Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Qingcheng Sect Leader Selection Tournament
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“What do you mean by that? I'm at the point where I should be washing my hands in a golden basin.”
“Hahaha. That's just something that flies in the Qingcheng Sect. A vigorous man like you...”
The two exchanged pleasantries for a while like that.
Soon, Hong Gu-geum introduced the old man to everyone present.
“This is the great hero Chae Geuk-ik of the Mount Hua Sect. You might not have seen his face before, but there's no one who hasn't heard his name.”
Nam Cheol-hong jumped to his feet and greeted him familiarly.
“Ah! So you're the Plum Blossom Grand Immortal, Great Hero Chae! What a pleasure to meet you.”
Led by him, the seven elders took turns greeting Chae Geuk-ik.
Once the greetings were finished, Hong Gu-geum spoke.
“In accordance with our Qingcheng Sect's long tradition, we've invited Great Hero Chae of the Mount Hua Sect as the guarantor for the Sect Leader Selection Conference. We're grateful that the Murim Alliance dispatched him.”
Chae Geuk-ik cupped his fists in salute and smiled warmly.
“It's just an honor. I swear to be a fair witness.”
And so, preparations for the Qingcheng Sect Leader Selection Tournament to choose the next Sect Leader were finally complete.
Then Yi Sin-song pulled out a metal box gleaming brilliantly in gold.
It was secured with a large padlock.
Hong Gu-geum took an equally massive key from his bosom and unlocked it with a click.
Inside were sheets of paper.
Exactly seven in total.
At the bottom, the Qingcheng Sect's unique seal was already stamped.
Hong Gu-geum said,
“Then... we'll now select candidates for the next Sect Leader position. Recommendations are fine, or you can step forward yourself. If it's someone who's not an elder, we'll all wait until they arrive.”
Yi Sin-song spoke.
“I nominate Elder Nam Cheol-hong.”
Hong Gu-geum asked,
“Does Elder Nam agree?”
Nam Cheol-hong replied with a face full of resolve.
“Yes.”
Hong Gu-geum spoke again.
“Are there any other candidates?”
As if waiting for it, Elder Gi Baek-eom raised his hand and said,
“I nominate Elder Bok Yeon-hwa.”
Hong Gu-geum said,
“Does Elder Bok agree?”
Bok Yeon-hwa said,
“I agree.”
Hong Gu-geum asked the assembly,
“Any more recommendations or anyone stepping forward themselves?”
Silence fell.
After a brief wait, Hong Gu-geum spoke.
“Very well. Any candidates among the regular disciples?”
Yi Sin-song quickly replied,
“No one has applied for the Sect Leader position as per the prior announcement.”
Hong Gu-geum nodded.
“Then the candidates for next Sect Leader are Elder Nam Cheol-hong and Elder Bok Yeon-hwa. Per the sect rules, candidates cannot vote, so we'll discard two ballots.”
Hong Gu-geum pulled two sheets from the metal box and tore them to shreds in an instant.
Five ballots remained.
Hong Gu-geum asked,
“What about Elder Jin?”
Yi Sin-song said,
“He hasn't arrived yet.”
“I'm worried something might have happened to him.”
Nam Cheol-hong added worriedly, while Bok Yeon-hwa simply watched him intently.
“Hmm... In that case, per the sect rules, regrettably...”
Hong Gu-geum handed the four ballots excluding Elder Jin's to Chae Geuk-ik and said,
“From here on, we entrust the task to Great Hero Chae.”
Chae Geuk-ik chuckled heartily and replied,
“Trouble? Nonsense. Leave it to me.”
Chae Geuk-ik distributed the papers to the assembly and had them vote.
Tension filled the modest conference hall.
Chae Geuk-ik collected the ballots using the metal box.
Then he began carefully checking the collected votes with a serious expression.
A profound silence hung in the air, where even the sound of shallow breathing could be heard.
And finally...
