Chapter 54: Hah, So This is the Great Man Who Arrived? (Part 4)

Lee Song-bak frowned.

Regret? Did he just say "regret"?

'This brat has no fear at all.'

Normally, Lee Song-bak wasn't the type to judge others based on age or status. But this young disciple of Mount Hua was beyond insolent.

'Even if he's ignorant, this is too much.'

He wasn't old enough to fully grasp the disparity between their sects and act accordingly. That much, Lee Song-bak could understand.

But how could anyone react so casually when a swordsman from another sect—taller and older—challenged them to a duel?

'Let's just call it boldness.'

Lee Song-bak exhaled softly and continued.

"Are you accepting the duel?"

"Yes."

His reply was far too indifferent.

With the mindset of showing mercy to a child one last time, Lee Song-bak spoke again.

"May I ask for your Taoist name?"

"I don't have one. My name is Chung Myung."

"Chung Myung, Chung Myung."

The reason he asked again for a name he already knew was simple.

"Listen, Swordsman Chung Myung. Let me give you a piece of advice. You may think you've done nothing wrong, but the world doesn't operate solely on personal judgments. Before things escalate further, you should return to Mount Hua—"

"Not gonna fight?"

Lee Song-bak flinched.

Chung Myung yawned as if bored, then stretched lazily.

"Seems like the Zhongnan folks prefer fighting with their mouths. You're the ones who picked the fight, so why waste time talking instead of drawing your swords?"

"..."

Lee Song-bak smiled coldly.

'My self-restraint is still lacking.'

The urge to thoroughly beat this insignificant brat was surging within him.

"No need to rush. I was about to begin anyway."

As Lee Song-bak gripped his sword, Go Hwi subtly tugged his sleeve.

"Elder Brother. Are you planning to fight him yourself?"

Lee Song-bak glanced at him.

"There's no need for you to step in. I'll handle it."

"No."

"Elder Brother."

Lee Song-bak's eyes hardened.

"There's such a thing as minimum courtesy. Since I'm the senior here, if he loses to me, at least it won't humiliate him as much."

Finally, Go Hwi sighed and stepped back.

'This is exactly why Elder Brother's stubbornness is a problem.'

In terms of character alone, he was more than qualified to be a grandmaster.

"Lee Song-bak, a junior disciple of Zhongnan, requests to cross blades with Chung Myung of Mount Hua."

"Ah, hold on."

"...What now?"

Chung Myung tilted his head slightly and looked at Go Hwi.

"Lend me a sword."

"..."

Go Hwi's eyes widened.

'He's asking to borrow a sword? How can a disciple of a reputable sect utter such nonsense?'

The first thing any swordsman learns is never to hand their blade to another. Yet this shameless brat had the audacity to ask for one!

"Are you saying a disciple of a sword sect doesn't even carry a sword?"

"Well, did I expect to get into a fight?"

"Just what kind of place is Mount Hua—"

"If you don't want to, fine."

Chung Myung glanced around.

"Let's see... something that could work as a sword..."

Lee Song-bak frowned.

"Give it to him."

"Elder Brother!"

"Do you want rumors spreading that Zhongnan disciples bullied an unarmed Mount Hua disciple?"

"..."

At Lee Song-bak's words, Go Hwi exhaled sharply. Reluctantly, he drew the sword from his waist and tossed it to Chung Myung.

"Thanks."

Catching the sword, Chung Myung gripped it loosely and stared at Lee Song-bak with disinterested eyes.

"Shall we begin?"

"...You're not going to draw it?"

"It's not like I'm trying to kill you. No need to unsheathe. You can draw yours if you want."

Lee Song-bak shut his eyes tightly.

'Patience. Patience.'

Talking to this brat made decades of discipline evaporate in an instant.

After taking a deep breath, Lee Song-bak raised his sword.

Originally, he had planned to scare the boy off lightly, but it seemed that wouldn't be enough. Personal feelings aside—

'Judging by his attitude and actions, he won't listen unless something gets broken.'

In just a short exchange, Lee Song-bak had accurately assessed Chung Myung's personality.

"Draw your sword."

"Yeah, whatever."

Chung Myung lazily lifted his blade.

Watching this, Lee Song-bak's brow twitched.

"You'd better take this seriously. By the time you curse my ruthless techniques, it'll already be too late."

"Hey."

"Hm?"

Chung Myung sighed deeply.

"Let's hurry this up. It's getting boring. Just come at me."

"...You—!"

Finally, anger surged visibly on Lee Song-bak's face.

"I'll teach you some manners!"

Abandoning all pretense of courtesy, Lee Song-bak shot toward Chung Myung in a straight line.

Whoooosh!

Zhongnan's swordplay was simple and direct.

Among the orthodox sects, those renowned for their swordsmanship each had distinct characteristics. Wudang's sword was fluid, Mount Hua's was flamboyant, Dianchang's was swift—and Zhongnan's was steadfast.

A heavy, unadorned strike, devoid of any flourish, descended toward Chung Myung's neck.

Chung Myung casually raised his sword to block.

Kaaang!

Scabbard met scabbard, producing a sharp metallic clang.

"Hah!"

In the same instant, Lee Song-bak swung again, aiming for Chung Myung's flank.

