Book 5 Chapter 8

The mock battles in the leather pouch.

The match of Cheongheon, the Flying Dragon, also attracted a large crowd, creating a stir, no less than that of Moyonghwi.

If Moyonghwi was a challenger, Cheongheon could be called a king.

"Phew! My opponent is unfortunate enough to be Cheongheon hyung."

Jongjaheo's reaction was tantamount to admitting defeat.

"It is an honor to clash swords with Cheongheon hyung!"

Jongjaheo was making his defeat a foregone conclusion. Although they were both third-year students, Jongjaheo knew the skill difference between himself and Cheongheon well. Cheongheon was someone who existed on a different plane that he dared not aspire to. He had no choice but to acknowledge it.

"You flatter me."

Cheongheon, who also possessed the virtue of humility.

"Although my skills may be lacking, I am still a warrior! I will not concede an easy victory!"

Jongjaheo drew his beloved sword and shouted resolutely. He, too, was a direct disciple of the Great Qingcheng Sect. It would be a blow to his pride if he were defeated easily.

"Of course! Come forth!"

He said "come forth." It was words a master used to a lesser opponent. And Jongjaheo had to go.

Even if he lost, he could not lose disgracefully. There was dignity even in losing. To avoid becoming like a defeated dog in a dogfight, he had to give his all. He knew well that if he did not give his best in this strike, the next opportunity would never come.

Cheongheon's sparring was like a demonstration against Moyonghwi. Cheongheon, with a single sword strike, shattered Jongjaheo's sword technique and reached his throat acupoint. It was the exact same acupoint Moyonghwi had aimed for.

Blood oozed from Jongjaheo's right hand, which held the sword. It was a miracle he hadn't dropped the sword.

"I concede!"

Jongjaheo readily admitted defeat. He had known from the beginning that he couldn't overcome Cheongheon's wall with his current skill. He was only regretful that he had admitted defeat in a single second.

"Thank you!"

Cheongheon retrieved his sword and bowed respectfully, showing his etiquette.

"Woooooooah!"

Cheers erupted from all directions. Most of the cheering crowd belonged to the Nine Great Sects. Of course, there were some who expressed pure admiration for Cheongheon's martial prowess, but they were a minuscule number compared to the people of the Nine Great Sects.

Although they knew he was strong, the ambivalent position of the Heroes' Assembly couldn't be entirely joyous.

"He's felt the ultimate secrets of swordsmanship."

A flicker of admiration and shock crossed Moyonghwi's expressionless face.

Moyonghwi's hands became damp with sweat. He felt as if lightning had struck his spine. The tremor of the powerful shock made his body shiver. It was a single sword strike, but it was enough to see the terror contained within it. He, more than anyone, knew how difficult it was to encapsulate such great momentum into a single sword strike.

"Heh heh, this is the first time I've seen you flustered… You're giving me a good show today! Moyonghwi, the ice block of the world, Nangmyeon Sseolleong (Bilyeon called Moyonghwi this), is actually flustered. It's news that would make the whole world faint."

Bilyeon, unaware of the gravity of the situation, continued to grin. He was as carefree as ever.

Moyonghwi's gaze flickered past Bilyeon. Seeing such a terrifying single sword strike, and he wasn't tense? At least he should show some martial artist's admiration. But no matter how he looked, he couldn't find any such sign anywhere on Bilyeon's body.

Although he was the greatest enemy to cleanliness in the room, they had known each other for nearly half a year, despite their limited interactions. Yet, Bilyeon remained an incomprehensible figure to him.

"Is that the Three-Absolute Sword, Cheongheon! The Divine Dragon of the Wudang Sect! The Martial Absolute of the Nine Dragons Assembly!"

Hyoryong's eyes gleamed as he watched Cheongheon descend the martial stage with confidence. The light appeared and disappeared so fleetingly that no one else had time to notice.

'Oh no, oh no! This won't do! I must have unintentionally tensed up and raised my fighting spirit!'

He felt goosebumps on the back of his neck. It seemed Hyoryong wasn't the only one who felt a chill down his spine. Moyonghwi, whose face was already serious, was now even more so, staring intently at Cheongheon with a resolute expression. Next to him, Bilyeon, who seemed as carefree as ever, caught Hyoryong's eye.

