Chapter 4 : A Genius Above Geniuses. -02

Chapter 4: A Genius Above Geniuses. -02

However, the sense of disappointment vanished in an instant.

Instead, shock settled into Namgung Gwang’s eyes.

Just moments ago, Ban Hojin’s sword had not even come halfway out of its scabbard.

Yet at this very moment, it was Ban Hojin’s sword that had deflected his sword thrust.

‘At what moment!’

Faced with a sight he could hardly believe even as he watched it happen, Namgung Gwang’s eyes widened until they were as large as lanterns.

However, unlike his startled expression, his right hand gripping the sword remained nimble.

The instant it was blocked, he twisted the sword’s trajectory and stabbed again.

Clang!

But once more, Ban Hojin deflected Namgung Gwang’s sword.

This time as well, exactly like before, he pushed aside the sword tip with his own sword tip.

Outwardly, it looked like an unbearably sluggish movement, yet the precision was enough to make ghosts wail.

More than anything, Namgung Gwang was most shocked by the fact that his sword had been perfectly deflected.

‘D-does he see my sword?’

Namgung Gwang wore an expression of disbelief.

Although the Thirteen Lightning Sword Thunders was not the strongest sword technique of the Namgung Family, it was still a supreme technique that collateral lines were forbidden to learn.

Aside from the Emperor’s Sword Form and the Azure Vault Unfettered Sword Technique, it was a sword art that placed itself above any other sword skill of the Namgung Family.

And yet Ban Hojin was repelling that Thirteen Lightning Sword Thunders—the Thirteen Lightning Sword Thunders, counted among the fastest sword techniques in the Central Plains—with absurd ease.

‘So it wasn’t just an empty rumor.’

After a brief moment of surprise, Namgung Gwang soon formed a satisfied smile.

His skill was greater than expected, but only up to that point.

It was shocking that he could counter with such precision, but that did not mean Namgung Gwang was being pushed back.

Moreover, he had yet to go all out.

‘From now on, it’ll be different!’

Namgung Gwang’s expression grew serious.

In truth, Namgung Gwang had been inwardly underestimating Ban Hojin.

Because he saw no demeanor befitting a master, he had unfolded the Thirteen Lightning Sword Thunders rather than the Azure Vault Unfettered Sword Technique.

He had thought there was no need to bring out the Azure Vault Unfettered Sword—Thirteen Lightning Sword Thunders would be more than enough.

Wooooong!

But now, it was different.

Realizing that Ban Hojin’s level was higher than expected, Namgung Gwang finally responded properly to the spar.

And Ban Hojin noticed it as well.

“Hoho.”

Even in the face of Namgung Gwang’s energy, which was clearly different from before, Ban Hojin smiled.

It was because Namgung Gwang’s thoughts were plainly visible to him.

No, just by looking at his stance, Ban Hojin could tell.

That Namgung Gwang was about to unfold the Azure Vault Unfettered Sword.

Shaaeeek!

Just as expected, Namgung Gwang’s sword momentum expanded grandly and surged toward Ban Hojin.

It was the Azure Vault Unfettered Sword he had seen quite often in his previous life.

Aside from the Emperor’s Sword Form, it could be called the Namgung Family’s greatest sword technique, but unfortunately, the level of mastery was sorely lacking.

Whether it was the profound essence or the true intent of the sword art, Ban Hojin might not have known them, but the sword paths themselves were familiar to him.

Clang! Clacka-gang! Clang!

Thus, just like at the beginning, Ban Hojin did not feel particularly tense.

No, rather, he swung his sword so casually it almost looked half-hearted.

And yet, the strange thing was that he did not allow a single one of Namgung Gwang’s attacks through.

Grit!

Despite the sluggish swings, Ban Hojin’s defense blocked the sword paths and trajectories with ghostly accuracy, and Namgung Gwang ground his teeth.

He was wearing an expression completely different from before.

That was how suffocating it felt to Namgung Gwang.

And he could not believe it.

‘How could this be!’

Namgung Gwang’s pupils shook violently.

At first, it had been simple curiosity.

Along with that, there had also been a small desire to surpass the long-standing axiom that all martial arts under heaven came from Shaolin.

If it was someone of a similar age, he thought that if he were to defeat Ban Hojin—said to be the greatest talent in Shaolin’s history—it might be possible to shatter that axiom, even if only a little.

