novelraw Chapter 193 : Chapter 193
Chapter 193 : Chapter 193
Chapter 193 - It Keeps Reminding Me of the Old Days
“Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Biyoung has defeated the successor of the Five Great Families!”
“It ended more anticlimactically than I thought.”
“To block all those hidden weapons until they were completely depleted. Is he a man or a monster?”
It was just as Biyoung was leaving the martial arts arena after a refreshing victory.
“You’ve managed to climb up this far.”
Someone twisted their lips at Biyoung.
When Biyoung turned his head to look, a big-headed man in a flashy martial arts uniform was staring at him.
“Uh… let me see…”
Biyoung pointed at the man and struck an awkward pose.
“Who was it again?”
“!”
At those words, the man in the flashy uniform’s face contorted.
“It's Hanjin, Hanjin! How many times do I have to tell you for you to remember my name!”
“Hanjin…?”
Biyoung, lost in thought for a moment, soon slapped his palm with his fist.
“Ah! That’s right!”
He finally remembered.
He was the guy who would occasionally come up to him, say things like he would repay his master’s debt or to prepare himself, and then disappear after saying his piece.
Since he didn't seem like a very impressive person, he would erase him from his memory every time he saw him.
“Yes. I am Hanjin of the True Dragon Sect…”
“But you haven't been eliminated yet?”
“Y-You bastard…!”
An earthquake erupted in Hanjin’s large head.
The wound Biyoung had left on the True Dragon Sect had not yet healed.
He had been counting the days to repay the debt while competing in the tournament, but how could this guy be so thoughtless?
“Who said anything about being eliminated! Your very next opponent is me!”
“Oh, is that so?”
Biyoung finally looked at the tournament bracket written on the large poster and nodded his head.
“Wow. Wudang and Mount Hua have all been eliminated, but a True Dragon remains? That’s impressive.”
“Huh?… Well… that is true, but…”
Hanjin, not expecting to be suddenly praised by Biyoung, found his words trailing off.
But he soon came to his senses and lifted his head high.
“Stop changing the subject and mark my words! Do not get eliminated before you meet me! I will personally repay the debt of Elder Mayeon and Master Daebyeong!”
“Oh… I see you were Elder Mayeon’s One Heart, One Path disciple.”
Biyoung briefly scanned Hanjin’s body.
He had heard rumors that the True Dragon Sect had been seriously planning something.
It seemed their efforts were indeed bearing fruit.
“I appreciate you worrying about me, but can you actually do it?”
“What?”
“Your quarterfinal opponent. He's quite a fighter.”
“Hmph. It seems you’re trying to scare me, but it’s no use. No matter who my opponent is, I will not lose before I meet you.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Biyoung, who had been stroking his chin for a moment, soon let out a smirk.
“Well. Good luck.”
***
There's a saying that from a distance, it's a comedy, but up close, it's a tragedy.
But this man before him was a tragedy whether seen from afar or up close.
How could he be so ugly?
“Hey. Fledgling of the True Dragon Sect. Let’s have a good match.”
Namgung Chu, unaware of what Hanjin was thinking, greeted him warmly.
“We’ll see if you can still say that after the match is over.”
Shing.
Hanjin put down his scabbard and assumed a ready stance.
His already vivid Sword Aura caught the sunlight, scattering a dazzling light.
“Here I come!”
Hanjin launched himself at Namgung Chu without hesitation.
Recently, Hanjin's confidence was at its peak.
This was because he was one of the few swordsmen from the Nine Sects One Union to have survived until the quarterfinals.
The day before, his sect leader, Jin Yong-cheon, had even come to encourage him personally.
Not only had he consumed the Great Dragon Supplement Pill, but he had also received a portion of the internal energy that Mayeon had cultivated his entire life.
It was true that he had had a favorable draw, but the quarterfinals of the martial arts tournament was not a place one could reach by luck alone.
I have become stronger, and I can become even stronger.
Hanjin's valiant sword seemed to be shouting this itself.
CLANG!
A clear sound rang out as the sword engraved with a dragon's crest collided with the Judge’s Brush.
