Searching For The Old Power (1)

Rushing in and attacking people like that wasn't really my style.

Such actions didn't suit my temperament.

[You're laughing.]

'Oh, is that so?'

Previously, that would have been true.

Originally, my plan was to approach politely, but the trouble began when the gatekeeper attacked me first.

-I'd like to meet your leader, is there any way that could happen?

I asked in that manner, but when they said it wasn't possible, I attempted once more to approach respectfully.

-Could you please let me see the leader?

Then, they drew a sword, claiming we couldn't communicate. Ultimately, I had no choice but to send the gatekeeper flying, with tears in my eyes. They had betrayed my respectful intentions.

'As long as you're not too hurt, it's fine?'

I spent some time wandering around this area, observing this place known as Dowon.

Speaking sweetly to gather stories about the warriors of Dowon, it turns out the top brass seemed okay, but the lower ranks were filled with foul-tempered individuals.

"All the warriors whose sects were destroyed gathered here. It's natural for those with unbearable temperaments to be lurking around. Many here are similar to me."

[Similar to you?]

Like ambushing women in the middle of the night or brawls in taverns leading to someone's death.

Such stories were common enough to suggest the water here is tainted.

The upper echelons of Dowon, where Cheondo resides, might not be so, but…

The lower parts of Dowon, that was, those situated below the mountain range, snuck around committing all sorts of misdeeds, avoiding the eyes of Cheonma.

[How is that similar to you?]

'Because I lived foolishly too… Well, I've been forgiven by that person, but what I did was wrong.'

[I don't really understand.]

I always thought the water would always be clean in Dowon, where the peaches grow.

'…Even my master wasn't always a clean person.'

They maintained order, but if something happened, they could kill a person at any time.

That included Cheondo and Baekdo. Even the gentle Hwangdo probably had several experiences killing people.

The Dowon that Cheondo grew up in, the one I imagined and hoped for, could not be the utopia I had envisioned.

'Strength is everything,' the local tavern owner, Jeomsoyi, told me.

Even a mere restaurant girl knew the way of Cheonma. Cheonma dominated this place with the logic of power.

In the martial world, the law of the martial world applied.

If you're weaker than me, you bow. If you're stronger than me, I bow.

Anyway, I was planning to show some mercy.

I won't cause unnecessary slaughter.

"Grrr…"

[Are you sure he's not dead?]

'I only hit places that wouldn't hurt too much. He might look like that, but he probably doesn't have a single injured part. Just a lot of bruises.'

A man, charred black, couldn't gather his strength and twisted his head.

He was defeated. The surroundings began to stir.

-Is he not dead?

He's not dead.

There were a few things I learned from Cheondo before the midterm exam.

Where to hit, what magic to use to gently knock someone out.

But the most important thing was that people didn't easily die.

At worst, he was just knocked out.

'Especially, warriors who are strict with their physical training are like cockroaches. If you don't do this, you never know when they'll get up and attack.'

[You've been through many battles.]

'No? I've been beaten by my master. No matter how much it felt like death, I never died.'

[Ah.]

With my arms crossed, I waited for the next opponent, looking around.

How much time had passed?

"Come here!"

From a far place, on the roof.

A voice came from the sky.

The volume one would expect from a mischievous prankster.

-Flitter-flutter!

A girl who jumped up like a comet appeared.

Imitating a mid-air walk, she noisily landed on the ground around.

"Do you wish to see our father?"

The girl, with her hands clasped behind her back, made her way through the crowd.

The warriors parted ways for her to pass.

Some, not understanding the situation, were elbowed by other warriors to catch on.

"Hey, make way."

"Why all of a sudden?"

"Look at the white hair."

The eldest daughter of Cheonma.

I listened to the murmurs that came sporadically.

With her snow-white hair and fists proudly at her waist, her V-shaped smile reminded me of a mischievous cousin who enters my room during the holidays.

'Baekdo. But, the eldest daughter?'

I thought Cheondo was the eldest.

Then I remembered Cheondo had mentioned it.

