In ancient China, the development of inner power and martial arts was at the center of everything.
The ability to climb trees, walk on water, and even defend against firearms.
In an atmosphere where everyone, from emperors to common folk, revered martial prowess, stone plate studies did not receive as much attention as machine gun techniques.
However, at some point, alchemy emerged in the new martial world, and those behind barriers began to defeat masters from various sects one after another.
Geniuses like René Descartes, Pierre Gassendi, and Robert Boyle announced the end of universal auraism by integrating particle philosophy into stone plate studies.
The martial world, which seemed eternal, ultimately faded into the annals of history during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties.
However, following World War I, the situation changed dramatically once again.
Magical power plants became an important strategic resource capable of changing the tide of war.
Consequently, the need for combat personnel to protect these plants and attack when necessary arose.
Sects that barely managed to retain their names while forgetting their past glory began to draw attention again.
After two world wars, the martial masters who had excelled in warfare and their sects acquired astronomical capital and began to be widely recognized for their abilities in the international community.
Now, the famous Wudang Sect was second to none.
What they cherished most was not their homeland of Wudang Mountain or the Zhaosodan but the Taiji Sword that enabled them to endure 300 years of hardships.
No one in the Wudang Sect would not know of the Taiji Sword.
It is said that the one who stands by you at your most miserable time is the most appreciated.
The Taiji Sword became such an existence for the Wudang Sect.
And the highest-level technique, the Taijihye Geom, which only the core figures of the Wudang Sect could learn, was demonstrated openly by Naame in front of the audience.
“Oh no… What a terrible…!”
Thus, it was only natural for the leader of the Wudang Sect, Lee Jin-hwi, to be filled with rage.
As Naame stepped onto the training hall, numerous cheers followed.
The gaze of the leader looking at her from afar felt heavy.
He strongly grasped Luo’an’s shoulders and urged her.
“Luo’an, don’t be deceived by falsehoods. The Taijihye Geom of Wudang is not something one can learn so easily.”
“Yes, Leader. I will bear that in mind.”
The girl with a black tiger tattoo covering her entire back responded bravely.
The leader was satisfied with his disciple’s response, yet the unease in his heart could not be easily erased.
Naame’s rousing demonstration of the Taijihye Geom on a broadcast was a significant act that shook the very foundation of the sect.
People join the sect, perform menial tasks, and undergo hellish training and education to reach the next level.
Dissatisfaction arising during that process was resolved by newly provided martial arts.
If belief crumbles, philosophy crumbles.
If philosophy crumbles, martial arts crumble.
Even if what Naame showcases is the real Taijihye Geom, it doesn’t matter.
Luo’an had to consciously consider that to be fake until the match concluded.
“You must be under pressure too. However, having gone through such humiliation, we must win. We absolutely must.”
Luo’an’s earnest eyes pierced through the leader’s intentions accurately.
“If it were Katsuhata, it would be one thing; if we lose to Naame, the very existence of our sect will be called into question.”
She nodded briefly before whipping her ponytail and heading towards the training hall.
*
[Round of 32 Match 98]
[Naame (South Korea)] [100% | 100%]
[Luo’an (China)] [100% | 100%]
“Those eyes are frightening,”
I gazed at the girl with cold, sunken eyes.
As the barrier in the stadium activated, the crowd’s cheers transformed into a lower tone.
It felt as though water filled my ears.
“Naame, what have you wagered on this match?”
Luo’an suddenly asked me.
“What do you mean? Are you betting, like sports betting?”
Luo’an’s expression hardened in an instant.
“Shouldn’t we joke around and be serious about this? Well, what did I wager? Just my pride…?”
“How shallow.”
“What about you, tattoo girl? What did you wager?”
Her face looked like that of a rogue.
Of course, everybody gathered here were all national rogues, but still.
“Tradition of the past, honor of the present, and the continuation of the sect in the future. I should mention, I won’t be leaving this arena on two feet.”
The analysis was now complete.
She was a bit of a Hiroyuki Kaguya too.
Those who fight with aura often say such things to solidify their mental realm before the match, but as a listener, it’s agonizing.
Katsuhata was at a level worth listening to, though.
Luo’an was completely immersed in battle.
Her red robe fluttered in the wind.
“However, my pride is worth far more than the honor of the Wudang Sect combined.”
Even after a casual exchange, not even a blink was given.
As a 30-second countdown began, we both drew upon our aura to the fullest.
The contrasting black and white auras seemed to engage in a cycle in opposite directions.
Luo’an’s specialty and the multiaura that led Emika to victory last year.
And the trait of those who use multiaura is that, like a double pendulum, their movements cannot be predicted at all.
<Allez!>
Despite the match starting, Luo’an remained stationary.
Receiving and suppressing the opponent’s sword is the art of counterattacking.
In terms of table tennis, she was the defender.
[Cast: Demon Lord’s Horn]
I took out the Skiabona and slowly walked into her effective range.
My legs were heavy with a heavy aura, and my arms, swirling the sword, were cloaked in a light aura.
Four types of aura surged and swirled together, remarkably operating like interlocking gears, unobstructing each other’s path.
“Still holding on?”
Three steps.
“Is this still okay?”
Two steps.
“This must be hard to endure, right?”
Just one step.
Now, our hair began to entangle.
Luo’an’s eyes trembled a little, which was quite amusing.
In the meanwhile, she was optimally repositioning herself for a counterattack.
Even at a distance where we could hear each other’s breathing.
