Chapter 70: Hidden Dragon (1)
Chapter 69 – Hidden Dragon (1)
Gulp…!
Ju Yeon-hwa swallowed hard as she looked at Namgung Cheon’s retreating figure.
‘What on earth happened…?’
Her mind was in a mess. No, rather, her mind had gone completely blank. She felt like a fool because she couldn’t think of anything.
Namgung Cheon went completely down the stairs off the martial arena.
Even so, it still felt as if a cold energy were brushing against the tip of her throat.
Indeed. Until just a moment ago, Namgung Cheon had been pointing a sword at her.
It was a terror so intense that it felt as if the sword tip would tear through and cold-bloodedly pierce her throat if she swallowed even a single drop of saliva.
Yet, the energy from that moment still seemed to linger around her neck.
To be clear, it was not killing intent.
Although she did not have much experience in the Jianghu yet, she was not so naive that she could not distinguish between killing intent and fighting spirit.
Namgung Cheon did not reveal any killing intent toward her. He had only shown fighting spirit.
But that fighting spirit was chillingly eerie.
‘How many exchanges did we make…?’
She had launched a preemptive attack as soon as the duel began.
She had not let her guard down in the slightest.
Although there was a rumor that Namgung Cheon was a public pushover, the martial arts of her opponent, which she had witnessed firsthand, were by no means at a level to be underestimated.
‘But… I couldn’t even graze his collar!’
She had minutely unleashed the Plum Blossom Sword Art, and when she repeatedly cut empty air, she switched to the Six Harmonies Sword Art.
Although the quality of the sword strikes changed, Namgung Cheon responded calmly as if he already knew the entire process in advance.
How should she put it?
It was as if when she took one step forward, Namgung Cheon had already evaded two steps.
It felt as though he could clearly see where she would move, where she would extend her sword, and even how she would circulate her qi.
And when she finally crossed swords with Namgung Cheon for the first time, she met his sharp gaze along with a clear metallic clang.
The feeling of that moment was…
‘Like being stripped naked…’
She had never found it so difficult to find an opening while looking at an opponent. Ah, excluding her senior brother, Yu Hyeon.
Yet, even the word “opening” was insufficient to describe Namgung Cheon.
To the point that she felt a distant sense of despair.
Just like that, they exchanged exactly two moves.
And as Namgung Cheon rapidly dug into her chest, she kicked off the ground and backed away quickly.
At that moment, did the sword held by Namgung Cheon not bend like a lie, and before she knew it, pass by, slapping the side of her elbow?
She was so startled, thinking for a split second that her elbow had been cut…
‘Did he twist the blade at that last moment?’
If Namgung Cheon had not twisted the sword, her right arm would have been severed below the forearm by now and fallen onto the martial arena.
Recalling that vivid sensation again made her shudder involuntarily.
What happened after that?
As her elbow straightened reflexively, a vulnerability was exposed near her chest, and since Namgung Cheon rushed forward while thrusting the Emerald Silk Sword, she took backward steps before falling over.
Normally, she would have cast aside her pride and rolled on the ground using the Lazy Donkey Roll technique to dodge, but this time, there was not even time for that.
Because the Emerald Silk Sword clung close as if drawn by a magnet, seeming ready to pierce her throat.
‘I really thought I was going to die…’
Thinking about it now, it was just ridiculous.
After all, was this not a sparring tournament watched by an examiner?
Of course, accidents could happen, resulting in casualties, but cadets rarely died.
Because the examiner would step in before that.
However… at that moment, she was truly engulfed in the fear of death.
While she stared wide-eyed at the sword flying before her eyes, the sword stopped like a miracle.
Was it the difference of a single sheet of paper?
Although the sword was clearly apart, its sharp qi felt as if it would pierce her flesh at any moment.
She felt as if she were sitting alone amidst corpses.
Although it was actually only a short amount of time, it felt to Ju Yeon-hwa as long as an eternity.
A complete defeat with no room for excuses.
Because it happened so instantaneously, the spectators also just blinked their eyes blankly.
The examiner was the same.
When Namgung Cheon glanced back, only then did the examiner, Murong Sin, raise his hand and speak.
“Namgung Cheon, victory.”
“…”
Even though the examiner made the public declaration, the spectator stands were as silent as if cold water had been poured over them.
After a brief moment passed,
“Wh-What? Did Namgung Cheon really win?”
“Just now… that Dragon Heaven Academy cadet won, right?”
