Chapter 10 …
NO 5: Jinyoung (3)
Mujin was imitating the famous episode of Guan Yu, revered as the Martial God of the Three Kingdoms.
‘Granduncle has truly become a different person.’
With an important match before countless spectators about to begin, one might expect at least a little tension. Yet Mujin looked completely at ease—so relaxed that he even copied Guan Yu’s mannerisms. Jinsu couldn’t help but admire him.
“Granduncle! Stay strong! You must win!”
As Mujin strode proudly toward the training arena, Jinsu shouted his encouragement at the top of his lungs.
—Thud.
Without even turning around, Mujin raised his thumb over his shoulder.
“You were told to come up to the arena long ago. Why are you only coming now?”
Musuk reacted sharply to Mujin’s leisurely behavior.
“Hehe, my apologies.”
“Hrng…”
With Mujin grinning slyly as he apologized, Musuk found himself unable to scold him further.
“Granduncle, just half a year ago you weren’t even a match for me. You’ve grown tremendously.”
At last, Mujin and Jinyoung faced each other inside the arena.
Jinyoung spoke first, sneering unpleasantly.
“Growth… That’s not something you should be saying to me, junior. Arrogant bastard.”
“Heh. Say what you want now. You won’t be able to speak soon.”
“Your bluster is truly number one under heaven.”
“It’s true that you’ve grown stronger compared to before, Granduncle—but you’re still not my match.”
“Alright, alright. We’ll see.”
Mujin waved his hand dismissively, as if he had no desire to continue talking.
“Very well. Prepare yourself.”
Jinyoung’s eyes sharpened. Drawing his sword in one smooth motion, he shot forward toward Mujin.
—Shwish shwish shwish!
The first martial art Jinyoung unleashed was Cheongryu Sword Technique, the fundamental sword art of the Jeomchang Sect.
The Cheongryu Sword emphasized smooth, beautiful lines—an excellent technique for building foundational skills. Yet when mastered, it was by no means something to be underestimated.
“Oh… This might be more interesting than I thought.”
Though inherently gentle, Jinyoung’s Cheongryu Sword carried a thick, powerful energy thanks to his considerable internal cultivation.
A glint flashed in Mujin’s eyes as he too drew his sword.
—Clang clang clang clang!
An eye for an eye.
A tooth for a tooth.
Mujin responded with the very same Cheongryu Sword Technique.
Their blades intertwined and separated repeatedly like willow branches brushing against each other.
“Ooooh…”
“Incredible.”
“Their level is that high?”
The onlookers gasped in admiration. Both men displayed the essence of Cheongryu Sword so well that their duel resembled a beautifully choreographed sword dance.
“Hoho…”
Even Sect Leader Youngjin and the other elders of the “Young” generation were astonished.
Youngjin himself broke into a delighted smile.
“Shall we stop warming up and get serious?”
After exchanging roughly twenty bouts with Cheongryu Sword, the two retreated simultaneously as if by agreement.
Still wearing a relaxed smile, Mujin rolled his neck and provoked Jinyoung.
“If you wish.”
A divine gleam burst from Jinyoung’s eyes. A terrifying aura surged from his blade.
—Tap! Wooooong!
Like an arrow, he lunged and thrust his sword forward.
With the resonant hum of a swarm of bees, a thick, powerful sword wind burst forth.
“Oh?”
Mujin lightly leapt to avoid it—
—Woooong!
One gust became two, then three, then four—until dozens of sword winds surrounded him.
It was the Daehae Sword Technique, the Jeomchang Sect’s finest sword art.
“Now that’s fairly usable.”
—Boom!
Dozens of powerful sword winds slammed into Mujin with an explosive roar, like a leather drum bursting.
“Granduncle!”
Jinsu, watching from the closest spot, cried out in alarm.
“Oh dear, my wrist’s a bit sore.”
Mujin had been blown back over fifteen meters.
But it was his sword—not his body—that had taken the direct hit.
Still, gripping his wrist, he joked lightly.
“This can’t be…”
Jinyoung was shaken. Even if blocked precisely, Mujin should have suffered severe internal injuries.
Yet aside from a sore wrist, he seemed perfectly fine.
“For a brat, your internal energy isn’t bad. Train hard and you might become something decent.”
“S-Shut up! You were just lucky!”
Enraged, Jinyoung forgot to use honorifics.
