Chapter 258. The Thunder Dragon Soars—Here I Go.
It seemed Wi Mugyeol had come to his senses the moment his sword broke, but the second brother, Wi Jungcheon, glanced at us from time to time with an unpleasant gaze.
I'd operated in the martial world long enough to know.
That kind of look earns you seventeen more hits for something that would've ended with one. That makes eighteen exchanges total.
I met Wi Jungcheon's eyes and curled my lips upward.
'That's the look of a bastard asking for eighteen lashes.'
Suddenly, a loud *bang* rang out, and I looked toward Saekma and Wi Mugyeol.
From the way they were scuffling, it wasn't a fight that would end quickly with just a bloody nose like some neighborhood alley brawl.
The Wi Clan's palm techniques weren't such shabby martial arts either. So Saekma would likely launch his counterattack only after seeing Wi Mugyeol's palm technique from beginning to end.
In truth, there was no chance of Saekma losing to Wi Mugyeol.
But even in a fight like this, it was right to accumulate experience steadily, like amassing wealth.
Saekma and Wi Mugyeol held out until each of their palm techniques had run one full cycle, but now even to my eyes, the repeating forms were gradually becoming visible.
Usually, a single clash of blade or spear is called "one exchange."
This is actually a somewhat abbreviated expression.
When generals ride out on horseback and engage one-on-one, they exchange multiple offensive and defensive moves before turning their horses' heads or passing each other. When they clash again, that is actually the "second exchange."
So when people habitually say "let's have a hundred exchanges," it means they really want to fight for a long time, not that they'll clash blades exactly one hundred times.
Each sect and martial artist may think differently, but from my perspective, the second exchange was only just beginning.
Watching Saekma's expression, I predicted the duel would end in this exchange. The reason they had competed through one complete exchange was so that Saekma could observe Wi Mugyeol's palm technique from start to finish. It was only right to preview an opponent's techniques beforehand if there was a chance of fighting them again later.
Saekma's counterattacks, now familiar with Wi Mugyeol's palm technique, gradually grew faster. He countered as though anticipating Wi Mugyeol's movements, and footwork that he hadn't used in the first exchange was added.
I'd crossed hands with Saekma before, but this was the first time I'd seen such a cunning, slippery movement. He moved as though sliding across the ground like a stiff ghost with a wrenched back using ice energy, so he looked like the Ice God.
"You Ice God bastard, you fight pretty well...."
"Shh."
Gwima made a gesture with his hand telling me to be quiet.
Anyway, Saekma's Ice God-like footwork seemed like footwork best used on flat ground.
It was a clever trick that let him glide across short distances in an instant. Still, it was a little amazing how smoothly his palm techniques flowed while doing so. Although Saekma's palm technique remained unchanged, the addition of footwork gradually darkened Wi Mugyeol's expression, as though he'd been dumped by his lover.
'Has he felt the wall?'
This is why character and strength are unrelated. A bastard as unpleasant as Saekma must have felt emptiness wash over him the moment he realized someone was stronger than him.
Saekma didn't even use the Ice God footwork every time. He moved briskly, then narrowed the distance at unexpected moments to launch surprise attacks.
Dull thuds mixed in one after another, and Wi Mugyeol began taking hits to his forearms, shoulders, and other spots.
Even though the hits only grazed him, Wi Mugyeol's expression contorted.
The ends of his hair were severed by Saekma's kick and scattered about, and even Wi Mugyeol's fierce attempts to turn the match around couldn't push back Saekma, who met them with the same techniques.
This meant Saekma's internal energy ran deeper as well.
At some point, Saekma's techniques shifted to seizing techniques and finger techniques.
While receiving Wi Mugyeol's palm strikes, he grabbed or clawed with his left hand, and responded with his right hand using finger techniques infused with ice energy.
