Chapter 74
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Requesting a Fixed Match
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Thirty on our side, thirty on theirs. A clean 15-15 draw would've been perfect.
I felt a surge of anger, wondering if they were being gracious after their last win or laying the groundwork for excuses about their own inadequate training.
But the Wudang Sect senior brother's face was quite serious, and causing a scene wouldn't do us any favors.
First, let's calm down and sort this out with words.
I pushed back Bihun, who was ready to charge out at any moment, and replied nonchalantly.
"It'd be great for us after getting crushed 13-17 last time. But will the match outcome go the way you want?"
I shrugged, and the Wudang senior brother looked exasperated, about to explain. But before he could speak, Baekyun cut in with a snide remark.
"Man, you really don't get it. He's saying let's fix the match outcome in advance."
...What is this, sports betting? Is there martial tournament toto? Did someone bet ten thousand nyang on a draw?
"Are you insane?"
The elders would flip if they heard. Now I understood why he emphasized a remote spot with no risk of eavesdropping.
I couldn't help but scoff in disbelief.
"Or do you think Mount Hua is an easy mark? Feeling sorry for losing 13-17 last time, so you want to gift us a draw? Seems like you're mistaken, because this time—"
"No, no, wait! That's not the intention, so don't misunderstand."
I snapped sharply, and the Wudang senior brother waved his hands frantically, yanking Baekyun back by the scruff.
"Let's make it so both Mount Hua and Wudang achieve victory at the same time."
"What nonsense is that?"
"Ah, the Mount Hua senior disciple says your words sound like nonsense, Senior Brother. Just say it straight instead of beating around the bush."
Baekyun, still dangling by his scruff in the Wudang senior brother's grip, grumbled with narrowed eyes.
With a flick, Baekyun shook off the annoying hand grabbing his clothes and straightened his disheveled attire, standing beside the Wudang senior brother.
One corner of his mouth twisted up slyly.
"Our sect's old fogeys are pissed because we didn't get a satisfying win against you guys. Some losses were downright ridiculous."
Baekyun shot a stinging glare at his junior brother who'd sparred with Bidam. Probably the one whose sword flew off after clashing once with the King God General Legendary Sword.
But wasn't your loss ridiculous too, Baekyun? You bragged to me that you'd win even using only the Three Disasters Sword Method, then got gloriously crushed.
Baekyun pulled his gaze from the junior who flinched and bowed his head, sweeping over us with an extremely cocky look.
"Looks like you guys got an earful for losing to us too, huh?"
"Would it just be an earful?"
I shot back a smirk at his nasty grin.
Baekyun laced his fingers behind his head in utter nonchalance.
"It's frustrating enough when you only started sword training a year ahead and already expect mountains from us. They harped on how we should've won 20-10. Anyway, back to the point."
He paused and tilted his head.
"We crunched the numbers, and it looks like we won't hit that 20-10 our old fogeys want this time either. You guys haven't been slacking off, right?"
"20-10? Feels like you're looking down on us, and it pisses me off—"
"Ah, don't misunderstand. It's not us saying it, it's our old fogeys."
That hellish mouth of his was fair to everyone, top and bottom alike. Calling sect elders "old fogeys"—what the hell is that?
Baekyun dropped his hands from his head and pointed straight at me with a finger snap.
"So, let's make a deal. Let's force a draw so no one can even mention wins or losses."
The word "deal" brought back a recent failed transaction, stinging my gut and drawing a sigh.
The ways of the jianghu have truly fallen to the ground.
Forget righteousness or chivalry—there's no martial spirit. The attitude of giving your all in every clash of swords, respecting your opponent, and gracefully accepting the result.
This isn't sports toto match-fixing; who fixes outcomes just to avoid a scolding?
And not some minor sect, but two pillars of the Nine Great Sects of the Righteous Faction.
No one calls them out, and they even agree. Is that the attitude of warriors facing a duel? Wudang's future is pitch black. Amitabha.
Confident that unlike Wudang—with its entry fee scandals and bullying—Mount Hua was full of sane people, I opened my mouth to refuse.
"No—"
Thud. Bihwan blocked my mouth with a laugh and announced to the Wudang side.
"Looks like you guys coordinated this. Let's have our own little meeting."
