202 - Murim Login

Chapter 202 A mere thirty minutes—a single incense stick's worth of time. No matter how formidable my opponent, the Fire King, was, I believed that if I exerted all my strength, I could force him to retreat just a little, even if it was only by a slight margin. That was my belief, until just recently. 'Is this even possible?' I retreated, my face drained of color. He caught the rotating spearhead, augmented with my full power, barehanded. It was as reckless as sticking one's hand into a shredder. But when the hands belong to Jeok Cheon-Gang, the Fire King, the story changes. Crackling. Hiss. As the molten metal dripped onto the ground, steam rose in swirling wisps. Seeing this, Jeok Cheon-Gang clicked his tongue. “It's melting quicker than I expected. Make sure to use better materials next time, given we've had a generous influx recently.” “How... how did you do that?” “You can do it too.” “Me?” “Of course. If you reach a level of power surpassing this old geezer and master the martial techniques to their ultimate form.” “Easy, right?” Sure, real easy. As I gave him a look of disbelief, Jeok Cheon-Gang opened his mouth wide in a yawning display. “You seem relaxed. If I were you, I'd be taking another swing with the spear instead of wasting time.” “I was about to, anyway.” I cast a sidelong glance at the countdown hovering in the void, pulling out a new spear. Sixteen minutes left. Nearly half of the allotted time had slipped by. 'I just need to make him take one step back, a single step...' But that was far from simple. Taking a deep breath, I fixed my gaze on Jeok Cheon-Gang standing nonchalantly in his spot. “Whoo-” Swoosh! Simultaneously, I launched myself forward, erasing the distance between us with a broad step, thrusting the spear. Thwack! Jeok Cheon-Gang's lips curled upwards as he watched me. “I did say, it was only the beginning.” Boom. A single stomp. Yet the effect was catastrophic. The ground shook as if gripped by an earthquake, and a flock of birds scattered from the spindly tree branches. In the slowed-down world, Jeok Cheon-Gang's hand, momentarily blurred, swatted away the dozens of stones that had floated into the air. Right towards me. Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The stones shot at me infused with tremendous energy; each one as lethal as a concealed weapon. This destructive force surely surpassed that of the Great Elder I had faced in the past. But... 'I have grown stronger too.' Hum, hum, hum. The spear emitted a resonant wail. The feeling of unity was on a completely different level from when I was just an average fighter. The perfected spear and footwork had been refined to the point of flawless harmony. Having crossed the threshold of mastery, insights that were previously unimaginable came to light. And with my enhanced capabilities... 'I can do it.' Crack. The spear shaft, grasped tightly, began to warp under the pressure. At the next moment— Whoosh! Compressed like a spring, the power was unleashed. Swinging the spear horizontally with full strength, a gust of wind erupted from its path. An emission of qi and a summoned storm, by me. Whirr. Fine dust scattered in all directions—the final traces of the pulverized stones caught within the trajectory. “Well, look at this kid.” With the obstacles cleared, it was time to strike the body. I charged toward Jeok Cheon-Gang's expression, a mix of exhaustion and delight. Swish! Whoosh, whoosh! The spear blade, loaded with energy, sliced through the air. With a slight bend at the waist, Jeok Cheon-Gang dodged, a burst of heat radiating from his right hand. Boom! Simultaneously, a blazing flame shot forth—a mass of condensed, intense qi. Gritting my teeth, I swung my spear. Clang! Kaboom! A thundering sound, followed by an immense force and heat, enveloped my whole body. Seeing me stand there, singed black, Jeok Cheon-Gang burst into laughter. “Look at this brute. Did you really think of deflecting it?” “...Huff. Almost had it there.” “Ridiculous. If I had gone all out, you'd be dead by now.” I retorted nonchalantly. “It was manageable, so I managed.” "And that's why you're in that state?” “...Didn't expect it to be like this.” “Well, I must commend you for not collapsing disgracefully. And for blocking it after all.” “Weren't you just blocking as well?” “Who told you that?” Damn. Now that I think about it, he has a point. I tore off my half-ruined garment, tossing it aside. “Your title is the Fire King. Isn’t it a bit much, exerting so much against someone your grandson's age?” “And you, a brat still wet behind the ears, wielding a spear against your great-grandfather's peer? How do you expect to call yourself the Hidden Dragon of Shanxi after this?” “But you’re a master above masters!” “And you’re a Heavenly Martial Body!” “Is that even a fair comparison?” “Not words, then, just a foal?” Nonsense, unbelievable. My grip tightened on the spear. I exhaled a fiery breath. “Phew, let's do this for real now.” Jeok Cheon-Gang stuck his pinky into his ear, twisting it leisurely. “Hmm? What? It’s hard to hear the murmurings of a loser turned charcoal.” Wow, disgusting. When I had thrashed the Arrogant Sword Guest so thoroughly, my words felt like the crispest repartee in the world, but facing them myself was turning my insides upside down. “What are you going to do if I actually manage to make you take even one step back?” “Might as well expect the Heavenly Demon to become the Abbot of Shaolin.” Damn. “You’ve only got the time it takes to drink a glass of water, can you manage to push me back in that time? Not likely.” Jeok Cheon-Gang spoke the truth. A mere three minutes remained. Looking back