Chapter 018. Requiem (5)
The moment the dark token plunged into the ground.
Deadly silence hung over the noisy arena.
“……Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token?”
The first one to recognize the identity of the token was the Head of the Iron Blood Woo Clan, Heaven-Breaking One Sword Woo Gi-tae.
Even the sword flame that was burning viciously as if to burn the world stopped abruptly.
He had no choice but to do so.
A darkish material that seemed to absorb all light. And the two characters, Heavenly Martial, engraved in a seemingly casual yet intimidating manner.
Others might not know, but Woo Gi-tae knew the meaning this object held better than anyone.
Martial Sovereign Man Su-geuk, the token he personally carved. That does not simply exercise absolute influence within the Martial Sovereign Castle.
The Nine Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Families.
Even the powerful Unorthodox factions that make up the Unorthodox Alliance. No one can ignore the authority of the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token.
‘That is the power of the Eight Sovereigns of Murim.’
The Eight Sovereigns of Murim are beings of a different level even among the absolute masters who have reached the Entering Transformation Realm.
Since they are also the eight people with the authority to convene the Monster Slaying Association. In fact, the Eight Sovereigns of Murim are the ones moving the Murim of the Central Plains from behind.
There are even rumors that monsters close to supernatural beings lurking deep in the Demonic Realm are reluctant to invade the Central Plains because of them.
But leaving all that aside, this is the base of the Martial Sovereign Castle. A place where the power held by the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token is truly absolute.
So Woo Gi-tae had no choice but to stop his sword.
Even though he could cut down Dam Jeok-san, that brat, with a single strike.
“……What, is it, that you want, from the main house?”
Woo Gi-tae asked Dam Jeok-san in a tone as if chewing his tongue.
At the same time, he expanded his senses to the maximum and thoroughly searched the surroundings. No matter if he had the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token, there was no way only three of them came to the mighty Iron Blood Woo Clan.
However, nothing was caught even by the senses of the super peak master Woo Gi-tae.
From then on, a shadow began to cast over Woo Gi-tae's face.
Of course, they might have barged in with just the three of them, trusting the authority of the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token.
But that is too optimistic a guess.
Perhaps the Hidden Heaven Guard, called the Grim Reapers of the Martial Sovereign Castle, might have already surrounded the main house deceiving even Woo Gi-tae's senses.
‘……No, no.’
However, Woo Gi-tae quickly shook his head.
If the Martial Sovereign had moved the Hidden Heaven Guard, the entire family would have already been shattered to pieces.
This place would have become a pile of ashes where not even a single blade of grass could grow.
There is only one reason for Dam Jeok-san to receive the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token and come to the Iron Blood Woo Clan.
Raising monsters.
Just that alone is a grave sin difficult to avoid extermination.
But as far as Woo Gi-tae knew, Martial Sovereign Man Su-geuk does not move in such a complicated way.
He is an absolute being.
If there is something he decided to do, he simply does it. Because the Martial Sovereign is a man who simply believes in the strongest.
‘Then it is highly likely that Dam Jeok-san, that bastard, is proceeding arbitrarily.’
Of course, the existence of the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token was proof that there was the Martial Sovereign's permission in the background, but…….
‘Meaning he does not intend to erase the family right away.’
Although Woo Gi-tae became violent soaked in inferiority complex, he is the head of one of the Five Great Families of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
All kinds of strife and political struggles, and even war. As he rose to this position through countless struggles.
He suppressed all kinds of ominous imaginations swirling in his head and made the optimal judgment.
“……Did you ask to call Seo-gwang?”
Woo Gi-tae said in a sunken voice.
It seemed as if his momentum was dampened, but Dam Jeok-san could instinctively feel that was not the case.
Anger was deeply hidden, and killing intent was secretly concealed.
He is doing what he believes is best, but if even a little weakness is shown, he will stab that place without hesitation.
‘Interesting.’
Dam Jeok-san twisted the corners of his mouth and slowly nodded.
“Phew, now we can communicate a bit. Yes, that is correct. Please call Second Senior Brother.”
“Is that all?”
Is that all you want with that token?
