Chapter 76: Is It Luck or Skill (1)
Chapter 75 – Is It Luck or Skill (1)
The three-day rest period passed in an instant.
Namgung Cheon and Yun Jong-seung trained every day, while Paeng Su-hyeok and Jin So-hong checked their martial arts and rested according to Namgung Cheon’s advice.
And the day of the quarterfinals tournament, which everyone in Wuhan had been eagerly anticipating, finally dawned.
There were even people queuing up since dawn just to secure a slightly better seat.
Moreover, was it not the widely rumored Namgung Cheon who was competing in today’s first match? Furthermore, his opponent was the famous Murong Gang!
The fact that the second son of the Murong Clan, which stood tall as the number one family in the Jianghu, was the strongest in the Righteous Chivalry Academy was already widely known.
A confrontation between the hero who rose from the Dragon Heaven Academy and the number one of the Righteous Chivalry Academy.
That fact alone was enough to pique people’s interest.
“Come on, come on! A match between the official sucker and the number one! A duel of the century that you won’t see anywhere else! Place your bets! Everyone bet, buy houses, buy land, change your husbands, change your wives!”
A gambler carrying a tray around his neck went around singing like a song to solicit customers.
Some children found the words amusing and smiled as they listened closely, while some of the adults actually placed their wagers.
“Now then! Who will be the winner? Will it be Namgung Cheon, who achieved the feat of taking first place in the preliminaries from being the official sucker! Or will it be Murong Gang, the second son of the world’s number one family and the top ranking member of the Righteous Chivalry Academy! A single bet will decide your life, raising your status while bringing you a pretty lady or a handsome man! The weather is getting cold, so this is the best chance to warm your chilly sides! Bet, bet, bet! Bet like crazy!”
In reality, although many people were secretly rooting for the life reversal of the perpetual bottom-feeder, the wagers were surprisingly evenly split between the two.
To be precise, the gamblers predicted Murong Gang’s victory with slightly higher probability.
Ideals were ideals, and reality was reality.
Although Namgung Cheon had done miraculously well so far, they believed that he would gradually reach his limit.
How could a human keep causing miracles continuously?
Besides, his opponent was Murong Gang!
It would certainly not be an easy fight.
In short, a tense tug-of-war had begun among the gamblers between those who dreamed of ideals and those who saw reality.
Consequently, those who predicted Namgung Cheon’s victory were numerous but bet small amounts, while those who predicted Murong Gang’s victory were few but bet large sums.
Watching the people rush to place their bets, Namgung Hwa glanced at the Gold King sitting next to her.
Ever since the last tournament, thanks to the Gold King’s help, which bordered on being overbearing, she had been able to watch comfortably from seats better than the VIP section.
Since her ice-cold, blunt father would never express his gratitude, Namgung Hwa initiated the conversation with a warm smile on his behalf.
“It seems you do not gamble, Gold King.”
“Yes, I do not gamble. I only invest.”
“What is the difference?”
“Gambling is guessing, whereas investing is calculating.”
Namgung Hwa nodded, half-understanding.
The Gold King glanced at Namgung Hwa and asked.
“You look much more at ease than you did three days ago.”
“Ah… yes.”
“Have you perhaps met your nephew?”
“No. I did not visit him lest I disturb his mind.”
“You are indeed thoughtful.”
“No. Rather than that… I decided to trust that child. For some reason, I feel a bit of self-reproach, thinking that I knew so little about him all this time.”
“I, too, shall trust Young Hero Namgung Cheon. Though I do not gamble, if I were in a situation where I had to place a bet, I would bet on Young Hero Namgung’s victory.”
“Thank you for your kind words.”
Namgung Hwa bowed politely and averted her gaze.
Just then, a passionate cheer erupted from the spectator stands.
“Waaaaah!”
Looking down, she saw Namgung Cheon walking with steady strides into the Grand Martial Arena.
“Namgung Cheon! Win!”
“Show us another miracle today!”
“We’re rooting for you, Namgung Cheon!”
“You are the hero of the Dragon Heaven Academy, no, the hero of Wuhan!”
Hearing the shouts coming from all sides, Namgung Hwa felt her heart swell.
‘In that brief moment, you had advanced so far.’
