Chapter 84
The following day, I woke up before dawn and got ready for my ceremonial duties as a royal guard. I was adorned in special ceremonial attire provided to me and had learned how to move gracefully. Thankfully, my job mainly consisted of holding a flag and walking along a designated path.
Boop! — The strong brass instruments rang out, accompanied by the sounds of the erhu and the guzheng. I circled around the royal shrine before finally standing at the designated spot. The ceremony honoring King Gongmin lasted about an hour, and I had to stand still the whole time.
“Thus, the ceremony is concluded.”
A figure adorned with a golden crown stepped forward and declared loudly. After the event, all the royals and nobles drifted off somewhere. The royal guards scattered, following the nobles they were to escort. I had heard some directions, so I followed a group toward the grand banquet hall.
The banquet hall was luxuriously decorated. Under the cool, bright sunlight, a feast was laid out, and musicians were positioned to play. Nobles were chatting softly at the large tables scattered around.
I was looking for the guardian commander working under Jeong Cheol-wook. As he was organizing the guards, he spotted me and said, “You should go wait in that white tent over there.”
“Understood!”
Even though I didn’t fully understand, his pointing fingers made it clear enough. I went inside the tent, where a simple seating area was prepared for resting. It seemed that I was meant to wait here until the sparring began.
Inside the tent stood a girl. She seemed to be complaining in Goryeo language.
“…?”
Not understanding, she glanced around, looked at a teacup nearby, and handed it to me, probably asking if I wanted tea. I shook my head, and then she took the teacup back and stepped outside.
‘This is really uncomfortable…’ I thought. Simple conversations were fine, but when the vocabulary got tricky or the grammar tangled, I was completely lost. Despite studying hard for the last six months, it was still tough. I’d probably need to live in Goryeo for a few years to communicate properly.
After a while, the guardian commander came back into the tent. “It’s time for the sparring to begin.”
“Understood!”
I followed him out of the tent. The open arena had a sparring stage set up, about twenty mats in size. As I stepped onto the stage, I heard people speaking in Goryeo from below. They were likely explaining the background of the upcoming sparring match.
Moments later, my opponent stepped forward.
I recalled what Lee Joo-hee had told me the day before. ‘We’ll have three rounds, and if I lose even one, it means defeat.’
It was a ridiculously unfair condition, but there was no helping it. Testing my skills in the Twelve Joules would naturally come with tough challenges. I observed my opponent closely, and he frowned in annoyance.
“@@@…!!”
He mumbled something in Goryeo and made a martial gesture.
He appeared to be in his mid to late twenties, a swordsman. I deduced his internal power strength and thought, ‘Quite a skilled expert.’
As I stood there, the translator below the stage said, “He is Ja Ryun from the Twelve Joules National Defense Alliance. You should introduce yourself.”
I nodded and returned the martial gesture. “I am Baek Woong, a guardian warrior of the Jeong Clan.”
My Goryeo was somewhat awkward, but clear enough. Ja Ryun nodded, apparently understanding, and drew his sword, aiming it at me. It seemed the sparring was about to start.
Boom! — A large gong rang out, signaling the start of the sparring. As I noticed Ja Ryun’s form shoot forward, I could see a burst of sword qi scattering in the air like a thunderclap. The speed was incredibly fast, and the techniques were precise, leaving me no choice but to raise my sword for defense.
Clash!
“Ugh.” I didn’t know what to expect from Ja Ryun’s sword technique, but I was quite surprised. His skills were worlds apart from the pirate captains I’d faced before; he was genuinely refined, having mastered an elite sword technique. His internal power was impressively high for his age, and seeing him unleash sword qi, he was likely on par with the elders of the Nine Great Sects.
Clang! Clang!
I initiated a probing battle and lightly deployed the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique to block Ja Ryun’s attacks. Perhaps due to the overwhelming internal power that flowed through my sword, after several exchanges, Ja Ryun halted his assault and retreated. He must have realized he could get cut while attacking.
‘Hmm. This guy is a genius of martial arts.’ I thought. Among the esteemed guests of the Han Clan, there were hardly any swordsmen that matched Ja Ryun’s level; maybe a Ki Ryong Shingun at best. For someone so seemingly young to possess the power in the realm of the Nine Great Sects was quite the talent.
Ja Ryun was undoubtedly a Peak Expert!
His level would rank among the best in Goryeo’s martial arts world.
After tending to his posture, Ja Ryun charged at me, launching a fierce sword attack. I calmly resumed my defense.
