Chapter 40

This was a purely innocent act on Bi Ryu-yeon's part, without any malice, but for Ho Cheon-sang, it was an unbearable insult that turned his stomach. Even to the onlookers, Bi Ryu-yeon's absurd behavior was no different from digging his own grave. Ho Cheon-sang's bulging tiger eyes gleamed with anger. He ground his teeth. He must have thought that a young brat had insulted him.

But he had no way of knowing, not even in his dreams, that Yeomdo, one of the five great saber masters of the world, had been defeated by Bi Ryu-yeon, who looked like a complete greenhorn, and had fallen to the status of his disciple. Unless he was a god, how could he know such a hidden secret of the Jianghu? If he had known, he would not have harbored such a rash thought of thoroughly punishing Bi Ryu-yeon. Ho Cheon-sang ground his teeth inwardly. 'If I don't discipline that punk, I'm not a man,' Ho Cheon-sang hardened his resolve.

"Then I suppose I'll have to hold you responsible?"

It meant that since that side had disciplined his kid, this side would also discipline and punish him for the same price. His voice clearly contained the will to repay the debt with interest. Hearing that, Yeomdo snorted. It was a sneer that clearly meant 'as if you could'. Even if he was caught off guard, how could Ho Cheon-sang handle a monster that even he couldn't defeat?

Ho Cheon-sang had no idea, not even in his dreams, that the one digging his own grave was not Bi Ryu-yeon, but himself. Of course, Yeomdo was not the kind of person with a kind heart to teach Ho Cheon-sang such facts one by one. He knew very well that if such a disgrace became known, all that would come back to him would be a downpour of ridicule and contempt. But even if Bi Ryu-yeon were to be smashed to pieces by Ho Cheon-sang, there was nothing to be sorry about, no, he would actually gain a huge profit. Because he could get rid of this annoying punk without lifting a finger. But suddenly, Yeomdo did something unexpected. He stepped forward to stop Ho Cheon-sang's action.

"Oh? If you can, go ahead. But you'll have to defeat me first."

Ho Cheon-sang flinched at Yeomdo's remark. For Yeomdo himself to step forward for a greenhorn who didn't even seem like much. His surprise at seeing a Yeomdo who was so different from the rumors was very natural. Yeomdo, who hated troublesome people and their actions the most, had volunteered to take on the trouble of wielding his saber.

Was there anyone at that age who could move Yeomdo? Even after looking over Bi Ryu-yeon again, Ho Cheon-sang couldn't guess at all. But despite the suddenly serious atmosphere in the manor, Bi Ryu-yeon was leisurely and still had a playful smile, as if he were enjoying it. It was the leisure of life that only the chosen could have. Had Bi Ryu-yeon already reached such a state of nothingness and non-action at a young age? Or was it just due to his foolishly optimistic personality? It was not yet confirmed.

"You're going to do it yourself?"

Bi Ryu-yeon whispered in Yeomdo's ear. His two eyes were full of countless sparkling expectations, like starlight. For him to handle it himself without troubling him. 'He's finally submitted from the heart,' he thought, making a completely absurd assumption, and he fell into a pleased mood by himself, without thinking about the person who would give him the rice cake.

"I will do it... sir!"

Yeomdo himself would step forward and face Ho Cheon-sang's duel. Without troubling him. Bi Ryu-yeon was truly pleased. Yeomdo pushed Bi Ryu-yeon away with his large, pot-lid-sized hand and took a step forward. Bi Ryu-yeon stood beside him and clapped enthusiastically. It seemed to be a cheer to give him strength. Though it didn't seem to have much effect.

But Yeomdo did not take on this duel for Bi Ryu-yeon's sake. Submission from the heart? A passing dog would laugh. It was the opposite. Yeomdo took on this fight with the intention of releasing even a little of the countless mental and physical resentments he had been receiving, knowingly and unknowingly, since he had fallen to the status of Bi Ryu-yeon's disciple. In other words, a fact that would make Ho Cheon-sang faint from shock if he knew, but he was nothing more than a simple outlet for releasing even a little of the resentment that had been piling up in Yeomdo's heart. Moreover, Yeomdo had not been fond of Tiger Fang Manor, which claimed to be a prestigious sect of the sword with only this level of skill, for a while. Naturally, the sight of Ho Cheon-sang standing in an awkward posture was quite an eyesore.

There was one more reason on top of that. Because of the uneasy feeling that had been stimulating his nerves ever since he crossed the threshold of this Tiger Fang Manor, his nerves were now extremely sensitive, making his impression of Tiger Fang Manor and its master, Ho Cheon-sang, even worse. Yeomdo's mood was currently a complete mess. So, as a way to relieve his resentment, he decided to fix his habits for good this time. Thus, he resolved to let him know that there is a heaven above heaven.

