32 - Dragon Phoenix Assembly (5) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

The moment Mok Riwon locked eyes with the deep blue pupils, he felt a peculiar sensation. It was as if a fleeting moment stretched into infinity. Additionally, there was a sensation as though only he and the other person remained in this world. The emotion that surged within him was somewhat ambiguous, even for Mok Riwon himself to define. If he were to try and compare it to something, words like passion, competitive spirit, and attraction might come close. This uncontrollable feeling continued to pound at his heart, screaming. - Swallow it. So it said. ‘Imperial Star.’ The star of emperors. The star of rulers. And the star of blessings. With the appearance of this new, utterly distinct star, the star nestled within his psyche stretched out. At the end of Mok Riwon’s gaze, Namgung Jincheon’s brows slightly furrowed. Then, regaining his original expression, he averted his eyes from Mok Riwon. Only then did Mok Riwon feel the senses and sounds that had distanced themselves returning to him. "Knight Mok?" "...Ah, no. I momentarily zoned out." Mok Riwon awkwardly laughed in response to Dang Hwa-Seo's call. He then glanced at Namgung Jincheon one last time before withdrawing his gaze. Dang Hwa-Seo scoffed with a burst of laughter upon witnessing this. "Do you wish to duel?" "Hm?" "You have that look." As Mok Riwon touched his lips, he finally realized he had been smiling. "Ah..." So that was it. "Perhaps." Mok Riwon nodded, acknowledging the possibility. His hand itched. Facing someone of that age who had acquired such martial prowess stirred within him a desire to practice. The thought of a martial contest with Namgung Jincheon made him feel uncontrollably unsteady. "There are many formidable individuals here." "That’s why it’s called the 'Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.'" The gathering of dragons and phoenixes. Indeed, it was as it should be. "Hmm, however," Mok Riwon smirked, then whispered softly to Dang Hwa-Seo, in a volume only she could hear. "I don’t think I’m going to lose." The sincerity conveyed to not offend those present. Dang Hwa-Seo’s eyes widened, and then she hastily chuckled. "Typical of Knight Mok." "Lady, if I defeat them all, could I earn the title of ‘Dragon’?" "Even if you don’t defeat them all, proving yourself would make it possible." "Hm! Excellent!" Mok Riwon straightened his waist and spoke with a confident smile. "This Dragon and Phoenix Assembly will be the moment I challenge for the title of 'Knightly Dragon!'" That damn chivalry. Dang Hwa-Seo inadvertently smiled upon having such a thought. Overhearing their conversation, Jegal San chuckled and said to Mok Riwon, "Well, as you know, titles aren’t just given as one desires. In my opinion, if Knight Mok earns a dragon title, it might well be ‘Jade Dragon’ instead." "Ah! Jegal, that's too much! I prefer chivalry over jade!" "Please." Laughter bloomed among the three of them. Observing this, Hye Woon, who had been watching from the sidelines, suddenly felt a peculiar sense of being left out. If one were to express it, it would be this: Daring to talk about something else in my presence. 'Really...’ Entertaining. Yes, this level of amusement was necessary to relish in the conquest. Hye Woon smiled dangerously while directly looking at Mok Riwon. Mok Riwon, upon meeting those eyes, suddenly remembered Hye Woon, trembling in recollection. His body instinctively hid behind Dang Hwa-Seo. "What a splendid goal. Ah, if only the match schedule was announced soon." Grinning. Hye Woon's eyes curved like a crescent moon. "I, too, wish to appreciate Knight Mok’s swordsmanship." Chills ran down Mok Riwon’s spine. "Is, is that so…?" Like a rabbit thrown before a predator, Mok Riwon trembled, holding onto Dang Hwa-Seo's sleeve. Hye Woon felt a thrilling sensation. Following that, anger took its place on Dang Hwa-Seo's face. "The match schedule will be announced soon, so there’s no need to rush." "I was merely expressing my anticipation." "Well, for some reason, I don't believe Knight Mok will face the monk in a match." Dang Hwa-Seo's fist tightened. The tendons on her hand standing out caused Jegal San to gasp in shock. "I believe the monk will have to face me first." "I will rise by defeating him." "Confidence and arrogance are two different things, just so you know." The unyielding confrontation. Even as Quanlong Il Woon could only swallow nervously watching this scene, Hye Woon added with a laugh, "Yes, that would also be interesting." Touching his lips with a finger, Hye Woon then glanced over Mok Riwon as if appraising him and retreated with a grin. "Ah, I must take my leave now. I have others to greet." "Take care." Step on dog poop on your way out. Dang Hwa-Seo inwardly cast such a curse while glaring at the departing figure of Hye