Book 11 Chapter 14

Father and Son

- Father and Son Enemies: Father and son were enemies.

At this moment, the barrier of benevolence parted to the left and right, and a path opened in the middle.

And one person slowly walked out of the opened single path.

Then, the forest bandits on both sides of the path bowed down and paid him respect.

"The mountain belongs to us all!"

A thunderous cheer erupted simultaneously.

'Is this some kind of staging? What a boastful cry.'

Bulging eyes, thick eyebrows like caterpillars, a beard as rough as steel needles, and numerous scars on his face. The years of battlefield experience were evident. There was no need to ask; this giant must be Im Deok-seong, the owner of Marangchae and the supreme commander of the Seventy-two Forest Bandit Strongholds (a term referring to the chief of a stronghold!).

That everything on the mountain belonged to them… it was an outrageously brazen slogan.

'Father…'

Im Seong-jin's face noticeably hardened. His father trying to kill his son… what a contradictory situation. There was clearly some misunderstanding.

'Must I step in unwillingly?'

Finally, Im Seong-jin made up his mind. It was the reality he most wanted to avoid, but he had to prevent more bloodshed.

Around the delegation, the remaining eighteen members of the Thirty-six Raging Waves, excluding the eighteen who were out on missions, formed the front line of the encirclement at a distance. The men of the Thirty-six Raging Waves were rough. As rough as they were, they all lusted after women. To them, lusting after women was never wrong. It was natural.

Bi Ryu-yeon felt like he could tell what those men, with saliva dripping from their mouths, were thinking with his eyes closed.

'He's going to kill me…' 'This is awesome…' 'I'm going crazy…' etc. They were probably thinking thoughts like that. It would be strange if they didn't notice when it was so openly displayed on their faces. Bi Ryu-yeon was deeply troubled by the lecherous gazes of the eighteen men in wolfskin attire forming the front line of the encirclement.

As Bi Ryu-yeon sat still, one of them cast an intense, lustful gaze at Na Ye-rin. Judging by the saliva dripping from his mouth and his dazed eyes, it was obvious what he was thinking. Why were these men, of all people, not focusing on their assigned encirclement duty and instead looking elsewhere?

"Hey!"

Bi Ryu-yeon called out to them, who were about three paces away. However, they didn't respond, perhaps not knowing who he was addressing. Bi Ryu-yeon was addressing all of them.

*Slap!*

The sound of a loud slap echoed refreshingly through the forest. But Bi Ryu-yeon remained seated in the same spot.

"Huh? Huh? Huh?"

"W-what?"

It happened so suddenly that the eighteen Raging Waves didn't realize what had happened. But what was even more surprising was that although the sound was clearly heard only once, all eighteen were holding their left cheeks.

"What's wrong?"

Bi Ryu-yeon, sitting casually on the carriage, smiled again. At that moment, his body blurred.

Flying Thunder Sword (飛雷刀) Secret Movement Technique (獨門身法)

Phoenix Dance (鳳凰舞) Ultimate Skill (奧義)

Illusion Mirror [幻影之鏡]

*Slap!*

This time, their cheeks turned to the left simultaneously. Clear red five-finger marks were stamped on their right cheeks. Yet, still, no one realized what had happened.

'H-how did he do that? What's going on? Is it a ghost?'

This was the thought that simultaneously crossed all eighteen minds. It was truly a bewildering situation. They had clearly focused their attention in anticipation of a second attack, but there was no sign of Bi Ryu-yeon moving. What in the world had he done? How had he done it?

Bi Ryu-yeon just kept smiling while sitting on the carriage. They instinctively realized that Bi Ryu-yeon had 'done something.' And none of them could figure out what it was. Na Ye-rin next to him was just as bewildered. To her eyes, Bi Ryu-yeon's figure had briefly multiplied into eighteen.

'No way…'

It was probably an illusion. For a human, such movement was nearly impossible.

