Chapter 203

In fact, Qing was just offering an apology, essentially admitting defeat.

After Mo Yong Joo-hee’s explosive performance in the drinking contest, there wasn’t really any lingering resentment.

Yet, every time I saw her snarling for no reason, it was exhausting, and considering Jun’s face, it seemed wise to resolve this issue by now.

Moreover, despite Joo-hee running around throwing insults, everyone else just sighed and went with the flow, making it even more so.

The constant simmering animosity between the post-festival lot only led to cute little schemes of revenge like, “Just wait, I’m gonna embarrass you!”

However, Joo-hee’s automatic sarcasm was a dangerously risky habit.

If you got on the wrong side of a Sapa witch, you might as well say goodbye to your neck.

So, if fixing her habits could save a life down the line, it’d be worth it.

Anyway, Qing accomplished his purpose for attending the Dragon and Phoenix Association.

From here on out, he planned to stay at Muchen Pavilion, alternating between training and resting, so this last gathering was to let folks know, “Hey, join me if you want!”

To break free from the lazy Seomun Qing and return as the prepared warrior Seomun Qing.

—-

After a duet that ended in just a few exchanges, Namgoong Shin-jae said with a serious face.

Because Namgoong Shin-jae was always serious.

“I felt it last time too, but your swordsmanship has really diminished. You’ve been relying too much on sheer force, it seems. You see, martial arts were created for humans to surpass their limits.”

“What do you mean?”

“You see, Swordmaster, your strength has become remarkable, hasn’t it? So now you just swing hard and have actually regressed in technique, wouldn’t you say?”

With a hundred mouths, it was hard to argue, because Qing’s fights had always depended on brute strength and crafty moves.

Using raw power and an even more ferocious inner strength to create gaps, incorporating Heaven’s Kill, and using the Demonic Arts whenever it seemed fitting, all while keeping an eye on the situation.

By the way, Divine Skills and Demonic Arts, when seen from our side, are essentially the same—might as well show them off proudly.

This led him to use simple techniques, favoring broad and powerful movements.

Namgoong Shin-jae revealed a pointed, sharp-edged wooden sword that had been hidden above the hilt.

“If it were a Life and Death Match, I wouldn’t have a chance against you, Swordmaster. But in a duel, it’s a different story; we should just spar and keep the other from getting harmed.”

“Hmm. As expected from you, Swordmaster. I wanted to hear such diagnosis! What should I do?”

“You don’t need to fixate so much on winning or losing. It’s not a Life and Death Match, after all. Think of it as an experience to try techniques you’ve never encountered before and deal with them.”

Qing readily accepted the advice.

This is what friendship is about!

“Alright, bring it on, Swordmaster! The Mithril Sword is hungry!”

“Alright! Here I come!”

Thus began Qing vs. Namgoong Shin-jae. One vs. nine.

Qing fell into despair at the unbelievable result.

Even the one win he scored could be chalked up to sheer force, so it could be deemed invalid.

“What is this? Why do I keep losing? Humans aren’t designed to lose, are they? It’s some kind of sorcery, sorcery! You, Namgoong Shin-jae, what kind of trickery are you using?”

“Well, a duel isn’t exactly a level playing field.”

Dueling isn’t originally meant to determine winners and losers.

Still, if you really want to weigh the odds, martial arts focused on subduing are much more advantageous than those aimed at killing, and skills based on smoothness, rather than raw power, are far better off.

Qing favored the Domineering Killing Style, descending with power that surpassed humanity.

That literally made him weak in duels.

“This is utterly tilted! Without any props or horses, how are we supposed to compete?”

“Well, we can’t have a Life and Death Match. Besides, aren’t martial arts contests essentially not much different? Can’t you think of it as practice?”

Even if Qing complained, the Elite Martial Arts Association wasn’t about to change to “Life and Death Match~everyone’s survival competition~”.

“Well, if worse comes to worse, I can just use my strength…”

Due to the special rules of the training duel, if either of them broke a wooden sword, it would result in Qing’s loss. So, a record of one win to nine losses was pretty much inevitable.

It was a special measure to reduce Qing’s dependence on brute strength and train his techniques.

“Swordmaster, it’s not good to leave escape routes like that. We should treat it like a technique contest.”

“If there’s no escape route, I shouldn’t even enter, right?”

“Haha, I can’t beat you in talk, can I? Let’s go again!”

And so, five more rounds later, one victory and four losses.

A whopping twofold winning percentage, should we call that progress?

As Namgoong Shin-jae stepped back to catch his breath, Qing motioned for Pang Dae-san.

“Alright, next is San. Come on in.”

“Right now? No break?”

“I feel like I’m warmed up just right! Now that my body’s tuned, we can’t waste this moment.”

“Hm. You’re quite fit. Don’t think of using it as an excuse after losing.”

“Oh, trying to provoke me, are we? You’ll just flap your lips while I wield my sword?”

“That sword of yours…!”

And after Qing won twice in a row, he lost eight straight times.

Thanks to Pang Dae-san’s underhanded tricks.

“You can’t just aim for the weapon! You’re determined to win at all costs!”

“Rules are rules, right? If your weapon breaks, it’s your loss.”

“It’s just a duel, and you’re fixating on winning and losing, huh?”

“It’s easy for you to say that after boasting about your victories!”

Qing frowned.

Just saying a few words after winning twice, and suddenly, the guy’s all salty. So cowardly.

