Chapter 58
Yeo Un-hwi's wooden saber slashed through the air, spraying blood across the sparring ground.
"Urgh."
A deep gash opened on Peng Do-hwan's arm.
Though it was only a wooden sword, using internal energy to deliver a killing blow during sparring was strictly forbidden. Yet his opponent had unleashed such a technique without hesitation, simply because he had gotten angry.
"Do-hwan!"
The White Wolf Unit members quickly rushed onto the sparring platform to bandage Peng Do-hwan's wound and stop the bleeding.
"This isn't enough. Carry him to the infirmary immediately!"
At O Chae-mu's urgent command, several White Wolf Unit members hoisted Peng Do-hwan onto their backs and rushed off.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?! You want to fight for real right now?!"
"You think you can just mess with us like this? I swear, if we slit your throats right here and now, you'd have no one to blame but yourselves!"
Gu Tae-san and the other White Wolf Unit members snarled furiously, looking ready to pounce at any moment.
"Oh my, how scary. Why all the barking?"
"Seriously. They say scared dogs bark the loudest. It's just sparring - things like this can happen. Why make such a fuss over a little blood?"
The Scholar Forest Group members snickered and mocked the White Wolf Unit without a hint of remorse.
Just then,
"Enough."
At Jo Min's single word, the entire Scholar Forest Group fell silent.
"I sincerely apologize for this unfortunate incident. We are truly sorry."
Unlike his companions, Jo Min offered an apology.
But for some reason, his apology left O Chae-mu feeling uneasy. He simply stared at Jo Min without saying a word.
This wasn't the kind of situation where a simple apology could smooth things over.
And O Chae-mu sensed that for someone like Jo Min to apologize so readily, the apology itself couldn't be his true aim.
There had to be some other motive at play.
Sure enough,
"Still, I suppose we should be grateful it wasn't worse, don't you think?"
"Grateful?"
"Yes. No one lost a limb or their life as a warrior, after all."
He was spouting utter nonsense with the utmost sincerity.
And then he went even further:
"You'll still continue the sparring matches, won't you?"
"Sparring? How can you say that now? Someone was injured. Because of your side's killing technique."
"Haha. But didn't I already apologize for that? Besides, how many more chances will we have to visit the Peng Family? I'd hate to leave with any regrets."
Ha.
O Chae-mu and the White Wolf Unit were left speechless by Jo Min's attitude.
They finally understood.
Jo Min had never once offered a sincere apology from the start.
How could such rude and deranged individuals exist?
*This is my fault.*
Suddenly, O Chae-mu felt that this whole situation was his own doing.
He had made a mistake.
No matter how much they provoked, he should never have accepted their proposal to spar in the first place.
And now Peng Do-hwan had been injured as a result of accepting that proposal.
O Chae-mu felt as if everything was his own fault.
Not wanting to get further entangled with these people, O Chae-mu resolved not to accept any more of their proposals.
But then,
"Alright."
A voice spoke up.
Everyone's gaze turned towards the source of the voice.
There stood Yeo Un-hwi, wearing an inscrutable smile.
"Commander!"
Commander?
An intrigued look crossed Jo Min's face.
The atmosphere in the sparring ground seemed to shift with Yeo Un-hwi's appearance.
The entire White Wolf Unit's expressions brightened at this man's arrival.
*Oh? Well, well.*
A smile spread across Jo Min's lips.
He approached Yeo Un-hwi.
"So I finally have the pleasure of meeting the White Wolf Unit's commander. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Jo Min, leader of the Scholar Forest Group."
"Likewise. I am Yeo Un-hwi, commander of the White Wolf Unit."
"Now then, if I heard correctly, did you just agree to continue the sparring matches?"
"That's right."
"Commander, but..."
As Yeo Un-hwi nodded, O Chae-mu tried to interject.
But Yeo Un-hwi turned to O Chae-mu with a reassuring smile. As if to say everything was fine.
Seeing that look, that smile from Yeo Un-hwi, O Chae-mu quietly closed his mouth.
Or rather, he had no choice but to close it.
For some reason, just seeing that look made him feel he should simply trust and follow this man.
Believing there must be some purpose behind it, O Chae-mu said no more.
In truth, now that Yeo Un-hwi had arrived, there was no need for him to speak up anymore.
"You've come such a long way to visit us. It would be a shame to end things on such an unpleasant note. Though there was an unfortunate incident, I think it's best if we continue."
"Haha. As expected of someone of your rank - you understand perfectly."
O Chae-mu's face twisted at Jo Min's words.
Somehow, every word out of his mouth grated on the nerves.
This was clearly a man who would make enemies wherever he went.
Even O Chae-mu already despised him to the point of grinding his teeth.
He acted polite on the surface, but in reality did whatever he pleased.
While the other members were openly rude and violent, O Chae-mu was starting to realize that this Jo Min fellow was even worse.
"Well then, since the commander has agreed, shall we resume the sparring..."
"Actually, I'd like to suggest a different format for the matches."
Jo Min looked at Yeo Un-hwi quizzically.
"What kind of format?"
"Something more interesting, don't you think?"
Yeo Un-hwi flashed a grin.
"Rather than one-on-one matches, how about the winner stays to face the next challenger?"
Jo Min's face twitched.
"You mean a consecutive victory match?"
"That's right. If this is for martial arts exchange, shouldn't it be a bit more stimulating? Haha!"
