The Martial God with Psychic Powers-Chapter 49

Although Seon Woo Baek was the one who defeated him, Jin Geon had been dragged in front of someone else.

Jin Geon stared intently at the figure before him.

Who the hell is that?

The person in front of him was smiling with deep satisfaction.

“You did well.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah. Now I finally feel like it was worth it.”

“Thank you! I’ll keep working hard!”

“Good. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

“Okay!”

Watching Seon Woo Baek beam like a child at the praise from this man, Jin Geon’s mind tangled into knots.

Wasn’t Seon Woo Baek the top-ranked lowerclass student?

That’s what he’d heard, wasn’t it?

He’d been told that Seon Woo Baek was the Lowerclass First of Baekyeong Martial Academy, and Seon Woo Baek had even said so himself.

So that was true... then why was he acting so submissive in front of this guy?

When the mysterious figure turned his gaze toward him, Jin Geon tensed up for no reason.

“Why do you think they came here?”

When the man asked, Seon Woo Baek tilted his head.

“Huh? Now that you mention it, why did they attack us? Even with senior students around?”

“The seniors probably aren’t here. They must’ve been lured away. Classic diversion tactic. They made the upperclassmen go elsewhere and hit the lowerclassmen instead.”

“Why?”

“To wipe out Baekyeong’s future.”

“How do you know that, Woo Jin?”

“All the intel comes straight to my ears.”

Yeon Woo Jin tapped his ear with his finger as he spoke, and Seon Woo Baek nodded without hesitation.

He knew exactly who was feeding Yeon Woo Jin that information.

“Our seniors are probably in danger right now. We’ve gotta help them—fast.”

“Where should we go?”

“Do I have to do everything for you? Aren’t you the Lowerclass First? Figure it out yourself.”

Yeon Woo Jin nodded toward Jin Geon.

The moment he pointed at him, Jin Geon flinched.

Seon Woo Baek approached Jin Geon and clasped his fist in a martial salute.

“Is everything we just heard true?”

Jin Geon nodded.

If it was, then their senior students were truly in danger.

“Where are they? Please tell us.”

Jin Geon let out a faint chuckle at Seon Woo Baek’s formal request.

“I’ve lost in every way.”

He fully acknowledged his defeat.

“I’ll guide you myself. Follow me.”

“Thank you. Everyone! The seniors are in danger! Let’s go save them!”

“YEAH!”

Whether it was because they had just won or because the adrenaline hadn’t worn off, the morale of the Baekyeong lowerclass students was through the roof.

Jin Geon couldn’t help but gaze at them with envy as they moved like a single unit.

“The southern region will belong to Baekyeong from now on.”

It almost felt like getting beaten first had been a blessing in disguise.

Jin Geon’s eyes drifted back to Yeon Woo Jin.

He was curious.

Just what was this guy?

What kind of person could make the top lowerclass student act like that?

A strategist?

That made sense.

Maybe Seon Woo Baek wasn’t groveling—maybe he just needed that brain.

Even the Martial God himself listened to his strategist. It was the same principle.

Now that he thought about it, Yeon Woo Jin had said earlier, “Now I finally feel like it was worth it.”

He probably orchestrated this whole thing, using strategy to push the kids into intense training.

Thinking back, when they fought earlier, Yeon Woo Jin had just watched from the side.

He must’ve been too weak to fight, or maybe he couldn’t use martial arts.

If he was stronger than Seon Woo Baek, he would’ve handled it himself.

Whatever the case, he was definitely a dangerous person.

Jin Geon thought about it.

The reason Black Shadow and Baekyeong both beat him.

There was one thing they had in common.

A strategist.

Something he didn’t have.

No wonder military strategists outranked nearly everyone else in the Martial God Sect.

“I looked down on the scholars... and now I’m paying the price.”

Jin Geon vowed never again to ignore the scholarly division—and to start scouting for talent immediately.

****

“Huff... huff...!”

Gwak Pyeong gasped for breath as he scanned his surroundings.

“Damn it all...”

Most of the kids collapsed around him were Baekyeong’s.

He had managed to take down the second- and third-ranked attackers, but his stamina was nearly depleted.

Go Seung had also worn himself out helping the others.

“You’re tired already? It’s just getting started.”

Clap. Clap.

