Book 21 Chapter 14

Isn't this a bit difficult?

- Aftermath of the Clash

'The time has finally come!'

Maharyeong briefly turned her gaze to look at Yongcheonmyung, who was preparing for a sparring match surrounded by followers from the Nine Great Sects on the other side. Of course, followers, including the Eight Great Families, were also gathered around her.

However, at this moment, origin didn't matter. The Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families meant nothing to her.

She simply wanted to test her own skills.

'I will make sure that man, Yongcheonmyung, knows who I, Maharyeong, am!'

She was determined to win. She would show him how naive he was to think he could get away with crushing a girl's heart!

She didn't intend to dwell on the past forever, but she felt that a little revenge for past rudeness would be good for her mental health.

Preparations were complete. The two stood facing each other, weapons in hand. Maharyeong spoke first.

"Finally, a chance to test our skills, barely!"

"Indeed."

The two had never directly clashed swords before. Sparring was impossible at Cheonmu Academy due to subtle power struggles. Whoever won would have escalated the conflict, causing turmoil throughout the entire academy. But here, at Macheon Pavilion… the aftermath could be managed, and they could deal with it later. Maharyeong was determined not to miss this opportunity.

"Please give it your all. If you go easy on me because I'm a woman, I'll despise you for the rest of my life."

She made it clear before they started.

"Of course. I know well that you are not an opponent to be trifled with by being held back."

His answer was sincere.

"Then, that's good. I will also give it my all."

"I look forward to it."

Yongcheonmyung drew his sword. It was the sect's treasured weapon, the Green Jade Tathagata Sword.

Screech!

A sleek saber, glowing with a white light, was drawn from Maharyeong's waist.

"I've never seen that saber before."

It was a single-edged saber, long and slender, yet it somehow felt weighty. He had known Maharyeong for a long time, but he had never seen such a saber. She hadn't been wearing it on their way to Macheon Pavilion.

"It's a saber I received from my maternal grandfather. He prepared it for me."

"The Sect Master…"

He had personally witnessed her receiving instruction in saber techniques from the Sect Master throughout the past winter. He too could not forget the look in her eyes that he saw then, eyes burning with resolve.

"Hoho, it is an honor to see saber techniques directly taught by the Sect Master."

His words were genuinely sincere.

"Don't worry. I'm curious to see how much you've progressed, Young Master Yong. Have you overcome your slump? You won't disappoint me, will you?"

There were widespread rumors that he had fallen into a deep slump after the Huashan Branch incident.

"Fortunately, through fate, I found a clue. You will be able to confirm the results shortly."

He hadn't been just staring at a wall for show.

"Hoho, that's quite interesting."

Maharyeong's eyes sparkled. She seemed eager to test him immediately.

"Please begin!"

Yongcheonmyung beckoned with his sword.

"Then I won't refuse!"

Sword and saber clashed.

Amidst the intense collision of souls, brilliant sparks flew.

A clash of dragons and tigers!

A fierce duel, sparks flying. Yongcheonmyung and Maharyeong were evenly matched, and the outcome was not easily determined.

"As expected, both of you, leaders of the two major organizations, have incredible skills!"

Nayelin exclaimed in admiration as she watched Yongcheonmyung and Maharyeong spar. Yongcheonmyung's sword possessed a gentle yet powerful force, while Maharyeong's saber was fast and sharp.

"They are certainly formidable. But you said you finally had a chance to spar, yet it looks like you've sparred many times before?"

It looked as though they were engaging in a pre-arranged sparring match, as if they already knew what moves the opponent would use. Such a fluid exchange of blows is only possible if one knows the opponent's tactics, strengths, weaknesses, and habits.

Yeonbi suddenly recalled a scene where rough men, reunited after a long time, would flex their muscles and punch each other in the face as a form of greeting.

"At this level, it's less a spar and more like a conversation. A 'fist conversation' between men, so to speak… well, for those who aren't very eloquent."

Nayelin nodded seriously, as if recalling a similar scene.

"I think I understand. Perhaps it's an action to hide their embarrassment."

While such conversations were taking place, unbeknownst to Maharyeong, the duel continued on a parallel track.

