#163. Black Flame Dragon Quieting the Chaos (8)
The area around Yujang Sect, which had been quiet for the past three days, was now filled with uproar. All the black path riffraff from Akyang who fancied themselves decent with a blade had swarmed in, leaving no room to step inside or even outside the sect. Some were brawling over who got to the walls first, while others set up gambling dens amid the chaos or hauled in booze and snacks to wait for the matches to start. Every manner of weirdo had gathered.
Of course, a few orthodox sects had come to observe, but their numbers were so pitifully small that they couldn't even straighten their backs.
"Orthodox weaklings, stay back!"
"Hey! You're up after Yujang Sect. You know that, right?"
"The Murim Alliance doesn't give a damn about trash like you! Don't expect any help!"
The matches hadn't even begun, but the heat was building, and the murmurs reached a fever pitch.
"He's here!"
At one man's shout, every eye in the crowd turned. The dense throng parted like the sea as a path opened to the shattered main gate of Yujang Sect.
"Looking good! Mukblood Hall!"
"Show those bastards what for!"
"Let's drive all the orthodox scum out of Akyang while we're at it!"
Behind Sogyungchu—the former vice hall leader of Mukblood Hall, now the hall leader after the previous one's death—came assault captain Sanggwanbaek, Geomak, Saak, and the Mukblood Hall warriors, striding boldly through the broken gate.
The Mukblood Hall group stood in the grand training ground after passing through the main hall, facing forward. Yujang Sect's warriors at the entrance, the Murim Academy folks, and Jin Sowoon's crew slowly took position opposite them.
Even the rowdy crowd fell silent, a strange tension sweeping the arena.
Finally, Dang Hyeokjae, standing with the Murim Alliance members off to one side, called out.
"We shall begin the duel tournament."
"““Wooooaaahhh!”””
As expected of black path thugs who loved a good fight, the cheers shook Yujang Sect to its foundations.
Sogyungchu scanned the Yujang formation, his brow furrowing.
"Where's that arrogant punk?"
At his words, Geomak stepped forward.
"Jin Jeonpyo. Absent. Bring Jin Jeonpyo."
Dang Hyeokjae answered for him.
"Jin Sowoon is preparing and will come out shortly."
"Ha! Does Mukblood Hall look like a joke to you?!"
Sogyungchu's bellow silenced even the rowdiest in the crowd.
Dang Hyeokjae replied calmly.
"...You lot showed up early to begin with."
"......"
"Why do black path scum keep their time promises like it's sacred? Tsk."
His mutter carried clearly to the black path crowd all around. Teeth gnashed and killing intent flared everywhere, but Dang Hyeokjae just dug in his ear with his pinky, ignoring them.
Soon, footsteps echoed from the main hall, drawing all eyes.
"No... what the hell..."
"What's with that getup?"
"Is that really the Black Flame Dragon?"
The crowd began to murmur in confusion.
The Black Flame Dragon emerged from the hall, leaning on Namgung Seonhwa for support. He looked gaunt, like he might keel over any second. It had only been three days—hard to believe this was the same man from before.
"Jeonpyo, his condition's off."
Sogyungchu snorted at Geomak's words.
"I can tell without looking."
His face was bloodless, eyes deeply sunken, veins bulging like they might burst while his flesh had withered away.
"He's fallen into qi deviation."
"Qi deviation?"
"Probably tried cooking up some trick in three days and failed. Geomak, looks like you'll have to put in extra work."
"......"
Jin Sowoon, supported by Namgung Seonhwa's hand, slumped into the chair Yujang Sect had brought out. Laughter exploded from the black path side.
"Hey! Black Flame Dragon! That's the orthodox side! Snap out of it, kid!"
"Dude! You're supposed to stand over here~!"
"The Four Evils' leader sends his regards!"
Jin Sowoon, who had been limp, slowly raised his head toward the voices.
"......"
Then he lazily raised both arms and flipped them off.
The black path side cracked up even harder at his sluggish thumbs-down.
Sogyungchu leaped onto the training ground.
"...He looks rough. Still participating?"
The Yujang Sect leader glanced at Jin Sowoon, who nodded.
"Yes. We'll proceed as is."
"Clinging to a wretch like that. No wonder Yujang Sect's doomed!"
"......"
Sogyungchu stepped down after his words, and a sickle-wielding man followed. From Yujang's side, Jang Ujae stepped forward.
"If you want to curse the cruelty, curse Jin Sowoon."
Jang Ujae looked at Jin Sowoon at the man's words. He'd been shocked hearing that the man who'd told him not to use the exploding blood pill had pushed himself to this state for Yujang Sect. He always exceeded expectations, sacrificing and enduring for others.
