Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Operation Time
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"Woooaaah!!"
"Amazing!"
The mountain shook with thunderous cheers and applause as if Mount Qingcheng itself might crumble.
Seo Ui-jae spoke up.
"The passion and effort shown today by the young disciples of the Great Qingcheng Sect will serve as a great example to all the others. On behalf of everyone, I offer my thanks to these two who gave their all."
That's when one man with a sour expression caught Han Ibi's eye.
He was one of the guests seated in the VIP stands, his face completely covered in a thick beard.
Yet he didn't look all that old.
His face screamed, 'That was so low-level I can't even watch.'
Han Ibi figured he was some 'second-generation sect leader' dispatched from a mid-tier sect as their representative.
Like a chaebol heir in modern terms, second or third generation.
Seo Ui-jae continued.
"We will now take a short break of about one-quarter hour before proceeding to the second match. Relevant disciples, please prepare in advance."
At that, people began moving all at once to attend to their business.
Just then, Bok Yeon-hwa rose from the tent and headed toward the VIP stands.
With nimble movements, she swiftly made her way to the platform where the inner and outer guests were seated.
Naturally, the sect leader and elders wore puzzled expressions.
The first to speak was Elder Ha Bong-rye.
"Elder Bok. Why have you suddenly come here...?"
Bok Yeon-hwa replied.
"I have something to say to the sect leader and the elders."
Hong Gu-geum, unable to hide his bewilderment, then spoke.
"Fine, what is it that brings you up here in the middle of the tournament?"
Bok Yeon-hwa turned her gaze to the sect leader and said.
"So Eun-ri's condition is even more serious than we thought. The aphrodisiac's effects are vicious..."
Yi Sin-song then cut in with a mocking sneer.
"Elder Bok, we've discussed that enough already. We said we could switch candidates beforehand... Bursting in here like a child throwing a tantrum right after losing the first match is a bit much..."
"Throwing a tantrum? Elder Yi, that's going too far."
As Bok Yeon-hwa glared at him with a sharp look, he flinched and responded.
"Well... I just meant it like that. As I was saying..."
"We will change our competing disciple."
A chill instantly swept through the VIP stands.
Bok Yeon-hwa continued.
"As far as I know, the regulations of the sect leader selection tournament make no specific provision regarding changes to the entrants."
At that, Gi Baek-eom, who had caught on, jumped in to support her.
He was someone who could be called an ally of Bok Yeon-hwa.
"That's correct. No such rule exists in the sect leader selection tournament. For exceptional cases like this, only the sect leader's permission is needed."
As he spoke, Gi Baek-eom glanced at Sect Leader Hong Gu-geum, his eyes urging approval.
But Yi Sin-song, unwilling to let this golden opportunity slip, objected.
"But bringing it up now is..."
Bok Yeon-hwa shot back.
"Very well. If you insist on proceeding like this, go ahead. But selecting the next sect leader based on a match fought by a child who can't even properly care for herself... Hmph. That would be truly laughable. Especially with so many outside guests here. Isn't that right, Elder Chae?"
With that, she locked eyes with Chae Geuk-ik of the Huashan Sect.
Chae Geuk-ik cleared his throat with an 'ahem' and replied.
"Ah, well, outsiders like us can't very well meddle in another sect's traditions. I'm only here as a witness to ensure the match results are fairly decided."
At that moment, Ji Mo-han, the sect leader of the Hong Rae-hoe, chimed in.
"Ah. From my ignorant perspective, I don't quite grasp all those complicated rules... But holding a sect leader selection tournament where the candidates don't even fight each other—how does that even make sense?"
Yi Sin-song and the Hong Gu-geum faction members silently glared at Ji Mo-han.
Their faces said, 'Who the hell invited this guy?'
But then they noticed the outside guests nodding in agreement with Ji Mo-han...
That's when Bok Yeon-hwa spoke up.
"Then allow me to make a proposal."
Yi Sin-song burst out.
"Elder Bok! Do you think the sect leader selection tournament is some street market haggling? A proposal, of all things..."
"Whether to accept or not is for the sect leader to decide. Why are you stepping forward? Have you been quietly elected sect leader behind our backs, Elder Yi?"
"Urgh...!"
Yi Sin-song's face turned pale with anger, but he had no rebuttal and could only work his mouth uselessly.
"Speak."
All eyes turned to the speaker.
It was Sect Leader Hong Gu-geum.
He repeated.
"Tell us your proposal, Elder Bok."
"Thank you, Sect Leader."
Bok Yeon-hwa expressed her gratitude and continued.
"It's an old tradition, but... new wine must be put into new wineskins. If the sect leader selection doesn't involve the leaders competing against each other... it would become a laughingstock to the rest of the martial world."
Gi Baek-eom chimed in.
"Exactly. We're not taking some civil service exam here..."
Bok Yeon-hwa said.
"So, while we're at it, I formally request to the sect leader that we change the order of the matches."
Hong Gu-geum's eyebrow arched up.
"Change the order?"
"Yes. I propose swapping the second and third matches."
Silence fell once more.
Yi Sin-song's eyes darted about busily, clearly weighing the pros and cons.
Meanwhile, the guest attendees' eyes sparkled with interest in the unfolding drama.
Watching others' matches was one of the martial world's favorite pastimes.
They had all been worried that, having come all this way for the prestigious Qingcheng Sect Leader Selection Tournament, they might leave without even seeing the candidates duel.
