Chapter 106

What surprised Bi Ryu-yeon the most while living with Moyong Hwi was not his martial arts but his spirit of cleanliness. Especially his white robe, which always maintained a clean white color without a single speck of dirt, was in the realm of the incomprehensible. But, no matter how outstanding his cleaning and cleanliness maintenance skills were, how could that punk's match attract more attention than his own? Even after thinking about it again, he still didn't understand.

"Seeing is believing! Well, I guess I'll find out when I see it..."

Bi Ryu-yeon's luck in the matches was much better compared to Moyong Hwi's. Whether Moyong Hwi had received the envy of the heavens or the envy of the organizing committee, his first opponent was not good. Jang Hong's face hardened slightly when he saw his duel opponent.

"The Kunlun Sect's Kunlun Flying Sword, Ju Su-yeong... a formidable opponent..."

The man wearing a martial robe with the Kunlun Sect's characteristic cloud embroidery was none other than the Kunlun Flying Sword, Ju Su-yeong, who was called the number one talent of Kunlun. Besides, he was also one of the eight swords of the Nine Orthodoxies Association, the Nine Orthodox Eight Swords.

He was a different kind of master from Dan Pyeong of the Hainan Sect. And he was a person of a different class from the Kunlun Twin Swords, whom Moyong Hwi had faced before.

"I heard that you gave a lesson to our children! If the junior disciples owe a debt, that debt is passed on to the senior brother!"

Whatever the reason, since his junior disciples had suffered an unsightly scene, it was a story that he would repay that debt. Because at this rate, it could tarnish the reputation of the sect. Of course, whether he would wipe away the stain or add to it twice as much was something that had to be seen.

"Consider yourself unlucky to have met me from the first round!"

It was Ju Su-yeong, who was still speaking with an arrogant expression.

"I'm rather glad."

Moyong Hwi's spirit was not at all inferior. Rather, it was an expression that said, 'It's a good thing'.

"Oh? The reason?"

"Because the stronger the opponent I meet, the stronger my sword will become. If I had met a weak opponent, I would have been rather disappointed."

Depending on how one heard it, it was a quite arrogant statement. Because it could also be interpreted as, 'You are just a tool that raises my experience points'.

"You're confident! Do you really have that much qualification?"

"The sword will answer everything."

Moyong Hwi drew his sword. Now, there was no more need for words between the two.

Moyong Hwi was rather glad about this worst of match luck. Because the stronger the opponent he met, the stronger his sword could also become. His study was not so low as to be intimidated by meeting a strong opponent.

The sword and the sword were drawn. Now, only the result was left.

Contrary to the expectation of a fierce battle, judging from Ju Su-yeong's loud-mouthed attitude, the duel ended in an absurdly simple way.

Indeed, Moyong Hwi's sword had the qualification to be loud-mouthed.

"Th..., that can't be!"

The Heavenly Wonder Dragon, Danmok U, was demonstrating how astonished he was now, with his eyes wide open. The duel had produced an absurd result.

"Th..., for that Ju Su-yeong to be defeated so futilely! Hoho..."

Although he had expected a quite thrilling duel, Ju Su-yeong had not lived up to his loud-mouthed claims. Absurdly, he had ended in one blow. It was a really swift and concise duel.

"We need to bring that person to our side as soon as possible... He's a talent that I covet more and more the more I see him!"

Seeing Moyong Hwi's martial prowess, it was Danmok U, who coveted his existence even more. With just Moyong Hwi, it seemed that he could recover the power that had been pushed back by the Nine Orthodoxies Association.

"Fast and accurate!"

It was the words of the man who was reminiscent of a single saber, the Flash Dragon, Cheon Ya-jin. Danmok U turned his head and looked at him in surprise. Because for him, this was the highest praise and an expression of his utmost surprise.

"H..., how..."

Ju Su-yeong, who was called the Kunlun Flying Sword, had to look at Moyong Hwi's sword, which had arrived at his throat's vital point, with a dazed expression, even before he could properly unfold the Cloud Dragon Great Nine Forms, which was his specialty and the sect's secret martial art.

He had taken a starting stance in one breath and had flown his sword in two breaths. Before the third breath had even begun, the sword was already pointing at Ju Su-yeong's throat's vital point. It was something that had happened before he had even unfolded the first form. He had committed the unsightly blunder of being suppressed before he could even unfold his original martial art, due to his carelessness. The match had ended so futilely that the numerous attentions that were focused on him were made colorless.

Ju Su-yeong, who had been talking big and mentioning Moyong Hwi's qualifications, had realized how unqualified he was and had admitted his defeat. Ju Su-yeong's shoulders were drooping as he came down from the duel stage lonely. He must have been inwardly ashamed. Moyong Hwi had proved that the rampant rumors were true with just one sword strike. Now, the attention that was pouring on him would increase even more.

