Chapter 005. Hunt
“Gyeong-won.”
Dam Jeok-san slowly opened his mouth while looking at Gyeong-won.
He had a determined look as if he had made up his mind about something.
Gyeong-won was surprised to see such a Dam Jeok-san.
Not even a double hour had passed since he regained his dantian, yet he was already acting like this.
It was very astonishing decisiveness.
Well.
The Dam Jeok-san he knew was always like that.
Not only before his dantian was shattered, but even before he learned martial arts.
He was a person who moved forward rather than hesitating, and surely followed through on that path.
That was one of the reasons why Gyeong-won respected Dam Jeok-san.
“Please give your order.”
He answered while organizing his thoughts.
“Did you think I was going to give an order?”
Then Dam Jeok-san asked back with a smirk.
“Were you not?”
Gyeong-won answered somewhat playfully.
He had been with Dam Jeok-san for almost his entire life, ever since the days when Dam Jeok-san lost his hometown to monsters and wandered around.
A relationship more like brothers than brothers who share blood.
There was no way such a Gyeong-won would not know Dam Jeok-san's intentions.
“You are right. I have an order.”
Dam Jeok-san nodded while looking at Gyeong-won.
“Let’s go on a hunt.”
At those words, Gyeong-won's eyes deepened significantly.
“……Are you talking about a hunt?”
The hunt Dam Jeok-san was talking about couldn't be catching wild animals.
Thinking about the context of the story, it must be about hunting the monster secretly raised by the Iron Blood Woo Clan.
According to what was investigated previously, hunting dogs raised in the shadows by the Iron Blood Woo Clan were stationed there.
It must be to cut off the tail even if discovered.
Compared to the elites of the Iron Blood Woo Clan's main house, they are guys falling far behind.
However, they were not opponents to be taken lightly.
Especially now when Dam Jeok-san has just recovered his dantian.
Even if he trusted him, he couldn't help but worry.
While he was pondering like that.
Dam Jeok-san opened his mouth with a faint smile.
“Are you scared of hunting monsters?”
“Yes, I am afraid I might die without protecting you, Young Master. Because there will be those guarding the monster as well as the monster itself.”
Gyeong-won answered honestly while looking at such a Dam Jeok-san.
“Me too, I am scared of dying. Everyone who lives by the sword probably feels the same.”
Because those who don't know how to fear death would have already died.
Dam Jeok-san added like that.
“Still, we are going hunting. That is an order.”
At those words, Gyeong-won slowly nodded.
“Yes, I will follow your order.”
Dam Jeok-san's words are right.
Those who don't value their lives die first.
But those who willingly take risks even while knowing the value of their lives are different.
They always ponder ways to overcome the approaching danger.
They always strive to succeed rather than giving up and choosing death.
Dam Jeok-san was also of that kind.
And he proved his ability.
Because he regained his shattered dantian.
‘He accomplished something in an instant that would take even geniuses tens of years.’
Gyeong-won, realizing that fact, decided to just follow the order.
“Right, right. I told you I have a plan.”
Dam Jeok-san muttered with satisfaction while looking at Gyeong-won bowing his head politely.
* * *
He talked big to the Black Panther Spear and Gyeong-won this way and that, but.
The purpose Dam Jeok-san pursues through a series of actions can be summarized simply in the end.
That is precisely becoming stronger.
Because in this heartless Kangho, strength is ultimately the most important thing no matter what one tries to achieve.
Dam Jeok-san thought so and looked at his beloved sword.
The name of the sword is Sky Thunder.
It is a famous sword bestowed by his master, the Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle, when he first manifested sword qi.
A handle with a luxurious purple hue and a scabbard of the same color.
There was a time when he earned the alias Sword Dragon while traversing the Kangho holding this sword.
But now, since he was not in a position to carry it proudly.
Dam Jeok-san wrapped the Sky Thunder Sword tightly with bandages. So that no one would recognize it by chance.
That was the same for his appearance as well.
Instead of the martial uniform of the Martial Sovereign Castle, he draped clothes like rags over his body and pressed a bamboo hat deep down.
An appearance that looked like a wanderer living by the sword at best.
Not only Dam Jeok-san but Gyeong-won also had a similar appearance.
Since they couldn't go around advertising that they were people from the Martial Sovereign Castle.
“Being like this reminds me of old times.”
Gyeong-won said while looking at Dam Jeok-san.
“Indeed.”
Before becoming the Martial Sovereign's disciple, the days when there was nowhere in the world to set foot came to mind.
From then until now. Dam Jeok-san had changed a lot.
But the essential things didn't change much.
