The Martial God with Psychic Powers

Yoo Ji Gwang tossed another handful of peanuts into his mouth.
Crunch. Crunch.
As he chewed the peanuts, he seemed to be deep in thought.

Gulp.
Swallowing the last bit, Yoo Ji Gwang finally opened his mouth.
“How did you lose? Explain it to me in detail.”

At Yoo Ji Gwang’s question, Baek Cheon recounted every moment of the fight.
“You were completely overpowered?”
“Y-Yes.”

“He swung a blade the size of his own body like it was a sword?”
“Yes.”
“What was that guy’s name?”

“Go Seung.”
“Impressive. Looks like we can’t overlook the Southern Region next year.”
Yoo Ji Gwang chuckled as if amused.

“So, what do we do now?”
“About what?”
“Our boys got beaten up. We can’t just let that slide, can we?”

“So what? You want us to go down there and avenge them? Nah, forget it. If they want revenge, they should handle it themselves.”
“If we just ignore it, Cheongseok’s reputation will be dragged through the mud. The other academies will laugh at us for getting beaten by the Southern Region kids.”
The one speaking to Yoo Ji Gwang was Jo Deok, the second-ranked student in Cheongseok.
“Ugh, what a pain. All because of that idiot…”

“I-I’m sorry.”
“Fine. Then, instead of going down there in a big group like a bunch of thugs, let’s just go ourselves.”
“Just us?”

“Yeah. Don’t want to? Then forget it.”
Jo Deok nodded immediately, sensing that if he said no, Yoo Ji Gwang wouldn’t go at all.
“N-No, that’s fine. Besides, you, me, and Gam Yeon Seok – that’s pretty much all of Cheongseok’s top brass, right?”

“I’m fine with it,” said Gam Yeon Seok, the top-ranked freshman in Cheongseok Martial Academy.
Yoo Ji Gwang smirked at their responses.
“Good. Then it’s settled. Let’s go.”

“Right now?”
“What, you want to drag it out? Let’s get it over with and graduate in peace.”
Yoo Ji Gwang marched forward, and the elite of Cheongseok followed closely behind him.

 
****
Crunch. Crunch.

Yoo Ji Gwang continued munching on peanuts as he kept his eyes fixed on someone.
“No need to go looking for him. Looks like he came to us.”
His gaze landed on a man carrying a massive blade on his back.

Beside that man stood Baek Cheon, who visibly shrank at the sight of Yoo Ji Gwang.
Yoo Ji Gwang glanced at Baek Cheon, his expression dripping with contempt, before moving toward the man carrying the blade.
“Hey, you there.”

At the call, the man with the blade turned around.
“Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?”

“Are you the one they call Go Seung?”
The man’s eyebrow twitched.
“You know me?”

“Oh! So it’s you.”
Go Seung’s eyes drifted to Baek Cheon, who was trying to avoid eye contact.
From the way he was acting, it was clear that this wasn’t a misunderstanding.

Go Seung quickly put the pieces together.
“I am Go Seung. And you are?”
Yoo Ji Gwang smirked as he tossed another peanut into his mouth.

“I’m Yoo Ji Gwang of Cheongseok.”
“Yoo Ji Gwang of Cheongseok… The top-ranked student?”
“Oh, you know me? Thanks. I was worried I’d have to introduce myself.”

Yoo Ji Gwang’s expression was playful, almost mocking.
He didn’t look anything like the top student of a martial academy.
Crunch. Crunch.

Yoo Ji Gwang chewed his peanuts, his eyes fixed on Go Seung.
“Sorry to block your way, but that idiot over there got his ass handed to him by you.”
“He was bullying my boys, so I put him in his place.”

“Huh. First time I’m hearing about that.”
Yoo Ji Gwang shot Baek Cheon a sharp glare.
“Guess he told the story in a way that made him look better.”

“That idiot… What a waste of space.”
Yoo Ji Gwang sighed, then turned to Go Seung.
“Sorry about that. As the top student of Cheongseok, it’s my responsibility to keep my boys in check. My bad.”

Go Seung’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What’s with [N O V E L I G H T] that look? If you’re in the wrong, you apologize. Simple as that.”
“Yes… You’re right.”

“And I’m sorry again.”
“For what?”
“This is going to sound ridiculous, but… I need to take you down. And while I’m at it… I’ll probably have to break a few bones. Can’t have my boys bowing their heads to Baekyeong next year, can I?”

“I thought you were a good guy.”
“I am a good guy. The situation just turned me into a bad one. Sorry. But don’t worry, I’ll personally make sure this idiot gets some proper education. That way, he won’t bother Baekyeong next year.”
Go Seung glanced at Yoo Ji Gwang, then to the Cheongseok students standing behind him.

