Panda
Yeongchuja had been greedy and cunning since childhood.
He trained diligently in martial arts. He bowed deeply to his seniors. Whenever there was competition for the sect's interests, he was always at the forefront.
He believed all these things would become his strength someday.
Time passed like that.
He had dreamed of becoming sect leader, but now he was just one among many elders.
'This can't be! What makes that guy better than me?!'
The one who became sect leader instead was neither his senior brother nor his peer, but his junior brother.
A crack formed in Yeongchuja's arrogant heart.
He spent more time in the jianghu of the martial world than at the main sect.
Only there could his wounded pride heal.
Even in the prestigious righteous sect Kongtong, he held the high position of Yeong division leader.
Everyone respected him.
Everyone feared him.
It was definitely like that...
Tap tap.
"Ah, come a bit closer."
It was definitely like that...!
Tap tap.
"Should I just come to you?"
To dare provoke him by beckoning with a finger like some market thug!
True Jade Dragon my ass! What the hell was this insolent brat?!
"Huuuuh..."
He exhaled deeply, and his mind steadied a little.
His cultivation—or at least his intelligence—wasn't so low that he'd fall for this level of provocation.
No matter the reason, clashing hands with a child would invite finger-pointing. In this situation, he had to win overwhelmingly.
While protecting what needed protecting.
"Are you really going to come at me bare-handed? Draw your sword quickly."
"I'll use fist techniques."
"I told you to draw your sword!"
"I'll use it if I need to."
Yeongchuja's eyes narrowed.
This thunderbolt-headed punk!
Daring to come at me bare-handed?
Fine by me.
"I'll yield three moves. Come on."
These were the customary words from a strong martial artist or senior to a weaker or younger junior.
Normally, the opponent would decline a few times, offer thanks, and then begin the attack. But the one before Yeongchuja was no ordinary person.
"You really won't counter until I've done my three moves?"
"...Are you doubting my word?"
"Then you'll go down without doing anything. That's okay?"
"...You little shit! That won't happen, so come on!"
Jeong Gwang shook his head inwardly.
'This is why righteous sect kids just won't do.'
Anyway, he moved right away.
"First move!"
An elegant footwork shot forward, followed by a stylish fist technique!
To the ignorant, it might seem like flashy showmanship, but Yeongchuja was an expert who could sense the power hidden within.
'Even when I told him to use a sword, he insists on fists—and indeed! At that age, already a fine fist master! But was Kunlun's martial arts always like this?'
He envied Kongtong for having such a talented junior.
'No. Better not to have such a cheeky bastard!'
Yeongchuja unleashed the Eight Directions Phantom Step, circling to the left. But Jeong Gwang's form clung to him like glue!
"Gasp!"
Yeongchuja sucked in a startled breath and shifted his footwork again, but Jeong Gwang's fist drew a graceful arc, arriving right before him.
"Second move!"
Yeongchuja's frustration boiled over.
Had he ever seen such a rude punk!
When an adult yields three moves, you should lightly jab three times and pull back!
Then bow and say, 'Thank you for yielding. Please guide me with whatever technique I use next!'
Yeongchuja channeled the Heavenly Thunder Subduing Demon Divine Art and stepped according to the principles of the True and Inverse Eight Trigrams.
This deflected Jeong Gwang's fist aside and prepared for the next attack.
"Final third move!"
Jeong Gwang's fist flew in.
Dozens of them.
'Was it this much?!'
In alarm, Yeongchuja unleashed the Lesser Sun Sword Technique. Instantly, a sword net of countless interlocking sword lines formed before him.
It was a sword art astonishing enough to stun all onlookers.
'Ah! As expected of a Kongtong elder!'
'Impressive, but isn't it overkill?!'
Not an attack but a defense—yet if Jeong Gwang pushed his fist through, his arm would be shredded! A vicious technique.
As a smirk formed on Yeongchuja's lips, the dozens of Jeong Gwang's fists merged into one, striking the center of the sword net.
Clang!
"Urk!"
Yeongchuja groaned and stepped back, his eyes widening in shock.
'Impossible! Discarding all those feints in an instant for a single real strike! And hitting the flat of the blade, not the edge?'
His sword-gripping hand buzzed with vibration.