'Indeed, if they win like this, they'll be the opponents in the finals!'

Indeed, the Three-Absolute Sword, Cheongheon, would undoubtedly be a formidable wall, a steep cliff, and a treacherous obstacle for Moyonghwi, more than anyone else. And… thinking of the distant future, it wouldn't be an exception for him either.

Hyoryong's gaze returned to Cheongheon, who was surrounded by many people receiving congratulations. His eyes gleamed, as if he would never forget.

"Why is the atmosphere so cold? Did everyone eat something bad?"

Hyoryong's gaze, which was closely observing Cheongheon again, turned to Bilyeon, the speaker. Next to Moyonghwi, who was lost in thought with a serious expression, Bilyeon was chattering away incessantly. Moyonghwi would probably never want to watch with Bilyeon again.

'Does that guy lack basic human emotions? Or maybe he's just an idiot…'

Bilyeon, still an enigma to himself and others, still had an unreadable expression.

"Bang!"

The table shook violently with a tremendous impact.

The flickering candlelight, about to extinguish, clearly indicated how agitated the person who struck the table was.

"Surely… you're not suggesting betrayal? Of our senior disciple…"

Namgoongsang's voice trembled slightly.

"Betrayal! My friend, you speak too harshly. Don't utter such dreadful words carelessly. It simply means we might follow the general trend… there's no other meaning. Besides, nothing is finalized yet. Given the circumstances, we should proceed with caution."

Geumyeongho spoke in a serious tone, despite the shaking of his fleshy neck. He still insisted on wearing a purple silk martial uniform that didn't suit his face at all.

"But if you think about it, betraying our senior disciple…"

"Hey! I said no! Choose your words carefully!"

Geumyeongho cut off Namgoongsang's continuing words as if with a single stroke. There was nothing good to hear, and nothing to gain by speaking it. His resolute demeanor, so strikingly different from his usual cheerful self as a merchant's descendant, was evident.

"Nothing is finalized yet. We can say we are at a crossroads of choice! Whether to follow public opinion, or to take the leap of faith using what we've seen and felt, however unpleasant it may be, as a standard for judgment!"

It was time to gather our thoughts and make a decision.

In the dark night, within a secluded chamber, a single candle flickered in the faint breeze and human breaths. The 16 people casting shadows under the flickering candle all had a single, soaring phoenix embroidered on their right chests. They were the sixteen members of the Vermilion Bird Squad.

Why had these 16 people gathered at such a late hour? Despite the separation of sexes…

Their faces were grim and silent. They looked as if they were awaiting their lifelong rivals. What could have made these individuals, considered the top talents of Cheonmu Academy, so tense?

"Phew!"

As if by agreement, they all took a deep breath in and out. The intention was to slightly relieve their tension and relax their muscles through their breathing. Hasty minds couldn't achieve good results.

All their eyes shone like a hawk's, like the glint on a sword's edge.

The flickering candlelight, undulating with their breaths, cast dark shadows on everyone's faces.

Gathering secretly late at night, facing each other with serious expressions around a solitary, flickering candle in the center, it was clearly not a casual chat.

"Can we really win?"

The person who cautiously brought up the topic had seven plum blossoms embroidered near his left waist. The plum blossom ornamentation and the vermilion martial uniform were the emblems of the Huashan Sect, and the speaker was Jo Cheonwoo, known as the Sword Demon of the Huashan Sect. The seven plum blossom decoration also indicated a position directly below an elder.

But who was to win against whom?

"Well… who knows! I dare not make any promises."

As Geumyeongho himself said, this was not something he could rashly promise. If he could promise, they wouldn't be gathered here worrying.

"Do you think you can win? You know more about that person than anyone else here! I want to hear your opinion."

As Jo Cheonwoo said, Hyeonwoon knew more about that person than anyone else present. And he also truly respected him.

"It might be a bit too much! He's not such a simple opponent, and besides, I don't even know how far my senior disciple has achieved his true state. At least, that's what I think."

"Are you saying that even after seeing Tang Sam and No Geoji defeated with our own eyes? I absolutely do not think that person possesses the skill to subdue them so easily."

