Chapter 167
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 167
Chapter Title: Hidden Master and Match Judgment
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Seol Hwa-un belatedly spread his qi widely, but he could not detect even the faint presence.
“…….”
Thinking back on it, it was truly astonishing.
‘He was targeting me precisely amid the crowd.’
No matter how immersed in his own thoughts he had been, it was hard to believe given Seol Hwa-un’s usual qi sense.
‘To think a master like this exists.’
Seol Hwa-un stroked his own shoulder. The opponent had deliberately aligned his shoulder with his.
‘As if flaunting his very existence.’
Had he been an assassin gunning for him, he would have been utterly helpless.
‘I was far too relaxed.’
Even if the opponent was a master difficult for even him to read, that was no excuse.
‘Yes. No matter how many friendly forces have grown, the Central Plains is no different from enemy territory. I cannot afford to lower my guard even for a moment.’
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes narrowed.
‘He’s adept at hiding himself. Of course, that’s why he’s remained unknown until now.’
A renowned master of this caliber would not be seated in the general stands. The Martial Alliance would have arranged a VIP seat for him.
He truly felt anew how many hidden geniuses filled the world.
‘Who could it be?’
* * *
“Where are you looking?”
The middle-aged man, who had turned around at the young man’s question, faced forward once more.
“Ah, it’s nothing. I just spotted someone interesting.”
The young man narrowed his eyes.
“I can more or less guess. The man in the veiled hat you brushed shoulders with earlier, right?”
“As expected, you’re sharp.”
“You’ve been watching him closely from the start. I thought you two were about to clash hands.”
The middle-aged man scowled.
“Just what do you take me for?”
“Well. I already think it’s a problem that the ‘Five Commanders’ Lord’ came to observe the Dragon-Phoenix Meet in the first place.”
The middle-aged man dubbed the Five Commanders’ Lord shrugged his shoulders.
“You’re going to call out my title so openly?”
“What’s the issue? No one hearing it would even dream of your true identity anyway.”
The Five Commanders’ Lord chuckled.
“That’s exactly my point. Even if I’m here, who would know?”
“…….”
He turned his head again.
“That man in the veiled hat… I didn’t get a proper look at his face, but he doesn’t seem to have reached twenty yet. And yet, he was emitting an aura intense enough to provoke me.”
The young man, well aware of the Five Commanders’ Lord’s prowess, spoke in disbelief.
“No way. There’s no such warrior in the Central Plains martial world…”
“Don’t say it so lightly. It’s precisely because ‘Heaven’ knows the Central Plains’ power that he hasn’t acted rashly.”
“…….”
“Let’s hurry. The good seats will be taken.”
“We could have just grabbed the VIP section…”
“Wasn’t it you who opposed the VIP seats for being too conspicuous?”
“…….”
* * *
Main tournament, round one, third match.
It was the matchup between Emei Sect’s Jeong Hye and Lion Gate disciple Bang Mu-jin.
Jeong Hye was a slender nun and the senior martial sibling to Emei Sect disciples Jeong Hwa and Jeong Seon, whom Seol Hwa-un had encountered before.
‘A pure and steady aura. Excellent.’
Younger in age than Jeong Hwa or Jeong Seon, her qi was no less impressive.
Her opponent was Bang Mu-jin.
Seol Hwa-un turned his head toward Mo Yong-yang.
“Brother Mo Yong, what sort of sect is Lion Gate?”
There was a reason he singled him out. Lion Gate was a sect in Liaoning Province, the same as the Mo Yong Family.
“Lion Gate. A fledgling sect established just shy of twenty years ago.”
Mo Yong-yang furrowed his brow as he continued.
“But… it’s ambiguous. They present themselves as orthodox on the surface, yet the rumors from behind the scenes are poor.”
Suspicious, the Mo Yong Family had investigated, but nothing in particular had surfaced.
“I see.”
This time, Mo Yong-yang asked.
“How was that junior Bang Mu-jin in the preliminaries? I didn’t watch them properly.”
“I didn’t see every match, but he’s undoubtedly skilled enough to reach the main tournament.”
