The sword, unable to withstand the continuous clashes, lost countless teeth.

Dozens, hundreds?

Because he was concentrating, he hadn't counted how many times he had swung.

But one thing was certain: the young chief of the Black Scorpion was truly strong.

A sword style he had never seen before in the Central Plains.

Unlike the Central Plains' style, which appropriately mixed feints and real attacks, there were no feints in Baihe's blade.

Only real attacks. It seemed that every attack existed to inflict a fatal wound.

A swordsmanship that was accompanied by enormous fatigue.

But whether it was because of his outstanding muscular strength, not even a small tremor could be felt in his blade.

Kka-ga-ga-gak!

Baihe's blade, which scraped sharply past, creates a loud noise.

"Is this all you've got! Tang Cheonyeong!"

Cheonyeong frowns at Baihe's shout, which was becoming more and more triumphant as time passed.

Damn punk, he's full of energy.

Although his body was covered in wounds from the fragments of qi that had grazed him, he showed no signs of fatigue.

Kka-deuk, kkang!

Cheonyeong, who had deflected Baihe's sword, steps back and quickly controls his breathing.

"Keuk keuk. You seem to be running out of steam. Alright, I'll wait. Because the fight with you is more enjoyable than I thought."

Cheonyeong sighs at Baihe's words, which were as if he were showing him mercy. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

So arrogant...

Think as you please.

Of course, he himself had also suffered many wounds, as much as his tattered clothes.

Because Baihe's blade was truly sharp and fast.

But he had stepped back not because he was running out of stamina, but to check the condition of the sword in his hand.

Every time they clashed, a bad sound was heard.

It was as if the sword were screaming in pain.

"Dammit, it's no different from a saw."

Cheonyeong shakes his head at the sword, which had become hideous with its many missing teeth.

The teeth, the teeth... at this rate, it would be good for sawing wood.

That wasn't all.

The flat of the sword was full of cracks. It was proof that the sword's strength could not withstand the impact.

Wasn't it a sword he had procured from a blacksmith in Ganyang in the first place?

Naturally, its strength and sharpness were not that great.

Knowing that, he had intentionally contained only the energy that the sword could withstand, but the sword had already reached its limit.

It was a situation where he could not use his full power even if he wanted to.

In contrast, Baihe's gentle sword was still emitting a murderous sharpness even after the fierce clash.

It was of good quality. Enough to withstand all his energy and not even get a scratch when it clashed with an opponent.

Well, it was the sword of a young chief... it must be a famous sword of some sort.

"Now, if you've rested enough, let's start again! Tang Cheonyeong!"

Baihe, who seemed to think he had seized the victory, hurried the battle.

Aish, you annoying punk.

If the quality of the sword had been good, I would have already taken your head.

But what's the use of such an assumption. The sword he was holding was on the verge of breaking.

There weren't many times left. At this rate, he would have to face Baihe with his bare hands.

Since it has come to this, hidden weapons...

Cheonyeong, who was reaching for his pocket, soon changes his mind.

No, no.

There's no need for the hidden weapon to be a flying needle. And isn't one of the scary things about hidden weapons the element of surprise?

Cheonyeong grins, and Baihe says mockingly.

"Hoh? You're laughing? You seem to have gained some confidence."

"Yes. Thanks to the time you gave me to rest."

"Keuk keuk, don't you think I also rested thanks to that?"

"It doesn't matter. It's a duel, so it's better if it's fair."

"Keuk keuk keuk, alright, alright. Then show me. But, it has to be better than before. If not, you'll really die this time."

Baihe licks his lips with his tongue and his eyes sparkle.

I'll return those words to you.

"Then shall we begin?"

"As you wish!"

Baihe rushes in without delay, like a beast in front of its prey.

"Hoo..."

Cheonyeong, who had let out a long breath, grips his sword tightly.

Sword, you've had a hard time meeting a bad master.

Just endure it twice more.

Samyang, Body Transformation.

As Cheonyeong raises his Samyang True Qi, the energy flows fiercely like a torrent and spreads throughout his body, reaching his hand and continuing to the sword.

Jjeo-jeok, jjeo-jeo-jeok.

The sword, whose lifespan had already reached its limit, could not withstand the formidable energy, and in an instant, it creates a spiderweb-like crack and is on the verge of breaking.

"Die! Tang Cheonyeong!"

Baihe's sword swings in like the teeth of a beast aiming for his neck.

"You punk... you're full of life!"

Cheonyeong, who had smirked, grips his sword with both hands and swings it.

He's a punk with no feints.

If he deflects the sincere attack with all his might, there will be no next attack.

Jjeo-eo-eong!

The swords clashed, and a completely different noise from before erupted.

"Keuk!"

Baihe, feeling a sharp pain as if his wrist were being torn by the returning repulsive force, grimaces.

He is pushed back.

It wasn't because the force contained in Cheonyeong's sword was too strong.

It was because he felt that Cheonyeong, who had hidden such power until now, had been looking down on him.

"You didn't use your full power until now?"

"It was my best."

"Shut up! While you were hiding this much power!"

...It's true.

He had only used the energy to the level that the sword allowed, but in the other parts, he had really done his best.

In fact, this was harder than exerting his full power.

It was one thing to control the energy appropriately, but he had to be on edge the whole time to block his attacks, which were coming in with little force.

There had been several crises where his arms, legs, and even his neck were almost cut.

Ppudeudeuk.

But Baihe, as if the fact that he hadn't used all his power was too unpleasant, gritted his teeth so hard that it could be heard by everyone, and glared at Cheonyeong with bloodshot eyes.

"I won't forgive you, you man from the Central Plains! Absolutely not!"

His title had also changed from Tang Cheonyeong to 'man from the Central Plains', and his tone was full of hostility.

"No, that's not it... hah, forget it. Forget it."

What excuse could he make?

It seemed that no matter what he said, it wouldn't get through to the already offended Baihe.

Damn punk. When he seemed to be winning, he was so triumphant.

Well, it doesn't matter.

Isn't this a fight where he doesn't have to match the opponent's mood?

And who had decided that he had to use all his power from the beginning?

The important thing is to win. And he intended to do so from now on.

"Baihe, it doesn't matter what you think, but be prepared. From now on."

Cheonyeong pulls his sword and takes a stance as if he would jump forward.

One more time.

The sword can't take more than that.

"Come! I'll finish you with this one blow! You despicable man from the Central Plains!"

It seemed he really intended to do so.

Although the difference in power was not great, Baihe's fighting spirit, which had lost its favor, had become much more murderous than before.

He would also put everything into one blow.

Honestly...

"Hoo."

Cheonyeong gives strength to his planted foot as he exhales the breath he had been holding.

Ku-deuk.

His foot presses deep into the floor.

The muscles of his thighs swell up on his bent legs.

And the moment his body leans forward as if it would fall.

Ku-u-ung!

His bent legs straighten quickly like a released bowstring.

Swi-ae-aek!

Cheonyeong's figure shoots forward like a flash of lightning.

And with his swinging hand, one white trajectory is added.

Swii-i-ik!

In response to Cheonyeong's attack, Baihe, instead of retreating to observe, comes to face him in the same way.

The moment Cheonyeong moved, he also moved, and the two flashes of lightning meet in the middle and clash forcefully.

Kwa-a-a-a-ang!

The sword and the saber collide, and the qi and the qi collide and explode like a bomb.

Kwang! Kwa-kwang! Kwang!

Although they could have retreated from the impact, the two immediately continue to clash without any leeway.

(End of Chapter)