Translator: RaidenTL

Chapter 12: The Duel (6)

As I went to the register to sign my name, Poison Wolf Ibu approached me.

"It is an honor to have a duel with Young Hero Eo."

He seemed almost welcoming, which made me suspicious.

"Did you come here on purpose, Poison Wolf?"

Poison Wolf Ibu let out a grin that looked quite menacing on his rugged face.

"That’s right. I made a bet with Smiling Face Sword to see who could put up the best fight against you. We’re using this to settle our own unfinished business."

You have no idea that your little contest is going to be the death of me.

I felt a flash of irritation but forced a smile.

Well, you’re about to become my sacrificial lamb, so I should probably feel sorry for you.

Hearing his words gave me an even better idea.

Now, I didn't want to be this wicked.

But think about it. To survive in this harsh world, especially in the Murim where life and death are decided in a heartbeat, shouldn't one be at least a little bit devious? They say a man isn't truly formidable unless he has a bit of a ruthless streak.

"Since you’ve made a bet with Smiling Face Sword, the Nine Dragons Great Hero, I shall set a condition as well. Just as I settled things with him in a single exchange, I shall decide our match with you in a single move as well."

Poison Wolf Ibu let out a boisterous laugh.

"Hahaha! As expected, Young Hero Eo truly understands the meaning of boldness! Fine! I accept that proposal. I shall respond with my own secret technique."

What a simpleton.

I celebrated inwardly as everything proceeded exactly according to plan.

Poison Wolf Ibu strode confidently onto the dueling stage. Watching his back, I let a smirk slip.

I took my stance, facing him. The duel would begin the moment the referee struck the gong.

Gong!

As the sound echoed, Poison Wolf Ibu drew his axes. Gripping one in each hand, he called out to me.

"Draw your sword."

I shook my head.

"My sword may be in its sheath, but it is as good as drawn. Do not concern yourself with it and attack."

Poison Wolf Ibu narrowed his eyes. Thinking he was being mocked, the look in his eyes shifted. A cold, blue light seemed to flicker from his one remaining eye.

Did I provoke him too much?

I felt a sudden pang of regret.

Whir! Whir! Whir!

Poison Wolf Ibu spun his axes with terrifying speed. The weapons in his hands rotated like pinwheels. The mere sight of them made my skin crawl; if one of those hit me, my head would be crushed like a block of tofu.

"Hah!"

With a thunderous shout, Poison Wolf Ibu charged. Seeing this, I realized that even though he was a master among vagabonds, a low-tier martial artist is still just a low-tier martial artist.

A true master never shouts with such a lack of grace. Based on my long years of observing real experts, a master puts power into their breath exactly like this:

"Tch!"

I, too, dashed toward Poison Wolf Ibu. As we charged at each other, the murmuring crowd fell into a hushed silence.

When Poison Wolf Ibu reached the middle of the stage, I put my pre-arranged plan into motion. I squeezed every drop of internal energy from my pea-sized dantian, bloating it as much as possible, and funneled that force into my right leg.

"Tch!"

Then, maintaining my full charging momentum, I performed a powerful stomp.

Thump!

The stage vibrated, and a thick cloud of white dust billowed up.

As I had planned beforehand, I had scattered sand over the stage earlier. However, the floorboards I had loosened felt unexpectedly solid beneath my feet. A heavy, jarring sensation traveled up my ankle.

I stepped on the wrong spot.

It felt like I had stepped on a perfectly intact board instead of the loosened ones. It was strange; I was sure I had loosened all the boards around where I was standing.

Gasp!

In the split second I spent wondering why my plan had failed, Poison Wolf Ibu’s razor-sharp axe came flying at me.

I scrambled to the side, still gripping my sword hilt.

Whirrrr! Thwack!

The two axes embedded themselves deep into the wooden pillar at the corner of the stage.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

You bastard! You almost split my head open!

I cursed him inwardly, but seeing an opportunity to subdue the now-unarmed Poison Wolf Ibu, I lunged at him. I was just about to draw my sword when—

Poison Wolf Ibu yanked his hands back, and the axes embedded in the pillar flew back to him.

I aborted my draw and threw myself to the side in a panic. If I had been a second slower, the back of my head would have been gone.

This cheating bastard. Trying to backstab me like that.

Poison Wolf Ibu’s axes were connected to fine metal chains, allowing him to throw and retrieve them at will.

He charged at me again.

Hey! I’m not ready yet! You have to give me time to think!

Terrified, I moved to the spot where I was absolutely certain the loose boards were and stomped again. Even if it was late, I could still win if Poison Wolf Ibu tripped or stepped on a nail.

Ugh!

But all I got was a sharp pain in my ankle. The floor of the stage was perfectly fine.

