Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 108

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#108

The more blood splatters and vivid brutality overflows, the higher the arena’s popularity rises.

The arena’s true charm comes alive when no one can tell who will win or who will die.

Forty survivors who had accumulated over eight years of unlimited life-and-death battles that began without restrictions.

The arena where this herd of wild horses had established themselves was ironically withering away gradually.

Of course, the arena was currently managing to operate thanks to repeat visits from audiences who held affection for those Yellow Dragons boasting overwhelming martial prowess with their winning streaks, but as the matches themselves became boring, the overall numbers kept declining.

However, given the already declining state of the arena, immediately removing those Yellow Dragons would mean instant collapse.

The process of constantly postponing had become like continuously drinking seawater when thirsty.

‘Well… tearing apart opponents with iron nets using short swords instead of long swords is already… it would be difficult to bring similarly skilled fighters. Plus, if they made the Yellow Dragons fight each other to the death, the audience backlash would reach riot levels. I understand.’

I said to Sunbi.

“So the match content is always like that, divided into two teams for group battles and then it ends?”

“They hold one group battle and one individual match per day. The match content changes slightly each time, but today, let’s see, after that Yellow Dragon Black Dragon group battle, they’ll continue with an individual match challenging the most outstanding member of the Yellow Dragon Team.”

Along with those words, the last fighter of the Black Dragon Team fell, stabbed by a Yellow Dragon Team’s short sword.

Against the backdrop of cheers from all directions, I leaned against the front fence and rested my chin on my hand.

“And if it’s a one-on-one fight against the most outstanding member of a team that dominates like that, given this place’s gambling nature, the betting odds must be ridiculously broken.”

“Yes. It’s gotten as bad as one to six at times…”

One to six means that given the arena’s nature, unless someone was completely insane, they wouldn’t bet on the other side. That eighty-to-one ratio was probably the arena putting in house money since gambling can’t work without an opposing side.

“Honestly… even the former owner has given up now and everything is a mess. No, since there are no more volunteers, skipping the individual matches has become a natural annual event.”

In front, there was the Yellow Dragon Team waving their hands and reveling in their group battle victory.

And only one of them would remain.

The moderator was raising that person’s hand and proceeding toward the following individual life-and-death duel.

And fortunately, no one came forward.

Even the Yellow Dragon Team member who stepped forward was preparing to enter the waiting room rather than waiting for a fight, wiping the blood splattered on his body and sword and finishing up.

I nodded my head.

“Really no one’s challenging. Makes me wonder if this is even an arena. Usually, people at the end of their rope would rush in with their eyes rolled back at the betting odds.”

“Embarrassingly, that’s right. Last week, there were so few volunteers that we even bought and released three tigers. Fortunately, the opposing side’s odds went up enough that time to barely recover the tiger costs.”

“If they’re living so tensely, wouldn’t they be completely uncontrollable for an arena or whatever?”

“Exactly. Now the roles have reversed, so they’re untamed wild horses.”

Below, the moderator kept looking for the next challenger, but no one was stepping forward.

The audience was also turning around and leaving one by one.

“Then in this situation, there’s no need for separate application procedures for challengers or anything like that, right? Just stepping onto that sand pit would immediately start the challenge?”

Sunbi answered with a puzzled tilt of her head.

“Since there are no challengers anyway… naturally?”

I straightened my back.

I gestured to Guk.

“Guk. How many remaining silver certificates did we bring?”

“With our current remaining funds, we have only two silver certificates total.”

I asked Sunbi.

“What are the current betting odds between a challenger and the Yellow Dragon Team’s captain?”

Sunbi checked with the subordinate standing beside her.

“It’s even one to eight today. It seems to be because Cheolwoong, the strongest from the Yellow Dragon Team, came out.”

I took out cloth from my chest and covered my lower face as I asked.

“Let me confirm one more time. Until today, all the funds in this place belong to the former owner, right? Including the profits, of course.”

“Of course.”

“Guk. You heard?”

I said decisively.

“They say it’s one to eight. Throw in all our remaining money.”

“Understood!”

I leaped over the fence in one bound.

Behind me, Sunbi’s surprised shouts rapidly grew distant.

“…That’s all! If there are no more challengers, we’ll end today’s matches here just like last week…”

“I’m here.”

As I landed in front of him, the moderator was startled.

The Yellow Dragon Team’s captain, who was about to turn and leave, hesitated.

He turned around.

Our eyes met.

Looking into those eyes, I said to the moderator.

“Challenger. Here I am.”

-…

For a moment, the arena became as quiet as a mouse.

And then-.

“Wahhh!!!”

Explosive cheers filled the arena to the brim.

“Crazy! A challenger after two weeks!”

People who had been heading outside came running back competitively.

“Which empty-headed fool challenged?”

“No way, a challenger appeared for a one-on-one match where Cheolwoong from the Yellow Dragon Team is coming out?”

Before the ignited cheers could die down, shouts erupted from one side of the audience seats.

“What?! They bet two silver certificates as stakes? Not iron coins or silver coins, but certificates?!”

“Which crazy bastard? Two silver certificates – how many silver coins is that? And they bet on the challenger! Not Cheolwoong!”

The audience fell into chaos.

Even though it was a one-on-one fight, heat incomparable to when the Yellow Dragon Team and Black Dragon Team fought earlier burst forth.

