Chapter 101: Heavy Sword vs. Heavy Sword (3)
Chapter 100 – Heavy Sword vs. Heavy Sword (3)
How should this be expressed?
A tsunami sweeping over? No, that was not enough. Mount Tai collapsing? Even that felt somewhat lacking. Should I say the heavens were raging down?
As expected, it was still a bit lacking.
In any case, the moment Namgung Cheon rushed forward, Yun Gyeong felt as if everything in the world had come to a standstill.
It felt as though Namgung Cheon alone was moving at an insanely fast speed in a world where time had stopped.
Was it because of the last words Namgung Cheon had spat out?
It felt as if the countless lives carried by his sword were rushing in all at once.
On the other hand, it was the eerie sensation of the countless lives that had fallen to his sword charging forward all at once.
He raised his sword to survive.
The opponent certainly did not radiate any killing intent.
He had merely shown a slight fighting spirit.
Yet, countless lives and deaths carried on the sword tip were aiming for his heart. Driven by that sense of crisis, he unconsciously raised his sword to block with a swift reaction.
He was surprised at himself.
That he could display such a fast reaction.
However, the shock that followed was even greater.
*Clannng!*
With an explosion that felt as if it would burst his eardrums, Yun Gyeong was blown away just like that.
Infuse internal energy into his toes?
Otherwise, he might get disqualified by being knocked out of bounds?
What a joke! Utter nonsense!
If there was anyone who said that, he wanted to drag them by the collar and make them receive a single strike from Namgung Cheon.
At the moment he was flying away like a falling leaf in the autumn wind, he could not think of anything.
He was merely an outcast cast out from the world.
Yun Gyeong thus flew out of the sparring arena at the speed of an arrow.
*Swoooooosh! Boom!*
Yun Gyeong, who crashed straight into the wall of the spectator seats, spread-eagled and dropped his sword.
*Clatter!*
The sword fell first, and after a long while, Yun Gyeong fell to the ground.
*Thud!*
Stone crumbs fell with a patter from the wall that had cracked like a spiderweb.
“……”
“……”
A quiet silence settled over, to the point where it was unbelievable that this was the Grand Martial Arena where countless people had gathered.
The elder of the Jongnam Sect, who had been sitting in the VIP seats, had stood up at some point, and the Alliance Leader glared at Namgung Cheon with his mouth tightly shut in a straight line.
Namgung Hwa watched with tearful eyes while covering her mouth with her hand, and Namgung Geom narrowed his eyes, slightly curling the corners of his mouth.
Namgung Cheon used the most basic of basics.
The first stance of the Boundless Sky Sword Art, Boundless Sky Single Arrow!
Who would have known that the sword stance, which even a three-year-old child would be made to do with a stick in hand, would exert such fierce power?
Was it not truly the power of a sovereign!
The one who broke the silence first this time was also Namgung Cheon.
“Excuse me.”
Only then did Murong Sin snap out of it, flinching as he turned to look at Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon gestured with his chin toward Yun Gyeong, who was sprawled out of bounds.
“Do I need to do anything else?”
“Ahem. No.”
As ten thousand people watched, Murong Sin raised his hand and declared with an expression of disbelief still on his face.
“Namgung Cheon… wins!”
“Wwoooooaaaah!”
“It’s the miracle of the Divine Dragon!”
“Long live Namgung Cheon! Long live Namgung Cheon!”
“It was an incredible duel! Amazing, Namgung Cheon!”
“You are the true hero! The hero needed in this era! Namgung Cheon!”
A shout that truly shook the heavens filled the Grand Martial Arena.
“Ah… Father!”
When Namgung Hwa cried out with emotion, Namgung Geom muttered quietly.
“Quite decent.”
It was a reaction that was dry to the extreme, but Namgung Hwa knew. This was the highest praise her father could offer.
Meanwhile, Paeng Su-hyeok clenched his fists tightly, shuddering.
“What did that look like… just now?”
“Do you mean Young Master Namgung Cheon’s strike at the end?”
