Chapter 112: Chapter 112

* * *

Jo Sang-ryong’s expression was frozen hard like a gray stone statue.

Although his eyes were looking at his junior brother, he was more on guard against the saber held in his other hand.

“Has Senior Brother truly passed Master’s martial arts to a vagabond like that?”

Jo Sang-ryong spoke while gripping the blade behind his back until his hand turned white. However, Dan Sang-woon’s expression as he aimed his sword at him did not waver.

“Brother Jang is a person already accustomed to creating, mastering, and modifying many different martial arts. Having seen the Primordial Scripture, he absorbed its essence and modified it into the form most suited to himself. It is something neither I nor Senior Brother could dream of doing, and it was also what Master desired, so saying it was passed to a vagabond is not correct.”

“…That thunder is the essence of the Primordial Scripture?”

At Dan Sang-woon’s words, Jo Sang-ryong narrowed his eyes in disbelief.

“In the Mind-Fasting Sword and Sitting-in-Oblivion Fist you cultivated, nowhere is there any martial principle that summons such thunder. Do you think I wouldn’t know that when I watched those martial arts by your side for twenty years?”

“The one who cultivated it for twenty years was me, so I don’t know why Senior Brother prides himself on knowing it better. Didn’t Senior Brother delve more fervently into Master’s martial arts mixed within rather than the Mind-Fasting Sword itself? Though now even that seems to have been mixed with something else.”

Jo Sang-ryong fell silent. Dan Sang-woon was right. From a certain point onward, he had removed all the sudden and vague parts among the martial arts learned from Daoist Wang, focusing intently on cultivating only the faster and stronger aspects. After his expulsion from the sect, he had completely shaken off the contents of the Primordial Scripture, filling the resulting deficiencies using the martial arts of the Alliance Leader and the Martial Alliance.

He had thought that the thunderous sound echoing from Daoist Wang’s martial arts belonged to the Imperial Army’s martial arts. He had believed that his failure to summon thunder was simply because what he cultivated was a half-baked martial art. Yet if Dan Sang-woon’s words were true, it meant he had been obsessed with the wrong martial art all this time.

Looking at Jo Sang-ryong’s confused face, Dan Sang-woon slowly regulated his breathing.

He also understood his Senior Brother’s confusion. Dan Sang-woon, who had been interested in many fields of study besides martial arts, had regarded martial arts merely as a form of exercise for health. With so many stories, principles, and undiscovered phenomena in the world, he had seen no need to dedicate his life solely to martial arts.

Yet, ironically, such an attitude had aspects that aligned with the attitude toward life described in the Primordial Scripture. Whether he had become so by cultivating the Primordial Scripture from childhood, or whether he possessed such a disposition in the first place and thus cultivated the Primordial Scripture easily, was unknown. As Daoist Wang had said, it might have been that he possessed Immortal Bones.

Perhaps, if his Senior Brother had also cultivated only the Primordial Scripture from the start, a situation like today might not have unfolded. A future where all three—Daoist Wang, Jo Sang-ryong, and Dan Sang-woon—understood and cared for one another’s positions and standings, becoming better martial brothers and giving birth to a new martial lineage in this land as founding ancestors, might have unfolded.

But the old Master had already died by the hands of his disciple. For the second disciple, only revenge now remained.

“Prepare yourself, Senior Brother.”

Jo Sang-ryong, who had seemed confused, snapped to his senses at Dan Sang-woon’s words. Seeing Dan Sang-woon’s expression completely devoid of wavering unlike himself, his face distorted as if feeling enraged instead.

“…How insolent of you, having achieved your success by leeching off the old man’s internal energy. Does the world look so easy to you just because you have Master’s internal energy?”

Dan Sang-woon did not answer. He merely focused his entire mind on his sword and Jo Sang-ryong with silent eyes. Feeling that his momentum was extraordinary, Jo Sang-ryong also tightly closed his lips and focused on Dan Sang-woon.

A dry wind blew from somewhere. That dust-laden wind tilted the sign of the tavern and swept into the street, fluttering the collars of Jo Sang-ryong and Dan Sang-woon.

Even as the dust blew in, the two martial brothers glared at each other without batting an eye. In their eyes, not a trace of brotherly affection could be found anywhere. Only the sharpness of two martial artists targeting each other’s lives shone brightly.

Beneath the hot noon sun, beads of sweat formed on the bridges of the two men’s noses. Under extreme tension, their slow breathing continued through long inhales and exhales.

