Chapter 49 : Chapter 49

Chapter 49: Bestowed a Grace

Martial arts are like that.

If it consists only of strong attacks from beginning to end, it can never be called a great martial art.

Unless it is a move of one-hit-kill mutual destruction, in most cases, the control of tempo is essential.

There is a seam of linked attacks between strong attacks, and it is the skill of a martial artist to skillfully mix the subtleties of feint and reality, speed and slowness within it.

A great martial art could be said to be flow and harmony.

The contest between the Emperor Breaker and the Martial Emperor that is unfolding now would be the proof of that.

Kwang! Shiiing! Chaeng! Kwang! Jjeojeong!

Although they all looked powerful, the sounds of clashes that were heard with a different texture in between were the proof.

Of course, I must also admit that when it comes to a contest between the Emperor Breaker and the Martial Emperor, who encompass the world, the story becomes a little different.

It is a matter of course that the seam between strong attacks is as short as a moment, so a martial artist of an ordinary level would not even be able to capture it.

And there is the difference that the linked attacks they use as seams contain a tremendous force that far surpasses the strong attacks of lesser masters.

There is a reason why I deliberately recall these facts and delve into the gap between strong attacks.

It is to squeeze into that momentary gap where the Emperor Breaker and the Martial Emperor clash.

To be precise, the goal would be to survive even after doing so.

A fortunate thing is that since the contest between the Emperor Breaker and the Martial Emperor showed no sign of ending easily, there was a sufficient opportunity for observation.

An unfortunate thing is that the more I observed, the more I realized that a slight misstep would be like crossing the Sanzu River on my own two feet.

‘Hoo-’

As I took a deep breath and circulated my internal energy, my whole body was filled with strength.

Since the opportunity would be as close as a moment, there would be a possibility only if I made thorough preparations in advance.

After achieving the Fourth Stage and setting foot in the realm of the Spirit, my confidence in my unceasing internal energy had also become a thing of the past.

It is because now that I am directly witnessing the world beyond the heavens, I know how lacking I am.

Although I had known for a long time that having a lot of internal energy does not make one a master, I had forgotten that fact for a while after entering the Fourth Stage.

It is because a martial artist needs constant stimulation to develop.

“What are you doing?”

Perhaps having sensed my state of gathering strength, the Unrestrained Saber Peng Ga-heon spoke to me.

“I am in the middle of gathering my strength.”

Since there was no reason to lie to him, I answered him truthfully.

“Stop it.”

Peng Ga-heon shook his head with a stern expression and continued.

“Trust in the Alliance Lord.”

As he said so, Peng Ga-heon's gaze was filled with trust in Yeom Gi-ha.

“…….”

I had seen through his thoughts.

Since Peng Ga-heon was a martial artist of the Peng Clan who revered martial arts and pursued fairness, it was easy to notice what he was concerned about.

He was now worried that I might help the Emperor Breaker and launch a joint attack on the Martial Emperor.

During the tragic Great War of Righteousness and Evil in the future, a joint attack would be efficiency and a virtue, but I know that in the current Murim where romance is still alive, a joint attack is a taboo act.

Especially, a martial artist like the Emperor Breaker might even feel insulted by a martial artist who performs a joint attack to help him.

But the Unrestrained Saber Peng Ga-heon's concern would be a groundless fear.

“It seems there is a misunderstanding.”

It would be right to correct this.

“I will stop them both.”

“What does that…….”

Swish!

There was no time to listen to Peng Ga-heon's words until the end.

Since I had just captured the most perfect opportunity, I could not delay.

In my gaze, as I ethereally soared with the Stepping on Clouds Gait, the figures of the Emperor Breaker and the Martial Emperor were captured.

The center of them, as they clashed towards each other with the momentum of Mount Tai, is the point where I am now running.

It is a gap in the linked attacks that I barely captured after observing nearly three hundred exchanges of techniques from a third-party perspective.

A momentary situation where I could intervene and still preserve my life.

My Stepping on Clouds Gait, which had reached the State of Harmony, was also truly ethereal.

At the same time as my thought, my figure was placed between the Emperor Breaker and the Martial Emperor.

Shiiing! Jjeojeong!

My right hand, imbued with strong Qi, faced the Emperor Breaker's strong fist, and my left arm, which blocked the upper left, faced the Martial Emperor's leg technique.

“…….”

For a moment, a breath of silence flowed like an eternity.

“Keok.”