I had wanted to cheer for Wi Mugyeol, even if it meant talking nonsense, but interfering in a duel was bad manners, so I stayed still. However, the moment I saw Saekma, who had clearly seized the advantage, mock Wi Mugyeol by toying with him repeatedly, I opened my mouth.
"Fourth, that's enough. That is not manners."
Truly, you see all sorts of things living a long life. Since when had I been someone who cared about manners? But wrong was wrong, so I interfered anyway.
Saekma, who had been moving as if to mock Wi Mugyeol, replied curtly.
"Roger."
Saekma suddenly charged in, approaching so dangerously close that he seemed about to take Wi Mugyeol's counterattack, then spun his body and struck Wi Mugyeol's waist with a finger technique. Quickly returning to his position, he lightly pushed Wi Mugyeol's chest with a twin palm strike.
Wi Mugyeol staggered back, then stomped the ground as if to shatter it before throwing a punch at Saekma, who stood still.
Saekma caught Wi Mugyeol's fist with his left hand without difficulty.
"It's over. Let's stop."
Wi Mugyeol, who had been about to throw another punch with his other hand once more, suddenly slumped to the spot and began trembling violently.
"Brother!"
"Brother!"
Wi Jungcheon, Wi Taesan, and Wi Soseon leaped onto the duel platform at the same time and rushed to the fallen eldest son. Even as his whole body trembled violently, Wi Mugyeol pushed his younger siblings away and assumed a lotus position with shaking movements.
"......Move aside."
Wi Mugyeol's face turned as white as a sheet in an instant, and as he began circulating his energy to treat his injuries, his flustered younger siblings surrounded him and waited.
Even then, Saekma stole a glance at Wi Soseon's face before finally walking back to our side.
I observed the Ice God's expression.
Was this how it felt to have picked up and raised a dung beetle?
Of course, he had been a strong expert in his previous life too, but I couldn't shake the feeling that he had grown strong at an even younger age this time.
Saekma spoke to the young masters of the Wi Clan.
"If you've learned the same mental cultivation method, it would be best to help him circulate his energy."
Wi Taesan, who had been quiet until now, assumed a lotus position and assisted Wi Mugyeol with energy circulation from behind his back.
At this moment, Wi Soseon, who looked furious to anyone watching, spoke to Saekma.
"Young Master Mong, did you really have to inflict internal injuries like this?"
Saekma fixed his gaze on Wi Soseon.
"Lady Wi."
"Please speak."
"The Eldest Young Master and I are at a level where a single mistake could mean death. A duel is originally something done with one's life on the line. It is something to be angry about that your brother sustained internal injuries. But if I had been stabbed or cut by his sword earlier, wouldn't that have been a defeat I had to accept naturally? Fighting actual demonic heretics in the martial world is far more cruel. There are no second chances. We exchanged blows to prepare for that time, so do not be so emotional."
Wi Soseon turned her head away, at a loss for words.
Saekma approached and sat down beside me.
I crossed my arms and spoke.
"Nice footwork. The name was probably Ice God Step?"
"No."
"Was it Ice God Art?"
"Stop it."
After a short while, Wi Mugyeol, who had been keeping his eyes closed, opened his mouth.
"......Young Master Mong is right about the duel. Mind your manners toward our guests. Taesan, you can stop now too."
"Yes, Brother."
"Yes, Brother."
Watching them like this, it seemed these three brothers and one sister did share fraternal love despite their quarrels. The children of a good family who even shared sibling affection—I felt truly envious, and a smile formed on its own.
Only then did Wi Mugyeol open his eyes and let out a long breath. With his younger brothers’ support, he rose and looked at the Lust Demon.
“Young Master Mong, I learned much from that exchange. I have confirmed that the Alliance Leader did not place you among the Six Dragons for nothing.”
It was a rather clean declaration of defeat.
The Lust Demon also rose from his seat and offered a cupped-fist salute, as if he had already forgotten their clash of emotions.
“Eldest Young Master, that was an excellent palm technique. Had you used the sword, your main art, it would have been even more powerful.”
