Chapter 171
171
“Are you sure you’re alright? You must still be tired from your journey.”
“The Jinseong disciple must be tired from the journey as well. Instead of that, please spar with me. There are things I’m curious about.”
“Um… Yes. I understand.”
After hesitating, Jin-sung nodded and drew his sword.
I swallowed hard, waiting for Jin-sung’s stance.
The first time I crossed hands with him, I felt an overwhelming difference in skill even with a single exchange.
How much has he changed in the meantime? Has the gap narrowed at all?
I also wanted to see if the method Yang Gyo-jin told me would work against Jin-sung.
‘Wudang’s swordsmanship is soft, but the movements are a bit large. It deflects attacks while drawing a circle. If you shake the sword path before the opponent completes the Tai Chi, shouldn’t you be able to break it?’
‘You’re saying to break the flow?’
‘Yeah. Guys who learned from prestigious Sword Sects are obsessed with stances. A master wouldn’t care much, but someone our age will be shaken the moment the flow they’re used to is blocked. I’ve tried it, and it works well.’
I was planning to try it out since he wasn’t one to make false claims about swordsmanship.
Will it work?
Jin-sung, who slowly took a stance, asked, extending his sword gesture.
“Would you like to go first?”
“Yes, I’ll go first!”
I shouted, regulating my breathing, and poured out Feather Needles.
Jin-sung lightly deflected the pouring Feather Needles with his blade and leaped toward me.
His expression was as serious as ever, but his eyes held a faint hint of concern for me.
He seemed to be trying to avoid hurting me.
Seriously. He’s underestimating me too much, standing right in front of me.
Even though I knew it was confidence based on skill, I felt like I needed to land a hit to feel better.
With a sulky face, I dug into his side.
A look of trouble appeared on Jin-sung’s face as he frowned, seemingly not expecting me to come in so deep. He seemed to be hesitating whether to kick me away or retreat gracefully.
Clenching my teeth, I aimed for Jin-sung’s right arm, and he flinched, pulling his body back and swinging his sword.
The moment Jin-sung’s Pine Pattern Sword was about to draw a circle, I climbed onto the back of the sword, slid down, and held a Flying Dagger to his neck.
Jin-sung’s pupils dilated in surprise, reflecting my grinning face.
Yes! Yang Gyo-jin is being helpful!
“Did I get you with a hit?”
As I tilted my head, enjoying myself, his grey eyes shook violently.
He furrowed his brow, quickly shook me off, and created distance.
Jin-sung’s eyes darkened as he readjusted his grip on the sword.
“It won’t work a second time, Dang Sojeo.”
“Hey, you never know until you try.”
“People often think of Wudang’s swordsmanship as soft… but not everyone is like that.”
Jin-sung, breathing roughly, glared at me and rushed forward.
“Huh? Ack, disciple!”
As I screamed and leaned back to dodge, Jin-sung continued in a blunt voice.
“During the years that Wudang has stood firm as the greatest Taoist Sect under the heavens, countless Swordmasters have been buried in Wudang. I hope you don’t forget that there are just as many different branches of swordsmanship.”
So many branches of swordsmanship?
Before I could think deeply, a sharp blade flashed. Reflexively, I planted my hands on the ground and did a somersault, retreating out of his range.
Clang!
The Pine Pattern Sword collided with the Blue Stone, making a dull sound.
The softness from before was nowhere to be found; it was a sword move that pressed down with force.
“And I’m on the rough side.”
Jin-sung, muttering as if spitting it out, closed the distance with me.
The storm-like barrage of sword strikes made my vision spin for a moment. Unlike his neat and calm appearance, which made me wonder if he had obsessive-compulsive disorder, his sword was rough and overbearing.
It was fortunate that I had experienced Yeon-ryang’s fierce sword; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to deflect the attacks.
I was momentarily flustered by the unexpected appearance, but a lightbulb went off in my head.
That’s why I keep losing. I should have focused on ‘Jin-sung’s’ sword, not ‘Wudang’s’ sword.
Even I have a different style of martial arts from the Martial Artists of my family. I only use Poison and Hidden Weapons; from my Inner Energy to my preferred Martial art move, nothing is the same as others.
Yet, I was just assuming that Jin-sung would naturally use soft swordsmanship.
I narrowed my eyes and retorted.
“Hearing you say that makes me want to compete. I want to challenge you until I see all those different branches of swordsmanship.”
“…Yes. I’ll look forward to it.”
Jin-sung’s stiff lips relaxed slightly.
At the same time, white Sword Qi wrapped around the Pine Pattern Sword. I hurriedly threw myself to the opposite side as the Sword Qi flew, as if tearing through the air.
Hey, this Taoist? Sword Qi is cheating!
“Wait a minute, disciple! Aren’t you getting too serious? I said to spar, not to kill me!”
“You said you wanted to see them all.”
Jin-sung replied, drawing up his Inner Energy. Jin-sung’s unique clear Qi rippled as if pressing down on the air.
My mouth went dry with tension as his black hair fluttered in all directions.
It was the first time he had shown me his competitive spirit.
