Episode 846: I Want to Take It Slowly
In his duel with his father, Geommu-geuk displayed all his skills.
No, he had to do it even if he didn’t want to.
Aaaa …
The attack his father was sending towards him was, without exaggeration, more fierce than a firearm.
‘Father, it’s my son! I’m not your enemy, I’m not a Thousand-Slayer!’
There was no time for such whining. Losing focus meant death.
Geum Woo-jin had returned to the same ruthless father he’d been on their first mountain hike, the one who’d blasted his son’s face with a gust of wind.
Considering the purpose of this training, this brutal attack was inevitable.
And this duel was a training exercise that demanded an extraordinary mindset beyond mere skill.
While a flurry of potentially lethal techniques abounded, it was a battle where one could never injure their opponent. It demanded extreme concentration and judgment. It
was a match that only Geomwoojin and Geommugeuk could hope to achieve.
In the battle between the rich and the poor, right and wrong answers were repeated.
“This is the answer,” his father flew in, but Geommugeuk blocked his attack, saying, “This is the wrong answer.”
Then, Geommugeuk desperately tried to make his attack, thinking, “Then this must be the answer,” turn out to be the wrong answer.
Of course, that was only true between the two of them, but for everyone else, all of those numbers were correct attacks.
Geommugeuk desperately dodged his father’s attacks.
He wouldn’t die from an attack of this magnitude. He just had to meet his father’s standards.
‘I’m really dying!’
After the first fight ended with him entering the space-time transfer technique, Geom Woo-jin noticed a change in his son.
“It’s not just internal energy that has been gained!”
His son’s skills had clearly improved. Aside from his rise from the 10th to the 11th rank in the Guhwamagong, his overall depth of martial arts and his martial arts prowess had also improved.
“I have acquired not only their innate energy and internal energy, but also the martial arts they were learning.”
It was truly a gift from heaven, something that could only have been achieved if we had not been given the same level of achievement we had achieved throughout our lives.
Furthermore, the Sword Dance Theater could utilize that martial art.
Originally, those who mastered the magic arts could not use the martial arts of the Jeongpa or Sasakpa. This was because the fundamental nature of their internal energy was different.
But this time, with the combination of my innate energy and my internal energy, I could use all the martial arts I’d gained.
This meant that in the future, if I went out into the world of martial arts, I could appear like a true martial artist, or I could pretend to be a true martial artist.
Geom Woo-jin aimed his sword again. How many times would he have to say this before he could leave?
“Okay, back again!”
Two people rushed towards each other.
Shh …
Their movements were as fast as light, but the bugs in the outside world still flew very slowly without reaching the lamp.
* * *
“Am I still drunk?”
Chwima, who was looking out the window, blinked in surprise.
“Didn’t you say you were coming to our village a little while ago?”
The unmanned horse on the horse’s back answered the horse’s question.
“That’s right, this is Magachon.”
The coachman was equally surprised. His voice trembled as he looked around in bewilderment.
“Stop the carriage.”
As Chwima’s carriage came to a halt, the carriages following it also stopped.
As Chwima disembarked, Mabul and Sehonmajo also disembarked. They were equally astonished.
Magachon had disappeared.
The three demons exchanged glances. They had already received news from Tongcheon Pavilion, via an urgent message, that the Thousand-Sal Castle had been repelled.
But was that fight this fierce?
The large carriage carrying the nobles and the horsemen who had come riding behind also stopped.
The most surprised of them all was Ian, who knew better than anyone how important this place was to the Geommu Theater.
‘Little Master!’
Where Magachon had disappeared, miners and laborers were preparing for construction. They were dividing the area into sections and discussing where and what buildings should be built.
The minions and laborers recognized the demons and bowed respectfully.
One man stepped out from among them. He was none other than Grand Duke Geomwuyang. General Sima Ming had appointed him to oversee the reconstruction of Maga Village. Known for his meticulous nature, he handled such practical matters better than Geomwu-geuk.
“Your Highness!”
“Your Majesty!”
Geommuyang exchanged greetings with the three demons. Ian and Jangho also came to greet him.
Geommuyang first examined the demons’ injuries.
“Are you okay?”
“We’re all okay.”
“Thank goodness.”
Mabul asked with a worried look in his eyes.
“What happened?”
“As you may have heard, the cult leader has repelled the Thousand-Sal-Seong here.”
When Ian heard the addition that both the leader and the Magachon residents were safe, he asked in a trembling voice.
“Is the young cult leader okay?”
While waiting for an answer, Ian’s heart pounded like it was going to burst. If Magachon had been blown away, Geommu-geuk would have tried to stop it somehow. He worried that he might have been injured in the process.
Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
“The young leader is safe too.”
“Ah!”
Just as Ian was breathing a sigh of relief, surprising news was delivered to the Amazons.
“Father and Mugeuk have joined the closed-door training together.”
Everyone was shocked by the mention of “joint retreat training.” They’d never heard of a cult leader and sub-religious leader entering retreat together before.
“It’s been two days since we closed.”
Mabul asked cautiously.
“if?”
Mabul was worried that the two men had entered the closed-door training together to hide their injuries and treatment from the outside world.
Geommuyang, reading Mabul’s concerns, smiled.
“There is nothing to worry about.”
Only when Geommuyang’s expression brightened did everyone, including Mabul, feel relieved.
“You must be tired from the long journey. Please go and rest.”
Mabul said as he got on the carriage.
“It’s the second day now, so the school will be quiet for a while!”
The horseman got into the carriage and urged the coachman on.
“Let’s go. The smell of alcohol from the wine cellar is coming from here.”
The Sub-Hon Demon Lord remained silent, but he longed to see the Young Master more than ever. He had safely completed the fight as the Young Master’s first Demon Lord.
The carriage carrying the demons raced towards the main building.
Ian stood there for a moment, gazing at the spot where the Pungryu tavern had once stood.
A look of regret crossed her face.
While it was a blessing that the cult leader and the Geommu-geuk were safe, it was a profound regret that this Magachon had been blown away.
The Pungryu tavern, in particular, held fond memories for her.
She recalled the moment she’d been drinking with Geommu-geuk. She’d been so drunk that she’d been carried back by Geommu-geuk. She also recalled the moment she’d been drinking with Seo Dae-ryong and Jang Ho.
It felt so good to be drinking at the very place where the three-way talks had taken place.
I wish I hadn’t come more often. I’ve been so busy lately, and with Seo Dae-ryong getting married, we haven’t been able to have any drinking parties.
Then Jangho came and stood next to her.
“Don’t be too upset, Lord Lee.”
“Your Majesty, once the new building is built here, we can resume our drinking party.”
“Very well.”
After promising to meet again, the large carriages led by Jangho also left the place.
Ian was about to tell his men that they should leave as well, when he saw Chai Ran staring off somewhere.
Ian walked up next to Chai Ran.
“What are you looking at?”
“I’m looking at the scene that’s turning me into a vicious leader who interferes with love.”
What does that mean? Ian turned his gaze to where Chai Ran was looking.
The person Chaeyun was looking at was Shichil-gyo.
Shichil-gyo was looking at a certain place, and among the laborers, he saw a young man. Their gazes as they gazed at each other were exceedingly affectionate.
The man was none other than the Crescent Moon Masked Guest. He had already revealed his face to her, unmasked.
He had been waiting among the workers when he heard she was almost there. They were meeting in secret, as only a few close friends knew of their relationship.
“These are really good at pickling.”
Ian smiled at her words and said.
“Even in times of war, children are born and smoke rises from cooking.”
Chai Ran said to Ian.
“Your Majesty, would you like to try my pickling?”
“Who would say that?”
The two women looked at each other and smiled.
“It’s really over now.”
Ian added, looking around.
“Really clean.”
When Ian thinks about the power behind this incident, the first thing that comes to mind is the Sword Dance Theater. After he left the school, he was so worried that he focused solely on his martial arts training. It’s safe to say that he’s achieved his current level of skill thanks to that.
Ian looked at Chai Lan.
“How do you feel?”
The fact that this fight is over will mean as much to her as it will to himself.
“It feels refreshing.”
I felt like I was being stripped of the shackles I had been carrying for so long. The darkness that had bound me was completely severed. It was the moment when a new life began.
Chai Ran said to his crew.
“Okay, let’s disperse here. Get some rest today!”
We disbanded here for the sake of the Seventeenth Religion. It was her consideration, wanting us to stay together a little longer, even though we were so happy.
“How about having a drink with the team leaders later?”
Ian nodded at Chai’s words. If life could be like this, where everything could disappear overnight.
“great.”
I’m determined not to procrastinate anymore.
* * *
Two days have already passed since I entered the space-time transfer technique.
Two days outside, so quite a bit of time has passed inside.
The boastful promise to leave before dawn crumbled before the challenges of the Twelve Great Stars. Surely, that was easier said than done?
The training continued. Some days, they competed in the Nine-Hwa Demonic Arts, some days in the Flying Sword Technique, and still others in the most basic swordsmanship.
