Episode 69: Return to the Martial Arts Arena
“Yaaawn.”
Yeon Woo-kyung stretched and let out a big yawn.
His hair was a mess, his eyes half-open, and his mouth wide. The dark circles under his eyes were so pronounced that they seemed almost pitiful.
He looked like he hadn’t slept a wink.
Yet there he was, standing on the martial arts stage.
Opposite him stood Lee Bi-gyeom, his expression calm and composed.
Lee Bi-gyeom chuckled softly. “Did you spend the night trembling with anxiety?”
“Not exactly,” Yeon Woo-kyung replied, twisting his body to loosen up his muscles.
He looked at Lee Bi-gyeom with a slightly refreshed face. “Let’s get this over with. I’m sleepy.”
Lee Bi-gyeom frowned slightly. What is he playing at? Is he trying to make me drop my guard on purpose? But his act seemed too blatant and natural to be a ruse. It really looked like he hadn’t slept.
His nonchalant demeanor was unsettling.
Lee Bi-gyeom drew his sword with a smooth motion.
The crowd surrounding the stage began to murmur.
“Oh, it looks like it’s finally starting.”
“Who do you think will win today?”
“Obviously, it’ll be Lee Bi-gyeom.”
“But isn’t that the young master of the famous Paegeom family?”
“Famous family or not, it doesn’t mean much.”
The voices of those nearby reached both Lee Bi-gyeom and Yeon Woo-kyung.
Lee Bi-gyeom smirked. “Seems like everyone knows you’re more famous for your family than your skills.”
“Do you have a complex about your family? Why are you so envious of mine?”
“What?”
“You seem more interested in my family than I am. Want to be adopted?”
“What are you—”
“Just say the word. If you want, I can suggest it to my father—”
“You’re all talk!”
With a swift kick off the ground, Lee Bi-gyeom shot forward.
Yeon Woo-kyung leaped back, drawing his sword.
Clang!
The clear ring of metal was followed by a shower of sparks.
Lee Bi-gyeom spun to his right, slashing horizontally.
‘Fast!’
Yeon Woo-kyung quickly reversed his sword to block again.
Clang!
Another metallic clash echoed.
Lee Bi-gyeom didn’t stop there. He spun in the opposite direction, his left hand slicing through the air.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
A short groan escaped Yeon Woo-kyung’s lips.
The impact reverberated through his forearm as their wrists collided.
“Tch!”
Yeon Woo-kyung thrust his sword forward, forcing Lee Bi-gyeom to retreat.
Lee Bi-gyeom stepped back a few paces, glaring coldly at Yeon Woo-kyung.
“Not bad for someone who didn’t sleep.”
“Not bad for someone with a complex.”
Lee Bi-gyeom’s brow furrowed deeply.
But he didn’t attack immediately.
Though his speed had increased through training, Yeon Woo-kyung was no pushover.
In fact, Yeon Woo-kyung had recently sparred with Mok Dan-hwa, which had been a great help.
After experiencing the swift sword techniques of the Seomgeom family, Lee Bi-gyeom’s moves were much easier to read.
Lee Bi-gyeom adjusted his stance and spoke quietly. “Let’s consider that a warm-up.”
“Let’s finish this quickly. I’m tired.”
“Heh, you’re insane…”
Lee Bi-gyeom sneered.
A subtle aura began to emanate from his sword.
It was his sword energy.
The final match of each class wasn’t fought with practice swords.
Yeon Woo-kyung also wielded a real sword.
However, they were not to inflict serious injuries, and if such a situation arose, the instructors would intervene.
Still, a moment’s distraction could lead to bloodshed.
Yet, with those sleepy eyes…
‘He’s either crazy or bluffing.’
Lee Bi-gyeom slowly took his stance and murmured, “Did you forget that your family’s prestige means nothing on this stage?”
“Got it, so let’s finish this. I’m sleepy.”
“As you wish!”
In an instant, Lee Bi-gyeom appeared right in front of Yeon Woo-kyung.
A fleeting moment.
Swish!
‘Whoa, fast!’