“Wasn’t that female cadet a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect?”
“Is it really over just like this…?”
Murmurs echoed from here and there.
However, as a bit more time passed, admiration and applause began to burst out among those who belatedly grasped the situation.
And the ones who were more excited than anyone were none other than the Dragon Heaven Academy cadets.
“Woooow! Namgung Cheon won!”
“Namgung Cheon, you’re amazing! You’re our pride!”
They shouted excitedly, as if they had forgotten the fact that just a few days ago, they had remained silent and looked on at Namgung Cheon’s life as a pushover.
At this point, even the Righteous Chivalry Academy cadets, who had subtly dismissed Namgung Cheon’s continuous victories as luck, had no choice but to acknowledge him in their hearts.
As Namgung Cheon completely left the Grand Martial Arena, Ju Yeon-hwa, who had been in a daze, stood up hesitantly.
Seeing her blank expression, Murong Sin narrowed his eyes.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I am fine.”
Ju Yeon-hwa nodded, turned around, and went down the stairs.
She still could not believe that she had lost to Namgung Cheon.
But she did not feel resentful or angry either.
As she came down the stairs, Yu Hyeon approached with a bright smile.
“As expected, the Jianghu is wide, is it not?”
“Senior Brother…”
Looking blankly at Yu Hyeon, Ju Yeon-hwa gave a faint smile and nodded.
“Yes, certainly.”
“Reflecting on a defeat is an important thing. But do not dwell on emotions; dwell on reason. Why did you lose, why were you struck? That is the way to take a step forward.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“So, what is the conclusion?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you not feel something? Since you sat on the martial arena for a long time and did not come down.”
“Ah…”
Ju Yeon-hwa’s face flushed.
Yu Hyeon thought she had not budged because she was reflecting on the causes of her defeat on the arena.
As Yu Hyeon stared intently, Ju Yeon-hwa could not meet his eyes and looked away.
‘How could I look into those eyes and tell him that I was actually paralyzed with fear?’
The fear of that moment seemed to surge up her spine again.
The sword that stopped a paper’s breadth from her throat.
‘Moreover, I almost lost my arm…’
Ju Yeon-hwa caressed her right elbow with her left hand.
The elbow hit by the flat of the sword felt inexplicably hotter.
‘Phew, seriously, if he hadn’t twisted the sword at that moment… Wait?’
Suddenly, a thought flashed through her mind.
‘That sensation…?’
It felt as if a tingling sensation traveled down her elbow to her fingertips.
‘If I hadn’t bent my elbow and had kept it straight then…? Then I would have had to guide the flow of my internal energy differently… No way!’
Ju Yeon-hwa’s fingertips trembled slightly.
“Yeon-hwa?”
“Ah… Senior Brother! Just a moment!”
“Huh? Yeon-hwa! Where are you going?”
Yu Hyeon quickly called out to Ju Yeon-hwa, but she had already run off somewhere while looking around.
Meanwhile, Gold King, who was quietly watching Ju Yeon-hwa amidst the passionate cheers, shook his head.
‘How could this be… With a difference of this caliber, is Namgung Cheon not a candidate for the championship?’
As time passed, he found himself listening more and more to his daughter’s claims.
He won outright before they could even exchange three moves.
It was truly a one-sided victory for Namgung Cheon.
‘Namgung Cheon… truly remarkable. So-hong did not bring up the term Hidden Dragon for nothing.’
Indeed, after watching Namgung Cheon’s duel, his heart raced as well.
Of course, it was still too early to judge, but it was an undeniable fact that Namgung Cheon far exceeded his expectations.
“He is truly remarkable. I am sincerely impressed. You have indeed been blessed with an outstanding grandson.”
Although he spoke while glancing sideways, Namgung Geom’s characteristically cold expression did not change in the slightest.
‘He is truly an inscrutable man.’
However, Namgung Hwa, who sat next to him, had a visibly shocked expression.
‘Did she not know the details of her nephew’s martial arts? Or… had he been hiding his true strength all this time, even from his family? If so, why reveal everything only now? Wait, what if he hasn’t revealed everything?’
His heart trembled.
His heart throbbed so hard that he felt ashamed of having lectured So-hong not to make hasty judgments.
No. It was still too early.
Could just anyone become a Hidden Dragon?
Moreover, that child was the illegitimate son of the Great Killing Star.
It was by no means an easy path.
