Chapter: 800
The sparring didn’t take long to start and finish.
At best, it didn’t even reach twenty exchanges. It was a fight where neither side had any wounds worth mentioning.
Pssssss.
The scattered energy gently settled down.
The residual heat was a trace from the brain.
The fog created by the Eunrang Sword was also gradually clearing.
Swish. Clunk!
The drawn sword was sucked back into its scabbard.
That was the sound of Eunranggeom and the Sword Dancer retrieving their swords.
It was proof that the two combatants had finished their duel.
Only after the gestures and sounds could people finally show the reactions they had been holding back.
“… This is ridiculous…”
“Seriously, the Iron Dragon Lord was defeated…? By that young lady, or rather, the Sword Dancer?”
One of the top hundred martial artists in the world and one of the leaders supporting the Murim Alliance.
Eunranggeom, who was renowned even among the Hwagyeong-level warriors, had lost to a woman who hadn’t even fully matured.
What I witnessed was something I wouldn’t have believed if I had only heard about it.
Both sides were almost unscathed, yet this time, the Iron Dragon Lord himself declared defeat.
It seemed like there was still more that could have been done. Given the firepower and the situation at hand, it appeared that the Sword Dancer was at a disadvantage.
How could the Iron Dragon Lord declare defeat?
As everyone pondered that question…
‘Hah.’
I had to swallow hard.
‘This is insane.’
I was genuinely shocked.
About the Iron Dragon’s defeat? Of course.
I never anticipated Namgung Bi-ah would go this far.
To be frank, I didn’t even expect her to win.
The initial purpose was to demonstrate that Namgung Bi-ah was capable of passing the exam.
The bet itself was initiated from that first strike to establish legitimacy.
Victory achieved through a surprise attack.
Namgung Bi-ah had taken advantage of Eunranggeom’s moment of distraction, executed a clever move, and ended up with a “victory” that wasn’t truly a victory.
Of course…
‘I did pull a few tricks.’
There was one factor I subtly included in that victory.
It was ensuring Eunranggeom couldn’t accurately gauge Namgung Bi-ah’s level by clouding the energy around her.
Making it appear weaker than it truly was.
By lightly shredding some of the energy, I induced a lapse in focus, allowing her to easily succeed in the surprise attack.
That was the extent of my contribution.
Namgung Bi-ah capitalized on the opportunity and executed her surprise attack successfully.
That had been my plan.
‘Who would’ve thought it would go this far?’
The subsequent duel was beyond my calculations.
Namgung Bi-ah provoked Eunranggeom into continuing the spar.
Eunranggeom accepted and the spar began. Since I had already achieved my desired outcome and gained justification, I considered stopping her.
‘But I didn’t.’
I didn’t bother to intervene.
The reason was simple.
‘Because Namgung Bi-ah wanted this.’
The duel that followed seemed to be something Namgung Bi-ah desired.
At first, doubts crept into my mind.
Namgung Bi-ah loved swords and sparring.
Apart from taking breaks to heal, she usually sparred numerous times.
It seemed like she enjoyed battling the strong, often growing from it.
‘But this is a different case.’
This was purely a training duel.
Yet, this was different.
She had a lot to lose if she were to lose. More precisely, it was a fight where I stood to lose significantly.
I was confident she wasn’t the type to engage in such a risk, knowing that now.
Yet, she instigated the duel.
Was it because she was assured of victory?
That seemed unlikely.
‘Namgung Bi-ah must know too.’
She likely recognized that Eunranggeom was intellectually superior.
Given the more open arena, her chances of winning should have been minimal.
Even so, Namgung Bi-ah led the duel.
I began to ponder this.
What on earth could be the reason for Namgung Bi-ah to instigate the spar?
Did she have some sort of confidence? I soon realized this point.
‘Surprisingly, she has a foxy side.’
Once I grasped the reasoning, I couldn’t help but chuckle internally.
The actual reason Namgung Bi-ah requested another duel with Eunranggeom was not because of her certainty in winning.
Rather,
‘I just knew she thought she would win without fail.’
Namgung Bi-ah was convinced.
That she would absolutely secure a victory.
Given the disparity in skill levels, how could this be possible?
The answer lay in why she had just clinched victory.
‘No way, did she plant a heart sword?’
It was a form of power somewhat different from the realm that martial artists pursued.
Here, the heart sword is commonly associated with the realm of the mind. Within it, it’s a force only accessible after reaching the union means of the sword’s unity with the mind.
