Chapter 317. For Moments Like This
In truth, I had thought of several names for the martial art the White-Clad Scholar had displayed. None of them pleased me, so I had kept my mouth shut, but in fact, there was something more important than my giving it a name.
“Alliance Leader.”
Lin Xiaobai looked at me, then nodded.
“Sect Leader, speak.”
“Please give a name to the martial art Master in White just showed us.”
“…….”
I passed it off to the Alliance Leader.
In truth, everyone had set aside the matter of who had won or lost the duel for the moment, and their attention was focused on the name of the martial art.
How should I describe this feeling? It was like watching the birth of something together. Since everyone here was of the jianghu, it was only natural that they would be interested in the name of a martial art.
Lin Xiaobai smiled faintly and said,
“You are passing a difficult task to me. Look here, Sect Leader.”
“Yes.”
“Have you forgotten the name of my martial art? Because I belonged to the Sixth Combat Unit, I simply named it the Sixth Combat Unit Sword. There is no romance or wit in that name, nor any elegance or implied meaning. It was merely the resolve that I would never forget the fact that I had belonged to the Sixth Combat Unit… and that became the name of my martial art.”
In truth, this was the story I wanted the crowd to hear, and Lin Xiaobai responded exactly as I had hoped.
Since I already knew Lin Xiaobai’s heart and the story behind the Sixth Combat Unit Sword, I had asked him on purpose.
The White-Clad Scholar and Lin Xiaobai.
When you looked at the two of them in one place…
There were no two men who stood in sharper contrast.
The White-Clad Scholar was a man far too inclined toward the artistic, and even his residence was a cave-like place prepared inside a gloomy cliff.
Lin Xiaobai was a man far too inclined toward reality, and at the same time, he was the Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance, who had to share his every move with the alliance members.
One man hid in a cave and spun schemes.
The other was a man who faced the storms of the world with his whole body, breaking through countless plots, crushing them, and enduring them.
I connected these two men through the name of a martial art.
In any case, Lin Xiaobai was the Alliance Leader of the orthodox Murim Alliance. The very fact that he would give a name to the White-Clad Scholar’s martial learning… would that not be meaningful?
I looked at Lin Xiaobai and, for now, insisted.
“Still, please name it.”
Lin Xiaobai rose from his chair with a troubled expression and looked at the White-Clad Scholar.
“Master in White.”
“…….”
“The core of the martial art you showed was, in truth, its movement technique.”
The White-Clad Scholar answered,
“Is that so?”
“It was a superior martial art that allowed you to control your body freely and at will. With that one movement technique, you evaded most of the Martial Emperor’s attacks, so it was an extraordinary art. As the Sect Leader said, at times you looked like a butterfly, and at times you looked like a painter drawing with a white brush in hand. What surprised me was that, aside from the final contest of palm force, you did not use any other martial art. Which means you likely possess a far more vast body of martial learning, do you not?”
The White-Clad Scholar nodded.
“That is generally the case.”
“Even without giving it some grand name, the movement technique itself will become one of the finest arts in the jianghu.”
From the beginning, Lin Xiaobai had understood that the martial art the White-Clad Scholar had displayed was, in a broad sense, Tiyunzong.
Lin Xiaobai said,
“By nature, I am a man who is extremely lacking in artistic or creative aspects compared to our Hao Sect Leader or to you, Master. How else could the name of my sword art be the Sixth Combat Unit Sword?”
The White-Clad Scholar stared quietly at Lin Xiaobai.
Lin Xiaobai spoke in a calm tone.
“I am sorry that I cannot give your martial art a name. I do not wish my clumsy naming to be attached to the excellent martial art you displayed. However, I watched the duel from beginning to end with deep admiration. It was a duel from which even I gained much.”
Could the White-Clad Scholar truly withstand Lin Xiaobai’s storm-like praise?
The White-Clad Scholar listened in silence, then cupped his fist toward Lin Xiaobai without a word.
“…….”
At that moment, someone among the spectators tactlessly asked Lin Xiaobai,
“Alliance Leader, then who won the duel?”
Ah, damn it. Which bastard was that?
What kind of fool was ruining this moving moment?
I glared at the one who had spoken, but I could not tell who it was. He was simply someone who looked a little frustrating.
In life, there was always someone like that.
In truth, all the experts knew that the White-Clad Scholar had won. But it was a question from someone who had failed to discern that, so he could not be blamed entirely. Ximen Wudi had not yet declared that he had lost either.
This time, Lin Xiaobai subtly passed it off to Gongsun Yue.
“Strategist Gongsun, you answer who won.”
Gongsun Yue, who had been sitting quietly only to be struck out of nowhere, asked back with a bewildered expression.
“Pardon?”
“You are the smartest person in the Murim Alliance, so you should be able to explain it properly.”
I nodded.
So praise could be used in such a frightening way, I thought.
