“How did the Outer Commander get here?”
Geumwolsang expressed his doubt. It was planned that way from the start. I was supposed to handle it, but just in case I couldn’t, I told him to come at the arranged time.
But if he had come as promised, he should have been here already. It wasn’t a big deal, though, Geumwolsang said.
“My eyes can’t keep up.”
“Yeah.”
Just as I wanted to see how strong Gwak Jindo was, I didn’t know how strong Peach Blossom Hua was either.
I only knew he was the Dangju of Cheonjuseong.
I was just ignorant when it came to the level of martial arts or the strength of martial artists.
But now that I had learned some martial arts, I felt I might understand a little.
He was at a level where when swords clashed, an explosion sounded, and the shockwaves were strong enough to push away stone pillars.
“Hyeongnim, we should move back.”
“You don’t even have to say it for me to know.”
We slightly bent our knees and took a few steps back. Since Gwak Jindo and Peach Blossom Hua were fighting, stones and debris were flying everywhere, so we had to watch carefully while retreating.
Crack! Crack!
The ground, which looked solid, cracked, and nearby trees split from their trunks.
Their offense never stopped, but I couldn’t see it clearly.
Occasionally, flashes of light and blurred images were all I could make out. My sensitive senses could only keep up so far, and from the middle onwards, my perception began to twist.
“So that’s what a battle between true masters looks like.”
Geumwolsang said with his mouth slightly open. Behind him, Geumhwacheong and Geumsurin also watched, mouths agape.
Sounds and scenes began to overlap. Even before we heard the sounds, they were already measuring the next, and the next attack.
Invisible winds violently surged, breaking and scattering, followed by a continuous series of explosions (pum).
Even the sound and wind affected my internal energy. Naturally, it wasn’t good to keep using others’ internal energy continuously.
Geumsurin and Geumhwacheong’s faces began to turn pale first. Their internal energy was weak, so they felt the effects earlier.
I quickly lifted the floorboards of the Deungryeong Shrine and formed a Baewijin ()5008).
“You really are talented. I never thought Jinbeop could be used this easily.”
Geumwolsang said in surprise. It wasn’t easy, especially with the aura of the masters’ fight causing the atmosphere to fluctuate so much.
If I had used any other Jinbeop than this wind-blocking Baewijin, I wouldn’t have been able to form it so quickly.
“Wolsang Orabeoni, did Mok Hwan do this just now?”
I heard Geumsurin’s weak voice from behind. She seemed in such bad shape that she didn’t even notice me moving.
“Hmm. Are you feeling better now?”
“Definitely. Earlier, my ears kept ringing and I felt nauseous…”
Geumsurin held her chest and spoke in wonder. Geumhwacheong behind her was slowly recovering as well.
But that was only for a moment. I had to keep watching the fight between Gwak Jindo and Peach Blossom Hua.
Gwak Jindo was unleashing a variety of martial arts, occasionally mixing in moves from the Namhae Sibigeom.
I had to consider how he operated in a real fight, and how that differed from me.
“Seunggyeonim.”
“Hmm?”
Without looking at Geumwolsang, I asked. Probably, Geumwolsang was too absorbed in martial arts to notice me.
“At that level, how strong would they be in the martial world?”
“…Well, I’m seeing a masters’ fight of this caliber for the first time too, so I don’t really know.”
Crack! Crack!
Gwak Jindo and Peach Blossom Hua clashed their swords loudly, then suddenly flew apart. The ground beneath them was dug into two layers deep.
“I know the Outer Commander is a martial artist who has reached Ogijo-won.”
I felt Geumwolsang staring at me fiercely. Without turning, I had to ask more questions.
“How strong is Ogijo-won in the martial world?”
As soon as I asked, Geumwolsang slapped his palm against his cheek. The motion was so large it was visible even with one eye.
“Hmm, hmm. Yeah. You were a bit ignorant about the martial world, huh? My fault. My fault.”
“I don’t know much.”
“No, no. Anyway, even within Ogijo-won, there are different levels. But usually, just getting into Ogijo-won means you’re among the top ten fighters in a fortress.”
“I see.”
Top ten in a fortress. That was an incredible level. I confirmed once again just how great my Seunggyeonim was.
And then there was Peach Blossom Hua, who was fighting against Gwak Jindo.
They hadn’t used their full strength from the start either. Their speed and power gradually increased.
The explosions grew louder, and the Deungryeong Shrine trembled. From the main gate, something rolled down with a sound.
“Wait!”
Gwak Jindo shouted. At the same time, he and Peach Blossom Hua sheathed their swords and moved apart.
“You forgot this is where the memorial tablets are kept.”
Gwak Jindo said. Peach Blossom Hua smiled faintly, then gently stabbed his sword into the sheath on his waist.
“Let’s just stop here, Seonbaenim.”
“I never had a hubae like you.”
“Is there anyone among the South Sea’s martial artists who doesn’t know the three marks of the Sigaek?”
Aside from Gwak Jindo’s shout when he first entered, that was their first real conversation.
Gwak Jindo looked at Peach Blossom Hua with caution.
“You mean to tell me to watch while someone tries to kill my disciple?”
“If I wanted to kill him, I would have done it already—before you even drew your sword, Seonbaenim.”
Peach Blossom Hua said. It was true. I knew Peach Blossom Hua wouldn’t kill any of us. No, he couldn’t.
