WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME NOVELS
Translator/Editor: Chen
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◈ The Former Supreme ◈
Chapter 95: Duel Begins (2)
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Baek Socheon carefully studied every change in Yeom Hwasin's expression. The way his gaze and the smile at the corners of his mouth formed, the movement of his eyelids and cheeks. He was trying to determine whether the man was telling the truth.
"Can you even kill him?"
"You know I can."
"Do I?"
"Your son will die by my hand today."
"You might die instead."
"Do you mean that? Then I must have misjudged you."
Yeom Hwasin looked amused as he asked,
"How did you judge me?"
Baek Socheon spoke his mind plainly.
"Aren't you planning to let your son die by my hand, then use revenge as an excuse to start a war?"
"What a disappointment. To think you saw me as that sort of man."
"You're saying that's not it?"
"It isn't."
Though they stood close enough to look one another in the face, Baek Socheon could not read a single emotion in Yeom Hwasin's expression. It felt as though he would have to break that stone-like face to see the man's true expression.
"What kind of man would try to have his own son killed? To think you consider me such a pathetic man. I'm disappointed in you."
"Then why are you doing this?"
"This wasn't my idea. I only supported my son's wishes. You're a man too, so you understand, don't you? If a man wants to take back the woman stolen from him, his father ought to support him. Isn't that right?"
As if he truly meant it, Yeom Hwasin opened his eyes wide and looked at Baek Socheon as though asking him to believe it.
Baek Socheon replied flatly.
"Bullshit."
Only then did Yeom Hwasin's expression change. The laughter he had been holding back spilled out, his cheeks twitching before he began to chuckle.
"Ha ha ha, that's right. It's all bullshit."
Baek Socheon saw vicious malice in that playful laughter.
"Do you have no paternal affection?"
"I was never taught such a thing."
"Don't you pity your son?"
"Tell me honestly. Do you think that boy will live long? Whether war comes or he inherits my position?"
Baek Socheon could not answer. He did not think Yeom Sawon would live long. He was already this arrogant. How much more would he look down on others after becoming the Black Heaven Alliance Leader?
Sooner or later, someone would betray and kill him. One shouldn't carelessly judge another person's future, but Yeom Sawon's future was plain to see. Anyone who knew him would likely think the same.
"Wouldn't it be better to die while playing the most important role in leading our Alliance to victory than to die pathetically after doing something foolish?"
"No."
"No?"
"Others may say that, but you cannot."
Yeom Hwasin suddenly raised his voice.
"No! It's the opposite. I can say it, but no one else can."
Baek Socheon understood. This was Yeom Hwasin's true heart. This was the kind of man he was.
"You despise me."
"Honestly... I wish you'd laugh and say all of this was bullshit."
"Do you wish I were a good person? You'll die by my hand either way."
"I don't know. That's just how I feel."
"Only lowly people are swayed by emotion. That's why you've already lost. Well then, I'll see you at the duel platform later. I'm going to see my son."
Yeom Hwasin strode away, then stopped. He glanced back at Baek Socheon.
"You won't die, will you? Don't disappoint me."
He grinned until the end, revealing his heartless paternal affection.
Baek Socheon silently watched him walk away.
'Even so, I won't kill your son.'
* * *
"Father!"
Yeom Sawon greeted Yeom Hwasin with a delighted expression.
"I never imagined you would come here yourself."
When he received word yesterday that Yeom Hwasin would personally attend the duel, Yeom Sawon had been truly surprised.
He had received the Black Dragon Divine Armor, and now his father had come in person to watch the duel.
Lately, he had been receiving all the affection he should have received in a lifetime from his father.
"Are you confident you can win?"
"Yes. I will definitely kill him!"
"What about the Black Dragon Divine Armor?"
Yeom Sawon spread open his outer robe. He was wearing the Black Dragon Divine Armor beneath it.
"I know how much you cherish the Black Dragon Divine Armor. Thank you so much, Father."
In truth, Yeom Sawon felt awkward. His relationship with his father had never been good. He had never dared to behave rudely, but neither had he ever respected or liked his father.
