Chapter 18 …
Invincible Sword Spirit (18) – Yi Do-gi
Thinking he had come because of what happened during the day, Jeok Hwa-myeong’s expression wasn’t very pleasant.
“What brings you here?”
He asked, even though he already knew.
“I heard our clan was insulted today.”
Yi Do-gi spoke while glancing at Geomryeong. But contrary to his expectations, there was no particular reaction.
“So you came here on behalf of your younger brother?”
“That is not the case. I came here to make it clear that if my younger brother was humiliated by this young hero, it was due to his own shortcomings, not because our clan is lacking.”
“I’ve already made it clear to Young Hero Geomryeong. He will not spread word of what happened with your brother, nor will he look down on your clan.”
Though Jeok Hwa-myeong had already settled the matter, Yi Do-gi, after excusing himself to him, addressed Geomryeong directly.
“My brother claims you used sorcery.”
Jeok Hwa-myeong narrowed his eyes.
He had been present at the time, but he hadn’t found any trace of sorcery in Geomryeong’s actions.
All Geomryeong did was move his hand and place it in front of his opponent’s face. To call that sorcery was a stretch.
“It’s strange. Why is it that people cannot admit their own incompetence?”
Though he had asked Jeok Hwa-myeong, he didn’t get an answer.
Instead, Geomryeong rose from his seat and turned to Yi Do-gi.
“Whether I used sorcery or not, what difference does it make? Let’s assume, as you say, that I did. Then what? Isn’t sorcery also a form of martial arts? Is martial arts only what you people have mastered, while others’ techniques are not? Why can’t you admit your shortcomings instead of being envious and resentful?”
Yi Do-gi was momentarily at a loss for words.
Sorcery was indeed a kind of martial arts.
Though righteous sects rarely used it, and it was more common among unorthodox martial artists, it was still undeniably part of martial cultivation.
“What kind of sorcery do you imagine it to be? Is it less humiliating to lose in one way, but unbearable to lose against what you call sorcery?”
“That…”
Yi Do-gi couldn’t answer.
“Before blaming sorcery, shouldn’t you first consider your own lack of ability? If I am wrong, then say so.”
There was nothing wrong with his words.
Even if one claimed sorcery was used, it would not bring back the dead. As Geomryeong said, one ought to guard against such things oneself.
“If it were me, rather than wasting time confronting someone like this, I would just train harder to overcome my own flaws. Am I wrong?”
Jeok Hwa-myeong found himself a little surprised by Geomryeong’s words.
What kind of clan was the Shin Chang clan?
Perhaps not so great when compared across all of Jianghu, but here in Guangdong Province, it was the top clan.
A clan that powerful carried great influence. Yet rather than being intimidated, Geomryeong spoke freely, even lecturing them. His boldness was almost admirable.
“Did you truly use sorcery?” Jeok Hwa-myeong asked.
“It was just a manner of speaking. Your brother must have felt so aggrieved that he insisted it was sorcery. But as I explained earlier, it is more like a natural predator-prey relationship.”
Yi Do-gi narrowed his eyes at the word predator.
“Animals, when faced with a stronger opponent, instinctively freeze. That’s all there is to it.”
Then Geomryeong looked back at Yi Do-gi.
“Would you like to check for yourself whether it’s sorcery?”
Yi Do-gi nodded. Geomryeong slowly reached out his hand.
It was at the same speed as when he had reached for Yi Do-gun earlier.
Thwack!
Geomryeong’s hand touched Yi Do-gi’s face. Both Yi Do-gi himself and Jeok Hwa-myeong were startled.
“This…”
Yi Do-gi wore an expression of disbelief.
“Judging by your face, perhaps I should try once more.”
Again, he moved his hand slowly. Yi Do-gi stared intently at it.
He tried to react to the approaching hand, but once again, Geomryeong’s hand touched his face first.
“Do you understand now?”
Yi Do-gi remained silent.
“If this is what your brother called sorcery, then all martial arts in the world should be called sorcery.”
Yi Do-gi was too shaken to reply.
“Whether it is sorcery or not, that’s for you to decide. But if you don’t wish to be further troubled, wouldn’t it be better to leave it at that?”
Yi Do-gi studied him.
It didn’t seem to be simply a predator-prey relationship that made him unable to move.
If that were the case, there should at least have been fear—but there was none at all.
The hand simply reached out, and before he knew it, touched his face. That was all.
Yi Do-gi felt there must be some secret behind it.
“…Haa.”
Letting out a sigh, Yi Do-gi turned to Jeok Hwa-myeong.
“Would you allow me to join your drinking table?”
Neither Jeok Hwa-myeong nor Geomryeong had expected this. They looked at each other in surprise.
“V-very well, then.”
Unable to refuse the request, Jeok Hwa-myeong agreed, and Yi Do-gi sat down beside him.
“You there.”
A serving boy, worried something might be happening, quickly rushed over when called.
“Bring us more cups, more wine, and some dishes.”
“At once, Young Master Yi Gi!”
The three sat together, drinking and chatting.
At first, the mood was awkward. But as the conversation flowed, Jeok Hwa-myeong began to like Yi Do-gi, who seemed to have a sincere heart as a martial artist.
Geomryeong too did not dislike him, and even showed interest as he listened and responded.
What especially caught Geomryeong’s attention was Yi Do-gi’s talk about the later generation prodigies.
With Cheon Nam-yeon, Gu Yeong-cheol, or Yak-bing, the stories were always about the great masters of past generations—those who had dominated an era, or former patriarchs, sect leaders, or the long dead and buried.
But now, from Jeok Hwa-myeong and Yi Do-gi, he was hearing about the ones who would become the future top masters of Jianghu—the ones who might one day lead great sects and clans. That was far more intriguing.
“So, what about you? Where do you stand among them?” he asked Yi Do-gi.
“I’ve been training diligently, but I cannot say for certain.”
Observing him, Geomryeong tried to gauge the general level of the later generation prodigies.
—By now, the overall level of Jianghu must have risen, Cheon Nam-yeon had once said.
It had been fifty years since those old masters had vanished from Jianghu. Surely, in all that time, the standard of martial cultivation had risen.
But it doesn’t seem to have risen that much. Or perhaps, grandfather and grandmother were simply too strong, leaving others far behind.
“Your words suggest that you don’t easily lose to other prodigies. If there are the Hundred Great Masters, then naturally, the prodigies too have their own rankings. That would mean you rank among the top prodigies, wouldn’t it?”
“Even so, I couldn’t avoid your hand.”
Geomryeong broke into a bright smile. That smile carried a strange charm.
With features so fine that one might mistake him for a woman, his wide smile could almost deceive someone into believing he truly was.
“That would be the same for all the other prodigies as well, so you needn’t worry.”
“For all the other prodigies too?” Jeok Hwa-myeong asked.
“Of course.”
“Then you must be the strongest among them.”
Jeok Hwa-myeong chuckled awkwardly as he said it.
“If you had drawn your sword and wielded it like that, no one could have stopped you.”
“I already told you—I am a master.”
