Chapter 654
Chapter 654
Chapter 654
Chirrup. Chirrup.
The sound of insects chirping tickled his ears.
Dan Li-hyeok sat on a rock, gazing up blankly at the night sky.
In the distance, he could see the inn where the White Transformation Squad was staying.
Tomorrow they would arrive at Heaven New Martial Hall.
'Once I get there... there will be plenty of Father's old comrades.'
No doubt they would approach him with friendly words when they saw him.
And they might ask him to demonstrate his archery.
Since he was the son of Dan Li-jeong, the Central Plains' Greatest Divine Archer, they would surely think his skills were special.
"Haah..."
A sigh erupted from deep within his chest.
When he tilted his head back, the crescent moon was staring down at Dan Li-hyeok.
Its gently curved shape resembled a bow perfectly.
"Tch, how irritatingly similar."
Dan Li-hyeok clicked his tongue, clasped his hands behind his head, and flopped down on his back.
Just as the crescent moon passed by, a shooting star fell.
It looked exactly like an arrow leaving a bowstring.
It felt as if the heavens were speaking to him.
'Look. You must take up the bow. That is your destiny. So do not refuse.'
But Dan Li-hyeok squeezed his eyes shut and turned his head away sharply.
'No matter what, I won't hold a bow!'
After lying turned away for a long while, he slowly opened his eyes and gazed intently at his right hand.
The tips of his index and middle fingers were hard, as if callused.
Though it had been several years since he put down the bow, those spots still felt different from others.
'It's been a long time... that feeling....'
A few days ago, he had shot a bow for the first time in ages.
The feeling was strange.
It was a bow he had so resolutely refused, yet the feeling in that moment wasn't bad.
"Infuse your soul into the arrow."
Father had always said this until his mouth wore out.
The moment you release the bowstring, what flies through the air isn't just an arrow—it must become yourself.
Since you're shooting yourself somewhere, you must be cautious and certain.
Was that why?
In that moment when the arrow flew through the forest, it felt as if he himself was flying.
And when that arrow was caught in the hands of Yeon U-gyeong and Seok Tan-gang, a thrill ran through his entire body.
It was a strange feeling.
While surprised that their martial arts were remarkable, he was also somewhat frustrated that it was caught so easily in their hands.
Looking down quietly at his right hand, he chuckled.
Well, what of it?
He wouldn't be holding a bow anyway.
Dan Li-hyeok said while looking at the crescent moon floating in the night sky:
"No matter what, I won't hold it."
"Hold what?"
At the sudden voice, Dan Li-hyeok jumped in shock and turned around.
Only then did he see Sa Biran approaching behind the rock and let out a relieved breath.
"What? You scared me."
"Why? Afraid a ghost might appear?"
"A ghost, really..."
Dan Li-hyeok deflected her pointless joke while inwardly shaking his head.
'What kind of person appears without any presence?'
Those who handle bows should have keener senses than anyone else.
Because they always face enemies at long distances.
Of course, Dan Li-hyeok hadn't held a bow in quite some time, but even so, his senses could be considered far superior to ordinary martial artists.
Yet he hadn't noticed Sa Biran's presence at all.
As if reading his thoughts, Sa Biran chided him.
"That's why you shouldn't neglect archery. With such an excellent father."
"You shouldn't speak carelessly about others' circumstances."
"Well, I don't think I spoke carelessly."
"Ahem, anyway, thanks to me, you reconciled those people, didn't you?"
"Your contribution is rather minimal for that claim."
"Wow, our White Transformation Squad Leader—is this the same person going in and coming out?"
"Is there anyone who stays the same?"
"Anyway, my archery did help!"
"Yes, I'll acknowledge that. In that sense, here, take this."
Sa Biran suddenly held something out.
It was a large bow, slightly bigger than ordinary bows.
When Dan Li-hyeok looked at her questioningly, Sa Biran said nonchalantly:
"I told you, didn't I? I need an excellent archer. Like your father, who made tremendous contributions in the Demon War."
"So you want me to use this?"
"Yes. It's not as remarkable as the Explosive Thunder Bow, but for something obtained in a hurry, it's quite usable."
"Huh, truly the daughter of the Demon Annihilation Palace Master, is that it?"
"What does that mean?"
When Sa Biran narrowed her eyes and looked at him, Dan Li-hyeok shrugged and said:
"This bow. It's the Blood Heaven Thunder Bow."
If anyone had heard this name, they would have gaped open-mouthed.
But Sa Biran's expression wasn't particularly surprised.
She looked at Dan Li-hyeok with a 'so what?' expression.
Dan Li-hyeok shook his head and said:
"Blood Heaven Thunder Bow was one of the Five Great Treasures of the martial world until the Demon War."
"Right."
"But you speak of it as if you picked it up along the way. Children from wealthy families really are different."
"So, is that wrong?"
At Sa Biran's words, Dan Li-hyeok furrowed his brow slightly.
He spoke with a deliberately solemn air:
"Still, people should be somewhat humble and..."
"Have I ever acted arrogantly?"
"Hmm. Not that, but."
"Of course, if I, who benefit from my parents, looked down on and oppressed those who couldn't, that would be a problem. But being grateful for that fact and making full use of it is a different matter, isn't it?"
"Well... that's true, but..."
"Don't get hung up on strange things. You live a suffocating life because Squad Leader Dan is from the Heaven Annihilation Squad? That's all well-fed talk and just excuses. Suffocated by people's expectations, so you indulge in debauchery? Isn't that the arrogant behavior of someone born privileged?"
"That's not the only reason."
Before she knew it, Dan Li-hyeok's expression had become quite serious.
