Chapter 10
As expected, the rising generation martial artists of the prestigious sects were different.
The way they used their swords was different from the children of the small and medium-sized sects.
The exchange had already surpassed five seconds and was heading towards ten.
It wasn't a one-sided push where they were busy defending.
They also launched appropriately sharp attacks, creating a spectacle.
It was possible because Myung Jin was one of the top contenders among the rising generation martial artists. The children who were watching let out gasps of admiration.
Zhuge Yeon was the same.
She unknowingly let her mouth hang open and let out a sound of admiration.
"They say Myung Jin is the best in the Nine Sects One Gang..."
Praises had poured out, saying he was a talent that might appear once in a hundred years.
She had never seen him in person, so it was difficult to get a sense of it, but after seeing Myung Jin use his sword with her own two eyes, she thought it was plausible.
He was on a different level from the other rising generation martial artists.
Even Namgung Seocheon, who stood out in the Five Great Families, was not at that level. It seemed Myung Jin had already surpassed the category of a rising generation martial artist.
"He's amazing, really..."
As Zhuge Yeon muttered, Moyong Gi looked at her with a frown.
"Do you really think so?"
"Huh? What?"
"That guy. Does he really look that amazing?"
Zhuge Yeon tilted her head.
'What? Surely it's not jealousy?'
Zhuge Yeon, 괜히 sensing Moyong Gi's mood, asked back.
"Young Master Moyong... don't you think so?"
Moyong Gi sighed.
"Did these guys only learn martial arts from books?"
It was frustrating. The level was too low.
He had thought they would be a little better since they were from prestigious sects, but in Moyong Gi's eyes, it was all the same. There was no big difference between the children from the small and medium-sized sects and Myung Jin.
'That Jeonggak guy is probably at that level too... I'm ashamed I was even interested.'
He should have noticed when he clashed with the rising generation martial artists of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Families.
He had thought it was because it was a sudden fight and they weren't properly prepared, but that wasn't it.
They were just at that level.
A level where if they went out into the martial world and met someone even a tiny bit stronger than them, they would get stabbed with their eyes wide open.
As Moyong Gi's expression hardened, Zhuge Yeon cautiously spoke to him.
"What do you mean by that?"
"What?"
"That they only learned martial arts from books..."
"Ah, that?"
Moyong Gi's eyes narrowed.
"There are no variables. The sword path is so straightforward that the movements are clearly visible, who would get hit by that? The one who gets hit is an idiot."
This was the problem. The foundation seemed to be well-established, but it was too much of just the foundation.
There were occasional variations mixed in, but even those were within a predictable range.
Even Moyong Gi, who didn't know the Taiji Sword Art well, could clearly see how the next sword path would continue.
Unless you were intentionally getting hit, it was a level where you couldn't get hit even if you tried.
'That elder guy, isn't he intentionally going easy? Why is he holding on to something like this all day?'
It was exactly five seconds. And that was giving him a lot of leeway.
If Moyong Gi used his sword with determination, he could subdue the current Myung Jin in three seconds.
It was a level where he could see flaws even if he fought with his eyes closed, but they were still continuing the exchange.
They had already exchanged for fifteen seconds. That's why he was suspicious.
'Could it be... he can't see it?'
Moyong Gi narrowed his eyes at the thought that suddenly occurred to him.
He was about to examine it more closely, but Zhuge Yeon's voice, digging in, interrupted him.
"Are you talking about variations when you say variables?"
Moyong Gi was about to unconsciously narrow his eyes, but he quickly fixed his expression at Zhuge Yeon's hardening face.
"It's not just about variations..."
It was a higher concept than that. But it wasn't easy to explain with words.
Moyong Gi tapped his head as he pondered, and then looked at Zhuge Yeon, whose face was still filled with curiosity.
"Are you curious?"
"...Yes."
Although she hesitated, she eventually revealed her honest feelings.
It was better that way. It was frustrating to see her suppress it and suffer alone like before his return.
Moyong Gi grinned and said.
"Then you come and learn from me later too. I'll teach you."
Zhuge Yeon frowned. Seeing that, Moyong Gi quickly added.
"Don't misunderstand. It's not that I don't want to teach you, it's just hard to explain with words."
Zhuge Yeon's face softened a little.
"Is that so? By the way, if you say 'you too'... is there someone else who has decided to learn?"
"Yeah. The little beggar and Myung Jin."
Zhuge Yeon had a surprised expression.
