Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Impressions of the Sword Seal
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With all the matches concluded, the nicknames "Sword Seal" and the name "Woo Hayeon" were vividly etched into the minds of the spectators.
She had faced Yeongjin of Piercing Sword and White Orchid Cheong Woobin in succession—opponents by no means easy—and claimed overwhelming victories.
Her previous bouts had been spectacle enough to delight the eyes, yet no impressions of those earlier fights lingered in the audience's memories.
The Tai Chi Sword Lord let out a long sigh as he rose to his feet. The swordsmanship Woo Hayeon displayed had ignited a fierce longing even in him.
As a fellow swordmaster, he yearned to cross blades with her. The outcome would be obvious, of course, but the Tai Chi Sword Lord wondered just how far her sword could reach against him.
At the same time.
His heart grew heavy. In tomorrow's semifinals, Woo Hayeon's opponent would be Sword Dragon Tae Huimyeong—his own direct disciple. The Tai Chi Sword Lord...
Was convinced that Tae Huimyeong "absolutely" could not defeat Woo Hayeon.
One could not always win. Defeat was something one had to endure as a matter of course. Through defeat, one recognized one's shortcomings and pressed on with greater diligence. Such an indomitable spirit was what truly mattered.
But could his disciple avoid despair? The Tai Chi Sword Lord swallowed a sigh and shook his head. He trusted his disciple. Even if he lost tomorrow, his spirit would not break. Holding firmly to that belief, regret still lingered. If only he hadn't been so stubborn. If only he hadn't fixated on settling things in his own generation without thought for the future—it filled him with regret and sorrow.
If only he had yielded his stubbornness earlier and prepared a successor. If only he had taken that child as his disciple when Tae Huimyeong was still young, before he was called Sword Dragon...
'Pointless.'
Dwelling on the past only stirred regret and lingering attachments. Perhaps he should count himself fortunate that it wasn't too late.
'...It's not too late yet.'
The ultimate essence of the sword that the Tai Chi Sword Lord had attained was not something easily taught and comprehended, and no amount of training in a single day would enable Tae Huimyeong to overcome Woo Hayeon in the semifinals. But his disciple would not be crushed by tomorrow's defeat.
'...And you as well.'
The Tai Chi Sword Lord thought of another disciple.
Heavenly Person Muyeonjun.
He too was the Tai Chi Sword Lord's disciple. In truth, the Tai Chi Sword Lord worried more about Muyeonjun than Tae Huimyeong.
That child, bearing so many expectations... could he accept defeat?
"A fine show."
The Black Demon King rose to his feet.
"If I had a son, I'd have forced a marriage with Sword Seal, no matter what."
He muttered it in earnest. At those words, Huashan Sect Leader Falling Flower Extreme Flame Song Jinil turned and glared at the Black Demon King. But the Black Demon King paid no heed.
"You've taken a disciple, I hear? If the ages match up, why not put your disciple forward as a matchmaker?"
The Eccentric Hero Gai asked, staring straight at the Black Demon King. Falling Flower Extreme Flame's face flushed red as he started to leap up, but a transmitted voice stopped him.
[Stay put. I'm not serious either.]
The Black Demon King's disciple's identity remained unknown. Even the Beggar Clan, which handled vast information on the martial world, had no grasp on it.
Had the Black Demon King not casually mentioned taking a disciple, they wouldn't have even known he had one.
"Hmm, the ages do line up, more or less. One year older than Sword Seal, you see."
The Black Demon King smiled faintly. He could read the Eccentric Hero Gai's intentions plain as day.
Twenty-three years old. The Eccentric Hero Gai's mind raced through the unorthodox world's prodigies of that age. But none came to mind who would catch the Black Demon King's eye enough to become his disciple...
"Hey, Hundred Mile Martial Origin. I enjoy riddles well enough, but they need some clues to be fun. This one's no fun at all."
"I'm not planning to play riddles with you."
"Then why not speak plainly? Who exactly met your discerning eye and claimed the disciple spot? Not Black Eagle, surely."
"Haha! Of course not. Black Eagle would never meet my standards. Even lowering them for blood ties, he just doesn't cut it."
The Black Demon King chuckled heartily as he looked down at the Eccentric Hero Gai.
"Curious who my disciple is?"
"Naturally. Where'd you drag him from? One of the Six Gates' disciples? Or a scion of the Twin Famous Houses?"
"Neither. The children of the Six Gates and Twin Famous Houses are fine enough, but not disciple material for me."
"Then where'd you pick him up? Come on. Don't tell me he's your bastard?"
