NOVEL NEXT Chapter 79
Chapter 79: Truly Aggrieved
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“Humph.”
Seomun Cheong-ha, hearing my words, pursed her lips tightly.
Before Seomun Cheong-ha, who stood before me, were Seomun Family’s head, Jincheongyeomwang Seomun Hyeon-cheon, the Grand Prince Seomun Pyo, and the Second Prince Seomun Wi, all sitting side by side.
And next to them sat a notary.
A middle-aged man in war robes embellished with pink plum blossoms, a striking outfit.
Among the Nine File Alliance, he was the elder of Mount Hua Sect, known for his Plum Blossom Sword Technique, renowned in both the medieval martial world and modern Korea.
Beside the elder sat a boy who seemed to be around my age.
He was handsome enough to debate Song Ok and Ban An, though not quite as stunning as my elder brother.
The rising star of Mount Hua Sect, known as the True Sword, Jinpaeseon, who was the top late-stage master of the Orthodox Faction.
“So the Mount Hua Sect is attending with a notary from Seomun Family?”
“Is that prince the rumored True Sword? He’s even more handsome in person.”
“I’ve heard he’s the pillar of the next generation of Orthodox Faction martial arts.”
“They say he’s the best among the late stage masters… Truly impressive looks and charisma.”
“Here we have Song Ok and Ban An.”
A talent capable of discussing the World’s Best Sword, with the potential to elevate Mount Hua Sect to the top martial sect in the world.
That was the expectation placed upon the True Sword by both Mount Hua Sect and the Orthodox Martial World.
Of course, once our elder brother, the Heavenly Body, showed up, the True Sword would drop from the first rank of the best swordsmen to the second.
Filled with inferiority complex in the eternal second place, the True Sword later ambushed our elder brother during martial competitions with masters from Namgung Family, Zhongnan Sect, and Qingcheng Sect but was defeated. Afterward, he vowed to atone for his life, hiding within Mount Hua Sect and never returning to the martial world.
That was the path the True Sword took in his previous life.
But hearing all the praises about him made my stomach churn.
‘What’s so great about Mount Hua Sect?’
What’s so impressive about a martial sect that flounces like a plum blossom? Mount Hua Sect’s martial arts are utterly useless in terms of vigor. Zhongnan Sect is definitely superior.
Moreover, the martial arts of Zhongnan Sect prioritize durability, as seen in the Thirty-Six Swords of the World. Truly, cardio endurance and vigor synergize well.
From the moment I read martial arts novels in modern times, I liked Zhongnan Sect. How cool is it to unify the Central Plains with a single sword?
If I had reincarnated with the Rebirth Great Method, I would have probably entered Zhongnan Sect.
“But the Gongdong Alliance isn’t to be underestimated either.”
“Heavenly Body, huh? Looking at you now, you really do resemble Song Ok and Ban An.”
“Brings to mind the story of Cheok and Yeonggeo.”
“I think your appearance surpasses that of True Sword.”
This time, I heard praises directed at my elder brother, causing the True Sword’s eyes to slightly ripple.
He seemed upset.
Yeah, that’s it.
My elder brother looked especially pretty today.
But of course, my dog is cuter than others’ dogs.
Across from Mount Hua Sect sat Geumhu Eun Seol-ran and So Geom-hu Cheon Sobin.
When our eyes met, the Geumhu averted her gaze.
Beside her, the So Geom-hu, whose mouth was three feet wide, glared at me.
“I’d like to express my gratitude to all the martial comrades from the world who took the time to attend! I am Jinpaeseon of Mount Hua Sect!”
It seemed the True Sword would act as the MC for today’s martial contest.
“Wowwww! True Sword!”
“The best late-stage master of the Orthodox Faction!”
“A great talent of Mount Hua Sect!”
At Jinpaeseon’s words, the crowd cheered.
Hearing their cheers, Jinpaeseon said, “This contest is to resolve the grudge between Seomun Cheong-ha of Seomun Family and Lee Cheol-soo of the Gongdong Sect…”
He repeated the purpose of the martial contest that everyone already knew.
“Thus, the loser becomes the winner’s servant…”
But the problem was the stakes.
As soon as the servant part was mentioned, the audience roiled.
“The loser becomes the winner’s servant?”
“Is the price really true?”
“This must have been a proposal from the Gongdong Alliance first!”
