Chapter 63: The Tilted Ground (1)
Chapter 62 – The Tilted Ground (1)
In the back garden of the Martial Alliance’s Ascension Pavilion, delicacies of all kinds were laid out in abundance.
Sixteen cadets who had advanced to the fourth test, including Namgung Cheon, gathered in the back garden, and several high-ranking figures, including the Alliance Leader, were also seen.
Today’s gathering was not only to congratulate the sixteen cadets who had passed the third test of the Joint Conference, but also to explain the upcoming martial tournament and draw the tournament bracket.
Tang Ye-seol, the Leader of the Red Wave Corps who was in charge of conducting this year’s Joint Conference, stepped up onto the pavilion in the back garden and spoke while looking around at the cadets.
“Attention, everyone! First of all, congratulations on passing the third test. You all went through a lot of trouble to reach this place. However, the entire tournament is not over yet. As you all know, the fourth test, which will be held in a few days, will be conducted as public spars. Since it is a single-elimination tournament, we will now draw the bracket through a lottery. Any questions?”
While the cadets hesitated, looking at each other, Yun Jong-seung quietly raised his hand.
“Speak.”
“Are we… allowed to eat the food here?”
At those words, several cadets snickered, and a few cast openly contemptuous looks at him.
Tang Ye-seol wore a dumbfounded expression for a moment, then soon chuckled.
“You may eat, but focus first. I will give you plenty of time to enjoy yourselves later.”
“It won’t taste good if it gets cold…”
When Yun Jong-seung spoke while scratching the back of his head, a few more cadets burst into laughter.
Since it had the effect of easing the atmosphere a little, Tang Ye-seol did not nag him further.
“Any other questions?”
Perhaps thanks to Yun Jong-seung, the hesitating cadets now began to ask questions more comfortably.
“Is there by any chance a losers’ bracket or something like that?”
“No.”
“If someone forfeits, does the opponent advance by default?”
“Yes.”
“Once the bracket is drawn, will all sixteen of us fight at the same time?”
“There will be a time difference for each spar, but they will all be held within a single day. Once the round of sixteen is over, the quarterfinals will be held three days later. And another three days after that. The matches will proceed like this at three-day intervals until the finals.”
“What if a serious injury occurs in the meantime?”
“Then they can just forfeit, can’t they?”
As Tang Ye-seol responded coldly, the cadets stiffened for the first time.
Tang Ye-seol swept her gaze over the cadets and continued.
“Not getting injured during the tournament is also a quality and ability that a martial artist must possess. I would appreciate it if you refrained from asking such low-level questions.”
It was as if a biting wind suddenly blew through the back garden where a warm breeze had been blowing.
Only then did the cadets seem to perceive each other as competitors, their expressions becoming somewhat awkward.
The questions that had been pouring out like a flood also abruptly ceased.
Tang Ye-seol smiled faintly.
This was not bad either.
For if discipline became too lax, unexpected accidents were more likely to occur.
Only by repeatedly tightening and loosening the reins would they keep their guard up.
Especially for cadets with shallow experience in the Jianghu, they must not let down their guard.
“Are there no more questions?”
At Tang Ye-seol’s words, the cadets maintained their silence for a while.
“If there are no questions, we will now draw the bracket…”
“How is victory decided?”
The one who asked the question was Murong Gang.
Although Murong Gang was expressionless, he exuded a tense aura to the point where the venom harbored in his heart could be clearly felt.
‘He has become venomous.’
Well, it was only natural since he had been dealt a heavy blow by Namgung Cheon.
Furthermore, in the third test, the cadets of the Righteous Chivalry Academy had attacked with determination only to be thoroughly smashed, so even if he did not show it outwardly, he must have been incredibly furious.
Because of that, unlike before, a large number of Righteous Chivalry Academy cadets had been eliminated in this Joint Conference.
Tang Ye-seol said with a faint smile.
“Until one side admits defeat.”
“What if they do not admit it?”
“Until they are rendered incapable of fighting.”
“Does that mean it does not matter if they become crippled or die?”
As such an extremely blatant question popped out, a stir arose among the cadets.
Tang Ye-seol nodded.
