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“The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors”

This time, Jin So-cheong used Lan again, but it felt a bit different from before. Realizing I couldn’t approach him the same way as earlier, I quickly dodged his attack range using the Soul Removal Technique.

Wow… that’s really fast!

Jin So-cheong seemed surprised by my speed and tried to follow up with Thunder Shadow Step and Heavenly Gathering Kill. I was taken aback by how fast he was chasing me.

‘Thunder Shadow Step and Heavenly Gathering Kill is a short-range technique, extremely fast, but still inferior to Soul Removal. The speed difference has to be at least double. How is he moving this fast with Heavenly Gathering Kill?!’

Incomprehensible!

But the crazy person pulling this off was none other than Jin So-cheong, a peerless genius of the Muwak. It hit me just how naive I was to think I could win against such a battle maniac!

I narrowed my eyes.

‘Sorry, brother, but I have to win today no matter what!’

As I performed a somersault in mid-air to regain my stance, I drew upon my Thunderclap.

“Ah!”

Jin So-cheong’s face went wide with surprise as he saw me continuously using Thunderclap, stopping his pursuit and taking a defensive stance. It’s no wonder; the maximum speed of Thunderclap could only be countered if he raised his own Thunderclap, so if he recklessly attacked, he’d just end up being countered by me. I bit my lip.

‘Damn it, I didn’t want to use such a cowardly tactic…’

Winning through continuous Thunderclap.

Since I could maintain Thunderclap for at least one full meal, I could force him into defense and eventually win. But it felt less like a win through martial prowess and more like a victory powered by internal strength, so I was reluctant to use it against Jin So-cheong in our spar. Still, the threat from Jin So-cheong made this the necessary route.

Then Jin So-cheong scratched his head.

“Hmm. What a terrifying internal force. In that case, I have no choice but to end this in one go.”

Could it be that he still had some countermeasures up his sleeve?

I felt cold chills run down my spine, not from arrogance but from realizing that Jin So-cheong was the type who didn’t speak nonsense. This meant what he said was true. What could be the method to quickly finish me off while my attack power and defense were amplified multiple times due to Thunderclap?

Swish!

Jin So-cheong’s spear lowered, forming a peculiar natural stance. Recognizing that it was a counter technique, I cautiously circled around him, not daring to attack rashly. But the doubts in my mind fueled my anxiety.

‘What if that isn’t a counter but him gathering energy? Wouldn’t waiting here be foolish?’

How did I end up in a psychological battle? Looking at the difference in internal forces, I was at an overwhelming advantage, so why was this happening? I began to understand what it felt like to face the Thunder God Lineage as a Dharma Guardian of the Wind Spirit Sect. No matter how superior your basic abilities are, if you can’t handle a moment’s burst of power, you’ll lose to the Thunder God Lineage in an instant.

Ultimately, I had to make a move.

Boom!

In an instant, my left palm sent the Thunder Spirit Seal flying toward Jin So-cheong. He didn’t dodge it and simply deflected it with minimal force. I caught a glimpse of an opening in that split second, but fear of it being a trap held me back from attacking. Sweat dripped from my forehead as tension rose.

‘What am I so afraid of? Is it okay to actually attack? Really?’

Thud!

The Jin So-cheong standing before me seemed overwhelmingly huge. My fear and pressure amplified his presence. As that ripping vision blurred before me, I realized I was stumbling backward.

“Ah!”

In that moment, I realized it was a kind of Heart Meridian technique. Suddenly thinking this pressure might be something Jin So-cheong created with his intent, I managed to return to my senses. But by then, my mental strength was already drained, and sweat was pouring down my neck.

Jin So-cheong’s eyes were utterly calm and clear. I clenched my teeth and glared at him, determined not to lose.

“……”

“……”

It was an infinite standoff.

‘Let’s see who dies first, you or me!’

Just when I was about to rid myself of hesitation and choose my attack method, a booming voice echoed.

“Enough!!”

Almost simultaneously, Jin So-cheong and I turned to look at the source of the Lion’s Roar. Standing there, arms crossed, was Wei Zhi-hun, the Master of the Teng Yu Alliance, wearing a fierce expression. He glared at both of us in turn and began to scold.

“Isn’t this a friendly spar between comrades? Yet, you both harbor murderous thoughts deep down! If the ultimate techniques you both contemplated had clashed, neither of you would have walked away unscathed!”

“……”

He wasn’t wrong. As we stood there like chalked up dummies, Wei Zhi-hun glared at Lee Kwang, Red Moon, and Green Moon’s Dharma Guardians.

