Chapter 49

As Dan Woo-sung continued closing the distance, Dokgo Han instinctively stepped back, widening the gap.

The dynamic of pursuer and prey.

Instinctively realizing his opponent was a formidable force, Dokgo Han felt strangely short on time to think.

Time remains unchanged, but when one’s psyche shrinks, that is how it feels. This means that despite his formidable strength, Dokgo Han lacked real combat experience. He had particularly little experience being intimidated by men stronger than himself. After all, no one had ever tried to kill the young master of the Dokgo family.

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Dan Woo-sung was not the sort of man who couldn’t grasp this aspect of Dokgo Han’s psychology.

As if refusing to grant him time to think, he unleashed his lightness skill, instantly closing the distance.

They moved like hunters closing in on their prey.

Whoosh!

Dan Woosung unleashed a fist wind, forcibly locking the trajectory of the middle sword.

Clang!

Dukgo Han had no choice but to raise his middle sword to block, when Danwoo Sung suddenly appeared before him and reached out to snatch the sword.

Dokgo Han countered with a left-handed strike.

Dan Woosung’s hand shape changed from a hook to a fist, and in that brief instant, he added shoulder power to deliver a crushing strike.

Thud!

Dukgo Han’s left shoulder was forced backward. Spinning to regain his balance, Dukgo Han leapt into the air, spinning twice sideways before landing. He intended to create distance again, no matter what.

But before he could even fall, he had no choice but to swing his middle sword downward. He sensed Danwooseong relentlessly pursuing him from below. A chill ran down his spine.

Whoosh!

He could only unleash a simple attack. Dan Woosung tilted his stance to dodge the middle sword, then kicked Dokgo Han’s falling lower body with his left foot.

Thud!

Dukgo Han’s lower body shot skyward while his upper body tilted toward the ground. He then violently thrust his sword into the earth, rowing away like a boat escaping, landing far off.

Dan Wooseong smirked.

‘He sure can run away well, unlike how he looks.’

Dokgo Han staggered but managed to steady himself.

What a pathetic sight!

Namgung Wi, who had been watching, nearly burst out laughing but managed to clamp his mouth shut.

Come to think of it, that brawler’s next opponent was none other than himself.

‘Damn it, this is no time to laugh.’

It would be better for him if the two of them fought each other to a standstill. Therefore, Namgoong Wi had no choice but to root for Dokgo Han.

“Dukgo Han, is that all you’ve got?”

As soon as Dokgo Han heard Namgung Wi’s displeased voice, he retorted.

“Shut up!”

Dan Woo-sung said, scratching his ear as if Dokgo Han’s voice was too loud.

“Shut your trap.”

“You son of a—”

Dokgo Han roughly drew his middle sword backward, then explosively unleashed his internal energy as he swung it forward.

It was the unfinished technique, the Heaven-Shattering Force.

Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

The martial artists watching bowed their heads in unison.

Dan Wuseong was no one to take this honest attack head-on. He stood outside the attack’s range with a single deployment of the Five-Step Retreat Technique.

Yet the momentum remained fierce.

The emcee on the stage, who had been watching, drew the sword at his waist with a swift motion, unleashed a burst of sword energy into the air, and then swiftly sheathed it.

Thud!

The sword energy that flew with a momentum far faster than Dokgo Han’s erupted sword energy collided midair, and the two energies vanished cleanly.

The host, seemingly uncomfortable about drawing his sword before the leader, bowed his head once toward Leader Yoo Jeong-hong.

Yoo Jeong-hong waved his hand lightly, indicating it was fine.

“It’s fine.”

Come to think of it, the masters occupying the platform were all top-tier white-clad masters renowned throughout the martial world.

Dukgo Han, his composure shattered, began rampaging as he swung his middle sword. His initial momentum was formidable, forcing Danwoo Seong to merely evade by deploying his footwork. When momentum is strong, one can instinctively apply variables to launch unexpected attacks, or luckily strike the opponent to turn the tide of battle.

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However, the seasoned masters of the White Path watching could easily foresee how the duel would end.

‘The sword is heavy, but the heart is light.’

It was incongruous. Not all swordsmen of the Dugu Clan wielded heavy swords with a solemn, measured demeanor. Yu Zhenghong and the elders of the Martial Alliance watched Dugu Han with sour expressions.

