Chapter 652
Chapter 652
Chapter 652
Sa Biran used only the martial arts she learned from her four masters.
Lightning Flash Sword, Hegemon Dragon Heaven-Severing Sword, Black Heaven Blade Technique, Giant God Blood Hegemon Blade...
All were martial arts learned from Mok Dan-hwa and Yeon U-gyeong, Seok Tan-gang and Yu Song-ryeong.
She combined the sword techniques and blade techniques to make them appear like new martial arts.
It wasn't intentional.
In reality, having studied under multiple masters, her martial arts naturally developed that way.
How does surpassing one's master occur?
It's simple.
When the excellence of the past is absorbed with the flexibility of the present, a certain change occurs.
And that change often surpasses the excellence of the past.
The established is always rigid.
The more it reaches the highest level, the more so.
Because what has been built and achieved must be protected.
However, those just beginning always approach with a challenging mindset.
They pursue the new, and that novelty usually becomes their strength.
Naturally, they strive to absorb everything newly learned, and things blend together naturally.
No disciple can be perfectly identical to their master.
They have innate temperaments, and the environments they lived in are different.
That's why all martial arts develop or decline as they're passed down through generations.
But one thing is certain.
When martial arts develops, it's when something is added to the existing method, causing change.
Ultimately, it's fusion.
In fact, in the orthodox martial world with its strong conservative nature, this kind of thinking wasn't preferred.
Martial arts considered the best were always hidden and concealed.
Naturally, fusion became difficult to occur.
This way of thinking broke down right after the Demon War occurred.
At that time, the martial world tore down the walls between orthodox and evil, and everyone united with one mind to resist the Demon Race.
When a formidable enemy appeared, humans naturally became one.
This was when the most vigorous grafting occurred.
Especially after victory in the Demon War, orthodox and evil completely mixed, leading to rapid development in martial arts.
The orthodox faction broke away a bit from its stuffy ways and gained flexible thinking, pursuing more formidable and efficient martial arts.
The evil faction became conscious of the importance of solid fundamentals over luck and gradually built their foundation.
However, is there no such thing as eternal peace?
At some point, divisions between orthodox and evil began to arise little by little, and this martial arts development also started showing signs of stagnation.
Of course, the distinction between orthodox and evil was still ambiguous, but if this peace continued, before long the martial world would voluntarily bring about chaos again with humans bound by selfishness.
Just like the Flash Sword Mok Family and Black Heaven Blade Family, who seemed like they would never do so.
At this very moment, the martial artists of the Flash Sword Mok Family and Black Heaven Blade Family had somewhat flushed faces.
They couldn't help it, as they had just witnessed with their own eyes the limits of the martial arts they'd learned being broken.
Their thoughts began to stir.
Until now, they had been consistent with the pride that 'our martial arts are far superior to yours.'
Looking at each other, there had only been endless provocation about whose martial arts were better.
But now they thought differently.
If the two families' martial arts are harmonized, they become even more formidable!
In a way, it seemed like a simple principle, but for them it was a fresh shock.
Of course, Yeon U-gyeong and Mok Dan-hwa, Seok Tan-gang and Yu Song-ryeong also felt the stirring among their affiliated martial artists.
Yeon U-gyeong cleared his throat and spoke.
"Nothing gladdens a master more than a disciple's development. You've surpassed your master."
"You're too kind. It's all what I learned from Master Yeon."
"Hehe, I taught you Hegemon Dragon Heaven-Severing Sword, but I never taught you to harmonize it with other martial arts like that."
"I also taught you Black Heaven Blade Technique, not how to mix it with other martial arts."
Seok Tan-gang continued Yeon U-gyeong's words.
Sa Biran smiled faintly and spoke.
"Of course, that's what you masters did."
That made sense since even then the two families treated each other like enemies.
"Even though you received teachings from multiple masters, I didn't know you could blend them so naturally. I thought it was a different martial art altogether."
"Actually, I think I know why you showed us this way. But I also think it's possible because you're you. This might sound a bit funny coming from your master, but you're not just anyone—you're that person's child."
Yu Song-ryeong continued Mok Dan-hwa's words.
Sa Biran nodded.
"You mean Father."
"Yes, how could you unfold those martial arts with different characteristics so harmoniously? Did the Palace Lord teach you?"
When Yu Song-ryeong asked again, Sa Biran nodded.
"Yes, that's right. Actually, receiving teachings from multiple masters, my martial arts are naturally mixing too. Knowingly or unknowingly. But it's not as natural as this."
"Does that mean specifically our family's and the Flash Sword Mok Family's martial arts are harmonizing naturally?"
"Yes. Because Father specifically taught me that one thing."
"I see. But why only that..."
Then this time Sa Biran showed a puzzled expression instead.
"Do you really not know?"
"What do you mean?"
"According to Father... he said it was the four of you who achieved this harmony of martial arts."
Then all four people simultaneously widened their eyes and asked back.
"Us? Us, you say? We did?"
"Yes. That's definitely what I heard."
Sa Biran nodded and continued speaking.
"Father didn't teach me a non-existent method. He said the four of you directly told him that this kind of harmony was possible."
