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Chapter 153: Friendship Martial Arts Tournament (5)

Swish.

Swish.

—Cawwwwwk!

A chilling sound spread across the ground.

The earth was littered with severed flesh, drenched in blood.

I prayed for the calamity to pass, but reality turned a deaf ear.

It merely howled with indifference.

“Help, please…”

Swish!

The fleeing man’s neck was severed cleanly.

Blood sprayed wildly in all directions, yet not a single stain marred the killer’s attire.

The strange sight was akin to droplets of blood fleeing the scene.

A man hiding behind the wall trembled, gripping his shoulders before darting off in the opposite direction.

His terrified legs struggled to obey, but he had to force himself to move.

“I need to inform the main palace…!”

A monster had appeared.

Plans needed to be revised.

“How did they find out?”

The man couldn’t comprehend.

He had heard about the downfall of the Sichuan branch months ago.

That had happened because the foolish Ya Hyeoljeok acted against the Gungju’s wishes.

They’d been caught just for being reckless.

Not to mention, they had even lost an important flower.

Such a dimwit. The man thought of Ya Hyeoljeok at that time.

This place is different from there.

They hadn’t kidnapped any martial artists, and given that Shaolin and the Martial Alliance were nearby, they had moved much more discreetly without leaving a trace.

It was as though the world’s best swordsman couldn’t even detect what lay there.

Then just what…!

What in the world is that monster?

How did it figure things out and launch a surprise attack?

Even alone.

Crunch.

The man gritted his teeth as he pushed his strength into his legs, biting down hard.

Just before, he had seen the branch leader’s severed face.

He had witnessed a seasoned martial artist fall to a mere blow.

“Did he… even wield a sword?”

He couldn’t remember.

Everything blurred under the overwhelming fear.

He simply ran.

Thoughts of needing to inform the Gungju danced in his mind.

“Just a little farther…!”

There was not long left until the escape entrance.

If he crossed over there, he would be alright….

Swish.

Thud…!

His neck was chopped off, and his body crumpled onto the ground.

Thus, the last survivor left in the branch fell into oblivion.

Rustle….

In the silence that enveloped the branch, a calm set of footsteps rang out ominously.

Despite slaughtering dozens of martial artists, there was not a single scratch on the killer’s body; it was pristine.

Though countless butchered corpses lay scattered across the floor, the architect of this chaos held no sword in hand.

“I’m sorry.”

In the hollow atmosphere, a weak voice echoed through the cave.

Who was this apology for?

The solitary figure merely muttered to herself.

“I’m sorry for making you use my body without your consent to do such things.”

The one she spoke to wouldn’t hear it.

She had wished for them not to see, forcing them to rest.

“…I truly am sorry, but I need to ask just a bit more of you.”

After all, she wouldn’t be able to linger for long.

Using this child’s body would likely be her last chance.

She knew that the timing would only hasten.

Nevertheless, it must be done.

A late apology wouldn’t be possible.

The karma she couldn’t take care of yesterday would be borne by this child.

So then, at the very least, she wanted to clear away even a pebble from the path he would take.

Even though she thought, “What will change now?” she felt she had to do it.

She was here for just this.

The girl slipped from the darkness, merging once more with the light without anyone noticing.

Her pace quickened, faster than anyone else.

“Seol-Ah!”

Even as night fell upon Hanam, bright lights remained.

People filled the streets, and in the bustling crowd, Hongwa felt a sense of relief.

“Where have you been!”

Hongwa dashed up to Wi Seol-Ah and pulled her into a hug.

“I was worried, you know…!”

“Ugh… I’m sorry….”

“If you keep making me worry like this… next time, I won’t help you.”

“Wah….”

“No matter if it’s Grandpa Wi’s business or not….”

“I’m sorry, sis… I won’t do it again. I just lost my way.”

With Wi Seol-Ah’s tearful expression, Hongwa sighed, unable to muster any further words.

“…You finished all the errands, right?”

“No!”

“What?!”

“But! The rest… you don’t have to worry about it!”

“…No, that’s not true. If it’s done, it’s done. Let’s hurry. Muyeon oppa is sweating in worry in this winter….”

Bam!

Led by Hongwa’s hand, Wi Seol-Ah’s expression shifted towards a distant awakening.

She hadn’t lied.

Her statement that the rest didn’t need to be done was true; there was no pressing need.

‘After he has gained everything from this affair.’

Once everything he desired had been acquired.

Then it would be something that could be done.

Images of Jang Seonyeon flashed in Wi Seol-Ah’s cold eyes.

He wouldn’t kill that bastard this time.

More precisely, he wouldn’t be able to.

Therefore, it had to be her.

