novelraw Chapter 160 : Chapter 160
Chapter 160 : Chapter 160
Chapter 160 - There's One More
“Junior Sister Hong! It’s your turn!”
At Biyoung’s shout, Elder Yubeop’s face contorted.
Junior Sister?
Does that mean another female swordsman will appear this time?
Furthermore, the swordsman from our side is Cheongjin.
He was the most skilled among the five gathered here.
“Yes!”
But.
The surprises did not end there.
When he said ‘Junior Sister,’ Yubeop should have grasped another fact.
The person who was called was younger than Biyoung, and ridiculously young at that.
“Th-th-th-th……!”
Elder Yubeop was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t continue his words with his finger raised.
“Are you saying that girl is coming out?”
“Yes. She looks strong, doesn’t she?”
“What? Looks strong?”
Yubeop was originally a swordsman famous for not showing any change in his expression.
But after today, his moniker of Iron-Faced Cloud Dragon might disappear altogether.
His ever-changing expression was revealing his feelings completely.
Due to the intense emotional change, Yubeop’s neck was even getting sore.
The little girl who had been chattering next to Hyeokri Chong just a moment ago.
The cute-looking beautiful girl with her hair in pigtails confidently stepped onto the training ground.
‘How much of a pushover do they take our sect for!’
Yubeop was bursting with anger, but unfortunately, he had nothing else to say.
Because in the previous three sparring matches, all the swordsmen had fallen without being able to put up a fight.
‘Alright. I will clearly show you how arrogant your leisure is.’
Gritting his teeth, Yubeop shouted fiercely at Cheongjin.
“Cheongjin! Go all out from the start!”
At that, Biyoung, who was next to him, cupped his hands and imitated his voice.
“Junior Sister Hong! Beat him to a pulp from the start!”
“…………!!”
At that blatant mockery, Yubeop’s eyes flashed fiercely.
It was an aura that would have made other younger generation disciples tremble, but Biyoung grinned like a person without senses.
“Why. We’re cheering together.”
“You…………!”
Just as Yubeop was about to add something, the smile suddenly disappeared from Biyoung’s face.
“It’s a method you guys used first. Isn’t that right?”
“!”
In fact, there was nothing wrong with Biyoung’s words.
In the first sparring match, after confirming Eung Gajin, Yubeop had deliberately pitted the youngest of the third-generation disciples, Yongjin, against him.
Although they were of the same generation, the situation would be more miserable if one were to lose to someone much younger.
‘Come to think of it…….’
The situation was exactly the same.
Just as he had pitted Yongjin against Eung Gajin, Biyoung had also pitted Hyeokri Hong against the eldest of the True Dragon Sect, Cheongjin.
Of course, the impact of that was on a different level from Yongjin’s time.
“Huh?”
“They’re pitting such a small kid against that sturdy swordsman?”
“And she’s not even holding anything in her hand?”
“Shouldn’t someone stop this?”
Yubeop could hear the murmuring voices of the merchants.
In the one in a million chance.
It was something he really didn't want to admit, but in the one in a million chance.
What if Cheongjin were to lose to that tiny girl?
From that moment on, Yubeop might have to start looking for a mouse hole in Diancang Mountain.
“Cheongjin, a third-generation disciple of the True Dragon Sect…”
Originally, he should have said he requested a match.
But those words just wouldn't come out of his throat.
This was a girl who was much younger than a twelve-year age gap.
“It’s Cheongjin.”
A barely finished sentence.
But Cheongjin would soon have to regret his choice.
Why?
Because.
Hyeokri Hong had inherited the personality of the notoriously eccentric and legendary Medicine Saint, Hyeokri Chong, completely.
“It’s Cheongjin? It’s Cheongjiiin?”
Hyeokri Hong, who had stepped onto the training ground with an innocent face, suddenly turned venomous.
“Then I’m Hyeokri Hong. You rude bastard!”
“Pfft!”
The spectators who couldn't hold back their laughter each covered their mouths.
Although they didn’t show it, the people of the Diancang Sect also bit their lips and held back their laughter.
This wild young foal was a difficult existence to control even within the Diancang Sect.
You had to pick your fights.
Besides, strictly speaking, it was Cheongjin who had started the fight.
Wasn’t this a sparring match between sects, regardless of age and status?
‘This wench…….?’
Cheongjin, whose impression had turned grim, roughly drew his sword.
“Draw your weapon. Surely you’re not going to fight with your bare hands.”
“I’m going to fight with my bare hands. Oh, I do have this, though.”
Hyeokri Hong smiled slyly and raised one hand.
‘What is that?’
A strange object was attached to her elbow.
It was too crude and clumsy to be an accessory, and it was difficult to figure out its purpose as a weapon.
