Chapter 434: The Flower Gained at Mount Hua
As he had done before, the Lust Demon dodged Gang Mokcheon’s attack and caught the wooden staff with his left hand.
Recalling that their palm forces had been evenly matched earlier, Gang Mokcheon immediately thrust out his left palm.
It was a counterattack the Lust Demon had predicted perfectly.
“……!”
The Lust Demon let go of the wooden staff and glided to the right, then struck Gang Mokcheon’s shoulder with a palm.
Thud!
Gang Mokcheon retreated three or four steps with a startled expression. At the same time, Im Sobaek, who had been watching the spar, widened his eyes and half let out an exclamation.
“Huh?”
That technique just now was a palm art even the peerless Im Sobaek could not immediately understand.
Though he had watched it clearly with both eyes, he could not grasp the profundity of the palm art and needed a moment to replay it in his mind.
‘Is it possible to mix ice arts into footwork?’
How should he describe it?
He felt as though he were witnessing a historic moment: the emergence of a new martial art in the jianghu.
The trajectory of that gliding movement had completely shattered the fixed notion martial artists held about footwork. It had looked as though he had moved along a curving sheet of ice and struck from that arc.
Gang Mokcheon, who had been struck, was astonished.
And the warriors of the Martial Alliance watching were astonished as well.
After the Mount Hua Sword Debate, the Lust Demon’s White Flower Palm Art had appeared in the world and, from the moment of its emergence, had already been completed as a martial art worthy of being called one of the finest in the jianghu.
Gang Mokcheon, inwardly shocked enough to feel a chill in his heart, launched a fierce counterattack. To the eyes of those watching, a small whirlwind seemed to be coiling around Gang Mokcheon’s wooden staff.
As before, the Lust Demon began dodging the wooden staff with great diligence.
Only then did Im Sobaek realize what state of mind Mongrang had brought to this spar.
‘He’s practicing the footwork he newly learned.’
Gang Mokcheon suddenly stamped hard on the ground with his left foot and thrust out the wooden staff, gritting his teeth. With an expression that showed his displeasure at the cold spreading through his body, he burst out a wave of energy, and the clothes wrapped around him fluttered in every direction.
Im Sobaek raised a hand to stop the spar, then paused and examined Gang Mokcheon’s expression.
‘If I stop it here, you’ll feel even more wronged. This, too, is experience.’
It was obvious that if he left things as they were, Gang Mokcheon would take more of a beating from Mongrang, but continuing the spar seemed better for both of them, so Im Sobaek lowered his hand.
Gang Mokcheon would experience defeat.
And Mongrang would gain the experience of using his newly learned martial art in actual combat.
That was why Im Sobaek believed the greatest advantage of spars on the righteous path was that both the victor and the defeated had something to gain. After all, it was not a fight in which they were trying to kill each other.
As Im Sobaek continued watching……
Unexpectedly, Mongrang did not overuse the footwork he had newly learned.
The man had once earned scandal because he could not exercise restraint in front of women, so why did he display such self-control when fighting?
For now, he was once again dodging the wooden staff only with his usual movements. In other words, even dodging like that seemed to be part of a training process that would lend strength to the strange footwork Mongrang had created.
Im Sobaek watched and nodded.
‘That is the right direction.’
He thought Mongrang was a different type of genius from the Hao Sect Leader, yet still felt that his past conduct of chasing women was a flaw.
In Im Sobaek’s view……
First of all, before even discussing the Hao Sect Leader’s skill, his oddly twisted personality alone already made him an incomprehensible existence. He had a particular madness about him, so he was not suited for the position of Alliance Leader, which required embracing many people. However, if the world of the present age were in chaotic times, Im Sobaek believed there would be no Alliance Leader more suitable than the Hao Sect Leader. In other words, no matter what war might come, he was a versatile, fierce commander who could bring it to an end by mobilizing his martial might, strategy, and uniquely eccentric temperament.
But these were not chaotic times.
The Hao Sect Leader had already brought those chaotic times to an end. Of course, it could not be said that the present era was perfectly peaceful, but this degree of disorder was the Martial Alliance’s responsibility to bear.
That was why, as one of the next-best candidates, he had thought of Mongrang.
And when it came to martial arts, he was now confirming that Mongrang, too, was a genius.
Im Sobaek folded his arms.
‘So this is how you survived that hell.’
