—I refuse.
The Shaolin Abbot's guard. Gyeolgeukcheonbong, one of the Hundred Great Masters, spoke.
—Yuyeon. Do you know what you are saying right now?
—I do.
Despite that firm attitude, Yuyeon did not bend his will.
—I wish to fight him.
—And so, you want me to change the tournament bracket? Do you think that makes any sense?
He wanted to face Xiao Yanla in the fourth round of the main tournament. Thus, Yuyeon had come to request an audience with Gyeolgeukcheonbong.
Hearing those words, he wore an angry expression.
—This was drawn fairly by the Alliance...
—That it is not fair... everyone already knows.
At Yuyeon's words, Gyeolgeukcheonbong frowned.
—What? You right now—!
—However, I believe this too is the Buddha's will. For this humble monk is a person of Shaolin.
He too must have a reason.
No matter how incomprehensible it may be to him. If the Abbot Cheonan comprehended and attempted it, then it must be akin to the Buddha's will.
Yuyeon tried to understand it that way.
But.
—...At least for this, I earnestly beg you to listen to my will.
—Yuyeon!
—I must meet him before it is too late, no matter what.
Throb—!
The pain in his chest felt with every movement.
Enduring that, Yuyeon thought.
Before it's too late.
Before getting further injured.
When he could properly show his strength.
He had to meet him no matter what.
—Yuyeon. Do you not know what this martial tournament means to Shaolin?
—I do. That is precisely why I have stepped forward.
—Knowing that...!
—But this is something I must do.
Yuyeon took a deep breath and spoke to Gyeolgeukcheonbong before him.
—For I am the one who must become the roof of Shaolin.
—...!
—For I am the one who must someday stand at the peak under the name of Shaolin.
He knew well the expectations Shaolin placed on him.
How could he not know? Because he knew it all too well, his life was all the more sorrowful.
—Because of that. I must fight him.
He steadied his trembling voice.
—If I don't, the lingering regret will become my wall until the moment I die.
—...Absurd...!
—I will repeatedly regret recalling this moment. And it will block the path I must take.
—You rascal...
At Yuyeon's words, Gyeolgeukcheonbong said with a scowl.
—How dare you. Are you threatening me by putting yourself on the line?
—Namo Amitabha.
Yuyeon did not deny his words.
If his request was not granted now. He would fall to his inner demons and be unable to do anything.
Then, wouldn't Shaolin's wish also remain unfulfilled?
Yuyeon's words implied exactly that.
—This brat... truly...!
Gyeolgeukcheonbong, having grasped his intent, was about to roar in anger, but.
—Enough.
—...!
At the voice from behind, the old man had to freeze his actions.
—Leave it at that.
It was the Abbot of Shaolin. Cheonan.
—...But.
—Grant the child's wish. I will deliver the message to the Sword Immortal myself.
—Abbot...!
Gyeolgeukcheonbong spoke in surprise, but Cheonan merely stared at the kneeling Yuyeon with his characteristic eyes.
—Yuyeon.
—...Yes.
—Is that your will?
—...I am sorry.
—No, do not apologize. What you seek to do. May also be the Buddha's will. Even if it is forced, it is not difficult to grant.
Cheonan dragged his aged body toward him.
—For what we seek to do. Is also a compulsion that goes against our will.
—...
At his own words, Yuyeon could not add anything.
Because Cheonan's voice was filled with sorrow.
—We, who are going against our beliefs. Must look truly corrupt in your eyes.
—That is not true...
—I know. We only follow believing it is what must be done. It is merely insufficient to escape the guilt.
Cheonan stroked Yuyeon's hair with a calm hand.
—Do as you wish. However...
The slowly stroking hand passed a few times before stopping.
—I hope you do not forget where you must go at the end of it.
—...
The place he must go.
The peak where he must stand bearing the name of Shaolin.
—Yes... I will... keep that in mind.
At that stifling and heavy voice, Yuyeon answered, biting his lip.
That was the compulsion he had obtained.
And thus, the opportunity he had gained.
Crrrack—!
"…!"
Watching the world crumble, Yuyeon's eyes trembled.
'...What...?'
What has happened?
He harbored the question, but did not dwell on it.
Yuyeon's faltering body was moving swiftly.
Crunch—!
An impact rushed in from the left.
Yuyeon immediately twisted his body, but.
"Tsk."
Along with the short clicking of a tongue, Yuyeon's body rebounded.
Crunch—!
"Keugh!!"
Grab—!
Scatters.