Fast and ferocious. Even if there was an opening for a counter, the sheer momentum of the strike—capable of splitting a waist in half—would deter any retaliation.

Kaaang!

Yet again, Chung Myung deflected the attack.

Stagger.

Unable to withstand the force, Chung Myung took a step back.

Seizing the initiative, Lee Song-bak pressed forward, his sword a relentless storm.

"Hoh."

Watching from the sidelines, Go Hwi smirked confidently.

"Elder Brother seems quite angry. He doesn't intend to end this quickly."

"Huh?"

"That boy really got under his skin. Tsk tsk. He should've known better than to provoke someone like him."

"Is Elder Brother disciplining him right now?"

"Exactly. He could finish this anytime, but he's holding back. That kid must be suffering terribly just blocking those strikes."

As if on cue, Chung Myung kept retreating unsteadily.

Seeing this, Wi Han-su tilted his head.

"But for someone being 'disciplined,' he's blocking surprisingly well, isn't he?"

"That's precisely Elder Brother's skill. If he overwhelmed the boy instantly, what would people say?"

"Ah..."

"He instantly gauged the boy's limits and is pressing just hard enough to make him struggle. Not a single direct hit, but he's teaching him a lesson."

Go Hwi shrugged.

"A rather excessive lesson for an arrogant brat. If only the boy realizes it. All of you, pay close attention to Elder Brother's movements."

"Yes!"

Go Hwi clicked his tongue.

'I've never seen that composed man so furious. Then again, even I'd be angry. I hope Elder Brother doesn't overdo it.'

But contrary to the spectators' assumptions, Lee Song-bak—the one on the offensive—was the one suffering.

Kaaang!

'Blocked again?'

This was strange.

This shouldn't be getting blocked!

Unlike Go Hwi's claim that he was "holding back," Lee Song-bak was attacking at his fastest possible speed.

'Why is this being blocked?'

It was absurd.

Chung Myung's sword wasn't fast. It was so slow it was almost frustrating.

Yet, impossibly, it intercepted Lee Song-bak's strikes with eerie precision.

The sluggish blade somehow always arrived first, waiting leisurely where Lee Song-bak's sword was about to land.

'Unless he's reading my mind, how is this possible?'

Reading sword intent?

No, this was beyond that.

There was no way a junior Mount Hua disciple could read his sword intent—and even if he could, this defied logic.

For that slow sword to block his, Chung Myung would have to move before Lee Song-bak even swung—no, before he even thought of swinging.

Unless Chung Myung was a ghost, how could such a thing happen?

"Haaaaah!"

Lee Song-bak roared and slashed fiercely.

The boy before him couldn't be older than fifteen. At most, he'd be the age of his youngest brother. Yet this child was blocking his strikes—without even breaking a sweat.

His strikes, from one of Zhongnan's most talented disciples!

'This is impossible!'

Lee Song-bak began channeling inner energy into his sword.

What started as a light spar was now escalating—unknowingly, his inner strength was intensifying.

Swaaaash!

A fierce sword wind erupted from his blade.

Kaaaang!

But even Lee Song-bak's full-powered strike couldn't break through Chung Myung's guard.

A wall.

This was a wall.

No matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't breach it. It was like striking an impenetrable steel barrier.

"Grrr!"

Driven by stubbornness, Lee Song-bak swung with all his might.

"Elder Brother!"

Seeing the sword wind, Go Hwi shouted involuntarily.

"Don't lose control!"

His sharp voice pierced Lee Song-bak's ears.

'Ah, what am I doing?!'

He hastily withdrew the inner energy from his sword. The heavy force vanished, leaving only a fast—but ordinary—slash.

And then—

Kwaaaaang!

A deafening explosion erupted as Chung Myung's body was sent flying like an arrow.

"Huh?"

He crashed straight into a wall.

Boooom!

Crack. Craaack!

Spiderweb fractures spread from the impact. Slowly, Chung Myung slid down to the ground.

"..."

Lee Song-bak's eyes widened.

"Elder Brother!"

Go Hwi rushed over in panic.

"What have you done to that child?!"

"N-No, I didn't—"

He had withdrawn his inner energy.

Even at full power, he hadn't left a scratch. So how did pulling back his strength send the boy flying?

At that moment—

Cough-cough-cough!

Chung Myung, sprawled on the ground, convulsed violently before suddenly spewing blood like a fountain.

"Eeek!"

"Aaaah!"

Everyone screamed and rushed toward him—except Lee Song-bak, who stood frozen, face pale as a ghost.

Pfffft!

The blood geysered upward.

Wow... So that's how much blood a person can vomit.

'This looks bad. This looks really bad.'

"Elder Brother!"

"..."

I'm screwed.

Lee Song-bak had no idea what was happening.

Gurgle. Cough-cough.

Thick, dark blood spilled from Chung Myung's mouth. To anyone watching, he had suffered severe internal injuries. He looked moments from death.

Just as Lee Song-bak snapped out of his daze and rushed forward—

"What in the world is going on here?!"

All heads turned toward the voice.

Lee Song-bak could only close his eyes in despair.

Hwang Jong-ga, his face twisted with unprecedented fury, glared at him, his beard trembling with rage.