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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Showdown
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Seolhwa's gaze, fixed on the two figures on the duel arena, turned cold.
‘Red Dragon's 8th-rank, Namgung Gaksu.’
According to the information the Outer Hall's three brothers had gathered, he was one of those who had paid money to be promoted to an Inner Hall warrior.
He had even bought the Namgung surname with money, making him, in essence, not even a true Namgung clan member.
‘His skill was pathetic, but thanks to his family's flourishing business, he had become a nouveau riche.’
Because of this one person, a skilled warrior had failed the promotion examination.
Money had crushed skill, and greed had trampled someone's earnest hopes.
‘I'll show them clearly, right here and now.’
How pathetic and deplorable the consequences were when a martial arts clan prioritized material wealth over skill. And how poisonous that was to this family.
To do that...
- Illyong. Win overwhelmingly. Your opponent is far weaker than you, so don't be scared. Push through however you want.
At Seolhwa's telepathic message, a corner of Illyong's mouth curled up. Now that he was on the duel arena, a competitive spirit welled up within him.
‘Since I'm doing it anyway, wouldn't it be good to win?’
If I win, it'll be cool, right?
If not now, when will I ever get to defeat an Inner Hall warrior of Namgung? Since it's come to this, I'll win!
"I am Illyong of Red Dragon's 16th."
At the provocation of being addressed informally right off the bat, the Red Dragon Corps member's face crumpled.
As much as he wanted to unleash a torrent of insults, he didn't want to appear as uncultured as the other man. So, he painstakingly composed his expression and performed a pokwon.
"I am Namgung Gaksu of Red Dragon's 8th. I don't know what you were thinking by coming up on this duel arena, but..."
Namgung Gaksu glanced in the direction where the Family Head was seated.
"You will regret this. I will show you the difference in skill."
"Hee hee. Oh dear, what to do? I have no intention of losing either."
Illyong snorted.
"Well, I suppose it would be a bit embarrassing for you if you lost."
Namgung Gaksu's hand tightened on his sword hilt.
"You... seem to have lost your sense of fear."
"You know what? You're nothing compared to that little devil of a young lady."
"I don't know what you're talking about. But those words... I'll make you regret them."
Namgung Gaksu raised his sword.
"Come! I'll give you three moves!"
"Hmph. What a ridiculous show of false generosity. As for refusing..."
Illyong kicked off the ground and sprang forward.
"I won't!"
He charged at the Red Dragon Corps member without even an opening stance.
Whoosh—
At Illyong's sudden appearance before his eyes, the Red Dragon Corps member's eyes widened.
‘Wh-what the...?!’
The very moment he hurriedly raised his sword to defend against the attack.
"You fell for that."
With a resounding bang—! a dull impact struck his right ear.
He had swung his sword to the right to draw attention, while simultaneously bringing his left fist down on the man's face.
"Th-this is a fo... ugh..."
The Red Dragon Corps member crumpled, face down, in a single move.
Illyong snorted, a puff of air escaping his nostrils.
"Foul play, my ass. Haven't you ever done street patrols?"
Deceiving the eyes with a feint and striking the back of the head was an obvious trick that anyone who'd faced a few back-alley thugs could prepare for.
"Why are they so weak...?"
Standing over the sprawled Red Dragon Corps member, Illyong scratched the back of his head. It was so easy, it was almost embarrassing.
Needless to say, the duel arena fell silent as if cold water had been poured over it.
At the shocking result that unfolded in an instant, no one could utter a word.
‘Wasn't that a bit... cowardly?’
‘There's no rule against using feints, but... still...’
‘Even if he was tricked, an Inner Hall warrior couldn't block just *that*?’
They wanted to call it a cowardly trick, but, strictly speaking, it wasn't cowardly. There were no rules in a duel, after all.
And because they were so stunned by the shock, they missed the moment to voice any criticism.
After a moment of strange tension, in the chilling silence, Illyong pointed at one of the sword corps members.
"Hey there, sir, let's have a duel!"
The gazes of the sword corps members collectively turned to a single spot.
The Red Dragon Corps member at the center of their attention flinched in surprise and pointed at himself.
"M-me, sir?"
"Yeah. You."
"You said 'you'...!"
The Red Dragon Corps member's expression instantly crumpled.
Given the Namgung clan's power structure, an Inner Hall Sword Corps member was superior to an Outer Hall Sword Division member.
To address him so informally, despite clearly knowing his status, was undoubtedly an act of disrespect.
"Fine!"
The Red Dragon Corps member strode onto the duel arena. He looked at Illyong, who was standing casually, and offered a courtesy.
"I am Namgung Rak of Red Dragon's 7th! I will make you regret challenging me to a duel!"
"Do as you please."
Both this guy and that guy seem to love saying they'll make me regret it.
Namgung Rak asked.
"It seems you have some skill, but is there a reason you're stepping forward like this?"
"None of your business, is it? Why so much talk? Attack quickly. I'm busy."
"So there is a reason, then. Very well. I have no intention of going easy on you like the warrior before, so be prepared."
"As if."
The Red Dragon Corps member's body vanished in an instant. This time, it was the Red Dragon Corps member who made the first move, not Illyong.
