Chapter 219: Cooperation Is A Mess (6)
Chapter 218 – Cooperation Is A Mess (6)
Thud. Rustle…!
A part of the cliff turned to powder and fell down.
Paeng Jeok-ho, whose eyes had rolled back white, soon twitched and gradually regained his senses.
Wiggling his fingers, he moved slowly and took a step forward.
Thud, thud, thud…!
Stone fragments crumbled and fell again.
Although he received a strong impact enough to cause cracks in the cliff, Paeng Jeok-ho’s body stood robustly without a hitch like a solid block of iron.
“Pheeew.”
A hot breath leaked from Paeng Jeok-ho’s mouth. The next moment, he felt something welling up within him and coughed.
“Cough!”
A mouthful of blood was spat out.
Stumbling a step, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
As he moved little by little, the onlookers let out strange sounds.
“Is he okay?”
“More than that… didn’t Namgung Cheon just blow Clan Leader Paeng away?”
“The Jianghu Divine Dragon is indeed not a false reputation.”
The Eon Clan martial artists admired him purely.
They did not intend to look down on Clan Leader Paeng. Since the Paeng Clan martial artists also knew that, they did not show any particular reaction.
And for good reason, if Paeng Jeok-ho was defeated like that, it was unknown how much Eon Yang-geol would also struggle against the Jianghu Divine Dragon.
‘This is… this is… a big fish. No, is he not a hidden dragon!’
Eon Yang-geol shuddered inwardly and looked at Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon, who raised an unprecedented energy from his entire body, maintained a sunken expression all along.
The playfulness that scratched people’s tempers was nowhere to be found.
He certainly looked like a different person.
Jianghu Divine Dragon?
Paeng Su-hyeok was right.
Those words that even if the Jianghu Divine Dragon died, Namgung Cheon would not.
The title of Jianghu Divine Dragon was by no means excessive for Namgung Cheon. Rather, it was insufficient.
A true hidden dragon.
It felt as if a great star that had already become a fully grown dragon was sleeping beneath the water. It felt as if he had witnessed that moment just now.
On the other hand, Paeng Jeok-ho was also in no small amount of mental shock.
Namgung Cheon’s strike just now was somehow similar to One Saber Severing Heaven of the Hunyuan Thunder Saber.
Yet the destructive power was completely different.
Namgung Cheon had not budged from his spot, while he himself had been sent flying like a cannonball and crashed unsightly, had he not?
On top of that, he suffered a light internal injury.
Although called light, an internal injury itself was no different from a serious injury to ordinary people.
Paeng Jeok-ho would also have no choice but to rest for about a day, curing it by circulating his energy.
When Paeng Jeok-ho glared at him, Namgung Cheon asked in his usual attitude devoid of any wariness.
“Are you okay?”
“What?”
“Since it seems you suffered an internal injury.”
“Ha! Hahaha!”
Paeng Jeok-ho burst into an absurd laugh.
It was his first time receiving the concern of an opponent while fighting until now. And for good reason, since normally he was the one who had to worry about the opponent’s safety.
Paeng Jeok-ho, who had burst into a loud laugh for a long time, suddenly stopped laughing and looked at Namgung Cheon with a calm gaze.
“How did you do it?”
“What?”
“That strike just now. It was truly great.”
When Paeng Jeok-ho cleanly acknowledged it, the surrounding people stirred.
Eon Yang-geol also muttered with a surprised look.
“For Clan Leader Paeng to acknowledge it so submissively. It is indeed a surprise.”
“Right. The Paeng Clan’s stubbornness is well known, after all.”
At Jin So-hong’s words, Eon Yang-geol nodded, and Paeng Su-hyeok, who was only listening nearby, flared up and shouted.
“What do you mean! Our family always acknowledges what is to be acknowledged!”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Jin So-hong quietly stared at Paeng Su-hyeok with a meaningful gaze.
Paeng Su-hyeok’s face turned red, and he quickly turned his head.
“I, I am the same!”
“Sure, let’s say so.”
When Jin So-hong smiled brightly, Paeng Su-hyeok bit his teeth and looked at Namgung Cheon.
‘Namgung Cheon…!’
Honestly, until Namgung Cheon appeared, Paeng Su-hyeok had not acknowledged anyone.
Jin So-hong was right.
