Chapter 65

Even though Bisa-yeong hadn’t given it her all, she couldn’t help but smirk inwardly at the sight of the giant beast struggling to keep up.

At this rate, wouldn’t it be harder to keep the creature from giving up than to simply outrun it?

It seemed she could stall for even longer than originally planned.

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to lead it straight toward the camp where the squad leader was waiting.

But her smile didn’t last.

The giant beast, having focused its inner energy, suddenly pushed off the ground and charged forward like a cannonball.

Bang!

“Ugh?!”

Bisa-yeong sharply increased her speed and twisted her direction.

Just then, the beast’s massive hand barely grazed past her.

A chill ran down her spine.

‘As expected of a master with over ninety years of inner energy cultivation—he had a hidden move.’

Thankfully, she hadn’t let her guard down and kept watching him closely.

She surged forward, trying to widen the distance again.

But the beast once more slammed into the ground and shot forward like a cannonball, changing direction mid-charge.

Bang!

Despite its enormous size, its speed was astonishing.

Its straight-line velocity rivaled Bisa-yeong’s own top speed.

However, it seemed the beast couldn’t change direction smoothly once it launched itself like that.

Quickly realizing this, Bisa-yeong nimbly shifted her course, darting like a rabbit evading a wild boar, continuously luring the giant beast on.

“This bastard…”

Though the beast was a reckless warhorse, it wasn’t stupid.

By now, it understood that Bisa-yeong was deliberately drawing it out.

“How dare you mock me?!”

Rage flared hot in the beast’s chest.

It had believed that with its secret trump card—the explosive charge technique—it could easily catch a mere peak-level opponent like this.

But now it had to admit: it couldn’t keep up with this foe using its current methods.

Every time it used the explosive charge, the opponent twisted and darted away like a flying squirrel, only fueling its frustration.

Capturing this opponent alive seemed impossible.

‘Right, I wanted to capture him alive to uncover his identity. But I can’t catch him alive. Not alive.’

Still, if killing him was the plan, then capturing him wasn’t necessary.

The beast focused its inner energy into its right hand.

A dense, spherical aura began to form, compact and glowing faintly.

Masters beyond a certain level could condense their energy and release it externally.

This was called a “spirit orb”—when formed with sword energy, it was a sword orb; with saber energy, a saber orb.

To wield these orbs freely in battle required a transcendent mastery—over a hundred years of inner energy cultivation.

The energy consumption was immense, and controlling it was no easy feat.

But even though the beast hadn’t reached that level, it could still manage a single, concentrated burst after long focus.

The orb in its palm pulsed with a vivid presence.

Watching Bisa-yeong dart about like a squirrel, the beast curled its lips into a bitter smile.

Then, with a sudden, powerful swing of its arm, it shouted,

“Die!”

Shuaaaak!

A blazing red orb shot toward Bisa-yeong at incredible speed.

Since the earlier encounter, Bisa-yeong hadn’t let her guard down for a moment, keeping a close eye on the beast as she fled.

But when the red orb reached her eyes in an instant after the beast’s swing, all she could do was stare in shock.

“!”

It was too fast.

There was no way Bisa-yeong could dodge an orb moving at that speed.

Not even react in time.

Yet, though it was impossible for her, the “Cheonpung Shinbeop” technique ingrained in her body made it possible.

This ultimate art, which harmonized movement with the flow of air rather than opposing it, instinctively guided her body to slip aside in that split second.

Shaaak!

The orb, which had nearly pierced her heart, grazed past her chest as she smoothly twisted her body.

It happened without her conscious awareness.

But that wasn’t the end.

Realizing the orb had missed, the beast clenched its fist and detonated the orb midair.

“Hah!”

Kraaaang!

The explosion was massive, and the blast swept Bisa-yeong away like a leaf, leaving her unable to even scream.

She flew about five or six yards before being flung to the ground like a ragdoll.

Thud-thud-thud!

The blast was so powerful it shattered nearby trees far beyond where Bisa-yeong had been.

There was no way she could have survived.

Yet, the beast landed beside her with a bitter smile—only to blink in surprise and mutter,

“She’s still alive?”

It couldn’t understand that it was thanks to the Cheonpung Shinbeop’s flow-harmonizing power that she survived the blast.

But it didn’t need to know why.

With a grim smile, it whispered,

“Heh heh, this is good. Now I can find out who you really are.”

Lifting the unconscious, limp body of Bisa-yeong, the beast took off toward the estate again.

---

“Sayoung…”

I muttered in despair.

Brother Sak hurriedly hoisted the Amifa woman onto his back and shouted,

“Let’s get out of here! Now!”

