Chapter 15 Nine Dragon Battle (4)

Chapter 15 Nine Dragon Battle (4)

* * *

After that, Gu Yangji also defeated the remaining late-stage disciples of the Shaolin Temple and Wudang Sect.

There was just one difference.

“…Your skill was without flaw.”

‘Ugh, what is this nonsense?’

He had truly gone easy on Ye Qing, the late-stage disciple of the Wudang Sect.

Not only that, but in the end, he had even forced himself to praise him.

Seventy percent exaggeration, thirty percent falsehood.

Not a single shred of truth existed.

‘Yang Zhixian was the best.’

Of course, this true sentiment would never be known elsewhere.

Only the result that even Gu Yangjie, who had achieved an overwhelming victory, had paid his respects to the Wudang would be highlighted.

In that process, Yang Zhihuan’s struggle would surely be buried quickly.

After all, in the martial world, only results proved one’s worth.

‘That old fox.’

Gu Yangjeok’s gaze turned toward the man seated at the head of the table, Hyun Geomjin.

He seemed determined that even if he didn’t win the Nine Dragons Tournament, he wouldn’t suffer any losses.

In a way, he wasn’t much different from a merchant or an elder managing a martial arts sect.

After all, whether merchant or sect, trust was ultimately necessary.

But unlike merchants who could simply move to another region, martial arts sects required two proofs.

The most obvious: strength.

And the influence they could wield over surrounding areas.

‘Though he didn’t gain the title of True Immortal… the Wudang Sect still achieved two birds with one stone.’

The Nine Dragons Tournament was a competition involving over ten influential sects, excluding the smaller ones.

There was no better publicity than winning there.

-We are this strong.

-Even though Ye Qing couldn’t defeat Gu Yangji, he was recognized differently from other late-stage cultivators.

Just spreading these facts meant the Wudang Sect gained both practical benefits.

Of course, Gu Yangji could gain not just two birds with one stone, but three, or even four.

‘Victory in the Nine Dragons Tournament, acquisition of the True Spirit, and the endorsement of the great elder of the Wudang Sect, Xian Jianjin.’

And the most crucial thing was…

A glimmer of anticipation flickered across Gu Yangji’s face.

The Purple Small Pill.

It was the legendary elixir coveted by every disciple of the Huashan Sect who had mastered the Purple Mist Qi.

Even the current Huashan Sect possessed fewer than twenty pills of this elixir, but having achieved such feats, he had earned the right to request it.

Defeating one of the Three Evils of Shaanxi, and securing the ultimate victory in the Nine Dragons Tournament.

‘If they don’t give it, I’ll strangle them myself…’

“Wait, hold on!”

“……?”

At the shout from outside, all heads turned.

There stood even the current Sword Master, the person in charge of this Nine Dragons Tournament. The face of the one who shouted was flushed with embarrassment.

That alone was enough for Gu Yangji to roughly understand.

That person was clearly going to spout some creative nonsense.

That prediction was not wrong.

“A person with such mediocre martial prowess couldn’t possibly be a late-stage cultivator!”

Instantly, murmurs began to rise. People found his words reasonable.

“First, would you kindly state your name?”

At the calm, gentle words of the Sword Master, the middle-aged man removed the cloak draped over his shoulders.

Beneath it was a Taoist robe embroidered with the characters ‘乾現’ (Gyeonhyeon).

“I am Xing Wu of the Gyeonhyeon Sect, master of Jeong Rak, whose ankle was broken by that author!”

Another minor sect.

Xian Jianjin almost snapped back, “So your lack of skill means you lack magnanimity too?” but he forced himself to hold it in.

It was essentially nonsense.

Which sect in the Nine Dragon Grand Tournament would bring someone who wasn’t a late-stage cultivator?

Moreover, Gu Yangjeok was notorious in a bad way; he wasn’t someone lacking information to the point of lying about his age.

At that moment, a telepathic message came from the unarmed combat side.

-A master of a sect shouldn’t act so petty. Right?

Hearing the telepathic message sent by Gu Yangjeok, the Sword Saint couldn’t hold back his laughter and burst out laughing loudly for a moment.

“Heh, puhahahaha…!”

That a disciple not even of age could harbor such thoughts upon seeing a peerless master from another sect.

The more one looked at Gu Yangji, the more he seemed like a being from another world, vastly different from a cultivator.

Seeing this, Xing’ao showed his displeasure.

“Even if you are Xian Jianjinren of the Wudang Sect, isn’t this too rude?”

“…Ah. Brother, I wasn’t laughing at you or the Jianxian Sect. I apologize.”