Woon. "...Knight Mok." "Uhmm…?" "If that pest approaches again, run away at all costs. No, come to me. That woman’s gaze is not normal." Mok Riwon nodded like a madman. The banquet finally came to an end. The next morning, Mok Riwon, standing in front of the manor's main gate, exclaimed "Oh!" upon seeing the match schedule posted there. "Fourth bracket! And Miss Dang is..." "Third bracket." Dang Hwa-Seo answered while closely examining the match schedule. The name she sought was that of Baekbong Hye Woon, which must be somewhere among the listed. After a brief search, Dang Hwa-Seo’s face broke into a sly smile upon finding Hye Woon's name. "Third bracket." They're in the same bracket. If the matches follow the order, she would face her in the bracket finals. "A perfect spot." Crack-. As Dang Hwa-Seo stretched her hands, a sinister sound followed. Mok Riwon, with trembling gaze, peeked at her, then quickly averted his eyes. ‘Hmm, seems she's on really bad terms with Baekbong.’ Best not to provoke her further. "I’m in the second bracket!" Jegal San chuckled. Next to him, Il Woon, who had approached unnoticed, smiled faintly and joined in the conversation. "I’m in the same bracket too. Ah, and there’s Xianlong (Immortal Dragon) in our bracket." Jegal San, feeling a chill from the unexpectedly cold voice, forced a smile. "Uh... Let's go easy, okay?" "How could we? It’s a martial arts tournament; we must do our best." "..." Why is this monk like this? Such thoughts crossed Jegal San's mind, unaware that Il Woon was already imagining hundreds of ways to silence him. "Namgung Jincheon is in the first bracket." Dang Hwa-Seo's comment redirected everyone's attention to the match schedule. Indeed, as she said, Namgung Jincheon was alone in the first bracket, which lacked other prominent fighters. Jegal San's eyes narrowed. "Manipulation, isn’t it?" "What manipulation?" "It’s not like that. The Namgung clan is hosting this Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, after all." "If Namgung Jincheon needed to rig it. Well, even if it was rigged, that would probably be the reason." Dang Hwa-Seo’s eyes narrowed. "Come as far as you can; I’ll give you the space." An arrogant notion, yet undeniably true. Aware of this, those present tightly closed their mouths. Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon stood unrivaled. Among all the fighters in this assembly, none could match him—not through official rankings or otherwise. If this match schedule was indeed manipulated, they were nonetheless reliant on that arrogance for their stance. “Hmm… Is he that impressive?” Watching his companions create a tense atmosphere, Mok Riwon scratched his cheek and said, ‘Doesn’t seem unbeatable.’ Certainly, in terms of inner power, he was trailing behind, but martial contests are not just about force, but about skill with the sword. From the standpoint of martial arts usage, he didn't seem utterly hopeless. Of course, since he hadn't seen his swordsmanship yet, it was premature to conclude. Still, Mok Riwon felt confident. ‘Not as good as the Changsung Sword.’ It goes without saying, but Namgung Jincheon is far behind the apex reached by the Changsung Sword. In that case, there’s hope that skill in swordsmanship could make up for the lack of power. "...Knight Mok might actually put on a good fight." Dang Hwa-Seo grimaced with concern in her mind. ‘Hope he doesn’t take it too hard.’ Much like Mok Riwon, most who hadn’t seen Namgung Jincheon’s martial prowess believed it wasn’t about force and that they had a fighting chance. ‘...Because it’s not about force, they stand no chance.’ Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon. His true skill wasn’t in the peak of his power, but in his mastery of the sword itself. * Four more days passed, and the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly began. "Wowwwww!!!" Loud cheers pounded against the eardrums, as the heat of gathered people settled on the skin. Mok Riwon's eyes sparkled with excitement, his face breaking into a beaming smile. "So many people!" "Yes, it feels fortunate to be a participant." Dang Hwa-Seo responded, taking a breather as she sat in the relatively spacious competitor's seat. Unlike the competitors' seating area in the north of the martial arts ground, the other three directions were so crowded that people were jostling against each other, shouting. These were either participants eliminated in the preliminary rounds or spectators who had come from afar to watch the assembly. "There will be a total of 64 matches. After competing in 16 matches within the brackets, the bracket champions will move on to the semifinals." "Ah! Fortunate! Since Jegal and Miss Dang are in different brackets, all of us can make it to the finals." "I intend to tear Hye Woon apart and advance." Thought Dang Hwa-Seo, her eyes sharpening at the idea. [Let's begin the first