Yet now, it felt as though all the emotions that had been held back inside him were bursting out at once.
'From now on, I'll be a good son.'
Yeom Hwasin said to his son,
"You must get rid of Baek Socheon!"
Yeom Sawon answered, his face flushed with excitement.
"Yes, Father."
* * *
As the time for the duel approached, the invited guests began taking their assigned seats around the duel platform one by one. There were more than three hundred of them.
The leaders of major sects and famous senior masters sat near the Alliance Leader, where they had a clear view of the duel platform. The smaller or less renowned a sect was, the farther away its seats were. A person's seat here also reflected their current standing.
Those who had not met for some time exchanged greetings and spoke among themselves.
Myeol Jiryun also took her assigned seat. Rapsa, her elderly guard, sat beside her. Pajeong was nowhere to be seen.
As Myeol Jiryun kept looking around, Rapsa asked,
"Are you looking for someone?"
"No."
She had been looking for Cheon Geuk, just in case. Yet Cheon Geuk was nowhere in sight.
'They wouldn't have invited the Assassin Alliance Leader.'
After some time passed, the noisy venue suddenly fell silent, and the gathered martial artists erupted in thunderous cheers.
"Waahhh!"
Alliance Leader Ak Sogun had appeared.
Amid the cheers, the Alliance Leader gave an opening address.
"I thank all of you fellow members of the martial world for coming from so far away."
The martial artists rose from their seats as one and respectfully cupped their fists.
"We greet the Alliance Leader."
Cheers broke out again. Then even louder applause sounded beyond the distant walls. Hearing the applause within, the martial artists gathered outside clapped and shouted as well.
"Today's duel is deeply meaningful. It is a valuable match between two people representing the orthodox and unorthodox factions, held in the hope of peace in the martial world."
Ak Sogun did not mention the marriage arrangement outright, but the rumors had spread far and wide. Everyone understood the significance of this duel.
After giving a brief speech about the previous war and the future of the martial world, Ak Sogun introduced one final guest.
"A distinguished guest has come from afar to honor this occasion."
A figure appeared where Ak Sogun was looking.
"The Black Heaven Alliance Leader has come in person."
Everyone was stunned. None of them had dreamed that the Black Heaven Alliance Leader would attend personally.
Yeom Hwasin walked in, cutting through the silence born of shock.
He had brought only one person with him, War Ghost, commander of the Black Banner, the elite force directly under the Black Heaven Alliance Leader. Jan Baek and Go Goeng, who had escorted Yeom Sawon here, followed behind.
Yeom Hwasin did not conceal his aura. His overwhelming presence and pressure swept through the venue.
As if to protest, the gathered martial artists began to boo in low voices.
"Boooo!"
Yeom Hwasin remained relaxed.
He walked up to Ak Sogun.
The two stood facing one another several steps apart.
"It has been a long time."
"Have you been well?"
Ak Sogun answered Yeom Hwasin's question.
"As long as you're alive, I cannot sleep peacefully."
"You'll soon be able to stretch out and sleep. Forever."
A tense clash of auras unfolded between them.
Ak Sogun could tell that Yeom Hwasin had become stronger than before. From his gaze and aura alone, Ak Sogun was already being pushed back.
"Come, let us sit."
"Let's."
Yeom Hwasin's seat was not beside Ak Sogun's, but on the opposite side of the duel platform. The arrangement was meant to prepare for any unpleasant incident.
Once the two took their seats, the day's two main figures appeared.
Everyone welcomed Baek Socheon and Yeom Sawon with cheers and applause.
The two stepped onto the duel platform.
Yeom Sawon looked back at his father, who stood behind him. Beyond Yeom Sawon's back, Baek Socheon stared at Yeom Hwasin.
Yeom Hwasin raised a hand toward his son.
Standing behind Yeom Sawon, Baek Socheon could tell that although it looked as though Yeom Hwasin was cheering for his son, the hand had truly been raised for him.
'It won't go the way you want.'
The martial artist serving as referee called the two men to the center of the duel platform.
"This is a friendly duel, so it would be best to avoid dangerous methods as much as possible."