Jang Manseong clapped mockingly as a group of students surged forward behind him.

“Let me introduce you. These are the future of Black Shadow Division—our lowerclassmen. Kids, say hello.”

“Greetings, sir!”

They shouted in unison, their voices sharp and full of energy.

Among them, one boy stood out immediately.

“You’ve got a good eye. That’s right—that one’s Ok Un, the Lowerclass First. Next to him is Yuk Ja Pyeong, ranked second. Burn those names into your brain. You’ll be hearing them ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) a lot.”

Gwak Pyeong just glared at him.

“Those eyes could kill. Hah!”

Turning away from Gwak Pyeong, Jang Manseong addressed Ok Un.

“What do I always say about dealing with enemies?”

“Be thorough!”

“Exactly! Let’s put what you learned today into practice.”

“Hah!”

“This is it—live combat! Wipe out every last one of them!”

“Hah!”

At Jang Manseong’s order, the lowerclassmen surged forward in unison.

Gwak Pyeong clenched his bloodied fist.

The exhausted Baekyeong students had no chance of holding out against Black Shadow’s fresh, fired-up lowerclassmen.

Was this it? Was he going to have to surrender?

He couldn’t let his pride destroy the future of these kids.

He shut his eyes tightly, ready to cry out his surrender.

But just then—

“Senior! We’re here!”

“Take them down!”

“Let’s show them what happens when you mess with Baekyeong!”

“YAAAHHH—!”

Startled, Gwak Pyeong jerked his head up.

Seon Woo Baek had arrived, leading Baekyeong’s lowerclass students right into the fray against Black Shadow’s forces.

Overcome with emotion, Gwak Pyeong felt tears rising before he even knew it.

Then the worry hit him.

Those kids were Baekyeong’s future.

Even if he surrendered now, it wouldn’t mean Baekyeong had lost—only that he had.

As long as they were standing, Baekyeong could rise again.

But if they were crushed here and now—

Baekyeong’s future might be wiped out completely.

Gwak Pyeong shouted,

“Fall back now!”

But Jang Manseong wasn’t about to allow that.

“Damn Yellow Flame bastards... Can’t even do a simple job.”

He turned to his upperclassmen and middleclassmen.

“Don’t let a single one of them escape. Baekyeong ends here today.”

At that, Black Shadow’s seniors and mid-ranks lit up their eyes and spread out, blocking every possible exit.

Meanwhile, Baekyeong’s and Black Shadow’s lowerclass students clashed head-on.

Smack—

Crack—

Rip—

The sounds of fists landing and clothes being torn rang out from every direction.

But the ones getting hit, the ones having their clothes torn—were Black Shadow’s lowerclassmen.

Jang Manseong’s eyes went wide.

“What the hell? Why are they so strong? Are those really lowerclassmen? Or are those upperclassmen in disguise?”

Their strength exceeded expectations.

They were so powerful, it felt like Baekyeong had hidden their upperclassmen among them.

Especially the three at the front—they were on a whole other level.

He recognized Seon Woo Baek by face alone—he’d seen the portrait.

But the other two? Total unknowns.

And they were even stronger than the reports said.

“Senior! Are you alright?!”

“What the hell are you doing here?!”

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“How could we sit back and do nothing when we heard you were in danger?!”

“This is a trap!”

“A trap like this can’t stop Baekyeong.”

At Seon Woo Baek’s words, Gwak Pyeong looked at him.

“Damn... what a badass.”

He felt genuinely proud that he had chosen Seon Woo Baek as the next Lowerclass First candidate despite opposition from others.

“How did it end up like this?”

“I got played. By that guy over there.”

Gwak Pyeong pointed, and standing in that direction was a man who clearly looked like a strategist.

“That one’s Black Shadow’s strategist. Remember his face. One day, when you're leading Baekyeong, he might be the biggest headache you’ll face.”

To think he was the one who backed Gwak Pyeong into a corner.

Definitely a formidable opponent.

But Gwak Pyeong wasn’t worried.

Because Baekyeong had Yeon Woo Jin.

No matter how brilliant a strategist might be, before Yeon Woo Jin—who was practically a force of nature—they were just human.

Still, he offered reassurance to put Gwak Pyeong at ease.

“Understood. I’ll take your words to heart and always stay on guard.”

