Chapter 31
A mere two percent probability.
So low that it wouldn’t occur even once in ten attempts.
However, those who encounter this low probability experience life-changing transformations.
So what does this two percent probability mean?
It’s the probability that a Demon Realm barrier will fail to form.
Or cases where a barrier forms but remains incomplete.
A certain cave in Angang.
A barrier should have been formed there originally.
But due to insufficient dark energy, geographical characteristics, and the natural energy contained in the environment, the barrier remained incomplete.
The first to discover this place was none other than Blood Hand Bow Dan Gu-gi.
Thus he acquired the items that had crossed over from the Demon Realm.
Later, he came to be called by the epithet ‘Explosive Bow.’
Explosive Bow Dan Gu-gi.
The one who destroyed three of Angang’s Four Great Sects.
After that, he left his hometown of Angang and lived a wandering life throughout the martial world.
Naturally, the Jeongdo Alliance pursued him. But he was so elusive that they couldn’t capture him.
When the Demon Realm’s army appeared years later, he briefly showed outstanding performance, but even he couldn’t escape death.
Why did he annihilate Angang’s three great sects?
He was widely known for his outstanding chivalrous spirit and fair righteousness.
How did he erase the three great sects overnight?
It was a mystery that no one could solve at the time.
Of course, Sa Bigang would later be able to find the answer to the second question.
However, he never did learn why Dan Gu-gi had destroyed the three great sects.
He had even interrogated the sect leader of Changcheon Gate, the only one that survived in Angang, but still couldn’t learn the answer.
Angang Baek Family.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they represented Angang.
That’s why people attached ‘Angang’ before ‘Baek Family’ when referring to them.
But they were the first sect to have their traces erased from Angang.
He didn’t know the exact date, but he knew the chain of annihilations began around this time.
Therefore, Sa Bigang had visited the Angang Baek Family today.
But he was too late.
Just one day’s difference.
Explosive Bow had already erased the Angang Baek Family from the world.
Then tonight…
‘The second sect will disappear.’
Sa Bigang stopped the carriage on the hill and climbed onto the roof to look down at the village panorama.
The problem was not knowing which sect would disappear second.
While many people remembered that the Angang Baek Family disappeared first, the subsequent order hadn’t been passed down in detail through oral tradition.
After all, only first impressions tend to remain strongly in memory.
For that reason, Sa Bigang decided to spend the night on the hill.
‘I must catch Explosive Bow tonight.’
Among the sects still standing, there were two destined to be erased from history soon.
Geumjeong Gate and Seungdo Jin Family.
‘Which one will you strike first? Explosive Bow.’
Sa Bigang slowly stood up.
Far below, he could see Geumjeong Gate and Seungdo Jin Family.
He had definitely memorized their locations.
All incidents occurred after midnight.
There was still time.
‘Damn it, I should have seen it myself back then!’
Right after confirming that the Angang Baek Family had been devastated, he heard Dan Li-jeong muttering.
“Ah, that senior probably didn’t know the Angang Baek Family had ended up like this either.”
When asked what he meant, he talked about someone who had guided them on the way.
“He seemed like a martial world senior. Carrying a huge bow…”
“He was carrying a bow!”
Sa Bigang grabbed Dan Li-jeong’s shoulder tightly and shouted.
“Yes… it was quite a large bow, but why are you…”
“Where did you see this person?”
“On the main road before entering the village entrance…”
Sa Bigang didn’t even listen to the rest and flew off.
But there was no way Dan Gu-gi would still be in that spot.
Unable to find him, Sa Bigang returned and led the students to this hill.
He had thought about having all the students search for him, but it was too dangerous.
‘Well, the plan got a bit twisted, but it can’t be helped.’
***
Swiiish!
Thunk! Tremble tremble tremble.
The arrow infused with energy flew and embedded deeply into the wooden pillar, trembling.
Dan Gu-gi lowered his bow and exhaled long.
