Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: What's That Supposed to Mean, You Bastard!
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The referee approached the fallen member of the Baekhwa Sword Brigade and checked his condition.
“Oh, dear. Tsk.”
The man’s eyes had rolled back into his head. In short, he was completely out of it.
Namgung Hyeon-u asked.
“Is he alright?”
“He is not.”
“Is he in danger?”
“No, not that. It’s just… it will be difficult to proceed with the match. Tsk. This is a shame.”
He meant that he had enjoyed watching the Baekhwa Sword Brigade member get beaten, and it was a shame he wouldn't get to see more of it.
Even Namgung Hyeon-u felt the referee was being too biased. Of course, it was a relief that the bias was in Namgung’s favor.
“Was it not enough?”
“It wasn’t that it wasn’t enough, but there’s a certain sense of disappointment. Tell the next person who comes up to control their strength a little better.”
“…Ah, yes. I’ll be sure to pass that on.”
“Thank you.”
“Not at all. Ah, but I don’t think you’ll need to worry about the next fighter. I’m a bit reckless by nature.”
“So I see. Give me your hand.”
“My hand, why…?”
“Isn’t everyone waiting for me to raise the victor’s hand?”
Namgung Hyeon-u turned his head and looked toward the stands. Everyone was wearing an expression of eager anticipation.
It was the first time Namgung Hyeon-u had witnessed such a scene, and he felt dazed.
“Hurry, give me your hand.”
“…Ah, yes.”
Namgung Hyeon-u’s hand was given to the referee. The referee then raised Namgung Hyeon-u’s hand high toward the sky and declared.
He shouted with all his internal energy.
“The Namgung Family wins!”
At that moment, the people’s cheers seemed to shake the vast field.
“Waaaaah!”
Not only that, but they also hugged each other and jumped up and down, savoring the joy.
Namgung Hyeon-u felt a lump in his throat at the sight of the crowd. And he wasn't the only one.
The referee who had raised Namgung Hyeon-u’s hand also felt unexpectedly emotional.
What was all this about?
He wasn’t even a Namgung himself.
It was probably because of the collapsed Martial Alliance and the current state of the martial world.
‘Damn them all.’
Those in the Namgung Family’s camp also felt a surge of emotion.
Everyone became one and shouted.
“Namgung!”
“Namgung!”
“Namgung!”
“Even when the moon rises!”
“Namgung!”
“Even when the sun rises!”
“Namgung!”
“Even when the storm rages!”
“Namgung!”
“Long live our Brother!”
“Our Brother is the best!”
“You’re amazing, Brother!”
A man in the stands turned his gaze to the group next to him shouting “Brother.”
“Excuse me.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Why are you people calling the Namgung Family member ‘Brother’? Are you, by chance, from the Namgung Family?”
They didn’t look like it at all.
Weren’t they clearly a group from the Underworld?
Furthermore, didn’t they look too old to be calling that Namgung warrior ‘Brother’?
Even setting aside age, Underworld martial artists calling a Namgung warrior ‘Brother’?
“…Well, that is… you see…”
The leader of the Black Serpent Gang, who had overheard the conversation, answered for him. That was right. How could the Black Serpent Gang miss a day like today?
The entire Black Serpent Gang had come to cheer on their Brothers.
“In the martial world, if someone is strong, aren’t they your Brother? That’s why we called him that.”
“Ah, I see.”
“But are Underworld folk cheering for Namgung these days?”
He had heard that they couldn’t even hold their heads up because of the Namgung Family’s Young Lord, Namgung Urin.
“We’re human, too. It’s the Namgung who let us live like human beings. That’s why we shout ‘Brother.’ Isn’t that right?”
Everyone in the Black Serpent Gang was living like a true martial artist. To the point where they would have no regrets if they died shouting their lungs out right now.
“Hahaha. You’re right. My, you Underworld people speak so refreshingly. Hey, everyone. How about we also shout ‘Brother’?”
“Sounds good!”
And so, the cheer of “Brother” spread throughout the entire audience.
“Brother!”
“Brother!”