Of course, although he was belittled by Yeomdo as insignificant and trivial, Ho Cheon-sang was also the master of a sect. He was by no means an opponent to be taken lightly. The way both of them held their sword and saber and their auras were not ordinary, befitting peerless warriors who had experienced the depths of martial arts. If the two clashed, it would definitely not end as a simple, trivial fight.

But Ho Cheon-sang's side still felt lacking. In terms of momentum and experience, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was still no match for Yeomdo. Yeomdo also only considered Ho Cheon-sang as a simple outlet for his anger. An outlet for his anger that might have some reaction. Of course, Ho Cheon-sang also sensed that belatedly, and that fanned his anger even more. But unlike his intense anger and boiling fighting spirit, his right hand, which was gripping his beloved sword, the Angry Tiger's Fang, was trembling finely. It had been a considerable time since he had gripped the hilt, but the fine trembling had not yet subsided, and his two hands were covered in cold sweat. It was the unavoidable expression of his innate instincts. But his current situation was a thorough last stand, there was no place to retreat.

---

"I will gladly receive your teachings."

Ho Cheon-sang said, maintaining the courtesy according to the rules. But the way he spat out the words, it seemed he had no intention of learning, not even a speck. Rather, it was a momentum to show him a move. That fighting spirit was worthy of high praise. Yeomdo nodded his head. It meant 'come whenever you're ready'.

Without anyone going first, the two drew their sword and saber at the same time. Conceding the first move, Yeomdo did not move, as if rooted to the spot. Naturally, Ho Cheon-sang leaped first and struck down at Yeomdo with a terrifying force. A strong sword of the hegemonic path that emphasizes power and destruction! It was indeed a terrifying momentum. In that instant, the sword and the saber clashed.

CRASH!

An explosion occurred with a deafening roar that tore the eardrums. The sword and the saber had clashed, but there was no sound of metal, but an explosion. Due to the aftermath of the powerful explosion of ki generated from where the sword and the saber had clashed, dust and gravel flew about, and an angry wind made the hair of the onlookers who were surrounding them flutter, and made their robes flap violently. A tingling thrill ran through the entire bodies of the onlookers. Everyone could feel the clash of ki and its aftermath with their own bodies. It was the first clash.

The dust generated by the clash obscured the vision of the two, but when Yeomdo waved his hand once, a gust of wind miraculously blew and cleared the thick dust, and soon the figures of the two were revealed to the eyes of the people.

'Oops! This is...!'

Ho Cheon-sang was inwardly horrified. His opponent, Yeomdo, was standing there without moving a single step, as if fixed to the spot, but what about himself? Hadn't he retreated eight steps back, leaving deep and clear footprints on the ground, and kicking up dust? The deep and clear footprints clearly showed the predicament he was in. The clear footprints on the ground were clear evidence that his own body had moved hard to disperse the force, to the extent of the predicament he had suffered from the one exchange.

It was just one exchange of offense and defense, but the superiority of their martial arts from this one exchange was clear. Not only the footprints that were only on Ho Cheon-sang's side, but also his blackened face, his curly hair damaged by the fire ki, and his blackened and disheveled clothes clearly explained the difference in their skills without any filter.

Ho Cheon-sang's grip almost tore from the fierce impact he received when he crossed swords with Yeomdo, which was like a gunpowder explosion. With the explosion, fire ki soared, and a storm of blazing flames swirled around his entire body like a whirlwind. He was busy just getting his body out of the way. He couldn't even think of a counterattack when he was having a hard time just managing his own body.

Indeed, what he had just experienced was Yeomdo's specialty, the rumored 'Sword Strike Blazing Flame Ki'. It was a peerless ultimate technique, shortened to Sword Flame Ki. When he had heard about it through rumors, he had thought it was an exaggeration, but now that he had faced it directly, it was more than the rumors. The thought of crossing swords again made him scared. He even had doubts about his own martial arts, which he had been so confident in, wondering if his skills were only this much. It was a complete defeat.

Ho Cheon-sang knew. The fact that Yeomdo had deliberately slowed his hand at the moment the sword and the saber clashed. Even while holding back, he had inflicted this much of a predicament on him. It was Ho Cheon-sang who had drawn his sword first. The one sword that brushed past at the same time as he drew his sword. But Yeomdo, who was standing there without moving a muscle, as if looking down on him or conceding the first move. Such a Yeomdo had clearly seen and confirmed Ho Cheon-sang's offensive, and then drew his own saber to defend. A perfect late-strike counter. And a perfect difference in skill. In terms of speed, power, and internal energy, he was no match for Yeomdo.