"That's a warning. Next time, I'll pull out two white marbles from your face. So… don't ever covet what belongs to others with those lewd eyes again!"

A chilling warning!

It was a statement that made one believe it would truly come to pass. The eighteen Raging Waves were still bewildered, unable to grasp the situation. But their chests felt as cold as if they had been cut by a sharp ice sword.

At this moment, a young man from the delegation walked out and approached Yeom Do. The young man said,

"Esteemed Elder! Please leave this matter to me!"

"To you?"

Yeom Do looked at Im Seong-jin's eyes, which were no longer the playful, joking eyes he had seen at the Aejoehoe. His eyes now blazed with resolute determination.

"That's unusual. But eyes don't lie. Are you confident?"

"Of course. This is something I must resolve with my own hands. Please trust me."

After a moment of contemplation, Yeom Do eventually agreed.

"Then it might be good to trust you. I'll ask again. Are you confident? That person is by no means an easy opponent."

"I am confident."

Im Seong-jin's answer was firm. Yeom Do had no choice but to allow it. Even if it were dangerous, he felt no great burden, thinking he could intervene himself.

'And his eyes!'

Im Seong-jin's eyes were filled with unwavering resolve, more so than ever before. Yeom Do found his eyes quite pleasing.

"Good! This will be an experience for you too. I entrust this matter to you. Go ahead!"

"Thank you. Leave it to me. I will never bring dishonor to the reputation of the academy."

Im Seong-jin stepped forward, half his face covered with a white cloth. The tangled threads needed to be unraveled by someone. Im Seong-jin believed he was the only one who could unravel this tangle. He took a step forward to untangle the past tangles and the current tangles layered upon them. Eventually, he emerged from the delegation and stood facing the Forest Bandit King.

"Who are you?"

The Forest Bandit King, Im Deok-seong, asked dismissively. Just by looking at him, he disliked the guy covering half his face with a white cloth. An inexplicable sense of displeasure enveloped him.

"I have come to speak."

Since Im Seong-jin, who stepped forward before the group, had his face covered, Im Deok-seong did not recognize his son. However, an inexplicable sense of familiarity made Im Deok-seong flustered.

"Huh? When did that guy lose his voice?"

Yeom Do asked No Hak with a puzzled look.

"Who knows? It's unlikely he suddenly caught a cold. Maybe he suddenly felt his ugly face was regrettable."

No Hak, who was prone to making silly remarks.

*Click!*

The punishment was swift.

"We are innocent! The annihilation of Heukrangchae has nothing to do with us!"

Im Seong-jin, confronting Im Deok-seong one-on-one, shouted.

"How can I believe that? I can't trust you righteous sect guys."

Im Deok-seong replied with a cold, mocking expression.

"Then where is the evidence that we are the culprits?"

Im Seong-jin's rebuttal was sharp.

"We have a witness. A survivor from Heukrangchae, which you annihilated."

'A witness?'

It was an utterly incomprehensible matter. How could a witness exist for something they hadn't done?

"Where is that witness now? I would like to see the witness first. If there's a misunderstanding, shouldn't we resolve it?"

There was no flaw in Im Seong-jin's questioning. However, the answer he received was full of meaning, saying, "Don't be ridiculous."

"That's impossible!"

Im Deok-seong refused his proposal outright.

"What is the reason? This is incomprehensible behavior."

Im Seong-jin burst into anger.

"Because he is dead."

Im Seong-jin, shocked by Im Deok-seong's single sentence, cursed the dead man inwardly.

'Damn it!'

With this, the last clue had also disappeared. Perhaps that dead man was the last lead to solving the mystery of Heukrangchae's annihilation. It seemed he had no choice but to resort to the ultimate method.

"We have absolutely no reason to commit such a terrible act. We are innocent. I guarantee it. So please let us go."

Im Seong-jin's words were met with a scoff and a sneer from Im Deok-seong.

"Who do you think you are, to dare to guarantee it? Do you think you have the right to do so?"

"Of course!"