"Heh. It will become difficult to maintain this smooth exchange if new moves start appearing, won't it? There haven't been any openings so far, but that person is frustratingly textbook."

"It's the swordplay befitting Young Master Yong."

Yeonbi clicked her tongue at Nayelin's matter-of-fact evaluation.

"Still, he seems to want to break free from the mold… but his body isn't keeping up, so an opening will appear soon."

Yeonbi's insight was accurate. Yongcheonmyung still harbored the shadow of the slump that had plagued him for some time. He had escaped the slump, but perhaps he hadn't fully grasped the answer to his doubts. He was still unable to overcome the barrier.

He was somewhat aware of his own shortcomings. The wall blocking his path to the next stage was his overly conventional attacks. It was a weakness born from the shadow of his desire to inherit the profound traditions of Shaolin and become a great successor. His will to inherit traditions was so strong that he resisted changing the old ways.

Although he had reached his current position by accurately mastering the transmitted secret techniques, progressing further was impossible. Even though he knew intellectually that he had to surpass the existing, his body, trained for nearly twenty years, did not easily obey his mind. It was a primal resistance.

Habitual movements disguised as tradition, senses bound by resistance to change. He should have been able to "slay Buddha when meeting Buddha, and slay Bodhidharma when meeting Bodhidharma," but instead, he was paralyzed by awe, unable to even lift his head, let alone swing his sword.

As the thirteen stances of the Daruma Thirteen Swords cycled for the third time like a treadmill, an opening finally appeared. The unchanging speed, unchanging power, and unchanging variations created a fatal flaw.

'It's an opportunity!'

Maharyeong did not miss the moment and thrust her saber towards the opening.

"Hah!"

Using the Flowing Impermanent Saber Technique would require immense internal energy, so she couldn't use that skill. Instead, she learned a technique suited to her current body.

"It seems to me, old man, that this stance would suit you."

"This one?"

"Yes. It will be an unexpected strike that no one would anticipate. I guarantee it, old man, so just watch. You'll see how your perceived weaknesses instantly turn into strengths!"

Flowing Impermanent Saber Technique (漂流無常刀法).

Collapse Technique (崩訣).

One Saber Roar (一刀轟) Mountain Collapse (太山崩).

Maharyeong raised her saber high with both hands. The hilt of her single-edged saber was much longer than that of a regular saber. It was designed to be used with both hands. She brought the saber she had raised above her head down with all her might, channeling all her strength into it.

Whoosh!

A terrifying sound of the wind tearing apart pierced Yongcheonmyung's ears. It was a strike with the force to shatter a mountain.

'This is dangerous!'

But the sword was too fast to dodge. He was barely able to block it.

Clang!

"Gasp!"

Yongcheonmyung cried out in shock from the pressure that felt like his wrist was about to break. It was a force strong enough that it wouldn't be surprising if the peerless sword, the Green Jade Tathagata Sword, had snapped in two. His feet, barely supporting Maharyeong's saber, sank deep into the ground.

Her single strike was incredibly heavy.

The shockwaves of the collision turned into dust, obscuring the surroundings for a long time. It was a powerful strike that threatened to bring down the entire training ground. The destructive power was hard to believe it came from a woman. Her single strike was a pure condensation of power, with no trickery involved.

Maharyeong's body, though slender due to the maximum compression of muscles through the Sky-Reaching Yoga Divine Art, had not lost its mass. Even the most extraordinary divine art couldn't make something nonexistent.

The dormant immense mass, escaping the gaps in the compressed space, met speed and became a powerful destructive force that was fully channeled into her saber. An amplified force, multiplied several times over, descended upon Yongcheonmyung. How could even a genius not be overwhelmed? The fact that his wrist wasn't broken was proof of his extraordinary nature.

The outcome was already decided.

"Whew…"

Yongcheonmyung sighed, tending to his numb wrist. Fortunately, he had managed to disperse the immense force in Maharyeong's strike, otherwise his sword might have broken. He was immensely relieved not to become a sinner for breaking his sect's treasure.

Then again, it was the Green Jade Tathagata Sword, a peerless sword, that allowed him to block the immense force. Had it been an ordinary sword, the outcome would not have been so simple.

