Chapter 24: You Have to Start Off on the Right Foot (3) |
Vol 2 Chapter 24. You Have to Start Off on the Right Foot (3)
"Huuuu...."
Jeong Seon exhaled deeply and governed his mind and body.
He must put it down.
The position of the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, and the worldly reputation of being evaluated as a peerless expert of the Jianghu along with the flashy title of Demon Subduing Divine Sword....
'Let's put it all down.'
He must.
The person in front of his eyes is clearly a master far superior to him.
There shouldn't be even a speck of conceit in his heart.
Jeong Seon, who composed himself like that for the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, said to Patrick.
"Thank you for the consideration."
"Well, this much is nothing."
Patrick made a slightly bored expression and said,
"So, can you do it?"
"I will unfold the best secret technique I can perform."
"Oh, really?"
"Please receive it."
And Jeong Seon's sword rose high above his head.
The High Guard Stance, the most basic of basics.
But the meaning of the stance changes completely depending on who takes it.
"Hooo...."
Patrick admired.
The intent extending through the sword tip raised above the head touches the sky.
There is no wavering in the two legs firmly planted on the ground.
The appearance of Jeong Seon standing in the center is truly....
"The unity of Heaven, Earth, and Man. Have you realized the Three Talents?"
A single drop of cold sweat flowed down Jeong Seon's cheek.
Even so, to see through the true meaning of martial arts he craved his entire life so easily....
'As expected, a monster.'
And he wanted to test it.
Whether his martial arts would work on that monster.
"Here I come!"
[ Demon Subduing Sword Art: Decision Secret Art: Myriad Existence Myriad Destruction ]
The moment Jeong Seon came forward, a sphere of bright white formed qi was generated around him. And....
Paseuseuseu....
Everything touching that sphere of formed qi was destroyed.
Not only the ground but even the leaves blown by the wind; literally the peak of the Hegemon Path destroying everything touching his sword range.
It is an intent secret technique that embodied Absolute Destruction.
Seeing that sword qi, Patrick....
"What? It was going well, so why suddenly go crooked at the very end?"
Was disappointed.
Absolute Destruction? Hegemon Path?
The Daoist prestigious sect Kongtong Sect? Even the Sect Leader?
"It's absurd."
Patrick, who let out a light sigh, took a sword stance.
Qi against Qi.
Art against Art.
Intent is met with Intent.
[ Radiant Dragon Twelve Sword Forms: Sixth Form: Nine Dragons Under Heaven ]
"Receive this."
Nine giant radiant dragons extended from Patrick's sword.
***
"Oh...."
Yun Gi thought he was lucky.
At first, when his Master said he would duel with that rude, mannerless Worshipped Duke of the Twin Dragon Sect whom he doubted was even Orthodox, he was dumbfounded.
Of course, he acknowledges that man is strong.
Since he is a master who smashed that Blood Wave Saber Guest Ma Jae-ho in one second, he is probably far above Yun Gi himself.
But the opponent was his Master Jeong Seon, who was revered with the title of Demon Subduing Divine Sword in the Jianghu and served as the Sect Leader of the current Kongtong Sect.
Even so, he didn't think his Master would lose. But Yun Gi's expectation was shattered as soon as the duel proceeded.
It was Patrick who seized the initiative, anyone could see that. Patrick even showed consideration by waiting in the middle when he saw his Master wavering.
As if a superior is being considerate of a subordinate.
And the Master's Decision Secret Art unfolding.
It was the first time Yun Gi saw it in person too.
And the moment Patrick launched a counterattack against it.
'I must watch properly.'
Yun Gi did his best not to miss even a bit of the scene in front of his eyes.
Opportunities to witness a duel of this high level are extremely rare.
Yun Gi straightened his posture at some point and watched the duel in front of his eyes politely.
And in front of his watching eyes....
"Ahhh...."
The moment he confirmed his Master's formed qi being pushed back, a sigh of regret burst out from Yun Gi's mouth.
The attack of Absolute Destruction honed to destroy all things in the world could not break the momentum of the dragon unleashed by the opponent.
Rather, it was pushed back in power, and eventually, the sphere of formed qi created by his Master cracked and began to split.
The intent is breaking.
"How can that be...."
***
Jjeojeok.... Jjeoeook....
"Kuk...."
Jeong Seon desperately corrected his wavering intent.
The formed qi of Absolute Destruction is breaking.
Why? Is it simply because he lost in a clash of power versus power?
Is the opponent's intent stronger than his? But to say that, isn't it too one-sided?
The fierce dragons unleashed by the opponent show not a shred of wavering even against his formed qi.
Compared to himself flickering like a candle before the wind, the opponent's offensive is too one-sided.
'It is not a difference coming from the superiority of power. This... This is a more fundamental difference.'
