The day has dawned.
"… … "
Dang-myeong was sitting cross-legged on the bed, immersed in meditation. He had been up since dawn and had been like this for over two hours. His posture, with his back straight, was unwavering, and his breathing was so thin that it was hard to tell whether he was inhaling or exhaling.
It seems to directly show what it means to not even move a muscle.
This is the height of stillness.
[This is ridiculous.]
Shikshin Heung-gyeong muttered as he watched Dang-myeong, who had fallen into a state of ignorance. He, who was a fool, had no need to know the details of human cultivation methods, but
Still, there were some things I learned naturally because of the time I spent with Muyeonggaek.
Most people start their training by moving. They learn the forms and formulas. For ordinary people, this alone took a considerable amount of time. This is because recognizing and implementing are two separate issues. Having the ability to learn also meant that the time required for this process could be greatly reduced.
Once you can move as you perceive, dynamic training no longer has much meaning. In fact, developing muscles too much can actually prevent you from being able to fully demonstrate your skills. This is because errors occur in implementing movements. You need to train again to reduce those errors.
So, those who have properly completed dynamic training naturally enter static training. They enter the realm of mental imagery.
There were no spatial or temporal restrictions in the practice of mental imagery. When you reach the state of no-self (無我) or 沒我 (沒我)—a state of forgetting yourself and immersing yourself in the mental world—you can spend time at a completely different speed than the outside world. All you need is a place to sit or stand.
That's why masters who have reached a certain level often surpass their level overnight, rather than gradually improving their skills. From others' perspective, it may seem like just one night, but for the person in question, it must have been an eternity of time.
Of course, even if you practice mental practice, you cannot experience these moments of immersion at any time. You have to maintain a high level of concentration to the extreme, and recognize the moment as if it were segmented. In most cases, a certain topic becomes the trigger for deep contemplation, and then you accidentally fall into immersion and attain enlightenment.
In Shaolin, the holy land of martial arts, even the great monks of the past would practice wall-to-wall training to prepare for the moment of enlightenment.
However, after observing the practice of the hearing for a few days, it was surprising that he could fall into a state of ecstasy if he wanted to. He meditated for hours, relying on a thin breath that he could not even feel properly. It was a phenomenon that could not be explained unless he had fallen into a state of ecstasy by segmenting the moment.
[… What a monstrous concentration.]
I wondered how a guy who didn't even have a contract could reach Hwagyeong, but now I see that he was a being living in a completely different time axis. Being able to fall into a trap at any time meant that he could use a day as if it were a month or a year. He was no different from a great monk who had trained for a hundred years. His incomprehensible swordsmanship skills must have been built up that way, too.
one side.
As expected, Yu Myeong-myeong was absorbed in the thought. To him, mental training was as natural as eating. In his previous life, when he was a swordsman, he lived only thinking about swordsmanship. After his master, the swordsman, finally passed away, he had no more ties to the human world, so no distracting thoughts or worries dominated his mind. In that way, for several decades, the swordsman's concentration had already far surpassed that of a human.
When I was in the family, I didn't necessarily need to get caught up in the sect. I already had the enlightenment that had reached the realm of the swordsman.
Falling into a trap consumes a lot of mental strength. It is only natural that mental strength wears down as time passes. And since that mental strength is the power that can carry out thoughts and create strong energy, in order to maintain perfect condition as a being of Hwagyeong, one must not fall into a trap indiscriminately.
But why is Dang-Myeong so obsessed with this place, which is no different from enemy territory?
'… I think something will happen.'
In Hyeonyang Village, Dang-myeong took out the martial arts of his teacher, Geom-gwi.
A single island (remnant).
He killed seventy people with one horizontal strike, but in fact, that wasn't even a proper power. The swordsman's martial arts had to be spread out based on his power of resistance, and his power of destructive force, which he had accumulated through his own method of destructive force. In his previous life, when he had spread his remnants, he was able to cut off a huge mountain peak diagonally from afar.
As I unfolded the island of Geomcho, I felt a sense of familiarity and longing, but also a sense of inadequacy and regret. It was as if I was forcing myself to wear clothes that didn't fit.
It was only natural. The Dokyo Request Light Heart Method was not originally created with the sword in mind. Dang-myung also wanted to live this life as a member of the Tang family, so originally, there was no need to worry about it.
However, after unexpectedly obtaining a famous sword that could withstand the swordsman's ignorance, I felt like I wanted to properly display the sword skills from my previous life through the Dokyo Request Madness. That was why I had been obsessed with it for so long.
'If it's the Black Lotus, can the Dokyo Request Light Heart Law be changed to suit the sword?'
Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. Yu Gil-jun of Heuksalyeonju was born with the qualities of a great master, and was able to create and change martial arts as naturally as breathing.
It is a quality that is hard to believe just by hearing it. Is it really possible to see through the mysterious principles of ignorance at a glance?
'… I don't know for sure, but he must be an extraordinary person to have such a strong person as his subordinate.'
A few days ago, Dang-myung sensed a powerful new presence that had settled near his residence. It was somewhat restrained, but it was clearly Hwa-gyeong.
When I asked the person who brought me the food, he said he was from the Black Lotus. He had the grand nickname of Sado Yukjon, and his name was Sangmyeongil. He was one of the best swordsmen in Sacheon, and he was the closest associate of Black Lotus Lord Yu Giljun.
It was obvious, but he said he wasn't going to participate in the Sacheon branch meeting. He was just an observer. I heard that the Heuksa-ryeon sometimes sends people when the Sacheon branch meeting is held, so it wasn't strange. It was just questionable why he was staying near the residence of the de facto leader.
I wasn't too worried.
Even if he is a person of Hwagyeong's power, he is no match for Deungmyung himself. Especially not if he uses a sword.
'Surely the kids wouldn't get involved in the fight. They have to save face as a Black Death League member.'
Dang-myeong slowly opened his eyes while thinking that way.
During the practice of mental training, if you get caught in a trap, you are usually defenseless, but this was an exception for Dangunmyeong, who could selectively get caught in a trap.
Before he started practicing mental meditation, he was able to be alert to his surroundings thanks to the one thread of energy he had established. He was also able to sense the flow of time, even if only roughly, and thanks to that, Dang-myung was always able to escape from the crowd when the sun rose.
[That monster.]
"Is it today?"
No matter what the food spirit Heung-gyeong said, Deung-myeong muttered without paying attention. To him, Heung-gyeong was just a never-ending source of poison and a useful thing that could supply internal energy when necessary, but it wasn't something he would answer every time. In any case, there was a record of him targeting his body. The close relationship between the two would not change in the future.
According to what I heard from Simhwabang, the Sacheon branch will officially start in a few hours. The opening ceremony will be held.
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For a few days, the party of Dangmyeong stayed in the residence and lived quietly. Thanks to the room assigned to them in the Simhwabang, which was completely separate from the other participants, they did not have to get involved in any unnecessary trouble. Of course, it was a bit disappointing for Dangmyeong, who had come to the Sacheonjihoe with the intention of causing trouble, but on the other hand, he thought it was not bad because he could practice Simsang without any disturbance.
As the successor of the Tang family, Dang Mi-ryeo, who participated, had a spacious room to himself, and his escort, Dang Mi-ryeo, and his attendant, Jegal Yeong-yeong, had to share a room in an adjacent room. After a few days, they should have become a little closer, but somehow, the relationship between Dang Mi-ryeo and Jegal Yeong-yeong seemed to be getting colder and colder.
When eating, all three gathered together. Dang-myeong had not forgotten that this was the enemy's territory. It would not be strange for him to start a fight at any time.
There could be things like poisoning in food.
He didn't think that something so absurd as using poison on the head of the Tang family would happen at a large event like the Sacheonjihoe, but he didn't know. Even if Jegal Yeongyeong didn't know, if something happened to Tang Miryeo, he would lose face in front of Tang Misoo. No matter how much he paid attention to this, it wouldn't be enough, that was what Dang Miso thought.
As I was putting on some clothes, I heard a sound along with a voice.
"Life extension. Are you awake?"
It was Dang Mi-ryeo.
Yes, he answered, and Dang Mi-ryeo opened the door and stepped out. Next to Dang Mi-ryeo, who was properly dressed in military attire as befitting an escort, Jegal Yeong-yeong stood in simple but neat attire. He bowed his head. It seemed like he was planning to properly act as a servant.
As expected.
"Miss Tang. The Sacheon branch meeting will begin soon. How long will you treat Sogaju like a close friend?"
"Why are you meddling? Yeonmyeong didn't say anything."
"This event is about the prestige of our family. Even if we are friends since childhood, what would others think if they saw a mere bodyguard fighting against the small lord of the family? They would probably think that the family's morals were not upright."
"So, what does that have to do with you? It's the prestige of our family."
"I know I've told you this many times. Our Zhuge family has decided to submit to the Tang family. In other words, we are no different from vassals, so it doesn't matter."
"stop."
Dang Mi-ryeo raised his hand to stop the two. Dang Mi-ryeo and Jegal Yeong-yeong had been raising their voices like this for several days. It seemed like they didn't like each other very much.
"Young-Young's words are not wrong."
At Tang Yuanming's words, a smile quickly spread across Jegal Yeongyeong's face. Whenever the two argued, Tang Yuanming usually took Tang Miryeo's side.
But this time, Jegal Yeong-yeong seemed to be taking his side, so he couldn't help but be happy. He even made a proud expression as if to say, "Look at that," but Dang-myeong opened his mouth again.
"But that doesn't mean that Miga has to be concerned about the Sapa guys."
"I see, right?"
"Okay. Just do as you were doing."
Dang Mi-ryeo nodded her head in agreement. Jegal Yeong-yeong quickly became sullen.
The two people still didn't know.
Why did Dang-myung participate in the Sacheon branch?
So, Jegal Yeong-yeong must have been acting in a way that avoided being caught while talking about his family's prestige.
It was a complete waste of time.
