Chapter 178
Chapter 178
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: New and Old Face-Off (3)
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Neither the Shaolin abbot, the Wudang sect leader, nor the Beggars' Sect chief was present at this gathering.
The Huashan sect leader, Seong Min-ja, held the highest status and was also the eldest among them.
Thus, his words carried inherent authority.
'The owner of the Strange Dragon title has changed.'
Junior disciples were commonly referred to as dragons and phoenixes.
Among them, the truly exceptional ones had "dragon" or "phoenix" prefixed to their nicknames.
Like Flying Dragon, Sword Dragon, Sword Phoenix, Spear Dragon, Poison Phoenix, and so on.
These nicknames mirrored the essence of the martial world, akin to the Yangtze River.
Just as the river's waters flowed ceaselessly into the Yellow Sea,
when the leading wave's senior advanced to broader seas and claimed a new title, the trailing wave's junior inherited it.
However, sometimes the succession was forced.
As in Eon Yong-un's case, shoving the previous holder aside.
Moreover, the "Strange Dragon" title had been exclusively claimed by Mount Mosan Sect's juniors for generations.
Thus, the reactions among the elders on the platform varied wildly.
A few professors who had long had their eye on Eon Yong-un let out admiring remarks.
"Strange Dragon, eh. Whether it's go or sword, and even beyond defensive arts, his talents shine so brilliantly that 'strange' fits perfectly. Yet, such prodigies are often called 'monsters' too, so it suits him. In any case, the chief's worries were unfounded, weren't they?"
"Haha, indeed, Professor Jegal. This old nun fretted needlessly, only for Eon Yong-un cadet to astonish my weary heart once more. What a talent for toying with people he has."
"...Tsk. How am I supposed to cram all this onto a tiny slip of paper for the messenger pigeons? At this rate, I'll have to switch careers to a calligrapher."
"Pardon? Professor Paeng, what do you mean?"
"Ah, family matters. Family matters."
The Danmok Family, situated near Mount Mosan Sect and thus compelled to watch their step even in this situation, tried to spin it positively.
"...Hoho. Hm. W-Well, Brother Hyung-un did hold onto that dragon name a bit too long, didn't he? It was time to pass it on."
With Mosan Sect's prized Upper Pure Sword Disciples lying battered like bloody rags,
their spin only made the Mosan Sect Taoists' faces flush redder.
Even then, Old Three wouldn't let it slide.
"Hey, does the Danmok Family hand over inheritances by beating them to a pulp? Do that twice, and you'd have no household left to pass down, no?"
"......"
Having silenced the Danmok Family head, Old Three swallowed a laugh and directed his next words toward the Mosan Sect elders' seats.
"Heh. Anyway. What was it Senior Song Yang-ja said earlier? Ah, right—a valuable lesson? Indeed, learning knows no age. So, was it a good study session for you?"
"......"
The Mosan Sect elders' faces turned from red to ashen.
In a venue where freshmen were meant to gain insights, it teetered on the edge of an elder brawl.
At this point, Monk Kyung Hye stepped in from the platform to calm the atmosphere.
"Professor No!"
"No, I'm just innocently curious? I'm clueless about defensive arts beyond begging—er, I mean, I only know Yong-un won and the Upper Pure Sword Disciples ended up bloody messes. What techniques were exchanged?"
"...We'll say it was. Enough now. Go encourage the Blue Bamboo Hall cadets for a bit."
"Ehey. Right when it's getting fun? Do I have to?"
"...They're taking a break to move the corpses, aren't they? Eon Yong-un cadet aside, the Blue Bamboo Hall freshmen put on quite the spirited showing today. Go give them some encouragement."
"Ahem. Well, then. I'll be right back."
With that, Old Three snorted proudly and stepped down from the platform.
He headed toward the Blue Bamboo Hall cadets' seating area.
Only freshmen from Blue Bamboo Hall participated in the face-off, so their section—filled with blue uniforms—had freshmen up front and upperclassmen in the back.
'I got distracted pounding those old Mosan boars, but what's with this vibe from these kids?'
Yet, the Blue Bamboo Hall area, which should have been jubilant, was eerily quiet.
A tense air hung over them regardless of seniority.
'Even the kid who'd normally be bawling isn't crying?'