A power that can only be wielded by those who have attained enlightenment among the warriors who have reached Hwagyeong levels.
It was a state the Demon Sword Master had also reached in a past life…
‘…Is she already able to use that?’
I had no idea the current Namgung Bi-ah had reached the point of Shingeomhapil.
Especially when she used that divine sword.
‘I was surprised when Shinryong or Wiseru used it too.’
Like those two, I hadn’t imagined Namgung Bi-ah had reached that point already.
Particularly…
‘To think she’d use it to provoke the spar.’
Namgung Bi-ah had been contemplating her heart sword from the very start and laid out her strategy.
From the very first moment when she initiated the surprise attack.
Reflecting on it, that moment must have been part of her plan from the get-go.
‘I guess she tucked a heart sword amidst her surprise attack.’
She drew attention to herself with the sword to the neck, all the while creating an incredibly subtle heart sword behind Eunranggeom.
It was so subtle that I would not have noticed if not for my perceptive eye.
‘Could the heart sword be used in such a manner?’
It differed greatly from the heart technique I knew.
It was something much shallower and finer.
Namgung Bi-ah implanted that behind Eunranggeom’s neck.
From there, a thoroughly calculated duel transpired.
Even if it was shallow, being nestled behind the neck might make it detectable to someone as skilled as Eunranggeom.
Namgung Bi-ah had to bring Eunranggeom’s focus to her as much as possible.
She took a risk by closing the distance.
She excessively relied on her stakes and spread her brain energy all around.
Also…
‘She modified the Emperor’s Sword form and used it too.’
Maintaining her heart while utilizing her brain?
In that state, she was able to execute the Imperial Sword form?
Completely impossible.
The Imperial Sword form requires considerable energy, even among powerful techniques.
It’s overly difficult to apply in its proper shape.
So Namgung Bi-ah opted for this solution.
‘If I can’t use the correct form, I’ll use a modified version.’
She reduced the amount of power to make it work alongside other abilities.
She sacrificed explosive might but minimized size and intensified precision to deliver a bit of pressure.
‘Is this really insane?’
Easier said than done?
What level of meticulous control over energy is needed to pull this off?
‘If I were to compare myself, it’s like using the Flame Fire Spear while also separately utilizing the flame.’
… Just thinking about it is dizzying.
It might not be impossible, but it’s not the most efficient method.
One thing was clear.
‘Under current circumstances, it wasn’t so bad.’
It was quite effective for diverting attention, allowing Eunranggeom to remain oblivious.
As it neared the end…
‘I only revealed myself once the heart sword reached his neck.’
Eunranggeom declared defeat after grasping the entire situation.
From the moment of that surprise attack to now, the entire showdown had been a calculated performance.
It signified that I had been played into the opponent’s hands, which was enough to sap the will to fight.
Indeed, Eunranggeom’s expression was quite grim.
“… It was a commendable match.”
“…”
Namgung Bi-ah nodded at Eunranggeom’s words.
Then Eunranggeom descended from the duel stage and approached me, saying,
“… Holy King.”
“Yes.”
“I have lost. I apologize for my narrow-mindedness.”
‘Oh?’
This was a much cleaner admission than I had anticipated.
I imagined there would be a messy outburst about denying witchcraft or something of the sort.
Yet, Eunranggeom acknowledged his defeat without any of that.
‘He must certainly feel regret.’
The skill level was undoubtedly higher for Eunranggeom.
If they fought again, nine times out of ten, Eunranggeom would win.
Despite losing in that duel, he seemed to be of a more honorable character than I had assumed.
‘Unexpected.’
Could it be that he is a more decent person than I’d imagined?
Or is it that only martial artists manage to be respectable?
With curious eyes, I looked at Eunranggeom and said,
“You admit it far easier than I expected?”
“It was a match where I had absolutely no reason to dispute.”
“Are you not disappointed?”
“It is disappointing. But…”
Eunranggeom glances at Namgung Bi-ah.
“This duel was a complete defeat on my part.”
“…”
Seeing this, I nodded.
Because it wasn’t incorrect.
“Yes, I understand. Since you accept it clearly, I have nothing further to say. Oh, but don’t forget about our wager.”
“… I am aware…”
When I mentioned the wager, Eunranggeom’s expression darkened a bit.
“May I take my leave first?”
“You’re not sticking around?”
