Chapter 184
Chapter 184
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 184
Chapter Title: Plum Blossoms Scatter the Meteors
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So Hye-yeon steadied her breathing as she looked at Huashan’s Jinwoo.
A third-generation disciple of the Huashan Sect who, at not even twenty years old, had surpassed Huashan’s Divine Dragon to claim a spot in the top eight.
He was a young Taoist with a youthful face and a gentle, affable smile that stood out.
Jinwoo smiled faintly and cupped his hands in greeting.
“It’s an honor to meet Sword Pavilion’s prodigy. I’ve heard Sword Pavilion’s swordsmanship is unparalleled in its fluid grace and beauty.”
“……I am So Hye-yeon of Sword Pavilion. I’m equally pleased to cross swords with Huashan’s Jinwoo.”
“Immeasurable blessings! I’m grateful for such kind words from Sword Pavilion’s prodigy toward an unknown nobody like me.”
“Huashan’s Plum Blossom Swordsman is no unknown nobody.”
“Haha! Even so, how could I compare to Sword Pavilion’s prodigy? I’m thrilled to have this chance to experience Sword Pavilion’s sword firsthand.”
Jinwoo glanced toward the edge of the sparring arena.
His eyes met those of Namgung Hyeok, who was watching from above, and the corner of his mouth quirked up oddly.
“You seem close with House Namgung’s young lord.”
“I’ve been seeking his guidance.”
“Guidance.”
Jinwoo flashed a strange smile as he raised his sword to chest level.
“But it doesn’t seem like you’re at a level to offer guidance…….”
“…….”
“Regardless, if you wish to meet Namgung’s young lord, you’ll have to defeat me first.”
Jinwoo’s aura shifted completely. It was a sudden change, like ripples stirring a calm lake.
So Hye-yeon assumed the starting stance of the Twelve Meteor Swords to meet his aura.
The two swelling auras clashed tensely in the air.
And when that aura reached its peak.
“Begin!”
At the referee’s signal, So Hye-yeon seized the opening and moved first.
Flash!
With Crescent Moon Shadow Step, she closed in on Jinwoo in an instant and unleashed the Twelve Meteor Swords.
Screeech! Shiiiiek!
Fast, light, and elegant.
A brilliant sword gleam accompanied semi-transparent sword qi pressing down on Jinwoo.
Swoosh!
Sharp sounds rang out without pause as sword gleams flashed.
Paired with the flashy footwork of Crescent Moon Shadow Step, the unpredictable sword gleams from various angles resembled a cluster of stars in the night sky.
Thrust! Crack!
Points became lines, and lines rained down endlessly.
Dozens of bundles of sword qi fell like a meteor shower streaking across the night sky.
So Hye-yeon’s eyes were more serious than ever.
Not just anyone could bear the title of Plum Blossom Swordsman.
Only those who could bloom plum blossoms at their sword tips qualified.
To bloom plum blossoms with sword qi.
It was something impossible to even imitate without reaching the pinnacle of energy control.
If anyone could bloom plum blossoms at their sword tips, who would acknowledge them as Plum Blossom Swordsman?
Jinwoo’s age was just a number.
As long as he bore the name Plum Blossom Swordsman, So Hye-yeon would not let her guard down.
The sharpness at So Hye-yeon’s sword tip grew even keener.
Her gaze deepened further, and power infused her blade.
Jinwoo parried the Twelve Meteor Swords with admiration.
“As expected, Sword Pavilion’s sword lives up to its reputation!”
“…….”
“I see why people in the world compare it to Huashan’s sword. It’s fast and flashy, just like the main text’s sword. But…….”
In that instant, Jinwoo’s softly curved eyes turned icy.
“It falls short of Huashan’s sword.”
His sword, raised to mid-level, shook lightly.
Fwaaaah!
Plum blossoms bloomed profusely from the quivering tip.
Blossoms so brilliant and beautiful they overshadowed the pouring meteor shower unfurled endlessly, dyeing the sparring arena red in moments.
Paaaaah! Whoooosh!
Plum petals swirled in the wind.
Boom boom boom boom!
The plum blossoms blooming along Jinwoo’s sword collided with the falling meteor shower.
Clang clang clang! Boom!
The meteor shower adorning the sky scattered in fragments.
So Hye-yeon’s pupils trembled.
Each clash with Jinwoo’s sword qi twisted her insides, making her wrists feel like they would shatter.
