Chapter 130: Myojinmun (4)

The turning point came suddenly.

As the fight reached its climax, the bandits began to throw themselves into the fray, disregarding their lives.

“You little brats!”

*Whoosh!*

A massive broadsword swung through the air, striking a sword sheath.

*Clang!*

“Tch!”

As her fourth sword was knocked away, Baek Ri Seol gritted her teeth.

‘There are too many of them.’

A chaotic melee with multiple opponents was entirely different from a one-on-one duel.

The attacks coming from all directions were overwhelming, and the skill levels of each opponent varied greatly.

Especially the giant before her.

The man, with a scarred face and murderous intent, was unlike any she had faced so far.

“Hehehe. What’s wrong? Lost your spirit?”

He was right.

‘My energy is running out.’

After a relentless forced march and an intense initial assault, her energy was depleted.

“You’ve gone soft.”

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The giant swung his broadsword like a windmill, forcing Baek Ri Seol to retreat, swinging her sword repeatedly.

“Cha!”

But unlike the dueling ground, there was no space to retreat. Another enemy was stabbing a dagger at her back.

*Tap Tap.*

Using the White Crane Footwork, she barely escaped, but the giant’s broadsword was relentless.

*Slash!*

“Ugh! Boss! Why?”

He even cut down his own ally. Instinctively hiding behind the bandit, Baek Ri Seol was horrified.

“Die!”

“Humph! Who’s…?”

As the attack aimed at her chest, Baek Ri Seol’s eyes filled with determination.

‘Do I have to do it?’

Instinctively, she deflected the broadsword with her left sword and thrust her right sword at the opponent’s throat.

*Swish.*

The tip of her sword, slicing through the air, headed straight for the giant’s throat.

‘I didn’t want to kill.’

But there was no choice. Now,

‘Here, it’s kill or be killed.’

Expecting to feel the piercing sensation of flesh and blood, she closed her eyes tightly.

At that moment.

“Hey-”

A lazy voice whispered in her ear.

*Thud.*

*Slash!*

“Ugh!”

The bandit, with his shoulder pierced, staggered back and collapsed.

A warm presence was felt behind her.

“I told you it’s too early.”

A warm whisper in her ear.

Her heart trembled, but Baek Ri Seol tried to speak firmly.

“If I have to do it someday, then now.”

“There’s no benefit to experiencing it early. Just get a feel for it.”

“But I really can’t…”

“Listen to me.”

A crying voice wouldn’t inspire any confidence.

The instructor whispered in her ear.

“Using multiple swords isn’t always the best approach.”

“…Yes.”

“If you’ve tried using multiple swords, now try focusing on one.”

“Yes, I will.”

“Floating multiple swords may look flashy, but it loses the weight of a single strike.”

“From now on, focus all your strength into one sword.”

“Yes, I will.”

With the whisper, the warmth disappeared.

She missed the warmth that had comforted her heart, but,

“Baek Ri Seol! Let’s go again!”

Baek Ri Seol shouted resolutely.

***

Cho Un-hwi moved leisurely.

“Why is everyone so angry?”

But he wasn’t neglecting his duties.

*Thud. Thud. Thud.*

Bandits charging at him fell one by one.

Jegal Tan, who had been struggling against the enraged bandits, brightened up.

“Jegal.”

“Yes, Instructor.”

“Move your sword before you think.”

“Abandoning rational thought and moving instinctively? But…”

*Smack!*

Jegal Tan’s head snapped back.

Blood trickled from his nose as he straightened his head.

“Not enough explanation?”

“No. There wasn’t any…”

*Thud!*

Jegal Tan quickly straightened his head again.

As Cho Un-hwi raised his fist again, Jegal Tan flinched.

“What should I do?”

“Sometimes, follow your instincts.”

“Follow my instincts.”

“Do you think you can outthink someone charging at you with all their might?”

“I’m giving it my all.”

*Tap Tap.* Pointing to his spotless uniform even in battle, Cho Un-hwi scolded him.

“Get lost in the fight. Don’t act like you’re playing a game of Go.”

Finally noticing his comrades fighting fiercely, Jegal Tan blushed.

“I’ll correct it.”

“Good. Then do your best.”

Next was Namgung Yun-ho.

Seeing him deflecting attacks like an iron wall, Cho Un-hwi attempted a flying kick.

“Ugh.”

“You!”

“What, why?”

“What’s the point of learning footwork if you just stand there and deflect attacks? Your comrades are struggling.”

“Oh.”

I forgot about the footwork.

“I forgot. Training alone can be a disadvantage.”

Namgung Yun-ho’s quick acknowledgment was characteristic of him.

Cho Un-hwi spoke more gently.

“Standing still is a point. Moving creates a line.”

“Reading more movements and creating more lines.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“You’re telling me because I’m ready, right?”

Namgung Yun-ho, feeling a sense of growth, was pleased.

There’s no one like him who keeps the promise of ‘not questioning guidance.’

“I’d like to tell you more, but there’s no time.”

“Do you have urgent business?”

In this chaotic battle, the strolling instructor?

Surprised, Namgung Yun-ho heard Cho Un-hwi say.

“If I don’t intervene, So-hye might become a killer.”

“Oh.”

In an instant, Cho Un-hwi disappeared, running towards Mo Yong So-hye.