Golden afterimages continuously scattered in the air.
These were traces formed from his own qi, and also the fragments of Hwang-a Gangram.
Shattered, crushed, and fading away.
The ultimate technique of Shaolin, which he believed would never break.
Was being crushed by bare hands.
'Impossible...!'
Yuyeon grit his teeth and moved.
He tried to create distance, but he couldn't even do that.
Before he knew it, he was grabbed by the collar, unable to even flee.
Hwang-a Gangram does not allow the opponent's approach.
It was clearly supposed to be so.
The opponent casually crushed the armor with his hands and dug in.
And then.
Whoosh—!
Crash—!!
With the thrust fist, the armor burst as if exploding.
"Cough!"
The recoil immediately hit Yuyeon.
The armor surrounding his body was shattered.
Pain reached his dantian, and his knees buckled.
Thud.
"Gasp... cough...?"
Spitting out pain, he thought.
It was an unbelievable situation.
What is going on?
'Clearly.... Clearly.'
Saying he would seize the upper hand from the start of the match, he had rushed in deploying Hwang-a Gangram.
And.
And...?
'It broke....'
It broke.
Hwang-a Gangram was crushed to pieces by the opponent's hand.
Drip.
Amidst the qi dropping to the ground, Yuyeon raised his head.
There, the opponent had already approached and was looking down at Yuyeon.
Not even thirty seconds had passed since it started.
In that situation, Yuyeon was already on his knees.
"I told you."
Flinch.
At the opponent's voice, Yuyeon's body trembled.
"If you mess up, you die, right?"
"..."
Blue eyes.
Even under the gaze he wanted to avoid at that very moment, Yuyeon dared not turn his head.
"Tsk. With that state, what are you trying to fight? Look at you now. You can't even maintain yourself properly."
He had to lose words at the nonchalant tone.
His words were right.
Due to the wound on his chest, Yuyeon could not properly regulate his qi.
Because of that, he was much weaker than originally, and could not properly display the movements he desired, but.
'Even so.'
It was not to the level of falling this miserably.
Then how did it come to this?
Yuyeon already knew the reason.
'...He's strong.'
Because the opponent was strong.
The young man in front of him. The ideal and goal he dreamed of were simply too strong.
That was all there was to it.
Clench.
He clenched his fist.
And raised his body.
Extreme pain was felt in his chest.
Is it the aftermath of the recoil?
Yuyeon thought so and tried to start the fight again, but.
Boom—!
"Cough!"
From the flying kick, Yuyeon's body floated into the air.
Rolling on the ground along with the impact.
Rolling a couple of times, Yuyeon barely caught his stance and anticipated the next attack.
However.
"...Haa... hah..."
Guyangcheon stood in front, not moving.
What is he planning next by doing that?
The moment Yuyeon was enduring the pain and observing this.
Guyangcheon slowly raised his hand and.
Hum.
Created Gangqi at his fingertips. It was a sharp and distinct Gangqi.
Is he trying to attack with that? Why would someone who uses punches and kicks create such Gangqi.
How should I counter that...
Slash—!!
"…!!"
Yuyeon, who was recalling his thoughts, widened his eyes at the unfolding scene.
"What are you doing--!"
And shouted loudly.
He had no choice but to do so.
Because Guyangcheon had suddenly slashed his own chest with the Gangqi.
Trickle.
Deep blood flowed from the wound, soaking his uniform.
Because he was wearing a black uniform, it wasn't noticeable, but one could see the wound was deep.
"Benefactor---!!"
"Shut up."
"…!"
"Stop screaming so loudly. I'm the one hurting, not you? If someone saw you, they'd think you were the one bleeding."
Despite it being considerable pain, Guyangcheon didn't even blink.
"You said it yourself. That you wanted me to do it properly."
"What does that...!"
"Then isn't it fair to do this?"
Guyangcheon smiled as he bled.
"This way, you have no excuses."
"...What?"
At his words, Yuyeon contorted his expression as if he didn't understand, but.
"It hurts. My body won't listen. So even though I could have, I lost. You wouldn't be able to say that, right?"
"…!"
At the following explanation, Yuyeon had to gasp.
Could it be, just for that, he inflicted a wound on his own body, and such a deep one at that?
It was an absurd action.
"Even without that...! No matter what, I would have submitted to the outcome of the match...!"
"It's truly amazing. What are you to keep doing that to me?"
Saying that, Guyangcheon raised his hand into the air.
"At first, it seemed like you hated me.... But it doesn't seem like that's entirely it. Or, well. Even if it's not."
