Light Novel: Volume 1 Episode 7
Manhwa: Chapter 5-6
Chapter 3 Episode 7. The Disciple Looks to the Master, and the Master Consoles the Disciple (1)
The winner of the first match was Seom-gyeong.
Seom-gyeong neutralized Un-gyeong’s Seven Star Sword Technique by using the Plum Blossom Scattering Down the Mountain move from the Plum Blossom Fist.
Sage Hyun-geom did not say anything after the match ended and moved directly to the next duel.
Winners and losers were decided, and joy and despair were written on their faces.
The victors were elated at the possibility of inheriting Sage Hyun-geom’s insights, while the defeated were despondent. A strange heat filled the True Martial Temple.
The hunger for victory and the desire to become stronger were clouding everyone’s reason. Even Moo-kyung, who wasn’t participating in the matches, had a glint of excitement in his eyes.
Dam-ho frowned.
In his five years at the Mount Hua Sect, he had never felt this kind of intense atmosphere. Though the Mount Hua Sect was primarily a martial sect, it was also a Taoist sect, which usually maintained a calm, tranquil atmosphere. Now, however, the place was heating up with fervor.
‘Is this what he intended? For the atmosphere to become like this?’
Dam-ho glanced over at Sage Hyun-geom, who stood in a corner of the clearing.
Despite the intense atmosphere, which felt almost like madness, Sage Hyun-geom remained as calm and composed as ever.
As if sensing Dam-ho’s gaze, Sage Hyun-geom looked in his direction. The moment their eyes met, Dam-ho felt a sharp shock, as though his eyes were being pierced by needles, causing him to stagger. However, he did not avert his gaze.
Sage Hyun-geom’s eyes flickered with interest at Dam-ho’s reaction, but it was only for a moment as his gaze quickly shifted back to the clearing.
In the clearing, Han Soyu was engaged in a duel with another first-generation disciple.
She was performing the Twenty-Four Plum Blossoms Sword Technique. With each graceful movement of her pale, delicate hands, plum blossoms seemed to bloom in the air. In contrast, her opponent was flinching and steadily being pushed back.
Even to Dam-ho, who was unfamiliar with the Plum Blossom Sword, her execution of the techniques appeared both beautiful and efficient.
“Oooh!”
Exclamations of awe erupted from all around. However, Sage Hyun-geom frowned slightly, seemingly displeased by something. Most of the people, though, were too preoccupied and engrossed with Han Soyu’s duel to notice.
Swish!
Finally, Han Soyu’s sword sliced through the sleeve of the first-generation disciple’s robe, and only then did the confrontation end. Admitting defeat, the first-generation disciple stared at his robe, which had been cut deeply across the chest.
If the cut had been a couple of inches deeper, he would no longer be a living man of this world.
“Senior Sister, thank you for showing restraint.”
“You were impressive as well, Junior Brother.”
After the two disciples exchanged ritualistic greetings, they returned to their places.
Dam-ho watched Han Soyu intently as she stood beside Moo-kyung, her face slightly flushed.
‘Senior Sister’s Twenty-Four Plum Blossoms Sword Technique is truly remarkable. For her to be able to execute the techniques so gracefully like that.’
Han Soyu was almost the only person who could perform the Twenty-Four Plum Blossoms Sword Technique with such dazzling finesse. Being a woman, she lacked physical strength, so this had been her way of compensating.
Even with the same martial arts, the power they could exhibit varied greatly depending on what insights one gained and how one applied them.
Although it wasn’t perfect yet, Han Soyu was gradually developing her own unique Plum Blossom Sword.
Dam-ho was quite surprised to realize that Han Soyu’s skills far surpassed what he had vaguely suspected, but he didn’t feel envious. Although his progress was slow, he believed he would one day reach that level too.
At that moment, Sage Hyun-geom’s voice rang out.
“Next, Soo-kyung and Cheon-gyeong.”1
Hearing his name called, Dam-ho lifted his head.
Soo-kyung was one of the most skilled martial artists among the first-generation disciples. His personality was extremely firm and blunt, causing many of the second-generation disciples to fear him greatly.
Dam-ho stepped out into the clearing. Sage Hyun-geom frowned as he looked at Dam-ho. It was because he noticed Dam-ho’s slight limp.
Dam-ho offered the usual palm and fist salute toward Soo-kyung.
“Senior Brother.”
“Of all people, why does my opponent have to be you.”
Soo-kyung’s expression twisted.
