Chapter 177
Chapter 177
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 177
Chapter Title: No Change in a Hundred Years
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Nangong Ryong descended from the arena with unflinching dignity.
Cheers erupted from the spectator stands behind him, as if a triumphant general were returning from the battlefield sounding victory horns.
Paeng Jung-hyuk let out a low groan.
‘...To dismantle the Four Seasons Sword Technique so effortlessly!’
It was the pinnacle of swift swordplay, known as the Four Seasons Sword Technique.
The ultimate quicksword that could slice falling leaves into dozens of pieces in a single breath.
With its ferocious offense and destructive power to boot, it was the natural counter to the Nangong family’s heavy sword style.
Yet Nangong Ryong had toppled Jong Cheon, ignoring that matchup entirely, and done so with bewildering ease.
As if it were the most natural outcome in the world.
‘Could I have blocked it?’
He couldn’t say for sure.
He’d simulated clashes with Jong Cheon’s Four Seasons Sword Technique in his mind several times, but no clear counter came to him.
‘Nangong Ryong has grown again.’
Paeng Jung-hyuk’s gaze followed the approaching Nangong Ryong.
Even within the Hebei Paeng family, and now at this tournament, Nangong Ryong kept advancing.
His growth rate was astonishing.
What was this? People weren’t bamboo shoots—how could yesterday and today differ so vastly?
Watching up close, the change was so stark it left him unsettled.
The young master of the great Hebei Paeng family, chasing the back of the Nangong family’s young lord.
The shock stung like a blow to the nape.
‘No way... is it that guy’s influence?’
With Nangong Hyeok’s prowess and his command over the squad, one couldn’t deny the impact.
Just looking at what happened in the Hebei Paeng family, it was clear Nangong Ryong had been profoundly shaped by Nangong Hyeok.
He’d turned the Thunder Dragon Squad—once a mere headache for the Nangong family—into an elite unit.
In that short time, he’d elevated them from the gutter to a level any could respect. And Nangong Ryong? Even more so!
‘A monster...’
Paeng Jung-hyuk’s eyes shifted to Nangong Hyeok, who was cackling and roaring with laughter.
“Hey, Jong Cheon got rung like a bell! Totally clanged!”
“...”
“Puhahaha! What a sight. Dragon my ass—he’s a groveling earthworm now! Wiggle wiggle!”
Immense...
“Puhahaha!”
Influence...
“Puhahaha!”
And what a personality.
Nangong Hyeok’s taunts, aimed at his fainted opponent, were so vicious even a yaksha from hell would shake its head.
He might not know martial arts, but one thing he’d surely impart.
Personality. Or personality. Yeah, personality.
Nangong Hyeok clapped Nangong Ryong heartily on the shoulder.
“Well done! Damn good job! Lay that bastard out flat!”
Nod.
“But the teeth? Why didn’t you snag the teeth? I told you to take his teeth!”
Huh?
...You meant that literally?
Nangong Ryong stared at Nangong Hyeok with blank eyes.
Nangong Hyeok launched into an impassioned rant.
“Teeth! Always take the teeth! That way, every time he chews with his gums, he remembers what he lost! Teeth, no exceptions. Got it?”
...Nod.
The onlookers gaped in disbelief.
Paeng Jung-hyuk shook his head.
That madman’s tainting him with insanity...
Nangong Ryong gripped his wooden sword and quietly spoke.
“...”
“What.”
“...”
“Hey, translate.”
Nangong Hyeok crooked a finger at Geum Cheomsang.
Geum Cheomsang scurried over and promptly interpreted Nangong Ryong’s words.
“He says the sword was visible.”
“Of course it was! Who taught you? Can’t miss something that obvious.”
“He says it was fast, but blockable.”
Nangong Hyeok nodded approvingly at Nangong Ryong.
“It’s not the head that remembers—it’s the body. The enemy’s sword path, their movement direction. How to react.”
“...”
“What’s in your head is just thoughts. Skill is turning those thoughts into action.”
“...”
Nangong Hyeok glanced sidelong at Geum Cheomsang.
“Why aren’t you translating?”
“He didn’t say anything.”
“...”
“Seriously.”
“Huh.”
Nangong Hyeok turned back to Nangong Ryong.
His face was pensive, lost in deep thought.
Nangong Hyeok smirked and said,
“My turn then?”
