"Yes. I can feel the wind well."
The man laughed, his blue headscarf and even bluer eyes shining brightly.
"Even a ten-year-old's sword technique has its sword wind. You can tell how the sword is swung and what it feels like. Here in Ma Gwang Ik, my friend Baek Mi Ryeo's sword is overflowing with talent, so make sure to learn from him. It's very intuitive."
"Let's do it."
Jeong Yeon Sin did not ask any further.
As he circulated his energy in place, the hem of his clothes began to flutter slightly.
Amid the curious gazes of the Ma Gwang Ik warriors, the energy of Jeong Ga Dong Gong rose throughout his body.
"Call me Cheong Myeong. I was born and raised here in Yang Yang."
"I am Jeong Yeon Sin from Ip Hwang Seong."
"Ah, I see. Such a place exists."
Cheong Myeong chuckled lightly, his aura as clear as his name.
Jeong Yeon Sin reached for the sword he received from Ip Hwang Seong.
Ip Hwang Sword.
It was a top-quality sword, incomparable to the iron sword of his family that he had originally used, and the sound of the sword was so clear and loud that even Heon Won Chang from the next room came rushing in.
"I heard there’s a forge of short Iron Clan members here."
If the rumors were true, it would make sense that the quality of the swords provided would be this good.
Unlike the famous clans known for their beauty and strength, the Iron Clan was said to have unparalleled forging skills, even if not much else was known about them.
"I will go."
"Alright. They say your sword is exceptional. Let’s see it."
"Then."
A tremor that had become familiar over the past week rose from the hand gripping the sword.
Before Jeong Yeon Sin drew his sword, he noticed the hardened calluses on Cheong Myeong's hands, as if they were covered in armor.
The solid muscles visible between his sleeves and his upright posture testified to his formidable martial prowess.
The piercing gaze that seemed to penetrate his mind approached overwhelmingly.
"There's no need to worry. This is a chance to show my skills."
He cleared his mind.
Jeong Yeon Sin focused only on the breath that Cheong Myeong exhaled.
Inhale, very slowly exhale.
"Now."
The energy that should have flowed through his left foot instead surged to the opposite side, overlapping.
A loud thud echoed.
With a single leap of his right foot, Cheong Myeong's upper body came so close it felt like it would pierce his eyes.
He broke the ground beneath him and drew the Ip Hwang Sword.
In a single stroke, five steps away were cut and scattered.
As if unleashing the tightly coiled muscles and internal energy, he continued with the swift sword technique.
The sound was like swimming through a storm, striking his ears like a drum, sending a thrill through his lower abdomen.
Having gained the sword's name, he transformed once more.
It was a sensation he could fully feel.
Bang! He collided with an overwhelming force of sword energy.
Seeing the opening in his side, he charged in, but suddenly his vision blurred white.
As his body was flung back, an immense shock traveled from his hand up to his elbow.
He didn’t even know when he had raised his sword.
"Still, it’s more than I expected..."
Just before he was about to fly away, he concentrated his energy on the points of his right knee, Liang Qiu, Xue Hai, and Xi Yang Guan.
The moment the muscles beside his knee twitched like a beast, his right foot planted firmly on the training ground.
At the same time, he exploded his energy from the Yong Qian point in his heel.
Crack! Whoosh! "I can manage this."
His body spun half a turn around his right foot.
Instead, he had caught the rear angle.
At the end of the arc traced by the Ip Hwang Sword, Cheong Myeong's trapezius muscle behind his neck awaited.
The sound that sliced through the air was followed by Cheong Myeong's entire body twitching as if it were pulsating.
His body seemed to fade, and in an instant, the world before him turned white once more.
Cheong Myeong's sword was closing in.
Whoosh! "The Threading Silk Technique, it spun perfectly."
It wasn’t something he realized by looking.
The humming sword in his grip sensed the flow of air instead.
Cheong Myeong's words about feeling the wind inspired him, and in that moment, he was developing the realm of unity with the new sword.
Clang! With a sound like a bell, the energy infused with his internal power scattered in all directions, tearing at the hems of his clothes.
His arm shot up with tremendous force.
He felt a sense of accomplishment for not losing his grip on the sword amidst such a powerful clash.
