Hi @Everyone, Membership is now available for this novel! Please check it out here @ patreon.com/SaberToothTL
Full novel available here @ patreon.com/SaberToothTL
CLS-Chapter 233
by SaberToothChapter 233
There are immutable truths in this world.
For example, “water flows from high to low” or “the sun rises in the east and sets in the west.”
But here and now, one of those immutable truths was being shattered.
‘A person can actually fly through the sky.’
Gong Mu-jin looked up at Do Mun-Wei with a vacant expression, now a star in the heavens.
Another truth was being broken.
What goes up must come down, yet Do Mun-Wei showed no intention of coming down at all.
‘Ah, there he is.’
Something glinted in the sky, then a black dot appeared. The dot grew larger and gradually took human form.
“Oh!”
The limp Do Mun-Wei landed precisely on the mountain peak across the way.
Boom!
A tremendous vibration traveled over the mountain.
‘Is he dead?’
‘He must be dead, right?’
‘He’s got to be dead.’
Everyone became of one mind in mourning Do Mun-wi. If he had any conscience, he shouldn’t survive that. That would truly be unconscionable.
Cheong Yeong-ja raised his hand to forcibly close his gaping mouth.
With a grinding sound, his jaw closed and his teeth clacked together. However, while his jaw found its proper place, his lost composure showed no signs of returning.
‘I definitely saw it with my own eyes…’
What he saw with his eyes defied understanding.
So to explain this situation in words, that Wei Yan-ho had sent Wind Shadow Fist Do Mun-Wei flying to the opposite peak with a single strike…
“Heh heh heh heh.”
A hollow laugh escaped Cheong Yeong-ja’s lips. This was the first time he’d experienced his mind and eyes working so separately. Despite clearly seeing it with his own eyes, he simply couldn’t comprehend it.
“What kind of sorcery is this?”
“What did I just see?”
Fortunately, it seemed Cheong Yeong-ja wasn’t the only one in confusion. The others filling the upper seats were each expressing shock and terror in their own ways.
“Is, is that really Wind Shadow Fist?”
“Even if it’s not Wind Shadow Fist, it’s still a problem. Are you saying an ordinary martial artist could send him flying like that? The issue isn’t who Wind Shadow Fist is, but who Wei Yan-ho is!”
“Isn’t he Wei Jeong-han’s son?”
“That’s not what I mean right now! You frustrating man!”
“What? Aren’t you being too harsh?”
Cheong Yeong-ja looked at them with a hollow expression.
‘They’re having quite the argument.’
Normally he would have scolded them for such disgraceful behavior, but right now he lacked the strength. It was Wei Yan-ho’s single comment that awakened them from their confusion and inability to process the situation.
“Do I have to keep standing here?”
“……”
Hearing Wei Yan-ho’s words, Cheong Yeong-ja turned his head toward the judge.
“……You there, close your mouth.”
At Cheong Yeong-ja’s words, the judge raised his hand and pushed his jaw shut.
“Wi, Wei Yan-ho victory!”
Wei Yan-ho nodded as if it were obvious and trudged down from the stage. Gong Mu-jin watched this scene while shaking his head.
‘That hopeless bastard.’
Probably from today onwards, the world would know. That an unstoppable lazy bum had appeared in this world.
“Why is everyone reacting like this?”
Wei Yan-ho asked Wei Jeong-han, who was staring at him with a dazed expression, as if to say ‘what did I do wrong this time?’
“Ah, no.”
Wei Jeong-han opened his mouth reluctantly.
“You didn’t kill him, did you?”
“He should be alive.”
“……Wouldn’t even a Diamond Warrior normally die from falling like that?”
“I made sure he wouldn’t die.”
“Well, that’s a relief then.”
He didn’t understand the principle, but if Wei Yan-ho said he made sure he wouldn’t die, then he probably didn’t die. The Wei Yan-ho that Wei Jeong-han knew was someone who would slink away when situations became unfavorable, but he rarely lied.
“Still, you brat. Couldn’t you have been more moderate?”
“Huh? Why?”
Wei Jeong-han clicked his tongue.
“With so many people watching, how could you show everything like that? Haven’t you heard the saying that in the martial world, you should hide thirty percent of your abilities?”
“Thirty percent?”
Wei Yan-ho said with a blank expression.
“If I’d only hidden thirty percent, that guy would be dead.”
“……”
“Should I have killed him?”
“Ah, no.”
That wasn’t what he meant.
Son, and don’t say such things so loudly. Everyone can see.
“That’s not what I meant. I’m asking if it was okay to show so much from the very start. From now on, the other participants will start being wary of you as their top priority. Will that be alright?”
Wei Yan-ho snorted.
“What are they going to do if they’re wary?”
“……”
Well, that’s true.
Actually, this wasn’t something that could be solved by being wary. What could you do against someone who sends a perfectly fine person flying to the opposite mountain peak, just by being cautious?
‘He’s my kid, but really……’
This brat definitely didn’t know the meaning of “moderation.” To put it coldly, it was like taking someone who’d entered the military, learned all sorts of killing techniques and returned, then pitting him against a snot-nosed kid who immediately got his jaw kicked in.
Of course, Wind Shadow Fist Do Mun-Wei wasn’t someone who deserved to be treated like a snot-nosed kid. In fact, the difference between Wei Yan-ho and Do Mun-Wei was greater than between a killing machine and a snot-nosed kid.
“Still, people should have some sense of moderation, shouldn’t they?”
“Hey, that’s not right.”
“Why?”
