‘Well, what a rude person.’
So-ah was annoyed.
Not only because of his rude behavior of speaking informally out of the blue, but also because the hostility in Jong Jin-do’s eyes was so blatant.
“I’ve never heard the name Jong Jin-do before. Leaving everything else aside, if you’ve come to see someone at this late hour, isn’t it normal to state your identity first and then your business?”
At that, Jong Jin-do’s eyes wavered.
‘To be able to remain calm even after receiving my aura! Is he really not a pushover?’
But if So-ah had read Jong Jin-do’s thoughts, he would have snorted.
Because Jong Jin-do’s aura had no effect on So-ah, like a passing breeze.
“What a cheerful brat.”
Jong Jin-do curled up the corners of his mouth.
As expected, he was not ordinary.
Even a well-known martial artist would not ignore an opponent like this at their first meeting.
But for Jong Jin-do, who had the rough masculinity and fiery temper of a man from Hainan, this was not rude.
“I am the first disciple of the Haenam Sect, the second instructor of the White Martial Academy. Are you really telling me you don’t know why I’ve come to see you?”
Only then did So-ah realize the reason for Jong Jin-do’s visit and his intentions.
‘I knew it.’
Since it was something he had already expected, So-ah instead extended his hand with a sly smile and said.
“Ah! You’re an instructor like me. Then we’re colleagues, so let’s shake hands, shall we? My name is Jin So-ah of the Moyong Family.”
‘This brat who hasn’t even shed his baby fat!’
Jong Jin-do’s face turned red and blue with anger at So-ah’s calm and composed appearance.
“I don’t want to exchange jokes with you.”
“Huh? I wasn’t trying to exchange jokes with you either.”
“You bastard!”
“Whyyyy!”
“…”
Jong Jin-do, who could no longer bear it, drew his sword from his waist.
***
—So-ah, the second instructor of the White Martial Academy, Jong Jin-do, is a man with a nasty temper. It’s famous that people from Hainan are rough, but on top of that, his innate temper is also like shit! Anyway, he might pick a fight with you openly, so be careful.
So-ah had heard such words from Eun Min-min.
Therefore, he had thought that Jong Jin-do would pick a fight in some way, but he was also bewildered because he had not expected it to be on the first day.
But that bewilderment soon turned into a firm resolve.
The moment a sharp sword light emanated from the sword that Jong Jin-do had drawn, So-ah’s intention to yield completely disappeared.
“Hmm… Great Hero Jong, do you really have to draw your sword?”
“What did you say?”
“You’ll regret it…”
“You really want to die!”
“I don’t show mercy to people who try to intimidate or torment me. I’m of the opinion that I should stomp on them so that they can never crawl back up again. Of course, it was also my grandfather’s teaching.”
“Your arrogance pierces the heavens. Good! Today, I will make you realize the fear of Hainan. Follow me!”
Jong Jin-do, with his sword drawn, turned away.
Although So-ah couldn’t see it, the corners of his mouth were raised.
‘This is good. The arrogance of this mangy colt pierces the heavens, so I have found a justification. I’ll make him piss his pants!’
Jong Jin-do thought it was rather a good thing.
He was also a member of the Orthodox Faction.
If So-ah had maintained a polite attitude, it would have been difficult for him to be so stubborn.
Of course, So-ah was also inwardly rejoicing.
‘Things are going easily. Huhu.’
***
The place where Jong Jin-do took So-ah was a deserted open space.
The total site and area of the White Martial Academy were almost the same as the Martial Alliance General Office, and there were still such open spaces here and there that had not yet been completed.
“Now! Kid, come at me. As an elder of the martial world, I will yield three moves to you.”
“I don’t think that’s necessary. Although I’m young, I’m not in a position to receive a concession from the first disciple of the Haenam Sect, am I?”
“What?!”
“Think about it. My grandfather, who can be called my master, has a higher seniority than the current head of the Haenam Sect, right? Then at the very least, my seniority should be considered the same as yours or even higher… am I wrong?”
“Die, you crazy bastard!”
Jong Jin-do’s eyes flipped.
His fiery temper paralyzed his reason.
