Chapter 44

Chapter 44

People often divide a martial artist’s realm into terms like pinnacle, super-pinnacle, mythical realm, or phenomenal realm, but in reality, a martial artist’s realm is not subdivided that finely.

It’s only natural. A martial artist’s realm ultimately boils down to who is stronger, and who is stronger is not determined merely by the amount of internal energy or the number of techniques one can use.

Even someone who cannot draw out sword qi can become one of the hundred great masters, and even someone who freely wields gang qi may not become one of the hundred great masters. In the end, realm is an abstract thing and cannot serve as an absolute indicator.

However.

Even among such abstract realms, there are a few that serve as indicators of a master. A dignity that only ‘true masters’ can display, on a different level from simply drawing out sharp sword qi or extending a strong fist.

One of them.

The realm where one handles one’s sword like one’s body, and one’s body like a sword, people call this.

──Body-Sword Union.

Chwaeaeaeak!

“Haaap!”

With Seohwa’s light shout, Wangpal’s sword strike cleaved through the air, targeting Seomun Cheok from all eight directions. Seomun Cheok’s situation looked like a rat in a trap.

Directly facing Seohwa as she lunged forward, Seomun Cheok shallowly twisted the corner of his mouth.

‘A good move. Close to textbook.’

It is common sense that a fist fighter or swordsman must close the distance against a spear user. At long range, not only is it hard to land an attack on a spear user, but proper defense is also difficult.

However, at close range, the length of a long weapon instead becomes a hindrance. Since that is the universal weakness of long weapons, it naturally applies to spears as well.

An ordinary spear user would certainly respond by stepping back one pace. Though it narrows options, the actions a spear user can take at close range are greatly limited to begin with.

That is.

Only for an ‘ordinary’ spear user who has not reached Body-Spear Union.

Tung!

“Hik……!”

Lightly stepping forward one pace and pushing Seohwa’s fist aside with his hand, Seomun Cheok raised the spear shaft like his own leg and lifted his body into the air. In the fluidly connected motion, Seohwa and Wangpal instantly shifted to targeting each other.

“Heoeok.”

He must twist it away.

The moment Wangpal grasped the situation against Seohwa’s fist that approached in an instant and barely twisted his sword path, striking the spear shaft with his sword, Seomun Cheok, who had been supporting his body with the spear shaft, landed, readjusted his stance, and raised his head. At the same time, the atmosphere drastically changed.

Gauging the astonished expressions of the two Uicheonmun disciples, Seomun Cheok gripped the spear shaft, applied strength, then released it.

‘This…… is the feeling.’

The sensation clinging to his fingertips tickled. His eyes and mind were dizzy with the forms he could draw. Even just in the exchange, the situation left even himself dumbfounded.

But he had grasped the thread. Hadn’t he endlessly pondered over 12 days how to break through Wangpal, how to escape Seohwa’s predictions?

‘It wasn’t wrong. That’s enough.’

The answer had come. Then all that remained was to continueently apply it from now on.

Finishing his thoughts, Seomun Cheok extended the loosely held spear shaft forward and opened his mouth.

“I came thinking I would endure one hundred exchanges today, but it seems that will be difficult.”

“……Suddenly showing something like that and now this? You’re being humble.”

“It’s not humility. Rather, it’s because I used something like this.”

At Seohwa’s bitter smile, Seomun Cheok returned a small smile to his lips.

“It’s still unstable and unfamiliar. I don’t know how many more times I can use it.”

Realizing it doesn’t mean mastering it in one go. Unless he trains this realization hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of times, it probably couldn’t be called proper Body-Spear Union.

“What just happened was mere luck. I can’t guarantee the next time, or the time after that. In that sense, enduring one hundred exchanges is impossible.”

“There’s no need to…… make weak sounds on purpose.”

“So.”

After a brief silence, Seomun Cheok pointed his spear tip forward toward Seohwa.

“Within fifty exchanges, no, thirty exchanges, I’ll finish it.”

“……Overflowing with confidence?”

“I merely have certainty that this is how I can win.”

“Ah, is that so?”

Watching Seomun Cheok answer calmly, Seohwa calmed her mind with a deep breath and clenched her fist tightly. And then.

“Then, let’s see you try.”

Kaduk!

Soon after, Seohwa, grinding her teeth again, strongly pressed her toes against the ground.

***

I had thought martial arts were merely a means.

-Martial artists all seem different on the surface, but peel them back and they’re all the same. Hahaha! Nothing but idiots with only thoughts of fighting in their heads!

When the Muryeon Hall director spouted such talk, Seonwoo Gang had never once sympathized. Seonwoo Gang had never once thought he truly wanted to cross swords with someone.

At first, he learned the sword to please his father.

The second time, to learn the sword for revenge, and now, to prove his father was right. That was an undeniable fact.

To Seonwoo Gang, martial arts were nothing more than a means. Thus, he held no particular doubt about Baek Riyun’s words to do nothing. He felt no impatience. With little greed, there was no need for doubt.

