I Prayed for a Murim Reincarnation, But I Was Born as the Youngest Imperial Prince - Chapter 55

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 55
The dueling platform was prepared, and the date for the martial duel was set.
Then, having heard the rumors from somewhere, the Beggars’ Sect Branch Leader, who oversaw Qingshu Prefecture of Anhui Province where the Namgung Clan was located, came in person to watch.
“Haha, greetings.”
The Beggars’ Sect Branch Leader, Cheolbonggae, already had the word for beggar in his byeolho even though he was no longer a beggar.
While it had a good meaning, showing that he had not forgotten the spirit of the Beggars’ Sect.
It also carried a sarcastic meaning, implying that he was shamelessly good at sponging off others.
Anyway, whether it was a good or bad meaning, Namgung Hyeok-in had to frown slightly at the appearance of Cheolbonggae, who showed up to watch the martial duel and act as a witness.
‘Tsk, did those bastards get scared and drag in the Beggars’ Sect?’
Although there was already an outsider from the Zhuge Clan, having one versus having two brought a completely different weight.
In particular, the Beggars’ Sect were special bastards who could spread a rumor across the entire country in an instant once they started it.
‘But it also means the fellow is that frightened.’
He must have blindly accepted the martial duel and regretted it out of fear too late.
It seemed he used this trick thinking that with so many eyes watching, I wouldn’t be able to use a vicious trick at least.
‘Hmph, it won’t matter.’
Of course, he had no intention of taking his life.
Even if it was a martial duel, no matter how much one disguised it as an accident, using a vicious trick to that extent would go beyond inviting danger and instead ruin his reputation as being too cruel.
Especially with both Zhuge and the Beggars’ Sect coming out to watch under the guise of witnesses, doing so would be going too far.
However, he could thoroughly crush him.
Furthermore, if the situation allowed, he could cause a permanent disability under the guise of an accident.
He could take an eye, or make one of his hands useless.
Or he could sever a heart meridian so that his inner energy operation would never be smooth for the rest of his life.
‘With that much, it’s just an accident, and they won’t be able to say Namgung is cruel.’
He saved his life, so wasn’t that enough?
Rather, people would say the young man brought disaster upon himself through arrogance.
Namgung Hyeok-in climbed onto the dueling platform, and Dan Suyeong climbed up as well.
Seonwu quietly sent a sound transmission to Dan Suyeong.
[I don’t know how far Namgung Hyeok-in plans to go, but pay him back exactly as much as he intends to do.]
[Understood.]
Seonwu’s criteria were simple.
If Namgung Hyeok-in’s movement in this martial duel was just to embarrass Dan Suyeong and leave it at that, Dan Suyeong would end it at that level too.
On the other hand, what if he aimed for Dan Suyeong’s life under the guise of an accident?
‘At that time, even if I have to mobilize my power as a prince, I won’t just let it slide.’
The logic that attempted murder is lighter than murder is the legal reasoning of the modern Republic of Korea, and his emotional judgment wouldn’t end at that level.
The only reason it would end as an attempt was purely because Dan Suyeong’s martial arts were strong, and the opponent’s intention was clear, wasn’t it?
At that time, he would punish Namgung even if he had to call in the Golden Dragon Guard Commander.
‘Though frankly, he probably won’t go that far.’
Seonwu also asked Lee Jun.
[How far do you think Namgung will go? He’ll probably just try to inflict a light injury, right? I don’t think he’ll avoid shedding blood entirely.]
[I hope so…]
Lee Jun trailed off.
‘Rationally thinking, it should be around that level, but among prideful people, there are always those who move beyond that.’
And according to the rumors he heard, Namgung Hyeok-in was one of those highly prideful people.
Of course, no matter how much he was praised as the Jiryong Prince of the Zhuge Clan, frankly, he hadn’t stayed by Namgung Hyeok-in’s side to observe him for a very long time, so how could he predict it perfectly?
‘Sigh, the most desirable outcome is that Dan Suyeong wins, and Namgung is humiliated so he grinds his teeth but ultimately endures it out of awareness of our eyes and the Beggars’ Sect… Will it go according to my wishes?’
He was called the Jiryong Prince, but frankly speaking, that was due to the combination of his knowledge of this era plus his abilities regarding formations that even he didn’t know he had, combined with the memories of his past life.
By no means did he have the ability to predict everything a person would do.
‘Do your best and leave the rest to heaven…’
Lee Jun glanced at Seonwu, who had been his friend and still was, but now held absolute power in his hands.