Pang Dae-san just kept provoking to force a collision, and if you took the hit with a strong strike, your wooden sword would surely shatter.

And seriously, those things were as weak as they come.

Ever since Namgoong Shin-jae broke the ebony sword in the last Dragon and Phoenix gathering, Qing had his status assessed and got these lousy wooden swords specially ordered, being crafted from soft wood.

All thanks to Namgoong Shin-jae’s warm heart for the Swordmaster’s growth.

One was in a box on the carriage, and after noticing the rate of consumption was concerning, two more boxes arrived which was a bit heavy on the heart.

Who knew when he’d have to use those?

“Hey, Swordmaster, should I cover the cost for the swords? I’ve been breaking them all…”

“Even if you broke every last one, it wouldn’t even match half the price of the ebony sword you broke last time. I just shaved down some scrap wood to get the shape right. Isn’t it kind of fun that all the centers are different?”

“Hmm.”

“And besides, in the spot where we share swords, what’s a little money matter?”

“Swordmaster! I’m touched! No, Sword-friend! Sword-bond!”

“I’m glad you like Sword-bond! I’m truly Sword-friend! Alright! Let’s share swords again!”

At that, Pang Dae-san narrowed his eyes.

Looks like these punks are just playing around.

“Swordmaster, take a short break. San! Come here!”

“San, take a breath. Swordmaster! Time for a switch.”

And Qing completely rotated the two for another round.

As they focused on breaking perfectly good wooden swords, the damaged ones started piling up in the Muchen Pavilion training hall.

Anyone passing by might think this poor wooden sword had some grudge!

So, as the pile of wooden planks grew higher, dusk came, settling like a dark blanket over the land.

“Huff, huff, next, San, huff, phew…”

Qing shouted for the next round, drenched in sweat.

After swinging for a total of two and a half hours without a break, it was no wonder.

Meanwhile, Pang Dae-san and Namgoong Shin-jae exchanged glances.

“Bro, this seems a bit off, don’t you think?”

“Yeah. While training is fine, he seems eager to overexert himself.”

Having exchanged those opinions, the two men subtly redirected the topic.

“Dueling is good and all, but aren’t you getting a bit hungry?”

“Right, Swordmaster. Training is good, but you must have proper meals or it won’t do.”

The timing of the topic shift was spectacular!

Qing’s eyes widened, and then he immediately started drooling.

“Oh, wow! I even forgot about eating? I’m starving! Let’s eat, let’s eat.”

—-

May in Gwangju was already seeing a weather that clearly screamed summer.

At least during the night, it got cooler, so taverns, noodle stands, and food stalls set up makeshift tables along the main street to serve guests.

As they hung rows of lights between buildings, softly illuminating the area, an old man and a young girl were having a meal together.

The elderly woman seemed to have brought out her sickly granddaughter, a stray dog was sneakily approaching, sensing it wouldn’t be a challenge.

The old woman looked down at the dog.

“Hm? What a scruffy mutt. Geez, could it be this ugly? Guess its owner tossed it out?”

Despite saying that, the old lady smiled and petted the dog’s head, rubbing its chin.

Hearing that, the girl smiled sweetly and said,

“What a foolish beast! How could it pick this shabby crowd among so many people? Did it catch a whiff of something? How curious!”

“They say dogs can recognize those who love them. It’s some animal instinct, I guess. Look, it’s quite famished.”

Her friend, Shinpa, threw a large mackerel over to the stray dog, which had not seen food in a while, wagging its tail frantically as it dove in headfirst.

“Oh my, Shinpa. You shouldn’t feed fish to dogs! They might choke on the bones!”

“It’s not like it has any other fate. Besides, beach dogs usually eat fish just fine. It’s just those village mutts that choke on bones.”

“Hmm. You are compassionate even to dogs, Shinpa.”

This made Shinpa chuckle lightly.

“Of course! Dogs are much better than humans. Look at these dense brutes that still wag their tails for the owners boiling them in pots. Such loyal creatures!”

“I don’t understand that way of speaking. How can you know what a dog is thinking? Isn’t it strange if one bites out of the blue? How could anyone know a dog’s thoughts unless they’re also a dog?”

Unyeonjeong gazed down at the stray dog devouring its share of mackerel as if recalling a moment from the past.

It appeared quite famished,

As it devoured the large fish, not leaving behind even a piece of the skin or any wastage.

Then, after that, it turned to wiggle its tail, trotting over to Unyeonjeong, exhaling with joy.

Unyeonjeong slowly extended her hand and gently stroked the hard head of the stray dog.

“I used to be really scared of dogs when I was little. But now that it has become so trifling, mmm, you’re right, Shinpa. People are indeed worse than dogs. At least a dog follows the one who feeds it without caring who that person is.”

“Aren’t most beasts the same? When you think about it, people are often much worse than beasts. If only humans were as simple-minded as those creatures, wouldn’t the world be such a better place?”

“Hmm, true. Shinpa, shall we stop with this wretchedness? You should get to work soon, right?”

Unyeonjeong clapped her hands lightly.

At that moment, everyone at the makeshift tables on the street simultaneously stood up.

Then, Unyeonjeong pointed with her long, white fingers towards a direction.

Her finger drew a line that crossed the street and led to the grand entrance of an enormous manor.

The manor belonging to Gwangdong Jin Family, the rulers of Gwangju.

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