“Lord! In the sky…!”
Oh great, here we go again. Sabok Seol sighed at the familiar shadow of a crow flying down. Just like yesterday, Ho Cheon-an was descending with Nab-in in his arms.
But something in Sabok Seol’s eyes caught his attention, something different from yesterday.
Nab-in, beaming with a big smile, while Ho Cheon-an looked at Nab-in with an almost gooey gaze.
“What business do you have today? Come to persuade again?”
“I’m here to make a proposal.”
“…A proposal?”
Sabok Seol’s eyes widened at Ho Cheon-an’s words. Had the persuasion from yesterday actually worked, prompting him to think about his disciple’s future?
With eager anticipation, Sabok Seol looked at Ho Cheon-an.
“Abandon Podalap Palace. If you do, I’ll send you back to the Central Plains.”
However, what Ho Cheon-an proposed was completely different from Sabok Seol’s expectations.
“That’s nonsense.”
Sabok Seol sighed deeply.
“So, you came here to stop me, didn’t you? To prevent me from attacking Podalap Palace.”
“I won’t deny that. However, it’s also true that I want to send you back to the Central Plains.”
“Exactly! We’ve resolved to leave Podalap Palace because of Grandfather!”
At Nab-in’s angry outburst, Sabok Seol chuckled. The little guy who couldn’t even speak yesterday had spent a day moping around and now had a bit of fire in him.
But the world isn’t just determined by strong will.
Sabok Seol drew his Daoist sword.
“Am I, Sabok Seol, of this world to be looked down upon by the Trench Faction’s many martial artists? I declared my conquest of Podalap Palace! How can a martial artist just back down!”
“That’s right!”
“Absolutely!”
As if responding to Sabok Seol, the martial artists of the Trench Faction drew their Daoist swords. The outburst of their Qi, filled with ominous energy, made Nab-in hide behind Ho Cheon-an, who protected him from the surging Qi.
“Ugh…”
“Ha-ha. Nab-in, didn’t I tell you to stay at Podalap Palace?”
“But… we decided to be together!”
Seeing the glint of determination in Nab-in’s frightened eyes, Ho Cheon-an smiled and ruffled Nab-in’s hair.
As Sabok Seol nodded in acknowledgment of this, the martial artists of the Trench Faction surrounding Ho Cheon-an began to move, creating a path, and Nab-in scampered to stand farther away.
Ho Cheon-an watched the situation and then turned back to Sabok Seol.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
“The price of that consideration will be paid in a joint attack, so there’s no need to be grateful.”
“Do as you wish.”
Ho Cheon-an replied calmly while operating his inner energy.
“Hmm…”
“Ugh!”
The Trench Faction’s Daoists groaned just from Ho Cheon-an releasing his inner energy. Was this the aura of a supreme being who single-handedly defeated the Blood Sect and the Black Forest Isle? It wasn’t even pressure through techniques; just the mere movement of Qi made the air feel electric against their skin.
Sabok Seol let out a chuckle.
Is this truly the aura of a person?
The magnitude of his Qi was like a towering mountain, and its structure was woven as tightly as finely spun silk, leaving no room for weakness. Sabok Seol could sense victory and defeat even before the battle had begun.
“You’re truly a monster. It wasn’t a lie that you wiped out the Blood Sect by yourself.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“Then I shall take my leave now.”
No sooner had those words left his lips than the Daoists of the Trench Faction were the ones charging in.
These were Daoists that had spent over a decade alongside Sabok Seol. Their skill may not have been comparable to his, but Ho Cheon-an could sense the oppressive aura from the charging Daoists.
For the first time since he had stepped back into the Martial World seeking revival, a sense of danger awakened within him.
Unlike the Blood Sect, which relied on entities and blood monsters to establish their power, and the Black Forest Isle that was solely desperate to gain such strength, this battle had an edge of martial artists’ will and sharpness that could not be acquired through any other means.
The martial artists of the Trench Faction lacked numbers, their combinations were uncoordinated, and their skill levels varied. But at the end of their Dao, there was a sharpness that could not be ignored.
Ho Cheon-an raised his focus and began moving his body.
In truth, the likelihood of the martial artists of the Trench Faction landing a significant hit on Ho Cheon-an was practically zero. His body, hardened as if made of steel, was protected by the Qi he raised, akin to a protective shield.
Even with a layer over it like clothing, there was no question that he would bleed from even the mightiest of attacks.
Yet, Ho Cheon-an didn’t let his guard down and kept an eye on the martial artists.
They had power but lacked any control over their energy, just like the reckless blood monsters. Unlike those weak martial artists that had crumpled under their own expectations, these were different.
What is the foundation of a Daoist? What must one do to be recognized as a practitioner of the way?
