Reincarnated Sword Ghost

Chapter 122 : Sorrowful Edge Divine Spear

Sorrowful Edge Divine Spear

Zhao Gang, the Sorrowful Edge Divine Spear, was defeated.

The implications were significant.

The Zhao clan of Changshan was a martial clan boasting an age-old tradition.

Especially Zhao Gang—he was considered an outstanding rising star even among his peers.

He was often compared to an ancestor praised as the Tiger Might General, and many believed he would one day bring the Jo clan back to its place among the five great clans.

And yet, he accepted defeat, letting go of the spear in his hand.

"......"

An awkward silence hovered over the venue. Only a few barely-audible whispers broke the stillness.

It was understandable. The duel itself had been dazzling and swift.

It played out in a whirlwind—vital ki bursts exploding in succession, a duel that unfolded almost instantaneously.

Most people watched, their mouths half-open, eyes glued to the unfolding spectacle as if entranced.

But inwardly, almost everyone had expected Zhao Gang to win.

After all, with the prestige of a renowned martial clan and the dazzling spear skills visible to all—how could he not?

Compared to that, the Baek Sword Gate's disciple seemed completely on the defensive.

But the result completely overturned those expectations.

Step, step.

Zhao Gang calmly walked to the center of the dueling platform.

Only when it was time to pick up his fallen spear did the murmur break into full-blown cheers and chatter, as one might expect.

"Did he really beat Sorrowful Edge Divine Spear?"

"I can't believe it, even though I saw it with my own eyes. How did a young man from an unknown sect wield such martial skills...?"

"Did you see him step right into the vital ki bursts unleashed by that spear? What absurd courage!"

"A dragon rising from a humble stream! Like the First Emperor from lowly origins..."

"Who's this lunatic running his mouth?! Get away from me!"

At that moment, the Baek Sword Gate's Cheon Pung approached Zhao Gang, who now had his spear strapped at his waist. He respectfully raised a martial salute before speaking.

"I have gained much from your lofty spear technique. I am truly grateful."

His manner was exceedingly polite.

He bowed his head, eyes gently closed as if he'd truly received a lesson.

Zhao Gang stared at him in surprise for a moment, then burst out laughing.

"With a scene like this, one might think the victor has changed! My mind is blank and filled with new insights right now."

Other than the clash of sword and spear, neither one bore a single scratch.

The two young men exchanged a few words with unblemished expressions, and the onlookers cheered.

Regardless of victory or defeat, it was a remarkable sight.

Just then, someone cried out as if noticing something unusual.

"L-look! His hand...?!"

Everyone turned to the two on the dueling stage, expressions puzzled.

And there it was for all to see.

"......!"

Blood trickled from Cheon Pung's hand, which was still raised in salute.

And not a trivial amount.

The blood ran from his palm down to his fingertips, dripping to the floor—it was clearly not from a superficial wound.

Shocked, the crowd began voicing their thoughts.

"Are his palms torn open?"

"The vital ki bursts erupting with every exchange were overwhelming. Sorrowful Edge Divine Spear is renowned for his profound cultivation. Even the hair on nearby spectators was said to stand on end."

"His palms must be shredded, and yet he endured all that...?"

The crowd quickly devolved into a noisy commotion.

It was only natural—martial artists spent every day training their bodies.

Especially their sword hands.

The laborious acupuncture point in the palms was even called the Road of True Ki for channeling power into the sword blade.

To be injured there was proof of an extreme and desperate struggle.

Cheon Pung then spoke up.

"The cultivation in your spear's tip was truly formidable. Each time, it became increasingly difficult to endure. Especially the final move—that was a gamble even for me. I suppose I can only call it luck. But as a result, I doubt I'll be able to participate in the next duel."

"......!"

The victor himself was admitting the gap in cultivation, even saying he likely couldn't fight in the next round.

For a martial artist, the Shaolin Assembly was a golden opportunity to build one's reputation.

