Chapter 221: Building a Friendship with Seol-hyang-1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 221: Building a Friendship with Seol-hyang-1
Sun-woo tilted his head in confusion.
He wasn't particularly close with Seol-hyang. In fact, how could he be close to a woman he had met for the first time today?
So why on earth had she suddenly come to find him?
Sun-woo looked at Seol-hyang with a gaze full of suspicion.
"Uuuu..."
Perhaps embarrassed by his stare, Seol-hyang began to fidget and twist her body even more.
"Do you know me?" Sun-woo asked, watching her.
"Of course I do. Are you not Young Master Jang, the greatest of the Rising Stars in the Central Plains, the one who surpassed even the Dragon and Phoenix?"
At her words, Sun-woo scratched his cheek. He had expected rumors to spread among the Nine Great Sects, but hearing it from someone else's mouth made him feel a bit sheepish.
"It's an unearned reputation."
"It's not a lie, is it?" Seol-hyang replied with a soft smile at Sun-woo's humility.
"There was just a slight disagreement between us."
"Do you take me for a fool, Young Master?" Seol-hyang put on a coy expression and continued. "You suppressed the Tyrant Dragon and the Plum Sword Dragon in an instant, and even subjected the Heavenly Phoenix to such humiliation... and you call that a 'slight disagreement'?"
She looked at him as if his words were absurd.
"Too much humility can be poisonous, you know." Seol-hyang gave him a refreshing smile.
"How did you find out?"
"There isn't a soul in the Nine Great Sects who doesn't know about you. You defeated the Dragon and Phoenix—the very talents renowned for leading the future of the Murim—in one fell swoop. How could anyone not know?"
Damn it.
Sun-woo cursed inwardly. It seemed one of the Dragon and Phoenix had blabbed about what happened in Gyunhyeon. He hadn't expected it to stay a secret forever, but knowing the rumors were flying around made him feel uneasy.
"You're an object of admiration not just for the sect leadership, but among the young Rising Stars as well. After all, you took down those incredibly arrogant Dragon and Phoenix all by yourself."
Whether she noticed Sun-woo's discomfort or not, Seol-hyang continued with a deep smile.
"And I am one of those who admires you, Young Master."
Seol-hyang's cheeks flushed as she gazed at Sun-woo with a suggestive look.
Twitch.
Sun-woo flinched under her gaze. He felt a strange sense of incongruity.
What's wrong with her?
The mismatch between her words and her vibe left him bewildered.
"From the moment I heard the rumors about you, I've been waiting for this day."
"This day?"
"The day I would finally meet you."
Sun-woo's face turned red at her embarrassing words. Hearing that someone admired him made his heart flutter with a restless emotion.
"The moment I saw you, I was overcome by uncontrollable emotions. Those tightly packed chest muscles, the clearly defined arm muscles, and those incredibly sturdy thigh muscles..."
Her face was now as red as a ripe persimmon.
"Even now, my heart is pounding so hard it's difficult to even speak."
She clutched her chest as she spoke.
"Lady... please, calm down..."
"Haah... haah... haah... I don't think I can hold back anymore."
Seol-hyang panted heavily.
Wait, is the 'favor' she mentioned...?!
A realization flashed through Sun-woo's mind.
The way she had been blatantly checking him out from the start. The way she followed a man into a remote forest. The way she was asking him for a favor with a bright red face. A man and a woman alone under the moonlight.
Sun-woo instantly constructed a whole scenario in his head. He was certain of it. This woman was in heat for him. His irresistible charm had driven her wild.
Sun-woo's expression turned troubled. No matter how pretty Seol-hyang was, he couldn't just jump into bed with her right then and there, could he? Moreover, he was officially Tang Seo-yoon's fiancé. He couldn't go around having flings with a disciple of the Emei Sect in his position.
Sun-woo began to agonize over how to reject her without hurting her feelings.
"Young Master... your sword... please... take it out."
Seol-hyang looked at Sun-woo and spoke pleadingly.
