Chapter 108 – Early Boss (2)

There was no special reason for not saving.

□ 95th Heavenly Year, Chapter 2-1, Three choices presented by the Earth Demon

■ 98th Heavenly Year, Chapter 1, Complete the warrior’s training (Geum Man-jung’s trust)

□ 95th Heavenly Year, Chapter 3-8, Successful in becoming a core warrior (1st year Bonus story)

The ‘second’ item on the list was something Seol-Hwi would consistently save to before going to sleep. The time difference between that, and then coming here, wasn’t too much.

Even if he died here, Seol-Hwi decided that he could go through this again without a long wait. Rather, if he went a little further back, he would have time to prepare too.

The biggest reason Seol-Hwi didn’t save was for that.

And I’ve already used up turn-based and simulation…

Since there was only AI left among the combat methods, the need for storage disappeared.

Is this the time to attack, or retreat?

Seol-Hwi was vaguely aware of the location of the person who spoke to him.

The fourth bookshelf on the right. They were standing in the gap between the third and fourth bookshelves.

So Seol-Hwi had to make a decision quickly.

Was he going to venture out in this situation where he didn’t know how skilled his opponent was? Or would he withdraw?

“You seem to be busy thinking. Well, it must have been surprising. The fact that a master who can recognize someone’s innate energy is standing right there…”

The mysterious person slowly walked out between the bookshelves. He could see Seol-Hwi standing in front of the door.

“This old man is Gu Yeom. What is the name of the person who killed disciple Myung Kang?”

Seol-Hwi’s expression hardened as he faced the elderly man.

Wearing a uniform with a colorful sheath at his waist, he was small in stature, and his face was full of wrinkles and age spots.

Although he had an unassuming appearance, Seol-Hwi couldn’t help but be nervous.

It was because his eyes were clearer than anyone’s Seol-Hwi had ever met.

Is this the ‘uprightness’ of someone belonging to the forces of justice?

An instinctive sense of oppression.

The discipline the opponent had built up seemed deep enough to cause fear.

Damn it, I’ve been relying too much on turn-based.

Seol-Hwi reprimanded himself.

A situation where he didn’t know his opponent’s abilities. It was unfamiliar and confusing for him. In other words, it was also a testament to how much help he got in that aspect.

Gu Yeom was a very dangerous opponent for Seol-Hwi.

“Fool. Are you using your head? Do you think this old man cannot suppress you? That I would have to ask for help from those around me?”

As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of energy began forming around him. It circled the old man’s body, and then it began to grow stronger.

The bookshelves around them shook due to the energy generated by the old man. Some books even fell to the floor.

It was then…

“…Phew.”

The wave of energy stopped.

“…I am Seol-Hwi.”

He gave out his name honestly. Besides, if he couldn’t subdue the old man, Seol-Hwi wouldn’t be able to survive, let alone find Ma Taryong.

“Seol-Hwi… a friendly name, for a demon.”

Gu Yeom nodded like he enjoyed this conversation.

“Okay then. Why did you kill Myung Kang to sneak in here?”

“…”

“What? You don’t want to answer?”

As he took a step closer, Seol-Hwi stepped back. The old man saw that and said,

“Hmm. Fine. How about we do this?”

As if he thought of something interesting, the conversation continued.

“Let us ask each other one question at a time. I will truthfully tell you what I know.”

Seol-Hwi frowned, as he asked,

“Why should I do that?”

“Isn’t there a reason you infiltrated this place? I also have something I want to find out from you, so in the end, we both want information. And…”

Gu Yeom raised the corners of his mouth, and smiled.

“Only one of us will survive here. The winner will have everything. This is a good deal for the both of us.”

“How can I trust you? If there is a commotion, your men will come.”

“Ah, you don’t have to worry about that.”

Gu Yeom raised one hand, and a purple energy rose from his fingertips. The old man condensed it, and then threw it aside.

Kwaang!

There was a sudden explosion that shook the ground.

“What…!”

Despite the building seeming as if it was about to collapse, Seol-Hwi was surprised that it never happened.

An ordinary house managed to survive a huge explosion.

“This building is surrounded by a special barrier, so even a powerful explosion won’t destroy it.”

“Ah…”

Seol-Hwi’s expression hardened even more.

A building that was defended by an unknown barrier.

It felt like a trap that had been prepared in advance in case someone broke in.

The old man stroked the bookshelf next to him, and tapped on something.

Bookshelves began sinking into the floor. Soon, the space around them was empty, like the training hall Seol-Hwi had seen before coming here.

“Oh, before I forget. Let me tell you something. This barrier was created by me, and it can only be destroyed after I die.”

Seol-Hwi took another step back.

Alarm bells kept ringing in his head.

Fighting this man was dangerous.

“Do you understand? There is no one to help this old man. Now, why did you infiltrate and kill Myung Kang?”

For a moment, Seol-Hwi was silent after hearing Gu Yeom’s question.

He opened his mouth after organizing his thoughts.

“I am here to find someone.”

“Someone?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“Ma Taryong.”

“…”

To his repeated questions, Seol-Hwi answered. Because he was going to ask about the missing target anyway.

“Do you know Ma Taryong? He came from the Demonic Sect, and seems to be in this area.”

“Hm… his name was Ma Taryong?”

“Do you know where he is?”

Seol-Hwi asked hastily.

“Hmm. I don’t know if he is the Ma Taryong you speak of, but we did capture a man recently. A man who was on the lookout around here.”

“And his location?!”

“Didn’t we decide to ask and answer one time each?”

