The Martial God with Psychic Powers

At Sunwoo Baek’s question, Sagong Mang flinched and waved his hands in denial.

“N-No! That’s not it!”
“You just looked so deep in thought, I figured I’d ask. You’re really not curious? I thought that’d be what you were most curious about.”
“T-To be honest… I am curious.”

In the end, Sagong Mang confessed his true thoughts.
He had experienced their strength firsthand just last year.
But, as far as he remembered, they weren’t strong enough to face Jungcheon.

Could they really have reached that level in such a short time?
Doubt crept in.
And Sunwoo Baek answered that doubt.

“My current level is Hwagyeong, First Star. From what I know, the First of Jungcheon is also at Hwagyeong, First Star.”
“W-What? Is… is that true?”
“Yes. If what we know is correct, and his level is indeed Hwagyeong, First Star, then I can face him.”
My god.

In less than a year, he’d crossed multiple cultivation stages.
The person standing before him was the kind of genius who should have entered Jungcheon.
Was it simply because Baekyeong had a lower faction ranking that he ended up here?

Well, perhaps thanks to that, Baekyeong could now stand where it did.
Sagong Mang began to get a rough sense of how Baekyeong had become so powerful.
But the issue wasn’t whether Sunwoo Baek alone was strong.

Even if one ignored Jungcheon’s lowerclassmen, its middle and upperclassmen were filled with powerful individuals.
Following behind Sunwoo Baek, they arrived at the training area for Baekyeong’s upperclassmen.
There, watching their training, Sagong Mang’s jaw dropped.

RMMMMMBLE—
KWANG-KWANG—!
Compared to this, the training of the intermediate students earlier seemed like child’s play.

“See that guy over there?”
“Yes.”
“He’s Baekyeong’s Second—though honestly, calling him ‘Second’ is just a formality. He’s on the same level as me. He’s also Hwagyeong, First Star.”

“What?”
“And the guy with the shield next to him, and the one he’s fighting—both of them are Extreme Apex, Twelfth Star. In truth, they’re practically on par with Hwagyeong.”
Sagong Mang listened in disbelief to Sunwoo Baek’s explanation.
“Those over there are Eleventh Star, that group is Tenth Star, and those over there, the weakest group, are just Apex-Level, Sixth Star.”

Apex-Level, Sixth Star… was the lowest among them?
Just last year, that cultivation rank would have been considered a powerhouse at any Mushincheon High Division.
And here, it was considered bottom-tier.

“That’s the state of our upperclassmen. As for the intermediate class—you know Shin Dowoon, right?”
“Yes, I do.”
“He’s currently Apex-Level, Fifth Star, and most of the intermediate leadership is above Second Star in the Apex tier.”

Good lord.
What even was this place?
“As for the lowerclassmen… well, we’ve brought in plenty of promising kids, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Promising, he says?
The ones who should have gone to Jungcheon ended up here instead.
Sagong Mang’s eyes twitched after hearing Sunwoo Baek’s words.

If everything he was saying was true—then Jungcheon wouldn’t stand a chance against Baekyeong.
The top-level duel between Firsts might be neck and neck—but the rest of Jungcheon’s students would be wiped out in an instant.
The real question was whether what Sunwoo Baek said was true.

ZZZNG—
At that moment, a glow of Hand Qi (sugang) formed in Sunwoo Baek’s palm.
“Qi manifestation?”
To form Inner Qi that smoothly?

He really was Hwagyeong.
A lesser Apex-tier cultivator could technically manifest Sword Qi.
But to do it with such smoothness and clarity—you had to be Hwagyeong.

In the Manifested Realm, one’s inner qi only formed as a thin layer, barely visible.
He didn’t know anything above that—because he’d never seen it before.
The Sword Qi Sunwoo Baek unleashed was crude but clean and sharp.

“Do you believe me now?”
“Y-Yes. I do.”
“So? If we clash with Jungcheon—who do you think would win?”

“…I believe Baekyeong would win.”
Sunwoo Baek smiled at Sagong Mang’s answer.
“Then rest easy and return. If anyone so much as lays a hand on Heukho—Baekyeong will never let it slide.”

