Chapter 61 Nine Dragons Contest (6)

Chapter 61: Nine Dragons Contest (6)

The quarterfinals ended in an instant.

That’s because they faced opponents whose skill levels were clearly mismatched.

It was obvious the host, the Red Dragon Sect, had pulled strings to ensure the Nine Dragons Contest concluded successfully.

‘As expected, the Red Dragon Sect of entertainment.’

At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if a Nine Dragons Land popped up somewhere in the outer city soon.

Thanks to that, I could enter the semifinals without nearly exhausting my stamina.

Of course, the same would likely be true for Baek Muha.

That was why I found myself thinking more deeply about my duel with him.

“What are you going to do?”

“That’s right. Decide quickly. Registration closes soon.”

The two women urged me on as I hesitated to make a decision.

Thinking about it, this whole dilemma was ridiculous.

I could just stick to my original plan: bet on defeat, fight half-heartedly, and lose.

But that one phrase Baek Muha had spat out back then kept swirling in my head.

‘To someone like you?’

Was it because I was being ignored by someone I usually despised?

His words replayed vividly in my mind, as if I’d just heard them.

‘The more I think about it, the more pissed off I get.’

That bastard really.

As I agonized over it again and again.

“Closing soon! If you want to place a bet, hurry up!”

The warrior manning the reception desk for the Red Dragon Gang bellowed at the top of his lungs.

Shifting my gaze above him, I spotted the paper listing the odds.

‘Baek Muha at 1.7, me at 2.3.’

As expected, many predicted Baek Muha’s victory.

Amidst this, the voices of the two women who had come with him reached his ears.

“I believe in you, Captain Jo. You’re stronger than anyone I know.”

Myohyang offered words of encouragement.

“What’s life all about? It’s all about that one shot. Since Captain Jin’s odds are higher anyway, bet on him and fight like hell. Don’t worry about getting hurt. I’ll fix you up for free.“

Cheongso, aiming for the underdog odds, spouted the classic line of a gambling addict.

By the way, why is this guy here when he’s broke?

”What business do you have meddling when you don’t even have money to invest?“

”Oh my? Why wouldn’t I have money?“

”Didn’t you just blow it all recently? I thought you went bust chasing that one big win back then?“

Struck where it hurt, the cleaner answered with a gloomy expression.

”······I borrowed it from Myohyang.“

”No, what if you lose it again······.“

”I’ll win it back and pay you, so don’t worry.”

The cleaner had already reached the final stage of gambling addiction: the ‘win-to-pay’ syndrome.

“Oh my? Why are you staring like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“You seem to be looking at me with a really pathetic expression right now…”

“It’s just your imagination.”

“No, it’s not… You really were looking at me like I was pathetic.”

Damn, she’s quick to pick up on things.

“If there are no more takers, I’ll close registration now!”

The announcement signaling the end came from the registration desk.

It was time to decide.

Truthfully, I’d already made up my mind when I heard Myohyang’s encouragement.

“I should trust myself like my sister said. Bet everything on me.”

All-in on my victory.

* * *

Perhaps because it was the semifinals, the stands were packed with spectators.

Waaah-!

As Baek Muha and I stepped onto the stage, they all roared in unison.

Most were commoners living in the outer city.

“It’s Captain Jo!”

“Win for us!”

“Captain Jin, take me! Waaah!”

Perhaps because they were people I usually saw, most sent me words of encouragement.

And on the small hill overlooking the stage.

Behind two men waving a huge banner, over a hundred Oedang warriors waved at me, and right beside them, Baekgongbaek was drinking.

Seeing that scene made me feel certain my decision had been right.

‘With support like this, how could I lose?’

Even if I’d decided otherwise, my thoughts would likely have changed once I stepped onto the stage.

As I met Baek Muha’s gaze, a telepathic voice reached me.

[Have you considered the proposal?]

“What proposal?! Ah! Are you suggesting some dirty deal where you offer money to make me surrender after a token fight?!”

My deliberately loud reply caused a flicker of unease in Baek Muha’s eyes.

“……Truly, you’re the sort who needs to step over the threshold of the afterlife to come to your senses.”

“Our mouths may be twisted, but let’s keep our words straight. Haven’t you genuinely tried to kill me before? Four years ago. Don’t you remember?”

“……”

“You don’t seem to care about the past at all. Truly, you are the coolest guy in Nine Dragon City.”

As the conversation dragged on, Geumgeomjin interjected.

“How much longer do you intend to keep the audience waiting? Both of you, stop it.”

“Right.”

Nod.

As Baek Muha and I nodded, Geumgeomjin signaled the start of the duel.

At that very moment.

Clang! Whoosh!

A sword light exploded from Baek Muha’s scabbard.

The Sunlight Sword.

The Baek family’s ultimate technique had erupted.

Of course, I had anticipated his surprise attack.

Kwoong!

Before Baek Muha could draw his sword, I stepped into the Jinjak stance and unleashed the Jeonwangbo.

Swoosh!

The spot where I had been standing moments ago split open briefly.

