Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: A Duel with Sak Cheon-hyeok
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Red Tiger Squad.
Sak Cheon-hyeok, the Red Tiger Squad Leader, savored the pleasant tension before his duel with Guyang Cheon.
He sat cross-legged with a sword resting on his knees, its chillingly blue blade glinting as if it would slice through anything with the slightest touch.
Emerging from his meditation, he summoned Na Hyeong-rin, who had recently been appointed as a vice-leader.
The Red Tiger Squad had several vice-leaders, but Na Hyeong-rin's position was more honorary than one of actual authority.
Sak Cheon-hyeok usually paid little mind to such politically appointed vice-leaders.
However, he had called for Na Hyeong-rin because he was from Jeongju Prefecture.
“You called for me?”
“I'll be direct. What do you think of Guyang Cheon's martial prowess?”
“I haven't faced him directly recently, so it's difficult to give a specific assessment, but...”
“Go on.”
“I know exactly what level he was at a year ago.”
“Was he a rising star with great potential?”
“Not at all. He was a scoundrel eating away at his clan's reputation. His martial arts were at the level of a common thug. I don't know what fortunate encounter allowed him to improve so much, but he's no match for you, Squad Leader Sak. How formidable can skills acquired so suddenly truly be?”
“Is that true?”
“Yes. Even the greatest genius in the martial world couldn't reach the pinnacle in just one year. Besides, Guyang Cheon is no genius. He merely has decent talent.”
“Hmm.”
Sak Cheon-hyeok fell into deep thought.
He had already heard of Guyang Cheon's high level of skill from Yeo Jung-myeong, the leader of the Soul-Chasing Sword Squad, and Cheol Mu-ui, the leader of the Tiger Leopard Squad.
But hearing Na Hyeong-rin's differing opinion only muddled his thoughts further.
“Is this the truth?”
“How could I lie? Go to Jeongju Prefecture and ask anyone on the street; they all know what kind of person Guyang Cheon was. The Ouyang Clan once produced the Sword Emperor, so many people were paying attention to them.”
“So you're saying he became that strong in just one year...”
Sak Cheon-hyeok's mind was in turmoil.
He even began to think it would have been better not to have listened to Na Hyeong-rin's advice.
“One thing is certain: his martial arts are incomplete. I don't know how he was lucky enough to get this far, but with his imperfect skills, you should be able to break him, Squad Leader Sak.”
“I understand. You may leave.”
As Na Hyeong-rin clasped his hands and withdrew, Sak Cheon-hyeok clicked his tongue.
‘I shouldn't have called him. Instead of helping, he just scrambled my thoughts. Now, this has become a fight where losing is a disgrace and winning is just breaking even. Since it's come to this, I'll use my full strength to take you down. What an unpleasant fight.’
Sak Cheon-hyeok hardened his resolve.
A man far removed from political maneuvering, he completely ignored the concerns of those around him who worried that this rare new talent might get hurt.
He vowed to overwhelm Guyang Cheon from the start and end the duel in one fell swoop.
**
Many people, including Jo Jin-ryang and Hwang Seong-won, visited me at my lodgings.
As I was a rising star who had appeared out of nowhere, most of the visitors watched me with curious eyes.
I greeted them politely, trying to make a good impression.
The day before the duel.
I refused all meetings with other martial artists and spent the entire day in meditation.
Through meditation, I conducted simulated duels with Sak Cheon-hyeok. Having run these simulations daily, the quality of the duels had improved significantly from the beginning.
At first, I had tried to unconditionally break through his Black Iron Vigor, and that was where I had been defeated.
But now, I had changed my approach and planned to draw out the duel.
After all, his Black Iron Vigor required internal energy to maintain its powerful defense.
By prolonging the duel and launching a surprise counterattack, I was finally able to shatter his Black Iron Vigor.
‘The spectators might find it a bit boring, but at least I've found a way. Well, it's a method only possible for me.’
A faint smile touched my lips.
This wasn't arrogance, but a cold, realistic assessment.
Having fought alongside Sak Cheon-hyeok to eliminate the heretical factions for a long time, I knew the strengths and weaknesses of his martial arts precisely. That was why I could employ such a strategy.
If someone who didn't know him tried this tactic, they would likely suffer a major defeat.
Sak Cheon-hyeok had a reckless personality and would charge in aggressively from the start.