Unlike Dan Sang-woon who quietly glared at his senior brother, Jo Sang-ryong’s lips twitched. He could not completely concentrate on Dan Sang-woon. Even if he defeated his junior brother at this moment, behind him stood Jang Geon, who had wiped out the entire Soaring Eagle Squad, waiting for him. Even if he was the strongest martial artist among the Soaring Eagle Squad, he lacked the confidence to fight and defeat everyone alone.

As the two martial brothers glared at each other for a moment, the blowing wind suddenly subsided. In that area where the air settled down, nothing moved.

At that moment, Jo Sang-ryong’s blade left its scabbard.

Then, a clashing metallic sound rang out, followed by a ripping noise like thunder tearing through the sky. After the sound, the two martial brothers stood with their backs to each other.

Dan Sang-woon remained in his original position, while Jo Sang-ryong stood behind Dan Sang-woon with his blade extended forward. He soon broke his stance and looked back.

“…Was thunder truly the esoteric mystery of the Primordial Scripture? Not the Imperial Army’s martial art?”

“Besides the Emperor’s martial arts, outstanding martial arts can exist in any number. It is just that ancient sages considered them not merely as killing tools for taking lives, but as ways of life, and thus concealed them little by little between mnemonic formulas. The martial art of the High Emperor who unified the Central Plains was ultimately the martial art of those sages as well.”

Jo Sang-ryong laughed despondently. Within that laugh, lost resentment, regret, and obsession mixed together and scattered into the air. He hesitated with his lips for a moment as if wanting to turn those fading emotions into words, but in the end, he smirked again and muttered softly.

“…Still… the Primordial Scripture… is too… slow…”

Following that murmur, he collapsed with a thud.

Still with his back to him, Dan Sang-woon looked down at his sword shattered into several pieces rolling on the ground and nodded.

Even after cultivating only the Primordial Scripture for twenty years since childhood, he had been unable to summon thunder. It was only after inheriting Daoist Wang’s internal energy cultivated for over thirty years that he was barely able to use it. By simple calculation alone, it was fifty years, and considering Daoist Wang’s already formidable martial level, it could be even more. Ancient martial arts were such things. The essence that could not be learned simply by cultivating for a long time, into which those without qualification could not even step foot.

Looking down at the sword with only the hilt remaining, lamenting alone over the tragedy of their martial brotherhood, Dan Sang-woon suddenly raised his head. There, he saw Jang Geon who had approached before he knew it.

Jang Geon looked down at the corpse fallen on the dry dirt ground, the sorrowful eyes of Dan Sang-woon, and the sword hilt held in his hand, then spoke briefly.

“The sword could not endure it.”

“…Unaccustomed as I am, I poured in too much internal energy at once. After all, I never cultivated martial arts diligently.”

Jang Geon gave a light nod at his reply.

“You will get used to it.”

Dan Sang-woon forced a smile at Jang Geon’s words. But that smile turned to surprise at the sight of Chae-yun and the children appearing in the distance. Reunited, the family embraced one another.

Watching them with a subtle smile, Jang Geon soon spotted villagers stealthily emerging from here and there in the village, which had seemed deserted.

Old people, youths, middle-aged women, children, and more—the residents staying in the village poured out onto the street once the fight seemed over. Seeing the corpse of Jo Sang-ryong and the bodies of the Soaring Eagle Squad rolled off the roofs, joyful expressions soon appeared on their faces.

Seeing them rejoice over dead bodies was slightly eerie, but the plight of the villagers who had endured their violent behavior for three days was not beyond understanding. Just then, an old man among the villagers approached Jang Geon and Dan Sang-woon’s family.

“…In the end, you were the one to wrap things up.”

“Village Chief.”

The old man called the village chief looked at the deceased Jo Sang-ryong with an old bitterness that only someone advanced in years could wear. Then, turning his eyes back to Dan Sang-woon’s family, he spoke.

“…Do you know that those men belong to the Martial Alliance?”

“Yes, Village Chief. I know.”

“Then do you also know that we won’t be able to hide the truth from those who come looking for them?”

Dan Sang-woon tightened his arm around Chae-yun as he answered.

“…Yes. I know.”

The village chief nodded and continued.

“Good. Then leave the village, change your names, and live. We will try our best to hide whatever can be hidden. We will also gather some money for you.”

Dan Sang-woon was slightly flustered.

“Ah, no, Village Chief. You don’t need to do that. And if lying is discovered…”

“Lying? We will only speak the truth. That one day, warriors of the Martial Alliance suddenly swarmed in and turned the village upside down, and unable to watch any longer, you and that chivalrous hero over there defeated them. But because you killed the Alliance’s warriors, you ultimately left the village. That is all we will tell them.”

