Chapter 77: Is It Luck or Skill (2)
Chapter 76 – Is It Luck or Skill (2)
The vast Grand Martial Arena fell deathly silent.
Countless people just blinked, unable to say a word.
From somewhere, a faint voice leaked out like a groan.
“What… what? Is it… over?”
“No way… is that the end?”
“In a single strike?”
“Really… did that Namgung Cheon beat Murong Gang?”
Even though a significant amount of time had passed, perhaps because they were still not convinced, the people only whispered amongst themselves.
Namgung Geom also opened his eyes wide and did not even budge.
However, he knew.
That Murong Gang would not be able to stand up.
How on earth did this happen?
Clearly, Namgung Cheon had made the worst move while evading the strike.
In nine cases out of ten, it was a dangerous moment where he would have had his dantian sealed or lost his life.
Yet, like a lie, Murong Gang made a mistake.
‘Why was there a hesitation at the last moment?’
Namgung Geom furrowed his brows, lost in thought.
No matter how much he thought about it, he could not understand it, even though he had been certain it would be the final blow.
In this case, there was only one possibility he could think of.
‘Perhaps he hesitated to make a cruel move?’
It was not entirely unreasonable.
Murong Gang was still young, a cadet with shallow experience in the Jianghu. He might think of himself as ruthless in his own way, but resolving to kill a person with his own hands would be another matter entirely.
Moreover, in a formal sparring competition like this, hesitation would be inevitable.
So, if this was the result of that hesitation…
‘Is luck siding with that child?’
As Namgung Geom narrowed his eyes, Namgung Cheon happened to glance back in his direction.
Namgung Cheon opened his mouth and mouthed something.
Namgung Geom asked Namgung Hwa.
“What is that child… saying right now?”
Namgung Hwa blushed and hesitated.
Namgung Geom frowned and looked back at her.
“Speak up.”
“Well… that is…”
“It is fine. Speak.”
“He is saying, ‘Overwhelming, right?’”
“…”
Namgung Geom let out a dumbfounded sigh.
Overwhelming, indeed.
Since the result came out less than half a quarter-hour after the match started, it was indeed overwhelming if one were to call it that.
However, whether this should be considered skill or luck was the question.
Of course, they said that even luck was a form of skill in the Jianghu, but to talk about the Young Patriarch based on just this was a bit…
‘There are still more matches left.’
There was no need to rush his judgment.
After all, he only said he would consider the position of Young Patriarch on the premise of him winning.
Saying he would consider it literally meant just taking it into consideration, not confirming the position of Young Patriarch.
Moreover, even if he advanced to the semifinals, there were still two matches left before he could win.
‘I shall watch and see.’
Thinking so to himself, Namgung Geom was slightly surprised at himself.
Since when had he started thinking that Namgung Cheon might actually win?
When the boy said he would go to the academy, he had worried he would do something pathetic again, but now he was preparing for a victory in the Joint Conference.
‘Truly, a hard fellow to understand.’
Had he not known the child all this time? Or did the child obtain a fortuitous encounter through his deathbed experience?
Whether he knew Namgung Geom’s thoughts or not, Namgung Cheon grinned like a clueless person.
‘Good, it seems the old man hasn’t noticed for now.’
Certainly, this illusion art was a good method.
As long as the opponent made eye contact, a gap could be created with a relatively small amount of internal energy.
Although it was only for an instant, it was entirely an intended outcome through the illusion art, so he could immediately exploit that gap.
Moreover, unlike other martial arts, it did not leave any traces when used.
To think he handed me such a good gift. Baek Mu-geuk, you lovely fellow!
By the way…
‘What is that guy doing? He is completely out of it.’
Namgung Cheon clicked his tongue and called out to Murong Sin.
“Excuse me.”
“…”
However, as if he could not hear Namgung Cheon’s voice, Murong Sin just stood frozen with a shocked expression.
Murong Sin slowly shook his head as he looked at his younger brother, who had collapsed while foaming at the mouth.
To lose so helplessly?
‘Why on earth could you not strike at the final moment!’
Murong Sin had no way to hide his disappointment in his brother.
He had clearly seen it.
Murong Gang hesitating at the last moment.
In truth, Murong Gang had intended to strike Namgung Cheon directly. However, at the last moment, Namgung Cheon’s figure blurred like a mirage and wavered.
Surprised in that split second, Murong Gang quickly twisted his internal energy, which caused his footwork to falter.
Yet, only Murong Gang knew of these inner workings.
Just then, Namgung Cheon’s voice flew in like a nail and pierced his ears.
“Excuse me!”
“…Ah.”
Belatedly snapping out of it, Murong Sin looked back at Namgung Cheon with a cold expression.
“Why did you call me?”
“Pardon?”
“Why did you call?”
“Ha! What are you doing right now?”
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to declare it?”
Only then did Murong Sin realize his mistake and quickly look around.
The spectators were murmuring as they watched the stage.
The Alliance Leader in the VIP seats also had a face full of dissatisfaction.
Although Tang Ye-seol, who stood next to him, was wearing an inscrutable smile.
“Namgung Cheon… is the winner.”
When the heavy declaration finally fell from Murong Sin’s mouth, a thunderous cheer rose up in the Grand Martial Arena.
“Uwooooooah!”
“He won again! Namgung Cheon! You are a genius!”
“Namgung Cheeeeooon!”
“Namgung Cheon! Namgung Cheon! Namgung Cheon!”
The Grand Martial Arena shook.
The spectators sent applause, chanting Namgung Cheon’s name.
Namgung Cheon grinned and looked around.
Well, the feeling of being in the spotlight was not bad either.
Perhaps because of the memories of living his entire life as a fugitive, it was still awkward.
However, he would have to get used to it from now on.
He could not remain trapped in the shadow of his past life. He would have to change everything now.
