The Martial God with Psychic Powers

As Yoo Ji Gwang watched the blade being wielded faster than a sword, he couldn't help but click his tongue.

"Wow! The more I see it, the more amazing it gets. How is that kind of movement even possible?"
Despite his chatter, his attacks didn't cease.
Clang—Clang-Clang—

Yoo Ji Gwang's fan and Go Seung's blade clashed repeatedly. Despite the size difference, the fan did not yield at all. Instead, it was Go Seung's blade that shuddered with every impact.
It was a clear display of the difference in their internal energy.
Yoo Ji Gwang smirked and spoke.

"Your technique and movements are impressive, but your internal energy is lacking. What a shame, truly."
Thunk—
"Urgh!"

In the end, Go Seung was pushed back, staggering from the force.
Just as Go Seung tried to catch his breath and refocus, a voice called out.
"Ubaek! What's wrong?"

A sudden, urgent voice.
When Go Seung turned his head, he saw Sunwoo Baek, his body turning an eerie shade of blue, panting heavily.
It was a sign of poisoning.

In that instant, Go Seung recalled the peanuts that Yoo Ji Gwang had given earlier.
"Did you give him poisoned peanuts?"
Go Seung asked, his gaze piercingly cold. Yoo Ji Gwang responded with a smile.

"I was just giving a life lesson. You shouldn't recklessly accept food from strangers."
"Give me the antidote."
"For free? I'll hand it over if you come to Cheongseok."
As Yoo Ji Gwang smiled, Go Seung's expression hardened.

"Don't do something you'll regret. Hand it over."
"Regret? Hahaha! You make it sound like I'm the one cornered."
"I'm serious. If you don't give me the antidote, you'll regret it."

Yoo Ji Gwang's expression turned icily serious at Go Seung's persistent warnings.
"If you think you can take it, go ahead and try."
But Go Seung knew his own strength wasn't enough to take it by force.

Even if he somehow managed to win, the outcome wasn't guaranteed.
But he couldn't just leave Sunwoo Baek to suffer.
At that moment, Jang Woon suddenly picked up Sunwoo Baek and prepared to dash away.

He needed to get to Yeon Woo Jin.
If it was Woo Jin, he would be able to cure Sunwoo Baek's poisoning.
"Stop him!"

At Yoo Ji Gwang's shout, the Cheongseok students quickly moved to block Jang Woon's path.
"Move! Lightning Hundred-Strike Kick!"
Jang Woon unleashed his Lightning Divine Art to disperse the Cheongseok students blocking his way.

"What the—?"
"Dodge!"
Pa-pa-pa-pat—

In an instant, the area was filled with Jang Woon's fierce attacks, causing the Cheongseok students to retreat in confusion.
Taking advantage of the opening, Jang Woon utilized the Lightning Divine Step to quickly escape.
Yoo Ji Gwang, who witnessed the scene, was visibly shocked.

"What the hell? That movement wasn't something a low-ranking student could pull off."
"Isn't that guy supposed to be the top student of Baekyeong's lower ranks?"
Yoo Ji Gwang looked at Go Seung, clearly expecting an explanation.

"The one he carried off is indeed the top student."
"Then who was that just now?"
"Second in rank among the lower students."

If someone ranked second moved like that, then the top student...
"This place is a lot more terrifying than I thought."
Now it made sense why the Southern Region was under their control.

"What should we do? That guy managed to escape, so the Baekyeong kids will soon come rushing in."
Yoo Ji Gwang glanced at Go Seung.
"I came here lightly, just planning to educate this guy... But things have gotten more complicated."

Who would have thought the guy accompanying Sunwoo Baek was that strong?
If he had known, he would have given that guy the poisoned peanuts as well.
He hadn’t offered them out of gratitude for being recognized.

Heh—
Well, things had already gone awry.
Yoo Ji Gwang addressed his followers.

"Just in case, get ready."
Then he looked at Go Seung.
"Even though the flow got interrupted... I should finish what I started, right?"

Go Seung shook his head.
"Just leave. I'll explain the situation to our people."
At those words, Yoo Ji Gwang gave a cold smile.

"What's with that tone, as if you're sparing me? Are you claiming this territory as yours?"
"No. I'm saying this for your sake, so you can leave safely. It's not too late yet."
"And if I refuse to leave?"

