Chapter 308
Chapter 308
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 308
Chapter Title: Nangong Hyun
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Nangong Hyun! Nangong Hyun! Show them the power of the Nangong Clan!"
"Heavenly Spirit Dog Hong Gyeon! Smash that bastard's head in!"
The crowd jumped in with small bets.
Just a few matches ago, more people had been favoring Hong Gyeon. But now, the tide had turned back toward Nangong Hyun. The Nangong Clan's reputation carried that much weight.
Nangong Hyun steadied his breathing and approached his opponent, Hong Gyeon.
*Don't get careless. Take it slow.*
He began with the foundational sword art of the Nangong Clan swordsmanship: the Celestial Bow Sword Technique.
It wasn't an overwhelmingly powerful style, but its true strength lay in its expandability. It could seamlessly blend into more advanced techniques, like the Great Chain Sword Technique, evolving into the Celestial Bow Great Chain Sword Technique.
Its light, agile movements also made it ideal for gauging an opponent's skill.
Nangong Hyun's sword effortlessly took control of the exchanges.
Like a fish hooked on a bait, inevitably dragged by the rod's pull, Hong Gyeon was forced to follow Nangong Hyun's swings, scrambling just to defend. Nangong Hyun felt a subtle thrill.
*No need to rush for a finishing blow. Play to my strengths and widen the gap gradually.*
Nangong Hyun believed he held two clear advantages over Hong Gyeon.
The Nangong Clan's superior martial arts, and his greater internal energy reserves.
*I've consumed spirit elixirs multiple times. Even if Hong Gyeon's progress is impressive, as a Beggars' Sect disciple, he couldn't have access to them. I'll overwhelm him slowly with my deeper reserves.*
Nangong Hyun's thoughts drifted from the elixirs to his father.
His father, who had risked everything—stealing the clan's spirit elixirs—just so his son wouldn't suffer as he had.
The father who secretly fed them to Nangong Hyun.
The unprepared bitterness of those elixirs, swallowed at his father's command.
The internal energy that filled his body to the brim, boiling over, followed by the inevitable fever.
Thanks to that, the truth came out, and his father was thrown into the clan's prison for three full years.
Released only to steal more elixirs ten days later, feed them to Nangong Hyun, and get dragged back to prison.
Yet even then, smiling brightly at his son. A foolish father.
*...No. This isn't the time for distractions.*
The tip of Nangong Hyun's sword sharpened.
To trained eyes or untrained ones alike, his dominance was unmistakable.
The gamblers howled.
"Heavenly Spirit Dog! Heavenly Spirit Dog! Give it everything!"
"Please! I've bet every coin I've won so far!"
But the Heavenly Spirit Dog Hong Gyeon didn't overwhelm Nangong Hyun as the gamblers wished.
Nangong Hyun continued to dominate, deciding to widen the gap even further.
His sword style shifted—from the basic Celestial Bow Sword Technique to the intermediate Great Chain Sword Technique.
Not only was the level of the art higher, but the Great Chain Sword Technique was also the one Nangong Hyun had mastered most thoroughly.
Yet as he flowed smoothly into the Great Chain Sword Technique, Nangong Hyun noticed something odd.
He had planned to build momentum with it, press the attack, and pull ahead.
He was indeed pressing Hong Gyeon hard. But the gap wasn't widening.
Suddenly, a childhood memory surfaced.
Back when Nangong Hyun was too short to reach his father's waist. His father would let him toddle wherever he wanted, then follow at a leisurely pace.
Nangong Hyun waddled to his heart's content. One day, he decided to try shaking his father—sprinting at full speed.
But a child's legs had limits. No matter how hard young Nangong Hyun ran, he couldn't lose him.
His father always stayed exactly one step behind, close enough to scoop him up with outstretched arms whenever he pleased.
When his father grabbed and lifted him high, young Nangong Hyun burst into innocent laughter. The warmest, happiest memory tied to his father.
But now, Nangong Hyun felt the exact opposite.
A chill ran down his spine.
The memory had resurfaced because, no matter how much momentum Nangong Hyun built with his escalating sword strikes, Hong Gyeon maintained precisely one step behind.
No more, no less—just one step. Close enough to touch, yet untouchable. An inescapable step, no matter how far he fled.
Impatience crept into Nangong Hyun's expression.