Clang!
However, Ja Ryun was sweating profusely on his forehead, evidently feeling the immense pressure from my abilities. It made sense since every clash with my sword sent his body flying back several feet. With a clear advantage in power, victories were inevitable.
Moreover, I had progressed several levels beyond when I had fought with the Jin Clan’s elder before. Ja Ryun couldn’t exploit openings without first dodging my powerful blows.
Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore and leapt back several feet.
…
Silence enveloped the stage. The lull was due to neither of us making aggressive moves; both Ja Ryun and I were locked in a defensive standoff. After some time, Ja Ryun suddenly spoke.
The translator at the bottom echoed loudly, “Ja Ryun declares he will unleash his ultimate technique! If you can withstand this, he will acknowledge his defeat.”
I nodded without hesitation. “Of course!”
To push for a victory through sheer internal power wouldn’t look great, so I appreciated the challenge. I prepared my sword technique to counter Ja Ryun’s upcoming attack as a silver aura emanated from Ja Ryun’s entire being.
Hoo…
The silver aura signified the manifestation of his energy. With a special internal energy cultivation technique, he was about to unleash a move beyond his usual capability, at least momentarily. Soon, the sword qi surrounding his sword intensified, unleashing a blazing sword flame, brimming with overwhelming ferocity.
Ja Ryun’s spirit call echoed.
“Haaah!”
Boom!
Simultaneously, Ja Ryun’s sword and body became one, charging towards me with incredible speed. This was a level of martial arts seldom seen even in the Central Plains Martial World — the unity of body and sword. Had this come from a true martial artist, it could undoubtedly reach the formidable level of taking down average fighters. The moment I noticed, I realized Ja Ryun was desperate enough to risk everything for this match.
‘No, I can’t let that happen!’
After all the hardships I faced to reach this point, I couldn’t afford to die without finding the Sea of Origin first. I put forth every ounce of concentration and, just as his technique was unleashed, initiated the Thunder Shadow Step’s secret move, the Heavenly Gathering Kill.
Wham!
My form split into three in an instant. While executing the Heavenly Gathering Kill, I skillfully dodged Ja Ryun’s attack. My sleeves tore as the blade barely grazed my wrist, leaving a minor cut, but I managed to withstand Ja Ryun’s onslaught.
Thud!
Simultaneously, my left hand unleashed the Thunder Cloud Palm, sending Ja Ryun sprawling backward.
“Grrr!”
Despite expending a significant amount of strength and internal energy, Ja Ryun coughed up blood. The gap created right after unleashing his ultimate move compromised his defenses. Seeing Ja Ryun rolling on the ground in misery, I realized the terrifying potential of the Thunder God Lineage.
‘Both the Thunderclap and the Thunder Shadow Step are truly incredible martial arts! Could this be on par with a divine technique?’
It was a strain of martial arts capable of bypassing even the secret techniques of first-class or peak experts! The Thunder God Lineage’s martial arts held the key to extreme offensive capabilities reinforced by required techniques.
“Baek Woong wins!”
The announcer declared loudly.
Whispers arose among the Goryeo nobles watching the match, with expressions full of admiration. Upon seeing their positive reactions, I felt somewhat relieved that I was holding my own in this competition.
A moment later, the announcer approached me. He was a person who could speak Han Chinese.
“Sorry, but you’re to have a rest for a short while. It’s going to take some time to prepare the next representative.”
“Okay.”
“Please go wait in that white tent.”
I stepped back into the tent where an unexpected figure was waiting.
“Joo-hee?”
“Don’t call me that~ Just call me Joo-hee.”
“What brings you here?”
Lee Joo-hee, who had taught me Goryeo for the last six months, was sitting there with a bright smile. She giggled and said, “You did great! Taking down Ja Ryun from the National Defense Alliance is unbelievable…”
“I only defeated the first representative.”
“No way! The Twelve Joules had thought they’d wrap it up with Ja Ryun! The reason you’re getting a break now is that they’re shocked. They never thought you’d beat Ja Ryun.”
“…?”
I looked puzzled.
Of course, Ja Ryun was impressive for his age, but did he really deserve that much pride?
‘Oh, I get it. I do look like a teenage boy, so it makes sense they’d think that way.’
However, I quickly realized my perception was skewed. I had fought against peak experts and elite martial artists, so Ja Ryun’s skills didn’t seem all that extraordinary now. To an average martial artist, he was an impressive powerhouse that one might meet only once in a lifetime. Joo-hee asked, “So, no matter who comes next, you can win, right?”
