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‘What is this situation now?’

This… Tang Soso is going to face him?

With that sword in her hand?

Namgung Dan looked back with a bewildered face. The reactions of the other Namgung Family sword warriors seemed not much different from his.

‘Right, it’s not just me who finds this odd?’

The absurdity of the situation made him wonder if he was misunderstanding something.

Namgung Dan looked at Chung Myung and opened his mouth.

“…Excuse me, Dojang.”

“Hm?”

Hearing the calm response, he felt something welling up in his eyes, but Namgung Dan suppressed his boiling emotions.

“Are you telling me to duel with Tang Soso?”

“Why make it sound so grand as a duel? It’s just a training match.”

Chung Myung chuckled lightly. Namgung Dan bit his lip hard.

The reason for his reaction was simple: the opponent was none other than Tang Soso.

‘Is he underestimating me?’

Tang Soso comes from Sichuan Tang Family. Namgung Family and Sichuan Tang Family have been interacting for a long time, competing to be the head of the Five Great Family. In other words, it means that they have known each other since childhood.

Naturally, Namgung Dan was well aware of how Tang Soso had lived.

Sichuan Tang Family does not pass down their secret techniques to women. Hence, before joining Mount Hua, Tang Soso did not receive proper martial arts training.

Of course, she must have learned basic internal strength training and simple martial arts, but from the perspective of Namgung Dan, who has endured the intense training of Namgung Family since childhood, it is embarrassing to even call her a martial artist.

‘And now… with such a person…’

Even if Tang Soso entered Mount Hua and began to learn the sword in earnest, how many years could she have possibly trained?

In Namgung Family, those who have only trained for that period wouldn’t even be given a real sword (??(眞劍)). Considering how long she has been practicing swordsmanship, she must have barely surpassed the beginner level, then how could he present such a person as an opponent of Namgung Dan?

It made no sense by any standard.

“Dojang. Please reconsider. This is….”

“Ah, you talk too much.”

Chung Myung said, picking his ears.

“What’s the big deal that needs reconsidering? If you have something to say, just say it after you win. Isn’t that simple?”

Namgung Dan’s expression hardened. He looked at Chung Myung with mixed emotions in his eyes, then said in a cold voice.

“…Don’t regret this.”

“Oh, yeah, yeah.”

When Chung Myung answered half-heartedly, Nangung Dan looked at Tang Soso. She was smiling brightly, as if watching something pleasant.

As if this situation wasn’t burdensome at all.

“Huu.”

It was when Namgung Dan, who sighed at the calm expression, tried to take off his feet and move forward.

“Hyung-nim!”

Dissuading voices from behind grabbed hold of his ankles.

“Hyung-nim. This is….”

“I’d rather step up. It’s not something for Hyung-nim to handle.”

“Even so, for Hyung-nim to…”

“Enough.”

Namgung Dan resolutely cut off their words.

“Sometimes one action is better than a thousand words. I will take care of this, so just watch.”

“…But….”

“Isn’t that enough?”

The sword warriors of Namgung Family nodded. However, even the clear dissatisfaction could not be completely erased from their face.

Of course, they also know who Tang Soso is. Therefore, they couldn’t help but feel that having Namgung Dan and Tang Soso fight in the first place was an act of disrespecting Namgung Family.

Namgung Dan’s heart felt suffocated.

Why wouldn’t he be angry too? However, if he vents his dissatisfaction, Namgung Dowi’s position will become even more difficult. So for now, all he could do was prove himself with his sword.

Namgung Dan walked forward and faced Tang Soso, straightening his body. And locking his eyes with her, he said.

“It’s been a while, Noonim.” (‘Noonim’ is when a younger male calls an elder female in a respectful manner.)

“Yep. It’s been a long time, Dan.”

Although they had seen each other a few times since arriving here, there hadn’t been an opportunity for such a greeting. Namgung Dan, after exchanging these new pleasantries, sighed and said,

“Noonim, you must have been through a lot, too.”

