Chapter 87: Chapter 87
When Zhuge Rin appeared holding a greatsword the size of her own body, the crowd murmured.
“Whoa, that small woman wields such a huge sword?”
“Look here. She is a martial artist. A martial artist who flies through the sky and leaps across rivers.”
Surprisingly, the ordinary commoners who did not know martial arts accepted it more easily. In their eyes, martial artists were some kind of superhuman beings beyond ordinary humans, so they simply took it as a matter of course.
On the other hand, martial artists were different.
“She specifically uses a sword like that? It must be a disadvantage, surely?”
“What is she doing holding a weapon that doesn’t fit the Zhuge sword art? Ah, is it to go easy on him since her opponent is a new recruit?”
Knowing martial arts as they did, they knew well just how inefficient it was for Zhuge Rin to swing such a massive greatsword.
Of course, Seok Do-myeong, who stood directly facing her atop the sparring platform, felt completely different.
‘F-Fuck…’
Something had gone wrong.
He had merely regarded this as an opportunity to widely spread his name by defeating Zhuge Rin, who was famous for being weak.
Yet from Zhuge Rin’s entire body, having brought that massive sword up from beneath the platform with total ease, pressure that only Seok Do-myeong could sense was pouring forth.
Seok Do-myeong was merely weaker compared to the top five passers; in any case, he was a martial artist born and raised in a prestigious clan called the Seok Clan Manor.
Instinctively, he realized that Zhuge Rin was not an opponent he could match.
But he could not reverse his decision at this point.
“I didn’t expect Junior Seok to choose me, you know? It’s slightly offensive.”
Yet contrary to her words, Zhuge Rin’s expression was bright. For a moment, the thought crossed his mind that she was pretty, but that was not the important thing.
Seok Do-myeong was a man who was quick-witted and sharp in thought.
In an instant, he decided upon the attitude he should take.
“I have always admired you, Senior, for proudly ascending to the vice squad leader seat in a woman’s body. Since a wonderful opportunity has arisen, please grant me a lesson. It is an honor.”
He even assumed a stylish cupped-fist salute. Because he had deliberately infused internal energy so that it reached the spectator seats, cheers erupted from among the crowd.
Of course, it did not work on those who knew Seok Do-myeong’s personality and Zhuge Rin’s usual reputation.
Zhuge Rin wore a peculiar smile.
“Ah, so the martial world is a men’s world?”
“N-No, that’s not it…”
“Women should go home and do laundry? Wow, there are still people who think like that these days?”
Seok Do-myeong’s face turned completely white.
“It is not that, but rather that a woman’s strength tends to be weaker than men’s, and at any rate, that…”
He babbled incoherently.
Of course, Zhuge Rin also knew his words were not meant in that sense, so she did not press the matter further.
“Now, shall we begin?”
Zhuge Rin gave a glance toward the official in charge of conducting the duel.
Then the approaching martial official briefly reminded both of them of the rules and asked.
“Vice Squad Leader, will you yield the first attack?”
“Well, shall I?”
Zhuge Rin shrugged her shoulders.
Originally, it was custom for a senior to concede about three stances to a junior.
“Very well. Then until Alliance Member Seok Do-myeong’s three stances conclude, Vice Squad Leader Zhuge Rin is permitted only defense. Then…”
The martial official pulled out a small ball from his robes. At that, Seok Do-myeong and Zhuge Rin looked at it with puzzled eyes.
“What is that?”
When Zhuge Rin asked, the martial official smiled gently.
He too had found it wondrous upon seeing this object for the first time.
“It is an item crafted by the Thunderbolt Gate upon the Alliance Leader’s personal commission. Its name is the explosive sphere, and it is truly marvelous. You will see when it is lit.”
Zhuge Rin looked at the explosive sphere with an intrigued expression.
The Thunderbolt Gate was in the past part of the Unorthodox Factions, a clan of madmen obsessed with gunpowder and explosions, but when pushed to the brink of extermination by a notorious villain of the past generation, they had requested help from the Martial Alliance and crossed over to the Righteous Path.
At that time, opposition within the Martial Alliance was fierce, but not a single person doubted the capability of the Thunderbolt Gate.