She asked worriedly. I chuckled and replied, “Anyone who can win will win. I’ll just give it my all.”
“Do you even know how cowardly that sounds? If you give it your all and lose, is that good enough?”
Joo-hee grumbled, gripping my hand and looking at me earnestly. “Whatever happens, make sure you win! Got it?”
“Understood.”
Joo-hee seemed determined to cheer me on. I’d never expected someone to worry about me while being in an unfamiliar land, feeling an odd sense of attachment every time I looked at her face.
Moments later, I was called again and stepped out of the tent onto the sparring stage. As I arrived, my next opponent emerged. This time, it wasn’t a young man like Ja Ryun, but an older peak expert.
A man in his sixties with a bushy white beard wielded a spear. He introduced himself, and the translator below announced, “The second opponent is Choi Eul-ryong from the Twelve Joules Flowing Water Gate.”
I glanced at the translator and said, “I have a request.”
“Huh? What’s that?”
“I’d like to switch my weapon to a spear. Could you ask Choi Eul-ryong?”
The translator looked caught off guard by my request. He approached Choi Eul-ryong to relay my message, and Choi nodded without hesitation. It seemed he was confident enough to face me with whatever weapon I might choose.
“Sure, I’m fine with that. I’ll arrange for a spear to be brought.”
Wham!
After receiving the spear, I took my stance and faced Choi Eul-ryong, waiting for the gong signaling the start of the sparring.
‘The Twelve Joules seem serious about winning. This guy is strong…’
I could tell just by looking at Choi Eul-ryong that he was no ordinary fighter!
But I still had no inkling of how strong he truly was. If Choi Eul-ryong was a peak expert, it would be extremely difficult to win here. That meant choosing the more powerful spear would be my best bet in an actual fight.
Choi Eul-ryong seemed to have a hunch about my reason for changing weapons. His eyes gleamed with intrigue.
Boom! — The loud gong signaled the start of the second round. However, unlike Ja Ryun, Choi Eul-ryong didn’t charge in immediately. Surprisingly, he spoke to me in Han Chinese.
“The Central Plains is indeed vast. I’ve never seen a talented boy like you in my lifetime.”
“You can speak Han Chinese?”
“Hehe… I traveled around the Central Plains a bit when I was younger.”
Choi Eul-ryong smiled warmly. “Noticing you holding a spear, you seem quite prepared. As the leader of the Water Flow Gate, I’ll give it my best shot.”
“Leader…!! Are you the leader of the Twelve Joules?”
“Yes. Let us have a match.”
Whirr! — Choi Eul-ryong raised his spirit, similar to the fierce silver aura that Ja Ryun had unleashed. However, its intensity was calmer, like a mighty river flowing around him.
Seeing the stability emanating from his stance made me nervous, realizing that a martial artist like him, merging spirit, skills, and body, was immensely frightening.
‘Damn it… He’s really serious.’ I instinctively felt a surge of anxiety upon realizing Choi Eul-ryong’s defense must be at a peak expert level.
How could a leader of the Twelve Joules even engage in a mere competition?
“Cough!”
Suddenly, I ducked as explosions sounded in the air above. It seemed Choi Eul-ryong’s spear moved in a leisurely manner, but unexpectedly shook the air around me. It hit me, quickly realizing that he was using an advanced technique that combined shooting and thrusting.
With that technique, he could unleash invisible force from afar, targeting an opponent from a distance.
Meanwhile, I shuffled into the Thunder Spirit Eight Forms, focusing the strength of the lance. Adopting a low squat stance, I spun the spear in an evasive posture and caught Choi Eul-ryong’s attention.
“Remarkable! At your age, you’ve grasped the nuances of spear techniques?”
It was a brief silence as we both assessed each other’s weaknesses.
The next moment, my spear and Choi Eul-ryong’s spear clashed. Mine spun, generating fierce winds that tore the surrounding air apart while he swiftly dodged my attack and lunged at my vital points.
Clang!
Even as I swung my spear to deflect his assaults, his attacks kept coming relentlessly. Suddenly, the technique known as ‘Reversal of Heaven’ activated, allowing him to twist and strike from any angle, sending invisible pressure crashing toward me. I had no chance for a counterattack or solid defense, which forced me to retreat.
Clang! Clang!
As I backed away and dodged, I realized Choi Eul-ryong was calmly adopting a technique, making ten precise thrusts and forcing me to retreat with every strike. Each attack was unabashedly terrifying. I felt the air cutting my lungs as I continued to step back.
