Even with the sense of incongruity, there was nothing Yujin could do. A stranger causing a commotion in a village he had just arrived in would be unwise.
Besides, the subjects of his unease were right here.
'…They don't seem like bad people.'
Chongyue, Nian, Shu, and the boy who seemed to be Nian‘s brother.
Each had a distinct personality. It was just that upon first glance, they gave off a feeling different from ordinary people. Most people probably felt the same.
The accommodation Shu had prepared included a training hall and a spacious sparring ground. It was an outdoor area bathed in sunlight with a gentle breeze, a perfect spot. Yujin readied himself, looking at the man standing before him.
"Now, are you ready? Consider it a light warm-up. Come at me."
A hint of arrogance suggesting he stood above others. The man before him, Chongyue, spread his arms with such an expression, inviting a fight. Yet Yujin did not lower his guard.
His stance, his breathing, every movement—Yujin‘s instincts rang alarm bells.
Though unarmed and bare-handed, the sight of him, looking as if he were displaying the pinnacle of martial arts honed through bare hands alone, felt infinitely heavy to Yujin.
In a corner of the spacious clearing, Theresis, Shining, and some nameless people and children were watching Chongyue. Those nameless people called Chongyue "Grandmaster" and treated him with respect and reverence.
"…I'm going all out."
Yujin took his stance. The spear borrowed from the forge was just an ordinary weapon, inferior to the broken Silver Lance of the Pegasus, but the techniques Yujin imbued into it contained the entire history of a knight order.
Chongyue flinched momentarily at the aura Yujin exuded. A knight who looked like he had just come of age was showing a fierce spirit that momentarily overwhelmed him.
His heart pounded. His chest thumped. Chongyue‘s martial arts were confined solely to Yan. Even if he wanted to see the martial arts of other nations, considering his position and identity, he couldn't leave Yan for long, and crossing borders, even briefly, required strict surveillance.
When was the last time I faced proper martial arts? Decades ago?
He clenched his fist and prepared to step forward. He took a proper stance. Just that was enough to leave the onlookers gaping in shock.
Because Chongyue was usually the one watching with his hands behind his back like an idler.
Yujin‘s body shot forward like a cannonball. The spear was thrust with a rotational force from the entire body, making the lunge indistinguishable from the step.
The moment his body shot forward, the technique was already complete.
A basic technique mastered by all Silverlance Pegasi. Being basic, it had no special name; without mastering it, one had no qualification.
Wind swirled at the spear tip. The swirling wind became a storm and shot toward Chongyue.
But unlike Yujin‘s expectation of a head-on clash, Chongyue instantly twisted his body and punched the ground. The fist shot into the earth instantly shattered the surrounding ground, causing Yujin to lose balance momentarily, but the technique already fired could not be stopped.
A disrupted stance. A slightly twisted center because of it.
In a split second that an ordinary person wouldn't see, Chongyue opened his hand, changing fist to palm. Rather than clashing with the thrusting spearhead, he struck the shaft hard with his palm.
Due to the disrupted stance, accuracy dropped. As Chongyue struck with his palm and took a step, he elegantly dodged Yujin‘s spear thrust. Seeing this as an opportunity, he fired a punch with his other arm, but...
Yujin‘s eyes were looking directly at Chongyue. He let the punch slide past his shoulder as they passed each other.
"…Tch, he's gotten stronger. What a monster."
Theresis muttered, watching Yujin and Chongyue.
After the Champions League, Yujin didn't just teach Sona and Kiril.
While teaching them, he wanted to compensate for his own shortcomings and didn't stop training. He strove to perfectly master the silver spear left by his predecessor and the spearmanship he taught.
As if saying he didn't expect this counter, Yujin instantly readjusted his grip on the spear and drew his sword. Then, kicking off the ground, he rushed at Chongyue again.
Platinum light shone vividly on the sword. A light akin to Yujin‘s symbol.
Yujin gritted his teeth, seeing Chongyue still composed. He felt like he needed to distort that face once to feel better.
Conversely, Chongyue felt a chill watching the rushing Yujin. Seeing the spear thrust just now, Chongyue got serious. How many decades had it been since he was this surprised and serious? Yujin rushing at him looked like a beast trying to tear him apart, but that was only the surface appearance.
