0022 : Thunder Dragon’s Arrival
From the next day, I diligently began preparing to challenge the Twin Gate Sect. First, I confirmed the location of the Twin Gate Sect based on the information I received from Jeom So-i, and I roughly jotted down the names of the renowned experts associated with the Twin Gate Sect. I marveled at how much Jeom So-i knew; when I paid him, he spilled information as if he had been a martial artist for decades.
“How do you know so much?”
I asked out of curiosity, and he chuckled.
“Well, it’s always fascinating and entertaining to hear stories about martial artists throughout life. Plus, the Twin Gate Sect has a decent reputation, so quite a few people in Luoyang admire the masters there. I’m just somewhat interested and listen in from time to time.”
“By the way, is the Open Sect also in Luoyang?”
Jeom So-i waved his hands dismissively.
“Oh, come on. Is there a place where there aren’t Open Sect members? If you pass through Changheung Street and see beggars wandering under the remote culvert, you can consider them as Open Sect practitioners. Besides that, you’ll find Open Sect members occasionally roaming the back alleys of Luoyang.”
I pondered for a moment. Though I had bought some rough information by paying Jeom So-i, I wondered if it might be better to visit the Open Sect to obtain more detailed information. However, since information circulates around, recklessly utilizing the Open Sect could potentially lead to annoying repercussions later on.
‘Let’s postpone the Open Sect for now. It seems better to challenge the Twin Gate Sect once and gather any necessary information afterward.’
I ordered some food and then headed out into the city. I began searching for a weapon shop, strolling through the bustling commercial areas where various shops were neatly organized along entertainment streets and other establishments. The weapon shop I was looking for was approximately three li away from the inn street.
Upon entering the weapon shop, I was taken aback by its lavish interior decorations. It looked far too extravagant for a pauper like me to step into. Naturally, the weapons were bound to be expensive, so as I prepared to leave quietly, the shop owner grabbed the hem of my clothing.
“Ah, dear customer, why not take a look at our goods!”
“… Haha, I really don’t have that much money.”
“The items we carry are often purchased by officials. You won’t regret it.”
When I heard that, I decided to browse the displayed weapons. Luoyang is rife with warriors and martial groups, and because of the turbulent security situation, even commoners can carry weapons with a permit. Therefore, it seemed that even shops like this, typically not allowed, were thriving.
‘Hmm… I definitely need at least one spear. And since the edge of my broadsword is dulled, I should get it replaced. It would be convenient to have a dagger as well.’
However, when I tentatively placed my order, the weapon shop owner beamed and said,
“That will come to around 30 liang of silver and about 50 fen.”
“……”
“If I were to give you a slight discount, I could bring it down to 25 liang.”
Even as the shop owner hurriedly added that, I couldn’t even think about buying anything. The prices were certainly at a level that would be beyond average for an escort having saved money for an entire year. While good weapons are expensive, I also felt that the shop owner was somewhat inflating the price. I left the weapon shop without any hesitation and wandered into another one, but they were all quite similar in price.
‘Damn it. These guys are colluding on prices. How can they be so similar everywhere?’
I frowned. Since they were all congested in a narrow area, doing business in the same industry, any attempt at unlimited price competition would lead to mutual destruction. To avoid that, it seemed the weapon shop owners had colluded to keep their prices at a reasonable level. It was clear that those prices were inflated enough to take advantage of the warriors.
But I felt a bit challenged. Even while traveling continuously, I always carried a spear, sword, and dagger as basic equipment. However, after three years of studying beneath Mang Yang, my spear had rotted away, and I was now relying on a shabby wooden spear that the blacksmith from Jinlang Valley had hastily made.
It was such a low-quality item that even the guards might let it pass without much thought. I could easily see that it would break after just a few uses.
Moreover, the broadsword I often used had seen better days; if I infused too much internal energy while fighting, it would surely snap. With my weapons in such a precarious state, I would never be able to spar with the top masters of a prestigious sect like the Twin Gate Sect.
‘Damn it… There’s no other choice. Since I’m challenging them, I’ll just borrow a weapon from their side.’
Admittedly, this thought was not one a proper warrior would entertain. A fundamental principle is to cherish and take good care of one’s own weapon as if it were one’s life. To ask to borrow a weapon for sparring in a hostile area would surely invite ridicule. Let alone from a venerable sect like the Twin Gate Sect, I could only imagine the scorn I would receive.
But spending too much money on weapons would make it difficult for me to maneuver later on. I absolutely needed to save funds, even if it meant feeling a bit humiliated. I could always earn some money working as an escort if it became essential, but I felt leaving too many traces of myself in Luoyang would not bode well in the future.