At that question, Dam Jeok-san slowly shook his head.
“There is no way that would be the case, isn't it none other than the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token.”
“…….”
“I do not intend to make excessive demands.”
“Excessive demands?”
“For example, urging the Family Head to commit suicide right now?”
“You have lost your mind.”
Woo Gi-tae muttered, slowly crumpling his face.
However, his voice was trembling slightly. Because even if Dam Jeok-san really demanded that, he could not refuse it outright.
Of course, what Dam Jeok-san received permission for was only the matter with Woo Seo-gwang, but there was no way Woo Gi-tae could know that.
“Life-and-death duel. I will hold a life-and-death duel with Second Senior Brother.”
Dam Jeok-san said in a quietly sunken voice.
If considering only the density of suppressed emotions, killing intent and hatred not losing to Heaven-Breaking One Sword Woo Gi-tae were felt. Dam Jeok-san saw Lee Hyang's pain of losing her entire family due to the tyranny of the Iron Blood Woo Clan.
Moreover, that child's case is merely a tiny fraction.
How many people must have died for their petty profits? It is hard to even guess. Just as he passionately argued to the Martial Sovereign before, Dam Jeok-san thought he also had responsibility for those deaths.
Even if it is already late, I must do what I can.
“There is one thing I ask of the Family Head. Please stay still. Whether the one dying is me or Second Senior Brother.”
……That arrogant confidence. And spirit. I don't know what means he used, but it seemed certain that the bastard regained a part of the martial arts he originally possessed.
But it doesn't matter.
“Just watch?”
He asked back with twitching eyebrows, but his expression was clearly softer than before. That is because Woo Gi-tae knows his son's achievement. Even if Dam Jeok-san regained his prime skills through unorthodox methods, it doesn't matter. Woo Seo-gwang will surely win. Although his son's condition was unstable, that achievement was genuine.
And even if by any chance Woo Seo-gwang dies…….
‘If I can block the exercise of the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token with just his one life, it is a profitable deal.’
It is a cold and heartless thought, but that is the truth.
Even if it is flesh and blood, it cannot be more important than the fate of the entire family.
“Call Seo-gwang.”
He, who had withdrawn his sword before anyone knew, ordered his subordinate.
“You thought well. If you can protect the pigsty with one pig, you should rightfully do so.”
Dam Jeok-san nodded with a bright smile.
“…….”
GRIND.
The sound of Heaven-Breaking One Sword Woo Gi-tae grinding his teeth rang in Dam Jeok-san's ears.
Calling the mighty Iron Blood Woo Clan a pigsty, it was understandable. But so what. If those who threw people as monster feed without hesitation and fattened their bellies with the byproducts are not pigs, what would be called pigs?
Moreover, can that Heaven-Breaking One Sword attack him, who put up the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token, blinded only by his pride and self-preservation?
‘He absolutely cannot.’
Courage to stake everything for the one important thing.
Tenacity to stake one's life on something that might look useless.
Woo Gi-tae does not have such madness. Perhaps that is the reason why Woo Gi-tae is blocked at his current level and cannot advance further.
‘……No, it is not perhaps. This is…… a fact.’
Dam Jeok-san thought, slightly wrinkling his forehead.
However, this is a fact he shouldn't be able to know right now.
To be more precise, it is not a fact found out by his own ability entirely.
No matter how much of a martial arts genius he is, he is still a brat who hasn't even reached super peak yet. Yet how can he argue about the next realm. He realized that the cause was the ability of predation, and the past life that reached the apex of a world.
As the level of the predation ability deepened, hazy memories of the past life seeped in and developed his inspiration to a level equivalent to most super peak masters. This will become a very big weapon not only in fighting but also in Dam Jeok-san's overall growth.
But it is a double-edged sword that can cut even himself if wielded recklessly.
If he relies only on those memories, his ego will be eaten.
‘Especially now is the time to focus solely on me.’
Mistakes accumulated before losing his dantian. And that regret. This place is a seat to wash those away by fulfilling minimal responsibility and duty.
The thoughts were cut off before long.
“……You, finally came to find me.”
