The Fighting Demon's Spar
Six months passed in the blink of an eye.
It was hardly a life one could call ordinary. Aside from eating and sleeping, he poured nearly every moment into training.
If anything, it was more intense than his closed-door cultivation—never less. During closed-door training there had at least been days he could practice at a leisurely pace without fretting over time.
But watching the days dawn and dusk made it impossible to stay relaxed. That was why the six months seemed to fly by so quickly.
The long, grueling three-year closed-door cultivation that formed the second trial of Jamma Cave was finally coming to an end today.
"Candidate 295. Assemble at the central plaza."
"Understood."
Shin Gi-woon had been training in the practice grounds as usual when the instructor's call made him realize the time had come.
At last, those who had entered the three-year seclusion would return here. How much had they changed?
With half anticipation and half apprehension, he stepped into the central plaza. At the same time he felt the raw, ominous auras swirling about.
Gooooooo.
Three years of closed-door training had turned even the most innocent children into true martial artists.
Some, having just emerged into the plaza, still hadn't fully restrained their energy. Most, however, had achieved remarkable growth compared to before they entered. It was fascinating.
"Hey! You made it back safe?"
"Look who's talking. Long time no see, Se-hwa."
"Long time no see."
While Shin Gi-woon was surveying the crowd, Se-hwa approached—changed beyond recognition from three years ago.
Her once childish face had matured into that of a sensual, alluring woman. He almost failed to recognize her. Her pure white hair, which had once reached only to her shoulder blades, now cascaded down past her waist. It made him keenly aware of how much time had passed.
"Looks like a lot happened, huh? You've changed so much I barely know you."
"You'll be surprised. Look forward to it."
Se-hwa replied with a smiling eye. That smile alone could charm most men.
Anyway, it was a relief just to reunite without incident. After that, Bi So-hyang and Ma Ra-jin also returned safely.
The two still seemed awkward around Se-hwa, but once he considered that she came from a somewhat prestigious family, it didn't bother him much.
"Welcome back safely. All candidates who passed the second trial will henceforth be referred to as Demonic Practitioners without exception."
Before he could properly chat with Bi So-hyang and Ma Ra-jin, Lee Hyeong-seop opened his mouth and drew the candidates' attention.
Those who passed the second trial all gained the status of Demonic Practitioners. Though those who had reached First-Class level were few, all of them could handle demonic energy to some degree. It meant they had fulfilled the minimum requirements to become Demonic Practitioners.
"All Demonic Practitioners will be granted one month of free time. Once that free time ends, the final gate of Jamma Cave—the third trial—will follow, so prepare yourselves. That is all."
The Chief Instructor's words ended briefly. There was no need for lengthy explanations. Those who had completed three years of seclusion no longer required detailed instructions.
With the Chief Instructor's announcement over, the newly minted Demonic Practitioners all headed to their long-missed rooms.
Shin Gi-woon, having been outside for so long, didn't particularly miss his, but he didn't want to invite suspicions of special treatment, so he went along with it.
"One month of free time, huh..."
Thanks to this closed-door period, two hundred Demonic Practitioners had survived. All two hundred had reached at least Second-Class—talented individuals. It was Shin Gi-woon's own realm that was abnormal.
At that age, Third-Class would be appropriate. The idea that every Jamma Cave candidate was Second-Class was absurd.
What the hell is the third trial that they give a whole month of free time?
His information was limited. Giving free time without even revealing the next trial... There had to be another purpose. Look at the closed-door training—hadn't they suffered heavy losses from the sudden steel-beast invasion?
Did you hate me that much?
"If it were you, would the bastard who barged in while you were training look good to you...?"
There was a path open for me to leave, so of course I'd leave, right? Following the path, I ended up at your closed-door training ground.
"Wait a second. A path was open? You were in the prison?"
Yeah! I was escaping and had rotten luck—well, not that I lose—but that's how I ran into you.
Ryu-jin's words were enough to plunge Shin Gi-woon into thought. A path connecting the prison all the way to the closed-door training grounds? Unless someone had deliberately carved a hole, how else would a route form from the prison to the training grounds?
"Someone is definitely intervening deep inside Jamma Cave."
They broke me out to kill you? Isn't that a little too self-absorbed?
