Awakening in the Clash
“Hong Yeom Cheon Ui Chang maximizes the sharp and heavy qualities inherent in spear techniques. It also embodies the property of fire blazing as if ready to explode. While accurately mastering the forms is important, the core lies in condensing your power and then unleashing it. Focus on that in your training.”
Yeom Si-woo explained the essence while teaching the forms of Hong Yeom Cheon Ui Chang.
But to Woo-gang, it was far too difficult.
His body had ached more during training in the cave and sealed chamber, but right now, his head felt like it might burst.
Even executing a single motion required attention to so many details.
All the elements needed to harmonize, yet everything was out of sync.
Like the frozen North Sea weather in the dead of winter, Woo-gang's training had stalled completely.
In this frustrating state where success seemed just within reach but never arrived, he felt a deeper frustration than ever before.
Woo-gang had overcome similar impasses countless times, but this time, he truly saw no way through.
He even asked Si-woo, but the answer fell short of his expectations.
“Keep doing what you've been doing. That's the answer.”
Just keep at it as before.
Perhaps Si-woo had designed the training from the start to force Woo-gang to discover the truth through his own trial and error.
In the end, Woo-gang had no choice but to continue his training, his heart heavy with frustration.
Shiiiek!
The spear thrust by Woo-gang cut through the air with a sharp whoosh.
But Woo-gang frowned.
Something didn't feel right.
“That's not it.”
The power wasn't properly loaded.
His focus on footwork had caused the basics of the thrust to crumble.
This thrust, perfected through endless repetition, was now failing him despite all his hard-earned progress.
“Haah...”
Woo-gang lightly planted his spear in the ground and let out a deep sigh.
Then he turned his head.
Standing where his gaze lingered was Han Seo-yeon.
She stared at him intently with the same eyes as when they first met.
“What do you want?”
Woo-gang asked.
“I heard you were training obsessively, so I got curious and came to see.”
At her words, Woo-gang's brow furrowed slightly.
He couldn't pinpoint why, but her attitude and tone rubbed him the wrong way.
Beyond that, wasn't she ultimately an opponent he had to defeat?
It felt like showing all his cards to her, and he didn't like that either.
In truth, Han Seo-yeon could have gleaned every detail of what Woo-gang was doing if she wanted, but he had no idea.
“I've got training to do, so if there's nothing else, please leave.”
With that, Woo-gang turned away and pulled his spear from the ground.
“I came out of curiosity, but starting a spar now would take forever. After what you said to Grandfather that day, I thought you had something you hadn't shown.”
Woo-gang turned back at Han Seo-yeon's words.
He couldn't fathom her intent, but he desperately wanted her gone so he could train.
“I've got a lot of deficiencies, so I have to train several times harder than others. Please go now.”
Woo-gang tried to send her away again.
Then, a sudden thought flashed through his mind.
'If she's an opponent I have to beat, wouldn't knowing more about her be better?'
All Woo-gang knew of Han Seo-yeon's martial arts was the palm strike he'd seen that day.
But in his memory, all Bing Palace warriors wielded swords.
Han Seo-yeon must have trained in the sword as well.
He knew nothing about it.
His thoughts reached that point, and Woo-gang looked at her again.
“Since you're here, want to spar?”
“No.”
Han Seo-yeon refused without hesitation.
Woo-gang frowned.
“Why?”
“It'd be pointless.”
Woo-gang let out a small sigh at her cold reply.
“Didn't you say you came because you were curious about my intense training? Then check it out.”
“I don't need a spar to know. You can't beat me. Especially not with your spear techniques and footwork operating separately.”
He didn't know how long she'd watched, but she pinpointed his problem exactly.
Still, Woo-gang didn't give up.
“Crashing into walls head-on and overcoming them is my training method. So let's do it.”
Han Seo-yeon stared blankly into Woo-gang's eyes.
His gaze burned with unyielding determination.
“Hoo...”
A small sigh escaped her lips.
“How do you want to do it?”
“How?”
“Going all out, or holding back appropriately. Which one?”
It could have bruised his pride.
Her intent, if for training, meant she'd go easy.
“Obviously, I want you to go all out.”
But Woo-gang chose it for a different reason.
Only then would he gain something.
“I see. Fine.”
Shring!
Han Seo-yeon drew her sword from its sheath without hesitation.
Woo-gang gripped his spear tightly.
***
At that moment, Si-woo and Han Si-rang were having tea.
Han Si-rang's words that day had been a bit harsh, but it wasn't enough to sour their friendship.
“Have you thought about a successor?”
Si-woo asked casually over his tea.
It had been nearly ten years since Han Si-rang's son passed.
He'd fallen into qi deviation during training, lost consciousness, and failed to overcome it.
With the heir to the palace lord position gone first, the seat remained vacant.
“If she wants it, I'm thinking of passing it to Seo-yeon. She's talented. And it's not like we haven't had female palace lords before.”
“Not a bad choice. But you'll need to stay vigorous for another five or six years.”
“I'll stay sharp until I see my great-grandchild. Don't worry about that. I just hope we wrap up the things we need to resolve first.”
Si-woo realized the matter Han Si-rang mentioned referred to recent events.
“I've been wondering. What exactly...”
“Palace Lord.”
As Si-woo began to ask, a voice came from outside the parlor.
“What is it?”
“The young lady took her sword from her room and left.”
