Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Proof
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The Muryeon Pavilion Master's footwork was clearly nothing like the Celestial Foresight Step.
It was completely different, yet at the same time, there seemed to be some faint thread connecting them.
If that footwork continued to evolve and refine over time, might it not become something akin to the Celestial Foresight Step? No, become the Celestial Foresight Step itself?
Even if I hadn't created the Celestial Foresight Step, perhaps someday the Muryeon Pavilion Master's footwork would have led to its invention...
"...Am I overthinking it?"
"What were you thinking about?"
Hwayeon tilted her head at my mumbling.
I gave a slight smile as I met her snow-white face.
"No, it's nothing. Just idle fancy."
"...?"
I turned my gaze from Hwayeon's puzzled expression and refocused on the duel between Jegal Geunyong and the Muryeon Pavilion Master.
While I'd been lost in thought, their fight had grown quite fierce.
*
Geunyong was greatly startled by the Muryeon Pavilion Master's footwork, which so closely resembled the Celestial Foresight Step.
For a moment, he even wondered if it was a convincing imitation of the Celestial Foresight Step.
But that surprise didn't last.
Soon enough, he realized the Muryeon Pavilion Master's footwork was different from the Celestial Foresight Step.
-Kagang!
Geunyong deflected the thrust of the second form of the Little Dipper Sword Method, Celestial Xuan Radiance, and leaped back greatly.
Undeterred, the Muryeon Pavilion Master pursued, but Geunyong had already evaded beyond the sword's reach.
"...What an irritating footwork to deal with."
In the end, the Muryeon Pavilion Master halted his attack, echoing the assessment of those who'd faced the Celestial Foresight Step before.
Geunyong watched him with a complicated expression.
Seeing this, the Muryeon Pavilion Master spoke.
"You must be quite shocked."
At words that seemed to read his mind, Geunyong asked softly.
"...How did this happen?"
"That's a question I'd like to ask you, Young Master Il."
The Muryeon Pavilion Master gave a wry smile.
"When I first saw your footwork, do you know how shocked I was? To see the still-incomplete Eight Trigrams Steps unfolded in such an ideal form... Truly, it was the most astonishing sight of my not-insignificant life."
Eight Trigrams Steps.
It was a rather straightforward name.
"...Is that the name of that footwork?"
"Yes. It embodies the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams. As I said, it's still incomplete."
Eight Trigrams Steps, embodying the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams.
Celestial Foresight Step, embodying the mysteries of the Nine Palaces with the center added.
'Of course the two footworks resemble each other.'
Finally understanding the situation, Geunyong nodded while letting out a hollow laugh at the exquisite coincidence.
For two strangers to create such similar footworks.
Half-jokingly, it felt like some twist of fate.
"Enough chatter. Shall we resume?"
The duel, which had paused briefly, recommenced with the Muryeon Pavilion Master's words.
-Kung!
The Muryeon Pavilion Master stomped heavily and charged at Geunyong.
The assault began anew with the first form, Celestial Pivot Probing Strike.
"Hup!"
A short shout accompanied the downward slash and thrust.
Geunyong dodged with the Celestial Foresight Step, but the Muryeon Pavilion Master's sword relentlessly pursued without pause.
The third form of the Little Dipper Sword Method, Celestial Ji Unending.
Sword strikes flowed ceaselessly like water, pressing Geunyong.
On top of that, the Muryeon Pavilion Master's Eight Trigrams Steps—despite being called incomplete—occasionally blocked Geunyong's Celestial Foresight Step.
Geunyong clicked his tongue inwardly as his movements were impeded two or three times already.
'Young Hero Goon would have dodged this easily.'
But for him, who hadn't fully mastered the Celestial Foresight Step yet, it was impossible.
In the end, he couldn't evade and was forced to block.
Geunyong unleashed the fourth form of the Little Dipper Sword Method, the defensive Celestial Rights Disaster-Cutting.
-Swaeek!
He strongly parried the sword flying at his nape, deflecting its path.
"Urgh...!"
The Muryeon Pavilion Master frowned at the unexpectedly powerful force.
His sword merely grazed one or two strands of Geunyong's hair instead of striking his nape.
The opponent's attack had failed.
Seizing the opening, Geunyong counterattacked immediately.
With the Celestial Foresight Step, he instantly covered three directions to slip into a blind spot, then aimed his sword tip at the Muryeon Pavilion Master.
The fifth form of the Little Dipper Sword Method, Jade Heng Secret Flash.
A thrusting form for ambushes, minimizing even the sound of air being cut.
The Muryeon Pavilion Master, caught off guard by the subtly understated attack, hastily raised his sword.
-Kagagak-!
The two swords clashed right before his eyes.
Sparks flew briefly, illuminating the surprise in the Muryeon Pavilion Master's eyes.
'...Experiencing it firsthand, it's utterly ridiculous. This is Jade Heng Secret Flash?'
In truth, the Muryeon Pavilion Master was shocked enough to warrant the word "aghast."
He had seen it several times in prior fights, but the Jade Heng Secret Flash he'd just barely blocked was entirely different from what he knew.
Setting aside the infiltration via Celestial Foresight Step into a blind spot, even he—who had sharpened his senses in combat—had reacted late.
The sword's stealthiness was on a whole other level from the conventional Jade Heng Secret Flash.
The changes were dramatic in the other forms as well.
