When Chaejin opened her eyes while sitting cross-legged, the sun had risen.
Today was the day of her duel with Joo Yeryeong. And if she won against her, she’d get to face Hongryeon in a duel.
Of course, it wasn’t impossible for Hongryeon to lose to Sayoon. After all, there was no guarantee that the same thing wouldn’t happen as the last time when Sayoon defeated Myojae.
But the chances of that happening were very slim, which made Chaejin think Hongryeon would definitely make it to the finals.
That left only herself.
Could she actually defeat Joo Yeryeong?
Getting up from her spot, Chaejin grasped her sword.
In the backyard of the inn, which had become so familiar to her that it felt like Moonjeong’s training ground, she slowly swung her sword. Not too fast, not too slow.
Moonjeong’s martial arts emphasized balance.
The Moonlight Sword Technique said that when one perfected Extreme Joy and Internal Stillness, they could create a massive circular moon in the night sky.
She had already mastered Extreme Joy.
She was accepting Internal Stillness with his help.
So, achieving that balance was crucial.
Calmly, she swung her sword. Embracing the natural flow, she practiced her technique.
When she finished a session of the Moonlight Sword Technique, she noticed her sleepy eyes rubbing as Chae-ran peeked her head out of the inn’s window.
“Are you still awake?”
“I was just training.”
Chaejin lightly replied to her younger sister Chae-ran, who was eyeing her spot.
“Your Moonlight Sword Technique level has gone up. Did you learn something more from Dad?”
“I can’t say no, but I hope you won’t be jealous. You learn when I’m not around, right?”
“That’s true.”
Chae-ran, always aiming for the position of the Grand Disciple and wishing to be the heir, responded sulkily. Then she playfully jumped down and reached out. The dagger on the floor flew into her hand as if it were sucked into it.
“Shall we have a go then?”
With a relaxed smile, Chae-ran took her stance, and Chaejin shrugged her shoulders.
Dueling with Chae-ran.
She was a great warm-up partner for the duel later today.
After the morning duel ended, and she washed off her sweat, she came out to find Yu Wol standing in the backyard. With light breaths and leisurely movements of hands and feet.
Now, Chaejin couldn’t help but chuckle at how well Chae had taken to Tai Chi, imitating her teachings perfectly.
She thought about calling out to him but figured sometimes it was nice to just watch from a distance.
Chaejin took a quick glance at the decorative piece hanging from her sword. It was an ornament obtained from the hidden realm they had explored together.
It was a decorative piece.
They had decided to obtain a piece of the lamb together later.
She recalled the memories from that breathtaking place.
Balance. The place where one could learn about the balance of yin and yang valued mutual trust and wished for equilibrium.
And she succeeded in achieving that.
Thus, Chaejin stood there and moved her hands.
Though separated, her outstretched hands and feet, her moving body were transforming into a form that would face Yu Wol’s martial arts.
Separated, yet ultimately close.
Adjusting to the rhythm of the martial arts demonstration, Chaejin, who calmly practiced Tai Chi, smiled brightly when his training ended.
Somehow, it felt like she had taken a step closer.
The first match of the semi-finals of the martial arts tournament was between Chaejin and Joo Yeryeong.
There wasn’t anything particularly special about it. Like every other match, all she had to do was face off against Joo Yeryeong.
At that moment, the only thing in her mind was the sparring from that morning with him.
Balance.
Balancing strength and weakness, balancing speed and slowness.
Thus, maintaining the middle path.
“It’s been a while since we got to fight like this, hasn’t it?”
Both Moonjeong and Cheonhwa Palace were orthodox sects, holding a position within the Murim Alliance.
As a result, there had been exchanges between the top disciples of those sects, so Joo Yeryeong threw in a word, and Chaejin slightly nodded.
“I used to win back in the day, right?”
“Um, yes.”
“Hehe. So you’re saying it’s time for a rematch…”
“No. How should I put it? Right now, such trivial matters aren’t important…”
“…What did you say?”
Standing on the martial arts stage, Joo Yeryeong frowned. Offended by her dismissive attitude, she tightened her grip on the whip, and Yoon-gak shouted fiercely.
“Begin!!”
With that shout, the whip began to dance. Dozens, hundreds of transformations, cutting through the air with extreme speed.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was ever-changing.
Facing this, Chaejin slowly pushed the Tao into the bag.
“Don’t treat it like a joke!!”
She wasn’t even trying to use any foot techniques. She simply stood there, with the Tao merely set into the bag.
At that moment, enraged, Joo Yeryeong yelled out.
Chaejin placed her hand on the Tao handle.
Balance. Harmony.
And naturalness.
According to the Tao Te Ching, being as natural as a baby is the way to achieve the Tao.
