Chapter 188

Chapter 188 

Commonly, fights between masters are called “fights of one chi” in the world.

This is because fights between masters are usually decided by a difference of one chi, and it’s a saying that proves just how important distance is in fights between masters.

Reading the opponent’s distance and deceiving one’s own distance. Deflecting, blocking, scattering trajectories, and spreading techniques.

Because masters know well what each other will do, distance fighting and technique fighting are extremely important. As the saying goes, the difference between masters is the difference of a sheet of paper. And.

In that sense, the “eyes” Seohwa newly obtained were nothing short of a natural enemy to warriors. Because.

Seohwa’s “eyes” had the ability to see through the opponent’s “flow.”

“Heup!”

A short kiai .

Seohwa, who leaped forward along with the sound of drawing breath, twisted her body. The cool sensation of the blade grazing her shoulder as it passed by in an instant.

‘I can see it.’

I can see it. How the opponent will respond, how they’ll panic.

At Seohwa’s movement, which intuitively predicted the future, Namgung Yeon gritted her teeth and swung her sword. An avalanche of white sword energy instantly striking down from above.

Flashing Lightning Thirteen Thunder Swords

Thunder Dragon Crossing River

Lightning writhes.

At the unpredictable movement of sword energy shaped like lightning, just like Baek Riyun’s, Seohwa gripped Seolbaek tightly and thrust her fist forward. Immediately, explosive force burst out.

Uicheon Azure Art  Advanced Form

First Form  Heaven-Earth-Human

Kwang! Kwang! Kwaaaaang—!!!

‘What the……!’

How could a warrior of similar age be this bold and aggressive?

Namgung Yeon, who was shocked at the sword energy being punched full of holes, quickly retreated using agile footwork and bit her lip hard. Seohwa immediately followed and pressed in.

‘I need to create distance.’

There’s a saying: fights at one cheok  favor fists. Fights at three cheok favor swords and sabers. Fights at five cheok favor spears. It means the advantageous weapon changes in proportion to distance.

Interpreting that saying, the closer the distance between Seohwa, a fist practitioner, and Namgung Yeon, a sword practitioner, the more advantageous it becomes for Seohwa. Especially looking at Seohwa’s bold actions, once she gives up the initiative, reclaiming it would be close to impossible.

‘I need to be bold now.’

Even if I reveal some cards, I must stop that charge.

Namgung Yeon, who made a quick judgment in an instant, thrust her sword forward. Sword energy flowing out in succession.

Flashing Lightning Thirteen Thunder Swords  Secret Technique

Thunder King Strike Sword

A straight line.

At the unstable sword energy sweeping all directions like a giant pillar, Seohwa reflexively pulled her body back and took her stance again. And Namgung Yeon, seeing that, let out a sigh.

“Older sister, just what are you?”

“…….”

“You didn’t see the Flashing Lightning Thirteen Thunder Swords yesterday, yet you read all the distances just by seeing it once…… That doesn’t seem possible.”

It’s a technique that’s difficult even for Namgung Hyeon, who’s several levels above Namgung Yeon. At least Namgung Hyeon can do it because he knows the contents and techniques of the Thirteen Thunder Swords, but for another warrior of similar level, it would be impossible.

“Is that also Uicheonmun’s martial art?”

At Namgung Yeon’s eyes sparkling with curiosity, Seohwa, who had lowered her hands slowly, tilted her head. And the following answer.

“I’ll tell you after the duel ends, Miss Namgung. Though I don’t know if you’ll be in a state of mind to listen.”

“……You won’t sulk and not tell me if you lose, right? You will tell me?”

“I will.”

At Seohwa’s grinning appearance, Namgung Yeon, who smiled back, drew up her internal energy. The opponent’s evaluation was instantly revised.

‘She’s not an opponent to be taken lightly.’

Carelessness?