Dang-myung thought it was time to inform the two of them about the code of conduct.
"There is no need to worry about the prestige of the main family here."
"why…?"
Dang Mi-ryeo questioned Yu Myeong-myeong's words. Jegal Yeong-yeong also looked at Yu Myeong-myeong with a face that said, "What are you talking about?" The Sacheonjihoe is a place where each faction fights for all sorts of vested interests, and at the same time, it is a place where they can show off their successor's power. Shouldn't we naturally see that the prestige of the faction or family is at stake more than any other event…?
What erased the two people's doubts was a soft muttering.
"The other sects' successors who are participating in this Sacheonjihoe—they'll all die. There's no need to show off your prestige in front of the corpses, right?" as you all know."
A mature woman who naturally makes you think, "She's so charming," is giving a long speech. She is wearing a navy dress with her legs slightly split, revealing a hint of skin. The flame-shaped pattern embroidered on her is impressive.
"For various reasons, this is the Sacheon branch that we are hosting. I believe that each faction and clan has sufficiently explained what kind of event the Sacheon branch is. Without further ado, each of you can fight here for your own interests. I recommend a non-combat format, but it is not a problem if you fight to the death."
Simhwabangju Yeo Seol-ryeon continued speaking in a calm tone. In front of her were a row of boys and girls who looked to be in their teens or twenties. They were all descendants of the Bangpa family that had enemies in Sacheon, and were of the right age to participate in the Sacheon branch.
The age limit for the participant, not an escort or attendant, is twenty-five years old.
Naturally, most of the participants were slightly over the age limit. If you join the Sacheonjihoe at such a young age, unless you are quite skilled in martial arts, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. There was also the risk of being killed by the successors of other factions who were in a competitive situation.
one side.
Simhwabangju Yeo Seol-ryeon was acting unusually condescending. Even though they were younger than her, the people gathered here were each successors to their own factions or families. Normally, they would have been at least part of the anti-communist group, but now they were speaking as the leader of the Sacheonjihoe. Since they were in a position to control and manage the participants, it would be right to act condescendingly.
Yeo Seol-ryeon continued speaking.
"In the case of a fight, the main office becomes the notary public. Each person writes up their stake in a document, stamps it, and submits it, after which the winner of the fight is determined. The loser's stake is completely transferred to the winner's faction or clan. The side that lost the stake may harbor resentment, but they cannot cause a dispute over the matter for the next five years. If they do, it will be considered a disgrace to the reputation of the main office that hosted the event, and they will be punished."
The factions that govern the Sacheon branch were places with considerable influence within the Black Death League. They needed to be able to mediate or notarize the results of the power struggles that occurred in the Sacheon branch. That's why they needed to have that much force.
Simhwabang was a rare sect where women were the main force. While the extinct Amii were Buddhist sects comprised of nuns, Simhwabang members were mostly people from Giru. Perhaps for this reason, there were many Simhwabang members who were skilled in musical instruments, and naturally, their musical skills developed.
In particular, most of the practitioners had mastered the martial art of Simsimcheokumgong (深心刺音功), which could be performed on various instruments such as the pipa, geum (琴), and flute. Furthermore, due to the nature of the sound technique, the power of Simsimcheokumgong tended to increase in proportion to one's performance skills rather than internal energy. It was said that many of the Simhwabangdo practitioners from Giru possessed top-level performance skills, and that the Simsimcheokumgong they performed had considerable power.
When the Simsimcheokumgong reaches a certain level, it can directly strike the listener's soul. In the case of martial artists, it can cause problems in the use of internal energy or induce possession of the spirit. For ordinary people, it is a powerful martial art that can even make them idiots.
In the past, many people said that Tangga Martial Arts specialized in mass killing, but these days in Sacheon martial arts circles, when mass killing is mentioned, Simhwabang's Simsimjeokumgong is often mentioned. In fact, Simsimcheokumgong is more about neutralizing enemies than killing them, but that was enough. The elites, including Simhwabangju Yeo Seol-ryeon, were learning the enemy's Yeonyeonhwa technique.
Thanks to the modification by Yu Gil-jun of Heuksa-ryeonju, the Red Lotus Art can now be learned by both men and women. Men learn the original Red Lotus Art, and women learn the modified Red Lotus Art. The purpose of the men who enter the Simhwabang is obvious. They want to somehow catch Yeo Seol-ryeon's eye and learn the Red Lotus Art.
Even though it is not uncommon for people to die from rolling their eyes wrongly, there were many men who wanted to enter the Simhwabang. This is because the two-legged martial arts, Jeokryeonyeonhwasul, is more important for innate constitution than for the five senses or effort. There are many who do not have great talent in martial arts but cannot give up their desire to stand tall as a martial arts master. For such people, Jeokryeonyeonhwasul is the only hope for becoming a master.
Anyway.
He would burn his opponent, who was unable to use his strength properly due to the Simsimcheokumgong, with the two-strength energy of the Jeokryeonyeonhwasul. That was Simhwabang's fighting method, and it was particularly powerful in the Bangpa Battle.
There would be few in Sacheon who would have the guts to overturn the results of the non-combat notarized by such a deep-rooted room.
"Also, we are honored to have the presence of distinguished guests from Heuksa-ryeon at this Sacheon branch meeting."
Yeo Seol-ryeon paused for a moment and looked to one side. There was a luxuriously decorated VIP seat, and a man and a woman were sitting side by side. A middle-aged man with a long sword-scar on his face, and a woman in a court dress with a cotton shawl.
The expressions of the participants of the Sacheonjihoe, who had turned their heads to follow the gaze of Simhwabangju, were filled with surprise. Then, they began to talk so loudly that it seemed as if they had been the ones who had been quietly listening to Yeoseolyeon's words until now.
"He is the great swordsman of the Kuhwangyo Sword…"
"What? The Apostles have come in person?"
"I'm sure. I've seen it in passing when I visited the main sect before. Look at that sword wound. It's clear that it was the wound he received when he killed the two elders of the Cheongseongpa."
"As a swordsman, I always wanted to see you at least once. My wish has finally come true…!"
"You are the only one among the six disciples who has not yet taken on any disciples? This could be a great opportunity… ."
"Is the purpose of your coming to the throne to find disciples?"
"Wake up, you idiots. Don't you see the person next to you? She must be accompanying the Black Death Lady."
"Black Death? Then that woman is the only daughter of the Black Death Cult, Yoo Yeon-hee…?"
"What? Yoo Yeon-hee? Is the young lady your friend? Give her proper honorifics. Even if she is not yet a member of the original clan, shouldn't she at least show the minimum amount of respect while living in Sacheon? I'm really curious about your father's name."
"Rumor has it that the Great Swordsman Guhwan Gyogeom has arrived in Hwagyeong. The Great Swordsman himself has congratulated him…"
The young index players could not hide their excitement.
The Six Great Apostles are the six most powerful beings among all the Four Sects of the world. Of course, there was the incomparable Great Apostle of the Four Heavenly Kings, Black Lotus Master Yu Gil-jun, but to the Four Sects of the world, Yu Gil-jun was almost like a god. In terms of human standards, it wouldn't be wrong to say that the Six Great Apostles were the strongest.
Anyway, since they had encountered one of the six heavens of the Sapa, it was natural for the later indexes' hearts to race. In particular, since the Guhwan Gyogeom Sangmyeongil had not even had disciples and had focused on training, it was widely rumored that he was the best among the six apostles in terms of skill.
Perhaps the reason Guhwan Gyogeom came to Sacheonjihoe was to save his disciple. It was a completely baseless speculation that someone had made, but even the slight possibility was enough to heat up the atmosphere. Some people even roared loudly.
Looking at that sight, the cotton lady, Heuksahwa Yoo Yeonhee, opened her mouth.
"Uncle…? You're more popular than I thought. The cheers from the people seem to be piercing the sky."
"Huh. This uncle must be like an idol to them. There must be quite a few guys who want to see his face even just once. You may not have heard, but a little while ago, there was a guy who said that meeting the face of the Guhwangyogyeom was his lifelong wish."
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"Huh? Lie. She's not a peerless beauty, and her uncle already has a fierce expression and a fierce sword wound on his face. How can you wish to see that face?"
Yoo Yeon-hee shook her head repeatedly. Of course, she knew from her heart that her uncle Sang Myung-il's words were not a lie. She felt a sense of dissonance whenever her uncles, whom she had known since childhood, called her with the grand nickname of Sado Yuk-jon. As someone who had not properly learned martial arts, she did not know exactly how skilled Sang Myung-il was, nor how powerful her adoptive father, Black Lotus Master Yu Gil-jun, was in martial arts.
I only felt it occasionally when attending events like the Sacheonjihoe or when wandering around outside of Heuksalyeon.
The commotion showed no sign of abating.
Sangmyungil glanced at Yeo Seol-ryeon, but she seemed to have no intention of coming forward.
"It's too hot. I have to keep it quiet."
"But uncle. Where is he?"
"You mean that guy named Dang-Yeon-Myeong? He's over there. The third one from the right edge."
Sangmyeongil was aware of his presence because he stayed near the residence of Dangga Sogaju Dangmyeong.
Yoo Yeon-hee slightly lifts her head, frowns, and speaks as if giving up.
"… I can't see it very well."
"It's natural since I haven't even learned the simple eye technique. But he's definitely handsome. I can't believe someone can be that handsome. The word 'nobleman' comes to mind. I can say with certainty that he's the most handsome man I've ever seen."
"I want to see it up close. How long do I have to sit here?"
"First, this opening ceremony has to end."
Just wait - saying so, Sangmyungil stood up from his seat.
At the same time, he releases the energy he had been holding in.
Hwaaaaak
The tidal wave-like momentum spreads across Sangmyeongil.
• • • •
The bustling hall suddenly became as quiet as a mouse. The participants of the Sacheonjihoe felt as if a high wave was crashing down on them. How profound must they be!
"It's Sangmyeongil. I came to observe this Sacheon branch meeting."
