Reincarnation of the Cloud Dragon - Chapter 9

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This chapter is translated by Falnar Novels Team.
Support us by reading on our official site: https://falnarnovels.com
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Chapter 9.
“Wait, Ma Chung! Hold on. I also have business with that boy.”
Ma Chung’s shoulders stiffened.
A chilling aura suddenly emanated from behind him.
‘Could it be…?’
Turning around in shock, Ma Chung’s eyes fell upon a man who had become one with the darkness at the Training Hall entrance.
Clad in pitch-black robes with a blade-like, emotionless face, his very presence seemed to devour the surrounding light and sound.
Kyoto of the Shadowless Kill Sect—the most secretive and lethal faction among the Ten Demon Sects.
“The Shadowless Pursuit Kill… Ya Jin!”
Ma Chung involuntarily swallowed hard, uttering his name.
Ya Jin gave a faint nod.
“You speak your senior’s name far too casually.”
At those words, Ma Chung instinctively straightened his posture.
“Senior Kyoto, what brings you to such a humble place?”
Ma Chung’s voice carried a sharp edge of wariness.
Unlike himself, who lacked backing, Ya Jin was a formidable master backed by considerable power.
“Did I not say? I have business with that boy.”
Ya Jin’s gaze fixed solely upon Yun Cheon, dismissing Ma Chung entirely.
His eyes gleamed not with greed, but with the cold, relentless scrutiny of a master craftsman appraising fine material.
“You’ve already made your proposal. Now it’s my turn to present one to the boy. Step aside.”
A tense current clashed between the two masters.
Yet as Ya Jin said, Ma Chung had already cast his offer—the ball was now in Yun Cheon’s court.
Ma Chung clicked his tongue and stepped back.
‘This is getting interesting.’
Ya Jin approached Yun Cheon and spoke.
“You know well that your constitution is flawed. I will teach you martial arts suited to one like you—the arts of a hidden blade in shadow.”
Yun Cheon considered his proposal seriously.
‘He speaks of an assassin’s martial arts.’
Kunlun’s techniques demanded a calm, expansive inner force—the orthodox path’s way.
I couldn’t employ them now,
and even if I could, I dared not reveal them.
Yet if I learned assassin’s arts as he proposed, there were two distinct advantages.
One was overcoming, at least partially, the limitations of my constitution.
The other was the perfect opportunity to infiltrate both the Demonic Cult and the orthodox sects, even the Martial Alliance, in secret.
‘The risks aren’t negligible… but moving between the Demonic Cult and beyond would be advantageous. My sphere of activity could expand considerably.’
Having finished his calculations, Yun Cheon found Ya Jin’s proposal quite appealing.
Then, judging he couldn’t lose initiative to Ya Jin, Ma Chung cried out urgently.
“No! If it’s footwork talent you possess, then my Blood Wind Kick is perfect for you! Choose me, boy! I’ll pass on the true essence of Blood Wind Kick!”
At Ma Chung’s proposal, Ya Jin’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
He seemed to gauge Yun Cheon’s potential for a moment, then, as if resolved, the corners of his mouth lifted.
“Hmph, forget Ma Chung’s footwork techniques. I shall teach you the Shadowless Kill Sect’s martial arts—the Shadowless Step and the Soul-Severing Dagger! With these, you could even slay peak masters.”
“The Shadowless Step and Soul-Severing Dagger? Are you serious! Fine then! I, Kyoto, shall also impart the Spinning Step! Combined with the Blood Wind Kick, it is a martial art capable of reaching toward the peak!”
A spectacular exchange of unprecedented offers.
‘Peak masters, it seems. Reasonably impressive techniques, I suppose….’
Yet Yun Cheon’s expression remained utterly unmoved.
It would have been stranger if this captive child had reacted with excitement to the Demonic Cult’s martial arts.
But Yun Cheon harbored a more fundamental question.
