If You Can't Prove It (1)
Yeom Sa-won's strikes were swift and precise.
His sword thrust repeatedly at Baek So-cheon's vital points across his entire body.
Heeding Yeom Hwa-sin's warning not to go easy, Yeom Sa-won unleashed the most powerful techniques at his disposal.
He had originally planned to bide his time and deploy them only at the decisive moment, but if Baek So-cheon had dug a trap to lull him into complacency, he could wait no longer. He intended to pour out every hidden technique and settle the duel once and for all.
It was an assault no broken sword could possibly block.
Baek So-cheon executed a footwork technique to evade the attacks, retreating backward.
The moment the distance between them widened, Baek So-cheon sensed Yeom Sa-won preparing to unleash sword qi. At the same time, he hurled his body to the right of where he had stood, changing position.
Immediately, sword qi erupted from Yeom Sa-won's blade.
Shyaaaang!
A single stream of sword qi hurtled toward Baek So-cheon.
Baek So-cheon dodged the sword qi and desperately threw himself aside.
The missed sword qi flew toward the onlookers behind him.
But Baek So-cheon wasn't worried. When he had detected the sword qi incoming, he had shifted rightward—an intentional maneuver with a clear purpose.
That new position was directly in front of where Ak So-gun and the other Murim luminaries were seated.
They were the most important figures present, but also the greatest masters.
Sure enough, Ak So-gun, still seated among the spectators, thrust out a palm strike. The palm force flying from his hand collided with the incoming sword qi.
Boom!
With a thunderous explosion, the sword qi dissipated in midair.
Yeom Sa-won showed no concern for the safety of those behind, unleashing sword qi in rapid succession.
Shyaaang! Shyaaaang!
Drenched in killing intent, he thought only of slaying Baek So-cheon.
Like an acrobat, Baek So-cheon flung his body about to evade the onslaught.
With Ak So-gun there, he didn't have to worry about his rear. Or more precisely, he had no spare moment to worry.
Dodging sword qi without internal energy was a feat no one watching could believe—a divine skill beyond comprehension.
Normally, he would have subtly circulated internal energy in such a situation. But with Yeom Hwa-sin watching, he couldn't. Yeom Hwa-sin would detect even the faintest stir of qi.
Thus, Baek So-cheon dodged the sword qi by the narrowest margins imaginable.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Not just Ak So-gun, but those beside him stepped forward, swinging swords or unleashing palm strikes to neutralize the sword qi. They were all sect leaders in their own right.
The onlookers rose to their feet as one, murmuring in shock at the escalating ferocity. Was this truly permissible?
Just as they thought Baek So-cheon could hold out no longer and death was imminent—
A powerful surge of sword qi flew toward Baek So-cheon as he rolled across the ground to evade.
Shyaaaang! Boom!
The arena floor shattered, debris and dust billowing upward.
In that exact instant, Baek So-cheon sprang from the ground like a coiled dragon, launching himself at Yeom Sa-won. He had been waiting for this moment when the dust obscured vision.
"You bastard!"
Yeom Sa-won spat curses in shock and desperation. But in such a critical juncture, that was the worst possible response. It revealed his lack of real combat experience.
Baek So-cheon closed the gap in a flash and burrowed into Yeom Sa-won's defenses.
Yeom Sa-won swung his sword at Baek So-cheon. But having just unleashed sword qi, his qi and blood were in turmoil, and the dust further impaired his sight.
At that moment, the Heavenly Thunder Nine Fists activated—the supreme first fist, Fengliu Cloud Mountain, which turned the opponent's power against them.
Yeom Sa-won felt the internal energy in his sword drain away in an instant, only to surge back toward him with crushing force.
Ugh! This bastard! What trick is this!
In his panic, Yeom Sa-won made the wrong choice. He should have retreated, reduced his output, and assessed the situation. Instead, he poured even more power to resist, channeling the full force back into his own body.
"Urk!"
His qi and blood clogged, vision blurring—just then, his body spun through the air.
Thud.
Baek So-cheon slammed him to the ground spread-eagled.
Had the technique been executed perfectly, Yeom Sa-won would have perished on the spot.
But at the last moment, Baek So-cheon adjusted his force, using just enough to knock him unconscious.
As Yeom Sa-won lay motionless on the ground, cheers erupted from the crowd.
"Waaaaah!"
"Baek the hero wins!"
"Long live Baek So-cheon!"
All marveled at Baek So-cheon. These gathered masters knew full well how grueling it was to evade Yeom Sa-won's assaults without internal energy—especially the countless sword qi blasts. No one present could have done it without qi; it was a godlike display.
Ak So-gun rose and clapped. Beside him, Je-gal Hyeon beamed with relief, his heart finally easing after the agonizing duel.
Well done. Truly well done.
Baek So-cheon glanced at Yeom Hwa-sin.
Yeom Hwa-sin stared back impassively, while the Black Heaven Alliance warriors scowled fiercely.
It was then.
The referee warrior, tending to Yeom Sa-won, recoiled in horror and cried out.
"Agh!"
With a trembling voice, he addressed Baek So-cheon.
"Yeom warrior... he's dead!"
"What?"
Everyone there was stunned.
