Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 211

211. The Victor of the Martial Arts Contest

“Heh heh.”

Cheongjin let out a hollow laugh.

“To say that this sword is a worthless skill is quite insulting, even as a humble remark. Moreover, isn’t this after you have risen above countless sects?”

A deep smile appeared on Dang Seol-yeon’s red lips.

Cheongjin’s sincere words pleased her greatly.

It was true.

The Tang Family stood where they were now solely through swordsmanship.

Even after two preliminary martial arts contests, in this place where only eight sects remained.

Therefore, Cheongjin’s words that she had ‘risen above countless sects’ were by no means an exaggeration.

“Since you praise me so much, I cannot simply stand still.”

Woo-oong.

Dang Seol-yeon’s soft sword began to hum softly.

Cheongjin’s expression hardened at the sound, which was completely different from before.

Dang Seol-yeon moved her red lips and said.

“I tried to imitate the family’s signature move. The name of this sword style is ‘Mancheon Seolhwa’ (滿天雪花) [Sky Full of Snowflakes].”

“Mancheon Seolhwa!”

As she said, it was an imitation of the Tang Family’s famous technique, Mancheon Hwawoo [Sky Full of Flowers, Rain of Needles].

Tat.

Dang Seol-yeon lightly stepped forward.

Her graceful body floated softly into the air.

It was as if she was performing a beautiful dance, but Cheongjin could not underestimate her.

And the next moment, Dang Seol-yeon’s soft sword lunged at Cheongjin’s neck.

‘A killer move!’

Cheongjin could clearly recognize the murderous intent contained in the sword.

Woong.

Cheongjin’s sword, imbued with inner force, immediately confronted the soft sword.

Kwaang.

As expected.

The collision of the two swords, filled with inner force, exploded into a tremendous impact sound.

Due to the aftermath of the impact, Cheongjin took a step back, and Dang Seol-yeon twisted her body in a large circle in the air.

Pararak.

Elegant pink clothes stirred the wind, spreading Dang Seol-yeon’s scent everywhere.

It was a dizzying moment for the young Cheongjin, but now was during a martial arts contest.

Cheongjin did not miss Dang Seol-yeon’s movements.

Sarak.

And it was when Dang Seol-yeon’s eyes reappeared in Cheongjin’s sight.

Kwagwak.

Countless sword shadows poured down on Cheongjin.

‘Gasp!’

It was an unbelievably fast series of strikes unfolded by Dang Seol-yeon.

Literally, cold snowflakes were scattered all over the sky.

Deadly snowflakes that could take a life with just one graze.

Cheongjin immediately withdrew his sword.

And immediately drew up all his inner strength.

Hooo-ook.

It may already be too late.

Or he may have to be prepared to lose an arm.

However, Cheongjin’s trained mind banished regret and fear and faithfully carried out what he had to do.

Woo-woo-woong.

Inner force was concentrated on the sword, and the earth supported his feet.

Cheongjin, standing between the yang energy of the sky and the yin energy of the earth, shook his sword with all his might.

“Haaaa!”

Koong.

A heavy vibration echoed through the martial arts stage.

The shock was so great that it made everyone flinch for a moment.

And the result of the collision soon appeared.

Parak.

Dang Seol-yeon’s graceful body landed on the martial arts stage like a flower petal.

“Haa, as expected.”

Dang Seol-yeon said, slowly raising her body.

“That is the Wudang’s Tai Chi Swordplay.”

The right sleeve of Dang Seol-yeon was torn long.

Her white arm was glimpsed through the gap.

“Hooo-ooo.”

Cheongjin slowly caught his breath.

Taking a stance, Cheongjin stood towards Dang Seol-yeon.

“It is merely insufficient.”

Cheongjin was still standing in that spot.

But he was not unharmed either.

The long torn right sleeve was the result of Dang Seol-yeon’s soft sword.

Seureuk.

Raising his sword towards Dang Seol-yeon, Cheongjin said.

“This martial arts contest will be a little longer.”

Cheongjin’s eyes were shining brightly with a desire to win.

The fact that his opponent was a beautiful woman was no longer on his mind.

“No, that’s not true.”

However, Dang Seol-yeon shook her head.

“Yes?”

Cheongjin frowned and asked back.

