NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 148
Chapter 148: The Great Martial Arts Contest
The Sword Dragon, Jin Pae-seon, chuckled.
He was born with a heavenly talent for swordsmanship. Among the illustrious Gudaimun Sect, particularly known as the Sword Gate (검문), he was recognized as the greatest talent ever to emerge from the Mount Hua Sect.
Now, the rivalry between the Wudang and Namgung Families was shaken by the arrival of Jin Pae-seon.
Originally regarded as inferior to the Wudang and Namgung, the Mount Hua Sect had risen to a level where they could compete with these two factions, solely due to Jin Pae-seon’s presence.
He was a prodigy born with such talent.
He had never lost a duel with a sword. That was until he met a new genius named Yujinhwi not long ago.
Gongdong Alliance’s Yujinhwi.
A being so extraordinary that the phrase “a genius born once in a millennium” fit her perfectly. A monster endowed with unreasonable talent. For the first time, Jin Pae-seon tasted defeat under her blade.
And it was a loss decided in just one exchange. After that shocking defeat, the Sword Dragon, Jin Pae-seon, realized how naive he had been, intoxicated by his own talent.
He learned that above the heavens, there was another sky.
Both his master, the elder of Mount Hua, and the entire White Path Martial World hailed him as the greatest swordsman in the world, while he thought he had achieved the pinnacle of Mount Hua’s swordsmanship. He strutted around with the title of Sword Dragon.
But the truth was, he had not even reached the pinnacle of Mount Hua’s sword techniques, nor was he the greatest swordsman.
Realizing he was merely a frog in the well (정저지와), Jin Pae-seon entered a period of isolation and intense training. He labored to shatter the single strike wielded by Yujinhwi — a strike that was not only beautifully lethal, encapsulating the very essence of all swords.
He cut off his indulgent life of drinking and revelry. He trained to the point where he would only eat wall fragments in the training hall up until the Yongbong Foundation meeting, devoting himself entirely to the sword. He even rejected invitations to Cheongdam Meetings by Confucian philosopher Gongyu.
And today.
He faced Lee Cheol-soo, Yujinhwi’s disciple. A rival who studied the same swordsmanship as Yujinhwi in the Gongdong Alliance.
If he faced this opponent, he could fully display the sword techniques he had been training all this time. Furthermore, he wanted to show Yujinhwi, who was observing with her transparent eyes, that Mount Hua’s technique was as high and splendid as ever, and how she had not only broken him but that he had also grown.
He wanted to convey that message.
Right now, Jin Pae-seon felt an unparalleled satisfaction and joy. Another swordsman threatening his victory after Yujinhwi had appeared.
Gongdong Sect’s Lee Cheol-soo.
A quirky member of the Gongdong Sect who had declared he would not draw his sword against someone unworthy. The sword he faced was more than qualified. He did not act rashly. He was a true swordsman who genuinely understood the value of a sword.
Indeed, the exchange just moments ago had been sharp. A moment’s delay in movement could have meant Jin Pae-seon’s defeat. Thankfully, he managed to evade it, tearing his garment in the process.
“Hahahahahahaha!”
He had found an opponent who recognized the true worth of a sword. He had met a rival who threatened him for the second time in a martial arts contest. How could he not be joyous?
Jin Pae-seon laughed. The fact that his clothes were torn, exposing his bare body, did not matter much to him. The martial arts contest was ultimately a practice to prepare for the real thing. If one’s clothes were shredded in real combat, the enemy wouldn’t show mercy. Like if there were no teeth, one would bite with gums. If there were no clothes, one would have to fight bare.
No, perhaps.
This naked form, merely wielding a sword as he was born, might be the true appearance of a swordsman. This naked stance, shedding the shackles of cumbersome clothing, bearing only a sword, might be it.
Blink!
A flash of enlightenment illuminated Jin Pae-seon’s mind.
The naked Jin Pae-seon held his sword up. His muscles rippled, releasing the fragrance of plum blossoms. Pink sword energy began to form around his blade.
Soon enough, the blossoms started to scatter like petals.