Unlike my original plan to pretend to be nonchalant, my mouth could not hold back the groan flowing from my Qi Center.

I had definitely charged into the gap of a linked attack, yet an unbearable force had penetrated my body.

It would be right to call them monstrous old men.

Ulkheok.

“Twet.”

Perhaps because my blood and Qi had been shaken, my body calmed down a bit only after I spat out the congested blood that had surged from my Qi Center.

Having my insides shaken in a single move even after aiming for the gap in a linked attack, I once again realized how vast the gap between them and me was.

“You brat, is your life not precious to you?”

“An interesting young fellow.”

And I know that even this was the Emperor Breaker and the Martial Emperor holding back.

‘Hoo-’

Although I had overdone it a bit, it would be right to say that I had achieved my objective.

That objective was none other than to stop the fight of these giants and focus their attention on me.

I think there would not have been a better brilliant move than this.

Praising myself internally for having survived, I opened my mouth.

“Seniors, would you please listen to this junior's story for a moment?”

“Hmm?”

“Ho?”

Having seized the initiative and drawn the interest of the two absolute rulers, true success was at hand.

* * *

Due to the sudden intrusion of my existence, the scene entered a temporary lull.

In reality, it was possible because neither the Emperor Breaker nor the Martial Emperor were in a situation where they were fighting with all their might, with anger as the starting point.

“Alliance Lord, would you give me a chance?”

Although both the Emperor Breaker and the Martial Emperor were Alliance Lords, the Alliance Lord I called was of course the Murim Alliance Lord Yeom Gi-ha.

It is because I am a pillar of the righteous Murim.

“What kind of chance?”

“A chance to prevent a war between the righteous and the heretics.”

In reality, it could be said that I am also responsible for the current situation.

It is because it was none other than my existence that had escalated an incident where the Ice Palace delegation, who were outsiders, would have just been annihilated by the Heretic Alliance Lord, to a crisis of a war between the righteous and the heretics.

But I know that I was not wrong.

Wouldn't it be the best if I could both save the martial artists of the Ice Palace and prevent a war between the righteous and the heretics?

And take the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng as a bonus.

“Go ahead.”

I don't know what he saw in me, but the Alliance Lord Yeom Gi-ha, with a strange light in his eyes, readily gave his consent.

Since the troublesome process of persuasion was omitted, it could be said to be a good start.

“What is it?”

I faced the Heretic Alliance Lord Wiji Han, who had a sullen expression.

Perhaps because I had the Murim Alliance Lord behind me, he, who had been a messenger of the underworld, seemed like a friendly yet stubborn old man.

It might have been due to the nickname 'old man Wiji' that the Emperor Breaker had mentioned.

“Take this.”

I took out the protective tool from my bosom and tossed it at Wiji Han.

Teok.

“What is this?”

While asking me, Wiji Han seemed to have guessed the identity of the protective tool.

It is because there is no way he would miss the powerful Yin energy that could not be hidden even by a protective tool.

“A Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Spirit Grass.”

What was etched on the Martial Emperor's face was joy and confusion.

“I will give that to you, Your Excellency.”

After hearing these words, it would be more correct to call it bewilderment.

It was likely due to my tone of voice, as if I were handing over a candy.

In contrast, a smile blossomed on my face.

Since I was preventing a war between the righteous and the heretics and bestowing a grace upon the Heretic Alliance Lord, where else could there be a greater gain than this?

* * *

Severed Meridians is a disease with a long tradition in the Jianghu Murim.

It is usually divided into Yang Severed Meridians and Yin Severed Meridians, but although the nature of the energy is different, the mechanism is the same disease.

It is because the meridians are blocked by a powerful energy, and eventually, the meridians are severed, leading to death.

Since a human being will die if ten of their blood vessels are blocked, the most severe state is usually a situation where nine of the meridians are blocked.

That is the so-called heavenly punishment of the Jianghu, the Nine Yang Severed Meridians and the Nine Yin Severed Meridians.

I know that the son that Wiji Han had late in life is suffering from that rare Nine Yang Severed Meridians.

Since there is no record of treating severed meridians that have reached nine, not six or seven.

In reality, it would be right to say it is a life with a time limit.

Usually, a person suffering from severed meridians that have reached nine has a hard time passing the age of fifteen, but I know that Wiji Han's son is around twenty.

It is the result of the power and devotion of the Heretic Alliance Lord.

But most spiritual medicines develop a tolerance.

