Dokmaeuiseon - Chapter 77
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 77
‘Damn. Is this as far as I go?’
Jung Myeong’s steps came to a halt.
As he emerged from the cave, a tight encirclement had already been formed outside.
“Hehe… You’ve arrived?”
“You look quite pitiful?”
“Thanks to… the Physician.”
Moreover, Blood Hand Dog who had come with him was being held hostage.
‘This is troublesome.’
Even for Jung Myeong, who usually acted with decisive determination, this situation was beyond his expectations.
It was a cruel thought, but.
If Blood Hand Dog were dead instead, he would have immediately broken through everything.
But with him being held hostage like this, he couldn’t easily abandon him.
‘I don’t have any particular affection for that guy.’
Still, he was someone who had come with him.
Taking care of him was only natural.
If the one holding Blood Hand Dog hostage had planned this from the beginning, it meant he wasn’t an easy opponent.
‘So they’re already one move ahead from the moment they set up the board. Their scheming is quite impressive.’
Unfortunately.
That difficult opponent was revealing himself from behind.
“Hehe… Just arriving now?”
It was Ju Tae-gong.
Jung Myeong tensed up upon seeing him.
‘Ju Tae-gong. Of all people, it had to be him…’
How could Jung Myeong not know this man’s true nature hidden behind his decrepit appearance?
He too had been involved in the Hangzhou Martial World for quite a long time.
It was natural for him to know about the masters of the Hangzhou Martial World.
Among them, Ju Tae-gong was one of those recorded in his memory.
Which meant he was that much of a master.
Looking now, the people beside him were also far from ordinary.
‘Ju Tae-gong… and beside him is his son, Blood Life Sword. Around them would be… disciples and Guild Members of Taegong House.’
Ju Tae-gong was someone who proved himself a master simply by surviving to the age of seventy.
His son had inherited and established Taegong House as a sect.
Having survived over ten years in the competitive Jusan Archipelago was itself proof that they were worthy of being called masters.
Such people were blocking his path.
Escaping alone might somehow be possible, but.
‘One might be doable, but two would be too much.’
He would have to abandon one of either Seol Mae-geom or Blood Hand Dog.
If he had to choose, it was already decided who it would be.
‘…Fine.’
If he was going to decide this way.
He should have done so from the beginning, before the encirclement tightened further.
From now on, it wasn’t simply a matter of breaking through with martial power.
Jung Myeong deeply performed a Cupped Fist Salute and showed proper respect.
“I greet Ju Tae-gong of the Jusan Archipelago.”
“Hmph. An intruder, yet you have proper manners?”
“When meeting an Elder of the Jusan Archipelago, isn’t this the courtesy that should naturally be observed?”
“Hehe… Yet such a person commits intrusion?”
“Intrusion, you say? This is the first I’ve heard of it…”
Intrusion out of nowhere.
Was he trying to seize that justification?
‘If I call it a visit, he’ll probably demand payment.’
Instead, he tried bringing up a third story.
“I merely came out far for a boat ride.”
“Kugh…! Cough…!”
As soon as the words ended, Ju Tae-gong strangled Blood Hand Dog’s neck.
“Heh… You’re saying something similar to him. Is spouting such nonsensical bullshit trendy among outsiders these days?”
“Hheugh… Gasp…”
His intention not to let this slide easily was conveyed.
‘Playing dumb won’t work. Tsk…’
Well, if it were going to be easy, he wouldn’t have started this hostage situation in the first place.
Blood Life Sword was licking his lips while looking at Seol Mae-geom.
And Ju Tae-gong was laughing while strangling Blood Hand Dog’s neck.
‘They want something from me.’
There was something.
However, in this atmosphere, it would be difficult to easily comply.
‘Do I really have to shed blood?’
Blood. If it came to that, wouldn’t all the gains from subduing them earlier be for nothing?
But facing everyone in the encirclement would also be foolish.
‘I need to limit them.’
He had to limit their numbers. To fewer opponents.
This was where he needed to use his wits.
‘What should I do?’
Where was the answer?
Jung Myeong looked around for a while.
His gaze once again went to Ju Tae-gong and stopped.
‘This might be the only way?’
He had no choice. There was one thing he could say using him.
“I should be honest about this. I came here for a proof.”
“Oh? A proof?”
Was he truly a cunning master? His cheek twitched at the word ‘proof.’
He must have read the intention.
But there was no taking back the card he had already played.
“Yes. The proof of the Jusan Archipelago.”
“What are you trying to prove?”
“It’s for the proof to join the Jusan Archipelago.”
“What clever wordplay!”
Wasn’t the Jusan Archipelago said to be a place where people of various races and backgrounds gathered?
The residents of the Jusan Archipelago could not dare refuse such registration.
Even if it had sinister intentions.
This act of proof was evidence that they were both residents of various archipelagos and members of Sea Horn at the same time.
Jung Myeong was striking at this point.
“Even so, will you not accept it?”
“…Hehe. Do you think everything will be over if you get through this situation?”
“As you can see, being cornered like this, I can’t see far ahead, so I have no choice.”
“Hehe… Are you saying it’s this old man’s fault?”
“I can’t say it isn’t?”
“Tsk. I didn’t know my little prank would bring about such a move.”
Ju Tae-gong seemed somewhat regretful.
‘…Could it be that he also had something in mind?’
He sensed something from this.
But Ju Tae-gong was already cornered.
The moment Jung Myeong said he would perform the proof of the Jusan Archipelago, he had no other choice.
