Chapter 143: Provocation (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 143: Provocation (1)
“When do you think Elder Song Gwan will arrive?”
Yeon-hui asked as she stepped out of her room toward Seok Jun.
Yeon-hui, Seok Jun, and Seok Jin had all gathered outside a moment ago. They were sitting in the front courtyard, each staring off in a different direction.
“He’ll be here soon,” Seok Jun replied in a flat, toneless voice.
He sounded as if even speaking was a chore.
Yeon-hui couldn’t hide her flustered expression at his attitude. “Senior Brother Seok Jun, you’ve been acting a bit strange lately. Even the way you talk is different.”
“What’s wrong with the way I talk?”
“It’s just… Ah, no, never mind.”
Yeon-hui started to say more but stopped herself. She felt a strange reluctance to point out exactly how odd he was being.
Until recently, Seok Jun had always been attentive to her, even in the smallest details. Yeon-hui was well aware that his kindness stemmed from his feelings for her. But lately, every word he spoke was cold and biting—as if she had somehow betrayed him.
‘Sigh.’
Just because someone likes you doesn’t mean you are obligated to return those feelings. Still, it was difficult to ask him why he was being so frigid. In the end, she decided to endure the discomfort, hoping that time would resolve the issue.
‘I am Qingcheng.’
Meanwhile, Seok Jun’s thoughts were quite different from hers.
He wasn’t the kind of petty man who would turn cold just because his feelings for a woman weren’t reciprocated. He had known for a long time that Yeon-hui cared for Seok Myeong. Despite that, he had treated her well simply because he liked her.
The problem wasn’t Yeon-hui; it was Seok Jun’s own internal state.
‘I am the Qingcheng Sect.’
He had recently mastered the Latent Form Divine Art.
While the Latent Form Divine Art was an exceptional internal heart method for drawing out the inner qi within the body, it naturally came with side effects. In truth, all martial arts did. If one artificially forces power beyond its limits in a short period, the burden on the body increases proportionally. That burden eventually manifests as some form of lingering aftereffect.
— Azure Cloud Taoist is merely leading Qingcheng down the wrong path.
— All those deaths. All that time wasted on futility.
— If that brat Seok Myeong hadn't become the successor to Azure Cloud Taoist, you would have achieved far greater things than him.
‘Father.’
Internal strength and inner qi are heavily influenced by the practitioner’s state of mind. The moment a massive amount of internal strength entered his body through the Latent Form Divine Art, Seok Jun became acutely aware of the gap between himself and Seok Myeong.
As soon as he recognized that difference, an inexplicable, dark emotion took root. In one sense, it was a competitive spirit; in another, it was pure envy.
He had even watched his father, the person he trusted and followed most, suffer great hardship because of Seok Myeong. Seeing his father—and even his fellow disciples, the elders, and the Sect Leader—acknowledge Seok Myeong only fueled his resentment.
Obsession. He had fallen into a sort of Heart Demon.
This was why he was not only blunt but occasionally radiated a faint, murderous intent.
“Anyway, why did they gather us separately like this? They did the same thing this morning, leaving the Rising Stars all together,” Seok Jin grumbled, sensing the awkward atmosphere.
To put people who would be fighting for the honor of their respective sects tomorrow in the same place—he couldn't understand what the people of the Martial Alliance were thinking.
“I’m not sure either,” Yeon-hui agreed.
Ever since Jin-cheon and Mu-geom had openly praised Seok Myeong and left, she had noticed uncomfortable gazes darting toward them from time to time. Those stares had only intensified after Seok Myeong stepped out.
As Yeon-hui and Seok Jin spoke, Seok Jun’s face suddenly sharpened as he scanned the surroundings. His gaze moved to the right and stopped.
“I’m telling you, it’s them. Those guys are from the Qingcheng Sect.”
It happened then.
From the direction Seok Jun was looking, someone was talking while staring right at them. Though their faces were hard to see in the dark, their gaze and aura were openly unpleasant.
“Ha. The Qingcheng Sect? You mean that sect that uses mediocre swordsmanship—neither a Fast Sword style nor a Heavy Sword style?”
“Yeah, that’s the one.”
“I mean, how did they even make it into the Nine Great Sects? They don’t even have a single master in the Hundred Great Masters, let alone the Ten Great Masters.”
