Chapter 32: A Discussion of Swords (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 32: A Discussion of Swords (1)
Altercations in an inn are a common sight.
When young heroes cross paths and take offense, it rarely stops at a mere exchange of glares; they often resort to direct threats. Usually, one side yields or backs down before things escalate. In the Jianghu, it was generally considered wise to read the room and act according to the circumstances.
Of course, there were exceptions.
This was especially true when a provocation became impossible to ignore, or when a sect’s name was invoked, wounding the other party's pride. Even then, however, it rarely turned into a full-scale brawl. Since these individuals often held high status, they tended to avoid acting rashly.
"You dared to draw your sword?"
"You bastards...!"
But the moment a blade is drawn, as it was now, the situation changes entirely.
Drawing a sword is a silent vow to stake one's life. To seek the life of another is to accept that one's own life may be taken in return. Once the steel is bared, returning the sword to its scabbard is nothing less than a public admission of guilt—a humiliating declaration of "I was wrong."
Furthermore, if a specific sect was mentioned or if the individuals involved were well-known, blood inevitably had to be spilled. Beyond the individual martial artist stood the pride of their sect. To many, that pride was far more precious than a single life.
Sshhh. Sshhh.
The burly man and the youth leveled their blades at each other.
There was no turning back now. It was no longer a clash between individuals, but a conflict between two organizations.
"Are you afraid? Is that why you're thinking of attacking in a pack?"
Go Gu-heon spoke mockingly as he eyed the guards hovering near the youth. Even at a glance, they clearly outnumbered his own group.
At those words, the youth, Gang Bi, snorted in derision.
"I am more than enough to handle a wretch like you alone. Everyone, step back."
"Young Master."
As soon as Gang Bi finished speaking, a middle-aged man pushed through the guards and bowed, shaking his head. Judging by his weathered features, he clearly possessed considerable experience in the Jianghu.
He was Jang Cheong-gi, the captain of the Young Master’s guard.
"These men are from the vicious Gyeongmun Association. They are known to resort to foul tricks, so it would be best if we suppressed them together."
"Do you think I would fall for such petty tricks? Stand back. This is a personal duel."
"Young Master."
"Did you not hear me!"
As Gang Bi’s voice rose, the middle-aged man hesitated but did not retreat easily. To his seasoned eyes, the momentum radiating from the Gyeongmun Association martial artists was far from ordinary.
Anyone with a keen eye would have realized the truth behind the captain's hesitation: Gang Bi, the Young Master of the Meteor Sect, was inferior in martial prowess to Go Gu-heon of the Gyeongmun Association.
"If you are in danger, speak at once."
Jang Cheong-gi bowed his head, unable to argue further against Gang Bi’s firm resolve. He finally took a step back. The other guards exchanged worried glances, but under Jang Cheong-gi’s stubborn gaze, they were forced to retreat as well.
You stupid fool. Hehehe.
Go Gu-heon felt a surge of relief.
At a glance, Gang Bi seemed inferior to him. While it was difficult to gauge the exact depth of the boy's cultivation, he was certainly lacking in experience. For one, he couldn't even control his facial expressions.
Once the tables were cleared and both parties retreated, a space of about five jang was secured. Gang Bi and Go Gu-heon stood at the center.
Whish. Whish.
"Come at me, you scum!"
Two emotions were visible in Gang Bi’s eyes as he raised his sword in a threatening gesture: the confidence born of long years of cultivation, and the underlying fear of fighting in an unfamiliar place. However, he maintained a dignified air, suggesting he wouldn't be intimidated even if they swarmed him.
"If you insist."
Go Gu-heon, facing him, curled his lips into a smirk.
The more experience one has, the more they listen to their opponent's words and observe their spirit. Yet, the boy before him moved his sword with far too many openings. Usually, people like this acted that way because they had never truly experienced a life-or-death struggle.
He was undoubtedly a greenhorn.
*
Clang!
The moment Gang Bi lunged, a sharp metallic ring signaled the start of the fight.
'Ugh!'
Upon the heavy collision, Gang Bi felt a jolt. The opponent's Internal Energy was much more profound than he had anticipated. If he hadn't been careful, he might have been blown back by the opening strike.
"Hah!"
After exchanging two or three blows, Gang Bi retreated. He intended to widen the distance to secure enough space to unfold his sect's techniques.
However, his opponent was Go Gu-heon, a man seasoned in combat. Though he might not have mastered high-level martial arts, he wasn't the type to let such an opportunity slip away.
Swish.
Go Gu-heon closed the distance rapidly, thrusting his sword repeatedly toward Gang Bi’s shoulders and chest.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Gang Bi bit his lip hard as he parried the continuous assault. With every clash, a shock traveled through him as if his arm were about to be torn off.
It was Rebound Force. As the opponent added momentum to a sword infused with internal strength, the impact continued to grow with every strike.
"What’s wrong? Where did that confident face go? Hahaha! Hah!"
Go Gu-heon mocked Gang Bi as he shouted his kiai. Seeing his opponent driven into a corner, he grew excited and pressed the attack even more fiercely.
