Chapter 87 : The Blue Team and the Red Team
Chapter 87 : The Blue Team and the Red Team
The old man who was fishing reeled in his fishing rod.
As if something was not to his liking, a sigh mixed with annoyance came out of the old man's mouth as he looked at the lake.
"Is it the third month?"
It had already been three months since Go'ung, the Man-Rending Demon Hand, who had been a guest of the Nameless Pavilion, had left, saying he would kill Jin Sohyun.
During that time, in Guizhou, nearly eight hundred unorthodox faction members had aimed for the next-generation talents of the orthodox faction who had left the fence.
The result was, surprisingly, a great defeat for the unorthodox martial world.
About twenty next-generation talents of the orthodox faction had died, and because of this, over four hundred unorthodox faction members had died.
A result that was embarrassing to even calculate the exchange ratio.
The surviving unorthodox faction members acted like madmen and only cried out for the second coming of the Ten-Armed Blood Ghost.
—A flying sword that flew from a distance of over a hundred zhang killed my comrades. I couldn't even tell where it was flying from, and the power contained in the flying sword was so great that I couldn't dare to deal with it.
According to the news delivered through the information network of the Nameless Pavilion, a person who seemed to be the disciple of Kang Cheon had killed countless unorthodox faction members.
But.
What made the Nameless Pavilion Master even more disturbed was the disappearance of Go'ung.
"There's no way the Man-Rending Demon Hand would have left the Goshawk (Jin Sohyun) alone. But there's no news at all..."
There is only one case where an assassin does not return.
That is death.
Go'ung was dead.
The master of the unorthodox faction, who had torn and killed numerous martial artists with his bare hands until now, had met his death without a sound.
The one who had killed him was very likely the Goshawk.
"The fact that he didn't see any special injuries on the Goshawk... must mean that the demonic hand of the Man-Rending Demon Hand could not reach him."
The old man, who was quietly watching the calm lake, laughed.
"This is not what I expected. Mu Yu."
The pupils of the Nameless Pavilion Master were calm without any wavering.
In his eyes, the cold anger peculiar to an assassin was contained.
"As you said, he seems to be a variable."
The Nameless Pavilion Master.
The master of the Nameless Pavilion, who had stepped back from the front line and had only been involved in the major affairs of the Nameless Pavilion, finally got up.
At his movement, the Nameless Pavilion shook greatly.
The Vice Pavilion Master, who had received the news, hurriedly greeted the Pavilion Master.
"You've come, Pavilion Master."
"The number of available first-class and special-class?"
"Six special-class, and about twenty first-class are available."
The Nameless Pavilion Master knew that these were all that the Nameless Pavilion had.
The most important thing in an assassin organization is a sharp sword that cuts and stabs the target to death.
"Summon them all."
"Do you mean all the special-class and first-class?"
"Yes. Vice Pavilion Master."
"Please give your order."
"From now on, our Nameless Pavilion will focus on a single target. That opponent is the one and only disciple of the Ten-Armed Blood Ghost."
The Nameless Pavilion Master looked down at the nameless assassins of the Nameless Pavilion who had come at his call and said.
"Jin Sohyun."
***
"There's a saying that man is an animal of adaptation. I didn't acknowledge that saying before, but now I have to. Don't you think so?"
"It's not wrong. In fact, those hellish trainings have become bearable now."
"Hahaha! That's right!"
Zhuge Ming, Moyong Susu, and Peng Xiaofeng, like old friends, gathered together and talked about this and that.
It was not strange that the martial artists from the Five Great Families were close.
However, the peculiar thing was that Jin Sohyun was at the center of them.
"Haaam."
"Are you tired?"
"Yes. I'm a little tired. I only slept for four shichen today."
"Oh my! That's not like you, Young Hero Jin."
"I know. I think it's because I've been doing too many things that are not like me lately."
Moyong Susu was laughing, covering her mouth with her hand, as if she found something so amusing.
"Aren't you thirsty?"
"Ah, thank you, Young Lady Oh."
This time, Oh Seolhwa brought a water bottle and handed it to Jin Sohyun.
"It's as cool as water that has just been drawn."
"I'm glad you like it!"
Moyong Susu had a displeased face at Oh Seolhwa, who had taken the right seat next to Jin Sohyun.
"Why are you here?"
"Is there a reason I shouldn't be? I didn't come to see you, so mind your own business."
A war of nerves between the two women with no room for compromise.
