Yeojeong strolled through the rear garden of Cheonhwaru with Geukak Soma.
Walking between the well-tended flowers and trees, she stopped when she reached the pond. Carp splashed droplets of water beside the lotus flowers floating serenely.
This time spent with Geukak Soma, after so long, was incredibly joyful and precious to Yeojeong.
She decided not to worry at all about the Baekgye Sangdan’s conspiracy. She didn’t even concern herself with why they had tried to use her.
“Where did the Young Cult Leader go? I haven’t seen him these past few days.”
“He went to meet the Vice Leader of the Sado Maeng.”
Yeojeong asked with a smile.
“Is the relationship between the Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader and the Sado Maeng’s Vice Leader such that you can meet so easily?”
At her jest, the two eyes behind Geukak Soma’s mask smiled pleasantly.
“He’s the one who summoned the Martial Alliance Leader and the Sado Maeng Leader to our cult’s headquarters. Something like this is nothing.”
There was a side of Geom Mugeuk that Yeojeong saw and felt in truth.
“When I look at the Young Cult Leader, I think this.”
Geukak Soma was curious what she would say. He had expected some grandiose words like, *I sense a special destiny.*
“I feel he is someone who knows things to their very core.”
Had anyone else said it, he would have taken it as describing merely a smart man or someone well-informed. But Geukak Soma knew.
He knew that Yeojeong possessed a special ability. She was someone who could read people’s destinies. Of course, it was very rare for her to tell anyone what she had read.
“It’s somewhat different from knowing a lot, or from knowing deeply. It’s hard to explain, but you have a thoroughness uniquely your own, Young Cult Leader. My words are a bit strange, aren’t they?”
Geukak Soma’s eyes showed that he understood what she meant. How could he not, when it concerned the two people closest to him in his life?
“Not at all.”
Geukak Soma knew better than anyone that Geom Mugeuk was not a man easily understood.
“That is why I do not try to understand the Young Cult Leader. I merely feel him.”
Just then, something flew swiftly toward where the two stood.
What had been a dot in the distance tore across the space in an instant and rushed toward where the two stood. It seemed like an arrow loosed from a bow, yet also like a bird gliding at incredible speed.
Geukak Soma positioned Yeojeong behind him and raised his qi.
And only when it had nearly arrived did Geukak Soma relax. The one who had flown here was Geom Mugeuk.
Geom Mugeuk landed in the courtyard. The reason Geukak Soma was surprised was not that Geom Mugeuk’s lightness skill had grown faster. It was the manner in which he set foot on the ground.
He stopped as lightly as if he had simply hopped down from a roof. Considering the speed at which he had flown in, the landing was impossibly soft and gentle.
Geukak Soma knew. Once lightness skill reached the supreme pinnacle, stopping became harder than running. The level of one’s lightness skill depended on how one stopped.
He had just seen that answer.
“Your lightness skill has grown faster.”
“I ran without rest because I wanted to see you both.”
Geom Mugeuk had truly run without rest, his sprints faster than a bird. Breaking through his own limit speed again and again as he ran gave him a pleasure distinct from growing stronger through martial arts.
“Did you meet the Vice Leader of the Sado Maeng?”
“Yes, I met him. He had already accepted the Baekgye Sangdan’s invitation.”
“So they truly were targeting the Vice Leader.”
“On my way, I also sent word to Eunwol and Tongcheon Gak. I told them to investigate everything about the Baekgye Sangdan. They will surely uncover something.”
As intelligence organizations were mentioned, Yeojeong excused herself from the spot.
“You must be hungry from running. Let me show you my skills. Please have a home-cooked meal from me, for the first time in a while!”
She was a woman who knew better than anyone when to step in and when to step away. Though the backdrop of this conspiracy was her own Cheonhwaru, the protagonists of this fight were these two men who had gladly run here for her sake.
Once Yeojeong left the rear garden, Geukak Soma asked cautiously,
“Could it be those fellows behind it?”
“Perhaps. Even if not, we must proceed cautiously, keeping in mind that they may be behind it.”
A conspiracy to kill the Vice Leader of the Sado Maeng was not something just anyone could orchestrate.
“Now, shall we do what we must do?”
Geukak Soma knew what he meant. Before leaving to meet the Vice Leader, he had said they would spar once he returned.
“Where shall we fight?”
Geom Mugeuk already looked as though he had something in mind.
“I know the best place. Ah, but let’s have that home-cooked meal first, for the first time in a while.”
* * *
Geom Mugeuk and Geukak Soma stood within a dense forest of trees.
“Truly amazing.”
Geukak Soma stretched out his hand. Sunlight shone upon the back of it. The sunlight piercing between the leaves gleamed as though a blade of sword qi had flown in. It was warm.
He ran his hand over a tree. He felt its rough surface, and the air was cold and fresh.
“I never knew the Spacetime Illusion Technique could be this vivid.”
This place was inside the Spacetime Illusion Technique unfolded by Geom Mugeuk.
Geukak Soma had known that Geom Mugeuk could unfold the Spacetime Illusion Technique.
