novelraw Chapter 191 : Chapter 191
Chapter 191 : Chapter 191
Chapter 191 - Knowing Your Place
“Kekekeke.”
The final match of the round of sixteen.
In contrast to the audience's fervent reaction, the atmosphere in the seats of honor was quiet.
They felt it was none of their business who won the Diancang Sect’s internal squabble, as it wasn't their sect anyway.
“Ehehehe.”
However.
There was something grating.
That laughter, which had been incessant since the end of the round of sixteen.
That voice was unsettling the sect leaders.
“Is that you again, Guardian Gwangyo?”
“Kekeke. My apologies.”
The grand master of the Kunlun Sect, Jongri Hu, the Grand Master of Supreme Unity, openly admonished Gwangyo.
He had tried reasoning with him gently at first, but this half-mad beggar with the whites of his eyes flashing was completely uncontrollable.
“It’s just so amusing to watch how things are unfolding. Aren't three of the brats who made it to the quarterfinals swordsmen from the Diancang Sect? Meanwhile, everyone from Mount Hua, Kunlun, Zhongnan, and Mount Heng has been dropping like flies.”
With each mention of a sect's name, the sect leaders' gazes grew as sharp as needles.
They were already simmering with anger over their own disciples’ poor performance.
If they could, they would have thrown Gwangyo out of his seat right then and there.
‘Kekeke. Idiots.’
Normally, an ordinary person wouldn't dare run their mouth so easily, considering the reputation of the sect leaders.
But the beggar before them was a man who had gone beyond daring and was halfway to madness.
As if responding to their heated glares, Gwangyo threw more firewood onto the flames.
“Abbot. Seeing how things have turned out, I feel this martial arts tournament was held in vain. We should have just let them go up to Diancang Mountain and fight it out amongst themselves! Kehahahaha!”
“You cur!”
Unable to hold back any longer, Jongri Hu shot up from his seat.
He looked ready to drag Gwangyo away and beat him to a pulp.
“Amitabha. Please, calm yourself.”
Jongri Hu only stopped when Deokdam shouted the Buddhist chant and intervened.
However, seemingly unable to quell his anger, he left the seats of honor.
“Guardian Gwangyo, that is enough. The Beggars' Union’s leader would not wish for such an atmosphere either. If this continues to happen, Shaolin may have no choice but to remove the Beggars' Union’s seat.”
“Hehe. Yes. I shall be careful.”
Gwangyo apologized perfunctorily and sank deep into his chair.
Even for Gwangyo, the stifling seats of honor were not to his liking.
However, his mind had changed as the Diancang Sect began to perform well.
Watching the leaders of the prestigious orthodox sects tremble with rage was incredibly satisfying.
Even dousing his head with a cool waterfall wouldn't be as thrilling as this.
Perhaps thinking the situation was resolved.
A soft voice was heard from one side.
“Many eyes are watching. If a commotion like this occurs in the seats of honor, it will invite the censure of the public. It seems right for us to be a little more considerate of each other.”
The middle-aged man looked more like a government official or a wealthy merchant than a martial arts sect leader.
He was the leader of the True Dragon Sect, Jin Yong-cheon.
“Hmph.”
Several of the sect leaders turned their heads with uncomfortable expressions.
What Jin Yong-cheon said was not wrong, but the smile on his lips seemed rather insolent.
‘Hmph. His results are good, so words like that just flow out of him.’
The True Dragon Sect had achieved what neither Mount Hua nor Zhongnan could.
The True Dragon Sect’s third-generation disciple, Hanjin, had made it to the quarterfinals of the martial arts tournament.
Within the Nine Sects One Union, their position was no different from that of the youngest member who had just joined at the bottom.
Yet, he had defeated the so-called prominent disciples of the orthodox sects and risen to the quarterfinals.
While not as much as the Diancang Sect, this too was unsettling the sect leaders.
‘I had heard that the True Dragon Sect’s One Heart, One Path system was efficient, but I didn't think it would be to this extent.’
In particular, the mood of the Mount Heng Sect’s leader, Yong Gun-pung of the Cold Flame Sword, had hit rock bottom.
Due to their geographical proximity, he had often acted as the big brother to the True Dragon Sect, but in this tournament, it seemed he would be the one having to pay respects.
Thus, though they sat in the same seats of honor, the positions of each sect were starkly different.
