Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Sparring 2
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Kang Yeop's movements as he attacked Baek Moo-jin were ferocious, as if he were determined to draw blood. The crowd's cold gazes pierced toward Baek Moo-jin.
'He's really stirred up their anger.'
Some spectators wondered if Baek Moo-jin's intentions lay elsewhere.
'Maybe he's mastered a sword style that utilizes quick draws?'
But Baek Moo-jin neither drew his sword nor counterattacked. Instead, he retreated while narrowly dodging Kang Yeop's blade. The gaps by which he evaded were perilously tight.
To the onlookers, it looked as though the sword had merely grazed his clothes. Yet Baek Moo-jin's movements remained consistently light and agile throughout. It was clear to anyone watching that he possessed lightness skills Kang Yeop couldn't easily match.
As Baek Moo-jin continued to slip away from a relentless barrage of seven or eight swift strikes, the observers realized that his lightness skills alone outclassed Kang Yeop's.
Moreover, it even seemed like Baek Moo-jin was anticipating the direction of Kang Yeop's attacks and moving accordingly. The mild impression he'd given earlier had vanished, replaced by fierce intensity blazing in his eyes.
Kang Yeop gritted his teeth, his composure slipping.
'Just trip up once. Let's see how long you can keep running.'
But as if reading Kang Yeop's thoughts, Baek Moo-jin immediately launched a counter. It wasn't even a proper technique. He blocked Kang Yeop's sword with his own scabbard, placed his right palm on Kang Yeop's chest, then slid back smoothly.
It all happened in an instant.
A cool breeze from the hem of Baek Moo-jin's robes brushed the supervisors' faces. Had he poured power into that right palm just moments ago, Kang Yeop would have suffered severe injuries. But since the motion was swift yet utterly devoid of force, some failed to realize the spar was over.
"Huh? Is it done?"
"Done already?"
Only the lead supervisor thought the match had concluded.
Even Kang Yeop, his opponent, apparently didn't consider himself defeated, given how light Baek Moo-jin's strike had felt.
He patted his chest with a bewildered expression for a moment before charging forward like a shot.
Now it was Baek Moo-jin, standing there dumbfounded, who was caught off guard.
'What? It was clearly over, so why is he coming at me?'
Of course, Baek Moo-jin hadn't let his guard down, so he dodged the follow-up attack and gave a slight nod.
'Does it only end when the opponent falls? Fine, I'll make it that way.'
It hadn't been a light tap due to lack of strength. Baek Moo-jin prepared his White Flower Palm.
2.
Kang Yeop was being stubborn. Deep down, he knew Baek Moo-jin was stronger than him. But there were people watching.
'He doesn't seem like a young master from some family, and he has that air of a total novice to the jianghu...'
He couldn't back down now, which only made him more frantic. Over a dozen exchanges passed in the blink of an eye. This time, for some reason, Baek Moo-jin was deflecting Kang Yeop's attacks with his scabbard. He kept his scabbard pressed against Kang Yeop's blade, following its trajectory while pushing, pressing, and flicking it aside in fluid harmony.
Baek Moo-jin was gauging Kang Yeop's internal energy.
The White Flower Palm was powerful.
Deciding he couldn't inflict serious injury on Kang Yeop here, Baek Moo-jin measured his opponent's strength and resolved to reduce the amount of energy he'd channel into the palm.
Besides, the spar had dragged on partly because the thrill of actual combat had captivated Baek Moo-jin.
There was a world of difference between solo training and engaging in real sparring. Thanks to this match, Baek Moo-jin's chest felt refreshingly open, as if he were soaring through the skies.
'So this is the feeling I longed for from Snow Garment Peak...'
Seeing Kang Yeop's valiant expression only made Baek Moo-jin's blood boil in response.
'He's not the enemy. Hold back and end it quickly.'
By now, even the supervisors watched in silence, not uttering a word. A few had stood up from their seats.
'Baek Moo-jin is beyond Fourth Grade Warrior level. We've got a real find here.'
At that moment, Baek Moo-jin muttered lowly.
"Here it comes."
Where was "it" going?
Out of nowhere, Baek Moo-jin leaped into the air, swatted Kang Yeop's sword aside, struck the back of his shoulder with White Flower Palm, and landed lightly.
A dull thud echoed through the annex hall.
Kang Yeop pitched forward from the palm strike, tumbling across the floor with a clatter.
He let out a groan of pain.
"Urgh...!"
The supervisors gasped in shock as well.
"Ah!"
