Chapter 435
Chapter 435
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 435
Chapter Title: Waves (9)
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Right after subduing Jang Cheol-han.
My Eon brothers and I caught our breaths, which we'd been holding, and checked on each other's well-being.
"Haa. Haa. Is everyone okay?"
"Huuu. Bin-do is fine."
"Won-cheol, monk, you've got blood on your lips?"
"I'm okay too. It's not internal bleeding. My lips just split open from taking Langya Sword's punch head-on."
We'd only just caught our breath when...
"Someone's running this way?"
Turning toward the footsteps not far off.
Wu So-ryeong spoke up just then.
"It's the Eon Family Head and the Wudang Five Heroes seniors?!"
The one in the lead, Myeonghan the Taoist, raised his palm and called out loudly.
"Stop! Stand down! Langya Sword is not the enemy!"
At Myeonghan's words, Cheon Jang-ho glared at Jang Cheol-han and spoke.
"If he's not the enemy, then what is he? We've been exploding and getting sliced up left and right! Especially our little brother Jang Seon-i—he was hurt so bad blood was gushing out!"
At Cheon Jang-ho's words, Jang Cheol-han looked sheepish and spoke.
"...Ahem. It's a bit embarrassing to say this after being pinned down so helplessly. But my swordsmanship has reached the realm of mastery. That strong fellow should be fine. The blood spurted out dramatically, but that's just technique."
At Jang Cheol-han's words, Dang Ok-gi scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Uh... he's right. I was surprised and checked it out, but Seon-i was moving, so the pooled blood just burst out. The wound itself was shallow."
Cheon Jang-ho raised his voice even higher, looking more baffled.
"Then why the hell did you do this? If he's not the enemy, it makes even less sense!"
Jang Cheol-han spoke awkwardly once more.
"I'd heard tales of the Dragon of Misfortune and his crew spreading across the land, so curiosity got the better of me. I have to see things with my own eyes to satisfy it..."
Before he could finish, Eun Ha-seong burst out in frustration.
"What? If you were curious, you could've just sent a message! Whether it's Yong-un hyung or us, we're not the type to ignore a call!"
"It's not you all... It's my bad history with the academy. I figured it'd lead to annoying complications... Well, sorry if I startled you."
"Startled? This tournament is a huge deal! You trying to become a public enemy of murim? Pulling this stunt just because you're curious—are you even an adult?!"
"...I hear that a lot. That I'm not acting my age."
"Argh! This guy's for real. We were this close to winning!"
At Eun Ha-seong's words, Cheon Jang-ho nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Listen here, Senior Jang Cheol-han. Just say you were tempted by the Demonic Cult's offer for a moment! At least that'd have some honor to it!"
"Exactly! All that hardship for nothing!"
I calmed the group down.
"It's done. Spilled water, right?"
Of course, I could stay detached because I'd judged the true purpose of the Heavenly Martial Tournament had been achieved.
'I've confirmed Kunlun and Huashan's true intentions... And if I can use this incident to pin down Jang Cheol-han somehow, hosting the tournament will have been worth it.'
Lost in those thoughts, I must have been smiling unconsciously.
Namgung Young whispered to Yin Xia Lian.
"Senior Yong-un's lips are curling up weirdly."
"Yeah. Whenever Young Master Eon makes that face, he's usually thinking about how to manipulate someone... Does Langya Sword even realize whose ring he's put his nose through?"
As I was about to say something to Yin Xia Lian.
Jegal Seolji shot suspicious glances at her father and the Wudang Five Heroes.
"But it's a bit odd. If you came after Kunlun contacted you, where are they? And your shoes aren't wet at all... Were you watching us from somewhere like a watchtower while we were in trouble?"
At Jegal Seolji's words, the glares my Eon brothers had fixed on Jang Cheol-han shifted en masse to her father and the Wudang group.
Those receiving the stares looked guilty for a moment.
"Ahem. Well, you see..."
"Khm. Ahem."
Myeong Yeong, who had been catching his breath, finally exhaled and spoke.
"Huu. Disciple Jegal Seolji is right on all counts. It was my suggestion."
"You were watching? Since when?"
"Pretty much from the start. We even saw you hand over the wooden box to Kunlun."
"...Why?"
"...Why just watch? I figured you lot wouldn't get seriously hurt against Langya Sword. And the Dragon of Misfortune seemed mired in some troubles lately, so I thought this might be his chance to break free. That's why I held back the Family Head and my fellow priests."
Myeong Yeong answered Jegal Seolji, then looked each of my Eon brothers in the eye and apologized.
"Sorry if we startled you."
Finally, he gazed at me warmly and smiled faintly.
"Still, looks like the Dragon of Misfortune pulled himself out of the mire."
I returned a light clasped-hands salute to Myeong Yeong.
"Even after you bestowed a lifetime's worth of inner power, this junior was too dull and caused you worry."
At my words, Myeong Il, guardian of Wudang's Wu-gak, let out a hollow chuckle and spoke.
"Looks like you've fully ascended to the realm of facing the Heart Sword. If you're dull, most of jianghu would have to sheathe their swords or crawl into rat holes."
At that, Father snorted and twitched his lips.
Master chimed in.
- No one's in a position to say anything, so if you want to laugh, laugh big... But your father always makes that face. Does he think that's maintaining dignity? Doesn't look like it to me.
'...Yeah.'
* * *
My Eon brothers and I returned to the northern dock of Dan-gang-gu with the elders we'd encountered.
Arriving at what had been the original finish line.
The professors handling the tournament, led by Professor Chang-ryang, and other murim luminaries had all gathered at the dock. Unexpectedly, it was Kunlun's Deok Seong-ja who addressed us.
