Demonic arts. A martial art that collectively refers to the main martial arts of the Demonic Cult, it is considered one of the most hegemonic martial arts in the world.

It was also a powerful martial art, to the extent that the Heavenly Demons of the time all showed monstrous martial prowess.

However, the public’s perception of it is not good, and it is difficult to achieve great success due to various circumstances.

And Baek Hasin was the former.

“What? What are you telling me to learn now?”

Baek Hasin, who showed an angry expression.

‘Is it unavoidable? Since his mother was pursued by the Demonic Cult for her entire life due to her chivalrous activities.’

So much so that there was even a rumor that the reason she left Baek Hasin, who was a baby, in the care of the Baek family and disappeared was because of that.

Behind the persecution of Baek Hasin, who had outstanding martial prowess, there was also a past where several members of the Baek family had suffered because of Baek Yeon-seo.

Telling such a Baek Hasin to learn demonic arts was like telling him to take his enemy as his master.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.”

Baek Hasin, who had soon gathered his emotions, answered in a low voice.

Even in the original work, it took a lot of effort to make it an option, so I didn’t think it would be so simple with just one duel.

“Do as you please.”

When I answered with an indifferent tone, Baek Hasin added.

“I didn’t mean to ignore your insight.”

“There’s no need to be mindful. In the end, the choice is up to the individual. I’m not your mother.”

I deliberately scratched him hard. A harsh remark that could only be made now, when it is believed that I don’t know the circumstances.

“You lack desperation.”

“What do you mean…!”

Baek Hasin flared up at the complete disregard, which was added to the mention of his mother.

“Were you planning to change your martial arts with just that kind of resolve? You must have felt it too. Your family’s swordsmanship cannot fully contain your talent.”

A declaration. Baek Hasin, who had been glaring this way for a moment, flinched.

“If you were planning to choose a martial art based on your likes and dislikes, then live by inertia without any questions, receiving whatever is given to you like a fool from another sect. And die as a puppet, doing as you’re told on the path that others have laid out for you. If what you want to achieve is only that much.”

It was a venomous remark. The abusive language created by the tongue addicted to [Arrogant Young Master] was like a dagger that pierced Baek Hasin’s heart.

‘I’ve done everything I can in this situation.’

If I emphasized it any more here, it would only have a counter-effect.

Since I had nothing more to say, I turned around without any lingering feelings.

At a glance, it might seem as if I was displeased because my advice was not accepted.

‘There’s no one to see anyway.’

Just as I was about to move my feet with that thought.

“To think you’d care so much. It’s unexpected.”

There was a handsome man who had come down from the wall.

A well-tied hair and a smiling face. It was Baek Cheong.

“To think the future Plum Blossom Sword Saint is a voyeur. I’m worried about the future of the Huashan Sect.”

“Haha, I’m sorry for eavesdropping. But I was just so disappointed that we parted ways earlier.”

“I’m not disappointed.”

“You’re cold. I even taught you the Six Harmonies Sword.”

“There’s no reason to repay a favor with a favor.”

As I was about to ignore him after saying that, Baek Cheong suddenly blocked my way with a mysterious lightness skill.

“But you can at least exchange a sword move, can’t you?”

The sight of him looking this way with a smiling face was very unpleasant. It didn’t seem like he would let me go obediently.

When I stealthily drew my sword, Baek Cheong reacted as if he were expecting it.

The blade that had been stealthily pushed out reflected the sunlight above my head, and at the same time, a condensed light magic burst out and was shot at the guy’s eyes.

In an instant, the guy’s vision blurred.

At the same time, I stepped on the Spirit God Steps and approached him.

Clang!

I had rushed in an instant and tried to attack from behind Baek Cheong. But Baek Cheong, who had already closed his eyes and drawn his sword to block.

It was a monstrous sense, even though I had deliberately blocked his vision and launched a surprise attack.

‘To think I used half of my mana for just one exchange.’

To gain an advantage, I had condensed my mana to create a sword qi, enhanced my muscle strength to gain explosive power, used Grease magic on the pre-planned path, and even disturbed his hearing with wind magic.

And yet, I was pushed back by his sword strength.

It was an attack that I had paid quite a bit of attention to.

“Something’s fresh. Very peculiar.”

The sight of Baek Cheong, who was now looking this way with only one eye open, was chilling. A posture as if he wouldn’t be caught next time.

“You’re going to do more, right?”

I answered in a low voice to his expectant appearance.

“If you beat Baek Hasin and come back.”

“Ah, come to think of it, you were said to be on equal terms with him, right?”

“I held back. With my skills, one exchange is enough. You should also show that much of a gap and come back.”

