Chapter 21
Jaseong spoke again.
"According to our Ansun branch's information network, there's been recent intel that the Mocheon Sect has set its sights on the underground business here in Gaeyang.
It seems that the Kaiyang Society is getting involved as well. Were you aware of this?"
When Jaseong asked, Pacheon Gong remained calm.
He looked as if he already knew everything.
'Of course, there's no way he wouldn't know. He's a former lord of the Hao Sect and the main figure at the heart of Gaeyang.'
Nevertheless, the reason Jaseong wrapped his question as a 'token' for Pacheon Gong was, in fact, to draw information from him in return.
If he could figure out exactly how the Mocheon Sect was extending its monstrous claws into Gaeyang, and how they were in league with the Kaiyang Society... Jaseong would gain even more leverage.
Furthermore, he could obtain clues for the third Heaven's Mandate: "Eliminate Little Evil."
And as a bonus, it would do good for Fierce Sky Faction as well.
If Jaseong could drive the Mocheon Sect into a corner, Fierce Sky Faction could naturally solidify its hold as the dominant dark force in Gaeyang.
"......"
But why was it?
Contrary to Jaseong's expectations, Pacheon Gong simply remained silent.
Then, all of a sudden, he raised another topic.
"What's most important to you right now is not the Mocheon Sect or the Kaiyang Society."
"... Pardon?"
"What I want to know is―how did you defeat the Heartless Demon?"
Pacheon Gong's heavy voice resonated low against the stone walls.
"Three months ago, you were certainly not at a level to defeat the Heartless Demon."
"... How can you be so sure?"
"At my level as the leader of this place, I can discern an opponent's internal strength just by seeing them."
"......!"
"So let's see how far you've improved in these three months. I want to know exactly how you killed the Heartless Demon, Gu Nuong, without shedding a single drop of blood."
Pacheon Gong's question was abrupt, but his intent was clear.
"Are you saying you want to have a 'Hundred-Second Bet' right now?"
"That's right. You don't like to drag things out either, do you?"
Under the lamp light, Pacheon Gong's eyes gleamed like a predator stalking its prey.
With such a murderous aura, anyone would recoil, but Jaseong's heart actually pounded in anticipation.
'... Last time, I lasted twenty-three seconds against Pacheon Gong. Back then, I didn't even know what proper footwork was. But now it's different. I've mastered the Sword Immortal's footwork, the Heaven Evading Phantom Step. And I spent the last three months relentlessly honing my martial arts, finally taking down the infamous master of Guizhou Province's dark path, Heartless Demon. So maybe, just maybe, I can withstand a hundred seconds against Pacheon Gong this time. And if I endure the hundred seconds... I can use Fierce Sky Faction, the region's most powerful dark faction, as my backer...'
Of course, it wouldn't be easy.
Unlike the Heartless Demon, Pacheon Gong was a master who surpassed the pinnacle.
Before losing his right leg, he'd been on par with an elder of any great sect; for someone to last a hundred seconds before such a master meant they were beyond First-rate.
But just as they were about to head to the training ground, Pacheon Gong made an unexpected proposal.
"But listen."
"?"
"For you, there's something to be gained from this wager, but there's no prize for me if I win. That's no fun."
"......."
"So I want you to wager something as well."
"What do you mean?"
"You must stay at Fierce Sky Faction until you win a hundred-second bet against me."
"... What?"
"I'm saying you'll have to spar with me every day, and only after you defeat me will you be allowed to leave Fierce Sky Faction."
Jaseong hadn't anticipated such a turn of events at all.
* * *
Fierce Sky Faction's training grounds were more humble than expected.
Weeds grew in patches here and there, and the wooden posts were covered in scars from countless swords over the years.
Pacheon Gong strode out into the center of the ground.
His steps were uneven due to his prosthetic leg, but that very imbalance lent his gait a unique air of intimidation.
Srrrng―
Jaseong slowly drew his sword.
He assumed the basic stance of the Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique and activated the Samadhi Eyes.
