Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: After the Son Left
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After his son departed.
Wi Juseok picked up the liquor bottle again and spat out.
Laughter responded to his cursing. U Chongwan hardened his expression and turned his head.
Crunch.
The sound of biting into an apple rang out especially clearly.
"No matter what we talk about, isn't it my freedom?"
The Black Demon King said with a grin, chewing on the apple with a crunch.
Wi Juseok glared at the Black Demon King with eyes full of rage.
"You're even coveting my son?"
"Old age brings greed. If I had been the Black Death Alliance Leader a hundred years ago, I wouldn't have let the Heavenly Harmony Sect go."
"At the very least, that's certain. Sama Iljon pursued greater justice than you."
"That's not true. Sama Iljon let the Heavenly Harmony Sect go because he thought they could be useful someday. Can that be called greater justice? I see it as petty arrogance."
The Black Demon King sneered.
Wi Juseok clamped his lips shut and glared at the Black Demon King. Then he let out a deep sigh and added.
"...I know that. It's just, Black Demon King, I wanted to annoy you."
"Haha! I like your honesty, Heavenly Harmony Sect Lord. But invoking Sama Iljon won't annoy me. It doesn't even make me angry."
The Black Demon King said that as he came down from the window frame and approached Wi Juseok.
"Twenty years ago, the first time I saw you, I liked you. You didn't break your spirit even with this Black Demon King before you. So I decided to respect you."
"I couldn't have answered even if you'd pressed harder. The Heavenly Net Binding made sure to seal my mouth."
"Even without the Heavenly Net Binding, you wouldn't have broken your spirit before me."
The Black Demon King smiled faintly. He held out his empty cup to Wi Juseok. Wi Juseok let out a long sigh and poured liquor into the Black Demon King's cup.
"...Leave my son alone."
"I have no intention of dragging him away by force. I'm always like that. I can take things by force, but I don't particularly like it."
"I know that. That's why I don't hate you completely. But you're a violent, nasty old man."
"An accurate assessment."
The Black Demon King burst into laughter and took the bottle from Wi Juseok, filling his cup in return.
"Don't worry too much. I have no plans to steal the Dormant Dragon by force."
"Then why spout nonsense to my son?"
"I wanted to test it."
The Black Demon King brought the cup to his lips.
"Whether you still cling to the Heavenly Harmony Sect's convictions. Whether you still hold those convictions you should pass to your son as something sacred."
"I've never held them sacred."
Wi Juseok spat out.
"Damn convictions. In this world, and born into the Heavenly Harmony Sect, I was forced to shoulder them. I've never once seen them as sacred. That's why I didn't place the Heavenly Net Binding on my son."
"You don't think it's thanks to me?"
The Black Demon King chuckled slyly.
"Thanks to me turning Sama Iljon into a cripple and killing off all his limbs who remained in the unorthodox sects. You gained relative freedom from the Heavenly Net Binding."
"If only you'd done it sooner. Even then, my cripple of a father would have placed the Heavenly Net Binding on me."
Wi Juseok grimaced and grumbled. His father, the previous Heavenly Harmony Sect Lord Wi Sinak... was that kind of man. To Wi Juseok, his father was remembered more as the sect lord than as a father.
"Damn convictions. But you do cling to them, don't you?"
"Think what you want."
Wi Juseok spat that out and poured more liquor into the Black Demon King's cup.
"...I won't say much more."
Wi Juseok set down the bottle and bowed his head slightly to the Black Demon King.
"...Please take good care of that child."
"What now? Don't worry."
The Black Demon King smirked and raised his cup.
"I like your son."
* * *
"Where'd you go?"
Wi Seongcheon's steps halted.
It was Paeng Yeonhwa who spoke. The outside was still buzzing with festival excitement, but the dormitory was quiet. Paeng Yeonhwa sat alone on the first floor. Wi Seongcheon composed his expression and answered.
"I went to see my father."
"...What's that in your hair?"
Paeng Yeonhwa tilted her head and asked. At her words, Wi Seongcheon reached up and touched the flower still hanging in his hair.
Crunch!
The petals crumbled and fell at his touch. Earlier, when U Hayeon had placed it there, it had been fresh as if deeply rooted in the ground. Now, the flower was unmistakably dead. Had it died absorbing the Black Demon King's aura? Or...
'Was it because of me?'
Had his wavering heart caused it to wither? Wi Seongcheon sighed and brushed the crumbled petals from his hair.
"It was a flower."
"...I can see that. Why were you walking around with that in your hair?"
"Um, I ran into Senior U Hayeon before seeing my father. She put it there on her own."
At Wi Seongcheon's answer, Paeng Yeonhwa's lips pouted.
"It doesn't suit you at all, so don't do that."
"I know it doesn't suit me."
Wi Seongcheon grumbled as he approached Paeng Yeonhwa.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just sitting."
"Isn't the Imperial Heaven Festival new to you too? Why not go out and see the sights?"
"...Wanna go together?"
Paeng Yeonhwa asked hesitantly. Wi Seongcheon fell silent for a moment. He gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"Sorry, not tonight. I have a match tomorrow. You too, right?"
