Scholar Demon Venerable

Namgung Ryong immediately turned his head and said to Cheongun.

"Did you say Lee Cheongun? Although I don't have many talents, I have learned a little of the martial arts of the great Namgung family. If it's alright with you, how about we have a match?"

Although it was an unexpected proposal, since it was the Namgung family that occupied the head of the five great families, it was a good opportunity for Cheongun.

But for Jin Seolnan, who was in the position of hosting a guest, it was an unacceptable thing.

"What are you talking about? This gentleman is my guest."

"Junior Sister Jin. Didn't that person say he wanted to see the sword of Huashan? Then he won't dislike the sword of the Namgung family either."

"Young Master Namgung, watch your words. What do you mean, that person? He's my guest."

At Jin Seolnan's cold words, Namgung Ryong's face flushed red. But he did not get angry.

He still didn't like Cheongun, but he cupped his hands in a fist.

"Young Master Lee, I'm sorry."

"No. You can call me comfortably."

Cheongun was also in a bad mood, but he did not get angry.

At a glance, Namgung Ryong looked a few years older than him. There was no need to escalate the conflict over something like this.

Moreover, he did not want to just let go of a good opportunity to test his skills.

"Brother Namgung. A duel is something I would not wish for more. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to witness the sword art of the Namgung family."

Before anyone could stop him, Cheongun immediately injected his true energy into his Yongcheon acupoint and flew up like a butterfly, landing on the edge of the pond.

At a glance, it was an outstanding lightness skill, so everyone was surprised.

"He's learned martial arts?"

"Wow! If this goes wrong, Brother Ryong might be embarrassed."

At Zhuge Haemi's words, Namgung Ryong gritted his molars.

He couldn't gauge Cheongun's skills. Looking at the single move of lightness skill that Cheongun had just unfolded, he was by no means below him.

The only fortunate thing was that lightness skill was not everything in martial arts.

Seureung.

Namgung Ryong drew his sword and flew with a determined expression.

He landed next to Cheongun and assumed the ready position of the Azure Sky Flying Swallow Sword Art.

When Jin Seolnan was about to step forward, Kang Ho-poong, who was next to her, stopped her. He shook his head from side to side and unfolded his lightness skill.

He unfolded the Floating Cloud Leaping and Drifting, the lightness skill of the Qingcheng Sect, with his white clothes fluttering, and landed between Lee Cheongun and Namgung Ryong.

"I will be the judge."

Kang Ho-poong looked back and forth between the two.

He didn't know if it would be a duel or a life-and-death battle. Looking at Namgung Ryong's state, it could be a life-and-death battle.

The only fortunate thing was that Cheongun's skills might be more outstanding than he had thought.

Even now, his face was relaxed. How many rising masters would be relaxed when facing the Namgung family?

He made a plan to step in at the worst moment and continued to speak.

"Since this is not a life-and-death battle, you must never use killing moves. Keep in mind that you should not cause great harm to your opponent. Don't forget that this is a duel for mutual development."

He said the last words as if making a vow, looking at Namgung Ryong. The jealousy in Namgung Ryong's two eyes had still not disappeared.

Kang Ho-poong finished his words and stepped back.

Fire flashed in Namgung Ryong's two eyes.

Cheongun's face was still relaxed. Such a Cheongun's appearance felt as if he were looking down on him.

"Chaat!"

Namgung Ryong let out a kiai and began his attack.

Clear Wind Single Sword! Lightning Wind and Cloud!

Namgung Ryong, who had entered by stepping on the Seryu Step in a straight line, threw a series of blows at Cheongun.

Chajajajang!

Namgung Ryong followed Cheongun, who was dodging into the air without stepping back.

Then he continuously unfolded the Pine Wind Sword, which was said to be as strong as a pine tree and as fast as the wind.

Shushushuk!

A flashing sword energy embroidered the air like a net.

For a moment, everyone in the courtyard was surprised.

"This is..."

"No!"

Although Namgung Ryong had not particularly unfolded a killing move, it was also true that Cheongun, who had dodged into the air, had nowhere to go. If left like this, Cheongun would be injured by the sword energy.

Pangpangpang!

Cheongun unfolded the Flying Heaven Shadowless Divine Step and continuously stepped on the air, twisting his body. Then he leisurely escaped from the net of sword energy like a single carp playing in it.

Everyone's mouths fell open at Cheongun's lightness skill, which left afterimages as he stepped on the air.

Thwack.

Cheongun landed lightly and turned his sword behind his back. Then he formed a sword seal and extended his left hand forward.