[Arrogant Young Master] was activated, and a bluff-filled remark came out naturally.

Although it was a ridiculous bluff to anyone, Baek Cheong smiled as if it were interesting and answered.

“I will. You said one exchange, right?”

Without listening to the rest of the words, I stepped on the Spirit God Steps and quickly left the place. It was in case he would chase me.

‘With this, the aggro has been passed on to Baek Hasin.’

To follow the flow of the original work to some extent, Baek Cheong’s interest had to go to Baek Hasin, not me.

After all, it’s good if the representatives interact with each other. Baek Hasin needed real combat experience.

‘This is how you handle the leftovers.’

I continued my steps.

* * *

A few days had passed since that day. It was a series of days where I steadily went through classes and training.

For reference, Peng Geun-u, who had come to have a duel, had also been sent to Baek Hasin.

I had also declared to Peng Geun-u that I wouldn’t fight him if he couldn’t subdue Baek Hasin in one exchange.

Although the guy had protested, when I said that Baek Cheong had also accepted it, it seemed his pride was piqued, and he was still having duels with Baek Hasin every other day.

Thanks to that, the guy must be in a real combat hell by now.

‘Good.’

Originally, a protagonist is best when they are rolled around.

I walked through the alley with a satisfied heart.

Today’s classes were over, so I was planning to practice the Six Harmonies Sword now.

“You bastard!”

Just then, a voice was heard.

‘What is this?’

When I turned my head, a blue embroidery came into my eyes. It was the symbol of an intermediate student.

The fierce face on top of it looked somewhat familiar.

“That guy from back then?”

“You don’t even recognize your senior?!”

It was the intermediate student I had run into when I came out of the intermediate library. He had tried to take the Muhak Sword but had been beaten instead.

“What is it?”

“I heard a rumor that you are disturbing the public morals with your cowardly methods. You must have pulled a trick like that on me too.”

“What kind of trick are you talking about?”

I deliberately asked brazenly. Perhaps because he was embarrassed to talk about losing to a junior student, he got angry instead.

“You bastard! You’re so shameless. And to think you even became a representative for the friendly match with that. As a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect, I will gladly correct the public morals!”

He drew his sword in anger. There was no one around. He must have come to find me at a time like this.

‘In that case, there’s no need to be mindful.’

I slowly gripped the Muhak Sword.

It was just as well. I needed a real combat opponent to prepare for the upcoming friendly match.

‘Not a monster like Baek Cheong or Peng Geun-u, but a moderate level.’

“Well, I don’t know what to do with your teachings.”

At the same time, the sword was drawn.

“You’re going to do it? How arrogant.”

The intermediate student of the Qingcheng Sect was also holding his sword, as if he wouldn’t make the same mistake as last time.

‘When we fought before, I was able to win thanks to magic and tricks.’

This time, I was planning to settle the match with just swordsmanship.

‘The enemy I have to face is not a guy like this, but a being above him.’

If I get pushed back in a sword fight by a mere below-average intermediate student like this, I won’t even be able to face a monster like Namgung Bihwa.

Thinking so, I stepped on the true step. A sword strike that rushed in from a vertical stance, following the forms of the Six Harmonies Sword.

The opponent also, as if he had expected this, raised his sword and blocked the offensive.

On the contrary, he even showed a sign of slightly deflecting the sword strength.

Even a rotten fish is still a fish. He had the skills to be called an intermediate student.

I corrected my sword path on the spot to match this and swung my sword horizontally.

When the blow that had drawn out the unique harmony and balance of the Six Harmonies Sword rushed in, the opponent also blocked it in a fluster.

“This is…!”

He bent his wrist as if it were fluttering and then swung his sword at me in reverse. The Qingfeng Swordsmanship.

The tip of the sword was soft, as if it wasn’t for nothing that the name of the swordsmanship meant wind.

‘But that’s all.’

I began to make changes to the Six Harmonies Sword. Then, the sword drew a graceful curved sword path as if it were going against the wind.

Clang!

In an instant, I blocked the opponent’s flow with a changed form and began to push him back, and the other side showed a surprised expression.

“No way! How can you…!”

“Your tongue is long for your skills.”

The talent of the [Limitless Martial Body] had grasped the opponent’s form. Strength entered the hand holding the sword, and based on the two feet firmly fixed on the ground, a single sword soared.

Claaang!

The opponent who was pushed back by the momentary qi wave. Although he had a look of astonishment, it was already too late to respond.

I aimed the recovered sword near the intermediate student’s neck and shouted.

“Do you want to do more?”

“Eek…!”

