Seven Days and Nights.

Seven full days and nights had passed since I began my duels with Cheong Pung. I closed my eyes and thought.

‘According to the quest window, I have to beat Cheong Pung before New Year’s Day…’

There were only four days left. Just how many times had I fought Cheong Pung so far? All I knew was that we had engaged in at least sixty duels. Of course, it was a clean streak of complete defeats, without a single exception.

‘And he didn’t even use his Sword Qi.’

The current Cheong Pung was not using his full strength. For a Peak Realm master to not use Sword Qi was a huge penalty, but Cheong Pung was strong even without it. He was a man who had learned the secret arts of the Huashan Sect under the guidance of the Sword Saint, Mae Jong-hak, since childhood. Even Jin Mu-gyeong, considered one of the best rising talents in the orthodox martial world, had been defeated by him.

‘Although Jin Mu-gyeong was injured at the time… he’s definitely different.’

I recalled Cheong Pung’s movements, which I had seen until I was sick of them. It was the very definition of elegant. It might be a characteristic of the martial arts he learned, but more than anything, it was something that could only be possible if it was backed by his own strength.

‘He’s a cut above me, is what it is.’

To be fair, I hadn’t shown him everything I had either. There was the Flash skill that always did its job, the inventory system, and the [Nameless Sword] that could stand against Cheong Pung’s Sword Qi. But this was a duel, not a life-or-death battle.

‘I have to win with my own martial arts.’

To me, the system was my last resort. It could turn the tide in a battle where life and death were decided by a hair’s breadth, but if my attack was blocked even with the system’s help, only death would await me. It was literally the final move. There was nothing after that.

‘I can’t rely on the system every time I fight.’

The world is wide, and there are many masters. The first step in preparing for the strong enemies I might encounter at any time was to polish my own martial arts.

“Hoo.”

With a deep exhale, the 45 years of internal energy that had been flowing grandly coiled back into my danjeon.

Tiring!

When I opened my eyes, the first thing that came into view was Cheong Pung and Hyeok Mujin, engaged in a fierce battle.

POW! PA-BA-BA-BA-BAK!

“Keo-heok!”

Correction. It wasn’t a fierce battle, but a one-sided beatdown.

Hyeok Mujin, who was reeling from the rain of strikes from the Tiger-Subduing Fist, gritted his teeth.

“Hap!”

The sword in his hand shot out like a ray of light. It wasn’t a sword art with unpredictable techniques or an unusual style, but its fundamentals were solid. He had probably swung the same sword thousands, if not tens of thousands of times.

Shik! Shwish!

Head, shoulder, and then chest. After dodging three attacks in quick succession, Hyeok Mujin thrust his sword towards Cheong Pung’s chest.

Shwaaaek!

A clean and sharp strike, devoid of any unnecessary movements. But he had the wrong opponent.

“Wow, you’ve improved a lot.”

Between Cheong Pung’s smiling index and middle fingers, the blade, taut with strength, trembled.

Bare-handed Seizing a White Blade[1]. It was a technique only possible if one’s martial arts were vastly superior to the opponent’s. At the unexpected humiliation, Hyeok Mujin’s face turned red.

“Hnngh!”

“It’s no use putting in more strength…”

Suddenly, Cheong Pung’s eyes widened. Hyeok Mujin, who seemed to be putting strength into the caught sword, suddenly let go of the hilt and lunged into his arms.

‘Look at this guy.’

A smirk appeared on my face. I had a rough idea of why Hyeok Mujin, who had been fighting so straightforwardly until now, was doing this.

‘They say a dog at a village school recites poetry after three years.’

That was a method I often used. Abandoning one’s weapon, which was like a lifeline to a martial artist, to catch the enemy off guard and seize an advantage. It was a good attempt, but the one mistake was that his opponent’s skill was too high to use such a tactic.

PANG!

With a bursting sound, a single figure flew through the air. I grinned and looked down at Hyeok Mujin, who had landed right in front of my feet.

“You lose?”

After a bout of coughing and dry heaving, Hyeok Mujin retorted bluntly.

“You saw everything, why are you asking?”

