Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Holding the Sect War (1)
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[What?! Are you serious?]
Yang Dae-un reacted with great surprise to the Heavenly Demon's sudden telepathic message.
And why wouldn't he? The Fine Sword Sect was a rising star in Liaoning Province, a new sect drawing all the attention, with forces several times greater than those of Ghost Sword Manor.
In other words, it was packed with experts far superior to those in Ghost Sword Manor.
'Jeon Il-gwang knows this full well, which is why he proposed matches between the late-generation disciples, sect leaders, and top experts.'
He must have figured they could secure two easy wins in the other matches, excluding the top-expert showdown, which had the most variables.
Moreover, one could guess their ulterior motive: unlike a risky invasion like last time, this was a formal sect war.
[They're proposing a sect war because they're terrified of your skills, Lord Heavenly Demon. They want to avoid a direct confrontation and formally absorb Ghost Sword Manor to prevent any future backlash.]
Conquering through invasion would leave plenty of loose ends and gossip afterward, whereas a sect war provided legitimate grounds and precedent for absorbing another sect.
Thus, from the perspective of the Fine Sword Sect and its lord, Jeon Il-gwang, a sect war was the best option right now.
On the other hand, it seemed to offer no benefits for Ghost Sword Manor, but the Heavenly Demon thought differently.
[We just have to win.]
[Pardon?]
Yang Dae-un's heart pounded once more at the Heavenly Demon's firm and straightforward telepathic reply.
[Ghost Sword Manor now is completely different from the manor that was on the path to ruin before.]
[Even so...]
[Besides, Yeon-hwa and Dae-un have both grown stronger. I see us holding an absolute advantage.]
The Heavenly Demon sent the message with a chuckle.
The Heavenly Demon was well aware of Jeon Il-gwang's shady intentions but accepted anyway for a simple reason.
'Yeon-hwa and Dae-un's skills are strong enough now. But they lack confidence in themselves above all, and they need real combat experience.'
A true expert isn't defined merely by martial prowess.
No matter how superior one's arts and realm, if you can't utilize them properly, you can't call yourself a proper expert.
This is especially true starting from the Peak realm onward.
Moreover, Yang Yeon-hwa and Yang Dae-un had spent nearly their entire lives cowering, so they needed to recognize and embrace that they had become exceptional experts.
The Heavenly Demon chose the sect war with the Fine Sword Sect as the opening act.
'It's the perfect chance to instill confidence in those two, who will become the core of Ghost Sword Manor going forward, and to wipe out the pesky Fine Sword Sect in one fell swoop.'
If the Heavenly Demon stepped in and crushed the Fine Sword Sect himself, the problem would be solved easily.
But was constant direct protection the only way?
Far from it—the Heavenly Demon didn't think so.
He believed that teaching a hungry person to fish was the true path to self-reliance and survival, rather than just handing them a single fish.
The Heavenly Demon sincerely hoped that Ghost Sword Manor would become a sect and clan so outstanding that no one would dare touch it, even if he were to leave or vanish someday.
For that to happen, Yang Dae-un and Yang Yeon-hwa—the manor lord and young lady of Ghost Sword Manor—had to grow stronger.
"What's this? No response? Surely the descendants of the Loyal Ghost Sword aren't cowering before a lowly sect like ours? Puahaha!"
Jeon Il-gwang strutted and sneered, oblivious to Yang Dae-un's telepathic exchange with the Heavenly Demon.
At the sight, the younger generation of Ghost Sword Manor—who already ground their teeth at the mere mention of the Fine Sword Sect—gnashed them even harder.
They assumed Yang Dae-un would refuse the sect war proposal.
But Yang Dae-un decided to follow the Heavenly Demon's advice.
"Very well."
"No, don't refuse... What?! What did you say?"
Jeon Il-gwang, who had been acting all cocky, was stunned when Yang Dae-un accepted outright instead of backing away in fear. His pupils dilated in shock.
"Very well. Let's have the sect war."
"Uh... well..."