Chae Geuk-ik said with a troubled look,
“Elder Nam Cheol-hong has two votes. Elder Bok Yeon-hwa has two. It's exactly tied.”
A murmur rippled through the room.
Yi Sin-song glanced at Baek Beom-sang.
He was nonchalantly picking at the dirt under his nails and blowing on them as if nothing was amiss.
'Damn it. That Baek bastard ended up choosing the Bok woman after all. So Ha Bong-rye and I picked Nam Cheol-hong, while Seo Ui-jae and Baek Beom-sang went for the Bok woman.'
Chae Geuk-ik cleared his throat awkwardly several times before saying,
“In... in a case like this, what do we do?”
Yi Sin-song quickly answered,
“When there are multiple candidates, we revote excluding the top two vote-getters. But now there are only two candidates...”
Hong Gu-geum said,
“The Qingcheng Sect Leader Selection Conference changes to the Qingcheng Sect Leader Selection Tournament.”
Chae Geuk-ik blinked in surprise and asked,
“What do you mean?”
This time, Yi Sin-song explained,
“We decide the Sect Leader through martial arts duel between the candidates.”
Chae Geuk-ik exclaimed in shock,
“Decide by martial prowess?”
“Yes. Not a one-on-one duel, but each brings two disciples, and the side with more wins becomes Sect Leader.”
One corner of Chae Geuk-ik's eye twitched upward.
Hong Gu-geum said,
“It's the consideration of our ancestors. A Sect Leader must not only have personal ability but also the talent to nurture the next generation.”
Finally, Chae Geuk-ik nodded in understanding.
“I see. Such profound intent.”
At that moment, Hong Gu-geum declared in a loud voice,
“Today's Sect Leader Selection Conference ends in a tie, so it will be changed to the Sect Leader Selection Tournament in two weeks. Elders, lead your disciples and prepare for the tournament without the slightest disruption.”
The elders replied in unison,
“Yes. Understood.”
Hong Gu-geum turned to Chae Geuk-ik and said,
“Great Hero Chae, I hate to impose, but... you'll need to visit once more.”
Chae Geuk-ik laughed heartily and said,
“No, to witness such an entertaining spectacle—what an honor! Impose? Nonsense! Hahaha.”
Han Ibi sat in the guest quarters, deep in thought.
The opening of this novel Dream of the Ant Snake.
The Qingcheng Sect's Sect Leader selection where all these events began.
He focused his mind to dredge up his memories.
'At the Qingcheng Sect Leader selection ceremony, the two factions tied. So they decided it with a fight.'
He remembered thinking what barbaric fools they were while reading.
To settle something as crucial as Sect Leader selection with brawling...
Well, that was that... Han Ibi needed to find his own path to survival.
'Hmm... So Eun-ri is...'
Suddenly, a chill ran down Han Ibi's spine.
'Ah! What am I doing right now?'
So Eun-ri was this novel's heroine.
The person she was supposed to bond with was the novel's protagonist, Jong Ri-hyeok.
The meeting between So Eun-ri and Jong Ri-hyeok.
This was one of the key points kickstarting the story of Dream of the Ant Snake.
The clumsy, heartbreaking almost-romance that flickered on and off was the main storyline.
In that instant, Han Ibi realized he was trampling that main storyline.
He had stolen the time they were supposed to spend together!
'What have I done?'
Disrupting the main plot was extremely dangerous.
Come to think of it, his very appearance in the Qingcheng Sect was already a 'major variable'.
And sticking by So Eun-ri's side was tantamount to sabotaging them...
This wasn't a world he planned to stay in forever; someday... someday he had to return.
The best way was to support Jong Ri-hyeok so the main stream flowed smoothly, lurking in his shadow to snag the fruits.
Han Ibi resolved to control himself better.
To do that, he needed to understand the plot's flow and steer it back on track as much as possible.
'Think! I have to remember!'
Han Ibi racked his brains, tearing at his hair as he pondered what to do next.
Then a thought struck him.