"My sword!?"
"Your... sword, Young Master... the one that's big... and hard... haah... and stands so straight..."
Whoosh.
Sun-woo felt his face heat up. How could she say such lewd things with such a cute face? This was trouble. Serious trouble.
"Uh... Lady... please... calm yourself first..."
Sun-woo finally managed to speak, trying to settle her down. She seemed far too excited.
"Haah... I can't stand it anymore."
But his words were useless. Seol-hyang let out a moan of pleasure.
"...Then... I'll... take mine out first."
"Huh?"
Sun-woo looked bewildered. Where would a woman be hiding a 'sword'?
Wait, is she a man?
Shring—!
But the sound that reached his ears immediately made Sun-woo realize that the 'sword' she was talking about was entirely different from the one he was thinking of.
She drew a blade that shimmered with a silver light.
"...Please... duel with me."
She looked at Sun-woo with a flushed face. Sun-woo stared back at her, his jaw dropping.
*
"A duel?" Sun-woo repeated, looking at her blankly.
"Yes!" Seol-hyang nodded vigorously.
"Then... the uncontrollable emotions that surged when you saw me?"
"Competitive spirit!"
"Is that all?"
"What else would there be?"
At Sun-woo's question, Seol-hyang tilted her head as if she didn't understand.
Hah.
Sun-woo let out a hollow laugh to himself. He felt like an idiot for making such a scene in his own head.
Am I actually trash?
He fell into a deep existential crisis. Although the situation had been ripe for misunderstanding, he felt like a piece of garbage for having such delusions.
"Is it... inconvenient for you?"
When Sun-woo didn't answer, Seol-hyang's expression darkened. She thought he might refuse.
"No, it's not that."
Sun-woo shook off his thoughts and shook his head. It wasn't actually that inconvenient. Though he was a bit flustered, he figured it wouldn't be a bad idea to gauge her strength in advance. Besides, a wave of inexplicable guilt made him feel like he shouldn't refuse her request.
"Thank you!"
Seol-hyang beamed with a bright smile. She looked so cute that Sun-woo couldn't help but smile back slightly.
"Shall we do it here?"
"There's a clearing not far from here."
"A clearing?"
"Hehe, actually, I scouted the area once before the meeting started."
She blushed as she spoke. She had looked for a spot just in case something like this happened. She felt embarrassed that her intentions had been laid bare.
"I see. Let's go to the clearing then."
Sun-woo nodded and accepted her proposal.
"Yes!" Seol-hyang answered energetically. "Follow me."
She reached out and grabbed Sun-woo's hand, pulling him along.
"Uh... hey."
Sun-woo was startled by her sudden physical contact. He wondered if it was really necessary to pull him like this. However, the warm sensation of her hand wasn't unpleasant, so he didn't pull away.
.
.
.
.
.
After walking for a while...
"We're here."
Seol-hyang stopped and turned to Sun-woo. He took a slow look around.
"It's nice, right?"
Sun-woo nodded. It was indeed spacious and seemed like a perfect spot for a duel. Satisfied with his response, Seol-hyang smiled.
Step, step.
She walked gracefully toward the center of the clearing.
Shring—!
Once she reached the center, she drew her sword from the scabbard at her waist. The silver sword-light reflected the moonlight, shining brilliantly.
"Young Master, please draw your sword."
Seol-hyang looked at Sun-woo with burning eyes. The emotion in them was pure competitive spirit.
Heh.
A smile played on Sun-woo's lips. He could feel the pure, burning soul of a martial artist.
I really was an idiot.
Sun-woo scolded himself. He had mistaken a martial artist burning with the desire to fight for a woman in love.
Shring.
Sun-woo drew the sword hanging at his hip.
"Oh? You're not using the Dragon Tail Soft Sword?" Seol-hyang asked, looking puzzled.
"You even know about the Dragon Tail Soft Sword?"
"Of course."
"Hmm."
