Chapter 41: Confusion (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 41: Confusion (1)
“Waaaaaaaah!”
A thunderous roar filled the arena.
The crowd of martial artists in the spectator seats couldn't hide their astonishment at the result that had come so soon after the start. No one expected an elimination to occur in such a short time.
They had thought the highlight of the second preliminaries would be the clashes between top-tier young experts from the beginning, but who would have imagined someone being eliminated in a single move?
[...I didn't expect it to be to this extent.]
Chief Strategist Zhuge Won-myeong offered no reply to his escort warrior’s sound transmission, seemingly in agreement. He simply couldn't take his eyes off So Woon-hwi.
Even if the boy was the disciple of the Namcheon Sword Guest, he had expected a somewhat protracted battle. Yet, the first elimination had occurred on this platform faster than any other.
‘...Hmm.’
Since Woon-hwi had to face thirty-one opponents, Zhuge Won-myeong thought the boy would conserve his strength. He hadn't expected him to go all out and overwhelm his opponent from the very start.
Because he had grouped Woon-hwi with those suspected of being Blood Cult spies, he thought they might pull their punches even if Woon-hwi won, but there was no sign of that at all.
‘Was I wrong?’
Looking at the eliminated contestant, who was covered in wounds and trembling with indignation, it was hard to see them as being on the same side.
Still, it was too early to be certain. Since those suspected of being spies had been tied together in one place, they might have changed their strategy.
‘I wonder if he can maintain the same strategy for the second match.’
The opponent So Woon-hwi should find most troublesome wasn't the first one. It was the second.
Song Jwa-baek of the Johang Song Family, who belonged to the same Hunan Province Branch.
Having disappeared and reappeared after a year, just like So Woon-hwi, he was the young expert most likely to be an accomplice.
‘He’s simpler than that boy. He might even be easier to read.’
So Woon-hwi was clever enough to show the qualities of a strategist. That was why Zhuge Won-myeong suspected that even the slightest opening might be a deception. On the other hand, the muscle-bound fellow looked rather simple.
It was then.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
Another roar erupted. This time, it came from the spectators near Platform A.
‘What?’
Looking toward Platform A, he saw that Lee Jung-gyeom’s opponent had been knocked out of bounds. The result was identical to what had happened on Platform D.
But that wasn't the end of it.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
Cheers also erupted from the stands near Platforms B and C, where the matches had already concluded. Just like the previous two platforms, the young experts there had been sent flying out of the ring.
[What is going on?]
Zhuge Won-myeong asked his escort warrior, unable to take his eyes off Platform D. The escort warrior replied in a voice filled with disbelief.
[The favorites on the other platforms went all out from the start and knocked their opponents out of bounds.]
[Ha!]
Zhuge Won-myeong was dumbfounded. A situation completely different from what he had intended was unfolding. Stimulated by So Woon-hwi, the top-tier candidates had all adopted the same strategy.
Soon after, an elimination occurred on Platform E as well. That was where Jang Myeong, the disciple of Bukyeong Doseong, was competing.
“Ho-ho. Well, now.”
Taoist Master Hoyang, the Plum Blossom White Sword, who had been watching the platforms alongside him, burst into a hollow laugh as if he felt the same way.
“Chief Strategist Zhuge. Did you say that boy’s name is So Woon-hwi?”
“That is correct.”
“It seems that boy has set the stage on fire.”
It was exactly as Taoist Master Hoyang said. As if competing with one another, the other platforms were also trying to conclude their matches quickly. Although the progress was slower on platforms with less skilled participants compared to the top-tier experts, the matches were still proceeding at a rapid pace.
“Indeed, youth is a fine thing.”
Taoist Master Hoyang seemed rather pleased with the atmosphere. In contrast, Zhuge Won-myeong’s eyes narrowed as he remained fixated on So Woon-hwi.
‘...Does he possess more than just the qualities of a strategist?’
Whether intentional or not, the entire atmosphere was revolving around So Woon-hwi.
“Things are getting interesting, Strategist.”
Startled, Zhuge Won-myeong turned his head. Taoist Master Hoyang did the same. Despite the man’s face being hidden by a black veil, there was no way they wouldn't recognize that voice.
“Alliance Leader.”
“Shh!”
The man who had approached them was none other than Baek Hyang-muk, the First Sword of Wuhan and the Alliance Leader. Zhuge Won-myeong was quite surprised by the appearance of a man he thought wouldn't watch the matches until the finals.
“...What brings you here?”
“I was curious to see how well my disciple is doing.”
“Ah...”