‘…Why are they making such proposals to me?’
He asked with eyes full of genuine curiosity.
“May I ask, esteemed Kyoto, why you both show such interest in a mere disciple like myself? What benefit do you gain from this?”
That innocent yet piercing question.
In that instant, both Kyoto’s expressions froze as if struck by a hammer.
‘He doesn’t know? Truly?’
They had been so focused on Yun Cheon’s talent and demeanor that they assumed he must be a boy secretly cultivated somewhere within the Demonic Cult’s ranks.
Yet upon reflection, it made no sense.
The boy before them wore nothing but tattered rags—a pitiful, wretched appearance.
‘Not one of our sect? Merely an awl in a bag waiting to be discovered?’
They suddenly realized he was pure, unpolished jade with no backing whatsoever.
‘Then we cannot afford to let him slip away!’
‘He has no background, just as I once had none. Yet his talent surpasses even mine on the verge of the peak!’
Ma Chung felt kinship with Yun Cheon, who lacked any special connections.
‘An uncut gem from neither the Ten Demon Sects nor the Twelve Orthodox Families! If I claim him as my own, I gain not only prestige as a teacher but also benefit the sect. A perfect two-fold gain.’
Ya Jin evaluated Yun Cheon’s worth even more highly.
To discover such talent first and make him one’s own was the greatest achievement a teacher could attain.
Ma Chung spoke hastily, seizing the initiative.
“Disciples in Qian Mo Cave receive ten merit tokens monthly. To receive instruction from a teacher, one must pay one token per session. In other words, tokens are the measure by which teachers are evaluated….”
At that moment, Ya Jin cut off Ma Chung’s words and interjected.
“If I, the senior teacher, so wished, I could sweep up tokens without effort. However, being evaluated solely by token count is what lesser teachers do.”
Ya Jin continued with evident confidence.
“True masters prove themselves through quality. I, the senior teacher, have no interest in instructing disciples of inferior aptitude. Yet every disciple I have taught has ranked among the top ten.”
Ma Chung supplemented competitively.
“I have only recently been assigned to Qian Mo Cave! My abilities are in no way inferior to the senior teacher!”
︙
Thanks to the continued psychological warfare between Ma Chung and Ya Jin, Yun Cheon easily grasped the evaluation system of Qian Mo Cave, and a cold smile played at the corners of his mouth.
‘Merit tokens… a fascinating system. So the teachers themselves compete as well. Then it makes perfect sense they are so eager to secure superior disciples….’
Yun Cheon’s eyes gleamed with icy brilliance.
‘The hierarchy is established. From now on, the price is whatever I demand.’
Yun Cheon dropped his innocent facade.
He then bowed respectfully to both teachers.
“I appreciate your enthusiasm, esteemed teachers. However, the names of martial arts alone make it difficult for me to decide so hastily.”
He muttered softly, genuinely troubled.
“Surely there are limits to what one can understand through explanation alone…?”
Ma Chung cried out hastily.
“If you master the Crimson Wind Kick to perfection, you could become a supreme expert worthy of respect even within the Cult itself. This is something even Senior Kyoto cannot deny!”
Yet Ya Jin regarded Ma Chung with slight disdain at those words and spoke.
“How foolish… do you truly believe a child brought here against their will would be moved by talk of martial prowess or the Cult’s circumstances?”
“…Then does Senior Kyoto have another method?”
“Is there not a simpler way?”
Ya Jin glanced at Yun Cheon with resignation before speaking.
“If explanation alone cannot convey it… then we need only show directly which martial art is stronger.”
It unfolded exactly as Yun Cheon had intended.
‘For all their talk of the Demonic Cult, their simple desires here are far easier to manipulate.’
Ma Chung nodded in agreement.
“…True, for a child who knows nothing to truly understand, there is no other way… but are you certain? Though I am merely a junior leader, I have confidence in my martial skill.”
