Chapter 73: Displaying the Demon Ghost Sword Control (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 73: Displaying the Demon Ghost Sword Control (2)
“I agree! And I have a condition of my own.”
“What is it?”
When I asked, he spat out words that were the height of arrogance.
“If I cannot defeat that man within a hundred moves, I will consider it my loss!”
I wondered how much confidence one must have to say such a thing, but to me, it was nothing more than bravado. At that age, people often mistake reckless bravado for heroism. Come to think of it, I’m around that age too.
“I accept that condition.”
It wasn’t like I had anything to lose.
Mu Gyeol stood tall, clearly not entertaining the possibility of defeat. The two of them moved apart, creating space as they took their stances.
I turned and offered a polite fist-and-palm salute to Hye-sim and Myeonggwang.
“I am ashamed to face you, seniors. Please forgive my sworn brother’s rudeness and my own insolence.”
I made sure to courteously seek forgiveness from the Murim seniors. As expected, the masters of the Qingcheng and Emei Sects seemed to let their anger simmer down at my words. Until that moment, they had been fuming at Mu Gyeol, who had been acting as if they didn't even exist.
They likely hadn't expected Mu Gyeol to behave so insolently, and having lost the chance to intervene, they must have been feeling quite disgruntled. Even if they tried to mediate now, they would look like fools if Mu Gyeol refused to listen. Since getting angry would be beneath their status, they were simply suppressing their rage.
In a duel like this, it was proper etiquette to seek the understanding of one's seniors first. However, because a sudden fight had broken out due to a clash of egos, the seniors hadn't had a chance to step in.
In times like these, the one who strikes first to score points wins.
With this, Mu Gyeol would be seen as a genius master who was also a rude, arrogant brat, while I would be seen as a polite and considerate expert.
It was a relief that the Nine Demons Chamber was waiting outside the Ilguk Sect's gates and didn't have to witness this mess. If the Mad Demon Seop Jung had seen this, he wouldn't have let it slide.
The Nine Demons Chamber had stationed themselves outside the gates after exterminating the Blood Lama. Since there were many members of the Orthodox Demon Subjugation Group inside the Ilguk Sect, they found it uncomfortable to mingle with them.
Clang! Clang!
Strangely, it seemed as if the two of them had felt something from the moment they first met, as they appeared desperate to tear into each other. They drew their swords without even a word of greeting.
They were masters, through and through.
From the moment their blades were drawn, they controlled every single breath. They didn't even let out a shout like the 'Hyut!' I usually used. They simply moved with the fluidity of fish playing in water, their swords clashing within a space illuminated by flashes of sword glare.
“Ah! I knew of the Wudang Sword Dragon’s prowess, but that man Jeok Yeong’s swordsmanship is also exquisite.”
As the Qingcheng Taoist Myeonggwang let out a cry of admiration while watching the duel, a competitive fire flickered in the eyes of the Qingcheng Sword Dragon, Man-gong.
He wasn't the only one.
Pung-hyeon’s hand twitched, repeatedly gripping and releasing his blade. It showed how strong his urge was to jump into the fray.
Tang Ja-seong was breathing heavily, as if he were winded. He couldn't take his eyes off the fight between Jeok Yeong and Mu Gyeol, his own fighting spirit ignited by the aura they were radiating. Tang Bin pulled on his sleeve to warn him, but Tang Ja-seong didn't even notice.
Do Yeon was the same; everyone present who could be called a master was completely absorbed in the duel.
I was the only one leisurely observing the people around me. The fight between Jeok Yeong and Mu Gyeol is certainly enough to make a master’s blood boil.
I smiled thinly and scanned the surroundings until my eyes met someone else's.
That guy!
He smiled at me. He was the only other person whose eyes weren't glued to the duel. Was his name Unjeong? The one who claimed to be one of Mount Hua’s Twelve Sword Masters and the deputy leader of the Nine Dragons Group.
To think he was the only one maintaining his composure in this situation.
I could claim I wasn't interested because I was a weakling who couldn't even follow their techniques, but what about him?
Of course, ever since my upper dantian became a Circulating Dantian, I could follow Jeok Yeong and Mu Gyeol’s forms and movement arts reasonably well. However, to understand the profound principles behind them, I would need a deep understanding and study of martial forms, even if I wasn't at their level.
Lacking that, I couldn't understand why a certain movement was being made at that specific moment. Nor could I tell why the defender was blocking in that particular posture.
Just as one sees and feels the world only as much as they know, one understands the sword only as much as they have studied and realized. Seeing didn't equate to understanding.
Understanding a technique just by looking at it once? What a load of crap. The only people in the world capable of that are the protagonists of martial arts novels.
“Are you not worried? If things go wrong, your sworn brother could be gravely injured. And yet, knowing that, you allowed this duel. In a way, you are a terrifying man.”