It was overwhelming reassurance.
Sagong Mang smiled and nodded.
“Then I’ll place my trust in Baekyeong.”

 
****
Jungcheon’s influence spread not just to the North—but to the East and West as well.

And surprisingly, many High Divisions pledged allegiance to Jungcheon.
Those who still followed Baekyeong were all of the southern region’s High Divisions, as well as Heukseok, Cheongseok, and the northern Heukho.
Rumors spread quickly.

The word was that once Jungcheon made a move, Baekyeong got scared and hid.
Because of that rumor, even the High Divisions still loyal to Baekyeong began to waver.
They feared they may have made the wrong choice.

The only one that remained firm and unshaken in its support for Baekyeong—was, unexpectedly, Heukho High Division of the North.
Their conviction was absolute.
That the strongest in Mushincheon was not Jungcheon—but Baekyeong.

Everyone thought Heukho had lost its mind.
What basis could they possibly have for such confidence?
They assumed it was blind overcommitment from their emotional support for Baekyeong.

Jungcheon thought the same of Heukho’s behavior.
“They must be regretting not joining us. That’s why they’re pushing so hard to spread rumors favorable to Baekyeong.”
“The momentum has already shifted to our side. It wasn’t even a real contest to begin with.”

“But still—shouldn’t something be happening by now, considering how far we’ve gone? They’re way too quiet. Did they really go into hiding out of fear?”
“Still nothing of note from Baekyeong’s side.”
“Hmph. It’s not like those guys would be slacking off.”

“The men you sent have done their part. You should reward them later.”
“Keh keh keh. I’ll see to it.”
“Well, since there’s been no reaction from them… shall we begin?”

At Jang Son Cheon Gi’s words, Hyeok Ryeon Ho nodded.
“If they won’t move—we’ll force them to. Inform all the High Divisions under us. Tell them to strike Baekyeong.”
“Got it.”

“Let’s see how they respond.”
 
****

“Word came from Jungcheon.”
“They’re telling us to attack Baekyeong?”
“What do we do? Do we really go through with it?”

“Damn it. I can’t believe they’re making us strike Baekyeong.”
The High Divisions that had sided with Jungcheon fell into confusion.
None of them had expected to actually be ordered to attack Baekyeong.

Even if Baekyeong couldn’t match Jungcheon directly, it wasn’t something they could handle either.
Wasn’t it the strongest High Division in Mushincheon—aside from Jungcheon?
“What do we do? There’s no way we can take them with our strength.”

While no clear decisions could be made amidst the turmoil—
Representatives from Baekyeong began visiting each High Division.
Bang Woon visited the eastern Hwangyong High Division.

The students of Hwangyong immediately grew tense upon seeing him.
After all, they had personally experienced the power of Baekyeong’s students.
Now the First of Hwangyong, Pyeong Cheon, came out to # Nоvеlight # greet him.

Seeing him, Bang Woon let out a deep sigh and said,
“Hey, man. Why’d you make that choice?”
“Even if you’re strong, that’s only in comparison to regular High Divisions. The opponent here is Jungcheon. Anyone would’ve made the same decision. As you know, Mushincheon is a place where the strong are revered. We merely chose strength.”

“No. You’re wrong. The true strongest in Mushincheon is our Baekyeong High Division.”
“Bullshit! You’re scared of Jungcheon too—aren’t you hiding in fear, doing nothing?”
“Scared? Us?”

“So you’re saying you’re not?”
“Of course not. What’s there to fear about that damn Jungcheon?”
“Then why haven’t you responded to all the rumors being spread?”

“What for? Jungcheon’s going to kneel before Baekyeong anyway. It’s more annoying to go around explaining things rumor by rumor.”
“You bastards are insane. You speak as if you could defeat Jungcheon at any time.”
“We could. Any time. Even right now.”

“Then do it now!”
“Not right now. It’s new student training season. Laying the foundation is most important. Until the basics are fully settled—we’re not moving.”
“What kind of bullshit is that! You’re delaying just for new student training?”

“Just? When are we going to give them this kind of real combat experience again?”
At Bang Woon’s words, Pyeong Cheon stopped replying.
What was the point? Nothing he said would get through.

