Chapter 128
“Waaaaah-!!”
“Bring a stretcher! A stretcher!”
As the Spectators let out a roar of cheers, Dongryong staggered as if the strength had drained from his body.
In response, the Murim Alliance hurriedly sent people to put Dongryong-i on a stretcher.
However…
“Master, lie down here quickly!”
“…W-wait. I am fine.”
“What…?”
“I am fin…e. So you can go back…”
Dongryong-i said it seemed he was doing so from fear that he wouldn’t be able to participate in the next Sparring Match, even as he bled profusely.
So I approached him and whispered in his ear.
“Stop it, Gaga.”
“…Yes? But then winning the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering is…”
“I’ll do it.”
“…Yes?”
As Dongryong-i looked at me in surprise, I glanced around and continued speaking.
“We are…, drawing suspicion right now.”
“…!”
On the Surface, it looked like the Spectators were cheering for Dongryong-i, but upon closer inspection, there were a few awkward gazes among them.
In truth, it must have felt Strange from the start that two Affiliated Family disciples had made it to the quarterfinals.
In the midst of that, Dongryong-i displayed a level of martial prowess that absolutely did not look like that of a Rising Star…
[He also used an unfamiliar Saber Art called the Para Demon-Slaying Saber.]
The Para Demon-Slaying Saber was a Martial Art completely unknown Under Heaven. There was a possibility that others would hear this and Judge it to be a Martial Art of the Unorthodox/Demonic Path.
In fact, the Sect captains visible far off in the distance were looking at us with gazes mixed with some bewilderment.
Especially the Murim Alliance Leader.
He was frowning quite heavily right now. Even though he was their own Strongest Under Heaven, he must have noticed that we were Strange long ago.
Furthermore…
[Damn it…]
…the Protagonist of the Mount Hua Sect visible in the distance was also scrutinizing us closely.
Perhaps that guy might even suspect us of being spies for the Demonic Cult.
“I-I’m sorry. Leader… Because of me, for no reason…”
“…”
Dongryong-i deeply bowed his head, seemingly thinking things had turned out this way because of him.
Actually, he was right.
Why was this little shit shouting the name of the Stance while using it? Thanks to that, our identities were on the verge of being completely exposed.
However…
“It’s fine, you just rest,”
“Leader…”
…since his condition wasn’t good, I didn’t go out of my way to blame Dongryong-i.
“Anyway, we’re changing the plan. I’ll win… After getting the prize, we’ll leave this place immediately.”
“…Yes.”
“So take good care of your body so we can flee right away.”
Dongryong-i nodded heavily at my order.
* * *
In the end, Dongryong-i forfeited due to his injuries, allowing Somyung to quickly secure a spot in the finals.
And the Underground Sparring matches to claim the one remaining spot in the finals began.
The third match of the quarterfinals was a Sparring Match between Zhongnan Sect’s Squad Leader Geum Sa-hwi and the Mount Hua Sect’s Protagonist Ha Jinseong.
As the two men stepped onto the Sparring Stage, the people cheered loudly.
“Waaaaaah-!!”
“Zhongnan Sect-!! Zhongnan Sect-!!”
“Mount Hua Sect is Shanxi’s Foremost Sword Sect! Waaaaah-!!”
The traditional rival relationship exists between the Zhongnan Sect and the Mount Hua Sect.
The Chief Disciple of the Zhongnan Sect, which has shown the best results up to today in this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, and the divine Physician of the Mount Hua Sect, who has recently made great leaps.
People expected this Sparring Match to proceed very fiercely.
And that wasn’t much different from my thoughts.
[The Protagonist hides his strength until the very end in the Original Novel too.]
Although his skills already far surpassed the level of a Rising Star, because he was hiding his strength, the Protagonist barely scraped by to win the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering in the Original Novel as well.
Since the actual Sparring matches had proceeded without much difference from the novel, I expected the Protagonist to proceed with the Sparring Match while hiding his strength this time too.
[But that guy Geum Sa-hwi isn’t exactly an easy opponent to face.]
He was the Chief Disciple of one of the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance. Furthermore, since he had learned the Zhongnan Sword Art, it would be hard To Break Through him easily.
If the Protagonist proceeded with the Sparring Match while hiding his strength, Internal Energy/Qi.
That was my judgment.
And so the Sparring Match began…
“Now then, the two of you may begin the Sparring Match!”
Paaaah-.
“…Hmm?”
…I could immediately sense something Strange.
The moment the Sparring Match began, a refreshing energy gathered on the Sparring Stage. And at the same time, the scent of plum blossoms vibrated through the air.
[Don’t tell me…]
And while I was thinking 'don’t tell me'…
KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-!!
“…!”
“…!”
A Sword Strike that was like a literal blade surged toward Geum Sa-hwi.
“This crazy…”
I was so surprised that I muttered to myself like that.
I wasn’t the only one in shock. Everyone in the Sparring Arena was frozen, seemingly astonished by the display Ha Jinseong had just shown.
It made sense, as Ha Jinseong’s Sword Strike just now was several levels above the Sparring Match between Dongryong-i and Peng Ji-sang right before this.
Right now, that guy was revealing everything he had without any thought of hiding his strength.
“…Keheuk.”
He had somehow managed to react, as Geum Sa-hwi was still standing on the Sparring Stage. But Geum Sa-hwi’s body, which the blade-like Sword Strike had already passed through, was a battered mess.
