The Path of Blood in the Azure Sky (2)
If I hadn’t infused my inner energy into it, the Suramyeongwang Sword would have snapped in Cheonsoseon’s hands. Such was the sheer force and threat of her power.
With a swift kick, I sent her flying backward, forcing her to release her grip on the sword. It wasn’t a blow that landed; she had deliberately taken the hit to create distance between us.
As soon as the calculated gap formed, Cheonsoseon spun her hands in front of her chest, as if stirring the air.
The space around me twisted, pulling my body along with it, as if some invisible giant were wringing out the very fabric of reality.
Counterattack or evade?
I chose to counterattack.
Summoning my protective energy to its peak, I resisted and mirrored her movements with my own hands.
This time, the space around Cheonsoseon warped. She was testing the limits of her own power, just as I was.
Let’s see how strong you really are!
Cheonsoseon didn’t shy away from the challenge, intensifying her force.
The sky, though empty, began to tremble as if an earthquake had struck, sending violent ripples through the air.
Our powers were evenly matched. The extreme inner energy surged from our fingertips, a testament to Cheonsoseon’s transcendence beyond human limits.
How long did we pour our strength into crushing each other?
With a thunderous crash, we were both flung backward.
The space could no longer withstand the pressure and exploded.
From a distance, we glared at each other. This exchange made it clear: our strengths were nearly identical.
“You really did kill all the Blood Generals!”
“Now you believe it.”
“How can a human be this strong?”
“Weren’t you human too? Didn’t you start from there and reach this point?”
“I was…”
“Almost a great Blood God, but ultimately just an unlucky being who failed?”
“You bastard!”
Cheonsoseon charged at me again, and I didn’t hesitate to provoke her.
I could feel her emotions clearly, from the moment we first faced each other to her current frenzied assault.
I wondered again: Is that the only emotion Cheonsoseon has? If I could cut through that one feeling, could I kill her?
Her fists flew at me with insane power, each strike capable of altering the very world around us.
This time, I met her with the Art of the Immortal Crane. I refused to be overpowered.
The old man hadn’t given me endless inner energy just to run away in situations like this.
I won’t lose to someone like you.
It wasn’t arrogance but a recognition of my own efforts.
She seemed to read my resolve too. Her fists carried an unyielding determination not to lose.
The impact was so intense it felt like my arms might fall off. Despite my extreme protective energy and inner strength, the pain was real. At this moment, only one belief mattered:
If I’m in pain, so are you.
If that belief falters, I lose. The first to break loses.
Our fists collided with such force that it felt like my eardrums might burst from the deafening noise.
How long did we exchange blows like that?
A strange sound of wind.
She unleashed a sudden attack, a swift wind blade. Instinctively, I dodged, and it grazed past my shoulder.
The exchange of fists paused momentarily due to her attack.
Though Cheonsoseon had launched the attack, I was the one smiling.
It wasn’t an attempt to kill me. She had been overwhelmed in the power struggle and resorted to the wind blade. She was in more pain.
Seeing the smile on my face, Cheonsoseon scowled.
“You won’t defeat me!”
In the next moment, blood-red vines began to coil around me.
They weren’t ordinary vines, tightening around me with immense force, threatening to crush me.
Of course, I didn’t just stand there.
The Suramyeongwang Sword at my waist flew into my hand.
Without hesitation, I slashed at the vines, cutting them swiftly and precisely as if the sword were alive.
The vines, seemingly insignificant, required incredible skill to sever without harming myself.
The decision to cut them before they revealed their next threat was one that required unwavering confidence.
The severed vines vanished into smoke.
Her face twisted in frustration as her plan failed.
Now was the time to strike decisively.
Without hesitation, I unleashed the Light-Speed Flying Sword, a technique of the Sword of the Righteous. Holding back was not an option. Showing mercy in this fight would only invite death.
The Suramyeongwang Sword flew like a beam of light, striking her chest with precision.
She was sent flying backward, and I pursued her instantly with my demonic speed.
Yet, astonishingly, even after taking a direct hit from the Light-Speed Flying Sword, she didn’t die. Her chest wasn’t pierced, thanks to the blood armor enveloping her.
Instead, the red aura around her chest darkened, as if bruised. She clutched her chest, her expression contorted in pain.
“It really hurts.”
I adjusted my grip on the Suramyeongwang Sword, which had returned to my hand.
“That’s unfortunate.”
“Why?”
I replied coldly to her question.
“If you don’t die easily, you’ll die painfully.”
Cheonma and Song Hwarin stood side by side, far from the training ground, gazing up at the sky.
Though the battle was out of sight, a low rumble echoed from the distant heavens.
The injured had retreated from the main hall to begin treatment. Those uninjured tended to the fallen and cared for the wounded.
“Thank you for saving me earlier.”
“It’s nothing.”
“I’ll never forget this kindness.”
“There’s no need. I’m not someone worth remembering. Just forget about it.”
