Chapter 039. Northern Heaven Sword Venerable (2)
Shock filled Namgung Yeon's face at that bold, no, arrogant attitude.
No matter how much Un Wol-hyang seemed to cherish Dam Jeok-san, to suddenly engage in a struggle with an expert of the Entering Transformation Realm.
The Black Panther Spear was also surprised. An expression asking, 'Did the Young Master perhaps hurt his head badly earlier?'
An expert of the Entering Transformation Realm was such an existence.
Even if stepping on the same ground, they are living, moving disasters and Martial Gods beyond the heavens who cannot be treated as the same species.
Even Namgung Yeon, whose father is the Sword King, felt so.
Only Dam Jeok-san's guard, Gyeong-won, had a calm expression.
'I am different from them.'
Gyeong-won knows. That the relationship between his Lord and the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable is not so shallow that such a thing would be taken as rudeness.
It was very rare for the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle to give earnest teachings to his disciples.
Because he is a very busy person.
However, the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable gave teachings to Dam Jeok-san without skipping a single day, even if for a few months. It is a level where calling them master and disciple wouldn't be strange.
Perhaps because of that.
"Do you have confidence, Martial Nephew?"
In Un Wol-hyang's eyes, an expectation that was nothing but belligerent surfaced.
Just by her faintly revealing her aura, heaven and earth tremble and gusts blow in.
Just with that, the people in the hall felt like their insides were being churned.
Her status is completely different even from Murong Gang. There was absolutely no exaggeration in saying that although wearing human flesh, she is no different from a natural disaster.
However, only Dam Jeok-san faced Un Wol-hyang with a nonchalant look.
'Quite impressive?'
Thinking so, Un Wol-hyang concentrated her aura on Dam Jeok-san again.
An aura much sharper and more eerie than before. This was outright killing intent.
If the opponent were an ordinary person, it would be enough to commit the legendary Killing with Intent.
Dam Jeok-san also felt an eerie sensation.
I die. I definitely die.
Enough to cause such a delusion.
'No, isn't it not a delusion?'
If he doesn't resist that aura, his brain will truly be bleached clean and he will die.
To the extent that he wondered if this was the same person who was worried just moments ago that her Martial Nephew might have died violently.
However, Dam Jeok-san did not yield.
The struggle and hardship he had accumulated, the sword forms of the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style, All that life, Became a shield enduring the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable's killing intent.
However, that was not enough.
The status of the soul possessed by Seo Woo-joo, who reached the peak of a world.
That naturally seeped into Dam Jeok-san.
The moment the last piece was filled.
Dam Jeok-san faced Un Wol-hyang without uttering a single groan.
"......!"
For the first time, astonishment dwelt in her eyes.
He endures this?
She intended to test how long he could endure.
To think he would confidently confront her beyond just enduring. It is something far exceeding expectations.
'No, is this rather more familiar?'
Dam Jeok-san never grew within her expectations. He always exceeded predictions and produced extraordinary results.
"I have no choice but to acknowledge it, that Martial Nephew has the qualification to face swords with me."
Un Wol-hyang changed her mind.
The current Dam Jeok-san is not the young Martial Nephew she has to protect.
He became a martial artist capable of doing his part sufficiently even on the Northern front.
Then.
"Prove it, your usefulness."
Un Wol-hyang said to Dam Jeok-san while slowly drawing her sword.
Those were not words spoken to a Martial Nephew she taught long ago.
To a rookie who just set foot on this land, as a sword protecting the North.
"Martial Nephew, I do not need 'potential' on my battlefield. A martial artist who will become stronger when recovering from injuries? A rising star who can easily reach the peak in 10 years? In this land where we might not survive even tomorrow, such things are meaningless."
Prove your present.
Then I will also willingly bet my present on you.
Un Wol-hyang demanded that from Dam Jeok-san.
Her sword cut through the empty air without any precursor.
Soundless and traceless.
Even though exploding from the front, it is more secretive than any assassin's sword.
'This is the path of the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style chosen by Martial Aunt.'
Dam Jeok-san thought while twisting his mouth at the chilling sensation of death.
He heard people in the world call the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable's sword the Shadowless Sword Technique.
It was never an exaggeration.
Un Wol-hyang's sword rushed towards Dam Jeok-san extremely secretly still.
Even knowing it was coming, he couldn't easily judge where to block. Because the trajectory wasn't visible at all.
'......Does she really intend to kill me?'
Un Wol-hyang's sword was secretive enough to cause such worry for a moment.
Dam Jeok-san's consciousness accelerates extremely.
He made a judgment in a state where he infinitely split the fleeting moment and stretched his cognition.
'Finding the trace of the Shadowless Sword Technique is impossible.'
If he can't just die either.
The answer is one.
'Strike first.'
Since Martial Aunt showed her path first.
I will also show you.
The path of the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style chosen by me.
The fastest single sword among Dam Jeok-san's Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style.
Monkey-Destroying One Flash unfolded.
CRACKLE!
Dam Jeok-san's figure shooting out with momentum as if to crush space.
Simultaneously, his sword also proceeded at a transcendental speed.
The target was only one place. Un Wol-hyang's neck.
I cut.
I definitely cut.
If he cannot grasp the trajectory of the Shadowless Sword Technique, this was the only correct answer.
Before he gets cut, cutting the opponent first to twist the sword path.