"If you mean the little beggar, you must be talking about Young Master So of the Beggars' Sect... and Daoist Master Myung Jin has also decided to learn?"
"What Daoist Master. Right. They've decided to learn too."
Zhuge Yeon, still with a look of disbelief, asked again.
"Really? Daoist Master Myung Jin of Wudang is learning the sword from Young Master Moyong?"
"Ah, not that. They're only learning the lightness technique."
Only then did Zhuge Yeon understand a little.
To say that Moyong Gi's lightness technique was top-notch was an understatement.
Even though he was still young, he was so fast that even mid-level masters seemed to have a hard time keeping up.
Anyone would covet it. Zhuge Yeon was the same.
Zhuge Yeon, with a mouth that wouldn't open, hesitated for a bit, and then eventually revealed her greed.
"Then... can I learn the lightness technique too?"
"Of course. I'll teach you for free, specially. Not just the lightness technique, but the sword too."
The moment a small joy flashed in Zhuge Yeon's eyes, sighs of admiration burst out from the surroundings.
Myung Jin's sword examination had finally ended.
After dueling for about thirty seconds, he was eventually caught by the opponent's sword at his neck.
Myung Jin trembled with a look of frustration.
***
Moyong Gi, with his arms crossed, observed the process of the prestigious sects' rising generation martial artists taking the sword examination.
However, his eyes were following the movements of the elders who were acting as examiners, not the rising generation martial artists.
'Is this really all there is?'
No matter how carefully he looked, he couldn't see anything more.
The elders' martial arts were also too straightforward.
'They're a little better than the kids, but...'
Literally, a little.
In Moyong Gi's eyes, there was no big difference.
In a real fight, he would crush them with his superior internal energy, but since it was a duel to gauge their level, he couldn't do that.
Their understanding of martial arts was laid bare.
Moyong Gi, who had a pathetic expression, suddenly tilted his head.
'No. I was worse than that in the past, so have I become too strong?'
Before his return, there was a difference as big as heaven and earth between him and Myung Jin, let alone the elders of the Orthodox Justice Alliance.
But the fact that they looked pathetic meant that Moyong Gi's own level had risen that much.
'Of course, it would be different in a real fight.'
High internal energy was a powerful weapon in itself. It was not easy to bridge the gap.
Of course, unless the internal energy was considerably high, he wouldn't lose. However, considerable caution was needed.
As Moyong Gi was scratching his neck, Zhuge Yeon, who was next to him, took a step forward.
"Huh? Where are you going?"
"It's my turn."
"Already? They're only on group thirteen?"
"Young Master Yoo of Diancang from group fourteen dropped out. He's injured and will do it after seven weeks."
Yoo Hojin and Jo Iljang were injured, so only the two of them had dropped out.
'They're unnecessarily strict, but they're generous with things like this.'
The blatant favoritism was an eyesore. He was filled with complaints, but there was no way for now. He clicked his tongue and looked at Zhuge Yeon.
"Do well. Don't be nervous."
Zhuge Yeon showed a faint smile and walked towards the training platform.
Moyong Gi watched Zhuge Yeon's back and then suddenly looked up at the training platform.
'By the way, it seems like it's my turn soon.'
Except for Myung Jin, everyone was around twenty seconds.
It wasn't a long time.
Moyong Gi looked at Yoon Choong, who had taken the training platform for group sixteen.
Just then, he met Yoon Choong's eyes, who was looking at Moyong Gi.
Moyong Gi tilted his head.
'Huh? Why is he dissatisfied again?'
He had expected him to be looking at him with a gaze that would at least chew him up, if not with fighting spirit. But that wasn't it. That was a face of annoyance, not fighting spirit. So he was surprised.
'Aish, I don't know. Anyway, I'll make it so he can't even show his face.'
Moyong Gi's eyes sparkled.
***
Zhuge Yeon came down from the training platform with a dejected face.
Eon Juhye, who was two years younger than her, had lasted for fifteen seconds.
But she had only lasted for ten seconds.
She was last within the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Families. Naturally, she was disappointed.
Moyong Gi, who was waiting below, greeted her with a smile.
"There's nothing to be disappointed about. Whether it's ten seconds or twenty seconds, it's all the same. You can close the gap quickly with effort."
Moyong Gi had said it to comfort her. But the timing was not good.
Zhuge Yeon's eyes flashed refreshingly.
"I've been watching and watching. Young Master Moyong. Don't worry about others and just do well yourself. I'll be watching closely to see how well you do."
