Chapter 60
Chapter 60
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Nine Dragons Tournament (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
#060: Nine Dragons Tournament (5)
Right before the match began, I called over Myo Hyang and Cheong So-so.
“Did you bet on Geum Pil-dae?”
“Yes!”
“How much?”
“A woman’s got to go all in. Hehe.”
Cheong So-so giggled like a fool.
Seeing her, I couldn’t help but sigh.
Everyone is predicting Baek Mu-ha’s victory. Why on earth would she bet on Geum Pil-dae?
“Let’s hear your reasoning.”
“This is a secret.”
Cheong So-so looked up and whispered in my ear.
“Look at Geum Pil-dae’s hands.”
Following her words, I turned my gaze and saw his hands had a reddish hue.
“Reddening of the hands and feet is a classic symptom that appears for a month after consuming the inner core of a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Fox.”
“Couldn’t he have taken some other herb with similar symptoms?”
“Most things that cause similar symptoms are either poisonous herbs or have weak effects. The heir of the Gold Dragon Hall wouldn’t consume something like that, would he? What do you think? That’s solid reasoning, right?”
More than solid.
It was news that Geum Pil-dae had basically paid-to-win with the inner core of a Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Fox, a top-tier elixir.
“That makes sense.”
“Hahaha, I am Cheong So-so, the third-generation descendant of the Life and Death Divine Physician.”
I had no idea why the Life and Death Divine Physician was being brought up, but I let it slide.
It was Myo Hyang’s turn to speak.
“And you, sis?”
“He’s handsome, isn’t he?”
“That’s it?”
“I’m kidding. I bet on him because other people were predicting the White Dragon Sword’s victory.”
“In case you’ve forgotten, Baek Mu-ha is the… of Baek Ha-jin, the man who tried to force you to be his concubine.”
“His older brother. I’ve been living in the Nine Dragons Fortress for years; you think I wouldn’t know that?”
“…”
“Besides, it wasn't him, so what does it matter? As long as I make money, that’s all that counts.”
“Just how much did you bet? And where did you even get the money?”
“That’s a secret. Hehe.”
Her attitude made me shake my head.
I turned to look at the betting table and saw the odds.
1.5 to 2.5.
Baek Mu-ha was the overwhelming favorite.
Aaaah! Geum! Pil! Dae! Geum! Pil! Dae!
Cheong So-so’s cheers, hoping for a big win, filled the air.
White Dragon Sword! White Dragon Sword!
Myo Hyang, who had made the safer investment, was also raising her hands, lost in cheering.
“Tsk, tsk.”
I decided to just ignore them and shifted my attention to the sparring stage.
According to the bracket, today’s winner would be my opponent in the semifinals, so it was best to watch them closely.
And then.
“Begin the match!”
The match began with Geum Jin-san’s shout.
Geum Pil-dae, dressed in golden robes, grabbed the end of the sash at his waist and yanked it.
Fwoosh.
The sash transformed into a thin, five-foot-long sword.
A flexible sword whose length could be adjusted by infusing it with internal energy.
It was the Golden Segmented Sword, a treasure of the Gold Dragon Hall.
However, the White Dragon Hall also possessed considerable wealth, and the sword in Baek Mu-ha’s hand looked equally extraordinary.
I didn’t know its name, but just looking at it, I could feel a chilling sharpness. It was undoubtedly a high-tier rare item.
After a moment of locking eyes, the two began to swing their swords at each other.
Kwwaaang!
Geum Pil-dae’s sword ki, a mix of gold and red, flashed through the air.
Jjeong!
Baek Mu-ha executed superb evasive arts to dodge the attacks while simultaneously launching a chilling counterattack.
From what I’d seen so far, Geum Pil-dae had the advantage in power, while Baek Mu-ha excelled in speed and precision.
However, that dynamic was shattered soon after.
As if he had finished sizing up his opponent, Baek Mu-ha suddenly leaped directly in front of Geum Pil-dae.
Shhhlick.
As if to prepare for close combat, Geum Pil-dae’s flexible sword shortened to a length of two feet.