Unimaginable force lurked in every swirling petal.
Jinwoo’s internal energy exceeded her expectations, and the power of his Plum Blossom Swordsmanship overwhelmed the Twelve Meteor Swords.
Jinwoo smiled slyly. Even as he pressed So Hye-yeon, his gaze kept flicking beyond the arena.
“Watch closely. This is what Huashan’s sword is.”
“Huh?”
Namgung Hyeok’s brow furrowed deeply.
“That punk’s eyeing me?”
“……Pardon?”
“He just eyed me.”
Geon Cheon-hwi turned to Namgung Hyeok with bewildered eyes.
“Who?”
“That Huashan long-nosed punk, at me.”
“…….”
“Ha, unbelievable? Did that punk just pick a fight with me?”
“……No, he didn’t.”
“He did. He picked a fight. That punk eyed me, huh?”
No, you lunatic.
You’re dying to fight, aren’t you?
“Fuck, he’s eyeing me again. Wow, Huashan kids have grown balls? Back in the day, I’d have…….”
“……C-calm down.”
“Let me go, let me at him. Huh?”
……How am I supposed to let go when you’re one foot on the railing, ready to jump in.
Geon Cheon-hwi gulped and gripped Namgung Hyeok’s sleeve tightly.
Namgung Hyeok growled.
“Keep scratching, you’re begging to die.”
Scratching what……
Geon Cheon-hwi broke into a cold sweat watching Namgung Hyeok drum up his own fight.
Namgung Hyeok scowled fiercely.
“Huh? What? Watch closely?”
Even amid the roaring cheers filling the air, he heard it crystal clear.
Jinwoo, that wrinkle-free young punk in the Taoist robes, kept provoking him directly.
“What’s my age to you!”
He, who had waded through past bloodbaths, falling for such childish taunts…….
Falling for it?
“Hey, you damn long-nosed bastard! You’re dead. Truly dead.”
“……No, but your age……!”
“Yeah, I’m nineteen. Gotta fall for the taunt!”
Daring to taunt me? Taunt?
Geon Cheon-hwi released Namgung Hyeok’s sleeve as his shoulders shook with rage.
‘Fine, fuck it. Like he’d listen to me.’
Geon Cheon-hwi gave up, seeing Namgung Hyeok already half over the railing.
While Namgung Hyeok caused his brief commotion, the spar grew ever fiercer.
Boom! Screeech!
Sharp clashes and thunderous booms rang out in succession as So Hye-yeon slid back.
Jinwoo smirked as he pressed the Little Sword Marquess.
“Is this all you’ve got? Just this much?”
Like a snake, Jinwoo’s sword climbed along hers and battered her body.
Bang! Thud thud thud!
“Ugh!”
So Hye-yeon let out a stifled groan and tried to escape Jinwoo’s range with Crescent Moon Shadow Step.
But Jinwoo’s Dark Fragrance Step was faster.
Jinwoo circled behind her first and unleashed Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
Clang!
“Eek!”
Plum blossoms bloomed with every movement of Jinwoo’s sword, shaking So Hye-yeon’s body.
Before long, wounds appeared all over her, and bruises formed on her exposed skin.
It was a wooden sword infused with internal energy strong enough to shatter rocks.
Its power was no joke.
“Huashan……!”
So Hye-yeon spat out a ragged groan.
The depth, solidity, and might of Plum Blossom Swordsmanship crushed the Twelve Meteor Swords.
The ever-changing plum blossoms evoked a sense of the infinite.
But So Hye-yeon did not give up.
She pushed Crescent Moon Shadow Step to its limit, thrusting her sword through the shower of plum petals.
A hundred sword shadows shot out. Sword qi wove through the blossoms toward Jinwoo.
Jinwoo deflected the intruding sword qi while blatantly looking toward Namgung Hyeok.
‘Watch closely.’
Jinwoo raised his sword.
Plum blossoms bloomed and scattered along his blade.
With each bloom and scatter, the Twelve Meteor Swords shattered one by one, breaking apart.
“Tch!”
So Hye-yeon desperately tried to reconnect the chain, but Jinwoo’s Plum Blossom Swordsmanship allowed no such thing.
No matter how sharp a sword, it’s useless if it doesn’t connect.
So Hye-yeon’s increasingly keen sword tip ultimately failed to reach Jinwoo.
It passed harmlessly through the space where Jinwoo had stood.
