For about two and a half years, I transformed remarkably from someone who knew nothing about martial arts.
If someone had been training in martial arts since early childhood, they might see this as cheating and envy me.
Yet, the truth is, I had never truly used the strength I’ve built up, so I couldn’t really feel if I was strong or not.
My usual sparring partners were the stronger Dokgorin or Tang Sosu, and my master, Tang Hochang, was in a league of his own.
In that sense, this entrance exam was a golden opportunity to gauge my current capabilities.
There were no restrictions; it was simply a clash of pure strength.
*
The total number of badges I needed to collect was ten, including one provided by default.
I had to gather ten to proceed to the next entrance exam and stay by my girlfriend Dokgorin’s side.
So, I was determined to fight with all my heart from the beginning.
“Whoo-”
I exhaled and inhaled again, practicing deep breathing as they call it.
While going through this process, the dormant energy within me began to awaken rapidly, circulating through my body according to the techniques of the MuGungSim method.
All this took about three seconds.
If I become stronger than I am now, I’ll be able to summon my energy instantly, but for now, I still needed some warm-up time.
Now that my body was filled with energy, it was time to move.
‘Who should I target first?’
I scanned the surroundings quickly.
Fighting someone who appeared relatively strong would surely help test my skills.
But seeing as the exam had just begun, if I fought nine consecutive opponents at a similar level, even a top-tier martial artist would be worn out.
So, what I needed to do was,
‘I’ll thoroughly seek out weaker opponents.’
Passing the exam came first.
As soon as I settled this in my mind, I moved my feet.
“Whoosh!”
For the last two years, Dokgorin had been intensely training me in both MuRyeongSa and GyeongSinSool.
Now I understood why she had focused primarily on these two, but back then, I couldn’t grasp why she was so fixated on GyeongSinSool.
Yet here, in this situation, I felt I could understand her obsession.
‘…I see a path!’
In the melee involving thousands of combatants, resembling a battlefield, a space where I could advance revealed itself like a lie.
I utilized GyeongSinSool and swift footwork to weave through the brawlers, scouting for suitable prey.
Soon, I spotted a scholarly-looking man who, like me, was cautiously observing his surroundings.
Seeing his slender build, he was likely more of a brain over brawn type.
‘He’ll do.’
As soon as I decided, my body shot forward like an arrow.
Tang Mun Kwon
First Move: ‘Jeop Bi Bong Chim’ (Butterfly Flies, Bee Stings)
Using a unique footwork from Tang Mun Kwon, I could close this short distance in an instant.
“What?!”
The man seemed to notice my presence too late and tried to react, but it was already too late.
Jeop Bi Bong Chim was purely a surprise attack tempo.
“Gah!”
My extended fist landed cleanly in the man’s abdomen, and as his face contorted in pain and he hunched over, I swiftly snatched the badge from his arm.
‘Got one.’
Now that I had the first one, I could keep pushing on.
Immediately, I scouted for another target and decided to employ MuRyeongSa this time.
Whirl!
MuRyeongSa fundamentally involved manipulating a special cord made of iron.
However, since it’s as sharp as the edge of A4 paper, improper use could harm both the opponent and the user.
So, instead of a regular cord, Dokgorin had bought me a durable and tough version that wasn’t as sharp but had excellent durability.
Unleashing the cord I had hidden in my sleeve using energy, I targeted a female warrior with my MuRyeongSa technique.
“Ah!”
Before she knew it, she was ensnared by the cord all over her body.
As she suddenly stumbled forward, having caught off guard due to her bound state, I quickly tore her badge off while apologizing.
“I’m sorry for being rough.”
The moment our eyes met, the girl blushed and replied,
“No, I’m fine.”
Oh no, I’m going to hear it from Dokgorin again.
Feeling a dangerous aura behind me, I swiftly released the cord binding her and left her with a typical wish for success in the next exam.
‘Well, that makes two.’
Just seven more to collect, and I would pass the first exam.
*
Dokgorin was strong.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that hardly anyone who could match her skill existed among her peers.
This was because, armed with the memories from her past life, Dokgorin was following a path she had once walked before.
