Lee Song-baek frowned.
Regret? Did he just say regret? 'This young one is quite bold.' Normally, Lee Song-baek does not judge others based on age or status.
However, this young disciple of Hwasan was far too reckless. 'Even if he doesn't know better, this is too much.' He was not old enough to accurately understand the gap between his sect and others, nor to decide on his words and actions accordingly.
That much was understandable.
But how could a disciple from a different sect, who was at least a head taller than him, approach him with such an attitude while requesting a duel? 'Let’s think of it as being bold.' Lee Song-baek let out a slight sigh and continued speaking.
"You wish to engage in a duel?" "Yes."
The response was too calm.
Lee Song-baek, with the intention of showing some leniency to the child, spoke again.
"May I ask your name?" "I have no title. My name is Cheong-myeong."
"Cheong-myeong, Cheong-myeong."
The reason he asked a name he already knew was simple.
"Listen here, Cheong-myeong. I will give you one piece of advice. You may think that your sect is innocent, but the world does not judge based solely on right or wrong. Before you face greater misfortune, it would be wise to retreat from Hwasan..."
"Are we not fighting?" Lee Song-baek flinched.
Cheong-myeong yawned as if bored and stretched his arms.
"It seems the disciples of Jongnam prefer to argue with words. Why provoke a fight and then choose to speak instead of using a good sword?" "..."
Lee Song-baek smiled faintly. 'My self-cultivation is still lacking.' Seeing such a small brat provoke him like this made his desire to teach him a lesson surge.
"There’s no need to rush. I was just about to start."
As Lee Song-baek gripped his sword, Go-hwi lightly grabbed his sleeve.
"Brother, do you intend to fight personally?" Lee Song-baek turned to Go-hwi.
"There’s no need for you to step in. I will handle this."
"No." "Brother."
Lee Song-baek spoke with a firm gaze.
"There is a minimum level of courtesy. Among us, I am the eldest, so losing to me would at least give that child some face."
Eventually, Go-hwi sighed and stepped back. 'Anyway, my brother is too rigid.' His character alone would make him a great master.
"The scholar of Jongnam, Lee Song-baek, wishes to duel with the disciple of Hwasan, Cheong-myeong."
"Uh, wait a moment." "…What now?" Cheong-myeong slightly turned his head to look at Go-hwi.
"Could you lend me a sword?" "…" Go-hwi's eyes widened. 'He asks to borrow a sword? How can a disciple of a prestigious sect say such a thing?' The first lesson learned in swordsmanship is not to lend your sword to others.
Yet, he shamelessly asks for one! "Are you saying a disciple of the sword sect does not carry a sword?" "Well, did you think there would be a fight?" "What exactly is Hwasan…" "If you don’t want it, then just drink."
Cheong-myeong looked around.
"Let’s see. Is there anything usable as a sword…?" Lee Song-baek frowned.
"Give it to him."
"Brother!" "Do you want to hear that a disciple of Jongnam bullied a swordless disciple of Hwasan?" "…" At Lee Song-baek's words, Go-hwi sighed.
He then unfastened the sword at his waist and threw it to Cheong-myeong.
"Thank you."
Cheong-myeong caught the sword with one hand and looked at Lee Song-baek with indifferent eyes.
"Shall we begin?" "…Are you not planning to draw it?" "What’s there to draw? It’s not like I’m going to kill you. You can draw yours."
Lee Song-baek squeezed his eyes shut. 'This brat is infuriating.' Talking with him made all his previous self-cultivation feel like it vanished in an instant.
Taking a deep breath with his eyes closed, Lee Song-baek raised his sword.
Originally, he intended to startle him a bit to drive him away, but it seemed that wouldn't be enough.
Setting aside personal grievances… 'From the way he speaks and acts, it seems he won't listen unless something breaks.' Lee Song-baek accurately assessed Cheong-myeong's character from their brief exchange.
"Draw your sword."
"Yeah, whatever."
Cheong-myeong lazily lifted his sword.
Seeing this, Lee Song-baek narrowed his eyes slightly.
"You should do it properly. By the time you realize my hand is poisonous, it will already be too late."
"Hey."
"Hmm?" Cheong-myeong sighed deeply.
"Let’s hurry up. Why are we dragging this out? Come at me already." "…You!" Finally, anger rose on Lee Song-baek's face.
"I will correct your manners!" In the end, disregarding all courtesy, Lee Song-baek flew straight at Cheong-myeong.
Pah! The sword of Jongnam is simple and clear.
Among the various sects, those known for their swordsmanship all have distinct characteristics.
The sword of Wudang is soft, the sword of Hwasan is flashy, the sword of Jeomchang is swift, and the sword of Jongnam is solemn.
A heavy sword, devoid of any tricks or changes, struck down toward Cheong-myeong's neck.
Cheong-myeong lightly raised his sword to block Lee Song-baek's attack.
Clang! The clash of swords produced a sharp metallic sound.
"Ha!" At that moment, Lee Song-baek swung his sword again, aiming for Cheong-myeong's side.
It was quick and fierce.
Even if there was a chance for a counterattack, the momentum of the sword splitting through the air would deter any retaliation.
Clang! Once again, Cheong-myeong lowered his sword to block Lee Song-baek's attack.