At the same time, sword ki glowing with red and gold erupted from the blade.
Kwaaaang!
The sparring stage, which had already suffered under Jeon Muk, was damaged once again.
This time, it didn’t just crack.
It was utterly shattered by the force of the sword ki.
That was proof of just how powerful Geum Pil-dae’s sword ki was.
But the scene that followed left me speechless.
Baek Mu-ha’s sword moved at an invisible speed, shattering the sword ki flying toward him.
He sneered and moved again.
A single strike, without any sword ki or embellishment.
But Geum Pil-dae didn’t even dare to try and block it.
Baek Mu-ha’s movements were too fast to follow with the naked eye.
Sschk!
“Keuk!”
A gash opened across Geum Pil-dae’s chest, and his clothes began to soak with red blood.
It was a serious injury, but Geum Pil-dae didn’t give up.
Instead, he gritted his teeth.
Fwoosh.
And unleashed an even more powerful wave of sword ki at Baek Mu-ha.
Sword ki so dense it could have passed for sword aura.
It must have been born from the internal energy he gained from his recent cash-in.
Kwaaaang!
As their swords clashed once more, the sword ki exploded, sending shockwaves in all directions.
Thump, thump, thump.
The experts from the Red Dragon Hall, who were already on standby, protected the common folk in the audience.
Covered in dust, Baek Mu-ha’s aura and gaze changed.
It seemed he was about to end the fight.
Flash.
A light like the sun filled the sparring stage.
Jjeong!
The Golden Segmented Sword, the treasure of the Gold Dragon Hall, was split in two.
The swift sword that had elevated the Baek Family from a minor house to one of the Five Great Families.
The Sunlight Sword had been unleashed.
“Cough. Th-this is…”
Geum Pil-dae stared down at his sword in disbelief.
Shnk.
Baek Mu-ha brought his sword to the man’s neck.
The match was decided in an instant.
And it was completely one-sided.
Waaaaaah!
“Aaaaaaah!!”
Along with the crowd, Myo Hyang screamed her head off.
Thud.
Cheong So-so collapsed to the ground, her face filled with despair.
* * *
Back home, I replayed Baek Mu-ha’s martial arts from today in my mind.
‘Is this the same Baek Mu-ha I knew?’
Could someone really get this much stronger in just three years?
I couldn’t help but be astonished by his progress.
Of course, he was never weak in the past.
If he had been, the Hall Master of the White Dragon Hall would never have granted him the title of White Dragon Sword.
The problem was the sheer size of the gap.
The saying about seeing someone in a new light after a few days doesn't apply to martial arts.
Unlike studying, you can’t become stronger overnight in martial arts.
Martial arts is something where you can only advance a single step when enlightenment comes after honing your spirit, energy, and mind every single day.
And yet, Baek Mu-ha seemed to have skipped two or three steps.
Even if he had gobbled down bundles of elixirs, it was an unbelievable result.
No, if it were simply a matter of consuming elixirs, today’s victor would have been Geum Pil-dae.
“Hmm, what should I do about this…?”
My original plan was to beat the crap out of Baek Mu-ha in the semifinals, win my bet, and then bet on my own loss in the finals to win again.
But with Baek Mu-ha having grown this strong, I was hesitant to face him.
Of course, I don’t think I’ll lose for sure.
I have the War King Arts.
The problem is that even if I win, I might lose a limb.
Given his status as the heir of the White Dragon Hall Master, he wouldn’t hesitate to try and kill me.
On the other hand, I can’t kill him. If I did, the White Dragon Hall Master would throw me into the underground prison.
And the nightly visitors that would follow would be a bonus.
One trying to kill, the other trying to win.
Anyone can see the one trying to kill has the advantage.
With that in mind, I came to a conclusion.
“Right, I’ll bet on my own loss.”
It’s embarrassing, but I’ll just fight for a bit and then forfeit.
It’s a shame I can’t win another bet, but it's always better to be safe than sorry.
With a lighter heart, I left my room.
