The Warrior Speaks with the Sword (11)
The time until the quarterfinals began passed in the blink of an eye.
I spent the days in an endless loop—train, eat, train, eat, train, eat, then sleep—sharpening my swordsmanship the entire time. Unfortunately, my realm showed no sign of progress.
Of course, the very idea that a realm could rise after crossing blades a few times and hearing a single comment from Mok-gyeong was absurd in itself.
...If you're going to transmigrate someone, at least give them that kind of broken talent.
I'd probably get called shameless for thinking this, since I myself had risen through the realms at ridiculous speed, but still—if wishes were being granted, why not go all out?
Maybe sprinkle in a few fortuitous encounters while you’re at it.
...Though I have no idea what a “fortuitous encounter” in the Western Regions would even look like.
Probably eating something like mandrake root. At least I should count myself lucky I hadn’t ended up like the mountain hermits of Mount Vesuvius, surviving on volcanic ash.
But did that stuff even work?
“Uncle? What are you thinking about?”
Hye-ryeong tugged my hand and looked up at me. Her face was brimming with curiosity, clearly wondering what was going on inside my head.
“Just thinking I’d like to eat some spiritual medicine.”
“Aww, what’s that supposed to mean?” “I’m serious.”
“Why are you thinking about that on the way to the arena?”
“Because nothing beats spiritual medicine for raising your realm?”
“Master said spiritual medicine doesn’t really help with realm advancement! Unless it’s something like Azure Spirit Oil or Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, ordinary spiritual herbs only increase your internal energy...”
That was still valuable. In the Western Regions we never had time to build up much aura, so every fight became a desperate exercise in squeezing every drop from that pitifully small reserve.
It was routine to fight using nothing but aura armor instead of coating our weapons. That was why I absolutely had to claim the championship prize in this tournament.
“Still, spiritual medicine is spiritual medicine.”
The more the better.
“You’re right. Even just increasing internal energy is huge. They say becoming Super Peak or reaching the Harmonious Realm requires an enormous amount of it...”
Was the quantity of internal energy really that important?
In the West we were so pinched for time that we barely paid attention to the amount. But the system here was different, so the story might change.
“I really hope you win!”
“I’ll definitely win, so watch closely.”
“Okay~”
Hye-ryeong and I headed toward the arena in a warm, cheerful mood.
Finally, I get to fight him!
Pang Jishan couldn’t hide his excitement, snorting heavily through his nose.
For him, battling a strong opponent made his heart pound. And facing a powerhouse from the Western Regions was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so he watched the giant foreigner walking onto the stage with eyes full of anticipation.
Westerners really are huge. Is that normal?
Pang Jishan wasn’t considered small anywhere, yet the man standing before him seemed a full head taller. He couldn’t help but feel like he was looking at a giant.
“Have you been waiting long?”
“No, I just got here myself!”
To William’s question, Pang Jishan answered in a voice thick with excitement and drew his saber. It was thicker and wider than an ordinary blade—a true greatsword.
It looked like the kind of massive weapon a madman would swing. William eyed the saber with clear interest.
He must be strong. That thing looks heavy at a glance.
Normally, weapons weren’t made excessively heavy except for polearms. Too much weight created openings when swinging and made executing techniques more difficult.
But when it came to the martial arts representing the Hebei Pang Clan, the story changed.
The Five Tiger Gate-Cutting Saber and the Chaos Origin Thunderclap Saber.
These were the signature arts that came to mind when one thought of the Hebei Pang Clan—famous for their domineering saber techniques. As the young clan leader, Pang Jishan had inherited the true teachings of the Five Tiger Gate-Cutting Saber. Therefore, his weapon was designed and optimized specifically for that art.
Impressive saber. If we clash wrong, my sword might snap.
“Beginning now! First quarterfinal match! The duel between Pang Jishan and William shall now~ begin!”
At the referee’s shout, both men assumed their stances.
Pang Jishan took a posture that allowed him to charge and swing his greatsword at any moment. William assumed the Ox Guard, ready to deflect any incoming strike.
