Chapter 51
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: Overwhelming (2)
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Papat!
Namgung Yeonhwa reacted to his fighting spirit and launched the first strike. But she didn't rush in recklessly. Haste invites disaster and throws martial arts off course. Those were her grandfather's constant words.
Immovable Mind.
Yet her resolve was swift.
She hadn't challenged him to a spar just to think things over. To Namgung Yeonhwa, a duel was a battle of life and death. She had to unleash every ounce of her power. She would use today's fight to refine her fist art and prove its worth.
Swaaa!
Like a hawk diving for prey, followed by a thunderbolt shadow of fists.
The fusion of Infinite Step and Heavenly Thunder Phantom Shadow was flawless.
Chaat!
It shot forward in a straight line, but the moment he sensed it, it twisted into a curve. She had read Mujin's response and feinted accordingly.
Tuk!
Hwiieong!
The flash of light bounced away pathetically. He had seen it clearly and repelled it without the slightest error.
But it didn't end there. The repelling force contained a powerful vortex. As her grandfather had said, when a fist art reaches its peak, full power can be unleashed from any striking point.
It was astonishing.
Mujin's fist art, honed to perfection, pierced her weakness.
Namgung Yeonhwa withdrew her fist to prepare her next move, but Mujin gave her no chance. He drove his fist toward the vulnerability of his captured prey.
Kwaaang!
Jjeojeojeok!
The ground cratered, cracks spiderwebbing out to shake the walls and buildings. It was dangerous. If her body hadn't instinctively twisted upon sensing the crisis, it wouldn't have ended with just the floor giving way.
"Quick reflexes."
It was Mujin's praise, laced with mild surprise. Yet Namgung Yeonhwa felt chills crawl up her spine.
He was smiling, but it was ice-cold.
Taat!
He struck her unbalanced lower body. Her eyes faced front, but his kick targeted below. A perfected fist art needed no eyes to see.
Bung!
Namgung Yeonhwa's body flipped upright into the air. The pivot of her left foot, her anchor, had lost contact with the ground. Regaining it would take time.
Sasak!
Mujin didn't grant her that time. He closed the distance further, into the space he desired. He thrust his fist art toward the nearly defenseless face of Namgung Yeonhwa.
Paaang, kongdakdakdat!
Struck hard by the fist barrage, Namgung Yeonhwa flew back, tumbling across the ground. She couldn't fully absorb the impact and bounced up like a stone skipped across a lake, but it was far from her intent.
Jjirit! Jjirit!
Her face was relatively unscathed. But her arms, having taken the brunt, drooped uselessly. She strained to lift them, but it was impossible for now. They hung limp, numb as if struck by lightning.
'...Where did this monster come from!'
She had blocked it, but Namgung Yeonhwa was dumbfounded. Of all places, a woman's face. He had unleashed his fist art at her face without a hint of hesitation. Had she not guarded with both arms, the sight would have been gruesome.
"You...?"
"Why take your eyes off me?"
Namgung Yeonhwa, who had been snarling, swallowed dryly at Mujin's chilling dominance before her. This man was on a different level from anyone she'd faced. No mercy or hesitation in his strikes. He simply extended his fists to crush his opponent.
Just as he said, now was not the time to get distracted.
Peureok!
A blow slammed into her side. She thought it was a fist, but it was his knee. A deception in an instant.
Kuluk!
Her body bent like a sickle from the shock, her guard crumbling. Her Heavenly Thunder Qi had protected her body just enough; otherwise, it would have ended then.
Shushushushung!
The casually jabbed fist sliced through the air, spawning countless shadows that engulfed Namgung Yeonhwa.
A tidal wave of fist phantoms crashing in.
Peupeupeupeuk!
Face or body.
Mujin didn't care and hammered away. As long as she didn't cry surrender, she had the right to take the beating.
'She's not quite ripe, but her spirit is admirable.'
-He's dead set on crushing her.
'Should I leave a fist mark?'
-Ease up!
A scar on the face had awakened her to absolute mastery before, so sacrificing her looks might not be bad. For a martial artist, the face is... important to me, but maybe not to her. Tastes and ambitions vary.
"...I surrender!"
