Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Ascendant Sword Dragon
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Anyone worthy of the title "once-in-a-hundred-years prodigy" must reap at least one benefit from any encounter.
Yesterday, when Jeong Myeong-gun had come picking a fight, Yang-hui had already calculated every possible gain from this incident.
First: Humiliating the Jeongwol Sect, who were competing for dominance in Muju.
Second: Proving his extraordinary prowess to shake off that damned "Sword Dwarf" label once and for all.
To secure the second benefit, he needed to triumph over an elder of the Jeongwol Sect—an absolute peak master.
With his current first-rate realm cultivation, it was practically impossible.
Of course, that was only without the memories of his past life.
Thousand Mechanism Steps, Rapid Illusion Swap.
Infusing the principles of speed and swiftness, illusion and phantasm, he executed the Thousand Mechanism Steps.
Yang-hui's form wove through the eighteen fist shadows painting the sky, slipping into their gaps.
'I can see it all.'
In his past life, the Jeongwol Sect had waged war against the Baekui Sect, lords of Namchang.
Yang-hui, a wandering swordsman at the time, had been hired by the Baekui Sect and clashed countless times in life-or-death battles with key figures of the Jeongwol Sect.
Among them, he had crossed swords and fists with Strike Moon Fist more than ten times.
'I even know the incantations of the Moonshadow Fist Technique down to the core. No matter how low my current realm, there's no way I can't handle him.'
In the war's aftermath, the Jeongwol Sect was utterly destroyed by the Baekui Sect.
At that time, Yang-hui—obsessed with innovating his family's martial arts—had demanded the Moonshadow Fist Technique as his reward for the commission.
In other words, to Yang-hui, the Moonshadow Fist Technique was a martial art he had chewed, torn, savored, mastered, and fully devised counters for.
'Moonshadow Fist Technique, Eighteen Moonlit Tribulations Fists.'
The Moonshadow Fist Technique's ultimate technique: beguiling the foe by blending the principles of three-six harmony with illusory subtleties.
Its counter: exploiting the openings revealed when stepping in reverse harmony.
But perfect evasion wasn't possible.
His opponent was absolute peak, while he was merely first-rate.
'Well, if perfect evasion's off the table, I'll just block the rest.'
Heaven-Covering 108 Swords, First Stance.
Feather-Piercing Rock Thrust.
Bwoooong!
Among all sword techniques, the thrust carries the greatest power.
Feather-Piercing Rock Thrust—a piercing strike like a shot feather skewering stone—deflected Strike Moon Fist's fist.
The sword tip chipped from contact with the fist aura-clad blow, but that was fine.
His opponent had taken damage too, after all.
"Kuh...!"
The stance infused with the vibrations of Sealed Wing Resonance.
Strike Moon Fist shook his hand to dispel the vibrations.
But the internal energy had already infiltrated his meridians.
"You bastard, how did you dodge the Eighteen Moonlit Tribulations Fists?"
Just moments ago, Strike Moon Fist had been seething with rage, but he couldn't stay lost in fury forever.
'He says 'dodge,' but I was essentially countered.'
For a sect's signature technique to be countered was a grave matter.
No exaggeration to say the sect's survival hung in the balance.
"Answer me. How did you dodge it?"
"I just saw it and dodged, that's all!"
"You scum! Tell the truth!"
"I told the truth, and now you're asking for the truth again. How perplexing."
Strike Moon Fist ground out his words.
"Are you claiming you're such a genius that you discerned the counter from mere observation of a single stance?"
"Correct!"
"......"
"If you doubt it, test me."
"Fine, I will!"
Strike Moon Fist once more trod the path of the Moonshadow Fist Technique.
Swift as a storm's fury.
Flashy enough to bewilder the eyes.
Yet Yang-hui dodged the assault effortlessly and counterattacked.
"Kuh...!"
Strike Moon Fist clutched his numb wrist, having been struck by Penetrating Meridian once more.
Wearing an incredulous expression, he muttered.
"How in the world...?"
"Because I have eyes that can see and a mind that can comprehend."
