Surviving as a Rival in a Martial Arts Novel

Chapter 27 – Forced Apprenticeship (03)

“Chuguh…!”

An unpleasant voice resonated like scratching metal.

This eerie figure crawling on all fours, with long arms and legs, crouched low as if in contemplation, was more akin to a monster from a fantasy novel than a character from a martial arts novel.

Covered in black cloth like a bat, with long limbs adorned with hooks in between, it appeared as though these limbs were made of steel rods, moving like a spider, just as a person in a clown costume would climb a ladder with a pole attached to their limbs.

However, in order to move these intricate steel limbs, the person had to sever their own arms and legs, connecting them to their muscles somehow.

“I’ve heard about this in a novel…”

After following the Thousand-Year Chart and obtaining the Kiyun, Yeoncheongha was attacked by a spider-like monster that had been tracking Chugum and Yeoncheongha. But Yeoncheongha, who had already grown stronger, swiftly defeated the monster and joined the main characters, as described in the novel.

At first, I thought it would be like a spider, using ropes or threads to move along the walls, but I never imagined it would actually look like a spider.

“Chugum… Is this his disciple?”

“Not exactly like a disciple.”

“He’s holding Chugum’s sword, but he claims not to be a disciple… hahahaha!”

With an unpleasant laugh, his head spun around, just like Ino’s and this guy’s, both convinced that I am Chugum’s disciple.

“I’m just learning his swordsmanship.”

“If you were to say that you’re not Chugum’s disciple here… hahahaha, do you think I’d spare you?”

“Chugum will be back soon, so let’s settle this… It doesn’t seem like he has any intention of fighting.”

Raising his sharp limbs, he began to emit an aura.

“He doesn’t seem to listen even if I speak.”

“I am Heukmyeon Jiju (Black-Faced Spider). I will kill Chugum’s beloved disciple… and kill Chugum to become the head of the faction…!”

It was not a bad dream. A man should dream big.

But the problem was that, far from excelling, my skills were lacking to the point where catching up with the investigation was an issue.

Clang! Clang!

As the four legs split in half and each extended one by one, the one who had been crawling on all fours suddenly turned into an eight-legged creature, moving razor-sharp blades in all directions.

“hehehe…!”

Fog enveloped the surroundings, and spreading a black cloth like a tent, it blocked the sunlight. In this already dimly lit place, it became as dark as night.

An ordinary person might have been frightened because they couldn’t see ahead, but as someone who had reached the pinnacle of mastery, I could infuse my eyes with internal energy, allowing me to perceive objects even with a faint light. Though it didn’t hold much significance since I could also sense the opponent’s movements through my keen senses.

“Die!”

As if picking up side dishes with chopsticks, two front legs flew towards me, but I effortlessly rotated my body to evade and stepped back.

Bang! Bang!

Seeing the force with which it struck the spot where I had just been, it seemed that if those legs hit, it would be impossible to even fathom the broken bones. Fortunately, the trajectory was straightforward…

Tadadak- Bang bang bang bang!

However, realizing the opponent’s weakness, that the legs were not flexible enough for anything other than straight stabbing or swinging attacks, I intentionally leapt over them and started tap-dancing with my own legs.

‘I didn’t think of this?’

Bang! Bang bang!

Easily piercing through the stone floor and seeing a leg plunging a foot into it, I had to prepare for the possibility that bones would break if hit directly.

‘Of course, the legs need to maintain a certain weight, so there can be a maximum of four attacks at once! Beyond that, swinging more won’t generate enough force as the legs can’t bear the weight…!’

While observing the relentless pattern of leg movements, I dodged and avoided, but due to my limited maneuvering space, I couldn’t find a suitable path to counterattack against the giant black-clothed figure’s imposing kicks.

Chyaak!

Lowering my body to evade all the leg attacks at once, I quickly countered before untangling the twisted legs, gripping the sword tightly.

“But it’s just swinging a sword against a lump of metal…! If it’s only at this level…!”

First, I tried swinging the most basic sword, the Oksun Cold Sword.

As I swung the Oksun Cold Sword, I could tell that the surrounding fog was dispersing, but the moment the sword touched the thin leg–

Crack!!

As if ringing a bell, my hand shook as if it was about to be torn apart, accompanied by a solid metallic sound.

For a moment, I almost dropped the sword due to the pain, but thanks to recently becoming accustomed to pain, I managed to hold onto the sword. As a result, my palm felt numb and my hand suffered more damage than the attack I made.

“hahahahaha! Did you think it was ordinary steel? It’s an Euisok sword mixed with a little bit of cold iron! Do you think it can be cut by an inexperienced brat’s swordplay?”

“Kuk…!”

It wasn’t at the level of an ancient iron treasure, but even with ordinary cold iron mixed into a sword, it was an object that could damage even a skilled expert.

To think that such a thing would be used to make the legs and arms of a perverted freak!

“These Black Moon Gang bastards… I knew they had a lot of money…!”

Kkaang!

“Don’t move like a rat and die quickly! That’s the only way to give a big shock to Chugum!”

“You’re ridiculous!”

He didn’t even consider losing the tough life that survived against Chugum to a mere extra.

Kkangkkangkkang!

Dodging the legs that tried to grab me as if dancing, I aimed for another chance to attack.

If I were familiar with swordsmanship, I could have used a sword wind to attack the defenseless body of the Black Masked Boss, but now I wasn’t used to the sword, so I had to discard it and use a long stick or a fist…

“If there’s a technique that can dodge or neutralize my long stick or fist, I’ll be in a difficult situation where I have to fight this cold iron leg with my bare hands.”

Moreover, it was not just a matter of my skills, but also a perfect situation to practice the swordsmanship I learned from Chugum. After months of suffering to learn swordsmanship, I wanted to try it out.

