Since they couldn’t spar at the hot springs, Muhwi invited Ma Yeonho to the Hwahon Gate.

Even though he had sent word in advance through Muhwa, the arrival of the Iron Mountain Fist King caused quite a stir at the Hwahon Gate.

“Apologies for the sudden visit, Gate Master.”

“Oh… no, not at all.”

At the Iron Mountain Fist King’s light apology, Gang Bo-eum could only bow his head.

‘The Iron Mountain Fist King and his disciple, no less.’

Gang Bo-eum turned his gaze to the training ground where two men faced each other.

Muhwi was tall and well-built compared to other young martial artists, but he was still overshadowed by the imposing presence of Woo Taegang on the opposite side.

‘Hmm, it’s hard to predict the outcome.’

The training ground was packed with Hwahon disciples, thanks to Ma Yeonho’s generous permission to observe the sparring.

“Even if it’s Master Muhwi, it’s hard to say how this will turn out.”

“After all, he’s the disciple of the Iron Mountain Fist King…”

“Isn’t Woo Taegang undefeated in all his matches so far?”

Woo Taegang’s sparring matches were quite famous in the martial world. His opponents were all renowned martial artists, and he had defeated them all, making Muhwi seem less impressive by comparison.

“Master Muhwi won’t go down easily.”

“Let’s hope he doesn’t get hurt.”

As the Hwahon disciples watched Muhwi with concern, he could hear their whispers.

‘Wow, it’s the first time I’ve received such worried looks.’

It seemed the Hwahon disciples were already anticipating his defeat. Muhwi twisted his lips and looked at Woo Taegang.

With his bulging muscles and large, bright eyes, Woo Taegang initially reminded Muhwi of a gentle ox. But now, his narrowed eyes exuded an overwhelming aura that made one wonder how he usually concealed it.

It was just a change in his gaze, but it transformed Woo Taegang’s entire demeanor, making him seem like a menacing water buffalo with sharp, threatening horns.

‘This makes me want to crush him.’

Woo Taegang’s intense aura was so palpable that even the distant spectators flinched.

“Master Muhwi, shall we begin?”

As Muhwi nodded, Woo Taegang lowered his stance like a horse preparing to charge, bending forward until his fists lightly touched the ground.

It was a ridiculous posture, with all four limbs touching the ground, but Muhwi simply raised his sword to a middle guard.

That ridiculous stance was the starting form of the Heavenly Iron Fist.

Crack!

The muscles in Woo Taegang’s thighs twitched violently, and the ground of the training ground sank with a thud.

With a thunderous roar, Woo Taegang’s body shot forward.

“What?”

“What just happened…”

Most of the spectators missed Woo Taegang’s explosive movement. All they saw was the ground shattering and debris flying where he had stood.

‘It’s like a boulder flying at me. Truly the disciple of that old man.’

The Iron Mountain Fist King’s charge was like a mountain falling from the sky. Though not as overwhelming, Woo Taegang’s attack was a testament to his master’s teachings.

Whoosh!

The wind from Woo Taegang’s charge blew fiercely, lifting Muhwi’s bangs. Narrowing his eyes, Muhwi angled his sword.

His sword, now glowing red, left a crimson trail in the air. The red sword energy spread like branches growing, filling the space.

But Woo Taegang charged straight through the crimson web Muhwi had woven, astonishing the spectators.

Who would dare to throw themselves into a storm of sword energy?

Some squinted or turned away, imagining Woo Taegang’s body shredded by the sword energy.

Clang!

Those who had turned away looked back at the unexpected dull sound instead of the expected tearing of flesh.

The sword energy couldn’t even scratch Woo Taegang’s body. Muhwi watched closely as the energy bounced off his rippling muscles.

‘He’s surpassed the fourth level, at least.’

The Iron Mountain Fist King’s Silent Mountain Stance.

A martial art that allows one to stand as still as a mountain.

If mastered beyond the eighth level, it was said to rival the indestructible body technique of the Shaolin. It was one of the Iron Mountain Fist King’s martial arts.

Muhwi had unleashed his sword energy at the start to gauge the level of Woo Taegang’s Silent Mountain Stance.

“He’s deflecting sword energy with his bare body?”

“Is it some kind of body protection technique? Incredible.”

The disciples were astonished, but Muhwi boldly stepped forward, thrusting his sword.

A technique that deflects sword energy?

Muhwi wasn’t intimidated or burdened by it.

