Chapter 94: Confrontation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 94: Confrontation (1)
Thud.
A man who looked more like a bandit from a deserted mountain pass than a martial artist collapsed to the ground.
Boom, boom, boom!
Flags fluttered in the wind as the drums of victory thundered through the air.
"Seok Myeong wins!"
As Hong Jun-gyeong announced the result, the spectators erupted in a deafening roar.
"Whoa!"
"Incredible!"
"They said he was a master swordsman, and it’s the damn truth!"
The young man standing tall on the sparring stage did not disappoint. Once again, he had ended the match within the first three forms. Furthermore, he hadn't even drawn his blade; he had subdued his opponent using only his scabbard.
A spirited opening, a restrained follow-up, and a picture-perfect finish. It was more than enough to set the crowd on fire.
However, despite the flawless victory, no smile touched the young man’s face. His expression remained as stoic and unreadable as ever.
"Please... give me a lesson," the fallen man grunted as he pushed himself up.
As Seok Myeong looked at him with a hint of curiosity, the man spoke again, his voice rough.
"Tell me what I did wrong and what I lack. I came here knowing our skills were worlds apart for that very reason."
If you lose, he kindly explains your shortcomings.
This was the rumor quietly spreading about Seok Myeong throughout the grounds.
"Your form collapsed because you aimed for a decisive blow from the very start," Seok Myeong said calmly. "It happened because you lack practical experience more than skill, so do not be too discouraged."
As expected, Seok Myeong performed a polite fist-and-palm salute as he spoke.
"Oh. So you're saying I should change my opening stance?"
"No. Your posture and movement in the Qi Gathering Stance were flawless. It was your intention that was read during the approach immediately following it. While your forms were progressive, your movements were too flashy, which created unnecessary openings."
It was the tone of a teacher delivering a lecture. However, the rugged man’s face only flushed slightly; he took no offense. Instead, he took a step back and suddenly dropped to one knee.
"Thank you. I truly wanted to hear your guidance."
"Pardon?"
"To be honest, I applied to this Triple Gate just to see you. People said that after sparring with you, the things that felt blocked up inside were suddenly cleared away."
A look of confusion crossed Seok Myeong’s face. But the bandit-like man let out a rough chuckle and continued.
"Actually, I’ve never liked those who try to teach others, so I was prepared to act out if you said something strange. But seeing you today, it seems the title 'The Wise Lord of Benevolence' isn't far off the mark. What you just said is exactly what my master used to tell me constantly."
A bright smile spread across the man’s broad face. Far from being ashamed of his defeat, he looked refreshed.
Seok Myeong wanted to ask why the man hadn't corrected his faults if he'd heard the advice so often, but he simply scratched his head and gave an awkward laugh. After all, wasn't that the nature of martial arts? Even if you know the problem, fixing it is another matter entirely.
'The Wise Lord of Benevolence?'
A wise gentleman who acts for the sake of others. It was a name he had heard whispered somewhere after he had defeated his fifty-fourth opponent. However, he never imagined it was a title used to describe him.
He hadn't spoken with the intention of teaching; he simply spoke out of a genuine desire for his opponents to improve. In a way, it could be seen as meddling, but fortunately, it seemed to have been taken well.
"He won again!"
"Whoa! Another victory!"
As the cheers grew louder, Seok Myeong bowed and stepped down from the stage. The bandit-like man stood still, watching Seok Myeong’s retreating back until he disappeared from sight.
*
"At this rate, you'll reach a hundred victories in no time."
As Seok Myeong stepped outside, Hyeok-jin, who had been waiting by the back gate of the Triple Gate, approached him. His grin was so wide it reached his ears, suggesting something good had happened.
Despite the early autumn chill, Seok Myeong noticed the beads of sweat on Hyeok-jin's forehead.
"You never neglect your cultivation for even a moment."
"Hahaha. Well... it's not like I have anything else to do."
"Tell me, what did you think of the match?"
"Pardon?"
"You've watched me spar frequently. You must have a sense of how I compare to you."
At Seok Myeong’s question, Hyeok-jin spoke cautiously.
"How could I dare... I honestly have no idea."
"Hmm?"
In that moment, Seok Myeong noticed something and took a step closer. A faint light flickered in Hyeok-jin's eyes, giving off a completely different energy than before.
"Wait. Hyeok-jin, don't tell me you..."
"Yes?"
Seok Myeong paused for a moment before continuing, his voice low.
"When did you become able to use Sword Aura?"
"Ah."
Hyeok-jin looked surprised. Then, with an expression that said he knew he couldn't hide anything from his senior, he confessed.
"It's been about three or four days."
"Ha!"
Seok Myeong was genuinely shocked. It hadn't been that long since the boy mastered Sword Shadow, and he was already at the level of Sword Aura?
Of course, he had expected Hyeok-jin to break through the wall soon since his foundations were solid, but he hadn't expected such rapid growth. Seok Myeong realized he needed to revise his assessment.
Until now, he had thought Hyeok-jin was simply talented enough not to fall behind his junior brother Seok Jun or junior sister Yeon-hui. But that wasn't it. He was a true genius, just as his master, the Flash Divine Sword, had claimed.
"I see. Keep progressing like that. The path you are taking is the correct one."
Seok Myeong threw out the encouraging remark and then looked around.