“Oh, don’t mind them. They won’t interfere. Just think of it as me issuing a formal challenge to you.”
Yoo Ji Gwang’s tone was almost casual, as if he were discussing the weather.
Go Seung met his gaze for a long moment before nodding.

“Understood.”
“Oh? You’re accepting?”
“I just met you, but… You don’t strike me as the kind of man who would lie about something like this.”

Yoo Ji Gwang grinned, showing a row of perfect teeth.
“I like you. You know, I kinda wish you were one of my juniors. Too bad.”
He reached out and offered a handful of peanuts.

“What’s this?”
“Roasted peanuts. Tasty. Have some.”
“No, thanks.”

“Your loss. They’re really good. Oh well. Shall we move to a better spot?”
“Lead the way.”
Just then –

“Huh? Senior?”
It was Jang Woon and Sun Woo Baek, who were headed toward Baekyak Temple.
“Oh. Could you let them know I might be a bit late?”

Jang Woon’s eyes scanned the area. The atmosphere was tense.
-Something’s off.
-That guy… He’s from Cheongseok.

-Jeok Seong? What are Cheongseok guys doing here?
-No idea. Should we follow?
-We should. If we leave now and something happens, Woo Jin will be furious.

-Agreed.
After exchanging a quick telepathic message, the two approached Go Seung.
“Where are you headed?”

Before Go Seung could respond, Yoo Ji Gwang answered for him.
“Oh, he’s coming with me for a sparring match.”
“And you are?”

“Name’s Yoo Ji Gwang.”
Jang Woon’s eyes widened in recognition.
“Cheongseok’s top-ranked student?”

“Oh! I’m pretty well-known, huh? Everyone seems to know me.”
Yoo Ji Gwang laughed.
Not that he knew Jang Woon was someone who’d memorized the names and faces of every notable martial artist in the academies.

“Normally, I’d be thrilled to be recognized. But not today. Today, I was hoping for as few witnesses as possible.”
“The top student of Cheongseok challenging the top freshman of Baekyeong isn’t exactly a fair match, is it?”
“Call it a personal matter.”

“And that’s why you brought all your buddies with you?”
“They’re just tagging along. No worries.”
“We’re coming too,” Sun Woo Baek said, stepping forward.

A brief flash of wildness flickered in Yoo Ji Gwang’s eyes before it vanished.
“Suit yourselves.”
Meanwhile, Go Seung felt a surge of reassurance.

Having Jang Woon and Sun Woo Baek by his side – it felt like his odds had just improved.
Yoo Ji Gwang noticed the subtle change in his expression and smirked.
“Oh? You look more relaxed now that they’re here. Are they that good?”

“The kid there is Sun Woo Baek, Baekyeong’s top freshman.”
“Oh! Really? Nice to meet you. Looks like I’m meeting all of Baekyeong’s heavy hitters today. Ha!”
Yoo Ji Gwang held out another handful of peanuts.

“Roasted peanuts. Want some?”
“Sure.”
Unlike Go Seung, Sun Woo Baek took the peanuts with a cheerful smile.

Watching Yoo Ji Gwang grin, Jang Woon couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at him.
“All right then. Shall we get going?”
 

****
“This is a nice spot.”
A perfect battleground stretched out before them – an open space that seemed tailor-made for a duel.

Yoo Ji Gwang scanned the area before stepping into the center of the clearing.
“Shall we get started? I don’t have all day.”
“Very well. I will be using this blade. It doesn’t have a sharpened edge, but it’s heavy enough to cause serious injury. Be careful.”

“Keh keh keh. Thanks for the warning.”
Yoo Ji Gwang pulled a fan from inside his robes.
“What’s that?”

“My weapon.”
“A fan?”
“You’re underestimating it. Despite how it looks, this fan is a terrifying weapon.”

Go Seung nodded.
If the man said so himself, who was he to argue?
After all, the person standing before him was the top-ranked student of Cheongseok Martial Academy.

The only reason he had accepted this duel was to see how strong he had become.
Would his strength measure up against the top student of Cheongseok?
He was eager to find out.

“You look excited. Let’s see how long you can keep that expression.”
“Come.”
At Go Seung’s words, Yoo Ji Gwang chuckled and kicked off the ground.

Paak—
Bang—
The fan snapped open and slashed through the air toward Go Seung.

Pipiping—
Something shot out from the fan, flying toward Go Seung at incredible speed.
Tatataang—

Go Seung raised his massive blade like a shield, blocking the incoming projectiles.
Then, without hesitation, he lunged at Yoo Ji Gwang.
“Wow! You’re swinging that huge blade around like it’s nothing. My guys weren’t lying after all.”

