Triumph on the Sparring Stage
On the sparring platform, a sturdy boy stood opposite Ryeon. Compared to him, Ryeon—who had bulked up considerably since rising from her sickbed—still looked terribly slender.
What on earth does this kid eat to get so big? Did he scoop up every good thing in the world? Ryeon grumbled inwardly but kept a serious expression on the outside, staring intently at her opponent.
Geum Jongha's refined young master's face was tense, his brows furrowed deeply.
Taeheo Jin-in stepped between them. Though he was a guest of Danmok Cheon-gi, as the senior brother to the Kunlun Sect's leader, he had been chosen to officiate.
The sparring proceeded smoothly without a hitch, but for some reason, Geum Jongha kept glancing back and forth between Ryeon and his father with a flustered look in his eyes.
What's that about?
His father, Geum Jeokgeol, shook his head sternly with a grave expression—likely telling him to focus on the match.
"This is a friendly spar for mutual learning, not a duel to the death. No lethal strikes, no dirty tricks. Fight fairly and test your true skills against each other."
His words rang out over the platform like a solemn warning. At the same moment, the boy and girl gripped their wooden swords and faced off.
Ryeon gazed at Geum Jongha's face, recalling the Geum Clan saber techniques she had studied.
Geumwu Do (Golden Circling Saber). A saber art centered on slashing with a moderately thin blade, using recoil to spin and sweep through the enemy.
The stands were packed with spectators. Ryeon thought that a proper win here might boost Qinglian Water sales, and she shivered slightly—not from fear, but excitement.
Here, of all places?
Stars twinkled in Ryeon's eyes. This was a match she couldn't lose.
She activated Divine Eye, Harmony, and even Purification—though she wasn't sure if she'd need it—drawing in a deep breath.
At the same instant, Geum Jongha raised his arm high and charged.
"Haaap!"
But his swing seemed aimed not at Ryeon, but off to the side.
Divine Eye sparkled brightly.
A blade that curves around from afar to strike first. The more power in the swing, the stronger it gets, catching the opponent off-guard with an unexpected path. With mastery and experience, it becomes overwhelmingly powerful...
Ryeon twisted her body fluidly. Geum Jongha's eyes wavered as he desperately tried to adjust his saber’s direction.
Hard to redirect once committed from a distance—that's the flaw. 'Mastery makes it overwhelming' means it's inefficient before then.
Without the wisdom to read and predict the foe, it was next to useless.
Ryeon parried the underpowered wooden saber as he overextended, then stepped smoothly to the side. Her sleeve fluttered, cleverly blocking his view, and he flinched.
And it's offense-oriented. Weak on defense!
Once pushed into a defensive stance, it was hard to recover without exceptional senses or great sacrifice—that was its weakness.
"Hup, haap!"
Ryeon's sword darted nimbly, threatening his blind spots.
Whoa! That's...!
Taeheo Jin-in nearly shot to his feet but held back. Glancing aside, Yeopun was equally stunned, eyes glued to the match.
Kunlun swordsmanship mimicked immortals bounding over rugged mountains. At its peak, Kunlun swordsmen never touched ground during an assault, controlling their bodies mid-air with every tool at hand—including their own sleeves, wielded like extra limbs.
The move Ryeon just pulled—subtly fluttering her sleeve to distract and mislead—was a Kunlun specialty.
One might dismiss it as a mere flick, but fooling an opponent and dictating their actions, even with the smallest motion, was no easy feat. Doing it amid weapons flashing faster than breath? Near impossible.
Yet Ryeon had done it. Geum Jongha fell for it completely.
His saber tip veered harmlessly astray, and the freed girl circled behind him in two steps.
Geum Jongha spun desperately.
That boy's strength is the real deal!
His relentless attempts to redirect were commendable. But Geumwu Do didn't quite suit his build and power, thought Taeheo Jin-in—before shaking it off. Judging a clan's heir that way was rude.
Ryeon had the same thought.
This guy would be much better off with something more domineering.
Big body, simple mind—Geum Jongha fit the bill.
"Hyaat!"
"Eut!"
Clang!
Ryeon barely blocked the overhead strike aimed at her crown. She'd anticipated it, but his raw power made her wrist buzz painfully.
But that was the end for him. She shoved the blocked saber right, slipped behind as he twisted, and leveled her wooden sword at his nape.
"Ah...!"
Sighs erupted from Geum Jongha and the crowd alike. Back taken—total defeat.
Ryeon steadied her heaving breath, keeping her sword tip unwavering. Sweat beaded on her forehead, matting her hair.
Geum Jongha's back trembled as he clutched his saber.
His face flushed crimson as he tried to turn, but flinched at the sword tip.
Taeheo Jin-in leaped lightly onto the platform. His robes fluttered, silencing the crowd.
He eyed them both, then grasped their weapons with both hands, pressing down as he declared,
"Winner: Danmok Ryeon!"
"Woooaaah!"
"Waaaaah!"
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. Only the Geum Clan faces were stiff.
Geum Jongha whirled on Ryeon, eyes blazing with frustration and injustice.
"R-Re-do it!"
"What?"
"You used tricks! No way you win fair!"
Jeers rose from the crowd, turning his face beet red.
"R-Re-match..."
"Geum Jongha!"
Geum Jeokgeol bellowed. Even the jeerers fell silent at the menacing tone.
Geum Jongha stared at his father, eyes welling like he'd been betrayed.
"The match is over."
"But Father, I wanted to make you...!"
Geum Jeokgeol's face hardened further; Jongha finally clamped his mouth shut, though his glare at Ryeon burned on.
Ryeon just shrugged. Losing to a scrawny girl two years younger stung, sure.
I could've made the gap even clearer.
She pouted and hopped down from the platform.
"As expected of the Danmok Clan."
"Beating a famed house ain't easy."
"And with that age gap—the eldest Danmok miss wins so handily!"
"The young master's blood runs true."
"If only the young master were still... "
"That Geum Clan lord..."
"Hey, pipe down! They'll hear."
The murmurs swelled into a cacophony.
Then it happened.
Ryeon's vision flashed red, text blazing in the air like a shout.
Caution! Do not let Spiritual Energy drop below 10!
Ack! I know! I know already!
She'd burned through her Spiritual Energy fueling Divine Eye, Harmony, and Purification—regretting the last one now—during the match. She hadn't started with much, so it depleted fast.
Dizziness hit with the warning. Honestly, less from exhaustion than the humiliation of collapsing after victory—her vision doubled in dread.
Suddenly, arms grabbed her from both sides, yanking her half off the ground with their force.
"Ryeon-ah...!"
"You lot!"
A furious shout came from nearby. Ryeon struggled to regain her balance and looked over.
Her right arm was held by Danmok Cheon-gi; her left by a pale-faced Geum Jeokgeol, sweat beading on his brow like he'd been stabbed in the heart.
Anyone might mistake her for his ailing daughter.
"If the child's condition was poor, you should've canceled! How can you all be so... then or now...!"
Geum Jeokgeol burst out, trailing off as if overcome.
Danmok Cheon-gi stared at him incredulously.
Geum Jeokgeol snapped back to himself.
"You... what did you just say?"