Chapter 12
Unlike the number '三' engraved on Jaseong's identity tablet, the Fierce Sky Faction Lord's tablet had the character '一' inscribed on it.
Naturally, when Jaseong saw this, he could hardly believe his eyes.
That number '一' was a symbol only those of the Hao Sect's branch leader rank could possess.
Holding that identity tablet, the Fierce Sky Faction Lord spoke again.
"I was once affiliated with the Hao Sect."
"...!"
"I used to be the Lord of the now-defunct Paecheol Branch."
... To think that the Fierce Sky Faction Lord was connected to the Hao Sect like himself.
What a shocking twist.
It wasn't just a simple connection, either.
He was a branch leader—a top-ranking figure in the Hao Sect.
Moreover, what did he mean by once being part of the Hao Sect...?
Countless questions flashed through Jaseong's mind.
Perhaps noticing his confusion, the Fierce Sky Faction Lord continued.
"The reason you didn't know my identity is that the information I manage outranks yours."
"...!"
"In any case, the Lord of the Black Blood Hall who visited recently asked me for a favor. He said he'd seen an interesting kid in Ansun, and asked me to teach that kid what a Hao Sect branch leader should do."
At these words, Jaseong recalled what the Lord of the Black Blood Hall had said.
—I'll soon introduce you to a nearby branch. There, you'll learn how to grow your branch as a Hao Sect branch leader.
... Was this "nearby branch" actually Fierce Sky Faction?
"However, I am no longer a member of the Hao Sect. I'm just the leader of the Dark Path in Gaeyang's underworld, counting my money. So there's no reason for me to help a junior of the Hao Sect. But..."
"...?"
"Since the Lord of the Black Blood Hall specially requested it, it seems only proper I give you something."
Although taken aback by the situation, a sense of anticipation grew in Jaseong.
What, indeed, would Fierce Sky Faction's lord give him?
Fierce Sky Faction's financial power was immense—was he offering operating funds?
Or perhaps he would help Jaseong connect to the underworld's network?
Maybe he'd even lend Fierce Sky Faction's warriors if necessary.
'... No matter what, it's to my advantage. I've already achieved my original goal. With the money I earned from the Shell Game match just now, I could buy an entire courtesan house. That sum is more than enough to recruit talented warriors for the Ansun branch. With this, I can accomplish my second Heaven's Mandate—expanding my influence. And if, on top of that, I get even more here...'
However, the Fierce Sky Faction Lord's next words was completely beyond Jaseong's expectations.
* * *
"You seem to have quite the knack for gambling."
"?"
"How about making a bet with me?"
"... What kind of bet do you mean?"
"If you reach a level where, within a year, you can endure against me for a hundred seconds, I'll become the protector for your Hao Sect Ansun Branch."
"...!!"
Protector.
That word held a great deal of meaning.
It meant Jaseong could borrow Fierce Sky Faction's financial resources, underworld connections, and numerous warriors.
It would give wings to the expansion of the Hao Sect's Ansun branch, now under Jaseong's stewardship.
"Why are you making me this offer...?"
Jaseong asked, his eyes full of curiosity.
"The Lord of the Black Blood Hall said this to me: that you'd become something great if guided well."
"...!"
"So, I want to test you myself."
"... A test?"
"To see if you're truly worth investing in—or not."
Investment, huh...
Well, for Jaseong, there was nothing to lose in such a proposal.
But he did not want to wait an entire year.
"Then let's do it right now."
Jaseong's eyes flashed coldly as he spoke.
"Right now?"
"Yes."
"You certainly have spirit. But spirit without strength is mere bravado."
"We won't know which is longer until we measure, will we?"
"No need to measure. You're so weak that I could kill you in less than ten seconds."
... Ten seconds?
Jaseong's eyebrows twitched.
Even if this man had been a branch leader of the Hao Sect, the current Fierce Sky Faction Lord wore a prosthetic on his right leg.
