Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Beaten Like Dirty Laundry
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Even before the semifinals of the martial tournament began, the spectator stands were packed to the brim.
The crowd gazed at the arena with faces flushed with excitement.
"The Nangong Family snagged two spots!"
"Ha! Brothers advancing side by side to the semifinals—what a sight!"
"They called the Five Great Families the weakest link... Turns out the rumors were dead wrong. Those prized disciples from the Nine Great Sects couldn't even touch them!"
"This tournament's basically the Nangong Family's stage now."
"First match is that Second Young Master versus the Mount Hua Sect disciple, right?"
"Yeah! That Mount Hua kid was impressive too. His Plum Blossom Swordsmanship was a work of art—pure art! He even took down Sword Pavilion's top expert, so his momentum..."
"Momentum my ass. Wudang's Divine Star went down without a fight. No way Sword Pavilion's guy is stronger than Wudang's Divine Star!"
The crowd nodded in agreement.
Mount Hua's Jinwoo had caused a stir on his way up, but it paled in comparison to Namgung Hyeok's divine prowess.
How many late-stage prodigies had Namgung Hyeok crushed?
Recalling that overwhelming strength, the spectators nodded emphatically.
"Right? He's still a bit green, isn't he?"
"You gotta compare to know for sure... But it's Mount Hua, after all."
"Then what about Wudang? They snagged a Divine Star! No way Jinwoo Dojang's stronger than that!"
"Exactly. Qingcheng's Hyeonwon Dojang might have a better shot."
The crowd nodded again.
In their eyes, Hyeonwon from Qingcheng seemed more promising than Jinwoo.
Hyeonwon had beaten Shaolin's Divine Star, who was rated half a step above Wudang's, so he looked plenty capable against Jinwoo.
At any rate, everyone figured Jinwoo's defeat was inevitable.
The only question was how he'd lose.
The spectators' eyes swelled with a strange mix of anticipation.
From the VIP seats, Baek Jong whispered quietly to Heo Won.
"I can't fathom what gives Mount Hua the confidence to talk like that. I know their Three Great Disciples are exceptional for their age, but compared to the Nangong Family's kids..."
"...It's just the thrill of resurgence after so long. Hasn't it always been your main sect and Shaolin taking the wins in these tournaments?"
"True. Since when has Mount Hua lagged behind Wudang?"
"That dojang fellow's blinded by greed and can't see straight. Tsk tsk!"
"Just a lucky draw. Hyeonwon Dojang's not the type to drop in the preliminaries, is he?"
"Ahem, hmm!"
Heo Won cleared his throat awkwardly at Baek Jong's words.
"It's true that kid Jinwoo's still got a long way to go before he can handle the Nangong sword."
"Exactly. You think our kids would fall short anywhere?"
"Heh heh, of course not. Just a bit of bad luck, that's all."
"Mount Hua will realize it this time too—just a stroke of good fortune."
"Heh heh!"
Heo Won Zhenren stroked his beard contentedly, while Baek Jong smirked and glanced outside.
"Speak of the tiger..."
Jayan Zhenren approached the VIP seats at a leisurely pace.
His face radiated composure and profundity.
"You look pleased, Jayan Zhenren."
"Heh heh, how could I not be? A Mount Hua disciple in the semifinals. Isn't the Dao rooted in the heart?"
"You seem utterly unconcerned. Even with who he's facing."
"Heh heh heh! What's there to worry about? Just let it flow as it will."
Baek Jong's brow furrowed.
*What's with this old Daoist?*
He looked different from a few days ago.
Not sarcastic or angry—just genuinely at ease.
There was confidence backed by conviction.
Baek Jong eyed him subtly before turning away.
Pushing when the opponent wouldn't bite would just make him look foolish.
*Whatever trick he's pulled, we'll see soon enough.*
Heo Won seemed to share the sentiment, having already stepped back and fixed his gaze on the arena.
Just then, Jinwoo appeared in the arena.
Baek Jong held his breath and watched.
"Hm?"
Step, step!
Jinwoo's approach to the stage was markedly different from days before.
