I Became the Protagonist Who Monopolizes Fortuitous Encounters in a Martial Arts Novel Chapter 17: Level Difference (1)
Perfect timing.
I'd been itching to test out the martial arts I'd learned so far in real combat. Sure, I'd sparred with Little Dragon Peng Jincheon and put them to use, but we'd both held back out of concern for each other's safety—and because we were friends, we'd kept it light.
But Jeong Gu-jin of the Jeomcheong Sect was a different story.
I'll give him a proper show.
Against him, I didn't need to go easy like I had with Peng Jincheon or hold back my strength.
"I acknowledge that Cheon Myeong is strong for a former servant... but I don't think he's at a level I can't beat."
Quick Response Sword Jeong Gu-jin showed no hesitation. The more he spoke, the more his narrow-mindedness shone through, drawing a sneer from me. Didn't he know that the more he flapped his gums, the heavier his karma would hit?
"Very well. If you defeat Cheon Myeong, I'll enter your name as the second participant in his place. Jeong Gu-jin and Cheon Myeong, prepare for the match."
At Yagul Daehwi's words, Jeong Gu-jin gripped his wooden sword with brimming confidence, and I took my stance as well.
Zing!
Killing intent poured from Jeong Gu-jin's glaring eyes. It made the wooden sword in his hand seem out of place.
"Begin!"
With Yagul Daehwi's declaration, the fired-up Jeong Gu-jin unleashed his sword technique without a moment's delay.
The martial art he deployed was the Jeomcheong Sect's solid foundational technique, the Quick Response Sword Method. Modeled after the swift form and striking power of a hawk in flight, the Jeomcheong Sect's Quick Response Sword Method was renowned for its incredible speed and ferocity.
Pa-ba-ba-bat!
Jeong Gu-jin unleashed it fiercely, as if to prove the sword wind infused with his energy. Even seasoned experts would flounder against the gale he whipped up.
He's got solid skills, no doubt.
I inwardly admired his momentum and gave credit where it was due. In truth, Jeong Gu-jin was the type to graduate Cheonmu Academy at the top and later reach the pinnacle realm, so his current prowess was far from shabby. More than enough to take pride in.
But his opponent was all wrong for the job.
The me that Jeong Gu-jin knew was the one before I'd learned the three martial arts from the Cheonmu Library. In other words, he had no idea of my current level.
I immediately activated the Ox Step Thousand Li Heart Method, channeling my inner energy into both fists.
This heart method took over a year just to awaken the first star. Yet I'd already broken through to the third star—a natural result of the Mythic Heart Method's effects.
Thud!
I drove my fist, brimming with the pure and mighty inner energy of the Ox Step Thousand Li Heart Method, straight at Jeong Gu-jin's technique—or more precisely, his wooden sword.
The Ox Step Thousand Li Heart Method had another key trait: slow like an ox's gait, but ferocious like a raging bull.
Kwajik!
Jeong Gu-jin's wooden sword, gripped with such confidence, shattered into halves.
And that was just the start.
"Hup!"
His weapon broken in an instant, Jeong Gu-jin's feet froze solid.
Idiot.
Even with a broken weapon, he should've adapted on the fly. Freezing up like that? It was suicide.
I unleashed Half Dragon Knee—a knee uppercut—straight at the defenseless Jeong Gu-jin. My knee carried the mighty power of the Ox Step Thousand Li Heart Method as well.
Kwaaaang!
Something snapped with a crack, and Jeong Gu-jin's waist bent like a bow. He collapsed on the spot, letting out groans of agony.
"Aaaagh! Ack!"
Truth be told, it was impressive he didn't pass out as pathetically as Huang Bo Taeung had. He wasn't a complete fool, after all—he'd managed to muster his protective energy the moment the Half Dragon Knee landed, sparing his organs from rupture. But the shock? That he couldn't hide.
Victory hadn't been called yet, so the assault continued. The moment Jeong Gu-jin hit the ground, I swung my fist wind toward his face—
"Enough!"
Unfortunately, Yagul Daehwi's voice rang out. I halted my fist right there and offered a hand to the fallen Jeong Gu-jin—not out of kindness or mercy.
"Now do you get why I was picked?"
Even in the original story, I hadn't liked this character much. No, I despised him as the epitome of a narrow-minded, arrogant righteous sect disciple. And now here he was, constantly looking down on me and harping on my servant origins. No wonder my words came out sharp.
"Kuh... grrr."
In the end, Jeong Gu-jin dropped his head completely, utterly defeated. Anyone could see he'd lost, and it'd taken mere seconds since the match began. No room for excuses.
"Tsk tsk. At this point, even I couldn't guarantee victory against Cheon Myeong in a proper fight."
Peng Jincheon clicked his tongue as he watched. We'd sparred often, but never gone all-out to kill. I'd figured we were evenly matched deep down, so seeing Quick Response Sword Jeong Gu-jin of all people challenge me was just absurd.
"A clear gap in levels, as expected. Well done, Cheon Myeong."
Yagul Daehwi praised me, then turned to the mid-level class cadets with a satisfied gaze.
"Any more challengers? Fairness demands equal opportunity. Anyone who beats Cheon Myeong or Peng Jincheon will be selected immediately."
