Chapter 11 - Paradise (2)
Taelon was flustered, perhaps thinking that Ron would wait for him like the other knights of the count's family.
"...Wait, a knight must, by rights, be fair and square!"
As Ron was about to draw his sword, Taelon quickly stopped him.
He had felt that the motion of drawing the sword was extraordinary.
Moreover, on the way here, he couldn't shake the thought, 'What is this bastard?'
Not long after leaving the count's estate, he had picked up speed and then vanished before his eyes.
Even though he had sped up to follow the tracks, he couldn't catch him.
The more he accelerated his Aura to pick up speed, the wider the distance between them grew.
He tried to act as if he wasn't, but he had consumed a considerable amount of stamina as well as Aura just to keep up.
Before he had started chasing him, he thought Ron wouldn't be much beyond the level of a trainee knight.
Even if he had a hidden technique, he thought he could handle him anytime.
But what was this?
Not only were his movements fast, but his stamina was also formidable.
Even if stamina and speed weren't everything for a knight, it was true that they were the basics.
"I'll make you regret giving me time to recover!"
"Then so you won't regret it, let's start right away."
As Ron was about to draw his sword again, Taelon quickly stopped him.
"You punk, are you, a knight, going to go back on your word?"
"Didn't you speak three times, Second Young Master?"
"You're a trainee knight and I am the direct bloodline of the count's family!"
I've heard this somewhere before.
You're a student, and I'm a teacher.
"I see, so status is more important than skill."
"Shut up! It is what I say it is!"
There's no escaping a status-based power trip.
Taelon's irritation flared.
This guy had a talent for twisting his words in a very strange way.
With a guy like this, there was nothing to be gained from a long conversation.
Normally, he would have thrown a fist at his mouth first.
He decided to show him who was boss as soon as he caught his breath and his stamina returned.
"I thought I was resting after my duties were over, but life is just a series of fatigues. I saved the young lady and the count's family from a crisis, and yet I'm still being suspected. Tsk! Still, his Excellency the Count acknowledged me. Perhaps, going against the Count's will... Hmm, could this be, some kind of conspiracy with Viscount Rehalt...."
"Shut up! How dare you try to slander me?"
Taelon tried not to answer.
He wanted to focus only on catching his breath and recovering his stamina quickly, but the cunning stratagem was piercing his ears and confusing his mind.
"I did not say 'the Second Young Master'. They say it's usually the one with the loud voice who's the culprit. Perhaps, did I hit a nerve?"
"Who hit a nerve! If that rat Rehalt were in front of me, I would have cut off his head with a single stroke!"
"I was just talking to myself, but your words are quite aggressive."
"It seems you're trying to shake me with your trivial, deceptive words, but such cheap tricks won't work on me!"
"I will tell the Count what happened today."
He will judge whether they were deceptive words or not.
"You too call yourself a knight, and yet you're going to tattle!"
"You said you weren't going against the Count's will, didn't you?"
"...That is true."
"Then, is it okay for me to report it?"
"No!"
Just imagine it being known that he went after Ron on the very day the Count's permission was granted.
It wouldn't be strange to think that the second young master had rebelled against the Count.
Even if that wasn't his intention, considering the state of the frail eldest young master, it was more than enough to arouse suspicion.
It was a setup where the Count permitted Ron to become Adelia's exclusive knight, and the second young master then tried to stab the newly appointed Ron in the back.
Even the thoughtless Taelon knew that would be a problem.
"My empty pockets would have to have something in them for me to keep my mouth shut."
"How dare you demand money from me?"
"I, who am very lacking, dared to become the young lady's exclusive knight and have caused you worry, Second Young Master. It seems his Excellency the Count has made a wrong decision. I will now confess my feelings honestly to my colleagues."
He would not hesitate to make sacrifices for his goal.
Ron even sold out his colleagues with whom he wasn't even close.
But he didn't say he would be the one making the sacrifice.
"...Wait, how much will be enough?"
At first glance, it sounded like the sincere confession of a trainee knight who knew his place, but in reality, it was a clear threat.
Even the reckless Taelon felt a cold sweat run down his spine for a moment.
The more he experienced it, the more he felt that this bewitching tongue was no ordinary thing.
"I trust in the heart of the Second Young Master. For your reference, the young lady offered 200 gold."
"...What?"
"I am fine with even 10 gold."
