Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Opening of the Martial Tournament
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The seven days and nights passed in the blink of an eye.
During those seven days that felt endlessly short, I poured everything I had into perfecting the Soaring Palace Sword Technique alongside Nangong Hyun.
Whether that effort would pay off would be revealed at today's martial tournament.
"Are you ready?"
"Of course. It looks like Young Master Goon is prepared as well."
Nangong Hyun and I were dressed in matching blue martial robes tailored specially for the occasion.
"Thank you, Miss Seol. I didn't expect you to prepare not just for the young clan lord, but for me too."
"It's only natural. No matter the reason, you're going to such lengths for the Nangong Clan."
When I expressed my gratitude, Miss Seol shook her head as if it were nothing.
She then turned to Nangong Hyun with a face tinged with worry.
"...Young clan lord."
"Don't worry too much, Little Sis. We've given it our all, so I'll bring back a good result for sure."
"Yes. I believe in you."
Their gazes met in a tender, lingering look.
The two of them slipped into their own little world in an instant.
I turned away from the sight that inexplicably twisted my gut and quietly stepped aside to approach Hwaryeon, Miss Seol, and my master.
Seeing my master among them, I grinned and spoke.
"Too bad you're missing out on the show this time, huh?"
As one might expect, the three of them had decided to stay behind at the clan manor rather than attend the tournament.
Just in case someone among the Tyrant Heaven Fortress fighters might recognize them.
"It's a shame, alright. Don't go getting cocky and hurt yourself for nothing."
"Be careful."
My master fretted over me in her usual brusque tone, while Miss Seol voiced her concern with surprising straightforwardness.
It was nice to be worried about, but her little face carried far too much anxiety for a kid her age.
To brush away that worry, I ruffled her hair with all my might.
"Shaaak!?"
Miss Seol, looking like a hissing cat with her hair all messed up.
I flashed her a grin in response to her furious expression, then turned to Hwaryeon one last time.
"I'll be back."
"......"
Hwaryeon watched me silently.
Truth be told, ever since the day I told her about Joo Ho-jeong coming to Hefei, I hadn't been able to have a proper conversation with her.
Whenever I tried to strike up a talk, her face—brimming with tangled emotions—made the idea evaporate instantly.
Even so, today her expression seemed clear, as if she'd swept all those complicated thoughts from her mind.
Relieved by that, I started heading back to Nangong Hyun when Hwaryeon grabbed me.
"Wait a second."
"Hm? What is it?"
Hwaryeon approached and pulled something from her bosom, holding it out to me.
Taking it, I saw it was an old talisman pouch, worn with age.
"I got this when I was little. They say it protects whoever carries it, so take it."
Seeing the shabby pouch, I teased Hwaryeon with a playful grin.
"Aw, come on, those things don't exist. Didn't know you believed in superstitions like that."
-Crack
A vein bulged clearly on Hwaryeon's forehead.
Her hand shot out toward the hand holding the talisman pouch.
"Give it back if you don't need it!"
"Heh heh, you can't give something and then take it back."
I narrowly dodged her noticeably quicker hand and tucked the pouch safely into my robe to keep it from her.
"Since you gave it, I'll believe in it just for today."
I patted the pouch gently over my robe.
Hwaryeon watched silently, then averted her gaze oddly and stepped back.
No need to get all shy about it.
I chuckled at her face, but then I sensed the Nangong clan lord's presence.
Turning my head, I saw the clan lord striding toward us, impeccably dressed in a blue martial robe just like Nangong Hyun and me.
Trailing hesitantly behind him was Jo Un-chil, his face covered with a collar.
"Hyun, Young Master Goon. Are you both ready?"
"Yes."
"Of course."
The clan lord nodded firmly at our responses, then turned to my master.
"Lady Yeo. Mind the manor while we're gone."
"Go without worry. I'll guard it tight."
Reassured by my master's bold assurance, the clan lord's face relaxed as he headed for the main gate.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
And so, we left the manor.
Our destination was central Hefei—the martial tournament grounds prepared by Tyrant Heaven Fortress.
*
The martial tournament grounds set up in the heart of Hefei.
Tyrant Heaven Fortress fighters were already there, waiting.
"Hup...! Hup...!"
Cheol-u, loosening up right in front of the arena stage, glanced around.
The grounds were packed not just with Tyrant Heaven Fortress men, but with crowds of Hefei's common folk.
Well, sure. This was the day the Nangong Clan—which had lorded over Anhui for ages—was to fall.
Who wouldn't want to see that spectacle firsthand?
As he finished warming up, a stern voice came from behind.
"Done preparing?"
Recognizing the voice instantly, Cheol-u straightened and bowed to the man.
"Super Spear Master. You've arrived."
In the blink of an eye, Un-yeop—the peerless Tyrant Heaven Fortress expert nicknamed Piercing Spear—nodded while gripping his beloved spear, surveying the arena.
