The Flash of Mountain Flow
Jang Yuseong’s shock was simple enough to explain.
The form Jang Muhwi was using was clearly not a technique from the Jang family. Yet no matter how he looked at it, it felt strangely familiar.
Dual-wielding a sword and its sheath?
The Jang family had no such dual-sword style.
“But it definitely looks like I’ve seen it before…”
Jang Yuseong’s words caught in his throat.
What he thought he recognized was none other than the Jang Family Double Hand technique—Janggasangsu, the Jang clan’s foundational fist and palm method.
When teaching the sword, it was often said that weapons were merely an extension of the fist and palm. But that was only theory. In practice, fist techniques and sword arts were strictly divided.
Jang Yuseong could not believe what was unfolding before his eyes.
Applying the fist-and-palm method of Janggasangsu to swordplay to precisely cut off the enemy’s flow?
The movements Jang Muhwi displayed were clearly not something learned in a day or two.
Of course, if you taught someone the theory, a few could clumsily imitate it. The real issue was that no one in the family could use it so skillfully in actual combat.
Jang Yuseong’s shoulders trembled faintly.
That tremor traveled down his arm and into the tip of his blade. A faint ringing, like a wind chime brushed by an autumn breeze, echoed from the end of his sword.
He had unconsciously put strength into his grip.
To think I had eyes but failed to see the truth!
Jang Yuseong’s lament was sincere.
Until now, he had treated Jang Muhwi as nothing more than a lazy idler. He had even gone so far as to consider the boy a burden on the family.
But seeing Jang Muhwi now, he had no choice but to admit his own eyes had been wrong.
Jang Yuseong drank in the sight of Jang Muhwi executing Janggasangsu through the sword. He didn’t even blink.
He didn’t want to miss even the smallest motion.
What Jang Yuseong was focused on right now wasn’t Jang Muhwi’s realm—it was his effort.
He must have practiced in secret, where no one could see.
At this point, one question rose in Jang Yuseong’s mind.
Why had he hidden his efforts?
That part alone was completely incomprehensible.
While Jang Yuseong was lost in thought, time continued to flow.
The strange thing was that every time it seemed like the end was near, Jang Muhwi would narrowly escape danger by a hair’s breadth.
Was Ma Uiryong going easy on him?
If Jang Yuseong’s eyes weren’t mistaken, Ma Uiryong had put considerable power into his very first strike.
Yet Jang Muhwi was blocking Ma Uiryong’s attacks by alternating between his sheath and his sword.
The trajectory of a spear was something even seasoned warriors found difficult to follow. Jang Muhwi, however, hadn’t missed a single one.
At that moment, Ma Uiryong’s expression twisted slightly.
He took a step back and roared.
“You damn rat!”
Transparent energy gathered in both of Ma Uiryong’s hands. He channeled that power into his spear.
He had finally begun using his true internal energy.
Ma Uiryong’s spear glowed red.
Jang Muhwi shook his head.
“Have you ever seen a rat this big? If such a creature actually existed, I’d buy it for one gold tael.”
“Fine. I’ll bring one right before your eyes.”
Ma Uiryong’s eyes blazed with fury.
He was genuinely enraged.
It was because of his opponent’s movements.
The Ma family’s spear art held a single grain of change within absolute power—that was its true essence. Even its flashy variations were rooted in raw strength.
Yet his opponent refused to meet that power head-on. Instead, he retreated at the most peculiar moments.
Like a damn loach.
Ma Uiryong decided to unleash his full power to catch that slippery loach.
He growled in a low voice.
“This is the end. To risk your neck over something that should’ve ended with two front teeth! Don’t blame me later.”
“It is an honor to witness the Ma family’s spear technique like this.”
With those words, Jang Muhwi hurled his sheath behind him.
Discarding the sheath meant he had no intention of retreating.
Whoosh!
The sheath flew in a perfect arc and landed near Jang Yuseong.
Jang Yuseong reflexively caught it.
He stared quietly at Jang Muhwi’s sheath.
For a moment, he had the illusion that it was soaked with blood and sweat.
But effort alone could not stop Ma Uiryong.
No matter how much he had trained in secret, blocking a spear infused with real internal energy would be impossible.
