Seolhwa’s gaze was cold as she looked at the two people standing on the sparring stage.
‘Namgung Gaksu of the Red Dragon 8th Unit.’
He, according to the information the three Outer Hall brothers had gathered, was one of those who had paid their way into becoming an Inner Hall warrior. He had even bought the Namgung surname with money, so he wasn't really a Namgung person.
‘His skills are pathetic, but he became rich overnight thanks to his family's booming business.’
Because of that one man, a skilled warrior had failed the promotion test. Money had crushed skill, and greed had trampled upon another’s earnest desire.
‘I will show them clearly, right here.’
Just how pathetic and shabby the result is when a martial family values material wealth over skill. And just how much of a poison it is to this family. To do that... - Ilryong.
Defeat him overwhelmingly. Your opponent is far weaker than you, so don't be intimidated. Just push forward however you want.
At Seolhwa’s mental transmission, the corners of Ilryong’s mouth curved. Now that he was on the sparring stage, a competitive spirit inexplicably arose in him.
‘If I’m going to do this, it’s good to win, right?’
Winning looks cool, doesn’t it? When else would he get the chance to defeat a Namgung Inner Hall warrior? Since it had come to this, he would win.
“I’m Ilryong of the Red Dragon 16th Squad.”
The Red Dragon Unit member’s face crumpled at the provocative, informal speech. He wanted to shower him with a barrage of curses, but not wanting to look like an equally ignorant fool, he forced his expression to compose itself and cupped his fist.
“Namgung Gaksu of the Red Dragon 8th Unit. I don’t know what you were thinking, coming up onto the sparring stage, but…”
Namgung Gaksu glanced in the direction of the Family Head.
“You will regret it. I will show you what a difference in skill means.”
“Heh heh. What to do? I have no intention of going easy either.”
Ilryong snorted.
“Though, it would be quite embarrassing for you if you lost.”
Power surged into Namgung Gaksu’s hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
“You bastard… It seems you’ve lost your fear.”
“You know what? Compared to that devilish little lady, you’re nothing.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I will make you regret those words.”
Namgung Gaksu raised his sword.
“Come! I will grant you the first three moves!”
“Hmph. Such pointless hypocrisy. I refuse…”
Ilryong kicked off the ground and shot forward.
“To refuse!”
Without even taking a starting stance, he charged at the Red Dragon Unit member. Swish- The Red Dragon Unit member’s eyes widened at Ilryong’s movement, who had appeared before him in an instant.
‘Wh-what…!’
The moment he hastily raised his sword to defend against the attack.
“He fell for it.”
With a loud thud, a dull impact struck his right ear. While drawing his opponent's gaze by swinging his sword to the right, he had struck his face with his left fist.
“Th-this is cheati… ugh…”
The Red Dragon Unit member collapsed face-first in a single move. Ilryong snorted, huffing through his nose.
“What foul play? Haven't you ever patrolled the streets?”
The trick of deceiving the eyes with a feint and then striking the back of the head was an obvious deception that one could prepare for after facing back-alley ruffians just a few times.
“How is he so weak…?”
Standing over the sprawled Red Dragon Unit member, Ilryong scratched the back of his head. It was so easy it was almost embarrassing. It went without saying that the sparring ground fell silent, as if doused with cold water.
No one could speak in the face of the shocking result that had unfolded in an instant.
‘Wasn’t that a bit… cowardly…?’
‘There’s no rule against using feints… but still…’
‘Even if he was tricked, an Inner Hall warrior couldn’t block something like that…?’
They wanted to say something about the cowardly trick, but technically, it wasn't cowardly. There were no rules in sparring. And they were so stunned that they missed the moment to voice their criticism.
A strange tension flowed for a moment, and in the chilling silence, Ilryong pointed to another member of the sword unit.
“Hey, you there, how about a match with me!”
The sword unit members’ gazes all turned to one spot. The Red Dragon Unit member at the center of their attention pointed at himself in surprise.
“M-me?”
“Yes. You.”
“How dare you say ‘you’…!”
The Red Dragon Unit member’s expression crumpled in anger. In the Namgung family's power structure, an Inner Hall sword unit member was a superior to an Outer Hall sword squad member. To knowingly call him 'you' was surely a way of looking down on him.
“Fine!”
The Red Dragon Unit member strode onto the sparring ground. He looked at the crookedly standing Ilryong and paid his respects.
“Namgung Rak of the Red Dragon 7th Unit! I will make you regret challenging me!”
“Do as you please.”
This guy and that other guy, they both loved to say they'll make him regret it. Namgung Rak asked.
“You seem to have some skill, but is there a reason for stepping forward like this?”
“None of your business, is it? Why all the talk? Hurry up and come at me. I’m busy.”
“So there is a reason. Very well. I have no intention of going easy like the previous warrior, so you best be prepared.”
“As if.”
The Red Dragon Unit member’s figure vanished in an instant. This time, it was the Red Dragon Unit member who attacked first, not Ilryong.
Swoosh- Clang!
