Chapter 050. I Will Ask Nothing.
"Now."
The Blood Death Lord spoke as he strode toward Dam Jeok-san.
Killing intent thick enough to be unbearable poured from his body.
It was so dense that the martial artists nearby flinched in surprise.
However, Dam Jeok-san waited for the next words with an indifferent expression. Like someone having an ordinary conversation.
"Are you saying that this old man has no authority to force you, Sword Dragon?"
"That is correct."
Dam Jeok-san nodded without a shred of hesitation at those words.
WHOOOSH!
Suddenly swelling killing intent pressed down on both of Dam Jeok-san's shoulders.
It wasn't just a 'feeling,' but the power of materialized will.
A stage where even killing intent is forged and wielded like a weapon. That was the Entering Transformation Realm, called the ultimate of martial artists.
But such things weren't very important to Dam Jeok-san.
Because he had an upright character that spoke his mind clearly even in front of the Castle Lord, a master discussed throughout all times.
"I am now the Squad Leader of the Monster Repelling Squad. The only ones who can give me orders in the Northern land are the Branch Manager and the Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander."
"……."
"If I bow my head to the Blood Death Lord here, wouldn't that be tarnishing the honor of the Martial Sovereign Castle?"
At Dam Jeok-san's words, the Blood Death Lord slowly shook his head.
"Orders are given by power, not authority. That is the most basic common sense constituting the world, survival of the fittest."
With those words, gray shockwaves soared from the Blood Death Lord's entire body.
It was energy ferocious and domineering beyond measure, as if he truly intended to subdue Dam Jeok-san.
Befitting a monster who lived for 100 years, his internal energy was also incomparably profound.
Dam Jeok-san frowned slightly.
No matter how many hidden cards he possessed, he was not at a level to face an Entering Transformation Realm master head-on.
Even if they fought a hundred times, he would surely lose a hundred times.
The situation was not good at all, but the smile did not disappear from Dam Jeok-san's lips.
Because he had no intention of fighting directly.
SHING!
It was at that moment that Un Wol-hyang drew her sword toward the Blood Death Lord.
The sword tip emitting cool sharpness aimed at the Blood Death Lord's neck.
Although the distance was considerable, if the Sword Venerable decided to, sword qi would immediately rush in and chop the Blood Death Lord's neck.
Of course, he also had no intention of being defeated easily, but it was a perilous situation that could escalate into an all-out war if slightly mishandled.
"I will ask nothing of the Squad Leader of the Monster Repelling Squad. That is my will."
Un Wol-hyang continued speaking, still aiming her sword.
"Hehehehe……."
Hearing those words, somewhat hollow laughter flowed from the Blood Death Lord's mouth.
At the same time, the killing intent that was thick enough to choke disappeared as if washed away in an instant.
"If you say so to that extent, there is no helping it."
The old man shook his head while rubbing his wrinkled chin.
The capability Dam Jeok-san showed clearly exceeded the level of a Peak master.
It was so when dealing with Baek Ri-gwan, but that was at an understandable level.
However, from the moment he detected the demonic energy before the Entering Transformation Realm masters in the VIP seats and fired sword qi toward it, situations far beyond the Blood Death Lord's expectations continued.
Especially seeing him bounce off the Unorthodox art, he almost fainted.
Unorthodox art is a technique that directly intervenes in Heaven's Principles and twists even fate.
Even the Blood Death Lord, whose upper dantian is extremely developed among Entering Transformation Realm masters, would have to risk his life to bounce off an Unorthodox art in an unprepared situation.
Yet, he doesn't know what kind of harmony was at play, but didn't Dam Jeok-san, merely a Peak master, pull off that stunt?
'Even he himself looked like he didn't put much effort into it, right?'
If he were 30 years younger, he would have interrogated Dam Jeok-san even risking a clash with the Sword Venerable.
If necessary, he would have tried to find out the identity of the ability that bounced off the Unorthodox art, whether by splitting the guy's head or cutting open his belly.
But the current Blood Death Lord has aged a lot, and has become milder to that extent.
Through the foresight of his upper dantian, he confirmed that Dam Jeok-san was at least not a traitor colluding with the Yin God Cult or monsters.
Isn't that enough?
'Moreover.'
For a moment, the image of Dam Jeok-san straightening his back stiffly reflected in the Blood Death Lord's eyes.
'Even if this old man uses tricks, he doesn't seem likely to be easily defeated.'
Retreating is the best option here. The Blood Death Lord judged so.
"We will withdraw now. We will leave the handling of the spy to the Martial Sovereign Castle and the Righteous Heaven Alliance."
The Blood Death Lord spoke in a light tone.
[Young Alliance Leader, did you see?]
At the same time, he sent a telepathic message to the Young Alliance Leader who was standing vacantly behind him.
[……What are you talking about?]
Yeon Jeong-un answered with his back teeth clenched tight.