The old man looked carefully at Seol-Hwi.

“Which disciple are you from?”

“…What?”

“I am asking you who you are following. What number are they?”

“…!”

Seol-Hwi’s eyes widened.

He could feel what this old man’s intentions were. This was a dangerous question.

If he died, Seol-Hwi couldn’t predict how far this situation would turn.

But then, he remembered. There is a sharp knife in his unit. Perhaps, answering the opponent’s question would be fine.

“The 4th Disciple, the Earth Demon.”

“?!”

It was the old man’s turn to be surprised.

Looking at his reaction, Seol-Hwi’s opponent seemed to be someone who knew about the Demonic Sect and its politics.

Seol-Hwi took the chance to ask his next question.

“I know that the Supreme Pavilion Lord of our sect and Goo Jung-myung, the elder of your sect, Mount Hua, have a deal together. So I will ask you. What is their ultimate goal?”

“…Hah. Look at this guy!”

The old man’s expression changed. He was flabbergasted at Seol-Hwi’s words. The old man stroked his chin, and was silent for a moment.

“…There will be no more answers.”

“What?!”

“I cannot tell you any more.”

Suddenly, a wave of energy spread out from under his feet.

Seol-Hwi smelled something, but didn’t know where this scent came from.

The scent of plum blossoms.

Gu Yeom was showing the scent that only those who have mastered the essence of the Plum Blossom Sword Technique can give out.

I need to kill him and survive.

Seol-Hwi clenched his teeth.

Gu Yeom was clearly a master beyond him. Even with such an opponent, the reason he wanted to fight like this was because of his own growth.

Seol-Hwi’s martial arts were all things which seemed to change with his life on the line.

“I will be generous and let you make the first move.”

After Gu Yeom unleashed his technique, to the point where he could take down his opponent at any time, he leisurely gestured towards Seol-Hwi.

White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts.

What Seol-Hwi brought out as his first attack was this.

His idea was to make the opponent’s movement slower by using the power of ice.

Seol-Hwi’s prediction seemed right.

When Seol-Hwi rushed in and moved his sword, a wide blast of ice covered the entire area with frost. The ice spread around like grains of sand and hardened everything around it.

Damn, he avoided it.

Seol-Hwi quickly glanced around.

And towards a space invisible to the naked eye, he swung.

Shhhing!

It collided with the old man’s sword, which had already come too close to Seol-Hwi.

“Kuak!”

Seol-Hwi jumped into the air.

“…Hah!”

Seol-Hwi gathered more energy. And he swung his sword before the ice energy had finished collecting on it.

It collided with Gu Yeom’s blade, who came close to Seol-Hwi’s eyes once more.

Kaang!

Kwaang!

Seol-Hwi fell straight to the ground.

Still, he didn’t back down. Because he knew the old man would keep attacking.

If we keep facing each other head on, I’ll lose!

Seol-Hwi remembered one thing, even in the midst of being distracted.

What is the Plum Blossom Sword Technique like?

At first glance, it seems like one gradually entraps the opponent with his splendid swordsmanship, but in fact, they hide the truth behind one deadly blow.

This means that if there is even one gap, they will take the opponent down.

Clang!

Another collision.

Clang!

And one more time.

Gu Yeom continued to drive Seol-Hwi into a corner.

He wondered if this was the man’s intention.

Still, Seol-Hwi kept defending himself against each of the blows, because he knew how it went. The moment he goes head on, he would be defeated.

Clang!

A counter-response to the fifth sword technique of the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.

However, this time, Seol-Hwi wasn’t pushed back, rather, it was the opponent that slowed down.

The White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts.

It was known to be an aid to the sword, an aid in the flow of energy.

Seol-Hwi clenched his teeth and moved. Seol-Hwi’s sword was pointed upwards and drawn down again.

A wave of freezing energy was created after he did this. The ice energy poured out, as if embodying the sword, and attacked the opponent.

“How dare you!”

At that moment, Gu Yeom’s sword flashed.

The scent of plum blossoms spread along the blade, and Seol-Hwi’s ice energy was silenced.

When he was about to run towards Seol-Hwi again, Seol-Hwi used a stab. It wasn’t a normal stab. It was the Wind God Sword.

Kwaang!

A huge force of wind was generated, and it struck Gu Yeom right away, pushing him towards the wall.

Bang!

Somehow, he managed to get out of the storm, before he would gain further damage from it.

“Damn…”

The operation failed. Seol-Hwi’s internal energy was almost exhausted.

He used the Wind God Sword, only for his opponent to escape the attack.

That meant that he was several times more skilled, and able to draw forth more internal energy than Seol-Hwi.

Seol-Hwi was feeling dizzy already, and it was hard to stay standing.

“Well, it wasn’t a complete failure.”

Seol-Hwi made a subtle expression. Intentional or not, this led to good results.

<White Light Body Demonic Martial Arts proficiency has increased. (Advanced)>
“You! What kind of body do you have that you can use ice energy along with other attributes at the same time?”

Gu Yeom was quite shocked at this.

Even if the two attributes weren’t mutually exclusive, operating them was completely different.

Nevertheless, this man was able to do it.

“Well, let’s just say I do anything and everything to survive.”

“…You are an odd one.”

“Odd? Right, I’m unusual in a way.”

Seol-Hwi smiled.

“It will be even more special from now on. This battle has paid off.”

“…What?”

“Let’s try it once.”

Seol-Hwi had been fighting well enough. Now was the time to use his trump card.

<Combat Method, AI>
“What kind of crazy guy is it this time?”