Shattered Dragon, Sword Back's Fury
Ah, so that's it—what the hell! Hyeonwon-gang shot to his feet. His eyes brimmed with disbelief. South Sea Thirty-Six Swords. Saubi had unmistakably unleashed Haenam's supreme sword art—the first form of the first ten swift-speed strikes. Any opponent encountering that insane speed for the first time would panic nine times out of ten. Yet Geom Bong hadn't just withstood it; he'd deflected the attack entirely. It was plain as day, yet impossible to believe. He knew why. The faster the attack, the harder it was to deflect. And to casually brush aside a sword that quick? With the flat of the blade, no less? Hyeonwon-gang's eyes wavered. For the first time, unease crept in.
But he quickly bit his lip and steadied himself. The spar was just beginning. No matter how shocking the opening clash, letting it shake him like this? Unbecoming of a sect leader. He'd known the enemy was formidable from the start. He could afford a hit or two. What mattered was overcoming it.
If it's Ubi, he can do it! Even geniuses like Saubi didn't always have smooth sailing. The path of martial arts was never easy. No matter how talented, impenetrable walls loomed dozens of times. Most prodigies who earned acclaim fell midway, their brilliance fading like broken birds, because they couldn't scale those barriers. But Saubi was different. He'd shattered every solid wall in his path, advancing with steep growth each time. The power to conquer hardship—that was Saubi's gift.
This time will be no different! Geom Bong was just another wall. One of many. Saubi could break it. He was the type to analyze why he took a hit, fix the flaw on the spot, and press forward.
Hyeonwon-gang slowly sat back down. But not everyone could compose themselves like him.
"S-Senior Brother!"
"Wh-what just..."
"Ugh..."
Haenam Sect disciples frozen stiff, unable to hide their anxiety. The locals were worse.
"The, the, the top disciple?!"
"Our top disciple got hit?!"
"N-no way! This can't be real!"
"A d-dream! It has to be a dream!"
They couldn't accept reality. The other spectators buzzed.
"Wh-what the hell just happened?!"
"I-I don't know..."
"Haenam Sword Dragon unleashed something massive, and then suddenly..."
"A deflection."
"Deflection?"
"He parried the Sword Dragon's swift sword and countered."
"H-he did? Parried that and counterattacked?!"
"That's why he's a master. A true master."
"Geom Bong lives up to the name."
"I told you—reputation in the martial world isn't won by gambling."
The crowd murmured wildly. A single exchange had ignited the atmosphere beyond control. All eyes locked on Saubi and Yu Seol-young's next moves.
"Damn it."
Saubi muttered bitterly as he rose. Remarkably unscathed for a solid hit, thanks to the Hae-ryong armor. It had absorbed most of the impact, minimizing the shock to his body. A wise choice, preparing the Hae-ryong armor.
"Ah, so that's its level. Pretty useful."
Yu Seol-young murmured to herself. She'd known he was wearing something, of course. She just hadn't realized it was this good until she struck it.
"You're no slouch yourself. But I wonder if your sword's flat held up."
Saubi feigned calm. Not baseless bravado—he knew. Even if she'd deflected his swift sword, striking the Hae-ryong armor head-on must've jolted her blade.
"Why wouldn't it?"
"Hah, bluffing, are we?"
"Bluff? If it cracks, it's weak. The strong don't crack."
Yu Seol-young flipped her sword backward again.
"My sword isn't weak. So it won't crack."
Bullshit. Saubi was certain. The flat had taken damage. Even by her logic. The Hae-ryong armor was flexible enough to absorb shocks yet incredibly tough. A reliable bastion for him. Now Yu Seol-young couldn't easily thrust at his armored torso. She'd have to target elsewhere, shrinking her attack range—making it easier to handle. A clear advantage. Time to exploit it. Starting now.
"Hah, then prove it. Come at me anytime."
Saubi spread his arms, opening his stance. Provocation. Calculated. Since his first strike failed, lure hers. It also prevented deflections. And another ploy: a sudden variation. The mid-section's ten deceptive strikes of South Sea Thirty-Six Swords—paegeom. What rattled foes fixated on Haenam's swift swords most. He'd counter with it, piercing their guard, making response even harder.
His confident poise reinvigorated his supporters.
"As expected of the top disciple!"
"He had a plan all along!"
"I knew he wouldn't crumble like that!"
"Give Geom Bong a taste of your blade!"
Saubi smiled faintly in response, amplifying the taunt. But...
Yu Seol-young remained indifferent.
"Whether I come or not is my call."
"..."
Come on, you bitch!
"Why's she stalling at this range?"
What?
"Does he like getting hit?"
Damn this woman! Taunting loud enough for all to hear!
"Well, then."
Flash. Her form blurred faintly—or so it seemed. Saubi felt it. But by then, she was already upon him.
No—not possible?! His eyes bulged. The flat of the blade closed in. A flash strike. This fast?!
Pinned in an instant. Yet his body reacted on reflex, desperately unleashing paegeom from the mid-section.
Not to block—but Meat Slash Bone Sever. Yield flesh, claim bone. No one-sided loss. With Hae-ryong armor, she'd suffer more.
I won't take this alone!
Flash strike versus deceptive slash. The flash was faster, of course. But seeing it aim for his armored torso, Saubi inwardly cheered. Prepared this time—no flying off like before...
Thwack!
"Guh!"
Yeah. He staggered but held. And his slash connected—not deep, but solid.
Slash! Flesh tore from her side, blood spraying.
Good!
"Ah, so that's it."
What?!
"Hyped as a famed sect's genius, but you don't even match a flesh ghost."
Damn, what nonsense—huh?!
Smack! Yu Seol-young gripped her slashed wound tight. It gaped wider, blood gushing.
Drip. Drip. Drip. Her hand drenched.
...What the hell? Crazy?! Chills ran down Saubi's spine; he stepped back instinctively. But then—
Her blood-soaked left hand lunged for his face.
"Wha—?!"
He twisted away in alarm, but her hand shot faster than the flash strike.
Thud!
"Urk—?!"
The bloody hand clamped his face. Then—
Lifted clean off the ground, dangling pathetically mid-air. Saubi thrashed wildly, but the grip was iron—crushing like a boulder.
"Blood debts paid in blood. Geomgak's first precept."
"Urgh—let—go!"
Face gripped, he swung wildly. But his sword never connected. She smacked it away with her flat—every time.
"Rest easy, though. I won't kill you."
"Let—go! Release me now!"
Saubi screamed desperately. Yu Seol-young ignored him, saying her piece.
"Ah, right. Guess that'll do."
"Argh! Let go!"
"Pray it's sturdy enough."
Drop.
Thud! Saubi crashed down. But she didn't press. She waited for him to rise.
Humiliation. Saubi's eyes spun.
"You dare—!"
South Sea Thirty-Six Swords. Final six forms. Ultimate swift sword! Haenam's secret blade finally emerged—
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
...Before it could, Geom Bong's flat rained down madly. With utterly different power.
"Gaaah!"
True agony ripped from Saubi's throat. But that was just the start. He sensed it—the bone-chilling threat to his life. Desperate, he tried Geomgak's secret again—
Thwack-thwack-thwack!
"Aaaagh!"
...Only to get beaten like a dog in summer heat once more.
The surroundings had frozen in utter shock.