Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Sword Peak or Heavenly Person
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The heat of the ripened night market began to cool. Tomorrow—no, today at noon—the finals of the martial tournament were a spectacle no one in the drinking party wanted to miss.
Who would win: Sword Peak or Heavenly Person? Both had shown so much that it was hard to judge rashly.
Though they differed wildly in gender, weapons, martial arts, and even personality, they did share one thing in common.
The "best."
Muyonjun was hailed as the greatest talent among all Heavenly Persons after the founding one, and Woohayeon was considered the greatest in Mount Hua Sect history.
"Who do you think will win?"
Paeng Yeonhwa staggered along. They were heading back to the dorms after breaking up the drinking party.
Was it unfamiliarity with such gatherings that made her want to enjoy it? Drunk to the brim, her voice mixed intoxication with excitement.
"Senior Woohayeon."
Wi Seongcheon answered without hesitation. For some reason, Paeng Yeonhwa's lips pouted.
"Why do you think that?"
"I've fought Senior Woohayeon."
"But you haven't fought Muyonjun."
"True, but I saw how Muyonjun fights in Gansu."
It wasn't baseless. The outcome of a match could only be known by facing it directly, but Wi Seongcheon believed Woohayeon had the higher chance of winning.
Truth be told, it was more that he couldn't imagine her breaking her word to "win the championship."
". . . Win, Muyonjun."
Paeng Yeonhwa muttered in a small voice. Small, but clearly audible. Wi Seongcheon turned to her in disbelief.
"Why?"
"Just... I want Muyonjun to win."
A mumbled reply came back. Wi Seongcheon glanced at her swaying tail up and down as he spoke.
"You don't like Senior Woohayeon?"
"That's not it."
"Then you like Muyonjun?"
"No!"
Paeng Yeonhwa raised her voice with a look of disgust. Startled by the sharp tone, Wi Seongcheon flinched, and she quickly shut her lips in embarrassment.
Soon, she flailed her arms as she continued.
"N-not that I hate him or anything. It's not like I like him that much either. Just, um, actually, it's not that I really want Muyonjun to win. But Senior Woohayeon winning..."
". . . What are you trying to say?"
Wi Seongcheon had listened silently to her rambling, but when she trailed off and chewed her lips, he asked outright.
". . . Why do you support Senior Woohayeon?"
Pouting her lips, Paeng Yeonhwa hesitated before asking. It was an unexpected question.
". . . She beat me and advanced, right?"
He answered seriously anyway.
"Plus, we're in the same youth group, I've gotten all sorts of martial arts advice from her before, and crucially, Senior Woohayeon likes me."
At that, Paeng Yeonhwa's face scrunched up.
". . . What's the last one?"
"Blood is thicker than water."
"Muyonjun likes you too. And you're both first-years."
"Senior Woohayeon liking me is different from Muyonjun liking me."
"Hmm, sure. Senior Woohayeon is pretty, so that's better, right?"
Paeng Yeonhwa grumbled. Wi Seongcheon's expression soured.
"Why do you twist it like that?"
"I don't know!"
"You're drunk?"
"I'm not, not at all."
She was, in fact. But this level of drunkenness wouldn't cloud a martial artist's reason. She had simply drunk a lot.
It was just an excuse to say things she normally wouldn't. Her reason wasn't that clouded, really.
She had merely chosen not to shake off the buzz, so she wasn't entirely clear-headed.
". . . Senior Woohayeon is pretty."
"What're you saying out of nowhere?"
"It's true. Her martial arts are incredible, she's pretty, from Mount Hua Sect, and has that cool nickname Sword Peak."
"I think 'Flower Fox' is pretty cool too."
Her tail had been swaying for a while, but it shook even more violently at Wi Seongcheon's words.
". . . I don't like it much."
"Yeah? Your mouth says that, but your body's honest."
"Wh-what?!"
Her mind sobered instantly at his words. She whipped her head around to glare at her tail. It was swishing like it was dancing.
"Stay still...!"
She growled through gritted teeth, but the tail kept swishing. It made her insides boil.
Her tail moved perfectly as she willed during martial arts, but it never listened at times like this. Grinding her teeth, Paeng Yeonhwa grabbed it and wrapped it tightly around her waist like a belt.
". . . Doesn't that hurt?"
"It doesn't!"
"No need to go that far. I think that tail's cute."
Paeng Yeonhwa's shoulders twitched. The tail she had just wrapped slipped free and wriggled away. But she didn't grab it again. How long had it been since someone called it cute?
Excluding those distant childhood days she both couldn't recall and couldn't forget, she couldn't remember ever hearing it.
"D-don't say stuff like that so easily."
"Huh?"
"I said I don't know!"
Finally, Paeng Yeonhwa couldn't hold back and yelled. Surprised by her own volume, she spun on her heel and bolted.
"D-don't follow me!"
Wi Seongcheon froze at her shout while running. Staring at her retreating back in disbelief.
He would have chased if she went somewhere else, but fortunately, she was heading to the dorms.
". . . Jeez."
Wi Seongcheon shook his head. He understood fleeing from embarrassment, but such an extreme reaction? Smacking his lips, he turned around. The dorms were the only place to go anyway, but her sudden dash made heading straight there awkward.
". . . So, you."
Wi Seongcheon frowned and turned.
"How long are you gonna follow? Yeonhwa's gone, so come out already?"
He had sensed the presence long ago. It was concealed decently, but not faintly enough to miss.
"I was thinking of coming out anyway, even without you saying it."