"Yeah."
"Heeran... will be hospitalized in the medical ward. Where's Bang Jun?"
"He got dragged off by the Beggar Clan Leader earlier."
Paeng Yeonhwa said that and stared at Wi Seongcheon. Wi Seongcheon deliberately smiled and tilted his head.
"Why are you staring like that..."
"Something happen?"
Paeng Yeonhwa asked abruptly. She stood and strode toward Wi Seongcheon.
"Don't say nothing happened. I can tell that's not true."
"I argued a bit with my father."
Wi Seongcheon trailed off vaguely in his answer.
"That's all."
"...You okay?"
Paeng Yeonhwa's steps stopped right in front of him. She looked up into his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"If you're not okay, and... yeah. If it's tough, you can tell me. I can at least listen."
"You don't either."
"That's because I think it's something I have to overcome on my own."
"Same for me."
Wi Seongcheon smirked and patted Paeng Yeonhwa's shoulder.
"Thanks for worrying. But it's not serious. Arguing with my father isn't a first or second time."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
At Wi Seongcheon's answer, Paeng Yeonhwa nodded slightly. She fidgeted with her lips for a moment before speaking softly.
"When you fought Yeong Sojin..."
"Yeah?"
"I was a bit much, right? Too aggressive, I think."
"Not really? I thought it was refreshing and good. Your last words were impressive too."
Her ears twitched at his smiling response.
"Y-you heard?"
"Of course. Everyone in the arena heard. Yeong Sojin got it loud and clear too. She doesn't want to die, after all."
Paeng Yeonhwa's face flushed red, and her tail shook vigorously side to side. She backed away in a fluster and blurted out.
"I didn't mean to! I was angry!"
"Why be embarrassed?"
"I don't know!"
Truthfully, she had wanted to take down Yeong Sojin a bit more stylishly. But the moment she slapped her cheek, all the humiliations from Yeong Sojin flooded back. That made Paeng Yeonhwa's actions even more extreme.
The One Heart Unmoving Resolve controlled her madness, but it didn't make her emotions consistent.
"I liked it."
"...Huh?"
Paeng Yeonhwa's ears shot up. Realizing it after the fact, she hurriedly pressed her head down with both hands. Wi Seongcheon couldn't understand her action but continued.
"Your match. It felt like you were finally letting it all out honestly. You're not gonna forfeit next, right?"
Paeng Yeonhwa hesitated at his grinning question. Honestly, the thought had crossed her mind.
She hated Yeong Sojin. So she didn't want to forfeit. She'd always avoided this kind of thing before, but not this time. Truthfully, feeling that drive was because of Wi Seongcheon.
But was there reason to keep fighting?
Paeng Yeonhwa was doubtful about that. Her next opponent was a third-year mid-tier class student.
She didn't even know the name or face. No emotions at all.
"...No."
Paeng Yeonhwa hesitated before answering. She'd barely taken that one step. She didn't want to stop now. Since it had come to this, she wanted to keep going. Wi Seongcheon looked down into her eyes and smirked.
"Good."
"...What's good?"
"I wanted to face you in the main rounds if possible."
Paeng Yeonhwa blinked, then burst into laughter.
"You're saying that, but what if you lose to Senior Jinu?"
"It'd be super embarrassing. Then don't tease—just comfort me."
Wi Seongcheon laughed with her as he passed by. Paeng Yeonhwa turned her head to watch him climb the stairs to the second floor.
"N-next time."
"Huh?"
Wi Seongcheon stopped and turned back at her hurried words. Paeng Yeonhwa was still pressing her ears down with her hands. But her unbound tail was wagging eagerly.
"...Next time... I mean... before the Imperial Heaven Festival ends."
Her words stuttered. Paeng Yeonhwa got annoyed at herself. She took a deep breath and spat it out quickly with force.
"Let's walk around at night together. I've walked around with you during the day already."
"Sure."
Wi Seongcheon nodded with a smile. Paeng Yeonhwa beamed.
"Good night."
"You too."
Paeng Yeonhwa waved. Wi Seongcheon turned and climbed the stairs again.
He'd said good night, but sleep wouldn't come. The smile faded from Wi Seongcheon's face.
Words from the Black Demon King and his father echoed in his mind. And his final words to his father.
'Fuck off.'
Wi Seongcheon clenched his fist.
He didn't know about the Heavenly Harmony Sect's fate or traditions. Honestly, he didn't want to know. But Wi Seongcheon had learned the Heavenly Harmony Sect's martial arts and respected his father.
That was it. He hated the persecution and contempt, so he wanted to make the Heavenly Harmony Sect's name shine. That was all Wi Seongcheon yearned for. He had no interest in the fate of a sect he barely knew. No, he wouldn't care.
The distant future? Who knows.
But not now. He wasn't the Heavenly Harmony Sect Lord yet.
"Thanks, Father."
Entering his empty room, Wi Seongcheon sat cross-legged.
"For not using that fucking binding on me."
If he'd received the Heavenly Net Binding.
Like his father or the previous lords, he'd have to silently endure the contempt.
"Thanks to you, I'll do as I want. Just like you hoped."
