Too light...

Lee Cheongik couldn't understand those words.

He was just dazed by the sword that had fallen from his hand and was rolling on the floor.

It was a shock.

That his sword could be so easily...

The sword is withdrawn from Lee Cheongik's neck, who is wearing a vacant expression.

And Cheonyeong, who has stepped back and created a distance, takes his stance again and says to Lee Cheongik.

"Brother Lee."

"...?"

"I clearly said, do not hold back your sword."

"...!"

A streak of killing intent bloomed in Lee Cheongik's dazed eyes.

Kwak! Pa-ak!

The action of grabbing the fallen sword and rushing in to swing it diagonally was done simultaneously.

You said it was light?

Let's see if you can say that again!

It was a sword filled with that sentiment.

Hwa-ak!

But Cheonyeong's expression, as he looked at the approaching sword strike, changed to one of even more displeasure than before.

Doesn't he know?

What he is missing.

Cheonyeong leans his body back in time with Lee Cheongik's sword and blocks with his sword.

Tang!

The swords clashed.

Ga-ga-ga-gak!

Sparks flew as they ground against each other.

"Th-this is!"

At that moment, Lee Cheongik's eyes widened.

His sword, riding on Cheonyeong's sword, slipped and its direction changed.

And that was a mistake.

Because it was filled with so much force, the movement was too large, and the recovery for the next attack was bound to be late.

On the other hand, Cheonyeong's sword.

Teok.

"..."

Lee Cheongik stopped his movement with his sword extended long.

Because Cheonyeong's sword was touching his shoulder.

And Cheonyeong said in a low voice.

"I have killed you twice with just a downward strike and a deflecting move."

"..."

Lee Cheongik's eyes, engulfed in a terrible sense of defeat, trembled minutely.

And in his ears, Cheonyeong's low voice was heard.

"What was different?"

"...Pardon?"

"Your first attack was too focused on change, so it lacked power."

"..."

"The second was filled with anger, so it had too much force and couldn't show sharpness."

"..."

"Is that the Clear Wind of the Lee family?"

Lee Cheongik's gaze, which had been blank at Cheonyeong's question, fell.

The Clear Wind of the Lee family...

That simple question made him think a lot.

What kind of sword is the Clear Wind?

Was he really using the Clear Wind?

No.

The Clear Wind of his family was neither this light a sword, nor this heavy a sword.

Cheonyeong smiled faintly as he looked at Lee Cheongik, who had lowered his head and was lost in thought.

It seems he's not a complete idiot.

But he couldn't just give him time to ponder and realize.

"Brother Lee."

"...Yes?"

"Change is good. Flashiness is also good. But, before you mesmerize your opponent with the trajectory and afterimages of your sword, you must first think about the purpose of the sword."

"The... purpose of the sword?"

Lee Cheongik asks back.

Although his gaze was as if yearning for the truth, it was probably a fact he already knew.

"A sword is not a tool for creating change. It is a weapon made to kill an opponent more efficiently."

"Ah!"

At those words, Lee Cheongik let out an exclamation without realizing it.

"When you cut, it must contain the power to part skin and flesh, and when you stab, it must have the power to break bones and enter. But why does your sword only contain a light force for creating change? And why do you pour in an unnecessarily excessive amount of force?"

Cheonyeong's question made Lee Cheongik reflect on himself.

The distribution of force according to the use of the sword.

He had forgotten something so basic.

Only focusing on the fact that he had to achieve the thirteenth change.

Silence flows.

Everyone watches Cheonyeong and Lee Cheongik, who are standing in the training ground, in silence.

And Cheonyeong waited.

For Lee Cheongik to realize on his own...

And after a long while.

"Family Head Tang."

"Yes."

"I have received a great favor."

Lee Cheongik held his sword with the blade concealed and bowed his head to Cheonyeong.

Cheonyeong, who saw the smile on his lips, stepped back again and took his stance.

"Now, I can finally witness a proper Clear Wind Red Haze Sword."

"...Please do not chide my sword for having no eyes."

It was the same words as before.

But the will and meaning contained within Lee Cheongik were completely different.

The moment he took the starting stance of the Clear Wind Red Haze Sword, didn't goosebumps rise all over his body at the presence he exuded?

Indeed... the Lee family head had reason to have expectations.

He had just said a few words because it was a pity that he was forgetting the most basic thing while focusing only on the goal, but to change like this.

Cheonyeong found himself wanting to see the other dragons of Sichuan.

