The Genius Youngest Disciple of the Wudang Sect

Chapter 20

The outcome was already decided with our room's victory.

It meant that whether Senior Brother Uncheol won or lost, it would have no effect on the outcome.

But right now, the sparring stage was filled with tension.

As if to prove that, Senior Brother Uncheol and Senior Brother Unjihak were facing the match seriously, as if this were the final.

"Uncheol. Show me."

"Alright. Watch carefully."

After their short conversation, Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong soon announced the start of the match.

"Fifth match. Begin!"

Paat— Kwaak!

The moment the Martial Uncle's words fell, Uncheol and Unjihak rushed towards each other and clashed their wooden swords.

And seeing that, I couldn't help but swallow my admiration.

'Senior Brother Unjihak... he's better than I thought.'

To be honest, I thought that like the other previous matches, the match between the two would also end with Senior Brother Uncheol's overwhelming victory.

But to my surprise, the force of their clash was equal.

Senior Brother Uncheol wasn't the type to go easy on his opponent, so he must have gone all out from the beginning.

'Good. Senior Brother Jihak is also on my special management list.'

There are quite a few outstanding talents gathered here.

It seems the name of a prestigious orthodox sect wasn't just for show.

'And yet, with such good talents.'

But, along with admiration, anger welled up.

Because I already know what the end of this Wudang Sect will be.

'Hoo. This is not the time to get angry. I must have entered this body to correct this.'

I barely calmed my rising anger and focused on the match between Unjihak and Senior Brother Uncheol again.

Crack! Crack!

As the wooden swords clashed, a sound that seemed impossible to come from wood echoed.

Both of them were swinging their swords with all their might.

It wasn't a visually pleasing match with flashy techniques like the match between Unjo and Un Gwang, who had competed before us, but with solid basics and a heavy sword, they put proper force into each and every attack.

Simple, but much more powerful moves.

'Looking at it like this, both of them have a similar way of unfolding their sword techniques.'

Of course, since they are disciples of the same Wudang Sect, one might think their sword techniques are similar, but when you actually experience it, each individual has a different way of unfolding their martial arts.

Martial arts are water, and the martial artist who unfolds them is the vessel.

Just as the shape of the water changes according to the shape of the vessel, each individual has a different martial art.

It's not just about the forms being the same or different, but the way they use the martial art is different.

'Unjo is fast, Un Gwang is skilled, and those two are heavy.'

Of course, sword arts can't be divided into just a few categories like this, but those two are walking the same path.

Therefore, in the long run, it would be efficient to put them together and teach them together.

Thud!

At that moment, I was brought back to my senses by the sound of Uncheol stomping the ground hard.

Whether it was because he thought they would just tire each other out if they continued like this, or because he was confident he could overwhelm Unjihak, Senior Brother Uncheol used the rebound from stomping the ground to momentarily move forward and get close to Unjihak.

Clack— Tatadadak!

And in a fleeting moment, they exchanged several moves.

It was a completely different way from how they had been handling their swords until now.

'So you're not just good with a heavy sword?'

A fast sword, as if to say he didn't just have the heavy sword he had been using until a moment ago.

But Unjihak is no pushover either.

It would have been understandable to be flustered by such a sudden attack, but he blocked all the swords without even a twitch on his face.

Whoosh!

He even spun his body around and counterattacked while blocking Uncheol's sword.

Clack!

As if he couldn't lose either, Senior Brother Uncheol also blocked the sword.

Pat—

After exchanging a few more sword strikes, the two moved back and separated.

"No... Uncheol. What happened?"

A small look of bewilderment appeared on Unjihak's face.

"What is it?"

"I mean, how could you get so strong in such a short time."

"Didn't I tell you? Not to look down on me, on our room."

"How many times do I have to tell you I wasn't looking down on you!"

Everyone, including Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong, was surprised by Senior Brother Uncheol's skills.

But I was surprised not by Senior Brother Uncheol's skills, but by Unjihak's.

