Turning the Tide

//Well here is another big chapter !//

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"How dare he!!" 

All the Southern Edge Sect's disciples were angry at how Chung Myung humiliated them, and now another disciple of Mount Hua was shouting, asking for a duel.

Jin: *Chung Myung!! How dare you put a scratch on my perfect victory...? You are stronger than I thought, huh? Sure, that's possible. But it won't be the same for the rest... You can't alone lead Mount Hua to victory.*

Jin: "Gong Jin!!"

Gong Jin: "Yes, senior!"

"Go and destroy that arrogant bastard and come back with victory."

"Yes, senior." Gong Jin replied as he jumped into the stadium.

---

Gong Jin stood in front of Yoon Jong, holding his sword towards him. Two years ago, Yoon Jong and Gong Jin had dueled in the last conference, which ended in a disastrous defeat for Yoon Jong. The loss made Yoon Jong depressed and made him think that all his efforts were meaningless, but it was Baek Cheon who inspired him to still work hard until a brat appeared and asked him very nicely to work hard until he nearly died for six straight months. This training made him confident that he would not lose easily today.

"We don't need to say anything, right? I'll show you just how easy I went on you in our last duel, and it'll send shivers down to the core of your being," some kid yapped.

Gong Jin lunged towards Yoon Jong and slashed his sword diagonally. In the past, Yoon Jong might not have been able to react, but this time he firmly held his stance and parried it. This was a little bit shocking for Gong Jin. He lunged again at Yoon Jong and thrust towards his chest, to which Yoon Jong sidestepped and parried it again. Gong Jin attacked continuously, and Yoon Jong either parried or defended against each attack. The attacks were heavy and fast, but Yoon Jong was able to react to all of them, which surprised both of them.

"Is this all you can do...? N-No, don't get me wrong! I didn't mean to tease you. That was a serious question. You're not trying to go easy on me because you want to humiliate me or something?" Yoon Jong asked genuinely.

"Don't get cocky just because you blocked a few attacks!!"

Gong Jin jumped toward Yoon Jong and delivered an overhead strike, but Yoon Jong just sidestepped and reflexively kicked Gong Jin in the abdomen while he was mid-air. Yoon Jong was confused about what Chung Myung had done to him.

Gong Jin lunged towards him again with a horizontal slash, but this time Yoon Jong didn't parry or dodge. Instead, he performed a downward slash. Gong Jin stopped and tried to defend, but...

Takk! Ahh!

His sword broke in two, and Yoon Jong hit him on the shoulder, ending the match in just one attack.

"THAT WAS A GOOD MATCH!"

This surprised everyone, as Yoon Jong, who had lost to his opponent miserably last time, reversed the situation. The whole stadium erupted in excitement, and all the disciples started cheering.

All the elders were so happy they might have died from happiness and relief.

Yoon Jong returned to Mount Hua's side, being congratulated and receiving compliments. Jo Gul approached him and asked for any tips and tricks, to which he replied,

"Gul, just go there. You can't lose even if you want to."

Yoon Jong proceeded to walk towards Chung Myung and asked him,

"What did you do to us?"

"Nothing much, just made you into someone who can win."

"Look there."

"Huh?"

Chung Myung pointed to the central area and spoke.

While Jo Gul was taking his place, the disciples of the Southern Edge Sect came and retrieved the fallen Gong Jin.

"What do you think of the Southern Edge Sect?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are they strong? Weak?"

"Obviously, they're strong."

Chung Myung stared wide-eyed at Yoon Jong and asked.

"Then senior defeated such a strong foe?"

"D-Don't say that. It just happened; what do I know?"

Chung Myung shook his head and giggled.

"Strong. Right, strong. He's strong for his age, but he's weak too."

"… what does that mean?"

"Because he learned so much more than what he should have been taught at that age."

"Isn't it good to learn a lot and get used to it?"

"Senior."

Chung Myung reached out and drew the shape of a tower.

"Martial arts are like a tower. How tall you can build a tower depends on how strong the bottom floor and the foundation are."

"… right."

"But those people started building the second floor before the first was finished, then they added a third on top of the incomplete second as well. They're adding weight to the first floor and building taller without strengthening the foundation first."

"…"

"What do you think will happen if those kids collide with someone who perfectly developed their tower's ground floor?"

"They'll collapse."

"That's right."

Chung Myung said,

"All I did was clear away the wood on the first floor that seniors were building and reforged the foundation. It's difficult to build, but it won't crumble easily once built."

"… I don't understand. Did that training have such meaning?"

"What are the basics of martial arts?"

"Uh?"

Chung Myung's face grew serious.

"There is one fundamental basic: to use the body to strike down the opponent perfectly. The stem forms from that one root, and then the branches proliferate. I just had seniors focus on developing the roots."

"Hmm."

"See."

Chung Myung pointed to Jo Gul. Jo Gul was facing off against the Southern Edge disciple who just came out.

"An unshakeable lower body, clean swordsmanship, and the eyesight to carefully observe everything happening. And above all…."

Jo Gul's sword pushed the opponent's sword and delivered a blow.

"Concentration capable of bringing out all of the body's power at once."

Puak!

Chung Myung smiled.

The disciple of the Southern Edge Sect collapsed, and Jo Gul looked at his opponent with a puzzled expression. He turned his head, unable to believe what he had done.

"For now, that is all you need. With that alone, you can defeat all the kids your age."

Of course, that isn't all.

They also took the pill that Chung Myung gave them. By following Chung Myung's training regime, the disciples managed to create bodies that were second to none.