The opponent who was trembling with humiliation. But the match was already decided.

“…I’ll go back.”

He answered surprisingly obediently.

‘It’s understandable.’

After being beaten to this extent, even a fool would feel it. That he had lost completely in terms of skill.

And most of all, since the battle just now was a pure swordsmanship duel without any magic, it would have been even more so.

I sheathed my sword, looking at the intermediate student who was turning around powerlessly.

The sensation of breaking through the opponent’s form still remained at my fingertips.

‘I was lucky.’

Thanks to that, I was able to get a much clearer feel for it.

I closed my eyes and observed my mental image.

As the Six Harmonies Cultivation Method was operated, the inspiration for the sword forms that would branch out like countless branches came to me randomly.

The Six Harmonies Sword is like a tree. It was a plant that stood straight on the ground and cast its shadow in all directions.

When it met a typhoon, it was flexible and rigid like a bamboo, and when it met a rock, it was like spreading its roots and digging in.

It was a real battle where I could grasp the subtleties of the Six Harmonies Sword more deeply.

And I also grasped my own level on the side.

I had proven that I had the skills of a first-rate, the average of an intermediate student, with just swordsmanship. It was a satisfying result in many ways.

But on the contrary, I realized. That with a swordsmanship of this level, I would never be able to achieve results in the friendly match. On the contrary, I would only be embarrassed.

‘I have to win with magic.’

The only firepower that could create a variable was magic.

To be considered one of the top among the intermediate students, you had to be at least at the peak level. There was a vast gap with myself right now.

‘A hastily made formation won’t work on an opponent like that. In the end, is that the only way?’

I checked the plan I had set up in advance and headed to the dormitory.

* * *

Time passed, and the friendly exchange match between the students began.

It was a place where only the intermediate and junior students were gathered, excluding the advanced students who were busy with external missions or training.

“Ah, then shall we begin?”

In the huge training ground of the academy. In the middle of the stage stood a woman with red hair, Wu Hwiryeong.

It seemed she was in charge among the professors in charge of the intermediate students.

Although her attitude was light, since all the intermediate students who knew her martial prowess were participating in the event with a neat posture, a solemnity lingered in the venue.

“First, I will call the representatives of the intermediate students…”

The first one to be called was Bong So, from the Shaolin Sect.

Although he was bald, he was a man with a handsome appearance. However, the calluses on the back of his hand, which he was politely cupping, proved that he had accumulated a considerable amount of external arts.

He was currently the top student and was considered the strongest among the intermediate students.

The second one to be called was the second-place Namgung Bihwa. She focused the attention of those around with her unique beauty and atmosphere.

In the original work, the ranking changed slightly with each playthrough, so I didn’t know, but it seemed she had taken the second place here.

After that, Mo Yonghan from the Moyong Sect, who had a muscular and reliable physique, and Yeo Jingon, a direct disciple of the Zhongnan Sect with a strict impression, were introduced, and finally, the introduction ended with the calling of Go Subin, a female hero of the Beggars’ Sect.

‘They are all not easy opponents.’

I could tell by facing them like this. The skill of hiding their aura and the qualities they had accumulated gave the impression that they were stronger than the instructors.

Soon, the representatives of the junior students were also called, and finally, the first event of the friendly exchange match began.

It was the nomination ceremony.

“From now on, the representatives of the intermediate students will nominate the junior students they want.”

At Wu Hwiryeong’s words, a tension enveloped the venue.

From now on was the most important moment.

The nomination is usually in order of grades.

Since the top student, Bong So, would nominate first, the one who was called by him would be fighting against the strongest opponent among the existing intermediate students.

Bong So scanned the surroundings like a hawk. A moment that naturally made one tense.

‘Please don’t let it be me…’

I have no way of doing anything about this. As I was praying inwardly, Bong So’s mouth opened.

“In this wide academy, the rumors about the new talent of the Huashan Sect are widespread. I would like to share my martial arts with student Baek Cheong.”

‘Phew.’

Baek Cheong showed a look of anticipation and returned the greeting. With this, I had survived the first blow.

Of course, the biggest problem remained.

“Then next!”

Wu Hwiryeong’s voice echoed.

The second one was Namgung Bihwa.

‘Please just go.’

I absolutely must not fight with her. Because the sword of the Namgung family was, in a sense, the natural enemy of magic.

To avoid being chosen somehow, I tried my best to look at a distant mountain and erased my presence.

Did my efforts work?

Namgung Bihwa glared at me and then turned her gaze away. And then she parted her lips.

“I would like to fight with student Zhuge Cheonwu.”

‘Damn it.’

(End of Chapter)

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