Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Thunder Dragon's Fury
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A heavy silence settled over the arena as all eyes locked onto the sparring platform.
The clear distinction between victor and vanquished on the platform left the spectators' jaws dropping wider and wider.
No one could have imagined this right before the match began.
A squad leader of the Fierce Tiger Squad possessed martial prowess equivalent to the head of a middling or small sect.
He was a rare master.
Naturally, the crowd had assumed the Fierce Tiger Squad's Seventh Captain would turn the Thunder Dragon Squad's Tak Hyeok-dong into a bloody pulp.
But the result was the opposite.
The Fierce Tiger Squad's Seventh Captain couldn't even exchange a few blows before his blade shattered and he collapsed.
It was beyond shocking—it was unbelievable.
For the renowned Fierce Tiger Squad's Seventh Captain to suffer such a crushing defeat at the hands of an unknown warrior from the Thunder Dragon Squad.
'Is the Nangong Clan really this strong?'
'Did they hire some wandering swordsman? No, how could a declining house produce a warrior like that?'
'Didn't you see that axe strike? Even the Fierce Tiger Squad Leader couldn't budge!'
'I-Incredible! What is happening?'
Low groans of disbelief erupted from the crowd at the scene they could scarcely trust their eyes to comprehend.
The spectators slowly shifted their gazes toward the Peng Clan seats at the head table.
Even Peng Cheon-wi looked stunned, his eyes bulging wide.
He worked his half-open mouth and swallowed hard.
'I-Incredible!'
He hadn't imagined the Fierce Tiger Squad's Seventh Captain would be broken like this by Tak Hyeok-dong.
No, he had naturally expected the Seventh Captain to swiftly subdue Tak Hyeok-dong, showcasing the North Hebei Peng Clan's might and seizing the initiative in the sparring.
Yet the outcome had turned out like this.
The board he had so carefully set was unraveling from the very start.
His plan to demonstrate the Nangong Clan's decline and elevate the North Hebei Peng Clan's prestige in front of the crowd had gone awry right away, hitting him with double the dismay.
It wasn't just the result—the domineering, brutish axe work the man had unleashed was enough to fluster him.
He even doubted whether that truly was a warrior of the Nangong Clan.
But Peng Cheon-wi quickly gathered his shaken mind.
It stung like a sneak attack to the back of the head, but he didn't dwell on a single defeat.
As Peng Cheon-wi turned his gaze, he spotted the warriors of the Blood Lion Squad, the elite of the North Hebei Peng Clan.
His eyes met those of the Blood Lion Squad Leader.
[This concerns the main house's dignity. Can you handle it?]
[I shall send my disciple.]
[Crush him thoroughly. Overwhelmingly.]
[Yes, Family Head. Have faith in me!]
The Blood Lion Squad Leader declared confidently.
Peng Cheon-wi knew him as a man who took responsibility for his words.
If the squad leader said so, it was worth believing.
Peng Cheon-wi's gaze shifted across the arena.
In the now-silent venue, Tak Hyeok-dong's booming voice rang out.
He slung his axe over his shoulder with a swagger that made tempers flare.
"Graaahaha! See that? The axe sank in real nice, huh?"
"You just swung it wildly."
"What're you talkin' about? That's my Great Power Seven Steps reachin' a new realm! That Fierce... Fierce-whatever. Anyway, I smashed him flat!"
"Lucky break."
"Nah? He was weak? Just poked him a couple times and he went flyin'?"
Tak Hyeok-dong guffawed as he looked at Geon Cheon-hwi.
"So now it's time for the squad leader to show off, right?"
"Don't worry."
"Don't go slicin' up the wrong spot now. Grahaha!"
Having already claimed victory, Tak Hyeok-dong was utterly fearless.
He looked at Nangong Hyeok and jerked his chin up.
"Did you see? I split him like choppin' firewood, smack smack..."
"Took you ten exchanges?"
"Pardon?"
"You wolfed down that precious medicine, and it still took ten exchanges?"
"...
...W-Wasn't that good?"
Tak Hyeok-dong scratched his head, looking troubled.
No matter how he thought about it, it felt like he'd done well.
Nangong Hyeok shook his head firmly.
"You should've dominated him! After that medicine, you needed to strip his flesh off in three exchanges! Or lop off his arms at least."
...
W-Well, that might be...
That'd make it a real fight, not sparring.
The Thunder Dragon Squad members averted their eyes from Nangong Hyeok, veins bulging at his neck.
Geon Cheon-hwi met Nangong Hyeok's eyes.
"Three exchanges."
"...
...T-That's..."
"Do it."
"Even so..."
"I said do it."
"...
...Fine."
Damn it.
How do you take down a North Hebei Peng Clan swordsman in three exchanges?