If there were a match for her, it would only be an incredible genius.
And remarkably, such a genius did indeed exist.
‘Namgoong Ruby, an absurd powerhouse.’
In general, martial artists tend to undervalue external strength due to the potential of compensating with internal energy, but Namgoong Ruby exceeded that notion with what could only be called incredible strength.
The secret treasure of the Namgoong family, the BiCheon Sword (Flying Sky Sword),
Was said to be forged from a meteor that fell from the sky. This mysterious sword had an insane durability that could withstand hundreds of blows against rock without losing its edge, but its size and weight meant that not just anyone could wield it.
Thus it had been said to lie dormant in the Namgoong treasure vault until recently, and now that Ruby was its owner, it was evident just how remarkable she truly was.
‘Eventually, that BiCheon Sword symbolized her.’
Recalling the past and watching Chilboki dash around, Dokgorin realized he had already collected over five badges.
When we first met, I felt unease akin to seeing a child abandoned at the water’s edge, but now I hardly recognized how he had grown.
‘Then perhaps I should start to move before it’s too late.’
Determined, Dokgorin decided to pull in the traps she had set around.
MuRyeongSa’s secret technique, ‘OkSwae Jin’
Anyone within a three-mile radius around her would fall into the trap without realizing it.
Truly like moths caught in a spider’s web.
She gently tugged on the cord connected to her fingertip.
At that moment,
Thunk!
“Huh?”
The examinees, caught up in their fights, gawked dumbly at their arms.
The badges that had been hung on their shoulders suddenly vanished as if they were hallucinating.
‘Ten badges to pass, right? So there were no limits on how many I could take.’
In the blink of an eye, Dokgorin had acquired 58 badges and passed the first exam with overwhelming performance.
*
The last opponent for badge collection.
He was the strongest-looking man among the examinees around.
“Hahaha! You’ve come to return the badge voluntarily, huh? You’ve got some guts!”
Apparently, a fellow martial artist like me.
He seemed like a hefty guy similar to Jeongalgeondam, thoroughly trained in external strength.
He looked to be over thirty, but considering the age limit for examinees was a maximum of twenty, it was clear he had a serious case of premature age.
‘How pitiful.’
Seeing his skin, tanned from endless training under the scorching sun, I inadvertently shot him a pitying look, which made him explode with rage,
“What’s with that look?! You think you’re better than me?!”
By inciting him unknowingly, the man charged at me recklessly.
“Whoosh!”
I lightly dodged his punch aimed at my face and immediately employed Tang Lang Rejects Cart.
The second move of Tang Mun Kwon, this technique counters an opponent’s strength back on them, drawn from a fable about a mantis attacking a cart.
Bang!!
I combined my strength with his, slapping his defenseless jaw with my palm to create a sound like bursting air as his head jerked back.
‘That landed perfectly!’
Having rattled his brain with that blow, I thought I could finish him off in one go, but somehow he managed to regain his balance.
“Hmph! A blow like this won’t faze me!”
With that, he snorted like a wild boar.
‘So this won’t work, huh?’
Feeling a bit defiant, I quickly unleashed my next technique.
The fifth move of Tang Mun Kwon, ‘Hwa Gan Jeop Mu’ (Flower Interlude Dance).
With moves as graceful and intricate as butterflies flitting between flowers, it’s a series of flashy attacks.
“Hahaha! This tickles!”
But his body was so sturdy that despite my relentless strikes, he stood firm, realizing he was far stronger than I’d anticipated, a sense of competitive spirit stirred within me.
“Chilboki! You can do it!”
A cheer from my girlfriend behind me.
Inspired, I decided to combine my learned techniques of Tang Mun Kwon and MuRyeongSa.
Whirl!
The cord shot out like a spider’s web, binding his hands and feet, but he bared his teeth and braced against the tension.
I felt in the exchange that he had better strength and durability, so my advantage had to lie in the precision and finesse he lacked.
As a tense contest of strength unfolded, I suddenly released the tension holding his body and flipped gracefully in mid-air.
“What?!”
The instant the balance shifted, his posture faltered.
Seizing that brief opening, I unleashed a ruthless flying kick to his face.