Shaolin and the True Dragon Sect were relatively at ease, while the remaining sects all felt as if they were chewing on sand.
‘Elder Mayeon. Your plan was correct.’
The True Dragon Sect’s greatest elixir.
Elder Mayeon’s suggestion to immediately provide the Great Dragon Supplement Pill.
If he hadn't listened to those words, he too would have ended up like the other sect leaders gathered here.
Coming here, he understood.
Preparations for the future were not something to be delayed for even a moment.
If one did not prepare in advance, they would be swept away by a great wave.
A group that had placed a staggering three names in the quarterfinals.
The wave called the Diancang Sect.
***
“Did you want to see me?”
The moment Tang Gogwi spoke his first words, Namgung Chu's face crumpled.
Damn it.
He shouldn't have come to see this guy.
Arrogance was evident not only in his expression but in every small gesture.
If the guy next to him hadn't requested it, he would never have come here first.
That very ‘guy next to him’ greeted him with a weak smile.
“Hello, Young Master Tang.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Young Hero Biyoung.”
Tang Gogwi was the same age as Namgung Chu.
Considering his age, it was natural for him to speak informally to Biyoung.
But even considering his age, Tang Gogwi's attitude felt uncomfortable for some reason.
It was as if he was born to place others beneath his feet.
With the corners of his eyes drooping downwards, just looking at him created the illusion that he was looking down on you.
“Since I’ve made the introduction, I’ll be on my way.”
As Namgung Chu, who was not fond of Tang Gogwi, tried to leave immediately, Biyoung stopped him.
“Why are you leaving so soon? This is something Brother Chu needs to hear too, so stay.”
“Me too?”
He had thought the business concerning him was over.
Namgung Chu smacked his lips with a ‘tsk’ and sat back down.
“Yes, Young Hero Biyoung. You had something important to tell me?”
“Yes.”
“Let me say this in advance, asking me to go easy on you won't work. My heart is sincere in approaching this martial arts tournament.”
At Tang Gogwi’s words, Namgung Chu's mouth fell open.
‘Is this guy crazy?’
Even for someone with an overinflated ego, this was too much.
How could he imagine that Biyoung would ask him to go easy?
He must have watched Biyoung’s matches as well.
‘It must be one of two things.’
Either he had a terrible eye for skill, or he was incredibly confident in his own abilities.
In any case, from the other person's perspective, it was an incredibly rude thing to say.
Namgung Chu subtly glanced at Biyoung.
However, Biyoung's expression remained unchanged.
“It's the opposite.”
“The opposite?”
“I want you to do your absolute best in our quarterfinal match, Young Master Tang.”
“Do my best, you say. As I said before, I have no intention of going easy…”
“No.”
“?”
Biyoung's next words made Tang Gogwi's pupils tremble violently.
“I'm saying you should use your poison skills too.”
“!”
That remark stunned not only Tang Gogwi but also Namgung Chu.
The Sichuan Tang Clan traditionally practiced martial arts specializing in hidden weapon techniques and poison skills.
However, using poison in a martial arts tournament was forbidden.
Tang Gogwi was a skilled practitioner who had reached the quarterfinals using only hidden weapon techniques, without any poison skills at all.
“Young Hero Biyoung, what are you saying? Poison skills are never used in a tournament match. If we did that, it would be no different from a real battle.”
“I don’t mind if it’s a real battle.”
Biyoung's determined eyes were fixed on Tang Gogwi.
“Because I'm going to win anyway.”
“…………!”
A slight tremor ran through Tang Gogwi's cheek.
Given his life so far, he had likely never experienced such a provocation.
Looking at Tang Gogwi’s trembling eyelids, Biyoung chanted inwardly.
Take the bait.
Come on, take it.
“...Alright.”
“Young Master Tang!”
“You stay out of it. Didn’t you hear him say it’s fine?”
“Do you think Shaolin will stand by? You'll be disqualified the moment you use poison skills!”
At that, Tang Gogwi's lips curled up slightly.
“Do you think those dim-witted monks can identify every poison of the Sichuan Tang Clan?”
“…………!”
“Besides, didn't Young Hero Biyoung himself say it's fine? Even if he were to be poisoned, the Tang Clan has an antidote, so it won't be a big deal.”
Before Namgung Chu could say more, Biyoung spoke up.