Whoosh! He let his body fall back as if to lie down.
It was the Iron Plate Bridge technique.
Thanks to his right foot planted firmly on the ground, the execution was easy.
The white sword blade brushed past his nose.
The sight of his hair being cut off just before it could fall sent chills down his spine.
Jeong Yeon Sin pulled his foot from the ground and kicked out.
With a feigned miss anticipating a dodge, he flipped in the air and landed on the ground.
He immediately gripped his sword and gazed at Cheong Myeong with clear eyes.
He felt something snag at the tip of his raised foot; the headscarf had come off.
"As expected, a famous clan."
The sharp ears like a sword tip and golden hair were things a Han could not possess.
Having seen famous clans often lately, Jeong Yeon Sin thought little of it and adjusted his grip on the sword.
"Next, I will use the swift technique with the Ip Hwang Sword... huh?"
Lost in concentration, he suddenly realized that the surroundings were filled with silence.
Even Cheong Myeong, who had been a formidable opponent, looked at him with a bewildered expression.
At some point, everyone in the arena was staring at Jeong Yeon Sin with astonished eyes.
In any case, Cheong Myeong's identity did not seem to be a secret.
"..."
He didn’t understand what was happening, but he felt that the atmosphere was not conducive to continuing the spar.
Jeong Yeon Sin cautiously sheathed his new sword, which he had just used, and suddenly felt curious, asking, "How was that? You said you could see talent."
"..."
"I know you let me see a few more moves. Please be honest."
"Uh..."
The masters of Ma Gwang Ik, who had faced off against the Plum Blossom Sword Masters, and even Cheong Myeong, who had shared swords with Nam Gung Je Il Gyeom, seemed to have forgotten how to speak.
They simply stared at Jeong Yeon Sin.
After a moment, Ma Jin twisted his scarred face and opened his mouth.
"You. How old did you say you were?"
"I'm fifteen, but does that matter? They don’t consider age, so only my current achievements are important."
Jeong Yeon Sin replied, frowning.
What did age matter when he was on the brink of death? However, it seemed that no one heard his words.
Cheong Myeong, who had suddenly thrown away the sword of a warrior, and the warriors of Ma Gwang Ik began to murmur one after another.
It was an unbelievable chaos.
"That’s a monster."
"No. It should be called a mistake of heaven."
"I’ve been to the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, but I’ve never seen anything like that. Even if one were to master the Sensory Path from birth, it wouldn’t be like this."
"In our city, I was the unparalleled genius."
"Unparalleled, my foot."
Ma Jin did not bother to silence them and gestured toward Heon Won Chang.
"Next. Heon Won Chang, from Shanxi."
"That, that person? Right now?"
"Stand in position. I will judge you."
No one from Ma Gwang Ik focused on Heon Won Chang, who looked like he was about to cry.
Only Jeong Yeon Sin, who was in the same group, observed closely, as if there was nothing to learn from it.
"Ma Gwang Gyeol is a martial art that does not discriminate against weapons."
Ma Jin, who had just returned from a mission a few days ago, immediately began to teach.
It was common for missions to last several months as they traveled across the vast Central Plains, so upon returning, at least a month of rest was guaranteed.
Jeong Yeon Sin began to learn Ma Gwang Gyeol alongside Heon Won Chang.
This was his first time properly learning a martial art.
"Sword, knife, spear, fist, palm, hand, foot, axe, staff, whip. And many other weapons. Ma Gwang Gyeol does not discriminate against any of them. If learned properly, that is."
"How is that possible? Then the sword masters wouldn’t need to learn swords at all."
Heon Won Chang, whose eyelids were swollen, asked.
Ma Jin, when teaching, was like the most accommodating teacher in the world, answering every question gently.
"The principle is different. Ma Gwang Gyeol is about how to use the body. It’s all about what can be done with a person's hands and feet. Except for the bow, it encompasses everything from close-range strikes to medium and long-range spears."
He added, "Therefore, it’s not shallow. Heon Won Chang, as you said, it cannot be compared to sword masters who only seek to master the sword. We are not the Taoist priests of the Wu Dang sect, spinning a sword alone for the sake of enlightenment."
‘They can speak of the Wu Dang sect’s Tai Chi Sword like that.’ Jeong Yeon Sin thought it was a sword technique he wanted to see someday and listened carefully.
