Chapter 113
Chapter 113
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 32
>Chapter Title: The Final Gateway (3)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
As Yeom Ga-oh from the Main Killer Pavilion drew number five, Mok Kyung-un naturally became number two.
Mo Jang-yak, who still had confidence in victory despite drawing the most troublesome opponent, extended his hand to Mok Kyung-un and said,
"In the end, we're matched up. May the best man win—let's give it our all."
Mok Kyung-un took his hand, replying with a troubled look,
"Yeah. That might be tough."
"What?"
"If I go all out, the spar will be too boring, so I'll hold back a bit. You go all out."
'!?'
Mo Jang-yak was always brimming with composure, but at that moment, one eyebrow twitched, betraying his emotions.
Was this guy provoking him right now?
Mo Jang-yak stared straight into Mok Kyung-un's eyes.
Unlike his own heightened state, there was no particular emotion in that gaze.
At this sight, Mo Jang-yak calmed his boiling emotions in an instant and regained his cool-headedness.
'.....Has it already begun?'
It was undoubtedly blatant provocation.
The guy was just as sharp and strategic as he was.
He might be trying to rattle him before the spar to gain the upper hand.
With that, Mo Jang-yak opened his mouth with a smiling face.
"I'm grateful you're holding back. I was already favored to win, but that makes it overwhelmingly in my favor. Guess you're not interested in the top spot of the final gateway?"
This for that, eye for an eye.
Mo Jang-yak provoked Mok Kyung-un in return.
But Mok Kyung-un showed no particular reaction to Mo Jang-yak's provocation.
Instead, he let out a smirk and turned his head away.
'........'
At this, Mo Jang-yak inwardly clicked his tongue.
He had heard since childhood that he was as cunning as he was talented in martial arts.
He was confident he wouldn't lose to anyone in a battle of wits or argument, yet for some odd reason, conversing with this guy made him feel like he was being led around.
'No need to fall for the provocation.'
The spar would decide the winner anyway.
He tried to brush it off and ignore it.
However,
".....Hey. Mok Kyung-un."
Still facing forward, Mo Jang-yak called out to him.
Only after calling did Mo Jang-yak inwardly regret wondering why he did that, but it was already done.
"What's up?"
To Mok Kyung-un's question, Mo Jang-yak said,
"Since we're sparring anyway, how about a little wager?"
"A wager?"
"Yeah."
"Why should I?"
Mok Kyung-un said in a tone that suggested it made no sense.
Mo Jang-yak smirked and replied,
"If you're not confident, we don't have to."
"Confident?"
"Yeah. I just thought a wager would make the spar more fun, but if you're not confident, no need."
It was blatant provocation.
He could have let it slide, but Mo Jang-yak felt he needed to settle this rivalry definitively in this spar, so he tried to draw Mok Kyung-un into the bet.
"Hmm."
Stroking his chin, Mok Kyung-un smirked and said,
"What kind of wager do you have in mind?"
At those words, Mo Jang-yak didn't show it, but inwardly cheered that Mok Kyung-un had taken the bait.
Now all that was left was to set the stakes.
Mo Jang-yak racked his brains in an instant.
He had suggested a wager to provoke, but he didn't want to create resentment or anger even if the opponent lost.
So what he came up with was,
"How about the loser calls the winner 'big brother'?"
"Big brother?"
"Yeah. It clearly establishes who's above whom."
"Above whom....."
"Not a bad wager, right? We're rivals, but not mortal enemies who need to kill each other—no need to raise the stakes too high."
A bet just enough to create urgency to win would suffice.
At these words, Mok Kyung-un let out a faint groan and said,
"Hmm. That's not very fun."
"Not fun?"
"Yeah. Do we really need to wager on something like that?"
Had he misread? He thought he'd hooked him.
Puzzled, Mo Jang-yak asked,
".....Then what's a fun wager in your mind?"
"Well. How about the loser becomes the winner's loyal dog?"
"What?"
Mo Jang-yak's expression hardened at Mok Kyung-un's words.
He had pitched it at a level where neither would feel too bad if they lost, but the guy upped the ante.
Becoming a loyal dog was basically telling him to crawl under him.
'He's not just good at provocation—he's excessive.'
Mo Jang-yak usually brushed off most things with a laugh, but this time it was hard to smile.
He had proposed the wager first.
Backing out because the stakes got higher would make him look ridiculous.
Mo Jang-yak slightly turned his head to look at Mok Kyung-un.
'That confident? Or determined to provoke me to the end?'
It didn't matter either way.
The latter had definitely worked.
From the moment he suggested brotherly hierarchy, he had essentially fallen for the guy's provocation.