“Master said that the dirtiest, most despicable thing in the world is pretending to win with difficulty when you could easily win, while half-heartedly dealing with your opponent.”
“……Why?”
“Because then they get hope. If that person later realizes ‘back then, that guy was just toying with me and taking it easy,’ how shocking would that be? Master said that if you’re not going to lay a hand on them, that’s one thing, but if you’re going to fight anyway, it’s courtesy to do your best and utterly destroy them.”
Wei Jeong-han became like a mute who had eaten honey.
The words were right. Absolutely right.
But somehow when this brat said those right words, it felt like he was selling snake oil.
“I, I see.”
“Yes. It might be painful now, but later it becomes nourishment for the body and soul.”
It really seems like his bones might hurt? Not metaphorically, but literally.
“Still, wasn’t that a bit too harsh?”
“Come on, Father.”
Wei Yan-ho waved his hand dismissively.
“Even so, it’s a proper duel, so I can’t pretend someone who’s no match is actually a match. It’s hard for me, and it would be hard for him too. Rather than that, it’s better to just openly crush them.”
“You didn’t do it because you were annoyed, did you?”
“……”
That’s it! This brat!
How annoyed were you that you blasted someone away in one shot because one duel takes too much time!
“Anyway, my work for today is done, so I’m going in to sleep.”
Wei Jeong-han nodded with tears in his eyes.
Whatever the reason, the fact that Wei Yan-ho had performed exceptionally well today was undeniable. So for now, he had no choice but to let it be.
“Eat before you rest.”
“Yes.”
Wei Yan-ho shuffled toward the lodgings. Wei Jeong-han sighed softly while watching the scene.
‘He’s dropped a bomb and left.’
This wasn’t just any bomb, but a thunderbolt-class one. Even though the duel had ended long ago, there was no sign of the next duel proceeding.
Wei Jeong-han quietly observed the murmuring people. Usually when someone performs beyond expectations, the atmosphere would heat up, but when that performance far transcends common sense, people’s reactions had to be different.
Seeing the spectator seats become quiet as if cold water had been poured over them, Wei Jeong-han clicked his tongue.
‘There’ll be chaos by tomorrow.’
Once this shock wore off, Wei Yan-ho’s name would soon spread from mouth to mouth. Throughout the entire Central Plains.
“……How?”
Jang So-ha stared at the dueling platform with a soul-lost expression.
Though he was the future Greatest Sword of Mount Hua and currently received praise as Mount Hua’s greatest rising talent, right now he was looking at the dueling platform with a stupid expression completely unbefitting that reputation.
‘Wind Shadow Fist in one strike?’
No matter how much he was Mount Hua’s greatest rising talent and considered a strong candidate for victory in this tournament, Wind Shadow Fist was by no means an easy opponent for him either.
Having experienced real combat he hadn’t, and having mastered family martial arts to perfection, Wind Shadow Fist was more fearsome than known. Fearsome enough for everyone to be wary despite not being from a prestigious sect.
Yet defeating that Wind Shadow Fist in a single move?
Not just defeating, but sending the person flying?
“D-does this even make sense?”
He must have been careless.
Surely he was careless.
Such a result couldn’t occur unless Wind Shadow Fist was careless. Jang So-ha was certain. The problem was that the fact Wind Shadow Fist was careless provided no comfort whatsoever.
‘If he was careless, could I defeat him in one strike?’
Absolutely impossible.
It wasn’t a matter of whether he was careless or not. Even if he was careless, Jang So-ha couldn’t defeat him so easily.
Moreover, even if he wasn’t just careless but standing there asleep, he was even more lacking in confidence to send a perfectly fine person flying to the opposite mountain peak. He couldn’t understand how such a result could occur.
“Am I dreaming?”
“Probably not.”
At the voice from behind, Jang So-ha turned his head.
There, a familiar person sat perched on a tree stump.
“Song Hyeon?”
“It’s been a while.”
“……It has been. But what do you mean by that? Probably not?”
“It’s not a dream. This is harsh reality.”
Jang So-ha’s face twisted slightly.
“I don’t think we’ve built such a friendship, but we have some acquaintance, so let me give you one piece of advice.”
“Advice?”
Song Hyeon nodded.
“If you don’t want to see something terrible, just forfeit when you face Wei Yan-ho.”
“Forfeit! How can a martial artist surrender without even crossing swords!”
“Are you good at finding your way?”
“……”
“I have no sense of direction, so I’m not confident I could find my way back here from that mountain peak over there. If you don’t want that to happen, it’s more comfortable to just forfeit and sleep peacefully in bed.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Having fighting spirit is good.”
Contrary to his words, Song Hyeon looked at Jang So-ha with pitying eyes.
“But if that fighting spirit leads to utter humiliation, then you’ll think you should have listened to me.”
“……You speak as if you’ve experienced something. Do you know that person well?”
“I don’t know him well, but I know one thing.”
“What’s that?”
“From this moment on, our names won’t be in any debates about the rising talents of the martial world.”
Jang So-ha’s face twisted miserably.
“Do you know what the problem is with a frog in a well?”
“……Are you trying to say we couldn’t escape from the well?”
“No.”
Song Hyeon said flatly.
“The problem is being a frog.”
“……Huh?”
“Frogs can’t beat tigers. You and I are frogs, and Wei Yan-ho is a tiger. So it would be good to think realistically.”
Leaving those words behind, Song Hyeon got up and trudged away.
‘I’m a frog?’
Jang So-ha’s face was twisted horribly as he watched him leave.
0 Comments