Chapter 105

• The Zither-Playing Walk

The Heavenly Sound Fairy, Hong Ran's prediction was only half right.

Anyway, for Bi Ryu-yeon, it was a miscalculation after a long time.

From the perspective of introducing sound arts into a real battle for the first time,
he himself had not considered the distance.

Unexpectedly, sound arts was a martial art that required more attention to the sense of distance than a spear or a bow. Since distance was a matter directly related to victory or defeat, there was no way not to pay attention to the distance even if one tried not to. But it was already too late. By the time Bi Ryu-yeon had realized that, it was already too late.

The opponent had no leisure to listen to his zither sound and no such generosity. A punk who lacked magnanimity needed to be forcibly caught and have his lack of it increased.

Dan Pyeong's sword forms, as befitting a disciple of a prestigious sect who had been properly educated, were fast and sharp in their changes. Besides, since he was rushing in an excited state, it contained a madness-like sharp energy that could not be treated carelessly. But Bi Ryu-yeon's action of avoiding his sword forms was too simple.

Bi Ryu-yeon's body, which had let the fast sword strike that was flying towards his neck flow by with a single bow of his head, seemed to move forward as if sliding on an ice sheet, and at some point, he was occupying his rear. He had made Dan Pyeong's sword forms useless with just two movements and had occupied a favorable high ground. It was a movement method that was worthy of admiration for anyone to see.

The all-out sword strike that had been hastily delivered in anger had missed, and before he could even recover from the mistake, Dan Pyeong had had his back taken. Bi Ryu-yeon's movement method of moving his body while sitting without any sign was a surprising thing that no one had expected.

"Zither-Playing Walk! When did that child learn that...!"

The Heavenly Sound Fairy, Hong Ran, stood up from her seat. An exclamation burst from her mouth after a long time. Even in her eyes, Bi Ryu-yeon's Zither-Playing Walk was a smooth one without any flaws. So it was natural for her to let out an exclamation. Because she had not taught it yet, and it was a secret among secrets that she could not carelessly teach in the future. It was not unreasonable that Hong Ran was so surprised that her eyes were about to pop out.

Zither-Playing Walk!

What a person who had learned the zither sound arts, which had a significantly lower athletic ability compared to the jade flute, had to learn was that highly difficult secret movement method, the Zither-Playing Walk.

The Zither-Playing Walk literally referred to all the secret movement methods of moving the body while playing the zither. According to tradition, it was a secret method of moving while sitting upright, as if a bead were sliding on an ice sheet, and it was also considered one of the number one secrets of the Sound Sect because it was a footwork that did not use the knees, thighs, and pelvis at all.

The zither sound martial art without this secret movement method called the Zither-Playing Walk was just a physically disabled person with a leg disability.

The Zither-Playing Walk, it was not passed down to just anyone. It was the foundation of the foundation of the Sound Sect.

Bi Ryu-yeon had unfolded it even though Hong Ran had no memory of teaching it. One can guess how great Hong Ran's surprise was. It would have been the feeling of a sect leader whose secret had been stolen.

If it weren't for Bi Ryu-yeon's next move, he would have been more than enough to be highly praised with just this Zither-Playing Walk. Even if he had lost the match, Hong Ran would have praised Bi Ryu-yeon. But the person who had seen Bi Ryu-yeon's next move could not recall the excellence of this Zither-Playing Walk in their memory. And Hong Ran was enraged, her face turning pale. Because Bi Ryu-yeon's next move was an absurd act that had thrown the people into a frenzy of astonishment.

It was not that Bi Ryu-yeon had shown some divine skill or secret technique. His one move was very simple and also ignorant. He had held the 1.65-meter-long ink zither he was holding in both hands and had coolly smashed the back of his opponent, Dan Pyeong's head.

Perhaps because of its darkish color, the ink zither, which even felt quite heavy, had swung fiercely and had smashed the back of Dan Pyeong's head with its sharp edge.

If Dan Pyeong had just quickly bowed his head and had avoided this one move, the picture would have been a little better, and he himself would have been able to avoid the unsightly scene, but this punk was so slow in his movements, unlike a punk who was called a master, that he could not avoid it. The price was tragic.

Kwang!

With a loud crash that seemed to shake the sky, Dan Pyeong's body collapsed towards the ground at a frightening speed.

Peok!

The result was tragic. Although it was Dan Pyeong, who had been steadily training at the Cheonmu Academy in the meantime, he was not strong enough to withstand this one blow. And he had lost his consciousness from the huge impact. Bi Ryu-yeon had shown Hong Ran in the most terrible way that the zither also had such a use.

The eyes of the people who were watching were widened at this unexpected situation. It was an absurd thing that even they were seeing for the first time in their lives.

It was a match content that he had won but would not be praised for. Everyone just shook their heads in disbelief, and no one sent any admiration or applause.

