Chapter 34 – The Peach Tree (3)

While boarding the plane at the airport, bound for Korea, Baekdo and I avoided looking at each other’s faces. We simply crossed our arms and gazed elsewhere. Sansuyu alternated between observing Baekdo and me, then spoke as if curious.

“Siheon.”
“What?”
“Did something happen with your mentor?”

Indeed, something had happened. I was severely chastised for my absurd theory on peach preferences.

I was subjected to a barrage of curses on the spot for having a taste that didn’t align with theirs. The injustice was so overwhelming that even Sakyamuni would have undoubtedly shed tears of blood if he were in my position.

I turned my head and asked Suyu, who was intently staring out the airplane window.

“…Suyu.”
“Huh?”
“Do you prefer firm peaches or soft peaches?”
“???”

Suyu tilted her head, seemingly unable to grasp the meaning of my question.

Baekdo, who had been pretending to sleep with her eyes closed, spoke with irritation.

“Hmph, of course it’s a hard peach.”
“Mentor, please try not to speak. Just listening to you makes me furious.”
“What? You dare to speak like that to your teacher!”
“You said I was disqualified as a disciple.”
“It’s minus two points.”
“Still, I prefer soft peaches.”
“Urk!”

Baekdo’s face contorted. No matter how much she was a hard peach, I was a fan of soft peaches. How delicious it is when the sweet flesh is brimming with nectar.

Hard peaches have crossed the line.

“I won’t go easy on you once your training begins.”
“Still, I prefer soft peaches.”
“Insolent brat.”

It seemed that this grudge was likely to last for a while.

* * * * *

Korea. Jirisan Mountain.
Designated as the first national park in 1967, it is originally the largest mountain-type national park in Korea, covering an area of 483.022 km^2.

But that tale belongs to the old world.

In this world, Mount Jiri is known as the cradle of mighty trees, for it is said to be home to hermit masters. Those who are born imbued with the pure energy of Mount Jiri are said to become exceptional individuals, like Giraseong, under the guidance of their respective teachers.

I have visited Mount Jiri before, but the Mount Jiri of this world is a far cry from a mere national park.

From the modest ridges to the towering peaks, beholding the celestial ramparts piercing through the clouds evokes the sensation of gazing upon an impregnable fortress carved into a sheer cliff.

Cheonwangbong Peak, Banyabong Peak, Nogodan Peak.

A place where grandeur and depth coexist, untouched by human civilization, it appeared before me as an exotic landscape.

And at its heart stands an aged cabin.

“Let’s assess your skills first.”

Clad in a latex combat uniform, Baekdo stood before us, her snow-white hair tied back as if drawn with a single stroke.

“First… alright. Sansuyu’s top disciple.”

“First-class disciple?”
“Yes. A second-class disciple is too good for Mulbokdan. You, Mulbok, are a third-class disciple.”

Ever since that incident, Baekdo had taken every opportunity to lecture me, invoking the dignity of Dakbok when she did so. She would take out a hard peach from her bag and eat it, never offering me any, but giving one to Sansuyu. Despite her seemingly strong demeanor, her actions were utterly childish.

Of course, I was no stranger to ranting and bickering myself, so whenever she gave me her unsolicited advice, I would retort in kind.

“Dakbok is more expensive than Mulbok.”
“Ha, isn’t that just because there’s a larger supply of Dakbok?”
“It must be that Mulbok is in higher demand then.”
“You foolish one. You must be a commie.”
“What the hell?”
“The Great Marshal of the North is said to prefer Mulbok. You must be a red and a communist.”

One should rant in moderation. I had never been considered lacking in wit, but this woman was even more so than me.

Never approach it. That peach is a dangerous peach.

“Ahem. Anyway, Sansuyu, first-class disciple. Draw your sword; let me see your skills.”
“Thank you.”

I sat against the wall of the hut with a disgruntled expression, and White Peach looked at me disapprovingly before clearing her throat and instructing Sansuyu to assume her stance.

Sansuyu drew her sword with a rather serious face and adopted the posture I had always seen her use.

Ready.

Sansuyu’s center shifted subtly forward. It was the footing for a forward charge.
In contrast, White Peach remained casually standing. With her haughty legs, she kept her right hand behind her waist as if she wouldn’t use it at all.

Was this a self-imposed handicap? Now that I thought about it, the ornaments attached to the latex armor seemed considerably heavy.
If those items over there were artifacts that included weight augmentation… I couldn’t predict how fast she would be once they were all removed.

The contours of the muscles, exposed by the latex, were perfectly balanced. Though seemingly naive, their skills were undeniably real.

“Begin.”

**Crash!**

As the word dropped, the earth trembled. Soil was excavated and lifted into the air, raining down like a torrent.

In an instant, White Peach vanished and reappeared before Cornus who had just initiated her stance. She swung her sword swiftly, but her opponent evaded every strike.

“…!”

Cornus’ countermeasures were quite adept. She adapted her aggressive maneuvers to the ever-changing situation and maintained a posture ready to retaliate at any moment.

White Peach’s swift-moving form soared into the sky, kicking off the air and positioning herself behind Cornus.

Riding the wind? It was as if she could create footholds in the air at will. A hint of disconcertment flickered in Cornus’ usually stoic gaze. Nonetheless, she maintained her balance and thrust her sword toward White Peach behind her.

“Quite impressive, first-class disciple.”

Baekdo accelerated once more.

This time, she launched her attack head-on.

-Paang!

With the sound of air bursting, Cornus’s body flew backward. It was a rather harsh attack for a disciple. However, Cornus, carried by a sudden gust of wind, floated up and gently landed.

