Book 27 Chapter 10

Three Moves of an Enemy (三招之敵)

― Unleashed Fengshenhuan

*Pop!*

Something flashed for an instant. In that moment, BiryuYeon felt a burning sensation on his cheek. His hair fluttered in the aftermath of the unleashed energy. He had almost failed to react.

*Pop! Pop! Bang! Bang!*

The sound of air bursting echoed continuously around BiryuYeon. Each time, BiryuYeon's long hair and clothes flapped violently. Roars like continuous thunder erupted.

*Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The sounds continued to echo. They all came from around BiryuYeon's body. However, Muyeong remained perfectly still.

First Move (第一招)

Traceless Fist (無痕拳)

Even though he just stood there, it looked like the surrounding air was bursting. In reality, he was throwing punches at an invisible speed. The martial art he used was named 'Traceless Fist' because it left no trace, not even a shadow.

BiryuYeon seemed to be standing still, unable to move. But that wasn't the case.

*Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!*

He too was throwing punches at an incredibly fast speed. However, because he was moving at an invisible speed, he appeared to be still. If he hadn't parried the incoming punches, BiryuYeon's body would have already been battered into a bloody mess by Muyeong's barrage of fists.

The continuous sound of air bursting was the sound of two fists colliding at an invisible speed in mid-air, creating vacuums that caused the air to explode.

Whose fist was faster? Who would tire first? But as time passed, no victor emerged, and only the deafening sound of air bursting echoed through the heavens and earth. Realizing that further exchanges of techniques were meaningless, Muyeong stopped first.

"It's been a while since I met someone who blocked my first move."

Muyeong seemed slightly impressed.

"This is nothing."

BiryuYeon replied with a slight smile in an indifferent voice.

*Ache, ache!*

'Nothing? Bullshit.'

He had certainly succeeded in blocking it. But barely blocking it was all he could do. He had planned to look for an opening and land a good blow, but there wasn't even a moment to counter.

'I thought our speeds were almost the same, but I couldn't bring my fist down at the center point.'

On the contrary, if his fist energy had faltered even slightly, he would be lying on the ground now, torn to shreds like a rag.

"Well then, how about this?"

Muyeong's palm slowly extended forward.

Second Move (第二招)

Formless Palm (無像掌)

At first glance, Muyeong's palm didn't seem very fast. No, it seemed quite slow. Yet, BiryuYeon couldn't easily escape the palm strike.

The single palm technique, which appeared slow and simple at first glance, contained the condensation of ten thousand changes. It also meant that it could show formless changes in response to the opponent's movements. The moment BiryuYeon moved, the palm technique would begin to change, and if he moved rashly, he risked being swept away by a sudden explosion of changes.

But could he just stand still? That was not an option. What target was easier to hit than someone standing still? He would be hit whether he stood still or moved.

It was truly a net of heaven and earth!

The condensed changes pressed down on BiryuYeon's movements as formless, intangible pressure.

'Then…'

A simple footwork would never allow him to escape this attack. Unless he had the footwork to slip between raindrops.

Flying Thunder Sect's (飛雷門) Secret Supreme Ultimate Art (秘傳極上奧義)

Rainy Day Departure (雨中去) Without Wetting Clothes (不霑衣)

Extreme Speed Style (極快式)

BiryuYeon, wearing the Muryonghwan, unleashed the Rainy Day Departure Without Wetting Clothes. In the past, it was an ultimate art that could only be used after releasing both Muryonghwans on his ankles. However, after subduing one Left Water Dragon, his internal energy increased, allowing him to use it even while wearing the Muryonghwan.

BiryuYeon was not yet in a situation where he could carelessly release other Muryonghwans.

BiryuYeon's body cast dozens of afterimages, then transformed into a streak of light, escaping the grasp of the net of heaven and earth released by Muyeong's Formless Palm. He had countered formless changes with infinite speed.

"Good, very good! To be able to withstand more than this is an unexpected achievement. You might become my enemy of three moves."

Muyeong seemed pleased despite failing twice.

An enemy of three moves… While elsewhere it was an expression used for weaklings, for him, it meant a formidable master.

"It's too early to be surprised. I will naturally withstand the next move too. And it won't be an enemy of three moves, but an enemy of three thousand moves (三千招之敵)."

