Mu-hwi’s lips curled into a grin, as if he had been waiting for this moment, welcoming the situation with open arms.

Mu-ryun hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the unexpected smile. He had intended to put Mu-hwi in a difficult position, but now he felt as if he had walked into a trap himself.

“That fool of a senior brother? No way,” he thought, shaking off the unease as he stepped onto the platform.

“Just my imagination,” he muttered to himself.

Standing closer to Mu-hwi, he seemed larger than life, overshadowing the other disciples below. The change in Mu-hwi’s presence brought back the words of Mu-san and Mu-ho from earlier.

But Mu-ryun dismissed the thought. Even if it were true, there was no reason for him to feel intimidated. The gap between them was too wide.

“Are you thinking of a sparring match?” Mu-ryun asked.

“No, there’s a simpler and more certain way,” Mu-hwi replied, tapping the ground with his wooden sword.

“I won’t move a single step from this spot. I’ll only defend against your sword. Of course, using the Six Harmonies Sword technique.”

“Senior brother, did I hear you correctly?” Mu-ryun asked incredulously.

“If your sword touches me or if I step out of this spot, you win. And I’ll retract my promise to train with the Six Harmonies Sword.”

Mu-ryun let out a dry laugh, his knuckles whitening as he clenched his fist. The conditions Mu-hwi set were impossible, even for Mu-jin, the most skilled among them.

Lowering his voice so the other disciples couldn’t hear, Mu-ryun whispered, “Just because you defeated Mu-san, don’t let it go to your head, senior brother.”

Mu-hwi knew the others weren’t aware of last night’s events. The fact that Mu-ryun knew meant…

“Ah, so it was you who sent the disciples. You’re quite the errand boy for Mu-jin,” Mu-hwi teased.

“I’m not an errand boy. I was just helping senior brother Mu-jin,” Mu-ryun retorted.

“Call it what you want. But a man should have some pride,” Mu-hwi mocked, prompting a sigh from Mu-ryun as he reached for his wooden sword.

“Don’t blame me if you’re humiliated in front of the disciples,” Mu-ryun warned, abandoning any intention of going easy on Mu-hwi. He was determined to crush him with full force.

“How dare you set such terms against me?” he thought.

This year’s martial arts competition was filled with talented individuals, raising expectations within the sect. Among them were the exceptional disciples known as the Three Blossoms: Mu-jin, Mu-cheol, and Mu-hwa.

Excluding the Three Blossoms, Mu-ryun was confident he was the best among the second-generation disciples.

“I’ll make sure you never challenge me again,” he vowed, his face hardening as he gripped his wooden sword.

Mu-hwi chuckled softly, assuming a stance with his feet shoulder-width apart and his body slightly lowered. Holding the wooden sword lightly with both hands, he adopted the starting position of the Six Harmonies Sword.

Mu-ryun scoffed at the sight. “Using a different sword technique would be unfair, so I’ll attack with the Six Harmonies Sword as well.”

“Suit yourself,” Mu-hwi replied.

Mu-ryun prepared to close the distance, but his body hesitated.

“I can’t see an opening,” he realized.

Mu-hwi stood there, wooden sword extended, yet there was no gap to exploit. It was like facing an impenetrable wall.

His plan to find an opening and toy with Mu-hwi was thwarted from the start.

“What are you waiting for? Planning to stand there until my legs go numb?” Mu-hwi taunted.

Gritting his teeth, Mu-ryun moved, circling to the side instead of charging head-on. He aimed to attack from the left rear, a difficult angle for a right-handed swordsman to defend.

As Mu-ryun’s wooden sword sliced through the air with considerable force, Mu-hwi calmly twisted his wrist. The wooden sword tilted slowly, as if merely placing it in the path of Mu-ryun’s rising strike.

To Mu-ryun, it seemed as if Mu-hwi had failed to respond in time.

“Of course, he can’t put any strength into it,” Mu-ryun thought, confident he could knock Mu-hwi away with a single move.

But with a sharp crack, Mu-ryun’s wooden sword was blocked. Mu-hwi’s stance remained unshaken, his sword steady.