Gongsun Yue’s eyes darted rapidly here and there before she abruptly spoke.
“…Of course, it is Master in White’s victory.”
Ximen Wudi raised his hand slightly.
“Strategist Gongsun, explain why you think so. I will not reproach you.”
Gongsun Yue nodded.
“Understood. To my eyes as well, the two of you ended as though it were a draw. If one must determine victory or defeat in the duel, then one must reach a conclusion as though assigning points, and since Master in White caught his breath in two breaths, he held the advantage. Of course, even if the match had continued immediately, Senior Martial Emperor would not have lost at once. However, since you yourself stopped the duel and acknowledged it, the result must already exist in your heart as well. If this junior may dare add something unnecessary… the Alliance Leader once clearly defined the answer to who the true victor of a duel is.”
Gongsun Yue looked at Lin Xiaobai, then relayed what he had once said to the crowd.
“After a duel ends, the one who has gained more is ultimately the victor. If a duel of the orthodox path concludes properly, then no one will have been injured. And if the one who gained something becomes stronger through training, then that person is the true victor. Victory and defeat are merely a momentary process, because the next duel remains ahead. The Alliance Leader has always desired such duels.”
Gongsun Yue cupped her fist and looked around at those present.
“Seniors, this junior is also learning much today. Though I did not duel, I feel as if I have gained the opportunity to become a victor.”
Gongsun Yue was no ordinary woman either, and the crowd’s emotions were stirred. The Alliance Leader and his strategist were quite skilled at playing the crowd.
Gongsun Yue looked at Ximen Wudi and the White-Clad Scholar as she said,
“I have witnessed a duel truly worthy of being called a duel. Surely I am not the only one whose horizons have broadened.”
Ximen Wudi nodded.
“Well said. I lost the duel. In any case, as the Hao Sect Leader said, it would be difficult to strip that away.”
Without thinking, I subtly avoided Ximen Wudi’s gaze.
“…….”
“It is only right that Master in White take the sobriquet of Martial Emperor. Because I had resolved to do so, I somewhat shamefully asked about victory and defeat.”
My eyes widened.
‘What……?’
I was not the only one surprised. A murmur mixed with admiration spread outward.
For one thing, the entire Seomun Family seemed startled, and the crowd that had witnessed him cast aside an emperor’s epithet in an instant all wore looks of shock as well.
Most of all, even the White-Robed Scholar himself was taken aback.
“Martial Emperor, are you serious?”
“There is no need to call me Martial Emperor anymore. It was a heavy burden, too. Simply call me Family Head. The duel was fair, and defeat is defeat. We made a promise beforehand, so I am merely abiding by it.”
Then, out of nowhere, came the finest compliment of all.
“White-Robed Martial Emperor. Somehow, that epithet suits you well. I know your skill better than anyone, so I have no regrets.”
Seomun Martial Emperor—no, the Family Head of the Seomun Family—clasped his hands behind his back and stepped down from the duel platform. I had not felt much even when listening to Im Sobaek or Gongson Wol, but the Seomun Family Head’s words made goosebumps rise on my arms.
‘He keeps the words he speaks.’
To think that the Martial Emperor of the martial world had changed after a single duel that had been close to a draw…….
We had become spectators witnessing a truly astonishing event before our eyes.
I looked again at the Family Head of the Seomun Family.
At this level, the Seomun Family Head was no ordinary stubborn man. He was certainly steeped in the stubbornness unique to the orthodox path.
I looked at the White-Robed Scholar and offered my congratulations.
“White-Robed Martial Emperor, congratulations.”
“Mm.”
Slightly flustered, the White-Robed Scholar looked at the Family Head of the Seomun Family, who had now taken his seat. The Seomun Family Head looked back at the White-Robed Scholar and gave a slight nod. It felt like a greeting saying, “The epithet is yours now.”
Only then did the White-Robed Scholar return to his original seat.
While the White-Robed Scholar had his back turned, I looked around and signaled with my hands. At that, the members of the Murim Alliance all cheered and applauded the White-Robed Scholar as he withdrew.
“Waaaaah!”
“White-Robed Martial Emperor!”
I also clapped until that White-Robed Scholar bastard sat down.
Just what exactly is my role in the martial world?
At this point, even I was a little confused.
The Lust Demon bastard beside me nodded as he voiced thoughts from an entirely different place than the crowd’s.
“Of course. It must have been hard to part with that thing.”
I looked at the Lust Demon.
“Shut up, you lunatic.”
Because of the Lust Demon’s words, all the emotion vanished at once, and the dignity of the moment plummeted.
“Tsk.”
When the assembly grew quiet, Im Sobaek spoke.
“As Strategist Gongson put it, that was the duel I had hoped for. Among the sovereigns, who will step forward for the next duel?”