Then, what is natural?
Chaejin’s gaze shifted to one side.
The one who drew her eyes naturally.
And as she gazed at the opponent who naturally made her smile, Chaejin grinned.
Chaejin stared at her opponent, who effortlessly brought a smile to her face, and grinned back.
– Clank.
The moment her hand moved, the surrounding area began to be engulfed in darkness.
Her blade was summoning the night.
Before Joo Yeryeong could utter anything in surprise…
A moon rose in the darkness.
Though it wasn’t fully round, a half-white, cold moon loomed.
“Whoo…”
If we simply looked at the result, it was a victory for Chaejin. However, the defeated Joo Yeryeong was left in confusion.
“You… that thing earlier…”
“Oh. Ahahaha…”
Chaejin laughed awkwardly. She had merely expressed the naturalness through her Moonlight Sword technique. But it seemed she still lacked in some aspects.
“…Impressive.”
The people around might not have realized it, but Joo Yeryeong understood.
The initial move she had demonstrated was a process to cultivate her strength.
In other words, the woman in front of her was challenging the realm of superhumans.
Thinking she wasn’t quite there yet, Joo Yeryeong forced a smile.
“Certainly. A revenge match wasn’t the important thing. Hehe. Thank you for the good match.”
In what she had thought was just a preliminary round to gauge Hongryeon’s abilities,
She had gained quite a lot from this event she had seen as a neighborhood festival.
“Will you be attending the next tournament to observe, too?”
“Probably.”
“That’s great.”
Nodding her head, Joo Yeryeong descended with a light expression. As the first martial arts match concluded, Chaejin subtly gazed towards the spectator seats. Her eyes landed on Yu Wol.
Chaejin smiled brightly.
When she became aware that the most natural place for her was beside Yu Wol, the crescent moon began to fill up to a half-moon.
And what should she do for that moon to become full?
As her gaze towards Yu Wol grew stronger, Hongryeon passed by her calmly and remarked.
“Not bad.”
“…I’ve always been not bad.”
Snorting in response, Hongryeon ascended to the martial arts stage. Following her was Sayoon, who slightly bowed her head towards Chaejin.
“Give it your all!”
“Hahaha… That seems a bit difficult.”
Even if she’s been growing rapidly lately, Hongryeon was still something else. Sayoon smiled awkwardly in reply, and once the martial arts event was completely over, Chaejin headed toward the audience.
Observing this, Hongryeon lightly grasped her great sword.
Seated in the audience was Yu Wol.
On either side of them sat the Sword Saint and Chaejin.
The Sword Saint and Chaejin were sitting next to each other.
The Sword Saint was pretending not to notice as she leaned her arm against his, while Chaejin held his hand up high, as if asking for compliments.
“Uuuuumm…!!”
“Senior Sister?”
“…Yeah.”
Hongryeon smiled lightly at Sayoon, who walked up unarmed.
“Start!!”
With Yoon-gak’s shout, Hongryeon lightly grabbed her great sword and pointed it.
“You know, right?”
Same sect, top disciple and the newbie.
But in this duel, one would only be a martial artist.
So, as a senior, it’s only natural to give three seconds.
Hongryeon smiled leisurely.
“I’ll give you three seconds.”
“Sayoon!! Knock her down!! Smash her to bits!!”
Myojae, who had lost after giving three seconds last time, was shouting from the audience with a drink in one hand and a skewer in the other, looking like she was having a great time.
Hongryeon chuckled at her and turned her gaze to Sayoon.
“Don’t hold back, just go for it.”
“Yes!!”
Sayoon shouted loudly, preparing her strongest technique available. The Light of the Radiant Sun.
No mercy from the Senior Sister!
But that made her even happier. If an opportunity arises, it’s natural to seize it!
Even if it were her.
So, Hongryeon smiled broadly at Sayoon, who was charging forward with great power.
Hongseong Divine Art is a powerful martial art. The kind that can destroy anything and erase everything.
It’s distinctly different from Moonjeong’s emphasis on balance and softness.
If it were Chaejin, she’d have deflected that attack with Taijiquan or another technique from the Moonlight Sword.
But…
Hongseong Divine Art is different.
Hongryeon revealed this and swung her great sword widely.
-BAM!!
She met Sayoon’s technique head-on.
“…Hooah…”
In the clash of strength, it was Sayoon who got knocked back. Hongryeon smiled at her and thrust her great sword down.
“It’s the defensive technique from the Hongseong Divine Art’s great sword method, the Defending Wall. You can learn it later when you get the hang of the great sword technique, right? Now, show me everything you’ve got.”
Sayoon nodded at her confident response and gripped her sword tightly.
“Okay…! Then I’ll do it again!!”
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