Chapter : 74
In Hwanghwa-hyeon, the two sisters’ rare fair complexions drew murmurs from the officials.
Since they were at the age of vigorous youth, it was only natural that eyes would wander.
“Hmph!”
As if she had heard their whispers, Dang Arin shot a sharp glare.
She didn’t like people talking about her behind her back.
“Humhum!”
“Keh-heh!”
Startled by Dang Arin’s sharp gaze, the officials quietly averted their eyes.
Meanwhile, Dang Harin focused all her attention on Seok Jin-ho.
She worried because she knew her father’s abilities better than anyone else.
“Don’t overexert yourself, Eung-gong.”
“I understand. But… I’d prefer if you changed how you address me.”
“How would you like me to call you?”
Seok Jin-ho felt slightly uncomfortable at Dang Harin clinging to him as if it were some personal dispute.
Although he wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with such treatment, the saying “men and women should keep their distance” came to mind, and she seemed too close.
“Call me however you feel comfortable.”
“Then should I call you Seok-ga?”
“Call me Gwanju or Gongja.”
“Hoho! Got it, Gwanju-nim.”
Dang Harin found Seok Jin-ho’s serious expression amusing.
It was unexpectedly fun to tease him.
However, Dang Arin beside her made a disgusted face and gagged as if she were about to vomit.
“What kind of situation is this?”
“I… I don’t know either.”
“What exactly happened?”
Jeong Maryung and Tak Yun looked astonished.
The sisters’ demeanor was so different from what they had seen before that they stared in disbelief.
Other officials felt the same.
They tilted their heads in confusion at the sudden change.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes. Let’s begin immediately.”
“Good.”
Seok Jin-ho smiled quietly as Dang Harin made final adjustments to his clothing and walked toward Dang Gun-seong, who was already standing in place.
The closer he got, the heavier the invisible pressure pressed down on him.
“So this is how it starts.”
Seok Jin-ho had long understood Dang Gun-seong’s intentions.
On the surface, he offered advice, but in reality, he wanted to test him.
Whether he had the ability to safely entrust his daughter and, if so, to what extent.
At the same time, it was a warning.
“I have no intention of touching her anyway.”
Women from the Sacheon Dang family had always been popular.
Even without mastering poison techniques, they were naturally resilient, making them sought-after as wives or concubines by martial clans and noble families alike.
But Seok Jin-ho was different.
It wasn’t his preference, and at the moment, he had no interest in women.
“Breaking the cycle of reincarnation is more important.”
At first, he had been delighted by his unique abilities, but now that he had achieved his long-awaited goal, he only wished to rest.
He wanted to die like anyone else, and he had recently discovered a clue to do so.
Although it wasn’t certain, it seemed possible, and just focusing on that occupied all his time.
Step by step, he walked, lost in thought, and soon arrived in front of Dang Gun-seong.
However, Dang Gun-seong’s eyes sparkled in surprise.
Even under his influence, Seok Jin-ho didn’t seem pressured.
And this was the aura of one of the Three Kings.
“Namelessness isn’t an empty title, huh.”
Dang Gun-seong smiled with interest.
Even Dang Mu-rin, his son and one of the “Six Dragons,” would stiffen at such an aura.
Yet Seok Jin-ho approached with an utterly calm face.
“As a senior in the martial world, I’ll yield three moves. Do you need more?”
“You don’t have to yield three moves.”
“Hahaha!”
Dang Gun-seong’s smile deepened at Seok Jin-ho’s bold words.
But observing from afar, Dang Gun-myeong frowned, thinking Seok Jin-ho was overconfident.
Moreover, his elder brother didn’t go easy on anyone.
“Press him harder if anything.”
“Do your best, Dad!”
Unlike Dang Gun-myeong’s concern, Dang Arin cheered excitedly.
She hoped Seok Jin-ho would be properly humbled and Dang Harin would be disappointed.
“Be careful, Gwanju-nim.”
But unlike her sister, Dang Harin didn’t mind if Seok Jin-ho got thoroughly beaten.
She hadn’t come here with such trivial intentions.
She folded her hands neatly and gazed at Seok Jin-ho with clear, sharp eyes.
Flash!
Seok Jin-ho stomped the ground, instantly closing the distance with Dang Gun-seong like a divine strike.
Swoosh!
Simultaneously, a sharp tearing sound split the courtyard.
His iron sword cut through the air toward Dang Gun-seong’s neck.
Slash!
But Dang Gun-seong was no pushover.
This was also his area of expertise.
He dodged Seok Jin-ho’s single strike with minimal movement and smiled provocatively.
He could counterattack but had said he’d allow two more strikes.
Tsk tsk tsk tsk!
Seok Jin-ho chuckled and channeled his martial energy.
Soon, blue sword energy erupted along his blade, surging toward Dang Gun-seong.
Swish swish swish!
The sharp sword aura formed a net, blocking all of Dang Gun-seong’s escape routes.
It seemed to cover every direction in an instant.
Yet even this brilliant swordsmanship couldn’t hold Dang Gun-seong.
As if to prove that gaps could always be created, he shattered the oncoming sword energy with his blackened hands, carving out space.
“One move left.”