"I thrashed you so I didn't die. In a normal situation I would've been finished by you."
Ha! Must feel nice being a special case.
Ryu-jin was childish. She reacted so emotionally that if he set his mind to teasing her, the responses were deliciously satisfying.
Of course that wasn't the important part. The real problem was that someone had deliberately opened a path from the prison to the closed-door grounds with murderous intent.
"Interesting."
Whoever the bastard was, getting caught wouldn't end with a simple beating. He would thrash them until they saw their ancestors' faces.
By the way, I've been wanting to ask—what's your relationship with that Se-hwa girl?
"First friend I made in Jamma Cave. I learned a lot thanks to her."
Not a girlfriend, right?
"What? Of course not. Why does that even matter to you?"
Just curious...
She was trailing off. In his long years of wandering the martial world, trailing off was often a habit that appeared when someone was trying to hide a lie—or their true feelings.
"Just checking."
Yeah. Why?
"Are you a girl?"
More precisely a female. But why?
His head throbbed. All this time he had naturally assumed she was male, yet she was a girl—no, a female. Her voice was androgynous enough that the mistake was easy. Past remarks flashed before his eyes like a lantern show.
Of all the male Imugi in the world, why did a female have to stick to him? He couldn't understand it.
"Whatever. Let's drop this. It's not worth dragging out."
...You're not thinking something perverted, are you?
"You're the pervert. You were watching me bathe."
Wh-who was watching?! You're the pervert!
Ryu-jin was so flustered she raised her voice; he thought his eardrums would burst. If she had been human, her face would already be bright red.
After that he didn't continue the conversation. More precisely, a visitor arrived.
"Gi-woon, you free?"
"Yeah. What's up?"
"Well... I wanted to request a spar. Ah, not a life-or-death duel, of course!"
The visitor was Bi So-hyang. They had already agreed to speak casually, so facing her felt much more comfortable.
Her purpose was a sparring request. Honestly he had expected it eventually, but her coming this quickly was a bit surprising—especially since she hadn't gone to Ma Ra-jin, who was always glued to her side.
"What's Jin doing that you came to me?"
"Because right now you're the strongest person in Jamma Cave."
"Well... that's true. Want to do it right now?"
"Yeah!"
He was absolutely not happy that she called him the strongest. He was just agreeing because she asked for a spar.
Bullshit. You're happy and just pretending you're not, right?
Shut your trap, you pervert lizard.
Who are you calling a pervert!!
Since Ryu-jin hated being called a pervert, he flipped it right back on her. He planned to tease her with that for a while.
For six months his only conversation partner had been Ryu-jin, so he had carefully matched her mood. Now it was different. With people everywhere, why swallow words just to keep her happy? Even a fool wouldn't do that.
So Shin Gi-woon headed to the practice grounds with Bi So-hyang. Most people were resting off their fatigue in the dorms right now—the perfect environment for an uninterrupted spar.
Or so he thought, until someone came sauntering through the practice ground doors.
"Huh? What are you two doing? Dating in secret?"
"As if, you dumbass. Why aren't you sleeping and why'd you come out?"
"Aang? My body was itching so I came out. Got a problem?"
It was Ma Ra-jin. He swaggered in, and Bi So-hyang responded with open irritation.
It looked like a fight might break out, yet there was no real malice between them. Wasn't that what real friends were?
"Perfect timing. We're about to spar—be the referee."
"Ooh, you? Against Gi-woon? You won't win."
"...Keep needling me and I'll put a hole in that thick skull of yours."
"I'll quietly referee, ma'am!"
Tottering away, Ma Ra-jin must have felt the killing intent on Bi So-hyang's smiling face. He dropped the jokes and hurried to the center of the practice grounds.
The commotion was enough that a few candidates opened their doors and stared at Shin Gi-woon and Bi So-hyang. They were probably trying to gauge their skills. It didn't bother him.
Neither of them intended to go all-out anyway. It was a light spar—who cared if people watched?
"Both of you ready?"
Ma Ra-jin stood with arms crossed, looking at Shin Gi-woon and Bi So-hyang.
Because it was a spar, the two held a wooden spear and wooden bow meant for practice. Ma Ra-jin glanced at them from the corner of his eye, then wordlessly dropped his hand.
Kwaaang!
Their first formal spar began.