Chapter 32: Chapter: Dragon Phoenix Tournament (5)

༺ Fifth Chapter – Dragon Phoenix Tournament (5) ༻

The moment Mok Riwon looked into his deep blue eyes, he felt a bizarre sensation.

In that moment, time seemed to stretch into infinity.

It felt as if he and the man were the only ones remaining in the world.

The emotions that emerged came in a form that was difficult to describe even for Mok Riwon.

If he had to pinpoint what they resembled, perhaps words like passion, fighting spirit, and allure would come close. This uncontrollable feeling kept pounding in his heart,

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It screamed.

‘The Emperor’s Star.’

The Star of an Emperor.

The Star of a Ruler.

And the Star of Blessing.

The advent of this new star, the antithesis of his own, caused the star within him to awaken.

At the end of Mok Riwon’s gaze, Namgung Jincheon’s eyebrows narrowed slightly. When the color returned to his face, he looked away.

Afterward, Mok Riwon felt the distant sounds and sensations returning to him.

“Young Hero Mok?”

“...I-It’s nothing. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

Mok Riwon responded to Tang Hwa-seo calling for him with an awkward smile.

Then, with one last fleeting glance at Namgung Jincheon, Mok Riwon turned away.

Watching that, Tang Hwa-seo let out a dry laugh before blurting out.

“Do you wish to challenge him?

“Hm?”

“You have that look on your face.”

Mok Riwon touched his lips, only to realize that he was smiling.

“Ah...”

So that’s what it was.

“That might be the case.”

Mok Riwon nodded in agreement, his hand shaking impatiently.

To see someone of the same age having reached that level of martial arts made him want to train.

The thought of a duel with Namgung Jincheon made him unable to control himself as he trembled with excitement.

“There really are many great people here.”

“That’s why it’s called the ‘Dragon Phoenix Tournament’.”

The Feast of Dragons and Phoenixes.

Wasn’t it fitting?

“Hm, but still.”

Mok Riwon grinned.

Then he whispered to Tang Hwa-seo quietly so that no one else would hear.

“I don’t see myself losing.”

He told her what he truly believed, careful not to offend the others present.

Tang Hwa-seo’s eyes widened, and then she lightly smiled.

“What a response just like you.”

“Young Lady, if I defeat them all, would I earn the title of Dragon?”

“It’s possible even if you do not necessarily defeat all of them as long as you prove yourself.”

“Hm! Excellent!”

Mok Riwon stood up straight with a confident smile on his face.

“I shall take this opportunity at the Dragon Phoenix Tournament to challenge for the title of Heroic Dragon!”

‘That damned hero this hero that.’

Even with that thought, she couldn’t help but smile.

Zhuge San overheard their conversation and laughed while saying to Mok Riwon.

“Well, first of all, Brother Mok, you should know that titles aren’t always chosen as you wish. My guess is that if Brother Mok earns the title of Dragon, it might be something like Jade Dragon.”

“Ugh, Brother Zhuge! You’re too much! I like heroes, not jades!”

“Whatever you say.”

The three of them laughed.

As White Pheonix Hyeun watched from the side, she felt oddly left out.

It was like, ‘How dare you talk about other things in my presence?’

‘Really...’

Fun.

Right, it had to be this fun at least, for her to enjoy the conquest.

Hyeun looked straight at Mok Riwon with a dangerous smile.

After remembering that she was here, he shivered and instinctively hid behind Tang Hwa-seo again.

“A lovely goal. Oh, I can’t wait for the tournament brackets to be announced.”

And with a sly grin, her eyes curved like a crescent moon.

“I, too, would like to see Benefactor Mok Riwon’s sword.”

Shiver–

A chill ran down his spine.

“I-Is that so...?”

He held onto Tang Hwa-seo’s sleeve, trembling like a rabbit thrown before a savage beast.

Hyeun felt a thrilling sensation up her spine, and unsurprisingly, Tang Hwa-seo was angry.

“The brackets will be out soon, so there’s no need to be impatient.”

“I was merely expressing my anticipation.”

“Well, for some reason, I don’t think he wants to entwine with you, Monk.”

Her fist clenched tightly, and Zhuge San gasped when her veins bulged out.

“The Monk will probably meet me first before Young Hero Mok.”

“I will win and advance forward. Me.”

“Confidence and arrogance are two different things, you know.”

Their battle of words didn’t seem to be slowing down for even a second. Even Fist Dragon Il-woon could merely gulp as he watched the scene unfold.

