Chapter 710: Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (18)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 710: Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament (18)
The first day of the main tournament drew to a close as night descended.
We headed to the inn immediately after the day's events, only to find it bursting at the seams.
“Wow… I’m not sure we’ll even find a place to sit.”
It wasn’t usually this crowded. The tournament was obviously the cause, but this was excessive even by those standards.
“Lady Moyong said she secured a spot for us, so it should be fine, right?” Tang Soyeol said with a bright smile.
She was right.
Since Moyong Hi-ah was the one who had invited us, she would have definitely made arrangements. She was the type of woman who loathed being caught in a chaotic crowd.
Watching Tang Soyeol speak, I couldn't help but let out a small chuckle.
“You seem to be in a very good mood.”
“Hm? Hehe…”
Was winning really that satisfying?
Tang Soyeol’s smile was much wider than usual. The light, rhythmic spring in her step made her happiness obvious to anyone watching.
‘…Though she was a bit terrifying on that stage.’
The way she’d suppressed her strength while systematically dismantling Oil Bullet Sword... even I found it a bit chilling. That was the same look the Poison Queen wore in her past life when she was slaughtering members of the Unorthodox Faction or the Demonic Cult.
It seemed that even though the era had changed, that particular expression remained exactly the same.
Furthermore...
‘She’s gotten much stronger.’
Tang Soyeol was far more powerful than I had anticipated. I’d expected her to have reached the Fusion Realm in a general sense, but she seemed to have achieved a much more complete state than that.
‘And she didn’t even use her own martial arts.’
Her poison arts and hidden weapon techniques—she hadn't touched any of the signature styles the Tang Clan teaches its bloodline. The only thing she had utilized was…
‘The power of the Dark King.’
It was the same power I had seen before. Creating a black barrier to manifest a sense of spatial dissonance. It was a truly troublesome ability.
The problem was...
‘It’s hard to even call that a martial art.’
The Dark King's power stemmed from the Authority he possessed as a half-dragon. If so, did that mean Tang Soyeol was using the Dark King's Authority? But Tang Soyeol was human; humans couldn't wield an Authority. How was she managing it?
Of course, the Dark King's level of execution was overwhelmingly higher, but the fact that she could use it at all was significant.
‘Hmm.’
From what I saw, it didn't feel like she was wielding an actual Authority. It wasn't a martial art, either.
That left only one possibility.
‘Sorcery.’
Tang Soyeol was channeling the Dark King's Authority through the medium of sorcery. That was the most logical conclusion.
Since it wasn't a true Authority, its output was limited. And since it wasn't a martial art, the method of activation and the flow of Qi were fundamentally different. It had to be sorcery.
‘So it’s possible to mimic an Authority through sorcery?’
If sorcery was a technique originally brought to this world by dragons, then the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
“Young Master?”
Just as I was sinking into my thoughts, Tang Soyeol called out to me. Her voice snapped me back to reality.
“Ah, sorry. I was lost in thought.”
“Are you very tired?”
“I’m not tired.”
What did I have to be tired about? My match had ended in a single strike.
“If anyone should be tired, it’s you.”
You beat Oil Bullet Sword into a pulp; your fatigue levels should be the ones through the roof.
“I’m not that tired either. In fact, I feel rather refreshed…?”
“…Uh… yeah…”
Had she released all her pent-up stress by using Oil Bullet Sword as a punching bag? Just as she said, Tang Soyeol looked completely revitalized.
As I was about to smile at the sight…
“Ugh…”
A low groan came from behind me. It was Bongsun.
I frowned and glanced back. “What’s wrong with you now?”
“…It… it wasn’t fun…” Bongsun replied with a heavy sigh.
I knew exactly what she meant.
‘It was certainly anticlimactic.’
Tang Soyeol and I had faced Fusion Realm martial artists, but Bongsun's opponent had barely been beyond the Peak Realm. Consequently, she had won without anything resembling a proper challenge.
She had been crestfallen ever since.
“You should be happy you won. What’s with the long face? People will think you lost.”
“I—I want to fight someone strong too…!”
“You’ll meet one eventually. Stop whining, it’s annoying.”
“…Hmph…”
Bongsun shrank back at my scolding. I clicked my tongue and looked away.
Just then, the person walking beside me shook his head.
“My, you’re practically eating the child alive.”
It was a handsome young master with black hair—the Dishonored Venerable.
“Would it kill you to be a little kinder?”
“Yes. It would. Especially to her.”
I wasn’t a kind person by nature, but I definitely couldn't afford to be soft with Bongsun.
“By the way, Eld—Young Master Bi, what happened with your match?”
I almost called him ‘Elder’ but caught myself just in time. There were too many ears around.
“Hm? What about it?”
“When did you even fight? You could have at least said something.”
The Dishonored Venerable had also been scheduled for the first day. I hadn't seen him and he hadn't mentioned it, so I’d assumed he was on the second day’s roster.
It was only as the tournament was winding down and I was preparing to leave that I’d heard a commotion. People were shouting about something the ‘Dragon Warrior’ had done.
