0059 : Demon Subduing Hall
Step step
Jin So-cheong led the way as I followed behind her, ascending the building of the Zhongnan Sect. Despite her frantic assault on the White-Clad Swordsman, my Older Sister seemed undeterred, as if she had a clear sense of direction toward the Sparring Hall.
“Hyahh! Urgh.”
Disciples of the Zhongnan Sect sprang out from various corners, launching their swords at us, but my Older Sister remained largely stationary, effortlessly knocking them out in a single strike, almost like using the Shadowless Fist. Her hands moved with incredible speed—this was undoubtedly a prominent martial art that I could not even begin to emulate at my current level.
‘Thunder Cloud Fist, Thunder Cloud Soft Fist. Which of the two martial techniques taught in the Thunder Spirit Sect is she utilizing?’
I observed my Older Sister’s divine might, hoping to absorb even a fraction of her prowess, but it was difficult to discern. The martial techniques taught in the Thunder Spirit Sect were generally classified into hard and soft styles, yet her movements transcended these classifications. Of course, regardless of which style one learned, mastering the Thunder Cloud Palm was essential, but my Older Sister’s martial art exuded the free spirit of a true master.
“This little brat!!”
Every now and then, one or two disciples targeted me, swinging their swords. I glanced at them, contemplating replicating their attempts.
‘So, I should perform the dismissive strike like this…’
Trying to mimic the swift delivery of force with my fist, I applied a hint of energy to my strike.
Bang!
“Ahhh!”
“Mother—!!”
Suddenly, with a thunderous roar, screams rang out. Although I had halted my punch before contact, the pressure emanating from my fist sent three Zhongnan Sect disciples soaring through the air. Realizing that had I not stopped, they would have been reduced to mere pieces of flesh under my control left me quite startled.
“Ugh…”
I was slightly flustered. When did my strikes gain such overwhelming power?
My Older Sister, who was ahead, remarked, displaying both rage and some semblance of calm amidst her destruction,
“You’re still not at the stage of the Thunder God Fist, so be cautious. If you recklessly use the magnificent power of your martial arts now, it could lead to real fatalities.”
“Thunder God Fist?”
“Indeed. You may not have heard of it yet, but once you master both the Thunder Cloud Fist and the Thunder Cloud Soft Fist to a certain level, you gain access to the Thunder God Fist. At that point, you will achieve complete control over your energy, enabling you to engage in more delicate combat.”
The Thunder God Fist!
A new martial technique!
“You bastards! How dare you invade our main hall and chatter on?!”
Swoosh!
Just as I found her explanation intriguing, a figure suddenly swooped down in front of the building. Appearing to be a highly-ranking disciple of the Zhongnan Sect, he seemed quite formidable. In terms of breathing techniques, he was likely among the upper echelon of first-rate warriors, teetering on the brink of peak prowess. As he unleashed the Thirty-Six Heavenly River Sword Form with full force, it resembled droplets of lethal sword energy.
Swish!
However, Jin So-cheong, in that brief moment, skillfully executed the secret technique of the Thunder Shadow Step, Heavenly Pillar Kill. In barely seven steps, she deftly evaded all the oncoming sword energy. She then swiftly twisted the arm of the elite disciple of the Zhongnan Sect, forcing him to kneel helplessly on the ground.
Thud!
“Gaaaah…”
I was left speechless. His skill was such that he could claim to be among the top in the world of martial arts, yet he was subdued so easily? I might be able to defeat him, but I certainly couldn’t do it so cleanly or effortlessly.
“Of course, as you can see, mastering the secrets of the Thunder Shadow Step is essential for entering the Thunder God Fist. The hands and feet must always complement one another.”
So that’s how it is. From Jin So-cheong’s gracious explanation, I now understood the process I needed to follow to master my martial arts. While Lee Gwang only demanded that I replicate what he was demonstrating without providing explanations, this advice felt invaluable.
“Y-you scoundrels… the Elders will surely take revenge!”
In response, Jin So-cheong just smirked, her smile exuding no hint of fear.
“Really?”
The grip tightened in Jin So-cheong’s hand. As the disciple from the Zhongnan Sect realized what she was about to do, he screamed.
“W-wait, stop!”
Then, she forcefully raised his bent arm and hurled him towards the building that I guessed was the Sparring Hall. The force was so tremendous that it shattered the air as he flew.