As Namgung Cheon clenched his fist and raised it, the people let out cheers and applauded to the point that the heavens shook.
With this, he had crossed the eighth ridge toward victory.
Namgung Cheon’s victory meant a great deal in many ways.
If he had slipped here, people would have thought, ‘Of course, what did we expect?’ but now that he had passed this hurdle, they began to think, ‘Could it be…?’
It was a stage where hope grew stronger and they became wary of giving up.
The moment they began to see the man who achieved a miracle as a true hero!
Namgung Cheon turned around and clasped his hands toward Murong Gang, who was still slumped over, and said,
“I learned a lot from Young Hero Murong.”
* * *
“You two have grown quite close.”
At the voice suddenly heard from behind their backs, Namgung Geom and the Gold King turned around at the same time.
Before they knew it, Namgung Cheon had approached.
Namgung Hwa stood up with a bright expression.
“Cheon-ah! How is your body? Oh, and I watched the match well. I did not know you would manage to achieve this much. Your mother in heaven will be very pleased.”
Namgung Hwa was filled with emotion, her eyes even turning red.
Namgung Cheon wore a bitter smile.
‘Would Seon… be pleased?’
He did not know.
Perhaps she would scold him, asking if he could not have done better.
In truth, though she was the woman he loved more than anyone else, she was also the woman he fought with most frequently.
‘Perhaps that is why I miss her even more…’
Namgung Cheon sighed faintly and looked at the sky.
‘Are you watching? Are you… happy right now? How is our son doing? Does he feel a bit relieved?’
Questions to which he could not hear the answers echoed emptily inside his chest.
At that moment, the Gold King’s voice caught Namgung Cheon’s attention.
“I heard that you were of great help to my daughter, so I wanted to express my gratitude at least like this. Come to think of it, I have not even conveyed my thanks to you directly. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you for helping our Hong-i.”
As the Gold King even clasped his hands, Namgung Cheon returned the greeting with humility.
“I was also helped by your daughter.”
“Haha, there is no need to be so modest. By the way, congratulations on advancing to the semifinals.”
Then Namgung Geom, who had only been watching, spoke in a cold voice.
“Aren’t you going to go rest?”
Namgung Cheon twisted the corners of his mouth.
‘Anyway, this old man always speaks so beautifully. Would it kill him to say a word of congratulations?’
However, since Namgung Cheon had not come to receive congratulations either, he shrugged it off and replied.
“I came because I wanted to confirm if you remember well what I said.”
Since I didn’t trust people’s words easily in the first place.
“Confirm?”
“About the Young Patriarch matter.”
As he got straight to the point, Namgung Hwa watched Namgung Geom’s reaction with a restless mind once again.
Namgung Geom snorted.
“You have become quite arrogant after winning by luck.”
“Just as I thought.”
“What do you mean, just as you thought?”
When Namgung Geom raised his eyebrows sharply, Namgung Cheon laughed and shook his head.
“It does not mean much. It is just that, as I expected, you seem to believe I won by luck.”
“Then it was not luck?”
“Isn’t luck also a form of skill?”
“You are correct. However, that is a phrase for the loser to keep in mind. The winner must view luck as luck.”
“And if it was not luck?”
“Martial arts are not something to be babbled about with a three-inch tongue. Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times.”
“I knew you would say that. Then, in the semifinals, I will clearly show you my skill. And in the finals… how about we do this?”
Namgung Geom narrowed his eyes.
“What are you trying to say?”
Namgung Cheon smiled faintly and opened his mouth.
“In the finals, just as you say, Patriarch…”
At that moment, the Grand Martial Arena erupted in cheers once again.
This was because Yun Gyeong of the Valiant Martial Academy, who was from the Jongnam Sect, and Paeng Su-hyeok of the Dragon Heaven Academy stepped onto the stage for the next match.
Because of that, the rest of Namgung Cheon’s voice was buried in the noise and not a single word could be heard.
However, Namgung Cheon continued speaking to the end, and Namgung Geom clearly heard his grandson’s words even amidst the loud noise.
However, the Gold King, whose internal energy was not that deep, did not hear a single word of Namgung Cheon’s voice.
Instead, he clearly saw Namgung Geom make a surprised expression. And that surprised expression soon turned into a face filled with anger.
‘Just what did he hear…?’
Although the second match of the day was just about to begin on the stage, the Gold King’s interest was entirely focused on these two.
Finally, Namgung Geom opened his mouth to say something again amidst the noise.
Of course, the Gold King could not make it out.
Yet surprisingly, as if Namgung Cheon had understood those words, he nodded and smiled faintly.
Coincidentally, only then did the cheers gradually die down, and Namgung Cheon’s voice could be heard.
“…I understand. I shall do so.”
“…!”
At Namgung Cheon’s obedient reply, Namgung Geom looked even angrier instead.
‘No, just what kind of conversation did they have?’
Whether Namgung Hwa had also heard their conversation or not, she tried to stop Namgung Cheon with a pale face.
“Cheon-ah, this is not a matter to be taken so lightly. How about you think about it again?”
“No. Since I made the proposal first, let’s do as you suggested.”
“Cheon-ah!”
“Leave him be.”
As Namgung Geom suddenly intervened and spoke coldly, Namgung Hwa could not continue speaking any further.
Namgung Geom glared at Namgung Cheon fiercely and said,
“We shall see. I hope you take responsibility for your words.”
“Of course. Then, I hope you enjoy the viewing.”
Namgung Cheon bowed his head, turned around without any lingering regret, and left the spectator stands.
Unlike Namgung Geom, whose face was stiffly frozen like an angry person, a faint smile was hanging on Namgung Cheon’s face.
Along with a firm determination.
‘It’s done. With this, the position of Young Patriarch is secured.’