Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: White Flowers Have Bloomed
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On the last day of the year, a light snow began to fall over Fengyang County at dawn.
As the snow settled on the field where the Namgung and Baekri families were to stake their futures in a duel, it looked as if white flowers had fully bloomed.
White flowers.
White flowers symbolized the Baekri Family.
The Baekri Family's ultimate sword art was called the White Flower Sword Art. While it meant "white flowers blooming," it also carried the meaning of "white flame."
In other words, when one mastered the White Flower Sword Art, a hundred flowers would become a white flame.
In the hundreds of years of the Baekri Family's history, only one person had ever mastered the White Flower Sword Art. Unfortunately, even then, the Baekri Family had not become the hegemon of Anhui Province.
That was because the Namgung Family stood firmly in their way.
But now.
The position of Anhui's hegemon was within the Baekri Family's grasp.
Today.
If they mercilessly crushed the Namgung Family today, the title of Anhui's hegemon would be even closer.
The Baekri Family Head and his people were completely confident this would be the outcome.
Thanks to the efforts of the Hoyeon Merchant Guild, an enormous dueling stage had been set up in the center of the field, surrounded by spectator stands.
The stands could accommodate a staggering ten thousand people. Naturally, an entrance fee was required.
The Hoyeon Merchant Guild wasn't running a charity; they had to at least cover the construction costs.
It was nearly impossible to watch the duel from anywhere but the stands. Unless one was a master who had reached the absolute realm, they would have to watch from a distant mountainside, from where the stage looked no bigger than a thumbnail.
And how small would the people on it appear?
In short, if you didn't pay, you didn't get to watch.
Despite the cold weather, the area around the dueling stage was, quite literally, a sea of people.
"Heh. The heavens are truly indifferent."
"Indeed. The whole field is covered in white flowers. White flowers... Tsk."
"Don't be so quick to judge. Do you think the Namgung will fall so easily?"
"Even for the Namgung, this seems like a tough fight."
"I agree. While the martial world isn't governed by age, internal energy and martial prowess still take years to accumulate."
"But sometimes, a genius appears who transcends time. Isn't that the beauty of the martial world?"
"What nonsense. It's not like you can sow seeds and harvest a time-transcending genius. What are you talking about?"
"Good grief. Anyone hearing you would think you're some kind of master."
"You rotten bastard, why are you starting a fight again!"
"I'm only saying it because you're spouting such ridiculous nonsense!"
"You damn fool, you should be buried in this snow!"
"What did you say?!"
"Alright, alright, that's enough. How about we make a bet for tonight's drinks?"
"A bet? Sounds good. I'm on the Baekri Family."
"Me too, Baekri."
"And you, Namgung?"
"Nope. I'm also for the Baekri Family."
"Just a moment ago, didn't you say the Namgung wouldn't fall so easily?"
"A bet is different. Besides, isn't the Namgung's Young Lord supposed to be a complete scoundrel? Tsk. A scoundrel in the Namgung Family."
"Indeed. How did the Namgung Family end up in such a state? Sigh."
"Tch! This ruins the bet, doesn't it? Tsk."
Though the crowd was filled with people of varying opinions, they all seemed to be reaching a similar conclusion.
"Look. The Baekri bastards are coming."
"Good heavens. They brought quite a crowd."
"What are the reapers doing? They should be taking those scoundrels away."
The Baekri Family Head, along with nearly a hundred members dressed in white, made their way to the duel.
"Oh! There they are!"
Namgung Yul, the Namgung Family Head; Namgung Urin; Lady Yeonhwa; and finally, five members of the Azure Sky Sword Brigade were heading toward the area designated for the Namgung Family.
"Ugh. It's enough to bring a tear to my eye."
"Indeed. Damn them all."
It was a fact known throughout the Central Plains.
That the Namgung Family had fallen into this state due to the Martial Alliance Leader's scheme.
And that the Baekri Family was in on it.
