novelraw Chapter 63 : Duel
Chapter 63 : Duel
Duel
'So this is what it means to have entered a different realm...'
Jeong-un realized the true meaning behind Baek Sang's words.
It wasn't merely about hierarchy within the hall or the level of martial proficiency.
"New two-striped warrior, huh."
"Annihilating One-Slash—the one leading among this year's new recruits."
"Leading? Even with that Wudang's strange swordsman around?"
"You didn't know? Yong So-myeong couldn't even take first place, not even in the Special Test."
This was on the way to a private training room in Blue Scale Hall—a path Jeong-un was already well acquainted with, having passed by several times before.
But today, it felt somewhat different.
The warriors who used to simply pass by when he was a one-striped warrior now looked at him in a completely different way after he became a two-striped warrior.
'......'
Jeong-un read the meaning behind their gazes.
They were clearly seeing him as a rival, some even openly sending out vital ki as if to measure themselves against him.
Jeong-un paid them no particular attention. Such power struggles meant nothing to him.
'They might as well just challenge me to a duel.'
Had they done that, he would have gladly accepted. Truthfully, Jeong-un himself was curious.
'Do two-striped warriors really just compete with each other?'
He wondered exactly where he stood among them.
Yet, no one was stepping up to formally challenge him; they were just sizing him up from afar.
So, gradually, he became indifferent to those stares.
Like so, he arrived at the pavilion with private training rooms. When he entered, a long corridor stretched out before him.
White cloths billowed along both sides, fluttering with the vital ki surging from inside each room.
It was a place that made one realize he was not the only one striving toward the peak of martial arts.
Treading quietly so as not to disturb anyone, he found an available room.
The 'room' was essentially a large training hall, one floor dedicated entirely for that purpose from the start.
Sreurreung—
Jeong-un lightly drew his sword guard from his waistband.
It was an exceptionally well-made sword, temporarily issued by the General Affairs Department.
It received the circulating true ki in his body with remarkable smoothness.
Anyone could see that it was not meant for training—it had clearly been carefully chosen by Jo Yoo-hyeon.
While he was immersed in his practice, he felt a presence at the front of the training room.
The corridor was one people frequently passed through, and a martial artist's sensitivity could not help but pick up on it.
Usually, though, such presences weren't strong enough to warrant attention; in order to avoid bothering one another, most would walk while suppressing their presence.
"......?"
But this time was different. Two people were clearly standing right outside his training room.
Jeong-un quietly sheathed his sword and straightened his stance.
Apparently, those outside had sensed his presence, too.
As if they had been waiting, two warriors entered, sweeping aside the white curtain with their hands.
"Sorry to disturb your training."
"Yes, this is rather embarrassing."
First, Jeong-un sensed their extraordinary aura, even before noting their appearance.
Even in the step they took into the training room, there was an exquisite sense, a peculiar refinement to their martial movement.
It was a familiar feeling—Tang Yerin had given off a similar impression.
'Noble clan?'
Usually, martial arts of the Prestigious houses felt like that—imbued with a special, proud poise unique to their clans, refined by generations of dominance over a region.
"I am Seomun Jin of the Red Dragon Corps."
"I am Gongsun Yeong."
They were young men often described as sophisticated—their appearance suggested they were about two years older than Jeong-un.
They greeted Jeong-un formally with a fist-and-palm salute, all with impeccable posture.
Jeong-un wondered if they even studied etiquette separately.
"I am Yu Jeong-un of the Blue Scale Corps."
Jeong-un returned their salute respectfully, glancing at their left arms—they both had two stripes of gold thread.
The young men spoke, smiling.
"We've heard much about you."
"Hanzhong, you know, is closely connected to our clan. Many sects travel through those parts."
Without a second thought, they ignored the unspoken rule not to mention each other's sects.
It was a matter-of-fact attitude, and Jeong-un responded with a faint smile.
"So you're the sons of renowned noble clans. It's an honor to meet you."
Actually, he had no idea where those families were located. Jeong-un had simply gotten used to this sort of polite banter by now.
