Chapter 731: Falling Dragon (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 731: Falling Dragon (3)
“I will not permit it.”
The speaker was the Mighty Staff, one of the Hundred Masters of the World and the personal escort of Shaolin’s Chief Abbot.
“Yu Yeon. Do you have any idea what you are saying right now?”
“I do.”
Even in the face of that stern refusal, Yu Yeon did not waver.
“I wish to face him.”
“And so, you want to change the tournament bracket? Do you think that makes any sense?”
Yu Yeon wanted to fight the Lesser King of Hell in the fourth round of the main tournament. That was the sole reason he had come to speak with the Mighty Staff.
Hearing his request, the elder’s expression twisted with wrath.
“This was a fair draw conducted by the Alliance—”
“That it was not fair… is something everyone already knows.”
At Yu Yeon’s blunt words, the Mighty Staff’s brow furrowed deeply.
“What? You dare—!”
“However, I believe that, too, is the will of the Buddha. For I am a man of Shaolin.”
There had to be a purpose behind it.
No matter how incomprehensible it seemed, if Chief Abbot Heavenly Eye had accepted and facilitated it, then it was as good as the Buddha’s will. That was how Yu Yeon tried to justify it to himself.
But.
“…For this one matter, I implore you to grant my wish.”
“Yu Yeon!”
“I must meet him, somehow, before it is too late.”
Throb—!
A sharp pang of pain shot through his chest with every breath. Enduring the agony, Yu Yeon tightened his resolve.
Before it’s too late.
Before my wounds worsen.
While I can still show him my true strength.
He had to face that man, no matter what.
“Yu Yeon. Do you not understand what this tournament means to Shaolin?”
“I do. That is why I have stepped forward.”
“And yet you still…!”
“This is something I must do,” Yu Yeon interrupted, his breathing steady despite the pressure. “Because I am the one who must become the pillar of Shaolin.”
“…!”
“Because I am the one who must one day stand at the peak in the name of Shaolin.”
He knew full well the expectations Shaolin placed upon his shoulders. How could he not? It was because he understood them so clearly that his life felt all the more sorrowful.
“Therefore, I must fight him.” He suppressed the tremble in his voice. “If I do not, the regret that remains will become a wall before me until the moment I die.”
“…Hah!”
“I will recall this moment and be consumed by regret, and it will block the path I must walk.”
“You little…” The Mighty Staff scowled, his eyes narrowing. “Are you daring to threaten us, using your own future as leverage?”
“Namu Amitabha Buddha.”
Yu Yeon did not deny it.
If you do not grant my request now, I will be plagued by Inner Demons and be unable to accomplish anything.
And if that happens, Shaolin’s hopes will turn to ash, will they not?
That was the unspoken ultimatum embedded in Yu Yeon’s words.
“This brat… truly…!”
The Mighty Staff was about to erupt in fury, but—
“Enough.”
“…!”
A voice from behind made the old man freeze.
“That is enough.”
It was Heavenly Eye, the Chief Abbot of Shaolin.
“Grant the child’s wish. I will deliver the message to the Sword Immortal myself.”
“Chief Abbot…!” the Mighty Staff exclaimed in surprise, but Heavenly Eye merely gazed at the kneeling Yu Yeon with his singular, profound eyes.
“Yu Yeon.”
“…Yes.”
“Is that truly your will?”
“…I apologize.”
“No, do not apologize. What you wish to do may also be the will of the Buddha. Though it may be unreasonable, granting it is not difficult.” Heavenly Eye dragged his aged body closer. “For what we are trying to do is also an unreasonable act that goes against our very principles.”
“…”
Yu Yeon could not find a single word to answer the Abbot’s self-deprecating statement. Heavenly Eye’s voice was thick with sorrow.
“To you, we who are violating our beliefs must seem truly corrupt.”
“That is not so…”
“I know. We only follow what we believe must be done. It is simply not enough to escape the guilt.” Heavenly Eye’s hand gently stroked Yu Yeon’s hair. “Do as you wish. However…”
The slow, stroking hand paused.
“I hope you do not forget your destination at the end of it all.”
“…”
The place he had to go. The peak he had to reach, bearing the name of Shaolin.
“Yes… I will… keep it in mind.”
To that stifling, heavy weight, Yu Yeon bit his lip and replied.
It was a wish granted through sheer stubbornness. A chance he had seized by force.
And yet.
Kwajijijik—!
“…!”
Yu Yeon’s eyes trembled as he watched his world crumble.
…What…? What just happened?
The question flashed through his mind, but he had no time to process it. Yu Yeon’s staggering body was already moving by instinct.