“Probably training. No need to worry.”
“But her destination...”
At that, Si-woo and Han Si-rang exchanged glances.
“To my residence?”
“Yes.”
Drag!
Upon the subordinate's reply, both men shoved back their chairs and stood.
***
Woo-gang and Han Seo-yeon faced each other.
A spear in Woo-gang's hand, a sword in Han Seo-yeon's.
“Don't regret it. I'll go all out, as you wanted.”
“I won't regret it.”
Woo-gang replied curtly.
In truth, it was a gamble for him.
His initial goal was to learn about her martial arts, but he also hoped to gain insight through this as part of his training.
He didn't know their skill gap, and her full power might end it before he gained anything.
But Woo-gang steeled himself to drag out the spar as long as possible.
Whoosh!
A cold gust swept between them.
Thud!
Woo-gang struck first.
Using Chu Pung Gu Hwan Bo, he shot forward and thrust his spear swiftly.
'Failure!'
He knew the instant he thrust.
The strike lacked proper power.
Its speed and force were far inferior to a stationary thrust.
As Woo-gang moved, Han Seo-yeon reacted.
With movements exuding chill, she effortlessly evaded his spear.
Shrieeek!
Her sword slashed sharply toward him.
Woo-gang used footwork to create distance while swinging his spear in reverse.
Boooom!
Clang!
The spear shaft arced and collided with her sword.
The shock traveled up his arm, making Woo-gang grimace.
Fortunately, this time footwork and swing aligned, allowing full power.
But Woo-gang immediately shuffled his feet frantically.
Han Seo-yeon was pushing his blocking spear aside to close the gap.
Shrieeek!
Her sword thrust sharply again.
Woo-gang, reacting late, gripped his spear short and swung again, but it wasn't enough to fully block.
'Damn!'
He gasped and jerked his head back; her sword whistled past overhead.
Bracing his collapsing center with his waist, Woo-gang swung once more.
Swoosh!
Boom!
His spear cleaved empty air.
Han Seo-yeon had already retreated, widening the distance.
In that brief clash, her superior mastery was clear.
Woo-gang barely regained his stance and faced her.
'Stay calm. Take it step by step. Do everything you can.'
“Hoo...”
He took a deep breath.
Circulating his qi, he gripped his spear firmly.
Resolved, Woo-gang moved again.
Not yet perfect, but he began unleashing the Hong Yeom Cheon Ui Chang forms to the best of his ability.
***
“Hm...”
Si-woo and Han Si-rang, having rushed over, watched the spar from a distance.
To their eyes, Han Seo-yeon was clearly proficient, Woo-gang clumsy.
His skill was so poor it made one doubt Si-woo's tutelage.
Han Si-rang even glanced awkwardly at Si-woo.
But Si-woo's expression remained unchanged as he observed.
***
Though she'd promised full power, Han Seo-yeon didn't end it despite openings.
She dodged Woo-gang's clumsy assaults and countered with chilling precision, but only to unsettle.
Swish swish!
Han Seo-yeon stepped nimbly.
Woo-gang's forms had many gaps.
Their power was weak, and connections between them sloppy.
She evaded and blocked with ease.
Unlike her, Woo-gang poured everything in.
Despite repeated failures, he persisted.
But as they say, failure is the mother of success.
Through it, he gradually found his groove.
'So that's how it works!'
Han Seo-yeon's movements were unpredictable.
He often couldn't complete forms fully.
But he was realizing why Si-woo emphasized 'adaptation and variation to the situation'—its necessity and importance.
Feeling the need, he began devising solutions.
Not lost in thought—he acted on flashes of insight instantly.
Shrieeek!
Booom!
Clang! Clang!
Woo-gang's movements changed.
The sounds of thrusts and swings altered; speed and power surged.
Spear and footwork, once mismatched, began syncing.
That alignment eased distance control and power loading; blocking and dodging grew agile.
'This guy...'
A glint flashed in Han Seo-yeon's eyes.
Woo-gang's skill grew in real time during the spar.
Shrieeek!
She barely dodged his thrust.
Defeat never crossed her mind.
But carelessness could cost her; she heightened her focus.
Swish!
Her movements sharpened too.
Faster, fiercer.
Like blade winds tearing flesh, she pressed him.
But Woo-gang held firm.
Danger struck multiple times, yet he unleashed all without flinching.
His spear danced.
Misaligned elements harmonized; suddenly, everything clicked perfectly.
Woo-gang felt utterly different.
Her close-range attacks vanished from his sight.
He focused wholly on his own forms.
Swoooosh! Boom!
Something exploded massively within him.
Her sword and his spear clashed fiercely.
Boom!
A fierce gust blew.
Even through vision-obscuring wind, Si-woo and Han Si-rang didn't blink.
“Hoo...”
Woo-gang breathed deeply.
He withdrew his locked spear.
Swish.
Only then did Han Seo-yeon's sword lower from his shoulder.
Han Seo-yeon's victory.
Perhaps predictable, but Woo-gang's final movements were unrecognizably superior to the start.
“I see why you took him as a disciple. He's the real deal.”
Han Si-rang murmured, eyeing Woo-gang; a faint smile touched Si-woo's lips.
Not fully his yet—power halved—but Si-woo saw hope in that last technique.
“This'll be fun.”
Han Si-rang muttered, recalling Woo-gang's words that day.