Chapter 186

Chapter 186 

It may not be new, but there’s a saying in the gangho. You can tell a master just by watching their movements. Masters can recognize each other just by looking.

This means that once martial arts reach a certain level or higher, habits become ingrained in the body. Those who have trained in martial arts for a long time unconsciously have a kind of martial principle  seep into even their ordinary movements.

Masters can recognize each other. Especially at the level of the Ten Heavens, unless the opponent is a master of equal rank, they can see through the other’s realm as clearly as holding it in their hand—just from their breathing, the flow of their internal energy, and even the slightest movement. And.

From that perspective, the Sword Sovereign was currently in a situation where she couldn’t help but be quite flustered. Because.

The realm of Baek Riyun, which she could have confidently said she could win against a hundred times out of a hundred just two years ago, was now completely invisible.

“This way.”

“Ah, yes…….”

While being guided to the reception room by Baek Riyun, the Sword Sovereign glanced at him and clicked her tongue. Even though she looked several times while coming, she couldn’t gauge Baek Riyun’s realm.

‘Just what did he do during these two years…….’

She couldn’t gauge it. That meant she couldn’t predict the outcome if they fought. And that meant one thing.

Baek Riyun had risen to a level where he could contend with the Ten Heavens.

He had reached a level where he could discuss being the best under heaven.

“Is something wrong?”

“……It seems something happened to the Uicheonmun Lord. Did you perhaps obtain some fortuitous encounter?”

“A fortuitous encounter, you say? That’s far-fetched.”

“Then…….”

Baek Riyun just smiled silently at her question. The Sword Sovereign narrowed her eyes and was about to speak again. However, before she could ask her question, Baek Riyun opened the door to the reception room.

“I’ve brought her.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Namgung Yeoncheon, who stood up as soon as the door opened, looked at the Sword Sovereign who came with Baek Riyun and slightly performed a pogwon.

“It’s been a long time. Sword Pavilion Lord. It’s the first time I’ve seen you since the Academy Exchange, so it’s been two years. Should I call you Sword Sovereign?”

“……Sword Pavilion Lord would be better. Namgung Family Head. For people like us, the name we carry as a mission becomes heavier than the name we carry ourselves, doesn’t it?”

“That’s a valid point. I’ll call you Sword Pavilion Lord. Please sit.”

At Namgung Yeoncheon’s invitation, the Sword Sovereign, who gave up glancing at Baek Riyun, sighed and sat down. Then Namgung Yeoncheon suddenly asked while looking at her.

“The journey must have been tiring. You’re sighing as soon as you sit.”

“It’s not that. It’s just that several unexpected things overlapped…….”

“I’ve also had several unexpected things overlap recently. Because of a certain someone sitting next to you.”

“I heard. You already had one round of duels?”

“That’s right.”

Namgung Yeoncheon, who took a sip of tea, bitterly affirmed the Sword Sovereign’s words.

“One of the main family’s warriors picked a fight with an Uicheonmun disciple, and Uicheonmun accepted it.”

“The result was…….”

“What chance of victory could those who couldn’t even properly gauge their opponents have?”

Is he saying this for me to hear?

The Sword Sovereign, who glanced at Baek Riyun, contorted her eyebrows strangely and glared at Namgung Yeoncheon. However, Namgung Yeoncheon, not noticing the Sword Sovereign’s gaze, continued speaking.

“By the way, I’m surprised. Not just anyone, but the Sword Pavilion Lord herself came as a notary.”

“I’m a bit freer than the other two, aren’t I? The Sword Pavilion rarely intervenes in worldly affairs. There are hardly any disciples out on gangho travels either.”

“The Alliance Leader goes without saying, and the Sword Emperor is also busy with public and private matters. But still, if we’re being precise, wouldn’t it be right for the Sword Emperor to serve as notary? He’s blood kin.”

“I can’t imagine that guy abandoning the Baek Ri Family’s affairs just based on blood ties to come help. And I didn’t just come because it seemed interesting. There’s something I need to confirm.”

