Chapter 90 – The Moment Common Sense Shatters

Chapter 90 – The Moment Common Sense Shatters

Around the time the dawn mist began to lift slightly.

The front of Shaolin's mountain gate, which would normally have been quiet, was extremely noisy.

Instead of the clear sound of wooden fish and the monks chanting sutras, the excited voices of people who had surged in like a tsunami filled the surroundings.

"I said I got here first! Are you in your right mind trying to cut in line?"

"Nonsense! I've been standing in line since two days ago. You're the one cutting in line right now!"

"Everyone, calm down. Nothing good comes from causing a useless commotion. Since it's an auspicious day after a long time, why not yield to each other a little?"

Indeed. Today was the opening day of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, which the martial artists of the Jianghu had eagerly awaited.

The crowd that gathered even before the dawn broke was immense.

Those raising their voices claiming they would take a good spot were also countless. Was that all? Voices predicting the winner by discussing the participants' martial prowess and anticipating those who would receive the titles of the Seven Dragons and Five Phoenixes were heard from all over.

"Didn't Baek-rin of Mount Hua obtain the title of 'Mount Hua's First Phoenix' at the last Dragon and Phoenix Assembly? I understand she is participating this time too, so the championship is as good as secured."

"You don't know what you're talking about! I heard Monk Yeo-un of Shaolin is also participating this time. That Monk Yeo-un, who was counted as Shaolin's greatest genius."

"Oh, is that true? Since he hadn't participated even once so far, I thought he had no interest… My word, the outcome of the competition has become even more unpredictable."

"I bet my money on the Young Clan Leader of Namgung. I have a good feeling this time."

"Tsk, I bet a huge amount on the Wudang Sect's victory. Let's see who gets the last laugh in the end."

At that time, a spectator walking along the line looked around and spoke.

"But, couldn't a winner come from the unorthodox factions or small sects this time?"

"Does that make any sense? One or two outstanding individuals might appear, but to go all the way to winning is utterly out of the question."

"Tsk, still, let's watch for now!"

There were all sorts of ways to enjoy the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.

Those who participated in the gambling dens to predict the odds, those who spread rumors about the rising stars, and those who expressed regret at not being able to participate and promised for the next time… Countless people flooded in endlessly, anticipating the birth of a new hero.

"Wow… There are already no seats left even before the tournament starts."

San-ho, who was looking over the sparring arena, muttered in a surprised voice.

To think that the giant sparring arena worthy of the reputation of the Northern Dipper Shaolin, the Millennium Shaolin, would look this small. Looking at the crowd that had gathered and packed the grand sparring arena, the other rising stars also could not help but be filled with admiration.

"Wow…"

"Excluding the participants from the great sects and families, they say there are over four hundred who came up through the preliminaries. As the scale grew larger, the number of spectators also increased."

"Then there must be nearly a thousand participants; are they all going to hold their spars here?"

"No. They will hold preliminaries by group in each sparring arena, and the one hundred and twenty-eight rising stars who win there will advance to the main tournament. From then on, it can be considered the real Dragon and Phoenix Assembly."

It was then.

Someone slightly intruded into their waiting space and pushed forward.

"I wondered who was blocking the path like this. Since you won't even be counted among the championship candidates anyway, why did so many of you come?"

It was a rising star of Jongnam wearing dark blue martial robes.

San-ho, who glanced at them, quickly withdrew his gaze and spoke.

"Then the schedule will be quite tight."

"Heh…!!"

"That is true. They say the preliminaries will be held for three days, and there will be two days of rest before the main tournament."

Following San-ho, even Tang Hae-soo neatly ignored them.

As if they were not even worth dealing with.

At that clear intention, the faces of the Jongnam rising stars contorted.

"Look here, Young Clan Leader Tang. Can you not hear my words? A person is speaking, so how could you…"

"Ah, it is Daoist Mun-oh of Jongnam. Did you perhaps lose your way? Jongnam's spot is over there."

Tang Hae-soo, who abruptly cut off Mun-oh's words, pointed to the side.

"…Ha!"

"Do you need directions?"

"Since people who will leave soon anyway are occupying a prime spot, I came over to see if we should move here!"

"Dear me. You made a pointless trip."

Tang Hae-soo replied without a single change in his expression.

Just as Mun-oh said, the Tang Clan was occupying a fairly wide spot. It was a prime location with a good view and a large tree behind them that moderately blocked the hot sunlight. It was a consideration from Shaolin, who had added rules without prior notice.

"Well, one can never know about that. Since the spots will be rearranged based on the number of rising stars who advance to the main tournament."

"Is that so."

Indeed, a palm must clap against another to make a sound.

It was a natural logic that no matter how much one got worked up alone, there would be nothing left to say if the opponent reacted like this. Due to Tang Hae-soo's dry attitude, Mun-oh eventually lost his temper and huffed back to his seat.

Watching the retreating back, San-ho chuckled.

"Wow. Brother, at this rate, sarira will come out of your body."

"Refrain from irreverent remarks within the temple grounds."

