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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Bare Your True Power
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It was a vast sparring ground.
Around the edges of the arena, proctors clad in black robes stood holding record ledgers, meticulously noting every detail of the proceedings.
On the opposite side, a small tent had been set up for a physician, ready in case of emergencies.
I stepped into the center of the pristine white arena.
"What's your name? Your affiliation? You give off a strange vibe."
Pahwanggun dragged over a chair from the side of the arena and sat down as he asked.
I licked my parched lips and answered.
"I'm the fourth son of the Moyong Family, Moyong Bi."
"If you're talking about that Moyong Family from the Five Great Families, don't they only have three sons? A fourth? Maybe I got it wrong."
Pahwanggun tilted his head and stroked his chin.
He picked up a bottle of liquor from beside the chair.
"Well, whatever. What do I care? Not my business, not my problem. So."
Pahwanggun downed the entire bottle in one go, let out a belch, and spoke indifferently.
"You're a Moyong Family kid. What test event do you choose?"
"My choice is."
In that brief moment, countless thoughts raced through my mind.
It was do or die either way, but I wanted to pick something with even a sliver of possibility.
Truth be told, with my near-nonexistent internal energy, I had no real choices from the start.
"I request a spar."
"A spar?"
"Yes."
Pahwanggun hurled the empty bottle aside and stood up.
He raised his hand, and a proctor came running.
Pahwanggun said.
"Tell the proctor what weapon you need for the spar."
"Don't you need a weapon, Pahwanggun?"
Pahwanggun was empty-handed.
At my puzzled question, he grinned.
"I'm under a promise with the Alliance Leader, kiddo. I fight bare-handed unless it's unavoidable."
Pahwanggun spread out his hand, which was like a bear's paw.
"You must've heard my story. I was originally from the unorthodox sects, then switched to this side. My temperament's too wild for this place, so the Alliance Leader came up with this special measure."
I swallowed hard as I stared at his hand.
Those thick fingers and the calluses piled up on every joint were weapons in themselves.
How brutal must the training have been, and for how long, to turn a man's hand into that?
It was the first time I'd felt such murderous pressure just from looking at someone's palm.
'It's like facing a wild bear.'
I bit my lip without realizing it.
My chest felt like it would burst from the tension.
Pahwanggun chuckled, looking at my taut nerves like they were adorable.
"You seem awfully tense. You won't show your true skill like this. To loosen you up and add some thrill to the test, how about I add a condition?"
Pahwanggun held up three fingers.
"I'll only use thirty percent of my internal energy and skill. But I'll go all out within that, so watch yourself."
I thought it might be better if he used full power but didn't try his hardest.
I approached the proctor holding the weapons.
After hesitating for a long while, I said.
"Ten flying daggers..."
"Pardon? Flying daggers, examinee?"
"No, forget it."
Damn it.
Even if it wasn't mainstream, using Huashan Sect techniques would stir up rumors.
The martial arts of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, and the Five Great Families, were so distinctive that anyone could recognize them at a glance.
And among them, Huashan Sect's techniques—major sect as it was—had such unique forms that even obscure ones were unmistakable.
If spotted, I'd have a headache explaining where I learned them.
"Lend me a single sword."
The proctor handed me a plain iron sword.
I gripped it firmly.
Even as I assumed my stance, my mind was a whirlwind.
"Then, though my skills are humble, here I come."
"Come on."
The moment Pahwanggun clenched his fist, a terrifying surge of energy sent chills down my spine.
'Is he on par with the Soyeomgyo Leader or Moyong Taese... or even stronger?'
But even so, I couldn't reveal my full arsenal.
If they started probing how I learned my moves, I had no confidence in explaining.
Of course, they might not recognize them.
But banking on that slim chance was too risky.
In the end, despite myself, this was my only option.
"Hah!"
I unleashed the most basic swordsmanship I'd honed across lifetimes.
Yukhap Swordsmanship.
Lisan Step Method.
Taehyeong Iron Palm.
Techniques fit for rolling in the marketplace or as a lowly escort guard.
But I'd trained them with all I had.
In my past life, these kept me fed.
They worked decently against thugs and bandits, enough to land daily mercenary gigs.
Survival wasn't the goal here.
It was a test.
So I figured showing everything I had would earn some understanding.
"Hey."
Eight strikes, all my best effort.
He blocked them all with one left arm—bare skin at that—then Pahwanggun spoke.
"What the hell are you doing?"
A chill crept up my neck.
I stammered without meaning to.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you messing with me? Standing before me, dancing with these half-assed beginner moves that even a kid wouldn't pull?"
Each word hammered into my chest like a nail.
As expected.
To someone on this level, the martial arts I'd devoted my life to looked like a joke.
"You must've seen those idiots before you get pulped and carried off for half-assing it."