Hanjin frowned at the heavy feeling transmitted through his wrist.
‘His internal energy is no joke…!’
The One Heart, One Path system, where one direct disciple is specially selected and managed.
Among them, only three had ingested the Great Dragon Supplement Pill.
To think that he couldn't overwhelm him with internal energy even after combining the sect's treasured elixir with Elder Mayeon's internal energy?
Hanjin could not accept the current situation.
“Alright, let's see if you can block this too!”
CRACK!
Shhhhhh…!
As the sword and the Judge’s Brush continued to clash, a thick fog began to rise.
The fog grew larger and larger until it became a mass more befitting the term 'cloud'.
“Hmm…?”
“What's happening?”
“I can’t see well.”
The crowd squinted as they watched the martial arts arena grow hazy.
However, no matter how hard they strained their eyes, it was difficult to see the two men's exchange.
The Wind and Cloud Dragon Sword, which used scattered Sword Aura to secure one's territory, had manifested.
“Hoh?”
Namgung Chu looked around the clouds with great amusement.
“Where are you looking!”
As the cloud of the Wind and Cloud Dragon Sword formed, Hanjin swung his sword even more valiantly.
At least within this area, I am the king.
Hanjin's expression seemed to say just that.
CLANG!
“Keuk…!”
But it wasn't as easy to find an opening as he had thought.
Far from being flustered by the surrounding cloud, Namgung Chu looked as if he was enjoying the scenery.
“I heard the True Dragon Sect recycles their Sword Aura, and it seems that was true. Quite plausible.”
“Where does this ugly bastard get off evaluating the great True Dragon Sect!”
Hanjin was just about to unleash a furious strike.
Flinch.
He hastily withdrew the sword he was about to thrust and turned his body to the side.
BANG!
A bullet-like attack grazed the spot where his side had been.
It was a strike qualitatively different from their previous exchanges.
‘What is this…??’
“My goodness. Even when a person tries to resolve things nicely…”
Gulp.
Hanjin swallowed his saliva without realizing it.
It wasn't just the earlier strike.
Namgung Chu's entire aura had changed, as if he had become a completely different person.
Why.
For what reason?
“There are always those guys who insist on saying exactly what they're told not to.”
What I was told not to say?
What was it?
What did I say!
Hanjin, still unaware of his mistake, gripped his fist tightly.
Within the cloud of the Wind and Cloud Dragon Sword, the five senses become more acute.
It was thanks to this that he had barely managed to dodge Namgung Chu's earlier strike.
Those sharpened five senses were urgently screaming at Hanjin.
The moment he let his guard down, he would be utterly destroyed.
“I was going to go easy on you, but you’re a lost cause.”
Saying so, Namgung Chu gripped his weapon, the Nam Family’s Treasure Brush, with both hands.
The energy of the Judge’s Brush, enhanced with internal energy, was clearly visible even within the cloud.
Biyoung, watching this from a distance, smiled slightly.
“It'll be over soon.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Heonjin must have done something to piss off Brother Chu. He's about to bring out the Namgung Family's ultimate technique.”
“It’s Hanjin, not Heonjin. But how do you know the Namgung Family's ultimate technique?”
Since both had cleared their Conception and Governor Vessels, neither of them had any issues with their vision.
However, their experience with the martial arts of the Namgung Family Clan was different.
Biyoung was now explaining that difference.
“The canvas happens to be perfect.”
“?”
Along with Biyoung's vague words, a vivid turquoise light spread out from within the True Dragon Sect's cloud.
“Watch carefully, Brother Eung-ga. That is the ultimate technique of the Namgung Family Clan, the Emperor's Brandishing Penetration Art.”
FLASH!
From top to bottom.
And to the side.
Again from both sides downwards.
Namgung Chu's Judge’s Brush relentlessly tears the cloud apart.
The movement was full of power, yet at the same time, elegant.
Just like a great calligrapher writing.
“!”
Hanjin’s eyelids shot up to the sky.
The cloud of Sword Aura created by the Wind and Cloud Dragon Sword was being torn apart in all directions without putting up any resistance.
