Episode 113: The Holy Order (2)
Cheongyeom lunged forward, his foot slicing through the air like a spear. There was no way to dodge it. Demian deflected the attack with his forearm.
He hadn’t blocked it entirely, just redirected it, yet his arm throbbed with pain. It felt like he’d collided with a block of iron.
“As expected of a Master.”
A Master was a force to be reckoned with, even unarmed. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say their bodies were as tough as steel, impervious to blades.
There was no time to dwell on these thoughts. Cheongyeom was relentless in his assault.
Kick after kick came at Demian, his eyes darting to keep up.
“His movements are precise, no wasted effort. Simple, yet devastating.”
Truly befitting one of the Five Great Saints. Since his return, Demian had encountered many knights, but none with such straightforward and efficient attacks.
But Demian wasn’t an easy target either. He quickly analyzed Cheongyeom’s attacks, using his hands and forearms to fend them off.
A series of dull thuds echoed through the air.
Cheongyeom’s expression turned curious as he watched Demian skillfully parry his attacks.
“Well, well, I heard you were a swordsman. Where did you learn hand-to-hand combat?”
“I picked up a bit for emergencies.”
“Doesn’t seem like just ‘a bit.’ You’re better than our sect’s paladins.”
Cheongyeom’s face lit up with satisfaction.
“Interesting. I suppose I can step it up a notch.”
Demian studied Cheongyeom closely, noticing something peculiar.
Cheongyeom’s primary weapon was his fists. While he occasionally used kicks, he predominantly relied on his punches in actual combat.
Yet, in their exchange, Cheongyeom had only used his legs, specifically his right leg.
“I heard you favor martial arts.”
Cheongyeom burst into laughter at Demian’s observation.
“If I used my fists, this would be over too quickly. Using only my legs is my way of showing consideration.”
Demian chuckled at the notion.
Since his return, it was the first time someone had shown him such ‘consideration.’
In most cases, ‘consideration’ from an opponent was akin to being underestimated.
He couldn’t just stand by and accept being underestimated. Demian reached for the sword at his waist and stored it in a pocket dimension.
“What are you doing?”
Cheongyeom tilted his head, puzzled by the sight of a swordsman putting away his sword.
“How could I wield a weapon against someone of your age? I’ll continue to face you barehanded.”
Cheongyeom’s face went blank for a moment before he burst into laughter.
“Calling me old, are you? Are you saying you’re going easy on me?”
“If that offends you, I apologize. But my father always taught me to respect my elders…”
Cheongyeom laughed again.
“Do as you please. Just don’t blame me if you end up getting a good beating.”
Once more, Cheongyeom made the first move. He lunged forward, thrusting his right leg.
Demian twisted his body, evading the attack. Cheongyeom immediately retracted his leg and swung it at Demian like a whip.
The attacks were sharper and more threatening than before. Each block sent a jarring shock through Demian’s forearms.
“The wall of a Master is indeed high.”
Even using just one leg, Cheongyeom showed no openings. And he wasn’t even fighting seriously.
He was merely testing Demian’s abilities, probing with light jabs.
“To break through this, I need to reach the level of a Master.”
Masters were those who had transcended the pinnacle of technique to forge new paths.
Standing on that path allowed one to see things unimaginable to lower classes.
Thus, in his current state, Demian couldn’t defeat a Master.
Even if his mind held countless techniques and insights from Masters, it was the same.
“If this continues, I’ll lose.”
In truth, losing to a Master was expected for Demian.
But his pride wouldn’t let him accept defeat so easily.
“At the very least, I need to make him use his hands.”
Demian’s senses reached their peak. He focused all his attention on reading Cheongyeom’s movements.
At that moment, Cheongyeom raised his right leg high.
“Block this, and your arm might break!”
Cheongyeom’s heel came crashing down toward Demian’s crown.
Demian leaned back, narrowly avoiding the heel that grazed the tip of his nose.
The heel struck the ground with a force like a sledgehammer, embedding itself deep into the earth.
Using the momentum, Cheongyeom leaped into the air, twisting his body mid-flight.
He aimed another strike at Demian with his right shin.
“Let’s see if you can handle this!”
Cheongyeom shouted, his face alight with excitement.
The technique he was using now was one of his trump cards.
Though the movement was large, it was designed to catch opponents off guard, and the downward strike was incredibly fast.
Most couldn’t anticipate this attack and fell to it. Cheongyeom assumed Demian Haxen would be no different.
But just as Cheongyeom’s leg was about to slam into Demian’s collarbone, Demian leaped into the air.
He spun his body, letting Cheongyeom’s attack slide past him with a shoulder roll.
“What?”
Even Cheongyeom hadn’t expected this, surprise flashing across his face.