"I lost…"

Yongcheonmyung conceded readily. The crowd stirred. Half in shock, the other half in cheers.

"How does it feel to be defeated by someone you used to mock?"

Maharyeong asked with a triumphant look.

"…Is this karma?"

Maharyeong's gaze cooled as she looked at Yongcheonmyung, who had fallen to one knee.

"What do you mean?"

Yongcheonmyung raised his head, his face full of bewilderment.

"You don't remember? What you said to me before?"

Her voice was indignant.

"This is the first I've heard of it…"

Yongcheonmyung replied, flustered.

"Tsk tsk, men. I thought Young Master Yong was different, but I'm disappointed. To have pierced a maiden's heart and completely forgotten it! Do you really not remember calling me fat when we were young?"

Maharyeong's anger flared. Why didn't he understand that even a carelessly spoken word could cause great pain? Lack of malicious intent was no excuse, especially from the victim's perspective.

"You're still holding onto those words?"

Yongcheonmyung's eyes widened, finally understanding the situation.

"Of course! Such wounds don't disappear even after a lifetime!"

Her cry was even more enraged. Why were men so short-sighted!

"I am truly sorry. I apologize wholeheartedly that my thoughtless words wounded your heart."

"You must also retract that cruel remark!"

Her face still showed anger.

"Of course. I retract all of my childish remarks from back then. Haryeong, you are more beautiful than anyone else."

Blush!

The last remark was a sudden ambush. Maharyeong's face instantly turned red from the unexpected attack launched by the defeated party.

"A-are you teasing me now, Young Master Yong?"

Maharyeong exclaimed, indignant. Given their past relationship, she had never dreamed of hearing such words from him. It was truly an unexpected development.

"How could I? I'm serious."

He replied in a firm tone, befitting a Shaolin disciple. Maharyeong didn't know what to do.

"Why are you acting like this?"

Yongcheonmyung asked again, his face filled with confusion. Having lived at Shaolin Temple since childhood, he was more monk than man, even if he didn't shave his head. When it came to women's hearts, he was less than a novice swordsman.

"I don't know!"

Overwhelmed by embarrassment, Maharyeong unknowingly yelled and thrust her palm towards Yongcheonmyung's chest.

Thwack!

"Ugh!"

Perhaps due to the influence of the Flowing Impermanent Saber Technique, her unconsciously full-force strike unleashed immense power, sending Yongcheonmyung flying three *zhang* away in an instant.

Crash!

A terrifying roar erupted. Some people, unable to bear watching the gruesome spectacle, closed their eyes and turned away.

"Is he dead?"

Nayelin asked, her gaze still fixed on the scene of the disaster.

Hiss!

Yeonbi replied, looking at the thick dust still rising from the wall where Yongcheonmyung had collided.

"Probably."

"Am I the only one left now?"

While facing Yongcheonmyung or Maharyeong would have sent most people into despair, Namgung Sang was different. He had already experienced countless hellish sparring matches with monstrous individuals. Although they had agreed on favorable conditions beforehand, he had even defeated Jin Soryeong, the Amita Nun, one of the Five Divine Swordsmen of the Heavens. Compared to the Amita Nun, Maharyeong was still a novice.

He had met Yeomdo, Binggeom, Jin Soryeong, and then… his elder disciple, Biryu. Now, he knew that there was a heaven beyond the heavens. He knew that Cheonmu Academy was not the entirety of the world. The society he was about to step into was far wider, stricter, more ruthless, and more arduous than the current world. Thanks to Mr. Bi, he had been able to taste a bit of the heaven beyond the heavens. That taste was incredibly bitter and sharp.

From his perspective, Yongcheonmyung and Maharyeong, though exceptional, were not to the point of awe. Even within his knowledge, there were more than enough monsters who surpassed them to count on ten fingers. He now knew for certain that the ranking battles within the academy were meaningless. It was far more beneficial to invest in more productive self-training than to waste his mind and body on such trivial competition.

For this reason, Namgung Sang thought.

'Huh, then it's doable?'

