The Lazy Young Master of the Jin Clan

The two, who had finished their dinner, headed to the Dark Cave.

Jin Sohyun had asked Gwak Myeong for permission to use the Dark Cave for his sparring match with Jong Ryeo'ak.

"To think that the strict Daoist Temple Master would permit the use of the Dark Cave, it's unexpected. Or..."

Jong Ryeo'ak, who was spinning his sword, smiled bitterly.

"Should I say that money is good?"

"Stop with the nonsense and let's start quickly. I'm tired because I haven't been able to sleep well these days."

A bored face.

Jong Ryeo'ak was very displeased with Jin Sohyun, who had brought only two flying swords instead of ten.

"Will two be enough? I don't want to hear your pathetic excuses, so bring the rest of the flying swords now."

"This is enough. But let me ask you one thing."

Jin Sohyun gripped the hilt of the flying sword in his right hand.

"Why are you so eager to get me?"

The question that had started on the first day he came to the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.

Jin Sohyun couldn't understand it at all.

Why did Jong Ryeo'ak hate him?

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had a dumbfounded face as if he had received an unexpected question, re-gripped his sword and laughed.

"Just because."

"Just because?"

"Yes, I just don't like you. There's no reason."

"If that's the case, then..."

Although he couldn't understand it, he didn't try to understand it either.

In this world, there is both baseless goodwill and hatred.

If that is human nature.

‘Let’s not think too hard about it.’

Jin Sohyun scratched his head once and then met Jong Ryeo'ak's gaze.

"Shall we start?"

"Come on, Jin Sohyun. I'll show you the difference in class."

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had gained a new enlightenment in Guizhou, was full of confidence.

And his confidence, at the first flying sword that Jin Sohyun threw.

Was shattered.

Kaang—!!

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had barely blocked the flying sword that had flown in in the blink of an eye, let out a gasp.

"Heok—!"

The hand that was gripping the hilt of the sword was tingling.

‘Not only is it fast… it’s strong!’

Following that, Jin Sohyun threw the second flying sword with a dry face.

Unlike the first flying sword, which contained the power of the Flowing Wind, the second flying sword contained the power of the Lightning Flash.

The flying sword, which held a blue lightning, approached Jong Ryeo'ak.

"Hyaap!"

The sword of Jong Ryeo'ak, who had unfolded the Taiyi Splitting Light Sword, emitted a bright light.

Tadadang—!!

The dazzling fast sword struck the flying sword, which held a lightning, several times.

But even so, the one who was pushed back was Jong Ryeo'ak.

"Keuhaap!"

From top to bottom.

He struck down the flying sword with a sword strike that contained all his strength.

As the flying sword, which he had barely shaken off, was stuck in the floor, Jong Ryeo'ak let out the breath he had been holding in.

"Heok... heok... heok..."

Jong Ryeo'ak's sword trembled.

‘If there were ten of these swords.’

A chill ran down his spine.

It was a kind of despair that was beyond fear.

At that moment.

The two flying swords that Jong Ryeo'ak had struggled to deflect were sucked into Jin Sohyun's grasp.

‘Sword control!’

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had realized that it was sword control, could not believe this situation.

Jin Sohyun, whom he had always thought was below him.

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had witnessed his true power, was enraged.

"Have you been hiding your strength all this time?"

"It's not that I was trying to hide it... but it gets tiring if I reveal it for no reason."

"I must have looked ridiculous. How pathetic must I and everyone who looked down on you have looked..."

At Jong Ryeo'ak's gaze, which was filled with hatred, Jin Sohyun became annoyed.

"Why do you judge me as you please and hate me as you please?"

"I told you."

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had raised his internal energy to the fullest, threw his body and swung his sword.

"I just don't like you!"

Every time the sword moved, a rough sword qi burst out and rushed at Jin Sohyun.

Although it was a sword qi that contained a strong power, it was far from enough compared to the strong men that Jin Sohyun had faced so far.

Jin Sohyun, who had avoided Jong Ryeo'ak's sword qi with only a concise movement, aimed his flying sword at him as he approached.