“How many times is that?”

“This makes it ninety times.”

“You’ll hit a hundred soon. How about the nickname ‘Hundred Battles, Hundred Defeats’?”

“I’ll pass.”

“Still, that last move was pretty good.”

At my compliment, Hyeok Mujin’s ears twitched.

“Really?”

“Yeah. But the skill gap is too big. Pick your opponents better.”

“I knew it. I was wondering why you were complimenting me for once.”

“Do you think you can even land a single hit like that?”

“If Young Warrior Cheong Pung hadn’t used his palm art, I could have landed at least one hit.”

As Hyeok Mujin grumbled with his lips jutting out, Cheong Pung ran over with a bright expression.

“Are you alright?”

“Hey, didn’t we agree you’d only use fist arts?”

“I was planning to use it from now on. You improved much faster than I expected.”

“Ahem. Well, if you say so.”

Look at Hyeok Mujin, that guy’s about to grin from ear to ear.

Normally, I would have cut in and given him a hard time, but I largely agreed with Cheong Pung’s words.

‘He really is improving fast.’

I wasn’t the only one who had grown over the past week. Hyeok Mujin was the same. Although he had Cheong Pung’s help, he had completed the Gecko Art training with far inferior stats, and his skills had improved to the point where Cheong Pung had to use his palm arts first.

‘And that’s not all.’

I activated my [Qi Sense] to check Hyeok Mujin’s level.

Tiring!

Hyeok Mujin’s level, which I had checked just ten days ago, was 48. But through training, he had gained 2 levels.

‘Level 50? Already?’

I could roughly gauge an opponent’s strength by checking their level with the system. However, most people’s levels were stagnant, or their leveling speed was so slow that it was hard to notice.

‘But this Hyeok Mujin fellow is shooting right up.’

I suddenly remembered when I first met Hyeok Mujin. At that time, he was only level 20. While not as fast as me, who had already surpassed level 60, his leveling speed was no joke either.

‘Is it because he’s been rolling around with me so much?’

Come to think of it, he had been through all sorts of hardships with me. Had he naturally been tempered through real combat experience?

At my gaze, which was like looking at a strange creature, Hyeok Mujin asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Huh? Oh, nothing. Just thought you’ve really improved a lot.”

“Ahem, ahem!”

“I’m feeling generous. From now on, you can be the pinky finger.”

“…Your generosity is rather stingy.”

“Haven’t you heard the saying about a painful pinky finger?”

“Are you saying I’m your painful pinky finger, Squad Leader?”

“No. Just that there’s a saying like that, so you should know it.”

“Alright, now our Great Warrior Hyeok Mujin of a Hundred Battles and a Hundred Defeats can step back.”

“I told you I’m not using that nickname!”

Letting Hyeok Mujin’s shout go in one ear and out the other, I regulated my breathing and stepped forward.

“How about it, want to do some Qi circulation first?”

Cheong Pung replied with a bright smile.

“I barely moved, so I didn’t even break a sweat.”

Mujin’s going to cry, he’s going to cry.

I smiled along with the brightly beaming Cheong Pung.

“You’re about to start sweating now.”

“Someone of your level, Benefactor, is a fun opponent.”

That was a challenging tone, unlike the usual Cheong Pung. But from what I had observed so far, this was his true self. The fighting spirit of Cheong Pung the martial artist. I clearly remembered that he hadn’t smiled for a single moment when he drew his sword against Jin Mu-gyeong.

“It’s about to get a lot less fun.”

“It’s fine. Winning is always fun. Hehe.”

“Are you confident you won’t regret saying that?”

“Yes! I’m winning now without even using my Sword Qi, after all!”

Wow, fuck. That hit a nerve.

Calming my heart, which was shaken by the harsh truth, I gripped my spear tightly.

“This time will be a little different.”

“My grandfather used to say, that’s what amateurs say. Real masters show it through their actions.”

“Don’t worry. I plan to do just that, starting now.”

“I look forward to it.”

Looking at the still-beaming Cheong Pung, I muttered inwardly.

‘Open Status Window.’