The Sword Demon, Master Yukhap, the Hao Sect Leader, and Mongrang were people who, depending on the period, had become targets of the Black Path, the scholars, and the Demonic Cult. Yet they were also martial artists of the jianghu who had slaughtered most of the enemies that came rushing at them and survived, even without the Martial Alliance’s full support.
From Im Sobaek’s standpoint, having watched them, it was only natural that he invite at least one of the four to the Alliance Leader’s sparring tournament.
‘The depth of experience is too stark.’
Mongrang was now engaging in psychological warfare, as though he would perfectly dodge the wooden staff and then deliver another decisive blow.
A subtle threat was revealed in his movements, as if saying: I’ll hit you with the attack you took earlier again, so prepare yourself.
When the psychological battle unfolded like this,
Gang Mokcheon’s movements visibly shifted toward defense. He could not predict when or where that strange palm strike might come flying in.
This time, Mongrang openly seized the wooden staff roughly, then pulled it with strength and internal energy.
Gang Mokcheon let go of the wooden staff first and attacked Mongrang with both palms filled with tremendous power, as though determined to settle the match. To Im Sobaek’s eyes, he looked like a man leaping into a trap.
Mongrang’s response was concise.
He raised a pure white flower from his palm and sent it toward Gang Mokcheon’s eyes, while at the same time moving with that gliding footwork to avoid the double palm strike. Gang Mokcheon’s palms were withdrawn after losing their target……
And as Gang Mokcheon hurriedly cleared away the cold energy pouring into his eyes, Mongrang’s left palm smoothly struck the right side of his chest.
Thud!
It was a counterattack linked together as naturally as flowing water.
Gang Mokcheon staggered back, then charged again as if to engage in hand-to-hand combat, but Mongrang retreated with a calm expression.
Confirming that the fight was over, Im Sobaek admonished Gang Mokcheon.
“Steady your breathing first. The spar is over.”
Gang Mokcheon, who had managed to charge only three or four steps, collapsed and planted both hands on the ground, drawing in a deep breath.
“……Haaah.”
Having gauged the level of Gang Mokcheon’s internal energy and protective arts with his earlier palm strike, the Lust Demon had this time injected enough internal energy that Gang Mokcheon would find it difficult to endure.
Gang Mokcheon’s face had turned pale from the cold belatedly surging through him.
Im Sobaek shouted sharply.
“Gang Mokcheon! Are you planning to suffer internal injuries over one spar? Breathe.”
Only then did Gang Mokcheon hurriedly sit cross-legged and close his eyes. Im Sobaek stared intently at Gang Mokcheon’s face, then reached out and flicked his hand downward, speaking in a subdued tone.
“Sit.”
When Im Sobaek sat first, the alliance members sat around him. The Lust Demon, guessing that he had something to say, also approached and sat down.
While Gang Mokcheon was dealing with the cold palm force that had entered his body,
Im Sobaek spoke to Mongrang in a low voice.
“I watched well.”
“Yes.”
“This spar put you at a slight disadvantage.”
“Why is that?”
Im Sobaek indicated Gang Mokcheon with a jerk of his chin.
“He is not normally a man that weak. Your methods were simply too difficult to predict. So if you continue this kind of sparring, Gang Mokcheon will grow accustomed to your techniques as well. And you, too, will find it gradually more difficult to face him. In that sense, I mean it was a fight where you were at a disadvantage.”
“Yes.”
“Had you met as enemies in the martial world, you could simply have killed him in this fight. The dead tell no tales, so your methods would not become known either.”
The Lust Demon nodded.
“That is true.”
If he had been an enemy, naturally, he would have either beaten him to death or frozen him to death moments ago.
Im Sobaek looked over the Alliance members, then turned his gaze back to Mongrang.
“I do not know whether you will understand what I am saying.”
“…….”
“But suffering such losses is, for the most part, the heart of a master.”
Gongsonwol asked a question.
“Do you mean in the sense of having taught someone a move?”
“Something like that. Masters teach their disciples most of the martial arts, techniques, and psychological warfare they possess. Someday, there comes a time when the disciple learns it all and surpasses the master. Yet some worthless fellows grow strong thanks to their masters, and still look lightly upon the very master who passed everything on to them, or treat him as a weakling. Judging by your expressions, you seem to be thinking, Surely such a thing would never happen.”
“Yes.”
“But does it not happen often enough among the Black Path and the Demonic Path?”
The Lust Demon answered.
“It does.”
Im Sobaek pointed at the Lust Demon with his finger.
