Book 5 Chapter 10

Palbi Singum, Jeon Okgi

Whether it be any field of study or martial arts, there exists a certain line.

That line represents a boundary, a realm that is incredibly difficult to cross, even with sheer effort.

It cannot be said that there is only one such line.

It could be one, or it could be many. Many have been held back, thinking the line was singular, only to find themselves unable to reach greater heights.

The boundaries of learning, which can be called the "Dragon Gate" (登龍門), exist in every field of study, but the martial arts realm particularly emphasizes this boundary.

To cross that line, mere effort or willpower is insufficient. It requires innate talent, aptitude, and luck to barely achieve it.

Consequently, the number of people rapidly diminishes after crossing this boundary. This is because those who have crossed this line are on a different level.

It is the gateway to the very beginning of transitioning from an ordinary person to a superhuman! At the Cheonmu Academy, the Ogeomryong is the first step. From this point on, it is truly not for just anyone.

Ordinarily, the distribution of ability within any group tends to follow a similar pattern. Whether it be academics, martial arts, or miscellaneous skills, it is all the same. The majority of these groups will form a bell curve shape, with the peak in the middle. In other words, most people are in the middle, and the number of individuals with the lowest or highest skills gradually decreases.

The skill ranking at Cheonmu Academy is no different. Therefore, despite having nearly 2,000 disciples, the participants in the Samseong Mujae who reach Ogeomryong or higher do not exceed 300 people. This also indicates the scarcity of individuals with skills exceeding Ogeomryong. Even including those who did not participate, the number would likely be below 500.

Among the total of 10 levels of Geomryongwi (劍龍位), Ogeomryong is positioned in the middle in terms of rank, but in terms of actual skill distribution, it is concentrated in the front three-quarters. In other words, those with skills Ogeomryong or higher constitute only a quarter of the nearly 2,000 disciples.

Looking at the participation distribution across the four categories of the Samseong Mujae, the Geomseongjeon (劍聖戰) attracts the largest number of participants. While not reaching 50% of the total participants, nearly 40%, or 128 individuals, flock to the Geomseongjeon. This is because there are many people who practice swordsmanship in the orthodox sects.

The Geomhujeon has the fewest participants. Given the significantly lower proportion of female disciples, this is naturally understandable. For them, reaching Ogeomryong or higher is a distant prospect.

In summary, the total number of participants in this Samseong Mujae is 284, with 64 participants in the Samseong Daejeon. In contrast, the Geomseongjeon has a significantly larger number with 128 participants. The Geomhujeon, with the fewest participants, has 32, and the Dojeongjeon, the next smallest, has 50 participants each.

Calculating this, it is concluded that if Biryu Yeon is to win the Samseong Daejeon, he must win a total of seven battles. Since he has already won one, he needs to win six more battles to be crowned champion of the Samseong Daejeon. Winning one more battle after that would finally allow him to claim the overall championship of the Samseong Mujae. And Mo Yong-hwi would need to fight and win a total of eight battles, one more than Biryu Yeon, to win the Geomseongjeon. The path is more arduous due to the larger number of participants.

Both of them have only just taken their first steps. The road ahead is still long and arduous.

Despite the long and arduous path, like traversing endless mountains… the problem is that they are completely unaware of it. This makes those around them feel pity.

"Keeek!"

Biryu Yeon's second opponent, Jo Yeon-il of Muyeonggak (無影脚), also collapsed after being hit on the back of the head with Biryu Yeon's Mokgeum. It was the exact same spot where his first opponent, Dan Pyeong, was hit. This is evidence of his lack of attention and negligence in gathering information about his opponent.

However, the victims of Mokgeum did not stop at two. As if to prove that the previous embarrassing performance (from Hongran's perspective) was intentional, and to show that his victories were not solely due to luck, the number of Mokgeum victims continued to increase.

Jin Pae of Yongajo (龍牙爪), the third opponent, seemed to be paying close attention to the back of his head, having watched the first two matches. This is a display of his will to avoid ending up in a pathetic heap like his predecessors. However, it was merely a dream.

