Wuuuuoooong!
Around Lee Sungmin, the winds started to blow fiercely as the dark clouds in the air were directly above him.
Suddenly a black gust of energy shot down from the clouds as they dispersed. Jehu, shot down to the ground within this gust of energy and landed in front of Lee Sungmin in his human form.
Jehu, who had suddenly appeared, without holding back any of his energy as if to show off in front of Lee Sungmin, landed as he shook off the dust on his robes.
‘Who is he?’
It was not Kang Seok this time that was standing in front of Lee Sungmin as he guessed the identity of the man in front of him.‘Wait, it can’t be…. Can it?’Lee Sungmin recalled one of the few people who fit the description of the man in front of him, in terms of power and appearance. The Lord of the Murim Alliance. Jehu, the Leader of the Black Dragon Association.
The energy surrounding Jehu, who was standing in front of Lee Sungmin, was emitting a nunfathomable depth to it that Lee Sungmin felt wary of.
‘No, let’s stay cool-headed right now.’
Lee Sungmin, who locked his gaze onto Jehu’s, gauged Jehu’s level of power. Although it was incredibly fearsome and strong, compared to Sima Ryunju’s it appeared a bit lacking.
[What exactly is he?]
Heoju murmured with a perplexed expression inside Lee Sungmin’s shared conscience with him.
[I can feel the life force of a real Dragon within his body. But, at the same time I don’t think he’s a real Dragon, he’s only half as strong as I would expect him to be, if he was…]
The Leader of the Black Dragon Association, Jehu.
At Heoju’s words, Lee Sungmin confirmed the identity of the man before him.
The Lord of the Murim Alliance, the powerhouse behind all of Murim. Jehu of the Black Dragon.
When Lee Sungmin recognized who he was, Lee Sungmin had no choice but to be confused as to what was going on. Why did the Lord of the Murim Alliance show up here in front of him? He should be in the City of Cron, where the Murim Alliance Headquarters was located.
“… You?”
Jehu was the one to open his mouth first. For Lee Sungmin, it was unimportant as to how Jehu had gotten here. It was a matter of why he was here, and more importantly, why he was standing in front of Lee Sungmin as of right now.
Lee Sungmin did not consider Jehu in a positive light. He had no choice but to believe it was the same for Jehu, who had falsely accused Lee Sungmin time and time again.
Not only that, Lee Sungmin knew the truth about Jehu, the Lord of the Murim Alliance. Jehu had ties with Beyond the Heavens.
Thanks to this, Lee Sungmin had no choice but to stare at Jehu nervously.
Just as Lee Sungmin was confused by the sudden appearance of the other person, Jehu was also confused about Lee Sungmin.
He knew that the Ghost Spear, Lee Sungmin, was here.
He was not confused by his appearance either.
He had seen the face of Lee Sungmin several times through the reports sent on him. So it was only natural he recognized Lee Sungmin to some extent. But…. There was something else that was familiar yet also unfamiliar, being emitted subtly from Lee Sungmin’s presence.
‘What is this?’Jehu’s eyes trembled slightly. He started to feel a peculiar emotion within him. He felt like he was sad and yearning for Lee Sungmin.
‘What the hell? I miss this guy? Someone I’ve never even met?’
Why on earth was he feeling that way towards Lee Sungmin? Jehu tried not to let his emotions shake, but his body refused to listen to his thoughts.
Lee Sungmin briefly agonized over how to respond to Jehu, who was clearly feeling some sort of emotion as he stared back at Lee Sungmin.
Lee Sungmin knew the best situation for him right now, was to take Scarlett and flee immediately.
There was still a way out. Even if Jehu came after him, Lee Sungmin still had two chances left from the Fairy Queen, to traverse with the pegasus she lent him to anywhere in the world.
‘How troublesome.’
Lee Sungmin felt strangely perplexed at the situation.
Jehu, who had remained silent after calling out Lee Sungmin, bit his lower lip.
He couldn’t figure out why he was feeling a sense of longing towards Lee Sungmin.
Was it a sense of longing for someone of the same kind? But how would that be possible? Jehu had never met or seen another Dragon.
Although his father was said to be a dragon, his mother, who was a human, did not have many memories to share with him of his father. Not only that, she had died eventually when Jehu was a child due to the effects of giving birth to a half-dragon, half-human.
‘I’ve never met another Dragon…… Maybe that’s why I feel this kind of feeling.’