Dammit. What happened? I definitely loosened these boards.

Furthermore, that strange, alien power that had been overflowing just moments ago was nowhere to be found. It had vanished exactly when I needed it most. If I had that strength, I might have considered clashing directly with those brutal axes.

But now, far from having strength, my legs were shaking so much my palms were sweating. My plan had completely fallen apart. I thought I had crafted a perfect scheme, but I never imagined it would go wrong from the very start. And I wasn't exactly the type of person who had a backup plan for when things failed.

"Why does nothing ever go my way?"

I could only lament my wretched luck.

Just then, I heard a group of warriors watching our duel chatting nearby.

"It’s a good thing we did what you said."

"Didn't I tell you? If we hadn't checked the stage early this morning like I suggested, who knows what would have happened? Young Hero Eo could have been seriously injured because of those loose boards."

"You did a great thing today. If a nail had popped out and injured him when he performed that stomp... I don't even want to think about it."

"If Young Hero Eo, the hope of us low-tier martial artists, lost a duel not because of skill but because of bad luck, I might have actually killed myself."

"Hahaha, you’re right. Young Hero Eo is the dream and ideal of us underdogs now. We have to protect him."

What?

It turned out those idiots had hammered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠back the boards I had painstakingly loosened. Because of those meddling low-lifes, instead of an easy win, I was about to get my skull split open.

When I glared at them, they actually had the nerve to wave at me. My blood boiled, and I stared at them with murderous intent, but they responded by clasping their hands in a respectful bow.

They had completely misinterpreted my glare as a look of gratitude.

Sigh.

A long, weary sigh escaped my lips. I was at a total loss.

Is my only option to forfeit?

But suddenly, that mysterious, inexplicable power surged through my body again.

What the? It’s nowhere to be found when I’m in a hurry, but the moment I think about giving up, it suddenly appears?

Not knowing when it might vanish again, I focused on feeling the power. It was definitely an alien energy, unlike anything I had ever felt before. But regardless of its nature, the fact that it was there at all was nothing short of a godsend. I didn't have time to wonder where it came from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or why.

For now, I was just grateful that my head wasn't going to be cleaved by that savage axe.

Rather than forfeiting pathetically, I decided it would look better to showcase my ultimate technique, the Draw Sword Instant Kill, before bowing out. I took my drawing stance. With this much power, I figured that even a stomp would at least make an impressive sound.

I funneled all my strength into my right foot and stepped down. It wouldn't be as powerful as when I used actual internal energy, but with this much raw force, I wouldn't look like a total fool.

Poison Wolf Ibu charged at me, spinning his axes.

"Watch yourself. This is my certain-victory secret technique!" he declared confidently.

For a moment, I regretted my decision, but then I shook my head.

Did I mess up by suggesting we settle this in one move? I could end up in the grave if this goes wrong. No, wait. Come to think of it, this is better. If it wasn't just one move, my lack of skill would be exposed immediately.

Matching Poison Wolf Ibu’s attack, I drew my sword.

"Tch!"

Shing!

A sharp shout, the kind only masters use, burst from my lips. Even though the plan was a mess, it was fine. This draw felt more natural than any I had ever performed, which gave me a small sense of comfort.

Thump!

Yes! The stomp was perfect too. Thanks to that strange power, my ankle didn't hurt at all. If I could just show this much and then forfeit, it wouldn't be too embarrassing.

I actually felt a surge of gratitude toward Mok Seon-hwa. I didn't know what she had put in that sedative, but at least it gave me this strength.

And seeing Poison Wolf Ibu stop his attack, I wondered if he had perhaps stepped on a stray nail after all.

Because of the thick dust, I couldn't see an inch in front of me, so I maintained my drawing posture. At the same time, I felt something pass rapidly over the top of my head.

A moment later, strands of severed hair fluttered down. Without me even realizing it, Poison Wolf Ibu’s axe had swept right over my head. If I had been even a fraction of a second slower, my head would be rolling across the stage right now.

I worried he might attack again, but hearing his heavy, ragged breathing nearby, I felt somewhat relieved.

He must have stepped on a nail and can't move.

The dust still blanketed the stage, so the crowd remained silent, waiting for it to clear.

But how is there more dust now than when I actually used internal energy?

I couldn't help but lament my pathetic level of cultivation, even though I already knew the truth of it. A tiny, fleeting moment of regret washed over me—I should have practiced more, I should have pushed myself harder.

As the dust obscuring the stage finally settled, gasps of shock erupted from the crowd.

The tip of my sword was positioned right against the left side of Poison Wolf Ibu’s chest. He was scowling, staring down at my blade.

I, in turn, was looking up at him. Our heights were roughly the same, so it was strange that I had to look up.

