Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Latent Dragon
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The jeers that had filled the air just moments ago fell silent from the spectators' mouths. They stared down at the arena in stunned silence, unable to utter a word.
The stage bore the unmistakable scars of Jin Bae's ferocious assault. And right in the center of it all stood Wi Seongcheon, while Jin Bae knelt before him.
Comprehension came late. It was an absurd turn of events. His opponent was Jin Bae, designated as one of Shaolin's Eighteen Arhats. Hidden in the shadow of the Little Buddha Jin Woo's fame, but in pure skill, he was a master more than worthy of the Dragon-Phoenix ranks.
And yet, Jin Bae...
Had lost to Wi Seongcheon.
They had seen it with their own eyes. Even so, they couldn't accept it right away.
Wi Seongcheon had faced Jin Bae head-on, snapped his arm, and driven an open palm and fist into his chest in rapid succession. That was it. Jin Bae couldn't hold out and dropped to his knees, vomiting pitch-black blood.
It was an undeniable fact: Shaolin's Iron Arm Jin Bae had been defeated by Cheonhwa Sect's Wi Seongcheon.
'No way.'
Yeong Sojin's mouth fell open. ...Was it rigged somehow? Pathetic as it was, the thought crossed her mind. She couldn't make sense of the result otherwise. And Jin Bae had even unleashed his protective aura.
Yet he still lost.
'Something's off. His aura... it faded more and more.'
It wasn't for nothing that she was in the upper class. She had watched the fight from start to finish. Jin Bae's aura had blazed fiercely at first, but it grew dimmer as time passed.
Of course, auras consumed a great deal of inner energy. But for it to deplete that quickly was inexplicable, no matter how she thought about it.
'...He threw it on purpose...'
Yeong Sojin spoke up, glancing around at the still-silent crowd. But before she could finish, a chilling pressure bore down on her entire body.
A choked gasp escaped her open mouth instead of words. Her body stiffened. Color drained from her face in an instant, leaving it ashen. She barely managed to turn her rigid eyes sideways.
"Shut your mouth."
A quiet voice.
It carried naked killing intent alongside the overwhelming energy pressing in on her.
"Ye-Yeonjun..."
Tears welled up in her eyes. It was the first time she'd heard such words from Mu Yeonjun. He had always been indifferent and emotionless, but never spoken like this.
Clap.
Clap, clap.
As the other spectators' silence began to turn into murmurs, someone applauded. The sound came from above. The Taiji Sword Lord, seated in the highest seat, had risen and was clapping.
"Impressive!"
The Taiji Sword Lord said with a laugh. His low voice carried enough power to dominate the hundreds of spectators.
"Who knew we'd witness such high-level combat before the Celestial Tournament even began? Ha! For pre-festival entertainment, isn't this a bit too grand?"
The Taiji Sword Lord chuckled heartily and patted Nam Myeong's shoulder. Nam Myeong, who had been staring grimly below like the others, looked up at him.
"These students are on another level! It must be tough for the Pavilion Lord, having to teach such exceptional kids!"
[...Senior.]
Nam Myeong sent a cautious transmission to the Taiji Sword Lord.
[Wi Seongcheon. That child's martial arts...]
[Do you think I'd miss what you've noticed?]
The Taiji Sword Lord replied. Nam Myeong nodded slightly. He relaxed his stiff expression and stood.
"You have a point, Senior. These students are extraordinarily talented. It's a boon for the righteous murim, but from an educator's perspective, it's quite the headache."
Nam Myeong played along with a light jest. The Taiji Sword Lord smiled faintly and lowered his hand from Nam Myeong's shoulder.
"Latent Dragon!"
The Taiji Sword Lord looked down at Wi Seongcheon. Wi Seongcheon steadied his breathing and scanned his surroundings. He could feel the spectators' gazes shift.
The crowd that had showered him with jeers and disdain moments ago now fell silent, listening intently to the Taiji Sword Lord's words as they watched him.
"A fitting moniker. Did you bestow it upon yourself?"
"No, sir. I'm not that brazen."
Wi Seongcheon grinned in response. Causing this scene could be called brazen enough, but hey, this was just child's play.
"Oh? So I've been scooped. Had I known, I would have given you a suitable title first."
"You just said the current one fits perfectly."
"Ha! True enough. Even if I'd spoken first, I would have named you Latent Dragon. So, who was it? Who claimed this jade first?"
