Obtaining Heavenly Demon Martial Arts in the Magic Era - Chapter 52

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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52
The morning air at JG Investment hung heavier than usual.
The group was organizing their luggage for the journey to Shipmandaesan.
Cheon Do-hyeon fastened Gwak Cheol’s Three-Section Staff firmly at his waist and tucked the worn Notebook into his inner shirt pocket.
Lee Ye-rim was inspecting two Folding Knives.
Je-gal Seo-rin had changed into a neat black travel outfit and carried only a small leather bag.
Meanwhile, a servant from the Main Estate arrived at the annex and set down lunch provisions before departing.
A gesture of genuine courtesy.
That was when Lee Dae-gwang set down his baggage and spoke quietly.
“I need to stop by somewhere. I’ll be back soon.”
“…?”
Cheon Do-hyeon looked at him.
His expression asked what connection he could possibly have here.
Lee Dae-gwang adjusted his Glasses once.
“Just… no particular reason.”
Sensing he had no wish to elaborate, Cheon Do-hyeon didn’t press further and gave a short nod.
“Take your time.”
Lee Dae-gwang smiled faintly.
It was the warm, provincial smile of a country elder.
#
The pavilion in the Je-gal Estate Garden.
In the early morning, dew still clung to the pavilion floor, not yet dried.
Je-gal Gyeong was already seated there.
His appearance was neat: a dark formal suit.
But unlike yesterday, his eyes behind the Glasses had softened.
Likely because of the man approaching him now.
Lee Dae-gwang entered the pavilion slowly.
Before sitting, he drew his fists together in a respectful salute.
“…Brother.”
“…Dae-gwang.”
Two words, spoken low and quiet.
A long silence stretched between them.
Thin wisps of steam rose from the teapot.
Je-gal Gyeong poured the tea himself.
It was a rare sight to see the family patriarch pour tea for anyone.
#
“Do you remember,” Je-gal Gyeong began slowly.
“There was a large tree in the Je-gal Estate Backyard.”
Lee Dae-gwang smiled faintly. “There was. Every time the leaves fell, you’d practice with a wooden sword underneath it.”

“I was better at it.”
“I was faster.”
.
Their eyes met briefly.
Then, without either of them starting it, both burst into laughter at the same moment.
Years folded down into the space above a single cup of tea.
Lee Dae-gwang slowly lifted his teacup.
“Was it when we were eight?”
“You were nine.”
“How do you remember all these things?”
Je-gal Gyeong smiled faintly.
“I’ve never forgotten you.”
.
Lee Dae-gwang’s hand stilled for a moment.
He set the teacup back down slowly.
“Is that tree still there?”
“It is.”
Je-gal Gyeong gave a brief nod.
“Still in the same place.”

