Sparring with Grandfather
The spar with Han Seo-yeon had changed many things for Woo-gang.
Vague notions or hazy intuitions had sharpened into clarity once he'd experienced them firsthand with his own body.
Thanks to that, Woo-gang now knew exactly where to focus his training.
In truth, his previous training had always revolved around clear, concrete goals.
Thrusting practice meant punching holes in walls; swinging practice meant batting away rocks caught in fierce whirlpools.
But training at the Bing Palace lacked such tangible targets.
It was about harmonizing spear forms with footwork—a comparatively abstract aim.
Yet after sparring with Han Seo-yeon and grasping what needed to be done and how, Woo-gang's sessions gained real momentum.
Shiiiik!
The tip of Woo-gang's spear sliced through the air with a sharp gust, thrusting straight forward.
As he stabbed, his footwork flowed like water, naturally shifting him to a completely different position.
In an instant, he'd circled to the opposite side and swung the spear wide.
He swept the shaft's end from low to high, channeling that momentum into a full-body spin that whipped the weapon around in a circle.
"Hah!"
Shishishishik!
With a short shout, Woo-gang drove repeated thrusts, powering through.
Recovering the spear so quickly made it hard to load power, but he compensated with muscle and qi force.
His speed surged, unleashing a menacing barrage of forms.
Susususit!
Woo-gang moved again.
Gliding forward, he lightly kicked off the ground.
With his stance slightly airborne, he gathered his entire body's strength and smashed the spear down with all his might.
Bam!
The shaft struck the floor with a resounding crash.
Fragments of thin frost scattered in all directions.
Susit!
In that moment, Woo-gang pulled back his form, recovered the spear, halted—and then exploded forward on his rear foot.
Quaaaeek!
His spear shot out amid an even sharper whoosh of air.
Not a straight thrust, but one where the spearhead spun ferociously in his palm, amplifying its power.
Whiiiiiik!
The spear pierced a single point in empty air, the unleashed gale roaring outward.
"Hoo…."
Woo-gang withdrew the spear and took a deep breath.
A satisfied smile played on his lips.
'Now I get how to use footwork effectively.'
Growing accustomed to footwork integration boosted the power of his forms.
'But I'm still far from ready.'
Woo-gang remained coldly objective.
Only recently had he realized Han Seo-yeon hadn't gone all-out that day.
It dawned on him after repeated training refined his spear and footwork harmony.
Had she unleashed her full power as she'd first claimed, he wouldn't have achieved these results.
One step of growth revealed how far he still trailed her—and that fueled his drive even more.
Leaning the spear against the building wall, Woo-gang wiped sweat with a cloth.
Not even the North Sea's biting cold could stem his flow.
"Looks like you're finally getting the hang of it."
Si-woo approached, addressing Woo-gang.
"Yes. That one spar made a huge difference."
"Sometimes a single real fight can spark massive growth."
A smile curved Si-woo's lips.
After Woo-gang and Han Seo-yeon's bout, the mood between Si-woo and Han Si-rang had flipped entirely.
Si-woo beamed with pride at Woo-gang's visible progress; Han Si-rang, by contrast, felt mounting tension.
Han Seo-yeon had won, yet the air suggested Woo-gang's victory, weaving between the two elders.
"Once you're comfortable blending footwork and forms, focus on qi circulation too. The true might of Hong Yeom Cheon Ui Chang shines when fused with Hyeoncheon Yeolhwa Singong."
"Yes, sir!"
Woo-gang replied briskly, brimming with confidence in his martial arts.
"Grandfather."
"Yes?"
"How much more do I need to grow to beat Han Seo-yeon?"
Si-woo gazed steadily at Woo-gang before responding.
"You could win now."
"No. Training showed me—I still fall short."
Si-woo shook his head with a smile at Woo-gang's words.
"If you'd fought her that day using only thrusts and swings—no forms—you'd have won."
Woo-gang's face showed disbelief.
"Think back. In that pitch-black chamber, was dodging and blocking invisible flying sticks harder, or facing Han Seo-yeon's attacks?"
Reflecting, Woo-gang saw it clearly.
Evading the unseen was far more threatening and demanding.
Speed, power, open sightlines—nothing favored her.
"Your thrusts and swings alone make you formidable. In the spar, you used unfamiliar forms, that's all. Had victory been your sole focus, she couldn't have beaten you."