Because he was fighting on par with Senior Brother Uncheol, who had become two stages stronger than before thanks to my diligent training.

And the one who felt that the most was Senior Brother Uncheol, who was crossing swords with him.

"No. Wait... Jihak, you're fighting on par with me, who has become stronger. By any chance, were you hiding your skills all this time?"

"I wasn't hiding them. I just didn't have a chance to show them properly."

"That's hiding them."

Unjihak said with a frustrated expression.

"Then should I have reported to you that I had an epiphany one day and made progress in my martial arts?"

"No? That's not what I mean. You always used to comfort me. So you were looking down on me from above, not as a martial artist of the same level."

"Watch your words. I was just worried you'd be discouraged..."

Unjihak shut his mouth, realizing he had misspoken.

Because the very thought that Uncheol would be discouraged by his skills was no different from looking down on him.

"Haa... Uncheol. This is the first time I've seen you talk so much."

Unjihak sighed, but a bitter smile appeared on Uncheol's lips.

"I know. I didn't know I was so talkative either."

Fwoosh—!

With those last words, Uncheol once again laid his sword sideways and swung it at Unjihak.

Even in my eyes, with accurate distance calculation and fast speed.

Clack!

Although Unjihak unconsciously blocked Uncheol's sword, he momentarily lost his balance.

Towards the staggering him, Uncheol once again stepped on the Chilseongbo.

'It's too late to swing the sword.'

Thwack!

As if he had heard my words, he extended not his sword but the leg closer to Unjihak and kicked his leg, and Unjihak, who had completely lost his balance, fell over and rolled on the floor.

"Keuk!"

It wasn't a fatal wound, as Unjihak groaned but immediately stood up and extended his sword towards Uncheol again, wary of him.

Uncheol frowned as if he was disappointed that he couldn't finish it this time, and then instantly assumed a starting posture again.

The starting posture he is taking now is the Chilseong Sword Art.

Woooong—!

A sword with solid basics, containing the principles of the Chilseong Sword Art, poured down on Unjihak, and he barely managed to block it.

But... the more he blocked, the more easily he seemed to block Senior Brother Uncheol's sword.

At first, he couldn't balance properly because of the pain in his kicked leg, but as the pain subsided, it became easier to control his body.

'Senior Brother Uncheol... it's a pity, but you're still a little lacking compared to Unjihak.'

Senior Brother Uncheol had made great progress during his time with me.

This doesn't mean the senior brother is weak.

It's just that Unjihak was much stronger than I thought.

"Hoo— Hoo—"

"Haa—"

After numerous exchanges, a brief lull.

The two are catching their breath and looking at each other.

Senior Brother Uncheol's face is anxious, while Unjihak is relaxed.

Because they had confirmed each other's skills by exchanging dozens, hundreds of moves.

But suddenly, Senior Brother Uncheol's gaze changes.

Swoosh—

He pulled one sword straight back.

Paat—!

And just like that, as if a loaded arrow was shot, he thrust the wooden sword straight in.

"What are you doing...!"

I shot up from my seat without realizing it.

Senior Brother Uncheol shouldn't be going in like that right now.

The senior brother is now disregarding defense and finding the shortest distance between the tip of his sword and Unjihak, thrusting in at the fastest speed he can.

"Don't tell me he's trying for a mutual destruction... ah!"

I instantly realized Senior Brother Uncheol's intention and sat back down.

Senior Brother Uncheol is really thinking of mutual destruction.

No, to be precise, since he won't die from a wooden sword, it would be more correct to say it's a mutual injury.

"N-No!"

Unjihak also has a very flustered expression.

Senior Brother Uncheol is now showing openings all over his body.

But if he attacks those places, he can't block Uncheol's attack, and if he tries to deflect Uncheol's sword, the speed at which the sword is coming in is too fast.

Even if he can block the sword, if a follow-up attack comes immediately, he won't be able to block that.

"Eek...!"

In the end, Unjihak also made a decision and swung his wooden sword horizontally with all his might.

If he deflects the sword, he loses anyway.

