While I was still caught off guard, Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun stepped in to object.
“Clan Lord! What are you saying? Anyone can see Deputy Merchant Lord Eun would obviously lose a spar like that. What if he ends up seriously hurt?”
“I’m not quite that heavy-handed.”
Young Clan Lord Moyong Tae-geol also tried to dissuade the Clan Lord.
“Father, even if you hold back, there’s no way Deputy Merchant Lord Eun could possibly be your match.”
I looked at the Clan Lord.
He looked genuinely intrigued.
Like a child who’d just found a new toy. That doesn’t mean I’m the toy here, right?
This is getting awkward.
The Clan Lord was a Profound Realm martial artist.
Because of the nature of my internal energy, my realm didn’t show on the surface.
But if we actually sparred, there was a good chance he’d notice.
So please, Clan Lord, stay seated.
“Clan Lord, as a fellow swordsman, sparring with you would be a valuable experience for me as well. However, I’m a timid man by nature. If I crossed swords with you, I might faint on the spot. Please, I ask that you withdraw the offer.”
That was when Moyong Seong-geol stepped in.
“Father, he’s putting it that plainly. Sparring with you would be a tremendous burden on this great hero.”
He continued speaking.
“But since Father already requested a spar, backing down now would also damage his dignity. So how about Eldest Brother taking Father’s place instead?”
Young Clan Lord Moyong Tae-geol was currently at the First-rate Realm.
Since I was publicly known as being at the Peak Realm, everyone would naturally think he was bound to lose. Right, obviously.
And since there was no way I’d be in a good mood under those circumstances, I’d naturally deal with him the same way I dealt with Moyong Jun-geol…
Right. So that was it.
This bastard Moyong Seong-geol had been aiming for that from the start.
I almost laughed to myself.
After watching how I handled Moyong Jun-geol, he wanted me to do the same thing to Moyong Tae-geol too.
In a martial clan like this, making a fool of yourself that badly would turn you into a lasting joke.
But there was one thing Moyong Seong-geol had badly misunderstood.
The reason I crushed Moyong Jun-geol with sheer pressure wasn’t just because I was hungry and annoyed that I couldn’t eat.
Even if people already knew I practiced the Heavenly Flow Ice Sword, I still didn’t want Moyong Seong-geol seeing me use a sword.
Earlier, I’d felt a strong Unorthodox Sect Qi from him.
If that was true, then he was already tied to the Murim Alliance.
Someone else might’ve thought he’d simply pulled in the Unorthodox Sect to get something done, but he was someone who’d had deep ties to the Murim Alliance in my previous life.
Which meant he was already carrying out a plan to seize control of the clan with the Murim Alliance’s help.
The fact that the sword had gone missing and put Young Clan Lord Moyong Tae-geol in a difficult position was proof enough of that.
So there was no benefit in letting him see what I could really do.
Besides, a merchant ought to stay calm in front of profit even after going hungry for three days.
So what kind of nonsense would it be if I lost my composure after missing only two meals?
Thinking that, I looked back at the Clan Lord—and flinched without meaning to.
What was with that look?
But as if I’d imagined it, that look vanished in an instant.
I glanced toward Young Clan Lord Moyong Tae-geol.
As it happened, he seemed to have come to some conclusion himself and stepped forward.
“Father, since it’s come to this, how about all of us siblings receive some instruction from the Handsome Young Hero?”
“All of you?”
“Yes. Jun-geol lost too, but I’m sure it still helped him a great deal.”
“That’s true enough. Even if he couldn’t swing his sword once, simply facing that pressure must’ve taught him something.”
At those words, Moyong Tae-geol lowered his head slightly.
“That’s exactly why. I don’t think it would be fair for only Jun-geol and me to get that opportunity. So I’d like Yeon-geol and Seong-geol to be given the same chance as well.”
He cupped his fist toward me.
“So please, I ask that you spar with all of us siblings.”
Not bad.
All that teaching I gave him wasn’t wasted after all.
I told him, didn’t I.
If something troublesome lands in your lap, drag the other side into it too.
It was a little annoying that the other side happened to be me, but fine.
Still better than crossing swords with the Clan Lord.
Besides, watching Moyong Seong-geol get blindsided sounded satisfying.
“Fathe—”
Moyong Seong-geol tried to say something, but the Clan Lord spoke first.
“That’s an excellent idea.”
Then he turned to me and asked,
“As their father, I’m asking this of you. Please let them gain some experience.”
