Chapter 271
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 271
Chapter Title: I, I, I...
Mount Song, Lesser West Peak.
This place was no different from a holy site of the martial world.
And for no other reason than this.
A single sect had made its home here.
The Shaolin Temple.
The North Star of the martial world.
Though its current power was not what it once was, Shaolin was still Shaolin.
A middle-aged monk hurried along.
His destination was a small chamber in the rear garden of the lesser Shaolin Temple.
A modest room, just one jang in every direction.
It was the quarters of the Shaolin abbot.
Here, in this tiny space, all the great and small matters of Shaolin were decided.
"Greetings to the Abbot."
The middle-aged monk pressed his palms together and entered the room.
"Ho ho, come in."
An elderly monk with hair and beard as white as snow.
The current Shaolin abbot, Hegwang the Venerable.
He welcomed his disciple with a voice full of compassion befitting a great master.
"So, what urgent matter brings Disciple Yeon-woo here?"
"News has come from the secular world."
Yeon-woo's expression was grave as he spoke.
"Hm?"
Hegwang looked at his disciple once more and asked.
"It seems the Blood Alliance is on the move."
"Hm?"
The same question, but with an entirely different meaning this time.
Hegwang's eyes sharpened.
"Unorthodox riffraff?"
"They've entered Wuchang."
"Hoo."
A deep sigh escaped Hegwang's lips.
"The source?"
"The Beggars' Sect."
Yeon-woo answered Hegwang's question curtly.
Yeon Ja-gyeong had cleverly concealed the Yeon Clan's involvement when passing the information to Shaolin.
This intel could lead to a clash between Shaolin and Ha Mu-baek.
And it was to keep Ha Mu-baek in the dark about the Yeon Clan's role.
"What a grave misunderstanding. To think they've joined hands with the Demonic Cult and Blood Cult just to eliminate their villains... Tsk tsk. That's why I opposed it from the start..."
Hegwang's voice was chilling as he spoke.
It was hard to believe this was the same compassionate man from moments ago.
"It's all because of that donor, Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong. Tsk tsk."
Contempt twisted across Hegwang's face.
It was So Hwi-woong who had pushed for the alliance with the unorthodox sects.
This man who had luckily risen to alliance leader amid the war.
Despite the sacred duty to unite the orthodox sects through heroic martyrdom against the Blood Cult and Demonic Cult.
He had survived to the end instead, ending the war and becoming an orthodox hero.
"It's a pity Clan Leader Yeon's judgment was off. Amitabha..."
It was Yeon Ja-gyeong, head of the Hubei Yeon Clan, who had strongly recommended So Hwi-woong for alliance leader.
His argument to persuade Hegwang had been sacrifice for the unity of the orthodox sects.
"What shall we do?"
Yeon-woo asked cautiously.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Killing intent, unworthy of a great master, poured from Hegwang's eyes.
"When the Blood Alliance's spawn dares enter orthodox territory—no, Wuchang of all places—we must open the precepts against killing. It's time to remind the world that Shaolin still stands strong. Amitabha."
Yeon-woo nodded slightly at Hegwang's words.
Shaolin had regained its former glory. Yet there had been no way to proclaim it to the outside.
All because of the peace in the martial world.
Perhaps due to the orthodox-unorthodox alliance in that brutal previous war.
The current state of the rivers and lakes was stable.
The orthodox and unorthodox sects acknowledged each other's territories, rarely encroaching, each going their own way.
This wouldn't do.
"Shaolin must forever be the North Star."
Hegwang murmured calmly.
At a time when a justification was needed, perfect news had arrived.
And it involved that bastard Ha Mu-baek.
Shaolin Temple.
The giant crouching on Mount Song was stirring at the appearance of a single man.
Noon had come and gone before anyone realized.
Yet no one felt hunger.
The increased numbers had made the Summer Combat Festival fiercer than ever.
"Tahat!"
Cho Mu-ha's sword moved swiftly.
The Hidden Dragon Corps cadet blocked it lightly—or so it seemed—when
Cho Mu-ha's shield targeted his right side next.
"Kuh."
The opponent swiftly deflected the sword and swung again to smack the shield away.
His arm buzzed from striking the heavy shield.
In that gap, Cho Mu-ha's sword reached the Hidden Dragon cadet's throat.
"Death!"
The judge's voice rang out, and a joyful smile lit Cho Mu-ha's lips—
When he felt a light prick at his back.
He turned to see a Wa Dragon Corps cadet's sword pressed against him, one who hadn't been visible before.
Where had he come from?
"Death!"
The judgment came again.
This time, it was Cho Mu-ha's.
"Damn it..."
Cho Mu-ha spat a frustrated curse.
He had reason to.
He had been the last survivor of Fierce Dragon Corps Group Nine.
Sssak!
Then came the sound of air slicing.
An arrow without a fletching embedded in the chest of the Wa Dragon cadet who had caught him.
"Death!"
Another judgment.
'Ah...!'
Invisible, he hadn't considered it.
Cho Mu-ha wasn't the last.
Chu Hwi-yeon.
She was still out there.
Fierce Dragon Group Nine hadn't been eliminated yet.
The final survivor lurked somewhere in the mountains.
Cho Mu-ha glanced toward where the arrow had flown from.
'Please hold on, Chu Hwi-yeon...'
As he tied on the band signaling elimination and walked away, he looked back once more.
"Ha, those damn Fierce Dragon bastards. They're really tenacious."
Tak Mu-jeon muttered irritably.
"Must be 'cause they're the dregs. Tough sons of bitches."
Gong Gu-pae said with a displeased frown.
It was understandable.
Since entering the mountains, they had encountered enemies three times, and all were Fierce Dragon Corps.
The Fierce Dragon cadets seemed to have an unspoken agreement not to fight each other.
