Chapter 16. Sparring Match (3)
Tang Sowol forcibly dragged me to the medical hall and laid me down, despite my insistence that I was fine.
Looking at her, I asked in a slightly grumpy voice,
"So, when can I expect to receive my sword?"
"Perhaps after you greet Father, you'll go find the smiths. They may have some quirks, but they're people who keep their promises. However, for now, your arm needs to heal first. In this condition, even if you get the sword, you won't be able to swing it properly."
"It's just a bruise. Nothing serious like a broken bone. I'll be fine by tomorrow."
"Brother said he would make it regardless of whether you won or lost. So why did you push yourself so hard? Even knowing it was a spar, you made those watching feel so anxious."
"Well... wouldn't it be because I wanted to look impressive in front of my fiancée?"
"Asking me that directly already means it's not true, right?"
"Oops, caught me. Honestly, I already gave the reason during the spar. I'm just not very good at holding back."
"Does that make any sense, considering your skills?"
"Since we're on the topic, I'm curious. Tang Sowol, what do you think of my skills?"
"They're strangely strong for someone at your stage. It's like your achievements can't keep up with your talent."
"Talent, huh. I wouldn't say I lack it, honestly."
"Saying you don't lack it seems too humble. Even if I may not look it, I'm the daughter of the prestigious Tang Clan, renowned among the Five Great Clans. I grew up with the best food and trained in the finest martial arts, yet I still couldn't surpass you."
"But you lost to your brother, didn't you?"
"Do you even hear yourself? Brother is at least ten years older than you and me, and he's received the title of 'Dark Dragon,' given only to the most outstanding talents of this generation. Compared to that, how long has it been since you seriously started learning martial arts?"
Tang Sowol let out a scoff, as if finding the situation absurd. Though a bit off, her observation wasn't entirely wrong. Right now, my physical body and internal energy can't keep up with the enlightenment I gained after experiencing regression.
Since she doesn't know about my regression, Tang Sowol must think I possess some absurd level of talent.
Of course, having previously reached the Peak level with a foundationless martial art, I can say I do have decent talent. But it's nowhere near the incredible level she imagines.
"Half of what you see in me, Tang Sowol, probably comes from my resolve rather than innate talent."
"If determination alone can make someone strong, what's the point of learning martial arts?"
"That's not what I meant. How should I explain this... Ah, let's try a hypothetical spar."
"A spar?"
"Let's say you had to fight that old swordsman I dealt with before, along with the lackeys he gathered. But this time, assume you didn't immediately consume the Purple Flower Poison Enhancing Grass and instead kept it for later use in poison techniques."
"Wait a moment… Okay, go on."
Tang Sowol closed her eyes, seemingly deep in thought. Was she seriously imagining the scenario right now? Chuckling at her earnest expression, I continued.
"I'm not beside you. The encirclement is tight enough that even escaping would be difficult. Now, what would you do in that situation?"
"Hmm… Heroically fight to the death? That's not an acceptable answer, is it?"
"Do you think that's a solution? Unless you plan on making me a widower, I'd prefer if you focused on survival."
"Even so, I honestly don't see a way out. Relying solely on hidden weapons would be tough. With poison, I could take down about four first-class fighters and perhaps thirty of the lesser ones, but…"
"What's the problem, then?"
"The old swordsman himself. I'm confident in my abilities. Compared to yours, I may fall short, but among those at the same level, I'm exceptional. However, he's a master at the Peak level, isn't he?"
"And what of it?"
"Pardon?"
"A Peak master is still human. If a sword pierces their heart, they die. If their neck is severed, they die. If they're poisoned, they die. You should be capable of handling even someone stronger than you."
Hearing that, Tang Sowol frowned slightly.
"It ultimately comes down to time. High-level martial artists can use their internal energy to slow down the spread of poison. In some cases, they might even be able to expel it entirely."
"So you're saying you'd be defeated before the poison could take full effect?"
"Yes, since they'd have come prepared to deal with me. Whether they brought antidotes or poison immunity pills, they wouldn't face me without countermeasures."
"Fair enough."
"Of course, once poisoned, their combat strength would drastically drop since they'd have to expend internal energy and concentration to suppress the poison. If I could keep them at bay with hidden weapons and use my movement techniques to maintain distance until they couldn't endure any longer, I might have a chance. But they aren't alone, are they?"
"One more thing: it won't be easy to keep them in check with hidden weapons alone. Unless you can create complex trajectories like my brother, simply throwing many projectiles quickly won't be enough."
"What about movement techniques?"
"The Tang Clan's movement techniques are excellent. In terms of speed, you might be slightly slower or roughly equal to them. But as I mentioned earlier, you'd still be surrounded. Maintaining distance for an extended period would be extremely difficult."
"Ugh… What should I do…?"
Tang Sowol muttered to herself, contemplating various strategies. But no matter how hard she tried, no viable solution seemed to come to mind, and her furrowed brow only deepened.
Resisting the urge to smooth out her creased forehead, I waited patiently for her to respond. After a long moment, she finally exhaled a deep sigh and opened her eyes.
"I don't know. No matter how I think about it, I can't come up with a good answer."
"Is that so? From my perspective, there are a few methods you could try."
At my words, Tang Sowol pursed her lips and glared at me.