A master was a master, after all. Even though he had reacted indifferently when told that Lee Jung-gyeom had passed the first preliminaries with the most outstanding skill, he had come to watch in disguise.
However, the Alliance Leader’s gaze, faintly visible through the veil, was directed toward So Woon-hwi on Platform D rather than his disciple, Lee Jung-gyeom.
‘Is the Alliance Leader also showing interest in that boy?’
It was a rare occurrence for the Alliance Leader to show interest in a young expert other than Lee Jung-gyeom.
I agreed with the Sodam Sword’s assessment.
To be honest, I hadn't intended for the atmosphere to turn out like this. Since I had to face thirty-one people, my strategy was to defeat them individually and quickly rather than hiding my skills and letting other experts advance.
But unintentionally, I had ignited a competitive spirit in the other young experts.
‘This probably isn't a very helpful strategy for them.’
It might be manageable for the top few platforms. However, unless they had the overwhelming ability to suppress their opponents, they were likely to tire themselves out early on. Competitive spirit was a frightening thing.
That was possible. After all, the Successor's Martial Discussion was a place for them to have their capabilities recognized. They had to show prowess that was at least equal to mine. In the end, my strategy had inevitably stimulated their competitive drive, turning the arena into a fierce battlefield.
‘The finals will be the problem.’
Hearing the cheers from the crowd, I glanced at the other platforms. Lee Jung-gyeom, the joint successor of the Eight Great Masters, and Kwon Young-ha, the disciple of the First Venerable.
As if in a competition, they were knocking their opponents out of bounds. But unlike me, who used the Chasing Return Sword—a secret technique—they were eliminating their opponents using only basic sword forms.
Those two were truly formidable. They were opponents I couldn't possibly face unless I gave it my absolute all.
‘Phew.’
But first, I had to deal with this guy.
Song Jwa-baek climbed onto the platform, wearing his gauntlets and even carrying a scabbard. According to the plan, he was supposed to lose to me. However, looking at the competitive fire in his eyes and his overall demeanor, he didn't seem to have any intention of just rolling over.
Normally, I would have scolded him via sound transmission, but this was actually better. I needed to give the impression that we were truly clashing.
“Hah!”
With a powerful shout, Song Jwa-baek lunged at me.
Sorry, but I’m not holding back.
I immediately unleashed a sword technique, stabbing toward his vital points.
‘!?’
Song Jwa-baek’s eyes widened at the sheer speed of the strike. I had hidden my true strength from him as well, but given the situation, I couldn't afford to hold back. There would already be an impression that he was weaker since he was my second opponent; if I dragged it out any longer, what would that say about me?
“Urgh!”
Unless he activated his True Blood Golden Body, he wasn't a difficult opponent to face in a straight duel. After making a mess of his gauntlets with a flurry of sword strikes, I slammed my fist into the space between his eyebrows with all my might.
Thwack!
‘!?’
Oops. I had underestimated Song Jwa-baek’s toughness. I had applied considerable internal power, yet he endured it. Having been tempered by the constant beatings from our master, Hae Ak-cheon, he was immune to most ordinary strikes.
“You think that’ll work?!”
Song Jwa-baek tried to headbutt me. I caught his forehead with my hand.
Snap!
In that state, I kicked his legs out from under him. As his posture crumbled, I struck his chest with a palm infused with five stars of internal power from my middle dantian.
“Gah!”
His body was sent flying into the air and tumbled off the platform.
“Blegh!”
He coughed up a mouthful of blood, likely having suffered internal injuries. Song Jwa-baek glared at me with an expression of utter disbelief. I had done it to show that I wasn't taking it easy on him, but I did feel a bit sorry.
I gave a fist-and-palm salute and spoke to the Hall Master acting as the referee.
“Next, plea—”
Just then, a sound transmission reached my ears.
[Vice Unit Leader! Vice Unit Leader!]
It was Jo Seong-won’s voice. He sounded incredibly urgent. I hesitated for a moment, wondering what to do, but finished my sentence first.
“...se.”
[Can you not hear me?]
I was still in the middle of the preliminaries, so I couldn't understand why he was sending me a sound transmission. I wasn't in a position to reply. However, I couldn't help but react to the next transmission.
[There are explosives.]
What?
Forgetting that my next opponent was stepping onto the platform, I looked toward the source of the transmission. Jo Seong-won was standing below the spectator seats, holding up something that looked like a scabbard. As he tilted it, black powder spilled out.
[How did you find it?]
[I’ve been watching anyone who had even the slightest contact with Baek Hye-hyang’s people. I caught one of them trying to secretly scatter explosive powder near the spectator seats. I’ve knocked him out for now, but what should I do?]
