Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: New and Old Face-Off (1)
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Song Yang-ja rose to his feet, his face flushed red and purple, and glared at me.
But all he could do was seethe with rage.
He couldn't spit out a proper word.
"Th-this...!!"
What was there to say?
A curious freshman had seen some interesting sorcery and tried imitating it, only to mess up. What could he do about that?
Thus, Song Yang-ja's fury splashed onto Solgeo's beggar Geom Chun, who happened to be nearby.
"You there, teaching assistant!"
"Yes? Are you talking to me?"
"Yes! Is there another graduate student in dark blue training robes around here besides you?!"
"Nope?"
"Don't just say 'nope'—hand over that towel you're holding! Can't you see the state I'm in?"
"Ah, but this isn't a towel..."
"Hey! Since when do graduate students talk back like that?"
Geom Chun meekly offered the rag he was clutching under Song Yang-ja's boiling anger.
"H-here you go, sir."
Song Yang-ja snatched the cloth from Geom Chun and wiped the alcohol splattered on his face and beard.
Then he paused, bringing the cloth to his nose and opening his mouth.
"Sniff sniff. Why does this towel smell so musty..."
"It's not a towel; it's a rag, so that's why, sir."
"Wh-what?! You mean I've been rubbing a rag on my face?!"
"No, that's why I tried to tell you earlier it wasn't a towel, but you cut me off, so I figured you didn't mind..."
At the sight of Song Yang-ja like that, Master at my waist burst into laughter.
- Puhaha! Wiping filth with a rag suits him perfectly. Why get so upset?
Jeong Hyeon, standing nearby, murmured softly.
"...Accumulated evil brings calamity. Just as it says, even this banquet hall seems plagued by ill fortune."
Meanwhile, Song Yang-ja's rage boiled over even more.
Leave him be a little longer, and he might shout "Gal!" any second.
"Y-you bastards!"
Unfortunately, the young Daoist Hyeong-un who'd come with him stepped in to restrain him.
"Elder, please calm down. If this gets any louder, too many eyes will be on us."
"...!"
At Hyeong-un's words, Song Yang-ja ground his teeth, snorted "Hmph!", flicked his sleeves, and stormed off.
Left alone, Hyeong-un turned to me and cupped his fists in greeting.
"My apologies for the rudeness. See you tomorrow."
"Sure thing."
Watching Hyeong-un follow after Song Yang-ja, I rested my chin on my hand.
'Does "see you tomorrow" mean "we'll see about that," or just a farewell?'
Among Mosan Sect's figures, two had made names for themselves battling the Demonic Cult's monstrous kings far and wide. One was Professor Yeong-hwan,
and the other was this Daoist Hyeong-un. Unbidden, a comment slipped from my lips.
"Ambiguous."
So-rung, who'd overheard, spoke up.
"Brother Eon? What's ambiguous?"
Not about to share my passing thought, I changed the subject.
"Never mind. Just eat up. Lose tomorrow, and you might be smelling incense while you eat these dishes."
Laughter and choking sounds erupted here and there.
* * *
Thus the welcome banquet ended, and the day of the face-off dawned.
With the banquet last night, the morning was given over entirely to rest.
After cadets finished lunch, the face-off truly began, opened by the Emei Sect.
Emei's sect leader, Nun Gyeong-min, rose and pressed her palms together toward the assembly.
"I am Gyeong-min of Emei. Hearing that the Sword Empress had taken a disciple—a tale that crossed the Great Bashan Mountains to Emei's Golden Summit Peak— I wondered what sort of heroine she might be. Thus, our Emei volunteered as opponent for Yin Xia Lian cadet's face-off."
She then fixed her gaze on Sword Empress Moyong Lin and spoke.
"But I hear the Yin Xia Lian cadet was originally a literary cadet, barely having taken up the sword?"
Moyong Lin met Nun Gyeong-min's eyes squarely.
"That is so."
"Which gave us pause. We'd volunteered, but among Emei's sword nuns, none had taken the sword so recently. Even if this face-off is meant as guided sparring, it wouldn't do for an adult to strike a child's wrist, would it?"
"What are you getting at?"
"Among Emei's third-generation disciples is a child named Hye-jeong."
At that moment,
even Academy Chief Nun Gyeong-hye forgot this was a formal occasion, her face flushing red as she spoke.
