Crack!
What shattered the state of equilibrium was…
It was Black Rib.
Jaso-gyeong and Da Jeryong flinched at the sound of Black Rib’s flesh crumbling.
“Chit!”
Da Jeryong clicked his tongue, withdrew his hand, and stepped back. Perhaps he thought that if he poured all his strength into the contest of inner power like this, Black Rib would be smashed, revealing Jaso-gyeong’s face.
“Who had the advantage…?”
“Wasn’t it an even match? Hmm…”
The confused crowds murmured. I turned my gaze to Jaso-gyeong’s sleeve. It was fundamentally black, tailored to align with Black Rib, yet I was certain.
Jaso-gyeong’s sleeve was a bit scorched.
“Change the rib!”
“….”
Could Jaso-gyeong actually feel that? Staring down at their sleeve, Jaso-gyeong grabbed Black Rib and…
Creeeek.
Smashed it.
“No…!”
“To break Black Rib with their own hands…!”
The usual impression of a warm, doughy dumpling shop owner vanished, revealing a sharp countenance filled with martial prowess for all to see.
“I noticed it.”
“What do you mean?”
The previously bustling crowd of spectators quieted down, their attention drawn to the conversation between the two.
“That my Black Rib was hindering you from showcasing your true skills!”
Jaso-gyeong’s tone was passionate.
“The advantageous technique is to wrap the opponent and not let go! Like a snake coiling around you, that would have been your best option, but if you did that, Black Rib—a mere bamboo stick—wouldn’t have endured! So instead, you only overpowered my arms from the position where you should have wrapped me around my body and neck!”
Murmurs. Murmurs.
“Is that so?”
“It’s true that using a technique that wraps around the whole body could be advantageous for one practicing the Gentle Movement Technique…”
Ignoring the murmurs around, Jaso-gyeong shouted.
“Come at me with all your might! I will break your will and claim victory!”
“….Alright. First Match.”
Da Jeryong acknowledged and took a stance.
“May I ask your name?”
“…Jaso-gyeong.”
“Martial Artist Jaso-gyeong. Prepare yourself. I will give it my all from now on.”
Da Jeryong’s stance completely transformed. His center lowered, arms spread wide, clearly indicating an intent to charge and knock Jaso-gyeong down.
“Uwaaaaa!”
“Charge!”
Jaso-gyeong’s fist sliced through the air.
Bam!
Spectral Wave Technique.
KABOOM!!
Double Lightning Strike.
KABLAM!!
Seven Straight Cuts Technique.
Counter Force Strike.
Eight Fist Strikes.
The barrage of the Fierce Tiger’s Martial Arts descended like a storm.
With sheer force and no thought for the back, no, Jaso-gyeong was already surpassing their own abilities, demonstrating martial arts. A thin line of blood at their lips testified to that fact.
To overcome the wall that was Da Jeryong, they clashed, burning everything within.
Da Jeryong wasn’t unscathed either. His arms bore bruises that couldn’t be protected by his experience, and punches lodged into his shoulders and torso.
Yet, Da Jeryong continued to advance, closing the distance to Jaso-gyeong.
It was a battle like fire and sparks.
A fight of men willing to burn everything to achieve victory.
The two were just a step apart.
And at long last, their hands made contact!
Fierce Tiger’s Seven Returns. Hohugeogta.
And I, with no way of knowing, a certain western-style dining method.
Crack!
Amidst the clash of force, the thick battle platform cracked under the weight. The two pouring their inner power had no energy to spare, and even I felt the flowing wind of their inner power.
The hot wind mixed with Da Jeryong’s essence brushed past my entire body.
The scales of victory began to tilt.
Flare.
The sleeve of Jaso-gyeong, starting to catch fire! At that moment, Da Jeryong’s hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Jaso-gyeong by the collar and upsetting their balance.
KOOOM!
Da Jeryong’s attack sent Jaso-gyeong crashing down.
“….The moment I couldn’t take down Da Jeryong with a heavy strike, the outcome was determined.”
“Yes. Because there wasn’t even the minimum inner power left to deflect the opponent’s move.”
Their conversation brushed past my ears, as if they had expected it, and appeared before the arena, Saminbun gulped nervously.
“Truly, truly an intense battle at the Platinum Tournament! Before entering the competition, I jokingly mentioned it might be the best match of the year… but what a match it was—truly worthy of being called the best battle of the year!”
“That’s right! It was truly amazing!”
“Seriously, my blood is boiling!”
“And today’s victor of the Platinum Tournament is~~~~ Golden Sect’s~~ Diner’s~~ Da Jeryong~~~~! Congratulations~~!!!!”
Waaaaaaah!
“Please give a passionate applause to the two martial artists who showed us a match like fireworks!!”
Clap clap clap clap!
“First Match was really impressive too!”
“Lost, but fought well!”
“There’s a genuine martial spirit among the Sacheon Outcasts!”
Applause poured out towards the down Jaso-gyeong. The outcasts watching from a distance checked on Jaso-gyeong’s condition and helped lift their massive frame.
