The one called a demon of the martial world isn’t one because they’ve learned demon martial arts.
They’ve committed an act worthy of universal outrage, and thus are called a demon of the martial world.
“No matter how I think about it, I don’t understand.”
“Hm?”
“It’s nothing.”
Why does Hyeol-lang-do Gwak Mu-sam want to massacre all the people in this village?
After observing the village for a few days, all I really felt was that these were quite kind-hearted rural folk.
Well, it’s quite probable that what we see at a glance as martial artists increases the chance of that…
Well, it might be because he’s gone completely insane and bloodthirsty, like when he met the protagonist in the original work.
This village has just unluckily crossed his path.
“So, do you intend to keep sitting here? There’s nothing here…”
“I don’t know…”
It’s awkward to say anything.
It’s about time for Hyeol-lang-do to appear, but since we don’t know where he’s come from, for now, I’m just sitting on a rock near the main road.
Even though I’ve heightened my senses with inner energy to look for any signs of movement, I still can’t feel anything, so I am quite restless.
But for now, this is all I can do, so I should at least do this.
Or… call him over to me.
“Hye-ryeong, Mok-kyeong, stay twenty steps behind and follow me.”
“Yes.”
“I understand, Eun-gong.”
It’s fortunate that the two are following without any complaints. I first got up from the rock and moved forward, and began slowly drawing out my mana core’s energy.
Extremely thin and wide.
My inner energy escapes my skin and gradually spreads throughout the mountain. Though not enough to scatter across a very wide range, it’s quite enough to cover a wide area with my inner energy’s scent, to ensure someone in the mountain knows.
To make them realize that there is someone.
How long has it been since I started walking? I sense arriving at the halfway point of the mountain and looked forward.
I feel the presence of someone.
Is it Gwak Mu-sam or someone else? Focusing my inner energy into my eyes, I pierce through the darkness and see the silhouette of a haggard man.
“Who are you? Enemy? Enemy? Enemy?”
“… He’s not in his right mind.”
The scent of blood carried on the wind strikes my nose. This is not someone who has killed just once or twice.
A person saturated with such a scent must have killed dozens, at least.
And a person killing people to this extent is one of two things: either a lunatic or in the process of becoming one.
No matter how much you might call this an era where barbarism thrives, wandering around killing so many people that it’s hard to count, is absolutely not normal.
There’s no one more aware of that fact than me, who in the battlefield of the Middle Ages has cut the heads off dozens upon dozens of people.
“Uncle?”
“Hye-ryeong, Mok-kyeong, it seems like a crazy man has appeared – don’t try to jump in.”
My hand rests on the hilt.
Then, a fierce killing intent was suddenly directed at me.
Indeed, does this man just want to kill people?
It’s not strange for a wandering swordsman trying to survive without having attained a proper title to soil their blade with blood, but if a person trains without learning proper martial arts and is shaken by psychological trauma, the outcome…
“… Let’s see when we get back.”
Either show his head or go back dragging the body.
Step by step, I hear the sound of footsteps approaching and draw my sword.
—
“Why is he suddenly lunging at Mr.?”
“… It feels like he’s not in his right mind. Moreover, it’s a mystery how Eun-gong knew this person would come here…”
‘It seems like he’s hiding something, but… it’s not my place to ask, is it.’
Intentionally hiding a reason doesn’t mean we necessarily need to uncover it.
Mok-kyeong, who didn’t want to make the relationship with her benefactor uncomfortable, used her inner energy in her eyes to observe the battle between the incomprehensible warrior and William.
‘According to the original work, the skill level of Hyeol-lang-do is teetering on the edge of perfection.’
A wandering swordsman’s climb to a higher level is highly perilous.
Since those at the bottom of life mostly can only touch forbidden martial arts, and most learn extremely unsafe internal energy methods…
The method for the wandering to elevate their skill level, having learned martial arts of poor quality, is only fierce actual combat.
Fight. Kill. Fight. Kill.
Obtaining even a grain of insight while constantly balancing life and death, thereby climbing higher. However, that gained level is like a castle built on sand, easily collapsing with the smallest wave.
And when the level collapses, it leads straight down the path of inner energy disorder.
Rarely did a wandering reach the summit. But even he, who had exceptionally climbed to the peak, ultimately fell.
Bang!
William’s sword deflected Gwak Mu-sam’s sword to the side. The sword, still dripping with adhered blood, slid to the side, spilling sparks.
A sword technique laden purely with killing intent.
Nevertheless, the instincts honed in brutal fights enabled him, despite his madness, to reset his stance and continue his assault.
“Can you hear me?”