She wasn’t careless from the start. As Namgung Hyeon said, the opponent was Uicheonmun, and Namgung Yeon had also heard about Uicheonmun’s activities.

However, there needed to be a difference in approach. If until just now she was thinking of slowly and carefully crushing with superiority in skill, now she needed to be bold. Because this wasn’t an opponent who could be overwhelmed by skill alone.

‘Her ability to read gaps is excellent, but her attack power is still lacking.’

If I swing the sword without thinking, she’ll surely dig into those gaps. Then what should I do?

It’s simple.

‘Push her in, eliminate escape routes. And catch her.’

Namgung Yeon, who organized her thoughts, took a starting stance again. Soon after, internal energy drawn from the lower danjeon circulated throughout her entire body.

‘Slowly. Slowly.’

Watching Seohwa slowly circling around to read her techniques, Namgung Yeon quietly raised her sword tip. And.

As the rotation of internal energy gradually accelerated and the accelerated internal energy explosively circulated through her entire body.

“It won’t be easy now.”

The thunder sword flashed.

Flashing Lightning Thirteen Thunder Swords

One Thunder Seven Absolutes

Lightning strikes.

Lightning thrust in a straight line drew seven changes, blocking the retreat route. A strange sword path that had the essence of both swift sword and strong sword, strong sword and illusory sword. However.

Kagagagak!

She read it. Seohwa, who immediately dug in, lowered her body and brought the back of her gauntlet’s hand to the blade, deflecting the sword. And at that moment, as if waiting for it, Namgung Yeon’s palm technique burst out.

Great Expansion Palm

Great Expansion

Palm technique containing vast and grand internal energy pushed Seohwa’s body back.

At Namgung Yeon’s densely packed internal energy leaving no place to dodge, Seohwa reflexively stepped back. And Namgung Yeon, seeing the distance created, wore a smile of triumph.

‘It’s over.’

Flashing Lightning Thirteen Thunder Swords  Secret Technique

Thunder Dragon Subjugation

Light flashes.

The light of sword energy flowing from the sword tip filled Seohwa’s vision completely. The momentum was as if thirteen thunder dragons descended from the sky to bite the opponent.

There’s no place to escape. The opponent has fallen into her technique.

‘This duel is…….‘

My victory.

Thinking so, Namgung Yeon gripped the sword hilt tightly. At that moment, Seohwa’s voice flowed out softly.

“Maximum output is about this much.”

At the faint voice, Namgung Yeon, who hastily looked at Seohwa, opened her eyes wide.

Seohwa was smiling.

While holding up gauntlets shining brilliantly white.

***

Namgung Family side seating.

“That child’s eyes are extraordinary.”

“……?”

At Namgung Yeoncheon’s murmur as he watched the duel, Namgung Hyeon, who had been watching the duel with cool eyes, raised his gaze. Namgung Yeoncheon, who until just now had been watching the duel without much emotion but was now showing eyes of admiration.

“Her eyes are extraordinary…… what do you mean?”

“Don’t you see it?”

“Do you mean reading the opponent’s techniques?”

“No, not that. I’m talking about eyes that read the flow.”

“Flow?”

“Yes. Flow.”

Namgung Yeoncheon paused briefly and continued.

“All duels have a flow. Some flows sweep like rapids to engulf the opponent, while some flows press the opponent slowly like the Yangtze River’s current. You know this too, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Of course, that flow isn’t set in stone for each person. Even if there’s a basic standardized flow, you can change the flow according to the situation. However.”

“…….”

“What if you can read even that changed flow from the start?”

“Read the changed flow…… you mean?”

“Yes.”

Namgung Yeoncheon looked at the duel stage coolly and continued while staring at Seohwa.

“Reading the changing flow. Not just reading the change, but reading what the opponent’s aim is, how the end will be. It’s like playing baduk while speaking. It’s like telling your opponent all your intentions while making a move.”

“……Is that possible?”