It was then that Patrick's voice was heard in his ear.
"It's like rushing in to catch a cow with a knife meant for catching chickens."
"......?"
"Know properly who you are first, then start again."
A stern scolding.
It was words like those he would have heard from his late Master. And the next moment....
Kwachaang!
His formed qi, which had been enduring and enduring, completely shattered.
And the rough torrent of dragons engulfed him.
"Noooooo!"
Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwang!
Himself being swept away helplessly by the torrent along with his disciple's scream.
That was the last thing Jeong Seon remembered.
***
"Master! Master, are you alright?"
When he regained consciousness again.
The first thing he saw was the face of his disciple full of worry.
"Ughhh.... Your fuss is severe."
To him raising his body with difficulty, Patrick grumbled and said,
"That's what I'm saying."
Yun Gi glared fiercely at Patrick.
What kind of human in the world beats up the Sect Leader of the Nine Sects One Gang and shows an attitude like that?
"What, so what? Won't lower your eyes? I might just suck the ink out of your eyeballs."
Correct answer, Patrick Schneider.
Patrick really didn't blink an eye.
"As if I wouldn't have known to control my power naturally."
"......."
"I am an expert who can even aim for Number One Under the Heavens in beating people gently for a long time."
Why does he aim for Number One Under the Heavens with something like that?
How does he shamelessly claim to be Orthodox with that personality?
But certainly....
"The body condition is fine."
Jeong Seon's body was fine.
Intent secret technique and intent secret technique collided head-on, and as a result, he lost by being pushed back in power.
Usually, in this case, serious injury or even death was possible. But when Jeong Seon checked his body, there was only slight external trauma.
Strength drains away.
This was something impossible without an overwhelming difference in skill.
Jeong Seon laughed bitterly, got up, made a polite clasped hands greeting towards Patrick, and said,
"I thank you for the consideration."
"Ahem!"
Is there perhaps no concept of modesty in the Outer Regions?
But having confirmed the skill, even that frivolous attitude is accepted with a different meaning than before.
Seeing Jeong Seon's eyes where faint respect was felt, Patrick grinned and said,
"So? What will you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Haha.... You intend to feign ignorance here?"
"......."
"Why is a player acting like this? If we've done this much, a conclusion should come out slowly. Don't you agree?"
Patrick looked straight at Jeong Seon and said, "If two Orthodox sects are settled within the same sphere of influence, ultimately there are two answers."
"Collaborate with each other? or fight and beat each other up?"
Patrick's words are true.
Even if they are both Orthodox sects, if they settle in the same region, they must clarify their relationship with each other.
Either they can't wait to eat each other like Zhongnan and Mount Hua of Shaanxi?
Or respect each other's territory and get along cooperatively like Emei and Tang Clan of Sichuan?
Why did they, who are the same Orthodox sects, build quite different relationships?
Mount Hua and Zhongnan were both Daoist sword sects and had too many overlapping territories, so they naturally started competing, and that accumulated a competitive spirit close to a grudge over generations.
But Emei and Tang Clan of Sichuan are different.
The Emei Sect, which trains the sword based on Buddhism and lives in the mountains, and the Tang Clan, which trains poison and hidden weapons and settled in the busy city center of Chengdu.
The two sects respected and cooperated with each other because their territories did not overlap.
There were even cases where people from the Tang Clan of Sichuan renounced the world to join the Emei Sect, and lay disciples of the Emei Sect entered the Tang Clan of Sichuan as daughters-in-law.
As such a relationship continued, the Emei Sect and Tang Clan of Sichuan became moderate allies.
In other words, simply put....
"You have to start off on the right foot."
"Ummm...."
Jeong Seon also had to agree.
And he understood why Patrick dueled him directly in a place avoiding public attention like this.
If he was confident of winning the duel, in fact, there is no need to do it in a place with few people like this.
If he duels openly in a place teeming with people in Tianshui County and defeats the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, the honor and glory he can gain would be immense.
But Patrick specifically dueled in a place with little public attention.
'It means he saved face for this side.'
If they dueled in a public place and the fact that he lost spread as a rumor, it would be difficult to resolve the relationship between the two sects favorably.
Even if Jeong Seon himself did not keep it in his heart, the disciples of the Kongtong Sect would inevitably have uncomfortable feelings.
So Patrick avoided attention, dueled to show his power, and at the same time saved the face of the Kongtong Sect.
Having thought up to here....
'Is this person really a person from the Outer Regions who is dark to the circumstances of the Jianghu?'
The way he coordinates relationships between sects is skillfully peerless. As if he is someone who has led a sect in the harsh Murim for a long time.
And if someone with such skill and mental calculation leads, what will become of the Twin Dragon Sect's future?
After careful thought, Jeong Seon reached a conclusion.
"As the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect, I formally request."