Im Seong-jin answered without hesitation. Im Deok-seong was momentarily speechless at Im Seong-jin's confident assertion. But then, with a sharp gaze, he asked,

"The right?"

"Because I am myself."

The Forest Bandit King, Im Deok-seong, was furious. He felt that a mere righteous sect wretch dared to mock him.

"You madman! How dare you… you are trying to die by facing me…"

But his angry voice did not last to the end. Im Seong-jin had thrown off the cloth covering his face.

"Y-you!"

As Im Seong-jin removed the cloth that had covered his face, Im Deok-seong's eyes, which possessed a heart of steel, widened in shock. Why was his son among that group of righteous sect members?

"S-son!"

The Raging Wave Ghost, Mo Gyeong-do, also gaped in shock. Why was Im Seong-jin, who had been missing, among them? After a long moment, Im Deok-seong, who had finally calmed his shocked heart, had his face stiffen.

"Who is this? Isn't this our unfilial son who ran away about four years ago?"

His exclamation was laced with a sinister smirk. However, his eyes swirled with emotions mixed with complex feelings. At Im Deok-seong's words, murmurs erupted from both the delegation and the forest bandits. Im Seong-jin's appearance was an unexpected development for both sides.

"Have you been well, Father?"

Im Seong-jin bowed formally and greeted him stiffly.

"Well? I don't know what that is, but I haven't been. Yes! The bruise you gave me four years ago still hasn't faded. It aches every time it rains, son!"

The murmuring continued around them.

"That's because Father was careless and made a mistake, not because of my fault. Don't exaggerate so much over a mere scratch. Why do you scold your only son? It's embarrassing to my subordinates."

"Hehehe, son, why do you always say such cute things back? Do you want to die today? How dare you talk back to your heavenly father?"

Im Deok-seong's forehead vein bulged at his son's petulant defiance.

"Is that the guy who went to solve the case?"

Namgung Sang, bewildered by Yeom Do, shook his head, indicating he didn't know. Clearly, to his eyes, it looked like he was going to pour oil on the fire. Yeom Do glared at the Forest Bandit King, Im Deok-seong, and growled.

"It's impossible that they, who were fine just a few days ago, were annihilated in the middle of the night like a bolt from the blue. If such a thing happened, I'd eat my hand. This is clearly a pretext by the Forest Bandit King Im Deok-seong to pick a fight with us."

"They are dead."

"What?"

Yeom Do's head snapped back at the unexpected answer. It was Eun Seol-ran.

"When we crossed Gugyongsan, I didn't know who they were, but they were the people of Heukrangchae. It's as they say. They are all dead."

"What!"

Yeom Do and Bing Geom were simultaneously shocked. Eun Seol-ran calmly recounted what she had seen.

"I saw the scene myself. It was truly gruesome. But it was the work of experts, without a speck of waste. In other words, it was the work of someone who kills for a living. Such clean work is impossible unless one has cut with a sword until it's stained with blood. And most of their wounds were from saber marks, not sword marks."

As Yeom Do and Bing Geom listened attentively, their faces grew increasingly rigid. Then, it was understandable why the Forest Bandit King Im Deok-seong was acting so wildly.

"This is getting troublesome!"

It seemed like today was going to be a tough day.

The Forest Bandit King, Im Deok-seong, was a passionate man.

To put it nicely, he had a generous personality with a boiling spirit, but in reality, he lacked patience. Frankly, he had little tolerance. He also didn't have the discernment to deliberately control his emotions. He called it pretense and rejected it. He laughed as if the heavens would fall when he wanted to laugh, and he raged as if he would overturn mountains when he was angry.

And he was now raging furiously.

Despite reuniting after four years, this unfilial son did not respect his heavenly father. He was not kind enough to forgive such a human scoundrel. His actions quickly manifested as brute force.

"Alright, show me what you've learned among those weak righteous sect members for the past four years, with your own body. If you can match me in a hundred exchanges, I will forgive you with my boundless benevolence."

