Wh-why are you doing this to me?"
Yun Jongseung asked, holding his wooden sword with a bewildered expression.
Paeng Suhyeok roared without any explanation. "Shut up and come at me like you're trying to kill me!"
"But why…?"
"Now!"
Finally, Yun Jongseung bit his lip and shot forward.
Shiiiit.
He executed his Gyeonggong as he thrust his sword, unleashing a surprisingly threatening attack. In that instant, Paeng Suhyeok's eyes narrowed, and Namgung Cheon's voice echoed in his head.
"If you had focused your Eogishinpung on your Yongcheon acupoint, you could have dodged my sword and gotten behind me. A pity. Well, this method is the limit of the Paeng Family."
'Insolent…! What the hell do you know!'
Grinding his teeth, Paeng Suhyeok executed his Eogishinpung and his footwork.
'Focus Gongnyeok on the Yongcheon acupoint?'
The thought was ridiculous, but he tried it anyway.
Paang!
The moment Gongnyeok exploded from his Yongcheon-hyeol, his body spun rapidly, brushing past Yun Jongseung.
Shiiik.
He swung his mokdo (wooden saber), and the blade fell diagonally onto Yun Jongseung's back.
Tak.
He withdrew his Gongnyeok at the last second, and the blade tapped Yun Jongseung's back lightly.
The two froze in place.
Paeng Suhyeok's eyes widened. "It… works?"
Just as Namgung Cheon had said, he had definitely gotten behind his opponent. Of course, Yun Jongseung's sword form was far inferior in power to Namgung Cheon's Changcheon Ilseom. But Paeng Suhyeok hadn't used all of his Gongnyeok either.
Yun Jongseung turned around, bewildered. "Wh-what did you just do? It was like you disappeared from in front of me."
"Shut up. Come at me again."
"Again?"
"Now!"
Paeng Suhyeok readied his mokdo again. It could have been luck.
Yun Jongseung grumbled, took his stance, and quickly thrust his sword.
Paat. Shiiik! Tak.
"…!"
"…!"
Dammit… it works again.
"Again!"
"How long are we…?"
"Now!"
Yun Jongseung finally thrust his sword again.
Paat. Shiiik, Tak.
"…Again!"
After that, the two exchanged blows in the same way several more times. It was the same every time. It worked.
'That bastard was right. Namgung Cheon, just what are you…!'
Did I just get help from him, against my will? I don't want to admit it, but how…!
Finally, Yun Jongseung threw down his wooden sword and flopped onto his back.
"Heok, heok! I can't! I can't do it anymore! Heok, heok, heok…!"
"Tsk! Weak bastard."
Paeng Suhyeok clicked his tongue, pulled the waterskin from his waist, and drank greedily. His entire body was also soaked in sweat.
'Namgung Cheon… what the hell are you…'
Paeng Suhyeok stared blankly at his saber with deepened eyes.
'Is someone praising me?'
Namgung Cheon, who had been picking his ear, sat in jeongjwa (formal sitting posture) on his bed. After circulating his internal energy for one cycle, he slowly opened his eyes.
'It's definitely still…'
He wasn't satisfied. Based on his vast experience and Chogyeon Pagongan, he could handle a Jeoljeong-gosu. But his internal energy was woefully insufficient. If a group fight like last night broke out, even the Chogyeon Pagongan had its limits. The most efficient way to use it was in a one-on-one spar.
'But the Muyeonhoe isn't just one-on-one spars. And the opening ceremony is tomorrow, so it's too late to go looking for elixirs…'
If he tried to check all the safe houses he had hidden across the Jianghu, the tournament would be over.
'Were there any Heukdo (Unorthodox) forces hiding in Wuhan?'
Well, the tournament was right around the corner, so he should just focus on that. An opportunity would probably arise. It wasn't like he had to go all the way to the finals.
I'm not the type to worry too much. Solutions always tend to pop up on their own when the time is right, amidst changing situations.
Namgung Cheon closed his eyes again and focused on his Ungihaenggong. A single stream of Gongnyeok rose from his Danjeon and began to race refreshingly through his blood vessels.
Finally, the day of the Wuhan Alliance Dragon-Phoenix Meet dawned.
The Murim Alliance's Daeyeonmujang (Grand Training Ground), where the opening ceremony was held, was bustling with people from early in the morning.
In the spectator seats surrounding the vast grounds, there were Jianghu-in, but also a good number of Yangmin (common people) who had gathered out of curiosity or to promote their shops.
A high platform with VIP seats was set up on the north side. In the middle of the Daeyeonmujang, students who had received their participation certificates were gathered in a noisy crowd.
"Wow, I didn't know the Murim Alliance's Daeyeonmujang was this big. Oh! They're selling dang-gwa (sweet confections) over there!"
"Come to think of it, Yeonhwa, you've only seen the Murim Alliance from the outside, haven't you?"
Yu Hyeon, a rising star of the Huashan Sect and a second-year student at Mumaenggwan, smiled gently at his Samae (junior sister), who was excited. She looked like a child, gazing around with wonder. It was cute.
Ju Yeonhwa continued. "There must be four or five hundred people here."
"I know. But more than half will probably be eliminated in the Ilchasi (First Test). They say it's always been that way. So you can't be careless either."
"Yes, Sahyeong (senior brother). Ah, did you hear that rumor?"
"What?"
"That the Jeonghyeopgwan students went 'Dragon Hunting' again this year."
"Dragon Hunting?"
"Aigoo, you know. The tradition where Jeonghyeopgwan hunts Yongcheongwan students during the Free Observation Period."
"Hmm. I'd heard talk of such a thing, but I didn't know it was real."
