Chapter 582:
Song Hyeon’s eyes widened.
‘Is that a human fist?’
He couldn’t help but be amazed.
Wudang’s martial arts ultimately begin with yu (softness).
Gentleness and harmony.
That was both the beginning and end of Wudang.
While he didn’t look down on other sects, Song Hyeon believed Wudang’s fist techniques were also the best under heaven.
Relatively speaking, their sword techniques were too famous, causing their fist techniques to be overshadowed, but anyone who had truly experienced Wudang’s fist techniques wouldn’t dare say that Wudang fists were inferior to Wudang swords.
But that was different.
The domineering force that Wudang’s fists lacked!
A powerful fist technique that couldn’t be seen anywhere else under heaven.
‘Sima Cheon-se. Yes, indeed worthy of being called Sima Cheon-se.’
It was a sight that made one understand the arrogant nickname of having reached the extreme of fist techniques.
Like scattering a pile of fallen leaves gathered in one’s hands in all directions, those who stood in the way of Sima Cheon-se’s fist couldn’t bear its overwhelming force and bounced away like rubber balls.
It was overwhelming.
Those who wielded swords and blades could never create such a spectacle.
Before feeling that energy and realizing its might, it first showed itself to the eyes. It was a terrifying sight that seemed impossible for a human being to create.
Those who witnessed this scene reacted extremely.
Those following behind Sima Cheon-se unconsciously straightened their shoulders and shouted. And the faces of those confronting Sima Cheon-se turned pale.
Just one moment.
Just one fist.
With that alone, Sima Cheon-se had completely seized control of the battlefield.
“Stand aside!”
The words came too late.
He had already blown away all those who stood in his way, so what did he mean by standing aside?
Sima Cheon-se’s voice rang throughout the battlefield.
“Those who block my path will meet the same fate! I do not desire sacrifice! Stand aside!”
Song Hyeon unconsciously curled up the corners of his mouth.
‘Should I say that’s just like Sima Cheon-se?’
He doesn’t abandon the possibility of compromise until the very last moment. If negotiations break down, he will certainly eliminate the leadership. But his will to minimize the sacrifices that would occur on the way there was evident.
If the White Sword Castle disciples retreated after hearing those words, the battlefield would be quickly settled.
But such a thing couldn’t happen easily.
Those who had retreated in panic from Sima Cheon-se’s single blow steeled their hearts and thrust out their swords. Then they began rushing toward Sima Cheon-se all at once.
Sima Cheon-se met the white-robed martial artists charging at him with eyes that didn’t waver even an inch.
“I told you to stand aside!”
Kuuuuuuuuung!
A strike that pressed down.
A fist that swept away.
Each one shook the ground.
Humans were too powerless before it.
All those watching realized it anew.
Why this person was the leader of the Righteous Martial Alliance!
Why the name Sima Cheon-se rang throughout the world!
Twenty years had passed.
Twenty years had passed since Sima Cheon-se made his name known to all directions and stood tall in the world as the great enemy of the Demonic Cult. They say even mountains and rivers change in ten years. Twenty years would be sufficient time for one person’s name to fade.
Yet Sima Cheon-se’s name had not been forgotten.
As the leader of the Righteous Martial Alliance, and as the world’s greatest fist master, his name still rang throughout the world without fading.
The reason was being revealed now.
Compared to his past self, he might have become less agile. That’s what aging means, after all.
But Sima Cheon-se possessed something beyond that.
‘Magnificent.’
Namgung Jo-hwi was also marveling at Sima Cheon-se.
It might be a luxury to feel admiration for someone in the middle of such an urgent battlefield. But he couldn’t help but marvel.
Swordsmen and fist masters are different.
A swordsman’s ability is greatly influenced by their innate talent. Even when learning the same sword techniques, differences in ability arise based on how precisely and skillfully one can move the sword.
Therefore, swordsmen often made their names known from an early age.
But fist techniques are not like that.
Compared to swords, fist techniques appear relatively crude and thus require much more power.. A sword wielded by a child can carelessly kill a person, but no one dies from a punch thrown by a child.
There is only one way to build the power to overwhelm an opponent. To accumulate internal energy, again and again.
Like stacking time and years, one must accumulate bit by bit over long periods. Like pouring water one gourd at a time into a vast sea, one must endlessly repeat the tedious and difficult work without faltering.
That realm of ceaseless dedication meeting with years and being aged over long periods.
Yes.
Tremendous internal energy.
Uuuuuuuuung!
He extends his arm forward.
The moment the fist hidden in his sleeve emerged from outside the sleeve, an irresistible tremendous force swept over the White Sword Castle disciples.
“Keuuuaaa!“
Those at the front tried somehow to resist.
They knew an unprecedented great force was surging toward them, but they couldn’t retreat. Their resentment was too deep to retreat, and they had too much they needed to do.
Moreover, Sima Cheon-se.
The one attacking them was like a symbol of the Central Plains martial world. Those who had set out to take revenge on the Central Plains martial world couldn’t show their backs in front of a symbol of the Central Plains martial world.
That would be insulting those who had gone before them.
But no matter how high one raises their will and hardens their heart, strength doesn’t increase. Even gritting their teeth and raising their internal energy until their eyes were bloodshot, they couldn’t resist the force pushing them away.
“Uuuuuk!“
Their feet lifted off the ground.
The swords that had blocked the front trembled, then began bending limply. It was impossible to resist the surging great force.
