Chapter 50: Who Is The Winner (2)

The silence didn’t last for long.

“Kuahahahah!”

It was because of Hae Ack-chun. He was so happy that his laughter echoed around. In the worst case, we had assumed defeat, but it seemed like his expectations were broken rather easily.

-Wow! How did you come up with the idea to use that?

-I didn’t expect it at all.

Short Sword and Iron Sword were surprised too. I was a bit skeptical. It was a gamble to use Illusion Eye, which took innate qi, but this gamble was still successful even with my dantian sealed.

It was fortunate that Ho Geum-won’s mental strength wasn’t as strong as I had thought.

-I thought you would end in moderation, but you cut off his arm.

‘Because he aimed for my arm too.’

Actually, I was quite worried. Even if the two sides agreed on a battle that led to death, I was pretty sure that Seo Kalma would be aiming to get me killed.

Cutting off the arm wasn’t a preferred method, but it was the only way to bring the opponent down with a single blow.

-Wouldn’t it be more effective if you aimed for his dantian?

‘... that would be the same as death.’

I knew better than anyone the pain of losing your dantian. That meant death to a warrior.

Moreover, it was Seo Kalma who had taught him martial arts; if Ho Geum-won’s dantian was taken down, the man would abandon his disciple and even insult him.

Unless he was an enemy, it was better to avoid doing so.

-Well. Those words are right.

-Wonhwi’s judgment is right.

Either way, the fight was won. If the arm hadn’t been cut off, there would have been no chance of winning.

In the first place, if he had moved on me, I would have had my neck slashed. Ho Geum-won’s face was pale. The bleeding was too severe.

Shhh!

I pushed the tip of the sword close to the neck.

“Will you acknowledge your defeat?”

Ho Geum-won had a pained expression. It seemed like he still didn’t understand how he had lost.

At that time, Seo Kalma was about to come to where I was.

Tat!

Hae Ack-chun blocked him.

“Your disciple hasn’t declared defeat yet.”

Seo Kalma’s expression was distorted,

“Hae Ack-chun!”

“If you plan to intervene in the match, you will have to fight me.”

Hae Ack-chun could use his hands anytime. I had never seen the old man lose, but if these two fought, it would be a tough fight.

Seo Kalma raised his voice in anger,

“How is this a match? Didn’t your disciple use a trick!”

He wasn’t being formal any longer. As soon as this had happened, he immediately lost his cool.

“An unorthodox sect uses tricks. Are you going to use that as an excuse?”

Hae Ack-chun never gets pushed by bullying words.

However, that really touched a nerve.

“Excuse? Ha!”

As soon as he said that, Seo Kalma moved. And Hae Ack-chun followed.

Crack!

The moment the two collided with each other, the wooden boards on the floor split open.

These people were the owners of such terrifying power. The wooden floor that was down was cracking up.

“Kuahahaha! Feels good! Let’s fight; it has been so long.”

Hae Ack-chun was ready to jump into the fight. Seo Kalma shouted,

“Huh! fine! Let’s see which side brings in the end! Eunjae!”

“Yes!”

Pak!

At the cry from him, Go Eunjae moved to the side and threw a sword. And Seo Kalma, who caught the sword in its sheath, was about to pull it out until someone stood between the two.

“Uh?”

“The Bloody Hand Witch!”

It was Han Baek-ha who was the notary for this.

“Enough. You both should stop.”

Seo Kalma spoke to her, who was intervening in anger,

“Sixth Blood Star. This match is void. He didn’t compete fairly.”

“What do you mean?”

Seo Kalma turned to her. Those eyes were looking bitter as they looked back at her. The innate qi in her body stopped her from trembling. And Seo Kalma narrowed his eyes,

“I see! My sajae has done his best. I should have known from the time that you asked for a match with no internal qi.”

“Huh! It is absurd that a guy who has the title of Venerable Dignitary cannot understand defeat. Who is the one making tricks here?”

“I don’t know what he did, but your disciple is able to use internal qi!”

Seo Kalma was convinced that I had used internal qi. At his words, Bloody Hand Witch said,

“Didn’t the Second Elder personally seal his blood points?”

“So I am telling you that he used some trick. If not, how could that cowardly bastard use some trick!”

