𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑𝟐
Elder Cheong Ji-woon is one of the youngest exorcists among the Cheong family elders, along with Cheong So-ha.
Of course, Cheong So-ha was considered to be more skilled, but that didn’t mean that Cheong Ji-woon’s skills were lacking.
Cheong Ji-woon was clearly one of the most talented of this generation, and had he not had Cheong So-ha, he would probably have been even more famous than he is now.
Such Cheong Ji-woon looked at the large man standing firmly in front of him and let out a chuckle.
“Indeed, Cheong Un-cheol. You are certainly too skilled to be under someone.”
“. . . Hmph, you insolent brat.”
Although he didn’t show it on the outside, Cheong Un-cheol’s breathing was definitely more ragged than when they first met. Cheong Ji-woon, who had caught on to this, flicked his curly hair and spoke casually.
“I think I’ve won, so is there any need to push yourself?”
“You speak well for a young man. This body is still in its prime.”
“You’re stubborn.”
Cheong Ji-woon, who had brought many strong men to their knees, could tell. Cheong Un-cheol and Cheong Ji-yeon in front of him could not be his opponents.
The difference in their strength alone might not be so great, but with such an old-fashioned fighting style, they would never be able to reach him.
“Do you know? Your movements are so obvious that they’re not even fun. I’d rather have that weak woman over there. Is it because of your age?”
“. . . . . . .”
“Well, it seems that the other side is also getting into a full-scale fight. I should wrap this up now.”
A surge of spiritual power so intense that it shook the heavens and earth and changed the climate.
As far as Cheong Ji-woon knew, this was none other than Cheong Do-yool’s grand spell.
「𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙬𝙤 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚. . . . . . .」
Just in case, he had to sort things out before anyone else did.
That would be logical and stable.
“Gosancheong, Odowukgye. . .”
Hoo-woong.
Pa-ss-snap!
The beginning of the mantra for the grand spell, a unique spell that had been passed down through Cheong Ji-woon’s family and reinterpreted in his own style.
Cheong Un-cheol’s lips tightened as he confirmed that the spell was being formed, and Cheong Ji-yeon began to frown, clicking her tongue.
“You won’t be able to stop it anyway, since you can’t use grand spells.”
Grand spells are a very broad and meaningful expression.
However, all spells so called had one thing in common.
No matter what, they had a power that could never be expressed in the existing three stages of spells.
Furthermore, grand spells are not something that can be used simply because one is strong or has reached a certain level.
Talent, effort, and the size of one’s own power.
All three must be well-balanced in order to reach the realm of grand spells.
“. . . . . . .”
Cheong Ji-woon continued to chant the mantra, and the spell gradually became complete.
Normally, the use of grand spells requires demanding conditions and preparation time, so there is room to break through them, but Cheong Ji-woon had of course prepared for that as well.
Cheong Un-cheol, who is now exhausted, will have no choice but to do so.
「𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧.」
As expected, Cheong Un-cheol and Cheong Ji-yeon hardened their expressions but did not take any particular action.
Before they knew it, the completion of the spell was just around the corner, and all that was left was to say the last mantra.
However, this was also the most dangerous time.
Cheong Ji-woon is not yet able to use grand spells with such ease, and as a result, there is a moment when he has to concentrate all his attention on controlling the spell, which inevitably becomes heavier just before completion.
However, it was a very brief moment, and Cheong Un-cheol in front of him probably didn’t even notice that Cheong Ji-woon had a gap.
As he was about to say the last mantra with such peace of mind, Cheong Ji-woon suddenly felt a strong aura of curse shooting towards him.
「𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩. . . . . .?」
It was as if he had been waiting for this moment, and Cheong Ji-woon was in a difficult situation because his hands were full with completing the spell, so he had no choice but to use the words he had to deploy a defensive spell.
Hoo-woong!
「𝙄𝙛 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝, 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙞𝙩.」
The judgment was quick. Cheong Ji-woon ignored the curse that had been shot at him and began to concentrate again on completing the spell.
And that was a mistake.
Zza-ang!
Pa-ss-snap!
“Huh?”
Surprisingly, the target of the curse was not Cheong Ji-woon himself. It was the grand spell that was about to be completed, and it invaded the spell, destroying its structure and wreaking havoc.
It was a type of spell that Cheong Ji-woon had never seen before.
「𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨. . . . . .!」
But this was not the time to be resentful.
The influence of the curse was already flowing into Cheong Ji-woon through the link of the spell, and if he didn’t break it quickly, the backlash of the messed up spell would surely come back to Cheong Ji-woon.
“Damn it. . . . . . .”
Pa-sa-sak.
In the end, Cheong Ji-woon had no choice but to blow all the enormous spiritual power he had poured into the spell into the void, taking a big hit.
And in other words, it was an opportunity for Cheong Un-cheol. For the first time, Cheong Ji-woon, who had always seemed like an iron wall, had a gap.
Kwoong.
“I don’t know what happened, but this has narrowed the gap.”
“. . .Keuk!”
Originally, Cheong Un-cheol’s specialty was close combat, and until now he had blocked it in advance with near-perfect distance control, but this made it difficult for Cheong Ji-woon to shake off.
“Of the azure sky. . . . . .Keup.”
He thought he had quickly judged and cut off the connection with the spell, but it seemed that there was still some backlash from before. He can’t seem to deploy defensive spells in time.
