Chapter 18
The first round, our room's turn was fourth.
Since ten rooms were having five matches, we were second to last.
Whoosh— Thud— Crack!
"Oh-ho..."
As they exchanged blows without rest, I was honestly impressed.
The skills of the senior brothers from the other rooms were better than I thought.
To the point where I could immediately understand why that Un Chi fellow had called our room the weakest.
I don't know why there was such a difference even though we were all in the same Yuyeop Hall.
'Well... I could chew them up and spit them out now, though.'
But that was the story before I came.
The senior brothers in my room, who had gone through my training, had now grown to the point where they could easily win against that level.
"Senior Brother Uncheol. The senior brother on the left over there is Senior Brother Un Gak from room number one, right?"
"Yes. Do his martial arts catch your eye?"
"He's definitely outstanding. If our room wasn't here, room number one might have won."
"As you say, room number one won the last competition. Since the Senior Brother is also in room number one."
At Senior Brother Uncheol's words, I glanced at Un Gwang, who was waiting for the next turn in the waiting area right below the sparring stage.
Un Gwang's bright eyes were fixed on the sparring stage.
Seeing that, I was suddenly reminded of the Un Gwang from my past life.
'Hwi-ya. Your movements are truly without any waste. How can you move so practically? Your fights are always amazing to watch.'
Whenever we fought together, even on a life-threatening battlefield, Un Gwang would always take care of his own opponent first and then watch my fight.
The gaze he has now, looking at the sparring stage, overlaps with the gaze he had when he watched my fights in my past life.
'He was always the type to say there's something to learn from any fight.'
When I first met him, I wondered how his martial arts could be so strong with such a gentle nature, but after spending some time with him, I soon found out the reason.
'Because his curiosity and interest in martial arts itself were tremendous.'
For me, martial arts were a means to live a little better in this harsh world, and a means to cover up my insignificant family.
But Un Gwang treated martial arts as a field of study.
Exploring, developing, and creating new martial arts...
That curiosity made Un Gwang a martial artist who was quite well-known in the martial world.
'If he had become a scholar or a nobleman instead of a martial artist, he might have been more successful. But I don't want to study anything else this much. I like martial arts.'
When I told him to quit being a martial artist, Un Gwang always answered like this.
And at that time, Un Gwang had also said this to me.
'I wish you were a disciple of Wudang. The various theories I've thought of and devised, the new martial arts I've created... I feel like you could learn and display them... ha... but if I teach martial arts to someone who is not a disciple of Wudang, according to the rules of the sect, neither I nor you will be safe.'
How much did I, who needed advanced martial arts, need those words?
But now, I don't even need to regret that.
As Un Gwang said, I am now also a disciple of Wudang.
All I have to do is get along well with Un Gwang like now and snatch up the martial arts he creates from the side.
My mouth is already watering.
"Victory! Room number one. Un Gak."
While I was thinking, Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong, who was in charge of this competition, declared Senior Brother Un Gak's victory.
With this, room number one only needs to win one more time to advance to the next round.
"Next turn, come up."
As soon as the Martial Uncle's words ended, Un Gwang and Senior Brother Unjo from the opposite room number ten came up to the stage.
'Room number ten has less presence than I thought. That's all because their basics are lacking... I need to spread (?) my training method quickly. The next target is room number ten.'
As I was contemplating how to save the senior brothers from room number ten, who were looking up at the sparring stage with a look of defeat, the match began.
I had never seen Un Gwang's childhood martial arts, so I was secretly looking forward to it.
Senior Brother Unjo is the most skilled in martial arts in room number ten.
I heard from Senior Brother Uncheol that he had similar skills to him before he met me.
'This is a good opportunity to see Un Gwang's current skills.'
Thud—
The one who started first was Unjo.
He leaped towards Un Gwang as soon as he stomped the ground, and the Chilseongbo, he displayed was a masterpiece.
The Chilseongbo is Wudang's basic footwork, and I had also perfectly mastered it a while ago.
Although it's a basic footwork, since it's a Wudang martial art, it's on a different level from the footwork widely known in the market.
If I had only learned the Chilseongbo in my past life, I probably wouldn't have been defeated by Mok Hwashin.
Whoosh—
As soon as Unjo swung his sword, a smile formed on my lips.
A very natural sword art that unfolds along with the footwork.
In room number ten, only Unjo had solid basics.
A sword art with such solid basics from the start is hard to block just by raising a sword.
You either have to deflect the sword with overwhelming force, or move your body back altogether.
'Un Gwang doesn't have the strength to deflect that sword strike right now. And if he runs back... he'll be caught by Unjo's Chilseongbo.'
If neither strength nor speed will work, then there's only one method left.
