Chapter 390: The Voice
Sun Na-seung chanted the endless verses of the Abhidhamma, a sacred text passed down through the So-rae Eum Temple, as he performed his martial arts form.
The Brahman Method.
His slender body began to sway as if his bones had vanished, moving in a way that seemed almost comical. In the world of martial arts, where maintaining a firm stance is paramount, such a fluid motion seemed almost absurd to call a martial arts form.
Yet, Namgung Jincheon remained vigilant.
He knew all too well that beneath that seemingly weak and wavering movement lay a power that far surpassed ordinary martial arts.
The Two Observations.
In an instant, Sun Na-seung’s arms extended to nearly twice their length, as if his joints had been forcibly dislocated. His arms lashed out like whips, aiming for Namgung Jincheon.
Namgung Jincheon leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack.
Boom—
A heavy sound reverberated, and a cloud of dust enveloped the area. Hyun Gong, standing nearby, felt the tremor through the soles of his feet.
But Sun Na-seung’s assault was far from over.
The Dhammi Kaya.
Lowering himself to the ground like a slithering snake, Sun Na-seung emerged from the dust. His arms shot out like serpents from the underbrush, targeting Namgung Jincheon.
Namgung Jincheon deftly stepped on Sun Na-seung’s fingertips mid-air, flipping over and slashing at Sun Na-seung’s hand. A small drop of blood appeared on Sun Na-seung’s hand.
“Hmm.”
It was a flashy exchange, but ultimately fruitless.
From Sun Na-seung’s perspective, it was a minor setback.
Frustrated, Sun Na-seung shouted to Gwang Yeom-ra and Jwa Ho-beop.
“Get out here already!”
Gwang Yeom-ra responded immediately.
“We’re waiting for the right moment, don’t worry!”
When Hyun Gong and Namgung Jincheon faced off against Sun Na-seung and his three disciples, the fight was fairly balanced.
But with the arrival of Gwang Yeom-ra and Jwa Ho-beop, the scales seemed to tip. It looked as though the Demonic Sect might soon overpower Hyun Gong and Namgung Jincheon.
Indeed, the Demonic Sect’s advantage was becoming apparent. Namgung Jincheon and Hyun Gong were forced to fend off Sun Na-seung and his disciples while also keeping an eye on Gwang Yeom-ra and Jwa Ho-beop, leaving them on the defensive.
Yet, the situation refused to reach a conclusion.
Sun Na-seung knew why. Gwang Yeom-ra and Jwa Ho-beop were dragging their feet.
Sun Na-seung urged them on.
“Hurry up!”
“Alright, alright, we’re on it. Your martial arts are so unfamiliar, we don’t know how to coordinate with you…”
Gwang Yeom-ra made excuses.
But Hyun Gong’s mind was still echoing with his own inner voice.
’…Sun Na-seung. That monk keeps glancing our way, doesn’t he?’
Indeed, Sun Na-seung frequently cast sidelong glances at Gwang Yeom-ra and Jwa Ho-beop.
Whether he was seeking their help or looking for weaknesses was unclear.
Of course, Gwang Yeom-ra thought it likely that Hyun Gong’s words were lies. After all, Hyun Gong had a reputation for deception.
In the realm of trickery, no one surpassed Hyun Gong.
But the problem was, they only had one life.
‘What if, by some chance, Hyun Gong was telling the truth?’
Regret would come too late.
Moreover, there was reason to believe Hyun Gong this time. Sun Na-seung had said it himself.
‘You’re already damned. You’re sure to fall into hell…’
Gwang Yeom-ra felt a growing unease.
Eventually, Gwang Yeom-ra sent a mental message to Jwa Ho-beop to seek his opinion.
Hey, Jwa Ho-beop.
What?
If Sun Na-seung finds a weakness while we’re fighting bravely, what do you think will happen? Would he attack us?
Nah. He wouldn’t attack us… would he?
Gwang Yeom-ra posed another question.
What if an opportunity arises to sacrifice us?
Sacrifice? What kind of sacrifice?
If a moment comes where he can kill those righteous fools by taking our lives, would Sun Na-seung attack us? Like, skewering us along with them.
That…
Jwa Ho-beop hesitated, unable to give a clear answer.
But there was no need to hear the rest. They were in agreement.
Sun Na-seung might not hesitate to sacrifice Jwa Ho-beop and Gwang Yeom-ra to kill his enemies. In fact, he probably would.
Gwang Yeom-ra thought this as he glanced at Sun Na-seung. Their eyes met.
Sun Na-seung was looking at him too. A chill ran down his spine.
‘Damn it!’
Could you really call someone an ally if you couldn’t trust them with your back, or even your side?
Of course not. That’s why Gwang Yeom-ra and Jwa Ho-beop couldn’t fully commit to the fight.
