Chapter 242 – Drowning (2)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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It went without saying for Wudang’s disciples, but the members of the Heaven’s Will Gate were also people belonging to the martial world.

Even if the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families had declined compared to a year ago, there was no way they wouldn’t know their names.

“Are you all… truly serious?”

Su Je-heon asked coldly, the smile completely gone from his face.

“Why would we not be?”

“Namgung Clan Head. I thought at least the Namgung Clan had strong enough ties to Beijing that they wouldn’t make such a foolish choice.”

“Rather than passing down a dishonorable Namgung Clan to our descendants, we decided it is better to vanish honorably. Our ancestors would also respect my decision.”

“A highly arrogant thought.”

Su Je-heon forced the corners of his mouth to twist upward, but he trembled so violently that his effort was painfully obvious.

“Alliance Leader. Did you truly think we would just sit back and take it?”

Namgung Jin-hyeon snapped his head to the side as if offended.

“Even if the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhuge Clan were with you from the start, how could we stand by idly after witnessing you overturn the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Shaolin Temple? If you thought we would, you underestimated us far too much.”

As Su Je-heon and Namgung Jin-hyeon’s gazes clashed, the surrounding atmosphere seemed to grow even colder.

In fact, as far as I knew, the Shaolin Temple had been overturned by the Imperial Court’s threat to eradicate Buddhism itself, while the Sichuan Tang Clan had been subverted by inciting their collateral branches to commit treason.

With the Imperial Court subverting them one by one to suit their tastes like this, it was only natural for the existing powers to feel threatened.

“This is not merely a rebellion against the Martial Alliance. The Namgung Clan is currently rebelling against the policy of the Imperial Court.”

“I am aware. But what we desire is not rebellion. It is dialogue.”

“Dialogue, you say?”

“Indeed. The Imperial Court’s current policy appears to have internally abolished the principle of official-martial noninterference. However, that is a policy change made without any input from the martial artists. We wish to discuss that.”

I nodded to myself at Namgung Jin-hyeon’s words. Indeed, no matter how bold Cheong-ui and the New Justice Association were, they could not openly declare rebellion.

Now that such massive forces had united, the Imperial Court would not be able to simply ignore them. They would prefer dialogue over conflict. As expected, Cheong-ui also had a plan. Though it remained a dangerous gamble, nonetheless.

“Hmph. Whether it’s the New Justice Association or whatever, we did not come here to watch the launching ceremony of your new association today. We came to conduct a life-and-death match.”

Having been excluded from the conversation, the Sect Leader of the Heaven’s Will Gate chimed in.

Since he had also staked everything on this life-and-death match at Wudang, he clearly felt that he couldn’t let his presence be buried.

“Indeed. I agree with the Sect Leader of the Heaven’s Will Gate for the first time. The New Justice Association is merely our declaration; it has absolutely nothing to do with this match.”

Cheong-ui summarized cleanly. Only Su Je-heon was left with a flushed, angry face.

I had seen many people like him during my time in the merchant company—people who grow furious when things do not go according to their plans. Such people generally spare no means or methods to achieve their desired results. They were a truly terrible sort of human, yet surprisingly common.

“As previously announced, the match will consist of two bouts from the disciple generation and three from the elder generation.”

Cheong-ui said. I hadn’t known, but it seemed such an agreement had been made. After all, they had to establish the generation ranks to some extent to make it a fair fight. Since it was a life-and-death match, such agreements were more important than anything.

The matches had probably been decided by Cheong-ui and the Sect Leader of the Heaven’s Will Gate. I didn’t know what the Heaven’s Will Gate had done, but Wudang’s disciples had no idea who would be fighting. They simply went out if the Sect Leader told them to.

Not knowing who would be called, Wudang’s disciples had tense expressions. However, it was clear that if they were chosen, they were burning with the determination to fight their absolute best.

“Myeong-yeop, step forward.”

As expected, Myeong-yeop stepped forward. He was the eldest disciple of the Myeong generation and a symbolic figure.

As Myeong-yeop stepped out, a figure also emerged from the Heaven’s Will Gate’s side.

The moment Cheong-ui saw the man, his face froze. The muttering among the Martial Uncles grew louder as well.

This was because the person who had stepped out for their “disciple generation” bout was a mature man who looked to be at least fifty years old.

“Are you joking with us right now?”

Cheong-ui immediately protested. The “youngest” member of the Heaven’s Will Gate was blatantly a middle-aged man.

“What do you mean? Cheon-ah is strictly our youngest disciple.”

He was even calling that unsightly old man by a childhood nickname used for toddlers.