If they didn't lag behind in physical strength and internal qi, their battles were bound to be decided by their swordsmanship. And anyone who faced them without a solid foundation was destined to fall before them.

Jo Gul returned and looked at Chung Myung with blank eyes. Following his lead, another disciple from Mount Hua went forward.

Totally confident.

He was full of desire to fight and bring honor to their sect.

"I still don't understand. If it's that easy… then why don't the other sects train like that?"

"Easy?"

Chung Myung shook his head.

"Was the training until now easy?"

"N-No. I didn't mean that, but conceptually…."

"Senior."

"Yes?"

"Senior must have studied, right? To be in good form, take rest, take care of one's parents sincerely, and not deceive the weak or be greedy for riches. Above all, be polite to others, respect those below you, live life without losing yourself, keep your friends close, and be loyal to the nation. Can you do all of that?"

"No."

"Why? Isn't that how you become a true man?"

"That…"

Yoon Jong stayed silent. He knew what Chung Myung was talking about.

Everyone knows what it means to be an exceptional man. However, only two or three people in the nation can follow every tenet throughout their entire lives. Such a small number within this vast nation.

In other words, despite knowing what it takes, ordinary people cannot do it.

"Constant water dripping down can pierce a rock. Always devote yourself and work hard. Nothing is more important than effort. The ancestors endlessly emphasize hard work and dedication. Do you know the reason?"

"Well…"

"Because people can't do that."

Chung Myung had a bitter smile.

In fact, Chung Myung was the same in the past. He always craved stronger swordsmanship and fame, even though his senior constantly nagged him about concentrating on his basics.

Even in Chung Myung's final moments, he sought higher ground and never looked down.

Only after death did he realize.

"Train to the point of death, push past your limits and devote yourself to it again and again. It might sound like nonsense…."

Chung Myung pointed to the central area.

Gasp!

Mount Hua's disciple was causing the Southern Edge Sect's disciple to falter and retreat. It was an impressive sight; Mount Hua's disciple wasn't giving his foe any chance to attack or recover.

"But, that's what happens."

"…"

"Although we know what it takes, people can't push themselves that hard. Who would choose to do so? After three days, they'd lie down and say they can't do it, run away, or make some excuse."

Yoon Jong nodded.

Didn't they also try to escape? It was Chung Myung who grabbed them by the collar and forced them to continue.

"You…"

"seniors did it."

Chung Myung said firmly.

"This..."

"…"

"After you endured that, the match was already won. There is nothing more to see. Those who only look up without seeing what's beneath their feet will lose their footing and collapse. If a bird without wings believes that it

 can fly, it'll only realize the truth after the jump."

Chung Myung clicked his tongue when he saw the disciple of the Southern Edge Sect being carried away.

"Their feet betrayed them, and now they'll fall."

Yoon Jong's eyes trembled.

He thought that the training was being overdone. It wasn't just once or twice that he wanted to curse Chung Myung for his vicious methods.

But he endured. He persevered until the end, hoping that he would grow stronger in some way, but all that training was done with a far-off future in mind?

'Where the hell did this guy learn all this?'

Yoon Jong couldn't understand Chung Myung at all, but he was certain of one thing.

Paaak!

Another Southern Edge disciple fell to the ground.

Yoon Jong knew.

His juniors weren't too different. At least, aside from Yoon Jong and Jo Gul, the ten disciples representing Mount Hua were all roughly equal in their abilities.

There was such a large difference between the previous disciple and his opponent. So the result of the next battle would be the same.

That meant…

'We're going to win?'

Mount Hua's third-class disciples against the Southern Edge Sect?

Yoon Jong could feel it.

They were really winning against those bastards.

"W-we are winning?"

No one responded to Yoon Jong's words. They couldn't deny what was happening before them, but it wasn't easy to believe either. It was because they never thought this could happen.

But there was no need for them to believe it.

No matter what Yoon Jong or anyone else thought, the result of the conference was real.

One person.

And another

"Achhh!"

A shrill scream signaled the end.

In an instant, Nine disciples fell.

---

Merchants were also shocked by the unfolding sparring event. At first, Mount Hua lost 10 matches in a row, and now it seemed like they were going to win 10 in a row.

"It seems Mount Hua might really win all 10 matches!"

"They still need to win this match and the next one."

"What do you mean by this one? This is also just one-sided."

"Shisui, are you not going to spar?" Hwang asked.

"Ahh, the last one is me."

"So, are you as strong as the other third-class disciples?"

"I am not as strong as my seniors, but still, I am going to win."

"Best of luck to you!"

All the merchants wished him good luck with their words, but no one meant it, as even if he won, they might lose the bet.

Shisui entered the stadium without saying anything. Soon, his opponent stepped into the stadium with no confidence and shaking legs.

After a few seconds, his opponent sprinted towards him, but Shisui just threw a punch, making him fly a little bit, followed by a kick to his chest.

BOOM

His opponent was out of the ring. It was the shortest fight of the whole conference and destroyed all the dignity and confidence the Southern Edge had, making all the Mount Hua disciples explode with joy!

"Aaaakkkk! We won!"

"All ten! We won them all! Damn it!"

"Chung Myung! We did it! We did it!"

The third-class disciples clenched their fists and cheered. Some even wept. Even the second-class disciples were running to embrace them.

It was like a festival.

Ten wins in a row.

All of Mount Hua's third-class disciples were victorious.

Ten consecutive victories followed after ten straight losses.

It was evident which side would have better momentum and which side had a greater sense of victory.

The disciples from Mount Hua defeated the third-class disciples of the Southern Edge Sect.

// How did you find description of fights ?

Good

Bad

Readable but need improvement ( suggest me some )//