Chapter 047. The Condition of Loyalty (7)
Grand Training Hall of the Northern Branch of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
A larger crowd than expected gathered to watch the duel between Dam Jeok-san and Baek Ri-gwan.
"Old monsters who are usually hard to even see."
Un Wol-hyang frowned her pretty brows slightly and looked to both sides.
The VIP seats were only three.
On the left, the Fake Heaven Sword Corps Commander of the Righteous Heaven Alliance, Sword Addict, was seen, and on the right, the Senior Elder of the Unorthodox Alliance, Blood Death Lord.
"Hehe, you are being so prickly. Even if I miss the Northern Meeting, how could I miss a place like this?"
The Sword Addict laughed heartily and responded to Un Wol-hyang. In his eyes, obsession close to madness for swords was glistening.
"……Haa."
It's not something happening for a day or two. Un Wol-hyang sighed with a resigned look.
"Tsk tsk, this old man didn't come for such a reason."
The Blood Death Lord twisted the corners of his wrinkled mouth upwards.
He is an old monster among old monsters, easily forty years older than even the Sword Addict.
"I merely hoped that the Young Alliance Leader would see the Sword Dragon of today."
He muttered in a voice full of mystery, unbecoming of a tycoon of the Unorthodox factions.
Flinch.
Yeon Byeok-jin, who heard those words, trembled slightly.
Even though he was the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, he was not sitting in the VIP seat but standing quietly behind the Blood Death Lord.
In the North directly touching the Demonic Realm, martial power is status. No matter how much of a successor of the Unorthodox Alliance he is, he cannot sit with masters of the Entering Transformation Realm.
'What kind of possibility do they see in Dam Jeok-san, that loser bastard?'
Yeon Byeok-jin thought, barely suppressing his surging anger.
Yes.
It is certainly true that Dam Jeok-san once showed formidable martial power.
Just looking at martial arts achievement, Yeon Byeok-jin, who had reached a similar stage, was beaten unilaterally.
But that is all in the past.
The guy became a cripple not because of anything else but because he lost his dantian.
If his limbs were cut off, or if he lost his eyes. Then he could walk the path of a martial artist again through rehabilitation.
But the dantian is different. That is not a problem that can be solved simply by rehabilitation.
Most martial artists who lose their dantian never recover in their lifetime, and even in the very rare cases where they return, it takes decades.
Therefore, the current Dam Jeok-san is not the Sword Dragon of the past, but just trash.
Yeon Byeok-jin thought so.
Since Dam Jeok-san's traces hadn't been known to the North yet, it was a very natural judgment for him.
Meanwhile, the Sword Addict sitting in the VIP seat looked back at Un Wol-hyang with an interesting look and was babbling something wildly.
"So, Sword Venerable, what method did he use? He couldn't have recovered his dantian already. Did he learn demonic arts from the Western Ming Cult? Well, the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle isn't the type to care about such things……."
"Just shut up and watch."
Un Wol-hyang gave a cold glance towards the Sword Addict.
Sharp momentum like frost seeped out from her body.
Just with that, the Sword Addict felt the illusion that space was distorted and his entire body was being hacked.
A sensation one would only feel when facing a master of equal or higher status.
"Ha…… Hahahahaha! The Sword Venerable has advanced another step in the meantime."
The Sword Addict burst into laughter looking at Un Wol-hyang, finding something amusing.
His eyes were filled with competitive spirit, wanting to cross swords with her.
Eyes showing madness-filled obsession for swords regardless of time and place.
Perhaps if the Sword Addict himself weren't the Fake Heaven Sword Corps Commander, and Un Wol-hyang weren't the Branch Manager of the Northern Branch of the Martial Sovereign Castle. He might have drawn his sword demanding a fight right away.
Un Wol-hyang could also read such a mind of the Sword Addict clearly.
There is nothing to gain from scuffling with such a madman. Unless they have a proper match.
She cleared away complicated thoughts and opened her mouth.
"……Let me tell you one thing. The protagonist of this place today is not me, but my Martial Nephew."
"I know, I know. I'll focus. Since you say so, I look forward to it even more."