Im Deok-seong's eyes blazed with anger.

"What about my comrades?"

"You are different from them! They must pay the price for the annihilation of Heukrangchae!"

Im Seong-jin also shouted back, not backing down.

"We have nothing to do with the annihilation of Heukrangchae. I have been with them this whole time, so why would I lie? Are you trying to make me a fratricide right now? Heukrangchae's owner, Im Gae of Heukrangchae, is my uncle. How could I possibly condone his death!"

Im Deok-seong flinched at Im Seong-jin's logical rebuttal. Not a single word of his son's was incorrect.

"Hmph! You might have done such a wretched thing after being brainwashed by the righteous sects!"

Im Seong-jin continued speaking with a look of pity at Im Deok-seong's words.

"Don't be stubborn. You already know in your heart that it's not true. You just don't want to admit it. Father, you've always been like this. Why do you refuse to admit something is right when you know it is, just because of that petty pride?"

"Shut up! What do you know to be talking back? I haven't acknowledged you yet. So, if you want to convince me, come at me. If you have the skill to defeat me, then I will believe your words."

"Fine, fine! A son must obey his father!"

Im Seong-jin, his emotions heightened, clenched his staff so hard it seemed like it would shatter.

"Let's see the stick-wielding you learned from that old man."

"Don't disrespect my master by calling him an old man. And it's not stick-wielding, it's staff technique! Staff technique!"

Neither father nor son yielded an inch. It seemed more plausible to consider them enemies than father and son to the onlookers.

"Come on!"

"I'm coming!"

Im Seong-jin leaped, his eyes shining with the defiant look of someone who wouldn't back down if told to come.

"Yaaah! The Beginning of Starlight (星光一始)!"

With a powerful battle cry, Im Seong-jin's staff shot out towards Im Deok-seong. The bloody battle between the father and son, who seemed like sworn enemies, had begun.

"A skilled exchange."

Yeom Do exclaimed in admiration, watching the unprecedented duel between father and son.

Was it a battle between the Hegemonic Path and the Collapsing Staff? Each move exuded immense power.

"In terms of strength versus strength, they are both the same."

Bing Geom commented briefly.

"He's holding up well so far."

Even in the face of Im Deok-seong's saber techniques, which attacked like a mad wolf, Im Seong-jin maintained a solid defense, not giving him any opening. And during the brief moments he seized an opening to counterattack, each of Im Seong-jin's moves was imbued with the immense power characteristic of the Collapsing Staff, baffling Im Deok-seong.

The Collapsing Technique (崩訣) refers to a method of pressing down, crushing, and breaking everything with force. In other words, it was the ultimate martial art of force. While both the Hegemonic Path and the Collapsing Technique pursued power, their applications were distinctly different.

*Boom! Boom!*

The clash of immense power continued.

The Collapsing Staff was slow, while the Hegemonic Path was fast. However, the match was not easily decided. Despite its apparent slowness, Im Seong-jin's staff, which was fast in its own way, skillfully defended against the relentless saber techniques.

"Will he be alright?"

Na Ye-rin asked worriedly.

"Of course, he'll be fine. He's not someone who will be easily defeated. Besides, it's a father-son duel. No matter how insane the father-son relationship, it won't lead to excessively serious consequences."

Bi Ryu-yeon calmly reassured Na Ye-rin.

"Perhaps the key to victory lies in how profound their internal energy is. With their different offensive and defensive styles, the balance will be broken the moment one side falters."

Im Seong-jin formed an invisible barrier around his staff and used it to block his father's Hegemonic Path.

"But after all, they are father and son. Even though they are fighting as if to devour each other, they are smiling… perhaps they don't even realize they are smiling!"

Bi Ryu-yeon's observation was accurate.

Im Deok-seong was astonished at his son's skill, which had improved remarkably over the past four years. He looked utterly disbelieving. Four years ago, although he had landed a blow due to carelessness, it was a surprise attack, a matter of luck rather than skill. But now, in terms of skill alone, he was demonstrating astonishing prowess, comparable to his own. What father wouldn't be pleased that his son had become stronger, barring a few exceptions?

