Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Part 3: The Disciple Looks to the Master, and the Master Consoles the Disciple (1)
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The winner of the first match was Seomgyeong.
Seomgyeong had nullified Unyeong's Seven Stars Swordsmanship using the initial stance of Plum Blossom Scattering from the Plum Blossom Fist.
Even after the two's match concluded, Elder Hyun Geom said nothing special and proceeded to the next bout.
Winners and losers were separated, joy and sorrow intersecting.
The victors rejoiced at the chance to inherit Elder Hyun Geom's insights, while the defeated hung their heads in despair. A strange fervor filled the True Martial Hall.
A thirst for victory, a burning desire to grow stronger, was devouring people's reason. Even in Muyyeong's eyes, who wasn't participating directly, the heat flickered.
Damho furrowed his brow.
In his five years at Mount Hua Sect, he'd never felt such an odd fervor. Mount Hua was fundamentally a martial sect, but also a Daoist one. A serene atmosphere always prevailed, yet now it was the opposite—boiling hot.
'Is this intentional? This atmosphere.'
Damho glanced toward Elder Hyun Geom standing off to one side of the clearing.
Unlike the atmosphere tinged with madness, Elder Hyun Geom remained as coldly composed as ever.
Perhaps sensing Damho's gaze, Elder Hyun Geom's eyes turned toward him. The moment their eyes met, Damho staggered as if awls were drilling into his eyes. Yet he didn't avert his gaze.
A glint appeared in Elder Hyun Geom's eyes at Damho's reaction. But it was fleeting; soon, his gaze shifted back to the clearing.
In the clearing, Han Soyu was clashing with another first-generation disciple.
From her hands unfolded the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword. Each time she moved her icefish-white hands, plum blossoms bloomed in the air. Conversely, her opponent flinched and was repeatedly pushed back.
Even to Damho, who knew little of the Plum Blossom Sword, it was a beautiful yet efficient display of techniques.
"Ooh!"
Exclamations burst from here and there. However, Elder Hyun Geom slightly furrowed his brow, as if something displeased him. But most people were too engrossed in Han Soyu's match to notice.
Slash!
Only after Han Soyu's sword sliced through her first-generation opponent's robe hem did the match end. The defeated disciple, acknowledging his loss, stared at the long gash across his chest.
Had it cut just two inches deeper, he wouldn't be long for this world.
"Senior Sister, thank you for showing mercy."
"You were impressive too, Junior Brother."
After exchanging ritual greetings, the two returned to their places.
Damho stared fixedly at Han Soyu, who took her spot beside Muyyeong with flushed cheeks.
'Senior Sister's Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword is incredible. To unfold the techniques so brilliantly.'
She was almost the only one who wielded the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword in that manner. As a woman, her strength was lacking, so it was her way of compensating.
Even the same martial art could produce vastly different power depending on the insights gained and how it was executed.
It wasn't perfect yet, but Han Soyu was forging her own Plum Blossom Sword.
Damho was quite surprised by Han Soyu's skill, far beyond his vague guesses. But he didn't feel envious. Though slow, he believed he would reach that level someday too.
At that moment, Elder Hyun Geom's voice rang out.
"Next up: Sugeyeong and Cheongyeong."
Hearing his name called, Damho raised his head.
Among the first-generation disciples, Sugeyeong's martial prowess was exceptionally high. With his decisive, straightforward personality, many second-generation disciples feared him.
Damho stepped into the clearing. Elder Hyun Geom furrowed his brow upon seeing him. He could see Damho's slight limp.
Damho clasped his hands in greeting toward Sugeyeong.
"Senior Brother."
"Of all people, my opponent has to be you."
Sugeyeong's face twisted in displeasure.
His honest desire was to face a proper opponent and show off his skills to Elder Hyun Geom. Defeating a cripple was nothing to brag about.
Sugeyeong glanced at Elder Hyun Geom, his eyes asking if he really had to fight Damho. Whether he read the intent or not, Elder Hyun Geom walked forward to Damho.
"Cheongyeong."
"Yes!"
"You're the disciple that Hyeonso took in, right?"
"Yes."
"Hmm."
Elder Hyun Geom's gaze grew even colder.
Damho's eyes darkened too. Though no more words were spoken, he could feel the disdain.
"You may step down now."
"......"
"Did you not hear me? Step down."
"May I ask... why?"
"Are you truly asking because you don't know?"
"Yes."
Elder Hyun Geom's eyes chilled at what he saw as Damho's impudence. Though intimidated by that gaze, Damho didn't flinch.
Elder Hyun Geom stared piercingly at Damho for a moment before clicking his tongue.
"You've got some nerve. A man should, at least. However, you have a grave flaw as a martial artist."
"My leg?"
"Exactly."
At the expected answer, Damho's pupils shook. On one hand, he couldn't hide his disappointment. He'd thought the top expert of Mount Hua would have a unique perspective, but he was no different from the others.
"My sword is not so easy that a cripple can learn it."
Elder Hyun Geom's voice brimmed with arrogant pride in his sword. But Damho's heart was tearing apart.
Damho glared.
"I am also a first-generation disciple of Mount Hua Sect."
"If you're Master Hakdo's disciple, you should follow Master Hakdo's path. Do that, and you'll earn the respect of the literary elites like Hyeonso."
"Are you telling me to abandon martial arts right now?"