*No. It's just coincidence.*
He barely unfolded the Great Chain Sword Technique before advancing straight into the Celestial Bow Great Chain Sword Technique.
A true advanced art, renowned even within the Nangong Clan.
Nangong Hyun's mastery was a bit lacking, but its power surpassed even his perfected Great Chain Sword Technique.
*End it quickly, even if I have to rush.*
Yet the gap with Hong Gyeon remained one step. Nangong Hyun's sword repeatedly invaded the space around him, grazing skin and leaving scratches. But no decisive strike landed.
When his father had reached from behind to lift him high, Nangong Hyun had been overjoyed beyond measure.
Now, he felt terror beyond measure. As if Hong Gyeon would lunge and subdue him in an instant.
*No, no...*
Nangong Hyun unleashed his sword arts desperately.
Confirming the Celestial Bow Great Chain couldn't break through, he cycled through everything he knew: Lone Soul Single Sword, Iron Sword Ten Forms.
Imperfectly mastered techniques. But it didn't matter. One lucky strike would suffice.
Even their power varied wildly with each form.
Yet the gap stayed one step.
Measured to perfection, exactly one step.
Frustrated beyond endurance, Nangong Hyun sheathed his sword and switched to fist techniques.
The Thunderbolt Divine Fist, lunging like lightning. His imperfect Heavenly Thunder Three Strikes and Heavenly Wind Palm Force.
No holding back on shaky skills—Nangong Hyun threw everything he knew at Hong Gyeon. But the gap remained one step.
His chest tightened.
*I have to win. I have to win...*
Then, cheers from the crowd reached him.
"Heavenly Spirit Dog, fight on! Please win this!"
"Heavenly Spirit Dog Hong Gyeon! Heavenly Spirit Dog Hong Gyeon!"
They didn't even realize. Nangong Hyun felt like he was going mad.
He bit his lower lip, repeating to himself.
*I have to win.*
By now, Nangong Hyun had completely lost his composure.
He drew his sword again. Unfolding the Celestial Bow Great Chain Sword Technique once more, he twisted his trajectory, slyly weaving in lethal strikes.
His sword rushed toward the center of Hong Gyeon's throat.
"..."
Hong Gyeon reacted instantly, tilting his body and turning his neck.
Even then, Nangong Hyun's blade grazed past, just beside his throat. Not even a tiny scratch.
An interval shorter than half a finger's breadth. That inescapable one step lingered there too.
But the moment the lethal strike flew, Hong Gyeon's demeanor changed.
From his tilted, twisting posture, he surged into Nangong Hyun.
A shoulder and back slam—not with fist, palm, or leg, but raw body—crushed into Nangong Hyun's chest.
Nangong Hyun flew back pathetically. Regaining balance without tumbling was the best he could manage.
Thunderous cheers filled the arena. The gamblers chanted Hong Gyeon's name like madmen.
"It's here! Heavenly Spirit Dog Hong Gyeon! Heavenly Spirit Dog Hong Gyeon!"
Nangong Hyun hastily righted himself and stared at Hong Gyeon.
Unlike before, Hong Gyeon now planted both feet firmly on the ground.
His arms traced twin semicircles, gathering before his chest. Then both palms thrust toward Nangong Hyun.
"Dragon Subduing... No, Mad Dragon Palm!"
With that shout came crushing pressure. Nangong Hyun blacked out.
*
With Hong Geolgae's palm strike, Nangong Hyun lost consciousness and was sent flying. A few people entered the arena to check on him, but most only had eyes for Hong Geolgae.
"An astonishing result! The winner is Hong Gyeon from Zhuul Village Branch!"
As the announcer declared Hong Gyeon's victory, the spectators flooded the arena, surrounding him. Their buzz sounded like swarming bees.
"I thought he'd drop in the first round, but he takes the championship!"
"He's improving at an insane rate. At this pace, could he become the world's best?"
They reached out eagerly, grasping at Hong Geolgae's clothes.
Dragged this way and that by their hands, Hong Geolgae was suddenly hoisted aloft.
The crowd held him up with outstretched arms. Like a leaf adrift on ocean waves, he floated aimlessly over their heads. They cheered him in a chair lift one moment; a shy woman sneaked a grab at his hand and fled the next.
Surrounded and swept along, Hong Geolgae received his prize money and rewards amid the chaos. Mission accomplished.
Finally, the crowd chanted in unison.