Ho Cheon-an saw that standard in their hesitation.
Fundamentally, a Daoist sword is a weapon specialized solely for cutting based on its weight. If one wishes for a different option, they might as well just use a sword.
Therefore, those who wield a Daoist sword must be prepared to stake everything on the cut they initiate.
Even if that choice is akin to punching a wrapping cloth, those who can choose cutting without hesitation are true warriors.
“Excellent.”
Ho Cheon-an mused as he faced the barrage of attacks from the Daoists. Even knowing that his own abilities might be as inconsequential as a droplet of water falling onto a rock, he put everything into the effort, believing that one day this may carve through stone.
His limbs moved with intent.
If they were merely bandits, he could have swept them away unceremoniously with the techniques of the Daoist arts, but these were people who would cling to even the tiniest openings. There was no reason to expose weaknesses by using oversized techniques like the Daoist arts against them.
The Qi contained within the Daoist sword twisted and bounced off helplessly against Ho Cheon-an’s gestures and movements. The attackers that had rushed in first became the first to fall in an instant.
The Daoists from the Trench Faction were taken aback by Ho Cheon-an, who seemed unfazed, as though a millennia-old tree stood rooted.
While his hands had the hardened form from years of training with weapons, such an elementary skill seemed cartoonishly inadequate.
Yet, the Daoists kept advancing.
The second wave. The third wave rushed in.
Ho Cheon-an thought as he countered the third wave, that he would have to yield somewhat to the attacks of the Hwa-gyeong martial artist suspected to be the faction’s sub-leader.
Thus, he pressed down with force.
Ho Cheon-an’s Qi surged. For the ones cooperating last, a bright light enveloped Ho Cheon-an’s arms, making it hard for others to open their eyes, and simultaneously shattered the Hwa-gyeong Daoist’s sword techniques into pieces.
“GACK!”
Blood-curdling howls echoed as the Daoists were knocked back. Ho Cheon-an could instinctively sense Sabok Seol’s attack was about to arrive.
He minimized his weaknesses by pressing with force, but completely eliminating them was a different matter.
Just from the earlier strike, a gap had surely opened up, enough for a needle to slip through.
KWA-BOOM!!
Sabok Seol wouldn’t allow that opening to go uncaptured.
Through the gaps left by his flying subordinates, Sabok Seol’s Daoist sword stretched out. The sword was enveloped with an aura glowing as brightly as Ho Cheon-an’s thunderous energy.
Before all the martial artists staring at Sabok Seol was a singular illusion.
The earth. The sky splitting apart.
It was a form of intuition and imagery.
Just as a raging tiger swings its paw towards its prey, the outcome didn’t need to be seen for one to imagine the grim fate awaiting the hunted.
From the instinctual understanding that Sabok Seol’s blow contained that much power, their minds5 concocted the result.
Surely, it could split apart heaven and earth.
The person who needed to take that blow, Ho Cheon-an, stared keenly at the trajectory of the sword.
This was indeed an unfavorable situation for Ho Cheon-an.
When comparing the powers of his past to that of Sabok Seol’s, the disparity was glaring, yet there it was.
At the extreme end of a martial artist’s battle, it lay thus.
What is the most crucial aspect in handling Qi? It is will. And the strength of that will derives from the principles one understands and realizes.
Ho Cheon-an’s will reflected a thunder.
An embodiment of destruction equipped with power and speed, a being all life fears, an absolute force.
Yet, at the same time, it had the nature of remaining silent until that thunder churned, built up, and exploded.
BLURRRR!! KABOOM!!
Thus, the force contained within Ho Cheon-an’s single strike facing Sabok Seol’s lightning-fast saber blow was more than enough to suppress it, yet Ho Cheon-an could clearly see the gaps etched within that strike.
Being aware of a flaw in his technique meant that his will and doubts created an opening.
No matter how overwhelming one’s power might be, how could one execute a flawless strike if one believes it is imperfect?
Even as he was aware of that gap, Ho Cheon-an extended his fist calmly.
This strike was his utmost best.
If that strike fell short against Sabok Seol’s overwhelmingly powerful blow, then that was just an unavoidable outcome.
Ho Cheon-an’s fist collided against Sabok Seol’s blade, sending a silent shockwave sweeping through the surroundings. Reflexively, Nab-in, who was shielding himself, along with the Daoists of the Trench Faction, were thrown around by the shockwave, turning to the epicenter.
There stood Sabok Seol, holding only the hilt of his Daoist sword while Ho Cheon-an’s fist had come to a halt right before Sabok Seol’s chest.
“Ah…”
“Ha…”
The Daoists gasped, and slowly, Sabok Seol’s hand fell to the ground, leaving only the hilt of his sword behind.
