Chapter 34: The First Trial (2)
Chapter 33 – The First Trial (2)
Pabababat.
Yu Hyeon dashed forward at a rapid pace.
Although he had started relatively late, he was already among the leaders.
Ju Yeon-hwa followed closely behind him.
“Pant, pant, Sahyung…! Wait for me!”
When Ju Yeon-hwa grabbed the hem of his clothes, Yu Hyeon looked back with an absurd expression.
“Hwa-ya, how can you grab my clothes during the exam?”
“Oh, come on, we won’t get eliminated. Look. There are way more people behind us. How cold of you!”
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of taking it easy. You should do your best too.”
Tap.
“Ah! You’re too much!”
Leaving behind Ju Yeon-hwa, who was shouting at the top of her lungs from behind, Yu Hyeon ran like an arrow.
He looked at Namgung Cheon, who was running at the very front.
‘That man is definitely…’
The one who blocked Hwangbo Seung’s punch with his bare hands.
And with only one hand at that.
So he had assumed that the man was just physically strong.
But even his lightfoot technique was fast?
No, rather, didn’t he look as if he specialized in lightfoot techniques?
Without a doubt, he was at a level that could be counted on one hand even among the lightfoot masters he had seen so far.
‘My experience and knowledge are truly lacking.’
By the way, who could he be?
To be that fast and have the skill to easily subdue Hwangbo Seung.
As expected, could it be Jo Gang-min of the Luoyang Jo Clan?
He had heard the rumors.
A young talent who was on the verge of reaching the peak realm at a young age.
Even the story that the Director of the Dragon Heaven Academy had personally stepped forward to enroll him.
However, his atmosphere was a bit different from what he had heard.
‘He is really fast.’
If anyone saw him, they would think he was someone who had spent his entire life studying nothing but lightfoot techniques.
The distance between Namgung Cheon, who was running in the very front, and the other leaders was quite large.
Just then, the Yangtze River began to appear in the distance.
Two tower ships flying the flags of the Martial Alliance were floating in the middle of the river, with ferryboats and logs scattered here and there.
It probably meant they had to use lightfoot techniques to step on the ferryboats and logs to reach the tower ships.
‘I wonder if Yeon-hwa is following well?’
When Yu Hyeon glanced back, Ju Yeon-hwa was running a bit behind.
Well, that should be enough to pass.
But… what was that?
Among the cadets, there was someone who was rushing uniquely like an angry bull…
“Uaaaargh!”
The one who was passing the cadets at a high speed while letting out a martial shout was none other than Paeng Su-hyeok.
Paeng Su-hyeok glared intently at the back of Namgung Cheon, who was far ahead.
‘Namgung Cheon!’
When he heard that the first test was a lightfoot technique test, Paeng Su-hyeok had planned to just get by.
Since he only needed to pass anyway.
Given the characteristics of the Hebei Paeng Clan’s martial arts, their lightfoot technique was not particularly powerful.
As their family martial arts employed rough and domineering saber techniques, their lightfoot technique also focused on enduring that level of weight.
As a result, its speed was naturally not fast compared to other lightfoot techniques.
However, seeing Namgung Cheon running at the very front changed Paeng Su-hyeok’s mind.
He did not want to lose to Namgung Cheon, of all people.
So he ran desperately until his face turned red.
Then, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
‘What if I concentrate and release my inner energy only through the Yongquan acupoint?’
This was a thought that came to him because of Namgung Cheon.
Although it might sound simple, actually conceiving and executing it was not such a light matter.
Breaking traditions and habits that had lasted for decades or centuries to challenge a new method was like flipping a coin.
It seemed simple, but one could never know until they flipped it over.
However, thanks to Namgung Cheon, Paeng Su-hyeok had already verified the other side of that coin.
Having thought this far, he instantly blocked the energy emanating from his Rangu acupoint and concentrated all his inner energy only on the Yongquan acupoint.
Pang!
Instantly, Paeng Su-hyeok’s body faltered before shooting forward.
His body twisted as if he had executed the Golden Carp Overturning a Thousand Waves, moving forward at a rapid speed.
Because it was an unfamiliar method, it was difficult for Paeng Su-hyeok to keep his balance.
However, as he continuously released his inner energy only from the Yongquan acupoint, his posture soon stabilized.
After that, it went without saying.
He began to run at a speed more than twice as fast as usual.
Of course, this method had its limits in supporting the Hebei Paeng Clan’s saber techniques.