Mu-ryun’s lips parted in surprise. “What?”

He had felt the impact through his hand, yet Mu-hwi stood firm, unfazed.

Mu-hwi flicked his wrist, pushing Mu-ryun’s sword away. “Why so many distractions when wielding a sword?”

Snapping back to focus, Mu-ryun charged again, launching a series of rapid attacks to pressure Mu-hwi.

Mu-ryun moved swiftly, circling Mu-hwi to confuse his vision. But Mu-hwi, using more than just sight, read Mu-ryun’s movements with precision.

Despite Mu-ryun’s relentless strikes from various angles, Mu-hwi’s Six Harmonies Sword effortlessly blocked each one.

“Your steps are too light, making your sword light as well. Are you aware of that?” Mu-hwi commented, even blocking attacks from behind as if he had eyes on his back.

“Damn it, why can’t I break through the Six Harmonies Sword?” Mu-ryun thought, frustrated after what felt like over thirty exchanges.

Mu-ryun took a deep breath, his internal energy surging. His steps grew lighter, and his sword, imbued with energy, became sharper.

Yet Mu-hwi remained unchanged, his defense as solid as ever. He even continued to speak, offering advice as he blocked each attack.

“A sword is wielded with the whole body, not just the arms. If you can channel your entire body’s strength into a single sword, you can also disperse the force coming at you through your whole body.”

Mu-hwi’s words reached the disciples watching from the platform. His intention was not just to show his ease but to teach them.

To Mu-hwi, Mu-ryun was merely a moving textbook to demonstrate his teachings.

With a sharp crack, Mu-ryun’s sword, now glowing with a reddish hue from his internal energy, struck hard. Yet Mu-hwi’s stance remained unyielding.

The impact was absorbed through his legs, which stood firm, causing cracks to form on the platform beneath him.

“Of course, this is only possible with a solid foundation. But you, my junior…”

“Enough! Just be quiet!” Mu-ryun snapped, his face burning with embarrassment and frustration.

Mu-ryun’s sword traced a curve, then shifted to a faster, more aggressive thrust. He had resorted to his specialty, the Swift Wind Sword.

In his impatience, Mu-ryun had forgotten his earlier promise to use only the Six Harmonies Sword.

“If the Swift Wind Sword can do it!”

The Swift Wind Sword was known for its speed. As Mu-ryun unleashed it with full force, more disciples lost track of his sword’s movements.

“Impressive, Mu-ryun senior.”

“He’s even faster than before.”

“But senior brother Mu-hwi still has no openings.”

“When did senior brother become so skilled?”

The second-generation disciples were now more focused on Mu-hwi than Mu-ryun. They were curious to see how long he could hold out, given their previous knowledge of his skills.

Whenever the two wooden swords clashed, Mu-ryun’s sword would quickly withdraw and strike again. In contrast, Mu-hwi’s Six Harmonies Sword remained steadfast, maintaining its solid defense.

“At least he has some skill to back up his bravado,” Mu-hwi thought, stifling a yawn as he watched Mu-ryun’s swift attacks.

Despite Mu-ryun’s impressive speed, Mu-hwi had faced faster swords countless times before.

Mu-hwi’s eyes tracked Mu-ryun’s sword as it aimed for his waist, thigh, and chest. It was Mu-ryun’s most powerful move, the Triple Leaf Piercing Wind. Though sharp, Mu-hwi simply drew his sword in a diagonal line, deflecting the attack.

Mu-ryun’s confident strike was easily countered, leaving him at a loss for his next move.

“Mu-ryun, I think this is pointless now,” Mu-hwi said, looking at his halted opponent.

Gritting his teeth at Mu-hui’s words, Mu-ryun turned his head to look at his fellow disciples below the platform. They were murmuring among themselves, clearly impressed by Mu-hui’s mastery of the Six Harmonies Sword technique.

“Does this mean the senior brother has won?”

“Indeed. He didn’t even flinch, let alone change his stance.”

“To defend like that against Mu-ryun… Senior Brother is something else.”