What Soo-kyung truly wanted was to face a worthy opponent and show off his skills in front of Sage Hyun-geom. There would be nothing to boast about in defeating a cripple.
Soo-kyung glanced at Sage Hyun-geom. His eyes looked as if he was asking if he really had to fight Dam-ho. Whether he understood the meaning in his gaze or not, Sage Hyun-geom walked over to stand in front of Dam-ho.
“Cheon-gyeong.”
“Yes!”
“You’re the disciple that Hyun-so took in, correct?”
“That’s right.”
“Hmph!”
Sage Hyun-geom’s gaze grew even colder.
Dam-ho’s eyes also hardened. Although Sage Hyun-geom didn’t say anything more, Dam-ho could clearly feel that Sage Hyun-geom was displeased with him.
“You can return now.”
“……”
“Did you not hear me? I said leave.”
“May I ask why…?”
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
“Yes, I am.”
Sensing that Dam-ho’s response was bold, a chill spread through Sage Hyun-geom’s eyes. Though Dam-ho felt intimidated by that cold gaze, he did not avert his eyes.
After staring at Dam-ho for a moment, Sage Hyun-geom clicked his tongue.
“You’re quite headstrong. A man should at least be that much. However, as a martial artist, you possess a serious flaw.”
“Is it my leg?”
“Yes.”
At the expected answer, Dam-ho’s eyes wavered. He couldn’t help but feel disappointed. He had thought that, as the greatest master of the Mount Hua Sect, Sage Hyun-geom would have a different perspective, but he was no different from the others.
“My sword is not something a cripple can learn.”
Sage Hyun-geom’s voice was filled with pride for his swordsmanship, but Dam-ho’s heart was being torn to shreds.
Dam-ho narrowed his eyes.
“I, too, am a first-generation disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“If you are a disciple of a scholar, then it’s only right for you to walk the path of a scholar. If you do, then you too, will receive the respect of scholars, just like Hyun-so.”
“Are you telling me to quit learning martial arts?”
“Aren’t you already experiencing your own limitations? You must have been struggling all this time, trying to overcome your physical limitations, right?”
Sage Hyun-geom’s gaze traveled to Dam-ho’s legs. Although it was hidden by his clothes, he could see that Dam-ho’s right leg, which was much thicker than the other disciples, stood out.
None of the disciples of the Mount Hua Sect had a right leg like Dam-ho’s. Sage Hyun-geom could tell how hard and fiercely Dam-ho had worked and trained. But in contrast, Dam-ho’s left leg looked meager and frail.
“No matter how much you train, you will never overcome the severe imbalance in your body. You will never reach the highest level of martial arts. Rather than wasting more time on futile efforts, it would be better for you to find another path early on. That is the only advice I can offer you.”
“I can’t do that.”
At Dam-ho’s adamant response, Sage Hyun-geom frowned.
An ordinary person would have cowered and been intimidated just by looking into his eyes, but Dam-ho didn’t back down. As much as he admired that kind of unyielding spirit, taking on a disciple to pass on his insights required a different kind of cold, rational judgement.
“Are you saying you won’t step back?”
“I want to at least have the same opportunity as everyone else.”
“Very well. If your determination is that strong then…”
At Dam-ho’s stubborn insistence, Sage Hyun-geom’s aura and temper flared.
Stepping back, he spoke to Soo-kyung.
“Begin the sparring match!”
“But–!”
“Make him realize the reality. It’s for his own good.”
“…understood.”
Hearing Sage Hyun-geom’s firm tone, Soo-kyung nodded reluctantly as if he had no choice.
Soo-kyung raised his fist and pointed it toward Dam-ho.
“Junior Brother, don’t hold it against me.”
It was the starting stance of the Five Elements Strange Form Fist,2 one of the Mount Hua Sect’s highest-level techniques.
It was a difficult technique to master, as the Five Elements Strange Form Fist required the manipulation of internal energy according to the principles of the five elements. Though difficult to learn, once perfected, it could crush even the largest boulders with a single punch.
Dam-ho took a deep breath and assumed the starting stance for Bamboo Leaf Hand. Though its power couldn’t compare to the Five Elements Strange Form Fist, it was the martial art Dam-ho had trained in the longest. He had faith in it.
Seeing the two face off, Han Soyu’s face turned pale.
“Is this okay? Shouldn’t we stop them? Bamboo Leaf Hand can’t possibly match up against the Five Elements Strange Form Fist.”
“It’s a decision made by none other than Junior Uncle Hyun-geom. No one can overturn it.”
