Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: I've Gone Mad
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"I've gone mad, I've gone mad..."
Tae Hee-myeong repeated the words over and over. After descending from the sparring arena, he kept slapping his own cheeks, smack smack.
Thanks to that, his face was flushed red enough to give a ripe apple a run for its money. In truth, Tae Hee-myeong's face had already been red even before he started relentlessly smacking his own cheeks.
"Why, you sure talked a good game up there. 'I admire you,' 'I've fallen for you again.'"
Cheong Wu-bin sniped at him with a frosty expression. At her words, Tae Hee-myeong's shoulders trembled violently.
He stopped slapping his cheeks and plugged his ears, squeezing his eyes shut. Beside such a Tae Hee-myeong, Young Jin clicked his tongue.
"Still, it's better to spit it out and feel relieved than to keep it bottled up inside."
"The senior said no, though."
Wi Seong-cheon chimed in. Plugging his ears didn't mean he couldn't hear. Tae Hee-myeong's shoulders trembled violently.
"Even so. I respect you, Senior. I never imagined you'd say it right there."
"Ahem...!"
"Right? Totally respectable. Who confesses publicly in front of all those spectators?"
"It wasn't a confession...!"
"You said you admire her—what's that if not a confession?"
Cheong Wu-bin shot back sharply. In front of her sat a neat row of emptied liquor bottles. Young Jin gave her a pitying look as she scowled deeply.
[Don't you see this as an opportunity? You've had some drinks, the mood's right. Now that Senior Woo Ha-yeon rejected Tae Hee-myeong's confession...]
[Yeah, no. Shut up.]
Young Jin sent the transmission, but got an immediate curt reply.
[...I'll handle it later.]
Perhaps feeling bad for being so curt, Cheong Wu-bin added a transmission softly. Though scolded, Young Jin wore an unconcerned expression. Instead, he poured Tae Hee-myeong a drink while clicking his tongue.
"What's this? The losers banding together or something?"
Jeong Mi-ju approached, frowning. In the past, such a group would have been utterly mismatched, but not anymore.
Jeong Mi-ju narrowed her eyes and scanned the group occupying a corner of the roadside tavern.
She'd said it teasingly, but asking if the losers were uniting wasn't entirely off-base.
Latent Dragon Wi Seong-cheon, Tiger Fang Paeng Yeon-hwa, Apex Sword Young Jin, White Orchid Cheong Wu-bin, Sword Dragon Tae Hee-myeong. Jeong Mi-ju chuckled and pulled up an empty chair to sit.
"What? You joining too, Senior?"
"Where's Seo Baek-senior?"
"Seo Baek, that guy's holed up in his room."
Jeong Mi-ju grumbled, frowning. He still couldn't get over his loss to Hwangbo Seong-u.
"Besides, I'm a loser too. And if I don't stick with you guys, people keep bothering me left and right."
Jeong Mi-ju grumbled, frowning. Cheong Wu-bin nodded in understanding, but Wi Seong-cheon tilted his head, not getting it.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm graduating soon, my family's prominent, and I'm not bad-looking."
No one could deny her boastful claim. The Golden Name Escort Agency was the top escort service in the righteous factions, and Jeong Mi-ju was one of the Four Blossoms in looks.
"Ah."
Wi Seong-cheon finally understood what she meant. Especially during the Uicheon Festival, with the academy open and various righteous luminaries coming and going, graduating students often received all sorts of proposals. Many involved marriage.
"The Jeweung Merchant Guildmaster said I should meet his grandson once. That doddering old fool."
At Jeong Mi-ju's grumbling, Cheong Wu-bin made a face of disgust.
"Grandson? From what I know, he's only ten years old."
"Right, meet some snot-nosed ten-year-old brat. Am I crazy?"
Still, she couldn't snap at him to his face. For better or worse, Jeweung Merchant Guild was a long-time trading partner of the Golden Name Escort Agency.
"Good thing I joined you here. Out of consideration, they won't approach because of the optics."
They were all losers gathered together, and thanks to Tae Hee-myeong's bold confession, the tavern patrons were aware but keeping their distance. A sort of consideration.
"Hee-myeong junior should watch out too."
"...Pardon?"
"The Namgoong Clan is super interested in Ha-yeon. And their young lord, Heavenly Sky One Sword, happens to be unmarried."
Jeong Mi-ju said with a mischievous smile. The blood drained from Tae Hee-myeong's already flushed face.
"W-what nonsense. Hero Heavenly Sky One Sword's age..."
"Thirty-two. Ha-yeon's twenty-three, so yeah, not that big an age gap? Way better than my ten-years-younger snot-nosed suitor."
At the teasing jab, Tae Hee-myeong's shoulders quivered. In truth, it wasn't surprising. Such marriage alliances were commonplace in the martial world.
