NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 147
### Chapter 147: Mad Dragon (狂龍)
Finals of the Yongbong Society.
As expected for a festival meant to determine the highest post-stimulation indicator of the Orthodox Faction, the martial arts arena where the finals were held was so enormous it reminded one of the Colosseum of ancient Rome.
It was almost hard to believe that temporary structures of wood were set up.
“Master, don’t be nervous. As my disciple, you will win.”
“Big Brother. Please do your best.”
“Hmph. Since you’ve made it to the finals, don’t embarrass the Gongdong Sect and just win, understood?!”
Voices from my older brother, Seoharin, and Seomun Cheong-ha, sitting in the allocated seats for the Gongdong Sect, echoed in my ears.
My master, Jeonyeong, was not here to protect our main base, but he might have heard some intelligence by now that I was causing a stir at the Yongbong Society.
Receiving their cheers, I stepped up onto the martial arts stage.
WAAAAAAAH!
“Gongdong Alliance! It’s Lee Cheol-soo!”
“I wonder what kind of antics he’ll show today.”
“I hope he won’t hold back again and keep his sword away?”
The roaring cheers were deafening. The audience, packed like bean sprouts in their seats.
And among the VIP seats were, as always, Geumhu and the Emperor.
The difference from other times was that, excluding them, all renowned figures of the Orthodox Faction Martial World were gathered here.
The leaders of the Six Great Families of Guppaibaryang were present, alongside the Martial Alliance leader, the Sword Emperor, Im Dong-rip.
Sword Emperor.
An illustrious rogue who rose from a lonely wanderer to the Supreme Mastery of Hwakyung and even to the position of Martial Alliance leader with just one sword.
His sharp gaze was directed at me.
The key figures driving the Orthodox Faction Martial World were gathered here.
Among them was Seomun Hyeon-cheon, head of the Seomun Clan, who was already familiar to me.
Everyone’s attention was on me.
The level of scrutiny was unlike anything I had faced during the Orthodox Faction Competition and Hangshan Great War. The faces of martial masters and experts participating in this competition were incomparable. The Yongbong Society was a martial arts competition to select the promising talent that would lead the Orthodox Faction Martial World into the future.
Of course, the heavyweights of the Orthodox Faction had to gather.
Yes.
Today, I would receive the title of Sword Dragon here. And I would dedicate the victory of the Yongbong Society to the Emperor.
[Your Majesty. Please watch over me. I promise to show you victory!]
I sent a thought transmission to the Emperor. A hint of blush appeared on her face as she received my thoughts. She looked rather shy.
Ah, our adorable Emperor. Feels like seeing my daughter. Or is she already my daughter?
Well, whatever. Thinking that, I looked across the martial arts stage.
There he was. The Sword Dragon of the Hwa Mountain Sect, Jinpaeseon. Unlike the rugged male sect of Zhongnan Sect, known for training muscle and endurance, he was beautiful and wore a pink outfit adorned with floral patterns that could rival an aloha shirt, perfectly representing the delicate male sect that indulges in plum blossoms.
He spoke.
“I am Jinpaeseon of the Hwa Mountain Sect. Though lacking, I am referred to as Sword Dragon by the people of the Martial World.”
“I am Lee Cheol-soo of the Gongdong Sect. I am also referred to as the Gongdong Alliance by the people of the Martial World.”
I replied to Jinpaeseon’s words with bravado.
Our gazes collided in mid-air.
Sword Dragon Jinpaeseon.
Currently recognized as the top post-stimulation indicator of the Orthodox Faction.
A promising talent responsible for Hwa Mountain Sect’s future; a genius born with the potential to debate the title of the World’s Strongest Sword.
I knew the fate he had met in the first timeline.
In the future, he would reach the stage of Hwakyung and be given the title of Plum Blossom Sword Immortal. Although he rose to become the best martial artist of the Hwa Mountain Sect, he would not attain the title of the World’s Best Sword, unlike during the post-stimulation indicator.
In fact, if Jinpaeseon was born in another era, he could undoubtedly become the World’s Best Sword. His sword talent was that exceptional. But not in this age.
