Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 94

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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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#094

The second day of martial arts competition was full of spectacles.

The match between Mok Seo-ryeon and Cheon-gu was excellent, but the skilled fighters who appeared afterward also delighted everyone’s eyes.

Especially the competition between the rising stars that the Nine Great Sects had prepared with gritted teeth and the existing Seven Strongest Warriors of the Rivers and Lakes was worth watching.

When all the matches ended, it was evaluated as the most intense Martial Arts Tournament of the Rivers and Lakes in history.

“Shortly, we will announce the final ten participants.”

The judges fell into deep contemplation and entered deliberation, and the results came out only after half a hour had passed.

Among the Seven Strongest Warriors of the Rivers and Lakes, all six except Dangyeomyeong were selected for the final ten.

Namgung Seong of the Namgung Clan.

Jinmyeong of the Wudang Sect.

Mok Seo-ryeon of Baekhonsa.

Un-geom-san of the Hwasan Sect.

Cheon Seolhwa of North Cheon City.

Jang Seo-un of Jangnak-bang.

Here, Ja-gang-cheon was included as promised on the first day.

And as always, new figures appeared.

Among them, the two most outstanding were from Kunlun Sect and Cheolsa-bang.

The Kunlun Sect, which had the most fierce battles with the Evil Sect over Tianshan, had now found peace. Perhaps as a gift for their hardships, a new master appeared who wielded the practical and rough sword techniques unique to Kunlun Sect.

And from Cheolsa-bang, an old pillar of the Demonic Sect, a rising star with powerful external martial arts also appeared.

The last person selected for the ten was a figure with a distinctly different atmosphere from others. Surprisingly, it was the first time the Northern Ice Palace participated in the Martial Arts Tournament of the Rivers and Lakes.

Han Ok-ran, the youngest daughter of the Northern Ice Palace lord.

She displayed amazing martial prowess and proudly earned her place among the ten. Not only her martial arts but also her beauty was outstanding, so some were already calling her the Jade Ice Fairy.

If she showed good performance in the final day’s matches, the Twin Peaks of the Rivers and Lakes represented by Cheon Seolhwa and Mok Seo-ryeon would probably change to the Three Peaks of the Rivers and Lakes.

Anyway, with the ten that everyone acknowledged being selected, expectations moved to tomorrow’s matches.

“Just watching is very educational.”

Ja-gang-cheon watched all the matches without missing any until the end.

“The most interesting thing in the world is watching others’ martial arts matches. The less it relates to me, the more interesting it is.”

“That seems right.”

Ja-gang-cheon deeply agreed.

Since only renowned people participated, each had their own signature moves to boast about.

While watching them, he learned directly and also thought about how he would apply them if he were in their position.

“I understand why they say experience and exchange are important.”

Ja-gang-cheon once again grasped the principles of the Rivers and Lakes.

While chatting about various things and leaving the Namgung Clan, someone blocked his path.

“Wait.”

A beauty with white skin and ice-cold appearance stood before Ja-gang-cheon.

“You people. I sense a familiar energy.”

“Your seduction is clumsy.”

Song Ja-in pointed out her rudeness.

“It’s not seduction.”

“No manners either.”

“Do I need to show courtesy?”

“No sense either. Perfect attitude for dying away from home.”

As Song Ja-in’s energy turned sharp, the middle-aged man beside her hurriedly stepped forward.

“I apologize. She hasn’t learned the etiquette of the Central Plains. I will apologize on her behalf.”

“Your circumstances are none of my business, but if you don’t know manners, don’t approach others to talk. Next time it won’t end with just words.”

Song Ja-in released a murderous aura and threatened them before leaving the Namgung Clan with her group.

“Phew.”

“Hah.”

“I thought we were caught.”

“Indeed.”

The energy that Han Ok-ran, the young lord of Northern Ice Palace, sensed was precisely the ice crystal.

Since the ice crystal originally belonged to the Northern Ice Palace, it was natural for her to feel familiar with it.