How could he defeat Jaseong in less than ten seconds with only one leg?
Sensing Jaseong's doubt, a faint smile appeared on the Fierce Sky Faction Lord's lips.
His eyes had the relaxed confidence of a tiger watching a rabbit.
"Do you really want to try?"
"Yes."
"Very well. Come with me."
Afterward, the Fierce Sky Faction Lord took Jaseong behind the Golden Hall.
There, they reached a training ground, with weeds growing here and there.
"Draw your sword."
Standing in the middle of the training ground, the Fierce Sky Faction Lord commanded.
"A real sword? Aren't duels usually conducted with wooden swords?"
"What happened to the bravado you showed in the gambling hall? Was it all just talk?"
"... I was just asking."
"In the Dark Path's training ground, there are no wooden swords. Only real swords are used."
It was a rough, dark Path-style way of training.
At those words, Jaseong silently drew his real sword with a shiiing―.
"It's better if we at least know each other's names before the duel."
Responding to the Fierce Sky Faction Lord's words, Jaseong respectfully made a fist salute and answered.
"I am Jaseong, from the Red Light District of Ansun."
"I've heard about you from the Lord of the Black Blood Hall. The boy born and raised in the Red Light District."
"May I ask for your title, sir?"
"Sure. In the past, I was called Pacheon Gong, the Number One Fiend of Sichuan."
"... Number One Fiend of Sichuan?"
The Fierce Sky Faction Lord's true identity was even greater than Jaseong had anticipated, and his eyes widened.
The 'Number One Fiend' is a moniker given to the top figure among the Evil Faction or Dark Path in a region.
To earn such a title, one would have to be at least at the peak master level.
In other words, a master whose skills rival an elder of a great sect.
For anyone, going up against such an old master with a sword would be nerve-wracking.
Yet, instead, Jaseong—
Grinned wickedly with a ssiik―.
'... I keenly realized it, cutting down those bandits. There's no better training than actual combat.'
Beyond the stakes of the bet, Jaseong wanted to see just how far his martial arts would go.
Even if his opponent was now wearing a prosthetic, Pacheon Gong—a former top master of the Hao Sect and Number One Fiend of Sichuan—how far could his sword reach against such a master?
"Come at me first. I'll give you three free moves."
... He's severely underestimating me.
Without hesitation, Jaseong charged at Pacheon Gong.
But at that very moment.
Patzziit!
Suddenly, the air all around became so tense it felt like it might burst.
It was the overwhelming killing intent radiating from Pacheon Gong.
'?!'
Feeling the hairs all over his body stand on end, Jaseong instinctively activated his Samadhi Eyes.
The next moment, an astonishing sight unfolded.
Within the slowed time, Jaseong could see Pacheon Gong's energy.
The red aura pouring from his entire body, like a spiderweb, was covering the air and piercing Jaseong from all directions.
'... It's similar to what I felt when I first met the Lord of the Black Blood Hall... Such fearsome intent...'
Although it felt as if his breath was caught in his throat, Jaseong nevertheless raised his sword.
Then, drawing out the golden inner energy he'd cultivated with the sword immortal's mental techniques, he prepared himself.
Shuaaak!
Channeling energy into both legs, he sprang forward, his body shooting ahead with a gust of wind.
'An overhead strike, heavy as if to split a mountain. Heaven Evading—Heaven Pressing Mount Tai.'
Jaseong's blade ripped through the air with a kwaaang! as he brought it down.
At that moment—
Kaaaang!
The sound of steel rang through the training ground.
Pacheon Gong had lightly raised his sword, warding off Jaseong's blow.
'Kgh!'
Jaseong barely stifled a groan.
'... I nearly dropped my sword handle.'
His wrist tingled.
In just that first clash, he realized how overwhelming Pacheon Gong's internal strength was.
Still, he did not lose his fighting spirit.
On the contrary, his eyes burned more intensely, searching for openings with his Samadhi Eyes.
