The Non-Combat Martial Exhibition
The roar of the gathered warriors.
Combined with the burning fervor of the martial artists, the atmosphere of the **Ju Family's World Martial Assembly** grew fiercely heated.
The high-level sparring matches, where warriors demonstrated the Ju Family's renowned sword techniques in various forms, truly showcased the full prestige of the family.
Countless martial artists rejoiced at their promotions while others despaired at their failures.
But the important thing was that every single one of them was displaying the results of their sincere, dedicated training.
It was a day that truly showed what a martial house should be.
And so, on the fifth day of the World Martial Assembly.
It was finally the day the direct descendants' exhibition matches would begin.
From early morning, Dan-hee had been nervously ironing my training uniform with great care.
"Why go through all that trouble? It's just a training uniform I'll wear anyway."
"Still, so many elders will be watching. If you show up dressed sloppily, they'll all blame me."
I had no response to Dan-hee's words.
It seemed they had their own little world after all.
"Hmm."
While Dan-hee prepared my clothes, I reflected on this year's martial exhibition.
In my previous life, the direct descendants' exhibition had been quite the noisy affair.
'**Ju Sang-jin**.'
It was the day my second brother, Ju Sang-jin, would receive the full support of the elders.
Conversely, it was the day I would fall into an abyss with nowhere left to descend.
Whether in my past life or this one, I had been dragged out against my will. But there was one crucial difference.
This time, my mindset had completely changed.
'Since I've come out anyway, I might as well do it properly.'
It wasn't about leaving a good impression on the elders.
More than anything, I simply didn't want to lose to that bastard Ju Sang-jin.
Not that I had any intention of losing in the first place.
Above all, I needed to neutralize him carefully without being discovered.
That guy wasn't the real problem, though...
'It's the eldest brother who needs to step up.'
**Ju Seung-hyeok.**
I wondered if my eldest brother had truly understood what I meant.
It would be difficult.
If only he would make his move, more than half of the Ju Family's problems could be resolved in a single stroke.
The authority of the young clan heir was greater than most realized, which meant I could potentially make use of my brother's power.
"Here you are, young master. I ironed it until it was perfectly stiff."
Dan-hee handed me the crisply pressed uniform.
Seeing her face smudged with charcoal while looking so proud was rather amusing.
"Thanks."
I put on the uniform and left the room immediately.
"Everyone has already gathered, young master."
"Right. Let's go."
We headed straight for the grand training grounds where the martial exhibition was being held.
As Muyoung had said, all the family's elders were already present.
"Huh?"
I spotted someone and quickly offered a polite fist salute.
"I greet the Lord of the Tang Family."
"Haha, indeed. I was worried I arrived a bit late, but it seems I'll get to see your match after all."
**Tang Hwa-pyeong**, the Lord of the Tang Family, spoke as if he were genuinely looking forward to it.
The moment he addressed me so warmly, the Ju Family elders looked visibly shocked.
It wasn't the polite, formal greeting one might exchange out of courtesy between clan heads. His tone was unmistakably friendly.
'He's sharp.'
I immediately realized that Tang Hwa-pyeong had read the atmosphere within the family.
The subtle disdain toward me that permeated the clan.
Since even the elders shared that attitude, he must have noticed it right away.
That was likely why he deliberately spoke to me with such warmth.
'Look at those eyes.'
Not everyone approved.
One of them was Ju Sang-jin, who was glaring at me as if he wanted to devour me whole. His jealousy was on full display.
"Once the exhibition is over, I'll visit your quarters tonight. Let's have a little chat."
Tang Hwa-pyeong whispered into my ear in a voice so low that no one else could hear.
I nodded naturally.
He probably wanted to ask me something regarding internal matters within the Tang Family.
I walked straight up to the seat prepared for me on the elevated platform.
Besides the family's elders, the heads of the other great families had already arrived.
