Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: The Hero of the Wanderers
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Heuk-pyo’s face hardened at the cryptic reply.
“What do you mean by that?”
“If you had that kind of money, you could hire an assassin yourself. So why are you asking me?”
“That is…”
“What you’ve just done is prove that he’s a master who can’t be taken down for even three thousand gold nyang.”
At those words, the color drained from Heuk-pyo’s face.
As Bu Eun-seol said, Yeop Hwa was a master who could not be killed for three Cat’s Eye Stones. That was why Heuk-pyo had been unable to kill him until now.
“You don’t seem much older than me, Sir… yet you speak like someone who has weathered decades in the martial world.”
Heuk-pyo dejectedly put away the wooden box.
“It’s true. Three Cat’s Eye Stones aren’t enough to kill a supreme master like Yeop Hwa.”
“Why did you make such a request of me?”
“Because you are young and incredibly skilled, Sir. More importantly, since you haven’t been in the martial world for long… I thought you would be able to kill him without hesitation.”
Heuk-pyo spoke in a low voice.
“Yeop Hwa is known as a man of great repute. Killing him… is a task only a fearless rookie could undertake.”
Killing a master known throughout the martial world as a good person was a difficult task.
This was because killing such a man would lead to being condemned as a demonic fiend or a harbinger of death.
If one was unlucky, it was not uncommon to be branded an enemy of the martial world and become the target of orthodox sects.
“I apologize for making such an unreasonable request. Would you please quietly forget this ever happened?”
When Bu Eun-seol nodded, Heuk-pyo clasped his hands together.
“Thank you.”
Bu Eun-seol simply stared intently as the slumped figure of Heuk-pyo departed.
The next day.
The tournament proceeded swiftly.
Gok Un-cheong versus U Jin-gang.
Bu Eun-seol versus Yeop Hwa.
The first match was U Jin-gang’s victory. Although Gok Un-cheong was a master of the orthodox sects, he could not overcome U Jin-gang’s tyrannical swordsmanship and lost an arm.
“This match is between the rising star who appeared like a comet, Bu Eun-seol, and our own guild’s master, the Hero of the Wanderers, Yeop Hwa!”
As soon as Cho Mun-cheon finished speaking, a middle-aged man in a yellow robe stepped onto the dueling stage.
He was in his mid-thirties with a very well-built physique, and his eyes were full of righteous energy. He certainly did not look like a man who would commit lewd acts.
“Let’s have a good match.”
Yeop Hwa was exceedingly polite, even to Bu Eun-seol, who was a dozen years his junior.
He looked less like a wanderer and more like a renowned hero of an orthodox sect.
Bu Eun-seol also clasped his hands in silence before drawing his sword.
‘He’s stronger than I thought.’
Yeop Hwa had experienced countless real battles during his long career as a bounty hunter.
His stance was very similar to Bu Eun-seol’s. He looked completely at ease, yet revealed no openings.
“Since skill and age are not proportional… this humble Yeop will strike first!”
As Bu Eun-seol stood still as a statue, Yeop Hwa initiated the attack.
*Swish.*
It was a clean strike, devoid of any openings.
Normally, one would have no choice but to retreat and take a defensive posture against such a strike, but his opponent was Bu Eun-seol.
*Vwoom.*
By simply turning the tip of his sword back, he warped the trajectory of Yeop Hwa’s strike.
However, Yeop Hwa, who already knew Bu Eun-seol used a Reversal Stance, did not panic and rotated his sword.
*Shashasha.*
His powerfully spinning sword seemed to emit a hazy fog, and then sword tips stabbed in from all directions.
‘Scattering Sword?’
The technique Yeop Hwa was using was the Scattering Sword, which created a chaotic bloom of sword shadows with rapid movements.
*Zing.*
Bu Eun-seol once again deployed his Reversal Stance, but it was difficult to divert all fourteen incoming sword shadows in different directions.
*Chaang!*
Eventually, four strikes of the Scattering Sword broke through the Reversal Stance, forcing Bu Eun-seol to swing his sword and parry all of Yeop Hwa’s attacks.
*Whoosh.*
But Yeop Hwa's flurry of strikes vanished like phantoms, merging back into one to stab at Bu Eun-seol’s chest.
