Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Do It Properly
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“Do it properly.”
“Y-Yes…? Huh?”
Cold sweat trickled down his spine. A nauseating stench of various foul odors mingled, clearing out the area around them.
Even Bang Jun, who was used to smells, felt like retching from this one. It couldn’t be helped.
Unlike Bang Jun, who had lived as a beggar for a mere decade or so, the men standing before him had been brewing this stench for several decades.
“I said do it properly. If you forfeit or half-ass it, I’ll jump down there myself and snap your legs.”
The Beggar Clan Leader, the Blazing Beggar, issued his threat. True to his nickname, he was a hot-tempered man.
“Why are you picking on me?”
Bang Jun whined.
He had no intention of trying hard in this martial tournament.
As always, he planned to go through the motions, bow out appropriately, and enjoy the tournament as a spectator. But the Blazing Beggar’s threat ruined that.
“Make it to the main rounds.”
The Freakish Beggar spoke up.
Thud!
The Freakish Beggar’s hand landed on Bang Jun’s shoulder. Bang Jun swallowed hard. He recalled a time when he had coincidentally received advice while training his martial arts in the Beggar Clan.
Back in those stormy days, he might have grumbled at the Freakish Beggar’s advice, but now Bang Jun had passed that phase and could discern heaven from earth.
“I’m not asking you to win. Just make it to the main rounds. Do that, and I’ll take you as my disciple.”
“Y-Yes…?”
Bang Jun’s pupils trembled violently.
To become the disciple of the Freakish Beggar, one of the Ten Great Heroes!
It wasn’t joy at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that made him shake.
‘No way!’
That was all.
At his age, becoming the Freakish Beggar’s disciple would mean shitting blood from the training. Bang Jun’s free-spirited nature wouldn’t welcome such grueling effort.
“W-Well… I’ll do my best, but… you know how things go with people…”
“Broken legs make begging easier.”
“I’ll do my very best.”
Bang Jun had no choice but to reply immediately to the Freakish Beggar’s chilling words.
As the opening ceremony dragged on, the academy grounds filled with people. The vast space was packed with stalls from merchants who had reserved spots in advance.
Paeng Yeonhwa left the martial arena as soon as the ceremony ended. There was no reason to stay. The stares from the prestigious families—especially the heads of those once counted among the Four Great Clans—felt burdensome.
The academy grounds weren’t just filled with merchants’ stalls. Traveling troupes and clowns had set up stages, calling out to passersby without end.
The clowns, their faces powdered white, kept their distance from Paeng Yeonhwa.
It was because of her obvious traits. Her black-and-white streaked hair, tiger ears, and tail. Everyone knew she was the sole survivor of the Paeng Clan.
Being avoided like that was no longer a big deal. But thinking of tomorrow… her heart wavered.
As she wandered in a daze, Paeng Yeonhwa realized she was alone. The students preparing for tomorrow’s tournament were with family, masters, or sect elders. But Paeng Yeonhwa was by herself.
“What’re you doing?”
She had just been wandering aimlessly. Then her wrist was grabbed. Paeng Yeonhwa startled and turned her head.
“…Huh?”
There stood Wi Seongcheon, holding a red fruit candy. He clacked his teeth together, grimacing.
“They were selling something I’d never seen, so I bought it, but what’s this taste? It just sticks to my teeth. Want it?”
Wi Seongcheon offered the fruit candy to Paeng Yeonhwa. She just blinked vacantly.
Wi Seongcheon forced it into her unresponsive hand.
“…What’re you doing here?”
“What else? Wandering around. If you keep holding it, it’ll melt and get sticky.”
Paeng Yeonhwa hesitated, then popped the fruit candy into her mouth. Her sharper-than-normal fangs crunched into it.
Crunch. Sugar and syrup stuck to her teeth. Her mouth filled with sweetness before she could taste the fruit.
Paeng Yeonhwa scrunched her eyes and clacked her teeth just like Wi Seongcheon had.
“…It’s gross.”
“Right?”
Wi Seongcheon grinned.
Despite calling it gross, Paeng Yeonhwa devoured every hawthorn berry on the skewer.