Therefore, even for a master at the pinnacle or above, employing delaying tactics against him was no easy feat.
The next day.
I meditated once more in the morning and then had my meal.
“How are you feeling today?”
“I'm fine. It will be a good duel. It's going to be quite long, so don't take your eyes off it. Watch and feel with concentration. It will be helpful for you.”
“Yes, sir. But the Red Tiger Squad Leader is known not just for his martial arts, but also for his extremely aggressive personality and a ferocious, one-hit-kill sword style. Please be careful.”
A mouse worrying about a cat.
I smiled faintly.
“Thank you. Let's eat.”
I finished my meal slowly and stood up.
Dressed in black martial arts robes, I fiddled with the Soul-Reaping Sword as I walked toward the dueling stage.
Seong Hwi followed behind me, tense with nervousness.
-Affectionate.
It was Pure.
-Yes.
-Do your best. The Red Tiger Squad Leader may be strong, but I don't believe he is your match.
-You're not just flattering me, are you?
-Having witnessed your prowess firsthand while traveling with you, wouldn't my opinion be the most accurate?
-Thank you.
-Then I will cheer for you quietly.
-Watch closely. It will be helpful for you.
-Understood.
Pure's presence vanished.
I quickened my pace and walked to the seats arranged in front of the dueling stage.
The Alliance Leader, along with the elders and key figures of the Martial Arts Alliance, were all present.
I clasped my hands in greeting to them and then took my seat.
Not wanting to influence the duel, they only accepted my greeting; no one spoke to me.
Yang Cheon-rin glanced at me, raising his senses to try and gauge my abilities.
Yang Cheon-rin conversed with Zhuge Mun-hyeon through telepathy.
-His level is higher than I expected.
-The future of the martial world is bright.
-At that level, regardless of the outcome, we could establish a new strike team and put him in charge.
-Are you pleased with him?
-I am. Seeing Guyang Cheon makes me wonder if I was being needlessly stubborn. I'm curious to see how long he can last against Sak Cheon-hyeok.
-So you believe he will be defeated.
-It's difficult to overcome Sak Cheon-hyeok. He has too much experience, and once a duel begins, he fights as if his life is on the line. Guyang Cheon will be quite bewildered today.
Yang Cheon-rin clicked his tongue with a look of regret.
He had chosen the Red Tiger Squad Leader as the opponent because he couldn't believe Zhuge Mun-hyeon's report about a young man possessing such high skill. Now, he felt he had gone too far.
There was no need for this.
Yang Cheon-rin was filled with regret.
He turned his head to look at Sak Cheon-hyeok.
‘Look at him. He's dead set on killing him. What if he gets hurt? Tsk, tsk.’
Yang Cheon-rin was displeased with Sak Cheon-hyeok, who was preparing for the duel while exuding immense killing intent.
But things had come this far, and there was nothing to be done, so he could only worry in silence.
“I thank all the martial artists who have gathered to watch today's duel. This match is between the rising star of Henan, Guyang Cheon, and the Red Tiger Squad Leader, Sak Cheon-hyeok.”
The martial artists quietly listened to the words of Jo Jin-ryang, the head of the Demon-Slaying Pavilion, who was acting as the announcer.
“You are all well aware of the Red Tiger Squad Leader, so I will skip his introduction. Guyang Cheon hails from the Ouyang Clan, which once produced the Sword Emperor. He has mastered the Ouyang Sword Art and possesses outstanding skills, with internal energy approaching two cycles. The emergence of such a remarkable new talent is a great blessing for the martial world.”
At the mention of the Sword Emperor, a murmur went through the crowd.
The fact that the Ouyang Clan had walked the path of decline after the Sword Emperor's death was common knowledge.
Therefore, when an outstanding new talent emerged from the Ouyang Clan, which was considered little more than barren ground, they looked at Guyang Cheon with eyes full of curiosity.
“Will the two combatants please ascend the stage.”
At Jo Jin-ryang's request, Sak Cheon-hyeok leaped onto the left side of the stage, while I slowly walked up and stood on the right.
Jo Jin-ryang continued with a detailed explanation about Sak Cheon-hyeok and me.
Grumbles began to erupt from the stands, demanding that the duel begin quickly.
“Get on with it.”
Unable to watch any longer, Yang Cheon-rin spoke up. Jo Jin-ryang gave an awkward smile and quickly concluded his explanation.
