The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

The Ghost-Faced Revolutionary Sword, Gu Jucheol.

He was a villain who had once been called one of the Seven Vicious Demons, but he had repented of his past, cut off his own left arm, and had entrusted himself to the orthodox faction.

Furthermore, he had shown his will by killing a hundred demonic men.

But the blood he had shed to wash away his own blood had not been able to completely wash away his true nature.

'It might be dangerous.'

Gu Jucheol felt his right hand, which was holding the saber, twitching wildly.

A craving for slaughter.

The desire he had tried so hard to deny was raising its head again.

"You are waking me up."

Gu Jucheol looked at Jin Sohyun, who was standing opposite him.

The man, who was standing with a bored face, as befitting his title of Slothful Young Master, took out two flying swords and let out a panting breath.

"Hoo."

"If you've rested enough, shall we start again?"

At Gu Jucheol's question, Jin Sohyun, who had nodded his head, threw his flying swords.

Two flying swords, imbued with the power of lightning flash, flew in, shining with a blue light.

'Front and back... they're coming from two places.'

Gu Jucheol felt a sharp qi from behind his back.

The wind blows. Then the blade approaches.

Gu Jucheol, who had gripped his saber tightly, deflected the two flying swords coming from the front with two saber strikes and then immediately turned his body to deflect the flying sword coming from behind.

As the three flying swords were deflected, they changed direction at the same time.

The place where the tips of the blades were heading was Gu Jucheol.

'It's meaningless to deflect his flying swords.'

As if they had their own individual wills, the flying swords would return immediately even if they were deflected.

To stop this, he had to strike the master of the flying swords.

"Watch your neck, boy."

Gu Jucheol kicked off the tips of his toes.

Gu Jucheol, who had rushed in at a tremendous speed as if he were crossing space, swung his saber.

A saber qi, entangled like a spider's web, surrounded Jin Sohyun.

'This time, I have to see it properly without backing down.'

Jin Sohyun stared at the approaching saber qi with wide-open eyes.

Although it looked dense, as if there were no place to escape, there were thread-like gaps in between.

Jin Sohyun, who had discovered this, inhaled.

The final movement technique of the number one divine thief in the world, who had succeeded in escaping alive from the sword of the enraged White Moon Divine Lord.

The Shadowless Divine Steps.

Jin Sohyun's figure disappeared in an instant and then reappeared repeatedly.

Each time, Gu Jucheol's saber qi disappeared in vain, as if it had cut an illusion.

"What an amazing speed."

Gu Jucheol felt that a long-range attack could not reach Jin Sohyun.

"In that case, I'll have to go myself."

Contrary to his plan, Gu Jucheol did not need to approach Jin Sohyun.

It was because Jin Sohyun was also approaching him.

The two rushed at each other at a fierce speed.

And soon, when they were so close that they could even feel each other's breath, Gu Jucheol raised his saber.

His saber came at Jin Sohyun at a high speed, as if it would split him in two.

Jin Sohyun avoided his saber by a hair's breadth this time as well.

Following that, Jin Sohyun's hand dug into Gu Jucheol's bosom.

"Hmm!?"

Jin Sohyun's left hand grabbed Gu Jucheol's front lapel.

At the same time, a flying sword was held in Jin Sohyun's right hand.

"As expected... you are strong. At the same age, you would have no rival."

A strong pressure burst out from Gu Jucheol's body.

A sense of pressure that weighed down the whole body.

Jin Sohyun's flying sword could no longer move forward.

"But this is meaningless."

Gu Jucheol's fist, which had approached at a speed that could not be reacted to, struck Jin Sohyun's abdomen.

"Heup!"

Jin Sohyun's waist bent back as he was struck in the abdomen.

"Keuleok! Keuleok!"

Along with a cough, Jin Sohyun's body slowly collapsed.

Due to the internal injury, the flow of his internal energy was not smooth.

"Retreat for today."

At these words, Gu Jucheol left the Dark Cave.

Jin Sohyun, who was left alone, lay prostrate on the floor.

"Ugh... I'm going to die."

***

The next day.

At the same time as yesterday, Jin Sohyun came to the Dark Cave.

Gu Jucheol, who had been there in advance, drew his saber without a word.

"Let's begin."

