Chapter 161
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: The Dragon-Phoenix Assembly Begins
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Master Feng Jin said.
“……I think it would be best if the North Heaven Lord declares the victor and the defeated. What do you say?”
Mo Yong-yang nodded as if in agreement.
“A fine idea. Isn’t the North Heaven Dragon incredibly popular? The younger generation will surely approve.”
“What is your take, Lord?”
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
“Let’s do that.”
“Ah, though such a thing is unlikely, if the judgments of Elder Noh Do and this friend should differ, the Lord can make the final call on the spot.”
“So be it.”
With that, the discussion of the details concluded.
Seol Hwa-un then asked as if the thought had just occurred to him.
“By the way, I understand that traditionally, the Martial Alliance Lord delivers the opening address for the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.”
“……?”
“But with Alliance Lord Immortal Undying Monk absent, who will do it?”
Sima Won replied.
“You’ve done your homework well as a judge. Indeed.”
Even during the previous Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, Immortal Undying Monk had been missing.
At that time, the Empty Sword Immortal, the highest elder of Wudang, had delivered the opening address in his stead.
“We had intended to ask the Empty Sword Immortal again this time, but he refused to descend from Wudang Mountain, so instead, his disciple……”
At that point, Seol Hwa-un quickly cut him off.
“Then shouldn’t Alliance Lord Jeongcheon do it this year?”
“Hm?”
“This Dragon-Phoenix Assembly is essentially co-hosted by the Jeongcheon Alliance and the Martial Alliance. With one alliance lord absent, isn’t it only natural for the other to step in?”
“……!”
Myeonghyeonja’s face stiffened upon hearing this.
Though he spoke as if utterly ignorant, Seol Hwa-un already knew who would deliver the opening address this time.
As Sima Won had said, it was Myeonghyeonja, the disciple of the Empty Sword Immortal and the Martial Alliance’s Martial Saint.
This was tantamount to openly saying that Myeonghyeonja had no right to do it.
Sima Won wore a troubled expression.
“Hahaha, that’s true, but……”
Sima Won glanced at Mo Yong-yang as if seeking aid. The perceptive man soon spoke up.
“Your words carry weight, Lord. However, Alliance Lord Jeongcheon did not attend this Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, and it’s rather a long way just to come for the opening address, no?”
Seol Hwa-un replied nonchalantly.
“Is that so? Then I misspoke. I only brought it up thinking of the history and traditions of the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.”
Sima Won quickly added.
“That’s why Martial Saint Wusang will deliver the opening address.”
“I see. My apologies.”
“……It’s fine.”
Myeonghyeonja responded to Seol Hwa-un’s indifferent remark.
‘That bastard!’
Anyone with a shred of sense would realize Seol Hwa-un had deliberately brought up the opening address to provoke Myeonghyeonja.
What he was really asking was this:
‘Do you, who are not even alliance lord, truly have the qualifications to deliver the opening address?’
Yet since he had only spoken reasonably, there was nothing to rebuke. Besides, it wasn’t impossible that he had truly spoken in ignorance.
In fact, the somewhat obtuse Master Feng Jin merely nodded as if it were no big deal.
“It seems we’ve covered everything to discuss, so let us adjourn.”
“Shall we?”
Starting with Master Feng Jin, everyone rose from their seats. Sima Won did not try to detain them, even for courtesy’s sake.
Once the judges had all departed, Myeonghyeonja slammed the table as if he had been waiting.
Boom!
The table’s legs shattered in an instant, collapsing flat.
“That impudent fool!”
Sima Won wore a bitter expression.
“You endured well, all the same. He is no longer the North Heaven Dragon of old; we mustn’t provoke him carelessly.”
Myeonghyeonja’s eyes flashed.
“Must I fear a mere northern upstart like him?”
“Of course not. It’s simply poor timing now. Once Martial Saint Wusang formally ascends as alliance lord, we can deal with him properly then.”
“Hoo.”
Myeonghyeonja let out a deep sigh and said.
“Martial Uncle, I must become alliance lord as soon as possible.”
“……Understood.”
The prolonged absence of Immortal Undying Monk had already sparked murmurs that it was time to select a new alliance lord.
Sima Won studied Myeonghyeonja’s expression and let out a groan.
‘Hm. At most a year or two. I must make him alliance lord within that time.’
Any longer, and Myeonghyeonja seemed unlikely to hold back.
‘It’s far sooner than anticipated. Side effects will be unavoidable.’
Sima Won’s head already ached at the thought.
* * *
Jin Pyo gasped for breath.
“Haa, haa, haa.”
Seol Hwa-un sheathed his sword as he watched.
“You’ve worked hard, Vice Sect Leader.”
Having barely steadied his breathing, Jin Pyo asked.
“At this level…… can I beat the Volcanic Sword Echo?”
Seol Hwa-un replied coolly.
“Before, your chances were virtually nil. But now, a sliver of possibility has emerged.”
Jin Pyo shuddered unwittingly from head to toe.
“That…… is enough.”
Over the past two days, he had forgone even sleep, devoting himself entirely to training. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, and his face was pallid.
“Go in and rest fully now. You must face the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly in peak condition, mustn’t you?”
“Yes, Lord.”
Jin Pyo had truly given his all. Now, the results were in heaven’s hands.