Most of their gazes were fixed on the senior brother, who had effortlessly blocked Mu-ryun’s attacks with his own sword technique. Their eyes were filled with surprise, intrigue, and awe—emotions that, despite their differences, all carried a sense of admiration.

Mu-ryun’s attempt to bring down the senior brother had only served to elevate him further. His grip on the wooden sword trembled, loosening with each passing moment.

“I’ve changed the game because of me.”

While everyone else was focused on the senior brother, Mu-ryun realized that one pair of eyes was still on him.

“Mu-jin.”

Mu-jin slowly shook his head.

“Give it up.”

Seeing the resignation in Mu-jin’s eyes, Mu-ryun felt a surge of defiance. He couldn’t let it end like this. He had to salvage the situation somehow, even if others criticized him for being stubborn.

“If Senior Brother can break through my defense, I’ll concede.”

Before Mu-hui could respond, Mu-ryun assumed a stance—not the familiar one of the Gale Sword, but that of the Six Harmonies Sword.

Understanding Mu-ryun’s intent, Mu-hui smirked coldly, baring his teeth.

“Isn’t it funny that a junior like you thinks you can decide whether to acknowledge me as your senior?”

Mu-hui relaxed his stance, resting his wooden sword on his shoulder as he stepped forward.

“Given your past behavior, some of the responsibility lies with you, Senior Brother.”

“Wow, it’s tough getting recognition from a junior, huh?”

Mu-hui tilted his head from side to side, feeling restless from having only defended without counterattacking.

“You brought this on yourself.”

“Come at me.”

Mu-ryun wasn’t just being stubborn. While the senior brother might excel in swordsmanship, Mu-ryun believed he had the edge in sheer strength and speed. He had felt it during their recent exchanges.

If Mu-hui continued to defend as he had, Mu-ryun thought he had a chance. He had calculated his odds and was ready to make his final move.

But as soon as Mu-hui took his first step, Mu-ryun realized his calculations were completely off.

With a crack, the enhanced internal energy of the Nine Steps Heart Method surged through Mu-hui, causing the ground to crack beneath him. The explosive power and agility propelled him forward with a single step.

“Gasp.”

Mu-ryun, who had trained in the swift Gale Sword technique, was taken aback by the speed that far surpassed his own. He barely managed to react, twisting his wooden sword to block his left side, just as Mu-hui’s sword came swinging down.

Despite Mu-hui’s incredible movement, his sword strike seemed straightforward.

“I can block this.”

But as if mocking his confidence, Mu-ryun’s wooden sword, filled with his internal energy, began to splinter. His eyes widened in shock.

“How?”

Mu-hui shattered the wooden sword in one blow and immediately struck Mu-ryun’s waist with his wrist.

“Ugh!”

As Mu-ryun’s body bent like a bow from the pain, Mu-hui’s whisper reached his ear.

“No matter where you go, there are always people like you who won’t listen to reason.”

Mu-hui’s wooden sword, which had struck Mu-ryun’s right side, now came down on his left shoulder.

“Ugh.”

Though it seemed like a casual swing, the speed surpassed even the swift strikes Mu-ryun had shown earlier. Unable to respond properly, Mu-ryun struggled to regain his stance, his body jerking erratically.

But as Mu-hui’s wooden sword continued to rain down on him, Mu-ryun’s mind grew hazy, and he couldn’t help but curse.

“Damn it…”

“What? Damn it?”

Mu-hui struck Mu-ryun’s thigh, preventing him from collapsing sideways. He showed no signs of stopping his relentless assault.

“You insolent junior. I’ll teach you some manners.”

“Wait… Ugh!”

Mu-hui swung his wooden sword with such enthusiasm that none of the other disciples dared to intervene.

Thwack! Thwack!

Watching this, Mu-hwa blinked in disbelief.

“Wow… I didn’t know Senior Brother had such a fiery side.”

As if in rhythm with Mu-hui’s beating, the plum blossoms around them began to shed their petals. With each red and white petal that fell, a new bruise blossomed on Mu-ryun’s body.

“This is how you wield the Six Harmonies Sword. Are you listening, you insolent junior?”

Thwack!