ISS-Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Bibibik!

Confirming that the last preliminary match ended with the whistle, I turned my gaze. The Baekgeommun disciples who had already climbed onto the platform.

“With this, the preliminaries are concluded! The main tournament will be held starting tomorrow, so honored guests of each sect, please rest your fatigue in your assigned guest rooms and gather here by the oh-hour tomorrow!”

“So that’s how it is. Is your body alright?”

“I’m a bit tired, but I think I’m okay.”

Looking at Seohwa’s condition beside me, I nodded. As Seohwa said, she didn’t seem very exhausted.

“You did well.”

“Hehe.”

Three preliminary matches.

During that time, Seohwa finished all her opponents within five seconds. The bracket being drawn reasonably well played a part, but the most decisive role was still Seohwa’s guts.

In these three fights, Seohwa continuously rushed into her opponents to fight.

“I really didn’t think they’d be so scared.”

“They don’t have much real combat experience.”

Swinging a sword at full force toward a person is harder than one thinks. Of course, one can realize that and consciously put strength into the sword strike.

However, if the opponent doesn’t get scared in front of that sword strike but rather rushes in, the swordsman who swung the sword becomes greatly flustered. And if you deflect that weakened sword, it’s over.

Even Seohwa, who still lacks physical strength, can finish it with the next strike.

“From the main tournament, it won’t be easy.”

“You mean what I did in the preliminaries won’t work anymore?”

“Right.”

“It’s okay. There’s still a lot more you taught me, Munjunim!”

Watching Seohwa answer spiritedly, I chuckled and ruffled her hair. Then Seohwa let out a small scream.

“Munjunim! I just organized it!”

“You’re going to wash anyway. I’ll comb it for you after you wash, so don’t be so serious. More importantly, about the lodging.”

Looking around briefly, I nodded. I could see Baekgeommun disciples guiding people to their lodgings here and there.

Probably if we just stay still like this, someone assigned to guide will come. Thinking that, I stayed still.

“Excuse me! Are you Uicheonmun Master-nim?”

“I am.”

Soon, a loud voice rang out. I turned my head to find the source, and a large shadow fell before me.

“I am Wangpal, First Sword Disciple of Baekgeommun! I’ve been assigned to guide Uicheonmun Master-nim during your stay within the sect!”

“Wangpal.”

I noted Baekgeommundo Wangpal’s name and nodded. Though his build was huge, his impression was gentle, so he didn’t feel very threatening.

“I’ll remember. I’m Baek Riyun, Uicheonmun Master. And this Seohwa here is my disciple. First, I’d like to be guided to the lodging.”

“Yes! I’ll guide you right away!”

At Wangpal’s appearance vigorously snorting and taking the lead, I chuckled and followed behind him. And Seohwa following behind me, sticking to my side.

“He’s quite a unique person.”

“Is he?”

“Yes. Why does he shout so loudly with every word he says?”

“He’s nervous.”

“What?”

Seohwa, who briefly looked at Wangpal’s huge muscles and huge build, looked back at me with an indescribable expression.

“Nerv……ous? He looks like he could crush a rock with one hand.”

“That’s a preconception. You silly thing.”

Well, it’s not wrong. If he trained external arts or infused even a little internal energy, with that build, he could break rocks with his fists.

However, personality doesn’t always follow physique, does it?

“His muscles are tense, his walking posture is stiff, and his heart rate has increased. These are common reactions when a person is nervous. He’s probably quite timid by nature.”

“Ti……mid…….”

There was a guy like that even when I was in the Changcheon Corps. A guy with a build like a mountain but timid beyond measure. That famous guy who was Paeng Family’s direct bloodline but didn’t have a speck of confidence.

The way he walked nervously toward me worrying he’d be scolded is similar to how Wangpal is walking now. So I can’t mistake it.

“We’ve ahrived!”

“Arrived?”

“Arrived! We have.”

Watching Wangpal struggling with his pronunciation after apparently biting his tongue, I let out a snicker. Then Wangpal deliberately turned his head pretending not to notice.

“This is the guest room where Uicheonmun Master-nim and the disciple will stay!”