The burdens and karma he should have borne in his past life would alter and scatter in her hands instead.

“I’ll never hear an apology, not even once.”

It was something she had longed to say someday.

If only she could have an opportunity.

If they could meet just one more time.

It had been words she wanted to say while looking into his eyes.

‘But I know I shouldn’t even dare hope for such an opportunity.’

Blowing out a breath laced with remnants of longing into the chilly air.

Such meetings would not be desired by him.

That child, too, wouldn’t wish for it.

She was but a lingering trace of regret.

Thus, she had to cast aside her intentions even more.

Wi Seol-Ah shifted her gaze back to Hongwa.

How long she had been waiting could be seen in the coldness of her hand and the flushing of her ears.

The only thing she could offer was a brief warmth infused with her apology.

“Hmm?”

Hongwa, sensing something strange, turned her gaze toward Wi Seol-Ah.

“Seol-Ah.”

“Deng?, what is it?”

“Uh… what were you doing?”

“Deng…? What do you mean?”

As Wi Seol-Ah blinked innocently, Hongwa tilted her head slightly before returning her gaze forward.

The winter evening passed quietly, as though nothing had happened.

After a new match line was announced during the day, time trickled slowly.

There was a break for those who had engaged in sparring to grab a meal.

After a while, Tang Soyeol emerged from the medical room.

“Gu Gongja, I’m sorry I couldn’t cheer during the sparring earlier.”

“It’s fine. Try not to make that face.”

As soon as the blunt words escaped, Tang Soyeol’s shoulders shook slightly.

She had reacted like that each time she heard that casual tone.

‘What is with that weird reaction?’

She had even told him to drop the formalities, yet she herself didn’t.

It was odd to say to drop the formality but then refuse it herself.

What kind of double standard…?

What a confusing person.

Just as Hongwa thought to fill her stomach, indulging in dumplings, another guest had joined them at the barracks along with Tang Soyeol and Nangong Bi-ah.

It was the guest who had brought the dumplings.

“…I thought it was just a coincidence, but it really seems like you’ve got yourself tangled up, huh?”

“Why the heck are you picking a fight as soon as you arrive?”

“I was complimenting you, you fool.”

It was a girl with slightly messy, dark black hair that seemed somewhat mischievous.

It was Peng Ah-Hee, who had defended him at the banquet just the other day.

“Seriously, I go all the way to watch you, and this is the attitude I get….”

“Exactly. What are you here for anyway?”

“I told you, I just came to watch.”

When Peng Ah-Hee had appeared randomly at the barracks with some food, he had been genuinely startled.

She had shown up completely out of the blue.

And with dumplings, no less.

“But you said you weren’t even participating in the sparring.”

a

Once again, she was using informal language.

“That’s… no, just don’t.”

She replied with a particularly condescending expression.

Why was she getting all huffy after telling him to call her by her first name in the first place?

“I only intended to attend the banquet this time. I figured if the clan leader didn’t attend, it would seem awkward. When my brother said he was going for work, I just followed along.”

Given the temperament of Peng Clan’s renowned clan leader, that much seemed plausible.

A massive bear of a man with a fiery temper came to mind.

“Still… it’s quite a surprise that such children came out of such a man.”

Just looking at their faces, one could tell the truth.

Both Peng Woo-Jin and Peng Ah-Hee were beautiful, while that man seemed a bit distant from the standards.

“I can only imagine how exceptionally beautiful their mother must have been.”

Not to mention, Peng Ah-Hee was the child of a concubine, so it would seem her wife was beautiful too.

“What are you staring at? Is there something on my face?”

“Nothing, nothing. So what’s the occasion?”

“I didn’t come to see you. I came to see my friend.”

“Friend?”

Peng Ah-Hee’s gaze shifted to Tang Soyeol. Upon that, Tang Soyeol nearly spat out her food.

“Looks like you’ve been waiting for this, huh?”

Peng Ah-Hee opened her mouth expectantly.

“Is the food going down alright?”

“…So-so…”

“Word is that you lost your first sparring match?”

“Very impressive! So confident you looked during the lead-up, and then this happens.”

Tang Soyeol appeared to have nothing to say, hiding her face with green locks.

She seemed interested in disappearing into a mouse hole.

Watching Tang Soyeol like this, Peng Ah-Hee sighed and asked,

“…Are you alright?”

“Yes… I’m fine.”

“You look fine.”

“…”

“It’s just a joke. Your opponent must have been quite strong.”

At Peng Ah-Hee’s words, Tang Soyeol looked ready to cry.

Yet, she slowly continued eating dumplings.

“…Were you really that hungry?”

“…Yeah, it’s not like the dead one tastes good.”