It was a secret to everyone that she was Cheonma's daughter.

"Who are you?"

"…Show some respect."

Little Baekdo stood as if she were the Jade Emperor herself, making the atmosphere turn cold.

-Draw your swords.

-What? Didn't you see that person fighting just now?

-We might be fools, but we can't just stand by and do nothing. And if anything happens to that kid, everyone here will be purged.

It was clear everyone was worried about Baekdo.

Or more precisely, they were afraid of getting into trouble if Baekdo got hurt.

A threatening aura of a fight was directed at me.

Contrary to the atmosphere, Baekdo was wearing a pink apron.

"Baekdo!! Don't suddenly rush out."

Another little one followed behind little Baekdo.

A girl who ran from afar, gasping for breath.

Seeing the color of her hair, I definitely knew who she was.

'I didn't expect to see her here. Was the commotion bigger than expected?'

Hwangdo cautiously looked at me from behind Baekdo.

With a deeply interested gaze.

Not the look of an enemy. Hwangdo seemed like that the first time we met too.

"Bow your head and show respect!"

Baekdo raised her voice again.

Staring blankly at her, I scratched the back of my head.

"If I can see Cheonma, anytime."

Meeting him was my goal. If things could be resolved easily, it's better for me.

Bowing my head, exclamations erupted from the surroundings.

-Baekdo calmed that monster!

Her lips practically soared to heaven with the praise.

Baekdo approached me, her smile brimming with life.

She was smaller than Cheondo, yet her skin was fair.

And her physique was impressively well-trained.

"Hohoho. So, you wish to see our father?"

"Yes."

"Then you'd better follow me."

With that, she led the way.

Should I really follow her?

Despite my doubts, I soon trailed after Baekdo.

It seemed others knew Baekdo was Cheonma's daughter, so at least I wouldn't be attacked.

Navigating through several doors, we made our way towards the middle, then the upper parts of Dowon.

-Thump thump.

As we proceeded, Hwangdo, who initially kept her distance, now openly regarded me with deep interest, standing right beside me.

It appeared she had judged me not to be a threat, given my compliance with Baekdo's guidance.

"…Who is your sister?"

"Um, well? Who might you be?"

"I'm Hwangdo."

Just as I suspected.

She was exactly as I had envisioned Hwangdo to be.

"Did you come from outside?"

"Um, yes?"

"Wow. Brother. The sisters always say that people from outside are handsome. Is that true?"

If we're talking purely about charm, individuals like me are a rarity.

When I shook my head, Hwangdo's demeanor visibly deflated.

"But the men in magazines are all handsome…"

"Magazines only showcase the top 1%."

"Oh."

Hwangdo drooped like a puppy caught in the rain, radiating an undeniable charm.

"Hmph."

Seemingly irritated by our exchange,

Baekdo seized Hwangdo's arm and positioned her in front of herself.

"Hwangdo, don't talk to that person."

"Why? He doesn't seem like a bad person."

"People like him often have a cunning side."

'Kids, I can hear everything.'

I had thought Baekdo always maintained that polite tone since she was young. However, when speaking to Hwangdo, her tone shifted to one that was unmistakably childlike.

It must have been her genuine tone, especially when she was inebriated.

I still recall the tone Baekdo used when we drank together, delighting in teasing others.

"When will we arrive?"

"Show some manners. We'll arrive soon."

Baekdo snorted and then, full of energy, attempted to move forward but suddenly hid with Hwangdo at something they saw.

It turned out some women were coming from a distance, carrying laundry.

"What are you doing?"

Hwangdo answered my question.

"We're sneaking around, so if our sister and madam find out, we'll be scolded for not doing household chores."

"Hwangdo! I told you not to say unnecessary things!"

"But the brother asked? The sisters said we should answer honestly if asked."

"Ah, so frustrating."

Baekdo, puffing up her cheeks and beating her chest in annoyance, seemed genuinely upset. However, the deadly intent I felt from adult Baekdo, the kind that says 'it's you or me,' was not present.

To me, Baekdo and Hwangdo just seemed like young sisters.

