Chapter 46: You Wanna Go At It Now?


    Namgoong Su was having trouble blocking Myeong Il-Ohs flurry of attacks.


    <em>Whats going on? All of a sudden he!</em>


    It was shocking and confusing. In the blink of an eye, the new instructor candidate who couldnt even touch the hem of his sleeves transformed into a master martial artist capable of pushing him to his limits.


    CLACK CLACK CLACK CLACK!


    Wooden sword and wooden stick shed. The instant Namgoong Su lost a bit of his bnce, Myeong Il-Oh unleashed a fierce wave of blows.


    <em>Damn it!</em>


    He hadnt broken a sweat in over a hundred exchanges, but barely a dozen exchanges after Myeong Il-Ohs change in tactics, his back was drenched.


    <em>I cant let things continue like this!</em>


    Namgoong Su rooted his feet to the ground and brandished his sword, even though he knew that as long as he took a few steps back, he would be able to catch his breath and counterattack.


    His pride just wouldnt let him show even the tiniest hint of weakness or break the handicap he had put on himself: The imaginary circle. He hadnt dered the handicap out loud, but before the duels had started, hed already decided that the moment he left this circle, he would consider himself defeated.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    HAAA! For the first time, he shouted out loud to reinforce his conviction.


    SWISH!


    He drew arge, smooth circle with his wooden sword and perfectly deflected all of Myeong Il-Ohs attacks, which had been pouring down like rain.


    Myeong Il-Oh hurriedly stepped backward.


    WOAAAH! As expected of Mr. Namgoong!


    Yeah, you cant let it end like this!


    The instructors and students eximed in admiration at Namgoong Sus skill.


    However, Namgoong Su was not the least bit satisfied with the result. <em>He predicted what I would do and retreated out of my range</em>


    Originally, he had nned to counterattack immediately after blocking Myeong Il-Ohs flurry, but Myeong Il-Ohs retreat widened the distance between them, forcing him to abandon this strategy.


    Huff Huff Myeong Il-Oh coolly steadied his breath for the next round of exchanges.


    Seeing this, Namgoong Su finally realized that he was trapped by the imaginary circle of his own making.


    One more time! Myeong Il-Oh shouted before lunging forward once again.


    Unfortunately, Namgoong Su hadnt yet caught his breath and couldnt reply.


    TAKTAKTAKTAKTAK!


    Myeong Il-Ohs offensive was daring and relentless. Taking advantage of Namgoong Sus inability to move out of the imaginary circle, he darted in and out of his opponents reach.


    If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.


    SWOOSH! WHOOSH!


    At first, Myeong Il-Ohs distancing wasnt very precise, but as time went on, his attacks became more and more measured, as if he had Namgoong Supletely outmaneuvered.


    Contrary to Myeong Il-Ohs growing confidence, Namgoong Su felt as if he was being toyed around with. To make things worse, Myeong Il-Ohs weapon of choice was a staff, which had a much longer reach than Namgoong Sus sword.


    <em>Is this guy really the same person as before? Even if he had a hidden trump card, this is too much! Its as if someone else is controlling his body Wait, thats it. Someone is helping him!</em>


    The more Namgoong Su thought about it, the more convinced he became. Unlike before when he hesitated at every step, Myeong Il-Oh was now too confident, like he had stopped thinking and was just focusing on his footwork and attacks.


    <em>Even though his base strength and skill hasnt changed, he no longer has any wasted movements. That alone is enough to make a huge difference! But who the hell</em>


    WHOOSH!


    Without even looking, Myeong Il-Oh deftly turned his head to avoid Namgoong Sus sword. At that moment, Namgoong Su saw a young man about his age in the audience stand.


    <em>Baek Su-Ryong?</em>


    HEH.


    The moment their eyes met, Baek Su-Ryong grinned and Namgoong Su realized what was going on.


    CRACKLE CRACKLE!


    <em>SO ITS YOU!!!</em> Namgoong Sus body shook with rage and his eyes burned with unbridled fury, but unfortunately for him, that moment of inattention was a costly one.


    Where are you looking in the middle of a duel?


    !!


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    Neither Baek Su-Ryong nor Myeong Il-Oh missed the opportunity.


    WHIZ!


    In an instant, Myeong Il-Oh stepped into the imaginary circle, blocked Namgoong Sus wooden sword with his staff and kicked his calf, sending him tumbling backward. Facing the panicked Star Instructor, Myeong Il-Oh smirked. This is the end!


    He swung the wooden stick with all his strength and inner qi, even as Namgoong Su frantically raised his sword to defend.


    SMAAAASH!


    Namgoong Su fell on his back or so everyone thought.


    Myeong Il-Ohs only mistake that day was being too confident in his victory.


    What do you mean, the end?


    Namgoong Su was bent over backwards by the force of Myeong Il-Ohs final strike, but his back was still several inches off the ground. It was a position that required incredible bnce as well as ridiculous lower body and abdominal strength.1


    Im the one who decides Namgoong Su muttered as he stumbled back two or three steps, then rolled over and scrambled back to his feet.


    S-Shit!


    Myeong Il-Oh hurriedly retreated, but Namgoong Su had already filled his sword with inner qi.


    When this duel ends!


    BZZZZT!


    A dazzling white sword qi gathered around Namgoong Sus sword.


    Not long after we made the wager, a stunned Jaegal So-Yeong turned toward me. What on earth did you do? she asked.


    What do you mean? I answered innocently.


    Read this at , or else.


    Jaegal So-Yeong pointed at the two people fighting on stage. How on earth is Candidate Myeong Il-Oh pressuring Namgoong-hyung like that?