There was no reason he couldn't do it. Their greatness was a thing of the past. While he might have been hesitant before going to the nightmarish training camp in Mount Amita a few years ago, he was different now. He had even had a chance to spar with Yongcheonmyung before, thanks to his elder disciple. His current strength had improved significantly since then.

Although it had been a draw back then, now was the time to settle the true match. There was no reason to hesitate.

'Whatever, I'll give it a shot!'

Creating another surprise, and watching the shocked crowd, was a rather enjoyable experience. Since he was on stage anyway, there was no reason to falter. He would repay the expectations of his comrades.

'I've changed a lot too…'

This was the realization of Namgung Sang, a slow-witted youth finally becoming aware of it.

"I forfeit."

Maharyeong said to the determined Namgung Sang.

"Huh?"

Namgung Sang retorted with a foolish voice. He had prepared for a decisive battle, only to be anticlimactically met with a forfeit. It was unthinkable.

"I forfeit."

Maharyeong repeated herself, seemingly believing Namgung Sang had missed what she said due to being lost in thought. In reality, she was not in a state to fight another battle on the same day. It was the result of pouring everything into her duel with Yongcheonmyung.

Her final strike had taken a considerable toll on her body. The burden on her wrist, in particular, was beyond imagination. Moreover, she felt a sense of relief, and she no longer cared who took the position of captain. It felt like something had been resolved.

"Then I…"

Namgung Sang was still bewildered. Maharyeong said with a rare, unclouded smile.

"Congratulations. You won, Captain Namgung!"

Namgung Sang was addressed as captain out of the blue.

"J-just a moment. Suddenly Captain, isn't this a bit difficult?"

Even though he had won, he wasn't happy in the slightest. Rather, he felt a strong sense of displeasure. To become captain by default like this, he couldn't be entirely happy when thinking about the future.

"I don't mind."

For Maharyeong, whose heart was already at ease, the allure of the captain's position had faded.

"What about Brother Yong?"

He quickly asked Yongcheonmyung. Fortunately, he was still alive, despite taking that palm strike to the chest.

"If Miss Ma is alright with it, I don't mind."

He replied with a pale complexion.

'Since when did their opinions align so perfectly?'

His feelings of displeasure grew. Most unsettling of all,

'This is just like…'

Something similar had happened before. He wasn't the target, but he had been present at the scene. That's right. This was…

'It's like Elder Disciple!'

That was the most unsettling part.

"Then, let's have Young Master Namgung take the position of Captain…"

As Baek Mu-yeong was about to declare it with a grim expression, Namgung Sang hastily stopped him.

"Wait!"

"Do you have something to say, Captain Namgung?"

"Yes! Neither Macheon Pavilion nor the disciples of Cheonmu Academy will accept such a result. If that happens, what was the point of holding the sparring match?"

"Then is there a better way? There is no one left to fight Young Master Namgung. We must select a captain by tomorrow."

Baek Mu-yeong had a point.

"No, there is a way."

Namgung Sang replied firmly.

"What is it?"

"The problem was trying to finish such an important task in one day. We need more time. If we are to select a captain according to Macheon Pavilion's laws, it is more reasonable to ask the people of Macheon Pavilion."

"What do you mean?"

Baek Mu-yeong had a rough idea of what Namgung Sang was getting at.

"I mean, let's ask the most trusted person in Macheon Pavilion for their opinion on who is truly suitable to be captain. Then, the people of Macheon Pavilion will have no reason to complain."

Namgung Sang's unconventional idea caused a stir everywhere.

"Then what about the vacant captain position in the meantime?"

"I will take on the role of interim captain. Then no one will complain, right?"

"Did you just say interim?"

"Yes! Interim!"

Namgung Sang replied in a firm tone.

"Is there anyone who opposes this opinion?"

No one opposed. On this day, Namgung Sang became the interim captain of the Cheonmu Academy delegation. Furthermore, Yongcheonmyung and Maharyeong became interim vice-captains.

'Hmm, it's a bit different from what I expected, but it's passable…'

Yeonbi smiled knowingly as she watched from afar.

"What are you thinking about, Yeonbi?"

Nayelin, who was beside him, asked upon seeing Yeonbi's smile.

"Oh, nothing. It's good that the captain has been decided."

Yeonbi replied with a smile.