Even the size didn’t seem to fit, as it was wrapped in cotton cloth.
“You’re going to face this True Dragon Sword with that?”
“Ah, why are you talking so much? I said it’s fine.”
“You were the one who said it.”
Woooong…….
A pale halo of light began to seep into Cheongjin’s sword.
Seeing that, the expressions of the crowd hardened.
“Sword Aura……!”
Of course, they had seen Sword Aura several times in the previous sparring matches.
But the opponent was not just young, but a child, and even bare-handed.
There was no way they would look favorably upon the use of Sword Aura in such a one-sided situation.
‘Even if there’s no place to retreat, isn’t this too cruel a move?’
‘They call themselves the Nine Sects One Union, but what they’re doing is no different from the lawless unorthodox factions.’
‘This duel should be stopped right now.’
However.
A confident curve was drawn on the lips of Hyeokri Hong, the person in question.
She soon poured her internal energy into the accessory on her arm.
Woooong!
Soon, a loud vibration resounded from the blackish object.
“?!”
If the resonance of the Sword Aura was something that could barely be heard if one strained their ears, Hyeokri Hong’s vibration was loud enough to be clearly heard even by the three people sitting in the seats of honor far away.
“What……?”
Although it had been a day full of unbelievable things, Elder Yubeop wanted to slap his own cheek at this very moment.
He had sensed the immense amount of internal energy gathered in her accessory.
Absurdly, in terms of pure internal energy, it was an amount that could rival his own, an elder.
Hwaaaak!
Thousand-Pound Ankle Guard.
The divine object taken from the master of Hojubang begins to shine brightly.
As the internal energy gathered, the blackish Thousand-Pound Ankle Guard turned into a beautiful jade color.
“What kind of cheap trick is this!”
Was it because its momentum seemed unusual?
Cheongjin stomped the ground hard and flew into the air.
“Wow!”
Even the spectators who had been frowning at him couldn't help but let out exclamations of admiration at his nimble movement.
Cheongjin swung his sword three times in the air.
Three roars striking down from the sky.
It was the ultimate technique of the Heavenly Roaming Dragon Sword, the Dragon’s Three Roars.
‘It’s over.’
Watching this, Yubeop let out a sigh of relief inwardly.
If she had a sword, maybe, no, even if she had a sword, there was no way that girl could block the Dragon’s Three Roars.
He was concerned about Hyeokri Chong’s granddaughter getting injured, but their side also had a broken wrist.
He thought Cheongjin would retrieve his sword before inflicting a fatal wound, and they could recover a little bit of their pride.
If there was one thing that bothered him, it was the object shining on her arm.
Normally, if one were to inject such an irrational amount of internal energy, the object would shatter.
But that object, shining in a jade color, was endlessly sucking in internal energy like a vampire thirsting for blood.
“……Thankfully, you came flying to me?”
For Hyeokri Hong.
It was an extremely convenient situation.
Just as Cheongjin had used the ultimate technique of the Heavenly Roaming Dragon Sword from the start, she also intended to go all out from the beginning.
But, while she was worried about the surroundings being swept away, he had leaped into the sky on his own.
For her, it was like laying out the red carpet for her to set the stage.
“Haat!”
With a clear sound, Hyeokri Hong stretched out one arm with all her might.
Cheongjin’s movement was so fast that it was hard to aim, but in fact, it didn't matter if she aimed roughly.
Because her secret art, Sky-Jade Staining Might, could sweep away the entire visible area.
Kwaarrreung!
“Ugh-aack!”
At the sudden sound of thunder, the spectators squeezed their eyes shut and covered their ears.
A few lucky people who had their eyes open could witness the huge force shooting up into the sky.
The deafening sound of thunder.
And the space that had been completely smeared with a jade color.
In that huge and merciless force, the technique of the Dragon’s Three Roars crumbled away like dust.
“Kwaaaaaaaaaack…….”
Cheongjin, who was struck by the merciless force, flew over the pavilion in front of the training ground and beyond the mountain.
“Seeing as he’s screaming, he’s not dead.”
Hyeokri Chong, who was watching from afar, snorted.
His gaze was on his granddaughter, who was drenched in sweat.
‘If he's from the One Heart, One Path, he's definitely not a pushover. You've grown a lot in the meantime.’
What would a grandfather's heart be like watching his granddaughter who became a martial artist?
But Hyeokri Chong finally felt today that he could relax a little.
The Sky-Jade Staining Might, activated by gathering strength in the Thousand-Pound Ankle Guard, was a technique that would make even reasonably skilled adult masters suffer.
“What. I haven’t heard that I lost yet.”
Hyeokri Hong wiped the sweat with the back of her hand and asked towards the seat of honor.
“Sect Leader. I won, right?”