Although he felt like he identified why he had bothered to stop and see Lee Sungmin for himself, Jehu didn’t want to be swayed by such feelings. Even if he was a Draconic Human Being, he was not a mature or real Dragon, so he couldn’t truly know what another Draconic Human Being would be like.
He only heard of what his father had looked like, but Jehu only heard from his mother when he was young, before she died.
However, Jehu used to think that he would like to meet my father someday. Was he also a mixed blood like Jehu?
With that thought, Jehu started to unleash his Draconic Aura.
He did want to meet Lee Sungmin at least once, and Jehu felt a strange sense of camaraderie from Lee Sungmin due to the Draconic Energy he could feel from Lee Sungmin. Lee Sungmin was hiding it extremely well, but Jehu still felt it, and wanted to test just how strong Lee Sungmin was over his control of his Draconic Energy.
Cuuuuuong!
An intense pressure hit Lee Sungmin head-on. It was an intangible force, but something Lee Sungmin recognized. It was Dragon Fear.
To resist the sudden and heavy pressure, Lee Sungmin also unleashed his Draconic Energy in full, and released his own Dragon Fear.
Coooong!
The aura emitted from each other’s Dragon Fear, which had clearly released without holding back at all, collided with each other. The eyes of Jehu widened.
“Ah…!”
Even if someone didn’t explain it to him, Jehu knew it instinctively. It was something he could recognize that had more to simply having control over Draconic Energy.
“Ah… Father……?”
“…huh- wait, what?”
Lee Sungmin was puzzled at the words. Jehu also let out a sudden forced cough of embarrassment, realizing just how silly he had sounded just now.
But it was truly strange. He felt the energy of his father, whom he had never met, from Lee Sungmin.
“No, it’s not possible. My father couldn’t possibly be as weak as you. What the hell are you……?”
[No way.]
Heoju, who was silent this entire time, opened his mouth suddenly in realization of something/
[Is the Dragon I killed… his father?]
‘What?’Lee Sungmin was baffled at Heoju’s words
[Otherwise he wouldn’t call you if his father, you moron. And from what I can tell at least, both of your Draconic Energies are extremely similar in nature to each other. I wasn’t sure at first, but when you both released your Dragon Fear, I was certain.]
If things were as Heoju had said… things would get awfully twisted here.
Lee Sungmin frowned.
As Lee Sungmin stayed silent, Jehu was making some hypotheses of his own.
The Ghost Spear could not possibly be his father, so why did he have the same Draconic Energy of his own?
Were they brothers?
It was highly unlikely. The chances of a half-human, half-dragon even surviving birth was extremely low. To have two come from the same family? Impossible.
Jehu’s eyes turned dark as he suddenly realized the only remaining possibility.
The Dragon’s heart.
It was known to be impossible for humans to consume Dragon’s Hearts. Yet, Jehu could not think of any other possibilities.
Jehu started to shift his stance slowly as he grit his teeth in anger. The sudden spike of anger was tied directly to his uncontrollable emotions he was feeling for the first time.
For over 300 years, Jehu had hoped that he would meet his father again someday.
But he never believed that he would meet his father… like this.
“You ate a Dragon Heart.”
Jehu’s facial expression turned cold as he spoke as if he were stating a fact. The black energy that had been swirling around him earlier, started to rise back up and emitted a cold-blooded killing intent.
“My father’s Dragon Heart.”
[Dammit.]
Heoju cursed inside the shared conscience between him and Lee Sungmin. Lee Sungmin also had no choice but to feel a sense of the situation being unfair. Although he had consumed a Dragon Heart, why did it have to be the heart of Jehu’s, the Lord of the Murim Alliance, father?
[You worthless bastard. Why don’t you show some gratitude for this old man even giving you his treasures instead of thinking I did it to try and put you in some ridiculous situation on purpose!]Heoju yelled at Lee Sungmin, as he felt Lee Sungmin’s emotions of displeasure and disappointment in Heoju.
‘Of all the dragons, just why did you kill his father?’
[Do you think I’d ever know he’d have some kid that’s trying to kill you right now? Don’t be so mean to me and get ready for his attack!]
Heoju suddenly roared inside Lee Sungmin’s mind. Heoju warned Lee Sungmin just in time.
Whabam!
Jehu, who kicked the ground with his foot, shot forwards at Lee Sungmin. Although he did not move as quick as Sima Ryunju’s fastest movement with the Dark Storm Arts, Lee Sungmin had to focus his attention as best he could to keep track of Jehu’s sudden attack and movements.