Mo Jang-yak clenched his fist as if resolved and said,
"You're sure you won't regret it?"
"That's what I want to ask you."
".......You're something else. I've never been bested in debates or this kind of thing. Fine. Let's do it—the loser becomes the loyal dog."
He just had to win anyway.
Mok Kyung-un might have some special power, but this was purely a martial arts spar.
When it came to pure martial arts, he was confident no one could match him.
Because he had 'that'.
* * *
Thus, the two cadets in the first matchup of the final gateway spar walked to the center of the plaza, faced each other, and began warming up.
They were Mok Kyung-un and Mo Jang-yak.
Those seated as observers beside the platform wore varied expressions.
Among them, Myeong Do-wang Son Yun, who had come to check Mok Kyung-un's martial prowess, was surprised by something unexpected.
Son Yun beckoned one of the red-belted warriors and asked,
"What's that kid's name again?"
"Mo Jang-yak, sir."
"Mo Jang-yak? Do you know which clan he's from?"
"Seems like from a mid-to-small faction under our association, but nothing else known."
At the warrior's words, Son Yun's eyes narrowed.
That kid was from an obscure mid-to-small faction?
At that moment, Wall-crushing Fist King Won Byung-hak, sitting right beside Myeong Do-wang Son Yun, spoke in a tone of considerable surprise.
"This is surprising. Was there a kid like that?"
"You noticed too?"
The aura emanating from Mo Jang-yak as he warmed up.
They had sensed it with their qi perception.
'That kid.....has reached the peak of the supreme realm.'
A cadet barely seventeen or eighteen had reached the peak of the supreme realm.
If their qi perception wasn't wrong, he was the best among those six.
Truly unexpected.
For such a prodigy to emerge from a mid-to-small faction.
'Bad matchup for his opponent.'
Turning his gaze from Mo Jang-yak to Mok Kyung-un, Myeong Do-wang Son Yun inwardly clicked his tongue.
He had come to gauge the skill of Mok Kyung-un, who defeated his disciple Yeo Wi-seon, but the opponent was too poor.
Of all people, matched against that monster.
'If he has no preparations, it might end anticlimactically.'
Hard to judge everything by qi perception alone, but the auras were too disparate.
Even if Mok Kyung-un was concealing his qi, it seemed hard to compete.
On the other hand, Wall-crushing Fist King Won Byung-hak, who had no particular interest in Mok Kyung-un from the start, licked his lips while watching Mo Jang-yak.
'.......Was I too hasty?'
He had come solely to take the kid from the Secret Scripture Gate.
He had even made prior arrangements with a few observers.
But there was a talent like this.
He tried not to show it, but he regretted it.
'Can't pass this up.'
Won Byung-hak glanced at the other executives.
Among them, to the left, Dark Vice Leader and Blue Sound Valley Lord Hang Yeo-ryang sat side by side.
The two were also looking at Mo Jang-yak and conversing.
Hang Yeo-ryang said to the Dark Vice Leader in an intrigued tone,
"I came for the girl, but there's a decent boy among them too."
"Girl? Have you marked the one from Demonic Flower Hall?"
"Heh heh heh. Heard she's good material."
"Hmm. Tricky. I came to Blood Trial Valley after a long time because I fancied the Demonic Flower Hall girl too."
"Oh? We overlap then."
"Quite unintentionally. Ohoho."
The Dark Vice Leader covered her mouth and laughed like a lady.
Following her lead, Blue Sound Valley Lord Hang Yeo-ryang cackled along.
They were laughing, but it somehow sounded like a battle of wills.
Then Hang Yeo-ryang pointed at Mo Jang-yak and said,
"Why don't you take that kid instead, Vice Leader? He seems the top talent this batch."
"Well."
The Dark Vice Leader stroked her chin, appearing thoughtful.
Hang Yeo-ryang said in a puzzled tone,
"Any reason to hesitate? Worried Wall-crushing Fist King or Myeong Do-wang will snatch him?"
"Ohoho. That's one reason, but my eyes are on that kid too."
"That kid?"
At the Dark Vice Leader's words, Blue Sound Valley Lord Hang Yeo-ryang looked at Mok Kyung-un, who was lightly warming up opposite Mo Jang-yak.
She was somewhat surprised by his handsome face from afar.
But that was it.
By qi perception, he felt only first-rate at best.
First-rate at that age wasn't bad, but far from disciple-worthy.
She said,
"His looks are to my taste, but that's all. Surely not because of his appearance?"
"Ohohoho. Looks are the icing on the cake—if he's already outstanding."
"If that's all, it means nothing."
"A kid who made it this far must have at least one hidden trump card, right?"
