Genius Martial Arts Trainer

Namgung Jin-cheon (3)

Right after the judge’s declaration of the winner.

“When will the next match be possible?”

Cheongsu Dojang, who had declared surrender, asked with sparkling eyes.

“Mm. Let’s arrange it after the Yongbongji Conference ends.”

“Hahaha. I look forward to it, Mu-jin Monk.”

Watching the happily smiling Cheongsu Dojang, Mu-jin struggled to hide his awkward expression.

‘It was a lie.’

He planned to escape after the Yongbongji Conference, so a match with Cheongsu would likely be far in the future.

After bidding farewell to Cheongsu Dojang, Mu-jin headed towards where the Shaolin disciples were gathered. Meanwhile, from among the Shaolin disciples, Mu-gung was making his way to the arena.

“See you in the finals.”

“…Don’t say such dreadful things.”

Mu-gung, with a horrified expression at the mere thought of a match with Mu-jin, sluggishly stepped onto the arena.

And on the opposite side, Namgung Jin-cheon ascended the stage with his usual indifferent expression.

‘He said he would use the middle sword, didn’t he?’

Facing Namgung Jin-cheon directly, Mu-gung recalled the martial arts Namgung Jin-cheon had displayed in his match against Jegal Jinhee a few days prior.

Meanwhile, Namgung Jin-cheon simply stared at Mu-gung with an expression devoid of any emotion.

“I am Mu-gung of Shaolin.”

“I am Namgung Jin-cheon of the Namgung Family.”

Right after the two men greeted each other with a bow and a fist salute, the judge signaled the start of the match.

At the same time, Namgung Jin-cheon drew his sword and, as always, began to press Mu-gung with the Chang-gung Mu-ae Sword Technique, the signature technique of the Namgung Family.

Mu-gung’s impression of Namgung Jin-cheon’s middle sword was simple.

‘I can’t see any way to evade it.’

Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword wasn’t particularly fast. In fact, in terms of speed, it was slower than many of the other swordsmen who had reached the finals of the Yongbongji Conference.

However, Mu-gung, known for his remarkable perceptiveness, instantly realized it. This sword, though slow, was a technique that could respond to the opponent’s movements.

A slow sword that simultaneously pressured all directions.

And the moment it clashed, it would use the profoundness of the middle sword to pin down the opponent.

But just because there was no way to evade didn’t mean there was no method to counter it.

‘I’m glad I listened to Mu-jin.’

Mu-gung began to employ the Tianxia Thirty-Six Swords technique of the Zhongnan Sect, which he had observed in the second round.

However, among those watching the match, no one recognized it as the Tianxia Thirty-Six Swords.

It was because Mu-gung’s version of the Tianxia Thirty-Six Swords had been altered by blending in the martial arts of Wudang and Shaolin, transforming it into something entirely different.

It was an unimaginable act, one only possible because he was a genius.

However, no matter how outstanding Mu-gyeong’s martial arts were, the gap in internal energy was too great.

Moreover, Namgung Jin-cheon had activated Balmo Se-su, fully mobilizing his qi. The difference in the amount of energy that could be exerted with each technique was extreme.

“Ha!”

Mu-gyeong could barely deflect Namgung Jin-cheon’s Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship. Naturally, he was forced into a defensive position.

* * *

Most of those watching the sparring on the martial arts stage had the same thought.

Just like in the third match, they believed Mu-gyeong would eventually exhaust himself defending against Namgung Jin-cheon’s relentless attacks and collapse.

Even Jegal Jin-hee had managed to block and deflect Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword dozens of times, only to lose when his strength was depleted.

However, there was a difference between Jegal Jin-hee and Mu-gyeong.

“If Jegal Jin-hee is a prodigy who combines effort with talent, Mu-gyeong is one of those rare geniuses you can count on one hand.”

Only Mu-jin believed that Mu-gyeong could dismantle Namgung Jin-cheon’s swordsmanship.

And when the two martial artists on the stage had exchanged over thirty moves, the flow of the sparring began to shift.