Namgung Chu, holding the Nam Family’s Treasure Brush in both hands, swung the Judge’s Brush along a predetermined path.
Be it a sword or a spear.
Or even a brush.
Whatever one uses, only the one who has conquered the world can finally embrace this character.
Emperor.
Namgung Chu’s Judge’s Brush was drawing a large character for Emperor.
“That is… the Emperor's Brandishing Penetration Art…!”
Because the character was large, it was actually more visible from a distance.
The turquoise character that had mercilessly torn apart the cloud of Sword Aura swooped down towards Hanjin’s body.
POW POW POW POW POW!
“Kuaaaaaaah!”
Hanjin felt a pain as if his entire body was being diced.
The character for Emperor resembled the shape of a person, which meant that his entire body was within the attack range of the Judge’s Brush.
“Oof. That’s harsh.”
Biyoung whistled as he watched Hanjin fly through the air.
Seeing that he showed no mercy, it seemed Hanjin had really angered Namgung Chu.
“This victory goes to Young Master Chu of the Namgung Family Clan!”
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
Although parts of it were obscured in the middle, everything became clear after the Emperor's Brandishing Penetration Art was unleashed.
The martial artist named Namgung Chu was not on a level that Hanjin could dare to challenge.
Amidst the pouring cheers, Namgung Chu silently walked out of the martial arts arena.
“So Brother Chu is also in the semifinals.”
To Biyoung’s words, Eung Gajin replied indifferently.
“He is the man who defeated me, so of course he should be.”
“Oh. That’s quite a cocky thing to say.”
“Hey, is that any way for a junior disciple to speak to his senior?”
“Kekeke.”
Watching Namgung Chu wave in their direction, Biyoung asked again.
“Did you see it clearly?”
“You mean the Emperor's Brandishing Penetration Art?”
“Yeah.”
“Well… to some extent.”
“Then the one with the advantage now is you, senior brother.”
Solbo, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, couldn't hold back and asked.
“What do you mean, an advantage?”
“In the previous match, Brother Eung-ga was at a disadvantage. Brother Chu had seen Brother Eung-ga's hidden weapon, but Brother Eung-ga had no information. But now the situation has changed. Because you've seen the Emperor's Brandishing Penetration Art with your own two eyes. Unless Brother Eung-ga is a hopeless piece of trash, he'll come up with some kind of countermeasure, won't he?”
At Biyoung’s words, Eung Gajin raised his voice.
“Do you really have to add the part about being a hopeless piece of trash?”
“Ack! There's a sect where a senior brother grabs his junior's collar! People of the neighborhood!”
While Biyoung and Eung Gajin bickered, Solbo slowly nodded his head.
“I see…. Their skills were evenly matched, so the senior brother who has witnessed the Emperor's Brandishing Penetration Art even once might have an advantage.”
“Keck keck. Instead, Brother Eung-ga will have to prepare something other than the Nine-Shooting One Flash. Because he knows he can't win with that.”
“Something else? Like what?”
Biyoung gestured with his chin towards Eung Gajin, as if to say, ‘why are you asking me?’
The sight of Eung Gajin, lost in deep thought, came into Solbo's view.
He couldn't tell what he was thinking, but to Solbo, that Eung Gajin looked dependable.
“But is it okay for you to be here? Isn’t it your turn next?”
“Oops!”
Solbo blinked his large eyes and quickly headed towards the waiting room.
He truly was a person who didn't seem to fit in the quarterfinals of a martial arts tournament.
Eung Gajin asked, watching Solbo’s back.
“The quarterfinals are finally ending. Do you think Solbo can win?”
“It's unpredictable.”
Eung Gajin’s eyes widened in surprise.
“There was something you didn't know?”
It wasn't sarcasm, he was being sincere.
The only time he heard Biyoung say ‘I don’t know’ was usually when the kitchen’s dumplings went missing.
“If it's within the realm of prediction, Senior Brother Solbo will win. But…”
The man with a sincere impression who was entering the martial arts arena with a grin.
Biyoung's face turned quite serious as he looked at Siban.
“He keeps reminding me of the old days.”