Since this was the quarterfinals and a clash between Peak realm experts, neither moved recklessly.
It might seem rather dull to the spectators, but a duel had never been primarily about entertaining the crowd.
I’ve never seen anyone who carries around such ridiculously large weapons survive the battlefield.
Of course, he himself had once used a lance that would make this saber look like a toy, but comparing a weapon meant only for charges to one used in close combat was a bit of a stretch.
“Haha! Brother Wi! My blood is boiling, so I’ll go first!”
The moment the words left his mouth, Pang Jishan stepped forward using the Chaos Origin Step and charged. His footwork carried the straightforward intent of “rush straight ahead and smash everything,” perfectly matching his domineering saber style.
William braced his lower body against the boar-like charge and tilted his sword tip even further downward.
Time to probe first.
The scariest thing in the world was not powerful martial arts, but unknown martial arts. No matter how strong the technique, a counter existed. Once you understood it, breaking it became possible.
Wasn’t that why one of the most important qualities martial arts masters looked for in a disciple was “someone who doesn’t carelessly show their techniques to outsiders”?
In the round of sixteen I ended it with a single strike.
Since he had won the moment their blades met by shattering the opponent’s weapon, he couldn’t afford to clash carelessly now.
Here it comes.
William let the diagonally descending greatsword slide along the flat of his blade, marveling at its weight, then tried to strike Pang Jishan’s forehead with the pommel.
But proving he was skilled enough to wield such a heavy weapon while moving, Pang Jishan retreated with the Chaos Origin Step and evaded the counter.
His footwork is truly excellent.
William returned the pommel to a neutral position and studied his opponent’s reaction. The man’s face was still filled with excitement—joy, even. William felt a chill run down his spine.
He reminds me of that Pythagoras bastard.
Not his favorite type of person.
Those sweaty types who clung to you were incredibly annoying.
...Focus.
William shook off the old memories and looked forward again. The opponent before him was Pang Jishan. It was rude to think of past foes.
Should I attack first this time?
He considered it, then immediately discarded the idea. His own footwork was uncertain; rushing in might end up like a dog chasing chickens only to stare at the roof.
No need to make a bad move. He’s full of vigor—he’ll charge in on his own—
“Hahaha! Here I come!”
Before the thought even finished, Pang Jishan charged again.
Still a straight line. But the power behind his steps was no joke. Blocking it head-on without taking damage would be difficult.
Calmly time the movement.
If he moved too early, the footwork would let the man follow up. He had to move at the exact moment.
Three.
Two...
One.
William’s stance changed.
He lowered the hilt to his waist and pointed the tip at the ground.
Alber.
Pang Jishan’s eyebrows twitched at the sudden shift.
Defending from that position?
At a glance the entire upper body looked defenseless. The stance seemed completely unrelated to defense.
It was puzzling, but the choice had been made. All that remained was execution.
Pang Jishan didn’t stop his charge and swung the greatsword at William.
The blade came down as if to cut his body in two. At that instant William rotated the tip counterclockwise, turned his body to evade the saber, returned to the Ox Guard stance, and swung his sword toward the head.
Huh!
Pang Jishan’s body tilted sideways. He had avoided the attack with ghost-like footwork, but there was nothing he could do about the cloth near his shoulder tearing.
To think he’d attack like this.
It wasn’t blocking technique with technique, but responding by changing stances—a sword method he had neither heard of nor seen before.
So half-hearted attacks will only get you counterattacked! It’s like the sword arts used by the Taoist priests of Wudang!
“Haha! Truly impressive, Brother Wi!”
Why is he suddenly acting so familiar?
William looked at Pang Jishan with clear annoyance.
Given the man’s personality, he could already see the annoying pestering that would follow once the match ended.
...Hoo. Focus. Win first, think later.
William firmed his stance and glared at Pang Jishan.
Pang Jishan answered with a fierce laugh.
“Now let’s really start playing!”
Blue light began to leak from his body.