Chapter: 799
Gulp.
Blood flows from the spot where the blade touched my neck.
Just at the moment I was being careful not to breathe too deeply for fear of being sliced, I felt the warm blood flowing and a cold sweat clinging to my body, causing Eunranggeom to stiffen.
How on earth did I end up in this situation?
I forced my trembling gaze downward to look at the woman.
A woman holding a sword to my neck.
Sword Dancer Namgung Bi-ah.
As I looked at her, my brows furrowed deeper.
‘What the heck.’
Seriously, what the heck is going on here?
The real question is, when did this woman get so close?
She had been far away just a moment ago, but the instant I noticed, she had burrowed right into my arms.
It was absurd.
‘…You didn’t notice?’
You mean to tell me that she snuck up on me without me even realizing?
Could it be that this woman has reached such a high level that I couldn’t perceive her approach?
‘That can’t be true.’
I immediately dismissed the thought.
Nothing has changed.
I can still clearly see the level of Sword Dancer Namgung Bi-ah.
She cannot surpass me.
Moreover, it doesn’t make sense that I wouldn’t recognize her coming at all.
‘What kind of trick did she use?’
She definitely used some trick. Otherwise, it just doesn’t add up.
Is it some kind of sinister magic?
Just as all sorts of thoughts fluttered through my mind.
Swish-.
The blade that was pressing against my neck slowly began to drift away.
Flick-! Swish-!
Namgung Bi-ah lowered the sword she was holding and took a slight step back.
Just the initial distance that had been created.
Namgung Bi-ah looked at me with that same expression we had when we first clashed.
I bit my lip against my expressionless face.
I wrapped my hand around my wounded neck and blew a breath into it.
It was to stop the bleeding.
As I blew, the blood flow gradually halted.
Only then was I able to catch my breath.
Moreover, the once quiet atmosphere around us started to regain some noise.
“W-what just happened…?”
“Did Sword Dancer just defeat Eunranggeom?”
“It happened so fast that I couldn’t even see it clearly…”
All the responses echoed confusion.
It couldn’t be helped. Even those who witnessed it would struggle to believe what had just transpired.
It was over in the blink of an eye.
Even calling it a duel was stretching things. It all happened in a fleeting moment.
I couldn’t recognize the signs or the process; all that remained was the result.
Eunranggeom allowed Namgung Bi-ah to take the upper hand.
If the sword touched my neck, that was it. That was an unspoken acknowledgment that even someone unskilled in martial arts would understand.
By this outcome, isn’t it possible that I’ve lost?
Just as that realization began to dawn on everyone.
“…what are you doing?”
Namgung Bi-ah suddenly broke the silence.
At her voice, I frowned.
“What…?”
“…is this the end?”
“…!”
This time, my eyes widened slightly.
I finally understood what Namgung Bi-ah was suggesting.
Is this really the end? Are we not going to have another round?
That was the implication.
“Ha…”
After hearing this, I let out a sigh.
“Are you planning to do more?”
The outcome has already been settled. Regardless of carelessness or trickery, there were too many witnesses to what transpired.
What’s the point of continuing?
As I pondered this, Namgung Bi-ah immediately added, “…I haven’t… fought properly yet.”
“…”
The duel isn’t over yet.
Upon hearing that, I shook my head.
It felt strangely off; she seemed intent on continuing the spar.
Wouldn’t she be satisfied with winning? Watching her made my own situation feel suddenly ridiculous.
I recalled the scene of her asking why I conceded after I wielded my sword three times.
The gazes still poured in.
Under the weight of those strong looks, I bit my lip.
‘This is messed up.’
Something went significantly wrong here.
Recognizing this, I raised my sword.
“Young lady.”
Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head slightly at my words.
“First, let me apologize. I underestimated you.”
I didn’t know what trick had been used, but I had to accept the result.
I dismissed the sword dancer’s abilities and ended up conceding.
Furthermore.
“…Additionally, thank you for your guidance and consideration.”
Wuuuuuuu-!