She felt inexplicably touched.
How was her father feeling right now?
She stealthily scanned her father’s expression, but as expected, it was hard to read any emotion on his wooden face.
It was just that the gaze he directed at Namgung Cheon was no longer as cold as before.
A moment later, another earth-shaking cheer erupted.
“Waaaaah!”
Murong Gang had appeared from the opposite side.
With every step he took toward the martial arena stage, the shouts of the crowd poured down.
“Murong Gang! Uphold the pride of the Righteous Chivalry Academy!”
“Murong Gang! We believe in only you!”
“Show him that miracles are not that easy!”
In general, those cheering for Murong Gang were either associates of the Righteous Chivalry Academy or gamblers who had placed their bets on him.
Finally, the two of them stepped onto the stage and stood face to face.
Murong Gang’s eyebrows twitched.
‘Namgung Cheon…!’
The only cadet who had humiliated him!
Thinking back to the Golden Blood Rat incident truly made his teeth grind.
Above all, it was unbearable that he had felt a sense of defeat against Namgung Cheon that day.
How hard had he focused solely on training since then?
Murong Gang opened his palm and stared down at it.
Firm calluses.
However, even those calluses were torn in places and stained with blood.
He did not know how many times he had swung his sword over the past three days.
He had called all the cadets of the Righteous Chivalry Academy to engage in real sword duels.
Consequently, a few cadets had sustained rather serious injuries and were currently receiving treatment from physicians.
That was how anxious he felt.
Namgung Cheon was the first person to make him feel this way.
Yu Hyeon?
If it had been Yu Hyeon, he would at least have accepted it! No, even Yu Hyeon could not make him this anxious.
But… just what on earth was this bastard’s identity for him to…!
His tightly clenched fist trembled.
Namgung Cheon stared blankly at Murong Gang, then glanced sideways to look at Murong Sin.
Sensing something strange in that gaze, Murong Sin frowned slightly.
“What is it?”
Namgung Cheon shrugged.
“No, it’s nothing much… I just feel a bit uneasy…”
“Speak.”
“Examiner, you are that fellow’s older brother, correct?”
“That is correct.”
“Then isn’t it disadvantageous for me? If the two of you conspire to give me an unfair ruling…”
At that moment, Murong Gang suddenly stepped forward.
“What nonsense…!”
“Stop.”
Murong Sin raised his hand and stopped him.
He looked at Namgung Cheon with his usual icy expression and laughed coldly.
“Namgung Cheon. I am well aware that you are writing a grand miracle. However, there is a line that should not be crossed.”
“Apologies. I just mentioned it just in case.”
“This is a place watched by thousands. You should know better than anyone that this is a situation where cheating cannot occur.”
“Yes, yes.”
As Namgung Cheon pick at his ear and replied half-heartedly, the veins on Murong Gang’s forehead bulged.
‘Huu. Let’s not associate with that trash. Since he is the child of the Great Killing Star, what else can his character be? It might be a provocation tactic.’
Barely managing to compose himself, Murong Gang slowly took his opening stance.
Suddenly, the grueling training process he had undergone flashed through his mind.
Training for today.
Truly, he had never focused so intently on training with a specific goal in mind.
‘I must win… absolutely!’
Murong Sin looked at Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon was standing calmly, holding the Emerald Silk Sword in one hand.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, let’s begin.”
Murong Sin and Murong Gang were dumbfounded by how he answered casually without even taking an opening stance.
Murong Sin glanced back at Murong Gang.
‘Flatten that arrogant nose of his. If necessary, you may even cross the line.’
‘I know. Even without you saying so, I plan to leave him half-dead… no, I intend to kill him for sure.’
A silent conversation passed through their eyes.
Finally, Murong Sin took a large step back and raised his hand.
“Begin.”
*Whoosh!*
As soon as the signal fell, Murong Gang kicked off the ground and flew like lightning.
There was no room for complacency!
He would do his best in every single moment.
*Swoooosh!*
The tip of the sword flew straight like a meteor, aiming for Namgung Cheon’s heart.
In an instant, Namgung Cheon struck down with his sword.
*Clang!*
A clear metallic sound rang out, and pushed back by the heavy force, Murong Gang spun around and slashed upwards diagonally again.
