Book 10 Chapter 13

"A student surpasses his master. The master is like an enemy."

"Have you obtained the power of the Thunder God?"

He asked.

"Huh?"

Bilyeon looked around.

After looking around in all directions, Bilyeon could finally relax.

'It's not here after all!'

He had just finished confirming the faint possibility that this might be Mount Emei and the front yard of the damned thatched-roof sect he was standing in. As expected, this was not Mount Emei. Of course, this was his judgment under the assumption that he hadn't gone insane yet!

Then…

Bilyeon looked up once more at the person standing before him. An old man with a white baby dangling from his chin! Those sly, half-closed eyes! Those hands itching to hit someone! Those legs restless to kick something! Those thin lips that seemed ready to spew out a torrent of curses! Bilyeon knew someone who looked exactly like that very well. So well that he didn't want to recall it! A face he had seen every day since he was young. The fact that he couldn't stand him, then and now, hadn't changed. It was his master. Bilyeon exclaimed in shock.

"Master! How did you get here?"

This was a complete sham. It was the machinations of heaven and the play of gods. How could that damned, accursed master be here? The play of heaven seemed to have gone a bit too far this time. Bilyeon's mind raced so fast it felt like it would overheat.

"Hehehe, did you think I couldn't find where you were?"

Judging by that impertinent laughter, it was definitely his master. But no matter how much he thought about it, his master shouldn't be here.

Moreover, look! His master was usually faster with his fists than his words, but now his words were faster than his fists. So there was a high possibility that it wasn't his master.

Then who could it be? Even though the appearance was exactly the same…

"Have you obtained the power of the Thunder God?"

The master asked again.

"No."

Bilyeon shook his head obediently. There was no point in hiding it.

'Someday, I definitely will!'

Bilyeon's eyes shone intensely.

The power of the Thunder God!

It was one of his greatest goals at the moment. To be truly free, he had no choice but to shake off his master, who was his greatest shackles. If he could cleanly dispose of his master, the troublesome liability, there would be nothing in the world for him to fear.

"Kwahahahaha! Uwahahahaha! Kuhelhelhelhel!"

See? He would definitely obtain it, if only to stop hearing that unpleasant laughter.

"What is that ghostly laughter?"

It was a most irritating laugh.

"I'm laughing because it's funny. You stole the Thunder Scroll and the Black Thunder while secretly leaving the sect, and you ran away with the money. Is that all you've managed to do?"

It was a clear mockery. Bilyeon was slowly getting angry.

"You taught me vaguely, without properly explaining anything, and now you're acting all high and mighty? And stealing money? That was clearly my money that I earned and saved; I never misappropriated the sect's funds. Should I show you the receipts?"

Bilyeon shouted, puffing out his chest. His master's face twitched.

"You've become very insolent, disciple. Want to have a match?"

"Anytime."

Bilyeon replied without hesitation. He thought.

'It might be better to fight him, even to prepare for the future. Whether it's an illusion or real, it doesn't matter… No! If it's real, it matters a little, but if it's fake, it doesn't matter!'

"Hmph! I was preparing to meet you, master!"

Bilyeon roared.

"Oh, really?"

"Of course!"

"Kekekek! Good, good! You're quite confident!"

A sinister laugh escaped from between his master's cracked lips. Even hearing it again after two years, it was still an impertinent laugh.

"But can you surpass me when you haven't even obtained the power of the Thunder God? Wouldn't another hundred years be too soon?"

That was clearly a taunt.

"Hehehe, just you wait and see. I'll definitely flatten that sharp nose of yours. It's the best way for the peace of the world."

"You rascal! Try it if you can. I don't know if you can do it with your skills."

"Hehehe, you're quite mischievous. My respected master, that will certainly happen."

Bilyeon replied, not backing down. He couldn't afford to lose the battle of wills before they even fought.

"You speak of respect while radiating killing intent towards your respected, beloved, and cherished master? What kind of respect are you trying to express?"

"Respect is always shown through outstanding martial arts! Isn't that obvious? Isn't surpassing the master the true way of a disciple? Isn't there the saying 'a student surpasses his master'? By surpassing the master, you bring down the master's authority to the ground, which is the disciple's inherent duty and lifelong goal. You must be happy to have such an excellent disciple, right?"

"……"

Bilyeon said cockily. For a moment, his master seemed overwhelmed by his disciple's fluent and unceasing rhetoric and couldn't speak.

"As expected, there is no other way to elevate respect for my master, who is higher than the heavens and wider than the sea, than through fists."

His master, radiating a resolute will to properly educate his disciple, raised his pulsing fist with eyes full of killing intent.

Bilyeon, unable to afford to be careless, assumed a defensive stance.

'I shouldn't do this…'

Originally, in the Birye Mun, it was recommended to always attack first when facing an opponent stronger than oneself. However, just because it was his master, Bilyeon had to hold back. Giving up the first attack was a gamble that risked his life. This was because the opponent was none other than his master. If it were any other opponent, Bilyeon would have let them attack first and then counterattacked. He had enough confidence to do so.

But… this was the first time yielding the first attack seemed so precarious.

"……"

For a moment, the two were enveloped in a tense silence.

But what was this? There was no attack from his master. As Bilyeon looked at his master with a puzzled expression, his master had a serious face, unlike usual.

'Why is he acting like that?'

His master, with a sharp gaze, said in a firm voice.

"Lightning always comes with the wind!"

Bilyeon flinched for a moment.

"If you're so confident, have you obtained the power of the Wind God? Tell me with that proud pride of yours. Surely you're not trying to defy your master without even obtaining the power of the Wind God?"

"The power of the Wind God…"

Bilyeon muttered softly, his gaze fixed on his master's unsightly face.

"Why no answer?"

Flash!

Once again, Bilyeon's sharp gaze turned towards his master.

"You can test it yourself."

It was Bilyeon's knockout punch.