After finishing his short speech, Sangmyungil sat down again. The momentum that had been giving him a huge sense of pressure had disappeared as if it were a lie. It was said that such a great amount of energy could be released and recovered in the blink of an eye. Exclamations of admiration, "Sado Yukjeon," could be heard here and there simultaneously.
"As you just said, the Honorable Guhwan Kyogeom is an observer."
Sim Hwa Bang Joo Yeo Seol Yeon immediately opened her mouth and grabbed the participants' attention again.
"I talked about the Bimu a little while ago. As I said, the Bimu is notarized by the main room. Up to this point, there is no significant difference from previous years. However, for this Sacheonjihoe, the special observer, Guhwan Gyogeom, has decided to take charge of the life and death decision. Those who wish to make the life and death decision must obtain permission from the Guhwan Gyogeom counterpart."
Sangmyungil nodded slightly in agreement. He was in charge of the notarization of the life-or-death match because of Yeo Seol-ryeon's request, but also because Yoo Yeon-hee wanted to see a proper duel between the participants. No one would apply for a life-or-death match unless they had a serious grudge, but perhaps it was because of youthful spirit—there were often people in the Sacheonjihoe who wanted to fight to the death. In order to watch such a duel without missing it, it was certain that he would be in charge of the notarization of the life-or-death match.
"I'm sure you know the rules of the Life and Death duel, but I'll explain them again. Unlike the non-battle, any means of attacking the opponent are allowed, and joint attacks with escorts and attendants are also allowed. Those who are designated as opponents for the Life and Death duel cannot refuse the duel, and a 15-minute rest period is given after the duel ends."
Yeo Seol-ryeon calmly explained the matter of life and death.
The Life and Death Test is literally a life-or-death battle with an opponent. It was natural to mobilize everything that could be mobilized. There were no restrictions on poison or secret weapons, and it was possible to pass with attendants and escorts. The mere moment of rest given right after the Life and Death Test may seem unfair, but this was a rule that was established after several Sacheonjihoes.
If you kill an opponent with a narrow skill gap, you have to take a rest and prepare for the next opponent. In order to avoid successive life-or-death challenges, you have to kill the opponent while conserving your power as much as possible. Naturally, all kinds of petty methods were used.
Moreover, even if the opponent had just fought a life-or-death battle, the challenger was still burdened. Unlike a non-combat where the fight ended with the transfer of rights, a life-or-death battle had to end somehow. If you rashly applied for a life-or-death battle because you seemed tired, you could end up being killed instead. Even if you were killed, you couldn't avoid being at odds with the opponent's faction.
So, it was almost impossible to apply for a life-or-death decision, especially not in succession, unless there was a serious grudge.
"Then, from this moment on, I declare that the fifteen-day Sacheonjihoe has begun. Each of you should move according to your own interests…!"
As soon as Simhwabangju Yeoseolyeon finished speaking.
There was a person raising his hand.
"I beg you, Grand Master of the Kuhwangyo Sword. Please allow me to decide the life and death of Dangga Sogaju." The one who raised his hand was a man who looked to be in his early twenties. He had two black swords crossed behind his back. His appearance was distinct.
Even in the vast Sacheon martial arts world, only the Taeeulmukgeompas dressed like this. In particular, among them, only Mak Inhu, a lowly chief of the Gongdongsan Blood Society, and his direct descendants could use the black sword.
"Are you a successor to the Taeeulmukgeompa?"
Guhwangyogyeom Sangmyungil also guessed the man's status at a glance. Among the factions under the Black Death League, there were not many that had the same level of power as Taeeulmukgeompa. In particular, Sangmyungil recognized Mak Inhu's skills as a swordsman to some extent, so he remembered Taeeulmukgeompa and his existence. Mak Inhu's innate murderous spirit was also quite impressive.
'It's clear that the swordsmanship that Yeonju bestowed was also a swordsmanship that used murderous intent, probably.'
Taeeul Double Sword Style - Yes, that was the name. An extremely refreshing and powerful sword technique that maximizes the killing intent and further strengthens the sword spirit. The sword spirit combined with the deep killing intent through Taeeul Double Sword Style takes on an ominous black light.
This silent sword was much more powerful than the ordinary sword. In fact, if you think about it, it is natural. Isn't murderous intent also a type of thought? In any case, it means that such a thought was roughly put into the sword. It may not be comparable to the 'true strong spirit' that is exclusive to the martial artists who have reached the Hwagyeong, but it should be more than enough to deal with any strong opponent.
"It is an honor that His Majesty the Great, the first of the six great swordsmen, has recognized our sect. My name is Makcheonhwi, the successor of the Taeeulmukgeom sect."
"Yes. Makcheonhwi. You want to fight for life and death with Dangga Sogaju?"
"Yes. He is the villain who harmed my father. If I didn't know, I wouldn't know, but if I knew the identity of the villain and didn't take revenge, what greater unfilial act would there be? Since he happened to attend the Sacheonjihoe this time, I intend to take revenge on my father's grudge by making a life-or-death decision."
Mak In-hu's eldest son, Mak Cheon-hui, did not hide his eyes that were burning with vengeance as he spoke. The Gongdongsan Blood Sect, as the incident that the Sacheon martial arts people called it, had irreparably diminished the power of the Taeeulmukgeompa. Not only Mak In-hu, who was the top leader of the sect, but also the elite of the sect that he had led were all killed.
In the end, the Taeeulmukgeompa that Makcheonhwi inherited was now nothing more than an empty shell. The surrounding factions were also well aware of this fact. Some people began to have an eye on the vast territory that the Taeeulmukgeompa had ruled and the vested interests therein.
The Taeeulmukgeompa lost the power to maintain what they had enjoyed before. If it weren't for the Sacheon branch meeting that opened at that time, they would have been attacked by other factions long ago. They were also safe thanks to the Simhwabang, which oversees the Sacheon branch meeting, declaring that they would not tolerate conflicts between factions for the time being.
Mak Cheon-hui made the best decision he could. First, he did not take the position of the chief priest because his father Mak In-hu's funeral had not yet been completed, and he remained in the position of successor. Naturally, it was to participate in the Sacheonjihoe.
Of course, if they were to join the Sacheon branch now, they would face numerous challenges from the successors of other factions who were seeking vested interests, but Taeeulmukgeompa did not have the capacity to fight a battle or defend their territory anyway. It would have been easier to protect their vested interests through the Sacheon branch, such as through non-combat.
Furthermore, Makcheonhwi had mastered the Taeeulssanggeomsik that he had learned from his father quite deeply, so he was quite confident in his own skills. Now that he was able to manifest the Mukgeomgi, he would not be pushed aside by the later-generation swordsmen of the same age.
In addition, the rights obtained from the Sacheonjihoe were guaranteed by Simhwabang for five years. Five years is not a short period of time. It was the time that Makcheonhwi's Taeeulssanggeomsik could reach a state of perfection, and it was also the time that could revive the declining power of the sect to some extent.
So I decided to participate in the Sacheon branch meeting, but soon after, I heard another piece of news. The leader of the Gongdongsan blood cult, Dangga Sogaju, was also participating in the Sacheon branch meeting.
Mak Cheon-hwi took it as an opportunity. He had heard rumors that the one who led the Gongdongsan bloodshed was Dang-myeong, but he guessed that it was greatly exaggerated. No matter how much the Tang family's martial arts were specialized in mass murder, the number of people mobilized by his father, Mak In-hu, was three hundred. Did Dang-myeong, who was not even a young man, single-handedly annihilate that many people?
It didn't make sense.
After his father Mak In-hu, he properly laid the foundation in the shamanist sect and mastered the Taeeul Ssanggeomsik, a sword technique personally taught by Heuk Sa-ryeon-ju. It is an extremely refreshing and powerful sword technique that completely crushes the opponent. No matter how great the secret martial arts are, it would be difficult to even touch the collar of his father's clothes. Furthermore, the others he brought along were also elites of the sect. This means that they are not people who can be easily defeated.
'Other figures in the family must have helped.'
Not only that, he must have used some kind of trap or some kind of extraordinary poison. Makcheonhwi accepted the rumor that Dangmyeong had killed three hundred people alone as a fabrication to exaggerate the incompetence of Dangmyeong, who had just taken the position of Sogaju.
There were some things that bothered me. During the process of ascending to the position of Sogaju, I heard rumors that he had killed two elders of the Tang family, and that he had killed two hundred Sapa warriors near Seongdo with his amazing secret martial arts. Jang Taecheon, the Mokyeonggungju who was famous for his broad-mindedness, had also died. There were many witnesses to this, so the possibility of it being false was extremely low.
'They must have let their guard down or they were a rabble.'
Makcheonhwi thought that if he went into battle with his true spirit fully developed, he wouldn't be affected by secret techniques. Especially if he was to ask for a life or death decision right away, he wouldn't have time to make any excuses.
Above all, if you kill Destiny through a life-or-death decision right here and now, there are many things you can gain.
First of all, I can avenge my father's grudge, and I can get all the benefits of the city of Chengdu, where the party is located. The benefits guaranteed for five years will be of great help in rebuilding the Taeeulmukgeompa. Also, among the other participants, there were those who wanted the benefits of Chengdu, but they will all become dogs chasing chickens. If Dang-myeong dies, they will no longer be able to fight for the benefits of Chengdu.
Moreover, the fame that Dang-Myeong had built up in a short period of time was no joke. The Tae-Eul-Muk-Geom-Pa, Cheon-Jin-Bang, and the owners of Mok-Yeong-Gung were all defeated, and the number of Sa-Pa warriors who died by his hands had already reached four hundred. If Dang-Myeong was a Sa-Pa warrior and the people he killed were from the Jeong-Pa, he would have become a public enemy in the martial arts world long ago.
If you can kill such a natural name, you will gain great fame.
As soon as the Sacheon branch meeting began, Makcheonhwi stepped forward to name Dangsangmyeong based on these calculations.
