Chapter 48 – Honey Belly Sword (7)
Using the crumbling debris as stepping stones, I quickly made my way up the cliff, only to nearly fall again when Seolhwa, who was right nearby, suddenly threw herself at me with all her strength.
However, if I had avoided her, Seolhwa would have certainly fallen off the cliff. I had no choice but to catch her with my body. I spoke while bleeding profusely.
“Isn’t it dangerous to throw yourself when there’s a cliff behind?”
“But Master caught me.”
“That’s because I’m your master. Isn’t that only natural?”
“Yes, I believe in you. More than anyone else under this sky.”
“Master!!!”
Soon, Sua and Namgung-yeon also ran toward us after discovering me embracing Seolhwa. It was a touching reunion, but first we needed to deal with the aftermath of this attack.
I first gathered the survivors and collected the bodies of those who died in the attack. If there was any consolation in this misfortune, it was that not all of the Hundred Great masters had joined the Evil sect.
If Go Gyeom and Ma Kang had joined the Evil sect… Regrettably, it was obvious that the situation would have unfolded exactly as they wanted. However, Black Tiger Great Sword Ma Kang’s case was quite ambiguous.
“He didn’t completely abstain from participating, and he knew about their plans but remained silent…”
“Indeed, as you say, Master, if he had spoken up beforehand, perhaps we could have prevented casualties. But if it weren’t for Ma Kang, we would probably all be dead.”
“…Young Master Go Gyeom certainly has a point. Moreover, it truly would have been dangerous if Young Master Ma Kang hadn’t intervened.”
And when you think about it, I understand why he had to make such a choice. Because at that time, if he had rejected the Evil sect’s proposal, he would have certainly lost his life.
After considering various circumstances, it was decided not to charge Ma Kang with any crimes. However, that doesn’t mean I intend to let this matter go. The Evil sect will certainly be punished.
Besides that, the Sunmoo Academy, which failed to properly verify matters, cannot escape punishment either. And the same goes for the Righteous Sect Alliance, which is the root and patron of the Sunmoo Academy.
‘Originally, the Hundred Great masters are largely determined by the Righteous Sect Alliance. It’s an inevitable matter.’
The Hundred Great masters receive respect wherever they go based on their name alone. This is possible because the Righteous Sect Alliance essentially vouches for the identity of the Hundred Great masters.
However, among these Hundred Great masters, as many as four betrayed the procession and attacked. So naturally, the Righteous Sect Alliance, which vouched for the names of the hundred great masters, must be held accountable.
“How many survivors are there?”
“More than half of the attendants have died.”
“…Then could Young Master Go Gyeom return to Hanam with the attendants?”
“I’m fine. Are you proceeding to Shandong as planned, Master?”
“I must. There are various matters of right and wrong to address.”
Having come this far, I couldn’t turn back now. Hearing my words, Go Gyeom nodded and gathered the surviving attendants. Just then, Ma Kang approached me.
“First, thank you for your generous forgiveness, Master.”
“Honestly, I don’t think well of it, but thanks to you, my disciples survived. I merely gave you the treatment you deserved.”
“…If it’s acceptable, may I ask one question?”
“What is it?”
“I saw Young Lady Seolhwa using martial arts earlier. If I’m not mistaken, she seemed to be using only the Three Disasters Sword Technique. Its power was quite extraordinary.”
Is he talking about Seolhwa’s Three Disasters Sword Technique? I nodded candidly at his words. Seolhwa had been continuously converting the poison energy settled in her danjeon into internal energy.
Thanks to this, not only was the speed at which her internal energy accumulated remarkable, but even its quality was no joke. If we were to judge solely by the total amount of internal energy accumulated in her danjeon, she would be at least first-class.
So even when wielding the Three Disasters Sword Technique with no special principles embedded, it would naturally display considerable power. Of course, the main reason is that I don’t know any martial arts except the Three Disasters Sword Technique.
‘But I can’t just sit idly by, claiming ignorance forever. I’ll have to build up slowly, one by one.’
“That’s right, but is there a problem with that?”
“…If it’s acceptable to you, Master, I would like to witness your sword directly.”
“Witness my sword? Do you mean a duel?”
“Yes. In fact, I wanted to ask you from the beginning.”
At Ma Kang’s unexpected words, Go Gyeom, who had been listening silently beside us, began to restrain Ma Kang. But this might not be a bad idea after all. I nodded.
“Fine, that’s not difficult.”
Honestly, it would be a bit disappointing to just let him go.
