anwhile, I was contemplating how to put my half-dislocated shoulder back in place.
‘Did I overdo it?’
It was good that I had struck with sword qi, but perhaps because I had forgotten that it was a wooden sword, I had put too much force into it.
Thanks to that, I had no choice but to slowly lower my arm, which was holding the sword, in a stiff state.
‘Damn body. Is this it for today?’
Although I had caught a glimpse of the fragnts of the sword path that would move forward with that one-point thrust just now. But my body was not in a condition to dig deeper into that realization.
After much thought, I decided to leave the training ground.
Because if I were to force myself to train more in this state, it would only increase my injuries.
‘What’s left is to either retreat while maintaining this silence, or to provoke them by taunting them, saying that the Iron String Unit is all they’ve got.’
I was in the middle of so serious contemplation.
Suddenly, breaking through the surrounding commotion, a sound of applause was heard from beyond the wall.
“That’s interesting. How did you do that?”
It was Cho Min-ha. He, who had been sitting on the edge of the wall, landed in the middle of the training ground.
“I just did it. Instinctively.”
“Hmm. Did you fill in your lacking realm with your senses?”
Cho Min-ha muttered and then looked over with interested eyes.
At the sudden intrusion of a presence, the people around cautiously asked.
“Uh, young master, who is that person…?”
“This person is my benefactor and a senior at the Martial Academy, and a lay disciple of the Wudang Sect, Great Hero Cho Min-ha. Please do not be rude to him.”
When I deliberately spoke strongly, a loose answer ca back from the side.
“Why are you being so formal and stiff? The atmosphere is starting to heat up. Wouldn’t it be better to hold an exchange eting?”
With that, his appearance of gripping a wooden sword seed to have a more belligerent personality than it looked.
‘A duel of masters.’
I recalled Cho Min-ha’s movents that I had seen before. That monstrous sword strike and sword path, and the strength that did not fall behind even in the battle with the Blood Cult mbers.
It was a martial strength comparable to a so-called super master.
‘Co to think of it, among the growth of the Heaven-Defying Cultivation thod, there was also the cultivation thod of the Wudang Sect in the final stage.’
It seed it would be good to see that majesty up close.
“If the distinguished guest wishes, it doesn’t matter, but I don’t know if there will be anyone to co out as an opponent.”
I deliberately let the surrounding martial artists hear to get on their nerves.
It was to induce their participation by provoking them even a little.
“Hey, it’s a duel in the first place, who would hold back? This is a training ground, isn’t it?”
But Cho Min-ha added more fuel to the fire. It was a provocative ability that I didn’t know whether it was his original personality or calculated.
At this, one of the martial artists of the Zhuge family, who was emitting a spirited energy, stepped forward.
“I ask for a lesson.”
“Sure.”
A natural informal speech.
Soon, the tips of each other’s swords shook and accelerated with an afterimage, and I imdiately focused on the battle that was unfolding.
“…It’s overwhelming.”
They were no match at all. Considering the hidden strength that Cho Min-ha had shown, it was a natural thing.
‘But the other martial artists wouldn’t know. To what extent.’
Since life is a real battle anyway. If you don’t know the opponent’s full strength, you can learn while getting hit.
“Keuk!”
As the battle continued, the martial artists were defeated one by one.
Later, even the executives of the Iron String Unit and the peak masters stepped up, but they were all crushed.
Around the ti when no one else would step up in a duel that could be called a slaughter.
“You rascal!”
A familiar voice echoed through the hall. When I looked back, a young man with a cold impression and raised eyebrows was standing there.
It was Zhuge Paegang.
“Why are you here?!”
His characteristic arrogant expression was distorted in confusion. Zhuge Paegang, who was shouting with a tone that was half indignant and half flustered, pointed a finger at Cho Min-ha.
‘Co to think of it, in the setting, Zhuge Paegang had a sense of rivalry with Cho Min-ha.’
To be precise, it was that Zhuge Paegang was unilaterally keeping him in check.
“Huh? Co to think of it, this is your house, right? It’s spacious and nice here. I’m envious.”
“Are you trying to make a fool of ? Just answer !”