"...Yes."
Pahwanggun placed a hand on his waist and laughed hollowly.
"It's so absurd, I can't help but laugh. You saw the kids get hauled away and still won't get serious? In over thirty years in the martial world, you're the most arrogant punk I've met."
I couldn't grasp his meaning.
Pahwanggun scowled at my blank expression.
"I'm saying, you damn chick, how dare you worry about this body of mine."
"What are you talking about? This is the best martial arts I can muster. You're misunderstanding."
"I'd buy that from the two before you. Hell, from anyone else too. That's why I tested the backmarkers first."
Something felt off in his words.
"You think you can fool my eyes? A natural martial prodigy from the Five Great Families claims Yukhap Swordsmanship is all you've got? Give me a break."
My heart went cold at his words.
"I'm not your master, so I don't know what you've learned. But I do know one thing: you're not giving it your all. Wait, what am I doing? Trying to convince an examinee."
Pahwanggun frowned and waved his hand dismissively.
"I didn't peg you for a punk with such sloppy form. Waste of time on rotten trash like you. Proctor, fail this one—"
I cut him off like lightning and shouted.
"If I give my all, that's enough?!"
Failure was unacceptable.
Absolutely not!
"...Ho?"
I abandoned thoughts of what came next.
Worrying about the future when I couldn't even handle the now was pure folly.
"But let me say one thing upfront."
"What?"
"My skills are poor, so I'll stake everything on exactly two moves from here. If you're not satisfied and end the spar, Pahwanggun, I'll accept it myself. However!"
My fundamentals were sorely lacking.
I couldn't last in a drawn-out melee.
I had to bet on one or two strikes.
To hide that, I adopted a blatantly provocative tone.
"I don't know how to hold back. Remember that."
"...What?"
Pahwanggun's expression was indescribable.
Sensing the ominous shift, the proctor spoke up.
"Pahwanggun, even with full authority from Gang Buryong, regulations don't allow this kind of spar. Just fail the examinee for now—"
"Shut it."
"...!"
Pahwanggun stroked his chin.
He looked up at the sky.
Then down at the ground.
He cracked his neck with a pop.
"Hey, proctor."
"Yes! Pahwanggun!"
Pahwanggun pointed a finger at the terrified proctor's mouth.
"All proctors out except the emergency physician. Now."
"Pardon?"
Pahwanggun's grin stretched ear to ear.
"I'll call you back when it's done. Go carve some fruit or something."
"Regulations don't permit—"
Pahwanggun glared at the proctor.
"I'll carve yours too, Pahwanggun."
The proctor fled like his tail was on fire.
Pahwanggun turned his gaze to me.
"Now, any meddlers you're worried about are gone. No witnesses. Don't sweat the physician next door—he's utterly clueless about martial arts."
His eyes gleamed with madness.
A quiet madness writhed, on the verge of explosion.
"Show me. That bottom line you've got."
I tensed every muscle in my body.
"Moomyeong, one more check."
[What is there to check? Your internal energy is stabilized. Scant as it is....]
I shook my head.
"Not that. It'll fall short."
[Host, surely you don't mean.]
Moomyeong seemed to catch on.
[Do you think true essence is some snack you can squeeze out whenever?]
"I know the risks better than anyone. So, is it stabilized?"
Moomyeong replied with resignation.
[Yes, it's stabilized. Satisfied now?]
Pale-faced and sweating coldly, I grinned.
"Heh, yeah. That's all I needed... needed."
[You're insane.]
"You know what chilled me to the bone across all my lives?"
I muttered through gritted teeth.
"Even throwing my whole body into the fire, reality might still slam the door in my face."
[Is that so.]
"If life were smooth sailing, I wouldn't have suffered like that. Reality's a bastard that only cracks open if you give everything... that truth. The truth I never wanted to know, I..."
A frigid winter came to mind.
The floor was bone-chilling cold.
Outside, a bowl of water froze solid in less than an hour.
There, Mother froze to death.
"You know how deep that cut? Success stories never get that gut-wrenching feel! I won't miss this. No matter what, I won't miss this shot. I'd rather bite my tongue and die first...!"
[Funny coming from me, but.]
After a silence, Moomyeong added.
[If heaven's watching, may fortune favor you, host.]
I clenched my teeth.
I raised my voice to the examiner before me.
"You want to see my resolve? Fine. I'll show you. So."
Whirrr!
My eyes turned red.
My aura shifted utterly.
"Don't you dare die. It'll put me in a tough spot!"
Pahwanggun's face changed.
"You."
His crossed arms unfolded.
"Your killing intent's got my whole body tingling. Uh-ha, ha ha ha!"
Joy flooded his face.
"Yes! Come at me, fourth son of the Moyong Family!"