“Do you truly deserve to be called masters of the sect? Why didn’t anyone try to intervene just now? I cannot comprehend!!”

Red Moon, looking dumbfounded, retorted.

“This is a spar very close to real combat! You’re the one who’s been disrespecting the pride of warriors!”

“Shut it! The leader of a sect shouldn’t say such nonsense…!! Are these children not the future of the sect? Our pillars?!”

“Hmm…”

Wei Zhi-hun was genuinely enraged, looking incredulous at the Thunder God experts. He had every right; knowing we could’ve put each other in real danger with our last techniques, if we had clashed, one of us could have died for sure. For some reason, I noticed both Lee Kwang and the others seemed to secretly wish for just that.

Wei Zhi-hun glared at Lee Kwang and quietly remarked.

“I’m disappointed in you, Samjeol. You can’t even recognize when it’s time to uphold a warrior’s duty.”

Lee Kwang replied, “Your principles differ from mine.”

“Hmph, is that so? I seem to have misjudged your character.”

As Lee Kwang fell silent, Wei Zhi-hun turned his gaze to us.

“This contest will be declared a draw in the name of me, Wei Zhi-hun, the Master of the Teng Yu Alliance. You two may step down.”

As Jin So-cheong and I relaxed and stepped down, I suddenly felt fatigued. But I wasn’t the only one; Jin So-cheong also looked pretty drained.

“It was a good match.”

“It was a good match.”

We faced each other and completed our final bow, ending the spar.

It was then that Mangnyang piped up.

“Wait, are we just going to end it like this? I, the leader of the Bancheon Alliance, can’t accept that!”

All attention turned to Mangnyang, who had burst out after quietly observing the match until now. He stepped forward, grinning at Lee Kwang.

“Samjeol Lee Kwang. I believe you confidently claimed you could take down some unknown ruffian in under a hundred seconds if they were your disciple.”

Lee Kwang’s eyebrows twitched as he replied.

“I did say that. Why?”

“Now that it’s a draw, I suddenly find myself thinking…”

As he continued, everyone in the hall gasped in surprise.

“Aren’t you wasting the world’s greatest talent?”

This was Mangnyang’s provocation!

I rushed over to Lee Kwang, fearing he would lash out at Mangnyang. Wei Zhi-hun was also subtly watching Lee Kwang, worried he might lose his temper. Red Moon and Green Moon’s Dharma Guardians appeared to be enjoying the situation, keeping quiet.

Surprisingly, Lee Kwang didn’t seem angry. Instead, he put his hand to his chin for a moment in thought before speaking.

“If you’re trying to provoke me, you’ve picked the wrong person. If this is mere provocation to tarnish my honor, I’ll have no choice but to fight to defend it.”

That was a very political statement. In an instant, Lee Kwang had given himself a justified reason to violently deal with Mangnyang. The moment he reached for his beloved spear, the tension in the air was palpable. However, Mangnyang’s next words made Lee Kwang hesitate.

“Do you know how old our sparring warrior, So Woong, is?”

“……”

“So Woong may appear young, but his actual age is considerably greater. The side effects of the Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng mean he hardly ages; he’s likely around the same age as Jin So-cheong. Yet, he has traveled the world, mastering countless martial arts and creating his unique empty school of martial arts.”

Mangnyang’s words elicited a curt response from Lee Kwang.

“That’s all well and good, but he still seems lost when it comes to intent. Hardly a skilled practitioner.”

“But your disciple hasn’t managed to achieve victory against someone like him. Do you really think it was just the outcome of Wei Zhi-hun’s ruling?”

Lee Kwang fell silent, hit with a sharp question.

After seeing Lee Kwang unable to respond, Mangnyang looked on with disappointment.

“I don’t know what the ultimate goal of the Thunder God Lineage is, but you’re hoarding the world’s greatest talent at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School like a pet fish. Your disciple can’t grow any further here! Meanwhile, So Woong has been exploring the world, honing his talents and breaking free from limitations. Don’t you see something he’s learning?”

Lee Kwang irritably shot back, “What are you trying to say, Bancheon leader?”

Mangnyang grinned.

“Entrust your disciple, Jin So-cheong, to us at the Bancheon Alliance. Then he’ll surely leap from a scoring stage directly into enlightenment.”

“Hmm…”

Could Lee Kwang really fall for such words?

Worry gnawed at me as I watched carefully. If that persuasion didn’t work, Lee Kwang would surely strike at Mangnyang without hesitation. I was ready to bolt with Mangnyang if necessary, tension coursing through me.

But my fears were unfounded. Lee Kwang fell into deep thought before finally replying.

“I will consider it.”

“You can take that as half a yes.”

