WeTried Translations
Translator: ZERO_SUGAR
Editor: Abstract
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
Chapter 87: Doubt (3)
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More than ten years ago, Yeong Ga-dong and the other disciples of the Eastern River Sword School met their youngest junior brother, Young Chun.
The youngest disciple was only seven years old, little more than a child.
'So young.'
["First Senior Brother! First Senior Brother!"]
Young Chun was an adorable youngest disciple who would come running over to ask questions whenever the slightest thing happened.
It felt unfamiliar at first.
Before long, though, the youngest disciple's arrival became a source of energy for the martial clan. Everyone liked the child.
Yeong Ga-dong did too.
Their master, the Eastern River Sword Sage Shin Ui-gyeom, was often away, so Yeong Ga-dong, the first senior brother, was practically the one who taught Young Chun.
["Idiot. Didn't I tell you that wasn't how you perform the third sword movement?"]
["Ow!"]
["There you go again, making that scary face. Watch your expression!"]
["Ah..."]
Teasing Young Chun had been fun, too.
Young Chun had an unusual constitution that made it difficult to control emotions naturally, but Yeong Ga-dong and the second senior brother had paid close attention to teaching the child from an early age. Young Chun had developed a fair amount of self-control as a result.
["First Senior Brother, Master says I am to graduate from Changcheon Martial Academy."]
["Changcheon Martial Academy?"]
It was their master's order, but did Young Chun truly need to go there?
Yeong Ga-dong believed that being taught by their master, one of the Four Immortal Masters, and by himself, now one of the Ten Great Masters of the Force of Justice, should have been more than enough.
Still, their master seemed to have another purpose.
The heirs of all Four Immortal Masters, from last year through this year, were to enter the academy. Apparently, they would be competing against one another there.
["...I'm not sure I can do well."]
["Why are you talking so weakly? The disciples of our Eastern River Sword School are strong. You should breeze through an entrance examination like that."]
["That's right. First Senior Brother is right."]
["They say it's difficult. And none of you senior brothers have entered the academy before."]
["Listen to this brat whining already."]
["Forget the heirs of the Four Immortal Masters. If you cannot graduate as Top Graduate, don't even think about coming back."]
["What? That's too harsh."]
And so, the youngest disciple, Young Chun, entered Changcheon Martial Academy.
There was still much Young Chun lacked, but they believed the child they had cherished and raised would do well at the academy.
Yeong Ga-dong was curious to see how Young Chun would change over three years.
In their eyes, Young Chun was still nothing more than an immature seventeen-year-old.
Then, not long after Young Chun entered the academy, news arrived that Yeong Ga-dong never wanted to hear.
The hand holding the letter turned cold and began to tremble.
-This is to inform your school of the death of Cadet Young Chun. We offer our deepest condolences...
The second senior brother could not hide the shock either.
["First Senior Brother, how could this..."]
Their master was away when the death notice for their youngest disciple arrived.
Young Chun had died during an unofficial martial match between cadets, not during the academy's regular curriculum. A carrier pigeon had arrived, calling for those involved while the academy investigated the details.
Yeong Ga-dong could not contain his anger.
Young Chun had been his youngest junior brother, but also a disciple Yeong Ga-dong had taught. Young Chun was a beloved little brother and someone as precious as a proud child.
["You inform Master of this news."]
["What are you going to do, First Senior Brother?"]
["I'm going to Changcheon Martial Academy."]
["What?"]
Yeong Ga-dong could not endure waiting until they found their master.
The letter from the academy said the matter would be investigated and handled fairly. Yet the person who had killed Young Chun in a martial match was the daughter of Hong Hwa-yun, the Southern Blade Imperial Uncle and one of the Four Immortal Masters.
Hong Hwa-yun was also one of the two founders of Changcheon Martial Academy.
Yeong Ga-dong did not believe a fair investigation or judgment would be carried out over this infuriating incident.
["I'll see it for myself. I won't let the academy bury this matter!"]
* * *
Yeong Ga-dong had been certain Changcheon Martial Academy would bury the matter.
Even if the martial world was now ruled by the force of justice, Yeong Ga-dong had roamed it for many years. There was no absolute good or absolute evil in this world.
People were moved by profit.
This incident could provoke the fury of his master, the Eastern River Sword Sage, one of the Four Immortal Masters.
'I will never stand by and let this happen.'
If Yeong Ga-dong had been on Changcheon Martial Academy's side, he would have tried to quietly bury the matter.
They could place all the blame on Young Chun's mistake. That would prevent his master from demanding accountability and stop a conflict between the Four Immortal Masters.
'Do they think I'll allow that?'
That was why Yeong Ga-dong had come to Changcheon Martial Academy.
He intended to uncover the truth with his own eyes and hold Hong Hwa-yun's daughter accountable for killing his youngest junior brother.
Yet there were more obstacles than expected.
-Rumble!
"What do you mean, warning?"
'Who is this brat?'
His Ki sense detected almost no internal energy.