Gold King checked Namgung Geom’s reaction once again.
Following the blank gaze thrown by Namgung Geom, Namgung Cheon was looking up at this place. No, precisely, he was looking at Namgung Geom.
Ha, to think grandfather and grandson would exchange such indifferent glances.
Once Namgung Cheon moved away, Namgung Geom let out a soft sigh and shook his head.
“It cannot be…”
“What cannot be?”
When Gold King asked suggestively, Namgung Geom glanced back and shook his head again.
“It is nothing.”
Namgung Geom brushed it off and raised his head to look at the Alliance Leader sitting in the VIP seats.
The Alliance Leader also seemed lost in thought with a complicated expression.
Gold King, who looked back and forth between the two, groaned inwardly and shifted his gaze back to the martial arena.
‘A Hidden Dragon…’
A half-believing, half-doubting heart surged within his chest.
* * *
‘If she notices, it means she has talent.’
Namgung Cheon watched Ju Yeon-hwa looking around in the distance and walked away indifferently.
Actually, he had intended to win with a single strike.
But after evading Ju Yeon-hwa’s attacks a couple of times, he changed his mind.
He saw talent.
Moreover, her amiable attitude toward him was to his liking.
If his surroundings had been filled with enemies in his previous life, he thought it would not be a bad idea to make allies this time.
Of course, excessive meddling was out of the question.
Thus, he only gave her a slight pointer.
If she was quick-witted and talented, she would notice his teaching; if not, she would never know.
And judging by the character of Ju Yeon-hwa he had seen so far…
‘If she notices, she will at least remember the favor.’
Especially since she was a disciple of the prestigious Mount Hua Sect, she would definitely clarify relations of gratitude and grudges. He could consider it as having sown a seed.
As Namgung Cheon, walking like that, appeared in the spectator stands, people glanced at him and murmured.
“Huh? Isn’t that Namgung Cheon?”
“It is? Dragon Heaven Academy’s official pushover…”
“Man, are you saying that even after seeing that duel just now? That must have been a false rumor!”
Although the people whispered, they did not readily approach him.
It was probably because of the stigma of being the child of the Great Killing Star.
However, a man who looked quite elderly walked over with a stiff expression and stopped in front of Namgung Cheon.
“I do not know what trick you pulled, but luck cannot work forever.”
“Who might you be?”
As Namgung Cheon slightly frowned, the old man narrowed his brow.
‘Is this fellow mocking me now? No. Maybe he does not remember me. There were rumors going around that he lost his memory.’
Indeed, even if he had not lost his memory, they had barely ever met face-to-face, so it was understandable for him to have forgotten his face.
The old man clicked his tongue.
“Forget it. You will find out who I am soon enough.”
Having finished speaking, he strode away, which happened to be the same direction Namgung Cheon was going.
The two soon stood before Namgung Geom.
“Brother, it has been a long time.”
The old man greeted Namgung Geom in a somewhat lukewarm voice.
‘So he was my granduncle.’
Namgung Cheon nodded to himself.
No wonder he looked strangely similar to Namgung Geom.
While having such trivial thoughts, Namgung Cheon offered a greeting to Namgung Geom.
“Have you arrived?”
With a still cold expression, Namgung Geom looked back and forth between his brother and grandson, and spoke to Namgung Cheon first.
In fact, since their relationship with his younger brother Namgung Pyo had been estranged after the fall of the clan, and because Namgung Cheon had just finished a major competition, he welcomed him first. Even so, there was hardly any warmth to be felt.
“You did well. Go and rest.”
“I have something to tell you.”
“…?”
At the words Namgung Cheon brought up straightforwardly, not only Namgung Geom but also Namgung Pyo, Namgung Hwa, and even Gold King turned to look with surprised expressions.
“What is it?”
At Namgung Geom’s question, Namgung Cheon stared into his eyes before dropping a bombshell as if it were no big deal.
“If I win the final victory at the Joint Conference, please give me the position of Young Patriarch.”
“…!”
Everyone around them looked at Namgung Cheon with shocked faces.
Namgung Pyo’s mouth hung open so wide his uvula was visible, and Namgung Hwa momentarily lost strength in her legs and stumbled. Namgung Geom had a rigid expression as if he had chewed on a stone.
Only Gold King, who was sitting in his seat, clenched his fists tightly, completely reversing his thoughts until now as he felt convinced in his heart.
‘He is a Hidden Dragon!’