‘Yongcheon Hall…’
He never thought a Martial Arts Study Journey from Yongcheon Hall would come this way.
They seemed to have planned to stay a day at the Angang Baek Family, but now that was impossible.
He expected them to go to some village inn, but unexpectedly they set up camp on the back mountain hill.
It might be because they couldn’t secure rooms at the inn, or it could be part of their training.
Either way, an unexpected obstacle had appeared.
But it didn’t matter.
If they got in the way, he’d just blow them all away at once.
And then he’d leave this filthy place forever.
He still had seventeen Explosive Orbs left.
Dan Gu-gi looked quietly at the red energy stone in his palm and smiled.
***
“Damn it, I need to show him what’s what sometime.”
Gok Bo-ok grumbled.
His buttocks still seemed to throb from Sa Bigang’s beating.
Yeon U-gyeong, walking alongside him, muttered with a sunken expression.
“There’s no need to rush. The Martial Arts Study Journey is also an opportunity for us. A chance to destroy the instructor.”
His expression turned somewhat eerie.
Actually, at first it had just been a prank to torment an incompetent instructor.
But somehow it had gone beyond the realm of pranks and become like a grudge.
Just then.
Shaaaak!
A sharp sound of cutting air was heard.
Turning his head, he saw a student repeatedly drawing and sheathing his sword.
Yeon U-gyeong’s eyes sparkled.
“Who is that…?”
“That’s Dan Li-jeong. You know, the guy who couldn’t pay the fees and came along to handle the horses.”
“I know that.”
Yeon U-gyeong replied stiffly.
But what swordsmanship was he learning to have such clean sword drawing?
His technique of drawing from the sheath and immediately cutting something was expert level.
As if reading his thoughts, Gok Bo-ok chuckled and said.
“But he’s only half-skilled.”
“Half-skilled?”
“That guy is the youngest son of the leader of Ilseong Sword Gate, a minor sect, but he’s only good at drawing the sword. Only drawing.”
That meant he couldn’t properly execute the techniques after drawing the sword.
Sure enough, the sword path he wielded after drawing was terribly sloppy.
Yeon U-gyeong, who had been momentarily surprised, let out a cold sneer and turned away.
Meanwhile, Dan Li-jeong saw Yeon U-gyeong’s group turning away from afar and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He had been tense, worried they might pick a fight with him.
He gathered his focus again and drew his sword from the sheath.
Shaaaak!
The sword was drawn cleanly.
The thrilling sensation of this moment was indescribable.
Even falling leaves would be cut successfully if sliced like this.
But strangely, when he swung after drawing, he couldn’t cut the leaves.
So Dan Li-jeong continued practicing only sword drawing.
During those moments, he felt like he had become a supreme master.
“Hooh. You’re training very diligently.”
At the sudden voice, he turned to see Sa Bigang watching him intently with crossed arms.
Dan Li-jeong quickly straightened his posture.
“No, I’m still far from it.”
“Far from it? Your sword drawing is quite excellent. No, it would be the best among the students.”
“But that’s all there is. Besides sword drawing, nothing else works properly.”
“Well, that can’t be helped.”
“I should practice, but I keep only practicing sword drawing.”
“No. You’re doing well.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t do what you don’t want to do. Polish what you like to the maximum.”
“But… if I do that, I’ll be completely useless in actual combat…”
Sa Bigang shook his head and approached.
It was a seriousness rarely seen from him.
“You have talent in projection attacks. So it would be good if you continued to polish in that direction. Have you ever tried shooting a bow?”
“Ah… no. Our sect focuses on swordsmanship…”
“That stuff doesn’t matter. What’s important is your aptitude. Try shooting a bow from tomorrow. There are many similarities between sword drawing that requires momentary concentration and shooting a bow. Maybe it suits you better than the sword.”
Not maybe.
‘You absolutely must take up the bow.’
Even if Sa Bigang didn’t force it now, his future self would eventually take up the bow.
He only realized his specialty later.
If he had taken up the bow earlier, he might have become a much more outstanding master.
