Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: The Sparring Duel
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Nangong Jangcheon ascended to the high seat prepared in the sparring arena.
The sparring platform, crowded with people forming a sea of robes, parted to the left and right, opening a path.
The murmuring crowd fell silent at Nangong Jangcheon's appearance.
"Salutations to the Family Head!"
"Salutations to the Family Head!"
The Heavenly Response Squad paid their respects with crisp precision.
Nangong Jangcheon sat down with a heavy heart.
Nearly a thousand eyes were fixed on the sparring platform.
Thinking of Nangong Hyeok, who had to endure those gazes, made his chest tighten, but he couldn't show it.
If he displayed weakness, how much harder would it be for Nangong Hyeok, fighting alone up there?
Nangong Jangcheon straightened his chest.
He straightened his back and swept his dignified gaze over the crowd.
'No turning back now. The water's spilled.'
Surveying the sparring arena, Nangong Jangcheon steadied his breathing.
"You arrived first!"
Nangong Baek and the main house elders appeared in the sparring arena.
Nangong Jangcheon gave a light nod in greeting.
"Not long ago."
"Family Head, you look haggard. Did you get any proper sleep?"
"......There was much work to handle yesterday."
He felt a pang inside but answered calmly.
A sly smile crept onto Nangong Baek's lips.
"Haha, with the sparring match, you must have a lot of worries! Don't worry, Family Head. Our boy and Hyeok are cousins! He'll go easy, so no need to fret."
A bitter expression crossed Nangong Jangcheon's face.
"I'm afraid that with so much at stake in the children testing their martial arts, the true purpose of the spar might be distorted."
Nangong Baek chuckled.
"Even with much at stake, it's still just a spar. It's not about harming each other but measuring skills. My boy knows that full well."
Oh, he knows it well, alright. Very well.
At Nangong Baek's words, a slight furrow formed between Nangong Jangcheon's brows.
The barbs hidden in his words felt sharp enough to pierce.
Nangong Jangcheon closed his mouth, refusing to engage further.
'At least the worst can be avoided.'
Nangong Hyeok wouldn't suffer a fatal injury from the spar.
A spar was just that—testing martial prowess.
Nangong Jeong wouldn't draw his sword aiming for Nangong Hyeok's life.
At least not in front of the retainers; he wouldn't reveal his vicious heart so openly.
He shifted his gaze to the sparring arena.
Just then, Nangong Jeong entered.
He wore pristine white training robes, as if declaring he wouldn't let even a speck of dirt touch him.
From his headband to his shoes, everything was pure white.
Even the scabbard at his waist was snow-white.
Clad in white, he exuded a heroic air, brimming with sky-piercing confidence.
His razor-sharp aura and leisure amplified his presence.
It overshadowed even the Heavenly Response Squad warriors guarding the arena.
"Jeong's presence is formidable!"
"Hoho, Nangong Baek the elder must feel full just looking."
"He seems even more grown than before. His gait alone is different."
The elders burst into admiration.
Even the Nangong clan retainers gaped at Nangong Jeong.
Striding to the center of the arena, he offered a fist salute to the elders with impeccable poise.
Nangong Jangcheon swallowed a silent groan.
Up close, Nangong Jeong's aura was even clearer.
"Family Head, your complexion looks poor. Are you unwell?"
Nangong Baek sneered from the side.
"But Hyeok is late. The appointed time is almost here."
He eyed Nangong Jangcheon's reaction.
"Well, it must be burdensome. Isn't this Hyeok's first public appearance?"
"Yes, it's his first."
"His debut being such a stage must be immense pressure."
A delightful picture formed in Nangong Baek's mind.
Watching Nangong Baek's gleeful expression, Nangong Jangcheon's face darkened.
He could guess Nangong Baek's thoughts without a word.
Right now, even a three-year-old could read his malice.
Nangong Jangcheon's gaze turned to the Heavenly Response Squad.
There stood the stoic Nangong Ryong.
His face was impassive, but his eyes burned like fire.
It was almost as if flames flickered behind him.
Nangong Ryong noticed the gaze and gave a small nod.
He was ready to intervene if needed.
Before the spar overheated.
He had even instructed the Heavenly Response Squad leader to stop it if it looked dangerous.
Only then did Nangong Jangcheon relax a little.
At least Nangong Hyeok wouldn't be seriously hurt.
'Haa, no helping it.'
He couldn't leave adult matters to a child.
'How did things come to this...... Hoo.'
Nangong Jangcheon let out a quiet sigh.
"There he comes."
The crowd's eyes turned to the entrance.
Through the parting crowd, Nangong Hyeok walked in.
In stark contrast to Nangong Jeong, he wore black training robes, his face plastered with annoyance, utterly listless.