"No blood shared. I just... picked him up. Or rather, he came to me."
The Black Demon King's lips curled up slyly. The Eccentric Hero Gai grew irritated at his evasive attitude.
"What does the guy even do?"
"Black Heaven Young Master."
The Black Demon King answered. The Eccentric Hero Gai's eyes narrowed.
"That's what he's called. Well, only my personal guard, the Mingbu Nachal, call him that, but still. Don't be so impatient—I'll formally present him next year at the latest."
As he spoke, the Black Demon King fixed his gaze on Martial Alliance Leader Gam Taejun.
"You did well to come to the Heavenly Assembly. Thanks to it, I've learned just how exceptional the orthodox world's prodigies are."
His gaze left Gam Taejun. The Black Demon King slowly turned away.
"But what do you know of the Black Forest?"
With those final words, the Black Demon King departed. In his wake, a heavy silence settled over the VIP seats.
He had asked what they knew of the Black Forest. The question was tantamount to asking what they knew of the unorthodox world. If the orthodox had the Heavenly Academy, the unorthodox had the Black Forest.
Though its history was shorter than the Heavenly Academy's, the Black Forest had trained unorthodox prodigies for centuries.
Naturally, the orthodox had investigated the unorthodox and the Black Forest. They didn't know everything, but they were far from ignorant.
If the orthodox had the Nine Great Righteous Sects, the unorthodox had the Six Gates; if the orthodox had the Three Great Families, the unorthodox had the Twin Famous Houses.
Of the Four Blossoms, two belonged to the unorthodox: Black Eagle and Snow Flower. The unorthodox also had their Dragon-Phoenixes, akin to the orthodox's. Just as Dragon-Phoenix symbolized orthodox prodigies, the unorthodox boasted Black Tyrants as theirs.
"Black Heaven Young Master... Never heard of him."
"I figured the Black Demon King's disciple had to be one of the Black Tyrants."
That Jinwoo had lost to the Black Heaven Young Master was unknown even to his master, Great Monk Myeongjin. Thus, the title remained obscure.
"...I thought he was joking, but it seems he was serious."
The Eccentric Hero Gai muttered with a furrowed brow.
"About the exchange with the Black Forest?"
Alliance Leader Gam Taejun spoke up. It had happened just yesterday. While watching the matches, the Black Death Alliance Leader had offhandedly suggested it.
An exchange between the Heavenly Academy and the Black Forest—prodigies from two worlds apart. It was far too weighty a proposal for casual mention there.
And an impossibility besides. For centuries, the Heavenly Academy and Black Forest had never exchanged.
"I'll discuss that matter properly with the Black Death Alliance Leader as well."
The Alliance Leader said as he rose. The meeting with the Black Death Alliance Leader was set for the night of the Heavenly Assembly's finals.
What exactly would be discussed and agreed upon there remained to be seen.
But this Heavenly Assembly would hold great significance even externally.
"......Nngh......"
Though the matches had ended and everyone else had left, Wi Seongcheon couldn't depart. Paeng Yeonhwa still lay curled in his lap. Just as he thought he should wake her, she stirred and opened her eyes.
"...Gasp!"
Regaining her senses, she sprang from his lap to the side. Her ears perked up, and her tail puffed out.
The first time she'd lain on his lap, exhaustion and wounds had clouded her mind, but a deep sleep had cleared it fully.
"W-Wasn't heavy...?"
Unsure what to say first, Paeng Yeonhwa hesitated before blurting that out. Shame had turned her face beet red.
"Not heavy."
He considered being honest but held back. How could it not have been? Paeng Yeonhwa wasn't large-framed, but muscle weighed more than fat.
Especially for a boneless divine being like her—her muscles had far greater density than ordinary ones, making her far heavier than her build suggested.
Thanks to that, Wi Seongcheon had lost nearly all sensation in his feet.
"Liar."
Paeng Yeonhwa's face burned hotter. Unable to settle her gaze, she fidgeted until she belatedly noticed his robe draped over her shoulders.
She startled and tried to return it, but Wi Seongcheon shook his head.
"It's fine."
"B-Blood on it, right? I'll wash it and give it back."
"No, that's not it. Your clothes are, uh, in tatters. I'd be embarrassed to take it back like that."
Wi Seongcheon couldn't hold her gaze either. Dang Seona's hidden weapons had left many wounds on Paeng Yeonhwa's body.
Meaning her clothes were shredded. Realizing her state at last, Paeng Yeonhwa hurriedly adjusted the robe.
"...Did you see?"
