Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 93

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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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#093

It was a fierce battle.

The fight between Mok Seo-ryeon and Dangyeomyeong, which went beyond the meaning of a martial duel, showed many surprising scenes.

“Was Mok Seo-ryeon at that level?”

“She’s completely changed over the past 4 years.”

“Not only has her swordsmanship matured, but she no longer hesitates to advance.”

These were voices flowing from the VIP seats.

“If she’s overcome her tender heart, which was her weakness, she’ll become an excellent female swordsman. Dangyeomyeong won’t have it easy.”

“The martial arts of Sacheon-danggga don’t suit formal duels.”

For Dangyeomyeong to win, he would need to aim for vital points with hidden weapons and spread poison.

He would need to scatter iron caltrops on the ground to block movement and use small mechanical devices hidden in his sleeves.

But he couldn’t use these in a formal duel. Originally, Dangyeomyeong was called one of the Seven Strongest Warriors not because of the Gangho Martial Arts Tournament, but because of the martial prowess he showed in his travels through Gangho.

Even so, Dangyeomyeong was confident he could win with his iron wires. But when he actually dueled, Mok Seo-ryeon’s swordsmanship far exceeded his expectations. Then everything changed.

‘I can’t lose in front of all these people.’

Since he couldn’t freely use hidden weapons from the start, he hadn’t expected to reach the top position.

If he made it into the final 10, he planned to save face appropriately and step down next time.

But losing to a woman in the preliminaries wasn’t part of his plan.

‘It’s better to win and face criticism.’

Finally, he changed his mind.

Clang!

After deflecting the wave of attacks with his iron wire, his right hand went into his sleeve and came back out.

Thud thud thud.

Iron caltrops were scattered in front of Mok Seo-ryeon.

The iron caltrops, structured so that sharp spikes pointed upward no matter how they fell, made Mok Seo-ryeon hastily stop her advance.

Dangyeomyeong seized that small gap as an opportunity.

It started with two throwing knives flying toward her neck and solar plexus.

The moment Mok Seo-ryeon hastily deflected the throwing knives, thin needles flew toward her knees.

It was a deadly attack that targeted upper and lower body separately.

Mok Seo-ryeon hastily deployed footwork to dodge, but in the meantime, the offensive was completely reversed.

“You should have kept it moderate!”

Having already crossed the line, Dangyeomyeong vented all his anger on Mok Seo-ryeon.

But Mok Seo-ryeon gave no response. She only raised her sword with cold eyes.

From then on, Dangyeomyeong grew angry while Mok Seo-ryeon became calm.

As dangerous hidden weapons flew in what became a real fight, the VIP guests moved busily.

It was to block hidden weapons flying toward the audience.

The fight was that fierce, and everyone held their breath at the intensity that went beyond a formal duel.

What decided the outcome of the prolonged fight was their state of mind.

Dangyeomyeong’s anger grew larger and eventually led to a mistake. Meanwhile, Mok Seo-ryeon, who maintained her composure even while being pushed back, seized her opportunity.

Clang!

Mok Seo-ryeon instantly deflected the throwing knife that left his hand and thrust her sword toward his solar plexus.

Startled, Dangyeomyeong spread his iron wire to block, but he didn’t feel the expected impact.

‘Damn!’

When he realized it was a feint, the sword was already approaching his eyes.

“Ah…”

He momentarily thought of death.

Then, the sword stopped right before his eyes.

It was a clear defeat. But he couldn’t bring himself to say those words. He had never said them once in his entire life.

Mok Seo-ryeon didn’t insist either.

Dae-gyo-du had already come up and decided the outcome.

“Baekhonsa’s Mok Seo-ryeon wins!”

Hearing those words, Mok Seo-ryeon looked at the VIP seats. It was to check her father’s expression.

Her father was trying hard to manage his expression, but his hands were unconsciously clapping.

He probably understood now.

‘I don’t need Sacheon-danggga’s protection. I’ll grow Baekhonsa to match Sacheon-danggga myself.’

Mok Seo-ryeon had declared what she wanted to say to everyone and left the training hall.

“Waaaah!”

