Chapter 131
A space where the tension of impending battle lingered.
The heavy silence maintained by over a dozen men with tightly closed mouths was broken by someone’s shout.
“Zhongnan, please come outside now.”
“…”
This was Zhongnan’s Waiting Room ahead of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering finals.
As I heard the man’s words and stood up from my seat, the other Zhongnan disciples patted my shoulders and followed behind me.
“Don’t feel pressured.”
“Show them the power of the Zhongnan Affiliated Family!”
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
Dongryong-i was absent. His physical condition wasn’t good, so I had told him to wait at the Lodging.
Anyway, receiving the cheers of the Zhongnan disciples, I headed outside one step at a time.
And…
“…Sect Leader.”
“…”
…In front of the door stood the Zhongnan Sect Leader, Jong Yeon-Myeong.
Whether he was nervous or deep in thought about something, his expression was not easy to describe.
He was merely staring blankly at me. Then, he was struggling slightly to part his lips…
“…Go and return safely.”
…He left me with a single remark.
“…”
Even if I won the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering today, I wouldn’t be able to leave right away. There would probably be a few more days where I’d have to see this person’s face.
However…
“…Yes, I will be back.”
…I almost blurted out something else instead of those words just now.
Not that I would be back…, but that I was sorry for deceiving him all this time.
I was actually not a Zhongnan disciple.
‘Damn, I almost made a mistake.’
The Zhongnan Sect Leader’s expression somehow looked like a golden retriever, so I almost helplessly spilled all my secrets.
Anyway, I conveyed my greetings to the Sect Leader like that and headed outside.
“Waaaaaah-!!”
“Zhongnan-!! Zhongnan-!!”
“Shanxi Yu Family-!! Shanxi Yu Family-!!”
“Jongrimun-!! Jongrimun-!!”
Although it was hastily arranged after the semifinals had been skipped, it was still the finals, so the Spectator Stands were completely packed with people.
Feeling a strange emotion from them cheering as they looked at me, I stepped onto the Sparring Stage. Up there, my opponent for the finals, Somyung-i, was already waiting.
‘She must be nervous.’
Since Somyung-i knew my true identity, I thought she might give up on the Sparring Match or be in despair, but that wasn’t the case.
That expression.
Somyung-i still hadn’t given up on winning the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
Even knowing how strong I was, she was thinking of trying to win against me.
‘This is going to be annoying.’
Naturally, I would face Somyung-i while holding back my strength.
If it were the old Somyung-i, doing so wouldn’t have been a problem at all. But the current Somyung-i was different.
She had gained a certain level of enlightenment and used a Sword Art that was tricky to deal with.
Perhaps the one who might end up getting hurt from underestimating the opponent could be me…
Therefore, I decided to do my best in this Sparring Match.
Thinking that, I looked at Somyung-i with somewhat affectionate eyes.
“…Somyung-a.”
“…What.”
When I called her in a sweet and friendly tone, she replied warily. Looking at her, I brought up a story from the past as if I missed it.
“Standing here together like this really reminds me of when we first met. Right?”
The days when it was just the five of us - me, Dongryong-i, Bang Sam-i, Bongchun-i, and the Youngest - doing banditry in the Shanxi Region were a time.
Kya…, my mind was truly at ease back then.
Since then, I had been going through various things, and now I was imitating a Rising Star of the Righteous Faction, which didn’t suit me at all.
And all of this, as expected, started from when I met Somyung-i.
As I made a faint expression while thinking about the past, Yoo Somyung frowned and asked me.
“…Why are you suddenly bringing up the past?”
“Because there was something I really wanted to tell you.”
“Something you really wanted to tell me?”
“Yeah, Somyung-a. We’ve gone through a lot together up until now. I’ve finally realized it. I…”
“…!”
As if she anticipated what was coming next, Somyung-i’s face instantly turned red.
And the moment she audibly gulped…!
“Now then, the two of you may begin the Sparring Match!”
