Swift Sword
The training hall was located directly behind the pavilion.
It was reserved exclusively for the warriors of the Blue Scale Corps, and although he didn't know how many mbers there were, the hall seed almost suspiciously vast.
What's more, instead of dirt, the floor was neatly paved with flat, gray stones, giving it an overwhelming atmosphere with its sheer size and grandeur.
Srrrng—
Jeong-un drew his sword. Even though he had swung his sword just the day before, outside of Hanyang County, the unfamiliar feeling returned as he gripped his sword—perhaps because he had not drawn it during the second test.
'As expected, I can't afford to rest for even a mont.'
Jeong-un regretted it all the more because the duel was a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity.
His opponent had charged in faster than expected, and at that mont, rather than draw and parry with his sword, Jeong-un chose to step forward and block his advance.
'It wasn't that I couldn't draw my sword if I tried...'
Even though he saw the optimal trajectory, Jeong-un deliberately chose a different move, feeling that it would otherwise be deceptive toward his opponent.
Jeong-un had simply observed the etiquette of a martial artist.
'How did it go again...'
As soon as the duel began, Pyo Jin-cheon put his true ki into his feet and closed the distance quickly.
It reminded Jeong-un of when Cheong Jin flew onto the training ground, but naturally, the level was markedly different.
If Cheong Jin had seed like he was treading on wind, Pyo Jin-cheon forced himself forward as if pushing off the ground with the tips of his toes.
'Was that also lightness skill?'
Simply channeling true ki into the tips of the feet—Jeong-un could do that as well.
He was already freely circulating his true ki through his veins, transferring it to his limbs whenever needed.
But the results varied widely depending on one's breath and the path that true ki took through the ridians.
Just as swinging the Three Talent Sword Technique recklessly at first was completely different from wielding it after mastering One Illumination Movent Technique and infusing it with true ki, it had now reached a point where anyone would struggle to call it a simple Three Talent Sword Technique.
'When I slash downward, the sword force is powerful and heavy.'
Conversely, when I swung horizontally, I realized it was optimal for swift cutting, and when thrusting, all my strength seed to concentrate on a single spot.
After countless repetitions, I had gained a certain knack for it.
However, there had still been no particular progress regarding body techniques. I believed the answer lay in the circulation of true ki, but quickly generating explosive speed by kicking off the ground remained a mystery.
'It's not just about moving a lot of true ki.'
Clearly, Mount Hua's Cheong Jin moved with feather-like lightness. That was also what Jeong-un hoped to achieve. But simply exploding with true ki for a burst of speed seed inefficient no matter how often I considered it.
Although Pyo Jin-cheon was quite fast, he still couldn't break through Jeong-un's defense, despite lacking any body techniques.
"The movents of your sword and body are as one. It seems you've long since achieved the unity of sword and self."
I halted my swinging blade at the sudden voice. I'd already sensed soone passing by , but it was common for many to co and go here in the training hall, so I didn't think much of it.
"Forgive for disturbing your training. I simply couldn't help but speak to you..."
"That's quite alright."
Jeong-un quietly regarded the newcor. As expected, it was a stranger's face.
On one hand, he could still count everyone he knew at Heavenly Martial Hall on the fingers of a single hand.
'A row.'
He glanced at the man's left arm; for now, it was the only way to gather any information about him.
"You just ntioned unity of sword and self?"
"Yes. I can't even imagine how long you must have trained your sword technique. It's truly impressive."
"...?"
Jeong-un's expression beca ambiguous. Had he really just said 'years of constant training'? Was he teasing him?
This ti Jeong-un asked, "Did you join this military hall recently?"
"Oh, no. I entered last year."
"Then why do you have only one row?"
"...."
Now the stranger looked at Jeong-un's face for a mont before realizing his question was innocently transparent, and smiled quietly.
Then, instead of answering, he returned the question.
"Did you, by any chance, enter just a few days ago?"
"Today."
"Excuse ?"
"I took the test today."
The man gave Jeong-un a look of disbelief.
"So you ca here directly to the training hall right after passing your test?"
"Yes."
It was a natural answer. In fact, he wanted to ask what else one should have done.
"Hmmm..."
The man observed Jeong-un for a mont. If he had just entered today, he must be a special district candidate.
His bright under-eyes and smooth jawline gave off the impression of soone raised with great care.
Was he a grand disciple of a prestigious sect or the young master of a fad family?
Having reached this conclusion, the man smiled gently and spoke.
"My na is Yeo Ho-jun."
"I'm Yu Jeong-un."
This ti, Jeong-un didn't ntion his background—having been warned by Baek Il-gang earlier. Still, he was curious about the man before him, Yeo Ho-jun.
'He's a swordsman, but...'
He was rather slender for a martial artist.
Yet, the calluses lining his grip indicated that he hadn't skimped on practice. Clearly a person of hard work.
Though they weren't familiar yet, Jeong-un felt an imdiate liking for him.
"Since you joined last year, should I address you as my senior?"
Yeo Ho-jun chuckled again.
"There is no such formality here inside the military hall. We all stand on equal ground. Earlier, you asked why I still have only one row."
Jeong-un nodded. He had heard that everyone at Heavenly Martial Hall spends five years together.
So naturally, he assud the number of rows increased with the years.
