Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Analysis and Crushing Victory
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Zhuge Seol-ha watched with a displeased expression as Qingyun calmly exited the arena, having utterly crushed the young man's pride, dignity, and everything else.
Of course, it wasn't because she was irritated by Qingyun's rude behavior toward Do-yeop.
She was simply stunned by how far Qingyun was willing to go to hide his hand.
'That guy's ruthless—not willing to give away even a single piece of information.'
Indeed, even though he appeared foolish on the surface, he was the hardest type of person to deal with, Zhuge Seol-ha thought to herself.
To avoid revealing his information to the other possessors watching the matches, he had deliberately used only his fists instead of a sword.
And even with those fists, rather than employing Wudang Sect's signature Taiji Fist, he had won using some bizarre, grotesque movements that seemed invented in the real world, thereby minimizing any exposure of his abilities.
In truth, intentionally concealing his full capabilities went against the strategy of drawing the referee elders' attention by displaying maximum power.
But he had succeeded spectacularly in attracting enormous notice by overwhelmingly suppressing Mount Hua Sect's promising star with those grotesque actions while hiding his own moves as much as possible.
Moreover, his intention to reveal his complete power in later battles was so obvious that it was unreasonable to complain about his contribution to the plan over something this minor.
'Tch, at least I wanted to gauge the approximate abilities of all the possessors.'
Zhuge Seol-ha set down the brush she had been holding and closed the analysis notebook she had been diligently writing in up to that point.
The still-wet ink smeared instantly, ruining all the analysis she had written so far.
But it didn't matter to her. She had already memorized everything the moment she organized the information in her head and put it to paper.
To her, the analysis notebook was merely a tool for refining and storing the information in her mind precisely.
All the analysis and thought processes that had taken place in her head today had been optimized, summarized, and stored in the library of memories within Zhuge Seol-ha's mind.
Feeling no further need for the notebook, Zhuge Seol-ha set fire to it, incinerating the pages densely packed with elegant handwriting.
It was an application of the principle from one of the countless martial arts she had mastered.
'His match is still left, but it doesn't matter.'
Unlike Qingyun, Baek Hyun would surely fight in earnest without caring about leaking information.
No, precisely because of that.
She wouldn't need a notebook to remember and analyze his match.
She wouldn't be able to forget it even if she tried.
Meanwhile, in the place where the highest figures of this gathering were assembled, a new conversation was about to begin.
This was because a new figure had entered the space that had previously held only the Wudang Sect leader and the Murim Alliance leader.
"Jun, where have you been that you're only arriving now?"
"It's unrelated to Murim Alliance business, so no need to be curious."
Zhuge Jun, the head of the Zhuge Clan and the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist.
He curtly replied to the Alliance Leader before silently taking his seat at the prepared head position without further conversation.
Zhuge Jun was already infamous for his prickly nature and dislike of idle chatter.
But the particularly cold attitude he displayed this time wasn't solely due to his personality.
"Seeing you say that, it must be about your daughter again. What has you so angry this time?"
Namgung Cheon, who had known Zhuge Jun for many years, grinned slyly as he read his inner thoughts.
Normally, Zhuge Jun was so thorough and cold that even he couldn't fathom his intentions.
But when it came to matters involving his daughter, he showed emotions so clearly that even Namgung Cheon could tell, allowing him to instantly deduce why Zhuge Jun had been absent briefly.
Unable to hold back his anger any longer, Zhuge Jun finally parted his tightly closed lips.
"The reason I'm sensitive about my daughter's matters has no small part due to your son's involvement. If you have any conscience, shouldn't you have disciplined your child properly long ago?"
"Come on, boys that age are bound to chase after the heels of any girl they like. He'll grow out of it once he matures."
"He's well past twenty and has been an adult for ages—if he still hasn't matured, maybe you should reconsider that boy's aptitude."
"Haha... please calm down, both of you."
Unhak hurriedly intervened between the two fathers, who seemed ready to argue emotionally, to mediate the situation.
Since they didn't want to bicker in front of the Wudang Sect leader of all people, Namgung Cheon was the first to step back.
"I want to correct that child's behavior too, but what can I do when he's at the age where parental nagging no longer works? I spoiled him too much because even from the start, the child showed exceptional talent... Now if I try to scold him harshly, far from true remorse, it'll only breed resentment. In the end, all I can do is wait for him to learn through time or get broken by someone."
Namgung Cheon let out a sigh as he watched Namgung Hwi exit the arena with an utterly arrogant expression after defeating his opponent.