“Targeting the Gansu’s Finest Beauty, Seomun So-ja…”
“Once again, the Twin-Colored Sword…”
Again with the Twin-Colored Sword?
Sigh.
This is ridiculous.
What’s more, I suggested it first. Where did this rumor come from?
It must be the work of Jincheongyeomwang.
Stirring up and falsifying information…
Jincheongyeomwang’s brows furrowed as our eyes met.
I couldn’t live as the Twin-Colored Sword, not like this.
In two years at Yongbong Jiyeo, I must change my nickname.
Jinpaeseon’s moniker of True Sword, I will steal that title! Then I will become the True Sword and a more popular figure than Jinpaeseon!
“Thus, we shall now commence the martial contest between Seomun Cheong-ha of Seomun Family and Lee Cheol-soo of Gongdong Sect!”
The declaration of the contest rang out from the True Sword’s mouth.
Simultaneously, the gazes of the crowd fixated on us.
Swish.
I drew my sword.
“…Not only did you engage in lewd acts during the Orthodox Faction Competition, but now you spread baseless rumors that I am in a relationship with you…”
Seomun Cheong-ha stared at me with reproachful eyes as she drew her sword.
“…Today, I will make you pay for it! Twin-Colored Sword Lee Cheol-soo!”
I’m not the Twin-Colored Sword, I swear.
I am a gentleman!
Just as I was thinking this,
Boom!
Seomun Cheong-ha’s foot stamped on the martial stage, shaking the ground.
It was Seomun Family’s Rising Light Step Pahwang Step. Along with that, her aura surged.
She drew her sword. Unlike my average-sized sword, she wielded a massive great sword that required both hands.
Seomun Family’s martial arts added internal energy to the sword, creating a heavy, hard-hitting blow.
A dull sword that controlled space, sealing off the possibility of counterattack and embodying the concept of preemptive strikes.
The energy emanating from her body dominated the entire martial arena.
Seomun Cheong-ha’s eyes sparkled.
“Prepare yourself!”
Seomun Cheong-ha’s great sword swung down.
Thunderlord Sword.
The martial arts of Seomun Family, which elevated them to be one of the six great families, revealed their form in Seomun Cheong-ha’s hands.
The great sword swung slowly.
Whooooooosh!
Following that, the overwhelming sword wind pouring forth dominated all space.
Boom!
Seomun Cheong-ha took another step forward. The earth trembled as the sword wind rushed fiercely. In a situation where every avenue of escape was blocked, the colossal blade approached me slowly.
Slow, yet an unstoppable blow.
The pressure surged through my entire body.
Truly, the sword art of Seomun Family was one to make even heaven tremble.
Not quite Heuksaryong-level, but certainly something that could be called Geombong-level.
If the opponent were not just me.
I raised my sword.
“Hehehe…”
I activated the Primordial Unity Technique and controlled the energy. The dark energy flowed toward my Baihui and the yang energy flowed toward my Qihai. With the completion of the rising and sinking energy principle, explosive internal energy surged throughout my body.
I raised the sword.
Sword wind blossomed from my iron sword.
Whoooooooosh!
At that moment,
“Your laughter is quite ominous, isn’t it?!”
Hearing my laughter, Seomun Cheong-ha dissed me.
What?
Ominous?
This manly laugh of mine?
How absurd.
I deployed the Demon Sword Technique to parry Seomun Cheong-ha’s Thunderlord Sword.
Ka-BOOM!
The mighty collision of Seomun Cheong-ha’s great sword and my sword produced an explosive sound.
Was it because I took her mighty great sword head-on? The shock that surged back along the blade was transmitted directly to my hand.
My grip felt like it was being torn apart.
I gritted my teeth.
Meanwhile, Seomun Cheong-ha maintained a relaxed expression.
“You managed to block the first blow. But can you also block the next technique?”
She smiled coldly.
Seomun Cheong-ha launched her second strike without hesitation.
Whooooooosh!
Once again, the wind of the sword dominated the space. Watching the second strike come, slow yet unstoppable, I clicked my tongue.
The sword art of Seomun Family captures space, applying pressure on the opponent with slow but unpreventable strikes, while the Gongdong Sect’s technique aimed for fierce exchanges was not a good match.
Perhaps if it had been Wudang Sect, which seeks refined strength, it could work.
The gap between her and me wasn’t that great.
