Chapter 59 : Chapter 59
Chapter 059. Proof (4)
The moment those words fell.
Dam Jeok-san dragged his tired body and aimed his sword towards Un Wol-hyang.
This was an action based on instinct, not any logical judgment. The moment he met Un Wol-hyang's eyes, Dam Jeok-san felt a murderous intent so thick it was suffocating radiating from her.
‘I die.’
Certain death. An unavoidable assault of death no matter what means he used. In Dam Jeok-san's eyes, Un Wol-hyang looked like death forged in the form of a sword.
However, the other Squad Leaders stood blankly as if they felt nothing.
‘Why...?’
As Dam Jeok-san looked at them with a gaze mixed with doubt—
[Everyone is frozen. Unable to withstand the momentum emitted by the Sword Venerable of the world.]
Lee Myeong-gi's telepathy mixed with laughter was heard.
When Dam Jeok-san turned his head slightly, he saw Lee Myeong-gi approaching him with staggering steps. The old man was grinning even with a pale complexion, as if something was so amusing.
[This old geezer would also have undoubtedly ended up like them if I hadn't received a separate hint.]
Lee Myeong-gi continued his telepathy with a calm demeanor.
He realized Un Wol-hyang's existence about one tea-time before the duel ended.
To be precise, she very secretly revealed her momentum to stimulate Lee Myeong-gi.
‘Perhaps she wanted this old man to shake off his lingering regrets even a little more.’
According to Un Wol-hyang's intention, Lee Myeong-gi was able to shake off the delusion wandering in his mind through the duel with Dam Jeok-san.
By fighting with all his might against a swordsman who learned the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style once again. Although the result was defeat, the lump accumulated in Lee Myeong-gi's heart was dissolved.
[So the new Monster Repelling Squad Leader may be proud. For you reacted fastest to the Sword Venerable's momentum here.]
Hearing those words, Dam Jeok-san examined the other Squad Leaders out of the corner of his eye.
All of them were struggling to take a starting stance, but they couldn't move easily as if pressed down by something.
Un Wol-hyang glanced at those Squad Leaders with cold eyes.
Not even a word, she didn't even click her tongue but just looked at them. Yet the faces of the Squad Leaders all turned pale. Truly terrifying momentum.
However, Un Wol-hyang walked toward Dam Jeok-san and Lee Myeong-gi without even looking back at them as if this much was natural.
With every step she took, her momentum blurred like petals scattering in the wind.
"..."
Although they should be resentful of being ignored, the Squad Leaders rather sighed in relief. Because everyone knows. The fact that before Un Wol-hyang became the Northern Branch Manager, she had a much more belligerent and ruthless disposition than this.
If it were the Un Wol-hyang of those days, the Squad Leaders who failed to respond in time would be vomiting blood from their mouths by now. It is better to be ignored.
"You worked hard."
Un Wol-hyang, who approached with large strides, said while lightly placing her hand on Dam Jeok-san's shoulder.
Seeing that, a few Squad Leaders blinked their eyes as if they had seen something unsightly. These are people who haven't seen Un Wol-hyang shielding Dam Jeok-san during the life-and-death duel with Baek Ri-gwan.
However, Un Wol-hyang moved forward without caring even about that. The figure of an old and tired swordsman shimmered in her two eyes.
"Severing Light Sword, you worked hard."
Un Wol-hyang opened her mouth using honorifics, which was rare.
"...Kuk, what hard work is there. An old man failing to catch up to a young man's speed is merely the providence of nature."
Lee Myeong-gi answered while forcibly straightening his body.
"Watching those who rush ahead but not stopping moving forward is certainly something that can be called hard work. Please keep in mind that those unyielding steps might lead you to the next level."
Un Wol-hyang said while bowing her head lightly toward Lee Myeong-gi. The maximum courtesy she could offer to someone who was once a comrade and a teacher.
"..."
At those words, Lee Myeong-gi's eyes shook violently. The fact itself that he received recognition from Un Wol-hyang was joyful, but—
The fact that she is the Sword Venerable shook Lee Myeong-gi's heart. Un Wol-hyang is someone who reached the pinnacle of humanity with a single sword. What such a person said could not be empty pleasantries.
In other words, Un Wol-hyang discussing the ‘next’ means there is possibility remaining for Lee Myeong-gi. A possibility to become even a little stronger than now.
"...Thank, thank you."
Emotion settled in the eyes of the swordsman who thought he had only days of aging and decline left to wait for.
"No need for thanks, it is merely a return for showing me a good sword."
Un Wol-hyang said while emitting a faint auspicious light from her eyes. Evidence that she also operated her Upper Dantian quite roughly to divine the possibility Lee Myeong-gi possessed. Therefore, the emotion in Lee Myeong-gi's eyes was even deeper.
