Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Eleventh Spar - Wager, Competition (2)
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Gyeon Dong's face turned ghastly pale.
Dry saliva gulped down his throat behind his Adam's apple.
Dang Hwa-seo could see it too.
In that instant, the words Gyeon Dong spat out were these.
“That... what do you mean by that! Dragon-Phoenix Squad Leader! How is that any different from just stealing the spirit medicines...?”
“It's different. It's a proper martial bout, isn't it?”
Dang Hwa-seo smiled brightly as she spoke, blocking Gyeon Dong's words cold.
It wasn't a matter of being absurd or anything like that.
‘The atmosphere...’
The atmosphere in the hall had sharpened considerably.
Only then did Gyeon Dong realize his mistake.
Even for a politically savvy Gyeon Dong with solid backing, there was one fact he couldn't evade.
The Murim Alliance was a gathering of martial artists.
In other words, in such a group, trying to settle disputes through politics rather than martial prowess would surely not be viewed favorably.
Especially in a gathering like this, with squad leaders and division leaders present.
‘I got played!’
As he was thinking that, Dang Hwa-seo spoke up.
“Oh, of course, given the difference in strength, it won't be a standard bout. I do have that much conscience. The bout will be ten against one. Our side will face the True Origin Unit's top ten all at once. And we won't emit any qi either. Fair enough, right?”
It was an aggressive, blatant declaration of disdain, yet it seized the momentum all the same.
And it was reasonable too.
She already had the justification on her side from the start.
What she proposed was a warrior's solution, and on top of that, she was voluntarily yielding the advantage. There was no room to wriggle out.
‘That fox...!’
Even as she spoke with bold magnanimity, it hid the cunning of a fox.
A perfect trap.
As Gyeon Dong realized this, his fists trembled.
“I approve.”
Golden Sword Gwon Pyo-wol slyly raised his hand and said.
“I think it's a good method. Better to settle it cleanly before grudges deepen, for the good of the entire Alliance, don't you think?”
No one here was unaware of Gwon Pyo-wol's closeness to the Dragon-Phoenix Squad.
But setting that aside, it was still true.
Casting a dissenting vote would be a bad move.
Golden Sword Gwon Pyo-wol was a man with overwhelming support among the candidates for the next Inner Cabinet selection.
In other words, the man closest to becoming the next Inner Cabinet Leader.
Poison Phoenix Dang Hwa-seo, leader of the Dragon-Phoenix Squad, was a woman clearly destined to lead the next generation.
There was no benefit in earning the ire of either.
True Origin Unit Leader Gyeon Dong did have the current Inner Cabinet Leader behind him, but his term had less than eight years left.
“I approve as well.”
The Azure Dragon Unit Leader, who had vied with Golden Sword for the Inner Cabinet seat, was the first to state his position.
‘No point in souring relations with Golden Sword.’
Whoever became Inner Cabinet Leader, he'd be someone to keep clashing with down the line.
Better to keep the ill will to a minimum.
Next came approvals from the Medical Unit Leader and Red Cloud Unit Leader.
The Medical Unit Leader sought friendship with Dang Hwa-seo, while the Red Cloud Unit Leader simply disliked Gyeon Dong's sly antics.
With the heavyweights among the division leaders approving the bout, the rest followed predictably.
Eighty percent in favor.
The overwhelming vote brought the bout's establishment right before them.
Gyeon Dong's body trembled.
Even his goat-like beard quivered.
‘I can't avoid the bout.’
But going like this meant certain defeat.
The True Origin Unit's top expert was Vice Unit Leader Jo Ryang.
Even he was barely at the edge of first-rate.
Even without emitting qi, the gap between Pinnacle Realm and first-rate was overwhelming.
‘Then...!’
If things were already ugly, he might as well make them uglier for some gain.
“Fine! But one condition: allow us to hire mercenaries.”
“Hah...”
Dang Hwa-seo let out a hollow laugh.
Hiring mercenaries for a friendly bout.
That wasn't against convention either.
The Alliance's current policy emphasized competition and harmony.
It encouraged factions, after all.
‘He's thrashing about in desperation.’
But it posed no problem.
The maximum mercenaries allowed: three.
Three of her six would each face one, and even one win there would seal the bout's victory.
“Very well.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Cold sweat trickled down Gyeon Dong's neck.
Dang Hwa-seo merely glared at him, as if ready to unleash all she'd held back.
The excited ones were the other squad and division leaders.
For them, it was a rare spectacle after a long time.
‘I hear the Silent Dragon and Sword Dragon's swords are something else... Perfect chance to see for myself.’
Among the division leaders, the one who loved bouts most, Red Cloud Unit Leader.
He was especially enjoying this situation.
*
“Wager bout!”
Back at the Dragon-Phoenix Squad's hall.
At Dang Hwa-seo's declaration, Mok Ri-won shot to his feet and shouted.
“That's awesome!”
His fists clenched tight, shaking up and down.
His eyes sparkled.
Not just any bout, but many against one.
Pure swordsmanship without emitting qi.
Perfect timing too.
He was in the midst of training Multiple Convergence, his eyes opened to handling multiple foes, and on the verge of a breakthrough to Peak Realm insight.
Ideal for filling some of that lacking experience.
‘And that's not all!’
Spirit medicines!
Exactly four of them!
The perfect number to match the squad members who toiled with him on this mission but got no reward!
“As expected of Little Miss!”
Little Miss always thinks ahead!
As Mok Ri-won shot her a gaze of awe, Dang Hwa-seo twitched the corner of her mouth.
Jegal San looked at her with a 'What's this?' expression and asked.
“So, who are their mercenaries?”
“Not sure yet. But no one at Pinnacle or above.”
