Chapter 734: Falling Dragon (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 734: Falling Dragon (6)
The fourth round of the main tournament had concluded.
The duels, which had stretched late into the night, were finally over. Now, only the top sixteen remained.
With only a handful of contenders left before the birth of a new Captain of the Heavenly Dragon Army, the air in Henan grew stiflingly hot as the days passed.
Even though summer had ended, the source of this heat wasn't just the martial arts tournament. If one had to pinpoint the cause…
“Please, let me meet the Lesser King of Hell just once!”
“I-I am the leader of the Bukae Merchant Association! Someone from the White Flower Merchant Association, please come out!”
…It would be the mob swarming the gates.
Outside my residence, the normally quiet morning was now filled with the clamor of disruptive humans. Things had already been noisy for a while thanks to the trouble the Dishonored Venerable caused last time, but this was even worse.
“I heard the Lesser King of Hell is staying here!”
“Just a word with him…!”
This time, more than half the blame lay with me, so I had no right to complain.
“Ugh…”
I pressed a hand to my throbbing forehead. It wasn't even noon yet; what was with this crowd?
Damn it.
I had expected a reaction, but the crowd was far larger than I’d anticipated.
Should I make a run for it now? They said it would be about two days before the round of sixteen began, so maybe I could just hole up in the mountains to kill time. I was seriously considering it, but…
“If you are thinking of running away, I hope you will reconsider.”
An icy voice from in front of me forced me to kill that thought immediately.
“Surely you don’t intend to create this mess and then simply disappear, do you?”
“Of… course not.”
I forced a smile at Moyong Hi-ah’s words. At my reply, she nodded and took a graceful sip of her tea. Her movements were as poised as ever.
“The Bukae Merchant Association… the Miryong Escort Group… These are organizations you don’t see just anywhere, yet they’ve all come rushing here.”
In terms of reputation within the Central Plains, they were all quite famous.
“The same people who wouldn't even give us the time of day when we were trying to open new trade routes… to think they’d come crawling like this.”
The words she spoke with a grin were somehow terrifying.
“If I’d known it would come to this, I would have put you to work much sooner, Young Master.”
“Hahaha. I suppose so.”
“You suppose so…?”
Oops.
It seemed I’d given the wrong answer. The atmosphere around Moyong Hi-ah grew a degree colder.
“Is that really all you have to say right now?”
“No… uh… um…”
“After all the trouble I went through trying to keep you hidden. If you were going to cause this much of a scene, you should have just done it from the start.”
“…Sorry.”
“If you were going to do it, you should have done it more effectively so we could have at least used it for publicity! You should have given me a heads-up!”
“…”
So that was the problem.
Watching her reaction, I nodded. It was a fair point.
I think so, too.
In fact, that had been my plan. If I was going to reveal a certain amount of my power, I had intended to do it on a much bigger stage, from a higher position, where I could make a definitive statement.
But in my fight with the Heavenly Dragon, I’d done more than I’d intended.
I got carried away without realizing it…
Was it because he was a promising one? Was it because he pleaded with me to show him my true strength? The reason was hazy, but I had been just as fired up.
It was exciting. The sight of him refusing to back down had intrigued me. I had thrown a massive wall in front of him, yet he climbed it even as the skin on his hands tore and bled.
If I had to pick the one person most different from my past life, it would probably be him.
He doesn't collapse. He doesn't break. That was exactly the impression he gave.
How could such a person have been so broken in my past life? The question sprouted in my mind before I could stop it.
“Young Master. What are you thinking about right now?”
“…Nothing.”
“You were thinking about something else just now, weren’t you?”
“No. I was focused on what you were saying.”
“Then what did I say?”
“…You said if I was going to cause trouble, I should do it right.”
“That was a while ago…”
Had that much time already passed? Lost in thought, I must have tuned her out. At my attitude, Moyong Hi-ah sighed and wiped her face. I noticed her features had grown haggard in just one day. It seemed she’d been through a lot.
“…I was talking about the sponsorship offer from the Yujeon Merchant Association.”
“Ah, right. That’s what it was.”
Honestly, I hadn't heard a word, but I nodded anyway.
“Right, the sponsorship… yes, the sponsorship…”
“Will you accept it?”
“No, I don’t need it.”
I refused flatly. Moyong Hi-ah reacted as if she’d expected it.
“The Yujeon Merchant Association is on the same level as the White Flower Merchant Association. Are you sure about that?”
The same level as the White Flower Merchant Association. That meant it was one of the top five in the Central Plains. The aforementioned Bukae Merchant Association and the escort groups were fairly well-known, but that was just at a general level. Once you entered the world above that, it was a different story.
They possessed more wealth than most noble clans or prestigious sects, and among them, the Yujeon Merchant Association was ranked quite high.
“It’s not like I need money. And I’m not too keen on taking a hand that’s offered only now.”
