Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Hidden Dragon Emerges
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Shaolin monk Jin Bae. His nickname was Iron Shattering Staff.
He was a giant over six feet tall and spoke very little. In fact, that was true of most third-year Shaolin monks at the Heavenly Academy, except for Jin U.
They were all as taciturn as if they were observing a vow of silence, but Jin Bae was especially so.
Thanks to that, when Jin Bae openly challenged Wi Seong-cheon to a sparring match, the students freely imagined there must be a good reason for it.
It had also helped that the match was scheduled for yesterday. On that day, Wi Seong-cheon had trained under the Taiji Sword Lord alongside Paeng Yeon-hwa.
Wi Seong-cheon was a detestable guy. For the likes of him to receive instruction from the Taiji Sword Lord, one of the Ten Heroes. Unfortunately, among the Heavenly Academy students, there were more who envied Wi Seong-cheon for it than those who acknowledged him.
Jin Bae had a cautious personality.
"You timed it well."
Jin U knew Jin Bae's temperament well. That was why he had asked Jin Bae specifically, rather than his other senior brothers.
He knew Jin Bae wasn't thrilled about it, but if it was a 'request,' Jin Bae wouldn't refuse.
"I can't guarantee victory."
Jin Bae finally spoke.
He was sitting cross-legged in the waiting room of the sparring arena. Ever since classes ended, he had remained in that position. The match was today.
Wi Seong-cheon hadn't specified a time, but that morning, Jin Bae had filled it in himself.
"The training grounds are already packed with spectators. There haven't been any public spars lately, after all. Haha! Almost all the students showed up. Even the professors."
"I see."
"How about it? Did it go according to your plan?"
Jin U asked with a beaming smile, befitting his nickname Little Buddha. He could hear the cheers clearly without even straining his ears.
Outside the waiting room lay the sparring arena and spectator stands. The students' jeers rang clearly from the stands. Jin Bae nodded slowly.
"Up to this point."
They could have allowed more time. But they hadn't. In Jin Bae's view, the sooner the match happened, the better.
The reason they hadn't set a date first was to show the other students that this spar wasn't being forced.
Sparring was a fight between people. Fights could be decided by various factors, and sometimes the weak could defeat the strong.
Jin Bae rose slowly.
He knew his role well. Jin U... wasn't particularly invested in whether Jin Bae won or lost. What he cared about was how Wi Seong-cheon fought in this match.
"Don't feel too much pressure."
Jin U offered words of encouragement. But Jin Bae knew full well they weren't encouragement.
"And if."
Jin Bae spoke as he unfolded his legs and stood.
"What if I lose?"
"Don't talk like you're going to throw the match."
Jin U shook his head.
"But, well, yes. I can't completely rule out the possibility of you losing. Grandmaster Won-gwang-bul hasn't met Layman Wi Seong-cheon, it seems, but the Taiji Sword Lord met him in person and still decided to instruct him, didn't he?"
Well.
Jin U added with a smile.
"Still, I believe you'll win. And even if, by some extreme chance, you lose... haha. Wouldn't that be a good thing too? Layman Wi Seong-cheon entered the academy on Grandmaster Won-gwang-bul's recommendation, after all."
It wouldn't be the most flattering picture, but even if Jin Bae lost, it wouldn't tarnish Shaolin's reputation. Of course, the humiliation of defeat would be Jin Bae's to bear.
"Understood."
Jin Bae nodded slowly.
Even after hearing that, he had no intention of preparing for defeat.
* * *
The sparring arena was swarming with people. It had been a while since the last public match, but more than that, it was the matchup itself. Iron Shattering Staff Jin Bae versus Heavenly Flower Sect's Wi Seong-cheon. Everyone at the academy knew Jin Bae's skill as an internal candidate for the Eighteen Arhats, but Wi Seong-cheon's prowess was less known. Despite Grandmaster Won-gwang-bul's letter of recommendation, Wi Seong-cheon had been placed in the lower class. Up to that point, everyone thought, "As expected."
But then came last week's joint practical class with the upper class. Rumors spread that Wi Seong-cheon had scored the highest among the lower-class students and defeated Hwangbo Seong-u. And then the Taiji Sword Lord's instruction.
"Unexpected."
It wasn't just students interested in this match. Several professors who had come to observe stood near Seok I-jin. Seok I-jin stroked his chin as he gazed down at the empty arena.
He knew Wi Seong-cheon's skill. The reason he'd been placed in the lower class was because he'd insisted on it strongly. Based on his entrance exam performance alone, Wi Seong-cheon should have been in the upper class.