Lee Sungmin took the spear from off his back in a hurry and stabbed quickly at Jehu’s incoming fist.
BOOM!
Lee Sungmin’s spear collided with the first from Jehu with a violent noise. Lee Sungmin’s eyes shook at the strength he could feel on the other end of the spear, coming from Jehu’s fist.
But it was more than just Jehu’s normal fist. Jehu’s fist was covered in shiny black scales.
They were Dragon scales. No matter how much strength Lee Sungmin normally put into his strikes, he would have to at least double the amount of strength if he wanted to somehow pierce through Jehu’s firm body.
Lee Sungmin wondered in his mind as he racked his brains for an answer. Luckily for him, Heoju had an answer…
[Just smash his fist to pieces… Hahahah!]
Heoju cracked a joke that was utterly impossible for Lee Sungmin to even attempt in this situation. Lee Sungmin pulled his foot back and separated himself from Jehu, while he quickly roused his internal energy with his internal circuits, trembling at how much power he was trying to draw on.Lee Sungmin had no intention of dying here, so he started to get serious. Letting the Dark Storm Art’s black lightning start to ripple around his spear, Lee Sungmin fired the spear with a quick movement.
Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques, Second Move : Nine Dragons Annihilation (九龍殺生)
Numerous golden dragons formed of internal energy, coated in a dark black lightning, shot out from the tip of Lee Sungmin’s spear and roared as they collided with Jehu’s outstretched fist.
When the dust cleared around Jehu, there was not a scratch to be seen. The Dragon scales on his body were not something that could be pierced so easily, when Jehu used both his deep reserves of internal energy as a coating of a barrier around his sturdy scales.
‘If I try my hardest right now, can I pierce him?’
Lee Sungmin was not sure, and felt uncertainty creeping up on him. Lee Sungmin still had room to spare in terms of power and techniques he had not used yet, but he intuitively knew that Jehu had a bit more than he did in terms of unrevealed strength.
As Lee Sungmin had just fired off the blow at Jehu earlier, Jehu was starting to realize just how much Lee Sungmin had been underrated in terms of strength reported by Chigweol.
Although he was not at Sima Ryunju’s level of difficulty, Lee Sungmin was definitely a dangerous opponent and was difficult to deal with, even for him.
The temporary feelings of excitement and rage that had clouded Jehu’s mind into attacking Lee Sungmin, calmed down.
He did not believe that Lee Sungmin could have possibly killed his father. He was too weak to kill a real Dragon. He must have coincidentally come across his father’s Dragon Heart.
It had to be. Jehu couldn’t see how Lee Sungmin could kill a real Dragon, although that didn’t mean he felt better about Lee Sungmin being able to wield Draconic Energy.
It would be unpleasant for anyone in Jehu’s situation, to not ever see his own father, and the only traces he had found for the first time in years, were when someone who had consumed his father’s heart was in front of him.
‘That attack was much sharper than I thought it would be.’
However, it wasn’t as sharp as the spear of the Spear King, Kang Seok. But it was worrying nonetheless. If such a young man at the age of 27 had already grown this strong, he would surely become much more dangerous in a few years. Jehu didn’t understand why the Divine Spirit was letting this man be. He was clearly a threat to their plans.
There were a number of dangerous outcomes that would come along if the Ghost Spear was allowed to live here. Not only that, but that old monster, Sima Ryunju had chosen this young man as his successor.
Jehu decided to do something impulsive. It would not be difficult to kill Lee Sungmin here, would it? Jehu, making up his mind, started to stimulate his Dragon Breath in the back of his mouth.
He would definitely have enough power to kill Lee Sungmin with this attack, he thought. Lee Sungmin suddenly widened his eyes as Jehu’s eyes started to shine with an ominous black light. Feeling a sense of pressure, Jehu suddenly opened his mouth wide and a beam of Dragon Breath shot out directly towards Lee Sungmin.But, as this happened, something felt off for Jehu.
At that moment, Jehu sensed something approaching him at a reckless speed that he couldn’t possibly ignore. Seeing that he could not afford to continue the Dragon Breath in Lee Sungmin’s direction if he wanted to defend properly, Jehu backed off and felt something sharp hit him square in the chest.
BANG!
With a heavy shock, the Draconic Human body of Jehu’s was pushed back several steps.
