Chapter 111

Namgung Sol’s second martial duel ended quite blandly.

Unlike Namgung Sol, who conserved his stamina by finishing the first duel relatively quickly, his opponent had almost exhausted his internal energy after a fierce battle, barely managing to secure a victory.

Even if one is a Peak Master, without enough internal energy to unleash sword energy, their advantage as a Peak Master diminishes significantly.

Thanks to this, Namgung Sol was able to secure his second victory without much difficulty.

“Lucky you.”

Jegal Seon-a blurted out her honest thoughts and then quickly covered her mouth with her hand. It was true, but for someone who had fought hard to win, it was a rather unpleasant evaluation.

However, neither Namgung Sol nor Namgung Woo were narrow-minded enough to hold a grudge over such a harmless comment.

“Luck is also a part of skill.”

“That’s right. In the last martial competition, there was someone who made it to the main round at the age of 17 thanks to good matchups.”

“Ah! I know that story. It’s about Cheonghwa Nangrang, right? The late-blooming prodigy from the Jongnam Faction.”

“Exactly. It caused quite a stir in Shaanxi. The late-blooming prodigy from the Huashan Faction was eliminated, while the unexpected rookie from Jongnam made it to the main round.”

After the power of Shaolin and Wudang significantly declined, the Huashan Faction rose as the top force among the nine factions.

However, failing to produce a dragon or phoenix in the last martial competition was the Huashan Faction’s greatest humiliation and an unforgettable disgrace in recent times.

“Within the Huashan Faction, they criticized So Cheong-bong as a half-baked contender who relied on luck, but the public mocked the Huashan Faction for being petty. They questioned whether the Huashan Faction’s martial world was so shallow that it could only rely on luck.”

Luck is luck, but without the skill to back it up, even that luck cannot be grasped.

“And honestly, isn’t it fine to have luck? After all, the world runs on luck.”

Good luck. Bad luck.

The world has always been like that. The world Paeng Ha-ryeong experienced was like that.

The good luck of her younger sister being born. The bad luck of being born with a terminal illness. The good luck of meeting Namgung Woo…

And the fact that she could seize that luck was because Paeng Ha-ryeong believed in it and chased after it.

Above all, how many people pray for luck as much as martial artists do?

They always wish for martial fortune.

“So don’t worry about what others say. Make sure to win the final duel.”

“Yes! Don’t worry!”

Namgung Sol flexed his arm, showing off his muscles as if to prove he still had plenty of strength left. Though it wasn’t clearly visible under his clothes.

Two consecutive victories. And in the relaxed atmosphere, even Namgung Woo, who had been so tense that his legs were shaking, adjusted his posture and looked around.

“It’s like a festival.”

The smell of food wafting through the air. The sighs and cheers of the spectators. The voices of merchants calling out to customers. A sense of vitality he had never felt before was transmitted through his senses.

Namgung Woo had been holed up, training Namgung Sol, and hadn’t left the house much.

This was the first time he was seeing Luoyang properly since the alliance meeting began. Even then, until just now, he had been isolating himself by creating a barrier, cutting off the outside world.

The scale of the crowd and the excitement filling Luoyang was incomparable to when they had first arrived for the initiation ceremony.

As Namgung Woo absentmindedly muttered, Jegal Seon-a seized the moment to speak up.

“Of course. The martial competition to select the late-blooming prodigies of the dragon and phoenix is the pride of the White Path Martial World, right?”

Jegal Seon-a spoke as if this were exclusively the White Path Martial World’s domain.

Thinking about it, there was no term to collectively refer to the outstanding late-blooming prodigies of the Unorthodox Martial World.

Perhaps because Namgung Woo hadn’t been particularly interested in such things, but even after living in the martial world for about a year, he should have heard of it at least once.

“Doesn’t the Black Path have something like this? Even though they have the Black Martial Alliance?”

“The Black Martial Alliance doesn’t have as much influence as the Martial Alliance. Unless the Black Martial Alliance leader personally steps in.”

“In the past, before the Black Martial Alliance was formed, the Unorthodox Martial World was also affiliated with the Martial Alliance, so they sent their late-blooming prodigies to the martial competitions. But after the Black Martial Alliance emerged, they completely severed ties, and that became a thing of the past. And organizing such events is surprisingly tricky. Especially martial competitions, where there are often many injuries…”

Paeng Ha-ryeong and Jegal Seon-a, being from the Seven Great Families, were quite knowledgeable about the history of the martial world.

