Chapter 22
Hongseol headed—or rather, tried to head—toward the martial stage.
But there were no stairs.
“Huh?”
Of course, no one on this martial stage would be someone incapable of climbing up.
Hongseol blinked in confusion, unsure of what to do.
“Excuse me, Miss!”
Namgung Uigyeol suddenly slid his hand under Hongseol’s side, attempting to lift her, but flinched at a sharp glance from beside him.
“…My apologies.”
The loyal Namgung Uigyeol took a step back. At that moment, Namgung Ho scooped Hongseol up effortlessly and placed her on the martial stage.
“There, done.”
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
Hongseol clasped her hands and bowed deeply.
At that moment, Namgung Ho met her eyes and transmitted a silent message.
“Seol-ah, remember just one thing.”
His eyes brimmed with confidence, a strange certainty that Hongseol would not lose today.
“If you see an opening in your opponent, press your palms together and push lightly.”
The first thing Hongseol noticed atop the martial stage was the hostile glare of Namgung Jongwoo.
His eyes, already fierce, had darkened further when he saw the Grand Patriarch personally lift Hongseol onto the stage.
“Can’t even climb the stage alone!”
At that moment, the elder in charge of the match began the introductions.
“Grandson of Namgung Mooyoung, and the third son of Namgung Mok and An Younghui, Namgung Jongwoo!”
A roar of excitement erupted among the spectators. Most of them were planted supporters, bribed by Namgung Mooyoung to cheer him on.
Of course, his family was present too.
His grandfather’s eyes were sharp yet proud, his father clapped reluctantly, and his mother clasped her hands nervously.
Despite the thunderous applause, Namgung Jongwoo remained sulky, lips pursed in irritation.
Hongseol couldn’t understand him.
Why was he sulking like that? Real or fake, does it matter? He had so many family members cheering for him.
‘Compared to him…’
A sudden anxiety wrapped around Hongseol’s small frame.
‘What if no one cheers when they call my name?’
The elder cleared his throat and announced the next competitor.
“And his opponent… um, Hongseol. Let the match begin.”
A brief introduction, and silence fell over the stage.
Hongseol’s eyes drooped slightly, worried.
“Waaaah!”
A thunderous cheer erupted, equal to the one for Namgung Jongwoo.
The loudest voices came from Heuk and Jeok.
Small in size but with booming voices, they waved a scrap of cloth with Hongseol’s face roughly drawn on it.
“Hongseol-nim! You’re the best!”
The clumsy drawing made her look like the leader of a band of thieves. Seeing it, Hongseol chuckled, slightly easing her tension.
Beside Heuk and Jeok stood Grand Patriarch Namgung Ho, and next to him, Supreme Elder Namgung Uigyeol, smiling warmly.
It didn’t stop there. Sibi Maeran clutched her hands to her chest, worried, and nearby…
“Cheer up!”
“You can do it, Miss!”
A group of men she had never seen raised their muscular arms in support.
‘That outfit… Supreme Elder?’
Hongseol recognized the cloud-patterned collars and realized they were from the Supreme Elder sect. She had no idea they sometimes observed her training and were inspired by it. She was just grateful.
‘People are cheering for me!’
Not real family, but still!
Seeing these encouraging faces changed her mindset.
It was the first time since she was five that she had received such genuine support.
‘Even if I can’t win, I won’t show a pathetic side.’
With renewed resolve, Hongseol gripped her wooden sword with both hands, facing forward. Namgung Jongwoo did the same, glaring at her.
“Begin!”
“Here I go!”
As he shouted, Namgung Jongwoo charged with terrifying force.
“Yah!”
His movements were fierce, like pent-up anger exploding.
But…
‘I can see it!’
Hongseol’s eyes traced his sword movements clearly.
‘Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique, First Form. Direction… overhead!’
Clang!
Hongseol’s raised wooden sword blocked Namgung Jongwoo’s downward strike.
Jongwoo’s eyebrows twitched in surprise.
“This lowly brat?”
But Hongseol had no time to respond.
‘The sword is coming at my open side!’
Her focus was entirely on dodging his diagonal strike.
“This isn’t working either?”
Jongwoo’s face reddened from missing Hongseol’s side.
Meanwhile, Hongseol felt exhilarated.
‘My training under Supreme Elder Namgung wasn’t wasted!’
Though the movements were the same, the understanding of Namgung Jongwoo and Supreme Elder Namgung Uigyeol was on different levels. Even when Namgung Uigyeol sparred without using full force…
‘I can see everything.’
To Hongseol, Jongwoo’s movements were merely imitations of the Changgung Daeyeon Sword Technique, slow and full of gaps.
“Ha!”
Hongseol easily deflected another of Jongwoo’s strikes.
“This girl really…!”
Whoosh!
Grinding his teeth, Jongwoo’s strikes grew sharper.
After twenty exchanges,
“Haah, haah.”
Sweat beaded on his forehead.
He couldn’t understand the situation.
His opponent was a mere child without the Namgung name. He thought victory would be easy, yet he struggled.
And naturally, a question arose.
‘Why isn’t she attacking?’
She only dodged and parried his sword.
A sudden thought flashed in his mind.
‘Could it be… she doesn’t know how to attack?’
The moment he thought that, a wave of delight washed over him.
If she can’t attack, then he can ignore defense and press the attack.
‘Of course. What can a pea-sized girl do?’
Jongwoo’s eyes focused on her wooden sword.
‘That sword.’
If he could take it…
On the next move, he could attack full force without worrying about defense, ensuring victory.
His hand trembled with excitement.
“This ends now.”
“Arrgh!”
His charge was formidable. Hongseol had no room to dodge.
Then!
“Ugh!”
In a split-second decision, Hongseol summoned all her strength to block the attack.
Pat!
“Ah!”
Perhaps due to the overwhelming power difference, her wooden sword spun and fell off the stage.
Jongwoo’s eyes lit up.
‘Now’s my chance!’
He stepped forward toward the unarmed Hongseol, when…
Twinkle!
She saw an opening—exactly as Grandfather Namgung had told her.
The left side of Jongwoo’s chest was unguarded as he thrust with his right hand.
“If you see an opening in your opponent, press your palms together and push lightly.”
‘Now!’
Hongseol pressed her palms together and lightly shoved Jongwoo’s chest as he rushed forward.
At that instant, she felt the energy she had drawn from her dantian surge through her palms and release.
Kraaaang!
Like a thunderclap.
Thud-thud-thud!
Jongwoo’s body tumbled across the stage, rolling to the edge in seconds.
“Grand Patriarch!”
A shocked voice called. Namgung Ho slowly turned his head, seeing Supreme Elder Namgung Uigyeol unable to close his mouth in astonishment.
“No way… th-this is!”
Namgung Ho smiled leisurely, as if he had anticipated this.
“You’re thinking correctly.”
Cheonroe Sinjang (Heavenly Thunder Divine Palm).
The Namgung family’s signature technique, resembling thunder and lightning.
“How could she channel that much internal power… she’s never even learned it…”
Stunned, Namgung Uigyeol couldn’t finish his sentence.
“You need that much to be my disciple, don’t you think?”
“But you told me not to let Hongseol use her internal power!”
Unlock soon!~