“You’re out.”
And there, sitting on a chair in my courtyard, was none other than Baek Mu-ha.
With more than ten guards, no less.
I extended my senses to check the surroundings.
The members of the Two Immortals Gang who had been guarding the gate were all knocked out, and I could sense Myo Hyang and Cheong So-so huddled together in a corner of the kitchen, trembling.
“…”
After grasping the situation, I looked back at the front, and Baek Mu-ha shrugged.
“Some pests were blocking the way.”
“Still a son of a bitch, I see.”
“You bastard!”
At my response, one of the guards surrounding Baek Mu-ha abruptly drew his sword.
In response, I unleashed a technique from the War Dragon's Thirteen Strikes.
Paak. Crack.
And shattered his collarbone to pieces.
“Kuaaaargh!”
Tuk.
I immediately channeled energy into my toe and struck the fallen guard’s mute point.
He writhed in pain, but his screams stopped, so it wasn’t noisy.
“…Still as bold as ever. In both word and deed.”
“Didn’t I tell you before? People who change are bound to die.”
“I see.”
“Just say what you have to say and leave. I need to eat dinner.”
“Why don’t we go out and eat together instead?”
“You want me to get indigestion from staring at your unlucky face while I eat?”
“…You really are a difficult person to deal with.”
“We agree on something for once. I was thinking the same thing.”
As my eyes met Baek Mu-ha’s, I could feel a faint killing intent in his gaze.
At the same time, I was once again certain.
Certain that this bastard would try to kill me the moment he got the chance.
“Fine. I’ll get to the point. As you know, the match after next is between you and me.”
“Isn’t that a bit premature? Your next opponent, the Silver Dragon Spear, is no pushover.”
“Are you comparing me to the likes of him?”
“There are no absolutes in the martial world.”
Though I said that, I also believed the Silver Dragon Spear couldn’t beat Baek Mu-ha.
He’d be lucky to last even thirty seconds.
That’s how incredible Baek Mu-ha’s divine prowess had been in today’s match.
“Then, shall I come back tomorrow after the match?”
“The thought of seeing you again is suddenly repulsive. Let’s just get it over with today, shall we?”
Baek Mu-ha spoke in a calm voice.
And said something I never expected.
“Forfeit. And I will give you what you desire.”
“...!”
“If you want money, I will give you money. If you want a treasure, I will give you one.”
Despite making a corrupt proposal, Baek Mu-ha said it as casually as asking a classmate to borrow an eraser.
I, on the other hand, couldn’t answer so easily.
Since I had already decided to fight half-heartedly and lose, accepting his offer seemed like a good idea.
‘But how could I possibly trust him?’
Baek Mu-ha was the type of man who would suddenly launch a killing strike even while we were just exchanging blows.
So, my deliberation didn’t last long.
“I refuse.”
One shouldn’t eat a meal bought by a suspicious bastard, should they?
“…Unexpected. I thought you would accept.”
“Why is that?”
“Self-preservation and money. Are those not the things you desire most?”
As expected, he was not a man to be taken lightly.
“Not necessarily.”
“Then what else is there?”
“Justice and chivalry…”
“If you’re going to lie, just stay quiet. Didn’t you refuse simply because you don’t trust me?”
“…Let’s just say that’s the case.”
As I reluctantly agreed, Baek Mu-ha brushed himself off and stood up.
“Understood. Then I shall take my leave.”
Baek Mu-ha turned around.
I called out to his departing back.
“But why are you asking me to forfeit? Are you, by any chance, scared?”
About to leave, Baek Mu-ha stopped in his tracks and turned his head.
His face, illuminated by the moonlight, felt cold.
“I don’t know what that means, but it sounds like you’re asking if I’m scared. Is that right?”
“Well, something like that.”
“Of someone like you?”
With those final words, he left the house.
Myo Hyang and Cheong So-so came out of the kitchen and checked on the injured men outside.
Watching them bustle about, I mulled over Baek Mu-ha’s last words.
‘That’s actually kind of pissing me off.’