"Cough!"

Jin Pae had to double over in pain as if his internal organs were twisting. Biryu Yeon's Mokgeum had precisely struck him in the gut. He hadn't even seen it coming, and before he knew it, it was lodged in his abdomen.

His Yongajo (龍牙爪) was disarmed before it could even bite its prey, akin to having its teeth pulled.

"Hooook!"

The condition of the third opponent, Il-yeon of Shaolin Temple, was even worse.

He had to roll his eyes back with the pain of his jaw being crushed.

Biryu Yeon's Mokgeum, now seriously questionable whether it was a musical instrument or a weapon, sprang up from beneath his chin like a mirage. He had been prepared to defend against it, but as if mocking his preparations, it leaped up from below. Like a lever… The Shaolin 72 extreme arts had no chance to shine. He, too, was helpless against Biryu Yeon's unconventional attacks that defied common sense.

And the fourth!

"Thwack!"

"Kwaaak!"

A strange scream erupted from the martial arts arena.

"Again?"

"It's happening again!"

"Tsk tsk! What is going on… Even Eonga-yeong of Paphungchang (破風創) from Jinju Un-ga, whom we thought impossible, was defeated so easily!"

Everyone watching clicked their tongues and offered their comments. Mun Il-gi of Hwasan Bicheon-eung, who was watching, also had a slight grimace on his face. It was a great relief that Hongran was not present. The Celestial Sound Nun, Hongran, had chosen not to attend, claiming that if she witnessed such a sight one more time, she might fall into a state of spiritual deviation. Her decision was wise.

"Ah! I did it again! I've gone and done it again. Tsk!"

Biryu Yeon said with a bitter tone. Ah! Who would believe him if he cried out that it wasn't intentional?

Eonga-yeong of Paphungchang (破風創) from Jinju Un-ga, who had been the object of much anticipation, lay sprawled out, eyes rolled back. Not even half a measure away from where he had fallen, the famous Eonga Mokchang lay like a useless stick. Once separated from its owner's hand, it now held no more value than a stick.

Biryu Yeon's mouth felt bitter. This was not what he had originally planned.

Even so, as he was known for his internal energy techniques, would it be so bad to win by skillfully employing them? None of the people defeated by Biryu Yeon in previous matches had fallen due to refined internal energy techniques. They had all endured powerful blows to their backs, abdomens, or jaws before collapsing and losing consciousness.

Therefore, it is true that he had never actually used his internal energy techniques. This had become quite a topic of conversation. There were even rumors that his martial art might not be internal energy techniques but rather a "kyeukgeum-sul" (擊琴術, strike-the-zither technique), and he had even earned the rather ungraceful nickname "Unsu Daetong Kyeoktagyeum" (運數大通擊打琴, great fortune strike-the-zither) from his past battles. While not a widely known fact, overshadowed by Mo Yong-hwi's prowess, if the Celestial Sound Nun Hongran had heard it, she would have flown into a rage.

Who would stop this crude and disheartening winning streak?

The public's attention turned to Biryu Yeon's next opponent, a figure expected to bring a more dignified martial arts tournament. They believed he possessed the sufficient ability to halt Biryu Yeon's absurdly fortunate winning streak.

Palbi Singum (八臂神劍), Jeon Okgi!

This was the name of Biryu Yeon's next opponent.

Palbi Singum (八臂神劍), Jeon Okgi, was a 15th-generation disciple of the Chang sect (點蒼派) and had lived a life without any regrets until now. He firmly believed that this would continue in the future.

He entered as a direct disciple of one of the Nine Great Sects, a prestigious lineage, and learned the secrets of martial arts, inheriting part of their profound knowledge to possess martial arts skills that left nothing to be desired. His epithet, Palbi Singum (八臂神劍), perfectly described his swift and flamboyant swordsmanship. How much flamboyant and versatile swordsmanship would one need to display for their arms to appear as eight?

