ISS-Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Baekgeommun training ground.

‘They’re here.’

So Yeohwang, who had been looking over the audience as if appraising them and found Baek Riyun, wore a sardonic smile and opened her mouth.

“The reason this sect is holding a sparring competition today is to strengthen bonds between righteous sects. Those of you sect masters here must know that the Sapa’s movements have been growing recently.”

In fact, it was true that the Sapa’s forces were becoming strong near Hwayonghyeon and Dongjeongho. It was true that recently, due to horse bandits and great demons running wild in that remote region, the Murim Alliance couldn’t supply personnel to this area.

However, is that really the reason?

‘No one would believe that.’

Even if she were in their position, she wouldn’t believe it. At least there are no such fools here.

She boldly spoke a lie that no one who hears it would believe, and So Yeohwang leisurely continued.

“The Sapa’s movements that suck the lifeblood of commoners are growing. Isn’t this precisely the time when righteous sect comrades should join forces?”

“However, ultimately, this exchange tournament alone won’t mean much besides determining each other’s superiority. So I intend to give a gift to the sect leaders here.”

Rustle!

So Yeohwang, who had been looking at the disciples standing in silence and the sect leaders for a moment, grinned and pulled off the cloth that had been placed beside her. Then a wooden box revealed itself.

“What is that?”

“Judging by its small size…… a jewel? Or perhaps an elixir?”

At the murmuring guests, So Yeohwang wore a deep smile and opened the wooden box, presenting it forward. And.

“I trust this will be a sufficient gift.”

The moment they confirmed the contents of the wooden box presented.

“Th-That’s?”

“It’s a Socheongdan!”

All the people gathered swallowed hard.

“Just a few days ago, I obtained this Socheongdan with difficulty. Though it’s not the highest grade Taecheongdan, it’s strictly a Wudang elixir under a no-external-distribution order.”

Needless to say. What kind of elixir is the Socheongdan?

It’s one of the two elixirs directly refined by Wudang, which occupies the position of the North Star among the kangho’s Mount Tai and the North Star.

Though the amount of internal energy increase isn’t tremendously large, isn’t it still Wudang’s elixir, famous for being clear and pure?

If consumed, one’s energy and blood become sturdy and the dantian firmly establishes itself, so for those just entering, it’s a treasure worth a thousand gold. And everyone knew that. So.

“Of course, this sect doesn’t have such great wealth to distribute this Socheongdan to everyone. However, this sect has decided to present this Socheongdan obtained with difficulty for the bright future of the righteous path sects.”

“Th-Then that means?”

“This sect will award the Socheongdan to whoever wins this sparring competition, regardless of their origin!”

“Heoeoeoek!”

“S-Socheongdan…….”

So Yeohwang, who wore a thick smile watching the shocked audience, opened her mouth to finish.

“That is all. I hope it becomes good motivation for the guests. From now on, the Baekgeom Sparring Meeting will commence!”

“Waaaaaaah!”

“Baekgeommun Master is magnanimous!”

Hearing the erupting cheers, So Yeohwang, who closed the wooden box, descended from the platform. And following behind her was one Baekgeommun disciple.

“The lottery preparation is complete. Munjunim.”

“Is it all ready?”

“Yes. We did as you instructed. However, are you really sure about this? If we wanted, we could arrange the brackets to be advantageous for Baekgeommun…….”

“Foolish. Tsk.”

So Yeohwang, who clicked her tongue as if uncomfortable, looked around at the audience.

“Do you think they would accept even the slightest irregularity?”

At So Yeohwang’s words, the disciple blinked and then scanned the crowd. Those staring at the wooden box containing the Socheongdan as if their treasure had been stolen, sweating profusely.

If there were no reward, they could at least understand. However, the bait has already been thrown.

“With the Socheongdan at stake, they’ll have no choice but to latch onto even the slightest irregularity to get their sect’s disciple to win. No matter how great Baekgeommun is, the number of small and medium sects gathered here exceeds dozens.”

“Th-That’s true.”

“The premise itself is wrong from the start. Why do you think this sparring meeting was held?”

“Isn’t it to obtain Hwangryongjangju’s silk?”

At the disciple’s question, knowing the general circumstances, So Yeohwang snorted.