'A thrust in all eight directions, like a raging storm. Heaven Evading—Eight Winds!'
This time, his sword left afterimages, creating the illusion of simultaneous thrusts in eight directions.
But,
Kakakang!!
Once again, Pacheon Gong effortlessly blocked Jaseong's series of attacks.
'?!'
It was one surprise after another for Jaseong.
He had found Pacheon Gong's openings with the Samadhi Eyes and swung his blade.
But the moment he did, those openings were immediately covered by Pacheon Gong's aura.
'... It's the difference in speed. Even when my eyes spot an opening, my movements are slower than this old man's, so my sword can't reach those gaps!'
Sweat trickled down Jaseong's forehead.
Truly, skills befitting the name Number One Fiend of Sichuan.
But for some reason, after exchanging three moves with Jaseong, even Pacheon Gong's expression changed subtly.
The arrogance faded from his eyes, replaced by a slight tension.
"... I've yielded all three moves. Now, let's get serious."
Shuaaak!
Suddenly, a powerful gust erupted, and Pacheon Gong's form appeared right in front of Jaseong.
It was an unbelievable speed for an old man with a prosthetic leg.
Papapapapat!!
A barrage of sword attacks rained down on Jaseong.
He was unleashing the infamous signature technique that once terrified Sichuan—the Pacheon Lightning Nine Swords.
True to its reputation, even in the slowed sense of time of the Samadhi Eyes, the strikes were blindingly fast.
Kakakakakakakang!!!!
Faced with this, Jaseong couldn't even dream of counterattacking.
No matter how much he slowed time with the Samadhi Eyes or tried to read Pacheon Gong's intention, just defending was overwhelming.
But even his defense didn't last long.
Kaaang! Thud!
His sword went spinning through the air, landing with a deep thunk in the dirt far outside the circle.
It had only been about half a beat since Pacheon Gong made his move. In an instant, the match was over.
'How can he move at such speed with just one leg...?'
Gasping, Jaseong looked at Pacheon Gong with astonishment.
His wrist still throbbed.
He could still feel Pacheon Gong's internal energy resonating up his arm from the impact.
It was only then that Jaseong realized just how hard this bet was.
No matter how Pacheon Gong had lost his right leg, to withstand a hundred seconds against the top master of Sichuan—the former king of the Dark Path, one who'd surpassed the limits of a master—was an almost impossible challenge.
Yet, for all he didn't show it, Pacheon Gong was equally surprised.
'... When I first saw this kid, his energy wasn't enough to last even ten seconds. But even excluding the three moves I let him have, he lasted another twenty seconds...? His movements are still clumsy, very much a beginner... How can he find my openings so easily and strike right at them!?'
Pacheon Gong's keen gaze scanned Jaseong from head to toe.
A highly refined inner cultivation that he couldn't place from any school.
Forms and techniques that were similar to the common third-rate sword arts, yet somehow uniquely distinguishable from them.
Most strikingly, eyes that could instantly find the openings of a master on a completely different level.
Everything Jaseong displayed in the duel raised deep questions in Pacheon Gong's mind.
'This boy... What kind of reclusive master did he meet... what martial arts has he trained in...!?'
As these questions swirled inside, Pacheon Gong suddenly recalled something the Lord of the Black Blood Hall had said.
—I've wandered the martial world for decades and seen countless rising stars from the great sects... but I've never seen one like him before.
Especially those eyes—they're truly unique. For someone like that to come from the Red Light District... perhaps that boy is the kind of anomaly that will make history in the martial world for a thousand years.
Recalling these words, Pacheon Gong murmured inwardly.
"A prodigy who appears maybe once every thousand years... Truly, Do Unjang's eye wasn't mistaken. If he grows even more from here, he may well change the fate of the world itself."
A small smile spread across Pacheon Gong's lips.
He was already crafting plans in his mind for how he would nurture this boy—who possessed the potential to upend the scales of the martial world.