Night passed, and dawn broke.
The sun was rising, gradually finding its place.
I moved my body, taking in that unique dawn air.
I turned my head slightly.
Then, a dagger brushed past my cheek.
Ssweik—! Sharp.
Moreover, if I were struck by that dagger, what with the gang qi suffusing it….
'It would dig in pretty deep.'
My body's durability had risen considerably, so it wouldn't penetrate through, but it would probably embed itself slightly in my skin.
I didn't check where the dagger flew.
I simply took one more step.
Kiing—!
At that alien sound, I bent my upper body.
Hwiik—! I couldn't see it, but a blade cut through the air above me.
Paaaang—!!
Sword gang exploded, and the sound echoed from behind.
The strength and texture felt from that sound weren't bad.
I raised my arm and brought it down.
The moment it was about to shoot forth, it collided with toes flying toward my face.
Paaang—!!
As our qi met, a sonic boom burst out, and I immediately twisted my waist to rotate further.
Ssweik—! Sswek-sswek—!
Sharp attacks followed my movements.
The flexible sword path was difficult to read.
He still seemed to be trying to erase the flow of Gollyun from his sword, yet its unique personality remained.
No matter what feint I added, it looked ready to follow right along.
'Hmmm.'
I raised the corner of my mouth as I watched.
The owner of the sword was Seongyul.
His murky yellow eyes were moving this way and that.
Starting from my chest.
Checking whether my breathing rose or not.
Then my shoulders, arms, waist, thighs, calves, ankles, to the tips of my toes.
In an instant, he was scanning my entire body, following along.
How I moved, where the end of my movement was.
Seongyul kept observing this.
I moved my arm slightly to create a reaction, but.
Ssreeik—!!!
A sharp sword gang dug in deep, as if to seal it off.
He had realized it was a feint.
'You little punk.'
Sharp instincts.
It was a good instinct.
The longer the exchange went on, the faster his sword became.
His overall completeness was high for his realm.
He didn't fear battle and didn't hesitate to advance.
The killing intent condensed on his sword was irritating, but it was at a tolerable level.
However.
"Your wrist rises when you bring it down."
Just as Seongyul's eyes widened, I shot forward.
Perhaps flustered, Seongyul twisted his sword path.
"Goodness."
I had just told him his wrist rose when he brought it down, yet devilishly, he does it again.
'Tch.'
I extended my arm.
A strike with increased speed shot toward Seongyul's arm.
The flow of air pressure was against me, but it wasn't so weak that it couldn't break through Seongyul's protective gang qi.
Uujijik—!
As my arm touched, Seongyul's protective gang qi lightly shattered.
"...!"
Seongyul, realizing he couldn't block it, urgently tried to retreat, but it was already too late.
"Rolling your eyes quickly is fine, but you take too much time."
That inevitably becomes an opening.
Paang—!
I spat out the words and struck Seongyul's wrist.
"Kkuek!"
Seongyul's arm was pushed back by the recoil.
Remarkably, he didn't drop his sword in the process.
As expected, he's got guts.
I'll have to praise him for that later.
'First, let's finish this.'
His posture collapsed from the violent recoil, revealing countless openings.
The moment I tried to kick Seongyul upon seeing this.
Sswirik.
"Tch."
I retracted my movement and spun my body at the sensation from behind.
Tudududuk—!!!
Daggers embedded themselves all over the spot I had dodged.
When I turned my gaze, the tip of a blade was already before my eyes.
I dodged by turning my head.
Pik—!
The sword grazed by, causing a scratch on my skin, but it healed immediately.
Simultaneously with dodging, I grabbed the hand of the one who had ambushed me.
However.
Hwuuk.
"Oh?"
The moment I grabbed the arm, it scattered and disappeared like mist.
It was a curious thing.
An illusion?
I watched with interest and unfolded my footwork.
Ssweik—!
A dagger brushed past the tip of my nose.
Ssaaaak—!
From the opposite side where the dagger had flown, another offensive unfolded.
