Chapter 65

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Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 65

Chapter Title: Toward the Summit (2)

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4th Round Match 1.

While the participants advancing from the opposite bracket in Group E were somewhat lackluster,

this matchup had generated so much buzz it was being called a preview of the finals.

The mysterious man who had officially earned the moniker "Wudang Demon Sword" instead of the derogatory "Three-Star Cunt,"

and—though no one said it outright—the showdown with Moyong Seol, one of the promising young female experts expected to lead the next generation of the martial world.

The scales of public opinion cautiously tipped toward the Wudang Demon Sword.

Though he'd shown a slightly unsightly side against the Illusionist, he'd dismantled the Plum Blossom Sword Style with perfect maturity when suppressing Quick Sword Nanma.

Of course, behind that,

stood a monumental figure hailed as the strongest in the Mind-Image Sword Debate school, who had genuinely cut down at least ten or more Plum Blossom Sword Experts in real combat.

Only a tiny circle of close associates had pierced the truth: that a righteous sect swordmaster was receiving private instruction from the Heavenly Demon Cult's top sword.

Therefore.

An unnamed super-first-rate swordsman!

Three-Star Cunt, the Wudang Demon Sword, who appeared like a comet!

People always went wilder for enigmatic mystery experts than for famous masters whose names were household words.

In the shadows, he enjoyed bizarre popularity, with filthy jokes circulating like "Wudang Demon Sword x Mount Hua Gale Sword" that were too gruesome to even look at.

Now, he had finally finished preparing for battle.

Of course, if he'd seen it, he'd have screamed "Argh!" and wailed that he'd been cursed with writer's block.

At the opposite pole stood the Nine-Tails Fox Dual Swords—

Moyong Seol let out a deep breath as she sat in a formal position in the instructor's room.

She had originally entered on a whim for fun, planning to quit after a casual run.

But after winning, and winning, and winning some more, she suddenly found herself in the semifinals.

Just two more victories, and even if it was only within the Mind-Image Sword Debate, she could claim the top spot.

Of course, age restrictions meant she couldn't truly cross swords with the real masters, but experiencing the martial arts of renowned experts from the righteous sects was valuable in itself.

In that process, she had relaxed her shoulders.

After reaching the super-first-rate realm, she'd developed a bad habit of forcibly drawing up sword aura whenever things felt even slightly off.

But constraining her realm to first-rate and maximizing efficiency with her reduced inner energy had helped her break that habit.

It was truly a stroke of fortune.

And in the semifinals, against One Night's Spring Dream...

Facing off against Cheon Luri's spectator had given her a chance to escape her somewhat rigid sword style.

And crushing that little brat's arrogance had felt good too.

...Why does that feel good? I'm an adult, aren't I?

Moyong Seol fell into brief confusion before shaking off the thought.

Her next opponent.

Three-Star Cunt, Geum Sihyeon.

"Pfft."

Wasn't it just too perfect?

Of all the nicknames, it had to be that one for the man who served three masters.

Like teacher, like student—though not his father, no nickname fit a master-disciple bond better.

And.

Though she couldn't compare to the other two masters who had made massive names for themselves in the Central Plains—

she too was one of Geum Sihyeon's masters.

Yes.

As his sword master...

She would etch her beauty into his body.

No, no, no!

The beauty of her twin swords.

Moyong Seol burned with battle spirit as she took in the image of Geum Sihyeon—or rather, inevitably inferior Three-Star Cunt—in her mind's eye.

A moment later.

Dooooong!

The massive drum announcing the start of the match boomed out.

But Geum Sihyeon and Moyong Seol stood motionless, facing each other at a slight distance.

Yet the invisible clash of auras had already begun, the air around them vibrating faintly.

Sring—

Moyong Seol was the first to draw her sword.

The well-honed blade's gleam shone slickly for a moment before frost began coiling over its surface.

Even so, she kept her maximum attention on Geum Sihyeon's hand movements.

More threatening than his swordsmanship was the formless palm strike he unleashed.

Going against the current trend of flashy martial arts, it could be all the more lethal if she let her guard down.

With her senses spread as wide as possible.

"Please take care of me."

Moyong Seol mouthed words too quiet to hear.

Then, like a fox charging gracefully yet ferociously through a blizzard, she surged toward Geum Sihyeon.

In response.

Geum Sihyeon infused his twin yang energy into his glowing red-hot sword and, uncharacteristically, met her head-on.

Clang! Clang clang!

Each sword clash produced explosive noise and scattered colorful light fragments.

It wasn't the Heaven-Earth Flash-Breaking Sword passed only to Moyong Family direct descendants.

But the Twin Dragon Whirlwind Sword carried sharpness to match, radiating chill that seemed to freeze the air with every collision.

The fluid sword strikes flowing like water, and the sword winds spreading moment by moment, began to slowly constrict Geum Sihyeon.

When the left sword probed for openings, the right sword slipped into gaps.

A feint seeming to aim high would snake low like a serpent the next instant, carving a shallow cut into Geum Sihyeon's thigh.

A one-sided flow that made pre-match predictions look foolish.

But.

Disconcertment began to spread across Moyong Seol's face as she pressed her offense.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Normally, the chill should have seeped into her opponent's body with each clash, slowing them down.

That was why everyone who'd faced Moyong Seol collapsed powerlessly in the mid-to-late game despite early resistance: her yin cold energy.

But now?