Si-woo's assured words swelled Woo-gang's confidence further.
'Still, I need to win with full spear arts.'
His ultimate goal: master the forms and triumph through them.
The thought ignited fresh fervor.
"Grandfather, I want more spars."
"No."
Si-woo refused flatly.
"Why?"
"Sparring is training too—but only worthwhile if you gain from matching skills. It shouldn't become the end goal; that disrespects your opponent."
"I see."
"Exactly. Without forms, you could hold your own against many here at the Bing Palace. But wouldn't that mean nothing to you?"
"You're right."
"Grow steadily through practice, then prove it in spars. Right now, you lack cause to challenge them."
As Si-woo said, Han Seo-yeon was an exception.
She'd gained too—watching Woo-gang's real-time growth stoked her own training zeal.
Yet she likely hadn't advanced her arts like he had.
Understanding, Woo-gang looked wistful.
"Then I'll train harder to spar sooner."
"That's the spirit."
Discovering the joy in growth was the ultimate motivator for Woo-gang.
Back in the cave and sealed chamber, obsession to "achieve" had dulled his sense of accomplishment.
He'd believed it essential to break free from past traumas.
Here at the Bing Palace, though, he pursued pure martial attainment.
"Instead…"
Si-woo eyed Woo-gang's burning resolve and spoke again.
"No full spars, but I can do light drills with you."
"You, Grandfather?"
"Yes."
Woo-gang's eyes lit up.
Si-woo smiled at the sight.
Post-spar, he sensed spars might suit Woo-gang best.
Unlike other sects, Si-woo's methods emphasized raw combat.
He insisted on learning through direct clashes despite varied drills—knowing extreme trials honed senses for battlefield dominance.
Woo-gang seemed tailor-made for it.
"Can we start now?"
"Whenever you're ready."
Woo-gang grinned broadly at Si-woo's reply.
They faced off.
Spear in Woo-gang's hands; staff in Si-woo's—for safety, despite matching Woo-gang's level.
Woo-gang looked tense before the drill.
But his eyes sparkled with excitement.
He'd never truly seen Si-woo's arts.
Just a single demo before learning Hong Yeom Cheon Ui Chang.
How mighty would Si-woo's version be?
"Unleash whatever you want—or can."
"Yes!"
Woo-gang assumed stance, his grip now tinged with maturity.
Thud!
He kicked off and charged.
Quaaaeek!
His spear extended long, piercing toward Si-woo's chest.
Si-woo unleashed Chupung Guhwanbo.
Like a sudden gale, he surged speed in a blink.
Woo-gang's spear stabbed empty air.
In that instant, he loosened his grip and stepped forward.
Short-gripping the spear, he spun, sweeping it low at waist height.
But Si-woo's footwork evaded again.
Shik!
Then Si-woo moved his staff.
Just as Woo-gang recovered from the sweep.
Thwack!
A crisp ring echoed.
Si-woo's light thrust struck the spear shaft dead-on.
Woo-gang's motion stalled.
Seizing the hesitation, Si-woo softly thrust again.
The staff tip darted toward his chest; Woo-gang urgently footworked back.
Even retreating, he countered.
Short-gripped spear shoved forward like a throw, then he seized the end.
Body distanced, but spear maintained range.
'Oh ho!'
Si-woo inwardly admired Woo-gang's response.
Beyond footwork familiarity, he'd deepened range awareness.
Tap. Thud!
Woo-gang lightly planted and rocketed forward.
No range lost—he shifted seamlessly from defense to offense.
Whirl!
Si-woo twisted lightly, staff whipping behind his back.
Thung!
Diagonal upward sweep batted Woo-gang's spear high.
Effortless, yet the shaft flew upward.
Woo-gang strained to hold on but couldn't overcome the force.
Clang!
The spear slipped free, clattering noisily on the ground.
Woo-gang stared at his numb, tingling hands.
Then smiled.
Si-woo was incredible.
Casual motions blocked Woo-gang's full efforts.
He looked to Si-woo.
Staff upright, Si-woo stood still—eyes saying, 'That all?'
'No way.'
Woo-gang snatched up the spear.
His trembling hand steadied.
"Hoo…."
Deep breath to calm his thrilled excitement.
Heart settled, Woo-gang charged anew, eyes sparkling.