Thinking it was bad, he tried switching hands, but Jeong Gwang was staring at him intently.
"...What's wrong?"
The smile on Jeong Gwang's lips spread slowly, then bloomed across his entire face.
It was a beauty so terrifying it chilled the soul.
"Yes. This is it."
"What do you mean?"
"Gotta take at least this much to make it fun."
Yeongchuja nearly exploded at the arrogant words, but he felt something off.
Jeong Gwang's beaming smile was squeezing his body!
'Th-this punk! What the hell is he?!'
To feel a fear he'd never known from a youth not even twenty!
'No way I'd feel this!'
As Yeongchuja battled the fear binding his body, Jeong Gwang felt long-forgotten joy.
'Thought it'd end in three moves, but he's holding out?'
He'd left Kunlun because it felt stuffy.
He wanted to roam the wide world and enjoy it.
His previous life had so much he hadn't tried, so he'd planned to do everything that came his way. But in the end, what drew him most was combat.
'Coming down the mountain was the right call.'
A Yeong division leader of Kongtong was on par with Kunlun's Un generation.
Jeong Gwang had sparred countless times with Kunlun's Un Taoists, but they couldn't go for the kill. Among foes since his reincarnation, Yeongchuja was the strongest.
"Don't fall yet. I wanna play longer."
"...Urk. Spouting such killing intent—what're you talking about?"
"Huh? I didn't raise any killing intent."
"...!"
Was that not killing intent?!
Yeongchuja shut his mouth, about to retort. Somehow, it felt true.
'Not killing intent, yet this fearful aura. Just like stories of him after death.'
Recalling a name, Yeongchuja shook his head inwardly.
'Has my time come? Fearing a kid and thinking of the True Heavenly Demon.'
He wanted confirmation. Was this a spar for Jeong Gwang, or a deathmatch?
After his lips twitched several times, he finally sent a transmission.
—You plan to kill me?
—Depends on how you do.
Yeongchuja's face hardened.
'Depends? To me?!'
The crack from when his junior became sect leader ached. The pain grew, spreading through his heart.
Yeongchuja couldn't accept it.
'Damn it! I should've been sect leader!'
Miraculously, the crack sealed, hardening his fractured heart into his childhood arrogance.
"Fine! Let's do this!"
Jeong Gwang grinned at the baseless shout.
"Good. Should've done this from the start."
Without deciding who went first, their forms clashed.
Boom!
"Kuhk!"
With a short groan, Yeongchuja stepped back a pace and pointed a finger at Jeong Gwang.
"Lesser Sun Finger!"
A sharp finger wind pierced toward Jeong Gwang's brow. But it was an afterimage—Jeong Gwang appeared on Yeongchuja's right with Dragon Form Step, thrusting a fist as he shouted.
"Skip the technique names!"
"Fine!"
Yeongchuja dodged the fist with a zigzag step, then whirled his sword in a flashy arc.
It was Kongtong's signature, Subduing Demon Sword Technique.
"Haha. Nice and straightforward!"
Cold, eerie killing intent coalesced into bizarre sword strikes raining down.
Jeong Gwang used Flying Dragon Chasing Lightning to dart front, back, left, right, seeking an opening. When Yeongchuja's sword kept tracking him, he changed tactics.
His body soared high into the sky, then plummeted toward Yeongchuja's head.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Yeongchuja rooted his legs like a mountain and unleashed sword strikes skyward.
Jeong Gwang, falling from the air, twisted his waist wide just before impalement. Astonishingly, his body changed direction midair, landing behind Yeongchuja.
All onlookers cried out.
Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms!
Kunlun's secret lightness skill lived up to its fame, not ending in one motion.
Yeongchuja stabbed at Jeong Gwang descending behind him, but Jeong Gwang twisted again, dropping behind once more.
"Useless!"
Yeongchuja swung, Jeong Gwang twisted—the exchange continued past the eight forms of Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms, reaching ten before ending.
"Take this!"
Yeongchuja's sword surged toward the faltering Jeong Gwang.
At that moment.
Jeong Gwang stepped on empty air, dodging the sword and soaring up again.
"Ah! Treading void into reality—the essence of it!"
"Unleashing such a divine skill on the spot!"
"Was the junior at that level?"