“That was the best!”

The audience who saw Mok Seo-ryeon’s new side cheered for a long time.

This duel would probably be talked about for a very long time.

However, since it was such a shocking match, the training hall became quiet. It was clear that anyone who stepped up now would be compared to the fight that just happened.

Then, someone stepped forward.

“Huh?”

“Isn’t that the person who came out yesterday?”

“It’s the subordinate from Deungmyeong Manor!”

Cheon-gu quietly walked to the center of the training hall. And just like Mok Seo-ryeon had done, he called for an opponent.

“I am Cheon-gu, subordinate of Deungmyeong Manor. I wish to duel with Jinmyeong Dosa of the Mudang Faction.”

“Jinmyeong? Did he just say Jinmyeong?”

“He called for Mudang’s Baeui-geom? The person who competes with Namgung Seong for the top position among Hu-gi Jisu?”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the group wearing identical clothes next to the VIP seats.

They were members of the Mudang Faction who had arrived last night. Second and third generation disciples had come to the martial arts competition for experience.

Jinmyeong seemed a bit flustered but didn’t refuse and stepped onto the training hall.

Standing five steps away from Cheon-gu, he asked for the reason.

“Why did you choose me?”

They didn’t need to be formal with each other. He was a friend of Ja-gang-cheon, who was like a younger brother, and they were already acquainted.

Even so, since it was an official occasion, he spoke respectfully to Cheon-gu.

“I simply chose the strongest opponent. I want to see my limits in this place.”

“Do you mean to learn?”

“Of course not. I will definitely win this duel.”

Jinmyeong smiled.

“If that’s your resolve, then good. Don’t resent me even if my sword is merciless.”

Jinmyeong drew his sword and took a ready stance. It meant he would face him seriously without letting his guard down.

“I’ll give my greetings after the duel is over.”

Cheon-gu laid his nameless sword horizontally.

“Whoo.”

After taking a deep breath, he deployed Bicheon Shinbo and quickly approached.

Clang!

Two sharp collision sounds burst out quickly, and sword afterimages began appearing around them in an instant.

Cheon-gu’s swordsmanship was flashy, while Jinmyeong’s swordsmanship was flexible and solid.

The two completely contrasting sword styles created a tension that gripped the hearts of those watching.

No matter how formal the duel, one mistake could cost a life. The danger felt even greater than the previous fight.

Because sharp swords endlessly aimed for vital points.

When half an hour had passed,

Clang clang clang!

With intense metallic sounds, they both retreated backward equally.

“Huff. Huff.”

Cheon-gu caught his breath with deep breathing while Jinmyeong showed composure.

Though it was clearly a fierce fight, the difference in skill became stark from their appearances.

Then, Jinmyeong said something.

“If you clear your thoughts, you will finally see your own sword.”

It was sincere advice.

Cheon-gu had been gaining advantages in fights with his exceptional mind. Even in the recent clash, he had launched an offensive mixing feints and real strikes. However, Jinmyeong didn’t crumble and even pushed Cheon-gu back by using his own strength against him.

Cheon-gu honestly felt his limits against the technique that utilized the principles of Taiji swordsmanship, which the Shamans took pride in.

Just as he was about to clash once more, Jinmyeong offered his advice.

‘It’s a fight I’ve already lost anyway. There’s no reason for him to deceive me.’

Knowing Jinmyeong’s usual character, Cheon-gu decided to follow his words.

“Please teach me.”

“Come at me as much as you’d like.”

Cheon-gu approached more slowly than before. Instead, he precisely executed the Bicheon Shinbo while unfolding the Nameless Sword Technique.

Nameless Sword Technique First Form: Moon Shadow Under Clouds.

The shadow of moonlight cast beneath the clouds.

Cheon-gu’s sword momentarily dropped down and disappeared from Jinmyeong’s sight, then rose diagonally from his knee toward his solar plexus.

Starting with a thrust following an unusual trajectory, Cheon-gu focused solely on the profound principles of the Nameless Sword Technique.

As a result, the feints decreased and his swordsmanship became simpler. Instead, swift swordsmanship was executed.

