124. Too Slow
Song Yang Geon let out a gasp of admiration.
"Whoa! This is delicious!"
"Hmmm."
"Wh-what kind of meat is this?"
"Hmmm."
"This flavor!? It's heavenly!"
"Hmmmm."
Tak Horak watched him with half-lidded eyes.
At Sado Hwan's command, Song Yang Geon was being treated as an honored guest of the Sado family. Tak Horak had been assigned to attend to him personally for convenience's sake.
But from Tak Horak's perspective, even if the man was a Super Peak expert, the fact that this no-name nobody had dared to challenge Sado Hwan was deeply irritating.
Daring to speak out of turn with someone not worthy of our family head's stature.
That was why Tak Horak stood there with his arms crossed, leaning arrogantly to one side.
Above all, the constant fussing and noisy chatter over every little thing was grating on his ears.
"Hey, you."
"Hm?"
Song Yang Geon, who had been gnawing on a huge hunk of meat bone and all, widened his eyes round.
"Are you really a Super Peak master?"
"Ah."
Song Yang Geon raised a finger. Two strands of pale blue energy rose up like chopsticks.
Puk!
He used them to tear off a leg from the roast duck in front of him.
"Smack."
Tak Horak's face twisted in utter bewilderment at the sight.
It was absurd to see someone treating gang qi—the hallmark of Super Peak that others wore as a badge of pride—like mere eating utensils.
"Whew, I'm stuffed."
Having devoured what amounted to five full servings, Song Yang Geon patted his belly contentedly.
"I heard on the streets that the Sado family was terrifying, but it turns out it's a really nice place!"
"Of course it is."
Tak Horak puffed out his chest proudly.
"Under the family head's rule, the Sado family is enjoying its greatest golden age yet. High-level experts apply to join every single day—too many to count."
"Oh ho! Really?"
"You bet."
"Sado Hwan must be quite the respected figure!"
"How dare you speak the family head's name so casually! That's insolence!"
Song Yang Geon tilted his head.
"The cult is all about strength ruling supreme, so why are you talking down to me when you're weaker than I am?"
"That's... uh..."
Tak Horak faltered for a moment, at a loss for words. Truth be told, his attitude stemmed from loyalty, not skill.
"Don't sweat it! You look way older than me anyway!"
"What?"
"It's in the books! You gotta show respect to your elders! Fine, I'll call him the Sado family head!"
"Add the honorific."
"Right! Got it!"
Song Yang Geon nodded and continued.
"So, is the Sado family head really that strong?"
"You bet he is."
"That's weird!"
"What's weird about it?"
"His presence doesn't feel all that impressive! You seem stronger!"
Tak Horak straightened up sternly.
"Watch your mouth! How dare you compare me to the family head."
"I was just sayin'!"
Tak Horak clicked his tongue and said,
"Do you know about the previous Heavenly Demon, Do Il Gwang?"
"Hmm, my father mentioned him once! Said he was a terrifying guy!"
"Even that Do Il Gwang couldn't lay a finger on the family head."
"But Do Il Gwang was sealed in the Punishment Cave with his inner energy crippled! Of course he couldn't move!"
Tak Horak shook his head with a groan.
"Fine, what about this? You know about the Eum Hyeol Jin Family, one of the Mad Demon Six Families, right?"
"Yeah! I know 'em! A terrifying group that practices blood arts!"
"Their family head, Jin Yeong Ryeong, trembles in fear at the mere sight of our family head."
"Ooh! That's impressive!"
"No room for argument, no room at all."
"Who knew the Sado family head was such a big deal! Three days from now is gonna be exciting!"
Under Sado Hwan's rule, the most changed thing about the Asura Sado was that its gates were always flung wide open.
No longer did they enforce the old closed-off policies with strict control over comings and goings; now, people could enter and exit with relative ease, if not total freedom.
The Sado family was always welcoming like that, but today it was even more so.
A flood of people poured into the Sado family grounds, rivaling the crowds at Dok Ma's birthday banquet.
Of course, they wouldn't let it descend into chaos.
Viewing stands had been erected in the training grounds, seats divided by rank and status.
A special platform was prepared for high-ranking figures from the Mad Demon Six Families.
Seated on the platform, Cheol Mu Geuk remarked,
"That Sado family head sure knows how to make a spectacle."
Cheol So Pyeong nodded at his words.
"I thought the Sado family head disliked drawing attention."
"Tsk tsk, you're still green, So Pyeong. You think he hates the spotlight?"
"Doesn't he?"
"Sharpen your eyes. He secretly loves it. Doesn't he always pause a beat before speaking, just to make sure everyone's hanging on his words?"
"Now that you mention it, yeah, kinda."
"Look at him now. Duel's about to start, and he still hasn't shown up."
"The protagonist always arrives fashionably late."
"Tsk."
Cheol Mu Geuk clicked his tongue lightly and said,
"Anyway, So Pyeong. That insolent punk who tormented my Mugyeok-i—does he look strong?"
Cheol Mu Geuk was pointing at Song Yang Geon.
He sat cross-legged in the center of the training grounds, eyes closed in meditation.
In front of him lay a massive black bow.
The odd thing was that there was no quiver of arrows—just the bow.
"Yes. He looks strong."
Cheol So Pyeong's response was immediate.
"I can't quite grasp his simsang yet, but his presence is extraordinary. My heart's pounding."
"If you fought him, how would it go?"
"I'd win, Father."
"Haha! That's my boy. A real man needs that confidence. But..."
Cheol Mu Geuk narrowed his eyes.
"If that guy's from the Song archer lineage I know, in this wide-open space, even the Sado family head might be in danger."
"That serious?"