Sun-woo sighed. It seemed the rumors had spread even further than he had imagined.
"Don't worry too much. Knowledge of the Dragon Tail Soft Sword is a top-secret matter known only among the leadership."
"Then how do you know about it, Lady?"
"Wouldn't the disciple of the Sect Leader be considered part of the leadership?" Seol-hyang replied with a fresh smile.
"You might regret this," Sun-woo said, looking at her.
"I won't regret a thing. Please, give it your all!"
Seol-hyang spoke with a firm expression. Sun-woo set the sword he was holding down on the ground.
Chirr-ring—!
Then, he drew the Dragon Tail Soft Sword from his waist. The sword revealed itself, fluttering like a wave.
"Hmph!"
Sun-woo infused the soft sword with internal energy, making it rigid.
"Wow, so that's the Dragon Tail Soft Sword!"
Seol-hyang cried out in admiration. It was one of the Six Great Treasures she had only heard of in rumors. Seeing it in person was truly impressive.
"You'll need to do your best."
Sun-woo looked at her with a calm expression.
"Yes!"
Seol-hyang nodded vigorously and began to gather her energy.
Whirring—!
Soon, the Peerless Golden Light Qi from her dantian surrounded her entire body and began to glow. A brilliant radiance started to envelop her.
Ho.
Sun-woo let out a soft exclamation. He could feel that the energy Seol-hyang was emitting was stronger than he had expected. Though she was in the Super-Peak Realm, he had assumed she was just at the entry level because of her young age. But by all accounts, she seemed to have reached a higher stage.
He couldn't help but be impressed. With that level of achievement, she was likely on par with Yang Tae-san, the successor of the Kongtong Sect and formerly the Orthodox Faction's ultimate weapon.
"I'm ready."
Having fully summoned her golden energy, Seol-hyang looked at Sun-woo.
"Here I come!"
Dash!
With those words, Seol-hyang lunged at Sun-woo.
Swoosh—!
A golden Sword Qi swept toward him.
Clang!
Sun-woo quickly raised his sword and blocked her strike.
Ho.
He marveled inwardly. She was fast. Moreover, the weight behind her sword was significant.
Clang!
Sun-woo flicked his sword upward, lightly parrying her blade.
Swoosh!
As soon as her sword was parried, it came flying back at him again.
Clang!
Sun-woo blocked her incoming strikes with ease. He could see it. He could see everything.
"Eek!"
Frustrated that Sun-woo was blocking her so easily, she quickly pulled back. She began to draw out even more of her Peerless Golden Light Qi. Before long, a brilliant Sword Astral began to shine on her blade. She swung the golden Sword Astral directly at Sun-woo's neck.
Swoooooosh—!
The Sword Astral flew toward him.
Thud!
Sun-woo simply kicked upward, striking her arm. The sword that had been surging toward his neck was forced upward.
Whoosh!
Her sword sliced through the empty air. Sun-woo didn't miss the opening. He quickly raised his sword and pointed it at her throat.
"I win, right?"
Sun-woo gave her a bright smile. Seol-hyang broke into a cold sweat at the cold sensation against her neck. Her eyes were filled with shock. She knew he was strong, but she never imagined she would be so one-sidedly overwhelmed.
She hadn't let her guard down for a second. This was the man who had single-handedly defeated the Dragon and Phoenix, the celebrated talents of the next generation. There was no way she would be careless against such a man.
Her surprise attack had been blocked with ease, and she couldn't even keep up with his sword speed. Even after she drew out her Sword Astral because she felt her strength was lacking, the man before her had suppressed her without even drawing out his own Sword Qi, let alone Astral Qi.
Gulp.
Seol-hyang swallowed hard. A sense of awe for this overwhelmingly powerful man naturally welled up within her.
"Young Master Jang..." she said, her eyes trembling as she looked at him.
"Yes?" Sun-woo tilted his head curiously.
"Are you... are you really just in the Super-Peak Realm?"
Her eyes were filled with doubt.