Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Proof

“The Beast Palace and Taiyang Palace have begun to move in earnest.”

“Do you mean they’ve started a war?”

At the words of the Master of the Five Poison Sect, Hwang Gon asked again.

“About two hundred and fifty from the Beast Palace and two hundred from Taiyang Palace have left their respective palaces and are moving towards each other. They are likely to meet at Daimai Sarung, which serves as the border. Moreover, the Beast Palace Master and the Taiyang Palace Master have also mobilized, so it seems they are preparing for a serious clash.”

Hwang Gon frowned at the words of the Master of the Five Poison Sect.

“Does this movement mean they have set a time and place to meet? Then it seems more like a move for negotiation rather than war.”

“Khehehe. That’s why I have devised a plan to ensure that war is inevitable.”

The Master of the Five Poison Sect smiled slyly. He hadn’t prepared an elaborate scheme.

But he had set up a trap that the foolish Beast Palace or the hot-tempered Taiyang Palace, who had mastered the fiery Yang Technique, would not be able to escape.

“So now, while the fools of the Beast Palace are away, it’s the perfect opportunity to seize their territory.”

At the confident statement of the Master of the Five Poison Sect, Hwang Gon asked with a hint of suspicion.

“Were there any peculiarities during the process of obtaining that information?”

“One fool, while tracking the Beast Palace’s forces, lost contact. However, according to other reports, the Beast Palace continued to move south without any change in their forces.”

“One person disappeared? Could there be a risk that the information has leaked?”

“Tsk. Consider the opposite. Even knowing they are being watched, the fools of the Beast Palace can only charge ahead. That’s their nature.”

Having confronted the Beast Palace and Taiyang Palace for over a hundred years, the Master of the Five Poison Sect was confident.

However, Hwang Gon, whose plans had recently started to unravel, felt uneasy.

“They might have prepared a trap. If you are planning to strike the Beast Palace, wouldn’t it be better for you, Master of the Five Poison Sect, to join and make thorough preparations?”

At Hwang Gon’s suggestion, the Master of the Five Poison Sect’s eyes gleamed for a moment.

‘This guy is finally revealing his true intentions!’

As someone who loved schemes, the Master of the Five Poison Sect did not trust Hwang Gon.

He was only using him for temporary benefits.

“How could the master of a sect leave his position just to deal with mere barbarians? Ah! Come to think of it, many of your subordinates are staying at our main sect. Why don’t you lead them into this battle?”

“You want us to do it?”

“Yes. If you join this war, I will give you a share of the benefits gained from the Beast Palace’s territory, according to the contribution of you and your subordinates.” 𝘳

Hwang Gon inwardly sighed at the obvious scheme of the Master of the Five Poison Sect.

‘I want to kill him right now.’

Though the Master of the Five Poison Sect was the leader of one of the three major forces in Namman, Hwang Gon was confident he could kill him with a single stroke at such close range.

But killing him now would render all his preparations useless.

‘After dealing with Namman, it will be your turn.’

Suppressing his murderous intent, Hwang Gon replied calmly.

“So be it.”

* * *

Meanwhile, at that time.

At Daimai Sarung, the masters of Taiyang Palace and the Beast Palace were greeting each other.

“Kuhahaha! Calling living according to the laws of nature barbaric! How foolish you are!”

At the Beast Palace Master’s response, the Taiyang Palace Master closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

It seemed like he was holding back his rising anger.

“Talking to you any longer will only burst my spleen, so let’s get to the point! Who is this Ou-yang Pae mentioned in the letter?”

Despite the ongoing conflict, the Taiyang Palace Master had a simple reason for accepting the proposal for negotiation.

Although watching these barbarians made his anger rise, at least they weren’t despicable schemers like the Master of the Five Poison Sect.

“I am Ou-yang Pae of the Heavenly Demon Sect!”

Seeing the young warrior step forward, the Taiyang Palace Master glanced somewhere.

There stood a middle-aged man in Taiyang Palace attire.

This man was the second reason why the Taiyang Palace Master accepted the negotiation proposal.

Geum Yang-hwi, the Taiyang Palace Elder.

He had confirmed the contents of the letter and requested a confrontation with Ou-yang Pae.

