Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Sip-ma-jeon-in of Nang-ya-gak
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The whites of Seomun Gyeong's eyes, filled with malice, were bloodshot.
“The only reason you can see through all my sword forms is that you spied on my family's Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation, isn't it!”
“I know nothing of formations. I’ve never even learned them.”
“What?”
“You’ve honed your sword skills but never once fought a proper battle.”
Bu Eun-seol’s gaze was one of contempt.
“You were likely called a sword prodigy for mastering the techniques you were taught so quickly. And since you’re the son of a noble family, you probably put off dangerous real-life combat in favor of simple training drills.”
A flicker of shock crossed Seomun Gyeong’s face.
How could this man know his past in such detail?
“Otherwise, why would you mix a sword art that demands your full, focused attention with some half-baked footwork?”
“I didn't just mix my sword art with footwork! I combined the strengths of two different martial arts!”
At Seomun Gyeong's cry, the corners of Bu Eun-seol's mouth lifted.
“That is something only those who have been through countless real battles can claim. Not a novice who can't even unleash the full power of his sword art in a real fight.”
“A novice?”
“Mastering all the forms and verses of a sword art doesn’t mean you’ve perfected it. Only when you can flawlessly execute its techniques in a life-or-death battle can you truly say you have mastered it.”
Seomun Gyeong’s body trembled at Bu Eun-seol’s words.
Hailed as a sword prodigy since childhood, Seomun Gyeong had been the sole focus of his family head’s expectations.
But perhaps those expectations had been too great?
Instead of gaining practical experience, Seomun Gyeong had focused on inviting famous masters to learn a variety of sword arts.
—*Learning sword arts is good, but what about going out into the world?*
To the family head's advice, Seomun Gyeong had replied with confidence.
—*I will go out when I have perfected a supreme sword art that will never know defeat.*
At his son's confident words, the family head had always smiled and clapped him on the shoulder.
—*Gyeong, my son, if you become a great swordsman, the martial world will call our family unrivaled in both literary and martial arts!*
Recalling the past, Seomun Gyeong lowered his head.
‘Was I just a frog in a well?’
If he had experienced various real battles… he would never have tried to combine the Thirteen Forms of the Meteor Sword with the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation.
“But…”
Raising his uniquely shaped sword above his head, Seomun Gyeong let out a thunderous roar.
“I will not lose to you!”
*Shhh!*
In that instant, dozens of sword images erupted from the ground where Bu Eun-seol stood.
It was Wolmyeongseonghui, the final and ultimate technique of the Meteor Sword style that Seomun Gyeong had mastered.
*Flash!*
At that moment, a brilliant light blossomed from Bu Eun-seol’s hand.
*Paaaaaah!*
The light fractured into dozens of bright points, shattering Seomun Gyeong’s sword images. It didn't stop there, continuing to pour toward Seomun Gyeong.
*Crackle.*
As Seomun Gyeong desperately blocked the light with all his might, sparks flew.
*Clatter.*
The blade of his unique sword shattered into dozens of pieces, scattering across the floor.
“Wolmyeongseonghui… A fitting name for a technique of defeat.”
Wolmyeongseonghui. When the moon is bright, the starlight grows dim.
In other words, when a truly great hero appears, other heroes have no choice but to quietly fade away.
“I… have lost.”
Tossing aside his shattered sword, Seomun Gyeong left the stage with his head bowed.
—*To think that Seomun Gyeong, one of the top contenders, would be so utterly defeated…*
The audience was dumbfounded.
Seomun Gyeong had long been hailed as a sword prodigy, his fame resounding throughout the land.
Although the rumors had started within the Seomun family, the many famous masters who had taught him confirmed that they were not baseless.
—*Seomun Gyeong was not weak.*
The skill Seomun Gyeong displayed at the Martial Arts Tournament was greater than that of any renowned swordsman in the martial world. It was just that Bu Eun-seol was slightly stronger.
“…”
The match was decided, but a dead silence, as if everyone had died, flowed through the plaza.
“The winner is Bu Eun-seol! Young Master Bu!”
Cho Mun-cheon shouted, but not a sound came from the stands.
***
Within the Dong-pyo-seo-rang stood various pavilions.
Geum-hwa-heon.
Inside the reception hall of a building marked by a gold-leafed plaque, a young man in black clothes was seated.
It was Heuk-pyo, who had signed a three-year contract with Bu Eun-seol.
Across from him sat a middle-aged man in ornate clothes.
His features were quite distinct, but he was fleshy, and his face had an oily sheen.
He was Ok Ho-bang, the Money Demon who managed all of the Dong-pyo-seo-rang's finances.
“You made a contract with that man, Bu Eun-seol?”
“Yes.”
“Three years…”
Ok Ho-bang, who was examining the contract on the table, shook his head.
“I cannot permit it.”
