Chapter 32
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Clash of Internal Energies
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Tae-seong muttered that under his breath, then turned his attention back to enjoying the scenery. That's when the Sword Emperor's grandson addressed him.
"I've heard that you took down Cheon-sim-dan during this academy entrance exam. That true?"
Tae-seong lifted a steaming teacup and took a sip before replying.
"And if it is?"
"Word around the academy is you're from an unorthodox sect. That right too?"
"Well, I'm no righteous sect member."
"Then how'd a guy like you even think of stepping into our Dragon Academy? Care to clear up my curiosity?"
"I just heard Dragon Academy was the best in the martial world, so I gave it a shot. Does that answer your question?"
"Is that so? Does that opinion still hold?"
"Now that I'm with Imperial Palace Martial Academy, not really."
The Sword Emperor's grandson, who had maintained a relaxed expression throughout, stiffened slightly at Tae-seong's words.
The tone from his mouth was noticeably colder than before.
"So you're saying Imperial Palace Martial Academy is on par with our Dragon Academy now?"
At that moment, the guy who'd been smirking from the side set down his chopsticks and chimed in.
"It's not like your skills are up to it, right?"
A Great Sword Sect's Jin Ga-baek laughed and nodded in agreement.
"Heh heh heh, aren't you being a bit too blunt?"
Tae-seong showed no emotional ripple at the insult.
"I seem to remember proving my skills plenty during that spar back then."
"You just caught Cheon-sim-dan off guard with some trick, didn't you?"
"A trick... Well, if you want proof again, I can demonstrate against you right now. What do you say? Shall we check?"
"What? You bastard!"
As the opponent shot to his feet, ready to lunge at Tae-seong, a woman nearby raised her voice to stop him.
"Mo-cheon! This is Yeo-rim and Baek-pung's engagement celebration. What do you think you're doing?"
Namgung Mo-cheon, flushed with momentary anger at Baek Sa-hong's words, took a deep breath to regain his composure.
"Hoo..."
He ground his teeth and spat.
"Consider yourself lucky, punk."
"Who knows? Hard to say whose luck it is."
The tension eased for a moment, and soon after, the server brought out the braised sea cucumber and abalone Tae-seong had ordered.
Piled high on a large platter, it looked mouthwateringly delicious even at a glance.
Braised sea cucumber and abalone was one of the premier tonic dishes among Chinese cuisine, known as a luxury.
Dried oysters, sea cucumbers, shrimp, various mushrooms, pork—all the best ingredients for health and flavor were packed in.
In his previous life, Tae-seong had loved Chinese dishes like this.
Before becoming champion, in his poor days, even jjajangmyeon was a rare treat, so he'd always wondered who could afford luxuries like braised sea cucumber or shark fin.
At the same time, he'd vowed to become rich enough to order them without a second thought.
Now, here in the Central Plains, he finally had the chance to try the real deal.
"Come on, everyone, dig in. It's on me."
"R-Really? Then I'll gratefully partake."
"Ahem! Let's see how it tastes, then."
As they all scooped portions onto their small plates,
over at the Dragon Academy table, who had finished eating and were sipping tea, an intriguing conversation unfolded—quite the opposite of their side.
"Baek-pung, you'd better watch your step from now on."
The Sword Emperor's grandson, Jang Baek-pung, smiled at Baek Sa-hong.
"What do you mean?"
"If you ever make Yeo-rim cry tears of blood, you might wake up to the Tang Clan's special poison tomorrow morning."
'Tang Clan?'
Tae-seong's ears perked up at the name.
Dang Yeo-rim from the Wudang Clan, sitting right next to Jang Baek-pung, spoke up.
"Baek-pung just needs to become immune to all poisons, right? You can do that, can't you? I'm sure you'll reach the pinnacle realm."
"That's right, that's right."
Then Cheon Gi-ryang of Jeomchang Sect added in a low voice.
"Even a master immune to myriad poisons can't handle the venom extracted from the Tang Clan's Myriad Poison Ridge, or so I've heard. If Yeo-rim, daughter of the clan head, can use that, do you think it's possible?"
Dang Yeo-rim, who had been quietly sipping her tea with flushed cheeks, finally spoke.
"Myriad Poison Ridge isn't extreme poison."
Cheon Gi-ryang blinked in surprise.
"Not extreme poison? Then what is it?"
"Father said it's a type of qi-dispersing powder that prevents internal energy use."
"Heh, a poison that seals internal energy... For martial artists, that might be deadlier than any venom."
Tae-seong stroked his chin at their words.
'Qi-dispersing powder that works even on poison immunity... So that's why Master told me to get Myriad Poison Ridge.'
As Tae-seong focused on their talk, Yang Cho-gun eyed him curiously.
