Chapter 13: Sword Demon Duel

“…Hoyeon-ah.”

Namgung Cheonggang looked worriedly at his youngest brother standing in the center of the training ground.

‘Jaryang has reached the realm where sword energy can harm others—a true first-rate expert.’

In the martial world, third-rate fighters are those who barely learn street-sold techniques and fight mostly with their bodies.

Second-rate fighters use internal energy to strengthen their bodies and have some grasp of martial forms.

But from the first-rate level onward, one is considered a true master, capable of imbuing weapons and the body with qi.

‘In a mid-tier sect, that level could easily qualify someone as a squad leader. Jaryang’s talent is real.’

Namgung Jaryang.

Even within the clan, he was a late-blooming genius—expected to become a leader of Changgung one day.

‘Compared to him, Hoyeon is…’

Though he loved his little brother dearly, this duel was too much.

Understanding the theory behind sword techniques and applying them in combat were two entirely different things.

‘Even if Jaryang’s Changgung Mu-ae technique is flawed, he has the overwhelming power advantage.’

If Namgung Cheonggang was thinking this much, the other Changgung members surely held even deeper doubts.

But Hoyeon, standing opposite Namgung Jaryang, smiled as if genuinely amused.

“Well then, let’s begin class. Since I’m the teacher, I’ll speak casually, okay?”

“…You’ll regret this. I won’t go easy just because you’re a direct descendant.”

Jaryang glared and spoke roughly.

Hoyeon smiled gently and muttered, “Geez, you’re noisy. Feeling insecure?”

“…!”

“When you draw your sword, the only thing that matters is martial skill. Whether you’re from the main or side family doesn’t matter. A blade cuts everyone equally.”

“How dare you…!”

Jaryang’s eyes widened in fury.

For the clan head’s own son to spout such nonsense—!

Shing!

Jaryang unsheathed his sword and began circulating his Changcheon Heart Technique (蒼天心法).

Whoom…!

A faint blue glow appeared in his eyes.

“You’d better use your full power if you want to survive.”

“Hm, is that necessary? No need to bring a butcher’s knife to kill a chicken.”

“I’ll shut that impudent mouth of yours!”

Tap!

Jaryang dashed forward using Changgung Step (蒼穹步).

Shing!

Finally, Hoyeon unsheathed his sword—but it wasn’t the Celestial Thunder Sword.

“You freeloader. At least earn your meal today.”

Whooom!

“What’s that? Want me to oil you after this? You and your obsession with oil. Do you have worms in your belly or something? I’m calling you Oil-Lover Sword from now on.”

“You’re so noisy!”

Shraaak!

Jaryang swung his sword in a rising arc, targeting Hoyeon’s shoulder—a move called Sky High, Clouds Drifting (天高雲行).

“Lesson one: That’s not how Sky High, Clouds Drifting should be used.”

Hoyeon performed the same move—but with a different posture.

“When you hear ‘sky rising,’ you might think of soaring upward. That’s a mistake. The sky expands slowly, endlessly, beyond human grasp.”

Whoosh!

Hoyeon’s sword swept not in a line but like a curtain, covering the space around him.

Clang—!

“Kugh!”

Jaryang’s sword clashed with Hoyeon’s. The shock numbed his wrist.

“Th-This…!”

“Lesson two: On the battlefield, that blank expression will get you killed.”

BOOM—!

Hoyeon’s sword stabbed downward with heavy force—Changgung Starpierce (蒼穹點星), a deadly thrust aimed like picking a star from the sky.

‘No way! This isn’t the Starpierce I know!’

The Changgung Starpierce he knew was blindingly fast. They practiced by throwing stones into the air and stabbing them mid-air.

Jaryang had prided himself on stabbing seven stones in one breath to mimic the Big Dipper.

Rumble!

But Hoyeon’s sword wasn’t fast.

It was heavy. Inescapable.

“Kuh!”

Jaryang didn’t dare block it. He dove aside to the only safe direction.

Roll!

He rolled across the ground like a lazy donkey, face flushed with shame.

“Lesson three: After using that flashy fall-and-roll move, don’t be embarrassed. Neigh like a horse—it’ll confuse your opponent at least.”

“Aaaagh!”

Jaryang, enraged by Hoyeon’s mockery, charged.

Clash-clash-clash!

“Too shallow. Sky Beyond the Sky (天外有天) should pierce deeper—like stabbing through the heavens.”

Blocked.

“Haaah!”

Whoosh! Whoosh!

“Think about the meaning of the form. Infinite Weight (無涯重壓) isn’t just about swinging slowly—it’s about pressing down with your whole body.”

Blocked again.

“Arghhh!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

“Are you a goat? Who told you to butcher Nine Heavens Infinity (九天罔極) like that? After nine strikes, there should be rhythm. That rhythm traps your opponent in your tempo.”

Blocked.

Blocked.

Blocked again.

“Huff… Huff… This can’t be happening…”

Jaryang gasped, staring at Hoyeon.

Hoyeon tilted his sword down and looked at him with pity.

Grit!

That downward gaze made Jaryang grit his teeth.

Bleeding from his lips, he whispered,

“Don’t look at me like that. Don’t mock my Changgung Mu-ae…!”

“What a delusional weasel.”

“This… is all I have! I’ll become the best with this…!”

Crackle!

Suddenly, sky-blue sword energy erupted from Jaryang’s blade.

“Jaryang!”

“No!”

“We have to stop him!”

The Changgung members were shocked.

He had drawn real sword qi.

This was no longer a friendly spar—it had crossed the line.

