Chapter 707: Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (15)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 707: Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (15)
Swoosh—.
The duel was over. A heavy silence descended upon the stage, broken only by the whistling wind.
In that dead quiet, where not even the sound of breathing could be heard, I slowly lifted my head.
Before me lay the fallen Wind Forest Encompassing Bullet Fist.
I watched him for a moment, steadying my own breath.
Ah, I feel a little bad about this.
An awkward smile tugged at my lips.
I’d known for some time that he had reached the Fusion Realm. I also knew he hadn’t been at that level for long. He had tried to conceal his aura, but his lack of control caused it to leak out like a sieve.
I understood why he was hiding his true strength. He wanted to be the dark horse, the unexpected star of this stage.
Still, thanks to him, things turned out this way. I suppose I should be grateful.
I straightened my posture.
And then, the silence broke.
“…What…”
“Th-that’s…”
The stillness shattered as a wave of frantic murmurs rippled through the crowd.
“Wind Forest Encompassing Bullet Fist was defeated…?”
“Didn’t they say he was a martial artist of the Fusion Realm?”
“Don’t tell me it was a lie?”
The rumor that Wind Forest Encompassing Bullet Fist had reached the Fusion Realm had been circulating among the audience. Now, doubt flickered like a dying flame.
But the martial artists who had been watching closely knew better.
“…No, he certainly reached the Fusion Realm. I, Noeryeokchang, will vouch for it.”
“Gasp, Noeryeokchang…?!”
“Did he say Noeryeokchang…?”
“Th-that’s right. The giant with the long scar on his cheek. It’s Noeryeokchang!”
All eyes snapped toward the man speaking from the stands.
Noeryeokchang, Bunrang.
A martial artist ranked among the prestigious Hundred Masters of the Central Plains. To think a man of his stature had been watching the tournament from the ordinary stands.
“Noeryeokchang vouched for his level.”
“…So, Wind Forest Encompassing Bullet Fist truly was in the Fusion Realm.”
Because a fellow master of the Fusion Realm had spoken, his words carried the weight of absolute truth.
As that fact solidified, a new, more terrifying question arose.
“Then… then, what was that just now?”
Someone’s whispered question acted as the tipping point.
“What about Lesser King of Hell? Didn’t he just defeat a Fusion Realm master?”
“I-it must be some kind of trickery, right?”
“Trickery, my ass! Have you forgotten where we are? What kind of madman would use trickery inside the Murim Alliance!”
“Besides, can you even beat a Fusion Realm martial artist with cheap tricks…?”
“Then… are you saying that young man is also in the Fusion Realm?”
With that, the crowd turned back to Noeryeokchang, desperate for confirmation.
Caught by the sudden, intense stares, Noeryeokchang looked momentarily flustered. Everyone was waiting for him to provide a definitive answer.
“Hmm…”
But Noeryeokchang couldn’t answer easily. He hadn't been able to confirm it himself.
The reason was simple.
I couldn’t see it.
He was called Noeryeokchang for his lightning-fast spear techniques, yet even his trained eyes had failed to follow Lesser King of Hell’s movements. Wind Forest Encompassing Bullet Fist might have been obstructing his view, but how could the boy have ended the fight in that brief instant?
Could it really have been trickery?
Noeryeokchang was so baffled he actually considered the possibility. Otherwise, the scene was simply incomprehensible.
However, if it wasn’t trickery…
…That young man has reached the Fusion Realm?
That would mean Lesser King of Hell was a Fusion Realm martial artist. Moreover, not all Fusion Realm masters were created equal. Wind Forest Encompassing Bullet Fist was a newcomer to the realm. Noeryeokchang himself wouldn't take long to defeat him.
But.
I couldn’t have defeated him that quickly.
He wouldn't be able to subdue the man as effortlessly as Gu Yangcheon just had. He would need at least three exchanges to secure a win.
And yet, that young man had ended it in a heartbeat—a moment even a master had missed. Noeryeokchang could only frown, staring intensely at Lesser King of Hell.
He wasn't the only one. Everyone was beginning to realize the gravity of what they had seen.
“Lesser King of Hell… who is he, really? Is he truly a Fusion Realm martial artist? At that age?”
“Come to think of it… I heard a rumor that Lesser King of Hell reached the Fusion Realm a few years ago. Does that mean…”
“What are you talking about? They say Lesser King of Hell is only twenty now. A few years ago would mean…”
“He reached it faster than a Heavenly Dragon? That’s basically saying the Alliance has officially certified a monster.”
