novelraw Chapter 59 : Chapter 59
Chapter 59 : Chapter 59
Chapter 59. The Hunan Righteous-Evil Faction Tournament (2)
Murmur, murmur.
A commotion arose at the appearance of Namgung Hwan.
This was the same not only on the Evil Faction side but also on the Righteous Faction side.
It seemed that the Azure Sky Jade Dragon appearing as early as the second match was not part of the plan.
“…He’s a pain in the neck.”
Gongson Su said.
“It means he’s that confident, but anyway, prodigies don’t even think about the position of people who rack their brains to make plans… Ah, of course, I’m not talking about you, Orabeoni. You know, right?”
“……”
“Well, let’s watch for now. That young lady from the Rakshasa Sect doesn’t seem to have any intention of backing down either.”
As Gongson Su said, as long as Eum Seo-hui was standing on the tournament stage, there was no room for the group to interfere.
“……”
Eum Seo-hui seemed quite flustered.
But soon, her expression hardened. She once again thought of Jeon Gang-jun, who had fought a bloody battle earlier.
She equipped iron claws on both hands.
Her master, U Jin-hui, used claw techniques with her bare hands, but for her, whose skill was still lacking, she needed a weapon.
Hook. She raised her momentum.
“Hmm?”
Namgung Hwan, who had been looking at Lee Byeok on the other side of the tournament stage, finally turned to Eum Seo-hui.
Namgung Hwan let out a soft laugh.
“Hey, young lady. Don’t be so reckless and step down, will you? Even if you are an evildoer, I don’t want to oppress a powerless woman.”
“…A powerless woman, you say.”
Eum Seo-hui gritted her teeth.
Although she was also in her prime, being looked down upon by a boy who looked two or three years younger than her was not a pleasant feeling.
Of course, in the Jianghu Murim, where strength was everything, things like age were not important. But.
Taat, chaeng!
“Ha, how crude.”
The next moment, Eum Seo-hui moved.
Her iron claws on both hands crossed and thrust towards Namgung Hwan.
But before the form could be properly executed, the tip of a sword thrust into the point where the two iron claws crossed.
Tang!
Eum Seo-hui tried to push back the sword tip.
But Namgung Hwan was not pushed back. On the contrary, she herself had to take a step back.
Her form was nullified before it could even be executed.
But Eum Seo-hui didn’t care and immediately kicked off the ground again.
She closed the distance again.
The iron claws on both hands glinted like the claws of an angry she-wolf.
Chaeng, chang!
A few clashes followed.
But the more the close-quarters battle continued, the clearer the difference in skill became.
Namgung Hwan did not execute a proper form. He simply neutralized her attacks by thrusting his sword between Eum Seo-hui’s iron claws.
It wasn't that Eum Seo-hui was weak.
Being on the threshold of the first-rate was a level of power that could be considered a mainstay in any faction in the world.
It was impossible for someone to reach that level at her age without abundant talent, when there were countless people who couldn't escape the second-rate even after a lifetime of training.
It was just that there was a gap even in that talent.
Overwhelmingly.
“Ha! How utterly vulgar! The claws of a beast, does the martial art of the evildoers not even have human decency?!”
“……”
Namgung Hwan said in a feignedly stern voice.
Eum Seo-hui bit her lip.
She had never thought she would win in the first place. She just had to draw out Namgung Hwan’s sword a little more.
That was the least she could do for the Flying Dragon Squad members watching from behind.
Chaeng!
“Hmph! I’m getting embarrassed just by fighting you—”
Eum Seo-hui’s figure was pushed back once again. But at that very moment, her right hand shot forward.
Taang, shuuuk!
An iron claw shot out from her fingertips.
A thin iron wire was connected to the outstretched iron claw. It shot towards Namgung Hwan’s face.
“Keuk?!”
As if he hadn't expected such an unconventional move, Namgung Hwan hastily tilted his head.
Seueuk.