I forced a fake smile, trying to appear relaxed so as not to be overwhelmed by his momentum, and Jin-sung, who had extended his sword toward me, rushed forward, creating wind pressure.
Uwaaah! I’ll really die if I get hit by that!
I leaped and threw all the Hidden Weapons I had, but it was not enough to stop Jin-sung.
As I hopped around, my feet on fire, a Golden needle grazed Jin-sung’s cheek, leaving a long wound.
I couldn’t help but scream since I didn’t mean to scratch his face.
“D-Disciple! Your face!”
Jin-sung, startled by my shout, slowly lowered his sword. He lightly brushed his cheek and made a blank expression as he looked at the blood droplets.
“Disciple, let me see. Is it scratched badly?”
“It’s alright.”
As I hurriedly approached Jin-sung, he flinched, turned his head, and avoided my gaze.
I examined Jin-sung’s face and groaned softly. The flesh on his cheek was deeply gouged.
Oh no. This is a big problem. Facial scars are hard to get rid of.
“I’m sorry, disciple. Just a moment. I should have some Salve somewhere…”
As I fidgeted and rummaged through my sleeves, Jin-sung took a step back and shook his head.
“It’s alright. I’ll go to the Medicine Hall, so please wait a moment.”
Then, he calmly put away his sword.
After hesitating for a moment, I nodded. I thought he would feel more comfortable at his own Sect’s Medicine Hall, which he was more familiar with, than with me.
“You have to disinfect it thoroughly. Facial wounds are prone to infection. What should I do? I’m really sorry.”
“I will. Please don’t worry about it. Song-hwa is outside the training hall, so if you stay with Song-hwa for a while, I’ll be back soon. Would you like to come this way?”
“Yes. Disciple, wipe the blood with this…”
“It’s alright.”
Jin-sung, who refused firmly, didn’t even try to make eye contact with me. He didn’t say it, but it seemed like his pride was hurt.
I was trying to scratch his ego, not his face…
As I watched him carefully, following Jin-sung out of the training hall, I saw Song-hwa talking to one of the Three Great Disciples.
Song-hwa waved when he saw us.
“Dang Sojeo, how was the training hall… Oh, Senior Uncle. What happened to your face?”
“I got scratched. Could you stay with Dang Sojeo for a moment? I’m going to the Medicine Hall.”
“Yes, Senior Uncle. Don’t worry and go.”
Jin-sung exchanged glances with Song-hwa, bowed to me, and turned away.
I hope it doesn’t scar…
Seeing my bad expression, Song-hwa cheerfully changed the subject.
“Don’t worry about it, Sojeo. It happened during a sparring match. Wudang’s Medicine Hall has a Salve that can completely erase even knife wounds. Well, this is the first time you’re seeing him. This is our youngest junior brother, Song-myeong.”
“Hello, Song-myeong disciple.”
“Hello…”
Song-myeong, who greeted in a barely audible voice, lowered his head as soon as he made eye contact with me.
Song-hwa smiled and defended him.
“My junior brother is a bit timid. Please understand that he’s nervous.”
That was certainly the case.
His drooping eyebrows and the corners of his eyes were so pitiful that he looked like he wouldn’t be able to say a word of defense even if someone said something he didn’t like.
Song-myeong fidgeted with his hands and kept looking somewhere. I turned my head following his gaze and saw someone sitting on the wall.
One of the Three Great Disciples with unfocused eyes was sitting there blankly.
“But who is that…”
“That’s our Eldest Senior Brother, but please don’t mind him.”
As Song-hwa answered with a bright smile and gestured for him to leave, the Three Great Disciples flinched and quickly disappeared over the wall.
Song-myeong, who was trembling and didn’t know what to do, soon looked at me and asked cautiously.
“Um, Dang Sojeo. Can I ask you just one thing?”
“Yes. Of course.”
“Did you really… poison your fiancé to death?”
“Pardon?”
I tilted my head and asked again, wondering if I had heard correctly, and Song-hwa, who had turned pale, grabbed Song-myeong by the scruff of his neck.
“Song-myeong!”
“B-But, I need to know for sure… In case Senior Uncle… Ugh!”
“Ahaha, I’m sorry, Dang Sojeo. This guy is talking nonsense.”
Song-hwa, who had gagged Song-myeong, smiled awkwardly and gave me a look asking for understanding.
I let out a hollow laugh, assuming that what happened on the Central Plains battlefield had been distorted in a strange way. I waved my hand and replied.
“It’s alright. It’s understandable to misunderstand. But he wasn’t my fiancé, and I didn’t kill anyone. What would I do killing a powerless man?”
Then Song-myeong’s complexion turned pale.
“Then, you kill powerful men…”
“Junior brother. Just go follow Senior Brother Song-gwang.”
Song-hwa, who cut him off with a serious face, pushed Song-myeong’s back.
“Yes. Senior Brother.”
Song-myeong, who bowed his head, glanced at me with frightened eyes and awkwardly left the spot.
I awkwardly smacked my lips.
I wondered why I kept getting followed by gazes, but it seemed like my rumors had spread strangely among the Taoists.