And that hadn't even been his full strength.
"I thought he'd keep ignoring it."
Wi Seong-cheon was hiding his abilities. The reason... Seok I-jin couldn't be sure. But the Wi Seong-cheon he'd seen wasn't "humble."
In a sense, Wi Seong-cheon understood his position well. Coming from the Heavenly Flower Sect and bearing Grandmaster Won-gwang-bul's recommendation made him a target of oppression.
But being oppressed didn't make him weak.
Wi Seong-cheon understood his position and was using it to his advantage. At least until the joint practical class.
"It's a public match. Your opponent is a third-year... You're hated anyway. Hiding won't change that."
He'd accepted it.
Seok I-jin held Wi Seong-cheon in high regard. That evaluation wasn't based on skill alone. Twenty years old. Young. And possessing "power."
Even while facing unjust oppression, he knew how to conceal himself. At that age, most would want to flaunt their strength. Everyone craved recognition.
"I see."
A faint smile played on Seok I-jin's lips.
Wi Seong-cheon wasn't "meek." He didn't hate attention either. He hadn't hidden himself just to avoid needless hate.
Besides, if he truly wanted that, he wouldn't have taken down Hwangbo Seong-u in the joint class.
It hadn't been enough.
"What do you think?"
"About what?"
"The outcome."
Seo Il sat beside Seok I-jin. Though the question was sudden, Seo Il didn't flinch.
"Hmm, well. As you know, Professor Seok, that kid Wi Seong-cheon is hiding so much."
"Still, you've grasped some idea, haven't you?"
Seo Il smiled wryly. Could he really say he'd grasped it? He'd thought he'd figured Wi Seong-cheon out pretty well through their private lessons so far.
But the movement when he'd broken Hwangbo Seong-u's arm... it far exceeded Seo Il's expectations.
"I can't say for sure right now. But I doubt he'd take on something he's not confident about."
"Hmm, I think the same. He must have something up his sleeve to accept the challenge."
Seok I-jin muttered and turned his head.
His seat offered a fine view of the arena, but higher up sat Heavenly Academy Chief Nam Myeong and the Taiji Sword Lord.
"I didn't expect even the Chief to come watch."
"That just means he's getting that much attention. Quite an honor, right? Getting to show his skills to the Taiji Sword Lord."
Jeong Mi-ju murmured, and Seo Baek replied. Beside them, U Ha-yeon was munching on a bag of jerky from who-knows-where.
"Want to make a bet?"
"Pardon?"
"On who wins."
"No thanks, I don't have anything to wager."
"It's just for fun."
Jeong Mi-ju giggled, fanning herself lightly. Seo Baek pouted.
"That madman's fighting a madman. After Hwangbo Seong-u, now Shaolin?"
"You should've stopped him."
"Why? He wants to do it. And do you think he'd listen?"
"Nope."
Good thing she'd applied medicine under her nose. Even Dang Heeran, who had been exposed to all sorts of foul poisons since childhood, couldn't get used to Bang Jun's stench.
"Didn't even hear what his plan is?"
"I asked."
"And?"
"Said he'd do his best?"
Bang Jun grumbled, blowing on the finger he'd been digging his ear with. Dang Heeran jerked back as the earwax flew, piling up on a front-row student's head.
"They call this a public execution, right?"
Yeong So-jin looked delighted. She openly directed her gaze at Mu Yeon-jun beside her as she spoke. Around Mu Yeon-jun swarmed first-year followers like Yeong So-jin.
Most were mid-tier first-years, and they didn't like Wi Seong-cheon.
Sang I-rin didn't want to sympathize with Yeong So-jin or the other followers. But she didn't like Wi Seong-cheon. The reason was simple.
He'd touched Mu Yeon-jun's body. That alone was reason enough—and an important one—for Sang I-rin. So she hoped Wi Seong-cheon would suffer a public humiliation today.
'...But you...'
Sang I-rin glanced at Mu Yeon-jun.
She hadn't expected him to care about this match. He was always indifferent.
She'd met Mu Yeon-jun long before coming to the Heavenly Academy.
Seven years ago.
At thirteen, Mu Yeon-jun had been wandering the martial world with the Ten Heroes' Eccentric Wanderer. In the mountains... that was where she'd first met him. A chance encounter.
Hunting demonic beasts was her family's trade, and her father had been killed by one when she was younger. At thirteen, Sang I-rin had nurtured a hatred for demons.