The golden-capped attendant trailing him looked sharper, rigid with extreme tension like a log.
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue at the following Geum Cheomsang and headed to the arena's center.
Tilt.
He barely turned his head in a perfunctory greeting.
"Huh."
"Ahem!"
"His etiquette still needs work."
The elders glanced at Nangong Jangcheon and averted their eyes.
They couldn't openly show displeasure.
Meanwhile, a broad smile spread across Nangong Baek's face.
The worse Nangong Hyeok looked, the better Nangong Jeong appeared by comparison.
With Nangong Jeong's perfect demeanor, Nangong Hyeok seemed all the more shabby.
'Comparing them from the start is absurd.'
How do you compare a rising sun to a dying glowworm?
'An upstart who doesn't know his place.'
Daring to challenge Nangong Jeong, the future leader of the Nangong clan.
His eyes fixed on Nangong Hyeok.
Feeling the hot gaze from the side, Nangong Hyeok turned his head.
He glanced at Nangong Baek's face, then shifted to Nangong Jeong.
"Long time no see."
Nangong Jeong lifted his chin slightly, flashing a rotten smile.
His expression dripped with superiority.
Nangong Hyeok sighed.
"Whew."
Somehow, he ended up crossing swords with this guy.
Strictly speaking, he was over 150 years old, scrapping with a kid barely past twenty......
......Ah, right, he's experienced.
Ahem.
Anyway, in the past, it wouldn't have escalated to such a grand spar.
Why?
The pecking order would've been settled with a quick smackdown, no need for a formal match.
Heh, you learn something new every day.
'But since it's started, I'll see it through.'
It was all for his own gain, so he'd endure.
Nangong Jangcheon needed to hold his position for his benefit.
'Heaps of rewards coming my way.'
Nangong Hyeok let slip a pleased smile.
At Nangong Hyeok's sudden grin from his listless demeanor, Nangong Jeong's eyebrow twitched.
"If your brother greets you......"
Nangong Hyeok ignored him completely and turned to Geum Cheomsang.
Geum Cheomsang's frozen eyes shook.
"Hand it over."
"Here it is!"
"What are you doing?"
"Uh......"
"Go down. Want to take my place?"
"N-No!"
Geum Cheomsang startled and scurried behind the Heavenly Response Squad.
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue and gripped the wooden sword.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
In the hushed arena, the sound of his swinging wooden sword rang out loudly.
Nangong Jeong's eyebrow curved, his words cut off.
The attitude completely disregarded him.
"You......"
"Let's get this over with."
"What?"
"Time for my tonic."
Nangong Jeong was at a loss for words.
'Did he take the wrong medicine?'
Now he saw it wasn't just a frail body.
There must be a hole in his head.
No sane person would babble like that in front of him.
Not unless they forgot their life hung in his hands.
'Locked in his room every day, no wonder he's lost his mind.'
Picking him as his sparring opponent proved he was mad.
"If you want to walk away intact, know your place. Shall I snap that arm right now?"
Nangong Jeong unleashed his aura.
A ferocious pressure, as if he'd charge and break it any second.
Not for the faint of heart.
But to Nangong Hyeok, it was just a spring breeze.
'Where's this mutt barking? Break my arm? Did I hear wrong?'
Nangong Hyeok scratched his ear, eyeing Nangong Jeong with dripping annoyance.
Nangong Jeong said coldly.
"If you want to live, use a real sword."
Huh? Real sword?
"Heh heh."
Use a real sword?
A new suicide method?
"Heh heh heh."
"You're laughing?"
"Heh heh heh heh!"
"You wanna die?"
"Ehehehehehe!"
Nangong Jeong, about to erupt in rage, narrowed his brows.
'Is this lunatic provoking me?'
Yes, that was it.
Trying to rile him up for a brutal response!
If he went savage on a weakling, it'd cause an uproar in the Nangong clan.
They might even condemn him for excessive force.
A scheme to escape crisis through public opinion.
'Family Head, you cold bastard.'
Sacrificing his son as a pawn?
His gaze turned to the high seat.
Nangong Baek nodded in shared thought, shaking his head slowly.
'As planned, ten forms.'
As flashy, cool, and overwhelming as possible!
This was a performance.
A stage to fully showcase his skills to the clan.
The tiresome comparisons with that fool young master ended today.
Nangong Jeong sneered at Nangong Hyeok.
"I'll show mercy."
Nangong Hyeok, fiddling with his wooden sword, glanced at him.
He looked around, then widened his eyes.
Show mercy? You? To me?
Heh heh, cute.
"Yeah. Thaaanks."
Thanks so much I wanna hit you more?
Nangong Hyeok turned toward the clan executives.
Hurry up and start.
Beat him quick and end it.