“Of course. One must take responsibility for all consequences. If you are afraid of that, you can simply admit defeat. You must also learn to distinguish between courage and bravado.”
“Understood.”
When Murong Gang replied with a cold smile, Tang Ye-seol added a word.
“However, even if defeat is not admitted, if the examiner deems the outcome clear, they may intervene midway to make a judgment.”
In other words, it was a euphemistic way of saying that the Alliance would intervene to prevent deaths or cripples as much as possible.
With Murong Gang’s heavy question as the last, no more cadets raised their hands.
As Tang Ye-seol gave a look, the Vice Leader of the Red Wave Corps walked over holding a black wooden box.
“Then, we will write down the bracket from now on. First, Namgung Cheon, who has the best overall record up to the third test, come forward and draw.”
Namgung Cheon walked forward, reached into the black wooden box held by the Vice Leader, and drew out a wooden plaque.
Engraved on the wooden plaque was the character ‘Byeong ‘.
“Namgung Cheon, Group Byeong! For your information, the bracket and the order of the spars are unrelated. For the sake of fairness, the order of the spars on the day will be determined by lottery. Next is Murong Gang.”
When Murong Gang went forward and drew a plaque, Tang Ye-seol announced in a loud voice once again.
“Murong Gang, Group Jeong!”
Murong Gang clicked his tongue and glanced at Namgung Cheon.
His face clearly showed regret that he had not been placed in the same group as Namgung Cheon. It was obvious that he wanted to repay the humiliation from last time as soon as possible.
Soon after, Yu Hyeon came out and drew a plaque, and Yun Gyeong, a disciple of the Jongnam Sect, went forward in turn.
Paeng Su-hyeok and Jin So-hong also waited for their turn to draw their plaques, and finally, Yun Jong-seung naturally took a spot in the bracket with the remaining plaque.
Once the entire bracket was completed, the cadets secretly sized up their respective sparring opponents, bracing themselves inwardly.
Some were inwardly pleased, thinking they had drawn an easy opponent, while other cadets grumbled about their bad luck.
The person decided as Namgung Cheon’s first sparring opponent was none other than Ju Yeon-hwa, a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect.
She came to find Namgung Cheon, cupped her fists with a bright smile, and saluted.
“I think it is an honor to be in the same group as Young Master Namgung, who passed in first place up to the third test! I will do my best so that I can learn a lesson from you on that day!”
Looking at Ju Yeon-hwa who spoke cheerfully, Namgung Cheon wore a blank expression for a moment, then chuckled.
‘Is this indeed the common attitude of the prestigious orthodox sects?’
It was unfamiliar, but not bad.
Having lived only in a world where people always bared their fangs and growled at their opponents, this kind of wholesome feeling was quite refreshing.
Just as Namgung Cheon was about to say something, Murong Gang suddenly appeared and openly showed his hostility.
“Namgung Cheon, wrap things up quickly with your trivial opponent and come up. Looking at the bracket, I will be your next opponent. I will be waiting.”
At that, Ju Yeon-hwa slightly furrowed her brow and glared at Murong Gang.
“Hey. Am I invisible to you? I don’t think this is polite.”
“Politeness…?”
As Murong Gang looked back with a cold expression, Ju Yeon-hwa swallowed hard and flinched.
For Murong Gang’s expression was too brutal.
‘I didn’t do anything wrong, so why should I be scared?’
Becoming unnecessarily annoyed, Ju Yeon-hwa nodded with a determined expression.
“That’s right. Even if Young Master Namgung is strong, it is rude of you to say such things right in front of me, the one who will be sparring him.”
“Well… I happen to have a personality that cannot lie. I only spoke what was obvious. I apologize if it offended you.”
‘No, that makes me even more offended!’
Ju Yeon-hwa flared up and was about to argue further when Murong Gang threw his usual cold gaze and asked.
“Or… do you really think you can defeat Namgung Cheon, young lady?”
“That…!”
“Surely you cannot be that lacking in discernment. In the Jianghu, the eye to read your opponent is also a part of your skill. If you by any chance harbor such thoughts, I would recommend forfeiting. To become a person of the Jianghu, one must know their place to survive for a long time.”
