Chapter 59
Translator: penny
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Sword Sparring with Moyong Hui
A light sword debate with Moyong Hui that had begun casually over drinks.
I'd hoped to show off my skills to her and boost her favorability.
"I'll lean back with Iron Plank Bridge to dodge Moyong young lady's sword, then thrust toward her neck."
"In that case, I'll pivot on my back foot, pull in my lagging front foot, and target Mok young sir's knee."
"...I lose."
Five rounds already, and I'd lost them all in a row.
'What the hell... Has this Sword Phoenix been doing nothing but sword debates instead of training?'
Whenever I tried something, she immediately put me on the defensive.
All my memories of sparring with that Jeong Mutae bastard or the Red Serpent Sect guys were utterly useless.
'Me, Mok Jimyeong... losing at swordplay?'
Of course, I had plenty of excuses.
First off, since we didn't know each other's techniques, we were only using street-level third-rate martial arts or basic warrior movements for the debate.
That meant I couldn't deploy any of the countless supreme techniques I knew.
'If only I could've used even Heavenly Extreme Swordsmanship.'
Plenty of moves flashed through my mind in those dangerous moments, but since I couldn't use any, resorting to Iron Plank Bridge had been a fatal mistake.
Also, the preconditions we'd set beforehand were way too low.
Second-rate warrior level, barely.
For someone like me who'd reached the Profound Realm before and was currently at the Flower Realm, assuming second-rate warrior status was just too damn uncomfortable.
'If I could've used sword aura, I wouldn't have been pushed back a step like that in the situation just now.'
But excuses like that were ultimately pointless.
We'd debated under the exact same conditions, and I'd been utterly defeated by her.
"Whew, Moyong young lady, your sword debate skills are truly exceptional."
"You're too kind. You weren't bad yourself, Mok young sir."
Not bad, huh.
It had been ages since I'd heard such a lukewarm assessment.
And it was probably just empty flattery at that.
After all, I'd lost five rounds straight.
'What kind of monster is that Nangong Chan guy who scored a complete victory over a Sword Phoenix like this?'
Hell, maybe he'd even won the Sword King title through sword debates back in the day.
Recalling the guy's skills from back then, it was entirely possible.
In my frustration, I picked up the cup in front of me, but it was empty.
The Yeoahong I'd ordered earlier had run out.
As I was about to call for more, Moyong Hui spoke up with a hint of regret.
"This was fun today. I think I should head out now, though."
"Already? Why not stay a bit longer..."
I tried to grab her hastily, but she shook her head slightly with an apologetic look.
"I have a promise to dine with my father this evening... Sorry."
Damn it.
This was all because I'd lost the sword debate.
'If I'd won convincingly, Moyong Hui wouldn't be getting up with such a carefree expression.'
She might've even gotten competitive and stuck around late.
'If I let her go like this, who knows when the next chance will come.'
But I couldn't very well hold her back when she had a family dinner planned.
Not only would she not stay, it'd just erode the goodwill I'd built up.
As I hurriedly tried to set up another meeting, Moyong Hui spoke first.
"By the way, Mok young sir, how long do you plan to stay here?"
'Huh? Asking how long I'm staying?'
I had a feeling.
This was a good sign.
If she had no interest, she'd just say it was fun and leave—no reason to ask about the other person's plans.
Showing curiosity was proof her favorability had built up nicely.
I flashed the most natural smile I could muster and replied.
"I plan to stick around Shenyang for the time being. It was a struggle just getting from Shanxi Province here, so ending my time with Moyong young lady after just one day would be too regrettable."
At my straightforward words, Moyong Hui smiled brightly and tossed back a question.
"Then, do you have any specific plans tomorrow?"
She was coming on quite proactively, even though I hadn't suggested it first.
Good thing my efforts today hadn't gone to waste.
"Nothing in particular. I'd love to see Moyong young lady again if possible, but if you're busy, I might just wander Shenyang with my escort warrior."
"Ah! How about I show you around Shenyang tomorrow, then?"
It was such a perfect turn that I could feel my lips twitching upward involuntarily.
But jumping at it right away was amateur hour.
Instead,
"That would be too much trouble for you, Moyong young lady..."
I had to turn it down once with a regretful expression.