Jang Ujae glared steadily at the sickle man.
"Even if I die today, that won't happen."
Jang Ujae assumed the starting stance of the Biryu Sword Technique; the sickle man matched him.
"Begin!"
At Dang Hyeokjae's shout, they shot toward each other like arrows.
The sickle struck first, drawing a cross with its short arc before stabbing at five deadly points.
Jang Ujae, unfolding Biryu Sword Technique, hastily withdrew his blade to block the vital-target strikes.
Clang-clang-clang.
A sickle's attacks were unfamiliar even to veterans, but Jang Ujae handled them adeptly.
"My turn!"
Using the suction principle of Biryu Sword Technique to yank the sickle and unbalance the man, Jang Ujae targeted three vital points in a flash.
The man tried to dodge but couldn't resist the pull, taking a gash on his arm.
"Tch!"
He glanced at the wound and drew a short sword from his belt.
"Now it begins."
As he drew the half-length short sword, his aura shifted completely.
Gulp.
Jang Ujae swallowed unconsciously.
Then—
—The sickle's just to draw eyes. Focus on the short sword.
A sudden transmission. Meeting Jin Sowoon's eyes, he nodded. Jang Ujae gritted his teeth and moved first this time.
"Raaah!"
With the Whirlwind Flying Stream form, wind gathered around him, his sword tightening like a noose on the sickle man.
"Think some piddly grab'll do shit?!"
The sickle grazed Jang Ujae's face perilously. A normal fighter would've dodged easily. But Jang Ujae remembered Jin Sowoon's words, swinging at the short sword to the end.
"Gaaah!"
A long gash marred Jang Ujae's cheek as he ducked with a scream. The man recovered the sickle and swung it viciously three times, leaving afterimages of qi in the air.
But blood dripping steadily, Jang Ujae rose and pressed the Biryu Sword Technique on the man's left hand.
Stab, stab, stab.
Flesh pierced; blood fountained from Jang Ujae's abdomen, thigh, and left arm. But the scream came from the sickle man.
"Gaaah! My hand!!!"
His short-sword hand was severed clean off. Staring at his empty arm in disbelief, he collapsed.
Both down, victory unclear. Sogyungchu eyed Dang Hyeokjae.
"Who won?"
"......"
Dang Hyeokjae tapped Jang Ujae's cheek to check consciousness.
"Mukblood Hall's victory!"
Cheers erupted briefly from Mukblood Hall. Yujang folk carried Jang Ujae off for emergency treatment. Jang Sagyeong, ascending the ground, watched intently.
"......"
"Worth driving a man to death's door for Yujang Sect?"
Jang Sagyeong turned as Sogyungchu continued from the arena.
"The Black Flame Dragon's ploy saved his life. Could've picked an easy match and forfeited."
"Vice hall leader... no, hall leader now."
Jang Sagyeong slowly drew his sword.
"Do you know why even the strongest black path sects never last a century?"
"......"
Jang Sagyeong's eyes gleamed.
"Lack of conviction."
"......Typical ink-stained orthodox bullshit."
Ignoring him, Jang Sagyeong addressed the crowd.
"No, it's vital. Without strong conviction to found a sect or house, it's just a bandit mob."
"Then today proves it: conviction or not, the weak die."
"Maybe. If you survive, ponder what pillars Mukblood Hall needs."
"Trying to probe me with clever words."
Sogyungchu raised his great sword into stance. Jang Sagyeong matched with Biryu Sword Technique.
Whoosh.
Before Dang Hyeokjae could call start, qi blasts flew simultaneously.
Boom.
Sword and blade qi exploded midair; sand dust billowed thickly.
They plunged into the haze without pause.
Clang-clang-clang-clang—Boom, boom, boom.
Metal clashing. Qi exploding. Dust scattered, blinding views.
"Ack-ptoo!"
"Yujang's leader's only this good?"
"Then why'd we get one-sidedly wrecked before?"
The mystery cleared as dust settled.
Martial artists used inner energy efficiently—fists for fist users, swords for swordsmen. But Jang Sagyeong's qi enveloped his entire body, not just his blade.
"Using innate essence?"
"It's a real fight anyway. Why go that far...?"
"Desperate thrashing."
Black path mockery rang out. Yujang folk were shocked too.
"Sect leader!"
"Father!!!"
They cried out in horror, but Jang Sagyeong eyed only Sogyungchu.
"...Planning mutual destruction?"
Jang Sagyeong replied leisurely to the gritted question.
"Afraid?"
"Think this trick closes our gap?!"
"Fear death?"
"You bastard!"
Sogyungchu's Blood Tribulation Great Sword roared, unleashing blade qi in eight directions, smashing arena and hall alike.
