Chapter 166
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: Mun I-cheon's Predicted Victory
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Even against Mun I-cheon's sudden assault, Dong Cheon-uk's response was no slouch. He immediately retreated, raising his own sword to parry.
Clang!
A sharp metallic ring echoed out, and surprisingly, it was Mun I-cheon—the attacker—who was pushed back.
He had clearly been on high alert.
'I thought he'd be a bit off-guard.'
Dong Cheon-uk had looked quite pleased when the brackets paired him with Mun I-cheon during the draw, suggesting he'd done some prior scouting.
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
'That's the proper response. No matter how easy an opponent looks, anyone who made it through the preliminaries is a powerhouse.'
Even the most exceptional late-stage disciple had limits. In other words, it was safe to assume that those who reached the main tournament were all roughly on the same level, with few massive skill gaps.
That was why Seol Hwa-un was so impressive—he had leaped far beyond those limits.
Just then, a voice came from behind Seol Hwa-un.
"Impressive young man. Bad luck on the brackets, though."
Glancing back, Seol Hwa-un saw Elder Seo Hong-rak of the Kunlun Sect stroking his long beard.
The VIP seats were occupied by elders from various sects who had come to cheer on their own disciples, as well as renowned figures formally invited by the Martial Alliance.
Seo Hong-rak was no exception. At his words, an elder from another sect sitting nearby asked,
"Come to think of it, that Dong Cheon-uk kid is a Kunlun Sect disciple, isn't he? Seems like a solid one."
Seo Hong-rak grinned with satisfaction at the question.
"Hahaha, he's still got a long way to go. But internally, we rate him high enough for a top-four finish. And with his favorable draw..."
He was referring to his first opponent being Mun I-cheon.
Indeed, most people there believed Mun I-cheon might put up a fight, but he couldn't possibly beat Dong Cheon-uk.
"He'll probably face the Mount Hua Sword Prodigy in the semis—that's the real test. Clear that, and the championship's in sight."
"Indeed. Kunlun must have high hopes."
"Hahaha, he's just a late-stage disciple. We only hope he upholds our sect's reputation."
Seo Hong-rak raised his voice a bit.
"By the way, I hear the North Heaven Dragon has his eye on that Mun I-cheon fellow."
Seol Hwa-un couldn't have missed those words. Yet he showed no reaction.
"Is that so?"
"Well, at his age, breaking through the preliminaries means he's got real talent. But he's from some backwater sect, isn't he? That's his ceiling."
He was blabbering loudly on purpose, for Mun I-cheon to hear—and by extension, to subtly trample Seol Hwa-un.
'Arrogant punk. Not even twenty, and already a Dragon-Phoenix Assembly judge?'
When he first heard the news, he'd thought the Martial Alliance had lost its mind.
Even if he'd lucked into beating two of the Four Guards and Two Armies, judging the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly?
Quite a few elders from the orthodox sects shared his displeasure.
Some even viewed Seol Hwa-un's presence as a blight on the righteous martial world.
Seo Hong-rak didn't stop there and called out to Seol Hwa-un directly.
"What do you think, Pavilion Lord Seol? About this bracket."
With most of the VIP section hearing him, all eyes naturally turned to Seol Hwa-un.
"......"
As Seol Hwa-un remained silent, Seo Hong-rak pressed.
"Why so quiet?"
Finally, Seol Hwa-un turned his head.
"......Sorry. Unlike you all here for a leisurely watch, I'm here as a judge, so I don't have time for idle chatter."
Seo Hong-rak's face stiffened.
"What?!"
"But now that the match is decided, no need to watch further, so I'll speak."
"......?!"
The onlookers looked puzzled and scanned the arena.
To them, the two were still locked in a fierce exchange, with no clear advantage.
Suppressing his irritation, Seo Hong-rak asked,
"The match is already decided? Sure, Dong Cheon-uk will win, but isn't it too early to call?"
"What you see isn't everything. Barring a major upset, Mun I-cheon wins in ten exchanges."
"What? Ten exchanges is absurd enough, but you say that backwater kid wins?"
Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
"You'll see."
Most of the crowd watched skeptically.
At that moment, Dong Cheon-uk's sword wove a web of countless blade shadows.
Slash-slash-slash-slash-slash!
Unable to hold back, Seo Hong-rak burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Dong Cheon-uk's unleashing our sect's pinnacle art, the Demon-Subduing Revolving Heaven Blade!"
The Demon-Subduing Revolving Heaven Blade was Kunlun's finest advanced saber technique.
But that was it.
Clang!
"......!"
A sharp metallic clash rang out, and Dong Cheon-uk's sword was deflected.
Mun I-cheon's wooden sword plunged toward his unguarded chest.
Thud!
"Urk!"
Reeling from the heavy blow, Dong Cheon-uk staggered back, and the wooden sword soon descended toward his head.
Whoosh!
"......!"
In his current state, Dong Cheon-uk couldn't possibly block it.
He squeezed his eyes shut instinctively.
Thump!
The wooden sword halted an inch from his head.
"Do you concede?"
At Mun I-cheon's question, Dong Cheon-uk bowed his head.
"......I lose."
With his admission of defeat, Mun I-cheon's victory was sealed.
Incredibly, exactly seven exchanges after Seol Hwa-un's mention of "ten," the match ended.
Rising from his seat, Seol Hwa-un declared,
"First match: victory to Young Hero Mun I-cheon!"
Waaaaah!!