"Ah!"

An exclamation flowed out from the mouths of Jin Seolran and Zhuge Haemi.

Cheongun's appearance, standing tall like a single noble crane, was reverent.

But in the eyes of his opponent, Namgung Ryong, Cheongun's appearance was not visible.

"Are you just going to dodge?"

Namgung Ryong's growling face was heavily frowned.

The Blood Emperor, who was next to him, nodded his head and said.

[A man. You shouldn't avoid a fight that comes to you.]

Cheongun changed his stance.

He swung the sword he had turned behind his back forward and swung it as if unfolding it from his chest to the right.

A stance with one arm outstretched.

The unique ready position of the Universe Sword Sovereign, who was called the number one sword in the world four hundred years ago.

It was one of the three great ultimate arts found in the Imperial Palace Armory.

Cheongun infused his internal energy into the sword. As the internal energy was slowly injected into the sword, the blade trembled.

Jiiing!

The sword, which let out a sword cry, announced its readiness.

Cheongun opened his mouth to Namgung Ryong, who was glaring at him.

"Be careful."

With his words, Cheongun immediately slid forward and slowly swung his sword horizontally.

It was a simple movement. But the countless sword principles and power contained within it were not simple.

Shwaeeek

Namgung Ryong's two eyes widened at the sword energy that was rushing in without hesitation.

"It's dangerous!"

"Dodge!"

The onlookers all warned of the danger.

Like a frog in front of a viper, Namgung Ryong could not move.

The sword energy bent right in front of Namgung Ryong's nose and soared into the air.

"Keuk."

Namgung Ryong let out a groan, gritting his teeth.

His body trembled.

The sword he had been holding drooped.

'I-I couldn't dodge it.'

His complete defeat.

A perfect single move that could never be dodged.

"I... I lost."

Namgung Ryong's red lips, which seemed like they would not open, opened, and he said in a drooping voice.

He didn't want to admit it. He wanted to be a perfect and strong man in front of her.

But it was not a sword move he could handle.

Namgung Ryong turned around with drooping shoulders, his mouth tightly shut.

Everyone looked at Namgung Ryong with pitiful eyes. Everyone knew that a clumsy consolation would rather hurt Namgung Ryong's pride.

Except for one person.

"This is disappointing."

Namgung Ryong, who had been walking away, stopped abruptly.

He said, growling, without turning back.

"What did you say?"

"I said it was disappointing."

Hwak.

Namgung Ryong's head turned.

"Are you, are you making fun of me?"

The one who had said he was disappointed in Namgung Ryong was Cheongun, who still had a relaxed expression on his face.

Cheongun still had a smile on his lips and said.

"You said it was a duel."

"What?"

Namgung Ryong didn't understand what this guy was saying.

'A duel? What about it? I've already lost.'

He had already admitted defeat. But he didn't understand Cheongun's reaction.

It seemed he was making fun of him, who had been defeated.

But unexpected words came out of Cheongun's mouth.

"Is winning or losing important in a duel? Shouldn't we clash several times so that we can develop each other? Shouldn't we compete with various moves to find out each other's skills?"

"..."

Namgung Ryong was at a loss for words.

Cheongun did not cling to winning or losing. But he was about to throw away the opportunity of a duel where they could develop each other because he was clinging to winning or losing.

Cheongun smiled brightly and assumed a ready position again.

"It's just the beginning, so you're not saying you're going to end it like this, are you?"

Namgung Ryong gritted his molars.

His two clenched fists trembled.

Countless thoughts swirled in his mind.

Namgung Ryong was not so stupid that he couldn't understand what Cheongun was saying.

He soon organized his thoughts and shouted.

"Of course! I can't end it like this!"

Namgung Ryong, who had assumed a stance again, took a deep breath and glared at Cheongun with sharp eyes.

It was a slightly different appearance from the first time, when he had faced Cheongun as if to kill him at any moment.

"I'll go first!"

Namgung Ryong kicked the ground and shot out.

He dug into Cheongun's right side and thrust his sword consecutively.

Chaechachaeng.

Cheongun deflected Namgung Ryong's sword with a still relaxed appearance.

It was not the ruthless sword move he had unfolded a little while ago. But still, Namgung Ryong could not do anything to Cheongun.

A frustration that could not be expressed in words continued throughout the duel.

A feeling like an unclimbable cliff.

But something unknown stimulated his nerves.

Although he didn't know what it was, Namgung Ryong was feeling a sense of ecstasy.