Jin Sohyun, who was caught in between, was dozing off, sitting blankly, as if he were used to it.
Jong Ryeo'ak could not easily understand this strange sight.
'I can understand the Five Great Families being close to that Jin brat from the beginning... but why is that Huashan Sect brat like that?'
Jong Ryeo'ak was in a bad mood for no reason.
It was natural for him to be angry, as the brat he already found annoying was monopolizing the attention of the Five Great Families and the Nine Great Sects.
"It's strange. What's so good about that lazy bum... don't you think so, senior brother?"
"Leave him be. His family is rich, so they must have thought it wouldn't be bad to be close to him. Don't be envious of being used."
"I understand."
Despite Jong Ryeo'ak's advice, the martial artists of the Jongnam Sect looked at Jin Sohyun with envious gazes.
They too could not shake off their envy of Jin Sohyun, who was caught between Moyong Susu and Oh Seolhwa, who had outstanding beauty.
This thought was the same for the other officials.
From their point of view, there was no way they would look favorably on Jin Sohyun, who was monopolizing the attention of the Nine Sects and the Five Great Families.
'What on earth are they thinking?'
Huang Seohyang from the Shandong Huang Family looked at Jin Sohyun and the so-called officials from prestigious families surrounding him with a puzzled face.
Huang Seohyang had been moving very busily from the moment she had entered the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.
It was because it was a golden opportunity to raise the prestige of her family and to become close to the martial artists of the prestigious families.
Thanks to her busy movements, Huang Seohyang had succeeded in not only becoming close to the martial artists of the minor sects, but also in getting to know the martial artists of Kongtong and Huashan.
The success of the family.
For this, Huang Seohyang had remained at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple even after experiencing the tragedy in Guizhou.
'Some people were running around until their feet were sweating!'
It was so unfair.
A brat who had nothing but a handsome face and a family with overflowing wealth.
A brat who was always lazing around during training time and was still attached to the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple thanks to his good luck.
That was the evaluation of Jin Sohyun at the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.
And yet, there were many people around Jin Sohyun.
And they were all officials from prestigious sects and families.
"It certainly seems that having a lot of money is helpful. For even a brat like that to receive attention. Don't you think so?"
Go Durim, who was resting with Huang Seohyang, said stiffly.
"The Nine Sects and the Five Great Families cannot be moved by money."
"Ah..."
Huang Seohyang hurriedly covered her mouth.
'I made a mistake!'
Go Durim was a disciple of the Kongtong Sect.
He was a martial artist of the Nine Sects.
Huang Seohyang, who had realized her slip of the tongue, laughed awkwardly.
"I misspoke. If you were offended, I apologize..."
"His appearance."
"What... what?"
"That courtesan-like appearance. That is the reason why that Jin official is popular."
For some reason, a sense of hostility was felt in Go Durim's tone.
'Ah, so that's what it was?'
A small change appeared in Huang Seohyang's gaze.
"I see. A martial artist proves himself with his skills, not his face. Young Hero Go is the true next-generation talent who represents the orthodox faction."
Huang Seohyang's hand was gently placed on Go Durim's arm.
At her gentle touch, Go Durim's face flushed.
"Ahem, ahem!"
Go Durim did not bother to deny it.
"I know that Young Hero Go is a much more outstanding martial artist than that lazy bum."
Huang Seohyang's gentle voice came like a streak of rain to Go Durim's stiff heart.
"Well... if, if you see it that way... th-thank you."
"No. I only spoke the truth."
"Ahem, ahem, ahem!"
While Go Durim was blushing, Huang Seohyang's gaze passed over Jin Sohyun and turned to the two people who were resting quietly.
It was as if that space itself had been created just for them.
Cheon Gaseong and Cheon Yerang.
The two officials from the White Moon Palace exuded a dignity and atmosphere that was truly unapproachable.
"Did Cheon Sohyup and Cheon Sojeo kill over fifty unorthodox faction martial artists by themselves?"
"I know. It was the Hwangha Sect. Thanks to them, we might be alive."
"We're alive thanks to Young Lady Oh! But why is Young Lady Oh attached to a brat like that..."
"Young Lady Oh is too good for him, too good."
While some officials were feeling sorry for Oh Seolhwa, who was attached to Jin Sohyun's side, Gwak Myeong appeared on the stage.
"Everyone, get up."
At the Daoist Temple Master's words, the officials who had been resting in groups of three and five got up at once.