"You'll regret it."
"Then let's see if I do."
"Don't blame me later. I gave you a fair warning."

Yoo Ji Gwang's smile grew colder.
"Save your breath. Worry about yourself first. Right now, you're the one who should be most concerned."
 

****
"Woo Jin!"
Jang Woon's urgent voice rang out as he rushed in, almost in tears.

Sensing that something was off, Yeon Woo Jin immediately moved toward him.
In the blink of an eye, Woo Jin was standing in front of Jang Woon, where he saw Sunwoo Baek breathing heavily, clearly in pain.
"He's poisoned?"

"Please, save Ubaek!"
"Lay him on the ground. Let me check."
"Right!"

Carefully, Jang Woon set Sunwoo Baek down, and Woo Jin inspected him.
Jang Woon anxiously watched as Woo Jin placed his hand on Sunwoo Baek's body. Gradually, Sunwoo Baek's complexion improved, while Woo Jin's arm turned blue.
Anyone could tell that Woo Jin was absorbing the poison.

Soon, Sunwoo Baek's face regained its color, though he remained unconscious, likely from the pain.
"He's fine now. Just let him sleep, and he'll recover."
"The poison...?"

"I absorbed it."
"You did? Aren't you going to get poisoned too?"
"I'm immune to poisons. No need # Nоvеlight # to worry."

Immune to poisons?
Was it possible that he had the "Immunity to All Poisons" ability?
Though shocked, Jang Woon knew that if Yeon Woo Jin said it, it must be true.

No, considering it was Yeon Woo Jin, of course, he'd be immune.
"But how did he get poisoned? Did he pick up something he shouldn't have eaten?"
When Woo Jin asked, Jang Woon explained what had happened.

"What? He ate peanuts given by a stranger?"
"Yeah."
Woo Jin massaged his forehead in exasperation.

So careless.
Then he remembered Go Seung fighting the Cheongseok top student.
"What about Senior Go Seung?"

"Oh no!"
"Where is he?"
"I'll show you..."

"No time! Just tell me the location!"
When Jang Woon quickly gave the location, Woo Jin immediately dashed toward it, disappearing in an instant.
Jang Woon also hurriedly chased after him.

 
****
When Yeon Woo Jin arrived at the sparring ground, the first thing he saw was Go Seung lying motionless on the ground.

He quickly rushed over and examined him.
Thankfully, he was still breathing.
Yeon Woo Jin let out a sigh of relief and checked his body.

His arms and legs were severely shattered.
The injuries were severe enough that he would need at least two years of recovery.
Moreover, Go Seung’s blade was nowhere to be seen.

“They must’ve taken it.”
So, this wasn’t just a beating.
It was a clear provocation.

A taunt.
Heh—
Yeon Woo Jin chuckled.

Perfect.
He’d been wondering how to test the kids’ training progress anyway.
Yeon Woo Jin placed his hand over Go Seung’s arm.

A radiant light enveloped Go Seung’s arm, spreading rapidly across his entire body.
In an instant, the arm that had been mangled beyond recognition was restored to its original state.
He did the same with the legs, then roused Go Seung.

When Go Seung opened his eyes and saw Yeon Woo Jin, he exhaled in relief.
“You’re here.”
“You got your ass handed to you, huh?” Yeon Woo Jin asked playfully.

Go Seung let out a boisterous laugh.
“Yeah, I got my ass handed to me.”
“What about the opponent?”

“Who do you think I am? Of course, I made sure to leave a good parting gift. That’s why I ended up like this... Huh?”
Go Seung blinked.
His arms and legs were fine.

He was sure he’d passed out from the pain of having them shattered.
“Did you... heal me, my lord?”
“Yep. Made you stronger than before, so you should be grateful.”

“Thank you, my lord.”
When they were alone, Go Seung referred to Yeon Woo Jin as his lord.
Go Seung glanced around, searching for something.

“They took the blade, right?”
“Looks like it.”
“For now, let’s head to Baekyak Temple.”

“Yes, my lord.”
 
****

Sunwoo Baek slowly opened his eyes.
In front of him, Yeon Woo Jin was staring at him with a disappointed expression. Beside him, Jang Woon was shaking his head in disapproval.
Sunwoo Baek quickly grasped the situation.