"Who is listening? I don't know why he's making such a fuss over a mere spot. Anyway, Daoists these days…"

"…Now you don't even bother choosing your words."

Tang Hae-soo, who let out a low sigh, raised his head.

His gaze, fixed on the sparring stage, sank in an instant.

"I simply do not get affected by such meaningless provocations. This is a place to prove oneself with skill rather than words."

It was then.

When a Shaolin monk wearing yellow robes stepped onto the central sparring stage, San-ho's eyes sparkled.

"Ah, it seems to be starting."

As soon as San-ho's words ended, the Shaolin monk, who had performed a reverent half-palm salute, raised his hand.

In an instant, the noisy venue fell silent.

At the same time his hand pointed downward, a resonant sound of a bell ringing echoed through the temple grounds.

Jiiiiing—!

It was indeed a signal announcing the opening of the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly.

***

A high platform prepared on one side of the sparring arena.

The sect leaders and family heads of each sect took their seats.

"Sect Leader. Have you been in good health?"

"Yes, thanks to you. However, it seems your countenance has become even more bright, Family Head, haha."

"The rumors regarding the Young Clan Leader that have been heard lately are unusual; I am looking forward to it very much."

"There are many who predict Daoist Jae-hyeon of the Wudang Sect as a candidate for the championship. How does it look to you, Sect Leader Hyeon-ryeong?"

"Mmh, he is a child with outstanding comprehension."

The martial prowess of the rising stars was soon the future of their sects.

Although they exchanged warm greetings, at this moment, no one forgot that they were all competitors. This was because the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly was also a place where the teacher's qualifications were evaluated based on who had raised how fine a disciple.

Sharp glances probing one another continued.

"And what about Daoist Baek-rin of the Mount Hua Sect? Along with Monk Yeo-un, she has registered her name as one of the most anticipated rising stars this time."

"Haha, you flatter us."

"There are also many for whom this is their first appearance, making it difficult to predict the results."

"Indeed. It would not be an exaggeration to say that all the rising stars of the Jianghu, regardless of orthodox or unorthodox, have gathered. Since results that turn the tide of the Jianghu upside down might come out, I am also tense."

Wudang's Sect Leader, Hyeon-ryeong, spoke calmly while stroking his long beard.

"The Tang Clan… Ah, is this also the first time at the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly for the Young Master?"

"Yes. I only hope he participates without getting nervous."

"The Young Master getting nervous? Uhaha, Clan Leader Tang. I felt this during our last meeting as well, but he will not bat an eye at most things, so set your mind at ease."

At Paeng Mu-hyeok's hearty words, Tang Hwa-seon showed a faint smile.

"Haha, I hope so indeed."

Hearing that conversation, Jongnam's Sect Leader, Tae Sa-gyeong, snorted.

"Will simply not being nervous do? There are just too many prominent experts. Since the Young Master of the Tang Clan has zero experience sparring with rising stars from other sects, rather than having futile expectations, it is better to just think of it as a good experience."

"Sect Leader. What on earth are you saying? Are you looking down on the Young Master's skills right now?"

At Paeng Mu-hyeok's rough voice, Tae Sa-gyeong shrugged his shoulders.

"Having never seen him, how could I look down on him? Since it would be troublesome if he got hurt out of excessive greed in his first appearance, I was just worrying."

"Hmph! Do you think I don't know your hidden meaning?"

The sect leaders of the Nine Sects had a tendency to subtly look down on the Families. Since they also knew the reputation that the Nine Sects were a cut above in terms of martial prowess. Just as their voices were about to rise, Tang Hwa-seon spoke.

"There is no need for that. Since he has just gone up, let us watch."

Just as he said, San-ho, wearing a green robe, stood upon the sparring stage. The wide sleeves of the green robe fluttering in the wind were proof of a martial artist of the Tang Clan. The Sect Leader of Qingcheng, who was watching, asked curiously.

"What kind of poison will he use?"

"Mmh, seeing that he has not submitted any in advance, it seems he does not intend to use it."

"Then… since he is wearing a green robe, he will use hidden weapons."

While various speculations were exchanged on the platform like that, Mun-han, the second-generation disciple of Jongnam known as the Overbearing Heavy Sword, stepped up opposite San-ho.

"Oh dear, of all people, the Young Master's first opponent is…"

Looking at the sparring stage, the corners of Jongnam's Sect Leader Tae Sa-gyeong's mouth crept up.

"He is a child counted as the very best among the second-generation disciples, excluding the Eldest Disciple Brother, Mun-oh. The Young Master, making his first appearance, had poor matchup luck."

"That is something we will know by waiting and seeing."

Despite Tae Sa-gyeong's provocation, Tang Hwa-seon replied calmly.

It was not that he was trying hard not to get angry.

He simply was not worried in the slightest.

It was a strange thing.

The Overbearing Heavy Sword Mun-han was already one of the martial artists famous in the Jianghu.

He was an outstanding rising star called the future of Jongnam due to his heavy and grave sword.