"One Line Rending Lightning."

The flying sword, which contained a blue lightning, approached with a power and speed that was incomparable to what had been seen so far.

Jong Ryeo'ak held his sword upright and put his internal energy into it.

‘I can’t block it with a clumsy sword!’

A strong power that made his spine chill.

Jong Ryeo'ak's sword emitted a dazzling brilliance.

The Splitting Light Great Flow of the Taiyi Splitting Light Sword was unfolded.

The blades, which had been split into dozens of branches, struck and struck the flying sword of Jin Sohyun, which was approaching, holding a one-line rending lightning.

A confrontation of two strong forces with no room for compromise.

The sword of Jong Ryeo'ak, who had poured out all his strength to the point where his dantian was empty, finally succeeded in deflecting Jin Sohyun's one-line rending lightning.

‘Damn it…’

And yet, Jong Ryeo'ak was not happy.

No matter how hard he tried, the distance between him and Jin Sohyun did not narrow.

‘Is this the gap between me and that brat?’

Since the sparring match had begun.

Jin Sohyun had not moved a single step from the spot where he had first stood.

And what about himself?

Grind—!

Jong Ryeo'ak, who was grinding his teeth to the point where his molars would break, raised his sword high.

He had already shown the best sword he could produce.

But even so, it was impossible to defeat Jin Sohyun.

If that's the case.

‘Although it’s an incomplete sword…’

Jong Ryeo'ak focused his mind and put his internal energy into the body of the sword.

Now this would be Jong Ryeo'ak's last sword.

‘The eighth form of the Taiyi Splitting Light Sword, Gwangmu Seomjeol.’

Jong Ryeo'ak's sword slowly drew a circle.

Every time his sword moved, it left a shining afterimage.

Soon, the shining afterimages of the sword surrounded Jong Ryeo'ak, and dozens of blades were created.

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had finished his preparations, aimed the tip of his sword at Jin Sohyun.

"This is my last!"

As Jong Ryeo'ak gave it his all, Jin Sohyun also grabbed his flying sword and caught his breath.

Soon, the afterimages of the blades, which held a light, approached Jin Sohyun.

Dozens of afterimages of the sword.

There were no feints, and all the afterimages contained sword qi.

"Flying Heaven Ten Swords, Lightning Flash... Rending Lightning."

A blue lightning, like a flame, wrapped around Jin Sohyun's flying sword.

"It'll probably sting quite a bit."

Jin Sohyun's flying sword moved forward.

Every time his flying sword moved forward, the afterimages of the sword that Jong Ryeo'ak had created were torn apart and scattered in vain.

Thud—!

Jong Ryeo'ak's sword fell to the floor.

"Cough!"

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had coughed up blood and staggered, gripped his right shoulder.

It was wet.

As soon as he realized that it was blood, Jong Ryeo'ak's head stood on end.

He turned his head back without realizing it.

A single flying sword was stuck behind Jong Ryeo'ak.

‘I couldn’t see it… or block it.’

If Jin Sohyun had aimed the flying sword at his heart or head, Jong Ryeo'ak would have met his death without even realizing how he had died.

‘Was I the only one who thought this was a sparring match?’

Jong Ryeo'ak looked down at his empty right hand.

Instead of his sword, which he had been with for his whole life, there was blood.

"Jin Sohyun."

At Jong Ryeo'ak's call, Jin Sohyun met his gaze.

"Did you give it your all while fighting me?"

Jin Sohyun, who had been thinking about what to say for a moment, shrugged his shoulders.

"No."

"Yes. It must have been."

Now he seemed to understand.

The baseless hatred towards Jin Sohyun.

It was a kind of envy and fear.

The difference in class that he could never catch up to, even if he trained in martial arts for his whole life.

Jong Ryeo'ak had felt it instinctively.

That a person named Jin Sohyun was different from him from birth.

"Why do you hide yourself... even with such great strength? Do you feel a thrill from the brats who laugh at you without knowing anything?"

"I told you."

Jin Sohyun retrieved his flying sword with just a gesture and walked in front of Jong Ryeo'ak.

