brat, asking why you didn’t get such a sword?”

“Yes.”

“Have you ever seen such an impolite woman? Hey! Are you and Dongbi the same? Why should I give you a new sword? What have you done for me!”

“Ah, you’re being harsh again. Even if we’re friends, why do you discriminate?”

“Discriminate...”

Xuliang’s eyes closed. He was about to foam at the mouth from the pressure of being grabbed by the back of the neck.

“Stop bothering me and go. Go quickly!”

“I’m not going.”

“Why not?!”

“You said you’re eating. It seems too much to drink, so let’s eat together.”

“Aren’t you worried about your subordinates? Take care of them!”

“They’ll probably be happy I’m not there.”

It was a fact that couldn’t be denied, so Xuliang hesitated for a moment.

He wanted to retort but gave up.

“Fine, just eat and go. Got it?”

“You’re so heartless.”

“Shut up, you nuisance.”

A moment later, the four people and a fox enjoyed a hearty meal.

After eating for a while, Xuliang finally managed to get up.

“I’m not coming out of my room today, so you know.”

Ma Dongbi asked.

“Is there something you need to do?”

“Something? Yes.”

Xuliang’s eyes deepened.

“I have something to think about.”

In his hand was the paper Li Chianshang had given him.