Chapter 97: Who Says It's a Disqualification (2)
Chapter 96 – Who Says It’s a Disqualification (2)
The expression of Namgung Geom, who seemed as though he would not budge with a face as cold as ice the entire time, trembled slightly.
“A-Father…!”
The one who tightly grabbed Namgung Geom’s sleeve as if it would tear was Namgung Hwa. Her complexion was beyond pale, completely white with shock.
Shaking her head with a look of disbelief, she muttered as if talking to herself.
“W-What does that… mean right now? What happened to… Cheon? Why…? Why Cheon…?”
As Namgung Hwa, unable to overcome the mental shock, was about to collapse, Namgung Geom quickly supported her shoulder with his hand.
When he injected a stream of internal energy through his fingertips, it felt as if a warm breeze circulated through Namgung Hwa’s entire body.
“Pull yourself together, Hwa-ya.”
Although his voice was still cold, Namgung Geom could not completely erase his bewildered expression either.
There was someone even more shocked than the two of them.
Gold King Jin Deuk-rang.
He sprang up from his seat, his entire body trembling like an aspen leaf.
‘Namgung Cheon… is dead?’
That couldn’t be!
Was Namgung Cheon, whom he had believed to be a hidden dragon, nothing but a dream?
His daughter had believed so, and he himself had not doubted it either.
If so, what about Hong-er? What happened to our So-hong?
Gold King clenched his fists and looked up at the Alliance Leader, who had stood up from the VIP seats.
The Alliance Leader’s gaze happened to meet Gold King’s exactly.
At that moment, Gold King realized that the Alliance Leader’s eyes were filled with endless sorrow.
Gold King shook his head.
‘Don’t look at me… with those eyes! Please!’
He wanted to run over immediately and block the Alliance Leader’s mouth.
For some reason, the moment the Alliance Leader opened his mouth, it felt as if the most horrible words in the world would pour out.
He wanted to cover his ears and scream that all of this was a lie.
But he could not even twitch a finger.
It was difficult to even blink once, as if his acupoints had been struck and all the strength in his body had drained away.
Meanwhile, the Alliance Leader’s cruel voice seeped into his ears, tearing his lungs apart.
“We experienced an unfortunate incident a few days ago. The Blue Wave Corps of our alliance immediately pursued them, found the culprits, and located the kidnapped female cadet. However, they brutally killed our righteous cadet who stepped forward to negotiate. That is none other than cadet Namgung Cheon. Cadet Namgung Cheon himself strongly desired to participate in our alliance’s mission to rescue the female cadet. Thus, the Blue Wave Corps Leader sent cadet Namgung Cheon for negotiation, but…”
The Alliance Leader paused again, as if trying to control his rising emotions.
Only then did murmurs begin to break out here and there.
Someone cursed the culprit, someone else mourned the dead Namgung Cheon. Some shook their heads saying they could not believe it, and the cadets of the Dragon Heaven Academy froze like ice, unable to even open their mouths.
Catching his breath for a moment, the Alliance Leader continued.
“Those vicious bastards ruthlessly killed cadet Namgung Cheon, who stepped forward righteously. In the process, the kidnapped female cadet also… ended up passing away.”
“…!”
Thud!
Gold King collapsed onto his seat. His face was pale white, as if all the blood had drained from it.
‘For Hong-er to die… My daughter… Hong-er…! Hong-er!’
Gold King covered his face with his trembling hands.
He could no longer think of anything.
His world collapsed.
Looking at Gold King with a calm gaze, the Alliance Leader took a deep breath and continued.
“I heard this news early this morning, but I could not believe it. That is why I have been waiting until now for our Divine Dragon, cadet Namgung Cheon, to return. Hoping for a miracle! Praying that such a disaster would not occur in this Jianghu! However… it seems that cadet Namgung Cheon will not be able to return.”
“What happened to those culprits?”
Someone stood up abruptly and shouted.
The Alliance Leader replied with a bitter expression.
“Those bastards were all annihilated by the Blue Wave Corps.”
