Chapter 11 - A Third-Rate Warrior Defending His Sect's Honor (5)

"I told you so!"

I returned to our lodgings, recounted what had happened at the banquet, and all hell broke loose.

Kang Chaeseok huffed, unable to hide his anger, and Jin Taesan's face was stiffer than ever before.

"They insulted our sect. Was it right for me to just hold it in right there?"

"Y-You... You bastard, seriously!"

Instead of Kang Chaeseok, whose face was flushed red with excitement, Jin Taesan spoke.

"You gave them justification for their scheme. Did you not foresee what results that justification would bring?"

"The justification was one-sided and forced. Even if I endured the insult, they would have dragged me out eventually."

"If so, there wouldn't have been one-sided violence disguised as a sparring match."

"I am not afraid of losing and getting hurt. But I am afraid of myself running away because I fear defeat."

"..."

"..."

Jin Taesan stood up without a word and began to untie the coat strings of his top.

"Taesan, you!"

Even though Saryeon was with us, whatever he was thinking, my father did not stop.

"..."

"What is this!"

On Jin Taesan's exposed back after taking off his clothes, there was a deep scar.

Strangely, the scar stretched long with a width of four fingers, and its tip was sharp.

"Look. What kind of wound does this look like to you?"

Even though my father lived in the same house as me, he had never shown his bare body.

Come to think of it, it was surprising that I had no memory of this scar even from my very early childhood.

"What kind of wound... is it?"

"Look closely."

To call it a whip, the scar's wound was too uniform, and to call it a club, the tip was too sharp.

The shape was exactly as if a sword had been pressed down hard and then lifted...

"Could it be... the flat of a sword...?"

"You saw correctly. It is a wound carved by the Iron Sword Sect Successor, Seong Jutak, twenty years ago."

GRIND.

My teeth ground together.

"... What happened?"

"Pain is a much more terrifying thing than you think."

"Please tell me what happened."

"..."

Jin Taesan wordlessly put his clothes back on. And he left the lodgings just like that.

"Stop this. Saryeon, you should hurry back too."

"If I don't hear the story, I can't know what happened. If I don't know what happened, I don't know what I will do in the future either."

"..."

"Anyone feels the pain of their family's flesh tearing more deeply than their own bones breaking. If I just go to sleep like this, I will fight tomorrow with the resolve to kill Seong Mohyeon, even if I die."

"... When judging based on the same level of accomplishment, the Taiyi Sect's sword cannot defeat the Iron Sword Sect's sword."

The essence of the Iron Sword Sect's swordsmanship is heavy. The founder of the Iron Sword Sect, Ghost Sword Seonyong, used a four-cun giant sword, and as their swordsmanship nears completion today, they have standardized on swords with a three-cun wide flat.

The essence of the Taiyi Sect's swordsmanship is fast.

The essence of speed lacks the weight to pierce through the Iron Sword Sect's sword.

If the speed was even more overwhelming, weight would not matter, but to do so, one would need to possess far more overwhelming internal energy or accomplishment than the opponent.

"Even so, is it even acceptable to do something like that to a loser?"

Hong Saryeon spoke, unable to hold back her anger.

"It was a gathering where countless figures of Murim had gathered, just like now. Saryeon. Could you meekly admit to a wrong you didn't even commit?"

"..."

"That is why I told you not to get swept up in any forced situations. With the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist and people from the Namgung Clan present, can you even imagine what kind of absurd claims those wicked bastards might make?"

* * *

My father ultimately did not return all night.

It was only when the appointed time arrived that I could find out where my father was.

He was at the central training ground.

"..."

"..."

"Jin Taesan, you foolish bastard."

Seeing him bowing face-down on the freezing floor, sparks seemed ready to burst from Kang Chaeseok's eyes.

The people who had been treated lavishly at the 60th birthday banquet were flocking to the central training ground one by one, thinking an entertaining spectacle had arisen.

"What in the world is going on?"

"I heard a disciple of the Taiyi Sect insulted the Iron Sword Sect."

"Hoho! Have you ever seen such a fearless fellow? How dare the Taiyi Sect do such a thing at the Iron Sword Sect?"

"It seems his father is apologizing. They say the Iron Sword Sect Leader magnanimously stated he would forgive him if he showed genuine remorse."

To gather even more people, the Iron Sword Sect had their servants deliver simple snacks and liquor around the training ground.

Even those who found liquor more important than the spectacle began to rush out of the pavilions in a flurry.

"..."

As I walked toward my father, all eyes immediately focused on me.

"Is that the kid?"

"The father is going to suffer a terrible beating because of his immature brat of a son."

I approached closely, but my father did not budge an inch.

"... Go wait down there."

