Chapter 162
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Yongbong Tournament Preliminaries
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As soon as Master Myeonghyeon stepped down, preliminary judges climbed onto each of the six sparring platforms and explained the rules for the preliminaries.
Anyone could ascend a platform and accept challengers. Defeat five in a row, and they advanced to the main tournament.
If no challenger appeared within one incense stick's time, they advanced straight to the main draw.
No platform could have two or more participants from the same sect.
The preliminaries continued until all sixteen main tournament entrants were selected.
It was a simple yet efficient set of rules.
Whether one had profound inner energy or exceptional lightness skills made no difference. Victory in combat was all that mattered.
“Alright then, Yongbong Assembly participants, take the platforms!”
The judges on each platform shouted, but perhaps finding the first slot burdensome, no one stepped up.
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un was observing the preliminaries from the seat of honor on the platform to the right of the sparring stages.
The distance was considerable, but for a master of Seol Hwa-un’s caliber, watching the matches posed no issue.
Pungjinja, seated to Seol Hwa-un’s left, chuckled as he spoke.
“Heh heh heh, I wonder who the first participant will be.”
Moyong Yang, beside him, replied.
“Indeed. There’s that saying that the first participant never makes it to the main tournament.”
It was a kind of superstition, but from a participant’s perspective, it was enough to make one hesitate.
At that moment, as if mocking the notion, the first participant appeared on a platform.
“Oh!”
“That young man is…….”
It was someone Seol Hwa-un knew well.
‘The Hwasan Sword Spirit!’
It was Ma Seong-gyun.
He mounted the second platform with casual lightness skill and performed a polite cupped-hands salute.
“I am Ma Seong-gyun, third-generation disciple of the Hwasan Sect! I dare to challenge for the first main tournament slot in the Yongbong Assembly.”
Murmurs rippled through the surroundings at his introduction.
“Ma Seong-gyun…….”
“The Hwasan Sword Spirit, a top contender for victory?”
“Indeed. No wonder he steps up so confidently.”
“This is going to be good.”
The judge lit the incense. It was the type that burned completely in precisely one incense stick’s time.
“Time starts now! If no challenger appears, Young Master Ma will advance to the main tournament!”
Yet due to Ma Seong-gyun’s reputation, no one dared challenge him rashly.
When the incense had burned about halfway, one man climbed onto the platform.
“Ooh!”
“A challenger!”
He appeared to be a young man in his late twenties, with a longsword at his waist.
“Pleased to meet you, Hwasan Sword Spirit. I am Wi Ji-hyeok of the Fierce Sword Hall!”
The Fierce Sword Hall was a sect in Yeogang, Gangseo Province, wielding considerable influence.
Wi Ji-hyeok was the hall master’s senior disciple and renowned as a sword prodigy in the Yeogang region.
He was far taller than Ma Seong-gyun and built like a powerhouse.
“Pleased to meet you. I am Ma Seong-gyun.”
Ma Seong-gyun returned the salute calmly. Wi Ji-hyeok wore a confident expression.
‘The Hwasan Sword Spirit? Nothing special. I’ve been called a genius since I was young.’
He truly believed in himself.
‘I’ll defeat you here and make my name—and my hall’s reputation—echo throughout the world.’
“Then…….”
No more words were needed.
Facing Ma Seong-gyun, Wi Ji-hyeok drew his imposing longsword, which looked heavy even at a glance.
It was the sort an average man could barely lift with two hands, yet he wielded it effortlessly with one.
Shing!
Ma Seong-gyun drew his sword with an equally calm expression.
The judge immediately signaled the start of the match.
“Begin!”
At the signal, Wi Ji-hyeok charged boldly at Ma Seong-gyun without any preliminary forms.
‘First strike wins!’
Shuwaaak!
His hefty longsword came crashing down toward Ma Seong-gyun’s head with terrifying momentum.
“…….”
Even then, Ma Seong-gyun hadn’t moved his sword from its low guard.
A triumphant smile spread across Wi Ji-hyeok’s face.
‘He can’t even react. All hype after all?’
The moment he wondered if he shouldn’t injure a Hwasan disciple unnecessarily—
Clang!
A sharp metallic ring echoed as his longsword bounced away.
‘Kuh!’
Wi Ji-hyeok strained desperately not to drop his sword, but the rebound surging through the blade was immense. In the end, his hand betrayed his will.
Whirrl!
Wi Ji-hyeok’s longsword soared into the air.
“……!”
Ma Seong-gyun’s sword was already at his throat.
‘Wh-when?!’
Ma Seong-gyun spoke calmly.
“Do you concede defeat?”
“…….”
Wi Ji-hyeok glared at Ma Seong-gyun in frustration. But he soon acknowledged reality.
‘I never imagined the gap would be this wide…….’
He hadn’t thought his own skills superior, but he’d assumed the difference wouldn’t be great.
With his longsword’s advantages in sword force, he’d confidently challenged, believing victory possible.
‘Yet even in sword force—its greatest strength—the gap is this vast.’
It was a complete defeat.
He lowered his head.
“I lose.”
“It was a good match.”
Waaaaah!
Cheers erupted from all sides.
“As expected of the Hwasan Sword Spirit. Knocking away that massive longsword in one go.”
“Wasn’t the opponent just weak?”
“What are you talking about? The Fierce Sword Hall is well-known in Gangseo Province.”
Jin Pyo, overhearing nearby, shook his head.
‘Sorry, Young Master Wi, but the opponent was weak.’
Of course, among mid-tier sects, Wi Ji-hyeok ranked fairly high. But that was it.