And then.
"This is just something I want to do. So shut up."
Fwooooosh—!!!
An enormous flame shot up from his fingertips into the air.
Blue flames continuously soared into the sky.
Yuyeon felt his body slowly trembling as he watched.
All of that was his internal qi.
An amount that would drain the qi in his dantian if emitted for even a few seconds.
Guyangcheon was emitting it for ten seconds. Twenty seconds. Over dozens of seconds.
After spewing fire for a long time without knowing the reason.
"This should be enough."
Stopping the spewing flames, Guyangcheon spoke to Yuyeon.
"Exactly half. I emptied half of my qi."
Only after hearing the words did Yuyeon realize.
Now, not only had Guyangcheon wounded his own body, but he had even drawn out his qi.
The reason was.
"Now I should be similar to you."
To create a situation similar to his.
Merely for that, a wound and a loss.
He had gone that far without hesitation just for that.
"How about it? Does it seem doable now?"
"...Benefactor..."
"Originally, I was going to do this first before we fought."
Swipe. Guyangcheon wiped down his chest.
With just a slight movement, his hand was covered in blood.
"I didn't know you'd charge in like an idiot the moment we started. Are you an idiot? Why would someone who's injured recklessly use their qi. Not even a madman would do that."
"...That's."
"You said you'd beat me. Then you shouldn't do that. Unless you're assuming you'll lose, it doesn't make sense. Ah, or were you planning to lose?"
"I wasn't..."
Yuyeon grit his teeth and raised his body.
The surroundings were so quiet.
The voices cheering for him had died down long ago.
It was the same for what just happened.
The surroundings seemed overwhelmed by the flames he spewed.
All eyes were on Guyangcheon, not himself.
He felt as if it was stolen in an instant, but he didn't mind.
Perhaps, he might have been hoping for this.
As proof, though his body hurt, his mind was clearer than ever.
"I... will defeat you."
"Yeah."
Unwavering words.
Hearing this, Guyangcheon smirked.
"I felt it earlier too. It's refreshing."
"..."
"In this life, no one has ever said that to me. They all just ignored me and only realized after getting beaten down."
Drip—!
The flowing blood thickened.
Guyangcheon wasn't even stopping the bleeding with his internal qi.
"But you're different.... Why is that."
"..."
Hearing the question, Yuyeon didn't utter a word.
What this emotion was, Yuyeon also had yet to define.
If it's admiration, then it's admiration.
If it's respect, it might be that.
Outwardly, it seems close to a competitive spirit. But isn't the essence one of the two above?
Yuyeon thought so.
"Did I do something to you? I didn't.... I haven't done anything like that yet."
If he doesn't remember, then it's fine.
If only he remembered. That was enough.
Yuyeon raised his fist in silence.
"...I thank you for your consideration, Benefactor. I have come to my senses."
Taking the Yebodan stance, he offered his gratitude.
"Taking this to heart, I will engage with sincerity."
"...Hmm."
At that sight, Guyangcheon scratched the back of his neck as if troubled.
"Ah... seriously."
And then, letting out a short sigh, he spoke.
"The more I see you, the more I like you. Even though I shouldn't."
What could that mean?
The moment Yuyeon was about to question it.
Step.
Guyangcheon took a step forward.
That moment.
Fwoooooosh—!!
An immense qi began to erupt from Guyangcheon's body.
"Gasp... ugh...!?"
Tremble.
Yuyeon's body began to tremble violently, incomparable to the beginning.
As soon as he faced the qi, it felt as if all the muscles in his body were stiffening.
What is this? Killing intent?
The previous match.
The fight between the man named Jin Imseok and Biseongdo.
Yuyeon had witnessed a tremendous killing intent there.
He couldn't help but be shocked upon seeing it. How could a person emit such vicious killing intent? It even made him think that.
'T-This is...'
It couldn't even be compared to that.
That was a qi that was fearful to even call killing intent.
It felt like he would lose his mind.
"What did you say again."
Slowly walking toward Yuyeon.
"Did you say to do it properly?"
Repeating Yuyeon's words, he told him.
"Alright. I'll respect that."
Amidst this, the smile didn't fade but grew even deeper.
The qi and the fierce smile intertwined.
It was a novel experience for Guyangcheon.
At the point where his realm had expanded and his enlightenment had deepened.
This was the first time he had shown his full power in this situation.
So, if he had a wish.
"Try to handle it."
Praying that Yuyeon wouldn't break from this fight.
He only hoped for that much, if only a fraction.