"Mmph mmph (let go)? Mmph mmph mmph (this is rebellion)!"
What meeting? Just refuse the crazy proposal right now!
I flailed my arms wildly to break free, but they grabbed both sides familiarly and dragged me off like luggage, the three of them hauling me away.
We sat in a circle a bit away from the Wudang guys for an emergency meeting. Biryeong, arms crossed with a hardened expression just like mine, spoke first. Her cold voice rang out.
"I'm against it. It's a duel with nothing to gain."
"Think positive, Biryeong. At least we avoid the re-descent of Selection Hell."
Bihyeon tried gentle persuasion, but got a sharp retort.
"It's just a meaningless match. Nothing to learn!"
Unable to hold back her anger, Biryeong slammed her fist down hard, cratering the training ground dirt. I followed suit, slamming the ground with a bang! and declared firmly.
"Exactly. I'm against it too. You know we'll die if the sect elders find out, right?"
Our juniors on either side scooted their butts away from the deep crater. Biwon suggested with a sly grin.
"Then let's do majority vote."
Result: 27 yes, 3 no. Overwhelming defeat for the opposition.
I worried about Wudang's future, but Mount Hua's is just as dark. Heavenly Lord of Primordial Beginning, how do I fix these idiots' minds?
Bihun, who'd cast one no vote, barked like a guard dog.
"What kind of match-fixing is this? Don't interfere and piss me off. This time, I gotta crush that Wudang punk and make him crawl at my feet."
"Ah, can't do that."
"Why not wha… Why?"
Bihun growled, then tucked his tail upon realizing it was me, and I shrugged in reply.
"I made a prior appointment to duel him five years ago."
Bihun made a sour face and gave up on dueling Baek Geon, shaking his head and grumbling.
"Ugh, fine, fix the match or not, whatever…."
Now it was 28 yes, 2 no. Biryeong shot up, grinding her teeth and glaring at her senior brothers.
"Don't you all have any pride? You really want to accept this absurd proposal?"
"Pride means nothing in the face of Selection Hell-level hell training…."
Bidam mumbled, his momentum utterly deflated from the bravado at the sect gate. I patted his back.
"Right? If you don't wanna die alone, you do mutual destruction too. Pride doesn't feed you."
Thinking I was on his side, Bidam's face brightened—until I grabbed his collar and shook him violently. His expression instantly darkened as he sensed the mistake.
"But you idiots! You can't do that under Mount Hua's name! What's left for a warrior without pride? Go into the jianghu with that attitude, and you'll be nothing but a laughingstock!"
"Eek, eek… Senior Brother, wait…."
"If you're gonna tarnish Mount Hua's name like that after leaving the sect, rip off that plum blossom from your chest right now!"
"Sorry! I'm sorry!"
Bidam got skinned alive as the representative of the 28 yes voters, being right next to me. A Wudang guy watching from afar muttered.
"Are they saying that for us to hear…?"
You know it. You rip off your taiji too.
Even after all that, the yes votes held firm. I finally gave up and waved it off.
"Fine, whatever. I opposed it clearly. If you get caught and scolded, that's on you."
Sure, I'd get joint responsibility, but less than the ringleaders.
"But you all need to know this choice is shameful. Kids wouldn't get it, but we're not kids anymore. You have to judge what's more important."
At my added icy words, the juniors eyed me nervously.
Ignoring them, I brushed the dirt off my clothes with pats and stood. They all rose after me in unison. We lined up facing the Wudang white-robed ranks again, like when we first met, ready for a brawl.
I extended a hand to the Wudang senior brother, not hiding my displeasure.
"We'll take the deal."
"Thought you'd be stiff, but you're pretty flexible? Even accepting a majority vote?"
Ignoring Baekyun giggling beside him, I gripped the offered hand briefly and released. The Wudang senior brother smiled amiably and proposed.
"Since we're all here, want to draw up the matchups right now?"
"You got a plan for the fixing?"
"Just pair them appropriately and have them follow the pre-agreed outcomes during the duels, right?"
I shook my head with a bitter expression at his utterly casual tone.
"You're practically begging to get caught."
We already evened the numbers perfectly—think the elders won't notice? If the first few duels don't blow the plan, we'll be lucky.
If you're gonna do it, aim for the perfect crime, you fools.