Boom!
His body crashed through the door like a human cannonball, going far beyond that, embedding himself deep within the interior of the building. Watching Jin So-cheong’s no-nonsense demolition left me in shock, speechless. Her claim of wanting to “have some fun” was neither an exaggeration nor mere bravado—it was true.
Step step…
We entered the spacious hall of the Sparring Hall. There lay the Zhongnan Sect disciple, turned human cannonball, sprawled and unconscious in the center, while around ten skilled masters sat in meditation, quietly observing us—the intruders—despite the chaos outside.
But the moment I locked eyes with them, a chilling killing intent washed over me, something I felt not just with words but through my skin.
‘True peak masters! They’re strong!’
The members I had encountered outside were merely at the level of first-rate warriors barely crossing into peak mastery. However, the middle-aged elders sitting here exuded a potent aura reminiscent of the elders of the Iron Blood Sect. Each of them was a genuine master deserving of respect in the martial world.
Jin So-cheong seemed to sense this as well; she paused for a moment to observe them.
The elderly man sitting in the center, with his deep-set eyes, gazed at Jin So-cheong and spoke. His martial energy was so formidable that it was clear he was on a vastly different level from the rabble outside.
“I have heard of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. I am well aware of its reputation. However, it seems the lower ones have foolishly acted out of impulsiveness and made a blunder against you. We had asked to welcome you properly…”
My Older Sister replied flatly,
“Whether you seek to appease yourselves or not, I have come today to take down the plaque of the Zhongnan Sect.”
“Hahaha… As a disciple of the Azure Dragon, you have the privilege to make such a statement. However, we are not yet prepared to wager our lives in combat.”
Saying this, the elderly peak swordsman slowly rose from his seat.
“If the ten elders of the Zhongnan Sect here take action, it may be possible to take your life, but it would undoubtedly bring the wrath of the Azure Dragon upon us. With our matters with the Hwasan Sect and the Huangshan Sect unresolved, that would be far too risky.”
The Ten Elders of the Zhongnan Sect!
They were indeed the ten peak masters whom the Zhongnan Sect proudly boasted in the martial world. With over a dozen such masters, it was no wonder the Zhongnan Sect was referred to as a major sect. I could feel the sweat trickling down my back; I had never anticipated facing off against the Ten Elders, a situation I had not even dreamed of while climbing this mountain.
He unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Jin So-cheong, declaring,
“Let’s do this: we will engage in martial arts, as you initially demanded, and depending on the outcome, we will decide the fate of the plaque. However, if you lose, you will have to comply with our demands.”
“……!!”
I sensed that things were spiraling out of control. Given the chilling intent that had been amassed just moments ago, it was clear that the Ten Elders of the Zhongnan Sect were indeed furious with Jin So-cheong and me. I thought I was bound to die under the combined efforts of ten peak masters.
Yet, in the midst of that, they were making quite a significant concession, weren’t they? Normally, in these kinds of sects, when their disciples had been utterly defeated and their halls destroyed, the usual course of action would be a desperate battle to the death against the intruders. Even more so for the Zhongnan Sect, a major sect, to intentionally extend such a concession was puzzling.
‘Something feels off. Is the Zhongnan Sect afraid?’
Jin So-cheong replied,
“Very well. What is your demand?”
“If you lose, you must become a disciple of our Zhongnan Sect. For life.”
“……”
“Why is that? There’s nothing wrong with it, is there?”
The elder remained relaxed, yet Jin So-cheong shot back firmly,
“You intend to bring shame upon my master by accepting us as lowly disciples.”
That elder, appearing like a wily old raccoon, burst into laughter.
“Hahaha… While fighting you head-on is a daunting task, there’s no way to deal with the humiliation of having a disciple snatched away. Isn’t that right?”
“That’s not a very good suggestion. I have nothing to learn from the likes of the Zhongnan Sect.”
Crackle!
At that moment, the atmosphere in the hall grew dense. Jin So-cheong’s words had seemingly provoked the Ten Elders, intensifying the killing intent that emanated from them. For someone below the second-rate level, just standing here might send them spiraling into madness. However, Jin So-cheong remained unfazed and replied,
“… But I will accept. How do you plan to conduct this duel?”
