Chapter 574: World's Greatest Martial Artist Lee Jae-won
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 574: World's Greatest Martial Artist Lee Jae-won
Whoosh.
Lee Jae-won swept his hand through the air.
Swaaaaaaa!
"Aaaagh!"
A sudden gale erupted, and a group of martial artists began tumbling across the ground. They were blown away, unable to withstand the sheer pressure of the wind.
Thud! Crash!
They slammed into the earth and stayed there.
"Next."
Watching the scene, Lee Jae-won spoke in a calm, detached tone.
"Next is the Plum Blossom True Sword of Mount Hua, Lee Do-jae, and four others!"
Upon hearing his words, Heo Sam-gwan infused his voice with internal energy and bellowed the announcement.
Step. Step.
A group of martial artists dressed in snow-white uniforms embroidered with plum blossoms emerged.
"The Plum Blossom Swordsmen!?"
"It’s the Plum Blossom Swordsmen!"
Exclamations erupted from the crowd. The elite force of the Mount Hua Sect, known as the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, had made their appearance.
"This humble junior greets the Alliance Leader."
the man at the front of the group performed a formal fist-and-palm salute and offered a polite greeting.
"It is good to see you. Looking at you all, I can practically feel the fresh air of Mount Hua right here."
Lee Jae-won replied with a benevolent smile.
These punks have made a bit of a name for themselves.
As a senior of the Murim, mixing in a few humble words was the best way to display his gallantry.
"You flatter us, sir."
Lee Do-jae lowered his head deeply.
"So, is the Sword Master doing well?"
Lee Jae-won asked after the sect leader’s well-being—the standard protocol when receiving the Rising Stars of the Orthodox Faction.
"The Sect Leader is doing well. He asked me to convey his regards to you."
"Hahahaha... That fellow is as lazy as ever. He should have come to deliver his regards in person instead of sending a messenger."
Lee Jae-won let out a hearty laugh.
The Sword Master was one of the heroes who had fought alongside him to annihilate the Demonic Cult’s strike forces during the Great War of Righteousness and Demons. Even though they hadn't been in touch, pretending to be close was child's play.
"Have you inherited that fellow's sword?"
Lee Jae-won asked, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Lee Do-jae.
"...Though I am lacking, I have indeed inherited his blade."
"Hahahaha... Now this is something to look forward to. To think you've inherited his sword."
Lee Jae-won laughed pleasantly and spoke again.
"Then, let's not waste any time. Let us begin."
Lee Jae-won’s gaze turned serious as he looked at Lee Do-jae.
Shring.
"Then, I shall not hold back."
At Lee Jae-won’s words, Lee Do-jae boldly drew his sword. A blade gleaming with a sharp, blue light was revealed. He immediately swung the sword toward Lee Jae-won.
Swish!
The tip of Lee Do-jae’s sword began to quiver incessantly as it lunged toward Lee Jae-won.
'The scent of plum blossoms?'
Simultaneously, the fragrant scent of plum blossoms wafted past his nose. Lee Jae-won could tell. This young punk before him had mastered the Twenty-Four Move Plum Blossom Sword Technique, the secret art of the Plum Blossom Swordsmen, to its absolute peak.
Flicker.
Dozens of sword flowers bloomed at the tip of Lee Do-jae’s blade, surging toward Lee Jae-won’s torso. It was a beautiful, spectacular sight.
Smells like a damn flower shop in here.
Watching the display, Lee Jae-won casually reached out his hand.
Grab.
He caught Lee Do-jae’s sword—which was flying toward him like fireworks—with his bare hand.
"Wh-What!?"
Lee Do-jae’s face twisted in shock as his sword was suddenly seized. He never expected his Twenty-Four Move Plum Blossom Sword Technique to be neutralized so effortlessly.
Creak. Groan.
Lee Do-jae strained with all his might to pull the sword back, but it was useless. The sword held in Lee Jae-won’s hand felt as if it were glued in place; it wouldn't budge an inch.
'Urgh!'
Whoosh.
Lee Do-jae thrust his left hand toward Lee Jae-won, who was still holding the sword. He was unleashing the Falling Petal Palm Technique, another secret art of Mount Hua.
Look at this kid, playing cute.
Using a grappling technique, Lee Jae-won caught Lee Do-jae’s incoming wrist. Now, Lee Do-jae was trapped, both hands rendered useless. He stood there, unable to offer even a hint of resistance.
Hehehe... This has got to sting his pride.