The Monkey-Destroying One Flash cut towards Un Wol-hyang's nape at a speed that literally reached the realm of extreme speed.
But one step faster than that.
The technique of the Shadowless Sword Technique exploded on Dam Jeok-san's flank.
No, it should have been so—
'It missed?'
Why?
Un Wol-hyang realized the reason after a little time passed.
'I dodged.'
Her body instinctively dodged Dam Jeok-san's Monkey-Destroying One Flash. In doing so, the sword path was twisted.
The ultimate technique of the Shadowless Sword Technique missed by a paper-thin difference.
The Monkey-Destroying One Flash also missed due to Un Wol-hyang's instinctive evasion, but.
He endured one move.
Even that would not have happened if Un Wol-hyang had used body-protecting aura.
However, she didn't bother to make excuses.
She was rather just delighted.
"Excellent, Dam Jeok-san."
She opened her mouth as the Northern Branch Head of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
"Tell me what you want. Since you endured my one move, I will grant your request."
"Are two okay?"
Phew.......
Dam Jeok-san asked while catching his breath.
"Two?"
Un Wol-hyang's brow furrowed slightly.
She moved her chin slightly as if telling him to try saying it.
"One, I want the position of Squad Leader of one of the Five Great Martial Squads under the Northern Wind Sword Corps."
"Denied. There is no vacancy. However, if you want, I will give you a chance to challenge for the Squad Leader position."
Head of one of the Five Great Martial Squads of the Northern Wind Sword Corps.
The best position to accumulate merits in the Northern Branch.
However, enduring long in that position is absolutely not an easy task.
Because members of Squad Leader rank or higher can challenge the Squad Leader through a duel and take the position.
"That is sufficient."
Dam Jeok-san nodded.
In the first place, he had no intention of getting it for free without a duel. Because then he wouldn't be able to receive anyone's recognition.
"The second is something I can do right now."
"What is it?"
"I want to treat Martial Aunt's internal injuries."
Dam Jeok-san said calmly looking at Un Wol-hyang.
No matter how fast the Monkey-Destroying One Flash is.
And even if Un Wol-hyang didn't use body-protecting aura.
There is no way she would react instinctively merely to his sword.
'If she was in perfect condition, that is.'
Perhaps she rushed here while having acquired internal injuries in the Demonic Realm, and her condition worsened by killing the Peak Realm expert Murong Gang with a single sword.
She is the most important force in the North. Furthermore, her internal injuries worsened to save him.
He couldn't just watch.
"It just so happens I obtained a good spiritual herb."
Dam Jeok-san said taking out the chest from his bosom.
* * *
Internal injuries are dangerous.
Not external wounds visible to the eye, but internal damage including acupoints and organs.
Not only are they hard to find, but they are injuries that can lead to fatal results if handled wrongly.
Like suffering qi deviation while doing breathing exercises with torn acupoints.
Or dying violently as is because ruptured internal organs couldn't be recovered.
Neither is a rare story in the Gangho where swords are washed with blood.
'However, it has nothing to do with me.'
Northern Heaven Sword Venerable Un Wol-hyang. She is a supreme expert who reached the Entering Transformation Realm.
Having reached the stage of being able to contemplate and control the inside and outside of her body without gaps.
To her, who can know exactly which acupoints and organs suffered damage, internal injuries are not objects of the unknown or fear.
Rather close to a cold she carries around tiresomely.
This trivial internal injury, can be sufficiently treated if only time is given.
So, if only time is given...... roughly about a month at the shortest?
During that time, Un Wol-hyang will have to leave the battlefield.
How much manpower would be needed to fill her vacancy.
She once had the strategists of the Northern Wind Branch analyze it.
— 10 mature Peak Realm experts. If they all fight with the resolve to die, they might barely be able to fill the Branch Head's vacancy.
— You mean just work quietly like a dead mouse?
— Ahem, I didn't mean to say it to that extent.
10 mature Peak Realm experts. A force worth contending even with the Five Great Families under heaven. No matter if it's Un Wol-hyang, she cannot prepare such a force to fill her vacuum. She had no choice but to fight and fight again. While moderately suppressing her internal injuries.
Of course, she managed it at a sufficiently bearable level.
To the extent that there would be no problem as long as she didn't face an opponent of equal or higher rank.
'......It sounds nice to call it management, but in fact, it's no different from walking around with my life on the line.'
Not a good behavior. The Northern Demonic Realm is a place where it wouldn't be strange if supernatural beings with power surpassing her appeared at any time. Furthermore, the experts of the Entering Transformation Realm leading the Orthodox, Unorthodox, and Imperial Army are currently in a cooperative relationship, but cannot be seen as complete allies.
The North is literally a Pandemonium.
If she had the leisure to treat internal injuries, she would have done so without hesitation too.
Only, there was no opportunity.
To drastically reduce the time of one month, she needs at least a priceless treasure-class spiritual medicine comparable to the Great Recovering Pill of Shaolin, but.......
'It wasn't to that extent.'
10 Peak Realm experts, or one Great Recovering Pill.
Either way, they are things difficult to handle even for the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable under heaven.
So she postponed healing internal injuries.
However.
'Improvement happens in an instant like this?'
Surprise filled the eyes of Un Wol-hyang, who took the Birch Sun Glory Herb and sat cross-legged.
Because from the moment Dam Jeok-san's hand touched her back and genuine qi came over, the internal injuries began to recover.