If one must bear it. (10)
He forcefully expelled the breath that had risen to the tip of his chin.
A scorching heat, hard to believe it came from within him, burst forth. It signified that the temperature inside his body had long since slipped out of his control.
‘Amitabha.’
How many times had he chanted?
He did not know. He only understood clearly what it meant that he was muttering that chant to himself so often.
“Haah!”
Once again, he poured his full strength into his fists.
But even the power of those fists – capable of piercing mountains and splitting rivers – could not shatter that blazing sun. All he could do was push back the oncoming sun a little and twist its direction.
Booom!
The sun crashed into the ground with an explosion, unleashing a searing heat that seemed to burn even the flesh, spreading in all directions.
His vision blurred. It felt as if all the blood coursing through his body was drying up. The relentless thirst that followed brought on a sense of danger more alarming than the pain.
Even while surrounding his entire body with energy to fend off the heat, he was still in this wretched state. Without using his internal energy, he would already have been reduced to a blackened lump of charcoal.
‘Amitabha…’
A contest of internal strength is like peering into the bottom of a lake. You can only guess at a depth no one can precisely know, and hold out until your opponent’s limits are exposed.
It was a desperate kind of battle, yet at the same time, a familiar one. Hye Yeon had not once lost such a contest.
But now… he sensed a defeat he had never before experienced. The internal strength that had once filled him like a brimming lake had dried up long ago. Meanwhile, the opponent had clearly unleashed at least twice as much power as he had, yet still showed no sign of fatigue.
How was he supposed to describe this feeling?
Yes, it was akin to the vast sense of awe one might feel upon seeing the ocean for the first time, having once been proud of a lake’s great expanse.
Yet the price of realizing once again just how wide the world truly was seemed too great to find any solace in it.
“Aaaahp!”
Lee Songbaek stepped forward to block and struck down the flying fragments of the yang energy. Thick white smoke billowed from his hand. As Hye Heon watched Lee Songbaek’s scorched hand, a thought crossed his mind.
He’s still managing to grip a sword with his hand being like that.
Even in the midst of this fierce battle, he found himself thinking such things.
Crash!
Before long, Namgung Dowi’s sword energy poured out.
Yes, “poured out” was the precise expression. It wasn’t a torrent of sword energy rushing forward as if to crush a mountain. Though it contained inner strength, it seemed to have lost its focus. An attack like that was not enough to force the Sun Palace Lord back.
“Hmph.”
Indeed, the Sun Palace Lord merely flicked a hand. With that slight movement, he easily twisted aside the oncoming sword energy.
Boooooom!
The sword energy that slipped past him went off with a colossal blast. No matter how powerful an attack is, if it doesn’t strike the opponent – it’s meaningless. This spectacle showed that truth all too clearly.
“Hooooh… Hooooh.”
Namgung Dowi’s shoulders rose and fell heavily.
His attack had lost its momentum. But he couldn’t be blamed. Covered in burns, just remaining on his feet was a miracle itself.
If even he collapsed, everyone else would die. No doubt it was that single fact alone keeping him upright.
“How pitiful.”
The Lord of the Sun Palace clicked his tongue. His gaze pierced right through the three of them, as if he was looking down at foes crouched far below him.
In that moment, Lee Songbaek suddenly realized something. Even if the same words and actions are performed, the meaning changes depending on who is speaking. Likewise, even if it’s the same person, the situation in which they speak or act can also alter the meaning.
Right now, there was a certain legitimacy in the look the Sun Palace Lord wore – quite different from the initial impression that it was pure arrogance.
No… perhaps it wasn’t that he had suddenly gained justification, but rather that Lee Songbaek no longer had the strength to resist his arrogance.
In that moment, something suddenly surged up inside him.
“Ridiculous…”
Just as Lee Songbaek tried to force out a voice that refused to come, the Sun Palace Lord’s figure appeared right before his eyes.
Lee Songbaek, his eyes wide, swung his sword with lightning speed. He moved before he even grasped the situation, a sight that proved just how thoroughly he had honed his swordsmanship.
But that was all. The Sun Palace Lord was not someone who could be overcome with just that much.
Thunk!
The back of the Sun Palace Lord’s hand tapped lightly against the flat side of Lee Songbaek’s incoming sword. At the same time, the sword bounced up, as if it had struck an iron wall.
Right after, the Sun Palace Lord’s outstretched hand slammed into Lee Songbaek’s chest.
Thud.
The impact did not sound especially loud, yet Lee Songbaek felt he had heard the sky itself collapsing. That was because the noise erupted from inside his own body, rather than from outside.
A vicious, searing pain rolled in, sweeping through his entire being.
“Songbaek Siju!”
Hye Yeon cried out involuntarily.
Lee Songbaek was coughing up blood as he was hurled through the air. The droplets evaporated even before they could reach the ground. That entire sight was etched vividly into Hye Yeon’s eyes.
And before that image had fully faded, the Sun Palace Lord, moving like a ghost, appeared before the hunched-over Namgung Dowi, striking him in the jaw.
Namgung Dowi was knocked away without so much as a scream, tumbling across the ground.