Im Deok-seong couldn't decide whether to be happy or sad about this fact. However, considering his paternal authority, he couldn't afford to lose.

He gradually intensified his attacks.

"To attack even more strongly from there… he truly is a monster."

It was a miracle that Im Seong-jin wasn't torn to shreds. Of course, the fact that Im Seong-jin was well aware of the Forest Bandit King Im Deok-seong's Mad Wind Saber Technique worked to his advantage.

The Mad Wind Saber Technique was a saber art that Im Seong-jin had been forcibly taught for about eight years since childhood, so it was one he couldn't forget even if he wanted to. He too had once wielded a small saber and learned it. However, he had an encounter that changed his destiny.

He met a true master who would lead him down a different path. He had always disliked being a bandit. And that dissatisfaction grew with his encounters with his master, eventually exploding.

"You shouldn't handle your staff like that there. This isn't a duel. It's a real fight. You die the moment you have a careless thought! Understand?"

Im Deok-seong, caught up in the duel, even unconsciously advised his son.

'Why did I say that? Am I really going crazy?'

Im Deok-seong dismissed such thoughts as ridiculous. This father and son, as their offense and defense shifted, seemed completely unaware that smiles were forming on their lips amidst their sweat. It seemed this father and son were growing closer through their fights.

"They're both fools!"

This was the simple conclusion reached by Bi Ryu-yeon, who had been watching quietly. The frozen relationship between father and son was slowly thawing with the sweat, fighting spirit, and heat radiating from their bodies. However, these foolish father and son seemed unaware of this fact.

"It seems that foolish father and son intend to finish this in one go."

Bing Geom said.

"That's why they're called brainless fools with only brute strength."

Yeom Do shook his head disdainfully.

"You're similar in that regard."

"What?"

At Bing Geom's remark, Yeom Do bristled.

"Pant, pant. You've gotten quite good, haven't you? Have you grown up a bit and started to rebel? I used to think of you as a tadpole, but now you've grown hind legs!"

"Pant, pant. Father, you too. I thought you'd gotten old after not seeing you for a few years, but you're still vigorous, old man."

The Forest Bandit King, Im Deok-seong, said with apparent enjoyment, unable to suppress a burst of laughter.

"Hey! I'm still young! How many do you have left? Pant, pant."

Im Seong-jin, equally exhausted, replied. However, there was a sense of refreshing release in his voice.

"Pant, pant. I have one left. How about you, Father?"

"I have one left too."

After dozens of exchanges, they had exhausted all their moves. Now, only their ultimate secret techniques remained.

"What do you say? Do you want to finish it?"

"Of course. We've come this far, we can't stop now."

"Good! You truly are my son. Let's finish this today."

"Fine. It's what I've been wishing for."

"Foolish father and son!"

Bi Ryu-yeon, watching from afar, spoke, but his words did not reach their ears. The two, standing opposite each other, began preparing their final techniques. A fearsome aura formed between them. The surrounding energy began to rush into the space between the two.

The climax of the father-son confrontation was approaching.

*CRASH!*

A violent explosion that shook heaven and earth erupted. The ear-splitting roar relentlessly struck their eardrums. True to their passionate natures, the end was as boisterous and spectacular. Only after the dust settled could the situation in the arena be properly assessed. Neither of them had fallen. Despite unleashing their ultimate techniques, they could not determine a winner. Of course, it's possible that Im Deok-seong held back.

"Cough, cough. You scoundrel! You hit the same spot you hit four years ago! And it hurts even more than then. Hmph, you bad boy!"

"Cough, cough. Father, are you trying to kill your son? Why are you swinging that saber so recklessly? You should have looked before you swung. This son hasn't even gotten married yet. Do you want to make your only son a virgin ghost?"

Im Seong-jin also retorted, sputtering.