“Correct. I feel I wouldn’t be able to keep a face here…”
“That’s valid. I understand.”
“…”
Feeling embarrassed, how could I stay here longer?
I was well aware of what was implied by Eunranggeom’s reaction.
For a brief moment, his expression turned sour, but soon returned to neutral as he walked out of the duel venue.
Simultaneously, the members of the Iron Dragon Corps filed out, quickly leaving the area deserted.
I gazed at the entrance they exited from before shifting my attention back to the stage.
“Well then…”
Let’s commence the next test.
I was about to say just that when I paused.
“….”
“….”
Namgung Bi-ah was still standing on the stage.
Locking eyes with her made my throat run dry.
‘… Gulp.’
The response was exactly as I had foreseen earlier.
I understood her intent in coming here, but I really didn’t want to put her to the test.
Should I pick Namgung Bi-ah now…
‘… It feels like I’m repeating the nightmare of my past life with the Black Flame.’
Of course, from the outset, I didn’t want to involve Namgung Bi-ah in this matter.
As I reflected on everything, I wished to once again discuss Namgung Bi-ah’s elimination today.
“…”
As I looked at Namgung Bi-ah’s face, the words just wouldn’t come.
Her gaze into mine practically spoke for her.
She was asking if it was really impossible even after all she had accomplished.
Namgung Bi-ah, who had just defeated Eunranggeom, unmistakably exhibited her skills.
Would it be right to cast her out under the circumstances?
‘It might look good.’
Avoiding personal feelings in a test would certainly support the objective reasoning, making it not seem unwise to eliminate her now.
‘Sigh.’
This made me ponder again.
If I dismissed her now, I would face Namgung Bi-ah’s frustrating stare and consequences later on.
Not to mention…
‘As you said, I did this much.’
Is it right to disregard that?
These thoughts endlessly tormented my brain.
“Hah.”
Ultimately, with a long exhale, I reached a conclusion.
Gazing at Namgung Bi-ah, who was blankly staring at me, I finally spoke.
“… You pass.”
“…!”
Upon hearing my answer, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes grew wide.
Her reaction was one of shock, followed by a faint smile that immediately appeared on her face.
“Hoo…”
“Uh, uh huh…!”
The people nearby reacted with a mix of disbelief.
Should I just gouge everyone’s eyes out?
Such thoughts flitted through my mind.
Not long after, the examination to select Seongryongdae concluded.
Since the testing method had not changed from the first, it went by quickly.
There was no friction similar to that with the Iron Dragon Lord, allowing the test to conclude in under an hour.
However, contrary to the initial plan to select ten candidates, only seven passed.
As a result, they mentioned they’d be conducting another test in a few days to select three more.
Right after that test concluded…
Boom—!
“Damn it!”
A man slammed his fist into a rock in fury.
Crash.
The strike was so powerful that the boulder shattered immediately.
This rock-smashing individual was none other than the Golden Dragon Lord, Ssang-i Hwan-geom.
He was, for some reason, venting his anger on rocks with a furious expression.
“Iron Dragon Lord, that idiot! Why did he have to lose to that woman there?”
Crash—!
Ssang-i Hwan-geom ground his teeth and swung his arm again.
Boom! Another stone crumbled into fragments.
“Damn that punk! After parading around as though he was hot stuff, he only made things worse!”
The fool believed he was so brilliant.
I lent him a hand because he was brimming with confidence, but the situation grew even more convoluted.
“Damn it…!!”
Things had spiraled out of control, and it became a tangled web.
Thanks to the Iron Dragon Lord, the Holy King’s position had risen, and it drew attention to his deceptive use of powers.
‘How on earth did he catch on?’
How did he figure out that someone from my family had been sent to manipulate things?
Thinking of the Holy King who pinpointed everything accurately made Ssang-i Hwan-geom break into a cold sweat.
“Could there be a mole within the Golden Dragon Corps?”
The possibility loomed large.
Surely no one would have been able to discern it just by sensing the aura of an amateur.
No human could accomplish such a feat.
In fact, it was better to consider it was someone on his own sword team who had betrayed them.
‘If there is a rat, then who could it be?’
Only a few people within the swordsmanship would be capable of knowing if he intended to execute such moves.
If I had to name one…
“Is it you?”
One of the men beside Ssang-i Hwan-geom flinched at the accusation.
“Yes…? What do you mean, Grand Lord?”