To think it was a device created by such a Thunderbolt Gate.
Soon, the martial official tossed the explosive sphere high into the sky. Because it was imbued with internal energy, it soared so high it seemed to touch the clouds.
Not only the two on the platform, but the spectators and alliance members also lifted their heads high with intrigued faces.
Soon, as though its momentum was exhausted, the ascent of the explosive sphere stopped, just before it fell back down.
Boom!
True to its name, the explosive sphere burst, creating colorful flowers of fire in all directions.
“Waaahhhh!!”
A truly tremendous roar erupted.
If it was this bright and vivid despite being broad daylight, detonating it at night would surely be a breathtaking spectacle.
“Y-Young Hero Cheon! Look at that! That! Isn’t it incredibly wondrous?”
Song Yi-yeon made a fuss and pointed at the explosive sphere. However, Cheon Woo-jin gave no answer. Thinking that Young Hero Cheon had little interest in such child’s play, he looked to the side, only to see Cheon Woo-jin’s jaw hanging wide open as if about to dislocate.
“…”
While he did not bat an eye at popping a person’s head open, he marveled at something exploding in the sky like a child.
He was truly an incomprehensible young hero.
Amidst Song Yi-yeon thinking so, the duel began.
It was Seok Do-myeong’s opening attack.
‘Since it has come to this…’
He had already sensed his defeat. Yet his determination to properly make his name known remained intact.
Seok Do-myeong took a stance. The Seok Clan Manor was also a prestigious clan recognized for its swordsmanship in its region.
His family’s ultimate technique, the Flying Heavenly Flower Garden Sword.
It was a sword technique said to have been passed down to the household when a celestial maiden descended one night into the courtyard flower garden of the Seok Clan, who originally made a living selling rice, and performed a sword dance.
Of course, such legends existed in every sect and clan.
Seok Do-myeong’s sword drew graceful arcs like the movements of a celestial maiden and surged toward Zhuge Rin. Because it was a rather stylish trajectory, even alliance members who had ridiculed Seok Do-myeong as an empty show-off let out their own gasps of admiration.
Seok Do-myeong’s feet moved busily. With each step he took, destructive force poured into the graceful sword art.
Soon reaching right before Zhuge Rin’s nose, he swung his sword.
Swish!
Seok Do-myeong’s sword fell splendidly, shattering the sunlight.
It was so flashy and magnificent that even the Black Tortoise Squad members who knew the difference in their martial prowess thought, ‘Uh, she won’t fail to block that, will she?’
Soon, Seok Do-myeong’s sword collided with Zhuge Rin’s massive heavy sword.
Clang.
That was the end. Compared to the flashy, drawn-out prelude, it was an incomparably hollow sound.
“Bwahahaha!”
Laughter literally burst forth from among the spectators.
Song Yi-yeon clutched his belly entirely, and Namgung Jin and Tang So-yeon also chuckled, wondering what kind of fellow he was.
Even Zhuge Rin was holding back her laughter with all her might under the pretext of showing courtesy to her opponent.
Only three people.
Seok Do-myeong himself, and his father, Clan Head Seok.
And Cheon Woo-jin alone were not laughing.
The two did not laugh out of shame, and Cheon Woo-jin did not laugh because he saw something in Seok Do-myeong’s sword that others failed to see.
‘The martial art of the Flying Heavenly Sword Maiden?’
Master White Elder taught that all martial arts in the present era were created by eight great individuals.
One of them was the Flying Heavenly Sword Maiden.
The reason Cheon Woo-jin knew this was because White Elder’s martial art was also one of three martial arts created by the Flying Heavenly Sword Maiden.
His master had said that even mastering just one of the three martial arts was enough to stand at the pinnacle of an era.
‘Does the Seok Clan Manor know as well?’
Then again, since it was the root of their own martial arts, it would be strange if they did not know.
While Cheon Woo-jin entertained such thoughts.
Clang, clang echoed two more times, and the three stances conceded by Zhuge Rin came to an end.
The crowd’s laughter did not cease.
Soon, Zhuge Rin gripped firmly the sword she had merely held silently.
