Chapter 82
It was only after about a cup of tea time.
“My goodness… this is really crazy!”
“As expected of the Sword Empress’s disciple, she’s on a completely different level.”
“It’s not that Seo-mun Yeong was bad, but Myo-seon was just too outstanding.”
A heavy silence flowed through the training ground in successive astonishment.
Of course, only the students of the Human Division were murmuring with surprised eyes.
“Myo… Myo-seon, student! Victory!”
As Jong Jin-do stuttered and announced the victory, tears welled up in the eyes of Seo-mun Yeong, who had been struck by Myo-seon’s Jade Void Thirty-Six Swords and had knelt down.
“Sob…”
It was understandable that she was angry and resentful.
How thoroughly had she prepared for today?
But the gap between Seo-mun Yeong and Myo-seon was so large and deep that it could not be closed.
Seo-mun Yeong, who had not even been able to properly unfold her specialty, had thus been unable to avoid a ‘complete defeat’ in an absurd way.
On the other hand, Myo-seon was neither triumphant nor embarrassed.
She just glanced at the fallen Seo-mun Yeong with a detached gaze and then suddenly stretched out her hand.
“Young Lady Seo-mun. Get up.”
“It’s fine.”
Seo-mun Yeong brushed off Myo-seon’s hand and got up on her own.
Then she coldly turned around and returned to the Heaven Division group.
“That’s two wins in a row, right?”
“I think we’ll get 30 wins in a row.”
“Hey, the Heaven Division is nothing special, is it? Keke!”
The students of the Human Division were so high-spirited that they even began to openly ignore the Heaven Division next to them.
‘Damn it! To think that the day would come when we would be ignored by those guys.’
‘Damn it!’
‘Ugh…’
A fire raged.
When they first entered the White Martial Academy, they had not even considered the Human Division.
It was only natural for the Heaven Division, which prided itself on being overwhelmingly superior in both family fame and martial arts, to look down on the Human Division, not to mention the Earth Division.
But
‘Since Instructor Jin came, the academy has completely changed.’
‘Really… is that crazy training without any foundation the right way?’
They couldn’t help but think that.
The downcast appearance of the Human Division of the past had disappeared without a trace, and now, seeing their faces that seemed to ignore them, they even felt a sense of emptiness.
Just then.
“You esteemed students of the Heaven Division. Why do you look like that?”
Annoyingly, So-ah, with a smirk, once again turned the lungs of the Heaven Division inside out.
“…”
‘Let’s not even talk.’
‘The moment I talk to that human, it’s obvious that I’ll give a little and get a lot back.’
The students of the Heaven Division glanced at So-ah and then turned their heads away, remaining silent.
“Don’t take it the wrong way. Before I’m the instructor of the Human Division, I’m the chief instructor of the entire academy, right? I’m a person who has to take care of all the students regardless of their division, so why are you so hostile to me? Huh?”
‘Ugh… let’s endure it, let’s endure it.’
‘Patience is a virtue.’
‘Damn it! I just want to punch that brat in the mouth.’
The Buddhist disciples sought Buddha, and the Taoist disciples sought the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, as the students of the Heaven Division suppressed their anger.
But unfortunately, So-ah continued to move his annoying mouth.
“You guys are so~ unlucky. Aren’t you?”
The leader of the Heaven Division, Jin-myeong of the Wudang Sect, who was evaluated as the strongest rising star in the academy along with Namgung Mun and Tang Il-gi, unable to bear it any longer, glared at So-ah and opened his mouth.
“What on earth do you mean by unlucky?”
“Think about it. When I was first appointed as an instructor, I gave all the students a chance, right? Those who wanted to become strong. Those who wanted to become masters, I told them to join the Human Division. So students Namgung Mun and Tang Il-gi of the Heaven Division transferred, right? Myo-seon, Tang Hwa-rin, Seok Won, Eon Yeong-je, and Paeng Il-gi of the Earth Division also transferred, right? Look at their martial arts. They’re not at the student level anymore. Keke.”
“…Long and short can only be known by comparing.”
“Do you have to taste it to know if it’s shit or bean paste? If it’s a hint, it’s a hint.”
“So what are you trying to say? Huh?!”
Jin-myeong asked with an angry voice.
