Only I Am A Reader

Knowing that they were already running out of time, Leo had sent back the little army he brought around with them, spending the few last weeks they had to go through the end of their action plan, mini-raids!

Just as the Four Heavenly Beasts had performed during their first debut, Leo left the smaller and faster tasks that depended more on quality than quantity for last, and the result was just as one would expect. A total success!

That being said, things had to come to an end when they were notified by a checkpoint before they finished everything. However, Leo was already content with all the tasks that they managed to finish, taking the chance to grab his new weapons on their way back.

"The situation around here has become much better, hasn't it?"

The four of them barely had the time to look around Unnam, but the ruined city of the past was nowhere to be seen. Although it didn't become as lively as it was at the conference's start, the city's vitality had recovered along with the Mount Hua Sect's recuperation.

Even though the loss of the Sword Sage was a big blow that most organizations wouldn't recover from, Mount Hua's strength and swordsmanship were never tied to one single entity. In order to preserve their legacy in such turbulent times, they could only bandage themselves and stand back up.

Seeing this place after so many years back to life was just as nostalgic as going on mini-raids. Regrettably, a tour didn't exactly feel special when one had been wandering for years, so they only made a straight trip to their destination.

"We need a carriage back home."

The Heavenly Strength Society's checkpoint could already be said to have been compromised, but that was only when it came to its value as an undercover eye. With Unnam's recovery as a focal point of transit, they still provided services to the members who roamed the Murim.

"Right away, Scarlet Warrior-nim!"

Still, not everyone could use exaggerated services such as free transport. It was only after the overseer saw Leo's Scarlet Sky Warrior token that he accepted and started preparing everything with zeal. Once again, Leo experienced the convenience that came with titles and authority!

'Shall I take a closer look now?'

Instantaneous preparation was only possible during an emergency situation like last time, so Leo and the others had to wait for their carriage to be ready. Making use of the wait, he opened the box and took out the halberd once more.

Since he already tried out its use and compatibility with him, Leo started out by inspecting its materials rather than the design, and… It didn't disappoint!

'As expected of the Iron Chief!'

While he had no idea about its actual composition, Leo was certain that a good percent of 10,000 years cold steel was involved in its making just as he ordered it to be. The name was as cliche as it could be, but there were only a select few that could forge something with it.

Not only was the metal durable beyond belief, but it also possessed the most important trait that Leo wished to find in his halberd, extreme weight! Since he sought more mid-range force, only something like that could satisfy his desire. Most importantly, the alloy it was included in to make the shaft still made it retain some form of flexibility in addition to its toughness.

Suiting what he had already learned, the halberd's length was identical to that of the Silver Dragon. The axe head at the top was wholly made of cold steel, sharpened to just the right level with a slightly more wide surface. On the other hand, the spear end of it was slim and pointed to allow occasional fatal or distractive pokes…

'The weight would have been slightly hard to handle in the past, but…'

In the end, Leo couldn't stop himself from going for another set in the checkpoint's courtyard. The halberd's offense specs were through the roof, but that didn't make it very practical. However, he had chosen the halberd specifically to process this kind of raw, rigid force!

'Then, I will call you Mountain Splitter from this moment on!'

As someone who is very bad with names, Leo could only resort to using his martial art's name as a guideline. In order to compliment the final form that he had in mind, he had learned the Mountain Splitting Halberd throughout the last year, a top-level destructive martial art!

'It also fits nicely with my side course.'

Without pausing in the middle, Leo suddenly flipped Mountain Splitter, transitioning into a new set of movements using its bottom. This was none other than the oppressive Yang Staff!

Being the last supplement that he picked for his fighting style, Leo had no plans to carry one more weapon on his back. Since he had already learned two polearms, it was only right to expand on the already existing foundation.

To begin with, the addition of a bow and a halberd basically covered up all of what he was lacking aside from blunt weapons. Originally, Leo felt like a hammer would be the best choice, but it was even more cumbersome than the custom-made Mountain Splitter. In comparison, exchanging skills just by flipping two familiar weapons was very practical!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Shockwaves sounded out as he used Mountain Splitter as a staff despite Leo being less than serious. In order to use his staff skills with both the spear and the halberd, he made sure to pick up the versatile Yin Yang Staff.

Transitioning from hard and rigid to soft and gentle force! Dropping down the heavy Mountain Splitter, Leo picked up the Silver Dragon, performing the Yin Staff. This was but another form of perfect balance!

To use the Yang Staff with the heavy and impactful Mountain Splitter, and the Yin Staff with the light and swift Silver Dragon. Thanks to his large reserve of martial arts, Leo was able to find the perfect form for the blunt weapon department that was missing from his combat style!

"Baekho orabeoni, the carriage is ready."

Walking into the courtyard, Cheon Sohee called out to Leo and Yeon who were mesmerizingly watching his staff performance, the trip back was about to start…