Her stance shifted from defense to offense.
From that alone, Seok Do-myeong felt as though the air was pressing heavily upon his shoulders.
“Junior Seok. You must block well.”
Her voice was soft, but Seok Do-myeong knew.
That it was words uttered before launching an immense attack, like ‘Clench your molars.’
Soon, Vice Squad Leader Zhuge Rin seemed to lightly tap the ground with the tip of her feet, when…
Whoosh!
She appeared right before his nose in a literal instant.
It was a speed Seok Do-myeong could not possibly react to.
Soon, a shadow fell over his head.
Owing to the unusually sunny weather, the shadow cast by the sun blocked by the massive heavy sword felt even darker. Much like Seok Do-myeong’s mood.
The heavy sword came falling down. Seok Do-myeong also had no intention of just watching and raised his sword, but the moment Zhuge Rin’s heavy sword drew near above his head.
Overwhelmed by pressure as if Mount Tai were collapsing, he cried out without realizing it.
“I-I surrender!”
Zhuge Rin’s sword came to a dead halt right above his head.
Seok Do-myeong’s face flushed crimson. Watching this, the face of the Seok Clan Manor Head flushed red as well.
“Wow, it’s my first time at a sparring tournament today, but it’s more entertaining than I thought?”
“This year seems particularly entertaining.”
The response from the audience was also great.
Starting with the dazzling explosive sphere signaling the beginning, the recruit’s stylish sword technique, to the beautiful female master swinging a sword the size of her own body with skill.
There was truly an abundance of spectacles.
Thus, the first duel ended.
When Zhuge Rin returned, the Black Tortoise Squad members gave her big thumbs-up. In particular, Song Yi-yeon’s reaction was the most enthusiastic.
“Wah! Long live the Vice Squad Leader!”
“Why make such a fuss?”
“Heheh.”
Song Yi-yeon scratched his head awkwardly.
At that, Zhuge Rin’s eyes narrowed. Song Yi-yeon’s personality was originally cheerful, but today he looked exceptionally delighted.
“You bet money, didn’t you?”
“Ahem.”
Song Yi-yeon cleared his throat pointedly.
Many gamblers flocked to the sparring tournament.
They wagered money on the victories and defeats of the duels.
The Martial Alliance was also aware of this fact. They did not strictly sanction it. They merely advised alliance members not to wager excessive sums.
“How much did you bet?”
Zhuge Rin was inwardly curious.
Duel gambling at the tournament operated in quite a unique format.
Information about new alliance recruits was provided beforehand. Naturally, only brief backgrounds or exam rankings.
The opponent was undisclosed. It was natural since they were designated only after stepping onto the platform.
In that manner, people placed bets on the recruit without knowing the opponent. For example, the previous round was wagered on Seok Do-myeong’s victory or defeat.
As money was involved, the possibility of match-fixing could not be ruled out. However, in the history of the sparring tournament, no such incident had occurred.
Because the organizers of the duel betting were merchants employed by the Martial Alliance. There was no low-ranking recruit audacious enough to stage a fraud against the Martial Alliance.
Song Yi-yeon had bet on Seok Do-myeong’s defeat. Of course, personal feelings played a part, and he had actually anticipated to some extent that Seok Do-myeong might pick Vice Squad Leader Zhuge Rin.
It was the outcome of accurately grasping and weighing Zhuge Rin’s reputation and Seok Do-myeong’s personality.
Song Yi-yeon confidently held up three fingers.
“Wow, you bet three taels of silver?”
Zhuge Rin admired genuinely. She knew the wealth of the Anhui Song Clan was substantial, but to think he bet three silver taels on such gambling.
But Song Yi-yeon wore an expression asking what on earth she was saying.
“What do you mean petty silver?”
Song Yi-yeon had wagered three gold taels.
Not only Zhuge Rin, but all the Black Tortoise Squad members were startled.
“You bet gold on a duel where you don’t even know the opponent? Be honest. You heard in advance from that fellow Seok Do-myeong that he would designate the vice squad leader, didn’t you? You’re going to get investigated by the Military Strategy Department at this rate.”