“I wonder. Perhaps it’s possible for warriors who can discuss being the best under heaven. But it’s impossible for me. It would also still be difficult for the Uicheonmun Lord.”

The flow changes according to responses. And there are eyes that can read that changed flow.

Then it’s no different from being able to freely manipulate the opponent according to one’s intentions while controlling the opponent’s flow. One facing such a person will continue to sink into the swamp without even realizing they’re falling into it.

“No matter how many attacks are launched, no matter how many times one retreats, it doesn’t matter. What determines the outcome of warriors’ duels is just one attack.”

“…….”

“Today, Yeon-i will gain great enlightenment.”

Namgung Yeoncheon, who muttered bitterly, looked at the duel stage. The situation was changing at just that moment.

“Haap!”

Flashing Lightning Thirteen Thunder Swords

Thousand Changes and Ten Thousand Transformations

Namgung Yeon’s sword, thrust forward with a kiai, drew dozens of changes and dominated the surroundings. A sword strike that appeared dazzling yet destructive at first glance.

However, not a single effective hit landed. Seohwa, who blocked or dodged all of Namgung Yeon’s attacks with minimal movement, crushed the sword energy with her hand. And Seohwa’s counterattack followed.

Uicheon Azure Art  Advanced Form

Second Form  Accumulated Snow Without Trace

It piles up layer by layer.

At Seohwa’s attacks digging into gaps coolly like falling snow, Namgung Yeon gritted her teeth and swung her sword strike to sweep Seohwa away. However, Seohwa didn’t fall away easily.

“It’s over.”

“…….”

“Now I can see the flow too. She’s entered the flow she wanted.”

Losing composure, losing herself.

The thunder sword that extended lost its light. The thunder sword, which lost confidence from being blocked repeatedly, lost its sharpness and was blocked by Seohwa. Seohwa’s attacks slowly piled up above it.

True to its name, like accumulating snow. It piles up soundlessly, but at some point, it has swollen beyond what can be handled. Namgung Hyeon, newly impressed by Seohwa’s true power, fixed his gaze on the duel stage. And Namgung Yeon, thrusting techniques like a last struggle.

“I can’t let it end like this……!”

Flashing Lightning Thirteen Thunder Swords  Secret Technique

Thunder Dragon Emerges

As if it had never lost its light, a thunder dragon emerged with a thunderous roar and opened its jaws wide to bite Seohwa’s neck.

Then Seohwa’s actions, which had been defensive, changed.

Uicheon Azure Art  Second Form

Yin Origin Single Self

Spreading her feet, both hands forward.

Seohwa, who struck the head of the emerging thunder dragon to slightly shift its path, immediately spun once and raised her toes to kick. Namgung Yeon’s blade, hit by the kick on its surface, spun together.

Stepping on the blade.

Seohwa, who used heupjagyeol to make the blade an aid for her movement, pressed her hand against the ground and clenched her fist. And in an instant, Seohwa coiled around the sword like a snake.

“What the……!”

At Seohwa’s incredibly bold tightrope walking, Namgung Yeon, shocked, executed the Great Expansion Palm with her left hand to attack Seohwa. However, the power of the Great Expansion Palm executed in an instant wasn’t sufficient.

And that was enough for Seohwa.

Because the moment she’d been waiting for had finally arrived.

“Miss Namgung. You asked if it was Uicheonmun’s martial art, right?”

“……!”

“I’ll tell you since you’ll probably lose consciousness soon. This isn’t Uicheonmun’s martial art. However.”

All of Uicheonmun’s martial arts are suitable for oneself. Therefore, this too is included as an element of the martial arts.

Seohwa, who spoke slowly, opened her fist. And the gauntlets shining brilliantly.

“If you can block it, it’s my defeat.”

Though you won’t be able to block it.

With those words, the gauntlets filled her vision completely. And.

Flowing Snow Shadowless Fist

Snow Falls Without Trace

The next moment.

Namgung Yeon’s consciousness went dark.