He was unable to demonstrate his true abilities.

The possibility of giving Dokgo Han the Nine-Ringed Sword had vanished.

After swinging his sword like a madman over a dozen times alone, Dokgo Han finally realized he had stepped onto the path leading to defeat. The feeling was dreadful.

‘Ah…’

Only then did he feel the cold stares around him.

Dukgo Han took a quick breath, assumed a defensive stance, and looked at Danwooseong. How could he approach the duel with such a calm expression and demeanor?

It wasn’t his martial arts skill; it was the man himself who seemed formidable.

He even wondered if Danwooseong had waited for him to calm his own excitement.

Dan Woo-sung stared at Dokgo Han.

He had waited for him. It was nothing more than a small consideration from a senior who hoped he would grow into a sword of the White Path someday, if he wasn’t a degenerate.

Dan Woo-sung nodded his head, as if inviting him to come back in.

Dokgo Han’s heart calmed. Seeing the other show consideration, Dokgo Han’s tone changed slightly.

“I’ll go.”

Dukgo Han honestly signaled his attack and moved. He shook off his own fear, then charged forward, leaping into the air.

He unleashed his inner force from his left palm, squeezing out his last reserves of energy as if preparing for a final showdown. He added the subtlety of sword-grabbing to his swing, wielding his heavy sword.

Dan Woosung countered the tension with his right fist, then grabbed the middle sword with his left hand and pulled it toward him. The subtlety of the sword thrust was meaningless from the start, given Dan Woosung’s superior martial prowess.

In that instant, Dan Wooseong’s torso was riddled with openings.

Dokgo Han lifted his left foot, aiming a kick at Dan Wooseong’s waist.

At that moment, Dokgo Han’s body, gripping the heavy sword, was sent flying into the air.

Dan Wooseong had seized the heavy sword with his left hand and flung it upward. The entire sword, true to Dokgo Han’s nickname ‘Blunt Blade’ (meaning ‘no edge’), held no possibility of cutting.

The two men stood directly opposite each other. Dokgo Han had no other choice. He refused to let go of his sword.

Simultaneously, both men unleashed their inner energy.

Their robes fluttered, rustling sharply in the force of the energy waves.

Danwooseong’s eyebrows shot upward as he unleashed the Hundred Battles Ten Thousand Swords technique with his middle sword. During the brief silence that followed, Dokgo Han, who had been holding on surprisingly well, forced out a strange sound through his tightly clenched lips.

“Kk-eeeeuh…”

At that moment, Dan Wooseong slammed the middle sword he held into the ground and seized Dokgo Han’s falling neck with his right hand.

“Gah!”

Dokgo Han grabbed Danwooseong’s right hand with both of his, but it was futile. As both his internal and external energy were simultaneously pushed back, Dokgo Han’s knees hit the floor.

Thud!

Dan Woosung pressed down on Dokgo Han with one hand and looked at him.

‘Junior, consider yourself lucky you’re a white-robed cultivator.’

The host, who had been observing without interfering, spoke in a calm tone.

“Fellow martial artist, show some restraint.”

Dan Woo-sung released the hand that had been choking Dokgo Han. Dokgo Han was still kneeling, breathing heavily.

“Gasp…”

He couldn’t fathom how he’d ended up defeated after such a chaotic fight.

Dokgo Han stared blankly at his own sword stuck in the floor before grabbing it at lightning speed.

Then Danwooseong kicked Dokgo Han’s face with his foot, sending him flying.

Thud!

Dukgo Han spun wildly across the floor a dozen times before coming to a stop. His snout had been split open by the kick. As Dukgo Han staggered to his feet, Chief Yoo Jeonghong shouted in a voice charged with internal energy.

“Enough!”

That single command reverberated as if it could shake the entire Martial Arts Alliance. Those lacking internal energy—men like Cheol Myeong-ho—were the first to clamp their ears shut. Their chests heaved as if overcome with excitement.

Only then did Dokgo Han-do come to his senses.

Yoo Jeong-hong said,

“Dukgo Han, take this as an opportunity to train harder. If you show such a pathetic display, it’s not just you who loses face—it’s the honor of the Dukgo family. You didn’t even realize the guest fighter was holding back for quite some time. How do you plan to face your father when you return?”

