016. Assault
016. Assault
The illicit acts between Sama Ryang and Sama Damcheon had become incredibly natural.
Though they had no household to speak of, the two, registered as mother and son, behaved like a married couple and lived in the cave.
They slept embraced together under one blanket, and when their eyes met, they would join their genitals to share the pleasures of cloud and rain. In the afternoons, he would oversee her Madocheonseong-gong practice and spar with her so her Ohaengjin-mugong could grow even more.
Sama Ryang's sword moved more like a sword technique than a grass-cutting motion. Of course, that was just the sword technique; if hit, one would be cut and die all the same.
Sama Damcheon gave pointers while dodging all of that with minimal movement.
"Mother. The weakness of the sword techniques in Madocheonseong-gong is that there are only set sword techniques to deploy spells. However, there are numerous stances to handle most situations, so it's best to memorize them all and respond accordingly."
"I know. But isn't this the most effective?"
The moment Sama Ryang finished speaking.
A thick fog filled the inside of the cave. Not an illusion, but real fog.
Simultaneously, Sama Damcheon's body grew heavy like water-soaked cotton.
A stance that hinders the opponent's movements while the fog is present. As soon as the fog obscured vision, Sama Ryang charged forward using Ohaengjin-mugong.
A vortex swirled fiercely on the thrusting sword, and the fog she had just spread out concentrated onto the sword.
She had imbued her internal energy with the Water element among the Five Elements and rotated it like causing a torrent. Even the moisture composing the fog was sucked into that rotational force, completing the Spiral Mist Sword.
She had combined a stance from Ohaengjin-mugong with Madocheonseong-gong.
Outwardly, she didn't show it, but Sama Damcheon was greatly surprised internally upon seeing that.
'Already combining martial arts?'
The Water Mist, a spell that places a burden on the opponent. While withdrawing it herself, before the burden disappears, the Spiral Sword, empowered by the fog's force, charges forth with the momentum to pierce the opponent.
A momentary gap. And seeing her apply it without hesitation while maintaining the blood pathways without tangling and operating it perfectly, her Five Elements aptitude was indeed outstanding.
Wouldn't it be disrespectful to such a Sama Ryang to dodge the Spiral Mist Sword?
'If I dodge, Mother will be disappointed.'
Pretending he couldn't dodge it and had to respond, Sama Damcheon calmly raised both hands and.
Crush!Bang!
In time with the rhythm of the incoming thrust, he clapped powerfully. As he, an Indestructible Vajra Body, clapped with all his might, the rotating fog vortex burst apart, blocking the thrust.
The skill of Empty Hand Captures the Blade, catching the blade with bare hands.
It was a skill that had fallen into disuse, as it was generally impossible to even attempt, and catching sword energy with bare hands was nearly impossible from the start.
However, Sama Damcheon was an Indestructible Vajra Body, so he could boldly attempt such a perilous skill. The difference in skill between him and Sama Ryang was also clear.
"Blocking with bare hands? Tsk. There's still much to improve."
"That's only possible because I have an Indestructible Vajra Body. The thrust you just showed, Mother, I couldn't help but admire it. Even most masters would be helpless against that combination of stances just now."
"What good is that? It doesn't work on a real master."
When mentioning a real master, she glanced at Sama Damcheon.
It meant she considered her adopted son a real master.
"I'm an exception. I'm not just any master, but likely one of the candidates for the best in the world."
"Hoh. Do you think the world is that easy? Learn humility and restraint. The world has many geniuses, and even more masters. This mother worries her son will go out into the martial world and act like this and get stabbed."
"Then I'll act spoiled with Mother."
As Sama Damcheon approached with a sly smile, Sama Ryang glared at him with narrowed eyes.
"Act spoiled?"
Then she suddenly thrust her hand out, putting her hand inside his pants and grabbing his twin objects. The twin objects, touched by the woman's skin, immediately raised their heads stiffly, showing no restraint.
"Throwing a tantrum to get it out from your mother?"
Grabbing his erect penis and gently rubbing it, she reproached him in a blunt tone.
But it was only the tone; her voice was filled with ample composure.
She too, after mixing bodies with Sama Damcheon for several days, had begun to gain experience in the sexual aspect. To put it more vulgarly, one could say she had been tainted by his lust.
"That too."
Sama Damcheon doesn't deny it. Honestly revealing it, he instead grabs Sama Ryang's breasts over her clothes and goes a step further.
The flickering firelight of the bonfire seems to grow peculiarly hot, further heightening the atmosphere.
As they both grow heated, pondering whether to take off their clothes again and roll around for another round, the moment they draw closer to each other.
Grrrrrrrrumble.
"...Huh?"
"This is...."
A change occurred in the cave's defensive formation.
Mount Mo is an ancient fortress.
Compared to other regions, dragon veins flow here, and spells and defensive formations tend to manifest more strongly. Even for masters, climbing Mount Mo, layered with spell-filled defensive formations, to invade the Sama Clan is a difficult task.
Thus, the human aspect of security inevitably becomes weak, so noticing was delayed.
"Jiangshi! Jiangshi have invaded!"