“That’s enough. Because I brought him.”
Thinking that the story would get complicated, I intervened at an appropriate ti.
“What? This…!”
Then Zhuge Paegang, who was grinding his teeth at . Although the informal speech was annoying, perhaps because of the previous bet, he couldn’t shoot back any more.
He just growled.
“You bastard…”
“Why?”
As I was replying with my head held high, a silence that had fallen in an instant.
“Is this going to be a big deal?”
“If we’re not careful, we’ll be having a funeral today.”
Worried voices burst out here and there.
No matter how much of a scoundrel the third young master was, he had never acted like this to the second, Zhuge Paegang.
On the contrary, he would have been more careful, being persecuted for being incompetent.
And on top of that, he was treated as a lowly person because of his half-brother status and his poor talent.
A relationship where it was a relief not to be beaten. But to suddenly speak informally.
An ominous airflow that made it seem like a big deal would really happen today flowed through the area, but surprisingly, Zhuge Paegang’s side clicked his tongue first and turned around.
“Tsk! Annoying things! Don’t bother and just go!”
It was as if Zhuge Paegang had taken a step back. In reality, it was because of the bet. The martial artists and family mbers of the family who were puzzled because they didn’t know the inside story.
“Were those two on good terms?”
“No way. He ignored and persecuted him so much.”
“Then isn’t it rather strange? I heard he even got the top student position at the Martial Academy this ti. Has that scoundrel young master really changed?”
The rumors that spread further with the continuing anomalies.
It wasn’t bad for . Because just like wool, the more you grow a rumor, the more complicatedly it gets entangled, but the more you get from it.
And what added fuel to the rumors related to was Cho Min-ha’s continuous duel victories. Since he was a guest I had brought, he was a great help in spreading the rumors related to .
“So who’s the next opponent?”
His appearance of casually looking for a duel opponent was very free-spirited. The duel that continued.
‘He’s a real ghost.’
The wooden sword was sent flying by the sword that Cho Min-ha had struck at a trendous speed.
When even Lee Pyeong-gyeong, the unit leader of the 3rd Iron String Unit, dropped his wooden sword and declared his defeat, the heat of the training ground intensified with astonishnt.
A master always attracts attention.
Before I knew it, the training ground was crowded with people who had flocked after hearing the rumors.
When I turned my head, the unit leaders were watching this situation from a distance. They must be calculating the chances of winning or the justification.
‘As expected, the top of the upper-class students is on a different level.’
Even though it was a light duel, so of the forms were such that the sword could not even be seen. It was just daunting to think that I would have to compete with such people soday.
‘That’s that. For now, it’s a priority to overco the wall in front of .’
Because I also had to compete with the top 3 aces of the junior students, including Baek Hasin, as soon as the vacation was over.
‘I’ve observed enough, so I should get out of here soon.’
If I were to get caught by Cho Min-ha and have a duel, it was obvious that I would be crushed.
And so, I left the training ground, leaving behind Cho Min-ha, who was fighting excitedly.
* * *
Ti passed quickly, and my body also recovered completely, and one day when Dang Surin was still busy making the resistance poison.
“Then let’s begin the formation certification exam!”
A second-class formation master exam was held within the family.
Since it was an event that was held irregularly, it was not a very large scale, but still, it had everything it needed.
There were high-ranking formation masters of the family, and on one side, the Iron String Unit was also gathered. They were mainly the people from the 3rd unit who had been defeated by .
‘Cho Min-ha is also here, and there’s the 2nd unit over there?’
Co to think of it, I rembered that the four escorts who had been in charge of my escort were from the 2nd Iron String Unit.
“It’s quite crowded in many ways.”
At the voice calling this side, I went up on the stage. A place where so many family mbers had gathered. If I were to show a clumsy appearance, my image would fall to the ground.
Although there was no way that would happen.
“Then we will have the introduction of the judges!”
When I looked in the direction the host was pointing, I could see the first-class formation examiners, including Protector Jangyeo and the elders, sitting beyond a long platform.
“Next are the recomnders!”
On the other side, the directors who had recomnded revealed themselves. I could see the seat where the embarrassed ones, including Jo Wihye, were sitting.