I thought so, which is why I brought these.”

“Thank you….”

Tang Soyeol looked as though she’d been rained on, her expression sagging.

As Peng Ah-Hee observed her, she redirected her gaze back to me.

“This girl might be rude, but she’s actually a good kid.”

“Ah, Ah-Hee!”

I couldn’t help but give a strange expression at Peng Ah-Hee’s words.

“Rude? I’ve never been rude before!”

“What?”

My response earned me a weird look from Peng Ah-Hee.

But truly, Tang Soyeol had never acted rudely towards me or my company.

Far from being rude, she seemed rather considerate.

Hearing that, Peng Ah-Hee reacted as though she’d witnessed a ghost.

“You… were just acting, weren’t you?”

“N-No! What kind of acting is that!”

“This mischievous girl… everyone knows what kind of person you are.”

Tang Soyeol gritted her teeth in apparent frustration, yet Peng Ah-Hee held her ground.

Their closeness was evident.

“Honestly, I thought So-Yul’s taste was quite the catch, but I never expected this would happen.”

“…What do you mean?”

“There’s nothing to say to that. Of all times….”

Peng Ah-Hee scrutinized me from above, and I felt an uncomfortable prick in my chest.

“Just be careful.”

“For what…?”

“Be careful during the night. If a gift comes from the Tang Clan, avoid eating it if possible. It’s likely that the clan leader will….”

“Hey!”

Tang Soyeol couldn’t hold back any longer and shouting out, the noise roused Nangong Bi-ah, who had been dozing in the back.

“Yikes!”

Peng Ah-Hee startled at the sight of Nangong Bi-ah, her presence completely overlooked.

It was truly a chaotic scene.

“W-Why is she here?”

“I’m just tired.”

Right after I finished speaking, she lethargically slumped onto the table.

“Given her opponent, is she really that way because she’s unbothered?”

Just for the record, Nangong Bi-ah’s opponent was Gu Joo-Yeop.

As a result, Gu Joo-Yeop must have become a complete deer in headlights.

“Why are you even here… oh.”

She seemed to realize that I was engaged to Nangong Bi-ah and stopped mid-sentence.

Of course, that couldn’t solely account for all the reasons behind her being here, but still…

“Well, shouldn’t you be here?”

She was subtly aware that my opponent, Nangong Cheonjun, was also here.

Despite that, Nangong Bi-ah appeared utterly unconcerned, but I was feeling quite differently.

How could I not ask, even if it was just for the sake of others’ attention?

But upon hearing my question, Nangong Bi-ah scrunched her eyebrows and then immediately lay down to sleep.

It was as if she was expressing her dissatisfaction with her entire being.

Peng Ah-Hee, glancing at Nangong Bi-ah in silence, made futile attempts to lighten the atmosphere.

“Well, given the situation, cheering for either side might be a little tricky…?”

“…I won’t cheer for either.”

Nangong Bi-ah responded curtly.

“…There’s really no need.”

It was, in some sense, an unwavering and cold response.

Peng Ah-Hee fell suddenly quiet.

Unlike her, I grasped the underlying meaning.

While my lack of vocabulary might have led to some misunderstandings, her words seemed to convey, “Not that it’s necessary, but rather one would do fine on their own.”

“Either way….”

The moment they kept dodging rational discourse was precisely when trouble loomed.

Now, there was no sign of any intention to change.

In this awkward atmosphere, a messenger stepped through the barracks door.

“Young Master, it’s time….”

“Alright, I’ll be there shortly.”

It seemed like this was indeed the time to leave, so I stopped eating and steered my tentacles that had been restless.

Heat blossomed, time to tighten the loosened state of my body.

It was a prime moment to move.

Following the guide led us away from where we had been sparring earlier.

The place was significantly wider and appeared sturdier.

They had likely used good materials to ensure it wouldn’t get easily damaged during sparring.

Surely, it wouldn’t break easily. At least, not immediately.

I mounted the sparring stage slowly.

As I did, the surrounding buzz of voices grew louder, packed with spectators even despite the cold weather.

Why do they love watching fights so much?

“Is that a child? That kind of kid rose to the Eight Strong?”

“How did they manage that? Was it due to good pairings?”

“I heard the late-stage talent from Wudang lost to that kid….”

“Not anywhere else, but Wudang? Surely, that’s just a rumor.”

Those gathered around watching were not solely the late-stage talents who had attended the banquet, but also others present.

Ripples of support likely came from the merchant clan of Hanam or similar.

The Friendship Martial Arts Tournament wouldn’t likely be revealed to civilians anyway.

“The Mount Shan Clan…? Didn’t that mean they were part of the coalition?”