"Okay. Then, the owner of the Tangga Sogaju will come forward."
"It's a given."
There was a young man walking out with a voice. Naturally, many of the participants did not know the face of Dangsangmyeong. As soon as he entered the deep room, Dangsangmyeong was assigned a room in a remote place. The successor of Taeeulmukgeompa, Makcheonhwi, only knew that he was participating, but it was his first time seeing the face of his enemy. Only those who witnessed Dangsangmyeong standing at the reception desk at the main entrance of the deep room recognized him.
"You're a Dangga Sogaju…? I've heard people say you're handsome. Isn't this too much?"
"I would believe it even if you said it was the reincarnation of either Songok or Ban-an."
"If your skills are as rumored and your appearance is like that, isn't the heavens too unfair?"
"I feel like my eyes are opening up. I feel like I'm starting to feel a sense of favorability that I didn't have before. Right, you have to be at least that good to be called a nobleman or a noblewoman. There are just too many shameless guys out there."
"If I die by chance, I must cut off the skin on my face. I think it would be worth it to make a mask out of that face."
The successors of the Apostle's Faction made way for Dang-Myeong to pass, and at the same time, they chattered excitedly among themselves at the sight of his shining appearance. In particular, the women openly flirted with Dang-Myeong and showed their affection. When Zhuge Yingying saw this, his eyes glared, but the more he did, the more his expressions became explicit.
It was when Dang Myeong-myeong reached Sang Myeong-il that they became quiet. It was only then that Heuk Sa-hwa Yoo Yeon-hee, who was next to Sang Myeong-il, was able to see Dang Myeong-myeong's face properly.
"…oh my god."
Yoo Yeon-hee froze as she blurted out words whose meaning she couldn't understand.
Sangmyungil said.
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"I heard from Yeo Bangju that a separate stage has been prepared… In the martial arts world, life and death battles can occur regardless of location. The duel between Makcheonhwi of Taeeulmukgeompa and Dangga's Dangmyeong will proceed here. If you have any objections, speak up now."
"doesn't exist."
"Me too."
Makcheonhwi and Yumyeongmyeong shook their heads without a moment of hesitation. As it seemed as if a battle would break out here without moving to another location, the other participants all stepped back and formed a circle to create space.
"In a life and death battle, you can mobilize your guards and attendants. After all, you are the successors of a clan. The martial arts you possess are important, but the martial arts of your subordinates are also considered your abilities. It seems that the Tang family's Sogaju did not know this fact."
Sangmyeongil glanced at the guards and attendants standing behind Dangmyeongmyeong, Dang Miryeo, and Jegal Yeongyeong, and spoke. In his opinion, Jegal Yeongyeong was beyond words, and Dang Miryeo had learned a fair amount of martial arts, but compared to the other successors who had accompanied her, she was lacking.
There was an age limit that participants in the Sacheonjihoe had to be under twenty-five, and escorts and attendants had to be under the age of 18, so most of the successors of other factions or clans brought along people who looked to be under the age of 18. Although it was a rule, there was no way to confirm their age accurately, so the factions or clans tended to send young-looking masters among the young masters.
The same was true for those who accompanied Mak Cheon-hwi as his escort and attendants.
Among the few remaining Taeeulmukgeompa disciples, I brought in those who were in their twenties and still had outstanding skills. They just hadn't mastered the Taeeulssanggeomsik, but their skills weren't that much lower than Makcheonhwi's.
At this rate, it was practically the same as fighting three against one. That was why Mak Cheon-hwi smiled in satisfaction.
"Do you have any thoughts? What on earth do you think of the Sacheonjihoe…?"
"There's no such thing as a lecher. You must have brought him here with the intention of having him wait on you at night."
"They say that handsome guys are worth their price…."
"Is it your taste? The maid is quite pretty though…."
They hear mutterings. The faces of Dang Mi-ryeo and Jegal Yeong-yeong harden at the words that are no different from dirty jokes. It must have been because of the tension that naturally comes with the impending life-or-death decision.
"I told you. They're dead bodies."
Dang Mi-ryeo and Jegal Yeong-yeong muttered softly. It was a roundabout way of telling them not to worry about it. Realizing the meaning of the words, the faces of Dang Mi-ryeo and Jegal Yeong-yeong became much more relaxed.
This time, the words of Dang-myung-myeong were spoken to the day of the Gwan-gyeong-gyo-geom.
"I would kill an ant by squashing it, but I wouldn't necessarily use the help of my subordinates."
What? Hahahahaha!
Sangmyungil burst into laughter at what was so funny.
Makcheonhwi, who had suddenly turned into an ant, crumpled his expression. The Gwan-Gyo-Gyeom Sang-Myeong-Il grew up rough.
No, not only that, but all of the sworn brothers who are called the Six Apostles today are like that. They are now the leaders of the Black Lotus that dominates Sichuan and are big names in the Apostolic Forces, but aren't they fundamentally from the back alley Black Clan?
This means that he is used to mudslinging and spicy banter with other fighters.
This was also the reason why he was now happy to make provocative remarks about ants. It was because it reminded him of the days of the Black Death Sect when he was insignificant but full of energy.
The hearty laughter died down, and Gu Hwan-gyo-geom Sang-myeong-il spoke with his lips pulled back.
"The name of the Tang family is Sogaju. It's completely different from the weak name."
I liked it. Makcheonhwi bit his lip at the sight of Sangmyungil muttering like that. Among the six apostles, Sangmyungil, the Guhwangyogyeom, was an idol to the young swordsmen belonging to the Apostle Faction. It was the same for Makcheonhwi himself. When he showed affection for his enemy, Yumyeongmyeong, jealousy flared up inside him like a flame.
The combination of revenge and jealousy turns into a deep murderous intent.
'I'll kill you. You bastard!'
In any case, it was a life-or-death situation. Makcheonhwi didn't even think about hiding his murderous intent and his eyes flashed with fighting spirit. The true power of the Taeeulssanggeomsik that he had mastered was revealed when he implemented the Mukgeomgi. The swordsmanship itself was powerful enough, but above all, the Mukgeomgi, created by honing his murderous intent and uniting it with his sword energy, was truly impossible to counter with ordinary swordsmanship.
one side.
Shim Hwa Bang Joo Yeo Seol Yeon was watching this situation from a little distance away.
'It's going as expected.'
Mak Cheon-hwi may think that she participated in the Sacheonjihoe on her own initiative and requested a life-or-death decision from Dang-myeong, but in fact, all of this was her intention.
As the leader of the Sacheon branch, he declared that he would not tolerate any conflict between factions for the time being, thereby protecting the territory of the Taeeulmukgeom faction and making his successor, Makcheonhwi, feel a sense of crisis. When people are cornered, they instinctively seek a way out.
If he is a successor who is confident in his abilities, it will be difficult for him to turn down what he can gain from the Sacheon Branch. He will also have a desire to rebuild the breakwater somehow.
As expected, Makcheonhwi decided to participate in the Sacheonjihoe.
The variable was whether or not the new head of the party, Dangga Sogajoo, would participate in the Sacheon branch meeting. Fortunately, the party responded in a timely manner, saying that they would participate in the Sacheon branch meeting.
If he were to face his father's enemy and the person responsible for the downfall of the Bangpa that he was to inherit at Sacheonjihoe, what kind of decision would Makcheonhwi make? Makcheonhwi doesn't know, but Yeo Seol-ryeon has been watching Makcheonhwi since he was young, so she has a rough idea of what kind of person he is. A guy with great confidence compared to his ambiguous talent. It's a matter of turn, and she predicted that he would definitely ask for a life-or-death decision.
'First turn. Best case scenario.'
Yeo Seol-yeon had to try not to show her satisfaction. Her long-term horse, Mak Cheon-hwi, moved better than expected. As soon as the opening was declared, it was a matter of life and death.
For Yeo Seol-ryeon, this Sacheonjihoe was a stage for revenge against her former lover, Mak In-hu. It was a place to somehow kill Dang-myeong…!
I was a little worried that the participants would waste their energy on useless things like the rain, but things turned out well. The first life-or-death battle began with the party as the target.
'Come here, show me the skills you used to kill Ga Ga.'
Yeo Seol-ryeon did not underestimate Yu Sang-myeong. The rumors about Yu Sang-myeong's inaction were no joke. Of course, considering his age, many of the things he said were hard to believe, so opinions were still divided about Yu Sang-myeong's true level of power. Many dismissed it as an exaggerated rumor.
However, Yeo Seol-ryeon knew. Originally, in the martial arts world, things that go against common sense often happen. Now, she is used to it, but when the Black Lotus first appeared, how was it? The martial arts world of Sacheon was completely shocked. After all, he was also a being that went against common sense.
In any case, in order to definitely avenge Mak In-hu, Yeo Seol-ryeon was extremely cautious.
I laid the board called Sacheonjihoe, and on top of that, I laid two or three layers of traps. If I had my way, I would have taken action myself. I would have peeled off the skin, cut off the tendons, cut the limbs into pieces, and burned them without a trace with the Red Lotus Art. I also wanted to destroy the Tang family. However, if I act rashly and end up in the wrong, who would take revenge on the resentment of the Makinhu?
Yeo Seol-ryeon wanted a definite revenge rather than the relief of taking it upon herself. That was made possible thanks to another variable: the attendance of Heuk Sa-hwa Yoo Yeon-hee and Gu Hwan-gyo-geom Sang Myeong-il at the Sacheonjihoe.
'It must be my destiny. To avenge the resentment of the Mak family.'
Yeo Seol-ryeon thought, her dry lips slightly licking. She had a feeling that everything was going smoothly. It almost felt like fate. In the end, in order to kill Yu Myeong-myeong with certainty, absolute force was needed above all else. However, at that moment, the unexpected arrival of Gu Hwan-gyo-geom Sang-myeong-il.
His presence was the perfect thing to complete the trap she had set. Yeo Seol-ryeon knew that Sang-myeong-il had reached Hwa-gyeong. If he harbored murderous intentions, Yu-myeong-myeong would never be able to survive.