Even Kunlun disciples who'd known Jeong Gwang since infancy couldn't close their gaping mouths.
They knew he was strong, but vaguely—now his realm unfolded vividly before them.
Others were even more shocked: escorts, Zhu Clan warriors, even Kongtong disciples gaped in awe.
That realm at his age—no one had ever heard or seen such a genius!
"True Jade Dragon! You're the best!"
"Kunlun is Qinghai's face! Protect Qinghai's pride!"
The warriors, entranced by Jeong Gwang's prowess, snapped to at the sudden shouts.
Crowds had gathered.
Heo Cheong, believing his disciple the greatest genius of all time and unbeatable, watched leisurely. He asked Jang Han, cheering loudly beside him.
"What brings you here?"
"Huh? Ah! As I left the city gate, a big white bird was flying and dancing over here! Came to check, and it was the famous True Jade Dragon!"
Others said much the same.
More people rushed in, chanting Jeong Gwang's moniker!
Heo Cheong's chest swelled; he closed his eyes gently.
'Disciple. Even untutored commoners praise you without knowing a single technique. What events await on your path?'
The fight neared its end.
Yeongchuja's movements slowed from inner energy drain.
But his arrogance wouldn't allow it.
"Time to end this! Take it!"
The Seventy-Two Roads Subduing Demon Divine Sword, learnable only by elders!
Eerie, sinister sword qi wove out from his blade like porcupine quills, shooting at Jeong Gwang.
Onlookers gasped.
"That's the Seventy-Two Roads Subduing Demon Divine Sword!"
"Indeed, worthy of subduing demons!"
Unlike the awed crowd, Jeong Gwang smirked.
'Ha. Subduing Demon my ass.'
Demons meant Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, right?
Jeong Gwang disliked it, but it was his home.
And this Kongtong nonsense thought they could subdue it? With that trash technique?
Only Jeong Gwang himself could subdue the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
He decided to erase that "Subduing Demon" name.
He drew his sword at his waist and circulated the Supreme Pure Unsurpassed Divine Art. The blade absorbed the energy, glowing faintly.
Jeong Gwang slashed horizontally.
A simple stroke without variation. But the result was astonishing.
Shriiiip—
Like tearing silk, the porcupine-quill swords split apart.
Through the gap, Yeongchuja's pale face appeared.
"Y-you said fist techniques!"
Jeong Gwang raised one hand, clenching a fist in reply.
"You kept insisting on sword, so I said I'd use it if needed."
Ah. Right.
That was Yeongchuja's final thought.
Thwack!
*
Yeongchuja, briefly unconscious, came to. Turning his head, he saw Jeong Gwang squatting with a sullen face, staring at him.
"...I lost."
"Yes."
"...I lost, not Kongtong!"
"Is that so."
"..."
After a silence, Yeongchuja rose. Dizziness hit, but his iron will straightened him.
His gaze met Un-hak's.
Yeongchuja spat each word deliberately.
"Kongtong withdraws from this matter."
"And Zhu Manor?"
Zhu Manor head Zhu Hwan-seol lay in the city clinic. Yeongchuja sighed deeply and nodded.
"Zhu Manor too. Satisfied?"
"Yes."
Yeongchuja turned to Jeong Gwang. Rubbing his hands regretfully, Jeong Gwang brightened at the sharp gaze.
"Wanna go again?"
"...How many hits did I take?"
"One to the eye socket."
Yeongchuja touched his blackened right eye and muttered.
"...Must look good."
"No. Kinda like a panda, not that bad."
"...One question?"
"Sure."
All eyes fixed on Yeongchuja's mouth, curious what he'd ask the jianghu novice he'd lost to.
But his words were utterly unexpected.
"Why keep rubbing your hands? Regretting you couldn't hit more?"
"Wow. How'd you know?"
Yeongchuja's face, pale from dark imaginings, hardened coldly.
"I won't forget. See you next time."
"Huh? You okay?"
Shuddering once, Yeongchuja led Kongtong disciples and Zhu warriors away.
The crowd, holding back till then, raised arms high and cheered.
"Long live True Jade Dragon!"
"Long live Kunlun Sect!"
As all cheered, far off, someone clenched fists watching Jeong Gwang.
'Me too! Someday, I will too!'