Chapter 143
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[ Martial Arts Tournament (7) – Silence is Golden ]
“I give up three seconds.”
Young Ho-sik did not hide the sneer on his lips.
The opponent is a kid from a strong family.
The Great Midwife was of such insignificant status that she could not even be compared to herself, the disciple of Jang Mun-in.
‘If it were normal, I wouldn’t have paid any attention to you, who aren’t even as good as dust…’
Yeongho-sik looked at Namgoong-hyeon, who was looking over Daein’s shoulder.
She had such a confident face, not knowing what would happen to her brother in a moment.
The moment he saw her face, the volcano god had an evil heart.
‘I’ll make your brother an asshole. I will make you pay for daring to insult me. And four years….’
In Yongbongbimu, there is a rule that says you should not kill your opponent or use your hands too harshly.
However, if the difference in skill was superior, it could easily be disguised as an accident.
Yes.
That is, if the difference in skill is far superior.
‘As long as I make it look convincing, even if he turns out to be an asshole, he won’t be able to eliminate me.’
Young Ho-sik knew how to use the power of his status.
A disciple of Jang Mun-in of the Hwasan Sect and a candidate for the championship.
As long as the Murim Lord doesn’t plan on fighting the Volcanic Sect, a ‘slight accident’ won’t be enough to eliminate him.
Just as Baek Jung-heon thought, Yeong Ho-sik was a clever and persistent man.
Despite saying that he would give up Samchosik, Daein had not yet drawn his sword.
“Hmm…what is it?”
However, he seemed to be contemplating something with his eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Young Ho-sik interpreted it this way.
‘Are you trying to abstain? ‘Do you think I would leave it like that?’
“Are you so nervous that you can’t draw your sword? Well, this might be my first time pulling out a sword in front of so many people. “You might be scared.”
Yeongho-sik’s speaking style changed almost to Hah, but no one found it strange.
Even though it was the same review index, the level was different.
“Then I will yield a little more.”
Young Ho-sik released his sword and placed it on the floor. Then, with his left hand behind his back, his right hand folded the fan and briefly held it like a sword.
“I will only use one hand and not lift a sword. “Wouldn’t this be a match worth watching for the audience?”
Some martial artists, including Baek Jung-heon, frowned. This was because Young Ho-sik’s attitude was excessively arrogant and dismissive of others.
However, most of the audience was enthusiastic and thought it would be fun.
“This is going to be fun!”
“Show me the season of the Volcanic Sect!”
“Chief sword! “If you do this, don’t you think you have a chance of winning?”
“okay. “Don’t give up and fight!”
Now the lessor is in a situation where he cannot abstain. If you abstain from fighting in this situation, you will be labeled a coward for the rest of your life.
It was just as Yeongho-sik expected. The great man muttered as he drew his sword.
“…hmm. “I decided.”
Clang.
Both the sword and its scabbard were cheap, so it made a rough sound when the sword was drawn.
The great man swung his sword in the air a few times.
“If you’re giving up three seconds, you’re saying you’ll only defend yourself until then, right?”
Yeongho-sik smiled and answered.
“Of course. I can make more concessions if necessary. “Would it be okay if I had five seconds of food?”
“No, that’s enough.”
The great man laughed and rushed forward like a thunderbolt.
The next small whisper came from Yeongho-sik’s face.
“Not enough to make one idiot.”
Young Ho-sik, startled, hurriedly stepped back and swung his fan. The fan formed a semicircle and blocked all of the opponent’s sword paths.
Reddish energy formed on top of the fan, forming a protective shield. The level of the sword is spread with a short fan.
Admiration erupted from the audience.
“Wow!”
The nickname ‘Hwasan Shinseong’ was not just earned. Yeong Ho-sik’s inaction was outstanding enough to bear the expectations of the Hwasan faction.
‘My feet are faster than I thought, but that’s it. It can pierce my sword…’
However, the power contained in Daein’s sword exceeded Yeongho-sik’s expectations.
Cough!
With just one hit, the sword curtain broke and the fan flew off the stage.
At the same time, Yeonghosik’s chest opened defenselessly.
‘Such ignorance!’
Yeongho-sik opened his eyes wide. The great man took a breath, retracted his sword, and quickly stabbed it again.
Younghosik’s eyes wavered. My careless mind was completely gone.
Whoa!
He swung his sword, pushed the sword to the side, and kicked the sword that had fallen to the floor with his foot.