‘His transitions are fast.’
Yeop Hwa was not only a master of the Scattering Sword but also skilled in combat.
If Bu Eun-seol had been of ordinary skill, he might have been so startled by this move that he would have thrown down his sword and surrendered.
‘But it’s too straightforward.’
Bu Eun-seol, who had retreated like lightning, rotated his sword in a wide arc and met Yeop Hwa’s Scattering Sword as it aimed for his chest.
*Kuuung!*
With a sound like a great temple bell ringing, a powerful shockwave erupted, pushing Yeop Hwa back.
He had unleashed a heavy sword technique, using its momentum to push back Yeop Hwa’s blade.
“Kuh.”
Letting out a frustrated groan, Yeop Hwa once again unleashed his Scattering Sword.
*Patpatpat!*
This time, he unleashed only eight strands of sword shadows, but their power was greater, and the technique was more profound.
‘Strange.’
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes glinted as he deflected the Scattering Sword once again.
Yeop Hwa was using only very direct and honest techniques, much like a high monk from Shaolin. A master as experienced as him would use such straightforward techniques for only two reasons.
Either his character was so upright and just that he was incapable of deceiving others.
‘Or he’s deliberately using dull sword forms to lure me into a trap.’
*Charrarang!*
As Bu Eun-seol deflected all eight sword shadows, Yeop Hwa briefly retreated.
“Hoo. Truly remarkable.”
Yeop Hwa let out a long breath and gave a bitter smile.
“I don’t know how a young master of your caliber has remained unknown until now.”
“…”
“A quiet young man. I like that.”
As Bu Eun-seol remained silent, Yeop Hwa took a deep breath and spoke.
“I will now perform my Three Swords of Tong-jeon. If you can block my three techniques, I will immediately concede defeat.”
His proposal was intended to prevent unnecessary bloodshed. The martial artists in the square applauded and nodded in approval.
—As expected of the Hero of the Wanderers. He is so honorable, even when facing a young rookie!
Just then, Yeop Hwa raised his sword and, with a sharp cry, unleashed his Scattering Sword.
“First Sword of Tong-jeon, Il-an-go-gong.”
In that instant, the transparent, glass-like shadows of the Scattering Sword rained down on Bu Eun-seol’s head.
*Paaaaa!*
Bu Eun-seol looked at the sword shadows splitting like rays of light, then suddenly ignored them and swung his sword straight ahead.
*Changchangchang!*
The sword shadows above his head vanished, and Yeop Hwa’s Scattering Sword was now pouring down directly in front of Bu Eun-seol.
“You have good eyes. Receive the second sword. Second Sword, Yeong-go-il-chwi!”
The sword shadows, recalled to Yeop Hwa’s blade, now multiplied into hundreds of sword blossoms, enveloping Bu Eun-seol’s entire body like a mist.
*Tsssss…*
It was a technique of endless variations, making it impossible to tell which was the real sword and which was a shadow. It seemed closer to an illusory sword than a scattering one.
‘Hmph.’
But Bu Eun-seol, with a bored expression, began striking down the sword shadows one by one.
To him, with his superhuman senses from the Ya-su-do, such a technique was nothing more than a visually appealing trick.
“Huhu.”
But something was strange.
Even though Bu Eun-seol was leisurely blocking the attacks, Yeop Hwa wore a triumphant smile.
“Good. Then, the third sword, Saeng-tan-hwal-bak!”
This time, the name of the technique was strange.
After such ordinary names, why suddenly one that meant ‘swallow whole, flay alive’?
‘This is!’
Bu Eun-seol’s eyes flashed as he parried the incoming sword shadows.
*Paat!*
In that moment, his stance wavered, and blood splattered. He had failed to block Yeop Hwa’s attack and was cut on the shoulder.
“Hahaha. It seems you can’t perfectly block all three techniques after all.”
*Sak-sak-sak!*
As Yeop Hwa continued his assault, Bu Eun-seol had no choice but to use his footwork and retreat.
Bu Eun-seol, who had been steadily defending against the Scattering Sword and seemed to have victory in his grasp, was suddenly showing signs of defeat?
As he failed to counter Yeop Hwa’s attack, the spectators began to murmur among themselves.
