Chapter 14
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Dragon-Phoenix Tournament (1)
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Dragon-Phoenix Tournament.
A place where the younger generation from various martial families and sects of the murim step forward to showcase their skills through martial duels.
Those among the younger generation with exceptional skills earn the title of Dragon if male, Phoenix if female.
Of course, this didn't apply to someone like Hwa-ryeon, who had already earned widespread recognition as the Little Sword Phoenix for her outstanding prowess.
Nor to Ji-yeon, who was born with Insight Eyes and thus renowned from birth.
For ordinary younger disciples like Ji-cheon, however, it was a crucial opportunity to make their name known across the Central Plains.
In fact, people dressed in the Beggars' Sect style could be seen here and there right now.
[The Beggars' Sect monks have shown up in droves, young master.]
[...Their ears are weird.]
It was grating.
Their ears were pointy.
They were called the Long-Eared Clan.
They were just elves.
Their description matched elves perfectly.
The only thing similar to the Beggars' Sect was that they were beggars.
That was it.
A sigh escaped me.
I wanted to shake off this gloomy mood by trying out some new technique.
That's why I had wanted to participate too.
[Your age isn't too far off to join in there, young master... but if we go by that logic, it would be no different from the world's strongest wrestler hurling boys and girls aside to leap into the wrestling ring.]
[...True enough.]
It was an important chance for the younger generation too.
But for someone like me, who could easily take down Hyun-deok—who had reached the Hua Realm—without breaking a sweat... well.
I still had some shame; I couldn't just butt in there.
"...Benefactor, you must endure."
"...I know, great hero."
Hyun-deok, hovering by my side as if to keep watch over me, had persuaded me with his eloquence.
Laying out nothing but reasonable arguments—it was no wonder he was worthy of leading the Zhuge Family.
With my face hidden behind a bamboo hat, I gazed down at the arena.
"It looks pretty clear from here."
"I'm glad."
I decided to sit quietly, avoid standing out, and just watch the younger generation.
There was no need to make a fuss here.
I just needed to check on the current state of the murim.
'This should be interesting.'
They were the younger generation, after all; they'd surely put on a flashy show.
"I'm curious who'll face whom in the first match."
"Probably Nangong young master and the Little Sword Phoenix."
"Any reason for that?"
"They're the two with the biggest buzz..."
As he murmured that.
-Dong-dong-dong-dong-dong!
The sound of drums echoed throughout the Arena of Decisive Heroes.
"Looks like it's starting."
Hyun-deok spoke while snapping open his fan with a flick and fanning himself.
The aura around him, which had softened slightly from being near me, fully extended once more, sharpening his gaze.
I stopped trying to chat and turned my eyes to the arena as well.
Then, a figure appeared atop the arena.
[The leader of the Murim Alliance and one of the Three Masters Under Heaven, the Sword Sovereign and head of the Nangong Family.]
"......"
He had all sorts of titles dangling after him.
Boiled down, he was the strongest in the orthodox faction.
[His realm is the Profound Realm... early stage, maybe.]
[Probably around there.]
[Yeah, I'd say so.]
Having properly swung a sword infused with internal energy once, I could now read the flow to some extent.
Just looking at an opponent let me roughly gauge their realm.
For a moment, our eyes met... or so it felt. Probably just my imagination.
Hyun-deok showed no reaction, so it must have been.
After that, the Nangong Family head thanked everyone for taking time out of their busy schedules and gave a speech to boost the younger generation's morale.
I'd heard his twin siblings were participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament too.
'...Please, just use normal martial arts.'
I prayed fervently.
Please use normal Nangong martial arts.
I'd already given up hope on Wudang and Mount Hua.
From what I'd heard at the Zhuge Family, seeing Taiji here would be tough anyway.
If Wudang showed up, I might actually charge into the arena.
And soon, the first match was announced.
"Hwa-ryeon of Mount Hua, Zhuge Ji-yeon of the Zhuge Family, step forward."
The first match was Little Sword Phoenix versus Ji-yeon.
"......"
I'd expected Hyun-deok, who doted extremely on his daughter and son, to despair.
But Hyun-deok showed no change in expression, simply gazing at the arena.
Seeing that, I fidgeted like a dog desperate to poop.
Not out of excitement, though.
[Of all people, Mount Hua... Snow Python, I really can't just sit still against her.]
[Now, now, hold back.]
[Ugh... this is tough... already so tough...]
My hands were itching.
Plum blossoms (méi huá), not coal flowers (méi huā)...!!!
Ji-yeon took deep breaths to loosen her tense body.
Before her stood the girl Hwa-ryeon, exuding an air of boredom with the world.
Despite being the same age as Ji-yeon—eighteen—she had already stepped into the peak realm.
Ji-yeon gritted her teeth as she raised her Magistrate Brush and needles, facing someone so overwhelmingly stronger that comparison was futile.
