“…I request a courteous duel.”
“I do as well.”
‘Why is he staring at me like that?’
Hye-ryeong, noticing that Cheong Maehyang was blatantly looking at her, especially at her chest, tilted her head in puzzlement while performing the traditional martial bow.
It was strange to see a complete stranger staring at her in awe, shaking her head, then drawing her sword. If this wasn’t a dueling platform but somewhere else, asking if someone was hurt wouldn’t have been odd, so Hye-ryeong’s lips began to move.
“Miss?”
“…Ah. Excuse me. Let’s start…”
Regardless, the duel must begin. Hye-ryeong slowly drew her sword and took the initial stance. Likewise, Cheong Maehyang, known throughout the Central Plains as the esteemed “White Plum Blossom” for her beauty, also took her stance.
As the duel began, the male spectators were completely distracted by the two women’s appearances rather than their postures, quieting the audience, save for the occasional sound of someone being slapped on the back.
‘Uncle said that White Plum Blossom Cheong Maehyang might be one or two levels above me…’
“Let’s go.”
Hye-ryeong moved as fluidly as running water, utilizing the Flowing Water Step, confusing Maehyang’s attention with unpredictable motions – dashing to the right only to whirl and leap to the left, stepping forward but reversing direction like uncontrollable waves.
Maehyang remained in her stance, observing Hye-ryeong’s steps with her eyes, aiming to decipher the patterns before engaging.
As all footwork techniques follow certain structured sequences, analyzing them equates to understanding half of the martial art. Hye-ryeong revealing her techniques in the opening phase meant she was willing to accept a disadvantage.
‘…I need to concentrate.’
An unforeseen variable – Hye-ryeong’s chest movement kept drawing Maehyang’s gaze, despite her being a woman. It was only natural for her eyes to stray, making Maehyang feel oddly enchanted by Hye-ryeong’s form instead of focusing on her own plum sword illusions.
In this moment of distraction…
“Hah!”
Hye-ryeong’s sword slashed at Maehyang for the first time. A simple diagonal strike. A straightforward move easily deflected by Maehyang.
Anticipating this, Hye-ryeong spun in the follow-through and initiated her first move, “Waves of a Thousand Currents” – a series of wave-like sword strikes imbued with powerful momentum, cascading toward Maehyang.
Though impressive, Maehyang had advanced far enough to reach the main competition finals. She wouldn’t fall for an ordinary attack.
Swiftly, Maehyang’s blade flashed like lightning, intercepting Hye-ryeong’s sword.
Once. Twice. Three times. Four times…
With a visible difference in skill levels, Hye-ryeong pulled back, completed a full clockwise rotation, switched to a reverse grip, and transferred the sword to her left hand.
‘She switched her sword hand?’
Unlike common sword techniques primarily suited for right hands, the art of Haenam Thirty-Six Sword maneuvers alternately attacks with either the left or right hand – an unpredictable style designed to swiftly subdue enemies, developed during engagements with pirates.
The blade targeted Maehyang’s chest in an unexpected attack. Despite the surprise, Maehyang leaned back slightly and evaded.
Unlike Hye-ryeong’s more pronounced chest, Maehyang had a less pronounced form, causing Hye-ryeong’s attempt to fail. Although disappointed in herself for missing, Maehyang didn’t dwell.
“Che.”
Hye-ryeong quickly returned the sword to her right hand and swung again at Maehyang.
In combat, maintaining the offensive momentum is crucial – something William always emphasized during spars. Knowing full well that relinquishing control would not easily offer another opportunity, Hye-ryeong was determined not to let go.
“Ah…”
Taking a deep breath, Hye-ryeong exhaled.
This signaled an obvious drop in Hye-ryeong’s stamina due to the prolonged battle – precisely the moment Maehyang sought to switch to offense.
A cold, deadly plum bloom started to emerge from Maehyang’s blade.
“Oh, the Plum Twenty-Four Hands Sword Technique! As rumored, it’s a beautiful sight!”
