Gangchan’s eyes snapped open.
He, who had been lying as still as a corpse, suddenly felt a powerful presence.
It was not the aura of nature, but something artificially formed. That energy intensely stimulated Gangchan’s senses.
Quietly sitting up, Gangchan expanded his senses, searching for the source of the energy.
It was fierce but not rough, solid yet unwavering, and was spreading from about a hundred jang away.
He could guess the identity of the owner of that presence.
Gangchan grabbed the Samhonbu and opened the door. As he stepped outside, he saw his cold dinner neatly arranged on a tray, placed by the door.
It seemed that someone had called him, but left the meal when there was no answer.
‘Come to think of it, I fell asleep without eating.’
It was as if he could hear his nanny’s nagging.
Gangchan picked up the tray, set it on the table inside, and went outside again.
The sun had already disappeared from the sky, and the moonlight bathed the world.
In the quiet of Heishi Hour, Gangchan slowly walked in the direction where the energy had radiated, leaping over the back wall of the Jangwon.
A small forested hill, located at the northern outskirts of the Jangwon. Entering there, he saw a rather wide clearing nestled within the relatively dense woods.
At the edge of the clearing sat a rock, and upon it, an old man was seated. He looked to be deep in thought as he gazed at the moon.
Gangchan slowly approached him. At the sound of his footsteps, the old man turned his head and spoke.
“Young man, you sure took your time getting here. What kept you?”
Though the words sounded like a rebuke, there was no real anger in his smiling face.
“I don’t think it’s right for someone who calls people out in the middle of the night to say that,” Gangchan replied with a mischievous grin.
“Who said I called you out?”
“Wasn’t it you? Then, if not, I’ll take my leave.”
“Young people, always trying to get the better of their elders.”
“If you’ve come to apologize, why not just do it?”
“How did you know that?”
“Wouldn’t it be strange if I were the only one not to know something the whole world does?”
“Ah, you really leave an old man speechless. Fine, come and have a seat.”
The old man gestured to the spot next to him. Gangchan smiled and sat by his side.
The old man took out some roasted duck and a bottle of wine, then offered them to Gangchan. Gangchan glanced at him, took a sip, and handed the bottle back.
“I’ve prepared this because I need to apologize today. Next time, you’ll have to prepare it.”
“When we meet again, I’ll treat you with some fine wine.”
After taking a sip, Pang Gipyeong set the bottle down and respectfully made a cupped-fist salute.
“On behalf of the Pang Family, I apologize. And thank you for saving the children from those old fiends.”
Matching him, Gangchan also cupped his fist and replied.
“I accept your apology.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
The two drank together in silence. Pang Gipyeong studied Gangchan closely as he drank.
“No matter how much I observe and think about you, I just can’t understand, so let me ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“You came here because you sensed the aura I sent out. That means you have considerable internal energy yourself. Then why can’t I sense anything from you at all? Could it be that you’ve reached the state of ‘Returning to Simplicity’?”
“Is that what you were curious about? Honestly, it’s nothing special. It’s just a characteristic of the martial arts I’ve learned.”
“Is that possible? I pride myself on some experience, but I’ve never heard of such martial arts in the Middle Plains.”
“It’s not from the Middle Plains, nor is it widely known. It’s a secret technique of a remote clan.”
“How intriguing. How could that be?”
After a moment’s silence, Pang Gipyeong spoke again.
“I have a personal favor to ask.”
“Do I have to?”
“Well, you don’t have to, but isn’t it a bit stingy to refuse an old man’s request?”
“Would you accept right away without knowing what’s being asked?”
“Hahaha, you’re right about that.”
Pang Gipyeong hopped down from the rock, made a cupped-fist salute, and looked at Gangchan.
“I am Pang Gipyeong of the Pang Family in Hebei. I challenge Hero Gang to a friendly spar.”
“Hahaha. I yield.”
Gangchan also stepped down from the rock, cupped his fist, and stood in front of Pang Gipyeong.
“I am Gangchan of the Heavenly Mandate Hall.”
“Wait, you joined the Heavenly Mandate Hall?”
“Shameful as it is, I’ve become responsible for the Heavenly Mandate Hall.”
For a brief moment, a look of regret flickered across Pang Gipyeong’s face.
“I was a step too late. Well then, let’s begin.”
As he finished speaking, Pang Gipyeong positioned his Axe of Lament before him.
Gangchan also took out the Samhonbu from his back and held it at a slant.
Pang Gipyeong looked at the Samhonbu in Gangchan’s hands and gradually raised his internal energy.
It was too wide and short to be called a blade, but too long-bladed to be called an axe. Seeing such an unusual weapon, Pang Gipyeong thought he might be adept at unconventional attacks.
As his sleeve fluttered, Blade Qi began to shimmer from his weapon.
The air rippled from his Blade Qi, and the heavy aura pressed down on Gangchan.
Gangchan slowly raised Seungcheonmugukgiseong.
As the energy surrounding Gangchan was drawn into his body and vanished, Pang Gipyeong couldn’t hide his surprise.
The appearance of having no internal energy at all was gone in an instant, replaced by Gangchan standing before him, brimming with immense power.
Before the surprise could fade, Gangchan shot in like lightning and swung the Samhonbu.
The first move of Hyeolbu Gwi Hon—Bubuhoengyeon.
Whoosh… Boom!