She herself might never have felt the energy of the ice crystal, but its traces remained deeply in the Northern Ice Palace and their martial arts.

“Our secret will never be revealed. Don’t worry about it.”

“I will.”

Bingokgo was one of the important internal energy cultivation methods for them too. Since the internal energy training room that was currently helping them the most was also touched by the ice crystal’s energy, they absolutely couldn’t give it up.

“Let’s go back quickly and discuss today’s matches. I have a lot to say.”

Everyone felt the same as Ja-gang-cheon.

The unique environment of the martial arts tournament made their passion for martial arts burn even brighter.

***

It was a quiet night.

The lights in the young lord’s chamber of the Namgung Clan did not go out even late at night.

With the final match tomorrow, none of the household members went near his chamber.

They worried that even the sound of footsteps might be a disturbance.

But someone visited his quarters with footsteps that showed no caution at all.

“It’s me.”

There was only one person in the Namgung Clan who could speak like this.

Namgung Cheonju, Lord of the Namgung Clan.

He visited his son’s chamber.

Namgung Seong, who had been sitting cross-legged, heard his father’s voice and finished circulating his internal energy.

“Have you come?”

“How is your body?”

Namgung Seong flinched.

“Did you know?”

“Hiding it won’t solve anything. Let me see how bad it is.”

“I’m fine.”

“If you’re fine, then just show me.”

Eventually, Namgung Cheonju checked Namgung Seong’s internal energy. After examining Namgung Seong’s body without any change in expression, he said simply.

“Give up tomorrow’s match.”

“Father. What do you mean by that?”

“Can you win tomorrow’s match with that body? It’s not a light internal injury.”

Namgung Seong knew it too. However, his pride wouldn’t allow him to retreat like this.

“I will defeat him and elevate the clan’s honor.”

“Don’t drag the clan’s name into personal revenge.”

Namgung Seong’s face reddened.

“You must be calm. Even if your body recovered, would revenge be possible?”

“I can do it.”

“Do you really think so?”

Namgung Cheonju asked again. It meant to think again, excluding emotions.

“If I use the Emperor Sword Form from the beginning, I can win.”

The Namgung Clan’s supreme sword technique would certainly be effective. But Namgung Cheonju thought differently.

“You showed everything you have. But what about Deungmyeong Jangju? Are you confident you’ve seen everything he has?”

“What? That’s…”

“He’s someone whose limits cannot be known. It means he’s not someone you should face right now.”

“Father. But…”

“Will you throw away your reputation because of a woman?”

Namgung Cheonju couldn’t have been unaware.

Everything happening in Anqing, including the Namgung Clan, was being reported to Namgung Cheonju.

“What do you think will happen if you lose to Deungmyeong Jangju tomorrow?”

A defeat at home would return as double the shock.

“Rather, give up participating. If you say it’s a minor internal injury sustained during training, there won’t be any problem.”

It meant that if he couldn’t win, he’d rather not participate at all.

“It’s something to judge coldly.”

At his father’s cold-hearted point, Namgung Seong finally realized the reality.

“I understand.”

Namgung Seong bowed his head.

***

The final day of the martial arts competition.

The fervor was beyond description.

Since each of the selected 10 people had their own characteristics, the audience’s expectations reached their peak.

Boom! Boom!

Even the drum sounds carried more force than yesterday, and when the final 10 people all ascended to the training hall together, cheers erupted.

And Namgung Cheonju, who rose from the VIP seats, spoke with inner energy infused in his voice.

“Today’s gathering is not meant to select the best, but has the purpose of harmonizing and exchanging through martial arts. We will watch over their friendship, not victory, and applaud all the young heroes of Gangho, not just the final survivor.”

Namgung Cheonju finished his short speech, came down from the platform, and grasped the drumsticks.

And he struck the drum himself.

“The final martial arts competition of the Gangho Martial Arts Tournament begins.”

Boom! Boom!