As he declared the start of the duel and descended the stage, Sak Cheon-hyeok drew his sword and tossed the scabbard aside.
“If you think it's dangerous, get out of the way. My sword has no eyes.”
“Thank you for the advice.”
With a cautious expression, I drew the Soul-Reaping Sword and likewise threw the scabbard to Seong Hwi.
As I raised my internal energy to its maximum from the very beginning, gasps of admiration erupted from the surroundings.
Most of them had thought my skills were that of an ordinary rising star, so they expressed both surprise and admiration.
“Here I come!”
Sak Cheon-hyeok imbued his sword with tyrannical internal energy and brought it down with enough force to split my head.
It was a terrifyingly deadly move that drew screams from all around.
I could have dodged it with ease, but I deliberately evaded it by a hair's breadth to minimize my energy consumption.
Even though I knew his personality and martial arts well, and possessed senses honed to the extreme, dodging was not an easy task.
That was how exceptional Sak Cheon-hyeok's prowess was.
*Pang. Pang.*
*Clang.*
Every time his sword cut through the air, a sound like a balloon popping echoed, and when it struck the ground, stone dust scattered as a deep gouge was formed.
“You little rat.”
Having unleashed a powerful, deadly technique yet failing to land even a single blow on me, Sak Cheon-hyeok flew into a rage.
Since simply dodging wasn't the best course of action, I launched a counterattack.
The Soul-Reaping Sword instantly multiplied into three, simultaneously targeting his chest and abdomen.
It was a transforming sword technique, and a swift one at that, which brought a look of astonishment to Sak Cheon-hyeok's face.
It was a reaction born from the unexpectedness of someone as young as me executing such a move.
His body moved instinctively.
Instead of dodging, he extended his sword, aiming for my neck.
It was a mutual destruction technique.
“Damn it. Red Tiger Squad Leader! What are you doing?”
Yang Cheon-rin shot up from his seat in shock.
Zhuge Mun-hyeon's face was also filled with worry.
I knew his temperament, so I had fully anticipated this kind of reaction.
This looked like a mutual destruction technique, but it absolutely was not.
It was Sak Cheon-hyeok's signature reckless attack style: blocking my technique with his Black Iron Vigor while simultaneously attacking my vital points.
While continuing the technique with my right hand, I raised my left hand and pointed my index finger at him.
*Thwack.*
*Thwack.*
As a powerful finger strike was unleashed, the color drained from Sak Cheon-hyeok's face.
Before he could react, the finger strike swiftly knocked his sword away and slammed into his shoulder.
*Kakakang.*
*Kukung.*
Sak Cheon-hyeok staggered back a few steps.
His face was filled with dismay.
His clothes were torn, and red sword marks were etched across his chest and abdomen.
As expected, I couldn't break through his Black Iron Vigor.
“Let's go again.”
“Stop.”
Suddenly, Yang Cheon-rin was standing between Sak Cheon-hyeok and me.
“Alliance Leader. It's not over yet.”
“This is enough. This isn't a life-or-death battle, is it?”
Yang Cheon-rin rebuked Sak Cheon-hyeok with a stern expression, then sent him a gentle telepathic message.
-My apologies. I shouldn't have asked this of you; my thinking was short-sighted. If the duel continues this fiercely, there's a high chance Guyang Cheon will be seriously injured. With his limited experience, how can he possibly withstand your vicious attacks? Please stop here. What is there to gain from defeating a rising star in a fight?
“I will follow the Alliance Leader's will.”
Sak Cheon-hyeok immediately reversed his grip on his sword and clasped his hands.
While he was extremely aggressive once a duel began, he wasn't so unreasonable as to ignore Yang Cheon-rin's advice.
“You saved my life, Alliance Leader. The Red Tiger Squad Leader's Black Iron Vigor is truly legendary. I couldn't find a way to break through it at all.”
I reversed my grip on my sword, clasped my hands to thank Yang Cheon-rin, and praised Sak Cheon-hyeok's prowess.
The spectating martial artists looked disappointed, but they soon accepted Yang Cheon-rin's actions without protest.
They, too, did not want to see a long-awaited rising star be crushed by the veteran Red Tiger Squad Leader.
Thanks to this, the duel ended in a draw, and I was able to firmly imprint the name Guyang Cheon in the minds of the people.