The two young men nodded with satisfaction, then glanced at one another and spoke.
"He's more personable than I thought."
"I'd heard he was supposed to be stiff, but it seems that was a false rumor."
"......?"
Before Jeong-un could express his curiosity about that last remark, Seomun Jin stepped forward and spoke.
"This is the first time we've ever interrupted someone honing their skills in a private training room. Again, I apologize. But I simply couldn't resist bringing my feet here."
"......?"
With a fairly determined gaze at Jeong-un, Seomun Jin continued,
"How could I just sit back when I hear the fastest promotion in Heavenly Martial Hall's history is someone my age? I came prepared to risk rudeness today to witness your martial prowess firsthand."
"Witness my martial prowess?"
"I formally request a duel."
Jeong-un blinked in surprise—at last, someone had come forth to challenge him to a duel.
Maybe misinterpreting Jeong-un's expression, Seomun Jin grinned.
"You seem not to have expected this. Isn't a competitive spirit an essential quality for any warrior?"
"I would say so."
"......?"
Nodding at the obvious reply, Jeong-un couldn't help but find the timing interesting.
He spoke.
"Everyone just keeps sending out vital ki, but no one requested a duel. It's not as though I refused anyone."
Seomun Jin's eyes widened at that, and he glanced at Gongsun Yeong.
They both burst into hearty laughter.
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Obvious?"
"You always head straight for the private training room after leaving your quarters, right? Who's going to challenge someone like that?"
"I met plenty of people in the corridors. It's not like there was no time to talk."
"You're an up-and-coming expert within the hall, young hero Yu. People think if they lose to you, they'll just become a stepping stone for your growing reputation."
"......?"
Jeong-un furrowed his brow—he found their explanation hard to understand.
'They're afraid of becoming a stepping stone for my fame?'
Wondering if he misheard, he asked again.
"So you were all considering the possibility of defeat?"
"It's not so much that they planned to lose, but they were worried about the possible impact if they were defeated."
"......."
What kind of martial artist assumes defeat? Besides, it wasn't even a life-and-death match, just a simple duel.
The real aim should have been to test each other's skills for improvement—wins and losses shouldn't matter.
Seeing Jeong-un's expression, Seomun Jin elaborated.
"If you publicly challenge someone to a duel and get defeated, all the honor you've built up can come crashing down in an instant. Surely, as a fellow warrior, you understand."
"......."
Jeong-un didn't reply.
He was speechless that someone who'd just invoked the warrior's competitive nature could also say something so contradictory.
"So why did you come like this, then?"
"We waited for you to go to the public training hall, but you always came here to hone your special techniques. It would have been easier to approach you there."
"Not that you'd duel right then and there anyway, correct?"
"A duel is something to be scheduled."
"......."
Jeong-un found it all rather complicated.
It was odd that the fear of public perception should make it so difficult to just have a duel.
Suddenly, he recalled Baek Sang's words from a while ago—about how everyone feeds off attention.
Now Jeong-un finally understood what he meant.
"So what about now? Do we need to pick another day?"
When Jeong-un asked, Seomun Jin shook his head.
"No need. There are no onlookers here. Isn't this perfect?"
"That's a relief."
It was welcome news. If they really had to schedule another day and place, it might have been overwhelming.
"Then let's begin."
Sreung.
Jeong-un drew his sword.
He was worried that the conversation would drag on and they'd end up saying something else.
"You're more impatient than you look,"
Seomun Jin said, quirking his mouth and stepping forward.
Gongsun Yeong stepped back, arms loosely folded behind, putting on a relaxed face.
At this point, Jeong-un was still a first-year in the hall, whereas Seomun Jin and Gongsun Yeong had joined three years ago.
They had only recently achieved two stripes themselves.
Once you get promoted, your perspective changes. Now he truly felt like an expert.
Even his clan had sent him congratulatory letters.
Then, Jeong-un achieved two stripes in the shortest period ever, becoming a prominent up-and-comer with a record for fastest promotion.
To defeat such an opponent in a duel?
It was an obvious chance for fame—no one could resist such an opportunity.
