Chapter 5

Song Chaeji was gradually reaching her limit.

Following Pung Hyo, Jin Chung. After defeating two opponents in a row and facing the third with crossed swords, Song Chaeji caught her breath.

‘My internal energy is insufficient…’

As a late-blooming prodigy of the Hangsan Faction, Song Chaeji had more internal energy than the average for her age.

However, the Hangsan Faction, which had been expelled from the old sects, naturally couldn’t compare, and even within the Five Peaks Sword Faction, it was considered lower-tier. Especially recently, with the influence of the evil sects expanding in the Shanxi Martial World, their power had shrunk even more.

Although she had more than her peers, Song Chaeji’s internal energy was far from sufficient to endure the wheel battles of evil sect martial artists who had lived on the edge of their blades for decades without rest.

“Kuh!”

Song Chaeji’s consciousness began to waver as her internal energy hit rock bottom. Her opponent didn’t miss this opening.

Though their martial arts might not be as advanced as Song Chaeji’s, the experience they had gained rolling through the treacherous Black Path Martial World was fierce.

Chiiing! Tang!

The opponent’s blade followed Song Chaeji’s sword upward. Even as Song Chaeji tried to deflect it with a rebound, it was already too late.

“Ah…”

As if to repay Song Chaeji for pointing her sword at Pung Hyo’s throat earlier, the opponent pressed their blade against Song Chaeji’s pale, slender neck.

A momentary mistake had led to an irreversible defeat.

“Hah, it’s over now.”

Pung Hyo, who had been watching with his arms crossed, burst into laughter.

Song Chaeji gritted her teeth.

‘I could have won…’

The words “I lost” wouldn’t come out. Regret, self-loathing, and emptiness swirled in her heart.

“Come on. Admit your defeat.”

With the urging, the blade pressed slightly into Song Chaeji’s neck.

A sharp pain and a trickle of blood ran down her neck. It was a clear threat.

“Ugh…”

If she admitted defeat, the inn that Yang Sodang and her father had spent their lives saving for would be lost.

Song Chaeji couldn’t say a word.

Perhaps sensing her turmoil, the answer came from someone else’s mouth.

“Miss Song has lost.”

§

While Song Chaeji was subdued and lost in internal conflict, Namgung Woo realized it was now his turn.

Acknowledging Song Chaeji’s defeat, Namgung Woo stepped forward.

“Then, please remove your blade.”

His polite tone carried an odd sense of ease.

The onlookers, who had been ignoring him, began to wonder. Who is this guy suddenly stepping forward?

The Black Bear Faction had similar thoughts.

“Who are you? You look quite delicate… If you’re some noble’s son, don’t meddle in martial affairs and just leave.”

Pung Hyo, who rarely used honorifics, spoke up.

Facing martial artists each carrying their own weapons with such confidence, it was clear he had some backing.

Namgung Woo’s appearance was also striking. In an era where looks often reflected one’s status, his exceptional appearance suggested he was either a high-level martial artist or someone of high status.

Even the Black Bear Faction, with their solid backing, didn’t want to provoke a noble who hadn’t trained in martial arts.

“This duel wasn’t between you and Miss Song, but between the inn and the Black Bear Faction. Since Miss Song has lost, it’s only right for the next representative from the inn to step forward.”

“Huh! So you’re stepping up?”

Pung Hyo’s attitude changed completely.

If this guy, who seemed to have some martial training, was willing to step forward, the Black Bear Faction had no reason to hold back.

Namgung Woo nodded firmly.

‘He looks flashy, but I can’t sense any internal energy.’

Pung Hyo was a genuine martial artist, classified as a master within the Black Bear Faction.

Though not yet a Peak Master, he was considered a top-tier martial artist, almost at that level.

His eyes found no trace of martial training in Namgung Woo. While his physique was hidden under his clothes, martial artists who had trained and accumulated internal energy usually emitted a faint aura.

Even a Transcendent Peak Master could suppress opponents with just the pressure of their natural aura.

But Namgung Woo had none of that.

‘He must have been born with a lucky body. I’ll have to show him what real martial arts are like.’

Pung Hyo was a bit disappointed he couldn’t personally teach Namgung Woo a lesson, having lost to Song Chaeji earlier.

“Fine. Park Jung-eon, don’t hold back. Teach him properly.”

At those words, Song Chaeji shouted.

“Wait! He’s just an ordinary person who hasn’t trained in martial arts! How can you duel with him? That’s…!”

“He said he’d do it himself.”

Pung Hyo’s sarcasm made Song Chaeji grab Namgung Woo.

“Hey, this isn’t the time for bravado. You could end up crippled!”

Namgung Woo stifled a laugh.

While he had been thoroughly entertained watching the duels, he also felt a bit disappointed.

‘At best, they’re first-rate. The martial arts level in this world can’t be that low.’

With only five Black Bear Faction martial artists and Song Chaeji as samples, it was too early to draw conclusions.

Shanxi Martial World wasn’t known for having powerful sects, and in a small county like Pyeongyo, the level was bound to be lower.

But one thing was certain.

There was no one here who could threaten Namgung Woo.

“Don’t worry. I’ve seen their level.”

His confidence was well-founded.