And she took the bait perfectly, naturally as could be.
"Oh, come on, what's there to feel sorry about? It's just giving you a tour."
"Well... If it's not too rude, may I take you up on that? In return, I'll treat you to a nice lunch and dinner tomorrow."
"Great! Let's meet back here around si hour tomorrow then—around 11 a.m. to 1 p.m."
Just like that, we'd set up a reunion and dinner plans.
Couldn't ask for better results.
After seeing Moyong Hui off, Cheon Woojin—who'd been quietly observing—finally spoke up.
"My lord? Mind if I ask something?"
"What? Five taels of silver?"
I was in a great mood right now.
So I was fully willing to bump up the guy's pay.
But that wasn't what Cheon Woojin was asking.
"Pardon my rudeness... My lord, why are you so bad at sword debates?"
"...What?"
For a split second, I thought he was joking, but his face was dead serious.
"I've been watching from the side, and it frustrated me to no end. Why'd you use Iron Plank Bridge, of all things? You should've gone with Descending Horse Thrust instead."
"You little...?"
I was already a bit irritated from getting thrashed in the debate, and now this guy was fanning the flames.
My good mood was about to tank completely.
But even under my icy glare, he thumped his chest in exasperation.
"No, I just don't get it. You can watch a sword technique once and replicate it perfectly, even improving it on the spot—yet you debate swords like that? Were you throwing it on purpose for some hospitality play? If so, I think you made a huge mistake."
His words made even me feel a bit embarrassed.
'Hmm, yeah, it doesn't add up.'
Given what he'd seen me do in front of the Martial Emperor, he saw me as some peerless genius—so losing a mere sword debate like this was bound to get this reaction.
But it wasn't like I'd thrown it deliberately to build favor. That made even less sense.
'If I had the skill, I'd have crushed her overwhelmingly.'
If I were gonna lose on purpose, it'd be a close 3-2 at worst—not a humiliating 5-0 shutout.
But what could I do?
I just didn't have that kind of ability.
'Truth is, I have no real talent for martial arts.'
Not like I could admit that now, though.
Instead, I shamelessly started barking at him.
"Hey! It was a second-rate warrior debate, second-rate! It's been ages since I was at that level!"
"Even so... My father never held back on those restrictions when debating with me."
At that point, I had nothing to say.
Unlike me, the Martial Emperor's talent was the real deal.
'Wait, no—why run out of words?'
This was exactly the time to double down on the shamelessness.
"You think your father and I are the same? Talent's different, talent. He's a mortal, I'm a genius. Tsk tsk, how could a sparrow comprehend a phoenix's intentions?"
At my words, he gave me a baffled look.
But with no real counter, he just clamped his mouth shut.
'Anyway, it's a fact even the Martial Emperor acknowledged himself.'
True or not, it was something the Martial Emperor had directly recognized.
Which was why he'd assigned his own son as my subordinate in the first place.
"...Understood. We'll let the sword debate slide... So what are your plans going forward, my lord?"
"For what?"
"You said as long as you can meet Moyong young lady, you could seduce her on your own. Well, today's vibe wasn't bad... but isn't this not enough?"
"True enough."
As he'd said, the atmosphere hadn't been bad.
That's why we'd managed to set a date for tomorrow.
But that was it.
I needed some heavy artillery.
'Slowly closing the distance like this is one way...'
But Moyong Hui had her own duties—she couldn't hang out with a loafer like me forever.
I needed a concrete plan.
'Honestly, today was a stroke of luck.'
I'd never imagined running into the Sword Phoenix like this.
And Cheon Woojin here hadn't even skimped on his salary for it.
Suddenly, it hit me that getting his input might be better than brooding alone.
This meeting had been his doing, after all.
"Got any good ideas?"
At my question, Cheon Woojin rattled them off like he'd been waiting.
"The Sword Phoenix mentioned cultivating virtue and family harmony earlier. Cultivating virtue is your sword, so you can show your skills later... The key seems to be family harmony. She seems to care a lot about her clan, so first off..."
He'd been quietly plotting this throughout the drinks, zeroing in on a crucial point.
I'd have to flesh out the details myself, but this was plenty helpful.
'Guess I'll bump him up to five taels of silver.'
Cheon Woojin was definitely a keeper.
