Chapter 145: Sparring Tournament-7
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 145: Sparring Tournament-7
"...In-ho."
When In-ho produced a clear flame from his hand, Namgung So-yu reflexively held her breath.
He was the disciple who hadn't been able to produce even a tiny spark during the entire journey from Sichuan to Anhui.
Deep down, she had begun to think he might never master Ignition.
At first, In-ho had seemed incompetent for failing at something so simple. She had even felt resentful, feeling as though her own reputation as a master was being tarnished.
Yet, regardless of her resentment, In-ho never stopped practicing Ignition on the way to Anhui.
Whether he was exhausted from their guided sparring sessions or soaked to the bone by a sudden downpour that made training seem impossible, he kept at it.
Was it because she saw a reflection of herself in that dogged persistence?
By the time they nearly reached Anhui, the way Namgung So-yu looked at In-ho had changed slightly.
Her doubt had turned into support.
She had decided that even if he never managed to produce a flame, she would continue to support him on the path he chose.
Or at least, that was what she thought—until In-ho landed a blow right on Cheong-yeon’s face.
*
When the ice Cheong-yeon created bound his body, Namgung So-yu sensed the end.
She was already rehearsing what to say to her disciple, who had fought well in his own right.
—You did well, considering it was you.
She was definitely thinking of words like that.
When Cheong-yeon’s palm struck In-ho, So-yu’s fists clenched involuntarily.
When another of Cheong-yeon’s attacks shook In-ho’s frame, So-yu bit her lip hard.
The thought, 'How dare she lay a hand on him?' dominated her entire being.
Perhaps sensing the ominous aura eating away at her, her own master, Grandmaster Yeom-jin, covered her mouth with her fan and whispered to her.
"Compose your emotions."
If not for her master’s words, So-yu might have leapt from the VIP seating and charged straight at Cheong-yeon.
Having barely regained her senses thanks to Yeom-jin’s advice, all So-yu could do was watch the match with bated breath.
The ice prison Cheong-yeon created had already climbed up to In-ho’s waist.
She could see Cheong-yeon saying something to In-ho, and In-ho responding.
She couldn't hear the words from that distance, but judging by Cheong-yeon’s subsequent actions, the conversation didn't seem to have ended on a good note.
As Cheong-yeon pulled her hand back, Ice Sword, who was sitting slightly behind them, muttered, "It’s over."
Yes, it was over. So-yu thought the same.
"Huh?"
A note of bewilderment colored Ice Sword’s cold voice.
It was because In-ho had shattered the ice and swatted Cheong-yeon’s hand away.
What followed was a clean, decisive strike.
Shattering the ice curtain Cheong-yeon had raised, In-ho’s attack landed squarely on her face.
Cheong-yeon fell backward.
She braced herself against the ground with her hands to put distance between herself and In-ho.
Cheong-yeon wore the same expression So-yu did.
Bewilderment.
Cheong-yeon was staring at the same thing So-yu was.
A burning fist.
"Yeom-jin."
At the sight of the pure, clear flame rising from In-ho’s hand, Ice Sword called out to Yeom-jin.
"What is it, Ice Sword?"
"You clearly said he was a servant."
"I did."
"Then what is that flame?"
What was in his hand was unmistakably a flame created through the Flame Wheel Art.
Ice Sword was not someone who would fail to recognize it.
Shhhhk.
Yeom-jin unfurled her folded fan once more, covering her mouth.
Her eyes, visible above the fan, curved into thin crescents.
"Well... perhaps he realized it on his own by watching So-yu train?"
At Yeom-jin’s sly remark, Ice Sword’s eyes turned cold.
"Ah, so that’s how it is. I see."
Understanding the implication behind Yeom-jin’s words, Ice Sword nodded slowly.
"The Flame Wheel Art, truly stopping at nothing to achieve its ends."
Ice Sword furrowed his brow.
"This is exactly why I despise you, Yeom-jin."
Ice Sword muttered with pure loathing, but Yeom-jin simply shrugged.
"Thanks for the compliment."
Ice Sword shifted his gaze from Yeom-jin back to the arena and crossed his legs.
As if reflecting his unpleasant mood, the corner of his mouth twisted upward.
"It was a clever surprise attack, but it seems he’s only succeeded in provoking Cheong-yeon."
*
"Since you've trained in the Flame Wheel Art... I suppose it's only natural you can produce flames. I let my guard down."
Despite taking a hit, Cheong-yeon did not lose her composure.
"Surprisingly enough, I couldn't even make a spark until this morning," In-ho said truthfully.
"Regardless, it’s impressive. You surprised me."
Cheong-yeon looked In-ho up and down, giving a small nod as if acknowledging him.
"Then... I can get serious now, right?"
Cheong-yeon took a step forward, her expression hardening.
In-ho felt the surrounding air turn rapidly frigid.
Ice began to spread from the spot where Cheong-yeon stepped.
The ice spreading across the floor quickly swallowed the entire arena.
"Whoa!"
In-ho hurriedly scrambled backward, but the ice was faster than his retreat.
The solid ice bound his feet like shackles.
He tried to twist his feet free as he had before, but his legs wouldn't budge.
"Wow, this really isn't coming off."
In-ho looked down at his feet with a hollow laugh.
In the meantime, Cheong-yeon glided toward him.
She stopped about seven paces in front of him.
"How did So-yu describe the Ice Wheel Art to you?"
"A martial art where you coat your weapon in cold energy to fight..."
Intimidated by her presence, which was the polar opposite of how she had been when they talked in the garden, In-ho stammered his reply.
"Hmm..."
Cheong-yeon frowned slightly, clearly dissatisfied with his answer.
"That’s not the right answer."
Cheong-yeon held her hand out.
"The Ice Wheel Art doesn't require a weapon."
Ice particles floating in the air gathered in her hand.
Like dust being sucked into a vacuum cleaner, the particles gathered in the blink of an eye to form a shape.
Something resembling a wooden sword popped into existence in Cheong-yeon’s hand.
"Damn, Ice Wheel Art is such a cheat," In-ho muttered under his breath.
Seeing this, Cheong-yeon gripped the sword made of ice with both hands and raised it high.
"It’s going to be very cold."
Cheong-yeon swung the sword through the air, and a massive blizzard erupted from the path of her strike, engulfing In-ho.
When the blizzard subsided, In-ho appeared, his face pale, having fainted while still standing.
"In-ho!!!"
So-yu screamed her disciple’s name, but In-ho could not respond.
"W-Winner! Cheong-yeon of the Ice Wheel Art!"
The referee’s voice echoed through the arena, followed by a burst of cheers from the audience.
"......"
Cheong-yeon’s slow gaze drifted toward the VIP seating.
"......."
So-yu felt as though Cheong-yeon’s eyes were saying one thing as they looked at her.
[You’re next.]