Seeing that his confidence hadn't diminished at all, despite personally experiencing the power of the Traceless Fist and Formless Palm, BiryuYeon was indeed BiryuYeon.

"You must. If you can't, you must die. That would be truly… truly regrettable."

His words were by no means a threat. Rather, he seemed worried that BiryuYeon might die from his third move.

"I'm getting more and more excited. The first move was a fist, the second was a palm, what is the third move?"

"The last move is a sword."

"A sword? Where is the sword?"

BiryuYeon asked with a puzzled expression.

"That, of course, is on my waist…"

Muyeong looked at his own waist and was taken aback.

What should have been there was gone.

"Huh? Where did my sword go? I'm sure I had it at my waist?"

Muyeong fumbled around his waist as if it were strange. But as if by a ghost's trick, there wasn't even a trace of his sword. At that moment, a long sigh was heard from beside him. The squadron leader, Jang Sook, with a very, very red face, whispered in a small voice.

"Excuse me… Captain?"

"What is it, Sook? I'm busy looking for my sword, can we talk later?"

"No, I have to talk to you now…"

His voice was filled with shame.

"Why? What's wrong?"

Muyeong replied without turning his gaze.

"Um… I have the sword you're looking for…"

Muyeong's head snapped towards Jang Sook. Jang Sook's face was as red as a beet due to extreme embarrassment.

"No, why do you have my sword?"

Seeing his incomprehensible expression, Jang Sook writhed in deep despair.

"Did you forget? Of course, you forgot. *Sigh* You told me to hold it after you used your sword earlier to hug that lady. So I held it."

Only then did Muyeong slap his palm with his fist.

"Ah, I forgot!"

He exclaimed. It seemed he had genuinely forgotten.

"…"

BiryuYeon was speechless for a moment.

"Ahem, I'm so sorry. It's been so long since I used a sword. Ahem. As you get older, you get forgetful…"

"That's not forgetfulness, that's dementia!"

"Hahahaha, that's why people call me Dementia Captain. Hahahaha!"

Muyeong placed his hands on his hips and burst into proud laughter.

"It's not a laughing matter, Captain. It's not a laughing matter!"

But Muyeong didn't stop laughing. Jang Sook wished he could disappear into a rat hole. If there wasn't one, he wanted to dig one with a shovel and disappear.

The sword, though appearing ordinary at first glance, bore the mark of years of traversing the martial world. The weight of immeasurable time was imbued in that sword.

"Ahem, this sword's name is 'Nameless Sword' (無名劍). Like me, it has no name. But it's quite a good sword, if I do say so myself."

Muyeong slowly drew the sword he received.

*Screeeeeech!*

The sword, which had slumbered in its sheath for ages, revealed itself to the world.

'It's a good sword, but screeeech?'

Why screeeech instead of a smooth *swish*?

Those who saw the sword drawn from Muyeong's sheath widened their eyes in shock.

"Excuse me, I hate to say this… but it seems you've also forgotten to maintain your sword?"

It seemed Muyeong had forgotten more than just the location of his sword. The entire sword that was drawn was covered in thick red rust. The blade, which should have shimmered with ripples and blue light, was not only rusted but also chipped in places, resembling broken teeth.

"It's a really, really good sword."

BiryuYeon gave a thumbs up, as if to say, 'whatever happens, happens.'

"Of course, it's a good sword."

As if he didn't know it was sarcasm, Muyeong nodded with a smile.

"No, it's a good sword for the opponent."

How could it not be a good sword when you wouldn't even get cut if you were hit by it? It was a truly excellent sword that guaranteed the safety of the opponent.

"You shouldn't underestimate it so much. It's surprisingly fierce, this one."

*Click!*

As if he was reluctant to show more, Muyeong put the Nameless Sword back into its sheath.

"When was the last time you sharpened the blade?"

"Hmm…"

Muyeong tried to recall.

"Ugh…"

He tried again to remember. It felt like he was almost there…

"Ugh…"

After a long deliberation, Muyeong finally opened his mouth.

"Ugh, I forgot!"

He scratched the back of his head with a laugh.

"…"

A terrifying thought crossed his mind that it might not have been sharpened or polished even once in a hundred years.

"I think I need to give that sword a name."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, 'Hundred-Year Rust' (백년녹)."

Literally meaning a lump of iron rusted for a hundred years.