"Please stand up. Why are you acting like a sinner?"

"... What father in this world could bear to see his son's body get scarred?"

"No child in this world would be happy to see their father in such a miserable state either."

"..."

The moment I reached out to help Jin Taesan up, the murmuring among the crowd grew louder.

Above the training ground, the Iron Sword Sect Leader and the Iron Sword Sect Successor, Seong Jutak, appeared, alongside the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist, Zhuge Somyeong, and the Namgung Clan's Namgung Taewon and Namgung San.

"You must be Jin Sowoon of the Taiyi Sect."

The Iron Sword Sect Leader glared down at me with condescending eyes.

"I am."

"You truly are a fellow without a speck of manners. Have you not grasped the situation, even after seeing what trouble your flippant tongue has caused?"

"What warrior in this world would show manners to his father's enemy?"

"What?"

"I heard a similar event happened twenty years ago."

"... What are you talking about?"

"Did you not invite the Taiyi Sect to the Iron Sword Sect's banquet, insult us, and then force us to draw our swords, dealing us a humiliation?"

"..."

At my words, the murmuring among the crowd swelled.

"What is he talking about?"

"Now that I think about it, back then..."

"Hey! Be quiet! Did you forget where we are right now?"

Those who were speaking shut their mouths tight under the fierce glares of the Iron Sword Sect disciples.

"I understand that you wish to eliminate our Taiyi Sect and enter the 108 Peaks, but I want to ask if you, who commit acts that not even street thugs would do, truly have the qualifications to be an allied faction of the Murim Alliance."

The commotion grew even larger.

Surely, there would be someone who remembered the incident from twenty years ago, and they would feel a sense of déjà vu at the two situations that were far too similar.

"Y-You bastard...!"

The Iron Sword Sect Leader's beard trembled as he checked Zhuge Somyeong's reaction.

"..."

However, Zhuge Somyeong was simply watching the series of events quietly without a single change in expression, and the Iron Sword Sect Leader, gaining a hundredfold more courage from that, changed his complexion.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Regardless, because of what you did, your father is suffering in that state."

His slumped, hunched back lying face-down on the floor felt exceptionally solid and massive today.

"I feel no shame in a father's actions out of concern for his child. However, I cannot hold back my disgust at your foul and despicable actions of trying to exploit even such a father's heart!"

"T-That bastard!"

I pointed at Seong Mohyeon.

"That Seong Mohyeon over there told me to take responsibility for my words. But why is he not showing up?"

Seong Mohyeon was glancing between his father and grandfather.

The situation had deviated significantly from their initial plan.

Moreover, since the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist and the people from the Namgung Clan had appeared, it seemed he was pondering what to do.

I gave them no more time to think.

"Seong Mohyeon! Your father and grandfather have set up the stage to this extent. Shouldn't you be the one to put the finishing touch on this stage!"

I drew my sword and spoke to my father.

"I have already drawn my sword, so from now on, your kneeling is meaningless, Father. Please go down."

Jin Taesan raised his head for the first time.

"... Are you confident you can endure it?"

"I have already shown my resolve."

"If so, do not do anything to shame yourself just because of a moment's pain."

Instead of answering, I looked at Saryeon.

Saryeon and Kang Chaeseok came up to the training ground, supported Jin Taesan, who could not walk, and went down below the training ground, while Seong Mohyeon came up from the opposite side at the same time.

"You must be disappointed that things didn't go as intended."

Seong Mohyeon's expression was stiffly frozen.

"I don't know what nonsense you're talking about."

"Don't tell me you acted without even knowing what your elders intended? The rumor that the Beautiful Wolf is superior to the Blood Wolf was true."

Seong Mohyeon's face flushed red.

"Even if you beat me in this sparring match, you probably won't achieve what you want."

I looked at the onlookers around us.

"Moreover, if you lose to me or if the match ends in a draw, today's events will shame the Iron Sword Sect forever."

I had already planted a sense of doubt in people's minds.

Those who supported the Iron Sword Sect would deny my words, but those who secretly disliked the Iron Sword Sect had gained a good opportunity to criticize them.

"... Stop with your ridiculous nonsense."

Seong Mohyeon assumed his opening stance.

As if showing off the Iron Sword Sect's belligerence, his posture leaned far forward, looking ready to sprint out at any moment.

There was no such thing as yielding out of consideration for Murim seniority or level.

With etiquette gone, the sparring match existed only in name, and our mutual auras felt as though they would take each other's lives at any second.

"Hyaah!"

Seong Mohyeon moved first.

Massive strength was loaded into the thick sword that was four finger-joints wide, and every time that sword swept in all directions, a sharp sword wind raged.

