Chapter 438: I Am No Longer the Youngest
The Sword King, who had been lost in thought, asked Im Sobaek.
“By the way, Alliance Leader Im, what do you intend to do after retiring in your prime? Have you made any plans?”
Im Sobaek said,
“I simply wish to rest. I have made no plans.”
“Without any plans?”
Im Sobaek nodded.
“At some point, I stopped ever resting. Even when I was lying about with nothing to do, or sleeping, my mind could not rest. As you said, I am not that old, but inside I am no different from an old man.”
Im Sobaek looked at Jang San.
“Even when I am with the alliance members, I find myself nagging more and more. I tell myself I should nag less, yet I end up nagging anyway. As for martial arts, I do not believe I have grown weaker, but my thoughts have aged. If one has aged, one ought to retire.”
Jang San spoke in a cautious tone.
“I have never once thought of it as nagging, Alliance Leader.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Im Sobaek looked at the Sword King.
“Fortunately, in the jianghu of this generation, the Haomun Leader, along with Mongrang, the Sword Demon, and Master Yukhap, stepped to the forefront and contended with the Demon Cult, and in that process, the emperors did not merely stand by and watch either. Sword King, you have the right to know the exact news. The Greatest Under Heaven has changed to the Haomun Leader.”
The Sword King wore a hollow expression.
“Hard to believe. What of the Cult Leader?”
“They say he was sighted once at the Beggars’ Sect, so it seems he is alive. Apparently, he told Senior Divine Beggar of this conclusion and decided to retire together with him. In other words, before my own retirement, the Three Talents retired first.”
The Sword King nodded.
“So that was the background to your retirement. I understand it all now. In that case…”
The Sword King looked at the eldest son and the Lust Demon.
“Now it is your turn. You must inherit the heavy burden Alliance Leader Im has carried for so long.”
The Lust Demon and Baek Ri-han answered.
“Yes, senior.”
“Yes.”
“Whether one becomes the alliance leader or not is not greatly important. Let Mongrang and Han hold this private spar. The victor will proceed to the next spar, and the defeated shall return to his own hometown and train. That is how you will share Alliance Leader Im’s burden.”
The Sword King said to Im Sobaek,
“Alliance Leader Im, I will retire as well. Like you, I have no particular plan, though.”
“Is that not too sudden a decision?”
Suddenly, the Sword King recalled something from the past and laughed.
“I remember the Haomun Leader saying there were too many kings. To bear the title of king in my sobriquet with skill that cannot even defeat the Cult Leader—it is, belatedly, a shameful thing.”
“Do as you please.”
Once it was decided that Baek Ri-han and the Lust Demon would face each other, everyone looked at the Lust Demon. The Lust Demon pondered the method of the spar alone for a while, then spoke.
“I will propose the method of the spar. You may listen and refuse if you wish.”
Im Sobaek lent him support.
“Let us hear it.”
The Lust Demon mentioned his previous defeat.
“In truth, I too crossed hands with the Cult Leader and lost. I was also the one who proposed the method. I would first grasp the longsword and freeze it. If the Cult Leader pulled it free, I would lose. If he could not pull it free, I would win. That was the spar.”
The Sword King tilted his head.
“What would you have gained by winning that way?”
“Retirement was also on the line at the Mount Hua Sword Debate.”
The Sword King nodded.
“That was an unusual decision. Why did you spar in such a manner?”
“For one, I proposed the sparring method I was most confident in. Even if I lost, I intended to greatly diminish the Cult Leader’s internal energy. Of course, I knew the Cult Leader’s personality well enough to know that even if he understood my intent, he would not refuse.”
The Sword King asked,
“Did the Cult Leader pull it free easily?”
“Well. It did not seem to be an exceedingly easy task. But it also did not look as though he expended internal energy as I had planned. I expected that no matter how extraordinary an expert he was, victory and defeat would only be decided after he competed with me in internal energy until we were both drained. But the Cult Leader was different.”
Im Sobaek asked Baek Ri-han,
“What do you think?”
Baek Ri-han answered,
“If it is the method by which you faced the Cult Leader, I would like to try it as well.”
Since it was a sparring method that had been advantageous to him from the start, the Lust Demon deliberately explained how the Cult Leader had won.