Overwhelmed by that lightning-fast speed, the audience fell into silence.

And I.

“Your attacks are incredibly sharp, probably from all those ambushes. How about switching to being an assassin entirely······.”

Swoosh!

“Damn it! Shit. Hey, I’m talking here…”

I kept spewing trash talk.

Why?

Obviously, to make him let his guard down just a little.

Only then could I pierce through that terrifying Sunlight Sword and engage in close combat.

Thud. Swoosh.

Every time Baek Muha’s sword moved, space and the ground were sliced apart.

Its momentum was so sharp it could split the air itself.

Still, don’t worry too much.

I possess superior reflexes, better than anyone.

I blended the lightness of the Flying Wind with the explosive power of the King’s Step.

Clang! Thud.

Thanks to that, evasion succeeded.

Squish.

The Sunlight Sword could only slice through empty air.

This went on for over ten seconds.

“······Huff.”

Baek Muha’s ragged breathing echoed.

Indeed, sustaining that kind of speed wasn’t easy.

It clearly drained immense internal energy and stamina.

Wasn’t it obvious he was growing weary?

Half of that could be credited to trash talk.

Sure enough.

Thud.

At some point, I sensed Baek Muha’s sword was losing its edge.

Thump.

Seizing the moment he withdrew his sword, I unleashed the Zhen Wang Bo, instantly dashing to his flank.

Crack, crackle.

Simultaneously, the Zhen Wang Qi surged around my body, unleashing a torrent of energy that provided immense force.

And using that immense force, I unleashed the Ten Kings Thirteen Piercings.

Pang!

Swinging, thrusting, snapping, and slashing.

The most efficient striking technique a human could wield was unleashed upon Baek Muha’s body.

And at that moment.

I sensed something was wrong.

I felt significant recoil from the fist I had driven in.

“……!”

Heh.

Baek Muha curled one side of his mouth upward in a smile.

An instinct that arose like lightning warned him.

It’s a trap!

Clang! Swoosh.

The Sunlight Sword exploded, slicing off the top of his hair.

A strike so fast that even the slightest hesitation to dodge would have left a hole in his forehead.

Regaining his senses, he saw a short sword held in Baek Muha’s left hand.

So that was it.

The bastard had prepared dual blades and a protective robe specifically to face him.

Quickly casting Flying Wind to create distance, the bastard wore a smug, triumphant smile.

“You little…”

“Surprised?”

“A little?”

“Glad it wasn’t for nothing.”

I pointed out one thing to him as he laughed.

“But you made a huge mistake.”

“……?”

“Dual blades are the very symbol of defeat. It’s practically foreshadowing that you’ll get beaten like a dog by me today and piss yourself.”

Isn’t the twin swords being a symbol of defeat a universal truth across all dimensions, transcending time and space?

Was he struck at the heart of the matter?

Baek Muha, his expression twisted, unleashed his sword technique with a footwork maneuver.

A white sword aura flew toward me at a speed like a beam of light.

“Tsk!”

At a speed incomparable to before.

Clang! Thud.

The sword light grazed his shoulder, blood spurting forth.

Thud.

The short sword swept past his shin at an unseen speed.

He couldn’t just stand there and take it.

Crackle, boom!

He unleashed a blast of energy toward the front, creating a storm of force.

But Baek Muhang didn’t care at all, swinging his sword forward.

Whatever the hell he was wearing, the force of the blast was blocked by his robe.

‘This bastard.’

To rely on gear in a sacred one-on-one duel? What a coward.

But what could I do?

Taking him down was the priority now.

Kwaaang! Kwaaang!

I unleashed the Exploding Sword again, scattering his sword energy.

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He hits me.

In an instant, I decide and unleash the Jeonwangbo directly at him.

Thud.

I threw a punch.

There was no time to load the explosive sword’s energy, but I poured everything I had into the Jeonwanggi. It was a punch packed with enough power to send a man to the grave.

Thud. Thwack!

The dagger pierced his left shoulder, and my fist slammed into his solar plexus.

“Guh.”

“Guh.”

He let out a choked cough, but the sensation in my fist told me.

This was a complete losing deal.

“Gah!”

The kick exploded out immediately.

It was a move aimed at his neck, unprotected by his robe.

Swoosh.

His long sword blocked the kick first.

Thanks to that, the attack didn’t land, but his thigh split open.

Drip.

Blood flowed from the gash. Had it been just a bit deeper, it would have sliced to the bone.

Clang.

A sunbeam sword erupted from the short blade, flying straight for my throat.

“Hmph!”

I immediately arched my back.

Swoosh.

The tip of my jaw split open.

Baek Muha’s attack didn’t stop there.

Swish.

He moved his long sword like a ghost, aiming for my leg.

Thud.

I succeeded in instantly creating distance to evade, but a chill ran down my spine.

If I hadn’t mastered the Flying Blade, my leg would have been severed.

Unconsciously, I frowned at the situation where I was being pushed back even in close combat.

If this continued, defeat was inevitable.

‘No choice.’

