Chapter 52 : Chapter 52
Chapter 052. That Which Is Buried in the Sandy Soil (2)
"Rather, imitate it."
Dam Jeok-san spoke calmly toward Peng Cho-seol.
"What do you mean by that!"
Upon hearing those words, Peng Cho-seol's face crumpled ruthlessly.
Imitate it? She seemed to know what that meant without even having to hear it.
It must be the Peng Clan's saber technique.
"Even if you are my superior, there are things I cannot accept."
Peng Cho-seol said while clenching her molars tight. As if her refreshing attitude from earlier was a lie, ghost fire caused by anger was burning in her eyes.
Dam Jeok-san merely smiled quietly while looking at Peng Cho-seol.
Dam Jeok-san could also vaguely guess through what process her Wind Net Annihilation Saber was born.
It is likely the result of doing her best to break away from the Peng Clan's saber technique and create her own Self-Style.
However, martial artists who can completely deny their roots are extremely few. It is something that can only be achieved by possessing the talent of a Grandmaster and pioneering one's own domain.
Unfortunately, Peng Cho-seol did not have such talent.
Therefore, struggling to forcibly escape from the Peng Clan's path will only grow her inner demons.
Dam Jeok-san did not bother to explain all of that in detail.
He intended to show it personally.
That only by not denying the Peng Clan's saber technique can she break the wall blocking her.
Dam Jeok-san lightly performed footwork and approached Peng Cho-seol.
A saber technique as fierce as a raging storm rushed toward him. However, Dam Jeok-san lightly dodged the blade strikes just by twisting his body a few times.
And he extended his sword. It was a sword strike that seemed meaningless, as if scratching the empty air, but—
CLANG!
It accurately cut off the flow created by Peng Cho-seol's saber technique.
A move that could have effectively ended the duel if he had dug in as it was. However, Dam Jeok-san pulled his body back instead of delivering a finishing blow to drive the wedge in.
Peng Cho-seol swung her saber toward Dam Jeok-san once again.
Dam Jeok-san cut off the flow created by her blade without fail and stepped back.
Not once, but twice. A situation that could no longer be a coincidence.
"...!"
Peng Cho-seol's lovely face distorted with humiliation.
This is Dam Jeok-san blatantly mocking her.
‘No, no.’
Mockery is something that is established only when there is malice toward the opponent.
Dam Jeok-san was currently ‘coaching’ her.
Peng Cho-seol ground her teeth. Even if he is the Squad Leader, he is a young man much younger than herself.
Even he is a person known to have lived in seclusion after losing his dantian due to the aftermath of qi deviation for the past few years.
Yet now, Dam Jeok-san was digging into her weaknesses as accurately as a ghost.
As if he were a supreme master with much more experience than her.
‘...Is this the difference in talent?’
She soon shook her head inwardly.
No. This has exceeded the level possible simply with talent.
She doesn't know what happened, but it must be the discernment Dam Jeok-san gained while going through such a shambles.
Peng Cho-seol retraced her mistakes with a slightly softened heart.
Where did it go wrong?
Although Dam Jeok-san guided her, Peng Cho-seol was able to find the answer surprisingly simply.
The resolution to abandon the Peng Clan's saber technique. Ironically, the thought of escaping limits the Fighting Path her blade can extend into.
Hesitation dwells in the tip of the blade that should be straight and fierce.
The weakness Dam Jeok-san dug into was precisely that hesitation.
Hesitation is ultimately something inherent in her heart.
Dam Jeok-san peeled off the tough shell that was wrapping her heart and made her face her own hesitation.
‘It’s shameful.’
It feels just like revealing her naked body in front of everyone.
Her face flushed red. It is not because of anger, but shame.
However, Peng Cho-seol raised her blade instead of bowing her head.
And she unfolded the Wind Net Annihilation Saber.
A single slash without superfluity. No hesitation existed in that blade movement.
And the moment she unfolded the perfect Fighting Path, Peng Cho-seol realized.
What the Peng Clan's saber technique she had denied so much was.
