Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The Nine Dragons Tournament (3)
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#058 The Nine Dragons Tournament (3)
In the Nine Dragons Tournament, an event that captured the attention of not only the Nine Dragons Fortress but martial artists across the land, three individuals were considered the top contenders for victory.
The first among them was, without a doubt, the Blue Dragon Sword, Dan Un.
He had been initiated into the Blue Cloud Red River Sword, the ultimate divine art of the Blue Dragon Hall, and had already mastered its foundational technique, the Blue Wind Sword Art.
Rumor had it that his profound understanding of the sword would soon elevate him to the supreme level.
The second contender was the Black Dragon Sword, Wi Ji-pung.
He was a genius among geniuses who had mastered most of the sword arts of the Black Dragon Hall, including the Sun-Shooting Sword Art.
As a disciple of the Black Dragon Hall, which was known for its expertise in qi arts, he had awakened the Heavenly Dragon Formless Divine Art to the fifth stage, and his qi manipulation was hailed as the best among the young martial artists of the Nine Dragons Fortress.
The third was the White Dragon Sword, Baek Mu-ha.
Although the White Dragon Hall's martial arts were known to be less profound than those of the Blue Dragon and Black Dragon Halls, it was widely believed that Baek Mu-ha had overcome this disadvantage through his outstanding insight and the full support of his family.
And just below these three was the man who stood as Mujeon's opponent today: the Gray Dragon Saber, Jeon Muk.
A master swordsman who had graduated from the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion just two years ago, he was a prodigy blessed with heavenly bones, carrying the full expectations of the Gray Dragon Hall.
The common consensus was that if he were the same age as the other three, the contest would have been too close to call.
Despite graduating at the top of his class from the Heaven-Ascending Pavilion, Mujeon was considered a notch below these four.
This was an unavoidable assessment, as he did not belong to any of the eight halls of the Inner Fortress.
The gap between a martial artist who had trained in a long-verified ultimate art and one who had not was just that significant.
However, Dan Un knew.
He knew that Mujeon's fighting arts possessed a power no less formidable than any divine ultimate art.
Perhaps, he thought, it might even be a cut above.
Dan Un fixed his gaze on Mujeon, who was on the sparring stage.
He was determined not to miss a single moment of the match of the man he acknowledged as his lifelong rival.
"Have you been well?"
Just then, a gentle voice reached Dan Un's ear.
Wi Ji-pung of the Black Dragon Hall approached, his long hair flowing.
"It has been a while."
"Indeed."
The two, who were not particularly close, exchanged a brief greeting.
As if disliking the awkward atmosphere, Wi Ji-pung cleared his throat and spoke.
"Ahem, what do you make of this match?"
"...Mujeon will win."
"Even with the Gray Dragon Saber as his opponent?"
"Yes."
Dan Un replied with an unwavering gaze. Pleased with the answer, Wi Ji-pung smiled faintly.
"I think so, too. While there are no absolutes in the martial world, I believe Mujeon has the upper hand in this fight."
"May I ask why?"
Wi Ji-pung slapped his thigh with a sharp sound and continued.
"Because of his feet."
"So you think so as well, senior."
"That's right. The martial art of the Gray Dragon Saber is the Heaven-Shattering Great Power Saber. It's a saber art that embodies the principles of weight and strength. Unless Jeon Muk has learned the Mountain-Lifting Hegemon Saber, which only the Gray Dragon Hall Master is said to have mastered, he won't be able to catch Mujeon's speed."
"His footwork is unnaturally fast."
As their opinions aligned, the atmosphere brightened.
The earlier awkwardness vanished as if it had never been there.
Having started their conversation with Mujeon, the two soon found themselves sharing their views on martial arts.
A moment later.
"Begin!"
As the voice of the Gold Sword Guard overseeing the proceedings rang out, the two men looked up at the stage in unison.
Before long, their jaws dropped.
*Boom! Craaack!*
Mujeon had charged straight at Jeon Muk, stopped in his tracks, and was now facing him head-on.
It was an action that completely defied the expectation that he would use his footwork to engage in hit-and-run tactics.
"That crazy bastard!"
"...?"
Dan Un simply couldn't understand Mujeon.
To forsake a path that gave him an eighty, no, ninety percent chance of victory and deliberately choose a more difficult one.
Wasn't this tantamount to saying he wanted to lose?
Wi Ji-pung was just as bewildered.
Having known him since he was young, he was aware that Mujeon was a bit crazy, but now he seemed completely insane.
Even if this wasn't a life-or-death battle, this was no different from throwing his life away.