And seeing the pale, sickly face of the young girl entrant only made that fear feel all too real.
So Bok Yeon-hwa's words naturally perked up their ears.
Even Chae Geuk-ik of the Huashan Sect, who was pretending to be more dignified than most, felt the same.
But no one could speak up easily.
That's when Ji Mo-han of the Hong Rae-hoe piped up again.
"What a heroic, bold move. As a mere guest, I have no right to speak, but I wholeheartedly agree."
The atmosphere turned deathly quiet, like cold water had been poured over them.
The conservative faction of the Hong Gu-geum line glared at him as if ready to devour him whole.
Unfazed, Ji Mo-han egged on the crowd even louder.
"Just because people aren't speaking doesn't mean they don't want it. They're only holding their tongues out of courtesy. Isn't that right, honored guests?"
The invited guests in the VIP stands nearly nodded instinctively before barely holding back.
This made the most desperate person Bok Yeon-hwa's opponent and the conservative faction's next sect leader candidate, Nam Cheol-hong.
"Sect Leader Ji. As a martial artist who makes his living in the jianghu, I fully understand your feelings... But every sect has its own traditions and history."
Ji Mo-han scoffed.
"Outdated traditions can sometimes be stumbling blocks to progress."
By now, Nam Cheol-hong was heated enough that he opened his mouth to fire back properly.
That's when Sect Leader Hong Gu-geum's voice rang out.
"I permit it."
The gazes of Nam Cheol-hong and the entire Hong faction turned to the Qingcheng sect leader.
They seemed to doubt their own ears, wondering if they'd misheard.
Hong Gu-geum repeated.
"I accept Elder Bok's proposal. We will swap the match order and permit the change in competing disciple."
Yi Sin-song spat foam from his mouth as he protested.
"Sect Leader! This cannot be! At such a crucial moment, how can we..."
Hong Gu-geum shot him a fierce glare and snapped.
"I am still the head of the Qingcheng Sect. Are you trying to run wild without regard for rank and order?"
Gasp... To come out this strong...
Having been sharply rebuked, Yi Sin-song had no choice but to shut his mouth and back down.
Yi Sin-song and Nam Cheol-hong were utterly baffled.
Their regime's preservation was right within reach—why was Hong Gu-geum acting so foolishly?
All it would take was enduring a bit of wounded pride...
Of course, Hong Gu-geum wasn't oblivious to the situation. He had no intention of changing the order from the start.
Until Elder Chae Geuk-ik of the Huashan Sect's advice came via transmission...
- Sect Leader Hong.
- Yes, Elder Chae.
- Forgive me for speaking via transmission.
- Of course.
- Why did you invite so many mid-tier sect guests today?
- The elders decided on the guest list, so I'm not fully aware.
It was a lie.
Hong Gu-geum wanted to introduce his successor, Nam Cheol-hong, to the surrounding martial artists at this opportunity.
So he had scraped together every connection, real or not, to gather as many people as possible.
- As you well know... there's a saying in the jianghu: The second most fearsome thing is the sword; the first is the 'three-inch tongue.'
He'd heard it before.
- If you reject that woman's proposal today, Sect Leader, it will be talked about endlessly. The jianghu is full of gossips. So... before people start asking me for my opinion and putting us all in an awkward spot, it would look better if you approve it quickly.
- I... understand.
That's why Hong Gu-geum had boldly accepted Bok Yeon-hwa's proposal.
Of course, he was confident that something like swapping match orders or changing entrants wouldn't alter the big picture.
Bok Yeon-hwa said impassively.
"Thank you, Sect Leader."
"Hmph."
Hong Gu-geum merely flicked his sleeve and let out a barely audible scoff.
At that moment, Elder Yi Sin-song spoke to Bok Yeon-hwa as if it had just occurred to him.
"Then who will stand in for the final match?"
Bok Yeon-hwa replied calmly.
"Jong Ri-mae will compete."
Yi Sin-song's face twisted instantly.
Even the elders not aligned with the Hong faction gasped in shock.
Ha Bong-rye of the Hong line said loudly.
"That... that ruffian in the selection tournament now?!"
Bok Yeon-hwa replied sharply.
"Watch your words with so many guests present, Elder Ha."
Then even Gi Baek-eom, who could be called Bok Yeon-hwa's ally, spoke with a worried expression.
"Elder Bok... are you sure? His opponent is Seong Chun-don, the eldest of the second-generation disciples..."
Instead of answering, Bok Yeon-hwa simply nodded with resolute determination.
That's when it happened.
"Hahaha!"
Yi Sin-song laughed loudly and said.
"This is interesting. Very interesting... Elder Bok. I never pegged you for this type..."
Bok Yeon-hwa asked with a puzzled look.
"What do you mean by that?"
Yi Sin-song's eyes flashed sharply as he said.
"You already know you're going to lose. Don't you?"
"I don't see the value in responding."
"You foresaw defeat, so you're trying to undermine the legitimacy of the final match and tarnish the tournament's honor, aren't you?"
With things said so bluntly, even Bok Yeon-hwa couldn't hold back.
"What motive would I have for such a thing? Mind yourself, Elder Yi!"
Yi Sin-song stepped back with a sly grin and tossed out.
"If not, well, whatever."
Of course, the mid-tier sect leaders watching all this were endlessly amused...
But they grew intensely curious about the identity of the Qingcheng Sect 'ruffian' being discussed so heatedly.
(To be continued in the next chapter)