…I immediately leaped toward Somyung-i and swung my sword.
Clang-!
“Kyaaak-!!”
Struggling to block my sudden Surprise Attack, Yoo Somyung asked with a bewildered expression.
“W-What is this all of a sudden…! W-What was it that you wanted to tell me-!”
“What did I want to tell you?”
Thwack-!
I kicked Somyung-i in the stomach and continued speaking.
“You shouldn’t let your guard down before a Sparring Match, you idiot.”
“Keuhuk-! Y-You’re ignoring me again-!”
If I had ignored her, I wouldn’t have used such a petty method.
It couldn’t be helped if I wanted to catch Somyung-i while holding back my strength as much as possible.
“You haven’t changed at all since we first met, Somyung-a!”
“Eeeek-!”
With me taking the upper hand like that, the Sparring Match between Somyung-i and me began.
* * *
The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering Final Sparring Match began.
“Hmm…”
“I-It is a truly realistic Sparring Match…”
Launching a Surprise Attack right at the start seemed a bit cowardly for a Sparring Competition among Rising Stars of the Righteous Faction, but in truth, they were just thankful that this Sparring Match was being held at all.
An absolutely massive incident had occurred in the morning.
‘It was truly absurd.’
Murim Alliance Leader Namgung Hwa-Cheon shook his head as he thought about what he had experienced in the morning.
In the Murim World, courtesy was just as important as chivalry.
Yet a mere Rising Star had dared to yell at him, someone whose seniority was vastly higher and who also held the position of Murim Alliance Leader.
It was utter insubordination. Normally, it would have been absolutely unforgivable.
However…
“…Um, Alliance Leader.”
“Ah…, Sect Leader.”
“Thank you for earlier… For generously letting it slide…”
“…”
…The Murim Alliance Leader had generously let it slide, just as Mount Hua Sect Leader Myeonghwa said.
Not only did he keep the matter quiet, but he also processed the forfeit exactly as Ha Jinseong wanted.
“…Not at all. The relationship between the Murim Alliance and the Mount Hua Sect shouldn’t be ruined over something like this.”
This was due to the Murim Alliance Leader’s choice, as he feared a deterioration in relations with the Mount Hua Sect.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t offended, but what was more important than that was the Mount Hua Sect itself.
“Thank you… Thank you very much.”
“Haha. I have already forgotten it, so please do not bow your head any longer. And…”
Namgung Hwa-Cheon continued speaking while fixing his gaze on the Final Sparring Match.
“…I have sent the Dark Hall’s Pursuit Squad after the child, so do not worry. They are highly skilled individuals, so they will be able to find him quickly.”
“…Yes.”
Ha Jinseong of the Mount Hua Sect yelled in the Alliance Leader’s Office and left as if running away from home. When Mount Hua Sect Leader Myeonghwa grew anxious over this, Namgung Hwa-Cheon even provided Murim Alliance personnel for support.
This was probably the best consideration he could offer after being insulted.
Namgung Hwa-Cheon wanted to wrap up this incident with the Mount Hua Sect at this level.
However…
“But…, Alliance Leader. Jinseong is not the type of kid to speak nonsense.”
“…”
“Just in case, perhaps we should raise the security level of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering a bit…”
…Mount Hua Sect Leader Myeonghwa touched a nerve with Namgung Hwa-Cheon. At this, Namgung Hwa-Cheon furrowed his brows and spoke.
“No, why are you acting like this too, Sect Leader? Do you actually believe that child’s sophistry?”
“But…”
“Everything he claimed back then was absurd. And security? This is the Murim Alliance Headquarters. Where is there a place in this World with stricter security than here?”
“…”
Since Namgung Hwa-Cheon’s words were mostly true, Myeonghwa could not say anything further.-Cheon’s words were mostly true, Myeonghwa could not say anything further.
“Let’s just watch for now. Yes? If a problem arises, we can deal with it later.”
As he said that, Namgung Hwa-Cheon’s eyes were tracking Mu-Yeong, the supposed disciple of Jongrimun.