"Sect Leader! Hye-jeong hasn't even entered the academy yet, has she?!"
It was understandable.
Hye-jeong was indeed an outstanding sword nun among Emei's third-generation disciples.
But that was known only to Emei folk and those interested in the sect.
If Yin Xia Lian lost here, the world would hear the Sword Empress's disciple fell to an Emei disciple who hadn't even enrolled.
"That's why I'm asking in advance. If the Sword Empress objects, feel free to pick from current students or graduates."
Nun Gyeong-hye was about to invoke her chief's authority to refuse, but Moyong Lin spoke first.
"Hye-jeong—I've heard the name. A promising young sword nun of Emei, they say? Haya."
"Yes, Master."
"I think sparring her would be good practice. What do you think?"
"If that's your judgment, Master, I have no issue."
"There you have it. Thank you for the fine proposal, Sect Leader."
Thus the first face-off matchup was set.
Yin Xia Lian, waiting in the Azure Bamboo Pavilion stands, stepped into the sparring ground.
And Hye-jeong, who'd stood behind Nun Gyeong-min, descended as well.
Of the two swordswomen who ascended and descended, Hye-jeong spoke first.
"Forgive my impertinence toward my future senior."
Her confident words were rudeness disguised as courtesy.
Yet they stirred no emotion in Yin Xia Lian's heart.
'I've endured all sorts of scorn claiming to be a scoundrel. This is nothing.'
In calm composure, Yin Xia Lian quietly drew her sword.
Sring—
And as another impertinence came from Hye-jeong's lips,
"I'll yield three moves..."
she wrapped her blade in the signature chill of the Jade Maiden Sword and kicked off without hesitation.
Swaaaa!
Hye-jeong blocked Yin Xia Lian's sword with her own, wrapped in the golden light unique to Invulnerable Technique.
Clang!!!
In that first exchange, the two swordswomen vaguely gauged each other's level.
"!"
Hye-jeong realized Yin Xia Lian's sword was far sharper than expected,
and Yin Xia Lian reaffirmed that Hye-jeong was stronger than her.
'Strong.'
Yet it wasn't an insurmountable wall.
'Strong, but nothing compared to Young Master Eon.'
Chaaang!!!!
Thus, when the three yielded moves passed,
it was the stronger one, Hye-jeong, whose heart grew urgent.
Having weathered three assaults, her impatience led her to choose a fierce sword strike.
Swaaaa!
The swung technique was powerful yet straightforward.
Just like Yin Xia Lian's swings ten days prior.
Thus, Yin Xia Lian calmly slotted her sword into the path of Hye-jeong's incoming blade.
Clang!!!!
But Yin Xia Lian's motion didn't merely block.
Using the force transmitted from Hye-jeong, she added finesse to her Jade Maiden Steps, gliding across the sparring ground like ice and seizing Hye-jeong's rear.
And without pause, she flicked her sword upward.
Swaaak!
Slice!
The end of Hye-jeong's monastic hood, worn by Emei nuns, was severed, revealing her bobbed hair.
The moment victory and defeat were decided.
"Whether I'll be your senior remains to be seen, but I'll forgive the rudeness."
At Yin Xia Lian's victory, Emei's sect leader Nun Gyeong-min bit her lip, while Sword Empress Moyong Lin smiled faintly and nodded.
Administrative Director Im Tae-ok officially declared Yin Xia Lian's win.
"In the face-off between Emei's Hye-jeong and Azure Bamboo Pavilion's Yin Xia Lian cadet, the victor is Yin Xia Lian cadet!"
The Azure Bamboo Pavilion stands erupted.
"Waaaaah!!"
"Little Sword Empress! Little Sword Empress!!"
Frankly, "Little Sword Empress" was still premature before Yin Xia Lian's name.
But today, it fit.
And why not?
In the original tale, Yin Xia Lian lost here to some forgettable Emei student senior.
Whereas Hye-jeong was a swordswoman who shone even in the original, a junior of the protagonist's generation.
'She beat that.'
Returning to the stands, I congratulated Yin Xia Lian.
"Congratulations."
Unlike a victor, she sighed and said as she sat,
"I survived."
At her words, the Azure Bamboo classmates who'd been shouting "Little Sword Empress" fell abruptly silent.
"......"
Well, anyway.
