Chapter 107
Chapter 107
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Black Heaven Young Master
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Black Heaven Young Master.
After Jinwoo left, Wi Seongcheon pondered the nickname. It was one he'd never heard before. Even the fact that Little Buddha Jinwoo had been defeated wasn't widely known.
If the man had sought fame by challenging Jinwoo, he surely would have boasted about taking down Little Buddha Jinwoo.
The nickname Black Heaven Young Master would have spread across the world at the same time. Yet it hadn't... which meant he hadn't challenged Jinwoo for fame.
"You okay?"
A worried voice called out. Wi Seongcheon glanced up ahead. Paeng Yeonhwa, Bang Jun, and Dang Heeran were watching him. Wi Seongcheon chuckled and nodded.
"Not okay, but not bad enough to worry about."
"Three in a row, three in a row."
Bang Jun clicked his tongue.
"Ever since your fight with Jinbae sunbae, you've been turning into a total wreck three fights straight. You gonna actually die next time?"
"Don't jinx it."
Paeng Yeonhwa shot him a glare.
"Still, I'm better off than Heeran. My shoulder didn't pop out."
"If we're talking injury severity, yours is worse than mine."
"But I won."
Wi Seongcheon grinned as he spoke, and Dang Heeran glared at him. Bang Jun burst into laughter at that.
"True enough. Out of all of us, you're the only one who didn't make it to the main tournament, Heeran."
"Quit acting smug when you've had all the luck."
"What? All the luck? Hey, I went hard too, you know?"
"Harder than me?"
Dang Heeran's eyes flashed. Bang Jun smacked his lips and backed off without arguing further. Paeng Yeonhwa quietly shut her mouth as well.
It was true—compared to Dang Heeran, who had drawn Dang Seona from the start, or Wi Seongcheon, who had faced Jinwoo in the finals, Bang Jun and Paeng Yeonhwa had gotten easier matchups.
"Looks like your luck's run out here, though."
Dang Heeran smirked teasingly at Bang Jun. His face crumpled at the smile.
While Wi Seongcheon had been talking with Reverend Myeongjin and Jinwoo, the main tournament brackets had been set. Bang Jun's first opponent was none other than Serpent Beauty Dang Seona.
"I'm forfeiting."
"Sure you are."
"Better to get beaten by a staff than get wrecked by your sister."
Bang Jun grumbled and glanced at Paeng Yeonhwa.
"Your opponent is third-year Baek Jinpung sunbae, right?"
"Yeah."
"You're better off than me."
Bang Jun's shoulders slumped. Paeng Yeonhwa's first foe, Baek Jinpung, was a disciple of the Kunlun Sect, one of the Nine Great Righteous Sects. No pushover, but Bang Jun figured he'd rather fight Baek Jinpung twice over than face Serpent Beauty.
"You need to be careful."
"Huh?"
"Serpent Beauty Seona sunbae doesn't seem to like you much."
Wi Seongcheon recalled his conversation with Dang Seona in Gansu. Bang Jun blinked in surprise. Soon, his face twisted in despair.
"Hey, what the hell does that mean? Huh? What did I do for Sahee sunbae to dislike me?"
"She didn't single you out exactly. But she definitely didn't like you."
"That's the same as hating me!"
"Look at this shameless bastard. Common sense—anyone who'd like your stinky junk is the weirdo."
"You guys like me!"
"We don't like the smell."
Dang Heeran grumbled. Paeng Yeonhwa nodded silently in agreement. Bang Jun's eyebrows twitched in outrage.
"I'm forfeiting."
"Come on, you've made it to the main tournament—would be a shame. Who knows, maybe Seona sunbae forfeits first from your stench."
"Cut the bullshit, you lunatic. More importantly, why are you so chill?"
"Me? What about me?"
"You forfeiting or not?"
Bang Jun glared. Dang Heeran and Paeng Yeonhwa stared intently at Wi Seongcheon too. They hadn't said it outright, but that was the reason they'd come.
"Forfeit."
Bang Jun said with a pained expression. Dang Heeran nodded in agreement.
"I heard about your condition from the medical chief. Multiple punctures, broken thumb. The bones in your hand that were healing cracked again. Your internal injuries flared up too. You need at least a month of rest."
"Isn't that pretty intact for someone who beat Little Buddha Jinwoo sunbae?"
"Yeah, you fought well. ...Your fight with Jinwoo sunbae was the most brutal spar I've ever seen."
Their injuries were just as severe. In the Yicheon Tournament spars, where the rule "no killing" applied, lethal moves were restricted, and hand-to-hand combat was mandatory. Injuries this bad were rare.
"So that's it. Your next opponent's no good."
"Even with another opponent, I'd reconsider forfeiting, but this one's a no."