"Heavenly Martial Hall is a martial force of the Murim Alliance. rits and achievents matter here. If you accumulate ritorious deeds and gain recognition, the gold threads on your left arm multiply. But if you fail to achieve anything worthwhile, even after five years, you leave with only one row."
"Ah..."
Jeong-un now understood what Jo Yoo-hyeon had ant—wondering how many rows he would have when leaving this place.
"When they enter, everyone hopes to accrue several rows. That's still my wish, too. But in reality, most co in with one row and leave with one."
There was a strange sense of futility behind his words, as if he had already been through quite a bit in his year here.
"So, may I ask the na of the sword technique you just displayed? Even at a glance, it felt subli."
Jeong-un hesitated to answer. He didn't even have a proper na for his technique yet.
'Is it worth naming, even?'
It had begun simply as the Three Talent Sword Technique. Of course, lately the flow of true ki and the posture matched his body well, and it felt more settled.
It was almost like a set of three moves, but he didn't feel justified in naming it yet.
At minimum, he believed it should have the completion of sothing like One Illumination Movent Technique before it deserved a proper na.
"Hmm..."
Seeing his hesitation, Yeo Ho-jun nodded slightly.
There were so sects that loathed telling the na of their techniques, especially those passed down by a single successor or belong to very small factions.
Still, Yeo Ho-jun had no qualms asking, since he recognized Yu Jeong-un was a special test candidate.
Among the Hundred Great Sects, it was common for them to want the nas of their unique techniques to beco widely known throughout the Central Plains.
With inter-sect exchange so common, rely asking a technique's na was no longer considered rude.
"I suppose I asked sothing I shouldn't have. If it's uncomfortable..."
"How about a duel instead?"
"...?"
Yeo Ho-jun's eyes widened.
It wasn't strange to be challenged to a duel in the training hall, but he wondered if Jeong-un was upset about being asked about his exclusive martial arts technique.
Yet, seeing Jeong-un's calm face—in fact, an intense glint in his eye—his concerns faded.
"...."
What Yeo Ho-jun saw in the boy who had only just entered the military hall today was his old self: the days filled with eager ambition after first joining Heavenly Martial Hall a year ago.
Unconsciously smiling, Yeo Ho-jun nodded.
"Very well. But I hope you don't think that just because I haven't added to my gold thread, I've wasted the past year—"
The two moved to a proper distance apart.
A starting signal was unnecessary; in the training hall, a duel began the very mont they t each other's gaze.
Srrrng—
Jeong-un drew his sword without hesitation. He didn't want a repeat of his second test experience.
Almost as if he'd been waiting, Yeo Ho-jun drew his sword, too—a relaxed expression showing his confidence that he'd be a step ahead of the newly admitted Jeong-un.
Indeed, it was only natural. None who entered Heavenly Martial Hall were without the title of prodigy; otherwise, they would never have passed the entrance test.
'How did it go again...'
Jeong-un briefly recalled his duel with Pyo Jin-cheon, then imdiately kicked off the ground.
"...!"
Yeo Ho-jun's eyes widened, but despite his surprise, his body responded swiftly.
Cheng—!
His parry was quick and clever, and there was no hesitation as he prepared for the next move.
But Jeong-un's eyes were on his opponent's body, not the blade. He had already realized that, before the blade swung, the opponent's shoulder, waist, or even ankle would move first.
'So if you wait to see the sword, you react too late.'
He had to judge and respond in that brief split second as the other's body moved.
Even to call it a mont was too long—it was barely a fragnt of ti. By instinct, he knew a martial artist's life and death rested in such instants.
Chaeng—!
He blocked a downward slash. It was his first ti experiencing a swift sword—the feel established it instantly as a real combat technique, as proof that the past year had not been wasted.
Yet Jeong-un was confident in his own speed. After all, he had practiced swinging countless tis before.
Chaaaang!
He imdiately drove the blocked sword back up. That was only possible thanks to the true ki riding along his veins, charging his arm with force.
In that instant, as his opponent's sword flew upward, a brief opening appeared between them.
Jeong-un stepped forward and spun his body halfway.
The true ki that had blocked his opponent's sword surged through his body, driving his rotating step, and then returned to his arm as he swung again.
He slashed horizontally, feeling his true ki flow from his fingertips and into the sword.
Cheng! Cheng! Chaeng—!
After blocking several blows, Yeo Ho-jun hurriedly retreated, as if scalded—unable to create the space needed to swing his sword.
He desperately sought to widen the distance.
'I can't let him escape.'
Jeong-un's feet glided forward smoothly, always keeping the gap with the retreating Yeo Ho-jun constant.
Cheng!
He stepped forward with his right foot again—but this ti, the angle pointed outward, setting up for a spin.
But Yeo Ho-jun, so busy blocking, noticed too late. Jeong-un pulled in his elbow and spun.
"...!"
For an instant, Yeo Ho-jun's expression brightened, seeing the gap between them widen slightly.
But with a spin, Jeong-un closed in with a strike, and his face was overco with shock.
Swaaaak—
"...."
An impossible-to-block swift sword. At so point, Jeong-un's blade was pointed at Yeo Ho-jun's throat.
One would wonder how he managed to stop such a rapid strike right before the neck.
Dazed, Yeo Ho-jun asked, "... What's the na of that move just now?"
"Horizontal Slash."
"...?"
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