Chronicles of the Mad Demon - Chapter 26

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 26. The Family’s Secret Place (1)

 

Swordsman Jong Hweon looked at Jin Gwang with bewildered eyes.

 

Jin Gwang wasn’t looking at him but at Moyong Bi. His gaze still held that unreadable expression.

 

Jong Hweon cautiously opened his mouth.

 

“Um… Squad Leader.”

 

He meant to ask what should be done about this situation.

 

More precisely, it was closer to asking him to stop that troublemaker Young Master. No matter how angry or annoying he was, wasn’t Moyong Bi still the Family’s Eldest Son? Moreover, his martial arts skills were terrible.

 

A sparring match, especially one with real swords, would inevitably be dangerous. After all, even Fire Sword Group members generally avoided real sword sparring among themselves, didn’t they?

 

Jin Gwang, who had been silently staring at Moyong Bi, unexpectedly nodded.

 

“Squad Members, make space.”

 

It was permission.

 

When Gwan Hyeon gestured to the Swordsmen, a space for just the two of them was instantly created.

 

Jong Hweon’s face became troubled.

 

‘Is this really okay?’

 

Even real sword sparring among Fire Sword Group members was done with predetermined limits. A mistake could result in permanent injury.

 

And he had to do such dangerous sparring with Moyong Bi?

 

‘If something goes wrong, this could be…’

 

Just then, Moyong Bi spoke with an irritated expression.

 

“Aren’t you overthinking this a bit too much?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I’m the one who suggested the sparring match and the Squad Leader already gave permission, so what are you so afraid of? What? Are you worried I might get stabbed by your sword?”

 

Yes.

 

Jong Hweon unconsciously cleared his throat. No matter what, he couldn’t openly voice his true thoughts.

 

Moyong Bi frowned and picked his ear with his small finger.

 

Blowing away the small bits of earwax that came out, he said,

 

“There’s not even a one in ten thousand chance I’ll get stabbed by your toothpick of a sword, so come at me with everything you’ve got.”

 

“T-toothpick?”

 

“If you don’t like toothpick, let’s settle on calling it a cow hair.”

 

At this point, even a saint would find it hard to endure.

 

Jong Hweon hardened his expression and raised his sword.

 

“Then, I shall learn from you.”

 

“Learn five or six moves while you’re at it. What use is learning just one move?”

 

Grind!

 

Jong Hweon gritted his teeth.

 

If nothing else, that mouth of his that infuriated people rivaled even a great demon lord who had mastered the World-Opening Demon Technique.

 

“Haaah!”

 

A resounding voice echoed through the Training Ground.

 

He took a low stance and held his sword at an angle. It was the Starting Stance of the Vertical and Horizontal Wisdom Sword, the Moyong Family’s basic technique.

 

It was a stance with proper power behind it. With a real sword in hand as well, anyone could see it was overflowing with intimidation.

 

Of course, not for Moyong Bi.

 

“Why are you sticking your butt out from the starting stance?”

 

“Grr!”

 

“What are you doing? If you’ve psyched yourself up, then attack.”

 

Jong Hweon kicked off the ground forcefully.

 

Thud!

 

His charging speed was considerable.

 

Even without using internal energy, he was quite fast. It meant his lower body was well-trained.

 

‘Let’s see how amazing your skills are!’

 

Jong Hweon swung his sword diagonally.

 

He was aiming for the sword sheath extended at middle level. He was angry enough to be furious, but he couldn’t aim for the Young Master’s torso from the start.

 

Still, he thought it would be enough. Once he realized the power of a real sword, he would be startled and retreat.

 

Jong Hweon’s expectation was beautifully shattered from the first move.

 

Clang!

 

‘Huh?’

 

He unconsciously blinked his eyes.

 

What? Why am I looking at the ground?

 

“Did this bastard let my words go in one ear and out the other?”

 

When Jong Hweon raised his head, Moyong Bi’s sharp, fierce gaze reflected in his eyes.

 

Jong Hweon’s body trembled involuntarily for a moment.

 

Moyong Bi’s two eyes, looking down at him with his back to the sun, were like a ghost.

 

“I told you to attack properly, didn’t I? Even if it’s sparring, a match is still a match, yet a warrior swings his sword so carelessly?”

 

And against me at that?

 

“Do it again!”

 

Perhaps it was because he couldn’t pay attention to the Brain Gate Heart Technique.

 

Whooom.

 

The air in all directions vibrated.

