A New Phase

“Why is that, I wonder?”

Yun-seon looked at Ju-un with a puzzled expression and asked.

“I mean that blind archer. Bows and arrows are fit for long range, but against Senior Bu’s Soaring Sword, isn’t he at a disadvantage?”

Ju-un found sense in his words and nodded firmly.

The Soaring Sword was so formidable at close range that even top masters of the Five Great Mountain Swords struggled against it.

No matter how uncanny the martial arts of the Taiyi Divine Sect, there was no chance of victory for one wielding a bow.

‘Why would Yi Seomun make such a self-defeating move?’

This was not only Yun-seon’s thought.

Everyone watching the duel couldn’t hide their bewilderment at the pairing.

Yi Seomun was not only highly skilled but also sly beyond comparison in the martial world.

Even if Yu I-jeong’s arrows were precise, to attack he’d need distance—something nearly impossible against the Soaring Sword.

‘What trick is the White Fox of the world, Yi Seomun, plotting this time…?’

Bu Neungpa was both dumbfounded and inwardly uneasy.

He had already confirmed Yu I-jeong’s incredible archery when the arrow struck the plaque.

But no matter how powerful the arrows, enough to pierce stone, they were useless in close combat.

Surely, some other calculation lay hidden.

“Your opponent is me. Focus here.”

As if reading his thoughts, I-jeong quietly admonished him.

Though blind, his ears were far sharper than any beast’s.

Exaggerating only slightly, he could even discern the emotions in Bu Neungpa’s breathing.

Right now, he knew Bu Neungpa was underestimating him.

“I’ll give you the chance. Change your opponent!”

Even if there was no trick and he won as expected, Bu Neungpa felt it would leave a sour taste.

After all, Bu Neungpa of the Soaring Sword was known throughout the martial world as an upright and honorable warrior.

If he subdued a blind archer with a sword, it would be disgraceful even in victory.

Yet no matter how he signaled, Yi Seomun remained silent.

“You really are beyond saving, aren’t you.”

Yu I-jeong muttered with a crooked smirk.

He already knew Bu Neungpa would react this way.

He wanted to show everyone here that Bu Neungpa’s false reputation was nothing but a sandcastle.

Yu I-jeong pulled an arrow from the quiver on his back.

“No matter how great your sword, it’s worth less than this single arrow. Your hesitation means you fear me, doesn’t it?”

Bu Neungpa, who’d just shown the crowd a troubled look, flared with anger at Yu I-jeong’s taunt.

He had tried to behave magnanimously, but now the insolent words left him no choice but rage.

“Eager to climb into your coffin, are you?”

Bu Neungpa finally drew his sword from its sheath.

With a heavy sound, the Soaring Sword revealed its form, and those nearby gasped in admiration.

It was truly a beautiful sword.

Its shape and thickness—somewhere between sword and saber—caught the eye, but it was the bluish gleam that seemed almost soul-stealing.

“Today, my Soaring Sword shall feast on blood!”

With a resounding shout, Bu Neungpa thrust his sword straight like a single stroke.

Then he swung his right hand broadly, tracing a massive circle in the air.

It looked light to onlookers, but considering the weapon’s weight, it was a feat of immense strength.

As the sword spun, a heavy vortex formed.

The air heated, and bluish energy gathered inside the vortex.

It was the first form of the Soaring Sword technique.

He decided that since the skill gap was certain, it was better to end the match quickly.

Part of his calculation was that leaving leeway might allow his opponent to create distance, which would disadvantage him.

“Yes, that’s how it should be.”

Yu I-jeong, as if waiting for it, turned his ear toward the sword glow radiating from the Soaring Sword.

His earlobes twitched slightly.

The arrowhead in his hand remained motionless, pointed in one direction.

At first the sword drew a simple circle, but soon its trajectory shifted.

The sword glow deepened, then suddenly the Soaring Sword pierced straight through the gap.

“Gasp!”

Everyone watching sucked in their breath.

They were entranced by the beauty of the Soaring Sword’s movement and missed the rhythm of its attack, shocked by the sudden strike.

They were certain Yu I-jeong would lose his life before even letting loose a single strike.

“Sahyung!”

Jeok-woo shouted, afraid I-jeong might not notice.

“Hmph! Wretches!”

Noticing Jeok-woo’s movement, Bu Neungpa snorted.

But there was no need to worry. The duel would be finished before Jeok-woo could even step onto the stage.

Whoosh!

Just then, a chilling wind brushed past Bu Neungpa’s face.

The Soaring Sword struck not I-jeong’s chest, but empty air.

His opponent, who should have been there, was already behind him.

What’s more, a pitch-black arrowhead was already about to pierce his eyeball.

“Ghhk.”

Bu Neungpa arched his back as far as he could, barely dodging Yu I-jeong’s arrow.

But Yu I-jeong still caught him, tearing half of his right ear away.

“Master!”

“Brother!”

Crimson blood dripped from Bu Neungpa’s ear.

The disciples of the Yellow Stone Sect, stunned, could only cry out their elder’s name with empty faces.

“You bastard!”

Bu Neungpa’s rage was written plain on his face.

His caterpillar-like brows twisted into a fiery 八, glaring at Yu I-jeong as if to devour him alive.

“This time, I’ll rip out your eyes.”

Instead, Yu I-jeong calmly drew another arrow and snapped it in half along with his bow.