Wi Seongcheon's eyes flashed.
"That's why I trained so hard in martial arts."
A grinding sound came from the bones in his still-bandaged right hand.
* * *
The preliminaries, scheduled for four days, proceeded without incident. The schedule neither delayed nor sped up. Today, the finals of the twenty groups would determine the twenty students advancing to the main rounds.
None of the Five Dragon Younglings were eliminated. As everyone expected. The other finalists were mostly upper-tier students by grade.
The one exception was in the first-years.
Three from the first-year lower tier had reached their group finals: Mokgeol Bang Jun, Hoa Paeng Yeonhwa, and Dormant Dragon Wi Seongcheon.
Given their bracket and prelim performances, Bang Jun and Paeng Yeonhwa's advancement was virtually certain.
But not Wi Seongcheon.
"His matchup is too unfavorable."
"Still, for a Heavenly Harmony Sect kid, he did well."
"Setting aside the Heavenly Harmony Sect background, didn't he live up to the Dormant Dragon title?"
"But that's as far as it goes."
The east arena drew a large crowd. Finals were happening in other arenas too, but most attention focused here. The four days of prelims had made it clear who would win each group and advance.
So, even if the outcome was obvious, people came for the spectacle.
The east arena's Group 4 final.
Little Buddha Jinu versus Dormant Dragon Wi Seongcheon.
The most anticipated group final. Thanks to that, early eliminations, VIPs, and festival-goers filled the east arena to capacity.
Spectators unable to sit clustered in any empty space.
"Now we can finally see how great Shaolin's Little Buddha truly is."
"Haha! Aren't you overrating the Heavenly Harmony Sect kid? He's called Dormant Dragon, but can he even draw out Little Buddha's full strength...?"
Elders of the Nine Great Righteous Sects seated in the VIP stands chatted with laughs. The Shaolin Abbot Myeongjin remained serene, turning his prayer beads, ignoring their talk.
"I heard the Black Death Alliance Leader dotes on the Heavenly Harmony Sect kid."
"Yes. There was a minor disturbance a few days ago."
"Even if they were unorthodox once, they're righteous now, but the young Dormant Dragon seems unaware."
Martial Alliance members were in the VIP stands too. The alliance experts glanced at their leader while talking.
The clash three days ago between the Black Death Alliance Leader and the Demon-Exterminating Righteous Heaven Army. It barely qualified as a clash, but the Black Death Alliance Leader acting 'freely' could be seen as an insult to the Martial Alliance.
"We received an apology from the Black Death Alliance Leader regarding that."
Martial Alliance Leader Baek Goon Gam Taejun spoke.
"He said the young junior amused him, and with no one to talk to, he was bored. He has no desire to sour relations with the Martial Alliance over it, so please understand."
"Hmm... if so..."
"With the Demonic Cult as our great foe, no need to clash with the Black Death Alliance."
"Indeed. His coming here personally shows his intent to stand against the Demonic Cult with us."
Gam Taejun nodded firmly at the elders' words.
"I've arranged a deep talk with the Black Death Alliance Leader in a few days over that too. So no rash actions, everyone."
Gam Taejun said that and looked up. Across the arena, in the opposite VIP stand, sat the Black Death Alliance Leader.
He watched the arena while eating an apple as usual, unconcerned by the Martial Alliance's presence.
"What about Sword Dragon, Heroic Maiden?"
"Sword Dragon's match will end soon. Bang Jun's will take a bit longer, but since they're coming to see him, they'll arrive shortly."
The east arena's Groups 1, 2, and 3 finals had already ended. As expected, Dang Seona won Group 1, and Nine Great Righteous Sect disciples took Groups 2 and 3, advancing.
In the end, this tournament would boil down to the Nine Great Righteous Sects and the Five Dragon Younglings.
"The Heavenly Harmony Sect Lord raised his son well."
The Kunlun Sect Leader muttered. He glared at Wi Juseok's back below. Uncomfortable, but undeniable.
Wi Seongcheon had perfectly overwhelmed Kunlun disciple So Ilsan. His skill was undoubtedly worthy of Dormant Dragon.
"Quite the crowd, though."
"The most worth watching final, right? Little Buddha versus Dormant Dragon. Little Buddha wins, obviously, but matches aren't just about results. Everyone's eager to see how Little Buddha crushes the Dormant Dragon."
"Haha! Looking forward to Little Buddha flattening the Heavenly Harmony Sect's arrogance."
Not just Nine Great Righteous Sects, famed families, and Martial Alliance chattered about the match. Mid- and small-sect members outside VIP stands snickered too.
They didn't want the likes of Heavenly Harmony Sect soaring high.
"Too bad the Dormant Dragon's injuries aren't fully healed."
"That kid never used his right hand once getting this far."
"I hear his internal injuries aren't healed either."
They whispered and glanced at Wi Juseok. Despite it being his son's match, Wi Juseok's face was calm. Arms crossed, he stared into the arena's waiting area.
"We said he'd win."
U Chongwan muttered.
"He's not one to boast without confidence."
Wi Juseok snorted in response.
Time was up.