"It's a hassle."

"What? For such a pathetic reason...!"

Thwack—!

"Ack!"

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had been hit on the head, glared at Jin Sohyun with wide-open eyes.

At that, Jin Sohyun glared back.

"This brat? You're glaring at your older brother?"

"Wh-What!?"

"You said it. The one who wins this sparring match will be the older brother. Since I won, you have to call me older brother now."

The condition of the sparring match that he had forgotten.

Jong Ryeo'ak felt a fear as if his blood were freezing.

"I... I..."

"Now, Yeo'ak. Call me older brother."

"You're bullshitting...!"

Thwack—!!

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had been hit on the head again, felt tears welling up in his eyes.

Somehow, Jin Sohyun's flick on the head made him feel a tingling pain all over his body, beyond just the top of his head.

"Kkeueuk..."

"Now, call me older brother."

"This damn... older brother."

"You have to take out the 'damn'. Where do you use such vulgar words in front of your older brother?"

"O-Older... brother."

Only then did Jin Sohyun nod his head with a pleased face and pat Jong Ryeo'ak's shoulder once.

"Good job. You do well when you try. Let's do well from now on, alright?"

Jong Ryeo'ak trembled all over.

"I-If I win the sparring match again... will you withdraw it?"

"I'll think about it."

"Hey!"

"Ahem!"

"O-Older... brother! Please... give me a chance."

"Alright. This older brother will show you great generosity and give you a chance. If you win the next sparring match, I'll withdraw the 'older brother' thing."

"Thank... you."

"Then, I'm going."

Jin Sohyun left the Dark Cave, humming.

‘I should have sparred with that brat sooner.’

If he had, there would have been no more hassle.

Jin Sohyun left the Dark Cave, very satisfied with today's results.

Meanwhile, Jong Ryeo'ak, who was left alone, slowly looked around the inside of the Dark Cave, where the two had sparred.

There was no need to replay the sparring match.

It was a very one-sided defeat.

A fight that was no different from an adult playing with a child.

Jong Ryeo'ak picked up his sword, which was rolling on the floor.

"One day... I will definitely..."

Jong Ryeo'ak, who had put his sword back in its sheath, left the Dark Cave, burning with fighting spirit.

Not long after Jong Ryeo'ak had left the Dark Cave, two men appeared.

"Jong Ryeo'ak... was he the second disciple of the Jongnam Sect?"

"Yes."

Gu Jucheol and Gwak Myeong looked at the Dark Cave, where only the traces of the fight remained.

"What Jong Ryeo'ak showed at the end was the eighth form of the Taiyi Splitting Light Sword, Gwangmu Seomjeol. Although it wasn't complete yet."

"There are probably few at that age who can even imitate Gwangmu Seomjeol."

"Kekeke... the future of the orthodox faction is bright. I was worried he would fall into a heart demon, but seeing his state, it seems I don't have to worry about that."

"That is Jong Ryeo'ak's strength. Although he has a fiery temper, is impatient, and is arrogant, he does not break easily because of that."

"Daoist Temple Master."

"Yes, Elder."

"How is the movement of the Heretic's Path Alliance? Since Jin Sohyun killed the Cold-Blooded Grim Reaper, those brats won't stay still."

"We are watching their movements with the Beggars' Sect, but there seems to be no particular movement yet."

"Should I say it's a relief, or is it the calm before the storm..."

Gu Jucheol felt that the silence of the Heretic's Path Alliance was even more frightening.

It had been like that since ancient times.

A brat who rushes in as soon as you touch him is not scary.

But a person who holds his breath and waits for a chance for revenge is scary.

It was because they always prepared thoroughly for the optimal time and for this, when they could win.

"What about the other Four Divine Daoist Temples?"

"It seems they are growing well."

"Come to think of it... the time has come."

"Yes, that's right."

Although the meaning had faded, the schedule was to proceed as it was.

The Four Divine Daoist Temple's Four Divine Assembly, where the officials of the Daoist temples would spar, risking the honor of the Daoist temples.

There were now only three months left until the grand curtain would rise.

(End of Chapter)