It was time to intervene.
The family’s reputation no longer mattered.
Jang Yuseong gripped the sheath like a club.
Just as he was about to rush forward, he froze.
Rough footsteps were echoing from beyond the wall.
Tap tap. Tap tap.
Jang Yuseong quickly glanced at the Ma family warriors.
He suspected it might be one of their schemes.
But they too were looking around with startled eyes.
Each of them had already drawn their weapons.
The spear-wielding warriors among the Ma family turned toward the wall to guard the outside.
Jang Yuseong, standing on the opposite side, did the same.
He raised his hand and signaled the family warriors.
They all leveled their weapons toward the wall beyond the gate.
At that moment, Ma Uiryong looked at Jang Muhwi with disbelief.
“So this was your trick. Dragging things out to call for reinforcements? I don’t know who you’ve joined hands with, but to pass the Dragon Gate Assembly with such underhanded methods—you are a disgrace to the Qinghai Murim. Bring them all! I’ll sweep every last one of them away!”
“I apologize for not giving advance notice. But you didn’t exactly announce yourself before jumping over our family’s wall, did you?”
“I have never borrowed anyone’s strength, yet you dare compare yourself to me! All of you at once—”
When Ma Uiryong glared furiously, Jang Muhwi lifted his head.
“I have not borrowed anyone’s strength either.”
“Then who the hell are they?”
“They belong to neither side. They are simply the fairest witnesses in the world.”
“Did you just say witnesses?”
“They are the observers of this duel and the witnesses to the promise between myself and Young Master Ma. Is there any duel in the world without witnesses?”
Without even turning his head, Jang Muhwi pointed behind him with his thumb.
Naturally, everyone’s gaze shifted toward the main gate.
There stood Cheolwoo, scratching the back of his head with an awkward laugh.
Beyond the gate, people were packed shoulder to shoulder.
Most of them were not martial artists.
Some carried bundles on their backs, while a woman held a bamboo basket. Not only adults but even children were craning their necks with wide, curious eyes, eager to see what was happening inside.
The Ma family warriors closest to them let out long sighs.
At the same time, they quickly hid their weapons behind their backs.
Jang Yuseong also jerked his chin at his subordinates.
Anyone could see they were ordinary people commonly found in the marketplace.
Yet no one could understand the situation.
Jang Yuseong was utterly bewildered.
Surely not…?
There was no way Jang Muhwi would have asked the villagers for help.
Nor was it possible that they would willingly come forward to aid the Jang family.
After a moment of hesitation, Jang Yuseong hurriedly ran to the gate and looked at Cheolwoo.
“What in the world is going on?”
“I only did as I was told.”
“Who told you—”
“The Young Master.”
Cheolwoo glanced at Jang Muhwi.
In that instant, Jang Muhwi quickly turned his head away.
Then someone shouted in an irritated voice.
“When are you going to let us in already?”
“Please wait just a moment.”
Cheolwoo stretched his neck to check outside, then held out his hand.
“That’ll be ten iron coins.”
“Here you are.”
And so it began.
The spectators paid their fee and crossed the threshold.
Jang Yuseong raised his arm to stop them, but the paying onlookers strode through the Jang family gate without a care.
Jang Yuseong cried out in panic.
“Just what the hell are you doing…!”
“I don’t know either. I’m just following orders. He said a banquet should be lively and noisy.”
“A banquet? Who said that?”
“The Young Master. And he definitely said it was a banquet.”
“Good grief.”
“Law Hall Master, please help me…”
Cheolwoo made a tearful face and pointed at the long line of people.
Jang Yuseong felt like his head was going to explode.
The sudden influx of spectators.
The fact that Jang Muhwi had been hiding his martial prowess.
And before any of that—the arrival of the infamous mad dog Ma Uiryong itself had been completely unexpected.
The problem was that the water had already been spilled.
Jang Yuseong gestured to his subordinates.
The men who received the signal quickly rushed over to stand beside Cheolwoo.
Only then could Cheolwoo collapse onto the ground with a heavy sigh.
Now a few warriors had taken over from Cheolwoo, collecting the viewing fees.
Cheolwoo finally opened his mouth.