In the past, when fighting the Ghost Demon and the Iron Shackle One, he had saved Geukak Soma from crisis by unfolding this technique. He had said then that he had learned the Spacetime Illusion Technique.
“I was too preoccupied then to see it properly. So it was such a vivid place.”
To think he created such a spacious place from within his room?
There was nothing mystical about the surroundings. It felt exactly like visiting a rear mountain. That made it all the more astonishing and incredible.
Geom Mugeuk wished from the bottom of his heart to teach the Spacetime Illusion Technique to his father or his demonic followers, but he could not. This martial art was the Pungcheon Cult Leader’s secret art. Therefore, at least within the Spacetime Illusion Technique, he treated him as his master.
“I deliberately made it a dense forest.”
Geukak Soma used Jipung and palm techniques as his secret arts. If they fought in an open field, the martial arts he used would vanish without a trace, but in a place full of trees like this, the traces of his techniques would remain.
This duel would become a bloodbath, but it was ultimately training.
Moreover, while this fight was training for Geukak Soma, it was also for himself.
Geom Mugeuk drew his Black Demon Sword and spoke.
“Shall we begin?”
Geukak Soma fixed his gaze on Geom Mugeuk. Today’s fight would hinge on whether he believed in one single overarching premise, and upon that belief, whether its effect could be maximized or not.
*No matter what method I use, I cannot kill the Young Cult Leader.*
If he believed this premise, he could display his skills to the absolute limit.
But… what if the Young Cult Leader made even the slightest mistake?
Geom Mugeuk spoke as though guessing Geukak Soma’s concern.
“You saw my lightness skill. You should know. I will dodge well.”
Geukak Soma nodded.
*Then I shall believe you, Young Cult Leader.*
The two respectfully cupped their hands toward each other.
And so the fight began.
Swish!
First, Hyeorangji shot forth from Geukak Soma’s hand.
It streaked straight out and in an instant pierced a distant tree. Geom Mugeuk, who had originally stood in its path, was already in mid-air bringing his sword down.
Swoosh!
Geukak Soma twisted his body to dodge and fired Hyeorangji again.
Could the Young Cult Leader really dodge Hyeorangji fired from such close range?
He certainly worried. But even so, Geukak Soma unleashed the best move he could.
Shhhhk!
The Hyeorangji shot like light, splitting into three branches aimed at Geom Mugeuk’s head, chest, and legs.
Geom Mugeuk’s figure moved like the wind and exquisitely slipped free. He had displayed the Wind God Steps.
The moment he saw that move, Geukak Soma released the final lock in his heart.
*Worrying about the Young Cult Leader is arrogance.*
The same was true for Geom Mugeuk. His strikes were as fierce as those of a man trying to kill Geukak Soma.
Swoosh!
Geom Mugeuk charged as fast as lightning, swinging his sword so fast it was invisible to the eye.
Geukak Soma scrambled up a tree like a squirrel.
Shk! Shk! Shk!
In an instant, the tree was cut continuously from its base upward.
The very moment Geukak Soma burst through the branches and soared upward.
Swish swish swish swish swish!
Hyeorangji poured down from the sky. From between the branches Geukak Soma had just burst through, Jipung rained down upon Geom Mugeuk like a storm.
Swish swish swish swish swish swish swish!
The Hyeorangji was as fast as hidden weapons fired continuously from a mechanism. The previous Hyeorangji had been fast and powerful, but it could not compare to this.
Papapapapapapapapak!
Creating over twenty holes in the ground, the Hyeorangji narrowly missed Geom Mugeuk by a hair’s breadth.
Both knew well that the more dangerous the brink, the more it helped their martial advancement, so heart-stopping moments continued one after another.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwang!
The surroundings were overturned by the Demonic Fury Palm.
A palm technique of tremendous might swept through the surroundings. Where the palm technique passed, it turned earth, trees, and even rocks to dust, carving a new path far into the distance.
“Are you alright?”
In response to Geukak Soma’s question, Geom Mugeuk’s voice was heard from afar within the cloud of dust.
“Do I look alright? It’s not an exaggeration. I truly almost died.”
But it was an exaggeration.
Swoosh.
A blade of sword qi pierced through the dust and grazed Geukak Soma’s shoulder. Had he not instinctively dodged, his shoulder would have been severed. Though he had passed through a moment of crisis, Geukak Soma’s eyes were smiling brilliantly.
The duel was fierce. The two fought as fiercely as though facing true mortal enemies.
This was a perilous fight impossible without trust in each other’s skills, and an adventure utterly impossible to attempt without a sincere desire to help one another.
Moreover, it was a violent and rough, yet incomparably wise fight.
They stopped fighting intermittently. At moments when words needed to be exchanged, Geom Mugeuk unfailingly halted the battle. He accurately grasped the moment when one word would demonstrate greater effect than a thousand blade strikes.
Just as his father had taught him, Geom Mugeuk imparted teachings to Geukak Soma. Of course, it was completely different from when he was with his father. Then, he had been the one learning; now, he was the one teaching. Geom Mugeuk did not miss even the enlightenment that came from that difference.