The reason the indestructible body technique of the Shaolin monks wasn’t invincible was that there were masters who could cut through and break the so-called indestructible.

In the martial world, there is no such thing as invincibility; there are always stronger and weaker opponents.

Without hesitation, Muhwi thrust his sword forward.

Like a plum blossom revealing its hidden thorns in the wind, Muhwi’s sword suddenly emerged from the swirling sword energy.

Woo Taegang saw the sword aiming directly for his shoulder.

A simple thrust without any sword energy.

‘That thin, long sword can’t penetrate the Silent Mountain Stance.’

The sword would bounce off due to the stance’s resilience, and Master Muhwi would be caught off guard. In that moment, Woo Taegang would land a punch, ending the match.

Woo Taegang had ended many matches in a single move this way.

‘This might be easier than I thought…’

Just as the sword tip was about two finger-widths from his shoulder, Woo Taegang’s back muscles twitched.

A sudden chill crept up his spine.

Boom!

Woo Taegang abruptly halted his charge, stepping back five paces.

“How…”

He looked down at his shoulder, where a faint line of blood had appeared.

Though he had retreated quickly, he hadn’t completely avoided the sword strike.

‘He has good instincts.’

Muhwi licked his lips, watching Woo Taegang rub his shoulder in surprise.

If Woo Taegang had continued his charge, trusting in the Silent Mountain Stance, the match would have ended with his shoulder pierced by the sword.

Contrary to Woo Taegang’s expectations, it would have been Muhwi’s victory.

‘There was no sword energy on the blade.’

Despite deflecting the sword energy, why had his shoulder been cut by a simple thrust?

Seeing Woo Taegang’s confused expression, Muhwi provided the answer.

“Woo Taegang, remember that sword energy, fist energy, and internal power are ultimately secondary.”

At Muhwi’s words, Ma Yeonho nodded.

For a martial artist, internal power is indispensable.

It allows one to move longer and faster, cut through the uncuttable, and protect the body from powerful impacts.

A force with endless possibilities depending on its use. That is internal power.

But internal power is not the essence of a martial artist.

If it were, the one with the most internal power would be the best in the world.

The essence of a martial artist is martial skill.

Just as there are those in the martial world who can split a sword filled with internal power using a mere twig.

Though Muhwi hadn’t reached that level, he was confident he could break Woo Taegang’s Silent Mountain Stance without sword energy.

As his foot lightly lifted from the ground, Muhwi was already moving his elbow in front of Woo Taegang.

A horizontal slash aimed to split the chest.

Woo Taegang only realized Muhwi’s movement after hearing the flutter of his robe.

A large arc was drawn, and Woo Taegang bent backward to avoid it, then used the momentum to shoot forward, throwing a punch.

Whoosh!

Woo Taegang’s punch tore through the air with a fierce sound.

With his natural strength and added internal power, the punch’s force ripped through the atmosphere.

But Muhwi merely adjusted his sword slightly, deflecting the punch with the flat of the blade, disrupting its trajectory.

Ting!

The sword, bent by the impact, straightened again, naturally aiming for Woo Taegang’s side.

Normally, Woo Taegang would have trusted the Silent Mountain Stance and continued his attack, but he couldn’t.

The sword narrowly missed, leaving a sharp presence lingering in the air.

‘If I don’t dodge, I’ll be cut.’

Thus, Woo Taegang had no choice but to evade and counterattack, but Muhwi gave him no opportunity.

“Ugh.”

Woo Taegang flinched as he tried to throw a punch, quickly pulling his leg back to execute a kick.

But at that moment, a fierce sword wind swept across the lower area. Woo Taegang leaped back with a shocked expression.

The increasingly dazzling footwork and the unpredictable, rapid sword strikes preempted all of Woo Taegang’s intended moves, disrupting his flow.

As if Muhwi could see through and anticipate all of Woo Taegang’s actions.

Swish!

“Ah…”

With at least seven sword strikes coming in a single breath, Woo Taegang’s hands and feet grew increasingly confused.

‘Haha, he’s met his match.’

Ma Yeon-ho chuckled softly as he watched Woo Tae-gang struggle.

Tae-gang had always relied heavily on the techniques of the Muk San Ip Gong during their sparring sessions. Yet, Yeon-ho never pointed it out. After all, it was Tae-gang’s strength, and knowing how to leverage one’s strengths was crucial. But equally important was learning how to win when those strengths failed.