“So why are you here? To try and persuade us?”
“To give you a chance.”
“A chance?”

“Yeah. Honestly, I wanted to go around and flatten every High Division that turned their backs on us—but our First said to give them a chance.”
“You’re saying… we should switch sides again? Back to your side?”
“You catch on quick.”

“What kind of bullshit—”
“Think carefully… this is your last chance.”
Bang Woon’s energy shifted.

One wrong word and he looked ready to strike at any moment.
Sensing the danger, the Hwangyong students all dropped into combat readiness.
Pyeong Cheon looked into Bang Woon’s eyes.

If he refused to follow Baekyeong here…
That face said something would happen.
“I’ll say it one last time. Listen carefully and choose. Our Baekyeong… is stronger than Jungcheon.”

The words from Bang Woon’s mouth, now brimming with raw force, exuded overwhelming pressure.
Pyeong Cheon’s pupils trembled.
He looked back at the students of Hwangyong.

They nodded silently at him.
They were telling him to accept it.
Pyeong Cheon swallowed hard and gave a nod.

“V-Very well. I’ll follow your words. We… will side with Baekyeong again.”
At his decision, Bang Woon let out a groan of frustration.
“You were supposed to refuse!”

What the hell?
“That would’ve given me the justification to crush all of you! Aaaargh!”
KUWAAAAH—!

A massive surge of energy erupted from Bang Woon’s body, spiraling up like a vortex, sending a storm of Qi raging through the air.
The students gasped in horror at what they saw.
He was truly strong enough to take on all of Hwangyong alone.

Shudder…
Feeling the overwhelming power radiating from Bang Woon, the students collapsed to the ground, trembling.
This opponent was not someone on the same High Division level as them.

In a shaky voice, Pyeong Cheon asked,
“Y-You… that power…?”
Grinning faintly, Bang Woon replied,

“You’re lucky. I was ordered to break every arm and leg if you refused.”
Chill—
Seeing him lick his lips in disappointment, the students of Hwangyong felt goosebumps rise over their entire bodies.

Turning to leave, Bang Woon spoke:
“Stop fluttering back and forth like a damn bat. That was your last chance.”
With those words, he vanished without another glance.

Where Bang Woon had stood moments ago—his lingering pressure still remained.
“H-He’s impossibly strong…”
They couldn’t believe it.

How could someone grow that strong?
Did Baekyeong have some secret spiritual herb garden hidden in the back mountains?
Otherwise, it was simply unthinkable.

Pyeong Cheon looked around at the students and said,
“This… was not something I could handle.”
At his words, the students nodded.

They had seen it. Felt it for themselves.
“…I really think Baekyeong could stand against Jungcheon.”
“You’re right. And that guy isn’t even Baekyeong’s First.”

Now that they thought about it, it was true.
Bang Woon wasn’t Baekyeong’s First.
And if someone who wasn’t the First had that kind of power…

Maybe… maybe Baekyeong really is stronger than Jungcheon.
It was a hope—born from Bang Woon’s final words.
And Pyeong Cheon, along with the students of Hwangyong, decided to cling to it.

 
****
Every High Division visited by Baekyeong withdrew their allegiance to Jungcheon as if it were all a lie—and returned to Baekyeong’s side.

Those who didn’t renounce their support and stayed loyal to Jungcheon… had their students so brutally injured that they required half a year of recovery.
Even after hearing that the High Divisions who had once sided with him were defecting—and that the loyal students had suffered grievous wounds—Hyeok Ryeon Ho laughed with joy.
“Kuhahaha! The bastards finally took the bait!”

Jang Son Cheon Gi laughed along.
“Now we’ve got our justification.”
“That’s right! Keh keh keh keh. Now we can march on Baekyeong openly—and no one can say a damn thing. They attacked a High Division under our protection, so of course, we must avenge them!”

“Exactly. Attacking a High Division protected by Jungcheon is a direct challenge to us.”
“And those traitors who pledged loyalty and then turned again—we’ll deal with them, too.”
“Of course. We have to—so no one ever dares defy us again.”

Leaping to his feet, Hyeok Ryeon Ho shouted with joy,
“The justification we waited for has arrived! Gather the men! We’re going to Baekyeong!”