‘Ah!’

Before long, Cheon-gu realized.

The feints he had frequently used did indeed confuse his opponents, but they also had the disadvantage of slowing down his own technique execution.

The connection between techniques became slower, breaking their flow.

-Swordsmanship is ultimately about piercing the opponent’s body with your sword.

That’s all he had thought. So he had based it on sword techniques but applied efficient variations.

‘The flows of swordsmanship stack layer upon layer to increase power.’

Movements he had avoided because he judged them too dangerous became deadly techniques that threatened his opponent once their power was added.

‘I was trying to apply variations before even fully understanding the sword technique.’

He had fallen into the trap of thinking he was smart.

“Sometimes stubbornly advancing like a fool is the right path.”

Jinmyeong gave another piece of advice using a small opening. This was also praise for Cheon-gu finding his way.

So Cheon-gu completely emptied his thoughts.

He simply recalled the incantations of the Nameless Sword Technique and entrusted his body to move like a dance.

As all the complex thoughts that had been tangled like thread melted away and disappeared, he fell into a new world.

“Ah!”

It was a state of selfless absorption.

-From now on, you’re Cheon-gu! It means a lowly dog!

Gu Dong-gu had given him that name in Haejeonggol. The orphan who had lost his parents accepted Gu Dong-gu’s exploitation to avoid starving to death.

-I came to sell myself.

Having learned about calculations, he went to find the Donghai Merchant Guild. He asked the First Mate there to buy him.

-If I work here for 10 years, it’ll be more profitable than the money given to Gu Dong-gu. I’m confident I can repay it all in just 5 years.

The First Mate watched him for three months.

He begged, and even at his young age, he gathered information when boarding boats. And on the 100th day, he gave Gu Dong-gu a large sum of money and brought him to the Donghai Merchant Guild.

-Don’t overdo it and repay it in 10 years.

That was all he said.

He studied relentlessly and received praise for his talent not only from the First Mate but also from the Merchant Guild Leader.

So he studied even more.

It was to live like a human being with those he was grateful to.

-I’m Ja-gang-cheon.

Through various experiences, he met Ja-gang-cheon and his life changed dramatically.

-I have to fulfill my role. I have to prove that I’m needed.

He reduced his sleep and studied.

When Ja-gang-cheon showed interest in someone, he collected rumors, and when he showed interest in the manor, he studied how to manage it.

-I can’t become a burden to Gangcheon.

Whenever fights broke out, he always had to step back. He was sick to death of situations where only Ja-gang-cheon took risks.

So he reduced his already insufficient sleep even more.

To save time, he thought of efficient training methods.

-There are things I missed.

He only now realized the reason.

-I was in too much of a hurry.

There was sloppiness equivalent to the time he had saved.

As he realized all of this, the empty spaces created by that sloppiness seemed to be gradually filled.

When he briefly stopped thinking, his mind showed him a world as comfortable as a gift.

‘This is resting.’

Come to think of it, he couldn’t remember when he had last rested comfortably.

The self in his memories was always doing something.

-Let me rest just a little more.

He let go of all thoughts. But strangely, something was clearly being perceived. It was as if some profound principle was being engraved in his mind.

It was a pleasant engraving.

When that engraving was complete, fatigue somehow washed over him.

-I think I’ll have good dreams.

Cheon-gu accepted the drowsiness that was washing over him.

***

“Whoa!”

The spectators cried out in surprise.

This was because Cheon-gu, who had been pressuring Jinmyeong with brilliant swordsmanship, suddenly closed his eyes and collapsed.

Jinmyeong caught Cheon-gu, and Ja-gang-cheon, who had been watching, rushed over quickly.

“Is Cheon-gu alright?”

Seeing Ja-gang-cheon’s worried expression, Jinmyeong smiled kindly.

“It couldn’t be better than this.”

“A state of selfless absorption. Is that right?”

“Tell him congratulations when he wakes up.”

Only then did Ja-gang-cheon put down his worries.

“Thank you, brother.”

“No. I also learned much.”

Ja-gang-cheon carried Cheon-gu and came down from the training hall.

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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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