"Urgh... damn it!"
Gang Bi, busy parrying the blade, couldn't even manage a retort. He lacked the luxury to respond to the mockery. All his focus was barely enough to keep the steel at bay.
"He’s going to get hurt at this rate."
"We should help him, Captain."
The Meteor Sect guards began to grow restless. But Jang Cheong-gi remained firm.
"Do not act rashly."
"But it looks like he's about to be defeated!"
"Captain!"
Just as they said, Gang Bi was being pushed back. His complexion grew pale under the relentless assault.
"Do you not know the Young Master’s personality? Do you think he would be grateful if we intervened now?"
"Ah..."
"Furthermore, we have no justification to interfere. If we help him without his request, we will only invite the ridicule of other sects. At least not yet... not yet."
Jang Cheong-gi’s expression twisted painfully.
'This was a mistake.'
Despite having superior numbers, they had allowed the enemy's provocation to put the Young Master in danger by leaving him to fight alone. He wanted nothing more than to undo the last few minutes.
But he couldn't. Even those lowly Unorthodox bastards were following the rules of the Jianghu; the Meteor Sect, an Orthodox sect, could not simply barge in and break the code of a duel.
'The Young Master must find a way...'
In the end, the only one who could resolve this situation was the Young Master himself. However, even that seemed unlikely. The hearts of the Meteor Sect guards were turning to ash as the seconds ticked by.
*
"What a shame."
Seok Myeong spoke casually as he set down his bowl of flour noodles.
"What do you mean by 'a shame'?"
Hyeok-jin asked, his head ducked low. He was wondering if Seok Myeong meant the noodles were disappointing or something else entirely.
"His first attack was a blunder that ended up trapping him. If he had been a bit more calm, he wouldn't have been driven into such a defensive position. If it continues like this, he'll be defeated without even showing what he's capable of."
Hyeok-jin looked toward the duel. No matter how many times he looked, the burly man was the one dominating.
"Isn't it already over? There seemed to be a difference in skill from the start... I don't think anything he does will work."
"No."
Seok Myeong firmly disagreed.
"There were several opportunities to escape the defensive. Because he used defensive forms from the very beginning, he ended up strangling himself."
"Ah, is that so?"
Hyeok-jin blinked, still looking confused. Seok Myeong called out to him calmly.
"Jin-ah."
"Yes, Brother Seok Myeong."
"What would you do?"
"About what?"
"If you were that man driven into a corner."
Hyeok-jin turned his head to see the youth sweating profusely as he parried the opponent's sword. His face was pale, and he looked as if he might collapse at any moment.
"First, I would try to escape the cramped space. By changing direction or leaping away, for example."
"But what if the opponent doesn't give you that chance?"
"Then I would have to deceive the opponent's eyes."
"How so?"
"By slowing down the speed of my sword or using the Adhering Sword technique to bind the opponent's blade and buy time."
"Is that so?"
Seok Myeong smiled. Hyeok-jin’s answer was wrong. This was because the youth currently fighting had already tried all the methods he mentioned.
"If it were me, I would use a different method to break out of the defensive."
"How?"
"By attacking."
"Pardon?"
Hyeok-jin asked with a puzzled look.
"Isn't that youth in a situation where he can't attack even if he wants to? How can he attack?"
"An attack doesn't necessarily have to be the act of thrusting a sword at the opponent. Simply making the opponent feel threatened can be an attack in itself."
"A threat?"
"Yes."
"For example?"
Hyeok-jin asked with growing curiosity.
"By changing the way he holds his sword."
*
"Captain, what are you looking at?"
"Shh."
Jang Cheong-gi placed his index finger to his lips. He signaled for silence to the guard who had approached him. He listened quietly. It was a very faint sound, so he had to focus his internal energy into his ears to hear it.
Hyeok-jin asked.
"Why is that?"
"Right now, that burly man's attack is fierce. Moreover, he attacks without giving any openings. Because of that, the youth is cornered and can't think straight. At this point, nothing is helping him."
"..."
"In such a situation, one needs quick wit, but the environment is poor. There's no sand on the floor, no objects to throw, and no walls to hide behind. Consequently, he has to solve it with what he has on his person, and the easiest tool to use is his sword. It's already in his hand."
Seok Myeong paused for a moment and then looked directly at Hyeok-jin.
"If it were me."
"Yes, Brother."
"I would hold the sword in reverse."
"What?"
"Think about it. The attacks are continuing, but suddenly, unlike before, he holds the sword with a Reverse-hand Sword grip. What will the opponent do then? He might think it's nothing since he has the upper hand, but he will instinctively try to pull back a bit just in case."
Seok Myeong’s eyes sparkled.
"In that moment, a brief opening is created. Using that gap, he can transition from defense to offense or escape out of the opponent's weapon range."
"That's easier said than done. And the opponent is from the Unorthodox Faction; would he really be deceived by such a move?"
"That's why it's even more effective."
"Pardon?"
"Because he is from the Unorthodox Faction."
"...!"