A calm, settled aura, eyes carrying a subtle profundity.
Even the energy he exuded felt changed.
A Daoist aura of graceful flow.
Baek Jong knitted his brows.
*So he does have something up his sleeve. Gained some enlightenment in the meantime?*
Watching a bit longer would tell.
He focused his senses.
Soon, Namgung Hyeok appeared from the opposite side.
Shamble, shamble—his sluggish gait made one question if this was truly a prestigious family scion.
Seeing Namgung Hyeok's face, a mix of irritation and boredom, Baek Jong let out an involuntary chuckle.
*Hm?*
The chuckle faded as Baek Jong's eyes widened slowly.
Wait a minute.
What the hell was that?
Long like a sword, but blunt and rounded.
The body curved gracefully into the hilt.
It looked just like...
"...A club?"
Yep, a club.
Baek Jong and the Nine Great Sect elders gaped as Namgung Hyeok strode forward with a club slung over his shoulder instead of a wooden sword.
Jinwoo chuckled dryly at the sight.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"What?"
"That's not a sword—it's a club!"
"So?"
Namgung Hyeok tapped his shoulder with the club and shrugged indifferently.
"Wooden sword or club—same difference."
"You're supposed to be a swordsman."
"No edge on it, and you're nitpicking? Swinging it to bash is the same either way. What's the problem?"
Jinwoo chuckled again.
*How crude. And he's supposed to be a prestigious family's swordsman.*
Whether a sword had a blade or not didn't matter.
Even a wooden sword was a sword.
Discarding it meant forfeiting his credentials as a swordsman.
"No pride as a swordsman..."
"It's arena gear. Take it up with them if you wanna bitch."
Jinwoo's brow twitched as he glared at Namgung Hyeok.
But he soon smirked and gripped his wooden sword.
"I don't care what weird trick you're trying."
Swish.
Jinwoo drew his wooden sword.
"It won't work on me."
A violet glow shimmered in his eyes, heat haze rising from the sword tip.
Namgung Hyeok scratched his ear with a bored look.
"Ah, whatever. Let's just get started."
Jinwoo's eyebrow twitched.
*Arrogant bastard! Time to show him a lesson!*
Having consumed the Jasper Pill, his confidence soared higher than ever.
Energy overflowed from his dantian, surging through his meridians and infusing him with boundless vitality.
In this state, he felt unbeatable.
Seeing the vivid violet energy climbing his wooden sword, a smug smile bloomed on Jinwoo's face.
His eyes locked on Namgung Hyeok.
Namgung Hyeok gripped his thigh-thick freakish club, his body riddled with openings.
So many flaws it made his mouth water wondering where to strike first to topple him.
*I won't end it quick.*
Jinwoo's gaze sharpened.
Silence enveloped the area in an instant.
Ignoring the cheers, he focused intensely on Namgung Hyeok.
As his muscles tensed and relaxed, the signal to begin rang out.
"Hah!"
Whoosh!
At the start, Jinwoo shot forward like an arrow. Closing the gap with Dark Fragrance Steps, he swung his sword powerfully.
Fwoooosh!
Immense energy poured from his descending sword toward Namgung Hyeok's head.
The air within two zhang rippled, his falling blade blooming like a great tree's branches.
Plum blossoms bursting one by one!
Plum Blossoms in Full Bloom.
The profusion of blossoms scattered in flecks.
Dozens of variations unfolded as he raised and lowered the sword.
Plum blossoms bloomed fully, petals drifted down, spreading across the ground.
The thick plum fragrance reached its peak.
An immense transformation from what seemed a single strike.
And the overwhelming sword qi flowing endlessly along the blade.
Everyone gasped in awe at the illusory strike.
Gulp!
Baek Jong swallowed a gasp and clenched his fist.
*Did they feed him a Jasper Pill?!*
Nothing else explained that sword qi.
The sword qi Jinwoo displayed now was leagues beyond what felled the Little Sword Master.
True Plum Blossom Swordsmanship.
The scattering petals thicker, more brilliant in full bloom.