“Through a lot? Once I start talking about it, I won’t stop for about ten days.”

“…I can imagine.”

Practical martial attire, a hair that matched the word modest, and a face without makeup. It was very different from the Tang Soso he remembered.

He glanced at the sword tied around her waist. In addition to her change in appearance, she was also carrying a sword, so Tang Soso’s appearance felt quite awkward.

“Noonim.”

“What?”

“Can you please tell me something?”

“Hm?”

Namgung Dan shook his head.

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, Noonim. This is not meant to be disrespectful.”

Namgoong Dan is no fool.

They had already been thoroughly defeated by Tang Soso in terms of physical strength alone. Just from that, it was clear how rigorously she had been training since joining Mount Hua.

Far from underestimating her, he felt admiration and even respect.

‘Furthermore….’

Nangung Dan’s gaze glanced towards Tang Soso’s hand.

The countless fine scars etched into her hands were not from the hidden weapons of Tang Family but clearly from sword wounds. Had Namgung Dan ever trained to the point where his hands looked like that?

“Anyone who’s not a fool would know how hard you’ve worked, Noonim. But… isn’t mastering the sword something you build up over time?”

“….”

“Maybe in the future, but not now. Even if it’s just for the sake of Noonim’s honor, this ridiculous sparring….”

“Honor?”

“Yes.”

Namgung Dan harbored no ill feelings towards Tang Soso. There was no reason to. That’s why he didn’t want to do something like defeating Tang Soso in front of everyone.

In the first place, this is like a fight with a predetermined outcome. As a proud member of Namgung Family, how could he be happy about winning such a match?

“There are many people watching.”

“Hmm.”

Tang Soso nodded as if she understood his point.

“Of course….”

Namgung Dan stopped speaking and glanced behind him.

“It might not be easy to persuade that person, but if you were to speak…”

“Look here.”

At that time, with Tang Soso’s voice cutting him off mid-sentence, Namgung Dan suddenly looked ahead again.

Tang Soso was already narrowing her large eyes slightly.

“Back then, I thought you kid was somewhat sharp.”

“Yes?”

“Your condition seems to have worsened.”

“…What….”

She asked with a dumbfounded face.

“Are you still talking about dignity and such from your mouth?”

“…N- Noonim.”

Namgung Dan couldn’t close his mouth in bewilderment. The honor he spoke of was not about Namgung’s but Tang Soso’s. To interpret it this way…

“Let me tell you one thing from the perspective of an older sister.”

“Yes?”

“The honor of a sword warrior is not established by their mouth…”

Tok.

Tang Soso lightly tapped the sword on her waist.

“It’s established with a sword.”

Namgung Dan’s face hardened. Tang Soso smiled and looked at him cheerfully.

“Don’t you think so?”

“….”

Seureureung.

Namgung Dan drew his sword without saying a word.

“…If you say so, I shall learn from you.”

“No, wait a minute.”

“Yes?”

Tang Soso lightly waved his hand.

“Let’s use wooden swords instead of real swords.”

“….”

“It would have been with real swords under normal circumstances, but seeing you, it seems wooden swords are necessary.”

Namgung Dan was truly dumbfounded. If she’s afraid of sparring with a real sword, what on earth was she thinking saying such pretentious things?

“How about it?”

“…I don’t mind either way.”

“I see. Sahyung! Throw us two wooden swords, please!”

But the more baffling events began at that moment.

Yoon Jong, who received Tang Soso’s gaze, spoke with a dreadful look on his face.

“That… Soso.”

He even broke into a cold sweat and tried to dissuade Tang Soso.

“Do we really need to use wooden swords…?”

“Why?”

“N- No… I just thought it wasn’t necessary to go that far with wooden swords. We could just use real swords…”

“Got it, so hurry up and give it.”

“….”

Yoon Jong was restless and looked at Tang Soso and Namgung Dan alternately. Then he turned his head towards Baek Cheon as if he was having a hard time making a decision.

