Chapter 110 : Chapter 110
Chapter 110. Knowing the Weight of the Sword
“Has madness finally taken hold?”
Dam Jeok-san muttered blankly as he looked at the scene before him.
Well, considering how relentlessly the Martial Sovereign Castle Lord had driven him, it would not have been strange for madness to set in.
Thinking that, Dam Jeok-san rubbed his eyes hard.
Nothing changed.
The youth of exquisite beauty, as though sculpted with meticulous care by a master artisan—Socheonma Bukgung Wan—
“How am I supposed to prove it? I am the successor of the Crimson Flame Divine Art. Do you truly not know how much weight a single word of mine carries? Or are you deliberately insulting the Divine Cult?”
—was hurling words furiously at an old man who had kicked aside a Willow Leaf Saber.
“You talk too much.”
The old man snapped irritably in response, fingers fidgeting around the hilt of his blade.
As though he might strike at any moment.
No matter how many times Dam Jeok-san rubbed his eyes, the scene remained unchanged.
What was more, the old man’s ashen long robe bore the official seal of the Martial Sovereign Castle Lord.
A robe worn only by elders belonging to the Elder Council of the main fortress.
Moreover, an overwhelming wave of qi shimmered around the old man’s entire body.
Ordinarily, it would have gone unnoticed.
But Dam Jeok-san could see it.
A violent, untamed aura, as though it had yet to be fully restrained—like someone who had only recently crossed into a higher realm.
Entering Transformation Realm.
If Dam Jeok-san had noticed, then there was a high chance Bukgung Wan had as well. The supreme arts of the Ming Cult were specialized in discerning opponents.
That man is insane.
Then again, since he had secured the position of successor in the Ming Cult—a den of madmen—it might only be natural.
Realizing that this situation was undeniably real, Dam Jeok-san dashed toward his residence.
His movement art was so fast it almost seemed like a flash of light.
“Enough!”
Dam Jeok-san shouted, packing his voice with internal energy.
At the thunderous roar, both men turned to look at him.
They must have noticed my approach long ago.
Then they deliberately pretended not to? Playing a contest of pressure until the very end?
A surge of irritation rose within Dam Jeok-san.
To barge in as guests and then ignore the host—clearly, he needed to establish discipline first.
Even if the opponents were the successor of the Ming Cult and an Entering Transformation expert.
“Old man, take your hand off the hilt. And you, Young Cult Leader—shut that damned mouth.”
Dam Jeok-san barked sharply.
“……”
“……”
Silence fell.
Not because they were crushed by his presence, but because they seemed momentarily stunned by his anger.
Yet Dam Jeok-san strode boldly between the two of them. His objective had been achieved, after all.
“It has been a while. I am Dam Jeok-san. That young man there is… my guest, so I ask for your indulgence, Elder.”
He addressed the elder first.
Heaven-Dominating Saber Kwon Gi-il—one of the very few neutral figures within the Elder Council.
From Dam Jeok-san’s perspective, he was an old man worth knowing.
Especially now that he had reached the Entering Transformation Realm.
“It has been a long time. Third Young Master, you have changed so much that I nearly failed to recognize you.”
Kwon Gi-il replied flatly, accepting Dam Jeok-san’s greeting.
His gaze no longer lingered on Bukgung Wan. If the Third Young Master said the youth was his guest, that was enough.
As expected, his loyalty to the castle is genuine.
Dam Jeok-san judged as much from Kwon Gi-il’s attitude.
He was similar to the Eccentric Hero, yet there was a decisive difference.
The Eccentric Hero was the sort who could casually violate principles if needed. Heaven-Dominating Saber was different—a rigid adherent to rules.
Recruiting him outright would be difficult.
At best, I should earn his goodwill.
Dam Jeok-san made his decision swiftly and spoke.
“You have endured much hardship.”
“What hardship could you have endured, to change so drastically? Perhaps you might enlighten this old man as well.”
“I killed many. And nearly died many times.”
Dam Jeok-san replied casually, tapping his sword hilt lightly.