Despite the considerable age and seniority gap, the current sword master apologized cleanly, leaving Xing’ou with no grounds to press the matter further.

No matter how displeased he might have been, the very act of snapping at a master like the current sword master was indeed rude.

“Khm, well.”

After clearing his throat once, Hyung-o bowed deeply with a grand gesture.

“This elder brother must apologize. I seem to have spoken rashly in a moment of anger. But…….”

Hyung-o’s gaze shifted back to Gyu-yang-jeok.

“I cannot trust that disciple’s abilities.”

“Why is that?”

“Isn’t it too sudden?”

Even Hyun Geomjin, who had maintained solemnity, blinked at those words.

The other sects were no different.

There was no need to go back a whole year.

Who would have thought that Gu Yangji, notorious for his recent rampage in Sangju, would shatter the late-stage cultivator nurtured by his own sect?

This was a major incident among incidents, a nightmare for sects competing with Huashan Sect.

As if ‘that’ Yu Zhangming weren’t enough, it was as if another rising star had appeared within the Huashan Sect.

The problem was, this so-called rising star was anything but virtuous.

‘Must we even lose to such a rogue?’

The resentment held by the smaller sects, who harbored an inferiority complex towards the major sects, was particularly palpable.

“Allow us to verify this ourselves, True Master.”

At those words, the remaining small and medium sects signaled their agreement.

Even the martial artist from Cheonmubong nodded his head.

Losing to Yoo Jang-myeong was one thing, but being defeated by a rogue who preyed on common folk was deeply shameful to them.

Hyeon Geom Jin-in was not unaware of this.

“…Hmm.”

Xian Jianjin stroked his long, flowing beard.

Having presided over the Nine Dragons Tournament for thirty years and lived in the martial world even longer, he understood.

They were reluctant to readily admit defeat, so they wanted to verify for themselves if he was indeed the one.

‘Otherwise, how could they show their faces in the sect?’

Just as Hyun Geomjin opened his mouth to ask for Gu Yangjeok’s understanding.

“Why are you persecuting my disciple?”

From among the merchants, a man who had been hiding his face behind a thin cloth stepped forward to stand before the combatants.

He then pulled the cloth away.

Swish.

The gaze revealed by the man—no, Yu Zhangming—was faintly sharp.

Tension flowed for an instant.

Especially Xing’ou, who had been directly pressuring Gu Yangjie, widened his eyes.

If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve chosen my words more carefully.

A thin bead of sweat trickled down his cheek.

“Hmm, hmm. I wasn’t exactly trying to pressure you. It’s just that your disciple fought far better than the rumors suggested, so I wanted to verify it.”

“Verify?”

Yoo Jang-myeong momentarily set aside his humility.

As a disciple of the Huashan Sect, and as the Second Senior Brother directly beneath the Grand Senior Brother, he had something to say.

“The senior disciple of that priest is right here. How could you possibly verify him?”

“Well…”

While Hyeong-woo hesitated, Yu Jang-myeong revealed a calm expression.

“The disciples personally taught by the senior masters surely worked hard as well. How could I not know that?”

But.

Yu Zhangming smiled softly, as if proud of Gu Yangji’s victory in the Nine Dragons Tournament.

However, martial artists from minor sects like Hyung-woo were forced to feel humiliated by his next words.

“It’s simply that the late-stage disciples present here lacked martial talent compared to Brother Gu Yang.”

“What the hell?!”

“Simply that. It’s not something to loudly accuse the master of using shortcuts or not.”

Gu Yangji was startled by those words.

‘……Huh?’

There was clearly no malice in Yoo Jang-myeong’s words.

He had only spoken the plain truth sincerely.

‘They say a gentleman is most terrifying when angry.’

He hadn’t expected him to drive the point home with words like that.

Even as Gu Yangji laughed awkwardly, Yu Jangmyeong didn’t take his eyes off Hyung-woo.

His gaze seemed to say, “You know better than that,” demanding Hyung-woo admit the truth and apologize right then and there.

‘……Hmm.’

A heavy sigh escaped Hyung-woo’s heart.

He was confident he could overpower both Yoo Jang-myeong and Gu Yang-jeok with his martial prowess and status.

The justification was simple.

He had lumped together the Geonhyeon Sect and other small-to-medium sects, implying their martial talents were inferior.

If he seized on that remark, he could gain the upper hand right here and now.

But… what came after was the problem.

Yu Jang-myeong was a genius unmatched even beyond the Huashan Sect, across all of Shaanxi and Jiangbei.