Pang Gipyeong blocked Gangchan’s opening attack but was pushed back a step by the force.
The speed, balance, and power contained within it banished all thoughts of underestimating his opponent.
Adjusting his grip on his blade, Pang Gipyeong launched an immediate counterattack.
His only mastered martial art—Ohodan Mundo.
Blades filled with fierce, wild energy closed in from all directions.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Under the barrage of relentless, powerful attacks, Gangchan’s form was gradually pushed back.
Driven into a defensive position, it was becoming difficult to parry such swift attacks.
Pang Gipyeong’s blades, flying from every angle, grew ever faster.
It wasn’t just their speed—each strike was imbued with increasing power.
At this rate, Gangchan thought he wouldn’t get a chance for a proper attack. The moment he was driven back again, he firmly planted his right foot, used the force of the retreat to spin half a turn, and swiftly brought down the Samhonbu.
Pang Gipyeong, who had been closing in, was startled by the falling Samhonbu from above and hurriedly straightened up, taking a step back.
Gangchan didn’t miss that opening and pressed Pang Gipyeong with Chuyeongmyeolhon.
Momentarily dazed by the lightning-fast assault, Pang Gipyeong raised his internal energy further, narrowly evaded Gangchan’s attack, and struck away the Samhonbu at the decisive moment. Without any signal, the two clashed again.
A contest of strength.
Pang Gipyeong looked at Gangchan as if he were a monster, seeing how his strength was in no way inferior.
Already, the ground around them was torn up as if struck by bombs, trees toppling in all directions.
Pang Gipyeong was astonished at the tingling sensation in his arm.
‘What kind of monster is this kid?’
He had planned to use the spar as an excuse to teach him a lesson and leave with a laugh, but now that thought was gone.
Far from teaching him a lesson, he might be the one to suffer humiliation.
Quietly raising his internal energy even higher, Pang Gipyeong brought his power up to nine stars.
From his blade, Blade Strength gradually began to emerge.
Gulp.
Having never sparred like this before, Gangchan unconsciously swallowed as he saw the swirling Blade Strength.
The aura covering Pang Gipyeong’s blade was breathtakingly beautiful.
“Focus now. This next part won’t be easy.”
Coming to his senses, Gangchan bowed his head slightly in gratitude, realizing how lucky he was.
If this had been real combat, he might already be dead. This was yet another experience that helped Gangchan grow.
Gripping the Samhonbu tighter, Gangchan steadied his breathing as he faced Pang Gipyeong, who stood two jang away.
In that moment, Pang Gipyeong’s form slid along the ground, his blade, filled with intense energy, slashing down toward Gangchan.
Watching the descending blade, Gangchan fully unleashed Seungcheonmugukgiseong, raised to seven stars, and performed Bungsangyeongcheon—one of the later three forms of Hyeolbu Gwi Hon.
Boom!
The ground shot upward as if the earth had exploded, black dirt raining down, and all sound around vanished.
Gangchan, knocked back three full paces from his original spot, now had disheveled hair and clothes torn in several places.
In contrast, Pang Gipyeong remained standing at his original position, supporting himself on his blade.
The only change was that his face had grown slightly pale.
“You really are frightening. And thank you for going easy on an old man.”
“Thank you for the match.”
“Be sure to visit our main house someday.”
“I’ll visit if I get the chance.”
After saying his farewell to Pang Gipyeong, Gangchan slowly turned back toward the Heavenly Mandate Hall.
Once Gangchan disappeared, Pang Gipyeong looked behind him.
The ground directly behind where he stood was overturned to a depth of about one jang, as if a thunderbomb had exploded. If he had been standing there…
Would he have survived?
Or what if Gangchan hadn’t shifted the target behind him at the last moment?
His mind went blank.
Even more shocking was that he couldn’t feel anything from Gangchan’s energy.
Typically, aura is distinct, so by facing someone, you can tell if they’re of the righteous path, the demonic, or otherwise.
But from Gangchan’s aura, he couldn’t even distinguish between yin and yang. It was as if it was a blank rice paper—nothing at all.
To not only fail to bring such a young man to his side, but almost make him an enemy—he was suddenly overwhelmed by disappointment at the judgment and attitude of his grandchildren.
‘I can’t just let those fools be.’
Filled with anger, Pang Gipyeong considered returning to the family immediately.
But he also felt an anxiety that if he just went back like this, he might lose the chance to build a good relationship with Gangchan.
Perhaps it would be best to seize this opportunity to strengthen ties with him.
“Really, what a mess those idiots have caused me.”
Muttering to himself, Pang Gipyeong headed toward the main gate of the Heavenly Mandate Hall.
When Gangchan arrived at the Heavenly Mandate Hall, his clothes and hair were in disarray from the spar.
He quickly washed, changed into fresh clothes, and quietly ate the cold dinner left in his room.
‘Pang Gipyeong’s Blade Strength is truly terrifying.’
Gangchan learned much from his first spar. Especially, the power of Hyeolbu Gwi Hon he unleashed at the last moment was beyond what he expected. Feeling that power, he braced himself once more.
‘It was really the right decision to change the target at the last moment.’
Praising himself, Gangchan quietly finished his meal.
He realized that he was no longer weak, and now possessed the strength to protect himself.
‘Father, brother. I think I don’t have to live a life on the run anymore.’
With renewed determination, Gangchan gazed out the window. Inside him, an ever-stronger belief and confidence were taking root.