Ilryong blocked the incoming sword of the Red Dragon Unit member. Then he immediately counterattacked.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The two exchanged blows fiercely. The Inner Hall warriors cheered for the Red Dragon Unit member’s victory, while the Outer Hall warriors, though not shouting, rooted for Ilryong’s victory. Unlike the previous match, the evenly matched fight had soon divided the Inner and Outer Hall warriors into two camps, each cheering for their fighter.
And then. Thwack- “Kuaaak!”
Ilryong’s kick sent the Red Dragon Unit member flying off the sparring stage. The sparring ground was engulfed in shock. Once again, Ilryong was victorious.
As Ilryong, with his sword slung over his shoulder, watched where the Red Dragon Unit member had flown, another mental transmission entered his ear. - Next. Blue Dragon Unit, fourth row, second warrior. Ilryong’s sharp gaze turned toward the Inner Hall warrior of the Blue Dragon Unit.
Pointing his sword at the member Seolhwa had indicated, he said in a triumphant voice.
“Hey you, over there, how about you come out?”
Schwing- “Kuaaak!” - Next. Yellow Dragon 7th Squad, third row, third.
Thump-!
“Heok!” - Next.
Red Dragon 5th Squad, fifth row, second. Several more spars followed. After Ilryong, Imwoe and Sambong came forward and called out sword unit members, and they too won several consecutive matches.
The three’s successive victories were because Seolhwa had chosen evenly matched opponents, but unaware of this fact, everyone present could not hide their shock. A single defeat could be a fluke. It could be dismissed as a mistake, an underestimation, or the use of a cowardly tactic.
But what if such unbelievable results happened one after another? That is no coincidence. As the shocking results continued, an increasingly cold silence descended upon the sparring ground.
‘An Inner Hall warrior was defeated by an Outer Hall warrior.’
‘The Inner Hall is a place only the strong from the Outer Hall can ascend to, yet they lost…’
‘It means there was a problem with the selection tests all this time!’
Those who realized this could no longer smile. Just as the Outer Hall warriors, spurred on by the victories of the three Outer Hall brothers, were about to challenge others one after another.
“Enough.”
Namgung Mucheon stopped the sparring. Seolhwa looked at Namgung Mucheon.
‘Thank goodness he cut it off at the right time.’
Although they had won their matches so far, if the Outer Hall warriors were to seriously challenge the Inner Hall warriors, they would surely lose. If that happened, the situation she had created using the three Outer Hall brothers would all be for naught.
‘Grandfather must have known from the moment Ilryong stepped onto the sparring stage.’
That Ilryong's martial strength surpassed that of the Red Dragon Unit member.
“…”
A heavy silence fell after the sparring ended. Needless to say, the expressions of Namgung Mucheon, the Hall Masters, and the Unit Leaders of the sword units were dark. The Elders and grand elders were the same.
Corruption existed in the martial force, the most important aspect of a martial family, and it had been laid bare before everyone’s eyes. Even if they weren’t directly involved with the martial force, it was a shameful thing not to have noticed the dirty tricks running rampant within the family.
“So, you've all been up to some very amusing things in my absence.”
Though his voice held a hint of laughter, a chill emanated from the murmur of the Martial Studies Hall Master, Namgung Mugang. The Martial Studies Hall was the department that oversaw the five sword units. He had trusted the Unit Leaders, and the result was this mess, which reflected his own negligence.
“Very amusing indeed.”
His harsh aura was directed at the Squad Leaders of the five sword squads and the Unit Leaders of the five sword units. Among them, the one whose face turned the palest was undoubtedly the Red Dragon Unit Leader, Namgung Jangyang.
‘D-damn it… Damn it…!’
The warriors of the Red Dragon Unit had been pointed out the most, and they had been defeated the most. The reason was clear.
‘Because the Red Dragon Unit has the most members who ascended to the Inner Hall without skill.’
Until now, Yeon Soran had his back, and since Inner and Outer Hall warriors had no reason to clash, there was no chance of being caught. But now, this Heavenly Martial Tournament had grabbed him by the scruff of the neck.
‘Where did it all go wrong?’
Just where did it all start to go wrong! Why did the Unorthodox Path bastards planted in the Outer Hall suddenly step up and create this kind of atmosphere! Was it a betrayal?
‘No, that can’t be it. The Unorthodox Path bastards wouldn’t reveal their identities unless they were crazy. If I had to pinpoint it… the start was those guys from the 11th squad.’
This whole mess started when those guys, who should have just quietly rotted away before leaving Namgung, passed the promotion test. It was a mistake from the very beginning, when they showed skill that exceeded expectations, enough to surpass Inner Hall warriors.
Wasn’t the now-exposed difference in skill between the Inner and Outer Halls clearly showing the corruption of the past? And the cause of all this was.
‘Namgung Seolhwa!’
Namgung Jangyang glared fiercely at Seolhwa. Just then, her eyes met his as she turned her head. Feeling Namgung Jangyang’s burning gaze, the corners of Seolhwa’s mouth curved into a bright smile.