"Heavenly Spirit Dog Hong Gyeon! Heavenly Spirit Dog Hong Gyeon!"
Everyone in sight shouted his name—not once or twice, but endlessly, until it grew tiresome.
Even if "Hong Gyeon" was a false name, it didn't matter. Hong Geolgae was happy.
*No regrets left...*
He basked in the attention until sunset, then slipped into the darkness to wipe his face and release the disguise technique. He'd had his fun; time to return to normal.
The crowd murmured.
"Where'd Hong Gyeon go?"
"He went this way, I think?"
Back to Hong Geolgae, he drew no interest.
It didn't bother him. He wasn't childish enough to resent them for it. He'd had a full day—or several—of joy.
Hong Geolgae returned to the inn a bit late.
With other guests around besides their group, he couldn't boldly boast as Hong Gyeon. His three companions sent telepathic messages at once.
-Hong Gyeon, Hong Gyeon!
-Dragon Subduing... Mad Dragon Palm!
-The first absolute peak master to enter the tournament! Ugliest of the six venerables! Hong Geolgae!
Hong Geolgae sat with an awkward grin. The two physicians and Seolhwa watched him with gleaming interest. But with seven people and only six seats, one was short.
Nangong Myeong shot up from his chair.
"Sit here."
Light flickered in Hong Geolgae's eyes. This wasn't like Nangong Myeong.
"What? Out of respect?"
"...Common sense says no way."
"Then why stand?"
"Heading to see Hyun."
"Ah..."
Hong Geolgae had completely forgotten his finalist opponent, Nangong Hyun. Truth be told, none of the tournament foes stuck in his memory.
But hearing Nangong Hyun's name stirred an inexplicable guilt. It felt like he'd stolen his chance at victory.
And to a large extent, he had.
He hadn't entered willingly, but without Hong Geolgae, Nangong Hyun would have won.
Hong Geolgae hesitated, not sitting.
"I'll come along too."
"...I'm warning you: don't try humiliating Hyun for no reason."
"Of course not. What do you take me for?"
"What else?"
Nangong Myeong smirked. Hong Geolgae had no retort.
*
Nangong Myeong headed to the inn where Nangong Hyun was staying.
Hong Geolgae followed in his footsteps.
Each lost in thought.
Nangong Myeong pondered the best way to tease Hong Geolgae; Hong Geolgae schemed defenses against Nangong Myeong's pranks—and whether he should apologize to Nangong Hyun.
Soon, they reached the inn. Late hour made it fairly quiet. A touch upscale, so no rowdy late-night crowds.
The innkeeper spotted the late arrivals, eyes lighting up—then dimming. He knew Nangong Myeong had visited Nangong Hyun several times over the past three days. Guests were welcome; visitors, less so.
The innkeeper made a sour face and vanished into the back.
Careful not to wake other guests, they approached Nangong Hyun's room.
Silence.
"...?"
Nighttime quiet was expected, but this was excessively still.
Both absolute peak masters, they were attuned to presences.
Even sleepers weren't exempt—sleepers didn't hide theirs, making them easier to detect.
Yet Nangong Hyun's room felt profoundly empty.
An eerie foreboding.
Both sensed it.
*Heartbroken and hasn't come back yet? Makes sense.*
*Must be devastated. What do I do about the guilt...*
Still, just in case, Nangong Myeong opened the door.
Surprisingly, Nangong Hyun was inside—unconscious, limp.
"Uh...?"
As Hong Geolgae mumbled blankly, Nangong Myeong rushed over, checking his nose for breath. Faint respiration, cold skin.
Nangong Myeong caught a faint scent in the room—one he'd smelled following Dang Mujin.
*No way?*
He pried open Nangong Hyun's mouth and sniffed.
The odor intensified from within.
Nangong Myeong muttered.
"He's been poisoned."
Hong Geolgae froze like stone. Poisoned? Why? Because of me?
Guilt overwhelmed him; he trembled. Hong Geolgae was still soft in such matters.
Nangong Myeong slapped his back hard.
"Not your fault. Snap out of it!"
"Uh, yeah!"
Regaining his wits, Hong Geolgae knew what to do.
He hoisted Nangong Hyun onto his back.
Nangong Hyun had been poisoned—and they had a friend unrivaled in the world on toxins and antidotes.
They leaped out the window, racing through the moonless night streets.