The questions grew, coalescing into a sharpened dagger of doubt. That dagger would be hurled at the wall I had so carefully built, and a crack would finally form.
They were forging the dagger themselves.
Sensing the shift in the atmosphere, Gu Yangcheon looked toward the judge.
“The result. Shouldn’t you announce it?”
“…!”
The judge flinched. It seemed even he hadn't fully processed what had happened.
“Ah, uh… uh…”
He stammered blankly for a moment before quickly pulling himself together.
“M-match over. Number eighteen wi—”
“I’m number seventeen.”
“Ah.”
The judge was clearly still rattled.
“Number seventeen… v-victory.”
Even after the official announcement, the murmuring didn't stop.
Yes, let the questions explode. This is exactly the reaction I've been waiting for.
Ssk.
Without a hint of hesitation, Gu Yangcheon turned his back and walked off the stage. Until the moment he descended and disappeared from view, the only name on anyone's lips was Gu Yangcheon.
This was exactly what he had hoped for.
* * *
I walked.
I just kept walking, keeping my pace slow so as not to seem rushed. With every step, more eyes fixed on me.
They were the eyes of martial artists—those who had just witnessed the duel. They were all staring at my face. The furtive, curious glances were gone, replaced by open, intense stares.
I could feel a whirlpool of emotions in their gazes: shock, suspicion, wariness, and fear.
It didn’t feel entirely bad.
“Defeated Witan-gwon in a single blow…?”
“I couldn’t even see him move…”
“How is this possible…”
The whispers gave me a slight headache. The sight of these insignificant beings yapping was truly pathetic.
The thought surfaced on its own, and I had to force it down.
Damn it.
Things had been better lately, but this always happens when I get a little cocky. My blood runs hot; I get this feeling far too often.
Suppressing a sigh, I walked until I reached Tang Soyeol and Bongsun. Spotting me, Tang Soyeol beamed and waved. Strangely, the sight of her seemed to calm the turmoil inside me.
“Good work.”
“What work? I didn’t do anything.”
I didn’t know why, but I felt a little embarrassed. So, contrary to how I felt, I grumbled, but Tang Soyeol just smiled.
“You did. You don’t like people staring at you, after all.”
“...”
I couldn’t deny that. I gave an awkward smile.
“You did well, Young Master… You worked hard.”
“That’s right! You were so cool! You should totally mate with m—”
I didn't give her the chance. I reached out and smacked Bongsun hard on the forehead before she could finish her nonsense.
“Eek!”
Bongsun shrieked, clutching her head.
“Please… just be quiet.”
“Uggghhhhh…! It… it feels good…”
“...”
This was giving me a massive headache. My turmoil had settled while looking at Tang Soyeol, but looking at her, I felt like I was going to explode for an entirely different reason.
“Pfft…”
Finding the situation amusing, Tang Soyeol barely held back her laughter.
What a mess. An absolute mess. All eyes were fixed on us, yet our group felt like it was in a different world entirely. The strange thing was, it didn't feel all that bad.
I shook my head and looked at Tang Soyeol.
“Aren’t you nervous?”
“Pardon?”
They hadn’t even reached number fifty yet, so Tang Soyeol's turn was still a long way off. Even so, she didn’t seem the least bit nervous. I could understand it from Bongsun, who was barely human, but why was Soyeol so composed?
I asked her, looking at her with curiosity, and she replied simply.
“He’s not an opponent to be nervous about.”
“Ah…”
Her answer was convincing enough for me to nod. True, against that man, there wasn’t much reason for her to be nervous.
“Why? Do you think I’ll lose?”
“Nah. Of course not.”
There are no absolutes, but there are probabilities. And based on those, the probability of Tang Soyeol losing to that man was practically zero—unless, of course, she intentionally tried to lose.
At my answer, Tang Soyeol’s eyes crinkled into a smile.
“Then you don’t have to worry.”
I averted my gaze slightly.
“Who said I was worried?”
She saw right through me. I had tried my best not to show it. How did she know?
“I won’t lose. Unless it’s to you, Young Master…”
Tang Soyeol’s smile vanished as she spoke.
“I have no intention of losing to anyone.”
To anyone.
The weight behind those words felt strange. It was confidence, yes, but also a fierce, sharp competitive spirit. Was Tang Soyeol always like this? Or had the Dark King done something to her?
It was good to see her strong, but it also felt somewhat chilling.
“…Alright.”