Nangong Jangcheon gazed gravely at Nangong Hyeok, then sighed softly.
His mind grew complicated.
Then, Nangong Baek urged the start.
"Family Head. It's time."
Nangong Jangcheon scanned the arena with heavy eyes, then stood.
All eyes focused on him.
Tension and anticipation filled the air.
Under the crowd's gaze, Nangong Jangcheon spoke gravely.
"If you're ready, begin the spar!"
Swish!
With the announcement, Nangong Jeong stepped forward.
A sneer on his lips, he gathered his energy.
Zing!
A sharp energy climbed along the blade.
Shing!
Even bladeless, it exuded a flesh-cutting aura.
Despite the distance, the crowd shivered at the cold sword intent from Nangong Jeong's sword.
Nearby Heavenly Response Squad warriors and clan leaders looked shocked.
Nangong Jeong's presence was no joke.
Onlookers exclaimed in awe.
"As expected of the Sword Hero!"
"Truly, the Sword Hero!"
"Amazing. Such presence at his age!"
A sly smile formed on Nangong Jeong's lips.
'I'll toy with him plenty, then crush him.'
He'd squash the clueless worm crawling up, never to twitch again.
As pathetically as possible, in front of the retainers.
Isn't that why they came?
Who cares about the clan's weakest versus a top junior contender?
The outcome was set.
Nangong Jeong would fulfill their expectations.
His mind filled with flashy forms and theatrics to trample Nangong Hyeok.
Whoosh!
Energy surged stronger along his sword.
Zing!
The sword trembled.
The spectators gasped.
"Ooooh!"
"Wow, clean sword cry!"
"His aura is no joke."
Worthy of Sword Hero, rivaling the Sword Dragon.
His pre-form stance was precise, without flaw.
By looks alone, he was already a master.
In contrast, Nangong Hyeok hadn't changed.
Still slouched and nonchalant, eyeing Nangong Jeong.
Loose stance, full of openings.
The retainers sighed at the stark difference.
"The gap's too wide."
"Can he last one form? I bet ten forms."
"Basics aren't even there. No match."
"Hey! Match? We're just seeing how long he lasts."
"Look, he can't do a thing."
The predictable match deflated further at Nangong Hyeok's sloppy prep.
In that mix of awe and sighs.
"Whoa, he's moving!"
Nangong Jeong kicked off powerfully.
Leaping high like a great peng, arms spread wide, he soared three zhang.
Like a peng hunting prey, he raised his sword.
He plunged fiercely at Nangong Hyeok.
"Whoa!"
"Eek!"
"Watch out!"
"It's over!"
The opening salvo's ferocity startled cries.
Some turned away, expecting Nangong Hyeok to shatter like porcelain.
Then a roar echoed.
Kwaaaaang!
With intense vibration, a white object shot like a cannon.
Screeeeech!
The cannonball tumbled across the ground.
Boom! Rumble! Kwakwa!
It bounced like a ball, kicking up dust pillars, then slammed into a pine at the arena's edge with a thud.
Eyes snapped to the trajectory.
"W-Wowaaaah!"
"H-Heok! Hitting a patient like that?!"
"Too cruel!"
"Did it even start? Already over?"
"The Sword Hero went too far!"
"Quick, get a healer......!"
The crowd panicked with horrified screams.
Nangong Jeong's prowess was impressive, but no one dreamed he'd launch Nangong Hyeok like that.
Gulping dryly, they glanced around wildly.
They peeked at frozen Nangong Jangcheon.
At Nangong Hyeok on the platform.
Then at Nangong Hyeok, casually rotating his wrist......
Nangong Hyeok?
Blink.
The crowd blinked in unison.
Brief silence ended.
Eyes bulged.
"Huh?"
"Y-Young Master Yi?"
"Huh?"
"Why is Young Master Yi there?!"
"Th-Then? That was?"
"N-Nangong Jeong? Nangong Jeong flew?!"
"The Sword Hero got sent flying?!"
Realizing at last, they gawked at Nangong Hyeok like a ghost.
Crack! Crack!
Nangong Hyeok popped his dislocated wrist back in.
"Damn, not cool."
Confusion swirled in their heads.
Stunned, they stammered at Nangong Hyeok.
Even the elders on the high seat were no exception.
"D-Did you see that?"
"One hit."
"What did he do? D-Did he really only train a month?"
"What technique was that?"
"Just smacked him away."
"H-Heok!"
The elders admired more specifically.
Still, they only saw he sent him flying in one blow—no clue what technique.
So sudden, unbelievable, bewildering.
No one foresaw it.
Nangong Hyeok, the clan's weakest, launching top contender Nangong Jeong?
The unimaginable shocked the elders' minds blank.
Nangong Hyeok grinned and turned to the leaders.
"More?"