Chapter 235
Chapter 235
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 235
Chapter Title: Exchange (7)
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Abbot Gonghyo let out a hearty laugh before taking his leave.
"Hahaha. Then this old monk shall eagerly await the finals."
I cupped my fists toward the departing abbot.
My master had remained silent throughout.
- ……
Normally, he would have said something, so seeing him stay quiet like this made me think there must be something going on with Shaolin after all.
'There must be a reason Master is holding back his words.'
So, I decided not to ask for now.
Turning toward my Eon family juniors,
Yin Ha-seong and Wu So-ryeong were the first to greet me.
"The name that heralds victory!"
"Eon!"
"Yong!"
"Uuuun!!"
As the two made a huge fuss, Tang Ok-gi suddenly shouted.
"Yin Ha-seong! Wu So-ryeong! Quiet down!"
She then turned to me.
"Eon Yong-un. What did you and Abbot Gonghyo talk about?"
Yin Xia Lian and Jeonghyeon also seemed curious, their eyes gleaming.
"He said that after watching the match with Hyangran Hall, it seemed like we could've won the ball game without any tricks, and asked why we did it that way."
When I answered,
Yin Xia Lian furrowed her brow and spoke.
"Did he come to call us out on it?"
"Less like calling us out and more like probing the underlying thoughts. He followed up by asking if that was truly the righteous path."
"So, what did you say?"
"I told him to imagine it wasn't a tournament but a battlefield against the Demonic Cult. Isn't it possible to lose something greater while clinging to righteousness?"
Jeonghyeon nodded in agreement.
"Well said. The fight against the Demonic Cult is one where even upholding a single path is difficult."
Having started, Jeonghyeon recounted a few moments from their past battles with the Demonic Cult.
"The academy raid would have caused massive casualties, and we wouldn't have saved Elder Sanshi Jinbong. What's the point of trying to uphold both righteousness and the path if we end up losing justice itself?"
Jeonghyeon spoke with utmost seriousness.
But from my perspective as the listener, it felt a bit embarrassing.
'I just meant I'd do things my way, but he's reading way too much into it.'
"Prime Celestial Venerable. Even a casual remark flows with the essence of the Dao. Truly..."
"Let's drop it."
I waved him off.
Jeonghyeon smirked at me,
then suddenly wiped the smile from his face and muttered toward the direction Abbot Gonghyo had gone.
"...Shaolin. A true pillar of the world."
Mt. Tai and the Big Dipper was a common praise for Shaolin.
However, Jeonghyeon's tone had a subtle edge that went beyond mere admiration.
I opened my mouth to ask about it.
"What's that supposed to mean all of a sudden?"
"Mt. Tai and the Big Dipper. They are objects of universal reverence, but Mt. Tai isn't a peak one can climb recklessly, and the Big Dipper is far beyond the heavens, isn't it?"
"You mean they're detached from the ways of the world?"
"Yes. It's not just about Abbot Gonghyo—the young monk warriors seemed ignorant of worldly affairs too."
I nodded.
"Stuck to their asses on sacred Mt. Song, they barely budge for outside matters and just focus on training. That's probably it."
"Elder Bin also used to be like that. Holed up on Wudang Mountain, believing that pursuing righteousness from posture, speech, and actions would naturally open the path."
"Your posture is still impeccable."
"The mindset hasn't changed. It's just that I've learned there are opponents you can't beat that way."
Jeonghyeon concluded with his own experience.
But ultimately, he was saying it would be good if Shaolin's disciples realized the same.
I patted his shoulder and spoke.
"If the thousand-year Shaolin juniors get crushed by fledgling pups like Verdant Bamboo Hall, won't that snap them awake?"
"It might."
"Exactly. So, Sword Genius of Righteous Martial Academy, show them a thing or two."
"...Feels like you're singling me out."
"I am."
"Pardon? With you here, Young Master Eon, how could I...?"
Jeonghyeon looked baffled.
