49 — I Don’t Understand Any Of This. (4)

Jo Gul and Yoon Jong looked at Baek Cheon with serious faces and conversed.

“Hey, can we stake Mount Hua’s honor on that guy?”

“Should we rush him now, sahyung?”

“Ugh. I’m afraid of the repercussions if we do. That fellow is different from Chung Myung—he holds grudges quietly.”

“That’s true.”

The Mount Hua disciples nodded reluctantly.

“So then…”

“There’s no choice.”

“I’m still uneasy though.”

“What can we do? He insisted on going himself. Rank talks.”

Muttering and nagging could be heard, but Baek Cheon pretended not to hear and didn’t avert his gaze. The moment he snapped here he’d get dragged into it.

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely come back victorious.”

“Yeah, you better.”

At that, a cool voice from behind made Baek Cheon cautiously turn his head. There he saw Chung Myung smiling brightly, fingers snapping audibly.

“Come on then, try losing.”

“….”

“Please, please just lose once. Pleeease.”

Baek Cheon smiled as he stared at Chung Myung, whose eyes gleamed.

‘If you lose, you’ll die.’

And it probably wouldn’t be a peaceful death.

At this rate it’s not just about pride. It’s life or death. He must win by any means.

With firm resolve, Baek Cheon walked forward and grinned when he saw Jwa Go-Hak standing in the center.

“Been waiting for me?”

“I thought my neck would snap off. Took you long enough.”

“Sorry. Unlike you lot, my kids aren’t so obedient.”

“Isn’t it because the higher-ups are pathetic?”

“Maybe. But what can you do.”

Ssshhh.

Baek Cheon smirked and slowly drew his sword.

“From now on you’ll get beaten senseless by that pathetic fellow.”

Ssshhh.

Jwa Go-Hak also smiled meaningfully as he drew his sword to face him.

“I’m looking forward to it. Don’t worry—I’ll at least let you keep some dignity.”

The two of them smiled at each other.

Watching them, Tang Soso said in a sour voice,

“Don’t they both look like complete jerks?”

“Soso.”

“Yes?”

Yoon Jong smiled faintly.

“There are things in this world you don’t have to say out loud.”

“….”

Meanwhile, Baek Cheon calmed his mind.

He had to win. If he couldn’t, before arguing about the honor of the martial world and Mount Hua, that man would be strapped upside down to a tree and chewed to pieces.

So this match had to be won at all costs. But….

‘So what?’

Baek Cheon snorted.

Even so, was there any reason for him to be nervous? The person in front of him was a scholar, not a warrior.

Of course Baek Cheon didn’t dismiss Jwa Go-Hak. Apart from being unlucky, it was undeniable he was a prodigy ranked among the best in the land.

In fact, judging by everyone Baek Cheon had met in his life, the more irritating someone was, the likelier they were gifted. By that standard, that guy was clearly an absurd talent.

‘So what.’

But still—he’s just a scholar.

Jwa Go-Hak might one day join the national academy. Or perhaps he’d become an even greater official and leave his name in history.

“Even so, getting beaten by me now makes no difference.”

“Huh?”

Startled by Jwa Go-Hak’s sudden voice, Baek Cheon flinched.

“Seems that’s what you’re thinking.”

Jwa Go-Hak smiled calmly as if he knew Baek Cheon’s mind. Baek Cheon tried to hide his embarrassment and spoke.

“I didn’t realize scholars practiced mind-reading too.”

“Is mind-reading necessary? It’s all written on your face.”

“Looks like you lost your composure. My apologies.”

“No need to apologize. It’s natural you’d think that. But….”

Jwa Go-Hak grinned.

“I don’t like that perception, though.”

“Huh?”

Jwa Go-Hak lightly flicked his sword through the air.

“No need for words in this situation. Let’s fight.”

Baek Cheon snorted and slowly raised his sword.

“If you insist….”

Gripping the hilt until it felt like it might break, Baek Cheon twisted his sword hard.

“I’ll show you!”

Fwoooosh!

Baek Cheon’s blade sliced the air. As he thrust like a surging torrent, countless sword images blossomed in all directions like exploding fireworks.

‘Take this!’

The Mount Hua disciples watching the scene began complaining.

“That’s dirty.”

“Cowardly.”

“Hey, against a novice!”

Baek Cheon pretended not to hear and grinned.

‘Let’s see you handle this.’

What sword style is the toughest for less-skilled opponents to face? A swift blade faster than the lightning? Or a strong blade that seems like it’ll snap wrists on contact?

Interpretations vary, but Baek Cheon would say this:

‘Of course, it’s the Phantom Sword.’

Mount Hua’s specialty mixes feints and real strikes to blur distinctions so nothing is clear. Those facing this for the first time can’t grasp what’s happening before their necks are cut.

After scattering countless sword images to draw Jwa Go-Hak’s eyes, Baek Cheon secretly prepared a single true strike and thrust it at his throat. From Jwa Go-Hak’s perspective, one of the swirling sword images suddenly shot right toward his neck….

Clang!

“Huh?”

Baek Cheon blinked.

Jwa Go-Hak’s sword tip had precisely intercepted his blade.

Jwa Go-Hak, wearing that characteristic irritating smile, smirked as if to ask why.

“What part of that surprises you?”

“….”

Dazed, Baek Cheon sheathed his sword and coughed unintentionally.

“You have more tricks than I thought.”

He blocked that? A beginner?

Baek Cheon tried to appear calm, but anyone could see he was flustered.

“If you’re doubtful, I can show you again.”