What hurts a man’s pride the most? It’s when he feels an overwhelming difference in power that makes resistance impossible. When he realizes that no matter what he does, he can never bridge the gap. That is when despair, deprivation, and a crushed ego set in.
Right now, Lee Do-jae’s pride must be in tatters. He hadn't even been able to land a single proper attack before being completely shut down. He had been defeated as a male. Defeated by him.
"Well? Do you wish to continue?"
Lee Jae-won barely suppressed a sneer, asking the question with a composed expression.
".............I concede."
Lee Do-jae dropped his head and admitted defeat. He realized that no matter what he tried, he could never overcome the man before him.
"That was a magnificent sword. You truly deserve to be called the successor of the Sword Master."
Lee Jae-won let out an exclamation of feigned admiration. Of course, in reality, he was just spouting whatever came to mind, just like before. He couldn't even remember what the Sword Master’s Twenty-Four Move Plum Blossom Sword Technique looked like. In a memory bank already overflowing with the faces of the women he’d bedded, there was no room to store the sword techniques of some old geezer.
But hiding his true thoughts, Lee Jae-won played the part of the humble senior and praised him. He acted as if he knew everything.
This was Lee Jae-won’s own way of mocking them. Mocking these stupid Chinese bastards who spent their entire lives doing nothing but striving for a higher realm.
It was exhilarating. Every time he pulled off a deception like this. He wanted to tell them: I’m different from you lot. I’ve never put in a single day of effort in my life.
"Thank you for your kind words, Alliance Leader."
Hearing Lee Jae-won’s praise, Lee Do-jae expressed his gratitude with a look of humble appreciation.
"If you continue to devote yourself, Mount Hua will surely see the rise of another Sword Master."
Lee Jae-won repeated the same cliché pleasantries. It was incredibly predictable, but he couldn't skip it. Every one of these Rising Stars gathered here was a potential slave who would one day lick the soles of his feet.
"Thank you!"
Lee Do-jae replied in a voice thick with emotion. He seemed deeply moved by the praise from the World's Greatest Martial Artist.
"Now then, I suppose it is your turn."
Lee Jae-won turned his gaze toward the supporters standing behind Lee Do-jae. They were all Plum Blossom Swordsmen with their signature embroidery. Lee Jae-won looked satisfied. He felt he could fully demonstrate his majesty as the World's Greatest Martial Artist. A thick smile began to spread across his lips.
.
.
.
.
.
"Next is the Heavenly Phoenix Lee Ye-seol and four others!"
Heo Sam-gwan called out the next candidates, his voice booming with internal energy.
It’s my turn.
Hearing the call, Sun-woo thought to himself. Finally, the moment he had been waiting for had arrived. Sun-woo’s eyes glittered.
*
"Next is the Heavenly Phoenix Lee Ye-seol and four others!"
Step. Step. Step.
As soon as Heo Sam-gwan finished speaking, a group of people appeared. It was Lee Ye-seol and her supporters.
Murmur. Murmur.
As they stepped forward, the already noisy venue became even more chaotic.
"That’s Jang Sun-woo."
"The Greatest Talent Under Heaven, Jang Sun-woo."
"They say he’s called the next World's Greatest Martial Artist, right?"
"I want to see just how great his martial arts are."
It was all because of Sun-woo. It was no exaggeration to say that Sun-woo was currently the center of attention in the Murim. Especially among the Rising Stars. His reputation had skyrocketed after he suppressed those illustrious Dragon and Phoenix geniuses in a single stroke. It was only natural for the crowd to grow restless when he appeared alongside Lee Ye-seol.
"Silence! Be quiet!"
As the noise grew, Heo Sam-gwan frowned and shouted. What kind of occasion was this? Was this not the sacred Succession Contest? How could they cause such a commotion?
As Heo Sam-gwan raised his voice, the murmuring crowd gradually fell silent. However, they still stole glances at Sun-woo, unable to let go of their interest. Their curiosity about him simply wouldn't subside.
Sun-woo moved slowly toward the center of the training ground, ignoring the unwanted attention. Soon, the face of Lee Jae-won, standing there with an arrogant air, came into his view.
'...Lee Jae-won.'
Facing him, Sun-woo’s cold eyes flashed. Hostility toward the man welled up within him.
Let’s see just how big the gap is.
He thought to himself. He wanted to see exactly how much of a difference there was between him and that bastard.
That motherfucker is stealing all the attention.
Meanwhile, Lee Jae-won looked extremely displeased. A foul sense of jealousy rose within him because the attention that should have been focused on him was being diverted to Sun-woo.