Of course, moving the Sangmyeongil was a last resort.
First of all, let's start with the first trap of life and death.
The life-or-death battle at Sacheonjihoe is literally a small-scale battle between two people. It is a fight where up to three people, including the participant, their escort, and their attendant, fight for life and death against the opposing side.
In other words, even if Tangga's secret martial arts are specialized for mass killing, it means that in a single life-or-death situation, only three people can use them. In other words, even if you have the means to kill a hundred people, you can only deal with three people. It is clear that the secret martial arts that Tangga will deploy are less effective.
In addition, there is a rule that a person who has been designated as an opponent for a life-or-death duel cannot refuse to duel, and a 15-minute break is given after the duel ends.
Even if Dang-myeong killed Mak-cheon-hwi through the Life and Death Decree, there was a high chance that the Life and Death Decree would continue.
'Because wheeled warfare is now possible.'
There are over fifty participants of the Sacheon branch gathered here in Simhwabang. They are all descendants of various factions gathered from all over Sacheon. It goes without saying that they have their own skills and pride, and in addition, they have brought along two young masters from each faction. It is not a small number. It is close to two hundred.
Would anyone cower in fear if Mak Cheon-hwi died on this spot?
No, it won't be. Rather, they will covet the interests of the saints and compete to request life-or-death decisions. And as the life-or-death decisions are repeated, the life of the natural person will be in danger. In the worst case, he will have to make life-or-death decisions more than fifty times.
'No matter how great your martial arts skills are, there is nothing you can do about your internal energy.'
In fact, a moment is just a moment to catch your breath. It is too short a time to wash away the fatigue of battle or recover the internal energy that has been consumed. In the end, after begging for life and death several times, Dang-myung will either exhaust all of his internal energy and die, or refuse to engage in life and death. Or he will try to kill all the participants at once. With his excellent memorization and ignorance.
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That was exactly what Yeo Seol-ryeon was aiming for.
The authority over the life and death decision was handed over to Sangmyungil, the observer of the life and death decision. He will be in charge of all procedures to ensure that the life and death decision is carried out properly. If Dangmyungil were to break the procedures or rules and act as he pleased, it would be a great loss to Sangmyungil's reputation.
Will he be able to survive after incurring the wrath of the swordsman who has reached Hwagyeong?
This was the second trap.
Thirdly….
A hint of hesitation flashed through Yeo Seol-ryeon's eyes. She was looking at Yu Yeon-hee, the adopted daughter of the Black Lotus Lord, the Black Lotus Flower. Although she was wearing a face mask, Yu Yeon-hee could tell that she was paying great attention to Yu Sang-myeong. It was only natural. It would be hard not to be captivated by a man with such good looks.
Yeo Seol-ryeon walked over and sat down next to Yoo Yeon-hee. Since Sang Myeong-il wasn't particularly wary, she was able to approach him naturally.
"Miss. Do you like the Dangga Sogaju?"
Yeo Seol-ryeon spoke with a look that seemed to know everything. Her tone was incredibly friendly.
Yoo Yeon-hee whispered something softly. It seemed like she was having a conversation with Yeo Seol-ryeon. Sang-myeong-il glanced at her and turned his gaze. He was about to declare the beginning of a life-or-death battle.
Except for the two women, everyone in the room was looking at Sangmyeongil's mouth.
"…even though one life will be lost."
Koo Hwan-gyo-geom Sang-myeong-il said. His smile had completely disappeared and his expression was solemn.
"If you live as an unmanned person, there will come a time when you have to fight for your life or death. There are many cases where you die in vain. In some ways, it may be fortunate that you can fight for your life or death in front of such an audience."
Kill the opponent by any means necessary - that's how the life-or-death battle between Dang-myeong and Mak-cheon-hwi began.
A heavy silence fell between the two sides. Dang-myeong stood alone, while the three Tae-eul-muk-geom-pa members, including Mak-cheon-hwi, drew their swords. It seemed that all three were wielding twin swords.
What was unique was Makcheonhwi's ceremonial manner. Unlike the other two, he had his hands crossed in the shape of a father. And after a while, an ominous black aura rose up like a mist.
"Oh my god. It's a silent sword! It's proof that you've properly mastered the Taeeul Twin Swordsmanship."
Among the onlookers, someone spoke quietly in a tone of admiration. The fame of Mak In-hu, who was originally the head of the Taeeul Mokgeompa, was quite widely known.
His name was not limited to the land of Sacheon, but was so famous that it spread beyond the castle walls. His unique martial art, Taeeulssanggeomsik, was also famous. The Gisu style and its characteristics were also very unique.
It's only natural that there are people who recognize it.
one side.
Whatever.
Makcheonhwi was preparing for the sword fight with great concentration.
'We have to decide with one stroke of the sword!'
Makcheonhwi was considering the possibility that Dangmyeong had experienced Taeeulmukgeomsik or Mukgeomgi. No, it would be reasonable to assume that he was aware of it. If it weren't for his father, Mak Inhu, being killed during the Gongdongsan bloodshed without even being able to properly swing his sword once, then he would have been killed.
If your sword has already been exposed, the longer you mix it, the more disadvantageous it is. Just knowing what kind of attack is coming makes it easier to prepare for it.
It would be better to decide the outcome with a single, all-out attack.
'Beware of poison and secret weapons.'
Makcheonhwi nodded to his disciples who were serving as escorts and attendants. It was a signal for them to attack slowly along with the order. The two nodded slightly and naturally drew an arc, each taking their place on the left and right of Dangyeonmyeong.
A situation where three people are working together to attack one thing.
Soon, when the escort and the attendant attacked the left and right of Dang-myeong at the same time, Mak-cheon-hwi was planning to seize the gap and unleash the Tae-eul-sang-geom-sik. It would be impossible to block it with some cheap secret weapon. Even if he pulled out the shabby sword he was carrying and swung his sword energy, it would be the same.
'I can win…!'
There was confidence in Makcheonhwi's eyes. Dang-myeong paid no attention to those approaching from the left or right, and just looked straight at Mak-cheon-hwi.
A unique knight's uniform with twin swords crossed in the shape of "father" and an ominous, rippling black aura.
'You're worse than that guy.'
Dang-myeong thought of the young man he had encountered in the final battle of the Sogaju competition, the battle of solitude. Dang-geuk-rin, who had revealed himself to be a traitor from the Taeeulmukgeompa.
The sword I saw back then had a much darker murderous intent.
'It seems like the internal energy achievement is better… Is it an innate difference?'
Mukgeomgi is a technique that embodies the killing intent in the sword energy. It is a technique that strengthens the sword energy by using the primitive yet strong idea of killing. The method of implementation is similar to that of Geomgang. However, it is not comparable to Geomgang.
True swordsmanship is an extremely powerful skill that can only be realized when a master who has reached the level of harmony, who can embody his or her thoughts into a sword, puts an enormous will, so much so that it can be called obsession, into a single sword.
In the end, the Mukgeomgi was nothing more than a deteriorated sword. However, this was only the naturalistic point of view.
Although it may not be as strong as the sword, the silent sword combined with the murderous intent is overwhelmingly more powerful than the ordinary sword. It is not for nothing that Mak In-hu gained fame beyond the castle. No ordinary sword could handle his silent sword.
In any case, the essence of implementing the Mukgeomgi and determining its power was the will to live, not internal energy.
Since the will to live is a primal thought, it was largely innate. No matter how much Mak Cheon-hwi's internal energy was deeper than Dang Geuk-rin's, if he was not born with a strong will to live, he would fundamentally fall behind in implementing the Mokgeomgi.
'There's nothing more to see.'
Yu Myeong quickly lost interest. No, he wasn't interested in the first place. In fact, even after he had mastered the Taeeul Double Sword Style, Yu Myeong was nothing more than a mere slap in the face, so it was only natural.
All I could think about was how to kill the three of them. I had to refrain from showing off my skills too much. I couldn't tell who he was yet, but the Sado Yukjon I of the Black Lotus Alliance, the Guhwangyogyeom Sangmyeongil, was watching over me.
The purpose of the obvious was to kill all the successors of the Apostle Faction who participated in the Sachonjihoe and cause chaos in Sachon. That way, they would not be able to look down on Kunlun and Gongdong, who were waging war against the Demonic Cult and the Faction. That was the promise with the Gongdong faction's Hyeonso.
In order to avoid giving Sangmyeongil a reason to intervene in life and death matters, not only this time but in the future as well, he had to hide his skills to some extent.
Just when I had thought about that, Makcheonhwi's guards and attendants, who had been positioned on both sides, quickly closed the distance without any warning. At the same time, four swords were swung with great speed.
It was natural, but it was common for those who wielded dual swords to display flashy sword techniques. Being able to use two swords meant being able to use two swords simultaneously. It was also advantageous for combined attacks.
Four swords are drawn, pressing down as if to confine Yuanming. Yuanming still did not move. What is he planning?
And Mak Cheon-hwi is staring at that obvious thing without blinking an eye.
'Show me even a little bit of an opening. I'll crush you to pieces!'
Makcheonhwi held his breath and waited for the perfect moment. If he didn't intend to die, he would definitely move. The moment he was about to move his hand toward the guards and attendants… .
'no.'
Makcheonhwi changed his mind for a moment. Originally, he had planned to move when the guy tried to move. However, he wanted to be a little more cautious. If the rumors about Deungmyeong's inaction were true to some extent, there was no way he could kill him with a sword strike like that. The guy would also be on guard.
In that case, let's wait for a time when the escort and attendant will definitely be attacked…!
A cruel light appeared in Makcheonhwi's eyes.
one side.
Looking at the four swords that were coming towards him, Dang-myeong had already made up his mind. He had decided how he would kill and eliminate the participants.
'It's simple.'