"His old man went into hiding after lodging an arrow in Do Il Gwang's shoulder—and then bolted."
"Impressive."
"Of course, that bow's performance helped. I made it myself."
"..."
"Challenging the Sado family head to propose to the Divine Lady? Hilarious reason, but we can't underestimate him."
How much time passed like that?
Kwak Ri Yeon and Hyeok Mun arrived and took seats on the platform, and a little more time elapsed.
As everyone grew bored with the wait, the crowd began to murmur.
"It's Sado Hwan!"
"The Sado family head? Where?!"
Sado Hwan had appeared.
In his usual impeccably sharp attire, his chiseled features on full display.
The murmurs died down instantly.
With each step he took—saying nothing, doing nothing—the crowd held their breath.
His sheer presence was that overwhelming.
Soon, he stood in the center of the training grounds, right in front of Song Yang Geon.
Song Yang Geon had already slung the great bow onto his back and risen to his feet.
"Sado family head! You're quite popular!"
Song Yang Geon, who had been grinning, stiffened at the sight of Sado Hwan staring silently.
What kind of eyes are those?
His father, Song Nam Gi, had always emphasized it.
A good archer has good eyes.
Song Yang Geon was certain now. If eyes measured an archer's worth, Sado Hwan's gaze made him the best in the world.
Regaining his smile, Song Yang Geon said,
"Impressive on second look too! I can't help but admire you!"
"Still intent on challenging me?"
"Of course! The books say once a man draws his sword, he must cut down the enemy!"
Sado Hwan nodded faintly. Then he spoke.
"Tak Horak."
Whoosh!
Tak Horak appeared in the training grounds like a gust of wind.
"Count to three. When you reach three, the duel begins."
"Perfect! The books call this 'romance'!"
Whether he knew the word didn't exist in this world or not, Song Yang Geon chuckled.
"I'll count. Three."
Sado Hwan and Song Yang Geon leaped back simultaneously.
"Two."
The distance between them stretched to five jang.
"One."
In that instant.
────!
Boom!
Before most spectators could even register it, a black wall had formed in front of Sado Hwan.
And embedded in it, as if it had always been there, was a pale blue light arrow.
It had pierced the Guardian Wall of Returning Souls, flashing right before Sado Hwan's eyes.
His hair and robes whipped wildly in the wind pressure.
Yet he didn't so much as blink.
"!?"
Cheol Mu Geuk, watching, jolted in surprise.
"What's wrong, Father?"
"It pierced Cloud Demon Iron?"
At that—the very spot Cheol Mu Geuk had pointed out before as thinned. The light arrow was lodged there.
Which meant...
"He spotted the arrow's trajectory in that split second and adjusted for the weak point."
"Using the principles of Flying Sword."
Cheol So Pyeong continued,
"That arrow's a kind of gang hwan, wrapped in gang qi. With that much force, blocking it cleanly would be tough."
Gang hwan.
A technique that condensed gang qi into a solid mass for amplified power, usable only by those versed in gang qi arts—an advanced skill.
"How old is that kid again?"
"Twenty-eight, I hear."
"Not even thirty. What a ridiculous genius. A total genius."
"The Sado family head's impressive too. Blocking that with the Guardian Wall without flinching. Nerves of steel."
Meanwhile, Song Yang Geon felt a thrill.
Sado Hwan's expression remained inscrutable.
"Impressive, Sado family head! Blocking my opening shot so easily! Here comes another!"
Song Yang Geon drew back the bowstring.
A light arrow formed again, nocking itself automatically.
In that moment, Sado Hwan vanished, reappearing right beside Song Yang Geon.
"I Hyeong Hwan Wi! That's more like it!"
But Song Yang Geon matched him.
His form blurred, and he widened the distance again. He had used I Hyeong Hwan Wi too.
Kwaaaang—!
The light arrow shot toward Sado Hwan once more. A single arrow at launch split into twelve, then twenty-four, bombarding him like artillery.
"This is called chain shot!"
Sado Hwan dodged them effortlessly, as if he'd predicted every trajectory.
"Impressive speed."
Kwak Ri Yeon murmured. Kwak Jeong, listening beside him, said,
"I can barely see it, Father! But isn't it even more amazing that Master hasn't drawn his sword yet?"
"Huh? You're right."
Kwak Ri Yeon had been so focused on their movements that he'd only now realized Sado Hwan hadn't unsheathed his blade.
Song Yang Geon noticed it too.
Biting his lip, he said,
"Draw your sword, Sado family head!"
But Sado Hwan remained silent.
Feeling ignored, Song Yang Geon gritted his teeth and nocked another arrow.
In that instant—
Kwaaang!
Sado Hwan's body launched into the air.
Kwak Ri Yeon jumped in alarm.
"Worst move possible! Jumping into the air against an archer who's reached that level! You can't match ground speed in midair!"
As Kwak Ri Yeon said, Song Yang Geon released the bowstring with a triumphant look.
The largest light arrow yet cleaved through the sky.
Got him.
No need to watch.
He could hit even flying spirit beasts with his arrows—though he still didn't know that was Mu Geuk Cheon Hwa.
A wingless human? No contest.
That was when Song Yang Geon blinked.
—Gone?
Sado Hwan, midair, was nowhere to be seen. The light arrow streaked harmlessly into the sky.
In that moment, Song Yang Geon felt an invisible giant crushing down on him, his body growing heavy.
At the same time.
Sado Hwan—having closed in unnoticed—thrust out his fist with an impassive face.
The fist.
Kwaduduk—!
Connected with Song Yang Geon's bow.
Kwaaaang—!
The bow exploded on impact.
"Too slow. Not even worth drawing my sword for."