Would the Huashan Sect really stand idly by if he picked a fight?

No, they wouldn’t.

They would come directly to the Geonhyeon Sect to settle it.

Through dialogue, and through swords.

Building a sect’s reputation was difficult, but its downfall required little time at all.

‘Other sects are no different.’

Oh dear.

Responding to the signals sent by martial artists from other small and medium-sized sects, Hyeong-woo resolved to follow.

“I’m sorry.”

“Is that all?”

“……?”

As Hyeong-woo frowned, Yu Jang-myeong muttered in an exceedingly solemn tone.

“Gu Yang-jeok who participated in the Nine Dragons Battle is not Gu Yang-jeok as a natural person. He is the martial artist representing the Huashan Sect, the Taoist. But what did you say, Senior?“

Hyeong-woo chewed over his own words, then made a startled expression.

”I asked… for confirmation.“

”So the Senior representing the Geonhyeon Sect has come to harbor suspicion toward the Huashan Sect.”

‘Kuh!’

Watching Yu Zhangming systematically and clearly crush Hyeong-woo point by point, Gu Yang-jeok felt as if he were drinking refreshing ice water.

Yet Yu Zhangming did not stop there.

“On behalf of our sect’s leader, Baek Dan-hyeon, and our senior brother Ha Jin-ak, I, Second Senior Brother Yu Zhangming, issue a warning to the senior of the Geonhyeon Sect.”

“…….”

Even as Hyung-woo’s face turned deathly pale, Yoo Jang-myeong showed no sign of relenting.

“Even if you claim it was to elevate Geonhyeon Sect’s standing, if you intend to persecute the Daoist Gu Yang-jeok, who came representing Hwasan Sect, with unjustified suspicion, I will make this matter public.”

“……I, I.”

Hyeong-woo bit down hard on his lower lip.

“I was wrong. If the Huashan Sect demands an apology, I will gladly comply. So please…….”

Let this matter be dropped.

At those words, the frown on Yu Jang-myeong’s forehead deepened.

‘Demand an apology?’

It wouldn’t even be enough to apologize for coming to Huashan Sect himself and suspecting Gu Yangjie, the victor of the Nine Dragons Battle.

Just as Yu Zhangming was about to speak sharply again.

Gu Yangjie’s lips parted slightly.

“Senior Brother, let’s stop here.”

“But, brother…?”

“Well, seeing someone your age groveling like that just puts me in a foul mood.”

“Hmm.”

“I, the one responsible, am fine with it, and that senior must have reflected sufficiently, wouldn’t you agree?”

Gu Yang-jeok said this with a calm expression.

“If it happens again, we can settle it properly then. There’ll be no room for denial.”

At those words, Yu Zhangming recalled the incident at the Golden Ring Trading Company and decided to follow Gu Yangjie’s judgment.

When it came to matters concerning the martial world, Gu Yangjie was usually right, even if it wasn’t about personal character or Taoist cultivation.

“…Understood.”

Yu Zhangming gave a light nod. Gu Yangjie stepped down from the sparring platform and offered a fist salute to Xingwu.

No matter how easy the opponent, a complete rout would only provoke the enemy.

Deciding to stop here, Gu Yangjeok leaned close to Hyeong-woo’s ear and asked.

“By any chance… could we switch carriages?”

“Huh? The carriage… you mean?”

“We’re fellow Daoists, aren’t we? My carriage is a bit worn out, and the journey here was rough. Surely you wouldn’t refuse? Since we’re both from Shaanxi, we’re bound to cross paths often in the future.“

Seeing the sly smile on Gu Yangji’s face, Hyeong-woo let out a long sigh.

”Do as you please.”

A short while later.

Having received the Zhenxian from the Taoist priest of the shaman, Gu Yangji boarded a carriage with Yu Zhangming and headed for Huashan.

Having obtained what he sought, there was no time to linger here.

Moreover, one lingering concern remained.

The Three Evils of Shaanxi. No, the Two Evils of Shaanxi.

There must be a reason they targeted participants of the Nine Dragons Tournament.

Perhaps a greater dark force lurked behind the scenes.

‘Best to avoid getting entangled in troublesome affairs.’

At this stage, when he couldn’t yet claim to be a true powerhouse, he didn’t want to waste time getting entangled in unnecessary affairs.

And then, a few days later.

Gu Yangji blinked in shock at the grim news that had flown into the Huashan Sect.

Three members of the Jianxian Sect, including Xing Wu, murdered by the Shaanxi Second Sect.

– By Baek Cheon, Head of the Golden Ring Trading Company.