Chapter 96

Chapter 96

After Gyeonghu’s defeat.

“What the……didn’t it end rather anticlimactically?”

At the disappointed voice of a goateed rogue martial artist who had been cheering for Muryeon Hall at the top of his lungs, the giant beside him let out a quiet laugh.

“Haha! That’s only natural. No matter how much Muryeon Hall has been on a winning streak, how could their martial power compare to Mujeong Hall’s? Rather, everything up to now was abnormal.”

“That’s true, but……hmm.”

Having let out a contemplative sound, the goateed man tilted his head. The giant’s words weren’t wrong, but it was also true that he’d thought Muryeon Hall would show something.

Muryeon Hall is weaker than Mujeong Hall.

Most masters who came to watch the Grand Competition said so. That the current Muryeon Hall was weaker than Mujeong Hall, that without any particular tricks, Muryeon Hall had no choice but to lose if they just faced each other head-on.

Actually, that wasn’t wrong. Objectively speaking, Muryeon Hall was behind Mujeong Hall by about half a move to a full move in terms of martial power.

Muryeon Hall is weaker than Mujeong Hall. That had been clearly shown in both the first and second gates, and until now, no one had been able to refute that point. Because the results were clearly displayed, weren’t they?

“Still, isn’t the momentum currently with Muryeon Hall?”

At least now, things were a bit different.

“Look at that. Even though Mujeong Hall has dealt with two opponents, Muryeon Hall still has two left. No matter how strong that Mujeongwando is, wouldn’t it be difficult to consecutively face three?”

“That’s because the Mujeongwando were intimidated…….”

“Hey now. Is there any case on the battlefield where they’d go easy because you’re intimidated and can’t swing your sword properly? Being able to throw a tantrum saying ‘I swung my sword wrong so I lost, let’s go again’ is only possible in one-sided guidance sparring.”

“But Namgung Hyeon is different, isn’t he?”

“Who knows? Doesn’t Muryeon Hall have things they’ve shown so far?”

Even miracles become familiar when repeated.

At the goateed man’s explanation citing Muryeon Hall’s struggles up to now, spectators favorable to Muryeon Hall nodded one after another. And arguing from the opposite side as if to refute, the giant.

“Of course, if everything goes according to plan, that could be so. But plans only have meaning when things actually work out properly. Look at that. Namgung Hyeon doesn’t even show signs of fatigue!”

“……Hmm, that’s.”

“Two people lost meaninglessly. Even if Seonwoo Gang somehow manages to defeat Namgung Hyeon, next in order is that Baek Risan. How could they possibly win?”

At the giant speaking mockingly to face reality, the goateed man who couldn’t answer let out a contemplative sound. Because he couldn’t find words to refute.

Truth was truth. If Muryeon Hall’s strongest person was asked, opinions would vary, but if asked who the strongest two in Muryeon Hall were, the candidates would definitely be limited to two. At least those who watched this Grand Competition would all make such an evaluation.

“No matter how strong Seonwoo Gang is and how well Muryeon Hall devised strategy, well, it’s meaningless if they lack capability to execute that strategy. Just a moment ago, didn’t someone get eliminated after just recklessly exploding internal energy?”

At the giant’s quiet laugh, the audience who couldn’t refute murmured and exchanged their opinions. Because it was a sufficiently persuasive argument.

And watching that, the giant—Maepungdo  Jihwan—wore a faint knowing smile.

‘What? Muryeon Hall will win? Ridiculous.’

There’s this saying in the marketplace. That a master’s Samjaegeom and a novice’s Samjaegeom are different. That a true master can easily annihilate an opponent with just Samjae swordsmanship.

‘That doesn’t make sense.’

Why is Gupa Ilbang a fearsome existence?

It’s because the history they’ve built up has been established as martial learning and passed down. Right away, even the swordsmanship Namgung Hyeon showed—though he couldn’t tell exactly what it was, it wasn’t swordsmanship you could see at bookstores.

‘Defeating first-rate martial learning with third-rate, or at best second-rate martial learning? That’s ridiculous.’

If they had the same talent and devoted the same effort, naturally the side with superior martial learning would win. No, even with superior talent and more effort, there are countless cases of frustration due to differences in martial learning. Just like it had been for himself.

“Everything goes according to skill! Tsk tsk. Muryeon Hall became pitiable. To be held back by insufficient capability at the very end.”

“Hearing it put that way, it does seem right…….”