Furthermore, he entered the Cheonmu Academy, a place envied by all martial artists, and has now passed the difficult promotion exam to become a Yukgeomryong. Therefore, he had little to regret. Moreover, his pride was equally high.

He had one incurable disease, a severe condition also known as the "Heaven and Earth, Only I Am Honored" syndrome, or "prestigious lineage superiority disorder." The symptoms of this disease included extreme arrogance in the patient, a strong aversion to associating with those from humble origins (those whose origins were unknown or who did not belong to a major sect were often considered humble by disciples of prestigious lineages), and a tendency to look down on them.

Therefore, he naturally looked down on Biryu Yeon.

To him, who inherited the pure bloodline of a prestigious lineage, Biryu Yeon was merely a lucky first-year prodigy. Naturally, he was more than 120% confident in his victory.

He said to himself:

'That fellow is merely a simple first-year prodigy. He can never defeat a prestigious disciple like me…'

He paid no attention to how Biryu Yeon had managed to win the previous four matches. Biryu Yeon's fighting style was merely something to laugh about or a story frequently used to spice up conversations at drinking establishments.

Indeed, the attention of discerning Cheongwan-do disciples was all focused on Qinghen and Mo Yong-hwi. All their conversations were about them.

Furthermore, with so many people around encouraging him to "crush" Biryu Yeon, who was disrespecting the Samseongje, Jeon Okgi had become quite arrogant. Moreover, after Biryu Yeon had acted as if he knew Na Ye-rin in the first match, he had become the enemy of almost all men.

This might have given Jeon Okgi the courage to act so presumptuously. Of course, he was completely unaware of it himself.

The incident occurred the day before Biryu Yeon's fifth match.

"Then I'm counting on you! Hahahaha!"

"Of course, of course! Just leave it to me. Is a mere nobody of unknown origin not worth a punch! How dare he defeat me, a disciple of the Great Chang sect! The stage of winning by luck alone is long past! To think that such a fellow has reached the fourth round… The rumors that the level of this Samseong Mujae has significantly dropped must be true!"

Holding a wine glass in one hand, he was excitedly clinking glasses with the various people surrounding him. This was Jeon Okgi, a late-stage disciple of the Chang sect, renowned as a potential future sect leader. This place was a restaurant called Songpungru (送風樓), quite well-known in the Nanchang restaurant industry.

"Haha! My friend! You are truly magnanimous. I'm counting on you tomorrow. Do you know how much money I've lost because of that guy so far? It's not just me; many friends have had their plans ruined because of that brat! Who would have expected Paphungchang (破風創) Eonga-yeong to break his spear so easily!"

"It was a coincidence, a coincidence! That brat was just lucky. From what I heard, Paphungchang Eonga-yeong must have sustained severe internal injuries in the previous match! Don't you all know? His opponent right before was Yi Hak-rim of Chuyeongsinbu (追影神步)."

As Jeon Okgi spoke, everyone's faces changed to expressions of "As expected." Finally, they had heard an explanation they could understand and accept, so they were satisfied.

"Exactly! That must have been it. I thought he lost too easily to the brat in the last match… So that was the situation! Facing Chuyeongsinbu (追影神步), whose movements are as swift as a ghost, it's no wonder. Aren't their skills closely matched!"

As a burly man who drank like a bull said this, everyone nodded with looks of understanding. In fact, the match between Eonga-yeong and Yi Hak-rim had taken place three weeks before the match with Biryu Yeon. With proper recuperation for that period, most injuries could be healed. Isn't that why the Samseong Mujae proceeds for such a long period of six months? Yet, none of them truly believed Biryu Yeon had won by skill.

They were all busy belittling Biryu Yeon's skills, attributing his victory to the wounds sustained from Yi Hak-rim.

"Are you saying it's too much to hear? You have no eyes!"

Suddenly, the laughter that filled the drinking party vanished as if wiped away. Those who had been gossiping intensely now looked with sharp eyes toward the direction of the impudent voice.

