Chapter 13: Chapter 13
“Hohoho.”
Go Gyeong-ja, an elder of the Mount Heng Sect who had easily won this spar, let out a laugh.
It was a very small laugh, but it was enough to offend those sitting nearby.
The first to break the momentarily stiffened atmosphere was Mu Yeong-ja, an elder of the Mount Tai Sect.
“I look forward to the future of the Mount Heng Sect.”
“Fortunately, luck was on our side.”
Tae Gyeong-ja’s face stiffened as he watched the congratulatory greetings of the two sword sects that had defeated the Mount Hua Sect.
As the elder of the Mount Song Sect, the only one that had lost, he couldn’t bring himself to raise his head.
‘Except for our sect, everyone else ground their teeth to defeat the Mount Hua Sect.’
He, who had been blaming himself, soon relaxed his stiff complexion. Then, with a bitter smile, he offered his congratulations to Go Gyeong-ja.
“……Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
Go Gyeong-ja answered with a smile.
However, the pupils hidden in his curved eyes contained ridicule.
‘The Mount Song Sect is also past its prime.’
Due to the results of the Five Great Mountains Conference four years ago, the Mount Heng Sect had been treated as the lowest among the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects.
But now the positions had changed.
“Mmm…….”
The Sect Leader’s expression was also not good.
The hollow smile he had been keeping on his lips had completely disappeared at some point, and even his complexion was gradually darkening.
‘To think that Jeok-jae would lose.’
His expectations were completely off.
One win, two losses.
If they lost one more time like this, a disaster could occur where the sword sect that hosted the Five Great Mountains Conference for the first time in twenty-eight years would lose.
‘I was truly arrogant.’
His mouth felt bitter.
The situation he thought they would easily win was flowing in the exact opposite direction.
The skills of the disciples of the other sword sects, which he had considered to be similar to before, had risen to an incomparable level.
As the constantly smiling Sect Leader’s face gradually darkened, the expressions of the elders of the victorious sword sects brightened in contrast.
‘Tsk tsk, it’s the end of their era.’
‘The ranking of the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects might change in the future.’
Just as the two of them were falling into thought, looking forward to the bright future that would soon approach.
Whoosh…
A boy wearing a blue-and-white Daoist uniform stepped onto the sparring arena with splendid movements.
“Manifesting Cloud Beautiful Willow Step……!”
“H-how could a young child…….”
Everyone burst out in astonishment.
The Manifesting Cloud Beautiful Willow Step was one of the absolute techniques of the Mount Heng Sect that few had mastered.
“I am Kang Wun (暈), a second-generation disciple of the Mount Heng Sect.”
Jeok Woo-ja, an elder of the Mount Heng Sect, spoke calmly, as if he had been waiting.
As if he had aimed for all of this.
‘That sly snake!’
‘He had been hiding it all along.’
‘So this is the Mount Heng Sect.’
The three elders bit their lips.
No wonder he had just quietly watched all along, they had aimed for this.
Jeok Woo-ja gave a small smile, seemingly satisfied with their reactions.
“It’s already the last spar.”
His eyes sank deeply as he spoke.
Depending on the result of this spar, the direction of the Five Great Mountain Sword Sects would distinctly change.
Jeok Woo-ja’s eyes shone.
‘They are not what they used to be.’
A boy around twenty years of age, wearing the Daoist uniform of the Mount Hua Sect, stepped onto the training ground.
“Senior Brother!”
“We’re counting on you!”
“Cheer up!”
The sounds of cheering poured in from all directions.
Receiving such cheers, Jeok-geom, a second-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, froze in tension.
‘I must win no matter what.’
He thought his turn would come smoothly, but the situation was not easy.
‘I can absolutely never lose.’
He gulped down the saliva pooled in his mouth.
Jeok-geom was the most promising rising star among the second-generation disciples, and he was receiving all sorts of expectations not only from the Mount Hua Sect but also from his family, the Flying Wind Merchant Guild.
‘Hahaha! A Daoist of the Mount Hua Sect has emerged from our family!’
He recalled his father, who had admired martial artists but couldn’t learn martial arts due to a lack of talent.
How happy he was and how he threw a feast when he heard he became a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.
Not only that.
The Mount Hua Sect had also helped him both materially and emotionally.
He felt the weight on his shoulders.
‘Everything is resting on my hands.’
The tense Jeok-geom approached Kang Wun, who was standing in the center, and politely cupped his hands in greeting.