“Betting silver certificates! Is there some fact we don’t know? Did they bring some expert or late-stage disciple from a fallen sect to pull a scheme?”

“No way! Even with that lower face covered, ugliness piercing through can’t be an expert!”

“It’s a sucker… a sucker! A precious newcomer who doesn’t know how the world works has bet big money in this place full of stagnant people!”

“Before the newcomer withdraws their money, hurry, hurry with my money too!”

Stakes were being placed like crazy.

Money flowed back and forth from all directions.

Worried that betting might close before they could place their money, shouts rang out everywhere creating pandemonium.

In that chaos, what seemed to be Guk’s shouting voice was heard.

“Sucker my ass, shut up if you don’t know anything, you bastards! Our mas… no, our captain is smart!!”

The arena.

A circular white sand pit.

The audience filled the area around the fighting ground.

Torches blazed.

Shadows flickered.

“You really must have built quite a reputation here.”

I said, looking at the empty spot of the moderator who had disappeared like lightning saying ‘what a windfall’ without even double-checking.

“Even the moderator is anxious that I might belatedly notice something’s wrong and run away.”

“…It’s a face I’ve never seen before. I’ve never seen you in this arena either.”

“Sorry, but I’m covering my face.”

“Even with your face covered, I can tell you’re someone I’ve never seen before.”

“…”

Cheolwoong was about two heads taller than me.

His entire body was like iron, and bands reminiscent of shackles were wrapped around both shoulders.

“…You seem to have a story, but cherish your life.”

Cheolwoong spoke in a low voice.

“This isn’t a place for people to be. If you didn’t come here because of debt like us, if you came here falling for sweet lies about making big money, then retreat even now.”

“So you’re in debt.”

“You’re not listening to me. Your eyes don’t look like you understand what I’m saying at all.”

“Well then. I think so too. I’m the type who tries to read people and act appropriately according to their type, placing them where they fit best.”

I loosened my wrists.

When I tilted my neck back, it made a cracking sound.

“Rather, with your type, I’ve found it’s better to break you first and then talk – that way there’s no trouble in the end.”

“…”

“Come on. I’ll break your spirit while I’m at it.”

I gestured with my hand.

“I’m getting sick and tired of putting on an act for that dog-like Namgung Taejin, so I’m thinking of recovering every penny that was extorted, with interest added on top.”

Cheolwoong quietly stared at me.

“Namgung Taejin?”

“That’s right.”

“…Now I understand. I heard through the grapevine. That this place is changing owners. To one of those damn noble young masters from the Namgung Family.”

Cheolwoong muttered.

He moved his hand to his waist.

“Namgung Taejin, since you mentioned that name of the real owner here, you must be someone hired by that unlucky new owner who’s taking over.”

His momentum changed.

The calm wolf began to bristle its fur.

He bared his teeth.

Daggers were drawn in both hands.

“You dog-like bastards, dropping us into this inescapable hell with debt, rotten scum desperate to suck out every last drop of blood…!”

Twin daggers.

Close combat.

Bulging muscles.

Rather than a martial artist with systematic training, it would be more accurate to see him as a wild beast with sharp teeth and claws.

‘Or maybe this is how everyone who faced me felt until now.’

Scenes flashed quickly through my mind.

How this would unfold.

Which way it would proceed.

‘Lightning-fast exchanges of offense and defense. Everything would be lethal with no feints. His feet would move only with footwork techniques, and he’d thrust in with hand techniques.’

In that case.

-Click.

I put the awl I had been drawing back into the leather sheath on my thigh.

‘I can’t use weapons. He’s someone I paid good money for, and I might accidentally kill him during combat. I just need to break his spirit.’

I also untied Dangcheonswaeya and wrapped it around my waist.

“Cheolwoong, was it? From your deductive reasoning, you seem to have a decent head on your shoulders. How about thinking a bit more while you’re at it?”

I said while removing my armor and dropping it to the ground.

“For instance, rather than me being someone hired, what if I’m that owner, that new owner you mentioned – the young master from the Namgung Family?”

“…You’re even removing your weapons… Are you mocking me?”

“No, that’s not my intention. And what about an answer to my question? You seem smart, so I’d like to hear what you have to say. You seem like you’d face the truth head-on.”

“This bastard is spouting complete nonsense.”

Sparks flew in the eyes of Cheolwoong as he readjusted his grip on his daggers.

“With that face, you’re quite the young master of the Five Great Families!!”

His form vanished.

He charged in toward my chin in an instant.

His center of gravity was low.

His feet barely left the ground.

Sand scattered.

Two daggers flew toward my throat.

The blades of the daggers gleamed as they were illuminated by the flickering torches in the distance.

And then-.

-Clang!!!

The daggers bounced away from my lightly swung fist.

Cheolwoong’s eyes widened.

“The blade… with bare hands?”

“Of course daggers bounce away when you hit the flat of the blade. And that comment from earlier was quite impressive, you know?”

I spoke calmly.

“I removed my weapons. This could mean eliminating the variable of accidentally killing my opponent, but at the same time, do you know what else it could mean…”

“What bullshit are you spouting, you ugly bastard.”

“…Right.”

I spoke in a cold voice.

“You’re dead now.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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