But Kang Yeop twisted his face in agony and rose again. Forgetting this was a formal examination, he charged at Baek Moo-jin once more.
The lead supervisor shot to his feet and shouted.
"Kang Yeop! That's enough!"
Baek Moo-jin stared blankly at the oncoming Kang Yeop. He showed no sign of dodging.
Ignoring the lead supervisor's command, Kang Yeop rushed forward, only to stumble and collapse a few steps from Baek Moo-jin. He crumpled into an awkward sprawl, his body shuddering.
"Deputy Commander Kang!"
The supervisors leaped from their seats. Some rushed out, glancing between Kang Yeop and Baek Moo-jin.
Anyone struck by the Snow Mountain Baek Family's White Flower Palm felt their body grow heavy, as if crushed under a snowball, their movements slowing while bitter cold seeped in. Kang Yeop had forced himself against it, leading to his current state.
"You okay?!"
Several supervisors hurried over and surrounded him.
But at that moment, having confirmed the White Flower Palm's power, Baek Moo-jin was lost in an entirely different sentiment.
The instant he saw Kang Yeop collapsed on the floor, a vision flashed of countless jianghu heroes strewn around him in defeat.
'The Snow Mountain Baek Family is just getting started. And so am I...'
3.
Kang Yeop couldn't get up easily.
Baek Moo-jin spoke to the worried supervisors.
"I infused just enough force that he could resist with his internal energy. He'll recover soon."
Baek Moo-jin had calibrated the White Flower Palm based on the internal energy Kang Yeop used to deflect his scabbard. He judged there would be no major injuries.
More than that, Kang Yeop must have been utterly shocked.
It wasn't internal injury but the unique agony of the White Flower Palm—something he'd never experienced before—compounded by the mental blow of losing to a fresh-faced young examinee. That had caused him to briefly black out.
The lead supervisor approached and said,
"Help him to the Silent Sword Unit... No, wait. That might cause misunderstandings. Take him straight to the treatment room first, then report properly to the Silent Sword Unit commander. Make sure there's no confusion. It was a fair spar. It went on longer than expected given the skill gap, though."
"Understood."
As two men helped Kang Yeop away, the lead supervisor finally introduced himself to Baek Moo-jin.
"Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Lee Yeon-seong of the Execution Hall."
"What should I call you?"
Baek Moo-jin returned a light bow and approached. Lee Yeon-seong smiled faintly.
"Just call me senior. By the way, it must've thrown you off when Kang Yeop charged again, even though you went easy on him in your debut match."
Lee Yeon-seong had known the match was decided long before. Baek Moo-jin replied,
"Not at all."
"Kang Yeop will realize upon reflection that the outcome was set earlier. He's a stubborn one, so don't take it to heart. You can visit him later if you like."
"Understood. Thank you."
Lee Yeon-seong, who had maintained a stern expression throughout, finally spoke at length while regarding Baek Moo-jin.
"There's still the reporting procedure, but you'll pass regardless. The North Heaven Alliance has gained a fine talent."
"Thank you."
Lee Yeon-seong's eyes gleamed as he asked,
"Your palm technique is quite unique. Surely not from the Cold Ice Valley?"
"Cold Ice Valley? First I've heard of it. It's my family's palm art."
Meeting Lee Yeon-seong's gaze, Baek Moo-jin smiled deliberately. He recalled the saying that the righteous path was surprisingly intolerant of differences. Lee Yeon-seong left a pointed remark.
"Well, if it were a sinister art, you couldn't have used it so openly before us. Still, it's so distinctive it might invite misunderstandings."
Baek Moo-jin responded honestly to Lee Yeon-seong's words.
"I see. If misunderstandings arise, how should I respond?"
Put on the spot, Lee Yeon-seong struggled to answer from Baek Moo-jin's perspective.
'Damn, no good excuse comes to mind. Once it's mistaken for a demonic art, the situation is as good as over. Such a sensitive issue...'
After a moment's thought, Lee Yeon-seong offered,
"Say you ate a Human-Shaped Snow Ginseng."
Of course, he didn't believe Baek Moo-jin had consumed such a rare treasure. But Baek Moo-jin liked the answer and replied with a smile,
"Ah, got it. Simple and perfect. Thank you."
"Why?"
"Because I actually did."
"You're a joker. Rest for now. I'll sort the paperwork and we'll talk again."
As Lee Yeon-seong returned to the table, Baek Moo-jin shook his head slightly.
'These people really don't believe anything anyone says.'
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