Chapter 85

Chapter 84. Who wants to duel? You're dead now. (4)

"Yaaaaah! What are you doing?!"

Seeing Baekcheon running towards him at a mad speed, Cheongmyeong looked up at the sky with a dazed expression.

Ha.

Oh, my fate.

Without a moment's hesitation, Baekcheon rushed at Cheongmyeong and swung his sword.

But, this guy is using a real sword too?

What's with these White Boat guys and their real swords? They always draw their real swords and start a commotion over anything.

Even as he thought this, Baekcheon's sword flew threateningly towards Cheongmyeong. The sword, imbued with a powerful aura, glowed a deep blue as it aimed for Cheongmyeong's shoulder.

Even with his eyes completely wild, he aimed for a non-vital spot, which was acceptable.

However.

"Even if you imbue it with sword qi, I'll die anyway! You lunatic!"

Cheongmyeong kicked the incoming sword with his foot.

Clang!

The sword, imbued with sword qi, clashed with his foot, and surprisingly, a metallic sound rang out. Unable to withstand the force, Baekcheon was sent rolling backward.

"Huh?"

Baekcheon, who had quickly gotten up, looked at Cheongmyeong and his sword with disbelief. The incident had happened so quickly that he couldn't even understand how he had been deflected.

"Tsk."

Cheongmyeong clicked his tongue and quickly checked on Yuisul. Given that a loud noise had erupted while she was in a state of wu-wo (no-self), it was clear that...

"Is she okay?"

Normally, such a loud noise would have been enough to break her concentration, but Yuisul remained in a state of wu-wo.

This kid is slow.

Too slow.

But now, thanks to her slowness, he had an advantage. The experience of a swordsman entering a state of wu-wo is not common.

In the martial arts, it is referred to as 'tak-gak' (shedding the shell), which means transcending one's self and reaching a new level. It is a crucial moment for a martial artist.

If she had been broken out of wu-wo by this collision, she would have regretted it for the rest of her life.

"You! What are you doing? Don't you know how important a moment wu-wo is for a martial artist?"

Do you know that and still act like this?

Cheongmyeong stared at Baekcheon with wide eyes.

I thought you were angry.

"Disturbing someone in a state of wu-wo! Even if you lack common sense, there are things you can do and things you can't! You insolent fool!"

Baekcheon glared at Cheongmyeong with a murderous look.

"I may not have a good opinion of you, but I never thought you were so despicable as to interfere with someone in wu-wo! I should have corrected your behavior long ago!"

Cheongmyeong sighed deeply.

No, man. I didn't disturb her; I helped her.

Of course, how would you know that? It's all my fault. My fault for being so capable.

I understand, but it doesn't sound good.

"Would someone who knows that draw a sword and attack?"

"What did you say?"

"What if that precious wu-wo gets hurt?"

"If you hadn't counterattacked...!"

"Die?"

"..."

Cheongmyeong's blunt response left Baekcheon flustered.

'Are all the White Boat guys lunatics?'

The world is usually dominated by normal people, with a few lunatics mixed in. But it seems that the ratio of lunatics to normal people on the White Boat is reversed.

So far, among the White Boat people Cheongmyeong has spoken to, there hasn't been a single normal person.

If Yoon Jong were here, he would have said, "A dog with fleas will bark at another dog with fleas," but what can you do when he's not here?

"Would I kill you?"

"You were full of killing intent."

"..."

"That's because it was so urgent."

"You even drew sword qi."

"..."

Baekcheon's face, which had been twitching as he listened to Cheongmyeong, suddenly froze.

Wait a moment.

Cheongmyeong was right. He had been full of killing intent and had drawn sword qi. But how could this guy be completely unharmed?

No one else but Baekcheon had delivered a powerful blow, and this guy had deflected it without any effort.

"Step back from your senior sister!"

Baekcheon's face hardened, and he spoke firmly.

"I won't ask what you were doing. But put down your sword and step back now. If you don't, you will face me not as a junior, but as a martial artist."

That's fine with me.

Cheongmyeong's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"..."

Wow, that's exactly what I wanted.

"Until the end, this guy..."

Baekcheon gritted his teeth.

Empathy is needed. If you put yourself in his shoes, you can understand why Baekcheon is angry. From his perspective, something that shouldn't have happened is happening.

So, he should have backed off here.

The problem is...

Cheongmyeong licked his lips and subtly turned his head.

'If I just tweak this a bit more, something huge will come out.'

Yuisul is currently experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime enlightenment. Although it seems random, enlightenment often comes unexpectedly.

Some people spend their entire lives meditating and never achieve enlightenment, while others find it while eating a meal. It's not something you can achieve through effort or desire.

It's a matter of fate.

And the greatest miracle Yuisul has achieved is not entering wu-wo, but having Cheongmyeong by her side when she did.

When someone enters wu-wo, they forget themselves and become completely absorbed in the sword. During this time, they may transcend their known techniques and reach higher levels.

