Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Holy Order (2)
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Cheongyeom thrust his toes out like a spear. It was too fast to dodge. Demian smacked the toes away with his forearm.
He hadn't even blocked it properly, just swatted it aside, yet his forearm throbbed. It felt like colliding with a lump of iron.
'As expected of a master.'
At the master level, one was called a monster even barehanded. It wasn't an exaggeration—a master's body was as tough as could be, impossible to cut with a blade.
There was no time to get lost in thought. Cheongyeom was launching a fierce assault.
Cheongyeom's kicks poured down in succession. Demian's eyes darted busily.
'His movements have no wasted motion. Utterly simple, yet swift and destructive.'
Truly worthy of one of the Five Great Saints. Since his regression, Demian had faced many knights, but this was the first time he'd seen such straightforward, efficient attacks.
But Demian was no pushover either. Once he'd grasped all of Cheongyeom's attacks, he deflected them all using his hands and forearms.
Dull thuds rang out in rapid succession.
Cheongyeom's expression grew peculiar as he watched Demian fend them off repeatedly.
"Huh, I heard you were a swordsman. Where'd you learn fist and leg techniques?"
"I picked up a little for emergencies."
"That doesn't look like just a little. Better than our sect's holy knights by far."
For some reason, Cheongyeom looked deeply satisfied.
"Interesting. Guess I can cut loose a bit more."
Demian observed Cheongyeom silently. He'd noticed something odd.
Cheongyeom's main weapons were his two fists. He did use kicks occasionally, but when facing enemies, he relied on punches far more often.
Yet in their recent exchange, Cheongyeom had only used his legs. His right leg, specifically.
"I'd heard you mainly use fist techniques, sir."
At Demian's question, Cheongyeom burst into hearty laughter.
"If I used my fists, it'd be over too quick. Using only my legs is my way of going easy on you."
Demian let out a scoff at that.
It was the first time since his regression that an opponent had "gone easy" on him.
That might fly in other situations, but "going easy" from an enemy was no different from being underestimated.
He couldn't just take the slight lying down. Demian drew the Thousand-Mile Sword from his waist and stored it in his subspace.
"What are you doing now?"
Cheongyeom tilted his head in confusion. He couldn't fathom why a swordsman would put his sword away.
"How could I wield a weapon against an elder? I'll continue barehanded."
Cheongyeom's face went blank for a moment. Then he started laughing loudly.
"An elder? You mean to say you're going easy on me, Cheongyeom?"
"If that's offended you, my apologies. But my father always taught me to respect my elders..."
Cheongyeom burst into laughter once more.
"Do as you like. Just don't blame me if you get thoroughly thrashed."
Cheongyeom moved first again. He lunged forward, thrusting out his right foot.
Demian twisted his body to evade. Cheongyeom instantly retracted his extended leg, then whipped his right foot at Demian like a lash.
Every attack was far sharper and more menacing than before. The accumulating shock to his forearms grew with each block.
'As expected, the wall of mastery is high.'
Even using only one leg, no openings appeared. And Cheongyeom still wasn't fighting in earnest.
He was merely prodding Demian lightly to gauge his level.
'To break through this, I need to reach mastery myself.'
Masters were those who transcended technical extremes to forge new paths.
Standing on that path let them see things lower classes could never dream of.
That was why Demian, in his current state, couldn't defeat a master.
Even if his mind held countless master techniques and realms, it made no difference.
'At this rate, I'll lose.'
A spar with a master? Of course Demian would lose.
But swallowing a straight defeat bruised his pride.
'At the very least, I need to force him to use his hands.'
Demian's senses sharpened to their peak. He mobilized every sense to read Cheongyeom's movements.
Then, Cheongyeom thrust his right foot high into the sky.
"Block this, and your arm might snap!"
Cheongyeom's heel plummeted toward Demian's crown.
Demian pulled back. The heel grazed the tip of his nose by a hair's breadth.
The heel smashed into the ground like a sledgehammer, burrowing deep into the earth.
The rebound sent Cheongyeom leaping into the air, where he twisted his waist.
At the same time, he swung his right shin down at Demian once more.
* * *
"Can you take this one too?"
Cheongyeom shouted, his face flushed with excitement.
The technique he was unleashing now was one of his trump cards.
The motion was large, but it struck at the opponent's guard while the downward strike added blinding speed.
Most opponents failed to read it and fell. Cheongyeom assumed Demian Haksen would be no different.
But just as Cheongyeom's leg aimed to crush Demian's collarbone, Demian launched himself into the air.
He spun his body midair. His shoulder rotated a full turn, deflecting Cheongyeom's attack.
"What?"