“Now, now… they do have a long history. They’re just coasting on their past glory.”
Clench!
Seok Jun’s fist tightened violently.
The two men were pretending to just talk amongst themselves, but their words were a blatant insult to Qingcheng. Even before learning the Latent Form Divine Art, Seok Jun had possessed sharp senses. With his emotions already frayed and his blood boiling, he surged to his feet.
“You there!”
Seok Jun walked a few paces toward them and barked in a stern voice. “Those words you just spat out—did you intend for us to hear them?”
“Huh? Who’s that?”
A man with a small face, thick eyebrows, and large eyes shouted back as if it were no big deal. “Oh, it’s the Qingcheng Sect. Why are you picking a fight with us?”
The man beside him, dressed in a black robe, shrugged at Seok Jun. It was then that Seok Jun’s sharp eyes caught it—the faint, mocking smirk playing on the man’s lips.
Thud!
“Senior Brother Seok Jun!”
Unable to contain himself, Seok Jun threw open the gate and stormed out, with Yeon-hui following close behind.
“Say that again. What about the Qingcheng Sect? We don’t deserve to be among the Nine Great Sects?”
“Senior Brother!”
Yeon-hui grabbed the enraged Seok Jun and quickly assessed their opponents. They were wearing martial robes with specific patterns embroidered on their sleeves and chests. Furthermore, one man’s sword blade was noticeably short, while the hilt was long and curved.
‘They’re from the Diancang Sect.’
Yeon-hui bit her lip.
The Diancang Sect was known for its straightforward and eccentric personalities. They and Qingcheng had been on bad terms for generations. Especially during the reign of her father, Sect Leader Song Jeong, the relationship had deteriorated to its worst state.
In that brief moment, Yeon-hui carefully observed the two Rising Stars of the Diancang Sect and thought, ‘They were chosen as the Rising Stars for this event. But why are their robe colors different?’
Despite the darkness, it wasn't hard to distinguish the colors. One was grey and reflected the light, while the other was so dark it was clearly black. However, as far as Yeon-hui knew, the Diancang Sect didn't use black for their robes.
“And who might you be?” the man in the black robe asked Seok Jun.
“If I tell you, will you know enough to get out of my way?” Seok Jun spoke with his arms crossed, looking down his nose at them. “I am from the very Qingcheng Sect you were so busy mocking.”
He spoke with feigned politeness, but his tone and gaze were already heading in a dangerous direction. It was a situation where a fight could break out at any second.
“Qingcheng? Ah, my apologies. It seems our private conversation offended you.”
The man in the grey robe raised his sleeve in a mock gesture of apology. But his actions mirrored Seok Jun’s. Despite his words, his movements were half-hearted, and the sneer curling his lips made it obvious he was provoking them.
“Senior Brother.”
Yeon-hui felt an ominous premonition. It felt as though the other side was practically begging for a fight. Just as she went to pull Seok Jun back, he reacted in a way she never expected.
“Do you lot even know how to use a sword?”
Shring—!
He unsheathed his sword right there, in a place where many eyes were watching.
“Senior Brother!”
“Senior Brother Seok Jun!”
Yeon-hui was horrified, and Seok Jin rushed out behind her. They were currently inside the Martial Alliance. For them, as guests, to draw a sword was an extreme act—especially for members of the Nine Great Sects.
“If you’re scared, I’ll give you a chance to run,” Seok Jun said, his lip curling.
The man before him let out a short laugh and shook his head. “No, there’s no need for that.”
Clang—!
In an instant, the man in the grey robe drew his own sword. With that single action, a chilling cold began to seep into the clearing.
‘Oh no.’
Yeon-hui, watching the scene unfold, felt as if she were in a trance. Seok Jun had lost his composure, but the opponent had drawn his sword as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.
“Hmm.”
The man in the grey robe glanced around. He could see the rooms where the other Rising Stars were staying. “Hmph. Too many eyes. Here? Or over there?”
“Wherever you wish.”
The man in grey gave a slight jerk of his chin, and Seok Jun followed him without hesitation.
“Hehe.”
The man in the black robe followed them as well, looking thoroughly amused.
‘Is he really from the Diancang Sect? That guy doesn’t even have a sword.’