When it feels like I’m truly going to die, I can just throw away the sword and beat them to a pulp with my fists.

‘Various thoughts about herbivores come to mind…’

What I need now is not a complex and flashy herbivore, but a straightforward and powerful strike, just like the one the Predator showed me as it cleaved through this land.

Piercing through all defenses and slicing through every object like slicing through tofu, that herbivore.

“The 9th Form of the Jade Dragon Sword, Oklangcheon Sword.”

Ka-ga-ga-gak!

I swung the sword down with a noisy sound, as if sharpening a knife on a stone.

Even though the Predator didn’t teach me this herbivore when I was not healed, I witnessed the Predator wielding this sword three times.

The first time was when we annihilated the Kkunapul of the Black Moon faction and other Masked Gwis.

The second time was when I fought fiercely against the True Spirits, along with Samae and Ban Gyu-sung, attacking them.

Lastly, I recalled the time when the Predator showed me, almost blatantly, the method of breathing, energy manipulation, and swordsmanship, even demonstrating the rotation of the body while taking a deep breath and planting the right arm on the ground, rotating the body like turning a compass.

“Deep Iron Break.”

It severs even the steel buried deep underground.

With the sword stuck in the ground, pulling out my energy, I slashed the ground as if inserting a knife into soft tofu, cutting through the earth. Limbs of the Black-faced Jujoo, mixed with the hardness of Hyeon-myeonji, flew mercilessly along the cut.

Dang-kang!

Unlike the attack on the Okcheon Cryogenic Sword earlier that was deflected, during my one rotation, the legs of the Black-faced Jujoo, which were stabbing at me, were neatly cut off.

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, three out of the four legs on the right side were severed, causing the Black-faced Jujoo to lose balance for a moment. Seizing the opportunity, I immediately leaped up to aim for the Black-faced Jujoo’s body.

‘If there’s an opening like this, there’s no need to intentionally hit a tough spot.’

“The Frozen Sword of Okcheon.”

Whoosh!

With a single stroke, I cut through the remaining arm and thigh of the black-masked leader, not the forearm and thigh made of frozen steel.

Shaaah!

“Screaaam!”

Spraying blood from the only remaining limb, the black-masked leader falls from the bamboo horse like a collapsing clown. I grab his body with my left hand and tie it downwards.

Whooosh!

“Cough!”

I deliberately throw him under my feet, and as I land on top, the black-masked leader’s rib breaks, and blood spurts out. I point my sword at the helpless neck of this guy who can’t even resist.

“Groan, spare me! I won’t mercilessly cut down a weakling who’s already so powerless…”

Skkk!

With a swift motion, I swing the sword, beheading him.

The Black Moon Gang, especially one addicted to the venomous Black Moon Blood Martial Arts, willing to cut off their own limbs and replace them with spider legs made of steel, I had no intention of sparing such a creature.

Whether it’s a true marriage or just a slight difference in eloquence between this guy and the pseudo-couples, in the end, they all serve as puppets of the Black Moon Gang’s leader.

Stab!

The fact that the blood is already so darkly coagulated proves that the body, pierced by the venomous Black Moon Blood Martial Arts, cannot feel pain even when cut.

Splat… Thud.

Seeing the severed steel leg scattered around and chunks of meat I cut off, a deep sigh escapes me.

“When will I clean up this mess.”

At least the Black Moon Gang members didn’t spray blood everywhere, which is fortunate.

* * *

Rustle. Rustle.

It took a while for Chugum to return, holding in his hand an ordinary Blue Steel Sword.

“What on earth happened?”

“Nothing.”

I used a broom to push the fragments of the broken pieces of the stone sculpture that had been rolling around the floor and the severed leg I had cut off down the cliff.

Of course, throwing those down would make a clanging sound all day long, so I had piled them up in one corner of the yard as if disposing of them.

Considering it was a Blue Steel Sword, there might be a use for the severed leg later on.

“Is it an assassin from the Black Moon Faction? Judging by these traces, they seem to be the Shadow Masked Lord.”

“…Are you close with them? Would you be disappointed if I killed them?”

“If there was someone close, they would have come with. Sending someone like this, who climbs walls like a spider, is not something you can do with ordinary methods.”

Thinking that I had erased the traces in my own way, Chugum examined the small circle I had created and the traces of the Shimcheoldan, seemingly intrigued.

“I haven’t taught Shimcheoldan yet. How did you know?”

“I learned by watching.”

Having shown the usage in front of me three times and predicting that I wouldn’t be able to use the next move after my eighth move, Chugum seemed like a fool.

“hehehe… Interesting. Quite interesting.”

Swish—clang!

Throwing the precious Blue Steel Sword in front of me, Chugum demanded the return of his sword with a clap of his hands.

“Tsk.”

It was a sword I liked. But since my skill was still inferior to Chugum’s, I had to give it back without a word.

“Indeed, my foresight was not mistaken. Teaching has its own flavor. From now on, I can proceed without considering the circumstances.”

Such was actually what I desired from this side.

Swiftly honing the sword, surpassing the preliminary training, I would return to where Sa-Mae and everyone else were.

To achieve that, I needed to quickly learn Sa-Mae’s swordsmanship, even if just a little.

Taeng!

Kicking the Cheonggang sword that had fallen to the ground, I picked it up and assumed my stance. Sa-Mae, satisfied, grasped his sword with an approving expression.

As if exhaling the momentum from that time when it approached me to kill me before, Sa-Mae asked, “Can you keep up?”

“Stick your sword in the back of your head.”

Satisfied with my response, Sa-Mae leaped towards me, brandishing his sword.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

The training with the Okrangcheon sword had just begun.