They only targeted Wa Dragon or Hidden Dragon.
Rustle.
A sound caught their ears.
All five turned toward it.
Six disheveled figures emerged.
Shields meant Fierce Dragon.
But six?
The numbers didn't add up.
Groups were five each.
"Fuckin' trash must've teamed up."
Byeok I-gyeom immediately grasped it and cursed.
But they formed formation without a word.
A formation drilled until it was second nature.
"Those idiots don't know their place."
Hwa Bo-myeong's face twisted viciously.
"Ha, no idea what you've been up against so far. We're not for the likes of you mongrels."
Cheol Ryeong said incredulously.
Yet the six showed no change in expression.
Though some groupmates had been eliminated, each had tasted victory once against Hidden Dragon and Wa Dragon.
'Just like they said.'
'We can do it.'
Their eyes burned with determination.
It didn't matter if the foes insulted or mocked them.
Even elimination fighting these guys was fine.
They had already proven themselves.
With that resolve, the six advanced with swords and shields in formation.
Elimination flares burst one after another.
Hidden Dragon, Wa Dragon, Fierce Dragon.
No distinction—pure chaos.
The Summer Combat Festival's pace was unlike last year's.
"Must be because Fierce Dragon joined, right?"
Dang Jin-san said, watching another flare.
Yeon Ha-min nodded.
They had planned for such variables.
"Fierce Dragon won't spot ambushes easily. We warned them to be careful."
Baek Ri-pyeong said.
"Still, the fast pace means unexpected encounters."
Worry laced Yeon Ha-min's voice.
This festival used only three flare colors.
So they couldn't tell which Wa Dragon groups—one or twenty—had fallen until the eliminated came down.
"They haven't been eliminated, have they?"
Dan Mok Un-roe's eyes were full of concern.
"They haven't."
Ha Mu-baek's voice.
But the cadets no longer startled.
They had grown used to his goblin-like sudden appearances.
"Wa Dragon One and Twenty are both still in."
He said flatly.
"The festival's moving so fast, though?"
Dang Jin-san asked, relieved yet curious.
"Some clever bastard in Fierce Dragon pulled a fun trick."
Ha Mu-baek said, then vanished again.
The Fierce Dragon cadets shook their heads at his retreating figure toward Mulberry Orchid Mountain.
They could guess now—he'd stopped by so they wouldn't worry.
'Oh no.'
Moving spots briefly, Yeong Hu-in felt cold sweat trickle down his back.
Crack.
He had stepped on a twig with his forward foot.
Moments later.
Five appeared.
Five with shields.
Fierce Dragon.
They scanned around, then vanished.
'Phew.'
Yeong Hu-in sighed in relief and stayed hidden.
Recalling the advice: shields wouldn't be easy.
'They looked tricky.'
Even without that.
Hiding, he had watched Wa Dragon vs. Fierce Dragon fights.
Wa Dragon barely won, but with heavy losses.
Only three survivors at the end.
And scattered.
Two eliminated against Fierce Dragon.
The power of a shield formation.
Nothing to underestimate.
One odd thing.
Fierce Dragon didn't fight each other, as if pre-arranged.
They ignored even when crossing paths.
Unseen eyes watched Yeong Hu-in.
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon.
'Definitely Wa Dragon Twenty.'
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon just watched from hiding.
Though she could take him with her bow, she didn't.
She needed to beat Wa Dragon Twenty in the bet.
To humiliate those damn Wa Dragon One bastards.
'Gotta buddy up with Fierce Dragon Seven seniors. Teach those fucks a lesson.'
She pictured Wa Dragon One serving second-year Fierce Dragon Seven, her taunting beside them.
Her eyes turned to the Fierce Dragon cadets stumbling blindly.
'Didn't expect the bait I spread to work this well.'
Heading to Mulberry Orchid Mountain.
She had subtly whispered everywhere: Fierce Dragon must unite.
No one expects anything from Fierce Dragon anyway—catch as many Hidden and Wa Dragon as possible to prove yourselves.
Even team up two groups if needed.
Wasn't that the point of training?
She had quietly shaped that opinion.
Overnight, many Fierce Dragon had bought into it.
She slipped away silently.
Even the judges had lost her.
No movement restrictions.
She wielded her martial arts freely.
How long had she moved?
"Pulling off something interesting, aren't you?"
The sudden voice froze her solid.
Not a judge.
A voice she knew.
No presence felt.
Incredible.
Her heart pounded wildly.
Times this close since joining Fierce Dragon: countable on one hand.
And just the two of them.
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon's head turned toward the voice.
And there he stood, as expected.
Ha Mu-baek!
The true greatest under heaven!
Her heart raced even faster.
Her face flushed red.
Ha Mu-baek tilted his head at her change.
'What's this?'
He was puzzled.
A reaction even he hadn't seen.
His eyes quickly scanned her.
'No bracelet.'
A cadet whose internal energy rarely formed—he remembered.
The bracelet she always wore was gone.
Instead, her dantian brimmed with qi.
He recalled an artifact the Blood Alliance had looted as spoils from the Demonic Cult war.
'Seven Colors Soul Sealing Bracelet.'
It perfectly sealed the wearer's internal energy.
That's why he hadn't sensed her qi.
No way she had reached transcendent realm.
"I, I, I..."
While Ha Mu-baek pondered briefly, Gong Ya Hwi-yeon stammered hesitantly.
His gaze turned to her.
"I-I wanted to m-meet you!!"
She screamed it out loud, like bellowing in agony.
Ha Mu-baek's eyes widened at her words.
What the hell...
He had blocked the sound with his qi, so no one heard.
But this was a first.
Ha Mu-baek stared at the cadet before him, dumbfounded and bewildered.