CLS-Chapter 260

Chapter 260

Ten Thousand Flower Rain.

It was fortunate to witness the Tang Family’s renowned technique with his own eyes, something he had only heard about by name. Those with lower martial prowess were captivated by the splendor of the Ten Thousand Flower Rain, but those with true skill trembled at the cruelty hidden within that magnificence.

All directions filled completely with hidden weapons. Within that space, projectiles fell at staggered intervals, their trajectories utterly unpredictable as they danced through the air.

How could anyone possibly defend against that?

‘Was the Dark King at this level?‘

Even Cheong Yeong-ja trembled as he watched the Ten Thousand Flower Rain.

If he were down there instead?

Block, block, and block again. But the moment you miss just once, you get wounded. If that wound slows your reactions, more wounds accumulate. Eventually, you’d be unable to withstand the rain of projectiles pouring down like precipitation and collapse.

Cheong Yeong-ja’s gaze turned toward Wei Yan-ho, confirming that the Dark King’s martial prowess was higher than he had imagined.

Everyone knew.

That Wei Yan-ho was strong.

But everyone also didn’t know.

While they could roughly guess how relatively strong Wei Yan-ho was, he had never displayed his true martial prowess before them.

What they had seen was merely opponents being sent flying without even getting a chance to raise their hands against Wei Yan-ho.

Now, before their very eyes, Wei Yan-ho began to reveal that sword.

‘Dazzling.‘

Among the flower petals fluttering down as if covering the heavens, Wei Yan-ho began emanating brilliance. His sword became wrapped in pure white light.

Then he began gradually intensifying that light.

Cheong Yeong-ja watched the scene unfolding before him in stunned fascination.

‘Can this truly be a battle between humans?‘

Clearly it was a contest decided by sword and hidden weapons, yet what appeared before his eyes was a sight he’d rather believe was fantasy.

Wei Yan-ho’s sword continued expanding its light.

The radiance emanating from his sword seemed to fill the entire sparring stage at one moment, then filled the entire world.

Brilliant luminance.

And with it…

The rain of scattered petals withered before Wei Yan-ho’s brilliance and disappeared without a trace. Like a blazing summer sun pushing out spring.

Tang Cheon-gun let both hands drop as he stared at Wei Yan-ho.

“……”

He had nothing to say.

The Ten Thousand Flower Rain he had unleashed with all his might had been extinguished without inflicting even a scratch on Wei Yan-ho’s body. Not deflected—extinguished.

His lips trembling repeatedly, he finally spoke in a hollow tone.

“How is that possible?”

“What is?”

“How could you…”

Tang Cheon-gun couldn’t continue his words.

What should he ask?

Should he ask ‘How were you able to erase all those hidden weapons?‘

Tang Cheon-gun just laughed.

He already knew that answer.

Because he’s strong.

Because he’s incomparably strong.

In this situation, what other answer could there be?

Tang Cheon-gun glanced around at his surroundings.

The spectators were all staring at him with shocked expressions. At him, not Wei Yan-ho.

‘Of course.‘

The sight of one who claimed to be strong being pushed aside by a new rising star was what all martial artists desired to see. But when they actually witnessed such a scene firsthand, people felt discomfort.

Right now they were watching the martial world’s star known as the Dark King fall at the hands of the rising star Wei Yan-ho.

“…You’re strong.”

“Well, I’m ordinary.”

Wei Yan-ho was still standing with one leg cocked, shaking it restlessly.

The thought ‘Why does it have to be someone like that?‘ swept through Tang Cheon-gun’s mind for a moment, but it also made sense.

‘That would be why, too.‘

If he had grown in an ordinary, orthodox manner, he wouldn’t have exceeded everyone’s expected strength. Because he’s that kind of person, he broke free from the standard mold.

Now Wei Yan-ho would inherit everything he had built up. Wei Yan-ho’s reputation would rise as much as the reputation he had accumulated, and all his achievements would be used to describe Wei Yan-ho with the phrase ‘the one who defeated that Tang Cheon-gun.‘

“They say the Yangtze’s rear waves push the front waves forward, but I never thought I’d become a wave being pushed aside.”

“That’s just how life is.”

“Yes, I suppose it is.”

Tang Cheon-gun said with resignation.

“The natural order of the world—yet I alone thought I could sidestep that principle.”

“Well, acting like your life is over because you lost once is also being dramatic.”

“Do you think so?”

Wei Yan-ho nodded.

“My master said, ‘You don’t lose everything from a single defeat. If you lose anything, it’s only the confidence that you won’t lose.'”

“Mm, indeed.”

“Of course, the fellow who said this added, ‘though I wouldn’t know since I’ve never lost before.'”

“…I, I see.”

Tang Cheon-gun smiled gently.

Something that had been gripping him tightly was slowly disappearing. The pressure to strengthen his family and the burden of never being allowed to lose—all those things he had to bear simply for being strong were releasing their hold on him.

At the end of defeat, Tang Cheon-gun felt something he hadn’t experienced in decades: freedom. He quietly gazed at Wei Yan-ho.

‘Not bad.‘

The fact that he had lost to a young punk stung terribly, but somehow the fact that young punk was Wei Yan-ho seemed readily acceptable.

Now the martial world would undergo upheaval according to that young punk’s movements. Playing the role that signaled the beginning wasn’t so bad.

“May I say something to my junior?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

Tang Cheon-gun cleared his throat and spoke.

“You are strong.”

“Yes, I know.”

“…Abnormally strong.”

“Yes, I know that too.”

“……”

Those who tried to treat Wei Yan-ho as a normal person and attempted conversation inevitably experienced being left speechless. It wasn’t that Tang Cheon-gun had done anything particularly wrong.

After losing his words momentarily, Tang Cheon-gun struggled to speak again.