Especially Jegal Seon-a, who got excited and started rambling about old stories without being asked.

After chattering away, she realized she had gotten too carried away and trailed off, rolling her eyes.

“…Safety management requires sufficient masters and their neutrality, and while the Black Martial Alliance might have the former, the latter is a bit ambiguous…”

Namgung Woo nodded in understanding.

Indeed, it’s a martial duel with real swords. Attacks that could lead to fatal injuries might occur. To prevent that, at least a few masters several levels higher would need to be watching from the sidelines.

It wasn’t for nothing that the Eight Guards Unit would return as quickly as possible after completing their missions when a martial competition was held.

‘Even those watching now, though not at the Transcendent Peak level, have reached that threshold.’

And not just one, but three of them. Probably because the Eight Guards Unit leader wasn’t present, they had to supplement the numbers.

If it were someone like Deung Jong-yu, the leader of the Eight Guards Unit, he alone would have been enough.

The Grand Martial Festival, where up to eight Transcendent Peak Masters are mobilized. There’s no better stage to discover the next generation of leaders.

“Indeed… it’s something the White Path Martial World can be proud of.”

“Right? The Black Path doesn’t have it.”

Paeng Ha-ryeong, though not one of the dragon or phoenix herself, puffed up with pride. Even though she hadn’t received a phoenix title, her older brother Paeng Ja-ryeong had taken third place in the last martial competition and received the title of Defeated Dragon, so it was something to be proud of.

“So do the late-blooming prodigies of the Black Path make a name for themselves without such events?”

That in itself is quite impressive—thought Namgung Woo.

“The Black Path tends to take more aggressive actions since they don’t have martial competitions. They might seek out bandits or pirates to subdue, or participate in Ghost Gate Sealing Battles where the Ghost Gate opens. Like how the Wan Family of Guangxi got involved in the last war.”

“More实战-oriented.”

“Definitely.”

Jegal Seon-a added to Paeng Ha-ryeong’s explanation.

“But they also have their own unique traditions. For example… the Dokgo Family’s Martial Solitary Journey. Regardless of whether they’re direct or collateral descendants, they travel the martial world alone for a certain period. Given the high risk, the fame gained after completing the journey is also significant.”

“Then that time…”

Namgung Woo recalled Dokgo Bin, whom he had encountered at Guyajang.

Could the title “Defeated Tiger” have been earned through that solitary journey?

“The Dokgo Family…”

At Namgung Woo’s muttering, Namgung Sol, who had been basking in the afterglow of victory, stiffened.

The Dokgo Family. A name that those born under the Namgung name would inevitably face someday.

Remembering that formidable enemy, Namgung Sol felt pathetic for being so elated over just two victories.

Just before he could fall into self-reproach, someone called out to him.

It was the announcement for the final duel.

“I’ll be back.”

I will win. Absolutely.

Being at a lower level? That’s just an excuse.

If I settle for my current achievements and think I’ll lose here, how will I face even stronger enemies in the future?

With firm resolve, he stepped back into the martial arena.

Namgung Sol looked at his opponent.

His aura was heavy. From the similar vibe to Geumshin, it seemed he had trained in Buddhist martial arts.

“I am Jeori Dam of the Shaolin Sect. I have mastered the Sumi Jeondan Sword Technique.”

Shaolin Sect. A name that stood apart from the previous opponents’ sects.

Though not part of the nine factions, it was a prestigious sword sect that stood shoulder to shoulder with the Hyeong Mountain Sect, Taesan Faction, and Hangsan Faction as one of the Five Peaks Sword Factions.

While the Huashan Faction, a Western Peak Sword Faction, had risen a step higher by joining the nine factions, the name Five Peaks Sword Factions had existed even before the nine factions.

Their long history proved the sophistication of their martial arts.

Starting as a Taoist sect but influenced by the Shaolin Temple, which also had its base at Shaolin, they achieved a fusion of Taoism and Buddhism.

Namgung Sol’s initial sensing of the opponent’s aura was correct.

And it meant that Namgung Sol’s sensing ability had grown to a new level.