“It doesn't matter. I’m the one who’s going.”
Something about the atmosphere was strange.
The way Ok Ho-bang looked at Heuk-pyo was not as one would look at a subordinate, but warm, as if looking at his own flesh and blood.
“Do you resent me?”
Heuk-pyo said nothing.
Ok Ho-bang knew full well that Yeop-hwa had long been committing wicked deeds.
The reason he hadn't stopped him was because of the Dong-pyo-seo-rang's rules.
As long as one did their job well, no one had the right to sanction the personal circumstances and secrets of the ronin.
“This organization is merely a collective of ronin, not a righteous sect. The very nature of a ronin is one with a dark past.”
“That’s just an excuse.”
Heuk-pyo bit his lip.
“There are many ronin who have left their dark pasts behind and found new lives here. But to let those who are still committing crimes go unchecked…”
“Most of the ronin in this organization are from unorthodox sects. Yeop-hwa was one of them.”
“Aren't you confusing them with those of heretical and demonic paths?”
Heuk-pyo said coldly.
“For the sake of expanding the Dong-pyo-seo-rang's influence, you even accepted those who are scorned by the martial world.”
“Most ronin have lived lives of scorn. A ronin who has lived an upright life is a rarity.”
Ok Ho-bang said.
“Especially that Bu Eun-seol. His identity and purpose are still unknown. It’s strange that he possesses such high martial skill at his young age, and it’s also strange that he appeared at the Martial Arts Tournament as soon as he entered the martial world.”
After a brief pause, Ok Ho-bang spoke again.
“I will personally terminate the contract with him. If I offer double compensation, he should be satisfied.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Heuk-pyo said firmly.
“I will follow him.”
“Ha-a.”
“Do not call me by that name! I am Heuk-pyo of the Dong-pyo-seo-rang.”
In truth, Heuk-pyo was Ok Ho-bang’s illegitimate son.
In his youth, he had abandoned his lover and child. Though he found success after joining the Dong-pyo-seo-rang, he regretted his past.
So when his son came to the Dong-pyo-seo-rang as a ronin, he was overjoyed.
But Heuk-pyo had cast aside his name to become a ronin and hated Ok Ho-bang.
Because he had been abandoned? Of course, that was part of it. But the biggest reason was that Ok Ho-bang had turned the Dong-pyo-seo-rang into a den of demons.
Originally, the Rang-ju of the Dong-pyo-seo-rang was a man of great martial skill and righteousness.
But when he went into seclusion four years ago, he entrusted full authority to Ok Ho-bang. And that was a mistake.
Since then, to expand his own power, Ok Ho-bang had hired a large number of ruthless, profit-driven ronin.
Men just like Yeop-hwa.
“How long will you hold this blade to your own father!”
Ok Ho-bang said, gritting his teeth.
“If you continue this way, I can unleash this organization's masters to deal with him!”
“Who are you talking about? Master Bu?”
“That’s right.”
“Heheheh.”
Heuk-pyo smirked.
“Go ahead.”
“What did you say?”
“If you want to see the Dong-pyo-seo-rang go up in flames, feel free.”
“Ha-a!”
“To stop him, you’ll need the Rang-ju himself to come out of seclusion.”
Heuk-pyo turned sharply and strode away.
Ok Ho-bang stared at his back before calling out sharply.
“Ma-yeong!”
A young warrior who had been standing guard outside the door bowed his head.
“Your orders.”
“Has the investigation on the man named Bu Eun-seol still not finished?”
“About that…”
“Which faction is he from! What is his purpose for coming to the Martial Arts Tournament! You still don’t know!”
Ma-yeong lowered his head.
“My apologies. It seems someone is intentionally blocking the information.”
“What?”
“It’s as if he fell from the sky. He has no past whatsoever.”
“But surely there must be some information!”
Ma-yeong said with a troubled expression.
“The only young man named Bu Eun-seol of his age was a young coroner who belonged to the Huang Prefecture Constabulary.”
“A coroner?”
“Yes. But it can't be him.”
Ma-yeong continued.
“The man named Bu Eun-seol is not only skilled in martial arts but also possesses a considerably high level of internal energy. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to cut through a spirit-grade treasured sword with an iron sword.”
“Indeed, internal energy is not something that can be cultivated in a short time.”
Ok Ho-bang nodded.
“Well, it can't be helped.”
After taking a deep breath, he said.
“Send Mu Sam-rang to him.”
“Mu Sam-rang… you mean him?”
Mu Sam-rang was one of the warriors Ok Ho-bang had made a secret deal with for this Martial Arts Tournament.
The Spirit Serpent Divine Sword was merely bait to drum up excitement for the first tournament he was hosting. He intended to reclaim the prize through the warriors he had made deals with.
“Will that be alright? If things go wrong… not only will that person be greatly angered, but the Dong-pyo-seo-rang won't escape unscathed.”