“Confirm?”

“It’s not that important. Should I call it my meddling? Or tying up loose ends…… Don’t worry, it won’t affect the notarization.”

“No one would doubt the fairness of having the Sword Pavilion Lord herself notarize.”

Namgung Yeoncheon bowed his head slightly and continued.

“The duel is scheduled for osi  tomorrow. A guest room will be prepared in the building opposite the annex where the Uicheonmun Lord is staying, so you can lodge there.”

“It’s only staying one night, so you don’t need to pay too much attention. Namgung Family Head. Rather, let’s talk about the duel. I’ve heard roughly, but how do you plan to proceed?”

“We plan to hold it three times.”

“Three times?”

“Yes. Divided into yakgwan , irip , and the main battle.”

Yakgwan, irip, and the main battle.

The Sword Sovereign, who recalled that there were Namgung Hyeon and Namgung Yeon among the rising stars of the Namgung Family, frowned. At first glance, it seemed like conditions favorable to the Namgung Family. However, Baek Riyun immediately spoke.

“I proposed the duel format. Please don’t reproach the Namgung family head.”

“The Uicheonmun Lord…… proposed the duel format?”

“Yes. From what you’re thinking, you considered it conditions favorable to the Namgung Family.”

“……I thought so for the irip match and main battle, but I thought the yakgwan match would be that way. Because Uicheonmun has a short history.”

“That’s exactly it.”

“That’s what I’m aiming for. The perception that because our history is short, both our peak and our floor are low. That perception. I’m thinking of crushing it with this opportunity.”

“Are you confident you’ll win?”

“If I wasn’t confident of winning, I wouldn’t have started in the first place.”

Baek Riyun nodded and pressed his elbow firmly against the armrest as he continued.

“Uicheonmun has a short history. There’s almost nothing we’ve shown to the world so far. At best, only the exchange tournament.”

“That’s why those who saw the exchange tournament can’t help but have doubts about Uicheonmun’s performance. Even if I performed well, they’ll judge it as ‘because he was originally from the Baek Ri Family.’ Even if other disciples performed well, they’ll judge it as ‘because they were originally outstanding warriors.’ But Seohwa, a pure Uicheonmun disciple, is different.”

“……So that disciple Seohwa’s capabilities become proof of Uicheonmun’s capabilities.”

“Yes. Because Seohwa is a child who first learned martial arts at Uicheonmun.”

Baek Riyun paused briefly and looked around at those present.

“Namgung Yeon is younger than Seohwa but stands out considerably among the rising stars. I hear she’s about to prepare for admission to Mujeong Hall—if she goes to Mujeong Hall, she’ll likely be a talent who can aim for top rank. In terms of talent, she’s not inferior to anyone. But if Seohwa defeats such a Namgung Yeon?”

“It would mean Uicheonmun’s teachings are excellent, separate from Seohwa’s individual talent.”

“Exactly.”

“……You speak as if you’ve already won. Is someone going to let you win?”

“Of course we’ll win, but even if we don’t win, it doesn’t matter. The very fact that we can contend with the Namgung Family will become proof of Uicheonmun.”

“I feel like I’m the only one losing out.”

“That’s why we’re paying compensation to balance it out, aren’t we?”

“……Your words are slick.”

Namgung Yeoncheon glared at Baek Riyun, who smoothly deflected, frowned, and stood up from his seat. Then the following words.

“I should get going about now. I still have many matters to handle.”

“Since I came urgently without sending word, that’s natural. Don’t worry about me.”

“How could I do that? I’ll arrange a gathering around dinner time, so I’d like to discuss things in more detail then.”

“Mm.”

“Then I’ll take my leave. I still have much to do.”

The Sword Sovereign, who glanced at Namgung Yeoncheon leaving the reception room after finishing his words, turned her gaze back and fixed it on Baek Riyun. Baek Riyun, leisurely sipping tea as if nothing had happened.

“Just what are you thinking?”

“Aunt. Are you finally speaking comfortably now? I thought I’d die from the awkwardness.”

