The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 183

Immediately after leaving the Supreme Azure Palace after hearing the sad news that my opponent was Monk Yeong Hwan, Un Gwang said to me, "Hwi-ya. Then the first thing we have to do is to narrow down the list for the Taoist-Buddhist Great War until a week later, right?"

"Yes. We have to pick by then so that we can have proper training."

"Then let's do this. I'll pick the list for the group match first, so you narrow down the list for the individual match."

"Alright. Although I know other things well, I don't know much about sword formations. It would be better if I don't get involved at all."

"Yes. I'll take care of that side."

"Then do I pick all twelve people on my own?"

"You can do that. You know all our senior and junior brothers anyway, right?"

I didn't nod my head right away.

Although it seems I get along well with everyone, in fact, there are still a lot of senior brothers whose Taoist names I haven't memorized.

'To be honest, if it's a senior brother whose name I still haven't memorized, it means he hasn't shown much talent in martial arts...'

But since I didn't know for sure, I said to Un Gwang, "Then I'll pick ten, so you pick the remaining two, senior brother. If there is someone I missed and didn't pick, then you can pick them, great senior brother."

"Hmm... alright."

"But the list for the group match and the list for the individual match can't overlap, right?"

"Yes. That's the rule. One person can't participate twice."

Although a feeling of disappointment flashed through my mind, when I thought about the purpose of the Taoist-Buddhist Great War, I also thought it was a natural thing.

Because it is a competition that has the meaning of not just determining who is stronger, but of exchanging martial arts with each other and being stimulated by each other to put more effort into their own cultivation.

I thought for a moment and then asked Un Gwang, "But how is the victory and defeat decided? If that's the case, there will be twelve individual matches and one group match, so there will be a total of thirteen spars, right?"

"That's right. The rule is simple. The side that wins more out of thirteen fights wins."

"But is the group match also counted as one win? As many as thirty-six people are fighting at once, and if that is also counted as just one win, it's a little unfair, isn't it?"

At my words, Un Gwang let out a small laugh.

It seems the word 'unfair' sounded a little funny.

"Of course, if eighteen people participate and it's counted as eighteen wins, then all you have to do is win the group match, so the other spars would be meaningless."

"That's right. That's an accurate point. So I know that the victory in the group match is counted as five wins."

"Wow... then the group match must be really important."

"That's right. It's important."

"But although our Five Elements Sword Formation is great, isn't their side the famous Eighteen Arhat Formation? Have we ever won in a group match until now?"

"... I know that we haven't."

Un Gwang's face became gloomy.

It seems that even Un Gwang, who is a martial arts enthusiast, hates to lose.

"For now, I roughly understand the rules. But come to think of it, I think there might be an easier way to win."

"How?"

"You said we have always lost to Shaolin until now, right? And Shaolin's Eighteen Arhat Formation, in terms of fame and power, is honestly above our Five Elements Sword Formation."

"That's... right."

Un Gwang stuttered and awkwardly nodded his head.

He seemed to be worried that if someone heard him say that our formation was inferior to Shaolin's, he would be scolded for insulting the sect.

I continued without caring.

"But in fact, the number of people who are put into the group match is too many. So let's just give up on the group match, which is only worth five points, and focus on the individual matches, which are worth twelve points."

"Focus...?"

"Yes. For now, I'll pick a few of our senior brothers who seem to be the best fighters. The group match will be filled with the remaining senior brothers after we pick the individual matches. Then won't the probability of winning be a little higher?"

"The probability of winning will be higher..."

"Great senior brother, you will also participate in the individual match, right? As far as I know, I know that there is no one among our senior brothers who can defeat you, great senior brother."

"......"

I said with a smile.

Although they say we have always lost in our Taoist-Buddhist Great War, I had the thought that it was because there was no strategist like me.

But Un Gwang, who would usually agree with me and say that's right when I say something like this, looked at me with a serious face without a word.

When I grasped his not-so-bright atmosphere.

Un Gwang said to me, "Hwi-ya. Although your words are a hundred times right... let's not do that."

"Yes?"

"Winning... is really important. I know well how much our senior uncles and grand uncles are looking forward to this competition, and if we win the Taoist-Buddhist Great War, the fame of our Wudang will rise even more... all of that is true. But... is it really meaningful to win like that?"

"Hmm..."

"As you know well, the Taoist-Buddhist Great War was not started from the beginning to defeat each other, right? It must have been started to be more helpful to each other. And I want to show our best to the monks of the Shaolin Temple who will come a long way from Shaolin to our Wudang. If we give up on the group match from the beginning, they will surely be greatly disappointed."

Since it was so right, I didn't have much to say in response.

There were a few scenes like this in my previous life as well.

A conflict of opinion between me, who emphasizes extreme efficiency, and Un Gwang, who tries to walk the right path as much as possible.

If it had been my previous life, I would have persuaded and even pressured Un Gwang to follow my opinion.

But, this life is a little different.

No matter how urgent it is, I think it's important to walk in step with the people around me, not to drag them along.

"Alright. If that's what you want, senior brother, let's do that."

"Huh?"

Perhaps because I answered so obediently? Rather, my senior brother looked at me with a curious eye.

"Then this time, let's try our best to defeat the Eighteen Arhat Formation. Let's select good martial artists, and although there is not much time left, let's train hard and win once."

"Is that okay?"

"Of course. Then for now, you tell me the personnel you are thinking of first, senior brother. Then I will try to avoid those people as much as possible and select the list for the individual match."