Wi Seongcheon stared at her drooping ears and tail, then tugged her sleeve.
“…What?”
“Nothing to do, so let’s walk around. Why, don’t wanna?”
“…Weren’t you with the Heavenly Flower Sect Leader?”
“That hurt my feelings, so no.”
Wi Seongcheon grumbled. He had planned to, but it was embarrassing to chase after his father, who had bolted like he was fleeing.
Paeng Yeonhwa staggered along as Wi Seongcheon led her.
“…Don’t you need to prepare for tomorrow?”
Next to a troupe showing off sword tricks, a stall sold crude masks.
Most customers were children who had come with families to see the Heavenly Selection Festival.
Right in the middle, Wi Seongcheon picked up masks, held them to his face, and giggled.
“What preparation?”
“The tournament. …Don’t you have to win?”
Paeng Yeonhwa eyed him dubiously.
Wi Seongcheon, holding various masks, mimicked a man far off demonstrating sword tricks, swapping masks rapidly.
It was just quick hand movements without any real skill, but it looked convincing. Nearby kids who had seen the real sword tricks cheered.
“For me? Easy opponent. No need to tense up.”
Wi Seongcheon donned a goblin mask and staggered around like he was dancing. Every time he approached, the kids squealed with laughter.
That drew more spectators to him than the actual sword-trick man. As the clowns’ glares turned fierce, Wi Seongcheon meekly set the masks down and pulled Paeng Yeonhwa’s wrist.
“You’re the same. That’s why you were wandering in a daze, right?”
“…No.”
“Your opponent’s Yeong Sojin, right?”
The Crimson-Eyed Beauty Yeong Sojin. A first-year upper-class student. Paeng Yeonhwa chewed her lower lip.
“…Thinking of forfeiting.”
Paeng Yeonhwa muttered. Wi Seongcheon stopped and turned. Her shoulders slumped.
“Because of her Crimson Gaze Heartshake Sword?”
Paeng Yeonhwa nodded. It wasn’t hard to understand. Yeong Sojin’s Crimson Gaze Heartshake Sword shook the opponent’s mind.
Her master, who had mastered it to the extreme—the Windcloud Qilin—was famous for breaking wills without even swinging his sword.
“You’ve learned the Unshakable Heart Technique.”
Paeng Yeonhwa didn’t reply.
The Unshakable Heart Technique. The Taiji Sword Lord’s method to steady the mind.
Its effects… she had seen.
Now, she could keep her reason even seeing the Flood Dragon’s Fang, and approach it without succumbing to madness.
But could that Unshakable Heart Technique resist Yeong Sojin’s Crimson Gaze Heartshake Sword, which forcibly rattled the mind?
“Then just forfeit.”
Wi Seongcheon blurted out. Paeng Yeonhwa stared at him in slight surprise. He tilted his head at her gaze.
“Why look at me like that?”
“…Is that really okay?”
“What? If I said don’t forfeit, were you planning not to?”
Wi Seongcheon laughed in disbelief.
Paeng Yeonhwa didn’t answer, just worked her lips. A little, yes. No. She just wanted someone to push her.
She glanced at her wrist, still held by Wi Seongcheon.
“Do whatever you want.”
“…Ha.”
Paeng Yeonhwa let out a short laugh.
It was nothing big, really. Her chest felt wide open. Everything depended on how you thought about it, huh.
She had felt alone earlier, but now she was connected to Wi Seongcheon. So Paeng Yeonhwa wasn’t alone.
Yeah, it all came down to mindset. Letting go of his hand wouldn’t make her alone again.
Paeng Yeonhwa realized what she had been hoping for.
“I hate Yeong Sojin.”
Paeng Yeonhwa said. She slowly pulled her hand free. Wi Seongcheon’s hand fell away from her wrist.
“I’ve hated her since coming to Heavenly Selection Academy. She straight-up insulted me.”
“Nothing new there. She did it to me too.”
Wi Seongcheon grinned. Paeng Yeonhwa grinned back.
“I’ve always wanted to beat her senseless if I got the chance.”
