Beastly and Fearlessly - Chapter 14
Only Noblemtl
Episode 14
Boom! Boom! Boom!
On one side, the sound of loud, endless drums could be heard, and on the other side, a large bonfire was burning.
The smell of grilling meat wafted through the air, and people were drinking and chatting here and there.
Rather than a day where a contest to decide the winner of Namcheon Damdong is held, it feels like a festival is taking place.
“Oh, the time I trained was too short.”
Although Nam Woong-dae’s Pyo Jin-chu did not reach the rank of Daejeonsa, he is the oldest and most experienced warrior in Namcheon Dam-dong.
He muttered in a regretful voice.
“Even if he was a very skilled old man, it was too short a time to turn that lazy bum into a warrior. If only So Dong-ju had come to his senses a little earlier… … .”
“But he became a completely different person. I wondered when he would ever sleep. The last time he defeated Ma Young-hoo, and the way he showed us at Mujangbong, were not coincidences.”
“That’s why it’s even more regrettable. You met the wrong person.”
At that moment, the elder brother and the king appeared.
Firm muscles with dark skin.
A large physique that clearly shows that he has inherited Namman’s blood.
The two intense eyes radiated an aura that only a great warrior would show.
“Did you hear that story? I heard that Nam Woong-dae’s Hwang Chung-yu fought that guy once, but they couldn’t decide the winner.”
“Hey. Isn’t that just a rumor? Isn’t Huang Zhongyu a warrior who will definitely become a great warrior within the year?”
“It might not be this year, but it might be possible in a year or two. In any case, he himself said that he couldn’t decide the winner.”
When Damwangsu first came to Namcheon Damdong, he already had a certain level of skill.
He was under the special guidance of the senator for over a year.
In comparison, it was only three months ago that Dam-myeong began training in earnest.
Although they have shown some unexpected behavior recently, their sword fights are a different story.
Only time spent training can guarantee victory.
Among the hundreds of warriors gathered in the Great Battlefield, there were few who predicted Damyeong’s victory.
“But why did Your Majesty allow this kind of secret?”
“Because it was a promise. When Madam first came to Namcheon Damdong, the one who opposed it the most was that old chief over there. He set this condition. We cannot allow someone with the blood of the Central Plains to ascend to the position of Dongju. So, if a true descendant of Namcheon Damdong appears one day, we must give him a chance.”
“Can’t you just ignore such a ridiculous promise? Wasn’t this a story from before Dong-ju was even born? Even if Dong-ju fought with his left hand, he would win.”
“Dongju never goes back on his word. In some ways, he’s a frustrating person, but in other ways, he’s a great person.”
He was a warrior of the Beast Palace before becoming Dongju.
A great warrior who keeps his promises and beliefs.
“Oh, here it comes.”
From afar, Dam-myeong was walking slowly.
All he had on his upper body was a bear skin.
In his hand he holds a training sword.
“Your body has completely changed. You seem taller, too.”
A handsome face that doesn’t match the strong muscles that look like twisted wire.
He had a faint smile on his face, which was unusual for someone facing an important task that could possibly cost him his position as the leader of the small group.
* * *
Even though it is called a high table, it is just roughly made of logs.
The owner, Dam Mu-Heun, sat in the middle.
Next to him is Nam Woong-dae-ju and Gam Cheol-woo.
Yeo So-woon, the landlady of Namcheon Dam-dong, took her seat at the end.
“Brother, no, Lord Dongju. Do you think Myung-i can defeat Bimu?”
Nam Woong-dae-ju Gam Cheol-woo quietly asked Dam Mu-heun.
“What do you think?”
“Of course I want Myung-i to win easily, but that guy over there is quite skilled. I saw Nam Woong-dae fight with Hwang Chung-yu the other day, and um… … I think Myung-i will have a hard time.”
“That’s fortunate.”
“What’s fortunate? I’m going to lose my position as the Sodongju with my eyes wide open. Because of that snake-like elder. Where did you bring in that guy with no foundation… …”
An unstoppable killing intent flowed out from Gam Cheol-woo’s entire body.
“That’s fortunate. When you’re in the position of leading a family, you’re bound to encounter absurd situations. All sorts of dirty schemes run rampant. Like now.”
“So what’s fortunate?”
“There is always only one way to get through such vile tricks.”
“What is that? Is it a skull-smashing thing?”
“Jump into the middle of your opponent’s scheme and destroy it in a spectacular manner. That’s what he has to do today. If he’s going to fall over something like this, he shouldn’t be in Dongju’s position in the first place.”
“Then, brother, no, Dongju, are you saying that Myeong-i will win?”
“… … I don’t think it’ll work.”
In the center of the table set aside on the left, the head of the household, Moon Il-ji, was sitting.