With his eyes closed, Sabok Seol said, “I’ve lost.”
Ho Cheon-an gazed piercingly at the defeated Sabok Seol. Just as the silence began to grow uncomfortable, Sabok Seol opened his mouth to speak, ready to voice whether to kill or spare him, only for Ho Cheon-an to interrupt first.
“Have you given up?”
The sudden question sunk into Sabok Seol’s heart like a dagger.
“Now that the hope of a wanderer or roamer has faded, you seek a glorious death, don’t you?”
Ho Cheon-an recalled the blow that Sabok Seol had thrust forth. It had enough principle to cleave the earth, yet… Sabok Seol’s will had not followed through.
Sabok Seol simply let out a dry laugh.
Indeed, the words of Thunder Name Zhonja struck the mark. When the years of waiting turned to waste, he had felt both anger and despair.
If he could truly not return as a martial artist of the Central Plains, as a member of the Martial World…
Honestly, he would prefer to die as a martial artist.
Therefore, he had turned towards Podalap Palace. He would have welcomed death at the hands of Sara, with whom he had shared many years, or even at the hands of Thunder Name Zhonja, who is known to be the greatest.
To kill one’s opponent while harboring a will to do so was a hopeless endeavor. Thus, defeat was inevitable.
“What does a loser have to say? Do what you will.”
Ho Cheon-an regarded Sabok Seol, whose deep fatigue and despair showed clearly. It was a familiar visage. Up until another Ho Cheon-an had arrived with the answer of revival from another world, he had worn that very same expression.
There would be no way any kind of persuasion would work in Sabok Seol’s ears now.
Ho Cheon-an understood that well enough.
As he looked at the utterly resigned Sabok Seol, he opened his mouth.
“Then let’s return to Huang Nation together.”
“You still… dare to say such things?”
“You asked me to deal with it, did you not? This is my way of handling it.”
Thus, instead of persuading Sabok Seol, Ho Cheon-an decided to simply drag him along. Noting the look of despair on Sabok Seol’s mixed blood, Ho Cheon-an turned to face the Daoists of the Trench Faction.
The Daoists looked back at Ho Cheon-an with expressions of confusion.
Having suffered a ghastly defeat, they could hardly grasp what expressions they should display when their leader, Sabok Seol, was being taken back to the Huang Nation by the one responsible for that defeat.
“You guys….”
However, Ho Cheon-an paid little heed to their confusion and unleashed the words he had prepared. With each passing moment, Daoists’ mouths fell one by one, and when Ho Cheon-an finished speaking, they stared back at him with an expression of utter bewilderment.
The Hwa-gyeong expert finally took it upon himself to voice the question brewing in the minds of the others.
“Cough… Were you not from the Righteous Faction?”
“I’m neither from the Righteous nor Outcast faction. Just an old man moving for peace in this world.”
“…Is that so?”
Once all the discussions reached their end, Nab-in dashed over, flinging himself into Ho Cheon-an’s embrace.
“Master! You were so cool today!”
“Ha-ha-ha, is that so?”
“Yeah! Today you were like whoosh! wham! I felt like I could follow that if I learned it too! You’ll teach me those martial arts, right?!”
“Of course.”
“Yay! I’m so excited! How long will it take to learn? A week? A month?”
Well, thinking about it, even the shortest time estimate might take ten years.
Though this thought crossed Ho Cheon-an’s mind, he merely smiled at the sight of Nab-in playfully throwing punches and kicks into the air, looking adorable.
The Trench Faction Daoists watched as Ho Cheon-an and Nab-in wandered off, chatting cheerfully while carrying Sabok Seol on their shoulders.
One of the Daoists remarked.
“Seems that today’s event doesn’t mean much to him after all.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
Having overcome the entire Trench Faction and taken Sabok Seol as a captive, even proclaiming grand designs for change in this region and Yunnan, yet in the eyes of the Brain Knife Outcast, Nab-in’s cuteness appeared to take precedence over everything.
The Daoists could only let out weary chuckles. The Hwa-gyeong expert gazed at the swaying figure of Sabok Seol hanging from Ho Cheon-an’s shoulder.
“The Lord certainly must be exhausted.”
“We surely won’t be the ones to carry this burden.”
“Haha, right. We need to move as that person says.”
Supporting those who had sustained serious injuries, the Daoists began progressing towards the vast highlands of the region.
As Ho Cheon-an and Nab-in headed back to Podalap Palace, and the Daoists moved in the opposite direction towards the highlands, they were clearly on different paths.
Nonetheless, someone’s lips couldn’t help but form a smile, while someone’s eyes still carried the flame of hope.
It seemed like another wind of change was about to blow across this region and the world again.