At that time, the peerless Sword Master of the Martial World, Geomseong Yujinhwi, was still alive. As long as Yujinhwi lived, Jinpaeseon would forever be known as the Second Best Sword of the World, no matter how hard he tried. Consequently, he always bore a sense of inferiority towards Yujinhwi. That inferiority was exacerbated by the Cheongdam Meeting, or rather, the future Lady Gu.
After falling for that temptation, Jinpaeseon would rush to attack my older brother, Namgung Cheong of the Namgung Clan, along with the top masters of the Zhongnan and Qingcheng factions at Wuhan Mokran Mountain. Naturally, the ambush would fail, and thereafter, Jinpaeseon would break his concentration on Hwa Mountain’s main base, retreating into seclusion until death.
However, in this life, that event had not yet occurred. And I had no intention of allowing it to.
He said, “I’ve heard much about you, young hero of the Gongdong Sect. You contributed to the victory of the Gongdong Sect during the Orthodox Faction Competition, inflicted an unexpected blow on the Supreme Master of the Demon Faction, Heuksaryong, and triumphed over So Geom-hu in the Hangshan Great War. And during this Yongbong Society, you registered an all-win without using your ultimate technique, the Sword Art.”
Jinpaeseon recounted my feats one after another.
“Furthermore, your older brother, the gallant U Yuhyung of the Gongdong Sect…has a record of defeating me easily in martial arts.”
As he said that, a flush crept onto Jinpaeseon’s face. His gaze trembled.
It reminded me that my older brother’s first opponent to be taken down in martial combat was the Sword Dragon.
Swish.
The Sword Dragon drew his sword. A subtle fragrance of plum blossoms wafted from his body. Plum blossom fragrance from a man? Talk about a delicate guy!
He spoke.
“I have heard that you, young hero, do not draw your sword against unworthy opponents.”
Clink! The pink sword energy began to gather on the blade, creating an aromatic atmosphere that engulfed the entire martial arts arena like a diffuser.
Pink sword energy? Disgusting!
No matter how illustrious the Plum Blossom Sword Technique might be in both modern Korea and the medieval martial world, at the end of the day, it’s just a flowery martial art that scatters aromas and petals. As someone aiming for the alpha male archetype, I would absolutely want to decline using such martial arts.
Once again, I felt relieved that I didn’t join Hwa Mountain Sect. A single plum blossom bloomed at the tip of the Sword Dragon’s sword.
“I’ll ask you, young hero; what do you think of my sword? Do you think you’re worthy enough to behold the sword of Gongdong?”
He asked, trying to sound cool.
Hearing that, I smiled and drew my sword in silence.
Swish.
A pretty decent iron sword appeared, gleaming under the sunlight.
“Of course, if you’re the Sword Dragon of Hwa Mountain, you’re more than qualified to behold my sword.”
I declared, looking down at the Sword Dragon.
“Feel free to come at me. Bring it on.”
“Very well. Then…”
His eyes lit up in a pink glare.
Flap!
His martial outfit fluttered as if caught by a strong wind. The fragrance of plum blossoms wafting from his entire body intensified, creating an illusion of standing amidst a blooming plum tree forest.
“After losing to you, I have redoubled my efforts and polished my skills, and now I will show you the Plum Blossom Sword of Mount Hua!”
With that proclamation, the Sword Dragon swung his sword. Blossoms of plum blossomed in profusion, one after another, from the blade unleashed like sprays of flowers. The aroma of plum blossoms surged forth, filling not only the martial arts arena but also the audience area.
Light Footfall.
The Sword Dragon took a step. The Hwa Mountain Sect Vision’s Defensive Technique, Dark Fragrance Drift (暗香飄), had been activated. With every step he took, plum blossom petals scattered around.
Hwa Mountain’s martial art was the epitome of illusory swordplay. The swift movements, dazzling footwork, and techniques that blurred the lines between feigned and actual attacks formed the essence of Hwa Mountain’s doctrine, symbolized by the splendor of plum blossoms. The flashy sword dance, akin to plum blossoms, was their signature.