With preliminaries spread across six sparring platforms, even Seol Hwa-un couldn’t observe them all.
That said, Bang Mu-jin had stood out enough to draw his close attention.
“His internal energy is strong compared to his peers, and he employs highly practical techniques.”
“Hmm.”
Seol Hwa-un could tell at a glance.
‘Bang Mu-jin. A man who’s endured vicious real combat beyond his years.’
He had only glimpsed him briefly, but there seemed to even be a faint whiff of blood.
‘At least double digits of kills under his belt.’
It was no easy feat for an orthodox junior to have committed that many murders already.
Bang Mu-jin, who appeared around twenty-five, had eyes distinctly different from the other juniors.
‘But the Dragon-Phoenix Meet judges martial skill. Other factors are irrelevant.’
Jeong Hye held a sword while Bang Mu-jin gripped a short rod in each hand, their dark hue suggesting steel construction.
“Begin!”
The match commenced with the presiding referee’s signal.
The first to strike was Bang Mu-jin, a sinister smile playing on his lips.
Charging like a bolt of lightning, he swung the short rods in both hands.
Buwoong!
One targeted the upper body, the other the lower.
“……!”
It was a sharp assault, but Jeong Hye did not falter. Instead, she swiftly swung her sword from side to side.
Chachang!
A resounding metallic clash echoed as the rods were repelled. However, Jeong Hye likewise failed to withstand the force and retreated.
“Hahaha!”
Bang Mu-jin burst into laughter and pressed forward. His hands did not rest even then.
Shushuk!
Cha cha chang!
Short rods assailed her relentlessly from both sides, but Jeong Hye calmly parried every attack with her sword.
“Oooo!”
The same pattern repeated thereafter.
Unable to endure the rods’ power, Jeong Hye continued retreating while Bang Mu-jin pursued, swinging his twin rods without cease.
The spectators, who had been quietly observing, suddenly sensed something amiss.
“Huh?”
“You felt it too?”
“Yeah… She’s only retreating like that—why hasn’t she fallen out of bounds?”
One warrior who appeared to be a master spoke up.
“Watch that nun’s footwork closely.”
“Hm?”
They soon grasped the reason.
“Ah!”
“As expected of an Emei Sect disciple!”
It had seemed like mere retreat, but Jeong Hye was actually moving in a circle.
Thus, even as she was pushed back, she continued circling within the sparring platform.
‘Internal energy certainly favors Bang Mu-jin.’
Jeong Hye possessed no small amount of internal energy, befitting an Emei Sect disciple, but Bang Mu-jin had even more.
That was why she was being forced back by the power infused in his rods.
‘However, this match favors the Emei Sect disciple.’
Though he relentlessly pressed with his rods, Bang Mu-jin’s internal energy was steadily depleting.
Once his energy waned, Jeong Hye—with her superior techniques—would hold the advantage.
Yet Seol Hwa-un felt a strange incongruity.
‘Will this match truly conclude so straightforwardly?’
In particular, Bang Mu-jin exuded an ominous air.
At that moment, an upset occurred. Jeong Hye, who had defended flawlessly until then, failed to block one rod and had her shoulder grazed.
Pak!
Fortunately, it was not a direct hit—her uniform merely tore somewhat—but it was peculiar given her perfect defense so far.
‘The opponent’s attacks aren’t particularly sharper… And she still seems to have stamina to spare.’
Harboring suspicions, Seol Hwa-un observed the two more intently.
Jeong Hye’s face had flushed red, while Bang Mu-jin wore a sinister smile.
‘Hm?’
Then Seol Hwa-un noticed Bang Mu-jin silently mouthing words—and each time, Jeong Hye’s pupils trembled.
‘This is…’
Seol Hwa-un said something to the other two judges, and as they nodded, he immediately rose and shouted.
“Stop the match!”
“……?!”
At judge Seol Hwa-un’s command, the two combatants had no choice but to halt.
The audience could not hide their bewilderment.
“It was just getting good—why?”
“What’s with North Heaven Dragon all of a sudden?”
Dissatisfaction soon erupted.
“No matter that he’s a judge, this is unacceptable!”