Jin Sohyun, who felt the killing intent flowing from Gu Jucheol's body, had to draw his flying swords without even having time to complain.

"Sigh. Yes."

The two clashed once again.

And this time too, the result was the same.

Gu Jucheol kicked Jin Sohyun's waist with his left foot and then struck his head with the side of his saber.

Thwack—!

Jin Sohyun, who had been struck in the head by the saber, collapsed.

"..."

Gu Jucheol, who was watching this, narrowed his brow.

"This is absurd."

Jin Sohyun had wanted to become stronger, and Gu Jucheol had tried to help him.

But at this rate, it was meaningless.

He felt a restraining force in his strength.

Gu Jucheol knew the reason for the restraining force.

"Is there no other way?"

Gu Jucheol sat down on the spot and looked at the face of Jin Sohyun, who had fainted as if he were dead.

"A brat who doesn't suit a martial artist has come to possess an excessive talent."

His hand touched Jin Sohyun's head.

"Survive. For you to become stronger... this is the only way left now."

Gu Jucheol, who was looking at Jin Sohyun with a strange gaze, held him in his arms.

"What is it, you?"

Jong Ryeo'ak looked at Jin Sohyun with an incomprehensible face.

Sunken two eyes and a temple that was swollen blue, as if he had been hit by someone.

This was a sight that, no matter who saw it, looked as if he had been hit by someone.

"There's something. Haaam! I'm so tired."

He had received education and training as an official of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple during the day, and he had sparred with Gu Jucheol at night.

It was a very arduous schedule for the lazy bum who considered sleeping for about five shichen to be sleeping.

The only relief was that the next sparring session with Gu Jucheol was two days later.

—I have something I have to do, so rest well for two days.

Thanks to that, Jin Sohyun, who had gotten two days of leeway, yawned and lay down on the floor.

"Are you going to do sit-ups again during physical training?"

"I've recently realized the importance of abs."

"Nonsense! Do you think I don't know that you're lazing around, using sit-ups as an excuse, every time it's physical training time? Get up at once!"

At Gwak Myeong's shout, Jin Sohyun got up, grumbling.

"This time it's for real..."

Gwak Myeong, who had ordered Jin Sohyun to do proper physical training, greeted Gu Jucheol, who had come to see him.

"I heard you were looking for me."

"Daoist Temple Master Gwak. I have something urgent to tell you. For now, let's go to a place where there are no people."

"Yes. I understand."

Knowing that Gu Jucheol was not a person who spoke nonsense, Gwak Myeong headed to the interview room with him.

"No one comes and goes here without my permission, so please don't feel burdened and speak."

"Listen to what I'm about to say without misunderstanding."

"I understand. I'm worried about what the Elder is trying to say."

Although Gwak Myeong tried to lighten the heavy atmosphere by laughing lightly, there was no change in Gu Jucheol's expression.

Soon, realizing that he was about to say something serious, Gwak Myeong's face also darkened.

"Daoist Temple Master."

"Yes, please speak."

"Two days later, can you close the life gate of the Illusory Void Formation installed in the Dark Cave?"

"The life gate?"

Gwak Myeong could not understand.

He had heard that Gu Jucheol had been using the Dark Cave recently.

Since it was none other than Gu Jucheol, he had not paid much attention.

But now, he was asking him to close the life gate of the Illusory Void Formation installed in the Dark Cave?

Closing the life gate of the formation meant that no one could enter or leave the formation.

"Could you explain... why I should do that?"

"There is a child. His potential is so great that I cannot even fathom it."

"Such a..."

Gwak Myeong had misunderstood that the child Gu Jucheol was talking about was Cheon Gaseong or Cheon Yerang.

After all, those two were the best next-generation talents of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

But the name that came out of Gu Jucheol's mouth was a completely unexpected person.

"A child named Jin Sohyun."

"...You mean that lazy bum?"

Gu Jucheol, who had nodded his head, said with a stiff tone.

"I... plan to kill that child."

***

Two days later.

Jin Sohyun came to the Dark Cave as usual.

"Haaam—!"

Jin Sohyun, who had gone to the entrance of the Dark Cave, yawning, met Gwak Myeong there.

"Daoist Temple Master?"

"You've come."

"Yes... ah, the reason I came here is..."

"I know. Go inside. Elder Gu is waiting."

"Yes."