"Who are you?"

A handsome young man with two intersecting bands on his forehead proudly announced himself. He wore a pair of twin swords crossed on his back, identical like twins.

"I am Hyoryong."

Ignoring Jeon Okgi's glare, Hyoryong calmly met his gaze. Jeon Okgi scanned Hyoryong, who stood composed before him, as if assessing him, and then spoke.

First, he determined that this person was not a disciple of the Nine Great Sects. His method of identifying someone he saw for the first time was by their background. This was one of his absolute judging criteria. Secondly, he was not part of the Eight Great Families. Great prestigious sects or the Eight Great Families, such as these, always had a unique mark indicating their affiliation. Whether it was a character or the color of their clothing, there were no exceptions. Jeon Okgi himself wore a purple martial arts uniform as a disciple of the Chang sect.

Since Hyoryong bore no markings, he concluded that he must be a disciple of a trivial sect of no consequence.

Next, he thought, "This is why they are no good, these plebeians without prestigious lineage."

"From what I see, you're a first-year student. Don't you think it's too arrogant to interrupt when your seniors are speaking?"

At Jeon Okgi's condescending attitude, Hyoryong's eyes narrowed like blades. A faint, mocking smile played on his lips.

"Then, is it appropriate for a distinguished senior like yourself to engage in such slander in front of me? Don't you think that's truly embarrassing for a junior to witness?"

Hyoryong's words were as confident as they were unyielding.

"Who do you mean by 'myself'?"

Jeon Okgi's voice rose, as if challenging him and asking who dared to be so presumptuous.

"Then who is that person sitting over there?"

Hyoryong pointed his finger towards the spot where their group was sitting. There sat Jang Hong, quietly observing the situation, and beside him, an anxious Yun Jun-ho, and then, oblivious to the unfolding events, Biryu Yeon, busily devouring chicken. Biryu Yeon, still engrossed in dismantling food even as trouble erupted.

Jeon Okgi's expression turned awkward. He hadn't expected him to be right there. In his drunken state, he hadn't noticed Biryu Yeon and his group arriving midway.

It was unbecoming of a prestigious disciple to speak ill of someone when they could hear it.

"Ryūyeon! Say something too!"

Hyoryong turned to Biryu Yeon and spoke, but could only wear an expression of disbelief.

"Mmm, num. Mu-ga…, mari…? *Chews*"

Biryu Yeon's mouth was full of food, and his tongue was so preoccupied with savoring the flavors that he lacked the spare capacity for speech.

"Since the person concerned has nothing to say, we shall take our leave. If you have something to say, say it on the martial arts stage! If you have the courage! Hahahaha!"

Then, with an attitude that implied he didn't need or value permission from someone like Biryu Yeon, they left the establishment in a group. Hyoryong, deflated by Biryu Yeon's absurd behavior, had no strength to prolong the situation. Thus, the confrontation was somehow postponed, and Jeon Okgi's group, feeling a slight pang of guilt, also left the establishment.

"That's why those uncouth individuals are no good! A man without pride…"

Even as they walked away, they couldn't resist muttering something. It wasn't like Biryu Yeon and his group would miss that. It was clearly said intentionally to be overheard.

"Aren't you angry? How can you so calmly eat and digest food? Do you think eating is more important than the insults you've suffered from those guys?"

Hyoryong, with a flushed face, questioned Biryu Yeon, turning to him abruptly. He was boiling with rage. How dare those insignificant beings, beneath contempt, act so arrogantly based on their pathetic backgrounds! He was so incensed that he confronted Biryu Yeon.

It was just a moment of anger, but Biryu Yeon's reply was a masterpiece. Hearing it, Hyoryong let out a hollow laugh of disbelief and couldn't hide his frustration.

