Chapter 96: Confrontation (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 96: Confrontation (3)
‘But looking at that sword...’
It was massive and thick.
While female swordsmen weren't uncommon in the Jianghu, most preferred flexible blades or speed-oriented styles. This was a natural choice, given the inherent disparity in physical strength compared to men.
‘Or perhaps it’s a specialized cultivation...’
Judging by the slender waist and narrow shoulders, Seok Myeong suspected his opponent might be a master of External Gate Qigong.
A swordsman practicing orthodox internal arts undergoes constant physical transformation as they temper their marrow and vessels. However, a body that remained that thin and lithe usually belonged to either a woman or a practitioner of heterodox sword techniques.
“My name is—”
“Seok Myeong, is it not?”
Seok Myeong’s eyes widened in surprise. Contrary to the man’s delicate appearance, his voice was a thick, coarse bass.
“I heard from the person who just left. He couldn’t stop praising you, saying he gained great enlightenment through your sparring... Hehe.”
The pretty-faced man laughed heartily. In that moment, he seemed like a man through and through. He continued speaking to Seok Myeong, who wore a troubled expression.
“Ah, I should introduce myself. I am Su Su-rin.”
“One of the Five Dragons...?!”
Hong Jun-gyeong, the man who had brought Seok Myeong here, blurted out the question first. The onlookers soon followed with their own shocked shouts.
“That youth is Su Su-rin?”
“Why is Su Su-rin here...?”
“Isn’t he the eldest son of the Samu Alliance Leader!”
“Quiet, all of you!”
As the crowd of over three hundred people began to buzz with excitement, Hong Jun-gyeong stepped in to restrain them. Once the noise subsided, he turned his gaze back to Su Su-rin.
His expression was grim.
“Are you truly Su Su-rin?”
“I am.”
“What business does a member of the Unorthodox Faction have here?”
“My, my. Does the Cutting Sword Gate distinguish between Orthodox and Unorthodox when welcoming guests? I heard that wasn’t the case.”
He wasn’t wrong. This region, located south of Shaanxi, was not a place where the territories of the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions were clearly defined.
While it was the domain of the Cutting Sword Gate, the sect itself did not strictly exclude the Unorthodox Faction; as long as no trouble was caused, there was no major issue.
“You’re not wrong, but most people in this vicinity belong to the Orthodox Faction. When an Unorthodox member enters a territory where the line between friend and foe is clear, they are usually looking to cause trouble or incite it,” Hong Jun-gyeong pointed out.
A welcome guest does not come unbidden, and he who comes unbidden is rarely welcome. It was common courtesy to avoid places where conflict was likely to occur.
Even if the son of the Samu Alliance Leader didn't provoke anyone, narrow-minded Orthodox martial artists burning with a desire for fame might pick a fight for no reason.
If he didn't know this, he was a fool; if he knew and came anyway, he had a truly devious motive.
“You needn't worry about that. I simply came to see the Illustrious Hero.”
“Hmph.”
Hong Jun-gyeong stared at Su Su-rin with piercing eyes. After a brief moment, his gaze shifted back to Seok Myeong.
“You—what will you do?”
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking if you will proceed. Will you continue the match?”
Seok Myeong remained silent for a moment. Then, looking at Su Su-rin, he nodded.
“I must.”
“Fighting someone from the Unorthodox Faction won't be a simple matter.”
“If I win, won't the matter become simple?”
“Ho.”
A strange light flickered in Hong Jun-gyeong’s eyes as he took a closer look at Seok Myeong.
“Even though your opponent is one of the Five Dragons... you are confident?”
“I don't think I will lose.”
At those words, Hong Jun-gyeong paused, searching Seok Myeong’s face.
“By any chance,” he continued, “are you the Seok Myeong of Qingcheng that the rumors in Chang'an are talking about?”
“...!”
Hong Jun-gyeong’s words piqued the crowd's interest, and their gazes changed instantly.
A young master of the Qingcheng Sect who was currently the talk of the Jianghu—the name of the man who had wiped out the Black Snake Union, a family of the wicked path, was said to be Seok Myeong.
It was something of an open secret. Everyone had suspected this man was that person, but since he hadn't revealed his sect, they hadn't pressed him and simply assumed.
Now, it had been confirmed.
“I don't know what kind of rumors you've heard, but it is true that I am Seok Myeong. And it is also true that I eliminated the Black Snake Union as the rumors say.”
“A rising master!”
“The Qingcheng Sect!”
The onlookers erupted in cheers. The commotion was so loud that people from further away began to flock to the area. Because of this, the number of spectators suddenly swelled to over five hundred.
‘Qingcheng Sect versus the Samu Alliance.’
Unlike the crowd, Hong Jun-gyeong felt his head throb as he sensed the gravity of the situation.
This wasn't just a fight between young masters. It was a clash between two sects with immense backgrounds. If someone were to be seriously injured in a fight fueled by youthful blood, the situation could spiral out of control.
If that happened, the Cutting Sword Gate would also have to weather the storm.
After a moment of deliberation, Hong Jun-gyeong asked Su Su-rin, “...What will you do after you've seen what you came for?”
“I’ll leave. That was my only purpose.”
“You swear by those words?”
“Shall I stake my name on it?”
Hong Jun-gyeong shook his head. Then, he raised his hand.