“Brilliant!”
“Well done!”
As the applause continued pouring in, I felt a fresh sense of excitement. In Sacheon City, even a defeated outcast received applause.
A scenario that was unimaginable.
Until the staggering Jaso-gyeong was assisted by the outcasts until they left the arena.
The applause never ceased.
*
“Da Jeryong Young Hero!”
“….You all…”
Da Jeryong, presumed to be with the sect members of the Diner, grimaced at the sight of me and Black Cat during his movement.
Though Jaso-gyeong had collapsed with internal injuries, Da Jeryong was also no picture of health.
“Ah, those outcasts from that time.”
“Hmm… I sincerely apologize for back then.”
“I’m sorry.”
Da Jeryong let out a long sigh.
“If it were up to me, I’d love to make a hearty meal, but with a letter from the regional chief and since a lot of time has passed…”
Da Jeryong was far more magnanimous than I expected. If I were a bald guy and someone talking about Sunlight mentioned my name, I’d have probably snapped their spine in half.
“Even someone like Young Hero would hide their face and become an outcast, so… I suppose you all have your own circumstances. Hmph, I’ll assume there were reasons for your actions back then.”
“….Thank you, Great Hero.”
He scoffed at our bow and left with his sect members.
Da Jeryong, from the Golden Diner. He was indeed a true man.
A bald head but a man with honorable character inside.
Worried about Jaso-gyeong’s condition, after my business concluded, I returned to the Outcast Inn, where a doctor was already treating them.
“How’s Jaso-gyeong’s injury?”
“They say it’s not a serious internal wound. If they rest well for a few days, they should recover.”
“Thank goodness.”
We too took a break, enjoying a cup of tea to catch our breath.
“Wow…! Today’s martial match was truly amazing!”
“To be training on a day like today, you’re missing out on life!”
Jeong Sam and Yeo Jin-sang, who seemed to have watched the match from somewhere, were explaining today’s duel passionately with the outcasts remaining in the inn.
It was indeed an impressive match.
The duel itself was astounding, but for me, who just glimpsed the realm of experience for the first time today, it felt like tasting a whole new world.
“It seems the Honorable Person has achieved some accomplishments.”
It was true; my perspective had broadened instantly. Honestly, seeing Jeong Sam and Yeo Jin-sang lingering idle in the arena had left me partly thinking they were pitiful, but in fact, those two might truly be smarter than I had pressured them to be.
“Yes. Honestly, I thought I was handling my Qi, but… I was merely a frog in a well.”
A true frog in a well, indeed. I was merely operating the Qi flowing from the outside in my body’s well. They say the human body is a microcosm and all, yet the fact remains that the universe outside is the macrocosm.
“So, it seems the martial artists control their experience, as I learned slightly today. Then, may I ask how the swordsmen control theirs?”
I was curious.
I am someone who handles swords. If I were to reach the peak level and control my experience, how would I accomplish that?
What were the concepts of Qi that Yeo Il-ye and Black Cat mentioned during the match? What sort of experience did Yeo Il-ye show me?
Such curiosities filled my mind.
As Yeo Il-ye’s gaze met mine, she smiled and said.
“Shall we move to the Training Hall?”
Upon moving to the Outcast Inn’s Training Hall, Yeo Il-ye immediately drew her sword.
“The martial artist’s Qi is free. That freedom is the advantage gained by abandoning weapons. Have you ever considered why the martial artist’s Qi is so free?”
“Hmm… Because it flows directly outward without using a weapon…?”
“Correct. However, that answer is still lacking to qualify as a full answer. Why is that?”
“Um….”
“Because the inner power integrates with the body.”
“….Ah.”
“Martial artists cultivate inner power starting from the moment they become a martial artist. Therefore, inner power is optimized for their body, regardless of its magnitude or properties. Thus, it is only natural that there are no obstructions in controlling inner power through the body.”
I understood Yeo Il-ye’s words. Ultimately, the goal of accumulating inner power was to create my own Qi that I could manipulate freely. Therefore, cultivating inner power means that regarding the body, it is indeed possible to control that inner power freely.
“Therefore, those of us—like me and the Honorable Person—who wield weapons must overcome two hurdles to be called Peak Experts. The first is to be able to use our Qi through weapons, and the second is to embed that Qi into our weapons.”
“…I see.”
Controlling Qi through weapons. So it’s called the Sword Qi.
Suddenly, I started to grasp it. Ultimately, the martial artists naturally sprinkle their Qi into the air. First, they need to close the distance with the opponent, and as the Qi pours in during strikes, it becomes a direct form of contact.
But what if swordsmen use the sword as a medium?
“In the end, a swordsman can only deliver their Qi through the sword.”
“Exactly.”
Embed Qi within the weapon.
Sssss.
Yeo Il-ye’s sword glowed azure.
The sword, now infused with Qi, gently descended and rested upon my fingertip. A tingling sensation vibrated through my fingers as strength began to flow out.
“This is what is generally referred to as Sword Qi.”
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