"I greet the Lord of the Namgung Family and the Lord of the Jegal Family. I am **Ju Woo-jin** of the Ju Family."
"A pleasure."
"……."
The one who offered a brief, friendly reply was the current head of the Namgung Family, the great **Namgung Yeom**. He was also known by the title **Blue Sky Sword Emperor**.
He was also Ju Sang-jin's maternal grandfather.
The look in his eyes as he regarded me was far from friendly.
The one who merely nodded silently was the head of the Jegal Family, the great **Jegal Gun**. He bore the title **Divine Machinery Elder**, and true to his name, he was an exceptionally brilliant man.
'Is that all?'
It seemed the remaining two heads of the Five Great Families had been unable to attend, leaving only these three along with the Tang Family Lord.
After watching the elders take their seats, I sat down as well.
Soon after, **Ju Yu-gyeong** announced the beginning of the direct descendants' martial exhibition.
The direct descendants' exhibition was a critical rite of passage for the clan head, Ju Tae-sung.
It could be seen as a test to evaluate how well his children had grown.
The first to step onto the platform was my eldest sister, **Ju Seung-gyeong**.
The moment she appeared, a massive cheer erupted from the warriors and spectators surrounding the arena.
After offering a fist salute to the crowd and finally to the elders seated on the high platform, Seung-gyeong slowly assumed her stance.
I watched her with keen attention.
'I taught her everything I could.'
The **Flying Heaven Blazing Flame Sword Art** she practiced was one of the family's foundational sword techniques, renowned for its exceptional speed.
Since she wasn't mixing in internal energy, I could clearly observe every single form.
"Oh-ho, it seems Seung-gyeong has already broken through to the eighth stage."
"Impressive, isn't it? Don't you agree, Lord?"
"……."
The elders' reactions were not bad. In fact, they seemed genuinely surprised.
'The real test starts now.'
I didn't take my eyes off her sword until the very end.
I was incredibly curious whether she had properly understood the insights I had passed on to her.
The **Flying Heaven Blazing Flame Sword Art** begins with rapid sword forms from the very first stance.
Fast, light, and agile.
However, the speed only accelerates further as one progresses into the later forms.
Eventually, the thrusts become so fierce that they are nearly impossible to follow with the naked eye.
*Shwaaaaaack!*
Everyone held their breath.
The sword tore through the air, igniting the surrounding atmosphere.
Just as the technique's name suggested, flames seemed to blaze along the blade as its power erupted madly.
Explosion after explosion.
But that was the problem.
'It's definitely not suited for her.'
And soon, Seung-gyeong's sword began to change.
'As expected.'
A satisfied smile spread across my face.
She had realized it.
Truly, she was worthy of being my sister.
If my eldest brother was a natural martial genius, then my eldest sister was the epitome of relentless effort.
Her unyielding will was so formidable that most men wouldn't even dare compare themselves to her.
"Oh-ho."
The moment Seung-gyeong's sword began to transform, Namgung Yeom, the Lord of the Namgung Family, let out an impressed sound.
The sword energy that had been embroidering the air suddenly plunged downward.
At first glance, it looked like an absurdly heavy strike, but that was only for those who didn't understand.
'Since she isn't using internal energy, it would appear that way...'
But what if internal energy supported it?
The weakness of the **Flying Heaven Blazing Flame Sword Art**, which focused too heavily on the upper body, would be dramatically compensated.
While it couldn't completely dominate the lower area, reinforcing the vulnerable middle section brought the technique closer to perfection.
Of course, it also required tremendous physical strength.
After all, rapid sword techniques inherently demanded immense muscular power to execute properly.
Paradoxically, forms that relied on defensive swordplay or the principles of heavy swords didn't require nearly as much raw strength.
"……."
The expressions of the spectators had grown serious.
"Huff... huff..."
Seung-gyeong breathed heavily, exhaling rough gasps.
The moment she completed her final form and withdrew her sword,
A thunderous cheer finally erupted.