With just one exchange of the sword, just one exchange of offense and defense, Ho Cheon-sang's resources were all depleted. He was so ashamed that he wanted to hide in a mouse hole. But even if he were to die, he couldn't retreat like this for the sake of his face. It was too miserable and shabby to retreat like this. Ho Cheon-sang steeled himself for a final, desperate struggle. It could be called a final struggle. It was a man's pride.

Just then, there was a voice of salvation that saved him.

"Stop!"

It was a light from heaven.

---

• A Fated Rival, No, an Enemy Met on a Single-Log Bridge

Just as Ho Cheon-sang was about to rush towards Yeomdo like a moth to a flame, a single voice was heard from inside the pavilion. It was not a loud voice, but it was a dignified voice that was clearly delivered to the ears of the onlookers in this noisy manor without a single distortion.

Judging by the dignified and powerful internal energy contained in the voice, the opponent was clearly a great master of the peak. Only the voice of such a person could penetrate the collective consciousness of the onlookers like this, refresh the atmosphere, and draw their attention. It was easy to guess that he had used a very advanced internal energy technique.

The moment he heard that voice, Yeomdo stopped his hand that was preparing to crush Ho Cheon-sang. He stopped all his actions and movements, as if he had been thrown into a frozen time. Yeomdo doubted his own ears. It was a voice he could never forget, a voice that would never be forgotten from his mind, a voice he would take to his grave, no, a voice that would follow him to the underworld. It was the voice of the one who had left a fatal scar on his heart. How could he forget that voice, which was engraved deep in his heart?

Suspicion bloomed in a corner of Yeomdo's mind. 'Surely not,' he thought. His fist, which seemed like it would never tremble, trembled finely. What should he do if it was him? His gaze slowly fixed on the pavilion, the source of the voice. Soon, the pavilion door opened, and a graceful and noble middle-aged man revealed himself.

Light blue silver hair, a blue beard, and blue eyebrows. He was a middle-aged man who was all blue, the complete opposite of Yeomdo. It was not a deep blue like the sea, but a light silver-blue that gave a transparent feeling, reminiscent of the coldness of ice. Seeing him, Yeomdo's eyes turned into those of a startled rabbit. His two eyes opened so wide they seemed they would tear, like a person who had witnessed an unbelievable mystery. In his wide-open eyes, blood vessels rose like a net of red, thin branches. A thunderous lion's roar erupted from the depths of his lungs.

"Cheol-su!"

It was a terrifying lion's roar with a majesty that seemed to make all the mountains and rivers tremble like an aspen tree. Everyone was startled by the great roar that vibrated the atmosphere. But the one who actually heard the roar, Binggeom Gwan Cheol-su himself, didn't seem very surprised. Whether he was deliberately not showing it, or whether he didn't feel much emotion, no disturbance of the heart could be read from his face. He did not show any disturbance of the heart at all and did not lose his composure, which was as calm as a lake. In a word, he was a man as cold and chilly as the northern sea's frost. His lips, which had been frozen like a glacier, parted, and a voice colder than a blizzard leaked out.

"We meet again, Hui!"

Hui is a Chinese character meaning princess. Of course, the character in Yeomdo's name was not the 'Hui' for princess, but the 'Hui' for joy, but in the past, Binggeom had called him 'Hui' as if to mock him.

"You punk! Don't call me that!"

Yeomdo roared again. He was trembling all over with intense anger. His body was trembling.

Why hadn't he noticed sooner? He had thought he would be able to sense that punk's presence even if he were a thousand li away... It was natural that his beloved saber, Hongyeom, which was like his other self, was crying so mournfully. The beloved sword that punk had, Bingru. The transparent blue blade, which held a chillingly cold light, was a transparent ice-blue sword that held the cold ki of the extreme yin, which was said to freeze even the moonlight.

The sword Bingru, which had the same length as his beloved saber Hongyeom without a single deviation, and the same weight without a single error. It was the twin sword of Hongyeom, born as a pair of yin and yang, separated from the Supreme Polarity at the beginning of time. Twin swords are bound to call each other and attract each other. It was natural that they would resonate so mournfully as they got closer to each other.

"Was it really you? Was it you! Binggeom Gwan, Cheol, su!"

Yeomdo's great roar was so thunderous that it shook the manor. The voice was the voice of a huge explosion of anger. Yeomdo acted like a person who had met his mortal enemy. What had happened for Yeomdo to treat him like that? It was an unknown matter. It was probably something only the two of them knew. They were truly a contrast. Momentum, energy, personality, appearance, color, and so on, they were a contrast in everything. An absolute polarity that could not coexist. It looked like a confrontation of extremes. Extremes that could never mix. A mismatch that could not achieve harmony. There was no other way to describe them than with these words.