Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Nine Dragons Tournament (3)
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“Tell me, are you alright?”
At Master Hyeon-geom's concerned words, Ouyang Jue finally came to his senses and replied.
“Perhaps it's because of the fighting spirit I just witnessed, but my mind feels a bit dazed.”
“Mm, indeed.”
Master Hyeon-geom nodded.
The display Yang Ji-hyeon had just shown was enough to make one think he was an incarnation of battle itself.
It was certainly overwhelming enough.
Especially since Ouyang Jue was a junior who had just descended from Mount Hua.
No matter how outstanding his martial prowess was for his age, a lack of experience made one susceptible to being swayed by such powerful auras.
*'And yet, for someone like that, he countered skillfully and won.'*
Master Hyeon-geom shook off his lingering doubts and continued the story about the Omniscient One.
“…And so, the young man called the Omniscient One entrusted Severing Manifestation to me, saying he wished for it to be wielded by one destined for it.”
“One destined for it?”
Master Hyeon-geom's tone was candid as he replied to Ouyang Jue's question.
“At the time, I honestly didn't understand.”
At those words, Ouyang Jue couldn't help but nod.
Severing Manifestation was a famed sword whose value any warrior who wielded a blade would recognize.
In fact, one could feel its sharp energy, as if it would cut them by a mere touch.
If anything, Master Hyeon-geom should be praised as a man of great character for offering Severing Manifestation as a prize for the Nine Dragons Tournament.
But now, Master Hyeon-geom's thoughts had changed.
“However, seeing you, Friend Ouyang, I feel I now know whose hands are destined to hold Severing Manifestation.”
*Did he judge that even Yeop Cheong couldn't defeat Ouyang Jue?*
Master Hyeon-geom's words seemed intended to subtly flatter Ouyang Jue and win his favor.
But Ouyang Jue's thoughts were elsewhere.
“…Destiny, you say.”
Ouyang Jue's gaze drifted into the empty air for a moment.
*'Do you intend to help me even in my next life, beyond the last?'*
The Omniscient One.
His connection with him had ended in his past life.
Having decided to stand with Mount Hua, Ouyang Jue had to avoid him.
If he met the Omniscient One, he would surely be swept up in delusions unknown even to himself, repeat needless mistakes, and ruin things with vain emotions.
That was something Ouyang Jue utterly detested.
*'I should avoid him.'*
A connection that had already ended in a past life.
Since Ouyang Jue himself wouldn't take responsibility for him until the end, there was no need to meddle unnecessarily.
*'However, I will gladly accept this help.'*
Having organized his thoughts, Ouyang Jue put on a smile.
In any case, that fellow, the Omniscient One, couldn't have foreseen that Severing Manifestation would go to a Taoist named Ouyang Jue.
“But surely, Master, you must have another reason for summoning me?”
As Ouyang Jue cut straight to the point, Master Hyeon-geom's expression tightened.
“…Hmm. To be frank, there is something I saw during your match with the Blue Cloud Fist Hero that I wish to ask about.”
Master Hyeon-geom kindly added that the Blue Cloud Fist Hero was one of Yang Ji-hyeon's titles.
“The way you used your pugilism to fend off the Blue Cloud Fist Hero's strategic attacks earlier, and the Iron Bridge technique you employed midway through—even I was impressed.”
“...”
“Have you, by any chance, learned any lightness techniques or other forms of weaponry besides pugilism?”
To that, Ouyang Jue replied cautiously.
“I'm not quite sure of your true intentions in asking that, Master.”
Though the words could have sounded somewhat insolent, Master Hyeon-geom let them pass without issue.
For someone to have amassed such skill without revealing it, his caution must be equally exceptional.
His face, however, hardened.
What he was about to say was something an elder of the Orthodox Sects, who held justice in the highest regard, should not say.
But at the same time, as a member of the prestigious Wudang Sect, it was something he had to say.
After taking a deep breath, Master Hyeon-geom began to speak carefully.
“The truth is… I summoned you because I have a proposal to make.”
At those words, Ouyang Jue let out a soft chuckle.
He didn't know what the proposal would be, but it was an offer from a figure like the Master to someone like him, a mere junior.
Ouyang Jue knew very well that this meant the potential reward was also great.
His eyes, looking at Master Hyeon-geom, shone with anticipation.
“Please, state your terms first.”
*Hopefully, in a way that benefits both me and the Mount Hua Sect.*
* * *
“Is he truly one of the younger generation?”
“I can't believe it.”
“He wasn't this strong before, no matter how you look at it...”
