‘…!’

‘This can’t be…!’

The crowd’s eyes widened like lanterns.

A flash of lightning, an expression insufficient to describe its speed.

At So-ah’s thunderbolt-like punch, the atmosphere of the arena froze coldly.

“Keuuugh…”

Red blood and a groan leaked from the mouth of the fallen Namgung Mun.

With that, he lost consciousness.

At that, the referee shouted with a trembling voice.

“M-Moyong Family’s Jin So-ah, victory!”

Simultaneously,

“Waaaah!”

“He’s really the best!”

“Ugh… to think Young Master Namgung was defeated.”

“As expected of our monster!”

“The Ten-Second Invincible Arts… it’s truly the best brawling art!”

Different exclamations of admiration and reflection erupted from all over the training ground.

Just then.

“Namgung Family Head. I apologize.”

Moyong Baek, who was seated in the highest seat of honor, said to the Head Instructor, Namgung Won, with an embarrassed face.

Namgung Won was silently looking at his fallen son’s figure with a dazed gaze.

At that, the other prominent figures also consoled Namgung Won.

“Immeasurable Longevity Buddha… Namgung Family Head. Although Young Master Namgung was defeated, it must have been a good experience.”

“To emit sword gang with the Emperor Sword Technique before even reaching the age of thirty! It is truly a great blessing for the Namgung Family. He will develop even further with this incident as an opportunity.”

“That’s right. It was a duel that proved that he is a great talent who will lead the martial world with So-ah in the future.”

But their consolation did not reach Namgung Won’s ears.

He furrowed his brow and opened his mouth, performing a cupped fist salute to the crowd.

“I will take your valuable opinions as encouragement. Then, I will take my leave.”

Then he turned his body and took a step.

‘Hmm…’

‘He seems to be enraged.’

‘It’s by no means a loss… the Namgung Family Head’s competitive spirit is frightening.’

Just as Namgung Won was getting farther away, Abbess Hong-ryeon burst into a bright laugh.

“Hohoho! I had guessed that So-ah’s martial arts would be strong, but I didn’t know it would be this much. Moyong Family Head, congratulations. From now on, So-ah will be a great star of the martial world.”

Not to be outdone, Hong In-geol also let out a hearty laugh and praised So-ah.

“Hehe! Namgung Mun’s martial arts alone were enough to make one’s tongue wag, but to subdue him in one blow! Soon, So-ah might surpass me. Kuhaha!”

Although it was a joke, not only Hong In-geol, but everyone in the seats had no doubt that such a day would surely come someday.

In that moment.

“Moyong Family Head.”

The Alliance Leader, Ha Won-sang, said softly with an unreadable expression.

“Yes, Alliance Leader.”

“To be honest, I was very worried because Young Master Jin has shown such strange behavior since he was appointed as an instructor.”

“Alliance Leader…”

“But today, I am convinced.”

“…”

“I am convinced that Young Master Jin will become the number one master of his generation and that he will sound a warning bell to many martial artists.”

“You flatter me.”

“Hoho! But on the other hand, I am also worried. How many people will be jealous of Young Master Jin in the future?”

“If it cannot be avoided, he will surely face it.”

A strange light appeared in the eyes of the prominent figures at Moyong Baek’s spirited words.

“At least, So-ah will do so.”

“…”

“Because So-ah is that kind of child.”

***

As soon as the duel was over, So-ah invited the family members to the annex.

Since Moyong Hwa and Moyong Su were also present, he thought that the whole family would gather for the first time in a long time and a harmonious atmosphere would continue…

“Hwa-ah! Why is your face swollen?”

“Su-ah. What is that bruise on your eye?”

Moyong Baek and Yeon So-so’s eyes widened.

It was because the faces of their only daughter, who was dearer to them than their own eyes, and their collateral nephew looked as if they had been beaten up.

“Father! So, you see, what happened was, Senior Brother So-ah!”

Moyong Hwa, as if she had been waiting, explained the events of the past in detail with a tearful voice.

It was the process of the ‘threshing’ training.

As the explanation continued, the faces of Moyong Baek and Yeon So-so changed subtly with each passing moment.

‘Hah…’

So-ah was inwardly embarrassed.

How much did his uncle and aunt trust him?

He felt as if his shameful secret was being revealed.

But.

“Hahaha! It seems you guys have met a scary Senior Brother and are having a hard time!”