Therefore, no one should interfere with someone in wu-wo. If they are not properly prepared to handle the new techniques, it could lead to serious consequences.

But who is Cheongmyeong?

He is a grandmaster who understands all the sword techniques of Huashan and has reached a level that no one else has. Although he hasn't yet manifested it in this body, his understanding of Huashan sword techniques is unparalleled in the history of Huashan.

Thus, he can intervene in Yuisul's wu-wo and guide her sword to a higher level.

'Why did this guy show up!'

It's awkward to guide her in front of others. If something goes wrong, it could become a huge mess.

Cheongmyeong glanced at Yuisul and licked his lips.

'What can I do? It's your luck.'

Although a skilled person is needed to lead Huashan, Cheongmyeong doesn't dwell on what he can't change. But...

'Beating the guy who made me miss the boat is a different matter.'

Cheongmyeong, who had moved a few steps away from Yuisul, glared at Baekcheon.

"Done?"

"More."

"Tsk."

Cheongmyeong moved two more steps away from Yuisul.

"Done?"

"..."

Are you playing with me now? Step back properly. I won't let you harm your senior sister.

"Who's harming who? You're the one causing harm."

"You?"

Baekcheon's response, filled with anger, left Cheongmyeong speechless as he looked up at the sky.

'Are these guys so hung up on formal speech?'

Yuisul was like this, and now Baekcheon is the same. If Confucius were here, he would immediately take them as disciples.

"Yes, senior. The problem seems to be with you."

Baekcheon glared at Cheongmyeong with cold eyes.

"I tried to understand your arrogance."

What?

After making a fuss and trying to escalate the situation, now he's acting like a gentleman... Ah, this is also his style. Anyway, why did such a person enter the Daoist temple?

"But my patience has its limits. And there are people in the world who don't understand words."

"Wow..."

Cheongmyeong's exclamation made Baekcheon frown.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, nothing. I'm just amazed."

"What?"

"You wouldn't understand even if I told you."

After a hundred years, how can the same words that the senior brothers used come out?

- There's no point in talking to that guy.

- It's faster to recite the Daoist scriptures to a cow or a chicken than to discuss the Dao with him.

- If he can't fight, he won't talk.

People are all similar.

If not, Cheongmyeong wouldn't have changed in a hundred years.

Cheongmyeong, smiling mischievously, received a sharp response from Baekcheon.

"Draw your sword. I will teach you what manners are today."

"Will it be okay?"

"You!"

"No, no. It's not that... Just, you're too quick-tempered."

Cheongmyeong's joke made Baekcheon narrow his eyes.

"What do you want to say?"

"No, I'm just worried. As a senior, wouldn't it be embarrassing to fight with a junior?"

Baekcheon chuckled.

"Are you still thinking about your reputation? The seniors and elders won't protect you. They can't protect you at this moment. You'll face the consequences later."

"That's a rare manly statement."

Cheongmyeong nodded.

"But I have a better idea. Do you want to hear it?"

"..."

"What are you up to?"

"No, it's not that. Let's make a pact. We won't tell anyone about the fight here."

"What?"

Cheongmyeong smiled.

"I won't tell the senior masters even if I get beaten. A man can't run to them and complain about losing a fight, right?"

Baekcheon looked at Cheongmyeong with a strange expression.

'What is this guy thinking?'

After confirming his expression, Baekcheon said sternly.

"You're trying to get out of this situation. Do you think I'll let you off now? You... "

"No, that's not it."

Cheongmyeong sighed in frustration.

"Let's just forget about the senior and junior, the sect, and all that. Let's just have a clean fight. No hard feelings. It's better for both of us."

"..."

"If we make a pact, I won't tell anyone, no matter what happens to me. If I break the pact, I'll do whatever you say. The same goes for you. What do you think?"

Baekcheon smiled subtly.

"At least you have some manliness. Fine. If that's what you want, I'll make a pact. I won't tell anyone about what happens here."

From Baekcheon's perspective, there was no reason to refuse this offer.

The most awkward part of beating up Cheongmyeong was the involvement of the Yunja Boat and the Xianja Boat. If Cheongmyeong, protected by them, ran to the senior masters and complained, it would be a hassle.

But if he could eliminate that awkwardness himself, there was no reason for Baekcheon to refuse.

However, he couldn't shake off a lingering unease.

"Then it's a pact."

"Yes, the same goes for you."

"Alright. I'll make a pact."

Baekcheon slightly raised his sword and pointed it at Cheongmyeong.

"I'll acknowledge that you have some manliness. In this duel, I am not your senior, and you are not my junior. I will use this duel to settle all the bad feelings I have towards you. You... "

"Duel?"

At that moment, Cheongmyeong's sarcastic voice cut off Baekcheon's words.

Baekcheon looked at Cheongmyeong with a puzzled expression.

'What?'

And then