The remains of the deceased Cheohosu had vanished, leaving behind a small blackened statue of a lotus. As if to prove it emerged from the desecrated body of Cheohosu, the statue exuded an aura of ominousness.
“I should take this, right?”
As Yoohee picked up the fallen statue from the floor, Sayoon nodded in agreement.
While training at Amipa, defeating evil monsters and bringing back proof would earn them items provided by Amipa.
Among those items were things Sayoon wanted to gift to the Senior Sisters of Hongseong and items Yu Wol would probably like.
“I really want to get the Commercial Prosperity Award.”
The award created by dedicating a long time of prayer at Amipa was something every merchant would want to possess at least one of.
After all, wasn’t there a merchant who got it and then their business flourished?
Sayoon lightly felt her chest, sensing the armor inside the statue.
Thinking of how Yu Wol had provided precious materials for its creation, a smile crept onto Sayoon’s face.
She was always grateful. Always giving without asking for anything in return.
If she didn’t repay that kind of person, then who on earth would she repay?
“I guess I’ll need to work harder to get that.”
“Hehe. Yeah.”
“If you feel like you might fall short, I’ll help you.”
Hyunhwi and Yoohee were also training at Amipa to help defeat evil monsters. Although they could utilize what they had obtained, Sayoon slightly shook her head.
“This time, I want to try it with my own strength.”
“Okay. Just don’t overdo it. If you get hurt, Yu Wol, the Innkeeper, will be sad.”
“I understand. So, we’re done, right? Should we head back soon?”
“Ah, not yet. There have been reports of dog monsters appearing beneath Amisan. Yeosang and Hyunhwi are also said to be participating this time.”
Sayoon nodded immediately and headed down the mountain with Yoohee.
Perhaps due to their training in lightness skill and Sinbeop, along with gradually understanding the Buddhist teachings, their Sinbeop appeared more stable.
As they descended the snow-covered Amisan and arrived at the designated meeting place, Yeosang and Hyunhwi were already waiting.
“Where’s Cheohosu?”
“I caught it.”
As Sayoon displayed the black lotus statue, Hyunhwi smiled, and Yeosang moved her beads. It was a troublesome and crafty evil monster, so it was a relief that Sayoon’s bait worked effectively.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No.”
“Good job. Anyway, you heard from Yoohee, right?”
“Yes. There are groups of dog monsters?”
“Exactly. It seemed odd that there were so many, so I looked into it… Apparently, there’s a Mabok.”
Mabok. A monster with the head of a person and the body of a tiger.
One of the wicked and brutal monsters, it led dog monsters and caused significant damage whenever it appeared.
“We need to deal with it quickly.”
Records existed of a large village being completely destroyed when Mabok gathered dog monsters to attack. Thus, Sayoon spoke seriously, and Yeosang nodded while rolling her beads.
“I’ve received information that they’re gathering in the ravine southwest of Amihyeon. There seems to be about eighty dog monsters.”
“We’ve received information that they’re gathering in the canyon. The approximate number is around eighty monster dogs.”
“That’s more than I expected. But there were no ones here who seemed afraid of it.”
“The other masters of Amipa are also moving towards that way, so we can join them and fight together.”
“Yes.”
“Understood.”
Once the conversation ended, they used their lightness skill to move immediately. The four women were running swiftly through the snowy field, but not a single snowball flew up.
That meant their lightness skills were stable.
“Master has achieved the realm of the Answering Snowless Shadow… How much more effort do I need to reach that level?”
While the snow didn’t fly, traces were left on the snowy ground. Remembering how the Sword Saint left no marks while walking through the snow, Sayoon asked, and Hyunhwi thought for a moment before chuckling.
“Well, at least it won’t be possible in a year or two. Why? Do you want to be as strong as Master?”
Sayoon nodded, embarrassed. She wanted to be strong enough to protect everyone.
Seeing her determination, Yeosang smiled gently and rolled her prayer beads.
“The desire to grow is good, but impatience can be toxic.”
“Thank you, Master.”
Right. There’s no need to rush.
Her Master is by her side, as are her Senior Sisters, and Mr. is there too.
“Namu Amitabul.”
After exchanging a few more words, when they arrived near the canyon, some masters were already waiting. Among them stood a girl with striking black hair, fiddling with a ceramic knife.
“Oh! Sayoon!”
It was Chaeran. Her friend and the goal she wanted to surpass.
She approached Sayoon, bouncing with a big smile.
“I heard you were trying to catch the beast all by yourself? Did you manage?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, excellent! Great! Then how about we have a competition again? To see who catches the most?”
Hyunhwi sighed at Chaeran’s voice.
“Cha Senior, we haven’t come here to play.”
“I know, but having fun is important too.”
Chaeran’s approach to martial arts training differed from Hongseong. She always wanted to enjoy and have a good time.
Perhaps that’s why her growth was so rapid.
As Hyunhwi gazed at her for a moment, she turned her eyes to Sayoon.
Since arriving at Amipa, Sayoon had been gaining experience and getting stronger.
But she was still lacking. Enlightenment. A breakthrough was needed to ascend further.
Maybe what Sayoon needed to learn now was Chaeran’s mindset?
After a moment of contemplation, Hyunhwi smiled brightly and looked at Sayoon.
“You and Chaeran will take the lead. The rest of us will provide support and eliminate the monster dogs.”
“Understood! Senior Sister!”
“Alright then.”
Hyunhwi clenched her fists and took the lead. Upon reaching the canyon where the monster dogs were located, dozens of them were drooling.
Having turned the existing evil monsters and ferocious beasts in the canyon into prey, a foul stench mixed with an ominous aura overflowed the area.
“…They have established their territory.”
“Well, they’ve created it.”
