Chapter 006. Hunt (2)
Martial Sovereign Man Su-geuk.
Immediately after issuing the order to transfer the Third Young Master Dam Jeok-san to the Northern Branch, he left for the Great Desert beyond Gansu Province.
The Great Desert in the West was considered one of the demonic realms overflowing with monsters along with the North.
Clearly, it was known so within the castle.
However, the Martial Sovereign did not leave.
Because he wanted to watch over his disciple.
The highest pavilion in the Martial Sovereign Castle.
At its peak, a middle-aged man with an impression commonly seen in the marketplace sat.
A face neither handsome nor ugly.
Features that are blurry as if they would be remembered or not.
If it weren't for the luxurious Black Dragon Robe he wore, he had an impression that wouldn't be strange even if mistaken for a village bumpkin.
However, this man was the pinnacle of the Eight Sovereigns of Murim and the guardian of the Central Plains, the Martial Sovereign.
“It is very rare for my prediction to miss…….”
The Martial Sovereign muttered lowly, looking far away.
His voice and demeanor were as natural as grass fluttering in the wind. A spirit as if he had shed a layer of human form.
Golden wheels were flashing and spinning in the Martial Sovereign's eyes.
That was proof that the Martial Sovereign was observing a distant place transcending human vision.
“Jeok-san, you surprise me.”
The Martial Sovereign Castle is an abode of demons.
Since Dam Jeok-san lost his dantian, he would eventually die even if he stayed here.
The Martial Sovereign sending Dam Jeok-san to the North was merely a last chance and a test.
Because a lifeline Dam Jeok-san could grasp existed there.
However, Dam Jeok-san found a lifeline on his own before even going there.
No, that is more than a lifeline.
He restored his shattered dantian.
Although his internal energy might have become shallow, he showed much sharper sword strikes than before.
‘……Did he undergo Body Reformation?’
Even the mighty Martial Sovereign could not figure out what had happened to Dam Jeok-san.
How did Dam Jeok-san achieve a miracle in that short time that even high monks took decades to achieve through wall-facing meditation?
Even if the Martial Sovereign himself were placed in the same situation right now, he could not guarantee the same result.
“Hahaha!”
That was enjoyable.
Unexpectedness and excellence that surpassed himself in certain parts.
What the Martial Sovereign expected from his disciples was exactly this.
The world always needs heroes who encompass the era.
Is Dam Jeok-san a vessel capable of that?
“No.”
The vessel is not what is important.
Because the one who reaches the end is not merely one with a wide vessel.
The Martial Sovereign looked far away with eyes filled with vague expectation.
A monster rampaging with strange screams and Dam Jeok-san watching it flickered and disappeared in the Martial Sovereign's eyes dyed in gold.
* * *
“Phew, have we dealt with all the squad leader levels?”
Dam Jeok-san muttered, breathing shallowly.
It was quite a difficult fight because he had literally only a handful of internal energy.
But thanks to the Predator's Eye, he could unravel the battle easily.
Because he could see the opponent's movements clearly even while hiding in the darkness.
Their eyes, their gaze were clearly visible.
And that meant he could predict their actions and paths.
So he waited for the moment their nerves loosened and ambushed them.
He cut the whistle so they couldn't give a signal by any chance.
Twisting his whole body as if squeezing it, he took the opponent's life with a swift strike before the sound of speech leaked out.
It is easy to say, but doing it in reality was quite difficult.
If anyone had watched, they would have marveled at Dam Jeok-san's marvelous fighting style, fighting skillfully with only a squeezed handful of internal energy. Perhaps something only Dam Jeok-san could do.
However, unless it was the Martial Sovereign who could look out hundreds of li away from where he sat, there was no one who could have seen his fight.
Anyway, Dam Jeok-san did not particularly feel proud of what he did.
The hunting dogs he killed today were those who moved for slaughter like puppets without will or conviction.
Swords not even worth breaking.
No matter how declined, there is a life Dam Jeok-san has built up.
From the beginning, bastards like this were not his opponents.
What he truly has to deal with is the monster being raised while captured here.
Right after thinking so.
RUMBLE!!
Along with a thunderous roar, the center of the safe house began to collapse.
Gyeong-won finally succeeded in releasing the monster.
At the same time, demonic energy begins to swell madly.
Enough to feel dizzy for a moment.
Soon.
Beyond the thick dust raised by the building's collapse, the monster slowly revealed its form.
The monster had the shape of a giant snake, but possessed a huge maw that could easily swallow a tiger.
Scales densely sprouting all over its body looked solid enough that even sword qi could not easily pierce them, and a half-cut horn was visible on the top of its head.
“A monster of the One-Horned Snake lineage.”
Seeing the blue light lingering on the scales, would it be about a Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake?
Dam Jeok-san muttered, looking at the monster calmly.