Kwadeuk—!
An impact slammed into him from the left. Yu Yeon twisted his body instantly, but—
“Tsk.”
With a short click of the tongue, Yu Yeon’s body was sent hurtling back.
Kwadeudeudeuk—!
“Keuk!!”
Wham—!
It scattered. Golden afterimages dissolved into the air—traces of his own energy, fragments of his Hwang-a-gang-ram.
Shattering, crushing, and fading away.
The ultimate defensive art of Shaolin, which he believed would never break, was being crushed by mere bare hands.
‘Impossible…!’
Yu Yeon grit his teeth and moved. He tried to create distance, but he couldn’t. Before he knew it, his collar was gripped tight, preventing any escape.
The Hwang-a-gang-ram was designed to keep opponents at bay. It was supposed to be absolute. Yet his opponent had casually crushed the armor with his hands and broken through.
And then.
Fwoosh—!
KWADEDEUK—!!
The fist that shot out caused the golden armor to explode as if it were made of glass.
“Keoheok!”
The recoil struck Yu Yeon instantly. The armor surrounding his body was obliterated. Pain shot through his dantian, and his knees buckled.
Thud.
“Heok… keoheok…?”
He coughed, his mind reeling. This was an impossible situation.
What happened? I’m sure… I’m sure of it.
He had charged in from the start of the duel, deploying his Hwang-a-gang-ram to seize a decisive victory.
And then?
‘It shattered…’
It had been chewed up and crushed by his opponent’s hands.
Pat, pat.
As his dissipated energy fell to the ground like dust, Yu Yeon lifted his head. His opponent was already standing over him, looking down.
Barely thirty seconds had passed since the match began. And in that time, Yu Yeon was already on his knees.
“See? I told you.”
Flinch.
Yu Yeon’s body trembled at the sound of that voice.
“You could die if you’re not careful.”
“…”
Eyes the color of the azure sky met his. Even though he desperately wanted to look away, Yu Yeon didn’t dare turn his head.
“Tsk. What are you trying to fight for, looking like that? Look at you now. You can’t even maintain your technique properly.”
Yu Yeon was at a loss for words. The man was right. Because of the wound in his chest, Yu Yeon couldn’t control his energy properly. He was much weaker than usual, unable to execute the movements he envisioned.
‘Even so.’
He shouldn’t have been defeated so miserably. How did it come to this?
Yu Yeon already knew the reason.
‘…He’s strong.’
It was because his opponent was simply too strong. The young man before him—his dream and his goal—was a mountain he couldn’t even begin to climb.
Grip.
He clenched his fist and pushed himself up. Extreme pain flared in his chest.
Is this the aftereffect of the recoil?
Yu Yeon prepared to resume the fight, but—
KUUUNG—!
“Keoheok!”
A kick sent Yu Yeon flying through the air. He rolled across the ground from the impact. After tumbling several times, Yu Yeon managed to right himself, anticipating the next strike.
But.
“…Huu… hook…”
Gu Yangcheon stood before him, unmoving.
What is he planning?
As Yu Yeon endured the pain and watched him, Gu Yangcheon slowly raised his hand.
Woooong.
He formed Combat Qi at his fingertips. It was a sharp, distinct aura.
Is he going to attack with that? Why would a fist user create an aura like that? How should I counter it—
CHWAAAK—!!
“…!!”
Yu Yeon’s eyes widened in horror.
“What do you think you are doing—!” he shouted at the top of his lungs.
He had no choice. Gu Yangcheon had suddenly used that Combat Qi to slash a deep furrow across his own chest.
Drip, drip.
Blood flowed from the wound, soaking his uniform. It wasn’t immediately obvious against the black fabric, but one look was enough to tell the wound was deep.
“Benefactor—!!”
“Shut up.”
“…!”
“Don’t scream so loud. I’m the one in pain, not you. Anyone would think you’re the one bleeding.”
Despite the injury, Gu Yangcheon didn’t even blink.
“You said it yourself. You wanted me to go all out.”
“What does that—!”
“Then isn’t this fair?” Gu Yangcheon grinned, blood dripping down his front. “This way, you won’t have any excuses.”
“…Excuse me?”
Yu Yeon’s face scrunched in confusion.
“‘I lost because I was in pain. Because my body wouldn’t listen. I could have won otherwise.’ You won’t be able to say that now, will you?”
“…!”
Yu Yeon swallowed a gasp. Surely, he didn’t wound himself for such a trivial reason? A wound that deep? It was an absurd, insane act.
“Even without that…! No matter what happened, I would have accepted the outcome of the match…!”