“Begin!”
If they wanted a match, they would accept any challenge. That was the rule of the Cutting Sword Gate.
*
Clang!
The moment the start was announced, Seok Myeong’s brow furrowed.
It was because of the Beautiful Prince’s sword, which had been drawn like a flash of lightning.
He wasn't just holding the sword; he was shaking it provocatively, and the peculiar sound it made was extremely grating. It was different from mere noise; no matter how much he heard it, he couldn't get used to it.
Whirrr.
‘I need to figure out his intention.’
Feeling a sense of unease for the first time, Seok Myeong moved first. He circled to the left, trying to find an opening. However, the Beautiful Prince stood his ground without moving.
He simply held his sword at eye level, chin tilted up, watching the situation.
‘What is he planning?’
Seok Myeong stopped his movement. It wasn't a particularly special stance, but he felt an inexplicably ominous sensation.
“Why aren't you attacking? Is it out of fear?”
“...There is no fear in the sword of Qingcheng.”
That was true. It had to be. Seok Myeong thought for a moment and then decided. He would use a slightly different method to bait his opponent's attack.
He couldn't judge by feeling alone. He felt that once he experienced it, he would understand why he felt it was so difficult to approach.
The standoff continued for a while.
Swish!
Then, in an instant, Seok Myeong charged forward like an arrow, as if he had never been still.
‘...!’
In that moment, a flicker of bewilderment crossed the Beautiful Prince’s eyes. Contrary to his title as an Illustrious Hero, the opponent was using a rough, aggressive sword style from the very first move.
The first form was the Sprinting Scratch Sword. Since it was a technique meant to pressure the opponent with raw power and momentum, it was only natural for him to be flustered.
Shhhhk!
The Beautiful Prince stepped aside and swung his sword. His intention was to deflect the opponent's blade and halt the follow-up movements.
Whoosh!
But the swords did not collide. Seok Myeong’s blade suddenly changed its trajectory and soared toward his face.
“Haat!”
Su Su-rin eventually took a step back and parried the sword. Nevertheless, Seok Myeong’s blade pursued him relentlessly.
It seemed as if they were becoming entangled, but the Beautiful Prince leaped upward, widening the gap between them.
‘An opening!’
Seok Myeong anticipated his next move. He immediately looked at the spot where the opponent would land and calculated.
Even if the opponent could perform Void Treading, it was only possible to stay in the air for a limited period. At the moment of touching the ground, no matter how quickly one tried to move, there was bound to be a delay.
Snap!
Once he made his judgment, Seok Myeong extended his sword and then immediately retracted it. Simultaneously, internal energy began to erupt along a trajectory shaped like the character 'Z' (之).
Swoosh! Swoosh!
He had unleashed the Dividing Horizontal Sword, firing two consecutive bursts of Sword Aura.
“Ooh!”
“Whoa!”
As the bright flashes of light suddenly erupted, the onlookers' eyes widened in awe.
Qi emission was not something commonly seen in a sparring arena. In fact, it was almost non-existent. To avoid accidental killing, even masters tried to avoid using Sword Aura if possible.
Claaaaang!
Seok Myeong was aiming for his right shoulder. That was the target—the spot where he would be struck by the Sword Aura the moment he touched the ground.
Slide.
“Hah!”
Seok Myeong’s eyebrows twitched as he watched.
Instead of landing on the ground, Su Su-rin flipped his body, struck the ground with his sword, and used the recoil to soar back into the air.
Whoosh!
The Sword Aura sliced through the empty air in vain. Having ascended once more, Su Su-rin landed lightly on the ground this time.
“Whoa!”
“That was impressive!”
“What was that just now?”
Seeing a fight on a completely different level, more spectators flocked to the scene. As the rumors spread, the area—which was quite large—became so packed that there seemed to be no space left to breathe.
“Hehe, you’re different from the rumors. I came to learn a thing or two since you’re called an Illustrious Hero, but it seems you’re trying to kill me.”
The Beautiful Prince spoke with a composed expression, seemingly unfazed by the previous attack.
“I really must ask.”
“...?”
“Who exactly are you?”
“...What are you talking about? I just told you I am Su Su-rin.”
“Not that fake name. I’m asking for your real name—the one that matches your true gender.”
“...?”
The atmosphere of the crowd, which had been whistling and cheering, cooled in an instant. Everyone looked confused by his sudden words.
It was only natural to be bewildered when he suddenly mentioned a fake name and a hidden gender.
However, that bewilderment soon turned into realization because of her changed voice.
“How did you know? I never heard that you were well-versed in the art of disguise.”
The deep, coarse voice of a man had transformed into the slender, melodic voice of a woman.
“I certainly don't know the art of disguise. But the sword told me.”
At those words, the corners of the Beautiful Prince’s mouth curled up.
“Seeing through the sword, hearing through the sword? You truly are as remarkable as they say.”
“....”
It was a compliment, but Seok Myeong didn't take it as one. It sounded as if she were teasing a child.
“Hmm, as for me...”
She let out a vague laugh. Then, after glancing at the sky, she spoke again.
“I’ll tell you who I am if you tell me one thing.”
“What is it?”
“How did you defeat that Giant Demon?”
“...!”
Seok Myeong’s expression hardened. The gaze with which he looked at her became even more piercing.