His drumbeat had the power to massage hearts. It felt as if everyone’s heartbeat was synchronized identically.

And finally, one person stepped up to the training hall.

“Deungmyeong Jangju!”

The one who ascended to the training hall without the slightest hesitation was Ja-gang-cheon.

“As expected, he’s unstoppable.”

The rules didn’t change just because it was the final martial arts competition. Moreover, it wasn’t a tournament that selected a separate winner.

The victor could fight again, and could quit and step down at any time.

People would simply select the Seven Strongest Warriors of the Rivers and Lakes based on the martial prowess shown here.

Even so, starting the martial arts competition first was inevitably disadvantageous.

“I am Ja-gang-cheon, Lord of Deungmyeong Manor.”

Ja-gang-cheon greeted confidently and looked around. As he slowly surveyed the audience, the corners of his mouth slightly rose.

Was it anticipation before enjoyable entertainment?

Ja-gang-cheon smiled innocently and said.

“Anyone can come.”

Meaning he was confident against anyone.

The person who responded was a young man of marriageable age wearing white robes and a blue Taoist cap.

If he hadn’t worn the Taoist cap, he would have looked like a common young laborer seen in village markets.

Not only his appearance, but his eyes also lacked any desperate or intimidating feeling. Everything seemed natural, like an ordinary laborer who used a sword.

‘He’s dangerous.’

He was one of the people Ja-gang-cheon privately evaluated as the strongest in this martial arts competition.

“I am Un-geom-san, second disciple of Hwasan Sect. I was deeply impressed by Lord Deungmyeong’s martial prowess. Please provide me with guidance.”

He who greeted politely drew his sword.

His robes had narrow sleeves and were form-fitting lightweight clothing overall. He had come wearing clothes suitable for martial arts from the beginning.

While many were obsessed with appearance and cared about dignity, Un-geom-san was not like that.

“The youngest Plum Blossom Swordsman of Hwasan Sect?”

“He earned the title of Plum Blossom Swordsman at age 15, five years ago.”

“Isn’t he the person Hwasan Sect is confident will be the future best under heaven?”

One of the Seven Strongest Warriors of the Rivers and Lakes and Hwasan Sect’s youngest Plum Blossom Swordsman.

There was an evaluation that overwhelmed all these numerous epithets.

-The return of the Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven.

The Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven, Cheongheo Jinrin.

Though 20 years had passed since he entered Gwigokdo, no one had shown swordsmanship worthy of him.

The reason why the sect leader of Wudang Sect was called the Greatest Swordsman of Gangho rather than the Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven was also because he was evaluated as lacking compared to Cheongheo Jinrin.

“I’ve heard much about you.”

“About me?”

“No. About the Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven.”

Un-geom-san’s eyes sharpened. He was determined not to forgive anyone if they said anything bad about the person he respected most. But his feared concern didn’t occur.

Rather, Ja-gang-cheon praised the Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven with a sincere expression.

“They said he was a gentleman who threw away his life for the world, and a sage who treated people without prejudice.”

Un-geom-san smiled and asked.

“Which elder gave such an evaluation?”

“My parents.”

“Master would have been pleased if he had heard that.”

Ja-gang-cheon nodded.

“He probably would have been. They said he was surprisingly weak to praise.”

The reason he praised the Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven like this was because he had actually heard such things.

The person who embraced the Cheonma he so hated and entrusted the end to his parents was none other than the Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven, Cheongheo Jinrin.

Even Mother, who disliked the orthodox sects, acknowledged Cheongheo Jinrin alone.

-If it weren’t for him, we all would have died. And you wouldn’t have been born either.

That’s why he acknowledged the Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven.

“Don’t hide it and show me. I want to experience even a trace of the Greatest Swordsman Under Heaven.”

“Though I won’t even reach his toes, I’ll do my best.”

Ja-gang-cheon drew Mukryeomdo and Un-geom-san gripped an ordinary sword.

Tap!

And the two approached each other as if they had made a promise.

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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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