'As we get closer… I can definitely tell.'

I calmly observed the magic emanating from the top of the mountain range in the distance.

A magic of the same black color as mine.

Yet, the aura was far denser and stronger than mine could ever be.

A chilling cloud of emotion I had not felt even from Cheondo was rising from deep within my chest.

"So noisy."

"Yes."

Cheondo answered without moving at the elder's remark.

On a sheer cliffside.

Sitting cross-legged, Cheondo absorbed the words being conveyed without paying attention to anything else.

"It seems we have a visitor."

At that single statement, a shiver ran through Cheondo, and his brows twitched.

The elder narrowed his eyes, which were long and narrow.

"Do you know the person?"

"I'm not sure."

Cheondo recalled the face of the man he had met the night before.

No, surely not. Even if so, would that man do something so foolish as to step into the master's residence?

Just knowing the 'Cheon' of Cheonma would deter such an act. A moment's folly could lead to being dismembered without knowing.

"This is the first time seeing someone so bold."

The elder brushed back his white hair and adjusted the sleeves of his robe with his wrinkled hands. Even that slight movement caused the surrounding magic to stir, responding to the elder's movements.

A giant, standing over 2 meters tall.

He scrutinized the distant man with his snake-like, triclops gaze.

Cheondo fretted over what might happen.

"Oh ho… Quite the interesting fellow."

Before the words had even left the elder's mouth.

"Excuse me?"

"You. Have you ever shared this power with anyone?"

"No. I neither have the skill nor the position to do so. I've never done such a thing."

"Right, that's what I thought. Huh. It seems to be connected to some damned tree as well. Cheondo, expand your senses."

"…Yes."

Cheondo stirred the magic within him, slowly expanding his senses.

Familiar silhouettes. Two women and a man.

The image of a man familiar to her flashed through her mind.

'That idiot… Why are they together?'

Swallowing curses inside, Cheondo bit her trembling lips.

"I, I've felt it."

"Then, give that fellow a blow."

"Excuse me?"

Cheondo was reluctant.

"Just watching makes me curious to death… Use what I've taught you to the fullest on that man today."

"Does that mean… you want me to duel with that man?"

The elder did not respond to Cheondo's question.

There was no other way.

The master's word was absolute. Cheondo swallowed her bitter breath, regretting not warning him in the morning.

'I didn't want this. To duel someone whose name I don't even know.'

Cheondo prepared herself, wrapping her hands in deep black magic, ready to spring forth at any moment.

The man slowly approached.

Unaware of her presence.

'At this rate… It'll be over in a single hit.'

Tensing her fist, Cheondo swallowed her breath and hid her presence.

He approached.

-Thud.

He arrived.

One hit as he passed by.

The moment the man came into view, Cheondo's body kicked off the ground, launching like a cannon.

-Boom!

A wave opened, and a thunderous noise pierced the sky.

In what could be described as a moment, a second, Cheondo reached in front of the man with a magic-infused punch.

Until then, the man showed no reaction.

Baekdo was the first to react to Cheondo's movement.

With wide eyes, Baekdo hiccupped and stepped back.

Next was Hwangdo.

Startled, she tightly closed her eyes.

'I'm sorry.'

An apology that he wouldn't hear.

Cheondo's punch stopped just before touching his body.

Of course, the punch never landed.

-Thump!

The thrown punch was easily blocked, throwing Cheondo off balance.

An unexpected wind swept in from nowhere, toppling her center of gravity.

"Ah!"

In the sudden event,

Cheondo fell, pushed by the wind.

Her voice, brief and tender, escaped her lips.

-Swoop!

The man, catching the falling Cheondo, looked at her strangely, as if holding her was odd.

"What are you doing?"

She didn't notice his reaction.

Despite the pride she had learned under Cheonma.

Cheondo was dumbfounded by the incomprehensible situation.

But complacency was complacency.

Cheondo frowned, detaching her face from the man's embrace.

"…Ugh."

What awaited her was nothing but a heap of shame for having been defeated in front of her master.