Suuuuuuuuu-
I lifted the Cheonghwa Sword very slowly and brought it down very slowly.
“Others might think we’re just messing around, huh?”
Having the leisure to taunt.
Right before the sharp metal clashed, Luo’an’s arm moved first.
Clang-!
As Luo’an pushed away my sword, my body momentarily soared into the air.
The following barrage was relentlessly fierce.
Two thrusts aiming at my abdomen, three cuts diagonally, and as my feet touched the ground, slashes came again from both horizontal and vertical directions.
Clangclangclangclangclangclang!
Sharpening my senses to the max, I deflected her vicious streaks.
Indeed, the speed was astonishing.
Biting my lips, I stretched my fist toward Luo’an’s face.
Had Luo’an’s sword that pushed me back already returned?
‘Am I crazy enough to hit you with this small fist?’
“Ugh…!”
[Cast: Ignis Respicio]
Crackling-!
Slicing through the black and white aura, I released a blinding flare.
Ordinary kids would have backed off here, but Luo’an was different.
Like a player with some auto-counter activated, her left hand shot out.
Bang-!
The palm thrust, directed straight, pushed me back along with the air.
The aura of the Taiji trailed like a tail, creating a backlash.
I steadied my posture and spat out the sand that got into my mouth.
“You say you’re on the defensive, yet you attacked first?”
“Your intent brushed against my skin,”
“What’s with the wordplay? What’s intent?”
Unless it’s the jargon that dragons use.
Luo’an was bringing up nonsensical concepts that didn’t even exist in this world.
[Retrieval: Ignis Respicio]
A sphere of energy returning like a boomerang from the edge of the arena.
In an instant, Luo’an twisted her body and sliced the flare in half.
Bang-!
Immediately, I stepped back and soared.
‘Why would I turn around when I know an attack is coming from behind? Still young.’
[Cast: Black Aurora]
[Imperial Palace Sword Method 2nd Style – Heaven’s Cut]
Zzziiing-!
Plasma tears through the space.
[Imperial Palace Sword Method 75th Style – Weeding]
I drew my extended Skiabona toward me, sweeping the entire ground.
Swoosh-!
The artificial grass in the stadium was evenly chopped off, creating a quarter section.
It was a sword technique that lived up to its name after a long time.
Luo’an’s ankle took direct damage.
But at the same time, that chaotic aura of Taiji descended from the sky.
“Aaah!”
Bang-! Bang-! Bang-!
The swords swirling from all directions created craters on the ground one after another.
Boom-!
The last sword could not be avoided, so I blocked it.
In an instant, an overwhelming mass began to press down on me.
Luo’an was steadily expanding the area of the Taiji lying on the ground.
The black and white aura spun rapidly, seemingly ready to devour each other’s tails.
I could only squint my eyes.
My feet were being slowly sucked into the center like an ant hill in the desert.
Did she think we were now close enough?
Luo’an shifted her sword to a different grip.
The aura of Taiji that had been spread across the ground gathered to a point and was absorbed into her sword.
‘Now I understand firsthand why Katsuhata struggled.’
[Thirty-Six Divine Pure Sword Method]
Once inside the realm of Taiji, you should abandon ideas of evasion.
Considering the consumption of aura, it’s more disadvantageous to evade than it is to block.
I bit my lip and focused on incoming attacks.
Swoosh-!
The first technique cutting at my side passes faster than the eye can see.
Swish- Whooooosh- Clang-!
I let two pass and blocked one.
Even with how fast it was, Luo’an’s arm was cloaked in aura, making its trajectory invisible.
Swish-swish-swish-swish-!
In this battle, she was releasing her aura unreservedly, as if to declare victory.
Having to differentiate between four of the five swords, I managed to block just one real thrust.
Clang-!
That one trajectory split into two, stabbing my abdomen once more.
“Ugh.”
Does it mean that by watching, I’m always late?
[Naame (South Korea)] [76% | 89%]
The barrier that seemed fine seconds ago began to crumble in an instant.
But she, having consumed so much aura, would find it difficult to finish this off in the later rounds.
Just like in the Katsuhata match, it was at the 36-second mark when an immense amount of aura was contained.
Bang-!
“Ugh…”
“You have to dodge this though.”
Dividing the yin and yang at medium and escaping in light.
As I perfectly dodged the last 36 seconds, Luo’an grimaced one side of her face.
[Cast: Cylindrical Coordinate Assignment]
I spun the aura extracted from the sword with the help of magic like a top.
Soon, I exchanged my front and rear feet and extended the sword held in my right hand.
[Imperial Palace Sword Method 21st Style – Crescent Thrust]
→ [Imperial Palace Sword Method Applied – Taijihye Geom]
This was another maneuver of the Taijihye Geom that I had showcased in the broadcast yesterday.
‘This might irritate her when seen in front of her eyes?’
However, contrary to expectations, the blades collided perfectly at the center.
Ting-!
A crisp, clear sound echoed, tickling my back.
Was it luck that thrust and cut didn’t rule out such coincidence?
“Huh?”
“You little…!”
“Hahaha!”
Luo’an was using the sword technique that felt infinitely familiar to me.
[Seventy-Two Moves of Twisted Gentle Sword]
→ [Imperial Palace Sword Method 389th Style – Celestial Alignment]
“Our techniques have switched, haven’t they?”
The grass always seems greener on the other side.
Indeed, there’s not a single error in old sayings.
“See, I told you the Imperial Palace Sword Method is good?”
