The Martial God with Psychic Powers
Chapter 131

Ho Cheon stared at Yeon Woo Jin.

“Where is the person who treated me?”

“Right here.”

When Yeon Woo Jin pointed to himself, Ho Cheon let out a disbelieving snort.

“Right. Thanks for bringing me here. I won’t forget this favor. Now go call the one who healed me—I want to give them my thanks.”

Despite the request, Yeon Woo Jin simply pointed to himself again.

“That’s me. I’m the one who treated you.”

“...What? That’s nonsense! I was on the verge of falling into Qi Deviation! Stabilizing that to this extent would be impossible for anyone but a top-class physician!”

“I’m not a physician, but I am the one who calmed your rampaging qi and pulled you back from Qi Deviation.”

Was he serious?

Ho Cheon scrutinized him carefully.

That confident posture.

He didn’t seem to be lying.

Could this boy be a prodigy with an extraordinary gift for medical arts?

He looked around.

There wasn’t another soul in sight.

Only he and Yeon Woo Jin were here.

“...Looks like you’re telling the truth.”

“Took you long enough,” Yeon Woo Jin said with a bright smile.

Ho Cheon looked at that smile—and chuckled.

“What is it?” Yeon Woo Jin asked.

“Just... Your smile is oddly comforting. I think this is the first time I’ve ever felt at ease just seeing someone smile.”

“Really? That’s a first for me too. Wait—you’re not into men, are you?”

“What the hell! I like women!”

“Good. For a second there, I thought you were falling for me.”

“What are you talking about! You think I’d fall for a guy!?”

“Well, your tone kind of sounded like a confession. You said my smile calmed your heart.”

“That’s not what I meant!”

Ho Cheon shouted in protest.

Then stopped.

This was the first time he’d ever spoken so casually with someone he’d just met.

And yet, it felt natural. Like talking to an old friend.

He truly felt comfortable.

“You sound full of energy now. Looks like you’re good to go,” Yeon Woo Jin said with a grin as he stood up.

Ho Cheon asked,

“The battle’s over, right?”

“Probably. Should be all wrapped up by now.”

At Yeon Woo Jin’s reply, Ho Cheon lowered his head for a moment.

Then slowly got to his feet.

“Where are you going?” Yeon Woo Jin asked.

“I should go. If the fight’s over... they’ll be looking for me—the top student of Heukho High Division.”

“No need. They already know you’re here. They’re on their way.”

“Here?”

“Yep. Ah—speak of the devil. Here they come.”

Following Yeon Woo Jin’s words, Ho Cheon turned his head and saw familiar faces.

Yuk Gwang, and the top mid-level and junior students of Heukho, were approaching with their heads lowered.

And alongside them were the students of Baekyeong.

At the front of the group, he saw Sunwoo Baek.

Ho Cheon sighed and walked toward them.

Then he bowed to the Heukho students.

“...I’m sorry. My arrogance...”

At his apology, Yuk Gwang gave a lopsided smile.

“Seeing you apologize... I’ve lived long enough to see it all.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Forget it. Don’t look so defeated over one lousy loss. No matter what anyone says, you’re still the top of Heukho.”

“That’s right! You’ll always be the strongest in the North to us, senior!”

Even the underclassmen comforted him, bringing a bitter smile to Ho Cheon’s face.

Then he noticed Yang Gang walking slowly from behind.

Ho Cheon offered him congratulations.

“Congratulations. You’ve become the first to unify the High Divisions of Mushincheon.”

At that, Yang Gang smiled.

“Why are you telling me? You should be saying that to Baekyeong’s top student.”

“Oh? Because the one who beat me was Baekyeong’s top student?”

“No. Because the one who unified Mushincheon wasn’t me—it was Baekyeong’s top student.”

“What? What do you mean? I thought you took over the South.”

“It’s the opposite. The South took us.”

“...What!?”

Ho Cheon shouted in shock.

And he wasn’t the only one.

The Heukho students behind him looked equally stunned.

“We just followed the South’s command when we fought you.”

“Th-that’s ridiculous...”

Ho Cheon turned his gaze to Sunwoo Baek.

Sure, he was strong—but Ho Cheon had only lost because he’d underestimated him.

If he’d fought with full strength, he could’ve won.

It felt unjust.

No—it just meant he needed to challenge him again.

