Chapter 178: I Lost

Chapter 178: I Lost

TL: FoodieMonster007

Everyone watching the duel heard Wiji Cheon's words, but at first, no one quite grasped their meaning.

"What did he just say?"

"He's joining the fight over a title?"

"What's he on about? Wait... does he mean that title?!"

"What's going on? Someone tell me!"

"It's a declaration of war against the Sword Dragon Dokgo Jun!"

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A murmur spread through the crowd as they pieced together the meaning behind Wiji Cheon's words. It wasn't exactly a secret that the Sword Flower Yoo Yiran was after Dokgo Jun's title, the Sword Dragon, but now, Wiji Cheon had announced that he would also vie for it.

It was absurd. No matter how talented Wiji Cheon was, he was still just a freshman. Challenging the top prodigy and Student Council President, Dokgo Jun, in front of a crowd of witnesses was, to say the least, audacious.

"Holy crap, and here I was thinking Wiji Cheon was timid..."

"Look at the people he hangs out with every day. Could a truly timid guy be friends with those guys?"

"Well..."

"I'm starting to think he's the craziest one among them."

Over a hundred students had gathered to watch the duel. Wiji Cheon's declaration would definitely reach Dokgo Jun's ears before the day was over.

CLAP CLAP CLAP!

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Suddenly, loud clapping rang out, cutting through the excited chatter.

"That's my junior!" Hyonwon Kang shouted, drawing everyone's attention. "Everyone! How much longer are you going to let the Student Council hog the Sword Dragon title? I'll bring it to the Club Union! Remember to cast your precious votes for me, Hyonwon Kang!"

"?"

"??"

"???"

Everyone exchanged baffled looks at Hyonwon Kang's sudden campaigning.

Seonwoo Jin clicked his tongue and shook his head. "What does the Club Union election have to do with the Sword Dragon title? Do you think you can just promise anything? Sigh, this is why ignorant people shouldn't..."

Hyonwon Kang scoffed, interrupting, "What are you babbling about? You, who used to be Peng Sahyuk's lackey."

"You little..." Enraged, Seonwoo Jin grabbed the hilt of his blade and glared at Hyonwon Kang.

Hyonwon Kang grinned. "Are you sure you want to pull that out? Think carefully."

"Hyonwon Kang, do you really think you're all that?"

The air between the two grew tense. Their auras flared, and their clothes rippled under the force of their rising qi.

Before the conflict could escalate any further though, Namgung Su's stern voice cut in, "The duel is still ongoing. Show some respect to your fellow students."

"...Yes, sir."

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"Sorry."

Both boys immediately dispersed their qi, bowing their heads in apology. As Namgung Su turned to Yoo Yiran and Wiji Cheon, signaling them to resume the duel, the chaotic atmosphere settled down.

Yoo Yiran bowed respectfully to Namgung Su, then turned back to Wiji Cheon. "You're the first person besides me to say you'll take the title of Sword Dragon away from Dokgo Jun," she said.

"W-Was I being too arrogant?" Wiji Cheon stammered, suddenly sheepish as the weight of all the eyes on him sank in. During the duel, he had been so focused on Yoo Yiran that he'd forgotten about the audience entirely.

His face fell as he mumbled, "I didn't mean it as a declaration of war... Oh no, what if Senior Dokgo Jun gets angry at me?"

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Seeing Wiji Cheon turn timid again, Yoo Yiran giggled, "No. If it's him, he'll actually like it."

"Really?"

"Yes, and... I'm liking you more and more too."

Yoo Yiran's easily misunderstood words instantly sent ripples of jealousy coursing through her army of secret admirers, but fortunately, her next line quelled their agitation.

"Regardless, I have no intention of yielding the Sword Dragon title to anyone," she declared firmly, her eyes shining intensely as she pointed her sword at Wiji Cheon.

"...It's the same for me." Wiji Cheon hesitated for a moment, then took the ready stance of the Unlimited Sword, his inner qi surging fiercely within him and sharpening his senses.

