Chapter 290: Chapter 290

It was a Martial World tournament where absurd events were occurring one after another, defying all expectations.

Everywhere, people began to talk about what had happened, using it as a side dish for their drinks. How Gwimyeonja was this, how the Heavenly Dao Society was that.

Stories about Namgung So-hye and the Hunan Dan Family also began to emerge everywhere, truly causing a massive sensation in this Martial World tournament.

Furthermore, due to the massive elimination of the Heavenly Dao Society’s members in this tournament, some even began to suggest that the Prince of Geum’s estate might not win.

Since most of those who had bet money on that side were pounding the ground in regret, it was not a very good situation from the Prince of Geum’s perspective.

Additionally, there was another rumor circulating, which was the fact that Zhuge Yeon had defeated the Wolf King, Ma Jang-gang.

Although the fight between Gwimyeonja and Tang Mun-hye could be considered controversial, those who watched the entire situation at the time could accept the clear difference in skill.

However, Zhuge Yeon and the Wolf King were the opposite situation, and Ma Jang-gang’s victory was predicted from start to finish. Because it was undoubtedly Zhuge Yeon who was continuously being pushed back.

Yet the result was completely overturned.

People who noticed that some conversation had passed between the two blurted out speculative remarks one after another.

“There is definitely something to it. Otherwise, there is no way he would lose so easily!”

“Hey, but she is still from the Zhuge Family. Would someone like the Wolf King even catch her eye?”

“Ugh… thinking of Zhuge Yeon… being linked with a guy like that, tears blind my eyes.”

People swallowed their tears at the words heard from all around.

Since Zhuge Yeon enjoyed as much popularity among men as Namgung So-hye, it could be said to be a natural result.

On the other hand,

one person,

Gwon Mu-jin was sitting in a tavern drinking alcohol with a blank expression.

While people were talking about various things with excited faces, why did not a single story about Gwon Mu-jin come out?

That was because.

‘My lord…’

Because Gwon Mu-jin had met Gwimyeonja in his first match of the main rounds and was eliminated immediately.

His double sabers, extended with all his might, vainly cut through only empty space, and he was sucked into darkness thereafter without being able to do anything.

When he opened his eyes, he was in the medical room, and Gwon Mu-jin had been eliminated in just one move.

Because of this, rumors also slipped out questioning whether the Gentleman Sword, the owner of the mask he wore, was not as strong as thought.

In the end, it was a situation no different from Gwon Mu-jin having tarnished Namgung Cheon’s name.

He wore a gloomy expression and drank cup after cup of alcohol.

“Ehahaha!”

“Hehehe.”

The two people in front of him giggled and burst into laughter.

One was Jang Sam-tae, and the other was Hong Won-chang.

The two of them matched each other’s pace so well, tilting their cups and constantly busy teasing Gwon Mu-jin.

“Ahem! Guard Gwon, do not take it too seriously. There are days like this and days like that, are there not?”

“Exactly. Trying to defeat that monster in the first place is a laughable story.”

Gwon Mu-jin frowned and glared at Jang Sam-tae and Hong Won-chang. Since they kept spouting things he did not want to hear, anger welled up within him for no reason.

But what would be the use of venting his anger in vain?

Gwon Mu-jin let out a long sigh and tilted his cup.

As he set down the empty cup, Hong Won-chang filled it up as if he had been waiting.

He seemed to know that eating and enjoying was the best thing on a day like this.

Gwon Mu-jin naturally accepted the cup and looked at Jang Sam-tae.

“But are you going to be fine?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes.”

Jang Sam-tae shrugged his shoulders.

Gwon Mu-jin knitted his brows at that. By now, there was probably no one who did not know that Dan Woo-hyun’s participation in the tournament was because of Jang Sam-tae.

It seemed like something was going on between the two, but he had no clue at all.

‘Strictly speaking, is it not all because of this guy?’

Gwon Mu-jin rolled his hand into a fist.

He had entered the tournament with the intention of sparring with Jang Sam-tae, but since that had been ruined, he even felt inwardly angry.

However, since he was a fellow who would soon be punished by Dan Woo-hyun, there was no need to step forward.

“It is fine, it is fine. Who am I? I am Jang Sam-tae, Jang Sam-tae!”

Jang Sam-tae beat his chest hard, wondering what made him so confident. The way he showed confidence even though he was facing the peerless Dan Woo-hyun was quite bizarre.

Not only Gwon Mu-jin but also Hong Won-chang sent him peculiar looks.

It was because they could not understand the source of this guy’s confidence.

“Seeing you speak like that makes me even more uneasy.”

“Hehehe, do not worry.”

This time, there was absolutely no way it would go as Dan Woo-hyun wished.

Jang Sam-tae downed his cup with that thought.

However, those actions rather stimulated the anxiety of the two. Because they knew that not a single thing Jang Sam-tae had stepped forward to do had gone well so far.

It had rather become a disaster.

‘Maybe it was a good thing that I was eliminated early…’

Gwon Mu-jin let out a sigh of relief.

* * *

“…”

“Excuse me…”

“Ahem…”

On the other hand, in the Hunan Dan Family, there was another person who was downcast.

Sitting in a corner of the yard, incongruous with his large build, he was blank as if his soul had escaped.

Although Zhuge Yeon and Zhuge Un were by his side, not a single other story seemed to enter this man’s ears.

“Ahem, I am sorry. My daughter is originally a bit… like that…”

“What is that? As if it is entirely my fault…”

Zhuge Yeon snorted and crossed her arms.

Of course, it was true she won using a trick, but was the one who fell for it not Ma Jang-gang?