In that case, he's trying to at least attack at the same time.

CRACK!!

The two attacks went into each other, and the sound of the impact rang out only once. And.

Thud—

The two collapsed at the same time.

Unjihak was stabbed in the chest by Uncheol's wooden sword and fell backwards, and Uncheol was hit hard in the side and fell sideways.

And neither of them moved at all.

"......"

The venue was filled with silence.

The sound of their impact was no ordinary, so the startled Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong quickly approached them.

"Ugh..."

At that moment, someone let out a groan.

"Uncheol!"

Perhaps hearing Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong's voice, Senior Brother Uncheol held his hit side with one hand and used his sword as a cane to get up.

"Are you okay?"

"...I'm fine, Martial Uncle."

Finally, Senior Brother Uncheol straightened his back and answered calmly, and the Martial Uncle, seeing that, immediately checked on Unjihak.

He seemed to have regained consciousness, but he was groaning from the pain in his chest and couldn't even get up properly.

Then, the Martial Uncle shouted without hesitation.

"Unjihak is unable to continue the match. Uncheol's victory!"

Senior Brother Uncheol bowed and then returned to our spot.

We all looked at him with worried eyes.

Because although he was trying hard to pretend he was fine, we could feel that he was in great pain.

As soon as he sat down, Senior Brother Unshik asked Senior Brother Uncheol, "Senior Brother, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

I went to his side and lifted his upper garment.

Then I saw that the area hit by the sword was bruised black and blue.

"What do you mean, you're fine? You probably have a cracked rib too. Why did you do something so reckless?"

"...Because I wanted to win."

"Pardon?"

"I wanted to win. As I clashed swords with that Jihak fellow, a thought suddenly came to me. No matter how strong Unjihak's sword is, could it be stronger than your sword?"

"What did you say?"

"This endurance is also something you raised, isn't it? You said you have to use everything in a fight, right?"

"Geez. You're amazing. Really."

I gave him an awkward smile and then went back to my seat and sat down.

"It was cool, but the Micheongdan is out of the question this time."

"Why?"

"We have to forfeit. Senior Brother, can you continue with that body?"

"Of course I can. I'm fine..."

"It's no use forcing yourself. I can see how serious the situation is, so do you think Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong or Martial Granduncle Okgil won't see it?"

"Th-That's..."

Senior Brother Uncheol's voice trembled.

He is now desperately enduring the pain.

I can tell just by looking at his slightly trembling shoulders and the cold sweat that is slowly breaking out.

But the reason he is enduring the pain to this extent is because of the rule that the competition cannot continue unless all five are intact.

If there are not enough people, you can't have the next match.

One might ask if it's not okay to just go out with four and have three win, but the Wudang Sect adheres to the rules to the point where it's frustrating.

"Hwi-ya."

The senior brother calls me with a very tense voice.

He probably thinks I'm angry because he knows how much I was looking forward to winning this competition and receiving the Micheongdan.

I gave him a bright smile as he looked at me with an anxious expression.

"It's okay. You did well."

"Huh?"

"We can just get the Micheongdan next time. We won, so that's enough."

"Are you... serious?"

"Of course I'm serious. Have you ever seen me say something I don't mean? Now, don't worry about me and go get treatment, or watch the next match carefully since it's starting."

"Y-Yes. I understand. I can still endure it for now. Haha."

Seeing him turn his head towards the sparring stage with an awkward laugh, I let out a small laugh.

I really wasn't upset.

The purpose of this competition was to imprint our room's presence on everyone.

But thanks to the fighting spirit of the last senior brother, it must have been deeply imprinted in everyone's minds.

In fact, I'm even starting to feel a little sad.

'What did he think of me usually, to be so conscious of me even in a situation like this?'

If they don't listen, I just hit them a little, and I make them train until I'm satisfied, even without sleep, and if things don't go according to my plan, I get a little angry...

'Now that I think about it, it's understandable.'

I should be a little nicer from today.

Just a little.

(End of Chapter)