Martial Tournament (3)
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, all the scheduled matches for the day had wrapped up. Word spread among the disciples that the fourth round would start tomorrow, and around Victory Pavilion, the chatter was already heating up about who to bet spirit stones on next. Leaving the noise behind, my feet naturally carried me toward the Spirit Flavor Tower.
Honestly, I had no intention of going in. Well, maybe a little? Anyway, ever since joining Qingyun Sect, I'd been surviving on nothing but bigu pills for meals. They tasted like absolute crap, but to save spirit stones, I had no choice.
But today, I can treat myself, right?
After three grueling matches, my spirit energy was nearly depleted, and my stomach wouldn't stop growling. Skimping with bigu pills even on a day like this would just be disrespectful to myself.
Just this once. Muttering to myself, I finally pushed open the door.
The place was packed with disciples, the air thick with the savory aroma of roasting meat and simmering broth assaulting my nose. I scanned the menu board briefly and ordered curtly.
"One bowl of spirit beast soup, please."
Steam rose lazily from the milky-white broth in the bowl, topped with heaps of shredded spirit beast meat arranged in neat strips. Herbs resembling green onions and fragrant spices garnished the edges. Wafting my hand over it, a rich meaty scent mingled with a subtle grassy note.
I couldn't resist—I scooped up a spoonful of broth and sipped.
Ah, this is it.
It put bigu pills—and even the gukbap from my past life—to shame. The deep umami from the slow-simmered spirit beast meat enveloped my tongue, while the spices cut through any potential greasiness. Biting into a piece of meat confirmed it: tender flesh bursting with juices. And as it slid down my throat, it gently eased the fatigue in my dantian.
I silently scooped a few more spoonfuls before giving in completely.
"Add a serving of spirit rice, too."
Moments later, a bowl of glistening spirit rice arrived, its sticky texture practically calling to me.
As a Korean, how could I resist this?
I heaped a big spoonful of rice, mixed it into the soup, topped it with a piece of meat, and shoved it in my mouth.
"Whoa..."
The sigh escaped before I knew it. Memories flooded back of the endless days choking down bigu pills since arriving at Qingyun Sect.
People really do live on rice, after all.
For a while, I ate mindlessly, spoon after spoon. The lingering fatigue in my dantian began to melt away. About halfway through, I heard my name from the table across the room.
"Still, the ones who bet on Ryu Yeon-hwa must've made the most today."
I kept eating but tilted my head slightly to listen.
Three inner disciples sat at the opposite table, faces flushed with excitement over the day's matches.
"No one saw Ha Jin-myeong getting knocked out that early, right?"
"Exactly. The payout on Ryu Yeon-hwa was eight-to-one back then."
"Yu Seong-baek's odds were pretty good too. Betting solely on her might've turned a low-grade spirit stone into a mid-grade one."
Another disciple clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. Tomorrow won't be so easy, though."
"It's Do Won, after all."
"Yeah. Tough against the senior brother of Qingyun Peak."
Of course it won't be easy.
Still, I had no intention of just rolling over. Even with the massive gap in training, I'd thrash around as much as I could.
By the time I set down the empty bowl, a satisfying fullness settled in. But reality hit as I thought about the cost.
Damn, this stuff is expensive...
The flavor was impeccable, but eight spirit stones? Half the afterglow vanished. Like regretting that Chinese takeout splurge. Thinking of my spirit stones left a bitter taste.
I paid the bill and stood up.
By the time I returned to the eastern dorms, night had fully fallen. As soon as I arrived, I pulled out a jade bottle and popped a Hui Ling Pill into my mouth. Then, I recited the incantation for Qing Mu Zhen Jue.
The meridians swollen from back-to-back fights slowly calmed. Closing my eyes, I mentally replayed the day's matches one by one: first round, second, and finally Yu Seong-baek. Aside from the first, they'd all been tricky opponents. That Golden Glow Peak disciple could've been even tougher without his carelessness.
But my final opponent was different from the rest. Qi Condensation pinnacle. The weight of it pressed down like a challenge. No need to panic, though.
I continued circulating my energy. How much time passed? Around when the lantern oil was nearly spent, I slowly opened my eyes.
