Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: The Award Ceremony
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The elders seated in the VIP stands and the key figures of the Righteous Heaven Alliance made their appearance on the arena stage.
The spectator stands erupted in noise once more.
As the masters seated high in the VIP area descended to the ground like gods looking down from the heavens, excitement lit up the faces in the stands.
"It's Senior Sword of the Blue Dragon!"
"Master Uicheon and Alliance Leader Meng Hu are here too!"
"Whoa, to see the Righteous Heaven Alliance masters this close up!"
"Even the esteemed guests from the Nine Great Sects have gathered!"
The sight of these legendary experts, whose shadows were rarely glimpsed even once in a lifetime, all assembled in one place filled the audience's faces with thrill.
Each one exuded profound mystery, overwhelming majesty, and lofty transcendence.
It was a presence on a completely different level from the younger generation, drawing gasps of admiration from the crowd.
Just their aura and the subtle energy they emitted dominated the over thirty thousand spectators.
Giants who moved the world.
It was no exaggeration to call the elders from the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families, along with the Righteous Heaven Alliance's pillar-like leaders, by that name.
The crowd couldn't stop exclaiming in awe at the presence emanating from the key figures of the Nine Great Sects, Five Great Families, and Righteous Heaven Alliance.
The elders from the Nine Great Sects scowled darkly as they surveyed the cheering spectators.
Baek Jong furrowed his brow and stared out at the arena.
Flutter! Flutter!
The heirs of the Five Great Families, led by the Namgung Family, were vigorously waving their banners.
The massive flags soared high into the sky, their white teeth gleaming broadly for all the world to see.
Their mouths were split ear to ear.
Baek Jong groaned softly and glanced sideways at the other elders.
The other elders' eyes were darting about busily as well.
"What do we do now?"
"...What do you mean? The result is already out."
"If only we could turn back time..."
"Better to smear shit on our faces than that. Wouldn't that be the real humiliation? Just hand it over."
The elders sighed heavily.
Was there ever a case where "giving meat to a dog" fit so perfectly?
'The dog at least wags its tail.'
Sigh.
Looking at the Five Great Families' disciples grinning broadly from across the way made his chest tighten.
Baek Jong cleared his throat awkwardly and spoke up.
"Then we have to present the prizes, right? Who wants to do it?"
This was, after all, the Righteous Heaven Alliance's martial tournament. They couldn't skip the award ceremony.
But if it were their own sect's disciples, that'd be one thing—this was a scion of the Five Great Families.
Namgung Hyeok, no less, who had smashed through the Nine Great Sects' disciples one by one to reach the finals.
Who would want to step forward for such a disgraceful ceremony?
The elders exchanged wary glances, rolling their eyes this way and that.
Baek Jong looked troubled.
"We have to do the presentation, but who should..."
A Kongtong Sect Heavenly Void Scholar spoke up.
"If we're doing it anyway, wouldn't it be meaningful for the Qingcheng Sect, who took second place, to handle it?"
"Didn't Master Qingyun of the Qingyun Dojo go to the medical hall with Hyunwon?"
"Oh, right. Well, then just have anyone do it casually. No need to fuss..."
"Why don't the Kongtong Sect step up? Didn't you say last time you wanted to try presenting?"
"What?! When did I— ahem. No, that was Elder Jinheo of Kunlun Sect who said that."
Kunlun's Jinheo arched his brows sharply and ground his teeth.
He rolled his eyes quickly before flashing a faint smile.
"In such a prestigious gathering, doesn't it make sense for the Wudang Sect—one of murim's twin peaks—to take the stage, in this old man's humble opinion?"
"Oho! That's a great idea. Indeed, such an event calls for Wudang!"
"Of course, of course! They're murim's twin peaks, after all!"
"If the profound Master Heo Won fills this glorious moment of the tournament with Taoist grace, it would be the icing on the cake, haha!"
As the elders slyly eyed one another, Heo Won's pupils flickered lightly.
'These old Taoists are colluding?'
Their timing was ghost-like perfect!
Like water ghosts.
Heo Won's beard quivered as he spoke.
"Hahaha, haha! With Shaolin—the North Star of murim—here, this old man wonders if he's fit for such a spot."