* * *
“Ahem, then as the notary and observer, I shall announce the start of the martial duel. Start the moment this coin I toss upward touches the ground.”
Still, representing a branch office of the Beggars’ Sect provided a weight that was just right for a notary.
The coin tossed upward touched the ground.
Meanwhile, Cheolbonggae stepped down from the dueling platform and casually came to sit next to Seonwu.
The martial duel had begun, but unexpectedly, Namgung Hyeok-in did not rush in blindly.
As if probing each other, they projected their energy for a moment to gauge the opponent’s weight.
Arrogance to the point of not doubting his victory was one thing.
But he was not so unprincipled as to let his guard down and rush in without forethought.
Taking advantage of that gap, Cheolbonggae spoke to Seonwu.
“Did you say you are Seonwu? Are you confident?”
“I believe in my junior disciple.”
He believed in Dan Suyeong.
Why?
‘He might be fierce, but he’s loyal.’
When asked to give the exact chances of winning, Dan Suyeong had replied after serious consideration.
Then he had to believe him.
“Haha, have you ever seen the Boundless Firmament Sword Technique?”
“It’s my first time seeing it properly.”
“It is truly a free and unconstrained sword. A Firmament Sword Squad Leader who has reached the Peak Realm can be said to have reached a state close to formlessness defeats form. I do not know the sword of your sect, but will it really be alright?”
At first glance, it sounded like he was praising Namgung.
So even the Namgung Clan couldn’t say anything about it.
It was awkward to get angry and ask why he was praising them, after all.
However, it was closer to subtly reminding him once more of what kind of sword it was.
Since he spoke in a volume that Dan Suyeong could clearly hear as well.
“Well, it’s about to start, so we’ll find out, won’t we?”
Looking at Seonwu who smiled leisurely, Cheolbonggae also pondered deeply.
‘Is this true confidence? Or is it the recklessness of a Jianghu novice who doesn’t know how high the sky is?’
They would find out soon anyway.
A vast true qi resembling the vastness of the sky arose from Namgung Hyeok-in and unfolded.
It covered the entire dueling platform.
On the other hand, Dan Suyeong’s incredibly sharp qi stretched out in a single line, slicing through it as it shot forward.
In terms of the area of the domain, Hyeok-in covered it, but since a single streak of sharp qi sliced through it to threaten Hyeok-in, those who knew how to read the actual situation would find it hard to discuss superiority or inferiority here.
Cheolbonggae also opened his eyes a bit wider.
‘Look at this. It wasn’t confidence without any basis, was it?’
And Namgung Hyeok-in also discarded a bit more of his mind that underestimated the enemy.
‘I’ll have to do my best.’
He wasn’t a fellow to be taken lightly.
However, since there was the face of the great Namgung and a senior…
“I will concede the first strike. Come.”
At those words, Dan Suyeong drew his sword without a word and shot toward him.
The sword extending in a straight line was extremely fast.
‘Ho, you are quite fast.’
If so, his move was also decided.
His sword unfolded softly and slowly, blocking the rushing Dan Suyeong.
Firmament Cloud Wing.
A light movement as if feather clouds were flowing in a gentle breeze.
However, the variations hidden behind it were endless.
This was not an ultimate move in itself, but it was a method that allowed any kind of connection afterward, so it was perfect for deflecting the opponent’s fast sword while simultaneously adapting to whatever Dan Suyeong was hiding.
‘Since I don’t know the fellow’s exact sword…’
An ultimate move wasn’t something good to just unfold blindly.
First, he would see the fellow’s variations with this exploratory response.
He would counter accordingly.
Seonwu became delighted watching that.
‘Oh, oh, it’s a proper Boundless Firmament Sword Technique!’
It was a sword unfolded by a squad leader who led a sword squad of Namgung.
“I heard that the freedom of the Boundless Firmament Sword ultimately means that no matter what martial arts the opponent uses, it transitions through fast, slow, hard, soft, heavy, and illusory to face them in the most appropriate way each time, making it an undefeated sword.”
“Mm, that’s right. It is a sword that embraces everything without leaning toward any single aspect.”
Seonwu understood the meaning.
To put it simply, it was ‘all-around’.
Instead of specializing in one thing, it countered by adapting to the opponent.
If done poorly, it would be mediocre.
But conversely, if done well, it could counter whatever martial arts the opponent possessed without any disadvantage in compatibility.
‘Mixed martial arts… No, should I call it mixed sword techniques.’