'But…'

Tang Hwa-seon's straight gaze rested on San-ho.

Would that child really lose?

'Where does this endless certainty come from.'

It was not solely because San-ho was his son.

Had he not felt that earth-shattering skill closer than anyone else? A child who completely shattered common sense and always found new answers. He could tell simply by what he had seen, heard, and felt.

That child was different.

"The momentum of the two is formidable. Haha, I am looking forward to it."

As the Shaolin monk declared the start of the match and stepped down, everyone's eyes fixed onto the sparring stage.

***

"The second match of Group Seven! It is Daoist Mun-han of Jongnam and Young Hero San-ho of the Tang Clan!"

Was this a trick of fate?

Had they not exchanged arguments with Jongnam's elder since the very first day they arrived at Mount Song? Furthermore, before the tournament started, the rising stars had openly picked fights. But as if that were not enough, even the first match…

'Jongnam again?'

Had they become enemies or something? No, it wasn't even the same Sichuan land. What reason on earth would they have to hold a grudge against a sect located in Shaanxi?

San-ho shook his head from side to side.

Along with the Shaolin monk's declaration, the two martial artists stepped onto the sparring stage. The Shaolin monk, who scanned the two in turn, took a step back and announced the start of the match.

"Then, we shall begin."

Facing each other on the sparring stage, San-ho and Mun-han clasped their fists.

"This poor Daoist is Mun-han, a disciple of Jongnam. Although it is embarrassing, I am called by the moniker Overbearing Heavy Sword in the Jianghu."

"I'm not really curious…"

"Hahat…! My senior brothers said that those wearing green robes think there is nothing to fear under heaven, and it seems those words are true."

"Is that so."

"Heh…"

At San-ho's half-hearted response, veins bulged on Mun-han's forehead.

Just what did this scoundrel believe in to act so rashly!

"I tried to let it slide amicably, but you aren't cooperating. I am your senior in the Jianghu, yet how can you be so ill-mannered."

Shhhring—

Mun-han drew his sword and muttered in a low voice.

"Indeed, it seems you cannot hear this either. Open your eyes wide and watch, the sword of Jongnam…"

"…Tsk."

San-ho, who cut off Mun-han's words, spoke up irritably.

"Is now the time for you to be leisurely picking fights?"

"What?"

"You should attack, attack."

"Heh…"

"You won't? Then I will."

No sooner had those words ended than San-ho's figure rushed forward like lightning.

The Sichuan Tang Clan.

The prestigious family of poison and hidden weapon techniques.

The fact that they hid poison and hidden weapons inside the wide sleeves of their green robes was already an extremely famous fact. Therefore, when fighting a member of the Tang Clan, anyone was bound to keep that fact in mind.

However, sometimes that very fact of knowing the opponent created carelessness.

Just as no one expected that San-ho would close the distance and buckle the knee instead of firing hidden weapons.

"What on earth is this…!!"

Most martial artists of the Tang Clan tried to distance themselves from their opponents. Especially when facing a swordsman, even more so. This was because it was naturally advantageous to discharge hidden weapons from a place where the opponent's sword could not reach.

However, San-ho actually narrowed the distance.

Flying to Mun-han's side in an instant, San-ho kicked the back of his knee.

Thump!

Along with a dull impact sound, Mun-han's knee buckled and he fell forward.

San-ho immediately struck the Muncheong acupoint among the fainting acupoints. As he quickly injected internal energy with his fingertip, Mun-han's eyes closed in an instant.

"Phew…"

This was something that occurred in too brief an instant.

Let alone counterattacking, Mun-han, who could not even make a sound, lost consciousness just like that.

Laying his limp body down on the sparring stage, San-ho muttered to himself.

"…That's why you should have struck when you had the chance."

There was no need to put his hand inside his sleeve either. Because he had not used any poison, hidden weapons, or anything else. San-ho subdued Jongnam's second-generation disciple with just his bare body. It was an all too easy victory.

"………"

Despite the match having ended, the venue was silent.

There were no loud shouts like usual, nor any cheering or encouragement.

It was just… extremely silent.

A match so bizarre one would doubt their own eyes.

No, could this even be considered a match in the first place?

While no one dared to open their mouth easily, the Shaolin monk, who had not forgotten his duty, walked up onto the sparring stage. The Shaolin monk, who checked on Mun-han lying on the ground, opened his trembling mouth.

"The winner of the Group Seven match is…"

Gulp. The sound of dry saliva being swallowed filled the platform.

"…It is Young Hero San-ho of the Tang Clan!"

"………"

Even after the Shaolin monk's declaration of the outcome ended, only a dizzying silence hovered inside the venue. The one who broke that suffocating silence was an unexpected figure.

"Wh-What…?"

Jongnam's Sect Leader, Tae Sa-gyeong, was staring with wide eyes.

However, boos of not accepting the outcome were not heard from anywhere.

Because at this very moment, everyone shared the same thoughts.

'What… did I just see?'

It was the moment everyone's common sense shattered to pieces.