Within the slowed flow of time, he began to perceive the intention of Pacheon Gong.
"I'll give you three moves this time as well."
Jaseong did not decline and charged straight in.
Shuaaak!
As he unleashed the true meaning of the Heaven Evading Phantom Step, a fierce wind pressure arose.
Compared to three months ago, Jaseong burrowed into Pacheon Gong's reach at an incomparably faster speed.
Within the slowed flow of time, reading Pacheon Gong's intention, finding openings, Jaseong gave his all, executing the Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique.
Kwang! Kaang! Kakakakakakang!!!
The clash of steel rang out, threatening to tear at his ears.
In the three months, Jaseong's swordplay had reached a whole new level.
Sharp sword energy swept the dust of the training ground, pressing Pacheon Gong hard.
The two exchanged offense and defense, and Pacheon Gong's eyes involuntarily twitched.
'My attacks are getting through...! If I press just a little further...!'
But before Jaseong could even finish his thought, Pacheon Gong's sword suddenly blazed with light.
It was as if a single sword split into nine, creating afterimages that burst apart all of Jaseong's attacks.
It was the unique martial art that made Pacheon Gong famous as the Number One Fiend of Sichuan, the Pacheon Lightning Nine Swords.
Shuak! Kakang! Sasak! Kakakakakakang!!!
Nine sword paths tore through the air in confusion, and Jaseong, as if engulfed by a tidal wave, faltered and retreated.
A moment later,
"Huk...! Huk...!"
Jaseong was on his knees, gasping for breath.
When the duel ended, his sword was, once again, thrown to the ground.
And an even greater shock twisted his features than before.
'... I definitely beat the Heartless Demon without spilling a single drop of blood... but against this old man, I can't even touch him with my sword...
The tales of him being the best among the dark path experts of Sichuan were no exaggeration... If his right leg were intact, how many experts could even hope to face him?'
Jaseong gritted his teeth.
With skills like this, neither the Mocheon Sect's leader nor the Kaiyang Society's new heads would dare to make a careless move.
The title of Number One Fiend, the best among the dark path, was no false boast.
But Pacheon Gong's eyes were twitching as well.
"... This time you lasted almost sixty seconds."
Considering that last time he'd only managed twenty-three, Jaseong's skill had more than doubled in three months.
Against a master of this caliber, he'd made it past the halfway mark of the hundred-second wager.
Pacheon Gong had to struggle to hide his astonishment.
Even in all his decades wandering the martial world, he'd never seen such rapid growth.
What was most surprising was that Jaseong had mastered a mysterious footwork art somewhere.
Three months ago, he hadn't even known what footwork meant, but now he was gliding around as if walking on clouds.
It was footwork technique of a standard rarely seen even in the martial world.
"Where did you learn that footwork?"
Pacheon Gong pressed with sharp eyes.
"I learned it from a manual left behind by a hermit who took me in."
"... A manual? Where is it now?"
"After memorizing it, I burned it. It was my benefactor's dying wish that no one else should ever see it."
Pacheon Gong could ask no more.
If he pressed further, it might appear as if he coveted the manual.
More than that,
'Actually, it's not so much what footwork he learned... it's the fact that he mastered it entirely in just three months... How is this brat growing so quickly?'
In fact, Jaseong's growth only accelerated even further.
After spending a month sparring with Pacheon Gong every day—
"... Eighty-four seconds."
Jaseong's sword grazed the prosthetic, throwing sparks.
He was finally starting to find Pacheon Gong's openings.
Another month and his progress soared even higher.
"... Ninety-seven seconds."
By now, Pacheon Gong was at a loss for words.
In two months, Jaseong had made it nearly to a full hundred seconds.
'... Am I raising a monster or what?'
While Pacheon Gong sheathed his sword, eyes twitching, Jaseong grinned in triumph and asked,
"Leader, isn't ninety-seven seconds pretty much the same as a hundred? I think it's fair to say I've won the wager."
At that, Pacheon Gong barked loudly,
"You brat, that arrogant mouth of yours is the problem. If I had gone all out, you wouldn't have lasted seventy seconds today, much less ninety!"