The Hebei Paeng Clan did not easily acknowledge others even if a blade was put to their necks.
That was because their pride was that strong.
Some said the Paeng Clan was rough, rude, and stubborn. Or they condemned them as stupid.
But that was the Hebei Paeng Clan.
A family that valued pride more than honor.
That was why the Nine Sects and One Gang looked down on the Hebei Paeng Clan, but conversely, the Hebei Paeng Clan also looked down on the Nine Sects and One Gang.
However…
‘I cannot look down on that guy, of all people.’
Paeng Su-hyeok’s gaze remained pinned on Namgung Cheon and did not move.
Just then, Namgung Cheon shrugged his shoulders and spoke.
“It is nothing special. You just need to be faithful to the basics.”
“Faithful to the basics? Then does that mean the One Saber Severing Heaven I swung was not so?”
“Hmm. You were faithful to the basics. But you were also in a bit of a hurry.”
“In a hurry?”
“Yes, you were in a hurry. A very great deal.”
Paeng Jeok-ho furrowed his brow.
He had no memory of being in a hurry.
He had only concentrated and concentrated on One Saber Severing Heaven among the stances of the Hunyuan Thunder Saber.
Then what on earth was he in a hurry about?
Although they were words spat out by a mere cadet, he could not ignore them at all.
As it turned out, he laid down his pride and continued his questions.
This was indeed a surprising change.
To the point that Paeng Jeok-ho himself was surprised.
“If I had not been in a hurry, would you have taken damage?”
“No, it doesn’t work on me right now.”
“Then?”
Namgung Cheon let out a light sigh.
‘Even if I speak like dog crap, he should understand it like sticky rice cake. He wants me to scoop the rice with a spoon and feed him, this guy.’
Namgung Cheon raised the Emerald Silk Sword, tapped his shoulder, and spoke.
“I mean you are in a hurry in learning martial arts.”
Fwoooosh.
As a gust of wind blew, leaves fluttered.
Riding that wind, a strand of faint enlightenment seemed to brush through Paeng Jeok-ho’s mind.
However, it was still a dim shadow seen through the fog.
Seeing that, Namgung Cheon clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘No, if I speak to this extent, he should understand it roughly! That’s why they hear they are blockheads!’
Of course, if he spoke such words out loud, the opponent would fly into a rage, and their friendship or whatever would go down the drain.
Ultimately, Namgung Cheon decided to show a bit more kindness.
Partly to convey his apologetic feelings for killing the former Paeng Clan Leader long ago.
Namgung Cheon slowly raised the Emerald Silk Sword and swung it in the air for an instant.
Swish!
A strand of flash cut through the air.
The leaves fluttering messily danced carelessly as if swept away by that wind of energy.
Paeng Jeok-ho reflexively grasped the hilt of his saber, but relaxed his tension upon seeing Namgung Cheon’s attitude.
Namgung Cheon spoke.
“This just now was One Saber Severing Heaven.”
“……!”
“And this is…”
Namgung Cheon slowly raised the sword again and struck down toward the empty air.
At first glance, it was almost the same movement.
It was hard to tell what was different.
Only, the second time he swung the sword, it appeared slightly slower and more deliberate.
If someone who did not practice martial arts saw it, they would have found it hard to see any meaning in that action.
However, the martial artists present here let out low exclamations at Namgung Cheon’s movement.
Sometimes, there were things that looked strong even if slow.
Namgung Cheon’s movement was just like that.
Although it was a significantly slower movement compared to One Saber Severing Heaven, it felt free of any waste.
Did it feel like something full?
Rustle.
A leaf was split by the Emerald Silk Sword.
A simple action.
It was an action that any martial artist could do, but Paeng Jeok-ho wanced as he felt something shaking his heart.
Namgung Cheon looked quietly at Paeng Jeok-ho and spoke.
“Do you see? You are impatient in learning martial arts.”
“Impatient…”
“The Paeng Clan uses practical martial arts. Even so, you must not overlook the profound meaning of martial arts. I know well that the Paeng Clan does not look kindly upon the Nine Sects and One Gang. That can be so. Since the Paeng Clan has always developed martial arts in real combat. Among the Nine Sects and One Gang, particularly the sects of the Taoist lineage spend most of their time shut up in the mountains practicing abstinence. So to the Paeng Clan, they might look like horse-hair Taoists who only put on airs.”