The Heavenly Sound Fairy, Hong Ran, who had seen Bi Ryu-yeon's ignorant and vulgar (in her eyes) one move, was so surprised that she was about to faint, and then she was enraged as if she were going crazy. She was so enraged that her reason was about to fly away. How enraged must she have been for her beloved instrument, the Heavenly Sound Flute, to have almost been damaged by the strength of her gripping hand!

The hall was cooled down to the point of being chilly. No one spoke carelessly. A heavy silence was pressing down around the duel stage. Even the people could not make a hasty judgment on this duel. He had won, but something was fishy. Like a fishbone stuck in the throat...

As no applause or cheers were heard, Bi Ryu-yeon, who had suddenly become bored, just came down from the duel stage. Now, on the duel stage, there was only the man who had once been praised as the Fast Illusion Sword, sprawled out unsightly in a 'da' shape like a dead frog.

The stars that were densely embedded in the night sky and were shining were just beautiful. But, the reason why one could not recognize the beauty after seeing those stars would be because one's own heart was not stable.

"Huu..."

Hong Ran let out a sorrowful sigh. Why was her heart so confused... Although the reason was obvious, she resented her own position of being able to do nothing and the Three Sages Festival rules that had made her so.

Thus, Bi Ryu-yeon's advance to the second round was decided.

• Moyong Hwi's First Experience

"Umm! I feel unpleasant for some reason."

"What is it?"

"At this rate, it feels like Moyong Hwi is
the main character of today!"

It was Bi Ryu-yeon, whose cheeks were all puffed up because he felt that he was not getting the attention today.

And it was not just a feeling, but the reality was so.

Hyo-ryong's eyes widened as he asked back.

"N..., no way, no, then did you think you were the main character of today?"

"Yes!"

Hyo-ryong was at a loss for words, seeing Bi Ryu-yeon nod his head without hesitation. To think he would lack this much self-awareness...

The feeling that the main character of today was not Bi Ryu-yeon but Moyong Hwi was not a delusion but a clear fact. In fact, the main character of today was Moyong Hwi. There was no leisurely and idle person in this Cheonmu Academy who would pay attention to Bi Ryu-yeon, who had shown an inelegant fight.

A punk who was not interested in Moyong Hwi, the next-generation rising star who would one day emerge as their top competitor and rival, was rather abnormal. Besides, today was a match that could be called the famous Moyong Hwi's official first stage.

Hyo-ryong was confident that he would not be surprised even if all the attention of the world was focused on Moyong Hwi.

"There are too many people here, aren't there? Ugh~."

The surrounding spectator seats surrounding the Sword Saint Exhibition's exclusive duel ground were so crowded with people that it was reminiscent of a market. What more could be said when the spectator seats to sit and watch were about to burst? To avoid being crushed to death, one had to gather their internal energy and even raise a body-protecting firm qi.

It was to the extent that one could see at a glance that more people had gathered for this match today than for any other match so far. Besides, it felt as if the people's nerves were also sharpened more than any treasure sword.

Bi Ryu-yeon did not understand the reason why three times as many people had gathered today than for a usual match, but he knew.

It was to see one man. What good would it be for a man to see a man (even though Moyong Hwi was so handsome that he would put a woman to shame), but now they were all preparing with all their might to dig up every single detail of one man's every move, every habit, without leaving anything out. It was a kind of espionage. And that man was not Bi Ryu-yeon himself, but Moyong Hwi, who was using the same room as him. This point was one of the parts that Bi Ryu-yeon understood the least.

Bi Ryu-yeon did not understand why others insisted on calling that punk a genius when even he himself did not think so, and even the person himself said no. They were really persistent punks, even though the person himself said no.

It was not once or twice that he had been harmed because of this punk who was just gathering the useless gazes of those around him. It was Bi Ryu-yeon, who did not care at all about the fact that the people around him had been harmed dozens of times more because of himself, and were still being harmed. It was a punk who was impossible to know whether he was intentionally ignoring it or was not even aware of it.

"Oh! Ouch! It's a large procession of big shots with heavy buttocks!"

Jang Hong whistled and let out an exclamation. It was a face like a child who had found a good spectacle.

"I don't know."

Bi Ryu-yeon, who had been looking around from side to side, imitating Jang Hong, said a word. The knowledge he had about the Jianghu was only about the amount of water in a well that had dried up in a drought.

"I didn't expect it. I'll teach you. Listen carefully. Because it's all nutritious golden words that will become your blood and flesh! Hahaha!"

"The introduction is long. Ah, that, sir!"

Bi Ryu-yeon shot a blunt word at the show-off uncle, Jang Hong.

"Hoho! Good grief! How many times do I have to tell you that I'm not an uncle? Just listen properly!"