The One-Horned Snake is a type of monster that collects very dense demonic energy in its horn. And purifying and processing that horn is also a key ingredient for spiritual pills.
Probably that spiritual pill went into Woo Seo-gwang's mouth.
Tsk.
Dam Jeok-san lightly clicked his tongue.
Even at that moment, the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake was swallowing a few of the Iron Blood Woo Clan's hunting dogs.
Grrrrr―
Whether it was enjoyable to devour the trash that had oppressed and abused it until now, a quite satisfied growling sound flowed from the guy's mouth.
The Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake, having finished a short meal, flashed its eyes glowing red with demonic energy and moved its body with the sound of scales clashing.
Since its hunger wouldn't have been fully satisfied yet, it is moving to find another victim.
Gyeong-won must have released the guy and slipped away as instructed at first.
If left like this, the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake will probably clean up the hunting dogs in Dam Jeok-san's stead.
Anyway, the hunting dogs of the Iron Blood Woo Clan and the monster are all enemies that must disappear tonight. Dam Jeok-san actively utilized the strategy of using barbarians to control barbarians.
“Damn it! Where did all these morons go!”
Not long after, a middle-aged man who appeared to be the leader of the hunting dogs was heard shouting.
However, the dead have no words. The middle-aged man, who roughly grasped the situation, spat out curses and drew his sword.
Soon, a gray light blazing from his sword. It was sword qi proving he was a peak master.
“Hoh.”
A faint unusual glint dwelt in Dam Jeok-san's eyes upon seeing the sword qi.
Although the qi is turbid and has many impurities, that was definitely real sword qi.
If he were a warrior of the Iron Blood Woo Clan's main house, it might be different.
But a peak master among hunting dogs used in the dark would be extremely rare.
‘Did they deploy him to suppress the monster if it goes on a rampage?’
If so, their thinking was short.
That middle-aged man alone is not enough.
The Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake has already recovered its momentum quite a bit by devouring the Woo Clan's hunting dogs.
Moreover, that middle-aged man is a hunting dog.
At a glance, he must have lived killing humans, not monsters. He probably has almost no experience hunting monsters.
‘The victory is decided.’
Facing mysterious phenomena is such a thing.
All he has to do is wait.
While thinking so―
Save…….
Save me…….
Please save me……!
A very faint scream was heard from somewhere.
That was definitely the presence of a living person.
Dam Jeok-san threw his body toward the direction the sound was heard without hesitating for a single moment.
A while later.
The place he arrived was a small thatched cottage of unknown use. Although it was quite close to the collapsed safe house, it seemed not to have been swept up in the aftermath of the collapse.
Dam Jeok-san kicked the door as if breaking it and entered inside.
Then what came into view was a rusty iron cage that would likely be in the castle's prison.
Beyond the iron cage, there was a girl who looked to be just about thirteen.
A noticeably gaunt and skinny appearance.
Dam Jeok-san clicked his tongue inwardly at the terrible assumptions that momentarily came to mind and approached the iron cage.
Standing in front of the thick iron cage, Dam Jeok-san swung his sword without hesitation.
As a swift sword strike passed, the iron cage cut in two rolled helplessly on the floor.
Sharpness that cuts iron like a radish even though no internal energy was imbued. That was precisely one of the true values of the Sky Thunder Sword.
The girl who was desperately crying for help became mute as if she had eaten honey when Dam Jeok-san cut the iron cage and approached.
She is afraid of people. It is natural. Since she was dragged to such a harsh place at a young age.
“It’s alright, I came to save you.”
Dam Jeok-san said, lifting his bamboo hat slightly.
“…….”
The girl still examined Dam Jeok-san's face with a terrified face.
Then, for a very brief moment, a faint light of hope dwelt in the girl's eyes.
“The, the Martial Sovereign's disciple……?”
The girl said, looking at Dam Jeok-san with a slightly surprised tone.
“……Do you know me?”
Dam Jeok-san asked with a slightly complicated voice.
“……Yes, I saw your face at the triumphal ceremony two years ago.”
The girl spoke clearly while suppressing her fear.
The Martial Sovereign held a triumphal ceremony every year on his way back from subjugating monsters.
Two years ago was just after Dam Jeok-san earned the alias Sword Dragon.
At that time, after participating in the subjugation war, he returned to the castle by the Martial Sovereign's side.
‘To remember what she saw then, she is quite clever.’
Indeed, that must be why she could cry for help and speak clearly even in this situation.
“You are smart. Can you tell me how you came here by chance, and what you experienced here?”
At Dam Jeok-san's words, the girl showed hesitation but slowly began to open her mouth.
There was a famine, and they got into debt with a loan shark.
Enticed by the words that he would pay back that money for them, the family followed him together and were all imprisoned here.
A common yet cruel story because it is common flowed from the girl's mouth.
