Chapter 208
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 208
Chapter Title: Lose and You Die
Time flew by like an arrow.
The cadets couldn't focus on the instructors' lessons at all.
Their attention was entirely fixed on the lunchtime sparring match.
How could it not be?
The most entertaining thing was watching a fight.
On the second day of the Dragon Training Pavilion's first semester, such an incident had spread rumors like wildfire throughout the pavilion.
Even during lunchtime, the Devouring Dragon Pavilion was unusually quiet.
Even some instructors were absent.
By the time just three classes had wrapped up, the rumors had spread across the entire Dragon Training Pavilion.
As a result, the Hidden Dragon Corps training ground was packed with people.
They had all come to watch the spar.
First-years, second-years, third-years, fourth-years—no distinction.
Hidden Dragon Corps, Wa Dragon Corps, Fierce Dragon Corps—none of that mattered.
It seemed like everyone who could come had shown up.
With so many people crowding into the not-so-large training ground, it was naturally rowdy.
Bi Ga-yeong let out a small sigh at the sight.
"Hoo. Everyone sure seems to have a lot of free time."
The unexpected crowd had delayed things quite a bit.
Half of lunchtime had already passed.
Still, with the situation somewhat sorted, Bi Ga-yeong proceeded with the spar.
"You two, step forward."
At Bi Ga-yeong's words, Dang Jin-san and Un Mu-woong faced each other.
"Woo! Whoever wins!"
"Fight for real!"
Cheers erupted from all around.
But Dang Jin-san remained calm and composed.
In contrast, Un Mu-woong's face was flushed with excitement.
He was slightly thrilled at the chance to show his true skills in front of so many Dragon Training Pavilion cadets and seniors.
"What the heck is going on?"
Namgung Ji-hu approached Baek Ri-pyeong and asked.
As a second-year in the Hidden Dragon Corps, he had been in a different class.
"Oh, just some stuff that happened."
Baek Ri-pyeong replied nonchalantly.
"It was something we had to go through once anyway."
Namgung Ji-yu said while looking at Dang Jin-san and Un Mu-woong.
"Huh?"
Yeon Ha-min's questioning echo.
"Truth is, that's the perception of the Fierce Dragon Corps here in the pavilion up until now."
Namgung Ji-yu seemed to know the general situation.
Siblings they might be, but they were different.
Namgung Ji-hu hadn't grasped the full context and asked Baek Ri-pyeong.
"There was that thing with us and you guys last year too."
Namgung Ji-yu added.
The seven Squad Seven cadets nodded slightly.
"Perceptions shifted a bit after the Winter Combat Festival, but the problem is this year's first-year cadets. Things will change after this spar. So think of it as a rite of passage we have to endure once. It could've been some other cadet, not Un Mu-woong."
Yeon Ha-min and the rest of Squad Seven cadets nodded.
It made sense.
"Then Jin-san has to win overwhelmingly."
Dan Mok Un-roe muttered.
"He will."
Baek Ri-pyeong said as if it were obvious.
During the winter break.
Dang Jin-san had trained like a madman.
Especially after his spar with Dang Ji-yeon.
The current Dang Jin-san was a completely different person from the one at the Winter Combat Festival.
In the meantime, the pre-spar procedures had concluded.
The two stood facing each other at a proper distance.
'I will prove that the Un Clan's martial arts rival the best in the world.'
Un Mu-woong steeled his resolve inwardly.
'I'll smash him properly.'
Dang Jin-san had no intention of taking the spar lightly either.
"Then, let the spar begin!"
With Bi Ga-yeong's shout, both immediately assumed their stances.
Contrary to expectations, Un Mu-woong didn't charge right in.
He simply widened the distance and observed Dang Jin-san.
Steam was already rising around his gauntleted fists.
He had poured internal energy into his fists.
"Weapon?"
Un Mu-woong asked, seeing Dang Jin-san still standing bare-handed.
"I'll use one if I need to."
Un Mu-woong's expression hardened at those words.
To face the Un Clan's fists bare-handed without even drawing a weapon.
This was an insult to the Un Clan.
"You'll regret it. You won't even have time to draw. Ta-hat!"