I should at least beat him up a few times before sending him off.
â—‡
“Fine, that’s not difficult.”
Mu-myung accepted the duel so easily and readily that even Ma Kang, who had directly requested it, was momentarily stunned. Who would have thought he would agree so promptly.
Ma Kang himself is well aware that his current position is not particularly favorable. In the end, he helped Go Gyeom drive away all those Evil sect members or whatever they were.
But the fact remains that he didn’t reject their proposal, and above all, if he had given any hint about this fact, the damage could have been prevented. So while he didn’t betray them…
He didn’t do the right thing either, so the best choice here would have been to quietly disappear with Go Gyeom. However, one fact continued to hold him back.
If he could just go a little further here.
If he could see the fight of the Sword Demon with his own eyes.
He felt like he could reach a higher place.
The heart of a warrior who had been broken by stagnant despair many times began to burn hot again with a competitive spirit. In the end, unable to suppress his desire, he opened his mouth.
Honestly, he thought he might be coldly rejected, and that would be that. However, the result was the Master calmly but readily accepting his duel request.
‘To accept a duel so readily without setting any conditions. Indeed, a master who has reached the peak is different.’
True masters command respect without needing to demonstrate their skills. Thanks to this, Ma Kang felt his world expanding just by looking at Mu-myung.
Eventually, Mu-myung and Ma Kang stood facing each other after minimal preparation. As befitting his title of Black Tiger Great Sword, Ma Kang carried a massive greatsword on his shoulder, proportionate to his huge frame.
Not only ordinary warriors but even fellow hundred great masters had been surprised by Ma Kang’s enormous greatsword, truly living up to the name of Black Tiger Great Sword.
But Mu-myung was simply looking at Ma Kang with unwavering eyes despite facing the huge greatsword. At this sight, Ma Kang felt a chill run down his spine.
‘I can’t feel any aura at all. Nevertheless, why does even breathing feel so pressuring?’
As if there were a sword tip at his throat, cold sweat began to pour down Ma Kang’s body like a waterfall. However, Ma Kang soon gathered all his strength and roared with all his might.
This was an opportunity he had barely obtained. If he could just go a little further.
He might be able to climb to a higher place.
He couldn’t stupidly let this opportunity slip away by being overwhelmed.
That brief roar was a self-lashing rebuke for his own fear. Thanks to this, Ma Kang was able to move his body for a moment. Ma Kang advanced as if throwing his body forward.
“Huup!!!”
With a disciplined shout, the great sword fell like lightning. There was nothing particularly fancy that could be called a technique, but the pure strength alone was already a formidable weapon.
Kwang!!
The great sword collided, causing a tremendous explosion. However, Ma Kang could only be astonished. This strike, undoubtedly drawn with all his might, was his very best effort.
Without a doubt.
Even Go Gyeom couldn’t withstand this strike head-on.
It was a strike that transcended limits to such a degree.
Yet Mu-myung casually blocked such a strike with his sword? At this surreal sight, Ma Kang briefly thought he might be dreaming.
But the sensation transmitted through his fingertips was delivering the message clearly to Ma Kang. This was absolutely not a dream. At that moment, Ma Kang’s great sword was heavily pushed back by an enormous force.
At first, he thought Mu-myung had used some technique. But that wasn’t it. Just as one would casually brush away annoying dust, he simply deflected the great sword to the side.
“I’ll come at you head-on, block it.”
At these words, Ma Kang raised his great sword to defend against the attack. However, at that moment, what appeared before his eyes was not the same person, but a giant as massive as Mount Tai.
The giant, so enormous it seemed to reach the sky, slowly raised his sword beyond the heavens and then brought it down toward him. Simultaneously, a shock transmitted through the great sword.
Mount Tai Pressing Down æ³°å±±æŠ¼é ‚
Ma Kang’s defense crumbled like a sand castle, unable to withstand the overwhelming force that could crush even Mount Tai. If he had chosen to cut with the blade instead of striking with the flat side…
“…Ha!”
However, despite the desperate gap in skill, Ma Kang couldn’t suppress his laughter. His vision, which had been as hazy as fog, became clearer than ever before. Yes, that was it.
That single strike was precisely the principle he had been seeking, and simultaneously the path he needed to follow. Thanks to the Master, he had realized this fact, so how could he not laugh?
‘With this encounter, I can finally head toward a higher place. How can this be anything but a fateful connection?’
‘Ah! That feels good!!’
Meanwhile, Mu-myung was feeling refreshed for an entirely different reason.