“Oh… So the coalition had even sent someone.”

“Yet, why was it never discovered until now… perhaps they were from a branch?”

“Hey! You think a branch could get all the way up there like that? If they’re from the coalition, they’re probably the brother of So Sword Peak. So they’re just the lucky child, huh?”

“Whew… then that’s certainly unfortunate.”

“What are you talking about?”

“No matter how talented they may be, with tougher competition ahead, they probably won’t make it past here. Bit of a bummer, wouldn’t you say?”

As the onlookers commented about the young man making his way to the sparring stage, one saw a sculpted white-haired youth ascend the platform.

Dressed in a blue martial robe with golden embroidery.

The poised aura and calculated movements elicited admiration from all those present.

He was none other than the notorious swordsman of the Central Plains,

Nangong Cheonjun of the Great Nangong Clan.

His sword’s gleam shone brightly as it was withdrawn slowly from its sheath.

Though provided by the Martial Alliance, just the sword itself held the air of a legendary blade.

While getting ready, Nangong Cheonjun happened to glance my way and spoke.

“Such a foolish one.”

The voice that barely formed words drifted here, carrying the weight of energy because he couldn’t help but imbue it with his chi.

The judge had yet to come up, and though the crowd could not hear it, Nangong Cheonjun was whispering his energy, making sure I received it.

“To have come this far is commendable, but your mind—unbelievably dull.”

“Brother-in-law, is it truly permissible to speak that way to my elder brother?”

“Y-You…!”

With the slightest flick of my tongue triggering his outburst, it seemed “brother-in-law” was quite a despicable title he couldn’t stand.

Why was he so upset, having drawn his own boundaries yet still complaining?

If you dislike it so much, I shall only bring forth more.

Nangong Cheonjun appeared to calm his mind, responding again.

“Did I not warn you? If you didn’t want to suffer, you should have forfeited before encountering me.”

“My nose isn’t big. It’s smaller than yours, you know?”

“…Your craftiness in the way you speak and your utter ignorance are equal.”

The posture of his grip on the sword shifted slightly.

Prepared to move at any moment, but appearance alone didn’t signify that he was serious. Why did everyone from the famous clans act so nonchalant?

If bloodlines were acting like that, surely they would face extinction in the future.

Oblivious to what I was thinking, Nangong Cheonjun simply continued speaking.

“Do you believe what happened in Sichuan truly means I have fallen to you?”

“What do you mean by ‘fallen’? Did you really think you would get beaten here by me?”

“…Had I been able to channel my energy, beheading you would have been an effortless affair.”

At Nangong Cheonjun’s words, I nearly clicked my tongue.

What should I do with this guy now?

“Hey, brother-in-law, you know something?”

“This guy again….”

“If my words would reach my divine master, he would probably rip the roof off in anger.”

If Noya had heard this, I might have ended with a tearful rectum.

“If you think martial artists cannot accomplish anything when deprived of their chi, ask Jeomsosoi to take over as Clan Leader of the Nangong Clan. She’d do better than you.”

“This brat…!”

Veins were popping on his neck with anger, but just then, the judge stepped up to the sparring stage.

The presence of the referee was distinct from before.

This time, they looked to be a powerful martial artist capable of intervening at any moment.

The sounds of the audience faded into silence as they looked to Nangong Cheonjun and me.

Everyone’s focus shifted as anticipation for the sparring grew.

“The Eight Strong, Nangong Clan’s Nangong Cheonjun versus…”

With a surge of chi pooling at the tip of his sword, Nangong Cheonjun showed no intention of decorum.

In fact, I was glad.

“Gu Yangcheong from the Mount Shan Clan.”

His face bore confidence that appeared as though he was ready to strike at any moment, and not one spiel of politeness was uttered.

Nangong Cheonjun was undoubtedly a genius, too.

There were just too many people in his shadow.

Frankly, I didn’t care one bit about that arrogance.

As long as he was aware of his own greatness, it was of no concern to me.

If only he hadn’t poked my eyes constantly with his actions, I could have lived peacefully.

Moreover, I wished that he hadn’t gawked in my direction when passing by Nangong Bi-ah.

I have a rather considerable discomfort but also a tolerable nature.

In my previous life, I had been a mad dog, yet now, I’ve learned to manage with some degree of patience.

This matter, most likely,

Had Nangong Cheonjun buried his ambitions hidden behind his ferocious desires, I wouldn’t have thought about it twice.

But alas, his failure to do so laid the guilt plainly on him.

“Begin.”

The judge’s voice emerged.

Simultaneously,

—Gu Yeomtaeyarang!

A massive flame that erupted from my fist consumed half the sparring stage.

 

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