"Wow, that was incredible!"
"Waaaaah! The Ju Family is the best!"
It was an unprecedented reaction.
In all the years the World Martial Assembly had been held, they had never received such an overwhelming response.
"Remarkable. At this rate, another phoenix may soon rise from the Ju Family. Brother."
Tang Hwa-pyeong spoke with genuine admiration, offering his honest impression.
Ju Tae-sung listened with an impassive expression, staring intently at Ju Seung-gyeong's face.
It was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
Soon, Seung-gyeong blushed with embarrassment, offered a fist salute to everyone, and descended from the platform.
This was essentially a ceremonial display of the martial arts they had learned before the actual sparring began.
Next, another woman stepped onto the platform.
"**Ju Sang-ah**."
She was the daughter of **Namgung I-hwa** and the blood sister of Ju Sang-jin.
To me, she was my second sister.
Unlike Seung-gyeong, whose fiery temperament burned like flames, my second sister was the very image of an icy woman.
Tall stature, skin like white jade, and hair as black as ebony.
With her long eyelashes and perfectly straight nose, she had been praised as the greatest beauty in Gangseo since childhood. However, her personality was extremely reserved and cold.
So much so that even I had never really spoken with her.
I vaguely remembered not even realizing she was my sister until I was about ten years old.
As expected, she too stunned the crowd with her incredible skill, drawing a roar of cheers similar to Seung-gyeong's.
Even at the end, she maintained a calm, expressionless face as she offered her salute. It was almost exactly like watching our father.
Finally, my turn approached.
A place I would never have stepped forward in the past.
In fact, in my previous life, I had never once stood on this platform.
But this time was different.
There was something in my father's gaze, as if he already knew something.
Unlike before, Ju Tae-sung was looking at me with a meaningful glint in his eyes.
Having never received such a look from him before, the feeling was strangely unsettling.
I stepped onto the platform and offered a fist salute toward the crowd.
Countless eyes turned toward me.
Yet any trace of expectation had completely vanished from their faces.
'Well...'
This was what reputation did to a person.
Once something was carved into people's minds, it was nearly impossible to erase.
"Hmm. Does the youngest young master not practice the sword?"
Namgung Yeom asked Ju Tae-sung.
"……."
Ju Tae-sung remained silent, lips pressed tightly together as he stared at me.
On the other hand, Tang Hwa-pyeong, having witnessed my abilities at the Tang Family, simply watched me with a faint smile on his lips.
"Aigoo, let's just hope he doesn't embarrass himself."
"Hasn't that boy stopped training for quite a while now?"
"Sigh, why does the Lord insist on sending that boy out... tsk tsk."
The elders' complaints were clearly audible.
They were saying it loud enough for me to hear.
'…….'
In my past life and in this one.
I had to endure it.
In the end, all of this was a burden created by my own past sins.
And resolving it was also part of that same karma.
*Shrrk.*
I slowly raised my hand.
Stepping half a pace forward, I lightly assumed a basic stance.
"Fist techniques?"
The elders' faces twisted with disappointment.
The Ju Family had no fist technique manuals.
They naturally assumed what I was doing was pointless.
I lightly clenched my fist and thrust it straight toward the elders.
*Watch carefully.*
The righteous path must never grow arrogant.
Therefore, they must never look down on or dismiss other forms of martial arts.
Even from below the platform, jeers poured toward me.
"If you haven't learned anything, just go back!"
"Boo! This is embarrassing, just go back to sleep!"
I said nothing.
'Yes, laugh all you want.'
My body's center of gravity had already changed so completely that such words came naturally.
'**Black King Advance Strike Body**.'
The legacy of the Fighting King.
A supreme underworld body technique that traded flesh for bone, drawing out one's primal instincts and nature.
*Thud!*
I took one step forward.
The ground trembled. Dust rose. The flow of the surrounding air shifted.
The murmurs of the spectators who had been mocking me just moments ago began to die down.