Episode 8: The Disciple Looks to the Master, and the Master Consoles the Disciple (2)
Light Novel: Volume 1 Episode 8
Manhwa: Chapter 7-8
Chapter 3 Episode 8. The Disciple Looks to the Master, and the Master Consoles the Disciple (2)
Dam-ho lay sprawled on the ground for a while, not moving. Everyone thought he wouldn’t be able to get back up. Some even looked at Soo-kyung with expressions that suggested his attack had been too harsh.
Soo-kyung’s expression wasn’t exactly relaxed either. He hadn’t been able to overpower Dam-ho with the pure strength of his Five Elements Strange Form Fist and had to resort to using Plum Blossom Steps to take advantage of Dam-ho’s weakness.
Soo-kyung let out a quiet sigh.
“This should be enough. Any more, and…”
At that moment, Dam-ho, who had been lying motionless on the ground, finally struggled to his feet. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth, but the determination in his eyes as he stared at Soo-kyung remained unbroken.
Soo-kyung spoke,
“Junior Brother, I think it’s time to stop—”
“Continue.”
At that moment, Sage Hyun-geom’s voice rang out.
Soo-kyung looked at Sage Hyun-geom.
“But…!”
“Cheon-gyeong’s fighting spirit has yet to be broken. Are you planning to end the match when your opponent has not yet surrendered? I have no interest in passing on martial arts to someone so weak.”
Soo-kyung gritted his teeth.
Sage Hyun-geom’s intentions were clear.
Break Dam-ho’s will and rid him of his obsession and commitment to martial arts. He believed this was the best course of action for Dam-ho.
‘Don’t resent me, Junior Brother.’
Soo-kyung picked up a wooden sword nearby and rushed toward Dam-ho.
Soo-kyung’s movements, like scattered plum blossoms, dazzled Dam-ho’s eyes. Dam-ho took a step back. He wanted to get some distance and figure out his opponent’s intentions.
Swish!
Soo-kyung’s kick brushed past the tip of Dam-ho’s nose.
Leaf Sweeping Technique.
Like sweeping away the fallen leaves on the ground, Soo-kyung’s kick sliced through the air. Just as it seemed to pass by Dam-ho, his foot twisted at a strange angle and came crashing down toward the top of Dam-ho’s head.
Thwack!
Dam-ho crossed both arms to block Soo-kyung’s Leaf Sweeping Technique.
The force of the impact spread from both forearms and into his entire body. Dam-ho’s face twisted in pain from the intense shock.
Soo-kyung continued to skillfully combine the Leaf Sweeping Technique with the Twenty-Four Plum Blossoms Sword Technique. With sharp sword strikes and dazzling kicks, Dam-ho seemed unable to defend properly, retreating helplessly under the onslaught.
“Wh-what?”
A look of pity appeared on the faces of the first-generation disciples watching. Although many of them didn’t particularly like Dam-ho, seeing him being so one-sidedly pushed back naturally stirred feelings of sympathy.
Un-gyeong spoke to Moo-kyung.
“This is just the way it is. No matter how strong someone’s will is, they cannot overcome their fundamental difference. The path of a martial artist doesn’t suit Cheon-gyeong.”
“Still—”
“You are the one who will lead the future of Mount Hua, Senior Brother.”
Un-gyeong didn’t say anything more after those words. However, his intentions were clearly
conveyed to Moo-kyung.
“Tsk!”
Moo-kyung clicked his tongue in frustration.
Meanwhile, Soo-kyung was relentlessly pressing Dam-ho. With a continuous barrage of sword strikes and kicks, Dam-ho had no place to retreat and could only huddle defensively.
“This is the end.”
Soo-kyung thrust his sword toward Dam-ho.
It was the Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom technique. It was a technique so spectacular and dazzling that it gave the illusion that countless plum blossoms of Mount Hua were blooming all at once.
Under the rain of plum blossoms, there seemed to be no room for escape for Dam-ho.