Bang Jun backed up Dang Heeran's words. Wi Seongcheon glanced at Paeng Yeonhwa, who hadn't spoken.
Though silent, her eyes were filled with worry, just like Bang Jun and Dang Heeran.
"...Forfeit. You know how it'll end."
Paeng Yeonhwa said quietly. Wi Seongcheon chuckled and nodded.
"Yeah, the outcome's obvious. Even at full strength, I don't think I could beat Oh Ha-yeon sunbae."
Wi Seongcheon replied calmly.
Sword Sage Oh Ha-yeon.
She was Wi Seongcheon's opponent tomorrow. Among the students Wi Seongcheon had seen at Heavenly Academy, she was undoubtedly the strongest. He couldn't imagine Dang Seona or Mu Yeonjun being stronger than her, though he'd have to clash blades to know for sure.
Yet Oh Ha-yeon had never won the Yicheon Tournament. She'd always advanced to the main rounds but never claimed victory.
Last year's winner had been Jinwoo, not her, and she'd failed to reach the semifinals.
"Knock knock."
The sound came suddenly. Not from the door, but from someone's mouth. Everyone turned in confusion, but Wi Seongcheon burst out laughing.
"What're you doing?"
"This carries better."
Peeking through the cracked door was Oh Ha-yeon. She smiled awkwardly at the juniors sitting near Wi Seongcheon's bed.
"I overheard you talking about me. Was gonna come back later, but... yeah. Feels like I should say something too."
The three excluding Wi Seongcheon stood and bowed politely. Oh Ha-yeon waved her hands.
"Ehehe, no need for that. Sorry for eavesdropping—I didn't mean to..."
"We should've spoken softer."
Wi Seongcheon grinned.
"Have a seat. They're your junior's friends? And all juniors anyway. Oh, right. Any interest in the club?"
"Pardon...?"
"Not here to recruit for the Youth Society, are you?"
Wi Seongcheon cut off Oh Ha-yeon, whose eyes sparkled at the chance to pitch. She blinked, then laughed.
"...Yeah. But just in case, come visit sometime. Our Wi Seongcheon junior looked clueless at first, but once he got into it, he took to flower arranging like a pro."
Oh Ha-yeon chuckled and sat in an empty spot. Bang Jun edged away unnecessarily, suddenly self-conscious about the stench talk.
But Oh Ha-yeon showed no sign of it and stared straight at Wi Seongcheon.
"Junior. Guess why I'm here?"
"Prize if I do?"
"Nope. I'll just say it."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Forfeit."
"I barely beat Jinwoo sunbae to get here—forfeiting now would suck."
"Should I forfeit then?"
Oh Ha-yeon tilted her head. Everyone stared at her in shock. She wore a faint smile. Wi Seongcheon could tell she wasn't lying.
"Then I'd hate you, sunbae. And quit the Sentimental Romantics."
So Wi Seongcheon answered honestly in return.
"That... I'd hate that. I like you, junior. Can't have you hating me. And you quitting Sentimental Romantics? No way. Starting next year, no more Miju unnie or Seobaek oppa."
Oh Ha-yeon muttered softly.
"If you don't forfeit, sunbae, I won't hate you or quit Sentimental Romantics."
"Your body's a mess, junior. You know better than anyone you can't push it."
"Don't care if I lose."
Wi Seongcheon replied.
"But I don't want to forfeit. Feels like letting down Jinwoo sunbae. And I couldn't live with myself."
"Want me to throw it?"
"I'd hate you way more."
Oh Ha-yeon gave a wry smile at Wi Seongcheon's response.
"Troublesome junior. I don't want to fight you."
"I said I wanted to fight you."
Wi Seongcheon smiled.
"I heard last time you didn't want to spar with me. But looks like I'm luckier than you thought. Who knew I'd get to fight you. Should I pray to the heavens?"
"...Juniors. Sorry. Mind stepping out for a bit?"
Oh Ha-yeon turned and said. She looked genuinely apologetic for changing the subject so abruptly.
They rose quietly and left without a word.
"Naughty junior."
Alone at last, Oh Ha-yeon sighed deeply and turned to Wi Seongcheon. She slowly reached out and caressed his right hand.
"Your body's busted—why push yourself?"
"I want to see your sword properly, sunbae."
"If you want, I can show you later."
"Not later—tomorrow."
"That's really all you want?"
Oh Ha-yeon smiled wryly. Wi Seongcheon stared at her without answering right away.
"I'm glad my first main round foe is you, sunbae."
Wi Seongcheon spoke.
"Not because I know you or we're close. I know you're strong."
"Why's that glad? Against someone else, you might've won even in that state. Twenty made the main rounds—plenty of easy ones."
"But I'd lose eventually."