The Sword Addict nodded and answered.
Seeing the certainty in Un Wol-hyang's eyes, there must be something.
But unless he recovered his dantian, it would be difficult to win against a Squad Leader level martial artist of the Martial Sovereign Castle…….
'Well, it's enough for me to just see the guy's sword.'
From the start, the Sword Addict doesn't expect anything.
If he overcame it, how he overcame it.
And if he fell, how he fell.
With the brilliantly shining talent Dam Jeok-san once possessed, either way would be quite enjoyable to watch.
"……."
Senior Elder Blood Death Lord only watched the conversation between Un Wol-hyang and the Sword Addict with a quiet expression.
Well.
Did he really fail to restore his dantian?
The Blood Death Lord has lived for nearly 100 years.
As he aged, his body, that is, Essence, naturally declined.
And the Qi existing with that body as a vessel was the same.
But only the Spirit of the upper dantian has continuously developed.
Therefore, although the Blood Death Lord might not be the strongest martial artist in this place, his Spirit of the upper dantian was the most vast.
Is that why.
The moment time passed and Dam Jeok-san and Baek Ri-gwan entered the arena.
"……!"
A ray of foresight flashed through his mind like lightning.
* * *
Baek Ri-gwan entered the training ground calmly, dressed in the uniform of the Squad Leader of the Monster Repelling Squad.
Wearing a dark gray robe with the name of the Martial Sovereign Castle embroidered with tassels, he drew his Willow Leaf Saber emitting blue sharpness.
An attitude as if he had absolutely no interest in the big shots filling the area around the training ground.
Seeing that, some people spat out exclamations.
"Hmm……. It is regrettable that he is a saber user. Since the sword is the king of all weapons, tsk tsk."
The Sword Addict openly revealed his regret.
"You too have taken a step forward because of my Martial Nephew."
Un Wol-hyang admired in a low voice.
"……The Martial Sovereign Castle always has many talents."
Even the Blood Death Lord watched with a slightly interested look.
Immediately after that.
Dam Jeok-san entered from the opposite side of the training ground with slow steps.
Sky Thunder at his waist. And Red Cloud Sword on his back.
Dam Jeok-san, wearing two swords, had a leisurely look as if he were out for a stroll.
Until he lightly bowed his head and greeted Baek Ri-gwan,
Almost no one in the arena noticed that Dam Jeok-san had recovered his dantian.
Because he was suppressing his presence to the extreme.
Silence.
Uncomfortable silence hovered in the surroundings.
They thought he would have some kind of hidden card. Is he really standing here without any preparation while having lost his dantian?
Disbelief hovered among the crowd.
Whispers of 'Has the Third Young Master finally gone crazy?' flowed from everywhere.
Finally, someone raised their voice.
"I knew it would be like this!"
It was the first son of the Peng Clan, Peng Wu-yeol.
He began to chatter in front of the crowd with an enraged voice.
"To invite precious people and present a duel with such an obvious result. Lord Dam, aren't you ashamed of your past fame?"
Peng Wu-yeol looked around with a triumphant expression.
Indeed, quite a few people agreed with his words.
Smirk―
However, Dam Jeok-san only sneered, lightly twisting up the corners of his mouth.
Northern Heaven Sword Venerable Un Wol-hyang remained silent with calmly settled eyes.
"How dare……!"
The one reacting most sensitively to that was none other than the Squad Leader of the Monster Repelling Squad, Baek Ri-gwan.
His feelings toward the Hebei Peng Clan were already not very good because of his Vice-Squad Leader Peng Cho-seol.
Seeing the eldest son pushed out of the competition for Young Family Head chattering was unbearable.
However, Dam Jeok-san quietly shook his head. As if saying he is fine, so don't react.
Baek Ri-gwan forced his head to turn and looked at Dam Jeok-san.
Only faint ridicule and deep confidence, not displeasure, were dwelling on his face.
Inevitably, he ignored Peng Wu-yeol and raised his Willow Leaf Saber to aim at Dam Jeok-san.