Jinwoo shouted with spirit.
“Chaaah!”
Plum blossoms surged along his wooden sword, blooming in all directions.
So Hye-yeon’s eyes widened.
Red petals dotted and filled her vision.
The Twelve Meteor Swords crumbled futilely, replaced by plum blossoms.
One corner of Jinwoo’s mouth slowly lifted.
So Hye-yeon’s movements couldn’t keep up with the plum blossoms’ transformations.
One by one, his wooden sword battered her body.
His powerfully extended sword shattered her sword shadows.
Jinwoo thrust into the wide opening she left.
Baaang!
Kwaaaang!
“Eek!”
The impact felt like being bludgeoned, and So Hye-yeon’s mouth fell open.
She tried somehow to escape the Plum Blossom Swordsmanship, but Jinwoo wasn’t about to let her.
When she retreated, he advanced a step; when she approached, he fell back to widen the gap.
A gleam flashed in Jinwoo’s eyes.
“I’ll impart some guidance to you, Little Sword Marquess! Endure well, watch closely! Not sure if you can even see it properly!”
Thud! Thud thud thud thud! Thuuud!
His sword moved dazzlingly, relentlessly pounding her body.
So Hye-yeon gritted her teeth and endured.
She desperately wanted to reach the top four.
She refused to let this end as a half-hearted challenge.
She wanted guidance from Namgung Hyeok.
So she endured and endured.
Dodging with Crescent Moon Shadow Step again and again.
But there was a limit.
Jinwoo’s sword was fast and precise, his internal energy an inexhaustible spring.
Jinwoo’s sword battered her body without emotion.
Faster, harder!
Jinwoo’s eyes gleamed maniacally.
Thud thud thud! Thud thud thud!
“Ugh!”
So Hye-yeon’s body turned into a ragged mess in an instant.
But Jinwoo’s assault continued without pause.
‘Behold! Elegance and beauty no Namgung sword could imitate! How magnificent this is!’
Profusely blooming plum blossoms and scattering petals.
The ever-changing plum blossoms repeated blooming and wilting, embodying heavenly harmony.
Could those fools truly appreciate this sublime Huashan enlightenment?
No wonder this dim-witted sword marquess sought guidance from House Namgung’s crude swordsmanship.
‘Haha! Huashan Sect’s sword is perfect. The most beautiful, the greatest sword!’
Sword shadows blooming from Jinwoo’s blade battered So Hye-yeon’s body viciously.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Jinwoo’s gaze pierced through the full-bloom plum blossoms and collapsing So Hye-yeon straight to Namgung Hyeok.
“This is Huashan Sect’s swordsmanship. You ignorant fools.”
Jinwoo’s wooden sword powerfully cleaved the air.
Baaaang!
“Guh!”
So Hye-yeon spewed blood and collapsed.
Jinwoo exhaled deeply and looked around.
Silence fell in that moment.
“That young Taoist wasn’t usually so heavy-handed…….”
Huang Bo-chung, who had faced Jinwoo directly, clicked his tongue.
Pang Jung-hyeok subtly furrowed his brow as well.
Even after the match was decided, continuing to strike like that didn’t look good.
Namgung Ryong, Geon Cheon-hwi, and the others hardened their expressions.
It had been over a month since they’d seen So Hye-yeon’s face.
She wasn’t a complete stranger, so seeing her take such a beating soured their moods.
While they showed their displeasure, cheers erupted from the spectator stands.
“Huashan beat Sword Pavilion!”
“Woo! Huashan after all! What a magnificent swordsmanship!”
“Man, that young Taoist is incredible! Haha!”
Amid the cheers, Jinwoo calmly wiped the blood from his wooden sword with a cloth and looked toward Namgung Hyeok.
The corner of his mouth crept up.
Namgung Hyeok’s lips twisted.
“That little brat’s filthy.”
The kid’s gone too far.
Irritation surged.
Endless failed provocations grated on him, and now the Little Sword Marquess he’d considered sparring with lay beaten to a pulp.
Even a passing mutt you know annoys you if some random bastard kicked it.
And So Hye-yeon was closer than a passing mutt, wasn’t she?
Unyielding Sword Pavilion.
He’d seen their indomitable spirit well enough.
They hadn’t crossed swords, but that sufficed.
“I’ll clean you up nice, you punk.”
Namgung Hyeok bared his fangs in a grin.