To others, it might seem like an urgent situation, but for Dang-myeong, who had drawn countless sword paths before reaching the realm of the swordsman, he had enough time to yawn. It didn't matter whether there were two, four, or ten swords approaching. How could he not dodge a sword path that was already obvious how it would be drawn?
Yu Myeong-myeong slightly tilted his head to dodge the sword strike that arrived first. It was a sword aimed at the right carotid artery. Almost simultaneously, sword strikes aimed at the right side, left shoulder, and left thigh arrived. Without even needing to deploy the divine shadow, Yu Myeong-myeong simply extended his left foot forward to dodge them all. The eyes of those who swung the sword looked bewildered, as if they had not known that they could dodge sword strikes so easily.
And at the moment when their attack was in vain, at that very moment, Dang-myeong pulled out three poison needles from the poison bag in his bosom. They were evenly filled with the poison of the short-term heat that Dang-i-jeon had made.
'ear.'
[I get it.]
The poison of the food god Cheonggyeong seeps into the Danjangyeoljidok that was applied to the Umochim. The Danjangyeoljidok, which was originally a strong poison that would cause the pain of having one's internal organs torn apart and lead to death, has become an extremely strong poison that can cause instant death with just the amount applied to the Umochim. Cheonggyeong's poison, which has become a true poison as a result of the two-faced man, is the most vicious of the ten poisons of the Tang family…!
'One thing first.'
Dang-myeong repeated this to himself and inserted a needle under the chin of the man on the right. Up until this point, the series of actions continued naturally, like the flow of water.
It happened in such a short time that it could be called a moment. The two people were still expressing their bewilderment at the fact that Dang-myung had avoided the attack.
Phew!
When the man on the right who was stabbed with a needle let out a short groan, the man on the left also had a needle stuck under his chin. He moved his hand so quickly that it was hard to keep track of it with your eyes. It was like he was living on a completely different time axis. Among the many people in the room, only one person, Gu Hwan-gyo-geom Sang-myeong-il, was watching Dang-myeong-myeong's movements with a slight sense of admiration.
And at that very moment, Dang-myung put a needle in the left man's mouth.
Wow!
Was it an attempt to shatter the floor? There was a figure of a person who kicked the ground and rushed forward with tremendous momentum. It seemed as if he had poured all his internal energy through the Yongcheonhyeol, and the acceleration was unusual.
In the blink of an eye, the distance between you and your loved one is shortened.
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It was Mak Cheon-hwi who seized the opportunity.
'I will kill you at all costs!'
Since the movement of Yu Sang-myeong inserting the Umochim was so quick, Mak Cheon-hwi could only move when both his escort and attendant were hit, which actually seemed to be a good thing. Yu Sang-myeong was slightly showing his back at this point. It was not an easy position to dodge the sword strike.
Makcheonhwi unleashed the Taeeul Twin Swords with a determination to kill. Almost at the same time, the wind blew belatedly due to the sudden rush.
The black twin swords that were swinging were surrounded by an ominous, rippling black energy. The guards and attendants didn't even care that they were being caught by the swords.
Since the obvious one did something to it, it's probably as good as dead.
Dang-myeong slowly turned his head. No, in fact, he didn't move slowly. It just seemed that way to Mak-cheon-hwi's eyes, who were in a state of extreme concentration.
And the moment I met those indifferent-looking eyes that seemed to be gleaming with a deep green light.
Makcheonhwi felt dizzy. Time seemed to pass infinitely slowly. Every moment felt like eternity.
'ah.'
It was a strange thing. Makcheonhwi realized that the life he had lived so far was flashing through his mind. Joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, and joy, all the happy, angry, sad, and joyful things came to mind one after another, stimulating his emotions. It was definitely not the time to be sentimental, but even now, the sword was being swung every moment.
The strange things didn't end there.
• • • •
In a world where everything has slowed down, there was a being that moved freely alone. It was Dangga Sogaju, Danggamyeong, right in front of us.
Mak Cheon-hwi was astonished. How on earth can he move? Are he living in another time?
Yumyeong Myeong, who had turned around, quickly approached Makcheonhwi. He was holding the last remaining Umochim.
Still, Makcheonhwi's time was flowing slowly, and in that slow world, only Dangmyeongmyeong was moving without any restrictions. Was he aiming for the same place? Dangmyeongmyeong's hand went to Makcheonhwi's chin.
'Move, please move…!'
As he watched the approaching Umochim, Makcheonhwi screamed. He felt a terrible sense of helplessness. It was as if he had fallen under some kind of sorcery.
Then suddenly.
Mak Cheon-hwi realized. Those strange phenomena from a moment ago were just a revolving lantern. He was given the chance to reflect on his life one last time before his death.
As soon as I realized that fact, the time that had been flowing slowly began to speed up.
A needle is immediately stuck under the chin.
At that moment, Makcheonhwi had a gut feeling of death. The Umochim itself was not a powerful secret weapon. So it must have been poisoned. He had heard rumors that Dangga Sogaju could perform a secret weapon using a large amount of Umochim. For that to be possible, it would have to be a poison so powerful that even a single drop could kill a person.
As expected.
I feel like the poison is spreading through my whole body in an instant. I lose control of my body all at once, and I feel pain as if my breath is going to stop. My vision is getting dark, and I feel like I'm losing consciousness. The fact that I'm going to die is vividly etched into my mind.
'… This is so unfair!'
Makcheonhwi bit his lip. If I'm going to die anyway, I might as well swing my sword properly—he thought to himself as he forcibly tightened his grip. It didn't feel like he was putting in enough strength. He felt that he only had one chance.
The bastard was still within the range of the sword strike. Makcheonhwi opened his eyes wide and burned with murderous intent in his darkening vision.
That was when.
The moment you raise your sword with the determination to die, not to kill.
The black swords surrounding Makcheonhwi's twin swords had completely turned into a dark color. It was truly darkness…!
The murderous spirit that arose from the determination of Donggwi Eojin has properly seeped into the sword.
Mak Cheon-hwi's achievements in the Ink Swordsmanship suddenly deepened. There have been stories since ancient times about warriors who attained enlightenment while facing death. However, Mak Cheon-hwi would never have dreamed that it would be his own.
Anyway.
With a properly implemented Mukgeomgi, the extremely refreshing and powerful Taeeulsanggeomsik was unleashed. It was so close that even the most skilled swordsman would have difficulty avoiding it. Naturally, even as a master, he would not have expected such a situation.
Everyone held their breath and watched Mak Cheon-hwi's last struggles.
What would happen if you were to lose both ways and get hurt, or rather, if you were to lose both ways and die? Those who were thinking this were soon faced with an unbelievable sight.
Hard to believe, Dang-myeong grabbed the young sword with his bare hands.
Everyone watching was shocked at the sight of him not only evading the black sword, but also unleashing an empty-handed S-sword. Are you in your right mind? Your hands will be completely useless…?
But the next moment.
The black twin swords, the symbol of the Taeeulmukgeompa, broke in vain with a dull sound.
And then Mak Cheon-hwi's new form, with his eyes completely devoid of light, slowly collapsed. Not even a single breath could be felt from him anymore.
It was a doomsday situation without a trace.
Even after the three new figures, including Mak Cheon-hwi, were all laid out, no one was willing to speak.
It was such a shocking sight.
The Sacheonjihoe participants in this place were each successors of their respective factions and promising future leaders. They were capable of using the level of the public-private-baek-in who could grab the opponent's weapons with their bare hands. However, this was only referring to ordinary weapons.
It was a completely different story when the weapon was covered with a sword or a sword. Even if it wasn't the sharp edge, the weapon as a whole had a certain amount of sharpness. If you grabbed something like that with your bare hands, you would most likely get your hand cut off.
It is said that the masters of Kwon-gong and Soo-gong practice Gong-su-ip-baek-in on a daily basis because they have the skill of protecting their hands as a characteristic of their martial arts, but even they tend to wear simple Kwon-gap unless they have reached a fairly high level. This is because the nature of the sword energy that is displayed varies depending on the opponent's internal energy or martial arts characteristics. Like the silent sword energy of Tae-eul-ssang-geom-sik.
If I was not careful and overreacted, my life as a civilian could have ended… .
The hand of the sage was intact without a single scratch. It was natural since it was always protected by the Hosin Ganggi Yongrin. Even if it was Ganggi, it was Hosin Ganggi that could block it. It was truly peerless armor - not a skill that could be damaged by a mere sword.
'…I tried to do it moderately.'
In what others might have thought was an arrogant attitude, Deung-myeong muttered to himself. Who would have thought he would attain enlightenment in that situation?
The act of deploying the airborne white sword was purely improvised. I had approached close enough to stab Woo Mo-chim, and I had expected that Mak Cheon-hwi's breath would be cut off immediately due to the poisonous aura of the short sword. However, in that brief moment, the dark sword energy grew thicker and Mak Cheon-hwi counterattacked.
It was probably a final blow created by a combination of concentration at the height of preparation for a surprise attack, a flash of light, revenge, and desperation that came with imminent death.
Of course, from the obvious point of view, it wasn't a threat. It was just something that couldn't be avoided.
In the end, he had no choice but to fight back - as he was about to pull out the True Demon Sword hanging from his waist, he realized that Sangmyungil's presence, the Guhwankyo Sword, and decided that it would be better to respond with a public offering. As a swordsman, if he swung his sword in front of Sangmyungil, who had reached the realm of Hwagyeong, there was a high chance that he would be wary of hiding his achievements with the closed veins.
However, since the public-imported white sword that was used against a sword covered in black energy was not an ordinary skill, it was inevitable that it would be somewhat guarded. The silence that had fallen just now must have stemmed from that sense of guarding - that was what Dang-myeong was thinking at the time.
"It's pretty good."
Koo Hwan-gyo, the swordsman, opened his mouth.
"At that age, did you study not only qigong but also foreign martial arts deeply? I've heard it. It's said that among the secret martial arts of the Tang family, there are many that deal with extremely sharp objects. I heard that you used to wear special handcuffs to handle sharp blades, but you replaced them with foreign martial arts."
