Chapter 207
Chapter 207
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 207
Chapter Title: Baek Heon-so's Triumph
The Thirty-Six Great Sects of the Central Plains—also known as the Heavenly Grade Martial Sects—each receive ten Heavenly Grade invitation tokens at every Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
It was a massive event held only once every ten years, so there was no way a single sect would send just one participant.
'I have no idea how many tokens the Taiji Sect has lost so far. At most, probably just one or two.'
The basis for his guess was simple. The Taiji Sect's young sect leader, Seong Ju-hun, had said it himself.
He'd show them there were heavens above heavens.
It was an arrogant statement coming from someone who wasn't even from one of the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Clans.
'His momentum must be riding high from his recent string of victories.'
'From the start, it looks like the young sect leader expected me... no, Brother Dang to challenge him to a duel.'
That had been the plan, but instead, he'd been met with Baek Heon-so. From the young sect leader's perspective, it must have felt like a grave insult.
It was only natural for him to feel rage.
Whether he had the right to or not was another matter.
-So, you have to win. No need to worry, right?
-...I'll do my utmost!
He'd deliberately put some pressure on Baek Heon-so.
Most people in the world tended to botch things due to excessive tension right before a big event, but Baek Heon-so was the opposite type.
His little brother So thrived on expectations, getting excited and pushing himself even harder to live up to them.
'In his past life, the kid got twisted after all the family's expectations were stolen by me. But just seeing how he's grown up properly this time around proves it.'
In this life, Yang-hwi hadn't just stolen the family's expectations—he'd shown such tremendous exploits that even the clan head Baek Mu-ryang and chief steward Han Seok-eon trusted and relied on him completely.
In other words, the sense of deprivation was even greater than in his past life, yet So hadn't twisted.
Why? Because his brother, whom he respected and followed, had poured those expectations onto him.
In truth, Baek Heon-so was steeling his resolve.
'Big brother told me to win!'
So he would win! He could absolutely do it!
His brother wasn't the type to demand the impossible!
'Over the past few years, I've trained like a dog with big brother's help. I'm not the same as before!'
His brother was a genius of the highest caliber, praised unanimously by some of the world's greatest figures.
For such a precious person to spend time on his deficient little brother...
He had to show results, if only out of guilt... no.
'The fact that big brother invested his time in me means I'm worth it! So I have to prove my value!'
The young sect leader of the Taiji Sect.
The top secular branch of Wudang—one of the Nine Great Sects—a secular branch that had still been selected as a Heavenly Grade Martial Sect, putting it among the elite in the world!
"Young sect leader, could you perhaps yield the first move to this junior?"
Seong Ju-hun had passed thirty a couple of years ago. Being three years older, he was technically a senior.
-Your little brother So has gotten awfully meek.
-Yeah, brother. Calling you 'senior' to claim the right of first strike.
-Can't be helped when he's been rolling under Brother Hwi's feet.
-He used to be such a pushover, never knew he could talk his way to gains like Yang-hwi. Still, he's got that cute side that makes him fun to tease.
Utterly unaware of the Dang siblings' transmitted conversation, Baek Heon-so drew his sword.
"Hya!"
It was a masterwork sword forged by the Baek clan's genius smith Baek Cheol using the White Lotus Pure Steel technique, and it even incorporated star iron—a rare material that Yang-hwi had painstakingly acquired.
But even more stirring than the materials or the smith was something else...
"Now that you're attending the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering as the Baek clan's rightful heir, you need a decent sword too. Perfect timing. You can use my sword."
"What about you, brother...?"
"A Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is nothing; I can manage with a tree branch, kid."
In other words, this sword was...
'The one big brother used until he handed it down to me recently!'
He'd been acknowledged by his brother. He, Baek Heon-so now, was worthy of inheriting his brother's sword!
On the day he'd received it, he'd even skipped training to ponder deeply and give it a name.
Gonghwi—Shared Radiance.
He'd gotten smacked once for initially naming it Sung-hwi—Exalted Radiance—and renamed it after.