As soon as the sword was in my hand, relief spread throughout my body. Yeongho-sik immediately took the cardinal form of the twenty-four plum sword technique.
“Whoa…”
But the great man did not attack anymore.
Instead, he stepped back and spoke loudly so everyone could hear.
“They said they would give up three seconds. In two seconds, I raised my sword with my left hand. “Are those all teachings of the Huashan Sect?”
“Ugh…”
Young Ho-sik’s face turned red as he realized his mistake belatedly. He broke the promise he made to himself.
This is such a shame in a political faction that values face and justification.
If Daein demanded that he admit defeat here, Hwasan Shinseong might have to come off the stage.
But Daein didn’t do that.
Just like Young Ho-sik, Dae-in also decided to turn Young Ho-sik into an asshole.
But the reason was different.
‘Hwasan Eumma Yeonghosik.’
Although he is now called the nova of volcanoes, 10 years later, Yeongho-sik becomes infamous as a martial artist.
Unable to control his feelings, he rapes a woman from a prominent family, is excommunicated, and is afraid of the punishment of dethroning Danjeon, so he kills the guards who were watching and runs away.
Later, he was a space scum who escaped across dimensions to Earth and committed crimes.
‘I have to get rid of it as soon as I see it.’
The great man decided to do so. Of course, on the outside, he put forth a justification befitting a righteous charlatan.
The great man raised his voice and shouted.
“They unilaterally said they would give up the three-choice meal. But I have no intention of claiming to have won with this. So…”
The great man adjusted his posture and held his sword. And he spoke in a serious voice.
“Don’t even think about insulting me anymore, just attack me with all your might.”
Daein taunted Yeonghosik by shaking his free left palm.
The audience reacted explosively to the sight of him as if he were the protagonist of a martial arts movie.
“Huh! “Now I see that your skills are amazing!”
“What is that guy’s nickname?”
It was surprising that he pushed Hwasan Shinseong, but he was a man who abandoned even the justification for an easy victory and chose a fair fight.
It was a moment when the nickname ‘Kihyeopgeom’ was strongly engraved in the minds of the audience.
On the contrary, boos poured down on Hwasan Shinseong.
“Oooooh!”
“A disciple of a prestigious family should feel ashamed!”
“If you know the numbers, abstain!”
The situation has changed 180 degrees from before. As all kinds of boos rained down on Yeong Ho-sik, even the warriors of the Hwasan faction blushed.
However, Young Ho-sik did not abstain.
‘If you leave here, you will be a laughing stock for a long time. But if you make up for it with your skills!’
Yeongho-sik took the throne and expressed his apology and gratitude to Daein.
“…I made a mistake due to lack of experience. I am grateful for the generous generosity of the Daehyup. From now on… I will do my best.”
Yeongho-sik gritted his teeth.
Even if we talk about this and that now, if we win the Yongbongbimu, public opinion will eventually change for the better.
‘Interest must be reduced. certainly!’
Daein grinned as he saw a spirit of speculation that was indistinguishable from life rising in Yeonghosik’s eyes.
This is enough.
‘It’s the perfect environment for the beam to overheat.’
“Let’s do our best.”
“Of course.”
And the two men rushed at each other at the same time, without worrying about who went first.
Go go go go!
The swords clashed fiercely and sparks flew.
The red and blue swords clawed at each other like two Imoogi.
The off-stage floor was swollen, and the audience erupted in cheers every time the two men avoided attacks with stunt-like movements.
“Wow!”
The skills of the two seemed almost matched.
The spectators who could not take their eyes off got up from their seats and watched the dance.
Chaechaechaechaeng!
The speed at which swords clashed with each other became faster and faster, and Choshik became fierce and rough. Although it was little by little, blood started to splatter.
“Heh heh… that’s amazing.”
“Are you sure this is a preliminaries?”
Even the martial arts masters who were sitting in the special seats and trying to watch the dancing dance politely were shaking their butts at the high level shown by the two latter-day indexes.
It was just one of the preliminary rounds.
But I couldn’t take my eyes off it.
The game was also taking place on the other preliminaries off-stage, but the only dancers there were the monks and their families watching.
Murim Lord Yayulgi asked.
“Apart from the skills of the volcano nova… A landlord? “Who is that young man?”
The man next to him answered the leader’s question.
“He is from the Baekga Swordsman School in Guangdong and his nickname is Chihyeop Sword. “This is Kangho’s first choice.”
“A hundred family inspections?”
The man standing next to the leader lowered his head as he looked at him with a question about what clan he was from.