“You survived all that?”
Kwon Gi-il tossed the question back, looking at him.
“Can you see it? The line of death I crossed so often?”
Dam Jeok-san asked in return, intrigued by the way Kwon Gi-il spoke, as though he understood the battles Dam Jeok-san had fought.
“How could this old man possibly see such things? I can only feel it—the heavy scent of blood clinging to the Third Young Master.”
Heaven-Dominating Saber’s eyes gleamed sharply, as though he were trying to read something from Dam Jeok-san.
“The smell of blood… is it unpleasant?”
Dam Jeok-san continued the conversation calmly.
“Most of those I killed were irredeemable villains, or…”
Not even human.
He swallowed the rest of the words.
Among those who were not human, there were many who were more human than humans themselves.
“I cannot say whether it is unpleasant. But one thing is certain. You do not doubt the sword in your hand.”
Kwon Gi-il spoke with a note of astonishment.
Even now, he himself doubted, questioned, and feared the blade he held.
Yet the young Third Young Master seemed nothing like that.
“I am still young, that is all.”
Dam Jeok-san smiled lightly and deflected the remark.
“I wonder.”
Kwon Gi-il shook his head.
“I know there are fools who swing a sword without knowing its weight. But you are not such a fool.”
“Why do you think so?”
The certainty in his voice made Dam Jeok-san ask without realizing it.
“Because you have fallen and risen again. Because you have once lost the sword in your hand. One who has suffered such trials cannot fail to know the weight of the sword.”
“…Ah.”
For a brief moment, Dam Jeok-san failed to hide his surprise.
He had intended to exchange nothing more than polite words. Kwon Gi-il could become a valuable political partner.
He had never expected the old man to pierce straight into his heart like this.
“Thank you.”
Dam Jeok-san bowed deeply, brushing aside his tangled thoughts.
“For what reason?”
“You understood the desperation with which I have lived.”
As he spoke, a faint, indistinct smile curved Dam Jeok-san’s lips.
“There were moments I wished no one would ever know. And moments I wished everyone would.”
“…I did not come to see you.”
There was nothing but unvarnished truth in Kwon Gi-il’s words.
And the weight of truth was always heavy.
Kwon Gi-il could not hide his flustered expression.
“I merely realized that this old body could still move forward, after seeing you stand back up.”
That was why he could not help but think deeply about Dam Jeok-san’s heart as well.
How could he accept thanks for that? If anything, he should have been the one expressing gratitude.
“It is an honor.”
Dam Jeok-san spoke without hesitation.
“To have contributed to your ascent into the Entering Transformation Realm.”
“Thank you.”
This time, the words of gratitude came from Kwon Gi-il himself.
“If you are that grateful, would you be willing to lend a hand with a trivial matter? It is an order I received directly from the Castle Lord.”
At that moment, a strange light flickered in Dam Jeok-san’s eyes.
“Yes, and it seems the Young Cult Leader here will be coming as well.”
He jerked his chin toward Bukgung Wan.
“Me?”
Bukgung Wan looked startled, but he did not deny it.
“Well, if you wish, I will.”
If not for Dam Jeok-san, he would have returned west already.
But for now, he did not want to.
He wanted to observe Dam Jeok-san a little longer. And he wanted to defeat him—whether in a duel, a life-and-death match, or in some other way entirely.
Thus, Bukgung Wan accepted the proposal.
“Heh heh heh…”
Watching their exchange, so natural it seemed like that of sworn friends, Kwon Gi-il let out a hollow chuckle.
Rather than the Young Cult Leader of the Ming Cult and the Third Young Master of the Martial Sovereign Castle, they looked more like martial brothers.
Of course, when the true martial brothers—Jeok Yeon-jun and Dam Jeok-san—stood together, such a gentle atmosphere would never arise.
Reality is truly ironic.
Kwon Gi-il thought bitterly.
“Very well.”
Each elder of the main fortress was, in effect, a mobile force of power with autonomous authority.