Dukgo Han exhaled sharply, glaring at Danwooseong. After taking a deep breath, Dukgo Han assumed a fighting stance.

“I lost.”

Only then did the announcer declare.

“The challenger wins.”

The Dokgo Clan warriors pushed past the White Dragon Brigade fighters and rushed over, checking on Dokgo Han. He frowned as if to say, “Don’t come near me,” and waved them off.

Dan Wooseong drew his middle sword and hurled it at Dokgo Han.

Dukgo Han caught the sword as it flew in a standard trajectory, then descended the dueling platform first. After lowering the sword to his side, he bowed respectfully toward Mighty Chief Yoo Jeonghong.

Mangju Yoo Jeong-hong silently nodded his head.

Dan Woo-sung also descended from the stage, drawing the crowd’s gaze.

A satisfying silence followed. Everyone wore bewildered expressions, stunned that the champion contender, Dokgo Han, had been defeated by a challenger.

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When Dan Woo-sung returned to the makeshift tent, Cheol Myeong-ho, who had been wearing a pleased expression, clasped his hands and spoke.

“Master…”

Dan Woo-sung cut off the unnecessary words.

“Shut up.”

“I obey your command.”

Cheolmyeongho closed his mouth with a solemn expression, and finally, Hwa Eunseol burst out laughing.

This only made Cheol Myeong-ho’s face turn bright red. He hadn’t intended to make Hwa Eun-seol laugh, but seeing her reaction like this, he decided he wouldn’t try to make her laugh anymore.

Hwa Eun-wol smiled and offered her congratulations.

“I learned many things just watching. Congratulations.”

Hwa Eun-wol found great pleasure simply in watching the duel. Observing Dan Woo-seong’s duel gave her considerable insight. Throughout, she found herself pondering how she would have handled the situation herself.

But Dan Wooseong had to defeat Namgoong Wi anyway, and since there was one more opponent waiting for him in the finals, he deliberately engaged in a monotonous back-and-forth battle and responded indifferently.

“Don’t mention it.”

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On the martial arts stage, the Golden Sand Sword and Plum Blossom Wanderer clashed. Since this duel would determine the finalist, everyone watched intently. Moreover, the sword techniques of the Huashan Sect always drew attention, for they were not commonly seen.

Plum Blossom Wanderer, a late-stage disciple of the Huashan Sect, displayed dazzling sword techniques, but Golden Sand Sword was no less impressive.

Golden Sand Sword was a master of the Haenam Sect, often considered a top contender for victory. His nickname, Golden Sand Sword, came from the Golden Sand Sword Technique he had mastered.

While the Huashan Sect undoubtedly held the highest reputation among the martial arts sects, in terms of actual skill, Golden Sand Sword was unmatched.

He was the man hailed as the Haenam Sect’s once-in-a-century prodigy.

Moreover, he was a rare left-handed swordsman. While the Haenam Sect’s sword techniques were fast and unconventional, Plum Blossom Wanderer was executing his learned moves with a somewhat straightforward style.

It was a splendid duel, one that drew smiles from the watching Martial Alliance elders, but it did not last long.

After exchanging over twenty blows, the golden sword stopped precisely near Plum Blossom Wanderer’s neck, ending the contest. Plum Blossom Wanderer said with a look of regret,

“Brother Makcheon, I’ve lost again.”

Then, Jin Sa-geom, Wei Makcheon, chuckled and sheathed his sword.

“Let’s spar again.”

The two had arrived at the Martial Alliance over a hundred days prior and often sparred. Until the duel ended, they had not acknowledged each other.

The two simultaneously lowered their swords and bowed respectfully toward Yoo Jeong-hong, the leader. It was precisely the clean, decisive duel the martial arts alliance had hoped for. Cheers and applause erupted louder than ever before.

The emcee announced.

“Golden Sand Sword, victory.”

As Golden Silk Sword Wei Makcheon descended from the stage, he gazed intently toward where Dan Woo-sung stood.

Wei Mak-cheon had also anticipated Dan Woo-sung, not Namgung Wi, would be his final opponent.

Wei Mak-cheon smiled at Dan Woo-sung.

‘We’ll meet in the finals.’

ⓒ Yoo Jin-seong