Skill.
Shaaak—
Un Gwang swept the wooden sword in his hand up to his chest, then twisted his wrist and clashed his sword.
There was no hesitation in his hand movements.
It was a cold sword art that made it hard to imagine his usual gentle and kind appearance.
Tick—
I almost stood up from my seat without realizing it.
When a wooden sword and a wooden sword clash so strongly, a crisp sound of thwack—! usually rings out.
But from Un Gwang and Unjo's swords, only a very small sound came out.
"Did you see that, Senior Brother? That's how you use the Taiji Sword."
I said, poking Senior Brother Uncheol's side with an excited heart.
In the future, Un Gwang also mainly used Wudang's basic sword art, the Taiji Sword Art, rather than other advanced sword arts.
The Taiji Sword Art, a martial art of external softness and internal hardness that nullifies the opponent's martial arts and returns the force.
That's why Un Gwang's nickname was also the Taiji Sword Master.
'So he used the Taiji Sword Art so well from this age.'
If he develops further from here, you won't even hear the tick— sound when the swords clash, but considering Un Gwang's current age, even that is amazing.
Shwoook—!
Un Gwang's sword didn't stop there.
It seemed to climb up Unjo's sword like a snake, and then it shot towards Unjo's neck.
Whoosh!
Unjo barely twisted his head to dodge the sword.
But thanks to that, he lost his balance and his body tilted, and Un Gwang didn't miss that opportunity.
He stuck close to Unjo with footwork that was by no means inferior to his and threw a punch at Unjo's head.
At the punch that came flying at such a fast speed, Unjo couldn't even resist and just squeezed his eyes shut.
Stop!
But as if he had expected it, Un Gwang's fist stopped right in front of Unjo's nose.
The wind created by that made Unjo's hair flutter.
"Junior Brother. I won, right?"
"...I lost."
With Unjo's admission, Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong declared Un Gwang's victory, and the two went down from their spots.
"As expected... Senior Brother doesn't look strong at all usually, but he becomes a different person when he holds a sword. Unhwi, is this your first time seeing the Senior Brother fight?"
"Um... yes. It's my first time, but his martial arts skills are considerable."
I answered awkwardly.
I couldn't say I had seen it to death in my past life.
"But why hasn't the Senior Brother chosen a master yet? With skills like that, there must be a Martial Uncle who has his eye on him. Did the Senior Brother also say he wanted to stay in the Yuyeop Hall like you, Senior Brother?"
"No. The Senior Brother is also staying in the Yuyeop Hall, but that's not his will, but the Sect Leader's instruction."
"Huh, the Sect Leader's?"
The Sect Leader of Wudang at that time was Okyangjin-in.
A person famous not only as a martial artist for his strong martial arts and excellent character, but also as a renowned Taoist to the common people who didn't know martial arts.
I heard that in my past life, he was the first to go and block the Demonic Cult Leader when he invaded, and died.
"He valued the Senior Brother's talent highly, so instead of having one master take responsibility for everything and teach him, I heard that the Martial Uncles and Martial Granduncles each teach the parts they are confident in separately."
"Aha. So he can't be taken as anyone's disciple, so he's staying in the Yuyeop Hall? That's completely special treatment, isn't it?"
"Yes. But no one could complain. Because the Senior Brother's aptitude is that special."
The reason all our 'Un' generation senior brothers follow Un Gwang well is not only because of his character, but also because of his martial arts skills.
Well, a kind and weaker person is easy to be taken advantage of.
But although Un Gwang was a good person, he was by no means a pushover.
"Next group, come up!"
At Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong's words, the senior brothers from the other rooms went out in a line, and another match began.
'The rest of the rooms are not that noticeable yet.'
The not-so-interesting matches continued, and it ended with the victory of one room.
I glanced to the side and saw Senior Brothers Unshik, Unjeong, and Unmi sitting in a row to the right of Senior Brother Uncheol, looking anxious.
Now it's our turn next.
They're trying hard to pretend they're not nervous, but it seems they can't help but have their whole bodies dominated by tension.
"Senior Brothers. It's our turn next, shall we get up slowly?"
"Y-Yes. We have to get up."
"I was just about to move anyway."
When I stood up and spoke, they stood up from their seats with an awkward laugh.
I didn't say anything to them.
Although it's a martial arts competition at the level of child's play, this is a practice that is infinitely close to a real battle.
Feeling that kind of tension is also probably the reason why this martial arts competition was held.
You have to keep feeling this kind of feeling and get used to it.
"The next match group, come down below the sparring stage!"
I heard Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong's voice.
It's finally starting.
***
"Alright. Stand straight here. Look at each other and bow."
