WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Former Supreme ◈
Chapter 113: Double Arrangement (1)
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The carriage continued north, and the air outside grew colder by the day.
When Yeom Hwasin had first suggested they go see the snow, Baek Socheon realized that their final destination had already been decided.
‘Where exactly is Yeom Hwasin planning to go?’
He was curious, but there was no way to know unless Yeom Hwasin told him.
Today, Baek Socheon was once again training in the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Asura Divine Sword in his mind. He continued to break down and analyze each form in detail.
To make this training more effective, Baek Socheon had established a premise.
‘What if each form were an independent sword art?’
He treated each sword form as a new martial art.
The First Form became its own sword art, and the Second Form became another.
Baek Socheon took it a step further. He had the individual sword forms fight one another. Naturally, the battles took place in his imagination.
The First Form was not automatically at a disadvantage against the Second Form. Since they were sword arts with entirely different characteristics, the outcome changed depending on where and under what circumstances they fought.
The training was fascinating and refreshing, giving Baek Socheon tremendous inspiration.
Then Yeom Hwasin's voice reached him.
"You're thinking about women again."
You're the one who seems bored again, Baek Socheon thought as he opened his eyes.
"No."
"Then why are you grinning like that?"
He had become so absorbed in his imagined training that he had smiled without realizing it.
"I was imagining myself beating you into the ground."
"If that were true, you should've burst out laughing instead of just grinning."
Whenever Baek Socheon saw Yeom Hwasin smiling so casually, he sometimes felt the urge to say this.
-I'll be honest. I've fully recovered my internal energy, and I'm learning all four of the Greatest Martial Arts of All Time at once. The Seventh Form of the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Asura Divine Sword has stumped me. Could you help me with it?
What if he could discuss sword arts with Yeom Hwasin? What if he could receive direct advice about martial arts? It would be a tremendous help. He couldn't be certain, but it might be the greatest help in overcoming the wall of the final Seventh Form.
How would Yeom Hwasin react if Yeom Hwasin learned Baek Socheon had recovered his internal energy and concealed it?
Would Yeom Hwasin fly into a rage?
Or would Yeom Hwasin laugh it off?
Whenever Yeom Hwasin wore that friendly expression, like that of an old friend with no barriers between them, Baek Socheon felt Yeom Hwasin might say, rather than reproach him, "Good. Let's study it together."
Of course, that was probably an illusion. Even if Yeom Hwasin said such words, Yeom Hwasin would be resolving deep down to kill Baek Socheon as soon as possible.
Unfulfilled wishes had a way of building anticipation as high as possible before being tossed aside without feeling, as if to say, This is reality. It did not happen in some dramatic fashion. It happened routinely, as though it were only natural, which made it all the more miserable.
"Don't just dream about it. Make it happen."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm saying we should have a match."
"Did you bring me all this way to kill me?"
"Not yet. I'll fight without internal energy too."
Baek Socheon had guessed that was what Yeom Hwasin meant. At first, he had suspected this journey might be meant to kill him, but that did not seem to be the case. As Yeom Hwasin had said, this was a journey toward completion.
"Isn't it about time we fought?"
He was right. They had discussed martial arts often on their way here. They had joined forces against enemies in the canyon, but the two of them had never fought each other.
Now was the time for them to test themselves against one another. Thinking about it, this was the perfect time. Yeom Hwasin had an uncanny knack for finding the right moment.
Baek Socheon put on a show of needless confidence.
"If we do, you might die by my hand."
"Do you truly think so?"
"I've spent longer without internal energy than you have."
"That familiarity must have made you weak."
"Hmph! Fine. Let's fight."
Yeom Hwasin shouted excitedly.
"Mujin! Stop the carriage!"
The two stood facing each other in a broad, empty field.
Jong Mujin parked the carriage so far away it could no longer be seen, leaving the two of them to duel alone.
"You should be careful."
Yeom Hwasin thrust forward a tightly clenched fist. With a little exaggeration, it was as large as an adult's face.
"I think it would only be fair if you used one hand."
"Hahaha, sorry, but I'll use both hands and both feet."
Yeom Hwasin's unique martial art was a palm art called the Lightning Soul-Seizing Hand. In a fight without weapons, Yeom Hwasin clearly held the advantage.
Yeom Hwasin was smiling now, but once the fight began, Yeom Hwasin would become terrifying. Given Yeom Hwasin's nature, Yeom Hwasin would never have suggested a fight if Yeom Hwasin intended to take it easy. Baek Socheon composed himself.
As if to prove it, Yeom Hwasin struck first.
Whoosh!
The incoming fist skimmed past Baek Socheon's face.
It was hard to believe such terrifying speed and force contained no internal energy.
Then again, Yeom Hwasin was probably thinking the same thing after seeing Baek Socheon evade the attack without internal energy.
The fist that had targeted his face now flew toward his stomach.
Yeom Hwasin's fist art had no fixed forms. Rather than using a set fist art, Yeom Hwasin attacked freely according to the moment.
That made Yeom Hwasin even more threatening. There was no knowing where or how the attacks would change.
Baek Socheon, on the other hand, remained faithful to the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists.
Whoosh!
Thud!
Baek Socheon's right shoulder slammed into Yeom Hwasin's chest.
Yeom Hwasin's large body rose into the air before falling to the ground.
Yeom Hwasin sprang back up and asked with a startled expression, "What technique was that just now?"
"The Heaven-Turning Nine Fists."
Baek Socheon answered honestly. He had decided what to conceal and what to reveal. He would conceal the Thousand-Hand Tathagata Asura Divine Sword and reveal the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists. He would admit that he had memorized Wind God Traverses the Sky back then, while concealing the Immovable Wisdom King Heart Method.
He intended to mix truth with lies and hide the lies perfectly.