Mun I-cheon, looking drained, gave Seol Hwa-un a brief bow before stepping down from the arena.
Unable to contain his curiosity, one elder asked,
"Pavilion Lord Seol, how did you predict the outcome?"
"Exactly—even down to the number of exchanges left......"
Seol Hwa-un turned and stared at Seo Hong-rak.
"Curious?"
Seo Hong-rak's face twisted slightly.
'That bastard...!'
Even he had to admit it was uncanny.
'How the hell did he know?'
Another chimed in quickly.
"We're dying to know. Tell us, North Heaven Pavilion Lord."
Seol Hwa-un smiled faintly.
"Not hard at all. If you'd watched closely, you'd have seen it too."
"Hahaha, implying we weren't paying attention?"
"As Elder Seo noted, Mun I-cheon's a disciple I'm keeping tabs on, so I've watched all his matches."
"......"
"He's low on strength and inner power. But his body's light, his forms refined, and his adaptability top-notch."
"Hoo."
"In footwork and aptitude alone, he's top three among this Dragon-Phoenix Assembly's participants."
Of course, Seol Hwa-un privately ranked him number one.
"We get your high opinion of Mun I-cheon. But how'd you know he'd beat Dong Cheon-uk in ten exchanges?"
Seol Hwa-un explained calmly.
"Dong Cheon-uk must've felt frustrated throughout. Every ambitious technique he tried, Mun I-cheon dodged or deflected."
"Mm."
"But Mun I-cheon wasn't in a great spot either. He was compensating for his lack of power and stamina with intense focus and improvisation."
In truth, if Dong Cheon-uk had stayed patient and methodical, the outcome would've been anyone's guess.
"But from his expression, I could tell he'd made up his mind. He was about to unleash his trump card."
"You can predict that?"
"He's an inexperienced late-stage disciple, isn't he? Not hard to guess his next move."
This wasn't unique to Dong Cheon-uk.
Most sects crammed a secret ultimate technique into their disciples right before the assembly.
Not a bad call.
Against fellow late-stage disciples, raw power often decided things.
"The problem was his opponent: Mun I-cheon, a Formless Sword Sect disciple with exceptional aptitude who pursues formless techniques."
Not that Mun I-cheon had mastered supreme formless swordsmanship.
The Formless Sword Sect's sword style aimed to discard forms altogether, ultimately even the sword itself.
'That's why so few disciples transcend mediocrity despite their talent.'
Of course, those with immense gifts, like Mun Jeong-ho, became monsters.
"That gives them understanding of swordplay rivaling any sect. They focus on sword intent over rote forms, making them instinctively adept at reading opponents' flaws."
That's how Mun I-cheon pierced the Demon-Subduing Revolving Heaven Blade's weakness and ended it in a flash.
'And he's got a gambler's instinct too.'
Seol Hwa-un himself had been shocked by Mun I-cheon's tenacious, ingenious tactics more than once.
"Haha, impressive insight. Fits a judge like you, North Heaven Pavilion Lord."
"Right? I should pass this on to our sect's disciples."
Seol Hwa-un inwardly winced.
'Whoops. Ended up giving away Mun I-cheon's strengths without meaning to.'
But he didn't see it as a big issue. He believed Mun I-cheon could overcome it.
"......"
Seol Hwa-un gazed warmly at Mun I-cheon descending the arena.
'Congratulations, Mun I-cheon. You're a Young Dragon now.'
Meanwhile, glaring daggers at him was Seo Hong-rak.
'North Heaven Dragon, you bastard...!'
* * *
The second match of the first round pitted Paeng So-yeon—younger sister of Blade Dragon Paeng Ga-ho—against Ak Su-han of the Shandong Yan Family.
It was one-sided. Paeng So-yeon dominated from start to finish for a decisive victory.
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
'Excellent. Wielding such ferocious saber arts with a woman's frame.'
Not always the case, but men often had physical advantages in saber techniques.
'Must've trained rigorously.'
Mun I-cheon's next foe was Paeng So-yeon—no easy matchup.
'How much he grows from this first match will be key.'
On paper, Paeng So-yeon's demonstrated skill edged out Mun I-cheon's.
After the two matches, a brief rest period began.
Seol Hwa-un, as judge, left the judge's seat for the participants' waiting area.
'Next break's after the fourth match, so I should pop in briefly now.'
He planned to encourage Jin Pyo, who was surely burning with zeal.
To reach the waiting area, he had to cross the spectator stands, so Seol Hwa-un pulled his tall bamboo hat low to avoid hassle.
The outer spectator areas were free seating—bare ground without chairs.
Yet crowds packed them.
"Teasing us with just two matches before a break?"
"Yeah, they should keep fighting!"
Some grumbled, but most buzzed with match talk.
"Man, a mid-tier sect kid becoming a Young Dragon!"
"Mun I-cheon? That guy's the real deal."
"No kidding. Thought he'd lose for sure."
"That's what makes it fun—upsets. Wonder what's next?"
Seol Hwa-un smiled unwittingly.
'The next upset might star the Vice Sect Leader.'
Lost in thought, he quickened his pace—only to bump shoulders with a spectator.
Thud.
Apologizing with a bow, Seol Hwa-un froze.
'Hm?'
He sensed something off.
'Why did our shoulders collide?'
The area was crowded, sure, but Seol Hwa-un was a master. He could navigate blind without bumping.
"......!"
Realizing too late, Seol Hwa-un hurriedly sought the stranger.