Surviving as a Rival in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 13 – The Boss That Cannot Be Defeated (03)

“Huuu…….”

As I took a deep breath, feeling the resonance between the shattered jade glass and the inner power of Cheongsimyurigong, we leaped towards the target simultaneously, not needing to count numbers in our unity as one.

Thirty yards, not too far by modern standards, but in combat, it was not a close distance. Yet, for a martial artist using martial arts, it was a proximity that could be covered in the blink of an eye.

However, for beings with reflexes as fast as the blink of an eye, like martial artists with extraordinary reaction speed, it felt like a distance as far as the horizon, incomparable to the reaction speed of an ordinary human.

“Excellent! Your steps are perfectly synchronized, truly a match made in heaven! Talents that would be a waste to kill!”

While saying so, Cheugum drew his sword from his back.

A deliberately neglected sword covered in sticky blood and flesh, emitting a nauseating odor of decaying corpses with just the act of drawing it. That was Cheugum, wielding a sword that had become so ragged that one could barely see the light of day, yet capable of cutting rocks and severing the edge of a cliff to block the path.

That was the pinnacle of a master swordsman! It reached the level of perfection where a single leaf could cut through a wave and stir up a storm.

“Receive this!”

“Yurisaekdeunggeom.”

A blue light emanated from Cheugum’s sword.

The reason for using Yurisaekdeunggeom was that Cheugum judged the need for a power that could definitively block the blow of Chugum rather than the sophistication of swordsmanship. It was a desperate attempt to block the attack with full force.

Kaang!

As the sound echoed loudly, like shattering a clear glass, Cheugum’s Yurisaekdeunggeom, swung like breaking glass, was thwarted perfectly, successfully blocking the strike that Chugum swung to counteract.

Chwaaak!

As Cheugum’s grip burst, blood splattered on the ground, and Cheongganggeom couldn’t withstand the counterattack from Cheugum’s inner power and Chugum, shattering into pieces. Cheugum, hesitating, sank backward, and I continued to rush towards Chugum.

‘If Samae succeeds, it’s my turn now!’

In Cheongsim Yurigong, there is actually no specific martial art.

Originally, the master was also a sword practitioner and taught Cheongsim Yurigong to Samae, but since the disciple Yeon Cheong, who had a long arm and a sturdy build suitable for martial arts, didn’t particularly like Cheongsim Yurigong and had the ability to convert the essence of Cheongsim Yurigong into martial arts, he could only use Cheongsim Yurigong as a form of martial arts.

However, the martial arts created by the master over a long period were not something that could be modified into a higher-level martial art in an instant, and since the master was a renowned martial artist, he couldn’t easily transform his martial art into an advanced one. Therefore, the martial arts could relatively lag behind.

So, I, while using Cheongsim Yurigong as it is, made efforts to incorporate the movements of modern martial arts I know into it, recalling only the appearance and basic principles, or trying to reproduce the principles of techniques from other novels. And if my efforts bear fruit in some way–

Before the separation from Cheonggum, I successfully penetrated the gap, deliberately allowing him to enter the range of martial arts and thinking that he might enjoy watching my antics.

Thunk.

“Hmm?”

But I ended up getting even closer than the distance to throw a punch. I grabbed his collar, lifted his leg, and flipped Cheogum’s body.

Squish!

“Crack!”

Of course, given the overwhelming difference in inner strength in the world of martial arts novels, no matter how hard I try, it’s impossible to compete. However, Cheogum deliberately lowered his skill level to a precarious level, saying that he would assess the skills of his juniors by adjusting to the levels of Samae and me.

In that state, it was possible to surprise him by tripping him with my leg.

‘If it were an ordinary person, just being knocked down like this would cause concussion or incapacitation…!’

At the moment of being knocked down, I unfolded my defensive skill to absorb the shock. So, Cheogum was surprised, and although he might feel embarrassed about falling, he didn’t suffer any injuries.

But my attack didn’t end here.

“What a pitiful trick…”

Thump!

Thud-dong!

Thud-dudududududong!!

My fist pours down over Chugum’s face, protected by the Hoshin Steel Armor.