I had enough money. Over the years, I had used information from my past life to steadily build a foundation. And even if that weren't the case…
“My official sponsor is the White Flower Merchant Association. For them to send someone now, knowing that, is nothing more than them testing the waters.”
It would be unwelcome even if the association’s leader came in person, so sending some random representative to try and exchange a few words was not an acceptable approach. This was even more true considering my official relationship with Lady Mi was that of a mother and son.
“If any other merchant associations make an offer, please refuse them as well.”
“It’s not a matter of ‘if.’ Most of them have already made offers.”
As she spoke, Moyong Hi-ah brought over a thick stack of letters and placed them on the table with a thud. It looked like it would topple over with the slightest touch.
“Do you know that all anyone in Henan is talking about right now is you, Young Master?”
“To some extent…?”
“For now, it’s just Henan, but it will soon spread throughout the entire region. I heard the Beggar’s Sect is also on the move.”
Then, in about two months, the story would reach even the most distant regions—just like the story of the Heavenly Dragon had spread in an instant.
“Of course, even if the story spreads, it won’t be difficult to fend off the merchant associations.”
Naturally. That was why I had positioned myself with the White Flower Merchant Association in advance. It wasn't just any organization; it was the White Flower Merchant Association. I was receiving their sponsorship, and on top of that, I was officially her son, which made it easy to refuse other associations.
However.
“However… it will be a bit problematic to move around in hiding from now on. Are you okay with that?”
This time was different from the past. It wasn't just a matter of my title changing and the news spreading far and wide. My appearance was now known, and a great number of names had become attached to me.
Prospective Zenith Under the Heavens.
The monster who crushed stars.
Martial Artist of the Comet.
A Genius for the Ages.
The Gu Clan's hidden ultimate weapon.
The list was full of nicknames that gave me goosebumps just hearing them. And all those terms had sprung up in a single day to describe me.
“Ugh…”
Shit… I think I'm going to be sick. What is all this? It's disgusting.
As I made a face of revulsion, Moyong Hi-ah looked at me and shook her head.
“What you did was a massive deal, so you’ll have to bear it. Besides… it’s not like any of it is wrong.”
Not wrong? It might look that way to others, but to me, none of it felt right. My stomach churned. It felt like I’d been placed in a position I didn't deserve. That’s what hurt.
But.
I have to endure it.
This, too, I had to endure. It was a necessary step. I had to bear it, no matter what.
“Young Master. That’s why I’m asking.”
“…Hm? What?”
“Why on earth did you touch the Heavenly Dragon’s head…?”
“…”
I let out a hollow laugh at her question, which she asked as if she truly couldn't understand. The reason she was asking was likely due to the rumors that had spread along with my name.
— The Lesser King of Hell completely wrecked the Heavenly Dragon.
— They say he beat the Heavenly Dragon like an evil spirit, even as the man begged him to stop.
— Bleeding profusely, the Heavenly Dragon clung to the Lesser King of Hell’s trousers.
— After the duel, the Lesser King of Hell grabbed the Heavenly Dragon by the crown of his head and insulted him.
Stories like these, post-scripts to the martial arts tournament, were spreading alongside the main news.
“Who beat up whom?”
It was absurd. How could such a ridiculous rumor have started? Wrecked him?
…Well, that part is true.
We fought until our bodies were a mess, so it was true that he was wrecked. But the same went for me.
The places he hit me still ache.
The Hundred Steps Divine Fist that struck my chest, enduring my flames. I took the barrage that followed with my entire body. Although I blocked most of it with Combat Qi, I thought I was going to die from the sheer number of fractures in my bones.
Strictly speaking, it was worse than that for both of us.
I was holding back when I could have subdued him much more easily.
It would have been impossible in a single blow, but I could have ended it in a few exchanges at most. I dragged it out a bit to play with him.
…It’s because I got carried away, too.
Should I show him a little? That was the thought that had driven my actions.
“But an insult? I find that ridiculous.”
“So you didn’t touch his head?”
“I did.”
“…What?”
“But I mean it wasn’t for that purpose.”
That I touched his head to mock and insult him? Damn it all.
And here I was, doing him a favor.
His body was shattered, and his internal energy was completely depleted. His breathing was distorted, and as his strength failed, his breaths grew shallow. It was a sign that a Qi overflow state was imminent.
That was the state of the Heavenly Dragon’s body. If left alone, he would either die or become a vegetable. It was too pitiful an end to gain from a single duel.
So I did it.
— “Shut your mouth and breathe through your nose. If you exert yourself needlessly, you'll die.”
I immediately grabbed the Heavenly Dragon by the crown of his head and circulated my internal energy. I stabilized his wavering Qi and filtered out the turbid energy that had begun to circulate, burning it away. I couldn't do anything about his broken bones, but that much would at least prevent him from entering a Qi overflow state.
Perhaps due to the sudden influx of my internal energy, the Heavenly Dragon passed out on the spot. And thanks to that, rumors like these spread:
— Unable to endure the Lesser King of Hell’s mockery, the Heavenly Dragon lost his mind.