Dam Jeok-san slowly nodded and listened attentively to the girl's words.
However, the moment the story came out that one of the men called squad leader fed the child's mother alive to the monster in front of the girl just for fun.
Even Dam Jeok-san could no longer maintain his composure.
“Stop, that is enough.”
Dam Jeok-san, who entered the iron cage, lifted the girl with those words.
He maximally suppressed the boiling anger inside, fearing the girl would shrink back if he let out killing intent by chance.
But inside his heart, sticky anger was already boiling.
Originally, he didn't intend to let it pass easily, but he could absolutely not overlook this matter. His Second Senior Brother and the Iron Blood Woo Clan must pay the price for their karma.
Dam Jeok-san lightly patted the girl's head.
“Close your eyes for a moment. Then everything will be alright.”
At his words, the girl nodded.
“That’s right, Mom said so. That the Martial Sovereign always protects us…….”
“…….”
―The Martial Sovereign will always protect you.
Dam Jeok-san gently felt the girl's sleeping acupoint instead of answering.
As someone belonging to the Martial Sovereign Castle.
And as someone who failed to punish the Iron Blood Woo Clan's barbarity in time even while knowing it.
Because he couldn't bear to say anything.
* * *
Gyeong-won, who received the rough map drawn by Dam Jeok-san, infiltrated the center of the safe house where the monster was trapped after a few trials and errors.
There were only insignificant guys on the outskirts, but a peak master manifesting sword qi was patrolling near the center.
However, Gyeong-won was also a martial artist who reached the level of being able to manifest sword qi by training with grit after Dam Jeok-san lost his dantian.
‘Although it is insufficient to be called peak yet…….’
He could somehow deceive the opponent's eyes and ears.
After infiltrating with difficulty, Gyeong-won, who cut the chains wrapping the monster's body and neutralized the formation, quickly left the place first.
The core of this operation is ultimately to make the peak master, the leader of the hunting dog side, and the monster fight each other.
A while later, Gyeong-won, confirming the clash between the leader and the monster, found Dam Jeok-san in a secluded thatched cottage nearby.
He was holding a girl in his arms.
“Gyeong-won, please take care of this child.”
“Pardon?”
A child? Suddenly what child?
Gyeong-won asked back with a perplexed expression, and Dam Jeok-san handed over the sleeping girl to Gyeong-won instead of explaining at length.
“Haha, wouldn't you be better than me at protecting?”
Dam Jeok-san said so and held his sword obliquely with a light body.
Gyeong-won, holding the girl, felt an unprecedented chill watching such a Dam Jeok-san.
Because although Dam Jeok-san appeared relaxed as usual when speaking, cold killing intent was dripping from every single action.
I will kill it.
Although he didn't spit it out with his mouth, it even gave the illusion that he was saying so.
Anger to the extent that even Gyeong-won, who had been with him for almost his entire life, had never seen. Even when he lost his dantian, he didn't seem to be this angry.
But despite that, Dam Jeok-san's posture holding the sword was elegant and stable.
Proof that he did not lose control over himself even though he was enraged.
‘Then I just have to carry out the liege’s order.’
If Dam Jeok-san falls into a crisis by any chance, he can lend a hand then.
Gyeong-won judged so and quietly took a step back.
Dam Jeok-san slowly walked out of the thatched cottage with the Sky Thunder Sword hanging down.
* * *
Grrrrrrrrr―
A strange cry flowed out, squeezing through the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake's mouth.
A half-broken sword was embedded deeply in the guy's left eye, and there were large and small wounds all over the scales.
The leader of the hunting dogs. It was a scar left by that peak master with all his might before dying.
Even so, he couldn't let his guard down. Since it is a monster that chewed and killed even a peak master.
But Dam Jeok-san moved forward instead of calculating the odds of victory as usual.
Isn't that child's misfortune ultimately caused because he missed the time debating practicality or odds of victory complacently?
Yes, he knows that is an excessive interpretation.
However, as Dam Jeok-san who faced the girl directly, he couldn't help but feel responsible.
I will cut the monster.
I will kill it and swallow it to become strong.
And with that power, I will do what I ought to do. As the Martial Sovereign's disciple. And also as a human being.
Having resolved so, he reached close enough for the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake's foul breath to touch him before he knew it.
Coming to the place where toxic demonic energy was raging, strangely enough, his mind felt at ease and vitality returned to his body.
It is not a simple illusion.
The predator's instinct he possesses. The power of Predation not fully shown in the translucent and strange window.
Was casting over him confronting the monster.
While he was advancing against the storm of demonic energy like that, Dam Jeok-san realized instinctively.
Surely he could realize it because ‘he’ wanted it, but.
The important thing is the fact that there is another audience watching this place.
“I will show you, Master.”
Dam Jeok-san muttered toward the starlit night sky, beyond that.