The reason the Taiyang Palace Master accepted the request of an elder was simple.

It was because he valued Geum Yang-hwi highly.

The Beast Palace Master thought the Taiyang Palace Master had appointed Geum Yang-hwi as an elder due to his limited capabilities, but it was the opposite.

For some reason, Geum Yang-hwi refused to accept a higher position.

Sensing the Taiyang Palace Master’s gaze, Geum Yang-hwi cupped his fists.

“Thank you, Palace Master.”

“It’s fine. I just hope this will help you let go of your regrets.”

After exchanging these cryptic words, the Taiyang Palace Master stepped back, and Geum Yang-hwi confidently stepped forward.

“Are you the former Red Flame King, Geum Yang-hwi?”

At Ou-yang Pae’s calm question, Geum Yang-hwi’s face turned red with anger.

“And who are you to preach to me about the doctrines of the sect, you naked thunder-struck idiot!”

Despite Geum Yang-hwi’s fierce aura, Ou-yang Pae remained calm.

“It’s laughable to talk about doctrines after leaving the sect without renouncing your martial arts. Why did you choose the path of apostasy?”

“Because I believe in the doctrines of the sect, not the corrupt guardians! Are you trying to judge me, you dog of the guardians?”

Even at Geum Yang-hwi’s outburst, Ou-yang Pae maintained his expressionless face but was internally quite confused.

‘It’s understandable about Wu Sa, but to hear that Zu Sa is also corrupt?’

The current Heavenly Demon Sect had been in chaos since the Heavenly Demon ceased appearing publicly several years ago.

During this time, Ou-yang Pae’s half-brothers started a power struggle to become the Heavenly Demon, spurred on by Wu Sa.

Zu Sa, on the other hand, seemed to be trying to hold the sect together.

‘Is there something I don’t know?’

After organizing his thoughts, Ou-yang Pae spoke again.

“I also know that the upper echelon of the sect is corrupt. That’s why I came here to talk instead of assassinating you.”

At Ou-yang Pae’s words, Geum Yang-hwi’s lips twisted into a smirk.

“You’re speaking as if you could kill me if you wanted to, you brat.”

“My goal is to purify the sect. How could I, with such a goal, lose to someone who abandoned the corrupt sect?”

Despite the provocative words, the ferocious aura around Geum Yang-hwi suddenly changed.

“Purify the sect? Are you saying you aim to become the Heavenly Demon?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. Prove that you are worthy of the Heavenly Demon’s position!”

Just as Geum Yang-hwi shouted and gathered his energy to deliver a strike, a burst of red flames erupted.

Swoosh!

However, Ou-yang Pae, already prepared, easily sliced through the flames with his sword.

This marked the beginning of a full-scale duel between Ou-yang Pae and Geum Yang-hwi.

Both the Beast Palace and Taiyang Palace, surrounding them, refrained from intervening in the fight. They only exchanged wary glances to ensure neither side would resort to underhanded tactics.

As the battle continued, with each wielding flames and swords between the two factions, Mu-gung observed the duel.

‘Even though they both wield the same Yang energy, their approaches are different from ours.’

The Yang energy technique used by Geum Yang-hwi was quite different from the Buddha Palm Technique that Mu-gung had mastered. While the Buddha Palm Technique compressed explosive Yang energy to crush opponents, Geum Yang-hwi’s Explosive Soul Demon Palm scattered Yang energy explosively and uncontrollably.

‘Indeed, demonic arts are inherently different.’

Mu-gung, who had trained countless times to handle Yang energy safely, understood how dangerous Geum Yang-hwi’s technique was for its user. Unrestrained scattering of explosive energy greatly increased the risk of Qi Deviation. However, the lack of restraint also meant that its power could surge uncontrollably.

Boom!

Each time Geum Yang-hwi struck with his palms, threatening explosions occurred repeatedly.

‘He might be on par with or even stronger than my master.’

As he watched Geum Yang-hwi fight, Mu-gung naturally thought of Hye-geol.

“The fight’s impact is too great; let’s step back one step each!”

“We’ll retreat as well!”