"Because you're hurt, junior."
Oh Ha-yeon murmured. Her touch on his bandage-wrapped hand was as gentle as cradling a child. Wi Seongcheon felt embarrassed and hid his hand under the blanket.
"I wanted to win."
Wi Seongcheon said.
"Most who enter the Yicheon Tournament do. Everyone wants the championship."
"But not you, sunbae."
"Yeah. I'm not like most. Like Miju unnie."
"You don't hate the spotlight."
"No need to prove myself. Proving it just draws more eyes. I don't like that much."
Oh Ha-yeon spoke calmly. Wi Seongcheon thought of Jinwoo and Mu Yeonjun—similar in ways.
Bound by others' gazes and expectations. Wi Seongcheon was too. But he craved it more than feared it.
"I want to be free."
"You told me it's all about mindset, sunbae."
Wi Seongcheon shook his head. Oh Ha-yeon laughed.
"You remembered."
"Of course. After you said it, I looked at flowers dozens, hundreds of times, recalling your words."
Empty your mind. But just thinking 'empty it' fills it. Can no-self, no-thought truly empty it? But if it does, am I still me?
It's natural to think, junior. Flower arranging, bonsai, orchids—all paths of cultivation. Self-satisfaction too, maybe.
"You're free, sunbae. No matter what others expect, if you want freedom, you have it."
"Right."
Oh Ha-yeon nodded slowly.
"Honestly, just an excuse. I... didn't want to crush Jinwoo."
Tap.
Oh Ha-yeon's hand tapped the tip of Wi Seongcheon's hidden fingers under the blanket. He flinched, shoulders hunching, and she giggled.
"But you beat Jinwoo and climbed up. Met him before coming here. Jinwoo... looked so relieved. Laughed about losing. I've known him forever—never seen him laugh that easy."
"He thanked me too. Said I freed him."
"Yeah. I'm grateful too. Lately Jinwoo's been so intense—didn't like it. Thanks to you, we can be friends again."
Oh Ha-yeon paused.
"No plans to forfeit, right?"
"Yes."
"Don't want me going easy either."
"Hate that tons."
"Then I have to beat you, junior."
Oh Ha-yeon smiled wryly.
Wi Seongcheon smiled back.
"Not enough, sunbae."
His fingers wriggled out from the blanket. With his barely moving fingers, Wi Seongcheon tapped her hand.
"Win it all."
Oh Ha-yeon didn't reply.
"Beat me, win the Yicheon Tournament. Save my face? 'Lost to Sword Sage Oh Ha-yeon in the first round.'"
"Even without me winning it all, everyone'll say your loss was inevitable."
"But I want to lose to the champion."
Oh Ha-yeon burst out laughing at Wi Seongcheon's words. So that was his wish.
"Troublesome junior."
Oh Ha-yeon caressed his hand.
"Naughty, kinda hate to love you."
"Don't hate me then."
"Don't. But I gotta punish you."
Oh Ha-yeon giggled. She slowly rose.
"I'll punish you tomorrow."
She stared at Wi Seongcheon as she said it.
"But promise me something."
"What?"
"You won't avoid me."
He recalled their talk alone in the Sentimental Romantics club room.
I like you, junior. That's why I don't want to spar.
Most avoid me after sparring.
Wi Seongcheon knew why. He'd seen her preliminaries. Confirmed his suspicions.
Oh Ha-yeon's sword.
So soft, so free.
Seemed graspable, yet utterly ungraspable—extinguishing the will to win.
Thus in her matches, before the judge called defeat, her opponents... admitted loss before blood even spilled, turning away.
Of all main round qualifiers, only Oh Ha-yeon advanced bloodlessly. Neither she nor her foes shed a drop.
"I swear."
Wi Seongcheon took her hand with his unbandaged one.
"I won't ever avoid you, sunbae."
"Promise."
Oh Ha-yeon hooked her pinky. Wi Seongcheon laughed despite himself at the childish gesture.
"Yes, promise."
"Yeah, pinkies hooked."
Oh Ha-yeon beamed.
"I'll promise too."
She stood. Their pinkies still linked.
"Beat you tomorrow, junior."
Their fingers parted.
"And win the Yicheon Tournament."
Her voice carried its usual cheer, pleasant to hear.
But the words held no resolve fitting a championship vow.
Yicheon Tournament victory. Only by defeating Heavenly Prodigy Mu Yeonjun and other young phoenixes and geniuses. Yet Oh Ha-yeon needed no such determination.
Sword Sage Oh Ha-yeon.
Watching her wave goodbye from the doorway, Wi Seongcheon thought the title too small for her now.
A chill ran through him.
'Tomorrow, I'll...'
Fight Heavenly Academy's strongest student.
The realization made his body tremble.