Jo Seong-won seemed flustered by the completely unexpected situation. If he were still a member of the Orthodox Faction, he would have informed the Martial Alliance immediately, but since he had become my man, he had reported to me first.
Explosives out of nowhere? I couldn't fathom what was happening.
‘What on earth is Baek Hye-hyang thinking?’
For a moment, I didn't know how to process this. Then, the Hall Master officiating Platform D spoke to me.
“What do you think you’re doing?”
In that brief instant, my mind raced. I even debated whether I should continue the match in this situation. I looked at the spy from Baek Hye-hyang’s side who was waiting to face me. He was trying his best not to show it, but his gaze kept flickering toward the officials' table.
‘Ah!’
On a hunch, I looked toward the officials' table. Zhuge Won-myeong had risen from his seat and was talking to some Martial Alliance warriors dressed in black. The warriors were pouring something out of their scabbards, just as Jo Seong-won had.
‘They found it.’
If Jo Seong-won had found it, there was no way Zhuge Won-myeong would have missed it. The spy on the platform seemed to be aware of this.
If they had smuggled in explosives, did that mean they weren't even aiming to win the Successor's Martial Discussion?
“Are you going to fight or not?!” the Hall Master warned.
There was no more time to think. I gave a fist-and-palm salute.
“I forfeit the match.”
“What?”
Regardless of his bewilderment, I hurriedly leaped off the platform and sent a sound transmission to Jo Seong-won.
[Hand that over!]
I dashed toward the spectator seats and took the scabbard from him. Then, I told him to find Sama Yeong and have her follow me. I immediately used my lightness skill to rush toward the officials' table.
‘This isn't the time for that.’
‘If I just stay still, I’ll be implicated with them.’
As I approached the officials' table, I saw Zhuge Won-myeong and Taoist Master Hoyang with grim expressions. But they weren't alone. There was a man wearing a black veil, and both the Chief Strategist and the Elder were looking at him as they spoke.
“Halt!”
The Martial Alliance warriors at the officials' table blocked my path. I said to them, “I must see the First Strategist immediately.”
When I spoke loudly, everyone at the table turned to look at me. I held up the scabbard and was about to shout, but Zhuge Won-myeong rebuked me via sound transmission.
[Do not shout! And come up here at once.]
At his words, I shut my mouth and ran up the stairs to the officials' table. The Martial Alliance warriors surrounded me, looking ready to arrest me at any moment.
Zhuge Won-myeong looked at the scabbard and asked, “What is that?”
“An acquaintance who came with me discovered it. It seems someone smuggled explosives into the arena by hiding them in scabbards.”
“As I thought!”
Zhuge Won-myeong turned to the veiled man with a hardened expression and spoke urgently.
“Alliance Leader. I will immediately arrest everyone involved.”
‘Alliance Leader?’
Then the veiled man was Baek Hyang-muk? It seemed he had come to watch the matches in disguise.
‘!?’
Wait. This meant that the Martial Alliance’s main headquarters, where the secret vault was located, was currently without its strongest asset, the First Sword of Wuhan.
‘Damn it!’
I think I know what Baek Hye-hyang is after. From the beginning, she had no intention of winning the Successor's Martial Discussion to gain access to the vault.
They’re all a distraction. It was to deceive the Martial Alliance and us at the same time. This was a diversionary tactic in the truest sense.
But I wasn't the only one who realized this.
“Alliance Leader. You must return to the main headquarters immediately. No matter how tight the security is, there is a world of difference between you being there and not.”
“I understand.”
Whoosh!
As soon as he finished speaking, Baek Hyang-muk’s figure blurred and vanished. When someone of the Eight Great Masters’ caliber used their lightness skill in earnest, they became almost invisible to the naked eye.
Once Baek Hyang-muk was gone, Zhuge Won-myeong spoke to me.
“I am glad that you, at least, did not disappoint me.”
I breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. If I had been even a moment slower in my judgment, I would have been swept up in the mess. I understood what Zhuge Won-myeong meant, but I feigned ignorance and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
“Never mind. There is no time to explain now. Can you help me?”
“Help you with what?”
“If I announce the explosives now and stop the discussion midway, it will cause chaos. If that happens, they might use the confusion to...”
“...escape.”
“Exactly. I will gather the Alliance warriors now to block all exits. Can you work with Taoist Master Hoyang and the Hall Masters here to arrest the individuals I point out?”
‘!?’
This was an awkward situation. I had avoided suspicion, but now I had to help capture Baek Hye-hyang’s people.