“But father would oppose…”
“Well, then don’t do it.”
“Pardon?”
“If you’re going to fulfill your filial duty by living your father’s life instead, then I can’t help it. But if you’re going to live your own life, think about it.”
Having finished speaking, Sa Bigang turned around without lingering and walked away.
‘A bow…’
Of course, he had touched a bow during archery classes.
But he had never approached it seriously.
‘Certainly… I didn’t dislike that feeling.’
Suddenly his heart pounded.
Even the same thing can feel completely new when approached with a different mindset.
That was Dan Li-jeong’s situation now.
Dan Li-jeong quickly called out.
“Instructor!”
“What?”
“If I use a bow… could I… could I also become a master?”
“That depends on how you do it.”
“Ah… I suppose that’s right? Haha…”
“However, depending on your effort, there’s no law saying you can’t surpass the supreme level.”
Surpassing the supreme level!
This wasn’t just words to boost morale.
He was talking about that level of possibility.
Most martial artists can’t reach the supreme level no matter how hard they try.
So the words ‘you might become a supreme master if you work hard’ are only said to prodigies.
His heart swelled.
Whether it was false or not.
Those words containing that possibility made Dan Li-jeong’s heart race.
“Thank you, Instructor!”
Dan Li-jeong bowed deeply toward Sa Bigang’s retreating back.
***
Dark night.
Midnight was approaching.
Sa Bigang sat on the carriage, idly gazing at the village panorama.
Of course, he watched two places particularly closely.
Geumjeong Gate and Seungdo Jin Family.
‘Which one is it? Explosive Bow!’
As he narrowed his eyes and watched, a clear voice like rolling jade beads was heard.
“Instructor? What are you doing?”
“Ah, Lady Mae. I was just getting some fresh air.”
“I can’t seem to fall asleep tonight either.”
Mae Seol-lan smiled sweetly and climbed up onto the roof.
She sat down beside Sa Bigang.
“Oh my, I didn’t expect to see such a beautiful night view.”
“This night view couldn’t compare to Lady Mae’s beauty.”
At Sa Bigang’s words, Mae Seol-lan blushed and smiled gently.
But inwardly, she was getting somewhat impatient.
‘What are you doing? Why aren’t you pouncing on me?’
Originally, Sa Bigang should have jumped on her recklessly tonight.
Was it because the plan to stay at the Angang Baek Family had gone a bit awry?
Sa Bigang wasn’t approaching her at all.
“Are you perhaps worried about the Angang Baek Family?”
“What use is worrying about those already dead?”
Surprised by the unexpectedly cold answer, Mae Seol-lan tilted her head before continuing calmly.
“I wonder if it’s because I saw such a frightening sight today? My heart keeps pounding and I can’t sleep.”
Her delicate hand pressed against her rising chest.
‘Look here, you impotent fool!’
But Sa Bigang still kept his gaze only on the village.
‘Ha!’
She couldn’t understand at all.
Sometimes he acted like a starving beast about to pounce, and now he was treating her like a stone beside him?
Mae Seol-lan bit her lip slightly and approached more provocatively.
“My chest feels so stuffy, I think I should dress more comfortably.”
She loosely undid her collar.
The soft valley was revealed even more dizzyingly.
‘Can you stay still even with this?’
Finally, Sa Bigang jumped up abruptly.
A smile finally formed on Mae Seol-lan’s lips.
‘Of course.’
But then.
“It was over there!”
Sa Bigang uttered incomprehensible words.
The next moment.
BOOOOOOM!
With a tremendous explosion and the ground shaking violently.
A bright pillar of fire shot up from the village, making the hilltop as bright as day.
Tremendous firepower.
They could feel the scorching heat even from here.
Mae Seol-lan’s eyes widened in shock.
“What on earth is that…!”
She turned to look at Sa Bigang and froze.
He was gone.
“This man… where did he go?”
She frantically looked around, but couldn’t find any trace of Sa Bigang.
