Peach Tree (3)

During the flight to Korea, Baekdo and I avoided each other's gazes, just crossing our arms and looking elsewhere. Sansuyu alternately looked at Baekdo and me with a curious expression.

"Shiheon."

"What?"

"Did something happen between you and the mentor?"

Yes, something did happen. Baekdo had lambasted me over absurd peach preferences, and we'd had a harsh exchange of words right there. I felt so wronged; even the Buddha would have shed tears of blood.

Turning my head, I asked Sansuyu, who was intently looking out the airplane window.

"…Sansuyu."

"Hmm?"

"Do you prefer hard peaches or soft peaches?"

"???"

Sansuyu tilted her head, seemingly not understanding the question. Baekdo, who was pretending to be asleep with her eyes closed, interjected irritably.

"Heh, obviously hard peaches."

"Mentor, please keep your mouth shut. It infuriates me just hearing it."

"Wha, what? How dare you, to your mentor!"

"You said I'm disqualified as a disciple."

"Minus 2 points."

"I still prefer soft peaches."

"Ugh!"

Baekdo scowled. No matter her preference for hard peaches, I loved soft ones, sweet and juicy.

"This is crossing the line."

"I still like soft peaches."

"Insolent brat."

This enmity seemed like it would last a long time.

Korea. Jirisan.

Designated in 1967 as the first national park, it originally was the most expansive mountainous national park in Korea, covering 483.022 square kilometers.

However, that was a tale of the old world.

In this world, Jirisan was known as the cradle of strong warriors where hermit masters resided. Those born under the clear spirit of Jirisan supposedly became phenomenal individuals under the guidance of various masters.

The Jirisan in this world diverged from just a mere national park.

From the dense mountain ranges to the high peaks, the heavenly walls that pierced through the clouds evoke the sensation of looking at an impregnable fortress on a sheer cliff.

Cheonwangbong, Banyabong, Nogodan.

A place where largeness and depth coexisted, untouched by human civilization, felt exotic to me.

And in the center stood an old shack.

"Let's assess your skills first."

Baekdo stood before us, dressed in latex combat clothes, with her seemingly sketched-on white hair tied back.

"First… Yes. Sansuyu, the first disciple."

"The first disciple?"

"Yes. The soft-peach faction doesn't even deserve the title of second disciple. You, soft-peach, are the third disciple."

After that day, whenever she got a chance, Baekdo would patronize me, emphasizing the superiority of hard peaches.

Even if she looked strong, her acts were childish. Of course, I also knew how to play along. Whenever she lectured me, I'd retort.

"Soft peaches are more expensive."

"Ha, that's because there's more supply of hard peaches!"

"It's because there's more demand for soft peaches."

"You foolish one. You must be a red!"

"Wtf?"

"The great leader from the North prefers soft peaches. You must be a red and a communist!"

She was really going overboard.

She was a more playful person than I was. I must keep my distance. Those peaches were hazardous peaches.

"Ahem. Anyway, Sansuyu, the first disciple. Draw your sword. Let's see your skills."

"I hope for your kind guidance."

I sat leaning against the wall of the hut with a sullen face. At the same time, Baekdo looked at me with an annoyed expression before clearing her throat and instructing Sansuyu to get into position.

Sansuyu, with a rather serious face, drew her sword and took her stance - the one I had always seen her use.

"Ready."

Sansuyu shifted her center slightly forward, indicating the start of her charge. On the other hand, Baekdo stood relaxed, her leg casually raised, and her right hand rested behind her waist.

Was she imposing her own penalty? The decorations attached to her latex armor seemed quite heavy. If those were artifacts that increased weight… It was impossible to predict how fast she'd be if she took them off.

Her muscles, visible under the latex, were perfectly balanced. She might act like a child, but she was a real deal in terms of skill.

"Begin."

-Boom!

The ground shook as she moved, sending dirt into the air like rain. Baekdo, who had vanished for a moment, appeared right in front of Sansuyu, who was beginning her charge. Sansuyu swiftly swung her sword, but Baekdo effortlessly dodged it all.

"...!"

Sansuyu's response was savvy. She quickly adapted her aggressive stance, always ready to counterattack. Baekdo, who had been moving swiftly, suddenly flew into the air, landing behind Sansuyu.

Was she riding the wind? It felt as if she was creating stepping stones in the air. Sansuyu, caught off guard, quickly turned and directed her sword towards Baekdo.

"Not bad, first disciple."

Baekdo accelerated again.

This time, she lunged forward with a punch.

-Crash!

With the sound of the air bursting, Sansuyu was sent flying. It seemed a bit harsh for a disciple, but with a gust of wind, Sansuyu managed to land gracefully.

Baekdo's magic.

"You do have some sense."

"…Thank you."

