Dosamo
Dosamo
Dosamo.
At first glance, they might seem like merchants dealing in peaches, but the reality is different. It is the 'Do-Sa-Mo,' an abbreviation for the 'Group (Mo) that Admires (Sa) Dohwa-nim (Do).'
It was also known by the name Dosamo-hoe (Peach Adoration Society: Peach, Adore, Plan/Gather, Meeting).
The meaning was similar. Since it meant a place where people who think of peaches gather. It was merely a name attached for the sake of the meeting's authority.
Then, do people famous enough for such authority to be attached actually gather there? The answer is yes.
It was a gathering of Martial Gods.
There was even a martial arts proverb stating that if one wished to see those who discuss the absolute peak of the vast Gangho, they should join the Dosamo-hoe, so numerous were the Martial Gods there.
A few gossips who knew of the Dosamo-hoe called it 'the strait through which the political situation passes.'
Today's agenda was no different.
"Is it true......? She descended? Dohwa-nim?"
It was a woman with white hair like eternal snow. Due to her strangely stiff lips, her impression felt very cold.
In the martial world, she was famous by the title Seolcheong. She is an absolute master of the martial world outside the Great Wall that divides the Central Plains, and she only descended to the Central Plains when there was a Dosamo-hoe meeting.
Privately, she was the Young Palace Mistress of the Ice Palace. Taking the opportunity of the Ice Palace Master's life being saved by the Dangsan Immortal during the Heavenly Demon Blood Incident, she joined the Dosamo on behalf of her mother, who had difficulty moving, and she was someone who still visited consistently.
"Several people in Tanggata were talking about it."
The Namgung Clan Head, who had plenty of 'Dohwa' embroidery—smiling brightly—stitched onto his back, shoulder pads, chest, abdomen, and sleeves, spoke as his vertically slit pupils gleamed.
"They aren't as noble as Dohwa-nim, so I don't remember well....... I think it went something like this."
Hwijeok, hwijeok—
As he stirred his fingers a few times in the air, clouds clumped together in a circle and transformed into the shapes of two people.
-The Dangsan Immortal......? During the Heavenly Demon Blood Incident, isn't that the legendary figure who produced divine doctors and raised Dharma-daesa-nim and Sambong Jinin to the ranks of the greatest of all time? But why?-
-I heard she descended to the Gangho. But you see.......-
-Why? Is there something else?-
-I heard she is incredibly beautiful.-
He molded human forms with his internal energy and created vocal structures. It was strikingly vivid.
"It's true, then."
"Why, did you think this Heavenly Palace would tell a lie? Entry to Dangsan is no longer possible, but the area around the Tang Clan, including Tanggata, is. Also...... the Bisu? Those fellows reported it as well."
"Namgung. I don't doubt you. It's just...... because my mother would be so happy."
"Anyway—let's end this meeting here. The Tang Clan isn't here, and the Tiger didn't come either."
"Namgung told the Tang Clan not to come."
"Did I? I don't care. They are fellows who know nothing of honor and will only be a disgrace to Dohwa-nim's commands. They are the ones who lost the arts that Dohwa-nim personally taught."
I barely held back from exterminating their entire nine generations.
The sword at his waist reacted to his will and was drawn out with a sreut- sound. It was the Eogeom technique of the Singyeom Hapil realm. The Namgung Clan Head spoke as he sheathed his sword with a sigh.
"But why haven't the other bastards shown their faces at all?"
"You said you hate baldies and that if Shaolin comes, Namgung...... you would kill them. You said you hate the chanting of 'Muryangsubul' and hit the Wudang members so they couldn't come."
"Why do they tell you? Instead of telling me?"
"......."
Seolcheong, who was about to say 'Why do you think?', kept her mouth shut. She also discarded the thought: 'It's because you intimidate and despise everyone except for that Paeng Clan Eccentric whom you call a tiger like a crazy person.'
'If it weren't for Dohwa-nim, I wouldn't even associate with you.'
Everyone in the Dosamo likely felt that way.
A crazy bastard, the greatest in the history of the martial world, with a trash personality, a violent temperament, and immense arrogance.
'Heavenly Peach Blossom, I alone am honored. Above the heavens is Dohwa-nim, and below the heavens is Namgung. As long as I honor the heavens, I will not permit any followers of the unorthodox or demonic paths to enter Sichuan.' The anecdote of him cutting down the spirit of the remnants of the Demonic Cult was famous.
This is the reason why the Tang Clan, which is said to have lost its secret traditions, has been able to survive until now.
Seolcheong thought.
'I shouldn't...... get on his bad side.'
The only reason Seolcheong could be in this position now was that she was a woman of few words and hadn't caught his ire.
The Namgung fellow opened his mouth. It was a familiar commanding tone.
"Tell everyone to come from next time. Since Dohwa-nim has descended. Now the entire Gangho under heaven will have to gather like this."
"I heard Kunlun suffered a disaster. Should I tell them to come?"
"If they don't come, I will go to them."
"I'll make sure to tell them to come."
Seolcheong nodded her head in horror.
"The Tang Clan too?"
"Yes. Dok-gyun? That fellow's realm hasn't reached the Divine Rank, but since Dohwa-nim has manifested in the Tang Clan, it is only right to call them. We must treat them with the utmost courtesy."
"Use his title properly."
"Ah. I didn't know it for now. I'll find out when he comes."
"It's Dokgun."
Sing-geut.
He closes his eyes and smiles.
The sunlight sparkled three times through the gap in the open door. He said.
"I know."
The Dosamo meeting with only the two of them ended.