"He left a bit ago."
"...What?"
Shaolin had left?
When?
Heo Won blankly scanned the surroundings.
He's really gone?
When did that bald monk slip away?
Baek Jong landed the decisive blow on the dazed Heo Won.
"With Master Heo Won's permission, the presentation will be by Wudang Sect."
"Hahaha! Wudang it is."
"Heh, can't beat Wudang, haha."
Amid the relieved sighs of the Nine Great Sects' elders, Heo Won's brow furrowed deeply.
'You damned—!'
"...H-heh, haha. W-Wudang it is. Wudang. Heh, haha!"
* * *
Heo Won stared blankly at the prizes in his hands.
'How did I end up with this poisoned chalice?'
Handing these precious prizes to the one who had tarnished the Nine Great Sects'—especially Wudang's—reputation, while offering congratulations.
Brr.
He ground his teeth, glaring at the Nine Great Sects' long-nosed underlings standing smugly behind him.
Oblivious or not, the elders merely nodded with carefree expressions.
As if the poisoned chalice had already left their hands.
Heo Won sighed deeply and looked ahead.
Then he sighed even deeper.
"Hoo..."
"Haa..."
"Aah..."
"This is..."
Seeing the Nine Great Sects' disciples hanging their heads with gloomy faces sapped his strength.
Every one of them looked burdened with worries, their expressions dark and shoulders slumped as if touching the ground.
In stark contrast, the Five Great Families' side was in full celebration.
Flutter! Flutter!
The award ceremony hadn't even started, yet the waving banners were even more flamboyant than before.
Like a dance party... no, it already was one.
They jostled shoulders, poking and prodding each other.
A perfect opposite to the Nine Great Sects' disciples.
'Yin and yang in harmony.'
Heo Won let out a sigh.
He wasn't the only one watching.
The audience felt exactly what Heo Won did.
"Wow, it's like a funeral over there. Have the Nine Great Sects ever looked like this?"
"The Namgung Family is impressive, alright."
"A winner from the Five Great Families—who would've thought!"
"Haha, that side's a festival all its own!"
Heo Won swallowed a groan and lifted his head.
His gaze caught Namgung Hyeok ascending the arena stage.
Slowly from the head up, lightly and gracefully, Namgung Hyeok's face gradually came into view.
"Whoa..."
Oil—no, luster—dripping from his face?
Everyone else was worn out from the tournament, looking haggard.
Even disciples eliminated in the thirty-six strongest round had gaunt cheeks from the stress, but this guy looked like he was thriving!
His gait too...
Legs and arms swinging high, as if they could reach the sky.
Each step hit a rhythm, flamboyantly so.
Why was his walk so exaggerated?
Seeing that beaming grin made fists clench involuntarily.
It was like he was dancing up the stage!
Haha, hahaha.
And as Namgung Hyeok appeared, the Five Great Families' cheers peaked.
"Hoooouuuu!"
"Head!"
"Yeeeaahhh!"
"Hahaha!"
What?
Head?
Hoo?
Heo Won barely kept his lips from trembling as he watched the approaching Namgung Hyeok.
All eyes converged.
Rustle rustle rustle!
"Hehehehe!"
Namgung Hyeok entered the arena with light steps, laughing wickedly.
As if slicing through the warriors of the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families.
Gasps erupted from all sides, but Geon Cheon-hwi and the others in the stands grew even more tense.
That laugh.
That wickedness.
He truly had no knack for managing expressions.
Even in a place gathered with Righteous Heaven Alliance's heavyweights, that face and demeanor!
'He looks so hyped—bound to cause trouble.'
'Yeah! Too excited. Dangerous.'
'...He won't curse during the ceremony, right? It's a good day, a good day—surely not...'
The three Thunder Dragon Squad members fidgeted uneasily for no reason.
Why was there more tension than during Namgung Hyeok's matches?
Oblivious to this, Namgung Chang kept calling out to his brother beside them, while Namgung Ryong smiled contentedly.
Geumcheomsang, grinning broadly, took in the scene and nodded.
'It was eventful, but the family's and young master's reputations are rising!'
Namgung Hyeok, once bedridden and treated like a good-for-nothing, now stood on a stage elevating the Namgung Family's prestige. It felt fresh.