To withdraw was proof of a serious internal injury.

Some martial artists who had been looking on in disbelief now slowly nodded, as if only now did the outcome make sense.

"... The difference in cultivation was just too great. The fundamental disparity between disciples of prestigious sects and those from small or medium sects is hard to overcome."

Everyone nodded at these quietly spoken words.

It made sense.

Zhao Gang's composure lent further credence to his reputation—he didn't look at all like someone who had just lost.

Yet, with grave faces, they watched Cheon Pung and commented:

"He has immense mental fortitude. Every vital ki burst must have made his whole body tremble, yet he even managed to win through improvisation."

"Cheon Pung of the Baek Sword Gate is outstanding. Who knows how far he'll go?"

Meanwhile, Zhao Gang's expression darkened as he heard Cheon Pung's words.

His defeated opponent would not be able to progress further in the main round, and that seemed a shame to him.

Noticing this, Cheon Pung smiled.

"Why take on such an expression? Today's duel was a priceless opportunity that greatly broadened my martial horizons."

"But, young hero..."

When Zhao Gang tried to speak, Cheon Pung shook his head.

"If not for a day like this, when would I have ever discussed martial skills with a chivalrous hero like you, young hero Zhao Gang? That alone is more than enough for me."

"..."

"Well then."

With another martial salute, Cheon Pung turned away and left the stage, vanishing into the crowd's cheers.

It was the last duel of the Baek Sword Gate's Cheon Pung, the one who had stirred up such waves.

* * *

'... I got too carried away.'

Walking away from the stage, Cheon Pung thought to himself.

He had just informed the abbot overseeing the Shaolin Assembly of his withdrawal from the next duel.

But he'd achieved all he'd set out to do in this tournament.

The friendships built with scions of prestigious martial clans through two duels already sufficed.

Just listening to their conversations nearby was an immense source of information.

Now, he understood how the Shaolin Assembly actually worked in great detail.

There was no need to draw further attention to himself with more duels.

He had even experienced the champion's private audience with the abbot—a prize others had to fight several bloody duels to obtain.

In a way, he had already secured victory.

'There's no reason to step onto the stage again.'

Hence, today's events.

It wasn't a premeditated plan.

Honestly, he had simply enjoyed dueling Zhao Gang.

It was immensely rewarding to experience such masterful martial skills.

Just as Gongsun Yeong had described, Zhao Gang truly deserved to be called a prodigy.

His talent for controlling distance was among the best Cheon Pung had ever seen.

The source behind his mysterious movements as he maneuvered the long spear lay in his footwork.

Zhao Gang maintained the most advantageous range by constantly shifting his feet.

Each and every step was exquisite.

One might say that the essence of Zhao clan of Changshan's martial skills lay not in its spear technique, but in its body-strengthening art.

Moreover, the power built up in the spear's tip was no lie.

Wielded with both hands, the internal energy poured into that long weapon was truly threatening.

Without meaning to, Cheon Pung had responded with all his strength, even invoking his palm technique.

'That was risky.'

It wasn't until Zhao Gang let go of his spear and stepped back that Cheon Pung realized how much extra attention he'd drawn to himself.

In that split second, he had infused true ki into his fingertips and wounded his own palm.

No other suitable way to wrap things up had occurred to him.

Fortunately, not only Zhao Gang but the whole audience seemed satisfied.

Some people even looked at him with expressions of relief, as if they expected nothing less of him.

'It doesn't matter.'

How people privately thought of Cheon Pung from the Baek Sword Gate was irrelevant.

Once all this was over, any reputation would disappear.

The best thing for now was to just let them talk.

With that, he quickly wrapped things up with a few more words and left the stage.

That was when Shin Soryeong quietly fell in beside him.

She had just won her own main round duel before Jeong-un's match.

"......"

Jeong-un glanced at her.

Was it because of him?