“I was going to….”

Baek Cheon’s blade sliced the air like a ray of light.

“That was the plan!”

The sword that surged toward Jwa Go-Hak split in an instant, then produced dozens of sword images aiming at his whole body. This time he didn’t hide his decisive move—mixing true and feint strikes to keep him off balance….

At that moment, Baek Cheon’s eyes widened greatly.

Before his advancing sword images, dozens of swords extended toward him. Unlike Baek Cheon’s blurred sword energy, these were perfectly formed blades.

Kaaang!

Baek Cheon’s sword qi and Jwa Go-Hak’s sword qi collided midair. All of Baek Cheon’s maneuvers were stopped by Jwa Go-Hak’s sword and fell apart futilely.

“…What.”

Baek Cheon stared bewildered at Jwa Go-Hak, who smiled and tapped his own shoulder with his sword face.

“Is there really a need to distinguish real from fake? Just block them all and that’s that.”

Baek Cheon’s mouth opened slightly.

“That makes no sense….”

“Why do you think it doesn’t make sense?”

Jwa Go-Hak scoffed and shrugged.

“Taoists are inscrutable. Even when shown plainly, you doubt it… You don’t believe what’s there and venerate what isn’t.”

He added with a grin.

“Truly worthy of being called an outsider.”

Baek Cheon’s face hardened.

“Just now….”

“Chung Myung, what was that?”

“Hmm.”

When Yoon Jong asked quickly, Chung Myung, who had been rubbing his mouth, narrowed his eyes.

“Is it a Variation Sword?”

“Variation Sword?”

Chung Myung, watching the standoff between Jwa Go-Hak and Baek Cheon, narrowed his eyes further.

“There are many ways to handle a sword. Commonly: swift, phantom, variation, strong, soft, blunt, and so on.”

Chung Myung scratched his chin and continued briefly.

“Variation is a bit unique.”

“Why?”

“Because variation is the principle underlying all swords.”

Yoon Jong asked as if he didn’t understand.

“How can it be fundamental and yet unique? Doesn’t that contradict?”

“It sounds contradictory. But it’s true. There’s no sword that doesn’t change. Even Dian Cang Sect’s Shooting Down the Sun technique, which pursues extreme swiftness, or assassination blades built to pierce instantly cannot completely exclude change.”

“That’s true.”

“But conversely, sword styles that center on variation itself are surprisingly rare.”

At that, Yoon Jong frowned.

“Now that you mention it….”

Wudang’s sword is based on softness.

Namgung’s sword is grounded in strength.

Mount Hua’s sword confuses the opponent, and Dian Cang dedicates itself solely to speed.

But is there any sword art in the world that makes change itself its strength?

There must be. It should exist. As far as Yoon Jong knew, among the famed sword arts, one that centers on change….

“…There really isn’t one?”

Why is that? If all swords necessarily contain change, there should be arts that maximize it.

“Why doesn’t it exist?”

“Why wouldn’t it?”

“Eh?”

“Think about it the other way. Why wouldn’t it exist?”

The Mount Hua disciples pondered that. Soon Yu Yiseol frowned slightly and spoke.

“Because it’s too obvious.”

“Right.”

“‘Obvious’ also means ‘familiar.’ It implies one can instinctively respond without special preparation.”

“That’s true too.”

“Anything else?”

Tang Soso asked, and Chung Myung nodded slightly.

“The most decisive reason is it’s inefficient.”

“Huh? Efficient?”

“In some respects the sword most similar to that one is Mount Hua’s—because it pursues more change.”

“…Is that so?”

“But imagine if Mount Hua’s sword were executed entirely as real strikes without any feints. Like the Plum Blossom Sword style….”

The Mount Hua disciples who imagined it for a moment immediately recoiled and groaned.

“Just thinking about it makes my wrist want to snap.”

“Would your internal qi even hold up to that?”

“The amount of change would be halved.”

Chung Myung slowly shook his head.

“Yeah. It’s brutally inefficient. Absolutely brutal. In other words, if you’re opening your sword to defeat an opponent, it’s a method you must avoid.”

“But that person is using it.”

“Exactly.”

Chung Myung looked sharply at Jwa Go-Hak.

‘But that guy’s sword definitely contained refined variation. That’s impossible for someone his age.’

If he’s not a seasoned master, it means he has some unknown trick. They needed to figure that out in this duel….

“Um, excuse me.”

“Yes?”

At that moment, Yu Han-Bin quietly raised his hand.

“Honestly, I don’t really understand the talk about sword studies or sword techniques.”

“But?”

“From what you’re saying, isn’t the conclusion that Taoist Baek Cheon is screwed right now?”

“…Huh?”

“That’s it. Even the people watching here don’t understand what’s going on with the sword he has to face. Um… isn’t that right?”

At those words, everyone looked at Baek Cheon as if by agreement.

He’d gone out to put down a cocky scholar and instead faced a master of Variation Sword he’d never heard of….

“If he loses, he dies, right?”

“If only the sasuk dies it might be fine, but Mount Hua’s face would be ruined too.”

“It’s not just Mount Hua’s reputation—warriors across the martial world would be treated like fools.”

“If only the martial world suffered it would be bad enough, but Han-Bin’s future would be blocked.”

“Uh….”

A chill wind that could freeze one’s spine swept among the Mount Hua disciples.

Yoon Jong, silently watching Baek Cheon’s oddly sorrowful back today, couldn’t help but mutter.

“I always feel this… why is that man so damn unlucky?”

“….”

The Mount Hua disciples agreed with that in quiet silence.