I had to prepare.

“See? You should’ve accepted the offer.”

“Shall I do it now then? Hehe. Just give me about thirty thousand nyang, and I’ll surrender and head down quickly.”

“Hmm? I’m not exactly rolling in cash to waste on a guy who’ll soon be a headless ghost.”

“You’re famous for being rich, yet you say that.”

At my banter, Baek Muha drew his long sword and short sword, building up his momentum.

“This will be different from before.”

“······?”

Swoosh!

Even though I leaped away the moment I sensed his sword moving, the sword energy grazed my forearm.

Another slash flew in, grazing my thigh.

Had I not been operating the Zhenwangqi and emitting a protective aura, the wound would have been severe enough to sever my leg.

“Hmph!”

Kwoong.

I mixed the Zhenwangbao into the Flying Heaven Wind and charged at him.

It was a choice made because I felt I couldn’t hold out any longer.

And so, close combat ensued once more.

Splash.

“Haah, haah.”

I was pushed back pitifully.

At the same time, I realized.

If this continued, I was undoubtedly headed for the underworld.

‘Just a little more…’

The sword kept flying at me.

I barely dodged it, but wounds multiplied across my body.

And then.

Thud!

His sword, like a beam of light, succeeded in piercing my solar plexus.

It was an attack that couldn’t be avoided without instant death.

“Guh!”

“……?”

The sword didn’t pierce me.

“Because I received a nice gift from someone.”

I had put on the Yongrin Armor just in case.

After all, you have to fight gear power with gear power, right?

Just as he gritted his teeth, trying to retrieve his sword again.

Crackle. Snap.

Finally, the accumulated energy surged forth.

Mind and body as one.

It was the realm I had grasped during my training with North Palace Baek last time.

It had simply taken time to execute, as I hadn’t fully internalized the realization yet.

With this, I could easily turn Baek Muha into mincemeat.

The storm of energy once again unleashed its might.

And in that state.

Thud. Thud.

He unleashed his energy once more.

He had ignited the Exploding Energy Technique within his body.

“Guh.”

Naturally, his insides were shattered.

The meridians and acupoints scattered throughout his body suffered massive shock, inflicting internal injuries.

Why inflict such self-harm?

Because there was something to gain.

Kwoong.

The power and speed to strike down that bastard right then.

Lianhuanjing (Chain Force).

He unleashed the third martial art of the Zhenwang style.

With every step he took, his energy exploded.

A speed incomparable to just moments before.

Moreover.

Zheang!

His senses sharpened to the point he could clearly see the enemy’s sword.

Crack.

The sword energy of the Sunlight Sword, dodged in a single step, grazed me and slammed into the ground.

Kwoong.

Stepping on the Zhenwangbo, the entire martial arts stage shook.

Using the explosive force to launch myself, I cast Flying Heaven Wind to increase the distance.

Sensing something was off, the bastard deployed his footwork to create distance, but.

Thwack!

A fist slammed into his side first.

“Keeek!”

The familiar recoil force.

By now, I was curious about Bo-ui’s true nature.

‘He poured out that much power and is still fine?’

But that didn’t mean there was no way.

Kwaaang!

If I just kept pounding the shell, he’d eventually die on his own.

A burst of explosive energy erupted from the fist that shot out like lightning.

Thud!

A slightly dull thud echoed, followed by the creature’s scream.

“Guh.”

I had to unleash faster, stronger attacks.

‘There’s no time.’

The time I could maintain the environment was running out.

I poured every ounce of my energy into the Ten-Thirteen Piercing Strike.

Puff!

The enemy twisted and turned, dodging the attack.

“……!”

A sword slash, swift as a ray of light, came flying.

To launch a sword attack while being struck… his will alone was worthy of respect.

Thud!

But I didn’t dodge.

It was better to pour everything into the attack, even if it meant sacrificing time to evade.

Was it fortunate that the attack missed because he hadn’t properly aimed either?

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Whack. Whack. Whack.

My fists, exploding relentlessly, pounded his entire body.

“Guh.”

Finally, it seemed to hit home as he began to groan.

Amidst those cries, I put even more strength into my attacks.

If not now, when would I ever beat this bastard?

Still, he seemed to retain his wits, as Baek Muha thoroughly guarded the area above his neck, which the protective barrier couldn’t shield.

But that defense didn’t last long.

Snap.

Unable to withstand the concentrated assault, the bastard’s arm finally broke.

As expected, the nature of clothing meant it could block impact and force, but not pressure.

That meant the bastard could no longer defend his head.

“Hmph!”

This was the chance to decide the outcome.

Aiming for its head, I packed my palm full of force.

I wouldn’t kill it.

Instead, I intended to ensure it could never look at me again.

This wasn’t about scaring it into avoiding my gaze.

I planned to unleash force into both its eyes, completely robbing it of sight.

Since we were already sworn enemies, this much was necessary to ensure he wouldn’t target me again.

Just as my palm was about to strike his face.

A flash of light erupted as a sword flew straight toward my chest.

Flash!