Unjeong had approached me at some point and spoke while looking me straight in the eye.
“I trust Brother Jeok. And he is a greater master than you realize.”
I added one more thing to Unjeong as he slowly nodded.
“Just like you, Taoist Unjeong.”
Unjeong stiffened slightly at my words. Most people like him were hiding their true strength. I decided to poke him a bit more.
“I guarantee that Taoist Unjeong will make a great name for himself within a few years. I don't know why you haven't revealed your true skills, but once the sword you pursue is perfected, the Murim will surely remember your Taoist name. Isn't that right?”
I said it half as a bluff and half as a compliment.
“Why do you think so?”
Unjeong’s face turned rigid.
“For a warrior, it’s impossible to be uninterested in a duel between those two. Yet, you showed no interest. That means you already possess that level of skill, or perhaps you have already surpassed it.”
Unjeong finally broke into a thin smile.
“Is that why you aren't interested in the duel either, Young Hero Eo?”
“It’s just boring for me since I can't understand what’s happening even if I watch.”
But honestly, when I spoke the truth, people like him always seemed to remember only the last part.
“Boring? I see. So, a level like that is trivial to you. You are even more than the rumors suggest, Young Hero Eo. I have a feeling we will meet again someday.”
“As long as we are in the Murim, won't there be a day we cross paths again?”
I responded casually and turned toward where Fairy Hye-sim was standing.
Wait.
Mu Gyeol’s sword momentum suddenly shifted. The ones who recognized the change in technique were, as expected, the senior masters.
Myeonggwang muttered under his breath.
“The Taiji Wisdom Sword.”
What? That guy is using the Taiji Wisdom Sword? Then he really is a master.
Hye-sim added, “The nickname 'Little Sanfeng' was given to him because he learned the Taiji Wisdom Sword at such a young age.”
I began to feel genuinely worried for Jeok Yeong. The Taiji Wisdom Sword was known as the supreme sword art of the Wudang Sect.
Yet, Jeok Yeong didn't seem intimidated at all, even when pushed onto the defensive. He was holding his own against the legendary Taiji Wisdom Sword.
“If his mastery of the Taiji Wisdom Sword isn't high enough, he might actually lose to his opponent,” Myeonggwang said, watching Mu Gyeol.
The Taiji Wisdom Sword was undoubtedly an advanced martial art. If one achieved Great Achievement in it, they would become the greatest master under heaven. But that was exactly why it was so difficult. Advanced martial arts are not perfected through the precision of forms, but through enlightenment.
It’s just like how I practiced the Nine-Section Soul-Severing Sword for years, but without enlightenment, it was nothing more than swinging a stick.
Mu Gyeol pushed Jeok Yeong back for a moment with his incomplete Taiji Wisdom Sword, but Jeok Yeong was clearly the successor of a great master himself, as he had undoubtedly mastered an advanced sword art of his own.
Hye-sim said to Myeonggwang, “Donor Jeok Yeong’s sword is truly remarkable. He isn't being pushed back by the Taiji Wisdom Sword at all. Even if Donor Mu Gyeol’s mastery is low, Donor Jeok Yeong’s swordsmanship is truly outstanding.”
Myeonggwang paused for a long time before responding.
“With that level of prowess, he must have studied under a great mentor, yet I cannot discern his lineage at all.”
“I don't know either. If it’s a sect that produced such a young master, it should be well-known.”
Hye-sim glanced at me and murmured, “Donor Jeok Yeong is one thing, but Donor Eo is equally surprising. Looking at his prowess, it’s almost frightening.”
My ears perked up as the two of them started talking about me.
“From what I’ve heard of the rumors, Young Hero Eo seems to be a super-peak master, yet his sect is also unknown.”
“I personally saw Young Hero Eo kill a Blood Luo Living Jiangshi by destroying its acupoints in a single strike. It was truly a miraculous feat. At that level, he can be considered super-peak.”
“Infinite Longevity and Fortune... if that is the case, it is a great blessing for the Murim. It is truly fortunate that such an upright warrior belongs to the Orthodox Murim.”
Hye-sim nodded.
“I watched him for a short while, and I was truly impressed. I wonder what kind of great master raised him.”
“Looking at Donor Jeok and Donor Eo, it’s clear that there are still many hidden masters living in seclusion in the Murim.”
The duel between Jeok Yeong and Mu Gyeol was growing so heated that it felt like the air would sear one's skin.
This is getting too dangerous.
The two of them were so immersed in the duel that they seemed to have forgotten they were even fighting.
I should stop them. If I stop them now, it’ll be a draw. But that would be the same as humiliating Mu Gyeol.
With that intention, I approached Hye-sim and Myeonggwang. As I drew near, Myeonggwang asked, “Young Hero Eo, do you know which sect Donor Jeok belongs to?”