I wandered around the vicinity of the Twin Gate Sect that day, verifying the information I had received from Jeom So-i. When I checked on the Iron Blood Gate and the Great Sword Gate, I was somewhat taken aback. I had expected them to be on par with an ordinary sect, but they owned estates that extended over a thousand zhang as their territory.
In contrast, the other four prominent families owned residences, but their sizes weren’t particularly large. They seemed to be able to house only a few dozen individuals at most, which was just the right scale for a martial family.
However, as I approached the Iron Blood Gate, I saw that there were hundreds of low-ranking disciples milling about, bustling around like a marketplace. The Great Sword Gate was not much different. This was truly astonishing; owning an estate spanning hundreds of zhang meant substantial wealth and implied that the sects had considerable influence. The masters of the Iron Blood Gate and the Great Sword Gate must be among the wealthiest in Luoyang.
‘It makes sense that the Huashan Sect or the Zhongnan Sect would have difficulty gaining a foothold in Luoyang…’
I could gauge why the Iron Blood Gate and the Great Sword Gate were so prosperous. The other four prominent families, comprising figures like Zhang, Xu, Li, and Han, were martial families formed on the basis of blood relations, making it hard for them to accept disciples from outside. While they might bring in disciples as students, expanding the size of their sect would be challenging. If they exposed their unique martial arts too carelessly, the repercussions of betrayal could be severe.
On the other hand, the Iron Blood Gate and the Great Sword Gate aimed to grow their influence centered around their sect leaders, allowing them to expand without restrictions. They were also actively recruiting disciples by using lower-tier martial arts as bait to promote their higher-tier techniques, much like fishing. Furthermore, with the Twin Gate Sect currently holding sway over the martial world in Luoyang, it was only natural for talented individuals from the area to flock there like bees.
I suddenly realized how absurd my ambitions were. Just how high must the skill levels of the experts in such major sects be? It would be impossible for them to lead hundreds of disciples without difficulty, and they would easily repel any interference from the Eight Great Families. It was certainly clear that these experts would be well beyond the capabilities of someone like me.
But I shook my head.
‘Don’t think too negatively. It’s not about defeating the leaders of the Iron Blood Gate or the Great Sword Gate. I simply want to find opportunities to spar with martial artists of a similar level to hone my skills.’
After completing my exploration for the day, I returned to the inn and quietly practiced the Thunder Dragon Circulation. After a long time, I was finally about to run the Great Focus, which made me a bit nervous. Until now, I had only engaged in the minor circulation, which didn’t require intense concentration or the vitality of internal energy.
Unlike the minor circulation, the Great Focus was a practice that increased the absolute value of my internal energy and spread it through the meridians. Performing the Great Focus required deep focus, and I couldn’t carelessly engage in this practice, as any ambush during such a state would result in serious injury regardless of the opponent’s skill level.
I felt a sensation as if my internal elixir was boiling in a golden glow. Following the energy of the Great Focus, I sent a surge of strength up to the crown of my head and back down, experiencing a pulling sensation on my skin and a stirring of energy near my heart. I focused intently for a while, gathering the massive energy until, eventually, after a considerable time, the energy crashed down into my dantian like a bolt of lightning.
Boom!
A heavy shock surged throughout my body. However, there was no pain, and I instinctively understood that a significant portion of my previously blocked meridians had been cleared. I couldn’t stop practicing, as I felt progress each day.
‘What level is my internal energy at now?’
Mang Yang had once told me that, based on his observations, my internal energy might rival that of a sect leader from the Eight Great Families. However, since he was just an ordinary person without any particular martial arts training, he expressed uncertainty about accurately gauging my level. In the end, only martial artists at a similar level could provide a true measure of one’s abilities.
With my eyes closed, I contemplated.
‘The first challenge shouldn’t be the Four Families; I must challenge the Twin Doors first.’
My reasoning was a bit complex.
If I were to first challenge one of the Zhang, Xu, Li, or Han Four Great Families and win, they were highly sensitive to honor and would likely employ schemes to cover up the defeat. Moreover, since my opponent would be a family member, the grudge of losing could be even greater considering their blood ties. Additionally, since they were a family with fewer masters, the skill disparity could be significant, heightening the chances of encountering a top expert that I could not contend with in my current inexperienced state.
However, the Twin Doors were different. Given their larger number, their skill levels were likely distributed more evenly, and being a coalition formed primarily for profit, the disciples there seemed to maintain a degree of neutrality. Though honor-sensitive as well, with greater numbers, it was quite possible for them to label a fallen opponent as a ‘loser’ should someone meet defeat. While there were potential consequences to consider, I was inclined to pit myself against the Twin Doors first.