Ah, he hesitated!
A chance to forge an absolute master, ruined by that Demon King's nagging. Wait for another time? Or pretend he didn't hear?
-Don't even think like that. What woman would listen to the guy who scarred her face?
'Hmm, fair point.'
That last bit was convincing. Mujin lowered his fist. It had been a while since he'd met a junior who advanced through his fist art, stirring his excitement. This was the bond among fist art practitioners. Master fist arts without that bond, and you're just a corpse.
Cheolpeudeok!
Mujin looked down fondly at Namgung Yeonhwa sprawled on the ground. Even while taking hits, she'd defended solidly. Her Heavenly Thunder Qi mastery was beyond appearances. Refining that qi technique, a form of strong qi art, required grueling training. No easy feat for a woman.
He acknowledged her efforts.
Mujin left the unconscious Namgung Yeonhwa be. She was of marriageable age and defenseless, but this was her own home.
He retraced his steps.
-Left.
'Got it.'
-Right.
'I know.'
-Turn around.
'...Damn it!'
Kkumteul!
As her fading consciousness returned, the pain from her dormant body jolted her eyes wide open.
Uksinuksun!
A new level of agony beyond endurance forced her awareness back. An impact she could neither lose consciousness to nor forget.
Hung!
Wiiing!
Regaining her senses, Namgung Yeonhwa scanned around and seethed with rage. A fallen leaf fluttered pathetically in the cooling breeze.
"That bastard just dumped me and left!"
The spar was over, sure, but to leave a woman on the ground and vanish—what kind of man does that! She quickly checked her clothes; only the beating marks remained intact.
She discreetly checked elsewhere, finding herself pristine.
Bubulbubl!
That only fueled her anger.
How could he? Amid her rising fury, she touched her face.
Kkaaaak!
Her swollen face and searing pain snapped her fully awake. It hurt so much it felt like a needle piercing skin to bone.
Haa!
Namgung Yeonhwa could hardly believe this absurd situation, like a dream.
This couldn't be real. No one would believe it. She didn't seek recognition, but within her clan, her fist art ranked among the top fingers. Yet she'd been unilaterally pummeled without landing a proper blow.
"Even Grandfather never went this far!"
The more she examined her injuries, the more horrified she grew. Without mercy in his strikes, what would have happened? She'd have toured the afterlife in a single day. In her clan, only Grandfather could subdue her this easily.
"Just how strong is he?"
She'd been curious upon hearing he'd felled Hyunak Sword with fists. She wanted to see the skill that overcame early transcendent Hyunak Sword. But she hadn't expected such one-sided domination.
'Maybe even Grandfather...'
Impossible.
Her grandfather was the former head of Namgung Clan and a sword emperor ranking high among the Twenty-One Heroes of Shenzhou. Considering his age, a match wouldn't even happen.
Still, she wasn't certain. The traces he'd left showed an overwhelming gap.
Waaaa!
The tournament grounds buzzed. A week into the Little Dragon Tournament, the top sixteen were taking shape. Even the prodigies rampaging through regions found it no easy feat.
The matches grew fiercer as the tournament progressed. Though sixteen or younger, their martial prowess surpassed adults. Third- or fourth-rate couldn't even show their faces.
"Pine Tiger Sect's Kang Taejin wins! Congratulations on advancing to the top sixteen!"
Taejin secured one spot in the top sixteen bracket. The arena heated up with excitement. His advancement representing Pine Tiger Sect was a solid wildcard in the tournament dominated by the Five Great Clans.
The reason was simple.
He hadn't struggled once en route to the top sixteen. Pure overwhelming strength toppled every foe. Though he hadn't faced the Five Great Clans yet, it was remarkable.
"Father beat Hyunak Sword, and now the son reaches the top sixteen."
"Top sixteen? He's winning the whole thing!"
"Even so, the title's a stretch. Five Great Clans are there."
"One strike per match to the top sixteen. Think that's easy?"
He ended each bout in one sword strike en route. Premature, perhaps, but the flashy title "One Sword Invincible" echoed. Future growth was unknown, but his potential was acknowledged.
And Mujin beating Hyunak Sword proved Taejin's rise wasn't luck.
