episode_0105

105. Disparity.

Thud, thud. Clatter, clatter- Bang!

Yohan, who had been training in the training hall for quite some time, suddenly turned his head.

‘He’s doing well.’

There, the strong men whom Yohan had just knocked down were working together to repair the main gate. Somehow, the frame seemed to have gotten bigger than before, but well, the more the merrier.

At that moment, Yohan reflexively drew his sword.

Clang!

“You’re being inattentive! Your carelessness is excessive!”

“But I still blocked it. Doesn’t seem to be a problem.”

“Insolent!”

Even as the master spat out harsh words, a smile didn’t leave his lips.

How could he not be pleased? His disciple’s achievement is the same as his own.

The master’s arm bent strangely, gently enveloping Yohan’s sword. Over the past three months, he had also gained his own enlightenment.

Not a master-disciple relationship where teachings are unilaterally given, but a horizontal master-disciple relationship. The master liked the current relationship.

Swish- Clang!

He almost got cut. Yohan shook his arm off nervously and created some distance.

Yohan’s eyes sparkled as he watched his master’s swordsmanship. It was a technique he had never seen before. It was beautiful.

Tap-

A brief lull. And then, another collision. The master and disciple were constantly intertwined.

Both were martial artists with excellent flexibility, so it looked like two snakes trying to bite each other.

“Huuuup!”

Like an old snake opening its mouth wide, he brought his sword down. At that moment, Yohan felt as if he was cut off from the world.

The surrounding scenery turned white, and all that was left was his sword. Suddenly, a huge tree appeared before him.

It was a thick and sturdy-looking tree. However, the wrinkles that could be seen hinted at the age of the tree.

Swish-

The sword moved.

At the same time, the young snake’s long sword twisted and turned. At least, that’s how it looked to the old snake.

The long sword twisted and turned like a snake climbing a tree, heading straight for the master’s neck.

He widened his eyes at Yohan’s response. This is, what he had just used…

Slash-

The next moment, the master’s collar was thinly cut. Small pieces of fabric fluttered and fell to the ground.

He felt a chill down his spine. If the leader had aimed for his jugular instead of his collar, what would have happened? He would have certainly met his end.

Soon, the jet-black fabric touched the ground. Thud, the master felt as if a huge stone had fallen on his chest.

A complete defeat. An undeniable defeat, impossible to doubt.

The master slowly opened his mouth.

“…I lost.”

His voice was trembling slightly. Yohan noticed that fact. So, he deliberately spoke more nonchalantly.

“You’ve worked hard, Master.”

“……”

He was silent.

Yohan lightly clasped his fist in his palm and left the training hall.

He didn’t need anyone’s help right now. Yohan thought so.

Step- Step- “……” Whistling, a gentle breeze blew from somewhere and wrapped around the master. His hair fluttered. The gray hair that could be seen now and then was illuminated by the sunset, turning his vision golden.

In the place where the young snake had left, only the old snake remained alone, hanging his head.

***

“Did I put too much strength into it.”

Yohan stroked the sword hilt and muttered to himself for no reason. He tried to imitate him because he thought he could do it, but somehow it seems like he only killed his master’s spirit.

But he had no regrets. Even if he could turn back time, Yohan would repeat the same actions.

Enlightenment comes suddenly, and it was an important person that he might never see again if he treated him coldly.

“Leader. Dinner is ready.”

It was Jang Cheong. Yohan nodded lightly.

“I’ll go now.”

“Yes.”

Yohan walked ahead. Jang Cheong followed him like a shadow.

When they arrived at the place where dinner was prepared, the members of the cult were standing in a row.

They looked very disciplined. Ah, except for one person.

“Leader. I thought my neck would break waiting. My stomach is already sticking to my back.”

“Why didn’t you eat first?”

“Do you think I didn’t want to?”

Chief Marim pointed to each of the key members of the cult.

There were some new recruits as well. They were the ones who had applied for a duel with Yohan like the straightforward swordsman.

“These guys said they wouldn’t even take a spoonful until the leader arrived, and they were so angry about it!”

“……”

At those words, Yohan looked back at the cult members again. They were looking at Yohan with upright eyes. They never avoided his gaze.

Yohan chuckled and sat down. And he said calmly.

“It’s getting cold. Everyone, sit down.”