The boy had mastered martial arts superbly, so how had he completely forgotten all the personality education drilled into him until his ears blistered?
"See? Told you the child was raised wrong."
At Namgung Cheon's self-reproach, even Zhuge Jun, who had been wearing a quite menacing expression, softened slightly and spoke.
"Up to now, only two men have heard my warning and dared to retort: Namgung Hwi, and the one I just met."
Zhuge Jun recalled the handsome white-haired youth he had just encountered.
A youth far too flashy and eye-catching to be called a Daoist.
"I absolutely cannot accept Namgung Hwi as a son-in-law. His image is still vivid in my mind—blatantly retorting without hiding the desire burning in his eyes even after my warning. He looks down on everyone as beneath him and doesn't listen to others' words with even half an ear. If Seol-ha gets entangled with a guy like that, her wings will be clipped, and a leash put around her neck. Even if my head rolls, I won't permit that boy as Seol-ha's husband."
In contrast, that other one was better than Namgung Hwi.
"Ho?"
A rare situation where Zhuge Jun was evaluating a young man loitering near his daughter even slightly positively.
Namgung Cheon's eyes twitched meaningfully at this.
"That one defied me for Seol-ha's sake, not his own. His eyes showed he genuinely believed my actions were bad for Seol-ha. He's a bit arrogant, but the fact that he steadfastly spoke what he thought was right is commendable... Still, he's rotten in the same way."
"How so? It's the first time you've evaluated a young man this favorably. What's wrong this time...?"
"Classic womanizer face."
Namgung Cheon and Unhak's expressions froze.
"The difference between a man familiar with women and one who isn't is clear. That one's half unconsciously, half deliberately seducing women and slyly reveling in the resulting situations—a truly cunning type of womanizer. He seems principled enough that he might settle with one if he attaches to her, but with the mountain of karma he's piled up, it won't be problem-free just because he sorts it out himself. That guy is bound to end up with multiple women, whether he wills it or not."
I can't give my daughter to such an arrogant punk.
At those words, not only Namgung Cheon but even Unhak, who was listening beside them, could only nod.
Even they thought that if they had a daughter, they wouldn't want to marry her off to a man like that.
Namgung Cheon, who had been nodding for a moment, then stared piercingly at the youth stepping into the arena for the next match and spoke.
"By any chance, the womanizer you mentioned..."
"Speak of the devil—he's here. That's the one I was talking about."
That youth's appearance was overwhelmingly striking even among the many later-generation geniuses who all boasted handsome looks thanks to their martial arts auras.
Pale platinum hair like a gold ingot spilled onto pristine white paper, eyes shining brilliantly like the sun in the sky, flawless smooth white skin, and delicately refined features.
Indeed, it was an appearance that made one understand why Zhuge Jun had labeled him a womanizer.
"Come to think of it, I heard Starpoint Sect has one outstanding genius. Judging by that refined aura, he's already reached the Super Peak realm? But compared to other kids at Super Peak, he seems a bit ordinary."
"His opponent is Master Un-yu's disciple. His realm is still only Peak, but as Master Un-yu's disciple, his battle sense is exceptional, and his foundations are solid, so his skill surpasses even Super Peak, they say. He's considered a top candidate alongside Namgung Hwi... What do you think, Strategist?"
Zhuge Jun eyed Baek Hyun with a displeased gaze for a moment before coldly beginning to analyze the two's powers.
"With the realm difference, the odds favor that old courtesan-like fellow overall, but unlike other Super Peak kids, it won't end easily. No matter how famed Starpoint Sect is for the world's fastest swift sword, in footwork, Kunlun's Cloud Dragon Eight Forms holds the edge. He'll be pushed in raw speed, but with smoother direction changes and technique transitions, he'll overwhelm in effective speed. Having never faced a faster opponent, his response will be inadequate, and if exploited, the kid has a solid chance too. As Master Un-yu's disciple, he'll target that thoroughly."
The direct disciple of the era's top righteous figure, no less.
No matter how aged and lacking in vigor, Master Un-yu wouldn't have taught his disciple half-heartedly.
"It certainly won't be an easy fight for that boy ei..."
In that instant, a brilliant flash like the sun blazed forth.
The overwhelming radiance momentarily blinded everyone watching the match.
The sight the spectators caught through the rapidly fading flash was...
A youth sprawled flat on the ground in a spread-eagle position, not even managing a single scream.
And.
"...What? He looked pretty strong—why couldn't he dodge this?"
Even though he's from Kunlun Sect?
It was the sight of another youth scratching his head with a bewildered expression.