Chapter 77
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: Delusions Stacked on Delusions
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"That's right! Look, the Wudang side's fifteen matches are already locked in as wins, and if our Mount Hua side, assigned to the winning roles, gets complacent while they go all out, the draw goes flying out the window, doesn't it?"
Bihwan snapped his fingers with a crisp *pop*, channeling a master detective as he laid out a rather convincing line of reasoning.
"Then Selection Hell descends again. You wanna go through that horrific hellish training all over?"
"Why not? It helps improve your skills, and it's pretty great."
Aside from me nodding along, no one else agreed with Biryeong's words.
The mood was steadily tilting toward the conclusion that the Wudang side was definitely pulling some scam.
"Aren't we thinking too negatively? They're one of the prestigious great sects of the Righteous Faction—surely they wouldn't stoop to something that sleazy."
Of course, there were counterarguments,
"But think about it—they went through the same pain as us with the Selection Hell remake."
"Ooh, suddenly it all makes perfect sense."
The opposition melted away fast, thanks to evidence everyone could relate to.
"But if our assumptions are wrong, and we go all out in the duel, then we're the ones breaking the promise first."
Yet the mood flipped again at another opinion.
"Like it or not, we'll be seeing their faces regularly from now on. Things getting messy over this would be a headache."
"Yeah, that's true."
After watching my idiot senior brothers flounder between the two views without picking a direction, my eyes met Biryeong's—she was staring at them with the look reserved for the world's biggest idiot.
-What do we do?
Her transmission asked, and the reply came back the same way.
-Just set the mood so those idiots don't lock in a total loss, but stay tense enough for the duel.
Now that's my specialty!
"Bihwan and the Wudang head senior brother will block it. Hey, Bihwan. For your match—is it a win or a loss?"
Turning to Bihwan, he answered with a sullen face.
"For now, it's a loss."
"Then, the first Mount Hua win after that—the guy taking it should report back after the duel on how they approached it. Don't get complacent just 'cause you're supposed to win—go all out against them."
With the neat breakdown, even the guys who'd been bickering over whether their pushed opinions were true or not stopped fighting and nodded.
Once things were sorted, I flopped down on the dojo floor and muttered in a hum.
"We'll know tomorrow. Whether they're sneaky, or we're just suspicious and petty."
* * *
The next day. Duel day.
Unlike the Wudang third-generation disciples, who were chatting lightly among themselves while loosening up, our side's atmosphere was downright ominous.
"Even right before the duel, their vibe is way too chummy. They definitely have 'that' plan in place, right?"
"Makes sense. They're probably thrilled thinking about their overwhelming wins soon."
"Isn't that Wudang guy smiling suspiciously? So our prediction was spot on?"
"Hey, why do they keep glancing over here?"
"Isn't it 'cause we're glaring at the Wudang side so fiercely?"
I tossed a bored remark at my fellow disciples, who were whispering suspiciously even at the Wudang third-gen just breathing.
"We chose this. No choice but to accept whatever the results are."
"Even if they pull some dirty trick?"
"You gotta own your choices. Or you wanna confess to the elders that we tried rigging the matches and got scammed?"
Yeah, who told you to snap up the deal just 'cause the surface terms looked good without scrutinizing it? Feel the heavy, terrifying weight of a deal with your whole body.
The Dragon-Tiger Assembly friendly duel began, with suspicions still unabated.
The third-gen disciples from both sects had gathered up front of the duel platform, as if by prior agreement.
The elders grumbled about why they were standing when there were seats for adults, but like thieves with guilty feet, they couldn't sit after committing the grave sin of match-fixing.
It was also more convenient for whispering or transmitting among ourselves without the elders around.
Bihwan and the Wudang head senior brother raised the curtain on the duel. My turn was dead last.
I watched the two put on what looked like a fierce clash from the outside.
Unlike Bihwan's twisted expression, the Wudang head senior brother had a face full of leisure. With the final blow, Bihwan dropped his sword from his hand, ending the match in the Wudang side's victory.
It was so natural no one could suspect rigging. Glancing over, the elders' faces were still calm.
"Ooh, Senior Brother Bihwan's acting is pretty good. If everyone does like him, we won't get caught."