* * *

At first, the Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship seemed to apply pressure from all directions. But after blocking over twenty moves, Mu-gyeong started to notice the weaker points in the pressure.

“An opening!”

At a certain point, instead of just blocking or deflecting, Mu-gyeong began targeting these weaker points.

Whoosh!!

Finally, a situation arose where Mu-gyeong’s palm strike, evading the Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship, struck Namgung Jin-cheon’s chest.

It was a situation that could be called an unexpected turn of events.

Naturally, the thought of “Could it be?” arose in the minds of all those watching the sparring.

They wondered if, just like in the first match, the Shaolin disciple would defeat Namgung Jin-cheon, who was a favorite to win.

And for Namgung Jin-cheon, who considered himself a king, this was an unparalleled humiliation.

“To think you managed to wound me.”

For the first time, Namgung Jin-cheon, who had maintained a composed expression until now, looked somewhat angry as he raised his sword.

Suddenly, the atmosphere surrounding the martial arts stage changed.

“Consider it an honor that you made me use this.”

Ignoring any defense, Namgung Jin-cheon raised his sword high and then brought it down very slowly.

The Emperor’s Sword Style.

The ultimate technique of Namgung Sword Emperor, one of the Three Swords of the World, was being recreated by Namgung Jin-cheon.

Even though Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword moved slowly, Mu-gyeong was unable to counterattack or evade, as if he were nailed to the spot.

It was an unavoidable situation.

Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword moved slowly, but instead, Namgung Jin-cheon’s Qi wave dominated the entire area.

The Emperor’s Sword Form.

This martial art was created by Namgung Sword Emperor, the Supreme Elder of the Namgung Family and one of the Three Swords of the World, after feeling the limitations of the Namgung Family’s ultimate technique, the Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship. It was more a Qi-manipulating skill than a sword technique.

Even though the Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship was a heavy sword technique that pressed down on all directions, it was difficult to prevent someone with exceptional lightness skill from escaping.

Moreover, highly skilled martial artists could either block or deflect the Chang-gung Muae Swordsmanship.

However, how could an emperor chase a fleeing opponent recklessly, and how could anyone dare block an emperor’s sword?

An emperor is inherently a decision-maker. The subjects must simply follow the emperor’s decisions.

Thus, the Emperor’s Sword Form was a skill that channeled immense internal energy into a Qi wave to restrain the opponent.

It was a sword technique that executed a death sentence with a heavy sword imbued with vast Qi after restraining the opponent with Qi.

This was the essence of the Emperor’s Sword Form created by Namgung Sword Emperor.

And Namgung Jin-cheon, at the mere age of twenty-three, was executing this Emperor’s Sword Form created by the Namgung Sword Emperor.

Of course, he had only mastered the first form, the Emperor’s Heaven-Shaking Stance, but what did that matter?

No one among the Post-Heaven stage could withstand the Emperor’s Heaven-Shaking Stance of Namgung Jin-cheon, who possessed overwhelming internal energy for his age.

Furthermore, Mu-gung, who was worthy of the title “genius,” also immediately grasped the essence of the Emperor’s Sword Form.

This was because the essence of the Emperor’s Sword Form was achieved through an extremely straightforward and blunt method.

The problem, however, was…

“…there is no way to escape.”

Since it was a brute force suppression with internal energy, there was no appropriate solution.

To be precise, all the solutions that came to mind required immense internal energy.

Eventually, Mu-gung, who discarded countless plans from his mind, chose one method.

A direct breakthrough.

As soon as he made up his mind, the flow of internal energy starting from Mu-gung’s danjeon created a fierce Qi wave, concentrating on his fist.

This was the Vajra Exorcising Devil Fist, one of the seventy-two supreme techniques of Shaolin, which he had diligently trained under his master, Hye-geol, to avoid being defeated by him.

Thus, it was the ultimate technique he could perform most ‘perfectly’ in any situation.

The golden fist Qi of the Vajra Exorcising Devil Fist condensed around Mu-gung’s fist.

And the moment Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword reached right before Mu-gung’s nose…

Mu-gung unleashed the maximally condensed fist Qi toward Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword.

