Chapter 32: Opening Ceremony
Chapter 31 – Opening Ceremony
“W-what are you doing to me?”
Yun Jong-seung asked with a bewildered expression, holding a wooden sword.
Paeng Su-hyeok shouted recklessly.
“Cut the chatter and thrust straight at me with the intention of killing me!”
“But why…”
“Hurry!”
Ultimately, Yun Jong-seung grit his teeth and projected his body forward.
Whoosh.
As he thrust his sword while even unfolding lightness footwork, a quite threatening sword technique unfolded.
In that split second, Paeng Su-hyeok’s eyes narrowed, and Namgung Cheon’s voice echoed in his mind.
“It’s a pity. If you had focused the Qi-Controlling Divine Wind on your Yongquan acupoint when you used it, you would have been able to dodge my sword and get behind me. Well, this kind of method is also the limit of the Paeng Clan.”
‘Arrogant bastard…! What do you even know!’
Gritting his teeth, Paeng Su-hyeok instantly activated the Qi-Controlling Divine Wind and executed his footwork.
‘Focus my internal energy on the Yongquan acupoint?’
He found it ridiculous, but he decided to try it anyway.
Bang!
In an instant, as his internal energy burst from the Yongquan acupoint, his body rapidly rotated, turning past Yun Jong-seung as if brushing against him.
Swish.
As he swung the wooden saber just like that, the blade came down diagonally across Yun Jong-seung’s back.
Tap.
Withdrawing his internal energy at the last second, the blade lightly tapped Yun Jong-seung’s back.
The two of them froze in place.
Paeng Su-hyeok’s eyes widened.
“This… actually works?”
Just as Namgung Cheon had said, he had definitely gotten behind his opponent.
Of course, the sword technique Yun Jong-seung executed was far inferior in power compared to Namgung Cheon’s One Flash of the Azure Sky.
However, Paeng Su-hyeok had also not poured in all his internal energy to that extent.
Yun Jong-seung turned around with a bewildered expression.
“W-what did you just do? It felt like you disappeared from my eyes for a split second?”
“Shut up. Attack again.”
“Again?”
“Hurry!”
Paeng Su-hyeok gripped his wooden saber once more.
Once could have been luck.
Yun Jong-seung grumbled as he took his starting stance, then quickly thrust his sword forward.
Swoosh.
Swish! Tap.
“……!”
“……!”
Damn… it really worked.
“Again!”
“How long are we going to…”
“Hurry!”
Yun Jong-seung ultimately thrust his sword again.
Swoosh.
Swish, tap.
“……Again!”
Even after that, the two of them clashed saber and sword in the same manner several more times.
No matter how many times they did it, the result was the same.
It worked.
‘He was right. What on earth are you, Namgung Cheon…!’
Had he unintentionally received help?
He didn’t want to admit it, so why…!
Finally, Yun Jong-seung threw down his wooden sword and sprawled out on the ground.
“Pant, pant! I can’t do it! I can’t do it anymore! Pant, pant, pant…!”
“Tch! Weakling.”
Paeng Su-hyeok clicked his tongue, took out the canteen hanging from his waist, and drank greedily. He, too, was already drenched in sweat all over.
‘Namgung Cheon… just what are you…’
Paeng Su-hyeok stared blankly at the blade of his saber with deep eyes.
* * *
‘Is someone praising me?’
Namgung Cheon, who was picking his ear, sat cross-legged on the bed.
Having circulated his internal energy for a full cycle, Namgung Cheon slowly opened his eyes.
‘Certainly, for now…’
It was not enough.
Although he could deal with a peak-level expert based on his numerous experiences and the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes, his internal energy was severely lacking.
If a group fight broke out like last night, even the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes would have its limits.
To use the First Sight Skill-Breaking Eyes most efficiently, a one-on-one sparring situation was indeed the best.
‘But the Joint Conference won’t only consist of one-on-one spars. The opening ceremony is tomorrow, so it’s awkward to go around looking for spiritual elixirs…’
If he were to search through all the safehouses he had prepared throughout the Jianghu, the Joint Conference would have long ended.
‘Was there an unorthodox faction infiltrated into Wuhan?’
Well, since the Joint Conference was right around the corner, he would just have to focus on that.
