The Sword Debate and the Spar
* * *
“Doesn’t Yeopun Dosanim like you?”
Danmok Bi, who had been fussing sleepily, couldn’t resist his sister’s soothing touch and collapsed into bed like a puppet with cut strings.
Ryeon had tucked Hwaryun into bed as well, intending to do the same for him, but he acted all prickly, so she gave up and asked him something else instead.
Hwaryun flinched a little before shrugging his shoulders.
“What if you just casually decide to take that guy in as another little brother without a second thought?”
“He’s a disciple of Taeheo Jin-in—how could I? Besides, Yeopun Dosanim is two years older than me. Four years older than you, Ryeun-ah.”
“Oh, right……”
“Right?”
“No, I mean…… Anyway, it’s not that I dislike him, so don’t worry.”
“Then why do you avoid his eyes and act so cold?”
“……It’s not just with him. Aside from the merchant guild folks, he’s the first guest we’ve had here, right?”
“You’re just not used to people? There’ll be plenty more coming from now on.”
Hwaryun’s face twisted as he pondered his answer, then he finally nodded in resignation.
Before Ryeon could say anything, he quickly added,
“That doesn’t mean I need other friends, though.”
“Friends…… Ah.”
She’d been just about to bring that up, so Ryeon shut her mouth with a small snap.
“Still, wouldn’t it be nice to have some friends? Aren’t you bored?”
“With you and Bi around, I don’t have time to be bored. I have to memorize letters, feed Baekryeon, and stop you from playing with that dosanim in the middle of the night—what more could there be?”
“You’re super busy……”
“Exactly.”
Ryeon took a deep breath and raised her fan.
At first, she’d been thrilled just to have a sparring partner, but now that it was time for an actual match with Yeopun in broad daylight, her mind wasn’t at ease.
I can’t lose to Geum Gajang, but losing to Kunlun would be even worse.
Of course, the depth of affection was worlds apart, but that didn’t make Kunlun family. Even if they were the same clan, the eldest grandchild couldn’t afford an easy defeat—let alone against a boy of the same generation.
That’s why, the moment she woke at dawn, she’d devoured every Kunlun-related book in the estate.
I was preparing for Geum Gajang, and now this? Talk about priorities flipping.
She couldn’t stop now, though. And for the first time, she decided to try the Lungeom (Sword Debate) that the fan had described.
Proceeding with Lungeom. Are you prepared?
Prepared? Do I even need preparation? I studied a bit……
Focus your attention.
Ryeon hesitated briefly before sitting cross-legged.
Focus your attention.
What do you want me to do? Close my eyes? Then I can’t see the fan.
Ryeon glared at the fan, gathered her breath, and squeezed her eyes shut.
Operating a mind-concentrating formula will enhance the Lungeom effects.
Sure enough, bluish letters floated up in her darkened vision.
Startled, Ryeon’s eyes flew open before she quickly shut them again.
A mind-concentrating formula? Different from inner power cultivation methods?
Danmok Clan’s Yuseonghwan-gyeol is available.
I haven’t learned that yet, so Lungeom first for now.
Beginning Lungeom.
The letters vanished, replaced by crudely inked figures like brush drawings—one resembling Ryeon herself, the other Yeopun.
It’s not just a debate—it’s practically a full simulation?
How will you move?
No time to marvel. Ryeon quickly refocused.
I strike first? Alright…… Falling Star Twelve Swords, first form……
No sooner had she thought it than the tiny Ryeon raised her sword and moved. The tiny Yeopun followed suit.
Blocks sword with Taecheong Sword 1st Form variant, disrupts vision with left hand.
Falling Star Twelve Swords third form to create distance, then fourth form thrust.
Leaps with Unryong Daepal-sik First Form to evade thrust, descends with Taecheong Sword 8th Form.
Ah, again—reset. Thrust with fourth form while widening distance, prepare for Unryong Daepal-sik and disrupt landing.
Even with her eyes closed, if they’d been open, Ryeon’s would have sparkled like stars. The ink figures danced just as she envisioned, and surprisingly, it was fun.
She dove deeper into the Lungeom.