at the exchanges so far, the quest seemed predetermined for failure. However, I still had a hidden card left to play that I hadn’t revealed yet. I continued the conversation effortlessly. “You might come to regret it.” “Regret what? I intended to gauge your skills from the beginning. Still, you show promise. Keep at it, and...” "That's a shame." ''What?'' Jeok Cheon-Gang looked puzzled as I sighed, appearing genuinely regretful. “If you only defended without launching any offense, I might’ve succeeded… Though there were no such conditions stipulated.” “You could make me retreat if I only defended?” Jeok Cheon-Gang’s eyes sparkled, whether with competitiveness or curiosity. Judging from the look in his eyes, while I couldn’t discern the exact emotion, it was clear I had almost got to him. Feigning obliviousness, I waved my hand dismissively. “No, no. Let’s just pretend you didn’t hear that. If I actually succeed, it might tarnish your esteemed reputation.” That single sentence sealed the deal. “...You cheeky brat.” With a curious expression, Jeok Cheon-Gang twitched his cheek before finally nodding his head. “Your intentions are as clear as day, but fine. Let’s see what you can do.” “Are you serious?” “Haven’t you heard the saying ‘A word from the Fire King is worth its weight in gold’? Once I give my word, I stick to it.” “...Ah, yes.” He had slightly altered the words, but regardless, I had achieved my objective. I tossed aside the half-charred spear and pulled out a third one. 'This will probably be a one-shot use.' But if it means completing a supreme-grade quest, it’s a bargain at any price. Watching me re-adjust my stance, Jeok Cheon-Gang furrowed his brows. “You’re not thinking of using poison or some hidden trick, are you?” “No way, of course not.” I added with a bright smile. “If you’re a man, you go big with one solid strike.” Vrrrr. The spear, swallowing up 45 years' worth of condensed energy, trembled violently. Boom! Massive rocks were flung away, and thick trees were uprooted entirely. At the center of the now-devastated clearing stood Jeok Cheon-Gang, having retreated exactly five steps. “You, you…” Jeok Cheon-Gang glanced back and forth between me and the surrounding devastation, his face half-stunned. The once beautiful landscape was now an ugly sight littered with broken and uprooted trees and rocks. This was all the result of one thrust, an Ilseom (One Eradication). “What have you done?” “Well, I didn’t expect it to go this far either.” It was my first time executing Ilseom since reaching the pinnacle state. While I anticipated increased destructive power given my enhanced energy, I hadn’t imagined it would be to this extent. Jeok Cheon-Gang yelled, disbelieving my response. “Do you think that makes any sense?” “Exactly. I mean, wow, this is crazy…” Suddenly my vision blurred, and my legs wobbled. Having poured out every last drop of my strength and energy, this was inevitable. His wrinkled hand caught my swaying body. His gaze, looking down at me, was as intricate as ever. “I’ll hear the details later. Rest first.” With those words, a powerful energy flowed into my back. It must have been Jeok Cheon-Gang infusing his energy into me. Contrary to my expectation of it being fiercely hot like swallowing the sun, his energy was warm and vast. That cozy warmth overwhelmed me with an unbearable sleepiness. “Old M-master.” “Just relax and let yourself rest.” “...I did win, right?” "...!" Jeok Cheon-Gang’s eyelids trembled slightly. Finally, he responded in a hoarse voice. “Yeah, I lost.” “Hehehe.” A laugh slipped out involuntarily. Despite being burdened by numerous conditions, the joy of making such a revered master like Jeok Cheon-Gang retreat was genuine. Ding. - Quest [Retreat One Step] has been successfully completed! - The quest reward is... Before the fading sound of the system announcement, I drifted into a deep slumber. 'That kid… really knows how to sleep, huh.' Jeok Cheon-Gang observed Jin Tae-Kyung, who had fallen fast asleep, for a long time. His sharp features exuded both the innocence of a young boy and the aura of a youth who had already experienced the world. 'A peculiar lad, truly peculiar.' The more he watched, the stronger that feeling grew. He believed he had peeled back a layer of him, only to find a tougher, more dazzling scale hidden underneath. 'A latent dragon (잠룡)?' This young man, snoring peacefully, was a dragon yet to hold a dragon pearl. Which only fueled his curiosity further. How far would Jin Tae-Kyung go in the end? Would he witness this lad’s true limits during his own lifetime? 'Especially that last strike…' Once more surveying the area, Jeok Cheon-Gang let out a hollow laugh. Could this scene truly be created by someone so young, who had barely passed his coming of age? He bet even the famous Swordmaster didn’t achieve this level. 'A Martial God… He might have been capable.' A martial artist born as a human but revered as a god—the only person the Fire King, Jeok Cheon-Gang, truly respected. What must the youthful days of someone heralded as the greatest in history have been like? Imagining Jin Tae-Kyung alongside the Martial God’s youth, Jeok Cheon-Gang let out a soft chuckle. 'For me to have such thoughts, this kid’s talent must truly rival the Martial God.' Watching Jin Tae-Kyung with keen eyes, Jeok Cheon-Gang rose to his feet. By now, a deep-seated desire had sprouted within him—to hand a dragon pearl to this young latent dragon. 'Fly high above the clouds. Become a Heavenly Dragon (천룡) that can cover the world with rain and wind.' Snore. The sound of snoring served as the boy’s only response, prompting Jeok Cheon-Gang to burst out in laughter.