Muyonjun stepped out from the darkness. Though spotted first, he wore an indifferent look, as if expecting it.
"You're a real pain. If it were me, I'd have come out ages ago."
"What do you mean?"
"You've been following me since earlier."
From leaving the roadside tavern and all the way. He had tailed precisely, so probably lurking before that.
"I can't force my stance on you unconditionally. I was just being considerate in my own way."
"Yeah, right."
Wi Seongcheon sneered with a scowl. He could sense Muyonjun partly because the hiding wasn't that subtle, but also because the guy wasn't trying hard to conceal it.
To be precise, Muyonjun's stealth was calculated. He had stayed near Wi Seongcheon, out of Paeng Yeonhwa's sight, intentionally making himself detectable.
"So, how long were you watching?"
"From the roadside tavern."
"That's creepy as hell. Why not send a transmission note?"
"I was being considerate of you."
Muyonjun said it without changing expression. Meaning he had been hiding and observing Wi Seongcheon since the tavern.
"Super creepy."
Wi Seongcheon grumbled, brows furrowed. Muyonjun couldn't understand his reaction. He had been sincerely considerate.
"So, what's up?"
"I need your help."
Muyonjun said flatly.
* * *
'Crazy, crazy...'
Paeng Yeonhwa patted her burning cheeks. Her body had no hangover and was fine, but her mind wasn't. Recalling last night's alcohol-fueled actions made her cheeks burn each time.
Before leaving her room, she composed her expression and checked her tail. Sure enough, it was swishing side to side. Grinding her teeth, she grabbed it.
Should she hang a weight on it to stop it shaking freely?
'. . . He said it was cute...'
Wasn't a tail shaking natural? Forcing it still went against reason. With such excuses in her mind, she quietly released the tail.
Wi Seongcheon was outside the dorm. Rubbing his sore eyes, he waved at Paeng Yeonhwa.
"Last night..."
"Shut it."
At her glare, Wi Seongcheon asked no more. He had been discharged from the medical hall since yesterday, but Bang Jun was still hospitalized there.
Thus, Wi Seongcheon and Paeng Yeonhwa left the lower-class dorms alone.
". . . You came back at dawn, right?"
"Yeah."
"Where'd you go?"
She had snapped at him about last night, but she couldn't help asking this—it nagged at her.
Wi Seongcheon hadn't returned until long after she had entered the dorms.
'You didn't meet someone, did you?'
"I met Muyonjun."
Paeng Yeonhwa sighed in relief at his answer. But curiosity tilted her head.
"Muyonjun?"
"Yeah, he asked for help."
He could have refused, but Wi Seongcheon was just as intrigued by the "help" requested, so he went along.
Thanks to that, he barely made it back before sunrise.
His eyes throbbed and ached. Not from lack of sleep—he wasn't the type to tire from less rest. The soreness came from seeing too much.
'Worth seeing, though.'
His eyes had feasted. It was prep for someday. All night till dawn, Wi Seongcheon had "watched" Muyonjun's martial arts.
When asked how it was.
'. . . No idea.'
Muyonjun fell silent at the answer, then nodded.
'I see.'
Was it what he wanted confirmed first? Or prepared for in advance?
His slightly delayed response carried almost no emotion, impossible to read his true intent.
Naturally, the stands were packed. As noon approached to start the finals, the crowd's murmurs grew louder.
This tournament had many upsets. Last year's winner, Little Buddha Jinu, didn't even make the preliminaries, and the dark horse who beat him fell in the first round.
Even the upset-filled Righteous Heaven Tournament ended today.
Who would win: Sword Peak or Heavenly Person?
"Probably Hayeon."
Jeong Miju muttered. Tae Heemyung, Yeongjin, and Cheong Wubin, defeated by Woohayeon, nodded too. But Wi Seongcheon slowly shook his head.
"Not sure."
". . . Yesterday you said Senior Woohayeon would win?"
Paeng Yeonhwa tilted her head. He certainly had.
"That was before properly seeing Muyonjun's martial arts."
Wi Seongcheon murmured, looking down.
Woohayeon and Muyonjun appeared.
Neither seemed tense. Woohayeon smiled as usual, Muyonjun's face still emotionless.
From afar, anyway.
'Muyonjun...'
He recalled what he had seen all night. Muyonjun's sudden visit was rude, but Wi Seongcheon felt far more gratitude than annoyance.
Along with much else. A longing for martial prowess. Like Woohayeon's sword that gave him clear defeat, Muyonjun's display ignited intense yearning in Wi Seongcheon.
Just remembering made his blood boil and body heat up.
He felt deep regret at not standing down there himself.
And unlike yesterday, he could no longer predict the outcome.
'Muyonjun knows the sword.'
Muyonjun had learned from the Ten Heroes' Taiji Sword Lord. Even if he didn't use one, he couldn't be ignorant of swords.
What Muyonjun showed yesterday. The eerie sharpness that snapped him from dawn drowsiness. Without holding a sword, it was a sword dance utterly different from Woohayeon's.
". . . Yeah."
Just before the drum signaling the finals.
Woohayeon nodded faintly. She stared at Muyonjun, a few steps ahead. Time seemed to freeze solid.
Her mind sharpened while stretching long. The frozen time thawed slowly, making everything feel sluggish.
This sensation was long missed. Woohayeon steadied her breath and gripped her sword. Muyonjun was empty-handed, yet she felt from him the pressure of being armed with ten thousand weapons.
"Not gonna be easy."
As Woohayeon murmured softly, the finals began.
Muyonjun stepped forward, and a flash-like draw cleaved the space.
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