Chapter 153: Friendly Martial Arts Competition (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 153: Friendly Martial Arts Competition (6)
Fwoooosh!
An intense wave of heat erupted, scattering debris in every direction. The thick smoke generated by the flames was swiftly swept away by a sudden gust of wind, revealing the arena to the stunned spectators.
A profound silence fell over the crowd.
The arena was a complete wreck, as if a hurricane had torn through it. A massive, beast-bite-shaped scar was gouged into the ground, and the flames continued to burn with undiminished ferocity.
Fiery Fangs of the Beast.
This was a technique that required the user to concentrate their Qi into a single, devastating point. It was a signature skill of the Gu Clan, one only achievable at my current level of mastery. The fire it produced took on a bestial form, relentlessly consuming its target.
Not a bad display of firepower, I thought, satisfied. Whether it was perfect or not was secondary; what mattered was my ability to wield it. The finer points of Qi condensation and maximizing its power could be pondered later. This experience confirmed that I possessed more than enough Qi for a real battle.
My Qi reserves aren't too shabby, either. Thanks to all I had consumed so far, using a single technique like this was far from draining.
As the last wisps of smoke cleared, I saw Namgung Cheonjun standing on the other side of the arena, utterly shocked.
"Brother-in-law," I called out, noting his trembling form. "Didn't I tell you last time?" This was a lesson I had imparted in Sichuan. "There is nothing more pathetic than a martial artist who lets their guard down."
I was certain I had said those very words, earned through blood and sweat, but it seemed he hadn't listened. That was why he now found himself in this state.
"Have you come to your senses now?"
"How… is this possible…?" he stammered.
"Everyone who says something like that ends up the same. Do you know why that's a problem? It means you failed to accurately gauge your opponent's strength. In a real battle, that mistake costs lives."
I understood the situation perfectly. Few martial artists would remain vigilant against someone like me. What threat could they possibly sense from this child-like body? Yet, that was precisely why they couldn't afford to lower their guard—especially the martial artists of this generation.
The distance between Namgung Cheonjun and me was only a few meters—a mere step or two for experts of our caliber. I closed the gap instantly.
Startled by my sudden proximity, Namgung Cheonjun attempted a reaction, but his hasty, unprepared attack was futile. His Lightning Qi was threatening, but it was pointless if it couldn't reach me. I tilted my head slightly, evading his sword, while simultaneously delivering a small kick to his knee.
His balance shattered. A body off-balance exposes countless openings. I identified at least five critical points where a single blow could end the fight. But I chose a different spot.
Slap!
A sharp crack echoed through the air as my palm connected perfectly with his cheek, snapping his head to the side.
Namgung Cheonjun's cheek flushed red. His eyes shook as if caught in an earthquake, unable to comprehend the reality of his humiliation.
* * *
What just happened?
Namgung Cheonjun wondered if this was a dream. It was the only explanation that made sense. If this wasn't a dream, how could that brat accomplish such a thing?
Beyond the throbbing pain in his cheek, he was far more concerned with the devastated arena stage beside him. Just by looking at the materials used in its construction, he knew it wasn't something easily destroyed. He would struggle to even scratch it with his Qi at full power.
…But he did it so easily. Just like that.
With a single movement… one simple motion of his fist, he had summoned a raging fire of pure destruction.
It was a calamity. A calamity that Namgung Cheonjun couldn't begin to compare himself to.
"How dare you…!" he finally spat out, feeling the swelling in his cheek and the pitiful state he was in. A blood relative of the great Namgung Clan, slapped in front of a packed arena? This was unforgivable.
He summoned his Qi, channeling every ounce of his Lightning Qi into his sword for a full-force swing at Gu Yangcheon.
But Gu Yangcheon's hand was faster.
Slap!
Namgung Cheonjun's face was wrenched away once more, accompanied by another fierce sound.
"At the very least, you should have created some distance," Gu Yangcheon chided calmly. "Yet you swing your sword at close range? What a dumbass."
The impact was greater this time, shaking Namgung Cheonjun's head violently. Gu Yangcheon then grabbed his collar and threw him aside with ease, despite being a head shorter. Namgung Cheonjun's unsteady body tumbled across the floor, unable to land safely.
"What on earth am I watching right now?" a spectator murmured.