Wi Mugyeol recited his impressions of being struck by the finger technique.
“I did not know ice arts could be this painful and frightening. A valuable experience. If Young Master Mong had used more internal energy, I would have been lying there for half a day.”
Watching these idiotic bastards suddenly turn warm and cordial after fighting, I could tell that our neighborhood and the Jianghu were no different.
Wi Jungcheon cut in.
“Elder Brother, it seems I am not yet skilled enough to enter the Six Dragons. But since they have come all this way, I would like to cross hands with the Hao Sect Leader. I, too, will consider it an experience.”
Wi Mugyeol gave his permission.
“Then do not obsess over victory or defeat and challenge him. Sect Leader, would that be all right?”
Honestly, I did not want to fight. Even if all four Wi brothers attacked at once, they would not be a match for me, so there was no meaning to the spar.
How could I possibly scuffle with such greenhorns?
The Ghost Demon spoke in a solemn tone.
“Second Young Master, if you do not mind, may I do it? In truth, I have watched the Hao Sect Leader fight several times, and he does not walk the path of a pure swordsman as we do. I am merely an insignificant country swordsman who trains in the sword, but I would like to experience the sword art of the Wi Clan. The Eldest Young Master’s primary martial art, too, must originally have been swordsmanship.”
When the Ghost Demon spoke in a subtly encouraging tone, Wi Jungcheon nodded.
“Let us do that.”
The Ghost Demon looked at me.
“I will go out.”
I answered in a solemn tone.
“Good. Move out. And I am a swordsman too.”
Unlike the Lust Demon, seeing a man as reliable as a thick pork bone head toward the sparring stage made my heart feel reassured as well.
As the Ghost Demon climbed onto the sparring stage, the Lust Demon asked me.
“You were a swordsman too?”
“If you use a sword, you are a swordsman.”
“No, you’re always raising hell with those two hands of yours, so I thought you weren’t a swordsman. I figured you carried it around for show, but to think you were actually a swordsman. How surprising.”
“Stop.”
On the sparring stage, the country swordsman Ghost Demon and Wi Jungcheon faced off, but it was boring, so I closed my eyes. Since the Ghost Demon was going easy on him, there was nothing worth watching.
After I briefly lost consciousness, the Lust Demon shook me awake. When I opened my eyes, the boring spar had ended.
It seemed the Ghost Demon had won, but I felt no particular excitement. Indeed, this was not a family that could compare to the Namgung, Seomun, or Baekri clans, so there was less tension. Perhaps because I had woken after dozing off, everyone was looking at me. When I came to my senses a little, Wi Soseon was looking at me.
“……Sect Leader?”
“Speak.”
“I said I would challenge you. Were you dozing?”
Feeling my drowsiness flee, I answered.
“Lady Wi, why, for what reason, are you challenging me?”
“Is there any reason needed for a challenge?”
“What, specifically, do you want to learn? Swordsmanship? Fighting?”
Wi Soseon said,
“Whatever it may be, I will consider it experience……”
“Experience is good.”
I soared into the air and landed at the edge of the sparring stage in one movement. The young masters of the Wi Clan had already descended from the stage.
A pretty woman who did not seem likely to survive in the Jianghu was looking at me. Of course, it was not as if there were no highly skilled female masters in the Jianghu. There were even a few female devils I could barely contend with only by going all out. There were also quite a few renowned heroines.
But this woman was not one of them. She was simply a member of the One Phoenix and Two Immortals with exceptional beauty.
Wi Soseon asked me.
“Will you use a sword? I am ready.”
“I will do it barehanded.”
“Understood.”
I drew in a deep breath, looked at Wi Soseon, and wrapped my hands thickly in the Hundred-Battle Ten-Stage Art, which looked like Sun-Moon Radiant Heaven.
Bzzzzzzzzzzzt!
“……!”
The Lust Demon, the Ghost Demon, Wi Mugyeol, Wi Jungcheon, and Wi Taesan all sprang up from their seats at the same time.