“That’s just the trigger. There have always been plenty of hyenas trying to tear off this sect’s reputation without knowing their place.”

From the start, isn’t the opponent a tiny sect among tiny sects with only two disciples? From Baekgeommun’s position, there are countless ways to pressure those two. Despite that, the reason for holding such a sparring meeting is just one.

“Recently, those trying to test this sect’s reputation have increased.”

“They will learn today. How we can be so arrogant, and in that process, tricks aren’t necessary. Because.”

So Yeohwang, who slowly turned her gaze, looked at the noisy training ground with a sardonic smile.

“Even without using tricks, the gap between them and us is incomparably vast.”

An overwhelming difference.

The disciples of the sects gathered here today will learn what that is.

“The preliminaries will begin soon. Prepare the disciples.”

Half a shichen later.

“The weather is nice!”

Blue Moon Faction’s disciple Cheongsam, who had finished the lottery and climbed onto the training ground waiting only for the start signal, reflexively responded to the suddenly heard words.

“Why are you suddenly saying that now?”

“It just occurred to me. Is that not allowed?”

“N-No, it’s not that it’s not allowed.”

No matter what, isn’t that too peaceful a thing to say to an opponent before a sparring match starts?

Cheongsam, who briefly held suspicion, looked at his opponent and let out a groan.

“Mm…….”

Beautiful appearance and slender limbs, and separately from that, a martial robe that was somehow elegant yet strangely sloppy. Long flowing hair extending below it.

Cheongsam, who had gaped thinking if this was what the legendary Black and White Twin Phoenixes looked like from rumors, hurriedly shook his head and gripped his sword sheath tightly.

‘Uicheonmun, she said. It’s a sect I’ve never heard of?’

Over twenty sects gathered here, but most are sects Cheongsam knows. That’s actually natural.

The sects gathered here are all sects active in this area. Therefore, most have relations with each other, and naturally, they know each other’s level to some degree.

Yet a sect whose name he’s never heard means one of two things.

‘Either a newly established sect, or a sect so weak it can’t even join in exchanges…….’

Either way, they’re not worthy opponents for himself, a proud Blue Moon Sect disciple, Cheongsam judged, clearing his throat and clasping his fists.

“I’m Cheongsam, third-generation disciple of Blue Moon Sect.”

“……So, miss, your name?”

“Ah, right!”

The girl, who clapped her hands as if she had forgotten, smiled broadly and returned the fist clasp.

“I’m Seohwa from Uicheonmun.”

“Which generation disciple?”

“Umm, I don’t know!”

“I-Is that so?”

“Yes!”

Looking at Seohwa answering cheerfully, Cheongsam let out a deep sigh and slowly drew the wooden sword he was wearing, pointing it at Seohwa.

“Judging by that behavior, it seems you came out to gain experience not long after entering.”

“Oh, you’re accurate! It’s been exactly one month.”

“Sparring competitions aren’t something to approach with such a light heart. Though it’s called sparring, there are cases where bones break and flesh tears.”

“It’s okay. I came prepared.”

At Seohwa’s broadly smiling appearance, Cheongsam calmed his pounding heart and blushed.

“G-Good. If you won’t forfeit, this will also be a good sparring match. I’ll be moderate so the miss doesn’t get hurt, so gain experience and go down.”

“Really?”

“That’s right. This Cheongsam doesn’t speak twice with one mouth.”

Seohwa hasn’t even properly learned sparring etiquette yet. How much martial arts could she have learned?

Either way, since she participated here, she must be a disciple of a sect in this area. Cheongsam, who thought of making an impression on Seohwa through this opportunity, showed a good-natured smile while deliberately showing off. And Seohwa smiling brightly at that appearance.

“Then I’ll trust you.”

Along with those words, the judge dispatched from Baekgeommun walked forward and opened his mouth.

“One side becoming unable to fight or declaring surrender means defeat, going outside the sparring stage also means defeat! Have both sparring parties understood this?”

“Understood.”

“Understood.”

“Then, from now, the 13th preliminary match will begin. Both sparring parties, assume starting positions!”

At the judge’s words, Cheongsam and Seohwa, who stepped forward, assumed their starting stances facing each other. And.

“Begin!”

The moment the judge’s thunderous signal dropped.