Jang Hong's finger pointed at one place. There, a handsome young man wearing a white robe reminiscent of a crane's wing was sitting. A crane among a flock of chickens! Even in the crowd that was gathered like a pack of dogs, a spirit that naturally focused the gazes on one body flowed. On the other hand, the spirit of the young man in black, who was sitting next to him, was sharp, as if reminiscent of a single saber, and he was looking at Moyong Hwi as if to cut him to pieces with his eyes that were shining as sharply as a broadsword. The sword scar that was running diagonally on his right cheek was making his impression even sharper.

"That young man in white you see over there is the head of the Heroes and Eight Families Association, the eldest son of the Danmok family, the Heavenly Wonder Dragon, Danmok U! The person next to him is the master of the Fast Saber, the Flash Dragon, Cheon Ya-jin, who is called the Cheonmu Number One Fast Saber. According to rumors, his sect is of the Saber Saint lineage... It's not accurate! He's a friend with a lot of secrets! He's a terrifying master, and one of the few rivals that the Flying Heavenly Dragon, Cheong-heun, has acknowledged. It is said that the ultimate technique, the Setting Sun Flash, that comes out of his saber can even cut down the sun in the sky. Both of them are one of the Cheonmu Nine Dragons!"

They were two people who were emitting truly contrasting spirits. His finger once again crossed the duel stage and pointed to the opposite side.

Two people with a spirit that was not to be trifled with, a spirit that was by no means inferior to the two people from before, were sitting, surrounded by a few martial artists. The spirits of the two were a calm energy, as if water were flowing.

"That side is the brain of the Nine Orthodoxies Association, the Wise Dragon, the Hengshan One Wonder, Baek Mu-yeong, and the person next to him is the current top martial talent of the Nine Orthodoxies Association, the Flying Heavenly Dragon, Cheong-heun. Another nickname is the Three-Section Sword. He is from the Wudang Sect and is one of the strongest candidates for this Sword Saint Exhibition. The two of them together are called the Literary and Martial Twin Absolutes of the Nine Orthodoxies Association. Especially in the case of that friend, Cheong-heun, it is said that his martial arts are comparable to the leader's."

As if he were itching to show off his extensive knowledge, Jang Hong continued to speak without resting. Although he was listening, his knowledge was so endless that it was doubtful whether he could even remember it all.

"As expected of the Seven Absolutes Divine Sword, Moyong Hwi, for the big shots who consider ordinary people as just pebbles on the street to come out to watch in person like this. They must have come out because they were afraid they wouldn't be able to sleep if they didn't confirm his skills with their own eyes!"

Bi Ryu-yeon was rather amazed by Jang Hong, who was letting out exclamations in succession and turning his head here and there. How could he know all those many people? The more he thought about it, the more amazing it was.

Bi Ryu-yeon had no choice but to just listen quietly and nod his head.

"For these big shots to gather in one place to see Moyong Hwi's skills... His fame is truly great!"

It was Hyo-ryong's exclamation, who had been listening from the side. Wasn't he also nervous now! They were actions that were fully understandable.

"No matter what anyone says, it's the famous Seven Absolutes Divine Sword, Moyong Hwi's first official match!"

It was the words of Yun Jun-ho, who was always shy and couldn't step forward, and was always following along like an appendix. For him, who was always ignored and ostracized by others, Moyong Hwi was an idol-like existence. So there was no way he could miss this duel.

"Is that punk that great? I've been living in the same room with him for half a year, but I don't really know."

It was Bi Ryu-yeon, who was tilting his head.

"What are you talking about? He's the grandson of the Sword Saint, Moyong Jeong-cheon."

Hyo-ryong said with an absurd expression.

"So what? Surely, just because his grandfather is a Sword Saint doesn't mean the grandson automatically becomes a Sword Saint, right? How nice would it be if the world were that convenient? If that punk has an outstanding sword ki, it's not because his grandfather is great, but because that punk is great!"

After hearing Bi Ryu-yeon's words, Hyo-ryong's back of the head tingled. He had never thought of it that way. Bi Ryu-yeon's words also made sense in a way. No, it might even be the truth. No matter how good an environment was given to a person, what use would it be if they did not have the quality and will to digest it?

"Your words also have a point. But what makes a prestigious family a prestigious family is the power that has been passed down for generations. The master-disciple relationship in the Jianghu can never be ignored, and sometimes it even becomes an absolute measure."

Hyo-ryong's words were not wrong either.

"Well! Even if that punk is a bit of a big shot, I don't think it's to the extent of making such a fuss! Of course, his mysophobia and his spirit of cleaning, cleanliness, organizing, and tidying are terrifying. That can be said to be the best in the world. I admit that! I've never seen a punk who is more diligent in cleaning, organizing, and tidying than that punk in my life! Besides, the white robe of the evening that always maintains a pure white color and has not a single speck of dust on it is truly a mystery!"