It was just like any other time. In recent decades, demonic beasts had begun appearing in Gansu, and the mountain villagers always feared their emergence.
She'd been hired to slay one. That day too, Sang I-rin headed into the mountains to hunt.
That was when she saw Mu Yeon-jun.
Easily crushing the demonic beast she was supposed to hunt.
She was entranced. A boy her age slaying a demon—it matched her ideal perfectly.
But she couldn't approach.
For years after, she followed him. The Eccentric Wanderer traveling with Mu Yeon-jun didn't shake her off.
He even occasionally critiqued her martial arts. The world saw Sang I-rin as a sudden prodigy, but Flying Swallow wouldn't have been born without the Eccentric Wanderer's guidance.
It lasted exactly one year. When Sang I-rin and Mu Yeon-jun turned fourteen, Mu Yeon-jun and the Eccentric Wanderer vanished.
During that year... Sang I-rin had followed him constantly, but she'd never once felt closer to him.
Even after coming to the Heavenly Academy, it was the same.
Rumors in the academy? Mu Yeon-jun never cared. He always had followers around him. He didn't push them away.
He also joined the Orthodox Heaven Society and attended every summons. All of it was "necessary" for him, not because he "wanted" to.
What about observing this match?
Yesterday... she'd heard he'd gone to see Wi Seong-cheon on purpose. From Yeong So-jin. Wi Seong-cheon had said "thanks," and Mu Yeon-jun had probably transmitted some advice via inner force.
Why?
Sang I-rin knew the wriggling in her chest was "displeasure." She knew its source. It made no sense, no acceptance. Mu Yeon-jun said nothing.
'This is jealousy.'
"He's coming."
Mu Yeon-jun murmured.
Down below, Wi Seong-cheon was walking into the arena.
"Quite the crowd."
Wi Seong-cheon whistled as he looked around. Hundreds, by his estimate—most of the academy's students and professors.
He'd thought he'd only see a stage this big at the Yi Cheon Festival's tournament. His gaze lifted. There, in the upper seats, sat Chief Nam Myeong and the Taiji Sword Lord.
The moment Wi Seong-cheon looked up, the Taiji Sword Lord smiled and waved.
"Boo."
The instant Wi Seong-cheon's foot touched the arena.
Someone jeered. It wasn't loud, but it was clear. That started it. Everyone practiced martial arts, so their hearing was sharp.
The first jeer was followed by overlapping ones. Listening to them made his whole body tingle.
Not every student was jeering.
But "many" were.
[Leave it be.]
Just in case, Wi Seong-cheon sent a transmission to the Taiji Sword Lord. The Sword Lord was slightly surprised. In this distance, amid this crowd, the transmission had been precise. The Sword Lord's smile deepened.
[Do nothing. Proof must come from oneself.]
Wi Seong-cheon smirked at the reply.
"Proof, huh."
As if on cue.
The waiting room door across the arena opened. Had he been waiting there all along? Wi Seong-cheon's eyes met Jin U's, standing behind Jin Bae's back.
Jin U smiled, clasped his hands, and nodded.
"Think of it as practice for the Yi Cheon Festival."
This was already a grand stage, but the festival tournament would have even more spectators.
Showing a pathetic display under that pressure would leave a lifelong, blanket-kicking embarrassment.
Wi Seong-cheon leaped up.
He soared straight to a high point, spinning in midair before landing in the arena's center.
It was blatant showmanship anyone could recognize. The jeers grew louder. Wi Seong-cheon grinned and raised both arms.
"Heavenly Flower Sect's Wi Seong-cheon."
He introduced himself in a powerful voice, turning his body.
He saw Dang Heeran and Bang Jun.
Jeong Mi-ju and Seo Baek too.
Seo Il, sitting by Seok I-jin, waved.
Dang Seona sat with her snake sisters, covering her mouth with a fan.
Hwangbo Seong-u was still wrapped in bandages, and Ha Ji-tae beside him looked bored.
His eyes met Mu Yeon-jun's. Wi Seong-cheon grinned; Mu Yeon-jun showed no reaction. Sang I-rin and Yeong So-jin's fierce glares stabbed at him.
And finally,
He locked eyes with Paeng Yeon-hwa.
"My nickname is."
Jin Bae was ascending the arena behind him, but Wi Seong-cheon didn't look. Staring straight at Paeng Yeon-hwa, he put even more power into his voice.
"Hidden Dragon."
He'd wanted to say Heavenly Dragon, but for now,
"Hidden Dragon" would do.