Chapter 99 of 100
Chapter 99
6 min read1,431 words
Chapter 98: Design (3)
Creak. Squeak.
As the reversal technique was undone, the facial bones moved back to their original positions, causing intense pain.
Soon, Seohui, who had returned to his own face, took out a mask from his robes.
Only after putting it on did he exhale heavily.
“Phew...”
Just a moment ago, the situation was more dangerous than expected.
The attacks from the two Changryongmun warriors. Among them, Gwangseung's attack had even caused a slight crack in the Ice Origin Armor he had deployed.
If he had made a mistake, the enemy's blade might have pierced through his protective technique and entered his abdomen.
“Suddenly surging combat power...”
This was something he had not anticipated at all.
Suddenly surging combat power in the middle of a fight.
Previously, he had considered the <+> symbol and approached battles accordingly, but this time there was nothing like that.
“Is it because of the righteous martial arts?”
Upon reflection, there was a possibility.
A few fatal moves within the Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
Those moves, unlike the ones he had mastered instantly, would have been honed over a long period of time, imbued with deep insights.
Thus, their application and understanding would inevitably differ from his own.
‘There’s still much I don’t know.’
Seohui’s thoughts broadened due to this battle.
The information and fortuitous events that had followed him for a long time.
How many more secrets were hidden here, he still couldn’t tell.
He didn’t know to what extent or in what way they would intervene in his life.
“Don’t get swallowed by the system.”
Suddenly, AI Seohui’s warning came to mind.
He had warned that he shouldn’t accept all the fortuitous events presented to him as purely beneficial.
“Anyway, the goal now is...”
Seohui gathered his thoughts and turned his head.
The next target was I Gumin, the most difficult among the martial arts practitioners to deal with.
Killing him was the goal.
What about Sangcheonjang?
He didn’t need to take action himself.
The traces of the Blood Water Demon Technique left behind.
The Changryongmun leader would naturally take care of him upon seeing the bodies of his subordinates.
* * *
A quiet secret chamber.
Two men were having a conversation there.
One had a serious expression, while the other was in an uncomfortable posture.
“I told you repeatedly to avoid such meetings.”
An ordinary appearance, soft eyes, but a rather rough voice.
I Gumin.
The third disciple of Goo Jongmyeong, he had hurriedly come here at Sangcheonjang’s sudden summons.
However,
“I apologize for calling you like this, but there’s something I need to confirm.”
Thinking it was due to a major incident, it turned out to be a personal matter.
Seeing I Gumin’s frown, Sangcheonjang continued in a serious tone.
“My subordinates are dead. All of them who followed me.”
“So what?”
“I examined the cause of death. It turns out a peculiar sword technique was found on their bodies.”
“What about it?”
“The Plum Blossom Sword Technique.”
“...!”
At this, I Gumin’s eyes slightly wavered.
A mix of surprise and unexpectedness in his gaze.
I Gumin finally understood why Sangcheonjang had called him.
If someone had been killed using Huashan Sect’s sword technique, it meant the Changryongmun was starting to make moves.
However, what he couldn’t understand immediately was,
“Was there such a high-level expert on your side? Apart from the Changryongmun leader, there’s no prominent peak expert...”
“That’s why I’m asking you. No one knows the Plum Blossom Sword Technique better than you.”
I Gumin stared at Sangcheonjang for a moment.
Then, after a brief silence, he stroked his chin and laughed.
“Haha. Hahaha.”
“...?”
Sangcheonjang’s brows furrowed at his excessive laughter, and only when he stopped did he return to his usual expression.
In contrast, I Gumin’s lips were curled up.
“So, you’re suspecting me?”
He bared his teeth.
His soft eyes turned vicious in an instant.
“No way. Really, don’t misunderstand. I just thought you might know something.”
Sangcheonjang shook his head, but I Gumin’s eyes still held a murderous intent.
However, he soon returned to his usual expression and nodded.
“Well, losing all my subordinates, it’s understandable to think that way.”
“...”
“But, this has nothing to do with me. I haven’t been wandering around lately, and my senior brothers haven’t been active in this area either...”
“That’s it.”