"The Heaven-Turning Nine Fists? The fist art known as the Greatest Martial Art of All Time?"
"That's right."
"How did you learn it?"
Curiosity shone in Yeom Hwasin's eyes like that of a beast. Baek Socheon must never forget that Yeom Hwasin had two sides.
"I happened to obtain a martial manual."
"You had me completely fooled."
"I didn't deceive you. You never asked me about it."
"True. Everyone has secrets."
Yeom Hwasin's cold expression softened, but an indescribable disappointment took its place.
"What's your secret?"
"You'll learn it once you become stronger than me. Everything in this world belongs to the strong."
"You'd really tell me if I became stronger than you?"
Yeom Hwasin grinned. It was a smile of fondness for someone who knew Yeom Hwasin far too well.
"Come on. Let's fight again."
As Yeom Hwasin was about to rush forward, Baek Socheon raised a hand to stop Yeom Hwasin.
"Wait. Just one thing."
"What is it?"
"Did you cheat?"
"Cheat?"
"The place I hit you is completely unmarked."
Yeom Hwasin's chest could be seen through the open collar. There was not even a bruise, nor had it turned red. Considering the force of the earlier blow, that was impossible.
"I didn't use internal energy."
"Then once you achieve the Indestructible Vajra Body, your body is naturally this tough even without using internal energy."
"I've only confirmed it now. This was the first time I've been hit without using internal energy."
As Yeom Hwasin spoke, Yeom Hwasin looked down at the chest.
"Does it hurt?"
Yeom Hwasin nodded. An attack from a master like Baek Socheon would naturally damage the body's interior, regardless of whether internal energy was involved.
Yeom Hwasin would be lying if Yeom Hwasin claimed it did not hurt.
The question was how much it hurt. But Baek Socheon could not read that much from Yeom Hwasin's face, which was as solid as an iron wall.
"You should be careful. I've trained hard to make up for having no internal energy."
"I won't fall for it twice."
The fight began again.
Yeom Hwasin's movements became more cautious than before.
Baek Socheon continued to face Yeom Hwasin with the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists.
Fists and feet, elbows and shoulders, even their backs. Every usable part of their bodies moved at terrifying speed, targeting each other's vital acupoints.
Anyone watching would never have believed this was a fight without internal energy.
After more than thirty exchanges, Baek Socheon took a hit.
Thud!
Baek Socheon staggered backward. Yeom Hwasin's unexpected fist had struck his jaw.
"Ugh."
Baek Socheon endured the pain and rubbed his jaw. It was fortunate that the blow had glanced off. If it had landed cleanly, his jaw might have shattered.
"Were you really trying to kill me?"
"My apologies. I got carried away without realizing it."
Yet Yeom Hwasin's next move was even more frightening and sharp.
Baek Socheon was not using internal energy either, but he fought with everything he had. This battle was ten times more difficult than facing two hundred enemies without internal energy.
It was a fight where a momentary mistake could truly cost him his life.
Who, then, was controlling the battle?
The duel ended.
Baek Socheon lay spread-eagled on the ground, unable to move even a finger.
He had done his best, but he could not defeat Yeom Hwasin. Unless he achieved full mastery of the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists, being able to freely perform only up to the Fifth Fist was not enough to overpower Yeom Hwasin.
Still, he had not lost either. Of course, there was no way to know whether Yeom Hwasin had truly fought with everything Yeom Hwasin had.
"Did you go easy on me?"
"I wish I had."
Yeom Hwasin lay spread-eagled beside Baek Socheon.
"There were three critical moments while fighting you."
"Not two?"
"There were three."
"That means there was a threat even I didn't notice. I suppose that's because your skill is above mine."
"What do you mean?"
"You were ahead of me. You thought too much, so things that weren't threats looked like threats."
"Hm. That may be true."
After a brief pause, Yeom Hwasin asked, "How long has it been since we last fought like this?"
"Three years? No, the year has changed. It's been four years now. It feels as vivid as if it were yesterday, but it has already been that long. Damn it. It's really been that long."
"Do you regret it?"
"Don't you? I'm not afraid of dying, but I regret how quickly time passes."
"You're too greedy."
"Greedy for what?"
"Time feels precious because you want to accomplish something, doesn't it? Let go of pointless attachments."
Baek Socheon struck back at words that sounded like they came from an old monk.
"You should let go of your desire to rule the martial world."
"Haha."
Talking with Yeom Hwasin made Baek Socheon reflect on himself.
Where did the desire that ruled him come from?
Was it the future where he wanted to live freely? Or the past where he had been unable to live freely?
At least one thing Yeom Hwasin said was right. He had to let go. Only by letting go of everything could he gain it all.
"I'm hungry."
"Me too!"
One gak later, the two were eating at a nearby inn.
"You eat a lot."
"You seem to eat less than I expected."
"I used to eat a lot, but these days I can't eat much. Is it because I'm getting old?"
"You're only fifty-nine. What are you going to do if you're already like this?"
"You know my age?"
"You're exactly twenty years older than me."
"So I was."
"I used to think about that. How could I possibly defeat someone twenty years older than me? I was terrified."
"And yet you still drove a sword into my heart."
"Unfortunately, it wasn't your heart. Since we're on the subject, let me ask. Where is your heart?"
"Why are you curious about that?"
"You can tell me, can't you? I can't pierce your body anymore."
"My heart is..."
Yeom Hwasin, who had been about to answer, cut off the words.
"I'm not telling you."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm scared too."
Baek Socheon chuckled.
"A tiger looking out for a rabbit."
"A rabbit that fought a tiger to a standstill?"
At that very moment.
Yeom Hwasin abruptly rose from the seat.
The next instant!
Boom!
A deafening roar erupted, enough to burst their eardrums.
Footnotes:
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