“To explain the Cult Leader’s method as I understood it: he crossed and collided finger techniques or internal energies of differing natures, using the resulting vibration to melt it, and afterward pushed it out with internal energy. To purely melt it with internal energy alone and remove it is extremely difficult. It is only possible if one has mastered a consummate technique capable of applying shockwaves within. If I were to seek an example nearby, Alliance Leader’s Six Battles Great Sword is precisely such a martial art.”
He said this because he knew that Im Sobaek had broken the Sword Demon’s wooden sword in this manner. In other words, the Lust Demon had gone so far as to inform the listening Baekri Clan in advance of how to pull out the frozen longsword.
The Lust Demon looked at Baek Ri-han.
“The reason I propose such a spar is to say that, at the very least, for us to surpass the level of the retired Three Talents, our internal energy or martial arts must exceed this much. Both the Eldest Young Master and I still have plenty of time left to train.”
Baek Ri-han nodded as though in agreement.
The Lust Demon said,
“From the beginning, the Eldest Young Master’s swordsmanship inherits the Sword King senior’s martial learning, so I thought there would be no need to speak at length.”
Baek Ri-han nodded.
“Young Master Mong, let us do that. I accept the method.”
Baek Ri-han and the Lust Demon met each other’s eyes, then rose at the same time. A short distance away from the onlookers, Baek Ri-han unfastened his longsword and held it out to the Lust Demon.
“Will this do?”
The Lust Demon grasped the longsword with his right hand.
He thought it was more important for Baek Ri-han to realize that his current skill was far too weak to even aspire to surpass the Cult Leader, rather than for him to lose in an ordinary spar and return home.
Only then would Baek Ri-han have the motivation to train even harder.
As the Lust Demon infused Baek Ri-han’s longsword with ice arts, he said,
“I will do my utmost, so the Eldest Young Master must not let down his guard either.”
Since he did not need a longer time against Baek Ri-han, he spoke at once.
“Now pull it free.”
Baek Ri-han glared at the longsword, then took hold of the hilt.
“I will pull it free.”
The moment Baek Ri-han grasped the longsword’s handle, cold energy clung to his right hand, and he felt no small amount of pain.
“Mm.”
He immediately concentrated all his internal energy into his right hand to erase the cold, and, adding his pulling strength and even the strength of his lower body, struggled to draw the longsword free.
As Baek Ri-han moved as though drawing on the strength of his entire body,
the Lust Demon naturally opened his mouth even while pouring out internal energy.
“If you do it that way, the cold energy will surge in, and you may suffer internal injury before you can pull out the sword, so first concentrate on maintaining your internal energy at a steady level. At first, think of it as competing in palm force…”
Baek Ri-han answered even in the middle of the spar.
"Understood."
Baekrihan stopped the violent trembling caused by his external arts and focused his mind. Following Saekma's instruction, he erupted with palm force to protect his hand.
The long sword trembled without the slightest pause—rattle.
Saekma spoke.
"It is fine to melt it with palm force, or to incorporate a martial art that can deliver shockwaves."
Having received the advice, Baekrihan nodded and dispelled the white cold energy that had enveloped his right hand. A sound like heavy snowflakes melting on a heated brazier echoed out.
Baekrihan's eyes widened. As he exerted his strength once more, the cold energy clinging to the hilt visibly vanished.
Saekma, who had shown Baekrihan a certain amount of consideration up to this point, nodded as if to attack again and further increased the intensity of the internal energy he was pouring forth. Thereupon, the sword hilt and Baekrihan's hand were soon covered once again in brilliant white cold energy.
Now, it was not only the sword that trembled—Baekrihan, still standing on his feet, trembled throughout his entire body.
Before long, cold air began to flow even from Baekrihan's breath. Gungeomwang frowned and opened his mouth.
"Very well. That is enough."
After exchanging glances, Saekma and Baekrihan gradually reduced their internal energy. If either side reduced their internal energy abruptly, they could suffer internal injuries from the rushing palm force or cold energy, so they had no choice but to reduce it slowly and in stages.
Baekrihan, who had been enduring well, felt a splitting headache the moment the pain hit, and staggered as his internal energy flow was severed before he knew it.
The startled Gungeomwang and Imsobaek simultaneously leaped forward, caught Baekrihan as he staggered and began to fall, then seated him in a meditative posture.
Immediately afterward, Gungeomwang and Imsobaek extended one arm each and poured a stream of true energy into Baekrihan's body.
Imsobaek spoke in a composed tone.
"Protect your dantian while breathing. We are here to help."