Just when I felt like we were getting used to each other’s swordsmanship, my father unleashed a powerful attack. It was a truly terrifying attack, one that made me think, “This is going to kill me!”
Today, the sword dance that came back to life from the dead announced meal time.
“Father, it’s time to eat.”
“Okay, let’s eat.”
Exactly!
With a snap of his fingers, a table was set in a field overlooking a beautiful lake.
At every meal, Geommugeuk created a variety of beautiful scenes for his father.
“Don’t waste your energy!”
“No way. Even if you have to use up your energy a little less, you should at least eat properly.”
Geommugeuk took some of the food piled up to the side and set the table.
Hwi was the one responsible for providing the food from outside. Geommugeuk
had briefly stepped out, gathered a heap of food, and returned, asking Hwi to continue bringing food to the area where the time-space transfer technique was being performed.
I could have brought in a few months’ worth of food at once, but then my father would have to eat only beef jerky or other dried foods that could be stored for a long time.
So, Geommu-geuk continued to bring food prepared by the Cheonmajeon master here.
He told Hwi honestly. Time flows differently in this open space than outside, so he needs a lot of food.
For two days, Hwi brought food there as soon as the Cheonmajeon master prepared it. As soon as he brought it, the food disappeared.
“The food was really delicious today. Your Majesty has really shown off her skills.”
“That person must have had a hard time.”
“What can we do? She’ll have to endure
it for a few days.” “How many days can you leave?”
“No, how did Father accomplish such a difficult task?”
Geommugeuk didn’t just care about food for his father.
He made time flow within this space-time teleportation technique, just as it did outside.
The sun rose and set, night came and dawn came.
This was also for my father’s sake. As a young man, I could have been busy day and night, but my father would have health problems if he continued to do so for a long time.
When it was time to sleep, they were made to sleep, and mealtimes were strictly adhered to.
Creating a day here with near-perfect precision was a feat only an absolute master, like a master of the sword dance, could achieve.
Geum Woo-jin was secretly touched that his son cared so much for him, but he didn’t show it on the outside.
After finishing the meal like this.
Exactly!
The Geommu Theater transformed the surrounding area into a walking path. One day, it was a beautiful bamboo forest. Another day, it was a path like the one I saw on Daecheon Mountain.
Another day, it was a snowy path, untrodden. It had been such a lonely path when I walked it alone, but now, I walked it with my father.
The Sword Dance Theater was such a wonderful time with my father. Honestly, I didn’t even need to achieve the Twelve Great Stars of the Nine-Hwa-Ma-Gong. I simply cherished this time with him.
The Sword Dance Theater knew better than anyone else how fleeting this seemingly endless time seemed to be. It
was always only after it had passed that we realized how brilliant that moment had been.
After our walk, we had our evening training. In the evening, we mostly talked about martial arts rather than actual practice.
“Among the martial arts of the Heavenly Palace Master, there is a technique called the Two-Life Rotation. When this technique is performed, the internal energy moves differently from other martial arts. This technique’s internal energy begins at the middle extreme point…”
Geommugeuk hoped that this precious fatherly time would not end with just teaching him.
Although he achieved the Twelve Great Saints, the path of ignorance is a never-ending one.
Father could have reached another realm.
So, I talked with my father about the various enlightenments I gained from accepting the martial arts of the Mu Hwang Shin Sword, the Lord of the Lord of the Heavenly Palace, and the Lord of the Heavenly Palace.
Geommu Geuk generously shared these insights with him.
And each time it returned to him, it was imbued with a deeper sense of martial arts.
So, after evening training was over, the Geommu-geuk transformed the space-time transference technique into night.
And so, to ensure that he slept in the most comfortable and familiar place, he made his father’s room into a replica of his own.
Of course, I couldn’t reproduce it exactly, but with my excellent memory, I managed to approximate it.
I even attached a picture of my brother and I, and didn’t forget the doll on the display case.
And he also placed his own bed next to his father’s large bed.
I also enjoyed the few conversations I had with my father just before bed.
I asked him about his time as a cult leader, and about the demon lords. Most of the time, I couldn’t get an answer, so I just kept mumbling to myself.
But he never mentioned the Murimiltong issue. Neither his father nor himself.
“Go to sleep.”
“Go to sleep, Father. Thank you for today.”
As Geommugeuk snapped his fingers, the surroundings became dark.
“Tomorrow will be harder!”
The sword dance could tell. Father truly intended not to leave unless he achieved the Twelve Great Stars.
‘Don’t push too hard.’
Because this time with my father was so good.
‘I want to achieve it slowly, even if it’s just for a day.’