“I am Jeok-geom of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“I am Kang Wun of the Mount Heng Sect.”
The two, who exchanged light greetings, turned their bodies and opened an appropriate distance.
Srrng…
They drew their swords and faced each other.
Cheon-hwi predicted the outcome in an instant.
“He lost.”
No, from the moment he saw Jeok-geom, it seemed obvious what the result of this spar would be.
Cheon-go, bewildered by Cheon-hwi’s sudden words, chimed in.
“……Who do you mean will lose, Junior Brother?”
“Jeok-geom.”
Seeing Cheon-hwi answer as if it were natural, Cheon-go narrowed his brow and asked quietly.
“Why do you think so?”
“Can’t you tell just by looking at that?”
“By that, what do you want me to look at?”
“His sword, his sword.”
Cheon-go’s gaze moved quickly as he looked at Cheon-hwi, who answered in an annoyed tone.
Soon, his eyes stiffened as he looked at Jeok-geom.
Just as he said, the sword was trembling.
So severely that one could tell right away even from here.
“To think he was that nervous.”
“If the tip of the sword is shaking that much, he seems to have lost his composure due to tension, so will he be able to properly display his martial arts?”
Cheon-hwi stared at Jeok-geom as he spoke.
His state was a complete mess.
Just how nervous was he?
His fingers gripping the sword were shaking.
Clench…
His eyes didn’t even have an image formed in them.
That meant his field of vision wasn’t open, and it was obvious that his reaction to the martial arts the opponent swung would also be slow.
“When you get nervous, you can’t see what you could see, and you can’t do what you could do. Moreover, his muscles are in a stiff state, so even the sword he swung fine normally wouldn’t move as he intended, even if it’s very minuscule.”
Cheon-hwi’s explanation made Cheon-go nod, and he naturally slipped his words.
“Still, his tension will ease as time passes.”
At Cheon-go’s rebuttal, those who were secretly listening nearby nodded lightly.
Cheon-hwi looked at them pathetically.
‘Sigh, they still think like that even after seeing that? If the ragged Daoist, who made the Mount Hua Sect stand above Wudang and Shaolin back then, heard these words now, he would throw a massive fit.’
Just as he said, Jeok-geom’s tension would eventually ease.
After this spar was over, though.
Tap!
The two, who were staring at each other on the sparring arena, kicked off the ground at the same time.
Following that, the two swords clashed in midair.
Clang! Clang!
The air exploded.
“Hmm.”
Cheon-go, who was watching it, let out a groan.
Jeok-geom’s sword form bent in a strange direction, and eventually, bloodstains appeared on his cheek.
It was exactly as Cheon-hwi had said.
“It’s just as you said, Junior Brother.”
Cheon-hwi stared at Cheon-go, who had wrinkles forming on his forehead, and added his words.
“Because his clear mirror and still water ( – serene state of mind) was shattered. Since the sword he swung didn’t move according to his will, his composure was disturbed, and then even the principles of the sword technique he already knew became tangled.”
Cheon-hwi spoke calmly.
In order to properly execute a sword technique, one’s mind and body had to be stable.
But to lose one’s composure?
Naturally, they were bound to collapse.
Hwaaak!
At that moment, Jeok-geom explosively emitted his internal energy.
The plum blossoms that were shaking and falling soared into the sky, containing an explosive momentum.
“Haap!”
Just in time, Jeok-geom swung his sword.
His appearance as he executed the Falling Blossom Sword Art (落) was destructive, unlike before.
Clang! Clang!
Cheon-go, who was watching Jeok-geom pushing forward, swept his chest and laughed lightly.
“It seems his tension has finally eased.”
“I don’t think that’s the case.”
Cheon-hwi firmly denied it.
Cheon-go’s face hardened stiffly.
“What do you mean by that?”
“He’s not looking at the opponent at all.”
“Not looking…….”
“He’s not even looking at what sword technique or footwork the opponent is using, and is just focusing on executing his own sword technique as if he’s practicing martial arts.”
Cheon-go’s gaze headed towards the sparring arena.
Just as he said, Jeok-geom was executing the Falling Blossom Sword Art no matter what Kang Wun did.
“Still, he’s pushing him back.”
“Does that really look like he’s pushing him back to you?”
“…….”
Cheon-go shut his mouth.
In fact, he also thought it was slightly strange.
Jeok-geom continued to push him while executing the Falling Blossom Sword Art, but Kang Wun, who was stepping back, was relaxed.