"Well, maybe."
Clans always had secret techniques or hidden moves.
But the opponent was too strong.
By qi perception alone, that Mo Jang-yak kid had the potential to reach the transcendent realm anytime with proper enlightenment.
She had originally targeted Mo Ha-rang, but now she was tempted.
Then Hang Yeo-ryang said as if it were for amusement,
"Then, Vice Leader. Shall we make a light wager?"
"A wager?"
"Yes. You seem to think that kid has potential too, so I'll bet the match ends within three exchanges. Of course, winner is Mo Jang-yak."
"Hmm. What are the stakes?"
"How about the rights to that girl?"
"So that's your goal."
"Heh heh heh. Busted."
Hang Yeo-ryang preferred girls over boys.
Since they wanted the same, she proposed a wager for a smooth resolution.
The Dark Vice Leader smiled faintly and said,
"Not bad. But betting on win-loss is obvious given the gap between those two, so let's do this."
"This?"
"I'll bet the match won't end in three exchanges."
At the Dark Vice Leader's words, Blue Sound Valley Lord Hang Yeo-ryang's lips twitched, then she nodded.
"You won't go back on your word?"
"Ohoho. A man's word is worth a thousand gold."
"........."
It didn't quite fit her, but whatever.
Hang Yeo-ryang was convinced the match would end in three exchanges—or even one if done right.
The gap between peak supreme and first-rate was too vast.
If executed well, it might decide in a single exchange.
* * *
Blood Trial Valley Lord Lee Ji-yeom on the platform raised his hand high and shouted,
"Then, exchange greetings."
Mok Kyung-un and Mo Jang-yak, who had been warming up, faced each other and cupped their hands in salute.
It was to show respect as it was a spar.
While cupping his hands, Mo Jang-yak sidelong glanced at someone beside the platform.
'Wall-crushing Fist King.'
Among them, he wanted that man as his master.
In empty-hand combat, Wall-crushing Fist King was one of the top three in the Heaven-Earth Society.
His clan excelled in palm and fist arts, so Mo Jang-yak yearned to become his disciple and reach higher realms.
To make that happen, he needed to take first in the final gateway.
-Swish!
Mo Jang-yak turned his gaze to Mok Kyung-un.
He appeared merely first-rate on the surface, but from multiple observations, Mok Kyung-un was estimated at supreme realm.
He didn't know how he hid his prowess, but definitely not first-rate.
Staring at Mok Kyung-un, Mo Jang-yak steeled his resolve.
'I'll clearly establish superiority.'
He couldn't lose the bet no matter what.
Mo Jang-yak began rapidly circulating his dantian energy throughout his body.
To seize victory early the moment Blood Trial Valley Lord's signal dropped.
'No complacency.'
From the start, full power to crush the guy's will and win.
Then, Blood Trial Valley Lord Lee Ji-yeom lowered his raised hand and shouted loudly,
"Begin!"
The instant Lee Ji-yeom's signal fell.
-Pat!
Mo Jang-yak, who had gathered qi throughout his body, kicked off the ground and shot toward Mok Kyung-un.
'Fast.'
Mok Yu-cheon, watching, let out an exclamation.
He had guessed Mo Jang-yak was strong, but this movement exceeded expectations.
As expected, he had reached the peak of supreme.
'Flowing Water Disruptive Chaos!'
-Papapapapak!
In an instant, Mo Jang-yak closed in on Mok Kyung-un and unleashed a palm technique.
Elegant palm strikes like gentle ripples wove intricately, targeting Mok Kyung-un's upper body vital points.
'How will you respond?'
Mo Jang-yak thought, glaring at Mok Kyung-un.
Even at the same supreme realm, the peak was completely different in power and speed.
-Tak!
Then Mok Kyung-un stepped back half a pace.
And then,
-Whish! Whish! Whish! Whish!
'!?'
Mo Jang-yak's eyes narrowed.
Mok Kyung-un secured half a pace distance, flexibly twisted his upper body, and dodged all the palm strikes.
To so easily evade Flowing Water Disruptive Chaos, where feints and real strikes were hard to distinguish?
It was an unexpected response.
"Huh."
Wall-crushing Fist King Won Byung-hak, watching from beside the platform, couldn't hide his surprise.
Mok Kyung-un's movements were not those of a first-rate.
To dodge strikes like that required at least an equal realm.
'He hid his prowess?'
He had thought the match would end flatly.
But now, with Mok Kyung-un's movements, victory was hard to predict.
'......As expected.'
Myeong Do-wang Son Yun also kept his eyes glued to Mok Kyung-un's movements.
He had thought there was a hidden trump, and indeed, it surpassed first-rate.
