CHAPTER 31: Jang Ho-sam, You're So Damn Cocky
A sharp-eyed young man was striding into the Jibbeop-gak. The gate guards recognized his face at once and grasped his purpose immediately. They had no choice but to. He was the very man handling the aftermath of that chaotic fire incident.
"I've come to see Senior Dang Cheon-gung-ma. We have an appointment—please let him know."
"Yes, he's been expecting you. Right this way, Young Master Beom Se-un."
His skin was pale to the point of pallor, his eyes slitted like a serpent's. He was Beom Se-un, the rightful heir of the Beom Clan Manor.
Beom Se-un had been utterly drained from scrambling to salvage his clan's businesses, reduced overnight to piles of ash. Yet in this moment, stepping into the Jibbeop-gak, his eyes gleamed with fierce intensity.
He had come as the Beom Clan's proxy to demand justice for this outrage.
Beom Se-un marched straight into the office.
"Beom Se-un, lowliest servant of the Divine Cult, pays his respects to Senior Dang Cheon-gung-ma."
"Ah, you've come a long way. Well done, Young Master Beom."
Dang Cheon-gung-ma Yo Wi-deok was a Great Law Protector and did not normally reside at the Jibbeop-gak. But he could not ignore Beom Se-un's request for an audience, so he had waited here.
The issue came up right away.
"Senior, to cut to the chase—why aren't you pursuing the arsonist behind this? Our Beom Clan has suffered massive losses!"
"……."
No other pleasantries. Beom Se-un stared straight at the Great Law Protector, eyes wide open.
Dang Cheon-gung-ma, who had been heating water for tea in a kettle, set it down. It seemed there would be no leisurely tea with this young man.
"Young Master Beom, why are you so sure it was arson? It could have been an accident."
"What are the odds of fires breaking out simultaneously at five different sites by accident? The blazes were so fierce the managers couldn't even lift a finger."
"We can't rule it out entirely."
Dang Cheon-gung-ma replied calmly, and Beom Se-un sensed something in that composure.
"You're deliberately trying to bury this incident, aren't you? This is unjust! How can the Great Law Protector, guardian of the mountain's laws, allow…!"
"This isn't my will."
"Pardon?"
"I said it's not my decision."
Beom Se-un's pupils slowly widened at those words. Only one person could command the Three Great Law Protectors.
"Don't tell me the Cult Leader…?"
"I believe that's explanation enough."
Dang Cheon-gung-ma spoke flatly, then clamped his mouth shut. No need for further words—and indeed, there weren't any.
The Scarlet Heavenly Demon was the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's supreme authority. If he had ordered this swept under the rug, it would be done. No one could openly defy him.
Beom Se-un reined in his momentum and spoke cautiously.
"Then at least tell me why. Why handle it this way? What is the Grand Cult Leader thinking?"
"Heavens, no! Don't presume to guess at the Heavenly Demon's intentions, Young Master Beom."
"Senior!"
As the Beom Clan's heir, he bore the responsibility of investigating the full circumstances around the gambling dens' destruction. That meant he needed to understand even the Cult Leader's Palace's motives.
Dang Cheon-gung-ma shook his head, looking pityingly at Beom Se-un.
"Regrettably, I know nothing myself."
"……."
There wasn't a hint of deception in the Great Law Protector's voice, leaving Beom Se-un no room to press further. He bowed silently and left the Jibbeop-gak.
As he surveyed the charred remains of the gambling dens, he sank into deep thought. The more he pondered, the more rage boiled within him.
He had no idea what the damned Cult Leader was thinking, ordering this buried…
'You'll pay dearly soon enough.'
The duel with the Grand Cult Leader's grandson had been delayed by a few days, but it was still on. Beom Se-un vowed to crush Yong Baek-heon with everything he had.
* * *
"Urk!"
I was getting utterly demolished.
My opponent, fists clenched, hammered me mercilessly. It was my big sis, Ok Geum-ran.
"Quit whining and get up."
She uncorked the gourd she always carried and took a swig. Her eyes flashed crimson, blazing like embers.
A sign that the power of her Sa-ma-ra Blood Art was surging.
I brushed the dirt off and stood, lowering my stance with a sigh.
'I knew it would be tough, but damn, she's strong. Can't even touch her.'
[Frankly, even this old ghost is a bit surprised.]
This spar had begun to comprehensively review the four martial arts Ok Geum-ran had taught me. There were some self-imposed restrictions.
'Only use the four arts we've taught and learned from each other.'
Buk-san Gwon, Un-hae Hwan-jong-bo, Yeong-wang Pung, Hae-gong Cheon-bi. Just those four.
And since my internal energy still lagged far behind, she had agreed to use only half her power. It seemed fair on the surface.
But the reality?
"Aaaagh!"
I was getting completely trampled by Ok Geum-ran.
Without my Gwi-ryeong Sin-byeok-an, no future sight, I couldn't track her paths at all.
Bongmareung chuckled.
[If you used future sight, could you win? If we changed the rules to allow all your arts?]