Word by word, it felt as if he had looked inside the minds of the Paeng Clan martial artists.
Since all of them had thought that way.
Particularly Paeng Jeok-ho and Paeng Su-hyeok.
In fact, Paeng Jeok-ho had even said such words to Paeng Su-hyeok.
“Our family must not be pushed back by those who shut themselves in the mountains and cultivate the Tao. You must go out into the world and show the greatness of the Paeng Clan. Show them that our family does not realize martial arts by washing dishes, but by cutting down enemies!”
Namgung Cheon’s words continued.
“However, the profound meaning of martial arts is also important. Real combat is important, but studying martial arts itself as an academic subject is also important.”
“……!”
“Do you see? You are too hurried. Rather than glaring with wide eyes to cut a leaf, pay attention to the act of swinging the sword itself.”
“Ah!”
Paeng Jeok-ho let out an exclamation despite himself.
In other words, did it not mean to place weight on the means and methods rather than only staring at the objective itself?
Namgung Cheon continued to speak.
“Everything about the Paeng Clan is good. Your innate bones are also good. However, you are excessively biased toward practical combat. Thus, you treat the profound meaning of martial arts lightly. You think it is enough to swing a saber and crush the enemy. But what is the saber of the Paeng Clan? What meaning is there in the saber swung by the Paeng Clan? If you cannot find that, the Hunyuan Thunder Saber has no choice but to hit a wall.”
Now Paeng Jeok-ho could not say anything, his mouth wide open.
Could a young man who had not even reached adulthood speak such words?
Paeng Jeok-ho looked down at his saber reflexively. Not only him. Paeng Su-hyeok, who was watching, and the other Paeng Clan martial artists also looked down at the sabers worn at their waists.
The meaning of the saber.
Was a saber not simply a tool to cut and break the enemy?
Yet that fresh young man was telling them to put meaning into the saber.
Normally, they would have laughed at the horse-hair Taoists who spoke such things.
But at this moment, they strangely felt an echo in Namgung Cheon’s words.
Perhaps it was because of the martial prowess shown by Namgung Cheon.
Or because he was the child of the Great Killing Star?
If not, then…
‘Is it because it is the first time anyone has given such direct advice to the Paeng Clan?’
Chuckling.
A hollow laugh escaped Paeng Jeok-ho.
Was it said that the truth was simple if one knew it?
How long had the Paeng Clan wandered around a useless path for this small thing?
And to receive advice from the son of the enemy who killed his father at that.
A story that could not even brush past his ears no matter who said it, yet it pricked like a thorn when that fellow said it.
“Hahahahaha!”
Paeng Jeok-ho suddenly looked up at the sky and burst into laughter.
People even thought for a moment that Paeng Jeok-ho had gone mad with anger.
However, only Paeng Su-hyeok, who was watching this, wore a gentle smile on his lips.
‘Father, that guy is just that kind of guy.’
After laughing for a long time, Paeng Jeok-ho sheathed his saber and cupped his hands.
“I promise that the Paeng Clan will no longer hold any grudge against you. And… I acknowledge that I have gained enlightenment. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Namgung Cheon smirked and sheathed his sword.
Although a wild wind had raged through the training ground, at this moment, it was strangely filled with a warm breeze.
Every martial artist here felt something hot welling up in their chests.
The confrontation between the Paeng Clan and the Jianghu Divine Dragon, who called each other enemies, carried a meaning beyond a mere spectacle.
Was it said that the ground hardens after the rain?
At this moment, all the martial artists of the Eon Clan Estate were building a strange cohesion, starting with the reconciliation of these two.
And at the center of it, Namgung Cheon was standing.
‘Sniff! Thank goodness! Thank goodness! That fellow is truly a treasure!’
Eon Yang-geol repeatedly admired him, wiping the corner of his eyes with his sleeve.
Just then, Namgung Cheon’s voice rang out clearly.
“Ah, but since you were broken by me, you will hand over the branch leader position, right?”
In the warm atmosphere, a faint vein popped on Paeng Jeok-ho’s forehead. And Eon Yang-geol let out a groan and looked at the sky.
‘Sigh, Heavens. Why did you not give that guy any tact?’
Please speak while looking at the atmosphere!