'Right. Originally, Bok Yeon-hwa pairs with So Eun-ri and Yun Bang-mun, Elder Gi Baek-eom's disciple, for the Qingcheng Sect Leader Selection Tournament. But right before the tournament, So Eun-ri gets ambushed by some mysterious thug and injured... Jong Ri-hyeok saves her and steps in for her, allowing Bok Yeon-hwa to become Sect Leader under his guidance. That's the original plot!'
Since So Eun-ri and Jong Ri-hyeok were already flirting, he could rush to her aid when she was in danger.
But judging by the story Han Ibi had messed up, the chances of that incident happening had plummeted.
If Jong Ri-hyeok couldn't participate, Bok Yeon-hwa might not become Sect Leader...
If her selection failed, even the intro where the protagonist heads to the Murim Alliance wouldn't happen.
Han Ibi shuddered.
'Oh no! Then I'd have to play out the story in a completely different worldview!'
That couldn't happen.
Han Ibi began devising a plan in his head to restore the plot.
A desperate scheme for escape...
The hype for the Qingcheng Sect Leader Selection Tournament was boiling over.
No matter where you went in the Qingcheng Sect, disciples were buzzing about it.
The Leader Selection Tournament was a solemn and sacred procedure, but also a once-in-a-lifetime 'festival of festivals' for Qingcheng members.
Even as an outcast, Han Ibi could easily pick up on the developments.
Fortunately, things were flowing along the main storyline!
Bok Yeon-hwa's lineup: Bok Yeon-hwa, So Eun-ri, Yun Bang-mun.
And Nam Cheol-hong's lineup, led by Hong Gu-geum: Nam Cheol-hong, Seong Chun-don, Son Bu-yang.
Unfortunately, Yun Bang-mun loses to Son Bu-yang.
That's where Jong Ri-hyeok steps in for So Eun-ri, trains under Bok Yeon-hwa, and dramatically defeats Seong Chun-don.
In the 1:1 tie, Bok Yeon-hwa dramatically overcomes Nam Cheol-hong.
'Exactly like that! No more, no less—the story has to flow just like that.'
For that to happen, Jong Ri-hyeok needed to save So Eun-ri from the mysterious assailant.
Han Ibi calculated the tournament date he'd overheard.
'The Leader Selection Tournament is in a week. Per Dream of the Ant Snake's setting, So Eun-ri gets ambushed three days before. So I need to watch her training spot closely and be ready to run to Jong Ri-hyeok.'
Han Ibi rehearsed it dozens of times in his mind.
'Good. It has to go off without a hitch.'
In that sense, knowing the future in advance was incredibly convenient.
In a few days, So Eun-ri would be ambushed in the mountains.
The assailant's martial arts were shockingly powerful, leaving her injured.
But thanks to Jong Ri-hyeok nearby out of worry, she held on, and eventually Bok Yeon-hwa arrived to subdue them.
Han Ibi thought,
'So Jong Ri-hyeok needs to be not far from So Eun-ri... Ahh. I need to figure out a way over the next few days.'
After the Leader Selection Tournament was decided, Bok Yeon-hwa and So Eun-ri trained together, while Yun Bang-mun prepared with his master, Elder Gi Baek-eom.
To avoid enemy scouts, Bok Yeon-hwa and So Eun-ri delved deep into Qingcheng Mountain to practice.
Han Ibi needed to know exactly where they'd train for the upcoming event.
'Sigh... No good excuses... I'll have to sneak a peek without getting caught.'
And so, from dawn, Han Ibi waited for Bok Yeon-hwa and So Eun-ri to appear.
Han Ibi watched them from behind a wall.
But today, for some reason, Bok Yeon-hwa and So Eun-ri took a different path.
It seemed Bok Yeon-hwa had other business.
She was busy with the Leader Selection Tournament these days, after all.
'This is my chance.'
Han Ibi decided to tail So Eun-ri heading up the back of Qingcheng.
He needed to scout her training spot anyway.
Han Ibi held his breath and began following her.
(To be continued in the next chapter)