“We’ll conduct the proof. Come out.”
They would only perform the proof.
* * *
The proof of the Jusan Archipelago.
This was ultimately proof of the power one possessed.
That proof wasn’t necessarily converted only to Martial Power.
But the majority chose the method of proving this thing called Martial Power.
When proving martial arts, the strongest person from the proving place would step forward and prove their strength to become a member.
‘That’s only in theory though…’
In reality, when this proof was mentioned, the members of the Jusan Archipelago had no other choice.
They had to prepare.
“You make easy paths difficult.”
“For me, this is the easy path though?”
“Heh. Not losing in a single word is just like the rumors.”
“Have you heard something about me?”
“How could I not have?”
“I asked a foolish question.”
“Indeed. A foolish question. Prepare.”
When Ju Tae-gong gestured, the surroundings moved in perfect order.
Something like a makeshift Training Ground was created.
Thud-
A Banner was erected from who knows where.
It was a Banner containing the Insignia for the proof of the Jusan Archipelago.
The one who stepped forward first was, of course, Ju Tae-gong.
Just as the strongest would give proof, it was natural that Ju Tae-gong would be the one testing him.
“You’ll have to show the strongest technique you possess.”
[You truly made things too difficult.]
He picked up the Fishing Rod that had been slung over his shoulder, while simultaneously sending a Sound Transmission.
‘Hmm? So there really is something.’
Before Jung Myeong could even sense something from this.
Swiiish-!
The Fishing Line moved.
“Right away!”
To think he would start the test right away.
‘Was he trying to induce carelessness? That doesn’t seem to be it.’
Though his thoughts were long, Jung Myeong had no choice but to react.
Whoooosh-!
He swung the sword he had drawn.
His target was to cut the approaching fishing line.
‘It connected…!’
It had properly connected, but.
Clang-!
What he heard was the sound of metal.
‘What the?’
He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but to think a sword imbued with Sword Energy couldn’t cut the fishing line.
Looking closely in surprise.
‘Huh… He coated the entire fishing line with ki?’
Ju Tae-gong was performing an unthinkable feat.
He was coating that entire long fishing line with energy.
Since energy clashed with energy, a metallic sound was inevitable.
‘What kind of monstrous Internal Energy is this.’
It was too tremendous to simply call it an old man’s vigor.
As the maxim from Murim about being careful of aged elders flashed through Jung Myeong’s mind.
Whoosh-!
Ju Tae-gong’s fishing line twisted and tried to grab his neck.
It was the same feat he used to catch Blood Hand Dog.
Was Jung Myeong one to fall for this?
“Not a chance!”
He stomped his feet and executed his Footwork Technique.
Swoosh!
His swiftly moving form was quite extraordinary, but.
“Hehe.”
At this, Ju Tae-gong let out a hollow laugh.
Whoosh- Whoosh- Whoosh-
He launched fishing lines in succession.
At his hand gestures, the line performed all sorts of feats.
The fishing line repeatedly stretched and contracted like a rubber band.
Hiss-
Sometimes moving like a living snake.
It aimed for Jung Myeong’s blind spots and came for his throat.
At times it formed the shapes of swords and blades, showing the remarkable feat of slashing while coated with Sword Ki itself.
It was truly displaying the peak of transformation and Illusion.
Thus, after dozens of exchanges, Jung Myeong found it difficult to keep his composure.
‘This crazy…!’
A master he had never faced before.
He had to use all his strength just to gauge the depth contained within him.
Moreover, this was a signal.
A signal that he couldn’t just show moderate strength!
‘I thought I could just do this moderately since it’s called a demonstration, but it looks like I need to do this properly.’
He realized he had to show at least part of his Original Divine Technique.
He realized that if he faced him half-heartedly, he would be the one getting beaten instead.
As Jung Myeong created distance.
Whoooosh-
“Hmm, is the playing around over now?”
For some reason, Ju Tae-gong’s fishing line that he expected would follow had disappeared without a trace.
‘Is this consideration in the midst of this? Why?’
Consideration.
How could that be possible?
Seeing what that crazy old man did to Blood Hand Dog, there was absolutely no way that could be it.
Yet he wasn’t pressing his attack.
Knowing his track record, Jung Myeong couldn’t help but feel even more strange about his behavior.
‘What is this?’
He seemed to be waiting for something.
For Jung Myeong to show something!
‘Could it be…’
At this, Jung Myeong had a suspicion while.
At the same time realizing he couldn’t retreat any further from here.
Since he had said he would prove himself, he couldn’t be the first to break this proving ground.
‘This guy seems to know something?’
If he couldn’t retreat, then he would advance.
Knowing the situation could turn for the worst, Jung Myeong immediately prepared a move.
[Three Origin Kill Sword: Shatter Heaven Establish Justice]!
He added one small technique to this.
‘Let’s see how this turns out.’
The profound principles of the Mutual Return Sword Technique he had used before!
The principles contained within were endlessly complex.
‘If you know it, you’ll recognize it. If you don’t know it, you won’t.’
Even those with keen eyes could not recognize it if they didn’t originally know the Mutual Return Sword Technique.
Swiiiiish-!
The Shatter Heaven Establish Justice imbued with the principles of mutual return shot toward Ju Tae-gong.
“Excellent!”
For some reason, Ju Tae-gong shouted with joy.
Tss tss tss tss tss-!
“What…!”
He demonstrated a counter attack that made even Jung Myeong gasp in amazement.
‘How!?’
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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