I wasn't planning to use the Unlimited Sword yet... but I can't avoid it forever.

As the tension in the arena mounted, sword qi abruptly surged around the two combatants' blades, making them glow with a brilliant light. The crowd, which had momentarily fallen silent at the sight of Wiji Cheon's Unlimited Sword, erupted into chaos once more, and all eyes turned to Namgung Su.

"Sword qi!"

"Isn't this dangerous?"

SPLURT!

Wiji Cheon snapped out of his thoughts just as Yoo Yiran's sword grazed his earlobe.

"Kill! Kill! Kill, I said!"

The Killing Sword screamed in his head again, but this time he commanded it.

Be quiet!

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Following Baek Suryong's advice, he decided not to deny or ignore the Killing Sword anymore. It was part of him, and he would accept that.

I won't pretend you don't exist anymore, but in exchange, you have to listen to me. Got it?

For the first time, the Killing Sword fell silent. Wiji Cheon gripped his sword tighter, smiling.

From now on, don't tell me who to kill. I'll be the one to make that decision. Well?

The Killing Sword didn't reply, but he could sense it reluctantly nodding.

Lend me your strength. Today, I don't want to kill anyone, but I really want to win.

WOOONG!

Soul Sword hummed loudly, snapping Wiji Cheon back to his senses. Sensing the Killing Sword settling into it, he whispered, "Thank you."

Finally, amid Yoo Yiran's raging torrent of slashes, Wiji Cheon saw his chance. The one opening he had been waiting for.

CLANG!

Yoo Yiran slid backwards, eyes wide with surprise. Wiji Cheon's powerful strike had not only thrown her off balance, it had scattered the sword qi coating her blade.

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"You..." she mumbled, noticing that Wiji Cheon's aura had changed.

Did he gain enlightenment during the duel?

A hollow laugh escaped her. She was speechless, too astonished to be angry, but strangely, she felt good.

Smiling helplessly, she said, "Congratulations. You're truly a monster."

"This is all thanks to you, Senior," Wiji Cheon replied sincerely. After all, it was Yoo Yiran who had fired up his competitive spirit and made him bring out the Unlimited Sword, which in turn had led him to confront and control the Killing Sword.

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It's not only her. Mr. Baek Suryong's teachings guided me, and Soul Sword is always here at my side. Without all their help, I could never have achieved this, he reflected.

For a moment, Yoo Yiran looked at Wiji Cheon with envy, but she quickly shook her head, saying, "Even so, I won't lose."

WOOOONG!

Yoo Yiran's sword hummed in response to her resolve. Wiji Cheon wasn't the only one who gained something through this battle. Though not as grand as enlightenment, she too had found inspiration for her swordsmanship.

She gathered all her remaining inner qi and prepared to unleash her strongest technique.

"This is my final attack," she declared.

Wiji Cheon nodded. "...Okay."

In an instant, the tip of Yoo Yiran's sword trembled, and a towering tsunami appeared before Wiji Cheon's eyes, more overwhelming than any wave she'd sent at him before.

It worked! Yoo Yiran's smile widened. In that moment, she knew she had reached the next level of mastery in the Soaring Stream Sword Technique.

"Haap!" she cried out, her voice filled with the exhilaration of a martial artist recognizing their own progress.

Across from her, Wiji Cheon watched the tsunami, admiration filling his eyes. "What amazing swordsmanship," he praised.

Soul Sword hummed softly in agreement.

The only way I can properly honor her is to respond with my strongest attack, Wiji Cheon thought.

Their figures blurred as they crossed paths in the center of the platform.

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"......"

"......"

A few strands of Wiji Cheon's hair fluttered down. Shallow wounds marked his cheeks and forehead.

Both swordsmen turned to face each other.

THUD!

Yoo Yiran fell to her knees. Although her face was pale, she looked refreshed. She had poured everything into that last attack, leaving her too drained to stand, but she didn't let go of her sword.

"I lost," she admitted, her voice soft but clear.

The Sword Flower was defeated.