"It was Senior Jeong Mi-ju of the Flame Flower."
Who would've thought he'd name me here. Jeong Mi-ju let out a hollow laugh. The Taiji Sword Lord turned to look at her. Flame Flower Jeong Mi-ju—a name he naturally remembered.
The Four Flowers.
Ranked below the Dragon-Phoenix, but not necessarily lesser. The Dragon-Phoenix were the pride of the Nine Great Righteous Sects to begin with, so most of its members hailed from them.
A lone wanderer like Sang Irin aside, for someone from outside the sects like Jeong Mi-ju, entering the Dragon-Phoenix wasn't the priority.
This generation's 'flowers' were especially so. Baekran Cheong Wubin, disciple of the Azure Forest, and Flame Flower Jeong Mi-ju of the Golden Name Escort Agency.
Those two possessed skills more than worthy of the Dragon-Phoenix but had been placed among the Four Flowers solely because they weren't disciples of the Nine Great Righteous Sects.
"I know your name. As expected of the top female master of your age. Well-deserved."
"It's an honor to be recognized."
Jeong Mi-ju rose and offered a clasped-hands salute toward the Taiji Sword Lord. Even in that moment, her mind raced.
This...
Was something to be grateful for.
Thanks to Wi Seongcheon's mention, she'd forged a small connection with the Taiji Sword Lord.
'You gained something too. A connection through me.'
By invoking Jeong Mi-ju, Wi Seongcheon had signaled to the other students that the Flame Flower was firmly his ally. She knew well that her name carried no small weight.
The Taiji Sword Lord who taught Wi Seongcheon was on an unattainable height. Even if he sheltered him, the students' jealousy wouldn't fade.
But Jeong Mi-ju was a name closer to the students. The Golden Name Escort Agency as well. Her weight far exceeded that of Dang Heeran, overshadowed by Dang Seona, or Beggars' Sect's Bang Jun.
"Cheonhwa Sect's Wi Seongcheon is the Latent Dragon."
The Taiji Sword Lord nodded as he spoke.
"I, the Taiji Sword Lord, acknowledge him."
Clap, clap.
Jeong Mi-ju clapped loudly enough for all to hear. At the same time, she nudged Seo Baek's foot beside her.
Seo Baek raised his hand with a reluctant expression to clap, but Woo Ha-yeon beat him to it, beaming as she applauded.
Starting with her, applause erupted from various spots. Seo Il stood and clapped, and Seok Yi-jin nodded beside him.
"Should I make some noise with my mouth too?"
Ha Ji-tae muttered, his arms wrapped in bandages. He glanced sideways. Though his face was swathed in bandages, Hwangbo Seongu's exposed eyes gleamed with ferocity.
He knew Wi Seongcheon hadn't gone all-out against him. He didn't see it as an excuse, but Hwangbo Seongu hadn't either.
But at full power... would the outcome have changed?
"Like an onion, that bastard."
Bang Jun muttered.
"What're you on about?"
"Think about it. I figured he'd peeled off a bunch already, but he's got layers left."
Bang Jun grumbled while picking his nose. That's what he meant. Dang Heeran nodded faintly. She narrowed her eyes at Wi Seongcheon.
"...Probably no more layers left. Or maybe there are..."
"Huh?"
"Forget it if you don't get it."
"What the hell? Why do you know and not tell me?"
Bang Jun asked incredulously. But Dang Heeran didn't respond. She stared piercingly at Wi Seongcheon with narrowed eyes.
The distance was far, but she could see his fingertips trembling faintly. And his eyes. Bang Jun hadn't noticed, but she had.
Her clan, masters of deadly poisons and hidden weapons, were naturally versed in medicine.
'The hue has changed.'
Because of the turbidity.
"Don't hate me for it, Senior."
Wi Seongcheon muttered amid the applause. Jin Bae still slumped beside him.
The clapping without cheers was for Wi Seongcheon; there was no consolation for Jin Bae. That was the way of things.
In such matches, respect went to the victor, not the loser.
"Hate me if you want, but you started this fight, Senior. You didn't think I'd win for sure, did you?"
"...Hardly. I'm not that arrogant."
Jin Bae coughed up phlegm in response. He steadied his breath again and glanced at his right arm.