Demian landed on the ground, lying flat as Cheongyeom landed just a fraction of a second later.
Not missing the opportunity, Demian swept his leg low, kicking Cheongyeom’s legs out from under him.
Even Cheongyeom couldn’t defend against an attack in mid-air. As his legs were swept, his body tilted to one side.
He was about to faceplant into the ground.
As one of the Five Great Saints, he couldn’t afford such a disgrace. Cheongyeom caught himself with his hands, regaining his balance.
Rising to his feet, Cheongyeom looked at Demian with disbelief.
“How did you do that? It was as if you read my attack.”
“It was just luck that my move succeeded.”
Demian brushed the dirt from his clothes as he spoke. Despite Demian’s explanation, Cheongyeom’s face still held a hint of curiosity.
“Fascinating.”
But the curiosity was short-lived. A fierce smile spread across Cheongyeom’s face.
“I’ve never faced an opponent as interesting as you. Not even among the Five Great Saints.”
Cheongyeom clenched his fists. The atmosphere shifted dramatically.
The gentle old man was gone, replaced by a beast ready to pounce.
“Weren’t you not going to use your hands?”
“Did that bother you? I apologize for underestimating you.”
Cheongyeom seemed unfazed.
“Let’s do this properly from now on.”
Cheongyeom’s sole focus was now on the fight with Demian.
“This is troublesome. I’ve awakened Cheongyeom’s wild side.”
Earlier, Cheongyeom had been holding back, allowing Demian to land a successful attack.
That alone was an impressive feat. A Master was a being beyond human. Even if they were off guard, a mid-level fighter couldn’t exploit their openings.
Just as a dog’s teeth couldn’t kill a sleeping lion.
But the awakened Cheongyeom was different. Any remaining openings were now completely sealed.
“Still, I can’t back down.”
Demian readied himself, preparing for Cheongyeom’s imminent attack.
“Impressive. Truly impressive.”
Cheongyeom’s eyes gleamed with admiration.
Then, suddenly, the ground began to glow.
In the next moment, an invisible force pressed down on Demian’s entire body, as if unseen hands were weighing him down.
Demian looked at the ground in shock. It was a miracle he had seen before.
“Radiance?”
One of the Five Great Saints, Radiance, possessed the divine power to ‘enhance’ anything.
From physical abilities like strength and agility to the sharpness of weapons, and even gravity itself.
“Radiance! What are you doing?”
Sure enough, Cheongyeom shouted, glaring in a specific direction.
Demian followed Cheongyeom’s gaze.
A stunningly beautiful woman was watching them.
Her golden hair was reminiscent of spring. Her smile had an enchanting allure. Her voluptuous figure couldn’t be hidden even by her loose-fitting robes.
Radiance.
One of the Five Great Saints and the leader of the sect ‘Dazzling Pain.’
She had intervened in their duel.
“Cheongyeom, don’t get too excited.”
“How can you tell me to calm down after this?”
“I was merely following the orders of the Holy One.”
As Radiance stepped aside, an elderly woman appeared, leaning on a staff.
Her back was hunched like a hunchback, and one leg seemed lame.
Her body appeared frail, but upon seeing the Holy One’s face, those details faded away.
The Holy One’s eyes were deep and serene, like the night sky.
Even Demian found himself momentarily lost in their gaze.
“Cheongyeom, I asked Radiance to intervene. To stop the two of you.”
The Holy One spoke, her voice clear and pure. It snapped Demian back to reality.
Cheongyeom immediately knelt on the ground. Demian followed suit.
“Cheongyeom…”
The Holy One looked down at Cheongyeom with a weary expression.
“How could you raise your fists against a guest of our order?”
“Holy One! I proceeded with Sir Demian’s consent!”
Damian stared at Cheongyeom, utterly baffled. In response, Cheongyeom gave him a pleading look.
“Sir Damian, is it true?”
“Of course not. He attacked me out of nowhere.”
Damian wasn’t one to let things slide. He promptly reported the incident to the Sovereign.
The Sovereign’s eyebrows shot up in surprise, while Cheongyeom began to sweat profusely.
“I won’t let this matter rest. You’d better be prepared.”
At the Sovereign’s words, Cheongyeom looked as if the sky had fallen on him.
“Your Majesty…!”
Cheongyeom called out desperately, but the Sovereign merely turned his head away, ignoring him.
“Sir Damian, come with me. We need to discuss compensation.”
“Understood.”
Damian replied promptly.
“Cheongyeom, you should come too. We’ll need your input on the compensation.”
“Understood…”
Cheongyeom answered, his spirit visibly deflated.
The Sovereign turned to Damian, his expression softening into a kind smile, a stark contrast to how he had treated Cheongyeom.
“Shall we go, Sir Damian?”