But at this rate, I would definitely lose due to the gap in affinity. I might win if I pulled from my strength, as I did against Heuksaryong.
‘But that can’t happen.’
If I did that, the Yin Wood would surely spring up.
Just remembering how I won last time and ended up with the nickname Twin-Colored Sword makes me cringe.
I can’t achieve victory like that.
I am not a colorful horse.
‘I have no choice. I thought I’d never use it again…’
So I had to win using a different method.
Nine Transformation Sound White Bird.
I needed to mix that frivolous technique into the Demon Sword Technique here. The Nine Transformation Sound White Bird, being a perverse and frivolous technique, emphasizes cheesy gaps, sneak attacks, trickery, and counter-attacks.
The pressure mounted all over my body.
I unleashed Flowing Cloud and Water.
The moment I took a step, my body flowed like a piece of cloud, naturally slipping into Seomun Cheong-ha’s blind spot.
“?!”
When I vanished from her sight, her eyes shook.
Although we both stood at similar heights in expertise, there was a difference; I was at the threshold of the first rank, while Seomun Cheong-ha reached the tail end of it. Nonetheless, I could deceive her senses for just a moment.
A brief moment.
That was enough for me.
I slightly blended the essence of Nine Transformation Sound White Bird into the Demon Sword Technique. Whooooom.
As I accepted the internal energy, the name of my sword rang out.
“There you are! Your tricks end here!”
Seomun Cheong-ha’s gaze turned toward me.
Boom!
With a great sound, her advance shook the ground again.
Following this, a wild wind of sword energy pressed from all directions. I activated the rising defensive techniques of Flowing Cloud and Water, and with the essence of Nine Transformation Sound White Bird mixed in, I parried her slowly approaching great sword aimed at my core.
“This time, there’s no escape…”
Ignoring Seomun Cheong-ha’s overly confident voice, the crafty nature of Nine Transformation Sound White Bird manifested. Twist!
My iron sword, which offset her attack to an extent, slithered up the blade like a serpent, aiming straight for Seomun Cheong-ha’s neck.
“?!”
Seomun Cheong-ha’s expression faltered.
The martial arts of Seomun Family, each blow slow yet powerful with large movements, had difficulty adjusting once an attack direction was decided.
As it stood, her attack would give me a minor injury while my strike would inflict a serious wound on her.
Seomun Cheong-ha gritted her teeth.
Boom!
She stepped back in the opposite direction.
Along with that, a yellow haze rose from her great sword. The Sword Energy reacted! The initiated sword energy warped the trajectory of her sword.
It meant she was resolved to unleash counterattacks after fully defending.
I gritted my teeth.
If they employed sword energy, then I had to utilize mine. Given the advantageous position I held now.
I mobilized the Reverse Flow Blood Technique. My internal energy spiraled around my body and amplified.
Now it was time for a glorious reversal, just like a protagonist from a martial arts novel unleashing hidden power.
Alright, everything is going according to plan.
Whoooosh!
With the name of the sword, black haze surged from the blade.
“Is that… sword energy?!”
Seomun Cheong-ha gasped, surprised. Of course, she would be! She probably thought of me as a second-rate martial artist. I lunged toward Seomun Cheong-ha with my iron sword infused with sword energy.
Ka-BOOM!
Her yellow sword energy clashed with my black sword energy, generating a thunderous sound.
Sword energy fragments scattered, barely grazing my cheek. A scratch appeared, and blood trickled down.
I instinctively realized.
Most of Seomun Cheong-ha’s attacks were nullified by my strikes, losing their potency.
On the other hand, through the ingenuity of Nine Transformation Sound White Bird, I exploited Seomun Cheong-ha’s openings.
Though it wasn’t a complete hit, she deflected the final attack somewhat.
So, I had won.
I hope this doesn’t leave a scar. That would be terrible.
To be popular among women, my face must be completely flawless.
As I pondered this and focused on Seomun Cheong-ha, suddenly—
“AAAAAHHHH…”
A piercing scream echoed through the martial stage.
I saw her.
Her clothes all torn, revealing her bare skin to the world—a half-naked Seomun Cheong-ha fell to the ground. She covered her chest and lower body with her arms, tears glimmering in her eyes as she glared at me.
Boom!
Her great sword clattered to the ground.
In that instant,
The martial stage froze.
“Y-you Colorful Horse!!”
No.
It wasn’t on purpose.
This time, I’m truly aggrieved.