Namgung Yun-ho, smiling at the instructor’s nimble movements, took a step.

“Connecting points to create lines.”

*Boom.*

The first step of Dongcheon Hall’s basic footwork.

***

“Hey!”

Grabbing Mo Yong So-hye by the scruff of her neck just as she was about to land a devastating punch on a retreating bandit.

*Whoosh!*

“Ugh!”

The wind pressure alone made the bandit’s hair flutter as he sat down in fear.

“Hey! Stop it!”

“Huff. Huff.”

“What did the bandits do to you? Why are you so harsh?”

“Well, it just happened while fighting. Huff. Huff.”

“Calm down. Be nice. Please calm down.”

Trying to control her anger through deep breaths, Mo Yong So-hye looked disheveled.

Her hair was a mess, her clothes were torn in many places, and she was covered in blood.

As Cho Un-hwi swung his sword to drive away the bandits, he spoke.

“Be nice, my Yul-seo. Calm down.”

“Yes. Huff. Huff.”

Seeing her taking deep breaths, the bandits watched in fear.

The shaken students regained their composure.

***

Before long, the tide of the battle turned decisively.

Half of the three hundred bandits had been taken down, and the rest were terrified.

With more leeway, Cho Un-hwi decided to push further.

“Let’s add some restrictions.”

“Restrictions?”

“Yes. Hold out your hands.”

As Mo Yong So-hye held out her hands, he placed iron coins on the backs of her hands.

“From now on, don’t drop the coins and perform the Wooden Hundred Hands Technique.”

“How can I fight like this?”

“The key is not to lose centrifugal force when flipping your palms. When punching, make it short and quick.”

Like this. Like this.

After a short demonstration, Mo Yong So-hye was shocked.

So it was possible?

Mo Yong So-hye shook her head vigorously.

“Good. Let’s start right away.”

He then placed silver coins on the swords of the other three.

“Don’t drop the coins and perform your techniques.”

Faced with this harsh demand, they asked questions.

“Is there a point to performing techniques without dropping the coins?”

“It teaches you to maintain the balance of your sword.”

“Think of it like learning footwork.”

“The dantian, the core of your body, must remain stable at all times, right?”

“It’s the same with the sword. Just as people need to maintain their balance, so do swords.”

“…I don’t get it.”

Baek Ri Seol grumbled but didn’t drop the coin.

Jegal Tan asked another question.

“Instructor, what happens if we drop the coins?”

Or lose them.

Mumbling, Cho Un-hwi smiled brightly.

“What’s the point of living if you lose my precious silver coins?”

Jegal Tan turned pale.

Within less than half an hour, most of the bandits were taken down.

Only the leader remained.

The tricky part was that Instructor Shim was exhausted, so Seo Tae-myung had to face the leader.

“I’ll take you to the afterlife with me.”

“Do you think a bandit hiding in the mountains can take me?”

“I am the Bandit King! I’ll take your head!”

“Not a chance!”

There was a reason Seo Tae-myung stepped forward.

Seo Tae-myung was quite a strong fighter himself.

“They said he was a senior instructor.”

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*

After about fifty exchanges, he split the heavy axe.

*Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!*

After twenty more exchanges, he succeeded in placing his sword under the leader’s chin.

“Damn it!”

As the leader fell, the bandits muttered in despair.

“Oh no. Even the leader…”

“We can’t fight anymore.”

“Damn it.”

Seeing their complete loss of will, Seo Tae-myung shouted.

“If you keep fighting, you’ll die. Surrender, and you won’t be killed.”

At his command, the bandits dropped their weapons and bowed their heads.

The battle was over.

“Where’s Jeong Yang?”

*Whoosh.* Looking around, he saw Jeong Yang collapsed beside ten corpses.

“Oh dear.”

He wanted to show off his skills.

“I didn’t expect this kind of display.”

Cho Un-hwi chuckled.

***

After the battle.

The warriors of Cheongyang Sect found the villagers imprisoned behind the bandit camp.

“Thank you so much.”

“Sniff. We’re saved.”

“Thank you, hero.”

Seeing the villagers bowing in gratitude, Instructor Shim laughed.

“It’s what a righteous martial artist should do.”

“Hero, please tell us your name.”

“The one who taught me chivalry is my master. Just call me Shim of Wudang.”

Showing modesty, he comforted the villagers. Cheongyang Sect Leader Seo Tae-myung returned.

“Instructor Shim, we’ve secured them all.”

“Thank you. Was it difficult?”

“Some resisted, so I sealed their acupoints and bound them.”

“You can seal acupoints?”

Sealing acupoints isn’t just about injecting energy into the points.

It requires precise knowledge of the body’s 365 acupoints and their functions.

In other words, it requires mastery of energy control and medical knowledge.

Seo Tae-myung replied modestly.

“I learned it over the shoulder during my time at Shinmu Academy.”

“Impressive. It’s not easy to master.”

“But what should we do? It’s already late.”

After dealing with the aftermath, too much time had passed.

Looking up at the sky, Instructor Shim’s expression darkened.

“You’re right. It’s too late.”

“I’m not sure if the injured and weakened can endure the dark night.”

There was only one choice left for the two of them.

“It seems we’ll have to stay here for the night.”