Soo-kyung was certain of his victory.
‘This is it.’
At that moment, Dam-ho’s eyes glimmered.
Perhaps due to excitement, Soo-kyung’s movements became exaggerated, and as a result, his form broke down.
Pop!
Dam-ho stomped the ground hard with his right foot.
One step forward, and a single punch.
Thwack!
Dam-ho’s fist pierced through Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom and landed squarely on Soo-kyung’s chest. Fortunately, he was protected by his internal energy, so he didn’t suffer much damage.
For the first time, a look of astonishment appeared on Soo-kyung’s face. If Dam-ho’s fist had been charged with normal internal energy, his chest might have been completely shattered by that blow. It was a strike that exploited a perfect opening, a fierce counterattack.
Soo-kyung felt a chill run through his chest.
He had underestimated Dam-ho because of his limp and hence, did not expect him to have an unexpected trick up his sleeve. And that single move was powerful enough to send shivers down Soo-kyung’s spine.
‘If his punch had been charged with internal energy, I would have died from that blow.’
Soo-kyung looked at Sage Hyun-geom without realizing it. He could see that Sage Hyun-geom was wearing a displeased expression. However, he didn’t seem to have any intention of ending the match.
‘Then?’
There was still an opportunity.
Soo-kyung swept at Dam-ho’s waist with his Leaf Sweeping Technique.
Thwack!
Dam-ho’s face twisted in pain. The impact was so severe that it felt as though his spine had bent.
Crimson blood trickled from the corner of Dam-ho’s mouth. It was evidence that he suffered not just an external injury but a serious internal one.
As Dam-ho staggered, Sage Hyun-geom’s voice echoed in his ears.
“You undoubtedly have remarkable talent. That last strike is proof of it. But without a strong body and internal energy to back it up, even extraordinary talent is useless. This is reality. So, face it and give up.”
“I… can’t do that.”
Dam-ho shook his head.
He had bitten his lip so hard that blood was flowing from them.
His whole body ached, as if he’d been repeatedly struck by a sledgehammer. Especially his left knee—it throbbed with pain. He wanted nothing more than to lie down and let it all end. It would bring relief.
But Dam-ho stood firm.
Acknowledging reality, as Sage Hyun-geom said, wasn’t difficult. But doing so would mean denying his very identity.
The single-minded determination to become a strong martial artist, all the effort he had put in up to this point, would be for nothing.
Seeing the unyielding determination in Dam-ho’s eyes, Sage Hyun-geom’s gaze grew even colder.
“What are you doing, Soo-kyung? The match isn’t over yet. How long do you plan to stand there idly?”
At Sage Hyun-geom’s icy voice, Soo-kyung flinched.
‘Damn it!’
Gritting his teeth, Soo-kyung launched another attack at Dam-ho. With just one strike from the Leaf Sweeping Technique, Dam-ho was already in no condition to defend himself.
To continue attacking someone who could no longer protect themselves? It was no different from being ordered to mercilessly inflict violence on someone defenseless.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Soo-kyung’s Leaf Sweeping Technique repeatedly struck Dam-ho’s entire body. Each time, Dam-ho’s frame shook like a battered leather sack.
Bones cracked, and his entire body was covered in dark, bloodied bruises, but Dam-ho stood his ground to the very end.
Finally, Soo-kyung shouted in frustration.
“Please, give up, Cheon-gyeong!”
Even for Soo-kyung, beating him felt far from comfortable.
What he had wanted was a fair duel, not this kind of merciless violence. However, Sage Hyun-geom’s cold gaze prevented him from stopping.
“Cheon-gyeong…”
“Ugh!”
The scene was so brutal that many of the first-generation disciples turned their heads away, unable to watch. Even Un-gyeong, who had opposed Dam-ho learning martial arts, averted his gaze.
“Just fall already.”
It had gotten so bad that even Un-gyeong said that much.
Dam-ho’s condition was utterly miserable.
