Chapter 55: Merciless Wind God (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 55: Merciless Wind God (2)
The announcement from Seomun Geuk, the Style Leader of the Literary Spear Style who was presiding over the second exam, did not come immediately.
Clearly, Hwang Sin-jae, the Style Leader of the Gohyeon Wind Pavilion who had been facing me, had stepped outside the red circle. Or had he?
The Lesser Conversation Sword’s snickering voice echoed in my head.
A moment later, Seomun Geuk’s voice finally rang out.
“You… have passed the second exam.”
“What?”
Jin Yong’s startled voice came from the side.
As I removed the black cloth covering my eyes, I saw Hwang Sin-jae standing before me, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as he offered a fist-and-palm salute. I had put considerable strength into the strike to end the match as quickly as possible, and it seemed he had suffered an internal injury.
I returned the gesture with a polite salute of my own.
That shout from earlier.
I looked toward the two men standing by the entrance on the far side of the training grounds.
Beside Yun Ja-seo, the Style Leader of the Terrain Fist Style from the first floor, stood a middle-aged man with a sturdy build and handsome features, his hands tucked behind his back.
The Merciless Wind God, Jin Seong-baek.
One of the Eight Great Masters and the Sect Leader of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect, one of the Four Great Martial Sects of Peerless Fortress.
His face was blunt and devoid of emotion, yet the aura he radiated seemed to overwhelm everyone present.
…That man is my biological father.
It was a strange feeling—entirely different from when I first met my maternal grandfather. My heart began to beat a little faster.
I knew. Our eyes were locked at that very moment.
Because of his expressionless face, I couldn't tell what he was thinking. If that voice from earlier had been his, he would have certainly realized I was hiding my true strength. Was that why he looked suspicious?
The fact that he just stared without saying a word made me feel uneasy.
It was then.
Slash! Clang!
“Urgh!”
A sword that had been tossed into the air clattered onto the stone floor of the training grounds.
Turning my head, I saw that Lee Jeong-gyeom, who had been taking his exam right next to me, had also finished his match. The incense stick was only half-burnt, yet he had not only sent the sword of his opponent—Jo Ryang, the Style Leader of the Shadowless Sword Style—flying, but he also held the tip of his own blade to the man's throat.
The boy looked at me and smirked.
He didn't move more than two steps?
Even if he was used to being blindfolded, was such a thing possible against a master of nearly equal caliber?
In my case, it was only possible because the Lesser Conversation Sword told me the opponent's position, and because I had opened my Middle Dantian, allowing my Golden Eye to clearly see the opponent's energy.
…He truly lives up to his reputation.
In terms of raw talent, he seemed to be the absolute best.
More importantly, I needed to go to the Merciless Wind God. An opportunity to face him before the third exam had presented itself, and I couldn't let it slip away.
But Seomun Geuk blocked my path.
“The exams are still in progress.”
“I have already passed the second exam.”
“The second exam is not over until all three candidates have finished.”
What did that mean? Did it mean the third exam wouldn't proceed until everyone was done, rather than being an individual affair?
“…If we aren't starting immediately, may I have a brief word with the Sect Leader?”
“Unless the Sect Leader commands it, no contact is allowed until the exams are concluded.”
Damn it.
I had hoped to save some time, but I didn't expect to be blocked like this. Pushing my way through seemed difficult as well. Since I was already under suspicion for hiding my skills, acting out might only invite further hostility.
The Namcheon Iron Sword was right. Once I was officially designated as the successor, I could resolve the situation.
Just then.
“I yield.”
The voice of Yang Do-bang, the Style Leader of the Pine Cloud Palm Style, rang out as he admitted defeat.
Looking over, I saw Jin Yong breathing heavily, while Yang Do-bang had one foot pushed outside the circle.
“Ho. To think all three would pass the second exam.”
Jo Ryang, the Style Leader of the Shadowless Sword Style, couldn't hide his admiration. It had looked quite precarious for a moment, but seeing him pass in the end, Jin Yong’s tenacity for victory was certainly impressive.