When Yu Hyeon asked back, Paeng Su-hyeok nodded.
“Yes.”
“I am not sure either… but I think it was the Boundless Sky Sword Art.”
“As expected… I saw it that way too. Do you think that makes any sense?”
The Boundless Sky Sword Art was as common and widely known as the Taiji Quan of Wudang.
It was a sword art that even if one was not from the Namgung Clan, any martial artist would try to imitate at least once.
Yet, with that extremely common sword art, he had instantly subdued Yun Gyeong, whom he himself had lost to.
A clear difference in skill.
An overwhelming victory!
Yu Hyeon shook his head and replied.
“Young Master Namgung Cheon is truly amazing.”
“It is not a matter that can be brushed off with just those words!”
Paeng Su-hyeok shouted angrily, grabbing Yu Hyeon by the collar and shaking him.
“Look! That guy subdued Yun Gyeong with an overwhelming difference in skill! You said Yun Gyeong is someone with skills equal to yours! Yet, you feel nothing? Even though we did nothing at Mount Mulan!”
“Even if you tell me that…”
As Yu Hyeon broke out in a cold sweat and laughed awkwardly, Paeng Su-hyeok turned away in annoyance.
“Damn it! I cannot accept this! Why! Why am I so weak…”
“Isn’t that enough?”
“What?”
When Paeng Su-hyeok turned back with his eyebrows raised high, Yu Hyeon replied with a serious expression, unlike moments before.
“If what you cannot accept is not the opponent’s strength but your own weakness, isn’t that enough? If you seek to find the problem within yourself, wouldn’t the solution also come from yourself?”
“……!”
“I also felt a lot. Young Master Namgung Cheon is certainly… someone who asks me many questions. And Young Master Paeng… you warn me that I must never ignore those questions.”
As Yu Hyeon smiled warmly, Paeng Su-hyeok felt somewhat deflated.
However, just as Yu Hyeon said, if one sought the problem within ‘oneself,’ the solution would also come from ‘oneself.’
‘Namgung Cheon! Wait for me! I am coming soon!’
Paeng Su-hyeok clenched his fists, feeling his chest grow hot.
Yu Hyeon turned around.
“Then, I will be on my way.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have to prepare. It is my turn to duel next.”
“Ah…!”
Because all his attention had been focused on Namgung Cheon, he had temporarily forgotten.
Come to think of it, Yu Hyeon’s duel opponent was…
“Since Lady Jin So-hong forfeited, I ended up playing in the semifinals right away. Cadet Baek Mu-geuk is my opponent.”
“Baek Mu-geuk…”
Paeng Su-hyeok’s gaze shifted to Baek Mu-geuk, who was waiting far below.
A cadet who looked somewhat dimwitted.
Which made him all the more inscrutable.
But that fellow had miserably defeated Yun Jong-seung.
*Grit.*
Although they were not close friends, they had still shared some affection as members of the same group during the Joint Conference.
Paeng Su-hyeok tightly clenched his fists and turned to Yu Hyeon.
“You must win.”
“Thank you. I will do my best.”
Yu Hyeon replied softly and turned around. He walked away, briefly waving his hand at the sound of Ju Yeon-hwa cheering him on.
Entering the entrance of the Grand Martial Arena, Yu Hyeon took a deep breath and caressed the sword guard at his waist.
‘Baek Mu-geuk…’
The one who had knocked Yun Jong-seung unconscious.
Although he was a fellow cadet of the Valiant Martial Academy, they had never been assigned to the same class.
In the Valiant Martial Academy, which mostly consisted of disciples from the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, Baek Mu-geuk had a rather unusual background.
Because of that, he had heard his name a few times, but he had never paid much attention.
Yet, to think he would reach the semifinals of the duel tournament.
‘Everything is skill.’
It was what his master always said.
It meant that no one in the world grew strong by chance.
People said Baek Mu-geuk reached the semifinals because of luck, but who knew…?
‘If you lower your guard, even a rabbit will bite you.’
Yu Hyeon composed himself once more and stepped forward.