A dark cloud gradually began to descend upon the tournament grounds of the Nine Dragons Tournament, which had at first seemed evenly matched.
It wasn't that it had started to rain, nor had there been an unforeseen accident.
It was simply that one, single, overwhelming existence was proving his skill.
“Next. Come.”
In the very center of the numerous tournament stages.
In the place where the final match of the Nine Dragons Tournament was supposed to be held, Ouyang Jue was waiting for the remaining challengers.
*Hoo.*
Ouyang Jue's hand wiped away the light sheen of sweat on his forehead.
No matter how high his realm of mastery was, his physical body had not yet reached a corresponding level.
The fatigue accumulating in his body seemed to weigh down on his shoulders.
*'Is this the tenth one now?'*
Three juniors remained.
Shaolin Temple, Heavenly Martial Peak, and the Wudang Sect.
Shaolin was known as the great pillar of the martial world. Even their second-best would serve well as the vanguard for any other sect.
In contrast, Heavenly Martial Peak was a mysterious sect whose location was unknown, one with a tradition where the weak were culled.
But among them all, Yeop Cheong of the Wudang Sect was undoubtedly the ace.
*'Master Hyeon-geom recognized the value of Severing Manifestation.'*
Even if it wasn't him, anyone from the Wudang Sect who had seen Severing Manifestation would know.
That it was a sword worthy of being called a treasure.
Severing Manifestation was destined to be called one of the Three Great Swords of the Martial World in the near future. There was no way Master Hyeon-geom wouldn't recognize such a famed blade.
Well, what of it?
Ouyang Jue was not enough of a fool to give up on Severing Manifestation when it was right before his eyes.
*'Sorry, but that's mine.'*
To deny greed is to accept stagnation.
Ambition, or a goal.
Only with such things can humans progress.
The development of martial arts and society until now was only possible because there were people who desired to become stronger and live more comfortably.
And what of the future?
No one could say for sure. Even the Omniscient One, who claimed to see the future, could only vaguely sense it and make predictions.
And even then, half of them were wrong.
But a definite future existed in Ouyang Jue's mind.
How could he possibly stand still, knowing that?
Here, at the Nine Dragons Tournament.
The greediest person of all was Ouyang Jue.
“How long do you intend to just stand there?”
“...Hah!”
At the taunt thrown by Ouyang Jue, Wi Jin-cheon, the representative of Heavenly Martial Peak, let out a shout.
At a glance, it seemed he had been swayed by a simple provocation, but Ouyang Jue saw it differently.
*'His eyes are calm. He's quite the composed one.'*
*Is he feigning excitement to lure me into carelessness?*
Thinking he was quite an interesting fellow, a curious smile spread across Ouyang Jue's face.
*Tap.*
Wi Jin-cheon sprang from his spot and landed on the stage, then asked.
“I shall correct that insolent tongue of yours myself.”
“As you wish. Go on, give it a try.”
At that single phrase, Wi Jin-cheon's eyes narrowed sharply.
“How arrogant!”
*Tat-tat.*
With that sound, Wi Jin-cheon's form vanished in an instant.
Even the juniors watching from outside the stage as third-party observers blinked in that moment.
It was incredibly fast.
It was a footwork technique they had not seen in any of his previous matches.
Nevertheless, Ouyang Jue maintained his relaxed demeanor.
*'What a cheap trick.'*
*Kaaang!*
Something clashed with the sword Ouyang Jue had drawn, and crimson sparks flew.
The sparks flew onto Wi Jin-cheon's fingers, but he showed no sign of it.
Instead, as if being pushed back meant the end, he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.
*...Kadeuk, kadeudeuk!*
One breath, then two, passed as the two blades remained locked together.
In that short span of time, Wi Jin-cheon's shoulders twitched five times.
*Does he maintain the power struggle?*
*Or does he deflect my power and execute his own techniques?*
Wi Jin-cheon had to agonize between the two choices.
*'The martial arts he has shown so far...'*
*Cannot be easily broken.*
The moment that weak thought entered his mind, Wi Jin-cheon bit his lip hard.
He replayed Ouyang Jue's revealed techniques countless times in his mind's eye, trying to find a way to break them with his own martial arts, but no answer came.
It was as if he were facing a colossal fortress wall.
Just as Wi Jin-cheon felt a hint of despair, Ouyang Jue took half a step back.
“Let's end the power struggle here.”
Ouyang Jue swung the sword in his grasp.
Soon, the sound of the blade slicing fiercely through the wind struck the air.
*Hwoong-!*
It looked like a light swing at first glance, but the power contained within was formidable.