Tiring!

[Lv.64 Jin Tae-kyung]

• Class: First-Rate Martial Artist
• Fame: 2400 (+250)

Titles: 5 (Title effects applied)

• Returnee (All stats +10)
• Hidden Dragon of Shanxi (All stats +15, Fame +200)
• Scion of a Noble Family (All stats +5, Fame +50)
• Gambler (Combat-related stats +10% in one-on-one battles)
• Intermediate Trainee (Training speed +20%)

+++

Stats

• Strength: 205 (+30)
• Stamina: 207 (+30)
• Agility: 200 (+30)
• Intelligence: 40 (+30)
• Charm: 40 (+30)
• Inner Force: 45 years
• Endurance: 200 (+30)

Remaining Points: 100

Please allocate remaining points.

My combat stats, which had finally broken through 200 thanks to the Gecko Art training and the duels. And the remaining points I had been diligently saving up for when I met an enemy. At this very moment, I wouldn’t envy even the Number One Under Heaven.

“I was really saving this… but I’m using it because of you.”

“Pardon?”

“Sword Qi, Purple Mist Divine Arts. Whatever it is, it’s fine. Use your full strength.”

“Then it’ll be too bland.”

“You should say that after you’ve had a taste. Whether it’s spicy or bland.”

Before my words even finished, a single command was already being relayed to the system in my head.

‘Allocate 50 points to Agility.’

Swaaaaaa.

It was an energy that only I in this world could feel. The moment an unprecedented power, from who knows where, swept through my entire body like a wave…

“First, let’s start with the mild flavor.”

Shwaaaek!

The spear began to move at a speed never seen before.

***

Shik, Pa-bang!

Cheong Pung twisted his neck. His hair, tied back tightly, exploded along with the air. But the spear’s movement didn’t end there.

Fwoosh, Shwaaaek!

A dozen spear shadows rushed in from all directions. Cheong Pung stepped forward without hesitation.

Kwak!

The remaining bluestone shattered, and dirt shot up. Jin Tae-kyung, seeing Cheong Pung who had already retreated thirty feet, asked, “Knew you’d do that. Profound Fragrance Drift?”

“I mixed it with the Five Elements Plum Blossom Footwork Arts[2].”

“Is that possible?”

“It was.”

“So, how’s the taste?”

“Bland. Very.”

“Could be. For now.”

After finishing his words, Jin Tae-kyung’s body suddenly trembled, and then he grinned.

“From now on, it’s the spicy flavor.”

The moment the incomprehensible words ended, Jin Tae-kyung charged. In that instant, Cheong Pung drew his sword. Violet Sword Qi had already formed clearly on his blade. No, it wasn’t just the sword; the Purple Mist Divine Arts was flowing from his entire body.

BOOM!

A clash of power against power. And a deafening roar as if the sky was splitting apart. The smile vanished from Cheong Pung’s lips. A considerable rebound force was transmitted from his stinging wrist.

‘How on earth?’

Different. It was too different. Even the phrase ‘to see in a new light’ was an understatement. Before he could even rub his eyes, Jin Tae-kyung had grown stronger, and then stronger again.

‘And his internal energy…’

The Purple Mist Divine Arts was an internal energy art with the properties of supreme yang. However, the internal energy transmitted from Jin Tae-kyung’s spear was no less powerful. Cheong Pung felt a faint tremor from the spear tip pressing down on his sword.

Voom, voooom.

It was said that those who reached the wall of the Peak Realm would hear someone crying before they broke through. That the weapon, as dear as a martial artist’s own life, would be the first to recognize its master’s change.

Internal energy that had reached a high realm and a physical foundation that had finished preparing to become a Peak Realm master. When all of that was fulfilled, a sound like this would occur.

‘A Sword Cry[3]?’

Since it wasn’t a sword but a spear, it was a Spear Cry[4].

Seeing Cheong Pung’s mouth fall open, Jin Tae-kyung grinned.

“Alright, from now on, it’s the extra-spicy flavor.”

Kuguguguk.

Along with the strength of a thousand jin, the cry of the spear echoed even louder.