Geum Sihyeon's movements weren't slowing—in fact, though precarious-looking, he maintained the early flow.

As if expending minimal effort to make Moyong Seol tire first—

Boom!

Geum Sihyeon stomped his lead foot.

"Eut...!"

Moyong Seol hastily retreated to reset her stance, dodging the palm force shot at her lower body.

When did he learn that miscellaneous trick?

Somewhat annoyed, Moyong Seol observed her inner energy flow while firing sword qi and biding her time.

Her close-range assault wasn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠yielding results, so better to aim for one big hit to crush him at once.

As if sensing her intent.

Geum Sihyeon brushed off the probes while slowly condensing his inner power into his sword.

Both instinctively knew.

The fight would be decided in the next second.

Right then.

Moyong Seol's twin swords wove through the air, crossing as their momentum built.

From the tips, vivid silver threads unraveled, twisting into a spiral that gradually formed dragon shapes.

Two dragons circling to whip up wind: Twin Dragon Whirlwind.

But their aura was far from gentle.

Infused with Northern Sea Ice Palace martial arts, the ice dragons cloaked in frigid frost opened wide maws and charged Geum Sihyeon.

Countering.

Geum Sihyeon—as always—

swung his sword, fully wrapped in drawn true qi.

The qi condensed at the tip exploded outward, forming a firebird that clashed with the azure dragons.

Kwaaaang—!

Having poured in the maximum energy a first-rate martial artist could muster, the clashing opposing forces erupted in a massive blast.

But.

"Eut...."

Moyong Seol groaned mid-stumble backward, looking down at her chest.

Sometime during it,

a sharp icicle brimming with pure yin cold energy—indistinguishable from her own—had pierced her chest.

When?

How?

Before she could resolve the questions.

Geum Sihyeon's figure burst through the explosion, swinging his sword.

After scraping a razor-thin victory in the second match as well, I removed the VR device and heaved a deep breath.

"Huu...."

Even winning left a bitter taste.

If we'd compared inner energy in reality, I'd have been obliterated without a peep.

My swordsmanship was still far from catching up to Sister Seol.

The wall between first-rate and super-first-rate.

And ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the gap in time spent honing the sword—it wasn't something to leap so easily, I realized.

If I hadn't shared the Ice Spirit's energy.

If the Northern Bright Divine Art hadn't absorbed the yin cold energy trying to freeze my meridians.

Wouldn't I have been the loser?

"But you won, right?"

Self-reflection should always be brief.

Worried that the vile Moyong Taek might ambush out of grudge for his sister's loss, I'd holed up in the training hall, so no one to share the victory joy with.

So.

I danced alone: dongdodotto, dongdotto.

Underestimating an opponent was taboo for a martial artist, but honestly, the skill gap was so wide that my victory was assured no matter who reached the finals.

The Great Return Pill dangled tantalizingly before me.

Muhuhu...!

I donned my robe and exercised the natural rights of a victor.

"What the hell is with this template anyway."

Is there a collection of modern memes I don't know circulating in the martial world?

Whatever, it's praise, so who cares.

As I left the training hall, I soaked up the adulation for myself via egosearch, hyping my mood.

Hmm.

Praise is the best.

Always a thrill.

Of course, there were malicious comments from the Great Awakening Dual Sword Pill gang, but I ignored them.

Then.

"Geum Sihyeon."

"Huh?"

The soft reality of One Night's Spring Dream suddenly appeared before me!

Looks like the wild candy thief had come for seconds after her sugar crash.

She'd messaged on Murim Talk earlier asking where I was.

Before I could even respond.

Hop!

"?"

Luri suddenly jumped up, grabbed my collar, and twisted my waist.

Then, oh-so-naturally, she pulled candy from my robe pocket, shoved it in my mouth, and patted my head.

What the.

A reward for avenging her? But my waist hurts too much for that...

And that candy was mine to begin with...

"Hee."

Not her usual smirk with one corner of her mouth raised.

Luri let go of my collar with a full, genuine grin on both sides.

Yeah.

Do whatever you want, Little Sect Leader.

The finals followed immediately the next day.

Having poured everything into the deathmatch with Sister Seol, I'd have suffered a ridiculous defeat in the finals... or not.

"The champion is Thriiiee-Star Cuuuunt—! The Wudang Demon Sword has brought everyone to their knees and proudly claimed victory in the 1st Mind-Image Sword Debate Tournament────!"

Yeah yeah, that's me, bro.

My finals opponent wasn't weak.

Just that the previous ones were too strong.

Sister Seol, that Mount Hua guy, that Wudang guy—all super-first-rate.

Someday, I'll win in real sparring, not just Mind-Image Sword Debate.

Savoring victory joy for a moment.

Today held an even bigger event.

The last week of May every year.

Xi'an hosts fireworks under government sponsorship.

Of course, it's not just about seeing fireworks.

If it's an in-game event memorable enough for me, it's obviously major.

A favorability-boosting event: spending the evening watching fireworks with the woman who likes me most right now!

...When I played as a Shaolin monk, my master from back then suddenly showed up instead, and we watched fireworks for enlightenment.

PTSD hitting hard...

Anyway.

This was the perfect chance to find out who currently holds the highest favorability toward this supreme genius of the era, Geum Sihyeon.

After bathing and perfunctorily responding to the flood of victory congrats,

finally, evening.

To maximize the connection, I'd specially asked Mother to prepare a feast at home.

I headed toward the Great Alternative Tower.