[The Sword Dragon.]
To that, the Blood Death Lord answered as if asking isn't it obvious.
[I saw him. Yes, he is still far away.]
Yeon Jeong-un's answer clearly contained anger despite being a telepathic message.
He didn't just feel the gap in martial prowess.
The essential vessel as a human being is different. Yeon Jeong-un realized that fact anew.
Even himself, the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, dared not resist carelessly against the Blood Death Lord sitting in the position of Senior Elder.
Because the Blood Death Lord, an old monster among old monsters, was one of the most difficult figures to deal with within the Alliance, except for the Unorthodox Alliance Leader, from Yeon Jeong-un's perspective.
Yet Dam Jeok-san faced him without a shred of hesitation. Even if he trusted the Northern Heaven Sword Venerable, it was something hard to put into action.
[Knowing oneself and the enemy seems certain. This old man will give you a pass, Young Alliance Leader.]
The Blood Death Lord turned his back and spoke while leaving the Grand Training Hall of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Slight surprise appeared on the face of the Young Alliance Leader following behind him.
He thought his qualification as a successor might be doubted because he revealed his sense of defeat nakedly.
But a pass instead.
He felt his mind becoming complicated.
Does that mean the gap between himself and Dam Jeok-san is that big?
'No, that extent is correct.'
To catch up with Dam Jeok-san someday, first, he had to acknowledge that gap.
Just looking at now, that guy Dam Jeok-san only engaged in a battle of spirits with the Senior Elder and didn't even give a glance to him.
Next time we meet, you will have no choice but to be conscious of me. Because I will return as a strong enough person.
Deep malice settled in the eyes of the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, Yeon Jeong-un.
* * *
"If you allow, we would like to interrogate this child, is that alright?"
Fake Heaven Sword Corps Commander, Sword Addict, looked at Un Wol-hyang and spoke.
He was still suppressing the Righteous Heaven Alliance martial artist by pressing down on him with the flat of his sword.
That martial artist was practically in a state no different from a person who lost their soul.
Because both the original soul and the possessed soul of the Yin God Cult Cardinal had died.
A pitiful state where only the body survived unable to die. Interrogating him wouldn't yield anything.
Un Wol-hyang expressed her will by quietly nodding her head.
"Thank you."
The Sword Addict expressed his gratitude bitterly.
And looked at the martial artist who had completely lost his mind and become an idiot.
"This child's name is Kang Mun-seok, a person from Kaifeng, Henan, and his age this year is thirty-eight."
The Sword Addict spoke in a quiet voice.
"He lived a life that wasn't special, but quite dazzling."
Kang Mun-seok was a common orphan in Kaifeng.
The child who barely sustained his life by begging in the back alleys of the metropolis Kaifeng became a warrior of a third-rate Unorthodox organization at the age of sixteen.
Called a warrior, he was just a thug carrying a rusty knife and stealing money begged by orphans.
Even that was possible because Kang Mun-seok was born with a talent that could be called natural for fighting in its own way.
It was 10 years later that he, who had absolutely no connection with the Righteous Heaven Alliance, became a warrior of the Alliance.
Twenty-six-year-old Kang Mun-seok beat up a dozen organization members single-handedly and smashed the third-rate Unorthodox group he belonged to.
Because an orphan he cherished was beaten to death by the head of the organization.
But as Unorthodox factions in the back alleys usually are, the organization he smashed was merely a subordinate organization paying tribute to another organization.
Because of that incident, Kang Mun-seok became a fugitive chased by the Black Snake Sect, the superior organization.
When he was surrounded by dozens of Black Snake Sect members and bleeding profusely, a Righteous Heaven Alliance martial artist passing nearby coincidentally saved Kang Mun-seok.
Kang Mun-seok thus became a trainee warrior of the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
And today, 10 years later, he was staying in the North as a formal martial artist belonging to the Fake Heaven Sword Corps.
"It was such a life, scattered all over this heartless Gangho Murim."
The Sword Addict spoke in a bitter tone.
Although he is called a madman crazy about swords, if he were truly crazy only about swords, the Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader would not have made the Sword Addict the Fake Heaven Sword Corps Commander.
He was a virtuous general who remembered the names, ages, and stories of his subordinates one by one.
"Still, thanks to you, Sword Dragon, this child did not commit too great a sin. Thank you."
The Sword Addict clasped his hands in a fist salute and bowed deeply to Dam Jeok-san.
An action too polite for the Fake Heaven Sword Corps Commander and an Elder of the Mount Hua Sect.
However, sincere heart was contained in the Sword Addict's eyes.
If not for this incident, he would have grabbed Dam Jeok-san and insisted on discussing swords and having a spar.
But he too was a person serious enough when serious.
"I merely did what I had to do."
Dam Jeok-san answered, only now roughly tossing Baek Ri-gwan aside.
"I shall not forget your grace, so find me whenever you need me."