Cheon-hwi immediately continued his words.
“You have to know well who the opponent is and what martial arts they use. Only then can you figure out when the opponent shows an opening and how they will react to your attack to aim for their weak points.”
He voiced the attitude of a fighter.
Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles without peril.
It meant that if you knew the enemy and knew yourself, you wouldn’t be in danger even if you fought a hundred times.
However, the opponent, Kang Wun, was facing the spar with that attitude right now.
‘The opponent is observing so seriously, but that kid named Jeok-geom is just blindly swinging his own.’
A sigh came out naturally.
Jeok-geom’s skills definitely seemed superior to the opponent’s.
But what would be the use of that?
Because he was in a state that was too stiff, he couldn’t even show half of his skills.
Because of that, his judgment was also clouded, and mistakes he absolutely wouldn’t have made normally happened one after another.
‘It’s a lack of experience.’
Cheon-hwi, who was thinking, added his words.
“He’ll be driven into a defensive position from now on.”
As soon as those words ended, the gazes of those who were secretly listening to the conversation, including Cheon-go, headed to the sparring arena.
“Haap!”
Jeok-geom, who had drawn up all of his internal energy, continued to push forward without even giving him a chance to rest.
Including the first move, Fallen Flowers and Flowing Water (落流), and Falling Petal Energy Flow (落).
Jeok-geom continuously executed various moves of the Falling Blossom Sword Art to pressure Kang Wun.
Thud.
Soon, Kang Wun was pushed to the corner of the sparring arena, and Jeok-geom raised his sword high.
Hwaaak!
Explosively emitting his internal energy, he infused it directly into the sword and rapidly swung it down.
The move his master had earnestly requested him to absolutely never use unless his life was in danger, Falling Petal River Heaven (落).
At that moment.
Flash!
Kang Wun’s eyes flashed.
Soon, adjusting his grip on the sword, he dug into the embrace of Jeok-geom, whose abdomen and shoulders were wide open due to executing Falling Petal River Heaven.
Clang!
Falling Petal River Heaven, which couldn’t be swung properly, was blocked in the middle and deflected to the side.
Following that, a sharp momentum emanated from Kang Wun’s sword, which had been busy blocking.
Swaeek!
It was swung like a flash of light.
The situation changed in an instant.
“…….”
Those who were secretly listening in widened their eyes at the situation flowing exactly as Cheon-hwi had said just a moment ago.
At that moment, Cheon-hwi clicked his tongue.
“Tsk, he lost.”
The moment those words ended.
Clang!
A sword soared into the sky.
Then, as soon as the sword fell to the ground, the disciples of the Mount Heng Sect let out a cheer.
“Waaaaah!”
In contrast, the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect stared blankly, unable to grasp the situation. After doing so for a while, they realized the situation one by one and let out sighs.
“Ah.”
“Senior Brother…….”
Dropping one’s sword was more shameful than death to a swordsman.
Jeok-geom’s pupils shook in shock.
‘M-my sword…….’
At that time, Kang Wun, who was making an awkward expression, approached and cupped his two hands to take a bow.
“It was a good spar.”
Clench!
Jeok-geom tightly clenched his two fists.
Certainly, Kang Wun in front of him wasn’t an easy opponent, but if he had properly executed the martial arts he learned, he could have won.
‘You stupid bastard! To think you couldn’t properly execute your martial arts because of tension and lost so miserably! You stupid bastard!’
He was angry at himself.
More than anything else, at the fact that he was overcome by pressure and couldn’t even properly execute his martial arts.
He bit his lip and released his fists.
Trickle…
How tightly he had clenched them, blood flowed from his palms dug into by his fingernails.
Jeok-geom moved his hands, which were wet with blood like that, and slowly cupped them.
“……I learned a move.”
The disciples of the Mount Hua Sect held their breath.
Until they came to the Dorimpyeong.
No, until the first spar, they thought the Five Great Mountains Conference was a festival they would naturally win.
But what about now?
A series of shocking defeats.
Those who faced the result lost their words one by one, and eventually, the place they gathered was enveloped in silence and became quiet.
* * *
The Five Great Mountains Conference came to an end.
From the standpoint of the Mount Hua Sect, it was a totally bad result, but they couldn’t change it.
After a while, Hyeon-sang, the Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect, slowly walked up onto the sparring arena.
‘The reputation of our sect will fall.’
