Chapter 35: You Bastard? Are You from Zhongnan Sect? (Part 5)

It wasn't that he underestimated his opponent.

Though Gong Mun-yeon was only half a martial artist in terms of skill, his mindset was no less than that of a true master. Anyone who walks the path of martial arts knows that underestimating an opponent is a grave mistake. Even a tiger gives its all when hunting a rabbit.

Moreover, after witnessing how effortlessly the masked man had dealt with the guards, Gong Mun-yeon couldn't afford to be careless.

But still...

Something felt off.

Look at this.

Thud.

His fist, pulled back with full force, was stopped before it could even extend forward. It was blocked by the tip of a sword sheath.

Every time he tried to strike the sheath, it would slip away before he could land a hit. The internal energy he had gathered twisted and recoiled, unable to find an outlet.

"Ugh!"

The sensation of his energy flowing backward was unmistakable.

"You... you bastard!"

Gong Mun-yeon tried to strike the masked man with a spinning kick, but the masked man was no longer there.

"You're too slow."

"Huh?!"

The voice came from behind him. Startled, Gong Mun-yeon swung his fist backward.

But the result was the same.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

The internal energy he had drawn from his dantian (energy center) was supposed to amplify through his waist and chest, then be released through his arm and fist. But what happens when the path of release is blocked?

Bang!

A sound like something exploding echoed from within his body. At the same time, the area around his shoulder swelled up.

He couldn't see it, but he could feel it—his shoulder muscles had likely torn.

"Agh!"

And then it happened again.

"Aaaah!"

Gong Mun-yeon gathered all his energy and kicked at the masked man. But the masked man didn't even bother to dodge. He simply took a single step back, as if swatting away a fly.

Gong Mun-yeon's foot grazed past the masked man's chest. The wind pressure caused the masked man's robe to flutter, but not a single hair on his body was touched.

'What kind of sorcery is this?'

Gong Mun-yeon couldn't comprehend it.

Was the masked man fast?

No.

Was he strong?

Not that either.

The masked man was neither fast nor strong. Based on appearances alone, Gong Mun-yeon could easily take on ten of him.

But now, Gong Mun-yeon couldn't even touch the hem of the masked man's robe. It was like a young disciple trying to spar with their master—no matter how hard he tried, nothing worked.

Look at this.

His strike, filled with energy, flew toward the masked man's face. A graze would tear flesh and shatter bones. But he couldn't even graze him.

The masked man tilted his head slightly, as if dodging a child's hand, effortlessly evading the attack.

How was this possible?

He wasn't fast.

But he was fast.

He didn't move at an overwhelming, invisible speed. Instead, he moved at just the right moment, in just the right direction, with just the right distance.

Every movement was precise, with no wasted motion.

This was the level every martial artist dreamed of achieving. But for Gong Mun-yeon, who was now facing this level head-on, the experience was nothing short of devastating.

It was like facing a ghost.

He was clearly fighting a person, but it didn't feel like he was fighting anyone at all. The masked man was right in front of him, yet he couldn't touch him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't even graze him.

If the masked man had moved frantically, Gong Mun-yeon would have quickly recognized the gap in their abilities and retreated. But the masked man dodged by the narrowest of margins, driving Gong Mun-yeon to the brink of madness.

'This man is a monster.'

If the masked man had only been dodging, Gong Mun-yeon wouldn't have been so tense. But the masked man's martial arts were more than just evasion.

'He's reading all my moves.'

Before Gong Mun-yeon's fist could extend, the masked man had already positioned himself where the fist would land. He was binding Gong Mun-yeon's energy, causing it to flow backward.

This wasn't like the Wudang Sect's "soft overcoming hard" technique. This was a miraculous harmony of speed and anticipation.

Gong Mun-yeon couldn't even begin to guess how strong the masked man truly was.

'This was a mistake from the start.'

Monsters are monsters because they're unpredictable. If Gong Mun-yeon had known such a monster was on Mount Hua, he would never have dared to scheme against them.

But then...

"Ugh..."

The masked man, who had been effortlessly dodging Gong Mun-yeon's attacks, suddenly bent over, clutching his waist.

"Ah, damn this body. I'm getting old. I'm really getting old."

"..."

The masked man panted, patting his waist.

...For a monster, he seemed a bit clumsy.

How could a master of his level get tired from such minimal movement?

It didn't make sense.

But it was happening right before his eyes.

The masked man's chest heaved rapidly. The lower part of his mask was damp from his heavy breathing, and his face, visible through the mask, was drenched in sweat. Thick beads of sweat rolled down his neck, soaking his back.

Anyone could see he was on the verge of collapsing.

And yet, he had dodged every single attack. It was enough to drive anyone insane.

"Ugh..."

The masked man straightened up.

"Tsk. I wanted to play a bit longer, but I can't keep this up. I'm running out of energy."

Gong Mun-yeon's face tensed.

They had been sparring for the time it takes for a cup of tea to cool, and yet he hadn't even touched the masked man's robe. Gong Mun-yeon had always prided himself on being one of the few who could stand against anyone on Mount Hua.

But now, he was being toyed with by an old man he had never even heard of.

"Why hasn't someone like you stepped into the spotlight before?"

"Why should I tell you?"