With those words as the last, the Sword Addict also disappeared leisurely carrying the Righteous Heaven Alliance martial artist, Kang Mun-seok.
Sword Addict disappearing by unfolding Mount Hua's secret movement technique, Plum Blossom Scent Drift, to the extreme. The Righteous Heaven Alliance martial artists barely followed behind him.
And among them, the figures of Peng Wu-yeol and Hwangbo Gyeong were also seen.
"Ha."
A faint sneer hung on Namgung Yeon's mouth seeing the scumbags running away with their tails between their legs.
Fear was clearly evident on their faces.
They must be thinking that Dam Jeok-san might remember what they ridiculed.
Since they were marked by a martial artist who might become the next Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Even if they are legitimate bloodlines of the Five Great Families, from the perspective of those who are not successors, their hearts must be tightening quite a bit.
'But Lord Dam probably won't even care.'
But Namgung Yeon will remember. Every single word those bastards chattered recklessly about Dam Jeok-san.
And someday pay it back several times over. The price for recklessly running their mouths at her benefactor.
The Righteous Heaven Alliance procession leaving like that was noisy with stories about Dam Jeok-san.
Starting from discussions on whether the Sword Dragon's stage became higher than before losing his dantian, or not.
Questions on whether the succession struggle over the seat of the Martial Sovereign Castle Lord has kicked off again.
And even doubts on whether Northern Heaven Sword Venerable Un Wol-hyang stood on Dam Jeok-san's side in that struggle.
Even the Orthodox Murim people cannot take their eyes off the movements of the Martial Sovereign Castle, called the Number One Power under Heaven.
* * *
Thus, both the Righteous Heaven Alliance and the Unorthodox Alliance left.
A place where only the martial artists of the Martial Sovereign Castle and Namgung Yeon remained.
Dam Jeok-san was catching his breath for a moment while looking around at those remaining.
Subduing Baek Ri-gwan, firing sword qi, bouncing off Unorthodox art, and even engaging in a battle of spirits with this Blood Death Lord.
No matter how much of an iron man he is, it is a situation where he has no choice but to feel mental exhaustion.
'Did they say those guys were Hwangbo Gyeong and Peng Wu-yeol?'
Even Yeon Jeong-un, the Young Alliance Leader of the Unorthodox Alliance, lowered his eyes, yet the blood relatives of the Five Great Families dared to act arrogantly towards him.
Unlike Namgung Yeon's thought, Dam Jeok-san tends to remember petty grudges well, so he clearly engraved their names in his head too.
"You worked hard, Squad Leader."
Northern Heaven Sword Venerable Un Wol-hyang said with a beaming smile, curling up her eyes.
"In the name of the Branch Manager of the Northern Branch, I guarantee your position and authority, so perform your duties with all your might."
Un Wol-hyang said, placing her hand on Dam Jeok-san's shoulder.
"Yes."
Dam Jeok-san expressed his agreement by lightly bowing his head.
The Third Young Master coming to the North was practically no different from exile.
No, speaking mildly it is exile, in reality, it is a death sentence.
Even in the Northern Branch, such words circulated quite often for a while.
However, now that Dam Jeok-san has become the Squad Leader of the Monster Repelling Squad, no one dared to voice those words.
Silence like a dead mouse hovered.
Someone felt awe at Dam Jeok-san's achievement as a martial artist.
Someone else felt wariness.
And a very few doubted, but.
No one revealed their inner thoughts.
Clap clap clap clap―
Thus, applause burst from all directions.
Because the Northern Wind Sword Corps welcomed a stronger Squad Leader. It was a day deserving of celebration.
However.
Amidst that applause, a woman with a slender physique walked out with heavy steps.
"I am Vice-Squad Leader of the Monster Repelling Squad, Peng Cho-seol."
Holding a great saber larger than her body, she bowed politely and spoke.
But apart from her polite demeanor, unprecedented fighting spirit was shimmering from Peng Cho-seol's body.
'I want to fight.'
Baek Ri-gwan lost. Then there is a high probability that Dam Jeok-san is a master of a higher level than her. But is it really so? She couldn't believe it before clashing with her own body directly.
However.
Peng Cho-seol dared not pick a fight with the new Squad Leader.
Because he protected Ghost Blade Baek Ri-gwan.
He reached out his hand to him and received his loyalty.
Even at the moment of firing sword qi at the person suspected of being a spy, he protected Baek Ri-gwan who suffered serious injuries.
No matter how stubborn Peng Cho-seol was, she couldn't rush at the new Squad Leader who showed such an upright appearance.
No, even if she rushed, it wasn't now.
Because he was in a very exhausted state at a glance.
But Dam Jeok-san had a different thought.
"Nice to meet you, Vice-Squad Leader Peng. Seeing your face, it seems full of will to fight, how about a round?"
He asked toward Peng Cho-seol, twirling the Red Cloud Sword.