Sun Na-seung, unaware of the full story, was frustrated, while Gwang Yeom-ra and Jwa Ho-beop were anxious. A strange stalemate ensued.
Thanks to this, Namgung Jincheon and Hyun Gong found a brief respite. Namgung Jincheon whispered to Hyun Gong.
“Jeong-eon.”
“Yes.”
“I’ve been handling Sun Na-seung so far. But with the situation changing, you might have to face him.”
“Understood.”
“If you find yourself defending against Sun Na-seung’s techniques, be careful.”
“It’s alright. I can compensate for the difference in internal energy with skill.”
Hyun Gong replied, and Namgung Jincheon brushed his disheveled hair back behind his ear.
“That’s not the issue. Sun Na-seung has mastered a strange martial art.”
“I know. He’s been showing off bizarre techniques all along.”
“It’s more than that. Sun Na-seung has learned a technique to absorb his opponent’s internal energy. He hasn’t used it today, but…”
Hyun Gong looked at Namgung Jincheon in disbelief.
“Absorb internal energy?”
“Yes. Don’t let his blood touch yours. Even deflecting his palm with your forearm is risky. If your palms meet, it’s over. You’ll feel your internal energy being drained at an alarming rate.”
“That’s…”
Hyun Gong now understood why Namgung Jincheon had been so defensive. Even defending wasn’t easy.
Realizing there was another restriction, Hyun Gong felt an overwhelming sense of frustration.
To make matters worse, Gwang Yeom-ra and Jwa Ho-beop showed no signs of actively opposing Sun Na-seung.
In truth, it was fortunate enough that they weren’t, but human desires know no bounds.
Amidst the tense situation, a welcome voice called out.
“Namgung Jincheon, sir!”
Dang Mu-jin was running towards Hyun Gong and Namgung Jincheon.
Hyun Gong glanced behind Dang Mu-jin. Many of the Demonic Sect’s warriors lay dead.
The martial artists of the Kunlun Sect, utilizing the advantages of their formation, had managed to hold off the Demonic Sect’s forces.
Hyun Gong was quietly impressed.
’…As expected, he’s quite something.’
When it comes to facing multiple opponents, there’s no one like Dang Mu-jin. He’s a friend who becomes stronger in the face of the weak.
Dang Mu-jin spoke to Namgung Jincheon.
“I’m late. It seems things are tough here too.”
“Now that you’re here, we should fight well from now on.”
The core warriors of the Demonic Sect began to approach Dang Mu-jin’s group again. The brief stalemate was over.
And at that moment, Hyun Gong realized something peculiar.
As he wiped the blood from his sword with his sleeve, he whispered to Dang Mu-jin.
“Dang Mu-jin.”
“What?”
“Say something. Anything.”
“What do you mean?”
Hyun Gong tilted his head slightly, urging Dang Mu-jin again.
“Lower your voice a bit.”
“Why are you talking nonsense in such a tense situation?”
“I’m not joking. It’s important.”
Dang Mu-jin and Hyun Gong locked eyes. There was no playfulness in Hyun Gong’s gaze.
Indeed, Hyun Gong wasn’t one to joke in urgent moments.
“Ah, like this?”
Hyun Gong shook his head.
“Too low. Raise it a bit.”
“Ah, is this better?”
At that moment, Hyun Gong was filled with a sense of exhilaration.
’…There’s a possibility!’
Every time he encountered Gwang Yeom-ra, Hyun Gong felt a strange familiarity.
And now he understood why.
Dang Mu-jin’s voice and manner of speaking were remarkably similar to Gwang Yeom-ra’s. Lowering his voice slightly made it almost indistinguishable.
Just then, Gwang Yeom-ra charged at Hyun Gong. Hyun Gong drew his sword to block Gwang Yeom-ra’s attack and sent a mental message to Dang Mu-jin.
Sun Na-seung’s three disciples were approaching Dang Mu-jin instead of Hyun Gong.
Though he wanted to use his poison and skills, doing so might break Namgung Jincheon and Hyun Gong’s defensive line.
Dang Mu-jin ran his finger along the flat of his sword, coating it with poison, and aimed it at Sun Na-seung’s disciples.
He sent a mental message to Hyun Gong.
You say my voice is similar to Gwang Yeom-ra’s? I don’t feel that at all.
Trust me. It’s almost identical, so be confident. And remember, Gwang Yeom-ra seems to subtly hold the upper hand in his relationship with Jwa Ho-beop.
In the past, a naive Dang Mu-jin might not have understood why Hyun Gong was saying this.
But now, Dang Mu-jin immediately grasped the meaning behind Hyun Gong’s words. There was a small Hyun Gong in his mind.
Thus, Dang Mu-jin couldn’t help but praise Hyun Gong.
Hyungong launched into a tale of humility.
“Can you believe it? We’re up against six of them. Is there anything more cowardly than six attacking three?”