"You brat! Still defying your father? And what empty-headed girl would want to marry someone like you? Have a cold shower and snap out of it!"

"Don't curse me. I will definitely get married."

"Oh, this kid. Still… if you keep defying me, I'll reveal that you wet the bed until you were seven!"

"Th-that's despicable!"

The dust, which had just begun to settle, swirled up again like a cloud. Within it, the two continued to argue, spitting words.

"Fools!"

Bi Ryu-yeon's commentary was short and clear.

"This matter is important not only to the Seventy-two Forest Bandit Strongholds but also to us. I believe this is a terrible conspiracy orchestrated by someone to frame us. We are in a hurry, so we cannot fully prove our innocence now, but from now on, Cheonmu Academy and Jeongcheon Alliance will investigate this incident with all their might. Please wait. And please believe us."

"Alright! I will believe you and wait. And…"

Im Deok-seong added a few more words via telepathic transmission. Bing Geom nodded.

"Don't worry!"

"Thank you."

As Im Deok-seong performed a formal bow, Bing Geom also returned the gesture.

"Tch! Go wherever you want and live as you please!"

After finishing his conversation with Bing Geom, Im Deok-seong turned his back to Im Seong-jin and said.

"Father…"

"Don't disgrace your father wherever you go! If you fight, you must win!"

The corners of the Forest Bandit King Im Deok-seong's eyes shimmered with a strange light. Im Seong-jin felt something indescribable welling up in his chest and reaching his throat, which he suppressed with a grit of his teeth.

"Of…, course…, I…, will."

"Go now!"

As if annoyed, Im Deok-seong waved his hand without looking back and shouted.

"Open the way! And… all personnel, Sword Salute (劍禮)!"

The Raging Wave Ghost, Mo Gyeong-do, shouted with inner force.

Like the sea parting in two, the surrounding warriors began to split to the sides and line up along both sides of the path. The procession continued to the end of the Great Hong Mountain trail. This seamless obedience to a single command was the driving force behind Marangchae's current strength. Their synchronized movement and redeployment were reminiscent of an army.

When three thousand warriors lined up on both sides and offered a Sword Salute with their weapons held to their chests, it was a grand spectacle. It sent shivers down one's spine.

If they had directly confronted them, neither side would have emerged unscathed. The procession extending to the foot of the mountain seemed to be wishing them good fortune.

"What a good father!"

Im Seong-jin, who had been staring at the magnificent spectacle before him, was startled by Bing Geom's words from beside him.

"What?"

"You said earlier that the pursuit of the ultimate martial art transcends one's origins, didn't you?"

'So please take good care of my son!'

It seemed that was the content of the telepathic communication Bing Geom had with him last. Perhaps he was worried that his son's origins might have a negative impact. It was almost miraculous that Im Deok-seong had paid attention to such a detail. Bing Geom had no intention of questioning Im Seong-jin's origins. Im Seong-jin felt the accumulated resentment in his heart dissolve in an instant.

"Well, I'll be back shortly!"

Bing Geom nodded in assent. Im Seong-jin rushed towards Im Deok-seong, who was still standing with his back turned. And then he shouted as if to cry out.

"Father!"

Im Deok-seong flinched at the sound but never turned around.

"Why? My ears aren't deaf."

Im Deok-seong said in a still curt tone, facing away.

"Then I'll be going now. Be well."

Im Seong-jin bowed deeply. This bow was filled with sincerity. Therefore, though rough, it was warm.

"Hush. Go quickly!"

Whether out of shame or embarrassment, Im Deok-seong never turned around. He heard the sound of his son's footsteps fading away. The sound of footsteps merged with the sounds of multiple footsteps. The merged footsteps began to move. It seemed he was descending the mountain with his companions.

The sounds of dozens of footsteps that had been shaking the ground gradually grew farther away from his ears, and finally, they became inaudible.

"That foolish son!"

His tone, as he uttered this, was tinged with loneliness.