"Then I ask you to continue to do well, Severing Sword Squad Leader."
Northern Heaven Sword Venerable Un Wol-hyang withdrew her soft demeanor and revealed dignity as she spoke.
"Your command is received."
Lee Myeong-gi bowed deeply and answered even while dragging his tattered body.
Knowing that his life has reached its twilight yet not stopping, everyone in the venue felt awe at that appearance.
The conversation between the two ended there. Because a long reunion is not needed for martial artists.
"Monster Repelling Squad Leader."
Un Wol-hyang, having completely turned her gaze away from Lee Myeong-gi, spoke looking at Dam Jeok-san this time. A dry gaze with the previous warmth withdrawn.
"Yes."
A summons as the Northern Branch Manager of the Martial Sovereign Castle. Dam Jeok-san composed his expression and bowed his head.
"Your responsibility in this mission is heavy. Accomplish your assigned task even if you have to risk your life."
At those words, Dam Jeok-san bowed his head deeper without much answer. Because it was what he naturally had to do.
Un Wol-hyang turned her gaze again and this time scanned the Squad Leaders gathered in the training ground.
Seeing them correcting their postures with strict discipline, Un Wol-hyang crumpled her brow as if displeased.
"I can only say to devote yourselves more. But keep in mind, you are not low-ranking martial artists but the glorious Squad Leaders of the Martial Sovereign Castle. Meaning you are people sitting in positions you should have reached without forgetting to polish yourselves."
"..."
At Un Wol-hyang's reproachful words, a silence as quiet as death hung over the venue.
"If you collapse, the North collapses. If the North collapses, calamity arrives in the land of the Central Plains. Always keep that fact in mind."
Words heavier than any move struck the Squad Leaders' minds.
The defense line of the North is the last bastion protecting the Central Plains, the land where their families and relatives live. The Squad Leaders know that fact best.
However, it has been years since the Demonic Realm sank into silence. Enough time for complacency to sprout in the Squad Leaders' hearts.
‘It means such complacency will not be tolerated anymore.’
Listening to Un Wol-hyang's cold glance, the Squad Leaders reawakened their old tension. It wasn't difficult. Because they were originally beasts with sharp claws and fierce teeth.
"I will trust you. Those excluding the Monster Repelling Squad Leader, advance along the designated routes leading your respective armed forces in three days. Everyone's role is heavy."
Un Wol-hyang concluded her speech, feeling the change in the Squad Leaders' eyes.
* * *
Dam Jeok-san finished the meeting, which was like a storm, and returned to the Monster Repelling Squad's pavilion.
Severing Sword Squad Leader Lee Myeong-gi, an old man who reached Ultra-Peak as a pure swordsman. The experience of winning the duel against him opened a new horizon of martial arts for Dam Jeok-san.
Of course, it wasn't a perfect victory. Probably if that old swordsman had avoided a head-on confrontation, the one defeated would have been Dam Jeok-san.
However, that was merely Lee Myeong-gi's choice. For Dam Jeok-san to call his victory a fluke because of that would be insulting his choice.
‘The biggest harvest is confirming the possibility of the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style.’
An ultimate technique capable of dealing with a master of a higher realm even without the ability of Predation. That is the true value of the Heaven-Breaking Star-Destroying Style.
Moreover, when dealing with monsters, he will even utilize the ability of Predation. Even if he encounters a supernatural being that is distantly strong, he would at least be able to try resisting.
Of course, it won't be easy. Just as when dealing with Murong Gang and Lee Myeong-gi, he would have to risk his life.
In the upcoming actual combat, the probability that the situation will be even worse than then was extremely high.
Well, still...
‘I have to pull it off.’
Because otherwise, he will die. Dam Jeok-san knew the fact that the future placed before him was never easy.
As he cleared his complex thoughts and entered the Monster Repelling Squad's pavilion...
"Young Master, no, Squad Leader! We were waiting for you."
Gyeong-won, with a deep blue bruise on his eye socket as if he had been fighting somewhere, was visible.
"...It is the same for me as well."
Even the Black Panther Spear Jang Woo-ryang, with a dignified impression, popped out in a state not much different from Gyeong-won and continued.
"W-We also got acknowledged as proper members of the Monster Repelling Squad now."
After Namgung Yeon, with a deep blue bruise engraved on her pure white face, finally opened her mouth.
Only then could Dam Jeok-san grasp the rough situation.
"It seems I wasn't the only one who came back after establishing discipline anew. So, did you win?"
Dam Jeok-san smirked and opened his mouth.
"That is..."
As Gyeong-won scratched his head as if troubled, Dam Jeok-san's brow twitched. A look asking ‘Did you lose by any chance?’. As expected of the Martial Sovereign's disciple, a momentum as fierce as Un Wol-hyang flowed out.
