Chapter 126
CLANG - !!
'It’s done.’
Pushing away Yoo Somyung’s Sword, Namgung Wi-Jun felt the momentum of the Sparring Match gradually shifting in his favor.
“It was quite a Tricky Sword.”
The Shanxi Yu Family’s Inherited Martial Art, the Willow Flower Sword Art.
He had heard it was a type of Swift Sword, but clashing with it directly proved otherwise.
It was a Soft Sword with a Gentle Aura, far from a Swift Sword.
Strictly Speaking, it was far from the Sword of the Mount Hua Sect, famous for its speed and illusions, and felt more akin to the Sword of the Wudang Sect.
It could be seen as the exact opposite of the Namgung Family’s Sword, which pushed forward with speed and weight.
If they had clashed strength against strength, the side with purely higher Internal Power would have won, but this Opponent was using a Sword Art highly advantageous for counterattacking.
‘Still, it’s fine now.’
It wasn’t easy to Deal With at first, but as the Sparring Match turned into a protracted battle, he gradually got the hang of it.
In fact…
CRASH - !!
Namgung Wi-Jun could see Yoo Somyung’s flow breaking from his Strikes every now and then.
If she showed even a single moment of disarray at this rate, victory would immediately be his.
“Victory is not far off.”
It was then.
Slip.
“…!”
Was it because the momentum had shifted to Namgung Wi-Jun? For a brief moment, Yoo Somyung’s Stance faltered, revealing an opening.
“Now.”
As a natural-born Swordsman, Namgung Wi-Jun naturally did not miss that opening and…
ROAR - !!
…immediately unleashed the Stance of the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Art, Soaring Heaven Flying Star.
The Vast Sky Boundless Sword Art that the Namgung Family boasted of.
And among them, Soaring Heaven Flying Star was the Stance that best captured the profound essence of speed within the Vast Sky Boundless Sword Art.
SWOOSH - !
Unleashing the Soaring Heaven Flying Star Stance, Namgung Wi-Jun thrust his Sword at a formidable speed.
Yoo Somyung looked far too fragile to face a Sword with such a terrifying Aura. And Namgung Wi-Jun-Jun thought the same.
‘It’s over.’
Right before the Sword touched Yoo Somyung’s body, he anticipated his victory.
No? Victory was a given, and he even thought his Technique might be too excessive right now.
Because taking the Soaring Heaven Flying Star Stance head-on from this close would leave her far from safe.
‘I’m sorry, Yoo So…’
But it was at that moment.
“…Huh?”
At the sudden sensation, Namgung Wi-Jun forgot he was in a Sparring Match and let out a foolish sound.
And rightfully so…
“A wall…?”
…he couldn’t feel the Familiar sensation in his hand.
Come to think of it, his surroundings had suddenly grown dark, and the sounds had gone quiet.
All he could see was a wall that had suddenly appeared.
No…
‘It’s not a wall…’
Namgung Wi-Jun realized that the massive, endlessly towering thing placed before him…
…was not a wall, but a Sword.
And the moment he realized this…
Thud.
“…”
…he was collapsed on the Sparring Stage.
“The victor of this Sparring Match is Young Lady Yoo Somyung of the Shanxi Yu Family!!”
“WAAAAAH - !!”
Only then did Namgung Wi-Jun realize he had lost the Sparring Match.
“It was a good Sparring Match.”
“…”
Yoo Somyung approached him and greeted him with a light nod.
Looking at her, Namgung Wi-Jun asked with a bewildered expression.
“H-How…”
“…?”
“How did I lose…? M-My Sword definitely…”
He had clearly sensed victory, yet it slipped right before his eyes.
When Namgung Wi-Jun-Jun asked with a trembling voice, Yoo Somyung clicked her tongue and replied.
“How could someone who thinks of things other than their Opponent during a Sparring Match possibly win?”
“…What?”
“At least for this Sparring Match, I only had eyes for you and left only you in my World.”
“…”
“Anyway, it was a good Sparring Match. I’ll be going now.”
Yoo Somyung lightly offered a Cupped Fist Salute, then immediately turned around without waiting for her Opponent’s greeting.
And…
“…”
…only now that the Sparring Match was over did she look elsewhere.
To be exact…, at someone sitting with the Zhongnan Disciples.
‘How is it? I’ve grown a lot, haven’t I?’
And seeing his slightly surprised eyes, she let out a small chuckle.
* * *
Uh-oh…, I made eye contact with Somyung.
Haha…, that expression of hers, as if asking if she didn’t do well, really gets on my nerves.
But Somyung right now had certainly grown enough to hold such pride.
Because even I was surprised.
‘I didn’t know it would be to this extent…’
What Somyung just showed could absolutely not be considered the level of a Rising Star.
The past Willow Flower Sword Art that the Shanxi Yu Family had lost hundreds of years ago.
In the Original Novel, Yoo Somyung wanders Under Heaven for several years before getting the hang of restoring it.
Of course, since I intervened this time, I expected her to catch on faster than in the Original Novel, but I didn’t expect it to be this fast.
The realm that the Shanxi Yu Family pursued hundreds of years ago while Training in the unlost Willow Flower Sword Art.
Body and Sword as One.
Just now, although still at the entrance, Yoo Somyung definitely displayed the realm of Body and Sword as One.
“Hoh…, that child…”
Turning my head, I saw the Zhongnan Sect Leader also looking at Yoo Somyung with a surprised face.
Since the ultimate truths pursued by Zhongnan and the Shanxi Yu Family overlapped in many ways, he must have felt it even more.
Just how incredible of a feat Yoo Somyung had accomplished.
“She must have really gained some sort of enlightenment.”