match of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly!] Amidst the announcement, a booming voice filled with inner power resonated throughout the arena, immediately followed by a surge of cheers and confusion. Amidst this, Dang Hwa-Seo said, "Watch carefully." Two men appeared atop the martial arts ground. [First, the Flashing Blade Yang Heo from North Lake!] A dirty-looking man in shabby clothes with a blade at his waist took his position. He was a rogue from Northern Hebei, distinguished for his exceptional performance in the preliminary matches. And on the opposite side, [The contender for champion of this assembly! The future of Bai Dao martial arts world, referred to as the Dragon among Dragons!] A handsome man with sharp, deep blue pupils and a sword in hand stepped forward. With his entrance, the atmosphere in the arena reached its peak. [Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon!] “Wowwwwwww!!!” Mok Riwon took it all in. ‘That is the next supreme champion.’ The realization that he could finally observe his swordsmanship filled him with a strange tension. Clutch-. Mok Riwon’s fist clenched tightly. [Let the match begin!] The announcer raised his hand high. And then. Clash-! The outcome was decided in a second. * Overwhelming. And heavy. That was Mok Riwon’s assessment upon witnessing Namgung Jincheon’s swordsmanship. It wasn’t about the difference in their martial powers. Nor was it about the disparity in their famed reputations. It was a judgment based solely on the mastery of the sword. As the match began, Yang Heo’s sword lunged out like a beam of light, only to be swiftly cleaved in two by Namgung Jincheon’s seemingly slow downward stroke. While other spectators might be preoccupied with the overwhelming victory, those with a certain level of martial power surely sensed the profound significance within that one second. The world refers to Namgung’s sword as the Emperor's Sword. A sword that reigns supreme under the heavens of the martial world. Namgung Jincheon’s sword perfectly embodied such magnificence and focus. ‘If it were me….’ Mok Riwon closed his eyes. And imagined. Himself wielding a sword like that. ‘…I cannot.’ No, more accurately, he could only ‘imitate’ to a certain extent. It wasn’t a matter of talent, but the gap in the martial arts they had learned. The Holy Lotus Force and the Meteorite Seven Swords Art are based on an endless flow. Pushing inner power forcibly to load a moment with destructive force wasn’t the proper way to wield martial arts. He admits it. Namgung’s sword is strong. However. ‘Does that mean the Holy Lotus is inferior to his sword?’ The question resurfaced. And Mok Riwon was certain. ‘Absolutely not.’ The Holy Lotus is strong. He, along with Master Mok Seon’s teachings, would not falter before Namgung’s sword. [Let's begin the fourth bracket match!] Energy-charged voice resonated in his ears. Mok Riwon slowly opened his eyes and looked straight ahead. “I’ll be back.” “We’ll be cheering for you.” Mok Riwon walked forward. And then he stood atop the martial arts ground. [Here appears a new rising star, a young master who dares to challenge the status quo of the junior ranks, the hero who singlehandedly annihilated the Black Path in Gwangseo’s Suyang County!] His name echoed throughout the martial arts ground. [Ink Sword Mok Riwon-!] “Wowwwwwww!!!” “Kyaaahhhhh!!!” The roar pierced his ears. The noise grew so loud that his whole body seemed to vibrate. Amidst it all, Mok Riwon kept a calm demeanor, facing forward and continuing his train of thought. ‘I want to compete.’ He wanted to measure up against Namgung Jincheon. For any deficiencies he might have, he felt an instinctive need to face Namgung in martial contest to realize and overcome them. [His opponent, the eldest son of the Jo family, Jo Cheol!] Mok Riwon looked towards his opponent. A young man, his face filled with tension, was glaring at him. ‘I’m sorry.’ Mok Riwon apologized in advance. For in Mok Riwon’s eyes, a young martial artist barely reaching first-class level was of no significance. Whoosh- His sights were set higher. [Begin-!] Mok Riwon would simply use him. Clang-! With the start of the duel, Jo Cheol’s sword was split in two. A fragment of the blade soared high. The martial arts ground was engulfed in silence. “…” Even in decay, a martial artist remains. All spectators, having come to watch the martial contest, grasped the meaning behind that stroke. A technique similar to the one Namgung Jincheon used at the festival's beginning. The meaning behind overpowering the opponent with a force-loaded heavy sword strike. ‘A challenge.’ This act was that of a newcomer challenging the throne. Mok Riwon’s gaze turned towards Namgung Jincheon. Namgung Jincheon, too, looked back with eyes noticeably wider than before. “Wowwwwwww!!!” Cheers erupted once again, the loudest of all heard today.