"Of course! Jang Hong and Hyoryong, these two friends, bought me a lavish dinner as a celebratory gesture. Wouldn't it be a waste not to eat it quickly? If I get into an argument with those guys and my food portion decreases, that would be a real disaster. I should thoroughly enjoy this rare, proper meal! Such extravagance is rare…"

Biryu Yeon, still wholeheartedly focused on his meal, spoke nonchalantly.

He couldn't believe it, but it was true that the chicken feet he was eating were more important than settling a score or saving face. This was a way of thinking completely unthinkable for a martial artist.

In fact, this dinner was prepared by Jang Hong and Hyoryong to celebrate and encourage Biryu Yeon's consecutive victories.

However, while he was diligently focusing on his meal, he overheard a conversation that piqued his interest. He looked up and saw seniors disparaging Biryu Yeon, their junior and opponent in the tournament. So, Hyoryong had stepped in. He felt apologetic to Biryu Yeon for having to listen to such slander while he was invited for encouragement.

Yet, here was the person himself, indifferent to the situation, engrossed in eating, while a third party was getting worked up!

"Why did you stay silent? You're not the type to do that. Do you have something else on your mind?"

Hyoryong asked, looking at the empty seats where Jeon Okgi and his group had been sitting and gossiping about Biryu Yeon. If he remained silent after hearing such things, he would be branded as spineless. Of course, as far as Hyoryong knew, Biryu Yeon was not that kind of person at all. In fact, his silence was more astonishing.

"Mmm, yum! Well, my bones might ache a bit tomorrow… Anyway, that kind of fellow isn't even worth a post-meal snack! They looked flashy on the outside, but there was no substance… I don't even have much to chew on… I wonder if their bones are strong…"

Watching Biryu Yeon, who was happily chuckling and diligently gnawing on chicken feet, Hyoryong asked with a puzzled look. There was something in his words that struck a chord.

"Are you talking about the chicken feet you're gnawing on, or about that guy who just left?"

"Who knows? Heh heh…"

Biryu Yeon's casual grin and evasive answer made him seem oddly likable to Hyoryong.

On the day of the martial arts competition! Jeon Okgi, who appeared confidently at the arena, felt a sense of unease that tugged at his nerves.

Jeon Okgi sensed that the atmosphere was somehow strange.

First, what caught his eye was a group of 17 martial artists gathered around Biryu Yeon.

Except for one person, he recognized all their faces. In fact, they were so famous at the Cheonmu Academy that it was impossible not to know them.

'Why are they here? Why are they here?'

They were people far more famous than himself these days. Of course, he didn't think they were significantly inferior in skill, but their fame was undeniably different. Regrettably, he had to admit that. No matter what anyone said, they were the most attention-grabbing "New Dragons and Phoenixes" at the Cheonmu Academy.

They were not the kind of people who would attend a match between someone of his skill level and a mere prodigy from a humble background. Of course, as far as he knew, that was the case.

'Why are they gathered around that brat like this? Could their purpose be this brat…? '

Suddenly, his eyes widened. A thought, like a slap to the back of his head, flashed through his mind.

'Could it be… a junior disciple?!'

If that were the case, he absolutely could not let his guard down. Merely having such a friendly relationship with the Zhuque Clan meant that this brat needed to be watched. This was the limit of Palbi Singum Jeon Okgi's imagination. It was a very logical progression of thought, but… if he could have imagined it, he would have been considered crazy. Without even needing a sanity check.

However, Jeon Okgi saw something he shouldn't have. If he hadn't seen it, or if he could pretend not to have seen it, his heart would have been at ease. But it was already irreversible.

"Hah! What… what is that?! Am I seeing things?"

He rubbed his eyes a couple of times out of suspicion, but nothing seemed amiss. Then, what was that just now?

Unfortunately, Jeon Okgi witnessed Biryu Yeon inadvertently striking the head of Namgung Sang, the Thunder Sword Dragon, one of the Nine Dragons and leader of the Zhuque Clan, with a refreshing blow. After seeing that scene, he thought that this brat was surely finished, but Namgung Sang, who had been hit on the back of the head, was simply grinning, unfitting for his reputation and skill!

