ISS-Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Beoooooook!

“It’s over.”

At the satisfying sound of the wooden sword’s impact, Baek Riyun looked around and smiled faintly. People staring at Seohua with wide eyes as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have.

“How about it? Didn’t I say she’d win?”

At my casual question, Iryang, who had been watching the match stage with his mouth agape, stammered out his words.

“To actually win this…”

“This is a foul!”

“Mm?”

A voice burst out at that moment. When I turned my head to find the source, I saw a young man walking out from Baekgeommun’s side, grinding his teeth and glaring at me.

Indeed.

Does this mean they won’t let it pass quietly?

“Using the fact that it’s a wooden sword to grab the sword with her hand—isn’t this a foul!”

“Even if it had been a real sword instead of a wooden one, nothing would have changed. Didn’t you hear? Gongsoo Ipbaekin.”

“You call that an argument? Catching a real sword with bare hands is not easy even for a master, let alone that young girl being able to use such a technique freely!”

I chuckled at the sight of the hissing young man and crossed my arms. Then the gazes gathered on me.

Right. So that’s what you think.

“Dead-fish eyes.”

“…What did you just say?”

“I said dead-fish eyes. Come to think of it, I haven’t heard your name either. What’s your name?”

“Baekgeommun’s Three Swords Disciple, Seogeon…”

“I see. Young Hero Seogeon. Let me ask one thing.”

I cut off his words slightly and looked directly into Seogeon’s eyes, and his complexion, which had been turning red and blue, slowly returned. And at that moment, I spoke.

“Is Baekgeommun so lacking in manners? Baekgeommun consists of the Sect Master and up to the Five Swords Disciples, and if you’re a Three Swords Disciple, you’re just a regular disciple, not an elder.”

“Not only does a mere regular disciple raise an objection, but he questions a Sect Master of another sect? So this is how Baekgeommun teaches.”

“Th-that’s…”

At my words hitting the core, Seogeon’s face turned deathly pale. It seems he’s finally realized what he did wrong.

Actually, that’s right. Age aside, I’m a Sect Master of a sect, aren’t I? Moreover, the reputation I’ve made in Kangho isn’t at a level comparable to someone like Seogeon.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to…”

“You didn’t mean to. A good excuse. What will your next excuse be? That a newly established sect like Uicheonmun doesn’t compare to Baekgeommun’s prestige, so there’s no need to show courtesy—is that what you want to say?”

“…Ab-absolutely not!”

At my words, I spoke again while looking at Seogeon’s face, which had now turned bluish-green. And then a voice interrupted.

“I’ll apologize, so please forgive my disciple’s rudeness. Uicheonmun Master.”

“…S-Sect Master!”

So Yeohwang, who had been quietly watching the match stage from far away, had now turned his gaze toward me.

“You don’t need to apologize personally, Sect Master. It’s all my fault…!”

“A disciple’s lack of virtue is the Sect Master’s lack of virtue. Don’t embarrass me any further.”

I nodded inwardly, impressed by the experienced Baekgeommun Master’s handling. So Yeohwang had just slightly bent his pride to ease the hostility of all the Sect Masters present here.

If the preconception that they look down on small and medium sects took root here, Baekgeommun would have to bear the checks of all the small and medium sects gathered here. Baekgeommun Master’s plan to stabilize Seoksu would fall apart. So he bent his back without hesitation.

“I accept it.”

“Thank you. I’ll conduct etiquette education for the disciple again later. But that aside.”

So Yeohwang, who had shifted his gaze slightly to the match stage, stared at Woogyeom lying there for a moment before opening his mouth again.

“It is true that it’s not a common-sense response. That young girl doesn’t have the profound internal energy to execute Gongsoo Ipbaekin, does she?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then, would it be okay to consider that your sect’s disciple committed a foul?”

“That’s not it.”

When I denied So Yeohwang’s words with a faint smile, So Yeohwang’s eyes showed a small gleam as he looked directly at me.

“It’s called Gongsoo Ipbaekin, but that was simply grabbing the blade to stop its movement. It’s a much easier technique than Gongsoo Ipbaekin, which catches a descending blade and stops it. Isn’t that right?”