Yeon-hui bit her lip nervously as she scanned the man in the black robe. To her knowledge, the Diancang Sect was strictly a sword sect. Yet, he carried no weapon. He wasn't a swordsman.
Just as Yeon-hui looked back toward Seok Jun—
Tap!
The two of them leaped over the wall as if by prior agreement. Behind it lay a spacious martial arts training ground, almost as if it had been prepared for them.
*
‘Something feels strange.’
Seok Myeong hesitated as he stopped in front of a large pavilion.
He had been following an ominous and subtle energy. But now that he had arrived, the energy wasn't coming from inside the pavilion. It was coming from below. To be precise, it was coming from beneath the ground.
Wondering if there was something there, Seok Myeong pressed his ear to the ground and tapped the surface with his palm. However, no particular sound echoed back.
“……”
Seok Myeong scanned the area again, looking for a way inside. But he couldn't find even the smallest clue.
‘I suppose if it were easy to find, they wouldn't have hidden it underground.’
Seok Myeong smacked his lips in disappointment. He pondered for a moment what could be pulling him, but he couldn't think of a solution.
‘What should I do?’
He was torn between turning back or venturing further in. They were currently guests invited by the Martial Alliance. If a guest were caught snooping around a restricted area of the Alliance just because they felt something suspicious, it would cause a massive problem.
‘Hmm.’
Just as he was about to move, he sensed a presence behind him. Seok Myeong quickly hid behind a shadowed rock face.
“Why are we going back there again?”
“The Alliance Leader ordered us to check.”
Two men appeared, grumbling to each other.
“Check what?”
“He said they might be of use.”
“How are these things useful? They’re just corpses that aren't even like jiangshi.”
“How should I know what’s on his mind? I just do as I’m told.”
Seok Myeong watched the two from his hiding spot.
‘What are they planning to do there?’
Looking closely, one man stood guard while the other knelt and fiddled with something. He couldn't see clearly, but it looked like some kind of mechanism.
“What are you doing? We don’t have time.”
“Don’t rush me. I’m working on it.”
A moment later.
Rumble, clatter!
The sound of rolling stones echoed, and the sand-covered ground miraculously began to sink. Soon, a passage large enough for a person to enter was revealed.
‘To think there was a mechanism trap in the ground.’
Seok Myeong was impressed. Mechanism traps were usually artificial works created by human hands, typically built into walls or using specific devices. Creating a mechanism trap in the ground like that was no easy feat.
A mechanism that struck where one least expected it. He grew increasingly suspicious of what could be hidden inside such a device.
‘Should I…?’
Should he follow them or wait? While Seok Myeong deliberated, the men disappeared inside.
Grrrrind.
In an instant, the stones returned to their original positions. The mechanism had closed.
“Ah!”
Seok Myeong rushed forward, but it was too late. The mechanism was completely sealed, and the ground was once again filled with empty sand.
“What now…?”
Seok Myeong scratched his head. The door had closed completely while he hesitated for just a second. Looking closely at where the men had entered, he saw a slightly protruding floorboard.
“This must be the trigger…”
He stepped on it lightly, but there was no reaction. It was likely a complex mechanism that required a specific sequence to operate. Seok Myeong had to decide whether to wait for them to come out or force his way in.
‘Let’s wait for now. I don’t know anything about mechanisms, and even if I manage to get in by luck, a confrontation might occur.’
In fact, even coming this far was already a dangerously rude act. Having made his decision, Seok Myeong concealed his presence again and waited by the wall.
— Aaaaaagh!
However, after waiting for about fifteen minutes.
“What was that?”
Seok Myeong frowned and looked down at the ground. He heard a scream. It was muffled because it traveled through the earth, but Seok Myeong was certain. It was the scream of a human being.
‘What is happening in there?’
Just as a bewildered Seok Myeong was agonizing over what to do—
CRACK-BOOM!
This time, a sound erupted from behind him. It was like a bolt of lightning branching across the pitch-black sky, followed by the sonic boom of a thunderclap.
It wasn't a natural phenomenon. Someone had artificially unleashed that energy.
“That’s—! Oh, no!”
Seok Myeong dashed forward without a moment’s hesitation.
That light was the Lightning Cutting Sword, a technique of the Qingcheng Sect that utilized the power of lightning. It was a secret technique used only when one’s life was in imminent danger—and his junior disciples had just unleashed it.