By the time they noticed the enemies' presence, thousands of Jiangshi had surrounded and encircled the Sama Clan.
Although they couldn't enter the Sama Clan's interior due to the defensive formations, that too was ultimately a matter of time.
True to being already dead Jiangshi, hundreds were simultaneously pounding the exterior of the defensive formations without caring about injury, whittling it down by force.
Those managing the defensive formations were frantically using up materials to repair the breaking parts, but it was a drop in the bucket.
The clan's warriors had already finished arming themselves in preparation for the assault. Having prepared for group combat considering chaotic warfare and moved to their respective positions, their aura was murderous, as if ready to respond at any moment.
Seeing their one-against-a-hundred spirit, completely different from their usual weak appearance, Geum Wi-un felt relieved internally.
Phew. It's fortunate I trained them before Damcheon entered seclusion training.
Perhaps thanks to thoroughly trampling the warriors repeatedly before entering seclusion training? Whether they felt that a horde of Jiangshi was easier than one overwhelming master, the warriors were tense, but their spirit was firm.
"Activate emergency defensive formation number 3! It's a formation imbued with demon-destroying energy, so it should be able to handle about half of the mediocre Jiangshi! Also, activate defensive formation number 7 that turns the ground into a swamp! Illusions are useless against Jiangshi, so only select formations that physically slow their footsteps to activate!"
Acting Clan Head.
Geum Wi-un, who had received that role from Sama Ryang, did his best to deal with the assault.
He took out all the precious items from the clan's treasury to solidify the defenses and moved clan members with weak martial arts to the underground shelter.
"Is there no contact with the Clan Head and Damcheon who entered seclusion training?"
"The warrior who went to Heaven's Destiny Cave has lost contact. Seeing the signal flare explode, it's expected that the area around Heaven's Destiny Cave is also full of Jiangshi."
Heaven's Destiny Cave was the name of the cave where Sama Ryang and Sama Damcheon had entered for seclusion.
Upon hearing the subordinate's report, Geum Wi-un's expression contorted as if it wouldn't smooth out.
"Grr! I can't even send warriors capable of breaking through this encirclement and reaching Heaven's Destiny Cave...!"
Undoubtedly, the Sama Clan's top masters were Sama Ryang and Sama Damcheon, who had recently become her adopted son. If they had Sama Ryang, who could display near-omnipotent abilities inside the formation surrounding the clan, and Sama Damcheon, who possessed overwhelming martial power, they would have been able to fight sufficiently even against those Jiangshi.
The martial prowess of those two were such that even Geum Wi-un, who had once had some reputation, would be made into a mere soldier.
To think that even the means to deliver news to those two greatest combat forces required risking danger.
'But there's no choice.'
With their current martial prowess, they couldn't even guarantee survival against the Jiangshi horde. Going to Heaven's Destiny Cave meant taking a great risk, but if they could just call those two people, survival would be guaranteed, wouldn't it?
After a brief contemplation, Geum Wi-un, having concluded, decided to gamble.
"Chief Steward!"
"Yes. Acting Clan Head."
Sama Jung, who had been giving various instructions to the servants, approached Geum Wi-un's call.
"I will go with the Gold Fortress Team to the Heaven's Destiny Cave side. I must go and call the Clan Head and Damcheon."
The Gold Fortress Team were not Sama Clan members but guards from the Wicheon Escort Agency. Although their martial power was inferior to the martial clan's warriors, their loyalty in risking their lives to carry out missions was superior.
For carrying out a mission rather than defeating the opponent, they were more suitable.
"Is that alright? Jiangshi have laid siege outside. It could be dangerous."
"Likely so. But there's no other way, is there? I don't know where those bastards popped out from, but what's certain is that our lives are now like a lamp before the wind. If we don't risk our lives here, that might instead endanger our lives."
"......Yes. Acting Clan Head's resolve, this Sama Jung has seen clearly."
As if paying respect to him who goes to deliver the news risking his life, Sama Jung deeply bows his head.
"Acting Clan Head."
Raising his head again, he takes out a small box from inside his sleeve.
"Please take this."
"What is it?"
"It's the Cheon-wang-dan that was just barely completed. Use it for internal energy replenishment in an emergency, at least."
"!"
The manufacturing method obtained through trade from the Hwangbo Clan. The members of the medical hall had all rushed to it and finally completed a result close to the original Cheon-wang-dan.
Geum Wi-un, receiving the box Sama Jung handed over, nodded his head firmly with a resolute face.
"Thank you, Chief Steward. I will definitely bring back the Clan Head and Damcheon! I entrust the role of Acting Clan Head to you while I'm gone."
"Yes. I wish you martial fortune."
"Gold Fortress Team! Follow me!"
Having given all instructions on how to respond, Geum Wi-un handed over the acting head token and led the Gold Fortress Team outside the clan.
Sama Jung, who had been tightly clutching the acting head token in his hand until their figures were out of sight, finally straightened his back.
Sssik.
The corners of his mouth stretched upward sharply.
"Finally gone. Everyone's gone."
His face was filled with joy, to the point it was hard to believe he was the same expressionless person from just moments before.