Un Mu-woong kicked off the ground and rushed toward Dang Jin-san.
His wind-like movement brought a gale-force fist flying toward Dang Jin-san's face.
Dang Jin-san's fist moved to meet it.
The motion of the Three Talents Fist Method.
Un Mu-woong naturally recognized it.
It was the most basic motion learned first when studying fist methods.
"How dare you!"
Un Mu-woong took Dang Jin-san's response as an insult.
To try facing the Un Clan's Heavenly Pressure Fist Method with mere Three Talents Fist Method.
Bam!
The loud clash of fist against fist echoed.
The collision of fists brimming with internal energy.
Dang Jin-san immediately closed in on Un Mu-woong's guard and thrust another fist.
Un Mu-woong leaned back to dodge, then spun his body in a whirl and punched again.
A fist aimed at Dang Jin-san's temple.
Dang Jin-san deflected it with one hand while swinging the other toward Un Mu-woong's chest.
But it was blocked by Un Mu-woong's oncoming fist.
Their fists flew ceaselessly.
The two exchanged blows without yielding an inch.
"Gulp."
Someone swallowed dryly.
"Not bad."
Namgung Ji-hu looked surprised, contrary to his expectations.
He had thought Dang Jin-san would win easily, but the opponent was putting up a near-even fight.
"Un Mu-woong. Third son of the Un Clan head. Rumored to be the strongest among the younger generation of the Un Clan. He's no pushover."
Namgung Ji-yu spoke as if she knew a fair bit about him.
"How do you know that, sis?"
"Orthodox clan gathering."
The twenty strongest orthodox martial clans gathered once a year.
The Un Clan attended every time, of course.
"Ah."
But Namgung Ji-hu hadn't paid much attention to those gatherings.
Namgung Ji-yu, on the other hand, attended every year to gauge the clans' movements.
He didn't mingle much with other clans' juniors. His father disliked it.
"Whoa!"
At that moment.
Un Mu-woong's fist soared into the sky like a dragon ascending from the earth, ripping Dang Jin-san's upper garment.
The briefly exposed skin was flushed red.
"The pressure is immense."
Dang Jin-san shook his head.
"My clan's Heavenly Pressure Fist is the best under heaven."
A statement brimming with pride.
"But facing it with mere Three Talents Fist Method makes it inevitable."
Dang Jin-san smirked at that.
"Mere Three Talents Fist Method... Even after facing it yourself, that's what you think?"
"......"
Un Mu-woong had no reply.
He knew it too.
The opponent's fist method was far from simple.
It wasn't used to mock him.
"But I'll admit it. In pure fist technique, you're a step above me. I can't beat you with Three Talents Fist Method."
Dang Jin-san said, shaking his clenched fists.
Both his fists were red and swollen.
The difference between bare knuckles and gauntlets.
"So now I'll fight you properly."
With that, Dang Jin-san gripped his weapon.
Shing.
The black whip coiled at his waist uncoiled.
"From now on, it's real. You'll pay properly for daring to insult and mock the Fierce Dragon Corps."
"Hmph. The Tang Clan's wastrel, the Chengdu Playboy's whip."
Un Mu-woong scoffed.
He had looked into Dang Jin-san after the altercation.
But the info seemed useless.
It was tales from before entering the pavilion, not the changed Dang Jin-san.
A fellow first-year from the Qingcheng Sect had told him.
It couldn't be helped.
As first-years, they had no way to know how Dang Jin-san had been over the past year in the pavilion.
Being from the same Sichuan Qingcheng Sect, he only knew the wild Chengdu days.
"Chengdu Playboy... Talk about old news."
Dang Jin-san stepped forward.
"Here I come. Block well."
Whoosh!
With those words, the whip flew like a nimble serpent.
Spirit Snake Nine Whip.
The Tang Clan's signature technique unfolded skillfully toward Un Mu-woong.
Un Mu-woong swung his fists repeatedly to bat away the whip.
But the whip, twisting every which way, would curve cunningly right after bouncing off his fist and strike again.
"Tch."
Un Mu-woong moved his feet.
He used footwork to circle Dang Jin-san, seeking an opening.
But Dang Jin-san didn't stand still.