“Right, and when something like this happens, shouldn’t you ask the Haomen? They’re experts at investigating such matters.”
“That’s true. But I thought you would know about those who use the Huashan Sword Technique.”
“I do. I’m one of them.”
“I Gumin, I...”
“Sangcheonjang.”
Creak.
I Gumin slowly stood up.
Then, with a fierce gaze, he looked at Sangcheonjang.
“Let me give you a piece of advice. When problems arise, can you handle them on your own? Don’t keep calling people to do your dirty work.”
“That’s...”
“And.”
He stroked the other’s head with one hand.
“Know your place. You don’t have the right to call me, do you?”
Sangcheonjang’s face hardened.
But even so, I Gumin patted his head and said,
“Everything has its limits. Overstep them, and you might end up like your subordinates.”
“...”
Sangcheonjang didn’t respond.
He just bit his lip.
Poking his forehead lightly, I Gumin turned around.
Sangcheonjang’s sharp gaze followed him, but he couldn’t argue or refute.
In terms of martial arts, position, or politics.
He had nothing to counter the other with.
* * *
“Arrogant...”
I Gumin muttered as he left the secret chamber.
He was annoyed.
After a few casual collaborations on official matters, today he was even asked for a personal favor.
“Can’t work with someone like this. I’ll have to discuss this with my master.”
He no longer wanted to work with Sangcheonjang.
How could he collaborate with someone so incompetent?
If he could be defeated by the Changryongmun, what did it say about the level of his subordinates?
“...If I report this, he’ll probably assign me a stronger subordinate.”
Walking with a reluctant expression, I Gumin suddenly saw something strange.
Beside the path he was walking, a man in a bamboo hat was leaning against the wall.
“...Who are you?”
Under normal circumstances, he would have ignored him.
But the bamboo hat, and the sword he carried, caught his attention.
“Who are you?”
His second warning.
Swoosh.
The man straightened his body and, lifting his bamboo hat slightly, spoke.
“I Gumin, disciple of Goo Jongmyeong. I don’t know which disciple, but it’s said you’re working with Sangcheonjang.”
“...!”
I Gumin’s expression brightened strangely.
Looking at the sword at his waist, he smiled.
“Is my luck strange today? Flies keep buzzing around me.”
He rubbed his ear with his index finger and soon smiled.
Paaaaa!
It happened in the blink of an eye.
With a flash, he lunged and thrust his sword fiercely at the man in the bamboo hat.
Clang!
The man barely blocked it, but I Gumin laughed briefly, as if he had expected it.
“It’s you.”
“...?”
“You killed Sangcheonjang’s subordinates.”
The man in the bamboo hat didn’t respond.
But that was enough of an answer.
Swish. Swish!
I Gumin’s sword technique was unleashed again.
While his agility in closing the distance was surprising at first, this time it was his sword technique.
The speed of the sword was so fast it seemed to blur.
However,
‘He blocked it?’
He defended against more than five rapid sword techniques.
And now, I Gumin and the man in the bamboo hat were a bit apart.
“Right.”
Thud.
The man took off his bamboo hat and replied.
“It’s me.”
* * *
I Gumin (李球明) [Disciple of Goo Jongmyeong]
Physical Condition: Normal
Stamina: 4,400,000/4,400,000
Internal Energy: 4,500,000/4,500,000
Combat Power: 12,000,000
I Gumin’s information window.
The combat power information contained within.
‘Combat power increase.’
But in Seohui’s mind, only that one thing remained.
After completing the martial arts mission and returning to the main school, a greater crisis would come.
If he could find a way to increase his combat power during this time,
At least, if he could figure out under what circumstances it could rise and fall, it would certainly be a great help.
Combat Style <Simulation Level 2>
<Analyzing the number of Seohui’s martial arts techniques.>
<Analyzing Seohui’s martial arts moves.>
...
<Analysis complete.>
That’s why he chose this extreme method.
If he could make the enemy fully utilize their abilities,
Wouldn’t he be able to understand why the combat power increased?
<What simulation would you like to run?>
The simulation asked, and Seohui answered.
“Make the opponent’s combat power