"It wasn't just ninety; it was ninety-seven."
"Silence! Tomorrow I'll make sure you can't even last eighty!"
... Did the old man have a powder keg for breakfast or something?
Still, what a shame. If only I'd tried a bit harder, I might have touched the hundred-second mark.
Every day, losing to Pacheon Gong, Jaseong stayed at Fierce Sky Faction for over two months.
But he never truly disliked the time he spent there.
In fact, the daily duels with Pacheon Gong rapidly advanced his martial skills.
—Your transitions between attack and defense are still too rough. Keep the sword's energy consistent from start to finish.
—Don't dump your strength all at once; let it flow gradually. You don't have much energy as it is, so what's the rush?
Each time, Pacheon Gong gave Jaseong advice on his weaknesses during the day's duel.
Thanks to this, the sword paths of the Heaven Evading Three Talents Sword Technique grew more precise, and the Heaven Evading Phantom Step became as free as the wind.
Above all, Jaseong's real combat application skills improved beyond comparison to before.
It was natural, given that he was sparring every day with an expert of real experience in the dark path.
'Hong Gukyul said it himself. The enlightenment gained in the world helps one comprehend the Heaven Evading Way... Just as he said, my duels with Pacheon Gong are honing my skills ever sharper.'
Furthermore, what Jaseong gained over these two months at Fierce Sky Faction wasn't just martial skill.
* * *
"When you're at your age, you need to eat well if you want to grow strong. Eat every last bite."
A famous inn in Gaeyang.
In a lavishly decorated private room, Pacheon Gong spoke.
A mountain of delicacies was piled atop the table.
To Jaseong, who'd grown up in the Red Light District, these were dishes he'd never even seen before.
"... Thank you for the meal. But are you really okay treating me to such fine food every day?"
"Since when does a brat get to worry about the Fierce Sky Faction Leader's wallet? Just say it tastes good."
"It's delicious. Munch, munch."
"That's right."
Pacheon Gong piled heaps of golden-roasted grilled bullfrog in front of Jaseong.
Having spent the last two months together, Jaseong realized that though he was gruff, the old man had a warm heart.
'Tsk. The most expensive meal I ever had was Dongpo pork when I was growing up... Guess I'll have to feed him something even more extravagant from now on.'
Though he carried a rough air, Pacheon Gong truly liked Jaseong.
As the Lord of the Black Blood Hall of the Hao Sect said, Jaseong's martial potential was outstanding even by martial world standards.
But what captivated Pacheon Gong even more was Jaseong's perseverance and drive.
Watching the boy obsessively practice his martial arts every day, without even pausing for sleep after sparring, Pacheon Gong felt a thrill he couldn't explain.
He didn't ask what motivation made Jaseong yearn for strength so desperately.
Everyone in the martial world had their own story.
Regardless of the path he walked, Pacheon Gong was certain this youth would one day stir the entire Central Plains.
'There's not a single genius in the entire Central Plains with both this much talent and this much grit.'
This was how Jaseong gradually won Pacheon Gong's heart.
Whenever he saw Jaseong, the stern dark path old expert's lips would twitch almost imperceptibly upward.
Though their two months of duels and shared meals felt awkward to call a master-disciple relationship, their growing bond was just as strong...
FLAP! FLAP!
But as Jaseong was busily eating, a dark shadow passed beyond the window.
Instantly, his eyes gleamed sharply.
A black hawk landed on the eaves.
"It seems your subordinate has brought new information."
As a former Master of the Hao Sect, Pacheon Gong instantly recognized the identity of the black hawk.
Jaseong set down his chopsticks and opened the window.
The black hawk perched on his hand.
A message was tied to the hawk's leg.
[We pray this message reaches you safely, branch manager.
This is Hyang-I, Hao Sect Ansun branch's secretary, reporting.
The identities of the new leaders who seized control of the Kaiyang Society have been confirmed.
But... it may be best for you to leave Fierce Sky Faction as soon as possible.]