The crowd was ecstatic.
They rejoiced as if they had taken the martial world into their own hands.
They cheered as if their own son had won.
They embraced each other as if a deceased family member had returned.
At the sight of the crowd, Namgung Hyeon-u’s eyes began to redden.
Why?
Why did people chant and desire Namgung so fiercely?
All he, Hyeon-u, had done was train and endure like his life depended on it.
But Namgung Yul and Lady Yeonhwa, who were watching silently from the Namgung camp, knew.
So did the referee.
So did the leader of the Beggars’ Sect, sitting in the guest section.
They knew that this was the true power of Namgung, silently built up over many long years.
It wasn't something achieved by crushing the martial world with the fame of being the number one clan for nearly a century.
Nor was it something that could be achieved in an instant. It was impossible even in a few decades. It had taken hundreds of years to become this way.
On top of that, it was an outpouring of desperation from those who had personally experienced a world where Namgung was gone.
The bone-chilling ache from five years ago, the pain that had squeezed their hearts, seemed to be slightly healed by the crowd's passionate cheers and support.
‘Namgung…’
Namgung Hyeon-u now felt he understood, just a little, a very little, why Namgung was Namgung, and why it had to be Namgung.
With a heart ablaze, Namgung Hyeon-u descended from the dueling stage.
The Baekhwa Sword Brigade member was carried away.
The Baekri Family camp was gloomy.
No.
It was shattered, as if it had taken a direct hit from a thunderbolt.
Right.
Let’s admit it.
It was possible to lose a duel due to a lack of internal energy.
But.
They had never dreamed that public sentiment would lean so one-sidedly toward Namgung. Weren’t they all chanting only for Namgung?
Was the Baekri Family the villain?
And the Namgung Family the righteous heroes?
Did such a thing even exist in the martial world these days?
Apparently, it did.
Weren’t they witnessing it with their own eyes right now?
The Baekri Family Head, Baekri U’s gaze shifted to the four remaining swordsmen.
“You will fight with the resolve to die.”
“Understood, Family Head.”
The Baekri Head’s gaze then turned to his son, Baekri Jang-won.
“Jang-won.”
“Yes, Father. I understand as well.”
“No. That is not enough for you. You must engrave it into the minds of those people shouting out there. That from now on, Anhui belongs to the Baekri Family, not the Namgung.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
The drum beat, announcing the next duel.
The Namgung Family’s next fighter was Namgung Seol. As Namgung Seol stepped onto the stage, the referee approached her and asked.
“Did you get the message?”
“I did. Don’t worry. I’m quite the meticulous one.”
“Good. I’ll trust you.”
The Baekri Family’s Baekhwa Sword Brigade member also stepped onto the stage.
Kwoong!
The Baekhwa swordsman gritted his teeth. Hadn’t the Family Head himself spoken to them?
To fight with all their might.
So he gritted his teeth.
‘I cannot lose!’
Even if he lost, he had to show something. To the Family Head.
However, as he looked at Namgung Seol’s figure, a desire welled up inside him.
She wasn’t what you’d call a ‘supreme beauty,’ but she had a face that was more than easy on the eyes.
On top of that, her smile seemed to say she was determined to bewitch him…
He couldn’t tell if she intended to kill him with the wooden sword in her hand, or drag him to bed in broad daylight and drain all of his vital energy to kill him.
The Baekhwa swordsman shook his head vigorously to refocus his mind.
“Such a posture on the dueling stage. I will not be swayed!”
“What’s that supposed to mean, you bastard.”
“For someone who looks as you do, you have a foul mouth.”
“Shut up and come at me!”
Just then, the referee interjected.
“Hold on.”
Namgung Seol and the Baekhwa swordsman both widened their eyes as if to ask why.
The referee spoke to the Baekhwa swordsman.
“This is not a brothel. Such comments reeking of sexual harassment are forbidden. If it happens again after this warning, I will rule it as a loss, so be aware.”
“What? What did I say that was sexual harassment?”
‘This bastard has lecherous eyes!’