Grabbing a blade with your hand is naturally a dangerous thing. But when you examine the reality, it’s not necessarily so.

“Seohua collided sword strike with sword strike to offset the force before grabbing the blade. That means ultimately the force that existed until then can’t be used, and one must apply force from the beginning again to cut the hand. But as Baekgeommun Master knows, that’s not easy.”

This technique itself didn’t just appear out of nowhere. Didn’t I say so? That this is a special remedy for Illusory Sword users.

It’s a sword technique I’ve already used countless times in Changcheondae and had its effectiveness verified. Against an opponent of similar level, it was guaranteed to work at least once. So.

As a martial artist, Baekgeommun Master cannot acknowledge this as a foul.

“It has sufficient practicality. Do you still intend to call it a foul?”

At my question, So Yeohwang turned his gaze toward the fallen Woogyeom and the panting Seohua. Seohua’s eyes, calm despite being flushed.

Silence flowed instantly. And.

“…It’s neither a bone-crushing strike nor a killing move. Baekgeommun acknowledges defeat in this match.”

The moment So Yeohwang’s acknowledgment flowed out.

—Wa, waaaaaaah—!!!

Cheers erupted.

“Defeating a Baekgeommun disciple after learning martial arts for just a month? That’s truly unbelievable!”

“My friend! How can you call that skill? Didn’t she show a losing appearance throughout! It was all luck.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Luck my ass. If you win in a match without breaking any rules in any way, that’s skill! Don’t you know the saying to always hide three parts of your skill!”

While the spectators passionately shared their opinions about the emergence of a new rising star, Iryang looked around and gave a bitter smile.

“She gained great fame from her first match. I never thought she’d actually win…”

“I thought she would win.”

“Is that so?”

“Honestly, I was a little nervous though.”

“Hahaha! Of course you were. Good. Since it’s a happy day, let me treat you to dinner tonight.”

“That’s excellent.”

After affirming Iryang’s words, I watched Seohua descending from the match stage with a bright smile, then turned my head at a gaze I suddenly felt. Far away, at Baekgeommun’s seats, Wang Pal was looking at me with an indescribably complex expression.

“Why is he looking like that?”

I wondered at that strange gaze, then shook my head. What’s important now isn’t that.

“Sect Master! I won! I won!”

Watching Seohua running toward me with a joyful cheer, surging with happiness, I smiled.

Should we start by deciding what to eat?

“Damn it, damn it!”

Kwang!

Woogyeom, who had kicked the weapon rack placed in a corner of the training ground, hissed and ground his teeth. And at that sight, the First Sword Disciples flinched.

“If that damn bitch hadn’t just used cheap tricks…!”

It was clearly a match where Woogyeom was dominant, and no one thought Woogyeom would lose. That was the same for Woogyeom too.

He should have naturally won and moved up. There he would have met Jingwang to prove that only Baekgeommun would reach the finals. But.

That was shattered. By nothing more than a cheap trick.

“A disciple of a shabby sect…”

Kwang—!!!

At the sight of Woogyeom repeatedly kicking the weapon rack, the First Sword Disciples exchanged glances with each other and kept silent. And through that, a large figure cautiously walked out.

“J-Junior Brother. Calm down and…”

“Calm down? Do I look calm, Senior Brother?”

At the sight of Wang Pal dripping with cold sweat, Woogyeom showed a twisted smile and poked Wang Pal’s chest with his finger.

“I lost. Me, on this match stage! Not a half-wit like Senior Brother who can’t even rise to Second Sword Disciple after several years, but me!”

“…One defeat doesn’t change anything. If you take revenge next time…”

“Revenge? Ha, will they even fight me? Senior Brother doesn’t know, but if a person can think normally, they don’t fight a battle they’re clearly going to lose. Unlike stupid Senior Brother!”

Thud!

“Uh…!”

At Woogyeom’s action of shoving Wang Pal while shouting, Wang Pal staggered back one step and gritted his teeth. Killing intent boiled up instantly.

‘I have to endure.’

I have to endure. No matter how outrageously my junior brother acts, he’s a talented junior brother, isn’t he?

If they fight here, the elders, the Three Swords Disciples will take Junior Brother’s side. Even if I could win, I’d be the one in the wrong. So.