“We are checking.”
“What is the probability that he is a spy for the Demonic Cult?”
“That’s because I received a letter of recommendation from the Namgung family…”
At those words, the eyes of not only Yayulgi but also the martial arts elders turned to one person.
“Namgung Grand Hyeop. “Is it true that that young man received a letter of recommendation from the Namgung family?”
Namgung Jeong-cheon, the head of the Namgung family, smiled kindly when asked the question.
“haha. That’s right. “He has a connection with Gasol… But I didn’t know he had such strong martial arts skills.”
Nangong Jeongcheon spoke humbly, but lava was boiling inside him.
‘It’s him! That guy was also the son of Merchant Namgung!’
Now doubt has become 80% certainty. He thought that Daein was the son of the deceased Namgung merchant, the lord of the Geomhwangmun family.
Anger welled up. My sense of inferiority exploded.
The face of his son Namgung-hwi overlapped that of the landlord.
‘As soon as you were born, you were doused with all kinds of elixirs, so how can you say that you are so much worse than the son of a Namgung merchant?’
It was also Namgung Jeongcheon’s own sense of inferiority when he was young.
The days of late Jisoo, when he was always compared to Namgung Merchant, who was his age. No matter how hard he tried, Namgung Merchant was always in front of him.
…That’s why. The decision to erase Geomhwangmun from the martial arts world was….
“Namgung Daehyeop?”
“…Oh yeah?”
The Murim Lord asked with a worried face.
“You don’t look good. “Are you well?”
“haha. “I was so amazed by the skills of the late exponents… I must have been mesmerized for a moment.”
“Well, it’s worth it. “Seeing how the swordsman’s skills are so great, Nangong Daehyup’s insight is truly amazing!”
“Ha ha ha ha ha.”
Merchant Namgung barely managed to keep a smiling expression.
‘What should I do? Should I send an assassin right away to kill that guy?’
But the timing was not good.
Yongbongbimu has already started. If a participant was suddenly assassinated, there was no way the Murim Alliance would remain silent.
Moreover, his skill level is comparable to that of a volcanic nova… If he fails, the repercussions will be enormous.
‘Or should I kill him by accusing him of being a spy for the Demonic Cult?’
This seemed better.
If it’s evidence, just create it. When the power of the five generations comes together, even facts that do not exist can be created.
‘okay. The goal is to hit the player before he gets hit. We have to catch him by setting a trap that he can never escape from.’
Namgung Jeongcheon looked at the great man on the offstage, plotting a plan in his head.
‘I won’t make the mistake of missing out again.’
At that time, the outcome of the fierce competition was decided.
-Bah!
“Knock!”
Hwasa Shinseong, who was kicked out with a single scream, fell to the floor.
***
It happened without my knowledge.
Chaechaechaechaeng!
The situation was so intense that it wouldn’t be surprising if one of the two’s limbs were blown off or a hole was made in their body.
Therefore, Baek Jung-heon, a martial artist, was thinking of intervening at any time. He was in charge of the off-stage.
‘Both of them are children who will become members of Moorim. Neither side should die or be seriously injured.’
If one side had the upper hand, the winner would have been easily determined.
However, the two showed such skill that it was difficult to say who was better. That’s why I couldn’t intervene.
It was then. The volcano god used the plum blossom sword technique to push the great man.
“Haaaab!”
Among the twenty-four plum blossom techniques, the herbivorous method of plum blossom nine changes was aimed at the whole body urinary bleed of great people.
Nine plum blossoms fill the space.
The audience erupted in admiration at the extreme beauty of the Hwanggeom.
“Oooh!”
“Huh!”
It was such a beautiful sight that even Baek Jung-heon was mesmerized for a moment.
The great man walked dizzyingly and avoided the plum blossoms.
But a few of them brushed his shoulders, waist, and thighs.
The great man stumbled. As I was dodging so frantically, it seemed like I didn’t notice the part of the floor that had been nicked by the sword.
“It’s over!”
Young Ho-sik, who judged that he had won the game, rushed to Daein.
The great man quickly twisted his body while he was staggering. The swords of the two people became entangled.
Chachaechaechaeng!
With Young Ho-sik in the lead, he took a step forward to continue the offensive. To the space where the great man was cleverly blocking his view.
‘I got caught.’
The great man grinned and stepped back.
“Huh!”
For a moment, Young Ho-sik slipped and lost his balance. He spread his legs to regain his balance.