“Then perfect. Beat her this time. Tons of spectators, right? She’ll cry her eyes out from the humiliation.”
“Yeah.”
Paeng Yeonhwa beamed. Just as Wi Seongcheon said. Do what she wanted.
She didn’t need anyone pushing her or leading the way. Paeng Yeonhwa knew what she truly desired.
“Come watch.”
Her chest felt light. Paeng Yeonhwa said with a smile. Tomorrow, she wouldn’t forfeit. She’d duel Yeong Sojin.
She had no confidence in overcoming the Crimson Gaze Heartshake Sword, but more than forfeiting, she desperately wanted to make Yeong Sojin cry in front of everyone.
Even if her mind shook under the Crimson Gaze Heartshake Sword, turning her into a beastkin… and shaming herself before the crowd.
Even if they pointed and called her a monster.
‘So what?’
That’s what she decided. She was sick of running. No point in starting now.
She had always hated running away.
* * *
The matches between Group 1 and Group 4 were at the western small arena.
Dang Heeran had arrived at the waiting room early to prepare for her duel.
Truth be told, she had started preparing last night. Holed up in her room, she had inspected her hidden weapons over and over. Her heart had been pounding since then, still racing wildly, making her breaths come short.
“I’m gonna lose.”
Dang Heeran spat out.
Wi Seongcheon sat across from her, legs crossed.
His own match was much later, but he too had prepared well in advance.
His opponent was Mu Ilsan, a second-year from the Kunlun Sect of the Nine Great Righteous Sects. Winnable, but not someone who drew much attention.
Wi Seongcheon was in this waiting room because Dang Heeran had dragged him there.
Bang Jun and Paeng Yeonhwa were at completely different arenas for their first rounds, so they weren’t here.
Wi Seongcheon still didn’t know why Dang Heeran had called him.
“Yeah, probably. Your senior’s way stronger.”
“No cheering me on?”
“That’s why I’m here. Thought our Heeran might be shaking from nerves.”
Wi Seongcheon grinned. Dang Heeran grimaced in disgust and scratched her arms.
“Our Heeran? You nuts? Can’t you see the goosebumps?”
“Means relax.”
“Pass. I’m super tense.”
“But you didn’t forfeit. I figured you would.”
“…I want to.”
Dang Heeran glared at her spread-out hidden weapons, then shrugged off her outer robe.
Beneath, she wore form-fitting black attire, wrapped with bandoliers for her hidden weapons.
Dang Heeran slotted them into the bandoliers without glancing at Wi Seongcheon.
“Don’t wanna disappoint.”
“Your father?”
“My father, my uncle. And myself.”
Dang Heeran spat out. She donned her outer robe again. The remaining weapons hid in its folds.
“I’ve never beaten my sister once since we were kids. Won’t today either.”
“Maybe you’ll win today.”
“Me? Ha! No way.”
Preparations done, she shot to her feet.
If her father hadn’t told her to forfeit, she might have given up fighting her sister.
But he had said to forfeit.
She hated that so damn much.
“I’ll show them.”
Dang Heeran growled fiercely, glaring at Wi Seongcheon as if daring him to ask why.
“…Show what?”
“That I’m not the same kid anymore. To my perfect sister and that damn father!”
“Uh… spirit’s good. But what do you want me to do…?”
“If I lose, avenge me.”
Dang Heeran said firmly. Wi Seongcheon blinked dumbly.
“Me?”
“Yeah. You’ll beat the Little Buddha and advance, right? When you face my sister, avenge me.”
“Uh… what if I lose to Jinu senior?”
“You will?”
Dang Heeran’s eyes blazed. Wi Seongcheon shook his head without thinking.
“No.”
“Then what?”
Dang Heeran grumbled past him.
Match time was approaching. At the waiting room door, she whipped around to glare at Wi Seongcheon.
“No cheering?”
“Go lose spectacularly.”
Wi Seongcheon clenched his fist. Dang Heeran snorted and turned away.
‘Lose spectacularly, huh.’
Realistic advice, since winning was impossible.
‘No.’
Even losing spectacularly might be tough.
Dang Heeran tamped down her nerves and opened the waiting room door.