But it seemed quite useful when there was no need to wield a saber.
As Namgung Cheon said, using them alternately could also become another weapon.
Wait, as Namgung Cheon said?
‘Damn it! Who would listen to the words of a guy like you!’
Even so, the reason he released his inner energy only from the Yongquan acupoint was… yes, simply because it was comfortable.
As he was running at such a high speed, he caught sight of Yun Jong-seung crouched down in the distance with his shoulders tightly hunched.
‘Why is that stupid bastard blocking the way?’
Seething with anger, Paeng Su-hyeok shouted loudly and kicked him, causing Yun Jong-seung to soar high into the sky.
Now, Paeng Su-hyeok’s eyes were filled only with Namgung Cheon, who was running far ahead.
Namgung Cheon was already on the verge of jumping into the river.
The Yangtze River, where ferryboats and logs were floating here and there.
‘I can’t stand to see you come in first place, even if it kills me!’
This was not about enemies or anything; it was just a matter of pride.
Now that he had reached the riverbank, the distance would narrow if he jumped around looking for nearby ferryboats and logs.
If he launched a saber qi then, he could hold back Namgung Cheon’s steps…
“Water Gliding…? Th-That! Crazy bastard!”
Paeng Su-hyeok’s mouth fell wide open.
Surprisingly, Namgung Cheon, who had reached the riverbank, did not even look for nearby ferryboats.
Instead, he was running straight toward the tower ship.
Pabababat.
Kicking off the surface of the water, Namgung Cheon was flying like a skipping stone.
Of course, he did not perform Water Gliding all the way to the tower ship.
Whenever a log or a ferryboat came within reach in between, he would invariably kick off it to leap further, repeating the process.
‘Even so… Water Gliding?’
It was not entirely impossible.
Even a young cadet could do it if it was a short distance.
This was because lightfoot technique was, after all, close to a skill.
Therefore, it was called a lightfoot art rather than a lightfoot method.
Thus, the technical method was more important than deep inner energy.
In short, the size of inner energy affected endurance rather than the lightfoot art itself.
That was, it was a matter of how long one could maintain that level of lightfoot art.
Still, if a cadet who had not even reached twenty performed Water Gliding, it was a surprising thing regardless of the distance.
Even though he was doing it by stepping on logs and ferryboats…
Unless they were someone who had studied lightfoot arts for decades.
In truth, there was no one who had pondered and studied lightfoot arts for as long as Namgung Cheon, but for Paeng Su-hyeok, who did not know such background, it was truly mind-boggling.
‘Just what on earth is that guy’s identity?’
The guy who had been ignored as the official pushover of Dragon Heaven Academy suddenly seemed easy to handle, and now he felt distantly out of reach.
“Damn it! If you can do it, so can I!”
Paeng Su-hyeok cursed in vain and ran at an even faster speed.
Pang!
Having finally reached the riverbank, he also performed Water Gliding and went straight.
However…
Pat! Pat! Splash! Splash…
After taking about fifteen steps, he slowly began to sink into the water.
Gurgle…
“Keugh!”
Ultimately, Paeng Su-hyeok, who swam and grabbed a nearby log, barely managed to rise above the water’s surface.
“Damn it!”
Paeng Su-hyeok’s fist only beat the innocent surface of the water roughly.
* * *
‘Just who on earth is that child?’
A middle-aged man standing tall on the deck of the tower ship.
Cho Rip-pyo, the Captain of the Gale Squad, frowned deeply.
He had worn a bewildered expression when a cadet reached the riverbank at a rapid speed.
Because he was much faster than he had thought.
The Gale Squad was a pursuit force made up of only the fastest people even within the Martial Alliance.
Cho Rip-pyo had already considered choosing any outstanding talent he noticed on this occasion and selecting them as a squad member.
But a fellow who was fast enough to far exceed his expectations had appeared.
And even when that fellow reached the riverbank, he had intended to watch a bit longer.
For even if one was fast on land, cases where the rankings reversed upon reaching the riverbank were common.
Keeping one’s balance and jumping around on swaying ferryboats or logs was a more difficult technique than one might think.
Or there was also the method of boarding a ferryboat to move safely, but…
“…Going straight without hesitation?!”
Surprisingly, the cadet who had reached the riverbank was executing Water Gliding without hesitation.
Of course, he did not perform Water Gliding all the way to the tower ship.