If an unreasonable sum was wagered or an unusual sign was detected in the duel, an investigation by the Military Strategy Department would be launched. This was why corruption had never occurred in the betting pools of the tournament thus far.
Song Yi-yeon shrugged his shoulders.
“It would be great to be investigated. Since I committed no crime, I can comfortably share friendly ties with the strategists.”
In the meantime, the Martial Alliance leadership concluded their deliberation and selected the next duel participant.
Originally, the top five ranked recruits were placed toward the later part of the tournament. Because showcasing progressively better duels increased the crowd’s entertainment.
But the Martial Alliance leadership had grown anxious.
Because of the worldly flashy yet anticlimactic ultimate technique shown by Seok Do-myeong, people had begun finding the tournament entertaining.
The issue was that it was not entertainment in the sense of being splendid or awe-inspiring.
Everyone was saying it was entertaining in the sense that it was hilarious.
Thanks to Seok Do-myeong, the Martial Alliance was being turned into a laughingstock in real time.
It was an issue that could by no means be overlooked. For that reason, they decided to send out one of the top five recruits.
Naturally, Namgung Jin, Tang So-yeon, and Jin Un were excluded. Because the Nine Great Sects and Five Great Clans supporting the Martial Alliance would never accept it. They wished for their successors to be the protagonists of this tournament.
Yet nor could they send out the first-place recruit, Cheon Woo-jin, so soon, meaning in the end only one person remained.
The presiding martial official stepped onto the platform and called out Song Yi-yeon’s name loudly. At the same time, Song Yi-yeon grinned.
“Second Son of Anhui! Song Yi-yeon!”
“Handsome Man of Anhui! Song Yi-yeon!”
Rather peculiar cheers were bursting from the spectator stands.
They were merchants trading with the Song Clan, led by Song Ha-baek, Patriarch of the Anhui Song Clan. In the midst of walking on eggshells around the Namgung Clan, they hailed him not as the eldest son, but as the second son.
Laughter burst out here and there. Contrary to the leadership’s intentions, the Martial Alliance was becoming a bit funnier.
Of course, Song Yi-yeon was not a man who felt embarrassed by such things. Rather, he relished people’s laughter and cheers.
“Seniors, my turn has finally arrived.”
Song Yi-yeon chuckled with a peculiar grin. Because it was an insidious and solemn smile he did not normally wear, the Black Tortoise Squad members thought, ‘Ah, this fellow has lost his mind from excessive embarrassment.’
But Song Yi-yeon’s following words were conversely sufficient to blow their minds.
“You all like money, don’t you?”
Of course they did.
Where in the world was there a person who disliked money?
“I will step onto the platform and buy some time. Since bets can be placed until an opponent is designated, everyone bet on my victory. If you run right now, you won’t be late.”
There was always power in Song Yi-yeon’s words.
Was it due to his handsome appearance? Or his pleasant voice?
Or perhaps it was because of his attitude filled with conviction.
In any case, the important thing was that a desire to make money instantly bloomed within the hearts of the Black Tortoise Squad martial artists.
If he spoke with such confidence, it was truly an opportunity. Led by Jang Woo-pyeong, the Black Tortoise Squad members rushed out in a flurry.
* * *
Song Yi-yeon stalled for time until the Black Tortoise Squad members returned. It was possible because his wit with words was superb, and because the members sprinted like fire had caught their heels.
After confirming that all the Black Tortoise Squad members had returned.
Basking in their gaze brimming with anticipation, Song Yi-yeon spoke.
“I will nominate.”
“Right. Do nominate around now. Your silver tongue is entertaining, but we gathered to duel after all.”
Amidst the presiding official’s gentle chiding, Song Yi-yeon grinned and spoke more proudly than ever.
“Young Hero Namgung Jin, the Little Sword Dragon. Come up. Today, let us determine once and for all who the eldest son of Anhui truly is.”
At the exact same moment, curses burst from the spectator stands.
“You son of a bitchhhh!”
Naturally, it was the Black Tortoise Squad martial artists.
Never did they imagine that fellow would designate the Little Sword Dragon. He had even thoroughly scratched his pride by bringing up the eldest son of Anhui.