I Really Did It!
“This battle is a draw,” Han Bul-bu declared. He felt it clearly in his heart. If Bukjin hadn’t used the Ga-ui Sin-gong to share his cultivation, and had faced Won Ye’s attack with only his true cultivation, he would have only been able to withstand about half of it. His Hyeongi would have been depleted, and his sword technique would have crumbled.
Won Ye seemed to have something to say, but Bukjin spoke first.
“Alright. We’ll call this battle a draw.” Bukjin pondered for a moment before continuing, “For the next battle, Ak Hong-hyang will step forward.”
A look of surprise flashed across Ak Hong-hyang’s face. She had expected Bukjin to choose Mi Yeo-yeon, who possessed greater skill, especially after the first battle ended in a draw. She thought the ideal strategy would be to secure a stable victory in the second battle, then send herself or Baek Geum-un against the strongest opponent, Wang Hyeong-yeo, in the third, conceding that match, and then have Bukjin himself fight in the fourth to clinch the overall victory.
But with Bukjin choosing her, Ak Hong-hyang had no choice but to trust and follow her team leader’s decision.
Ak Hong-hyang drew her sword and stepped forward. Her opponent was Gu Cheon-gye, a boy with a small stature and a clean appearance. Gu Cheon-gye was short, slender, and had very fair skin. His features were also very distinct, making him look almost like a girl.
“Junior Sister Ak, please go easy on me,” Gu Cheon-gye said with a shy smile.
Ak Hong-hyang replied, “Senior Brother Gu, please take care.”
Ak Hong-hyang took a deep breath. This battle was extremely important to her. She had been incredibly fortunate to earn Bukjin’s recognition, become his good friend, and step onto the grand stage of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition. It was no exaggeration to say that every step she had taken so far had been paved by Bukjin.
Whether she could walk that path beautifully depended entirely on this battle.
Many past scenes flashed through her mind: her first meeting with Bukjin, their battle on the training grounds, their awkward cohabitation during the preliminaries where they initially kept silent but later shared fruits and vegetables every night. Then came the fierce struggle against Sim Bi and others, Bukjin’s rescue, the mysterious curtain auction, and finally, the life-or-death crossroads they crossed together on Bukhwang Mountain. All these scenes replayed in her mind like a recorded video.
What were the chances of meeting someone among tens of millions of people and becoming a true friend who shared their heart? And how many opportunities would one have in their lifetime to dedicate all their efforts for a friend?
Ak Hong-hyang asked herself deep in her heart. As she recalled these memories, a smile more genuine than anything else bloomed on her face. For some unknown reason, a realization began to spread through her mind at this very moment. It was like walking through a long, dark tunnel, only for a bright light to suddenly flood her vision, and when she opened her eyes again, a vibrant landscape unfolded before her.
Ak Hong-hyang’s smile faded. She slowly gathered her aura. Her mind became highly focused, and her longsword slowly emerged from its sheath. Ak Hong-hyang took a basic sword stance and began to wield her sword. The sword art she performed was one she had never used before.
Yuri Geomsim, or Glass Sword Heart.
This was a sword art she had won as a prize after placing within the top three in the 2nd-year mid-year competition at the 3rd Academy. There had been a total of four secret manuals available as prizes, and Ak Hong-hyang had chosen the Glass Sword Heart. When she first obtained this manual, she didn’t fully understand the sword art. But she felt as if a voice, faintly heard from somewhere, told her to choose this sword art, and when she was strongly drawn to it and made her choice, the two characters ‘Yuri’ flew into her heart and settled there.
The human heart holds nine secrets, as pure as glass.
This was Ak Hong-hyang’s favorite line, and it was the core philosophy that permeated the Glass Sword Heart. Unfortunately, since obtaining the manual for Glass Sword Heart, Ak Hong-hyang had not yet achieved complete enlightenment. She had merely practiced the six forms and movements contained within the Glass Sword Heart until she was proficient. However, due to insufficient Hyeongi, she couldn’t unleash the true power of these six forms. Nor had she comprehended the true ultimate technique of Glass Sword Heart, the state of Sword Heart itself.
But today, she decided to use her Glass Sword Heart. Although it was only a 2-star sword art, it was the strongest one she knew. Moreover, Ak Hong-hyang felt that she was currently at the most crucial moment to cultivate her Sword Heart.
Whoosh!
A crescent-shaped sword light shot forward. Gu Cheon-gye still wore a shy expression, but he moved swiftly, evading Ak Hong-hyang’s strike. He gripped his sword hilt with his right hand, his eyes gleaming, and drew his sword.
Clang!
A sharp cry of a sword echoed across the deck, swallowing the sound of the surrounding waves. With the sword in his hand, Gu Cheon-gye seemed like a completely different person. An indescribable ecstasy bloomed on his face. He looked like a fanatic of the sword. While holding his sword, he felt as if he held the true essence of life, and a burning madness consumed him.
With his sword in hand, Gu Cheon-gye transformed into a frenzied state, completely unlike his usual self. A flash of sword light shot out like lightning, aiming for Ak Hong-hyang’s left shoulder. Normally, Ak Hong-hyang would have been unable to evade or block Gu Cheon-gye’s strike. But today, she was sharing strength through the Wi-Fi function.