I offered an excuse. It would be nonsensical to claim I didn't know my sworn brother’s background.
“Brother Jeok and I never asked about each other’s backgrounds or sects. When people become friends, such things aren't important. If I like someone, but their background is poor, does that make it hard to be friends? That’s why I don't ask about backgrounds when I make friends. I only look at the person themselves.”
At my words, the two of them nodded with impressed expressions.
“Now that you mention it, that is truly a wise answer to a foolish question. What does a mere background matter? I learn another lesson from Young Hero Eo today.”
When Hye-sim spoke while pressing her palms together, I bowed my head sheepishly.
While weaklings like me or Unorthodox warriors might interpret someone’s intentions maliciously, the renowned masters of the Great Orthodox Sects had high levels of cultivation and tended to interpret people’s words and actions through a lens of goodness.
The duel between Jeok Yeong and Mu Gyeol had been going on for about fifteen minutes. They were displaying every bit of skill they possessed.
Mu Gyeol’s position as the leader of the Nine Dragons Group was proof enough of his ability. He was certainly as skilled as he was arrogant.
But what was more surprising was Jeok Yeong. To think he had the skill to not be pushed back by Mu Gyeol at all. I had expected much, but I hadn't realized he was this good.
I hit the jackpot.
Now, it didn't matter even if he lost. Even a narrow defeat against Mu Gyeol would be no different from a victory. Mu Gyeol was the top-ranked young master recognized by the world. If Jeok Yeong fought him to a standstill, no one would ever be able to look down on him again.
Not only that, but my own status as his sworn brother would rise as well.
“Hut!”
For the first time, a shout erupted from Mu Gyeol. A chilling blue light extended from his sword, lunging toward Jeok Yeong. It meant he was now actively using his internal energy to fight.
Until now, they had avoided direct clashes of energy and fought only with techniques, but this was becoming dangerous. Not to be outdone, Jeok Yeong struck back. A golden light erupted from his sword.
Boom!
As Mu Gyeol’s sword and Jeok Yeong’s sword collided, a thunderous roar echoed from the clash of internal energy. Both men were thrown backward.
After retreating exactly ten steps each, they glared at each other, seemingly gathering their internal energy once more. As Mu Gyeol and Jeok Yeong concentrated their power, the surrounding air began to howl and fluctuate violently.
This is really dangerous.
Sensing this, Hye-sim and Myeonggwang shouted, “Both of you, stop this at once!”
However, the two were already lost in their own world and couldn't hear anyone else. A sense of alarm hit me—Jeok Yeong could be seriously hurt. I felt that I had to stop this duel no matter what.
I need to show them something shocking to snap them out of it.
But I had nothing like that.
Anxious, I was fiddling with my chin with my right hand when my eyes fell on the bell.
Right! That method should get them to look at me.
I had to make my move before the escalating auras of those two collided. I drew the Ghost Sword and threw it into the center between them.
People were startled by my sudden action. Then, I gently shook my wrist.
Gasps of horror erupted from all sides as the sword I threw didn't fall to the ground but hovered in mid-air.
“Ugh! Manipulating Sword with Qi!”
“What? That’s Manipulating Sword with Qi!”
The warriors of the Nine Dragons Group stared with wide, shocked eyes, while the masters of the Emei and Qingcheng Sects stood with their jaws hanging open. Furthermore, Tang Ja-seong and Tang Bin froze in shock, and the members of the Demon Subjugation Groups from other sects were busy whispering frantically to one another.
They probably never imagined they would see Manipulating Sword with Qi in their lifetime.
The guy named Unjeong, in particular, looked ridiculous with his eyes bulging as if they were about to pop out.
Until now, I had acted like a master only to a certain extent, fearing that being mistaken for a true powerhouse would put my life in danger. But now, there was no need for that. Now, there was no problem even if I actively went around boasting that I was a master.
I had the Twin Heroes of Guiyang, who would give their lives to protect me, and Jeok Yeong, a master who surpassed the first-rate level. Why should I live in constant anxiety like I did when I was a weakling?
And it didn't matter if I used a trick like the Demon Ghost Sword Control with the Ghost Sword. I had the Golden Qi-Poisoning Bracelet, my secret weapon for acting like a master, and I had even realized the Scattering Light Red Sun Flash. I had nothing to worry about.
However, that didn't mean I intended to abandon my 'weakling principles' or my life as a third-rate. That lifestyle provided me with safety.
Acting like a master and living like a master were two different things. Living as a master meant putting your life on the line. You always had to be at the forefront of dangerous situations and accept challenges from other experts.
I decided to change my philosophy starting today.
Act like a master, but live like a third-rate.
Hehehe, this was truly the life I had dreamed of.
But now wasn't the time to weigh my options. It was a matter of Jeok Yeong potentially dying. I couldn't let the jackpot I had finally won be ruined.