He seemed to have decided there was nothing more we could do with Bisa-yeong captured and the giant beast back.

And his judgment was undoubtedly correct.

Though we’d been lucky to take down a higher-level master earlier, we couldn’t expect such fortune against a beast aiming for transcendent mastery.

But…

“Hmph! You think I’ll let you escape?!”

The beast threw Bisa-yeong’s body to the ground and lunged toward us.

I could see her helpless form rolling on the earth like a puppet.

‘Sayoung…’

I didn’t know why I had been sent back in time.

Maybe it had something to do with the Hongyeom Sword, a treasured heirloom of the Sunwoo family.

But maybe not.

If everyone who was stabbed in the heart by the Hongyeom Sword went back in time, that would be absurd.

So I didn’t know the exact reason or its meaning.

But one thing I was certain of:

‘I will never repeat the regrets of my past life.’

My past was filled with regrets.

I had neglected myself to avoid fighting with my brothers.

I hadn’t mastered my family’s martial arts, forcing me to steal techniques from others.

And I had failed to properly respond to the Blood Sect’s attacks, ultimately losing the Sunwoo family to them.

But the thing I regretted most was being powerless to stop my friends from dying for me.

‘My friends, who showed me kindness and loyalty that even my own family never gave, died because of me—and I could do nothing.’

Nothing was more painful, more agonizing, or more regretful than that.

Now, I was moving to attack the Blood Sect to save those precious people.

Without them, I’d have no reason to fight the Blood Sect at all.

Of course, I didn’t mean to protect them so they’d never die.

We were warriors living on the edge of the blade.

If my warrior friends died as warriors, I had to respect that.

But not now.

If I ran away and left Sayoung behind—someone I could still save—that would betray the very purpose of my return.

“Brother Sak! Go ahead first!”

As Sak Muheun leapt backward, I charged toward the beast, unleashing my sword technique.

Sunwoo Thirteen Swords, Thirteen Steps.

Phantom Sword Formation.

Puhwaaaat!

My sword split into dozens, even hundreds of illusions, surrounding the beast.

For a moment, the beast was forced to hesitate, caught off guard by the swarm of sword images.

“Hmm?”

But the hesitation was brief.

With a single wave of its hand, it blew all the phantom swords away.

“Tricks!”

Fwah!

The secret art of the Sunwoo Thirteen Swords was dispelled so easily.

It was too short a moment to even try a sneak attack like before.

But I never intended to.

That brief distraction was enough for me to rush toward the fallen Sayoung.

Pak!

Meanwhile, Brother Sak had already escaped the estate with the woman.

A smile escaped me.

Who would have thought the Phantom Sword Formation, which I’d always thought useless, could be so effective?

The wisdom of our ancestors never ceased to amaze.

But just as I reached to grab the fallen Bisa-yeong, a sudden ominous feeling made me glance back.

There, in the beast’s hand pulled back to throw something, I saw a sinister red energy gathering.

No way…

“A spirit orb?!”

I gasped in horror and quickly dodged to the side.

Pak!

The beast hesitated, then laughed with a hint of respect.

“Ho! You’ve got good instincts.”

I couldn’t believe it.

A spirit orb?

Wasn’t that only possible for transcendent masters?

Could the giant beast actually be transcendent?

I bit my lip.

I was starting to understand why Bisa-young had been captured.

Georyeokma stood there, still grinning, not having thrown his energy orb yet, and spoke to me.

“Want to rescue your comrade? Risking your life to save a friend—he must be pretty valuable to you.”

Then, without hesitation, he lunged forward, blocking my path to Bisa-young once again.

Crack!

“Heh heh heh! What are you going to do now?”

My face twisted in frustration.

I felt utterly trapped.

My intention to save Bisa-young had been exposed, and there was no way I could run now.

I wasn’t confident I could dodge that energy orb if I turned my back and fled.

I’d never seen him use the orb before, but if Bisa-young—whose divine arts were superior to mine—couldn’t avoid it, then chances were slim that I could.

“Damn it… what now?”

After a brief moment of hesitation, I gripped my sword tighter and pointed it at him.

“Let’s settle this properly, Georyeokma.”

From the Mukrang sword in my hand, a fierce violet aura flared up like flames, sharp as my gaze.

Whoosh!

Georyeokma laughed mockingly.

“Oh? You’re going to take me on?”

As if inviting me, he flicked his fingers, and the energy orb vanished from his hand.

He probably wouldn’t use it unless I tried to run.

Fine. Since escape was impossible, I had no choice but to fight with everything I had.

Steeling myself, I sprang forward, launching a surprise attack.

Bang!

“Hah!”

I unleashed the Seven Steps of the Silent Blade technique.