"...You... (Gnash)!"
Taelon ground his teeth at Ron's words that the heart was more important than money.
Especially since he had actually intended to get away with 10 gold.
Now, to save face as the second young master, he had to offer at least 200 gold, or even more.
"How about 220 gold?"
"250 gold."
"I said 220 gold!"
"Ah, I misheard. I did not expect you to raise it by a mere 20 gold more than the young lady."
"...(Gnash)!"
A knight's ears are sensitive.
It was impossible for him to have misheard from right in front of him.
And yet, the more strongly he denied it, the more shame Taelon felt.
Come to think of it, Ron had only estimated his magnanimity to be great.
If he were to ask why he had named such a high price, it would be a confession that his own magnanimity was small.
Haah.
The more he caught his breath and gathered his wits, the more Taelon admitted that he had been completely played.
On the one hand, it was an absurd reality.
This guy was a trainee knight who had just become Ria's exclusive knight.
Had he ever imagined that he would be swayed like this by a guy who wasn't even an official knight?
'Damn bastard! Ah? Right, no one heard it anyway!'
First, he decided to fix his habits.
Taelon operated his family's secret technique, the Heavenly Pole Art, and imbued his momentum with Aura.
The Heavenly Pole Art was a higher-level heart method than the Dawn Art, and if they were at the same level, one would naturally be overwhelmed by its momentum.
It wasn't for no reason that the family provided the Dawn Art to the knight order without restrictions.
"May I begin?"
"Come."
Ron took a step.
The step itself was the Dawn Knight Order's basic step, the Flash, but it was imbued with the deep understanding he had gained as the Taiji Sword God in the past.
As a master calligrapher does not blame the brush.
To a novice, anything becomes an ultimate technique.
The ultimate technique of the Wudang Sect, the Steps of the Profound Heaven, drew out the hidden true essence of the Flash.
Seureuk!
By the time Ron had drawn his sword and sheathed it again, Taelon had not been able to react.
Click, peok!
Kwadang!
Taelon, struck on the back of the neck with the scabbard, walked a few steps before losing consciousness and collapsing.
Ron knew Taelon's competitive spirit.
A very tenacious disposition that would never admit defeat with his own mouth.
Papat!
Hwando, Jilbyeon, Pohwang.
He struck the pressure points on the buttocks that could induce pain.
A moderate impact is beneficial to one's health, but Ron was not a healer.
Keu... heok!
Papat!
To prevent any loud screaming, Ron struck Taelon's Cheondol, Yeomcheon, and Pungbu points.
The scream was momentarily choked off, and as if struck internally, Taelon was busy dry-heaving.
Kuwek, keulleok!
Taelon, who had been gasping and tearing up as if he had choked on something for a long time, glared at Ron and shouted.
"You punk, I don't know what trick you pulled, but it won't work anymore!"
"If that's the case, here I go again."
Ron snorted inwardly.
He doesn't know what trick it was, but where does the confidence that it won't work come from?
It would be understandable if he at least had a clue what was done.
He deserved to be called brainless.
Ron once again used the Flash step.
The Flash had a strong linear tendency, so if it becomes familiar to the eye, it creates an opportunity for a counterattack.
The Flash step that has reached its peak is literally as fast as light, but how many knights who have reached that level could there be?
Even within the Dawn Knight Order, there was no knight who had mastered the 10-star Flash.
Historically, that was the case, and since it had many openings in a real battle, high-ranking knights used other steps instead.
Ron imbued the Flash with deep darkness.
He had carved the shadow of the Profound Heaven into it.
Through the intersection of light and shadow, he added deceit.
He created an illusion by causing confusion and optical illusions in the Flash.
It was also because the Wudang footwork had a strong Daoist tendency and was infused with sorcery.
If it were seen through, it would provide an opportunity for a counterattack, but the Profound Heaven Flash was not so easy as to allow that.
Naturally, Ron didn't even need to use the Profound Heaven Flash at full power.
Taking advantage of the step that caused optical illusions and confusion, he dispersed Taelon's line of sight.
It looked like it was coming from the front, but in reality, it was distorted.
There was a difference in distance, so the sword Taelon swung cut through the afterimage Ron had created.
Before he could even retract the blade after cutting the illusion.
Peok!
Kwadang!
To the one experiencing the Profound Heaven Flash for the first time, it was like a devil's curse.