“Dammit.”
Jin Yong glared at us, clearly frustrated that we had finished before him. He had displayed such confidence, so his pride must have been wounded by being the last to pass.
Then, noticing the Merciless Wind God Jin Seong-baek, he hurriedly offered a fist-and-palm salute.
Seomun Geuk, the presiding official, spoke up.
“I congratulate all three of you on passing. After a brief rest, we shall begin the third exam.”
Finally, the third exam. Seomun Geuk began to explain the procedure.
“The final exam will be a confrontation between the three of you.”
He pointed to the side of the training grounds where the red circles had been. On the stone floor there, some slabs were coated with white powder, while others were coated with black powder.
It looked like a giant Go board.
The difference was that the slabs with white powder were laid out in a very irregular pattern. This time, the area was marked by a red square, roughly thirty feet wide.
“The foundation of our Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect begins with the feet. For the final exam, your internal energy will be restricted, your hands will be tied behind your backs, and you will fight using only your feet.”
“The three of us at once?”
At my question, Seomun Geuk nodded. Now I understood why he had waited for everyone to finish.
“Only white powder must remain on your feet. If even a speck of black powder touches any part of your body, you will be disqualified immediately.”
“And we must not cross that red line either, correct?”
“That is correct.”
Seomun Geuk nodded in response to Lee Jeong-gyeom’s question. The restrictions were even more stringent than the previous exam.
“Hehehe.”
Jin Yong was smirking. It was likely because of the condition that internal energy could not be used. He must have already realized that his martial prowess was inferior to ours. Since the playing field was now leveled, he probably thought he had a real chance.
He had already made a fool of himself twice. Having been humiliated, he wasn't thick-skinned enough to boast again so soon.
After moving the incense burner, Seomun Geuk placed a single stick of incense inside. The line on this one was longer than the previous ones.
“Step forward, you three.”
“Will you be placing a restriction seal on our internal energy?”
“I will not. However, if there is even a hint of internal energy being used, you will be disqualified on the spot. I expect you to uphold the pride of a martial artist.”
Somehow, this felt like part of the test as well. A restriction seal would have been more certain, but they chose not to use one. It was nothing short of a temptation.
“I shall bind your hands.”
Starting with Lee Jeong-gyeom, Seomun Geuk pulled their hands behind their backs and tied them tightly with rope.
Jin Yong looked at the two of us and said, “Don't you dare break the rules.”
Neither I nor Lee Jeong-gyeom felt he was worth answering. When neither of us replied, he ground his teeth.
“You bastards!”
Ignoring him, I looked at Lee Jeong-gyeom. Before my regression, he was the rising star of the Orthodox Martial World who enjoyed the greatest fame among his peers. He was an opponent I truly wanted to face properly, without such restrictions.
“This format is a bit disappointing, but it looks interesting in its own way,” he said to me with a faint smile.
It seemed he felt the same.
Tug!
Finally, Seomun Geuk bound my hands behind my back.
“Your sword and daggers will be returned after the exam is—”
Before he could finish his sentence.
“Sect Leader!”
Someone shouted urgently as they rushed up the stairs. It was one of the masters of the Terrain Fist Style I had seen on the first floor. Everyone’s gaze shifted toward him.
“What is it?”
At the question from Yun Ja-seo, the Style Leader of the Terrain Fist Style, the panting master replied.
“Warriors from the Mucheonjeong Sect have surrounded the tower, and their Sect Leader is forcing his way up!”
“What?”
At those words, I was even more bewildered than Yun Ja-seo. I never expected him to come here, to the Star Tower of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect.
Jin Yong muttered in confusion, “The Sect Leader of the Mucheonjeong Sect… the Muchen Sword Emperor Tian Wuxing?”
…Ha!
Even without the witness Gap Wonchun, I had expected that word of my appearance would eventually reach his ears through the warriors of Peerless Fortress. But I didn't think he would move so boldly.
His goal was crystal clear.