And right then, I’d seen the Dishonored Venerable stepping down from the stage.
“What was there to say? It was nothing special anyway.”
He had a point. I looked at him skeptically. “Are you really planning to win this whole thing?”
“We’ll see.”
The Dishonored Venerable grinned. For some reason, that smile was incredibly unsettling.
“I’ll decide based on how the situation develops.”
“...”
So he had no intention of bowing out quietly.
I sighed inwardly.
‘This is going to be a headache.’
This old man never did anything half-heartedly. If I was unlucky enough to face him on the stage, he’d genuinely try to beat the life out of me.
That left me with only one thing to consider.
‘How do I win?’
I had to beat the Dishonored Venerable. I needed to win, so I would find a way. That was all there was to it.
As I was mulling over my mounting worries…
“…Over there… it’s the Lesser King of Hell and the Poison Phoenix.”
“You’re right. It really is him.”
Hearing the whispers, I instinctively sharpened my senses.
“He looks even younger up close.”
“Is that young man truly in the Fusion Realm…?”
“They said he was close with the Poison Phoenix. Seeing them together, the rumors must be true.”
“Then the other two are…”
The voices were thick with interest, a stark contrast to just a few days ago. I focused on the chatter regarding Tang Soyeol and myself.
To be precise, I focused more on what they were saying about her.
“I could tell even from a distance, but her beauty is truly peerless.”
“For such a delicate-looking woman to do that to Oil Bullet Sword…”
“Regardless of the Tang Clan’s reputation, a monstrous figure has been born.”
There was plenty of talk about me defeating Pungrimwitaegwon, but the primary topic of conversation was still Tang Soyeol.
Her debut had been that impactful.
“A woman not yet thirty in the Fusion Realm… and at the level of the Hundred Masters, no less.”
“Isn’t this the greatest debut since the Heavenly Dragons?”
“…If you ignore the fact that she’s of the Tang bloodline, then yes, certainly.”
“However, there are also whispers that she used witchcraft…”
Having heard enough, I withdrew my senses. With this much buzz, she had firmly established her position.
‘Her title will probably change soon, too.’
Having crushed a Fusion Realm martial artist like Oil Bullet Sword in front of such a massive audience, no one could dismiss Tang Soyeol as a mere prodigy anymore. Before the tournament ended, she would be granted a new title.
We walked up the stairs, the weight of countless gazes pressing against our backs.
This was a departure from my original plan, but seeing Tang Soyeol’s growth felt better than the success of my own schemes. I didn't quite know why, but that was the reality of it.
When we reached the fourth floor of the inn, the crowd thinned out significantly compared to the lower levels. I’d heard that the third and fourth floors were restricted to those who met certain criteria.
As soon as we stepped off the stairs, a waiter guided us forward.
“Ah, over here!”
I saw Moyong Hi-ah waving a delicate hand. Wi Seol-Ah was sitting beside her, beaming at me the moment I appeared.
“You should have started eating without us,” I said as we approached.
“We just got here.”
“Don’t lie. There’s no way you’d arrive exactly on time. You must have been here ages ago.”
“...”
Moyong Hi-ah fell silent at my blunt accusation.
Namgung Bi-ah was nowhere to be seen. I’d heard that while she was well enough to move, she wanted to rest a bit longer.
‘That Woo Hyuk guy and the Young Lady aren’t here either.’
Those two could look after themselves. I wasn’t worried.
Shortly after I sat down, the food began to arrive. Since we hadn't ordered anything yet, Moyong Hi-ah must have pre-ordered the meal.
“It seems you were quite busy today. Are you alright?”
I let out a dry laugh at Moyong Hi-ah’s question.
“You have the face of someone who already knows every detail.”
“It caused quite a stir. Congratulations to you as well, Lady Tang.”
“Ah… thank you.”
Tang Soyeol reacted shyly to the praise. Unlike the preliminaries, the main tournament had a massive audience, so Moyong Hi-ah would have had no trouble gathering information.
“It seemed a bit excessive. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“Hm? What is?”
“Young Master… didn’t you want to avoid drawing attention to yourself?”
My match against Pungrimwitaegwon—the power I’d displayed, even if only a glimpse, was enough to cause a massive ripple today. Thanks to Tang Soyeol, things were slightly quieter than they could have been, but Moyong Hi-ah still seemed concerned.
“It’s fine. It’s not that I didn’t want to reveal myself at all.”
I was just waiting for the right moment.
Besides...
“I had to start showing my hand sooner or later.”
I couldn't keep my strength hidden forever, and the situation had been appropriate.
“I see…”
Moyong Hi-ah nodded, though her expression suggested she was already deep in thought. If I left her to it, she’d eventually reach her own conclusions.
Leaving her to her musings, I picked up a dumpling.
Pour.
As I chewed, my empty cup was filled with water. Wi Seol-Ah was pouring it with careful precision. Interestingly, Tang Soyeol had tried to do the same but had been a split second too slow.
“…Thanks.”
“You’re welcome!”