While its specialty in any single area wasn’t a ten, it handled all aspects at about an eight or nine, drawing the opponent into a side where compatibility was advantageous.
He had also seen a mixed martial arts fighter in his past life explain on a broadcast that it was a method with a very high actual chance of winning.
He could understand it as that method converted into a ‘sword technique’.
It was a sword technique worthy of the great Namgung, which stood at the head of the Five Great Clans.
How could it be called the strongest if it was strong against one thing and weak against another?
That was true, but…
The moment Hyeok-in deflected Dan Suyeong’s sword smoothly and tried to look for the next move, Dan Suyeong’s sword literally became radically faster, as if slicing through a shadow.
[One Flash]
The First Formula of the Soul-Slaying Shadow Sword Technique.
A flash of an instant.
Just as the words implied, it was the extreme of speed.
An extreme speed that completely surpassed the limit of fast swords that would come from a normal Peak Realm master’s level.
Originally, the Firmament Cloud Wing was indeed the best method to face a fast sword.
It stood at an advantage in compatibility.
However, an extreme speed that ignored that compatibility pierced through Hyeok-in’s sword, which was deflecting smoothly and slowly.
An extreme speed capable of deciding the match in just a single form.
The moment the expressions of the Namgung warriors who were watching leisurely stiffened, Hyeok-in’s sword also changed.
The soft and leisurely sword hurriedly accelerated, frantically striking away Dan Suyeong’s sword.
Sword and sword clashed.
However, the deflected sword of Dan Suyeong pierced toward Hyeok-in with extreme speed once again.
Completely disregarding his own defense, it was an extremely fast thrust aimed solely at Hyeok-in’s vital points.
Dan Suyeong, who unleashed that sword which was merely fast, was defenseless, so if someone were to launch a coordinated attack taking advantage of this gap, there were too many places to attack.
But what did it matter?
This was a one-on-one martial duel.
Namgung Hyeok-in would be pierced first before he could strike that weakness.
An opponent busy defending could not launch a counterattack.
Thrust.
Block.
Thrust.
Block.
Hyeok-in was busy blocking Dan Suyeong, who thrust continuously with extreme speed.
‘This… This bastard.’
“Heh, he is truly fast.”
Cheolbonggae admired.
If it were an ordinary fast sword, Namgung Hyeok-in would have cooked him very deliciously by now.
‘He could have deflected it softly to drain his strength, or used the principle of striking second but arriving first to suppress him…’
Where would you find a martial artist who reached the Peak Realm and didn’t know how to break speed?
In particular, if it was someone like Namgung Hyeok-in, there would be about a hundred ways to break speed if divided in detail.
But the problem was that Dan Suyeong’s sword was simply too fast.
In that situation, since he took the initiative and came targeting vital points consecutively, he had to block first.
Even if he had a hundred counterstrategies, he couldn’t unfold a single one.
“Wow, our junior disciple has taken the initiative, hasn’t he?”
“Haha, it seems so.”
The conversation exchanged between Seonwu and Cheolbonggae was completely audible.
The expressions of the Namgung warriors turned thoroughly rotten.
Zhuge Jun added one more word there.
“Uncle, my martial arts are still lacking, but if he had been wary of that level of extreme speed from the beginning, it seems he could have unraveled it quite differently.”
Zhuge Hui-yun replied cautiously.
“Ahem, if he knew from the start, that is. Let’s see. If it were our family, before approaching that close in the first place, when separated, he should have unfolded the Whirlwind Wall to secure space first.”
“Securing space means securing time, and securing time means having the leeway to unfold various methods, right?”
“Yes, if he allowed him to get close and then said let’s contest martial forms, even I would suffer a setback before a sword of that extreme speed.”
Zhuge Hui-yun completely revised his evaluation of Dan Suyeong of the Eunhak Sect, that nameless sect.
‘An offensive onslaught of extreme speed. It is a sword technique with many weaknesses that could lead to self-destruction if he fails to take the initiative, but.’
Since he drove him into a corner without giving an inch of leeway to do anything about that weakness, wasn’t Namgung Hyeok-in in a state of floundering?
Covering nine weaknesses with one advantage, and conversely, relentlessly digging into a single weakness while sealing the opponent’s nine advantages.
‘It is a splendid military strategy.’
Military strategy exists not only in the clashing between army and army, but also in the martial duel between warrior and warrior.
How indeed will Namgung Hyeok-in escape this crisis?

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