“I know.”
Wooooosh!
Despite Dang Gun-seong’s calm words, Seok Jin-ho’s expression didn’t change.
If anything, he smiled meaningfully and unleashed his Hwanwon Cheonroe Divine Skill fully.
Energy surged along the blade, an exquisite display of matured martial skill.
“Then it’s my turn to move properly after a long time.”
Seok Jin-ho smiled.
He could have avoided this duel, but Dang Gun-seong was the perfect opponent to tame his newly transformed body.
Daily sparring with Tak Yun, Jeong Maryung, or Chae So-gang wasn’t enough due to the massive gap in skill.
But Dang Gun-seong was different.
Kkgrrrk!
Even pushing his transformed body to the extreme, he could handle it, so Seok Jin-ho swung his sword with joy.
Kraaaang!
Dang Gun-seong’s expression changed at the terrifying sword strikes.
He realized this attack was on a whole different level and summoned his energy seriously.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
But Seok Jin-ho’s assault was just beginning.
As Dang Gun-seong blocked the energy, Seok Jin-ho pressed on relentlessly, throwing sword strikes without pause.
His left hand moved constantly too.
Pff pff pff!
Even while striking, he targeted vital points with his left hand, astonishing Dang Gun-seong.
Seok Jin-ho’s movements were far from amateurish; they were polished and skilled, beyond what one would expect at his level.
Thud! Pff!
Even the force in each strike was extraordinary.
The technique of handling energy seemed like the mastery of an experienced martial artist rather than someone at an intermediate stage.
Dang Gun-seong was impressed and puzzled, wondering who had trained him.
Zzeeee!
Yet, despite observing Seok Jin-ho’s moves, no origin came to mind.
Even after years in the martial world, there was nothing similar.
Rumble!
“There are few martial arts with accompanying thunder-like effects… Could it be?”
Dang Gun-seong thought of a legendary place but shook his head.
There was no connection between Seok Jin-ho and that place.
“Well, let’s see how it goes a bit more.”
A smile appeared on Dang Gun-seong’s lips.
Excited after a long time, he abandoned caution and fought at full strength.
Pff pff pff!
As a result, a storm raged across the courtyard with every clash.
Yet, the advantage gradually shifted to Dang Gun-seong.
Seok Jin-ho’s energy weakened compared to the beginning.
Pff pff! Pff!
But despite extreme energy consumption, Seok Jin-ho’s strikes became sharper.
He precisely exploited Dang Gun-seong’s openings, using his whole body—hands, feet, knees—not just his sword.
Thud!
Dang Gun-seong blocked a surprise knee strike with his palm, extending his left hand.
At the same time, he closed the distance and pressed toward Seok Jin-ho.
Papapapap!
Both hands struck like lightning, targeting Seok Jin-ho’s neck, chest, sides, and abdomen.
Even without using poison techniques, Dang Gun-seong’s attacks were deadly.
Yet Seok Jin-ho did not yield.
Having faced much of the Sacheon Dang martial arts, he could block them without difficulty.
“Tsk! Is this as far as it goes?”
Seok Jin-ho realized this was the limit.
He could have defeated Dang Gun-seong, but pushing beyond that would have damaged his body, requiring months of recovery.
And there was no reason to win.
So he relaxed and lowered his hands.
“Why stop?”
“No need to continue. I dislike falling disgracefully.”
“You still seem to have energy left.”
“This is enough. The standard is met.”
“Hahaha!”
Dang Gun-seong laughed heartily.
Bold words, but Seok Jin-ho had the right to say them, hence his laughter.
“And you didn’t use poison or stealth techniques either.”
“I don’t think using them would have made much difference.”
“Impossible.”
Seok Jin-ho shrugged at Dang Gun-seong’s meaningful gaze.
But Dang Gun-seong still looked at him strangely.
“I’m curious. Who trained you?”
“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t know. It’s a very unknown place. But it’s not a strange one; I believe you, the head of the family, would know that.”
“I know. It’s not the martial arts of demons or heretics. But these moves are new to me.”
Dang Gun-seong smacked his lips in excitement.
It had been a long time since he had such a proper duel, and he regretted stopping now.
The earlier question resurfaced.
“As I said, it’s not a well-known place.”
“Well, I’ll take your word for it.”
Seeing Seok Jin-ho unwilling to explain further, Dang Gun-seong stopped questioning.
Instead, with a noticeably changed expression from before the duel, he approached Seok Jin-ho.
But someone approached him first.
“Are you alright?”
“Huh?”
Dang Gun-seong froze at the sight of his eldest daughter checking on another man before even him.
Dang Arin, following her sister, smirked and nudged Dang Gun-seong’s side with her elbow.
“Stop staring. Even if you look, your sister won’t notice.”
“Huh…”
“The shock seems big.”
Dang Gun-myeong, following Dang Arin, chuckled.
But he also understood.
Any father would be shocked to see the daughter he had cherished behaving like this.
But children couldn’t remain in their parents’ arms forever.
“You’ll probably cry at her wedding day.”
“I’d say that’s quite likely.”
Dang Gun-myeong shook his head, unable to take his eyes off Seok Jin-ho and Dang Harin