Huh? I looked down at my feet.

"Wait, what?"

My feet were buried deep into the floor of the stage. Because my position had lowered, my sword was naturally leveled at his chest. When I realized that if I hadn't dropped like this, his axe would have cleaved my neck, my skin crawled with goosebumps.

The sensation of sinking wasn't just a feeling; I had actually smashed through the floorboards of the stage.

Wait, what? Even when I loosened the boards, I couldn't actually break them.

I had tried to break them at first. But since they were made of seasoned oak, I had given up on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠breaking them and settled for loosening them instead.

"Ah! So that was his move!"

"A technique I never would have imagined!"

"I’ve heard countless times about using the terrain to one's advantage, but to use the stage like that... I never could have dreamed of it!"

People everywhere were marveling at me.

"But those oak boards aren't supposed to break with just any stomp."

"Exactly. Just how much internal energy do you need to shatter those? He looks so young, yet he possesses both incredible swordsmanship and internal power."

"I wonder who Young Hero Eo’s master is."

Now they’re even talking about a master I don't even have.

Well, I could hardly believe what I had just done myself, so I couldn't really blame them. I stared blankly at the hole in the stage for a long time. To punch through oak flooring with a stomp was a feat only a master above the second-rate could achieve.

I was glad to have won by fluke, but the confusion didn't fade.

What on earth happened? I just stomped because I felt a sudden surge of strength.

And now, that strength was nowhere to be found in my body. It was a bizarre power that made me feel like I’d been tricked. As I was lost in thought, I momentarily forgot about Poison Wolf Ibu standing in front of me.

"I never imagined I would lose in a single move like this."

Poison Wolf Ibu lowered his axes with a bitter expression. His voice snapped me back to reality.

"Oh! You’re bleeding!"

Because I had been spacing out, my sword had grazed his side, and a thin line of blood was seeping out.

"I am sorry. I... I did that without thinking."

It wasn't intentional, but I knew exactly how to move people in a situation like this. Without hesitation, I reached down and tore a long strip from the hem of my blue martial robes. I then used it to wrap and bind the wound on his side.

"As expected, Young Hero Eo is generous even to the defeated. To tear his own robes without a second thought to bind a wound... I’ve seen countless duels, but I’ve never seen anything like that."

"Indeed, Young Hero Eo is a true gentleman. A great man."

The low-tier warriors were now interpreting everything I did in the best possible light. Even though it was my intention, it was so exaggerated it was almost embarrassing to hear.

"Ugh!"

"I have some excellent golden sore ointment, so if you apply that, it will heal in no time."

When I spoke with an apologetic face, Poison Wolf Ibu laughed.

"Your skill is truly enough to make even this Poison Wolf admire you. To sink into the floor to evade my axe and my eyes, and then subdue me with a simple draw of the sword... I, Poison Wolf, truly concede defeat. And as for the medicine and this kindness... it is the first time I have received such a thing since I first picked up a blade. I shall keep this in my heart."

The guy looks like a mountain bandit, but he actually knows how to show gratitude.

He was much better than that ungrateful Smiling Face Sword.

Poison Wolf Ibu stepped down from the stage.

"Poison Wolf Ibu is a well-known expert among vagabonds, so how could Young Hero Eo settle it with a single strike? The difference in skill is too vast. I can't understand why he hasn't made a name for himself until now."

"From what I’ve heard, he was hiding his strength and intentionally hanging out with us low-tiers. Maybe he was undergoing some kind of martial training."

"I heard that rumor too. Some say he’s the successor of a legendary hidden master. But I don't get why he’d hang out with us. With that skill, he could live a life of luxury among the elites."

"I heard this from a friend who works in the kitchens of Ten Thousand Dragons Fortress, but apparently, Young Hero Eo even refused the reward for saving the Lord’s daughter. Who in their right mind would turn down an opportunity like that? I’m telling you, there’s definitely something more to him. Maybe it’s a story about the successor of a hidden master searching for someone?"

Because I had displayed such outstanding skill, everyone was shocked and all sorts of rumors began to circulate.

"Another rumor says that Young Hero Eo is on par with the Four Dragons of Sichuan. The experts in the Red Rooms said it, so it must be accurate, right?"

I let out a hollow laugh.

The rumors really should have stopped there. If I was being compared to the Four Dragons of Sichuan, things were already going way off course. This was bound to lead to trouble.

Someone was going to start shouting that I was even better than the Four Dragons. Then, the real Four Dragons would eventually come looking for me to challenge me for the sake of their honor.

This wasn't just my imagination. I had seen with my own two eyes several martial artists who were actually improving their skills get killed after being caught in such a situation.

As I was stepping down from the stage, I overheard a snippet of the crowd's conversation that made my heart skip a beat.