Spark of Evil (5)
Saryeon and I came into view. Two people walking down a dark night path, simply sharing everyday stories with calm composure—it felt more peaceful and endearing than ever.
But then... I suddenly lost my shit.
"Hup!"
I jolted upright in shock, leaping to my feet.
[Why do I keep acting like a madman...]
A dream? Had to be a dream, right? Saryeon doing something so ridiculous in front of me.
No way that could...
"Fuck..."
But the vivid memory told me yesterday's events were no dream. And that I'd passed out sparring with Baek Hae-gwang just moments ago.
Did I dream while I was out?
'Haa.'
This heartless bastard probably left me behind again...
"Hm? You didn't leave today?"
Unlike usual, Baek Hae-gwang was carving something with a sculpting knife right in front of me. Just whittling plain wood, but it drew me in strangely. Every grain of the wood, every stroke of the knife seemed infused with profound technique.
"What... are you making?"
"She said she wanted a doll."
"...You can buy one at the market for a few coins."
Baek Hae-gwang scowled.
"You think I don't know that? They look too crude. Thought I could make one myself."
...You're using that kind of knife work for a wooden doll?
This wasn't like using a cattle knife to kill a chicken. I couldn't even imagine what the finished product would look like.
As I stared blankly at his carving, he tossed out a question casually.
"What happened while I wasn't looking?"
"What do you mean?"
"The guy who used to swing his sword like a beggar's rags before doesn't anymore."
Fuck, he always had to say it like that...
"I still pass out the same way. Plus, I can't even use the first form of White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms yet."
Baek Hae-gwang paused his carving, looking at me like I was absurd.
"You lunatic, using even the first form right now doesn't make sense. Try mastering the first and third forms like that! I'll run over and chop your wrists off myself."
No killing intent, but it felt like my wrists might actually sever—goosebumps rose all over.
"Got it."
"Remember, I do what I say."
Yeah, that's why they call you the Sword Demon.
I muttered curses inwardly, then recalled yesterday and asked.
"Have you... ever fought someone who uses both yang and yin techniques at once?"
Having wandered endlessly challenging masters, maybe he'd met someone with the Absorption Great Law or evil arts. Might know how they ended up.
He pondered briefly, then spat it out nonchalantly.
"Hm... Once."
"Really? Who?"
"Some old guy named Myeongha."
"Myeongha?"
Black path folks or evil arts practitioners usually had bizarre names...
"Oh, you might not know? Myeongha Dojang."
"..."
What the fuck. Myeongha Dojang was the Wudang Sect's great-grand leader. A guy who cut off all outside activity after retiring—how the hell did you spar with him?
"Tracked him down and asked."
"...You actually asked?"
"Wanna sleep all day?"
"No, sir."
"It was fun. Got to experience that weird Yang's Supreme Ultimate Divine Art too."
I wanted the fate of Absorption Great Law users, not comfy retirement stories from supreme art masters.
"I see. Then I'll get going..."
I tried to stand, but he flung sword energy at me. I dove back to the floor to dodge.
"Want to hear it? If you ask nicely, I guess I have no choice."
This damn old man! When did I...
"Heard it used yin and yang properties together, so I was curious from the start."
"..."
"Funny, right? The Absorption Great Law holds countless inner energy types but could steal its user's life anytime. Meanwhile, Yang's Supreme Ultimate Divine Art wields two opposing energies for even greater power."
Hm... Suddenly sounds worth hearing.
I unpacked my questions.
"No imbalance or anything?"
"What imbalance?"
"Two energies in one place. Bound to clash, right?"
Baek Hae-gwang clicked his tongue, glaring.
"Tsk tsk. That's why martial artists need real learning."
"...I've memorized every book in the local bookstore and the academy's Manseogo."
"Knowing tons doesn't mean you understand the world."
"..."
He shook his head and resumed carving.
"Harmony of all things is like that. Seemingly incompatible can blend; seemingly compatible can clash."
Amazing. Like the bloodbath before, the Sword Demon casually shattered common sense as if it were nothing.
"Yang's Supreme Ultimate Divine Art ranks among Wudang's top arts not just for dual properties. The opposing energies harmonize, summoning greater power—that's why it's supreme."
"How do they harmonize? By spewing fire then making ice?"
I thought of Jegumhak as I asked.
But...
"...Why're you looking at me like that?"
Baek Hae-gwang stared in contempt.
"Even my daughter wouldn't ask something that childish."
"..."
"What? Spew fire, make ice? That's fairy tale bullshit."
...No, the Demonic Cult kids did exactly that—I just reported what I saw. Why chew me out?
"Hah, ridiculous. Even evil path bastards wouldn't spout such nonsense."
Damn, so unfair. I desperately wanted to drag Jegumhak here right now, but I held back and listened.
