Chapter 29: A Man as Merciful as Buddha
The view from the watchtower at dawn was eerie yet serene. But it didn't seem that way at all to the guest I'd arranged to meet.
"Hm? Ga Bi-cheong, what happened to your eyes? They look like they've been punched black and blue."
"Thanks to you, Wang Ga-myeong."
"What'd I do?"
"I lost that damned sword of yours, and this is what I got for it."
"Ah."
I couldn't help but chuckle. In my hand was the Red Demon Sword I'd taken from Ga Bi-cheong. Unlike the first time, it no longer stung. That was thanks to my Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art reaching the third star, overwhelming the sword's energy. Of course, if I drew it from the sheath, that might change—but for now, it felt perfectly fine.
"I bet. Losing something your Changgonghoe holds so dear..."
"Lord Yu Jin-bong chewed me out good. You might not know, but he's got a temper like fire."
"Tough break."
I tilted my head, and Ga Bi-cheong let out a deep sigh.
"Anyway, this time I have to get my sword back, Wang Ga-myeong."
"Shall we get to today's deal, then?"
"No. Before that."
Ga Bi-cheong paused, suddenly rolling up his sleeves. He lowered his stance and assumed a fighting posture.
"As a martial artist, I challenge you to a duel."
"Huh?"
"You know what a duel is?"
"Ah, you wanna beat me by force and take the Red Demon Sword?"
"Exactly. Time to restore my honor, too."
"Hm..."
I scratched my head. Bongmareung, who'd been quiet beside me, muttered softly.
[Looks like he's gone over that day in detail. He's realized the skill gap isn't insurmountable. Pretty wise, huh.]
'Yeah.'
The day we'd met at the Bok Clan Manor. Ga Bi-cheong hadn't crumbled in one exchange because of some massive skill difference. It was my street smarts in those situations. Sure, that was skill in its own way, but it wasn't like our martial arts levels were worlds apart.
'But things are different now.'
I was growing stronger every single day. The basics Bongmareung hammered into me were nearly mastered. Especially the footwork I'd started learning from Ok Geum-ran sister—Cloud Sea Phantom Step, Spirit King Wind, and Sea Sky Heavenly Stride—they meshed perfectly. Even Bongmareung admitted it.
—"Ho-sam, striking and blocking is mostly upper body, but changing position? That's all legs. To become a master, you gotta master leg movement."
Ok Geum-ran had emphasized that over and over. I was absorbing her teachings fast.
So I had no doubts.
'No confidence I'll lose.'
[Kuhhuhuhu!]
Bongmareung burst into delighted laughter, and I beckoned Ga Bi-cheong over.
"Sure, giving you a rematch ain't bad. But if I win, what do I get? Another Red Demon Sword?"
"That won't happen!"
Whoosh!
Ga Bi-cheong kicked off the ground and charged straight at me like a feral beast.
But he had to veer off, as if someone had yanked him sideways.
"That all you got—speed?"
Crack!
I'd dropped my stance slightly and planted a fist right in his face. I'd read his path with foresight. Then I stuck to him for three or four steps, disrupting his footing with the signature interference of Cloud Sea Phantom Step. Clean steps that kept me in range for follow-ups, too.
[An uppercut to the side would be lethal.]
As Bongmareung said, it was a pivotal moment that could decide the fight. But I just shoved him away lightly, passing up the attack.
'Might as well test everything I've learned.'
Sorry, Ga Bi-cheong, but I planned to use him as a wooden training dummy for a bit.
His head snapped back, but he gritted his teeth and flipped his shoulders. His body spun upside down in an instant.
"Take this!"
Shuuuuk!
A hand blade whistled right for my nose. One solid hit would've crushed my nasal bone.
The strike grazed the bridge of my nose by a hair. Bongmareung sounded mildly surprised.
[Well now, that's decent.]
'Yeah. Not bad.'
Even knowing it was coming, that instant spin-change strike from Ga Bi-cheong was tough to dodge. But I leaned back just enough to let it slide past. This time, thanks to Spirit King Wind for shifting my center.
—"Ho-sam, don't move big. Skim the edge of their attack range. That's the essence of this movement art."
The key to Spirit King Wind was that delicate spacing. It paired perfectly with my Ghostly Spirit Wall Eye and Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art.
'Just like this.'
As my Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art kicked in fully, my senses sharpened. Vision especially spiked, letting me track Ga Bi-cheong's trajectories crystal clear.
Once from the left, once from the right.
'Now low sweeps in sequence.'
Thud-thud!