Ak Hong-hyang’s body spun lightly and swiftly. The sword in her hand moved rapidly.
Clang!
A piercing metallic screech rang out. Gu Cheon-gye felt a powerful shock and a tingling sensation in his wrist. He was pushed back, his footwork tangled, unable to stop his retreat. Ak Hong-hyang immediately noticed this, changed the trajectory of her longsword, and thrust towards Gu Cheon-gye’s left shoulder.
A chilling tension instantly gripped Gu Cheon-gye’s heart. He forcefully channeled Hyeongi, twisted his body, and moved to the left, narrowly evading Ak Hong-hyang’s sword. However, forcing his body to twist with Hyeongi strained his muscles, causing Gu Cheon-gye to suffer minor internal injuries, and his complexion turned pale.
Wang Hyeong-yeo, Won Ye, and the others watching were greatly surprised.
‘How is she doing that?’
Ak Hong-hyang had always been a student who displayed mid-to-lower-tier skill and level in the Academic & Martial Arts Competition. It was even said that she only advanced to the main competition thanks to Bukjin’s help. Yet, at this very moment, like Han Bul-bu, she was shining with an unprecedented talent. Moreover, the sharp strike she had just shown indicated that her talent for swordsmanship and practical combat was extraordinary. The skill Ak Hong-hyang was displaying now was on par with students ranked within the top 20 of the Academic & Martial Arts Competition.
More importantly, Ak Hong-hyang’s strength and Hyeongi cultivation had mysteriously risen to the 2nd Grade Master Rank, just like Han Bul-bu. This level of cultivation was comparable to Gu Cheon-gye’s.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sword light continued to flash. Gu Cheon-gye’s face showed even more madness and ecstasy. The burning joy and frenzied expression on his face were something Wang Hyeong-yeo had rarely seen. Gu Cheon-gye, radiating faint golden Hyeongi from his entire body as he wielded his sword, looked as if his skin was covered in a golden shell. Meeting a worthy opponent, Gu Cheon-gye swung his sword with increasing fervor, gradually losing himself in the battle and forgetting his surroundings.
The sword art Gu Cheon-gye used was a 3-star sword art called Ryugeum Kwaegeom, or Flowing Gold Swift Sword. And in terms of pure sword skill, it was a cut above Ak Hong-hyang’s. However, Ak Hong-hyang grew stronger with each exchange. She had reached the mysterious state of Sword Heart, gaining exceptional insight into her opponent, and her mastery of swordsmanship was advancing by leaps and bounds. Because of this, Gu Cheon-gye found himself at a disadvantage against Ak Hong-hyang.
Ak Hong-hyang suddenly realized that she could grasp all of Gu Cheon-gye’s sword forms and overpower him with her sword art. Ak Hong-hyang, uncharacteristically, chose a direct confrontation.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Each clash of swords unleashed immense power, and Gu Cheon-gye’s Flowing Gold Swift Sword was repeatedly blocked by Ak Hong-hyang, preventing him from continuing his techniques. Ak Hong-hyang skillfully exploited this, pressing her attacks.
Finally.
Whoosh!
A sharp streak of sword light pierced the armor on Gu Cheon-gye’s shoulder. Simultaneously, the longsword in Gu Cheon-gye’s hand flew into the air.
Ak Hong-hyang retracted her sword and stepped back. Gu Cheon-gye’s body remained frozen, the madness on his face gradually fading, replaced by paleness. His excitement slowly subsided.
Gu Cheon-gye looked at Ak Hong-hyang with an incredulous expression.
“I lost,” he declared loudly, accepting the outcome of the battle. Although Gu Cheon-gye still didn’t fully understand why he had lost this battle, which he had been so confident of winning, a loss was a loss.
Ak Hong-hyang let out a long sigh and retreated. Outwardly, she appeared very calm, but her heart was anything but. A mighty cheer echoed within her.
‘I won! I really… I did it!’
It was the first battle where Ak Hong-hyang truly gained confidence. Ak Hong-hyang had fully awakened to her own path as a swordsman.
On the side, Wang Hyeong-yeo and her teammates from 1st Academy’s team watched, their faces grim. Against Bukjin’s team, Wang Hyeong-yeo’s team had so far achieved a record of one draw and one loss. The scales of final victory were tilting towards Bukjin’s side. This was because if Bukjin’s team conceded the third battle against Wang Hyeong-yeo, then with Bukjin and Mi Yeo-yeon, two formidable experts, they could win the remaining two battles, securing overall victory in the best-of-five series.
Wang Hyeong-yeo had never imagined that she would receive such a bitter lesson in this battle, one she had been so confident about. Slowly shaking her head, Wang Hyeong-yeo stepped forward.
“Please take care of me.” Wang Hyeong-yeo waited for Baek Geum-un to come out. The thought crossed her mind that if one gambled, one had to accept the outcome, even if it was unfavorable. Regardless of the result, Wang Hyeong-yeo had no objections. However, she was once again surprised. The person who stepped forward from the Ryu Chae Jewel Merchant Guild team for this battle was none other than Bukjin himself.