“It’s simple. Best of three matches. The first to win two out of three will be the victor. You may send out your little apprentice, or you can fight consecutively yourself.”
“Understood.”
“I will need some time to prepare, so let’s start in half a joss stick’s time. Wait right here.”
With that, the Ten Elders stepped outside. They likely needed time to collect their fallen disciples and assess the situation. My Older Sister and I found ourselves sitting alone in the Sparring Hall, waiting for them to return. One of the Zhongnan Sect disciples brought us some warm tea, but I didn’t even glance at it and turned to Jin So-cheong instead.
“Sister, what are you thinking? This is madness.”
“What do you mean?”
“A master recognized by the Zhongnan Sect is indeed formidable… How could we…”
I found it hard to continue. The obsession that martial artists held regarding their reputation was deep, evident from the Iron Blood Sect even sending an elder after the defeat to avoid disgrace. How much less so for a duel involving the plaque of a major sect! Whoever represented them would undoubtedly be among the top three masters in the Zhongnan Sect.
My Older Sister grinned and said,
“Just win. That’s the law of the martial world.”
“That may be true, but it’s quite difficult.”
“Yet, it seems my apprentice doesn’t appear too frightened. Someone else would be trembling in fear, but your eyes reflect more annoyance than fear.”
“……”
“That’s precisely what makes you my disciple.”
Seeing Jin So-cheong’s contented expression, I found myself at a loss for words. To be honest, I wasn’t particularly scared either. I was confident I could shake off any attacks from the Zhongnan Sect masters with my substantial internal energy. My only worry was how this entanglement in this life might hinder my martial training.
“Since it’s a best of three matches, it would be better if you go out first.”
“Wha-?!”
“Do you still not understand?”
Jin So-cheong leaned back against the wall casually and continued,
“This duel has been planned from the beginning to increase your practical experience. You tend to improve more from actual combat rather than just training; facing the masters of the Zhongnan Sect will allow you to grow more rapidly.”
Only then did I realize the absurd reasoning behind this direct challenge to a major sect. The otherwise aloof and indifferent Baek Ung had become annoyed with my slow progress and decided to push me into intensive training in the guise of a duel. He had probably figured out my talent for practical combat and aimed to provide me with firsthand battle experience alongside the transfer of techniques.
“Though, that does involve putting up the plaque…”
“That will be taken down. Those Zhongnan Sect people are too arrogant.”
“……”
“Regardless, keep a calm mind. This should be an easy task by my standards.”
What kind of difficulty could it possibly be?
I was curious but didn’t feel inclined to ask. If I were to go out first in this best-of-three match, it was clear my opponent would undoubtedly be a peak master. Moreover, it would be a Zhongnan Sect peak master likely eager to make a statement with the duel, ready to injure my limbs under the pretext of combat. I shook my head.
“Ugh… The road ahead is long.”
“Don’t worry. You can do it.”
“No, I’m not particularly keen on it.”
Jin So-cheong smiled broadly. There was an unspoken pressure in her expression.
“But you have to! Hahaha.”
“Hahahahaha…”
At this point, there was no way around it.
Since I had resolved to train with my life on the line, I might as well make the most of this opportunity for practical experience, even if it tangled things up in this reincarnation. Memories of when I was executed in the Iron Blood Sect made me reluctant about this duel, but I steeled my mind.
Then, exactly half a joss stick later, the Ten Elders of the Zhongnan Sect came rushing in. They formally performed the sword ceremony, a gesture of respect for the duel. In unison, they spoke,
“We will contend honorably, for the honor of Zhongnan.”
Jin So-cheong also stood to face them, not wanting to lose. I found myself awkwardly mirroring her stance.
“For the honor of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School, we will contend honorably.”
Swoosh—
The clash of energy filled the air and neutralized the tension. The Ten Elders had attempted to overwhelm Jin So-cheong with their aura, but my energy unexpectedly interfered, leaving them visibly surprised. A ten-year-old child releasing this level of power would be hard for them to fathom.
One of the Ten Elders stepped forward confidently.
“I am Jin Su, an Elder of the Zhongnan Sect! I will engage in the first match.”
