Chapter 127

Pyeong Cheon was stunned as he watched Yeon Woo Jin perform Void Step. Void Step. A light movement technique that allowed one to walk on air as though it were solid ground—one could only begin to manifest it at Hwagyeong-level cultivation. And yet Yeon Woo Jin was descending so naturally, as if it were nothing. It wasn’t just his cultivation—it meant his internal power was also overwhelming. A being at the Hwagyeong level... attending a High Division? How was that even believable? Why would someone at that realm be here? Now it made sense—why Shin Dowoon hadn’t stepped forward. No, now it was certain how Baekyeong had taken the South and conquered the West. Step. Landing softly on the ground, Yeon Woo Jin looked at Yang Gang and Pyeong Cheon and asked: “How did you learn of my existence?” No—they hadn’t known at all. They’d come for Shin Dowoon. And yet, a completely different monster had emerged. “Y-you were not the one we called for.” He knew that. He understood he wasn’t the one they were calling. But since all the students had stared at him, he’d simply asked out of courtesy. “Oh, really?” --> “W-we called for Shin Dowoon. As the Shin Clan’s young master... we assumed he was the true top student of Baekyeong. We never intended to summon you, sir.” “Ah, so the kids misunderstood. If they hadn’t stared at me, I wouldn’t have been dragged into this.” As he turned his head to glance behind him, the students flinched and quickly looked away. “All of you—stay behind after this.” At Yeon Woo Jin’s single sentence, every face dropped and heads bowed. No one dared to object. He turned his gaze back to Yang Gang and Pyeong Cheon. “Still, since you’ve come all this way, shouldn’t we at least have a spar?” He spoke of catastrophe as if it were casual small talk. Yang Gang and Pyeong Cheon both shook their heads in a panic. “N-no, that won’t be necessary! W-we concede! From this moment on, Hwangyong High Division of the Eastern region is under Baekyeong’s command!” “Oh, come now. It’s rude to let guests go without any entertainment. At least take a look at my students’ abilities.” “W-we’d really rather not.” “Then... would you like to see my abilities?” They wanted to cry. Even if they tried to leave now, he clearly wouldn’t let them. And then— A mountainous pressure surged from Yeon Woo Jin’s body, pressing down on the students of Hwangyong High Division. No one could withstand it—they were all forced flat onto the ground. “Ugh!” “Gghhh!” Groans of pain echoed from every direction. “Let me ask again. Why don’t you at least take a look at what my students can do?” This wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command. Struggling to speak, Yang Gang replied: “F-fine... we’ll watch!” He had a genuine fear that if he refused, his body would be crushed under this pressure. No matter how hard he tried to resist, he couldn’t move. And the look in Yeon Woo Jin’s eyes made him truly believe this man might kill them. Only after hearing their agreement did Yeon Woo Jin release the pressure. “Good. I’m glad you’re interested. After all, it’d be a waste if I raised my students so carefully, only for everything to end like this. Wouldn’t you agree?” “Y-yes, of course.” “I’m looking forward to it. But if you get crushed too easily, don’t even think about going home.” “Wh-what...?” “But if you fight back hard and give my students a proper beating, I’ll let you leave unharmed. Might even give you a gift.” Yang Gang looked at Pyeong Cheon. With a stiff face, Pyeong Cheon nodded. He looked back at the students behind them. They all wore faces as if they had put their lives on the line. If that monster didn’t step in, this might be a winnable fight. The students of Hwangyong High Division now glared at the students of Baekyeong, their eyes brimming with bloodlust. Yeon Woo Jin smiled, deeply satisfied. “Now this looks like a proper scene. It’s a bit forced, which bothers me... but still.” The Baekyeong students, on the other hand, looked like they’d just swallowed a mouthful of ash. The Hwangyong students would fight like men possessed. And Baekyeong was not an easy place to begin with. Yeon Woo Jin turned to look at the Baekyeong students. “Let’s see, then. Just how much fruit my training has borne.” He meant: If you don’t show results, prepare to face