Staggering, Cheong-myeong could not withstand the heavy weight and took a step back.
Seizing the opportunity, Lee Song-baek began to fiercely swing his sword, pressing Cheong-myeong hard.
"Oh."
Go-hwi, watching the duel, smiled leisurely.
"It seems brother is quite angry. He doesn't seem to intend to end this easily."
"What?" "That child has certainly irritated brother quite a bit. Tsk tsk. One should know when to joke around."
"Is brother scolding that child right now?" "Indeed. He could end it at any moment, but he is choosing to play along, isn't he? That child, who is currently blocking brother's attacks, must be feeling quite miserable."
As expected, Cheong-myeong kept retreating.
Seeing this, Wi Han-su tilted his head.
"For that, he seems to be blocking too well, doesn't he?" "That is precisely brother's remarkable skill. If brother were to defeat that child in one blow, what would people say?" "Ah…" "He is only pushing him with enough strength and speed to barely block his attacks, having already gauged the child's limits. He hasn’t landed a single hit, yet he is teaching him sufficiently."
Go-hwi shrugged.
"It’s too great a lesson for such a cocky child. He should realize that. You all should not miss brother's movements."
"Yes!" Go-hwi clicked his tongue. 'To see that dignified man so angry.
I would be angry too.
Brother must not get too worked up.' However, unlike the spectators, Lee Song-baek, who was attacking, was feeling the pressure.
Clang! 'Blocked again?' This was strange.
It shouldn’t be blocked.
Contrary to Go-hwi's words that he was playing with appropriate strength and speed, Lee Song-baek was currently using his fastest speed. 'Why is this being blocked?' It was a ridiculous situation.
Cheong-myeong's sword was not fast at all.
It was slow to the point of being frustrating.
Yet, with such movements, he perfectly blocked Lee Song-baek's sword.
The slow sword seemed to have preemptively taken the path of Lee Song-baek's sword and was waiting leisurely. 'Is this even possible without being in my head?' Reading the sword path? No, it was beyond that level.
There was no way a young disciple of Hwasan could read the sword path, and even if he could, it would be logically impossible.
To block his sword with that slow sword, Cheong-myeong would have to read Lee Song-baek's thoughts and move his sword before Lee Song-baek even shook his sword.
How could such a thing be possible unless Cheong-myeong were a ghost? "Taah!" Lee Song-baek shouted as he swung his sword with great force.
The child before him could only be around fifteen at most.
By age, he was merely a younger brother.
Yet, that child was blocking Lee Song-baek's sword without showing any signs of struggle. 'This is impossible!' Lee Song-baek's sword began to be infused with internal energy.
What had started as a light sparring match was gradually becoming infused with more and more energy without him realizing it.
Swaaa! A fierce sword wind burst forth from the sword.
Clang! However, even with all the internal energy, Lee Song-baek's sword could not push Cheong-myeong's sword away.
It was a wall.
No matter how much he struggled, he could not break through.
It was like a wall made of steel.
"Iik!" Fueled by stubbornness, Lee Song-baek swung his sword with all his might.
"Look!" Seeing the sword wind erupting from Lee Song-baek's sword, Go-hwi unconsciously shouted.
"Brother! Don’t get too excited!" Go-hwi's sharp voice clearly reached Lee Song-baek's ears. 'Ah, what am I doing!' Lee Song-baek hurriedly withdrew the internal energy from his sword.
The heavy momentum vanished, and his sword merely struck Cheong-myeong's sword with speed.
Yet, suddenly, a loud explosion rang out, and Cheong-myeong was flung back like an arrow shot from a bow.
"Huh?" He crashed directly into the wall.
Boom! Crash! A spiderweb-like crack spread across the wall where Cheong-myeong had hit.
Eventually, Cheong-myeong's body slid down to the floor. "…" Lee Song-baek's eyes widened.
"Brother!" Go-hwi rushed over in shock.
"What have you done to the child?" "No, I…."
He had clearly withdrawn his internal energy.
Even with all his strength, he could not inflict a scratch.
Yet, how could Cheong-myeong be sent flying like that while blocking a sword without internal energy? It was at that moment.
"Grrr."
Cheong-myeong, lying on the ground, began to convulse and suddenly spewed blood like a fountain.
"Hiiiii!" "Aaaah!" Everyone rushed to Cheong-myeong in panic.
Only Lee Song-baek stood there, dazed, as if possessed by a ghost.
"Puh!" Blood gushed violently upward.
Wow… one can bleed like that from their mouth.
It was clear to anyone that he had done something wrong.
"Brother!" "…" This was maddening.
Lee Song-baek could not comprehend what was happening.
"Grrr. Grrr."
Blood poured from Cheong-myeong's mouth like a fountain.
It was evident that he had suffered severe internal injuries.
It would not be surprising if he died right then and there.
Just as Lee Song-baek snapped back to his senses and was about to rush to Cheong-myeong, a voice rang out.
"What on earth have you done!" Everyone turned their gaze to where the voice came from.
Lee Song-baek could only close his eyes tightly, his face filled with despair.
A face he had never seen before, filled with rage, glared at him as Hwang Jong-gi trembled with fury.