Chapter: 809
The fierce battle, which had been intense, ended somewhat anticlimactically, witnessed by all members of the Sword Corps.
It was an ending no one had anticipated.
Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah had fallen.
In the meantime, what remained was the unexpected Dang So-yeol.
I was left speechless as I gazed at the brightly smiling Dang So-yeol.
No.
Various thoughts flashed through my mind.
How should I interpret this?
Suddenly, Dang So-yeol appeared and knocked the two out.
What’s crucial here is the word “suddenly.”
I didn’t even notice it.
Despite the fierce fighting, I had failed to perceive Dang So-yeol’s intervention until it was too late.
Since all the surroundings were filled with high stakes, my cognitive ability had decreased. Even if my senses were blocked, this was quite a surprising revelation.
This was evidence that Dang So-yeol had become extremely capable of masking her presence, and it proved she had been strategizing throughout the fight.
Dang So-yeol pierced through my senses and slipped between the two…
To be precise, she gradually concealed her presence from the two combatants who were engrossed in their brawl.
Her finesse was so detailed that it fooled even me.
Once that setup was finalized, she waited for the perfect moment…
And then…
She succeeded.
As soon as the desired situation manifested, she made her move and concluded the sparring.
Hah.
I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.
That’s impressive!
Had she been strategizing since the beginning of their fight? Or was this a plan she concocted as the fight progressed?
It didn’t matter either way. Dang So-yeol ultimately executed her plan utilizing her strengths.
And the result? A resounding success.
Perhaps no one around here noticed what really happened.
If I was oblivious, then surely no one here had a clue.
Dang So-yeol pulled it off.
Hahaha…
As I reminisced about it, I chuckled softly.
Given the suffocating silence, everyone’s attention honed in on her, and she sensed it, awkwardly smiling as she addressed them.
“… It seems like the commander of this unit has been roughly determined. Do any of you have complaints?”
“…”
“…”
“If you have any, please speak up.”
I inquired again, but silence was my only response.
It was expected. They weren’t low-level individuals; they certainly knew something was up.
I’m just saying that ambush wasn’t a coincidence.
What a meticulously calculated conclusion.
If they had the skill and the eye to see, they couldn’t possibly overlook what had just transpired.
The impression’s been adequate enough.
Who in the world could do this?
To charge in directly and subdue them, halting the scuffle.
That wouldn’t have been too difficult for me.
However, is there really anyone else in this group capable of doing that?
I don’t see anyone.
But since Dang So-yeol succeeded, her worth was firmly established.
Of course, there could be complaints.
What Dang So-yeol showcased was merely a fleeting moment, while Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-ah demonstrated a different caliber during their duel.
If there were those who felt dissatisfied about this, I’d respect their opinions.
If that’s the case…
“Dang So-yeol will handle it.”
She could resolve it through a duel like she just did.
Then it would become apparent that Dang So-yeol wasn’t the type to harbor discontent.
“It appears there are no disagreements. So let’s say a Dang member will occupy one of the two spots.”
As I delivered this statement, I shifted my gaze. It was directed towards the impassive members of the Meng side, who were wide-eyed and watching.
“Have you made your decision?”
“…!”
“Based on your expressions, it looks like you haven’t reached a decision yet.”
As anticipated, it seemed the other side hadn’t picked a subordinate.
I remarked with a slight smile while observing their reactions.
“It appears there are circumstances involved, so I’ll extend the deadline until tomorrow. However, if you still haven’t decided by then, I shall select someone based on my preference, so keep that in mind.”
Will they be able to make a decision by tomorrow?
I pondered while speaking.
The odds are they won’t.
How fortunate it would be if they did come to an agreement. That certainly didn’t seem likely in my opinion.
Oh, but even if they do, it wouldn’t matter much.
Because they weren’t my main concern to begin with.
“One side has been settled… and the other is caught in a rather awkward situation to decide.”
Swish.
I raised my hand and sent my aura soaring, lifting Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah into the air.
And then…
“Huh?”
I tossed them directly towards Dang So-yeol.
Dang So-yeol rushed forward and caught the suddenly flying forms.
“Ugh?!”
Perhaps due to her petite stature, her vision was completely obstructed the moment she caught both of them.
“… The commander instructed that the fallen be sent to the medical unit.”
“Wait a moment…”
“Dissolution.”
I assigned Dang So-yeol her first duty and turned away from her.
And thus, the first day’s gathering came to an end.
*
After that, I returned to my quarters.
They say there’s a large main space inside the cave, but since we hadn’t transported all our luggage yet, I had to stick around in my quarters for now.
Boom-!
A loud noise resounded.
