Heaven-Defying Hero - Chapter 95

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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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#095

-Who is the greatest hidden dragon in the martial arts world?

This was a question about potential.

If you asked those well-versed in the news of Gangho to pick three names, Un-geom-san would invariably be included.

At the age of 16, he not only entered the final ten at the Gangho Martial Arts Tournament, but was also selected as one of the Seven Strongest Warriors of the Rivers and Lakes, albeit in the last position.

That Un-geom-san was now twenty years old.

Since he hadn’t engaged in any special martial activities during that time, evaluations of him remained stuck four years in the past.

Although he had shown overwhelming swordsmanship in yesterday’s competition, his opponent wasn’t strong enough for him to reveal everything.

But now, the results of the past four years were revealed without filter.

“Wow!”

“Waaah!”

A vivid plum blossom fragrance spread around Un-geom-san. And some fell into the illusion that the flashing afterimages of his sword resembled plum blossom petals.

Clang! Clang!

Hwasan Sect’s Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique was light and splendid.

It had the characteristic that as one approached the profound mysteries, a thick plum blossom fragrance and fluttering plum blossom afterimages would appear.

It was known that one usually had to reach middle age to attain that level, but Un-geom-san, though not fully mature, had set foot in that realm.

Seeing this, the martial arts masters changed the rankings of the younger generation in their minds.

“Un-geom-san has developed to such an extent.”

“They said he was the return of the world’s greatest swordsman. Those weren’t excessive words.”

“What great fortune for Hwasan Sect.”

However, Ho Bang-gae, the leader of Gaebang, focused on Ja-gang-cheon instead.

“That’s not swordsmanship that can be blocked so easily.”

Those who heard his words only then noticed that Ja-gang-cheon was perfectly blocking all attacks even while being pushed into defense.

“Doesn’t it seem like he’s deliberately leading him on?”

As soon as Ho Bang-gae’s words fell, Ja-gang-cheon took a step forward, different from before.

But that one step was extremely exquisite.

He had preemptively occupied the spot that Un-geom-san needed to step on next.

Un-geom-san, who realized this belatedly, stepped on Ja-gang-cheon’s foot.

Though Ja-gang-cheon was the one stepped on, it was Un-geom-san who wavered. His center was suddenly shaken.

Preemptively occupying stepping positions to confuse opponents was Dokjamo Song Ja-in’s specialty.

Ja-gang-cheon had made it his own through countless competitions and had precisely inserted his foot after analyzing Un-geom-san’s swordsmanship.

“Excellent!”

Several people jumped to their feet at that exquisite footwork.

This technique was seen more accurately by masters.

Clang!

Ja-gang-cheon swung his blade strongly at the retreating Un-geom-san. It was a strike deliberately swung to be blocked. Instead, Un-geom-san was pushed back another half step by the impact and fell into defense.

Thud! Thud!

Ja-gang-cheon’s domineering blade technique delivered heavy impacts with each clash.

At the first clash, the sword vibrated; at the second, his grip hurt; at the third, his entire arm trembled.

‘I can’t face this head-on.’

Instinct rang alarm bells.

At this rate, even if his arm held out, the sword would surely break.

Though it looked ordinary on the outside, it was actually the sword used by Cheongheo Jinrin, the world’s greatest swordsman, in his youth.

“Ugh!”

Trying to spare the sword was a mistake.

Forcibly trying to dodge attacks that should have been blocked caused his posture to crumble.

Ja-gang-cheon wasn’t one to miss this opportunity.

Thud! Thud!

His blade technique was like endlessly rising waves.

The second attack was stronger than the first, and the momentum grew increasingly fierce.

Then at some point, he realized it was unbearable.

‘I must stop this.’

If he retreated, he could never stop it.

It was finally time to stake everything on the outcome.

Un-geom-san, who put strength into his retreating steps, watched Mukryeomdo falling with heavy internal energy once again.

Then in one moment, like an eagle snatching prey, he precisely stabbed at one point.

Clang!

What his sword stabbed was near the handle of the blade.

Though Ja-gang-cheon managed to block by turning his blade, that one thrust broke the flow of the technique.

He had deliberately found the most efficient point rather than a vital spot.