Look at them—their eyes are filled with venom now.
They lost once, so obviously they'll send someone stronger next.
Geon Cheon-hwi shot Nangong Hyeok a resentful glance but steeled himself.
No matter what, if Nangong Hyeok said dig, he had to dig.
'Three exchanges!'
Geon Cheon-hwi regulated his breathing.
A heavy energy stirred in his lower abdomen.
The sheer volume of his inner energy, incomparably greater than just a day ago, astonished even him.
Recalling Nangong Hyeok's teachings and his own training, he pondered how to wield this power efficiently.
As he adjusted his breath, he quietly placed his hand on the sword hilt.
Geon Cheon-hwi focused his entire mind on the blade and stared straight ahead.
A sturdy man in his thirties strode into the sparring arena.
He wore a martial robe of red with a lion emblem emblazoned on it.
"Blood Lion!"
"It's the Blood Lion Squad!"
"Whoa..."
The spectators gasped in admiration at the man's entrance.
The Blood Lion Squad.
One of the elite units symbolizing the North Hebei Peng Clan, a group of masters who carried out all manner of external missions for the house.
They were the loyal and valiant warriors who never shunned paths stained with blood in service to the North Hebei Peng Clan.
Blood Lion Squad's Gwak Chung regarded Geon Cheon-hwi with a haughty gaze.
"I'm Gwak Chung."
His voice was curt, yet laced with a sticky killing intent that chilled to the bone.
Geon Cheon-hwi swallowed dryly.
He was well aware of the Blood Lions' reputation.
It was said that an individual Blood Lion's prowess matched that of a sect leader from a middling or small faction.
They were top-tier masters in the martial world, with the skill to make a name for themselves in any region.
He had every reason to feel tense in the face of such renown.
"I'm Geon Cheon-hwi of the Thunder Dragon Squad."
"You use a sword."
"It's comfortable."
"Not ronin, and still... tsk!"
The Blood Lion Gwak Chung clicked his tongue as he looked down at Geon Cheon-hwi.
Geon Cheon-hwi's eyebrow twitched for a moment.
'...
...This bastard?'
What a pain in the ass.
Something bubbled up hot in his chest.
Gwak Chung kept prattling on.
"I'll warn you ahead—my hands are merciless. I don't know the meaning of 'going easy.'"
"...
..."
"Don't expect any 'I'll let you strike first' or 'three exchanges of mercy' nonsense..."
"Won't."
Geon Cheon-hwi cut him off in a slouched stance.
Gwak Chung blinked, then furrowed his brow.
"You don't know your place. Consider it an honor to spar with a Blood Lion. Had we met elsewhere, your head would be..."
"Oh, screw it! Let's just start?"
"What?"
Chatty bastard!
Geon Cheon-hwi circulated the Ten Thunder Arts and charged at Gwak Chung like lightning.
"Huh?!"
"Whoa!"
"F-Fast!"
The spectators were startled by Geon Cheon-hwi's unexpected movement.
He shot forward like a bolt of lightning with the momentum of a tiger, his presence overwhelming.
Gwak Chung startled briefly, then exhaled deeply.
"Huuaap!"
With a shout, he unleashed the Lion Ten Blades vigorously.
The majestic and ferocious blade art, like a lion's roar, surged toward the fierce and swift Thunder Dragon Ten Swords.
Geon Cheon-hwi's falling lightning-like Thunder Dragon Ten Swords clashed with Gwak Chung's Lion Ten Blades in midair.
Boom!
"Ugh!"
Gwak Chung gasped in surprise, drawing in a deep breath.
His wrist throbbed, and then his body sank into the ground.
Geon Cheon-hwi's Thunder Dragon Ten Swords were far more oppressive than he'd anticipated.
Before he could recover from his shock, Geon Cheon-hwi closed in swiftly.
His movements were nearly devoid of wasted motion—concise and blisteringly fast.
'W-What?!'
Gwak Chung recoiled in alarm at Geon Cheon-hwi's blade that had slipped in instantly.
An exquisite attack interrupting the Lion Ten Blades' sequence!
Rumble! Crackle!
Thunder roared from Geon Cheon-hwi's Thunder Dragon Ten Swords as lightning flashed.
Clang!
"Keuk!"
Pain seared through Gwak Chung's wrist like it was burning, and he twisted his body in haste.
He attempted a counter with the North Hebei Peng Clan's signature heavy, ferocious strike, but Geon Cheon-hwi's Thunder Dragon Ten Swords rained down like a squall.
Kang! Kakakakaka! Kaaang!
One powerful clash, seven rapid follow-ups, and another crushing blow.
