Chapter 80
Chapter 80
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: The Plain Leaf Halberd
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yang Jung-ui turned his head toward the Geung-ryeong Division martial artists. His gaze halted at one particular point.
"You yourself?"
"Yes. I lost the draw."
Yang Jung-ui snorted with a smirk and nodded, taking a step back. At that moment, a beautiful woman rose with a refreshing smile.
Her appearance was strikingly captivating. Glossy white hair flowed with luster, and her eyes shimmered like the sky. The exotic coloring could easily make one mistake her for a Westerner or someone from the Ice Palace, drawing eyes inevitably.
The woman strode to the center of the training ground. It was before Yuk Jin-yang could even ask what was happening.
"I am Won Young of the Yeonam Yuan Clan. In the martial world, I'm known as the Plain Leaf Halberd. Have you heard of me?"
The moniker was new to him, but the clan name rang familiar.
Yeonam Yuan Clan.
The prestigious house of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, the powerful warlords who plunged the late Han dynasty into chaos among the Four Great Families and Three Dukes. Their descendants had inherited that renowned beauty even to this day.
"My apologies. As I'm still new to the world, I haven't had much chance to learn the names of esteemed masters like yourself."
"No need to apologize. Now I feel bad for no reason."
Won Young chuckled warmly, showing a friendly demeanor. Her half-moon-shaped eyes sparkled refreshingly. At her waist hung a smoothly carved horn tablet.
"Anyway, the Geung-ryeong Division has this rather unique tradition. That's why I stepped up."
"A tradition, you say?"
"Proving your skills before your seniors. It's a rite to show you're worthy of their trust and backing."
"And if I fall short of the standard?"
"What else? You'll undergo rigorous training until you do."
With that, Won Young glanced back slyly. Yu Baek, meeting her eyes, quickly looked away.
"That guy there was stuck in endless training just days ago. Took him months. But after losing to you, he turned into a whole new person and passed the test in no time."
It seemed that day's bout had helped Yu Baek too.
Meanwhile, Yuk Jin-yang revised his earlier thought that this was just a formality.
The Yu Baek he'd faced in the test was undoubtedly on par with him. Not some novice lacking talent, but an outstanding later-generation talent.
If even such a warrior needed months to pass, the bar must be brutally high.
'But I've changed since then too.'
He'd grown through fierce battles in Shandong. His achievements wouldn't pale against Yu Baek's proof before the seniors. Yuk Jin-yang was confident of that.
Won Young brushed back her hair and continued softly.
"Don't think beating Yu Baek means this'll be easy. Missions like this demand thorough vetting. Fail this, and you'd just die pointlessly."
Even as she subtly instilled fear, Yuk Jin-yang calmly observed her.
More eye-catching than her beauty was the exotic weapon slung on her back. A halberd, an ancient polearm with a blade below the spear point and a crescent axe perpendicular to it, allowing both thrust and slash.
It was a weapon rarely used nowadays. With most martial arts refined for practicality, and it being harder to master than spear arts, few achieved greatness with it.
Ancient clans were different. Their systems often incorporated long-forgotten arms, thanks to lineages stretching back through the mists of time.
The Yuan Clan, in particular, had long been famed for halberd mastery.
In the late Han, Yuan Shao of the Four Great Families kept his house guards close, wielding iron halberds so adeptly they could hold off Wuhuan and Xiongnu cavalry.
Awe-struck onlookers dubbed them Great Halberdiers. Their arts, the Great Halberdier Methods, had been passed down in the Yuan Clan to this day.
Won Young asked.
"Does my weapon catch your eye?"
"Yes. I've heard of the Yuan Clan's iron halberds, but this is my first time facing one."
"Outside our clan, it's rare indeed. At best, some eccentric weapon enthusiast or unorthodox brute swinging whatever's at hand."
She gave a wry chuckle, then her expression hardened. In an instant, the halberd was in her hands. The all-iron weapon gleamed blindingly under the sun.
As if her earlier flawless poise had been a facade, Won Young now fixed him with eyes sharp as frost.
"Shall we begin?"
"Please go easy on me."
Yuk Jin-yang nodded lightly and circulated the Moon Maiden Divine Art's energy. A gently rippling aura permeated the air.
Won Young's face grew solemn. She felt the piercing wave of pure energy on her skin.
Yuk Jin-yang observed her closely as well.
Won Young gripped the halberd with both hands, blade angled downward obliquely. Prioritizing defense, yet poised for instant counterattack.
Her presence was razor-sharp, warning that rash approach meant death by thrust.
'Not easy to breach.'
