Chapter 13
There were people who appeared belatedly at the spot where Cheon Ha-seong had disappeared. When they appeared, the place was empty, with no candidates or Head Instructors coming and going.
“That man is Cheon Ha-seong.”
“I have heard his name, but this is the first time I've seen his face. But is it true that he is the Young Supreme One's lover?”
“It seems so. Rumors are spreading widely that the Young Supreme One's Palace-Guarding Sand has disappeared. According to fast-spreading information, the Fourth Demonic Marquis's Residence found out about it first and contacted Cheon Ha-seong. Seeing as Cheon Ha-seong went to the Cult Leader's Hall because of it, it seems to be true.”
Those standing there all had the hoods of their cloaks pulled down deep, making it difficult to discern their faces.
“We will need to look into Cheon Ha-seong in more detail. There is no one among the Divine Cult's leadership who doesn't know of Cheon Ha-seong, but there is also no one who knows him properly, is there?”
“I had the same thought. And I have found out the detailed information; if you can spare the time, I will tell you.”
“I'll listen as we go.”
After they finished speaking, the two people vanished from that place a moment later.
Cheon Ha-seong had known for a while that there were people following him. It seemed that starting with them, numerous people would secretly follow him from now on to find out about him.
‘To think that Head Instructor Seo is the Young Supreme One.’
Even now, he felt it was absurd when he thought about it.
‘I knew she wasn't ordinary, but to be so fearless in front of the Cult Leader...’
Cheon Ha-seong shook his head.
Even if the Cult Leader doted on her to an extreme degree, it seemed Seo Hyo-eun sometimes crossed the line. But knowing she did it for him, a smile appeared on his face for no reason.
‘If she was the Young Supreme One, she should have given me a hint sooner. If she had…’
However, even Cheon Ha-seong couldn't think of what to say next. He had no idea what he would have done if she had.
To meet the people, Cheon Ha-seong had to go to the area where the common followers lived. The geography of that place was very familiar to Cheon Ha-seong.
This was because it was the place where he had lived continuously until he became a Head Instructor at the Martial Arts Academy.
The common followers rarely moved from a house once it was decided, so Cheon Ha-seong was able to meet the people without making a wasted trip.
Moreover, the time he arrived was when they would have returned from their workplaces, so there was no need to wait for anyone.
The first person he met was a man named Gi Mun-yong, who was five years older than Cheon Ha-seong. When he met Gi Mun-yong at the Martial Arts Academy, Cheon Ha-seong had been sixteen years old.
“I have come looking for someone.”
When Cheon Ha-seong said that loudly from outside the gate, the door opened and Gi Mun-yong came out. He seemed to think no one would come looking for him, and came out into the yard with a curious look, opened the gate, and was startled to find Cheon Ha-seong.
“Head Instructor! Good heavens. What brings you here, Head Instructor? Surely you didn't come all this way to see me?”
He couldn't hide his emotion at seeing Cheon Ha-seong again and revealed his feelings fully on his face. It was a face that didn't know what to do with itself from joy.
“Head Instructor, as it happens, I was always curious to hear how you were doing. Have you been well all this time? I prayed to the Demonic God that you would be well and always at peace.”
Cheon Ha-seong nodded and looked at Gi Mun-yong.
Since he hadn't come here to soothe his nostalgia, Cheon Ha-seong meticulously examined Gi Mun-yong's condition.
Gi Mun-yong also noticed that Cheon Ha-seong was examining his condition.
“Why… are you doing that, Head Instructor?”
“Have you continued to train even after leaving the Martial Arts Academy?”
“Head Instructor, please don't do that. I am more comfortable with you speaking informally to me.”
Since they had met as a candidate and a Head Instructor at the Martial Arts Academy, he seemed to find it awkward that Cheon Ha-seong was speaking formally to him.
“I cannot do that. Until I can confirm it is a situation where I can speak informally, I cannot do so.”
Gi Mun-yong realized that not just anyone gets to be spoken to informally by Cheon Ha-seong.
“I have continued to train. If you would permit it, I would like to spar with you, Head Instructor.”
Those were the very words Cheon Ha-seong had been waiting for.
“Then let's move to another spot.”
“Please wait just a moment, Head Instructor. My mother will worry if I don't go inside for long.”
Cheon Ha-seong gestured as if to tell him to hurry and go, and he soon went inside and came back out.
When he came out, he had also changed his clothes.
Seeing Gi Mun-yong come out, Cheon Ha-seong started walking first. Watching him head towards a nearby hill, Gi Mun-yong, who was following behind, smiled. Seeing Cheon Ha-seong find his way to the hill so well without asking reminded him again that he was from a common follower background.
Without saying why he had come, Cheon Ha-seong handed a spare sword to Gi Mun-yong.
“I should have brought my own sword.”
It wasn't a good one, but he had a sword too. He had had to spend a lot of money to acquire it, but to Gi Mun-yong, that sword was like his life.
However, Cheon Ha-seong wanted to check right then and there, so he told him to use his sword for now.
The two of them looked at each other and took their stances.
“Try to make me move from this spot. You may use any method you like.”
At that, a broad smile spread across Gi Mun-yong's face.
“You seem to be underestimating me greatly. Although I did not pass the Martial Arts Academy, I learned a great deal during my time there. And after leaving that place, I have trained without resting a single day based on what I realized then.”
