Chapter 8 : I Want The Young Lady to Become a Swordmaster Known Throughout the World

The guy might have thought I was just teasing him, but I wasn’t only looking at that old Demonic Human.

There were many other Demonic Humans here besides that old man.

While receiving his attacks…

“Ugh-!”

I also dealt with the other lackey Demonic Humans.

But…

‘It’s so damn confusing who’s who.’

The other guys had such weak Demonic Qi that it was hard to identify them.

That’s why I deliberately provoked Wi Yongmyeong.

“Young Lady Yoo. Look, use the concept of Catching to catch and deflect the opponent’s punches like this. Fist users will be helpless against you.”

“Argh-!! You’re ignoring me again-! Again-!!”

It worked.

Demonification.

That technique not only amplifies the Demonic Qi and makes the caster lose their reason, but it also has another effect.

It affects the weak Demonic Qi around it.

“Ugh…”

“Ugh…”

Indeed, as soon as Wi Yongmyeong underwent Demonification, the other Demonic Humans around him started to tremble and groan.

And at that moment…

“Okay.”

I could identify who the remaining Demonic Humans were.

Now I could cut them down at will.

Of course…

“Argh-! I’ll kill you-!”

…I had to deal with that monster in front of me first.

His fist burned black as he lowered his stance.

I’ve seen it before. Earlier, during the day, Yoo Somyeong used that technique at our mountain hideout.

Was it called Willow Flower Fist?

Ah, I guess I should change the name now. It’s not Willow Flower Fist anymore, but Demon Flower Fist (魔花正拳).

How powerful would it be if the speed of the Shanxi Yoo Family and the destructive power of Demonic Qi were combined?

Realizing its power, Yoo Somyeong shouted at me in surprise.

“It’s dangerous!”

I smiled at her once and then raised my blade.

Srrng-.

Shuuuu-!

He’s coming. At an incredible speed.

And to face him, I chose…

‘Thousand Power Sword Technique.’

It was the Thousand Power Sword Technique.

The martial art I first learned from my mountain bandit father when I was 8 years old.

Of course, it’s a very crude martial art. It’s a technique that can be performed without accumulating Inner Qi.

Still…

“It’s enough to handle a dumb ox like you.”

Just as I had been receiving his sword attacks, I turned my blade to the side.

The Essence of Catching.

As I told Yoo Somyeong earlier, there’s nothing more effective for blocking blunt and brute attacks like a fist.

To put it in modern terms… it’s like catching a fastball with a glove.

No matter how fast the pitch is, if you know exactly where it’s coming, and if your lower body can support it…

Kiiing-!

You can block even the fastest pitch with an old glove.

Just like I can block his Demon Flower Fist with an old blade.

“Ugh-!”

The short range of a fist attack means that if it misses, the opportunity shifts to the opponent.

Even if it’s a small opportunity… I had no intention of missing it.

“Thousand Power Sword Technique, Tiger’s Neck Slash .”

The only technique in the Thousand Power Sword Technique is this one. It’s a simple technique that just swings strongly to the side, but…

It was enough to cut his neck.

“Argh-!! No, no-!!”

Wi Yongmyeong screamed as he sensed his death, but it was already too late.

Bang-!

My blade aimed at his black, hard neck and cut…

Clang-!

…It should have cut, but what?

I looked at my blade, now just a hilt, in dismay. And I saw Wi Yongmyeong’s hard neck that had shattered my blade.

“Ah, right…”

A body that has undergone Demonification is strengthened and hardened by the influence of Demonic Qi. It was impossible to cut it with my worn-out blade.

I had forgotten after not dealing with Demonic Sect guys for a while.

“Hey… this is unfair, isn’t it?”

Wi Yongmyeong, who seemed to still be processing what had happened, stood before me.

I smiled at him and politely asked.

“Would you consider a draw?”

“……”

Bang-!!!!

“Ugh-!”

Wi Yongmyeong answered my question with his fist.

I flew several meters and crashed into a distant wall.

Damn, it hurts like hell.

It’s been a while since I’ve been hit this hard, and my head is spinning.

I taste blood in my mouth, so I guess I’m bleeding a bit…

“Hey, you-!”

I felt someone approaching me, calling out.

I gathered my senses and looked ahead to see Yoo Somyeong.

She shook my shoulder with a worried expression I had never seen before.

“Are you okay? Are you okay?”

“With a kiss from Young Lady Yoo, I think I could get up…”

“You crazy bastard-!!”

