Sa-shin-dan
Mu-jin, who had stepped forward, spoke up.
“It seems there’s no one else to co forward. Who shall I fight first among the two of you?”
As soon as Mu-jin finished speaking, Cheongsu Dojang and Namgung Jin-cheon glared at each other.
Mu-jin sighed inwardly at their childish behavior, each wanting to go first.
“You both seem to have used quite a bit of your internal energy during the match. I will fight the one who recovers their energy first.”
As soon as Mu-jin finished speaking, the two imdiately sat down cross-legged and began to gather their energy, despite being surrounded by dozens of people.
In any other situation, a sudden attack could be fatal, but their priority was the match against Mu-jin rather than such risks.
“Crazy fools.”
Mu-jin shook his head in disbelief.
How much ti had passed in this strange tension?
Namgung Jin-cheon was the first to open his eyes.
As soon as he finished gathering his energy, he stood up abruptly, glaring at Mu-jin.
Namgung Jin-cheon had endured three years of hellish training for this mont.
For soone who prided himself as a king, the idea of anyone being above him was intolerable.
But his pride also ant he couldn’t resort to underhanded tactics like sending assassins or plotting secretly.
Defeating the man who looked down on him with his own strength—that was the Namgung family’s way.
The determination in Namgung Jin-cheon’s eyes was familiar to Mu-jin.
“He’s just like his grandfather.”
It was the sa look Namgung Sword Emperor had when fighting against Yunheo Zhenren and Hyun-gwang.
“Shall we begin?”
“Whenever you’re ready.”
Without another word, the two n moved.
Boom!!
The sound of their initial clash was deafening, beyond the level of a simple sword and fist eting.
Boom!!
Their continued exchanges of sword and fist produced constant explosions.
“As expected, his strength is monstrous.”
Despite employing the Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship, known as the greatest heavy sword technique, Namgung Jin-cheon couldn’t overpower Mu-jin.
If anything, if he slowed his internal energy flow even slightly, he would be pushed back.
Screech.
The clash of Mu-jin’s fist against the sword created a grating noise from the friction between the sword hilt and his palm.
As Namgung Jin-cheon focused on his sword, Mu-jin suddenly swept his leg.
“Hup!!”
Barely retreating in ti, Namgung Jin-cheon’s forehead was covered in sweat.
Using his arm to block the sword while sweeping his leg—such ease in distributing his power.
Though it was a blow to the pride of a direct descendant of the Namgung family, known for their unrivaled heavy sword, Namgung Jin-cheon wasn’t discouraged.
In his match with Cheongsu Dojang, he hadn’t been serious.
Why had he endured three years of grueling training after the Yongbongji Conference?
“Haaaa!!”
It was for this mont.
To repay the humiliation suffered at the hands of the Shaolin Dragon.
Boom!!
As Mu-jin blocked Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword again, a ripple of intensity flickered in his eyes.
The impact through the sword was getting heavier with each clash.
Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword was growing heavier with each strike.
Born as the eldest son of the Namgung family, Namgung Jin-cheon had undergone the Balmo Se-su and consud miraculous elixirs as casually as snacks.
So said that consuming excessive elixirs could turn the surplus energy into poison, harming the body.
But for Namgung Jin-cheon, who was born with exceptional martial bones and underwent the Balmo Se-su, it wasn’t an issue.
However, while he had no problem accumulating internal energy, there was a hidden flaw he didn’t realize.
When he used his martial arts, he didn’t handle his internal energy with precision.
Even with reckless use of internal energy, his techniques flowed effortlessly without straining his body.
Thanks to his naturally robust physique and the reinforced blood pathways from the Balmo Se-su.
Unaware of the flaw, he couldn’t perceive it as a problem.
But three years ago, after his defeat, Namgung Jin-cheon realized his flaw.
And now…
Boom!!
With each clash against Mu-jin, Namgung Jin-cheon condensed his internal energy into his body and sword.
Unlike before, not a single strand of internal energy was wasted.
With ticulous control, he gathered his vast internal energy into his sword and body.