Thus, both stepped back without being greedy.

Why was it?

Looking at each other’s faces, they couldn’t help but smile.

“Today’s competition will truly be remembered for a long time.”

As much as he respected his opponent, his competitive spirit also rose.

“This kind of pleasant rivalry is a first for me.”

“Pleasant rivalry. I like that.”

The two clashed again.

The Plum Blossom Sword Technique and Northern Heaven Blade Technique collided, each fully displaying their individual characteristics.

The admiration and applause bursting from around them wasn’t important. In this moment, they were absorbed only in their respective martial arts.

Clang! Clang!

The competition was fierce and unpredictable, but eventually a victor had to be determined.

“Huff. Huff.”

It lasted one gak.

It was time spent drawing up minimal breathing and internal energy from their entire bodies to burst forth.

The match was decided there.

Un-geom-san’s breathing had become rough.

In contrast, Ja-gang-cheon only shed a little sweat and was full of composure.

‘He clearly used more internal energy than me.’

The blade technique Ja-gang-cheon used consumed especially more internal energy. Yet showing such composure meant the difference in internal energy was that great.

Un-geom-san didn’t insist stubbornly.

Taking a step back, he lowered his sword and brought his hands together in a respectful gesture.

“I’m grateful for the teaching. I have lost.”

“I learned a lot. If Cheongheo Jinrin were here, he would have been truly delighted. I heard from my father that he really loved childish jokes. He said it was because he never had the chance to exchange jokes due to maintaining the dignity of the Plum Blossom Sword Master.”

Ja-gang-cheon smiled and offered advice as if he had become Cheongheo Jinrin.

“Don’t do that yourself. He said Cheongheo Jinrin regretted that a lot.”

There was a famous anecdote about Cheongheo Jinrin.

-When Cheongheo Jinrin visited Wudang Sect and Shaolin Temple, Wudang disciples and Shaolin monks worried about Hwasan Sect disciples. They thought the subordinates must suffer a lot since their sect leader couldn’t escape being a prankster even in old age.

In reality, at Hwasan Sect, he was so serious and stern that he wouldn’t make a single joke.

Since Un-geom-san had also heard that story, he accepted Ja-gang-cheon’s advice without distortion.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The two showed respect to each other with respectful gestures.

Thus Un-geom-san descended from the training hall.

“Huh? Deungmyeong Jangju isn’t going down?”

“Is he planning to show more?”

“Well, he has no injuries and his breathing is stable, so there’s nothing he can’t do.”

As the audience expected, Ja-gang-cheon waited for his next opponent in the center of the training hall.

Then a man with solid muscles and shaggy hair climbed onto the training hall.

He was a man who gave the same intimidating presence as facing Pansuk. However, he was slightly shorter than Pansuk and had hair, which was different.

Ja-gang-cheon glanced at Pansuk’s bald head for no reason and greeted his opponent.

“Please take care of me.”

“I am O-jung-ak of Iron Wire Hall.”

O-jung-ak briefly revealed his name and lifted a reddish iron club.

The club, which grew wider toward the top, looked quite heavy at first glance, but O-jung-ak swung it lightly as if holding a wooden stick.

“Prepare yourself!”

He raised his momentum and launched into an attack.

Whoosh!

Ja-gang-cheon didn’t wait and ran toward him while drawing up his internal energy.

Bang!

An explosive sound erupted from the center of the training hall, and the two who had been charging stopped with their weapons crossed against each other.

Seeing this, Pansuk easily predicted the outcome.

“A frontal attack against Hyeongnim? How reckless.”

“You were exactly the same until just a month ago.”

At Song Ja-in’s point, Pansuk scratched the back of his head.

“Big guys often make this mistake. A frontal collision isn’t about external strength. It’s closer to competing with internal energy. Since he doesn’t know this, this match won’t take long.”

He had overwhelming external strength but wasn’t one to use his head well.

“He’ll overwhelmingly defeat weaker opponents, but struggle against similar ones. His experience is shallow.”

Song Ja-in’s words became reality shortly after.

Ja-gang-cheon tripped his recklessly charging opponent and held Mukryeomdo in front of his face.

“I lost.”