Sitting next to me are the senior members of the Senate.
Nosa, a member of the Senate, should have been among them, but he sat far away.
It means that you have different opinions from them.
“Wonju, are you sure that guy will win?”
“Winning is a given, but how you win is what’s important.”
“I keep thinking that maybe we’ve been pushing things for no reason. Even if he’s half-baked, isn’t he Dong-ju’s son after all? If we think that a guy like that, who doesn’t know where he came from, will take Dong-ju’s place… … .”
“Oh my. What nonsense are you talking about here? Don’t worry. That guy will only get to the position of Sodongju.”
“Then the position of Dongju will be taken by someone else… … .”
“Shh. I guess the fight is about to start.”
Dongju Dammuheun stood up from his seat.
And shouted to everyone.
“From now on, the duel between Dam-myeong and Dam-wang-su will begin!”
* * *
Ding. Ding. Ding.
Three loud drum blasts signaling the start of the ceremony rang out.
The noisy and bustling Daeyeonmujang became quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.
It can’t even be called a stage.
All the warriors are just sitting around a wide open space in the middle of the large battlefield.
Two people slowly walked towards the center.
Everyone’s eyes were turned to those two.
Damyeong and Damwangsu.
“Are you ignoring me by coming out with a training sword that hasn’t even been sharpened? That’s not true, Dam-myeong. Oh, should I still call you Dam-myeong So-dong-ju?”
“I just got used to it. The blunt blade is perfect for breaking heads.”
“Hehe. Do whatever you want with that. Can I just use this?”
Damwangsu asked, shaking the sword in his hand from side to side.
This is a sword that the Elder Lord personally gave to Bimu.
I had been counting the days so much that it felt like if I put my finger on it, it would just snap off.
“Do whatever you want.”
After a brief conversation, the two people distanced themselves again.
Since there would be no such thing as a knight’s ceremonial at the Beast Palace, the two people’s greetings were now over.
Soon, only one of the two will be standing there.
thud.
The damwangsu rushed in first.
A hazy aura wrapped around a sharp sword blade.
The tip of Damwangsu’s sword, which was extended in a straight line, shook wildly.
He ran towards Dammyeong like a snake running through the grass.
Quick and stealthy.
Chaeng. Chaeng. Chaeng.
It was clearly only one stroke, but the sound of the swords clashing was heard multiple times.
And then the flashy and dazzling sword that follows.
In an instant, Dam-Myeong’s entire body was covered in sword light.
Damwangsu used dazzling techniques to cut down Dammyeong’s four directions.
Exclamations and sighs came out from the mouth of Pyo Jin-chu, the oldest warrior in Namungdae.
“Ah… … This might be difficult? The old lord trained me separately, and I learned his Kyungcheon Sword Technique properly.”
“Is that your swordsmanship?”
“That’s right. It’s the Gyeongcheon Sword, the only sword technique of the Beast Palace. Of course, it unfolds in different ways depending on the personality of the person practicing it. The characteristic of the Gyeongcheon Sword that Wonju unfolds is that it changes drastically and targets only the opponent’s vital points.”
Pyo Jin-chu turned his attention to the two people who were engaged in a fierce battle again.
Anyone can see that it is a one-sided battle.
One side is endlessly spreading the water, while the other side is desperate to stop it.
I looked towards the upper seat.
Three people with calm expressions, without any change.
Dammuheun and Mujinbaek Nosa.
And now, Yeo So-woon, Dam-myeong’s mother, is holding back the one-sided attack.
In comparison, the face of the senior leader is bright.
In his mind, he must have already pictured Dam-myeong lying on the floor.
Pyo Jin-chu sighed and looked at Dong-ju.
‘Ha, Lord Dongju. Are you just going to watch this kind of conflict that should never have happened in the first place?’
Since it was Dongju’s decision, no one said anything, but among the warriors of Namcheon Damdong, there was no one who hoped for the victory of the guy called Damwangsu.
Whether it was good or bad, everyone agreed that only Dam-myeong, who inherited Dong-ju’s blood, was qualified to be So-dong-ju.
Of course, the winner of the current competition will take that title.
bang!
At that moment, a loud noise was heard, as if a landslide was occurring.
The sword that Dam-myeong, who was desperate to block, swung once.
With that one sword strike, Damwangsu retreated five steps.
The thick dust settled and Dammyeong’s figure was revealed.
The bear skin he was wearing was already tattered and the exposed areas were covered in small scratches.
But there are no major injuries that could end the match.
The relaxed expression and sparkling eyes are still the same.
“This is a bit unexpected?”
Dam-myeong opened his mouth in a low voice.
“What do you mean unexpected? Didn’t you know I’d get pushed back unilaterally? Hehe.”