"Indeed, he is excellent. I was too careless! What do you think?"

Baek Mu-yeong, who was wearing a dazzling white robe similar to Moyong Hwi's, asked Cheong-heun, who was sitting next to him, while waving his folding fan. Although his martial arts were by no means low, he had asked because he knew that his own knowledge of the sword was below Cheong-heun's.

"It's nothing! Don't worry!"

Cheong-heun said in a tone as if it were nothing. At that, Baek Mu-yeong's eyes sparkled slightly.

"Huhu! It's the first time I've seen you like that! It must mean that Moyong Hwi's skills were that outstanding!"

Baek Mu-yeong said with a light smile.

"Oh? May I ask the reason why you think so? I clearly said it was nothing!"

"The body is an honest thing! There's no need to try to hide it."

"Didn't I say he's not very strong!"

Cheong-heun's voice had become slightly stiff.

"You should say that to the back of your hand. It seems that instinct is more honest than the mouth."

Cheong-heun quickly looked down at the back of his hand. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. On the back of his tightly clenched fist, cold sweat was forming in beads.

'Did my body react instinctively? To that punk's strength...'

Sometimes, the body was more honest than the mind. Because while the mind could be deceived using will, the body could not be deceived.

"Shouldn't you admit what you have to admit?"

"Huhu, indeed! The body is honest, is that it! I should give a return gift for making me this nervous, right?"

Cheong-heun said with a bitter smile.

"Rather than a return gift for making you nervous, don't forget the return gift for the Nine Orthodox Eight Swords being broken so futilely. I also didn't expect him to lose so simply! With this, the morale of the Heroes and Eight Families Association side will rise endlessly. Don't you think so? That person seems to be very curious about what is above the sky."

Cheong-heun immediately understood what Baek Mu-yeong, who was speaking with a slight smile at him, wanted. It was a request to break the morale of the Heroes and Eight Families Association, which would now rise to the sky without knowing its height. And it was also a job that he had been entrusted with, to remind Moyong Hwi of the existence of a heaven beyond the heavens.

Cheong-heun nodded his head and said that he had clearly understood.

"Leave it to me! I will let him know that there is a flying person above a running person, and another sky above the sky!"

• The Plot in the Leather Bag

The Flying Heavenly Dragon, Cheong-heun's match also
drew a large crowd, as much as Moyong Hwi's match,
and was in a state of chaos.
If Moyong Hwi was a challenger, Cheong-heun could be said to be a king.

"Huu! My opponent is unfortunately Brother Cheong-heun."

Jong Ja-heo's reaction was no different from admitting that he had already lost.

"It is an honor to cross swords with Brother Cheong-heun!"

It was Jong Ja-heo, who was making his defeat a foregone conclusion. Although they were both third-year students, Jong Ja-heo knew well the difference in skill between himself and Cheong-heun. Cheong-heun was a person who existed on the other side, whom he could not dare to look up to. He had no choice but to admit what he had to admit.

"You are overpraising me."

It was Cheong-heun, who also had the virtue of modesty.

"Although my skills are lacking, I am also a martial artist! I have no intention of giving up the victory easily!"

Jong Ja-heo drew his beloved sword and shouted resolutely. He was also a direct disciple of the Great Qingcheng Sect. If he were to be defeated easily, his face would not be saved.

"Of course! Come!"

He said to come. It was a word that a master used to a lower-level person. And Jong Ja-heo had to go.

Even if he were to lose, he could not lose in an unsightly way. There was a dignity in losing. To not become like a dog that had lost in a dogfight, he had to throw all his strength. Because he knew well that if he did not do his best in this one blow, the next opportunity would never come.

Cheong-heun's duel content was like a demonstration against Moyong Hwi. Cheong-heun had also broken Jong Ja-heo's sword forms with just one sword and had reached his throat's vital point. It was the same vital point that Moyong Hwi had aimed for.

Blood seeped out from Jong Ja-heo's right hand, which was holding the sword. It was a godsend that he had not dropped the sword.

"I lost!"

Jong Ja-heo admitted obediently. He had known from the beginning that it was difficult to overcome Cheong-heun's wall with his current skills. It was just a pity that he had admitted his defeat in just one move.

"Thank you!"

Cheong-heun retrieved his sword and then politely bowed, showing his courtesy.

"Waaaaaaaaaah!"

Cheers erupted from all sides. Most of the people who were cheering were people who belonged to the nine great sects. Of course, there were also people among them who were expressing their pure admiration for Cheong-heun's martial prowess, but they were a small number compared to the people of the nine great sects.