Our room and the senior brothers from room number eight looked at each other and bowed.
Opposite Senior Brother Uncheol was Senior Brother Unjihak.
In front of me stood Un Chi.
Since they said we would go out for the match in the order we are standing now, my opponent is Un Chi.
It was the very first match of our group.
'I was going to ask to switch if my opponent wasn't Un Chi by any chance.'
Fortunately, there's no need for that.
But, that Un Chi fellow, after confirming that his opponent is me, doesn't try to hide his happy expression.
'Well, well? He must think I'm an easy opponent.'
It's absurd, but for now, I decided to let him smile.
Because in a little while, that expression will change from a smile to tears.
"Except for the two who will have the first match, the rest go down below the sparring stage."
At Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong's words, everyone except me and Un Chi went down below the sparring stage.
I looked at Un Chi, gave him a bright smile, and said, "Senior Brother. It's just the two of us now, isn't it?"
"Your words are short."
"What's wrong with being more friendly with our senior and junior brothers? We're not that far apart in age, so isn't it good to call each other comfortably?"
"You crazy brat! I really don't like you."
"What part?"
Un Chi, who had been speaking softly until now, finally burst out shouting.
"I don't like your attitude, and I don't like your eyes that seem to look down on me. I also don't like you doing that strange training so loudly for others to see!"
"Oh, you've been watching me closely? You must have been very interested in me."
"Eek! What nonsense are you talking about?!"
"And the reason my room's senior brothers and I do our training so loudly is so that people can see."
"...What did you say?"
"So that when they do it later, they won't think it's strange, right? I have to make them get used to it by seeing it."
"Who else would do such a strange training?!"
Instead of answering, I extended my finger and pointed at him.
"Me?"
"Yes. You said you'd listen to everything I say if you lose the match, right?"
"Don't talk as if you've already won!"
"Alright. Quiet, quiet!"
Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong, who was waiting for our conversation to end, finally cut in when there was no sign of it ending.
Un Chi and I shut our mouths and stood facing each other in the center of the sparring stage as Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong led us.
"The first match between room number eight and room number nine. Begins."
Martial Uncle Hyeon Cheong quickly spoke and then stepped back, and the match began.
"Hoo— Hoo—"
I took a deep breath in and out, taking a deep breath.
It was to mentally prepare for what was about to happen.
But, that Un Chi fellow looked at me and smiled brightly.
"This is your first time coming up to a place like this, right? You look like a novice who doesn't even know how to relieve tension."
"Me?"
"Who else is here besides you!"
He must have thought the reason I was taking a deep breath was because I was very nervous.
I let out a small laugh without realizing it.
He would never dream of how many times I've been through things worse than this child's play.
"That expression again! Do you know how much I've been waiting for today? Get beaten up in front of our senior and junior brothers, and our Martial Uncles, legally!"
Paat—!
As soon as Un Chi finished speaking, he flew towards me.
Compared to the footwork of Unjo or Un Gwang that I had seen earlier, it was nothing more than a baby's first steps.
But, I just stared at Un Chi with surprised eyes.
'To think he had the exact same thought as me!'
The reason I had been counting down the days to today was that, and to think Un Chi had the same thought as me.
I understand, but my pride is a little hurt.
'I'll hit you legally as much as my pride is hurt.'
Whoosh!
Un Chi swings his sword at me. In an instant, my brow furrowed.
That's not the Taiji Sword, nor the Chilseong Sword. It's not even the Three Talents Sword Art that you learn at the very beginning.
It's just recklessly swinging a wooden sword like a club.
'To think I have to shed my precious blood on a sword like that.'
Shaaak—!
I grasp the trajectory of Un Chi's sword.
A sword that I could more than dodge if I wanted to.
But, rather than simply dodging his sword, I brought my head to the trajectory of the sword.
And that, just enough to tear the skin so precariously.
Jiiik—
I feel something pass over my head, and a sharp pain spreads from my head to my whole body.
This was what I had been preparing my mind for, even taking a deep breath.
Drip—
A single stream of thin blood flows down.
I raised my hand, wiped my forehead, and then smiled brightly.
Did he feel uneasy at my smile? The one who swung the sword was Un Chi, but he was the one who took a step back.
"Uh...? It's blood?"
I barely suppressed the laughter that was about to burst out and said, "You're being so dangerous in a spar? Then... if I beat you like a dog, that would be self-defense, right?!"
Kwaak—!
My hand holding the wooden sword clenched.
I don't know how much I've been waiting for this very moment.
Not giving up flesh to take the bone, but giving up a drop of blood to take a life...
This was my plan and my thought.
"Now, let's get hit a little!"
(End of Chapter)