“Hoholhol. Is there a need to ask after sending a person flying over the mountain?”
“Hehet! I kept my promise too, Senior Brother!”
Hyeokri Hong shouted clearly at Biyoung and came down from the training ground with staggering steps.
It was a divine-like force, but it seemed it still took a toll on her after using it.
The spectators, who had been staring at her with mesmerized eyes for a while, now began to have another interest.
“Promise……? Didn’t that young lady just say promise?”
“Indeed. I heard it clearly too.”
“It must be a promise to win the sparring match.”
“My good man. Is there anyone who promises to lose a sparring match? That’s a given.”
“That’s…… also true?”
Everyone’s gaze turned to the person who had been asked the question, Biyoung.
The gazes of the younger generation disciples of the Diancang Sect were also the same.
Eung Gajin looked up at the platform, thinking, ‘No way, no way.’
Sure enough, Elder Yubeop was asking Biyoung something with a stiff face.
‘No way. No matter how much of a man with no future he is, he wouldn't tell the truth, would he?’
The True Dragon Sect was already in a funeral atmosphere.
Didn't they say that you should leave a handful of rice even for a ruined family so that there won't be any backlash?
If he were to tell the truth about the promise, Yubeop would have to shove his huge body into a mouse hole.
Was it because he felt Eung Gajin’s hot gaze?
Biyoung turned his head and looked at Eung Gajin.
Then, with a very bright face, he answered.
“I told the younger generation disciples not to allow a single sword strike.”
“………….”
Eung Gajin also had a bright face and a warm smile.
‘That crazy bastard.’
He always does what I hope he won't do.
It goes without saying that Yubeop’s expression crumpled once again.
Chwaak!
Chwaak!
“Keuk……!”
The last sparring match went exactly as everyone had expected.
Danseol of the Diancang Sect and Ojin of the True Dragon Sect.
Danseol used his unique flexible sword to avoid Ojin’s sword like a snake, and with every swing of his sword, Ojin’s martial uniform was dyed red.
Chwaak!
“Ugh……”
It was a merciless hand that would make even the onlookers feel a chill.
It looked as if he was scolding someone with a grudge from the past.
“He’s ruthless. That child seems to have a sharp hand, unlike how he looks.”
“On the other hand, it’s amazing. The opponent is blocking so desperately, but all of them are effective hits, aren’t they?”
“Each and every person in the Diancang Sect has a different personality.”
Yi Gwon-su nodded at the words of Gyeongyeop, who was sitting next to him.
Eung Gajin was serious, and Uma was ferocious.
Jeong-i was thoughtful, and Hyeokri Hong was naive.
And Danseol,
was ruthless.
Stagger…….
Ojin, who couldn’t bring himself to say he surrendered, collapsed, unable to bear the excruciating pain.
With the most injuries among the five swordsmen who had fought today.
“I have learned a lesson.”
Unlike the words he uttered, Danseol had not a single scratch on him.
Danseol’s greeting to his fallen opponent was ruthless to the very end.
A man who was infinitely kind to his allies, but showed not a single bit of mercy to his enemies.
That was Danseol.
“………….”
Elder Yubeop no longer said anything.
When he was being one-sidedly beaten in the last sparring match, it felt as if his own skin was being torn.
How on earth was he supposed to resolve this?
No, was it even a problem that could be resolved?
Yubeop remembered his childhood.
The past experience of being anxious and unable to go home after doing something wrong.
He was now much older than his father at home, but that fear was not much different.
What on earth was he supposed to say when he returned to the main mountain?
He had proposed the sparring match so boldly, but he hadn't landed a single victory, no, not even a single sword strike.
He felt like biting his tongue and dying rather than delivering that news.
“Elder.”
However, Elder Yubeop still had one more pain to endure.
“If we end it like this, the True Dragon Sect will be too disappointed.”
Are you even saying that as a human being?
A thick killing intent bloomed in Elder Yubeop’s pupils.
But then, unexpected words came out of Biyoung’s mouth.
“Since it has come to this, shall I go out once too?”
“Young Hero Biyoung?”
He had intended to pit Biyoung against the third-generation disciples from the beginning, so there was no reason to refuse.
But unfortunately, Yubeop had no more disciples left.
“Don’t disgrace this old warrior any further. The swordsmen we brought are all five of them.”
“No. There’s one more, isn’t there?”
Would the eyes of a hawk aiming for its prey be like that?
Biyoung wore a truly provocative smile.
“The founding father of the True Dragon Sect. The Iron-Faced Cloud Dragon of the True Dragon Eight Swords.”
“!!!”
At Biyoung’s words, sparks flew from Yubeop’s eyes.
The Iron-Faced Cloud Dragon of the True Dragon Sect.
That was his very own moniker.