Moreover, Woo Ha-yeon had skyrocketed to fame at this Uicheon Festival. She'd been called Sword Sealer and acknowledged for her skill before, but now everyone knew she'd been ridiculously underrated.
She had crushed Latent Dragon, Apex Sword, White Orchid, and Sword Dragon overwhelmingly to reach the finals. Outstanding looks and skill—no clan head or sect leader with marriageable children could resist coveting her.
"Come on, Hee-myeong junior. Don't look so dead. Take a proper breath first."
Jeong Mi-ju giggled at Tae Hee-myeong's lips turning blue.
"The Namgoong Clan head is being blatant, but Ha-yeon herself shows zero interest. Same with Hero Falling Flower Sword Sage, the Mount Hua sect leader."
"Th-that's... right. She showed no interest in me either."
Was that supposed to be comforting? Everyone except Tae Hee-myeong thought so, but he looked relieved.
"Wi Seong-cheon junior's not in a position to laugh either."
"...Pardon?"
Wi Seong-cheon, who had been chuckling, widened his eyes as Jeong Mi-ju suddenly pointed him out.
"You're marked as a good marriage prospect too. How to put it—Dragon-Phoenix are too lofty to reach for... but you're relatively approachable?"
"Is that so?"
"What do you mean 'is that so'? Of course. You took down Jin-u junior, so your skills are proven. The only flaw is your Cheonhwa Sect background... but with your talent, plenty of clans and sects would swallow that poison to claim you."
Wi Seong-cheon showed no particular reaction, but Paeng Yeon-hwa's face beside him grew icy cold.
Her tail, swaying moments ago, drooped heavy like wet cotton.
'Well, now.'
Jeong Mi-ju had expected as much. She smiled brightly and lifted a bottle.
"How about it, junior? No interest?"
"No plans for marriage, but I'm grateful for the attention."
"Knew it. Before coming here, I chatted with some luminaries and heard all sorts of fun stories."
Jeong Mi-ju poured drinks into the juniors' cups, starting with Wi Seong-cheon. She especially enjoyed pouring for Paeng Yeon-hwa.
Her tail hung limp, but her ears perked up, while her gaze feigned utter disinterest. That obvious reaction was amusing.
'Cute.'
"Hero Sword Scholar, the Namgoong Clan head, was awfully greedy."
"Pardon?"
"His daughter enters the Uicheon Academy next year."
Heavenly Wind Lang Lang Namgoong Jiu.
"He didn't say it outright, but he's probably aiming for you. Unlike other Dragon-Phoenixes, you're perfect son-in-law material. Truth be told, Heavenly Man is the prize, but everyone knows Mu Yeon-jun junior's emotionless."
Paeng Yeon-hwa's pupils flickered. Of course she knew Namgoong Jiu.
"Hmm, Namgoong Clan."
Wi Seong-cheon murmured, swirling his cup. Paeng Yeon-hwa wanted to say something but couldn't figure out what. It frustrated and irritated her.
"Grateful for the favor, but no thoughts on it."
"Why?"
"Don't want to be a son-in-law."
"Come on, Namgoong Clan son-in-law would be a blessing."
"Sure, but... someday... I might think about marriage, but not yet."
Wi Seong-cheon answered with a wry smile. Who knew about the future, but right now, romance or marriage weren't on his mind.
"Stimulated by Ha-yeon?"
Jeong Mi-ju grinned at his expression. Wi Seong-cheon nodded slowly.
"Gave it my all, but... lost. Not my first loss, but it hit surprisingly hard."
"You don't hate Ha-yeon now, right?"
Jeong Mi-ju turned her gaze. She looked not just at Wi Seong-cheon, but everyone who'd lost to Woo Ha-yeon at the Uicheon Festival.
"...Impossible to hate her."
Cheong Wu-bin murmured softly, Young Jin chuckled, and Tae Hee-myeong stared blankly at the night sky, recalling his defeat.
"If you want the Training Cave, apply soon."
Jeong Mi-ju smiled with a hint of relief. Fortunately, those defeated by Woo Ha-yeon in the main tournament weren't despondent or avoiding her.
"You're not the only one stimulated by this Uicheon Festival, junior. Hwangbo Seong-u junior applied for the Training Cave yesterday."
Training Cave.
A place for secluded training. Approval lets you skip classes to focus on solo cultivation.
But approval isn't guaranteed. Especially during Uicheon Festival, stimulated students flood applications.
"...Planning to enter the Training Cave?"
Paeng Yeon-hwa asked softly. Wi Seong-cheon's indifferent reply made her tail sway happily.
But her face remained stiff, feigning disinterest.
"Yeah."
Wi Seong-cheon nodded. Watching Woo Ha-yeon and Tae Hee-myeong's match today had rekindled sensations he couldn't grasp before. But they were slipping away, far from fully seized.
He needed time alone to focus and cultivate. No complaints about academy classes, but to consolidate this kind of 'enlightenment,' he had to observe himself squarely.