It was a bizarre spectacle to think one person had unfolded it.
Moreover, each and every movement was wrapped in decisiveness and gang qi.
It meant she hadn't reached her realm clumsily.
'Looks like she learned well from the Dark King.'
I raised the corner of my mouth, looking at the woman wielding a dagger at me, Dang Soyeol.
The reason things had turned out like this was because Paejon had sent a letter saying he had business and would be away for a few days.
Thanks to that, while keeping my lifeline maintained and having spare time for training, I had decided to test the two's skills.
As a result.
'Not bad.'
I could tell both Seongyul and Dang Soyeol possessed strength better than I expected.
Dang Soyeol in particular was amazing.
Was it roughly four or five years ago?
The friendly martial arts competition held together with the Yongbong Association.
She was distinctly different from the Dang Soyeol shown there.
In just a few short years, Dang Soyeol had become a perfect expert from a young junior.
It was gratifying growth.
'What did she do to be able to grow like this?'
Recalling what Dang Soyeol, who had been no more than an ordinary talent, must have done to get here was somewhat bitter.
As I was dodging sword blades here and there.
Jiiing.
An eerie presence was felt from behind.
Without hesitation, I unleashed fist gang behind me.
Sure enough, sword qi was flying at me.
Paaaang--!!!
It exploded with friction against the sword qi.
Simultaneously, the two's combined attack began.
If I tried to widen the distance, daggers and sword qi flew in; if I dove forward, combined attacks came to break my movements.
'Hmmm.'
It must be their first time coordinating.
Yet Seongyul and Dang Soyeol's offensive was incomparably sharp, as if they had been working together for a long time.
'Is it because their compatibility is good?'
Seongyul creates opportunities so Dang Soyeol can dig in well. Dang Soyeol clears the path so Seongyul can draw his sword path flexibly.
'This is pretty good.'
At this level, they could at least face a seasoned Hwagyeong-level opponent.
If Seongyul ascends to Hwagyeong, it would probably change a bit more.
I leaped lightly to widen the distance and nodded.
'I think this much is enough to see.'
After observing up to that point, I nodded.
There was no need to see more.
The moment I thought that.
Tung-!
I stomped heavily on the ground and shot my body forward.
Paaang--!
My body sprang like an arrow. Wind pressure surged around me, increasing speed.
"Ah!"
"Hup!"
The two were momentarily flustered, but immediately took stances to respond.
Seongyul dashed forward without hesitation and swung his sword.
However, the attack didn't reach me.
Tuung-!
Before his thrust could gain speed, my hand grabbed Seongyul's collar and hurled him into the air.
Hwaak—! Seongyul's body rose into the air and flew.
Since he tried to land somehow, I unleashed a blast of fist gang.
"Keuk!"
He blocked with his sword, but his body was pushed back faster from the fist gang.
I immediately rushed at Dang Soyeol after that.
The method was no different.
I approached to catch Dang Soyeol like I had with Seongyul, but.
"Uhk...!"
Dang Soyeol turned to mist and disappeared again.
Seeing that, I changed direction and reached toward the empty space to the left.
I pressed my thumb firmly against my middle finger and—
Ttaaak—!!
—flicked her square on the forehead.
Then.
"Kyaaak!"
A dull sound and a scream rang out simultaneously.
"Kgeueugh..."
Dang Soyeol suddenly appeared in mid-air, clutched her forehead, and collapsed with a thud.
Her concealment technique was considerable, but it seemed she couldn't hide the flow visible to the mind's eye.
Afterward, Seongyul, who had barely landed, tried to rush at me again, but.
Tuk.
"...!!"
My fist was already touching Seongyul's chin.
I smiled slightly at the sweating Seongyul and said.
"Done."
I spat out the word and corrected my posture comfortably.
"Huuuk... hu... huuuk...."
Only then did Seongyul roughly exhale the breath he had been holding.
Checking on Dang Soyeol, she was lying flat on the training ground floor, resting.