“Yes, Young Lord. You’re up next. Facing one of the Nine Great Sects again.”
“Ah, why do they keep matching me? Gotta feel bad for the losers.”
“Tell me about it. Kinda weird.”
Geum Cheomsang tilted his head.
The Nangong brothers seemed to draw Nine Great Sect disciples unusually often.
Especially Nangong Hyeok—all his prelims and first-round foes had been from the Nine Great Sects.
“Who’s this one?”
“Kunlun.”
“Oh, Kunlun’s fun to watch.”
“They’re your opponent.”
“Just watch ’em lose.”
“Oh.”
Nangong Hyeok rolled up his sleeves and strode onto the arena.
Unam, a third-generation disciple of Kunlun clad in a flowing blue robe over his lanky frame, watched the approaching Nangong Hyeok intently from across the stage.
Nangong Hyeok was half a head shorter and slighter in build.
But Unam hadn’t forgotten the terrifying might that skinny frame had unleashed.
Unam’s face hardened slightly.
‘Kunlun’s honor is at stake.’
Everyone in the tournament felt that, but Unam’s resolve differed.
‘He took down a Wudang prodigy. Pure skill-wise, I might fall short. But...’
He’d closely observed and analyzed Nangong Hyeok and Nangong Ryong’s matches.
Most ended too swiftly for analysis, yet Unam had found his answer.
The way to fell the overwhelmingly powerful Nangong Hyeok.
His expression stern, Unam spoke with brimming confidence.
“I am Unam of Kunlun. I saw your valor, Daoist. But I’ll be different.”
Different?
Nangong Hyeok snorted.
‘These old faction bastards— all talk.’
Same as ever, past or present.
“I’ll lose differently too.”
He always did, in fact.
Even as Nangong Hyeok chuckled, Unam held firm.
‘Taunting’s his specialty, huh?’
Unam circulated the Upper Purity Supreme Divine Art to steady his mind.
Excitement ruined everything.
Unam murmured his incantation softly.
“Immeasurable Buddha, Primordial Heavenly Lord.”
His face oddly vacant, he faced Nangong Hyeok and awaited the start.
Soon, the referee signaled the match.
“Hup!”
Unam stomped at the outset.
Whoosh! Flutter!
He soared into the air.
A pale mist of Upper Purity Supreme Divine Art rose like clouds, making Unam seem to weave through them.
Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms.
Kunlun’s signature, hailed as a supreme lightness skill.
At its peak, it allowed free twists and direction shifts midair.
Unam swirled around Nangong Hyeok, robe billowing like a dragon in the clouds.
The afterimages trailing him mimicked a coiling dragon.
Admiration burst from the crowd.
Watching Unam trace dazzling arcs, praise rang out: “Worthy of Kunlun!”
Nangong Hyeok’s eyes tracked Unam’s shadow.
A smug look crossed Unam’s face.
‘As expected!’
The Nangong family’s heavy sword style couldn’t match Kunlun’s Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms.
‘Find the gap and strike!’
Paired with Cloud Dragon Thirteen Swords, its power was matchless under heaven!
No matter Nangong Hyeok’s skill, he couldn’t hit what he couldn’t catch.
‘Victory through analysis!’
Unam grinned inwardly.
“Cha!”
Circling behind with Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms, he thrust Cloud Dragon Thirteen Swords at Nangong Hyeok’s back.
The savage claws of Cloud Dragon Thirteen Swords raked toward Nangong Hyeok’s spine.
The instant the blade neared.
Flinch!
‘What the—?’
Unam recoiled in shock at Nangong Hyeok’s gaze, now fixed directly on him, and hastily retreated.
‘C-Coincidence. How could Nangong’s sluggish footwork keep up?’
Unam forced calm and glared.
He unleashed Cloud Dragon Great Eight Forms to its limit.
‘No chance this time!’
Enveloped in cloud-mist, Unam twisted midair.
Dozens of afterimages sprawled chaotically across the ground, like a dragon coiling to ascend.
Then, Unam rocketed upward.
In an instant, above Nangong Hyeok’s head—mad light gleamed in his eyes.
“Chaaap!”
Cloud Dragon Thirteen Swords’ killing stroke plummeted toward Nangong Hyeok’s crown.