"Want to come too?"
"...I'll... think about it."
Her tail thrashed wildly at his smiling offer, but she stiffened her face and averted her eyes. Cheong Wu-bin nodded, feeling a sense of kinship.
'Youth.'
Jeong Mi-ju smiled fondly too. Then her smile stiffened.
'No, how old am I to feel this way about two or three years younger juniors...!'
She hated herself for it. Jeong Mi-ju composed her expression and downed her drink.
"...Oh, right."
To change the subject, she spoke up again.
"That, y'know, Black Demon King's disciple."
"...What out of nowhere?"
Wi Seong-cheon tilted his head, and Tae Hee-myeong's eyes sharpened.
"His nickname's out. First time hearing it, myself."
"...Who is it?"
Tae Hee-myeong asked lowly.
"Black Heaven Young Master."
Wi Seong-cheon's expression changed.
* * *
"...Why didn't you say anything?"
Shaolin's abbot, Grandmaster Myeongjin, appended the question to a long sigh. Jin-u, bandages on both arms, gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"Didn't want to tarnish the sect's honor. Or rather, didn't want to lower my own prestige."
"Hoo..."
Grandmaster Myeongjin sighed again. That was all. He had no desire to reprimand Jin-u over this.
He knew his own bitterness couldn't exceed his disciple's.
"Early this year... was it."
"Little Buddha Statue's defeat wasn't publicized."
"Did Black Heaven Young Master keep quiet himself?"
"Why would he? He challenged Little Buddha Statue for the honor of toppling him."
"Perhaps he needed confidence more than honor."
The sect leaders murmured lowly. Jin-u steadied his bitter expression. He hadn't expected to confront the Black Heaven Young Master moniker like this.
'...Surprisingly bearable.'
A defeat he'd kept secret, hugged alone. He'd thought publicity would bring great shame, but facing it now wasn't so bad.
'Thanks to the donor.'
Jin-u thought of Wi Seong-cheon and lifted his head. Alliance Leader Gam Tae-jun, stroking his chin thoughtfully, spoke.
"Black Heaven Young Master didn't use Divine Demon Extermination Method, it seems."
"...Embarrassingly, no."
The Nine Great Righteous Sects' leaders let out long sighs.
"Not even Blood Eye Torrent?"
"Black Heaven Young Master's arts were entirely different."
Acknowledging him wasn't as bitter as expected either.
He'd accepted that defeat long ago.
Just couldn't accept it until now.
"Neither Divine Demon Extermination Method nor Blood Eye Torrent...?"
Grandmaster Myeongjin stared at Jin-u in disbelief. The Black Demon King's signature arts were two.
Blood Eye Torrent from his master Blood Eye Mad General, and his original Divine Demon Extermination Method.
If Black Heaven Young Master was his disciple, he'd naturally mastered those two. Then Jin-u's loss as Little Buddha Statue was understandable.
The Black Demon King was, indisputably, the top evil faction master.
"Even more shameful, but..."
Jin-u smiled wryly. Saying this himself was unavoidably heart-wrenching.
"Black Heaven Young Master defeated me without any special techniques."
"...What?"
"Hand-to-hand combat."
Jin-u closed his eyes quietly.
"He overwhelmed me with that alone."
"Hah... haha..."
Grandmaster Myeongjin let out a hollow laugh.
To overwhelm Shaolin's top prodigy of the era with mere hand-to-hand, no special arts...?
"...Forgive my presumption, but I must ask."
The Kunlun Sect leader composed himself. He glanced at Grandmaster Myeongjin first. Myeongjin chuckled dryly and nodded.
"No worries... speak."
"...Mm. Then, Little Buddha Statue, answer honestly."
The Kunlun Sect leader's voice lowered further.
"Between this era's Heavenly Man and Black Heaven Young Master, who do you see as superior?"
"...Haha."
Jin-u laughed awkwardly.
That laugh was answer enough.
"...No helping it."
Gam Tae-jun shook his head.
"Black Death Alliance Leader said he'll formally field his disciple Black Heaven Young Master starting next year."
"You think Black Heaven Young Master will enter the Black Forest?"
"Undoubtedly. That's the kind of man he is."
He'd hidden his disciple until now. Even after toppling righteous Dragon-Phoenix Little Buddha Statue, no announcement.
Black Death Alliance Leader was the type who wanted his disciple to prove his worth and earn recognition on his own, rather than ride his fame.
"Black Forest, where young evil prodigies gather. Black Tyrant, Black Eagle, Snow Flower are students there too. Likely, he'll test if Black Heaven Young Master can dominate Black Forest starting next year."
"Then..."
"We focused too much on the Demonic Cult and neglected the evil factions right beside us."
Gam Tae-jun said quietly, lifting his cup.
"Through tomorrow's conference, we'll formally promote exchanges between Black Forest and Uicheon Academy."