For Tae-gang, this was the first time he faced such a challenge, thanks to Mu-hwi. Even when he had faced the disciple of the Sword Demon, he hadn’t been this flustered, which only made Yeon-ho more amused.

With a swift twist of his waist, Tae-gang dodged the incoming sword strike, his eyes darting quickly. “Even the heavy sword of Dokgo So-hyup wasn’t this threatening,” he thought.

The sword slashed diagonally, then abruptly changed direction, slicing vertically. Behind it, unpredictable sword energy followed like branches of a tree, making it hard to anticipate the next move.

Tae-gang’s fists punched the air, unleashing a flurry of wind, but Mu-hwi was relentless. He sliced through the wind with ease, his sword emitting a sharp, blinding light.

“You’re quite skilled, Tae-gang. But do you think someone trained in the Dokgo Sword Technique would lose? Keep wandering the martial world, disciple. It won’t be easy when we meet again,” Mu-hwi thought, his eyes glinting coldly as he recalled his own disciple.

Tae-gang, misinterpreting the look as directed at him, swallowed nervously.

Each time the sword flashed, a chaotic mix of sword energy, shadows, and wind scattered in all directions, leaving Tae-gang unsure where to focus. His punches only struck empty air.

“Fast!” he thought, overwhelmed by the dazzling swordplay and the elusive footwork that seemed to make Mu-hwi vanish and reappear like a predator lurking in the shadows.

A bead of sweat trickled down Tae-gang’s sideburns as he realized he had lost control of the fight. Yeon-ho shifted his gaze to Mu-hwi, intrigued.

“His movements are eerily similar to the Sword Demon. Has he met him before? Perhaps even learned from him?” Yeon-ho mused.

The Dokgo Sword Technique was formidable on its own, but combined with the Sword Demon’s disorienting movements, it was nearly impossible to counter. The unpredictable maneuvers using the massive sword’s size and weight were the Sword Demon’s signature.

Though Mu-hwi didn’t wield a heavy sword, he used the flamboyant footwork of the Hwasan style to expand his range of movement. Watching Mu-hwi slide back, targeting Tae-gang’s thigh, Yeon-ho couldn’t help but chuckle.

“To see both Hyunjo and Dokgo-heon’s styles in one person… fascinating.”

With a loud crash, Tae-gang, his thigh grazed, channeled his inner energy into a powerful stomp, overturning the ground around him. Mu-hwi, who had been preparing a follow-up strike, planted his sword into the ground, using its flexibility to spring backward.

“Haa…” Tae-gang exhaled lightly, assessing his condition. His clothes were torn in so many places it was quicker to count the intact spots. He knew the numerous small wounds covering his body were only because Mu-hwi had held back.

Had Mu-hwi been serious, the spar would have ended long ago.

“Mu-hwi Dojang, you’re incredibly strong. I’ve never felt so overwhelmed and helpless in a spar before,” Tae-gang admitted, his tone suggesting defeat, yet his fighting spirit burned even fiercer.

“I’m embarrassed to have shown such a poor performance. May I finish this spar with my most confident technique?”

Mu-hwi smirked, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. “Ah, I wanted to swing my sword a bit more.”

Most opponents he’d faced hadn’t lasted long enough for him to truly enjoy the fight. Tae-gang, however, had the skill to withstand his attacks, which was why Mu-hwi had prolonged the spar.

If not, Tae-gang would have been down long ago. The fact that he was still standing was a testament to Mu-hwi’s acknowledgment of his abilities.

Seeing the mix of determination and regret in Tae-gang’s eyes, Mu-hwi nodded. “Let’s do that.”

He lowered his sword slightly, signaling his readiness.

“Thank you, Mu-hwi Dojang,” Tae-gang replied, immediately gathering his inner energy to its peak.

A single decisive strike. He planned to pour all his energy into one blow, disregarding the aftermath.

As the intense aura radiated from Tae-gang, the eyes of the martial artists gathered around widened in awe. Only Mu-hwi remained calm, watching Tae-gang intently. When Tae-gang’s energy reached its zenith, he launched his punch.

Mu-hwi, who had been slowly raising his sword to a high guard, widened his eyes slightly. “This guy…”

Seeing Tae-gang’s punch, Mu-hwi couldn’t help but let out a short laugh.

“This makes me want to crush him,” he thought, amused.

“Have you decided on a name for your new martial art?”