Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 618

His breathing quickened. His fingertips trembled slightly, and his heart raced.

But this wasn’t necessarily bad. It would be strange not to feel nervous before a duel.

At the very least, a swordsman who proves himself with the sword should take the duel seriously, no matter what is at stake.

That’s the most basic thing for someone who wields a sword.

“Hoo.”

Yoon Jong took a short, deep breath and looked at Mu-yeon, who was standing in front of him.

He felt pressure. And he should.

The chief disciple of Wudang. One of the Wudang Three Swords. These were important titles. To be honest, Mu-yeon was a very strong opponent for Yoon Jong.

But…

‘Has there ever been an opponent who wasn’t strong?’

It was almost funny to think about. The Hwajong Assembly had been hard for him. The martial arts tournament too. The fight against the Maninbang had been life-threatening, and in the Northern Sea, he had learned how limited he was.

He did not choose this path. But he always had to fight strong opponents. He was always put in difficult situations.

‘A crow-tit trying to follow a stork will tear its legs.’

He knew he wasn’t a genius.

Just because he was called one of the Five Swords didn’t mean he was as good as the others. Baek Cheon was a genius, and Yoo Iseol was even better than Baek Cheon sometimes.

Chung Myung? It’s pointless to even talk about him.

Even Jo Gul seemed very talented to him.

Yoon Jong knew he wasn’t as talented as them. He was just working hard while others soared through the sky.

If he wasn’t careful, everyone would pass him quickly. Jo Gul, and even the Third-Generation disciples.

He knew it well.

“You seem nervous.”

Mu-yeon said quietly.

Yoon Jong looked at Mu-yeon. This was just a friendly fight to test each other. He didn’t need to be angry just because he was facing an opponent. He nodded.

“I am, actually.”

“Hmm?”

Mu-yeon looked intrigued.

Usually, people pretend to be calm before a fight, even if they are not. But Yoon Jong was calmly admitting he was nervous. It wasn’t a big deal, but Mu-yeon was interested.

“There’s no need to be so nervous. If you show your skills, won’t the result come naturally?”

“I think so too. However…”

Yoon Jong’s eyes gleamed.

“I can’t just let things happen naturally.”

“Hoo?”

He was calm, but not arrogant.

He was different from Jo Gul, who had been wild earlier.

‘It’s strange how different they feel, even though they are brothers.’

People are different, but those who live together, learn the same martial arts, and experience the same things often become similar.

But Mu-yeon thought the Mount Hua disciples had very different personalities.

“If you’re so worried, why pick me to fight?”

“Would it be different?”

“Hmph?”

Mu-yeon smiled slightly.

“So, you’re saying fighting me, one of the Wudang Three Swords, is the same as fighting anyone else here?”

Yoon Jong shook his head calmly.

“I just mean none of you are easy for me.”

Mu-yeon stared at him before slowly drawing his sword.

He was interesting, but this wasn’t the place for a long talk. He liked his opponent, but he would have to talk to him another time.

“Draw your sword.”

“Yes.”

“I’m not an easy opponent. Do your best.”

“I know that.”

Shhhring.

Yoon Jong drew the Plum Blossom Sword.

“I’ve always done my best recently.”

He was always trying hard.

He didn’t want to fall behind. He didn’t want to be left behind.

Before they started fighting, Yoon Jong looked at the Mount Hua disciples.

Not the Five Swords, but the other disciples, especially the Third-Generation disciples. Yoon Jong saw them watching him and sighed softly.

‘It’s too much for me.’

He didn’t want to be the oldest of the Third-Generation disciples. It just happened because he was older and had joined the sect earlier.

He had been happy to be the senior brother, but now it felt like a burden.

Fighting with talented martial brothers was hard for him, who was just ordinary.

Even so…

Even so, Yoon Jong had a reason not to give up.

“Begin.”

“Yes.”

Mu-yeon saluted in the Wudang style. Yoon Jong saluted in the Mount Hua style, determined. Tension filled the air.