His internal energy would be insufficient for that.
He was moving by stepping on ferryboats and logs in between.
However, the cadet’s behavior broke all of Cho Rip-pyo’s predictions.
The cadet did not detour at all.
He utilized only the shortest distance.
That appearance was just like…
‘The Heavenly Great Killing Star…’
At the thought that suddenly came to mind, Cho Rip-pyo quickly shook his head.
As if trying to erase an unlucky thought.
Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon reached the bottom of the tower ship, grabbed the hanging rope, and climbed up quickly like a flying squirrel.
Pabat, tat.
Performing a somersault in the air, Namgung Cheon landed on the deck in a nimble yet stable posture.
Seeing that sight, the Gale Squad members each lost their minds.
The thoughts that came to their minds were identical.
‘Th-This bastard is… a special recruit!’
An overwhelming first place.
An impeccable lightfoot art.
The talent that the Gale Squad had waited and waited for so long.
“Woooo!”
Instantly, the Gale Squad members sent their applause.
Clap, clap, clap…
The other cadets were just arriving at the riverbank, flustered and confused.
Cho Rip-pyo also approached Namgung Cheon while clapping as if in admiration.
“Impressive. Truly impressive.”
“Is it a pass?”
“Of course! You passed, without a doubt!”
At Cho Rip-pyo’s praise, Namgung Cheon nodded and turned around without any lingering regrets.
Confused, Cho Rip-pyo quickly called out to him.
“H-Hey! Just a moment!”
“What is it?”
Namgung Cheon asked back bluntly, turning around.
A look of bewilderment flashed across Cho Rip-pyo’s face.
Why was he so confident when he was just a cadet?
Well, perhaps it was because he did not know who he was yet.
If he knew that he was the Captain of the Gale Squad, the fastest pursuit force in the Martial Alliance, his attitude would change completely.
Cho Rip-pyo put on a solemn look and asked.
“You. Do you have any interest in becoming a member of the Gale Squad?”
“I have no interest.”
“I thought so. Of course you have no interest… Huh?”
“Then, excuse me.”
“W-Wait a moment! I said the Gale Squad!”
“So?”
“What?”
“What about the Gale Squad?”
“Do you… not know the Gale Squad? The Martial Alliance’s greatest…”
“Fastest pursuit force. The representative hunting dogs of the Martial Alliance.”
“Well… ‘hunting dogs’ has a bit of an unpleasant nuance.”
“Anyway, I know them very well.”
“But you decline?”
“Yes. I have no interest.”
“No, even if you are interested in other areas, going through the Gale Squad leads to rapid promotions and…”
“I’m fine.”
When Namgung Cheon repeatedly declined and walked away, not only Cho Rip-pyo but all the Gale Squad members stared with their mouths wide open.
‘What kind of bastard is that? Kicking away an opportunity for success that rolled right to him?’
It was mind-boggling, but it was a natural choice for Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon glanced at Cho Rip-pyo and clicked his tongue.
‘You have aged a lot too.’
‘When you were chasing after me, you looked like a green brat.’
‘To think you are already middle-aged.’
‘Time flies so fast.’
‘Anyway, the Gale Squad.’
‘Would I be crazy enough to enter the Gale Squad?’
‘They were guys I was sick and tired of just thinking about.’
‘The Gale Squad was a truly persistent pursuit force.’
‘Moreover, they were fast, appearing by a hair’s breadth wherever I went.’
‘Once, I had killed half of the Gale Squad members, but in just three months, their numbers had doubled.’
‘At that time, I felt the sheer power of the Martial Alliance.’
‘Sickening things.’
‘Still, it feels refreshing to take revenge like this.’
‘To be clear, this is not because of a grudge.’
‘By nature, I am a man who doesn’t hold grudges.’
‘It is just that since I spent all my time running fast in my past life, shouldn’t I run a bit more leisurely in this life?’
‘Unless it’s a case of taking an exam like this, of course.’
While Namgung Cheon sat on the railing and rested, the cadet who arrived second leapt onto the deck.
Parara, tak.
The one who landed with a flamboyant movement was none other than Murong Gang.
He glanced at Namgung Cheon with an icy expression and walked away in silence.
Cho Rip-pyo approached him.
“You! Do you have any interest in becoming a member of the Gale Squad?”
“I have no interest.”
“…”
At the reply, which was as cold as a northern wind over snow, Cho Rip-pyo froze on the spot.