Chapter 9

Chapter 8: A 'Clan' Like 'Clan' (2)

Although Baek Muho would immediately start making silly jokes and teasing me as soon as we met, I knew.

Baek Muho is a martial artist.

I, who once admired and yearned for martial artists, considered him the most ideal talent as a martial artist.

I didn't envy or resent Baek Muho with a shallow heart, but I often felt a deep sense of envy.

Baek Muho, who learned martial arts from Baek Jin-sung, a renowned lay disciple of the Huashan Sect, was a prodigy who practiced the martial arts of the Nine Great Sects from a young age.

It was one of the reasons I decided to leave for Wudang Sect, one of the Nine Great Sects, to study.

Having experienced Wudang Sect, even if only superficially, I became more clearly aware of something.

How much of a prodigy Baek Muho was.

He didn't want to be a main disciple and spend most of his life tied to the mountains, but if he so desired, he could easily become a main disciple of a place like Huashan Sect.

No, the term "prodigy" might be more fitting than "talent."

Baek Muho was the real deal. He was the kind of existence that made countless talents, who grew up hearing they were geniuses, seem ordinary, and instilled a sense of self-loathing in those who were proud of their own talents.

Therefore, this confrontation held a special meaning for me.

I heightened my senses and saw Baek Muho through the new power, Qingjing.

I saw Baek Muho extending his hand to greet me.

What I "saw" was not just Baek Muho's movements.

I "saw."

I saw the flow.

From the motion of Baek Muho extending his hand, I could see where and how it would extend, and the trajectory it would draw appeared in my mind like a line.

What I saw was the present, but when it entered my mind, it painted a picture of the future.

The image of Baek Muho a moment later lingered in my mind like an afterimage, so easily.

In the past, when Baek Muho displayed his martial arts, I could only watch in awe.

The Lanhua Fushan Shou (Disordered Flower Repeated Scattered Hands), which Baek Muho's father, Baek Jin-sung, modified based on the Huashan Sect's Meihua Sanshou (Plum Flower Scattered Hands), is a martial art that emphasizes flamboyance, fitting for a sect rooted in Huashan.

When a master of the Plum Flower Scattered Hands performs it, the surroundings are filled with the shadow of their hands, showcasing the art's emphasis on change.

The Lanhua Fushan Shou, created based on this change-filled martial art, shares similar characteristics.

From Baek Muho's perspective, it seemed he was displaying this martial art to subdue me without causing harm.

I "saw."

I saw a world I couldn't see before.

I saw beyond that.

It was as if the outcome was already decided.

A martial art that only excels in change is at a disadvantage when its changes can be read.

I placed myself within those changes.

In the blink of an eye, his movements brushed past me two or three times.

After intense training, one feels as if their bones have disappeared. The same applied to me during this intense training. Naturally, his movements were fast.

But I extended my hand to where I wanted it to go.

And it reached its destination.

In the gaps between his flamboyant movements.

Like a snake's waist slipping through a bamboo forest, my hand easily grabbed the fabric near Baek Muho's elbow.

"Huh?"

When a martial art emphasizes change, the fastest-moving part is the fingertips, the end of the movement. Only when they move quickly and powerfully does the art appear flamboyant.

Then, what part looks the slowest?

The center.

The center that supports the flamboyant changes.

In a person, this would be the joints.

For example, the elbow.

Therefore, true masters do not easily expose their center, their weak points. If the nature of the martial art makes this difficult, they use footwork to hide it, compensating for the weaknesses with their agility.

Whether Baek Muho had not reached that level or was simply careless and did not use it, I couldn't tell.

To shake me off, Baek Muho stepped back and shook his arm, but I didn't stubbornly hold on. Instead, I moved in sync with his retreat.

When the opponent steps back, I step forward; when they push forward, I step back. Like interlocking gears, I aligned myself with the opponent.

Master Zhang Sanfeng's words spread in my mind, perhaps because I was excited.

Baek Muho's expression of surprise at my movement, which clung to him like a heavy burden, was clear.

I finally revealed my movement at that moment.

Grab and shake.

If a gap appears in between.

'Throw.'

Even a thousand-pound rock can be toppled by a child's strength if its balance is shaken.

I slipped into the gaps of Baek Muho's movements and exploited them.

The result was clear.

"Is the sky blue?"

I asked, looking at Baek Muho, who lay on the ground with a dazed expression.

A scene I couldn't see while looking down at my fallen opponent.

Baek Muho, who had momentarily lost his composure, let out a short breath like a laugh and replied.

"Ha! It's incredibly blue, you bastard."

Though he laughed, a hint of competitiveness was evident in his response.

Baek Muho is a good guy, but he is also a martial artist. He doesn't easily enjoy defeat.

"Ugh!"

As if to show that being thrown to the ground was nothing, Baek Muho got up with a flip and picked up a stick of appropriate length from the surroundings.

Since we were inside a mansion, there were a few sticks used in daily life nearby.

Baek Muho, holding one of them, took a stance.

"Shall we do this properly?"

The Huashan Sect is a prestigious lineage. The martial arts they are famous for are not the same as those of Shaolin or Wudang, which emphasize equal rights.

Sword (劍).

The Huashan Sect is a prestigious sword school.

The true value of Huashan martial arts is revealed only when a sword is wielded.

Though it was just a stick, Baek Muho's determination to do this properly was different from before.

I clicked my tongue, having thrown him so smoothly.

'Not now.'