His Second Senior Brother, Woo Seo-gwang, revealed himself.
“I waited eagerly, Senior Brother.”
“What are you talking about waiting eagerly?”
Woo Seo-gwang muttered with a frown.
It was only a few days ago that he met him.
But the atmosphere Woo Seo-gwang exuded was completely different from before.
‘If he was just rough before, now he is violent.’
The spirit being unstable is the same. But there was no feeling like he would collapse if tapped like back then. Rather, it seemed like he would explode blowing away the surroundings if touched wrongly. Like a thunderbolt.
He wasn't sure if it could be seen as growth as a martial artist.
But what is clear is the fact that Woo Seo-gwang has become stronger. To the extent that even Dam Jeok-san cannot easily guess.
There was a reason why Family Head Woo Gi-tae called the bastard without complaint. He had conviction.
Conviction that the current him could sufficiently beat Dam Jeok-san.
And that wasn't exactly a wrong conviction either.
But Dam Jeok-san's smile rather deepened.
Worldly affairs are unpredictable. If everything happened as one was convinced, Dam Jeok-san would not have lost his dantian and fallen into ruin. Being convinced of the result is worthless.
‘What one should do with conviction is not prediction but action.’
Just like the monkey monster had infinite conviction in its sword.
Dam Jeok-san had the conviction that he must kill Woo Seo-gwang.
“Violating the Imperial Laws and the Martial Sovereign's Order to raise monsters. Using innocent civilians as monster feed. And daring to pursue martial arts with spiritual pills containing their blood……. Goodness, you have too many sins.”
Dam Jeok-san sneered coldly looking at Woo Seo-gwang.
“…….”
Woo Seo-gwang looked at such Dam Jeok-san with eyes that made it hard to know what he was thinking.
Like that, a moment of silence passed.
“So?”
Woo Seo-gwang asked, crossing his arms crookedly.
“I intend to question your sins. Thus, I will cut you down today, Senior Brother.”
Dam Jeok-san said, pointing at the Heavenly Martial Gentleman Token embedded in the ground with the tip of his sword.
As if proclaiming condemnation under the name of the Martial Sovereign before this being a life-and-death fight.
“Hahaha, cut me down?”
Woo Seo-gwang let out a laugh as if slightly disheartened. Complex feelings were oozing out rather than absurdity.
“Try it, if you can.”
He said while looking at Dam Jeok-san with coldly cooled eyes.
He did not go out of his way to deny the charges Dam Jeok-san brought up one by one.
He also knows that it is wrong.
But he does not regret it.
Just as the damn inferiority complex inherited from his father is a poison he must endure, the internal energy built up with innocent blood is also something he must fully bear. Even if he dies swallowing it, he had no intention of spitting it out. Nor could he.
If Dam Jeok-san calls him a villain, he intended to become a villain willingly.
“The one dying anyway will be you.”
Woo Seo-gwang drew his sword with fierce momentum.
Before anyone knew, fierce black flames were burning on that sword.
“This is troublesome, it seems I looked too easy.”
Dam Jeok-san aimed his sword back as if responding to it.
“I will make you remember, what kind of humiliation you suffered from me in front of Master that day.”
* * *
A place not too far from the manor of the Iron Blood Woo Clan.
The Martial Sovereign climbed to the top of a moderately high huge tree and was looking down clearly.
With the girl Dam Jeok-san entrusted by his side.
How much time passed like that.
Woo Seo-gwang and Dam Jeok-san.
The two disciples began to clash.
“Watch well, and remember. The fact that that child fought for you.”
The Martial Sovereign muttered in a low voice looking at Lee Hyang.
‘Even though I never loved disciples like flesh and blood, nor cherished them like alter egos.’
Watching them kill each other, he couldn't help feeling bitter.
Perhaps because it reminded him of the seniors and juniors he had to kill in the end.
And the Junior Sister who eventually left his side.
One thing is certain.
If Dam Jeok-san proves himself there.
Then he will truly become a dragon that can contend for supremacy with the Eldest Disciple.
And two dragons cannot live in the same sky.
Faint lament mixed in the breath of the absolute being looking down on the world.