The Namgung Clan Head. Geom-cheon, one of the One Immortal and Six Heavens, tapped the empty table with slow finger movements. Tok- tok.
"So! What would be the best way to handle this?"
A momentum as sharp as a blade spread in all directions. It was a gesture toward the basement of the meeting hall where the Dosamo was being held, beneath the chairs.
"Isn't this Clan Head asking you? Tang Clan Bisu."
The Sichuan Tang Clan.
He was asking what should be done with them.
* * *
Time passed quickly.
It had already been seven days since the Supreme Patriarch-nim came to the Tang Clan.
The thick scent of peach blossoms and the immortal energy drifting within the family felt familiar.
It was the scent of the Supreme Patriarch-nim.
Feeling his heart strangely calm and his mind and body being governed—
Dang Gyeom clutched his head.
"Whew...... what did you say?"
"Clan Head-nim, it is a letter sent from the Mount Hua Sect. They say they will send Jaso-dan, so let's discuss the exclusive supply rights for the Gromwell......."
"Refuse it. Find out where the information leaked and discipline them severely. The Gromwell is a divine object personally crafted by the Supreme Patriarch-nim. It must not be sold recklessly."
His head throbbed. Dang Gyeom dismissed the Chief Manager with a gesture and put down his brush and ink.
The ink bled onto the paper first, just like Dang Gyeom's worries.
After finding himself in a position to take a breath, he saw that the situation of the Tang Clan was more serious than he thought. He realized that they were falling behind in every aspect, not just the absence of martial arts.
'It is difficult. It has been quite a while since the family elders stepped out and went to various parts of the Gangho, but there is no news.'
When the Supreme Patriarch-nim asked why there were no other plants besides Gromwell in the Medicine Hall, Dang Myeon's answer—that they only planted Gromwell because they were desperate for wealth—pierced his heart.
-Because we lacked money, we only planted Gromwell, which has reliable buyers. We wouldn't have been able to plant the rest anyway.-
-Why?-
-Because we do not know how to grow them.-
-Ah.-
The scene of those words keeps flickering before his eyes.
A family that lost the techniques of the Founder and even forgot how to handle plants. In a way, it is only natural that monsters like the Namgung or Paeng clans despise us.
'Being kicked out of the Dosamo must be for the same reason.'
Looking at it objectively, even this current prestige was more than the Tang Clan deserved. It was at a point where he didn't know how it was being maintained.
The number of people who held a grudge against the Founder must easily exceed several hundred.
Anyway, this wasn't the important thing.
An immediate breakthrough was needed.
Dang Gyeom rubbed his stiff eyes and looked out the window. At that moment, a voice coming from the direction of the detached house tickled his ears.
"It's cold, Supreme Patriarch-nim."
"Why? Isn't it refreshing? The days have become much hotter lately. Do it while resting like this."
Hwijeok, hwijeok.
Dohwa was sitting on a stone by the pond, soaking her white feet in the water and splashing. Sapun-sapun, every time her toes flicked the water, spiritual energy carrying the scent of peach blossoms bubbled up—pong-pong—above the pond water.
Beside her, So-young was training while sweating profusely.
The sound of a thin hum echoed.
At Dohwa's gesture, a gentle breeze blew, and a butterfly flew in on the wind and landed softly—sal-put—on the bridge of her nose. Dohwa said to So-young in a bright voice.
"A butterfly's wingbeat is closer to a movement that rides the wind. Um...... if I had to say, it plays a role like the sail of a sailboat. Isn't it fascinating?"
The breeze softly stroking her hair is felt in every strand. Wingbeats, wind.......
A boat flying on the wind.
So-young gained enlightenment.
'That's right. A dagger pierces through the air, but then a sound of breaking air is bound to occur. If that happens, all the masters will notice. In that case, isn't there no reason to use hidden weapons......?'
Amgi: Hidden Wonder/Weapon). It is a name derived from the meaning of a tool that kills quietly without sound.
If I ride the wind as Dohwa-eonni said......?
'There is no sound of breaking air.'
So-young's elbow ripples smoothly as it extends. The strength of her entire body is loaded onto the tip of the blade, and that recoil is completely let flow along with the wind.
"Heup—"
Because the preceding movement was large, the hem of her clothes was slightly disheveled. Beyond the constantly fluttering sleeves, her skin revealed her muscles, and her erector spinae and quadratus lumborum were particularly prominent.
It was evidence that the rotational force of twisting her body was used greatly.
So-young's mind flashed brightly as she engraved the entire current process into her body.
Huk!
A dagger is drawn from her sleeve and fired.
Pit—
It was much faster than the gaze. It had already surpassed sound. A thin slash being engraved in the air.
It moves along the breeze.
Since the air does not break, there is no sound.
Since it is faster than the gaze, there is no way to catch it with the eyes.
It was truly an art.
So-young barely calmed her thumping—kkung-kwang—heart.
Wonder. Everything was a wonder.
The moment the principles, which she couldn't have understood before, were released through Dohwa-eonni's body and mouth.
'The understanding just clicks. How can it be like this?'
Anyway.
That wasn't the important thing right now.
So-young ran to Dohwa, hugged her tightly, and rubbed her face against her. Like a puppy begging to be praised.
"How was it? I did well, right!"
"You did very well."
Air bubbles also rose from the pond where Dohwa had soaked her feet. The carp, which were only three fingers long, had become as big as forearms and were puffing out air bubbles.
It was a sight as if they were praising So-young along with Dohwa.
Dang Gyeom watched that entire process.
As if possessed, he stood up from his seat and headed toward the pond.
'That's it.'