Swift as Point Pavilion’s Four Seasons Sword, fierce as Zhongnan’s blade!
That moment.
Flash!
Nangong Hyeok’s head snapped up, eyes locking with Unam’s.
An eerie smile.
Dread surged, but Unam’s strike was swifter.
“Too late, you bastard!”
Unam roared, pushing Cloud Dragon Heart-Piercing Sword to the extreme.
The instant Unam’s wooden sword aimed to split Nangong Hyeok’s skull.
“This is it!”
Nangong Hyeok’s cheerful voice rang out as he lightly stomped.
Whoooosh!
He shot up like a gale—several times faster than Unam descending!
“C-Crazy?! What the hell?!”
Unam screamed.
Eyes bulging, he gawked at Nangong Hyeok now above him.
How?!
What was that footwork just now?
Did the Nangong family have such swift, flashy lightness skill?
Caught off-guard, Unam panicked.
He twisted desperately to evade, but Nangong Hyeok smirked and seized his leg.
“Huh?!”
“Same as ever, past or present...”
Nangong Hyeok sneered, gripping Unam’s leg while slamming his writhing torso with the other hand.
Unam flailed like a hooked fish, but Nangong Hyeok didn’t budge.
If anything, the grip tightened like a noose.
Nangong Hyeok grinned.
“Kunlun never changes, huh?”
“What?”
“Look down, birdbrain.”
“Wh-Wha?!”
Unam reflexively glanced and bugged his eyes.
The ground rushed up to meet him.
Using Thousand Jin Drop, Nangong Hyeok slammed Unam into the arena.
“Huh-Huhuk!”
Kwaaang-!
Crack, crackle.
A thunderous boom split the stage with spiderweb cracks as pale dust billowed.
Nangong Hyeok clucked his tongue at Unam, pinned like a nail.
“Same as a hundred years ago? Seriously.”
Even back then, Kunlun tried catching him with footwork and failed.
“People’s heads are all the same. Right?”
Nangong Hyeok eyed Unam, sprawled obscenely twitching in the arena pit.
He dusted his hands and glanced toward the Pure Heaven Hall VIP seats.
Seeing Nangong Wi-gyeong cheering alone, Nangong Hyeok let out a hollow chuckle, then cackled at the Nine Factions’ elders, faces rotting with fury.
“That’s the old factions’ flavor.”
Nangong Hyeok’s grin deepened.
* * *
Geon Cheon-hwi, Tak Hyeok-dong, and Jang Ung’s eyes turned to Nangong Hyeok as he sauntered onto the arena.
Bloodshot glares, clenched fists, lips parted slightly.
The trio focused every nerve on him.
As the match began, the Thunder Dragon Squad’s three shouted.
“Head! Head! Head!”
“Chest! Chest! Chest!”
“Gut! Gut! Gut!”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The gamblers bulged their eyes, crumpling their betting slips as they stomped.
Then.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
“Heeead! Heeead! Heeead...!”
“Cheeest! Cheeest! Cheeest...!”
“Guuut! Guuut! Guuut...!”
Spectators joined in, rolling their eyes and bellowing.
Paeng Jung-hyuk gaped.
‘...They’re truly insane. Utter lunatics.’
These guys hyped the betting?
Whoa.
The crowd united in chanting head, chest, gut—a sight to behold in horror.
Especially here, smack in the middle of the Pure Heaven Alliance...
“Madmen...”
Paeng Jung-hyuk muttered, shaking his head.
Even then, the battle-roar chants swelled: head, chest, gut.
Hearts pounded to a fever pitch.
All crumpled their slips and pumped fists.
Then.
Kwaaaang!
Unam, whirling the arena, was caught midair by Nangong Hyeok and head-planted into the ground.
The impact shook the earth with a boom.
The dust cloud screamed agony.
Good lord!
Heads tougher than thought!
He was still twitching alive.
Defying common sense, the crowd drooled in shock.
Brief silence, then joy and despair crossed.
“Heeead!”
“Head wiiiins!”
“That’s right, head! Head! Head!”
“Waaaaaaah!”
Spectators thrust winning slips skyward, roaring.
Opponent’s fate? Irrelevant.
How Nangong Hyeok smashed him—that was the show.
Paeng Jung-hyuk groaned again.
Seeing the frenzy...
Nangong Hyeok’s influence was immense.
In every way...