Chapter 008. Hunt (4)
After predating on the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake, Dam Jeok-san slowly pulled out the sword he was leaning on and sheathed it back.
As he steadied his breathing a few times, strength returned little by little to his body that had been drained of energy.
Considering he had overexerted himself to the point of vomiting blood, his body condition wasn't too bad.
It seemed he also saw the effect of healing internal injuries through qi circulation while filling up his internal energy abundantly with the ability of Predation.
But the fundamental problem hadn't disappeared.
“Gyeong-won, please guard me for a moment.”
Dam Jeok-san said so and sat on the ground crossing his legs.
Seeing Gyeong-won guarding the surroundings, Dam Jeok-san slowly started qi circulation.
Energy released from the dantian circulates through the acupoints of the whole body and heals internal injuries.
But strangely―
‘The speed of recovery is beyond imagination?’
Dam Jeok-san was appalled seeing the internal injuries already healed by nearly half.
At the time of the first Predation.
When the dantian returned intact, the wastes accumulated in the body were also expelled together.
He knew that his body had become better for managing qi thanks to that, but this wasn't simply a matter of that dimension.
‘The speed at which the body recovers is different in itself.’
Even the same injury heals much faster than before.
Even the internal injury he suffered now is at a level that would originally require at least two days of recuperation.
But he had barely started qi circulation and it was already half healed?
It is impossible unless one undergoes Body Reformation like absolute masters and possesses a superhuman physique.
But Dam Jeok-san knows.
That the changes he experienced are by no means inferior to Body Reformation.
It is only natural, he regained a shattered dantian after all.
In addition to that, it is a situation where it is not an exaggeration to say that the body's regenerative power itself has developed dramatically.
Although it feels new again.
Predation was truly an ability with infinite possibilities.
Thinking so, Dam Jeok-san slowly gathered the qi spread throughout the acupoints of his whole body back into the dantian.
Although the internal energy itself is lacking compared to before losing the dantian, the flow is much faster and more stable.
Is it to the extent that a child of a famous family who received marrow cleansing and hair cutting in childhood would be like this?
‘If I reach the same level as before losing the dantian while possessing this ability…….’
Perhaps he could easily defeat his former self.
Considering he doesn't even know half about the ability of Predation yet, the potential would be truly endless.
‘Even so, it is merely a means.’
He thought, steeling his mind that was about to loosen.
Dam Jeok-san's goal is not just being a mediocre master.
Because then, surviving in the Martial Sovereign Castle would also be impossible.
He must become the best.
Enough to rival his master, the Martial Sovereign.
Whether knowing Dam Jeok-san's strong desire or not.
All the genuine qi swirling around his whole body was stored within the dantian.
An amount of accumulated qi that could be called quite stable.
Now it's not a level where he would vomit blood just by using Sword Flame once.
Although time is still needed to reach the level before losing the dantian, considering the ability of Predation, that too won't take long.
‘Moreover, at this level, it’s worth trying to compete with the Second Senior Brother who only has ignorantly large internal energy.’
Dam Jeok-san rose from his seat with satisfaction.
And around that time.
“……?”
The girl held in Gyeong-won's arms regained consciousness.
* * *
― Hyang-ah, Hyang-ah……. You must survive no matter what.
― Kuku, look at these lowly things acting like family. Isn't it funny?
― Hehe, indeed, Squad Leader. If there wasn't even the fun of watching things like this, how could we have endured in this mountain valley…….
― Watch closely, little kid. You will also follow your mother soon!
The girl, Lee Hyang, clearly remembered the moment her mother died.
Her mother screaming at her to survive no matter what.
And the men mocking such a mother and herself.
Finally, even the giant snake monster that swallowed her mother whole in one bite.
Despair she had never felt before wrapped around the girl's body and mind.
If she could rather die together with her mother. Wouldn't that be comfortable?
She felt that way too, but the girl had no choice. Because the monsters wearing human masks locked the girl back in the thatched cottage.
The girl barely continued a life worse than death, clinging only to the words left by her mother.
The reason she desperately asked to be saved when the building collapsed was also because she couldn't ignore her mother's last words.