He deployed the Tang Clan's Returning to Origin Step.
A perfect match for Spirit Snake Nine Whip, making the whip's movements even more varied.
Un Mu-woong couldn't break Dang Jin-san's distance to enter his own range.
The whip's motions were too tight.
'How... Against the Tang Clan's wastrel.'
Un Mu-woong gritted his teeth.
He represented the Un Clan here in the pavilion.
Not even the Tang heir, just a notorious Sichuan wastrel, and yet he was struggling this much.
Absurd.
Un Mu-woong's clothes fluttered.
He drew up more internal energy.
Heavenly Pressure Art.
The internal art paired with Heavenly Pressure Fist, living up to its name.
The heavens press down.
It unleashed an immense pressure.
"Urk."
Dang Jin-san groaned for the first time and stepped back.
The heavy pressure transmitted through the whip.
"That kid's got some skill, huh?"
The voice from behind made Dan Mok Un-roe and the others turn.
Ha Mu-baek had appeared like a ghost, watching the spar with an amused look.
"Instructor, how did you..."
No matter that it was Dang Jin-san's spar, Ha Mu-baek's personality wouldn't bring him to the Hidden Dragon Corps grounds on purpose.
Too much hassle.
Yet here he was.
"Lunchtime's over."
A flat statement.
The cadets were startled.
They had lost track of time in the thrilling back-and-forth.
Bi Ga-yeong, officiating, seemed the same.
Her focus was entirely on the two to prevent accidents.
"And this afternoon's supposed to be hell training for the entire Fierce Dragon Corps under me... Not a single one showed. So I came to drag you back."
A chill ran down their spines at his words.
"But you're all having so much fun."
"W-Well..."
Dan Mok Un-roe tried to explain, but Ha Mu-baek shook his head.
"Eh, no need for me to know. Lose and you die."
Ha Mu-baek said casually.
But the Fierce Dragon Corps Squad Seven cadets felt another shiver.
They sensed the sincerity in his words.
"Will Jin-san lose?"
"I said that kid's got skill."
Ha Mu-baek replied to Dan Mok Un-roe's question.
The cadets' faces grew serious.
They had dismissed him as a cocky punk, but if the instructor acknowledged him...
"But the guys I taught can't lose to that level. So lose and you die."
It wasn't just skill; experience differed.
One who trained diligently in his clan versus one who rolled in the dirt with real combat.
The gap was huge.
Seizing the moment as Dang Jin-san stepped back, Un Mu-woong pressed harder.
One fist layered with a second.
Then a third upon that.
The stacking pressure of the fists multiplied.
One feature of the Heavenly Pressure Fist: superposition.
The flexibly whipping whip was helplessly pushed back by the force.
'This is embarrassing.'
Dang Jin-san gritted his teeth.
To be pushed back by a Hidden Dragon Corps first-year.
The Hidden Dragon Corps was indeed different.
Pavilion skill depended not on training time, but on who entered strong.
Fourth-years weren't guaranteed stronger than first-years.
First-years weren't necessarily weak.
Last year's Winter Combat Festival had first-years from Hidden and Wa Dragon Corps shining.
Last year had an unusual influx of strong ones.
Dang Jin-san poured internal energy into the whip.
Even with immense pressure...
The guy was inexperienced.
His pressure range was too wide.
Breaking it wasn't hard.
'One point. That's enough.'
But the whip wasn't suited for pinpoint strikes.
He had to overcome that flaw.
Dang Jin-san knew how.
How could he not? His sister had shown it in Muchang and beaten it into him relentlessly.
'But can I pull it off... Well, I have to. No, I will. For the Fierce Dragon Corps!'
Dang Jin-san infused even more energy. Going all out.
The whip gradually straightened.
Ideally, it needed sword aura.
Incredibly, his sister had used a faint one.
Dang Jin-san wasn't there yet.
He could only mimic it with whip energy like sword energy.
Against this opponent, it should suffice.
Thus, the whip straightened like a spear, and Dang Jin-san thrust it straight at Un Mu-woong's fist.
It didn't look like a whip technique, but this was the final form of Spirit Snake Nine Whip.
The ultimate technique, usable only by those who could manifest sword aura.