“Do as you wish.”

Lee Kwang replied curtly, striding confidently into the Waryong Hall and shutting the doors behind him. This behavior caught the attention of Wei Zhi-hun, as well as Red Moon and Green Moon’s Dharma Guardians; no one here would dare push into the Waryong Hall in such a tense state to check on his mood.

“Hmph!”

Wei Zhi-hun coughed lightly before speaking to Jin So-cheong.

“Then I will declare today’s friendly spar officially over.”

It seemed we needed to leave the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. The restless killing intent emanating from Lee Kwang in the Waryong Hall felt extraordinarily unsettling.

[Ah, right.]

As I turned to leave the martial arts school, Wei Zhi-hun’s voice carried subtly to me.

[So Woong, make sure to stop by Wudang Sect.]

[Huh?]

[Even if you find yourself in a hurry, just make sure to let Bancheon leader know, and I will definitely make arrangements. There’s a proper reward waiting for you, so be sure to come.]

[…Understood.]

It was likely about the Cave-Collapsing Sword and Heavenly Contraction Sword. Given that he was the highest expert in Wudang Sect, it was natural he would know and associate with Bright Dragon.

Afterward, I met with Red Moon and Green Moon’s Dharma Guardians together with Mangnyang to discuss things. Red Moon and Green Moon took off their masks, their faces alight with satisfaction as they praised Mangnyang.

“Truly, Bancheon leader, well done!”

“Thanks to you, we’ve gained confidence in Jin So-cheong’s talent. Much appreciated.”

“Haha, no need for such flattery.”

After exchanging pleasantries, Red Moon Dharma Guardian coyly added, “Do you think Lee Kwang will hand over Jin So-cheong?”

“I can’t say for sure, it’s only half success. Let’s wait for the outcome.”

“Hehe… Just seeing that look on Lee Kwang’s face was enough payback for me. Hahaha!”

Red Moon and Green Moon laughed heartily as they vanished using the Secret Transmission technique. Watching their figures fade, Mangnyang turned to me.

“Baek Woong. You did well.”

I felt a swell of emotion welling up inside me as I sighed deeply.

“Huh… I’m sorry. I couldn’t win.”

I felt like I’d want to crawl into a mouse hole.

When I lowered my head, Mangnyang gave me a peculiar look.

“Why are you feeling like that? You really performed excellently.”

“… After nearly a hundred years of hard work, even after suffering countless trials, I struggled against a twenty-something Jin So-cheong. How is that a good result?”

At this, Mangnyang burst into laughter, patting my back.

“Hahaha, you’re worrying over nothing! I’m not just saying this out of politeness. You truly did well.”

“……?”

Mangnyang sat down on a nearby chair and continued speaking.

“Honestly, today, you were about a move or two behind. Lee Kwang didn’t stop his disciple because he had faith in winning, and both Red Moon and Green Moon had confirmed Jin So-cheong’s immense talent. They were secretly hoping you’d ‘die’ on behalf of the top experts of the Bancheon Alliance.”

So that was the case.

There was indeed a backstory to the Thunder God experts not intervening with Jin So-cheong.

When I wore a downcast expression, Mangnyang smirked.

“But that’s just their perspective. To put it differently, it means you’ve become strong enough that Jin So-cheong cannot showcase his true prowess unless he fights seriously. Plus, you’re clearly bound to keep improving.”

“……!!”

“You will grow stronger in the future. Why should you feel small?”

I suddenly felt a rush of courage at Mangnyang’s words.

Because I’d struggled too much against Jin So-cheong, I hadn’t thought of it this way.

“That’s right!”

“Consider this. Today, you managed to impressively put Lee Kwang in his place.”

As Mangnyang chuckled, “He must be over there in the Waryong Hall wearing a look of exasperation, suppressing his anger!”

“Hahaha!!”

I laughed until tears streamed down my face.

Imagining that solemn Lee Kwang bursting with frustration over a draw was genuinely delightful.

Ah, this was it.

In truth, I had learned nothing about intent while training with the Sword Demon; I spent an entire month draining my stamina and energy with insane hell training. I was about to step into the spar with a heavy heart, soaked in disappointment.

But the Sword Demon gave me sage advice.

[If you can utilize everything you have, you won’t easily lose to anyone.]

That one line gave me the courage and confidence to return to Jinrang Valley with my head held high.

‘What if I’m stuck for now.’

Acquiring the realm of intent might be challenging, and perhaps, despite frenzied training, I might never attain it. But the thought of such hardships didn’t even cross my mind now; I felt genuinely uplifted.

I have companions.

That alone was enough.

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