As a disciple of Wudang, he usually didn’t get emotional, but he was annoyed by So-ah’s frivolous words and his face was red.
“Don’t forget.”
“What?”
“You all saw how our Human Division trained. When others were sleeping, we ran. When others were eating, we were beaten. When others were drinking, we rolled around like dogs.”
“That was definitely not the right way to train.”
“That’s what our old-fashioned Taoist would say. But real combat is completely~ different, you know?”
“…”
“Watch.”
“What…”
“How strong the Human Division has become.”
“…”
“And even after you graduate from the academy today, never forget. That to become strong, you need that much pain. Everyone, until you shit blood with all your might, just keep swinging. Swing and swing again until your arms break, just hold onto your sword and dig in.”
“Instructor Jin…”
“That’s all for my advice as the chief instructor.”
As soon as his words ended, So-ah’s gaze turned to the students of the Human Division.
Then he asked in a loud voice.
“How did you all see student Moyong Hwa and student Myo-seon fight?”
“What’s there to say, they were the best!”
“They’re martial arts masters, martial arts masters!”
“Hahaha!”
“Hohoho!”
At that, Moyong Hwa and Myo-seon, who had already forgotten their sense of victory and had joined the ranks to rest, blushed as if they were embarrassed.
“You can do that too, right?”
“Of course.”
“We will win!”
Just as he was encouraging the students’ enthusiasm.
“The next duel is between the leader of the Heaven Division, student Jin-myeong, and student Han Baek of the Human Division. Forward!”
For a moment, Han Baek’s face turned pale.
Why on earth did it have to be Jin-myeong of the Heaven Division?
He had thought that a master like Jin-myeong would naturally be faced by Tang Il-gi or Namgung Mun…
“Hah…”
Han Baek squeezed his eyes shut and let out a long sigh.
On the other hand, Jin-myeong, who had been called along with him, looked back and forth between So-ah and Han Baek with a complicated expression that was hard to read.
Just then.
“Han Baek-ah.”
“Yes…”
“Luck is also a skill. You can’t help the luck of the draw.”
“Phew…”
“Are you scared?”
“It’s not that I’m scared… but that Taoist Jin-myeong is strong, isn’t he?”
“Shall I tell you one important fact?”
“What is it?”
“Do you know who has improved the most since I became an instructor?”
“…Who is it?”
“You.”
“Gasp…”
It was an unexpected statement.
Whether the impact of those words was significant, not only the person in question, Han Baek, but all the surrounding students looked at Han Baek with wide eyes.
‘Certainly… Han Baek has gotten a lot stronger.’
‘In terms of stamina alone, he’s probably the best among us.’
‘Because he rolled around with Instructor Jin the most.’
On Han Baek’s face, where the shadow of defeat had been cast from the moment he was called along with Jin-myeong, a light of hope and a strong will appeared in his eyes.
“Student Jin-myeong?”
“…”
“Be prepared. Han Baek has a habit of biting even harder when he sees a strong opponent. He’s a stubborn… no, a stubborn dog, a stubborn dog.”
‘Is that a compliment or an insult?!’
As Han Baek’s eyebrows twitched, Jin-myeong smiled slyly.
‘Hmph! Instructor Jin. You are mistaken. Unless it’s Tang Il-gi or Namgung Mun, there is no one who can defeat me.’
So-ah, who had noticed Jin-myeong’s intentions, for some reason, also curled up the corners of his mouth.
‘Look at this brat. He’s smiling? Keke.’
At the same time.
“Han Baek-ah. Win, okay? If you lose, you’ll hold my hand and go to the Moyong Family to shit blood.”
At those words, a terrible poison firmly settled in Han Baek’s eyes.
“You’re saying things that I’m afraid will appear in my dreams. I’ll definitely win, so take back those words!”
“Oh? You’re saying you’ll definitely win against Jin-myeong?”
“Ah, I’ll win! Take back those words, you human!”
***
Half a shichen (1 hour).
It was an unexpectedly long battle.
Since today’s duel was to evaluate the students’ approximate martial arts level, it was possible for the instructor to stop it in the middle if a winner was not decided in a reasonable amount of time.
It was also an unavoidable measure to quickly proceed with the duels of nearly 100 students.