Dam Jeok-san also slowly took the Red Cloud Sword out of its scabbard and aimed it at Baek Ri-gwan.
Still, no shockwave was felt.
"I, Dam Jeok-san, request of the Squad Leader of the Monster Repelling Squad, Baek Ri-gwan."
He spoke in a calm and clear voice.
"A spar wagering that position and authority."
"I accept."
Baek Ri-gwan also answered, slowly nodding his head.
[……If you need, I can fight without using internal arts first.]
Baek Ri-gwan sent a telepathic message to Dam Jeok-san, knowing it would be rude.
More people gathered than he thought.
Baek Ri-gwan hoped Dam Jeok-san could show as much of his skill as possible in front of them.
Because that would probably be the last appearance of the swordsman Dam Jeok-san.
So it was a suggestion made.
[No.]
Dam Jeok-san's answer returned via telepathy.
[However, your dantian is not intact, Young Master…….]
As he was about to answer.
Something was strange.
How can someone who lost their dantian use telepathy.
Before Baek Ri-gwan could escape his confusion.
Dam Jeok-san opened his mouth.
"Who says my dantian is not intact?"
The voice full of internal energy rang clearly in the ears of everyone in the training ground.
Cheers and sighs of unknown identity mixed from all directions.
But Baek Ri-gwan could hear none of them.
He looked at the opponent as if possessed.
Third Young Master, Dam Jeok-san. An intense momentum shimmered from his entire body like a lie.
A level even Baek Ri-gwan himself could never take lightly.
Compared to when he last saw him 5 years ago, the depth of internal energy is similar.
But the realization was incomparably deeper.
Feeling a chill, he gripped his Willow Leaf Saber.
If he accepts it clumsily, he will be defeated as is. No, he will die.
The current Dam Jeok-san is an opponent he must fight with all his might.
As a seasoned saber user, Baek Ri-gwan pushed the clumsy misunderstanding to the corner of his mind and raised his tension.
Fwooosh!
Deep white flames rose from his Willow Leaf Saber.
"Good reaction. I'm coming."
Dam Jeok-san looked at such Baek Ri-gwan and similarly raised his Sword Flame.
Dark blue flames like the night sky covered the Red Cloud Sword.
"Young Master, you are truly…… an amazing person."
Baek Ri-gwan muttered a word in a complicated tone as if condensing countless emotions.
"Didn't I hear such stories often originally?"
Dam Jeok-san casually brushed off his words and moved forward.
"……Congratulations on recovering your dantian. However, the one winning is still me."
Baek Ri-gwan spoke in a heavy voice.
"Our thoughts seem similar. I also think I will win."
Dam Jeok-san laughed lightly and slashed his sword down.
Swoosh!
Sword Flame stretched toward Baek Ri-gwan, burning the atmosphere.
Baek Ri-gwan reflexively blocked the sword.
With a clang! sound, the figures of the two people staggered.
Immediately the next moment.
The one reacting first was Baek Ri-gwan.
Ghostly wailing burst out from the saber of Baek Ri-gwan, who balanced himself with ghost-like footwork befitting his alias.
Kkiiiiiiiik!
That was not the voice of a ghost, but the noise created by the burning Saber Flame.
The moment he struck down with his saber, saber wind blew like a storm.
The condensed Saber Flame erupted into crescent-shaped saber qi and stretched toward Dam Jeok-san.
Dozens of saber qi flashed elusively like ghosts.
Slash! Slice!
Scratches were carved on Dam Jeok-san's body.
It was burdensome to deal with.
The Ghost Blade's saber was heavier than Dam Jeok-san's sword.
Both amount of essence and stage were superior on his side. A very natural result.
However, holding the Red Cloud Sword and possessing the ability of Predation, Dam Jeok-san continued the fight without caring at all.
'I will surely win.'
Such certainty dwelt in his eyes.
When nearly one tea-time passed like that.
Dam Jeok-san succeeded in a counterattack for the first time.
Whish!
A sword simply striking down following the fighting path of the Three Talents Sword Technique.
The move of Mount Tai Crushing the Top swept away several bundles of saber qi.
