Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: The Thirteenth Form
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“Didn’t that kid just arrive?”
As Cheon Un-gwang frowned, a smirk formed on Byeok Han-seong’s lips.
“You did say to pick anyone, Instructor.”
*This insolent brat.*
As Byeok Han-seong talked back, a murderous glint flashed in Cheon Un-gwang’s eyes.
He had brought the candidates for the Ten Demonic Disciples to this hellscape not to leisurely teach them martial arts.
But the trainees here had passed the first stage and boarded the ship just like that.
Therefore, unlike Bu Eun-seol, they maintained the attitude of someone who had simply come to a martial arts hall.
*I have to endure. For now.*
Suppressing his surging anger, Cheon Un-gwang spoke calmly.
“What kind of swordsmanship can you demonstrate against a kid from the beginner’s hall? Pick someone else.”
“Understood.”
Byeok Han-seong gave Bu Eun-seol a wink and then drew a finger across his own neck, as if to say he was lucky to have kept his life.
From Bu Eun-seol’s perspective, this was an act of mockery that went beyond mere contempt.
“In that case, I will choose…”
“I’ll do it.”
Just then, Bu Eun-seol stepped forward.
“I will spar with him.”
“What did you say?”
Murderous intent flowed from Cheon Un-gwang’s eyes.
Sa-u and Jin-gak were too laid-back and lacked killing intent to be considered true demonic practitioners.
But Cheon Un-gwang was different. He was impatient and savage—a demonic practitioner through and through.
*Every last one of these whelps thinks they’re on a picnic to this island of hell.*
His sharp eyes scanned Bu Eun-seol before he spoke again.
“Have you learned the sword before?”
“No. I first learned how to use a sword from Instructor Jin at the beginner’s hall.”
“A kid from the beginner’s hall wants to spar with those who are about to move on to the advanced hall?”
“If I cross swords with him, I believe I can learn and master the sword more quickly.”
At Bu Eun-seol’s words, a sharp light glinted in Cheon Un-gwang’s eyes.
*He’s trying to protect his pathetic pride.*
Cheon Un-gwang let out a scoff.
He thought Bu Eun-seol was being recklessly bold to protect his pride, unable to gauge his own abilities.
Of course, he was half right.
Bu Eun-seol’s pride really had been wounded.
*There’s no reason to endure this any longer.*
When he was living happily with his grandfather, Bu Jan-yang, he could naturally endure ridicule and contempt.
But now that his grandfather was gone, he had no desire to live like an insect, pointed at for no reason.
“Calmly assessing your own skills and acting accordingly is also a quality of a martial artist.”
A blatant sneer on his face, Cheon Un-gwang nodded.
“This will be a good lesson. I permit it.”
Cheon Un-gwang pointed to the wooden swords made on one side of the training hall.
“I hope your skills are worthy of the advanced hall.”
Bu Eun-seol said nothing and simply gripped a wooden sword.
As Bu Eun-seol picked up the wooden sword, a triumphant smile spread across Byeok Han-seong’s face.
*What a windfall.*
This place was filled with prodigies of all kinds.
Wanting to become a successor of the Hwa-u Sword Clan at all costs, he was determined to make a strong impression this time.
“You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that.”
Approaching with his wooden sword, Byeok Han-seong whispered softly.
“But in the martial world, it’s hard to survive on spirit and bravado alone.”
“Then begin.”
Before Cheon Un-gwang’s words had even finished,
*Fwip!*
A swiftly extended wooden sword shot toward the space between Bu Eun-seol’s brows.
He was using the forms of the Hwa-u Byeok-roe Sword he had learned so far like a swift sword technique.
*Whoosh.*
But Bu Eun-seol lightly twisted his body.
Simultaneously, Byeok Han-seong’s technique sliced through empty air.
“Not bad.”
Unsurprised, Byeok Han-seong swung his wooden sword again.
Bu Eun-seol executed the Hwa-u Thirteen Forms he had learned so far, thrusting toward Byeok Han-seong’s side.
*Clang!*
However, contrary to his intention, Bu Eun-seol’s wooden sword clashed with Byeok Han-seong’s.
Byeok Han-seong had cleverly maneuvered his sword to induce the collision.
*Trrr.*
In that instant, Bu Eun-seol’s fingertips, gripping the wooden sword, trembled.
Having learned the sword for only a short time and possessing no internal energy, Bu Eun-seol couldn’t match Byeok Han-seong’s physical strength and internal energy.
*So he really is a beginner.*
Feeling the force transmitted through his fingertips, Byeok Han-seong smirked.
*He acted so calm, I thought he had something up his sleeve.*
Scuffing, Byeok Han-seong swung his wooden sword.
“Taste the forms of the Hwa-u Byeok-roe Sword.”