"Haven't you already experienced your limits? You've surely struggled to overcome your physical shortcomings thus far, right?"
Elder Hyun Geom's gaze fell to Damho's leg. Though covered by his robe, his right leg was far thicker than the other disciples'.
No disciple of Mount Hua matched Damho's right leg. It spoke to his fierce efforts and training. But in contrast, his left leg was frail.
"But no matter how much you train, you can never overcome such a severe physical imbalance. You will never reach the higher realms. Rather than wasting more effort, find another path early. That's the only advice I can give you."
"I can't do that."
Elder Hyun Geom furrowed his brow at Damho's firm reply.
Any ordinary person would cower just from his gaze, yet Damho stood unyielding. He admired that iron will, but choosing a disciple to pass his insights to required a different level of cold calculation.
"You refuse to back down?"
"At the very least, I want the same opportunity as everyone else."
"Fine. If your will is that strong..."
Elder Hyun Geom's anger flared at Damho's stubbornness.
He stepped back and said to Sugeyeong,
"Proceed with the match."
"But..."
"Make him face reality. It's for his own good."
"Under...stood."
Sugeyeong nodded reluctantly at Elder Hyun Geom's resolute tone.
Sugeyeong aimed his fist at Damho.
"Junior Brother, don't hold this against me."
It was the starting stance of the Five Elements Variant Fist, one of Mount Hua Sect's signature arts.
It was hard to master due to channeling internal energy via the principles of the five elements, but once perfected, a single punch could shatter a massive boulder in one blow—tremendous power.
Damho took a deep breath and assumed the starting stance of the Bamboo Leaf Palm. It was the technique he'd trained in the longest. Though not as powerful as the Five Elements Variant Fist, Damho trusted his Bamboo Leaf Palm.
Han Soyu's face paled at the sight of the two.
"Is he going to be okay? Shouldn't we stop this? Bamboo Leaf Palm can't possibly stand against the Five Elements Variant Fist."
"It's Elder Hyun Geom's decision, not anyone else's. No one can overturn it."
Muyyeong's expression was grave too. But realistically, there was nothing he could do.
Elder Hyun Geom was a heavyweight even the sect leader, Elder Hyeoncheon, couldn't trifle with. Muyyeong had no chance of overriding him.
Unyeong chimed in.
"Elder Hyun Geom is right. Cheongyeong needs to face reality now, for his own sake."
"Senior Brother?"
"How long are you going to let him dream? Think again what truly benefits Cheongyeong."
Han Soyu bit her lip at Unyeong's cold words.
At that instant, Sugeyeong and Damho collided.
Thud thud thud!
Their hands clashed.
The first-generation disciples' eyes widened at the sight. Contrary to expectations that Damho would fly back in one exchange, he was holding off the Five Elements Variant Fist decently.
"Cheongyeong's at that level?"
"Bamboo Leaf Palm matching the Five Elements Variant Fist?"
They buzzed in genuine surprise.
The most shocked was Sugeyeong, facing Damho directly. The rebound force from Damho's hands was no joke.
That Mount Hua's most basic art, the Bamboo Leaf Palm, could contend with his Five Elements Variant Fist was astonishing—and wounding to his pride.
'How dare he!'
Sugeyeong's eyebrows shot up.
Thud thud thud thud!
His hands moved even faster. The air seemed filled with his fists. It was Wood Overcomes Earth Kill, one of the Five Elements Variant Fist's killing moves.
Like wood's energy devouring earth to kill, it was infused with vigorous wood qi.
"Urk!"
Damho let out a low groan from the shock transmitted through his hands. But he somehow held his ground.
Sugeyeong's techniques were dazzling. In comparison, Damho's Bamboo Leaf Palm was extremely simple. But it was solid. As solid as his resolve.
'I am not wrong.'
Damho gritted his teeth.
He wanted to prove that his leg's inconvenience posed no issue in executing martial arts.
Boom!
In that moment, Sugeyeong's fist slammed into his side. The suffocating impact twisted Damho's face. Yet even then, Damho executed Bamboo Leaf Palm, shoving at Sugeyeong's chest.
Thump!
Sugeyeong's expression changed. The strike carried almost no internal energy, so no real damage, but he'd never expected to take a hit from Damho.
Boom!
Suddenly, Damho's momentum shifted. Gone was the previous lightness; now it felt heavy. He'd switched from Bamboo Leaf Palm to Black Tiger Fist.
Damho pivoted powerfully on his left foot, thrusting a fierce punch with his right.
Boom!
Damho's strike landed atop Sugeyeong's forearm. It swelled up instantly. He'd taken unexpected damage.
Sugeyeong's face shifted. He glanced sideways. Elder Hyun Geom looked displeased. If he slipped up now, becoming his disciple was a lost cause.
'Damn it! I didn't want to go this far, but...'
Sugeyeong's movements changed.
Elusive footwork like plum blossoms scattering in the wind—Plum Blossom Steps.
Sugeyeong circled Damho. Damho anchored himself firmly to the ground with his left foot as pivot, focusing on defense. But it wasn't enough against the Plum Blossom Steps.
He retreated then advanced repeatedly. Damho's movements shook greatly against Sugeyeong's unpredictable steps. Sugeyeong exploited the brief openings.
Fire Overcomes Metal Kill, the technique suppressing metal with fire to slay, exploded against Damho's chest.
Kwaaang!
Damho's body flew backward through the air.