"It seems the worst didn't come to pass, as I'd feared."
"Yes. Thank you for listening to us juniors amid the sudden chaos."
I returned a polite clasped-hands salute.
Deok Seong-ja shook his head and offered us a deep bow in return.
"Thanks? If anything, I owe you an apology."
"Elder, what is this all of a—"
"My apologies. I belittled your resolve with narrow-minded thinking and showed disgrace as a result."
"......"
"Words can't take back what's been said and done. But this apology is sincere."
He then held out the wooden box we'd entrusted.
"This box belongs to you all."
As I took the wooden box.
Gyeong Hye smiled faintly, as if about to declare the tournament winner.
"It's been eventful, but the winning team seems set. As host, I declare: The winner of the Heavenly Martial Tournament is..."
But just then.
Someone pushed through the crowd and shouted.
"Waaait!!!"
From where the yell erupted, Zhongnan's sect leader Hwang Baek-wol and his Yuun Sword Disciples stood in ragged beggar-like states.
The only one intact was Baekbon Conference Vice-Chair Jang Son-rip beside him.
As Jang Son-rip transmitted a sound transmission to Hwang Baek-wol.
Hwang Baek-wol spoke again.
"We don't accept it! This is an invalid tournament! Restart it or declare this one void!"
At Hwang Baek-wol's words, Jegal Cheok furrowed his brow and spoke.
"There was an unexpected disturbance mid-tournament. But the handover was with the consent of the two teams who secured the box... What right do you, who withdrew early, have to say that?"
Hwang Baek-wol pointed at me and raised his voice passionately.
"When Eon Yong-un took his entrance exam, the task was similar to this Heavenly Martial Tournament, wasn't it?"
"......"
"I know his words from then are still circulating among later-generation disciples preparing for exams. He called those who turn their swords on allies after protecting a spirit pill from demons 'hypocrites,' right?"
"So, what's your point exactly?"
"The team led by Eon Yong-un attacked us first! What do you call striking allies on the way to find the Manin Blood?! Explain yourself, Eon Yong-un!"
At Hwang Baek-wol's words, I let out a faint sigh and spoke.
"To give you a justification: You've been glaring at us like you wanted to devour us since yesterday. I never saw you as allies to begin with."
"What?"
"Zhongnan was the same, no?"
"......"
"Truth be told, I'm a bit suspicious. Sorry to the Kunlun disciples who returned the box like this... But when I handed it over to Jang Ho, I gave two instructions. Right, Cheon Jang-ho?"
"Yes. If Kunlun's disciples worried about Langya Sword attacking, hand over the box. Otherwise, do as you please."
"It was similar when we sank Zhongnan's boat. You weren't pleased with us from the night before, so we coordinated a signal with Disciple Jeong Won-hae here. But if you hadn't openly sent killing intent, we wouldn't have signaled an attack."
At my words.
Some Yuun Sword Disciples grabbed Hwang Baek-wol's sleeve and tried to speak.
"Sect Leader. Best to stop here."
"Yes. In truth, we..."
Hwang Baek-wol shook off his disciples' hands.
"Quiet!"
He began pointing accusingly in all directions.
"Ha! I had my suspicions, but now I see! Professor Chang-ryang of Huashan has been protecting Eon Yong-un for ages!"
"Protecting? Sect Leader, that's too harsh."
"Then why would Plum Blossom Sword Disciples yield the box? And you pushed on with a tournament that should've been halted, even if nothing major happened in the end. Now you're crowning Eon Yong-un the winner! You're all conspiring to make a young hero of the Orthodox Path!"
Namgung Won spoke to Hwang Baek-wol.
"Listen, Sect Leader Hwang."
But Hwang Baek-wol raised his palm as if to say he had more, finished his rant, then finally turned to Namgung Won.
"Are you telling us to get swept away like the front waves of the Yangtze in this farce?!"
At Hwang Baek-wol's words, Namgung Won sighed deeply and spoke again.
"The front and back waves of the Yangtze inevitably meet in the ocean. Why think only of being pushed aside instead of embracing and merging? Building walls like that is what creates the pushing and shoving, no?"
"That's—!"
"You're the one being unreasonable. But I believe people can be. Out of disbelief, wounded pride, shame—momentary excuses to escape. But to force the world to fit your unreason, you'll need even greater unreason."
"...Is even Sword Emperor Senior siding with the Dragon of Misfortune?"
"This isn't siding with him. It's advice worrying you'll fall to heart demons. Twisting big and small things will lose you yourself in the end. Enough of that."
"......"
"My words don't ring true, it seems. Then let me put it differently. Are you confident?"
"...Confident in what?"
"Confident in making the Dragon of Misfortune your enemy. Turning a fresh young talent growing stronger by the day against you. Making all who cherish him your foes too. Confident you can force your unreason through?"
"......"
"There are things more important than pride. Could be the grain on young disciples' and servants' spoons. Or the lives of the common folk. Is your petty pride more important than those?"
"......"
Having silenced Hwang Baek-wol, Namgung Won turned to me.
"A talent without precedent, yet you're still too green to bear the title of world's best."
"...I know."
"Your personality has rough edges too. Some would rush into flames with brushwood for you, but many disapprove of your ways."
"...That too."
I replied cautiously, as it felt like a scolding.
Namgung Won placed his hand firmly on my shoulder and changed his tone.
"But as an enemy? Terrifying. I've endured in jianghu till my brows turned white, leaving few worthy rivals. Yet thinking of this young swordsman as my foe chills me to the bone. So, how about calling this young man here the Invincible Sword? What say the rest of you?"
Then, cheers of "Invincible Sword!" began filling the air from all sides.