Ju Yeon-hwa gaped, unable to find her words.
It was truly so rude that it left her dumbfounded, but she also lacked the confidence to refute Murong Gang’s words.
For she, too, was aware that Namgung Cheon was indeed quite strong, just as Murong Gang said.
Even so, to ignore her so blatantly like this!
Murong Gang chuckled and was about to walk away when Namgung Cheon opened his mouth.
“Now I am curious too.”
“……?”
As Murong Gang hesitated and looked back, Namgung Cheon grinned and asked.
“I, too, happen to have a personality that cannot lie. If you are going to get offended, I will apologize in advance before speaking.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Do you really think you can defeat me, acting like this?”
“……!”
“Surely you cannot be that lacking in discernment. In the Jianghu, the eye to read your opponent is one of your skills. If you by any chance harbor such thoughts, I recommend forfeiting. In the Jianghu, one must know their place to survive for a long time.”
“You…”
“Did I perhaps offend you? Still, since I apologized in advance, let’s just let it slide on good terms.”
For a very brief moment, murder intent swept out from Murong Gang’s entire body.
However, because Yu Hyeon intervened midway, the ominous atmosphere did not continue any further.
“Yeon-hwa! What are you doing here? Don’t cause unnecessary trouble and come here quickly.”
“Senior Brother, the one who caused the trouble wasn’t me…”
“Enough. If my Junior Sister was discourteous, I ask for your generous understanding.”
When Yu Hyeon quickly cupped his fists, Namgung Cheon waved his hand and laughed.
“Don’t mention it. Unlike someone, Lady Ju was very proper.”
“Pardon?”
“It is nothing. Lady Ju, I will look forward to our spar.”
“Thank you, Young Master Namgung! I will learn a lot from you!”
Ju Yeon-hwa replied with a broad grin, and Yu Hyeon dragged his Junior Sister away almost by force.
Meanwhile, Tang Ye-seol, who had been silently watching this situation from a short distance away, smiled faintly.
‘To be able to suppress Murong Gang like that. Namgung Cheon, you are indeed an interesting child.’
Even without this, she and Murong Gang’s older brother, the Blue Wave Corps Leader Murong Sin, were in a subtle struggle for hegemony within the Alliance.
Yet, with Namgung Cheon stepping all over Murong Sin’s younger brother like that, she was feeling a strange sense of vicarious satisfaction.
Well, it was not very pleasant that her own younger brother, Tang Wu-gi, had also been trampled on, but she had never held any close affection for her brother in the first place.
Rather, she was utterly displeased with her younger brother, who had become the Young Patriarch simply because he was born a male.
Brushing aside her thoughts, Tang Ye-seol opened her mouth.
“Now, attention everyone! The Alliance Leader will speak.”
The clamoring cadets stopped their movements and focused their attention.
The Alliance Leader stepped up onto the pavilion, looked around at the cadets, and wore a genial smile.
“Congratulations to everyone on passing the third test. You have all worked hard to reach this place. No matter what anyone says, you are the finest rising stars of Wuhan. Of course, among you, there may be some who are here due to the help of comrades or simply because of good luck.”
Yun Jong-seung shrank his neck like a turtle for no reason.
Even in the midst of that, the Alliance Leader’s voice calmly continued.
“However, that too is a form of skill. The world is not fair to everyone. But this Alliance exists to make such a world fair. You, who have risen to this position despite the inequality, possess the ability to balance that world. I hope you all prepare well and bring this to a conclusion with no regrets. In particular, the fourth test will be an event to which even your families are invited, so gather your strength. I wish you all good martial fortune.”
When the Alliance Leader’s words ended, the cadets clapped in unison with moved expressions. Except, of course, for a single person: Namgung Cheon.
The Alliance Leader’s gaze met Namgung Cheon’s head-on.
The corners of the Alliance Leader’s eyes curved softly.
‘Do you understand? The world is a tilted land from the very start. Even if only to make that tilted land level, you are a child who must not win. Therefore, you will never be able to win this tournament.’
Concealing his inner thoughts, the Alliance Leader spoke in a warm voice.
“Enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content, at least for today.”