“Yes. Let's do that.”
“Young Hero Biyoung, I just can't understand. What is your reason for insisting on a real-life-or-death battle with Young Master Tang?”
“I’m trying to make him know his place.”
At Biyoung’s words, both of Tang Gogwi’s ears twitched.
Truly, he was a master at getting under people’s skin.
Saying he would win anyway, that it wouldn't matter even if he used poison.
Saying he would make him know his place.
For the first time in a while, something akin to killing intent began to bloom in Tang Gogwi’s heart.
“Young Hero Biyoung, I’ve never been called polite myself, but you take it to another level. Are you perhaps hoping for a war between the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Diancang Sect?”
“Hey, of course not. And why would the Sichuan Tang Clan fight the Diancang Sect? The ones you should be fighting are elsewhere.”
“The ones we should be fighting?”
“I’m talking about the ones sitting comfortably in the seats of honor. Aren't they the ones you should be keeping in check?”
“!”
The ones in the seats of honor? Did he mean the Nine Sects One Union?
A strange light appeared in Tang Gogwi’s ruthless eyes.
“Whatever their internal circumstances, they are maintaining their alliance. Even if it looks like a mess about to fall apart, they are still maintaining the framework of the Murim Alliance. But what about you, Young Master Tang, and you, Brother Chu?”
Biyoung looked back and forth between the two young masters.
“Even though you're participating in the tournament together, you had no interaction at all. That's why the Murim Alliance is disrespecting the Five Great Families, starting with the lodging.”
During the time when the World's Fastest Sword was active, the reputation of the Five Great Families was not this low.
When a martial arts tournament was held, they used the same venue as the Nine Sects One Union, and it was considered natural.
But what about the situation now?
The Five Great Families, having failed to unite their strength, were being disrespected starting from where they slept.
“No matter how great a family is, they cannot lead the martial world alone. Even Shaolin probably couldn't do that. Yet, the young masters of the Five Great Families, who have made it to the quarterfinals, aren't even exchanging words. It's truly absurd.”
Tang Gogwi felt as if he had been hit on the head with a hammer.
Wasn't he saying the exact same thing his master had told him before he left for the tournament?
-Young Master. If you have ten mouths, you have ten things you want to say. Nevertheless, you must carefully consider the reason why they do not leave the Murim Alliance.
It was astonishing.
It was understandable for his master, who was old and experienced in the ways of Jianghu.
But the one before him looked to be at least five years younger than himself.
After a moment of silence, Tang Gogwi asked Biyoung.
“So you’re saying it's alright to use poison skills? To make the Sichuan Tang Clan realize its current position.”
“Now we’re talking.”
“What if I use poison skills and win? Would it be alright then for the Sichuan Tang Clan to act as the master of the Diancang Sect, which failed to know its place?”
“Do as you please.”
To Tang Gogwi's radical question, Biyoung answered without batting an eye.
Namgung Chu's jaw dropped to the floor once again, and Tang Gogwi licked his lips.
‘It’s difficult to read his true intentions.’
“However…”
“?”
“If I win, I want you to gather the key figures of the Five Great Families, Young Master Tang.”
“All of the Five Great Families…?”
“Is that a promise?”
With those words, Biyoung promptly stood up from his seat.
Namgung Chu awkwardly got up and followed behind Biyoung.
Suddenly left alone, Tang Gogwi had to immerse himself in deep thought for a long time.
“………….”
A man who was second to none when it came to being talkative.
Surprisingly, Namgung Chu remained silent the entire way back.
Biyoung's sharp remark to Tang Gogwi was, in effect, a remark to himself as well.
He too had been solely focused on the revival of the Namgung Family and had no interest in things like an alliance of the Five Great Families.
Biyoung was right.
Since their alliance broke, the power of the Five Great Families had been gradually waning.
However, a question still remained.
“Young Hero Biyoung, what is your reason for advising the unification of the Five Great Families? You were…”
“A member of the Nine Sects One Union in the past, you mean?”
“Correct.”
Biyoung grinned at Namgung Chu.
It was a smile that seemed complex for some reason.
It looked sad, and yet, somehow, angry.
“They say love and hate are separated by a single sheet of paper, don't they?”
“?”
Leaving behind those cryptic words, Biyoung returned to his quarters.
This happened the day before the quarterfinals of the martial arts tournament were held.