She no longer wished for anything.
She certainly thought so.
Even until she was rescued by Dam Jeok-san.
But it wasn't.
The girl who regained consciousness slowly opened her eyes, and a world changed as if heaven and earth had flipped over was seen.
All the humans who mocked the girl and threw her family as food to the monster became corpses.
Even the snake monster that swallowed her parents in one bite was sprawled on the ground in the same state as them.
“Ah…….”
The girl took all those things into her eyes with an expression of disbelief.
Everything that tormented her died.
At that moment, the girl felt liberation and at the same time, indescribable joy.
And she realized.
Ah, actually I wanted to kill them.
It was just that she couldn't even dare to bring it up because she had no power.
That she was wishing for it deep in her heart.
And probably the one who achieved that was…….
‘Must be that person.’
The girl thought, looking at the man who saved her, Dam Jeok-san.
Growing up hearing that she was quite clever since childhood, she could guess the situation instinctively at least.
“……Please put me down.”
She said carefully, looking at Gyeong-won holding her.
She glanced at Dam Jeok-san for a moment, but as he nodded, Gyeong-won slowly put the girl down on the ground.
The girl, having landed on the ground, looked around the surroundings filled with corpses again.
Things that gave despair to her and her family without exception.
Dam Jeok-san killed such things and saved her.
She ought to offer thanks.
The girl thought so and looked at Dam Jeok-san.
As she bowed her head with her hands gathered neatly―
“Thank, thank y…… sob, sob…….”
Uncontrollable crying burst out.
“Waaaaah……. Mom…… Dad…….”
She missed her family whom she could no longer see.
The fact that she survived alone was sorrowful.
And just…….
Tears flowed down at the surging emotions.
“…….”
Dam Jeok-san looked at such a girl with a complicated expression.
He also knew very well how it felt for one who lost all family and survived alone.
Because he also had experienced becoming like that.
No words would be able to soothe the girl's sorrow.
Still, he wanted to offer some comfort.
“I will surely find the bastard who plotted this and tear his limbs apart.”
Even if that is his Second Senior Brother and a direct descendant of the Five Great Families of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
Dam Jeok-san said, thinking so.
When he also lost his family, he resolved to slaughter all the monsters in the world. He thought the girl would also want revenge.
“Hup……!”
At the bloody words of tearing limbs apart, the child was startled and hiccuped.
“Th, that is, I mean…….”
Dam Jeok-san revealed a perplexed look unlike him.
“It’s okay, the Young Master is saying that because he is angry.”
Gyeong-won, who was watching that scene, sighed and said to the girl.
While slightly covering the girl's view looking at the sea of blood and mountain of corpses.
[Young Master……. If you tell a kid you're going to tear limbs apart…….]
Gyeong-won spoke via telepathy as if absurd.
He also spent a childhood not much different from Dam Jeok-san, but still, there was such a thing as a human heart.
Unlike that desolate genius.
[……My thinking was short.]
Dam Jeok-san wanted to refute something, but seeing the girl slowly stop crying, he could only answer like that.
A while later, the girl who composed her emotions approached toward Dam Jeok-san again.
“I will not forget the grace of saving my life.”
It was a polite thank you unlike a child. A faint smile was formed on the girl's lips.
She was someone who lived reading the room. How could she not know that he not only saved her but even tried to comfort her.
She was just surprised for a moment.
“It was just something I had to do naturally.”
Dam Jeok-san said bitterly looking at the girl.
Yes, it is a natural thing. Because the Martial Sovereign Castle is originally a place existing to do so.
“So…… I think I should naturally be thankful too!”
The girl said as if refuting with a slightly bold voice.
“Although I am a bit young……! I know that cases where natural things happen naturally in the world are rare.”
“…….”
At the girl's words, he seemed speechless for a moment.
That is right.
If natural things were protected naturally, the girl wouldn't have been dragged to a place like this.
“But since the benefactor did a natural thing…… I should say thank you.”
“You are clever, you are better than me.”
Dam Jeok-san muttered so and patted the girl's head.
As the girl said, doing natural things is originally hard. But he will willingly walk that hard path.
