Episode 66. The fluttering amulets
looked like Taoist monks or something, but they were strong warriors with no bones in their nature.
“Especially the senior citizen who will serve as a witness for the Plum Blossom General Election. “On behalf of Cheongseong, I would like to thank you again.”
Endless applause and cheers.
Chae Geuk-ik stood up with a satisfied face and raised his hand in response.
Seo Eui-jae spoke again.
“Now, from now on, we will hold the selection of the 43rd Jangmun of the Great Qingcheng Sect, which has a long history and tradition, in the format of a secret martial arts competition.”
– wow!
Once again, thunderous cheers and applause filled the non-stage.
Han Ibi thought to herself that it would be perfect to go around selling chicken and beer.
At that time, Seo Eui-jae took advantage of the moment when the applause had subsided.
“Today’s bracket will proceed as previously decided. The first match was Son Bu-yang and Yoon Bang-moon. The second match is Seong Chun-don and So Eun-ri. And the third match will be between Elder Nam Cheol-hong and Elder Bok Yeon-hwa.”
Once again, cheers filled with anticipation erupted.
There are aspects of this kind of ‘commotion’ that are somewhat inconsistent with the usual rules of Cheongseong… but after all, isn’t the joy of ‘deviation’ in a festival?
Today, even the old Taoists of Qingseong, who are extremely strict, turned a blind eye to the spirit and passion of the young people.
Seo Eui-jae spoke again.
“If you win twice in three battles, the head of that side will naturally be promoted to the rank of general. “If the first two matches are decided, the last match will be cancelled.”
Then I heard someone’s voice.
“No… that rule is a bit strange. So doesn’t that mean that the long-term selection could be decided by the battle between juniors?”
The way a civil servant speaks.
It was Ji Mohan, a long-time member of Hongraehoe, a small and medium-sized sect, who was listening to the explanation at the guest table.
He was a person with a somewhat angular nature and enjoyed quarreling.
It’s not that he didn’t, but the expressions on the faces of many Qingcheng sect disciples hardened because of his rude words.
At that time, Seo Eui-jae said while smiling with a kind expression.
“That’s right. The reason why the Cheongseong Longwriter Selection Contest is held like this is to examine various aspects of prospective longwriters. “If you make important decisions that will lead the future of Qingseong based solely on the superiority or inferiority of your martial arts skills, how will you be any different from a group of animals or robbers?”
At the same time, he looked at the fire wings of the volcano wave as if hoping for agreement.
Then Chae Geuk-ik had no choice but to reluctantly shake his head.
There’s no way to know what his feelings were, but…
In any case, he is the most influential person here today, excluding the members of Cheongseong.
Yes.
Seo Ui-jae gave Hong Rae-hoe Ji Mo-han a gentle blow.
Faced with a situation where he would be rounded up as ‘animals’ or ‘robbers’ if he intervened any further, his face turned red with anger, but he said nothing more.
At that moment, Seo Ui-jae spoke with a very solemn expression.
“Now then, we will be holding the 43rd Cheongseong Long Selection Contest. Before that, let’s listen to the words of the current Jangmun, the 42nd Cheongseongpa Hong Gu-geum.”
Hong Gu-geum quickly jumped up onto the non-stage.
He seemed to be protesting with great skill, saying, ‘I’m still alive.’
The murmur suddenly quieted down for an instant.
“First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Chae Geuk-ik Daehyup of Hwasan’s Maehwa General Election who traveled a long distance to visit us.”
Clap clap clap!
Thunderous but mechanical applause.
As a political expert, Hong Gu-geum did not forget flattery.
After that, thank you to the domestic and foreign guests…
and then… the long conversation began.
He talked about how he came to Cheongseong, what difficulties he went through to get to this position, and how he feels about stepping down from the front line… It was no exaggeration to say that it was truly the
greatest ‘lullaby’ of its time.
‘Ah… I wonder if that long-winded writer has mastered the magic trick of putting others to sleep…’ At
first, Han Ibi tried to listen even in the midst of drowsiness, but was so bored that she felt like screaming.