Especially Taejin's subtly handsome looks riding the popularity wave. Martial skill mattered, but appearance was huge too.
"That punk's a looker. Perfect for my daughter."
"Don't be gross. Perfect how?"
"You bastard, what's wrong with my girl!"
"Not kid stuff, but he's got you beat!"
"Of course she takes after me!"
"She's a girl—better not! I'd rather she looked like me!"
"What... die, you prick!"
Taejin's rise already drew suitors eyeing him covetously. Such achievements at that age promised endless potential for high mastery. A massive advantage. His popularity soared as time passed.
"Nam Cheol-ho wins! Advances to the top sixteen."
On the opposite side, Cheol-ho charged ahead victoriously. He too displayed overwhelming might en route.
After felling his opponent, Cheol-ho glanced around. Now it was his turn. Time to claim all the glory and cheers Taejin had enjoyed.
"Whoa, brutal! Plays the part too!"
"How's that sixteen? Looks like a killer!"
"How many girls has he ruined?"
"Look, he wrecked her for sure! Not his first rodeo!"
"Those eyes—murderous intent off the charts!"
"Isn't he the Heavenly Killing Star?!"
No glory, just gasps and jeers from all sides. Cheol-ho tried not to show it, but the mobbing irked him.
'This damn bracket! Who drew it?!'
He'd feel wronged blaming himself. He'd just won each time, and opponents happened to be girls. Can't go easy in a duel for being female. He beat them fair and square—why the hate?!
"No beauties left 'cause of that guy."
"Ruins the fun. Future prodigies."
"Came to see girls, not ugly dudes!"
"Hate his face from the start!"
Both advanced overwhelmingly, but Taejin and Cheol-ho's receptions were polar opposites. People live by their looks—the terrifying ripple of first impressions compounded his misfortune. A harsh reality shattering a sixteen-year-old's innocence.
'This cursed world—I'll smash it all!'
Cheol-ho looked the murderous fiend but had a flowery girl's tender heart. As the tournament heated, his mind grew ever more warrior-like. A flowery girl as a martial artist? Absurd. Just kill lots fitting his looks.
Hu hu!
Mujin nodded at the crowd's realistic reactions. Better to live by your face than twist unnaturally and live unjustly. Easier on the heart.
'So anger was your drive.'
-Harsh on the kid.
'What bullshit from a guy who only learned to kill.'
-Favoritism's bad.
Mujin had no intent to clear misconceptions. Let Cheol-ho live aggrieved straight on—he'd become Iron King. Needed plenty of mental and physical beatings from around him.
"Congrats on top sixteen, Cheol-ho hyung."
"I won't lose to you!"
Why me?
Taejin offered genuine congrats and a hand, but Cheol-ho rebuffed with fighting spirit. He'd lose to others, but never Taejin—a life-or-death vow.
Daddy!
Innocent Taejin looked to Dad, but Mujin smiled warmly. An expression of deep understanding of their friendship.
"The championship's my son's."
Taejin swallowed a deep sigh. Dad offered no help, just stacking lifelong rivals.
Everyone heard.
Namgung Clan, North Sea Peng, Sichuan Tang, Zhuge Clan folks glared murderously. Eyes screaming: Cocky nameless sect brat getting ahead?
"As expected of my son. Tell me what you want to eat—Dad's treating."
"Not hungry!"
No appetite in this mess!
Ignoring the refusal. I'm hungry. Mujin dragged Taejin off. Grabbed his hand and pulled—resistance futile.
Starving Cheol-ho left behind. How take just the son with him right there?
Mujin turned.
"Coming? Nah, whatever."
"...Who said nah!"
That jerk irked him, but had guts. A man inducing glorious gluttony.
"Nah?"
"...Yes!"
As Mujin openly gloated for all to see, everyone was dumbfounded. Normally you'd hide joy here, but he flaunted it. Cared nothing for stares or face.
"Dog bastard birthed a tiger."
"Never seen a showoff last long."
"But he did beat Hyunak Sword."
"Shh, he'll hear!"
Heard that?
Chattering crowd scattered fast. Zhuge Gun from the left VIP seat charged like an enraged bull.