“What’s he doing!”
Seol Hwa-un’s figure had already appeared atop the sparring platform.
“……!”
Seol Hwa-un scanned the surroundings as he spoke.
“I will reveal the reason shortly.”
“……?”
He approached Jeong Hye and asked.
“Nun Jeong Hye, answer honestly. Did your opponent Bang Mu-jin send you a sound transmission?”
At Seol Hwa-un’s question, her face flushed even deeper.
“Amitabha. Yes.”
“Were they obscenities too vile to utter?”
“……Yes.”
Bang Mu-jin immediately protested.
“It’s a lie! I never did such a thing!”
Jeong Hye then flared up and cried out.
“Amitabha! I stake my honor and that of my sect upon it! That man…”
Unable to voice the contents, she trailed off.
Bang Mu-jin scowled.
“Hah, truly impressive. You’ll stoop that low for victory?”
“You…!”
“Enough.”
Seol Hwa-un cut him off and addressed Bang Mu-jin.
“That judgment falls to me as referee. And I believe Nun Jeong Hye.”
“Hah! Consorting with the orthodox has turned you into one of them, North Heaven Dragon.”
It was a provocative remark, but Seol Hwa-un paid it no mind.
“Interesting. You speak as if you yourself are not of the orthodox sects.”
“……!”
Bang Mu-jin looked taken aback.
“And while there’s no direct proof you sent a transmission, there are plenty of witnesses. All the judges saw you mouthing the words.”
“Hmph! Does the rule forbid opening your mouth during a match?”
“You mouthed the words but made no sound. What does that signify?”
It would be difficult to fully conceal mouth movements amid executing martial arts.
“I did not halt the match to hear your excuses. It was to issue a warning.”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“Cursing or uttering obscenities at one’s opponent during a match—even via sound transmission—can result in disqualification.”
“……!”
Bang Mu-jin’s pupils quivered violently.
‘No! I can’t lose yet!’
Realizing his disadvantageous position, he promptly bowed his head.
“I apologize! I must have lost my senses in the heat of victory lust. Please, anything but disqualification…”
“Your apology should be to Nun Jeong Hye, not me.”
Bang Mu-jin immediately bowed toward Jeong Hye.
“It was a grave mistake on my part. I’m sorry, Nun!”
“…….”
Seol Hwa-un addressed Nun Jeong Hye.
“Nun Jeong Hye, will you accept his apology?”
“Amitabha. A disciple of the Buddha must embody compassion. Since he has admitted his wrong, I forgive him.”
Bang Mu-jin lifted his head, his face brightening.
“Thank you, Nun!”
Seol Hwa-un asked again.
“Then I shall ask regarding Brother Bang’s disposition. If Nun Jeong Hye desires, I can disqualify him right here.”
“……!”
Now it was Bang Mu-jin who panicked.
“What is this! Nun Jeong Hye already forgave me!”
“By the rules, it warrants disqualification. However, the participant’s view matters, so I granted her the decision.”
“Ah…”
Bang Mu-jin gazed at Jeong Hye with pleading eyes.
“…….”
After a moment’s thought, Jeong Hye spoke with resolute expression.
“Amitabha. His words were truly offensive, but I do not desire a victory obtained in this manner. I wish to win through skill.”
Seol Hwa-un gave a faint smile.
“I shall respect the nun’s opinion.”
He continued, looking at Bang Mu-jin.
“Brother Bang, this time it ends with a warning. Violate the rules once more, and I will disqualify you regardless of Nun Jeong Hye’s opinion.”
“……Understood.”
As Seol Hwa-un returned to the judge’s seat, Elder Pung nodded vigorously.
“Hahaha, an excellent judgment.”
“Thank you for entrusting it to me.”
Before departing the platform, Seol Hwa-un had requested to handle Bang Mu-jin’s misconduct himself, and the other two had readily agreed.
“Disqualifying him outright would be a regrettable ruling. He’s on the verge of claiming a Dragon-Phoenix title, after all.”
The match resumed. But before long, Seol Hwa-un’s gaze turned icy cold as he watched.
“……!”