“You don’t understand.”
Letting out a low laugh, Ok Ho-bang said.
“Mu Sam-rang is a master sent directly by the Castle Lord.”
Ok Ho-bang narrowed his eyes and scoffed.
“No matter how formidable that brat is, he can never defeat Mu Sam-rang.”
***
“The semifinals of the Martial Arts Tournament will now begin!”
At Cho Mun-cheon's shout, the roar of the crowd erupted.
This was the real start of the tournament.
The remaining masters possessed exquisite martial arts rarely seen even in the martial world.
It was no exaggeration to say that many had traveled to the distant land of Guizhou just to witness the matches from the semifinals onward.
“This match is between Young Master Bu Eun-seol and Young Master Mu Sam-rang!”
*Whoosh.*
Just then, a black shadow was the first to leap onto the stage. It was Mu Sam-rang.
He had a powerful build and was dressed in shimmering black clothes and an ink-black cape.
He also wore a black mask over his face, making him look like a black phantom from a distance.
“The man named Mu Sam-rang has defeated all his opponents with ordinary techniques so far.”
Heuk-pyo, standing beside Bu Eun-seol, said in a low voice.
“His true martial arts are likely beyond imagination. You must be careful, Young Master.”
“I understand.”
*Whoosh.*
Bu Eun-seol stepped onto the stage.
The moment his eyes met Mu Sam-rang’s, a strange expression crossed his face.
Having deeply studied the practical martial arts of Nang-ya-gak, he could gauge the depth of one's skill just by their stance.
‘A master.’
Only after meeting Mu Sam-rang's gaze did he immediately realize that this man was a master who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him.
‘He doesn't feel like a stranger, but familiar.’
Having worked as a coroner for a long time, he could remember the bone structure hidden beneath clothes as clearly as a person's face.
Bu Eun-seol found Mu Sam-rang's skeletal structure, his stance, and his eyes to be extremely familiar.
“Begin!”
At Cho Mun-cheon's shout, Bu Eun-seol drew his sword.
*Shing.*
This was the first time Bu Eun-seol had drawn his sword first throughout the entire tournament.
That was how strong Mu Sam-rang was.
“Hmph.”
But Mu Sam-rang’s attitude was strange.
He stood with his arms crossed, silently watching Bu Eun-seol as if he had no intention of fighting at all.
“If you won't come, then I will.”
Bu Eun-seol gripped the hilt of his sword.
‘I must use my true power.’
Until now, Bu Eun-seol had achieved victory using only ordinary forms and martial techniques.
But the time had come to reveal all his hidden skills and clash head-on.
Just as Bu Eun-seol raised his sword to a middle guard, preparing to unleash his sword art,
“I forfeit.”
Mu Sam-rang, who had been standing with his arms crossed, said in a low voice.
“I have lost.”
At that moment, the martial artists in the plaza couldn't hide their bewildered expressions.
Mu Sam-rang was a powerful contender for the championship, on par with Bu Eun-seol. So why would he suddenly forfeit?
“Young Master Mu. Are you truly forfeiting?”
At Cho Mun-cheon's words, Mu Sam-rang nodded without a hint of regret and turned his body.
*Thud.*
Watching Mu Sam-rang leap away using his movement technique, Cho Mun-cheon had no choice but to point at Bu Eun-seol.
“With Young Master Mu's forfeit, the winner is Bu Eun-seol! Young Master Bu!”
*Murmur, murmur.*
The martial artists in the crowd, unable to comprehend the situation, began to chatter loudly in their bewilderment.
It was the same for Ok Ho-bang, who was now confronting Mu Sam-rang in Geum-hwa-heon.
“What in the world was that!”
“What do you mean?”
“This isn't what we agreed upon, is it?”
The masked Mu Sam-rang looked down at Ok Ho-bang and said.
“Wasn't your promise to forfeit the Martial Arts Tournament and give him the Spirit Serpent Divine Sword?”
“It was.”
“But you gave up in the middle of a match? Isn't that breaking your promise?”
“I did not break it.”
As Ok Ho-bang opened his mouth, Mu Sam-rang narrowed his eyes.
“As long as he wins the tournament as planned, that's all that matters. Nothing changes even without me.”
“That may be true… but why did you suddenly give up the fight?”
“Because that man once belonged to the same place as I.”
Flinching for a moment, Ok Ho-bang shook his head.
“He… he was a master from that place?”
“I said *was*.”
At the cryptic words, Ok Ho-bang furrowed his brows.
“What does that mean? Is he some kind of hall master from the Demon Hall?”
“Sip-ma-jeon-in.”
Looking down at Ok Ho-bang with cold eyes, Mu Sam-rang spoke in an eerie voice.
“He is the Sip-ma-jeon-in of Nang-ya-gak.”