Chapter 22

Gu Yang-myeong’s face was as white as a sheet of paper as he walked out.

The Grand Prince had completely read all my palm techniques and sword techniques, my internal energy was overwhelmed, and I couldn’t match his speed. What infuriated Gu Yangming the most was that the Grand Prince wasn’t exerting his full strength; he was leisurely examining the techniques as if Gu Yangming’s clan were merely spectating his martial arts.

This was why the duel dragged on; had they fought with their true strength, it wouldn’t have lasted this long.

Gu Yangming was deeply wounded, not just in appearance but also in spirit.

When Gu Yangyun approached, Gu Yangming waved him off as if unwilling to speak.

Then Gu Yangyun deliberately grabbed Gu Yangming with both hands and subtly infused him with his inner energy.

“Brother, snap out of it.”

Gu Yangyun deliberately gripped Gu Yangming’s shoulders tightly. Gu Yangming frowned and said.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Gu Yangyun replied.

“You’re pale. You were in danger.”

As Gu Yangyun said, had they left Gu Yangming like that, he might have vomited blood from his qi becoming chaotic, even without any injuries. Only then did Gu Yangming come to his senses and say to his younger brother.

“Give it your all from the start. There’s no need to hold back your techniques.”

Gu Yangyun nodded.

“That’s my intention. Brother, just sit here and take some deep breaths.”

Gu Yangyun feared his brother might succumb to demonic possession. Fortunately, Gu Yangming relented and sat down. Gu Yangyun patted his brother’s back lightly before stepping behind the screen.

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Dan Wuseong observed proper etiquette.

“Master Gu Yang.”

Gu Yangyun silently returned the greeting before immediately drawing a straight sword from his waist.

Dan Wooseong enjoyed sparring. After all, mixing in sparring sessions rather than just repeating personal training allowed him to truly savor the taste of confirming his martial arts achievements.

“Here I come.”

Gu Yangyun spoke briefly and, unlike his elder brother, launched a bold preemptive strike. Outwardly, his tone was gentler and his expression more subdued than his brother’s, but the moment he drew his sword, he swung it with the resolve of a man fighting for his life.

When it came to combat, his temperament was incomparably more fierce than his brother’s. Only then did Dan Wuseong consider Gu Yangyun a man truly suited to the sword.

When Gu Yangyun came at him fiercely, Dan Wuxing responded with equal ferocity.

Each time the blade flew in a sweeping arc, Danwooseong evaded and countered with either a knife-hand strike or a fist. It was psychological warfare designed to make his opponent move awkwardly. Because he swung with tension, a wind-like force erupted, or the outward-projecting blade energy from his knife-hand strike poured onto Gu Yangun’s torso.

In an instant, the surrounding screens began to tear apart, fluttering wildly in the wind like chopped bamboo.

During the engagement, Danwooseong stepped into the Thunder Stance he often used in his prime.

With a thud, shockwaves spread forward… Gu Yangyun, who had been advancing, startled and leapt backward, creating distance. While only preparing to counter the fist wind, the attack method changed with a roar, leaving him startled.

Dan Woo-sung watched Gu Yang-woon soaring through the air, then wrapped his fist in thunder energy.

Thunderclap.

Though the technique was of the fifth rank, only the power of the third rank was infused.

A technique named Thunder Roar.

Dan Woo-sung’s simple punch stopped abruptly at a point in midair, then in an instant, a massive fist-shaped white thunderbolt shot toward Gu Yang-woon with a tremendous vibration.

To the eyes of the onlookers watching from outside the screen…

Gu Yangyun soared into the air, followed by a massive fist thrusting diagonally from within the screen.

Gu Yangyun twisted the blade’s broad surface, then fiercely lashed out with a left-handed strike.

CRASH!

Gu Yangyun’s figure, deflecting the thunderous roar like a drum being torn apart, arced outward in a curve.

Simultaneously, Shin So-baek, who had been nearby, leapt up as if repelled, catching Gu Yang-un who had nearly tumbled to the ground and barely regained his balance.

