Chapter 434
Chapter 434
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 434
Chapter Title: Waves (8)
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The Kunlun disciples raced down the slopes of Wudang Mountain like the wind and arrived at the southern dock of Dan River Bend.
"Martial Hall Master, this way!"
"There don't seem to be any pursuers for now. Shall we set off?"
"Yes. Let's hurry."
Just as the boat carrying the Kunlun disciples began slicing through the waves toward the northern dock—the starting and finishing point of the tournament—
Virtue Sage, the Martial Hall Master of Kunlun and one of the Ten Great Swordsmen of the world, let out a long sigh from the bow.
"Hoo..."
The source of that sigh was the small wooden box in Virtue Sage's hand.
It was only natural.
This box contained the legendary elixir known as the Great Return Pill, an item that could decide the winner of the Heavenly Martial Tournament.
"......"
Strictly speaking, Virtue Sage and the Kunlun disciples had come all the way from the distant edge of Qinghai Province to this Dan River Bend solely to seize this box.
'...We were even prepared to resort to any means necessary, no matter how unfair.'
It wasn't just talk—they had put it into action.
Though they could have outpaced Mount Hua on foot, they refrained.
They hadn't joined the fight to reclaim the box from Gong Son Mu-gyeol, merely watching from across the river like spectators at a fire.
They needed to conserve their strength for that final moment when they could claim the box.
'All to place Kunlun's name above the cadets of the Righteous Martial Academy.'
And the reason for that was Eon Yong-un.
Yet, paradoxically, Virtue Sage knew little about Eon Yong-un.
No, it would be more accurate to say he had deliberately paid him no attention.
'I just thought of him as some wild, unbroken colt.'
The beginning had been prejudice.
Virtue Sage had judged Eon Yong-un and the later-generation cadets of the Righteous Martial Academy as reckless fools building only their own fame.
To him, their actions seemed like provocation of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult without regard for Kunlun's precarious position right next to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
'Thus, I aimed to make Kunlun win the Heavenly Martial Tournament.'
To teach them this: that anyone could win through underhanded means, and that there is always a heaven above heaven.
'...But to think it would end up in my hands like this.'
In the face of this sudden turn, the Righteous Martial Academy cadets had handed over the box as if the tournament's outcome meant nothing.
It was a sign that Eon Yong-un and the others already knew what truly mattered.
'Was the Strange Dragon and his companions not the wild colts... but I the blind old monster who shut out sight and sound?'
If so, then every action Kunlun and Virtue Sage had taken in this Heavenly Martial Tournament—from start to finish—had become utter disgrace.
Even when Cheon Jang-ho declared they would handle the suspicious intruder themselves, there was no room to argue otherwise.
"Kunlun may be right next to the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, but we have more experience fighting demons... Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha."
Vanguard Against Demons.
This banner—symbolizing those who stand at the forefront in subduing evil—had represented Kunlun ever since the Sword Demon appeared a hundred years ago.
But now, even that banner could no longer be held high with pride.
"...What Vanguard Against Demons?"
As Virtue Sage groaned in self-loathing and muttered to himself,
One of the Cloud Dragon Sword Disciples arrived to report.
"Martial Hall Master. We've reached the northern dock. You can proceed now."
To that, Virtue Sage shook his head.
"No. Have Shim Ja-bae's disciples go and relay what they've seen and heard."
"Pardon? Aren't you coming with us, Martial Hall Master?"
"If we all enter carrying this box, it could be interpreted as Kunlun crossing the finish line. If even a whisper of that spreads, it would be true humiliation."
"...Ah."
"Besides, don't we need to turn back anyway to guide the way? I'll stay here, so hurry and report the essentials, then bring the esteemed elders."
"Yes!"
Shortly after Shim Ja-bae's disciples dashed toward the VIP seats inside,
The likes of Kyung Hye and Zhuge Chak came rushing out in a group.
Among them, Zhuge Chak addressed Virtue Sage.
"I heard you received the box from the Strange Dragon, but why stay here instead of coming in person to report?"
"I was cautious not to let it be seen as Kunlun claiming victory. The true owners of that box are someone else."
At Virtue Sage's words, surprise flickered across the faces of Zhuge Chak and the others for a moment.
The tournament organizer, Kyung Hye, smiled as she spoke.
"I see. Well, this is sudden, but it proves the tournament's purpose. I'm in a good mood."
At her attitude, Virtue Sage furrowed his brow and raised his voice.
"How can you be so calm? There's chaos right now! Get on the boat quickly. I'll guide you."
To that, Kyung Hye smiled faintly and replied once more.
"Oh, that's fine. Elder Yaowang has vouched for him, and we've already sent the Wudang Five Heroes and the North of the Han River Fist Hero that way."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Langya Sword Jang Cheol-han.
True to his moniker as a swordsman wandering the world like a ronin, he was a blade master who roamed the land aimlessly.
In his wanderings, he would hone his sword for days in scenic mountains, or make a newly discovered cave his home for months after stumbling upon it.
He had lived the life of a true wanderer.
Yet, surprisingly, Jang Cheol-han knew quite a bit about Eon Yong-un.
The notices from the Azure Bamboo Pavilion posted in every village played a big role in that knowledge.
His interest in Eon Yong-un had begun thanks to Yaowang O Gyun-cheon.
"What the hell? Why is Jang Cheol-han camping out at Benevolent Hall again? Wasting herbs?!"
"You gripe every time you see me, so this time I picked my own herbs. What's wasteful about that?"
"Of course it's wasteful! If you hadn't picked them, some other herbalist would have, and they'd go to someone who needs them. But they got snatched by a useless bum like you—it's not just wasteful, it's infuriating!"