“Alright, I get it. Just trust me.”
Dang Mujin swung his poison-laced sword, simultaneously launching a flurry of Rainstorm Needles with his left hand, taking on the three disciples of Seonnaseung. All the while, he kept a keen eye on the whereabouts of Jwahobeop.
Jwahobeop circled the battlefield, looking for the perfect moment to intervene. In contrast, Seonnaseung paid little attention to Jwahobeop’s movements, considering him an ally, unlike Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop, who saw Seonnaseung as a potential threat.
Even when Jwahobeop passed behind him, Seonnaseung remained unfazed.
“Hmph!”
At that moment, Seonnaseung lunged forward, unleashing a chilling martial art from the Soraeumsa school. His arms twisted grotesquely as he targeted Namgung Jincheon.
Namgung Jincheon evaded the attack with a graceful maneuver, but he had no opportunity to counterattack. However, Dang Mujin didn’t miss the fact that Jwahobeop was right behind Seonnaseung.
Hyungong’s voice pierced Dang Mujin’s ear.
“Now!”
Hyungong didn’t need to signal; Dang Mujin had already spotted the same opportunity.
Dang Mujin lowered his voice and urgently sent a message to Jwahobeop.
“Jwahobeop, now’s your chance!”
Jwahobeop was startled by the sudden voice of Gwangyeomra.
“What chance?”
Then he realized that Seonnaseung, the ‘potential enemy,’ was standing right in front of him with his back completely exposed.
The situation was clear, and with the voice of Gwangyeomra, whom he trusted, Jwahobeop acted without hesitation. He drew his sword and, with the skill of a master, struck at Seonnaseung’s back.
Slash!
A long gash appeared on Seonnaseung’s back, blood spraying everywhere. If Seonnaseung hadn’t twisted his body at the last moment, he would have been cleaved in two.
Jwahobeop shouted triumphantly.
“Ha ha! I did it!”
He looked at Gwangyeomra, expecting praise. But what he saw was Gwangyeomra’s shocked expression, mouth agape.
“You… you…!”
Gwangyeomra finally shouted.
“You idiot! What have you done?”
“Why? He was a potential enemy!”
“When there’s a clear enemy, why would you target a potential one first?”
“You told me to!”
“When did I ever?”
Their conversation spiraled into confusion. Neither Jwahobeop nor Gwangyeomra could make sense of the situation. Jwahobeop felt let down by Gwangyeomra’s brazen attitude, while Gwangyeomra was bewildered by Jwahobeop’s impulsive actions.
Of course, the most shocked were Seonnaseung and his disciples, who had just witnessed their master being attacked.
Seonnaseung coughed up a significant amount of blood, staggering backward as he looked at Jwahobeop.
“Cough, cough. A potential enemy…? So you see me as an enemy?”
Caught off guard by Gwangyeomra’s unexpected reaction, Jwahobeop scrambled to justify himself, offering a sort of excuse.
“Didn’t you call us discarded bodies earlier? Said we’d fall into hell? And now you want to be treated as an ally? Shameless monk!”
Gwangyeomra was on the verge of losing it.
“Jwahobeop! Just shut up!”
Jwahobeop complied, though he couldn’t help but look at Gwangyeomra with a slightly aggrieved expression.
As Jwahobeop, Gwangyeomra, Seonnaseung, and his disciples slowly backed away from each other, the confrontation between the orthodox and the demonic sects naturally evolved into a three-way standoff.
Hyungong was pleased. This was the very essence of the strategy of dividing the world into three parts. And with Dang Mujin’s group being the most powerful among the three, it was an ideal situation.
Hyungong sent a message to Dang Mujin.
“Well done, Dang Mujin!”
“Ah, it was nothing.”
Dang Mujin smiled contentedly. Once Seonnaseung succumbed to his injuries, dealing with Gwangyeomra and Jwahobeop would be a breeze.
Seonnaseung clung to a nearby tree, gasping for breath, then gestured to his disciples.
“My life hangs by a thread, yet there are so many souls to save. I cannot abandon them. In this state, I won’t reach nirvana. Help me.”
One of Seonnaseung’s disciples stepped forward, clasping his hands in respect. He offered his palms to Seonnaseung, who took them.
Within moments, the disciple collapsed, lifeless, his chest no longer rising.
The suddenness of it all left Dang Mujin and Hyungong stunned.
“Is he… dead?”
Namgung Jincheon, however, was less surprised. He frowned and spoke.
“I told you, Seonnaseung has mastered a bizarre martial art.”
“Could it be…?”
“Yes.”
Seonnaseung placed his palm on the disciple’s head, chanting a prayer, then turned around with a resolute posture.
The bleeding from Seonnaseung’s back had stopped, and his aura was fiercer than before he was struck.
Namgung Jincheon spoke.
“It’s the Star Absorption Technique.”