Shin So-baek checked on Gu Yang-un.

“Hey there, Brother Gu Yang.”

When there was no response, Shin So-baek gently tapped the Zhongwan, Zhongzheng, and Tiandou acupoints on Gu Yang-un’s chest area, then gave his cheek a sharp slap.

“Guh…”

Gu Yangyun, who had been temporarily knocked unconscious, opened his eyes and gasped for breath. When he looked up, Shin So-baek and Gu Yang-myeong were looking down at him with worried expressions.

Gu Yangyun unconsciously felt his own body. There were no injuries. It seemed he had simply fainted from the strange roar and shockwave.

“Haah…”

The Gu brothers sighed simultaneously. It was already their second defeat.

Gu Yangming, clearly deeply hurt, spoke to Shin So-baek in a sullen tone.

“Let’s just call it a loss today and head back.”

Three consecutive defeats would surely cause an uproar at the clan headquarters. Since he and Gu Yangyun had suffered this fate, it seemed unlikely that Xin Xiaobai would fare much better. At Gu Yangming’s words, Xin Xiaobai’s eyebrows twitched and arched upward.

Xin Xiaobai said.

“To miss such an opportunity would be unworthy of a martial artist. Since the Crown Prince is such a skilled practitioner, I must spar with him at least once from the perspective of refining my techniques. Victory or defeat is merely the result; martial arts develop through the process itself. And given his level of skill, the fact that your physical conditions aren’t severely impaired shows the Crown Prince’s thoughtful consideration. I’ll be going now. Rest well.”

Shin So-baek spoke in a cold tone, as if addressing both men, then walked toward the screen.

Gu Yangming and Gu Yangyun exchanged glances, but neither had anything to say.

As Shin So-baek had said, the Crown Prince had dealt with them appropriately—a fact the two knew better than anyone.

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Shin So-baek took the initiative and asked Dan Woo-sung.

“Honestly, Your Highness’s concern for my injuries doesn’t exactly ignite my fighting spirit. Moreover, judging by the skill displayed earlier against Prince Gu Yang, it seems his internal energy is deeper than mine.”

“Nonsense.”

Dan Woosung stared at Shin So-baek. Shin So-baek seemed to have more to say.

“Your Highness, it seems you are also training in external martial arts, is that correct?”

“That is correct.”

“If you don’t mind, how about we proceed with the duel using only external techniques?”

Shin So-baek looked at Dan Woo-seong and proposed a duel between true warriors.

Since my internal energy doesn’t seem deeper than yours to begin with, this was also a proposal to determine the superiority of our sword techniques and fist techniques without relying on internal energy.

Dan Woo-sung accepted with surprising simplicity.

“Let’s do it.”

“You won’t regret it?”

Dan Woosung gave a faint smile.

“What’s the big deal? It’s just a process for both of us.”

He meant that the path of martial arts didn’t end with this level of training and sparring, so they should both consider it a process. It was also a response to what Shin So-baek had said to the Gu brothers.

But who could possibly benefit from fighting without any inner strength?

It was also the type of fight Dan Woo-sung preferred most.

Shin So-baek approached Dan Woo-sung without even realizing what he was doing. Without internal energy, this duel would be close combat from start to finish. Now they would compete in long-range techniques, close-range techniques, fist techniques, and body techniques.

Shin So-baek extended his palm, fingers pointing upward. He paused briefly, as if granting his opponent time to prepare, then launched his first strike.

Dan Woosung suppressed his ki and countered. He liked his opponent. Because he liked him, he felt obligated to give him a proper fight.

A man of his caliber stands to gain more from defeat than anyone else. His character and mindset seemed superior to the Gu brothers, so special treatment from Kwon Wang-sik was warranted.

Puff-puff-puff!

Palm blades clashed with fists, wrists collided, and their trajectories twisted. Xin Xiaobai sent He Chao flying, then aimed for the left commander’s abdomen before thrusting his left knee forward like a dart.

A loud whoosh of wind erupted.