“That’s how it sounded to me. Now, resume. Ahem.”
In truth, the referee himself had been smitten by Namgung Seol’s appearance and was planning to ask her for tea after the duel. The Baekhwa swordsman’s strange, suggestive comment had soured his mood, which was why he had briefly stopped the match.
And so, the duel between Namgung Seol and the man with the lecherous eyes resumed.
Namgung Seol didn’t wait and charged toward the Baekhwa swordsman first.
‘I see you, you wench.’
He could clearly see Namgung Seol’s sword coming toward his left flank.
Unlike his colleague from the first duel, the Baekhwa swordsman felt he could win. Perhaps because of that, the corners of his mouth crept upward.
And yet.
Thwack!
It was his right flank, not his left.
“Keuk.”
‘Damn it!’
It was definitely his left!
When did the sword’s path change?
Among the Namgung Family’s Azure Sky Sword Brigade, Namgung Seol’s sword style had the most variations.
Very meticulously so.
And so, starting with his right flank, Namgung Seol’s one-sided beating began.
The result was the same as Namgung Hyeon-u’s. The Baekhwa swordsman fainted and was carried away.
But the content of the fight was different.
If Namgung Hyeon-u had crushed his opponent with internal energy, Namgung Seol overwhelmed hers with speed and variation.
Fast, then slow.
Looking like she would strike, but not striking.
Looking like she wouldn’t strike, but striking.
Graceful one moment, then fierce the next.
Hah.
The man’s lecherous eyes were on the verge of turning into those of a dead fish.
‘Damn it all!’
It was difficult to gauge where he should focus his defense.
In short, it looked akin to a duel between someone who knows the sword and someone who does not; what more needed to be said?
And so, the referee grasped Namgung Seol’s soft, fine wrist.
“The Namgung Family wins!”
Waaaaah!
As expected, a roar erupted from the stands, loud enough to tear the place apart.
The referee, still holding Namgung Seol’s wrist, turned in all directions.
“The Namgung Family wins!”
He shouted.
Namgung Seol, who had been striking a pose, opened her mouth to speak to the referee.
“I think I can go down now?”
“O-oh, right? O-of course.”
‘Damn, I wanted to hold it a little longer…’
Namgung Seol descended from the stage without a backward glance.
The next fighter was Namgung Jun.
Namgung Jun was also quite rough, not much different from Namgung Hyeon-u. The duration of the duel was similar as well.
So the referee asked.
“Did you not get the message?”
“My apologies. I tend to get a bit excited.”
“Make sure you relay the message properly to the next fighter.”
“…Understood.”
‘What a strange referee.’
“Tsk. The Namgung Family wins!”
Next was Namgung Chi-hyeok.
Namgung Chi-hyeok was over six feet tall. With his immense height came a large frame. And with his large build came incredible strength.
In terms of strength, not even Namgung Urin could handle Namgung Chi-hyeok. As a result, Namgung Chi-hyeok’s duel ended the fastest.
Now, the referee was even showing his annoyance.
“Ah, really. Why are you all like this?”
“My apologies. This was me holding back, though…”
“Whatever. Tsk. The Namgung Family wins!”
The last was Namgung U.
The referee burst out laughing.
“Hahaha.”
The referee gave Namgung U a thumbs-up. It was the longest duel of all.
He had pummeled the Baekhwa swordsman for a full half-hour; how impressive was that?
Timid, yet fierce; fierce, yet only targeting the sore spots.
Kyah.
“That was brilliant.”
“Thank you.”
And so, the duels of Namgung Hyeon-u, Namgung Seol, Namgung Jun, Namgung Chi-hyeok, and Namgung U all ended in victory. Naturally, all the Baekhwa Sword Brigade members had been knocked out and carried away.
The crowd was on the verge of exploding.
Everyone rejoiced, saying it was an unbelievable event.
“Woo-hahahaha! This is it! This is it!”
“Namgung is alive and well!”
“Who does the Baekri Family think they are! Puhahaha!”
“A total wipeout. A wipeout!”
And finally, the drum beat, announcing the last duel.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.