As a rule, they could not casually leave the castle.
However—
The Castle Lord’s orders superseded all rules.
With a proper justification in place, there was no reason not to go.
“This old man was starting to feel restless anyway.”
Kwon Gi-il said, rolling his shoulders.
No matter how old one became, a martial artist was still a martial artist.
When one obtained a new blade, one naturally wished to test it.
And the blade Kwon Gi-il had obtained was something he had yearned for his entire life.
“By the way.”
Bukgung Wan cut in casually.
“Should you not at least tell us where we are going?”
Dam Jeok-san nodded slowly.
“The Blood Palace.”
And he gave a brief explanation of their destination.
“What?”
“Is that true?”
Both young and old looked puzzled.
“I have heard that the Blood Palace’s main stronghold is one of the most inaccessible places in the martial world. More reckless than entering the Demonic Realm itself.”
“Ah.”
Only then did Dam Jeok-san realize that he had omitted too much.
The Blood Palace was the only one among the Four Evils whose main base was known.
And the fact that it remained unconquered despite that—
Meant it was immensely powerful.
But that was not where they were going.
“There is a Blood Palace branch in Shanxi.”
“What did you say?”
Kwon Gi-il demanded sharply.
“Exactly as I said.”
“Those lunatics…!”
He roared as though he had discovered a nest of vermin in his own room.
Dam Jeok-san calmed him and began explaining the full story.
The atrocities of the former Iron Blood Woo Clan Head, Woo Gi-tae. The Martial Sovereign Castle Lord’s investigation and the mission he had issued.
“A contemptible wretch.”
Kwon Gi-il summarized Woo Gi-tae’s deeds in a single sentence.
His anger was undisguised.
He even said that he would have gladly drawn his blade even without Dam Jeok-san’s request.
“Then let us go inside first. Young Cult Leader as well.”
To depart, they would need to contact Mu-yeong. Saying that, Dam Jeok-san ushered the uninvited guests into his residence.
***
Several double hours later, the Heavenly Martial Hall.
The Martial Sovereign Castle Lord sat upon the Taishi Chair, his back still perfectly straight.
“Oh? Heaven-Dominating Saber left the castle together with Jeok-san?”
Since Dam Jeok-san’s departure, the Martial Sovereign had seemed bored by all things, but now a faint spark entered his voice.
Heaven-Dominating Saber Kwon Gi-il was a man the Martial Sovereign Castle Lord had watched with interest since his active days.
There were countless Ultra-Peak experts, but those with the potential to reach the Entering Transformation Realm were exceedingly rare.
And Kwon Gi-il was one of those rare few.
I never expected him to actually reach it.
Even the Martial Sovereign Castle Lord had only realized it after returning to the main fortress.
Which meant that Kwon Gi-il had concealed his realm thoroughly.
“But Jeok-san would have noticed.”
He had sensed it from Jeok-san’s sword. His perception was abnormally keen.
And that perception was one of the most powerful weapons Dam Jeok-san had gained upon recovering his Dantian.
“That seems likely.”
Mu-yeong agreed readily. He, too, had felt Dam Jeok-san’s extraordinary nature.
Yet knowing was one thing—bringing him along was another.
Kwon Gi-il was a man so stubborn that even the Martial Sovereign Castle Lord occasionally found himself at a loss.
Whether Jeok-san had persuaded him with words or captivated him with strength, he did not know.
“Interesting.”
At this point, the Extreme Thunder Jeok Clan and Jeok Yeon-jun would have no choice but to confront matters head-on.
A time was coming when lurking in the shadows would no longer suffice to surpass Dam Jeok-san’s achievements.
The Martial Sovereign Castle Lord knew.
The two possessed entirely different qualities.
As a man himself, he was not entirely without bias.
Yet he had to be fair—at least when it came to choosing a successor.
The Martial Sovereign Castle Lord was a seat that bore responsibility for the next fifty years of the Martial Sovereign Castle.
And fifty years of the Martial Sovereign Castle was, in effect, fifty years of the Central Plains.