Mu-yeon moved first.

Pat!

Mu-yeon quickly closed the distance and attacked Yoon Jong.

It was a very fast attack.

Clang!

Yoon Jong quickly raised his sword to block the Songmun Ancient Sword. Even though he blocked it with force, Mu-yeon’s sword brushed off the force and attacked again.

‘Fast.’

It wasn’t just fast.

There were many hidden techniques in the attack. It wasn’t easy to block a horizontal strike with a long sword. But when the swords hit, Mu-yeon softly deflected Yoon Jong’s force and used it to attack again.

Transplanting Flowers and Grafting Trees and Overcoming Strength with Softness.

He was using many difficult techniques at once.

‘This is Wudang!’

It was a sword style not seen in Mount Hua. That’s why it was hard to deal with and block.

But Yoon Jong blocked, dodged, and deflected the attacks.

‘Lower!’

Yoon Jong lowered his stance, dodging the incoming sword. His strong legs helped him move quickly.

He dodged all the fast attacks.

Mu-yeon looked surprised.

“Not bad.”

Swaeeeeek!

His sword became faster.

Kaga-gang!

But Yoon Jong’s sword didn’t move.

It was a precise sword.

It wasn’t just about speed. Even if it was fast, it would waste time if the path wasn’t right.

Yoon Jong’s sword was perfectly drawing the fastest path to his opponent’s sword.

‘Solid.’

Mu-yeon’s expression changed. Jo Gul’s sword had been lively, fast, and strange. But Yoon Jong’s sword was strong and solid.

‘It’s similar to Wudang’s sword.’

It wasn’t soft, but it wasn’t that different. If his sword was the wind, Yoon Jong was like a tree in the wind.

‘At this age…’

Strengthening the foundation and lightening the upper body. It’s easy to say.

But it required a lot of basic training. It couldn’t be done quickly.

The basics only show after a lot of constant training.

How much training had he done to become so solid at this age?

Ten thousand swings a day? Anyone can try that.

But how many people can do that for ten days, a hundred days, a thousand days?

Mu-yeon looked at Yoon Jong’s hand. It was covered in calluses.

“Good!”

Mu-yeon swung his sword greatly.

Chwaaaaaak!

Sword energy flowed from his sword like a river. Clear and blue energy surged towards Yoon Jong.

He quickly changed from a quick sword to a soft sword, and then to a heavy sword.

But Yoon Jong didn’t waver.

Chwaaaaaak.

Yoon Jong’s sword absorbed the energy and deflected Mu-yeon’s attack.

Chwaaaaaak!

He tried to deflect as much as possible without using force. But he couldn’t deflect all of it.

Crack!

Yoon Jong’s feet dug into the ground. His hand trembled.

The power of flowing water can break rocks. The continuous force was strong.

“Kugh!”

Yoon Jong pushed his sword away and moved to the side.

But Mu-yeon rushed forward and bumped into Yoon Jong with his shoulder.

Thud!

Yoon Jong was thrown backward.

Thud! Thud!

Yoon Jong crashed into the ground, but quickly turned his body and stopped himself with his sword.

Kaga-ga-gak!

He regained his stance. Blood flowed from his lips, but his eyes were the same.

“…Excellent.”

Mu-yeon admired him.

Wudang was a righteous sect. They wanted to achieve great things with the sword.

So, Wudang focused on the basics more than any other sect. They didn’t ignore the basics for quick results.

But Yoon Jong’s sword was so strong that it made Wudang’s basics seem weak.

“I apologize for underestimating you.”

“…”

“From now on, I’ll go all out, so do your best.”

“Yes!”

“Here I go!”

Tat!

Mu-yeon jumped towards Yoon Jong like a butterfly. His sword created many shadows, and white energy flowed from his left hand towards Yoon Jong.

Yoon Jong widened his eyes.

‘He’s using two martial arts at the same time?’

Many sword shadows and energy surged towards Yoon Jong.