Chapter 685: Tang Soyeol of the Tang Clan (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 685: Tang Soyeol of the Tang Clan (2)
“What…?”
Oil Bullet Sword’s face hardened as he stared at the woman.
As he met her faintly glowing, light-green eyes, his temper began to flare.
“What did you just say?”
A chilling pressure settled over the area.
“Hah…!”
“What the…!”
The surrounding martial artists flinched and trembled. The pressure unleashed by a Fusion Realm martial artist had begun to spread.
The onlookers clutched themselves as if suddenly struck by a midwinter chill. The martial artists among them were forced to grip their prized weapons and circulate their Qi just to stay standing.
The Fusion Realm signified that he was an absolute master—a supreme state that only the most talented could reach through endless, grueling effort. As a martial artist of such a level revealed his killing intent, the humid summer air grew frigid.
“Were those words… truly directed at me?”
Oil Bullet Sword’s expression was stony, his aura incomparably sharp. The smirking, arrogant Oil Bullet Sword was gone; in his place stood one of the Hundred Masters of the World.
“I thought you were beautiful and acknowledged your worth, yet you crawl all over me without end. Vermin? You dare call me, Oil Bullet Sword, a vermin?”
She was young and beautiful. Even if her clan had fallen, she was still the daughter of a noble family. He had thought he might take her for himself, even going out of his way to approach her.
Vermin?
What had this insignificant wench dared to say to him? Oil Bullet Sword simply couldn't comprehend it.
Has a member of a long-fallen clan not yet learned to discard her pride?
The Tang Clan had lost its former glory and was now living in obscurity, facing nothing but scorn. This girl seemed to be blissfully unaware of that reality.
Then again, it made sense. They had soared so high and fallen in an instant; it was understandable that she couldn't accept their new status.
They were the Tang Clan of the Four Great Noble Clans. They were the wellspring of poison arts that none dared to challenge, and the source of the majority of the hidden weapons in the Central Plains. If they had just stayed the course, they would have had no problem maintaining their position.
But in their desperate desire to protect that glory, the Tang Clan crossed a line they should never have crossed. When the truth came to light, they came crashing down from their pedestal. They lost their power as a great clan and were forced to let go of almost everything they possessed.
So, what was the Tang Clan's current standing? One only had to look at the gazes of the people around them. They were cold and sharp. There were no looks of admiration or envy typically reserved for a young prodigy of a noble clan. The moment the crowd realized she was of the Tang Clan, their eyes filled with something close to contempt.
That was the current reality of the Tang Clan.
What gives this bitch the right to hold her head so high?
Despite the contempt and disillusionment surrounding her, the woman's eyes were exquisitely beautiful. Her determined gaze met Oil Bullet Sword's without wavering. She remained unshaken by his heavy pressure.
Desirable.
The thought crossed Oil Bullet Sword's mind before he could stop it. Her inexplicable confidence, so contrary to her situation, angered him—yet he coveted it. He truly wanted to make her his. The thought sent a surge of heat coiling below his dantian.
“Do you not know your place? Or have you simply forgotten it? Your words are quite harsh.”
What had she said? That he could never have her, even in death?
“…Haha! If you said that thinking your clan is still the Tang Clan of old, you are gravely mistaken. Or perhaps, you do not know who I, Oil Bullet Sword, am.”
“How could I not know? I know very well, Senior.”
Her blade-like tone from moments ago vanished, replaced by a graceful, polite manner of speaking. But to Oil Bullet Sword, who had already seen her true colors, the act didn't register.
“And yet you acted that way toward me? The young lady must be under some great misunderstanding.”
Oil Bullet Sword's eyes flashed as he unleashed even more pressure.
“Kugh!”
“This is…!”
The surrounding martial artists let out groans that were close to screams.
“It is not that you are too good for me. It seems you truly do not realize that I am far too good for you.”
Confidence is fine, but one must know their place. How dare she be so arrogant with him? As he spoke with that intent…
Pfft.
A laugh came from right in front of him. At the sound, Oil Bullet Sword's brow crumpled completely.
“You're laughing?”
“Ah, my apologies. It just slipped out.”
Even as she spoke, Tang Soyeol seemed unable to hold back her amusement.
“What's so funny? Were my words that amusing?”
“Yes. I tried not to laugh, but it's just too funny.”
After laughing for a moment behind her hand, Tang Soyeol continued, her eyes filled with ridicule.
“Seeing you covet my body so, I'm not sure whether I should thank you or be disgusted.”
Oil Bullet Sword frowned as he listened. Her words were one thing, but something else was bothering him.
When did she pull her hand away?
He was certain he had been holding her wrist, but at some point, Tang Soyeol had already retrieved her hand. He had never let go.