I grinned and patted his shoulder once more.
"That's how it is."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The allotted rest time ended.
It was time for the finals of the Prodigy Division to crown the Righteous Vanguard Tournament.
Clack.
Clack.
Verdant Bamboo Hall and Shaolin banners were hung on either side of the arena.
Professor Jeong Geuk-gyeong, seated at the center of the judges' platform, extended his arms toward the Verdant Bamboo Hall and Shaolin banners, and the herald immediately raised his voice.
"Participants, enter!"
In response, the participants stepped forward.
Shaolin's monk warriors marched in with disciplined steps, chanting their sect's name.
"Shaolin! Shaolin! Shaolin!!"
Not to be outdone, Verdant Bamboo Hall cadets stomped their feet.
"Verdant Bamboo! Verdant Bamboo! Verdant Bamboo!!"
The spectators split into two camps, adding their voices.
Some, however, were weighing the two sides.
"Heh, you see all sorts in this world. Verdant Bamboo Hall, perennial last place even in the academy's intramural dorm wars, now carrying the overall championship into the Prodigy Division finals against Shaolin? What a sight!"
"This year's Verdant Bamboo Hall freshmen are impressive."
"Little Dragon Eon Yong-un is the standout! He made Namgung Yun sheathe his own sword—truly the world's top junior talent!"
"Nah, 'world's top junior' is premature. You gotta hold it for at least a day to claim that. And here they are facing Shaolin in less than half a day..."
"Huh? You saying Little Dragon's gonna lose?"
"Obviously. Haven't you heard 'All martial arts under heaven hail from Shaolin'? If not, here's the gist: every technique in the world came from Shaolin. Yuancheol's the best junior there too!"
Yuancheol, walking beside me, glanced at the crowd.
He smiled faintly and asked me.
"Seems many are comparing you and me, Benefactor. What do you think?"
"We'll see who's superior soon enough. One will be flat on the ground, the other standing. No need for such worries."
"Hahaha. A wise answer to a foolish question. Having received precepts as a child and venturing into the secular world for the first time, forgive my naivety, Benefactor. I look forward to a battle without regrets."
"Likewise."
Shaolin and we exchanged bows before parting and descending from the arena.
Then we determined the batting order.
Verdant Bamboo Hall's vanguard was Yin Xia Lian.
I spoke to Yin Xia Lian as she prepared to ascend the arena.
"Miss Yin."
She narrowed her eyes in response.
"What? Telling me to use my imagination if I lose, something like that?"
Wondering how she could twist my intentions so, I complained to my master.
'What does Miss Yin think I am?'
- Who knows? Definitely not human, that's for sure.
'?'
- Probably some yokai or malevolent spirit from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
I pretended not to hear my master's words.
I spoke to Yin Xia Lian again.
"I called to tell you not to push yourself."
"Pardon? Young Master Eon? Are you possessed?"
"I do tend to push you and the other Eon juniors a bit."
"...A bit."
- A bit?
"...Only when it's within your capabilities."
Yin Xia Lian needed a push to show her true potential,
but that had to be timed and matched properly.
Right now, she wasn't a match for the monk warriors.
"Objectively, no matter who from Shaolin comes up, it'll be tough for you as you are. Don't overdo it—fight with the intent to pour out everything Professor Sword Empress taught you."
"Got it."
Yin Xia Lian smiled faintly and ascended to the arena.
Shaolin's vanguard was a staff wielder named Geukwon.
Yin Xia Lian and Geukwon.
The two exchanged light greetings and assumed their stances.
Geukwon gripped his staff at his waist with a half-palm stance.
A distinctive golden glow of Buddhist martial arts enveloped his staff.
Yin Xia Lian swung her frost-wreathed sword and glided toward Geukwon.
She unleashed sword strikes scattering chilling sword qi.
Sssak! Sssaak!!
Sssaaak!!