Countless scholars have researched the principles behind the birth of Evil Monsters.
Naturally, because Evil Monsters only wish to hate and kill humans.
That’s why scholars believed that Evil Monsters are born from chaos and harmful energy directed towards humans.
And just to prove them right, places with many Evil Monsters were filled with negative energy.
Humans and Evil Monsters cannot coexist. Therefore, it was only natural to fight, using strategies to weaken the enemy’s power.
Strong and cunning Evil Monsters, aware that their negative energy affected those who had mastered martial arts, often gathered their own Evil Monsters to build their power.
Mabok was one such Evil Monster that instinctively knew this.
An Evil Monster that, instead of devouring others, built its strength like a human and made other Evil Monsters come under its command.
If it’s already managed to create this much territory, it won’t be long before it expands further and starts attacking villages.
So, if we don’t deal with it now, the damage will only grow.
Hyunhwi clenched her fists.
“This is going to be tough. Let’s go.”
Hyunhwi jumped down quickly, and others followed her into the gorge.
She reached out her fist towards the Black Mabok, which was sitting with a languid posture, as if proudly flaunting the enormous power it had built among the canine guards.
– Graaaawww!!
A punch infused with the energy of Hongseong Divine Art was shot forth. But the Mabok merely smiled coldly.
– Grrrrr!!
A few jumping canine guards blocked the force with their bodies. And the remaining energy was simply swatted away by the Mabok’s paw.
Hyunhwi frowned at the sight. This creature had amassed this much power.
It really is not just any ordinary foe.
She muttered inwardly and quickly shouted.
“Monk!”
“Guanzizai Bodhisattva, practicing Prajnaparamita…”
The monks of Amipa swung their swords while chanting the Heart Sutra. Just when the negative energy that had filled the gorge began to dissipate under their power,
– Grrrrr!!!
The Black Mabok roared loudly. With that, its negative energy intensified, and the canine guards started to gain strength.
Seeing that, Sayoon bit her lip.
The stench of beastly musk pierced her nostrils, a scent like decaying chaos.
The negative energy that surged along was pressing down on her allies’ spirit.
Of course, with the skills of those present, it wouldn’t be hard to escape this place.
But what if they ran away?
Eventually, those Evil Monsters would attack people, leading to countless deaths.
There was no way to retreat.
They had to defeat them here.
But this was the territory of those Evil Monsters.
Having stayed here for a long time, they had gathered their energy.
Even as the monks of Amipa recited their scriptures to dispel it, the situation remained even.
If they could just push back the Evil Monsters’ energy a bit more.
– Grrrr!!!
As Sayoon was lost in thought, a canine guard jumped in. She swung her sword and cut through, glaring at the Black Mabok.
Its narrow eyes were twinkling with mockery and disdain.
It was laughing.
As if to say, “What can you do?”
As if to say, “This is my territory.”
“Looks like you’re scared. If you are, you’d better run and not look back.”
Facing that, Sayoon gritted her teeth.
“I can’t back down. I don’t want to lose.”
“This momentum, I must break their hold on this area.”
– “Remember the saying, ‘Where you stand, truth prevails.'”
Then it happened.
The thought of the riddle the Mister sent in a letter came to her.
“Where you stand.”
“I must not forget that where I am is my rightful place.”
Sayoon closed her eyes. The swordsmanship that the Sword Saint had shown her came to mind.
“Sayoon?!”
Closing her eyes in front of the enemy shocked Chaeran, who swung her sword at the lurking dogman targeting her. When the large dogman, with its chest slashed open, retreated, she felt the foul stench and the mingled smell of blood slowly fading away.
“You…”
Before the startled Chaeran could speak, Sayoon slowly opened her eyes and drew her sword.
– “In the sword of Hongseong lies destruction and harmony that protects everyone. One sword stance will prove Hongseong.”
“So Yun-A, what does Hongseong mean to you?”
Memories of the past.
The Sword Saint had told her.
How had she answered back then?
For her, Hongseong was the Hongseong Clan, Hongseong Mountain, and everyone of the Hongseong Sect.
Recalling the Sword Saint’s smile at her response, she tightened her grip on the sword.
“Hongseong Divine Art: Phase of Destruction.”
The raised sword spun gracefully. The light emanating from the sword became even stronger, and as the Maboks grimaced at the brightness, Sayoon thrust the sword into the ground.
– “Ruuuuumble!!!”
With a low crashing sound, the negative energies that filled the valley began to dissipate.
What filled the space was nothing but a refreshing aura.
Having dispelled the accumulated negative energies of the Evil Monsters in one sweep, Sayoon smiled as she aimed her sword at the Mabok.
“This is no longer your territory.”
“This place where I stand is my domain, and the place where the disciple of Hongseong stands is…”
“The territory of Hongseong Sect.”
Mabok ground its teeth at her assertive gaze.
In an instant, the tides turned.
Thanks to that girl.
The negative energies surrounding them completely vanished.
What took its place was the energy of the Amitabha monks’ chants.
With the momentum suddenly shifted and that soothing energy spreading, there was no way the Evil Monsters could defeat them.
While cutting through the frightened dogmen, Sayoon and Chaeran attacked the Black Mabok.
– “Grrrrraaaah!!!”
Still, as the leader, the Black Mabok held on fairly well, but Sayoon’s sword strikes were fierce, and Chaeran’s swings were sharp.
In the end, with Sayoon’s sword severing its neck and Chaeran’s blade splitting its chest, the remaining Evil Monsters faltered in fear.
“Should we catch the rest, too?”
“Yeah!”
Chirping cheerfully, Chaeran twirled her sword, and Sayoon nodded in agreement.
It’s not over yet.
To be recognized by the Master, the Senior Sisters, and, of course, the Mister…
She needed to become stronger.
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