Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Surpassing the First Wall (1)
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Intensive sparring class was called a class, but it was basically self-study.
Multiple sparring grounds were set up, and everyone practiced with their assigned partners.
To prevent accidents, no internal energy was allowed—only pure body techniques and skills decided the victor.
I'd initially thought, what kind of sparring is this?
"Urk!"
"Haha, Brother Geum. Your side is wide open."
The brutal sensation of a wooden staff slamming mercilessly into my body shattered that naive notion clean away.
Even after sparring over and over.
Unhak was undeniably strong.
Was it because he was set as my classmate rival, or was the guy just strong by nature?
He wasn't just someone who'd memorized martial arts theory in his head—he was like a living martial machine, with the techniques fully embodied in his body.
"That last stance felt a bit freer, but it still got bogged down in brute force. In a real fight, if swords clashed with an iron rod, the rod would have the advantage, so countering with softness would have been more effective."
"Urgh... yeah..."
Thanks to him, I was learning a ton.
While Master Seo honed my external arts to the limit and Sister Seol solidified my sword basics.
Unhak made for the perfect sparring partner to apply those moves in combat.
Once I got that 'this might actually work' sensation firing up.
It stirred the fighting spirit in my heart too.
Piiiik—!
"One gak break, then back at it!"
Instructor Hwang bellowed, his massive muscles still on full display.
Too bad that tiny shoe print was still stamped on his chest—it would've looked even cooler without it.
Most people avoided sparring with Luri, so he was stuck pulling double duty again today.
"Haa... fuck..."
Moyong Taek plopped down beside me, cursing after getting wrecked by Moyong Wicheon again.
I'd worried at first if that matchup was okay.
- Huh? You think I'd bother picking on lowly trash on purpose? Not worth it. I'm just whipping him so he doesn't tarnish the Moyong name.
Contrary to first impressions.
Moyong Wicheon wasn't as much of a scumbag as I'd thought.
Sure, he snickered every time Unhak beat the crap out of me.
But 2 wins, 2 losses? It didn't scratch me any less.
We chatted idly during the break.
"By the way, Brother Geum, which club are you thinking of joining?"
"You first."
"Wind and Moon Society caught my eye a bit..."
"You?"
"...Ahem."
I couldn't help but laugh imagining Unhak sitting silently in the corner like a folding screen.
"Forget it. Don't go and get treated like an idiot."
"Urk."
Unhak grimaced at my perfectly reasonable advice.
Hm, as for me...
"This bro's gracing the Unmatched National History Club with his presence."
Their reactions to my answer couldn't have been more opposite.
"Oh! Knew you'd go for that."
The gambling addict beaming like he'd found a new buddy.
"No, there are plenty of normal clubs—why mahjong of all things? I get it's tied to your family business, but..."
And the straight-laced guy who looked thoroughly displeased.
Well...
There were a few reasons.
But the biggest one was simple.
Mahjong is fundamentally a four-player board game.
Modern times have tile-shuffling machines, but in this primitive ancient Central Plains? No way.
So every round, someone has to shuffle the tiles.
In that process.
Like it or not.
By chance or by fate.
Hands end up touching.
These days it's just used on favorability addict Goroshi, but.
For naturally utilizing my mod-granted ability—the ID Four-Wheeled Eyes—this was the perfect club.
The S-rank teammates I'd scouted—more precisely, seniors—were in clubs too.
Sure, I'd seriously considered the Wind and Moon Society to charm ladies, hold hands naturally, heh heh...
But if that happened.
I'd end up having to grab guys' hands with some lame excuse.
Plus.
From what I knew, harem endings sounded nice but were really about conquering one by one, step by step.
Get caught straddling the fence midway?
Judging by prestigious sect habits I'd seen so far.
Forget harem—we'd get Nice Boat ending.
Slowly.
Steadily.
Love is all about timing.
Take it or leave it.
"Unhak, you're joining too—why the attitude?"
"What? Me?"
"Obviously. You gonna bail now that we're in? Is our friendship that weak?"
"Hm..."
I exchanged glances with Moyong Taek.
Soon as class ends, nab Unhak and drag him to the club alliance to stamp his print.
While half-heartedly reacting to Moyong Taek's mahjong sermon.
A peanut-sized shadow fell over my head.
I looked up.
"Hm?"
The pint-sized girl's sullen face from earlier—who'd smacked Instructor Hwang like a mouse—stared down.
"Luri... Cadet. Something wrong?"
Man, what do I even call her?
Too casual for 'Luri,' and 'Young Leader' makes me sound like a Demonic Cult spy.
"Spar."
Her grammar-defying one-word answer assaulted my eardrums again today.
"Hm?"