The Yeopmun Fist that Yeopmun used.

Relentlessly pouring punches onto the opponent, preventing any chance for a counterattack. The attack relentlessly struck Chugum’s face without pause, increasing the impact with the power of my inner energy and making the speed incredibly fast. It was as if I was pounding nails into a wooden floor one after another, burying Chugum’s head beneath the ground.

Thudududududududududududududududududu-!!

Dozens of punches per second.

Hitting the Hoshin Steel Armor harder than a rock with my hands, blood started to come out from both hands after just two strikes. As I continued with dozens of strikes, the sound of bones dislocating could be heard. But at this moment, I was using all my strength, driving the Chongsim Glass Ball into Chugum’s head, burying it into the ground.

Crunch!

The wooden floor of the harbor where Chugum was lodged began to sink. While the confused Talmengwi was contemplating whether to attack the defenseless Samae in this situation or to attack me and help his master, I was forcefully burying him.

Thududududududududu!!

Finally, as the Hoshin Steel Armor began to shatter from the impact of my strikes, I swung my right fist down towards Chugum’s astonished face.

“Chongsim Jikgwon!”

Crack!!

It hit.

Although my fist was bent, the punch imbued with my strength shattered the Hoshin Steel Armor and destroyed Chugum’s face.

Hot blood sprayed and splattered on my face, and as my hand was in excruciating pain, I felt Chugum’s Hoshin Steel Armor, which was lying on me, fading away.

“I won…!”

I, right now, have defeated Chugum, the top-notch master…

Crunch!!

“Kuh!”

Suddenly, I was grabbed by a large hand that I couldn’t even think of avoiding, holding onto my neck.

Fwoosh…

As the severed head emerged from the broken wooden floor, blood trickled from the bleeding nose and the once straight bridge of the nose crumbled. Upon confirming this, Chugum, the one who had pulled out the head, stifled a laugh.

“Fwoah… Fwohahahaha…! This is quite impressive! At first, I thought he was just a fool for suddenly starting a fight, but it turns out it was a cleverly coordinated attack that didn’t give me a chance to counterattack!”

“Kkk… Keuh…!”

With just one hand, Chugum lifted me up, his face covered in dripping blood, and laughed brightly, contorting his face.

“My lord! Are you alright?”

“I’m not alright. That’s why I’m even happier! A young man who hasn’t even reached the age of thirty hasn’t managed to land a single blow on me! Moreover, if this man had any significant background or if his fist was in good shape, my trajectory might have been thrown off and I could have died.”

“This… This bastard…!”

“Shhh…”

Talmengwi, who was supposed to be angry on behalf of Lord Chugum, couldn’t say anything when Chugum silenced him.

“I liked it. You, join us and become our ally.”

When Chugum and Yeoncheongha met, this kind of situation never occurred. Instead, they would do whatever it took to kill each other.

“Hmm…?”

“If you cooperate with us here, I’ll spare your life and take you as my disciple. If you’re not my disciple, I’ll ask my colleague who practices Kwonkak martial arts to take care of you.”

“My lord!”

“If you come to us, I’ll also free the woman you find so repulsive right in front of your eyes. What will you do?”

At this moment, Chugum had me pinned down with just one hand, overpowering me.

I tried to wrap my legs around him and break his arm, but Chugum’s strength was already overpowering my body through my neck, leaving me unable to resist, suffocating and dying.

“To think… you present that as an option…!”

I wanted help, but there was no one to help me.

If Ji Nang-hyun comes here in the course of the novel, Chugeom, who doesn’t want the organization’s identity exposed, will surely retreat. But now, the vision was only beginning to blur as the full moon dimmed.

At least another hour or so was needed for the sun to rise.

‘Do I die like this, or do I… join this organization?’

I didn’t want to die.

I would have preferred to die cleanly. As someone who knew mostly everything about how this organization ruins people, how it instills loyalty, and what kind of deeds it carries out, I would rather have my neck broken and die here.

“A defiant look in your eyes. Well then, fine. You’ll die, and I’ll take that woman over there and make her my disciple. Instead… you’ll need to give a consolation fee to the half-faced one, but that’s just how it goes.”