At that shamelessness, Cheong-ui’s reaction went beyond disbelief and into outright fury.

“That is utter nonsense! Furious Waves Sword Baek Sang-cheon is at least of our elder generation. How could he possibly be the youngest disciple of the Heaven’s Will Gate?”

“We accepted him as our youngest, and if Cheon-ah agreed, then he is the youngest. What else would he be?”

Cheong-ui was left speechless. Technically, his words weren’t wrong. Of course, they were only logically correct, while morally completely bankrupt.

I had also heard of the name Furious Waves Sword Baek Sang-cheon. Hadn’t he been a fairly famous swordsman who made a name for himself in Zhejiang? Naturally, I knew he was at least twice my age. To refer to such a person as the youngest disciple… The Heaven’s Will Gate had no intention of fighting this life-and-death match honorably from the start. To them, honor was merely a fabricated result created after a cowardly victory.

“Senior Brother, what do we do?”

“Shouldn’t we forfeit immediately?”

The senior brothers whispered in worried tones. Since Myeong-yeop had his back to us, I couldn’t see what kind of expression he was wearing.

No matter how strong Myeong-yeop was among the Myeong generation, there was no way he could defeat someone of the elder generation rank.

“Admitting defeat quickly isn’t a bad idea either. You save both lives and time. Killing two birds with one stone, isn’t it?”

All of Wudang cast furious gazes at the Sect Leader of the Heaven’s Will Gate, who spoke with triumphant arrogance. Of course, his face was thick enough to deflect all of those glares.

“Furious Waves Sword. Are you truly going to stand there? Even if you are a martial artist who walks the line between orthodox and unorthodox, did you not once possess honor?!”

Cheong-hwa shouted from behind. It seemed Cheong-hwa and Furious Waves Sword were already acquainted. It was common for top masters to know one another, so it was nothing unusual.

Baek Sang-cheon ignored Cheong-hwa’s shout. I could hear Cheong-hwa grinding his teeth.

Cheong-ui sighed at the sight. It was a five-match series. The importance of each match could not be overstated.

If Wudang lost here, the Martial Alliance would immediately spread the news of Wudang’s defeat, which would undoubtedly deal a devastating blow to the already declining Nine Great Sects and Five Great Families.

“……This is absurd. Myeong-yeop, I am sorry. It seems this Sect Leader miscalculated. I believed that since they professed to be an orthodox sect, there would be at least a modicum of respect.”

Cheong-ui said with a sigh.

In truth, it was an unavoidable choice for Cheong-ui. He could not send his disciple into a match where defeat was so obvious—no, into a life-and-death struggle.

“How could this be Sect Leader’s fault?”

Myeong-yeop replied in a dignified voice. Cheong-ui spoke again.

“Step back. We concede the first bout…”

“We cannot.”

At those unexpected words, everyone’s eyes widened. Myeong-yeop’s junior brothers, including myself, were even more shocked.

It was the first time Myeong-yeop had ever directly opposed the Sect Leader.

“Although your unworthy disciple is not well-versed in the politics of the martial world, I understand all too well that today’s match is of utmost importance. Even the esteemed seniors who share Wudang’s resolve have gathered here. Your disciple cannot pour cold water on our new beginning.”

“Myeong-yeop. I understand what you mean. But…”

“Sect Leader!”

Myeong-yeop shouted, cutting Cheong-ui off mid-sentence. It was an act of insubordination that would normally never be seen from Myeong-yeop or within the Wudang Sect.

If I were still just a merchant, I would never have understood Myeong-yeop. But now, I knew.

To a martial artist, their personal honor and the honor of their sect were more important than anything. Myeong-yeop hated the thought of Wudang’s honor being tarnished because of him more than death itself.

“Your disciple begs of you. We are Wudang. This is a match upon which the eyes of the entire Central Plains are focused. If your disciple hangs his head and concedes defeat now, people will speak of Wudang’s weakness rather than the Heaven’s Will Gate’s cowardice.”

Cheong-ui was left speechless. Because it was the truth.

People love to see others fall. The fall of Wudang, which had always stood at the peak of the martial world, would be the greatest fuel for gossip-mongers.

“Please allow me to act as befits Wudang. I beg of you once more, Sect Leader.”

Myeong-yeop turned back, saluted, and bowed his head.

Cheong-ui could not speak. Even if it was the right choice, he probably couldn’t bring himself to tell a disciple who was like his own child to walk into his death.

“You have fine spirit.”

Baek Sang-cheon, who had been watching, murmured.