“You’re awake?”
“Mhm.”
“Good job. Taking something given by a stranger — and an enemy at that.”

“He didn’t seem like a bad person.”
“Right. Because bad guys walk around with ‘I’m a bad guy’ written on their foreheads.”
Sunwoo Baek shut his mouth.

He had nothing to say.
“Oh! What about Senior Go Seung? What happened to him?”
“He lost.”

“He lost...”
“They shattered his arms and legs. He won’t be moving for at least a year.”
“And me?”

“The poison you took isn’t lethal, but it damages the dantian. You wouldn’t have been able to use your internal energy for at least two to three years. They didn’t use a lethal poison.”
Martial academy students were forbidden to kill.
That was one of the laws of Mushincheon.

“But still, you got done in. After all that training I put you through... What a waste.”
“I’m sorry...”
“Fine. I’ll let the poison slide. That’s something that can happen. Good. I’ll train you to develop a resistance to poisons.”

“Huh?”
What did he just say?
Resistance to poisons?

To develop that, he’d have to actually be poisoned...
“And your training is still lacking. I got too complacent. I underestimated the other regions.”
“N-No, Woo Jin, you were never complacent.”

“No, I was. From now on, I’m going to train you properly.”
What did that mean?
What the hell had they been doing up until now?

One thing was clear.
The road ahead was going to be hell.
With grim expressions, both Sunwoo Baek and Jang Woon let out deep sighs.

Then they looked up and asked.
“So, what are we going to do about this? Are we going straight to Cheongseok?”
“No. If we go now, we won’t stand a chance against them. What’s the point?”

“So, you’re just going to let it slide?”
At those words, Yeon Woo Jin’s eyes glimmered with a cold, gray light.
“Let it slide? Do I look like the kind of person to do that?”

“T-Then what are you going to do?”
“In the shortest time possible, we’re going to get stronger.”
“How?”

Yeon Woo Jin didn’t answer. He just raised one corner of his mouth in a sinister smile.
That expression alone sent a chill down both Jang Woon and Sunwoo Baek’s spines.
 

****
That evening, at Baekyak Temple.
All the students gathered there had already heard about what had happened earlier.

Gwak Pyeong, in particular, was seething with rage.
But in front of Yeon Woo Jin, he held it in with superhuman restraint.
Yeon Woo Jin climbed onto the platform and looked over the group.

All of them had their mouths shut tight, staring up at him.
“You’ve all heard about what happened today.”
Everyone nodded.

“For a while now, I’ve been too complacent. I think I went a bit too easy on you during training.”
What was he talking about?
None of them felt that way.

“So from now on, I won’t be going easy on you anymore.”
Everyone’s faces grew stiff.
They had already been through hell, and now he was saying he had been going easy on them?

Jang Woon spoke up on behalf of the group.
“Going easy? If what we’ve been doing so far was taking it easy... What the hell is training going to look like when you get serious?”
“First, I’m going to put everyone here through the Heavenly Muscle Reformation Array.”

Everyone’s pupils shook.
Just the Muscle Reformation Array alone was enough to nearly kill them.
But the Heavenly Muscle Reformation Array was a step above that.

Most of the people present had already experienced the Muscle Reformation Array.
And they had witnessed with their own eyes what the Heavenly Muscle Reformation Array did to those who endured it.
The horrifying scene.

They had squeezed their eyes shut and plugged their ears, barely managing to endure it. They had been grateful that they weren’t the ones suffering through it.
But now, there was no escaping it.
The ones who had already survived the Heavenly Muscle Reformation Array smirked.

It wasn’t their problem now.
In fact, they were smiling as if to say, “Now it’s your turn to go through that hell.”
But their smiles didn’t last long.

“I’ve also prepared a special training ground just for you.”
“Huh? A special training ground for us?”
Something felt ominous.

“I call it the Illusionary Chaos Array.”
From the name alone, they could tell it was a formation. But to call it ‘Illusionary Chaos’...
“They say people get stronger when they experience death.”

“Huh?”
“If you experience death every single day, over and over again, won’t you eventually become indifferent to it? That’s why I created it.”