As the clash reached its peak, the moment when the sword energy was shattered by the swift step of the first rank of the Jinbi Sect and the Hwanik Sect, I realized I had returned to the basics.
A sense of mastery washed over me, as if the martial arts principles were inscribed into every vein of my body.
The face of Namgung Hwasin entered my view.
Despite the grim expression he wore, his pale complexion remained calm.
Perhaps it was because he overwhelmed with sheer strength even when he was outmatched in skill.
Jeong Yeonsin paid no mind to it.
He leaned forward slightly, having just crushed the opponent's sword strike with a step.
His hands, wielding the left and right swords, were now relaxed. 'Now is the time.' I had to decide the outcome here.
My energy was running low.
If I delayed any longer, I would be the one to lose.
I decided to draw once more.
In the instant I swung the white-hued Yip Hwang sword in my right hand, I activated the opposing martial arts principle with my left.
My mind felt clear.
The energy began to flow from the Neiguan point beneath my wrist.
I wrapped the chaotic energy that was spreading uncontrollably with the Demonic Suppression Clear Water technique.
Whoosh! I entrusted the incomplete fourth sword form to the winds.
At that moment, a white sword light filled my vision.
Namgung Hwasin, having deflected the first strike of the Guanghua sword style, was launching a counterattack.
The arrows of the Changong Muai sword flew like unseen projectiles.
The air split into several streams and let out a short cry.
Jeong Yeonsin, unfazed, spread his palm.
Swish! In an instant, Namgung Hwasin's movements swirled like snowflakes.
They approached with a gently curved trajectory.
His technique was exquisite.
The movements encompassed both evasion and counterattack.
It seemed he aimed to strike from the side. 'If it’s Namgung, the young hero.' I expected as much.
Baek Gi-rin was a master capable of responding immediately to even the slightest movement.
Jeong Yeonsin sensed the psychology embedded in that defensive posture.
It was a movement wary of the power of the fourth sword form.
He had executed it once in this match.
Namgung Hwasin was unaware of the flaws in this form.
At least for now, that was sufficient.
Whoosh! I bent my hand backward.
I was not aiming at the front.
It was a form that released tension backward.
The meridian that pierced through the center of my left arm, from my shoulder, was filled with the overlapping energy of the Shigekyeong technique.
Without hesitation, I unleashed the opposing techniques of blood energy and the Clear Water technique.
Boom─! It felt as if a cannon had exploded in the arm I had fixed with energy.
The scene twisted like a storm and swept past my vision.
An immense burden pressed down on my left foot, which I had used as an axis.
I spun while enduring with my internal energy. "······!" At the edge of my vision, I caught a glimpse of Namgung Hwasin's face.
His eyes were wide with surprise.
Having already changed direction once to execute his technique, even Baek Gi-rin could not respond in time.
The speed of the Muai Clear Water technique was truly rapid.
Before I knew it, he was thrusting his sword close to my side, and the situation had shifted with a single technique.
Swish! Jeong Yeonsin felt the complete rotation of his body.
It was indeed like a tempest.
It was a fleeting moment.
My innate senses shone brightly.
The whirlwind of energy I could not control seemed to guide my body on its own.
I tightened the fibular muscles around my ankles, twisting the flow of power upward.
In an instant, the energy surged from my thighs and waist to my right arm.
Bang─! A sword flew away.
The spinning sword flashed continuously before it fell to the ground.
Clatter! Jeong Yeonsin's body, having spun two more times with the Yip Hwang sword, came to a halt.
The blue robe fluttered once before settling down.
He held his sword stance firmly.
The sunlight reflected off the blade of the Yip Hwang sword, creating a long shimmer.
The final move was a technique I had first learned from Ma Gwang-ik.
The Storing Energy technique.
It was my own warrior technique learned from observing the Clear Sword method.
I truly poured out all my martial knowledge. 'It hurts.' My grip felt tingly.
A numbing vibration traveled up to my wrist. "······."
A moment of silence enveloped the area.
It was due to the sight that had fully entered the eyes of the spectators.
Baek Gi-rin had lost his sword.
The young master who had mastered the long-standing techniques of the Namgung family had been defeated by a younger expert.
It was hard to speak immediately.
Anyone would feel that way, not just him.
Thus, the one who broke the silence was also the main character of the match.