But by a slight margin, the tip of the iron claw grazed Namgung Hwan’s cheek.
A red line was drawn.
Clank. And the immediately retrieved iron claw was once again fitted to Eum Seo-hui’s fingertips.
“Oh my, what a shame.”
“……”
“A flaw has appeared on the Azure Sky Jade Dragon’s jade face. What should I do, I’m so sorry. But even a woman with no decency and no strength has nails.”
Drip.
A drop of blood flowed from the wound on his cheek. Namgung Hwan wiped the blood with the back of his hand.
“…Ha, you’ve finally crossed the line. I clearly gave you a chance, so don’t complain later that my sword is merciless!”
***
After that, a one-sided match ensued.
Namgung Hwan no longer advised Eum Seo-hui to retreat.
He actively engaged in a counterattack.
Every time Eum Seo-hui attempted an attack, a new wound appeared on her body.
Chaeng!
“Your sword tip lacks restraint!”
Chaeng!
“Therefore, there is no decency!”
Chaeng!
“Since there is no decency, there is also no victory!”
With each sword strike, Namgung Hwan roared.
Eum Seo-hui’s torn martial robe was soaked with blood. Her whole body was tattered with sword wounds, but there were no serious injuries.
But Eum Seo-hui realized.
It wasn't because she was skilled, but because Namgung Hwan was deliberately avoiding inflicting a decisive injury.
It was as if he wouldn't allow her to fall until his lecture was over.
Pfft. Eum Seo-hui laughed inwardly.
It seemed he was thoroughly angry for being provoked a little. Even if his sword was strong, he was still just a kid.
But she had no complaints. Thanks to that, she had been able to draw out quite a bit of Namgung Hwan’s sword.
‘I hope it will be of some help…’
But Eum Seo-hui was starting to feel her limit. Finally, her strength gave out and Eum Seo-hui fell to her knees.
“—And thus, I pass judgment!”
Thwack!
And around that time, concluding his long speech, Namgung Hwan’s foot kicked Eum Seo-hui.
Hook. Eum Seo-hui’s body flew through the air.
Thump, thud!
Eum Seo-hui, who was thrown out of the tournament stage, rolled on the ground. Her waist bent on its own due to the intense pain.
Her kicked right arm seemed to be broken.
“Haa.”
Amidst the intense pain, Eum Seo-hui breathed out. This was as far as she could go with her own strength.
Eum Seo-hui lost consciousness.
“…The second match is won by Young Warrior Namgung.”
Waaaaa!
After that, the Iron-Faced Beggar’s declaration of victory followed, and on the Righteous Faction side, cheers erupted as if they had been waiting.
Namgung Hwan’s overwhelming victory was more than enough to shake off the lingering discomfort of the previous match.
The sight of Namgung Hwan standing on the tournament stage without even a hint of exhaustion after facing an enemy was the very image of a young hero who had enlightened a foolish girl who had fallen into the evil path with his teachings and led her to the righteous path.
“…Ha, my chest is swelling with pride.”
Gongson Su let out a hollow laugh.
Namgung Hwan had no hesitation in making himself stand out. It was like watching a well-scripted play.
“I learned something new today. Even if a person is handsome, if they act like that, all affection for them disappears.”
“Kehe! Of course! A face is useless! A man is all about strength! What’s the use of a martial artist being handsome?!”
“Well, I won’t deny it. But I don’t think you could beat that guy with strength either, Sir Pa……”
“…Kehe.”
Pa Jin-seong did not refute.
Of course, he had eyes to see.
If he were to step up, he wouldn't be beaten one-sidedly like Eum Seo-hui, but in the end, it would be difficult to win.
If you think about it, Pa Jin-seong was also one of the top prodigies of the Evil Faction, but there was that much of a gap between him and those who were called the Five Dragons of the Righteous Faction.
“Well, it can’t be helped. Since they’ve come out like that, we’ll have to change the order and have Unnie go next—”
“No, I’ll go.”