He shook his head from side to side and held on with all his might.
Fortunately, the rest of the crowd was all of one mind.
They looked like students listening to the principal’s lecture.
Hong Gu-geum, who could not handle the laser fire pouring out with all his heart, ended up finishing the painting in a hurry.
Clap clap clap!
– wow!
Thunderous applause and shouts.
This may be because the boring sermon is over rather than because the content is excellent.
Fortunately, Chae Geuk-ik of the Hwasan Sect declined to say hello.
Because of the atmosphere, he probably couldn’t have done it even if he wanted to…
Anyway, Seo Ui-jae finally came up to the off-stage again and spoke.
“Now, let’s begin the schedule for the long essay contest. Without wasting any more time, we will proceed directly to the first game. “The two disciples who were named earlier, please come up to the off-stage.”
With loud and small cheers, Son Bu-yang and Yun Bang-moon came on stage almost at the same time.
They each had the same distribution as the three greatest disciples of Qingcheng.
It is an unwritten rule of the Cheongseong Long Selection Contest to follow the distribution and do the chores like this.
Han Ibi began watching the game with a somewhat nervous mind.
According to the original story, Yoon Bang-moon should have been defeated.
Han Ibi looked at them and thought.
‘Could it be that my appearance becomes an opportunity to change the outcome? If so, that would be great. In that case, even if I lose the second game, I still have a good chance…’
The two people rose to applause and cheers.
Bangmoon Yun was the epitome of a model student, and Bu Yang Son had a tendency to be a bit sarcastic, but…
he seemed very determined here today.
This is not because they were the candidates for the ‘future Jangmun and Elders’ selected by the next Jangmun.
It is a battle that cannot be said to be important.
Since they themselves knew it well, it was inevitable that they would become more nervous.
Seo Eui-jae said.
“Now, let the two disciples begin their dance.”
He suddenly threw his hand in the air.
Then, I saw yellow paper with what seemed to be neither writing nor drawings written in red flying around.
‘What… is that. It’s not some kind of Gangsi movie….’
That’s right.
It was a Taoist amulet with contents such as the belief in the path of enlightenment, fulfillment of wishes, and avoidance of disaster, and was also a long-standing tradition of the Qingcheng school.
Seo Eui-jae said.
“Following tradition, I will use a wooden sword here today instead of a real sword.”
Yun Bang-moon and Sun Bu-yang stood facing each other.
The first to take the plunge was his junior, Bangmoon Yoon.
Sun Buyang, however, took a stiff stance and a somewhat arrogant attitude.
And then the dance finally began.
Just right!
From the beginning, the fierce sound of wooden swords clashing against each other was heard.
Han Ibi thought.
‘wow. It’s really bloody…’
The scream of the wooden sword was as loud as the sound of iron clashing with iron.
Even though it was a wooden sword, it seemed like it would go to the goal with a single correct hit.
‘But compared to the momentum, it somehow feels a bit childish.’
Han Ibi has faced off against experts several times recently, risking her life and death.
I trained hard too.
So, naturally, his insight into martial arts had greatly improved, but he himself was completely unaware of this fact.
Han Ibi, who had become a little bored, was looking at the tent near Bokyeonhwa and Soeunri.
Bok Yeon-hwa’s low voice was heard.
“How are you feeling?”
So Eun-ri said.
“It’s gotten a lot better… but it’s not perfect yet.”
Bok Yeon-hwa nodded and answered.
“I was just asking just in case, so you don’t have to worry about it.”
“sorry. “Master.”
“Do you have anything to be sorry about?…”
‘No, that old lady, Mr. Bok, is really… She doesn’t fail, but she didn’t trust me 100%. ‘You can’t let go of your lingering feelings for So Eun-ri until the end.’
– Wow!
At that time, the cheers of the soldiers were heard.
Yun Bang-mun and Sun Bu-yang were clashing with each other with rapid sword strikes.