I said to my senior brother with a bright smile.

Yes. If Un Gwang wants to do it that way, what's there not to listen to?

"Hmm... then is it okay if I do this? To start with the people who come to mind right now..."

"Tell me."

Un Gwang began to speak with a very excited face.

"For now, you, Un Cheol, Un Jeong, Un Sik... I'll also pick Un Jihak..."

"Wait. Wait!"

"Huh?"

"As expected, it won't do. Please pick except for me, our room, and the eighth room."

"Ah... shall I?"

"As you said, senior brother, we can't prepare for the individual match too insincerely, right? So we have to have some balance. Isn't that right?"

"That's also true. I understand. Hwi-ya."

Un Gwang answered, clenching both his fists.

As expected, I had briefly overlooked the fact that Un Gwang was also not an ordinary person.

Although he is usually so smart and considerate, when he gets hooked on one thing, he can't come to his senses.

To the extent that in my previous life, I had often wondered if the 'gwang' in Un Gwang was not the 'gwang' for crazy.

"For now, I'll also look around appropriately. For now, let's meet again at this time tomorrow and talk."

"Alright. Where shall we meet?"

"Hmm... will you come to our room? I'll be waiting."

"Alright, senior brother."

I parted with Senior Brother Un Gwang on that road and returned to our room.

As if they had already finished their training, all the senior brothers of our room were gathered in the room.

'Senior Brother Un Cheol, Senior Brother Un Jeong will be able to do their part even if they fight right now...'

As a result of watching right next to them, I can confidently say that the two of them are in the top ten among our senior and junior brothers.

Senior Brother Un Jihak, who has similar skills to Senior Brother Un Cheol, was also already picked in my mind.

Just with this, four of the twelve who will participate in the individual match, including me, have been decided.

'I think I might be able to pick them more easily than I thought.'

I already have a rough idea of the personnel in my head.

Although the key is how much it overlaps with Un Gwang, if I can properly narrow down the personnel I am thinking of, I will be able to have a good match with the Shaolin monks.

I can say for sure because I have directly experienced their skills in Shaolin.

Although the key is how much they have developed in that time of over a year, compared to the Shaolin monks at that time, my senior brothers are incomparably stronger.

But the problem is people like Senior Brother Un Sik and Senior Brother Un Mi.

Although it is true that they have outstanding martial arts, it is questionable whether they are in the top ten.

"Hwi-ya. Did you come back from the sect leader?"

"What did he say? Did he by any chance call you because of the list for the Taoist-Buddhist Great War this time?"

Just then, Senior Brother Un Sik and Senior Brother Un Mi approached me and spoke.

"Yes. That's right. We talked about how to pick the list."

"Really? What did he say?"

The two of them asked with faces full of expectation.

Although I don't know because I don't have a very large sense of belonging to Wudang, I heard that this Taoist-Buddhist Great War has a very big meaning for Taoists who have grown up here since they were very young.

I heard that not only fighting in the spar, but just participating itself has a rather big meaning.

'Well, only thirty from one generation can participate...'

One generation is about a hundred.

Among them, thirty is a number that is worth trying for.

"It's not yet decided exactly. Since there is an individual match and a group match, he said we have to pick the people well according to that... something like that."

"Ah. That's right... there was a group match, right?"

"Yes. So he also said that we can't just pick the personnel for the group match based on skill. Because the chemistry might be more important than just skill."

I mumbled my words, and the two of them nodded their heads.

I had no intention of saying that I would be picking the personnel for the individual match yet.

Because for now, I wanted to watch the people around me more closely for a few days and then narrow down the personnel.

If I say that I have the right to select, my senior brothers will surely become conscious of me, and if that happens, it is as clear as day that it will be difficult for them to show their true selves.

'Although I didn't tell Un Gwang to keep this a secret for now, he probably won't tell anyone, right?'

While thinking that and contemplating whether to pick Senior Brother Un Sik and Senior Brother Un Mi for the individual match, or to recommend them for the group match.

Kung-kung-kung—

Someone knocked on our door roughly.

Since I was still standing in front of the door, I opened the door right away, and there stood Senior Brother Un Jo of the tenth room.

"Oh! Unhwi-ya. I came to see you, and you were here."

"Me?"

"Yes. I heard from Senior Brother Un Gwang. That the sect leader gave you and Un Gwang the right to select for the Taoist-Buddhist Great War this time? A little while ago, Un Gwang recommended that I participate in the group match, but I decided to answer after asking you first. That if you have no intention of picking me for the individual match, then I will participate in the group match."

"......"

As I was so dumbfounded that I couldn't even answer, Senior Brother Un Jo said in a subtle voice, "But in fact, I want to participate in the individual match more. Because I want to objectively check how much stronger I have become while training with you. Hahaha!"

He, as if he were so happy, suddenly burst out laughing, and I turned around with an awkward face and looked at our room's senior brothers.

My senior brothers' eyes are already full of expectation. Since we are in the same room, and I, who is the closest, have the right to select, they can't help but think that I will take care of them.

"Sigh... Senior Brother Un Jo, go to Senior Brother Un Gwang... no. I'll go now."

"Then what about me?"

"Please wait a little. I'll be back after a quick talk."

I let out a deep sigh and stealthily left the room to find Un Gwang.

Although he is my senior brother now, I thought I had to give him a stern word, just as I had in my previous life.

(End of Chapter)