“…….”
“Every year without fail, it blooms. Not once since the day you left has it skipped a season.”
Lee Dae-gwang slowly removed his glasses.
He brushed the back of his hand across his eyes once.
The teacup emptied twice over.
Lee Dae-gwang rose from his seat slowly.
“……Brother.”
“…….”
“…When we meet again—”
Lee Dae-gwang paused to collect his breath.
“…then, beneath that tree, let us cross wooden swords once more.”
A word spoken low, weighted with meaning.
Je-gal Gyeong’s mouth curved slowly into something like a smile.
“……That we shall.”
“……Until then, I hope you find yourself again.”
Lee Dae-gwang slowly withdrew his fist salute.
Je-gal Gyeong rose to his feet.
He reached out and tapped his childhood friend lightly on the shoulder.
It was a greeting that spanned the long years between them.
#
The front gate of the Je-gal Main Estate.
The party waited there.
Lee Dae-gwang emerged slowly from the distance.
Spotting Cheon Do-hyeon and his companions, he adjusted his glasses once more.
Do-hyeon watched him quietly.
Lee Dae-gwang held his gaze and gave a slight shrug.
“……Let’s be on our way.”
The same words as always, the voice of a simple countryside man.
Yet the quality of those words was different from yesterday.
Just then, Je-gal Yoon, who had come to see them off, suddenly drew a sword from his belt and offered it to Do-hyeon.
“……It is humble, but I hope you will take it.”
“No, I couldn’t! I have my own weapons.”
“If you refuse, it will embarrass me. Please.”
“……”
Do-hyeon accepted Je-gal Yoon’s sword reluctantly.
The weight of a genuine blade settled firmly in his hand.
Cheon Do-hyeon bowed briefly toward Je-gal Yoon.
“I will use it well, Lord Je-gal.”
Je-gal Yoon smiled faintly.
“Next time, let us arrange another sparring match.”
“I look forward to it.”
“It will not be easy next time.”
#
The ridge of Yung-jung Mountain lay veiled in pale mist.
The party descended slowly along the mountainside.
Do-hyeon glanced back once.
The glass building of JG Investment sank slowly beneath the ridge.
Behind it, mysterious mist spread thinly, as if bidding them farewell.
#
A sedan passed by.
It was a vehicle arranged by the Je-gal Family.
The party changed cars two or three more times after that.
To minimize the risk of pursuit.
How far had they driven?
The car came to a stop at a Mountain Rest Area.
Lee Dae-gwang slowly adjusted his glasses and checked the rearview mirror.
“……There it is.”
A word spoken low and quiet.
Lee Ye-rim’s eyes narrowed.
“What is?”
“…Two tails. Two cars.”
Lee Ye-rim let out a soft curse.
“They picked us up already?”
“The Hwanun Order. They’re fast.”
Lee Dae-gwang adjusted his glasses once more.
“…Doesn’t this put the Je-gal Family in danger too?”
Je-gal Seo-rin spoke in a reassuring tone.
“…Don’t worry. They won’t be able to identify the Je-gal Family by a car alone.”
“Suspicion, but no evidence?”
“We’re almost at Shipmandaesan, and they’re looking like they’ll follow us all the way there.”
That would be a problem.
Cheon Do-hyeon offered his thoughts.
“Let’s lose them here.”
“A good idea.”
#
They split into two vehicles.
Do-hyeon and Lee Ye-rim in one.
Lee Dae-gwang and Je-gal Seo-rin in another.
The two cars circled the surrounding area for half a day, concealing their true destination.
After a long while,
they hid the vehicles in an inconspicuous location and gathered at an inn in a remote mountain village.
Do-hyeon and Lee Ye-rim arrived at the rendezvous point first.
Lee Dae-gwang and Je-gal Seo-rin were to join them an hour later.
Do-hyeon stepped out to the inn backyard to eat and settle his digestion.
The mountain air was cold and heavy.
“Hey, Cheon Do-hyeon.”
Lee Ye-rim followed him out, and with a word, she held a Folding Knife in her hand.
“Let’s loosen up.”
Do-hyeon smiled faintly, as if the situation were familiar.
“…Without using Internal Energy?”
“No, full power!”
Lee Ye-rim began to rotate the Folding Knife slowly.
‘Perfect timing.’
Do-hyeon had needed time to organize the realizations he’d gained at the Je-gal Main Estate.
He unfolded Gwak Cheol’s Three-Section Staff from his waist.
Snap—
“Yes, full power.”
Lee Ye-rim struck first.
With a subtle Step Technique, she closed the distance and burrowed directly into Do-hyeon’s embrace.
Hundred-Knot Continuous Ring
Lee Ye-rim’s Hundred-Knot Continuous Ring, honed to the extreme of mastery, moved at a speed impossible to see and react to.
Rapid-fire—
A barrage of explosive strikes poured toward Do-hyeon in short bursts, as if her fists were conjuring waves themselves.
What made it more terrifying was the presence of the Folding Knife she wielded.
Between each strike, she used the short blade’s tip to launch irregular attacks.
Subtle cuts and thrusts woven between the blows.
Slice—Thrust—
The moment his focus wavered, wounds began to blossom across his body.
……
Do-hyeon calmly stepped back and prepared the Heavenly Demon Phantom Step.
Swish—
During his visit to the Je-gal Main Estate, he’d gained insight into the Heavenly Demon Phantom Step. The Je-gal Family’s Eight Gate Formation Technique begins by occupying cardinal directions.
It distorts the flow of Qi in the surrounding area, creating phantoms in desired forms.
The Heavenly Demon Phantom Step is no different in its broad framework.
Yet unlike the Je-gal Family’s Eight Gate Formation Technique, which utilizes twenty-eight cardinal directions, the Heavenly Demon Phantom Step employs one hundred and eight.
This granted far greater flexibility and diversity in the phantoms he could create.
Heavenly Demon Phantom Step
His body seemed to flow sideways and vanish.
Lee Ye-rim’s knife sliced through empty air.
She swept her surroundings rapidly, searching for traces of the vanished Do-hyeon.
That’s not all there is to it.
What of the Phantom displayed by the head of the Hwanun Order?
After witnessing the Thousand-Hand Phantom—a technique honed into an extreme form of attack—an entirely new horizon had opened regarding how to weaponize illusions.
Perhaps it was thanks to that.
Zzzt—
The mastery of the Heavenly Demon Phantom Step surged two ranks at once, reaching the eighth star.
In that instant—
A new application of the Heavenly Demon Phantom Step revealed itself.
Cheon Do-hyeon’s body, which she had thought had melted away and vanished, erupted from empty space without warning.
Whoosh—
The Three-Section Staff whirled down with tremendous velocity.
It was a strike poured with all his might, laden with killing intent.
Lee Ye-rim instinctively deployed the opening defense of the Hundred-Knot Divine Fist.
Hundred-Knot Shadow Wind.
Yet the powerful defensive technique she had unleashed dispersed like a phantom as it met the blow.
“An illusion?”
He had achieved the ability to infuse killing intent into phantoms.
The moment Lee Ye-rim understood she had been deceived—
Metal sang.
Cheon Do-hyeon’s Three-Section Staff was aimed at her throat.
Lee Ye-rim clicked her tongue sharply.
“What a monster. How much stronger are you going to get?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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