In the training ground, Namgung Il and Jong Seo-eon were sparring.
Tang—!
Jong Seo-eon was holding a Dog Beating Staff, and Namgung Il was holding a wooden sword.
Just from that, one could tell that this duel was not a real fight but a practice, but the momentum of the two was almost close to a real fight.
‘As expected… Captain is not an easy opponent.’
He had felt it during the ten days of special training, but there was a clear gap between him and Namgung Il.
Other than hitting his leg on the first day, he had not once succeeded in landing a proper blow on Namgung Il.
It was the same now, even after several days had passed since then.
He had thought that his Dog Beating Staff Technique had improved considerably compared to the past, but he still didn't have the confidence that he could land a proper blow on Namgung Il.
‘Still… I will definitely succeed!’
That's why Jong Seo-eon could fight with all his might.
His goal was, after all, to land a proper blow on Namgung Il.
Since he didn't have to worry about things like controlling his strength in a duel with Namgung Il, Jong Seo-eon focused only on that one thing and swung his Dog Beating Staff.
Jong Seo-eon's Dog Beating Staff sharply aimed for Namgung Il's head.
However, Namgung Il blocked the attack without any major incident.
The attack was blocked so perfectly that the one who had swung the Dog Beating Staff lost strength, but Jong Seo-eon did not give up and continued to move his Dog Beating Staff in various directions.
Grin—
Seeing that, a slight smile formed on Namgung Il's lips.
‘He’s changed a lot in that time.’
A fighting spirit so hot it could be called that was felt in Jong Seo-eon's eyes now.
Recalling the Jong Seo-eon of the past, it was a change that could be called surprising.
Through the duel with Yu Ji-han, Jong Seo-eon seemed to have grown not only in martial arts but also in other ways.
“……”
Namgung Il was very pleased with that growth of Jong Seo-eon.
Didn't the way he was persistently clinging to him like a fighting dog now look quite befitting of a successor?
Of course, there were still many areas where he was lacking, but the fact that he was gradually growing was more important than anything else.
‘As expected, it was a good thing I made him duel with Yu Ji-han.’
That seemed to have been some kind of trigger for Jong Seo-eon.
A trigger that allowed him to grow further as a martial artist.
Of course, Namgung Il had accepted that duel with some intention, but the effect seemed to be much greater than he had expected.
Just then, Jong Seo-eon lowered his posture and swung his Dog Beating Staff greatly.
It seemed like an attack aimed at the lower body, but Namgung Il, as if he had already expected it, lightly jumped up and dodged the attack.
Swoosh—
Namgung Il's figure passed over Jong Seo-eon's head and landed behind him.
Seeing that, Jong Seo-eon hurriedly turned his head back, but discovering the wooden sword pointed at him, he stopped his movement.
“…I lost.”
Jong Seo-eon said, looking at the wooden sword pointed at his neck.
In this situation, it was almost impossible to turn the tables, no matter what he did.
He had thought he was almost there this time, but in the end, it was impossible for his Dog Beating Staff to reach Namgung Il this time as well.
“The point of aiming for the lower body at the end was quite commendable.”
“……”
“But your movements are too big. That’s why your back is so easily taken like this.”
Namgung Il said, sheathing his wooden sword.
Jong Seo-eon muttered the part Namgung Il had just pointed out to himself, then nodded as if he understood.
“I see… I understand!”
“……”
“Captain, may I ask for one more time?”
Jong Seo-eon requested another duel.
At that moment, a voice was heard not from Namgung Il, but from another side.
Jong Seo-eon looked that way with a displeased expression at the sudden appearance of an uninvited guest.
“Jong Seo-eon! Keep your turn!”
“……”
“It’s my turn this time. So if you want to have a duel, wait until your turn comes.”
The owner of that voice was none other than Yu Ji-han.
And right next to him was Jeong Hyeon-yeong.
It was understandable that Jeong Hyeon-yeong was here since he was a member of the Osuhoe, but it felt quite unnatural for Yu Ji-han to be here now.
“What do you mean, your turn? In the first place, why is an outsider here?”
Jong Seo-eon grumbled at Yu Ji-han.
Wasn't this training ground now owned by the Osuhoe, not the Turyonghoe?
Yu Ji-han, the president of the Turyonghoe, was naturally a person who should not be here.
“If you have a complaint, tell your president.”
“……”
“The person who gave me permission to be here is Namgung Il.”
Yu Ji-han said with a confident appearance.
Of course, Jong Seo-eon already knew that fact before hearing it, but to be honest, he still didn't understand it at all.
“Namgung Il, I also want to have a duel with you here.”
“What about the Turyonghoe?”
“It’s on a temporary break until we find a place to replace this one.”
“Really? Then do as you please.”
In this way, Yu Ji-han came to be here.
Since it was something Namgung Il had permitted, Jong Seo-eon had been silent until now, but seeing Yu Ji-han's brazen attitude, he could no longer stand it.
“Captain! Let’s kick that guy out right now!”
“……”
From Namgung Il's perspective, both Jong Seo-eon and Yu Ji-han were junior disciples he had to look after.
So if that side wanted it, he had agreed with the intention of looking at Yu Ji-han's martial arts as well, but it seemed another junior disciple was not pleased with that.
“You can just take turns, can’t you?”
“……”
“And your skills will improve more if you have duels with various people.”
As Namgung Il said that, Jong Seo-eon could no longer say anything.
Hmph—
Just then, Yu Ji-han's laughter was heard from that side.
Hurriedly turning his head to where the sound came from, Yu Ji-han was looking at Jong Seo-eon with an arrogant appearance.
“That’s a shame.”
“……Come out. I’ll be your opponent.”
“What?”
“If you’re scared, you don’t have to. You’ve already lost to me once.”