Although they knew he was strong, it was the ambiguous position of the Heroes and Eight Families Association that they could not just be happy.

"He is a person who has felt the secret meaning of the way of the sword."

A light of admiration and astonishment flickered on Moyong Hwi's expressionless face.

Cold sweat seeped into Moyong Hwi's hand. He thought a thunderbolt had struck his back. The thrill of such a powerful shock had made his body tremble. Although it was just one sword strike, it was a sword strike that was enough to see the frighteningness contained in it. Because he, who knew better than anyone how difficult it was to contain that much spirit in just one sword strike.

"Hehe, it's the first time I've seen you agitated... I'm seeing a good show today! To think that the world's ice block, the cold-faced Moyong Hwi (Bi Ryu-yeon called Moyong Hwi this) is agitated. It's an article that would make the people of the world faint if they knew."

It was Bi Ryu-yeon, who was still grinning, not knowing how serious the other person was. There was no one more carefree in the world.

Moyong Hwi's gaze swept past Bi Ryu-yeon. To see such a terrifying sword strike and not be nervous? At the very least, it was normal to show a martial artist's admiration. But no matter how much he looked, he could not find such a sign anywhere on Bi Ryu-yeon's body.

Although he was the biggest enemy in cleaning the room, and although they had had little interaction, they had known each other for nearly half a year. But Bi Ryu-yeon was still a difficult person for him to understand.

"So that's the Three-Section Sword, the Flying Heavenly Dragon, Cheong-heun! The divine dragon of the Wudang Sect! The martial absolute of the Nine Orthodoxies Association!"

A strange light flashed in Hyo-ryong's eyes as he looked at Cheong-heun, who was coming down from the duel stage with dignity. That light had appeared and disappeared in such a short moment that other people had no time to notice.

'Oh, oh! No! It seems I got nervous without knowing it and raised my fighting spirit!'

It felt as if goosebumps were rising on the back of his neck. It seemed that it was not only Hyo-ryong who had felt a chill run down his spine. Moyong Hwi's agitation, who was staring at Cheong-heun with a more serious face and a stiff expression than usual, was also vividly felt on the skin. Next to him, Bi Ryu-yeon, who seemed to be carefree, came into Hyo-ryong's eyes.

'Well, if he keeps winning like this, will he be his opponent in the finals!'

Indeed, the Three-Section Sword, Cheong-heun, would surely be a thicker wall, a higher cliff, and a more difficult obstacle for Moyong Hwi than anyone else. And..., when he thought about the distant future, it was no exception for himself either.

It was Hyo-ryong, whose gaze once again went to Cheong-heun, who was surrounded by many people and was receiving congratulatory greetings. As if he would never forget, a strange light was flickering in Hyo-ryong's eyes.

"Why is the atmosphere so chilly? Did everyone eat something wrong?"

Hyo-ryong's gaze, which was once again observing Cheong-heun in detail, turned to the owner of the voice, Bi Ryu-yeon. Next to Moyong Hwi, who was lost in thought with a serious face, Bi Ryu-yeon was restlessly moving his mouth. Moyong Hwi would probably never try to watch a match with Bi Ryu-yeon again.

'Is that punk lacking in basic human emotions? Or is he just a simple fool...'

Bi Ryu-yeon, who was still an incomprehensible object to himself and to others, still had a face that was impossible to know what he was thinking.

Kwang!

The table shook violently from a large impact.

The flickering candlelight, as if it would go out, clearly showed how agitated the emotions of the one who had slammed the table were.

"No way... Are you saying we should betray him? The great senior brother..."

Namgung Sang's voice trembled slightly.

"Betrayal! This friend speaks too harshly. Don't say such a miserable thing carelessly. It's just that we might follow the general trend... There's no other meaning. Besides, it's not even confirmed yet, is it? Since the matter is what it is, let's be cautious."

Geum Yeong-ho said in a solemn tone, despite the shaking of his plump neck fat. He was still insisting on a purple silk martial robe that did not match his face at all.

"But if you think about it, betraying the great senior brother..."

"Hmph! I said no! Watch your words!"

Geum Yeong-ho cut off Namgung Sang's continuing words as if with a single slash of a sword. It was a word that was not good to hear and not beneficial to say. It was a remarkably different, firm appearance, to the point where it felt a gap from his usual self, who was always smiling like the son of a merchant.

"It's not confirmed yet. We are now at a so-called crossroads of choice! It's a critical crossroads of whether to follow public opinion or to take a risk by using what we have seen and felt, although it is unpleasant, as a measure of judgment!"

Now was the moment to gather their opinions and make a decision.