The sword form Ouyang Jue displayed was clearly a slash.
But to Wi Jin-cheon, who faced him, it felt like a thrust.
*Jjeong!*
The shockwave from the clash of the two swords was enough to startle a pair of birds frolicking nearby.
Of course, for Wi Jin-cheon, it was not a good thing.
*'...Tch. I suppose it was impossible to block it without injury.'*
Letting out a small, dry laugh, he drew out all the internal energy pooled in his dantian and wrapped it around his sword.
It was on a completely different level from the sword energy Ouyang Jue had just shown, and not in a good way.
Sword energy unleashed without a certain level of mastery or profound understanding.
Wi Jin-cheon felt as if he were stripped bare. It was shameful to display such sword energy in front of Ouyang Jue.
*'Still.'*
*Geuddeuk.*
Wi Jin-cheon's teeth ground together, creating deep lines on his jaw.
As this was the Nine Dragons Tournament, he was a warrior representing Heavenly Martial Peak.
He had no intention of showing a disgraceful side of himself.
Even if he wasn't on Yang Ji-hyeon's level, he wanted to show his fighting spirit and pride.
Wi Jin-cheon straightened his slightly bent back.
“Hup!”
And he raised his gaze, which had been lowered in his heart, to look Ouyang Jue straight in the eye.
The tip of Wi Jin-cheon's sword was now coated in a forceful blade of crystallized internal energy.
Seeing that, Ouyang Jue smiled faintly.
“...Hoh.”
But as if it were nothing more and nothing less, Ouyang Jue's sword began to dance.
Master Hyeon-geom, who was watching, saw through the technique Ouyang Jue was performing and cried out in surprise.
“The Plum Blossom Butterfly Dance!”
Plum blossoms dancing like butterflies.
A technique belonging to the Flowing Sword style within the Plum Blossom Sword Arts.
That was why Ouyang Jue, who preferred the Hard Sword and Fast Sword styles, rarely used it.
To use it here and now was Ouyang Jue's own form of consideration.
The Nine Dragons Tournament was, strictly speaking, a venue for harmony and competition between sects.
If Ouyang Jue were to use his Hard Sword, he could finish any junior in three moves, but he wanted to avoid getting entangled in pointless disputes.
And...
*'They say the one who's suffered it knows best, right?'*
Just like the current Wi Jin-cheon, Ouyang Jue had once specialized in an immature Hard Sword style.
Recalling those days now, every single day had been a humiliation.
Even obvious greenhorns had immediately countered and deflected his Hard Sword, and the so-called masters of the martial world had practically played with him.
What kind of experience had Ouyang Jue gained from facing them?
At the very least, it wasn't nothing.
Ouyang Jue felt that he didn't want Wi Jin-cheon to experience the same things he had in the past.
“Allow me to teach you a lesson.”
Provoked by those words, Wi Jin-cheon took a step forward.
But the internal energy contained in that step was formidable.
*Kwajik!*
A hairline crack was etched into the stage floor where the tip of Wi Jin-cheon's foot landed.
He shot forward at a speed akin to a flash of lightning.
*Kkadeuk,* Ouyang Jue's teeth ground together.
*'...What an absurd move.'*
A single move.
With that one step, Wi Jin-cheon had consumed five years' worth of internal energy.
Considering Ouyang Jue's current internal energy was also five years' worth, he was by no means outmatched in a simple contest of internal power.
But Ouyang Jue responded with a spirited laugh.
“If that's how you want to play, then I'm all for it.”
Ouyang Jue's voice, full of confidence, flowed across the stage.
Soon, the sound of the two swords clashing drowned out his voice.
*Kaaaang!*
Not the clash of sword against sword, but an explosive roar, as if gunpowder or cannons had collided.
It echoed across the tournament stage.
Having exhausted all his internal energy, Wi Jin-cheon frowned and took two steps back.
Then, he belatedly inspected his sword.
*'It's broken?!'*
As Wi Jin-cheon stood there, speechless in astonishment, Ouyang Jue spoke.
“Well, this is a bit embarrassing, saying something I don't usually say.”
He scratched the back of his head, then kicked the sword fragments to one side with his foot as he offered his advice.
“An incomplete Hard Sword will always be devoured by a more fluid Flowing Sword.”
“...”
His face flushed red, Wi Jin-cheon gave a cupped fist salute to the young Taoist, a hint of respect in his gesture.
“I have received your lesson with gratitude.”
Regardless of Wi Jin-cheon's reaction, Ouyang Jue stuck to his task.
“Next.”