I was curious why he came here, but I never once felt threatened by him. Of course, Geumwolsang didn’t know that and probably thought Peach Blossom Hua really intended to kill me, which is why he charged in.
That was exactly what Cheonjuseong was: a fanatic group that obeyed their Seongju’s word without question.
Especially at the Dangju level, personal actions were completely forbidden.
On the other hand, this also meant that Peach Blossom Hua came here under the Seongju’s orders.
That was a little unsettling, but there was nothing I could do about it right now.
I stepped out of the Jinbeop formation. Gwak Jindo frowned but didn’t stop me. He must have known Peach Blossom Hua’s words were true.
“You’re really a bright young one.”
“It’s not that I’m bright, I’m just a kid.”
Gwak Jindo muttered under his breath, but I ignored it. Long ago, I had accepted such teasing once and got exhausted.
“Anyway, today I’ve seen a great Seonbaenim and an interesting young one. I’ll be leaving now.”
Peach Blossom Hua quickly backed away. Gwak Jindo tried to follow, but I grabbed his arm.
“It’s fine. Cheonjuseong won’t lay a hand on me right now.”
“On what grounds?”
I thought for a moment and answered.
“Because it will be so.”
“Are you playing the fortune teller again?”
Gwak Jindo frowned deeply. I had no proof. Cheonjuseong wasn’t widely known yet, and I didn’t know how close their fanaticism was to madness.
They would consider it an insult that Lee Cheongmyeong used the Black Path style, and they would try to eliminate him. That was the same as my goal. So, in the short term, Cheonjuseong and I were on the same side.
“Yes.”
“Ha.”
At my simple answer, Gwak Jindo squeezed his eyes shut. That was the best bold answer I could give.
Soon, brothers from around us quietly gathered. All of them looked drained and lifeless, having suffered the threat of Mok Hwan.
“Is it over?”
Geumhwacheong was the first to speak.
“It seems so.”
“You showed a very good sight today.”
“You weren’t the one showing it, were you?”
Geumhwacheong looked around the damaged Deungryeong Shrine. The buildings were broken and needed repair.
The more he looked, the darker Geumhwacheong’s expression grew.
Geumwolsang and Geumsurin couldn’t be unaffected either. I left them behind and quietly climbed the stairs to open the main gate.
Because the building had shaken, many objects had fallen and scattered—newly made folding screens without paintings, tablets, and memorials all over the floor.
As I organized them, I heard someone sigh behind me.
“Ha.”
I turned to see Geumhwacheong. Without meeting my eyes, he went to organize items on the other side.
Geumwolsang and Geumsurin seemed to be cleaning outside under Gwak Jindo’s supervision.
I didn’t have much to say to Geumhwacheong either. We simply tidied up together—throwing away broken utensils, setting up scattered small jars, placing tablets back on the shrine, and arranging the mess.
It took quite some time.
After we finished, we gathered by the central spot where Mother’s memorial tablet was kept.
Geumhwacheong and I seemed to share the same thought. Even without formal ceremony, we wanted to bow at least once.
“You first.”
Normally, one bows and greets in order, but I stepped back. Only then did Geumhwacheong look at me carefully, still tired.
“You.”
Geumhwacheong spoke.
“What is it? Why have you changed so much?”
“You’re asking that now?”
“That’s not something people ask. I don’t care if you’ve changed. I want to know how you got so strong.”
“Because I changed as a person.”
I told him honestly, but Geumhwacheong only shook his head in disbelief.
“You did protect Mother’s memorial tablet today, but I still can’t forgive you.”
With that, Geumhwacheong bowed deeply. There was not a trace of error in his posture.
After he stepped back, I bowed simply once, stood, then briefly nodded at Geumhwacheong and passed by.
Geumhwacheong flinched, probably expecting me to object. Since he saw my martial arts at Cheonsuyugokjin, he no longer looked down on me like before.
I didn’t care what Geumhwacheong thought of me. The road ahead was long, too long to obsess over trivial things.
I went outside first. There was too much to clean. The dug-up ground and broken trees were one thing, but many of the fortress’s dead martial artists made it worse.
Soon, Geumhwacheong followed, and we started work as far apart as possible.
We dug pits, buried bodies, burned broken trees, and sorted soil and earth. It took an entire hour and a half.
Of course, repairs were necessary, but at least we had handled the urgent matters.
Only then did Geumwolsang and Geumsurin enter through the main gate, pay respects to Mother’s memorial tablet, and come out.
The courtyard was roughly cleaned, but the uneven ground still held thick bloodstains. When would the earth be leveled, and when would the bloodstains fade?
Far away, beyond an unnamed ridge, the sun was setting.
“Today was an incredibly long day.”
Geumsurin said, staring blankly at the sunset.
“And after this, we still have to descend the mountain and go to Namchang.”
She shivered as if chilled, and Geumwolsang and Geumhwacheong looked just as exhausted.
“Then let’s rest here today and depart tomorrow.”
“…Are you sincere?”
Geumwolsang asked again.
“There was an attack like this. Shouldn’t we return to the main fortress immediately to do something? File a report, or whatever…”
“It’s fine.”
Everyone showed puzzled expressions at my words—even Gwak Jindo. It seemed Geumwolsang’s words made sense.
But I was certain. This fight was already over.
And I needed to rest too. Because I still had something to receive from Gwak Jindo.
When I looked at Gwak Jindo with eyes filled with despair, he sighed deeply.