The beloved silver sword began to emit a sad whine.
“Please, grant me another chance.”
“…”
This time, I wouldn’t let my guard down, so let me spar just once more.
In response to such a request, Namgung Bi-ah chose to reply with action rather than words.
Swish.
She aimed her sword at me in affirmation.
I turned my eyes to observe her reaction. Underneath the arena, where the King was seated.
The match had begun as a bet. Obtaining another opportunity was welcomed, but the King’s reaction was also crucial.
Would he allow this?
Though I was worried, the King only stared quietly and made no response. Seeing this made me swallow hard.
“…”
Does that really mean I can go again without any worries?
Doesn’t that imply I could fight without a real concern for repercussions?
‘That’s highly unlikely…’
I tried to convince myself, but my mind hesitated.
What I see might not be the whole truth. Hadn’t that been the case just moments before?
Clack.
With tension lingering, I tightened my grip on my sword.
“Phew…”
I steadied my breathing.
Woo-oo-oo-! Woo-oo-oo-!!
As I inhaled, the sound of my sword began to deepen gradually.
Hisss–!!
Just then, the moment my sword struck the air…
Boom-!
Eunranggeom moved.
The instant I took a step, a flash of light whisked by.
It was a crescent-shaped sword wave.
“…”
Seeing this, Namgung Bi-ah crouched down, steering focus into the sword she was holding.
Crackle-!! Lightning erupted, and she launched herself forward.
Boom-! Boom-!
The collision of the thunder and my blade erupted in a glorious explosion.
Fragments of the bet soared through the air, and amidst the chaos, Namgung Bi-ah dashed forward.
Woo-oo-oo—!!
Her sword screeched ferociously.
Striding forward, she initiated a maneuver, and her Blue Dragon Step reached me in an instant.
Crack-!
As she swung her sword, a cascade of blue lines appeared in succession.
Dozens of those lines surged toward me.
“…”
But I didn’t evade them.
I merely swung my sword to intercept however far the visible lines extended.
Clack.
Graceful Fang Sword Style.
Graceful and sorrowful flow of love.
With swift swordplay, I sliced through the rushing lines.
Crack-! Crackle-!!
The impacts carried surges of chi, sending tingling sensations coursing through me with each defense.
Having shattered all the attacks, I hurriedly took a step back to regain some distance.
Namgung Bi-ah, her gaze still locked skyward, lunged toward me as if taking a low stance.
Her speed was shockingly fast.
No, rather, it didn’t feel fast;
Boom-!!!
Namgung Bi-ah’s overwhelming pressure tightly bound my feet.
‘The Emperor’s Sword!’
Revisiting my martial skills, I scrunched my brow.
Though I wasn’t entirely sure, the moment made everything clear.
The pressure pinning down my ankles was indeed the Emperor’s Sword Form, a hallmark technique of the Namgung clan.
Namgung Bi-ah had cleverly diverted her attention and executed the Emperor’s Sword at a low angle to avoid detection.
‘Wow.’
Impressive. My admiration couldn’t be contained.
I understand very well how difficult it is to use the Emperor’s Sword.
To wield it requires both ample chi and the strength to maintain it.
Thus, to regulate it without drawing attention is nearly an impossibility.
Yet here she was, not only maintaining the form but controlling it flawlessly.
‘She isn’t using the Emperor’s Sword as her main weapon, is she?’
For generations, the Namgung clan has been known for wielding the Emperor’s Sword, mixed with swords and thunder.
Namgung Bi-ah seemed solely focused on her swordsmanship above all else.
If that were a disadvantage,
‘…or maybe not.’
I don’t think that’s quite right.
Swish—!!
The edge of her blade sliced just inches from my nose.
Dodging her attack, I spun away, swinging my own sword.
Crack-!!
As I evaded her strike, a thunderbolt was unleashed from behind.
I hadn’t a clue when she had fired that off.
After clearing the thunder that followed.
“Phew—!”
I took a deep breath and gripped my sword tighter.
A flood of information filled my senses.
