Chapter 63. I Refuse

"Who was that?” Kim Do-Joon asked.

His eyes, fixed on Jecheon Kang, were more serious than ever, and his tone carried the weight of desperation. He was willing to lay down his life to cure his daughter.

While he could never leave her an orphan, if a demon appeared and demanded he choose, he’d gladly exchange his own life for her recovery. He just wanted Kim So-Eun to live.

“...”

Jecheon Kang remained silent, his expression stern and his eyes closed. He was in turmoil. The memories of someone he knew with a similar condition, the "Absolute Meridians," were the only thing holding him back. It weighed him down like a boulder, preventing him from ascending to the heavens. In fact, those emotions led to the birth of this space, and shackled him here.

Normally, there would not be a need for such deliberation. He and Kim Do-Joon had only known each other for over a week. Kim Do-Joon was a fascinating man, and they’d a good time sparring together. Nevertheless, they weren’t close enough for Jecheon Kang to reveal his deepest struggles.

But... Absolute Meridians...?

The fact that Kim Do-Joon was asking about Absolute Meridians, of all things, made the boulder in Jecheon Kang's heart tremble. That was why he hesitated.

"Please, tell me, sir," Kim Do-Joon pleaded, taking a step closer.

To him, Jecheon Kang's words were a lifeline he absolutely mustn’t let go. The distance between them, initially marked by tension, shrank slightly.

Jecheon Kang slowly opened his eyes and said, "It's related to my own delusion. It's not something I can easily talk about."

KIm Do-Joon bit his lip.

"What do I have to do for you to tell me?"

Jecheon Kang remained silent, simply staring at Kim Do-Joon. How could he not understand the desperate heart of a father trying to save his sick daughter? His gaze shifted to the sword in his right hand. As he tightened his grip, the smooth blade began to shine, reflecting the sunlight.

"You don't have to do anything. I have nothing I desire," Jecheon Kang replied.

"Then..."

"But if you must do something..." Jecheon Kang interrupted, "We have a rule, don't we?"

Then, he brandished his sword, and in that instant, his inner power spiked. Unlike before, when it was like flowing water or a gentle breeze, it now felt like an oppressive wall, crushing everything around him.

It’s hot.

An overwhelming heat emanated from Jecheon Kang, a dark red aura coursing through his entire body. Even from a distance, despite having a seventy-five percent resistance to fire, Kim Do-Joon could feel it piercing his skin and gnawing at him. The heat was far more intense than the Lava Cave.

Feeling sweat trickle down his chin, Kim Do-Joon asked, "Are you talking about the rule where the winner gets to ask one question?"

"And the loser must answer," Jecheon Kang confirmed.

Kim Do-Joon gripped his spear tightly. Despite the heat radiating from Jecheon Kang, his spear remained oddly cool.

— This duel is going to be truly dangerous. Seeing him like this, it seems he's about to use his true martial arts. I'd like to stop you if possible, but...

... I'm sorry.

Kim Do-Joon spoke to himself internally. He always felt sorry toward Karlish, who prioritized him above all else. Despite being aware of this, he couldn’t afford to back down. Until now, their duels had been part of a hidden quest to find out if Jecheon Kang's name was real, if he had any nicknames, or if there were other beings in this place. But now, he had a much more urgent reason.

Unlike Karlish, Kim Do-Joon’s top priority wasn’t himself.

— I know you won’t listen... Just be careful.

Karlish chuckled, but his words of caution were uncharacteristically serious. It was the same tone he had used when they first encountered Jecheon Kang.

Alright.

Kim Do-Joon replied, staring at Jecheon Kang, who was enveloped in a menacing dark red aura. He knew that this man was the strongest opponent he had ever faced. No matter who else he brought, they wouldn’t stand a chance against Jecheon Kang.

"I won't use my protective aura. If you can even scratch me, I'll consider it your win," Jecheon Kang's voice echoed, so powerful that a weaker man might collapse just from hearing it.

Facing him, Kim Do-Joon responded calmly, "I'm coming."

He surrounded himself with a layer of blue, cold mana. Though it was weak compared to Jecheon Kang's, it significantly shielded him from the external heat.

In the next moment, Kim Do-Joon threw his Lightning Spear.

Pzzzz—

Until now, Kim Do-Joon had not used his inventory, Lightning Spear, or thorns in front of Jecheon Kang. There were two reasons for this: one, he wanted to purely hone his spear skills during their spars.

And two, I want to keep the opponent off guard for the right moment.