Moo-kyung’s expression was also grim. But realistically, there was nothing he could do about it.
Sage Hyun-geom was a figure so powerful that even the sect leader, Sage Hyun-cheon, could not oppose easily. There was no way Moo-kyung could overturn the decision of such a powerful figure.
Un-gyeong spoke up.
“Junior Uncle Hyun-geom’s decision is the right one. For Cheon-gyeong’s sake, we must make him realize reality.”
“Senior Brother?”
“How long will you let him dream? Think again about what is truly in Cheon-gyeong’s best interest.”
At Un-gyeong’s cold words, Han Soyu bit her lip hard.
At that moment, Soo-kyung and Dam-ho clashed.
Thwack!
Soo-kyung and Dam-ho’s hands clashed.
The first-generation disciples watching the match widened their eyes. Contrary to their expectation that Dam-ho would be defeated in a single strike, he was surprisingly holding his own against the Five Elements Strange Form Fist.
“Was Cheon-gyeong always at that level?”
“I can’t believe Bamboo Leaf Hand can stand up to the Five Elements Strange Form Fist.”
They murmured in astonishment.
The most surprised person, however, was Soo-kyung himself, who was directly facing Dam-ho. The rebound force he felt from Dam-ho’s hand was in no way ordinary.
The fact that the Bamboo Leaf Hand, one of the most basic martial arts of the Mount Hua Sect, could hold its own against his Five Elements Strange Form Fist was surprising, but at the same time, it hurt his pride.
‘How dare he!’
Soo-kyung’s eyebrows shot up.
Tatadadada!
His hand moved even faster, his fists seemingly filling the entire air. It was the Wood Dominates Earth Strike, one of the deadly moves of the Five Elements Strange Form Fist.
As the name suggests, it embodied the principle that wood energy overpowers and destroys earth energy.
“Ugh!”
Dam-ho let out a low groan from the impact transmitted through his hands, but he managed not to retreat.
Soo-kyung’s techniques were dazzlingly intricate. In contrast, Dam-ho’s Bamboo Leaf Hand was extremely simple, yet solid, as unyielding as his determination.
‘I am not wrong.’
Dam-ho gritted his teeth.
He wanted to prove that his crippled leg wouldn’t stop him from practicing his martial arts.
Thwack!
At that moment, Soo-kyung’s fist slammed into his side. Dam-ho’s face contorted in shock at the breath-stopping blow. But even in that situation, Dam-ho pushed forward with the Bamboo Leaf Hand, thrusting against Soo-kyung’s chest.
Thunk!
Soo-kyung’s complexion changed. Though the blow carried little internal energy and lacked power, he hadn’t expected Dam-ho to land a hit at all.
Boom!
Suddenly, Dam-ho’s momentum changed. He shed the lightness of his movements, and a sense of heaviness set in. He had switched from the Bamboo Leaf Hand to the Crouching Tiger Fist.
Using his left foot as his axis, Dam-ho stepped forward, firmly planting his right foot, and then threw out a powerful punch.
Thwack!
Dam-ho’s strike exploded against Soo-kyung’s forearm. Soo-kyung’s forearm swelled up almost immediately. He had been caught off guard by the unexpected blow and taken damage for it.
Soo-kyung’s expression changed. He glanced sideways and saw Sage Hyun-geom’s displeased face. If he let this continue and fell out of Sage Hyun-geom’s favor, his chance of becoming his direct disciple would be gone forever.
‘Damn it! I didn’t want to resort to this, but…’
Soo-kyung’s movements changed.
His steps became erratic, like plum blossoms scattering in the wind. It was the Plum Blossom Steps.
Soo-kyung began circling around Dam-ho. Dam-ho planted his left foot firmly on the ground, bracing himself defensively. But it wasn’t enough to keep up with Soo-kyung’s Plum Blossom Steps.
Soo-kyung repeatedly advanced and retreated. Dam-ho’s movements faltered for a moment under Soo-kyung’s unpredictable footwork. Soo-kyung didn’t miss the single fleeting opening and struck.
The Fire Dominates Metal Strike, which uses fire energy to overpower metal, exploded against Dam-ho’s chest.
Boom!
Dam-ho’s body was sent flying backward.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
In the manhwa, Un-gyeong won but here in the novel, Seom-gyeong won.
If there are any errors, whether it be grammatical, spelling, translation, or website-related issues, feel free to let me know. (´◡`) Anyway, thank you for reading!
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