“I am Jeong Sol. I have learned the Flying Swallow Sword Technique.”

Namgung Sol’s spirit, unyielding even against a master from the prestigious Shaolin Sect, was markedly different from his previous duel.

Jeori Dam, who had watched her duel, noticed it.

A growth rate that even the phrase “one step at a time” couldn’t fully describe.

Did Namgung Sol know? The aura emanating from her body had already surpassed that of a first-rate master.

“I look forward to a good match.”

The pre-duel salute.

Namgung Sol held only one wish in her clenched fist.

I will definitely win.

§

“What? It’s already over?”

Yang Kwae happened to run into Geumshin and struck up a conversation.

“And you?”

“Well… I lost. I heard there were no dragons or phoenixes in this bracket, but I got tricked. The Strong Dragon was standing right there.”

Strong Dragon Ak Cheol-bi.

A late-blooming prodigy from the Sandong Ak Family, he was one of the strong contenders who had made it to the quarterfinals in the last martial competition. Last time, he was defeated by Paeng Ja-ryeong, but this time, neither Paeng Ja-ryeong nor Nam Eung-ryong, who had defeated Paeng Ja-ryeong, were present.

“Then your younger brother must have lost too.”

Yang Jeong nodded expressionlessly. He didn’t seem too pleased with the defeat, perhaps not entirely satisfied.

When asked if he was injured, Yang Kwae replied that he wasn’t.

“No, more importantly, what happened over there? I mean, how many people stronger than you, Geumshin, are there in this competition? Did you just breeze through and advance?”

“I lost.”

“What? You, Geumshin?”

Yang Jeong, who had been in silent meditation, was so shocked that he almost broke his vow of silence. The news of Geumshin’s elimination was that shocking.

A Peak Master at the extreme limit, nearing the Transcendent Peak. Someone like Geumshin could have easily made it to the quarterfinals even in the last martial competition, which was said to be the strongest in history.

“No, I mean, I know you, Geumshin, deliberately chose a bracket with strong opponents… who was it? Mun Se-gang and Hwa Un-jin? Were they that strong?”

True Martial Dragon Mun Se-gang and Fire Lord Dragon Hwa Un-jin.

Mun Se-gang, a secular disciple of the Wudang Sect, and Hwa Un-jin, the son of the Extreme Yang Sect leader, were late-blooming prodigies with dragon titles. Their story of meeting in the round of 16, where Hwa Un-jin narrowly defeated Mun Se-gang after a fierce battle and they swore friendship, was so famous that even the Yang brothers, who were just starting out as wanderers at the time, had heard of it.

This time, they had both entered the same bracket, and Geumshin, wanting to fight strong opponents, had joined that bracket knowing full well.

But it wasn’t them who defeated Geumshin.

“I lost to a female master I had never seen before.”

“A female master?”

“Mun Se-gang and Hwa Un-jin seemed to be about my level. Considering they’re five or six years younger than me, it’s quite an achievement. I wanted to fight them too, but it’s a shame.”

Geumshin spoke as if being eliminated despite having such skills was no big deal.

Instead, the Yang brothers were the ones who were shocked, their mouths hanging open.

“A female master strong enough to defeat you, Geumshin… was it Saint Scar Divine Nun?”

“No. Hmm… she wore a veil, much like the Saint Scar Divine Nun. I was willing to let her keep it on even after the duel started, but even that was difficult.”

“Wow… if even you, Geumshin, couldn’t land a hit, how strong is she?”

“Couldn’t land a hit? It wasn’t that bad. I did manage to land one.”

“Anyway, who is she? You must have heard her name during the duel.”

Geumshin briefly recalled the duel.

The exquisite sword technique that prevented him from fully unleashing his Phoenix Pine Staff Technique.

The Hundred Directions Footwork Technique, a combination of footwork and leg techniques that even the Black Sword Ghost, a Transcendent Peak Master, had trouble adapting to at first, was completely ineffective against her.

Surely, she must also be a Transcendent Peak Master like the Black Sword Ghost. One who had mastered an even more sophisticated footwork technique than the Hundred Directions Footwork Technique.

After reflecting on the duel, Geumshin recalled the name his opponent had given at the beginning.

“She said she was Jeokju of the Gogeom Sect.”

---