The Heavenly Demon Wants a Quiet Life - Chapter 60
Chapter 60: The Higher the Mountain, the More Daunting Part 2
“Ughhhhh!”
Cheon Kyungwan let out a groan that was nearly a scream as he forced himself to take another step.
It felt as though his entire body was being torn apart.
However, the moment he succeeded in taking that step, the pain vanished as if it had been a lie.
Cheon Kyungwan did not relax simply because the pain disappeared. If he didn’t move quickly, a second wave of pain would crash over him.
Even while walking, he felt pain, but it was nothing compared to the agony he endured when he stood still—a faint massage in comparison.
Thus, he had no choice but to force himself to take another step.
“Ugggghhh!”
Cheon Kyungwan’s face contorted in agony as he moved forward.
Beside him, Yoo Seoyeon was walking with the same tormented expression.
Deep regret was etched across both their faces.
If they had known it would be like this, they would never have agreed to learn the technique.
The movement technique Byeok Taesan had taught them was Limitless Steps.
When they first heard the name, they had been excited, expecting it to be an extraordinary technique. With such a grandiose name, how could it not be remarkable?
Even after hearing the incantation, their anticipation remained high. It was intricate and profoundly complex.
Once they memorized the formula in its entirety, their expectations soared even further.
Reciting the incantation alone seemed to wrap their bodies in a mystical energy.
However, when they began walking according to Byeok Taesan’s guidance, following the formula’s instructions, they started to feel puzzled.
Their bodies felt inexplicably heavy with every step, as though they were wading through water.
The technique itself wasn’t particularly complicated. The essence lay in the method, which detailed the flow of internal energy.
Byeok Taesan had patiently explained the incantation, clarifying the pathways through which their energy should flow.
He then demonstrated the precise steps they needed to take in accordance with those pathways.
After completing the first round of the technique, Byeok Taesan gave them a meaningful smile.
They should have realized something was amiss then.
But Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon went on to repeat the technique two more times.
That was when the torment began.
The Limitless Steps imposed an unbearable load on their bodies, pushing them to their absolute limits.
When Byeok Taesan explained the meaning behind the technique’s name, they had nearly lost it.
They had felt like grabbing him by the collar and shaking him, at the very least.
But that moment of fury had passed quickly.
The relentless pain that followed rendered them incapable of coherent thought.
The Limitless Steps was an extraordinary movement technique.
All it required was walking, yet the body grew unbearably heavy, and the pain was excruciating.
Stopping, however, brought on an even more severe agony, as if the technique was threatening them: “Keep walking, or you’ll die.”
And so, they had no choice but to push through, tears of frustration welling up in their eyes.
“Don’t stop. If you do, your body might burst.”
How could they possibly stop after hearing that?
“This is all for your benefit. Once you get used to the Limitless Steps, your internal energy will circulate naturally, and your muscles and bones will become both strong and flexible. If you practice long enough, you’ll even gain resistance to poison. Truly, it is a boundless technique.”
Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon cursed him silently with every insult they knew.
It all sounded great, but how long would they have to endure this?
While the two gritted their teeth and wrestled with the pain, someone quietly entered the training hall.
Byeok Taesan turned his head to look at the newcomer.
The man wore the uniform of the Hubei Martial Alliance, but something about him seemed off.
Byeok Taesan’s expression turned curious.
“What is it?”
The man bowed respectfully to Byeok Taesan.
“The Divine Healer and the Needle Master have requested your presence, Young Master.”
Byeok Taesan smirked.
“They asked for me?”
“Yes, they said there’s an urgent matter to discuss.”
Byeok Taesan asked, “Where are they now?”
“I’ll escort you there.”
“Escorting me is fine, but where are they exactly?”
“They’re at a small inn near the riverside, not far from the dock.”
“An inn? Not tending to patients, but staying at an inn?”
“Yes. It’s an unnamed, very modest inn. They insisted on urgency and requested you come immediately. I can guide you directly.”
Byeok Taesan nodded and glanced at Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon.
The two were too focused on enduring the pain to care about the conversation, their teeth clenched as they continued walking.
“Should we pause the training and go together?”
At his words, the two nodded frantically, their eyes pleading desperately.
Byeok Taesan grinned mischievously.
“That’s enough.”
As if by magic, the pain that had been gripping their bodies vanished in an instant.
Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon stared at Byeok Taesan in a daze.
Their astonishment turned to shock as Byeok Taesan suddenly grabbed the Hubei Martial Alliance soldier by the throat.
“Urgh! W-Why are you doing this?”
“Did you think I’d believe such nonsense?”
“I swear, it’s true! Ugh!”
Byeok Taesan hurled the man backward.
Crash!
The man landed between Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon with a thud.
“Restrain him.”
At Byeok Taesan’s command, Cheon Kyungwan moved instinctively, sealing the man’s pressure points.
Yoo Seoyeon quickly ran off to retrieve a thick rope, tying the man up securely.
“Young Master, what’s going on? He’s from the Hubei Martial Alliance. Are we sure this is okay?”
“He said the Divine Healer and Needle Master ordering me.”
Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon both nodded knowingly.
“That’s absurd. Highly suspicious.”
“Go inform the Alliance Leader or someone with authority. Let them know there’s something suspicious at the inn by the riverside, near the dock. Bring this guy along.”
“Is it a trap?”
“Who knows? That’s for the Hubei Martial Alliance to figure out. But I’m sure they’ve prepared something.”
Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon exchanged uneasy glances.
It seemed they had little to do themselves, which meant they might be forced back into that hellish training.