Then, Hyeun added with a laugh.

“Yes, it will be truly interesting it seems.”

Hyeun tapped her lips with her index finger, then licked them while her gaze swept over Mok Riwon as if tasting him, before walking away with a small chuckle.

“Ah, then I must be off. I have to greet the others as well.”

“Take care.”

‘Go step on some shit.’

As she walked away, Tang Hwa-seo cursed her in her mind, glaring at Hyeun’s retreating figure.

[Sword Dragon Namgung Jincheon!]

“Woooowww!!!”

Mok Riwon absorbed every last detail.

‘That’s the next Unrivaled Under the Heavens.’

The thought of finally witnessing Namgung Jincheon’s swordplay filled him with a strange sense of tension.

Clench–

His fist tightened.

[Then let the match begin!]

The announcer raised his hand up high.

And then.

Clang–!

The victor was decided in one second.

* * *

Overwhelming and heavy.

That was Mok Riwon’s assessment after seeing Namgung Jincheon’s sword.

It wasn’t because of the difference in the two martial artists’ qi, nor their reputed achievements.

The judgment he reached was based on the sword alone.

At the start of the match, Yangheo’s sword, which was as swift as a ray of light, was cleaved in two by Namgung Jincheon’s downward slash, which wasn’t even all that fast.

While the general crowd only saw an overwhelming victory and cheered, those at a certain level of martial skill felt his talent in that one-second clash.

The world called Namgung’s sword,

The Sword of the Emperor.

A sword that reigns over the heavens of this martial world.

Namgung Jincheon’s sword bore such pressure that those words were truly fitting.

‘If I were...’

Mok Riwon closed his eyes and imagined himself wielding the sword just like that.

‘...I can’t.”

He could only ‘imitate’ it at best.

It wasn’t a difference in talent, but in the martial arts they had learned and mastered.

The Star God Technique and Starfall Seven Swords were based on the principle of an endless flow, therefore even if he were to force his inner qi to unleash momentary destructive power, that wasn’t the correct way to use his martial arts.

He acknowledged it.

Namgung’s sword was strong.

But.

‘Does that mean that the Star God is inferior to that sword?’

That question crossed his mind once again, but Mok Riwon was certain.

‘Absolutely not.’

The Star God was strong.

He was strong, and the teachings of Mok Seon-oh would not crumble before Namgung’s sword.

[We will start the fourth group’s matches!]

The voice filled with qi resonated in his ears.

Mok Riwon slowly opened his eyes and looked straight ahead.

“I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be cheering for you.”

Mok Riwon stepped forward.

And he stood upon the martial arts arena.

[Well, here comes a fresh new talent! A young martial arts master who dares to challenge the stagnant rankings of the rising stars! The chivalrous fighter who singlehandedly annihilated the Unorthodox Path in Jiangxi’s Suyang County!]

His name echoed throughout the venue.

[Ink Sword Mok Riwon–!]

“Wooowww!!!”

“KYAAAAAH!!!”

The sound of cheers pierced his eardrums. The noise was so loud that his entire body seemed to shake.

Yet Mok Riwon remained calm, simply looking straight ahead, continuing his train of thought.

‘I want to challenge him.’

He wanted to measure himself against Namgung Jincheon.

Any shortcomings he might have.

He needed a duel with him to realize and overcome those imperfections.

[His opponent is the eldest son of the Cho Clan, Cho Cheol!]

Mok Riwon looked at his opponent.

A young man with a tense face glared back at him.

‘I’m sorry.’

Mok Riwon apologized to him in advance.

In his mind, a young martial artist who had just reached the middle-stage of first rate wasn’t worth his full attention.

Schwiiing–

His sights were set on higher places.

[Let’s begin–!]

Mok Riwon was merely going to use him as a stepping stone.

Clanggg–!

Cho Cheol’s sword was split in two as soon as the duel began.

Half of a sword blade flew high up.

Then, silence filled the arena.

“...”

Even if it was shitty, it was still martial arts.

Everyone who had come to watch the martial arts competition realized the meaning behind that one move.

A move just like the one Namgung Jincheon had used at the beginning of the tournament.

The meaning behind that overwhelming sword was clear.

‘It’s a challenge.’

This was the act of a newcomer challenging the throne.

Mok Riwon’s eyes turned to Namgung Jincheon.

Namgung Jincheon as well, looked back at him with widened eyes.

“YEAHHHH!!!”

Once again, the cheers erupted.

It was the loudest sound of the day.

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