Because they were people who might one day compete with him for the position of the master of Sichuan.

But his thoughts were not long.

Hwii-ing...

The wind is being sucked into Lee Cheongik's sword as if it were a child.

Like the center of a whirlwind.

From now on, it would be the true form of the Clear Wind Red Haze Sword.

Cheonyeong, as if responding to his presence, which felt like a tingling pain, smiled brightly and said.

"Then, let's do it properly!"

"Yes!"

With Lee Cheongik's spirited answer, the sword extends.

It wavers at the end and creates a change.

Kkang!

The sword is deflected.

But unlike before, it is not pushed back by Cheonyeong's force and falls, but changes direction as it is deflected and rushes in like a gust of wind.

At the sight of Cheonyeong quickly retreating, Lee Cheongik's sword nimbly cut through the air and flew.

"Swallow Flying, Splitting Water!"

"Keuk..."

Cheonyeong let out a small laugh at Lee Cheongik's shout.

What a stubborn fellow.

Although he had said let's fight to the death, was the essence a spar?

Announcing the name of the form one was using in a spar was like an etiquette among martial artists. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Swallow Flying, Splitting Water. A swallow's flight splits the water.

It meant that the sword was that fast, so please be careful... something like that.

But even if he taught him, it was not easy to block and dodge.

Cheonyeong, who was retreating, barely twisted his body and dodged the tip of the sword.

Sa-gak!

The shoulder part of his clothes was cut off.

Cheonyeong, who had lost his balance and staggered, kicks out his foot as he touches the floor.

Jjeo-eong!

Lee Cheongik, who had barely blocked it by raising his arm, was pushed back and then flew towards Cheonyeong again.

Since his center was broken, his strength seemed to have been weak.

And that damn sword was so fast.

Although the changes were less than before, the power and sharpness contained in each one were at a level that could not be ignored.

As if his body would be cut and a hole would be pierced in a moment of carelessness.

Kkang! Kka-gang! Kkang!

The exchange of offense and defense between the two, which was exchanged in an instant, exceeded ten bouts.

It was a fight that was not lacking to be called evenly matched.

Also, Lee Cheongik's sword was beginning to exert its proper power as it went on.

He moves as if possessed, as if he had met his fated rival.

Cheonyeong's feeling was the same.

Since returning to the past, he had never met such an opponent.

Although there was Ghost Hand No Gwanyeong, he was not yet a warrior of a level he could face.

Of course, under the condition that he did not use hidden weapons.

So he was excited.

Just as Lee Cheongik was smiling, a smile also appeared on Cheonyeong's face.

Now, now he felt he could pour out everything he had.

All the things he had only imagined in his head because he had no suitable opponent.

"Ha-ap!"

A little more of the Samyang True Qi is added to Cheonyeong's sword.

Kwang!

"Keuk!"

Lee Cheongik is pushed back by the forcefully swung sword and grimaces.

It felt as if the grip on his sword was being torn.

But he liked that tingling sensation.

"...You are truly amazing!"

Even though he was pushed back, he rushed towards the sword, showing his fighting spirit.

The word 'defeat' was meaningless to them.

The fact that he could clash swords containing all of his being with a rival.

That fact alone was enough.

Kwang! Kwa-kwang!

The sound of swords clashing turns into thunder, and the stone floor they are stepping on, unable to withstand it, breaks.

But the more it does, the more their spar intensifies.

"...Sh-Shadow Severing Brigade Master."

Lee Wonik, who had been unable to take his eyes off the fight between the two from a distance, asks with a blank face.

"Have you ever seen... my brother like this?"

"..."

Jinrip couldn't answer.

Because he had never seen it.

The Eldest Young Master with such an excited expression.

Also, he had never once seen the Eldest Young Master display such a spirited and splendid swordsmanship.

"Second Young Master. I don't know about anything else, but I know one thing."

"...?"

"It seems to be a very good thing that we have become friends with the Tang Family's estate. For the Lee family, and for the Eldest Young Master..."

Lee Wonik answered after a long while at Jinrip's words.

"I suppose so."

Lee Wonik thought that he would have to sincerely apologize later.

To the Tang Family's estate, and to the Tang Family Head.

Before long, the spar between Cheonyeong and Lee Cheongik was coming to an end.

Because they had poured out everything without thinking about the aftermath, their true qi was beginning to run out.

It was time to prepare for the end.

Lee Cheongik prepared the best form he had.