In truth, Jeon Il-gwang had expected Yang Dae-un and Ghost Sword Manor to keep dodging or delay endlessly.
But when they accepted so cleanly, his freeze-up was brief.
"How straightforward. As expected of the descendants of the Great Loyal Ghost Sword."
The Heavenly Demon's insides boiled at Jeon Il-gwang constantly invoking the Loyal Ghost Sword, but he suppressed it.
They had agreed to the sect war, so he couldn't ruin things here.
"Then, in a fortnight, let's fairly compete in the clearing on Dome Green Mountain, midway between our Fine Sword Sect and Ghost Sword Manor."
Jeon Il-gwang curled his lips in overconfident triumph.
'Perfect. They've taken the bait!'
He even regretted not proposing this from the start.
"As descendants of such a noble figure, I trust you'll honor the results."
Jeon Il-gwang kept up the sneers,
and the seasoned Yang Dae-un handled him deftly without falling for the petty provocations.
"You lot had best honor them as well."
With that, Jeon Il-gwang and the Fine Sword Sect leadership departed.
"A fortnight, was it?"
The Heavenly Demon stepped forward.
In terms of martial realms, Yang Dae-un and Yang Yeon-hwa held the edge over the Fine Sword Sect, but match outcomes couldn't be predicted lightly.
Especially not from the Heavenly Demon's view, where clashes below the Peak realm were even less predictable.
"A fortnight is plenty of time for eye-opening growth. Brace yourselves—hellish training starts now."
His grin was utterly sinister.
Yang Dae-un and Yang Yeon-hwa, who were set to represent Ghost Sword Manor in the sect war, shuddered as they watched that smile.
The fortnight flew by like an arrow, and the day of the sect war between Dome Green Mountain's two overlords—Ghost Sword Manor and the Fine Sword Sect—finally arrived.
Fine Sword Sect Lord Jeon Il-gwang had spread word far and wide of the sect war to ensure Ghost Sword Manor and Yang Dae-un had no choice but to show up.
As a result...
Waaaaaah!
The thrill-seekers and spectators of Liaoning Province had all gathered around Dome Green Mountain, eagerly awaiting the showdown.
They would all serve as witnesses and observers. Should anyone fail to appear for the sect war, these eyes, ears, and mouths would spread the dishonor across the land of Liaoning.
After a short wait...
"It's the Fine Sword Sect!"
"Woo! I see the sect lord and young lord."
"Even Fine Sword Absolute Art Gung Seung-u, the sect's strongest swordsman, is here!"
The Fine Sword Sect, having proposed the sect war first, arrived early and made their entrance.
They brought Delicate Sword Jeon Seong-jin—sect young lord and son of Jeon Il-gwang—as their late-generation representative, and naturally, Fine Sword Absolute Art Gung Seung-u, the sect's sole Peak realm expert, for the top-expert match.
'Heh heh heh. How's that for our lineup?'
Jeon Il-gwang felt invincible, flanked by Jeon Seong-jin and Gung Seung-u like a commander with a thousand troops.
Not long after the Fine Sword Sect arrived, the anticipated Ghost Sword Manor contingent appeared.
"It's Ghost Sword Manor Lord Shadowless Sword Yang Dae-un!"
"Has Yang Dae-un's face ever looked this good?"
"Yeah, he always looked so downtrodden before, but now his complexion is glowing."
"We know his daughter Yang Yeon-hwa well enough... but who's that handsome young man beside her?"
Ghost Sword Manor's representatives were, of course, Shadowless Sword Yang Dae-un, his daughter Yang Yeon-hwa, and Gunryong—the First Heavenly Demon.
The people of Liaoning knew Yang Dae-un and Yang Yeon-hwa well from sight and reputation, but the Heavenly Demon was a stranger to them.
"Father, it looks like Ghost Sword Manor has given up on winning."
Delicate Sword Jeon Seong-jin, still ignorant of the Heavenly Demon's terror, snorted at the man who looked a few years younger than him.