Whoosh.
The imnse internal energy made his sword hum, producing a fierce resonance.
Yet sohow…
Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword grew heavier, but the Shaolin Dragon didn’t retreat a single step.
No, instead of retreating…
‘…is he smiling?’
A deep smile spread across Mu-jin’s face.
For Mu-jin, this situation was nothing but enjoyable.
A contest of strength.
His opponent was challenging him in his strongest field—how could it not be fun?
Boom!!
With each clash of sword and fist, the weight of the blows resonated through Mu-jin’s muscles, awakening a familiar sensation.
Like exerting maximum effort in weightlifting, Mu-jin smiled even more broadly and threw another punch.
Boom!!
As the two n relentlessly clashed at the center of the training ground, the spectators had a dazed look on their faces.
Although it was just sword and fist strikes, the explosions were like thunderclaps.
Wooong!
As Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword reached its limit and emitted a powerful resonance…
“Haaaa!”
He lifted his sword, assuming a high guard, and his sword was now imbued with a golden aura.
Mu-jin realized that this would be Namgung Jin-cheon’s final move and assud a defensive stance.
Though he could avoid the final strike and counterattack, Mu-jin had no intention of avoiding a strength contest.
As Namgung Jin-cheon, ready, swung his raised sword down…
A burst of golden energy shot from Mu-jin’s fist.
As soon as Mu-jin’s Invincible Divine Fist and Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword aura collided…
Clang.
Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword shattered like glass.
Not just the sword.
“Since you’ve suffered internal injuries, how about sitting down for so Qi gathering?”
“….”
Namgung Jin-cheon, his face pale from the internal injuries, glared at Mu-jin for a mont, then spat blood and sat down cross-legged.
The flow of the duel reminded Mu-jin of the past duels between Hyun-gwang and Namgung Sword Emperor.
‘Indeed, still a long way to go.’
Mu-jin felt even more aware of his own shortcomings.
After all, Hyun-gwang could handle not Namgung Jin-cheon but the Namgung Sword Emperor himself as easily as if he were Sun Wukong in Buddha’s palm.
Thinking of the late Hyun-gwang, Mu-jin shook his head lightly to clear his thoughts and turned around.
“Shall we begin, Master Cheongsu?”
Master Cheongsu, with a gleam of excitent in his eyes, had already drawn his sword and was looking at Mu-jin.
* * *
The duel between Mu-jin and Master Cheongsu unfolded quite differently from the one with Namgung Jin-cheon.
To put it simply, it resembled a ga of tag more than a duel.
Unlike Namgung Jin-cheon, who had stood his ground and clashed head-on with Mu-jin…
Whirl!
Master Cheongsu used the Swift Step, moving around the entire training ground while swinging his sword.
Boom!!!
To chase down the evasive Cheongsu, Mu-jin employed the Fast Ascent Step aggressively, causing explosions on the training ground floor.
However, while Mu-jin might have seen it as a ga of tag, the observers were shocked by the duel’s spectacle.
The harmonious blend of the soft Taiji movents with the occasional lethal sharpness of Cheongsu’s swordplay demonstrated a level of skill that made the difference in talent evident to all watching.
As for Mu-jin…
‘Is he even human?’
The spectators felt a difference not just in talent but in the very nature of their beings.
Cheongsu’s complex techniques, which the spectators couldn’t even dream of emulating, had no effect on this monstrous opponent.
The blue sword aura of Master Cheongsu was often blocked by Mu-jin’s golden aura. Even when the blade managed to touch Mu-jin’s skin…
Clang!
Incredibly, the contact produced a tallic sound as if his body was made of brass, reminiscent of the ancient deity Chi You.
However, the most bizarre aspect was that despite the dire situation…
Master Cheongsu’s face wore a sinister smile of pure enjoynt.
It was as if he was happiest when pushed to his limits.
While Namgung Jin-cheon had trained for three years to avenge his humiliation at Mu-jin’s hands, Cheongsu had a different goal.