He was moving before I could reveal his secret. The impact of that secret must be truly massive.
Damn it. My mind was racing. To think he would strike first like this.
Between Baek Hye-hyang’s safety and the rapidly escalating situation, things were becoming desperate. If it came to this, I had no choice.
I circulated my internal energy and snapped the ropes binding my hands.
Seomun Geuk slammed his spear onto the floor and barked, “What do you think you’re doing before the exam has even begun!”
“My apologies.”
Swish!
Bypassing him with a body lightening method, I shouted toward the Merciless Wind God Jin Seong-baek.
“Sect Leader! I have something to tell you!”
“Stop him!”
As I headed toward him, the Style Leaders of each branch and the warriors of the Literary Spear Style on the eighth floor all surrounded Jin Seong-baek, blocking my path. I wasn't trying to harm him, but they were seriously in the way.
Rather than breaking through them, it would be better to just expose the man's secret right here.
“Sect Leader! The Sect Leader of the Mucheonjeong Sect is—”
“Silence!”
Before I could finish, a Lion’s Roar erupted from somewhere. The sound was so powerful it felt like my eardrums were about to burst.
“Urgh!”
“My—my ears!”
The warriors of the Literary Spear Style with weaker internal energy clutched their ears and fell to their knees.
Oh no…
The one being I didn't want to see appeared before my eyes. It was the Muchen Sword Emperor Tian Wuxing. As he walked forward with a terrifying expression, his gaze was fixed solely on me.
My ears were ringing painfully, but with the single-minded determination to convey the truth, I tried to shout again.
“Sect…”
[Do you want that girl to die?]
“!?”
The sound transmission echoing in my ears instantly silenced me. Had she really been captured?
Conflict raged within me. Deep down, I hoped she hadn't been caught. He could be lying to shut me up, but I couldn't ignore the possibility that it was true. Baek Hye-hyang had intentionally lured him away for my sake, after all.
Then, he subtly held up something in his right hand.
…Damn it.
It was a blood-stained piece of fabric. It matched the pattern on the sleeve of the clothes Baek Hye-hyang was wearing.
[If you want that girl to live, you had better not move that mouth of yours even an inch from now on. Don't even dream of using sound transmission.]
…I had been completely cornered.
Just then, someone stepped out from among the warriors of the Literary Spear Style. It was the Merciless Wind God Jin Seong-baek.
Jin Seong-baek spoke.
“Sect Leader Tian. Depending on the circumstances, I have no choice but to take this as an insult to myself and my sect.”
His voice was blunt, but the pressure it carried was no joke. He looked ready to duel right then and there if an explanation wasn't provided immediately.
Tian Wuxing assumed a cold expression and offered a fist-and-palm salute.
“Sect Leader Jin. I offer my apologies first for my rudeness.”
“This is not a matter that can be settled with a mere apology.”
Jin Seong-baek gestured toward the warriors behind him who were still clutching their ears in pain.
Tian Wuxing pointed a finger at me and said, “If you hand that man over to me, I will offer a formal apology from sect to sect. Or, as a sign of my sincerity, I am even willing to cut off one of my own fingers.”
He held up his right index finger as he spoke. He had chosen to swallow his pride to deal with me rather than risk his true identity being exposed.
When he spoke with such intensity, Jin Seong-baek frowned and said, “We are in the middle of a successor exam. And this young man has already passed three of my sect’s—”
Before he could finish, Tian Wuxing threw something. Jin Seong-baek caught it lightly.
It was a sword hilt with only a fragment of the blade remaining.
To think he brought that.
“…What is this?”
“It is the sword that man was carrying. You presided over the exam, so you should recognize it.”
Jin Seong-baek looked at the Style Leaders. Upon seeing the hilt, they frowned and nodded. They had seen my sword throughout the exam and remembered it clearly.
“That man used that sword to kill my disciple, Mu-hyeok!”
Tian Wuxing spoke, radiating killing intent as if he couldn't contain his rage. The air around us grew heavy with his murderous aura.