"We were not defeated by ordinary martial artists."
Rather, it was a shape where the three, who had exchanged blows at least once, were pushing the Monster Repelling Squad.
No matter how elite the armed force under the Northern Wind Sword Corps is, Peak masters were inevitably rare.
"It was an easier fight because I was also lucky enough to reach the realm of Peak."
Gyeong-won continued speaking while touching the deep blue bruise on his face.
"Oho."
At those words, a short exclamation burst from Dam Jeok-san's mouth.
He had known long ago that he was in a state where he could transcend the realm at any moment. That is, from before regaining his dantian.
Because his guard was the owner of innate talent not inferior even when compared to the rising stars of huge sects.
‘Was I Gyeong-won’s stumbling block?’
A lord who lost all power and lived in seclusion, becoming close to a cripple.
Although he continued training like a tenacious person without giving up, it wasn't a hopeful situation even as empty words.
Such despair of Dam Jeok-san must have spread even to Gyeong-won and suppressed his growth.
So now, not long after Dam Jeok-san regained his dantian, Gyeong-won could also reach the realm of Peak.
"Continue speaking."
Dam Jeok-san suppressed his complex feelings and gestured to Gyeong-won.
"May I explain from there?"
At that moment, Baek Ri-gwan and Peng Cho-seol walked into the venue.
The current Vice-Squad Leaders of the Monster Repelling Squad and saber users who have reached the extremity of Peak.
"We are the ones who subdued those three."
Peng Cho-seol said while sweeping back the blade of her great saber as large as her torso.
"And we were also in danger, to the extent that we don't know what would have happened if it were actual combat with qi overlaid on edged weapons."
As she pulled down the front of her martial arts uniform slightly, a bruised collarbone was revealed. Tapping her bruise mark with her finger, Peng Cho-seol said nonchalantly, "The prestige of the Azure Sky Unhindered Sword was indeed amazing."
"That is not true, probably if it were actual combat, we would have all died."
Gyeong-won firmly denied Peng Cho-seol's words.
Because killing moves were forbidden, they could rush in aggressively. Even so, they could only inflict a wound on Peng Cho-seol alone. They couldn't even reach Baek Ri-gwan at all.
"Oh, quick-witted too... As expected, it seems the new Squad Leader brought decent talents."
Peng Cho-seol said without losing her smile even while looking fiercely at Gyeong-won who dared to talk back to her.
Gyeong-won is right.
Black Panther Spear, Namgung Yeon, Gyeong-won.
All three are masters who can be said to be quite skilled, but Peng Cho-seol or Baek Ri-gwan are on a different level.
Powerhouses who wouldn't be strange even compared to the Squad Leaders Dam Jeok-san saw at the meeting place. Just the fact that they competed equally with them for a moment was an achievement sufficient to be acknowledged by the Monster Repelling Squad members.
"Thank you."
Dam Jeok-san looked around at the five people and expressed gratitude.
To those who secured their position within the Monster Repelling Squad on their own before he paid attention.
And also to the Vice-Squad Leaders who helped them risking their own positions.
"It's a bit awkward to call it a return for that, but I also obtained a plausible result."
Dam Jeok-san started like that and talked about the duel with Lee Myeong-gi.
"...You really defeated that stubborn old man?"
Undisguised astonishment was revealed in his eyes and voice.
Because he has seen Lee Myeong-gi's overwhelming sword at every meeting.
Although the strongest among the Squad Leaders under the Northern Wind Sword Corps is said to be the Extreme Heaven Squad Leader, the one most reluctant to confront was none other than Severing Sword Squad Leader Lee Myeong-gi.
To think he defeated such a Lee Myeong-gi.
"It happened so."
Dam Jeok-san smiled faintly as if he understood Baek Ri-gwan's reaction. Because he himself didn't easily feel the reality of the victory either.
"And one more thing. Everyone prepare to enter combat. Vice-Squad Leader Baek Ri, select 40 personnel immediately available for actual combat. The destination is the Great Desert."
At those words, tension hung in the surroundings.
Great Desert.
The place that was once a huge grassland but has now become a land of death where even mounted bandits dare not tread, was one of the most dangerous areas even in the North adjacent to the Demonic Realm.
* * *
That night.
Dam Jeok-san, having entrusted all complex matters to Baek Ri-gwan, was sitting in his office reviewing the duel with Lee Myeong-gi.
It was a time to calmly check himself for the last time before going out to the battlefield crossing life and death.
It was definitely so, but...
"Listen well, this is something only you in the world can accomplish."
Not anymore.
Because the white-haired girl, Northern Wind Sword Corps Commander Dark Heaven, appeared without presence or notice.