I have to endure.

“Damn it, even if my luck was bad, for it to be this bad…”

“Right, Junior Brother. If Junior Brother’s luck had been just a little better…”

At the sight of Wang Pal clumsily smiling and agreeing with Woogyeom’s words, the First Sword Disciples all frowned. Then Jingwang’s voice pierced through the air.

“Don’t blame your lack of skill on luck, Woogyeom.”

“…Senior Brother Jingwang.”

“What’s lost is lost. Would you say it was bad luck even if that had been real combat?”

At the sight of Jingwang asking coldly while wiping his sword, Woogyeom, feeling guilty, lowered his eyes.

“…But.”

“Even a wooden sword can break the arm that blocks it if swung with proper force. If the opponent grabbed your sword and your movement wasn’t free, you should have dug forward.”

“…Yes.”

“It’s your lack of skill.”

“I apologize.”

“If you know, that’s enough. Don’t make any more of a spectacle and go inside to review today’s match.”

At Jingwang’s firm words, Woogyeom bit his lip, bowed his head, and headed to his quarters. Additionally, Jingwang looked around and shouted.

“You all stop wasting time here too and do what you need to do. Just because we lost doesn’t mean what needs to be done changes.”

“Yes!”

“Understood, Senior Brother!”

Wang Pal, who let out a sigh of relief watching the First Sword Disciples disappear instantly, gave Jingwang a bitter smile.

“Thank you, Junior Brother Jingwang. Junior Brother Woogyeom was so angry, it was difficult…”

At the sight of Wang Pal approaching while awkwardly scratching the back of his head, Jingwang smiled deeply. And immediately following Jingwang’s words.

“It’s nothing. More than that, you looked happy.”

“…Huh?”

“The match. Between Woogyeom and Uicheonmun.”

“Ah… No, I wasn’t happy. I was sad.”

At the sight of Wang Pal hurriedly waving his hands, Jingwang let out a scoffing laugh.

“Why, did you relate to it?”

“Wh-what are you talking about?”

“I’m asking if the Uicheonmun disciple with low internal energy and skill defeating Woogyeom with just cheap tricks seemed like your own situation.”

Jingwang slowly approached Wang Pal, who was keeping silent, and continued leisurely.

“It’s not strange. After all, a leopard can use cunning to catch a tiger. You can enjoy watching that. But don’t forget.”

“What…”

“Know your place. Even if a leopard can use cunning to catch a tiger, it can’t catch a dragon. Don’t even look at a tree you can’t climb, or so they say?”

Jingwang, who had sneered and patted Wang Pal’s shoulder as if encouraging him, disappeared into the darkness. The last words that came.

“No matter how much a leopard flies and crawls, it can’t become a dragon.”

Kwaak!

At the words piercing his heart, Wang Pal clenched and unclenched his fist. Because those words were true.

He knew.

A martial artist’s talent is complex. Even if everything else is excellent, if one thing is lacking, that’s not the talent of a martial artist, is it?

His enlightenment isn’t bad. His physique is so outstanding that even Baekgeommun Master took notice. However, in accumulating qi, Wang Pal is extremely dull.

That’s why Wang Pal can’t become a master.

Creeak—!

“Why…”

Wang Pal, who had left his quarters with staggering steps, leaned against the wall as he walked. A feeling like he’d go crazy if he didn’t do something.

“Why can’t I…!”

Rage boiled up. It felt like a dark, sticky fluid from the depths of his heart filled his entire body.

No matter how many years Wang Pal trained with the feeling of coughing up blood, there would be no way to catch up to Jingwang. Because one year’s internal energy can’t block seven years of internal energy.

However,

—You seem talented.

Even so.

No matter how much he acknowledged and acknowledged that he was dull.

“I want to become strong too…!”

Once a martial artist’s dream takes root, it doesn’t crumble so simply. Because.

That’s what it means to be a martial artist.

Wang Pal, who had been staggering and swallowing his frustration while leaning against the wall, let out sobbing cries. As if coughing up blood, for a long time.

And a moment later.

Wang Pal turned his head at the presence he felt.

Next to the quarters.

“…I should have taken another route.”

At the end of the dark night road, Baek Riyun stood there blankly with an awkward smile.