The new-and-old face-off proceeded thus: after about twenty spars nominated by minor sects,
a major righteous sect would call out cadets who'd ranked high on midterms for one bout.
Soon the sun set, the moon taking its place.
After Jeon Yeon-ho and Cheon Jang-ho defeated the late-stage disciples of Qingcheng and Kunlun,
it was my turn, as Song Yang-ja rose from the elders' dais.
"This one is Song Yang-ja of Mosan. Properly, the sect leader beside me should explain why we volunteered for this Righteous Martial Academy face-off, but this old man has a proposal, so I stand."
Reminded of Emei's earlier matter, Nun Gyeong-hye cautiously spoke.
"A proposal?"
"Yes. Mosan nominated Eon Yong-un cadet upon hearing he'd restored the Eon Family's corpse soldier lineage and seized them from the Demonic Cult. With that intent, perhaps something beyond a simple sword clash? Emei showed flexibility earlier—why not here too?"
"Be specific about this 'flexibility.'"
"Eon Yong-un cadet captured seven Vajra Corpses. Let him command them as when he seized them, and we'll properly demonstrate Mosan's famed North Dipper Exorcism Formation."
Nun Gyeong-hye cried halt and spoke.
"'Properly demonstrate'—you mean sending out Upper Pure Sword Users?"
"Yes. Levels don't match, but if Eon Yong-un cadet isn't hung up on winning, it'll be fine instruction for him and the other cadets."
Professor Yeong-hwan's face paled as he spoke.
"Elder!"
But then,
I spoke up.
"...I! I know it's not a Murim student's place to interrupt elders, but I'm fine with it. I'd like to see Mosan Sect's formation."
With the principal's consent, Song Yang-ja's proposal was accepted.
Clunk clunk.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
During a brief rest, the seven emotionless Vajra Corpses were brought in.
"Open the lids ahead of time, please. With so many people, if they kick them off, lids fly everywhere dangerously."
As I made my small request,
Hyeong-un from last night's banquet and six other Mosan disciples descended from the dais to the sparring ground.
They arrayed in the Big Dipper pattern, drawing their signature Upper Pure inky Seven Star Swords.
"You seem ready, so shall we start?"
Thus intoned, I drew Regret and with my left hand traced a magic circle while speaking.
"Rise."
The seven corpses rose, then per my will leaped from below the sparring ground with a pop! and thudded down.
Kraaaaa!
Onlookers gulped dryly at the sight.
Even the Upper Pure Sword Users, seeing corpses move without talismans for the first time.
Still, as superior versions of that Wuqi bastard's, perhaps.
They maintained composure, chanting spells in rounds like a folk song.
As the final line concluded,
"Binding spirits to the urgent stream!"
Steam from their Seven Star Swords formed restraints wrapping the seven corpses.
The corpses shuddered like electrocuted.
Kweee?!
I briefly cut inner energy supply to the "Traitor's Brand."
The seven corpses then turned toward me.
Kreuh!
Kreuuuh!!
As faint smiles curled the Upper Pure Sword Users' lips,
"The elder was right. Nothing special."
"Hmph. Corpses nonetheless. Can they escape the Seven Star Formation's binds?"
Mosan Daoists save Yeong-hwan smirked regardless of age,
and murmurs rose here and there.
"Restored the Eon Family corpse soldiers? Kinda anticlimactic."
"Even a genius in his twenties—how perfectly could he restore them?"
"Even if perfect, against Mosan who've practiced ward arts since the Jin of the Sima? No chance. That's why they're the Orthodox Ward Origin."
"...Damn. Even Brother Yong-un can't handle seven Upper Pure Sword Users?"
I took the comments in stride, then at some point spoke.
"Nice binds. Everyone still got 'em gripped tight?"
"...What?"
I resumed supplying inner energy to the "Traitor's Brand."
The nearest corpse creaked against the lightning from the inky sword, turning back toward the Upper Pure Sword Users.
Kre? Krgrk!!
From the Big Dipper's core, Hyeong-un sensed wrongness and spoke.
"Jade Balance Star! Opening Yang Star! Get it together?!"
"W-we're focusing!"
"Our binds are fine!"
"What?"
While they faltered, starting with the nearest, the other six corpses turned toward the Upper Pure Sword Users.
Krgk!
Krgrgrk!!
Looking at their dumbfounded faces, I curled my lip.
"Underestimated us?"