Monopolizing Fortunes (171)
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Monopolizing Fortunes (171)
"What is it you want?"
Won Dae-yeon, who had been growing impatient, spoke.
"A duel."
"What? These two want a duel with me?"
"What else would it be? Did you think they were here to propose marriage?"
"But still......"
Jo Seong-un was inwardly dumbfounded. Even if no one in the martial world knew exactly how strong Jo Seong-un's martial arts were, common sense said that Namgung Seol-rin was not at a level to be challenging him to a duel.
And judging by the lack of any introduction, Jang Yu-seom was someone with no reputation in the martial world either.
"I can't stand to watch a wildcat throw itself at a tiger any longer."
The sixth member, Jo Sang-guk, stepped forward, unable to watch any more. To the Twelve Zodiac Shadows, their senior Jo Seong-un was both master and parent, and the greatest under heaven.
Although they had seen him lose to Won Dae-yeon, Jo Sang-guk's own strength had not faded.
But seeing people who were not even worthy opponents insist on a duel made his blood boil.
"If you want to fight our senior, you'll have to prove your qualifications by facing us first."
As the Twelve Zodiac Shadows nodded in unison, Won Dae-yeon spoke.
"I'll vouch for their qualifications."
"Senior brother......"
"Those two will prove that the Righteous Chivalry Sect is strong enough even without the Twelve Zodiac Shadows."
Namgung Seol-rin spoke.
"For your information, Won Dae-yeon couldn't withstand a joint attack from the two of us."
Won Dae-yeon snapped.
"That's because my body wasn't in normal condition!"
"Still, a fact is a fact."
Jang Yu-seom chimed in as well.
"Exactly."
"Want to go again?"
"I'm always welcome to it."
"So am I."
Somehow, the duel opponent seemed to be shifting from Jo Seong-un to Won Dae-yeon.
"I'll face Miss Namgung."
Feeling as though he would lose something if the chance to duel was taken from him, Jo Seong-un spoke quickly. Won Dae-yeon's face crumpled in an instant.
"Why are you suddenly butting in?"
"Wasn't this originally my duel?"
"Well, yes, but...... damn it!"
Won Dae-yeon told Namgung Seol-rin and Jang Yu-seom, 'Our business isn't finished yet,' and the two replied, 'We welcome it anytime.'
They went out to the open ground between the buildings. Around twenty warriors from the Revenge Society who had arrived at the Righteous Chivalry Sect were gathered there.
They had expected something to happen when they arrived at the Righteous Chivalry Sect, but all they had heard was a middle-aged man saying, 'Just take it easy today.'
So they had been wandering around the Righteous Chivalry Sect with nothing to do. In the Revenge Society, they could not even imagine such idle time.
When they were not standing guard, they trained in martial arts, and if they still had time, they were put to work on chores. The Revenge Society was a place where you could only go to bed after moving your body all day long.
They had been growing bored with the first idle time of their lives when strangers appeared.
Should they just stay put? Should they show their loyalty? Won Dae-yeon's group paid no attention to their hesitation.
Only when Namgung Seol-rin and Jo Seong-un stood facing each other at a distance of two jang did they realize it was a duel and straighten their postures.
Jo Seong-un was surprised to see Namgung Seol-rin drawing her sword.
"You want to use live blades?"
"We stake our lives on every fight."
Her eyes showed she meant it. So Jo Seong-un looked at Namgung Seol-rin again.
'I thought she was just a treasured jewel raised gently in a prestigious orthodox sect, but she's a true martial artist.'
Jo Seong-un also took his two daggers in hand.
"Be careful. A blade has no eyes. I'll cede the first move."
The moment those words fell, Namgung Seol-rin moved. He had seen the Namgung Clan's sword art once before. Its domineering power had been impressive, but as a woman, Namgung Seol-rin would surely have difficulty bringing out that dominance.
Namgung Seol-rin took a low stance and slashed upward from below. Her movements were extraordinary from the very first attack.
He stepped back slightly to dodge, then tried to close the distance. That was the standard way for someone with a short weapon to fight someone with a long weapon.
But Namgung Seol-rin's movements were far faster than expected, and her sword was already thrusting toward his chest.
Jo Seong-un had no choice but to step back again.
'Was the Namgung Clan's sword art always this fast?'
He did not know all of the Namgung Clan's sword art, but this was far from what was known in the martial world.