As a result of taking all the Yin spiritual medicines that could be obtained with the power of the Heretic Alliance Lord, his lifespan was extended to around twenty, but it must have reached its limit by now.

I know that Wiji Han set out to find the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng for such a reason.

It is because a supreme spiritual medicine that reaches extreme Yin is not something that can be obtained with power or martial arts.

“Why are you giving this to this seat?”

While expressing his question, I saw strength entering Wiji Han's hand gripping the protective tool.

Since he was a parent who loved his son enough to be prepared for a war between the righteous and the heretics, it was a natural behavior.

I had the thought that he would not have let go even if it were a deadly poison that melts the skin.

“It is because I have always admired you, Senior Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor.”

“A child skilled in falsehoods.”

As I had expected, a shallow trick did not work.

I will have to execute what I have learned.

“It is to prevent a war between the righteous and the heretics.”

I am referring to a frontal breakthrough.

“It is to save the martial artists of the Ice Palace.”

This is what I had in mind.

“And it is also for a devoted father.”

This was a reason that had arisen in this place.

“…….”

The power of truth was truly great; the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor did not give a reprimand as before.

I saw the expressions of Bukgung Seol-a and Han Baek-rim change when I mentioned the Ice Palace, but I did not mind it now.

It is because the negotiation with the Martial Emperor is the priority.

“Ah, I said I would give it to you, not that I would give it for free. I will request an appropriate payment from the Heretic Alliance later.”

Saying so, I smiled brightly.

Am I not a person who has memorized the entire Thousand Immortals of the Jianghu?

Heretic Alliance Lord, Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor Wiji Han.

I did so because I knew his character, at least roughly.

It means that I know that he would be more at ease taking the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Spirit Grass if I said I would receive a payment rather than just giving it to him.

It is because, unlike a heretic, he was a person who valued trust.

Wasn't the reason he tried to execute the martial artists of the Ice Palace also to repay a debt to Bukgung Han-yu, who had given him the information about the Ice Palace?

Since the heretic way is the way of the present world, I know that the person who is most certain about grace and enmity is Wiji Han.

“Since you have not taken the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng, there will be no need to harm the martial artists of the Ice Palace. Since you have taken the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Spirit Grass, you will be able to put your strength into saving your son's life.”

To help him organize his thoughts, I deliberately listed the facts that the Martial Emperor would also know.

“I will also receive a payment for the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Spirit Grass, so it would not be a debt.”

Although I said this, both the Martial Emperor and I know.

That this is clearly a debt.

It means that no one can deny the fact that I have bestowed upon the Martial Emperor a grace as vast as the sea.

It is because although it is lacking compared to the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Ginseng, the Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Snow Spirit Grass is also a spiritual medicine not unworthy of the word supreme.

But formality and justification can sometimes hide the truth.

“…….”

The gaze of the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor, who had swallowed his words, alternately took in me and the protective tool containing the Snow Spirit Grass.

The veteran old Jianghu, the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor, also knew that sometimes hiding the truth and saving one's words is the way to a prosperous world.

Thanks to his response, represented by silence, my tongue was able to move more eloquently.

“In consideration of my sincerity, won't you withdraw today, Senior Martial Emperor?”

At the end of my words, the flow of agitated true Qi from the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor's whole body decreased.

He had declared the end of the battle.

“Since this junior has earnestly requested, I will withdraw this time.”

Since I had created a justification, the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor's steps seemed truly light.

As the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor showed signs of leaving, the Emperor Breaker quickly added a word.

“Old man Wiji, see you next time.”

“Hmph. I will not see you again.”

“Have you lost interest in the alias of Emperor now?”

“You can have that.”

It seems my guess that the Emperor Breaker's martial arts were one step above the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor's was correct.

Although I don't know for sure, I had the thought that the gap between the two had widened since the day of their conclusion ten years ago.

My handsome features were reflected in the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor's sharp pupils.

“You brat, did you say you were Myeong of the Dancheon Clan?”

“That is correct.”

“I have remembered your name. If you ever need help, feel free to seek this seat out. The Heretic Alliance is always open.”

I know his good will.

“Old man Wiji, you have no shame in what you say to the number one pillar of the righteous way.”

“Shut up, you rude bastard.”

Leaving behind a farewell, the Unrivaled Force Martial Emperor's figure ethereally disappeared from Sanmenxia.

“Hoo-”

I would say that all the arrangements have finally succeeded.

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