Chapter 174
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Devious Schemes and Hidden Swords (4)
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"They say even fools have an answer now and then. If you know someone's weakness, of course you don't use it. What idiot would play right into their hands? Especially in a duel where the clan's fate hangs in the balance—they had to have overcome it! Why were your countermeasures against the Guo Family so half-assed? If that's how it's gonna be, why doesn't the So Clan just stick to raising cattle?"
The arena erupted in roaring laughter at Mujin's biting sarcasm.
No one could have imagined someone trash-talking so openly. Most people would pretend not to know out of consideration for both sides' faces.
"That's straight-up calling him a motherfucker to his face!"
"Look at him sitting there like the king of arrogance!"
"Who the hell is that guy?"
"Overheard earlier—he's from the Heavenly Luck Fist. Calls himself the Heavenly Fist!"
"Ahhh! That's the guy who stirred up all that chaos in Kangso Province!"
"Now it makes sense."
"His bullshit keeps evolving by the day!"
He wasn't world-famous, but he was well-known enough. For someone like that to keep spitting in his own face like this? Normally, no one would, but since it was Heavenly Luck Fist, the crowd bought it. If anything, it was heating up the tournament's atmosphere.
"Who's Heavenly Luck Fist? I'm Heavenly Fist—heavenly fist!"
Mujin knew how to hype the crowd. He'd gifted them free snacks to munch on without worry.
His fists clenched tight in trembling rage!
Even the patient So Uncheon nearly lost it for a moment, barely suppressing his fury. He gripped his fists hard to rein in his true nature.
This wouldn't do. He had to turn the tide. He couldn't just watch the Guo Family rampage without a care.
"Jeongwon, you're up."
"Yes, Father."
So Uncheon sent out his second son, So Jeongwon. As one of the top three in the So Clan, he was more than enough to wash away the first match's defeat.
"Uncle Woong, you're on."
"Got it."
As planned, Mujin put forward Guo Cheolwoong. He was playing along with So Uncheon's intent to send his son for a reversal.
The order was set anyway. I'm a cut above some doddering old man. It'll play out exactly within the framework, without a single deviation.
"The second match will now begin. Combatants, please take the stage!"
Guo Cheolwoong and So Jeongwon's duel was fierce from the start. They skipped any probing or testing entirely.
Clang-clang-clang! Boom!
Unlike his bearish bulk, Guo Cheolwoong was swift and ferocious. True to the Lightning Sword's essence, he pressed So Jeongwon relentlessly. His attacks were so massive they left openings, and he took wounds on counters without a care, aiming for a swift finish.
Argh!
It was the classic strategy of yielding flesh to claim bone.
Guo Cheolwoong was injured too, but So Jeongwon was in no shape to continue.
"Victory to the Guo Family."
Roooar!
The cheers grew even louder with the second win. People naturally root for the underdog. The odds were high too. Many had cheered for the Guo Family, seen as inferior to the So Clan.
Tremble, tremble!
The results were veering wildly off script. The overwhelming victor should have been the So Clan, not the Guo Family.
"Boring. At this rate, it'll look like we started the provocation. What were they thinking challenging us? Did they prepare this just to hand over the seat? Such boundless magnanimity—it's endless. If they're offering, we should take it! Freebies make even brine taste sweet."
The arena burst into laughter again at Mujin's nonstop barrage. With the matches so one-sided, they couldn't help it. If the next one went the same way, the So Clan would have to surrender nearly everything they had.
They'd provoked, only to get smashed in return. It fit karma and retribution to a tee.
Crunch!
So Uncheon had hit his patience limit. Mujin's taunts nearly blew his top. He barely held back the urge to tear him apart.
Ugh!
From the curtained pavilion, he signaled without emerging. To So Uncheon, it was a chilling warning. Lose this one, and victory goes to the Guo Family.
"I'll go."
He absolutely could not lose. For So Uncheon, this match had to seize momentum. The Guo Family aimed to grab the early wins and sweep all three. He couldn't fall for their scheme.
"The third combatant, please take the stage."
So Uncheon ground his teeth at the opponent ascending opposite him. It was someone utterly unexpected.
Shudder!
The Guo Family's fighter was Guo Cheolwoong's precious golden branch, jade leaf—Guo Yiseon.
Guo Yiseon spoke the moment she mounted the stage.
"I forfeit."
"Victory in the third match goes to the So Clan."
Even with a forfeit win, So Uncheon couldn't smile. This was all wrong. The Guo Family should have sent Guo Cheol yong. Sending Guo Yiseon instead meant the So Clan had traded their strongest card for dead weight.
"That's strategic genius right there. See? You saw it! Even I think I'm amazing. Strong in martial arts, sharp in tactics—I'm Heavenly Fist, heavenly fist!"