“Please show me that move from a moment ago once more.”
Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers, and the surroundings changed—the damaged trees and rocks returned to their original state.
And the exchange of offense and defense unfolded anew.
It was different from the Hyeorangji displayed earlier. That much was clear from the traces left in the surroundings.
Before a hole left by Hyeorangji in a different location than before, Geom Mugeuk spoke.
“If you had fired here first, this hole would be in my body.”
But Geukak Soma did not think so.
“Even then, the Young Cult Leader would have found a way to dodge.”
The advantage of fighting within the Spacetime Illusion Technique was not limited to that alone.
Snap!
When Geom Mugeuk snapped his fingers, this time the surroundings grew dark as pitch.
“This time, it is night.”
A more dangerous battle began.
When the fight ended thus, a bright full moon revealed itself from within the clouds. Beneath the bright moonlight, the two reviewed the fight and conversed again.
When they had first begun the duel, Geukak Soma had truly never imagined it would become such a fight. This fight was one where the Young Cult Leader poured everything out for him. Even staking his life. Because of that, Geukak Soma also exerted his full strength. He would not let the Young Cult Leader’s goodwill go to waste.
“This time, it rains.”
Sssssshhhhhh.
The two fought in the rain. In the rain, it was even harder to dodge the Hyeorangji.
Even so, Geom Mugeuk was not hit by the Hyeorangji. He desperately dodged and counter-attacked. The moment he was injured, this training would end.
For his own sake, as well as for Geukak Soma’s sake, he absolutely must not be injured.
When Geukak Soma’s internal energy was completely depleted, he would circulate his qi again and then resume fighting.
Amazingly, the two fought for two days and nights. They fought without sleeping or eating.
And in this very moment when that desperate yet brilliant fight had ended.
Geukak Soma sat in a meditative posture, lost in thought.
Geom Mugeuk sat beside him, waiting for him to emerge from his profound trance.
Geom Mugeuk was certain that his father, too, had gained many realizations while teaching him. Because he himself had gained several enlightenments from this fight.
The bloody battle over the past two days was an opportunity he himself could not easily obtain.
How much time had passed?
Geugak Soma opened his eyes. Through this single fight, he had firmly consolidated the level of martial attainment he had recently risen to. Even when one’s realm advanced, it took time before it became wholly one’s own.
It depended on what sort of experiences one had, but it could take years, or one might fail to solidify that realm for an entire lifetime.
But through the bloody battles of the past two days, Geugak Soma had passed beyond that process.
“Thanks to you, I can now move toward the next stage.”
The fighting over these two days had given him greater enlightenment than all the battles he had fought in his entire life combined. It was possible only because the level of the two men was so high.
“Congratulations.”
Geom Mugeuk smiled brightly and offered him sincere congratulations.
Geugak Soma looked at Geom Mugeuk’s arm with concern.
“Is your arm all right?”
There were traces of blood on his arm. At that, Geom Mugeuk grimaced and made a show of exaggerating.
“How could it be all right? My arm was nearly torn off.”
Of course, it was nothing that serious. The wound was only a little deeper than a light graze.
In truth, when the blood had spurted, what had nearly fallen out was not Geom Mugeuk’s arm but Geugak Soma’s liver. The moment it went thwack, he had been so startled that he had even let out a short scream.
“I do not know what I should say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.”
Yes, Geugak Soma said nothing instead. How could he possibly convey such immense gratitude with words?
The two sat side by side, looking at the place that had been their final battlefield.
Geugak Soma was struck anew with amazement. Geom Mugeuk had maintained this place for the entire two days. Even while fighting those insane battles.
“But can your internal energy still hold out? To think you’re still maintaining this space.”
“It’s on its last legs now.”
It had been possible because he had not used martial arts that consumed enormous internal energy, like the Nine Flames Demonic Art, and had fought only with pure swordsmanship and sword qi.
“Even so, I saved the last bit of internal energy to use where it mattered most.”
Snap!
When Geom Mugeuk flicked his fingers, their surroundings transformed into a new place.
“Ah!”
Geugak Soma’s eyes widened beneath his mask.
“You must have missed it after seeing nothing but green foliage for two whole days, no?”
What spread out before them was a snow-white landscape.
It was a scene that put Geugak Soma’s heart more at ease than anything else.
These days, his thoughts and feelings had changed enough that he had even placed furniture in his room, but even so, for him, this pure white scenery remained the space that set his heart most at ease.
What could he say to such thoughtfulness? Geugak Soma only gazed in silence at the vast snowfield stretching before him.
“Lord Soma.”
“Yes, Young Cult Leader.”
“Next time, you must travel with me.”
“When that time comes…”
Geugak Soma hesitated for a moment. Unlike him, what was he hesitating to say?
Just then, from outside the Spacetime Transposition Art—in other words, outside the residence—Yeo Jeong’s voice was heard.
“Young Cult Leader, are you there? Someone has come looking for you.”