"Even so... this doesn't make sense!"
This was an all-out assault from an absolute peak master.
No first-rate martial artist could evade it so easily.
"Add to that my exquisite lightness skill."
The Thousand Mechanism Steps originated from the One Step to Heaven of the Sonic Jade Spirit Sect, unrivaled in lightness skills.
Sorry to the Jeongwol Sect, but in martial depth, this side held the overwhelming advantage.
Yang-hui pondered briefly.
Which of the two options to choose?
The Jeongwol Sect were rivals to his main family, true...
'Should I pretend? Or leave some leeway.'
No need to foster deep grudges, though.
Extremes often breed losses.
"Moonshadow. Fists pursuing the moon's trail. A fine art indeed, Hero Strike Moon Fist. Might this junior demonstrate a technique?"
Not truly asking permission, Yang-hui moved at once.
Ching-grang, ching-grang!
Dance the body with the flow.
Swing the sword to the rhythm.
A sword dance imbued with principle and subtlety.
However.
The sword intent woven into the dance was not of the Baek Clan.
Strike Moon Fist unwittingly murmured.
"Moonshadow..."
All martial arts mimic nature.
Just as the Namgung's Sky-Cleaving Sword sought to encompass the heavens.
As the Pang's Five Tiger Broken Gate Sword emulated the tiger's movements.
The Jeongwol Sect's famed Moonshadow Fist Technique was, if graded, an absolute peak art.
Moonlight waxes and wanes.
Scattered light deceives the sight.
Thus, the Moonshadow Fist Technique pursued illusion—change itself.
'In my past life, the Moonshadow Fist Technique led me to mastery of illusion's subtleties.'
He infused the sword dance with the moon's transformations.
Displayed every insight into the Moonshadow Fist Technique through sword intent.
So that the observing Jeongwol Sect elites could grasp its flaws.
'Will this be a poisoned gift filling a rival's weakness? Or...'
The Jeongwol Sect vied with the Baek Clan Manor for Muju's throne.
But Muju was just one of Gangseo's eleven regions.
Namchang's overlords, the Baekui Sect.
The Black Mirror Gang, entrenched in Wonju and extending tentacles to the river routes below.
The Baek Clan had countless rivals.
'So... let's make it two birds with one stone, plus an extra.'
If the plan fell through, oh well.
"That's all."
The sword dance ended. Yang-hui offered a courteous clasped-hands salute.
"This junior dared to perform before the seniors. What did you think?"
"......"
"......"
Strike Moon Fist fell silent.
The Jeongwol Sect leader and the other two elders watching from behind kept silent as well.
Having read the profundity in Yang-hui's sword dance.
They had no words.
An outsider disciple had woven a deeper understanding of their art into his dance than any of their own.
Moreover, he had shown the path forward for the Moonshadow Fist Technique.
Before being sect leader or elders, they were martial artists.
A martial artist's duty was to reach ever higher.
Thus, the Jeongwol Sect elites shared one emotion.
"Young Master Baek."
Strike Moon Fist's address shifted from "you bastard" to "Young Master Baek."
"Your talent... it's the real deal. To think geniuses of legend truly exist."
"You overpraise me."
Strike Moon Fist scanned the surroundings with deep-set eyes.
The Jeongwol Sect members, Yang-hui's group, and the throng of spectators.
'So many eyes watching.'
A fleeting impulse arose. Most onlookers wouldn't grasp the sword dance's meaning anyway.
He could just play dumb and move on.
But. But.
As a martial artist, he couldn't.
"One question, Young Master Baek. From our exchange, your skill is undeniably first-rate. Yet how did you see through it?"
Yang-hui smiled faintly.
"Understanding of skill and arts doesn't always align. I'm merely stuck at first-rate for lack of time, but I aim higher."
"......I see."
Strike Moon Fist offered the deepest courtesy with a clasped-hands salute.
"I, Elder Strike Moon Fist of the Jeongwol Sect, shall never forget the guidance bestowed by Baek Clan Manor's young hero Baek Yang-hui!"
The spectators began murmuring.