However, Dang Seol-yeon withdrew her soft sword instead of answering.

Chireung.

As Dang Seol-yeon lightly moved her hand, the soft sword disappeared into her slender waist.

“What is that…….”

“Since I couldn’t determine the victory with my signature move, any further martial arts contest is meaningless. And I am satisfied enough just by seeing the Taoist’s Tai Chi Swordplay.”

Dang Seol-yeon said with a seductive smile.

“I lost.”

Cheongjin couldn’t say anything at her sudden words.

The people watching were also silent.

Dang Seol-yeon said to Jinheo, the representative of Shaolin who was in charge of the martial arts contest.

“Aren’t you going to declare the victory or defeat?”

“Ah, the, the victory of Wudang!”

Jinheo shouted loudly only then.

“Waaaaaa!”

The exclamations and cheers of the people poured out only then. But Cheongjin couldn’t understand.

“And the Tang Family will not send any more contestants. In other words, I am the last one.”

Dang Seol-yeon said, looking nothing like a loser.

“Congratulations on Wudang’s victory. Now Wudang will officially be named as one of the Four Great Sects of the world.”

Her clear voice rang in Cheongjin’s ears.

People were already mentioning the name of the Four Great Sects of the world.

Everyone was interested in which sect would become the Four Great Sects of the world.

Wudang was honored to take the first spot.

“But…….”

“Hehe.”

Dang Seol-yeon cut off Cheongjin as he was about to say something.

“When a woman says she’s satisfied, a man should step back. Men who linger are hated.”

Cheongjin’s face turned bright red.

“Ah, and.”

Dang Seol-yeon said as if she had suddenly remembered something as she was about to turn away.

“It would be better to visit the medical bureau (醫局) [traditional medicine clinic] as soon as possible.”

‘Medical bureau?’

Cheongjin was puzzled, but Dang Seol-yeon turned around and went down the martial arts stage.

Hoping against hope, Cheongjin tried to circulate his inner force.

And he realized the subtle pain he felt near his dantian [energy center located in the abdomen].

‘Could it be!’

Cheongjin was startled and looked back at Dang Seol-yeon.

But Dang Seol-yeon’s figure was no longer visible.

Cheongjin bit his lip.

‘When did she…….’

Cheongjin could now understand why Dang Seol-yeon suddenly declared defeat.

This martial arts contest was clearly Cheongjin’s victory.

This is because Dang Seol-yeon used poison that was prohibited and even used a killer move against Cheongjin.

Since he couldn’t deceive Shaolin’s Jinheo or Cheongjin himself until the end, it would have been discovered in the end.

So he declared defeat in advance.

As if she was stepping down on her own accord.

“Umm.”

Cheongjin groaned without realizing it.

Even though he was completely defenseless against poison, it is never easy to poison a master like Cheongjin.

What if this was a fight to the death?

The person who lost his life would have been Cheongjin himself.

“Waa!”

“Wudang! Wudang!”

People cheered for Cheongjin’s and Wudang’s victory.

However, Cheongjin’s expression was still stiff.

Dang Seol-yeon, who was walking away from the cheers of the martial arts stage, found a person in front of her.

He was leaning against the wall, the Plum Blossom Sword of Mount Hua, Yeongho-jun.

“Yo, congratulations.”

“What are you congratulating me on?”

Dang Seol-yeon answered, lightly brushing her hair back.

“Of course, I’m congratulating you on your victory, aren’t I?”

“It seems like your eyes aren’t very good. I lost.”

“Well, people’s perspectives are all different.”

Yeongho-jun shrugged.

“But I think you did a very good job of coming down from the martial arts stage on your own. It’s quite annoying when the veteran elders in the spectator seats get angry about killer moves or poison.”

Yeongho-jun said with a handsome smile.

But Dang Seol-yeon’s expression was still cold.

“Is the reason you’re blocking my way just to say those words?”

“No, not really.”

Yeongho-jun scratched his head.

“I thought you might have a fresh perspective on the changes that the emerging Five Great Families will bring to the Murim Alliance [martial arts alliance].”

“Hmph, the emerging Five Great Families.”

Dang Seol-yeon, who openly sneered, asked.

“So, what kind of fresh perspective are you talking about?”

“For example.”