"The martial arts of our Ip Hwang Seong are always about fierce battles. Even solo missions should be thought of as chaotic fights. A fight is a collection of variables! Will you insist on using your sword even when your stance is broken due to a misstep? If you learn Ma Gwang Gyeol, you will not hesitate to abandon the sword at that moment. The level of choice changes, and many survive."
Ma Jin glanced at Jeong Yeon Sin for a moment.
He seemed to be recalling the kick that had blown away Cheong Myeong's headscarf.
Conversely, Jeong Yeon Sin thought of Cheong Myeong, who had thrown down his sword after the spar ended.
"Oh... indeed."
The Ip Hwang Sin Hyup, who had been inspired, exclaimed in admiration.
Ma Jin, who was sitting next to Jeong Yeon Sin, glanced at him with a peculiar light in his eyes.
"However, Ma Gwang Gyeol requires innate adaptability and insight. If you lack either, you must work hard to engrave it into your body. But do not worry."
He continued, lifting the scar beneath his lips.
"That is the role of me and Ma Gwang Ik. The very fact that you passed through Ip Hwang City proves your talent. If you follow well, you will be able to join us on the next mission."
And thus, Heon Won Chang's trials began.
"Ugh..."
The next day, something resembling a corpse stood awkwardly in the Ma Gwang Ik training hall.
It seemed that the saying about engraving was not an exaggeration, as Ma Jin taught the principles of Ma Gwang Gyeol and demonstrated the skilled techniques in a spar that felt like a real battle.
"My Ma Gwang Gyeol strikes are precise. I know you can move. It’s commendable that you haven’t collapsed. Now, replicate it and achieve success."
Ma Jin spoke indifferently to Heon Won Chang and turned to Jeong Yeon Sin.
Compared to Heon Won Chang, he appeared completely unharmed.
With the black Ip Hwang Sword at his waist and the white martial robe fluttering in the wind, he already exuded the aura of a warrior from Ip Hwang Seong, despite his youthful appearance.
"You have finished. Did you grasp the essence of the principles?"
"Fluidity without obstruction."
"…Correct. The body has a way to move in any situation. The flow of energy should not be interrupted and should continue smoothly; that is the true essence of Ma Gwang. Insight, creativity, adaptability. If you have fully understood the principles, now you must realize the mysteries of the flow."
"The mysteries of the flow?"
"Words are not enough; seeing is believing."
Ma Jin stood in front of a brick tower at one corner of the training hall.
It was rare for the members of Ip Hwang Seong to use wood.
Being a famous clan, the entire building was made of stone, so it was unthinkable to set up a training log.
"Watch."
In an instant, a powerful aura enveloped Ma Jin.
Then, it vanished just as quickly.
It seemed he wanted to show that he had completely released his strength.
He extended his arm and struck the side of the tower with his calloused fist.
Thud! It was unclear how much external power he had trained to produce such a dull sound without hesitation.
At the same time, the brick tower collapsed.
"The optimal moment and the best strike. The flow is the trajectory that draws that. Following the perfect flow results in the utmost strike. It could be called the realm of internal techniques, but what I want to convey is a separate principle. Internal techniques are about observing the opponent's attack. However, the flow you draw begins in the realm of instinct. There’s no need to observe your own attack."
Ma Jin did not even brush his hands off as he turned to Jeong Yeon Sin.
Jeong Yeon Sin, gazing at the rubble of the tower, thought, ‘The servants must be having a hard time.’ He wondered how much the servants of Ip Hwang Seong were paid and immediately shook off the thought.
"It’s about using your body at the right moment."
It meant to capture when and where to unleash power.
In an instant, Jeong Yeon Sin, who had comprehended the mysteries, relaxed his hands.
"This is the realm of mastery. You cannot do it with just one look. The more you practice, the more instinctively you will find the optimal flow. It is something you must take as a lifelong assignment."
"Is that so...?" It didn’t seem like it.
Jeong Yeon Sin thought.
Before he knew it, an inspiration that had gone even further began to spark like lightning in his mind. ‘I could do this differently.
Right now...’ A heavenly light flickered in Jeong Yeon Sin's eyes, and his hand slightly lifted.