Black mist-like sword energy thickened the air, clouding vision as a storm of sword shadows rained down.

Shushushushush!

It was the Jeolcho form of the Silent Blade technique—something Joo Taekyung had once used against me.

“Silent Blade? A lowly technique from the remnants of Jeomchang?”

Georyeokma sneered, squinting his eyes in disdain as he lazily swung his hand.

But from that casual motion, a massive storm of energy erupted, crashing toward me like a tempest.

Whoooooosh!

Ka-ka-ka-ka-kang!

“Ugh!”

My flurry of swift strikes was effortlessly deflected with a single gesture, like raindrops bouncing off a rock, and I was thrown backward helplessly.

Seizing the opening, Georyeokma lunged, reaching out to grab me.

“Got you!”

But at that moment, my eyes flashed.

I’d used that move knowing it wouldn’t land, precisely to draw him in while retreating naturally.

The secret technique of the Heavenly Wind Divine Art: Heavenly Wind Chaos.

My body accelerated in an instant, splitting into multiple afterimages like scattering petals.

Georyeokma lost track of my true form for a moment.

He blinked, momentarily confused.

Got him!

It worked!

I immediately followed up with the next move.

Sunwoo Thirteen Swords, Thirteen Steps.

Phantom Sword Mirror.

Fwaaaaaaah!

Once again, dozens, even hundreds of sword shadows filled the space around him.

This was the very technique that had once taken down a demon beast one rank above me—a move I considered my most lethal attack.

If I could just break through his focus on dispelling the Phantom Sword Mirror and slip in the One Instant, One Thousand Strikes technique…

That was my plan.

But then Georyeokma smirked, crossing his arms in front of his chest before spreading them wide and roaring like a beast.

“Hraaaaaaah!”

Suddenly, a storm of energy burst from his body in all directions.

Pwoooom!

“Ugh!”

The fierce gale forced not only the sword shadows of the Phantom Sword Mirror but even my afterimages to retreat.

I couldn’t even get close to surprise him.

As I stumbled backward, our eyes met, and he smiled coldly.

“Interesting technique you have there. I’ll have to catch you and see what you’re hiding.”

Bang!

Without warning, he charged at me like a cannonball.

An unimaginable speed.

“Ugh!”

Before I could react, he was right in front of me.

His hand shot toward my head, but instinctively, my afterimage slipped aside just in time.

Thanks to the Heavenly Wind Divine Art ingrained in me.

Whoooosh!

The wind pressure from his fingertips whipped my hair wildly.

“Oh?”

He looked at me with surprise.

I gritted my teeth and thrust my sword forward as I stepped back.

He’d missed his grab, and if I didn’t seize this moment, I might never get another chance.

Sunwoo Thirteen Swords, Twelve Steps.

Twin Wings Linked.

My sword shadows spread out like wings of light—two layers rolling forward like waves.

“Hmph! Useless!”

Even though he hadn’t fully regained his balance, Georyeokma casually swung his arm, and both wings were torn apart.

Shraaak!

But I smiled faintly despite the failed attack.

Because in doing so, his arm opened wide, exposing a path straight to his chest.

Now!

At that moment, I poured every ounce of strength into my most precise strike.

Silent Blade technique, First Step.

One Instant, One Thousand Strikes.

Fwoosh!

The ultimate strike of the Jeomchangpa sword style—the beginning and end of the Silent Blade technique—shot forth like a beam of light, aiming to pierce his chest.

He tried to bring both hands to his chest, but my sword reached him first.

I’d won!

But just as my sword touched his chest—

Clank!

It stopped dead in midair, as if caught by an invisible force.

“What?!”

I was stunned.

No matter how hard I pushed, the sword wouldn’t budge.

Pulling it back was impossible too.

I muttered in disbelief.

“This can’t be…”

It was Georyeokma’s hands holding my sword.

His hands weren’t even touching the blade, yet his energy gripped it in midair, freezing it in place.

An incredible internal power.

So overwhelming that I felt my strength drain away.

How was I supposed to fight a monster like this?

Georyeokma smiled coldly at me.

“Too bad, kid. You’re skilled. Might be dangerous to let you live.”

With one hand wrapped in energy, he gripped my sword tightly, then swung his other hand toward my head.

Whoooosh!

If it landed squarely, it would have shattered my skull.

I had to dodge, but with my sword trapped, I couldn’t move.

I could drop the sword to avoid the blow, but how could I face such a terrifying opponent without my weapon?

My will to fight shattered, I could only stare blankly as his hand came crashing down.

It was over.

Then, suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind.

—Hmm, normally I wouldn’t interfere now, but who knows when I’ll find a candidate I like again. I have no choice.