Moyong Baek, on the contrary, burst into laughter.

“Father! Are you laughing? Don’t do that, just tell Senior Brother to stop hitting me. I can endure everything else, but the ‘threshing’ training is too much!”

But despite Moyong Hwa’s whining, Moyong Baek just responded with a friendly-looking face and patted her shoulder.

“Hwa-ah. Senior Brother has lived his life enduring such ruthless training until now. You and Su-ah must follow your Senior Brother. Don’t complain and train hard.”

“Ugh… Father, I really can’t follow Senior Brother. I’ll die if I do.”

Moyong Hwa’s face fell.

Only then did Moyong Baek, as if he couldn’t win, open his mouth softly to So-ah.

“Th-So-ah.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

“I’m sorry, but can’t you hit her face a little less? After all, Hwa-ah is a girl… hah… hoho.”

Although he acted as if he couldn’t help it, this was sincere.

No matter how important training was, no father would be pleased to see his eighteen-year-old daughter being beaten.

But So-ah’s answer was an unexpected thunderbolt.

“Uncle.”

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

“Hmm…”

“Because the more you hit, the better the effect.”

“Ah… I see.”

“That’s right.”

“Yes…”

“From now on, I will focus more on guiding my junior sister and junior brother.”

“Well, thank you. Thank you so much. Ahem!”

“Don’t mention it. It’s something I should do as a Senior Brother.”

“Yes. You must be happy to be so outstanding!”

So-ah let out a small laugh at Moyong Baek’s timid words with a hidden meaning.

***

Around the hour of the Pig.

White Martial Academy Pharmacy.

Late at night, So-ah visited the academy’s pharmacy.

The White Martial Academy’s pharmacy was staffed with a large number of outstanding doctors, and only the students and instructors of the White Martial Academy could receive treatment here.

“Welcome, Instructor Jin.”

“Ah, Doctor. Has Namgung Dae… no, has student Namgung Mun woken up?”

“Yes. He regained consciousness around evening and is now lying in a hospital bed.”

“Which room is he in?”

“He is in room 33.”

“I’ll go and see him for a moment.”

The reason he had visited the pharmacy was to meet Namgung Mun.

A little later…

So-ah opened the door of room 33 of the pharmacy.

At that, Namgung Mun, who was idly looking at the night sky through a small window gap, came into view.

“What is a patient doing up at this hour on a moonlit night? Are you enjoying the scenery?”

Namgung Mun just shook his head at So-ah’s natural question.

For Namgung Mun, who was steeped in custom and inertia, it was difficult to understand So-ah’s way of thinking.

“Who made me a patient? I don’t think that’s something you should say.”

“Made you a patient! You’re saying something serious. I just gave you a lesson.”

“A lesson… haha. How bitter. To think that I can’t even refute such words from you overnight.”

“Are you feeling wronged?”

“No. I don’t feel wronged.”

“…”

“Because you are that strong.”

“You’re quick to admit defeat, aren’t you?”

“I am not the petty person you think I am.”

That was certainly true.

So-ah had thought that Namgung Mun would be extremely hostile to him, but surprisingly, he acknowledged So-ah.

“But on the other hand, it is bitter and sad. That’s all…”

“Sad? Why?”

“Because I realized that no matter what I do, I can’t surpass you.”

“…”

“I had no doubt that I was the number one prodigy in the world, and that in the future, I would become the overwhelming number one of the Orthodox Path like the esteemed God of War, Moyong Cheon.”

“You have a strong sense of self-love…”

“Do you know the meaning of the Emperor Sword Technique? The Emperor Sword Technique is the highest martial art of the Namgung Family. No! Beyond our family, it is the best sword technique in the Jianghu. At least, I believe so.”

“…”

“Even though I performed a sword gang with such an Emperor Sword Technique, I couldn’t even touch a single hair of yours, so it’s only natural that I’m sad.”

In that moment.

So-ah’s playful voice turned rough and heavy.

“Hey! Namgung Mun.”

“…”

“You’re quite arrogant, aren’t you?”

“What did you say?”

“Did you really think you had perfectly mastered the Emperor Sword Technique? Really?”

“You brat…”

“No. Although you have acquired amazing things like the Emperor Sword Technique and sword gang, you were by no means perfect. The reason you were defeated was not because the Emperor Sword Technique was weak, but because you were weak.”

Namgung Mun was at a loss for words at So-ah’s words.