The distance where fists and feet could land – until just moments ago, the three of them had deliberately closed it to press the Sun Palace Lord. Now that very gap threatened them.
“You..!”
It was the moment when Hye Yeon, unable to restrain his rising fury, was about to charge at the Sun Palace Lord in a single leap.
Kuuung!
Suddenly, an invisible pressure bore down upon his entire body.
“Urk.”
A stifled groan escaped from Hye Yeon’s parted lips before he could hold it back. It felt as though a ten-thousand-geun [만근(萬斤) – old measure of weight] boulder weighed upon his entire body.
An oppression performed through sheer inner strength. Under normal circumstances, that would never have worked on Hye Yeon.
But in his current state, he had not even a speck of internal energy left to resist.
“Urgh…”
His knees threatened to buckle at any moment, and the hand braced against the ground trembled uncontrollably. Even lifting his head to focus on what lay before him was unbearably difficult.
“Answer, young monk.”
Amid Hye Yeon’s desperate struggle, he heard the Sun Palace Lord’s leisurely voice.
“Did I seem arrogant to you?”
Hye Yeon could not respond. It wasn’t merely because he lacked the strength to speak.
If arrogance means an overly confident attitude, then who had truly been arrogant?
The Sun Palace Lord, who looked down on them? Or the three of them who thought they could stop him with only their own might?
The outcome they faced now provided the answer.
Regardless of one’s demeanor, once someone clutches victory, that person’s arrogance ceases to be arrogance. Whatever their bearing, once you must accept defeat, all your actions are deemed arrogance instead.
That unassailable truth became a dagger that pierced Hye Yeon’s innermost being.
Step.
A pair of shoes came into Hye Yeon’s line of sight. From a glance, he could tell they were fine silk footwear, worn by the Sun Palace Lord. It felt as though even those shoes were mocking him.
“When you reach the afterlife and meet the Buddha, tell him your sin was not knowing your place.”
Hye Yeon squeezed his eyes shut.
‘What am I to do now…’
He wanted to grow stronger. He wanted to be unshakable. He wished to be solid enough to overcome all of life’s hardships.
But that was just a wish – one he never managed to fulfill. At least, not in this life.
That shortcoming would rob him of all he was meant to protect. And that loss would become another ocean of suffering, shackling him all the more.
‘Everyone…’
“Stop… what?”
At that moment, Hye Yeon felt his body suddenly lift into the air.
Of course, he realized almost immediately that it was just a trick of his senses – a rush of relief as the force that had been pressing down on his whole body vanished in an instant.
But why?
Alarmed, Hye Yeon raised his gaze urgently. And he saw it.
A colossal tiger descending upon the Sun Palace Lord.
It was a sight he could hardly believe with his own eyes. It was that surreal. If Hye Yeon’s mind, already half-shattered, were conjuring some final hallucination before death, that would have seemed more plausible.
Roar!
Yet the deafening roar crashing against Hye Yeon’s ears proved that this was no illusion. The tiger had seized the Sun Palace Lord’s raised arm in its powerful jaws, refusing to let go.
“What… what is this?”
For a moment, the Sun Palace Lord looked more bewildered than enraged.
He shook the arm caught in the tiger’s maw a few times, then belatedly regained his wits and struck the tiger’s flank with a single palm thrust.
Kwaang!
The tiger was knocked away in one blow.
“…What on earth…”
The Sun Palace Lord stared blankly at his own arm. Between the tattered remains of his clothing, the wounds – punctures from the beast’s fangs – were clearly visible.
A look of deep frustration flickered across his face as he muttered.
“I didn’t even sense its presence.”
“Why should that be surprising?”
A sudden voice interrupted him. The Sun Palace Lord turned his gaze quickly. There, walking towards him, was a man.
“Everyone knows that beasts are better at hiding their presence than humans.”
He stood a head taller than the Lord of the Sun Palace, who was by no means short. His broad shoulders radiated an imposing aura. The Sun Palace Lord’s expression hardened.
“…Nanman Beast Palace?”
“They call me Maeng So.”
Thud.
Maeng So’s foot landed in front of Hye Yeon, like a wall meant to protect him.
“P-Palace Lord?”
“You’ve been through a lot.”
Maeng So turned slightly to make eye contact, then gave an awkward smile.
“Well, a beast is still a beast, so it got spooked by that huge army. Took some time to get things under control. I hope you’ll understand.”
“Understand…? What are you talking about…?”
“Come on now, don’t be so sensitive. I’m apologizing, aren’t I?”
Thunk.
With a hearty laugh, Maeng So gave Hye Yeon’s shoulder a light pat. It was meant as a friendly gesture, but the sheer force of that pot lid-sized hand sent Hye Yeon face-first into the dirt before he could even react.
“Huh?”
“…”
Maeng So scratched the back of his head as he looked down at Hye Yeon’s head, now buried in the dirt.
“Well… uh… sorry. I didn’t realize you were that exhausted.”
“…”
“Ahem. Anyway, there’s no need to worry now. I’ll handle this.”
Maeng So turned away from Hye Yeon, then took a firm stand in front of the Sun Palace Lord.
He, who had been silently watching this farce unfold, furrowed his brow.