"Hoo-up!"

He retreated to gather his strength and gripped his sword with both hands.

And he swung his sword vertically with all his might towards Cheonyeong, who was rushing towards him.

"...Severing, Red Haze."

It was a quiet sword.

But, the power contained within it extended towards Cheonyeong with a fierce momentum, as if to split the world in half.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!

He wouldn't be able to block it.

He would have to dodge it.

But it didn't matter even if he dodged.

He had done everything he could.

Although it felt as if all the strength was draining from his body, an uncontrollable joy filled that place.

All that was left was to watch.

What kind of response the Tang Family Head would make.

Kung!

"...?"

But Cheonyeong suddenly stops his body by stomping the ground hard before the sword strike reaches him.

"Hoo..."

In that fleeting moment, Cheonyeong's sound of catching his breath was clearly heard in Cheongik's ears.

"A good sword. So much so that I want to break it somehow."

"...!"

The sight of Cheonyeong grinning is reflected in Lee Cheongik's eyes.

Surely? He's going to take it without dodging?

Lee Cheongik, who had been looking with eyes full of doubt, opened his eyes wide at Cheonyeong's action.

Kuu-ung.

A fist pulled hard to the waist.

Bent knees.

A foot that has dug deep into the floor.

His upper body seemed to bend back, then moved forward, and at the same time, Cheonyeong's fist was thrust out forcefully.

"...Samyang... Piercing."

Kwa-aaang!

The fist and the shot-out sword qi clash.

It seemed as if the entire Tang Family's estate was shaking.

In the fierce shockwave, Lee Cheongik saw it clearly.

The sight of Cheonyeong flying, shattering the sword qi to pieces.

A laugh escaped.

He was about to have a truly amazing man as a friend.

Surely, he didn't think he would break that.

It was an admission that came from the bottom of his heart.

But at the same time, a feeling of displeasure welled up.

Like this?

Do I have to be defeated without doing anything?

That's... not right.

Even if I lose, I have to lose with all my might!

That is etiquette.

Lee Cheongik gripped his sword tightly.

But how?

What should I do to block that fist?

More thoughts than ever before filled his head.

It felt as if time had slowed down.

All the swords he knew came to mind, and the counter-methods continued endlessly.

He faced Cheonyeong's fist tens of thousands of times in his head and was defeated tens of thousands of times.

And just as Cheonyeong's fist was about to touch his body!

Suddenly, his head brightened as if it had exploded.

"Ah!"

Lee Cheongik swung his sword without realizing it.

Ttaa-ang!

And the spar was over.

Cheonyeong's fist is stopped in front of Lee Cheongik's eyes.

"Huk, huk..."

At the momentary stop, Lee Cheongik sat down as if all his strength had drained and let out a rough breath.

"...Uaaah!"

The training ground of the Tang Family's estate boils with cheers at Cheonyeong's victory.

But.

"It's a completely different sword from before. It was impressive."

"...It is an immature sword."

Lee Cheongik smiled wryly and shook his head at Cheonyeong's admiration.

But Cheonyeong understood the meaning of the smile on his lips.

Just before the fist stopped, Lee Cheongik had swung his sword.

It was a powerless sword.

One that could be easily blocked.

But Cheonyeong had felt a shiver at something contained within it.

What if he was in a complete state, not having consumed all his strength?

"Was that the thirteenth change?"

"Perhaps so."

Damn punk.

He didn't know he would realize it at that moment.

"It will be dangerous next time."

"If I don't forget my current enlightenment and complete it."

"Hmph..."

Cheonyeong nodded at Lee Cheongik's words.

It must have been a coincidence. His last sword.

It must have been one of the opportunities that come to someone.

But somehow, it seemed that Lee Cheongik would perfectly make that coincidence his own.

"I'm glad it seems to have been of help."

"I have received a great favor thanks to you holding back."

Cheonyeong smiled and extended his hand, and Lee Cheongik smiled back and took his hand to stand up.

Holding back?

What nonsense.

The reason he could help with his martial arts was because he already knew his sword.

But later... would it be possible?

Cheonyeong, who had frowned, shook his head vigorously to clear his complicated head.

What was he worrying about?

He just had to leave tomorrow's work to tomorrow's Cheonyeong and do his best today.

Anyway, the excessive compensation that the Lee family had bestowed.

Five hundred nyang of gold and the ferry.

And the hundred-year-old knotweed... let's call it even with this.

(End of Chapter)