Plum fragrance shaking heaven and earth.
Dozens, hundreds of changes compressed into one sword stroke.
*Jayan! So that's why he was so cocky!*
Mount Hua's pride—a spirit pill ranking among the world's top ten!
Comparable to Shaolin's Great Return Pill or Wudang's Supreme Azure Pill. Nothing less could cause such a drastic leap.
Even sudden enlightenment might deepen sword mastery and purify inner power, but not to this overflowing degree!
That violet energy practically screamed, *Hey, I ate a Jasper Pill yesterday.*
*Mount Hua's betting it all. Damn it, this might...*
Mount Hua could crush Namgung Hyeok and claim victory!
No—practically guaranteed.
The other VIP elders shared the thought.
Only Jayan watched the match with leisure, chuckling softly.
It was right then.
Riiip!
Like a drumhead tearing?
Or metal shards ripping free?
A crisp yet heavy roar that sent chills down spines erupted in the arena.
Utterly mismatched with the duel, the thunderous sound made everyone's eyes widen. Jinwoo's jaw twisted as he thrust his powerful strike.
His upper body twisted with his jaw, lower body lifted, and his whole form spun wildly.
"...Huh?"
The scattering plum petals lost direction and pattered down.
Piercing the plum rain like a squall, Namgung Hyeok raised his club vigorously.
"Ptoo! Gotta beat laundry to get it clean!"
What?
Did I hear that right?
Spitting forcefully, Namgung Hyeok roughly grabbed the spinning Jinwoo's hair.
Rip!
"Gaaahhh!"
Half his scalp torn off, Jinwoo flopped like wet laundry into Namgung Hyeok's grasp and slammed into the ground.
Boom!
"Ghak?!"
Jinwoo looked up at Namgung Hyeok in shock.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
"I told you I'd clean you up, right?"
What? Clean what?
No time for questions.
Namgung Hyeok's club began pounding him mercilessly.
Crack!
The first blow hit hard.
Even a martial artist like him reeled dizzily.
Smaaack!
"Keeeeeek!"
The second was dizzying.
Screams burst from his mouth as his limbs curled up!
He'd never imagined a club could hurt this bad in his life.
Nothing like wooden sword strikes—this was incomparable impact!
Bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam bam!
Relentless clubbing followed.
Pounded like minced garlic, hands a blur. Even as his eyes rolled back, Jinwoo couldn't accept it.
*W-what is this? I... I took the Jasper Pill?*
That vivid plum display.
The powerful sword qi and fluid techniques were incomparably mature compared to against the Little Sword Master.
Body light, inner power full, control perfect.
So what was this?
Why was he getting his hair yanked and beaten by this guy?
Why was he, who'd advanced at least two levels, taking this thrashing?!
Why couldn't he do anything?
Why fall for this crude tactic?
Wasn't Mount Hua's swordsmanship the best?
Doubt and questions piled up.
Even as his bones cracked, the bewilderment sharpened.
"I-I'm not weak—aaagh!"
"Stay still, you punk!"
Namgung Hyeok yanked his hair and kept slamming him down while clubbing away.
Crack crack crack!
"Keeeeeek!"
Jinwoo flopped like a catfish on a cutting board, then stuck out his tongue long after another hit.
Namgung Hyeok cackled and shouted.
"This punk messing with someone minding his own business? You'd drop dead even staying still!"
Huh?
Mess with me?
Provoke me?
Want to die?
"I-I w-won't—aaagh!"
"Shut it, punk!"
"...G-give—aaagh!"
"Fine! Head to the immortals first and say hi for me!"
Namgung Hyeok's savage beating of the convulsing Jinwoo dragged on.
Finally, Jinwoo's body went limp.
Thud!
Namgung Hyeok tossed the club aside and spat roughly on the ground.
"Whew! Cleaner now?"
Namgung Hyeok looked refreshed at the foaming Jinwoo.
The passed-out Jinwoo couldn't reply.
"Fucking hell. Mess with someone chilling, and you get fucked."
Namgung Hyeok's wicked grin settled quietly over the arena.