"You. Spar. Me."
"...?"
No.
Why?
I shot desperate help-me looks around.
Maybe treating Luri like a girl, but Unhak had his eyes shut, pretending to meditate in lotus position.
"Taek...?"
Where'd this punk bolt off to now?
I swung my wooden sword to crack Unhak's skull.
Thwack!
"No, why..."
"Spar."
Luri drew her wooden sword from her belt and blocked mine, chattering on.
By now, eyes were gathering around us.
I wanted to cry.
A moment later.
"Hahaha! Good! Then Unhak, you're with me! Everyone, be careful not to get hurt, and don't let rivalry pull up your qi!"
Under the dedicated sandbag for Luri's declaration.
I sighed and gripped my wooden sword.
I'd watched Luri fight a few times.
At the Seo family estate, no internal energy limits, so she mostly played chicken with Cock Uncle using energy blasts.
Of course.
- Haha! Kid! Not bad, but still green!
The age-inappropriate Cock Uncle who loved cute things would end up hoisting the flailing Luri, rubbing her all over, spinning her, and planting her face-first into the ground.
With Instructor Hwang, she'd tailor it to him, throwing kitten punches with fist and foot arts.
...In other words.
This was the first time I'd seen Luri draw a sword, as far as I knew.
Which is why.
Sword students couldn't focus on their spars, sneaking glances our way nonstop.
Even Moyong Taek and Moyong Wicheon.
I'd do the same in their shoes.
"Hoo..."
Deep breath.
"Luri... Cadet. You're Peak realm, so mind giving me three moves?"
Luri shot me a look like I'd spouted nonsense.
Eek.
Soon after.
Thwaaack!
I blocked Luri's sudden charge and gauged her power.
Being a kid, she felt lighter than expected.
About 0.5 Unhaks?
Man Geum Sihyeon.
Wasn't about to lose to some loli physique.
Wabarat!
"Haa..."
Feeling Moyong Taek squirming under his butt.
Moyong Wicheon let out an involuntary sigh.
That scene from the Mind-Image Sword Debate overlapped with the less-lowly one now.
Even more astonishing was his opponent.
The Demonic Cult's Young Leader.
Even without internal energy, her ferocious, savage strikes—ones he'd doubt enduring five himself—were deflected, parried, and countered like child's play, exploiting every seeming gap in the less-lowly one's form.
He hadn't paid much mind as a swordsman.
But as one...
It even stirred a twinge of awe.
Maturity unbelievable for someone his age.
Was that the level needed to survive as Young Leader in the Demonic Cult's hellhole?
Thud!
"Kek!"
Moyong Wicheon bonked his lowly brother's head with the wooden sword.
"Stupid lowly thing. Watch closely. ...For Moyong's future, these are the swords Moyong must break."
He'd thought training at home beat going to Hundred Flowers Academy or whatever.
But facing not just these two, but more prodigies ahead to kneel them?
Moyong Wicheon felt like entering secluded training right now.
A clear smile played on his lips.
About twenty exchanges in?
"Grk..."
I sensed defeat.
Size difference... well, even Instructor Hwang got smashed by those kitten punches sometimes—size meant nothing.
Tiny height, but she zipped around unpredictably.
Slender wrists, but packed with combat-compressed muscle, pressing harder than at first.
And.
Couldn't show it, but...
Her sword forms felt awfully familiar.
The geezer's swordsmanship from the Mind-Image Sword Debate.
In Luri's words, a variant of Blood Wolf Sword Method.
Why variant? No thick killing intent like back then.
The geezer's had leaned heavy and fast sword; Luri's now was closer to illusion sword.
As if tailored to her build, modifying Blood Wolf Sword Method for Luri.
And the polish was exquisite.
I'd drilled with Sister Seol, but my still-flashy Flying Heaven Sword Art couldn't match.
I scanned the onlookers briefly.
Those who'd seen Luri fight nodded knowingly, pitying me.
The rest—
- Sigh, guy's not even worth his size.
- Hm... that the best?
—probably thought.
...Luri'd hound me later anyway.
Better to dodge her for days or use her as a shield than get branded the guy bawling after a beatdown from a shrimp and roasted on the galleries.
Martial arts don't have on/off switches.
But I shut off Flying Heaven Sword Art in my brain.
And left it all to body and instinct.
But.
My grand goal of landing one hit on Cheon Luri? Unrealized.
Why's she so good at beating people...
In my battered, fading consciousness.
I gazed at Cheon Luri swinging her demonic blows.
Very faintly.
One corner of her mouth twitched up.
Smug...?
This cheeky little shit...!
Triple training intensity next time and wipe that smug look...
"Kyaak!"
My death cry rang out, and vision went black.