Chung Myung (the masked man) twirled his sword and gripped it again.

"You talk too much. Do I have to answer just because you asked?"

"..."

"If anyone should be asking questions, it's me. For a tavern owner, your martial arts are quite impressive. How does someone with your skills end up running a tavern in Huayin?"

"...Is there a rule that says someone with strong martial arts can't run a tavern?"

"No. But if a tavern owner with such skills starts scheming for money, that's a different story. With your level of skill, you could make money in many other ways. Yet, you're running a tavern, dealing with drunks?"

The corner of Chung Myung's mouth twitched beneath his mask.

"What are you talking about...?"

"Ah, forget it."

Chung Myung cut him off.

"I get it, I get it. You're not going to talk, are you? There's no conspiracy, no scheme. So don't kill me. I'm not following anyone's orders, and I'm not involved with anyone. This is all my own doing. Right?"

"...Y-yes."

"Yeah, that's what I thought."

Chung Myung nodded emphatically.

"They all say that. And unfortunately, people like you don't confess until they're on the brink of death. But honestly, your crimes aren't severe enough for me to grind you to dust. I'd love to separate your bones from your flesh to get the truth, but that would cause problems."

Chung Myung nodded to himself.

"Alright, here's the question. Do you know what I do in situations like this?"

"...How would I know?"

"I beat them."

Gong Mun-yeon's eyes widened slightly.

"Huh?"

"I said I beat them."

"..."

Chung Myung tilted his head a couple of times and then approached Gong Mun-yeon.

"If I keep trying to get answers from someone who won't talk, I'll just get frustrated. So let's make a simple compromise. You don't have to talk. I'll just beat you until I feel satisfied."

"..."

"If you change your mind and want to talk, raise your hand. But think fast. Once you've been hit, there's no refund."

"This is absurd!"

"Yeah, it is. That's my specialty. Here I come!"

Chung Myung rushed at Gong Mun-yeon.

Seeing Chung Myung close the distance in an instant, Gong Mun-yeon instinctively stepped back.

Chung Myung wasn't emitting any overwhelming aura, nor was he performing any incredible sword techniques. The masked man, who looked like he could collapse at any moment, was simply running toward him on two legs. Yet, Gong Mun-yeon couldn't help but retreat in panic.

Of course, his retreat wasn't fast enough to outpace Chung Myung's advance.

Chung Myung's sword, still in its sheath, swung toward Gong Mun-yeon's left knee. Thinking it was too late to dodge, Gong Mun-yeon wrapped his arm in internal energy to block the strike.

Wham!

But then, Chung Myung's sword struck Gong Mun-yeon's shoulder.

"Ugh!"

A groan escaped his lips.

'My shoulder?'

It was supposed to be his knee, so why was his shoulder hit?

But there was no time to think. Chung Myung's sword, having struck his shoulder, now came down toward his head.

This time, Gong Mun-yeon managed to block it properly.

Thud!

His vision blurred momentarily.

The world turned black, then slowly regained its color. At the same time, his breath caught, and his neck felt like it was about to snap.

"Gah!"

Chung Myung's sword had stabbed his throat. Since the sword was still sheathed, it didn't cut him, but the metal sheath pressing against his throat was excruciating.

Tears welled up, and his entire body trembled.

Wham! Wham!

Chung Myung's sword continued to rain down.

Shoulder, head, waist.

Now, Chung Myung was swinging his sword wildly, like someone beating a stray dog on a hot day.

What was truly infuriating was that, despite the wild swings, Gong Mun-yeon couldn't dodge a single one. If he twisted his shoulder, his waist was hit. If he pulled back his waist, his head was struck.

Soon, Gong Mun-yeon's hair was disheveled, and he stumbled back in terror.

'I-I'm going to die...'

The fear of being beaten to death momentarily overwhelmed him.

When he opened his eyes and looked ahead, his gaze met Chung Myung's.

And in that moment, Gong Mun-yeon understood.

Those eyes.

The moment he saw Chung Myung's emotionless eyes, Gong Mun-yeon knew.

In his life, he had seen eyes like those many times. And those who possessed such eyes all shared one common trait.

They were killers.

Though he didn't know who this man was, it was clear he had killed countless people. To him, beating Gong Mun-yeon to death would be no different from swatting a fly.

The sword that was being swung so casually would, the moment it was drawn from its sheath, undoubtedly cut Gong Mun-yeon's throat without giving him a chance to resist.

'No, no!'

I don't want to die. At least not here!

At that moment, Chung Myung's sword was drawn from its sheath. It descended toward Gong Mun-yeon's head at the speed of light.

"Aaaah!"

Gong Mun-yeon's hand glowed blue. A bolt of energy shot toward Chung Myung like lightning.

Boom!

Gong Mun-yeon, who had struck the air, froze in place.

"..."

Chung Myung was gone.

He wasn't where he should have been. Gong Mun-yeon, snapping back to his senses, hurriedly looked up and saw Chung Myung, now far away, leaning on his sword and sheathing it.

Chung Myung spoke.

"Taiyi Divine Hand?"

"..."

"You bastard."

In that moment, Gong Mun-yeon realized his mistake, and his face turned pale.

"Are you from Zhongnan?"

And then it twisted in horror.