It was the reason why the Sword Shadow assassins who attacked Adelia were defeated so absurdly.
Vision, distance, optical illusion.
It was perfect when the Profound Heaven Eye, operated by the Profound Heaven True Ki, was brought into play.
In reality, even after being hit, you couldn't know what you were hit by.
Papat!
Ron invariably woke Taelon up.
Keu... heok!
He restricted the loud screaming.
Even on the outskirts of the city, a scream that could tear one's lungs out would be heard by others.
It would be troublesome if rumors spread that he was bullying the weak.
Of course, he could bully the weak better than anyone else.
As the stronger one, he showed magnanimity.
"Yes, yes, it won't work this time."
"Of course... heok!"
The scary thing about a brainless person was their unyielding tenacity.
A normal beating wouldn't make them back down.
He had experienced this early on in his two past lives.
That's why he thoroughly excluded unnecessary persuasion.
Ron repeatedly knocked Taelon out and woke him up until he was fully convinced.
Peok, kwadang!
Indeed, Taelon's tenacity was beyond thought.
At times like this, there was no choice.
Peopeopeopeopeok!
To prevent him from fainting in one blow, he continuously beat him with the scabbard.
Dried pollack soup would be perfect today.
"Neck."
"This time... keo-eok!"
"Leg."
"Damn it.... That's not it!"
"The basic of swordsmanship is deceit."
It's a fake, you bastard.
Have you never played a game?
"This time... heok!"
"Chest."
Keo-eok!
As deceit and honesty intersected, Taelon was in a series of off-beats.
When he thought it was here, it wasn't, and when he thought it was there, it was here.
The Cheongeuk Sword he had swung countless times felt more awkward than ever.
It was flying about chaotically, as if he were a beginner swinging a sword for the first time.
Peopeopeopeok!
On the other hand, Ron's scabbard strikes were exquisite.
No matter how much he was hit, no external wounds appeared.
Also, he wouldn't get bruised internally.
He would just acquire a sickness of the mind.
A kind of hwabyeong, perhaps.
Fortunately, Ron also had a knack for treating mental illnesses.
In his past life, he had cured guys who suffered from nasty mental illnesses.
Especially for those with anger management disorders, it was called a panacea.
Later on, they all became very good at controlling their anger.
Rumor had it that some would question why the crazy ones only acted sane in front of him.
"The tenacity of the Second Young Master is truly deserving of respect. In recognition of that spirit, I will do my best from now on."
"...It wasn't your best?"
Ron did not lose his smile.
He didn't like this kind of thing, but he liked a guy with tenacity and a good chin.
Ppaak, peo-eok, peopeok!
Ron beat him without resting.
Taelon's rebellious gaze gradually disappeared.
As the flame was about to fade, Ron encouraged Taelon.
"The Second Young Master can do more. You must not give up like this."
"...What more?"
Why did I come here?
Who am I?
Taelon's identity was in chaos.
And this guy smiling brightly in front of him?
He was definitely a devil.
And that devil was even cheering him on, telling him not to give up.
"Cheer up, the Second Young Master can do it. You must overcome this."
"...Stop.... I lost... keo-eok!"
"I will assume I misheard that. The Second Young Master I know is a true man among men who doesn't know the meaning of giving up."
"...Keo-eok!"
Taelon felt it.
As long as it wasn't in front of his father, he could live as he pleased.
No one messed with him, and he had talent.
But he had realized that there were also types of people who should never be messed with.
'...I'd rather faint... Keuaaak.'
"Fainting does not suit the Second Young Master. Please, swing your sword."
Ron's encouragement continued.
It's just that, to Taelon, it only sounded like the devil's whisper.
"It has only been 15 minutes. Our night is still long."
"...Keuaaaak!"
You bastard, how long are you planning to hit me!
Taelon despaired at the fact that only 15 minutes had passed.
For him, who usually fell asleep as soon as he lay down in bed and woke up the next day, it was the first time he had learned that the night was long.
Keok, keulleok, keulleok!
He couldn't even scream as he wished.
Every time he tried to scream, his throat wouldn't hold up.
He tried to swallow his screams, but he would dry-heave and have to vomit what he had eaten.
"The endurance of the Second Young Master is excellent. You are truly worthy of being the direct bloodline of the count's family."
Stop complimenting me, you bastard!