‘How can this be human strength?’
If it were a violent force striking in one blow, it wouldn’t be so frustrating. The force that pushed slowly but decisively made even their training up to now seem futile.
If they couldn’t even withstand this single strike, why had they endured that bone-cutting training?
It was a strike that instantly broke even the opponent’s will to resist.
“Uaaaaaaaa!“
They were blown away.
Like pebbles thrown by a child, those who floated in the air bounced away.
The sight of dozens of those wearing white martial robes bouncing into the air looked like pure white flowers blooming. Even in that urgent situation, everyone stared blankly at the spectacle.
“Indeed, so this is Sima Cheon-se.”
Baek Hoe-myeong clicked his tongue.
The Righteous Martial Alliance forces led by Sima Cheon-se were penetrating White Sword Castle’s formation. Like sand flowing through a hole, those gathered in wedge formation were pushing their way in.
If left like this, they would soon break through the center.
‘What an absurd thing to do.’
Anyone who knew even a little about military strategy would know how ridiculous such an action was. Breaking through the center of a thickly established formation at one point? It was such a stupid thing that one wouldn’t even attempt it if they didn’t want to die.
But that reckless attempt was working.
The reason was only one.
Sima Cheon-se.
Because of that person.
“He’s not human.”
Baek Hoe-myeong shook his head.
It wasn’t just words. Sima Cheon-se was someone who possessed the power to carry out his intentions and declarations.
“Was he like this during the past war too?”
“Not quite, Young Master.”
“Then he’s become stronger?”
“He seems to have become twice as strong. He wasn’t to that degree in the past.”
An explanation came.
“It’s common sense that martial artists become stronger as they age, but in reality, that’s often not the case. Even if internal energy increases, one cannot stay young forever, and if muscle strength and accuracy decline, that internal energy also becomes meaningless. But that person has definitely become stronger than in the past.”
Baek Hoe-myeong quietly nodded.
It wouldn’t be simply because he was a fist master. He must have continuously cultivated himself through countless years.
‘To think I’d feel respect for an enemy.’
He was certainly someone worthy of respect. The more one looked, the more so.
“Isn’t it reckless?”
“It is reckless. But his purpose seems clear.”
“My head?”
“I thought you would know.”
Baek Hoe-myeong smiled bitterly.
How could he not know when they were charging so openly?
“So what do you think?”
“What do you mean?”
“Has the Baek Family’s Empty Sword weakened compared to the past?”
The old man standing beside Baek Hoe-myeong chuckled lowly.
“How could someone who dares call himself of the Baek Family become weak? Such a person couldn’t even use Baek (White) in their surname.”
“You’re right. However, it’s also true that the name Empty Sword has faded somewhat compared to Sima Cheon-se’s reputation.”
“Young Master.”
The old man called Empty Sword bowed his head slightly.
“I have no intention of being swayed by the empty fame of the martial world. According to the martial world’s empty fame, wouldn’t the world’s greatest sword be one of Sword Saint, Sword Immortal, or Emperor Sword?”
“That’s right.”
“The fact that the Family Head is not seated as the world’s greatest sword, no, the world’s greatest person, shows how fleeting the reputation discussed in the martial world is.”
“Are you saying you can handle someone like Sima Cheon-se?”
“Young Master, please stop testing me.”
Baek Hoe-myeong smiled broadly.
“Then will you step forward?”
“If you simply command it.”
Baek Hoe-myeong pointed at Sima Cheon-se with his chin.
“The time hasn’t ripened yet. But if we leave him like that, the damage will be great. Stop him.”
“I obey your command.”
Seususeut.
Empty Sword moved like the wind and flew toward Sima Cheon-se.
Watching that scene, Baek Hoe-myeong gazed at the battlefield with sharp eyes.
They were being pushed back helplessly. The White Sword sword masters who had instantly swept away the Righteous Martial Alliance’s Zhejiang branch couldn’t exert any power in front of Sima Cheon-se. Once they were overwhelmed in momentum, it wouldn’t be easy for a while.
‘I thought it was reckless, but…’
He must have had confidence.
Confidence in his power, and in war.
It was a moment when he could understand the Family Head’s words that war is not done with the head.
In the end, the difference between a brilliant move that changes the tide of battle and an evil move that drags allies into hell is paper-thin. Because it’s a method that deviates from generally accepted military strategy.
If it works, it becomes a brilliant move, and if it doesn’t work, it becomes an evil move. There is no right or wrong on the battlefield. That’s what Sima Cheon-se was showing now.
But it was excessive.
If it had been to the extent of just wearing down their forces moderately, he could have applauded. But directly targeting Baek Hoe-myeong’s head and charging was a foolish act.
‘What does it matter anyway.’
The outcome had already been decided.
Sima Cheon-se didn’t know. He knew nothing.
Before they reached this battlefield, this war had already ended. The moment he realized that fact, he couldn’t contain his curiosity about what expression that iron-blooded martial artist would make.
Baek Hoe-myeong licked his lips.
It needed to ripen a bit more. The sacrifice was painful, but he had to endure until the enemy completely entered the net.
“That impatience will cost you your head, Sima Cheon-se.”
Today, at this place, the tide of the martial world would change. Those who had been living arrogantly thinking the world was theirs would all come to realize their situation.
For this moment, they had waited a full three hundred years.
Three hundred years of resentment now began spitting fire toward the world.
“Everything is in the name of Ten Thousand Swords.”
It was a cold voice.
