Pay‑to‑Win King of Martial Arts (Novel) - Chapter 87 - Formal Match (4)

Chapter 87 – Formal Match (4)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The thought that we might lose did not seem to have come to Cheong-hwa alone. Though I had not seen it myself, it seemed the child of the Zhuge Clan’s struggle had been that impressive.

“The people of the Zhuge Clan got that much stronger?”

“Did they use some sort of evil art or something?”

In truth, the disciples gathered on the training ground were anxious.

The nine of us who were directly participating in the formal match, however, were quiet and not making a fuss.

“I guess Myeong-il wasn’t in good condition.”

“He’s not the sort of child for that, but let’s think that way.”

“Let’s do that.”

In fact, the nine of us had roughly reached an agreement. That either Myeong-il had been in poor condition, or that he had become terribly careless due to overconfidence in his own strength.

As the other disciple had said, Myeong-il was not that kind of child. We were simply choosing to think that way.

This was my suggestion. Sometimes deliberately deceiving oneself was also one of the skills of life. Daoists who lived honestly every moment would never have known that, but I could teach them that much.

The judge from the Martial Alliance and we had already come out to the great training ground. The Martial Alliance’s judge was Mok In-hak, the Lightning Sword, and he too was a famous martial artist.

After waiting a little, the people of the Zhuge Clan came up to the great training ground with quite confident expressions.

“It seems you have shaken off your travel fatigue well.”

“There was no real need for such consideration. We would have been confident no matter when we did it.”

“Would it not be best if no aftertalk arose between us.”

Cheong-ui, who had gone out to meet them, exchanged words with Zhuge Gyeom. Zhuge Gyeom’s tone was aggressive, while Cheong-ui’s tone was quiet like Taiji Fist that lets everything slide past.

“Other honored guests are watching as well.”

Judge Mok In-hak said that with an ahem. It seemed he wished to prevent the clash between Cheong-ui and Zhuge Gyeom from growing overheated.

In truth, there was not only one judge from the Martial Alliance. That was because they had brought other famous masters from other places as well to ensure fairness in judging.

There I saw an unexpected familiar face. It was Yi Gil-sang, the escort chief of the South Plains Escort Bureau, to whom I had entrusted a commission in the past. Certainly, since Yi Gil-sang was one of the martial artists representing Jiangxi Province, there was nothing particularly strange about his being here.

Yi Gil-sang met my eyes, but he naturally turned his face and did not act as if he knew me. It was, naturally, the proper judgment. What aftertalk would there be besides trouble if he openly acknowledged me here?

“This formal match will proceed in a total of nine bouts. Even if more sparring could be had, the moment one side wins five bouts first, the formal match will end there. Do you agree to the rules?”

The rules of the formal match were best of nine, first to five. Since this formal match was not a mere sparring event for exchanging martial arts but a fight meant to determine victory and defeat between the two sides, these rules reflected the Martial Alliance’s judgment that too many bouts would only waste emotion needlessly.

“Agreed.”

“Agreed.”

Cheong-ui and Zhuge Gyeom consented. This explanation and process of consent were conducted loudly enough that everyone present could hear. It was so no one could say something different afterward.

“According to the result of this formal match, the defeated side must grant the demands of the victorious side. Do you likewise agree to that?”

“We do.”

“Agreed.”

Once the formalities ended, it was time for the truly important point. What mattered in a formal match was that when one won, the other side had to accept certain demands.

Even on the day of the formal match itself, the Sect Leader and the Clan Head did not know the other side’s demands. That was because the demands were not discussed between the two sides directly, but were instead submitted to the Martial Alliance, which would approve them if it judged them appropriate. That was why this moment, when each side’s demands were revealed, was so important.

“If the Zhuge Clan wins first, the Wudang Sect must send a sparring partner without delay whenever the Zhuge Clan requests one. The term is three years.”

Wudang’s disciples stirred. Some showed expressions of having been insulted, while others glared at Zhuge Gyeom with hatred in their eyes. Even Cheong-ui, who had been managing his expression, had his brows knit for a moment.

“What is wrong with the two sides helping one another grow by sparring often?”

Zhuge Gyeom said that with a shrug. The faces of Wudang’s disciples flushed even more.

Unable to understand clearly, I quietly asked Myeong-yeop at my side.

“Even when relations were good, didn’t they request sparring partners now and then?”

