novelraw Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Chapter 54
Eventually, Won Jirim fully realized it. That Seo Mugyeom intended to uncover Yoon Seok’s martial arts on the spot.
Once Seo Mugyeom understood that Won Jirim had caught on, he began examining Yoon Seok’s martial arts with greater ease.
Compared to what Seo Mugyeom already knew, it was insignificant and crude. However, precisely because of that, it seemed easier to learn than his own techniques.
If he familiarized himself with it, he might be able to teach those in the Tenth Division who couldn’t grasp his own martial arts. Even if he couldn’t teach it exactly, he could refine and modify it into something usable.
Among those candidates was Ak Seol-ah. With that selfish thought, Seo Mugyeom scrutinized Yoon Seok’s martial arts with fiery intensity.
He even deliberately crossed swords a few times. The shock transmitted through the sword, into his hands and arms. That direct sensation helped him understand more effectively.
He could’ve repelled Yoon Seok with force but chose not to. He worried that if Yoon Seok felt his techniques were ineffective, he might give up right then and there.
Unaware of Seo Mugyeom’s intentions, Yoon Seok quickly wore a smug expression. Swinging his sword with confidence, he acted as if Seo Mugyeom had been nothing from the beginning, as long as he went all out.
Even though his best attacks kept failing and Seo Mugyeom’s figure at the tip of his sword vanished every time, Yoon Seok didn’t stop attacking.
Whenever he seemed to falter or show signs of giving up from confusion, Seo Mugyeom would close the distance again.
It was as if he were saying, ‘With such an appetizing prey right in front of you, are you really going to quit now?’
Having lived as a martial artist until now, and having pushed himself harshly for victory, such temptation was instinctual for Yoon Seok.
Yoon Seok swung his sword again, aiming for Seo Mugyeom, and eventually, Seo Mugyeom began to respond slightly. It was solely to provoke Yoon Seok’s aggression.
Yoon Seok instantly drew up internal energy from his dantian. Although it wasn’t an actual battle, he responded more aggressively than he might have in real combat.
As time passed, his anger surged even more. He couldn’t stand the look in Seo Mugyeom’s eyes. Not once did he consider how he had looked at the Tenth Division Leader and Vice Leader until now.
Even if he had considered it, he likely believed they deserved such treatment. But he was different. He wasn’t like them. That’s why he couldn’t bear the gaze Seo Mugyeom cast upon him now.
How dare he! How could he!
The thought drove him further into a frenzy. Unaware of it himself, he was pouring out more than he possessed. It was fortunate for Seo Mugyeom—but disastrous for Yoon Seok.
Watching from the side, Won Jirim wondered if he should intervene. Even during the brief observation, he felt this situation might end badly.
Around Yoon Seok’s body, qi slowly rose, flickering ominously as if surpassing its limit. Yet Seo Mugyeom, despite his youth, showed not a hint of agitation.
Seo Mugyeom seemed like a man smiling as he lured his enemy toward the riverbank.
Won Jirim considered stepping in for Yoon Seok’s sake, but at that moment, he stopped upon sensing Seo Mugyeom’s presence. Perhaps he could have stopped it earlier, but now it was beyond his control.
Yoon Seok poured everything he had into a barrage of sword strikes at Seo Mugyeom. Yet he couldn’t seize the advantage. As his sharp attacks surged forth, his sword trembled uncontrollably.
Seo Mugyeom, unfazed and unshaken, blocked every strike flying toward him.
After one fierce blow, Yoon Seok staggered several steps back. It was an unexpected counterattack.
Yoon Seok noticed Seo Mugyeom’s expression had changed.
A look of boredom.
It was a face that said he had seen everything he needed to see.
Having reached that point, Seo Mugyeom seemed to decide there was no longer any need to engage with Yoon Seok.
Seo Mugyeom’s gaze quickly scanned Yoon Seok’s entire body.
Yoon Seok noticed Seo Mugyeom’s eyes targeting his chest. Internally, he mocked him. If he already knew where the attack was aimed, how could it possibly succeed? He decided to act like he had been fooled and wait.
Seo Mugyeom charged toward him. Yoon Seok resolved to intercept and counter the moment Seo Mugyeom attacked.
But Seo Mugyeom’s sword wasn’t aimed at his chest—it targeted his side. Seo Mugyeom slashed swiftly at Yoon Seok’s ribs.
The instant Yoon Seok realized he’d been deceived, he couldn’t hide his panic.
Seo Mugyeom hadn’t started this with the intent to kill. That’s why, at the last moment, he let go of his sword.
Yoon Seok thought he was going to die. But upon seeing Seo Mugyeom release his sword, he swung his own with all his might.
“Seo Mugyeom!”
Startled, Won Jirim tried to block Seo Mugyeom’s path, but there was no need. Seo Mugyeom had already anticipated Yoon Seok’s reaction and charged in with terrifying speed.