“To wield such blossoms at such a young age is promising indeed!”
The Huashan Sect’s signature technique had the audience buzzing with excitement. They had traveled far to see the legendary martial arts of the nine great sects and the five noble families.
William watched the scene with keen interest, analyzing Maehyang’s moves.
‘Shaping her internal energy into plum-shaped illusions to disorient her opponents… Definitely dangerous in actual combat, disrupting focus so effectively.’
In a battlefield requiring utmost concentration, anything that disrupts focus was problematic. Thus, William judged the Plum Twenty-Four Hands Sword Technique as quite formidable.
“…At this rate, I’m going to lose.”
“That’s correct.”
As they spoke, Hye-ryeong began to fall into a defensive position.
It was unavoidable. In the Martial Realm, “realm” represents the gap between skill levels. For a novice to defeat a master either requires unimaginable talent or divine assistance.
But though Hye-ryeong was a promising raw stone, she wasn’t yet fully polished, whereas Maehyang, more refined, was bound to have the upper hand.
“Looks like she’s lost control of the duel.”
“The Plum Twenty-Four Hands Sword Technique is known as a ‘first sight fatal’ sword method. Entranced by the dazzling plum blossoms, sword paths become disordered, eyes clouded, and feet stumble—thus, it’s rightly called one of the preeminent sword techniques.”
“…It’s been a long time.”
“Haha, it has. Mr. Wei. How have you been?”
“As you know, I’ve been enjoying the Martial Arts Tournament.”
Jega Hyeon-sang, his face partially concealed behind his white fan, watched the duel much like their first meeting.
“It’s fortunate to see you enjoying the tournament.”
‘Why did he come?’
“Just casual conversation?” William gave him a questioning look, to which Hyeon-sang smiled enigmatically and said,
“An idle passerby meeting an old friend need not worry. By the way, there’s a grand drinking party two days after the tournament… How about it? I know some good friends—”
An idle passerby?
Old friend?
“I’ll think about it.”
“Then, until next time.”
As if realizing his time was up, Jega Hyeon-sang turned his back.
“Have a good show.”
Maintaining his mysterious demeanor, Jega Hyeon-sang left.
“And the winner of this duel is… White Plum Cheong Maehyang!”
With that, the match concluded.
—————————————
“Hiiing… Uncle, I’ve failed.”
“You’ve done well.”
Considering the substantial skill gap, pushing that far as a newly-minted first-class swordsman was commendable.
I indulged Hye-ryeong, letting her rub her face against my hand as I pondered the invitation Jega Hyeon-sang had dropped earlier.
What’s his objective?
Just socializing?
This atmosphere is suspiciously off, leaving me clueless.
There doesn’t seem to be any malicious intent though.
“Silver Merit, I’ll take my leave now.”
“Ah, do well.”
Dan Mok-kyeong, being the protagonist, will naturally return victorious. After seeing her off, I sat down and chatted idly with Hye-ryeong.
“How did the match feel?”
“Hmm… My eyes were extremely dizzy! At first, there was a disorienting aura, but I pressed forward. But every attack was easily blocked. It felt different from sparring with you, Uncle, and once I fell into a defensive position, I couldn’t find a way to counter.”
“It’s natural to be disoriented by eye-confusing sword techniques so don’t worry too much. You’ll get stronger eventually.”
A newly ascended first-class swordsman doing this well against someone at a mid-first-class level was commendable.
“Can I get stronger?”
“Of course.”
About that, I could confidently assure her.
In the original story, she became a top-tier master through relentless effort at a young age, so judging from that, she has the potential to reach that level here as well.
Already knowing the winning lottery numbers, you could say…
“I’ll help you reach the next realm, so don’t worry too much.”
“Thank you…”
For what reason, I smiled goofily as Hye-ryeong leaned on me, and we both watched Song Wohan’s upcoming duel with Dan Mok-kyeong.
While wondering how long Song Wohan could last…