Since he is still in a situation where he has to struggle like this just to survive.
But he did not despair.
Rather, if he was thankful for being given a chance to struggle, he was thankful.
* * *
Late at night.
Dam Jeok-san and Gyeong-won secretly slipped out of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
The first thing seen was a street lined with luxurious taverns and inns.
That place was like a nightless city with lanterns lit even at night, but it took no time to slip out of there hiding in the crowd.
“You just have to go straight west from here.”
Gyeong-won said, pointing to a peak towering over there.
It is a low mountain on the outskirts quite far from the Martial Sovereign Castle.
That is precisely where the facility in which the Iron Blood Woo Clan raises monsters is hidden.
It was almost the Hour of the Ox (1 AM - 3 AM) when their steps reached the low mountain Gyeong-won pointed to.
“Wait.”
Dam Jeok-san raised his hand toward Gyeong-won and spoke in a low voice.
“It seems we are almost there.”
At those words, Gyeong-won looked around with sharp eyes.
But he couldn't find any suspicious traces nearby.
“They erased their traces quite diligently.”
Dam Jeok-san said with a faint laugh.
Yes.
Traces left by humans can be erased.
Unless one is an expert in tracking, Dam Jeok-san also couldn't find traces of humans here.
But.
“I smell it.”
Dam Jeok-san muttered quietly.
That was a very disgusting smell. One that humans instinctively feel repulsed by.
But to Dam Jeok-san, it felt more fragrant than anything else.
Because this was the lingering scent of demonic energy.
And fresh demonic energy that can be predated at that.
Dam Jeok-san felt his appetite boiling up and slowly raised his finger.
Toward where his instinct pointed.
“Let’s go that way.”
“I understand.”
As Dam Jeok-san spoke with conviction, Gyeong-won followed his instruction without any particular objection.
As they walked about one tea-time more like that, the sense of incongruity began to deepen enough for even Gyeong-won to feel.
The eerie energy of monsters that rejects the essence of humans.
And faint presences hovering around there.
‘Are you saying the Young Master was already feeling these things?’
Gyeong-won thought with a very surprised expression.
His senses are never dull. Rather, they were very sensitive compared to martial artists of the same level.
Since he had lived with his nerves on edge to protect Dam Jeok-san, it was natural if one could call it natural.
However, Dam Jeok-san sensed the demonic energy much faster than such a Gyeong-won.
To show such ability when it hasn't been long since he regained his dantian.
‘I have always watched the Young Master by his side, but lately, the more I see, the less I know.’
It had been like that since he suddenly accomplished the recovery of the dantian, which was said to be insufficient even with decades of accumulated merit.
Instead of understanding, Gyeong-won decided to just accept it. The special ability his liege possesses.
“Please order what I should do now.”
“Hmm…….”
At Gyeong-won's words, Dam Jeok-san rubbed his chin for a moment and fell into thought.
“They are moving busily, it seems necessary to shake them up big once.”
He said, slightly frowning.
“Can you see that from here?”
When Gyeong-won asked in surprise, Dam Jeok-san nodded.
It is late at night now. Moreover, the hunting dogs of the Iron Blood Woo Clan were hiding without lighting a single torch.
Unless one is a Murim warrior with very profound internal energy, it is normal to have difficulty distinguishing even an inch ahead.
However, as Dam Jeok-san raised his concentration, the appearance of that place was naturally seen.
‘Is this the Predator's Eye…….’
Dam Jeok-san admired in a low voice.
Although he saw it in Seo Woo-joo's memories, its performance was beyond imagination.
Even now he can see the night scenery as clearly as broad daylight, but.
As the ability of Predation grows, the ability of the eye will also become stronger together.
Probably by then, he will possess an ability not inferior to most supreme eye techniques of the Kangho Murim.
“It seems there is a monster in that center. Rather than confronting head-on, it would be better to release it to aggravate the chaos.”
Dam Jeok-san took out paper and a brush from his bosom, quickly drew a rough map, and said.
For something drawn in an instant, it was quite clear in shape. A pitch-black dot was marked at the location presumed to be where the monster was.
“Gyeong-won, you go to where the monster is and release it.”
Dam Jeok-san said, handing over the rough map to Gyeong-won.
Considering the level of the hunting dogs, it is fully possible for Gyeong-won, who is quite versed in stealth techniques.
“Then, Young Master……?”
“I have to shake them from the other side. To completely screw over every single one of the hunting dogs.”
Dam Jeok-san said with a cold laugh.
“I will follow your order.”
Gyeong-won said, bowing his head.
It is not that he isn't anxious about moving separately from Dam Jeok-san.