"...The Lightning Dragon is losing to that small boy?"
"Never mind that, look at the state of the arena!"
"Who is that child again? From the Gu Clan of Shanxi, was it?"
The previously hushed crowd, which had watched the massive flame in awe, now buzzed with animated chatter. The Sword Phoenix, Sword Dragon, and Sleeping Dragon had not attended this tournament, making the Lightning Dragon one of the strongest contenders. To see him rolling on the floor like this, defeated by an unknown boy, was unbelievable.
Even those who observed quietly were stunned.
"Boss, shouldn't we report this…?" a disheveled young man, who looked like he'd been rolling in the dirt, asked the middle-aged man beside him. They were members of the Beggar’s Sect, often called the eyes and ears of the Orthodox Faction.
"Wait for now," the middle-aged man, Chuwong, replied.
"They're going to be furious if we're slow with the information, you know?"
"I said wait, you bastard…" Chuwong grumbled, his mind racing. Something entirely unexpected had just occurred.
The Beggar’s Sect had planned to spread word of Gu Yangcheon's potential after seeing him defeat his previous opponents with single blows. But they never imagined he was strong enough to make the Lightning Dragon look this pathetic.
Did he overcome the wall? Chuwong wondered, hiding his shock. Overcoming the wall meant reaching the peak realm—a crucial turning point for martial artists on the path to becoming superhuman. Even the scions of noble clans usually took over twenty years on average to reach such a level. Yet, this child was already there.
If that wasn't the case, there was no other explanation for the incredible power he had demonstrated.
The Beggar’s Sect members, with their vast knowledge of martial artists, realized one thing: that boy was a monster.
Could we even call this a fight? It was more like one-sided bullying. The gap between them was too vast to call it a duel.
The duel continued, but there was no twist. The Namgung Clan youth swung his sword with precision, a movement worthy of his clan's name. But the Gu Clan boy was faster, and he wasn't even using the flames he had displayed earlier. He was toying with the Lightning Dragon using only basic movements—simple hits and dodges, without any fancy techniques.
Pow!
"Ughh…!" Namgung Cheonjun grunted as a small fist landed squarely in his dantian. The fist looked soft, but the impact was anything but, sending a jolt of pain through his back.
Without pause, Gu Yangcheon spoke. "Are your legs just for decoration? You're only fighting with your upper body. Is that what your household teaches you?"
Clenching his teeth at the taunt, Namgung Cheonjun attacked again, but nothing changed. His Qi was commendable, but his opponent moved with utter disregard.
"Boss," another Beggar’s Sect member seated next to Chuwong spoke up, "that fellow practices flame martial arts, but he's refraining now. It seems he exhausted his supply earlier."
Chuwong frowned with disappointment. "Your shitty eyes are the reason you can barely manage to eat, you dumbass hobo."
"...What's the point of insulting me when we're all hobos? The boss last time—"
"Just shut up and watch. Do you really think he can't use it? He's just choosing not to."
Chuwong had seen the colossal flame that engulfed the arena. This boy, who had barely lived half his life, had unleashed an attack of unbelievable scale. If I tried something of that magnitude, I'd collapse from Qi exhaustion halfway through.
But that boy was different. His countenance remained fierce and intimidating, yet oddly relaxed. He already knew where the Lightning Dragon would swing, stopping attacks before they could follow through. He positioned himself to strike before Namgung Cheonjun could even begin his own assault.
Just from seeing this, it was clear: he was a monster.
…It's unbelievable.
People often said this generation possessed unparalleled talent. Even the Lightning Dragon, now rolling on the floor, was not to be underestimated. And it was known that the Sword Phoenix and Sword Dragon were even more exceptional. Chuwong, who attended the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament every year to gather information, understood these matters intimately.
He wasn't sure if "genius" was even an adequate term for that child. It seemed far too insufficient. The Sword Phoenix, the Sword Dragon, even the one once called the Heavenly Dragon, Peng Woojin—none of them could compare. And at such a young age.
"This is problematic," Chuwong muttered.
"What is?"
"...I had an order from the sect, but I'm not sure I'll be able to fulfill it."
"Huh? Out of the blue?"