“……You mean we’re to stay together in one room?”

I frowned slightly looking at the room he guided us to. Isn’t that right?

Of course, I don’t have the thought that a sect master and disciple can’t stay in the same room. It’s a small sect, so that’s possible. However, Seohwa is a girl, and I’m a man.

Thinking that way, when I asked, Wangpal opened the door and continued his explanation.

“Our Baekgeommun’s guest rooms have three rooms, so you’ll be fine! However, if you’re still uncomfortable, I’ll look for another room!”

I see.

“If there are multiple rooms, that’s fine. By any chance, is there a schedule after this?”

“There’s no schedule you must participate in! From the hae-hour, the main gate closes and entry is forbidden, so if you want to go out for a meal, you need to go and come back before then!”

“I see. Understood.”

“I’ll be staying in the lodging in front during my assigned guidance period, so if anything comes up, please come find me!”

Having finished what he had to say, Wangpal disappeared hurriedly as if a fire had fallen on his feet.

“It’s a shame. With such tremendous bone structure, but he’s a Baekgeommundo.”

“Does that person also have talent?”

“I don’t know about his enlightenment, but he has tremendous talent in any case.”

I nodded at Seohwa’s question. Though martial arts aren’t determined by physique alone, having a large physique has that many advantages.

Though it can’t compare to Seohwa who has the Extreme Yin Body, Wangpal would also be quite talented.

“It would have been good if he came to Uicheonmun.”

Well, since he’s already entered Baekgeommun, it’s an impossible story.

I chuckled and turned my gaze to look at Seohwa.

“Did you see your opponent for tomorrow?”

“Yes. There was someone from a place called Sea Sun Sect named Hado and someone from Baekgeommun named Woogyeom.”

“Sea Sun Sect and Baekgeommun.”

I thought about the skills of the two I saw while watching and nodded.

“You don’t need to worry about the Sea Sun Sect disciple. If you just don’t let your guard down, it seems you have the skill to win easily.”

“Yes. But the Baekgeommundo is…….”

“Won’t be easy.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Woogyeom.

I remember he had the second-best skills among the three Baekgeommundo who participated. Though he’s weaker than Jingwang, he’s not someone to take lightly.

However, that doesn’t mean she can’t win.

“Woogyeom’s sword is the Illusory Sword. Now, what did I say are the characteristics of the Illusory Sword?”

“Uh, so…… there are many variations and it’s hard to know what he’ll aim for! And you also said it’s a difficult sword to execute.”

“Right. The Illusory Sword is a difficult sword to execute. If the Illusory Sword isn’t precise, the openings are greatly exposed. Then how should you defeat an Illusory Sword user?”

“Mm…….”

After pondering briefly, Seohwa frowned and provided an answer.

“Not be fooled by the Illusory Sword?”

“That’s the best method. However, it’s a difficult method for you. So I’ll tell you a method that even someone who just started learning swordsmanship can use.”

“Really? There’s such a thing?”

“Of course.”

I grinned and gestured to Seohwa to come closer. Then Seohwa approached me with expectant eyes.

And.

“──Do it.”

“……What?”

Hearing my words.

“Use full force and──that’s what I’m saying.”

“……Really?”

“Really. If you do this, you can definitely win. There’s nothing better against Illusory Sword users.”

“Th-That, won’t it be a rule violation?”

“That’s why it’s a trick. It’s fine. I confirmed it’s not a rule violation.”

It’s not a secret move, and it’s fine as long as it can be used in real combat, right?

With this, she can definitely beat Woogyeom.

“I’m curious how Baekgeommun Master will respond.”

I grinned broadly expecting So Yeohwang’s distorted expression.

“Well then, shall we start practicing?”

***

In front of the guest pavilion, temporary lodging.

Having finished guiding Baek Riyun and Seohwa and arriving in front of the door, Wangpal maintained silence before trembling.

‘I thought I was going to die……!’

For Wangpal with his timid personality, guiding outside guests was indeed burdensome. However, Wangpal was also someone who had lived in group life for a long time.

He wouldn’t be flustered enough to stutter just from entertaining guests to the point of stammering. At least Wangpal thought so.