But even after stepping down from the platform, Bihwan's crumpled expression didn't smooth out.
"...Feels off."
Staring down at his hand gripping the sword tight, he muttered.
"Feels different from last time I lost. More humiliating."
When setting up the matchups, we'd structured it so those meant to lose would lose somehow according to skill gaps, and those to win would win.
For me, it was as good as confirmed I'd lose to this guy. No shred of hope for victory—not even a sliver—which wasn't humiliating for a martial artist, what was?
"Good that you know it's humiliating."
Even at my jab, Bihwan kept his mouth shut tight, just staring at the platform. Seemed like he was feeling something.
Next up was Bidam. The match where Mount Hua's first win would come.
"That's not the sword you brought last time?"
Bidam's opponent, remembering his bitter loss to the King God General Legend Sword, gave a light sneer at the new sword in his hand.
But Bidam didn't blink—instead, he smirked with leisure.
"Legendary swords always adjust their form to match their master's growth."
What're you saying? That's the new sword you got from the forge. No wonder—you were grinding it on the training ground floor from the start of the Assembly to make it look worn.
But the bluff worked—the tension visibly spiked on his opponent's face. Bidam, gaining more confidence from that, kept yapping.
"As my potential emerges, this sword's power has grown even further, heh. It boosts the owner's internal energy by twenty percent, and stamina by..."
Stop with the brain damage.
Last time he was dissing the King God General Legend Sword legends left and right, but tastes change in the stormy teens, huh. Seeing him make up new legends on the spot.
Not one exchange like last time, but he still won handily and came down, whispering low to me.
"They didn't seem to be going all out, at least."
Transmitting Bidam's words, Biwon showed his suspicions plain.
"Not spooked by the legendary sword? He got blown away in one exchange last time too."
"Who'd buy that scam and get scared?"
Didn't you see the opponent's tension fade, excitement die as the brain damage dragged on?
"Next one's our side _in, right?"
He muted the "win" in case someone overheard. Luckily, everyone got it instantly.
"Don't let your guard down—approach the duel seriously. Can't hurt to be careful."
But my worry was for naught,
"Kinda feels like we're the trash for suspecting now."
"Yeah."
The duels were proceeding smoothly as prearranged so far.
All that was left was Biryeong vs. Baekyun, and me vs. Baek Geon. Both set for Mount Hua wins.
I sneaked a peek at the elders sitting a bit away from the platform.
"We won't get caught, right?"
That displeased look is probably from the three straight losses just now? We threw in three losses, two losses on purpose so wins and losses wouldn't pattern too regularly and raise flags.
"Nah, no way. Everything so far was only a bit awkward for Biyeong's—no one else's."
"But the elders' eyes are sharper."
"If so, they'd have stopped the duels, gathered us, and chewed us out. They'd let it keep going?"
I relaxed again at Biwon's glib reply.
I was on the anti-rigging side, so why was I the one more anxious?
Next, Biryeong and Baekyun took the platform. After polite bows and before assuming stances, Baekyun asked in a cocky tone.
"You gonna yield one technique like you said back then?"
"No need."
At the curt reply, Baekyun sneered. A sly fox's smile. No matter how you sliced it, his looks suited the unrighteous more than the Righteous Faction.
"Yeah? You'll regret it. Don't whine later?"
We watched from below, casually critiquing their exchange.
"Man, that guy's acting is solid too."
"Setting up for 'I went easy and still lost'?"
The signal to start rang out, and Biryeong and Baekyun charged each other, swinging swords right away.
Swords traced sharp silver arcs, slicing each other's paths in a fierce clash.
The blades surged solely to render the foe powerless and force them to their knees. Gasps of admiration burst from the onlookers.
"Wow, most natural duel so far."
I caught Biryeong's hand whitening on her sword hilt. Baekyun's face, grinding his teeth in frustration.
Of course. I smirked lowly, right in line with expectations.
The razor-close match ended as prearranged.
"Winner: Mount Hua's Biryeong!"
Biryeong came straight to me without even catching her breath.
Her clothes disheveled from the fierce fight, hair a total mess. But her sharp eyes pierced through as she asked me.
"Now you gonna tell me why you specifically matched me with that bastard?"