His second victory.

And Ja-gang-cheon stood in the center of the training hall again.

Only then did the audience realize Ja-gang-cheon’s intention.

“Don’t tell me he plans to face all of the final ten?”

“It seems certain he won’t step down until he’s defeated.”

The next opponent to step forward was surprisingly Mok Seo-ryeon.

“Young Master looks tired. I’ll let you rest.”

Her expression was full of competitive spirit.

Ja-gang-cheon responded to her newly reborn challenge.

“I’ll face you with my best effort.”

“Then please take care of me.”

The clash that began this way excited the audience once again.

For a moment, Mok Seo-ryeon’s swordsmanship completely pushed Ja-gang-cheon back. However, the tide turned when Ja-gang-cheon used blade techniques as a feint and deployed fist techniques.

Mok Seo-ryeon, who showed clear weaknesses in ultra-close combat using fists and palm techniques, eventually declared defeat.

“I lost. Now I know what I need to improve.”

After achieving three victories, a fourth opponent immediately stepped onto the training hall.

It was Han Ok-ran of the Northern Ice Palace.

“You’re strange.”

“You’re strange too.”

“Why am I?”

“Let’s skip the explanations. Making you understand seems harder than winning this match.”

The two clashed like that.

Here, Ja-gang-cheon had another fascinating experience.

‘So this is qi manipulation.’

At first glance it looked like palm or fist techniques, but it was qi manipulation that controlled energy externally.

Invisible energy flew at him, and sometimes cold ice fragments formed in the air near vital points.

However, qi manipulation had the disadvantage of becoming a weakness if it couldn’t overwhelm the opponent. It inevitably consumed much internal energy and focused the mind externally, making it unable to respond to fierce close combat.

Realizing this, Ja-gang-cheon actively used fist techniques instead of blade techniques and eventually pushed Han Ok-ran out of the training hall.

“Deungmyeong Manor’s Ja-gang-cheon wins!”

When Dae-gyo-du declared Ja-gang-cheon’s victory, thunderous cheers and praise poured out.

“At that level, he’d make a name for himself not just among the late-stage masters but throughout the entire Central Plains, wouldn’t he?”

“Amazing for someone not even twenty years old.”

Just when everyone was praising Ja-gang-cheon, someone who disliked this atmosphere stepped onto the training hall.

‘He looks quite tired.’

It was Jang Seo-un of Jangnak-bang.

‘If I defeat him now, I can take all the glory.’

He inwardly pictured the final scene.

‘I just need to defeat this guy and step down. No need to take any more risks.’

He would become the person who defeated Ja-gang-cheon and receive recognition as being among the top three late-stage masters at minimum.

‘Not bad.’

Since he had judged himself lacking to reach the highest position from the start, he decided to step down at the peak moment of defeating Ja-gang-cheon.

“I am Jang Seo-un of Jangnak-bang. Admiring your lordship’s prowess, I wish to learn a move.”

He immediately greeted the tired Ja-gang-cheon. It was to not give him even a moment’s gap.

“You seem in a hurry. Let’s begin.”

As soon as Ja-gang-cheon’s words ended, Jang Seo-un drew the flexible sword wrapped around his waist like a belt and charged.

Jangnak-bang’s distinctive flexible sword technique unfolded.

The flexible sword technique that curved like a snake targeting vital points was characterized not only by its eye-deceiving nature but also by its uniquely threatening sound.

Just as he was pushing Ja-gang-cheon back from the start with the flexible sword’s ever-changing technique,

Clang!

With an intense explosive sound, fragments of the sword torn into dozens of pieces shot up into the sky.

The second form of Northern Heaven Blade Technique, Dragon Flame Reverse Heaven, had shattered the flexible sword.

“Want to continue?”

Jang Seo-un, left with only the handle dangling, swallowed dry saliva. The fact that Dragon Flame Reverse Heaven had just consumed the blade was entirely because Ja-gang-cheon had shown mercy. If he had aimed for Jang Seo-un, it wouldn’t have been just the sword that was split.

“I lost.”

Eventually, Jang Seo-un was driven from the training hall.

Having defeated five people, Ja-gang-cheon still stood in that spot.

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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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