Sansuyu nodded with a puzzled look, and Baekdo smirked at me.

'Aren't you coming out?'

Her smirk made it seem as if she was saying those words.

"Siwon. She's not ordinary."

"I know. And it's Shiheon."

"Shiheon."

"Right."

I stood in front of Baekdo, dragging my real sword on the ground. Seeing this, she chuckled.

"It's strange to see a swordsman not treasuring his sword."

"Well, if I imbue it with magic, it becomes sharp anyway. Why should I care?"

After the last battle, the blade had lost its edge and needed to be sharpened. I hoped she'd grant me a good sword.

"Having the mindset to enhance a humble weapon with your power is a warrior's foundation. Third disciple, get into position."

"Ah, yes."

I stretched out my feet, lowering my center of gravity and positioning myself to target either side or the back. It was an improvised change. Sansuyu, who was watching me, had a sparkle in her eyes, eager to learn.

"Ready."

Ready-

Thud!

Even before the command to start, Baekdo moved. And she was dead serious.

Taken aback, I quickly transitioned to a defensive stance.

"Darn it, that sneaky mentor!"

"There's no mercy for the third disciple."

I was furious and channeled my power throughout my body.

Wooden Sword Technique, Third Form. No…

A dark power pulsated from the tip of my sword, radiating a unique light. Black beams of light spread out around me in graceful arcs.

Wooden Sword Technique, Form of the Immortal Fruit.

Indeed, it resembled the shape of a Peach fruit.

The impromptu modified sword technique, a unique technique of mine, was lethal to martial artists. I clearly saw the figure of Baekdo, who had reached in front of me.

My sword aura was visible.

I screamed in astonishment.

"Crack Shot Cut!"

The dark power expanded, and the sound of air being sliced by the sword resonated like waves. The dark energy engulfed Baekdo's body as she thrust her fist—

"Ha."

—for a moment, I thought I saw white power from her body.

"No way!"

Boom!

A surge of rough air erupted. My body was pushed back by a simple and brutish punch. –Creak. A bad sound came from the sword. The sword was badly damaged as I resisted the pushback.

"Haha. Those who favor water can only muster this much power!"

"What?"

"I'll dispose of the cunning water child today."

"Yi…Yikes!"

I clenched my fists and threw away the sword. Seeing my stance change to one of my original martial arts techniques, surprise flashed across Baekdo's face.

"An interesting fellow."

Baekdo's figure disappeared. I followed her movement with my eyes.

I accurately read the subtlety of her martial arts and circulated power around my body. This time, the expanded dark power manifested as a fighting spirit, forming black circles around my clenched fists.

My insufficient physical ability,

'Can't be helped.'

I used the thing that I had once used in the battle with Lee Seonghan. The dark aura spread from the heart. The magical circuit that had once used that power was more refined than before, maintaining its form without collapsing.

All physical abilities increased sharply, and the nerves became more sensitive. I read her movements with my enhanced senses.

-Clash!

Our fists collided.

Dust flew, and the wind burst. I was pushed back in a power struggle, but I could block the subsequent strikes that came like a storm.

"Hahahaha! This is fun. A human who steals techniques! That guy recommended a good man!"

Baekdo, with a nearly mad laugh, targeted my openings whenever they were exposed. I fixed my stance and retreated every time.

The battle area kept changing. Sansuyu, who was sitting near the hut, was now out of sight, and we were gradually descending the mountain.

I could even feel the killer intent in the fighting spirit flickering from her fists.

"Is that all? People who like soft things have endlessly soft fists!"

-Thud!

I was pushed back by her fist and hit a tree. My head hit the tree, and my vision blurred.

This was bad.

Seeing Baekdo's figure flying towards me, I closed my eyes tightly and reached out one hand.

-Thud!

Baekdo's fist struck the tree.

-Crack!

Unable to withstand the force, the tree collapsed, and Baekdo, who had brought her face close to mine, was smiling.

"An interesting fellow."

Seeing Baekdo laugh like that, she seemed to have the beauty of a strong woman. It seemed sensual.

-Soft.

No, the sensuality was due to another reason.

The inevitable contact was due to my instinctively reaching out. The soft peach-like chest was fully felt in my hand. My mind was fuzzy with the slippery touch of latex. Lust exploded.

"Why are you making such a dog-like face?"

Baekdo noticed my change and tilted her head, discovering her chest tightly grabbed by my hand.

"...!"

Then, her face turned red.

-Poof!

A puff of smoke, and her hair color changed to orange.

"...Eh?"

The girl with orange hair turned red, unlike her rough demeanor just before.

"Br, breast."

Behind such a woman, the figure of a tree was seen. The fruit that opened in the tree was familiar to me.

A peach, commonly called a yellow peach.

"I got touched! I hate Baekdo! Boo hoo."

I was just dumbfounded.