And once again. This time it is Sweeping a Thousand Armies.
Following the trajectory of the horizontal cut, the storm of the saber retreats a little.
Dam Jeok-san was dealing with Baek Ri-gwan only with perfect basics, not the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style.
Return to basics.
And put the mental image into those basics.
That was what Dam Jeok-san wanted to achieve in this battle.
"Ha……!"
Baek Ri-gwan realized that Dam Jeok-san dared to pursue another purpose while facing him.
That he was helplessly pushed back until now must have also been to counterattack with the Three Talents Sword Technique.
If the Third Young Master had used his signature techniques, the tide of battle would have been much tighter than now.
Pure white ghostly aura began to surge from the body of the enraged Baek Ri-gwan.
"Lord Dam, from now on, I will kill you."
Baek Ri-gwan, who completely brought out the true colors of the Ghost Blade, spoke in an extremely polite, yet murderous tone.
And.
"It should be at least this much."
Dam Jeok-san spoke, feeling the chilling sensation touching his neck.
He must be truly cornered. He must feel the fear that he might really die.
Although he succeeded in drawing the mental image.
Because it is still difficult to load that mental image onto the tip of the sword.
Perhaps if his life is in danger, that mental image will naturally be loaded onto the sword.
The Predation of the Three Talents Sword Technique Dam Jeok-san is currently unfolding is extremely close to the basics, so it can contain any mental image.
This was exactly the reason he didn't use the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style.
However, the Three Talents Sword Technique had clear limits in both its power and depth.
Baek Ri-gwan's saber technique filled with killing intent slowly tightened around Dam Jeok-san.
Scratches filled his entire body. Some of them were cut deeply enough to be called fatal wounds.
"Keuk……."
A short groan burst from Dam Jeok-san's mouth.
If it weren't for the Red Cloud Sword and the ability of Predation, maximizing his regenerative power through both, it would have been hard to endure.
"……You are persistent."
Baek Ri-gwan muttered, sweeping back his blood-soaked hair.
Dam Jeok-san fought unbelievably well for someone using only the Three Talents Sword Technique.
The sword stretching out honestly not only blocked most of Baek Ri-gwan's dazzling variations,
But sometimes even launched counterattacks.
Even so, it was Baek Ri-gwan himself who held the winning chance.
However, Baek Ri-gwan felt an unknown anxiety.
Because of the burning gaze emitting from Dam Jeok-san's eyes.
Those were never the eyes of a person being pushed back. Rather, they were closer to the glint in the eyes of one looking for an opportunity.
If he slowly presses him like this, the probability of falling into his intention is high.
Baek Ri-gwan judged so.
Then.
'Use an overwhelming move so he can't even seize an opportunity to do anything.'
Could he still insist on only the Three Talents Sword Technique even then?
A storm rages from Baek Ri-gwan's Willow Leaf Saber.
Not a metaphor, but truly densely condensed rotating genuine qi created a localized storm.
WHOOOOSH!!
And Baek Ri-gwan shot that storm toward Dam Jeok-san without a shred of hesitation.
The storm originating from a single saber turned into a typhoon swallowing the whole world.
Typhoons made of saber qi surround Dam Jeok-san and soar as if each possessed a will.
It was the manifestation of the ultimate technique that raised Baek Ri-gwan to the position of Squad Leader of the Monster Repelling Squad, Blade Mountain Sword Forest Wind Demon Hell.
A disaster that seemed impossible to block with the simple moves of the Three Talents Sword Technique.
However, Dam Jeok-san swung his sword once again. Three Talents Sword Technique, the move of Sweeping a Thousand Armies.
His sword looked like duckweed struggling to go against the typhoon.
Ah.
Huh.
Sighs burst out from among the spectators who predicted Dam Jeok-san's defeat.
The Sword Dragon was arrogant.
Maybe he can only use the Three Talents Sword Technique as the price for recovering his dantian?
All sorts of speculations were rampant.
However, the reaction of those sitting in the VIP seats was different.
They were shutting their mouths tight and their eyes were shining. As if expecting what would happen next.