“I shall end this without pain.”

Myeong-yeop turned back. Before he did, in that brief moment, his eyes met with everyone’s. Naturally, I was included. My fists clenched involuntarily, trembling.

“May we begin the match?”

Su Je-heon said. Everyone in Wudang glared at Su Je-heon with eyes full of hatred.

The Martial Alliance had lost its impartiality long ago. It was the Martial Alliance’s job to block such underhanded tricks, but they were currently failing to perform that role entirely. No, they might have even encouraged this strategy.

Sect Leader’s drowning theory was exactly right. Over the past six months, the water meant to suffocate us had already risen to our chins.

“Let’s begin,”

Myeong-yeop said. Baek Sang-cheon also nodded silently.

The moment Su Je-heon announced the start of the match, Baek Sang-cheon lunged forward. His speed and power were immense.

Several closed their eyes, unable to watch. But I chose not to close my eyes and watched even closer. Shouldn’t I imprint the battle of this honorable orthodox disciple into my eyes and remember it?

“Hah!”

Myeong-yeop drew his sword as he retreated. Baek Sang-cheon’s sword clashed with Myeong-yeop’s Ancient Pine-Pattern Sword. Myeong-yeop’s sword began to bend gradually. It could not withstand the internal energy.

Still, the fact that Myeong-yeop was managing to parry a few sword forms meant he was fighting exceptionally well.

“Fine talent.”

Baek Sang-cheon said. Unlike Myeong-yeop, whose breathing was ragged and whose veins were bulging, Baek Sang-cheon was perfectly stable.

“It is impressive that you can parry my sword forms at your age. Indeed, the title of Wudang’s eldest disciple is not an empty rumor.”

“Shut up! You coward!”

“You can curse all you want, but it cannot be helped.”

Baek Sang-cheon’s palm lightly struck Myeong-yeop’s exposed solar plexus.

*Bang!*

By some mysterious force, the back of Myeong-yeop’s martial robe suddenly ballooned and tore apart. It was a moment that revealed his immense internal energy.

“Cough!”

Blood poured from Myeong-yeop’s mouth. He barely managed to prevent himself from falling to his knees by stabbing his sword into the ground.

“My apologies for being a cowardly senior. But the jianghu is ruthless.”

Baek Sang-cheon’s sword pointed toward the sky. Myeong-yeop’s blood-soaked face looked up at the tip of Baek Sang-cheon’s sword. There was not a shred of fear in his gaze.

At that moment, the Martial Uncles found it harder to bear than the senior brothers. Seeing their junior, who was lower in generation than them, display such Wudang spirit while they could do nothing must have triggered intense shame and guilt.

“Go.”

Along with Baek Sang-cheon’s words, his sword fell like lightning.

*Clang!*

“……Hmm.”

Rather than the sound of a neck being severed, a sharp metallic clash rang out. My Bright Elegance had blocked Baek Sang-cheon’s descending sword.

“What is the meaning of this in an honorable match?”

“No. If this were an honorable match, you should not have swung your sword down.”

I gestured with my chin toward Myeong-yeop. The light had faded from the pupils of Myeong-yeop, who was leaning on his sword. Fortunately, I could feel a faint breath. Though even that was fading. He had lost consciousness before dying.

No matter how cowardly the Heaven’s Will Gate was and how trashy their tricks were, executing an unconscious opponent could not be considered an orthodox match.

“It is a life-and-death match, but it does not have to end with someone’s death, does it? As a martial artist, you should know this as well.”

“Your words are not wrong.”

Baek Sang-cheon withdrew his sword. At the same time, senior brothers of the same generation quickly rushed over, carried Myeong-yeop on their backs, and darted toward the Medical Hall using their lightfoot arts.

Myeong-yeop could die. Baek Sang-cheon’s palm strike had clearly ruptured his internal organs. But a shred of hope remained. He was still alive. As long as he was alive, there was hope.

“So, are you the next opponent?”

“Where does the youngest disciple of the Heaven’s Will Gate get off speaking down to me like that, you bastard?!”

I shouted. It was the Six-Harmony Voice Projection that I had unleashed unconsciously.

Leaves fell, blades of grass shook, and an echo resounded. Everyone’s eyes widened at the sudden roar.

Neither the Heaven’s Will Gate nor Baek Sang-cheon could say a word. Had they not come out for the match claiming to be of the youngest disciple generation? Denying it here would be tantamount to admitting the match itself was fraudulent.

“I am next. Come out.”

I once again tightly gripped Bright Elegance’s hilt. The killing intent I released blanketed the entire training field.