He seemed thrilled to have found real talent. Honestly, even he probably hadn't expected me to dominate Jeong Gu-jin so thoroughly. Seeing the level difference laid bare so perfectly had him beaming. My guess was that only Vice Academy Head Soft Wind Silver Sword Dan Ri-cheong figured Peng Jincheon and I could take on the advanced class cadets.
"I'll give it a go this time."
Apparently, I looked like a total joke, because another challenger stepped up. And once again, he pointed at me, not Peng Jincheon.
Ooooh!
The cadets' reactions were on another level compared to Jeong Gu-jin's turn. Cheers erupted the moment he raised his hand.
"Shaolin second-generation disciple, Dan Jin!"
He was Dan Jin, a disciple of the thousand-year Shaolin Temple—the sect holding the North Star position among the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, boasting vast and profound martial arts. Shaolin had no need to send disciples to Cheonmu Academy with their endless techniques, but they'd done so for appearances' sake.
Still, as a Shaolin disciple, he was considered one of the mid-level class's strongest alongside Peng Jincheon.
"Oh ho! I've been wondering why the vice head didn't nominate you first."
Yagul Daehwi urged him on with a pleased smile as Dan Jin stepped forward. His fame outshone mine, on par with Peng Jincheon, giving him every excuse to join the official roster.
True to his Buddhist roots, he was usually calm and reserved, but this time was an exception.
He must have questions about why I got picked over him.
Plus, he probably resented me for currying favor with Vice Head Dan Ri-cheong and riding his coattails.
And one more thing.
"I've been studying fist and leg techniques myself, so this should make for a fine match."
Dan Jin clasped his hands politely toward me. Unlike the rude Jeong Gu-jin, he knew proper etiquette as a Buddhist disciple. And as a Shaolin heir to countless fist and leg arts, expectations ran high.
This should be interesting.
I stepped forward with tension far beyond what I'd felt against Quick Response Sword Jeong Gu-jin. This was practically a showdown to crown the mid-level class's top fist and leg expert.
"Who'll win?"
"Dan Jin, for sure."
"Yeah, you know Arhat Fist, Vajra Fist, right? When it comes to fists and legs, Shaolin's the best."
"Even the rising star Cheon Myeong might struggle this time."
With our martial arts categories overlapping so neatly, the mid-level cadets buzzed with more curiosity than ever. Even Peng Jincheon adjusted his stance, watching intently out of interest.
I had no idea what result Peng Jincheon predicted, but the cadets overwhelmingly favored Dan Jin.
"I agree the vice head has sharp eyes, but he rushed this one."
"Yeah. Cheon Myeong's strong, but Shaolin's Dan Jin is stronger."
"No one can match Dan Jin's depth in fist and leg arts."
Not just the cadets—even most instructors predicted Dan Jin's victory. I partly agreed with their judgment.
Shaolin is strong, no question.
Gabul, who'd given me such great guidance, was a Shaolin lay disciple at heart. Thanks to him, I respected and liked Shaolin. I couldn't underestimate Dan Jin, and I was tense because of it.
However...
I'm definitely winning this!
This was my golden chance to rocket into the advanced class at Cheonmu Academy ahead of schedule. Losing to Dan Jin here wouldn't just cost me Dan Ri-cheong's favor—it'd shut the early path to advanced class for good.
I absolutely could not lose.
"Prepare."
At Yagul Daehwi's call, Dan Jin and I mounted the training ground.
"Amitabha."
Unlike Jeomcheong Sect's Jeong Gu-jin, who'd forgotten basic manners, Shaolin's Dan Jin knew courtesy. Before starting, he assumed the ceremonial stance called Child Monk Buddha Worship—a non-lethal form designed purely for respect.
Swoosh!
Appropriately named for a novice monk's greeting. Shaolin was impossible to hate.
From the start, my maternal uncle—the creator—and I had set it up so Shaolin had almost no villains. The only quirky oddball was Gabul.
Clap!
I mirrored him by clashing my fists and nodding. Respect and etiquette exchanged, we were set.
"Begin!"
At Yagul Daehwi's shout, I charged first this time.
Shaolin is the undisputed strongest among the Nine Great Sects. Rich in history, tradition, and foundation. Few weaknesses or bad matchups against other sects, and unmatched depth and profundity in martial arts.
I recalled my maternal uncle's evaluation of Shaolin's arts. In other words, unlike when I'd targeted Little Dragon Peng Jincheon, there were no vulnerabilities like weakness to change or slow mobility.
So how should I face a Shaolin expert?
The answer was simple.
If the opponent has no weaknesses, maximize my strengths.
My strengths? Inner energy and external arts. Excluding the Mythic Heart Method I had to hide from others, my greatest weapon was...
I hardened my entire body, then gathered that energy into both hands and smashed down mercilessly.
One of the Great Power Iron Hardening Skill's strengths: overwhelming rigidity that serves as a weapon even against fist and leg masters.
Paaaaat!
With the azure glow symbolizing the Great Power Iron Hardening Skill, my fists blasted forth.
"Ah—no!"
The sheer destructive force from the opening move flustered even Shaolin's typically unflappable second-generation disciple Dan Jin. His usually narrowed eyes flew wide open—a rare sight.
Swoosh!
Dan Jin barely dodged my fist with his innate flexibility, but it was borderline miraculous. And the real reason for his shock was something else.
"Why... why does Cheon Myeong's martial art carry the lingering scent of Buddhism?"