The brat was only at the level of a beginner who had just started learning Martial Arts, yet Mumu had endured Yeong Ga-dong's hand.
Those tree-trunk neck muscles were astonishing.
"...You're no ordinary brat."
Come to think of it, everyone here appeared to be academy cadets, yet they were stronger than the warriors guarding the place.
Now Yeong Ga-dong understood why Changcheon Martial Academy's reputation was so high.
But he had not come to assess their abilities.
"That changes nothing."
-Pak!
Yeong Ga-dong thrust his scabbard into Mumu's abdomen as Mumu held his ground.
Mumu reflexively caught the scabbard.
At that instant,
-Shing!
With lightning speed, Yeong Ga-dong drew his sword and struck Mumu's shoulder with the flat of the blade.
It looked like a simple blow with the blade's flat, but...
-Taeng!
The moment the flat of the sword touched Mumu's shoulder, an impact spread through Mumu like a ripple. Mumu was sent flying, smashing through the wall and into the next room.
-Kwaang!
'!?'
Do Yang-woon could not hide his astonishment.
'How can this be?'
That strike had not been simple.
Yeong Ga-dong had imbued the flat of his sword with life energy and made the shock spread through Mumu's body like an internal force strike.
Mumu had been unable to withstand the force and was thrown away.
'That sword art is unbelievable.'
Do Yang-woon had never seen anyone wield a sword like that.
One of the Four Immortal Masters, and the person called the greatest swordsman under heaven, was the Eastern River Sword Sage.
And the Eastern River Sword Sage's foremost disciple, as well as one of the Ten Great Masters of the Force of Justice, was Yeong Ga-dong, the Martial March Battle Sword.
The claim that he was among the five greatest swordsmen was no exaggeration.
-Tak!
After sending Mumu flying, Yeong Ga-dong immediately pointed his sword at Hong Hye-ryeong's throat.
Hong Hye-ryeong swallowed dryly at the dense killing intent flowing from its tip.
"Did you say your name was Hong Hye-ryeong?"
"...Yes."
"Did my youngest junior brother have some grudge against you?"
Hong Hye-ryeong shook her head slightly.
"No. Nothing like that."
"Then!"
Yeong Ga-dong raised his voice.
The veins bulging on his forehead made it seem as if he wanted to kill her that instant but was barely holding himself back.
"Why did you not hold back?"
Hong Hye-ryeong spoke with a tense expression.
"I did not kill him."
"You did not kill him?"
"I did have a martial match with Cadet Young Chun, your junior brother. I fought with all my strength, but I did not leave Young Chun with a fatal wound."
"Not fatal?"
Yeong Ga-dong snorted at her words.
He had personally seen Young Chun's body in the autopsy chamber.
The fatal wound left on Young Chun's body was unmistakably caused by Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade Art, Hong Hwa-yun's unique blade art.
"Are you saying my eyes were wrong?"
"I am only telling the truth. Young Chun may have been injured by the blade wound, but ki circulation should have been enough to..."
"The Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade's flame ki entered through the wound and caused his death!"
Hong Hye-ryeong felt like she would suffocate from frustration.
When she had been interrogated all day, Yeon Cheong-ha, the head of the Discipline Bureau and the Vast-Edge Radiant Sword, had said the same thing.
["You need to tell the truth. The final fatal wound could not have been caused by anything but Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade."]
["It truly wasn't me."]
She continued denying it, but none of the masters, including Yeon Cheong-ha, believed her.
They had even shown her Young Chun's body while the autopsy was still underway.
Yet the wound left behind truly could only have been made by Rising Flame Shadow Strike, the fourth technique of Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade Art.
'This makes no sense.'
Hong Hye-ryeong could not understand how such a wound had been left behind.
No matter how much she explained that she had not done it, even she found it difficult to deny that wound.
In the martial world, the only people who could leave such a wound were her father, Hong Hwa-yun, and herself, who had inherited Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade.
The thought flashed through her mind. Hong Hye-ryeong bit down hard on her lip and spoke.
"Senior, I swear that I never left that wound."
"A vow..."
Yeong Ga-dong stared at her for a moment before lowering his sword.
For an instant, Hong Hye-ryeong wondered whether he believed her.
-Papak!
Then Yeong Ga-dong struck her abdomen and both shoulders with his palms.
The needles blocking her three ki gates tore through flesh and shot out of her body.
-Pupupupuk!
Hong Hye-ryeong looked at Yeong Ga-dong in confusion.
He spoke to her.
"The dead cannot speak, but wounds do not lie. With neither witnesses nor evidence, I cannot believe your words."
"Senior!"
"That child was more than my youngest junior brother. Young Chun was my little brother and someone like my own child. I do not care whether it was a martial match inside the academy or not. I will hold you accountable for killing Young Chun."
"I truly..."
She could not finish.
Yeong Ga-dong had no intention of believing her.
He was looking at her with killing intent in his eyes, as though she were his sworn enemy.