The next moment, the Lightning Spear flew straight toward Jecheon Kang, cutting through the oppressive heat surrounding him. Even though it lunged straight for his forehead, Jecheon Kang didn’t budge. Only when it was almost upon him did he finally swing his sword.

Clang!

His arm moved faster than the incoming spear, deflecting it effortlessly. The spear lost its power and flew off into the distance.

Without wasting a second, Kim Do-Joon charged at Jecheon Kang. He knew the spear would be blocked anyway.

Baaam—!

With a burst of lightning at his feet, he propelled himself forward, moving so fast that he left an afterimage.

Swoosh—!

However, Jecheon Kang's sword sliced through him, creating a long diagonal gash across his chest, searing the flesh. The blood that sprayed into the air evaporated almost instantly from the overwhelming heat.

"

Keugh!

"

For a moment, Kim Do-Joon blacked out. His Invincible Body was penetrated, yet he didn’t have time to be shocked. When he opened his eyes, he was already on the ground.

"If you want to give up, I won't stop you," Jecheon Kang's voice came from above.

Gritting his teeth, Kim Do-Joon pushed against the ground. The wound on his chest bubbled as it slowly healed.

Even though his Super Regeneration was powerful, it couldn’t heal such a severe wound instantly. Supporting himself with trembling arms, Kim Do-Joon managed to stand up.

"I refuse," he said firmly.

Giving up wasn’t an option for him.

"You have many peculiar skills," Jecheon Kang noted, watching Kim Do-Joon's rapid healing.

Although the cut was shallow, it was still surprising to see the flesh knitting back together in no time. Normally, it would have incapacitated anyone.

"I lost this round. Will you ask your question now?" Kim Do-Joon inquired.

"No, I'll save it for later," Jecheon Kang replied with a bitter smile. "I suspect I'll get many opportunities to ask questions."

As soon as Jecheon Kang finished speaking, Kim Do-Joon charged again. Once again, he was cut down with a single strike, blood spraying as he was thrown back.

Yet, he continued to charge. Again and again, he attacked, only to be struck down each time. He lost count of how many times he was knocked out. Each strike inflicted enough damage to make him lose consciousness.

However, Kim Do-Joon kept getting back up.

How stubborn...

Initially, Jecheon Kang had considered Kim Do-Joon a more composed man.

From the first meeting, Kim Do-Joon had masked his surprise, carefully observing and analyzing every detail. His instinctual desire for precise judgment overrode any gut reactions during their sparring sessions. But now, with something more significant at stake, he charged forward with relentless determination. Even after being knocked down seven times, he stood up for the eighth.

His body was battered and bruised, his regeneration ability struggling to keep up with the continuous wounds. The amount of blood he had lost could fill a basin.

"Do you realize that you owe me fifty questions?" Jecheon Kang remarked, implying that in a real fight, Kim Do-Joon would have died fifty times over.

"Next... please," Kim Do-Joon replied, rising again.

Jecheon Kang had seen men like this before—men with clear purposes who were completely consumed by their goals. Some were driven by ambition, others by love, and some merely by the desire to become stronger.

...

And then there was that person. For a moment, another face superimposed over Kim Do-Joon's. They looked completely different, yet they shared the same fierce determination. The boulder weighing down Jecheon Kang's heart trembled once more, causing his focus to waver.

Now!

Kim Do-Joon seized the moment, reaching for the Lightning Spear lying on the ground. Reclaiming the spear, he hurled it again.

Jecheon Kang was astonished at the skill, which was akin to manipulating the void itself. Yet he quickly realized that it was similar to how Kim Do-Joon had Invincible Body despite not mastering martial arts.

This time, the Lightning Spear didn’t fly toward Jecheon Kang. Instead, it struck the ground at his feet.

Crackle—

Embedded in the ground, the spear scattered bolts of electricity. Blue lightning soon filled the surroundings.

"Good try. But simply blocking my vision won't achieve anything," Jecheon Kang said as he attempted to raise his sword.

With a perplexed expression, he looked at his right arm. It was embedded with a never seen before black thorn.

Kim Do-Joon had saved this secret weapon, the Thorn of Searshader, for such a moment. It was his most unexpected skill, perfect for catching his opponent off guard.

Lightning burst at his feet. Sky Thunder. Kim Do-Joon propelled himself forward like a cannonball, spear in hand.

Soon after, the thorn broke. Even Eldora was paralyzed by it, yet it had no real effect on Jecheon Kang. He only halted briefly, unfamiliar with the technique.