Boom-boom-boom-boom-boom.
In the devastation, Jang Sagyeong calmly deflected and blocked with Biryu Sword Technique.
"Know why you fear death?"
"What?"
"Nothing left behind."
"What nonsense!"
Jang Sagyeong glanced at Jang Ujae, pale but watching clearly despite recent blackout.
"That's why conviction... spirit... matters. Something remains even as death nears."
"Fine, I'll grant you a fearless death!"
Sogyungchu's great sword glowed red-hot, a two-chi crimson blade aura blooming atop it.
"Blood Tribulation Delayed Strike!"
He slashed; the aura split into eight, ravaging the reinforced stone arena toward Jang Sagyeong.
"Of course. I'm not afraid."
Qi around Jang Sagyeong thickened. Yujang folk cried in panic, but he didn't look back.
"Whirlwind Flying Stream!"
Qi winds swirled around him. He surged forward, a one-chi sword aura igniting at his tip.
Qua-qua-qua-boom.
The ground upheaved, dirt waves surging. Gravel flew.
"Dodge!"
"Rocks flying!"
Smoke and sand swept outward; leisurely black path spectators fled in panic.
"Flying Stream Supremacy!"
Jang Sagyeong's shout boomed deafeningly.
Boom. Boom. Boom.
Then silence.
A brief hush.
"Wh-what happened?"
"Who won?"
Those looking away gaped at the scene.
"......No way."
"What the..."
Sogyungchu's famed great sword, soaked in hundreds' blood, lay in two pieces. Jang Sagyeong's blade pierced his heart precisely.
"D-damn... you..."
Sogyungchu toppled with a thud, still.
Thud.
Jang Sagyeong knelt, spent. Yujang folk rushed in.
"Sect leader!"
"Sect leader!"
Then a man in black-and-white robes pushed through, checked Jang Sagyeong's pulse, fed him a pill, and inserted a dozen needles.
"Gasp!"
Jang Sagyeong's eyes snapped open; he'd been ashen as burnt coals.
"Don't move."
"Wh-who are you?"
"From the Tang Clan."
"I see."
"......Why push so hard?"
The man shook his head, still checking the pulse.
"Sorry, just bought a little time."
Jang Sagyeong nodded slowly.
"......Thank you. That's enough."
He rose on his own power, brushing off helping hands, and walked back to his spot.
As Jin Sowoon ascended with Namgung Seonhwa's support, their eyes met briefly.
Jang Sagyeong murmured, exhaling.
"Help Yujang Sect... carry on its... conviction."
Jin Sowoon cracked dry lips in a grin, scanning the crowd.
"You've already ensured Yujang's conviction won't bend or break."
Following his gaze, Jang Sagyeong saw Yujang eyes tearful yet blazing fiercely. Unyielding gazes.
A satisfied smile touched his lips.
"Indeed. We should've done this sooner. Stood tall on our own, leaning on no one."
As Jang Sagyeong descended with his people, Jin Sowoon slipped Namgung Seonhwa's hand and staggered to the arena center, facing Geomak.
"Come up. Let's see this tournament's end."
"......"
But Geomak just stared blankly, unmoving.
"Geomak! Scared of a brat? Why frozen?!"
Buak's gruff yell made Geomak shake his head.
"Jeonpyo, weird. Different from three days ago. I pass."
Geomak acted like a pup facing a tiger; Buak spat at Saak.
"Damn, your dog's shaking. What now?"
"......"
Saak glanced at Geomak, then cursed.
"Crazy bastard! He says no, what can I do? You go then, punk."
"Hmph! Dumbasses."
Buak stomped up powerfully, landing with a thud in the arena.
"Brat, fine with me instead?"
Jin Sowoon eyed Mukblood Hall.
"If you acknowledge it......"
Murmurs rose; with leader and vice gone, authority was gone.
Soon a man nodded.
"Brat, stage like this okay? Can't even walk straight."
"Doesn't matter. Not planning to step anyway."
"Black Flame Dragon's mind's shot, huh? True after all."
Jin Sowoon nodded oddly.
"......Lately, I wonder if it's true myself."
"Madman."
Buak swung his giant axe loosely. Green qi cloaked it; with surprising agility for his bulk, he charged Jin Sowoon, aiming to cleave his waist in one stroke.
Click. Slash—
Oddly, the axe never swung fully.
Buak passed Jin Sowoon, took steps, then touched his neck blankly.
"What... is..."
A thin red line appeared; blood gushed. His massive body and head separated cleanly, rolling.
"......"
"......"
"......"
Stunned silence gripped thousands.
Then Geomak shuddered, grabbing Saak.
"S-sword... demon! Sword demon! Sword demon! Run!"