Chapter 35: Unless You Let Go
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 35: Unless You Let Go
"Weapon Seizure, you say! Weren't basic abilities originally evaluated by measuring machines?"
A man strode purposefully towards Black and White, protesting.
His sharp features suggested a difficult personality.
"What kind of rule allows you to suddenly change the test content like this? Are you sure the Eight Great Sect Leaders approved this?"
At the man's words, which implied the test itself was flawed, some nodded in agreement.
"That's right. It is a bit strange."
"To make us fight each other in a mere basic evaluation stage... What if someone gets hurt?"
The murmuring public opinion soon shifted to dissatisfaction with the test content.
The reason was simple.
Often, the person standing right next to them was a familiar face, or even a senior martial brother or sister.
In a situation where fighting each other was naturally reluctant, when someone stepped forward to protest, more voices joined in agreement.
[I apologize, but.]
Black and White merely rolled the eyes within its mask, looking at the Sharp-Faced Man leading the protest.
[I am merely proceeding with the basic evaluation test as instructed from above. I will relay your concerns so they may be reflected in next year's License Exam.]
At the mechanical reply, devoid of any change in tone, the Sharp-Faced Man's eyebrows twitched as he took another step forward.
"Then bring your superior. At the very least, contact an executive of the Martial Alliance, or an elder from one of the Eight Great Sects."
[That is not possible. Instead, I will inform you of one exception.]
"An exception?"
[If you defeat me, you may skip all basic evaluations and pass. Do you wish to challenge me?]
The man, who had been glaring fiercely at Black and White for a moment, drew his sword with a shiiing and nodded.
"I will challenge you. Rather than cross swords with my fellow sect members, I feel it would be more at ease to challenge the examiner, even if I cannot win."
Some Martial Artists applauded the man's courageous act.
To Ki Mu-hyeok, however, it seemed nothing more than recklessness.
'He seems to have the skill to be confident, but...'
The man who challenged Black and White possessed at least the martial aura of a Second-Rate Martial Artist or higher.
At that level, he was certainly among the top-tier experts taking the License Exam.
[Very well. You may attack whenever you are ready.]
"Haa!"
The man, his eyebrows twitching in displeasure, swung his sword at Black and White with a powerful shout.
Though the sharp edge glinting on the blade was quite keen.
Clang!
"Cough!"
With a single strike from Black and White, the man dropped his sword and was sent flying, his weapon landing in Black and White's hand.
[This applicant will be considered to have failed the Weapon Seizure event. Please wait until the other participants have completed their tests.]
"W-wait a minute!"
The face of the man, disarmed and fallen, turned beet red.
He hadn't expected the examiner to be weak, but he certainly hadn't imagined failing to exchange even a single blow.
Could he really be disqualified from the License Exam just like this?
His reason paralyzed by shame and fury, the man sprang to his feet and shouted.
"Who in the world changed the test like this?! I, a Branch Sect disciple of the Taiji Sword Sect... Gasp!"
Before he knew it, Black and White had approached, holding the sword it had seized from the man against his Adam's apple.
[I warn you. If you interfere with the test any further, I will take strong disciplinary action.]
"..."
The man, his face pale, retreated in silence, and that silence quickly spread through the surroundings.
'This 'Black and White' individual. A Peak Master.'
Ki Mu-hyeok, who had been carefully observing Black and White's movements from the start, came to that conclusion.
And he checked the time still floating above Black and White's head.
The test, which had begun with five minutes, now had less than four minutes remaining.
[Then, please decide the victor within the time limit. I wish you all good fortune.]
Even before Black and White finished speaking, applicants were already putting distance between themselves and the person next to them, raising their weapons.
"...There's no choice. Let's do this."
"S-senior Brother! Are you really going to do it?"
"I'm sorry, but I absolutely must obtain my Third-Rate Martial Artist license this time!"
The clang of weapons clashing began to echo from various spots.