However, this was the best shot Kim Do-Joon had so far. For some reason, when their eyes met, Jecheon Kang hesitated. He retrieved the deflected Lightning Spear, momentarily obscuring the old man’s view. Although briefly, the previously unseen thorn had managed to hinder Jecheon Kang’s right arm.

Each moment was a tiny gap, smaller than a needle's eye, but all of them combined drove Kim Do-Joon forward.

— The spear must feel like an extension of your body.

Karlish’s words, often repeated during training, echoed in Kim Do-Joon's mind. If the spear was an extension of his body, then his body must also act like a spear.

The turbulent wind of the Violent Stream surrounding his spear began to dissipate, but this time it was not losing control. Instead, the wind enveloped Kim Do-Joon's entire body, transforming him into a massive, singular force.

With the spear at the center, his body became a giant horn, charging forward. The explosive wind from his feet also added to his momentum.

Then, Kim Do-Joon's wind pierced through the oppressive wall of heat emanating from Jecheon Kang.

“...”

Jecheon Kang silently raised his sword again. The massive Violent Stream surged toward him, far exceeding Kim Do-Joon’s previous capabilities.

You're growing.

Jecheon Kang thought, feeling an unexpected sense of joy. With a conscious effort to suppress a rising smile, he swung his sword toward the tip of the cone.

Baaam—!

***

Baaam—!

The thunderous explosion echoed in Kim Do-Joon's ears. However, Jecheon Kang was no longer in front of him.

This again...

Then, Kim Do-Joon realized that he was no longer in the Sky Road. Whenever he and Jecheon Kang crossed swords, these memories sometimes emerged, similar to when he encountered Siwelin.

Who is it this time?

Jecheon Kang's memories were similar in a sense that they often involved overwhelming his opponents in combat. Naturally, Kim Do-Joon looked around for Jecheon Kang and his opponent.

However, this time was different.

"Kill him!"

Instead of a one-on-one duel like usual, Kim Do-Joon found himself on a battlefield. Warriors in red and black uniforms clashed desperately amidst several large buildings.

"Fight! We, the Hwayang Clan, will not fall to these vile demons!" shouted a man with veins bulging in his neck, clearly the leader of the red-clad warriors.

He was the leader of the Hwayang Clan, Yang Dae-Ryong.

In the chaotic warzone, Kim Do-Joon searched for Jecheon Kang, but couldn’t find him amidst the throng of fighters. Then, he heard a voice.

"Lord! That’s the leader of the Hwayang Clan!"

"Is that so?"

Covered in blood, Yang Dae-Ryong was fiercely cutting down the black-clad foes. Suddenly, someone leaped toward him.

"It’s Jecheon Kang!" someone shouted from Yang Dae-Ryong's side.

"Protect the leader! Form a combined defense!" The red-clad warriors moved with coordinated precision.

After hearing that, Kim Do-Joon was astonished. Up to this point, Jecheon Kang, in his memories, always appeared as a middle-aged man. But now, the figure moving like a whirlwind through the enemy ranks was a boy no older than fifteen.

"Fools," the young Jecheon Kang sneered, his smile betraying a touch of lunacy.

As he laughed, an intense heat spread out, and his sword slashed through the red-clad warriors. In an instant, five core members of the formation fell, decapitated.

"That's the Scarlet Blood Demon Art!"

"No way! He's already mastered it to this extent?"

Yang Dae-Ryong exclaimed, feeling the oppressive heat that could exhaust weaker warriors in seconds. Achieving at least five stars in the Scarlet Blood Demon Art at such a young age was a feat beyond belief.

Sensing imminent death, Yang Dae-Ryong decided.

"He must die! If we don't kill him now, he'll bring great disaster in the future!"

Yang Dae-Ryong charged forward, determined to eliminate the future demon lord. Despite his opponent being a child, he did not underestimate him. Instead, he braced himself for mutual destruction, hoping his experience would give him an edge.

I still have more experience than him! I can do this!

Yang Dae-Ryong was confident in his skills. He was renowned as the Hwayang Divine Sword, respected if not quite at the level of the Nine Schools.

Thud—

However, in the next moment, his head was rolling on the ground. He didn’t even realize he was dead.

"The leader of the Hwayang Clan is dead!"

"The young master beheaded Yang Dae-Ryong!"

The battlefield erupted in cheers from the black-clad warriors while the red-clad fighters lowered their heads in despair.