Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Everyone Has Secrets
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With a thud, Baek Mi-hu collapsed to the ground.
She lay there unconscious, showing no signs of movement.
Han Ibi shouted in agitation.
"What the hell is this? Is it okay to do something this brutal under the guise of training?"
At that moment, Heo Son-dam suddenly removed his mask.
His face, always wearing a smile, now held eyes that were chillingly cold beyond compare.
"Young Master Jong Ri. It seems you're under a grave misunderstanding. You're currently taking the Martial Alliance's exam. One that tests whether you have the ability and mental fortitude to face the demonic cult's villains."
Han Ibi turned to Jong Ri-hyeok and said,
"Brother. Are you just going to stand there like that?"
Heo Son-dam spoke.
"Of course he wasn't just standing idle. He did his best, in his own way. There are three towels in his possession right now. Though it's a bit puzzling that he's far behind his younger brother, who's known as a wastrel, in several areas."
Then, he looked straight at Jong Ri-hyeok and continued.
"Do you know? Your younger brother, Young Master Jong Ri-mae, has already collected seven towels. Oh, right. I almost forgot. While I've been talking here, he might have gotten even more."
Jong Ri-hyeok's pupils began to tremble.
Heo Son-dam pressed on.
"At this rate, Young Master Jong Ri-mae will be granted the position of the Azure Dragon among the Four Little Dragons. That's the promise we made in advance. Now, what about you, Young Master Jong Ri-hyeok?"
At that point, Han Ibi interjected.
"Brother. Don't react no matter what. We have to fight together. Instructor Heo is just demonstrating the demonic cult's divide-and-conquer tactic right now."
Heo Son-dam grinned and said,
"As expected of a clever younger brother. Fine. Since you've put it that way, I feel a bit slighted. But results are results, so we'll follow the rules. One returns in glory, the other with head hung low..."
Then Jong Ri-hyeok spoke up.
"Jong Ri-mae. Stay out of this. I'll settle this with Instructor Heo myself."
Han Ibi was startled and replied,
"What? What are you talking about? We have to fight together. If it's the Yellow Dragon position you want, I can yield..."
"I said clearly. Uncle Master. Don't interfere."
"What? Un... Un..."
He had successfully pierced Han Ibi's guard with that slip, leaving him flustered.
And he was deadly serious.
After all, he was a man with immense pride.
Heo Son-dam had succeeded in scratching that pride.
Jong Ri-hyeok added,
"If you interfere, I'll never look at your face again for the rest of my life."
'Ugh.'
Han Ibi felt as suffocated as if he'd swallowed a handful of sweet potatoes.
But Jong Ri-hyeok was already building momentum, swinging his sword toward Heo Son-dam.
It was the essence of the Qing Breeze Sword Technique.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of clashing blades echoed through the cave.
Han Ibi thought,
'That stubborn bastard is stubborn through and through. Argh! He won't come to his senses until he gets burned once.'
And indeed, in the novel, he'd never compromised even once.
Suddenly, Han Ibi's eyes caught sight of Baek Mi-hu lying collapsed.
He rushed to her side and checked her condition.
Beside him, the sharp clash of metal continued unabated.
Han Ibi gently shook her shoulder.
"Miss Baek. Miss Baek..."
She seemed truly out cold. No signs of stirring.
'Ah! Right.'
Han Ibi recalled knowledge from wuxia novels and massaged her arms to help circulate her qi and blood.
'Is... is this how it's done?'
It felt awkward, but he lightly infused true qi into her acupoints.
'Not the best look for a man and woman alone, but better than leaving her be.'
Before even half a gak had passed,
Clang!
A massive crash reverberated through the cave.
It was Jong Ri-hyeok's sword hitting the ground.
Blood was dripping from his right shoulder.
Heo Son-dam said,
"That's the end. Not bad at all. You've still got a ways to go if you want to do it properly."
His face flushed with humiliation and self-loathing, Jong Ri-hyeok picked up his fallen sword and stormed out of the cave without a word.
"Hey! Brother!"
Han Ibi called after him, but he didn't even pretend to hear as he vanished.
"Th-this..."
Then Heo Son-dam spoke.
"Now it's just the two of us. Come on, let's have a go. Truth be told, half by choice and half by circumstance, I've had my eye on you from the start. I've been counting down to this moment."
"I'd rather not."
"What do you mean?"
"You know I've taken the most towels, right? So I'll just slip out and wait for the exam to end."
Heo Son-dam looked blankly for a moment before chuckling.
"Hahaha. I must have misjudged you. You're nothing like ordinary murim folk, Young Master Jong Ri."
"I've discovered a new side to you too, Instructor. I thought you were a better man than this."
"Everyone has their secrets."
"Ah, well, anyway. Thanks for your hard work. I'll take Miss Baek and head back. You're allowing it for her protection, right?"
Heo Son-dam kept his polite smile as he stared at Han Ibi for a while before replying.
"That'd be too boring, wouldn't it? Two murim men facing off with blades drawn."
"I haven't even drawn mine."
But Heo Son-dam silently drew his heavy sword.
Han Ibi thought,
'I'll spar lightly, and if it's not going my way, take a minor hit and call it. It's like a dead ball in baseball. Achieving the goal is what matters most.'
With that, he tried to disrupt his opponent's focus.
"Come on, Instructor. You're about to become a renowned figure in murim. Why obsess over a childish scrap like this? If it's a match you want, we can do it after training ends. I'll learn a move or two from you personally. How thrilling! Ahaha."