Ki Mu-hyeok watched the unfolding situation and lightly clicked his tongue.
'Whoever designed this, it's a nasty method right from the start.'
Martial Artists usually avoid letting unfamiliar individuals within their personal space, but this test deliberately aimed to make them fight someone close to them.
Turning senior martial brothers/sisters or acquaintances, whom they thought would be reliable companions in the test, into rivals.
"...Mu-hyeok."
"Yes."
Oh Jung-min, who had also put some distance between them and drawn his sword, wore an awkward smile.
"It's your first License Exam, and this is a bit much, isn't it?"
"I know, right? I didn't want to fight a familiar face from the start."
"Haha! You're quite confident, aren't you? I'll have to be careful not to be embarrassed."
However, contrary to his feigned complaint, Oh Jung-min's expression as he assumed his stance was full of confidence.
"I know you're an impressive fellow, but I'm no pushover either. If you underestimate me, you might get a rude awakening, you know?"
"I've never underestimated you. I also know you're strong enough to challenge for a First-Rate License, Hyung."
"...You know?"
"I can feel it."
Oh Jung-min was silent for a moment.
Then he lightly curled the corners of his lips and let out a small laugh.
Oh Jung-min drew his sword to his chest and performed a bow before the duel.
"Oh Jung-min, First-Generation Disciple of the Pine Moon Sect. It is an honor to cross swords with Young Master Ki Mu-hyeok."
"Ki Mu-hyeok, a newcomer to the Martial. The honor is mine to witness the swordsmanship of the Pine Moon Sect."
"I hope we can both display our full skills without regret, and that no ill will remains after our contest."
"I feel the same."
And at that moment, without either waiting for the other, both charged at each other simultaneously, swinging their swords.
Clang—!
The sound of blades clashing was light and crisp.
Compared to Shin Kang-heon's saber, which he clashed with daily, the power was less than half.
That didn't mean Oh Jung-min's sword was weak, however.
'Fast. And precise.'
The trajectory of the sword, circling around to the side with a speed rarely seen in Shin Kang-heon's saber.
Ki Mu-hyeok gave up trying to follow with his eyes and twisted his body purely by instinct.
Swish—
The sleeve, lightly cut, fluttered.
Ki Mu-hyeok, rotating his body in the direction he had twisted, lowered his stance and aimed for Oh Jung-min's lower body.
Oh Jung-min parried the sword while executing a retreating footwork technique.
Clang-clang!
The Pine Moon Sect's swordsmanship was neither flashy nor overwhelmingly powerful.
Instead, true to the sect's name, it aimed for the uprightness of a pine tree and the gentleness of a full moon.
Especially in defensive techniques, it was a swordsmanship renowned enough to be acknowledged even by the great sects.
Moreover, it suited Oh Jung-min's flexible and gentle disposition perfectly, as if tailor-made for him.
'His fundamentals are solid. It feels like watching a deeply rooted tree.'
Ki Mu-hyeok admired Oh Jung-min's skill, which was even more outstanding than he had expected.
He could feel how diligently Oh Jung-min must have trained his body and practiced his sword.
After all, a Martial Artist who harmonizes external and internal cultivation with ample experience is rare.
Thwack!
Just then, Oh Jung-min, who had forcefully parried the sword and created some distance, asked, regaining his breath.
"Why are you smiling? Are you looking down on me?"
"Quite the opposite, actually. I'm smiling because I enjoy fighting strong opponents."
"...I've always thought this, but your gaze and your smile give off an impression that's just asking for misunderstandings. You could say it invites unnecessary trouble."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Grinning, Ki Mu-hyeok charged first this time.
Oh Jung-min, shaking his head, also had his eyes suddenly sharpen as he swung his sword.
Thwack! Clang-clang-clang!
Ki Mu-hyeok unleashed everything he had learned over the past few months.
The movements he had refined under his Master's guidance, making them smoother, reduced the strain on his joints, allowing him to swing his sword freely without overexertion.