 

Moyong Bi’s shout carried terrifying anger. He wasn’t actually that angry, but the emotion felt in his voice was fierce enough to wither even a garden of blooming flowers.

 

Jong Hweon, startled and stepping back, gulped.

 

‘Wh-what?’

 

His heart rate shot up rapidly.

 

His complicated mind went completely blank. As soon as he heard Moyong Bi’s shout, his spine tingled and his shoulders tensed up.

 

That wasn’t all.

 

All the swordsmen watching the scene swallowed dry saliva.

 

Angry Moyong Bi’s voice had the power to shake souls. It wasn’t just because of the Brain Gate Heart Technique. The voice of the Martial Alliance Leader who had lived through the most turbulent era in history contained undeniable dignity and spirit.

 

And one more thing.

 

‘What was that?!’

 

The swordsmen glanced at each other.

 

‘Why did Jong Hweon fall?’

 

He had struck the diagonally swung sword with his sword sheath.

 

Even though it was a real sword, the fact that he didn’t flinch and swung his sword sheath to meet it was impressive enough, but what was even more surprising was that Jong Hweon’s upper body plummeted to the ground from a single strike of the sword sheath.

 

That was truly strange. The fact that Jong Hweon, with his good physique, had fallen from what seemed like a strike without much force—it was as if the two had rehearsed it beforehand.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

Several swordsmen looked at Gwan Hyeon.

 

Gwan Hyeon muttered in a voice that was barely audible.

 

“It looked like he struck down with the sword spine rather than the blade… Is that even possible with just that?”

 

A voice full of doubt and curiosity.

 

The swordsmen turned their gaze back to Moyong Bi and Jong Hweon.

 

“Huff, huff.”

 

Jong Hweon’s breathing gradually became rougher.

 

He had only attacked once and nearly fallen for a moment. Then he had retreated again—that was all, yet his breathing wouldn’t stabilize.

 

‘What’s this? Why is my body like this?’

 

Random thoughts surfaced again.

 

But when he saw Moyong Bi’s eyes, his mind went blank again.

 

Strength surged into the hand gripping his sword, and his waist and legs felt stiff.

 

‘I have to attack!’

 

Jong Hweon stepped forward with an even more cautious expression. Unlike before, the will to attack with all his might drove him forward.

 

Whoosh!

 

The wind brushing past his body felt unusually heavy today.

 

Jong Hweon swung his sword powerfully. It was a simple attack using the Vertical Sword Style of the Vertical and Horizontal Wisdom Sword, striking downward from above.

 

Being simple, it was fast and good for putting power behind it.

 

A single sword strike much faster and more violent than before.

 

“Ugh!”

 

When the watching swordsmen were startled.

 

Moyong Bi swung his sword sheath from upper left to lower right with an indifferent expression.

 

Clang!

 

Jong Hweon’s upper body bent diagonally following his sword.

 

“Kuk!”

 

“Again.”

 

Jong Hweon gritted his teeth and swung his sword toward the upper right. It was a transitional martial form of the Vertical Sword Style.

 

However.

 

Claaang!

 

“Kuk!”

 

Once again, with weight shifted to the right, he took an awkward stance.

 

He nearly fell to his knees if he had made a wrong move. It was as if a giant’s club had swept across his entire upper body.

 

‘Wh-what is this?’

 

Thwack!

 

“Kuk!”

 

Jong Hweon clutched his head and retreated backward.

 

Moyong Bi clicked his tongue and flicked his sword sheath.

 

“What are you sitting there dazed for? If it weren’t for the sword sheath, that strike would have split your head open.”

 

“…!”

 

“You still seem unable to concentrate. Then let’s see you block this.”

 

Moyong Bi kicked off the ground.

 

Since he wasn’t using internal energy, it seemed somewhat slower than Jong Hweon’s charge.

 

But the movement of the sword sheath was different.

 

Clang!

 

“Huk!”

 

Blocking the downward strike, the force transmitted through the real sword wrapped around his entire upper body. It was an incredibly heavy blow.

 

While Jong Hweon was flustered, Moyong Bi swung the sword sheath horizontally.

 

Though it wasn’t a particularly fast attack, he couldn’t dodge it. It was because of the shock remaining in his upper body.

 

In the end, Jong Hweon had to raise his sword to block the sword sheath again.

 

Claaang!

 

“Krugh!”

 

His wrist hurt as if it might break.

 

That wasn’t all. From that simple strike, he was pushed back two steps to the side.

 

Jong Hweon couldn’t believe it.

 

‘H-how can there be such weight?!’