“Are you perhaps that little punk’s mole?”
The deputy, nervously, waved his hands as he caught the inquisitive stare of Ssang-i Hwan-geom.
“What do you mean by that?! How could I…!!”
“Of course not, right? That’s what should be said.”
“That’s right. I’m absolutely not that…!”
The deputy urgently clarified his position.
In fact, it truly wasn’t him.
He well understood how persistent and violent the Twin Swords could be.
Lately, he had been showing off his capabilities in dealing with monsters, but in the past, how many warriors had been oppressed by him?
Although it wasn’t public knowledge, being targeted when out of favor had even forced one to take their own life.
“I-I never did that.”
“Then how did you find out?”
How on earth did that brat, the Holy King, figure out what he was planning?
No matter how hard he thought, the answer just wouldn’t come.
“Tsk….”
The more he dwelled on it, the more he disliked it.
This stone that had randomly dropped from the sky was threatening him from all sides.
How he was showing off his fangs as if he weren’t shrinking back at all.
Although I knew he was much stronger than he appeared because of his age, SSang-i Hwan-geom unmistakably disliked this fellow.
‘What on earth should I do?’
I wanted to shove him out of my sight by any means necessary, but every attempt got tangled up.
Is there no way?
Just as I was deep in thought…
“Ah.”
Ssang-i Hwan-geom’s eyes lit up as if he remembered something.
“Okay, shall we do that?”
“What are you suggesting?”
“I’m talking about the Iron Dragon Lord. How about we claim he lost due to sorcery?”
“…What?”
The deputy chief frowned slightly at Ssang-i Hwan-geom’s words.
“Grand Lord, what do you mean by that…?”
“Even if it wasn’t witchcraft, what if we could spin some tale about a shady deal behind the scenes leading to his downfall?”
“Is that… Is that possible?”
Are you insinuating that the Iron Dragon Lord had some sort of backroom deal with the Holy King?
So, essentially, he purposefully lost to my fiancée?
The deputy’s eyes bulged. Ssang-i Hwan-geom believed firmly that Eunranggeom, despite his ambitions for honor and his will to retain his position, wasn’t the kind of martial artist to indulge in that sort of act.
“Deputy.”
“Yes, yes, Grand Lord.”
“What on earth are you insinuating?”
Seeing his subordinate like that led Ssang-i Hwan-geom to chuckle.
“It doesn’t matter if it actually happened or not.”
“…My Lord?”
“What’s vital here is that whenever those rumors are spread, it’ll create trouble for those involved.”
“…”
This implied we should develop false narratives.
“However, if that occurs… it could also adversely affect us.”
“Just don’t get caught.”
“That….”
“You can’t truly accomplish anything based solely on rumors, but if we apply them, we’ll utilize that to our advantage.”
Ssang-i Hwan-geom was already grinning, fully committed to his decision.
“Since the Jade Dragon Lord is a dubious character… why not reach out to the Gaebong side instead?”
“Gaebong, are you serious?”
“Yes, coincidentally, one of the disciples of the Ark has a connection with me. I’ll request some assistance from him.”
“Are you trying to spread the rumor that a covert deal transpired between the Holy King and the Silver Sword?”
“Exactly. I see you’ve finally grasped it.”
“Would anyone believe such nonsense? There’s no backing to support it.”
“It might not provide direct aid. However, it will certainly plague the Holy King and Eunranggeom as they try to unearth the truth. Thanks to that, we could buy the time we need for further steps…”
As he continued explaining, Ssang-i Hwan-geom suddenly fell silent.
Something felt off.
It wasn’t the deputy’s voice, and the language sounded different.
The head of Ssang-i Hwan-geom turned with an awkward feeling.
“Oh, so that’s the intention.”
There, on the scene…
“This is more than I expected…”
The Golden Dragon Corps’s deputy chief slumped unconscious on the floor.
“You were more foolish than I thought.”
The brat that Ssang-i Hwan-geom had just belittled stood regally.
The Holy King was present.
“What the hell are you doing here—!”
The startled Ssang-i Hwan-geom quickly tried to speak, yet he could not finish.
‘Huh?’
When he realized what had happened, his gaze was fixed at the sky.
It was at that instant he understood—he was lying on the ground.
Soon after, a shadow loomed ominously above him.
It belonged to the foot of the Holy King.
Thud—!!!
The face of Ssang-i Hwan-geom was stomped brutally into the ground.
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