Whoosh— Clang!
Illyong blocked the incoming sword of the Red Dragon Corps member. Then he immediately counterattacked.
Clang! Clang-clang! Clang!
The two men's exchange of offense and defense was fierce.
The Inner Hall warriors rooted for the Red Dragon Corps member's victory, while the Outer Hall warriors, though silent, cheered for Illyong's win.
Unlike the previous duel, this evenly matched contest gradually saw both Inner and Outer Hall warriors split into two factions, cheering on the combatants.
Eventually.
Thwack—
"Aargh!"
At Illyong's kick, the Red Dragon Corps member flew off the duel arena.
The duel arena was engulfed in shock.
Once again, it was Illyong's victory.
As Illyong, his sword resting on his shoulder, watched the direction the Red Dragon Corps member had flown, a telepathic message once again reached his ear.
- Next. Azure Dragon Corps, fourth row, second warrior.
Illyong's sharp gaze landed on the Inner Hall warrior of the Azure Dragon Corps.
Pointing his sword at the member Seolhwa had indicated, he said in a triumphant voice.
"Hey there, care to step out?"
* * *
Whump—
"Aargh!"
- Next. Yellow Dragon's 7th, third row, third.
Thwack!
"Gah!"
- Next. Red Dragon's 5th, fifth row, second.
Several more duels followed.
After Illyong, Imoe and Sambong stepped forward, calling out sword corps members, and both of them also consecutively won duels against several members.
The three men's consecutive victories were due to Seolhwa choosing evenly matched opponents, but everyone, unaware of this fact, couldn't help but be shocked.
A single defeat could be dismissed as a fluke.
It could be attributed to a mistake, underestimation, or even a cowardly tactic.
But what if unbelievable results occurred one after another? That was no coincidence.
As the shocking results continued, a chilling silence increasingly enveloped the duel arena.
‘An Inner Hall warrior was defeated by an Outer Hall warrior.’
‘For an Inner Hall warrior to lose, even though that position is only for the strongest from the Outer Hall, means...’
‘...that there were problems with the selection exams all this time!’
Those who realized this could no longer smile.
Just as the Outer Hall warriors, emboldened by the Outer Hall's three brothers' victories, were about to challenge others to duels like bamboo shoots after rain.
"Enough."
Namgung Mucheon halted the duels.
Seolhwa looked at Namgung Mucheon.
‘It's a relief he stopped it at the right time.’
Even if they had won the duels so far, if the Outer Hall warriors seriously challenged the Inner Hall warriors, they would surely lose.
If that happened, the situation created using the Outer Hall's three brothers would all be for naught.
‘Grandfather must have known ever since Illyong stepped onto the duel arena.’
That Illyong surpassed the Red Dragon Corps members in martial prowess.
...
After the duels ended, a heavy silence hung in the air.
Needless to say, the expressions of the Hall Masters, including Namgung Mucheon, and the leaders of the sword corps were grim.
The Elders and Venerable Elders were no different.
Corruption had plagued the martial force, the most crucial aspect of a martial arts clan, and it had been exposed right before everyone's eyes.
Even if they weren't directly involved with the martial force, it was a shameful thing not to have noticed the rampant dirty tricks within the clan.
"So, you've been up to some very interesting things while I was away."
Though his voice held a hint of amusement, a chill permeated the murmur of Namgung Mugang, the Martial Arts Hall Master.
The Martial Arts Hall was the department that oversaw all five sword corps.
The outcome of entrusting his trust to the corps leaders had effectively returned as a testament to his own negligence of duty.
"How very interesting."
His fierce aura swept towards the commanders of the five sword divisions and the leaders of the five sword corps.
Among them, the one whose complexion turned palest was, without a doubt, Namgung Jangyang, the Red Dragon Corps Leader.
‘D-damn it... Damn it!’
The warriors of the Red Dragon Corps had been singled out especially often, and had lost especially often.
The reason was clear.
‘Because the Red Dragon Corps had the most people who had risen to Inner Hall warriors without actual skill.’
Until now, Yeon Soran had been backing them, and since there was no chance of Inner and Outer Hall warriors clashing, there was no chance of being discovered.
But this Cheonmuje had caught them by the scruff of the neck.
‘Where did it go wrong, exactly?’
Where on earth did it all go wrong?!
Why did those Dark Path scoundrels, planted in the Outer Hall, suddenly step forward and create such an atmosphere?!
Was it betrayal?
‘No, no. They wouldn't reveal their identities unless they were insane. If I had to pinpoint it... the beginning was those 11th-rank bastards.’
The mess began when those who should have quietly rotted away and left Namgung instead passed the promotion examination.
It was wrong from the start that they displayed skill beyond expectations, enough to surpass the Inner Hall warriors.
Didn't the accumulated difference in skill, now exposed to both the Inner and Outer Halls, clearly demonstrate the corruption that had been rampant? And the cause of all this was...
‘Namgung Seolhwa!’
Namgung Jangyang glared fiercely at Seolhwa.
Their eyes met just as she turned her gaze. Feeling Namgung Jangyang's burning stare, a corner of Seolhwa's mouth curled into a bright, innocent smile.
