Chapter 57
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guest VS Uninvited Guest (2)
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The Central Plains were vast, and there were many martial artists.
Even just in the preliminaries of the Mind-Image Sword Debate Tournament, over a hundred had jumped in to show off their skills. How could anyone pinpoint one specific person among them?
There were plenty of martial arts that handled Fiery Yang True Qi as well.
Even Wudang taught basics like the Cotton Palm alongside their swordsmanship.
But.
"So, they all lost, you say."
Daoist Taeheo let out a groan.
The fact that not a single Wudang disciple had ever beaten this 'Samsungano' weighed heavily on his chest.
Of course, considering the special nature of the Mind-Image Sword Debate, limited to the Peak Realm.
If the opponent's techniques were that refined, it wouldn't have been easy to win.
And even more astonishing was.
The disciples who had faced this 'Samsungano' at least once each came away with completely different impressions.
"They made me lower my sword and let my guard down, then sneaked in a despicable palm strike."
"I thought I'd deflected the palm strike, but it bent like a snake and smashed into my side."
"The swordsmanship was so vicious and insidious it couldn't be from a righteous sect. Maybe from the unorthodox schools?"
"There was a strike as heavy as Mount Tai crashing down, just like the Nangong's King Swordsmanship."
"The sword strikes contained Fiery Yang True Qi. They must have trained in some inner art related to the Blazing Flame Technique."
After all, there were no restrictions for the Mind-Image Sword Debate Tournament beyond being under forty.
Putting all the impressions together.
The only thing that came to mind was a seasoned old swordsman who had reached the realm of 'no moves triumph over moves.'
Should he really go to the Martial Alliance and threaten the relevant department?
As he gauged how long it would take to run there with lightness skill from the main sect to Wuhan.
"Um, Sect Leader Grandpa...?"
"I told you not to call me that... Haah, fine. What is it?"
The owner of the sudden interrupting voice.
Daoist Taeheo sighed as he looked at Na Eunhyang.
Partly because she was a lay disciple in a woman's body, he couldn't treat her like an inner disciple.
But more so because her innate talent was outstanding. She was likely to be the top enrollee at Hundred Flowers Academy next year too, and it was that potential that had brought her here.
The epitome of a teacher's pet.
"This person, isn't he the Crimson Fire Sword Dragon?!"
Not just Daoist Taeheo, but everyone present tilted their heads at the unfamiliar nickname.
Na Eunhyang proudly held up her smartphone for all to see.
"You know, the guy from that video on Mutube that got super popular last time!"
On her screen were dozens—no, maybe hundreds—of screenshots.
She had frame-by-frame captured and saved the 'BloodyQueenTube' Mutube upload: 'Nameless Riverside Swordsman Teaches Bandit Boss a Lesson.'
"Hehe, super cool, right? I'm the president of his fan club! I even made a minor gallery! Especially here—the quality's a bit bad, but those abs showing... Whoa..."
"Nonsense... Hoo, just play the video."
"Yes, sir!"
Na Eunhyang, drooling, hurriedly operated her smartphone and played the video.
Though he didn't use palm strikes simultaneously like Samsungano.
"Oh!"
"Yes, that's the trajectory!"
The sword appraisers began reacting one by one upon confirming the similarity in swordsmanship.
"Ehehe. My bro's cool, huh? That sparkle, that sparkle! How does such a beautiful firebird flutter from the sword tip? Ahh, truly the Crimson Fire Sword Dragon. I wanna meet him so bad. But is the Crimson Fire Sword Dragon really the same as the Wudang Sword Demon? That's huge, mega huge! So is he the same as Samsungano too? Any recordings of Samsungano? Why doesn't Mind-Image Sword Debate have recording?"
Na Eunhyang's fawning chatter was annoying, but.
It didn't reach the ears of the appraisers focused on the fierce battle in the tiny screen.
Of course.
Smartphones were banned during training hours without special reason, and Mutube videos were forbidden too. They had no choice but to concentrate.
After replaying it three times or so.
"Same person."
"I agree."
Daoist Taeheo reached a conclusion.
"Whoa! Really?! Amazing, totally amazing. Gotta tell Sister Seol!"
"Stop fawning and spill any other info you have."
"Hundred Flowers Academy disciple! Sigh, I wanna enroll already. How to wait till next year, I can't..."
The Wudang sword appraisers sighed in unison.
The weight of the title 'Wudang Sect Leader' was immense, so narrowing down the net afterward wasn't hard.