“Then, the funerals of the two cadets…”
“Of course we must hold funerals. However, regrettably, we could not find the bodies of the two children. The cruel bastards used Thunderbolt Bombs to collapse the cave, also inflicting damage on the Blue Wave Corps. The Gale Squad has already finished inspecting the collapsed cave.”
At the Alliance Leader’s words, Gold King blocked his mouth.
Nausea surged from deep within his stomach.
His stomach was turning so much that he could barely sit in the spectator seats anymore.
As he stumbled to his feet, his bodyguard quickly approached to support him.
“My Lord!”
“Let, let’s… go back.”
“I will escort you.”
As Gold King spoke in a dying voice, his bodyguard quickly supported him and slowly walked away.
He did not even have the state of mind to say goodbye to Namgung Geom.
Namgung Geom did not stop the departing Gold King either.
He still did not budge, his expression frozen fiercely.
Namgung Hwa’s eyes were already moist as she tightly gripped Namgung Geom’s hand.
“Father… Cheon…”
“It is not so.”
“Yes?”
Namgung Hwa looked at Namgung Geom with a surprised expression.
Even in the midst of this, Namgung Geom’s expression looked surprisingly calm. Gazing into the air with sharp, polished eyes, he said,
“Two things. First, did they not say they failed to find the child’s body?”
“But that is because of the explosives…”
They probably couldn’t even find the body.
She could not bring herself to utter the remaining words and swallowed them. As if he had heard that silent voice, Namgung Geom continued.
“There is a saying in the Jianghu: never guarantee a death until you see the body.”
“I know. But…”
“Second, that child is not one to die easily.”
There was such solid trust underlying his voice that Namgung Hwa almost believed him on the spot.
Namgung Geom continued in his usual voice that sounded like a piece of ice.
“Is he not a child who was rejected even by the Grim Reaper? He is not a child to die like this. He is a child who has returned from death. Therefore, there is no need to despair.”
“Father…”
Namgung Hwa clenched her fists and looked at Namgung Geom.
Looking at that firm expression, her heart somehow set at ease.
Until just moments ago, it felt as though her chest were tightening, but strangely, her father’s slim hope approached her as a great reality.
Regardless of that, the Alliance Leader was continuing his speech.
“Our alliance declares at this place! We mourn the deaths of the two young heroes, and we will take bloody revenge for the two sacrificed dragons and phoenixes! Our alliance will investigate the backers of those culprits to the end and pluck out the roots of evil! For the sake of the two cadets who were sacrificed while trying to defend justice! I intend to clearly show that as long as our alliance exists, this Jianghu will not be swayed by the will of evil!”
The Alliance Leader’s voice echoed across the Grand Martial Arena.
No one shouted or cheered.
However, the Alliance Leader knew.
That a fire was already burning in the hearts of the countless people filling the spectator seats.
That trust in the Martial Alliance and resistance to injustice were spreading like wildfire.
The Alliance Leader quietly watched Gold King, who was stumbling up the stairs.
Gold King did not show any reaction.
He only seemed intent on leaving the Grand Martial Arena, supported by his bodyguard with a pale face.
However, he must have heard this entire speech.
Though he was currently in a state where he could do nothing due to the grief of losing his daughter, human psychology is bound to operate rationally when the time comes.
At that time, he would come to the alliance and offer to help with the revenge.
Because that would be the feelings of a father who had lost his only daughter.
After a long silence, someone suddenly asked.
“Then what will happen to today’s duel?”
It was the question he had been waiting for.
The Alliance Leader slowly looked around the commoners and martial artists and said,
“It will proceed as scheduled. The unorthodox and demonic factions must have wanted to shake our alliance somehow, but we will show that we are never shaken by any adversity. Though we have lost the Divine Dragon and the Phoenix, we will show that we have other talents!”
The Alliance Leader’s voice rang out loudly across the Grand Martial Arena.
The resonance shook people’s hearts, and swept by an unknown emotion, they clenched their fists tightly.
“We support the Martial Alliance!”
“We will support the Alliance Leader!”
“Please show them that justice will never yield!”
“As long as the Martial Alliance stands strong, there is no place for the wicked to stand!”