“Was it luck? Heh heh.”
“Shut up!”
Jinyoung attacked again, unleashing Daehae Sword once more.
—Wooooong!
This time, the buzzing resonance grew louder. The power of the sword winds intensified, even vibrating the surrounding air.
—Shik!
Something slipped exquisitely through the dozens of sword winds and shot toward Jinyoung.
“Gasp!”
It was Mujin’s sword.
If Jinyoung continued the technique, he would be struck first. Forced to halt Daehae Sword, he barely avoided the incoming blade.
What is this insane swift sword?
Despite initiating first, Mujin’s blade reached him before his own winds could land—piercing through the dense currents.
It was luck.
Jinyoung convinced himself.
“Haah!”
He roared and unleashed Daehae Sword again—faster, denser, filling the front with even thicker sword winds.
—Slash!
“Ugh!”
A flash—then the sound of flesh being cut. Blood sprayed.
What?
The wound wasn’t deep.
But this time he hadn’t even seen the attack.
“Do you understand now? The difference between us?”
Mujin flicked Jinyoung’s blood from his sword, speaking mockingly.
“T-That’s impossible…”
“Earlier too—I just let you hit me because your attack seemed decent.”
“L-Lies!”
“You still don’t get it? Fine. I’ll show you again.”
“Shut up!”
Jinyoung screamed and charged, trying once more to execute Daehae Sword—
—Thud!
“Kugh!”
Before he could even gather internal energy at his blade tip, Mujin’s swift sword struck again.
He didn’t even glimpse it.
The pommel of Mujin’s sword smashed into his face.
Utter humiliation.
“How is it? Clear-headed now?”
“Shut up! Hyaaah!”
—Slash!
“Aaaagh!”
As Jinyoung tried to raise his sword, Mujin sliced his right elbow.
His swift sword was growing faster.
“Damn it…!”
Blood dripped from Jinyoung’s arms and face, yet he refused to yield.
He glared with undiminished fighting spirit.
“You know I’ve been holding back, right? If I attacked properly, your head would already be rolling. This is a public match—I’m sparing you.”
“Shut up! Kill me instead!”
“This bastard’s completely insane. Not beaten enough?”
Despite overwhelming disparity and injuries, Jinyoung kept pressing on.
“Haaaah!”
He unleashed Daehae Sword again.
—Wooooong! Shwaaaak!
Even wounded, he executed it nearly perfectly.
Dozens of thick sword winds formed a net of blades, pressing down like a crushing boulder.
Anyone weaker would have suffered internal injuries just from the pressure.
Strangely, this time Mujin did not use his swift sword.
“Heh. You’ve got spirit. A man should be like that. Very well—then I’ll show you something good.”
Even as the overwhelming sword net approached, Mujin remained composed.
His lips curled upward.
His eyes turned icy.
—Flash! Flash! Flash! Flash! Flash!
One, two, three…
Thirty sword lights bloomed into existence.
The Jeomchang Sect’s Splitting Radiance Thirty-Six Swords.
Though overshadowed by the Four-One Sword Art, it had once been one of the sect’s representative techniques. Many masters favored it even more.
As the name implied, it could release up to thirty-six sword lights.
Mujin produced thirty.
Not yet at its peak—but already astounding.
—Shwaaaak! Shwik! Shwaaaak!
The thirty sword lights shot into the sword net, severing the meridian flows of internal energy within it.
The powerful net withered.
—Slash slash slash slash slash!
“Aaaagh!”
The thirty sword lights did not stop at breaking the net.
They surrounded Jinyoung.
Blinded by the radiance, he could neither block nor evade.
“Jinyoung!”
As he collapsed in blood, a figure rushed forward.
“You bastard! Unforgivable!”
“What? Senior Brother! Don’t!”
It was Mujun—the likely next sect leader and Jinyoung’s master.
Seeing his disciple drenched in blood, Mujun’s eyes erupted with killing intent.
Without hesitation, he drew his sword and unleashed the most destructive move of Daehae Sword—
Heavenly Tide Sea Annihilation.
Musuk tried to stop him—
—but it was too late.
—Wooooong!
A massive, pillar-like sword energy roared toward Mujin, vibrating the air.
Sword energy.
A realm attainable only at the peak level or higher.
—Boom!
“Kugh!”
Struck by the sword energy, Mujin flew out of the arena like a kite with its string cut.