It was annoying. In terms of fame, martial arts, and being the talk of the town, he was overwhelmingly superior. Yet, this Jang Sun-woo—who had done nothing more than beat up some "worms and sparrows" like the Dragon and Phoenixes—was receiving as much attention as he was. There was no way he wouldn't be irritated.
"Heavenly Phoenix Lee Ye-seol. My beloved daughter and proud succession candidate has arrived."
Lee Jae-won spoke with a proud expression. It was a move to shift the public's focus away from Jang Sun-woo.
"I ask for your guidance, Alliance Leader."
"Do not worry. I shall do my best to test your capabilities."
Lee Jae-won spoke in a calm tone. Then, he looked at the daughter who shared his blood.
A small face with sharp features. Snow-white skin. Breasts that were swollen just the right amount. A slender figure. And thanks to the slit in her skirt, her shapely legs were on full display.
Gulp.
Lee Jae-won felt himself involuntarily swallow his saliva. Despite her being his daughter, her seductive appearance triggered his lust.
She looks fucking delicious... Dammit... If only she wasn't my daughter.
Lee Jae-won felt a pang of regret deep inside. If his daughter had been ugly, he wouldn't have cared. But Lee Ye-seol had inherited her mother's beauty and had been exceptionally pretty since she was a child. His lust couldn't help but be stirred. Unlike her mother, she possessed a figure that perfectly matched his ideal type.
Maybe I should find an opportunity to jump her?
Lee Jae-won began to indulge in all sorts of fantasies. Ravishing his own daughter was an act of depravity, but wasn't he already a piece of trash? Since he was already trash, he figured a little incest wouldn't hurt.
"Then, I shall draw my sword."
Lee Ye-seol’s voice broke his train of thought.
"Yes, come at me."
Snapping out of his fantasies, Lee Jae-won spoke with a composed expression. He projected the relaxed aura of an absolute master.
Shring.
Lee Ye-seol drew her sword. She immediately pushed the Heavenly Moon Bright Wheel Divine Art to its limit. A white aura began to gather around her blade, condensing into a solid form. It was Sword Astral, the hallmark of a Super-Peak Realm master.
'Ho.'
Lee Jae-won was inwardly impressed. He never expected his daughter to have already reached the Super-Peak Realm.
At least she isn't embarrassing me.
Lee Jae-won looked satisfied. At least she wasn't bringing shame to his name as the World's Greatest Martial Artist.
Whoosh.
While he was lost in thought, Lee Ye-seol’s Sword Astral struck toward him.
Vroooom!
But daughter, Sword Astral alone isn't enough to handle your old man.
Lee Jae-won casually waved his hand again.
Boom!
"Aaaagh!"
A thunderous explosion erupted, and the sword imbued with Sword Astral was instantly deflected.
Slide.
Lee Ye-seol’s body was violently pushed back.
"Cough! Cough!"
Having been pushed back, Lee Ye-seol began to cough up blood repeatedly. She had suffered significant internal injuries from the clash with Lee Jae-won.
"Will you continue?"
Lee Jae-won spoke in a weary voice. It sounded concerned to some, but arrogant to others.
Grit.
Hearing that voice, Lee Ye-seol ground her teeth.
"Cough... Of course!"
She raised her sword once more. Her eyes were filled with a fierce competitive spirit.
Tsk, tsk. How stupid.
Lee Jae-won clicked his tongue inwardly. Because she was his daughter, he had actually used more force than necessary—just to make a show of his "impartiality." Her internal organs must be twisting in agony right now. Yet, she was enduring it and raising her sword again. Even though she was his daughter, he could only think of her as a fool. If it’s hard, you should just give up. Why be so stubborn?
My daughter is a retard who doesn't know when to quit.
Lee Jae-won felt a sense of pity. It seemed the daughter he loved so much—the one he wanted to fuck—hadn't inherited his "smartness."
This is why you shouldn't mix genes with these Chinese. It makes your mindset primitive.
Lee Jae-won shook his head slightly. He could see the level of these primitive Chinese bastards.
"Good! One must have that much spirit to be called a martial artist!"
Lee Jae-won broke into a wide grin and shouted his admiration. He acted as if he were genuinely impressed by her spirit. To anyone watching, he looked like a gallant and noble elder of the Murim.
Swish!
Lee Ye-seol’s Sword Astral flew toward Lee Jae-won once again. Lee Jae-won watched the incoming attack and pondered. He was thinking about how he should crush her to ensure all the attention in the venue remained fixed solely on him.