Given the nature of the Martial World where the survivor was the victor, Zhuge Yeon was a clear winner, and Ma Jang-gang was a loser who fell for a scheme.

Although she was comforting him out of pity, Zhuge Yeon did not admit her own fault even by a fingernail.

“Indeed… I am an idiot…”

“That is only natural. Is it not stranger to fall hook, line, and sinker for such a story when blades are crossing?”

“Ha. Ha. Sigh…”

A soulless laugh was heard.

Zhuge Yeon’s biting words pierced and tore up his chest like an awl.

How could someone so young gouge out a person’s heart so well?

Ma Jang-gang felt even the pride he had left collapsing.

“Fuhaha… you fellow, a man can be like that. Right?”

Sa Do-hak burst into laughter, holding his belly, and spoke.

Is it not a laughable situation the more one thinks about it?

Someone who had risen to the Hundred Great Masters, of all people, had been defeated because he could not overcome a young girl’s three-inch tongue, so there would be no greater laughingstock than this.

“Do not think badly of it. Is this not all experience?”

Namgung Cheon patted Ma Jang-gang and smiled.

Yet soon, he let out a deep sigh with a look of pity.

That hacked up Ma Jang-gang’s chest even further.

“A man can be like that.”

“Ah! It really is not like that! I was just startled for a moment!”

“If it was enough to startle you, did you not have at least a little bit of feelings?”

Sa Do-hak’s sharp pointing out made Ma Jang-gang flinch.

In an instant, Zhuge Yeon’s expression changed completely.

Glaring at Ma Jang-gang as if looking at a bug, she adjusted her expression again, bowed her head modestly, and spoke.

“Well… I am sorry.”

“I said it is not!”

“I appreciate the feelings… but… my taste is completely…”

“…Sigh, I have no intention of joking, so just go back. I will go inside after gathering my thoughts.”

“Is that so? Then cheer up.”

Zhuge Yeon smirked and turned her back just like that. It could be said to be cold, but she thought this was for Ma Jang-gang’s sake.

Humming, she walked away.

“Kugh…”

“Really, you fellow, someone who is called a Hundred Great Masters, why is your mental strength like that?”

“No… I am sorry.”

“What happened cannot be helped. Just think of it as having had a really good experience.”

Ma Jang-gang nodded at Sa Do-hak’s advice.

He thought he would not let his guard down, yet somewhere in his heart, he seemed to have already held the thought that he had won. That was why he fell hook, line, and sinker for Zhuge Yeon’s words without thinking.

‘I am still inexperienced too.’

Ma Jang-gang looked up at the sky with that thought.

Today, the stars sparkled exceptionally.

Regardless, Sa Do-hak and Namgung Cheon no longer paid attention to Ma Jang-gang.

Because one who has tasted frustration is bound to overcome it.

Staying in that spot meant he was a fellow who was only worth that much.

“By the way, are you going to be fine?”

Glancing back, they saw Dan Woo-hyun. Dan So-mi lay with her head on his lap, sleeping soundly, and by the looks of it, she did not seem likely to wake easily.

“What do you mean?”

Dan Woo-hyun looked at Sa Do-hak with a puzzled expression.

His expression was as if to ask what had happened.

A smirk escaped him.

Sa Do-hak pointed to his belly with a finger.

“Are things coming out well now? What kind of fellow spends half a day whenever he goes to the outhouse?”

“Hmm…”

“Thanks to that, So-mi even climbed a mountain to feed you something good.”

Dan Woo-hyun broke into a cold sweat.

So that was the reason why foods exceptionally good for the bowels came out this evening?

She is truly a child who worries about her father too much.

Dan Woo-hyun nodded while caressing Dan So-mi.

“No problem. It was fine.”

“Tsk tsk, how many people have already been frustrated because of you.”

“Well… I do not know what you mean…?”

Dan Woo-hyun laughed without realizing.

The face of Namgung Cheon, who wore a regretful expression, came into view.

It seemed he was dissatisfied for no reason because those he thought were the best late-generation disciples of the Orthodox Faction were falling one by one.

“Tang Mun-hye, that girl was quite impressive.”

“Indeed. Since she is the child called a hand of the Sichuan Tang Family.”

“But she is still inexperienced.”

“Of course. How old do you think she is?”

They are children who have just passed their early twenties.

As they still have many days left to grow and move forward, it is only natural that they have shortcomings.

In their eyes, Dan Woo-hyun had merely taught her a lesson, but from Tang Mun-hye’s perspective, there would be no greater humiliation than this.

“Tomorrow is finally the last day.”

“Is it?”

Dan Woo-hyun nodded with a face that showed absolutely no interest.

As if whether the tournament continued or not had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Watching that appearance, Sa Do-hak grinned.

“It would be nice if it became an interesting tournament.”

“Anything is fine.”

“Right… but you must be the same as me.”

Dan Woo-hyun slightly raised his head and looked at Sa Do-hak. His pupils, illuminated by the brilliant moonlight, were shining clearly.

An interested look, a provocative gaze.

An expression craving something endlessly.

It was as if someone had placed the Dan Woo-hyun of long ago right there.

He smiled without realizing.

Just then, Sa Do-hak stretched and spoke.

“Winning just like that is not fun, is it?”

Saying those words, he turned his back.

Unlike Dan Woo-hyun, who thought lightly of it, Sa Do-hak’s single statement seemed to carry some meaning.

Enjoyed the chapter?

If you like our work, consider supporting us on Ko-fi. This site solely runs on donations. Every donation helps us keep translating!

Support on Ko-fi