And so, after the pleasantries that announced the opening of the event ended.
“Now, we will begin the second-class formation exam!”
Along with the host’s call, the second-class formation masters stepped up.
“The first exam is a duel! The examinee must first prove the skills he showed in the dojo challenge in this place. You just have to defeat three second-class formation masters in a row!”
Unlike the usual schedule, since it was an event that was held due to this side’s circumstances, the standard was higher than the original certification exam.
Whether it was a grade-skipping exam or a formation certification exam, in order to prove oneself more quickly, a more difficult exam had to be presented.
When the first exam was announced, the people around began to murmur.
“To face three second-class formation masters in a row?”
“Zhuge Cheonwu is also finished. Even if he sohow coaxed the directors, it’s difficult to face three with his skills. Even if he got the top student position at the Martial Academy, this is a formation, isn’t it?”
“It’s because he’s a blood relative that they opened it like this. Since he hasn’t caused any trouble recently. How long is he planning to be a disgrace?”
The mocking evaluations of those around. A scornful laughter was heard.
In the midst of that, I walked towards the front of the stage.
The second-class formation masters who were looking this way with their arms crossed or their legs crossed.
‘They see as just a spoiled young master.’
It doesn’t matter.
Those gazes. I’ll completely change them in no ti.
“…This is absurd.”
I said, tilting my head. Then, an elder from the judges’ seat clicked his tongue and sneered.
“Are you scared?”
“Haha! That’s funny. Are you backing down now?!”
The ridicule that was added to that.
Laughter poured out from all directions. The chattering voices that were rising arbitrarily in the crowd. But in the midst of that, only I slowly parted my lips.
“No, it’s just that the level is too low.”
In an instant, a silence fell on the surroundings. The crowd and the opponent who were making a face as if they had misheard.
The atmosphere beca cold.
In the midst of that, I looked at the three second-class formation masters who had co out as my opponents and continued.
“Don’t bother and just co at all at once.”
A silence flowed for a mont, and then an indignant voice burst out from the front.
“You arrogant!”
“Watch your manners! Young master!”
In the murderous atmosphere, a voice as if in disbelief was heard from the judges’ seat.
“Are you trying to be reckless?”
It was one of the elders of the family, an old man who had been introduced as Zhuge Jong-cheol earlier. A man with a physique where his bulging belly was revealed even though he was wearing a loose silk robe.
When he was introduced, I had roughly heard that all the second-class formation masters who had co out now were elites from the branch families under the Zhuge family, and among them, there was also a disciple of Zhuge Jong-cheol.
When I recalled this, I could also understand the elder’s harsh attitude.
He looked down this way with a displeased expression and added.
“Do you think a brat who was at most a third-class until a while ago can fight a 3-on-1 battle?”
“There’s no reason I can’t.”
At the bold reply, Jong-cheol twisted the corner of his mouth as if to sneer.
“Hmph, well, it doesn’t matter if you want to drink the penalty wine yourself.”
“Is there such a bland penalty wine in the world?”
“You insolent…!”
Jong-cheol, whose eyes were glaring. Just as he was about to raise his voice.
“Stop.”
An old man with a sharp impression and a white beard, who was in the center of the judges’ seat, raised his hand.
Although it was a slow gesture, there was a considerable amount of dignity in it. With just his spirit, the commotion of the surroundings subsided in an instant.
Since I had heard the introduction earlier, I also knew the identity of the old man.
‘Zhuge Hyeonguk.’
He was one of the only two special-class formation masters officially in the Zhuge family, which was famous for its formations.
A being who stood at the pinnacle in that field, who could form a single formation school by himself.
That was Zhuge Hyeonguk.
In fact, a considerable number of the people gathered in this place had also co after hearing the news of Zhuge Hyeonguk’s visit. Because he was a huge celebrity among formation masters.
Such a person looked this way and asked.
“Are you confident?”
“Yes.”
I answered, breaking the silence that had been hanging over the area.
“I permit it.”
The declaration of the highest authority.
The stage was set. Now, all that was left was to practice as planned.
(End of Chapter)
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