Male disciple of Hundred Flowers Academy.
Has participated in Mind-Image Sword Debate.
Has used Fiery Yang True Qi martial arts.
Mainly uses sword.
Just one thing.
Whether connected to the Mount Taebaek incident couldn't be confirmed even with Wudang's name, so that remained unclear.
"That young hero's identity is narrowing to one hand. Wudang Three Swords, Taeul, Taegwang—prepare yourselves. Let's head to Hundred Flowers Academy together."
All clues were concentrated in Xi'an, for sure.
As the atmosphere turned tense.
The guards protecting the estate wisely bolted inside.
With First-Rate skill, blocking this storm was impossible anyway—a sound judgment.
Especially since I was here.
"Hm? Hasn't every restriction on Heavenly Demon Divine Cult warriors entering the Central Plains been lifted now?"
Our Master.
So bold!
No, shameless!
But it was logically sound.
"Could it be because of your master, Red Pine? Tch, tsk. That's from at least thirty years ago, and they're still holding a grudge."
Is he insane?
Our Master clearly had no human heart.
How could he spout such nonsense right in front of the person involved?
"What...!"
Daoist Taeheo's already fearsome face flushed red, and the Wudang sword appraisers behind him all placed hands on their sword hilts in unison.
In this powder-keg moment.
I focused my hazy mind as much as possible.
If upholding human decency.
I should side with my Master, who had given me guidance.
But given that outrageous remark, Master seemed like a human trash-talker.
A thought bubbled up: maybe side with Wudang here?
Thus.
I needed to play both sides and calm them both—find that timeline.
Couldn't say it outright, so telepathic transmission.
To both at once.
To turn impossible into possible.
I conjured a mini righteous faction Geum Sihyeon in my heart.
Split my thinking like dividing my brain in two.
From my middle dantian, drew two streams of pure qi separately, infusing intent.
In the splitting headache.
Finally.
To Master: "Though Wudang's martial arts fall short of Master's, the position isn't favorable. Disciple prepared liquor—how can you seek blood before tasting this delight? Master's single sword could end it anyway; for my sake, please restrain your words here."
To Elder: "This mad great demon... no, Sword Demon Elder seems possessed by heart demons. The one beside you is the Life and Death Divine Doctor, staying briefly with our family as his patient. For our family's face, please sheath your sword here."
Dual-core telepathic transmission success.
My vision flickered, brain burning.
Fortunately.
"Hm, that was a bit harsh."
"Enough. We're not here to brawl over old grudges."
Recipients not mixed up—both stepped back.
My back was soaked.
But it worked.
The price for preventing Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress's downfall was considerable.
"Haha, gulp it down, gulp!"
"Kuh, this Western liquor—no, grain tea—is exceptional. What was it called?"
"Château... Just call it wine."
"Wine! Hm. Then it's fruit tea, not grain. Haha!"
The precious wine, barely transported via Silk Road, imperfectly bottled so most hadn't arrived intact, was melting away.
I shelved the fundamental doubt: can Daoists drink alcohol?
That's why he gets called horse-face.
Tsk.
"Hm. Reminds me of Tianshan days. I tasted it often."
Both savored—or rather, demolished bottle by bottle—what should be sipped and contemplated.
These wine ignoramuses...
Blood tears flowed.
Still, liquor power at work—the mood softened nicely.
Wudang appraisers treated lavishly separately, so I'd score points.
"By the way, young hero Geum. One more time? This tingles—like enlightenment's just out of reach..."
"Sure."
Feeling like a clown, I conjured flame and ice from my hand.
"Ooh! Unbelievable even now! Such a prodigy—blessing of the righteous martial world!"
"Blessing of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
"Blessing of the righteous martial world!"
Sparks flew in Master's and horse-face boss's eyes.
I wanted to kneel and wail: act your age, please.
"Come to think, it's been ages since I last faced Wudang swords."
"Though Yang's Heart Technique is lost to time, Taiji Beneficent Sword remains Central Plains' top swordsmanship."
"Hm, Central Plains' best."
"No, Elders, let me pour you a glass—"
Desperately fawned to reverse the chilling mood.
"Heh. Young hero Geum."
Horse-face boss smiled softly at me.
"Rare meeting like this, but swords must cross once."
The wine-flushed goofy face vanished; in its place, a razor-sharp Songmun ancient sword gleamed.
"Sword Demon senior. Let's move elsewhere."