Unryong Daepal-sik Second Form leap, then……
“Did you pull an all-nighter? Your eyes are bloodshot.”
“Well…… I got too into studying for the spar.”
The first Lungeom had set off bells in her head. It wouldn’t be identical to real combat, but practicing alone versus with a partner? No contest.
If it’s this good already, what if I use Yuseonghwan-gyeol?
Sun-kyeong had confirmed that pairing a mind formula like Yuseonghwan-gyeol with Lungeom boosted its effects. With no one to ask at dawn, Ryeon had dragged Jeong Yeong to the clan library.
Mind-concentrating formulas weren’t hugely popular—their effects too subtle—so even in the estate library, it took ages to find one.
Good thing Yeong could access the inner sections.
Not the deepest archive for the family head and heir, but Jeong Yeong had clearance for the next level. He’d looked embarrassed when she marveled at it.
Together, they scoured the shelves and barely unearthed a book with the Yuseonghwan-gyeol incantation.
After memorizing it with him, she ran Lungeom all night using Yuseonghwan-gyeol. Just one more perfect win, she told herself—and dawn broke.
In her half-dreaming state, her Haengun points rose by 1. She’d once taught Jeong Yeong footwork; now, learning Yuseonghwan-gyeol, he’d seen immediate gains.
“What good is practice if you lose anyway?”
Hwaryun shot her a glare.
Ryeon rubbed her gritty eyes, looking sheepish. Caught red-handed after a night of thrilling play—it felt embarrassing.
She pondered, then slowly circulated Yuseonghwan-gyeol to stir her Spiritual Energy.
This power that’s only wrecked my body till now……
Thanks to a night of Yuseonghwan-gyeol, inspiration struck: she could direct it positively. Her mind aligned neatly as clear Spiritual Energy flowed in.
It receded from battered spots, softly filling fatigue and voids.
It works! It actually works!
A little Spiritual Energy eased her weariness like a deep sleep. Refreshing—though the overabundance issue remained.
“Just watch. I’ll show you how good your big sis is.”
Hwaryun narrowed his eyes at her sudden bravado but held his tongue.
Meanwhile, Wijicheong approached with deep worry, grasping Ryeon’s hands tightly.
“Mother, don’t worry! I prepared hard.”
“Winning and losing is just martial pastime, but if you get hurt……”
Wijicheong swallowed her misty words. In a martial house, fretting and tearing up over the heir’s scrapes would be shameful.
“I won’t get hurt. So after the spar, play go with me?”
“I’d play anytime you asked, dear.”
Before Ryeon’s birth, Wijicheong’s frail health had left go as her sole hobby. Unable to train properly or fight, she hid an aggressive style behind her refined looks.
Lately, games with her daughter had rekindled her joy.
“Then I’m off!”
“Yeopun, no inner power, got it?”
“Yes, Dosanim.”
Yeopun, unable to call Taeheo Jin-in “Master,” nodded.
“Ready?”
Ryeon nodded under her grandfather’s hand on her shoulder.
“No pressure—just think of it as learning step by step.”
“Yes, Grandfather!”
Gripping her practice wooden sword, Ryeon faced Yeopun, who looked lightly tense.
“Then I’ll go first!”
Yeopun nodded at her spirited cry.
Ryeon’s foot slid smoothly. Lacking inner power, she couldn’t fully embody the finesse, but clan elders would have rubbed their eyes at the sword-drawing poise.
As her wooden sword traced a graceful arc, Yeopun’s hand moved.
Crack!
Wood clashed sharply, vibrating their grips. Yeopun’s sleeve fluttered wildly.
Tap-tap!
Yeopun lightly kicked off, leaping skyward.
Flutter!
More manageable than I thought?
She’d seen these moves countless times in Lungeom.
Clang!
Ryeon twisted aside Yeopun’s overhead strike. Off-balance midair, as he wobbled to land, her sword darted for his ankle.
Thwack!
Tap-tap!
Yeopun barely parried, spinning with the force.
Ryeon deflected the boy’s incoming sword right where expected, tilting her head inwardly.
Yeopun Dosanim isn’t fully controlling his inner power either, is he?