‘Huhu. I should go easy so she’s not too surprised…….’

Shwaaaak!

At the heavy sword strike of the wooden sword that approached his chest in an instant, Cheongsam blinked.

“Huh?”

Baaaang!

“Th-The victor is Uicheonmun’s Seohwa!”

“Guwoeoeoeoek…….”

“That landed properly.”

Expressing condolences at the opponent writhing on the ground clutching his stomach, I glanced at Seohwa.

—Did I do well as you taught me?

At Seohwa’s appearance conveying words with lip movements, I chuckled and nodded to her.

“It’s definitely effective.”

For the past two weeks, I didn’t teach Seohwa martial arts. To be precise, I should say I didn’t teach martial arts as forms.

Right.

For these two weeks, I taught Seohwa the mindset of a martial artist. And very intensively at that.

‘The human body is stronger than one thinks.’

Originally, the human body fundamentally has enough strength to kill something. In the case of males, that’s true even without training, and females can have that level of physicality with just a bit of training.

Yet people commonly die from being bitten by wild dogs. Why is that? Are humans weaker than wild dogs?

‘No. It’s because they’re scared.’

It’s not just being scared of being bitten by wild dogs. They instinctively fear hitting wild dogs too.

Learned sociability castrates violence from humans. Because violent humans tend to cause fear in those around them.

Therefore, most humans can’t strike with full force when hitting wild dogs. Because they know what will happen to the wild dog if they strike with full force.

Now, let’s think about it.

Even when hitting a wild dog threatening one’s life they become like that, so how many people can use full force against fellow humans? Five out of ten? Four out of ten?

‘Not even one out of ten.’

Only less than one out of ten can use full force. That’s the same for those who enter martial arts. Not using full force worrying the opponent will get hurt is like a habit anyone has if they’re human.

Of course, as one learns martial arts and experiences real combat, that habit naturally disappears. However, the age limit for this sparring competition is twenty years old. An age where one couldn’t have experienced real combat.

In other words, unlike them, Seohwa uses full force. That difference is bigger than one thinks.

“O-One strike…….”

“At that age, is that possible? What kind of training did she do to…….”

“Mu-sect, what sect did they say? Uicheonmun?”

Watching the sect leaders of each faction busily moving around to gather information, I let out a snicker. Isn’t it funny how they’re moving as if a fire fell on their feet?

“Anyway, is this the level?”

Three Baekgeommun disciples participated in this sparring meeting, and I saw the level of two of them. Of course, their basics were somewhat established, but even so, they’re just children younger than Seohwa.

If they enter proper sparring, the probability of Seohwa winning is quite high. Because what I taught Seohwa wasn’t just the mindset as a martial artist. Then there’s only one person left.

“Next! Baekgeommun’s First Sword Disciple. Jingwang!”

“He’s just come out.”

“Munjunim!”

“You’re here?”

Seohwa, who finished the sparring match and came to my side somewhat flushed, asked with an awkward smile.

“The next person is a Baekgeommundo, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Is he the person I’ll face?”

“Let’s see.”

I checked the bracket and stroked my chin.

Let’s see, if both advance.

“You’ll face him in the finals.”

“Finals…….”

“Perhaps this one is the real expert.”

So Yeohwang wouldn’t have put up the Socheongdan as a prize out of kindness.

Thinking logically, she probably put up the Socheongdan because she had confidence she would definitely win. However, the previous two were slightly insufficient to instill that ‘confidence of definitely winning.’ Then perhaps…….

“Ready.”

With the judge’s ready signal, the two participants who assumed their starting stances took their positions. Baekgeommun’s reputation made the opponent clearly nervous. And…….

“Begin!”

The moment the judge’s start signal fell.

Baaaang!

“Ueoeoek!”

At the sight of Jingwang’s opponent flying off in an instant, I let out a remark.

“……Look at this guy?”

Jingwang’s stance remarkably similar to Seohwa’s stance.

It’s not a mistake. It really seemed like he replayed Seohwa’s sparring match exactly. That means the opponent deliberately copied Seohwa’s sparring. Right.

“You want to try, is that it?”

Honestly, it was getting a bit boring.

At Jingwang’s appearance glaring this way with arrogant eyes, I let out a snicker.

“This will be fun.”