Who am I? Baek Heon-so, the one and only little brother of the world's greatest genius, Baek Yang-hwi!
Deliberately erasing from his mind the existence of Chudal, whom he usually viewed with envy and rivalry, Baek Heon-so steeled his will as he gazed at the gleaming blade of the Gonghwi Sword.
Until the impatient young sect leader Seong Ju-hun finally spoke up.
"...Aren't you coming?"
"Ah, sorry, young sect leader."
After a brief apology, Baek Heon-so assumed his stance and sent his intent toward the opponent's weak point.
A humming resonance, like a massive flow of water, echoed from his energy channels.
A radish as thick as an arm, planted in sunny soil and fed plenty of manure, water, and sunlight.
No—a ginseng as massive, thick, and solid as one!
By now, Baek Heon-so's dantian resembled an ancient thousand-year-old root in its density.
It was all a change that had come after discovering the elixir field in Sichuan Province.
"B-brother! If you stuff it in like that, it'll tear! Your little bro's gonna tear apart!"
"So-ya, a healthy body can accommodate even greater and thicker internal energy."
'Ah, tears.'
Over the past three years.
Baek Heon-so had consumed elixirs totaling ten jia on an empty stomach basis.
If he couldn't fully absorb the excess energy and it strained his body...
'I'd get beaten like a dog—oh right, brother personally did the meridian probing for me.'
A grinding sound leaked from his clenched jaw.
Though Baek Heon-so respected and trusted Yang-hwi more than anyone, the pain of meridian probing was beyond human endurance.
"So-ya, you can endure it. Because you're my brother."
"...Brother! You really believe in me that much...? Yes! I can do it!"
"Brother, I don't wanna be little bro anymore! Please spare me!"
"Chudal, endure if you don't wanna die."
"This is little bro discrimination! Discrimination!"
Well, thanks to his brother's encouragement, he'd endured in the end.
And he'd succeeded in cramming in as much internal energy as his current body and achievements could handle.
This jia of energy. No way I lose to some twenty-three-year-old punk with this much power.'
Possessing a full jia of internal energy at just past thirty?
Any prestigious clan would be shocked and shower him with praise.
Having abundant internal energy wasn't just about learning superior arts or eating pricey elixirs.
Without bodily perfection and control over one's energy, even daily meditation on profound arts and devouring elixirs wouldn't let you store it in your dantian.
"Hah!"
The forceful sword strike targeted Seong Ju-hun's vital points according to the intricacies of the Heaven-Covering 108 Swords.
The subtlety in his advancing steps came from the Heavenly Ghost Steps.
Seong Ju-hun panicked and deflected Baek Heon-so's sword.
"Opening!"
Seizing the gap from the wide motion, he pressed so fiercely that Seong Ju-hun had to retreat a dozen steps.
He could solidify the advantage now and win... but Baek Heon-so withdrew his sword and leaped back.
"Thank you for yielding the initiative, senior. My first move is done—now show me yours."
Victory mattered, but if he was confident in winning, he should pursue greater gains.
Following the guiding principle Yang-hwi always preached, Baek Heon-so intended to use this duel as fertilizer for his own growth.
"......"
Seong Ju-hun fell silent. The muscles in his jaw twitched visibly.
His pride had taken a massive hit.
"My sect's signature technique is the Twin Reversal Taiji Six Flows. Allow me to demonstrate one form first."
"My eyes are in for a treat!"
Was he trying to shake off his earlier disadvantage? Seong Ju-hun's assault was fierce and ferocious, but Baek Heon-so easily blocked the sword strikes, his eyes gleaming.
Watching him, Yang-hwi's group chatted.
"Wow, big brother. Little brother So's skills have improved so much."
"He's talented. He's really worked hard to keep up."
In the midst of conversing with Jeon Yeon-ha, Yang-hwi suddenly realized something.
Normally, someone nearby would butt in with, "You saying that for me to hear?"
'Ah, right.'