Baek Cheon nodded.

“Give it.”

“Sa- Sasuk.”

“It’s okay, just give it.”

“….”

As Baek Cheon came out resolutely, Yoon Jong had no choice but to sigh, pick up the two wooden swords lying next to him, and throw them at Tang Soso.

“…Take it easy, Soso.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Tang Soso accepted the wooden swords thrown by Yoon Jong with both hands. Then she threw one at Namgung Dan.

Tak.

Namgung Dan, who suddenly received the wooden sword, looked at Tang Soso with a shocked face. What was all this about?

“…Can we start now?”

Namgung Dan gripped the wooden sword tightly in his hand and assumed a ready stance.

“I shall learn from you.”

Normally, there should be a procedure to reveal his status and affiliation, but such a process was not necessary. This is because he did not want to recognize this absurd sparring as a proper duel.

‘Let’s finish it quickly.’

Tang Soso’s capabilities were obvious anyway.

Obviously, she would rely on the unique agility of Tang Family to attack from a distance. In the first place, the martial arts of Tang Family are similar to the swordsmanship of Mount Hua Sect.

As long as he wasn’t dazzled by her fancy swordplay, there was no danger to Namgung Dan.

Of course, Tang Soso might try to draw him into a prolonged battle, leveraging her superior stamina to pressure him.

‘But that’s only if she can withstand my sword!’

He had no grudge against Tang Soso, but right now, he was carrying the pride of Namgung Family on his shoulders. An overwhelming victory was needed to change the atmosphere in which Namgung Family was being ignored.

Udeuk.

Tightening his grip on the sword, Namgung Dan focused his energy.

‘I’ll push through and finish it in one go!’

He glared at Tang Soso with all his strength. The muscles of his entire body, which raised his internal strength, were pulled tight.

‘Here I go!’

His foot pressed against the floor.

“Taaaa…. Aack!”

However, the momentum of Namgung Dan that was bursting out from his stomach got stuck in his throat all of a sudden. Tang Soso had literally ‘appeared’ suddenly right in front of him as he kicked the ground.

‘Wha- What!’

Tang Soso’s sword fell fiercely towards his head. Namgung Dan, in panic, quickly raised his sword to block.

Kuung!

The wooden swords collided violently just above his head.

‘Tha- That was close…’

Namgung Dan gritted his teeth. Despite knowing her superior Lightness Art, he was nearly caught off guard.

‘But this is the end.’

With the surprise attack failed, only skill remained. Moreover, Tang Soso made a mistake. If the distance is narrowed like this, there will be no room for flashy swordplay.

‘I’ll finish this at once and for all!’

Namgung Dan pushed back against the pressing sword and swung his own. No, he tried to.

Udeuk!

‘Huh?’

At that moment, Namgung Dan’s gaze naturally rose upward.

Tang Soso’s sword, which should have been repelled, was still pressing down on his.

‘What….’

He raised his internal strength and deflected Tang Soso’s sword once again.

Udeuk!

But then his wrist twisted. Tang Soso’s sword was overpowering him, along with his own sword.

“Ugh….”

His arm began to tremble violently.

‘What is this?’

Cold sweat trickled down Namgung Dan’s spine.

It felt as if a heavy boulder was placed on the sword. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t shake it off.

Nangungdan was perplexed and looked at Tang Soso with wide eyes.

Still smiling, she looked back at him and grinned widely.

“First.”

“….”

“Take a hit.”

“Uh…?”

At that moment, an immense force pressed down on Namgung Dan’s sword.

As if time had slowed, everything appeared crystal clear to Namgung Dan. He saw his own wrist bending and the wooden sword she was holding falling violently towards his forehead.

Uh? It shouldn’t be like this….

Uh?

Kuuuuuuuung!

The massive boom created by the collision of a human head and the solid wooden sword spread painfully clearly throughout the entire manor.