Or:
— The Lesser King of Hell enjoys toying with the weak.
— He is exceptionally talented but arrogant, and also indulges in women and entertainment.
And so on. Why were the rumors about me always filled with such fucking bullshit?
How is a person supposed to live with this kind of treatment?
Especially that last part about women and entertainment—where did that crap come from? Was there anyone out there who's lived as clean a life as I have?
“Then should I request a correction from the Beggar’s Sect about those rumors?”
“…It’s fine. They’ll die down soon enough.”
“Somehow… I don’t think they will…”
“Anyway, we’re done with this topic, so please handle the merchant association matters as we discussed.”
“Understood.”
After I finished speaking, I gulped down my tea as if to soothe my burning insides.
So… what should I do from now on?
I had already sent out a revised plan for the changed schedule, but there were still about seven days left in the tournament.
It would be best if I can make it to the very end, but…
If there was one variable here…
It’s the question of when the Captain of the First Swordsmen will arrive in Henan.
Depending on that, I might have to move the plan forward. Because there were things that had to be done the moment he arrived here.
“Hmm…”
I’ve sent word to the Unyielding Demon. The Hwangbo side should be preparing as well… so I guess I just need to keep an eye on the Emei Sect and test the waters with the Murim Alliance.
Looking at it this way, it seems like things are proceeding smoothly.
No, I can’t let my guard down.
I absolutely could not let my guard down. When things go well, it always means some kind of trouble is about to erupt. My damn luck has always been like that.
It’s obvious that something will go wrong when things are going this well.
I absolutely cannot let that happen. No matter what, I would handle this properly. I tensed up, steeling my resolve.
Just then.
“Young Master?”
“Oh, yeah. What is it?”
“You didn’t hear me again?”
“…Sorry.”
It seemed Moyong Hi-ah had been saying something. Unable to hear her, just like before, I offered a short apology. Moyong Hi-ah, as if used to it by now, didn’t even react.
“So, what were you saying?”
“I said that I have brought a guest.”
“A guest? Ah.”
Only then did I remember. When Moyong Hi-ah had come to my residence, she had asked if she could bring someone with her. She said the person had come to see me, and since she was the one bringing them, I had told her it was fine.
“They’ve just arrived… Since they are from a merchant association, I’m telling you first.”
“A merchant association?”
Hearing that, I frowned slightly. If it was someone from a merchant association, I had just asked her to turn them all away. But the guest she brought was from a merchant association? From her reaction, it was definitely not someone from the White Flower Merchant Association.
“Who is it?”
“They are from the Jangwon Merchant Association.”
“The Jangwon Merchant Association…”
My eyes widened at her words. The Jangwon Merchant Association.
Isn’t that the place said to have the most money in the Central Plains?
Beyond the influence of a mere merchant association, it was officially the place that possessed the most wealth in the world.
— “If you cannot buy a martial artist's pride with money, first determine if the amount is insufficient.”
That was the famous saying left by the former leader of the Jangwon Merchant Association. And as if to prove his words, he had a history of hiring the Zenith Under the Heavens of his time, Cheolhyeol Buseon, as a temporary escort.
When asked how much he had paid for the greatest martial artist to act as an escort, he had answered calmly:
— “I received a price befitting my value.”
Enough money to make the Zenith Under the Heavens move as an escort. It must have been an unimaginable sum.
Anyway.
So even people from there have come to see me.
The Yujeon Merchant Association and now the Jangwon Merchant Association. Had I really shown them something that would make them move? I felt a novel sensation.
But.
“As I said before, if it’s not the leader but just an employee, no matter who they are—”
“They are not just an employee.”
“Then what, the leader himself came?”
“Yes.”
“What…?”
“…He came to see you in person.”
“What did you say?”
As I expressed my doubt, a presence was felt from beyond the residence, as if on cue.
Knock, knock.
It was a presence I had sensed a while ago.
“…Who is it?”
— “Greetings. I am from the Jangwon Merchant Association.”
A calm, flowing voice that somehow inspired trust.
“You may enter.”
After a moment of consideration, I gave my permission. The door opened, and a man revealed himself.
“Thank you for accepting my request.”
He appeared to be past forty, with a kind face that hinted at a benevolent nature. Looking at him, I had to frown immediately.
That man is…?
I knew that face. Although the wrinkles were fainter than in the past, it wasn't a face I could fail to recognize. Even if I didn't know him well, he was someone I had to remember.
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Jang Yumyeong of the Jang Clan, and I run a small shop in the Central Plains called the Jangwon Merchant Association.”
And for good reason. Jang Yumyeong, the leader of the Jangwon Merchant Association. He was a tycoon among tycoons who had run the Jangwon Merchant Association in my past life as well.
“Please, Great Hero, feel free to call me ‘Mr. Jang.’”
Because he was the official sponsor of the Celestial Sword, Wi Seol-Ah.