Wi Seongcheon turned away without answering. Fury bubbled inside Paeng Yeonhwa. She'd already been furious at losing to Dang Seona, but now resentment piled on.
Why shred perfectly good clothes...! Paeng Yeonhwa cleared her throat awkwardly and stood.
"Th-The others?"
"Gone."
Even her father had left. Wi Seongcheon had watched his departing father with resentful eyes, but Father had merely left a mischievous smile.
"...Why didn't you wake me?"
"I tried, but you woke on your own. You okay?"
Wi Seongcheon slowly rose. His numb feet stung as blood returned, and his legs nearly buckled—standing was still a strain—but he managed to steady himself without collapsing.
Paeng Yeonhwa couldn't have missed it. So it was heavy after all. Her heart chilled at the thought. She wanted to leap away in embarrassment and shame.
"I'm fine."
Hiding it made her voice stiff. She hadn't slept long, but the rest had healed most wounds. Now, her heart ached more than any injury.
"Come on."
Paeng Yeonhwa grabbed her drooping tail tightly.
"Don't follow me."
With that, she whipped around and fled. Her face felt like it would explode from the heat.
She lacked the confidence to face Wi Seongcheon properly, so Paeng Yeonhwa bolted. Wi Seongcheon reached to stop her but let his hand drop.
'No wonder her heart hurts.'
She'd lost so overwhelmingly. Wi Seongcheon assumed Paeng Yeonhwa was acting out from the humiliation of defeat to Dang Seona.
Having shed tears alone after his own loss to Woo Hayeon, he could hardly fail to understand.
Wi Seongcheon never imagined she'd fled purely from shame.
* * *
"I've no intention of changing my mind."
Cheonsal said with a faint smile.
Dang Seona, facing him, smiled back—though hers trembled faintly. She'd expected as much, but hearing it directly still sparked irritation.
Unlike her smiling lips, her eyes darkened ominously.
"Am I not up to your standards?"
"Hardly. Purely in terms of ability, you're far superior to your sister. Your Thunder Flash was splendid."
Cheonsal acknowledged it calmly. Dang Seona's hidden weapons were exceptional—no denying it.
In raw talent, Dang Seona could be called the Tang Clan's greatest in history. Even Poison Martial Queen Dang Sa-yeong fell short in innate gifts.
"But I've no intention of changing my mind. I'll take your sister as my disciple, not you."
Crunch.
Dang Seona's eyes sharpened. She clenched her fist, glaring at the door behind Cheonsal. Beyond it lay Dang Heeran.
She hadn't watched today's matches, holing up in that room since last night to memorize the first half of Cheonsal's signature technique, Soul-Slaying Dark Flow.
"Why?"
"I gave that answer yesterday."
"It doesn't convince me."
"It doesn't need your conviction. The choice of disciple is mine alone. I prefer your sister to you. That's all."
In aptitude alone, Dang Seona outshone Dang Heeran. An indisputable fact. Yet Cheonsal preferred Dang Heeran.
"...How do you plan to convince Grandmother?"
Dang Seona knew her stubbornness wouldn't sway Cheonsal. She whipped her head to glare at her father, Tang Clan Head Poison Righteousness Jeong.
Poison Righteousness Jeong didn't answer at once. Dang Heeran becoming Cheonsal's disciple was something the Tang Clan had no reason to refuse. Even if Cheonsal belonged to the unorthodox, he was one of the Ten Heroes.
His techniques passing to the Tang Clan would ultimately bring glory to the clan.
But would prideful Poison Martial Queen accept him? Even for the family's glory, her buy-in was another matter entirely.
"Don't concern yourself with that."
Poison Isle Dang Jinhu answered instead.
"We'll observe proper etiquette."
Cheonsal added,
"Once the Heavenly Assembly ends, I'll return to Sichuan's Tang Clan with the Family Head. If I bow my head personally, Poison Martial Queen won't refuse."
Naturally. Dang Seona chewed her lower lip. Having been Poison Martial Queen's disciple since childhood, she knew her well.
If Cheonsal came personally, bowed, and asked to take Dang Heeran, Poison Martial Queen would accept gladly.
"...For one of the Unorthodox Ten Heroes, Cheonsal, to bow his head personally."
"It's how much I like your sister."
Dang Seona tried scratching his pride, but Cheonsal merely smiled faintly, unshaken. Her tightly clenched fist throbbed.
Blood trickled from her palm where nails dug in. Dang Seona shot a final glare at the closed door.
"...My sister."
She forced a smile.
"I'll leave her in your hands."
It was all she could say.