Baek So-cheon was the most shocked. He rushed over to check Yeom Sa-won.
Damn it!
Yeom Sa-won was indeed a cold corpse.
It wasn't that lethal a blow?
In that instant, Baek So-cheon recalled the peculiar smile Yeom Hwa-sin had flashed when warning his son. That inexplicable unease lingered vividly.
No way?
Baek So-cheon's startled gaze turned to Yeom Hwa-sin.
Yeom Hwa-sin rose slowly from his seat, face hardened.
All held their breath, watching him.
Bi-gak Lord wouldn't make a mistake like that.
Je-gal Hyeon couldn't make sense of it.
Ak So-gun, sharing his faith, had confirmed Baek So-cheon easing his force at the end for a gentle slam.
He couldn't have died from that impact.
Yet it wasn't impossible. A unlucky head strike could prove fatal.
Myeol Ji-ryun, meanwhile, inwardly rejoiced.
Good riddance. Haha!
Even if not now, he might have forced a marriage someday. A fate worse than death.
She suppressed a bubbling laugh.
Yeom Hwa-sin ascended the arena slowly. Each step radiated fury.
Baek So-cheon stood by the corpse, silently watching his approach. He didn't retreat. He was certain Yeom Hwa-sin wouldn't attack him. This outcome was his true victory—not death, but this very situation.
Yeom Hwa-sin reached the body.
He examined his son's corpse with deliberate, heartbroken care.
Closest, Baek So-cheon could read his expression.
This is all part of his scheme.
That loathsome tenderness.
Then came the greater shock.
Tears began streaming from Yeom Hwa-sin's eyes.
Baek So-cheon had been surprised by him many times before, but this shattered all records. Nothing had stunned him more.
Tears?
Yeom Hwa-sin glanced sidelong at Baek So-cheon.
In that moment, Baek So-cheon saw it: tears flowed, but no sorrow. Only he, standing right there, could discern it.
The others missed that subtle nuance, fixated on the Black Heaven Lord weeping.
Even the Lord of Black Heaven was but a father in grief—they fell silent in reverence.
Yeom Hwa-sin embraced his son without a word of hatred for Baek So-cheon. None could speak amid his poignant sorrow.
As he turned to leave, Je-gal Hyeon intervened.
"You can't take the body like this."
Yeom Hwa-sin glanced back at Je-gal Hyeon with icy eyes.
"What do you mean?"
His low voice seethed with rage.
"Young Master Yeom's death is tragic, but we must ascertain the cause."
"Didn't everyone see how he died?"
Baek So-cheon stood silent. Yet Je-gal Hyeon trusted him utterly. The Baek So-cheon he knew wouldn't kill Yeom Sa-won by accident. This had to be Yeom Hwa-sin's plot.
"We need to determine the exact cause of death."
Yeom Hwa-sin bellowed.
"You mean to perform an autopsy?"
His voice boomed across the arena.
"My son died in a duel. And you, witness to it all, demand an examination before his grieving father."
His voice cracked with moisture.
Je-gal Hyeon had no rebuttal. The assembly sympathized with Yeom Hwa-sin. None supported Je-gal Hyeon.
Baek So-cheon understood.
He didn't know how Yeom Sa-won died, but Yeom Hwa-sin had known he would.
That's why he came.
Yeom Hwa-sin had foreseen Baek So-cheon wouldn't kill Yeom Sa-won, no matter what. That he could win without killing.
So he slew his own son and framed Baek So-cheon. To obscure the true cause, concluding it a duel mishap.
All eyes turned to Ak So-gun.
Ak So-gun knew he couldn't let him go.
Yeom Hwa-sin would rally the unorthodox with his son's death, uniting them. This duel was the prelude to war.
But seizing him now was impossible.
Yeom Hwa-sin bellowed to the gathered leaders.
"Who will bar a father bereft of his child?"
Not a soul stirred.
Now Baek So-cheon grasped why Yeom Hwa-sin had demanded this public tournament. He had anticipated this atmosphere. None knew a hundred foxes lurked within that bearish frame.
Jan-baek, Go-gong, and others followed Yeom Hwa-sin.
"Stop."
Yeom Hwa-sin halted.
Baek So-cheon had shouted. All eyes turned to him.
"Stop?"
"Yes. You cannot leave like this."
"The very man who slew my son blocks my path?"
"I did not kill your son."
Yeom Hwa-sin scanned the crowd.
"With all these witnesses, you peddle such nonsense?"
"Yes. It wasn't me."
"Then who? Heaven's judgment?"
To Yeom Hwa-sin's mockery, Baek So-cheon declared loudly.
"The judge was you."
The leaders buzzed in shock. An unthinkable accusation. The arena fell deathly silent. All strained to hear the two men.
Yeom Hwa-sin's face twisted.
"You claim I killed my own son?"
"Yes."
"Can you take responsibility for that?"
Killing intent swept from Yeom Hwa-sin. Tension thickened. Baek So-cheon might die here if things went awry.
Baek So-cheon replied.
"I can."
The onlookers murmured anew. What gave Baek So-cheon such audacity?
Staring at Yeom Hwa-sin, Baek So-cheon said.
"I will prove right here that I did not kill him."