But the scent of plum blossoms didn’t just exist without purpose. The fragrance emanating from the sword and his entire body disrupted the opponent’s sense of smell and sight. Hence, a master of Hwa Mountain who truly mastered this technique could control the intensity of the plum blossom scent freely.
Even now, my vision was filled with blooming plum blossoms, with dozens of divided sword strikes and the aroma rising from the tips.
For an ordinary master, distinguishing between a feigned and real strike from the Sword Dragon would be impossible. In reality, even a feigned strike contained enough leverage to cause injury if one did not defend properly.
But not for me. Whew. I drew on the Primordial Unity Energy Technique. The yin-yang energy flowed in reverse, exploding with overwhelming power.
Unlike Hwa Mountain’s techniques, the skills of Gongdong Sect were rough, linear, and practical. Evolved through struggles with the Western Barbarians and the Demon Sect, Gongdong’s arts needed a profound foundation of strength, similar to the art of Sa Ma Wei Do.
And I possessed such profound energy, or rather the essence of martial arts and supreme mastery of martial arts to the utmost extent. In my keen sensitivity, I could distinguish feigned from real attacks. Furthermore, I even spotted the Sword Dragon’s true self hidden behind those plum blossoms. In that moment, as the black sword energy wrapped around the blade.
One Sword!
With just one attack, I resolved the duel against the Sword Dragon. That would ensure an impactful victory and allow me to claim the title of Sword Dragon.
I infused this intention into my sword and unleashed the Ultimate Move of the Demon Sword Technique.
Final Demon Sword Technique!
The black sword energy containing the essence of both offense and defense shredded through the blooming field of plum blossoms.
BOOM!
The black and pink sword energies collided, sending shockwaves in all directions. The abundance of flowers vanished in an instant. Numerous illusions dissolved like ghosts, and the scent of plum blossoms quickly dissipated.
Beyond that.
At the moment I thrust my sword toward where I sensed the Sword Dragon’s true self, I was suddenly stopped.
“?!”
In an instant.
With barely a sliver of time to spare, the Sword Dragon stepped on the Dark Fragrance Drift and evaded my Final Demon Sword Technique. With formidable power contained within, the black sword energy slammed into the martial arts arena’s floor, creating chaos.
Huff.
A thin stream of blood trickled from the corner of the Sword Dragon’s mouth—the one who just evaded my attack.
At that instant.
Swoosh!
His pink outfit shattered like sprinkled powder. Under the bright sunlight, the Sword Dragon’s well-defined muscles were fully exposed. Yes. He sacrificed some of his outfit and incurred minor injury to evade my attack.
As a result, the Sword Dragon now stood there, fully exposed. His slender yet toned body bore six-pack abs that were clearly defined—along with a certain part smaller than mine.
Gyaaahhhh!
“The Gongdong Alliance, he actually demonstrated One Sword Undressing!”
“I’d rather he had fought as usual with techniques and tactics!”
“What kind of embarrassing scene is this on the festival day of the Yongbong Society?”
“He, he’s naked, the Sword Dragon!”
“Ugh, how embarrassing but… not really too bad…”
The audience murmured in shock. No, this time, I was truly innocent!
Just then, my perception rang alarm bells. Instinctively, I stepped onto the Flowing Cloud and Water Defensive Technique.
Whoosh!
A pink plum blossom sword energy grazed where I had just stood. A few strands of my hair were sliced off and scattered into the air.
I turned my gaze towards where the sword energy was coming from. There was the Sword Dragon. Standing there naked, he looked at me, laughing like a madman.
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, this is truly an entertaining martial duel! Young hero! I never imagined you’d bring me such joy!!”
Completely undressed, he erupted with laughter at the sky while looking at me. The sweet plum blossom scent wafted from his entire body, covered in muscle.
“More, entertain me a little more! Young hero!”
His eyes blazed with a pink light.
No way.
What kind of nonsense is this guy doing out here, naked?
Isn’t he the Sword Dragon but the Mad Dragon instead?