Watching the Fight
The four of them relocated to the training grounds.
Once Ye Hajun settled into a spot with a clear view of the spar, Namgung Gyeom stepped between Gal Hyeonsang and Han Yumae.
"I'd prefer neither of you use lethal techniques. The moment either of you is seriously hurt, the instructors will notice, and there will definitely be words about it. Agreed?"
"I'll try."
"A sword has no eyes, so I can't make any promises."
"If that's how you're going to play it, shall I just subdue both of you right now?"
"…Understood."
"…Yes. I'll keep that in mind."
"I know there's old bad blood between you, but remember this is Cheonmu Academy. The slightest hint of something off, and I will intervene immediately."
With that, Namgung Gyeom stepped back, and Gal Hyeonsang and Han Yumae put distance between themselves.
Watching them, Ye Hajun asked the gallery.
You've got Hwasan of the Orthodox Path, blooming flowers from the sword itself while chasing the natural order, the proper way of things, and righteousness…
And then you've got the Demonic Sect of the Magong path, flying the banner of survival of the fittest while chasing dominion through power and tyrannical rule.
You throw those two together and expect them to get along? Lmao.
From Cheonma's perspective, Anonymous gay is a disgusting hypocrite who claims to cultivate virtue with martial arts that are tools of domination.
From Anonymous gay's perspective, Cheonma is a tyrant who uses martial arts — which should be tools of self-cultivation — to oppress others. Lmao.
It carries down to their disciples too. They can't help but be physiologically repulsed by each other. Lmao.
Something to learn, huh.
If a gallery spirit said it, it had to be true.
Ye Hajun watched intently as the two assumed their stances for the spar.
"I'll yield the first move."
"I won't refuse it, then."
With that, Han Yumae charged first.
In a flash she closed the distance on Gal Hyeonsang like a crashing wave and swung her sword. At the same instant, pink plum-blossom petals burst forth and enveloped him.
I've seen this a few times. Plum Blossom Scatter, was it?
The tide of pink petals looked ready to swallow Gal Hyeonsang whole at any second.
Isn't that dangerous? Shouldn't Namgung Gyeom stop them?
The thought had barely formed when the corner of Gal Hyeonsang's mouth curled upward.
In that instant, Ye Hajun — who had been watching Gal Hyeonsang — doubted his own eyes.
His hair got redder… no. It's burning?
Gal Hyeonsang swept his hand through the air, and flames roared upward.
The pink petals that had been about to devour him a moment earlier burned away with pathetic ease and vanished.
Watching that, Cheonma spoke with open satisfaction.
As if to prove Anonymous 1's words, even after one full wave of petals had withered away, Han Yumae did not stop.
Gal Hyeonsang's flames were certainly threatening.
But they never touched her.
True to Anonymous 1's boasting, Han Yumae's movements were dazzling.
Even as Ye Hajun tracked her with his eyes, all he could do was marvel at how a human body could move like that.
Watching her, he finally understood what the gallery spirits had meant by something to learn.
Their movement is completely different.
Most of the exchange between the two sparring partners was a battle of range.
Han Yumae, desperate to break into Gal Hyeonsang's reach.
Gal Hyeonsang, desperate to keep her at bay and finish her off from afar.
And Ye Hajun realized that every beat of that exchange was ultimately decided by how the two of them moved.
Come to think of it, Namgung Gyeom was insanely fast the first time we met, too.
With his physical abilities elevated by inner energy, Ye Hajun now saw the next path he needed to walk.
Then the exchange between Gal Hyeonsang and Han Yumae shifted.
Han Yumae's going on the attack.
Until now she had fought primarily to evade; now she pressed the offense. The moment Gal Hyeonsang swept a wide arc of flame and left an opening, she did not miss it.
But from the outside, Ye Hajun could already tell who this situation favored.
Gal Hyeonsang baited her.
He had deliberately offered an opening, already prepared for the next strike.
Han Yumae's sword tip never reached him.
Gal Hyeonsang stopped his fist an inch from her forehead.
"…I lose."
"Not bad, Hwasan. But snapping at an opening the second it's shown? Looks like you're short on real combat experience."
"Kh…!"
As Han Yumae bowed her head in frustration, Namgung Gyeom stepped in.
"A spar is ultimately for mutual growth. Shall we debrief? If you'd like, I can share what I observed from the side as well."
"I'd be grateful."
And so the three of them began discussing what each had taken from the spar.
Ye Hajun briefly considered joining the conversation — but something more urgent was unfolding.
Illusory Sword this~ footwork and lightness skill that~
All those little tricks are for the weak.
A true strongman is just simply strong. Lmao.
Don't be too sad, Anonymous gay.
What can you do when the opponent is from our Demonic Sect~
Ye Hajun had expected fierce pushback from the gallery — but the responses that came back were different.
Ye Hajun briefly closed the gallery and looked over at the three people still talking.
"I've never seen Hwasan martial arts before, but there's essentially a matchup disadvantage. If she grows a little more, even I couldn't guarantee a win."
"…I'm the one who should thank you, senior. I realized my shortcomings. I didn't know you were close with Hajun — I overstepped by inserting myself."
"Don't worry about it."
"As he says, don't concern yourself, Plum Mountain Sword. Gal Hyeonsang has always deliberately riled people up to force spars."
Among the parties involved, it seemed they had more or less accepted the outcome and made peace.
If I'm going to cut in, there's no clean way to do it…
But he was interested in the footwork, so Ye Hajun steeled himself and inserted himself into the warm atmosphere among the three.
"I think Yumae could beat Gal Hyeonsang."
"Huh?"
"What?"
At Ye Hajun's sudden interjection, Gal Hyeonsang's face twisted.
"Me? Lose to this Hwasan junior here?"
"Just watching from the side, it looked like with a few fixes Yumae would win."
"Based on what?"
Ye Hajun looked at Han Yumae and asked.
"Give me two weeks and when you rematch Gal Hyeonsang, you might win. Want to try?"
"Me?"
Hearing that, Han Yumae fell into thought.
My shortcomings… I do have my masters, but… getting a little advice from a friend isn't the same as taking a second master for a spar, is it? That should be fine…
She briefly worried she might be committing the betrayal of serving multiple masters — but this was just receiving advice from a friend.
Judging that it didn't rise to that level, Han Yumae looked at Gal Hyeonsang and asked.
"If I request a rematch, will you accept?"
"I'm not Namgung Gyeom. I never walk away from a fight that comes to me. And while we're on the subject — Ye Hajun."
Gal Hyeonsang pointed at Han Yumae as he spoke.
"If I beat her in the rematch too, next is you and me. Come back with that arm healed by then."
"Sure, whatever."
"Namgung Gyeom, you saw and heard that? Make sure he doesn't back out later."
"What reason would I have to refuse? Do as you will."
And so the rematch between the two was decided.