Those who had parried the Iron Sword Sect's sword even once would say they felt a burden as if they were parrying a massive iron mace with a thin sword.

It was a swordsmanship impossible to parry with the Taiyi Sect's light and swift sword.

This point was what Kang Chaeseok and my father had been most worried about.

'But that's only the case when we're at the same level.'

The Lesser Heaven Sword Technique, which had gone beyond reaching the twelfth stage during the Orthodox-Demonic Great War and moved wherever my mind willed.

As I began to circulate the internal energy cultivated by the spiritual elixir, aura spread fully throughout my entire body.

SWOOSH.

SLASH.

Along with a chilling cutting sound, Seong Mohyeon's face turned pale as he swung his sword down.

"Gasp!"

"D-Did you just see that?"

People could not take their eyes off Seong Mohyeon's robe hem that had fallen to the floor.

"What in the world..."

Even though the sparring match had begun, a silence as still as if not even a single ant was present hung over the previously noisy training ground.

Without delay, I executed the Advancing Movement Technique toward Seong Mohyeon.

Following the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique's Martial Move, the First Form: Breaking Sword, the Second Form: Slicing Sword extended out.

Seong Mohyeon could not even properly deploy a defensive form, barely dodging the sword while sacrificing his sword tip and his clothes' hem.

"Is the Taiyi Sect dominating right now?"

"This is a complete and utter disgrace. Especially after blowing things out of proportion to this extent."

"Keep quiet. The Sect Leader's expression isn't looking good."

From the start, it was only natural that things wouldn't play out like my past life.

Between me, who had built up desperate combat experience at the very forefront of the battlefield fighting the Demonic Cult's dogs, and Seong Mohyeon, who had lived a life coated in marrow cleansing and bone reshaping and spiritual elixirs like a greenhouse flower.

If his internal energy had been more overwhelming, there definitely would have been a chance for Seong Mohyeon to win, but now, my internal energy was nothing to scoff at either.

"To have concocted all those schemes, only for the result to end up like this. You certainly won't be able to show your face to the people of your sect."

"Shut up!"

Widening the distance, Seong Mohyeon gave up on the Boulder-Shattering Sword Technique and prepared to unleash the Mountain-Shattering Sword Technique.

The Mountain-Shattering Sword Technique was the essence of the Iron Sword Sect.

He needed to overwhelm me with the Boulder-Shattering Sword Technique to clearly demonstrate that the Iron Sword Sect was above the Taiyi Sect, but since losing like that would make everything worse than if he had done nothing at all, it was an unavoidable choice.

'Is it proper to end it like this?'

Even if it was the Mountain-Shattering Sword Technique rather than the Boulder-Shattering Sword Technique, the current Seong Mohyeon could not defeat me.

However, even if I defeated Seong Mohyeon here and now, it didn't mean I could completely block the Iron Sword Sect's conspiracies in the future.

I simply possessed undeniably out-of-bounds skills due to my two lives, and the Iron Sword Sect would soon realize that as well.

'Perhaps they will act with even less hesitation.'

Being humiliated after having even invited the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist, they would surely put on brazen masks of human skin and commit atrocities.

If so, a special measure was needed.

'I will make it so the Iron Sword Sect can never raise their heads again.'

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH.

Every time Seong Mohyeon's sword swung, massive qi waves moved alongside the sound of bursting wind.

It was an extraordinary, massive strength enough to make the stone floor of the training ground tremble.

I once again fired off the Lesser Heaven Sword Technique to clash against the Mountain-Shattering Sword Technique.

CLANG. CLANG-CLANG-CLANG.

As my sword bounced off like a single needle thrown at a rapidly spinning top, a smile finally appeared around Seong Mohyeon's mouth.

"Do you understand now? This is the difference in our class!"

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH.

CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH!

As an even more triumphant Seong Mohyeon's sword swept the floor, stone fragments scattered in all directions and flew all the way to the spectator seats.

"D-Dodge!"

"To think it has this kind of power!"

"The Iron Sword Sect is truly the Iron Sword Sect after all."

Instead of targeting his weaknesses, I reduced the amount of my internal energy and intentionally let my sword continue to be ineffective.

And every time my sword was blocked by the Mountain-Shattering Sword Technique, I backed away, ultimately getting driven all the way to the edge of the training ground.

"This is the end!"

The moment Seong Mohyeon was about to bring his sword down.

I dug into his guard, placed my left hand on him, and activated the Jade Dragon Bracelet.

"..."

Like a person who had suddenly lost all his strength, he dropped his sword to the floor.

"Gasp!?"

Seong Mohyeon was staring at me with eyes full of disbelief.

"Why, have you seen a ghost or something?"