The Dang siblings were focused on something else besides Baek Heon-so's martial prowess.
"Little brother So really... takes after Brother Hwi in so many ways."
"You're right, brother. He's not doing it on purpose since there's no devious twist in his personality... but every word scratches at the opponent."
The Dang siblings alternated glances between Jeon Yeon-ha and Baek Heon-so before fixing on Yang-hwi.
Both of them definitely hadn't been like this at first... well. Up to there.
One thing was certain, though.
"That Heavenly Grade token is as good as in our hands."
"Yeah. We still need one more, but it won't come from the Taiji Sect, right?"
"If one of their other disciples had fought So first, then Brother Hwi dueled the young sect leader after, we might've gotten two. But probably not."
Even if the Taiji Sect was desperate for numbers, they wouldn't stake all their Heavenly Grade tokens on duels.
They wouldn't risk the tokens of their key younger generation disciples.
In other words, this would be their only duel at the Taiji Sect.
And from that one, the Taiji Sect would suffer an indelible humiliation.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Heard the news?"
"About the Taiji Sect?"
"Yeah. Word is their young sect leader lost to some kid from a minor border clan!"
"Heavens! How could the surging Taiji Sect falter like this!"
"Even if they're called a Great Clan these days, it's still a Jiangnan clan—heck, from Jiangxi."
A high-end inn where soundproofing between rooms was impeccable.
Yet, martial artists of advanced realms had no trouble eavesdropping on the next room.
"Kekekeke!"
"Kekekeke!"
Laughter in different voices, yet eerily similar.
The laughers were Yang-hwi and Jeon Yeon-ha.
"......"
"......"
Yang-hwi aside, seeing Jeon Yeon-ha laughing so uproariously with that face...
'Hmm. Had a disrespectful thought about the Jeon clan.'
'As expected, hanging around Brother Yang-hwi too much isn't great for one's personality.'
Regardless, Yang-hwi and Jeon Yeon-ha cackled like old friends, bantering away.
"Yeon-ha, did you see? That guy was so sure he'd beat So."
"The Taiji Sect's nose must be flatter than flat now! They took unlimited challenges figuring no one from the younger generation could win!"
"This must've thrown a wrench in Wudang's plans, right?"
"At the very least, it's a huge relief for us Jeon clansmen!"
The reason they'd gone to the Taiji Sect and pushed Baek Heon-so forward without regard for the opponent's face.
To humiliate the Taiji Sect and, through it, probe Wudang's movements.
Wudang was one of the Nine Great Sects, wielding immense power.
With the subtle hostility born from their ties to the Dark Hounds, reacting to their moves was crucial.
"No point in tediously listening to every twitch of the enemy. Just strike first and dictate their direction."
"It might sour relations! But our Jeon clan can never get along with Wudang anyway!"
"Kekeke! Good work, So-ya!"
"Kekeke! Little brother So did a huge service!"
The Dang siblings exchanged glances.
Normally, Baek Heon-so would step in to rein them in, but right now, he was beaming at the praise, mouth agape.
In times like this, even Chudal would...
"Hm? Come to think of it, Brother Chudal's missing."
"Oh? You're right."
They hadn't noticed. He'd vanished completely at some point, and no one had thought of him until now.
Apparently, the past three years had changed more than just Baek Heon-so.
At that moment, Chudal entered the room using the window like a door.
"I'm back."
"Welcome back, Chudal. See anything good?"
"Yep. Pretty entertaining."
Sensing unease, Dang Gun quickly asked.
"Brother Chudal, where have you been?"
"Yessir, Young Clan Heir. I went to the Taiji Sect and read some documents."
Documents to read in someone else's sect were one of two things.
Martial arts manuals. Or letters outsiders couldn't see.
"So right now... you're saying..."
"You infiltrated Wudang's secular branch and spied...?"
Chudal was nonchalant.
"Psh. Isn't a Wudang secular branch still a Daoist sect? I just posed as an incense guest and took a nice tour."