Boom!!

At the moment when the sword imbued with immense Qi and the fist Qi collided, a massive explosion erupted.

With a storm of dust, Mu-gung’s body was propelled through the dust storm, flying out of the martial arts stage.

Thud!

However, instead of taking an out-of-bounds loss, Mu-gyeong used a Qinggong technique to stop at the edge.

Mu-gyeong never thought he could block the Emperor’s Sword Form with the Vajra Exorcising Devil Fist. The difference in their internal energy was too great.

Mu-gyeong merely aimed to disrupt the energy wave of the Emperor’s Sword Form through the collision, and seizing the moment when the energy wave was disturbed, he used the shock to escape the shackles of the Emperor’s Sword Form.

“Cough.”

However, the price of escaping the Emperor’s Sword Form was too high.

His energy pathways were completely shaken, causing blood to seep from his mouth, and his eyes to become bloodshot.

Despite this, his mind constantly analyzed Namgung Jin-cheon’s martial arts to find a way to counter them.

The will to win and the impact of his shaken energy pathways drove Mu-gyeong into Qi Deviation.

Snap!

Barely regaining his balance, Mu-gyeong rushed at Namgung Jin-cheon again, fully exerting the Yeontae Gupum.

Even though his twisted energy pathways caused blood to flow up his throat again, Mu-gyeong didn’t care.

No, he couldn’t even perceive it.

Mu-gyeong’s bloodshot eyes, filled with murderous intent, only targeted Namgung Jin-cheon’s heart.

“Do you wish to die?”

Seeing such blatant killing intent, Namgung Jin-cheon also disregarded the fact that this was the Yongbongji Conference arena and unleashed his killing technique.

Just as the murderous martial arts of the two warriors were about to clash,

Bang!!

A figure suddenly stepped onto the arena and blocked both their techniques.

The man blocked Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword with his right hand and Mu-gyeong’s Vajra Exorcising Devil Fist with his left hand, despite the blood.

“What the?”

Surprised by the sudden intervention, Namgung Jin-cheon frowned and asked, but Mu-jin, who intervened in the fight, paid no attention to Namgung Jin-cheon.

Mu-jin released Namgung Jin-cheon’s sword with his right hand and turned to strike the back of Mu-gyeong’s neck with his left hand.

“Ugh…”

Right after Mu-gyeong collapsed with a groan, the referee, regaining his composure, spoke in a perplexed tone.

“Mu-jin, why did you intervene in the match?”

“Amitabha. It seemed that Mu-gyeong fell into Qi Deviation due to internal injuries, so I moved urgently. I apologize.”

“…Qi Deviation, you say?”

“Yes. It seems urgent treatment is required, so I moved to stop the match first. We of the Shaolin Temple acknowledge Mu-gyeong’s defeat. May we move him for treatment?”

“Hmm. If it’s Qi Deviation, it’s crucial to start treatment quickly.”

As soon as the referee granted permission, Mu-jin picked up the bleeding and collapsed Mu-gyeong.

“Wait.”

However, Namgung Jin-cheon, who had suddenly had his duel interrupted, grabbed Mu-jin.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“I already explained the situation. It’s Qi Deviation, so please understand the urgency.”

Mu-jin’s behavior, showing no interest in him from the moment he intervened in the duel, oddly irritated Namgung Jin-cheon.

“That man dared to unleash a killing move on me. Do you think it’s reasonable to take him away like that?”

“The killing move was due to Qi Deviation, and I stepped in before he caused any more trouble.”

Needing to treat Mu-gyeong immediately, Mu-jin’s expression started to show signs of irritation as Namgung Jin-cheon continued to hold him back.

“We’ll likely meet in the finals anyway. If you have complaints, why not resolve them in the duel? In the final match, there won’t be anyone to step in and stop it like today. So don’t worry. I’ll be going now.”

Spitting out his words like rapid fire, Mu-jin used the Fast Ascent Step to swiftly leave the arena.

Namgung Jin-cheon tried to say something in response to the one-sided declaration, but Mu-jin had already exited the arena.

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