He had met a second formidable opponent. A rival that kindled his spirit as a martial artist. A partner that taught him the path of how to be a true swordsman. A benefactor. Therefore, he needed to honor him with the best sword techniques. He had to go all out in this contest.
His blood, his inner energy surged. The emotions synchronized, explosively charging through the blood pathways, filling the martial arts arena with a thick plum blossom fragrance.
Jin Pae-seon extended his sword. Countless plum blossom petals flew from his naked form, filling the air around him. His field of vision began to blur. Cognition and sensation expanded, revealing a completely new world. The insights he gained while naked shook Jin Pae-seon’s world. In a trance of enlightenment, he swung his sword with ecstatic abandon.
Plum Blossom Surge!
Just as the name suggested, the fragrance of plum blossoms surged like waves toward Lee Cheol-soo.
Flash!
A flash of pink light flooded the martial arts arena.
*
‘This crazy fool…!’
In utter disbelief, I dodged back, stepping on the Defensive Technique of Flowing Cloud and Water as that Sword Dragon went wild, scattering the fragrance of plum blossoms everywhere.
Plum Blossom Sword Technique!
The official name was Twenty-Four Moves of Plum Blossom Sword Technique. I knew the composition of its twenty-four moves well thanks to the secrets stored in the Hwanggung Archives.
So, I understood what move Jin Pae-seon had just unleashed.
Plum Blossom Surge! Just as the name implied, a rapid-fire sequence of sword strikes that relentlessly pressured the opponent like a storm.
I parried all his strikes. Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The clash of my black sword energy against his hot pink blade sparked in the air.
The moment when feedback jarring enough to tear my hand came through.
Ssssssssss.
His pink sword energy solidified into fine threads of silk. It was the advanced technique known as Sword Thread (검사).
The Sword Dragon’s skill was said to border on the peak. Even in a limited situation at that peak level, one could invoke the Sword Thread. Yet, the Sword Thread he unleashed was different from anything a peak master would exude.
It was a fluid combination of remarkable inner energy control and the sweet fragrance of plum blossoms emanating from his body.
‘Could it be…?’
I gazed into his eyes. The impressive hot pink glow of his brilliant gaze had already immersed him in a state of trance.
Indeed.
He had just gained enlightenment and leaped from the peak level to a transcendent state in this contest against me.
The Sword Dragon, no, the Sword Monster had truly gone mad! What kind of enlightenment could he have achieved to strip down to bear skin?
I couldn’t understand. But he was clearly entranced. If I poked the bear, I risked the Condition of Deterioration Due to Reversing Heaven and could end up crippled.
‘That won’t do.’
This was not a life-or-death confrontation, but a martial arts contest. Moreover, it was the final of the Yongbong Society. Would I really want to cripple a top-tier prodigy from the Orthodox Faction in front of all the power players of the White Path Martial World?
The aftermath would be too heavy to bear. Normally, I avoid causing harm to others, but this time, I had to win while ensuring Jin Pae-seon’s trance was not disturbed.
You’re gonna pay for this one, you cheeky little Sword Dragon. I’ll make sure to collect the debt you owe for this life-changing humiliation!
I grabbed my sword once more. Infusing it with inner energy, my black sword energy stretched, solidifying into the form of Sword Thread.
HooOOoOoo!
The black energy and hot pink energy clashed as they met.
Crackle!
When our Sword Threads intertwined…
“Haap!”
He let out a fierce battle cry. The solidifying pink plum blossom erupted into a glorious bloom.
The first strikes got so mixed up, they could hardly be distinguished. Yet, even if I quickly shattered them, that risked sending him into the Condition of Deterioration.
There was no choice. I had to resort to the Six-part Body Split technique. I lifted my flaming black sword, stepping on the Defensive Technique while plunging it toward the Sword Monster.
Fssssssss!
My black robe disintegrated from his sword strikes, revealing the powerful musculature built through rigorous training, enhanced by Kegel, Jerk, and Hanging exercises.
“It’s disgraceful for even the Gongdong Alliance to go naked!”
“Oh dear Lord! How embarrassing!”
“Being naked in martial arts? Such shameful and mortifying finals are truly a first in the Yongbong Society’s history!”
“It’s hard to watch with my eyes open!”