This time, Jong Seo-eon said with an arrogant expression.
At that moment, Yu Ji-han's face contorted.
Although it was a very obvious provocation, it seemed to be more effective than anything else on Yu Ji-han.
“Alright! I’ll make you realize to your bones that you won by luck back then!”
“That’s what I should be saying. I won’t allow a single attack this time.”
“And if I win, use honorifics. You keep talking down to me, your senior, because I let it slide.”
“Then conversely, if I win, you use honorifics to me.”
Before the duel even began, the two were growling at each other.
Since it was an atmosphere where anyone could see that something big was about to happen, Jeong Hyeon-yeong approached Namgung Il with a worried face and said.
“Namgung Il, shouldn’t you stop those two over there?”
“Why? They seem to get along very well.”
“……”
They look like they get along?
At Namgung Il's words, Jeong Hyeon-yeong was so dumbfounded that he was at a loss for words for a moment.
‘No, but in the first place, why is that person here?’
Jeong Hyeon-yeong knew nothing about this situation.
He had suddenly been told by Namgung Il today that he had joined a place called the Osuhoe, and when he came here, wasn't Yu Ji-han here?
The sight of the usually gentle Jong Seo-eon growling at someone like that was also just confusing to Jeong Hyeon-yeong.
“……That person, he’s from the Azure Dragon Class, right?”
“Yeah.”
“And he looks older than us… Why is he here?”
“Well, something happened.”
So what on earth was that something?
Namgung Il just said that and was about to go somewhere.
“N-Namgung Il. Where are you going?”
“I have something to do. I’m leaving for today.”
“No… are you just going to leave those two?”
Jong Seo-eon and Yu Ji-han were still growling at each other.
Was Namgung Il really going to just leave those two and go?
As if Jeong Hyeon-yeong's worries were colorless, Namgung Il answered in a calm voice.
“Leave them be. Kids grow up fighting.”
Saying so, Namgung Il left the training ground without looking back.
Jeong Hyeon-yeong stared blankly at his back.
“If I win, don’t ever come near here again!”
“Alright. Then if I win, bow your head at a right angle every time you see me from now on.”
“Who do you think is scared? I’ll take that and…”
Jeong Hyeon-yeong turned his head again and looked at the two.
‘…Do they get along?’
Looking at it this way, it seemed so.
Jeong Hyeon-yeong looked at the two for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.
Haa—
Let it be.
Jeong Hyeon-yeong no longer wanted to think about anything.
***
Namgung Il was walking through the forest.
“……”
The reason he had left the three and left the training ground was because he really had something to do.
A personal brewery that he would use when he made alcohol in the future.
Namgung Il had come here to search for that place.
‘It would be nice if I could find a suitable place.’
The forest Namgung Il had just entered was Gyeryongsan Mountain, owned by the Flying Dragon Academy.
Of course, Gyeryongsan Mountain was still designated as a forbidden area.
As a student, Namgung Il was naturally not allowed to enter this place, but Namgung Il was walking through the forest quite confidently.
No, it wasn't that he was confident.
Since he already had a record, if he were caught walking around a forbidden area like this again, his position would become quite difficult.
Because of that, Namgung Il was taking steps while carefully checking his surroundings.
‘No matter how much I think about it, there’s no place like this.’
Gyeryongsan Mountain was a very attractive place to build a brewery.
First, it was close to the academy in terms of distance, and the fact that it was a forbidden area also prevented students from approaching.
It was the same for outsiders.
Because it was owned by the Flying Dragon Academy, outsiders also could not enter this place recklessly.
‘The fact that it’s a forbidden area bothers me a little… but well, it won’t be a problem as long as I don’t get caught.’
He was confident that he could continue to enter and exit without getting caught in the future.
However, if there was something that bothered him a little, it was the guilt as a student.
He especially felt a little sorry for Seo Shin-won.
‘I can’t help it, Seo Saeng-won. It’s no fun if all the students are model students, right?’
There had to be some disobedient students like him mixed in for the teacher to have the fun of teaching them.
Of course, that was just his own thought.
Without listening to the teacher's position at all, Namgung Il had roughly come to that conclusion.
In the meantime, Namgung Il was still walking around, searching for a place.
The best place was a cave. Even if it wasn't, a place that was cut off from the outside was good.
If there was no suitable place, he was even thinking of artificially creating one, but finding a place that didn't require such effort was the best.
‘Do I have to come again tomorrow?’
The sun would be setting soon.
If that happened, the search would become more difficult, so Namgung Il was planning to look around a little more and then return to the academy.
“……?”
It was then.
Namgung Il discovered an entrance that looked like a cave in front of him, and his face lit up.
‘What’s this, it appears just as I was about to leave?’
Fortunately, it seemed he wouldn't have to search for a place until tomorrow.
However, whether that cave was usable or not could only be known by going inside.
Namgung Il immediately approached the cave.
“……!”
At that moment, Namgung Il's eyes widened.
Simultaneously, Namgung Il hurriedly hid his body.
Completely concealing his presence, Namgung Il stared at the cave entrance.
Thud— Thud—
A moment later, the sound of footsteps was heard from the cave.
‘As expected… there was someone.’
Namgung Il had hidden his body after feeling someone's presence inside the cave.
But who on earth was in a place like this?
Although he had come here because of the brewery, it was a place that no one would normally approach.
“……”
Just then, the owner of the footsteps came out from inside the cave.
As soon as he saw the face, Namgung Il's eyes were filled with questions.
Why is that person...
The person who came out from inside the cave was a face Namgung Il knew well.
‘Cha Yul-ryeong?’
That cold gaze and unpleasant impression.
Namgung Il could tell at a glance that that person was Cha Yul-ryeong.
(End of Chapter)