Chapter 417 : Chapter 417
Vol 2 Chapter 57. Do You Want to Make a Bet? (4)
The two female swordsmen collided head-on with all their might. And the revealed result….
“Oh…. Ooh!”
“How can this be?”
People were astounded.
Emei White Phoenix Im Yeon-hwa kneeling on one knee and bleeding from the corner of her mouth.
And on the opposite side stood Twin Dragon Sect’s Yun-a, standing firm on two legs.
“To defeat that Emei White Phoenix?”
“Like this, does one seat of the Three Phoenixes change?”
“Amazing. Truly amazing.”
Praises from admirers poured onto Yun-a. However….
“Tsk.”
Patrick, who was watching that scene, clicked his tongue with a displeased expression.
And at that moment….
“Uh…? Uh uh?”
“She’s falling!”
Yun-a staggered on the sparring stage and fell backward just like that.
THUD!
The fallen Yun-a. And the Emei White Phoenix who was kneeling on the opposite side slowly raised her body.
Although her complexion was a bit pale and she seemed to have suffered internal injuries, she still stood on two feet.
Like this, who the winner was became obvious.
“Emei White Phoenix Im Yeon-hwa, Victory!”
At the referee’s declaration of victory, the Emei White Phoenix slowly sheathed her sword and came down below the sparring stage.
* * *
A long time after the match ended.
“Ugh…. Ughhh….”
“Are you conscious?”
The first thing Yun-a saw upon waking up was her Senior Sister Persona.
And as she raised her body….
“If you are up, circulate energy to heal your injuries. You must govern the energy inside your body.”
Patrick’s voice was heard.
At those words of Patrick, Yun-a made a sullen expression and spoke.
“I am sorry. Worshipped Duke.”
Yun-a bowed her head and apologized with an expression like a dejected puppy.
She lost in the match where she carried the sect’s honor.
So it was clear that a severe scolding would fall from that Patrick.
To such Yun-a, Patrick spoke.
“You got too carried away.”
“…….”
“Why did a kid whose strength is speed engage in a contest of strength vs strength at the very end?”
“That is….”
“You should believe in and utilize your own strengths. If the final winning move was Flashing Dragon Strike instead of Great Dragon Cross Sword, the result might have been different.”
“…I am sorry.”
Yun-a was completely dejected.
As expected, it seems she made a mistake and the Worshipped Duke is disappointed. How can she lift her head? Then….
“Well, still, you did well.”
“Pardon?”
“The opponent is older than you and has practiced martial arts for much longer years too. Yet you did this much…. If you fight next time, you will win.”
“…….”
“Right?”
“Yes!”
At Patrick’s question, Yun-a smiled brightly and answered with a confident voice.
Patrick also patted Yun-a's head and spoke.
“Heal up and rest. And cheer for your senior brothers.”
“Yes. Worshipped Duke. Ah, what happened to the other senior brothers?”
“Mun Yul fought the third? Or fourth son of the Jaegal Clan and won.”
“As expected of Eldest Senior Brother. Then what about Senior Brother Sanghun?”
“He is the very last match. But before that….”
Patrick looked at the sparring stage, grinned, and spoke.
“Before that, it seems an interesting match will happen.”
* * *
On the sparring stage.
Two men of an unfamiliar combination came up to this place where everyone’s gaze was focused.
“West, Namgung Clan’s Namgung Min!”
One is the third son of the Namgung Clan.
And the other one is….
“East, Namgung Clan’s Namgung Bi!”
It was the second son of the same Namgung Clan.
Although they have different mothers, two brothers sharing the same blood came up to the sparring stage.
Two brothers faced each other.
Their expressions were starkly different.
One side was full of tension and the other side was….
“Did it really have to be like this? Really?”
His face was full of displeasure.
It was the face of Namgung Bi, who had to spar against his younger brother in a public setting.
Namgung Min spoke towards such a brother.
“It’s not like we decided the match schedule, isn’t it unavoidable?”
“Couldn’t you just forfeit?”
“That is….”
Namgung Min thought for a moment.