Heo Son-dam replied,
"What can I do? I'm so excited I can't wait."
His words were the opposite of his near-perfect emotionless expression.
Han Ibi felt chills crawling up his spine again.
Heo Son-dam stepped forward.
Han Ibi took one step back.
Heo Son-dam advanced two steps.
Han Ibi retreated three while drawing his single-straight sword.
Thud!
Heo Son-dam slammed his heavy sword into the ground.
"Shall we begin?"
At the same time, the sword's vibration resonated through the cave.
'What? Is he intimidating me now?'
Heo Son-dam raised his heavy sword to chest level.
But his stance was odd.
He held the sword at a diagonal slant.
Come to think of it...
"Instructor Heo, are you left-handed by any chance?"
Suddenly, Heo Son-dam swung his heavy sword diagonally.
'What the hell is that weird stance?'
The sword technique Heo Son-dam used was the Haemnam Sword Sect's Reverse Hand Sword—a unique ultimate art that subdued foes with bizarre angles and reverse thinking.
Han Ibi sharpened his focus and countered with the Qingcheng Sect's Light Slice Ocean Subduing Sword.
A technique fundamentally designed to dismantle disruptions.
Clang!
Finally, their blades met.
'Hup. Strong.'
Han Ibi felt a sharp pain in his wrist.
Heo Son-dam's heavy sword was shorter, allowing for greater power, and its length let him create distance for the Haemnam Sect's signature palm technique, Sea Moon Palm Method, with his free hand.
Heo Son-dam executed the second form of Reverse Hand Sword, then launched a sharp Sea Moon Palm assault with his right hand.
A seamless combo in the blink of an eye.
Han Ibi's eyes flashed.
He had analyzed this move earlier with Eagle's Eye Technique's Imprint Eye upon first entering.
He gauged the distance and timing in his mind.
'Now.'
Han Ibi instantly stepped back with a Bagua Step's Xun variation, lightning-fast.
In that instant, he felt Heo Son-dam's palm tap his solar plexus.
Han Ibi let out a loud cry.
"Argh!"
He rolled on the ground and said,
"Instructor Heo. As expected of your reputation. I can't hold a candle to you. Now that I'm injured, I should head back to the pine grove right away. Thank you for your efforts."
Han Ibi dusted himself off and eyed Heo Son-dam's expression.
He was smiling.
But it wasn't his usual smile.
A twisted, sinister grin.
His face openly showed contempt.
Heo Son-dam said,
"Young Master Jong Ri."
"Yes."
"Are you toying with me right now?"
Han Ibi waved his hands frantically.
"N-no way. How could I? Your skills are so superior, the gap between us is immense..."
"Young Master Jong Ri."
"Yes."
Heo Son-dam's eyes deepened further.
"On your way to the Martial Alliance... did you perhaps encounter bandits from a bandit stronghold?"
'Huh? What is this?'
Startled, Han Ibi blurted,
"No, how did you..."
"It seems you underestimate the Martial Alliance's intelligence network, Young Master Jong Ri."
Han Ibi felt a very ominous premonition and stayed on high alert.
Heo Son-dam flashed his affable smile again and said,
"It's just bad luck. Really bad luck. That's how fate can dominate a lifetime."
"What do you mean by bad luck..."
Heo Son-dam said,
"I like you, you bastard."
'Ugh. Why the sudden informal tone?'
"Honestly, I even thought about taking you under my wing."
Han Ibi tried to stay calm amid the confusion.
"Th-that's a great honor."
"That's why it's bad luck. Some things are beyond human control."
'What? Is he moonlighting as a fortune teller?'
Heo Son-dam suddenly sighed deeply and said,
"Where's the iron box?"
"Pardon? What..."
"I asked where the iron box is."
Han Ibi had a hunch.
His heart pounded.
The instructor was surely referring to the iron chest containing the tactical treatise.
'How? How does a Martial Alliance instructor know about that? Is the Alliance really that formidable?'
Heo Son-dam bellowed,
"I'm asking where the iron box is!"
"Eek, you scared me. Instructor. So you're finally showing your true colors."
"Heh heh. It's been ages since someone provoked me like this. Last question. Where is the iron box right now?"
"I'll answer one last time. I tossed it, obviously. What would I do carrying around junk like that?"
Heo Son-dam's expression shifted subtly.
"Where did you toss it?"
Han Ibi pretended to think, staring into space, then said,
"I don't remember the mountain name since I was just passing through... somewhere between Sichuan and Shaanxi, I think. I threw it off a cliff. It was ridiculously heavy. Satisfied?"
But instead of answering, Heo Son-dam asked another question.
"Where's the book?"
"I chucked the book off another cliff. Makes me sound like the bad guy, but there were extenuating circumstances."
Of course, he knew it was a fake book.
But Han Ibi answered as innocently as possible.
To avoid suspicion.
Then, feigning sudden realization, he added,
"Wait. Instructor, don't tell me... you kept me till the end just to ask about that?"
"Far from it."
"Honestly, I hate getting tangled in headaches. Especially anything involving the Martial Alliance. I'll keep it secret till I die. The book too."
He whispered,
"And your fiery temper I saw today."
Heo Son-dam's expression remained unchanged.
Han Ibi said,
"If you need more details later, just ask. So I can really go now, right?"
"Of course. You should go..."
"Thank you."
"...straight to hell."
(To be continued in the next chapter)