Wham! — I couldn’t hold back anymore and performed the Thunder Shadow Step again, swiftly moving through the training grounds. My afterimage danced, but he seemed to have keen eyes and smiled slyly while launching a torrential series of attacks toward my real position.
Clang!
I was flung back, propelled by the force of his spear. It was astonishing that he too possessed high-level techniques capable of optimizing internal power differences. As I landed, I bit my lip.
‘Surely, he’s a peak expert… I can’t win in a fair fight like this.’
I couldn’t tell whether Choi Eul-ryong could wield Lee Hyeong-hwan’s remarkable powers, but I strongly suspected he couldn’t. When confronted, I always found that if they unleashed their ultimate abilities, there would be no chance for me to win.
Choi Eul-ryong was likely at the initial stage of peak mastery. But even that small factor could yield significant differences in technical skill and overall ability, leaving me limited to defensive actions alone. I hadn’t anticipated facing such powerful opponents, leaving me feeling pressured. It seemed he felt the same way.
Choi Eul-ryong lowered his spear and said with a somber look, “We’ve been living in a well, haven’t we? If there are those at your level in the Central Plains, our Twelve Joules won’t stand a chance in the martial arts world. This is a significant lesson today.”
“…”
Of course, that wasn’t true. There weren’t many like me in the Central Plains martial arts world. Still, I felt no need to correct his misconception.
Instead, I gripped my spear tightly and declared, “Let’s go until the end, then! That’s the spirit of a martial artist, isn’t it?”
“That’s right!”
And our clash continued.
For the next three hundred seconds or so, I threw everything I had into the fight. It was almost as if I was using all the spear techniques I had learned from Lee Kwang. However, the fundamental difference in our skill levels was insurmountable. Ultimately, I was unable to fend him off and exposed an opening, leading to my downfall.
The cold spear tip felt against my throat.
“Choi Eul-ryong wins!”
I was filled with frustration.
If I had used the Thunderclap, I might have seized a victory, but her words from Lee Kwang still echoed in my mind: “Don’t reveal the Thunderclap casually.” It was embedded in my brain. While exposing techniques like the Thunder Shadow Step or spear skills would be of little consequence, the Thunderclap was a different matter.
Lee Kwang had said to kill any witnesses if they ever saw him use it, as the unique breath of the Thunderclap might let the enemy read the flow and possibly expose their weakness. In the heart of Goryeo, a land where I was already a stranger, I couldn’t dare to use it in a sparring match with so many eyes watching.
‘Sigh… From tomorrow on, I’ll be treated coldly in the Jeong Clan.’
Just as I rose from my seat, Choi Eul-ryong spoke to me.
“You possess remarkable skills. Who is your master?”
“I cannot reveal that.”
“Hmm… Your master must be one of the best in the arts of spear. I look forward to learning who they are later.”
“…”
“We sincerely apologize for the previous annoyance caused by our Twelve Joules. We won’t trouble you again.”
With that, Choi Eul-ryong stepped off the sparring stage. As I accepted his apology, I felt as if I had just cleared a hurdle. I may not have won all three rounds, but at least I wouldn’t have to endure undue trouble from the Twelve Joules going forward.
After that day’s banquet, I returned to the Jeong Clan where Jeong Cheol-wook summoned me.
To my surprise, instead of criticism or harsh words, he stood up, astonished, and grasped my hand. “To see your divine might firsthand is astounding!”
“…Huh?”
“To battle against the leader of the Twelve Joules and have such a thrilling bout. It’s already the talk of the capital!” he chuckled, “What a satisfying sparring match it was.”
“But I lost…”
To my surprise, Jeong Cheol-wook chuckled heartily. “Haha, everyone knows the leaders of the Twelve Joules are peak experts! In fact, many nobles lament it was childish for a leader to engage against someone like you. You fulfilled your role splendidly.”
“Hmm.”
“I hope we can continue to work together! You are valued highly now.”
His words rang true. Going forward, the Jeong Clan didn’t treat me with disdain but rather began to host me with great respect. The guards who treated me like an outsider now occasionally spoke to me with broken Han Chinese jokes, an extent of acceptance and friendship.
It seemed the Twelve Joules held significant importance within Goryeo.
‘Indeed, if I can’t avoid it, then giving my all seems to yield good results.’
As I continued learning the language and writing from Joo-hee, I thought about how I needed to visit Haeinsa once I got some time off. If I could find some leads there, it would likely make my future endeavors much easier.