…This man!
He was beyond cunning; he was insidious. By claiming I had killed the boy who had actually been crushed by rocks, he was creating a justification that Jin Seong-baek would find difficult to ignore.
Murmur, murmur!
The people of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect began to stir. It would be an uproar if any member of their sect were killed, but since I was accused of killing his top disciple and the future Sect Leader, they seemed to judge that the justification was too strong to overturn.
As if to drive the final nail in the coffin, Tian Wuxing spoke with renewed force.
“I have lost my only successor. If Sect Leader Jin intends to protect someone who has not even become your successor yet, I am prepared to go to war with your esteemed sect!”
At those words, the expressions of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect members hardened. Warriors from the Mucheonjeong Sect had already surrounded the Star Tower. It meant war could break out at any moment.
Tian Wuxing looked at me with a triumphant glint in his eyes. It was as if he were telling me that no matter what I tried, there was no escape.
“………”
Tian Wuxing spoke to Jin Seong-baek in a softer tone.
“If you just hand that boy over, I will let this matter pass quietly. We are comrades of the same Peerless Fortress; we shouldn't be fighting over something like this. Just allow me to soothe my disciple’s memorial tablet with this wretch's blood.”
Tian Wuxing bowed his head politely with a fist-and-palm salute.
At this, Jin Seong-baek appeared shaken. He frowned, unable to say a word.
The Lesser Conversation Sword spoke up in a panic. I closed my eyes tightly and let out a sigh.
In my ear, I heard Tian Wuxing’s voice.
[You know it well. You can never escape your fate of death.]
I slowly opened my eyes. Looking at Tian Wuxing, I sent a sound transmission.
[Come to think of it, even if I die by your hand, there’s no reason for you to let the Young Lady live, is there?]
At my words, his eyes narrowed. I must have hit the mark. Even if I died, there was no way he would leave the captured Baek Hye-hyang alive. He was only keeping her as leverage; once his goal was achieved, what reason would he have to let her live?
Tian Wuxing sent back a sound transmission in a smooth voice.
[It seems you are indeed afraid of death. Fine. If you both promise to become my disciples and keep your mouths shut, I might let you live.]
As he changed his tune, I shook my head and sent another transmission.
[You’re quite the liar, aren't you?]
[What?]
[But you see, while I might lose one Young Lady, it seems you have a great deal more to lose if your secret is revealed. What do you think about that?]
His expression froze. Tian Wuxing sent a transmission in a chilling voice.
[Are you threatening me right now?]
I replied with a smirk.
[Think of it as a measure of self-preservation rather than a threat.]
Tian Wuxing clicked his tongue and sent a transmission.
[You must be truly desperate to die. Do you really think you can survive if I disregard everything else and focus solely on killing you?]
[Probably not. But I think I can at least expose your secret.]
[I’m warning you. If you move even an inch or open your mouth, I will kill you on the spot.]
He was finally showing his true colors.
[How terrifying.]
[And yet you dare to provoke me? How foolish.]
[Well, there’s someone here who has to protect me no matter what.]
[What?]
As soon as I finished speaking, I reached into my robe and pulled something out.
Sensing that I was up to something, Tian Wuxing lunged at me with terrifying speed. He aimed a sword-finger strike at the space between my brows to kill me in a single blow, but—
Thud!
Someone stepped in front of me and grabbed his wrist.
“Sect Leader Jin!”
It was the Merciless Wind God Jin Seong-baek.
Tian Wuxing muttered in disbelief, “Why?”
The people of the Wind Shadow Eight Streams Sect were equally confused, and a murmur broke out. They hadn't expected him to protect me so decisively.
Whew.
That was incredibly close.
In my raised hand was the Flying Crane Moon Token, a treasure of the Flying Moon Hero Sect.
Still holding Tian Wuxing’s wrist, Jin Seong-baek spoke.
“…Young Master So, how do you come to possess that token?”
Without a moment's hesitation, I answered.
“It is my mother’s keepsake.”
“!!!”