At Maepungdo’s words containing a sliver of malice, the manipulated spectators began murmuring and one by one agreeing with Maepungdo’s words.

“Anyone with eyes couldn’t predict Muryeon Hall’s victory. Strategy ultimately requires the executor’s capability above all else, doesn’t it? With such insufficient capability.”

Watching the spectators empathizing with him, Maepungdo wore a smile of satisfaction and was about to say one more thing.

“Does the person speaking not have eyes?”

“……What…… heup!”

At the suddenly interjecting voice, Maepungdo turned his head and gasped.

“Mae, Maengho Sword Paeng Geuk……!”

“Seeing as you recognize me, your eyes seem properly attached.”

At the appearance of Small Family Head Paeng Geuk  of the Paeng Family suddenly appearing in the general audience section, everyone murmured and made way. And watching them, Paeng Geuk grinned.

“Thank you, fellow practitioners. With this large frame, being cramped in there was quite uncomfortable. Now I can breathe.”

“Wh-why is the Paeng Family Small Family Head here…….”

Watching the stuttering Maepungdo, Paeng Geuk frowned and looked toward Muryeon Hall. The figure of Baek Riyun far away, intently watching the Mujeong Hall side as if searching for someone.

“Ahem. Well, there are many circumstances for that, so don’t try to pry. More importantly.”

Having cleared his throat, Paeng Geuk turned his head again and brought his face close to Maepungdo’s.

“What did you say? That Mujeong Hall will definitely win?”

“……Y-yes. Do you deny it? It’s true that Mujeong Hall has a high probability of winning!”

At Paeng Geuk’s pressure, Maepungdo, who had been stuttering, raised his pride with a cowed voice. And at Maepungdo’s statement, Paeng Geuk immediately nodded.

“I agree.”

“……What?”

“I said I agree with your opinion. Mujeong Hall will definitely win. No, they must win.”

His younger brother Paeng Jin experiencing defeat?

Honestly, that didn’t matter. All sorts of things happen in worldly affairs, and he thought drinking defeat’s bitter cup once or twice would be good experience. His brother wasn’t the type to be discouraged by one defeat anyway.

Nevertheless, the reason they must win was one thing. Because he made a bet with Baek Riyun. Because he wagered Hyeoncheol on Mujeong Hall winning.

“But that’s that and this is this. Who said they’re being held back by insufficient capability? Are your eyes crooked?”

“Uh, urk……!”

Kwaak!

Having snorted, Paeng Geuk grabbed Maepungdo’s collar.

“Well. Their capability might be insufficient. That’s not wrong.”

Right.

That’s not wrong. That Gyeonghu fellow probably isn’t stronger than that Namgung Hyeon.

“Watching them fight like that and still not grasping the true intent—can you still say you make a living with the sword?”

All martial artists who’ve stepped into the martial world want to spread their martial name. Youngsters especially so.

That would probably be no exception for the Muryeongwando who fought too.

Yet that Muryeongwando gave up the opportunity to spread his martial name. Simply for Muryeon Hall’s victory.

And they’re mocking that instead of praising it!

“L-let go for a moment……!”

Even himself, from Mujeong Hall, was impressed by that resolve and praising Gyeonghu’s decision. The Muryeongwando were also his juniors broadly speaking, so he felt proud too.

Yet what kind of disgrace is this!

“Pitiful. Truly pitiful.”

Seureurung!

“N-no. Why the sword…….”

In this lamentable situation, Paeng Geuk, who sighed deeply, released the collar and drew the sword of the frozen Maepungdo, then manifested internal energy in his hand. Sparks flew immediately.

Kagagagak!

“This should look like a sword now.”

Having crushed the back of the blade into a sword edge with his two gathered fingers in an instant, Paeng Geuk nodded with satisfaction.

“From now on, you’re Maepung Sword. Not Maepungdo. Got it?”

“……Su-suddenly why…… I’m Maepungdo…….”

“Maepung Sword.”

“Blade practitioner…….”

“Sword practitioner.”

“Blade practitioner…… I, I understand.”

“Your voice is wishy-washy like you can’t even cook porridge properly. Must be because you’re a sword practitioner. Off you go.”

“Yes…….”

Having sent away Maepungdo—no, Maepung Sword—with pats on the back as the internal energy gradually intensified, Paeng Geuk crossed his thick arms and turned his gaze. The figure of Baek Riyun, who had been watching the training ground with a calm expression from earlier.

‘I chased him away, but…….’