They now lined up in the training ground with even a sense of leisure on their faces.
"You all have a lot of leisure on your faces. I'll have to increase the intensity of the training."
"Ah..."
"Ugh!"
"Ugh! I was just getting used to it."
While a dark cloud was cast over the faces of the thirty officials, the instructors of the Daoist temple appeared, holding familiar wooden boxes.
"What is it this time?"
While the officials were watching the box with curiosity, Gwak Myeong said.
"There's no need to explain it anymore, right? Draw."
As per Gwak Myeong's order, the officials drew a wooden plaque from the wooden box.
This time, the wooden plaque was unique in that it was divided into blue and red instead of numbers.
"Officials with the same colored wooden plaque, gather together."
Fifteen blue and fifteen red wooden plaques.
The thirty officials were divided into fifteen each.
The ones who became the Blue Team were Jin Sohyun, Zhuge Ming, Huang Seohyang, Go Durim, Yu Useon, and a few martial artists from the Nine Sects and the Five Families, as well as martial artists from the minor sects.
And finally, Cheon Yerang joined the Blue Team.
The Red Team included Moyong Susu, Peng Xiaofeng, Hyeok'ugun, Jong Ryeo'ak, Oh Seolhwa, and, like the Blue Team, martial artists from the Nine Sects and the Five Families, as well as the remaining martial artists from the minor sects.
At the end of the Red Team, Cheon Gaseong joined.
"Is everyone gathered?"
The officials, who were divided into the Blue Team and the Red Team, looked at Gwak Myeong.
"From now on, you will fight each other. The basic rules are the same as a sparring match, but a few rules will be added."
The rules that Gwak Myeong mentioned were as follows.
First, a total of six sparring matches will be held, and it does not matter how many team members are sent out for each round.
Second, it does not matter how many times a team member fights.
Third, the side that wins the most out of the six sparring matches wins, but in the case of a draw, the winner will be decided by a match between the team leaders.
"You all understand the rules, right? I'll give you one koku, so select your team leaders."
As soon as Gwak Myeong's explanation ended, the officials of the Blue Team and the Red Team felt troubled for different reasons.
'We're doomed!'
The officials belonging to the Blue Team were in despair as they looked at Cheon Gaseong in the Red Team.
It was because the self-proclaimed best next-generation talent of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple was Cheon Gaseong.
Of course, the officials of the Red Team were also in trouble.
"What should we do?"
"Ahem!"
Moyong Susu put her hand on her forehead, and Peng Xiaofeng looked at Jin Sohyun with a complicated expression.
"Oh my god..."
This was the same for Oh Seolhwa.
"What's wrong? Are you worried about Young Lady Cheon?"
"No, it's not that..."
'How are we supposed to fight that monster!?'
It was true that Cheon Gaseong was strong, but this was the same for Jin Sohyun.
Moyong Susu and Oh Seolhwa, who had watched his strength right next to him, were sweating.
Oh Seolhwa, unlike her usual self, put her head together with Moyong Susu.
"How do we stop Young Hero Jin?"
"Still, given Young Hero Jin's personality, he won't give it his all."
"Really?"
As Oh Seolhwa asked anxiously, Moyong Susu nodded her head.
"Young Hero Jin is the best lazy bum in Shanxi, no matter what anyone says. He'll find even a sparring match a hassle, so what we have to worry about is..."
The gazes of the two turned to Cheon Yerang at the same time.
"Young Lady Cheon."
"Can't we just leave Young Lady Cheon to Young Hero Cheon?"
"Then it'll be worth a try."
"Hoo. Then we just have to pick a team leader."
"The team leader should be Young Hero Cheon..."
While Moyong Susu and Oh Seolhwa were relieved and were about to pick a team leader, Gwak Myeong's voice echoed loudly.
"Ah, I forgot to mention the benefit for the winner."
Everyone's pupils moved to Gwak Myeong.
Soon, Gwak Myeong said with a playful tone, unlike him.
"I will give the winning team a week's vacation."
It had been half a year since they had entered the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple.
At Gwak Myeong's declaration that he would give them a vacation, the officials of the Blue Dragon Daoist Temple gave a fervent cheer.
Among them, there was one who was especially sparkling his eyes.
He was Jin Sohyun.
"A vacation?"
The faces of Moyong Susu and Oh Seolhwa, who had found out that the winner's benefit was a vacation, turned pale at the same time.
"We're doomed."
(End of Chapter)
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