I couldn't answer Bongmareung's question readily. I knew future sight wasn't omnipotent.
Some trajectories were simply impossible to block. And Ok Geum-ran, though a swordswoman, wasn't using any sword arts right now.
If we dueled with swords…
[Without Baek-ryong Bi-chang Geom, your odds are zero.]
I agreed. Ok Geum-ran had been appointed Yong Baek-heon's bodyguard captain for good reason—she was exceptional. A late-generation disciple of the prestigious Ami Sect before this. Still beyond my reach.
"Gah!"
"Your legs aren't moving right! That's why you can't respond! Get your head in the game!"
Above all, overnight she'd become merciless, like a different person. A side effect of her Sa-ma-ra Blood Art.
An intense energy art rivaling any demonic technique in explosive power. But it flipped one's temperament the moment it activated.
'The vicious demonic qi inverts her nature.'
Her originally kind heart turned vicious. Even at half power, her eyes gleamed like a yaksha's as she advanced.
"Get up, you idiot!"
Whoosh!
A heavy fist grazed my cheek. I barely retreated using Yeong-wang Pung.
Blood trickled from my cheek. Her eyes darkened further.
"Looks tasty."
"……!"
A chill like facing a vampire made my skin crawl. But rivalry surged too.
'Now I'm pissed.'
Skill gap aside, we were on equal footing. Getting dominated like this bruised my pride.
[Yes, that's the spirit. Don't you want to flatten Lady Ok once in a while?]
'Yeah. Desperately.'
I wanted to win. As that resolve showed, Bongmareung barked a laugh.
[This old ghost will give you a hint.]
'What?'
[Lady Ok's teachings aren't bad, but by this old ghost's standards, they're lacking in many ways. You might have felt it too. Think on that.]
Flaws in her teachings? Had I sensed that while learning from her?
Sudden insight pierced my mind.
"……Ah!"
"Ah? Zoning out mid-spar? How dare you? I'll kill you!"
My inadvertent exclamation drew her charging like a tiger.
She accelerated instantly, grabbing my collar up close.
The final form of Buk-san Gwon's First Three Forms: Geo-ma Hoeng-ju!
[Be careful!]
Was her Sa-ma-ra Blood Art over fifty percent? I even sensed killing intent in her eyes.
But I pressed forward, bodies close, and hooked my leg deep to unbalance her.
Using Un-hae Hwan-jong-bo to feint her Geo-ma Hoeng-ju.
"……!"
Her eyes widened like saucers, unprepared for this. I seized her collar in turn.
And unleashed the Geo-ma Hoeng-ju she'd attempted.
Thud!
"Hurk……."
Restrained, she gasped as my fist slammed her gut. She shook free for a counter, dropping into stance and clenching both fists.
'Second Four Forms' Gyohu Chul-dong!'
By the book, I'd counter with the Fifth Form's Dae-bong Yu-hee: evade and retreat, then strike the opening.
But I charged again.
Snagging her hem once more. Though startled, it was Geo-ma Hoeng-ju again.
"Hngh."
Double gut shots toppled Ok Geum-ran. As I raised my fist again, she slapped the ground.
"I yield."
I'd won.
Her teachings had swirled in my mind—the key to my reversal.
-The First Three Forms cover fight starts: seizing initiative, countering, or blocking.
-The Second Four Forms exchange blows. Naturally, take less, give more.
Each of Buk-san Gwon's twelve forms had defined roles: pursuing a retreat, withdrawing from advance, breaking deadlock, or neither.
'She taught responses tailored to the opponent's moves.'
Don't rush blindly; block while striking. In a way, the core intent of Buk-san Gwon, blurring righteous and demonic.
But it felt off to me.
'Why always react to their actions?'
Multiple foes? Feigned retreat? Apparent deadlock as trap?
Switching forms each time felt awkward.
So I did it my way—and it worked.
Ok Geum-ran seemed to catch on.
"Jang Ho-sam, you're so damn cocky. Twisting your master's teachings on a whim… Cough! Cough!"
"You okay?"
"Hurts. A lot."
Geo-ma Hoeng-ju was among Buk-san Gwon's strongest. Consecutive gut punches while grappled? No wonder her insides churned.
But her crimson eyes were fading. Settling her Sa-ma-ra Blood Art.
"Well done. Ho-sam, really well done. A perfect case of the student surpassing the master."
"Thanks."
Back to her gentle self, she smiled warmly. Deadly serious now.
"Now I see—reacting to the opponent's moves was creating stiffness. Flipping the board entirely? Never crossed my mind…."
She looked me over slowly, eyes gleaming with newfound insight.
"Thanks to you, I've leveled up too. You're a gem, Ho-sam."
I smiled quietly.
On one hand, this thought: 'The five challengers will be like her or stronger. No handicaps either.'
The road ahead was long. I wasn't planning to stroll it.
By horse, boat, whatever—I'd find a way.
So I'd claim that item from the Manma-chong for sure.
'Man-sal Yo-ho's Death Speed.'
[Just thinking of it makes my mouth water!]