It was a quick sword ceremony by Choi Sang-seung, a Cheongseong swordsman called Wooundanso (雨雲斷消).
Crack, crack, crack!
Since they were fighting against each other with equal skills and the same basic skills, their appearance was as if one person was facing their own reflection in a mirror.
It could be said to be a rare and thrilling scene.
The cheers of the watching disciples became even more loud.
At that time, Han Ibi nodded as if she had decided on something. He brought up a status window.
The beaky eyes of a hawk came into view.
‘Ngansul.’
Eyesight, a skill related to vision.
The Nganjutsu sub-tree contained a skill he had never used.
[Ingi-an (印記眼)]
If I were to translate it into Korean, it would be something like an ‘eye stamp.’
Underneath, there was also a ‘word of warning’ written in small letters.
[Warning: Inki-an is a technique that confuses the enemy by momentarily imitating the opponent’s martial arts, so it is impossible to learn it in depth. If used frequently, it may cause confusion in learning the player’s own martial arts, so use it carefully.]
Ai Shang. what is this.
If I was going to scare them like this, I might as well make a skill like this…
But right now, there was no other way. Because I don’t know what use it might be of later.
Han Ibi quickly activated the popular eye.
My entire vision turned green. At the same time, he was completely focused on the dance of the two people fighting on the off-stage.
I felt the movement of the two people forming an afterimage into my eyes.
It felt like recording in slow motion…
Both Yun Bang-moon and Sun Bu-yang were third-generation disciples and still lacked experience as a strongman. Both of them were immature in the use of improvisation and modification.
So their match was like a textbook of Cheongseong swordsmanship.
Han Ibi concentrated again and again to remember it clearly. Of course, I made full use of the effect of ‘Ingi-an’… I wonder
how much time passed like that…
Boredom was evident in the faces of the military leaders.
This was because the game was not easily won.
The Cheongpunggeombeop (淸風劍法) and Unraegeombeop (雲來劍法), which they mainly used, were showing signs of weakness.
They knew each other very well, as they often fought as rivals among the three great disciples.
‘Stamina’ and ‘non-attendance’.
These two factors were the key points that could determine their victory.
Yun Bang-moon also knew that fact very well.
He was also well aware of the circumstances in which So Eun-ri was injured.
Moreover, the opponent is ‘Seong Chun-don’, who can be said to be the strongest of the second generation disciples.
Even if So Eun-ri, Bok Yeon-hwa’s direct disciple, was the same as Seong Chun-don in terms of age, but honestly, she was fine, the chances of her defeating the second great disciple were slim.
So, it can be said that the direction of the game depends on the first game.
Aside from not knowing about Han Ibi’s surprise appearance, Yoon Bang-moon knew this situation very well.
But was it because of that pressure? Or was it because he overexerted himself from the beginning because of that nervousness?…
In terms of physical strength and technique, Bangmoon Yun gradually found himself in a position of inferiority.
Therefore, people with experience can predict the direction of victory or defeat to some extent.
Bok Yeon-hwa sighed softly and said.
“Now that it’s like this… I have no choice but to let Zhong Limei compete… As for the rest… There is no other way but to leave it to heaven…”
So Eun-ri, who realized that Yun Bang-moon’s chances of winning were slim, also nodded with a determined expression.
It was then.
Perfect!
A wooden sword was seen flying with a loud sound.
The wooden sword that fell to the ground and was thrown away let out a loud sound.
And the wooden sword in his hand resting on Yun Bang-mun’s neck. Yun Bang-moon’s face turned red from shame.
The smile on his hand that was flowing in an unpleasant mood. His expression became triumphant.
Yes.
The match ended like that.
The result of the first match of the Cheongseong Long Sleeve Selection Tournament was a victory for Nam Cheol-hong’s camp.
As expected, a red flag was raised about the story.
At that time, I heard Seo Eui-jae’s voice.
“The first fight ended with the victory of Sun Bu-yang, the third generation disciple of the Great Qingcheng Sect.”
(Continued in the next part)