Damn it.
I vowed not to get naked except right before the most beautiful maiden. Yet, here I was, stripped bare because of that annoying Sword Monster. But right now, I couldn’t afford to be picky.
I had to win.
No matter what. Even if I ended up naked, I had to win. Since I was already naked, I needed to come out victorious as the ‘winning crazy fool’ rather than the ‘losing crazy fool.’
While awakening my enlightenment with Hyun-gyeong and executing the Reverse Flow Blood Technique, male and female energies flowed through the blood vessels, intensifying as it burst forth.
Kwa-Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
HooOOoOoo!
From my bare body, black energy surged up violently. In that state, I finally gazed at the Sword Dragon, Jin Pae-seon, raising my sword high.
Yes, now that I had escaped the trance, I sure could land a solid hit.
Whum!
The sword trembled as I infused it with inner energy. Boom! The yet-unopened Middle Dantian quaked. I forcefully drew my mind into a cohesive union with my inner energy.
The unstable, thread-like black aura began to stabilize and fully materialize.
And finally…
Black starlight settled on the blade. It was Sword Energy (검강). The sharp edge of my technique, forged in enlightenment, descended toward Jin Pae-seon.
Kwa-Gwa-Gwa!
The martial arts arena shook. The collision of energies let out a thunderous explosive sound.
“Keuhk!”
In that moment, the Sword Dragon’s scream reverberated through the arena. I saw him flying out of the area, spraying blood from his mouth. I had adjusted my aim just enough to avoid fatal damage.
Thud!
The Sword Dragon fell to the ground. Watching that, I withdrew my energy. The temporarily conjured Sword Energy rapidly dissipated.
Ugh!
I felt the urge to vomit blood rise to my throat but swallowed it down. This was not the time to show weakness. That Sword Monster had left me naked, and I was halfway through the cleansing of my image, but I needed to conclude this showing strength.
The martial arts arena lay in ruins. Beyond it, I saw the Sword Dragon rising up again.
“The winner is Gongdong Sect’s Lee Cheol-soo!”
The voice of the martial artist serving as the judge thundered shortly after.
Finally.
The victory of the Yongbong Society was mine. However, the audience remained eerily silent. A heavy hush enveloped the place, akin to a library opening its doors.
“Oh disciple. Wear your clothes.”
Swish.
Out of nowhere, my disciple approached from behind, draping a black robe over my body.
I quickly wore the clothes. It felt less embarrassing now.
“I can hardly believe it.”
“The Gongdong Alliance was a master capable of invoking Sword Energy!”
“That goes for the Sword Monster from the Mount Hua Sect. I had no idea he had ascended to such heights.”
“Both have surpassed the level of Post-Stimulation Indicators. Ha ha ha! This level of genius in the White Path Martial World is a clear stroke of fortune for the Orthodox Faction!”
“Naked martial arts are embarrassing, but surely this has been a phenomenal contest.”
“To be honest, both their figures… were not bad.”
“The consecutive victories of the Gongdong Alliance’s Yujinhwi against the martial arts community and now the triumph of Gongdong Sect’s Lee Cheol-soo in the Yongbong Society… Would it be correct to say the Gongdong Sect has made a complete resurgence?”
Whispers began to grow among the crowd.
Hearing them, I hurriedly subordinated my expression for composure.
What?
Not the Sword Dragon, but the Sword Monster?
These crazy people! After all my efforts to earn the title of Sword Dragon, this is just… ugh!
At that moment, I heard an irritating voice booming from afar.
“Lee Cheol-soo of the Gongdong Sect!”
The noble voice of the Emperor resounded, cutting through the crowd. I turned to where the voice came from. There sat the Emperor in the best seat among the guests, past the Lord of Martial Alliance, Do-hwang (刀皇). Flanking him were his guards.
He gazed at me and said, “The Princess wishes to meet the winner and will present the prize! Be honored and tidy your appearance!”
As I locked eyes with the Emperor, his expression remained neutral, but his cheeks flushed slightly pink.
Seeing that, I chuckled inwardly, bowed, and replied, “I am deeply grateful, Your Highness.”
Now, it was time to present my victory to the Emperor.