At that moment, Lee Byeok stepped forward.
“No, Orabeoni. There’s no need to play along with his tune. Besides, Unnie has a good chance of winning, doesn’t she?”
“……”
Of course, Lee Byeok knew that too.
Having fought against both the Flash Dragon of Diancang and Eon Mi-hee, he did not think she would be pushed back at all.
But… Lee Byeok’s gaze fell on Eum Seo-hui, who was being carried away unconscious.
He didn't think it was meaningless. Jeon Gang-jun and Eum Seo-hui certainly had a reason to fight despite their injuries.
But… the Flying Dragon Squad was different.
And he had the strength.
“Orabeoni, it might be a little late to ask now, but… have you found the answer to the problem we talked about before?”
Gongson Su asked.
A while ago, in the battle at the Invincible Sect, the Righteous Sword Sect Master, Yang Ho-myeong, seemed to have noticed the color of the Seonwoo Clan in Lee Byeok’s sword path.
And now, in this place, not only Yang Ho-myeong but also many people from the Righteous Faction, including Diancang and the Namgung Clan, were watching.
“Of course, I don’t think you’ll lose, Orabeoni. But even if you defeat that guy now, they still have three more guys left to fight, including the Flash Dragon.”
“……”
“If you use your martial arts that many times repeatedly, eventually, others besides Yang Ho-myeong might notice.”
That was, of course, something Lee Byeok was also worried about. But the current Lee Byeok had Cho Yeon-seo’s martial art.
In other words, it was also a chance to test it out.
More than anything… Lee Byeok looked at Namgung Hwan, who stood tall amidst the cheers.
He wanted to defeat him. With his own hands.
“Young Master.”
At that moment, Eon Mi-hee approached.
“…I’m asking you, Young Master. I might be able to handle that guy somehow, but I don’t think I can properly crush his pride.”
“……”
“Punish him. Make a complete mess of him.”
Eon Mi-hee seemed quite agitated.
Although she was trying to maintain a calm expression, she was angry at Namgung Hwan and the behavior of the Righteous Faction who were cheering for him.
He seemed to know the reason.
Lee Byeok’s heart was no different.
“…Haa. Well, if you two say so, I won’t think about it anymore. Since we’ve decided to do it, let’s just go all out, shall we?”
Gongson Su held her forehead.
In the meantime, the tournament stage was cleared.
And amidst the unabated cheers of the Righteous Faction side, Namgung Hwan was looking for Lee Byeok and boasting loudly.
Stomp.
Lee Byeok stepped onto the tournament stage.
“Hmph! At least you came out right away, so it seems you know what shame is!”
“……”
Lee Byeok did not bother to respond.
Soon, the start of the match was declared, and Lee Byeok drew his sword. Stomp, stomp. He closed the distance without hesitation.
“Number one of the Evil Faction, I hope you don't disappoint me. First, shall we have a light test?”
And the sword in Namgung Hwan’s hand began to move.
Great Spontaneity Sword Art.
It was the sword that was the root of the Namgung Clan, and also the sword technique that had thoroughly toyed with Eum Seo-hui a moment ago.
Chararak!
A dense sword technique shot out, aiming for all of Lee Byeok's front. Within it was an uprightness that was hard to defy. However.
It didn't mean there were no openings.
[ Eight-Section Nine-Palace Brush Art: New Moon. ]
In that moment, Lee Byeok’s sword disappeared.
And like a single ray of moonlight seeping through the clouds, a single line flashed from within the bend.
Kuk, tangrang!
The line pierced Namgung Hwan’s wrist.
The strength in Namgung Hwan’s grip loosened.
“…Huh?”
Namgung Hwan was bewildered.
For a moment, he didn't understand what had happened. By the time he came to his senses, his sword was on the tournament stage.
“Who is testing whom?”
“……”
“Pick it up again. I’ll allow it.”