But because his trust in Dam Jeok-san is much greater than that anxiety, Gyeong-won followed his order without hesitation.
“Ah, and.”
Dam Jeok-san added as he watched Gyeong-won leaving.
“If by any chance civilians are detained…… you must save them.”
At his words, Gyeong-won slowly nodded.
I will kill the monster.
And I will save the people sacrificed to the monster.
Those two things were what they, who lost their hometown and parents to monsters, vowed when they first joined the Martial Sovereign Castle.
* * *
“Patrolling a low mountain where there isn't even a mouse, let alone an intruder, I’m bored to death…….”
A man belonging to the Black Kill, the hunting dog group of the Iron Blood Woo Clan, muttered irritably.
His mission was originally kidnapping, threatening, torturing, and murdering those who posed a threat to the Iron Blood Woo Clan.
But as the Iron Blood Woo Clan started raising monsters, he was suddenly sent here.
Except for occasionally feeding the monster, a damn place with no entertainment whatsoever.
If there is a good point, is it that he is a squad leader leading five hunting dogs?
There were 4 squad leaders like the man, and above him was only the person in charge here.
But that is also temporary.
The man, who was kidnapped by the Iron Blood Woo Clan since childhood and educated only on how to kill people, and lived taking pleasure in that, was on the verge of going crazy these days.
To the extent of wishing for a passing merchant or wanderer to get caught.
‘It would be great if I could cruelly torture just one guy and then kill him…….’
The man thought, wetting his lips with his tongue.
While he was loitering around like that―
Flinch.
Suddenly, a chilling sensation ran down the man's spine.
But when he turned his head and looked around, he couldn't find anything.
Tsk, thinking this was all because he missed the taste of blood, the man clicked his tongue inwardly.
However, he did not know.
The fact that sword light flashed in the darkness.
And the fact that the sword light quietly cut the string of the whistle hanging around his neck.
“Yaaawn…….”
While the man was yawning and patrolling again.
A freak looking like a beggar with a bamboo hat pressed down was seen.
‘What beggar is……?’
No, seeing that he was holding a sword even though wrapped in bandages, he might be a wanderer.
It seemed like he had accumulated internal energy, albeit only the size of a millet seed.
But to the man, such things weren't very important.
He didn't know why such a shabby wanderer wandered all the way here. Since sometimes unlucky guys wandered in after getting lost.
But one certain thing was the fact that the guy didn't look that strong.
Internal energy the size of a millet seed and a slender physique.
He wondered if he could even swing the sword properly.
The man, whose hands were itching uncontrollably just in time, smiled insidiously.
‘Well, still, I should call the other guys first…….’
But since he was thoroughly educated as a hunting dog in his own way, he looked for the whistle first according to the rules.
Because he had to announce the existence of an intruder.
Anyway, those guys wouldn't take the man's prey.
However, it wasn't there.
The whistle that was definitely hanging around his neck had disappeared.
“Are you looking for this?”
Before he knew it, the freak who approached the man's side like a phantom asked.
“……Huup!”
The man was astonished at that moment and drew his sword.
Although not a master, he was a martial artist who learned internal arts, so his spirit was formidable.
Especially, even though it was a sword swung in panic, the killing intent to surely kill the opponent was dripping.
Indeed, should he be called a hunting dog specializing in killing people?
If it were an ordinary person, it was a move that would have taken their head before they could even react properly.
Even the man who swung the sword thought it was all over for a moment.
But the freak dodged his sword lightly as if he came out for a stroll.
“……!”
The moment he saw that, the man felt terrifying fear.
A master……!
And a master of a level he could absolutely never deal with at that.
Why on earth does such a person possess only dust-like internal energy?
‘I must inform this fact immediately……!’
But the man wasn't even given a chance to let out a dying scream.
Because right in the next moment, severe pain surged from the nape of his neck along with a warm sensation.
Drip.
As he touched his neck, crimson fresh blood smeared.
His vocal cords were cut, so no sound came out. Only the sound of leaking wind.
The man looked up at the freak with an expression of incomprehension, but he only stared blankly at him with a cool gaze.
Just as he did when he brutally murdered someone, his interest in the one who already stopped breathing was gone.
The moment the freak shook off the blood on the sword, the man's body also began to collapse slowly.
“Is this the maximum……?”
Dam Jeok-san, who glanced at the falling man, muttered discontentedly.
Strength is lacking.
To fill the insufficient strength, he must devour the monster.
Didn't he come here precisely for that?
The center of the safe house.
Appetite wriggled in Dam Jeok-san's eyes looking at the place where Gyeong-won headed.