“It is different from requesting sparring from an equal relationship. The Zhuge Clan is saying that whenever they need a sparring partner, they will simply call someone from the Wudang Sect. Wudang will have to comply without complaint. In the past, they would invite one another and go back and forth for sparring. Now it would become a case where the Zhuge Clan summons, and Wudang’s disciple goes.”

Once I heard Myeong-yeop’s explanation, I understood.

“Well now.”

“It is a humiliating matter. Under the plausible excuse of wanting to grow together, they are making it appear as though Wudang stands beneath the Zhuge Clan.”

“So the Zhuge Clan’s ultimate goal is to trample the spirit of Wudang’s disciples.”

“That is one way to put it.”

For three years, Wudang would effectively have to follow the Zhuge Clan’s word. Wudang’s disciples might gain something from sparring, but the humiliation of going and coming at the Zhuge Clan’s summons would remain in their hearts like a brand burned in by fire. Martial artists regarded the pride and honor of the sect as more important than life itself.

“The Wudang Sect’s demand will now be stated. Do not interfere in Wudang’s independent events going forward. That is all.”

At that simple demand, Zhuge Gyeom burst into laughter. The expressions of Wudang’s disciples grew even uglier.

That was because if the Zhuge Clan won, Wudang would have its honor stolen, while if Wudang won, it seemed the Zhuge Clan had almost nothing to put forward.

“Can this truly stand?”

Cheong-su, one of the more ill-tempered among Wudang’s elders, was the first to bark out.

Mok In-hak answered with a troubled expression.

“Once the demands have been revealed under the rules of the formal match, they cannot be changed. The purpose of this formal match is to minimize the scale of conflict. If the Sect Leader changes the demands now, would that not only intensify the fight of emotions.”

“No, but even so…!”

“This is why the Nine Great Sects are no good. They try to preserve some useless dignity and lose all practical advantage.”

Zhuge Gyeom cut off Cheong-su’s words. In truth, this too was to some extent a contest of reading the room.

Whether one would value honor, or whether one would value practical benefit.

If the Zhuge Clan had cleverly preserved practical benefit while wrapping it in some honor, Wudang had decided its demands only for the sake of honor. Certainly, the demands did reflect the traits of each side. The Nine Great Sects tended to value honor, while the Five Great Families tended to value practical benefit.

In that sense, I could understand Cheong-ui’s feelings to a certain extent. If Cheong-ui had voiced demands for the purpose of thoroughly crushing the Zhuge Clan somehow, he too would certainly have been talked about afterward. It seemed Cheong-ui was not crafty enough to speak of practical benefit while preserving honor as well. Or perhaps he had even considered that itself dishonorable.

“Would it not all be fine if we simply win.”

“Heh heh. I sincerely hope that is so.”

In any case, the side that had seized the initiative before the formal match had, in appearance, become the Zhuge Clan.

Even so, Cheong-ui did not appear to regret his decision. Sometimes there were moments when one had to move even while knowing one would lose something. That was the weight of the crown.

“Thud.”

Zhuge Gyeom spoke softly. But it was a voice mixed with internal energy, loud enough that everyone there could hear.

“That is the sound of Wudang’s honor falling. What do you think. Is it not more shabby than you expected?”

“A trivial provocation. Wudang is a great mountain. Trees may shake in the wind, but how could the mountain itself move?”

“That heavy rear of yours will soon shake vulgarly enough.”

“Now when the Zhuge Clan thinks of autumn winds, they will think not only of Wuzhang Plains, but of Wudang Mountain as well.”

Unexpectedly, Cheong-ui struck back. It was a barb saying that just as Zhuge Wuhou had died on Wuzhang Plains, they too would soon end the same way.

Zhuge Gyeom too seemed not to have expected that Cheong-ui, who until then had only maintained a lofty attitude, would say something like that, and for a moment he lost his words and showed anger. As the sign of their clash worsening appeared, Mok In-hak stepped in between them and stopped it.

“That is enough.”

“…Hmph.”

After launching what was, in its own refined way, a thoroughly ruthless blow, Cheong-ui turned away looking refreshed, while Zhuge Gyeom turned away with a vexed expression.

“…It’s the first time I’ve ever heard the Sect Leader say something like that.”

“He should’ve spoken even more aggressively.”

“How could it possibly go farther than that?”

“Something like, ‘I’ll make you remember the ancestor of yours who croaked at Wuzhang Plains.'”

“Are you insane.”