After filling my cup, she filled Tang Soyeol's, then her own. She completely bypassed Moyong Hi-ah, the Dishonored Venerable, and Bongsun.
The Dishonored Venerable and Bongsun didn't seem to mind, but I noticed Moyong Hi-ah's eyebrow twitch ever so slightly.
Did something happen between those two? There was a strange tension in the air.
“…So, your match is tomorrow, right?” I asked Wi Seol-Ah, shifting the subject.
“Yes! That’s right. I’m up tomorrow.”
Wi Seol-Ah and Seong Yul were both scheduled for the second day of the main tournament.
‘Hmm.’
The tournament would likely get serious tomorrow. Most of the heavy hitters were scheduled for the second day. While there were a few today, tomorrow was packed with big names.
It wasn't a coincidence. The Alliance must have engineered the schedule this way.
“Alright, do your best.”
“Yes! I’ll definitely win. I promise!”
Wi Seol-Ah smiled brightly at my encouragement. Finding her enthusiasm endearing, I moved a piece of food from my plate to hers.
‘…But why is she so determined to win?’
I wasn't entirely sure of her motivation, but her smile was pleasant enough that I decided not to overthink it.
It had been a while since we’d all shared a meal. Lately, between training and handling various matters, finding time for this had been difficult.
‘It would have been nice if Namgung Bi-ah were here too.’
It was a shame. I decided to pack some food to bring back to her.
With that thought, we finished our light dinner.
Another day passed.
I finished my morning training and set out. Today was the second day of the tournament, and I had some business to attend to outside.
Amidst the bustling crowd, I glanced over my shoulder.
“Are you okay?”
“…Yeah…”
Behind me, Namgung Bi-ah was walking with a veil obscuring her face. It felt like a long time since the two of us had walked together like this.
“Tell me if you’re uncomfortable.”
“…If I… tell you?”
“I’ll give you a piggyback ride or carry you.”
“I’m uncomf—”
“I’m kidding.”
“...”
At my joke, Namgung Bi-ah pursed her lips—a rare display of emotion. Amused, I gently took her wrist and led her through the throng.
She hadn't been able to come out yesterday, but she’d insisted she could move today, so I’d brought her along. I’d considered bringing Moyong Hi-ah and Tang Soyeol as well, but they both had their own plans, so it was just the two of us.
Our destination was the tournament grounds. We headed straight for the spectator stands.
The crowd was even more immense than the day before. I’d thought yesterday was the peak, but today the arena was packed to the rafters.
“…So many people…” Namgung Bi-ah murmured, pressing a bit closer to me.
I guided her through the sea of people to our seats. I had already secured reservations.
Apparently, these seats were reservation-only, but when I’d asked Moyong Hi-ah yesterday, she’d produced them without a hitch. When I asked how she’d gotten seats that had been booked solid a month ago, she’d given me a chilling look and asked, ‘Do you really need to know?’ so I’d dropped the subject.
Regardless… as long as we had them, it was fine.
We finally navigated the crowd and found our spots. They weren't the best seats in the house—the front rows were reserved for powerful merchant leaders and sect elders—but I had refused when Moyong Hi-ah offered to get us those.
‘That would be a bit too conspicuous.’
A decent vantage point was enough.
Sitting down, I stared quietly at the empty stage. The roar of the crowd buzzed around us, but I ignored it. My focus was entirely on the platform.
Perhaps noticing my intensity, Namgung Bi-ah asked, “…Are you… very worried about Seol-Ah?”
“What?”
My eyes widened slightly. When I turned, Namgung Bi-ah’s impassive gaze was fixed on me.
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“…That’s… why you came today…”
“...”
I couldn't deny it. Honestly, what other reason would I have to be here?
I gave her an awkward smile.
“You’re right, but I didn’t come because I was worried.”
“…Then?”
“I came more out of anticipation than worry.”
Yes, anticipation.
I was worried about Wi Seol-Ah stepping onto that stage alone, but that wasn't the core of it. It was the same for both her and Tang Soyeol. I wanted to see how much they had changed from their past lives.
To see them spread their wings and fly on their own—I suddenly had a deep desire to witness that.
“...”
Namgung Bi-ah watched me quietly for a moment, then reached out and stroked my head.
“What are you doing?”
“…Just because.”
It was strange, but I didn't pull away.
After a short wait, an attendant arrived and handed us a few sheets of paper—a condensed version of the tournament bracket.
I immediately unfolded it, scanning for familiar names.
‘Seong Yul is… matched with… wait, Yung Pung is here too?’
I saw the name of Yung Pung, the Sword Dragon and the pride of the Mount Hua Sect. There were several other Mount Hua disciples listed as well. I spotted Peng Woojin and the Dao King. And finally…
“…Huh?”
I froze, my eyes locking onto a specific name on the bracket.
Yu Yeon of Shaolin vs. Wi Seol-Ah of Shanxi.
“…Haha.”
Seeing it printed there in black and white, I burst into a dry laugh. Then, my expression darkened into a mask of cold fury.
“These… sons of bitches.”
I could feel the Alliance's meddling hands all over this.