His sword was as free as a Vagrant's, at times as fierce as the Unorthodox Faction's, and at others as disciplined as a prestigious Orthodox Faction's.
The guidance of a swordsman once ranked among the top five in Korea had, in a matter of months, led him to an even higher realm.
"Insane..."
"Are First-Rate Martial Artists fighting each other from the start?"
"It's absurd for either of them to fail..."
The applicants who had finished their Weapon Seizure watched the duel between the two swordsmen with wide eyes.
Black and White was also observing them intently.
[It is a duel I would like to continue watching, but unfortunately, not much time remains, does it?]
However, the person most surprised was Oh Jung-min, who was directly clashing swords with Ki Mu-hyeok.
'Is this really the same Ki Mu-hyeok from just a few months ago?'
The fight, which had initially seen an equal exchange of blows, was gradually tilting towards one side.
Oh Jung-min was barely managing to block his opponent's attacks with the Pine Moon Sword Technique's solid defensive forms, unable to find an opportunity to counterattack.
Ki Mu-hyeok, on the other hand, was steadily gaining momentum, now launching a relentless barrage of attacks.
"Ugh...!"
Oh Jung-min gritted his teeth, blocking Ki Mu-hyeok's sword again and again.
He, too, had put in grueling effort.
He had trained ceaselessly for years to be recognized as a First-Rate Martial Artist.
But now, he was being pushed back by a boy who had been a minor just last year.
Truly, an overwhelming difference in talent.
Oh Jung-min bit his lip tightly at that despair-inducing gap.
"Martial Artist Oh Jung-min of the Pine Moon Sect."
Ki Mu-hyeok, who had paused his attack for a moment, spoke with a breath that seemed hardly changed from the start.
His tone was exceedingly polite.
"I wish to continue our contest, but time is short. Please give up now and hand your sword to me."
"...What?"
"Your palm is already torn so badly you can barely wield your sword."
Only then did Oh Jung-min look at his hand, seeing his sword-gripping palm torn and bleeding profusely.
"..."
Less than a minute remained.
Ki Mu-hyeok, whose gaze was already chilling even when still, added Killing Intent as he spoke.
"I can no longer concern myself with preventing further injury. If you do not let go yourself, I will have no choice but to break or sever your fingers to take it."
"You... you've truly become impossibly strong."
It was a warning that felt genuine, but rather than fear, Oh Jung-min merely let out a hollow laugh.
He, too, was a First-Generation Disciple of the Pine Moon Sect, a sect with history and tradition.
Although it was a Mid-Sized Sect, not one of the Eight Great Sects, he still held immense pride and self-respect for his school.
Above all.
"If I were going to meekly nod at the command to drop my sword... I wouldn't have grasped it in the first place."
Riiip—
He tore his sleeve and tightly bound it around his bleeding palm to prevent the sword from slipping.
"I can't give up."
[[IMG_3]]
With less than 30 seconds remaining in the time limit.
Oh Jung-min, with a stubborn expression, raised his sword and aimed it at Ki Mu-hyeok.
"...If you want to win, sever my hand and take it. That would be better than me giving up the test and leaving by my own will."
[[IMG_4]]
One could tell from his eyes alone that it wasn't bravado, but genuine resolve.
The will to not let go of his sword, even if his hand were to be cut or severed.
It wasn't merely for the Martial License Exam; the pride of Oh Jung-min, a Martial Artist, would not permit him to give up.
"Are you truly confident you won't regret it?"
"What difference is there between a Martial Artist losing their weapon and dying?"
"..."
"You said time was short, didn't you? Come on!"
[[IMG_5]]
Ki Mu-hyeok, checking the remaining time, pushed off the ground and charged.
Oh Jung-min, his eyes wide open, swung his sword with trembling arms.
Fwip!
Immediately after a silver trajectory was drawn between the two, Oh Jung-min collapsed, spraying blood.