Myeong-yeop was horrified, but he still could not hold back his laughter. The other disciples who overheard also burst into laughter. My tongue, which had fought with all sorts of vulgar words back in the merchant world, would be a fresh shock to Wudang’s disciples.

“…Preserve Wudang’s dignity.”

At that moment, Cheong-yu must have heard, because he spoke in a gloomy voice from behind. No matter what, it seemed this had strayed far too much from Wudang’s refinement. I cleared my throat, and the disciples participating in the formal match also regained their expressions.

“Then we shall begin the formal match.”

Mok In-hak made the declaration.

The formal match had begun.

***

Unlike the demands of the formal match, the order of the sparring bouts was decided by mutual agreement.

Zhuge Gyeom kept saying that Muk Hui-yeong should be sent out first, but Cheong-ui pushed Muk Hui-yeong all the way to the end. It was so that, if it came to it, Muk Hui-yeong could be prevented from fighting at all.

Although Cheong-ui yielded on other things, he yielded on nothing regarding that, and so in the end Zhuge Gyeom had no choice but to back down on that point.

‘He may try anything against Hui-yeong.’

That was Cheong-ui’s judgment. He did not think Zhuge Gyeom would pull some trick in front of so many honored masters, but even so, it was better to push dangerous factors as far back as possible. What Cheong-ui hoped for was that things would end without Muk Hui-yeong having to come out at all, whether Wudang won or lost.

And Cheong-ui’s judgment was, in fact, the correct one.

‘A pity.’

Just as Cheong-ui thought, Zhuge Gyeom had very much intended to harm Muk Hui-yeong. It was because the whole world had to be shown what happened when nothing more than a lay disciple without backing dared to challenge the Zhuge Clan.

In fact, he had already told the martial artist who would face Muk Hui-yeong to take his life, or at the very least cripple him. The one set to face Muk Hui-yeong was the most savage in disposition among the Zhuge Clan’s martial artists, and also the one who obeyed Zhuge Gyeom’s words the best.

He had also already thought to some extent about how to tidy up afterward. If one looked through the old records of formal matches, there were not a few accidents where emotions escalated during sparring and people lost or took lives. He had made this decision after even confirming that though the Martial Alliance imposed punishments in such cases, because they were accidents occurring during sparring, the punishment was never especially heavy.

“The first spar will be between Myeong-hwa and Zhuge Gyeong.”

Mok In-hak shouted that while standing in the center of the training ground.

Myeong-hwa, a second-generation disciple of the Myeong generation, and Zhuge Gyeong. They were the two acting as the spearheads for each side.

Myeong-hwa, too, possessed one of the most notable martial talents among the second-generation disciples, which was why Cheong-ui had confidently selected him. On the other hand, Zhuge Gyeong was a child no one had ever heard of.

But seeing Zhuge Gyeong walk out slowly with an arrogant expression, Cheong-ui’s expression stiffened. Masters of any skill could roughly judge another’s level just from looking at them.

It was hard to believe, but Zhuge Gyeong stood above Myeong-hwa.

“Begin!”

At Mok In-hak’s shout, Zhuge Gyeong rushed at Myeong-hwa.

Under Zhuge Gyeong’s overwhelming offense, Myeong-hwa handled his sword only defensively. He was somehow letting the attacks slide with Wudang’s wondrous principles, but little wounds kept piling up across his body.

Watching silently, Cheong-ui closed his eyes. Since there was already a gap in force and speed, no matter how skillfully Myeong-hwa used wondrous principles, the result was already set.

In the end, Myeong-hwa failed to endure to the eightieth exchange and went tumbling out of the training ground.

“…Waaaah!”

Only belatedly realizing their own victory, the Zhuge Clan side erupted in cheers.

By contrast, the disciples of Wudang, including Cheong-ui, froze where they stood. Cheong-ui belatedly looked toward the disciples directly participating in the formal match. They too would be shaken, but he could not show them himself being shaken.

But surprisingly, the eight disciples participating in the formal match did not look flustered. Rather, they were gathered among themselves, whispering something with serious expressions.

‘…What are they saying like that?’

Even when Cheong-ui tried to listen, they were speaking too quietly to hear. Part of it was because the disciples had lowered their voices in awareness of the elders’ hearing, but part of it was also because all around them was noise, and powerful people were gathered there interfering with qi-sense.

Whatever it was, when Cheong-ui saw Muk Hui-yeong continuing to speak at the center of them, his heart grew uneasy.