As his attendant, pride swelled in his chest.
This was different from gaining fame in the family or Anhui Province.
He had made his name through martial prowess before the eyes of the world!
In the Righteous Heaven Alliance's tournament, no less.
It was tantamount to being recognized as the top among the younger generation.
Chants of Namgung Hyeok's name rose from all around.
"A winner from Namgung Family—something you don't see every day!"
"He toppled all the Nine Great Sects' promising youths! Even surpassed the Four Divine Stars—what an achievement!"
"Namgung Family's gearing up for flight. With both brothers so outstanding!"
A surge of overwhelming emotion welled from deep within.
Geumcheomsang gazed at Namgung Hyeok with moved eyes.
'Is this real? Is this the same frail second young master I served? The real second young master is legendary.'
Even he was moved, memories flashing of Namgung Hyeok suffering from Nine Yin Severed Meridians, coughing weakly.
His chest swelled grandly.
Back then, he never dreamed Namgung Hyeok would achieve this...
Rising from his sickbed less than a year ago to this monumental result.
Geumcheomsang savored the contentment fully.
Soon, the award ceremony commenced.
Heo Won eyed Namgung Hyeok with a reluctant face.
To mask his rotting insides amid the festive mood, he raised the precious sword forged from refined millennium cold iron prepared as a prize.
'We even put out a sword like this!'
A sword with a full catty of millennium cold iron, which could slice steel like paper and resist sword qi.
His gut twisted at the thought of it going to Namgung Hyeok.
If he'd known it'd come to this, why invest so much!
The Publicly Acknowledged Oil, the sword...
"Ah, hand it over quick."
"...Pardon?"
Namgung Hyeok extended his hand in a slouchy pose.
"I'm asking for it."
"..."
Well, give it to him.
It's yours anyway...
But why does it feel like getting robbed?
Heo Won gaped.
Snatch.
Huh?
Namgung Hyeok firmly gripped the millennium cold iron sword.
"Oh, thank you kindly."
Grinning, he took the sword and strapped it tightly to his waist.
"Nice. Where's the Publicly Acknowledged Oil?"
"..."
"Hand it over already!"
Namgung Hyeok extended his hand again with a flick.
Heo Won stared at him with a lost expression.
Good lord.
Standing cockily?
Why did Namgung Hyeok overlap with the face of some thug from old memories, the one who pickpocketed him before joining Wudang?
Heo Won shook his head at the unwelcome recollection.
'Ah, murim...'
Heo Won picked up the jar containing the Publicly Acknowledged Oil.
Rattle rattle.
Heo Won, who had never suffered tremors in his life, shook.
One look said it all—even at the ceremony, what must he be like elsewhere?
No, he'd already shown plenty in the tournament.
The thought of this guy consuming the Publicly Acknowledged Oil turned his stomach.
'Better to dump it on the ground than give it to him!'
Snatch.
"Ah, I said quick. Hehehe."
"...Let go."
"Let go what? You let go?"
"Y-you...?"
Rattle rattle!
Veins bulged on their mutually gripping hands.
Namgung Hyeok grinned cheekily.
"Sheesh. People are watching, you know?"
At those words, Heo Won limply released his grip.
Even this brief tussle drew curious stares already.
Aah...
Heo Won sighed softly as the Publicly Acknowledged Oil passed to Namgung Hyeok's hand.
"Hehehe, hehehehe!"
Namgung Hyeok's sinister chuckle rattled Heo Won's heart.
Heo Won declared weakly.
"The winner of this tournament is Namgung Hyeok of the Namgung Family..."
"Victory for the Five Great Families!"
"Victory belongs to the Five Great Families... ah, no."
Huh?
What now?
Paeng Cheonwi?
Paeng Cheonwi was laughing uproariously, arm thrust high.
How could a family head be so frivolous...
"Victory for the Five Great Families!"
"Waaah! The Five Great Families win!"
"Long live the Five Great Families! Long live Namgung Family!"
"Long live Namgung Hyeok!"
Good grief, boundless lifespan.
...Just let it end quickly.
Watching the uproarious Five Great Families, Heo Won felt himself one step closer to ascension.