“Yes.”

The cult members finally relaxed their standing legs. Chief Marim, who was watching them, muttered in disbelief.

“……Ugh, crazy bastards.”

His muttering signaled the start of the meal. For a while, only the sound of utensils clashing echoed in the space.

Chief Marim sucked on his greasy fingers and asked.

“Slurp, slurp. By the way, where did the lord go?”

“Are you talking about the master?”

“Ah, that’s right. Now he was the master, wasn’t he?”

Hadn’t it been time to remember now? Yohan tilted his head.

“He’s probably in the training hall right now. He’ll want to be alone, so let’s leave him alone.”

“What’s wrong? I’ve never seen him miss a meal before.”

Yohan rolled his eyes and looked at him. Was he worried? Maybe he was.

“We had a duel.”

“A duel? Just that—”

Yohan added in a nonchalant tone.

“I won. And very easily at that.”

“……Really?”

“Why would I lie?”

“That’s true, but… Leader, haven’t you only been practicing swordsmanship for four months?”

“That’s right.”

“……”

Somehow, Chief Marim’s eyes looked more impudent than usual.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s just, I’m unlucky. I’m just unlucky.”

Yohan nodded and started playing with his chopsticks again. He was used to those kinds of eyes. It was a gaze he had felt since before he entered the tower.

“Eat your food.”

“……Alright.”

Clatter, clatter-

Once again, a quiet silence lingered in the space.

Just as the meal was almost over, someone knocked on the door.

Knock, knock-

“Leader. May I be excused?”

Jang Cheong glared at the doorframe.

“The leader is eating right now. Is it urgent?”

Then, the cult member in front of the door flinched. He was flustered.

He said softly.

“……That, yes it is. A carrier pigeon has arrived from Black King Castle.”

Yohan turned his head at those words.

“Come in.”

“Yes, yes.”

Creak, the door opened carefully. Using the gap that was created, the cult member carefully stepped in.

He bowed politely and approached Yohan gently. In his hand was a black pigeon.

It didn’t seem like a living creature at all. It was already dead, like a specimen.

A yellowish paper was tied to the pigeon’s left foot.

“Give it to me.”

“Yes.”

Yohan unfolded the paper that was tied with a black string.

His eyes moved slowly from left to right, and from top to bottom.

[Leader. Nice to meet you. I am Sama Hyeon, the head librarian of Black King Castle. I would have preferred to meet you in person, but I ask for your understanding in using a letter…]

Rambling, the introduction is long. Yohan roughly summarized it as follows.

1. In two months, the Cordial Martial Arts Gathering will be held at Black King Castle. In other words, this was an invitation.

‘A sincere competition? How amusing.’

2. There is no limit to the number of attendees. You can bring the entire cult with you.

Yohan sensed one intention in this passage.

‘It won’t be a normal competition. A big fight might break out.’

Well, to some extent, I think Black King Castle will impose restrictions.

Currently, the Murim was maintaining a precarious balance between the White and Black Paths.

They wouldn’t do anything that would hurt themselves for no reason.

“What does it say? Leader?”

Chief Marim asked. Yohan gave him the letter and replied.

“It seems like they’re going to hold a martial arts competition… The chief can read the details himself.”

Chief Marim stretched his neck and read the letters. It was like watching a turtle.

Thud, Chief Marim, who had put down the letter, said slowly.

“Hmm… It doesn’t seem like an ordinary matter. How many cult members are you planning to take?”

“I’m thinking about it. I’m not planning to take many.”

“Hmm? Why is that? It looks dangerous, so wouldn’t it be better to take enough?”

Yohan pointed to one of the sentences with his finger.

It was a sentence that meant there was no limit to the number of people they could bring.

“We’re not the only ones who were invited. There will definitely be a lot of people gathered in one place, so it’s not good to bring too many cult members.”

Yohan added the reason, his eyes shining.

“Due to the nature of my sorcery, it’s difficult to distinguish between allies and enemies. A small elite group would be better.”

“Hmm… That’s right. That makes sense.”

Chief Marim seemed convinced. He knew about Yohan’s strange sorcery.

A sorcery that was too bizarre to be called martial arts, and with unusual power. Chief Marim smiled slyly.

‘I’m really looking forward to seeing what he’ll show at the Cordial Martial Arts Gathering.’