Of course, these were all just thoughts swirling in my mind. Once I stepped into a real fight, no one could predict what the situation might entail. I momentarily suppressed the flood of distractions and resumed my practice of the Thunder Dragon Circulation. Now that I had begun walking the path of martial arts, there was a burning desire within me to win, no matter what.
The next day, I got up early in the morning, steeling my resolve. I made my way to the front signboard of the Iron Blood Gate, a prestigious school known for producing the most martial officials in Luoyang. Since I had arrived before dawn, two disciples of the Iron Blood Gate were half-asleep, standing guard in front of the entrance.
“Who are you?” one of them asked.
I replied matter-of-factly, “I am Baek Woong. I have come to challenge the Iron Blood Gate to a sparring match.”
“… Sparring? Hehe, this is new…” The two disciples exchanged puzzled glances, looking incredulous. Then one of them grinned and said, “You’re not the first fool I’ve seen. You really seem to have made a stupid choice. Do you know how many wandering warriors have come to provoke the Iron Blood Gate only to end up humiliated?”
“Whether you accept the challenge or not is up to you,” I retorted fiercely, causing the disciple’s expression to stiffen slightly. He then turned to head inside, saying, “Fine. Wait a moment. We will follow the proper procedures for a match.”
“Waiting,” I replied.
Hearing my response, one of the Iron Blood Gate disciples scoffed at me with a gruff voice. “Don’t pretend to be strong. You’ll just end up getting beaten to a pulp.”
Pretending to be strong. I thought there might be some truth to that. I was definitely more pumped and on edge than usual standing here. This was my first serious challenge as a martial artist, and it was natural to feel anxious. Realizing that if I remained tense like this, I might not be able to showcase my true abilities, I intentionally relaxed my expression and smiled.
“Haha.”
“……? Is he insane?”
“Hahahaha!!” I laughed regardless of whether he found it ridiculous. As I laughed heartily, my tension eased, my body’s muscles released, and I became more relaxed. Once I regained my composure, the internal energy bubbling within me flowed like a grand river, making my fists feel weighty.
Yes, there was no way I could lose easily. I hadn’t worked hard to reach this point for nothing. If I were to lose here, I might as well just die.
After a brief moment, an Iron Blood Gate disciple emerged and said, “Hey, come in. I’ll show you to the sparring area.”
I followed him towards the sparring arena. Indeed, the scale of the sect was immense, just as I had seen from the outside. The dormitories housed hundreds of disciples, and there were facilities for both sparring and physical training. Even more surprising was the sight of training grounds set up much like military drills. They were likely for those preparing for the martial exams.
After a short while, I was led into a large indoor sparring arena with a fragrant wooden floor. Even though I arrived before dawn, there were already masters present, along with lower-ranking disciples who had come to watch the match. The numerous pairs of eyes trained on me were quite pressure-inducing.
Hey – !!
Suddenly, the Iron Blood Gate disciples erupted in uproarious shouts. It sounded more like war cries than mere noise; it seemed intended to intimidate me. The sound echoed loudly within the wooden arena, and anyone with shallow cultivation would likely feel overwhelmed by their aura.
‘These bastards?’
However, I didn’t want to willingly enter this environment and be suppressed. Thus, I infused my internal energy and shouted back, “Uaaaa – !!!!!!!!!!!!”
The reverberation of my voice filled the space.
“Ugh?!”
“Cough!!” Suddenly, the wooden boards creaked all over as they shattered. A few of the shouting lower-ranking disciples from the Iron Blood Gate collapsed, spewing blood on the spot. The entire building trembled, and the doors flew open as if they were blown off their hinges.
Then, a man in white, seated opposite me, barked an order. “Halt!”
The clamor in the indoor arena subsided immediately. The master before me had nullified the overwhelming force of my Lion’s Roar with his own presence. Observing the fallen disciples with a grim expression, he turned to a nearby disciple and snapped, “Fools… Get those injured fellows treated quickly. And have all but the disciples of the fourth tier return to the dormitories!”
“Understood.”
“And summon the Sect Leader and Elders. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
I watched the senior disciples busily spring into action. As the injured ones were carried out and the lower-ranking disciples exited the hall, the space became considerably quieter. With fewer people around, it started to resemble an expansive training ground.
Once calm returned, the man in white spoke with a somewhat gloomy expression. “I apologize. Our disciples were impolite, trying to assess whether you were simply an unremarkable challenger. Please understand, Baek Woong.”