Jin Sohyun thought that Gwak Myeong's expression was somehow dark.

'Is he not happy about me using the Dark Cave?'

Jin Sohyun, who had entered the Dark Cave without much thought, heard the sound of the door closing and the latch being put on behind him.

The entrance of the Dark Cave was locked.

"Huh?"

Jin Sohyun realized that the entrance of the Dark Cave was locked from the outside and could not be opened from the inside.

Soon, from inside the Dark Cave, which was engulfed in darkness, he felt a killing intent that was incomparable to what he had felt until now.

All the hair on his body stood on end, and he got goosebumps on his skin.

His heart pounded, and a chill ran down his spine.

"Elder Gu?"

At Jin Sohyun's call, Gu Jucheol revealed himself from the darkness.

Although there was no light, his presence was clearly felt.

Gu Jucheol, who was holding a saber in one hand, looked as if the killing intent of a human who was about to kill a person had been materialized.

"I met the Daoist Temple Master outside, and it seems he has locked the door. Is there some kind of problem?"

"No. There is no problem. However, today will be our last sparring session."

"Why?"

"Because today... one of us will not be able to leave this place."

Gu Jucheol's voice was cold.

His emotionless pupils pierced through the darkness and stared at Jin Sohyun.

Although the distance to Gu Jucheol was about twenty steps, the blade held in his hand felt as if it were right in front of him.

'This is...'

The sincerity that he had felt from the fiend of Jiao Lake and the Man-Rending Demon Hand.

Now, Gu Jucheol was seriously planning to kill Jin Sohyun.

The instinct that had been honed through the fights so far moved Jin Sohyun's body.

Jin Sohyun, who had unknowingly held his flying swords in his hand, let out a hot breath.

"You are a brat who does not suit a martial artist. But why did you remain at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple?"

"The Heretic's Path Alliance and the Nameless Pavilion are after me. Now the martial artists of the unorthodox faction will also be after me."

The reason Jin Sohyun had remained at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple was because the number of people who were after his life had increased.

If he were to return to his family estate like this, he didn't know what the Nameless Pavilion and the Heretic's Path Alliance would do to his family.

In the worst-case scenario, his family could shed blood.

"So you plan to hide at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple?"

"Nothing would change if I did that. When the time comes, I plan to look for the Nameless Pavilion and the Heretic's Path Alliance."

"And then?"

"I'll have to make it so that they can't chase me anymore."

"You do not know the weight of the words you are saying. To deal with the Nameless Pavilion means to fight with the worst assassin group in the Central Plains, and to deal with the Heretic's Path Alliance means to fight with the entire unorthodox faction."

A sly smile appeared on Gu Jucheol's lips.

"Are you prepared for that?"

"Ah... is that so?"

Jin Sohyun scratched his head.

"This is troublesome."

Jin Sohyun's dream was to live a peaceful life, lazing around until he died of old age.

But at this rate, instead of lazing around in peace, he would have to live his whole life being chased by an assassin group and the unorthodox faction.

"Then what should I do now?"

"Hahahaha! Do you know who the person that the Nameless Pavilion and the Heretic's Path Alliance, which holds them, want to kill the most in this world is?"

"No. Who is it? It's not me, right?"

"The White Moon Divine Lord, Cheon Yushin."

Gu Jucheol let out his characteristic laugh.

"Kilkil! But do you know the reason why Cheon Yushin is still alive? It's because he is strong."

The one closest to the number one under heaven.

No, the world was already calling him the number one under heaven.

"Jin Sohyun. There are only two ways for you to survive. To live in hiding as a nameless person, giving up all your life so far and in the future, like the assassins of the Nameless Pavilion. And the other is... to become the number one under heaven."

"The number one under heaven..."

It was a title that did not suit the Slothful Young Master of Shanxi.

"Tell me now. If you want to live in hiding, I will make it so. I will cut the tendons of your hands and feet and destroy your dantian. Then no one will suspect you."

"If you say it like that, I can't choose the other option."

As Jin Sohyun raised his internal energy, his two eyes began to shine with a blue light.

Gu Jucheol smiled, as if satisfied, with the corners of his mouth stretched long.

"I will kill you, and you will kill me."

His saber burst out with a sinister, no, a ferocious aura.

"Only one will leave here alive."

(End of Chapter)