Ch. 21
I couldn't believe it. I couldn't even touch Cheongun's collar.
Peng Docheon, who had been swinging his fists in the air for a long time, stopped abruptly.
'It's going to be difficult with just my bare hands.'
He realized that he couldn't catch up with Cheongun's strange footwork with his skills.
Now there was only one way...
'But I can't even take out my saber...'
There had been a tacit agreement.
Not to use weapons when fighting.
The two, whose hearts were connected, had not used weapons that could cause great harm to each other.
But in the current situation, there was no way to win without using a weapon.
As if he knew Peng Docheon's heart, Cheongun spoke first.
"Why don't you take it out?"
"What? Take what out! You bastard, are you saying you want to see my thing?"
"You madman. That thing on your back."
Cheongun pointed to the saber on Peng Docheon's back with an incredulous expression.
Peng Docheon burst into a laugh.
"Hah, you're the one who's really gone mad."
He also wanted to take out his saber. But the moment he drew his saber, he had to see blood.
Seeing Cheongun's movements, he had no choice but to do his best, and then Cheongun could be seriously injured.
Cheongun did not press him any further.
"You don't want to? Then let's just get hit."
Cheongun switched from defense to offense and began to unfold a mixture of the Black Dragon Breaking Heaven Fist and the Wind and Thunder Continuous Fist.
None of the martial arts he had learned in the Imperial Palace Armory were inferior to the Peng family's martial arts.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Peng Docheon blocked Cheongun's attacks with his whole body and repeatedly stepped back.
At least Cheongun had held back, so he didn't collapse in one blow.
[Take out half a fraction more of your strength. Or that guy's bones will break.]
He also learned how to use his strength appropriately from the Blood Emperor. Since he was right next to him and teaching him, every moment was a valuable lesson for Cheongun.
But for Peng Docheon, who was on the receiving end, it was a living hell. He couldn't come to his senses from the one-sided beating.
'Keuk! Damn it, I have no choice!'
Peng Docheon couldn't stand the one-sided beating any longer and exploded the Primordial Chaos Thunder Divine Art around his body.
Woong, paaaang!
As Peng Docheon's momentum changed, Cheongun jumped back.
"Are you really confident?"
Peng Docheon growled and glared at Cheongun.
Cheongun smiled slightly and replied.
"Of course."
"Good. Don't regret it."
Seureureung.
The green dragon saber, which had been supporting Peng Docheon's back like Mount Tai, revealed itself to the world, emitting a clear light.
The blade of the huge saber, which seemed like it would be rough, had no blemishes, and a single, exquisitely carved green dragon sat clearly on the back of the saber.
Peng Docheon wrapped the Primordial Chaos Thunder Divine Art around the blade and slowly raised it above his head.
Then he slightly twisted his body, which was facing Cheongun, and assumed the ready position of the Primordial Chaos Thunder Saber using the Primordial Chaos Thunder Divine Art.
[Be careful, it's the Primordial Chaos Thunder Saber. That guy is a direct bloodline of the Peng family, so if he unfolds the Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber, it will be a great help to you.]
The Blood Emperor knew well the martial art that Peng Docheon would unfold.
The Peng family he remembered were simple and ignorant guys. Their martial arts also had no delicate taste, and most of them were martial arts of a single stroke.
Among them, the domineering Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber was the most difficult.
"Uwaaaat!"
Like a descendant of the Peng family with a reckless personality, Peng Docheon immediately swung his large saber at Cheongun.
Shwaeek.
Cheongun smiled at the corners of his mouth as he looked at the saber energy that was pouring down like lightning.
He slightly shook his upper body and unfolded the Eight Shadows of the Lightning Step from the Lightning Step, and quickly dug into Peng Docheon's arms.
Peng Docheon spun the saber he was attacking with in the air and blocked Cheongun's attack.
Cheongun deflected the saber that was falling quickly with his hand.
Tukang!
At the powerful force of the internal energy, Peng Docheon was pushed back.
Peng Docheon's face was colored with astonishment.
To be pushed back in one move even with a saber.
Shwaek, shwaeek!
Peng Docheon, who had gritted his teeth, unfolded the first move of the Primordial Chaos Thunder Saber, the Thunder Wind, and spread the saber energy in all directions. The onlookers could have been injured, but he didn't have the leisure to worry about them now.