And small wonder: the massacred Fine Sword Sect disciples couldn't testify who killed them, and the sole survivor, Flash Fine Sword Go Jin-taek, had become a mad cripple, leaving no warnings behind.
"Hmm, is that young man their late-generation rep, with Yang Yeon-hwa as the top expert?"
Even Jeon Il-gwang couldn't tell who was who between late-generation and top-expert reps.
"Sect Lord, who cares? We're winning anyway. Heh heh heh."
Fine Sword Absolute Art Gung Seung-u—the sect's top expert, whom even Jeon Il-gwang handled with care—flashed a sinister smile.
He didn't care who his opponent was.
He was absolutely certain of victory.
That certainty wouldn't last long.
"Greetings, Manor Lord Yang Dae-un."
"Shall we skip the pleasantries and get to the point?"
"Ha ha! You've grown quite bold. Very well."
Jeon Il-gwang tried to lord over Yang Dae-un as before, but Yang Dae-un was no longer the man he used to be.
'People are watching, so he's acting tough, eh?'
Irked inwardly by the change in Yang Dae-un, Jeon Il-gwang kept his composure to avoid losing momentum.
"Late-generation disciples of each sect, step forward!"
Instead, he doubled down and pressed even harder.
Everyone knew Fine Sword Sect's rep was Delicate Sword Jeon Seong-jin, so who would represent Ghost Sword Manor's late generation? All eyes were on that.
Many figured it would be the unfamiliar young man, the Heavenly Demon—but no.
Swish!
Yang Yeon-hwa stepped forward boldly, stirring murmurs from the crowd.
"Oh! It's young lady Yang Yeon-hwa."
"Unexpected. Does Ghost Sword Manor lack talent that badly? Her skills are just nearing first-rate."
"Don't you know? They have a young lord, but he's missing."
"Oh dear."
The crowd pitied her, recalling her brother, Ghost Shadow Sword Yang Hui-gun, instead.
As they said, had Yang Hui-gun been there, Ghost Sword Manor would hold the advantage, and Fine Sword Sect Lord Jeon Il-gwang wouldn't have dared propose a sect war.
"Yang Yeon-hwa is your opponent."
Jeon Il-gwang leaned in and whispered to his son and late-generation rep, Delicate Sword Jeon Seong-jin.
"Just in case—don't go easy on her, no matter what."
He knew his son was a womanizer with a particular interest in the famed beauty of Liaoning, Yang Yeon-hwa.
He could only hope that lechery wouldn't become a variable in this crucial match.
"As if I would."
Jeon Seong-jin said so, but his eyes relentlessly followed Yang Yeon-hwa— not the gaze of one sizing up an expert, but a man delighting in a beautiful woman.
"Ready."
Jeon Il-gwang and Yang Dae-un—the reps of each sect—were jointly officiating this sect war.
As the fateful sect war between Fine Sword Sect and Ghost Sword Manor loomed, the atmosphere grew electric with tension.
Crack!
The moment "ready" was called, Jeon Seong-jin and Yang Yeon-hwa simultaneously assumed combat stances without hesitation.
"Just as rumored—a beauty. Instead of this match, why not marry into my household?"
Jeon Seong-jin cleverly provoked Yang Yeon-hwa to rattle her,
but...
"......"
She remained utterly silent.
Not because she wasn't angry.
'I'm stepping up in place of brother Yang Hui-gun, as the spectators say. I absolutely cannot bring shame on him.'
She wanted to etch the name of warrior Yang Yeon-hwa into the minds of Jeon Seong-jin—who mocked her—and the onlookers who still fixated on Yang Hui-gun.
And at last...
"Match begin!"
Yang Yeon-hwa's bout commenced.
As the match started, most spectators favored Jeon Seong-jin, famed as a top first-rate expert in the area.
Sneer!
But for some reason, Jeon Seong-jin didn't charge first. Instead, he spread his arms with a smug, leisurely smile.
He was yielding the first strike to Yang Yeon-hwa—come at him anytime.
It was a show of bravado on Jeon Seong-jin's part, but he could never have dreamed that bravado would lead to bitter defeat.