“It’s surprising that the head of the Senate taught something like this, calling it the swordsmanship of the Beast Palace.”
Dam-myeong’s eyes turned to the senior leader sitting at the head of the table.
His face contorted with anger at the sudden mention.
All the warriors gathered here know.
The fact that the person who taught swordsmanship to Damwangsu was the head of the senior council, Moon Il-ji.
“You’ve been so eager to stop that guy all this time? Have you learned anything from that one-armed old man? Hehe.”
Dam-myeong answered with a smile.
“I learned the true Beast Palace swordsmanship. Although it is only two types… … .”
“Haha. You only learned two martial arts and now you’re talking big about the swordsmanship of the Beast Palace?”
Dam-myeong pointed the unpolished training sword at Dam-wang-su and said.
“I’ll show you now.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped on the Taeryu Bridge.
One step, another step… … .
Dam-myeong slowly approached his opponent while aiming his sword.
It’s not fast, and there’s no flashy gimmicks.
The only place your feet should point is the opponent in front of you.
Talking is one thing.
I will cut off your neck and put a knife in your heart.
Damwangsu hesitated and stepped back.
It’s not without its flaws.
But if you rush in rashly, it feels like your own neck will fall off first.
‘I was scared by a guy like that? And by a training sword that wasn’t even sharp?’
Damwangsu, unable to overcome the oppression that was pressing on all sides, rushed in first.
Gritting his teeth as if trying to shake off the pressure.
The sword strike filled with life energy was aimed at Dam-myeong’s neck.
“This, this… … .”
Nam Woong-dae-ju Gam Cheol-woo stood up from his seat.
Even though it was an important battle over the position of Sodongju, how could they attack with such a murderous attitude?
The moment when the fighting is about to stop.
Boom!
The entire arena shook with a loud roar.
Dammyung’s sword fell to the ground.
At the same time, the rushing Damwangsu was unable to bear the shock and flew away.
“Creating waves… … .”
Gam Cheol-woo muttered without realizing it.
The first wave of the Gyeongcheon Sword.
It hits the calm water and creates waves.
All silence will disappear.
Damwangsu’s hand holding the sword was trembling.
I felt sick from the tidal wave-like turmoil coming from all directions.
“Hey, is this the Kyungcheon Sword Technique that I learned?”
He bit his lower lip as he watched Dammyung approaching him.
And then I squeezed out all my remaining strength and charged forward once again.
Shh shh, shhh.
His sword shook like a three-headed snake.
Gyeongcheongeomhae Jeyuk Chosik Manwol (Full Moon).
This is the last technique that Damwangsu can perform, as he has mastered six of the eight techniques.
In an instant, the surrounding area of Dam-myeong was filled with sword light.
Like moonlight covering the whole world on a dark night.
A tangled web of splendid and varied swords.
But Dam-myeong’s expression, standing in the middle of that danger, was still calm.
Dam-myeong, who had been quietly watching the dozens of sword strikes coming at him, swung his sword horizontally.
Jingcheon Geomhae Jay Chosik Danbok (斷瀑).
Even a waterfall like a huge barrier can be cut with a single sword.
This will lead beyond the noise to silence.
Crunch.
The countless sword lights that had been flashing and filling the Great Combat Armor disappeared in an instant.
All that remains is quiet silence.
A huge sheet of silence.
A sword of the Damwangsu cut cleanly in half.
He looked down at the sword in his hand with a bewildered look.
There were no cheers or cheers.
Everyone looked in disbelief.
But the fight is over.
Now it’s time for everything to return to its original place.
In everyone’s silence, Dam-myeong turned his eyes to Sang-seok.
And he opened his mouth to address the elders.
“I would like to ask the Lord of the Senate. Do you acknowledge that I, Dam-myeong, am the Sodongju of Namcheon Dam-dong?”
Elder Moon Il-ji bit his lip.
But what can we do?
Dam-myeong won.
He proved himself to be the leader of Namcheon Damdong.
The elder looked around slowly at everyone waiting for his answer.
The warriors of Namcheon Damdong celebrate Dammyeong’s victory.
The Senate bows its head to the unexpected outcome.
And Dong-ju Dam-mu-heun still looks at her with an expression that is hard to read.
There was only one thing he could say right now.
“… … I admit it.”
Elder Moon Il-ji muttered in a crawling voice.
Dammyeong, the only daughter of Namcheon Damdong.
It was the moment when the conflict over legitimacy that had continued for many years disappeared.
“Wow!”
“Wow!”
Only then did cheers erupt.
The elder lord looked at Dam-myeong for a while, then bowed his head and quietly stood up from his seat.
This is not where you should be.
The moment I turned around, I heard Dammuhun’s voice.
“Senate, where are you going? I still have something to say… … .”