“Hao Sect Leader!”
“Third Brother!”
“Sect Leader!”
“You mad bastard, why are you raising hell again?”
I warned the spectators, including the Lust Demon and the Ghost Demon.
“If you come, you’ll get hurt.”
After creating a white, surging, writhing Thunder Dragon in my grasp, I looked at Wi Soseon.
“Lady Wi, are you ready? Thunder Dragon Ascends to Heaven. Here it comes.”
The waves of energy from the Hundred-Battle Ten-Stage Art spread out from my entire body in a round ripple, and the floor of the sparring stage beneath my feet suddenly split with a crack—fissures branching out like lightning.
Having watched the Hundred-Battle Ten-Stage Art with half her soul seemingly flown away, Wi Soseon said to me,
“……Sect Leader, I have lost.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
I withdrew the power of the Hundred-Battle Ten-Stage Art that had been twisting in my hands, then lightly lifted the already formed thunder energy into the air and sent it flying. The white Thunder Dragon wriggled as it ascended, then turned into white cloud and scattered into fine wisps.
I glared at Wi Soseon and said,
“Lady Wi, you admit defeat cleanly. You are quick-witted.”
“Yes.”
“I am saying you are lucky. If you had been my enemy, I would have torn you to shreds. The bandits of the Southern Mount Green Forest Alliance, assassins, the Black Path, neighborhood thugs, even the bastards of the Demon Cult. I have not been in the habit of going easy on them.”
“Did you spar with those people as well?”
“A spar is also real combat.”
I turned and looked at the young masters of the Wi Clan.
“Well, in any case, as for settling the rankings of the Six Dragons…… has it been settled somewhat? I say again, I bear no personal feelings. Though the three of us lack social graces like country bumpkins, if the day comes when the Alliance Leader requests our aid, we will be killing evil heretics in the same place. A spar is a spar, and water is water, so let us not keep the results in our hearts. Do you all understand? Martial arts must be trained sharply for a long, long time. Defeats like this are merely part of the process. Eldest Young Master.”
Wi Mugyeol nodded.
“Sect Leader, speak.”
I spoke in a stiff tone.
“I will apologize again for the matter with the iron workshop. If a similar problem arises, contact the Hao Sect or me at any time. In return, do not respond by summoning people who know no martial arts to threaten or insult them, or by paying only half the promised price. I have an illness that prevents me from holding back my anger at such things. Do you understand?”
Wi Mugyeol nodded.
“I will do so.”
“You can’t hold back your laughter, and you can’t hold back your anger. Back and forth—honestly. And saying you’ll give shoddy weapons to the guards is laughable too. If I had stormed into the Wi Family Estate, I could break through from the main gate to the great hall in three or four breaths. Who do you think would be the first to stop me? The guards who stand day and night to protect you, of course. See to their weapons and protective gear first. If a master stronger than me were to invade the Wi Family Estate, abduct Miss Wi, and then try to satisfy his carnal desires, I do wonder who in this family could stop him. To the mad masters of the unorthodox and demonic paths, the title of Six Dragons won’t mean much. I’m saying this out of concern, so don’t take it only as an insult.”
“…….”
Perhaps everyone had taken offense, because the atmosphere grew heavy.
“That aside, I came as a guest, yet I haven’t even been served a cup of tea. Bring me food. I’ll eat one meal and leave. Food. I’m hungry.”
Only after I asked for food did Wi Mugyeol nod.
“Very well. Let’s go.”
I glared at Wi Soseon and added one more thing.
“There’ll be meat among the side dishes, won’t there?”
Wi Soseon answered with a frightened look.
“Ah, yes.”
“And liquor?”
“I will serve it.”
“That’s more like it.”
I hadn’t come here to eat, but martial arts training was something one did in order to live and eat, so I had no intention of skipping a meal. I moved off to eat with the Lust Demon and the Ghost Demon.