The short sticks, barely a foot long, now in each hand, looked like long chopsticks.

‘How could he possibly fight that heavy sword with those?’

Watching them, Yun-seon felt his chest burn with strange excitement.

Despite facing such a daunting opponent, Yu I-jeong’s undiminished fighting spirit seemed admirable.

Though his head knew the man was a villain, his heart drifted the other way.

Bu Neungpa had no intention of waiting for I-jeong to prepare.

The moment I-jeong broke the arrow, Bu Neungpa swung the Soaring Sword, shaping another pattern.

At first it formed a hexagon, then its angles multiplied, growing more complex.

As the Sword qi multiplied, even Bu Neungpa’s own figure began to blur.

It was the sixth form of the the Soaring Sword Sword Technique: Heart Fasting¹.

Whiiish!

Bu Neungpa’s right hand struck toward I-jeong’s nape, unleashing the polygonal Sword qi in a torrent.

The dazzling motion nearly crossed the eyes of the onlookers.

But to sightless I-jeong, there was nothing to see.

So he neither stopped nor dodged.

Instead, he moved even faster, weaving through dozens of Sword qi’s to close in on Bu Neungpa in an instant.

What seemed a disadvantageous close fight for I-jeong before the match began—

—turned out, in reality, that Bu Neungpa was the one retreating.

As I-jeong pressed right before his eyes, Bu Neungpa instinctively stepped back two feet.

“Sahyung!”

At Jeok-woo’s cry, they finally noticed I-jeong’s left arm had already been cut by the Soaring Sword’s Sword qi.

His ashen robe slowly turned crimson with blood.

Yet I-jeong pressed forward, unfazed, eyes fixed only on Bu Neungpa’s face.

“You bastard!”

Bu Neungpa roared, clenched his left fist, and spun it thrice quickly.

Then he poured nearly eighty percent of his internal qi into the vortex.

It was his other specialty: Fist Gale.

“I-jeong! Dodge it!”

Yi Seomun, who had been silent until now, shouted urgently.

The power in his voice made everyone in the hall cover their ears, but the one who needed to hear gave no response.

Yu I-jeong charged straight into Bu Neungpa’s Fist Gale, reaching for his face.

Thud!

As expected, the massive force struck I-jeong in the solar plexus.

His body folded like a doll and was flung beneath the stage.

“Sahyung!”

It all happened in an instant.

Jeok-woo could only rush to the bloodied I-jeong and wail.

It seemed hopeless.

“Master!”

“Sasuk!”²

“Brother!”

All eyes turned from I-jeong to the Yellow Stone Sect.

In the chaos, no one had seen what happened to Bu Neungpa.

Who could imagine that the man unleashing a thunderous Fist Gale could be harmed?

“Press the acupoints.”

Jo Yang, rushing over, could not bring himself to remove the two arrows lodged in Bu Neungpa’s eyes.

So precise were the shots that not a drop of blood flowed.

If removed rashly, not only the eyeballs but his life itself would be lost.

“Aaaarghhh!”

Bu Neungpa’s scream of agony filled the hall.

All who watched the duel trembled in fear.

Not only Bu Neungpa’s famed skill, but Yu I-jeong’s death-defying resolve to achieve his goal, filled them with dread.

“What could have made him like that?”

“What?”

Hearing Yun-seon’s vague words, Ju-un asked back in confusion.

“He didn’t seem to care about victory or defeat. Only about killing his opponent. His own life meant nothing to him.”

Yun-seon felt he somehow understood that heart.

“Now I know why he volunteered for a fight he couldn’t win.”

Yun-seon gave a sad smile to Ju-un, whose eyes were wide with shock.

“Sahyung!”

Coughing up black-red blood, I-jeong hovered at death’s door.

Seomun first pulled Jeok-woo, who clung to his third senior brother sobbing, away.

“I-jeong, it’s enough now.”

Swallowing his tears, Seomun held his fellow disciple’s hand tightly.

“Eldest Sa… hyung… Did I… do… well?”

Unable to hold back tears, Seomun could only nod, his throat choked.

“Master… I’m… sor…ry…”

I-jeong couldn’t finish his last words; he vomited dark blood and died.

Sweat mixed with blood ran down from his forehead to his chin.

Impossible though it seemed, it looked as if he were crying.

“Rest now, in peace.”

Seomun closed his eyes, holding his fellow disciple’s hand for a long time.

When he rose again, his face was void of any expression.

“Both men suffered fatal wounds. Surely, this round is a draw?”

Seomun spoke to Jo Yang in a ringing voice.

Jo Yang could not reply, only glaring with a grim face.

“Who will step up next?”

“Me.”

Before Jo Yang could speak, Deputy Sect Leader So So-jeong of the Zen Cloud Sword Sect stepped onto the stage.

Yi Seomun frowned slightly, then turned to Hyunjin.

She wasn’t crying, but her soul seemed absent.

“Can you handle it?”

Seomun didn’t want Yu I-jeong’s death to be in vain.

The duel had to go on.

“My thoughts have changed since earlier.”

Hyunjin met Seomun’s gaze and continued.

“Even if it’s So So-jeong, I won’t hold back.”

Her hands already gripped the twin swords, Ganggang.

Seomun nodded firmly, without hesitation.

There would be no more mercy.

신국면 (新局面), A New Phase:
A new development in the situation.