It was the sound of a boulder the size of a house crashing to the ground in the designated area within the quarters.
“Phew.”
The young man who had been practicing while hoisting a rock spoke while wiping away sweat.
“So… you just came back like that?”
His expression was filled with disbelief.
I responded hesitantly under his gaze.
“I did my best.”
“Shouldn’t you have brought them back or something?”
“There were too many eyes on us. I couldn’t take care of them separately.”
This whole situation felt quite unfair to me.
After Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah collapsed, when I told them I had entrusted their care to Dang So-yeol and returned hastily, this reaction from Pae-jon was the outcome.
“Wouldn’t it have been better to leave them for the gods?” is the vibe I was getting.
“Do you think I didn’t want to take them along?”
More than anyone, I longed to do so. But…
“If you’ve accepted them as members, you can’t do anything publicly.”
It became impossible unless it involved personal relationships.
That’s how it is.
I needed those kids to realize this as well.
“Hmm…”
After hearing my answer, Pae-jon tilted his head for a moment and then spoke to me.
“This part is unnecessarily rigid.”
“…”
“Well. You figure it out.”
As if that was the end of the discussion, Pae-jon began to dry himself off with a towel that had been set aside.
He looked unusually worn as if he had been practicing relentlessly all day.
“Or perhaps it’s because of the aftereffects.”
I could tell that the exhaustion from the rain was still lingering…
“I told you to manage it appropriately.”
That’s how it was; he didn’t know his limits yet was boastful in showing off.
“Does he genuinely believe he’s gotten younger just because his physique has improved? Seriously, he ages like fine wine.”
Caught in thought, I turned my body around.
A rock zoomed past and swept across the ground.
Boom-!!
“…”
I gazed at the newly ruined ground, disregarding the rock that had just smashed it.
“What a shame. If I were in fit condition, I could have hit you.”
“Are you out of your mind…?”
“I only said that as your expression suggested you were silently cursing me.”
“…”
Your perception is absurdly sharp.
“There has never been such a thing.”
“Just maintain eye contact and speak. Tsk, tsk…”
Since it was already too late to argue, I decided against doing so.
“Judging by your throwing power, it seems like you’re feeling better.”
“Hmph.”
“Then why not just assist me a bit?” I added nonchalantly, and Pae-jon chuckled lightly.
“Are you still sulking over that?”
“I’m not sulking; I just brought it up.”
“No, you are.”
Click, click. After finishing drying off, Pae-jon hung the towel aside.
Seeing that, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
You asked if I could help you.
The meaning of those words is no different.
I had once invited Pae-jon to join as a member when the Seongryongdae was founded.
I thought having him around would ease his training, making it easier for him to conceal his identity.
“He declined.”
Pae-jon had turned it down.
He cited that he had work to do and that it would be difficult.
Because of that, I had to form a group with other people.
I didn’t really mind. It was just a half-joking inquiry, so it wasn’t important.
“What work is so pressing?”
It lingered in my mind that Pae-jon declined because he had urgent matters.
“… Whenever he has something to do, it tends to go awry.”
I felt a tinge of apprehension.
I might be mistaken, but every elderly figure around me had something odd about them.
Whenever they declared they had tasks, inevitably something major would crash afterward.
“You’re making that peculiar face again.”
“What do you mean?”
“Hmm…”
Pae-jon scrutinized me suspiciously.
I attempted to maintain my ignorance while striking a pose of innocence.
“Enough. My disciple started acting strangely days ago.”
“I thought it was perfectly normal… Just kidding.”
Thud.
As I stammered, Pae-jon released a far larger rock onto the ground.
I genuinely don’t get why some humans are so violent.
“As you pour in the hours, you seem to become less mature instead of gaining wisdom.”
“You’re mistaken.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Let’s cut this short. Can you tell me why you summoned me?”
I pushed past the piercing gaze and got to the point.
This gathering was for the reason Pae-jon had called for.
Enough small talk; it was high time to discuss the main issue.
“Ah, it’s nothing big.”
In response to my question, Pae-jon explains.
“I felt like there’s been some development lately. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes.”
I responded without hesitation.
After all, it was pointless to hide the truth.
The transformation caused by the hundred-level monster; there’s no way Pae-jon wouldn’t know by now.
“What on earth are you always consuming? If there’s something good, shouldn’t you spare some for your teacher?”
“I think I’ve given you a bit.”
Not only did I offer the Dokcheondan, but I also frequently shared elixirs.
Even though I utilized all of that, the changes remained slow. I often think about that when I see him.
“I absolutely refuse to return to my previous state.”
I’d rather bite my tongue and die than end up like that.
“If so, is there any connection between my luck and the reason you called me?”