"By the way, where is Lady So-yeon?"
"Ah, she hasn't been showing up at all lately while you're sparring, Brother Seok Myeong."
"Is that so?"
Seok Myeong looked around once more, but Cheol So-yeon was nowhere to be found.
*
Cheol So-yeon was standing atop the wall surrounding the entrance to the Cutting Sword Gate.
The wind was blowing hard, causing her traveling cloak and hair to flutter wildly. From this vantage point, she had a clear view of the sparring grounds.
There’s no mistake.
Meeting him had been a complete coincidence. She had been heading out when a strange sensation made her scan her surroundings, and there he was, passing right by her.
A face that looked radiant at a glance, and intelligent eyes that drew people in. The moment she confirmed his identity, an almost instinctive fear gripped her heart.
He was a figure included among the Five Dragons alongside Cheol Gun. However, Cheol So-yeon believed that classification was wrong. Her intuition told her he was someone who belonged in a rank far above the Five Dragons.
Cheol So-yeon had grown up watching her brother, Cheol Gun, who was publicly hailed as the strongest of the Five Dragons. That was why she could be so certain. This man was an unfathomable individual.
Ah!
Cheol So-yeon, who had been staring down for a long time, was startled. The man she was watching turned his head, and his gaze landed precisely on her.
"..."
She momentarily thought about turning away but gave up. It was pointless to pretend she hadn't been watching now.
Smile.
When the man smiled from a distance, Cheol So-yeon’s face contorted.
Is he flirting?
Most men sent lecherous looks her way after seeing her beautiful face. And rarely, there were those like Seok Myeong or Hyeok-jin who looked at her with comfortable, indifferent eyes.
A predator?
But this man’s gaze was different. It was like a tiger in the mountains smiling contentedly at a rabbit. It was a smile that provoked her, as if saying, 'What are you going to do about it, even if you are watching?'
"..."
The man soon disappeared into the crowd. Cheol So-yeon climbed down from the wall, huffing with a bright red face.
*
Clang! Clang! Kacha!
As evening fell, Seok Myeong and Hyeok-jin were diligently training at their quarters in the back. They sparred with each other every day around this time, a practice that was immensely beneficial for Seok Myeong as well.
The Left Way Right Sword attacked through unfamiliar sword paths. Furthermore, Hyeok-jin’s swordplay didn't follow standardized forms; it was an instinctive movement that flowed with the rhythm of the moment.
Since he couldn't predict how the sword paths would connect, Seok Myeong found himself in situations where it was difficult to spar unless he remained fully focused.
Clang!
Whoa. From that angle?
Thanks to this, sparring with Hyeok-jin became an opportunity for Seok Myeong to deeply reflect on the nature of sword paths and the meaning contained within each form.
"Huff... huff..."
Of course, this sparring was helping Hyeok-jin more than anyone. While he had an instinctive talent that didn't rely on set forms, he was severely lacking in experience in both sparring and real combat.
However, Seok Myeong was an opponent who had mastered not only the arts of Qingcheng but also the techniques of various other sects.
With different attacks, different sensations, and different ultimate techniques pouring out every time, Hyeok-jin was always struggling on the defensive, even if it wasn't a life-and-death match. Through that struggle, he barely managed to realize how to respond.
Furthermore, Seok Myeong would point out his weaknesses and areas for improvement after each session. How could he possibly refuse such an opportunity?
Clang, clang, clang.
After several consecutive clashes, Seok Myeong was the first to withdraw his sword. They had started at dusk, and before they knew it, the night had turned pitch black.
"You've improved a lot."
At Seok Myeong’s admiration, Hyeok-jin performed a bow to show his respect.
"It's just parlor tricks compared to you, Brother."
"It only looks that way to you. I still have a long way to go as well."
Seok Myeong set his sword down for a moment and continued.
"Hyeok-jin. Right now, you use that saber to block the opponent's sword or to parry attacks, but the day will surely come when you won't even need that assistance."
"..."
"When that time comes, you will understand Senior Baek's true intention. So, do not be too impatient."
"Whew."
Seok Myeong could feel it. Hyeok-jin’s desire to become stronger was making him overly eager. But he would be able to see it before long. The day he laid down that heavy saber, there would be only a handful of swordsmen superior to him.
A natural talent for the Formless style...
A sword form is essentially a collection of the most efficient movements in martial arts—movements that can produce the maximum power and speed. Because these are refined and standardized as they are passed down through generations, an excellent form is the heritage of a martial family itself. It can take ten years just to make such forms second nature.
However, these forms also have a disadvantage: because they are so standardized, it is extremely difficult to move to the next stage once they are ingrained in the body.
Hyeok-jin can go beyond that.
That was why Hyeok-jin could be called a genius. He learned instinctively. He learned forms instinctively, and he discarded them instinctively. Because he was a swordsman who wouldn't be bound by any form or framework, he could display skill far beyond his current realm.
On top of that, although he didn't realize it himself, the power of his Heavenly White Divine Art was steadily doubling. In many ways, Hyeok-jin was clearly a master with a promising future.
Seok Myeong sheathed his sword and spoke to Hyeok-jin.
"Hyeok-jin."
"Yes, Brother."
"Do you happen to know the meaning behind the title 'The Wise Lord of Benevolence' that people have given me?"