Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Clash with the Foremost Dragon
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Horn sound.
He heard it. Wi Seongcheon sat cross-legged with his eyes closed. His senses, sharpened to the utmost, allowed him to feel not the place where he sat now, but somewhere far away.
Ha Jitae's presence receded into the distance. He had expected it, but still felt relieved. If Ha Jitae and Hwangbo Seongu had come together, it would have been troublesome.
Wi Seongcheon opened his eyes and rose slowly, without haste.
'If only there had been more time.'
No.
Even if more time had been granted here, there were limits to the preparations he could make.
Wi Seongcheon knew nothing of Hwangbo Seongu. Not just him, but nothing of the Hwangbo Clan's martial arts. All he knew was that the Hwangbo Clan prided itself on its domineering fist techniques.
Raw power that shattered techniques head-on—that was the fist art the Hwangbo Clan pursued, and Hwangbo Seongu, a natural martial prodigy, was one of the few in the clan's history said to be 'born for' their fist techniques.
"Aren't you nervous?"
Bang Jun asked.
Wi Seongcheon nodded with a smile. At that response, Bang Jun looked a bit surprised.
"You don't look it at all."
"I'm used to it."
Exactly half a month, right?
Taking Hwangbo Seongu as his 'first' opponent.
He had thought about him nonstop. Imagining an opponent he knew so little about, pondering how to fight him. The common advice: end it before Hwangbo Seongu turned into a bear.
The build of Hwangbo Seongu, whom he had seen a few times in passing. Arm and leg lengths, fist size, skeletal structure. He was a typical right-hander.
No particular quirks in his gait. Thick joints. Massive muscles. Ordinary strikes probably wouldn't even make his bones ring.
'That's actually better.'
If Hwangbo Seongu resembled Wi Seongcheon's supervising instructor, Golden Capture Whip Flash Seo Il, he wouldn't have chosen him. Sturdy frame, unyielding hard fists. A naturally powerful body born between human and beastkin.
Heir to the Hwangbo Clan, one of the three great prestigious families. The foremost among the Dragon Among Dragons of the later generation disciples. All of that bred supreme confidence.
Heavenly Flower Sect.
Bat. Despised sect. Assigned to the lower class despite a recommendation from the esteemed monk Won Gwang Bul. A fool with no redeeming qualities, only a mouth that ran wild. Who knows, maybe hiding some plausible skill. They said he snatched the hand of a Heavenly Being in front of the cafeteria?
So what.
How impressive. Mu Yeonjun hadn't been serious. Only Wi Seongcheon had been desperate. In the end, that's all it amounted to.
Rumor lord of the Heavenly Flower Sect. Wi Seongcheon recalled the looks Hwangbo Seongu had given him.
He had never once considered Wi Seongcheon a worthy opponent.
"That'll do."
All of that.
Made defeat seem inevitable for Wi Seongcheon.
And victory inevitable for Hwangbo Seongu.
"I thought you weren't coming."
Wi Seongcheon said with a smile.
Hwangbo Seongu was approaching from afar. His face showed no tension whatsoever. He had no reason to be tense. Behind Hwangbo Seongu was Dang Heeran. She chewed her lower lip and met Wi Seongcheon's gaze.
[You okay?]
Her transmission reached him, and Wi Seongcheon deepened his smile.
"Look at this punk."
Hwangbo Seongu clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"You thought I wasn't coming? You... really targeting me?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
Hwangbo Seongu let out a hollow laugh.
"No way. You think getting beaten by me will earn you more points than losing to Ha Jitae or Dang Heeran?"
"You're surprisingly imaginative."
Wi Seongcheon said in an admiring tone.
Hwangbo Seongu didn't like that tone. Thinking back, it had always been that way.
Not just the tone. Everything about him grated. Back in martial theory class. He'd sniped at him because he hated seeing him excitedly asking questions.
Shut up. He hadn't said it outright, but his snide remarks were blatant and obvious enough for anyone with eyes to get it.
Even last night. The guy had smirked and talked back impudently. He'd shown plenty of consideration, he thought. Heavenly Flower Sect from the Black Death Alliance. Calling him a bat that everyone despised was actually kind.
A whole lot of students muttered far worse curses than 'bat' while eyeing Wi Seongcheon in his Yicheon Academy uniform.
Compared to those guys, Hwangbo Seongu had 'considered' Wi Seongcheon. He'd even given advice. That he'd puke. Meaning, stay out of the way on his own.
"I heard."
Hwangbo Seongu's fist clenched.
"Born in the Heavenly Flower Sect. Barely ever left the sect."
"Not much of a secret."
"I don't want to say your sect master's education was wrong."
Hwangbo Seongu lowered his upper body.
"But you know, this can't be helped. Your world was just that cramped Heavenly Flower Sect. You grew up too spoiled there."
Well now.
Wi Seongcheon's eyebrow arched up.
"Wi Seongcheon."
His heart raced.
"You think you're pretty strong, huh?"
That's what made it presumptuous.
"Yeah."
Wi Seongcheon nodded with a smile.
Hwangbo Seongu said no more. No further words were needed.
It was commonplace.
Those who learned martial arts and earned the talent to be called 'prodigies' mostly fell into the delusion. It was especially bad for those from mid- or small sects or families. I'm this good. Yeah, I'm this good. Hwangbo Seongu figured Wi Seongcheon was caught in the same delusion.
But this guy.
Lacked any sense. Assigned to the lower class. He should have realized it himself before facing something like this.
Craaack.
The ground where Hwangbo Seongu's foot stamped exploded upward. His massive frame closed the distance in an instant.
The pot-lid-sized fist was already thrusting forward.