When someone rose, everyone’s gazes fixed on one man at once. The Lord Sword King of the Baengni Family was walking toward the duel platform.
This man, too, was none other than a Sword King.
No one could predict whom he would duel or what he would say, but the people acknowledged the Sword King’s presence with silence.
The Lord Sword King climbed onto the duel platform, looked around at the assembly, and opened his mouth.
“……I am called by the undeserved epithet of Sword King. I originally came to cross swords with Alliance Leader Im, but after watching, my thoughts changed. I do not mind facing Alliance Leader Im, nor do I mind another opponent. However, I will promise one thing. If I am defeated, I too will set down the epithet of Sword King without lingering attachment.”
“Hmm.”
Are his balls that precious?
I could not bring myself to ask directly, so I only laughed inwardly.
Am I the only piece of trash here?
Fortunately, a trash-like bastard beside me was also looking at the duel platform.
In any case, once the Lord Sword King made his declaration as if challenging anyone to come at him, waves of inner conflict rippled here and there over whether to rise or not.
“…….”
In truth, whoever fought the Sword King would most likely only have this one duel today. Some of the sovereigns probably hoped that the Lord Sword King would face the Alliance Leader, but the Lord Sword King had not chosen an opponent at all.
Would they gain the fame of having crossed swords with the Sword King, even if they lost?
Or would they truly aim for the epithet of Sword King and undertake the duel of a lifetime?
Just as people were unable to challenge him easily…….
I looked at the Ghost Demon.
“Second.”
“Hm?”
In truth, I felt the Ghost Demon was the perfect opponent to challenge him, but then the person beside the Ghost Demon suddenly stood up.
The Sword Demon, who had risen quietly, headed toward the duel platform.
In truth, several people had stood up here and there around the same time, but while the Sword Demon walked silently to the duel platform, they sat back down.
Those who had never learned martial arts tended to fear the Ghost Demon’s appearance or aura.
And most of those who had learned martial arts received the Sword Demon’s rarely seen, weighty atmosphere as their first impression. From the beginning, the Sword Demon was a man as grave as the world itself.
It was only because he traveled with us that his atmosphere had been somewhat diluted…….
When he walked with his mouth shut like today, he was a man who made it unclear whether a person was walking, or whether pitch-black darkness was walking around.
When the Sword Demon climbed onto the duel platform…….
The Lord Sword King opened his mouth.
“Are you perhaps the man who scolded Mongrang at Wolhagwan?”
The Sword Demon nodded.
The Lord Sword King smiled.
“Good. My second son was defeated by your disciple, so it would not be bad for the master and the father to have a second round.”
The Sword Demon nodded.
“It would not be bad.”
At that moment, someone spoke toward the duel platform.
“……See here. The Lord Sword King’s opponent should reveal his identity first. I hear there is a rumor that you are the Left Envoy of Light who fled the Demonic Cult. Is that true?”
What kind of annoying son of a bitch was flapping his mouth so carelessly now?
As I was thinking I should find him and strip his soul bare, the Lord Sword King fixed his gaze on one man from the duel platform.
“Family Head Jegal, this man is likely indeed the former Left Envoy. He is, so what of it?”
“Pardon?”
“As I listened to him admonish his disciple, he did not strike me as some frivolous figure of the unorthodox and heretical paths. If you mean to make useless interference, take up a sword, climb onto the duel platform, and do it that way.”
When the Lord Sword King glared at Family Head Jegal, Family Head Jegal could not even open his mouth.
The Sword Demon looked around and introduced himself in a calm tone.
“It is true that I was once the Left Envoy.”
Before the assembled masters of the orthodox path, the Sword Demon briefly acknowledged his identity.
At that moment, Im Sobaek’s voice rang out.
“I know better than anyone who is staying in the Murim Alliance. The Sword Demon has already faced the Demonic Cult’s forces several times, and in Dongho, he personally beat the foremost man of the Evil Path to death. Unlike those who have spent their lives holed up at home, he is a man who has already aided the Murim Alliance several times, so refrain from spouting useless nonsense in front of me. Hand the wooden swords to the two of them. This spar will be between the Sword King of the Baekri Clan and the man called the Sword Demon.”
Im Sobaek brought the disorderly mood in the hall to order at once, with words and bearing like a great battlefield sword.
Amid the silence…….
Two members of the Murim Alliance approached the Sword King and the Sword Demon, each carrying a wooden sword.
As I watched the Sword King and the Sword Demon quietly accept the wooden swords, I suddenly felt an immense sense of relief and peace of mind.
A thought occurred to me.
That it had been a good thing I left my days as an inn waiter behind and entered the jianghu.
Perhaps Eldest Brother and even a man like me were ultimately alive in the jianghu for moments like this.
Beneath the blazing afternoon sunlight, the Sword King and the Sword Demon were turning the wooden swords in their hands this way and that, inspecting them.