“You’re also a sect lord now. I can’t speak down to you carelessly in front of others. It’s a matter of the sect’s dignity, not yours.”

“What useless formalities. We should just see individuals as individuals.”

“In any case.”

The Sword Sovereign, who cut off Baek Riyun’s words, frowned and continued.

“The yakgwan match, irip match, and main battle…….”

“I can understand the main battle. I can feel that you’ve become stronger. I don’t know how you became that strong…… but you’re fully capable of contending with the Namgung family head.”

“Thank you.”

“But won’t the other two be difficult? Sani isn’t an Uicheonmun disciple so she can’t participate in the official duel. Seonwoo Gang just learned new martial arts. So to contend with Namgung Hyeon…….”

“Ah, the one participating in the irip match is Wangpal.”

“……Who?”

“Wangpal.”

“Not Seonwoo Gang?”

“Yes. That side has the highest chance of victory.”

What is this supposed to mean?

The Sword Sovereign, who sighed briefly, looked at Baek Riyun intently and then spoke.

“Fine. Let’s say we move past the irip match like that. I don’t understand, but you seem to have your own thoughts. But what about the yakgwan match?”

“What about it?”

“Seohwa, was it? Your first disciple. I saw her from a distance two years ago, but she was a complete martial arts beginner then. Honestly speaking, even someone who trained properly for two years at the Namgung Family wouldn’t have had difficulty defeating her at that time. Yet in just two years she’s leaped over ten years?”

“Can’t it be done?”

“It’s not impossible. But only if the one who spent those ten years wasn’t a prodigy!”

Just what kind of prodigy is Namgung Yeon?

She’s one of the two most promising prodigies in the Namgung Family. If you divide talent into jaejae, gwijae, and cheonjae, she would enter at least the gwijae category at worst, and if you’re generous, she even enters the ranks of cheonjae.

“She needs to catch up to such a child’s ten years. Do you understand what that means?”

“It means catching up to twenty, thirty, or even forty years of an ordinary person’s time. Because talent is that cruel.”

“Achieving such a realm in just two years is impossible. Simply eating elixirs and building up internal energy—you can’t win with just that.”

Even an unparalleled genius couldn’t catch up to a gwijae‘s ten years in just two years. Moreover, doesn’t Seohwa lack that level of talent?

Baek Riyun, who had been thinking for a moment at the Sword Sovereign’s words, wore a faint smile. And the answer that flowed out.

“Isn’t it quite curious?”

“What is?”

“Of these three duels, the one with the highest chance of victory is naturally my duel. Because I absolutely won’t lose.”

“……Your confidence is tremendous.”

“I never learned to become intimidated by making assumptions. In any case, I’ll win the main battle. Then, excluding my duel, which duel do you think has the highest chance of victory?”

“That would be…….”

Wouldn’t it be the irip match where the years of martial training are similar?

“You’re wrong.”

The Sword Sovereign shook her head slightly at Baek Riyun’s expectation and turned her gaze toward the window, toward where the annex was. The shadows flickering beyond that gaze.

“The match with the highest chance of victory is probably the yakgwan match. The yakgwan match that Seohwa participates in.”

“……Why? Does that mean the child Seohwa is that talented?”

“No. While her martial talent is excellent, it’s not excellent enough to skip over all those years.”

“Then why on earth…….”

“The less experience one has, the harder it is to respond to strange and mysterious things.”

“……What?”

The Sword Sovereign looked out the window, involuntarily focusing her vision at Baek Riyun’s gesture as he pointed outside while chuckling.

“Do you see it?”

“That’s the reason I can guarantee victory.”

At Baek Riyun’s bold declaration, the Sword Sovereign, who was at a loss for words, trembled her lips.

Beyond the window.

“It seems better to extend a bit more there. Junior martial sister.”

“Like this?”

“Ah, yes. About that much.”

Seohwa was overseeing Wangpal’s training.

With violet eyes shining—an eye color that couldn’t be found in humans.