"… There is something like that at my hometown."
Dang Myeong-myeong answered, hiding his trembling. He realized that Sang Myeong-il was mistaken. It was understandable. The family's secret martial arts were as diverse as the types of secret weapons. Dang Myeong-myeong only handled basic secret weapons such as shurikens, blades, spears, and spears, but there were countless forms of secret weapons that had been improved over the years. Especially powerful secret weapons were so powerful that even touching them would cause injury, and as Sang Myeong-il said, external skills limited to both hands had been developed as a means to handle them. By combining drugs, the skin on the hands was trained to the extreme.
Sangmyungil seemed to think that Dangmyungmyeong would have learned that kind of external skill.
"I thought it would only block some of the anticipation, but it seems it's not even affected by the sword. You could call it an external attack handcuff. It was a good sight."
"You are too kind."
"Anyway, the match has been decided. The winner of this life-or-death battle is you. In the future, the Tang family can demand vested interests in the Taeeulmukgeompa's territory. Of course, please refrain from making excessive demands that could end the sect's lineage. If it is at a reasonable level, the organizer, Simhwabang, will guarantee vested interests for the next five years.
"All right."
Although he nodded his head, he was not interested in the vested interests of the Taeeulmukgeompa. Sacheon had already become the world of the Sado. Even if he had acquired the vested interests of other factions located far from the city, he would not be able to properly manage them, and he had no intention of trusting the rights guaranteed by factions like Simhwabang.
It would have been more advantageous in the long run to significantly reduce the Sapa forces here.
one side.
Only then did the other participants begin to speak, letting out their breaths that had been held. Their impressions of the life-or-death experience that had just taken place poured out one after another.
"The movements of the Tangga Sogaju were unusual. He avoided the sword strikes with minimal movement. Is his special technique a specialty?"
"His eye technique must also be quite good. That kind of evasion is only possible if the sword's trajectory is clearly visible. Of course, he is the successor to a family that handles dozens or hundreds of secret weapons, so it's only natural that his eye technique would be excellent."
"That's also true, but the skill with which you handled the Umochim was impressive. It was hard to keep track of how fast the water was coming out with your eyes. You were able to dodge the sword strike and take out two people at the same time."
"It was poison that directly took the lives of the Taeeulmukgeompa people. The amount applied to the Umochim would have been extremely small, but they all died in one or two breaths. It was an extremely deadly poison. It may have been brought with them as a Danggasip poison."
"By the way, Makcheonhwi. The swordsmanship he showed at the end was truly extraordinary. Wasn't the ink sword completely black? Judging by how it suddenly became like that, it seems like he gained some kind of enlightenment right before he died."
"That's not possible for him. Of all people, he had mastered external skills that were almost like wearing handcuffs. It must have been completely unexpected."
"Anyway, I didn't get to see the rumored memorization and martial arts. Is it because it was a small-scale battle where life and death were at stake…?"
"It may be because it is a skill that consumes a lot of internal energy. I have a feeling that this method of life and death might be disadvantageous to the Dangga Sogaju."
"Then, how about you stepping forward in the next life-or-death battle?"
The participants gathered in groups of three or five, trying to gauge the martial arts of Dang-myeong. It was a bit shocking that Gong-su-ip-baek-in broke the sword wrapped in black energy, but everyone was convinced by Sang-myeong-il's confident words that it was thanks to learning a special external skill. There was a time when external martial arts were popular in the martial arts world. This was because people who trained powerful external skills to the limit emerged from various Buddhist schools, including Shaolin. External martial arts masters who succeeded in training their bodies beyond human limits were considered to be beings with indestructible bodies. Of course, it was just a thing of the past now.
In the current martial arts world where internal qigong is valued, there is a tendency to secretly look down on external qigong. So when it was thought that Dang-myeong had learned external qigong, the participants also did not think much of it. They said that it was just external qigong.
The commander of the Guhwan Bridge, Sangmyeongil, spoke loudly.
"From now on, for a period of time, the Tang family's Sogaju Dangmyeong will be given a break according to the life and death decision. If there is anyone who would like to ask him for the next life and death decision, please speak now. We will proceed immediately after a period of time."
The room became noisy at the end of Sangmyeongil. There were voices urging each other to fight for their lives.
The interests of the saints, which were the domain of the Tang family, were certainly attractive. Originally, there would have been many who wanted to gain these interests through a fight with the Tang family.
But now, after a life-or-death battle, no one had any intention of fighting. However, the inaction that Dang-myeong had shown was not light, and it didn't seem like he had used up much internal energy, so everyone was watching closely. Their opportunistic behavior was typical of the successors of Sapa. If they saw a chance of victory, they would come forward.
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In the meantime, the Simhwabang thugs quietly approached and collected the bodies of the Taeeulmukgeompa figures. Since there was almost no blood flowing, they were quickly cleaned up.
After about half an hour (about 7 minutes) had passed.
There was someone walking out of the crowd. There was no particular weapon to be seen. It was a man in a yellow uniform with a red coat. Behind him, two figures, also wearing yellow, were standing. They were assumed to be the man's guard and attendant.
"Next, we will go from our Cheonjinbang. Since our main room also has a grudge against the Dangga Sogaju, we cannot just sit still."
The man bowed slightly to Sangmyeongil Guhwangyogeom and asked for a life-or-death decision with Dangsangmyeong.
"Cheon Jin Bang participated! I heard that the previous leader, Jeong Yeon Seung, did not decide on a successor and died during the Gongdongsan Blood Ceremony, causing internal strife among his disciples."
"That's right. It's not that it wasn't, but originally it was Cheonjinbang who was supposed to be in charge of this Sacheonjihoe, not Simhwabang. It was because of internal strife that it got passed over. Judging from the fact that the author participated as Cheonjinbang's successor, it seems like things have been roughly sorted out."
"I've seen him before. Jeong Yeon-song, who was the head of the ark, accompanied him to several official events. He seemed to have a lot of trust in him, and it seems he ended up becoming the successor to Cheon Jin-bang. I think his name was Song Yeon-jeok…?"
"Certainly, if it's Cheonjinbang, it's possible. Since he specializes in long-range combat, wouldn't he be able to gain an advantage in close combat? Furthermore, Cheonjinjang can be said to be the purification of internal combat techniques, so it would be difficult to do anything with external attacks."
There were many who had high hopes for the newly emerged Cheonjinbang man. As someone said, the man revealed his name as Song Yeon-jeok.
"Good. Then, after half an hour, we will begin the life-or-death battle between Dangga Sogaju Dangmyeong and Cheonjinbang Firefighter Song Yeonjeok. Both sides should prepare for the decisive battle."
"It's okay. You can proceed right away."
Dangmyeong glanced at Songyeonjeok and spoke to Sangmyeongil of Guhwangyogyeom. Cheonjinbang was also remembered. They were the ones who came to Gongdongsan with Taeeulmukgeompa.
I also remember a middle-aged man who had been using a rather powerful method. He had burned everything with his poisonous poison, leaving not a single dust behind.
"…Are you saying you won't take a break?"
"As you can see, I didn't use up much internal energy."
"Okay. If that's true, then there's no need to waste any more time."
The second life-and-death battle begins - that's what Sangmyungil said, containing his inner story. This time, too, it was a three-on-one confrontation.
What was different from the time of Makcheonhwi was that this time, Dangmyeongmyeong moved first. It happened as soon as Sangmyeongil finished speaking.
• • • •
Song Yeon-jeok opened his eyes wide. He had stepped forward after seeing the appearance of Dang-myeong facing off against Mak-cheon-hwi, thinking that he had some chance of winning. Although his evasive movements were quite nimble, he judged that they were not as good as those who were used to close combat with their opponents' public fists. He thought that if the three of them combined, they could easily win. He was confident that if he hit just once, he could completely turn the inside of the enemy into a quagmire with his internal attack.
But what is this movement…?
'I completely lost track of it.'
Even though I was using the An-beop, my eyes couldn't keep up with the new form of the spell. It was like seeing a goblin as it disappeared, leaving behind an afterimage.
'Where are you?'
What was missed was missed, and for now, he had to prepare for the attack. Song Yeon-jeok raised his spirits and kept his surroundings on guard.
In the meantime, a voice was heard from behind. Along with a slight tingling pain felt on the back of my neck.
"You come to your death on your own two feet."
If I hadn't joined the Sacheon branch, I could have lived a little longer.
Song Yeon-jeok lost consciousness as he thought that the words of the Tang family's master were faintly heard in the distance.
As expected, it was a disaster.
And before Song Yeon-jeok's new form could even collapse, the sound of someone dying was heard twice in succession. The Cheon Jin-bang figures who were serving as guards and attendants also lost their lives after being stabbed with a needle.
Slurp
As the divine shadow spread, Dang-myeong returned to his original position and looked at Sang-myeong-il, he spoke.
"It's over."
This happened just three breaths after Sangmyeongil uttered the words "The Beginning of the Life and Death Decree."
The secret law of the shadow (暗影) 1. The mastermind behind the establishment of the Sacheondangga, and the martial arts of Muyeonggaek, who was once the best assassin in the world. In terms of stealth and close-range mobility, he was one of the best in the world. Since Muyeonggaek, there were not many who reached the great level, so he is not well known.
Although the name of the person in question was unable to fully unleash the divine shadow of the dead man due to the current state of the closed veins, it was still enough to surprise Sangmyungil.
"… The divine law has been accomplished with great skill. Even though the divine law is in operation, my eyes cannot keep up."
Even though I saw it, I lost track of it. - Guhwangyogeom Sangmyeongil broke the silence and spoke in admiration. It wasn't just a passing remark. Considering his age, it was unbelievable, but even he, who was called the Sixth Apostle, missed the movements of Tangga Sogaju Dangmyeong several times. It seemed that the secretiveness of the divine law itself was not ordinary.