“Such things happen often. But are you my opponent then?”
“That’s right. I am Gyo Joon, the Sword Hall Master of the Iron Blood Gate.”
With that, he slowly lifted his feet off the ground, gradually standing up and taking a basic stance.
I also rose to my feet, holding my sword in a middle stance. I wasn’t entirely sure of Gyo Joon’s exact position within the Iron Blood Gate, but I could instinctively sense he was not merely a figurehead; he was a formidable expert. Not only had he nullified my Lion’s Roar, which I had attained through years of effort with the Thousand-Year Snow Silk, but he was also calmly controlling his emotions. The martial prowess radiating from him was at an exceptionally high level.
‘Damn it… What does this mean? Is it true that a lion spares no effort against a rabbit?’
I was somewhat taken aback, having expected to face a senior disciple at most. Yet the Sword Hall Master Gyo Joon appeared to be someone who could easily make a name for himself in the martial world. He scanned me with his clear, discerning eyes and spoke.
“Remarkable… Baek Woong, I have never seen someone with your level of internal energy before. To which sect do you belong, and at what stage are you?”
“I am self-taught. I have no master or the backing of any sect.”
Perhaps he could recognize the techniques of the Green Dragon Warrior, but for now, I denied it. It was better to bluff rather than admitting anything from the start. Unless someone from the Green Dragon Warrior confronted me directly, no one could use my origin against me.
Then, Gyo Joon, still holding his sword, made a thoughtful sound.
“Hmm… I can’t confidently say I can defeat you. However, I have no intention of bringing shame to my sect. Would you mind waiting a moment?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you wait a moment, an expert from the Iron Blood Gate who can adequately match you will arrive. You should fight someone on your level.”
What was that supposed to mean? I had been gearing up to have an intense battle with him, but now he was suggesting to back down. I instinctively felt his words were sincere, and realized he had seriously misjudged the situation. He thought that if we fought seriously, he would lose, which was why he called for the Sect Leader and Elders.
‘What? I haven’t even fully blended my internal energy with my skills yet…’
But I did not accept Gyo Joon’s request. Instead, I smiled coldly and replied, “Is the Iron Blood Gate known for being two-faced? Enough with the talk; accept my challenge.”
For some reason, I felt an unusual urgency. Although my sword was blunt, I sensed that if I was dragged along by Gyo Joon’s words, something unfavorable could happen. Therefore, I resolved to push forward with the match, even if it meant taking risks.
“Wha, what…?”
“I will begin the sparring.”
Kaang!
The next moment, my body charged forward at Gyo Joon. He seemed taken aback that I rushed him without a proper exchange of words, and he quickly deployed his sword technique. Even while wielding a dull blade, I executed the Thunder Dragon Sword Technique, slicing swiftly at him.
Gyo Joon’s swordsmanship was precise and agile. His stance was steadier than I anticipated, leading me to instinctively recognize him as at least a top-tier swordsman. Given that, I assumed it wouldn’t be decided quickly and attacked fervently.
Swish!
Ka-Kang!
“Ugh!”
As soon as our weapons clashed, Gyo Joon suddenly spat blood and was sent flying several feet away. Struggling to right himself, he soon lost strength in his legs and kneeled down again.
“F-Foul…”
“……”
Had we barely exchanged five moves? I was astonished and glanced at my sword, but the blade, though dull, showed no signs of breaking. In contrast, Gyo Joon’s sword had snapped in half and was embedded in the wall. This proved that my internal energy overwhelmingly surpassed Gyo Joon’s.
One of the Iron Blood Gate disciples standing nearby trembled in fear and shouted, “A-A monster! Did he really…?!”
What was going on? I too was bewildered, standing in shock at the scene unfolding.
Just then, a calm voice resonated near my ear from the entrance of the sparring hall. “Indeed, it seems we have a true challenger after a long time. Is it that kind of skill we see once in a decade?”
I turned around to look at the entrance. There stood a middle-aged man clad in fur, exuding an air of authority, accompanied by six warriors flanking him. The energy radiating from the middle-aged man was tangible even to my senses, and the six warriors, though not on that level, still emanated a significant aura.
Behind them, other individuals wielding swords like Gyo Joon followed, dressed similarly.
Upon their appearance, the disciples of the Iron Blood Gate erupted in cheers.
“Wow!!”
“The Sect Leader and Elders are here!!”
“The Hall Masters have all come!!”
“……”
I could only look on in despair.
‘Damn it…’
No way! Just as I feared, the leadership of the Iron Blood Gate, a top-tier entity in Luoyang’s martial world known as the Twin Gate Sect, had gathered here all at once.
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