"It was not even a real battle."
Namgung Hwasin slowly parted his lips.
"To mix hands with the techniques of the martial arts is rather petty."
The promising young master of the first rank of the Suncheon family had a slight smile on his face.
There was no hesitation in his gesture of raising his hand in salute.
Did he not care about the result? Despite having worked so hard to win, he seemed satisfied with the match, smiling.
"Jeong So-hyeop, it was a good match. I admit my defeat."
It was reminiscent of the moment he acknowledged his loss during the Yip Hwang ceremony.
He carried himself with the uprightness of a righteous martial artist.
He approached as an incredibly impressive person. 'During the entrance exam... my sword had flown away.' A strange sentiment arose.
Was it a feeling of time passing? The memory of not being able to withstand Namgung Hwasin's sword power and losing my sword was vivid.
The recollection of relying on Baek Gi-rin's generosity during the entrance exam felt like it had happened just yesterday, yet today had come.
It was a testament to my growth.
Jeong Yeonsin rooted his energy throughout his entire body and straightened his posture.
The aftermath of the fierce battle had stiffened his body.
He had received more power than he possessed throughout the match.
In fact, it seemed that Namgung Hwasin, who had lost, was in better shape, yet thankfully he did not show it and was able to raise his hand in salute.
"I have learned a technique. I am truly grateful."
Ma Gwang-ik and Suncheon Ik Baek Gi-rin raised their hands and exchanged greetings.
It was a scene of the future of Yip Hwang City offering their respects.
Only then did the crowd react.
Those discussing the future paths of the two, the young and youthful masters unable to hide their excitement over various martial principles, and those who seemed unable to suppress their desire to train, gathering their swords...
Among them, cheers and praises filled the central training ground.
"I never thought I would have to say such clichéd words. The future of our clan is bright."
"Baek Gi-rin must have shone even in the righteous sect's martial world. His bold character is truly admirable."
"I am curious about the unique martial arts of the Suncheon family. I heard that one of their techniques has entered the martial arts library, but the system is said to be quite complex..."
"I heard the great masters have not yet entered the sect. I wonder about other matters. If he has created such martial arts alone... he could establish a sect immediately."
"Rather, it might be better than being active on the front lines. If he were to lose in a life-and-death match against the Namgung family, wouldn't those precious techniques be lost?" The man who spoke of defeat quickly fell silent.
The former leader of the Divine Sword Sect was staring at him intently.
His gaze exuded a deep and tranquil aura that could silence the crowd.
The rumors of his rapid decline in strength after his prime seemed unfounded.
A small commotion arose.
However, it was a separate matter from the central training ground.
Step by step, the leader of the Myeolseom Sect approached Jeong Yeonsin and Namgung Hwasin.
He seemed unaffected by the chaos around him.
His powerful aura still enveloped his lean body like armor.
He was the one who had beheaded the leader of the Huangbo family, who had been hiding his secret techniques.
He seemed to have grown even stronger.
"The leader of the Suncheon family will compete against Namgung's young master."
He said.
"Baek Gi-rin will behead the leader of the Changling Flower."
It referred to Namgung Hwasin's half-sister.
It was a typical statement from the leader of the Myeolseom Sect.
Even while speaking of fratricide, his indifferent expression was striking.
He was said to be a formidable figure who had roamed the martial world for nearly twenty years as a black master of Yip Hwang City.
Jeong Yeonsin had even heard that his veins flowed with molten metal instead of blood. "······I accept the result of the match."
Namgung Hwasin took a rigid stance.
What kind of story lay behind this? He was one of the most upright individuals I had ever encountered in my life.
Jeong Yeonsin found himself unusually curious about another's affairs. 'It’s quite far until Namjigye.' They had decided to share their stories before the match.
They could discuss it on the way.
They were martial artists.
They felt it without needing to speak.
Their bond had grown closer as they exchanged swords.
"Suncheon."
The leader of the Myeolseom Sect called out to him.
His gaze was peculiar.
"I have seen you refine your martial arts here. Such precious techniques should not be buried. If you were to create a secret manual, many would shed blood to possess that book. This is when you went out into the martial world."
It was a remark he had never considered.
Jeong Yeonsin fell silent.
"Make sure to take care of your martial arts."
With that advice, the hand gripping the boy's shoulder tightened slightly.