Whirrr—!
The sword thrusting at him again wavered so violently that it was hard to tell whether it was aiming high, middle, or low. Jo Seong-un could only deflect the attack when the tip of the sword was right upon him.
Clang-clang-clang!
The feeling transmitted to his hand was heavy. It contained both speed and change, and even power. He finally realized that Namgung Seol-rin was a master who could never be taken lightly.
'Then I'll have to go all out too.'
Jo Seong-un no longer retreated. Once he acknowledged his opponent as a worthy rival, he had to be prepared for wounds.
He leaped into the swinging sword. A heavy feeling transmitted to his hand. Even though he blocked with both daggers overlapped, it was still heavy.
He advanced while dodging the sword that came back around to attack much faster. Blood spurted from his left upper arm. It was fine. A shallow wound. Thanks to that, he got close enough for his dagger to reach.
Jo Seong-un thrust his sword toward Namgung Seol-rin's lower abdomen. It was too late for her to retreat or block. It was an attack that could not fail.
She would be injured, but it was not a vital point, so she would not die. But Jo Seong-un's attack was blocked.
She had struck down on the blade with the sword handle. It was a brilliant improvisation that could only come from hundreds of real battles.
'She's even experienced?'
Even if she had not fought through life-or-death battlefields, Namgung Seol-rin dueled Jang Yu-seom and Won Dae-yeon almost every day.
They did not go easy on her, and Namgung Seol-rin was the same. She had dozens of wounds from duels that were like real combat, and she had been hit by unexpected attacks hundreds of times.
While Jo Seong-un flinched, Namgung Seol-rin's attack came in again. The sword swinging toward his neck was unhesitating. It was an attack that lacked only killing intent, but did not fear killing.
He could not understand why the treasured jewel of the Namgung Clan was living such a life, but he would have to survive to find out.
Clang!
Jo Seong-un blocked the attack and advanced again. He could not win by only retreating. But the wall called Namgung Seol-rin was not an easy one to turn his will into reality.
He made six attempts and gained three wounds. At this rate, there was no way he could defeat Namgung Seol-rin.
'I have no choice.'
He did not want to use the Cheonui Flying Sword, but it was the only way to beat Namgung Seol-rin.
Jo Seong-un leaped back, and the two daggers left his hands. The white silver threads connected to his wrists glittered in the sunlight.
Namgung Seol-rin was not surprised. Well, she had probably dueled Won Dae-yeon plenty, so she would have experience with this.
Namgung Seol-rin deflected one and dodged the other, closing the distance. Now it was Namgung Seol-rin who needed to close the distance.
Namgung Seol-rin skillfully dodged the returning daggers as well.
'Just how much has she dueled with senior brother?'
Still, she did not think she would lose. The Cheonui Flying Sword was not a martial art that could be dodged just by knowing about it.
Whirrr—!
The two daggers crossed and fell upon Namgung Seol-rin like swimming snakes. Tadang! As soon as two metallic sounds rang out, the daggers attacked Namgung Seol-rin without returning, as if they were alive.
Jo Seong-un controlled the silver threads and fought as if he were holding the daggers in his hands. Sometimes like flying swords, sometimes like swords in hand, he pressured Namgung Seol-rin.
As more than one ke passed, three wounds appeared on Namgung Seol-rin's arms and legs.
The Revenge Society warriors watching from around were all gaping. They were so absorbed in the duel that they did not even notice drool running down their chins.
They had seen countless fights, but the fight between those two showed them that there were always greater heights.
When they had been told to leave the Revenge Society and go to the Righteous Chivalry Sect, many had been disappointed. They had seen Do Tong-dal's martial arts, but a sect was not a place that could become strong with just one master.
While there were warriors brainwashed by the Revenge Society into unconditional loyalty, there were also warriors who coveted the sweet fruits that would fall when the Revenge Society conquered the martial world.
They had left the Revenge Society with the hearts of officials being sent into exile. But the Righteous Chivalry Sect they arrived at was not the weak sect they had imagined.
How could a sect with people possessing such powerful martial arts be weak?
But then something truly astonishing happened. Three daggers flew between Namgung Seol-rin and Jo Seong-un, who seemed to be fighting for their lives.
After three metallic sounds rang out, Namgung Seol-rin and Jo Seong-un retreated after two ke. The daggers that had forced the two of them back spun through the air and returned to Won Dae-yeon's hand.