If he could defeat Baekyeong’s top student, he’d earn the title of strongest in the High Divisions.

In a way, it was perfect.

That could bring him even greater renown.

Ho Cheon fixed a piercing glare on Sunwoo Baek.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Sunwoo Baek asked.

Ho Cheon replied,

“I want to remember the face of the rival I’ve come to acknowledge.”

“...To be acknowledged as your rival—that’s an honor.”

“If I challenge you again, will you accept?”

“Anytime.”

“Confident, are you? So you think you’re the strongest in all the High Divisions now?”

“No, I don’t.”

“...What?”

“I’m saying—I’m not the strongest in Mushincheon High Division.”

“Then who is?”

Sunwoo Baek’s eyes turned toward someone else.

Following his gaze, Ho Cheon saw the boy who had healed him: Yeon Woo Jin.

Why was he looking at him?

...No way.

With a stunned expression, Ho Cheon stared at Yeon Woo Jin—who began walking forward with a smile.

Every student he passed dropped to their knees in reverence.

As if greeting a sovereign lord.

Even Sunwoo Baek—the one who had defeated Ho Cheon—bowed deeply.

Ho Cheon and the Heukho students were floored.

As if that weren’t enough—

“...Wh-what?”

Even the students of Hwangyong High Division were kneeling.

Including Yang Gang himself.

Was this all some kind of coordinated prank?

But their expressions were too solemn for that.

Yeon Woo Jin stood before him with his hands behind his back and said,

“Shall I give you a chance?”

Ho Cheon tilted his head.

“A... a chance?”

Even his tone had changed without him realizing it.

“A chance to become the strongest across all of Mushincheon.”

“You mean, by defeating you?”

“That’s right. If you’ve still got regrets, better to settle it now than carry them later.”

Ho Cheon considered it.

He couldn’t gauge Yeon Woo Jin’s cultivation level.

But... he didn’t think the gap was impossible to bridge.

What if I use the Qi-Burst Pill (Gibokdan)?

The Qi-Burst Pill consumed one’s innate true qi—essentially, their lifespan—to temporarily boost cultivation.

It was only meant for the most desperate of emergencies.

And now, Ho Cheon was considering using it.

He hesitated.

At the very least, he’d be stronger than those others...

He had to be at least Extreme Apex, Seventh Star.

And with the Qi-Burst Pill, he could push himself—maybe even reach Eighth Star.

If he could raise his level that far, then the match was worth it.

This was as good as staking his life on a single battle.

With a resolute expression, Ho Cheon looked at Yeon Woo Jin.

“I accept.”

At those words, Yeon Woo Jin smiled.

“Good. It’s better to leave no regrets, right?”

“Indeed.”

“Then shall we begin right now, or would you like some time?”

“Hoo... allow me a moment to steady myself.”

“Sure.”

Ho Cheon turned and walked back to the students of Heukho High Division.

He then pulled a small pill from his sleeve—the Qi-Burst Pill—and swallowed it in one motion, before sitting down cross-legged to begin circulating his energy.

The Heukho students immediately surrounded him to stand guard.

It wasn’t like anyone would try to attack him... but still.

A few moments later—

Ho Cheon opened his eyes and rose to his feet slowly.

Then turned again to face Yeon Woo Jin.

Yeon Woo Jin felt it right away—his energy had changed.

“Looks like you took some kind of elixir.”

At Yeon Woo Jin’s comment, Ho Cheon flinched and mumbled awkwardly,

“Just a family elixir to help stabilize my condition.”

Yeon Woo Jin chuckled.

“I didn’t say anything. If there’s anything you need to do to make sure you don’t regret this—go right ahead.”

“...I’m ready now.”

Chwang—.

Ho Cheon drew his sword and leveled it at Yeon Woo Jin, taking his stance.

“If I truly defeat you, you’ll recognize this as a victory for Heukho High Division?”

“A man’s word is worth a thousand gold.”

“Very well! Then I won’t hold back. I’ll use every method at my disposal. Don’t call it cowardice later!”

“Go ahead. Do everything you can.”

There was something about Yeon Woo Jin’s calm tone that prickled Ho Cheon’s pride.

Wasn’t he being treated like a child?

At most, they were probably only a step or two apart in cultivation.

And now, with the Qi-Burst Pill active, he’d bridged even that gap.

Wmmm—.