If it were the old him, he would have certainly forfeited.
Isn't the appearance not bad either?
If he says he forfeits because he hates fighting between brothers, he would be able to pull out without needing to be pointed fingers at by the public.
But the essence of that act was not a harmonious younger brother yielding to his older brother, but his servile self running away because he was afraid to confront his older brother.
‘It can’t become like that again.’
Namgung Min shook his head.
Although it was a short time, through the encounter with the Twin Dragon Sect, he feels like he grew as a swordsman and as a man.
But this feeling will disappear the moment he runs away even once and bows his head servilely.
Like bubbles in water. So….
“I cannot retreat anymore.”
At the younger brother’s firm words, Namgung Bi frowned.
‘Just what on earth….’
He cannot express it in words, but his younger brother changed.
He is not that younger brother who always only lined up excuses with his mouth to hide his cowardly and weak nature.
Although he doesn't know what changed his younger brother like this in a short time….
“Fine. If you challenge, I have no choice but to face you. Since it is a choice you made yourself, do not regret it.”
“Yes.”
Two brothers drew their swords and stood facing each other. And….
“Begin!”
Simultaneously with the referee’s signal falling, the two moved forward and clashed head-on.
BOOOM!
Sword and sword collided.
But the ringing sound was not the usual clear metallic sound but a sound like heavy rocks colliding with each other.
It meant the secret principle of the Namgung Clan’s unique Heavy Sword was contained.
Collision of strength and strength.
But for Namgung Min, both external and internal strength were weaker than his brother.
“Hap!”
BOOOM!
Namgung Bi stepped forward while shouting vigorously.
His center moved forward and pushed the younger brother away just like that.
“Ugh….”
Namgung Min could not withstand his brother’s strength and was pushed back. And Namgung Bi threw rough sword strikes towards Namgung Min.
“I will finish it soon!”
At Namgung Bi’s attack flying while heavily cutting the wind, Namgung Min frantically moved his sword and blocked that attack.
BANG! BOOM! BANG!
* * *
‘As expected, is it impossible?’
Namgung Clan Head Namgung Un looked at the sparring stage and let out a small sigh.
The result of the match began to flow according to his expectation.
The second son attacking unilaterally.
The youngest barely holding on.
Probably if it goes like this, the outcome will be decided before twenty exchanges.
‘Fighting against his brother without running away is praiseworthy, but….’
Thinking that the difference in skill was inevitable. It is okay to lose.
But he worried that due to this defeat, the confidence barely sprouted might be trampled.
“I hope at least he doesn't get hurt badly….”
At the words Namgung Un muttered inadvertently, someone laughed with a smirk and spoke.
“Who? Your second son?”
Looking at the place where the voice came from, there was Patrick holding a liquor bottle in one hand and putting his other arm around his wife’s shoulder.
He went down to see his fallen disciple a while ago, but it seems he came up again.
‘When did he procure alcohol again?’
Truly amazing in a certain sense.
Even though getting alcohol in this Shaolin wouldn't be easy. Leaving that aside….
Namgung Un spoke towards Patrick.
“Of course, I am worried about the youngest.”
“The reason?”
“Reason? That is….”
To Namgung Un who hesitated to answer, Patrick spoke.
“Because the youngest is weaker than the older brothers?”
Namgung Un did not answer.
But that expression was a face of a human hit squarely on the mark for anyone to see.
Patrick laughed with a smirk towards Namgung Un and spoke.
“Look here. Mister.”
“Mis….”
It was a word Namgung Un had never heard in his life.
Although he knew such a word existed, he never thought he would be addressed by it.
Whether that was the case or not, Patrick spoke.
“Do you want to make a bet?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I bet on your third son beating the second son. You bet on the second son.”
“Are you saying let’s bet on the result of my sons’ match right now?”
Namgung Un revealing anger.
But the opponent is Patrick Schneider.
“No, then you should bet on your own son. Surely you weren't trying to bet rudely on a serious match done by disciples of other sects?”
“…….”
Instantly, he thought ‘Uh? Is that so?’ While Namgung Un was briefly confused, Patrick spoke.