Due to the explosive nature of Geum Yang-hwi’s technique, both the Taiyang Palace Master and Beast Palace Master withdrew their followers. With more space to unleash his techniques, Geum Yang-hwi began to rampage even more fiercely, like a fish in water.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Hah!”

With a shout, Geum Yang-hwi’s double palm strike sent two columns of explosive energy hurtling towards Ou-yang Pae. But Ou-yang Pae didn’t panic. He evaded one flame with a swift movement and sliced through the other with his sword, wrapped in sword energy. The resulting explosion was then blocked by a hastily formed sword barrier.

As the duel continued for dozens of rounds, although Geum Yang-hwi seemed full of fury at first, the atmosphere gradually changed.

“You’re not just all talk, are you?”

“Indeed.”

“Hahahahaha!”

Laughing like he had found a promising junior, Geum Yang-hwi suddenly stopped his attacks and spoke with a serious expression.

“However, it’s impossible to purify the cult with just this.”

“I know it’s still impossible. But we can’t keep using the excuse of ‘it’s still too early’ to run away. The upper echelon’s corruption only worsens over time.”

As Ou-yang Pae replied, he naturally thought of Mu-jin. It was Mu-jin who had persuaded him to take the path of a traitor.

“So, I need your help. I need companions to fight with me until I become the Heavenly Demon and cleanse the cult.”

“Very well! Then I’ll see if you truly have the potential to become the Heavenly Demon. From now on, I’ll use my strongest technique. If you dream of the Heavenly Demon’s position, you should at least be able to withstand this technique, shouldn’t you?”

If he could withstand it, it meant Ou-yang Pae would align with him. Despite the special moment, Ou-yang Pae remained calm.

“Come.”

As if he could handle it, no matter what.

“Your spirit is fitting for the Heavenly Demon!”

Liking his calm demeanor, Geum Yang-hwi shouted enthusiastically and took a stance for a technique. Watching the conversation, Mu-jin’s eyes gleamed.

‘Even though the circumstances have changed, destiny still exists, it seems.’

Mu-jin knew what technique Geum Yang-hwi was about to use. In the novel, the Taiyang Palace incident ended with a duel between Geum Yang-hwi and Ou-yang Pae. Though the process differed completely from now, the Red Tiger Group’s mission to assassinate Geum Yang-hwi continued even after their mission was exposed at Taiyang Palace.

Ou-yang Pae devised a stratagem where forty-nine members of the Red Tiger Group acted as bait, engaging the Taiyang Palace warriors while he alone assassinated Geum Yang-hwi.

At the climax of that battle, Geum Yang-hwi used the very technique he was preparing now.

“Whew.”

Geum Yang-hwi took a deep breath and brought his double palms together. As he did, the Yang energy surged, amplifying endlessly. The more the energy grew, the more his face and skin bulged with blood vessels, turning crimson as if they might burst.

The final move of the Explosive Soul Demon Palm, capable of catastrophic power and equally perilous to the user, was the Infernal King’s Scorching Palm.

Due to its explosive nature, it was a difficult technique to use in the original storyline, but unlike now, Geum Yang-hwi wasn’t fighting alone back then. He was fighting alongside twelve bodyguards, and as the last four remaining bodyguards held off Ou-yang Pae, Geum Yang-hwi used this technique.

Just like now.

Flash!

As Geum Yang-hwi finished his preparation and thrust his double palms forward, an enormous pillar of flame, containing monstrous heat unlike any before, surged towards Ou-yang Pae.

This flame was the final trial Ou-yang Pae faced in the south. Without the insights gained from meeting the Blood Monk and understanding the Primordial Chaos Divine Art, he could never have withstood it. However, with the Blood Monk now gone, Mu-jin had brought Mu-gyeong to grant Ou-yang Pae enlightenment.

Rumble!

Suddenly, gray lightning began to swirl around the sword Ou-yang Pae held. As he opened his eyes, having closed them for concentration, he swung his sword.

Swoosh!

Rumble!

Following his sword’s trajectory, the gray lightning began to devour the flames of the Infernal King’s Scorching Palm, just as described in the novel.

While everyone was mesmerized by the majestic scene,

“Die!!”

Several Taiyang Palace warriors launched a surprise attack on Ou-yang Pae.