“Understood. Since it’s your request, Clan Lord, I’ll accept.”
I agreed without much resistance. Refusing even this would probably make things awkward between us.
“My thanks. Then who should go fir—”
I quickly cut in.
“There’s nothing wrong with saving the best for last.”
“So from your point of view, that means the Young Clan Lord is the strongest among them?”
“That’s what I think.”
“Good, good! Then we’ll start with the youngest. The youngest has better talent than the third one, so this should be at least somewhat entertaining.”
At those words, Moyong Seong-geol stepped onto the stage with an eager look on his face.
I know that expression is forced.
“Then, I ask for your guidance.”
“I’ll give you the first move.”
“Thank you.”
Giving up the first move meant giving him three moves.
Moyong Seong-geol accepted the advantage.
The instant I drew my sword and took my opening stance, he rushed at me.
The Moyong Clan’s swordsmanship was built on speed.
The tip of his blade cut through the air and flew straight at me.
“Ah!”
I heard Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun suck in a sharp breath. To everyone else, it probably looked like I was about to be skewered by Moyong Seong-geol’s sword.
But that was all it was.
His sword stopped more than ten feet from my body, unable to come any closer.
“Urgh!”
A look of dismay flashed across his face. He withdrew his sword, then immediately slashed across at me again.
But that attack too was blocked by my protective Qi barrier.
“Ghk!”
He pulled his sword back, took a slight step away, then drove more internal energy into his blade and thrust again.
“…!”
It didn’t matter how much more internal energy he poured in. At the First-rate Realm, there was no way he was breaking through my protective Qi barrier.
“Your three moves are over.”
Why Moyong Tae-geol had created this situation was obvious enough. He wanted me to tear down Moyong Seong-geol’s prestige.
I stared at him and laced my internal energy with bloodlust.
“Hk!”
Hit head-on by that bloodlust, he went deathly pale and started trembling all over.
Without letting the Clan Lord notice, I quietly pressed even more bloodlust down on him.
Thud.
In the end, he couldn’t hold out anymore and collapsed right there.
And…
Yeah, his backside had to be pretty soaked by now.
What was the greatest humiliation for a martial artist?
There were probably a lot of answers to that, but surely one of the worst was making a spectacle of yourself in a spar right in front of your own family.
That had to sting.
Just as I expected, his whole body shook, and he couldn’t even lift his head properly.
Ah! That feels good.
When I stole a glance, even Young Clan Lord Moyong Tae-geol looked refreshed.
Remember this. I just settled your grudge for you. So I’ll be collecting the price for it later.
“That’s enough. Get up.”
At the Clan Lord’s words, Moyong Seong-geol couldn’t say a thing.
“…”
“Hah! Did your legs give out? Just how lazy have you been with your training…”
“…”
Perhaps realizing something was off, the Clan Lord rose and walked closer.
“Are you injured somewhe—”
He couldn’t finish the sentence, and Moyong Seong-geol lowered his head in shame.
I quickly cupped my fist.
“My sincerest apologies. I heard Young Master Moyong Seong-geol had greater talent than Young Master Moyong Jun-geol, so I put a little more pressure into it. It seems I overdid it.”
“Hmph, no. It’s because this fool is pathetic.”
Then he looked down at Moyong Seong-geol with obvious displeasure.
“Tch! Is someone there? Take this boy back to his quarters.”
“Yes!”
Seeing that he didn’t seem capable of getting up on his own, the Clan Lord gave the order at once.
A moment later, attendants and servants hurried in, helped him up, and escorted him out of the banquet hall.
Then other servants came in and tidied up the sparring stage.
In the meantime, silence settled over the banquet hall.
No one spoke. They only cautiously read the room or quietly ate their food.
Thanks to that, I was finally able to eat in peace too.
Once the sparring stage had been reset, the Clan Lord cleared his throat and spoke.
“Ahem. Then now, Yeon-geol, you may spar with him.”
“Yes. I’ll do so.”
At those words, Young Lady Moyong Yeon-geol rose from her seat. Earlier, she’d been blushing just from looking at my face… but now she looked tense.
Which made sense.
She’d just watched both of her younger brothers end up like that.
Still, if no one picked at me first, I could be perfectly reasonable too.
So this time, I held back both my Qi and my bloodlust.
“Then let us begin.”
“Yes.”
“Would you like me to give you the first move?”
At my question, she nodded, and we both took our opening stances.
And then,
“Haaat!”
With a sharp cry, she thrust her sword at me.