It felt strange, but I didn’t press the issue. Tang Soyeol also turned her gaze away and began to look around. The area was still overflowing with stares directed our way.
Partly because of me. And partly because of her.
“She’s the young lady of the Tang Clan.”
“Poison Phoenix, was it? I heard she hadn’t even surpassed the Peak Realm. How did she get this far?”
The martial artists whispered as they looked at Tang Soyeol.
“It’s obvious. She must have pulled some strings.”
“Indeed…”
The words I overheard were not kind. The Tang Clan’s reputation in the Central Plains was at an all-time low. The revelation of human experiments conducted on kidnapped orphans had ruined them. Their position among the Four Noble Clans was gone, and there were even debates about whether they should be allowed to remain in the Orthodox Faction.
With a member of the secluded Tang Clan now making an appearance, it was only natural that the venomous whispers were directed at her.
“Her family may be a problem, but she is truly beautiful.”
“You trust her just because of her face? What era do you think this is… they’re all the same kind.”
“Tsk tsk. Even Master Yutan-geom was momentarily tempted. But for the situation to turn out like that, it must be that thing’s fau—”
Swoosh.
I couldn’t listen anymore. I released my aura.
Rumble—!
“…Heek!?”
“Hup…”
The men began to tremble under the crushing weight of my killing intent. It was hard to hold back.
Should I kill them? Or should I burn them from the tips of their toes?
Unable to control the rising heat in my chest, I was about to walk toward them when—
Thwack.
Tang Soyeol grabbed my hand, stopping me just like last time. The difference this time was her expression.
“Young Master.”
“...”
Her voice was firm. I turned to look at her. Tang Soyeol’s eyes were unwavering.
“Please don’t.”
Her request was the same as before. But her reasoning had changed.
“If I always stay under your protection, Young Master, I’ll never be able to do anything on my own.”
“…!”
This time, it was my turn to freeze.
“I don’t want to live like that.”
“You…”
“Honestly, I’m very happy. Just knowing you’re protecting me makes me feel like I have the whole world. But… I can’t just let it stay like that.”
“What are you talking about?”
I asked, flustered, but Tang Soyeol simply gave a small smile and continued.
“Walking together… that’s not just about being side-by-side, is it?”
“...”
“I want to walk beside you, Young Master.”
Her words, laden with heavy sincerity, made my breath catch in my throat.
“That’s why I came. To show you.”
“Show me? What?”
“That I can stand on my own without your help. That I can not only walk, but run and even fly.”
“...”
“So… just for a little while, please just watch. I’m asking you.”
Her grip on my hand tightened. Her touch, both cool and warm, finally made me withdraw the aura I had been emitting.
Swoosh…
As I withdrew my killing intent, the men who had been crushed by its pressure collapsed to the ground.
“Gasp… Gasp…”
“Ugh…!”
Those with lower cultivation even threw up. Watching them, I stepped back and crossed my arms.
“Thank you, Young Master.”
“...”
I frowned and didn’t answer. It wasn’t Tang Soyeol’s attitude that bothered me; it was my own. I was angry at myself for almost interfering, for losing my patience even though I understood what she wanted.
At the same time, I was curious.
What on earth is she going to show me…?
What was Tang Soyeol trying to prove? What was she planning to do, and with what kind of resolve?
The questions began to sprout, but they were answered soon enough.
* * *
On the same dueling stage where I had just stood.
On the cold marble floor, a man lay bleeding.
“Kkeuh… kkeuk.”
The man sobbing in pain was Yutan-geom, one of the Hundred Masters of the Central Plains. A famous master said to have reached the Fusion Realm.
Such a man was bleeding and struggling. Watching him, the crowd was as silent as they had been for my match.
Just then.
Stomp—!
Someone delicately placed their foot on the face of the prone Yutan-geom and pressed down.
“Kkeuh-heuk!”
Yutan-geom couldn’t even scream properly. Looking down at him, the owner of that leg—Tang Soyeol—smiled alluringly and spoke.
“Senior. You should get up.”
Her voice sent a shiver down the spines of the onlookers. It was cold, yet strangely captivating.
“Or will you just lie there like a dog? How truly… pathetic…”
Her gaze looked down on him from an infinite height. A sliver of her pale calf was visible through the slit in her dress, and beneath her foot, the form of Yutan-geom twitched in agony.
Faced with this bizarre, chilling scene, I could only stare blankly at Tang Soyeol.
…Was this what she meant by showing me?
If so, then something was very, very wrong.