Yeongho-jun said, staring straight at Dang Seol-yeon.

“Unlike the existing Eighteen Great Sects of the Murim Alliance, the emerging Five Great Families are relatively free from the Righteous-邪 [Righteous-Evil] War thirty years ago. Well, it’s natural since that much time has passed.”

“So?”

“So.”

Yeongho-jun stood up from the wall he was leaning against. And he naturally approached Dang Seol-yeon.

“In the future, the Murim Alliance may break away from the past distinction between Righteous and 邪 and take a different kind of solidarity. For example, sects that are essentially aimed at 수도(修道) [cultivation of Tao], such as Shaolin, Wudang, and Mount Hua, and families that are actively engaged in profit-making activities based on local bases. If that happens…….”

As if to pass by Dang Seol-yeon, he stood shoulder to shoulder with her and said in a low voice.

“The Tang Family could become the center of such a family alliance, right? Naturally, they will be able to escape from the influence of the new monk, who is reigning as the symbolic terminator of the Righteous-邪 War. If that happens, the Tang Family will be the de facto number one family in the world. The false name of the Four Great Sects of the world should be given to the sects that are practicing Taoism in the mountains.”

Yeongho-jun was accurately inferring the reason why the Tang Family conceded victory to Wudang earlier.

But Dang Seol-yeon’s eyes did not waver in the slightest.

“That’s quite an original idea.”

“You don’t deny it?”

Yeongho-jun looked back at Dang Seol-yeon, but Dang Seol-yeon did not look at him.

“Well? As you said, perspectives differ from person to person.”

Sabak.

Dang Seol-yeon slowly moved her steps and passed by Yeongho-jun.

Looking at her back, Yeongho-jun scratched the back of his head slightly.

“Hmm, that’s weird?”

Yeongho-jun’s point was correct.

In the future, the Murim Alliance will flow in exactly that direction.

That was as clear as Yeongho-jun knowing Dang Seol-yeon’s heart.

But her reaction is too cold.

“What else are you hiding?”

Yeongho-jun muttered softly.

But there was no answer from Dang Seol-yeon, who had already left.

***

“I, is this the rumored one?”

Jang Ho-dal, the leader of the Black Mountain Stronghold, said in a trembling voice.

It was a black pill placed in front of him.

It was only slightly different in that it was large enough to hold in one hand, but under the flickering light, it looked similar to the panacea that quack doctors made and sold.

“That’s right. This is the Daeryuk Cheonshin Gihondan [Great Continent Divine Mystery Pill].”

A man dressed all in black, who identified himself as a patrol officer of the New Green Forest, said with a sneer.

“With this, Jang Chaeju’s internal energy will be no less than that of the masters of the Jianghu [martial arts world]. It can truly be said to be a 창해상전 [transformation of the world] and a 환골탈태 [rebirth].”

“Hwa, can I even do Hwanggoltaltae?”

The patrol officer’s eyes narrowed slightly at Jang Ho-dal’s words.

“It’s Taltae, not Taltoe. And who said you would do Hwanggoltaltae? It means it’s the same as Hwanggoltaltae.”

He said, not hiding his annoyed tone.

“As I said before, Jang Chaeju is no longer a simple Chaeju [stronghold leader]. In the future, the name of the New Green Forest will ring throughout the world, so I hope you have the dignity to match it.”

It was a somewhat admonishing voice, but Jang Ho-dal could not take his eyes off the Hwandan [miracle pill] in front of him.

“Are there any side effects?”

A sneer hung on the patrol officer’s lips.

“Have you already forgotten that 암천무제 [Dark Sky Demon Emperor] cut down Namgung Jincheon, the head of the Namgung family, with one sword in the Jang River? Well, if Jang Chaeju doesn’t believe it…….”

The patrol officer reached out to the Hwandan placed on the table.

“Ja, wait a minute!”

Jang Ho-dal hurriedly picked up the Hwandan.

“Who said I don’t believe it? I’m just asking in case…….”

Jang Ho-dal, who swallowed hard, carefully examined the Hwandan in his hand.

“But how should I repay you for such a precious thing…….”

There is no such thing as a free lunch in the world.

Worrying that he might be asked to hand over the stronghold, Jang Ho-dal looked at the patrol officer’s face.