Chapter 143
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: An Unforgettable Spar
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“Who’s next today?”
Dan Ak-seon asked, looking around as he walked out of the pavilion.
He had just finished treating Neung-un, a third-generation disciple who had been on the verge of death after an attack by an unknown assailant.
Fortunately, Neung-un's condition had improved to the point where he could now move about lightly.
“It is I.”
A man approached Dan Ak-seon with a smile.
He was Taoist Master Gwangryeong, the Sect Leader's junior brother and an elder of the "Gwang" generation.
Though he usually had a stern and solemn gaze, he now wore nothing but a friendly smile in front of Dan Ak-seon.
“Please sit here.”
Dan Ak-seon had him sit and began to check his pulse.
He closed his eyes and checked the pulse for a moment.
As he palpated various parts of Taoist Master Gwangryeong's body, Dan Ak-seon's brow furrowed slightly.
“Hmm... You have an old injury. It should have been treated early, but it was left for too long and has become a chronic condition.”
Taoist Master Gwangryeong smiled bitterly.
Everyone who had been treated before him had already acknowledged Dan Ak-seon's skill.
“Is that so.”
Taoist Master Gwangryeong nodded with a look of disappointment.
“I'm fine. It's been inconvenient, but I've lived with it until now.”
But contrary to his words, the disappointment in his eyes was palpable.
His elbow, which had nearly been severed by those Demonic Cult bastards, throbbed anew.
However, Dan Ak-seon's next words made his eyes widen.
“A complete cure is impossible, but I can make the pain disappear. Restoring the weakened surrounding muscles will also improve your condition.”
“But you just said it was a chronic condition...”
“I said that because a perfect recovery to how it was before the injury is impossible.”
“Really?”
Taoist Master Gwangryeong couldn't hide his joy.
“Does that mean I can hold a sword again?”
Due to his injury, he had been practicing with his left hand, but no matter how much he trained, it was no match for his past self.
“If you combine acupuncture with medicine.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much!”
At Dan Ak-seon's answer, Taoist Master Gwangryeong grabbed his hand and bowed repeatedly.
His heart was overflowing with newfound hope.
Knowing this, Dan Ak-seon smiled gently and nodded back.
For he now knew better than anyone that for a martial artist, their martial arts were no different from their life.
Dan Ak-seon inserted needles into various points on Taoist Master Gwangryeong's body.
And while waiting for them to take effect, he explained the treatment and management methods in detail.
Finally, after writing out a prescription and handing it over, Dan Ak-seon looked around again.
“I'll see one more person today.”
“Didn't you say one person a day?”
Dan Ak-seon grinned at someone's question.
“Today's session ended quickly. So I think I can see one more person.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the Kunlun Taoists began to eye each other warily.
But that only lasted a moment.
“Oops!”
“Hey, you! What are you doing, jumping out like that?”
“Come now, let's be civil. Shouldn't we respect our elders at a time like this?”
“Let's just draw lots!”
The Kunlun disciples, who had all stepped forward at nearly the same time, bumped shoulders and became a tangled mess.
Seeing this, Dan Ak-seon let out a soft sigh and began to sort out the situation.
“Please, don't rush. I've decided to stay here until spring, at least. If you wait your turn, I'll be able to see everyone here. So please, come forward one by one, in order.”
Hearing this, Taoist Master Gwangryeong, who had just been treated, wore an apologetic expression.
“But I wonder if it's really all right to be so indebted to you...”
“It's fine. Think of it as me paying for my meals while I'm staying here.”
“You are an honored guest of our sect, what do you mean, paying for your meals! It is only natural that we provide for you.”
“Then, instead of paying for my meals...”
Dan Ak-seon trailed off, and the Kunlun Sect Taoists looked puzzled. However, his next words made them look troubled.
“Please take good care of my uncles and aunt.”
“...”
“...”
The Kunlun Taoists looked at each other, perplexed.
It wasn't that they didn't want to get closer to them.
But there was an insurmountable distance between them.
Beyond the divide between the Orthodox and Unorthodox Factions, their very presence was incredibly intimidating.