“Namgung Mun. Don’t be mistaken. There are only strong people, there are no strong martial arts. If the person named Namgung Mun was stronger than Jin So-ah, you would not have been defeated even if the martial art you learned was the Three Talents Sword Technique or the Six Harmonies Sword, not the Emperor Sword Technique.”

“That’s…”

“My grandfather used to say that martial arts are like building a house.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“A house built sturdily by making the best use of the available building materials can withstand a typhoon, but a house that is only flashy on the outside is vulnerable to wind and rain. Rather than learning a higher level of martial arts, train to erase the gaps in your martial arts.”

For a moment, Namgung Mun trembled as if he had been struck by lightning.

‘Training to erase the gaps…’

A faint thought.

But that thought confused Namgung Mun’s mind.

“Why are you giving me such a lesson?”

“A lesson? I can say anything. It doesn’t cost money.”

“…”

“And even if I say such things, it’s usually useless. Because humans tend not to follow the answer even if it’s given to them. Simply knowing and putting what you know into practice are as different as the sky and the earth. That’s why humans need someone to force them. For our Human Division students, I am that person.”

“That’s an interesting theory.”

“If you also need someone to force you, come to the Human division.”

“I’ll pass.”

“If you have the will, it’s better to be alone.”

“I will challenge you again someday.”

“Then I’ll hit you twice, not once.”

“Huhu, this is ridiculous.”

“You were ridiculous to me from the beginning, you brat.”

Namgung Mun, as if he was at a loss for words at So-ah’s eloquence, shook his head and let out a dry laugh.

Just then.

So-ah’s eyes drew an arc.

“You’re laughing?”

“What did you say?”

“Did you forget?”

“What do you mean?”

“You brat, you’re my younger brother from now on.”

“What?”

“Now! Say ‘older brother’.”

“…”

“You’re not going to? Is the great Namgung Mun going back on his word?”

“That’s… a bit much, isn’t it? I’m older than you…”

“Tsk tsk, I knew it. You brat, you were defeated in the duel and you were also defeated as a man. I’m disappointed, Namgung Mun.”

Namgung Mun’s face turned bright red, perhaps because of his shame.

‘I have no choice… I’m not a shameless person who breaks promises.’

Namgung Mun had no choice but to say the words ‘older brother’ to So-ah, and was just about to open his mouth.

Just then.

“But if you do something else, I’ll acknowledge that you’ve kept your promise without you having to say ‘older brother’.”

“No, I’ll just say ‘older brother’…”

“Ah! Enough!”

So-ah cut off Namgung Mun’s words fiercely.

“As soon as your body heals, come to the training ground by the hour of the Rabbit every day.”

“What do you mean by that? No, from now on, I’ll call you older brother…”

“You!”

“Huh?”

“From now on, you will be a student of the Human division.”

With those words, So-ah kicked open the door and left.

‘What on earth is this…’

Namgung Mun was so bewildered that he just stood there blankly, looking at the place where So-ah had disappeared for a while.

***

The next day.

As usual, the students of the Human division came out to the training ground at dawn.

Today, for some reason, So-ah let out an even more bizarre laugh and shouted with all his might.

“Gentlemen. I think you all know.”

“Ah~ what is it again?”

Han Baek frowned.

He was tired as it was, but when So-ah uttered a meaningful phrase that only he knew, he felt anxious.

“Don’t you know the reason why I didn’t end the duel yesterday and dragged it on?”

“…”

“It was because I wanted to teach you the strategy of depleting your opponent’s stamina.”

“Yes?!”

“That’s how much stamina is the beginning and end of a match. If Namgung Mun’s stamina had surpassed mine, I would never have been able to win.”

But no one took So-ah’s words at face value.

‘What is that monster saying again?’

‘Look at him making things up. Anyone can tell it’s nonsense, right?’

‘No, he made him a bloody mess in one blow, so what’s with all this talk about stamina?’

‘Hah… today, he’s going to use that as an excuse to kill us.’

And their thoughts became reality.

“In that sense, today’s stamina training will be twice, or even three times, the usual. I’ve made a promise! At the very least, I will never let the students who receive my teachings experience defeat due to a lack of stamina or endurance.”

“Hah…”

“Please just shut…”

“Sigh…”

“Now! Then let’s start today with a hot ‘threshing’.”

For some reason, it seemed as if So-ah’s club was imbued with a strong ki today.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep