“Hmm, quite the crowd today.”

Im Muguk surveyed the large stands set up in the grand arena, filled with a constant stream of people pouring in. He had heard that the Great Sect was promoting the martial arts competition far and wide to expand its scale, but he hadn’t expected them to go to such lengths.

He glanced at Im Sanha, who was walking a few steps ahead.

‘He’s changed…’

The first match would see the representatives of each sect face off. Im Muguk assumed there would be immense pressure on Sanha, given the significance of opening the competition. Yet, despite the throngs of spectators, Sanha remained composed and unflustered.

Knowing Sanha’s usual temperament, Im Muguk realized something had shifted in him over the past few days.

‘Is it thanks to the training at Muhwi Dojang?’

Watching his son stride confidently, Im Muguk steeled his own resolve.

As soon as Seonhwa Sect arrived, the Great Sect Master wasted no time in proceeding with the competition. With a nod from the Great Sect Master, a middle-aged man stepped onto the stage. He bowed to the audience and began to speak.

“Greetings. I am Hyeong Honkwon, the observer and judge for this martial arts competition.”

His voice, imbued with inner strength, carried clearly across the vast arena to the stands where the spectators sat.

“Wow, can you hear him as if he’s right next to us?”

“How quaint. That’s the power of inner strength.”

The common folk, witnessing a martial arts competition for the first time, were amazed just by the sound of Hyeong Honkwon’s voice.

“This competition will proceed with three matches, regardless of the outcome of each. Please keep this in mind.”

The Great Sect Master nodded in agreement. Confident of winning all three matches, he had set this rule to humiliate Seonhwa Sect with a clean sweep and drive them out of the region.

Hyeong Honkwon exchanged glances with the Great Sect Master and Im Muguk before turning back to the center and announcing loudly.

“Let the martial arts competition begin! First participants, step forward!”

The representatives from both sides ascended the stage simultaneously. Most of the audience’s attention was on Gasein rather than Im Sanha.

“Is that the prodigy of Wuinam?”

“His white martial arts uniform is quite striking.”

“Is the outcome of the first match already decided?”

Gasein, catching these whispers, smirked as he looked at Im Sanha.

“Hmm?”

But his smirk quickly faded. Sanha’s expression didn’t sit well with him. Sanha wasn’t intimidated or nervous; he was calmly assessing the stage where he would fight.

Gasein’s expectations were completely thrown off by Sanha’s composed demeanor. With a slight frown, Gasein spoke.

“Is this the last time we’ll see each other? Seonhwa Sect will be leaving Wuinam soon. Have you decided where you’ll go?”

It was a taunt meant to break Sanha’s calm, but Sanha merely looked at Gasein and chuckled.

“Yes, it will be the last time.”

Gasein’s dissatisfaction deepened at the unexpected response.

“Participants, take your positions.”

Gasein was about to retort, but Hyeong Honkwon directed the two to their places and declared the start of the match.

“Begin!”

Gasein, perhaps eager to vent his frustration, launched himself forward at the signal. For a child, his movements were surprisingly swift, like a nimble squirrel.

The Great Sect Master watched with a satisfied smile.

‘It was wise to give him the elixir.’

The Great Sect Master was eager to see the match conclude quickly. The reason for scheduling the match on this day was to allow time for the elixir obtained from Sichuan to reach the Great Sect. He had administered it to Gasein.

Thwack!

Gasein’s wooden sword, propelled by speed, swung mercilessly, but Sanha calmly parried it. Gasein’s sword was fast and his technique decent, causing Sanha’s wrist to tremble slightly.

‘Is this all there is?’

But that was the extent of it. There was no difficulty in defending against it.

Strangely, by observing Gasein’s shoulder and foot movements, Sanha could vaguely predict where the sword would strike.

‘Compared to the sword techniques at Muhwi Dojang, this is easy.’

For the past twenty-odd days, Sanha had trained in external martial arts in the mornings and corrected his techniques in the afternoons. From evening until bedtime, he engaged in continuous sparring.

Whenever he showed a flaw or reverted to bad habits during sparring, Muhwi’s wooden sword was unforgiving.

Sanha was hit repeatedly, countless times.

‘Thinking back, I got hit a lot.’

Muhwi Dojang, despite its cheerful atmosphere, never went easy on him. It was like hell, but Sanha endured.

Reflecting on the grueling training of the past twenty days, Sanha’s eyes burned with determination.

‘He said the waist is crucial when deflecting sword strikes.’

Sanha twisted his waist slightly, deflecting Gasein’s wooden sword, and then shifted his stance to launch a counterattack.

Gasein was startled by Sanha’s precise attack that exploited an opening.

As Gasein twisted his body to narrowly evade, Muhwi, who had been obscured by Gasein’s form, came into view.

In that moment, Sanha’s eyes met Muhwi’s.

Muhwi nodded.

-Do as you wish.

Sanha understood Muhwi’s intent through his gaze.

While Gasein hesitated, Sanha seized the opportunity to switch to offense.

Stepping into Gasein’s left side with the Nine Palace Steps, Sanha unleashed the Maepung Sword Technique.

Though lacking in inner strength and mastery, the dazzling maneuvers were enough to dazzle the eyes.

“Ugh, you little…”

Frustrated at being pushed back by Sanha, Gasein gritted his teeth and unleashed his inner strength without reservation.

“I can see it clearly.”

“What?”

Sanha’s eyes followed Gasein’s wooden sword with precision.

The sword techniques he had seen at Muhwi Dojang over the past twenty days bore some resemblance to Gasein’s Great Sect Sword Technique.

Thus, Gasein’s wooden sword was easy to read and counter.

Thwack!

Sanha deflected the thrusting wooden sword upward and swept low with a twist of his shoulder.

The wooden sword, tracing an arc out of Gasein’s sight, struck his thigh.

“Ah!”

Gasein’s short cry of pain echoed across the stage. Having never been hit or scolded before, the unfamiliar pain brought tears to his eyes.

“Does it hurt? I’ve been hit with far worse.”

“What!”

Sanha saw a reflection of himself in the pained Gasein.

But back then, Muhwi’s wooden sword showed no mercy. Instead, it pressed harder.

-When the opponent shows an opening, seize it and don’t let go. That’s how you break their momentum and seize victory.

Sanha’s wooden sword, as if wielded by Muhwi himself, was relentless.

Thwack, thwack, thwack!

Under the barrage of attacks, Gasein hastily pulled back his wooden sword, but he was barely managing to defend. The tide was clearly turning in Sanha’s favor.

Im Muguk watched Sanha’s back as he relentlessly pressured Gasein.

‘When did his martial arts improve so much?’

The other disciples shared Im Muguk’s thoughts.

“Sanha’s skills have improved tremendously in such a short time.”

“Considering how our senior usually trains us, it’s not surprising. Sanha worked hard too.”

“Honestly, our senior’s training is harsh for a child to endure. Sanha is impressive.”

The spectators, who initially focused on Gasein, gradually shifted their attention to Sanha.

“Wasn’t the Great Sect’s disciple supposed to be the prodigy of Wuinam?”

“But it seems like the Seonhwa Sect’s side is fighting better.”

“Seonhwa Sect is affiliated with the Huashan Sect, after all. They’re not to be underestimated.”

The audience watched the unexpectedly unfolding match with keen interest.

However, the Great Sect Master was displeased with their gaze.

The Great Sect Master glared at Sanha, who was relentlessly attacking Gasein.

Most of the martial artists present likely knew the outcome of this match.

It was clear that Sanha would win.

If the match continued for another twenty exchanges, the result would be decided.

‘Starting with a loss?’

The Great Sect Master could not accept Gasein’s defeat.

[What are you doing!]

Gasein flinched at the sharp voice of his father, which he had never heard before.

[Step back five paces. Catch your breath and calmly execute the Jeongjin Nansan technique.]

Without time to think, Gasein followed his father’s instructions.

As he did, the frantic movements that had been solely focused on defense began to regain composure.

After five exchanges, Gasein started to pressure Sanha. But Sanha remained calm, focusing on defense.

However, the techniques the Great Sect Master instructed were beyond what Sanha could handle alone.

Gradually, his defense crumbled, and eventually, he took a hit to the shoulder.

Thwack!

Gasein’s face brightened at the satisfying impact of the wooden sword. But unlike Gasein, Sanha didn’t retreat in pain.

-If you let pain freeze your body and make you retreat, it’s over. No matter what, stay calm and hold your ground.

Sanha was putting into practice what he had learned from Muhwi. Watching this, Muhwi felt proud, though his gaze remained cold.

‘That’s not a technique a kid should be showing.’

Sensing something amiss, Muhwi shifted his gaze.

Sure enough, the Great Sect Master’s lips were moving ever so slightly, without pause.

It was clear that someone was secretly coaching Gasein through telepathic messages.

“Ha, so that’s how you’re going to play it? No shame, meddling in a kids’ fight?”

The referee, Hyunhwonkwon, either didn’t notice or pretended not to, making no attempt to intervene.

Moo-hwi took a sip of tea and immediately sent a telepathic message to Im San-ha.

[San-ha, those guys are up to something.]

Im San-ha narrowly dodged a fierce thrust from a wooden sword, exhaling heavily.

[The way of the martial world is to crush trickery with trickery.]

Though it was a telepathic message, there was a hint of laughter in it. Im San-ha couldn’t help but smile slightly in response.

[Let’s do this.]

‘Yes, Master Moo-hwi.’

As Im San-ha answered in his mind, more instructions came through.

[Sidestep to the left and deflect the upper strike. Then, exploit the opening in the middle to unleash the Wind Blossom technique.]

Im San-ha cleared his mind, focusing solely on following the telepathic guidance. Even executing the techniques as instructed was a challenge.

[Target the shoulder. Step back, dodge, and use the momentum to lightly thrust with one hand.]

Moo-hwi’s strategies overwhelmed the opponent’s, and Gasein found himself increasingly threatened by Im San-ha’s wooden sword.

“Hang in there, Master!”

“You’re doing great!”

The spectators, holding their breath, cheered on. Even Im Mu-guk, arms crossed, couldn’t take his eyes off the match.

None of them had the skill or insight to realize that Moo-hwi and the opponent’s master were influencing the duel.

Even with telepathic coaching, if the fighter couldn’t execute the moves, it was all for naught. The guidance had to match the fighter’s level.

Detecting the subtle awkwardness in the execution of techniques was something only Moo-hwi, with his past life’s mastery, could do.

Meanwhile, the evenly matched duel began to tilt in favor of Im San-ha.

‘What on earth is happening here?’

The opponent’s master, sweating profusely, continued to send telepathic messages, but Im San-ha’s responses were sharp and relentless, countering every move and turning the tables.

‘How is that kid doing this?’

The opponent’s master, who had expected an easy victory, found his mind overheating from trying to keep up.

‘Think all you want, but do you really think you can beat me?’

Watching the opponent’s master tense up, Moo-hwi calmly sipped his tea and sent another message.

[It’s a feint. Knock aside the wooden sword aimed at your side and chest, and the path will open. Use the Nine Palace Steps to advance. Yes, just like that.]

It was now a battle of wits between Moo-hwi and the opponent’s master, with Moo-hwi clearly having the upper hand.

Like a master on a mountaintop looking down at a novice on the plains.

Moo-hwi systematically dismantled the opponent’s strategies, driving Gasein into a corner.

[Now’s the time. Charge straight in with the Nine Palace Steps and use the Cross Formation technique on the wrist!]

Im San-ha’s eyes flickered at Moo-hwi’s message. He had already thought the same thing when he saw the opening as Gasein hesitated.

Moo-hwi’s combat style was gradually seeping into Im San-ha’s subconscious.

‘I think I’m starting to get it.’

The smile that crept up one side of his face was uncannily similar to Moo-hwi’s.

Thwack!

“Aagh!”

Im San-ha’s horizontal strike with the wooden sword landed squarely on Gasein’s wrist, causing him to cry out and drop his weapon.

[Now jump up and finish it!]

Even before the message finished, Im San-ha was already in the air. Moo-hwi’s eyes narrowed with satisfaction.

‘Did his body just react on its own?’

Bending his knees, Im San-ha leaped over his opponent, bringing his wooden sword down from above.

Whoosh!

Thanks to his rigorous training, Im San-ha could now channel considerable power into his wooden sword. The heavy weapon sliced through the air with a satisfying whoosh.

Moo-hwi nodded approvingly at the sight of Im San-ha’s profile.

He had applied his own grueling training regimen to Im San-ha without holding back, knowing full well it was harsh for a child.

But Im San-ha, despite the tears and complaints, never gave up and completed the training.

Moo-hwi had intended to adjust the intensity based on Im San-ha’s progress, but he was slightly taken aback by the boy’s tenacity.

‘The moment you endured the training to the end, your victory was assured.’

Even with the opponent’s master interfering, the gap between the two children was clear. No matter what happened, Im San-ha’s victory was inevitable.

Im San-ha’s wooden sword struck Gasein’s head with finality.

The End