His heart ached from the Mount Hua Sect’s defeat, but for the sake of proceeding with the Five Great Mountains Conference, he had no choice but to step forward.
“Let all those who have won come up.”
As if they had been waiting for those words to end, four boys immediately came up.
Except for Jeok-woon, all of them were disciples of other sword sects, and a bitter smile lingered on the Sect Leader’s lips as he looked at the situation.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
The four bowed deeply at the same time.
The Sect Leader, who was looking at the four showing courtesy, looked behind him, and a middle-aged Daoist carrying an armful of swords came up.
The swords he brought were gifts that he had directly requested to be made to give to those who won this Five Great Mountains Conference.
They were swords made of Hundred-Refined Pure Steel, which was quite difficult to obtain.
Although they couldn’t enter the ranks of famous swords, they were swords that any swordsman dreamed of at least once.
And there were four of them.
The middle-aged Daoist handed the four swords to the Sect Leader with a reverent posture.
“Thank you.”
The Sect Leader received the swords from the middle-aged Daoist and approached those who were lined up.
Sweeping his eyes over the faces of the four, he first approached Jeok-woon of the Mount Hua Sect, who had won first, and spoke to him.
“It was a good Heavenly Flow Sword Art. However, your gripping method still loosened when you swung the sword. If you supplement that and build up your internal energy, you will be able to execute an even better sword technique than now.”
“……Thank you.”
Jeok-woon choked up at the Sect Leader’s advice.
“Hoho, why the tearful face on this good day?”
The Sect Leader, who spoke softly, handed out the swords along with advice one by one following Jeok-woon, and those who received them rejoiced.
Lastly, the Sect Leader approached Kang Wun, handed him the sword, and said quietly.
“It was a fairly nimble and fast footwork and sword technique. However, when you executed the sword move at the end, if you had put a little more internal energy into it or taken one more step, it would have been much better than now.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
Kang Wun received the sword and bowed his head.
Soon, when the Sect Leader was about to turn his body.
“Perhaps, may this lowly one say a word to the Immortal?”
The Sect Leader stopped his body that he was about to turn.
Then, looking at Kang Wun, he asked.
“What is it?”
“This lowly one has admired the Plum Blossom Swordsmen of the Mount Hua Sect since a long time ago.”
The Sect Leader’s eyebrows twitched.
The Mount Heng Sect admired the Plum Blossom Swordsmen?
There was a contradiction in his words.
“If it’s alright, please give this lowly one a chance to witness the Twenty-Four Movements Plum Blossom Sword Art executed by the Plum Blossom Swordsmen.”
“……!”
The faces of the core members of the Mount Hua Sect stiffened.
There were no Plum Blossom Swordsmen in the Mount Hua Sect right now.
And that was a fact known to all those who visited this place.
So what would it mean to say such words?
Looking down on the Mount Hua Sect!
The Sect Leader stared straight at Kang Wun.
“Are you talking about the Plum Blossom Sword Art?”
“Yes, I am.”
Kang Wun endured the silent pressure.
Just when their gazes were about to tangle like that.
‘That back is…….’
Over Kang Wun’s shoulder, a small back trying to leave Dorimpyeong was seen.
Immediately, the Sect Leader smiled softly.
“Alright.”
This time, Kang Wun was flustered.
The Sect Leader half-closed his eyes as he looked at such an appearance, then added his words.
“Regrettably, however, the Plum Blossom Swordsmen are not staying in our sect due to some matters.”
“Then…….”
“Instead, would it be fine if it’s someone among the first-generation disciples who can perfectly execute the Plum Blossom Sword Art?”
The Sect Leader firmly spoke, cutting off Kang Wun’s words.
Woon-gang’s face stiffened slightly.
“Among the first-generation disciples, you say?”
“Hohoho, do not worry. The one this Daoist is talking about is around the same age as you.”
The disciples of the Mount Hua Sect buzzed.
“He’s not a Plum Blossom Swordsman, but someone who can perfectly execute the Plum Blossom Sword Art?”
“Here?”
“Just who is it?”
At that moment.
Swish…
The Sect Leader slowly moved his head.
At that nod, everyone’s gazes moved in the direction the Sect Leader was looking.
At that moment, the Sect Leader’s mouth opened.
“Isn’t that so? Cheon-hwi.”
In an instant, the young Daoist who was about to leave Dorimpyeong stopped in his tracks and looked back.
The Daoist with a still-childish face furrowed his brow at the gazes focused on him, then pointed at himself with his finger.
“……Me?”
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