Tukang, tukang!
Cheongun did not let the saber energy flow behind him or dodge it, but deflected the saber blade with his bare hands one by one.
The Blood Emperor, who was watching the duel, advised Cheongun as usual.
[The Primordial Chaos Thunder Saber is a lightning-like saber art that is unfolded with the soul. Each move contains the subtlety of a single-strike kill. But looking at what that guy is unfolding, it only contains hardness, and the subtlety of softness is missing. If his cultivation had been a little deeper, he would have been a really good opponent for you, but it's a little disappointing.]
Among the masters of the Peng family who had fought against the Blood Emperor, there were those with such great skills that he was impressed. The Primordial Chaos Thunder Saber they unfolded was enough to evoke admiration, but Peng Docheon had not yet reached that level.
[Hardness without softness is easy to break. Like that guy. You know what I mean, right?]
'Yes! Hardness is broken by a stronger force, and it cannot overcome softness.'
Cheongun gathered his internal energy in his clenched fist as he looked at the saber energy that was cutting diagonally.
Then he unfolded the Black Dragon Breaking Emperor Fist of the Thunder Emperor.
When the strong and fierce energy blocked the saber, the Primordial Chaos Thunder Saber could not be unfolded properly.
When Cheongun saw an opening, he unfolded the Eight Shadows of the Lightning Step and dug into his arms, then threw a series of blows.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Peng Docheon's body floated in the air and flew away, then hit a wall.
Crash.
"Keuk."
A groan flowed out from between his clenched teeth.
Cheongun crossed his arms and waited for a moment. If it had been someone else, he would have just turned his back and walked away, but the opponent was a bloodline of the Peng family, the strongest of the strong.
Sure enough, Peng Docheon was smiling as he brushed himself off and got up.
Looking at such a Peng Docheon, Cheongun let out a word.
"You madman."
Although he said so, Cheongun was genuinely impressed with Peng Docheon.
He still didn't know much about what a martial artist was. But he knew one clear fact.
Spirit.
A man should have the spirit that Peng Docheon showed.
Cheongun looked at Peng Docheon and asked slightly.
"Shall we rest for a bit?"
"Kaak, ptui!"
Peng Docheon showed his answer with his actions instead of words. Telling him to shut up with his nonsense.
At the sight of such a Peng Docheon, Cheongun smiled brightly.
Peng Docheon held the green dragon saber again and assumed a ready position.
The Blood Emperor was impressed in a different sense and said a word.
[Oh, that's a relief. This guy, he knows the Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber.]
It was a secret tradition of the Peng family that only a very few of the direct bloodline learned.
Shwaeek.
Peng Docheon's saber, imbued with the momentum of a single stroke, attacked Cheongun.
Cheongun stepped back and drew the sword at his waist.
Impressed by Peng Docheon's spirit, he wanted to treat Peng Docheon as a martial artist.
Kwaang!
A huge explosion spread in all directions.
It was Peng Docheon who was surprised when Cheongun's sword, which was smaller and thinner than the green dragon saber, blocked it equally without being pushed back.
But the surprise was brief, and Peng Docheon stepped on the Primordial Chaos Step and pushed Cheongun.
Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang! Kwaang!
Peng Docheon's figure, which was scattered in all directions, and the saber energy that was pouring out consecutively attacked Cheongun. His movements were so agile that it was hard to believe he was a man with a huge body.
Everything was different from when he had unfolded the Primordial Chaos Thunder Saber.
But Cheongun still faced Peng Docheon with a relaxed movement.
[Don't push him too hard, take it slow. Opportunities like this are not common.]
As the Blood Emperor advised, Cheongun witnessed the sixty-four moves of the Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber one by one.
'Huh? Why did this guy stop unfolding it? Hasn't he learned it yet?'
The Blood Emperor noticed that the Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber that Peng Docheon was unfolding was lacking.
[Cheongun. Ask that guy. Whether he has learned all of the Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber, or if that's all there is.]
Cheongun also thought it was a little strange.
In the middle of the moves of the Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber, it seemed there should have been some powerful single blow, but there wasn't.
Cheongun unfolded his sword art a little faster.
He added his elegant footwork and pushed Peng Docheon.