Maepung Sword’s words weren’t completely wrong. Just like before, Namgung Hyeon wasn’t tired yet, and the next opponent would probably lose helplessly to Namgung Hyeon too.

If that happens, what remains is Namgung Hyeon and Baek Risan, then Seonwoo Gang. An impossible matchup for Muryeon Hall to win. However.

‘You’re not someone who takes on losing fights.’

Not someone who fights battles with no chance of winning. There must be some plan.

‘I don’t know what you’re thinking.’

Having shaken his head, Paeng Geuk suddenly turned his gaze and clicked his tongue looking at Gyeonghu.

“Anyway, such a bold fellow is exactly the type to wield a blade……does he not learn blade techniques? He’d be worth teaching.”

“Today one blade practitioner disappeared from the Central Plains, so it would be nice to gain one like him.”

Since ancient times, when people shoulder some grave responsibility, people’s reactions are often limited to two types.

The first is being unable to bear the responsibility and trembling in anxiety or throwing off the responsibility. The responsibility placed on one’s shoulders is burden, and people’s gazes are pressure, so they crumble unable to bear that weight.

Actually, everyone has such experience. There are scholars who studied for over a decade and traveled to the capital for the civil examination, but their mind goes blank on examination day, and there are also martial artists who twist their ankle and fall to defeat at important martial arts competitions, aren’t there?

This is the first case.

Then what’s the second case?

It’s simple. Strong people who can endure burden and weight. Those who have something they must protect, and who can give their all to protect it.

For such people, the responsibility placed on their shoulders sometimes returns not as a burden but as tremendous power. And.

Unfortunately, Namgung Hyeon.

‘Is the next opponent Sa Jinhak?’

Was that type of person who, when given responsibility, could display everything he had.

“Hmm.”

Looking at Muryeon Hall’s Sa Jinhak who came up as the next opponent, Namgung Hyeon narrowed his eyes. An opponent he hadn’t faced much unlike other Muryeon Hall members.

‘The weapon he uses is……flying blades, right.’

He didn’t remember well, but he recalled using martial arts that fought by throwing flying blades. According to Tang Seol from the Tang Family renowned as the patriarch of hidden weapons, he wasn’t particularly noteworthy.

Well, that would be natural. If he had flying blade skills at a level to threaten Namgung Hyeon, he naturally would have caught Namgung Hyeon’s eye and remained in his memory. Not remaining in memory meant he was that unremarkable an opponent, didn’t it?

‘Carelessness is forbidden. But……I can save some stamina.’

Baek Risan must not enter the stage. That meant he had to finish up to Seonwoo Gang on his own. And to catch Seonwoo Gang, he needed to preserve his stamina somewhat, no, quite a bit.

‘Should I shake him up a bit first?’

Having organized his thoughts, Namgung Hyeon quietly opened his mouth and spoke to Sa Jinhak.

“Is your analysis finished?”

“An-analysis……?”

“Don’t play dumb. Wasn’t that the intention of the previous match?”

Looking at Sa Jinhak’s trembling voice, Namgung Hyeon drew his sword and lowered the blade diagonally downward. Cold sweat unknowingly flowing down his back.

“Unfamiliarity is a weapon greater than anything else.”

What was the greatest advantage of rare weapons?

It lay in engaging in combat that the enemy had never experienced. The fact that information about how to attack and how to defend wasn’t given to the enemy was the greatest strength.

And that applied to some degree to sword styles one had never experienced even once.

“Even if you try to analyze it, it’s useless. Changgungmuaegeombeop is the Namgung Family’s supreme technique. Do you think you can figure out how to counter it after seeing it once or twice?”

“Th-that’s.”

Looking at Sa Jinhak trembling with tension, unable to even meet his eyes properly, Namgung Hyeon sighed.

“Where are you looking before the match even starts?”

“I-I’m a bit shy around strangers…….”

“……You’re shy around strangers even with your fighting opponent. That’s quite something.”

Having shaken his head, Namgung Hyeon raised his sword and took the starting position. Trying to shake him with words, but he was already shaking helplessly without needing any shaking.

—Assume stance!

‘This will end quickly.’

Unlike the previous Gyeonghu, this was different. Looking at Sa Jinhak who seemed crushed by grave responsibility above all, Namgung Hyeon slowly extended his sword forward. And.

—Begin!

Changgungmuaegeombeop Eighth Form

Cheongcheonmuhyeong

At Namgung Hyeon’s strike bursting forth, Sa Jinhak quietly closed his eyes.

Thus.

──One moment  passed.

The match didn’t end.