Baek Muho, wielding sword techniques, is a different story.

If my body were in good condition, it might be different. But not now.

In my exhausted state, it would be difficult to catch up even if Baek Muho used footwork to maintain distance.

But Baek Muho, with his competitive spirit ignited, didn't seem likely to back down easily.

"Do you really need to use a sword against someone who's tired?"

"Just one hit, just one."

He seemed determined to swing it to get it out of his system.

I decided to use my trump card.

"Why don't you look over there and talk about it?"

"What's over there...?"

As I pointed to the side, Baek Muho instinctively turned his eyes in that direction.

Baek Muho froze like a statue.

There, his younger brother Qingwu was looking at him with teary eyes, as if asking, "Are you going to hit me, big brother?"

"Wow, really..."

Baek Muho, who had frozen like a statue, finally lowered his arm.

"You've become quite evil while I was away... huh?"

Baek Muho, who couldn't bring himself to swing what he held, turned his head back to me and noticed a change in my appearance.

"Why are you shirtless?"

"Because I told you."

In response to Baek Muho's question, I laughed as evilly as possible.

"To taste the sweat."

And I pressed my rolled-up shirt into Baek Muho's face.

"Ah! You're crazy!"

"Close your mouth and hold your breath. If you breathe and scream, it will be more painful."

"Hey! Ah! Sigh! Ah!"

Baek Muho repeatedly screamed and held his breath, overwhelmed by the violent taste of sweat.

Yes, this is the taste of sweat extracted from the back, Muho.

Masters Zhang Sanfeng and Dharma seemed to enjoy my evil side, laughing heartily.

***

Baek Muho, who had been thoroughly beaten by Lian Qingyun, walked home with his hair disheveled, muttering to himself.

"Ah, damn. It still smells."

Baek Muho blew his nose. He still felt something lingering in his nostrils.

It was as if the smell was tickling his brain like a feather tickling his foot.

Feeling the lingering scent, Baek Muho cursed Lian Qingyun a few more times before his expression changed.

"But, that guy has gotten stronger, hasn't he?"

Honestly, he never thought Lian Qingyun would be that strong.

Lian Qingyun hadn't been at Wudang Sect for very long.

It was an absurdly short time to achieve anything.

Even from the perspective of Baek Muho, who prided himself on his talent, it was the same.

Despite his young age, Baek Muho's skills and talents were recognized, and he had already set out on his journey at a young age.

He had only come to see Lian Qingyun now because he had just returned from his journey after being away for quite some time.

Baek Muho's skills were something he could be proud of.

Even if Lian Qingyun was called a genius, given the time he spent training, he shouldn't have been able to touch even a hair on Baek Muho's head.

Some might laugh at the idea of a lay disciple's son having confidence in his martial arts, but his parents were not ordinary people. Though unknown to the world, Baek Muho's parents were far from being mere lay disciples.

But he was shattered in front of Lian Qingyun.

"It wasn't a coincidence, was it?"

The first thought that came to mind was, of course, the most convenient one for himself.

He was careless.

It was the simplest explanation to think that way. He did have a bit of a carefree attitude.

However, considering that Lian Qingyun was quite exhausted at the time, it was a rather petty excuse.

Baek Muho was not a narrow-minded person. He didn't distort what happened right in front of him, even if it hurt his pride.

"But, why was that guy kicked out of Wudang Sect?"

Not completing the required period and returning early meant he was kicked out. When Baek Muho first went to see Lian Qingyun, he intended to comfort him.

Until he was thrown to the ground, that was his intention.

"Such a guy should have been kept. Has Wudang Sect become outdated?"

The conversation naturally turned into a criticism of Wudang Sect.

By the time he reached his house, he had already seen a rare sight.

A beauty, who could only be described as exquisite, was pacing near the entrance.

Baek Xueya, his sister.

Though she rarely went out, her beauty was unmatched. Even after traveling to many places, he had never seen anyone who could compare to her. She might even be considered the most beautiful woman in the world.

Even to someone who was surely his enemy in a past life, she looked that way.

Seeing his sister, who rarely went out, pacing outside the door, Baek Muho guessed the reason and smiled.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

As soon as Baek Muho spoke, Baek Xueya's steps stopped. Her gaze, which had been fixed, turned sharply towards him.

From her cold eyes, Baek Muho read the question, "Who?"

"I didn't come with Qingyun."

"Who asked?"

Baek Xueya's voice, which usually had a clear and refined tone, carried a cold and stern feeling.

Recognizing this immediately, Baek Muho smiled and said,

"Don't worry. He wasn't kicked out for peeking at Wudang Sect's female disciples bathing."

Baek Xueya's delicate face hardened at Baek Muho's words.

Her eyes were especially striking. They looked at Baek Muho as if he were a black, flat bug.

After a moment,

"Are you doing well?"

"I'm doing too well, to the point of trouble. Can't you see the dirt on my clothes? That guy threw me around."

"You?"

Baek Xueya's eyes widened for a moment but quickly returned to their usual cold expression.

With a hint of displeasure.

"Just a joke."

Thinking he was still making nonsense, Baek Xueya turned away coldly.

Watching her back, Baek Muho chuckled.

"Anyway, you pretend to be cold, but it's easy to see. Would you be surprised if you saw him directly?"

Imagining his sister, who would be as surprised as he was and lose her composure, Baek Muho chuckled again.

Then,

"Ah, I have a good idea."

He grinned, thinking of something.