As Cheongun's sword, which had been fighting equally, suddenly became sharp, Peng Docheon gritted his teeth again.
Chaeng!
The two's figures stopped abruptly. It was as if they were about to have a contest of strength, with their sword and saber locked together.
But their postures were strange. Peng Docheon, who was taller and bigger than Cheongun, should have been pressing down from above, but it was the opposite.
Peng Docheon was kneeling on one knee, and Cheongun was mercilessly pressing down on Peng Docheon's saber from above.
Peng Docheon's large green dragon saber gradually sank down.
When the green dragon saber sank down to Peng Docheon's shoulder, Cheongun opened his mouth.
"Mad dog, can you hold on?"
"Keuk."
Peng Docheon couldn't answer Cheongun's words.
He was barely holding on with his internal energy and innate strength. If he answered here, his internal energy would scatter and his shoulder would surely be smashed.
"Did you learn all of the Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber? It seems something is missing."
"..."
"Tsk tsk. You must be having a hard time."
Cheongun released his strength and jumped back.
As the force that was pressing down on his entire body disappeared, Peng Docheon took a deep breath.
"Keuheok."
Leaving the panting Peng Docheon, Cheongun sheathed his sword.
Peng Docheon did not catch such a Cheongun. No, he couldn't. Cheongun was not his opponent.
He looked at Cheongun, gritted his molars, and said.
"The ultimate move of the fifth form was lost a long time ago."
"Hmm, really?"
The Blood Emperor quickly explained.
[The Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber has a powerful single blow in the eighth move after the seventh move. The eighth move, the sixteenth move, the twenty-fourth move, the thirty-second move, and so on, and then you meet at the sixty-fourth move.]
"..."
[I roughly know the missing five moves, shall I tell you?]
Cheongun slightly nodded his head at the Blood Emperor's words.
Then he looked at Peng Docheon, who was still sitting on the floor, unable to come to his senses, and said a word.
"Mad dog. Follow me."
"Keke, why? To have a drink?"
Cheongun smirked. Seeing that he was still full of energy after being beaten to a pulp, he was definitely a madman.
"Heroic Bear Occupying the Mountain, White Tiger Crossing the Ravine"
"What?"
"Want to know?"
Peng Docheon's momentum gradually became rougher. Even killing intent appeared in his two eyes.
The words Cheongun had recited were the two lost moves of the Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber.
"You bastard! Are you trying to make fun of me?"
"What's the point of making fun of a mad dog. Stop talking nonsense and follow me. It's a good thing for you too."
Cheongun turned his body and led the way.
Soon, Peng Docheon also followed Cheongun with heavy steps.
Cheongun took Peng Docheon to the inn and wrote down the incantations of the five moves.
Peng Docheon, who had been distrustful even while following him, shed tears like chicken droppings with a flushed face only after seeing the incantations.
He was a more naive friend than he looked.
"Thank you. I won't forget this favor."
"I'm giving it to you in commemoration of becoming friends. Buy me a big drink later."
"Don't worry. I'll buy you a whole jar."
Peng Docheon grinned with teary eyes.
For Cheongun, it was just writing down the incantations that the Blood Emperor had recited, but it was a great gain as he had bestowed a favor on the Peng family, one of the five great families.
* * *
Three days had passed since he had gifted the lost moves of the Five Tiger Breaking Gate Saber to Peng Docheon.
That morning, the Emperor's order finally came down.
Cheongun steeled his heart and left the imperial capital.
He should have been wearing a flying fish robe to match his status as a Pacification Envoy, but he was wearing an ordinary martial arts uniform.
There was no one accompanying him. The Jinyiwei were moving separately from him, so for the time being, he had to go south alone, no, with the Blood Emperor.
Come to think of it, it was a little disappointing that Peng Docheon had hurriedly returned to his home after obtaining the incantations.
If he were by his side, he would be quite helpful... At the very least, he could be used as a guide.
'Should I have told him slowly if I had known this would happen?'
At least he had firmly promised, "I will definitely repay this debt," so he would be helpful someday.
[Are you going straight to Kaifeng?]
As soon as he left the city gate, the Blood Emperor asked.
Cheongun walked about ten steps and then grinned and replied.
"On the way, I'll have to stop by the Jintian Escort Agency in Bazhou."