Tilting his head, Old Three approached Jin Kyung-ryong in the back and asked softly.
"Jin boy. Why's everyone so quiet?"
"Professor?"
"Yeah, it's me. You lot were whooping it up just moments ago—why the sudden silence? Wait, not silence; you're all trembling."
Jin Kyung-ryong swallowed dryly before replying.
"...Vice President Eon came back and emphasized again that we'd drop dead if we lost. Reality sank in."
"...Drop dead? Reality? Ah, about ten days ago, that Eon kid was treating you like rats in a trap, right? That hell training—or was it a seminar?—another round?"
"Yes. He said anyone with an unacceptable loss would see hell again, but after Vice President Eon took down seven Upper Pure Sword Disciples, no loss feels acceptable..."
"So?"
"If unacceptable losses pile up to a certain point, even we upperclassmen might get dragged into hell as joint responsibility."
"Pssh. He's just saying 'drop dead' for effect. That Eon kid's doing it out of care for you all. Hell training? Just intense practice—quit whining. If I were you, I'd pay to join in."
Old Three's words struck Jin Kyung-ryong's chest.
A surge of frustration leaked from his lips.
"...You'd never say that if you'd experienced it yourself, Professor."
"Huh? What'd you just say?"
"Nothing. But what brings you here?"
"Ah. I came to encourage you..."
"Oh, no need. It'd just distract the freshmen. Do it later—head back now. Woo Department Head and Eun Department Head, our PR chiefs, are up next. We need to cheer with all we've got."
"...Tch. Told to leave here, told to leave there."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After the Mosan Sect and my face-off, various other matches unfolded.
'Among them, Dang Ok-gi stands out?'
Wisdom for surviving the martial world: never accrue grudges with the Sichuan Tang Family if possible.
No one nominated them, so it was notable that a distant Tang cousin stepped up as opponent.
Others won or lost as well.
But a monumental victory came from little So Ryeong.
'In the academy's countless sparring sessions, he was always running away.'
Not a prestigious sect's nomination, but Fragrant Orchid Hall—dissatisfied with his background—pitted a second-year senior against him, and he crushed it handily.
His life-or-death scraps back in Shanxi must have helped.
Chaeng!!!!
And now, another Blue Bamboo Hall cadet returned victorious.
- Ho, Ha Seong won too.
"Waaaaah! You watching, Blue Bamboo?!"
Returning with a raucous victory cry, Eun Ha-seong immediately grabbed So Ryeong's hand and started dancing.
"I kept quiet earlier so you wouldn't be sad if I lost, but Woo junior—victory for our PR Department today!"
"Haha, sure is!"
"Finally admitting it: that last sword stance of yours was like an arrow."
"Aw, embarrassing. You were amazing too, Brother Eun! Your strike was like a crashing thunderbolt!"
"Anyway, we're saved. As long as it's not me!!"
"Not you!"
What a circus.
Absolute circus.
Memorial victory revoked.
I immediately spoke to the dancing duo.
"You won, but you're still on probation."
"Huh? Why?"
"Uh, Brother Eon?"
"Unacceptable losses have opposites too. You're far from done. And what? 'As long as it's not me'? Start over from 'we're all in this together.'"
Their faces paled at my words. Ha Seong tried linking up with Yin Xia Lian to weasel out.
"Sis said 'I'm saved' earlier too, right?!"
"When did I? Young Master Eon, I never said that. And 'sis' while saying that? Excuse me, Radiant Prosperity Hall Leader—I know her?"
"S-Sis!"
Wrong approach; didn't even break even.
"Quiet. Sit. Namgung Yun's up next. Plenty to learn from."
Having plunked Ha Seong down, the Mount Zhongnan Sect's delegation vice-chief, Zhang Sun-rip, spoke.
"I am Zhang Sun-rip of Zhongnan. Our sword pursuits align somewhat, and as successor to Senior Namgung Uk's vice-chief seat, I nominate the Namgung Family's Flying Dragon Sword, famed as the world's top junior."
From Fragrant Orchid Hall's seats, Namgung Yun ascended the stage.
For some reason, his gaze fell not on the descending Zhongnan swordsman Im Baek-woo, but on me.
"......"
I mouthed at him.
'What do you want?'
Namgung Yun snapped his head away.