“Yes, and that confidence will crumble soon enough. So cry out with all your might.”
Yun Cheon remained silent as the two continued their exchange.
‘I have spent years facing the hypocritical old foxes of the Martial Alliance.’
Both were already ignited.
Clumsy provocation would only breed suspicion.
Left to their own devices, they would burn brightly enough.
“…I shall go first. Watch carefully, boy.”
Ma Chung stepped forward.
“My Crimson Wind Kick is like a raging tempest! A devastating leg technique that shatters and tears through any defense!”
As he cried out and his feet moved, the entire Training Hall erupted with the sound of tearing air and a crimson-tinged gale that swept through the space.
Crash—!
Dozens of kicks struck the Training Hall walls like a single colossal storm, leaving deep gouges in the solid stone.
Within Yun Cheon’s mind, a sharp assessment formed.
‘The destructive power befits a leg technique, yet there exists a momentary gap between each move’s connection. In true combat, such an instant determines life and death. Supplementary footwork to compensate will be crucial.’
Next, Ya Jin stepped forward.
“An empty cart makes the loudest noise. The Shadowless Kill Sect’s martial arts are silent. We approach without shadow or sound, severing the soul itself—such is our way.”
Whoosh.
His body dispersed like smoke for an instant, then he stood behind a candle in the far corner of the Training Hall.
The candle did not even flicker, yet where his fingertips had passed, a thin, deep wound marked the wall.
“This is the Soul-Severing Hand.”
It was difficult to believe such a mark came from a mere hand strike.
Yun Cheon’s internal assessment deepened.
‘Fascinating. The Soul-Severing Hand differs from ordinary hand techniques. It is optimized for concealment and assassination—a killer’s martial art!’
Both leaders waited confidently for Yun Cheon’s choice.
Yet Yun Cheon opened his mouth cautiously, still feigning ignorance.
“My discernment is shallow, and demonstrations against walls alone make it difficult for me to truly gauge your respective abilities.”
“What did you…?”
“I have witnessed the destructive power of Blood Wind Kick and the stealth and sharpness of the Shadowless Kill Sect. Yet I cannot determine which martial art is superior.”
Yun Cheon subtly goaded them forward.
“Martial arts, after all, are not meant to be tested against walls, but wielded against people. Could you grant me the opportunity to directly experience both of your techniques?”
The two Kyoto exchanged uncertain glances.
“Experience them?”
No matter how gifted the child was, demonstrating their martial arts against him would inevitably result in his death.
‘Martial arts are meant to be used against people…’
Ma Chung’s face brightened as an idea struck him, and he clapped his palms together.
“What if the two of us engaged in a sparring match?”
“What?”
“As this young one said, martial arts are meant to be used against people. Then wouldn’t a sparring match be the best course?”
Ya Jin seemed momentarily taken aback by the proposal, but soon nodded in agreement.
With that, a chilling murderous intent emanated from Ya Jin, the senior Kyoto.
“Hmph… challenging an assassin to a duel. You understand the implications, don’t you? Are you prepared to stake your life, Ma Chung?”
A cruel smile played across his lips.
It was a matter of sect prestige and personal pride as the senior Kyoto.
Now that the words had been spoken, neither could back down, regardless of their equal rank.
A tense atmosphere settled between them.
‘Everything proceeds as planned.’
The sparring match had already become inevitable.
It unfolded exactly as I had intended.
* * *
Moments later, the sparring match between the two Kyoto commenced.
“I’ll yield the first move.”
“…I won’t refuse.”
Ma Chung immediately launched himself from the ground, his body spinning.
The relentless chain kicks of Blood Wind Kick swept across the space where Ya Jin had been standing.
But Ya Jin had already vacated the area.
He threaded through Ma Chung’s tempestuous assault radius with the precision of a paper’s thickness, infiltrating the gaps.