Lee Jaryong, a disciple of the Kunlun Sect, dressed in a martial uniform harmoniously combining white and black, resembling crane feathers, expressed his opinion in a somewhat irritable tone. His eyes were much smaller and more sharply slit than ordinary people's, making his impression even sharper.

As the names of Tang Sam and No Hak were mentioned along with their disgrace, the atmosphere became even more somber. Their faces slightly contorted. Couldn't they just ignore that and subtly move on? Was it really necessary to mention their names so precisely?

"Jaryong is right. He subdued both of them in a single breath. Our senior disciple… even he couldn't easily promise victory. I'll stake my sword on it!"

"…"

Cheongmun, a disciple of the Qingcheng Sect, also agreed. To stake one's sword was equivalent to staking one's life. It meant he was extremely confident in his opinion.

Now, the only one remaining silent here was Ilgong, who was habitually taciturn. For him, who lived under strict discipline at the Shaolin Temple, such a gathering was overwhelming. For a monk, or to put it more elegantly, a Buddhist disciple, this was one of the least suitable occasions. He was reluctantly dragged here by his friends, but he had no role to play. He could only observe the unfolding situation in silence.

The women were no different from Ilgong.

"We must be cautious. However, it doesn't seem like something to stake the honor of our sword on. It's definitely not a decision to be made hastily.

I admit his skill. His sword energy, even without showing his full power, is unimaginably astonishing. Frankly, even I cannot guarantee victory yet. Even though I am one of the Nine Dragons. But can we truly say we've seen the full extent of our senior disciple's abilities?"

The answer was 'no.' Namgoongsang's point was valid. It was a matter that required careful consideration once more.

"Hmm hmm…"

Geumyeongho cleared his throat at Namgoongsang's coherent words. Geumyeongho, the successor of Geumho Trading Company, presided over today's meeting and was currently leading the discussion. Everyone had expectations for his abilities.

Silence spread like a veil of tranquility throughout the room. No one uttered a word. In their silence, they were all focused on one thing.

In the center of the table around which they were seated, under the flickering light, was a single leather pouch! They all stared intently at it.

"Even if Namgoongsang and I were to team up, it might still be difficult to defeat him and win the Three Stars Tournament… I hate to admit it, but…"

Jo Cheonwoo honestly confessed. A true master does not boast.

"We can't even participate."

That was the complaint of Jaryong and everyone else.

"Damn it, why can't we participate in the Three Stars Tournament because of our fight with those guys?"

Lee Jaryong grumbled irritably. Although inferior to No Hak, his temper was also quite impatient and rough. Perhaps it was because he lived in the Kunlun Sect, located at the desolate edge of the martial world. The Kunlun Sect was so distant from the center of the martial world that interaction was actually very difficult.

"Then, do you think Young Master Yi can transcend the Azure Dragon Squad while focusing on the Three Stars Tournament?"

Jin Ling asked in a quiet voice. There was only one answer.

"Hmm… that would be impossible."

When the name of the Azure Dragon Squad was mentioned, their complaints, and those of others, quickly subsided. They had something even more important waiting for them than the Three Stars Tournament. That was the match against the Azure Dragon Squad. The Vermilion Bird Squad had forfeited the Three Stars Tournament to determine who was the best among the Four Divine Squads. To be precise, Yeomdo had rashly decided without even asking for their opinion after an argument with Binggeom Gwancheolsu, but the outcome was the same. It was the same for the Azure Dragon Squad as well. By agreement of the two elder masters, both the Azure Dragon Squad and the Vermilion Bird Squad forfeited their participation in the Three Stars Tournament. This was despite them having ample qualification.

"We absolutely cannot lose!"

Lee Jaryong said in a firm voice.

"If we lose, not only our senior disciple but also our master might jump out of Amisan."

This was Jin Ling's words.

"Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine. Miss Jin! Don't speak such dreadful and terrifying words carelessly! What if they come true? What would you do?"

Tang Sam shivered and said. He didn't want to hear such things, even as a joke. No Hak was the same. He was incessantly scratching his grimy body to the point of making unpleasant noises, and a large clump of dirt was being scraped off! It was frightening to watch. Namgoongsang quickly looked away.

"To prevent such a disaster, we must win! Let's do our best in tomorrow's training too. We've managed to avoid being knocked out in one go lately! It's great progress."