However, a few moments later, both men let out gasps of admiration.
"...He's incredible."
"Yes."
Contrary to their expectations, Mujeon was not being pushed back.
At times, he even displayed a power that overwhelmed Jeon Muk.
Jeon Muk's longsword descended, splitting the air.
Mujeon's fist, shimmering with a hazy aura, struck the side of the blade.
*BOOM!*
With a sound like a lightning bomb exploding, the trajectory of the longsword veered sharply.
*BAM!*
Seizing the opening, Mujeon's kick struck Jeon Muk's shoulder.
"Kuh!"
But Jeon Muk truly was a man said to possess heavenly bones.
He withstood the immense force packed into Mujeon's leg with only his protective aura and his physical body.
Then, he swung his longsword like a storm.
The blade, swung in all directions, swept across the area in front of him.
Everywhere, that is, except for the spot where Mujeon stood.
Watching this, Dan Un's eyes glinted with a strange light.
'Indeed...'
Mujeon moved his hands like lightning, successfully parrying Jeon Muk's longsword.
It was the result of a combination of master-level qi manipulation, the courage to face a descending blade, and extremely precise techniques.
Mujeon's confidence in saying that the him of today was different from the him of yesterday was not unfounded.
"Hyaaah!"
Jeon Muk's battle cry echoed.
Simultaneously, a whitish mist began to form around his longsword, eventually obscuring it from view.
It hadn't disappeared.
"He's condensed his qi."
Just as Wi Ji-pung said, he had condensed his qi into the blade.
Infusing qi into a blade.
It was an inefficient method that was not commonly used because of the difficulty in sustaining it, but things were different now.
In a close-quarters battle like this, there was no stronger or more reliable method.
And sure enough.
*SWOOOOSH!*
Jeon Muk's saber descended with a spine-chilling sound.
However.
*CRACK! Sizzle.*
Mujeon stood firm.
His fist, lashing out like a thunderbolt, had struck the side of the qi-infused longsword.
As a result, the blade missed its target and cleaved the floor as if it were tofu.
The deep gash in the floor gave a hint of the power behind the strike.
"Incredible!"
Wi Ji-pung exclaimed in admiration upon seeing the sight.
Dan Un felt the same.
He imagined whether he could have blocked Jeon Muk's longsword so easily.
He soon shook his head.
He could block it.
But he wasn't confident he could block it with pure strength alone like that.
Amidst their admiration, the two men kept their eyes glued to the duel on the stage.
*Pow! Thwack! Bam!*
A storm of force erupted from Mujeon's hands, striking Jeon Muk's entire body.
"Keuk!"
Finding it difficult to endure despite his so-called heavenly body, Jeon Muk leaped backward.
It was the first time he had retreated in today's duel.
And that retreat gave Mujeon an opportunity.
*Thud.*
With a powerful step, Mujeon's figure vanished and reappeared right in front of Jeon Muk.
It was a speed that most experts would be unable to follow.
Thus began the ultra-close-quarters combat.
Jeon Muk gritted his teeth and threw a punch.
There wasn't enough space to swing his longsword.
*Woosh!*
He must not have neglected his fist techniques either, as his punch was powerful enough to repel any ordinary expert.
*Thwip.*
Of course, that was assuming his opponent wasn't Mujeon.
"...!"
Seeing his attack so easily blocked, Jeon Muk was about to retreat in shock.
But Mujeon's fist reached his chest first.
*BOOM! Ssssk.*
A powerful storm of force sent Jeon Muk's body flying backward.
*THUD!*
Immediately stomping his foot, Mujeon threw a straight punch toward Jeon Muk's face.
*Rumble! KABOOM!*
A sound like a lightning bomb detonating was followed by a massive explosion.
"..."
The incredible force of the impact had devastated the sparring stage.
The martial arts masters seated in the VIP section rose from their seats one by one.
The martial artists watching the duel stared at Mujeon with wide eyes.
Mujeon's single move had been shocking enough to stun the audience.
And then.
"...I have lost."
Jeon Muk, faced with the explosion that had erupted right in front of him, clasped his fists and bowed his head.
He realized that Mujeon had shown consideration, ensuring he wouldn't be harmed.
At the same time.
"Woooooah!"
The entire audience erupted in cheers.
It was proof of what a spectacular match it had been.
Not only the commoners of the Outer Fortress but also the leaders of the Nine Dragons Fortress, the envoys from the Righteous Path Alliance, the guests from major factions, and even the unaffiliated martial artists had all witnessed Mujeon's strength.