A way would show itself in time.
It wasn’t like he was going for the championship anyway.
Originally, his personality was not one to ponder deeply.
After all, solutions were bound to naturally pop up when the time came within constantly changing situations.
Namgung Cheon closed his eyes again and focused on circulating his energy.
A stream of energy rising from his dantian began to race smoothly along his meridians.
* * *
Finally, the day of the Wuhan Joint Dragon and Phoenix Conference dawned.
The Martial Alliance Grand Martial Arena, where the opening ceremony was held, was crowded with many people from early morning.
In the spectator seats surrounding the vast Grand Martial Arena, there were martial artists, but there were also quite a few commoners who had gathered out of curiosity or to promote their shops.
And to the north, a high platform was installed along with the VIP seats, and in the middle of the Grand Martial Arena, cadets who had received their entry permits were gathered in a noisy crowd.
“Wow, I didn’t know the Martial Alliance Grand Martial Arena would be this wide. Oh! They’re selling sweetmeats over there, too!”
“Come to think of it, Yeon-hwa, you must have only seen the Martial Alliance from the outside.”
Yu Hyeon, a rising star of the Mount Hua Sect and a second-year cadet of the Valiant Martial Academy.
He smiled gently as he looked at his junior sister, who was excited the whole time.
The way she looked around with eyes full of wonder was cute, just like a child.
Ju Yeon-hwa continued.
“It looks to be around four to five hundred people, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed. But more than half will probably fail in the first trial. They say it has always been conducted that way. So you must not let your guard down either.”
“Yes, Senior Brother. Oh, by the way, did you hear that rumor?”
“Which one?”
“They say the cadets of the Righteous Chivalry Academy went dragon hunting again this year.”
“Dragon hunting?”
“Oh, you know. Whenever the Free Observation Period comes, the Righteous Chivalry Academy hunts the Dragon Heaven Academy cadets like a tradition.”
“Hmm. I heard that such a thing existed, but I didn’t know they actually did it.”
“Anyway, do you know who the target of the hunt was this year?”
“Who was it?”
“They say it was the official pushover of Dragon Heaven Academy.”
“Official pushover…?”
“Yes. The son of the Great Killing Star, Namgung Cheon.”
As Ju Yeon-hwa chattered excitedly, Yu Hyeon knitted his brows slightly.
“Even so, it is not proper for even you to call him an official pushover or the like.”
“What does it matter? He is the child of the Great Killing Star anyway.”
“Even if that is so, it does not mean the son is also the Great Killing Star, does it?”
“Hmph, I feel this every time, but you are way too much like an old man, Senior Brother.”
“What?”
Ju Yeon-hwa wore a startled look, then quickly changed the subject.
“Anyway, what’s even more surprising is that the Righteous Chivalry Academy cadets failed in their hunt.”
“I see.”
“Eh? Is that all you have to say?”
“Yeon-hwa, wouldn’t it be better to focus on yourself instead of paying attention to such rumors? It is only natural for all sorts of rumors to circulate ahead of a major event.”
“Ah, yeees, yeees. Still, aren’t you surprised, Senior Brother? That the Righteous Chivalry Academy cadets failed the hunt?”
It was then.
“What did we fail at?”
At the thick voice, Ju Yeon-hwa flinched and turned around.
Behind her, a huge man glared as if he were about to spit fire.
He was none other than Hwangbo Seung.
“Hey, say it again. What did we fail at?”
“Ah… well…”
Flustered, Ju Yeon-hwa broke out in a cold sweat and laughed awkwardly.
Yu Hyeon, who was right next to her, took a step forward and politely clasped his hands.
“My immature junior sister has committed a discourtesy. I politely apologize on her behalf. I request that you, young hero, forgive her with a generous heart.”
Then, a person slid out from behind Hwangbo Seung and muttered with a cold expression.
“The person who did wrong is someone else, so why are you the one apologizing?”
The man, who looked quite irritable, was none other than Tang Wu-gi.
Despite the highly aggressive attitude, Yu Hyeon responded without losing his composure.
“My junior sister is a newcomer to the Jianghu, so she is not yet accustomed to etiquette. Please be understanding.”
“Well, I can’t understand it at all.”