However, Yin Xia Lian's sword strikes couldn't pierce Geukwon's whirling staff like a windmill.
Clang! Clang!
Kang!!
Geukwon spun his staff at tremendous speed, shifting positions fluidly.
Whoosh!!
From right hand to left.
From left to back.
Whoosh!!
Bwoong!!!
From back to right hand again.
As the staff whirled and repositioned, Geukwon's steps advanced swiftly.
Forcing Yin Xia Lian to retreat involuntarily.
These retreats disrupted her footwork.
Footwork is the foundation of martial arts.
With footwork crumbling, her hands grew erratic.
"...!"
Seizing the gap where she could attend to neither offense nor defense,
Kang!
Geukwon gripped the staff's end like a spear and thrust through the opening.
- Dragon Fang Staff.
My master identified the advanced Shaolin technique modeled after dragon teeth at that moment.
Yin Xia Lian hastily twisted her sword to block, but it fell short.
Thud!
Boom!!!!
With a thunderous roar that rang in the ears, Yin Xia Lian's body bounced from the arena.
I executed Flying Cloud Heaven-Splitting Step, lightly leaping to catch her back.
Pop.
I set down the caught Yin Xia Lian.
The judge's hand went up, followed by the herald's voice.
"Monk Geukwon sends Verdant Bamboo Hall's Yin Xia Lian flying!"
Only then did Yin Xia Lian exhale sharply,
a trickle of blood spilling from her mouth simultaneously.
At the sight, Jeonghyeon spoke.
"Miss Yin, are you alright?"
"My stomach's churning a bit, but no internal injuries."
"Then why the blood?"
Yin Xia Lian wiped it with her sleeve and said.
"I took a few hits besides the last one. I knew I was outmatched going in... but I didn't want to show it hurt, so I bit my lip."
I offered her a word.
"Good work."
Then I pushed Jeonghyeon's back.
"Your turn, Jeonghyeon."
"Understood."
Jeonghyeon nodded with unusual gravity and headed to the arena.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ As Jeonghyeon ascended the arena,
Yangho Agency staff and Tang Ok-gi checked Yin Xia Lian's condition.
As she diagnosed herself, no internal injuries or broken bones.
Geukwon had apparently held back somewhat.
While Yin Xia Lian received pulse diagnosis, Jeonghyeon drew his Songmun Sword from the spot where she had taken her stance.
Shing-
Geukwon returned to his initial stance position, gripping his staff and assuming the half-palm.
Between the two juniors, Geukwon kicked off first.
Pop!
He charged at Jeonghyeon, spinning his staff omnidirectionally.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Bwoong!!!
As if the prior match hadn't been full effort, his staff moved even faster.
However, Jeonghyeon, who perceives the flow of time like me when focused,
Sssak! Sssak!
Sssaaak!!!
curved his sword into a taiji pattern, shattering and scattering Geukwon's staff strikes.
Thud! Thud!
Thuuung!!
As the staff strikes kept breaking, Geukwon gritted his teeth.
Then, whirl- he readjusted his grip and began the Dragon Fang Staff technique in earnest, the one that felled Yin Xia Lian.
Shuk! Shuk! Shuk! Shuk!
But fiercer in speed.
'If the form that got Yin Xia Lian was a one-headed dragon... this is a nine-headed one.'
Shuk! Shuk!
Shuk! Shuk! Shuk!
To ordinary eyes, Geukwon's staff surely appeared to multiply.
Yet Jeonghyeon's fluid, seamless sword strikes remained unshaken.
Thud! Thud!
Jeonghyeon calmly parried, proving the staff was ultimately just one,
and finally made Geukwon drop it amid the taiji torrent.
Thud!!!
Jeonghyeon briefly aimed his Songmun Sword at Geukwon's nose,
then as Geukwon stared blankly at his empty hands and conceded defeat.
"This monk yields."
He returned to his starting position and resumed his stance.
A show of defiance, calling for the next opponent.