"Quite a spacious stage."
"Yes. We made it big enough to prevent any tricks like ring-out losses."
His words brimmed with the bold intent to smash opponents outright, no cheap outs needed. Un-yeop warned lowly.
"Don't let your guard down. We still haven't unmasked the beast who killed Heavenly Light Division Leader."
"...If it's really someone from the Nangong Clan, they'll show up at the tournament today."
Cheol-u's face hardened, recalling his superior's gruesome death.
According to Ojak's report, the fiend who overwhelmingly crushed Heavenly Light Division Leader Sagong Chan.
No clue how it was possible, but now that they knew such a monster existed, complacency was off the table.
"Whoever steps up, I'll crush them with full power from the start."
Cheol-u was Tyrant Heaven Fortress's first fighter for this tournament.
Feeling the man's resolve, Un-yeop nodded gravely.
Cheol-u grinned confidently at that.
"Since I'm up, I'll make sure you don't even need to step in, Super Spear Master."
Un-yeop was next—and last—for Tyrant Heaven Fortress.
They'd only prepared two fighters.
It stemmed from pride—they couldn't lose to the Nangong Clan, now a tiger without fangs after losing so many elites—and faith in a master like Chuo Un-yeop.
'Today, we win the tournament as planned and take Hefei.'
Sensing the end of their year-long mission in sight, Cheol-u clenched his fist.
Right then, a murmur rose from the entrance.
"Here they come."
Following Un-yeop's mutter, Cheol-u looked up to see their foes for the day appear.
Just four of them.
Clan Lord Nangong Seon-u and young clan lord Nangong Hyun.
Plus that sleek servant who'd come last time—looking like some house husband—and a short man with his face hidden.
'The servant's probably just tag-along help. But what's with the masked one?'
A hidden ace from the Nangong Clan? The killer?
It seemed plausible enough, so Cheol-u glared sharply at the collar-masked dwarf, Jo Un-chil.
'H-Hiiik...!'
Naturally, Jo Un-chil shrank in terror under the killing glare.
Anyway, as the Nangong Clan entered boldly, the spectators' eyes locked on them.
Not friendly stares, of course.
To the common folk who didn't know the full story, the Nangong Clan might as well have been the villains who'd ruined their lives.
Plenty here likely hoped for their defeat.
"No warm welcome, as expected."
Nangong Hyun muttered bitterly.
Hearing it, Nangong Seon-u replied steadily.
"No need to cower. Once we reveal the truth and our paraded warriors return, those looks will change."
"...Yes!"
Nangong Hyun nodded vigorously.
The group soon stood before Cheol-u and Un-yeop at the arena.
"Long time no see, Nangong Clan Lord."
"Likewise, Heavenly Light Vice Division Leader."
Cheol-u stepped forward first, cupping his fists in greeting to Nangong Seon-u.
Returning the courtesy, the clan lord shifted his gaze to Un-yeop holding his spear.
"...I suspected as much when I heard Tyrant Heaven Fortress's young fortress lord was in Hefei. That must make you the great hero Piercing Spear Chuo Un-yeop?"
"Indeed. He stepped in to aid us after hearing of our division leader's misfortune. The tournament's outcome will likely come down to your bout with him."
"...I see."
Nangong Seon-u wore a strange expression at Cheol-u's words, then gave Un-yeop a slight nod of respect.
Un-yeop returned it silently, and with that brief exchange, the two sides parted to their respective spots.
*
Meanwhile, at the edge of the grounds in the front row of the spectator stands—offering the best view of the arena—sat two men and women with collars hiding their faces.
The man among them spotted Goon Ja-seong with the Nangong Clan folk and widened his eyes in surprise.
"That's..."
"...What's wrong?"
The woman beside him, Chil-ji, gave him a puzzled look.
At her reaction, the man—Ho-jeong—composed himself.
"No, it's nothing."
He acted nonchalant, but inside, Ho-jeong was quite shocked.
'No way that guy's with the Nangong Clan.'
Strictly speaking, it wasn't quite right, but without knowing Goon Ja-seong's full story, he couldn't think otherwise.
Plus, it explained why Goon Ja-seong had eyed him warily.
'Because you're Tyrant Heaven Fortress's young fortress lord, out to crush the clan.'
Ho-jeong smiled wryly.
Somehow, he always ended up on opposing sides from people he took a liking to.
-Swish
He rolled up his right sleeve and looked down at his forearm.
In the center was an old scar, easily over a decade old.
-Ow! How can you get hurt every single day?
Staring at the scar conjured the chirping voice of a young girl.
Overlapping it was the image of tiny fingers clumsily applying salve and bandaging the wound.
'...Where are you now?'
Was she well? Not hurting anywhere?
He inwardly repeated the question he neither knew the answer to nor should seek, and let out a small sigh.