The leader of the Myeolseom Sect glanced at both of the latecomers before turning away.
Namgung Hwasin shrugged his shoulders and approached.
"It seems like a word worth listening to. Extraordinary martial arts tend to attract blood. How many times have the tombs of nameless celestial demons been unearthed?" "I have heard of it."
Jeong Yeonsin nodded silently.
Namgung Hwasin, with a face that seemed much lighter, smiled.
"I have suffered a consecutive defeat. At the hands of a single young master."
"If we were to clash swords again, who knows what would happen."
"For now, that may be true. But do you know? The one who has personally experienced your growth is this Namgung. During the Yip Hwang ceremony, and now."
He said with a grin.
"In about a year, the opponent you will face will be different. Even among the Thirteen Heavens or the Nine Great Families, it will likely not be someone of the same age." "······."
I felt awkward responding, but he was not wrong.
To rise to the rank of the Divine Sword Sect leader, it had to be that way.
I would need to gain the strength to suppress the countless mid-level masters already making a name for themselves in the world.
"However, now is now. If I may dare to advise, Jeong So-hyeop, it would be best to further hone that peculiar technique and sword style of yours. Also, try to increase your internal energy as much as possible, regardless of the spirit you use."
Namgung Hwasin said seriously.
"My brother... is inherently strong. His martial arts are the same. Until he left the family, I had never won against him. It would be unwise to think of defeating him with internal energy. Considering the elixirs he has consumed as the eldest son of the Namgung family, he would be among the best in the world among his peers."
"I will keep that in mind."
Jeong Yeonsin slightly bowed his head.
I had already found my path.
What I needed was time.
"The days have grown longer."
Namgung Hwasin murmured as we exchanged bows.
The blazing sunset, as if to announce the passing of the summer solstice, was still vivid.
People began to leave one by one, casting long shadows without a hint of twilight.
Some remained in their places.
"I knew it would turn out this way!" It was Ma Gwang-ik and his companions from the Ma family, along with the masters of the Suncheon family.
On the opposite steps, Shin Bin-bin sat with a complicated expression.
Jeong Yeonsin looked at his junior, Shin So-bin, who was sitting beside her.
Her round, large eyes were still the same.
Bin-bin and So-bin.
It was easy to tell they were sisters, and I could guess what they were talking about.
It was because of Shin So-bin, who wore a smile all by herself.
Her face, filled with delight, looked rather amusing.
As the attendants tidied up the place, the Grand Commander of Yip Hwang City approached with a smiling face.
His gaze, alternating between Jeong Yeonsin and Namgung Hwasin, seemed to carry warmth.
"It was an impressive match."
"Grand Commander."
"It is an honor to meet the Grand Commander."
Jeong Yeonsin and Namgung Hwasin's salutes deepened his smile.
"It will take some time to deliver the official documents. We must first declare war on the Namgung family. However, at least within a week, you should receive the results."
That was the last of his praise.
The long and short competition came to an end.
It was a day when the names of Ma Gwang-ik and others were strongly etched in the vast Yip Hwang City.
After that, time flowed by in a blur.
From the very next day, many came to visit.
The aftermath was different from the customary ceremonies or the blue ascension ceremony.
A considerable number of masters from Yip Hwang City were interested in those who would face the Namgung family.
It was only natural.
The number one family in the world.
Even if the Thirteen Heavens of the demonic sect denied it, when the righteous martial artists discussed the strongest family, Namgung was never excluded.
Among the secular martial arts families, it was the clan that spoke of being the strongest in the righteous sect.
The one-on-one match between Namgung and Yip Hwang was an event that would shake the entire martial world. 'Later.
It won’t be long now.' Jeong Yeonsin refrained from going out as much as possible.
He mostly stayed in his room, keeping to himself.
Repeatedly practicing breathing techniques, he circulated his energy through his entire body and meridians.
He focused all his strength on bringing his internal state to a good condition.
He also worked hard to ensure that the golden ointment applied to his external wounds absorbed quickly.
The sunset continued to fade.
He awaited the time when the half-moon would swell with brilliance. 'Soon.' Every time he completed the Great Heavenly Circulation through the blood vessels of his upper body, a certain face would come to mind.
A lofty existence.
Both in status and martial prowess.
The full moon was approaching.