"...You're especially harsh right from the start. Did something bad happen?"
"A few days ago, I saw a guy who's the complete opposite of you, and now seeing you just pisses me off."
The opposite of himself? Jang Cheol-han couldn't help but be curious.
"Who from where? What's opposite about him?"
"A few days back, cadets from the Righteous Martial Academy came by. The representative among them... His martial arts might not match yours yet, but his mindset was worlds apart."
"Righteous Martial Academy? That Flying Dragon Sword guy, the so-called greatest later-generation talent?"
"No, a guy named Eon Yong-un."
Eon Yong-un.
By then, the name was already famous enough for Jang Cheol-han to have heard it.
"Huh? The one kicked out of his family? He'd be an outsider among outsiders at the academy, right? And he was the cadet representative?"
The name was infamous in a bad way, yet supposedly better than him.
Besides, by murim hierarchy, Eon Yong-un was a distant junior to Jang Cheol-han.
"Still, by seniority, I'd be like his granduncle... Isn't that too much? You were dangling off a cliff, and I saved you—that's why you let me crash here for treatments."
"That's exactly why I fix you up every time you come back broken, even if I hate seeing your face!"
"Man, tough to get even a thank-you from a benefactor."
"I'm talking about mindset, why drag seniority into it? Want to hear you wasted your years?"
"Ahem."
"A guy who trains hard just to barely fend for himself—you mock his training? Bah."
"......"
"You're suited to licking Eon Yong-un's soles! He'll catch up to your meager skills in no time—keep training till then! Treatment's done. Get out!"
Thus, the name Eon Yong-un stuck in his mind.
And every visit to Benevolent Hall, O Gyun-cheon praised him, naturally sparking interest.
Before long, checking the Azure Bamboo notices in nearby villages became one of Jang Cheol-han's routines.
Caaaang!!!
After such days, he now crossed blades with Eon Yong-un himself.
His curiosity deepened.
'Truly remarkable.'
First, the sight of those in crude national mourning garb obeying Eon Yong-un's every word without hesitation was astonishing.
'Just a few years ago, when I stormed out of the academy, they weren't much different... Now they're like extensions of his limbs. Even Shaolin disciples and South Sea Dragon Palace members are mixed in.'
Next, their martial prowess—all absolute masters despite barely passing thirty.
'Scary talents, one and all, but Eon Yong-un takes the cake. Is this what they call genius?'
Ignoring the misunderstanding of being demons to sate his curiosity, Jang Cheol-han gripped his sword tighter, thinking to reveal his true power since he was already labeled one.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We had taken every precaution against the worst case.
But that didn't mean we could outright call Jang Cheol-han a demon.
The sword intent emanating from his strikes was limited to probing.
'The world is vast, and eccentrics abound.'
He might have come here for entirely different reasons.
Thus, my initial goal was simply to hold out until the elders arrived.
The box was secured; no need to overextend—just endure till then.
Jang Cheol-han could surely be subdued once they came.
Clang! Claaang!!!
Caaaang!!!!!!
But at some point, the intent in Jang Cheol-han's sword changed.
Fwoosh—
Fwoooosh—
His blade, now blatantly infused with hostility, began unleashing the killing strikes he'd only used as threats before—in earnest.
"Haenam disciple? Good power, but you've not held a sword long."
And he targeted the weaker ones among us.
Slash!
"Jang-seon! You okay?!"
"...Yes. Just a graze."
"A graze from flame-infused strikes? Jang-seon, fall back. Ok-gi, cover him!"
"Got it!"
Jeong-hyeon spoke up.
"Young Master Eon. We need to change tactics."
"Yeah. We'll handle this ourselves."
At my nod, my Eon brothers gripped their weapons with resolute expressions and charged at Jang Cheol-han in an even tighter formation.
Clang! Clang!
Cla-cla-clang!!!!
They swarmed like angry bees, taking turns unleashing fierce assaults.
In the gaps as dozens of exchanges piled up in an instant, I wrestled with my thoughts.
'If I can't shake off this heaviness dragging my body... I can't face Jang Cheol-han unscathed.'
Master said it just happens.
But nothing in the world just happens.
'Ultimately, I have to find the answer myself... Wait. Nothing just happens?'
In a way, this was the heart demon born from facing the heart sword.
Then, perhaps the solution lay in that moment of facing the heart sword?
'First, pure observation.'
Through pure observation, scrutinize enemy and ally movements meticulously.
And if I trust my instantaneous judgments without doubt, I can split fleeting moments even further.
'I trust my judgments. I trust the time I've spent wielding the sword. Thus, I fear not myself.'
With resolve rising from the depths of my heart,
Time began to stretch like taffy even before Jang Cheol-han's movements.
Fwoooosh—
In that elongating time, I plunged into the instant where my brothers' and Jang Cheol-han's swords sparked.
Sweeeeeep—
I swung Regret, wrapped in an unprecedented intensity of Heaven-Splitting aura, toward his blade.
Then, with an ear-shattering boom, Master's voice echoed in my mind.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-boooom—
-Heaven-Splitting Sea Fury. The heaven-shattering sword can dispel even the great ocean depths, rendering Namak's karmic flames mere candlelight before the wind.
The flames clinging to Jang Cheol-han's sword, surging as if to burn all, extinguished like a snuffed candle.
Regret and my brothers' weapons reached his throat in unison.
Ching-ching-ching-ching!
Jang Cheol-han laughed hollowly and muttered something incomprehensible.
"Well... this means I really have to lick those soles now."