Jo Min was puzzled by Yeo Un-hwi's hearty laughter.
Was he trying to provoke them? How dare he?
This was the first time he'd encountered such a situation, so he was a bit taken aback. But since the other side had suggested it, he had no reason to refuse.
"Very well. Let's do a consecutive victory match."
"Oh no! Am I too late?"
Peng Seo-jin rushed to the sparring ground.
She had heard the general situation on her way here.
When she heard that Peng Do-hwan had been injured during the sparring, she naturally assumed the matches would have been stopped.
But the sparring was still ongoing.
No, it was about to start again.
"Then who will go first?"
At Jo Min's question, Yeo Un-hwi stepped forward with a slight smile.
"I'll go."
"You, Commander?"
"Yes."
Jo Min hadn't expected Yeo Un-hwi to volunteer from the start, so he looked surprised.
"Haha. It's not as impressive as it sounds. The truth is, though I hold the title of commander, my martial arts are the weakest in the White Wolf Unit. I've only just started learning the Peng Family's basic techniques."
"What?"
But he had just proposed a consecutive victory match and volunteered to go first?
Jo Min truly couldn't fathom what this man was thinking.
*Is he trying to make a fool of me?*
He had briefly hoped there might be something to this, but...
An irritated look crossed Jo Min's face.
Just then,
"Leader."
One of the Scholar Forest Group members whispered something in Jo Min's ear.
It seemed he had heard some information from somewhere.
"...What?"
According to him, Yeo Un-hwi had married the Family Head's daughter and become commander of the White Wolf Unit without any martial arts knowledge.
Ha.
Jo Min's face twisted in disbelief.
And yet he had stepped forward like this? Haha. The man must be insane.
But no matter. There were always a few crazy people wherever you went.
Thanks to this fool volunteering, they could continue the sparring matches.
They just needed to quickly dispatch this clueless idiot and move on with the matches.
"Soryu."
Jo Min called out a name.
It was the name of the Scholar Forest Group member most skilled in swift swordsmanship and known for his cruel techniques.
Soryu would surely teach that ignorant fool a harsh lesson.
The match would undoubtedly be over in an instant.
As if understanding Jo Min's thoughts, the man stepped forward with a vicious smile.
After a brief exchange of greetings, the two began their match.
"You're quite fearless for someone who just started learning martial arts."
"Oh? But the Peng Family's basic techniques are more impressive than you might think. Enough to handle the likes of you."
"What did you say?"
Soryu glared at Yeo Un-hwi with narrowed eyes, but Yeo Un-hwi simply smirked, completely unfazed.
"I'm joking. Please go easy on me."
"Hmph. Not a chance."
Soon the match began.
Soryu drew his sword like lightning and his swift blade flew towards Yeo Un-hwi.
A smile spread across Jo Min's face.
He felt he had made the right choice in sending Soryu.
His swift sword would surely teach that clueless fool who had been causing trouble a harsh lesson.
Whether it would be a lesson or leave him unable to ever hold a weapon again remained to be seen.
He briefly wondered why the White Wolf Unit members had seemed so pleased when their foolish commander appeared, but he dismissed the thought, figuring there couldn't be any real reason.
But then,
"Urgh! Damn it!"
For some reason, no matter how much time passed, none of Soryu's attacks managed to even graze Yeo Un-hwi.
The match should have been over by now.
"What are you doing?! Soryu!"
Jo Min's irritated voice rang out, but Soryu was at a loss.
He couldn't understand what was happening either.
It was utterly baffling how his sword kept missing Yeo Un-hwi.
Swish. Swish.
Again and again.
The situation was completely incomprehensible.
His sword, which had always struck precisely where he intended, now felt dull and heavy in this moment.
What on earth was going on?
But he couldn't just stand there.
He had to end this!
"Aaaaargh!"
Soryu let out a fierce battle cry and began unleashing everything he had.
His swift sword moved even faster.
So fast it was difficult to follow with the naked eye.
But,
Swish. Swish.
Yeo Un-hwi continued to evade all the attacks with graceful movements.
Soryu's sword sliced through empty air once again.
*This is insane! How is this possible...*
He truly felt as if he were under some kind of spell.
At that moment, Yeo Un-hwi's wooden saber began to move, calmly and at an ordinary speed.
"Head."
The word that left his lips.
True to his word, Yeo Un-hwi's saber moved towards Soryu's head.
*Is he crazy? Is this a joke?*
Having declared he would attack the head, there was no way such an attack would actually work on him.
Yet Yeo Un-hwi's ordinary downward strike was flying towards his head.
He would easily block it and quickly launch a counterattack.
That was Soryu's plan as his eyes gleamed, moving to block Yeo Un-hwi's strike.
But that seemingly ordinary downward strike,
WHAM!
"Aaaaargh!"
Soryu screamed as he was slammed into the ground.
Thud.
Soryu lay sprawled out on the floor, completely motionless.
Soryu, one of the strongest in the Scholar Forest Group, had been taken down by a single strike.
Everyone watching the scene had their eyes wide open in shock.
"What... was that?"
The Scholar Forest Group members in particular couldn't believe what they had just witnessed.
They knew Soryu's strength better than anyone.
But,
"This has to be a joke, right? How is this possible?"
No one was more stunned than Jo Min.
His gaze turned to Yeo Un-hwi.
Yeo Un-hwi grinned and said:
"Next."