Seo Mugyeom moved in so suddenly and swiftly that Yoon Seok couldn’t swing his sword. The rapidly closing distance made it difficult to counterattack.
Just because Yoon Seok couldn’t strike didn’t mean Seo Mugyeom had to pull back his resolve.
Seo Mugyeom threw a short punch at Yoon Seok’s abdomen. It didn’t look forceful, but it was infused with internal energy.
Yoon Seok’s body lifted off the ground and flew before crashing down.
He tried to avoid rolling across the floor, but it was already beyond his control.
After bouncing on the ground a few times and barely regaining his posture, he coughed up a mouthful of dark blood.
Silence followed.
Then, Seo Mugyeom was the first to break it.
“Retract your words about our Division Leader and apologize.”
Seo Mugyeom had never spoken to Yoon Seok in that tone before. But after hearing what Yoon Seok had said to the Division Leader, he felt no need to treat him with respect.
Yoon Seok must have realized why Seo Mugyeom was acting this way.
He glared at Seo Mugyeom, then raised his voice, as if seizing an opening.
“What you used was never the Divine Martial Sect’s martial arts! Do you think I’ll just let this slide? The Tenth Division Leader is someone who doesn’t even know how to protect his own honor. That’s why you stepped in, right? I will not retract my words. The Tenth Division Leader won’t be able to protect the Tenth Division. And you, stepping in for your own sake, won’t protect him either.”
Then he burst into a strange laugh.
Won Jirim looked at Yoon Seok, then turned away. He realized there was a limit to what he could handle here and needed to inform the Division Leader. Seo Mugyeom wasn’t someone who’d lose just because he wasn’t present. So, deciding to do what he could, he took off.
Behind him, Yoon Seok laughed loudly, as if mocking him.
Even knowing it was a taunt directed at him, Won Jirim wasn’t fazed. Seo Mugyeom had stepped forward for the Division Leader and him—there was no need to tremble over such mockery.
When Won Jirim reached the Division Leader’s office, Pyo Inhaeng had his head buried in a mountain of documents.
It seemed all the pending tasks had landed squarely on his shoulders. As he groaned, he lit up upon seeing Won Jirim, hoping for help—but instantly realized something had gone wrong from the look in Won Jirim’s eyes.
“Division Leader, Seo Mugyeom just beat the Eighth Division Vice Leader, Yoon Seok. Now Yoon Seok is threatening to report Seo Mugyeom’s martial arts. What should we do?”
Pyo Inhaeng’s face also turned grim.
“Is eradication the only answer?”
Upon hearing this, Won Jirim questioned whether he’d heard correctly. But before he could even ask again, Pyo Inhaeng vanished from the spot.
“Division Leader!”
Calling out after him desperately, Won Jirim rushed back to where Seo Mugyeom was.
By then, Yoon Seok was looking smugly at Seo Mugyeom.
“Seo Mugyeom, I’ll give you one last chance. If you come with me to the Eighth Division, I won’t expose that you’ve learned martial arts from another sect. But if you persist, I’ll inform the First Division Leader and the Sect Leader that you’ve studied another sect’s techniques.”
Suddenly, Yoon Seok turned pale and fled using movement arts.
A sword cut through the spot where he’d stood.
Seo Mugyeom looked to see when the Division Leader had appeared.
Pyo Inhaeng swung his sword like he truly intended to kill Yoon Seok.
“Tenth Division Leader, have you lost your mind?!”
Yoon Seok shouted in disbelief, and Pyo Inhaeng nodded.
“So you can still see straight. Seems you haven’t completely lost it.”
Judging from how he recognized lunacy, it appeared he still saw clearly.
Even after speaking, Pyo Inhaeng didn’t lower the intensity of his attack.
Yoon Seok, already drained from his earlier clash with Seo Mugyeom, hadn’t expected Pyo Inhaeng to push him this far.
“I’ve already fought Seo Mugyeom. Are you saying you’ll strike someone who has exhausted all their strength fighting him?”
He seemed to appeal to Pyo Inhaeng’s pride, but it wasn’t a wise move.
“You threaten to expose a martial artist’s skills just because you lost to one? I am the Tenth Division Leader. Protecting the Tenth Division's martial artists is my highest duty. Why should I let a madman running wild here live?”
With that, he swung his sword like he truly intended to kill Yoon Seok.
Every time the sword infused with internal energy aimed at him, Yoon Seok screamed. He realized Pyo Inhaeng wasn’t merely trying to scare him. The killing intent was vivid and heavy.
“Division Leader, how will you handle the aftermath if you do this?”
But Pyo Inhaeng ignored the words and charged at Yoon Seok. As his sword, brimming with internal energy, targeted Yoon Seok’s chest, Yoon Seok collapsed to his knees and brought his hands together.
“Please spare me!”
Anyone who had seen Yoon Seok’s former confident self would never have imagined him like this now.