However, just in time, Daein kicked his foot forward as part of a checking attack.
Whick!
Daein’s kick kicked Yeonghosik’s romantic feelings away, as if he were being sucked in.
-Bah!
“Knock…!”
With a terrible sound, Young Ho-sik let out a single scream and fainted on the spot.
Blood flowed down between Young Ho-sik’s thighs.
“…….”
A brief silence that seemed like an eternity fell in the hall at the tragedy.
‘It exploded.’
‘It exploded.’
‘It exploded…’
While everyone was at a loss, the flagship exploded from where the martial arts masters were gathered.
“conflict-!”
The person who jumped onto the off-stage was Jang Mun-in of the Hwasan faction.
He held his youngest disciple and examined his condition.
“Hoshik…!”
Yeongho-sik had already passed out.
And his precious thing…
Unable to continue speaking, Jang Mun-in of the Volcanic Sect glared at Dae-in and screamed.
“this guy! “You’re doing something that even that wicked Sima Wei Dao wouldn’t do!”
The fierce look in his eyes seemed like he could tear the person to death at any moment.
The great man said with an aggrieved expression.
“It’s not intentional. The volcanic nova suddenly slips and my feet are in a difficult place…
“Shut up! Heartless guest! That guy is guilty of foul play! “It is against the law to be rude while dancing!”
Baek Jung-heon didn’t know what to do.
It’s definitely against the law to kick someone’s nose, but in the situation just now, I didn’t feel intentional at all.
“That’s…”
“Declare a foul right now!”
When Jang Mun-in of the Volcanic Sect raises his voice,
he whistles!
The Murim Lord Yayulgi came down between the two.
“Jang Moon-in. “Calm down.”
Ya Yul-gi calmed down the Hwasan faction member in a calm tone.
“The previous attack did not appear to be intentional. Let’s take into account that the floor was nicked and blood had accumulated, making it slippery. “What happened just now was an accidental accident.”
“Lord! “My disciple ended up like this…!”
The Murim Lord shook his head at Jang Mun-in of the Volcanic Sect who glared fiercely at him.
[Jang Moon-in. Look around. Public opinion is not good for the Hwasan faction.]
When Jang Moon-in looked around belatedly, many eyes in the audience were looking at him with disapproval.
“The Murim Lord said it was a mistake.”
“Do you think people who are not from some prestigious school would live in sorrow?”
“Didn’t they lose from the first time Hwasan Shinseong gave up three seconds? “I didn’t know that I would be grateful if you gave me a chance…”
Jang Mun-in’s expression became increasingly hard.
The people in the stands were the eyes and ears of the martial arts faction.
Among them were warriors, but there were also influential figures from each region. There was also the owner of a large merchant and the owner of a private country.
It was never good for a midwife to be looked down on by those people.
[Jang Moon-in. A war between political and evil forces is approaching. Please understand for the sake of martial arts solidarity and unity.]
[…Ugh. I understand.]
Jang Mun-in of the Hwasan Sect held the fainted Hwasan Shin-seong and took him to the doctor. But before that, I didn’t forget to glare at the great man one more time.
After Zhang Wenren of the Huashan Sect left, Ya Yuqi walked up to Dai Ren and directly tapped him on the shoulder.
“Congratulations on your victory. “Your skills are amazing.”
The great man politely took the gun.
“thank you.”
“I’d like to talk more, but we’re still in the middle of the competition… so let’s make some time later.”
“It is an honour.”
The great man showed a polite attitude that did not violate etiquette. Yayulgi looked at this with satisfaction.
“It’s a sword of chivalry… I think it’ll get a cooler nickname soon.”
“…….”
Soon, even Yayulgi returned to his original position and the atmosphere was finally settled.
Baek Jung-heon looked around below the off-stage and asked.
“Is there anyone who can challenge the sword of chivalry?”
“…….”
Everyone seemed to remember the famous saying, ‘Silence is golden.’
It couldn’t have happened. Some of the men crossed their legs like puppies that needed to urinate.
In particular, those who had been mocking Daein behind his back even broke into a cold sweat.
‘If we go up, we’ll explode too…’
So, after half-gag, Daein leisurely went down the off-stage.
Yongbongbimu was the first to pass the preliminary round and it was the moment when the biggest surprise was born.
“The sword of chivalry!”
“I hope you win!”
“That was really cool!”
Daein lightly waved his hand at the cheering crowd.
[Murim Competition (7)-Silence is Golden] End
ⓒ Ganjjajang