Chuwong had been ordered to collect information on Jang Seonyeon, son of the Harmonic Sword, and spread word of his exploits. After all, he had effortlessly defeated the Poison Phoenix, among others. Word had already been spread; he was to be hailed as a new star, the "Divine Star."
This is a problem. Sweat trickled down Chuwong's cheek as his brows furrowed. Their mission to promote the new 'Divine Star' would likely succeed, but…
Would that title still go to the Alliance Leader's son?
Is that really a question? What a joke. I already know the answer.
Thanks to his extensive experience, the middle-aged hobo knew. The answer had been revealed the moment every spectator witnessed this fight.
Slam!
As Chuwong was lost in thought, the Lightning Dragon tumbled across the stage once more. He immediately got up, using his sword for support.
Drip.
But he couldn't stop the blood flowing from his nose.
"You've become truly pathetic, brother-in-law," Gu Yangcheon said. The elegant Young Lord was nowhere to be seen.
"You… bastard…!"
"Can you really afford to speak like that? There are plenty of eyes on us."
Hearing the taunt, Namgung Cheonjun forced his breathing to calm. It was true; many eyes were watching him.
Gu Yangcheon smirked, amused that Namgung Cheonjun still clung to his facade even after such humiliation.
Noticing the mocking expression, Namgung Cheonjun shouted, "Don't be so full of yourself…!"
"Since when have I been?"
"Do you really think you've won just because you have one trump card?"
Why is he the one getting angry? He brought this upon himself.
"Do you listen with your asshole? Didn't you hear what I told you last time? I have nothing to hide from someone as weak as you. Why don't you know your place?"
"You… you bastard! You know nothing about me!"
"Yeah, I don't. And I'm not interested in whatever you're hiding."
Namgung Cheonjun swung his Qi-enhanced sword once more, but as it reached the midpoint of its arc, he was sent flying by an impact. Gu Yangcheon had kicked him in the chest the moment he came close.
How… how can a bastard like you…
Namgung Cheonjun had no choice but to stand up before recovering from the impact. Gu Yangcheon continued to approach, showing no intention of going easy. The problem was, Namgung Cheonjun couldn't dodge.
"Ughh…!"
I don't understand.
Why?
Why am I losing to that bastard?
When it's me, Namgung Cheonjun?
This simply cannot happen…!
I am a genius. Father approved, and even the Lord of Heaven did. I had no problems until now.
I will inherit Father's position.
I will become the new King of Swords with my astonishing talent.
The Sword Dragon? He's only ahead for now.
I am certain I will surpass him.
But…
That piece of trash ruined everything.
Sichuan. Yes, that's where it all went wrong.
Things refusing to go my way, my beloved sister changing… it all started when I met that bastard.
Everything changed.
So, to set things right, I came here. But then why?
-You are a great vessel.
That's what they told me. That I had great talent.
-We will give you power, but hold off on using it. It will take time for the power to fully become yours.
They said a brave new world would come, different from this one. That's why I acted behind my father's back.
Doesn't it matter? I'll be the future lord of the clan.
"Ugh…"
But then, why am I subjected to such humiliation by that bastard?
My eyes don't even work properly anymore.
Namgung Cheonjun knew the bastard had been toying with him from the start. The first attack made that clear. He was far stronger.
How did this happen? In Sichuan, that bastard was definitely weaker. There was a noticeable gap.
I may have been defeated—if you could even call it that—but if Qi was allowed, it wasn't a fight I would have lost.
But now?
"...Fuck…" Namgung Cheonjun cursed without thinking. He couldn't hold it in.
It hadn't even been a year since then. He had swung his sword relentlessly, chasing the shadow of the Sword Dragon, which loomed over him like a wall. His first encounter with the Sword Dragon had been hellish. That duel made him realize what true, God-given talent was.
That day, he became the Lightning Dragon. The title "Sword Dragon" became his goal. He vowed to step over him one day. With that mindset, he trained tirelessly.
But to this… to this mere bastard!
Had he not worked hard? No, he had. He'd lost count of how many times he'd swung his sword. His torn, blistered hands were proof. His ease in manipulating Lightning Qi was further proof.
But then why!
Why won't my sword reach him?
His shining sword was stopped once again by Gu Yangcheon's fist. Namgung Cheonjun wondered how he managed to stop every strike. Was that even talent? If so, he resented the heavens.