She must have been inwardly delighted, but didn't show it at all.

He addressed her.

"Congratulations."

"Pardon?"

Shin Soryeong looked at him wide-eyed, so Jeong-un smiled and continued.

"You won your main round duel, did you not? In front of so many, you demonstrated the sublime sword technique of the Shin Clan Manor."

Shin Soryeong shook her head.

"It was thanks to what you taught me, young hero. All of my progress is entirely owed to you... no, to my benefactor."

"Then why don't you look happy?"

"How could I be happy, when you, young hero, won your duel and yet..."

Her voice trailed off, as if she hesitated to mention Jeong-un's situation for fear of hurting his feelings.

Jeong-un smiled gently as he looked at her.

'She has a pure heart.'

Few martial artists truly repay their debts.

Though people praised the depths of karma in the martial world, when it came to their own affairs, they were different.

They would always justify the use of their own sword, yet downplayed any help others gave them as trivial.

Shin Soryeong was a true martial artist in this respect.

She remained unfailingly polite toward Jeong-un, even if others looked down on it.

She served Jeong-un as her benefactor, acting accordingly. It could not have been easy if she cared about her reputation.

"Why worry about me? I've gained so much from this duel."

"Pardon?"

"I was reminded how vast the martial world is. The upper body wielding the spear and the legs controlling the distance move completely differently. It was an incredible learning experience. It made me very happy."

Smiling as he spoke, Shin Soryeong finally smiled as well.

"Big sis! Cheon Pung!"

Just then, Gongsun Yeong ran over, gliding forward with lightness skill to land softly in front of them.

She immediately spoke up.

"You both won your duels! Congratulations! Of course, Cheon Pung, you bowed out of the next round...but now you can root for big sis with me."

Gongsun Yeong had passed the preliminaries but lost in the main round.

Despite being a direct descendant of a prestigious clan and showing considerable promise, he lacked martial depth and experience.

Even so, she didn't seem demoralized at all.

"I'm still young. In a few years I'll be stronger than both of you. Then maybe I'll just join the Heavenly Martial Hall. My brother will inherit the clan anyway."

Her confidence prompted a smile from Shin Soryeong. Jeong-un thought it was a good trait—that she could act this way and not seem annoying.

Maybe it would be tiresome if she stayed this way as she aged, though.

As Jeong-un was thinking about this, Gongsun Yeong spoke again.

"Oh—Cheon Pung, that was kind of lucky for you. Or maybe it's a good thing?"

Was it really fortunate? Jeong-un looked puzzled.

"Why?"

"Your next opponent if you hadn't withdrawn. I looked at the bracket—they're really famous."

"Famous?"

Gongsun Yeong hurried to reply.

"It was Namgung Hui. Don't tell me you haven't heard—he's the Azure Divine Sword."

"......"

Of course he knew.

A direct descendant of a household so famous—it would be impossible not to have heard. He had even met a member of that bloodline before.

'Namgung Jihwa, wasn't it?'

A woman who called Namgung Hui elder brother.

He remembered her vividly, a brash troublemaker much like Gongsun Yeong.

The thought of seeing those two together was strangely amusing.

"He's incredible. They say he's already mastered the Imperial Sword Form."

"That man would have been my opponent?"

Jeong-un's eyes widened as he spoke, and Gongsun Yeong nodded enthusiastically, pleased to have gotten the reaction he wanted.

"He's considered the top up-and-coming expert along with the Wudang Prodigious Sword who joined the Heavenly Martial Hall. There are already bets about which of them would win. Ah, of course some people talk about the Annihilating One-Slash from Heavenly Martial Hall, but... most still say Namgung Hui is unrivaled."

Gongsun Yeong chattered on about the hottest topic in the martial world: who was the greatest of the rising stars.

Jeong-un listened half-heartedly, letting the rest wash over him.

As he walked, he found himself muttering privately:

'... Maybe I should have fought just one more round before quitting.'