'Lucky break.'
Seomun Jin thought as much.
From what he could see, Jeong-un hadn't fought any duels since becoming a two-striped warrior.
If Seomun Jin could be the first to hand him a defeat, it would make for a dramatic story.
Sreung.
Seomun Jin's sword came out with a ringing clarity—clearly a famed sword, just by the sound.
Seomun Jin spoke.
"I've already heard of your achievements, young hero. I hear you've slain numerous Evil Faction members, earning the nickname 'Annihilating One-Slash'. If you consider the vast Central Plains as a single sect, it's a great joy to have such a distinguished junior appear among the righteous martial artists. No—joy isn't even the right word. It's a privilege."
"......."
"But, speaking as someone who has spent more time in the martial world, let me tell you—there are more masters out there than there are raindrops falling from a dark cloud. You've only just joined and have already made many accomplishments. It must feel like walking a path of silk. Today, I want to show you just how arduous your future path may be."
"Thank you."
Jeong-un replied briefly, carefully refraining from interrupting, lest the conversation drag out even longer.
Holding his sword out in front, Jeong-un yielded the initiative.
Seeing this, Seomun Jin let out a faint chuckle and unleashed vital ki from his feet.
Tak!
Taking one bold step, Seomun Jin suddenly surged toward Jeong-un, swinging his sword in a wide arc, filled with true ki.
Jeong-un watched the path of the blade, then raised his own sword to block.
Before he knew it, he was holding his sword guard in a reverse grip.
Cha-aeng—!
Seomun Jin's attack, aimed at Jeong-un's left side, was blocked. But it didn't stop there.
"......!"
A strange sensation ran through his grip. Seomun Jin's face turned pale.
'There's no rebound?'
Typically, when swords collide, there is always a rebound. There are even sword techniques that capitalize on such force.
'What is this...?'
Yet, when Seomun Jin's powerful swing met Jeong-un's vertical block, the two blades simply stuck together and came to a halt.
It meant Jeong-un had perfectly countered the force by matching his sword's true ki density exactly to the opposing blow—an unbelievable feat.
'Is this even possible?'
Admittedly, it was just an opening move—hardly the deepest use of internal energy.
Yet Seomun Jin had never imagined this kind of result.
Shaken for only a moment, Seomun Jin quickly recomposed himself.
To receive rather than deflect a sword strike?
'Is this a contest of energy accumulation?'
If so, Seomun Jin was confident.
He would just drive his internal energy in with all his might.
He couldn't even count how many elixirs he had consumed since childhood.
'......?'
But at that moment, Seomun Jin felt an odd sense of incongruity.
After all, Jeong-un was holding his sword in a reverse grip. Was he really planning to push back like that?
Unconsciously, his gaze flickered to one side—the tip of Jeong-un's blade.
It was aimed at his scabbard.
"... What?"
With that, Jeong-un's sword snapped into its scabbard—a textbook example of sheathing.
Sreung—
The vibration of the sword entering the sheath snapped across Seomun Jin's blade.
Jjeo-eong!
As the vibration clashed with his blade, an enormous burst of bursting energy erupted.
Seomun Jin's eyes widened; he could hardly believe the sight before him.
There was something he couldn't accept even more.
"Y-you...!"
His grip failed, and he let go of his sword, unable to withstand the overwhelming energy that traveled from blade to fingertips.
Tak.
Thus, the sheath was completed in full. Instantly, Jeong-un regripped his sword and drew it once more.
Suaak—!
The sword flew out, radiant with an aura of true ki.
Its point landed at Seomun Jin's nape.
'H-huh!'
The sword, crackling with the corona of vital ki, whirled toward Seomun Jin's neck.
They say the moment of death comes suddenly. In that instant, two-striped warrior Seomun Jin squeezed his eyes tightly shut.
"......"
The silence was profound. Unaware he'd closed them, Seomun Jin slowly opened his eyes.
Jeong-un's face came into view. But Jeong-un was no longer looking at him.
His gaze had already turned to Gongsun Yeong.
"You're next."
"...!"