Even if he breaks while doing so.
“May I ask what your name is?”
Dam Jeok-san asked the girl.
“Uh……. It, it’s Lee Hyang.”
The girl answered with a slightly surprised look.
“Hyang, Lee Hyang. I will remember it.”
Dam Jeok-san muttered, nodding his head.
There is power in a name.
The moment Dam Jeok-san heard the name Lee Hyang, she is remembered not simply as an unfortunate girl, but as an existence called ‘Lee Hyang’.
And that doesn't apply only to Dam Jeok-san himself.
‘Isn’t that right……?’
He thought, looking at a distant place that couldn't even be seen. Thinking of his master, the Martial Sovereign, who would be there.
“Since Hyang-ie has been trapped for a long time, your stamina must have dropped a lot. There might be places where you are sick too.”
Dam Jeok-san turned his head again and spoke looking at Gyeong-won.
“Take Hyang-ie to a tight-lipped physician immediately.”
“Pardon? Then Young Master will…….”
Gyeong-won asked back as if absurd.
Is that human trying to detach his escort while his body condition is not even intact now?
“Me? I have someone I need to visit.”
But Dam Jeok-san shook his head and answered.
“What kind of nonsense is that!”
It is natural for Gyeong-won to worry. But Dam Jeok-san just smirked.
The one he is going to meet is none other than the absolute being of Kangho Murim, the Martial Sovereign.
Unless he acts up to the Martial Sovereign and gets beaten to death. Unless it is that, no one else can harm him.
“Do not worry.”
Dam Jeok-san said with conviction looking at Gyeong-won.
“If you say so, I understand.”
Gyeong-won sighed, nodded, and carried the girl on his back.
“After finishing things, wait at my quarters. Keep Hyang-ie with you until a suitable place for her to stay is found.”
Since he couldn't let the Iron Blood Woo Clan do terrible things to Hyang-ie.
“Yes, I understand.”
Like that, Gyeong-won slowly moved away.
The girl, Lee Hyang, looked back at Dam Jeok-san while hanging on Gyeong-won's back.
“I, I will wait!”
She opened her mouth looking at Dam Jeok-san.
“Wait for what?”
“Th…… Li, limbs……? tearing limbs apart…….”
“…….”
I said something unnecessary.
Dam Jeok-san cursed his mouth sincerely.
* * *
The highest pavilion in the Martial Sovereign Castle, Heavenly Martial Hall.
Martial Sovereign Man Su-geuk was drinking wine straight from the gourd bottle while sitting on its peak.
“Haha, Lee Hyang…….”
He muttered in a low voice.
How funny is it.
The Martial Sovereign slaughtered most of his martial brothers with his own hands and rose to the position of Castle Lord.
At that time, he felt deep sorrow. At the reality that he had to kill his martial brothers whom he once considered like family.
But as he went toward the absolute realm, blood and tears dried up.
Trying to make an emotional appeal to such a self.
Isn't it truly absurd.
But.
‘……I have also come to remember that child’s name.’
The Lord of the Martial Sovereign Castle clicked his tongue and thought.
What remains in the place where emotions dried up and withered away is ultimately only the sense of duty to protect the Central Plains.
And the girl named Lee Hyang was a part of the world the Martial Sovereign had to protect.
It means Dam Jeok-san saw through his insides. It was a quite clever intention.
‘It is certainly surprising but…….’
Actually, what the Martial Sovereign was truly astonished at was not that part.
The moment Dam Jeok-san's sword completely cut off the breath of the Blue-Scaled One-Horned Snake.
Clearly, immense demonic energy was sucked into Dam Jeok-san, and that was stored intact and became Dam Jeok-san's internal energy.
It is something that cannot happen according to common sense.
But if such an existence really exists in reality, not in legend.
A very faint joy brushed past the Martial Sovereign's eyes and disappeared.
“Jeok-san, indeed you…….”
He quietly swallowed the words hovering in his mouth.
Because it was a story that should not be brought out carelessly even if there were no listeners.
However―
[I will be waiting.]
The Castle Lord's telepathy transcended space and was conveyed to Dam Jeok-san.