Of course, that doesn't mean that Sangmyungil is wary of Sangmyung. Just because you can't see it with your eyes doesn't mean you can't deal with it. No, in a showdown between masters, there were many cases where they couldn't see each other's movements properly. Eye technique was only a supplementary means, and in the end, they had to figure out the opponent's movements with the senses that were honed.
However, that was only the position of Sangmyungil, who had ascended to the throne and possessed overwhelming power. It caused a stir among the participants of Sacheonjihoe, who were still highly dependent on the law.
'..In the blink of an eye, three people died.'
"This is an incredible technique. That Songyeonjeok was taken away in an instant. How can I accept that the Cheonjinbang Fire Lord, who was skilled in close combat, died without being able to properly swing his long sword once…?"
"I thought that small-scale battles would be disadvantageous to the Tang family's Sogaju, but that's not necessarily the case. It's not like he's ignorant of memorization, he just uses his new method to get close and stab with his Umochim, so it doesn't seem like it would consume much internal energy."
"… Rather than that, is there anyone who has properly captured the author's movements? I don't know about anything else, but I think that the main family's home appliance technique is not that far behind that of a famous family, but honestly, I completely missed the movements until I stabbed the umochim."
"After all, even His Majesty the Great Guhwan-gyo-geom would acknowledge it…."
"Who would dare to make the next life-or-death decision like this? You might die a miserable death. And the reputation of your faction is at stake. Think about it. If the rumor spreads throughout Sacheon that you fell down dead without even getting a chance to properly fight… wouldn't the common people think it's funny?"
"I think Cheonjinbang is completely finished. I heard that Songyeonjeok killed quite a few disciples during the succession dispute. He got rid of all the people who could be a threat and joined the Sacheonjihoe."
"I am tempted by the vested interests of the saints, but the power of the Tang family is beyond imagination. I am beginning to think that the rumors may not be exaggerated.
"Wouldn't it be wiser to save one's life rather than indulge in foolish greed?"
"It's not a battle, it's a life-or-death decision. If you don't have a grudge with the Dang family, there's no reason to come forward. The Taeeulmukgeompa and Cheonjinbang who fought life-or-death decisions before have grudges with the Dang family from Gongdongsan… Wait a minute, doesn't Mokyeonggung have a grudge with the Dang family's Sogaju? I heard that Princess Jang Taecheon was exiled after chasing some Taoist bastards."
"This person here is the Sogungju of Mokyeonggung."
"Be quiet before I rip your mouth off. Who dares to murder someone…!"
While the participants were bickering, Sangmyeongil acknowledged Deungmyeong's victory once again and promised to give him rights to Cheonjinbang's territory.
"I guess I won't need a break this time either…?"
"Yes. There wasn't much movement."
Sangmyungil's formal questions were answered calmly by Dangmyungmyeong. In fact, he didn't break a single drop of sweat and his breathing wasn't disturbed at all, so it didn't feel like he was being pretentious.
'That bastard's skills are better than I thought. He deserves to be hit.'
Yeo Seol-ryeon thought as she bit her lower lip without showing it. She began to feel that things were not going smoothly. Only two life-or-death battles had passed, and it seemed that no one was willing to fight a life-or-death battle with Destiny. The words she heard occasionally included things like she couldn't handle it or that she had to save her life.
It was a disaster.
I thought that if I just opened the floodgates, the proud successors who covet the interests of the saints would constantly fight life and death battles with the natural order, and my physical strength and internal energy would be diminished. This way, I could not save the tomb of the wheel.
Yeo Seol-ryeon gestured to the guards and ordered them to remove the bodies of the Cheonjinbang people.
Sangmyungil turned his gaze to the Sacheonjihoe participants again and spoke.
"If there is anyone who wants to fight a life-or-death battle with the Dangga Sogaju, please come forward."
"Is there anyone?"
Sangmyungil asked again, but no one came forward. In a way, it was a situation where the entire Sado sect's prestige was greatly damaged because they could not handle one of the Sado sects, but those who walk the Sado sect originally tended to value practicality. Isn't that temperament reflected in the martial arts they learn? They try to gain power efficiently and quickly.
These are the people who deliberately take the Jin-gi Master's course short and discard purity, aiming for rapid accumulation of internal energy. In addition, even if the connection between the first forms is not as natural as flowing water, they prefer to practice only one powerful, single-shot first form. That is why there were not many masters in the Sado Bangpa. That was until the appearance of Yu Gil-jun, the Black Lotus Master, who created and reformed numerous Sado martial arts.
Anyway, even though enough time had passed to count to ten, no one had mentioned life or death. It seemed like everyone was trying to save their lives.
At that moment, Dang-myeong opened his mouth.
"If His Majesty the Swordsman permits, I would like to deal with Yeorit in one go. Of course, it would be a matter of life and death."
"…Are you saying that you will tolerate a joint attack?"
Well, it was originally supposed to be a joint attack, huh? - Sangmyungil muttered as he continued.
"If the person concerned is okay with it, then it's okay. It'll save time. Anyway, it doesn't seem like anyone wants to fight you to the death. How many do you plan on dealing with at the same time?"
"It may sound presumptuous, but honestly, I don't mind if all the participants jump in."
"what…?"
Sangmyungil asked back, as if he was dumbfounded by the confidence that Dangmyungmyeong was showing. He also knew through rumors that Dangmyungmyeong had killed hundreds of people with his incredible secret skills and martial arts. However, the ones gathered here were the successors of each faction. It was not uncommon for them to receive the beekeeping and eat all kinds of elixirs since childhood, accumulating considerable internal energy beyond their years. Some were of noble status, and others were raised with the Sacheonjihoe in mind. If you added the young elite guards and attendants of each faction, it was a huge force comparable to any faction. You can handle that kind of power alone…?
'Is it too much? No matter how I look at it, it's not to that extent.'
Sangmyungil narrowed his brows and once again assessed the accomplishment of Dangmyungmyeong. Judging from his aura that had reached Hwagyeong, he simply seemed to be at an excellent level for his age. Even if he were to use a secret technique that increased his killing power by using extreme poison, everyone here expected that to be the case. There was no way he would be taken in so easily. There were also space constraints here, so it was practically like being surrounded. Using a new method to approach this many people was useless.
The other contestants who had been avoiding a life-or-death fight with Deungmyungmyeong also seemed to have their pride greatly hurt this time, as they spat out words one by one.
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"Do you want to die?"
"You've been unlucky from the start. You keep talking nonsense."
"You're showing off your ridiculous bragging just because you're so good at magic. You're just not showing anything."
"I wonder if he provoked them because he thought there was no way this many people would actually join forces. Since they've already secured the interests of the two factions with a life-or-death decision, it seems like they're getting a little greedier."
"Then what if we all really come forward? And we divide the saints' interests among ourselves…!"
"Well, it's something that I said with my own mouth, so you wouldn't be able to deny it unless you have thick skin."
As the participants of the Sacheonjihoe talked among themselves, the idea of a real joint attack began to gain strength. That was the atmosphere. At this point, wouldn't it be worth a try? Since the successors of each faction had learned various martial arts, their means of attack would also be diverse, and even if the Tang family's memorized martial arts were excellent, they wouldn't be able to exert much power against those who were scattered. Hopeful remarks were made several times.
But then.
The deep-rooted ark of the deep sea, Yeo Seol-ryeon, has stepped forward.
"Dangga Sogaju. Regardless of whether you have the ability or not, I, Bangju, cannot tolerate changing the rules of life and death in such a way. In particular, doesn't Guiga's martial arts specialize in mass murder?"
Regardless of victory or defeat, it is a self-evident fact that considerable blood will be shed. Yeo Seol-ryeon glanced at the faces of the Sacheonjihoe participants and continued speaking.
"Think about it, you too. What was the reason that the Sacheon Branch began to fight over vested interests through life-and-death decisions and secret battles in the first place? Thanks to the grace of the Lord Lianzhu, who personally created and bestowed martial arts, or by reforming the martial arts of his subordinate factions, today, the Sacheon land alone can be called the Sado World, and the Sado forces have become so strong. This is something that has never been done in hundreds of years. A territory that is neither righteous nor evil has been created, exclusively for us Sado…!"
"The ark's words were right."
"It is definitely the grace of the Lord."
Most of the participants nodded their heads at Yeo Seol-ryeon's words.
"In order to maintain the current world of the Apostles, each faction has agreed to engage in a proxy war through the succession in the Sacheon Branch to fight for vested interests. The request of the Tang family's Sogaju Mandangmyeong goes against the spirit of the Sacheon Branch. Therefore, as the leader of the Sacheon Branch, I once again urge you to abide by the life-or-death rules."
"Please, I hope that His Majesty the Great Gwan-gyo will take this into consideration," Yeo Seol-ryeon said as she sat down next to Heuk Sa-hwa Yoo Yeon-hee again.
"Certainly, there is some truth to what the lady said."
Sangmyungil said while looking at the obvious name.
"Your request will not be granted."
Looking at the momentarily silent Dang Myeong, Yeo Seol-ryeon smiled with a sense of repentance. For some reason, she felt that Dang Myeong was very active in life and death. Why? Was it because he was coveting the interests of other factions? Or was there some other purpose? She didn't know, but in any case, she followed her intuition and interfered with Dang Myeong's intentions.
Thanks to the proper justification, Guhwan Gyogeom Sangmyeongil also raised her hand. For some reason, Yeo Seol-ryeon felt a sense of relief at having struck a blow, and thought. So, what should we do now? The secret weapon Muhak capable of mass murder is now useless…!
That was when.
Of course, his lips twitched.
As he spoke at length, he glanced at Yeo Seol-ryeon with a strange look.
Dang-myung opened his mouth again.
"You clearly said that the person who was designated as the life-or-death decision had no right to refuse."
Maybe it was my imagination. The successors of each faction somehow felt a chill run down their spines.
A calm voice continued.
"From now on, I will designate my life-or-death opponent."
"Of course, according to the rules," he added, his lips slightly raised.