Yujin‘s swordsmanship was infinitely precise.
And Chongyue clenched his fist properly. Punching with a gauntleted hand, he clashed with the blade. The moment fist and sword collided, a roar tearing the training ground erupted.
"…Brother Chongyue is serious?"
The boy with flame-like red hair couldn't close his mouth. They were born with one art. In this boy's case, cooking; Nian, forging; Shu, farming.
In their respective fields, they were unmatched within Yan. Their skills were precise and perfect, honed over hundreds of years dedicated to one thing.
And what their eldest, Chongyue, loved was martial arts.
"An unusual kid. Chongyue isn't rushing to kill seriously, but for someone not even 100 years old to be at that level..."
"Ling-jie...!? When did you get here!"
"I was enjoying the breeze on the mountain peak, but I felt an unusual energy."
Blue hair resembling the azure sky. A woman wearing a long coat and short shorts, drinking alcohol from a gourd like water.
Like all her siblings, her appearance was outstanding. Holding a stick that could be a staff or a rod, Ling looked at Yujin and Chongyue with deep eyes.
However, the situation was turning increasingly unfavorable for Yujin. Chongyue‘s steps, his punches and palm strikes, flowed elegantly, deflecting Yujin‘s sword and landing blows. Chongyue‘s fists reached Yujin often, but Yujin hadn't touched Chongyue once.
Thus, Yujin widened the distance. As they separated, Chongyue smiled elegantly and said to Yujin.
"Giving up?"
"…No."
Huff. Yujin gasped roughly, gripping his sword. The spear borrowed from the forge had broken long ago and flown to a corner of the clearing, and Yujin hadn't used what could be called his ultimate technique or secret move.
However, was it just his imagination that he wanted to land a blow on that confident face?
Those gestures, expressions, and words, as if certain of victory from the start.
Yujin controlled his breathing. Chongyue looked at Yujin as if willing to wait forever. Yujin was preparing to make Chongyue regret it.
Not chasing and attacking when Yujin widened the distance.
"Yujin, you...!"
The platinum light rising on the sword compressed to the limit. Theresis tried to intervene in surprise, but Yujin reached out and stopped him.
"I want to see this through to the end."
He said, looking at Chongyue. Thinking something would be different this time, Chongyue continued to watch Yujin.
But.
Stars rise.
Stars of unknown origin. Clearly illuminating the clearing as they rise. Although it was day, the three stars shining with platinum light in the blue sky shone as if it were night.
Chongyue stood still watching it.
But seeing the stars rise, his breath suddenly hitched. What is this? Pupils constricted, heart beating wildly. Suddenly, dragon eyes with vertical slits glared sharply at Yujin.
「 You shall remember. 」
A memory he certainly hadn't experienced. Yet, a single sentence surfaced, embedded in his mind, unforgettable.
Yes.
Now, Chongyue is feeling fear.
For hundreds of years, he had not experienced fear. Yet, feeling fear because a mere boy created stars with Arts?
No, that's not it.
Something inside him was screaming in fear. To be precise, not Chongyue, but the god named Sui was screaming.
「 That you are not gods, but merely creatures like us. 」
It was the same for Ling and the boy watching this fight. What was engraved in them was instinctive fear. For a moment, the only thought dominating their minds was that they had to kill that thing.
Like a creature facing a natural predator, trembling with fear.
Chongyue kicked off the ground seriously, punching with killing intent. The fist harboring murderous intent bore the color of the earth and even the authority of Sui. Though weakened unlike his other siblings, it was a weapon sharper than anything.
Yujin was momentarily flustered, looking at Chongyue. Suddenly feeling murderous intent from the audience, and Chongyue rushing to rip out his heart like a beast. First, Yujin shone the first star and struck straight down with his sword.
Chongyue‘s gauntlet and Yujin‘s sword collided, shattering the earth. The moment the two were forced back by the shockwave.
"STOP——!"
A scream loud enough to tear the air stopped them both.
Hair resembling the color of autumn, fluttering in the wind and dust.
Shu appeared instantly, separating Yujin and Chongyue with a wall of green grass.