‘This… bastard…!’

My eyes were filled with rage to the point where blood vessels were about to burst. I started forcibly moving my body, but the pain was following as if my whole body would explode, resisting against Chugeom, who was infusing immense internal energy.

But how could I endure when I heard the words that he would harm the woman in front of me!

“If that’s the case, then die. She’ll have to work for me in your place, but…”

Chugeom’s fingers slowly began to dig into my throat.

“Argh…!”

Even as I was dying from the suffocation, I glared at Chugeom with bloodshot eyes until the end.

‘If only… if only I were a bit stronger……’

“My lord… my lord!”

“Don’t interrupt. It’s only if you don’t want that woman to have her throat cut in your place.”

“Trouble! Ji Nang-hyun is approaching this place!”

At the news relayed to other subordinates, Chugeom’s hand released me.

“What did you say?”

“Ji Nang-hyun has arrived in the vicinity.”

“Is it the real Ji-nang-hyun girl?”

“Considering her complete disregard for appearances, it’s certain! Though others might not know, if she’s the Ji-nang-hyun girl, she’s a woman who shouldn’t step on our tails. Even if she kills someone here and cleans up the traces, if it’s her, she’ll definitely…”

“The travel period doesn’t match. Even if they arrive early, I know it’s still this morning.”

“They say she’s exploring this place alone without her companions. Whether it’s a bait or she ventured here alone, we don’t know. But the master warned not to associate her with…”

“All right. In that case…”

Chu-geom’s other hand seized the head of Tal-myeon-gwi.

“There’s no choice. When the Ji-nang-hyun girl gets close enough, detach the tail to create confusion in the investigation.”

“M-master? Master! I have a special technique to manufacture invisibility spheres…”

“If that woman has come this far, she must already know that their information network has been neutralized. Isn’t that so?”

“Ugh… cough!”

Suddenly releasing my neck, Chu-geom dropped me to the floor, gripping my hand, which was holding Tal-myeon-gwi’s head…

In other words, he brought the head of Tal-myeon-gwi close to my hand.

“Master, master, master!”

Whoosh!

Then, through my fingers, he made it pierce through Tal-myeon-gwi’s head.

“Snap… ugh…!”

“There. It’s you who defeated the rebels gathered here.”

“Cough… Are you going to spare me?”

“Yes. I’m giving a toy to Ji-nang-hyun. After all, you only know me by my nickname, right? If I kill you, she’ll immediately try to track me down, but as long as you’re alive, she’ll waste time investigating you first.”

Unaware that I knew his previous nickname and background, Chu-geom was laughing at me mockingly, tapping my broken nose.

And I couldn’t reveal his identity even though I knew it. If I were to disclose it now, the damage would be greater than revealing it later, as it would be overturned before the formation of the Murlimang.

“And that’s the truth. Anyway, since you’re already dead, don’t worry.”

“……”

“If the Faceless Ghost dies and the operation fails, the backup plan will be executed.”

‘The plan to use a large number of fake corpses to create chaos in Sacheon…!’

Originally, it was an incident where Bang Kyuseong and Han Soso blocked the entry, and Yeon Cheongha infiltrated due to the plan of Jin Langhyun.

Puk!

“Krk!”

Chugeom pierced my acupoint with his fingers to the point where three fingers sank in, and then I felt my inner energy blocked.

“And just in case, I took away your martial arts. It may be difficult to erase it forever… huhu… Will you be able to survive the next plan?”

Shudder.

“Well, try to struggle. Huhu… Huhuhuhu!”

Shagak!

The surrounding harbor collapsed as the sword swept through, and the body of the assassin waiting nearby turned into a stream of blood, flowing away. The harbor where I and Chamae were located began to collapse and fall into the Chang River.

And Chugeom, without even wetting his feet, ran on the water and began to escape from the river.

Buk-grrr……

‘Chugeom… Next time, for sure…’

In a crisis where even my inner energy was temporarily closed, a fairy in a gorgeous dress revealed herself outside the water.

‘But this… What is it…?’

Splash-!

‘I’ve never seen an event like this…’

I lost consciousness with the sound of that fairy falling into the water.