“Bloody revenge!”
“Waaaah!”
A shout filled the Grand Martial Arena.
It was not a cheer, but a cry of grief and a shout of determination.
Looking around at this sight, Murong Sin could not help but admire once again.
‘Alliance Leader…!’
He was truly a remarkable person.
In a way, since they had lost two cadets, the Martial Alliance deserved to be blamed.
However, he instantly changed the atmosphere through his tone, intonation, expression, and word choices.
Every single one of his gazes and gestures shook everyone’s perception.
As the shouting quieted down, the Alliance Leader signaled Murong Sin with his eyes.
It meant to announce the disqualification of Namgung Cheon and Jin So-hong, and to proceed with the duel as scheduled.
Murong Sin took a deep breath and shouted with a Lion’s Roar,
“With this, as Namgung Cheon is unable to participate, this duel is disqualified…”
It was at that moment.
A faint shout seemed to be heard from somewhere, and then the sound grew louder and louder.
It was definitely a sound coming from outside the Grand Martial Arena.
Because it was such a resounding battle cry, even the spectators looked at each other with bewildered expressions.
Even Gold King, who was just about to leave the spectator seats, flinched and turned around.
The sound, drawing closer and closer, finally reached the entrance of the Grand Martial Arena.
“Uaaaaap!”
In an instant, someone dashed in at high speed from the entrance of the Grand Martial Arena, soared through the air, and landed on the sparring platform in a single leap.
Tap!
“Pant, pant, paaaant…!”
A cadet who appeared like the wind and was breathing heavily.
He was definitely…!
“My goodness…! H-How did this happen?”
“Wait, that cadet is definitely…!”
“My eyes aren’t deceiving me, right?”
The murmuring spread like wildfire.
And upon seeing the opponent who suddenly appeared on the sparring platform, Murong Sin’s eyes widened as if they would tear.
The Alliance Leader in the VIP seats ended up jumping to his feet.
‘H-How…!’
That was right.
The cadet who appeared panting for breath while carrying Jin So-hong on his shoulder was without a doubt Namgung Cheon.
Namgung Cheon, covered in thick dust all over his body, lifted his head and shouted so loudly that the Grand Martial Arena shook.
“Who said I was disqualified!”
That voice shook people’s hearts.
“I-It’s really Namgung Cheon!”
“Uaaaaah! Namgung Cheon has returned!”
“The Divine Dragon has appeared! He appeared carrying the Phoenix!”
“A miracle occurred! A true miracle has occurreeed!”
Cheers began to swell, threatening to blow away the spectator seats.
Gold King, who had gone to the edge of despair, collapsed onto the spot.
“My Lord!”
“It is fine. It is fine… Everything is fine!”
Gold King laughed, brushing off his bodyguard’s hand. No, he cried. He shed endless tears of joy.
“Ah, he returned! He came back for us!”
Namgung Hwa also tightly grasped Namgung Geom’s hand.
“Father! Cheon! Cheon…!”
“I am watching.”
Even though Namgung Geom spoke stiffly in a still-cold voice, a very faint smile was hanging on the corners of his mouth.
“He is as immature as ever in causing worry.”
“Indeed.”
This time, even Namgung Hwa did not deny Namgung Geom’s words and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
The cadets of the Dragon Heaven Academy cheered at the top of their lungs, and Bi Ryang, who was watching silently, let out a chuckle.
However, Murong Sin twitched his eyebrows mercilessly with an unbelievable expression.
‘H-How…? Why is that guy…?’
He could not understand it.
Clearly, the explosives went off and the cave collapsed, so no one should have survived! Is that bastard some kind of immortal ghost?
When Murong Sin glanced at the VIP seats, the Alliance Leader also had a terrifying look in eyes.
Although the Alliance Leader rarely expressed anger, it was clear that he was furious this time.
And for good reason, since he had hyped him up so much as the Divine Dragon and whatnot, only for him to return alive and well like this!
Namgung Cheon thrust out the Emerald Silk Sword.
“Now, let us begin. Since the Divine Dragon has arrived.”