“The Young Master said everything must be done properly. Whether winning or losing a fight, and even keeping promises. Honestly, I tried to stop him. I told him it would be better to quietly let it go rather than be humiliated in front of so many people. Even though he luckily passed the Dragon Gate Assembly, there was no guarantee that luck would last until now…”
Cheolwoo spread both arms wide as if he had been wronged and began to complain.
Suddenly, Jang Yuseong’s mouth fell open without him realizing it.
Only then did he realize he had missed a crucial part of Ma Uiryong’s earlier words.
He quickly grabbed Cheolwoo by the shoulder.
“Did you just say he really passed the Dragon Gate Assembly?”
“Ouch, that hurts…”
Cheolwoo grimaced, unable to finish his sentence.
Jang Yuseong glared at him with an angry expression.
“Was this a secret too?”
“It’s not a secret. But my shoulder feels like it’s about to pop out.”
Only then did Jang Yuseong look at his own hand.
In his tension, he had been pressing down on Cheolwoo’s shoulder with all his strength.
“Ahem. My mistake.”
“Whew, I feel like I can live again. Just as Young Master Ma said earlier, the Young Master did pass the Dragon Gate Assembly. Though from what I saw, it was thanks to help from those around him.”
Cheolwoo shrugged.
There wasn’t the slightest hint of falsehood in his words.
All Cheolwoo knew was that Jang Muhwi had passed the Dragon Gate Assembly.
He had no idea what exactly had happened there.
He only knew that Jang Muhwi had built a close relationship with the other promising talents who had also passed.
Cheolwoo imagined that everything was thanks to Jang Muhwi’s worldly wisdom.
He believed in Jang Muhwi’s political savvy rather than his martial arts.
It was that same belief that had led him to participate in this absurd situation.
At a loss for words, Jang Yuseong stared off into the distant mountains. Even then, more spectators continued to pour in.
They naturally formed a circle around Jang Muhwi and Ma Uiryong, sitting down to watch.
In the blink of an eye, the courtyard was packed with villagers and passing martial artists alike.
That wasn’t all.
One of the spectators spread out a mat and even started taking bets.
Wasn’t watching a fight one of the greatest pleasures in the gangho?
In the relatively peaceful region of Qinghai, opportunities to witness such a duel were rare.
The faces of the spectators were filled with anticipation.
The only problem was the difference in weight class.
To them, if Ma Uiryong was a wolf, then Jang Muhwi was nothing more than a rabbit!
Despite the buzzing crowd around him, Jang Muhwi’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
Neither did Ma Uiryong’s.
Jang Muhwi was the first to speak.
“I apologize for calling witnesses without your permission.”
“As you said, they are fair people. So I don’t mind.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“I won’t stop you from choosing to humiliate yourself in front of all these spectators. However, at least remember the name of the technique that will pierce your throat. Flash Spear!”
The moment he finished speaking, Ma Uiryong suddenly leaped forward.
The tip of his spear, wrapped in crimson energy, closed the distance in an instant.
But Jang Muhwi did not dodge.
Instead, he faced the oncoming red energy head-on.
Jang Muhwi slowly extended his sword.
This time, he spoke in a low voice.
“Mountain Flow Pierces Stone.”
The final form of the Jang family’s foundational sword art, Janggagugeom, Sanryucheonseok, literally meant water flowing from a mountain piercing through stone.
In the sense that it contained strength within softness, it was the complete opposite of the Ma family’s spear technique, which hid variations within power.
Everyone watching the clash between the two tilted their heads in confusion.
It was because of Jang Muhwi’s response.
It was common sense that to block a point, one must use a surface.
The sword was relatively short.
Meeting a point with a point was, in anyone’s eyes, reckless.
Ma Uiryong’s spear had struck first, and due to the nature of the weapons, a shorter sword could not possibly overpower a spear in reach. Even a three-year-old child could see that.
Yet Jang Muhwi did not change his approach.
Point against point.
Line against line.
And surface against surface—he met every attack directly.
The sound of weapons clashing rang out continuously, like the performance of a master musician.
Then, in the middle of the ongoing duel, a sudden loud explosion rang out.
Bang!