As Namgoongsang said, the only one who was suffering from the intense special training and bleeding was Yun Junho, who was struggling to keep up with basic training, and who was not present at the moment. Nevertheless, his effort to chase after them with all his might without a single excuse was commendable.

"Frankly, I've only seen the first round so far, so there's no basis for me to say anything definitively. Therefore, I will listen to your opinions once more and make the final decision. Above all, I believe Hyeonwoon is the one who will determine the direction of our choice. Let's hear his opinion and make the final conclusion."

Geumyeongho said, mediating the somewhat chaotic atmosphere. This was his role at the moment. With his single word, all eyes turned to Hyeonwoon.

Hyeonwoon knew well what his friends expected of him.

The key to victory was whether they could defeat the Three-Absolute Sword, Cheongheon.

All eyes were on Hyeonwoon. It was a bit burdensome. Although they were in the same year, in terms of the Wudang Sect's family tree, Cheongheon, the Three-Absolute Sword, was Hyeonwoon's senior disciple. Since Cheongheon had been raised in the Wudang Sect from a young age, he held a relatively high position in Hyeonwoon's generation. This was because he had undergone his initiation ceremony at a very young age. Furthermore, as a direct senior disciple, he had always trained and spent time with Hyeonwoon since childhood. Therefore, Hyeonwoon was the person who knew more about the Flying Dragon, Cheongheon, than anyone else present. And when he described him, Hyeonwoon always included this phrase.

"He's a genius, Senior Disciple Cheongheon!"

That was Hyeonwoon's almost obvious answer. And it was always the same answer to the same question. He had never hesitated with this answer.

"Hmm…"

The atmosphere became even more serious. The groan-like sound Hyeonwoon let out amplified the seriousness. A heavy silence pressed down on them. Geumyeongho asked,

"How does he compare to you? You are, after all, one of the Nine Dragons of Cheonmu."

Hyeonwoon shook his head. His reaction was skeptical.

"Even though we are both among the Nine Dragons, I cannot dare to match Senior Disciple Cheongheon's skill."

"Is he that good?"

Hyeonwoon's outstanding skill was well known to all sixteen people gathered here.

"Although I'm getting stronger lately, if we were to gauge the outcome, I can guarantee my defeat within five hundred seconds."

Even as he admitted his defeat, there was not a trace of shame on his face. It meant he acknowledged the opponent's skill.

"Hmm! To receive such an evaluation from you. Is his skill really that high?"

Geumyeongho let out a groan.

Hyeonwoon, one of the Nine Dragons of Cheonmu, acknowledged defeat. The Three-Absolute Sword, Cheongheon, was such a person. Therefore, they couldn't afford to be negligent about him.

"What! Just that much! In the past, I was finished within 200 seconds… His swordsmanship is truly peerless. Everyone knows that the Divine Dragon of the Wudang Sect refers to him, not me!"

Finally, Hyeonwoon declared inevitable defeat. They all knew that his judgment was unlikely to be wrong. Yet, despite such a risk, they had to do it. They had no choice but to risk everything and clash.

The face of their senior disciple, Bilyeon, which they wished to bury in the depths of their memories and not recall, flickered before their eyes.

"But concentrating everything on one place like that is too dangerous, isn't it? If you're that worried, couldn't you divide it into two places?"

Namgoongsang, who had been quietly observing until now, spoke up. She had been gradually showing her talent not only among the inns but also among the Seven Phoenixes. However, her personality remained cautious.

"Haha! That's because Miss Namgoong doesn't know enough. You have to know how to utilize information that others don't have. That's what we call opportunity. No one knows the true face of our senior disciple yet. Of course, it's the same for us. But we know one more thing that others don't."

Geumyeongho smiled slyly and looked at her. Her eyes sparkled as she met Geumyeongho's gaze directly.

"The senior disciple's skill!"

"Yes, that's right. And that skill is a major variable that can determine the outcome of the tournament. This is what we call opportunity. If used well, it's a jackpot, otherwise, it's a bust. That's why we're paying so much attention to the Three-Absolute Sword, Cheongheon, who can be considered the biggest variable. Whether he can stop our senior disciple."

Indeed, Geumyeongho's words made sense upon listening. However, there seemed to be one fact that was overlooked.