“Do not forget the hearts of masters.”
“Understood.”
“The ones who continue these disadvantageous sparring matches for you are your masters. Some worthless fellows, even after their master has taught them everything, think, when they fail to surpass him, Perhaps it is because my master did not teach me better martial arts. They are the sort who deserve to be expelled. Mongrang, you as well.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“I hope you become a good master later on. What I mean is, though you are taking part in the Alliance Leader’s Sparring Tournament, I do not care whether you become the Alliance Leader or not. After all, even if you are outside, you will aid the Alliance together with the Hao Sect Master.”
“Of course I should help.”
“That is why what matters to me is that you grow stronger. Whether you become Alliance Leader or not is not greatly important. If you are reborn as a good master to someone, it will not matter whether you are in the Alliance or outside it. I invited you so that you might accumulate that experience. And the same applies not only to you, but to the others as well.”
“I understand.”
Im Sobaek smiled faintly.
“When you said you had been invited to the sparring tournament, what did the Sword Demon say?”
The Lust Demon looked troubled and scratched his forehead vigorously with one finger.
“Well, that is……”
“What?”
“He did say something rather impressive, but saying it with my own mouth is a little…”
“When you put it like that, I become even more curious. I will hear the same thing from the Sword Demon later anyway, so say it yourself.”
The Lust Demon spoke as if muttering nonsense.
“Well, he said that since I had already indulged in lust, all that remained was to become a hero. As I said earlier, at the time it sounded truly impressive, but now that I am saying it myself, it is certainly strange.”
After speaking, the Lust Demon observed the expressions of Im Sobaek and the Martial Alliance members in turn.
“Mm.”
Im Sobaek seemed to hold back his laughter for a moment, but in the end he burst out laughing aloud. The other Alliance members had little puffs of air swelling here and there across their faces as they desperately held in their laughter.
Having no choice, the Lust Demon looked at the youngest, Jang San.
“Hoo…… Martial Artist Jang.”
“Yes, young master.”
“If you are going to laugh, just laugh. What sort of expression is that?”
“My apologies.”
In the end, Jang San laughed as well. Im Sobaek, who had been laughing for quite some time, said to Mongrang,
“Since you have indulged in lust, you must become a hero. He is right. Judging by skill, it may seem somewhat strange that I did not invite the Sword Demon, but as I said earlier, the Sword Demon is already a good master. You would know better than anyone that the Sword Demon is an excellent master.”
The Lust Demon nodded.
“I know it well.”
“That is why, from my perspective, there was no reason to invite him. Now do you understand what this sparring tournament means?”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
Suddenly, Im Sobaek began picking on Chief Strategist Gongsonwol.
“Chief Strategist.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“When you were holding back your laughter, your nostrils flared slightly. Not having your expression read is also part of a strategist’s ability. Do not neglect training your composure.”
“Understood…… But you laughed too, Alliance Leader.”
“I am the Alliance Leader.”
“Ah, yes.”
Im Sobaek looked at the Alliance members.
“Jiryang, San, you two must also become good masters later on.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“When you are promoted and the number of subordinates you must take charge of increases, all those subordinates will be your disciples. Looking back, my superiors, and later even the previous Alliance Leader, were all my masters. I learned a great deal. Thanks to that, I am serving as Alliance Leader now. In any case.”
Im Sobaek looked at Mongrang.
“Your footwork and palm techniques were impressive. Did you create them?”
The Lust Demon answered in an even tone.
“No.”
“Then?”
“At Mount Hua, when the Hao Sect Master was teaching the Plum Blossom Manor Lord, I watched the sword art he displayed as well. It was a sword art he used to grant enlightenment to the Plum Blossom Manor Lord, but I also gained insight from it. It is a derivative martial art in which I applied that insight to the ice arts and footwork I originally cultivated, altering them.”
“I see.”
“Insight comes without warning, but if I had not received the teachings of Master Sword Demon before that, it would not have come. Also, because I learned ice arts from my mother before then, I was able to build a foundation in advance. There are this many masters who made me stronger. I named it the Hundred Flowers Palm Art. This is the flower I obtained at Mount Hua while striving to survive with my master and my brothers.”
Im Sobaek nodded and said,
“Admirable. You survived well.”
The Lust Demon wondered if there had ever been a day in his life when he received praise from the Martial Alliance Leader, but astonishingly, that day was today.
It was also the moment when the flower he had obtained at Mount Hua bloomed pure white in full.