Yoo Somyeong’s swearing had increased. Although it was just calling me a crazy bastard, I felt pleased and got up.

“My insides hurt and ache, but it’s not unbearable. Anyway, that guy took some damage too, so if I push a little more, I can win.”

I pointed at Wi Yongmyeong in front of me. He seemed a bit dazed and was slightly swaying.

“But, my blade is broken.”

I showed her the hilt of my blade, and Yoo Somyeong, flustered…

“Then…”

She handed me her sword.

I was taken aback. The first thing a martial artist learns is to treat their beloved weapon as their life.

“Can you use my sword? If you can…”

“……”

“…Kill him with it.”

Yoo Somyeong’s eyes trembled violently.

At this moment, there was no righteous Orthodox Sect martial artist Yoo Somyeong. There was only a weak girl Yoo Somyeong who wanted me to quickly defeat Wi Yongmyeong.

‘Did she get a big shock earlier?’

There are people like that sometimes.

Their first real battle, the fear of death, the realization of their own weakness. For such complex reasons, they can no longer hold a sword.

Yoo Somyeong looked just like those people.

Running away from fear is common in the martial world. I’ve had that experience too.

But I was deeply surprised by her fearful appearance. Because…

‘Yoo Somyeong is a main character in the novel.’

Yoo Somyeong is one of the heroines and a companion of the protagonist. Although she shows an immature side now because the novel hasn’t started yet, she will become a sharp swordmaster with outstanding talent in the future.

And most importantly, her role in the war between the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Murim Alliance a few years later is crucial.

Without Yoo Somyeong… the novel won’t follow its original flow, and without that, the victory of the Murim Alliance can’t be guaranteed.

‘That can’t happen.’

I have no intention of witnessing the Demonic Dominion in my lifetime.

So I…

“I’m sorry, Young Lady.”

“What…? What do you mean…”

“I can’t take your sword.”

I didn’t accept her sword.

When I refused, she widened her eyes and asked again.

“Do you dislike my sword? Then someone else’s sword…”

She stammered, looking like she wanted to run away from this place.

Of course, I had no intention of letting her do that.

I grabbed her shoulders, turned her towards Wi Yongmyeong, and whispered.

“You defeat him. That guy.”

“…What?”

As soon as she heard that, her trembling stopped.

And then…

Tremble.

A bigger tremor came over her.

She looked up at me with tearful eyes and pleaded.

“What are you talking about all of a sudden… You’ve been fighting well so far. Why…”

“……”

“Is it because you lack money? I’ll give you the Protection Fee. I said I’d give you everything you wanted, everything you asked for. But why…”

“I want you to overcome the wall you’re facing now.”

“…What?”

As I continued, she looked at me with a blank expression.

“If today’s events end like this, it will be hard for you to hold a sword again. I don’t want that to happen.”

“……”

“I want Young Lady Yoo to become a swordmaster known throughout the world, beyond Shanxi.”

She stared at me blankly and then asked a late question.

“Who… are you? Have we met before?”

“What? Hahaha-!”

Is this a woman’s intuition? I couldn’t help but laugh at her question that seemed to pierce through me.

I answered her question inwardly.

We haven’t met, but I’ve seen you in the novel.

I’ve seen how brave and righteous you are.

I’ve seen how excellent and beautiful your swordsmanship is.

I’ve seen the moment you overcame the wall.

I’ve seen how your noble choice led you to a tragic end.

A few years later, in the war, Yoo Somyeong will overcome the wall, gain enlightenment, and make great contributions. Despite that… she will meet her death.

“We couldn’t have met. The precious Young Lady Yoo of the Shanxi Yoo Family.”

“……”

“If you defeat him, I’ll tell you everything. Go ahead.”

I pushed her back and whispered in her ear.

“The Willow Flower Sword Technique is not just about the Essence of Speed. If you’re not sure, look around and recall what I said earlier. You’ll see the way.”

“How do you know our family’s Ancestral Martial Art…”

“I’ll tell you that too if you win.”

When I answered seriously, Yoo Somyeong gripped her sword and moved forward.

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

She must be scared. Honestly, the odds are against her winning against a Demonified Wi Yongmyeong.

Even so…

‘I gave her a hint.’

As an observer of this world and a reader of the novel, I gave her plenty of hints about the enlightenment she would gain in the future.

Whether she realizes it or not…

From now on, everything depends on her.