“I won’t die!”
“… There’s no way to communicate.”
Though he didn’t really expect it to work, William grimaced at the sight of Gwak Mu-sam charging at him like he was seeing his lifelong enemy. He blocked the sword aimed at his neck with his sword’s hilt.
Clashing with sparks flying.
A brief stalemate.
However, this demonstrates the composure of a powerful fighter.
William, while in that position, swung his arm outward forcefully, deflecting Gwak Mu-sam’s sword to the side. Then, without hesitation, he jabbed his sword toward Gwak Mu-sam’s neck.
With one move, he had the other by the throat in retaliation.
But though a madman, Gwak Mu-sam was an old hand. He rolled on the ground and narrowly escaped.
“… Why do crazy people keep doing this?”
“Die! Dieee…”
For a wandering, enduring the dirt if it means surviving.
At the moment he stood up, he kicked off the ground.
His sword aimed at William’s waist, scattering red energy mingled with killing intent.
A simple and straightforward attack.
But William didn’t think he would swing his sword straightforwardly.
“A seasoned warrior never uses moves that are blatantly visible.”
No matter how mad, the physical experience he had acquired wouldn’t vanish. Therefore, William lightly received Gwak Mu-sam’s sword in the ‘ox’ stance.
The light shock transmitted through his hands.
‘Feint.’
As soon as the sword was blocked, William rolled on the ground and aimed for his left ankle. If he were an ordinary warrior, he would certainly have been puzzled and struck by that strange movement. Unfortunately for Gwak Mu-sam, his opponent had gone through even more brutal battles than your ordinary warrior.
“Didn’t think I’d see someone do this in the martial world.”
William immediately wrapped his left foot with energy and stepped heavily on the blade. The moment Gwak Mu-sam aimed for his foot was precisely when the blade was crushed and sank into the ground. William then swept his right foot and kicked Gwak Mu-sam’s face.
Though Gwak Mu-sam managed to block the kick with his palm at the last second, the impact propelled him flying a distance. Throughout the impact, he still managed to hold onto the sword.
William slightly adjusted his slightly strained ankle from exerting himself blocking the sword and approached the fallen Gwak Mu-sam who had crashed against a tree.
“Khhgk…!”
The shock reverberated through Gwak Mu-sam’s internal organs. However, he quickly rose again.
This is common among wandering swordsmen.
He stood up again, using the ground to support him.
It wasn’t the end, yet.
‘… Should I try it?’
The footwork was still incomplete. If it worked as he had imagined, it would be a terrifying move, but he couldn’t guarantee its success yet.
But new techniques are proven only in combat.
He extended his right foot forward and drew his left foot backward.
The posture was not very different from the longsword stance.
Ultimately, most martial arts revolve around the lower limbs when performing techniques.
He stared straight at Gwak Mu-sam charging towards him with a demon-like face, despite spewing blood from his mouth.
The active energy flowing through his sword revealed he was fully unleashing his spirit, though still crude because of his insufficient level. Yet, it was a sufficiently imposing attack.
William, with an unchanging expression, pulled a mass of energy from his mana core and wrapped his body with it.
The distance closed.
Now only thirty steps.
Twenty-five.
Twenty…
Fifteen.
William’s body darted forward through the dark night like an arrow leaving the string.
While in the ‘Ore Armor’ technique.
Gwak Mu-sam only swung his sword at William’s heart due to the faster-than-expected charge.
However, Gwak Mu-sam didn’t know.
That ‘Ore Armor’ was on a completely different level from protective energy.
He was thrown backward like someone struck by a bull, leaving deep grooves on the ground before stopping. Watching Gwak Mu-sam who had been hurled almost five lengths away while rolling on the ground, William sighed with a regretful look.
‘Not complete yet. Didn’t stop in time.’
If he hadn’t used Ore Armor, he’d have committed suicide through the charge.
With a regretful look, William returned the sword to its sheath and approached Gwak Mu-sam.
“… This should be called a fatal technique rather than footwork.”
Given the distance covered, the footwork was a failure.
‘Didn’t expect success right from the start, but…’
Creating new footwork can’t be achieved immediately.
“Grk… Gruh… I don’t want to die… I won’t die… I must return home…”
But the time left for him was only a matter of moments.
His limbs had lost function, his ribs tasked to protect his torso were shattered, piercing various internal organs.
Even if Hua Tuo were to come, his injuries would warrant shaking his head.
William observed Gwak Mu-sam, whose life was gradually fading, then turned to look at Hye-ryeong and Mok-kyeong who were watching him and said:
“Let’s go back first.”