He could no longer hear the spectators. All he sensed were their astonished gazes.
My despair is their joy.
Namgung Cheonjun knew better than anyone how harsh reality was. He was born into a noble clan.
But I… will fall?
To that bastard?
"Huff… huff…" Namgung Cheonjun's exhausted body screamed in pain with every breath. The damage from each interrupted sword strike had accumulated.
His eyes focused on one spot. On one side of the arena, Tang Soyeol was shouting, watching Gu Yangcheon with a bright face.
Was she really cheering for him? How absurd.
They had been engaged in the past and knew each other, but that was it.
His thoughts then drifted to the woman on his side of the arena: the Snow Phoenix, Moyong Hi-ah. She showed interest in him, as if she were on his side. But Namgung Cheonjun knew the truth. Her eyes held no affection.
Everyone around him was like this. His father, his clan, the alliance—all the same.
…Sister.
He thought of his sister. At least she didn't expect anything from him. Her swordplay was beautiful. Her silence was elegant. She sometimes lost her way, just as she was now.
Sister is only lost. Since she's struggling to find the right path, I just have to guide her.
As always.
Then one day, she will acknowledge my sincerity.
—Young Master Guuu!
Namgung Cheonjun began to hear a voice as his vision faded. It was Tang Soyeol, who had been cheering for Gu Yangcheon from the start.
"...!"
And next to her was Namgung Bi-ah. His sister was as beautiful as ever. Her hair, the pride of the Namgung Clan, shone brilliantly in the moonlight. He wanted to run to her immediately.
But he couldn't move. He could see clearly who she was looking at.
Gu Yangcheon.
His sister's eyes were fixed solely on that trash.
Why? Just why? He couldn't understand.
An engagement between two clans? Sure, it happened. He believed it was something his sister never wanted. When he gained more power within the clan—when he was acknowledged by the Lord of Heaven and obtained a higher position—the first thing he planned to do was break the engagement with the Gu Clan, so his sister wouldn't suffer.
Everything was for her.
But then, what were her eyes doing now? Why did they seem to hold something like… affection?
There is no way.
My perfect, noble sister could not have such feelings for that bastard.
If she does, then he must have done something to her.
Did he use a drug?
Yes, judging by his closeness with the Tang Clan's lady, he must have drugged her.
"How dare you… how dare you."
My sister is perfect.
She is like a blank piece of paper.
She's not someone a bastard like you could even think of tarnishing.
Only I…
—Sss
A cold energy, unlike Qi, flinched inside his body. It was the energy he had obtained from his clan, the one he was told to hold back no matter what.
Namgung Cheonjun's arm began to tremble. More accurately, the bracelet on his arm was vibrating, resonating with the energy. The item given to him by the Lord of Heaven was resonating.
Thanks to that, he felt strength surging through his body. He felt like he could do anything with this kind of—
"You piece of shit."
"Ughh!"
Namgung Cheonjun, who had been slowly building power, collapsed to the ground with a loud thud. Gu Yangcheon had grabbed his neck and smashed him into the floor.
Slam—!
With a resounding crash, Qi scattered in every direction. Namgung Cheonjun hadn't even sensed his approach.
"You fucker, where did you get that?" Gu Yangcheon demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
"Ughh…"
Blaze!
Flames materialized behind Gu Yangcheon's back, forming into a near-impenetrable orb around them. His grip on Namgung Cheonjun's neck tightened, threatening to snap it.
"Answer me. That shit around your body—where did you get it?"
Gu Yangcheon's expression was furious. An overwhelming, menacing aura pressed down on Namgung Cheonjun. His once-black hair had taken on a reddish hue, and his eyes glowed like red orbs. The two flame shapes behind him resembled wings.
D…Demon.
That's what Gu Yangcheon looked like to him—a monster that seemed capable of burning the whole world. The energy Namgung Cheonjun had been accumulating scattered, as if afraid of the flames.
"You're not going to answer? Maybe I should burn your arm—…Hmm?" Gu Yangcheon paused, glancing down at Namgung Cheonjun's lower body, sensing something peculiar.
"…"
The weird warmth Gu Yangcheon felt wasn't from his own heat. A sudden, salty scent wafted up to his nose. Involuntarily, he released some of the pressure from his hand.
Namgung Cheonjun had wet himself.