the consequences. A fierce glint appeared in the eyes of the Baekyeong students. If someone saw this, they’d think it was a death feud between lifelong enemies. “You all heard Woo Jin, right? If we don’t satisfy him today, we die!” “Yes, sir!” With deadly intent, the Baekyeong students prepared to charge. “Go!” “Waaaaaah!” As Baekyeong’s students rushed forward in unison, Yang Gang shouted to his own. “If we don’t satisfy them, we die all the same! Let’s go back alive!” “Waaaaaah!” The fierce battle between the two High Divisions had begun. **** KABOOOOM— The clash between Sunwoo Baek and Yang Gang was like that of a dragon and a tiger. All the other students had already been defeated by Baekyeong and lay collapsed across the field. But that didn’t mean Baekyeong had it easy. The Eastern students fought so viciously that even Baekyeong was overwhelmed. Even while being struck, they clung on and kept attacking—many on Baekyeong’s side ended up injured. What made it worse was the look on Yeon Woo Jin’s face—it was not one of approval. The Baekyeong students sat on pins and needles as they watched Sunwoo Baek and Yang Gang duel. They were praying: Please, just win cleanly. But it wasn’t going to be that easy. Yang Gang was pouring in everything he had, desperate to win or die trying. “Poison Dragon Rush!” Yang Gang thrust his staff straight at Sunwoo Baek’s chest. Sunwoo Baek subtly turned the angle of the strike, diverting it to the side, and unleashed a twin palm strike. “Returning Horse Spear!” Quickly retrieving his staff, Yang Gang deflected the twin palms and spun it around to counterattack. And so it went—neither side managing a clean hit, just endless exchanges of blows. Haa... A sigh ➤ NоvеIight ➤ (Read more on our source) escaped from Yeon Woo Jin’s lips. It was urgent. That sigh only came when he was truly dissatisfied. Sunwoo Baek gritted his teeth. This was it. No more holding back—he had to end it. Charging forward with terrifying intensity unlike anything before, Sunwoo Baek caught Yang Gang off guard. Does he have to go that far? The thought crossed Yang Gang’s mind—but there was no room for doubt now. Screw it, he thought, and threw all his remaining power into one final attack. KABOOOOOOM— Their energies collided, and a massive explosion shook the ground. Dust clouds billowed into the air, hiding them from view. CRACK—! BOOOOM—! Sounds of brutal combat echoed from within the haze. THWACK—! A fierce impact shattered the air, blowing the dust away in all directions. When the view cleared— Sunwoo Baek’s open palm had landed squarely in Yang Gang’s abdomen. Time seemed to freeze. And then— Cough! With a mouthful of blood, Yang Gang collapsed to the ground. Thud— Seeing the blood Yang Gang coughed up, it was clear his condition was critical. Pyeong Cheon tried to rush toward him in a panic, but his body wouldn’t respond. He had expended even the last ounce of strength he had left, determined to defeat Baekyeong no matter what. On top of that, the accumulated shock from the battle made it worse. Still, Pyeong Cheon tried to crawl, if nothing else, toward where Yang Gang lay. It was then— Yeon Woo Jin walked over to Yang Gang and placed his hand on his dantian as he lay sprawled out. The moment he did, Yang Gang’s body jolted violently, and he vomited a mouthful of black blood. “Kuhh!” Seeing that, Pyeong Cheon assumed Yeon Woo Jin had done something to harm him, and cried out in anguish: “What the hell are you—!” Before Pyeong Cheon could even finish his shout— “Hahk, hak! Kuhk, kuhk!” Yang Gang suddenly shot upright, coughing repeatedly. “Huff... huff...” He got up, drenched in cold sweat, wearing the expression of someone who had just woken from a nightmare. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he looked around. Then he noticed the stunned faces of the Hwangyong students staring at him. “Y-you... are you okay?” “Huh? Yeah, I’m fine. Huh? What’s this? Blood?” He wiped his lips with the back of his hand and found it stained red. Only then did he recall the final blow Sunwoo Baek had landed before he blacked out. His whole life had flashed before his eyes. He truly thought he was going to die. In his confusion, Yang Gang spotted Yeon Woo Jin. “It’s him!” If someone had done something to save him, it could only have been the man in front of him. “D-did you save me?” Yeon Woo Jin smiled and asked: “Why? If I did, are you planning to repay me or something?” Yang Gang nodded firmly. “You’re the one who saved my life! Of course I should repay you!” “Then what kind of repayment should I ask for?” “Wait—did you really save me?” Yeon Woo Jin nodded. “You have medical training as well?” “A little?” “...Excuse me?” “I just know the basics.” “...Basics? You flawlessly healed an internal system that was practically destroyed, with ‘basic’ knowledge?” “Oh? You could tell?” “Yes. I was hazy when I first woke up, but now I’m sure of it.” “I have a special ability. You could call it a minor talent.” “A minor... talent?” “The ability to revive someone... as long as they’re still breathing.” “...What?” How could that be called minor? That was a monumental ability. “What are you talking about? You revived that one kid whose breathing had stopped. You said it yourself—if you catch it before a full minute passes, you can bring someone back.” “I did say that?” Correction: it was a godlike ability that could revive the dead. Yang Gang’s eyes widened. As if being unimaginably powerful wasn’t enough, he had this kind of absurd ability, too. Was this man a god? The thought crossed his mind. Why would someone like this—someone with such overwhelming strength and ability—be at a High Division? That, too, puzzled him. He began to seriously wonder: could this person actually be a god, descending for sport among mortals? Yeon Woo Jin looked at Yang Gang and spoke. “Become mine.” “...Pardon?” “Your name was Yang Gang, correct?” “Yes, that’s correct.” “From this day forward, I want you to become one of my people. I think that would be a fitting repayment.” “You... want me?” “Yes.” What was this? Why did he feel so proud? Why did it feel so... good? Yang Gang looked at Yeon Woo Jin. He was already this incredible now—what about in the future? It was obvious the world would one day revolve around him. Jungcheon? The Five Peak Martial Saints? He made the comparison. And realized—it was impossible to compare. Suddenly, he was curious. Just who was this man? Yang Gang cautiously asked: “If you tell me who you are... I will follow you.” Yeon Woo Jin gave a sly smile. Then, using sound transmission, he whispered his identity. “My name is Yeon Woo Jin. I am the direct grandson of the Martial God, Lord Cheon.” “Wh-what?!” Yang Gang visibly flinched upon hearing the truth. “It’s a secret.” “Y-yes, sir!” Yeon Woo Jin had spoken with sound transmission, but Yang Gang responded aloud in his shock. The students of Hwangyong tilted their heads in confusion at Yang Gang’s reaction. What had he just heard to make him so shocked? And why was he suddenly standing frozen like a soldier, completely on edge? Then Yang Gang dropped to his knees before Yeon Woo Jin, voice booming: “I will follow you, my lord!” Yang Gang was certain. The future—no, all of Mushincheon—would belong to Yeon Woo Jin. He wasn’t foolish enough to throw away this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity handed to him. “I’ll be counting on you.” “I will serve with the devotion of dog and horse!” “There are a few others I’m interested in.” “Just give me their names! I’ll bring them all before you!” Yang Gang was doing everything he could to win Yeon Woo Jin’s favor. Meanwhile, the students of Hwangyong stood dumbfounded. Why was he acting like this all of a sudden? Pyeong Cheon in particular was stunned. This wasn’t the Yang Gang he knew. Had he been brainwashed? Just as the confusion swirled, Yeon Woo Jin wrote something down and handed it to Yang Gang. Yang Gang read it, his expression turning serious. Then he looked directly at Pyeong Cheon. And in Yang Gang’s gaze, Pyeong Cheon saw it— The look of a predator eyeing its prey. Yang Gang then looked back at Yeon Woo Jin and asked: “May I reveal your identity to the individuals on this list?” “Yes. Go ahead. But... you know the condition, right?” “Yes! I’ll make sure they understand it must remain a strict secret!” Yeon Woo Jin smiled. After all, he had already placed a restriction on everyone here—no one would be able to speak a word about him, even if they tried. “Stay here for the night. Doesn’t look like you’re in any condition to travel anyway.” “Thank you! Then we will rest without hesitation!”