And without waiting for him, Ha Jinseong leaped and struck out with his Sword…
SMASH-!
Clatter / Bang-!
…Geum Sa-hwi, who hadn’t let go of his Sword, was sent flying right off the Sparring Stage.
The Sparring Match that was expected to proceed more fiercely than ever ended in vain after just two exchanges.
“…The winner of this Sparring Match is Master Ha Jinseong of the Mount Hua Sect.”
“…”
“…A-ah, what is this?”
The Referee declared Ha Jinseong’s victory, but the spectators, who had fallen into shock, were engulfed in silence without even a moment to let out a cheer.
And in the meantime, the place Ha Jinseong’s gaze headed toward was none other than…
[Look at this Bastard…?]
…me.
I could feel the guy intentionally staring holes into me.
As I saw his gaze full of suspicion and hostility, it seemed he had also noticed the fact that I was Dongryong-i’s Leader.
[If so, was that a warning just now?]
When one thought about it that way, it made sense.
Unlike him in his past life, I, who had intruded upon the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, must have looked Suspicious.
Guys using a Saber Art they didn’t know and had never heard of before must be Suspicious.
Perhaps he might even think of me as a spy for the Demonic Cult.
Thinking about it that way, it was understandable that the guy was showing such a radical display at that moment.
Because that guy must be someone with a deep grudge against the Demonic Cult, no less than I.
Right…, I Understand all of that, but…
“…This pisses me off.”
Look at that Bastard’s insolent gaze. He acted all innocent and nice, but now he looks ready to chew me up and spit me out.
Besides…
“Sa-Hwi-ya-!”
“Senior Martial Brother-!!”
“Hurry to the Medical Hall-!!”
…what sin did that guy, who was the Protagonist’s Sparring Match opponent, commit?
[He was a pretty decent guy in his own right…]
I clicked my tongue as I watched the Zhongnan Sect’s Chief Disciple Geum Sa-hwi being carried off to the Medical Hall after being beaten to a pulp.
I could Understand if he did that to me or Dongryong-i, but that guy Geum Sa-hwi was innocent, wasn’t he?
[Come to think of it, he didn’t really like the Zhongnan Sect either.]
There were probably some Personal Feelings mixed in as well.
“Huu…, right.”
Was it because I had grown attached to the Zhongnan Sect? It felt like something hot was surging up in my chest.
So I let out a breath To Suppress my anger.
And without avoiding Ha Jinseong’s eyes that were glaring at me, I met his gaze.
We locked eyes for a long time.
* * *
“N-next participants, please prepare for your Sparring Match!”
Even before the lingering aftermath of the previous Sparring Match had ended, the time for the next Sparring Match arrived.
It was my turn to go out.
“…Shadowless Taoist Priest.”
“…”
Unlike when Dongryong-i or Geum Sa-hwi went out, the disciples of the Zhongnan Sect looked at me with gazes mixed with concern.
The aftermath of the shock from just before still remained with them.
So I headed toward the Sparring Stage without saying anything in particular to them.
It was then.
“…Mu, mu-yeong-a.”
…There was a hand that stopped my footsteps. So I turned around to see the Sect Leader looking at me with a somewhat dazed expression.
“T-the Sword just now…, was absolutely not at the level of a Rising Star. M-Mount Hua Sect…, what on Earth has this guy Myeonghwa done…”
Perhaps still out of his mind, the Sect Leader continued to ramble in a confused voice.
“Your next opponent is the child with the highest seniority among the Mount Hua Sect’s children who entered the tournament. His achievements will surely be the most outstanding as well, so…”
“…”
“…I-it’s okay if you forfeit…”
Forfeiting before even fighting.
Could there be anything as humiliating to a Sect as that?
The disgrace of the Sect was the disgrace of the Sect Leader. However, Zhongnan Sect Leader Jong Yeon-myeong was speaking to me like that as if he was willing to bear such disgrace.
It seemed…, he had been shocked by Geum Sa-hwi being carried out just now.
So I let out a sigh and spoke to him in a Serious voice.
“Sect Leader.”
“…Yes, speak. I will respect whatever decision you…”
“I’ll be back.”
“…!”
And before I could even hear the Sect Leader’s answer, I turned my back and headed toward the Sparring Stage.
“…Go and take care of yourself.”
Like that, I stepped onto the Sparring Stage while listening to the Sect Leader’s Faint Voice.
* * *
“Mount Hua Sect’s Disciple un-hyeon requests a Sparring Match.”
“Ah, yes… I am mu-yeong of Jongrimun.”
My Sparring Match opponent this time was a guy named un-hyeon, the Chief Disciple of the Mount Hua Sect. Coincidentally, it was the exact opposite situation of Ha Jinseong competing with the Zhongnan Sect’s Chief Disciple in the Sparring Match just before.
“Um…”
“…?”
However, un-hyeon frowned and spoke to me, as if something was weighing on his mind. So, curious about what he was going to say, I listened…
“I apologize. It seems my Emissary’s Technique was too excessive in the Sparring Match earlier… As that guy’s Senior-most Martial Brother, I offer my apologies.”
…It seemed the Protagonist’s actions from earlier were bothering him.
But well, since the guy in front of me wasn’t the one involved either, it wasn’t like I could blame him, so I was about to roughly nod my head.
However, …
“…Yes, well.”
“…Still.”
“Hmm?”
“Isn’t this something that always happens in a Sparring Match once in a while?”
“…Eh?”
…I ended up pausing for a moment at the guy’s next words.