"What's up with you? Not eating? Weren't you just singing praises for this dish?"
"Oh? Yeah, gotta eat! Damn, this is good!"
Tae-seong shoveled it in at Yang Cho-gun's prompting, but he barely tasted it.
His mind was wholly occupied with how to extract info on Myriad Poison Ridge from that Tang Clan woman.
'Hmm, she's engaged to the Sword Emperor's grandson, so I can't afford to make an enemy of him for a while. But how to approach her naturally?'
With scant knowledge of women, nothing good came to mind for Tae-seong.
Still, he kept stuffing his face while his eyes stayed locked on Dang Yeo-rim, the Tang Clan's precious flower.
His gaze was piercing, like a fierce hawk eyeing prey.
Dang Yeo-rim noticed, consciously or not, and grew aware of Hwang Tae-seong.
She sighed inwardly.
'Ha, righteous or unorthodox, men's eyes are all the same.'
She shook her head, figuring her beauty had once again stolen another man's heart.
Her impending spinsterhood—no, her fate as a soon-to-be married woman—felt lamentable.
At the flower of her youth, eighteen and full of life, to be sacrificed in a political marriage? She pitied herself deeply.
Yet her groom-to-be, Jang Baek-pung, was the martial world's ultimate catch.
Looks, character, martial arts, background—flawless in every way.
Her friends envied her wildly, but that only irked her more.
She'd always lived with the same looks, skills, and status, so it felt nothing special.
Meanwhile, that outsider shooting her intense looks.
Dang Yeo-rim assumed he was smitten and courting her fiercely.
And she lamented.
Her beauty, that is.
'I'm a woman burdened with sin. I worry how much more trouble this natural allure will cause. And soon, I'll belong to one man...'
Her head shook at imagined future sins.
Unaware of her thoughts, Namgung Mo-cheon exploded at her odd behavior, turning on Tae-seong again.
"This bastard, really? Hey!"
Namgung Mo-cheon couldn't hold back, hurling curses.
"You punk! Why keep staring at Dang Yeo-rim? You crazy? You wanna die for real?"
'Ah!'
Realizing too late he'd been glaring unwittingly, Tae-seong set down his small plate and declared boldly.
"I wasn't looking at her."
"I've been watching you the whole time, and you deny it? Then what were you looking at over here? You don't even know anyone on this side!"
"I was looking at you."
"Me?"
"Yes. Couldn't help getting competitive."
"What lame excuse is this!"
Namgung Mo-cheon closed in, grabbing Tae-seong's collar with both hands and lifting him up.
True to his mastery, his strength far surpassed an ordinary man's.
Though not quite Tae-seong's level, of course.
This time, even Baek Sa-hong didn't intervene.
A man flirting with an engaged woman right in front of her fiancé? She had no intention of helping further.
Tae-seong figured a fight was inevitable.
But with a lead on Myriad Poison Ridge, he felt good.
A smile crept onto his lips unwittingly.
Namgung Mo-cheon narrowed his eyes.
"This bastard's smiling now?"
Tae-seong gripped Namgung Mo-cheon's hand on his collar and squeezed lightly.
It felt to Mo-cheon like his hand was being crushed against a massive boulder.
'W-What? Why's this punk's grip so insane?'
Startled by the freakish strength, Namgung Mo-cheon faltered.
Tae-seong casually pried the hand off and made a proposal.
"Looks like this is a celebration for two great clans. How about we settle this quietly and peacefully?"
"Peacefully?"
"A clash of internal energies—how about it?"
"Internal energies? You, of all people?"
Namgung Mo-cheon looked incredulous.
He knew Tae-seong had failed the internal energy test.
And he'd seen him spar Cheon-sim-dan without using any.
For such a guy to challenge him to an internal energy duel? Utterly ridiculous.
"Seriously, this is laughable."
Soon, Namgung Mo-cheon smirked and accepted the provocation.
"Fine. If that's what you want, I'll graciously humor you with my boundless magnanimity."
The Sword Emperor's grandson watched silently, half annoyed, half intrigued.
At the center, Dang Yeo-rim complained half-heartedly to Baek Sa-hong, blaming her beauty for the mess.
Namgung Mo-cheon led Tae-seong to a wider spot.
"We'll do it here."
"Whatever suits you."
Namgung Mo-cheon thought to himself.
If the punk was bluffing, he'd be making excuses about his academy or group by now to back out.
But Tae-seong followed nonchalantly, sparking a twinge of doubt.
'Is he hiding his internal energy? Doesn't matter. You picked the wrong opponent.'
The two stood side by side in the center of the third-floor dining hall.
Slowly, they pressed their palms together.
"Beginning."
"Whenever you're ready."