Even Cheongyeom hadn't anticipated this; shock crossed his face.
Demian's airborne body hit the ground. He flattened himself prone.
Demian's body touched down first, and by a split-second, Cheongyeom landed belatedly.
Demian didn't miss the moment. He swept his leg low, kicking Cheongyeom's supporting leg.
Even Cheongyeom couldn't block an attack from midair. His leg buckled, tilting his body.
He was about to face-plant.
A Five Great Saint couldn't suffer such indignity. With no choice, Cheongyeom braced with his hands to steady himself.
Rising, he stared at Demian in disbelief.
"What was that just now? It was like you read my attack."
"Just a lucky hit."
Demian brushed the dirt from his clothes as he spoke. Despite the explanation, doubt lingered on Cheongyeom's face.
"...Interesting."
But that lasted only a moment. A feral grin spread across Cheongyeom's features.
"I've never had an opponent this fun. Not even among the Five Great Saints."
Cheongyeom clenched his fists. The atmosphere shifted instantly.
The affable old man was gone. Only a beast ready to tear into its prey remained.
"Weren't you not going to use your hands?"
"Were you hung up on that? I apologize for underestimating you."
Cheongyeom seemed utterly indifferent.
"So let's do this properly from now on."
Cheongyeom's focus was solely on his bout with Demian.
'Trouble. I've awakened Cheongyeom's wild side.'
He'd succeeded earlier only because Cheongyeom was holding back.
That alone was impressive. Masters were superhuman monsters. Even if careless, a mid-class couldn't exploit their gaps.
Like how a dog's fangs couldn't kill a sleeping lion.
But with his instincts unleashed, Cheongyeom was different. Even the remaining openings had sealed shut.
'Doesn't mean I can run, though.'
Demian assumed his stance, bracing for Cheongyeom's imminent assault.
"Impressive. A truly impressive fellow."
Cheongyeom's eyes gleamed with admiration.
That was when light erupted from the ground.
In the next instant, Demian's whole body grew heavy. It felt like invisible hands pressing down.
Demian looked down at the ground in alarm. It was a miracle he'd seen before.
'Radiance?'
Radiance, one of the Five Great Saints, wielded holy power that could "enhance" anything.
From physical abilities like strength and agility to a weapon's cutting edge, even gravity.
"Radiance! What is the meaning of this?"
Sure enough, Cheongyeom bellowed at something in the distance.
Demian followed his gaze.
A breathtakingly beautiful woman stared their way.
Her radiant golden hair evoked spring. The smile on her lips held an enchanting allure that bewitched the mind. Her voluptuous figure couldn't be fully concealed even by loose robes.
Radiance (Mad Radiance).
One of the Five Great Saints and leader of the sect "Dazzling Pain."
She had intervened in their fight.
"Cheongyeom, sir, please don't get so worked up."
"After this, you tell me to calm down?!"
"I was merely following His Holiness's orders."
As Radiance stepped aside, an old woman appeared, leaning on a staff.
Her back was hunched like a hunchback, one leg dragged awkwardly.
A body that looked terribly frail. But the moment one saw the Holy Sovereign's face, such details faded away.
The Holy Sovereign's eyes were deep and serene, like twin night skies.
Even Demian momentarily lost himself in that gaze.
"Cheongyeom, I asked Radiance to stop you two."
The Holy Sovereign spoke. Her voice was extraordinarily clear. It snapped Demian back to reality.
Cheongyeom immediately knelt on the ground. Demian followed suit.
"Cheongyeom..."
The Holy Sovereign looked down at him wearily.
"What am I to do with you punching a guest of the main temple...?"
"Your Holiness! I had Sir Demian's consent!"
Demian shot Cheongyeom an incredulous look. Cheongyeom responded with a desperate expression.
"Sir Demian, is that true?"
"As if. He attacked me out of nowhere."
Demian wasn't one to let it slide. He promptly tattled to the Holy Sovereign.
Her eyebrows shot up. Cheongyeom broke out in a cold sweat.
"I absolutely won't let today's matter slide. You should prepare yourself."
At the Holy Sovereign's words, Cheongyeom looked as if the sky had fallen.
"Y-Your Holiness...!"
Cheongyeom called out pleadingly. But the Holy Sovereign turned away curtly.
"Sir Demian, come with me. We need to discuss your compensation."
"Understood."
Demian replied promptly.
"Cheongyeom, you too. I'll need your input on the compensation."
"Understood..."
Cheongyeom answered, utterly deflated.
The Holy Sovereign turned to Demian. Unlike with Cheongyeom, her expression was kindly.
"Well then, Sir Demian, shall we go?"