"......."
"I hope our Kongtong Sect will cooperate with the Twin Dragon Sect in the future to uphold chivalry together against the lawless ones threatening Gansu Province and protect the justice of the Jianghu."
At Jeong Seon's polite words, Patrick also straightened his posture and answered.
"I will answer as Worshipped Duke Patrick Sky Schneider of the Twin Dragon Sect."
"......."
"We also hope to cooperate with the Kongtong Sect and form a good relationship in the future. I hope the two sects will unfold good-willed competition and be together for a long time."
Starting from this day....
The Twin Dragon Sect came to form an alliance relationship with the Kongtong Sect.
This meant that the Twin Dragon Sect had created a solid foundation to step up as a prestigious Orthodox sect acknowledged by the Jianghu.
"Proud~♪ After finishing~♪ The day's work~♪"
Patrick hummed the official labor song of the Schneider Fiefdom and returned to Tianshui County.
Although he doesn't know the origin of the song or who composed it, he liked the rhythm that stuck to his mouth.
Patrick, who returned to the sect singing like that, met Go Seok-hyeon first and said,
"Did you mean we formed a cooperative system with the Kongtong Sect?"
"Well, it happened like that."
"......."
Watching Patrick answering while shrugging his shoulders, Go Seok-hyeon opened his mouth wide.
He did think about it.
The Worshipped Duke said he would personally see off the Sect Leader of the Kongtong Sect and went out, and didn't return for quite a long time.
As long as he had sense, he thought it wouldn't just be a simple send-off. But surely....
"To think you dueled that Demon Subduing Divine Sword Jeong Seon and won...."
"He was quite something."
"Haha...."
Who on earth in the Jianghu can make such an evaluation of that Demon Subduing Divine Sword? And what's more surprising is....
"Did you say a cooperative system with the Kongtong Sect?"
"I did."
"We cooperating with the Kongtong Sect? Specifically, how are we cooperating?"
Go Seok-hyeon is the Sect Leader of the Twin Dragon Sect, but he has absolutely no experience living as a proper Sect Leader.
To him, being told suddenly that they formed a cooperative relationship with the Kongtong Sect, he couldn't get a sense of what to do.
To him, Patrick laughed and said, "It's simple. Respect each other's territory, don't cause problems, and when beating up bad guys, combine forces and gang up on them, doing stuff like that."
"......."
"Don't think too hard. Ultimately, it means let's get along. Yes. If possible, in all areas."
At Patrick's words, Go Seok-hyeon pondered deeply. And exhaling a deep sigh, he said....
"The Worshipped Duke's words sound like saying we should help each other and cooperate with the Kongtong Sect."
"That is correct."
"Will it truly be possible for us to have equal mutual aid with the Kongtong Sect?"
Go Seok-hyeon sighed and said,
"Although I am on the dark side regarding the circumstances of the Jianghu, I am not ignorant of worldly affairs."
"For something like that, you are too much of a pushover...."
"Ahem, anyway, isn't it common sense in worldly affairs that one must be in an equal position to form a cooperative relationship?"
"Well, that is true."
"I know the Worshipped Duke's martial prowess is magnificent, but will it be possible for us to stand in an equal position with the Kongtong Sect solely with the existence of the Worshipped Duke alone?"
"Do not worry about that."
"......."
"We solved the children's internal energy problem through the World Tree, and concluded the relationship with the Kongtong Sect not uncomfortably, so...."
"......."
"Now I will make the children devote themselves to training in earnest."
"That means...."
"If we are lacking now, we will just become stronger to fill that lack. That is the common sense of the Jianghu."
"Hmm... Your words are...."
"And Sect Leader. I will say this clearly."
Patrick flashed his two eyes and continued his words.
"I have no intention of being just at an equal relationship with the Kongtong Sect. I look far above that. I desire the day when our Twin Dragon Sect becomes the Number One Sect Under the Heavens someday."
"Hahaha, your words are...."
"......."
"It is not a joke?"
"No."
"......."
"The children will come to know. That the life of a true martial artist is a succession of grueling training to the point where they fear even the sun rising tomorrow. Run away? Can't go. From now on, if you want to withdraw from the sect, severing tendons and cutting meridians will be the basic requirement. Do you understand?"
"Haha.... Even so, severing tendons and cutting meridians is...."
"......."
"Is it true?"
Patrick nodded with a serious expression.
Seeing that appearance, Go Seok-hyeon answered after careful consideration.
"I understand. Then I will...."
"Of course, Sect Leader also, I will...."
"I will devote myself as a physician so as not to hinder the children, examine the public sentiment of Tianshui County, and strive to be helpful to the Twin Dragon Sect's finances."
"......."
Twin Dragon Sect Leader Go Seok-hyeon.
He was a man with quite excellent survival instincts.