Seeing that, I let out a hollow laugh.
"What did you do to be so tired?"
We didn't even do it properly and you're already tired?
Unbelievable.
"You'll need to raise your stamina more. Goodness."
"...Young Master... you're the strange one."
Dang Soyeol took issue with me, as if telling me not to talk nonsense.
"It's been over one sijin...."
"Hm? Really?"
Had that much time already passed?
I had thought only half a gak had passed, but more time had gone by than I thought.
However.
"But hasn't only one sijin passed?"
"...Yes...?"
"You need to do at least two sijin for your body to even feel it."
"...?"
The more I spoke, the more Dang Soyeol looked at me as if asking what I was talking about.
As if asking what kind of sparring lasts two sijin.
'Is that so strange?'
Usually when I spar with Paejon, I do about that much.
Most of it was spent getting beaten, but now I'm so used to it that one sijin isn't enough.
When I wanted to train properly, I'd spar for about two sijin and invest the remaining time entirely in external arts training.
Spending the day using the training methods I'd learned from the Huashan Sect left me feeling quite refreshed by the end.
'Even a regressor like me trains to the bone, and you're gasping after just this....'
Kids these days are weak, tsk tsk.
I shook my head and dusted off my body.
Having sparred for one sijin meant it was almost morning.
So I said to the two tired people.
"I'll tell you what needs fixing later. For now, let's wash up and eat."
"...Yes..."
"...Understood."
At my words, the two gave weak responses. They seemed quite tired.
Just as I thought I should wash my face since I had moved for the first time in a while.
Tok tok.
"Excuse me."
A clear voice was heard near the training room entrance, together with the sound of knocking on the wall.
I looked wondering who it was, and it was Moyong Huia.
"What is it?"
What brings her here so early in the morning?
Moreover....
'Did she doll up a bit?'
Moyong Huia usually dressed up, but today she seemed particularly beautiful.
She seemed to have powdered her face.
Her clothes somehow felt more splendid than usual.
"Are you done training?"
"Hm... more or less?"
I had planned to eat and do personal training, but morning training was over with this.
When I answered in that sense, Moyong Huia spoke to me.
"Then, come somewhere with me."
"Hm...?"
I tilted my head at the sudden words.
...Go together? Suddenly?
"Where?"
"There's a merchant guild matter. I want to go with you, Young Master."
"Why do I... have to go?"
I tried to ask, but.
"...What did you say?"
Seeing Moyong Huia's expression crumple, I immediately shut my mouth.
But it seemed it was already too late.
"What do you mean, after abandoning me and leaving suddenly last time too?"
"No..."
"Can't you just come without asking? Do you really have to ask?"
"I haven't asked yet...."
"You were going to."
"...I suppose so."
A dry cough escaped me at her ice-cold words.
"Do you know who I'm working this hard for.... Just come when I tell you to."
"...Who are you working hard for?"
"For you, obviously!"
At the words I had asked unknowingly, Moyong Huia shouted at me in a clear, ringing voice.
My body flinched involuntarily at the sound.
How does someone who has barely reached the peak realm have such overwhelming pressure?
I shrank back in fear.
"You have as much tact as you have conscience; how do you plan to live if you don't know this either?"
"...No, I just..."
"Never mind. Just live without it. That way my position becomes more solid. I should just make it so that it's inconvenient without me. That's the only way I'll be comfortable."
"What do you mean by—"
"Just stop talking and follow me. You can spare one day, can't you? You don't want to? Go on, say you don't want to. I won't let it slide."
Moyong Huia said to me fiercely, scrunching up her face.
If I said I didn't want to, she looked like she'd bite my head off.
"I'll... wash up and be right out."
I had planned to spend time organizing my plans and training after a long while, but it looked like something bad would happen if I didn't go out.
So I gave up and was about to wash my face.
"C-cheap."
Dang Soyeol, who had been sprawled on the floor, suddenly spat out.
Then she barely turned her body and looked at Moyong Huia.
"You did this on purpose...?"