—I see. No matter how great a rookie is, can he truly stand against a seasoned veteran like Yeop Hwa?
Just then, Bu Eun-seol stopped his retreat and extended his sword toward the incoming attack.
*Chaeng!*
He barely managed to block a perilous strike aimed at his throat, but unable to withstand the momentum, he was pushed back another three steps.
“Hahaha. My Scattering Sword grows heavier with each passing moment.”
Yeop Hwa briefly withdrew his sword and extended a hand politely.
“It would be wise to admit defeat before you are seriously injured.”
His demeanor was that of a renowned hero of the orthodox sects, and applause erupted from the square below.
—Truly, that is the Hero of the Wanderers, Yeop Hwa!
—Even though he’s a wanderer, his conduct is no less than that of a great hero of the orthodox sects!
“How amusing.”
At that moment, Bu Eun-seol looked down at Yeop Hwa and smiled coldly.
“A man who resorts to spreading Qi-Scattering Powder and Tail Toxin calls himself the Hero of the Wanderers?”
The smile vanished from Yeop Hwa’s face in an instant.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You’ve been secretly applying poison with every clash of our swords. You use the Scattering Sword because it’s the easiest way to spread poison while our blades connect, isn’t it?”
Yeop Hwa’s expression changed drastically.
His method of administering Qi-Scattering Powder and Tail Toxin was so subtle that even professional assassins couldn't detect it.
Yet this young whelp, who had just entered the martial world, had seen right through his technique?
“There must be some misunderstanding.”
The only fortunate thing was that Bu Eun-seol’s voice was too low for the audience to hear.
“Do you have any proof to support that claim?”
“Of course not. When you administer Qi-Scattering Powder and Tail Toxin, there are only symptoms of poisoning. The poison itself evaporates.”
Having used and been subjected to countless poisons during his missions with the Nine Assassination Squads, Bu Eun-seol had become an expert on par with most assassins.
“I see.”
Secretly relieved by Bu Eun-seol’s words, Yeop Hwa gave a cruel smile.
“Now that defeat is imminent, you resort to making things up. Don’t try to frame an innocent man.”
‘Brat. You seem to know a thing or two about poison, but you were too late to guard against it.’
“Shall we stop here?”
“Not a chance.”
“Then I’ll try to end this without hurting you too much.”
Hiding a cruel smile, Yeop Hwa swiftly unleashed his Scattering Sword.
Fearing that Bu Eun-seol might concede defeat and stop the fight, he unleashed a lethal technique to end his life.
*Paat!*
The Scattering Sword enveloped Bu Eun-seol’s body.
Normally, he would have unraveled the technique move by move and escaped, but his movements were sluggish due to the poisoning from the Qi-Scattering Powder and Tail Toxin.
“A sword has no eyes!”
Just as Yeop Hwa narrowed his widely expanded sword form to pierce Bu Eun-seol’s vital points,
“Hmph.”
Bu Eun-seol scoffed, then suddenly executed a footwork technique, sidestepping Yeop Hwa’s lightning-fast thrust.
His movement was as fast as a flash of lightning, showing no signs of being poisoned by Qi-Scattering Powder and Tail Toxin.
‘What?’
Yeop Hwa screamed inwardly.
Because Bu Eun-seol had moved so suddenly and quickly, Yeop Hwa unintentionally shot past him like a wild boar caught in a forest fire.
*Shing.*
At that moment, the longsword in Bu Eun-seol's scabbard flashed out like lightning.
And it struck down like a thunderbolt on Yeop Hwa’s body as he rushed past.
*Flash!*
A cold gleam of light, and a diagonal line of red appeared on Yeop Hwa’s body.
*Thud!*
In a fountain of blood, Yeop Hwa’s charging body collapsed to the ground in two pieces.
“…”
Not even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard in the square.
The Hero of the Wanderers, Yeop Hwa, who had built a great reputation throughout Guizhou as a representative wanderer of the Dong-pyo-seo-rang.
To think he would be so gruesomely killed, cut in two by a single strike from an unknown youth.
“…The winner is Bu Eun-seol, Young Master Bu.”
Cho Mun-cheon, who had been frozen like a stone statue, barely managed to speak.
But a deathly silence still hung over the square.