I retreated two steps, then twisted my torso twice. Ga Bi-cheong's attacks fizzled into nothing. His lightning punches whipped only empty air, forcing him to stumble back.
"You saw all that...?"
His mouth gaped in shock. Punching at ghosts would do that to anyone.
My turn to counter. I crouched slightly, gathering power.
[Dive in deep.]
'Was planning to.'
The opening was under his chin. Sea Sky Heavenly Stride was a lightfoot skill mimicking stepping across sea and sky. I was just a beginner, but this distance was doable.
"Your turn!"
I shot forward like a beam of light, slamming condensed force into his throat. Then, mad fists into his chest.
Papapapapak!
Smack!
"Guh...!"
From Wall Mountain Fist's Plum Blossom Five Strikes, the finisher: Giant Elephant Iron Hammer. A powerful punch sank into his solar plexus. I hadn't loaded much internal energy. My now fully third-star Extreme Heaven Nine Wheels Art had condensed to pearl size—properly used, it could be deadly. No intent to kill, so minimal power.
But that mercy seemed to rile him up.
"Cough! Cough...! Damn it! Don't toy with me, Wang Ga-myeong!"
Even winded from the solar plexus hit, he roared in fury and charged.
[Reminds me of fighting Yong Chang-heon, huh?]
'Yeah.'
[Use full power but avoid vitals. Can't kill him, so maybe snap an arm...]
'Nah. This is better.'
Shuuuuk!
His ace move—a thunderous roundhouse. But with foresight open, I snatched his shin clean.
"...!"
The protruding ankle bone and heel in my grip. I twisted hard.
Crack!
"Aaaagh!"
Ga Bi-cheong screamed. But no real carnage. I could've wrecked the joint, but just nudged it enough. No major damage. The sound was loud, though—he looked terrified.
"Huff... huff..."
He flopped on his ass, retreated a few steps, checked his ankle, and sighed in relief. Then he eyed me with fear.
"You're way stronger than I thought."
"And as merciful as Buddha. Ga Bi-cheong, you were this close to crawling forever. Got it?"
"Urgh..."
A martial artist's life was their dantian. Useless without working legs. Training lower body vision had driven that home. Ga Bi-cheong knew it well.
"Fine. I lost. Won't challenge you again."
Head bowed in defeat. Showing such a gap broke his spirit, just as I'd figured.
Then a great idea hit.
"Challenge me anytime you want. I'll accept."
"What?"
"But it'll cost info each time. Pay up with intel, and we spar."
"..."
His eyes flickered with strange light. Cracked pride mixed with fighting spirit. He stood, dusted off, and nodded silently. Eyes saying he'd be back when he could.
[Fellow's got some real competitive fire.]
'Means he wants to get stronger, bad.'
I got it—I was the same. Ga Bi-cheong was thrashing for any edge, like me. Whatever his story.
[Makes sense. Being in Changgonghoe, the half-cult league, means he's no ordinary guy. Living on borrowed time, basically...]
'Fly, mosquito—don't care. Cheap intel? Win-win for me.'
Trading valuables each time was a hassle. Had to match price. For sensitive stuff, it'd take something like that necklace from the black pouch.
'Necklace with a red garnet.'
Needed for non-demons to pass as ones. Hard for me to get.
So sparring for info? Perfect. I had tons of puzzles to solve.
[Bonus: real combat practice. Ok girl's going too easy on you.]
'Uncle doesn't know her true face.'
Since Wayong Hall, Ok Geum-ran hadn't shown her full power. If her Four Demons Blood Art revved up, even Great Protectors would struggle.
Anyway, deal time.
"If I can't answer your questions, I'll dig up the info by next meet. Some might be impossible, though."
"Not expecting you to rob the Vice Cult Leader's vault or anything."
"I'd try... but I'd end up hanged at the Cult Leader's Palace gate. Tough to answer then."
"Spy who knows his place. Nice."
"Basic spy etiquette."
We traded lame jokes, chuckling. In my head, I ranked questions.
'After Beom Se-un, who's next? How much on Yong Baek-heon? What're the Eight Great Families' lords plotting?'
Had to be careful. Couldn't meet daily, and he wasn't omniscient. No wasting time—ask ones likely to yield answers.
But I went a different route. A total dead end.
'Ask something even I couldn't dig up.'
Decided. I spoke.
"You know anything about Yong Jeong-heon?"
Figured he'd say he'd look into it. But surprisingly...
Ga Bi-cheong nodded casually.
"Yeah, I've heard the name."
"...!"