Yeon U-gyeong and Mok Dan-hwa, Seok Tan-gang and Yu Song-ryeong stared blankly at each other.
The same thought was rising in their minds.
'We achieved such harmony? Why? When?'
They couldn't remember at all.
If they had, it would have been thirty years ago.
When the Demon War was in full swing.
Yes, it was too long ago to recall memories.
Yet at the same time, a thought arose.
'We were that strong.'
Certainly compared to nowadays when they were saturated with peace, they were very strong in their prime.
Martial arts are supposed to develop in proportion to age, but it seemed they achieved all their life's development back then.
Everything after was practically a stagnant period.
But looking at it now, wasn't it regression rather than stagnation?
Sa Biran continued speaking clearly.
"It's not a lie. The reason I could use such formidable martial arts and become stronger is definitely because I had the four masters. Not only that, but other masters as well. But I feel quite regretful. That you can't pass on such martial arts to the children you cherish and love as much as me... no, more than me. That only I learn such excellent martial arts... it's unfortunate."
"......"
The four masters said nothing.
Sa Biran's words continued softly.
"I heard that going on martial journeys is to go out into the vast martial world to grow by seeing, hearing, and experiencing many things. But if you can't see, hear, or experience even the excellent environment right nearby, what's the use of martial journeys? If you don't venture into the martial world with an open mind, I think that would rather be solitary practice. So I..."
"...?"
"...don't intend to take either of them."
"...!"
The four masters looked at each other with flustered expressions.
The martial artists of both families also buzzed and looked at each other.
Dan Li-hyeok, who had been watching from the side, deeply furrowed his brow and grumbled with an expression asking 'why did you even have the duel then,' while Ong Su-ryeong clenched both hands and showed a surprised expression.
However, only Deung Ga-hwi smiled almost imperceptibly.
'How mischievous she is.'
Sa Biran looked around at the four surprised people and continued speaking.
"Of course, if the four of you permit it, and the two approach this mission with open minds, I'll take them. But if not... I think it's better to call it off."
Having finished speaking, Sa Biran looked at the four people with meaningful eyes.
It meant to make a decision.
Not just her, but the surrounding martial artists were also looking at the four people.
Watching that scene, Dam Jin-u smiled faintly.
'This time the Squad Leader was right.'
When Sa Biran first mentioned this plan, he didn't understand.
"Why? Why would you go so far as to have a duel?"
"Because the relationship won't be resolved so simply."
"But these people were very close. Just having their children kidnapped, a common enemy appearing, and fighting together should be enough to open the floodgates of reconciliation."
"No, that won't be enough. Of course, that plan is very excellent. But as you said, these people were very close. Yet they grew apart enough to break even that. The wall of distrust is that thick."
"Then... What's the purpose of the duel?"
"That is..."
"First, create cracks in the wall of distrust between the family heads, and second, create cracks in the hearts of the affiliated martial artists..."
Dam Jin-u recited exactly what he heard from Sa Biran.
By now, the affiliated martial artists of both families must have hearts pounding.
For martial artists, learning superior martial arts is naturally the highest value.
But right before their eyes appeared a way to learn martial arts stronger than what they thought was the best until now.
And Sa Biran delivered the decisive blow.
"What do you think? In my opinion, if the two families harmonize again like before and can pass on more developed martial arts to disciples, that wouldn't be bad."
As Sa Biran's words ended, the martial artists looked at the family heads with eyes filled with yearning.
If they hadn't known, it would be one thing, but they clearly learned that stronger martial arts could emerge.
What martial artist would want to learn something with clear limits?
After being dazed for a while, Yeon U-gyeong let out a chuckle.
"Well, how impudent. We've been completely hooked. What do you think?"
His gaze turned to Seok Tan-gang.
"Hmm. I don't remember well, but one thing is certain. Back then we were strong. More than anyone."
At those words, Mok Dan-hwa and Yu Song-ryeong nodded silently.
Here, 'we' wasn't referring to just the four people.
It encompassed both Heaven Annihilation Squad and New Life Group.
They taught and learned martial arts from each other without reservation.
They achieved harmony and fusion that way.
And now looking at Sa Biran, they thought.
She seemed like their past selves.
No, she was more than that.
That was probably because she had accepted new things as time passed.
Mok Dan-hwa spoke with a faint smile.
"I remember his words. The Palace Lord told the Demon King. That humanity's greatest weapon is empathy. That sympathizing and empathizing is humanity's greatest strength. Perhaps we've been living forgetting the most important thing..."
Yu Song-ryeong fiddled with the tassel tied to her Giant God Blade and spoke.
"Well... for my son's sake, I can overlook those people's mistakes."
"What? That's not right. You should properly guard and lecture your brat who made advances on someone else's precious daughter."
"Advances? Who flirted first?"
"Flirt? Did you see it?"
"It's obvious without seeing!"
"What?"
The two people were getting heated again while pointing fingers.
Sa Biran let out a light sigh.
"So masters... What will you do? Will you send them on the mission..."
"We'll send them! We're sending them!"
Both people turned simultaneously and shouted.
Sa Biran couldn't help but smile.
And there were those watching that scene quietly from afar.