*Fwoosh.*
The Hwa-u Byeok-roe Sword, wielded by Byeok Han-seong, cut through the air, as sharp and fluid as any renowned sword art in the martial world.
“……?”
But as time passed, Byeok Han-seong realized something strange.
Because Bu Eun-seol was dodging his attacks so effortlessly, his own sword forms were starting to look clumsy.
*This bastard!*
Although he was executing his sword forms perfectly, Bu Eun-seol moved as if he had already predicted the path of the sword.
This was due to the power of Ya-su-do, which granted him senses keen enough to detect even the flow of air.
“Hmph.”
Just then, Cheon Un-gwang’s low hum reached Byeok Han-seong’s ears.
The sound was clearly tinged with disappointment.
*And that kid is…*
Watching Bu Eun-seol’s movements, Cheon Un-gwang’s brow furrowed.
It seemed like he was moving quickly to dodge the sword forms, but in reality, he was watching Byeok Han-seong’s movements and evading as if predicting the forms.
*Don’t tell me he’s learned Ya-su-do?*
Cheon Un-gwang quickly shook his head.
Although Nang-ya-gak called Ya-su-do a basic martial art, it was actually a supreme art mastered only by battle-hardened veterans among Nang-ya-gak’s masters who had overcome death numerous times.
Even a prodigy of unparalleled genius couldn’t master it in a mere fortnight.
“You can’t be evaluated if you only dodge.”
Cheon Un-gwang, who had been watching the spar, said to Bu Eun-seol.
“I told you to spar with a sword. I did not ask you to boast of your excellent vision and reflexes.”
At the sharp criticism, Bu Eun-seol stopped moving and raised his wooden sword to the center.
“……”
He was finally about to unleash his sword art.
*Fwip!*
As the sword form unfolded, not only Cheon Un-gwang but also the trainees watching from the sidelines widened their eyes.
“The Hwa-u Thirteen Forms?”
The sword art Bu Eun-seol was performing was none other than the Hwa-u Thirteen Forms he had learned in the beginner’s hall.
The problem was that the Hwa-u Thirteen Forms were designed to teach the fundamentals of swordsmanship.
In other words, they consisted of light and gentle movements that were completely ineffective in a real fight.
“Crazy bastard.”
Seeing the slow-moving form of Pung-jeon-man-ri, Byeok Han-seong was dumbfounded.
“A form I could dodge with my eyes closed.”
He lightly turned his body to evade the sword form.
But then something strange happened.
It was definitely the ordinary Pung-jeon-man-ri form.
But the Pung-jeon-man-ri that Bu Eun-seol executed quivered once more in the air before cleaving toward Byeok Han-seong’s head.
*Fwip.*
As the tip of his hair was grazed by the wooden sword, a chill ran down Byeok Han-seong’s spine.
*What is this?*
*Whoosh.*
Bu Eun-seol’s wrist flickered again, and just when the form should have ended, the form of Pung-un-pa-gong rained down from above his head.
*This is the Hwa-u Thirteen Forms?*
With no time to dodge, Byeok Han-seong had no choice but to raise his wooden sword to block.
*Clack!*
As the sound of wooden swords echoed, the sighs of the trainees reached his ears.
—To clash swords because he couldn’t even block a mere Pung-un-pa-gong form.
*Don’t be ridiculous!*
Byeok Han-seong bit his lip.
*That’s not the Hwa-u Thirteen Forms.*
On the surface, it was clearly the movements of the Hwa-u Thirteen Forms.
But the path of the sword was subtly different, and more importantly, each movement concealed a sharp edge and killing intent.
This was like petting what he thought was a puppy, only to have his neck bitten by a wolf with hidden fangs.
*Clack!*
This time, Bu Eun-seol’s sword form thrust toward his chest.
It was the simple form of Il-ryun-myeong-wol.
*This trash!*
As Byeok Han-seong raised his wooden sword to block, the form once again changed subtly and stabbed toward his lower abdomen.
*This bastard is toying with me!*
Byeok Han-seong trembled with rage.
He thought Bu Eun-seol was deliberately hiding his skills and subtly modifying the Hwa-u Thirteen Forms to humiliate him.
*He planned this little trick to stand out before going to the advanced hall.*
He had thought Bu Eun-seol was prey caught in his trap, but the reality was the opposite.
It was obvious that Bu Eun-seol had deliberately arrived late at the Hwa-u Sword Clan with the intention of entering the advanced hall at once to make an impression.
*Damn it.*
Feeling the piercing gazes of Cheon Un-gwang and the trainees, Byeok Han-seong bit his lip.
*Since it has come to this, I’ll beat you to a pulp before I ascend to the advanced hall!*
*Fwiriririk.*
Suddenly, the sword forms Byeok Han-seong was wielding changed.