“Urgh…”
Even though Jehu had coated himself in a layer of internal energy at the last moment around his scales, he could not offset the attack completely and felt a sharp pain as he looked at what had hit him. Stopped right before his very eyes, was a different colored spear than the one Lee Sungmin had been using.
The black gusts of energy swirled around Jehu in a rage as he shouted at the man behind the spear.
“KANG SEOK!”
A shout filled with the power of Dragon Fear and Jehu’s murderous intent shook the forest.
Lee Sungmin was just as surprised by the sudden attack.
The reason he was so surprised was because Lee Sungmin could not tell how Kang Seok had appeared so suddenly, even while Lee Sungmin had been accustomed to moving at incredibly fast movement speeds with the Dark Storm Arts. He had only been able to briefly notice the space shift suddenly at the last moment and the Spear King’s spear moved through the gap in space to hit Jehu head-on.
“Why are you interrupting me right now, Kang Seok? Answer me!”
Jehu continued to yell while raising the power emitted from his Dragon Fear, shaking the forest with a frightening power.
Lee Sungmin frowned and stepped back a little.
Jehu was genuinely angry right now and anybody could tell that much just by looking at him. Just looking at Kang Seok’s attack, Lee Sungmin could tell that if Jehu did not move back at the last moment, his defense would have been pierced no matter how strong it may be.
The spear that had been thrown at Jehu, floated back up into the air and returned to its owner.
Not too far away, the Spear King was standing, glaring at Jehu without bothering to look at Lee Sungmin.
“He is my prey.”
Kang Seok spat out to Jehu with venom in his words. Before, when Lee Sungmin had met Kang Seok, there was an entirely different atmosphere about him, a friendly one even. At least that was compared to the vicious Kang Seok he was seeing right now.
It was not some mere warrior who was determined to have his fight. It was a warrior who would absolutely not let Jehu kill his opponent, whom he might not ever have another chance to come across in his lifetime. Kang Seok looked like he was about to tear the world apart if he did not receive his will, let alone tear apart Jehu.
“Are you trying to take my prey away?”
Kang Seok shouted at Jehu, repeating himself. The vicious shout from Kang Seok, made the face of Jehu, contort in anger and frustration.
“What do you mean, prey? That bastard will be much more than mere prey if he stays alive right now…!”
“I don’t care what you want. I am following my orders right now that were given to me by Musin, himself. I will be the one to fight the Ghost Spear, and I will not allow you to interfere.”
“Then fight the Ghost Spear right now and kill him here!”
When Jehu shouted at Kang Seok, urging him to kill Lee Sungmin right here, only then did Kang Seok glance towards Lee Sungmin’s direction.
“No. We are not going to fight each other right now.”
“……what?”
“In the future, I said. Just not right now.”
The Spear King, Kang Seok, repeated his words with strength as he started to emit a fierce killing intent at Jehu, proving he would not change his stance no matter what.
“When he and I are fully prepared and in better conditions. We promised to fight then.”
“What the hell, you fucking idiot!”
Jehu cursed at Kang Seok out loud. He swung his hand wrapped in the black gust of energy toward Lee Sungmin in a sneak attack.
Without panic, Lee Sungmin started to swing the spear and unfold his Nine Heavenly Spear Techniques. But, it was at that moment before Lee Sungmin had the chance to swing the spear.
“You fucking punk!”
The Spear King, Kang Seok, shouted at Jehu and threw one of his spears at Jehu with the full intent to kill.
Quaquaqua!
As Lee Sungmin had the chance to observe Kang Seok’s trait with his spear in more detail, it seemed that his spear that he threw at Jehu, was something that could not possibly be avoided and constantly threatened and followed Jehu.
However, Jehu did not back down and extended his hands forward at the incoming spear that was attacking him in the air.
Ba-boom!
Jehu’s pure might and force, shifted the atmosphere as his fist collided full on with the spear from Kang Seok and the shock waves reverberated in the surroundings.
“Don’t you fucking dare take my prey away!”
“Stop talking about him being your prey!”
Jehu yelled in frustration at Kang Seok, while neither of them showed any intention of backing down anytime soon as they continued to attack each other.
[This is an opportunity right now, brat.]
While the two men who could be called complete monsters in the Realm of Transcendence were fighting, Heoju whispered to Lee Sungmin to urge him to make the right decision at that moment while he had time.
[Let’s run and get out of here already.]
It just so happened that Lee Sungmin was planning to do exactly that.