Baekrihan had been trembling all over, but his complexion gradually returned to normal.
Watching this, Saekma let out a short breath.
'That was a close call.'
The moment he saw Baekrihan's condition, he had begun withdrawing his internal energy in stages, but it appeared that a wisp of cold energy had already infiltrated his body.
Saekma retreated slightly and sat on the ground, gazing blankly at the expressions of Baekrihan, Imsobaek, and Gungeomwang.
Of course, Gungeomwang had leaped out without a moment's hesitation because he was Baekrihan's father, but Imsobaek's reaction speed was no less than his.
It was Baekrihan who had been performing qi circulation.
Yet beads of sweat trickled down Saekma's forehead as he watched.
'What on earth is this awkward, embarrassing feeling?'
Perhaps if he had considered Baekrihan an ally of his own.
Saekma, too, should have hurriedly approached and supported Baekrihan.
The fact that he had had no intention of supporting Baekrihan from the very beginning, and the disparity in mindset he felt compared to his seniors who had rushed out without hesitation, had made Saekma ashamed.
Fortunately, Baekrihan soon opened his eyes with color returned to his face, and Gungeomwang and Imsobaek, having confirmed that the true energy within his body had returned to normal, also withdrew their hands.
Gungeomwang asked.
"Are you alright?"
Baekrihan answered.
"Yes."
Baekrihan turned and knelt before Gungeomwang and Imsobaek, who were sitting side by side, and offered a single deep bow.
"Thank you, Alliance Lord. Father. I was suddenly flustered, and my concentration faltered."
Imsobaek nodded.
"So long as you are uninjured."
Gungeomwang explained.
"When halting a palm force confrontation during a match, one must be even more cautious."
"Yes."
"It is all the more dangerous in real combat. It is difficult to respond to variables arising from the surroundings."
"I shall take it to heart."
Baekrihan spoke to Saekma.
"Young Master Mong, I apologize for my mistake near the end."
"Think nothing of it."
Since they had both committed to giving their best, it was nobody's fault.
Saekma stood up, approached him, and returned Baekrihan's long sword.
Having received his long sword, Baekrihan infused his left index and middle fingers with internal energy and swept them once along the blade. Thereupon, the cold energy clinging to the long sword was cleanly erased along the path of his fingers.
Baekrihan lowered his long sword and, observing the formalities, spoke to Saekma.
"Young Master Mong, since I could not draw it, I have lost. I shall remember this as a special experience."
Saekma likewise returned the courtesy and replied.
"You have worked hard as well, Eldest Young Master."
Gungeomwang sighed.
"Mongrang, are you saying the Cult Leader drew that?"
"Yes."
"We father and son have had a fine experience. Alliance Lord Im, the Baekri Clan shall stop here. We acknowledge our defeat and withdraw from this martial contest."
Imsobaek smiled slightly.
"It was a peculiar match. Your internal energy is clearly superior, Mongrang. Thinking that the Cult Leader actually accomplished it makes me feel strange as well. Mongrang."
"Yes, Alliance Lord."
"In your opinion, how many experts in the martial world could draw that frozen long sword?"
Saekma counted on his fingers as he spoke.
"Samjae, the Haomun Lord, the Alliance Lord..."
"Am I among them as well? It somehow sounds like you are trying to save face for me."
Saekma shook his head.
"I am not that sort of person. If you utilize the Six Battle Great Sword, you would be able to draw it just like the Cult Leader."
"Who else is there?"
"The White Martial Emperor, Senior Gongsonsim, and the Blood Cult Leader—I would struggle against them as well. My master and other experts would also find it arduous, but if I must name experts who could draw it smoothly, it would be about the five mentioned earlier. That is because this match format is inherently more favorable to me."
"I see. I understand."
Imsobaek was itching to fight the same match but forcibly restrained himself. It was because if he, having declared his retirement, were to compete with Mongrang and actually draw the long sword, he felt he would be called senile.
However, Gungeomwang, watching from the side, felt exactly the same as Imsobaek.
If he stepped forward and lost, all three men of the Baekri Clan would have been defeated by Mongrang, so it was necessary for him to exercise restraint.
When everyone fell silent, Jangsan, who had been observing quietly, asked.
"Young Master Mong, I have a question."
"Go ahead."
"That is, the question is somewhat strange, but it is because my comprehension is somewhat lacking."
When all eyes turned to Jangsan, he continued.