“The Lord of the Nanman Beast Palace.”
“Now that I think of it, have we met before?”
“Not in my time.”
“Then it must’ve been the previous Palace Lord. You lot all dress so similarly – it doesn’t bother you, lugging around all that loose finery?”
Maeng So stroked his rough jaw as he spoke, prompting the Sun Palace Lord to bite down on his lip.
“Why does the Beast Palace stand in my way?”
Maeng So tilted his head in confusion, as if the question itself were unexpected.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Have you forgotten the persecution you received as the ‘barbarian tribe’ from beyond the borders?”
“…”
“No matter how the people of the Central Plains change their outward appearance, the deep-rooted scorn buried within them doesn’t vanish. If anyone knows that best, it would be your Beast Palace. Am I wrong?”
“Hm.”
Maeng So gazed at the Sun Palace Lord as though intrigued, then let out a small chuckle.
“Even if that’s true, you’re hardly in a position to say it, when you’re the one following Jang Ilso’s orders.”
“Don’t be mistaken. I’m merely using him.”
As though his weak spot had been exposed, the Lord of the Sun Palace ground his teeth.
“What I desire is to make sure the Central Plains never again dare to ignore the Outer Lands. I’ll brand this fear of us and our greatness into their minds. Jang Ilso is nothing more than a tool for that purpose.”
“Mmhmm.”
“You know it too, don’t you? Now is the perfect chance to repay the deep contempt we’ve endured from them.”
Maeng So gave a firm nod.
“Indeed. I understand what you’re saying. We certainly have suffered a lot, and felt unfairly treated more than once.”
“That’s right. So even now…”
“But that is that.”
“…What did you say?”
Maeng So let out a hearty laugh, one that made him look almost foolish.
“Isn’t it ridiculous? Paying back scorn with blood. We don’t settle our business that way.”
“…”
“Blood for blood, death for death. And as for scorn… we repay with scorn too.”
The Sun Palace Lord ground his teeth, realizing that reasoning with him was futile.
“Even so, that’s no reason for the Beast Palace to stand in my way.”
“Turns out you’re a bigger fool than I thought.”
“What?”
“I said you’re a fool. Are your ears plugged?”
Maeng So stuck his thick finger in his ear in a mocking gesture.
“You bastard…!”
Momentarily overcome by anger, the Sun Palace Lord roared with an expression that told he was on the verge of exploding.
“You look like a bear, and yet you dare spout such nonsense?”
“A bear is smarter than you are. At least a bear wouldn’t assume everything in this world needs a reason.”
“…”
“I’m standing here simply because I want to stand here. Why should I need any reason beyond that?”
“…Because you want to stand here?”
“That’s right.”
Maeng So nodded firmly and grinned.
“It’s pretty entertaining, this place.”
…Finally, the Sun Palace Lord gave up on persuasion altogether. He had grasped that Maeng So was not someone who could be reasoned with.
“I tried to show some mercy since we both share the fate of being called ‘outsiders,’ but in the end, it seems you’re nothing more than a lowly savage.”
At those words, Maeng So shook his head slowly.
“You’re the one who’s hopeless.”
Such people do exist – those who don’t hate discrimination itself, but only hate that they’re not the ones in a position to discriminate others.
To Maeng So, the Sun Palace Lord seemed precisely that type of person.
“Though you’re just a lowly savage, I must commend you for daring to stand in my way. But that act earns only one reward – death.”
“Hoooo.”
Maeng So let out a brief breath. He seemed about to say something.
“Die!”
But the Sun Palace Lord, determined not to allow even the slightest opening, unleashed his energy in one swift motion. The searing blazing heat of his Scorching Yang Force hurtled towards Maeng So in a single burst.
On the inside, the Sun Palace Lord was sure of himself. With that single strike, he could reduce that worthless bastard to a pile of ash.
But at that very moment.
“Hup!”
As Maeng So let out a short breath, his upper arm suddenly swelled to nearly twice its normal size. The sight of that uncanny phenomenon made the Sun Palace Lord’s eyes widen.
“Hyaaaap!”
Immediately afterwards, Maeng So’s fist slammed into the onrushing force.
Booom!
A colossal explosion erupted right in front of Maeng So. A raging tempest of scorching heat howled through the air.
Anyone made of flesh and bone would never be able to withstand that heat. That was how it should have been.
Yet.
“Hoo… It’s quite hot.”
Thud.
Maeng So took a step forward into the roaring storm of heat.
Thud. Thud.
And then, he went a step further – calmly walking straight through the raging heat wave.
“You…”
The Sun Palace Lord’s eyes opened so wide they looked ready to tear apart.
“H-How?”
“It seems you never heard a thing from your late father.”
“…”
“Well, now you’ll find out. You’ll learn why the Sun Palace, despite its tremendous power, has never been able to expand into the Central Plains.”
Crunch.
From all over Maeng So’s body came the sounds of bones grinding against one another.
“Though I suppose there’s no point in learning it – you won’t be able to convey it to anyone.”
His long hair began to flutter in the heat, as he looked like a lion baring its fangs at its prey.
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LETS GOOOO!
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Return of the Mount Hua 
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