As if reading his mind, Won Young advanced first. Not even a proper stance step—just a light footfall narrowing the gap mercilessly, with few openings to exploit.
She closed in cautiously, tightening the noose. Yuk Jin-yang's grip on his sword hilt tightened.
Boom!
Kicking off the dirt, he drew first.
The elegant steps of Moon Stream Subtle Steps didn't charge straight but swirled sideways. Sunlight glinted off Silver Dew's blade as its keen edge sliced through the rising dust in a rush.
A lateral thrust assault.
Clang!
A tearing wind and clear metallic ring shook the training ground.
She blocked with the shaft, but unable to absorb the full impact, Won Young staggered back. Did the sword force exceed her expectation? Her fair brow furrowed slightly.
Yuk Jin-yang realized anew: his gains from Shandong's brutal trials were substantial. Especially the Moon Maiden Sword Art, unbound by form, allowing unpredictable paths.
"Not bad?"
A casual remark. With it, she reset her stance and counterattacked. The halberd tip lunged fiercely, writhing like a predator serpent's head.
The thrust warped space itself in its speed—unbelievably swift.
Yet it feinted with the crescent axe on the shaft, creating illusions of multiple strikes, as if several swordsmen attacked at once.
'Unique thrusting style. That's why they stick to this exotic weapon.'
Not mere speed. In that split second, her body's motions—wrist flick to footwork—multiplied bewilderingly, four or fivefold.
Won Young swung the halberd like an axe. He parried with the flat, but the halted crescent chilled him. Halberd arts beyond mere spear—block, hook, and chop all in mind.
As he shoved the shaft, she used the recoil to reverse-thrust. As he raised a defensive form to counter, her halberd traced a bizarre arc.
It lunged straight, then veered up without clashing, hooking his blade like a grapple.
Screeech!
The crescent locked onto Silver Dew, sparks flying from friction. Yuk Jin-yang pulled hard to free it.
In that instant, Won Young reversed. Abandoning the pull, she thrust instead. His strength faltered, upper body yanked forward.
Yuk Jin-yang snapped his other arm up vertically. Instinctive response.
Claaang!
The iron shaft shuddered violently upward. Internal force waves rattled it. Won Young spun in place to regain control.
The horizontal sweep delivered heavy impact. He blocked with the flat, shoved back two steps.
Dust rose from the gouged training ground earth. Won Young gave an awkward smile.
"Sorry, got carried away. That was no novice move for a horn tablet warrior, but your skill's so outstanding, I couldn't help it."
"It's fine. I could handle it well enough."
"...Really?"
They faced off again in a subtle contest of wills.
The onlookers marveled endlessly at their fierce exchange.
"To parry the Great Halberdier Method's Tiger Claw Pull Acupoint like that!"
"Quick-witted and instinctive. Struck where least expected, yet perfect response."
"That's beyond horn tablet level already. The Grand Steward's picks are no joke. With that prowess, merits aside, promote to horn tablet and use him properly."
"They're playing the long game. Higher ranks mean more responsibility. Too soon yet."
Ignoring the murmurs, the two clashed anew. Won Young's halberd work sharpened further, belying her earlier jest about overdoing it.
Yuk Jin-yang matched her, surging his energy higher. She stepped into stance, thrusting wide arcs, blade path hard to predict.
Impressed inwardly, he whipped Silver Dew to smack the halberd side. But no expected clang—the awkward whiff registered at his fingertips.
A chill grazed his nape simultaneously. Without turning, he leaned back.
Her toe skimmed where his head had been, perilously close. The wind tousling his hair felt murderously sharp.
But close quarters were Yuk Jin-yang's forte too. Far from retreating, he twisted into a diagonal stance, extending his left arm. He unleashed the Soaring Serpent Riding Mist's aura.
Boom!
Energy coiled from his palm like a dragon. Barely blocking the vortex force, Won Young stumbled back.
The novice had gained a slight edge over his senior. The crowd buzzed.
The Geung-ryeong Division members went beyond admiration, chattering their analyses.
"That palm from the last initiation test? Not easy to emit force like that, but he's mastered it well."
"Fearless in close brawls, a true sword warrior. Fixated on swordplay, you'd drop guard to palm strikes—highly threatening, especially against fist users. Explains Mount Tai's beheading."
"Swordsmanship's top-tier too. Links galore."
"Just wish we'd seen the stroke that felled the Hundred Yi."
Won Young smiled wryly, slowly lowering her halberd. The lethal aura had softened. Her lips curved smoothly.
Like the other seniors, she showed approval.
"At this level, you won't die screaming on your first mission. Pass."