As soon as Dan Woo-sung twisted his body to catch the left hook, he flung Shin So-baek to one side. Utilizing Shin So-baek’s own momentum, his body flew swiftly away. It was a moment when a decisive blow could have struck, leaving Shin So-baek with lingering doubt.

‘Are you challenging me again?’

Shin So-baek spun midair and landed, then glanced at the Crown Prince before charging again.

Dan Wooseong nodded as if encouraging him to keep attacking. Shin So-baek’s strikes grew even more brutal. Spotting an opening in Shin So-baek’s legs, Dan Wooseong swept his leg out like a scythe, striking with a backhand blow.

Thud! With a sound, Shin So-baek’s body swayed, then he swung his right leg like a sickle, aiming for the Crown Prince’s head.

Dan Woo-sung deflected it with his right hand. Mid-air, Shin So-baek crossed his legs and unleashed a barrage of attacks, seven or eight strikes in rapid succession.

Pabababak!

Since he lacked inner strength, blocking Danwooseong wasn’t particularly difficult. Descending, Shin Sobak lightly kicked off the ground once, then spun his body while unleashing a bizarre technique called the Whirling Palm Strike. It resembled a powerful wave surging forward, carrying rotational force…

Danwooseong seized Shin Sobak’s left arm, directly absorbing the trajectory and force of the Whirling Palm Strike. With a crack, Shin Sobak’s arm snapped behind his back. Seizing his only remaining attack path, Shin Sobak thrust his elbow forward.

At the same time, Dan Wooseong used his knee to knock Shin So-baek’s foot away, grabbed his right arm, twisted it backward, and then lifted Shin So-baek up with both hands.

With both arms already pinned, he was completely helpless.

If Dan Wooseong slammed him down like this, landing on his knees could have dislocated every vertebra in his spine.

Dan Wooseong tossed him at a controlled speed, as if telling him to find his own balance. Shin So-baek twisted mid-air and landed on his feet by the skin of his teeth. Pushing further now would only prove he wasn’t human.

Shin So-baek rose, assumed a fighting stance, and spoke.

“Your Highness, it was a valuable experience. I felt my shortcomings keenly. I shall train diligently and challenge you again later. I personally witnessed three legitimate duels, and I attest that the Gu family lost all three.”

Dan Wuseong responded to Xin Xiaobai with an impassive expression. Normally, it was customary to at least offer dinner, but judging by Xin Xiaobai’s expression, that was unlikely. He would merely observe the formalities; Xin Xiaobai was barely maintaining his composure.

Xin Xiaobai paused as he stepped out from behind the screen and turned back.

“Ah, Your Highness.”

“Speak.”

“With skills this exceptional, would you have any interest in joining the Martial Alliance? Lately, outsiders can become members too. Your Highness, your skill is more than sufficient.”

“I’ll consider it.”

“Then, we shall meet again.”

Xin Xiaobai walked out with a troubled expression and said to the Gu brothers.

“Let’s go. We’ve lost.”

The three had nothing more to say. They felt like hiding in a mouse hole for a while, waiting for nightfall to return. As the three headed toward the main gate, Dan Wuxing quietly followed them out, seemingly for some reason.

Dan Woo-sung followed them silently to the gate before calling out to the three and stopping them.

“Master Gu Yang, Master Xin.”

The three men turned around with tense expressions, and Dan Woo-sung bowed respectfully.

“It was a fine duel. Please take your leave.”

Now they realized it was simply a farewell. The three hurriedly returned the courtesy. Only Gu Yangyun could manage a reply.

“Please go inside. We’ll return immediately.”

As Dan Woosung extended his hand as if urging them on, the three finally moved away from the Eunha Trading Guild.

Dan Wooseong watched their retreating figures intently. Though their expressions had changed from when he first saw them, they shared a common trait. These were warriors who considered defeat a disgrace.

Dan Wooseong showed them courtesy because they were martial artists.

The man who deliberately bumped shoulders on the street and then slapped the other’s cheek was Dan Woo-seong; the man who never lost his courtesy to a warrior who had defeated him was also Dan Woo-seong.

ⓒ Yoo Jin-seong

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