Cleanly broken. ...Impossible. He didn't claim his body was Diamond Indestructible, but he'd trained in the Diamond Arhat Divine Art since childhood to become one of the Eighteen Arhats. And he had his protective aura too...
"A question."
Jin Bae's left hand moved. He tapped his acupoints with his thick thumb. Then he spat another glob of black blood.
"...May I?"
"If I can answer it."
"...How? You... destroyed my protective aura. Or is 'destroy' even the right word..."
"That's one I can't answer."
"I see."
Jin Bae smiled wanly on his pale face. He adjusted his posture and assumed the lotus position.
"...Rude applause."
"Why?"
"No respect for the victor. No congratulations... Well, not entirely absent. But it's lacking. Far too lacking... Ha. Indeed, you're hated."
"You knew that already, didn't you?"
"Didn't you think it would change after this?"
"A century."
Wi Seongcheon smirked.
"It's been a century since Cheonhwa Sect was called bats. If it changed this easily, that century would feel too empty."
"...Looks like I wasn't enough of a sacrificial lamb for fame."
"No. You were strong, Senior."
It wasn't consolation. It was sincere. This was his first time facing such fierce aura.
"...I'll tell Jin Woo everything."
"What?"
"What I faced and felt. All of it. Victory or defeat never mattered much to begin with. For Jin Woo... that's how it is."
"And for you, Senior?"
That stopped Jin Bae short. Wi Seongcheon turned to him and said,
"Did victory or defeat not matter to you either, Senior?"
"...You ask tough questions. Mischievously so. If it truly didn't, I wouldn't have set up a stage against you."
Jin Bae smiled bitterly.
"I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize. It wasn't disadvantageous to me."
"So it seemed."
He felt a bit better inside. Jin Bae staggered to his feet. Wi Seongcheon naturally moved to support him, but Jin Bae shook his head.
"Don't humiliate the loser."
With that, Jin Bae extended his hand to Wi Seongcheon. Wi Seongcheon looked at it for a moment before grasping it. That was the end. Jin Bae said no more and turned to leave the arena.
As Jin Bae descended, the applause grew slightly louder than when the Taiji Sword Lord had acknowledged Wi Seongcheon.
He didn't care. He'd gained a plausible moniker, and this was somewhat expected. ...His chest felt tight. He ignored it. Wi Seongcheon turned to look at the stands.
Paeng Yeonhwa stared at him blankly.
[See?]
Wi Seongcheon's transmission reached her.
[I did it.]
What did you do?
Paeng Yeonhwa closed her mouth. Couldn't she hear? This hollow applause. No cheers. The whispers around her persisted.
He must've used some cowardly trick. Maybe this whole thing was a Shaolin farce to hype Wi Seongcheon, who got a recommendation from Venerable Wonkwangbul. But the Taiji Sword Lord? Still absurd. For Shaolin's Jin Bae to lose to some Cheonhwa Sect nobody!
Yeah.
Such whispers lingered. But... Paeng Yeonhwa knew too. They weren't as boisterous and chaotic as before. They'd shrunk, drowned out by this hollow clapping.
Just as Wi Seongcheon said.
'Not doing it and being unable are different.'
'In your case, it's not doing it.'
'I do it.'
As he'd said, Wi Seongcheon had 'done it.'
Paeng Yeonhwa unwittingly let out a soft chuckle.
She clapped harder.
As Wi Seongcheon descended the arena, the Taiji Sword Lord moved to stand but paused midway, a puzzled look on his face.
He had seen Mu Yeonjun rise from the stands and leave. With a strange expression, he sat back down.
"What is it?"
Nam Myeong glanced at the Taiji Sword Lord and asked. The Taiji Sword Lord smiled faintly and stroked his chin. Nam Myeong's brows furrowed as he watched him chuckle to himself without answering.
"...Ugh."
Returning to the waiting room, Wi Seongcheon didn't leave immediately.
His chest felt clogged, breathing labored. Not debilitating, but uncomfortable. He didn't want to worry anyone needlessly.
"...Why are you here?"
He betrayed none of the discomfort. He was used to it. Pain had been familiar since childhood. Wi Seongcheon asked curtly.
"Did the advice help?"
Mu Yeonjun stood in the half-open doorway.
"I knew Senior Jin Bae used the staff."
"I see."
Mu Yeonjun replied flatly.
As he did, he stepped into the waiting room and closed the door.