“First, let me force myself to thank you and say this: unfortunately, my body already has an owner.”
“Are you saying you have a fiancé?”
“It is a love I cherish alone. It's just that I have no intention of letting anyone other than him have a taste.”
“Ha.”
Did she mean to play the part of a devoted lover, even without a fiancé? Just as Oil Bullet Sword was about to let out a scoff…
“However, if someone were more outstanding than him, my body and heart might be swayed. It's just that…” Tang Soyeol brushed her hair back with one hand, looking Oil Bullet Sword dead in the eye. “Neither a vermin like you, Senior, nor anyone else, is better than him. So please, don't be disappointed.”
“…Well now.”
The moment Tang Soyeol finished speaking, Oil Bullet Sword smiled. At the same time, power gathered in his dantian, and his pressure erupted even more fiercely.
Fwoooosh—!!
A crushing weight bore down on the surroundings, and killing intent flickered in Oil Bullet Sword's eyes.
“Are you saying the one who desires your body is the Zenith Under the Heavens?”
To say this mystery man was greater than not only him, but everyone else—it was too arrogant to be called mere faith.
“Those are difficult words to overlook, spoken before me, Oil Bullet Sword.”
Because she was precious and beautiful, because she was young and desirable, he had been patient. But it seemed she was determined to cross the line.
“I'll have to teach you a lesson.”
Her body no longer mattered. All that remained for Oil Bullet Sword was to teach this foolish ‘junior’ the truth.
“I will show you the world.”
He would show her, right here and now, what cold, hard reality looked like. As he thought this, Oil Bullet Sword reached to draw his sword.
“What a sleazy old man.”
A voice came from close behind him. Oil Bullet Sword immediately whipped his head to the right.
What?
But there was nothing behind him. As his eyes widened in confusion…
Grip—!
“…!”
A hand suddenly appeared and clamped down on his shoulder. And then, the voice came from his left.
“It's not easy to act like this with everyone watching, is it?”
Hearing the voice laced with amusement, Oil Bullet Sword tensed his body. He intended to draw his sword and shake off the intruder.
“Huh…!”
He wouldn't budge.
Squeeeeze—!!
He tried to break free with all his strength, but his body was held fast, as if completely bound in iron. Feeling a sense of wrongness, Oil Bullet Sword focused all his power in his dantian.
Kwwaaaaa—!!
Qi erupted from his dantian, but…
“Huh…!?”
Oil Bullet Sword gasped. His Qi was clearly erupting, but it wasn't bursting outward. The person holding him was physically blocking his energy. It meant that this person was single-handedly and effortlessly containing the energy he was unleashing with all his might.
And at such close range? It was impossible. This meant they were completely absorbing his pressure.
Nonsense—!
Faced with the unbelievable, Oil Bullet Sword gritted his teeth and poured out more power, but…
“Mister.”
A dry voice spoke.
“Take your hand off the sword. Don't do anything stupid.”
Kuuuuuuuuk—!!
“Kughh!?”
Instead, an immense pressure crushed down on him. The Qi he was emitting was being smothered, and an even greater weight bore down. His legs trembled involuntarily. He felt like his knees would buckle at any moment, but he couldn't even fall. The one holding his shoulder wouldn't allow it.
Who was it? Who on earth could unleash such pressure? Beads of cold sweat formed on Oil Bullet Sword's forehead.
In this situation, a strange atmosphere was also forming in the surroundings.
“Haaa... The pressure... the pressure is gone.”
“I-I can finally breathe...”
Freed from the pressure Oil Bullet Sword had been unleashing, the martial artists breathed sighs of relief.
“Did Oil Bullet Sword withdraw his aura?”
“Then what's going on over there?”
Seeing the reactions of the martial artists, Oil Bullet Sword swallowed hard.
…The pressure is gone?
They said the pressure that had filled the area was gone. And yet, such a heavy weight was pouring down on him. Which meant…
He's focusing the pressure only on me.
He was controlling it so precisely that no one among the countless people here could feel it. He was delicately directing the pressure so that only Oil Bullet Sword was crushed by it. And such an immense pressure at that.
…This is impossible.
How could something like this be possible? It wasn't impossible for Oil Bullet Sword himself to focus his aura, but controlling this much pressure with such finesse was unheard of. It was chilling. Not only had this unknown person approached him undetected, but he was also completely restricting his movements.
I have to escape, no matter what it takes.
First, get away. Having made his decision, Oil Bullet Sword tried to channel power into his hand to use one of his ultimate techniques.
Click—!
The moment Oil Bullet Sword's sword slid slightly from its scabbard.
[ I said, put it back. ]
Thwack—!
“What!?”
At the words, he shoved his sword back into its scabbard without thinking. What was happening? Oil Bullet Sword's pupils shook wildly. While his composure was gradually crumbling…
“You two, put those away as well.”