It is not some ascending martial art like the Five Tigers Severing Gate Saber or the Primordial Thunderbolt Saber.
It was a simple horizontal slash.
The foundation and ultimate of all saber techniques to create a strike without superfluity.
That single slash reached Dam Jeok-san and became a storm.
She felt the massive wall blocking her front collapsing.
She didn't gain some great realization. Nor did she gain tremendous internal energy.
Everything is the same. Only her mind has changed.
With just that, Peng Cho-seol's martial arts advanced by a large step.
She felt confident that she could achieve a draw even if she fought Baek Ri-gwan, who had now become the former Squad Leader.
However, Dam Jeok-san did not blink an eye even in front of that storm.
"As expected, you realized it yourself."
He said nonchalantly while watching the crushing storm.
A posture with his sword hanging loosely as if he had no will to fight.
I didn't realize it myself; you taught me. Peng Cho-seol tried to refute like that, but she couldn't even open her mouth.
Because the moment she met his eyes, she felt an unknown sense of crisis.
Goosebumps rose all over the back of her neck.
It is dangerous. Dam Jeok-san has not lost his fighting spirit right now; it is clear he is preparing a one-hit kill.
This is a realm of intuition that cannot be explained in words. But Peng Cho-seol had already unfolded her saber technique, and there was nothing more she could do.
The moment the strike of the Wind Net Annihilation Saber became a storm and swallowed Dam Jeok-san.
SLASH―!
A single sword goes against the storm.
An extreme Fast Sword that is one step ahead of even the sound of breaking air. It was so fast that it felt like a phantom.
A one-hit kill is a secret technique that tears apart all variables at once.
The Monkey-Destroying One Flash, the first form of the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style that Dam Jeok-san forged, had become a one-hit kill before anyone knew it.
"...I lost."
Peng Cho-seol said as if lamenting while looking at the sword edge cast over her neck.
The sharpness of the Red Cloud Sword cut her skin, and blood flowed down her neck. But Peng Cho-seol bowed her head slightly without caring at all.
Dam Jeok-san quietly put away his sword.
"I learned a lot from you, Squad Leader. Thank you for the guidance."
Peng Cho-seol also spoke politely while putting her blade down on the floor.
"I didn't do anything."
Dam Jeok-san shook his head and said.
"I simply awakened a fact that Vice-Squad Leader Peng already knew."
"...If it weren't for the Squad Leader, I might not have been able to abandon my stubbornness for the rest of my life."
Peng Cho-seol also shook her head.
"Vice-Squad Leader Peng is right. You should admit what needs to be admitted."
Baek Ri-gwan, who was stuck in the corner of the training ground watching the duel between the two, intervened in that argument.
"I was also vaguely aware of her problem. However, I couldn't find a way to solve it as simply and surely as the Squad Leader did."
Baek Ri-gwan continued speaking while catching his breath.
"That is because my discernment was lacking compared to the Squad Leader."
So quickly admit that your discernment is excellent. Baek Ri-gwan smiled broadly and said so silently.
"...Well, if you say you are thankful, I will accept the gratitude."
Dam Jeok-san sighed briefly and said.
He hadn't really done anything to call it ‘guidance.’ He just helped Peng Cho-seol realize what she already knew herself.
[That is a great thing.]
The Northern Heaven Sword Venerable, who was sitting obliquely with her legs crossed in the VIP seats, sent a telepathic message to Dam Jeok-san.
As if she knew all of his thoughts.
Dam Jeok-san probably thinks he really didn't do much.
But that is precisely his weapon.
[Within my martial nephew, there is a power that changes the surroundings just by existing.]
More than 10 years ago, he changed Un Wol-hyang's life.
Before losing his dantian, he caused a cataclysm in the succession structure of the Martial Sovereign Castle, where the Eldest Young Master seemed to be confirmed.
And it is the same now that he has regained his dantian.
In that short time, not only did he wreck the Yin God Cult's plot, but he is also taking control of key figures as the new Monster Repelling Squad Leader.
[Do not forget that that is a weapon as great as talent in martial arts.]