*Swoosh!*
*Clang!*
Once more, a metallic sound erupted as Namgung Cheon blocked the sword.
Murong Gang unleashed consecutive sword strikes.
The Heaven and Earth Chasing Flash Sword, the ultimate technique of the Murong Clan, was unleashed in a frenzy.
The Heaven and Earth Chasing Flash Sword had the characteristic of leaving the opponent with nowhere to escape.
Thus, while blindly receiving the sword strikes, one would soon experience having their vital points pierced by the cold blade.
However…
*Clang! Clatter! Ping! Clink! Clang!*
Why…
*Clash, clash! Clang!*
How…
*Clang!*
*Shuaaa!*
How could this be!
Sliding while drawing a semi-circle with his right foot, Murong Gang gasped for breath and clenched his teeth.
He had truly poured in everything he could.
However…
‘Why is he so completely fine!’
Even without wanting to feel anxious, it arose on its own.
Namgung Cheon was using the Boundless Sky Limitless Sword Art in its purest form.
Without adding or subtracting anything, very simply.
It was literally an orthodox method.
He executed it so honestly that no artifice could be felt.
And yet, all of his sword paths were blocked and could not break through.
For the Heaven and Earth Chasing Flash Sword, which was second to none when it came to fast swords, to be so utterly helpless!
What on earth was going on?
The more he unleashed sword strikes, the more strangely suffocated he felt.
Furthermore, what was with that expression overflowing with composure?
Meanwhile, Namgung Cheon glanced over the Emerald Silk Sword once, then raised his head to peek toward the VIP seats.
The Alliance Leader was talking with the person next to him, not even looking in this direction.
‘This shouldn’t be the time to look away, Alliance Leader.’
‘Shouldn’t you watch? How I step-by-step approach you. That process, I mean.’
With a faint cold smile, Namgung Cheon turned his gaze back to stare at Murong Gang.
“Let’s wrap this up now.”
“What…?”
“I thought there might be something to learn, but it seems it is not to that extent after all.”
“You bastard… are you daring to look down on me right now?”
Murong Gang glared at Namgung Cheon with eyes boiling with rage.
Murong Sin let out a sigh at the sight.
‘Pathetic fellow. To be swayed by mere words like that.’
In any case, to think Namgung Cheon possessed such incredible skill.
Now that the duel had begun, his true value seemed to manifest even more.
‘If this continues, the Alliance Leader might feel uncomfortable…’
Murong Sin’s gaze directed toward the Alliance Leader once, then toward Namgung Geom sitting in the spectator stands.
Namgung Geom was watching Namgung Cheon’s duel with a cold expression from beginning to end.
Although he showed no change on the outside, he was also human and was inwardly shocked.
‘What in the world happened to you?’
As Namgung Geom narrowed his eyes, Namgung Cheon’s gaze flew over and locked with his.
Though he spoke no words, Namgung Cheon’s eyes seemed to say:
‘Watch closely.’
And the next moment!
“Yaaaah!”
Murong Gang let out a firmer shout than ever before and thrust forward like a beam of light.
*Swoooooosh!*
The sword qi fluttered, drilling toward Namgung Cheon’s dantian.
The wooden Namgung Geom’s pupils dilated slightly.
‘A lethal strike!’
It was clearly a lethal strike executed with the single-minded determination to kill the opponent.
*Swish!*
Seeing Namgung Cheon leap backward, Namgung Geom clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘Oh no!’
‘Namgung Cheon has made a mistake.’
‘The Murong Clan’s Heaven and Earth Chasing Flash Sword must be countered with blocking rather than evasion. And among evasive moves, retreating is the worst.’
‘Yet Namgung Cheon chose to retreat.’
It was a dangerous situation where he could easily lose his life!
At that moment, a surprising thing happened.
“Hmm?”
In a split second, Murong Gang seemed to hesitate, and his footwork fell into disarray.
Seizing that opening, Namgung Cheon swung the Emerald Silk Sword along with its scabbard.
*Swoosh, crash!*
Struck on the crown of his head by the scabbard, Murong Gang fell face down, foaming at the mouth, completely unconscious.
“……!”
The venue fell dead silent, as if cold water had been poured over it.