Ak Bi frowned viciously behind his human skin mask. "...What did you just say?"
Is this what it feels like when a dog you raised suddenly bares its teeth at its master? No, that brat can't possibly know who I am.
He could understand the outburst if Ak Yeonho simply thought of him a stranger kidnapping the Young Lady.
Unfortunately, his assumption couldn't be more wrong.
"Are your ears clogged?" Ak Yeonho scoffed. "I said, put her down. If you died, you should've gone quietly to hell. Why the hell did you crawl back here?"
Ak Bi's eyes widened in disbelief. He wouldn't have tolerated such rudeness even from the Azure Dragon Hero or the Fire King, much less an adopted son of the Ak Clan. From his perspective, the young man standing before him was no different from a pet dog.
A terrifying vortex coiled around the Ak Clan Spear as Ak Bi spun around.
He gave up escaping in a hurry and whipped around, shifting the Young Lady from his shoulder to under his arm. His rage boiled past its limits, curdling into bewilderment. "You bastard... Do you have any idea who I am, running your mouth like that?"
SHHHHK!
The Ak Clan Spear flew into Ak Bi's hand, reunited with its master after a brief separation.
"Pathetic," Ak Bi snorted. "The dead bodyguard was proud to die for the Ak Clan, unlike a certain dog that bares its fangs at its master."
Ak Yeonho remained unfazed. The killing intent of a supreme master focused entirely on him, but far from being intimidated, he smirked disdainfully. "How could I not recognize those arrogant eyes that look down on everyone? Oh Great Patriarch of the Shandong Ak Clan," he replied, his voice dropping with sarcasm.
Ak Bi's eyebrows twitched violently. "...So you knew who I was and still acted this insolently."
"I never believed you died from the start."
Truly, Ak Yeonho had never believed Ak Bi was dead. The severed head, with its eyes gouged out and face crushed, had strongly resembled the Patriarchy, but the moment he saw it, an old memory surfaced in his mind.
Ak Bi spoke slowly, as if savoring the moment before Ak Yeonho was overwhelmed with fear.
"If an emergency occurs, you must be able to disguise yourself as the Young Lady and die in her stead. Learn this for that day."
The Patriarch's bodyguard had once taught him makeup techniques and told him he to act as the Young Lady's body double in an emergency. Therefore, the moment he saw that face contorted in agony, he was certain the dead man was that bodyguard.
Ak Yeonho glared at Ak Bi, his eyes filled with disgust. He had vowed that if Ak Bi ever returned, he would not let it stand. "That was the reason you choose a bodyguard who looked like you, wasn't it? You sacrificed a martial artist who dedicated his entire life to you in such a pathetic way."
"Pathetic," Ak Bi snorted. "The dead bodyguard was proud to die for the Ak Clan, unlike a certain dog that bares its fangs at its master."
"Have you ever imagined how much it hurts to be bitten by the dog you raised?"
"Your arrogance pierces the heavens."
With a single light stomp, Ak Bi's figure vanished.
KRAKRAKRAKRA!
A terrifying vortex coiled around the Ak Clan Spear as Ak Bi spun around. Blade-like waves of energy clawed at the surroundings.
This was the Binding Spear, a technique unique to the Ak Clan. The moment Ak Bi extended his hand, spear qi would shoot out like a beam of light and pulverize everything in its path.
Ak Bi spoke slowly, as if savoring the moment before Ak Yeonho was overwhelmed with fear. "For the crime of disrespecting the Patriarch, I will execute you on the spot."
Baek Suryong went on to explain that while Ak Bi would never let his guard down against another supreme master, Ak Yeonho was the clan's adopted son, a being he treated no better than a dog. Just the fact that such a person dared to point a weapon at him would be enough to tick him off.
Ak Yeonho raised his spear. Focusing his mind, he gripped it with both hands and drew a slow breath. "To me, you're no longer the Patriarch. As of this moment, I'm abandoning the Ak surname."
A vortex coiled around Ak Yeonho's spear as well. Although it was far inferior to that of the world's strongest spearman, he aimed it directly at his opponent without flinching.
"In that case, I must naturally reclaim the grace bestowed upon you by the clan. Your martial arts and even your life were all given by me," Ak Bi replied confidently, as though he was simply taking back what was rightfully his.
Baek Suryong had thoroughly analyzed Ak Bi. His persistent observation and strategic mind were what had allowed him to survive in his past life. Based on what he had gathered while watching the duel with Namgung Su, he had taught Ak Yeonho exactly how to land a blow on the head of his family.
Ak Yeonho's eyes flashed. "...If it's about the debt I owe the clan, I've already more than repaid it."
RUMBLE!
The world turned white for a moment before becoming night again.
A vortex coiled around Ak Yeonho's spear as well. Although it was far inferior to that of the world's strongest spearman, he aimed it directly at his opponent without flinching.
Ak Bi sneered as he regarded the spear pointed at him. "Hah. You're just a worthless bug whose heart will be pierced in the blink of an eye."
THUD!
With a single light stomp, Ak Bi's figure vanished.
He could see Ak Bi hastily trying to dodge, but it was too late.
He's coming.
Ak Yeonho sharpened all his senses. If he tried to catch Ak Bi's movements with his eyes, it would be too late. He had to trust his instincts and follow Baek Suryong's advice.
"When provoked by someone weaker than them, masters usually use their most familiar, straightforward technique. Even the strongest supreme masters are no different. Your goal is to trick your opponent into doing that."
Ak Yeonho grit his teeth. This was why he had taunted and mocked Ak Bi. He had poured out a decade's worth of bottled-up resentment, partly because he remembered those words.
"Ak Bi is a spearman. If you succeed in provoking him, he'll definitely try to finish you in one blow with a thrust to your heart."
Baek Suryong had thoroughly analyzed Ak Bi. His persistent observation and strategic mind were what had allowed him to survive in his past life. Based on what he had gathered while watching the duel with Namgung Su, he had taught Ak Yeonho exactly how to land a blow on the head of his family.
"To be blunt, you don't have the skill to even unsettle Ak Bi. However, if a fight breaks out, you will have one chance to get him."
"...What?"
Baek Suryong went on to explain that while Ak Bi would never let his guard down against another supreme master, Ak Yeonho was the clan's adopted son, a being he treated no better than a dog. Just the fact that such a person dared to point a weapon at him would be enough to tick him off.
A spray of crimson splattered across the night sky as a newly bloodied spear tore through half of Ak Bi's face.
Still, that alone was not enough to land a blow on a supreme master.
"...What do you think you're doing?" Ak Bi raged. "Are you protecting a traitor to the clan?
"No matter what, you have to somehow dodge the first strike. The problem is, it'll be too late if you try to dodge after your opponent strikes."
"...Then what should I do?"
"You just have to die about a hundred times and get a feel for it."
"...Are you for real?"
At that time, Ak Yeonho had argued back, asking how Baek Suryong could say something so irresponsible. However, Baek Suryong simply raised his practice spear and pointed it at him, promising to let him experience it firsthand.
"Starting now, I'm going to kill you exactly one hundred times. If you can dodge my attack even once, then you stand a chance of succeeding."
Baek Suryong proceeded to demonstrate a blindingly fast thrust Ak Yeonho could not even react to, telling him to learn how to seize that fleeting moment.
"Stop it!" Ak Yeonhwa screamed, blocking his path.
Ans so, Ak Yeonho experienced death over and over. Every time a flash appeared before his eyes, the tip of the spear was already touching his heart, his forehead, or his qi center.
"Aren't you going to get your head on straight? Focus!"