"Properties mimic nature's qi. Yang's Supreme Ultimate Divine Art stimulates two opposing energies against each other."
"Hm..."
"With it, ten years' cultivation yields twenty years' power. Not some idiot fire-ice stunt!"
Damn, one comment and he rips into me. Got an earful, but it eased my mind too. Since my properties manifested stably, maybe like that art.
Then another doubt hit from his words.
"So... could orthodox and demonic paths fuse too?"
Baek Hae-gwang's face twisted like he had grave news.
"...What kind of moron asks that? Demonic path doesn't exist in this world..."
"Hypothetically. Say the Heavenly Demon still lives—what then?"
"..."
"Could their energies fuse with orthodox ones?"
Maybe this was my real question. Traces of demonic in Tae-eul True Scripture, purest of orthodox arts.
What if they mixed? Blacken like ink on white paper? Or scatter like ink on river water?
"Hm..."
Baek Hae-gwang stopped carving, deep in thought. I waited silently.
"Hm..."
How much time passed?
"If," he said, setting down his knife and gazing steadily at me.
"Such a thing really happened..."
"Happened?"
"It'd likely be the world's calamity."
What the hell?
"Didn't you just talk harmony?"
"You equate properties of all things with good and evil?"
"..."
"Humans choose one: good or evil. Can't be both. So fused energies would tilt one way..."
He picked up the knife again, pointing it at me. The plain blade felt sharper than ever.
"Between infinite good or infinite evil—which is easier?"
"..."
I knew the answer.
"..."
But words stuck.
"Can't answer?"
One who swings sword for survival soon craves killing. One who wept for others' pain soon laughs at it.
Unthinkable in daily life. But pushed to extremes, humans step into evil so easily.
I've seen it too vividly.
"..."
Couldn't flatly deny it.
Baek Hae-gwang lowered his knife with a shallow chuckle.
"Too hard a question? Or your head's too empty..."
"Then."
I met his eyes seriously.
"...No matter how much Sword Demon-senior pretends orthodox, he can't hide his true nature..."
Thwack!
"You little shit, Sword Demon this, Sword Demon that! Fine! Today I'll beat that precious memory of yours to mush!"
# Sword Demon Baek Hae-gwang vowed to degrade my memory, but in the end, my memory prevailed.
"See? My memory doesn't fade that easily."
Baek Hae-gwang scowled.
"Wipe that nosebleed first."
Huh? When did I get a nosebleed? Been overworking lately?
"Don't you have shit to do?"
"...Not from the guy whittling dolls from boredom."
Baek Hae-gwang glanced at the doll in his hand, then kicked sand at me from the floor.
Guy's so childish.
"So, what do you want from a guy with no work?"
"Could you check this?"
I held out O Il-sik's martial arts manual.
Baek Hae-gwang just peeked over without moving his head.
"What're you doing?"
"Can't you see I'm busy? You flip it."
"..."
Damn, mentally younger than his daughter...
"Jealous? Then fuck off."
"..."
I carefully flipped through O Il-sik's manual page by page. After a few, Baek Hae-gwang snorted.
"Who made this? You?"
"Why?"
"If it was you, I'd laugh my ass off. Been fun awhile."
"You checked properly? Nameless lay disciple became famous in a province with this."
"Yeah, probably."
He chuckled like it was hilarious.
"Stakes his life—and his comrades'—on it."
"...Pardon?"
Their sword formation hinted at it, sure. But in the sword techniques too? That didn't make sense.
Baek Hae-gwang flicked his wrist toward the front.
"Look there, Thunder Pursuit Kill form. What do you think it means?"
"Chase fast and kill to the end."
"Tch, name's that, but actually?"
"..."
I froze, speechless. He sprang up, swinging his knife to demonstrate O Il-sik's art.
It was incredible.
'Whoa, Sword Demon's different. Completely different art, but...'
So sharp and refined, hard to believe it was the same as O Il-sik's. Even without inner energy backing, it showed complete enlightenment.
"Now, Thunderbolt Edge into Thunder Pursuit Kill."
He lightly slashed down, then thrust forward.
"See?"
"What?"
"..."
What the—why that look?
"...How'd a blockhead like you top the academy?"
"...As I keep saying..."
"Look close, idiot. The thrust to chase and stab only goes halfway. And the other hand—where?"
He flexed and unflexed his spread left hand sideways.
My jaw dropped.
Fine in one-on-one. But in large-scale battle...
'Fuck...'
I didn't even want to imagine what that flexing meant.
"No way... really?"
"Why else include it?"
"So... sacrifice the comrade beside you to stab the enemy?"
"What else?"
"..."
Brain numb, speechless. He sat back, casually carving the doll again.
"Wouldn't want to face the bastard who made this, skill aside."
"..."
"You... see someone like that as human?"
Baek Hae-gwang's final words rang clearly in my ears.