"What's that about?"
"They sparred, he did a sword dance, and now he's saying he received guidance?"
"Martial artists do incomprehensible things all the time."
"True enough."
Soon, Strike Moon Fist shouted once more.
"I sought to teach, but received instead. This bout is my defeat, Strike Moon Fist! Young Master Baek! I salute the depth of your martial learning!"
Only then did excitement ripple across the spectators' faces.
"Defeat? Did Hero Strike Moon Fist admit defeat?"
"No way! Does that mean the Sword Dwarf young master wins?"
"A junior triumphs over a sect elder and absolute peak master!"
"Woooaaah!"
"Sword Dwarf! Sword Dwarf! Sword Dwarf! Sword Dwarf!"
"Hey, you lot! Look at Young Master Baek's build! Where's the 'dwarf' in that?"
"You're right!"
One of the spectators' greatest pastimes was dubbing promising young martial artists with cool nicknames.
The poetry-spouting types immediately devised new titles for Yang-hui and shouted them.
"His sword dance was utterly beautiful! How about Beautiful Sword?"
Yang-hui's ears perked up.
Beautiful Sword. Not bad.
"Tch! Beautiful Sword doesn't capture today's feat! From now on, I dub Young Master Baek Greatest Sword of the Junior Generation!"
At fifteen, victorious over a sect elder twice his level.
Plenty to claim top junior swordsman.
'Greatest Sword of the Junior Generation... Heh. I do have a knack for 'greatest sword' titles.'
"Hey! Haven't you heard of the peerless prodigy in Henan’s Shaolin? Too early for junior greatest with so little proof!"
"True. Hasn't faced major sect direct lineages yet, so Greatest Junior Sword is premature."
Yang-hui bristled unwittingly.
These bastards?
"But today, Young Master Baek shone as the best among wanderers! Best Sword Among Wanderers fits perfectly!"
Not best ronin, but best pocket lint?
This guy's mocking me, right?
As Yang-hui memorized the face of the shouter.
"The once-humble Baek Clan Manor soared to this height embracing Young Master Baek. So, fellow enthusiasts, how about Ascendant Sword Dragon from now on!"
Spectators began chiming in one by one.
"Ascendant Sword Dragon! Perfect nickname!"
"Rising from the depths to the heavens—Ascendant!"
"Displayed dragon-like divinity with his sword—Sword Dragon!"
"Ascendant Sword Dragon!"
"Ascendant Sword Dragon!"
"Ascendant Sword Dragon!"
A good nickname's first rule: how cool it sounds.
In that sense.
'Ascendant Sword Dragon. Somehow cooler than Greatest Junior Sword.'
Strike Moon Fist gazed at Yang-hui and offered salute once more.
"A fine bout, Ascendant Sword Dragon."
Responding to the crowd's cheers, his sparring opponent acknowledged it.
Thus, Yang-hui's moniker shifted from Sword Dwarf—meaning dwarven sword-wielder—to heaven-ascending sword dragon, Ascendant Sword Dragon.
"It was a good time for me too."
Returning the salute, he descended the arena.
Chui-dal, Dang-gun, and the group welcomed Yang-hui.
"Ahem, little brother. Congratulations on the victory."
"Brother Hui is incredible. Who could've foreseen this outcome?"
As Yang-hui smiled and prepared humble words.
Chui-dal, uncharacteristically polite, bowed his head in greeting.
"Congratulations, big brother!"
What's with this guy?
Ah.
"Right, Chui-dal."
"Yes, big bro!"
"You were cheering for Hero Strike Moon Fist earlier, weren't you?"
"......Huh?"
"I heard it all. What was that? 'Hope his nose gets flattened'?"
Chui-dal made a tearful face at Yang-hui's fearsome glare.
"Get over here, you punk!"
"Aaaack! Mercy!"
After grabbing Chui-dal by the collar and giving him a good shake.
Yang-hui turned back to the Jeongwol Sect elites.
'To add that extra bird, better seal the deal properly.'
"I have words for the seniors of the Jeongwol Sect."