“I’m betting on your third son? You… think the second son will win, right?”
“That is true, but….”
“Then let’s bet. How about the loser grants the winner’s wish?”
“…No, but….”
“If you’re scared, forget it.”
Instantly, Namgung Un felt a surge of emotion.
What is this? This feeling like being provoked by a thug?
It seems he never experienced this after becoming the Namgung Clan Head. And….
“Fine. Do not regret it.”
“Don’t worry. Then it’s a deal.”
“A great man does not go back on his word. You too, do not say otherwise.”
“Hehehe. Don’t worry. Picking a fight first and then saying let’s stop is the thirty-second thing I hate most.”
“Why are there so many things you hate?”
“Ahem!”
I’m not praising you.
The two men’s gazes glared at each other and then focused on the sparring stage again.
And at this moment, Namgung Un flinched and realized one fact.
While he and Patrick were talking.
Despite enough time passing for the outcome to be decided, the two sons’ match is continuing.
Even while exchanging well over 100 moves, continually.
‘I thought it would be 30 moves at best even if he held on long?’
Patrick, who read Namgung Un’s expression, thought inside.
‘It is still too early to be surprised.’
* * *
“Hmph!”
BOOOM!
Namgung Bi’s sword flew fiercely as if to blow Namgung Min away entirely.
Namgung Min raised his sword and blocked that attack.
He staggered greatly for a moment but still stubbornly raised his sword and took a stance.
‘Strange. Why isn't this guy collapsing?’
Namgung Bi began to feel frustration now.
The attacks swung fiercely with the thought of ending it quickly keep getting blocked, and the younger brother whom he thought would fly away soon is holding on tenaciously.
Thinking logically, this is too strange. Even….
“Hap!”
He is counterattacking too.
A two-handed thrust stabbing politely from the middle stance.
At the younger brother’s attack, Namgung Bi retreated one step back to dodge that attack and reorganized his sword stance again.
“You are tenacious. Until when do you intend to spend time on a match with no chance of winning?”
“…….”
“If you have no thought of winning, give up and go down.”
“…….”
Namgung Min did not answer his brother’s words.
It is not because he ignored his brother.
Right now, Namgung Min was considerably surprised at himself.
To think he can deal with that second brother’s sword like this?
Both external and internal strength are inferior, and the precision of swordsmanship is also inferior, yet the reason he can block and shake off all of his brother’s offensive is one.
Because of Patrick’s teaching.
‘Great Hero Evil-Breaking Swordsman’s words were correct.’
“Are you listening to my words?”
“Older Brother.”
At the repeated call of his brother, Namgung Min answered.
“Perhaps I…. No, our Namgung Clan might have been doing it wrong all along.”
“…What nonsense is that?”
“Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword. This is wro….”
“GAL!”
Namgung Bi shouted strongly and scolded his younger brother. And raising his sword, he spoke.
“There is nothing you cannot say. Is that something to come out of the mouth of a guy using the surname of Namgung?”
“But Older Brother, my words….”
“I don’t want to hear it!”
Namgung Bi rushed roughly towards his younger brother just like that.
This must be stopped.
If words saying the Namgung Clan’s sword is wrong come out of the mouth of a direct descendant of the Namgung Clan on an official sparring stage, not any other place, that is beyond disgrace and becomes humiliation.
“If you want to flap that blasphemous snout, prove it with your sword first.”
And Namgung Bi took a sword stance. The moment he saw that stance, Namgung Min’s face hardened.
Azure Sky Unhindered Sword Art
The Namgung Clan’s advanced sword art.
It was a sword art that he, lacking in martial talent, was not yet permitted to learn.
Since what he learned was only the Namgung Clan’s most basic swordsmanship, Twelve Forms of the Iron Sword.
Using an advanced sword art against such a self means the second brother is thoroughly angry.
“Here I go!”
The second brother rushing in while scattering blue sword energy like haze on his sword.
Watching such a brother, Namgung Min gritted his teeth.
‘Let’s do this.’
And he confronted him holding the sword that drew up weaker sword energy than his brother.