It was an admirable ploy, but his self-absorption killed any praise. Eyes instead turned to So Uncheon, frozen like a statue of mourning on the stage.
'This can't happen!'
Rage boiled over; he itched to charge out and sever that bastard's head. If not for the crowd, he might have.
"No next match? How long do we have to wait? Think of the people waiting. Tsk tsk tsk!"
The crowd clicked their tongues at Mujin's jabs. What a venomous tongue—like a serpent's mouth. Even as outsiders, it was infuriating to hear.
"That's not Heavenly Luck Fist—that's Poison Palm Master!"
"Listening makes my guts twist; how's the guy taking it?"
"He kills with words—straight-up murders!"
"I'd snap too. No wonder killings happen."
"But he's holding back like a living Buddha."
"At least Heavenly Longevity Buddha level!"
So rattled he couldn't hear the murmurs, So Uncheon panicked. When had he ever faced such humiliation? He'd always tested every stone. He'd blocked every variable. Yet here he was.
'Where did it go wrong? Am I really losing like this? No, impossible.'
His son remained. Inferior to him, sure, but the boy could still turn it around. The Guo Family wanted to end it early anyway, so Guo Cheol yong would come now.
"Forfeit again? Settle it? Better to forfeit."
As So Uncheon pondered sending the clan head, Mujin's flippant remark hit. Mentioning forfeit shook his judgment. Forfeit sloppily like that, and they'd waste their best card into thin air.
'Damn it, that dog bastard!'
The biggest issue: the Guo Family's martial arts had changed. Hard to play moves freely. From the Ho Il-do vs. Yang Ho-pil match, everything unraveled because the Guo Family had grown stronger. Otherwise, no worries at all.
Time ticked away. Hesitation meant certain shame, and that viper mouth wouldn't stay quiet. In the end, he made his final choice.
"The fourth combatant, take the stage."
Seeing the Guo Family's fighter, So Uncheon nearly collapsed, clutching his neck. Fearing forfeit, he'd sent a backup elder—yet up came Heavenly Sword Guo Cheol yong.
Crunch!
Thoroughly toyed by Mujin's mind games, So Uncheon bared his killing intent. His glare screamed murder. He wouldn't be human if he didn't kill that mongrel.
'Hmph, glare all you want.'
-Same as ever—you're a natural at pissing people off.
'Pissed means you lose, right?'
-I wasn't pissed.
'You could just admit it.'
-Don't pretend to care.
The outcome was obvious without watching. Guo Cheol yong was the Guo Family's strongest. Only So Uncheon or So Jeongmu could make it a real fight. They shouldn't mirror his moves anyway. When losing ground, keep sending your strongest.
"Kinda exciting, huh? Not crying, are ya?"
Crunch!
So Uncheon had hoped for a clan member's reversal. But none came.
"Victory to the Guo Family. By a score of three to one, the duel goes to the Guo Family!"
Shudder!
The So Clan, expecting dominance, hadn't foreseen such a hollow defeat. If skill deficit, maybe—but ensnared by Guo schemes, it was absurd. Reality would take time to sink in.
The crowd felt the same bafflement. The first match's intensity vanished, ending in politics.
Of course, without solid skill backing, the Guo victory wouldn't have happened.
"Whoa, they win like that too?!"
"Dunno about else, but their cunning's top-tier!"
"From snatching Eumsa to this—gotta respect it!"
"So Clan hoist by their own petard!"
"They'll wake up raging in their sleep!"
"Bed-leg kick for sure."
For a fate-deciding clan duel, it ended lamely. Far from life-or-death, just anticlimactic. Lukewarm from mid to end, the crowd felt they'd come for nothing.
"Guo Family's footing the bill today—grab your meal vouchers!"
Roooar!
Not his money, so Mujin was generous. Who hates free? One line captured hearts instantly.
And he'd already won big. Crowd bet on winners, but Mujin nailed three wins, one loss. Higher accuracy meant bigger multipliers. Pre-arranged with Continental Battlefield—no loose ends.
'Not his money, so he splurges!'
Guo Cheol yong's expression was conflicted. Happy or sad? Couldn't tell.
"Long live Guo Family!"
"Guo Family's the best!"
"Top clan in Danyang!"
"Danyang? Top in Kangso Province!"
Bribery's power was immense. These spectators would spread word far and wide. Short-term loss, but reputation built solid.
'Did we win?'
'Feels like shitting halfway.'
'Better than losing.'
Like the So Clan, Guo Family was dazed too. Victory felt unvictorious. But a win was a win—the So Clan must pay.
'Human greed blinds judgment.'
-Regret's always too late, no matter how soon.
'We're different.'
-How so?
'Where'd you get the regression stone? Spill.'
-Dunno, hmph!
This lunatic was bringing up regression again.
'Just in case.'
-Scared?
'Oof, yeah.'
-Don't bullshit me!