"What do you mean?"
"You came because training ended! You aimed for when I can't move...!!"
"I don't know what you're talking about?"
Moyong Huia snorted at Dang Soyeol's huffing words.
"Why would I do such a thing?"
"You're trying to monopolize him all to yourself! I want to go too!"
"Then come with us. I don't mind if Miss Dang comes."
"Eek!"
Dang Soyeol gritted her teeth and tried to rise.
But perhaps due to the aftereffects of the spar, she could only groan and couldn't raise her body properly.
Seeing that, Moyong Huia covered her mouth with her hand and said.
"Oh my... you seem to be struggling. You should rest well today, Miss Dang."
"I can do it...!"
"Why try to get up when you're tired? Eat and rest. We'll be back soon."
"Yo... Young Master...?"
I had told her to rest because she looked tired, but Dang Soyeol's expression upon hearing this was filled with despair.
Why is she like that?
I just told her to rest because she looked tired; was it something to be so disappointed about?
"That's right. Please rest. We're just going out for work."
Unlike Dang Soyeol's disappointment, Moyong Huia seemed to have gained great energy, her tone turning haughty.
"You... you're too much...!!"
"Let's go, Young Master."
"Uh... yeah."
My eyes were naturally drawn to her appearance like a squirrel whose food had been stolen, but.
Kkwak—!
As if there was no time to delay, Moyong Huia linked her arm with mine and started dragging me away.
As I was being dragged away limply, something came to mind and I asked Moyong Huia.
"She's probably resting too. Should we bring her?"
Wi Seol-a, who should be nearby, came to mind. Since we were going out anyway, wouldn't it be good to go together?
Namgung Bia needed to rest so she couldn't go out, but Wi Seol-a liked going outside, so I suggested it thinking we could feed her while we were out.
"Hmph, as expected."
Moyong Huia smiled widely as if she had expected it.
"I prepared for that in advance."
"Oh?"
Did she mean she had asked Wi Seol-a to come along in advance? As expected, she works fast....
"Miss Wi won't be coming. I've asked her so she absolutely won't follow today. So even if you say that, it can't be helped."
"...Huh?"
It wasn't a hint to come out in advance.
'She asked her not to come out...?'
I made a blank expression, wondering what kind of absurd nonsense this was.
Seeing me like that, Moyong Huia relaxed her scrunched expression and burst into laughter.
"What? What's with that foolish expression?"
"Your words are a bit strange."
"Your expression is so like you, Young Master. I like it."
"You call me foolish and then say it's like me and you like it? Is that an insult? It is, isn't it?"
"It's a compliment. Really, a compliment."
As she spoke, she loosened the arm she had been holding tightly.
"These days I think this: it might be better if you just kept up the appearance of being foul-tempered and lacking, Young Master."
"Why don't you just curse me outright? How is this a compliment?"
"It is a compliment. If you're like that, no one will know your true worth."
Moyong Huia added with a sigh.
"I already have a headache because I seem to know quite a lot? If it increases, I don't know what I'll do. So just stay like this."
Stay insufficient? What kind of absurd request is that?
I was furrowing my face at the nonsense, when Moyong Huia, walking with linked arms, quietly added.
"Because then, the reason I have to stay by your side becomes a bit clearer."
Her walking speed increased.
By the time I noticed, we were already outside the main gate.
Outside, a small carriage was prepared.
I asked Moyong Huia as I looked at the somehow small carriage.
"The carriage seems kind of small?"
I knew we usually rode one at least twice as big. I wondered why it was such a carriage today.
To that question, Moyong Huia answered.
"Right. That way the inside is narrow, so it's easy to stick close together."
She gave such an answer.
"...Huh?"
"Now let's hurry to work. Get in."
Before I could ask anything, I was pushed into the carriage by Moyong Huia's trivial strength. Then Moyong Huia followed and sat beside me.
For some reason, her expression as she sat there was the brightest I had seen recently.
No.
At least until there was business in the afternoon....
It surely had been.