"What sort of training must one undergo to be able to draw it eventually? I do not think internal energy training alone would suffice."
"Hmm."
Everyone fell silent at Jangsan's question.
Saekma himself could not help but agonize over the opposite dilemma. Saekma, Gungeomwang, and Baekrihan pondered for a moment before turning their gazes to Imsobaek.
It was a glance that seemed to say it would be best for Imsobaek to explain.
Imsobaek spoke.
"Naturally, internal energy training is the foundation, and..."
“Yes.”
“The question is whether you possess a martial art capable of delivering a shock to the inside. What about you? Does the Baili Clan have such a martial art?”
The Military Sword King answered with a hollow expression.
“Exactly. I suppose I’ll have to look. To see whether there was any similar martial study among the martial arts of the previous family heads. Perhaps we possessed such a martial art all along and simply became too buried in swordsmanship, so I should examine it.”
Only then did the Lust Demon speak.
“Martial Artist Jang, for example.”
“Yes.”
“The Cult Leader and the Haomun Master have fundamentally cultivated yin and yang internal arts at the same time. I myself do not know how such a thing is possible. From what I observed, the two energies have a nature that resists mixing, and that creates a shock wave. But such matters are something to ponder only after one’s realm has deepened, so it would not be right for Martial Artist Jang to concern himself with it now.”
Jang San replied.
“I understand.”
As he spoke, the Lust Demon belatedly realized why the two had climbed Mount Hua instead of fighting at Plum Blossom Manor.
The Lust Demon looked at Im Sobaek.
“Because their martial arts are so extraordinary that the entire area would be devastated, they climbed Mount Hua instead of fighting at Plum Blossom Manor, where the sparring matches were held. That was why we could not watch their match. Thinking about it now, they were being considerate of us in their own way. It was not a bout one could observe from nearby.”
“Those two are on an entirely different level.”
“They are.”
The Military Sword King looked at Baili Han.
“It seems we came here for a sparring match and ended up confirming a certain goal instead.”
“I feel the same.”
The Military Sword King made a request of Im Sobaek.
“Alliance Leader, I will withdraw from the sparring tournament. But I would like to watch the remaining matches afterward and see the new Alliance Leader elected together with this fellow. Would that be all right?”
Im Sobaek replied.
“Do so.”
Baili Han asked the Lust Demon.
“Young Master Mong, do you think you can defeat all your opponents from here on as well?”
The Lust Demon shook his head.
“I do not know. What do you think, Alliance Leader?”
Im Sobaek replied.
“I do not know yet either. As we did today, we can keep information cut off, then face them suddenly and compete. Well then.”
After looking around at those gathered, Im Sobaek said,
“Let us all go eat.”
“Yes.”
After the sparring match ended, those who had watched rose at the same time and left Yongmu Hall. As they went to eat together, the Lust Demon recalled the meal he had eaten on Mount Hua.
Along with that meal, he clearly remembered what the Third had said.
‘For those gathered here to eat together is something close to a miracle, whether for the world or for the jianghu.’
Looking back, it truly had been something like a miracle.
After all, the Cult Leader, Cheon-ak, the White-Robed Scholar, the Blood Cult Leader, Gongson Sim, and the Four Great Evils had all mixed together and eaten at the same table.
As the Lust Demon walked near Im Sobaek, he chattered about what had happened on Mount Hua.
“Alliance Leader, on Mount Hua…”
“Mm.”
“I ate together with the Cult Leader, Cheon-ak, the White-Robed Martial Emperor, the Blood Cult Leader, and others.”
Im Sobaek answered with a smile.
“Did the grains of rice go down your throat easily?”
The Lust Demon replied.
“I do not remember the taste of the food, but since I was the youngest among those who took part in the sword debate, I offered each of them a cup of wine. I cannot forget the ice wine I drank then. That is to say, the taste of that wine was…”
The Lust Demon continued with an awkward smile.
“It was like wine drunk on the last day of one’s life.”
Im Sobaek laughed heartily, then grabbed the Lust Demon by the shoulder as they walked together.
“That ice wine—let us try drinking it today as well.”
“Understood.”
As he walked, the Lust Demon thought that while the ice wine from the Mount Hua Sword Debate was an unforgettable drink, the feelings he had now, as he was on his way to drink, would also remain with him for a long time.
Fortunately, Jang San was here now, so he was not the youngest either.