By then, Im Baek-woo at the sparring ground spoke.
"Shall we begin?"
"Yes."
The two swordsmen kicked off instantly.
Ssaeaeaeak!!
Master at my waist gauged their swords.
- Zhongnan's boar swings on the Thirty-Six Swords of the Realm; Gong Yun's is Serene Bow Endlessness Sword. Both pursue heaviness and power.
As Master said, the rigid swords rent the air, clashing in sparks.
Kang! Kang! Kaka-kang!!!
Onlookers admired and wagered on the winner.
"Even from here, the air's pressure slaps my cheeks."
Ka-kang!
Kaka-ka-kang!!
"Right? No quarter given. Who do you think wins?"
"Tough call. Im Baek-woo was unbeatable in his cohort with the sword. Battles of geniuses among geniuses—hard to say."
Master quizzed me too.
- Yong-un, who do you think wins?
I replied instantly.
'Namgung Yun in the next five or six exchanges. His footwork is omnipresent; each clash costs Senior Im half a step.'
- Ho. You see that far?
As predicted, five exchanges passed.
Namgung Yun's blade flat touched Im Baek-woo's throat.
"Victory in the face-off between Zhongnan Sect's Im Baek-woo and Fragrant Orchid Hall's Namgung Yun cadet goes to Namgung Yun cadet!"
The administrative director announced it.
"Namgung Yun!!!"
"The Flying Dragon Sword indeed!!"
Not quite my level, but cheers for Namgung Yun rose here and there.
Yet he seemed displeased by the chants,
furrowing his brow before glancing my way again.
I mouthed the same thing.
'What do you want?'
He snapped his head away again.
And descended to Fragrant Orchid Hall.
'What's his deal since last time?'
Anyway.
After numerous face-offs, great and small, only Jeong Hyun remained.
'In events like this, the protagonist always goes last—fits perfectly.'
Likely because Huashan leader Seong Min-ja, highest in status and flair, saved his nomination for last.
Rising last among the elders, he laid bare his intent plainly.
"Huashan has vied with Wudang for the top sword sect title since ancient times. Hearing of a Wudang swordsman among this year's freshmen, I came to witness it myself."
He named his disciple.
"Jin Gwan, step forth."
The summoned Jin Gwan was no graduate.
A second-year from Fragrant Orchid Hall—matching the original exactly.
'Makes sense. Claiming top sword sect with a grad would lack face.'
Coincidence and orthodox murim pride intertwined curiously, aligning perfectly with the original here.
'Will Jin Gwan say his original line too?'
Vivid memory; I recited it inwardly.
'Not sure crushing Wudang's shame aids Huashan's fame, but...'
"Not sure crushing Wudang's shame aids Huashan's fame, but. Let's begin."
Sure enough.
Chaeng! Chae-chaeng!!
Word for word, Jin Gwan spat it out, and their swords tangled wildly.
Chae-cheng!!!
Chae-chae-chaeng!!!!
As in the original, Jeong Hyun's sword halts at Jin Gwan's nape...
Ppak!!
Paak!!!
...No?
My mouth gaped unwittingly.
"...That guy's punching? Why punch people?"
Those around chorused.
"Surprising, sure, but not words for you, Young Master Eon?"
- Pot calling the kettle black?
"Right!"
"Why'd Brother Yong-un punch people then?"
Ignoring them, I sent Jeong Hyun a transmission.
[...Uh, Brother Jeong Hyun? What road led to pummeling him like that?]
[...Taiji isn't just serene flow. Where yin dominates, infuse mighty yang; where yang dominates, infuse mighty yin. Learned watching Young Hero Eon.]
...Hm.
Right, got it.
As I stared at the oddly altered original protagonist with bewilderment,
the administrative director's announcement drew roaring cheers.
"Victory in the face-off between Huashan Sect representative Jin Gwan cadet and Blue Bamboo Hall's Jeong Hyun cadet goes to Jeong Hyun! Jeong Hyun cadet!"
Excluding audience matches,
including final entrant Jeong Hyun: 42 bouts, 29 wins, 13 losses.
Blue Bamboo Hall, perennial losers, ended the face-off triumphantly.
'Good job. Skip the eight-part calisthenics?'
-...As if he'd be thrilled.