No, simple enlightenment wouldn’t be enough.
The Shanxi Yu Family wasn’t lacking in money, so it was obvious they had given her elixirs to consume as well.
“…I advise you not to underestimate my daughter. The child you knew and the current Somyung will be a bit different.”
Only now could I Understand why Yu Haseong had said those words.
Somyung’s current level was definitely not an Opponent to be underestimated.
Especially since Somyung was scheduled to face Dongryong in the semifinals, I had no choice but to be extra careful.
I turned my head toward Dongryong to let him know this fact.
“Hey, Dongryong-a. I think you need to be careful of Somyung…, …Hmm?”
However.
“…”
“…?”
Dongryong wasn’t giving a single glance toward the Sparring Stage where Yoo Somyung was, but was looking elsewhere.
Wondering what he was looking at, I followed his gaze and saw it was where the Hebei Peng Family members were.
Dongryong didn’t turn his head, staring at the Hebei Peng Family as if he were frozen solid.
“What is he looking at?”
I couldn’t help but wonder why the kid was so frozen just from looking at the Hebei Peng Family people.
And soon after.
“Ah.”
…I could see a woman I hadn’t seen before sitting and joining the Hebei Peng Family.
* * *
“Master Dong-Bong of Jongrimun, prepare for your Sparring Match!”
The next Sparring Match was between Dongryong and Peng Ji-Sang of the Hebei Peng Family.
As the Murim Alliance’s Supervisor informed Zhongnan that it was imminent, everyone around Dongryong stepped up to cheer him on.
“Master Dong-Bong! Don’t be nervous!”
“You can do it! Let’s go!”
“…”
But Dongryong remained frozen, unable to even answer their words, like a person who had lost his Soul.
Others might think this was because Dongryong was nervous, but I knew differently.
Dongryong’s condition had changed the moment a single woman appeared in the Hebei Peng Family. The cause was definitely that woman.
Even after that, Dongryong couldn’t easily recover his mentality, but time didn’t wait for him.
“You must go up now - !”
Along with the Supervisor’s shout, Peng Ji-Sang, the Eldest Son of the Hebei Peng Family, could be seen coming up from the opposing side.
Therefore…, Dongryong also had to step onto the Sparring Stage without delay.
Rustle.
Not unaware of that fact, Dongryong raised his body. But slumping and drained of energy, anyone could see that Dongryong’s current condition was precarious.
Everyone looked at him with concern, but no one could easily approach him, afraid of being a hindrance right before an important Sparring Match.
Step.
…Except for me, that is.
“Hey, Dongryong-a.”
“…Ah, yes. Bo…, no, Senior Martial Brother.”
Still having some presence of mind, Dongryong turned around at my call.
To that Dongryong, I…
Tap.
“This is…”
…handed over a single Saber.
Of course, since Zhongnan is a Sword Sect, they don’t handle sabers. But Dongryong’s main weapon wasn’t a Sword, it was a Saber.
I whispered into the bewildered Dongryong’s ear.
“I got two of them, yours and mine, through Munseok. Use the Sword for now and carry this on your back, and if a crisis arises…”
“…”
“…draw it and use it.”
No matter if he was from an Affiliated Family, people would look at him strangely if a Zhongnan Disciple suddenly used a Saber. But with Dongryong’s current condition, it felt like something was bound to happen, so it couldn’t be helped.
At this, Dongryong took the Saber from me, strapped it to his back, and…
“…Then I’ll be back.”
…smiled faintly before heading to the Sparring Stage.
* * *
A Tiger is swift, strong, and courageous.
That is why it reigns as the Master of the Mountain.
“Now then, the two of you may begin the Sparring Match - !!”
CLANG - !!
As soon as the Sparring Match began, Dongryong and Peng Ji-Sang rushed in without a word and clashed their respective Sword and Saber.
“Keuk…”
Peng Ji-Sang realized from just one exchange of Offense and Defense that his Internal Power was being pushed back.
“Just what kind of Internal Cultivation Method did he learn…?”
A rougher energy than that of the Peng Family, famous for its ferocity, could be felt from Dongryong’s body. It was enough to make him, the Eldest Son of the Peng Family, flinch for a moment.
Peng Ji-Sang knew Dongryong’s skills well from his time in the Peng Family. He wasn’t weak, but he was a guy with nothing particularly outstanding, embarrassing to even compare to himself, who carried the blood of the Peng Family.
But what kind of fortuitous encounter had such a guy obtained to be overwhelming Peng Ji-Sang now?
At this, his pride took a massive hit.
Of course, even so…, it didn’t mean he was giving up on the Sparring Match like this.
A fight wasn’t necessarily fought only with the body, was it?
Peng Ji-Sang formed a despicable smile and whispered in a low voice so that only Dongryong could hear.
“Do-Hui is here. You saw her too, right?”
“…!”
Sure enough, Dongryong was shaken the moment he heard about his younger sister.
Noticing that his strategy was working incredibly well, Peng Ji-Sang continued.
“Aren’t you curious what Do-Hui said when she saw you for the first time in a while?”
CLANG - !
Taking advantage of Dongryong’s wavering, Peng Ji-Sang launched a Saber Strike and cornered him.
A Tiger is swift, strong, and courageous.
But that alone cannot make it the Master of the Mountain.
The cunning to dig into an Opponent’s weakness.
That was another virtue possessed by a Tiger.
Peng Ji-Sang was undoubtedly the Tiger of Hebei.
“Do-Hui resents you enough to kill you.”
“…!”
Flinch.
‘It’s done.’
The moment Dongryong’s expression crumbled and all his movements stopped for a split second…
Slash - !!
…the cunning Tiger did not miss the nape of its prey.