“I am not doing this because I underestimate you. I hope you will surprise me.”
“Yes, Head Instructor.”
The smile vanished from Gi Mun-yong's face, and he rushed towards Cheon Ha-seong with a serious expression.
Then, as soon as Cheon Ha-seong's words were finished, he charged like a thunderbolt and swung his sword in what was almost a surprise attack. However, as if he had already expected it, Cheon Ha-seong lightly struck Gi Mun-yong's sword with his own.
At that, Gi Mun-yong was startled and flinched. The movement had looked endlessly light, but the moment the swords met, his arm felt a numbing shock as if it would fall off.
The shock was so great that he almost dropped his sword without realizing it. He barely managed not to drop the sword, but he couldn't help but retreat a few steps from the impact.
Gi Mun-yong, while wondering what was happening, composed himself again and swung his sword towards Cheon Ha-seong. However, it was the same this time as well. It was nothing special, just a simple downward strike of the sword, yet the impact was immense.
If he hadn't known Cheon Ha-seong beforehand, he would have thought he was using some kind of wicked sorcery.
When he launched himself forward again, this time Cheon Ha-seong struck Gi Mun-yong's body with a basic move of his Palm Art.
After being struck repeatedly, Gi Mun-yong stared at Cheon Ha-seong with a blank face.
He couldn't have come all this way for no reason, and he felt ashamed that he couldn't do anything and just kept showing such a state.
Gi Mun-yong composed himself again. From then on, he moved without rest and aimed for Cheon Ha-seong several times. Even while being beaten one-sidedly, he got up again and charged again.
It was an attempt that couldn't inflict any damage on his opponent, like hitting a rock with an egg, but he did not stop.
“The opportunity ends here.”
When Cheon Ha-seong suddenly spoke, Gi Mun-yong was having trouble even standing properly and was panting heavily.
“Head Instructor, please give me just a little more opportunity.”
Gi Mun-yong said with a pleading face.
“From now on, I too will fight while moving both my feet freely.”
It seemed he was saying that the opportunity to make him move his feet was now over.
Only after hearing that did Gi Mun-yong realize that Cheon Ha-seong hadn't moved from that spot until now. He had completely forgotten that fact until that moment.
“Will that be alright?”
Cheon Ha-seong asked as if he wouldn't start unless Gi Mun-yong gave his permission.
That was a problem to think about. If he wasn't careful, he felt he could be beaten to a pulp right here.
His thinking time grew long. Cheon Ha-seong waited silently in the meantime.
“Understood, Head Instructor.”
“If you feel like you're going to die, tell me you can't go on. Until you say those words, I will continue to attack.”
“...Yes.”
It felt like he had heard something incredible. It seemed he had to think very carefully before answering. However, this might be the last chance to come in his life. It felt like he couldn't stop, even if it meant dying in this spot.
From then on, Cheon Ha-seong's merciless attacks began. It was as if something unpleasant had happened at the Martial Arts Academy, and having no place to vent his anger, he had come to kill him. If that wasn't it, this couldn't be happening.
And yet, Gi Mun-yong couldn't tell him to stop. Every place he had been hit was so numb that it seemed he could no longer even feel the pain. Cheon Ha-seong was swinging his sword without taking it out of its scabbard. If he had done so with the blade, there would not have been a single unharmed spot left on Gi Mun-yong's body.
As time passed, Cheon Ha-seong became faster, more aggressive, and more cruel. He did so even while knowing his opponent couldn't block him in the slightest.
Gi Mun-yong barely endured, almost falling several times. Later, he actually did fall, but he strained to get back up. He did so for fear that Cheon Ha-seong would stop if he saw him unable to get up.
He still hadn't heard why they were having this duel, but Gi Mun-yong did not want to give up.
Cheon Ha-seong paused for a moment and looked at him.
“I'm... fine. I can still go on.”
“I didn't stop to see if you could go on. I'm just a little tired, so I'm just trying to take a rest before continuing.”
This person truly had no blood or tears.
Gi Mun-yong was realizing that his memories had been glorified. Cheon Ha-seong had always been this kind of person.
He also belatedly remembered that there had been countless times he had almost died because of Cheon Ha-seong while at the Martial Arts Academy.
It wasn't that he did it to torment him for no reason like others did; on the contrary, he had done it to help him endure and survive at the Martial Arts Academy.
However, as a result, the person who had hit Gi Mun-yong the most and driven him to the brink of death was also Cheon Ha-seong.
Cheon Ha-seong suddenly spun on the spot and used the rebound force to rush Gi Mun-yong. Then he quickly poked various spots on Gi Mun-yong's body with his fingertips and moved away.
Gi Mun-yong was so startled that he wondered if he was going to die just like that.
It was like having large iron nails driven into various parts of his body, and the shock was so great that his mind snapped to attention.
“Remember these spots. I did not apply force just now, but if you attack those places, you will be able to easily subdue an opponent. Of course, your opponent will not easily give up those spots, but keep them in mind.”
Gi Mun-yong nodded, dazed. He was no longer even aware that he was alive.
Cheon Ha-seong's teaching continued even after that.
Gi Mun-yong didn't know why Cheon Ha-seong was teaching him this. Was the test not over yet? Was he testing him right now? Why am I here right now? Will I really be able to return home?
Countless questions rose up endlessly.