“I thought you were terrifying… but I’m glad you’re not. I’ll be going now.”
Song Hwarin bowed politely and ran towards the injured.
Cheonma watched her retreating figure. He hadn’t expected to hear such words. Though unfamiliar, he didn’t dislike them.
At that moment, Galsaryang approached.
“The fight is dragging on.”
“Don’t worry. He won’t lose.”
“Yes, I believe that too.”
Cheonma, still looking at the sky, spoke to Galsaryang.
“I’m leaving now.”
“Now, sir?”
“Yes. Tell him I left when he comes down.”
“Understood.”
“You’re not surprised?”
“I had a feeling you might leave.”
“I see.”
Galsaryang hadn’t expected Cheonma to stay with the Martial Alliance indefinitely. Leaving unexpectedly like this seemed more in line with Cheonma’s nature.
“Don’t you think it’s cowardly?”
“Your faith in the leader is strong, isn’t it?”
“Why do you think that? What if I’m leaving because I’m worried he’ll lose and I’ll die if I stay?”
“Is that so?”
Cheonma smiled faintly at Galsaryang’s question.
What if Byukridan loses? Then I must leave. If I die here, there will be no chance for revenge. Someday, Cheonsoseon will truly understand what revenge means.
“The leader will be disappointed.”
“If he wants to see me, he’ll come find me.”
“Do you have a destination in mind?”
“I plan to wander the martial world for a while.”
“Take care of yourself.”
“You too.”
With that, Cheonma left the Martial Alliance.
The distant sky occasionally echoed with thunderous sounds. It felt like the right time to leave. If Byukridan came down, he might not want to leave. He would want to stay with him in the Martial Alliance.
But he would leave. He would leave to live a new life. Sometimes, when you’re too close, you have to part ways like strangers.
The Light-Speed Flying Sword flew towards Cheonsoseon once more.
With a crash, her body was flung backward. It was the fourth time the Light-Speed Flying Sword had struck her.
Once again, she managed to block it without being pierced.
But the impact was accumulating.
Cheonsoseon tried to grab and destroy the Suramyeongwang Sword, but the speed of the Light-Speed Flying Sword was too fast, and the sword’s retreat was just as swift.
The blood armor on her chest had now turned a deep black.
The Suramyeongwang Sword circled back, unleashing a fifth Light-Speed Flying Sword.
With a crash, she was sent flying backward again.
She tumbled through the air as if rolling on the ground.
“Wait! Wait!”
Cheonsoseon was desperate. In a fight to the death, asking for a pause?
Of course, I pressed on even harder. Showing mercy when victory was within reach was like spitting in the face of the goddess of victory.
This time, the lightning-fast sword struck her square in the stomach. She clutched her abdomen and rolled on the ground. It was a move she would never have attempted under normal circumstances.
The energy drain from using such a rapid-fire technique was immense, making it impossible to unleash it in quick succession like this.
In a frenzy, she unleashed a barrage of wind blades.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
But none of them came close to hitting me. I easily dodged the ones that flew straight, and the rest missed by a wide margin.
In contrast, my lightning-fast sword hit her with precision.
Ssssssssssssh!
Boom!
“Aaaaaaah!”
For the first time, a scream tore from her lips.
Half-human, half-god.
She was both human and divine. One part was palpable, the other elusive.
In her current state, there was no trace of the divine.
So where was the other half of that god now?
Where was that incomplete mass of resentment?
Was it hidden within her?
I was curious.
How did the god within her perceive her? With sympathy? Or was it selfishly using her? Or perhaps it existed without any emotion at all?
Where are you, truly?
Ssssssssssssh!
Boom!
This time, the sword struck true.
Cheon So-seon lay sprawled in the air, unable to rise again.
Her face contorted with pain, she shouted.
“Cheon Hwa-jin!”
Her voice echoed through the sky, a desperate cry that seemed to signal surrender.
“Yes, it’s me.”
It seemed she had heard from Yang Sa-hwi that I was Cheon Hwa-jin.
“Why has fate brought us to face each other here?”
Cheon So-seon looked up at the sky.
“Why?”
I spoke to her.
“Perhaps fate didn’t intend for you and me to meet.”
She turned her head towards me.
“What do you mean?”
“You were merely used. The one fate intended for me to meet is something else within you.”
“Something else within me?”
She looked bewildered, then shouted in anger.
“There’s nothing like that inside me!”
“Prove it.”
“Prove it? How?”
“Prove there’s nothing inside you. Only you can do that.”
“Only me?”
“Yes, if there’s another presence, bring it out. If you can do that, I’ll admit fate meant for us to meet.”
There was a plausible reason for it.
“I, too, have expelled someone from within me.”
“Nonsense!”
Cheon So-seon looked up at the sky with eyes full of resentment. She might want to deny it, but it was not something she could easily dismiss.
She closed her eyes, as if trying to peer into her own heart.