Stepping out of the eastern dorms, the sun hadn't fully risen yet. Even this early, plenty of disciples headed toward Qingyun Peak, with the biggest crowd at Victory Pavilion, as expected. I tried to pass by nonchalantly but stopped in my tracks.
Just one quick peek.
Craining my neck through the throng, I checked the wooden plaque.
Qingyun Peak Do Won victory – 1.2x
Qingling Peak Ryu Yeon-hwa victory – 14x
What is this, some soccer Korea-Germany match?
Qi Condensation 5th star versus pinnacle. Anyone could see I was the underdog, but seeing it in numbers felt weird. From the murmurs, hardly anyone had bet on me.
Standing there longer would just bruise my pride more. Shaking off pointless thoughts, I headed to the waiting area.
"Participants, ascend to the arena."
The steward's voice boomed across the martial grounds. Do Won was already climbing the stage from the opposite side. Reaching the center, he cupped his fists first.
"Inner disciple of Qingyun Peak, Do Won."
"Direct disciple of Qingling Peak, Ryu Yeon-hwa."
With brief greetings exchanged, the steward dropped his hand.
"Match begin."
I moved first the instant it started, slipping three green heart beans from my sleeve and tossing them into the air.
"Rise."
The three beans glowed simultaneously, forming bean soldiers clad in bark armor. The moment they landed on the arena, I issued the command.
"Overwhelm him at once!"
The bean soldiers charged from three sides. At the same time, I drew my Blood Needle and aimed at him.
Do Won watched impassively. Instead, he raised his right hand. Crimson formation patterns bloomed behind him, and from the center, a snake-shaped flame slowly lifted its head. The fire serpent flicked its tongue like a real snake, coiling its body.
The crowd buzzed endlessly.
Fire spirit manifestation, huh.
Clashing directly with my wood affinity. But I'd come this far—no backing down.
"Go."
Urging them on, the three bean soldiers lunged faster. Seizing the gap, I fired the Blood Needle.
Whoosh!
The crimson streak sliced through the air head-on. Do Won flicked his fingers lightly, and the serpent opened its maw, spewing fan-shaped scarlet flames.
Fwoosh—
One frontal bean soldier engulfed in flames, reduced to ash in seconds. I swiftly changed hand seals, directing the remaining two to evade the firewall.
"Split!"
They veered left and right, circling the arena edges. His fire manifestation was far stronger than expected—head-on would just waste them.
Meanwhile, the Blood Needle dodged his gaze, diving for his flank. I'd pin his attention on the soldiers and ambush with the needle.
But he anticipated it. Without turning, he raised his left hand lightly. A thin crimson flame barrier unfurled at his side.
Clang! The Blood Needle bounced off.
It blocks too?
"You're better than I thought."
Not mockery, not praise—just an odd tone. Meanwhile, the left bean soldier lunged at his side, the right from the opposite.
Do Won didn't retreat. The fire serpent twisted massively, whipping its tail like a lash.
Bam! The left soldier's upper body exploded.
But the right one nearly reached him.
Good.
I recalled and refired the Blood Needle without hesitation.
Whoosh! It streaked toward his shoulder.
No more holding back. I drew the Purple Soldier Bean I'd been saving.
This guy's no one to skimp on.
Qi Condensation pinnacle. The title wasn't empty. Against him, hiding my aces was arrogance.
I twisted my remaining spirit energy like thread into the purple bean.
Hummm— It vibrated heavily in my palm.
I ignored him and formed the seal.
"Rise."
The purple soldier bean rapidly took human shape. Layered purple wood grain formed armor, thick limbs materializing. It exuded overwhelming pressure incomparable to the others.
Thud.
Landing on the arena, it felt like a general had arrived. The crowd erupted.
"How is that Qi Condensation pinnacle-level aura..."
Can't sustain it long due to spirit energy drain.
Breathing raggedly, I commanded immediately.
"Attack."
The purple soldier exploded forward, closing in on Do Won's face in a blink. He raised his right hand, the serpent twisting to intercept.
Kwaaang! Scarlet flames swallowed its upper body.