From this day on, the martial world would remember the name of the Fighting Dragon, Jin Mujeon.
Wi Ji-pung and Dan Un were genuinely happy for Mujeon's victory.
Wi Ji-pung was pleased that Mujeon, who was like a younger brother to him, had gained fame.
Dan Un was delighted that his rival had grown stronger.
But soon, both men sensed something was amiss.
Mujeon, the one who should have been savoring the joy of victory more than anyone, had his head bowed and his eyes closed.
'Did he suffer an internal injury?'
Worried, Wi Ji-pung leaped onto the sparring stage in a single bound.
If something was wrong, he intended to carry him off on his back.
"Mujeon, are you okay?"
As he placed a hand on Mujeon's shoulder, he saw it.
"...*Sob*."
Beads of sweat falling from Mujeon's eyes were soaking the ground beneath his feet.
***
I just couldn't bear it.
Fine, let's say, for the sake of argument, that Yuk Jin-hwa got a boyfriend.
I didn't go to her right after the war ended, so I guess it's partly my fault.
But then, what in the world was Jeok Hwa-ran, who was supposed to be playing Cupid all this time, doing?
Shouldn't she have at least let me know if a man appeared near Yuk Jin-hwa?
With that thought, I headed straight for the Red Blossom Pavilion as soon as the match was over.
Hiding was useless.
I had already confirmed through Yong Ma-san that Jeok Hwa-ran was on the fourth floor of the Red Blossom Pavilion.
*Knock, knock.*
Perhaps because it was still broad daylight, the doors of the Red Blossom Pavilion were locked. I pounded on the door, filled with fury.
*Creak.*
"We're not open for business yet... oh, isn't it Squad Leader Jin?"
"Ahem, is the Pavilion Master inside?"
Sensing the deep anger emanating from me, the doorman, Oh Sang, answered cautiously.
"Well... she is here, but what brings you here?"
"It's a personal matter, so don't be too curious."
"Still, you must tell me the reason so I can go inside and inform..."
As I was bickering with Oh Sang, a clear voice came from the fourth floor of the Red Blossom Pavilion.
"Senior?"
A fair, delicate face appeared through the window. She looked quite excited.
What was there to think about?
I had to charge in right now.
*Whoosh.*
I used Flying Heavenly Wind to ascend to the fourth floor and entered Jeok Hwa-ran's room. She backed away and shouted.
"N-No. So soon! What! That's for after we become a couple! I should at least wash up! The bedding! My clothes!"
It seemed a guilty conscience needs no accuser; she appeared flustered, likely because of what she'd done.
"My lady, is something the matter?"
The voice of a guard came from outside.
At that, Jeok Hwa-ran calmed her excitement and spoke coldly.
"A dear friend has come to visit, and we are having a reunion. We have important matters to discuss, so everyone, please withdraw."
"Yes."
At her single command, the presences felt near the room vanished in an instant.
It was a testament to the skill of the martial artists of the Red Dragon Hall, once the greatest assassin's gate in the world.
Once all the presences were gone, Jeok Hwa-ran's face turned red as she spoke.
"Please wait just a moment."
"No, wait for what?"
"No matter how urgent it is, there must be proper etiquette when discussing... such things."
I wondered what kind of etiquette was needed to sort out right and wrong, but Jeok Hwa-ran was essentially the youngest daughter of a conglomerate family in modern terms.
Thinking she might have some unique customs, I nodded.
"...Alright, I understand."
"Thank you. I'll be right back."
Jeok Hwa-ran, who had said she'd be right back, didn't return for nearly an hour.
And she came back in a very glamorous outfit, with full makeup on.
"..."
"Now, please speak. Because you were late, senior, I have long since prepared my heart."
*Gulp.*
I saw Jeok Hwa-ran swallow hard after finishing her sentence.
Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, a clear sign of her nervousness.
To her, I laid out the matter concerning Yuk Jin-hwa.
I demanded to know why she hadn't said a single word, despite promising to help the relationship between me and Yuk Jin-hwa.
After I had my say, I waited for her answer.
"Waaaaah!"
Suddenly, Jeok Hwa-ran burst into tears.
"Waaaaaah!"
She cried so sorrowfully that I couldn't even get a word in.
A moment later.
*CRASH!*
The wall shattered, and a familiar face appeared.
"Who dares make my sister cry?"
It was the third grandson of the Red Dragon Hall Master, the True Killing Sword, Jeok Sam.
Behind him were two other men who looked similar to him.
"Do you want to die?"
"My Red Blood Sword will taste blood again."
Hey, why are you guys having a party here?