But the sword moves that unfolded from his hand were as cold and sharp as could be.
‘Fast!’
So-ah was briefly surprised by Jong Jin-do’s unexpectedly swift first attack.
But that was all.
So-ah completely escaped Jong Jin-do’s sword path just by moving his body back a few steps.
“You have good eyes!”
But Jong Jin-do’s sword did not stop.
A light sound of something cutting through the air.
At the same time, Jong Jin-do’s sword scattered a hazy sword ki.
“You made me use the Half-Step Purple Mist Sword, so I’ll admit that you’re not a pushover!”
It was truly a dazzling and powerful sword strike filled with experience.
The Half-Step Purple Mist Sword was the essence of the Haenam Sect, and it was heavily influenced by Japanese swordsmanship. As such, it was fast and sharp, and all its moves were killing moves suitable for a single-strike kill.
‘Crazy! Is he really going to kill me?’
So-ah could not hide his surprise.
No matter how aggressive a person Jong Jin-do was, he had never dreamed that he would actually perform a killing move in such a ki fight.
Hundreds of sword shadows covered his body in an instant.
So-ah could no longer escape Jong Jin-do’s offensive just by taking a few steps back.
So-ah performed the Swift Whale Steps.
At that, his body leaped backwards as if it were a spring.
‘Ah! His martial arts are at a heaven-shaking level, so it was by no means a falsehood!’
Jong Jin-do exclaimed inwardly.
At a glance, the prowess of the Swift Whale Steps was at a level that would naturally draw admiration.
“Amazing! I praise you… huh?”
But his admiration did not last long.
Grabs!
“You… are you crazy?”
Because So-ah had caught his sword, which was filled with the aftermath of the sword ki, with his bare hands.
Swish!
‘???’
Jong Jin-do’s mind became hazy with the repeated absurdity.
It was unbelievable enough that he had caught the sword, which was filled with experience, with his bare hands, but as if that wasn’t enough, wasn’t So-ah pulling the sword in the opposite direction?
And at the same time, he fiercely grabbed Jong Jin-do’s collar.
But his hand was so fast that Jong Jin-do could not defend himself at all and had to give up his collar.
“Am I crazy?”
Boong!
For a moment, Jong Jin-do felt a sense of floating.
“No. I’m not crazy.”
Hwirik!
And then, when Jong Jin-do’s head was turned to the ground and his legs to the sky…
‘Ah!’
“The crazy one is you, mister.”
He realized the bleak fact that any further action was useless.
“Keuk!”
The Taesan Yeokrip!
Among the Ten-Second Invincible Arts, the Taesan Yeokrip, which corresponded to a standing grappling art, was performed.
Jong Jin-do really couldn’t do anything.
In the first place, there were not many martial artists of the brawling type who did not use a weapon against a swordsman, and even if there were, there were almost no empty-handed brawling arts of the grappling type like the Taesan Yeokrip in the entire Jianghu.
So how could Jong Jin-do defend against the Taesan Yeokrip?
“Ugh…”
The explanation was long, but the time it took for So-ah to evade the sword shadows of the Half-Step Purple Mist Sword with the Swift Whale Steps, block Jong Jin-do’s sword with his bare hands, grab his collar, and flip his body to slam him to the ground was truly in an instant.
Jong Jin-do’s heart was filled with misery.
But…
“Keueoeoeoeo!”
His groan continued again.
So-ah had no intention of letting Jong Jin-do off this easily.
“Mister. When you draw your sword and perform a killing move, you should at least be prepared to die yourself. Do you understand?”
So-ah stomped on the head of the fallen Jong Jin-do.
“S-Stop…”
“Aww! What are you talking about? It’s just the beginning.”
Thwack!
Thwack, thwack!
Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!
And so, for a while, a tremendous sound of hitting filled the open space.
***
“I am showing you mercy, especially.”
“M-Mercy… you say…?”
Jong Jin-do almost shed tears.
After losing his will to fight with a single blow of the Taesan Yeokrip, the number of times he had been beaten by So-ah would be at least over 100.
But he said it was mercy.
Mercy.
Perhaps he had misunderstood the word “mercy”?
But from So-ah’s perspective, it was mercy.