The blood vessels in his eyes had burst, making the world appear completely red. In that blurry world, Dam-ho no longer felt any pain. The pain had numbed his nerves.
“Kueugh!”
Dam-ho coughed up blood. The black blood staining his chest revealed just how severe his internal injuries were.
Dam-ho knew that he couldn’t hold on much longer. His will remained steadfast, but his body had already reached its limit.
Dam-ho looked at Sage Hyun-geom one last time. In that moment, Sage Hyun-geom flinched.
It was because of the look in Dam-ho’s eyes.
The desperation, the intense killing intent, and the unyielding ferocity in his gaze disturbed Sage Hyun-geom deeply.
It was a sight that didn’t belong in a sect like Mount Hua, a sect of purity and Taoist virtue. The sight of Dam-ho, so fierce and unrelenting, caused Sage Hyun-geom to bite his lip.
A deep, instinctive rejection surged from deep within his heart. His heart was rejecting the very existence of Dam-ho.
He knew this was the moment to stop.
If he didn’t, Dam-ho wouldn’t just be unable to walk the path of a martial artist—he wouldn’t be able to live a normal life at all.
‘But…’
The rejection swelling in his chest prevented him from speaking. In the meantime, Dam-ho had endured a few more blows from Soo-kyung’s Leaf Sweeping Technique.
Barely able to move his lips, Dam-ho murmured,
“I will… never give up…”
Thwack!
In that moment, Soo-kyung’s final blow landed squarely on Dam-ho’s temple.
The thread holding Dam-ho’s consciousness snapped. Like a kite with its string cut, he collapsed in a heap.
“Cheon-gyeong!”
Only then did Moo-kyung and Han Soyu rush toward Dam-ho.
Soo-kyung closed his eyes and lifted his head. Sweat—or perhaps tears—was trickling down his forehead.
At that moment, Sage Hyun-geom’s voice echoed throughout the hall.
“What are you all waiting for? Losers should get out of the True Martial Temple.”
At the sound of that frosty voice, the defeated disciples hoisted Dam-ho onto their shoulders and carried him out of the True Martial Temple.
Without looking back, Sage Hyun-geom said,
“The sparring continues.”
* * *
“Junior Uncle!”
Several first-generation disciples burst into Sage Hyun-so’s quarters, one of them carrying the badly injured Dam-ho on his back.
Sage Hyun-so leaped off the bed in shock.
“Dam-ho! What happened to you?”
“He got hurt… during sparring…”
“Sparring? Does he look like someone who just came out from a spar? He looks like someone who fought a life-and-death match! What on earth… Never mind, lay him down quickly.”
The first-generation disciples hurriedly laid Dam-ho down on the bed.
Dam-ho’s condition was dire— no, it was the worst.
His breathing was shallow, and blood was still flowing from his nose and mouth. In his state, it was a wonder he was still alive.
“Ho… can you hear me?”
Sage Hyun-so’s voice trembled uncontrollably as he called out. His usually composed heart was now in turmoil at the sight of his only disciple in such a state.
Dam-ho didn’t respond. No, he couldn’t respond. He was hovering on the edge of life and death.
“Who did this to you?”
“Junior Uncle, please remain calm.”
“Calm? Yes, I must stay calm.”
Sage Hyun-so’s trembling hands frantically reached into his robe. He pulled out a small wooden box.
Opening the box, a small black pill was revealed. Sage Hyun-so quickly mixed the pill with water and carefully poured it into Dam-ho’s mouth.
“Dam-ho, you must live… Where do you think you’re going, leaving your master behind?”
After administering the entire pill, Sage Hyun-so urgently began massaging Dam-ho’s entire body.
“Ho… Dam-ho, you fool…”
Sage Hyun-so’s cries echoed through the night sky.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
If there are any errors, whether it be grammatical, spelling, translation, or website-related issues, feel free to let me know. (´◡`) Anyway, thank you for reading!