    He must have been hiding his skills. I shrugged and replied nonchntly even as I gave Myeong Il-Oh his next instruction telepathically.


    [Take one step left and block the shing from the right.]


    [Step backward, upper left block. Now, aim for the opponents thigh.]


    [Three steps to the right, then one forward. Thrust!]


    [Go all out! He cant reach you from there anyway.]


    Although he was sometimes slow to react, Myeong Il-Oh dutifully followed my instructions. Namgoong Su, on the other hand, was fighting at a huge disadvantage.


    <em>I think Ive figured out the limits of his imaginary circle. Dumbass, as long as he stays within that circle, he wont be able to unleash even half of his strength.</em>


    The reason I was able to fight the academy brats with such a handicap was not only because I had done the same training countless times in the past, but also because I knew that such a stunt was only possible because everyone was restricted to using only outer arts.


    It was a whole different story when inner arts were involved.


    <em>Too bad, you went and dug your own grave, haha.</em>


    I could see the panicked Namgoong Su getting increasingly desperate and agitated.


    WHIZ!


    The moment Myeong Il-Oh tilted his head to avoid Namgoong Sus sword, our gazes met, and I smirked with the intention of dealing him some mental damage.


    !!


    As expected, his face contorted into a grimace.


    I immediately sent a message to Myeong Il-Oh. It was time to quit ying around and finish this. A few more exchanges, and I would lose the fifty-round bet with Jaegal So-Yeong.


    [Lets end it with this attack.]


    SWOOSH!


    In one smooth movement, Myeong Il-Oh charged in, knocked Namgoong Su off his feet, and unleashed his most powerful downward m containing all of his remaining qi.


    SMAAAASH!


    I grinned and concluded, Its over.


    However, just as monkeys sometimes fell from trees, in life, unexpected things often  wees you.


    BOOM!


    Namgoong Su somehow blocked the staff while bent over backward and bounced back to his feet. Meanwhile, Myeong Il-Oh stepped backward in surprise.


    <em>Fuck, you should have kept charging at him with the intention of killing him, not back off!</em>


    So far, Myeong Il-Oh had done much better than I expected with my limited instructions. I would be satisfied even if he lost now, but what Namgoong Su did next waspletely unexpected even for me.


    ROOOOOOAR!


    A pure white sword qi coated Namgoong Sus de even as one of the instructors or students yelled, The Lightning Sword!


    The Lightning Sword was one of the famed techniques of the Namgoong n, the strongest among the Five Great ns.


    I immediately jumped on the stage, shouting, Stop, you crazy bastard!


    However, I was one step toote. Namgoong Sus sword qi exploded, dyeing the stage in a blinding white sh.


    AHHHHHHH! Myeong Il-Oh screamed as he was sent flying.


    I leapt into the air and gently caught him, thennded as lightly as I could.


    H-Hyung-nim Keuk! he coughed, spitting out blood.


    Dont talk.


    Myeong Il-Ohs injuries were severe. Splinters from his shattered wooden staff were embedded in various parts of his body, and his blood was flowing like a river.


    TAP! TAP! TAP!


    I quickly sealed his acupoints to stop further blood loss, but this was not an injury that could be cured with a day or two of rest.


    I-Is he okay? Jaegal So-Yeong asked, rushing to my side.


    Y arent you reading this at ?


    I handed the now unconscious Myeong Il-Oh to her, saying, His life isnt in danger. Can you help me look after him until the physician gets here? I need to have a word with the guy who did this.


    Leaving Myeong Il-Oh in Jaegal So-Yeongs care, I stood up and red at Namgoong Su. He was looking at me, too.


    Were you trying to kill him?


    Im sorry. In the heat of the moment, I unintentionally used Sword Qi, Namgoong Su gave me an apologetic look, but I knew it was an act.


    Youre sorry? Iughed as I swaggered onto the stage. Without realizing it, I was slipping back into my old Blood Cult habits. Do you think a simple sorry is enough? What if Il-Oh actually died? Are you still going to say sorry in front of his grave and call it a day? It must be nice, being from a good family.


    What more do you want from me?


    I stopped a few steps away from Namgoong Su. He met my gaze and didnt back down. With the unexpected casualty, the tension between us had reached a maximum.


    The eyes of the entire audience were on us.


    <em>You wanna go at it now?</em>


    I sized up Namgoong Su. Certainly, he was stronger than I had predicted, and perhaps he had even more tricks up his sleeve. However, the difference between us wasnt so great that I couldnt ovee it


    ENOUGH! A gravelly voice rang out, sending vibrations throughout the entire arena.


    It was Noh Gun-Sang.


    Candidate Baek Su-Ryong and Mr. Namgoong Su, please return to your seats. I will not tolerate any more disturbances.


    If youre seeing this, you are at the wrong ce.


    Neither of us moved, to the annoyance of the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva.


    Have the two of you gone deaf? Noh Gun-Sang scolded, then released his aura.


    ROOOOOOAR!


    Kkh


    Ugh


    Both I and Namgoong Su groaned from the overwhelming pressure, and even those in the audience were not spared from Noh Gun-Sangs wrath as many faces turned pale.


    This is myst warning. Both of you, please return to your seats, Noh Gun-Sang said sternly.


    Namgoong Su spun around, muttering under his breath, You got lucky today.


    I gave one final nce at the departing Namgoong Su, then slowly turned around.


    Why arent you reading this at northdetl?


    Somehow, I had a feeling that this was the start of a very, very long rivalry.<hr><ol><li role="doc-endnote">


    In other words, the limbo dance position.</li></ol>