“Great strength comes with corresponding responsibility. The martial world will demand much of you from now on.”

“Whether I do it or not is up to me.”

“And…”

Having warmed up appropriately, Tang Cheon-gun began expressing what he truly wanted to say.

“Being strong is good, but strength isn’t everything in the martial world. There are countless ways to deal with someone stronger than yourself. Please keep that in mind so you don’t fall foolishly.”

“Yes?”

Tang Cheon-gun wore a benevolent smile.

“What could be more heartbreaking than the man who defeated this Tang Cheon-gun being brought down by worthless nobodies? Remember that.”

“Hmm, I understand what you mean.”

Cheong Yeong-ja smiled seeing this scene.

For a senior of the martial world to offer such kind words to a junior despite being defeated was remarkable.

‘The Dark King is indeed the Dark King.‘

The title of King isn’t earned by just anyone. And the demeanor the Dark King showed today demonstrated that despite his defeat, he was qualified to be called King.

How difficult it is for the departing figure of the defeated to be beautiful.

‘For things to be resolved this way—how fortunate.‘

From Cheong Yeong-ja’s perspective, this was the best possible outcome.

Wei Yan-ho had already fought with Tang Cheon-gun and won. If Wei Yan-ho had begun acting maliciously based on ill feelings toward the Tang Family, the situation would have spiraled out of control. But fortunately, Wei Yan-ho was also obediently listening to Tang Cheon-gun’s words.

With this development, it would now be difficult for Wei Yan-ho to suddenly bring up grievances with the Tang Family. Wei Yan-ho had gained reputation and honor, while Tang Cheon-gun had secured practical benefits.

‘Shrewd.‘

Whether Tang Cheon-gun had aimed for this outcome, the result was that he had managed to salvage his family’s reputation from the swamp, if not from complete ruin.

“How fortunate.”

“Pardon?”

Gong Mu-jin, who had been deflecting hidden weapons beside him, tilted his head in puzzlement.

“This should resolve the grudge between the Guangdong Wei Family and the Sichuan Tang Family to some degree.”

“Sect Leader?”

When Gong Mu-jin looked at him as if asking what he meant, Cheong Yeong-ja frowned slightly.

“Why do you react like that? Wasn’t it resolved well?”

“…Sect Leader.”

Gong Mu-jin let out a low sigh.

Just as Cheong Yeong-ja was about to ask with questioning eyes, Wei Yan-ho spoke up.

“Are you finished?”

Cheong Yeong-ja’s gaze turned toward Wei Yan-ho.

“What do you mean?”

At Tang Cheon-gun’s question, Wei Yan-ho cocked his leg and said,

“Are you done saying everything you wanted to say?”

“…I believe so.”

“Then since you’ve finished everything you had to say, may I take care of my business now?”

“Business?”

And that was the moment.

Wei Yan-ho rushed forward like a beam of light and struck Tang Cheon-gun’s face directly with the flat of his blade.

Kwaddeuddeuk!

It was an incomprehensible sound and an incomprehensible situation.

The crowd instantly froze like frogs encountering a snake. Faced with a situation beyond what their minds could accept, their thoughts began turning completely blank.

What in the world just happened?

“You old bastard!”

Chwaaaaak!

When Wei Yan-ho’s blade struck Tang Cheon-gun’s head, it made a sound like whipping someone’s back.

“Uh, uh, uh…”

The spectators’ mouths began slowly falling open.

“Where do you get off!”

Bang!

As the sword hilt drove into his head, Tang Cheon-gun foamed at the mouth and collapsed to the floor. Wei Yan-ho looked down at the fallen Tang Cheon-gun and roared.

“Selling medicine!”

Wei Yan-ho lifted his leg high.

Cheong Yeong-ja reflexively reached out.

‘S-surely not…‘

If you think ‘surely not‘, wasn’t Wei Yan-ho exactly the type to inevitably do it? Wei Yan-ho began mercilessly stomping on Tang Cheon-gun with his raised leg.

“What! Releasing poison from behind, throwing hidden weapons, then where do you get off acting like a righteous gentleman! You attacked and got beaten because you weren’t skilled enough, yet what? The one who beat me, what?”

‘P-please stop.‘

Cheong Yeong-ja felt his soul leaving his body watching Tang Cheon-gun being trampled on the sparring stage.

No, that’s the Dark King down there.

That person shouldn’t be getting beaten like some street thug.

“Just writing poetry and collapsing! Hey, you old bastard! You should act your age! Your age!”

“What are you doing! Wei Jeong-han! Stop your son!”

Only now realizing what situation had unfolded, Wei Jeong-han jumped up onto the sparring stage in shock. Gong Mu-jin, who had been unable to step forward alone, also leaped up onto the stage following Wei Jeong-han.

“Yan-ho! Calm down!”

Wei Jeong-han rushed at Wei Yan-ho, grabbed him, and began pulling him away.

“No! That gentleman!”

“Y-yes, I know, so calm down!”

“Wait, let me go! That bastard poisoned me, poison! Wow, incredible. Look at him pretending to give kind advice after that. What kind of crazy bastard does that?”

“W-watch your language! Hm? Yan-ho. Watch your language!”

“Did the old bastard go senile! Did the poison reach his brain! Wow, this is my first time encountering something so absurd! Hey, you old bastard! If I see you again, I’ll pluck out every hair of your beard!”

Hearing Wei Yan-ho’s shouts echoing throughout the sparring stage, all the spectators hung their heads low.

And Cheong Yeong-ja wiped away the clear moisture that kept welling up in his eyes with his sleeve.

‘This tournament is ruined.‘

Completely, absolutely, perfectly ruined.

A day harmonized by Wei Yan-ho’s shouting, Cheong Yeong-ja’s tears, and the spectators’ sighs was slowly passing by.