‘Ma Chung’s martial art has clear strengths and weaknesses. Now I understand why his eyes gleamed upon witnessing the Wuji Step. With such refined footwork, his kicking technique could shine even brighter!’
Ya Jin’s fingertips, like a viper’s tongue, targeted Ma Chung’s ribs.
In that instant, Ma Chung’s torso twisted unnaturally, and his leg shot out from an unpredictable angle.
A spinning kick designed to catch the opponent off guard.
Whoosh!
Yet Ya Jin, as if anticipating the incoming kick, flowed around it with serpentine grace and pressed inward.
Ma Chung’s knee drove toward the closing Ya Jin.
Boom—
The two Kyoto exchanged several moves in rapid succession before stepping back in unison.
‘Meanwhile, Ya Jin’s martial art… it cannot be dismissed as merely assassination technique. Moreover, he has yet to reveal his full power…’
Yun Cheon observed their clash intently, dissecting every element of their exchange.
Indeed, the strengths and weaknesses revealed in actual combat were far more pronounced than during demonstrations.
The rotational power of the Hoeseon Guard and the stealth of the Munyeong Guard.
The destructive Blood Wind Kick clashing against the keen Single Soul Water technique.
It was a collision between martial arts of entirely different natures.
After exchanging several moves in rapid succession, both seemed astonished by each other’s prowess.
‘Ma Chung’s skill as a new Kyoto is at this level?’
‘Ya Jin, the senior Kyoto… his martial arts are not to be underestimated.’
They caught their breath, startled by the hidden depths of each other’s abilities.
Remarkably, both were standing at the peak of first-rate mastery, gazing toward the absolute pinnacle.
‘This is sufficient harvest.’
Yun Cheon, who had been observing, intervened at the precise moment just before they clashed again.
“Thank you both. I believe I have witnessed your martial arts sufficiently.”
Only then did Ma Chung and Ya Jin step back.
‘This brat… is it coincidence?’
‘He intervened at the exact moment… it cannot be coincidence. This one truly is…’
After concluding their sparring, both clasped their fists in salute before turning their heads toward Yun Cheon.
It was time for a choice.
Yet Yun Cheon delivered an answer that astonished them both.
“…I have observed your formidable martial arts well. They are truly impressive. However… it seems they exceed what I am currently capable of receiving.”
His expression was genuinely apologetic.
“Since I am still unfamiliar with even the foundational techniques obtained from the Scripture Repository, your advanced martial arts seem too difficult for me to accept at this time.”
At Yun Cheon’s words, Ma Chung’s face flushed crimson.
Even Ya Jin’s composed expression twisted.
“You brat! We even conducted a full sparring match! Do you dare mock the Kyotos?”
Ma Chung immediately protested.
Ya Jin’s reaction was equally fierce.
“Hmph… I thought you had some talent and offered you an opportunity, but you lack even basic judgment. To spurn such a chance with your own feet.”
Ya Jin spoke in an ice-cold voice, then spun around sharply.
“Damn it! Following the theft of the recognition tablet, this is now the second insult. Had it not been for Qian Mo Cave’s regulations, I would not have let you off so easily.”
Ma Chung, unable to contain his fury, also turned away with a snort.
However, just as the two Kyotos were about to leave the Training Hall.
Their footsteps froze at the sound of Yun Cheon muttering alone from behind them.
“…It seemed to go something like this.”
Following the murmur.
Whiiiing—!
A piercing sound of tearing air assaulted their ears.
That alone was ominous.
‘…What is he doing?’
‘Could it be… he is replicating our martial arts?’
Both of Kyoto’s feet had become rooted to the ground.
And the two chose to abandon their pride, turning to look back.
Before their eyes, an impossible sight unfolded the moment they spun around.
“…!”
Yun Cheon was flawlessly recreating Ma Chung Kyoto’s Blood Wind Foot technique in perfect form.

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This chapter is translated by Falnar Novels Team.
Support us by reading on our official site: https://falnarnovels.com
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