“Indeed. It has always been this way, hasn’t it?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Have you acclimatized to Changcheon?”
“…”
“Though it’s not quite time for that yet….”
Thud, thud.
Pae-jon lightly flicked his palm and added further details.
I sensed it instinctively.
That was precisely why he had brought me here.
“I feel it’s time for you to advance to the next stage.”
The next advancement of the Tuapacheonmu that I need to master.
“It’s meant to teach you the Pacheon.”
Time flew by, and soon the next day arrived.
“Hah.”
I let out a sigh laced with fatigue.
My expression certainly didn’t look good.
How could a face so drenched in fatigue look peaceful?
To be honest, even moving felt challenging.
“I am utterly exhausted.”
A body drained of all energy would react dramatically to even minor movements.
My muscles were trembling uncontrollably, and I still felt prickly from all the pressure I had exerted.
“Annoying old man.”
Crack.
I involuntarily ground my teeth.
The cause of this discomfort arose as I recalled yesterday’s training.
It hadn’t been long since I learned Changcheon. The subsequent progression, Pacheon, had already been demonstrated once by Pae-jon.
That staggering martial art he showcased during his duel with the Tao King must be Pacheon.
“The essence of the Tuapacheonmu is compressed, and then recompressed… leading to a detonation.”
The martial art was shockingly powerful.
I imagined it’d be incredibly useful if I could merely execute it, and since Pae-jon had mentioned it was based on the Nine Legions’ Yeom-ok, I thought it wouldn’t be too challenging to learn.
“No way.”
What a wild thought.
It wasn’t difficult? What a joke.
“How much pressure did I apply all night?”
I had used so much energy that I felt completely drained, constantly refilling and depleting my reserves over and over again.
Despite being told to repeat actions to grasp the feel of it, I had been intensely focused.
“I couldn’t even feel it.”
In the end, I faced failure.
The level of difficulty was far beyond what I had anticipated.
“… How am I supposed to use that?”
The feeling was entirely different from the Tuapacheonmu I had learned so far.
Though it had originally involved pain, the overall difficulty wasn’t too high.
“This is a different monster.”
Pacheon had a different vibe altogether.
If the earlier forms utilized essence and movements to achieve bursts,
“You need to use everything.”
In this technique, I had to apply all I’d learned along the way.
I had to endure the pain while fine-tuning my essence, maintain perfect control over my movements, and prevent any disruptions by heightening my awareness and maximizing everything to the heavens.
I truly felt ready to lose my sanity.
Just how could Pae-jon appear utterly unconcerned even after I’d failed, as if he had foreseen it?
It was evident that he understood from the get-go that grasping the feel would be impossible on the first try.
“Sigh…”
The realization of how challenging this whole endeavor would be left my lips parched.
It was daunting due to the sheer amount of tasks at hand.
“Not just the Tuapacheonmu; I also need to keep experimenting with witchcraft.”
Although learning Pacheon felt fitting, I still had a myriad of other obligations.
Especially in the realm of witchcraft.
“… This isn’t going to be an easy stroll either.”
I had been picking up lessons from the deity during my spare time.
I just wasn’t sure if it was feasible to integrate this newfound knowledge with my martial arts.
Because I was essentially still just framing everything…
“But.”
If it went as I wished,
“It would be tremendously powerful.”
I anticipated an overwhelming result if it bore fruit.
Assuming it would succeed, of course.
“Hah.”
I exhaled deeply.
I found it beneficial to continually seek ways to strengthen myself.
“Yet, it feels like I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.”
I reflected on whether my sense of urgency had caused me to overreach.
Thanks to this, I struggled to manage all this while also handling additional responsibilities.
“But what can I do?”
I was aware.
This pathway was my only option.
Thus, I had to press on with determination.
“If it doesn’t work, then make it happen.”
I recited to myself the mantra Pae-jon often blurted out.
While it sounded clueless, no phrase fit more perfectly.
Whatever may happen, I’ll overcome it.
Even if I can’t achieve it, I’ll make it happen somehow.
With that resolution firm in my mind,
“What?”
Stepping inside the room, I squinted at an unexpected comment.
“Where?”
The elderly figure before me responded, Mukyeon speaking.
“This is Gyecheonmun.”
“… Gyecheonmun?”
“We’ve confirmed that the Gyecheonmun in Sacheon is connected to the Demonic Cult.”
It indeed was a name I hadn’t heard in a long while, and it completely took me by surprise.
My site has received a lot of DMCA notices, lol. From now on, I will update the MTL on https://darkmtl.com/.
The site is fast and lightweight because there are no ads yet. However, the theme is different from Cybor-TL, so take some time to familiarize yourself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.