At that level, calling it mature supreme or near peak was no exaggeration.
'He knows how to conceal his qi?'
Even he, at the peak of transcendent, couldn't accurately gauge Mok Kyung-un's prowess.
That meant one of two things.
Either an absolute master far above him, or a special technique to hide qi.
The former was impossible rationally, so likely the latter.
'No wonder he seemed lacking.'
Mok Kyung-un's current movements were a cut above Yeo Wi-seon.
He could tell just from the dodging.
Now, the spar between those two was hard to call.
-Papapapak!
"Opening."
Mok Kyung-un, having dodged all palms, stepped forward with footwork and thrust a fist at Mo Jang-yak's face.
Mo Jang-yak leaped back to evade the fist, simultaneously kicking off the ground toward Mok Kyung-un's chin.
-Pak!
As Mok Kyung-un blocked the instep and tried to grab it,
-Whiric!
Mo Jang-yak twisted his body, spun, and kicked Mok Kyung-un's shoulder.
-Puk!
-Charrararara!
Mok Kyung-un's form was pushed back five paces.
Landing, Mo Jang-yak's lips curved faintly upward.
Now he was certain.
Mok Kyung-un's internal energy was weaker than his.
In that case,
'Time to end it.'
-Pat!
Mo Jang-yak kicked off toward the retreating Mok Kyung-un, unleashing a fist technique with his right hand.
'Stacked Fists Dancing Formation!'
Fists overlapped, fluttering like moths with numerous feints as they flew in.
Seeing this, Mok Kyung-un tried to widen the distance with footwork.
But Mo Jang-yak's fist strike, infused with qi like Shaolin's Hundred-Step Divine Fist, pierced the air across the gap and closed in.
'No choice but to block.'
He had to use his hands.
Mok Kyung-un raised qi, extended his palm to block the fist.
But at that moment,
-Puk!
From an unimaginable angle, Mo Jang-yak's palm struck Mok Kyung-un's right ribs.
'Huh?'
Mok Kyung-un's body bent sideways to the right.
With that, Mo Jang-yak's Stacked Fists Dancing Formation slammed into his chest.
-Pupupupuk!
Successive blows sent Mok Kyung-un's form flying back over ten paces.
-Charrarararara!
"Ha!"
Exclamations rose from the stands here and there.
No one had anticipated Mo Jang-yak's technique.
Even Myeong Do-wang Son Yun muttered in surprise,
".....Right Fist, Left Palm."
Right hand with fist technique, left with palm technique.
Unbelievable.
Not the same technique with both hands, but different ones.
"Huh....."
Wall-crashing Fist King Won Byung-hak also couldn't hide his astonishment at this bizarre technique.
It seemed simple at a glance, but martial artists knew it was nearly impossible.
Using different techniques with each hand required thinking two thoughts at once, risking qi circulation chaos.
'To master such a bizarre technique.'
Truly an amazing kid.
One body wielding two different techniques.
It was no different from facing two peak supreme masters.
'Victory tilts.'
However it was done, the situation had tilted toward Mo Jang-yak.
Mok Kyung-un already seemed a level below in internal energy—how could he beat that monster?
'.....Tough one.'
Myeong Do-wang Son Yun shared the sentiment.
Hiding skill was impressive, but opponent too strong.
However,
'What?'
Mo Jang-yak, who had landed what amounted to fatal blows on Mok Kyung-un, didn't look pleased.
He had precisely hit with his hidden trump, Right Fist Left Palm.
Ribs and chest center.
Fatal strikes, no exaggeration.
Yet, the moment the strikes landed, he felt a bizarre sensation of his energy dispersing.
'.....Illusion?'
Then, Mok Kyung-un, pushed back ten paces, straightened up, rolled his neck.
-Crunch! Crack!
And muttered,
"Ahhh. I was going to hold back and end it, but this was unexpected."
'What?'
Mo Jang-yak furrowed his brow.
Taking consecutive absolute techniques and still bluffing like that—truly something.
Seemed he needed to finish it decisively.
'I'll end that bluff.'
-Pat!
Mo Jang-yak shot toward Mok Kyung-un.
Having revealed his trump, now he'd use it openly.
'Right Fist Left Palm. Fist Swirling Like Mist! Flowing Water, Passing Clouds!'
Fist and palm unleashed simultaneously.
It created the form of two masters attacking together.
'It's over!'
He was certain—right then.
"Is this roughly how it's done?"
-Papapapapak!
At that instant, Mo Jang-yak was stunned.
Mok Kyung-un, staring straight at the oncoming him, nodded, then unleashed different techniques with each hand just like him.
'!!!!!!!!!'