Fast. Just like I thought.
I twisted my body and avoided her blade.
She’s pretty quick.
Giving up three moves meant I could only dodge or defend for those three exchanges.
Her sword shifted in mid-trajectory and flashed toward my throat.
Clang!
I instantly raised my sword and blocked her strike. She recovered from the deflection and stabbed toward my stomach.
I lightly twisted aside and evaded the attack, then said,
“That’s three moves. My turn now.”
I raised my sword and aimed for her shoulder, and she calmly blocked before stepping back.
But I didn’t wait for her to finish retreating.
The Heavenly Flow Ice Sword had swift forms too.
Tap!
In an instant, the tip of my sword touched her shoulder.
The gap between us was so wide that the outcome was decided in a heartbeat.
“I’ve lost.”
She admitted defeat, and I withdrew my sword before speaking.
“You’re quite fast.”
“R–really?”
“Yes. And this is just my personal opinion, but I think a saber would suit you better than a sword.”
“What?”
Her eyes widened. She’d looked pleased a moment ago at being praised, but now she was plainly startled.
“You’re incredibly fast from the moment you decide to attack to the moment you actually act on it.”
Most people find it hard to move the instant they decide to strike.
That delay is exactly why their opponents notice the killing intent and are able to defend.
“And the weapon that would bring that strength out best isn’t a sword. It’s a saber.”
I didn’t say that just because of what I’d seen from her a moment ago.
I said it because I knew what she’d become in my previous life.
The Moyong Clan Lord had brought in a husband to marry into the clan for her, and she eventually became the Commander of one of the clan’s martial divisions.
Which meant her ability had grown strong enough for her to command a force like that.
The title attached to her was Shadowless Saber Blossom.
A name that meant she moved so quickly it left no shadow behind.
The fact that her title included Saber Blossom meant she used a saber, which had always made me wonder why she was using a sword now.
Which meant only one thing—she changed weapons later.
Just like Brother Jin-ho had.
He’d trained with the sword too, and once he switched to the spear, his skill had improved dramatically.
“Hahahahaha!”
At my words, the Clan Lord burst into hearty laughter.
“As expected of the Handsome Young Hero! Your eye is every bit as impressive as your martial skill!”
After praising me, he turned to Young Lady Moyong Yeon-geol and said,
“Haven’t I told you again and again? A saber suits you better.”
“But swords look cooler.”
I glanced at her sword.
It was covered in ornate decorations.
I could understand exactly what she meant when she said swords looked cooler.
Swords were mainly used for thrusting, and since they were drawn from the sheath before the attack began, the sheath could be decorated as elaborately as one liked.
It didn’t affect the fight.
But sabers were different.
A saber’s scabbard didn’t just store the weapon. It also played a role in the draw and acceleration.
Because of that, it couldn’t afford to get in the way during combat, and naturally, elaborate ornamentation was much harder.
So I said to her,
“This is just my opinion, but isn’t what’s really cool not wearing a flashy sword, but crushing the people who look down on you with undeniable skill?”
“What?”
“And if your skill can’t support it, then a flashy weapon is nothing more than vanity.”
At my words, the Clan Lord nodded with obvious satisfaction.
“That’s well said. Yeon-geol, take the great hero’s words to heart.”
“Yes, Father.”
Judging from that expression, she’d probably switch to a saber soon enough.
“And last, it’s your turn.”
The Clan Lord looked toward Young Clan Lord Moyong Tae-geol, who was seated beside him.
“Yes, Father.”
He rose from his seat and stepped onto the sparring stage.
“I look forward to your guidance.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
And just like that, we began our spar.
Since the whole purpose of this match was to tear down Moyong Seong-geol’s prestige and raise Moyong Tae-geol’s, I gave him a proper, serious spar.
And with Moyong Seong-geol no longer here, there was no issue with showing a little more of my skill.
“To push someone at the Peak Realm this far! You truly are impressive.”
“You flatter me.”
“Excellent! As expected, you take after me—your martial talent is superb! Hahaha!”
It seemed the Clan Lord’s evaluation of Young Clan Lord Moyong Tae-geol had risen quite a bit.
Now that I’d helped him this much, the rest was up to Young Clan Lord Moyong Tae-geol.
That said, Moyong Seong-geol definitely wasn’t the type to suffer all this quietly, and I was sure I’d be included among the targets of his revenge.
I found myself wondering what move he’d make next.
But why am I actually looking forward to it?
–TL Notes–
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