After traveling to Guangxi Province with Mu-jin, Cheongsu beca aware of the suffering of the common people under the cruelty of evildoers.
To protect the weak and punish the wicked, Cheongsu sought the teachings of Yunheo Zhenren.
And now, at this mont…
– “It is said that flexibility overcos hardness; if your Taiji reaches its peak, no attack in the world will penetrate you.”
Imrsed in a deep state of Muah Ji-kyung, Master Cheongsu executed a technique encompassing his entire training.
The loosely ford yet all-encompassing web of his aura succeeded in encircling Mu-jin’s fist.
‘Now for the final strike.’
In his deep ditative state, Master Cheongsu prepared to unleash a lethal strike at the immobile Mu-jin.
However, Cheongsu overlooked one crucial aspect.
While peak softness can overco hardness, peak hardness can tear through softness.
Mu-jin tore through the aura web, closing in on the readying Cheongsu in an instant.
“Got you.”
With a grim light in his eyes, Mu-jin grabbed Cheongsu’s arm.
Imdiately after…
“Aaaargh!”
Master Cheongsu’s scream echoed through the training ground.
* * *
After the duel concluded…
Everyone who witnessed the duel looked at Mu-jin as if he were a monster.
“That’s our instructor for you!”
Except for the disciples of the Zhongnan Sect, who had undergone ntal training with Mu-jin.
Even the disciples from the Shaolin Sect, like Mu-jin, looked at him with exhausted expressions.
Mu-jin saw himself as vastly inferior to Hyun-gwang, but by his peers’ standards, he had already stepped into the realm of a monster.
“Hm. It seems the deputy leader is decided.”
The one who broke the awkward atmosphere was Dok-go Pae, the leader of the Qinglong Unit.
“Now, we will proceed with individual interviews for training and personnel distribution.”
“Personnel distribution?” Mu-jin asked, puzzled.
Dok-go Pae elaborated, “Managing all eighty mbers at once can be problematic, so we’ll divide them into four groups of twenty. We’ll conduct brief individual interviews to allocate mbers to each group. During the interviews, Deputy Leader Mu-jin will oversee the training.”
“You want to train everyone here?” Mu-jin looked perplexed.
With factions still divided and no unified leader, it seed unlikely that his orders would be followed.
“Since everyone is from different sects, training will be conducted as self-training for now. Deputy Leader Mu-jin, your role will be to supervise and ensure no accidents occur during self-training.”
Understanding Dok-go Pae’s intention, Mu-jin nodded.
“Understood.”
Dok-go Pae, satisfied with the answer, called over a middle-rank mber from a smaller sect and headed to a pavilion next to the training ground.
As the self-training session began, the mbers of the Qinglong Unit started training reluctantly.
It wasn’t that they lacked motivation; the issue was the divided factions.
Unwilling to showcase their skills in front of others, they stuck to basic exercises.
While Mu-jin pondered the futility of this, disciples of the Zhongnan Sect approached him.
“Instructor! Please guide our training!”
“It’s self-training, isn’t it?”
“Yes! But we want to lift weights, and there are no suitable tools here!”
At the words of a disciple, Mu-jin nodded, understanding the problem.
Indeed, there were no tools suitable for weightlifting here.
“Then today, I’ll teach you so bodyweight exercises you can do without tools. Since it’s the first day, let’s start with lower body exercises.”
Bodyweight exercises, unlike weightlifting, would appear as basic physical training to outsiders.
There was no reason not to teach them in front of others.
As Mu-jin began teaching the Zhongnan Sect disciples bodyweight lower body exercises, disciples from Shaolin, Wudang, Jegal Family, Tang Clan, and Beggar Sect also joined in.
While teaching about twenty people, Mu-jin noticed sothing and scanned the surroundings.
‘Hmm. This might make it seem like I’m forming a faction.’
Mu-jin wondered if this was an opportunity to draw in so neutral sect mbers.
He noticed so martial artists pretending to train while sneaking glances at him.
When they made eye contact, they quickly looked away, much like gym newcors peeking at a seasoned bodybuilder.
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