“Geez... Then let me take one of those mercenaries. Better to thin their numbers...”
“No.”
Dang Hwa-seo's eyes burned coldly.
A shape laced with anger.
Jegal San let out a 'hic' gulp.
“Th-then...?”
“The mercenaries will be handled by me, Young Hero Mok, and Sword Dragon.”
If a stranger saw Dang Hwa-seo now, they'd mistake the upright Alliance squad leader for a Black Dao expert.
Her smile carried such a savage air that it sparked that thought.
“We won't yield even a single win. Understood?”
Jegal San's body stiffened.
No, the entire squad stiffened.
Even Namgung Jincheon.
“Answer.”
Under Dang Hwa-seo's fierce glare, the squad members nodded frantically.
*
The Murim Alliance's Inner Cabinet was called the heart of the Orthodox Murim.
Centered around the Alliance Leader's hall, it managed three main halls, and given its position, the Alliance's core personnel were stationed there.
At its pinnacle was the Inner Cabinet Leader's seat—truly a position one step below only the Alliance Leader, the very edge of true power.
“You've done a fine job of it.”
Inner Cabinet Leader Sea Wave Sword Gyeon Gyeol.
A lean old man with sagging wrinkles, sharp upturned eyes, and brownish skin that left a strong impression.
Seated at the head of the office, he looked down at Gyeon Dong kneeling before him.
What to say.
True Origin Unit Leader Gyeon Dong was Gyeon Gyeol's grandson.
“So, you picked a fight with Dragon-Phoenix Squad and ended up in a bout?”
“Y-yes...”
Gyeon Gyeol clicked his tongue with a 'tsk.'
‘This isn't good.’
He had ordered Gyeon Dong to check Dragon-Phoenix Squad, but he hadn't expected things to spiral this far.
A fatal blunder.
‘Idiot.’
No doubt this foolish grandson had blabbered beyond his station again.
“I didn't entrust you with some grand task, and you can't even handle that?”
It was just a check.
Just to block the Nine Great Sects and Families from expanding their influence in the Alliance.
Yet here he was, bungling even that and coming whining.
Gyeon Gyeol looked down at his ambitionless, talentless grandson with pity.
Gyeon Dong's body flinched.
He hurriedly continued, as if to make excuses.
“Ah, it's still salvageable! We agreed to hire three mercenaries, so if Grandfather lends some Inner Cabinet warriors...”
“You call that salvage?”
BAM!
Gyeon Gyeol slammed the desk, thunder resounding.
Gyeon Dong hiccuped.
“S-sorry...”
“Useless fool!”
Gyeon Dong's shoulders slumped.
Gyeon Gyeol ground his teeth, then spoke in fury.
“This is the last time. The last time I help you.”
He'd given chances because he was his only grandson.
Despite knowing his lack of talent, he'd bestowed elixirs and assigned experts.
Yet this was the result.
“This is why base blood...”
Born from his scoundrel son's debauchery, now dead—a half-breed.
Blood will tell, after all.
Gyeon Gyeol abandoned his last shred of hope.
“Get out.”
At those words, Gyeon Dong's face drained white, his fingertips trembling.
But Gyeon Dong had no words to say.
As always, he was the failure who fell short of his grandfather's expectations.
“Th-thank you...”
Those were the only grateful words he uttered.
*
The day of the bout dawned.
The sparring grounds always buzzed during friendly bouts, but today the excitement was especially intense.
There were several reasons.
Dragon-Phoenix Squad's second bout.
A wager bout after nearly two years, and rumors swirled that True Origin Unit had brought Inner Cabinet warriors as mercenaries.
Inner Cabinet bouts could feature Pinnacle Realm up to Peak Realm experts.
Even without qi emission, the spectacle promised wouldn't be lacking.
“Think Silent Dragon will win? Didn't you clash swords with him yourself?”
Red Cloud Unit Leader Gang Chan, the most thrilled today, asked Gwon Pyo-wol.
Unlike his bandit-like looks, Gang Chan's eyes shone with innocent excitement.
Gwon Pyo-wol chuckled at the sight and replied.
“If it's without qi emission, as rumored...”
A pause in his words.
Recalling his bout with Mok Ri-won, Gwon Pyo-wol slowly lifted the corner of his mouth before continuing.
“...Yes, Silent Dragon will definitely win.”
“Oh!”
“That's how sharp he is.”
In pure swordsmanship comprehension alone, Mok Ri-won was in no way inferior.
Gwon Pyo-wol knew his victory that day came from his decades-honed sword path backed by sword qi.
“Of course, in a one-on-one.”
Expectation filled Gwon Pyo-wol's face.
Inexperienced warriors were vulnerable against multiples.
Lessons from masters or jianghu wanderings assumed one-on-one mostly.
‘Come on, Silent Dragon. How much have you grown since then?’
If it was the same as before, he'd lose.
But the Mok Ri-won Gwon Pyo-wol knew wasn't one to stagnate in overconfidence.
He was a man who always pushed forward, reveling in it with passion.
Red Cloud Unit Leader Extreme Annihilation Blade Gang Chan smiled boyishly at Gwon Pyo-wol and looked pleased.
‘Now that's a good face!’
Gang Chan had been comrades with Gwon Pyo-wol since his days as a low-rank Alliance warrior, weathering bloodbaths together.
He knew why his old comrade, who had lately looked like a lifeless corpse, regained his vitality.
It started right from the day of Dragon-Phoenix Squad's bout.
‘Silent Dragon!’
Thinking over Gwon Pyo-wol's casual mention confirmed it.
Red Cloud Unit Leader Extreme Annihilation Blade Gang Chan.
He swelled with anticipation at the thought of gaining a new 'bout comrade.'