"I freed the ki gates that were blocked, so no one can say I took advantage of you while you were defenseless. If you wish, you may use the Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade in the next room."
"........Are you asking to fight me?"
"I told you. I will hold you accountable for killing Young Chun."
Yeong Ga-dong's anger would not settle easily.
Hong Hye-ryeong had no choice.
Do Yang-woon hurried over and spoke.
"Senior! Please wait a..."
-Thud!
Before he could finish, Yeong Ga-dong stomped. The scabbard lying on the floor rose into the air.
Yeong Ga-dong struck it with his palm.
The scabbard flew at once and slammed into Do Yang-woon's abdomen.
-Puk!
"Kuhk!"
-Thud!
Do Yang-woon dropped to one knee, retching from the blow to his abdomen.
Without even looking at him, Yeong Ga-dong said,
"Outsiders, stay out of this."
Gu Yang Seo-rin narrowed her eyes at the warning steeped in killing intent.
'This is troublesome.'
Yeong Ga-dong was too consumed by rage.
Seeing how he was using his presence to warn them not to interfere before they could even speak, Gu Yang Seo-rin was certain the same thing would happen if she stepped in.
'He's too strong.'
Yeong Ga-dong had not earned the title of one of the Ten Great Masters of the Force of Justice for nothing.
Then Hong Hye-ryeong held out her hand and spoke.
"Flame Shadow."
The moment she finished speaking, something burst through the wall of the next room and flew over.
-Bang! Whoosh!
It was none other than Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade.
'Ah!'
A small gasp escaped Gu Yang Seo-rin.
Hong Hye-ryeong did not possess enough internal energy to use Ki telekinesis, but Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade was a special treasured blade.
It was one of the Six Great Artifacts that possessed a will, and the unique weapon of Hong Hwa-yun, one of the Four Immortal Masters.
One reason Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade had earned its fame as a treasured blade was...
-Whoooosh!
Flames coiled around the blade of Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade in Hong Hye-ryeong's hand.
It was a blade imbued with flame ki.
Most masters would shrink back at that sight alone, but Yeong Ga-dong's eyes did not waver in the slightest even amid that heat.
'I have no choice.'
Hong Hye-ryeong gritted her teeth.
The only way to deal with the enraged Yeong Ga-dong was to fully release all of Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade's power.
-Swish!
Yeong Ga-dong ran two fingers up the blade in his hand.
Blue light rippled across the sword, and sword ki manifestation soon formed around it.
"You were given an opportunity, so you had better give it everything you have."
The moment he finished speaking, Yeong Ga-dong moved his sword.
Hong Hye-ryeong swung Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade, blazing with flames.
Just as the sword ki manifestation and Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade's flame ki were about to collide,
-Pak!
-Whoooosh! Sizzle!
'!?'
Something unbelievable happened.
Mumu had somehow stepped between them and caught the sword wrapped in sword ki manifestation and Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade wreathed in flames with his bare hands.
"You?"
"H-how did you...?"
Steam rose from Mumu's muscular arms, now colored gray.
The adjustment screws on his Ki-Restraining Bracelets were set to two.
Hong Hye-ryeong's eyes shook.
She had not fully released the flame ki, but excluding her father Hong Hwa-yun, the original owner, this was the first time she had ever seen someone catch Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade barehanded.
Yet that was only possible because Hong Hwa-yun was the true owner of the blade.
'No!'
Hong Hye-ryeong hurriedly tried to withdraw the flame ki.
-Whoooosh!
At that instant, Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade's flame ki surged forth even more wildly.
It was as if the blade were furious at Mumu for carelessly gripping its blade.
"L-let go right now!"
Hong Hye-ryeong shouted at Mumu.
But then,
"Hot."
-Squeeeze!
Mumu's forearm muscles bulged.
The thick blade of Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade trembled violently. As the part caught between his fingers began to cave in with a creak, a resonant cry like something being torn apart burst from Flame Shadow Great Rift Blade.
-Keueueueueuk!
The flames surged with it.
It almost looked as though the blade were in pain.
'Flame Shadow?'
That was not the end.
-Clang!
'!?'
The sword wrapped in sword ki manifestation could not withstand Mumu's brute strength and snapped cleanly in two.
Not Mumu's fingers, but a sword imbued with sword ki manifestation had broken?
Yeong Ga-dong was dumbfounded at the sight.
'...What in the world is this brat?'
This was a situation Yeong Ga-dong had never expected.
-Creak!
Yeong Ga-dong tried to pull the broken sword from Mumu's hand, but it would not budge.
The brat possessed monstrous strength beyond imagination.
Mumu spoke to him.
"Let's settle this by talking while I'm asking nicely."
Still consumed by anger, Yeong Ga-dong answered with wary eyes.
"...And if I can't?"
"Have you ever had your waist bent backward?"
-Crunch!
The remaining piece of sword in Mumu's grasp shattered completely.
Yeong Ga-dong stared at Mumu.
Then he opened his mouth.
"...Did you say we should talk?"
Footnotes:
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