Sa Biran stared at him before continuing:
"Whatever the reason, you're now old enough to take responsibility for your own life, aren't you? It's time to stop blaming your circumstances. Here, take it. If you're going to go with the White Transformation Squad, you must use the bow."
When Dan Li-hyeok hesitated, Sa Biran narrowed her brow slightly.
"What are you doing? Even at this moment, I'm a busy person."
Only then did Dan Li-hyeok silently accept the bow.
Sa Biran turned around and said:
"Tomorrow we'll arrive at Heaven New Martial Hall. There are many friends there who, like you, receive all kinds of expectations yet live their own lives. It would be good to see what kind of lives they lead."
"......"
"If your head is complicated, why not bathe in cold water at the valley?"
As Sa Biran walked away like that, Dan Li-hyeok stood alone in the chilly night breeze.
"Tch, what does she know..."
He muttered indifferently and walked aimlessly toward the forest.
He just walked and walked wherever his feet led him.
For a moment, he thought about walking all the way home like this.
Suddenly everything felt futile and tiresome.
Crisis in the martial world?
Who cares?
Countless people living in the Central Plains don't care whether a bloody storm blows through the martial world or a blood calamity occurs.
When the Demon War happened, some people didn't even know such a thing occurred.
Couldn't he just live an ordinary life like that?
When a crisis appears, someone will appear as always to sacrifice or save others.
'Why should I be the one to sacrifice? Why should I be the one to save others? What if something goes wrong? Couldn't all the responsibility become mine?'
The more he thought about it, the more futile it seemed.
With his head thus complicated, Dan Li-hyeok walked aimlessly until he suddenly sensed a presence and stopped.
Beyond the bushes, he heard the sound of valley water flowing, and from there he felt a faint human presence.
'Is someone really bathing?'
The moment Dan Li-hyeok imagined Sa Biran's figure, he moved forward with a somehow lewd smile.
Pushing through the bushes and walking forward, sure enough, a woman sat on a rock by the valley.
But it wasn't Sa Biran.
"Ong Su-ryeong...?"
Dan Li-hyeok, recognizing her, chuckled.
"There's another person here who can't sleep."
As he moved toward Ong Su-ryeong, he suddenly flinched again and quickly hid in the bushes.
Just then, he felt a strange movement in the bushes across from him.
Whether Ong Su-ryeong hadn't yet noticed that presence, she was still just looking at the flowing water.
Occasionally she muttered something while looking at the water.
If a stranger saw this, they would surely think she was crazy.
But Dan Li-hyeok knew she commanded water spirits, so he could roughly guess the situation.
However....
'What are those?'
At first he thought they were White Transformation Squad martial artists.
But he felt faint hostility.
Dan Li-hyeok unconsciously slowly grasped the Blood Heaven Thunder Bow with his left hand.
Like an old habit, he reached his right hand over his shoulder, then belatedly realized his back was empty.
There was no quiver.
'Tch...!'
He clicked his tongue softly and watched the situation carefully.
The presence across from him was getting closer.
Unable to bear it, Dan Li-hyeok was about to push through the bushes when—
[Don't move yet.]
Sa Biran's mental transmission reached his ear.
He flinched and looked back, but she was nowhere to be seen.
'Her stealth technique is ghostly.'
While inwardly impressed, he thought it made sense.
Didn't she have multiple masters?
She must have learned something from that senior called 'Black Ghost,' who was a genius of stealth techniques.
Though he had become unable to use martial arts now, teaching someone would still be possible.
'But wait, could this also be...?'
As if reading his thoughts, Sa Biran's voice was transmitted:
[If you reel in too quickly when the bait shakes, the fish will be startled and run away. Let's wait for the right moment.]
[Don't tell me you said you were busy earlier because...]
[Yes, that's right. I felt a tail following us since we left Songbaek County. And I roughly figured out their objective.]
[Then as expected...]
[Right, the Magic Stones that Ong Su-ryeong possesses.]
[Wait. Then when you told me to bathe in cold water, don't tell me you planned to use it this way...]
[Shh. They're coming!]
At Sa Biran's mental transmission, Dan Li-hyeok closed his mouth and hid his presence as much as possible.
As she said, movement showed from the other side of the bushes.
Finally.
Tadadadadat!
Over ten masked people burst out from the bushes across from them all at once.
Sa Biran shouted through mental transmission:
[Now!]
It was a mental transmission without context, but Dan Li-hyeok immediately understood what she meant.
Sa Biran also knew well that he had no arrows.
And she would also know what to do when there were no arrows.
She too had learned archery from his Father.
Paaaat!
Dan Li-hyeok reflexively burst out from the bushes.
"Get down!"
When he shouted, Ong Su-ryeong threw herself to the ground as if she'd been waiting, pressing herself flat.
Meanwhile, the masked people who had been about to attack Ong Su-ryeong clearly showed signs of panic at the sudden intruder.
Taking advantage of that split-second gap, Dan Li-hyeok pulled the bowstring taut.
Shuuuuuuu...!
Though no arrow was nocked on the bowstring, red energy gathered toward the bow like a whirlpool.
The next moment.
Paeeeeeeeng!
Kwiiiiiaaaang!
With a scream that seemed to tear eardrums and gusts of wind, energy streams flew out in lines.
Papapapapapa!
The surrounding trees and grass blades rippled as if they would be uprooted and blown away.
Kreuuut!
Ghost Cry Blood Light Arrow.
One of Dan Li-jeong's exclusive martial arts.
"Kraaak!"
The masked people's screams rose into the air.
Simultaneously, Sa Biran's figure flew toward them like a beam of light.