Just as he stepped into the Grand Martial Arena, Namgung Cheon was coming down from the stage.
Yu Hyeon approached Namgung Cheon and clasped his fists.
“Congratulations on reaching the finals. It is good to meet you again like this.”
“If I made you worry, I am sorry.”
“Not at all.”
“I wish you martial luck.”
“Thank you.”
“By any chance…”
“Yes?”
“No. It is nothing. Well then.”
As Namgung Cheon waved his hand and walked away, Yu Hyeon tilted his head, watching him.
‘Didn’t he have something to say?’
Yu Hyeon, who was about to move again, froze for a moment.
Wait, to apologize for making him worry…
Come to think of it, he had not asked how he had returned alive from Mount Mulan. No, the situation had not been relaxed enough to ask that anyway.
In any case, judging by the conversation they just had, perhaps the events at Mount Mulan…
‘Were they a situation created by Young Master Namgung Cheon?’
Otherwise, what reason would there be for him to say sorry? Rather, since he had gone through a major ordeal, it was only right for Yu Hyeon’s side to offer comfort.
‘Surely, it cannot be.’
If Namgung Cheon had indeed intended everything, saved Jin So-hong, and caused the enemies to destroy themselves…
Yu Hyeon suddenly stopped and looked back due to the goosebumps rising along his spine.
However, Namgung Cheon had already completely left the Grand Martial Arena and was out of sight.
‘What in the world am I thinking at a time like this…’
Yes, now was the time to focus on the duel.
Having stray thoughts was proof that he was taking the opponent too lightly.
‘That will not do. Focus. Baek Mu-geuk is an expert.’
Yu Hyeon slapped his own cheeks, slowly approached the stage, and stopped.
Right then, the cheers of the crowd began to rise.
Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon went up to the spectator seats and quietly watched Yu Hyeon waiting below the stage.
‘He is certainly a promising sprout, but…’
Something was lacking.
So to speak, grit?
The guy was too soft-natured.
He needed a certain amount of venom in him to forge ahead when growing rapidly.
In any case, Yu Hyeon was definitely outstanding among his peers.
He thought about giving him some advice regarding Baek Mu-geuk but decided against it.
It would be troublesome if he were to pry and ask how he knew such things.
He also still needed to keep a low profile.
After all, he had already become a thorn in someone’s eye.
Namgung Cheon glanced up to look at the Alliance Leader in the VIP seats.
‘Tsk. That old serpent’s eyes are about to pop out.’
Namgung Cheon quickly averted his eyes.
Sure enough, the Alliance Leader was glaring at Namgung Cheon with burning eyes.
And why wouldn’t he? How frustrating must it be to have Namgung Cheon, whom he thought dead, return as a hero of the Jianghu?
Moreover, since he had won the semifinals so cleanly, he was likely on the verge of foaming at the mouth.
Just as he suspected, the Alliance Leader’s stomach was boiling.
Was it not driving him crazy that the poisonous weed, which should have been plucked out by the roots, was instead burrowing even deeper into the Martial Alliance?
“Chief Administrator!”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
The Chief Administrator was also restless, watching the Alliance Leader’s mood.
The Alliance Leader whispered softly.
“Shouldn’t the final match be a bit special?”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“For example, if the stage had some unique characteristics…”
“Ah, I understand what you mean. Of course the final must be special.”
The Chief Administrator bowed deeply and replied.
He was a quick-witted man.
The Alliance Leader wanted to create an disadvantageous environment for Namgung Cheon by any means necessary.
His mind began to work busily.
Meanwhile, the preparation of the stage was finished, and Baek Mu-geuk and Yu Hyeon were finally climbing the stairs.
“Wwoooooaaaah!”
Once again, the cheers of the crowd rose.
Without needing to watch any further, the Chief Administrator turned around and left the VIP seats.
For him, preparing for the final match was the priority.
Since Baek Mu-geuk would win this duel anyway.
The problem was the stage of the finals where Baek Mu-geuk and Namgung Cheon would fight.