Originally, So-ah had a good heart, but since he was a child, he had been brainwashed by Moyong Cheon with the creed, ‘When someone tries to torment you, you must make them pay a greater price so that they can never crawl back up again!’ So, at least to his enemies, he was a god of misfortune.
“You should know the ways of the world at that age. You drew your sword and even performed a sword ki to kill someone, but you weren’t prepared for that? Don’t tell me? Is the world that easy?”
“You… you…”
“What? Are you angry again? Shall we have a second round?”
So-ah snapped at Jong Jin-do.
Jong Jin-do had no choice but to lower his head.
Drip, drip!
Tears fell.
Rather than feeling ashamed or miserable, he just felt sad.
Then he replayed this unbelievable event one by one.
‘That brat’s martial arts… at the very least, even an elder from our sect would have a hard time handling it!’
That’s right.
Jong Jin-do’s Half-Step Purple Mist Sword had achieved a proficiency of over 7 stars.
The fact that he had been beaten to a pulp in a single move proved that So-ah’s martial arts were not inferior even compared to the elders of the Haenam Sect.
“I lost…”
Jong Jin-do, in his mid-thirties, realized that there was a realm beyond the heavens in the world, and that common sense did not apply in the place called the martial world.
“I can’t believe it… how can you show such an achievement at your age…”
Jong Jin-do muttered, looking at So-ah with a desolate gaze.
Seeing Jong Jin-do, whose eyes were swollen and whose nose was crushed, So-ah’s heart softened for some reason.
“Mister.”
“…”
“Unbelievable things happen countless times in the world. You’ve never seen a Ghost Demon Jiangshi, have you? Of course, you’ve probably never seen a crazy master like the Twin Demon Geezers either. Anyway, that’s how it is. So, live with your temper down. Don’t look down on people just because they’re young. For your information, there are people who are about the same age as me but are stronger in martial arts. If you carelessly point your sword at such a person, it will be hard to survive.”
“Are… are you really saying that there is someone among your peers who is stronger in martial arts than you?”
“Yes.”
“Who is it?”
“The young cult leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, Wi-ji Chan. Brother Chan is probably stronger than me. A person like you would probably be blown away with just a huff~.”
“Ahem… ahem… still, being blown away with just a huff~ is a bit…”
Jong Jin-do, feeling embarrassed even in this situation, let out a dry cough.
Just then, So-ah extended his hand to him, who was sitting down.
“Let’s cut to the chase! This ends the pleasantries, right? Let’s finish it coolly, like men, without any hard feelings. For your information, if another unpleasant incident happens, I won’t just stand by either.”
You bastard, you’re not just standing by enough as it is!
Jong Jin-do was about to say that, but he didn’t want to lose any more face, so he grabbed So-ah’s hand and got up.
‘Ugh…’
As he got up, his whole body ached.
It seemed he would have to find a doctor who was skilled in orthopedics and recuperate for at least a fortnight.
“Young Brother So-ah…”
Jong Jin-do’s tone had changed completely.
“Yes.”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Please keep this a secret.”
“Why?”
“Please! I beg you. If this gets out, not only will I not be able to work as an instructor at the White Martial Academy, but I might even be expelled from the sect. Imagine if it gets out that I challenged a nineteen-year-old boy out of childishness and was beaten to a pulp without even being able to land a single blow. That can’t happen… I’d rather you kill me!”
“Do you really want me to kill you?”
“Ah… no, that’s… not what I meant, you person… Young Brother So-ah…! No, Brother! I’ll serve you as my older brother. So please! I’m a person for whom pride is more important than life!”
Jong Jin-do pleaded, as if he were about to cry.
And why wouldn’t he?
Not only was he famous for his nasty temper, but he was also a person who would show off at the drop of a hat, so if such a humiliation were to be known to the public, he might really commit suicide.
“Alright. Let’s keep it a secret. A man’s word is!”
“Worth a thousand gold pieces! Young Brother So-ah… thank you so much! Thank you so much!”
“Huh? You said you’d serve me as your older brother?”
“Yes, Young Brother So-ah! Thank you… huh?!”
(End of Chapter)