‘The preliminaries should be manageable, but……’
The main tournament would be teeming with prodigies rivaling the Volcanic Sword Echo. Just how far could Jin Pyo go?
‘Come to think of it, there was another promising one.’
Mun I-cheon, whom he had chanced upon at the inn.
‘That one is the real hidden gem.’
Harsh as it might sound to Jin Pyo, Mun I-cheon’s talent was several times superior.
Upon arriving at the Noble Guest Pavilion, guests awaited.
“Young Master Huangbo?”
“Hahaha. How have you been, Little Palace Lord?”
Beside the cheerful Huangbo Young stood twin sisters.
“Have you been well?”
“It’s been a while, Little Palace Lord.”
Huangbo Seon-hye and Huangbo Eun-hye—the sisters of Huangbo Young whom he had met at the Huangbo Family during his last journey to the Central Plains.
The two had grown taller since then, their figures now gracefully slender.
The tomboyish air of before had vanished entirely, replaced by the full bloom of womanhood.
But Seol Hwa-un noted something else.
“Long time no see, Young Ladies Eun-hye and Un-hye. Your auras have sharpened considerably.”
Huangbo Seon-hye gave a wry smile.
“What good is that? I trained hard, but my little sister caught up.”
Huangbo Eun-hye chimed in.
“Exactly. That’s why we’ve given up on this Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.”
Each sect and family has its own criteria for sending young experts to the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.
The Huangbo Family’s tradition was to send only one, selected through internal competition.
Sending many or just one each has pros and cons; neither is definitively superior.
But one thing was clear: without the skill to back it up, even passing the preliminaries—let alone reaching the main tournament—was no easy feat at the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.
“Honestly, it’s unfair! Young Master got special training from Father and grew strong!”
“Right! He discriminates because we’re girls.”
Huangbo Young scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
“Ahaha.”
Seol Hwa-un chuckled and said.
“That can’t be. He must have done so because you hold such an important position, Young Master.”
“Urk, true, but……”
From what he heard, the twin sisters had come merely as Huangbo Young’s escorts.
Reading Huangbo Young’s aura, Seol Hwa-un was inwardly greatly impressed.
‘He was astonishing last time, but he’s grown even stronger since.’
He had sensed extraordinary talent before, but now it was in full bloom.
‘A powerful contender for the championship is here too.’
“You’re here as a judge for the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, I heard? We rushed over upon hearing the news.”
Seol Hwa-un nodded to Huangbo Young.
“The Huangbo Family may achieve something great at this Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.”
“Oh? Hahaha.”
Huangbo Eun-hye immediately followed up.
“Right? I said if he surpasses us, he’ll do amazingly at the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, but they took it as a joke.”
Seol Hwa-un tilted his head. This went beyond mere confidence.
‘Why do they think that?’
Huangbo Seon-hye spoke.
“It’s all because of you, Little Palace Lord.”
“Hm?”
“Having seen your martial prowess, our standards for comparison are inevitably high.”
“……!”
This was something Seol Hwa-un hadn’t anticipated.
“Young Master Huangbo.”
“Yes, Little Palace Lord.”
“It may sound arrogant coming from me, but I am a judge at this Dragon-Phoenix Assembly. I cannot be compared to ordinary young experts.”
“…….”
“To be clear, there are at most a handful of participants who can match you at this Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.”
“Ah!”
“Just stay relaxed and demonstrate your skills; claiming a Yongbong title will be no issue.”
“……I see.”
Only then did Huangbo Young’s expression show true realization of his own prowess.
Seeing this, Huangbo Eun-hye pouted.
“You rascal! You ignore us when we say it, but listen to the Little Palace Lord?”
She wrapped her arm around Huangbo Young’s neck as in the old days, but he, now much taller, was unaffected.
“Sorry, sisters.”
“Tch!”
Huangbo Eun-hye released her arm with a frustrated look.
“Hahaha.”
After a brief chat with Seol Hwa-un, they promised to meet again at the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly and departed.
Seeing Huangbo Young after so long brought Dang So-gyo to mind.
‘She must be fifteen this year?’
Still too young for the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.
‘Her talent was remarkable too. She should be ready by the next one.’
* * *
The next day, at noon.
The central plaza of the Martial Alliance, featuring six sparring platforms.
The crowd had gathered like clouds, leaving no room to step. The Martial Alliance headquarters had been fully opened for the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly.
Of course, outsiders were permitted only in the plaza.
Amid the throng, one man ascended a sparring platform.
It was the Martial Alliance’s Martial Saint, Myeonghyeonja.
“Young heroes of the martial world, welcome! I am the Martial Alliance’s Martial Saint, Myeonghyeonja!”
His voice echoed in all directions.
“Waaah! Wudang Divine Sword!”
“Wudang Divine Sword!”
“Wudang Divine Sword!”
As the disciple of the Empty Sword Immortal and Martial Alliance’s Martial Saint, Myeonghyeonja’s fame was immense. The crowd endlessly chanted his moniker.
Myeonghyeonja extended his hands left and right with a gentle smile. Miraculously, the audience fell silent.
“Thank you for welcoming this unworthy soul. The day has finally arrived.”
He then expounded at length on the history and purpose of the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly. Tedious as it was, the crowd listened quietly.
“……With that, we now commence the forty-second Dragon-Phoenix Assembly!”
Waaah!!
The cheers of the crowd shook the entire Martial Alliance.
At last, the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly had begun.