"Really? While it's true that you managed something similar in the past, wasn't that only possible because you bought enough time for me to face the old swordsman one-on-one?"
"I wasn't talking about myself. I was talking about you."
"Oh."
"Of course, even if I had to fight them alone, I'd still be confident in winning."
Tang Sowol silently prodded my bandaged arm.
"Ow."
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"It's bearable."
"Then bear with it."
Though she said that, she stopped poking me. Instead, she crossed her arms and spoke with a teasing expression.
"So, how would you fight, oh great hero?"
"It's simple. First, I'd force my way into the midst of the lackeys. Even evil martial artists don't swing their weapons at their allies without cause, unless their own life is at stake."
"Isn't being surrounded at sword's reach more dangerous than being surrounded at a distance?"
"Not necessarily. The number of people who can surround you at any given time is limited. And since they wouldn't have trained in coordinated formations, they wouldn't be perfectly synchronized either."
Unless in special cases, weapons are wielded by human hands, meaning their techniques are limited. If the number of opponents is fixed, and their techniques predictable, there's no need to be overly intimidated.
"Also, being amidst their ranks would act as a form of deterrence against the old swordsman. As I mentioned earlier, even rogue martial artists don't betray their allies without reason. Though they might switch sides quickly, they'll still need a valid excuse."
If he rashly swung his saber at both me and his lackeys, the martial artists he'd gathered would turn on him in an instant. To them, it would seem like he betrayed them first. They wouldn't quietly accept it; they'd either flee or retaliate in desperation.
While I held out among the lackeys, the old swordsman would be forced to fight cautiously.
"No matter how impressive a martial art is, if its fluidity is disrupted, its power is halved. And the lackeys' skills wouldn't easily touch me. For a time, the most dangerous place becomes the safest."
"And after that? You'd still have to face a stronger opponent in an exhausted state."
"If they're stronger than me, whether I'm tired or not wouldn't matter much. Actually, if I'm tired, I might even be able to lull them into complacency."
As I said that, I traced a diagonal line across my chest with my finger, outlining a scar that had recently formed.
"Taking a hit to deal a fatal blow is risky, but highly effective."
Tang Sowol stared at me in stunned silence, her mouth slightly open. Shrugging, I added,
"Wouldn't that be better than passively enduring and dying? At least it's a strategy worth trying. Even if one mistake could cost me my head."
"Somehow, this conversation got long. The point is, don't think of me as some unreachable person."
"Why not? Do you dislike being admired?"
"Of course not. I'm human too, so being respected feels good. But right now, you clearly see me as someone above you."
I didn't like that.
I was just a lucky rogue martial artist who, by sheer chance, managed to break through the wall of transcendence.
Meanwhile, Tang Sowol had reached the Flowering Stage (Hwagyeong) and was one of the few absolute masters who had resisted the Heavenly Demon until the very end.
At present, I may be ahead of her thanks to the insights I gained before my regression, but Tang Sowol has the potential to become far greater than me—and she must.
Twenty years. It may sound like a long time, but when considering that she must grow strong enough to face a monster like the Heavenly Demon, it's far too short.
In the worst-case scenario, I might have to drag Tang Sowol and flee, even if it means being resented for life…
But after spending a short time in the Tang Clan, I realized something. No matter what, Tang Sowol would seek revenge.
Even if I had no intention of doing so, unless I severed her tendons and shattered her core, she wouldn't stop. Perhaps, even if she were crippled, she wouldn't give up.
Ultimately, before the Heavenly Demon and the Demonic Cult march upon us, we need to become as strong as possible. If she continues to unconsciously see herself as beneath me, that will be a problem.
I couldn't explain everything in detail, so I tried to convey my thoughts with one statement.
"So don't set me as your limit."
"Huh?"
"I want to walk alongside you, not become the wall that blocks your path."
"A limit…"
"Tang Sowol can become a martial artist far stronger than Cheon Hwi-da. And the same goes for me. Don't overestimate me, and don't underestimate yourself."
Tang Sowol fell silent, seemingly lost in thought. After a long moment, she finally parted her lips to speak.
"There might be a way, Cheon Hwi-da."
"Hm?"
"You mentioned that the Purple Flower Poison Enhancing Grass wasn't consumed but kept for later use, right? In that case, instead of absorbing it, I'll burn through it all at once. Doing so will temporarily amplify my poison techniques."
"That's dangerous."
"Yes, it will be. Even with my innate poison immunity, I might not be able to withstand the toxicity, and my body could collapse."
"Nine times out of ten, that's exactly what will happen."
"But I'd be able to take down everyone present."
Tang Sowol had arrived at the same idea she did before my regression. I gave her a nod of approval.
"Exactly. The strength you've seen in me is nothing more than that. Don't dwell on it too much and focus on your own training."
"And you'd come running to save me when I collapse, wouldn't you?"
"What?"
Interrupting me, Tang Sowol added with a playful smile.
"Wouldn't you? Since you fell for me at first sight and kidnapped me, you'd come running no matter what."
"It's the same for me. If Cheon Hwi-da were in danger, I'd rush to save you too. That way, instead of gaining strength from some tragic resolve, it would come from trust in one another, wouldn't it?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"I mean, Cheon Hwi-da, don't belittle your own abilities."
Her triumphant expression, as though she had gotten the better of me, was irritating, yet it made me chuckle.
It wasn't a bad feeling.