*Papapapa!*
The wooden sword, drawing a semi-circle in the air, split into multiple shadows and struck at Bu Eun-seol’s vital points.
Not only did each thrust come at a different speed, but the movements were also extremely unique.
*Whoosh, thwack.*
Bu Eun-seol, having learned Ya-su-do, was barely able to dodge Byeok Han-seong’s sword forms.
But because his swordsmanship was so fast, the tip of the wooden sword grazed his skin and muscles.
Had it been a real sword, Bu Eun-seol would have suffered numerous cuts, both large and small.
*To think you’d make me use my trump card this early.*
“You brat!”
Byeok Han-seong swung his wooden sword rapidly, pressing Bu Eun-seol.
*Was he a disciple of the Sura Sword Clan?*
Cheon Un-gwang, who was watching the spar between the two, narrowed his eyes.
The sword art Byeok Han-seong had just displayed was Hyeol-pung-ho-wol, a killing technique of the Sura Sword Clan.
*Well, it doesn’t matter.*
Cheon Un-gwang licked his lips.
This spar was only to check how skillfully they used their swords. He couldn’t say anything even if they used other sword arts.
*Clack!*
Just then, the wooden swords clashed once more.
This time, Bu Eun-seol, unable to completely dodge the Sura Sword Clan’s ultimate technique, Su-ra-wol-gak, had raised his wooden sword to defend.
*Clack!*
When the wooden swords collided, the difference in strength was starkly revealed.
Outmatched by Byeok Han-seong in both internal energy and physical strength, Bu Eun-seol was eventually pushed to a corner of the training hall.
*Got you!*
Quickly closing the distance, Byeok Han-seong cried out in triumph.
The specialty of the Sura Sword Clan was, after all, a flurry of chaotic strikes unleashed at extremely close range.
*You little…!*
Gripping his wooden sword short, Byeok Han-seong let out a thunderous roar at the cornered Bu Eun-seol.
“Haaap!”
The Sura Sword Clan’s ultimate technique, Pok-jeon-seon-pun, poured out.
*Fwiriririk!*
The sword forms, endlessly pouring out in circles, completely cut off all of Bu Eun-seol’s escape routes.
*Papapak!*
With a series of dull thuds, Bu Eun-seol was struck repeatedly, as if entangled by the Pok-jeon-seon-pun forms.
—Incredible!
Gasps of admiration erupted from the trainees inside the hall.
The Pok-jeon-seon-pun forms unleashed by Byeok Han-seong were so swift and fluid that even a seasoned master from the martial world would have struggled to defend against them.
*That kid!*
But Cheon Un-gwang’s eyes, watching the scene, gradually widened.
He had noticed that Bu Eun-seol’s legs, despite being hit by Byeok Han-seong’s sword forms, had not lost their ‘balance’ at all.
*Ya-su-do…*
Cheon Un-gwang’s expression hardened.
He finally realized that Bu Eun-seol had mastered Ya-su-do, the foundational martial art and true secret technique of Nang-ya-gak.
*Was it intentional?*
To narrowly dodge the sword forms, inducing anxiety in Byeok Han-seong.
To make the impatient Byeok Han-seong unleash his ultimate techniques and exhaust his stamina.
He now understood that Bu Eun-seol had intended all of this.
*Ssssk.*
Cornered and being struck by the wooden sword, Bu Eun-seol’s legs and hands moved subtly.
“Argh!”
As the flurry of strikes stopped, a desperate scream echoed.
The trainees watching the spar were stunned by the sight.
The one who had screamed was none other than Byeok Han-seong, the one who had been on the attack.
“Ghhh.”
Byeok Han-seong stood with his wooden sword raised above his head, but lodged in the center of his chest, at his Jeon-jung acupoint, was the wooden sword thrust out by Bu Eun-seol.
Believing he had seized victory, Byeok Han-seong had raised his sword to crush Bu Eun-seol’s head.
But in that moment, Bu Eun-seol had launched a single, lightning-fast strike, piercing his Jeon-jung acupoint.
Looking down at Bu Eun-seol with wide eyes, Byeok Han-seong asked.
“The name of this form is…”
“Hwa-u Thirteen Forms, Thirteenth Form, Mu-geuk-mu-gung.”
“…This is the Hwa-u Thirteen Forms.”
With a look of disbelief, his eyes wide, Byeok Han-seong,
*Thud!*
crumbled and collapsed onto the floor of the training hall.
“Hmph.”
Humming, Cheon Un-gwang checked the pulse of the fallen Byeok Han-seong.
His pulse was completely gone, and the pupils in his wide-open eyes were fully dilated. He had died instantly from Bu Eun-seol’s single strike to his Jeon-jung acupoint.
“……”
A deathly silence fell over the training hall.
It was as if an unseen demonic hand had seized the throats of everyone present, except for Bu Eun-seol.