Claaang!

But Shaolin was Shaolin.

And the rumors were true as well.

Ban Hojin’s talent was the real thing.

Going beyond striking first after the opponent moved, Ban Hojin’s swordsmanship was clearly on a higher level than that.

Clang!

They had already exchanged dozens of moves, yet Ban Hojin had not missed his sword even once.

He countered every single sword tip precisely with the tip of his own sword.

No matter where Namgung Gwang’s sword was, no matter where it aimed, he never failed to catch it.

That did not mean he knew the Azure Vault Unfettered Sword Technique.

‘……He’s predicting it. It makes no sense, but.’

Namgung Gwang bit down on his lower lip until it bled.

He did not want to believe it, he did not want to acknowledge it, but there was no other explanation.

At the same time, he could not understand it.

Considering Ban Hojin’s age, it was a level that simply made no sense.

Clench!

Once his thoughts reached that point, Namgung Gwang’s concentration began to waver.

Once stray thoughts found an opening, they kept coming one after another.

Even so, Namgung Gwang had not yet given up.

“Shall we?”

“Yes?”

“Aren’t you thinking about sword force?”

“H-how did you know?”

“I’ll give you time. Since we’re doing this anyway, we should do it without regrets.”

Namgung Gwang’s eyes opened wide.

It was because Ban Hojin saw straight through him.

And so, without realizing it himself, Namgung Gwang came to a halt.

“……Thank you for your consideration.”

However, his deliberation was brief.

If the spar ended like this, as Ban Hojin said, it would feel far too regrettable.

Even if he lost, he felt that if he poured out everything and was defeated, there would be no lingering regrets, so Namgung Jin formed a half-palm salute instead of a palms-joined salute and assumed his stance.

Then he drew up all the power of his dantian.

“I-it’s Sword Thread Force!”

As Sword Thread Force—considered the entry point to Sword Energy Becoming Force—burst forth from Namgung Gwang’s sword, the rising juniors watching from afar cried out in amazement.

After all, sword force was practically a symbol of a peak master.

Judging by his realm, it seemed as though he had only just set foot into it, but considering Namgung Gwang’s age, even that much was astonishing.

“Indeed, the Heavenly Dragon!”

“He’s not the head seat of the Four Dragons for nothing!”

Even among those at the same Peak Realm, the difference in level was said to be like heaven and earth, but a peak master was still a peak master.

A peak master was someone capable of slaughtering dozens of first-rate warriors, so most of the rising juniors looked at Namgung Gwang with eyes filled with envy and jealousy.

The gazes of the many women grew hazy as well.

However, none of those voices reached Namgung Gwang’s ears.

Gulp!

With all his senses focused on his sword and on Ban Hojin, Namgung Gwang swallowed.

That was how concentrated he was—he did not even blink.

Yet even after Namgung Gwang raised sword force, Ban Hojin’s expression did not change in the slightest.

From beginning to end, there was ease on his face.

“……I’m coming.”

“Come.”

“Haaap!”

Their positions were completely reversed from the start.

Nevertheless, Namgung Gwang had no choice but to acknowledge it.

Because his pride was strong, he could not help but clearly recognize the opponent’s skill.

The Ban Hojin before his eyes was not just some ordinary rising junior, but perhaps a destined rival he might have to compete against for his entire life.

Shaaeeek!

That was why, unlike before, Namgung Gwang went all out.

He poured everything he had into this single sword strike.

And he wanted to see it.

Ban Hojin’s expression with that ease wiped away.

Kuuung!

Unfortunately, however, it seemed that day was not today.

He unleashed a strike containing everything, yet once again it failed to reach Ban Hojin.

Ban Hojin’s sword had blocked his sword midway.

“……I’ve lost.”

“You worked hard.”

He had expected it to some extent, but he had not imagined it would be stopped so futilely, and Namgung Gwang’s expression became hollow.

Of course, it was not as though he accepted defeat without resistance.

At the moment of collision, Namgung Gwang drew up all his strength and pushed his sword forward.

He had intended to force Ban Hojin’s sword aside with sheer strength and attack again.

But in the end, Namgung Gwang failed.

No matter how hard he pushed until his face turned bright red, Ban Hojin’s sword did not budge.

“I learned a lot.”

“So did I.”

He acknowledged his defeat, but that did not mean his fighting spirit was gone.