Jeon Okgi rubbed his eyes two or three times just in case, and even pinched his cheek, but found no visual impairment, and the stinging pain from his grabbed cheek made him realize it wasn't a dream.

'Then what exactly did I witness with my own eyes just now?'

Innumerable question marks swirled violently in his brain, but there was no logical conclusion to be found. So, he decided to pretend he hadn't seen it. Surely, it was just a hallucination due to the pre-match tension.

"It must be a mistake… Hahaha!"

However, no matter how much he tried to self-hypnotize, his laughter was completely devoid of its usual vigor.

The reason the entire Zhuque Clan was summoned to this place today was very simple and clear. It was under the grand(?) pretext of cheering for Biryu Yeon's matches.

Biryu Yeon's argument was that since they couldn't participate, they might as well cheer. The Zhuque Clan, unable to refuse due to force and oppression, had no choice but to shout out their cheers like a forced marriage.

Looking back, the root cause of the Zhuque Clan's inability to participate in this Samseong Mujae could be traced back to the person sitting there: Biryu Yeon himself. He had incited the conflict between the Qinglong Clan and the Zhuque Clan, thus preventing their participation in this Samseong Mujae. However, they couldn't bring themselves to refuse.

What excuse could the poor Zhuque Clan have against Biryu Yeon, who unhesitatingly brandished his fists and declared, "What kind of law in any country dictates that disciples do not cheer for their senior brother on his competition day?"

And so, they found themselves in the position of being Biryu Yeon's cheering squad for every match. As a result, sometimes the Zhuque Clan members drew the attention that should have been on the martial arts stage. No one understood why they were there.

But what could they do! It was the sorrow of the powerless.

Would the day ever come when the Zhuque Clan members would be free from being Biryu Yeon's playthings? Perhaps never.

There are many fools in the world. This was Biryu Yeon's conclusion after observing Jeon Okgi today. How could someone be so foolish? It was truly perplexing.

Did having the banner of a prestigious sect disciple somehow double the muscles? Or did it double the hardness of their bones? There were no benefits. It was simply that they possessed accumulated techniques through profound teachings, and these were faster and more useful compared to what others had.

No matter how hard they tried, their banner or background alone would not transform them for free. Yet, some idiots often mistook this. Jeon Okgi was one of those fools. Even now, despite the signal for the match to begin, he was insultingly pointing at him. Indeed, he was a person who desperately needed character education.

"What is with that hair? Are you looking down on me right now?"

Jeon Okgi's index finger pointed at Biryu Yeon's bangs, which cascaded down, covering his entire eyes. His long bangs were considered an act of disrespect.

"I'll cut it if necessary. Or you can cut it if you have the ability. But I doubt there's a need to cut it for this match."

Biryu Yeon said with a smile, his red lips visible beneath his flowing bangs. Biryu Yeon had never felt the need to cut his bangs in front of anyone before. Moreover, he had received a request from his master, the old man, whether he liked him or not.

"Are you out of your mind, daring to shackle the eye-techniques, the very essence and lifeblood of martial arts? What is your reason? Are you disrespecting me, a direct disciple of the Great Chang Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects?"

Jeon Okgi suddenly shouted. He felt utterly disrespected by a brat of unknown origin. This was something that could never happen within the scope of his imagination.

"You really like the character 'Great,' don't you? Do the Nine Great Sects feed you? Why do you keep bringing up the Nine Great Sects and prestigious great sects since yesterday? It's annoying!"

Hearing Biryu Yeon's messy and indifferent reply, Jeon Okgi's face turned crimson with rage.

"Shut up, you're noisy! All you have is a sharp tongue. Quickly state your reason, or I'll cut you down."

Cut me down? If you're confident, go ahead and try. Biryu Yeon simply ignored him.

'Reason? Come to think of it, I probably started growing my bangs from that day…'

His long bangs began from a rather insignificant place.