Ho Cheon’s sword began to hum, trembling with energy.

At the same moment, the blade lashed forward in a straight line.

Jjeeeang—!

The attack came in an instant.

Papap—!

But Yeon Woo Jin dodged it lightly.

So the first strike was just a probe.

In a flash, Ho Cheon closed the distance. His blade swung in a wide arc, aiming to split Yeon Woo Jin down the middle.

“Single Slash Dragon Severance! ”

Sssaang—!

His sword tore through the air.

Even though it was a bladeless sword, it radiated the sharpness of a true killing weapon.

But again—Yeon Woo Jin slipped past it with ease.

“Thousand Transformations Strong Dragon!”

In that instant, Ho Cheon changed the trajectory of his strike.

The sword twisted in midair and chased after Yeon Woo Jin like a serpent pursuing its prey.

Paparararak—!

The sword rippled wildly, its motion chaotic yet focused.

It split into multiple phantom blades, spiraling in from all directions to trap Yeon Woo Jin.

There was no room to escape.

Ho Cheon’s face lit with triumphant confidence—

CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG—!

Suddenly, something blocked his sword.

Ho Cheon’s eyes snapped toward Yeon Woo Jin’s hand.

...There was no sword.

Then what the hell just stopped his blade?

His gaze dropped to the swords.

The thing that had blocked his strike—

“A... sword?”

It was a sword.

But it wasn’t just one sword.

And it wasn’t being held by anyone.

Multiple swords hovered freely in the air, intercepting his own blade.

Was he summoning spirits?

What kind of sorcery was this?

Was he using some invisible steel thread to manipulate the swords?

Ho Cheon sharpened his vision and carefully examined the space around the blades.

No threads.

Nothing.

He retrieved his sword.

And then—

The swords that had blocked his strike floated slowly back to Yeon Woo Jin’s side, drifting like fish in still water.

They hovered there in the air, pointed directly at him.

Ho Cheon’s thoughts froze.

He stood dumbfounded, staring at the sight.

It didn’t even feel real.

He had never seen swords float like that with his own eyes—but he had heard of it.

“Sword Control Through Qi”.

A legendary technique said to be barely possible only upon reaching the Transcendent Mastery Realm (Hwagyeong).

And Yeon Woo Jin wasn’t wielding one sword.

There were multiple blades, all floating, all poised to strike at any moment.

“S-swords... they’re floating...”

Someone murmured with a trembling voice, snapping Ho Cheon out of his trance.

Even with his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it.

But if this truly was Sword Control Through Qi—

He couldn’t win.

Even if he swallowed an entire handful of Qi-Burst Pills and burned through every last drop of his innate true qi, he wouldn’t be able to win.

“Not coming?” came Yeon Woo Jin’s voice.

Flinch—

Ho Cheon jolted in surprise.

“Y-yes?”

“You’re supposed to attack.”

Attack?

Against someone using Sword Control Through Qi?

Against a man controlling multiple swords without touching them?

Even if it wasn’t true Sword Control Through Qi, he couldn’t win.

Even projecting energy through the air at that level required a realm far above his own.

He wasn’t insane.

He wasn’t suicidal.

He was a perfectly ordinary person who wanted to live a long life, get married, have children someday.

This fight—wasn’t one he could win.

“W-well... I... I surrender.”

“No regrets?” Yeon Woo Jin asked calmly.

None.

Absolutely none.

To even survive against someone wielding Sword Control Through Qi was a blessing.

“N-no. No regrets. Really.”

Now he understood.

Why the South was so powerful.

Why the students of Baekyeong High Division were so overwhelming.

Why the West and East had bowed their heads.

Everything made sense now.

“Good. I’m glad there are ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) no regrets.”

Shrrrring—

The swords that had hovered in midair sheathed themselves in unison.

Then Yeon Woo Jin spoke again.

“Now then, let’s get things sorted out. Students of Heukho High Division, would you mind coming with me for a little talk?”

The Heukho students stiffened in panic.

But what choice did they have?

Saying no here... wasn’t really an option.

To the group of visibly tense students, Yeon Woo Jin said with a smile,

“Don’t worry. I won’t eat you. I’ll make sure you all get home safely. So, will you come along?”

“Y-yes, understood.”

Ho Cheon took the lead, walking ahead.

The rest of the Heukho students followed behind, their faces drained and their spirits utterly crushed.