Namgung Bi-ah pressed forward without allowing any space.
The Emperor’s Sword, ensnaring my ankles and striking from all directions.
I was in a dire predicament.
But.
‘Once again.’
Observing all this, I became resolute once more.
Namgung Bi-ah is powerful.
After facing her, I could understand that even better.
At this level, she may soon reach the Hwagyeong phase… or perhaps she already has.
It’s an absurd level, and that much is undeniable.
‘But still…’
I remained stronger, for now.
Crunch-!!!
As I faced the relentless intensity of her sword and chi, I suddenly drove my sword into the ground.
In that instant.
Boom-!!!
A surge of energy erupted, sweeping through the surroundings.
It was indeed a massive chi-surge. I could sense a significant amount having been unleashed.
The energy spread like waves, devouring all other chi, taking on a fog-like form that obscured vision.
This was a territory of sorts.
The territory raised by Eunranggeom.
In this fog-like aura, discerning energy becomes easier.
Obscuring my opponent’s vision while crafting a favorable situation for myself.
This was the martial art technique I had grasped upon reaching Hwagyeong.
I never expected I’d have to use it in front of others, but there was no other option now.
“…”
I immediately silenced my presence. This way, my opponent wouldn’t know where I was.
Though visibility was reduced to nothing, I felt the area around me as if it were crystal clear.
Thanks to that, I quickly located Namgung Bi-ah.
She hadn’t moved a single inch from her original position.
Swipe.
I took my stance, holding my sword.
One decisive strike.
With this strike, I would end the duel.
And,
‘Let’s just pretend the bet never happened.’
No matter what, I cannot quibble over the bet at this juncture.
Since my opponent had already accepted the circumstances, I couldn’t go back on my word either.
Having reached this judgment, I raised my sword with resolve.
Whishh-!!
A potent energy spiraled around my blade.
Prepared for a thrust rather than a slash.
Before long, the energy was complete; grasping it tight, I raised the sword’s tip.
Thud-!
In the throes of silence, I charged forward in anticipation.
Whoosh—!!!
The tip of my sword neared Namgung Bi-ah, who remained blissfully unaware.
“…Huh!?”
In an instant, I exhaled sharply.
Clearly, she wouldn’t perceive even an inch ahead or sense anything.
‘How…?’
To my surprise, Namgung Bi-ah suddenly turned her head to look directly at me.
Her piercing blue eyes distinctly focused on Eunranggeom.
Then, as if what she saw were true, Namgung Bi-ah sprang into action.
She lifted her sword, trying to deflect my thrust.
Grind—!!
The sound of our blades clashing echoed, a sonorous rift slicing through the air.
How did she catch that? Questions floated through my mind, but I had no time to dwell on them.
‘Next move…!’
I needed to prepare next.
While it was fortunate that Namgung Bi-ah blocked my strike, if she turned and twisted through her stance, I would need to act immediately…
Halt.
“…”
Suspended mid-thought, I wasn’t sure why I froze in place.
After a moment, I gazed at Namgung Bi-ah, feeling a tremor.
Shh…
Suddenly, the fog that permeated the area dissipated.
With the obscured view now revealed.
Namgung Bi-ah was blocking my sword.
It was apparent that she barely managed to hold it at bay. However.
“…I’ve lost.”
Oddly enough, it was I who spoke of defeat.
How could I mention losing when the duel had yet to conclude?
As everyone pondered this peculiar development.
“…Young lady, may I ask you something?”
I queried Namgung Bi-ah, my expression incredulous.
“Since when?”
“…”
Initially, no answers came. Regardless, I pressed on; it was imperative to uncover her secret.
“Since when…?”
Desperation painted my voice.
“When did you place a blade against the back of my neck?”
I remained completely still.
A slight shift of my body could trigger that invisible blade lurking behind me.
Realizing that awareness, I posed the question.
Namgung Bi-ah responded.
“…From the very beginning….”
“…”
Her answer rendered me utterly disheartened as my will to fight faded away.
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