Yeon Woo-kyung’s eyes snapped open.
He quickly bent backward, narrowly avoiding the blade that grazed his chest.
‘That was close.’
Yeon Woo-kyung swiftly turned his sword to counterattack.
But Lee Bi-gyeom spun even faster, aiming for his side.
Yeon Woo-kyung withdrew his attack and threw himself aside.
Swish!
The blade’s edge grazed his cheek.
A thin cut appeared, and blood trickled down.
But there was no time to wipe it away.
Lee Bi-gyeom pressed on relentlessly.
Swish! Swish!
Clang! Clang!
Like a storm, the sword winds battered Yeon Woo-kyung.
The spectators watched with bated breath, fists clenched.
It was a nail-biting duel.
Mae Seol-ran glanced at Sa Bi-gang with a worried expression.
[Yeon Woo-kyung seems to be on the defensive. Is this okay?]
[It’s fine. He has a hidden card.]
[A hidden card? What do you mean?]
[In the language of the Central Plains… it’s like a trump card.]
Mae Seol-ran didn’t fully understand but decided to wait and see.
If Sa Bi-gang was this calm, he must have a plan.
‘Or maybe he just doesn’t care if his student loses.’
She sighed lightly.
Meanwhile, Yeon Woo-kyung was fully occupied fending off Lee Bi-gyeom’s relentless attacks.
‘Faster than I thought. But…’
Compared to the hellish training he’d endured, this was nothing.
In that training, he’d endured suffocating air, adapted to wildly changing weather, and breathed with limited air.
Yet, there was one problem now…
‘This guy… his internal energy is increasing.’
Lee Bi-gyeom’s internal energy was growing stronger.
Far beyond what Yeon Woo-kyung had known.
‘Just as the instructor said.’
Finally, Lee Bi-gyeom let out a battle cry, swinging his sword upward.
“Haaah!”
It was the ‘Sky-Splitting Blade’ technique from the Nine Dragons Ascension Sword.
The sword soared as if to cleave the sky, clashing with Yeon Woo-kyung’s blade with a sharp metallic sound.
Clang!
The recoil sent Yeon Woo-kyung’s right hand flying upward.
Thankfully, he managed to hold onto his sword.
But then, Lee Bi-gyeom’s palm shot toward Yeon Woo-kyung’s chest.
‘I have to dodge this…!’
Gritting his teeth, Yeon Woo-kyung twisted his body.
Boom!
With a burst of energy, Yeon Woo-kyung spun like a top and was flung away.
Thud, crash!
He slid to the edge of the stage, barely stopping himself from falling off with his sword.
A low murmur of awe rippled through the spectators.
Yeon Woo-kyung gritted his teeth and lifted his head.
“Damn it…!”
Lee Bi-gyeom grinned.
“I thought you wanted to sleep. Why not take a nap right here?”
“Tch!”
Yeon Woo-kyung staggered to his feet.
Watching him, Cheon Se-myung finally smiled.
‘Yes, that’s it! Haha. How does it feel? This is the true face of the Special Class.’
Nearby, Eon Byeok whispered.
“Even the young master of the Paegeom family can’t seem to match the top student of the Flying Dragon Class.”
“Thank you for saying so, but don’t be too quick to judge. Yeon Woo-kyung is a remarkable talent. It’s just unfortunate he ended up with the wrong instructor.”
“Indeed.”
Cheon Se-myung smirked and sent a telepathic message to Sa Bi-gang, who stood on the opposite side of the stage.
[Yeon Woo-kyung is impressive, but it seems he can’t help it. After being relegated to the Special Class, he’s being bested by a student from an unknown sect. It’s a pity. Don’t blame yourself too much, instructor.]
[Heh, the match isn’t over yet. Why would I blame myself?]
‘Hmph, still putting on airs…!’
Cheon Se-myung hid his thoughts and sent another message.
[You’re a good instructor. You shouldn’t give up on your student. Let’s watch a bit longer. Haha.]
‘I’ll crush that pride of yours.’
Cheon Se-myung swallowed his words and looked back at the stage.
Yeon Woo-kyung had fully risen and was taking deep breaths.
“So that’s how it is.”
He spoke quietly, and Lee Bi-gyeom sneered, tilting his head.
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing. I guess it’s time to break the seal.”
“Break the seal?”
Lee Bi-gyeom frowned.
Does he still have the energy to bluff?
‘Seems he hasn’t learned his lesson.’
Then it happened.
Whoosh!
A warm energy surged from Yeon Woo-kyung.
‘What is this…?’
Yeon Woo-kyung’s clothes billowed out.
It was the influence of his internal energy.
Yeon Woo-kyung was as surprised as Lee Bi-gyeom.
‘Incredible. What was that thing?’
He recalled the events of the previous night.
‘Thinking about it still makes me mad…’
**
Yeon Woo-kyung couldn’t move for a while.
He never expected to hear that he would lose.
‘No way!’
Even if things got tight, he never thought he would lose.
But to lose?
Him?
To Lee Bi-gyeom?
Yeon Woo-kyung glared intently at Sabi-gang.
He wanted nothing more than to plant his fist right into that smug face, which seemed to be suppressing a laugh.
But the words that came out of his mouth were…
“Is it true?”
“Teasing a rookie like you isn’t even fun. It’s true.”
”…!”
Yeon Woo-kyung clenched his fists tightly.
Sabi-gang chuckled softly and asked, “What? Are you mad?”
“Are you mocking me right now?”
“I told you, I’m not. Heh.”
Yet Sabi-gang’s eyes were already crescent-shaped with amusement.
‘This damn instructor! He’s definitely mocking me!’
But deep down, Yeon Woo-kyung knew it was true.
He could sense that Sabi-gang was serious, at least in that moment.
“Why… is that?”
“Why? Because you’re weak.”
“If you’re an instructor, stop with the half-hearted answers and give me a real reason!”
“Hey.”
Sabi-gang’s voice dropped to an unexpectedly cold tone.
Yeon Woo-kyung flinched and looked up.
Sabi-gang, eyes cast down, spoke icily.
“I told you. Because you’re weak.”
“But…! Just like you pointed out the weaknesses in the Flash Thunder Sword, there must be some flaw in the Dragon Slayer Sword too…!”
“There isn’t.”
“What did you say?”
“I said there isn’t really a weakness. It’s not a perfect sword technique, but there’s nothing to improve either.”
“Then… are you saying the Dragon Slayer Sword itself is the problem…?”
“Are you dense or just stubborn?”
“What…?”
“Why do you keep looking for the reason for your defeat elsewhere? I told you, you lose because you’re weak.”
”…!”
“The Dragon Slayer Sword is a perfectly fine technique. But if the one wielding it is weak, what good is any technique? Even the same technique can vary depending on who’s using it.”
Yeon Woo-kyung stood there, mouth agape, unable to respond.
Sabi-gang waved his hand dismissively, as if tired of the conversation.
“Now, off you go.”
“Just like that…?”
“What else?”
“You said I would lose.”
“I did.”
“And you’re not going to come up with a plan?”
“You’re the one losing, not me. Besides, the special class has already won two out of three matches. So overall, it’s two to one, meaning the special class hasn’t lost.”
“What kind of…!”
“Are you trying to say, ‘What kind of instructor are you?’”
”…!”
“Hey, kid. Approach this conversation with some sincerity before I really lose my patience.”
Yeon Woo-kyung hung his head low, trembling with frustration.
Sabi-gang brushed past him and flung the door open wide.
“Go back. I’m going to sleep.”
”…”
“Are you deaf?”
”…Teach… me.”
“What?”
“Teach… me.”
“What are you mumbling? Are you babbling like a baby?”
“Damn it! I said teach me!”
Yeon Woo-kyung shouted, spinning around.
With his eyes tightly shut, he cried out again.
“Teach me how to win! I can’t stand losing to that guy! Show me how to beat him!”
“Hmm…”
Sabi-gang stroked his chin, lost in thought.
Yeon Woo-kyung watched him anxiously.
Finally, Sabi-gang spoke.
“Alright. But there’s a condition.”