Truthfully, Yoo Ji Gwang hadn’t believed Baek Cheon’s account.
A blade that large being swung like a sword? It sounded absurd.
But now, seeing it in action, it was undeniable.

Was he only swinging it around like a sword?
Huaaang—
Boom—

The massive blade soared through the air and crashed into the ground, creating a deep crater.
It was a powerful, earth-shattering attack.
Combining the speed of a sword with the weight of a blade – a martial art that incorporated both.

“This is going to be fun.”
Yoo Ji Gwang grinned.
“Let’s get serious, then.”

Bang—
Yoo Ji Gwang flicked his fan open and hurled it toward Go Seung.
“Whirlwind Destroying Fan!”

Whirr—
The fan spun rapidly, slicing through the air as it headed for Go Seung.
“Hmph!”

What could a mere fan possibly do?
Go Seung gripped his blade tightly, ready to shatter the fan along with Yoo Ji Gwang’s confidence.
He swung his blade at the approaching fan.

Thoom—
“Ugh!”
Bzzzz—

The moment his blade struck the fan, a powerful shockwave traveled through the blade, vibrating so violently that it almost slipped from his grasp.
The fan, knocked back momentarily, ricocheted off the blade and came whirling back toward Go Seung.
Bang—

To steady his shaking blade, Go Seung struck it with his palm, dispersing the residual vibration.
He then pivoted quickly, thrusting his blade like a sword toward the incoming fan.
“Heavy Crushing Blade!”

Infusing his Qi into the blade, Go Seung’s strike shot toward the fan.
At that moment —
The fan suddenly altered its course, swerving away from the blade and heading straight for Go Seung.

“A feint!”
A deceptive move designed to catch the defender off guard.
His stance was already committed to the thrust; there was no way to dodge in time.

Go Seung gritted his teeth and twisted his body desperately.
Crack—
The sound of something snapping echoed through the clearing as his body contorted unnaturally.

Slash—
“Guh!”
The fan grazed his shoulder, drawing blood as it spun past him.

Whirr—
Thwack—
The fan flew back into Yoo Ji Gwang’s waiting hand.

“Wow! I didn’t expect you to dodge that.”
Go Seung turned to face him, eyes burning.
A feint. He hadn’t anticipated it.

‘I’m still too inexperienced.’
Drip. Drip.
Blood trickled down his arm, staining the ground beneath him.

Yoo Ji Gwang spoke, his voice casual.
“You won’t be able to use that arm anymore.”
“It was just a graze.”

Bang—
Yoo Ji Gwang flicked open the fan and grinned.
“There’s poison on it.”

“What?”
“Oh, don’t worry. It’s just a mild paralytic. Nothing lethal.”
Already, Go Seung’s arm was starting to go numb.

Squelch—
Spit—
“Huh?”

Yoo Ji Gwang’s eyes widened.
Go Seung had sunk his teeth into his bleeding arm, sucking out the poisoned blood and spitting it onto the ground.
“Well… damn.”

Such a waste.
A guy like him should have been in Cheongseok.
“It’s pointless. The poison’s already spread.”

“As long as I can move even a little, it’s enough.”
Judging by the way he could still grip his blade, the poison hadn’t fully taken effect.
“I didn’t expect you to use poison.”

“Oh? Does that seem underhanded to you?”
Yoo Ji Gwang asked with a crooked grin.
Go Seung shook his head.

“There is no such thing as underhanded in the martial world. The fool who gets hit is the one at fault.”
“Keh keh keh. I really like you. Hey, why don’t you just come over to Cheongseok? You could be our next top student. It’s way better than Baekyeong. What do you say?”
“I’m a Baekyeong student.”

“Keh… Loyalty too, huh? You’re one hell of a guy.”
Yoo Ji Gwang’s eyes began to darken.
“I have a habit of breaking things I can’t have. I’ll ask one more time. Come to Cheongseok.”

“I’m not going.”
“Fine.”
A murderous glint flickered in Yoo Ji Gwang’s eyes.

“Everything that happens next is on you.”
Hwooom—
A massive wave of energy erupted from Yoo Ji Gwang’s body.

Go Seung knew then, without a doubt.
The man before him was far beyond his level.
But he couldn’t back down. Not now.

“Haaah…”
Taking a deep breath, Go Seung tightened his grip around his massive blade.
Yoo Ji Gwang’s grin widened.

“Looks like you’re ready. Keh keh keh. Alright. Let’s see how long that resolve lasts.”
Whoosh—
Yoo Ji Gwang shot forward like a bullet.

Bang—
The fan snapped open, each fold aimed at Go Seung’s vital points.
In that moment, Go Seung’s blade seemed to multiply, as if splitting into multiple phantoms.

Clang! Clang! Clang!
He parried every single strike, each impact echoing through the clearing.