At this point, Ju Yeon-hwa flared up and stepped forward.
“Hey! It might be my fault, but why are you speaking informally all this time when my senior brother is showing polite manners? Don’t you think you are also being discourteous?”
“Ha! Look at this. They say the one who farted gets angry first these days. Do I still have to be understanding?”
“That is because you keep picking a fight…!”
“Yeon-hwa!”
“Senior Brother…”
As Yu Hyeon scolded her, Ju Yeon-hwa shut her mouth tightly and watched his reaction.
Yu Hyeon clasped his hands again and said.
“I apologize once again. I will scold my junior sister severely.”
Then, this time, Hwangbo Seung slammed his fist into his palm and spoke.
“No, we want to do the scolding ourselves! So, right now…”
“Move, pig.”
“…Right, we should step aside right now. Pig… Huh?”
Hwangbo Seung stopped mid-sentence and slowly turned his head toward the voice that had suddenly spoken.
Not only him, but Tang Wu-gi also turned around with a bewildered expression.
In an instant, Tang Wu-gi’s and Hwangbo Seung’s eyes grew as wide as lanterns.
“Y-y-you…!”
“Why are you blocking the path when there are so many people? A guy as big as a mountain, too. Get lost to the side.”
“Y-you…!”
Hwangbo Seung trembled all over as he tightly clenched his fists.
The person standing behind them with folded arms and looking up was none other than Namgung Cheon.
At the sudden turn of events, Yu Hyeon and Ju Yeon-hwa could only watch with bewildered expressions.
Namgung Cheon sighed softly and urged.
“Hey, pig, aren’t you moving?”
“You bastard who deserves to be beaten to death!”
Whoosh.
In a split second, unable to contain his anger, Hwangbo Seung thrust forward a fist laden with internal energy.
Bang!
Along with a dull thud, a wave of energy swept out in all directions.
Due to that, other nearby cadets also turned around in surprise to look over here.
“What is it? A fight?”
“Well, they must be having a battle of nerves between cadets again.”
Amidst the buzzing of the crowd, there were also those who occasionally treated it as trivial.
Meanwhile, Hwangbo Seung stared at Namgung Cheon with an expression of disbelief.
‘He caught my fist with a single hand?’
Yu Hyeon, who was watching, could not help but be inwardly amazed.
‘That single punch just now seemed to be a fist technique of the Hwangbo Clan… to block it with one hand. He is an incredible person. Who is he?’
The people of the Hwangbo Clan were those who smashed boulders and broke swords with their bare fists.
Yet, he caught it as if it were nothing.
That was not all.
Hwangbo Seung, whose fist was caught, strangely could not budge a single bit.
‘Could it be… he is unable to move?’
Yu Hyeon’s prediction was accurate.
Hwangbo Seung was currently held by Namgung Cheon’s hand, unable to move at all.
Enraged, Hwangbo Seung shouted out a battle cry and thrust his left fist forward once more.
“Hee-yaah!”
“You definitely started it first, right?”
Crunch.
“Aaaargh!”
Along with the sound of bones fracturing, Hwangbo Seung’s arm bent grotesquely. At the same time, Hwangbo Seung let out a scream and fell to his knees on the spot with a thud.
“Seung!”
When Tang Wu-gi, who had been watching from the side, tried to quickly step forward, Yu Hyeon glided in front of him to block his path.
Tang Wu-gi glared with widened eyes.
“What? Who are you!”
“Since I have received help, I cannot just stand by and watch.”
“You bastard… are you looking to fight!”
Swish.
Tang Wu-gi drew daggers from his chest and gripped them in both hands.
Yu Hyeon frowned.
“You are from the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“Did you just realize that now?”
“How unexpected. For a descendant of a prestigious clan to act so recklessly.”
“What about talking behind the backs of other academies?”
“I have repeatedly apologized for that, however.”
“Shut up!”
Just as Tang Wu-gi was about to throw the daggers in his hands.
Boom! Boom! Boom.
Just then, the sound of drums resounded loudly from atop the platform.
Soon after, a woman made her appearance and shouted in a clear voice.
“Quiet, everyone! From this moment on, we commence the 14th Wuhan Joint Dragon and Phoenix Conference!”