But the instructor in charge, Jong Jin-do, did not dare to do so.
Because when he was about to stop the duel between the two, So-ah had sent a telepathic message with a sharp gaze.
[Brother Jong. You must not stop it.]
[Not only because of the time, but at this rate, both of them could collapse from exhaustion…]
[This is a duel that their lives depend on. Through this duel, the two will grow.]
At So-ah’s stern warning, the duel between Han Baek and Jin-myeong eventually continued for a full half a shichen and over 300 exchanges of offense and defense took place.
“Gasp… gasp… gasp…”
Jin-myeong’s breathing became noticeably rough.
Although his internal energy was profound, he had raised his internal energy to the limit from the time it exceeded 100 exchanges, so he was now almost exhausted.
On the other hand.
“Come on, come on!!”
The case of Han Baek was different.
Unlike Jin-myeong, who was unharmed, Han Baek’s upper garment was almost completely torn, and clear sword marks were engraved on his chest and lower abdomen, with fresh blood flowing down, but his momentum had not subsided at all.
‘I should have finished it sooner. Doesn’t that brat get tired!’
It was bewildering.
Han Baek’s martial arts were definitely not as good as his.
In terms of speed, and in terms of weightiness and accuracy, he was a cut above.
But.
“If you don’t come, I’ll go, Taoist?”
Stamina.
It was in this aspect of stamina that Han Baek was showing something beyond imagination.
‘No more… no more… damn it!’
A curse came out.
His teeth were grinding and he was trembling with anger.
But his arms and legs felt as if a huge stone was hanging from them, and his lungs felt as if they would burst at any moment.
“Infinite!”
Thwack, thwack, thwack!
“Staminaaaa!”
Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!
“Let’s goooooo!”
Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!
Head, shoulders, knees, and feet.
Again, knees, and feet.
Watching Han Baek, who was beating Jin-myeong’s body with crazed eyes.
‘He’s going to win this?’
‘Wow! He’s a stubborn dog, a real stubborn dog. I’ll never fight that brat. Yuck, spit!’
The students shook their heads.
Watching the desperate victory of insight and perseverance that they had never seen before.
***
—Kwareureung!
“Wh-What is that?”
“It looks like… a sword gang?”
“It’s not ‘it looks like,’ it is a sword gang, you brat.”
Namgung Mun’s duel was more than enough to shake all the people.
Sword Gang!
Although Namgung Mun had already shown a sword gang when he had fought So-ah before, the sword gang at that time and the sword gang now were on a completely different level.
‘I expected it, but he’s on the verge of entering the Realm of Transformation realm. Brother Namgung is really amazing.’
This time, even So-ah could not help but be surprised.
‘Certainly, in the Orthodox Martial Path, there will be no one of his peers who can follow him. Unless it’s Gwang-won.’
As So-ah was having that thought, Jong Jin-do announced Namgung Mun’s victory with a terrified face.
“St-Student Namgung Mun, victory!”
Fortunately, Namgung Mun, instead of deliberately aiming at his opponent’s body, had struck the ground and made him lose his will to fight, thus seizing victory. But if he had not shown such consideration, his opponent would not have been able to avoid a serious injury.
And…
“Tang Il-gi, victory!”
“Moyong Su, victory!”
“Tang Hwa-rin, victory!”
“Jang Byeong-il, victory!”
“Seok Won, victory!”
“Eon Yeong-je, victory!”
“Paeng Il-gi, victory!”
As the duels progressed, the victories of the students of the Human Division were repeatedly announced from Jong Jin-do’s mouth.
“Hey! Aren’t we really going to win all of them?”
“Don’t tell me… winning all of them is a bit…”
“Hey? What’s wrong? Of course we have to win.”
“Realistically, is that possible?”
“How absurd. Aren’t you guys misunderstanding something?”
“…”
“I’m sure I told you that those who lose will be made to shit blood.”
“Hey! You’re being too mean. After today, the relationship between student and instructor is over, isn’t it? Your threats won’t work.”
“Hehe. I’m sorry, but my authority to command you is valid until the academy graduation ceremony.”
“Yes?!”
“Those who lose will really die.”
In the midst of the continuing duels, the night of the White Martial Academy deepened.
(End of Chapter)