He appeared formidable at first glance. With a clear visage and a well-trained physique, the distinctive aura of a peak swordsman emanated from him. I had no doubt he could rival the esteemed Ghost Shadow Swordsman Jin Pyeong of the Iron Blood Sect. Although the sect leader had once asserted that the ghost swordsman’s skills surpass those of the Zhongnan Sect elders, the objectivity of that claim remained uncertain.
Elder Jin Su regarded Jin So-cheong with heavy eyes and spoke,
“Your skills are indeed extraordinary for your age. However, I shall give it my all.”
Jin So-cheong shook her head.
“You are not facing me.”
“What?”
“My disciple will face you.”
With that, I was pulled forward onto the sparring ground. Not only the Ten Elders of the Zhongnan Sect but also several relatively intact disciples were watching, and every pair of eyes held a look of astonishment.
Murmurs filled the air.
I felt irritated at their gazes as I confidently faced Elder Jin Su from a short distance.
“I am Baek Ung, disciple of the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School. I will engage in the first match.”
“……”
Elder Jin Su’s face flushed red and pale. Unable to comprehend the situation, he burst out angrily.
“What is this nonsense?! Are they really putting a little brat like this against me?!”
Without saying much, Jin So-cheong gestured towards me. I nodded and quietly drew my sword. Elder Jin Su felt the surge of my fighting spirit and quickly assumed his stance, to which I whispered,
“Does it look like a joke? If so, think that way.”
“……”
Boom!
I raised my sword in a middle stance, channeling my internal energy to the extreme. Instantly, lightning-like energy enveloped my sword, and the sparring arena began to shake violently. My internal energy influenced the air, causing it to rise like mirage. Elder Jin Su hurriedly drew up his sword intent to meet me, but as my aura surged, his eyes widened in shock.
“W-what is happening…?”
Despite taking a firm stance, he was pushed back, staggering three steps before desperately trying to focus. Confusion and despair flickered across his face as he realized the incomprehensible magnitude of my internal strength.
I swung my sword and unleashed the lightning-like energy.
Boom!!
The path of the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique flashed like a lightning bolt, shattering everything in the vicinity. Elder Jin Su rushed to execute the sword techniques of the Zhongnan Sect to block it, but that was a foolish choice. My swordplay was more than sufficient to cover any vulnerabilities, rendering his mediocre skills inadequate for defense.
Crash!
A heavy impact reverberated in front of Elder Jin Su as his body floated into the air. As he flew back two spans, I charged at him again with the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique. He gritted his teeth and unleashed his peak sword intent.
Clash! Clash!
“Ugh!”
A torrent of sword flames crashed down upon me like a torrential downpour. I furrowed my brow and tried to deflect the changes in his attacks with continuous techniques of the Thunder Shadow Sword, but as expected from an elder of the Zhongnan Sect, my efforts did have their limits. Instead, I decided to press on with brute force and executed the Three Lotus Slash.
Boom!
A resounding explosion echoed through the air. With the intent to go all out, I thrust my sword, prompting Elder Jin Su to defend himself, which was precisely what I intended. With every defense he made, his complexion visibly deteriorated as if his energy was seeping away. The sword light illuminated the sparring area, creating shockwaves that erupted with each clash, causing the Zhongnan Sect disciples watching to scream.
“Ahhh!”
“No, run away!”
The ordinary disciples panicked, stepping back, fearing the walls might collapse around them, as my massive lightning-like energy shattered everything in sight. Amidst the flashing blades, only Elder Jin Su remained, desperately resisting with all his strength.
In an instant, 50 seconds passed. Elder Jin Su occasionally attempted to counterattack with his exquisite sword artistry, but it was laughable compared to the dazzling techniques I had witnessed during my sparring with Baek Ung. I read his weaknesses and meticulously forced him into situations where he had no option but to defend.
The difference in our internal energies was at least 20 times. With each strike I delivered, if Elder Jin Su did not defend with everything he had, he would be obliterated instantly.
Then, I seized the perfect opportunity and swung my sword down heavily in a spin.
Boom!
“Ahhh…”
Elder Jin Su, ultimately trying to evade my final blow, was unexpectedly caught off guard and bounced away. Although he likely used his energy to cushion the impact, rendering him without serious injury, it was evident he had lost consciousness. I approached to confirm and sheathed my sword.
Clang!
“One victory.”
With this, I was certain of my capability.
Now I knew I could hold my ground even against a peak master.
—————————= Author’s Notes —————————=
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