'...I could lose. But don't even think about giving up.'
She could lose.
But she mustn't think of defeat.
Resisting without giving up in any situation.
Countering brute strength with intellect—that was the Zhuge Family way, wasn't it?
Exhaling, Ji-yeon circulated her internal energy.
"Young master."
"......"
She called out, but Hwa-ryeon calmly assumed her stance without responding.
Watching her, Ji-yeon too lifted her Magistrate Brush with an expressionless face.
Her enlightenment was still lacking; she couldn't freely wield multiple brushes like her father, or even properly handle a single one.
But that was no reason to run.
'No matter how fast the Little Sword Phoenix is... she's nowhere near as quick as Benefactor.'
So, she could do this.
"...Not coming in?"
"...!!"
Hwa-ryeon asked.
Ji-yeon opened her eyes.
"Then—"
-Whoosh!!!
The Little Sword Phoenix vanished.
However, to Ji-yeon with her Insight Eyes.
'I see you.'
She already saw her.
-Clang!!!!
The flying needle she spun around and hurled backward.
Sparks flew as it clashed with iron.
"...You blocked it?"
"Little Sword Phoenix—no, Hwa-ryeon young master. No matter how strong you are, I won't back down."
"......"
Hwa-ryeon stared at her silently.
Truth be told, Ji-yeon harbored something akin to an inferiority complex toward Hwa-ryeon.
Hwa-ryeon, an orphan.
Herself, born to one of the Five Great Families.
Hwa-ryeon's talent was exceptional, but she didn't lag far behind in talent either, born as the daughter of a great family in the murim.
Yet she had always fallen short of her close friend.
Whenever stories of Hwa-ryeon reached her ears, she'd smile outwardly and pretend to be proud.
"I—"
She envied her.
But before she could say it.
"...Cool."
"...!!"
"Keep holding out."
Hwa-ryeon said flatly.
-Roar!!!
'Coal flowers...!?'
She filled the arena with blooming coal flowers.
Plum blossoms unfurling in splendor.
And beneath them stood Hwa-ryeon.
"Here I come."
"...!!!"
Her smile had vanished; flames bloomed at her sword's tip.
Burning the plum petals, Hwa-ryeon charged madly.
Each time she approached, Ji-yeon swiftly used footwork to widen the distance.
-Shooo!!!
-Kakakakak!!!
Throwing needles infused with internal energy to block Hwa-ryeon's advance.
"......"
"Haa... haa......"
"Not bad, Ji-yeon."
Hwa-ryeon grinned.
To properly demonstrate Mount Hua's sword, she adjusted her stance.
"I think I was looking down on you a bit, Zhuge young master."
With that, Hwa-ryeon decided to increase her speed a notch and drew up more internal energy.
Her hair gradually took on a pink hue.
A beautiful shade like peach blossoms.
At the same time, the faster Hwa-ryeon began rushing at Ji-yeon like mad.
It might seem flashy.
But Mount Hua's sword was not flashy.
Flowers blooming are gorgeous, yet few describe them as flashy.
Likewise, Mount Hua's sword was gorgeous yet restrained.
Sword strikes poured in like flowers blooming.
Admiration from numerous experts rang out.
But it didn't reach Ji-yeon or Hwa-ryeon.
They were already.
-Clang!!!
"Ugh......"
"This much?"
"Not yet... a bit more...!!!"
Deeply immersed in this duel, astonishingly so.
Hwa-ryeon switched her sword grip, her toes twisting half an inch as she ducked low.
In that instant, a line drawn in the air.
A red line serving as the fuse for blooming plum blossoms that burned and emitted mad heat.
However, what Hwa-ryeon had slashed.
"Close, but no!!!"
"...!!!"
Was Ji-yeon's illusion technique.
Hwa-ryeon's lips curved ever so slightly upward.
This duel was enjoyable.
This exchange of sweat with her close friend.
She didn't voice that joy.
She simply let flowers bloom.
One, two.
Scattering petals and ash to obscure Ji-yeon's vision.
The speed of incoming needles began to slow markedly.
Beautiful petals nicely concealed Hwa-ryeon's killing intent, twisting to make the next attack unpredictable.
Ji-yeon saw it.
Petals seeming to fall from above only to rise from below.
Igniting from the left, exploding from the right.
And finally, when all the plum blossoms burned away and vision cleared.
"Fire Whispering Mist Dew Rain"
Scattered falling petals turned to haze, filling the sky like a dew-laden rain.
And at its center.
"...Hwa-ryeon."
"It's over."
Was Hwa-ryeon.
And.
[Damn it.]
[Now, now, hold back, young master.]
Ha-yeon trembled with her arms shaking at the sight, while Snow Python anxiously watched to prevent her from leaping out, taking it all in.