Song Chaeji, with her developed martial senses, could feel it.

As if entranced, she slowly released her grip on Namgung Woo.

“Introductions are done. Let’s begin.”

Namgung Woo raised his hands. Empty-handed combat. He intended to fight bare-handed.

Though he didn’t have his sword, it didn’t matter.

In fact, bare-handed combat made it easier to control his strength.

But perhaps the sight of him facing a blade with bare fists irritated them.

The atmosphere around the Black Bear Faction martial artists turned ominous.

“Cut off one of his arms.”

At Pung Hyo’s command, the blade flew toward Namgung Woo.

§

When Namgung Woo was in the Chasing Deer Murim, he was essentially a hunting player.

He had little interest in the dueling content commonly referred to as martial duels.

It wasn’t that he disliked fighting people, but as a latecomer, he had to focus on hunting to catch up to those near the level cap.

Thus, Namgung Woo only got into dueling after reaching the Transcendent Peak, like his close acquaintances Namgung Mae and Namgung Pung.

Even then, he was more focused on growth. After all, he hadn’t yet reached the pinnacle of the Flower Realm.

But Namgung Mae, who was a hardcore duelist, dragged him into dueling as soon as he reached the Transcendent Peak, and Namgung Woo realized he had been a frog in a well.

Namgung Mae was an excellent teacher. While she was knowledgeable about the game Chasing Deer Murim as a whole, her true expertise lay in dueling.

Namgung Woo couldn’t land a single hit. Every sword technique was countered, and every swing of Namgung Mae’s sword targeted his vital points.

It wasn’t that he held back or couldn’t bring himself to hit her. After the first match, he had no such reservations.

Namgung Mae was at the end of the Transcendent Peak, while Namgung Woo was at the beginning. But if you considered that, Namgung Woo had the advantage of a longer attack range.

Chasing Deer Murim sets the hitbox according to the avatar’s form. While female characters have an easier time dodging in hunting, in dueling, the initiative is overwhelmingly important, so the top ranks were almost all male characters.

The two were practically evenly matched.

Even after Namgung Woo achieved the Flower Realm, he couldn’t win a single match against Namgung Mae.

Of course, there was the handicap of not being able to use wide-area aura attacks that could obliterate the opponent’s defenses, but even considering that, the gap between the Flower Realm and the Transcendent Peak was vast. Yet Namgung Mae bridged that gap.

When Namgung Woo asked her why, she replied:

‘You just have to anticipate your opponent’s moves and act accordingly.’

In other words, Namgung Mae wasn’t reacting to Namgung Woo’s actions but predicting what he would do and countering with the optimal move.

It was both her innate talent and a testament to how well she knew Namgung Woo.

Namgung Woo concluded that he couldn’t replicate that and instead chose to learn new secret techniques she didn’t know.

But why did Namgung Woo dredge up such lengthy memories?

The reason was simple.

‘Is this what Mae meant?’

What he had once thought impossible now seemed within his grasp.

Namgung Woo’s eyes glowed blue.

He saw it.

The flow of internal energy rising within his opponent’s body.

The subtle twitches hinting at their next move.

The emotions in their eyes and the target of their gaze.

Everything.

Azure Tranquility Eyes.

Namgung Woo’s unique eyes, unparalleled in the world, showed him the future in an instant.

‘Exaggerated movements are a feint. The knee joint is the target. Use Infinite Steps to close in and aim Exploding Thunder Fist at the liver.’

As he thought, his body moved. His movements were swift, as if chasing the speed of thought.

Energy surged through Namgung Woo’s body.

The Infinite Steps, a unique footwork technique of the Namgung Family in Chasing Deer Murim, was fundamentally an aggressive technique assuming a direct approach.

As Namgung Woo’s foot stomped the ground, energy erupted from the Yongcheon point on his sole and condensed into his fist in an instant.

Thud!!

The collision sounded so rough it was hard to believe it was between flesh and fabric.

There was no scream. Only a silent cry with a mouth stretched wide.

The liver was one of the body’s vital points. Even a bare-handed strike could leave one breathless and weak, and Namgung Woo had struck with controlled energy. It was a miracle the opponent didn’t pass out.

As Namgung Woo pulled his fist from the opponent’s side, their body crumpled.

Thud. Thump.

Knees hit the ground, followed by the upper body collapsing, forehead hitting the floor.

Park Jung-eon, a Black Bear Faction martial artist who had swaggered around Pyeongyo County, now looked utterly pathetic.

Namgung Woo glanced at the back of the man’s head once before shifting his gaze to his own hand. The lingering sensation felt odd. The attack hadn’t fully connected. His body and energy hadn’t synchronized.

‘One more try and I’ll get it.’

Namgung Woo shook his hand as if to dispel the lingering discomfort. The strange feeling in his fist scattered into the air.

With that, Namgung Woo completely lost interest in his opponent. His gaze turned forward.

The stunned expressions of the onlookers came into view. Namgung Woo didn’t give them time to process what had happened.

His voice forcibly awakened those who couldn’t comprehend the situation.

“Who’s next?”

Namgung Woo spoke again to those frozen in shock.

“I’d prefer it if we hurry. I think I’m starting to get the hang of it.”

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