Unlike the others, it pressed on with mere scorch marks, punching through the blaze at Do Won.
Bam! He twisted aside barely, but the floor shattered, shards flying everywhere.
Simultaneously, I ordered the last green heart soldier.
"Press him!"
It low-charged his sides as the Blood Needle struck his blind spot—my best coordinated assault.
Urgency flickered; his fingers danced. The serpent coiled for the purple soldier's waist, the flame barrier blocking the needle again.
The Blood Needle ricocheted, but this time, it didn't end there.
The purple soldier grabbed the serpent's neck. It thrashed, but the grip held firm.
Seizing the opening, the green heart soldier charged Do Won.
"...So this is your limit."
He shook his sleeve and drew a fan—exquisite, with red feathers and gold embroidery.
As it unfolded, the arena air heated up. The crowd roared.
"Fire Feather Fan!"
"The senior brother's pulling out that magic tool?"
"It's top-grade!"
Do Won swung it lightly, impassive. The approaching green heart soldiers brushed by it and turned to black ash. Flames surged at the purple soldier too, cracks spiderwebbing its surface.
It endured. I poured in more energy, at my limit but committed.
"Push!"
It advanced, twisting the serpent's neck while swinging at Do Won with its other fist.
He sidestepped half a pace, plucking a feather from the fan.
In that instant, the feather morphed into a massive firebird and soared.
It screeched ear-splittingly, slamming the purple soldier's chest dead-on.
Its upper body jerked back, cracks widening into a web.
I gritted my teeth.
Hold.
The firebird flapped again.
Fwoooosh! Flames spread across it.
I wrung out every last drop of energy.
"More."
My voice came out hoarse. The purple soldier raised its half-ruined arm, fist still aimed at him.
"Indeed. I see why you made it this far."
With that, the Fire Feather Fan unfolded smoothly.
And—
Kwaaaang!
The firebird pierced its chest center.
"Cough!"
Blood filled my mouth. The purple soldier crumbled, internal injuries hitting me. I barely steadied myself, but my condition was wrecked.
Do Won stood firm in the arena center. His sleeve was slightly singed, breathing faintly rougher—that was it. His fan hand didn't waver. Behind him, the serpent reformed.
Still.
Trembling, I recalled the Blood Needle.
"This is enough, isn't it?"
It didn't sound arrogant. Just—
"That's not for you to decide."
I forcibly gathered my dregs of energy and poured them into the Blood Needle.
Whoosh! It launched from my fingertips, all remaining spirit energy in one frontal shot. The crimson needle traced a vivid path straight at him.
But—
Clang—
It struck the fan's ribbing dead-center. A faint crack sounded, a hairline fracture at the core.
Then it spiderwebbed instantly across the whole.
"...!"
The Blood Needle shattered beyond repair. The link to the magic tool severed completely.
"Gah."
Backlash hit again.
Do Won walked slowly toward me, stopping right in front.
"This suffices."
"That's... for me to decide."
"If you insist on continuing, no choice."
His left hand extended slowly.
Intangible pressure slammed me from the front. A wall of spirit energy shoved me off the arena.
The moment I crossed the line tumbling backward, the steward's voice rang out.
"Winner: Qingyun Peak's Do Won."
Pent-up murmurs exploded.
"Woooah!"
"What a rare treat of a match."
"Qi Condensation 5th star holding out like that against the senior brother? Impressive."
I knelt half-collapsed below the arena, catching my breath for a while. My heart pounded wildly, meridians throbbed, fingers still shook.
Do Won gazed down from the stage. After a moment, he cupped his fists briefly.
"Good fight."
"Next time... I won't lose."
His lips twitched faintly.
"Until next time."
With that, he turned and left. My eyes caught a shard of the Blood Needle on the ground. I reached slowly and picked it up.
The cracked crimson fragment had lost nearly all its magic.
Plus, one Purple Soldier Bean ruined.
This match was a total loss...
The thought made me chuckle wryly. Talk about small-minded.
I pocketed the shard and rose shakily. No strength left, but I could walk.
This tournament ended here for me.
"Next time... I really won't lose."
Muttering softly, I stepped out of the martial grounds.