“You want to be the best? And then what?”

Hoyeon tilted his head, staring at the surging sword qi.

“If you’re mocking my dream—!”

“I’m not mocking. I’m curious. You become the best… then what?”

“I—! A side-branch like me will surpass the main family! I’ll soar endlessly into the skies with Changgung Mu-ae!”

It was unfair.

That bloodline decided everything.

“How can one’s fate be decided at birth?! I won’t accept it!”

“…”

“I don’t need some royal sword form! I’ll rise with just Changgung Mu-ae!”

Hoyeon was silent for a moment—then smiled.

“I see. I understand.”

“…What?”

“You just want to be recognized. To prove your worth.”

“…”

“If you’re that desperate, then I’ll show you. The destination you should aim for.”

Zuuuum!

From Hoyeon’s sword, a dazzling blue sword qi erupted.

“My god!”

“Sword qi!”

“He’s using sword qi?!”

“At just fifteen?!”

“Is that Changgung Qi?!”

Gasps exploded from the crowd.

Fifteen years old—already wielding sword qi?

Unbelievable.

‘It’s doable, I guess. Though his meridians are weak due to his age…’

But for someone like Hoyeon, who had once mastered sword force—this was nothing.

If anything, his body was too weak to handle his level of understanding.

After briefly checking his condition, Hoyeon turned to Jaryang.

“You were right. Changgung Mu-ae is enough.”

“…What?”

“You think Royal Sword Form just fell from the sky? Of course it has roots.”

“The root… of Royal Sword Form?”

“Here’s your final lesson. Come at me.”

“…”

Tap!

Jaryang launched forward with his ultimate technique:

Changgung Mu-ae (蒼穹無涯)

Clang-clang!

His sword drew a glowing blue cross in the air.

But then—something strange happened.

‘He… scattered the sword qi?!’

The sword qi coating Hoyeon’s blade dissipated like mist.

“You guys added all sorts of filler moves to cover gaps in Changgung Mu-ae, right? That broke its natural flow.”

Swoooosh…

The scattered sword qi expanded like a wave, enveloping the surroundings.

Normally, sword qi is compressed—like Sword Threads or Sword Force.

But Hoyeon did the opposite—he scattered it.

“Those gaps? They aren’t flaws. That space is the heavens.”

Clang-clang!

Hoyeon drew the same glowing cross in the air.

The blue misty qi split into four directions—enveloping the entire area.

FWOOOOSH—!

The world turned blue. The endless sky expanded—limitless and infinite.

“…Ah…”

Jaryang couldn’t help but feel it was beautiful.

His own sword looked thin and pathetic compared to that infinite sky.

Crash!

The two Changgung Mu-ae techniques clashed.

The result was clear.

“Kuhak! Gah!”

Jaryang’s sword shattered into pieces, and he collapsed, coughing blood.

“Ugh… gah…”

He lay on the ground, staring up at the blue sky.

And from above, Hoyeon’s smiling face peeked down.

“You okay, weasel?”

“…Who are you calling weasel.”

“Phew, good job being the demo dummy. Seriously, I didn’t expect to lecture today. What would I have done without you?”

“…”

Jaryang, watching Hoyeon chatter, mumbled weakly.

“…Am I really… that lacking?”

“You? For your age, you’re not bad.”

“For my age… heh, how comforting.”

Jaryang laughed bitterly.

Trying to become the best—when a monster wielding sword qi stood right in front of him.

“…What was that technique just now?”

“That? Right here.”

Hoyeon pointed to the cloud pattern embroidered on his chest.

“It’s called Sword Cloud (劍雲). Gotta have clouds in the sky, right?”

“Sword Cloud…”

“Changgung Mu-ae is a martial art about space. The Royal Sword Form is just an evolved version of that.”

“….”

“You guys saw emptiness as a flaw. But without that emptiness, there’s nothing to fill. To fill, you must first empty.”

“Ah…”

Jaryang suddenly had a realization.

‘To fill, first empty… Why didn’t I think of that?’

From birth, life had been a competition.

He had to fight and win with the weapons he was given.

Luckily, he had “talent.”

He rose fast—until he hit a wall.

That wall was Namgung Cheonggang.

‘I hated Cheonggang. He learned the best techniques… and I couldn’t accept that he was stronger.’

He thought Cheonggang was just lucky—born into the right bloodline.

‘But… could I say that to this man?’

Jaryang looked at Hoyeon and chuckled.

‘Even if Hoyeon weren’t part of the Namgung family, he would’ve been the best. There really is always a sky above the sky…’

His world felt bigger.

With people like this out there, what was he doing in his little pond?

‘Can I really say I devoted my life to Changgung Mu-ae?’

FWOOOSH!

The sky reflected in Jaryang’s eyes expanded wider and deeper.

Seeing that, Hoyeon stood and nodded.

“As I thought, I’m an animal lover.”

* * *

Namgung Namjungjung, leader of Changgung, looked at the scorched training ground with trembling eyes.

All seven members of Changgung’s 7th unit were sitting cross-legged in shock.

After dueling Jaryang, Hoyeon fought each remaining member—one by one.

He didn’t lose once.

“You’re not gonna make me fight you too, are you? You look like a tough one.”

“H-Hahahaha!”

Namjungjung laughed loudly at the clueless youngest son in front of him.

“Ahahaha!”

“W-What’s so funny?”

“I’m just… happy! Hahaha! Finally… finally…!”

Clench!

Namjungjung gripped his fists and swallowed his words.

‘A divine dragon has been born to the Namgung clan!’