Hearing that, Dan Sang-woon was at a loss for words. The village chief soon turned to Jang Geon as well and bowed his waist.

“You are the gentleman who stopped by the village a few days ago, correct? I can only offer my gratitude for what you have done, Hero. Those bastards were ruffians who buried three young men of our village simply because they ruined their mood. Trying not to offend them, we hadn’t even been able to dig graves for those youths, keeping them only in coffins. Thank you once again…”

Even while expressing his gratitude, the village chief did not ask for his name. It was as if he thought knowing it would force him to tell the Martial Alliance investigators later, so he would not ask from the start. Jang Geon gave a light nod, thinking to himself whether he was becoming a nameless hero, a Nameless Knight-Errant.

“It was merely due to the grudge between myself and those men, so please do not take it to heart too much.”

Yet at that answer, not only the village chief but also the other villagers bowed to him in gratitude. Jang Geon turned to Dan Sang-woon as those greetings felt burdensome, and Dan Sang-woon, holding his child, gave a hearty laugh at the sight.

Behind the happy-looking people, only Jojo, who had been grazing grass somewhere and was now ambled over, was chewing his mouth with a sulky expression.

* * *

A carriage and a horse were moving across the plain bathed in the late afternoon setting sun. They were Dan Sang-woon’s family, who had left the village, and Jang Geon.

Thanks to the generous help of the villagers, Dan Sang-woon’s family carriage was pulled by two horses in front and was quite sizable. Inside, not only their family belongings were loaded, but also the cremated remains of Daoist Wang and Dan Sang-woon’s research materials. Far from feeling uncomfortable in the jolting carriage, the children giggled as if it were fun.

Looking back at the children, Dan Sang-woon turned his head at the sight of Jang Geon approaching beside him. Due to the setting sun pouring from afar, Jang Geon’s appearance looked reddish.

That reddish Jang Geon spoke.

“Do you remember what I told you?”

Dan Sang-woon quickly stopped the carriage and answered Jang Geon’s question.

“Ah, right. You told me to go to New Sichuan and find the Hunan Jang Family Merchant Guild, right? To find a person named Jang Un there and say I came on his younger brother’s recommendation.”

“Are you keeping what I wrote for you safely?”

Dan Sang-woon pulled out a paper envelope from his bosom. It was the letter of recommendation Jang Geon had written. Jang Geon nodded and spoke.

“Whether Jo Sang-ryong and his men truly belonged to the Martial Alliance is unknown, but it is true that they targeted Daoist Wang and your family solely for martial arts. If they were real Alliance warriors, the Martial Alliance’s investigation will likely end half-heartedly to cover up their shame. And even if they continue to target Daoist Wang’s martial arts in the future, they won’t expect his successor to be working under a merchant guild right in the front yard of the Martial Alliance.”

Dan Sang-woon listened to Jang Geon’s words with a serious face.

“If my brother has been running things properly, he should be exerting considerable influence in New Sichuan by now. Enough to shield you from the eyes of the Alliance.”

“…My concern is that despite Brother Jang’s goodwill, I might have nothing to do. I cannot just consume food for free.”

Jang Geon smiled subtly.

“Just show him a few of your inventions, starting with that pocket igniter, and my brother will earn gold and silver on his own. There will be no need to worry about paying for your meals.”

Seeing his smile, Dan Sang-woon erased his worries and smiled back. He then set down the reins and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

“Thank you, Brother Jang. I do not know how to repay this.”

Sitting beside him, Chae-yun offered a fist salute following her husband. At that, the children looking at Jang Geon from inside the carriage also clumsily imitated a fist salute.

Receiving the greetings of the whole family, Jang Geon offered a fist salute back with a smiling face.

“Let us meet again later.”

Greeting them briefly like that, Jang Geon tugged Jojo’s reins and turned his horse’s head. Dan Sang-woon watched Jang Geon depart into the distance while remaining in his fist salute pose. Behind the receding Jang Geon, light dust bloomed, faintly blurring his figure.

As he could not take his eyes off him, Chae-yun gently wrapped her hands around his. Turning his head at that touch, Dan Sang-woon met Chae-yun’s eyes and nodded. His hand took hold of the carriage reins once again.

Heading in the same direction, the carriage and the horse parted ways, splitting into two branches. Only the red setting sun shone upon them as they grew distant beyond the plain.