Rather, a feeling of frustration burned more fiercely than ever.

Still, Namgung Gwang did not show it.

“May I request another spar next time?”

“That’s something we can discuss when the time comes.”

At the gentle refusal, Namgung Gwang once again became aware of his defeat.

At the same time, he felt a sense of frustration he had not experienced in a very long time.

It was like standing at the summit of a mountain only to slip and be pushed back down.

Yet strictly speaking, the place where he had been standing was never truly the summit.

“Since you didn’t outright refuse, I’ll read the room and make the request again later.”

“Do so.”

“W-wow!”

After replying briefly, Ban Hojin turned his body.

Since his business was finished, he was about to leave.

But even that appearance looked incredibly impressive to Jeong Hyeon.

The sight of lightly subduing Namgung Gwang, who was called the Heavenly Dragon, was exactly the image Jeong Hyeon had dreamed of.

“Huh!”

On the other hand, Oh Jung-geon was shocked for a different reason.

He had expected Ban Hojin to be no ordinary figure, but he had not imagined the gap would be this great.

Ban Hojin had displayed a level that was literally on a different plane, leaving Oh Jung-geon unable to close his mouth.

And the rising juniors who had been watching felt the same way.

“Who is he?”

“Does anyone know him?”

“It looks like Young Master Namgung knows him.”

“Wouldn’t Young Master Zhuge know?”

Even with the Three Phoenixes gathered in one place, the moment the spar ended and Ban Hojin strolled away, the rising juniors began to murmur.

The gazes of the women, in particular, were unusual.

All of them watched Ban Hojin’s retreating figure with sparkling eyes.

And among them were the Three Phoenixes as well.

Trickle.

Even though it was the dead of night with darkness settled all around, a woman dressed not in sleepwear but in white robes quietly poured tea alone in her room.

It was as if she were waiting for someone.

-It’s me.

“Come in.”

At that moment, a familiar voice transmission reached her ears.

Soon after, the window opened without a sound, and a masked man dressed in black entered the room.

Despite his cold tone that matched his impression, the masked man in black seemed unconcerned and prostrated himself before the woman.

“What did you find out?”

“They say he is the second disciple the Abbot took in during his later years. However, peculiarly, he is not a registered disciple but an unregistered disciple.”

“An unregistered disciple? Doesn’t that mean a lay disciple?”

“That’s correct.”

“And yet they passed on martial arts of that level?”

The woman’s delicate brows furrowed.

No matter the sect or martial family, it was the same everywhere—there was always a distinction between true mountain disciples and lay disciples, between direct lines and collateral lines.

Some called it discrimination, but from the perspective of a sect leader or family head, it was inevitable.

Blood was thicker than water, and arms naturally bent inward.

“They say his talent was exceptional, but he had no affinity with the Buddhist path, so he was not entered into the monastic registry.”

“So it means his talent is that extraordinary. Well, just looking at today’s spar with Young Master Namgung.”

At her subordinate’s answer, the woman nodded slowly.

Just from today’s spar alone, it was clear what kind of talent he possessed.

No—more precisely, even she could not measure it.

The martial accumulation that the man named Ban Hojin had built up.

“According to what my subordinates found, he is learning the Three Dharma Swords.”

“The Three Dharma Swords, hm.”

The expressionless woman, Tang Seorin—known in the world as the Poison Phoenix or the Poison Ice Flower—slightly widened her eyes.

That was because she, too, knew a little about the Three Dharma Swords.

Moreover, since it had not revealed itself for the past two hundred years, Tang Seorin’s eyes gleamed.

What represented Shaolin was the Seventy-Two Ultimate Arts, but those were widely known.

Among the lesser-known martial arts, there were many that surpassed the Seventy-Two Ultimate Arts.

The Three Dharma Swords was one of them.

“They say he has studied at Shaolin for about thirteen years, but spent most of his time solely in a private training chamber, so even the First-Generation Disciples don’t know much about him.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes.”

The masked man in black lowered his head awkwardly.

There was nothing more to say.

“How about the other places? For example, the Namgung Family or the Zhuge Family?”

“Like us, they are also looking into Young Master Ban Hojin.”

“As expected.”

Tang Seorin nodded.

It was exactly as she had anticipated.

But since she herself was no different, she did not say anything more.

“Shall we report this to the Family Head as well?”