"Anyway, do you know who their target was this year?"
"Who?"
"The official Hogu of Yongcheongwan."
"Official Hogu…?"
"Yes. The Great Killing Star's son, Namgung Cheon."
As Ju Yeonhwa chattered excitedly, Yu Hyeon's brow furrowed slightly. "Even so, it is not right for you to be calling him an official Hogu and such."
"What does it matter? He's the Great Killing Star's son, anyway."
"Just because his father was, doesn't mean the son is, too."
"Tsk. I say this every time, but Sahyeong, you're too much like an old man."
"What did you say?"
Ju Yeonhwa flinched, then quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, what's more surprising is that the Jeonghyeopgwan students failed the hunt!"
"I see."
"Eh? Is that your only reaction?"
"Yeonhwa, instead of worrying about such rumors, how about you focus more on yourself? There are always rumors like this before a big event."
"Ah, yeees, yeees. Still, aren't you surprised? That the Jeonghyeopgwan students failed?"
It was then.
"Who said we failed?"
At the thick voice, Ju Yeonhwa flinched and turned around. Behind her, a large-bodied man was glaring, as if he would breathe fire. It was Hwangbo Seung.
"Hey, say that again. Who failed?"
"Ah… that is…"
Flustered, Ju Yeonhwa sweated and laughed awkwardly. Just then, Yu Hyeon, who was next to her, stepped forward and performed a polite Pogwon.
"My thoughtless Samae has committed a discourtesy. I apologize on her behalf. I ask that Sohyeop find it in his heart to forgive her."
Just then, a person stepped out from behind Hwangbo Seung and muttered with a cold expression, "The person who did wrong is over there, so why are you apologizing?"
It was the rather irritable-looking Dang Ugi. Despite his aggressive attitude, Yu Hyeon replied calmly. "My Samae is new to the Jianghu and is not yet familiar with etiquette. I ask for your understanding."
"Well, I don't understand at all."
At this point, Ju Yeonhwa became indignant and stepped forward. "Hey! It was my fault, but my Sahyeong is showing you proper courtesy, and you keep using banmal? Don't you think you're being rude?"
"Ha! Look at this. These days, the one who farts gets angrier. And I'm still supposed to understand?"
"That's because you keep picking a fight…!"
"Yeonhwa!"
"Sahyeong…"
As Yu Hyeon scolded her, Ju Yeonhwa shut her mouth and glanced at him warily.
Yu Hyeon performed a Pogwon again. "I apologize once more. I will scold my Samae harshly."
This time, Hwangbo Seung slammed his fist into his palm. "No, we'd like to scold her ourselves. So, right now…"
"Move, pig."
"...Right, I should move. Pig… huh?"
Hwangbo Seung, who had been speaking, slowly turned his head toward the voice that had interjected. Not just him, but Dang Ugi also turned, flustered.
In an instant, Dang Ugi's and Hwangbo Seung's eyes went wide.
"Y-y-you…!"
"It's crowded, why are you blocking the path? A guy built like a mountain. Get out of the way."
"Y-you…!"
Hwangbo Seung trembled, his fists clenched. The one standing behind him, arms crossed and looking up, was none other than Namgung Cheon.
Yu Hyeon and Ju Yeonhwa, caught in the sudden situation, could only watch in confusion.
Namgung Cheon sighed lightly and pressed him. "Pig bastard, you're not moving?"
"You son of a biiiitch!"
Suuuung.
In a flash, Hwangbo Seung, unable to control his rage, unleashed a fist full of Gongnyeok.
Paang!
A dull sound, and a Gipa (wave of qi) blasted out. The surrounding students, startled, turned to look.
"What is it? A fight?"
"Well, just students having a pissing contest, I guess."
Amidst the murmuring crowd, many seemed to think it was no big deal.
In the middle of it all, Hwangbo Seung stared at Namgung Cheon in disbelief.
'He blocked my fist? With one hand?'
Yu Hyeon, who was watching, couldn't help but be impressed. 'That punch just now seemed to be the Hwangbo Family's fist art… to block it with one hand. He's incredible. Who is he?'
The Hwangbo Family were men who shattered rocks and broke swords with their fists. But to catch it so easily.
That wasn't all. Hwangbo Seung, his fist caught, was strangely immobile.
'Don't tell me... he can't move?'
Yu Hyeon's guess was correct. Hwangbo Seung was currently caught by Namgung Cheon, unable to budge.
Enraged, Hwangbo Seung let out a kihap and threw his left fist.
"Iyeop!"
"You definitely started this."
Kwaddeudeuk.
"Kuaaaak!"
With the sound of bone breaking, Hwangbo Seung's arm twisted grotesquely. He screamed and collapsed to his knees.
"Seung-ah!"
Dang Ugi, who had been watching, quickly tried to step in, but this time, Yu Hyeon blocked his path.
Dang Ugi glared. "What are you!"
"Having received help, I cannot just stand by and watch."
"You bastard… you want a piece of this?"
Chwachwaat.
Dang Ugi pulled bisu (daggers) from his robes and held them in both hands.
Yu Hyeon frowned. "You are from the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"You just figured that out?"
"This is unexpected. For the scion of a famed family to act so rashly."
"And what about you, gossiping about other academies?"
"I have repeatedly apologized for that."
"Shut up!"
Dang Ugi was about to throw the daggers.
Du-ung! Du-ung! Du-ung.
Just then, drumbeats echoed from the high platform. A woman appeared and shouted in a clear voice.
"Everyone, quiet! We will now begin the 14th Wuhan Alliance Dragon-Phoenix Meet!"
read more on brightnovels.com