"But, there's one strange thing! Young Master Geum, have you forgotten that there is another variable in this tournament?"

For a moment, Geumyeongho looked like he had been struck by lightning on the back of his head.

"Seven-Absolute Divine Sword, Moyonghwi!"

Only then did Geumyeongho slap his forehead with his palm. Judging by the sound, it seemed like a forceful slap.

"Oh, oh! Why didn't I think of that! I forgot such an important second variable."

No Hak, unable to contain his curiosity, asked.

"Why? Is Moyonghwi going to win this time?"

Geumyeongho, whose mind was racing like lightning, could only spare a glare at the flippant No Hak, unable to grasp the situation. He wanted to explain the reason in detail, but now was not the time to expend his mental energy on it.

"No. We'll bet everything on our senior disciple."

Geumyeongho said as if declaring it.

"Why? Weren't you just hesitating to bet on Cheongheon, risking the infamy of betrayal? And now you've decided to bet on our senior disciple? Is Moyonghwi going to be the dummy?"

"Hahaha! That's right! He's the dummy! He's the dummy!"

"You frustrating friend, no wonder you're a merchant's descendant, so cunning! I'm dying of curiosity, so hurry and reveal your thoughts."

No Hak urged him. No matter how much he was beaten, his hasty temper seemed to be an incurable illness, showing no signs of improvement.

"I'm curious too!"

Namgoongsang, who had steadfastly bet on their senior disciple from the beginning and thus disagreed with Geumyeongho for a while, also urged him.

"Well, that's because…"

Geumyeongho explained the reasons why they had to bet everything on their senior disciple point by point. At first, the Vermilion Bird Squad members listened to his explanation with doubtful expressions, but their faces gradually brightened, and finally, they couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Of course, of course. Why didn't I think of such a simple logic!"

"No objections."

"No objections from me either."

"Me too!"

"Me too!"

"…"

Everyone uttered a word mixed with admiration. After a brief commotion subsided, Geumyeongho adjusted his posture on the chair and said with a serious expression,

"It's finally decided! It was a long journey. It wasn't an easy task at all. I never want to make such a difficult dilemma of choosing between two options again."

All eyes turned to Geumyeongho. It had been implicitly agreed that they would all follow his judgment for this matter. Therefore, his responsibility was that much heavier.

"Then, tomorrow, we'll bet everything on whoever our senior disciple wins!"

"Hmm!"

Everyone nodded in agreement with Geumyeongho's words. No one raised an objection. Finally, their opinions converged into one.

This was what they had put their heads together to consider for so long. Although it was not a small amount of money, they decided to take the risk.

Above all, they were afraid of the repercussions they would face if it were later revealed that they hadn't bet on their senior disciple. Frankly…

"Ah! Everyone will call us crazy!"

Geumyeongho grumbled. He could already imagine the faces of the people around them.

"We have to endure it, what else can we do!"

These were Hyeonwoon's words. He too felt relieved after all the decisions were made.

"Didn't we prepare ourselves for this from the start? If we're afraid of how others see us, how can we do something like this?"

Namgoongsang said resolutely. He, who had always been indecisive, had changed remarkably after his training at Amisan and now exuded decisiveness.

"I agree with Young Master Namgoong."

Even Jin Ling supported Namgoong, making his face turn red. Whistles and loud noises erupted from the surroundings. The more that happened, the more embarrassed Namgoongsang seemed, lowering his head. His personality still had a long way to go to be completely reformed.

"All or nothing! That is the question! Namo Amitabha!"

It was yet another saying from Hyeonwoon, who didn't seem like a Taoist at all.

"Yeongho, I'll leave it to you tomorrow!"

Namgoongsang said, placing his hand on his shoulder.

"Leave it to me."

Geumyeongho nodded readily. Perhaps because he had made a big decision, his face was bright, as if he had shed the accumulated pressure.

And the next day!

Geumyeongho arrived at a place crowded with people like a swarm of bees. The place was filled with the heat and noise of people. However, instead of chaos, a vibrant energy of life throbbed within it. He always liked this atmosphere.

In his hand was the leather pouch from the table they had surrounded last night. As it contained the living expenses of all the Vermilion Bird Squad members, his handling of it was naturally cautious.