Even the referee knew full well how dangerous today's duel truly was.
Once the referee stepped down, only Baek Socheon and Yeom Sawon remained on the duel platform.
Baek Socheon intended to fight from beginning to end without using internal energy. He also had no intention of dragging out the match.
The two drew their swords. Instead of his signature weapon, the Ghost Shadow Sword, Baek Socheon had brought another sword. It could be damaged while he fought without internal energy, and he had planned from the start to finish this battle with the Heaven-Turning Nine Fists.
Yeom Sawon rushed toward Baek Socheon.
Swiish!
Yeom Sawon's sword flew toward Baek Socheon's throat. There was no attempt to test him, nor any mercy meant to leave him with a mere injury.
His first attack targeted a vital point. It was fast and sharp.
Baek Socheon twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the sword.
Yeom Sawon turned the missed sword and aimed for Baek Socheon's throat again.
Clang.
Baek Socheon's sword blocked the attack.
Their swords crossed before their faces as they faced off. Yeom Sawon's venomous eyes burned beyond the blades.
Baek Socheon had watched Yeom Sawon train in martial arts. His skill was exactly what Baek Socheon had expected.
There was one difference.
'Why is his killing intent so thick?'
It was far stronger than Baek Socheon had expected.
Of course, Yeom Sawon had resolved to kill him. Still, this went beyond that. Even toward an enemy with an irreconcilable blood feud, one would not release this much killing intent.
The spectators cried out in admiration and cheered at how fierce the battle was from the outset, so intense that it made them wonder whether this was truly acceptable.
Yeom Sawon did not let up after taking the initiative and continued his attacks.
'If I give him an opening, I'll be at a disadvantage.'
His opponent was Baek Socheon, whose combat experience was beyond comparison to his own.
Yeom Sawon intended to press Baek Socheon without giving him time to breathe, then kill him.
The attacks Yeom Sawon unleashed in a single burst were terrifyingly formidable. His character might have been wretched and pathetic, but his martial arts were not.
The trails of Yeom Sawon's sword flashed through the air.
Swish! Swiish! Swish!
Yeom Sawon's sword barely grazed Baek Socheon's body.
Exclamations of admiration erupted from all around. They were praising Baek Socheon's extraordinary skill in avoiding Yeom Sawon's sharp attacks without internal energy. Most of them had only heard rumors about Baek Socheon. Everyone was astonished to see such swift movements without internal energy.
Yeom Sawon unleashed more than ten moves in an instant, and every one of them was lethal.
Everyone held their breath as they watched the fight.
There was a limit to how long Baek Socheon could keep evading without internal energy. At last, sword met sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Yeom Sawon's sword was filled with internal energy pushed to its limit.
Baek Socheon clutched his wrist, his face twisting in pain.
Seizing the opportunity, Yeom Sawon closed in like a shadow.
Yeom Sawon did not recklessly release sword energy. He already held the advantage with attacks empowered by internal energy, and he judged that firing sword energy carelessly might expose an opening for Baek Socheon to counterattack.
Clang!
After several more clashes, Baek Socheon's sword could no longer withstand them and broke.
Yeom Sawon grinned. It was the moment the tension in his heart eased.
'Yes, this is it. No matter how capable you are, you can't defeat me as long as you have no internal energy.'
The anxious cries of the spectators only fed his overconfidence.
Then Yeom Hwasin, watching from the side, shouted.
"Son! Don't be fooled!"
His voice boomed through the venue.
Yeom Hwasin had instantly realized that Baek Socheon had deliberately broken his sword to lure Yeom Sawon into lowering his guard.
Baek Socheon was puzzled.
'He's warning his son? If he wants his son to lose, why? Why would he?'
For an instant, Baek Socheon and Yeom Hwasin's eyes met.
Baek Socheon saw an unreadable smile blooming on Yeom Hwasin's lips.
'...!'
An ominous sense that something was wrong surged through him, but he had no time to grasp Yeom Hwasin's intention.
Swiish!
Yeom Sawon came sweeping in with his sword, unleashing even more dazzling forms.
Footnotes:
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