He had noticed the guy’s strangeness a while ago, but raising the issue now would turn the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering into a mess. Namgung Hwa-Cheon was planning to finish the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering first and set everything straight later.
“…Yes, understood.”
Unable to go against the Murim Alliance Leader’s words any longer, Myeonghwa nodded and turned his eyes to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering Sparring Match.
‘Jin-A…, what on earth are you thinking…’
Inwardly, he was filled with worry for his disciple.
* * *
“Heave-ho.”
The Leader had told him to just rest and recuperate, but as a Subordinate, he couldn’t just lie around, so Dongryong-i dragged his aching body and headed for the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering Sparring Arena.
It felt awkward to go to the Zhongnan waiting seats at this point, so Dongryong-i went to the general spectator stands instead.
Of course, the sparring had already started, so there were no seats left, but Dongryong-i could still see the Leader, even if only from afar.
“Waaaaaah-!!”
“That’s Jongrimun for you-!!”
For reference, the Leader had the upper hand against the young lady of the Shanxi Yu Family.
To everyone else, it looked like quite a fierce match, but Dongryong-i could tell.
‘He’s going really easy on her….’
That his Leader was hiding a great deal of his strength.
“Still, at that level, nothing bad should happen….”
Seeing the Leader face Young Lady Yu with room to spare even while holding back, Dongryong-i felt relieved.
And just as Dongryong-i was focused on watching the match….
“…Escort Dong.”
“……!”
…A very familiar voice came from beside him.
“…….”
He could tell who it was from the voice alone, so Dongryong-i didn’t turn his head.
If anything, he twisted his body the other way as if to run.
Then the voice came once more.
“Escort Dong….”
“…You’ve got the wrong person.”
That couldn’t be, but it had to be the wrong person. Dongryong-i tried to pretend he didn’t know her to the very end, despite the woman’s desperate calls.
But just then…!
“Escort Dong…!”
“I don’t know anyone like tha…, …!”
Dongryong-i, whose senses were sharper than an ordinary person’s, felt something.
And the moment he felt it, he turned around as if he’d gone back to being her guard of old, and stepped in front of her.
And the instant Dongryong-i moved….
Kwagwagwagwang-!!!
…An earth-shaking roar rang out.
* * *
Chwaaaak-!!
“Ouch.”
“Ngh….”
Imitating Zhongnan’s sword while trying to pin down Somyung-i was truly difficult.
Zhongnan’s sword didn’t suit me to begin with, and Somyung-i’s sword was soft and tricky to deal with.
On top of that, having to hold back my strength while fighting her was a real pain.
But now the end was in sight.
“Somyung, that’s not going to cut it.”
“Huff…, huff…, shut up-!”
Still, there was a gap between Somyung-i and me. No matter how much I held back, and no matter how much Somyung-i had grown, it was still impossible for her to overturn that gap at this level.
Perhaps she realized it all too well herself, because Somyung-i looked frustrated.
At that, I raised my sword. To deliver the final blow to the exhausted girl.
Seuk-.
Somyung-i also readied her sword technique for one last stand.
I gave her as much of an opening as I could, then leapt.
Paat-!
‘I’ll finish this!’
I saw Somyung-i trying to link her Sword Formula as she watched me in the air, but her stance, with her stamina already spent, was riddled with openings.
I picked one of them and was about to strike down hard, but….
‘……!’
…I sensed something, dropped straight down from the air, and grabbed Somyung-i’s sword with my bare hand.
Kwak-!
“…Y-you, what are you…!”
As I held her blade and blood dripped from my hand drop by drop, she was flustered, but I grabbed her shoulder instead and pulled her toward me.
And the moment I held her in my arms….
Kwagwagwagwang-!!!
…With a tremendous roar, I saw the towering Murim Alliance headquarters building half collapse.
“Uh-uh-uh-uh-!”
“D-dangerous!”
And the debris began to fly straight toward the Sparring Arena.