"F-Flying Sword!"
Someone spat out the realm like a scream. Even if one spent a lifetime in the martial world, the number of martial artists who had seen a Flying Sword could probably be counted on one hand.
Such a Flying Sword had unfolded before their eyes.
"That should be enough. It's a duel, not a life-or-death match."
Namgung Seol-rin sheathed her sword and clasped her fists toward Jo Seong-un.
"Thank you for the lesson today. It was an honor to exchange moves with Jayeong."
Jo Seong-un also clasped his fists in return.
"Rather, I thank you, miss, for giving me the opportunity to gain enlightenment."
The two simply treated their wounds and gathered again in one place. He had fought evenly with Namgung Seol-rin, whom he had thought to be far below him, so his pride should have been wounded, but Jo Seong-un did not feel that way at all.
"Senior brother has reached the realm of the Flying Sword, and Miss Namgung's martial arts were truly astonishing. I don't know much about the Namgung Clan, but at that level, even the Namgung Clan Head would not be able to take you lightly. Just how did you reach such a realm?"
Won Dae-yeon spoke.
"This is all thanks to Coordinator Do. You know that the Invincible Inch-Heaven Sword is an incomplete sword art, right?"
"Rather than incomplete, the essential principles that Master grasped in his later years were lost."
"Coordinator Do found those essential principles for me."
"What? How?"
"They were in the Imperial Palace Secret Archive."
"The Imperial Palace Secret Archive? How did they end up in the Imperial Palace Secret Archive? And how did that person get them out of the Imperial Palace Secret Archive?"
"I don't know how they ended up in the Imperial Palace Secret Archive, but getting them out was Coordinator Do's ability."
Namgung Seol-rin spoke.
"It's just one of his many abilities."
"Then is Miss Namgung's martial arts reaching that realm also thanks to the man called Do Tong-dal?"
"You could say that. I have to become stronger to be someone worthy of Tong-dal."
Jo Seong-un was at a loss for words. Martial artists mostly became stronger for themselves. There were many reasons such as the honor of one's sect, wealth and glory, or performing chivalry, but in the end, it was all for oneself.
But Won Dae-yeon and Namgung Seol-rin's gazes were directed solely at Do Tong-dal.
'Just what does that man have?'
His first impression had been nothing more than a rude young punk. But he had to acknowledge the boast that the Righteous Chivalry Sect was strong enough even without the Twelve Zodiac Shadows.
At that moment, a voice came from outside.
"A guest has arrived asking to see Protector Bang."
They were looking for Namgung Seol-rin, who used the alias Bang Su-yeon.
"Me?"
The identity of Bang Su-yeon was not known, so there was no one who would come looking for her.
"Show them to the reception room."
But then the door suddenly opened, and a man with half his face covered in a beard came in with Do Tong-dal.
"Hey, if you came here, you should have come to find me. Why are you looking for Seol-rin?"
"I wanted to surprise you. But how did you recognize me right away? This is a pretty good disguise, isn't it?"
Do Tong-dal roughly grabbed the man's beard and yanked it off.
"Ugh! Take it off gently!"
"Stop being dramatic."
Namgung Seol-rin jumped up in surprise.
"Brother!"
Namgung Cheol-hyeon, having removed his clumsy disguise, raised his hand with a happy face.
"Have you been well?"
After greeting Namgung Seol-rin, Namgung Cheol-hyeon bowed his head to Won Dae-yeon.
"Have you been in good health as well, Won Dae-yeon?"
"I'm healthy as long as I'm not dead. You seem to have grown even more handsome."
Namgung Cheol-hyeon's gaze shifted to Jang Yu-seom.
"It's been a while. I came running all this way because I wanted to duel you, Jang Yu-seom."
"Hahaha! That's welcome news. I've been missing our exchanges as well, Young Master Namgung."
"You should be careful. I've been working quite hard."
"Shall I show you the wounds I've gotten while dueling Protector Namgung all this time?"
Do Tong-dal stepped in.
"Good grief, you martial arts fanatics. You're ready to start dueling the moment you meet. Cheol-hyeon, sit down first."
As Namgung Cheol-hyeon took his seat, he looked at the Twelve Zodiac Shadows and spoke.
"There are faces I haven't seen before."
* * *