Although his pride was unusually strong, he was also a martial artist. Witnessing an outstanding martial art and learning something was a greater pleasure than anything else.

He unfolded all the sword moves he knew without holding back.

Chachachachang!

The ones who were watching the duel had their mouths wide open and couldn't close them.

Who was Namgung Ryong?

He was the second son of the great Namgung family, and his martial arts were so strong that he was included in the Five Dragons among the rising stars of the martial world. He was not inferior to them, or rather, he was stronger.

But all his full-power attacks were being blocked. And they were being stopped by light movements like third-rate moves.

They became curious about Cheongun's identity once again.

"Does this make sense?"

"Wow! No way."

"I can't believe it."

They each said a word and let out exclamations of admiration.

Thwack.

The duel, which seemed like it would not end, ended anticlimactically with Cheongun's sword on Namgung Ryong's shoulder.

"I lost."

Namgung Ryong readily admitted defeat. But unlike the first time, his expression looked comfortable.

"Phew. That was tough."

Cheongun sheathed his sword and made a gesture of wiping his forehead.

"As expected, the sword of the Namgung family is amazing. If you hadn't held back, I wouldn't have been able to withstand even one move."

Cheongun cupped his hands in a fist and thanked Namgung Ryong. His posture was so polite that Namgung Ryong unconsciously cupped his hands in a fist and bowed his head.

"Don't mention it..."

He couldn't finish his words. Anyone could see that it was his defeat.

But Namgung Ryong also knew that Cheongun was not making fun of him.

Because he had felt that Cheongun was enjoying the duel with him while clashing swords hundreds of times.

He himself had also enjoyed the duel with Cheongun. It was a time like a fortunate encounter where he could gain a lot.

"If I have a chance, I would like to ask for a duel again."

Namgung Ryong's tone of voice had changed.

It was a change that would have surprised those who knew him.

Sure enough, astonishment appeared in the eyes of the onlookers.

Namgung Ryong had a personality of looking down on others. But he was voluntarily lowering himself and treating Cheongun.

Cheongun smiled as he looked at such a Namgung Ryong.

"It's not a difficult thing. More importantly, I would like to have a duel with the others, is that alright?"

Cheongun's head turned to the others.

They all nodded their heads at the same time.

Kang Ho-poong, who had been judging, stepped forward first.

"I'll go first."

"Senior Brother, he's my guest!"

Jin Seolran stopped him.

She quickly stood in front of Cheongun, drew her sword, and said.

"You said you wanted to see the sword of Huashan, right?"

"Haha. It's an honor."

Cheongun created some distance and extended his sword forward.

Jin Seolran also assumed the ready position of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Hands.

Kang Ho-poong stepped back and grumbled.

"I'm a guest too, you know."

* * *

A neat room where antique furniture and decorations were harmonized.

Three men and two women sat around a large table. They were Cheongun and the others who had just finished their duel.

After the duel with Namgung Ryong, the others also had a duel with Cheongun.

The results were satisfactory for everyone. No one was injured, and it was a duel that was helpful to each other.

The martial arts of the Qingcheng Sect, the Zhuge family, and the Huashan Sect gave Cheongun the experience of a real battle.

The feeling was different when he was training against an imaginary enemy by himself and when he was dueling with an opponent in front of him.

According to the Blood Emperor, a real battle was another feeling. He had encouraged Cheongun, saying that as experience piled up like this, he could stand tall as a single martial artist.

Toreureuk.

Tea was poured into the teacups.

The lingering feeling of the breathtaking duel faded in the fragrant tea.

"I didn't know Young Master Lee's martial arts were so outstanding."

Kang Ho-poong, as the eldest, spoke first.

As if in response, Cheongun cupped his hands in a fist and replied.

"No. Thanks to you, I was able to witness the outstanding martial arts of the nine great sects and the five great families, so I was really lucky today."

"No matter how much I think about it, it was an amazing martial art."

"It's nothing compared to the martial arts of the nine great sects and the five great families."

"Hahaha, there's no need to be humble. Anyone can see that your martial arts are not ordinary, and everyone here knows it."

Kang Ho-poong could not figure out Cheongun's martial arts. No, the others were the same.

Cheongun's martial arts had various characteristics. Although they could not figure it out with their experience and knowledge.

'I'll have to ask my master.'

It was a common thought among all of them.

Kang Ho-poong smiled brightly and examined Cheongun's face in detail.

His clear two eyes, which were imbued with vitality, and the slightly raised corners of his mouth were impressive.

Kang Ho-poong, who had been examining Cheongun's face in detail for a while, his eyes flashed.