With those words as the last, Un Wol-hyang cut off the telepathy and stood up.
"Everyone worked hard. It is good to see you seeking development regardless of who is the winner or loser."
Although it was a quiet voice like a murmur, the Sword Venerable's words resonated throughout the entire training ground.
Those who were in the training ground turned their gazes toward her all at once.
"Dismiss now and rest. Ah, and Squad Leader of the Monster Repelling Squad. You come to me early tomorrow morning. The Commander of the Northern Wind Sword Corps will want to see you."
Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander. A mysterious figure about whom almost nothing is known in the main castle of the Martial Sovereign Castle other than the alias Dark Heaven.
Up until 5 years ago, she was the Branch Manager of the Northern Branch, but she is a person who acknowledged defeat after fighting Un Wol-hyang and became the Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander.
‘I am curious what kind of person she is.’
Because when he was young, he once heard from the Martial Sovereign that Dark Heaven is truly the Guardian of the North.
Furthermore, Dam Jeok-san was in a position where he had to obtain her support. As one of the candidates for the successor of the Martial Sovereign.
It will certainly not be an easy task, but...
‘I have to believe in myself.’
While Dam Jeok-san was thinking that.
TAP.
Un Wol-hyang, who was disappearing like the wind, suddenly patted his head lightly as she passed by.
[Do not think too hard, and do not fear failure. I will gladly support my martial nephew for once.]
And her telepathy rang in his mind. Like a warmth spreading gently.
* * *
After the two consecutive duels ended, Dam Jeok-san immediately moved to the Monster Repelling Squad's pavilion.
"You can use this place."
Baek Ri-gwan completely cleared the Squad Leader's office and handed it over to Dam Jeok-san in roughly one double hour.
There were even books on the office desk organizing matters that needed to be handed over.
Clean and fast work handling, as if he had been waiting for this to happen.
Actually, Baek Ri-gwan's face was full of smiles.
"I didn't know a day like this would come."
Ghost Blade Baek Ri-gwan said to Dam Jeok-san, who was looking at him with a puzzled expression.
To think Dam Jeok-san defeated him and received his loyalty.
It was something he considered impossible. Because cases where a martial artist who lost their dantian makes a comeback are truly rare.
But Dam Jeok-san achieved a miracle. So there was no reason for Baek Ri-gwan not to be delighted.
"Is it not a waste to lose the Squad Leader position?"
"How could that be? My loyalty will return as greater status and honor later."
Baek Ri-gwan shrugged his shoulders as if it were obvious.
After Dam Jeok-san lost his dantian.
Many people turned their backs on him.
The only one remaining until the end was Gyeong-won, who was no different from a blood brother to Dam Jeok-san.
Didn't even the Black Panther Spear eventually leave Dam Jeok-san's side and only return now?
So for Baek Ri-gwan, if Dam Jeok-san becomes the Martial Sovereign, he would be able to receive treatment like a founding contributor.
"Good mindset."
Dam Jeok-san smirked and said.
Just a while ago, he had said something similar to the Black Panther Spear.
Don't think about dying with me, but think about surviving with me.
Back then, he was just a greenhorn with nothing making a fuss. Now, it has become possible to really predict that possibility.
Dam Jeok-san dismissed Baek Ri-gwan, sat in the office, and closed his eyes for a moment.
He has run busily.
It is not just a story after regaining his dantian.
Because Dam Jeok-san has continued the fight with himself even in situations where all hope disappeared.
It is the same now.
Nothing has ended.
But it should be fine to close his eyes for a very short moment.
Dam Jeok-san thought as he buried his body deep into the chair.
And.
He dreamed.
A vast desert.
And a dream where something buried in that verbose sandy soil awakens.
And at the end of that dream...
FLASH!
There was Wi Cheon-rak flashing crimson eyes.
Dam Jeok-san could know instinctively.
That as the ability of Predation left a scar on Wi Cheon-rak's soul, a connection like a thin thread was created between him and Dam Jeok-san.
And this dream was a precognitive dream dreamt due to that connection.