Intellectually, he knew it was the same Little Dipper Sword Method, but experiencing the altered forms firsthand caused a moment of cognitive dissonance: "Was I mistaken?"
At this point, he had no choice but to admit it.
The sword method and footwork were on entirely different levels.
Continuing like this meant certain defeat.
He needed a different approach.
'The only area where I hold the advantage is the total amount of internal energy?'
If so, there was only one choice.
End it with a single strike pouring in all his internal energy.
Geunyong noticed the sharp glint in the Muryeon Pavilion Master's eyes as he resolved himself and realized he was going all-in.
And the familiar grip of the sword with both hands signaled the arrival of the Little Dipper Sword Method's final form.
Yaoguang Piercing Thrust.
A one-point thrust loaded with full power.
When his father, Sword Saint Kyung, had used Yaoguang Piercing Thrust, Geunyong's Celestial Foresight Step could exploit its gaps.
How would the Muryeon Pavilion Master's version fare?
"If you can block this attack, I will concede defeat."
The Muryeon Pavilion Master declared as he pulled his two-handed sword back over his shoulder.
Geunyong swallowed hard amid the tension and sharpened his senses.
The audience also sensed the dire turn of events.
Realizing this clash would decide the victor, everyone held their breath.
The front courtyard of Daecheon Pavilion fell into instant silence.
-Kung!
The Muryeon Pavilion Master's stomp shattered the hush.
"...!"
Geunyong glared sharply at the figure charging straight at him.
He scrutinized the movements with his Eye Method to the utmost.
'The Muryeon Pavilion Master already saw me dismantle Father's Yaoguang Piercing Thrust. He wouldn't charge in blindly.'
There had to be something more.
Geunyong's judgment was spot on.
The Muryeon Pavilion Master's movements suddenly shifted.
-Kung! Kung! Kung!
He rapidly covered three directions in approach.
He was stepping the Eight Trigrams Steps while executing Yaoguang Piercing Thrust.
The erratic changes.
His Eye Method couldn't read the positions shifting according to the Eight Trigrams' mysteries.
"Kuh...!"
The Muryeon Pavilion Master was already upon him.
Evasion was impossible.
'Then I'll meet it head-on!'
Geunyong stepped the Celestial Foresight Step.
Not to evade, but to attack.
"Haaap!"
He drew up not just the internal energy left in his dantian, but even that allocated to his Eye Method.
'Foolish.'
Seeing this, the Muryeon Pavilion Master clicked his tongue inwardly.
To dare match internal energy against him?
Though he felt a twinge of pity for the foolish choice, he was confident of victory—until his eyes widened moments later.
"What...?"
Because he saw Geunyong preparing to counter his Yaoguang Piercing Thrust with Celestial Pivot Probing Strike.
'Celestial Pivot Probing Strike?'
Though much changed, at its core, it was merely a simple downward strike.
To face his Yaoguang Piercing Thrust with such a form?
It defied common sense.
'Why?'
Unaware of his confusion, Geunyong's Celestial Pivot Probing Strike crashed into the Muryeon Pavilion Master's sword.
-Kagagagak!
A piercing metallic screech rang out.
But it fell short of blocking the Muryeon Pavilion Master's attack.
Geunyong's sword was helplessly deflected.
The transformation began right then.
Geunyong stepped the Celestial Foresight Step and unleashed the second form, Celestial Xuan Radiance.
-Kang!
A sword strike that glanced off the Muryeon Pavilion Master's blade.
The trajectory deviated slightly.
Next came the third form, Celestial Ji Unending.
'This brat...!?'
Only then did the Muryeon Pavilion Master grasp Geunyong's intent.
He was chaining all seven forms of the Little Dipper Sword Method in sequence.
-Kakang-!
Celestial Ji Unending flowed like water, shaking the Muryeon Pavilion Master's sword, followed seamlessly by Celestial Rights Disaster-Cutting delivering a jolt.
-Kang-!
"Krk...!"
A groan escaped the Muryeon Pavilion Master's lips as his sword path veered greatly.
Shock filled his eyes.
'How can this be...!'
The linkage of forms was astonishingly fluid.
Coupled with the Celestial Foresight Step shifting attack positions across directions.
In other words, every element of the chain assault harmonized perfectly.
A sudden realization struck the entranced Muryeon Pavilion Master.
'So this is how it's meant to be used from the start!'
Step the Celestial Foresight Step and chain the Little Dipper Sword Method forms in order.
This was the true might of the refined Little Dipper Sword Method.
-Chaeng!
As the Muryeon Pavilion Master marveled, Geunyong's chain attack continued.
Jade Heng Secret Flash subtly targeted his sword grip, and the sixth form, Kai Yang Sword Dance, whirled like a blade dance—finally forcing him to release his sword.
The final strike approached him.
-Kwang!
Yaoguang Piercing Thrust.
With a heavy stomp, the full-power one-point thrust shot forth,
and halted right before the Muryeon Pavilion Master's brow.
"......"
"Hah...! Hah...!"
The silent Muryeon Pavilion Master and the heaving Geunyong.
Geunyong steadied his breath and asked.
"Huu.... Do you concede defeat?"
There was no need to ask.
His sword had flown far away, and with all his internal energy expended, even his protective aura had dissipated.
Had Geunyong not stopped his sword just now, he would be dead.
Thus, he had no choice but to concede.
"...I concede. You win."