Tremble tremble tremble.

But now, Seonwoo Gang felt impatience more than anyone.

Tang! Tadadadada!

Twist, strike, climb up, turn back to push away, shave down, then drop sharply again.

Wooden swords and wooden spears containing countless wonders instantly spun, biting at each other’s necks. And fist strikes digging in between.

He cannot dodge. It will hit. The moment he judges that, Seomun Cheok lowers his elbow to press the fist down from above. As if using his body as a spear shaft.

Body-Spear Union.

At that fluidly free linkage, Seonwoo Gang clenched his fist tightly.

‘Since when?’

He had thought him talented.

Weaker than himself, but the environment was different. Unlike himself who learned martial arts in a famous sect’s systematic environment, Seomun Cheok had jumped into battlefields as a ronin without even a proper martial art and learned there. So he thought that level was sufficiently outstanding.

No.

That was how he had evaluated him. As if he himself were above Seomun Cheok.

With the complacent thought that he would never be overtaken.

‘It’s different.’

Every time Seomun Cheok swung the spear, the movement imprinted in his eyes. Seomun Cheok fiercely pressuring the enemy like a wolf biting prey to death.

It’s strange. Fundamentally, Baechang is a ‘pushing’ technique.

In theory, it is close to a type of flowing martial art. It even touches the principles of Taiji Quan. Being soft yet fierce is a contradiction. It cannot be established.

But then what is he seeing now.

Can one think of soft martial arts while watching that?

‘……No.’

Exactly as Seonwoo Gang felt. Rough and crude, but ferocious and savage.

Shaking his head, Seonwoo Gang bit his lip tightly. A sense of crisis he had never experienced before: ‘I might fall behind.’

He wanted to go out right now and swing his sword. He wanted to be in that scene too. Swing the sword, sweat, and then.

Run to not be caught up.

Thinking that, Seonwoo Gang unknowingly took one step forward. And.

The moment his fingertips reached for the sword hilt at his waist.

“Don’t.”

An indifferent voice pierced the air.

“…….”

Quietly turning his gaze, Seonwoo Gang directly met Baek Riyun’s eyes, who had approached beside him and was pressing the sword hilt’s end with his finger. Baek Riyun’s indifferent gaze upon him.

“I clearly said to do nothing.”

“……I know. But…….”

“There are no exceptions. Until this training ends, you must do nothing. Sparring and self-training are prohibited.”

“Why?”

“Must I tell you why?”

“…….”

At Baek Riyun’s words, Seonwoo Gang ground his teeth and clenched his fist tightly. And at that sight, Baek Riyun let out a soft chuckle.

“Being able to do something yet doing nothing is painful.”

“…….”

“That’s how human psychology works. When something is restricted or forbidden, you inexplicably want to try it at least once. Especially seeing your fellow disciples developing like now, even more so.”

It’s true.

His fellow disciples are fiercely chasing from behind. Just two weeks ago, if he used Hyeolgeommun’s martial arts to face Seomun Cheok, Seonwoo Gang could guarantee victory in all hundred matches. Now?

Considering that bizarre spear art, even generously, an eight out of ten win rate.

If including that he hasn’t fully adapted to all meridians being pierced, it might drop below six out of ten. And if time passes like this?

Seonwoo Gang might fall behind Seomun Cheok.

“Are you afraid of falling behind.”

“……Yes.”

“That would be so. Both you and I are mere martial artists. It’s hard to find someone in this field without a desire to win. But despite that, you must do nothing.”

“Why.”

“If you swing your sword now, you can ‘never’ become like ‘that.’”

“……!”

At Baek Riyun’s indifferent tone, Seonwoo Gang involuntarily looked at Seomun Cheok and trembled his fingertips.

“Seomun Cheok. He said he accumulated experience on battlefields before entering Muryeon Hall.”

“……Probably.”

“Though the martial arts and principles he possesses are meager, that fellow is finding his own path. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he’s walking his own martial way. What about you, in contrast?”

“…….”

“You’ve only imitated others’ methods. Believing what your master teaches is the correct answer, following that path without doubt. That’s not your sword, nor your father’s sword. It’s merely Daesageom’s sword.”

“That’s…….”

“A true Taoist finds the way even at the bottom of hell, and a proper swordsman sees forms even in the swaying of common leaves.”

Tossing the words, Baek Riyun slowly stood up. The outcome was already clearly revealed.

“Seomun Cheok. Passed!”

After the declaration, Baek Riyun tossed one more remark.

“I said to do nothing.”

“…….”

“Let me change my words. Do nothing. Instead, watch. What path your fellow disciples have walked, what they aim for.”

Slowly turning his back and walking to the center, Baek Riyun watched Seomun Cheok being tossed into the sky by the gathering Muryeon Hall trainees and falling, let out a soft chuckle, and left one final remark.

“I hope you can find it. Your way of the sword.”