Moreover, for some reason, they seemed to have become particularly prickly towards them lately, making it difficult to approach them.
“W-we'll try.”
In the end, that was the best answer they could give.
However, one of the people in question, Beom Gye-wi, had no desire to get close to them at all.
“I don't like it.”
Beom Gye-wi spoke up abruptly.
The Kunlun Taoists were surrounding Dan Ak-seon, creating a cheerful atmosphere.
Watching from a distance, Beom Gye-wi looked thoroughly displeased.
“What is it?”
Beom Gye-wi grumbled in response to Cho Ak-ryang's question.
“Those bastards are taking up too much of Doctor Dan's time. The more they do, the less time I get to spend with him.”
Hearing this, Han Seol-hwa, who was standing beside them, gave him a cold look.
“Don't do anything stupid.”
She was warning him in advance, just in case he caused any trouble.
“That's why I'm not doing anything!”
Beom Gye-wi flared up and glared at Han Seol-hwa.
But his expression quickly softened.
He had spotted Dan Ak-seon running towards them.
“Uncles!”
“Oh! Yes, Doctor Dan. Come on over.”
As if he had never worn a scowl, Beom Gye-wi greeted Dan Ak-seon with a bright face.
“It's almost the New Year. They said they're setting off firecrackers here for the first day. Let's get them ready together.”
“Has that much time passed already?”
They had left Divine Demon Valley around this time last year, meaning it had been nearly a year since their journey began.
But to Beom Gye-wi, it felt like only a few days had passed.
That was how much he enjoyed traveling with Dan Ak-seon.
Except for the time he spent with his master in his childhood, he couldn't recall a happier period; every single day was precious.
As they were heading to their lodgings together.
Dan Ak-seon stopped and stared at something.
It was the training ground in the distance.
On the training ground, Goengseongja was sparring against three people at once.
It was him facing the combined attack of three others.
To Dan Ak-seon, who was used to one-on-one duels, it was a rather unfamiliar sight.
“Is that a type of training too?”
Cho Ak-ryang answered Dan Ak-seon's question.
“There are two possibilities. One is when one side's skill is so superior that multiple opponents are needed to balance the fight. The other is to prepare for situations where one must often face multiple enemies.”
Beom Gye-wi also nodded.
“Well, it's a common situation when large groups clash.”
In a life-or-death situation, there's no such thing as a fair one-on-one duel.
You have to defeat as many opponents as possible, as quickly as possible, for you and your allies to survive.
“Goengseongja, was it?”
Cho Ak-ryang, who had been watching intently, showed interest.
“It seems that kid is in both situations.”
Goengseongja's sparring partners were three second-generation disciples from the same 'Goeng' generation.
They were his senior martial brothers, but in terms of age, they were old enough to be his martial uncles.
Their martial arts were excellent, and their accumulated experience and wisdom were just as impressive.
Despite this, Goengseongja fought brilliantly without being pushed back significantly.
Although it was a spar for training and no killing moves were used, the essence of Kunlun's highly practical martial arts poured out ceaselessly.
“Wow! That's amazing!”
When Goengseongja was victorious at the end of the spar, Dan Ak-seon clapped.
Goengseongja, who had just noticed Dan Ak-seon, shrugged his shoulders.
“Alright, next! Anyone is welcome!”
The excited Goengseongja shouted spiritedly.
But that proved to be his undoing.
“Huh? Uncle, where are you going?”
A look of bewilderment appeared on Dan Ak-seon's face.
It was because of Beom Gye-wi, who was striding towards the training ground.
Beom Gye-wi stepped onto the training ground and stood opposite Goengseongja.
Goengseongja blinked, his face a picture of surprise.
“Do you have something to say to me...?”
“You said anyone was welcome.”
“Pardon?”
“Surely a direct disciple of Kunlun wouldn't go back on his word?”
“Th-that's not it...”
Goengseongja stammered in his confusion.
The imposing aura radiating from Beom Gye-wi, whom he now faced head-on, carried a danger greater than anything he had ever experienced.