 

Even a beggar who couldn’t get a drop of blood porridge would have more flesh than Moyong Bi. Even searching through Beggar Village, it would be hard to find someone so thin.

 

Yet that thin person’s strength was too tremendous. It was like someone who had trained external arts their whole life swinging with full power.

 

“Just blocking has no meaning.”

 

A heavy voice, and a sword sheath that seemed three times heavier than the voice fell vertically.

 

“Block while watching properly.”

 

Whooosh!

 

The sword sheath cutting through the air looked like a boulder swept up in a landslide.

 

In that moment, Jong Hweon’s eyes flashed.

 

‘Huh?’

 

Claaang! Thud!

 

His vision flashed repeatedly.

 

Jong Hweon realized his right knee had been driven into the ground. But that wasn’t what mattered.

 

‘What was that?’

 

The sword sheath falling vertically.

 

Though it was merely a straight line, that movement felt incredibly beautiful.

 

‘Why on earth?’

 

Then, the sword sheath moved again.

 

After the vertical strike from top to bottom came the horizontal strike from left to right. Moyong Bi thoroughly maintained that order.

 

Claaaang!

 

It was the most fierce sound yet.

 

The swordsmen were startled.

 

‘This can’t be!’

 

The sword blade that had blocked the sword sheath was severely damaged.

 

Though they were real swords, their training swords had slightly dulled blades. They could cut, but were designed not to cut easily.

 

Of course, they were still threatening enough, and the increased weight actually made them advantageous for Strong Sword Techniques, with the swords themselves being quite sturdy.

 

Yet those sturdy swords were getting damaged every time they blocked a sword sheath that wasn’t even made of iron.

 

Whether they were surprised or not, Moyong Bi swung his sword sheath again.

 

Vertical Strikes from above and below, Horizontal Strikes from left and right.

 

The sword sheath drawing a Cross Pattern showed a sword form so perfectly straight without even the slightest tremor that it was spine-chilling.

 

Clang! Claang! Claaang!

 

Jong Hweon’s body became as precarious as a candle flame in the wind.

 

He seemed to be finding it increasingly difficult to block each strike. His body was indeed drenched in cold sweat.

 

Even though it had been just over ten exchanges.

 

Claaaang!

 

“Gah!”

 

A scream finally burst from Jong Hweon’s mouth.

 

At that moment, Moyong Bi thrust his sword sheath forward like a shot.

 

Thud!

 

Jong Hweon, struck squarely in the sternum, rolled across the training ground floor.

 

“Cough…!”

 

He couldn’t even breathe properly. Grimacing and gaping his mouth wide, it seemed he wouldn’t be able to get up anytime soon.

 

“This is so pathetic it’s not even worth calling pathetic.”

 

Cling!

 

Moyong Bi sheathed the sword that had been stuck in the ground and tossed it to Gwan Hyeon.

 

Gwan Hyeon’s face looked extremely complicated as he caught the sword.

 

“You stick your butt out like that, so you can’t properly block downward strikes. Your upper and lower body aren’t connected as one.”

 

Of course, that wasn’t everything.

 

“Your straight slashing attacks waver because you put too much tension in your shoulders, which naturally reduces your wrist flexibility. If you force strength into your wrists in that state, the weapon’s recoil will damage your joints. This is the most basic of basics.”

 

Though he was speaking while looking at Jong Hweon, it was ultimately meant for everyone.

 

“Same goes for thrusting attacks. The sword is a weapon specialized for stabbing rather than cutting. It should have even less wavering than slashing attacks, and flexibility is essential for explosive power. But you all tense up and focus only on speed.”

 

“…”

 

“Accuracy should take priority over speed, and to achieve accuracy, flexible muscles are essential. If swordsmanship improved just by building physical strength, then whoever has the most internal energy would automatically be the best in the world, right?”

 

Moyong Bi looked at Gwan Hyeon and asked.

 

“Right, isn’t that so?”

 

“…It seems that way.”

 

Gwan Hyeon’s face was full of amazement.

 

Even if the other swordsmen didn’t understand, he seemed to have realized it. The magnificence of the sword technique Moyong Bi had demonstrated.

 

Moyong Bi let out a deep sigh and looked at Jin Gwang.

 

Jin Gwang still had an indifferent expression. But his eyes were trembling slightly.

 

Moyong Bi asked with a blank expression.

 

“At this level, they probably couldn’t even catch a single wild boar if one charged in, right? What do you think about these results, Squad Leader?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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