Placed among the myriad geniuses of the Nine Great Sects, he wouldn’t even make the benches.
The gap was that vast.
‘If it were me…….’
He imagined himself in Wi Ji-hyeok’s place moments ago.
‘I could handle it.’
But he shook his head.
‘No. That was Ma Young Master matching his level. If it were me, I’d have gone harder.’
Ma Seong-gyun waited for the next challenger with a relaxed demeanor.
Having displayed overwhelming skill, challengers didn’t come easily.
Eventually, another impatient junior expert leaped up, but he too fell in an instant.
Another incense stick’s time passed.
‘Ugh!’
Jin Pyo felt the urge to jump up right then but barely held back.
It was because of what Seol Hwa-un had said that morning.
“Don’t plan to face Ma Young Master in the preliminaries.”
“Pardon?”
“You might see him and rush the platform uncontrollably. But you mustn’t.”
“Why is that?”
“That’s what I want to ask. Vice Sect Leader, why enter the Yongbong Assembly? To beat the Hwasan Sword Spirit?”
“Th-that’s…….”
“If that’s your sole goal, fine. But aren’t you the Vice Sect Leader of the Shanxi Sword Sect?”
“…….”
“You can face the Hwasan Sword Spirit in the main tournament anytime. Focus on advancing through the preliminaries first. That’s your duty as Vice Sect Leader.”
Seol Hwa-un’s words rang true. No need to clash with a top contender in the preliminaries.
‘Wait, Hwasan Sword Spirit.’
As he clenched his fist tightly, the judge declared.
“One incense stick has passed. Hwasan Sect disciple Ma Seong-gyun advances to the main tournament!”
Waaaaah!
The first main tournament qualifier had been born.
Pungjinja, watching from the VIP seats, burst into laughter.
“Heh heh heh, as expected of the Hwasan Sword Spirit. He’s already broken one bad preliminary tradition.”
Moyong Yang grimaced but had to concede.
“……Truly the pride of Hwasan.”
But Seol Hwa-un wasn’t watching him.
‘Well held back, Vice Sect Leader.’
He had pinpointed and observed Jin Pyo even from afar.
Ma Seong-gyun’s performance was expected. Seol Hwa-un had worried more that Jin Pyo might challenge impulsively.
“……!”
Then, spotting something, Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
“Show your skills freely, Vice Sect Leader.”
At last, Jin Pyo was ascending a platform.
He came face-to-face with Ma Seong-gyun, who was stepping down after securing his advancement.
“……Congratulations.”
Ma Seong-gyun replied with a relaxed smile.
“Thank you. Good luck to you.”
As Ma Seong-gyun passed by, Jin Pyo called out.
“See you in the main tournament.”
“That would be my good fortune.”
It meant he’d draw an easy opponent—good matchup luck. Jin Pyo bristled but didn’t show it.
‘I’ll prove it with skill.’
Jin Pyo saluted upon the platform.
“I am Jin Pyo of the Shanxi Sword Sect!”
A junior expert was already waiting before him.
“I am Bong Seok-mun of the Bongyang Sect!”
“Begin!”
With the judge’s signal, Jin Pyo’s Yongbong Assembly preliminaries began.
* * *
After Ma Seong-gyun took the platform, preliminaries started on the other stages as well.
But even after he secured advancement, no further qualifiers emerged easily.
Jin Pyo’s preliminaries were no smooth sailing either.
Junior experts, intimidated by Ma Seong-gyun’s dominance, hesitated less against the seemingly approachable Jin Pyo.
No sooner had he defeated his first opponent from the Bongyang Sect than the second climbed up. After dispatching him, the third followed suit immediately.
Jin Pyo had no time to catch his breath. But this was the terror of the Yongbong Assembly preliminaries.
No one had advanced after Ma Seong-gyun for exactly this reason.
Five opponents sounded manageable, but facing them consecutively was no easy feat.
Mediocrity couldn’t pass. Participants who barely defeated three or four fell to the fourth or fifth in droves.
It meant only overwhelming force earned a main tournament spot.
“Kuh!”
A disciple of the Immortal Sword Hall dropped to his knees.
“…….”
Jin Pyo, face weary, pointed his sword at him and said.
“Shall we continue?”
“……I concede defeat.”
Jin Pyo immediately turned to the judge.
“Jin Pyo of the Shanxi Sword Sect wins! He advances to the main tournament!”
He had finally succeeded in defeating all five opponents.
A massive cheer exploded at the judge’s declaration.
Waaaaah!
“They call him the Shanxi Tiger for a reason—impressive skill!”
“Not as overwhelmingly dominant as the Hwasan Sword Spirit, but he dispatched most opponents handily.”
“A qualifier from a mid-tier sect!”
Jin Pyo became the third main tournament advancer.
Seol Hwa-un watched him with a pleased expression.
‘Congratulations, Vice Sect Leader.’
A glint sparked in Pungjinja’s eyes beside him.
“Oh! A mid-tier sect qualifier already!”
“This Yongbong Assembly is different for sure.”
And rightly so. In the previous Yongbong Assembly, not a single mid-tier sect junior had reached the main tournament on the first day.
Only on the second or third day did a few barely qualify, only to fall in their opening main matches.
A harsh reality for mid-tier sects.
‘This time will be very different.’
Then, one person caught Seol Hwa-un’s eye.
‘Finally making an appearance?’
He was genuinely looking forward to it.
‘Let’s see you show your stuff.’
The red-faced youth ascending the third platform.
It was none other than Mun I-cheon.