The voice spoke to those in front. It was directed at Tang Soyeol and the other woman. Only then could he see it. The daughter of the Tang Clan was clutching a dagger in her hand. And the woman behind her, the so-called descendant of the Sword Venerable, also had her sword halfway drawn.
“There are a lot of eyes watching.”
As the young man mentioned it again, the two women calmly stood down.
Shing.
As the dagger and sword disappeared from view, the pressure on Oil Bullet Sword also lessened. Feeling this, Oil Bullet Sword barely managed to speak.
“…Who… are you?”
What was his identity, to display such power? Oil Bullet Sword asked with that intention, but…
“Why do you need to know?”
The young man crushed his question with a dismissive tone.
“I was just going to watch, but why is an old geezer like you preying on a fresh young kid? Did you throw away your conscience when you raised your realm?”
The voice was caked in irritation. Moreover, it sounded remarkably young.
“Act your age. You look a little old to be waving your dick around like a clueless kid. Don't you think? Fuck.”
Despite the vulgar and sharp tone, Oil Bullet Sword swallowed hard at the emotion contained within it. The hostility was too palpable.
“Why are you being such an eyesore, fucking around right in front of me? Should I just rip it off for you? Rip it off so you can never use it again? Would that be better?”
What did he mean, rip it off? He was curious, but Oil Bullet Sword couldn't bring himself to ask. He felt he already knew the answer.
“No. I shouldn't ask, I should just rip it off. Yeah, ripping it off is the right thing to do. A bastard like this needs to live without it. That's right.”
“…!”
A chill ran down Oil Bullet Sword's spine at the gruesome words. To hell with his pride, he had to run. If he didn't…!
“S-Stop!”
“Hah!”
“Tsk.”
A ray of hope fell upon Oil Bullet Sword. Someone who appeared to be a martial artist from the Alliance pushed through the crowd and intervened.
“Please stop fighting! Unauthorized combat before the start of the tournament is forbidden!”
As the martial artist's words were heard, the pressure vanished in an instant. At the same time, the hand on his shoulder disappeared. Only then was Oil Bullet Sword able to break free, breathing raggedly.
“Gasp… hack…”
He turned his gaze while catching his breath, desperate to identify the one who had restrained him.
“…!!”
Upon identifying the culprit, Oil Bullet Sword was horrified.
He was young. The opponent looked far too young—twenty years old, at most. Setting aside his surprisingly fierce features, his appearance suggested he might be even younger. No matter how generously he looked at him, it was the face of a young prodigy.
Was that bastard truly the one who had overpowered him?
“Look at those eyes. Not gonna lower your gaze?”
As the young man scowled, Oil Bullet Sword averted his gaze slightly without even realizing it.
Dammit—!
Realizing his own cowardice, Oil Bullet Sword grimaced. His pride torn to shreds, he reached for his sword.
“Stop…!! If you continue to fight, we will have no choice but to disqualify you!”
He barely managed to restrain himself at the words of the Alliance martial artist. He had come to the tournament to make a name for himself; he couldn't afford to be disqualified before it even began. Presumably, the same was true for his opponent.
Perhaps because of that, the trembling in Oil Bullet Sword's voice lessened somewhat.
“You bastard…. You were lucky.”
“What?”
“You dared to lay a hand on my body. I would have been justified in cutting off that hand, but the Alliance's rules have saved you.”
He was confident that his opponent would also stop here to avoid disqualification. However, Oil Bullet Sword didn't know.
“Next time, your luck won't hold out, so be prepared…”
“What is this son of a bitch talking about?”
His opponent, Gu Yangcheon, was not the type of person to care about such things.
Whoosh—!
“Huh?”
A foot moved. Gu Yangcheon thrust his foot toward Oil Bullet Sword, who instinctively coated his body with Qi. The protective Combat Qi of a Fusion Realm martial artist enveloped his entire body. It was a powerful protective aura that would not break under normal circumstances.
And yet.
Crack—!
“…!!!”
At Gu Yangcheon's kick, Oil Bullet Sword's protective aura shattered like crushed tofu. It was unbelievable. He had to dodge. Oil Bullet Sword thought this and tried to move, but Gu Yangcheon's leg was faster.
CRACK—!
“!”
The tip of the foot struck Oil Bullet Sword's groin directly. The sound of something shattering echoed in Oil Bullet Sword's ears.
“Ugh!”
“Oof…”
“Urk…!”
The men watching instinctively flinched, covering their own groins. It was a universal, unbearable instinct.
Thud.
Not long after, Oil Bullet Sword, who had taken the blow, collapsed to his knees. And soon after…
“GUWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!”
A whole new universe of pain opened up for Oil Bullet Sword.