“It’s really strange. What are you to me that you keep acting like this?” Gu Yangcheon raised a hand into the air. “At first, I thought you hated me… but it doesn’t seem like that’s all there is to it. Well, whatever.”
And then.
“I’m just doing this because I want to. So shut your mouth and watch.”
KWAAAAAAAH—!!!
An immense pillar of flame erupted from his fingertips, soaring into the sky. Blue flames roared ceaselessly toward the heavens.
Watching it, Yu Yeon felt his body begin to tremble. All of that was pure internal energy—an amount that would drain a normal master’s dantian in seconds. Gu Yangcheon was unleashing it for ten seconds, twenty seconds, then nearly a minute.
After venting the flames for no apparent reason, he stopped.
“This should be enough.” Gu Yangcheon turned back to Yu Yeon. “Exactly half. I’ve emptied half of my internal energy.”
Only then did Yu Yeon realize the truth. On top of wounding himself, Gu Yangcheon had intentionally drained his own reserves.
The reason was simple.
“Now, I should be about the same as you.”
To create a situation identical to Yu Yeon’s. A wound and a loss of energy, just for the sake of parity. He had done it all without a moment’s hesitation.
“How about it? Does it look like you have a chance now?”
“…Benefactor…”
“I was originally going to do this before we started fighting.” Gu Yangcheon wiped his chest. With a slight movement, his hand came away slick with blood. “I didn’t think you’d charge at me like an idiot the second we started. Are you stupid? Why would a guy who’s hurt use his energy so recklessly? Are you crazy?”
“…That was.”
“You said you were going to beat me. You can’t do that. It doesn’t make sense unless you were planning to lose. Ah, were you planning to lose?”
“I was not…”
Yu Yeon grit his teeth and pushed himself to his feet. The surroundings were utterly silent. The voices that had been cheering for him had long since fallen quiet, overwhelmed by the spectacle.
All eyes were on Gu Yangcheon.
Yu Yeon felt as if the spotlight had been stolen in an instant, but he didn’t care. Perhaps this was what he had been hoping for. The proof was that while his body ached, his mind was clearer than ever.
“I… will defeat you.”
“Alright.”
Unwavering words. Hearing them, Gu Yangcheon let out a smirk.
“I felt it before, but this is refreshing.”
“…”
“No one’s ever said that to me in this life. They all ignored me like I was nothing, only realizing their mistake after getting their asses beat.”
Drip, drip, drip—!
The flow of blood thickened. Gu Yangcheon wasn’t even using his energy to stem the bleeding.
“But you’re different… Just why is that?”
“…”
Yu Yeon said nothing. He had not yet defined what this feeling was. If you called it admiration, it was admiration. If you called it respect, perhaps it was that too. On the surface, it seemed like competitiveness, but the essence was something deeper.
“Did I do something to you? No… I don’t think I have yet.”
If you don’t remember, that’s fine.
As long as I am the only one who remembers, that is enough.
Yu Yeon remained silent and raised his fists.
“…I thank you for your consideration, Benefactor. I have come to my senses.” He took a formal stance and offered a bow of gratitude. “With this, I will face you with all my heart.”
“…Hmm.”
Gu Yangcheon scratched the back of his neck as if troubled. “Ah… seriously.” Then, with a short sigh, he said, “The more I look at you, the more I like you. This shouldn’t be happening.”
What could that mean?
The moment Yu Yeon was about to ask, Gu Yangcheon took a single step forward.
And in that instant.
FUWAAAAAAAH—!!
An unbelievable aura began to pour out from Gu Yangcheon’s body.
“Kuh… heup…!?”
Shudder.
Yu Yeon’s body began to tremble uncontrollably, on a completely different level than before. The moment he faced that aura, he felt every muscle in his body turn to stone.
What in the world is this? Is it killing intent?
In a previous duel, Yu Yeon had witnessed the immense killing intent of the Great Saint Blade. He had been shocked then, wondering how a person could emit such a vicious aura.
‘Th-this is…’
It was incomparable. This was an aura he was afraid to even call killing intent. He felt like he was about to lose his mind.
“What was it you said?” Gu Yangcheon slowly approached the terrified Yu Yeon. “You wanted me to go all out, was it?”
He repeated Yu Yeon’s words as if savoring them.
“Alright. I’ll respect that.”
His smile didn’t fade; it only deepened. The aura and the savage smile intertwined. For Gu Yangcheon, this was a new experience. His realm had advanced, and his enlightenment had deepened. This was the first time he was revealing his full power in such a setting.
So, if he had one wish…
“Try to handle it.”
It was that Yu Yeon wouldn’t break from this fight. That was all he hoped for.