A shiver ran down their spines at the thought.
“And find out the Divine Healer and Needle Master’s schedule for today.”
“What?”
“Move quickly!”
At Byeok Taesan’s sharp command, the two bolted into action.
Cheon Kyungwan lifted the bound man onto his shoulder and sprinted away, with Yoo Seoyeon following close behind.
They returned in less than half an hour, panting heavily.
•••
“I have a hidden move. I’ll use it, so take that chance to escape.”
The Needle Master’s expression twisted. He flung two needles, knocking down two black-masked figures.
“You’re telling me to run away alone?”
“Let’s bet on the higher possibility. Go find the Young Master. If he arrives, it feels like we can manage somehow, doesn’t it?”
“No matter how skilled the Young Master is, how could he face this many enemies? It’s better to wait for the Hubei Martial Alliance warriors.”
“Considering they haven’t shown up yet, something must have happened on their end. The fact that these bastards are acting so confidently means they’ve taken all the necessary measures.”
“Damn it. Anyway, I’m not going. No, I can’t. I can throw needles, but my lightness skill is lacking.”
“Ha, you’re being stubborn at a time like this? The living should live. Besides, those guys aren’t trying to kill us but to capture us. So go quickly and bring the Young Master.”
“Hey, do I look like an idiot to you? I’m not going. And do you think you’re the only one with a hidden move? I’ve got one too. Watch closely.”
The Needle Master pulled out a needle from his robe. Unlike the ones he had thrown earlier, this one was exceptionally long and thick.
“That… looks more like a stake than a needle….”
“It’s a needle.”
The Needle Master stood at a distance and glared at one of the black-masked figures with piercing eyes.
It was the first one to step forward.
“If I can’t deal with the others, I’m at least taking that one with me.”
“Where do you think you’re going? Don’t jinx it with talk like that. Just throw it already if you’re going to. I’ll use my prepared move soon as well.”
The Needle Master nodded and activated his Needle Technique.
Whoosh!
A whirlwind of intense qi spiraled around them, converging onto the stake—or rather, the needle—in his hand.
With all the gathered energy, he hurled the needle with force.
Boom!
The giant needle flew, absorbing all the surrounding air in its wake.
The black-masked figure, startled by the precise and swift trajectory of the needle, swung his sword in defense.
Crash!
The needle collided with the sword, creating a massive explosion.
From the stake, countless tiny needles shot out in every direction along with the blast.
Pop-pop-pop-pop!
It was an indiscriminate attack, one that needed to be used where enemies were gathered.
And it was devastatingly effective.
The black-masked figure who blocked the stake was pierced by countless needles, spitting blood as he collapsed to his knees.
Those around him fell like puppets with their strings cut.
“How’s that? Impressive, right?”
The Needle Master’s shoulders rose with pride. The Heavenly Divine Healer gave a reluctant thumbs-up before quickly lowering it again.
“Can’t even be honest.”
The Needle Master chuckled but didn’t look particularly happy.
He had expended too much energy with that attack. He wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer.
And despite his effort, there were still far too many enemies remaining.
“You said you had something up your sleeve too. Why haven’t you used it yet? This is the perfect time to buy us more time.”
“I was just about to. Stop nagging me like a child.”
“What? Child? Do you really want to fight right now?”
Even while yelling at the Heavenly Divine Healer, the Needle Master hurled needles, taking down two more black-masked figures.
Yet the enemies kept coming, with dozens more climbing over the walls.
“Goddammit, it just keeps getting worse.”
The Needle Master muttered with a grim expression.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Divine Healer tossed a fist-sized black orb toward the advancing enemies.
Bang!
The orb exploded, releasing a dense black smoke that quickly spread.
The black-masked figures who inhaled the smoke hesitated momentarily before their bodies began to swell.
“Good, it worked. I was worried it wouldn’t.”
Hearing the Heavenly Divine Healer’s muttering, the Needle Master turned to him with an incredulous look.
Then, one by one, the swollen black-masked figures began to burst.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
As they exploded, flesh and bone swept across the surroundings.
But that was all. There were still plenty of enemies left, and the warriors of the Hubei Martial Alliance were beginning to fall one by one.
The Heavenly Divine Healer dragged a fallen warrior back inside and began treating him.
This was the only way to hold out for now.
But the situation was dire. They could no longer hold back the enemy.
“Ha, if only Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon were here, we might stand a chance.”
The Heavenly Divine Healer muttered to himself.
The Needle Master, nodding in agreement, suddenly widened his eyes.
“What the hell is that?”
The black-masked figure who had been spitting blood from the Needle Master’s attack was slowly rising.
But now, an intense and ferocious aura was surging from his body.
“Looks like he’s unleashed his latent power.”
“Yeah. A fool who doesn’t value his own life clearly won’t value ours either. Tch.”
Though the Needle Master clicked his tongue in disdain, his expression was grim.
As if the situation wasn’t bad enough, with that man recklessly attacking after unleashing his latent power, things were about to get far worse.
No, this might be the end.
Just as the man was about to lunge, two figures dropped from the sky. Not one, but two.
Clang-clang-clang!
The moment they landed, their swords swung in a storm, creating an overwhelming aura.
Seeing the two, the eyes of the Heavenly Divine Healer and the Needle Master lit up.
“Finally!”
The newcomers were Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon.
The Heavenly Divine Healer and the Needle Master quickly scanned their surroundings.
Sure enough, the black-masked figures near the door began collapsing one by one, and Byeok Taesan strode through the now-open doors.
“You’re all dead now.”
The Needle Master smirked and muttered.