Gwak Chung's vision blurred momentarily, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
The sharpness of Geon Cheon-hwi's swordsmanship, which he'd dismissed, exceeded imagination, and the power behind the blade matched the Lion Ten Blades.
'W-What the hell is this guy?!'
Gwak Chung swallowed a frantic cry.
How could the Nangong Clan have someone this skilled with a sword!
The spectators couldn't believe their eyes.
Anyone could see Geon Cheon-hwi was pressing the Blood Lion hard.
Lightning flashed with thunderclaps, striking mercilessly.
Each time, Gwak Chung groaned and staggered back.
Geon Cheon-hwi's eyes gleamed, his lips curling up instinctively.
'It works! No blockages!'
Never had his inner energy flowed so freely.
The heavy energy seated in his dantian surged to the blade tip swiftly, carrying a refreshing lightness he'd never felt before.
The immense power, heavy enough to ache, exhilarated him.
It felt like being reborn.
His senses and reflexes were incomparable to before.
Stances that once carried only fifty percent power now transmitted nearly full force.
The efficiency was indescribably profound.
He could now execute movements he'd only envisioned in his mind.
Simply mimicking Nangong Hyeok's teachings granted him this new sensation.
Shing! Kaaang!
It was then, as Geon Cheon-hwi grew exhilarated and entered a near-trance state.
A blue haze rose from his sword tip.
The blade tip traced a blue shadow in the air, twisting fiercely.
Rumble! Crackle!
The Ten Thunder Arts at its peak unleashed thunderous force through the Thunder Dragon Ten Swords.
At that intense flash, Gwak Chung's eyes widened as if tearing.
"Kraaaagh!"
Gwak Chung screamed and tumbled away.
His sleeves charred black, a chunk of flesh torn from his shoulder.
Hoo! Hooo!
Geon Cheon-hwi regulated his breathing and looked at the fallen Blood Lion.
Gwak Chung stared back, pale-faced and bleeding.
Geon Cheon-hwi dazedly raised his sword and ran his gaze along the blade, then gaped.
'...
...I beat a Blood Lion.'
The thrill differed from defeating Heavenly Bow Squad warriors.
The ecstasy of leaping several levels to topple a North Hebei Peng Clan master surged through his spine and body.
"I-I did it! I won, Young Master!"
Geon Cheon-hwi shouted and turned to Nangong Hyeok.
Nangong Ryong, at Nangong Hyeok's side, thrust up a thumbs-up.
As Geon Cheon-hwi joyfully raised his sword high, Nangong Hyeok twisted his lips.
"Thirty exchanges."
"...
...Y-Young Master?"
"I said three."
"N-No. H-He was a Blood Lion. Blood Lions are..."
"So what about Blood Lions."
"M-Masters..."
"All masters end up dead? Back in my day, if it wasn't one of the Ten Great Masters of the World, we didn't even call 'em masters, punk."
...
That's demigod level, sir.
"Remember it was exactly thirty."
"...
..."
But I won...
Geon Cheon-hwi looked at Nangong Ryong with grievance.
Help a guy out...
Creak.
Nangong Ryong's thumb, pointed skyward, slowly drooped downward.
"Ah..."
Blood is thicker than water.
Geon Cheon-hwi sank into inexplicable betrayal and emptiness.
The spectators buzzed once more at the shocking turn.
"...
...What in the world is going on."
"Even a Blood Lion can't handle him."
"Huh, haha..."
The crowd's faces drained white.
This shock dwarfed the Fierce Tiger Squad Seventh Captain's defeat.
The Blood Lion Squad represented the North Hebei Peng Clan's elite.
Their symbolism far outstripped the Fierce Tiger Squad.
For the Peng Clan's elite to fall to a mere Nangong guard squad held immense implications.
'No way a Blood Lion lost?'
'What did the Nangong Clan even bring?'
'Wasn't the clan declining? How's their guard squad beating Peng elites?!'
'N-No. This is bad for the Peng Family Head's face...'
Chaos erupted at the North Hebei Peng Clan's head table.
No one had dreamed the Blood Lion Squad would lose like this.
Peng Joong-hyeok's face twisted viciously, while the younger disciples clamped their mouths shut, eyes bulging.
The North Hebei Peng Clan, who had boasted of victory, now faced back-to-back losses...
Peng Cheon-wi's beard trembled finely, as if buffeted by wind.
A creeping humiliation and defeat, alien sensations rising from his toes, fueled his rage.
He glared at Nangong Hyeok like a beast in fury.
Nangong Hyeok, who had been hurling abuse at the Thunder Dragon Squad, met Peng Cheon-wi's eyes.
Snicker.
Nangong Hyeok laughed.
"Next one right away? Who's it this time?"
Nangong Hyeok's chuckling voice froze the entire assembly hall solid.