Beom Gye-wi, on the other hand, was inwardly cheering.
He hadn't liked Goengseongja from the start.
*‘The one who steals the most of Doctor Dan's time.’*
If he beat him up just enough to be bedridden for a few days under the guise of a spar, the man wouldn't be able to take Dan Ak-seon out early in the morning.
A chilling smile flashed across Beom Gye-wi's eyes.
Witnessing this, Goengseongja felt a cold chill run down his spine.
But the real problem was just beginning.
“Huh?”
Startled by a sudden presence, Goengseongja turned his head and was shocked to find Han Seol-hwa standing to his right, though he hadn't seen her approach.
“Fairy, why are you here?”
“Because it looks like that one is going to cause trouble.”
Goengseongja suddenly had a bad feeling.
It is said that good things come one at a time, but bad things come all at once.
Sure enough.
Cho Ak-ryang was also stepping onto the training ground.
As his eyes met the dumbfounded Goengseongja's, Cho Ak-ryang smiled gently.
“I was worried about leaving those two alone.”
Now surrounded by three grandmasters, Goengseongja quickly looked behind him.
In response to his disciple's desperate plea for help, Taoist Master Gwangjin smiled gently and nodded.
*—Master?*
Goengseongja quickly sent a telepathic message, but all he received in return was a stern rebuke.
*—Do you think an opportunity like this is common? This is a stroke of luck you'll never have again in your life. You should be thanking them, and yet... Tsk.*
*—Your disciple could die.*
Taoist Master Gwangjin chuckled.
He doubted they would beat the Sect Leader's disciple to death in the middle of the Kunlun Sect.
Still, just in case, he made a polite request to the three.
“Please don't kill him.”
Beom Gye-wi grinned.
“Yeah. Got it. I won't kill him.”
At those words, Goengseongja's face brightened for a moment, but it was soon colored with confusion.
It was because of the pitying looks from Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa.
The two of them knew better than anyone the hidden meaning in Beom Gye-wi's words.
“Well, I suppose it doesn't matter.”
Han Seol-hwa nodded at Cho Ak-ryang's words.
“As long as he's still breathing, Doctor Dan will save him.”
“...!”
Goengseongja's face turned pale in an instant.
Surrounded by the overwhelming presence of the three, his vision went blank.
Just then, Cho Ak-ryang smiled and spoke.
“If you can defeat the three of us, then you will be the greatest master under heaven.”
“...!”
Goengseongja's eyes wavered.
He recalled the words he had once said to Dan Ak-seon.
*‘Even if I lose a hundred or a thousand times, I only need to win once.’*
When he thought about it, having the chance to experience a fight against the greatest masters in the world, even like this, was an unparalleled opportunity for him.
“Hoo.”
Goengseongja took a deep breath and steadied his trembling heart.
Then he summoned his courage and cupped his fist to them.
“Very well. Then I'm in your care!”
As Goengseongja shouted spiritedly, Beom Gye-wi asked.
“So I can attack first, right?”
“Yes!”
The smile on Beom Gye-wi's face deepened.
In that instant, Beom Gye-wi vanished from before Goengseongja's eyes.
*Thwack!*
*‘Gah!’*
Goengseongja screamed inwardly.
A massive fist suddenly appeared before his eyes.
Even though he blocked with all his might, the impact felt like it would shatter his entire body.
“Don't be a baby over something like this.”
The problem was that the last blow wasn't the end of it.
With each casually thrown punch, his life flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.
When Cho Ak-ryang and Han Seol-hwa joined in, Goengseongja truly felt like he was dying.
In just a few breaths, his internal energy was completely depleted.
Moreover, he couldn't even manage a proper attack and was desperately on the defensive.
Even when his mouth tasted of iron, the three mercilessly pressed their assault.
“After you've poured out every last drop of your internal energy, that's when the real training begins.”
Beom Gye-wi grinned at Cho Ak-ryang's words.
“Yeah. Like squeezing a drop of water from a dry towel. You like that kind of thing, don't you?”