I thought he would have noticed my innate qi, but he hadn’t. He kept guessing that I used internal qi. And Han Baek-ha shook her head,

“If you want to blame the young master, you will have to blame me.”

Looking at this, despite looking at the women behind the bamboo sheet, that man had already known that Baek Ryeon-ha was dressed as a disciple of the Bloody Hand Witch.

“After all, Uncle Seo recognizes me.”

“How can I not recognize you? You are the same as then.”

-Why bother lying when I can see that drool?

Short Sword clicked her tongue. Maybe the girl wasn’t fat when she was a child. She smiled at Seo Kalma and then walked a little ahead.

“My lady?”

It was Ho Geum-won’s right arm she reached for. Baek Ryeon-ha’s hand was turning red and white steam was being released from her hand, and then something like frost appeared from the severed arm.

She picked it up and gave it to Seo Kalma.

“This is?”

Surprisingly, she had frozen his arm. She seemed to be having the same ice qi as I had.

“This is a plaque the Great Doctor had given me when he came here the other day.”

“How can I take such a precious thing?”

“I hope the young master’s hand gets healed.”

“Ah...”

Seo Kalma exclaimed. Even I was shocked.

I didn’t know how she managed to get a plaque, but I didn’t think she would just hand it over. Was she saving it for the moment when another person’s disciple arm has to be attached?

Pak!

This greatly moved Seo Kalma.

“I am deeply moved by the grace The Lady has shown. How can I ever repay this favor? I cannot.”

Ho Geum-won, whose arm was cut down, knelt down and tried to bow, but she resisted this.

“It is fine. It would be a waste if Uncle’s disciple would lose his spirit like this.”

Her favor managed to work. Even if it was intentional, she was willing to give out something precious.

Seo Kalma, who received this grace, would have to feel a bit moved.

Thud!

And the man bowed, making his forehead thud on the ground.

“Second Elder, Seo Kalma. I would like to have the Young Lady Baek Ryeon-ha, who inherited the former sect leader’s blood, as the new sect leader. Please accept me with a generous heart,”

Baek Ryeon-ha smiled at this.

Thanks to the good usage of Han Baek-ha in the right situation, she gained the loyalty of this man.

-The final winner is Baek Ryeon-ha, who had lost weight.

‘Well.’

-Uh?

Hae Ack-chun, who was looking at this with joy, went ahead and knelt. It seems like he was going to pledge his allegiance too. But I stopped him,

“Please wait a minute, teacher.”

Hae Ack-chun frowned as he looked at me,

“What are you doing?”

“It isn’t over yet.”

“What?”

At my words, not just Hae Ack-chun, but Han Baek-ha and even Baek Ryeon-ha were puzzled. Hae Ack-chun tried to say something–

[Teacher. Please leave this to me.]

[...]

Hae Ack-chun was a bit taken aback, but he nodded. I approached Baek Ryeon-ha and bowed,

“Long live the Blood Sect! Fourth Elder’s disciple, So Wonhwi asks the young lady for a spar.”

‘...!!’

Everyone looked shocked at this. Even Baek Ryeon-ha was looking quite shocked. Of course, she would be.

Normally this would be gotten over, but then I heard her words.

[What is this, Young Master?]

[Do you hate me as your partner?]

For a moment, her face turned red, but then she spoke calmly.

[Do you really wish to be with me?]

[Not exactly that.]

[What?]

She looked at me. Looking at her face in the past and now, she was pretty. And as I smiled, she looked puzzled.

[...what are you planning?]

[I am just doing what the young lady said.]

[That...]

She was speechless. She did say a couple of things with her mouth, so there was no denying it now. If we decided to be loyal to her, it would happen naturally, but this is a loss for my teacher and me.

[If you beat me, you will get what you want, so why hesitate so much?]

Baek Ryeon-ha bit her lip. I knew why she wasn’t jumping in.

She just saw the result between Ho Geum-won and me. She wasn’t sure of being able to get away from the Illusion Eye.

But as an individual who has to attract the leaders in the sect, she will have to take responsibility for her words.

And she said,

“Fine. I accept this fight.”

At the same time, other words were said to me.

[... Please suggest what you want.]

My lips were itching to smile.