Until he encountered Baek Riyun face to face.

‘What kind of person has such eyes…….’

Recalling those deep pupils like darkness of the abyss embedded in his eyes, Wangpal clenched his cold, sweaty hands. That mysterious gaze that seemed not just to see through but to carve out all his inner thoughts.

He had never felt such a sensation even from Baekgeommun Master So Yeohwang. He couldn’t know what he was thinking with those eyes. Looking at those eyes, he couldn’t help but be nervous. So he came here as if fleeing, but.

“Whew, then now…….”

“Sahyeong, you came?”

“…….”

Unfortunately, this place was also not a resting place for Wangpal.

“Huh? Oh, Sajae. I just got here…… why is Sajae here?”

Looking at Jingwang who appeared at the temporary lodging for guiding First Sword Disciples, Wangpal reflexively shrank his shoulders. Then Jingwang spoke nonchalantly.

“I have a few sword moves to test before going out to tomorrow’s sparring, so I came to ask you to be my sparring partner. You don’t look very busy right now.”

“……Sparring partner?”

“I have no one to ask besides Sahyeong. You don’t mind, do you?”

At Jingwang’s appearance wiping the smooth surface of his sword with cloth while asking, Wangpal gritted his teeth and answered with a forced smile.

“I’m a bit tired…… can’t we do it later?”

“Hmm.”

At Wangpal’s answer, Jingwang lowered the cloth he was wiping his sword with and tilted his head. And the words that popped out.

“Is that important?”

“…….”

“Rather than Sahyeong resting now, wouldn’t it be more efficient for this sect if I could swing my sword even once more on tomorrow’s sparring stage.”

“That’s…….”

“Anyway, even if Sahyeong rests, you can’t do anything productive. Because Sahyeong is…….”

Jingwang, who had been looking down at Wangpal indifferently for a moment, wore a crooked smile.

“You have a body that can’t accumulate internal energy.”

“…….”

At Jingwang’s words stabbing a painful spot, Wangpal clenched his fist. Because Jingwang’s words were half correct.

“I can accumula…….”

“In the 8 years Sahyeong has spent at this sect, how much internal energy have you accumulated? At most one year’s worth of internal energy, right? You leaked all the rest. Even though you learned 3 years later than me, Sahyeong is behind me.”

“…….”

“No matter how excellent your enlightenment, no matter how sturdy your bone structure, Sahyeong can only be a half-penny martial artist. Because you can’t accumulate internal energy. That’s why we found a way for even such a body to devote itself to the sect, didn’t we? But being so passive like this…….”

Watching Jingwang let out a sardonic laugh, Wangpal forcibly suppressed the surging anger. The feeling of magma pounding on the stomach wall from deep in his throat.

‘I must endure.’

Right. I must endure. Isn’t what Jingwang says correct?

It would help Baekgeommun more if Jingwang’s skills improved rather than Wangpal who can’t accumulate internal energy. If it helps Baekgeommun more, it will also help Baekgeommun Master who took in himself who had nothing. So.

‘I must endure.’

To be human, one must endure.

Not even realizing that blood was flowing as his nails dug into his palm, Wangpal forced a smiling expression and smiled at Jingwang, answering.

“……Alright, Sajae. I’ll get ready quickly and head to the training ground.”

“……Tsk. I’ll be waiting there first.”

Jingwang, who clicked his tongue as if displeased and disappeared. Watching that back, Wangpal, who suppressed his pounding heart with anger, tightly gripped the sword at his waist.

—You seem talented. Become a Baekgeommundo.

So Yeohwang who believed in and accepted himself, who had nothing, as a Baekgeommundo. To repay that trust, he must continue to advance.

“……They say even if the sky falls, there’s a hole to rise through.”

Isn’t it said that there are those who became masters by training only the Three Elementary Swords? Then even if he lacks internal energy, if he advances and advances, someday he can become a master too.

“I am…… talented.”

Repeating the words that had sustained him for eight years, Wangpal slowly released the strength in his hands and moved his steps toward the training ground.

Deliberately ignoring the fact that it had already been several years since he had a proper conversation with So Yeohwang.