After snapping at him with a sharp voice, she walked away, exuding a cold air.
'Anyway... that temper...'
Moyong Gi had an awkward expression, and then, at the urging of the warrior next to him, he went up to the training platform for group sixteen.
Yoon Choong, who was waiting, glared at Moyong Gi with a still dissatisfied face.
"What is your relationship with the Alliance Leader?"
"The Alliance Leader?"
Moyong Gi, who had a bewildered expression, belatedly had a guess.
'Ah, really... why did Elder Hwang do something so unnecessary...'
The current Moyong Gi had no connection with Jinsan. If there was a connection, it was only with Hwang Gwon.
'Getting involved with that old man is just tiring...'
Jinsan had made Moyong Gi go through a lot. He had been used a lot after getting involved with Jinsan.
'Not this time. Just try to touch me. I'll give you a taste of my blade.'
As Moyong Gi was gritting his teeth, Yoon Choong stepped forward and cut off his thoughts.
"You're a lucky brat. I was going to cut off one of your arms."
Moyong Gi let out a faint laugh.
"Don't aim for other people's arms, just take good care of your own. A dog might bite it if you're not careful."
Moyong Gi did not back down a single word.
Yoon Choong gritted his teeth.
"Insolent brat. I'll see for myself if your skills are as good as your mouth. Come on. You're only allowed three seconds, so you'd better do your best."
Yoon Choong still had his arms crossed and an arrogant face.
Moyong Gi grinned and drew his sword from the beginning.
If their internal energy was at a similar level, it would be different, but carelessness was not allowed against a master of internal energy who was above him.
It was important to seize the initiative at the beginning. That way, it would be easier.
"Hoo..."
Moyong Gi, who was taking a deep breath, tapped the ground and stretched out.
At that moment, Yoon Choong's face twitched.
'Hut!'
He knew that Moyong Gi was fast.
If he hadn't known, it would be different, but since he had already confirmed it with his own eyes, he thought he could handle it if he was prepared.
The problem was not that.
'This! I have to retreat!'
If he had come at him with a slash, it would have been easier to dodge.
But Moyong Gi had come at him with a thrust, aiming for Yoon Choong's neck.
It meant that he could change direction in any way.
Whichever way he moved, Moyong Gi's sword would follow.
He had confirmed when he was bickering with the kids of the Five Great Families that he had energy to spare even while moving like that.
The answer was to retreat.
'This damn brat!'
But his pride was hurt.
Even Jeonghyun of Emei, who had faced Myung Jin, had not retreated a single step.
He had just slightly twisted his body and dodged Myung Jin's sword.
'Cunning brat!'
His pride simply would not allow it.
Yoon Choong gritted his teeth and slightly turned his body to dodge Moyong Gi's sword.
And as expected, Moyong Gi's sword, which was passing right in front of Yoon Choong's nose, changed direction in an instant.
It came at him with a fast slash, aiming for Yoon Choong's neck.
'As expected!'
Yoon Choong dodged Moyong Gi's sword with the technique of the Iron Plate Bridge. At that moment, Moyong Gi's eyes sparkled.
'You didn't expect this, did you?'
Moyong Gi's sword, which seemed like it would just pass by, dropped.
Yoon Choong's complexion changed greatly. He still had energy to spare. He hadn't expected this.
"Damn it!"
It was no longer a matter of pride.
He hurriedly drew his sword. He was so rushed that he even drew out his sword ki.
A blue sword ki clearly took shape.
If they clashed, Moyong Gi's sword would break.
But just as Moyong Gi's sword was about to clash with Yoon Choong's sword, Moyong Gi took a big step.
Moyong Gi's sword moved smoothly and stood up straight. The expression that it had flowed down was more accurate.
Yoon Choong's eyes widened as if they would tear.
"Th-this...!"
He couldn't believe the tip of Moyong Gi's sword that had stopped in front of his eyes.
Because he was Yoon Choong. He was a master with a reputation, to the point where he was given the nickname Lightning Sword.
But he had given his neck to a child who had not even reached the age of majority.
This situation did not make sense at all.
"Th-this...!"
But this was reality. And reality, even if it takes some time, is bound to be realized.
This was the same for Yoon Choong.
Yoon Choong, who had been staring with wide eyes for a long time, eventually relaxed his legs with a look of dejection.
With a thud, his back hit the floor.
Moyong Gi looked at Yoon Choong and grinned.
"You lost, right?"
Yoon Choong just closed his eyes.
(End of Chapter)