The real problem was what came next.

Black Shadow was about to unleash its full force.

And sure enough, Jang Manseong’s voice rang out.

“Looks like I’ve got some brats I have to crush today, no matter what it takes. Honestly, this works out. I can take care of them right in front of me.”

Hearing that, Seon Woo Baek rose to his feet.

“You really have no pride as a man, do you? Not only did you set a cowardly trap, now you’re trying to launch a full-force assault on underclassmen?”

“Heh... In the martial world, there’s no such thing as cowardice. If you get outplayed, you’re just an idiot. Let me give you proper instruction as your senior today.”

“We won’t go down so easily! Everyone—battle formation!”

“Haah!”

At Seon Woo Baek’s command, Baekyeong’s lowerclass students began forming a circular defense.

At the center of the formation were Baekyeong’s wounded upperclassmen.

Then the fierce battle began.

Clang!

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

The difference in class was clear.

Even if Baekyeong’s lowerclassmen were strong, they were starting to be pushed back.

They were only holding the line thanks to the efforts of Seon Woo Baek, Jang Un, and Gok Yang-woo.

Meanwhile, the second- and third-ranked students of Black Shadow, now recovered, took something from the strategist and swallowed it.

The moment they did, color returned to their faces, and their strength surged instantly.

“If you’re feeling better, get out there.”

“Got it!”

As the two charged into the fray, Jang Manseong frowned.

“Was it really necessary to waste two Qi Restoration Pills?”

“Those three at the core of Baekyeong’s formation are far stronger than expected. If you want to crush them completely, you’ll need to invest.”

“I could just step in and stomp them myself.”

“But that wouldn’t look good, would it? Someone of your stature stepping in to handle those small fry? That wouldn’t make for a very flattering scene.”

“...True.”

Even after hearing that, it still felt like a waste.

Those pills were worth a hundred silver coins each—two of them gone just like that.

Still, their effectiveness couldn’t be denied.

With the second- and third-ranks joining in, Baekyeong began to be pushed back quickly.

Even with their own upperclassmen starting to rejoin the fight, they couldn’t hold off Black Shadow’s momentum.

Gong Ya-cheon, Black Shadow’s strategist, calmly scanned the battlefield.

He was looking out for any unexpected developments.

And that’s when he noticed something strange.

Everyone was locked in intense combat—except for one person.

One person standing off in the corner, simply watching it all unfold.

Shiver—

The instant their eyes met, a chill ran down his spine.

Fear.

Gong Ya-cheon clenched his fists without even realizing it.

Sweat had already begun to pool in his palms.

Why was he only noticing this person now?

Something was wrong.

Even when he tried to focus, his attention kept slipping.

It was as if his body didn’t want to look at that person.

And no one else was paying him any attention, even though he was clearly just standing there.

At least one person should’ve attacked him by now—but no one had.

Even when they looked in his direction, they immediately turned away and found someone else to fight.

As if there was nothing there at all.

And now he understood.

If he hadn’t made an effort to concentrate, he would’ve passed over the figure too.

“What is that? Some kind of formation to obscure his presence?”

No, it didn’t feel like that.

And yet, just trying to focus on him caused his thoughts to scatter.

Fighting through the disorientation, Gong Ya-cheon stared harder, trying to figure out who it was.

Was he another strategist?

That would explain why he wasn’t fighting, just watching from the back.

That moment, a voice he had never heard before rang out in his head.

—You’re looking at me? Pretty sharp.

A transmission?

Another strategist?

And he noticed him looking?

That meant this person had done something to prevent others from noticing him.

—Shh. Don’t say anything. My kids are in the middle of live training.

Live training?

Not a real fight... training?

Wait... was he saying this battle was just training?

Now that he thought about it, not one of them was giving up. They were all diving in like rabid beasts.

They weren’t losing—they were enduring.

No, they were fighting with such murderous intensity that it was Black Shadow who was starting to falter.

And behind it all stood the one who had sent that voice into his mind.

Gong Ya-cheon quickly swept his gaze across the field again.

And then he saw it.

Behind Baekyeong’s formation, drawn faintly on the ground, was a line.

They were doing everything in their power not to cross that line.

It was as if they had burned the boats behind them.

A point of no return.

He stared at them and wondered—

What was driving them to hold out so fiercely?