It was White Peach’s magic.

“You have a good sense.”
“…Thank you.”

Cornus nodded her head with a puzzled expression, and White Peach gave me a sly wink.

– Aren’t you going to join?

She must have received so much criticism that she developed a persecution complex, hearing words just by looking at someone’s eyes.

“Siheon, that person is no ordinary individual.”
“I know. And it’s Siheon.”
“Siheon.”
“Right.”

I dragged my sword along the ground and stood before White Peach. She grinned as she watched me draw my sword with a smooth, swift motion.

“It’s absurd that a swordsman doesn’t treat their sword with care.”
“If it becomes sharp with magic, is there any reason to cherish it?”

Since the last battle, my sword’s edges had dulled, and I felt the need to sharpen them. I thought that if I proved myself capable, I would be granted a superior blade.

“The mindset is commendable, enhancing a humble weapon with your own skills. That is the foundation of a warrior. Third-rank disciple, assume your stance.”

“Ah, yes.”

I extended my legs and lowered my center of gravity. Then, I stretched one foot to the side, positioning myself to strike at both the side and rear at any moment.

An impromptu adjustment. Sansuyu’s eyes, watching me, sparkled with the eagerness to learn.

“Prepare.”

Prepare –

*Thwack!*

Before the signal was given, White Peach’s body moved with incredible speed.

I was taken aback and quickly shifted to a defensive stance.

“Damn it, what kind of master is so ruthless?!”

“There is no mercy for a third-rank disciple.”

Fuming with indignation, I channeled my mana throughout my body.

Wooden Sword Technique, Form 3. No…

The inky power rippled at the tip of the sword, radiating its own light without restraint. The black beams of light dispersed around me, gracefully tracing the shape of the moon.

This was the form of the Woodcarving Swordsmanship’s Immortal Fruit.

Indeed, it resembled the shape of a peeled fruit from the copy tree. A sword technique improvised on the spot, lethal only to a martial artist like me. I took in the sight of White Peach’s form as she approached me.

I could see the sword.

I cried out.

“Seal Breaker Slash!”

The dark magic swelled. The sound of the sword cutting through the air surged like a wave. As the pitch-black power engulfed White Peach’s body, which was throwing a punch –

“Ha.”

– for a moment, I thought I saw white magic emanating from her body.

“Impossible!”

Bang!

A turbulent gust erupted. My body was being pushed back by the sheer force of her simple, yet unyielding power.

The sword emitted a distressing sound. As it resisted being pushed away, its condition had significantly deteriorated.

“Ha ha. Those who favor the Mulbok can only muster this much power!”
“What?”
“Today, I’ll deal with the cunning offspring of the Mulbok.”
“Th-this…!”

He clenched his fists and discarded the sword. As he assumed the stance of a martial art technique he had created himself, astonishment flickered across White Peach’s face.

“What an intriguing fellow.”

White Peach’s figure vanished. He tracked her movements with his eyes.

He accurately deciphered her martial art techniques, imbuing his body with magical energy. The black, expanded mana manifested as auras enveloping his clenched fists, forming black circles.

Regarding his insufficient physical prowess,

“There’s no helping it.”

He revealed the same power he had demonstrated in his battle with Lee Seong-Han.

The inky-black energy emanating from the heart. The magical circuit that had utilized that power once was now a level more refined than before, thus maintaining its form without crumbling as it had previously.

All physical capabilities surge, and nerves grow sensitive.
I decipher her movements with heightened senses.

– Paaaaang!

Our fists clash.

Dirt flies, and the wind howls.
Though I was the one pushed back in the contest of strength, I was not incapable of deflecting the relentless subsequent blows.

“Ha ha ha ha ha! This is exciting! A human who steals techniques! The star has indeed recommended an exceptional man!”

White Peach, her laughter bordering on madness, persistently targeted any opening she saw in me.
Each time, I adjusted my stance and retreated.

The battlefield continuously shifted.
Cornus, who had been seated near the cabin, was no longer visible, and we gradually descended the mountain ridge.

The energy rippling from her fist seemed almost alive.

“Is that all? You love soft things so much that even your fists are incredibly tender!”

-Whack!

Her fist propelled me into a tree. The back of my head struck the trunk, blurring my vision.

I’m done for.

As I saw White Peach’s form hurtling towards me, I clenched my eyes shut and reached out a hand.

-Thump!

White Peach’s fist struck the tree.

-Creak!

The tree, unable to withstand the immense force, toppled over, split in half. White Peach, her face inches from mine, was smiling.

“You’re an amusing fellow.”

Somehow, her smile exuded a strong feminine allure, making her appear sensual.

-Soft.

No, there was another reason I sensed her sensuality.

The inevitable contact caused by my instinctual reach.

The soft, peach-like breasts fill my hands. My mind becomes hazy from the slippery sensation of the latex.

A lewd devil awakens.

“Why are you making such a dog-like face?”

White Peach furrows her brow at my reaction and lowers her head. Soon, she realizes her chest is tightly gripped in my hand.

“…!”

Her face flushes a deep red.

-Boom!

With a puff of smoke, her hair turns a vibrant shade of orange.

“…Huh?”

With her now orange hair, her fierce demeanor disappears, and her face remains a bright shade of crimson.

“Your, your hands on my chest.”

A tree materializes behind the woman. The fruit that adorns the tree is one I recognize all too well.

Peaches, commonly known as Zodiac.

“You touched my chest! I hate you, White Peach! Waaah.”

I can’t help but be utterly flustered.