Behind him, Bang Jun swallowed hard. Wi Seongcheon felt Hwangbo Seongu's speed and the power in his thrown fist.
The already huge fist grew even larger, filling Wi Seongcheon's vision.
-Kwaaang!
The downward smash tore into the ground. Hwangbo Seongu flinched and jerked his head up. Wi Seongcheon was right in front of him. A short leap just before collision. His position was high.
Hwangbo Seongu didn't hesitate and raised his other hand. Distance didn't matter. The pushing fist targeted Wi Seongcheon's body and burrowed in.
'As expected.'
A chill ran up his spine. His heart pounded loudly. This was the Dragon Among Dragons. Fist Bone Hwangbo Seongu.
Pang!
The scattering wind whipped his hair. He twisted his body in midair to dodge the fist, but it was close.
Wi Seongcheon's leg shot out straight. He used Hwangbo Seongu's bent knee as a foothold. Hwangbo Seongu's cheek twitched.
The pressing foot on his knee carried unexpected weight. But Hwangbo Seongu's knee didn't bend further.
Instead, Wi Seongcheon's body leaped backward. The jump was light, but the fall heavy.
Thud!
Wi Seongcheon, landing swiftly, immediately raised both hands.
Hwangbo Seongu charged. Inner energy from his dantian spread through his body. The Heavenly Flower Chain Technique circulated.
Wi Seongcheon gauged Hwangbo Seongu's speed and slid his foot back. His slowly extended right hand presented its back forward.
'Heavy Reception, Light Escort.'
Less like 'throwing' and more like 'piercing'—that was Hwangbo Seongu's hard fist.
The hand going to meet it was infinitely light. Lighter, lighter. Existing yet not, like a reed that bends but doesn't break—no, even more so.
'Formless Path.'
Hwangbo Seongu's fist met Wi Seongcheon's hand back.
It didn't resist the pushing force at all. The hand back still touched the fist. Wi Seongcheon's body, riding Hwangbo Seongu's power, floated up.
Hwangbo Seongu hadn't yet sensed the 'bizarreness.' He was certain his fist would smash Wi Seongcheon into the ground whole.
It didn't happen. In an instant. Wi Seongcheon's legs hooked over Hwangbo Seongu's shoulder and neck, and his arms gripped Hwangbo Seongu's thick right arm.
'Huh?'
Sudden weight on his right arm. Its movement locked tight. The coiling legs compressed his neck and shoulder. Wi Seongcheon groped Hwangbo Seongu's wrist and elbow.
'No good.'
He gave up quickly. He tried twisting with force, but the guy's muscles and bones were tougher than imagined. Hwangbo Seongu glared wide-eyed.
Brutishly, he twisted his entire upper body to swing his right arm. He might damage his own bones and muscles first, but Hwangbo Seongu had no hesitation or worry about that.
He was convinced Wi Seongcheon would break first.
And indeed. The brutish power surged Wi Seongcheon's blood. Regret lingered, but Wi Seongcheon didn't push further.
There were many watching eyes.
Paaak!
Wi Seongcheon's foot dragged a long furrow in the dirt. On landing, he felt a slight dizziness.
Hwangbo Seongu didn't attack immediately. He grimaced, staring at his right arm.
"You're pretty strong."
Wi Seongcheon tapped his temple and smiled.
Hwangbo Seongu didn't smile. His right arm throbbed. How long since he'd felt this muscle pain? Arm, shoulder, even neck... Hwangbo Seongu ground his teeth and glared at Wi Seongcheon.
"...What the hell was that just now?"
"What else? I grabbed you."
"How?"
The fist had clearly connected. Hit. Definitely... it should have. But there was no impact sensation. When he pushed the fist forward. The endpoint wasn't a strike.
"Well."
Wi Seongcheon's answer scraped at Hwangbo Seongu's nerves.
* * *
"Oh."
It was noisy.
"Ooh, oh. Oooh!"
Seo Il shook his clenched fist and exclaimed in admiration. Seok Ijin watched intently with a serious gaze. But Hwangbo Gwang couldn't.
'What the? What is that?'
His nephew.
Hwangbo Seongu had let his guard down. No doubt. He hadn't even deployed his fist techniques. Just charged in swinging with physical superiority alone.
Even so, that power, that speed. Swinging alone made it a martial art, more than enough.
That fist... got caught so easily. Caught? How could it be caught like that?
"Severing Sword."
"Why do you call?"
Hwangbo Gwang glared wide-eyed at Seok Ijin.
"Why is a guy like that in the lower class?"
He asks after all.
Seok Ijin put on his prepared expression.
Eyes wide, voice full of awe.
"He must have hidden his skills during the entrance evaluation."
What could he do about it?
Hwangbo Gwang shut his mouth and turned away. It wasn't entirely a lie. Seok Ijin recomposed his face and watched Wi Seongcheon and Hwangbo Seongu facing off.
That bizarre movement just now... He had seen it in the entrance evaluation too.
'But he didn't grab then.'
Just snapped the wooden sword and done. If he'd tried to grab like with Hwangbo Seongu...
He would have been caught.
After that... Seok Ijin wouldn't have hesitated to unleash his sword energy.
'An upset...'
He looked like a fool just marveling.
But Seo Il's inner thoughts were serious. He'd already taught Wi Seongcheon several times and knew his techniques differed from standard Golden Claw Technique.
But he hadn't thought they'd be that exceptional. Especially capturing Hwangbo Seongu's entire arm and pressing his upper body—that was no Golden Claw. How could wrapping the whole body around be called Golden Claw?
'Should have ended it now.'
Seo Il's eyes darkened.
The technique already revealed. It hadn't succeeded.
Hwangbo Seongu wasn't an opponent to fall for it 'again.'