The spectator stands were already packed. In addition, the specially prepared VIP seats were also filling up. It was only natural that the leaders of Anhui's most prominent sects wouldn't miss this duel.
Han Seo-hui, the Leader of the Iron Blood Sect, her guard Seo Ye, and Jang Yeo, a Grand Elder of the Iron Blood Sect, were no exception.
The Iron Blood Sect was also a pillar of Anhui. So, it was only natural that they drew people's attention.
However, there was another group that drew even more attention than the Iron Blood Sect.
Zhuge Mubin, the head of the Zhuge Family—one of the Five Great Families of the Central Plains—had appeared, along with his youngest daughter, Zhuge Siyeon.
Had Zhuge Siyeon been a son, she would have been talented enough to claim the position of Young Lord, despite being the youngest. She was a genius born with incredible martial aptitude.
Those who loved to gossip would say:
That Zhuge Siyeon would one day ascend to the title of Sword Empress.
As such, the Zhuge Family Head, Zhuge Mubin, doted on Zhuge Siyeon. Whether because of this or because she was born that way, her personality was incredibly willful.
Just like someone else.
After them, a woman appeared who captured everyone's gaze.
So Hwi, the mistress of the Bright Moon Pavilion—one of Anhui's three great courtesan houses—was making her entrance.
A murmur spread through the stands. Why would the mistress of a courtesan house be in a place like this?
Soon, the murmuring escalated into a clamor.
The Iron Blood Sect, the Zhuge Family, and even the mistress of the Bright Moon Pavilion—all of them entered the Namgung Family's designated area instead of the VIP seats.
'Hah. Is this their way of saying they still stand with Namgung?'
Watching this from the Baekri Family's area, the Baekri Family Head's brow furrowed.
Fine.
Enjoy this fleeting moment.
After this moment passes, all that will be left for the Namgung is to beat the ground in regret.
But it was a mystery.
When had they become so friendly with the Namgung Family?
The Iron Blood Sect and the Zhuge Family, perhaps, but why the mistress of the Bright Moon Pavilion?
The Baekri Family Head also knew of So Hwi—though not, of course, that she was the Anhui branch leader of the Lower Five Gates.
"Putting on quite a show."
How had the Namgung Family sunk so low that the mistress of a courtesan house was sniffing around them?
Meanwhile, the Namgung Family Head and everyone else rose from their seats to greet the Iron Blood Sect Leader and the Zhuge Family Head.
However, aside from Namgung Yul and Namgung Urin, no one knew who So Hwi was, and they tilted their heads in confusion.
The Namgung Family Head, Namgung Yul, felt a bit uncomfortable welcoming them, precisely because of So Hwi, the mistress of the Bright Moon Pavilion.
A strange current suddenly began to flow through the tense atmosphere of the Namgung camp.
'I don't think I ever skipped out on a bill...'
Amidst all this, Namgung Urin felt even more uncomfortable than Namgung Yul.
'No... what is that crazy woman doing here...'
The girl who had pestered Namgung Urin to marry her when they were children was none other than Zhuge Siyeon, the daughter of the Zhuge Family Head.
Zhuge Siyeon was famous for her looks, but even more so for her personality. She was well-liked among women, but she treated men with a strange level of utter contempt.
Hiding his discomfort, Namgung Yul greeted them in the order they arrived.
"Leader of the Iron Blood Sect, thank you for coming."
For the Iron Blood Sect Leader to come all the way to the Namgung camp was as good as declaring that the Iron Blood Sect supported the Namgung Family.
"My connection with the Young Lord has led me to the Namgung Family."
She was saying she had feelings for Namgung Urin.
Lady Yeonhwa's gaze turned to Namgung Urin, as if to ask what on earth he had been doing.
But Namgung Urin's face was an iron wall.
Namgung Yul continued.
"You are most welcome."
"Thank you."