In the end, Cheong Ji-woon had no choice but to take Cheong Un-cheol’s attack as his expression, which had been relaxed the whole time, contorted.
Kuu-woong!
Zza-ah-ah-ah!
“Keo-heok!”
“Hmph, I’m finally getting a clean hit.”
This blow was quite deadly.
Cheong Ji-woon was not the type who was particularly confident in his toughness, and the backlash from breaking the spell earlier had completely thrown him off balance.
In his current state, it would take him even longer than usual to use an advanced spell.
Cheong Ji-woon, who had barely managed to distance himself again and catch his breath, realized something different this time. That the situation had completely reversed from before.
「. . .𝙆𝙚𝙪𝙠. 𝙄 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙥𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙨 𝙄 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚.」
All of this was due to the curse spell that had just attacked Cheong Ji-woon. Cheong Ji-woon traced the traces of it in the midst of the chaos and found the source of the spell.
And he couldn’t help but open his eyes wide.
「𝘼𝙣 𝙖𝙘𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩? 𝙃𝙚 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙖 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝-𝙡𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙡𝙡?」
It was not simply a matter of power, but the way the curse was cast and its structure were both completely different from anything he had ever seen before.
It was absurd that such a spell had been cast by someone who was not even a regular exorcist.
However, such thoughts meant nothing now.
Hoo-woong!
“To have other thoughts during a battle, I guess I underestimated you too.”
Cheong Ji-woon couldn’t help but murmur as he watched Cheong Un-cheol’s fist, which was like a pot lid, being thrust out without a moment’s pause.
🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷🔷
「. . .𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮, 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠?」
To be honest, I was lucky. Of course, it was my intention, but I feel like the attack worked even better than I thought.
It also helped that the opponent was Cheong Ji-woon. I had a relatively accurate understanding of his current weaknesses through my knowledge of the original work.
“Now that mr is pushing him.”
“The tide has already turned. It won’t be easy to lose like this.”
Cheong Un-cheol was relieved by this.
Now, even from an overall perspective, our side has a slight advantage.
If there was one last variable left, it was the battle between the elders that was currently unfolding across the canyon.
「. . .𝙄𝙨 𝙞𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.」
Our side’s casualties were not insignificant, but Cheong Do-yool’s side’s were even worse. I’m sure he’s quite nervous about it, even if he doesn’t know it.
If there is an optimal timing, it is now. As it happens, there are as many as six elders of the family gathered here. The more people who witness what is about to happen, the better.
“Let’s approach where the elders are.”
“They’re not kidding over there. . . . . . . Is that okay?”
“It’ll be fine as long as we don’t get too close.”
Determined, I headed to the elders’ battlefield, where a loud noise was echoing, with Cheong Juhwa in tow.
And as expected, there had already been a considerable amount of attrition there as well.
“Heok, gasp. What a sight. I never thought you’d already reached this level.”
“. . .It’s only natural. My goal is much higher.”
Cheong family’s fifth elder, Cheong Gil-yeong, exhaled in admiration.
Beside him, Cheong Do-yool could be seen with a hardened expression and one arm in a sling.
「. . .𝙄𝙨 𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙂𝙞-𝙗𝙚𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢.」
To be honest, in terms of individual skill. . .I thought Cheong Jong-hu would be pushed by Cheong Gi-beom, but they’re having a closer fight than I thought.
Having roughly grasped the situation on both sides, I was convinced that now was the time to turn the tide by sending out the azure dragon.
I looked at Cheong Juhwa beside me, drew up my spiritual power, and shouted out loud.
“Stop it, everyone.”
“. . . . . . .”
The elders’ gazes focused on me, and an overwhelming sense of pressure surged in.
But I couldn’t back down now. The moment I had been planning for so long was finally upon me.
I took a deep breath and spoke again.
“There has already been a lot of damage done to each other. Wouldn’t it be better to stop here?”
“. . .You’re talking nonsense. This is not something that can be resolved by the three-inch tongue of a guy like you.”
“Is that so? However, I don’t think there’s any more reason to fight.”
At those words, Cheong Do-yool opened his mouth, glaring at me intensely.
“I don’t know what you’re trying to say, but Cheong Sa-woon has broken the taboo. And his daughter’s existence is ruining our Cheong family. I will no longer allow the interference of outsiders.”
It sounded plausible at first glance, but it was all just an excuse. Cheong Do-yool’s expression, which was so cynical, proved it.
In response, I raised the corners of my mouth and replied.
“You say that Cheong Juhwa’s existence is a threat to Cheong family. However, I do not think so.”
“. . . . . . .”
Cheong Do-yool must have realized by now that I have some kind of connection to Cheong So-ha, and that I am not just a mere attendant of Cheong Juhwa.
That’s why he’s listening to the words of an academy student here.
To the words that were almost certainly uttered, Cheong Do-yool asked with an incredulous expression.
“On what basis do you say that?”
I had been waiting for that question.
Cheong Gi-beom and . . .Cheong Jong-hu are also pretending not to listen and are listening to the conversation on this side.
Confirming their reactions, I finally brought out the main topic.
“Azure dragon-nim left the family in disappointment for breaking the taboo. On the contrary.”
“. . .What?”
They didn’t expect that I would mention Azure Dragon’s name here, and all the elders’ expressions changed to a look of wonder.
To them, I stated flatly.
“The reason why Azure Dragon-nim’s whereabouts became unknown is because he finally found a true contractor again. And that contractor is here now.”
At those words, everyone’s movements stopped for a moment.