Next, Namgung Yul spoke to Zhuge Mubin, the head of the Zhuge Family.
"Brother. It's been a long time. What brings you to a place like this?"
"I've used being busy as an excuse and haven't visited once. I came today because of my stubborn daughter. Thanks to her, I get to see your face, so I suppose it all worked out."
"Hahaha. You are truly welcome."
It was his way of saying that his brother was also suffering because of a daughter with a terrible personality, just as Namgung Yul himself was suffering because of his nephew.
Finally, Namgung Yul addressed So Hwi, the mistress of the Bright Moon Pavilion.
"...And why are you here?"
There was no debt to collect.
"Hohoho, I came to cheer for the Young Lord, of course."
Because the person who would save her life couldn't be allowed to die.
"...Urin? How do you know him?"
Just then, Lady Yeonhwa stepped forward and questioned So Hwi, who was exuding a strange aura.
"Who might you be, to come and cheer for our Urin?"
"Oh my. You must be the Young Lord's mother. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am So Hwi, the mistress of the Bright Moon Pavilion. Mother."
'...Mother?'
And from the mistress of courtesans, no less?
Lady Yeonhwa's eyebrow shot up as she turned to Namgung Urin.
"Son. Are you already frequenting courtesan houses?"
"...I am not."
"Then?"
So Hwi, the mistress of the Bright Moon Pavilion, answered for him.
"Mother. The Young Lord is the savior of my life."
Not yet, but he had to become so.
"...That's right, Mother."
Lady Yeonhwa's eyebrow returned to its place.
"Well, that's a relief."
Just then, something else happened that drew an incredible amount of attention.
Someone appeared, leisurely walking through the air above the dueling stage.
He was using the Art of Void-Walking!
It was a movement technique that no one who hadn't reached the absolute realm could even imitate.
It was Jang Gae, the Leader of the Beggars' Sect and one of the Ten Great Masters of the world.
"Woah!"
The cheers of the crowd spread across the field. Though many martial artists had gathered, those who had witnessed such a sight could be counted on one hand.
"Hey, everyone. To think we'd get to see something like this."
"Indeed."
As Jang Gae landed gracefully in the VIP section, a thunderous applause erupted from the stands.
Jang Gae raised a hand to the crowd, then nodded at the referee.
It was a signal that they could begin.
The referee for this highly anticipated duel between the Baekri and Namgung families was the Anhui branch leader of the Martial Alliance.
At the branch leader's signal, a Martial Alliance warrior struck a large drum.
*Thump.*
*Thump.*
*Thump.*
The drum signaling the start of the duel had finally sounded.
"Woah!"
A roar erupted from the spectator stands.
This was a monumental duel that would stir a new wind in the martial world, which had been stagnant since the War of Orthodox and Demonic Factions.
The first duelists were stepping onto the stage. The Namgung Family's first combatant was Namgung Hyeon-u.
Namgung Hyeon-u and a member of the White Flower Sword Brigade stood facing each other. The White Flower Sword Brigade was the Baekri Family's elite sword unit.
Between them stood the Anhui branch leader of the Martial Alliance.
Special orders had come down from the Martial Alliance for this duel. A hefty sum of money had come with them. It was a rare occurrence for special funds to be allocated on the last day of the year.
This was an order to referee the match in the Baekri Family's favor.
However, the Anhui branch leader, having already pocketed the hefty sum, had not the slightest intention of doing so.
The referee opened his mouth to address Namgung Hyeon-u and the White Flower swordsman.
"Keep in mind that aiming for vital points will result in a loss."
Namgung Hyeon-u and the White Flower swordsman nodded.
"Severe injuries or excessive bleeding will also be treated as a loss. If you wish to surrender, you must clearly shout the word 'surrender.' Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
The referee's lips curled up as he scanned both Namgung Hyeon-u and the White Flower swordsman.
'Well, look at this.'
The atmosphere was the complete opposite of what the referee had expected.