The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

It was a situation where everyone was just looking at each other.

It was burdensome to be the first to use the duel rights because all eyes were on them. The strengths of the other successors were still unknown, and no rankings had been set.

Even Moyong Jin was just glaring at Namgung Shin.

Jegal Seon’s action was so abrupt it was almost deviant, especially since the opponent was Henan’s Sage Baek Yi-gang, who had been receiving a lot of attention.

“Did we have such a fate… it seems you’re thinking it.”

Enjoying the pouring attention, Jegal Seon asked, “Actually, if we were to nitpick, wouldn’t Young Master Baek Yi-gang’s participation be at risk of criticism from the people of Jianghu?”

“Criticism?”

Peng Mu-ah muttered as if it was ridiculous.

Jegal Seon spoke as if he had been waiting for this, “Yes. Especially since the Alliance has set several restrictions to prevent monopolization by the major sects.”

Half of the thirty slots for entering the Five Elements Tomb had already been taken by the successors who participated in the Dragon-Phoenix Conference and the Seven Stars Conference.

The remaining 15 were to be selected from outside the Alliance, but if left unchecked, more successors from the major sects would surely join.

Therefore, the Murim Alliance set various restrictions.

One must not be over twenty-four years old, must not have participated in the previous Dragon-Phoenix Conference or Seven Stars Conference, and based on yesterday’s speech, must register within a day. There was also a rule that no more than three people from a single sect or clan could participate.

“So you met that condition.”

Indeed, Yi-gang met all the conditions.

He belonged to both the Azure Forest and Baek Noble Clan, but he satisfied the other conditions.

“The conditions may be met, but there are still perceptions to consider. It won’t look good.”

“Are you nitpicking?”

It was nitpicking indeed. Apart from Yi-gang, there were other similar applicants.

One of Jegal Seon’s brothers also tried to apply but was disqualified due to the age condition.

“Forget it.”

Yi-gang stopped Peng Mu-ah, who was about to retort.

“Why bother talking about justifications? Just say what you want to say.”

There must be a reason why Jegal Seon was speaking nonsense. Yi-gang saw no need to get entangled in it.

He answered with a smirk, “What would you ask of Henan’s Sage, who has impressed the Grand Coordinator? Obviously, it’s a battle of wits.”

“A battle of wits?”

“Or should I say, a numbers game?”

The brains of the Jegal Clan were famous.

Until Heaven’s Secret Scholar became the strategist, the Jegal Clan had historically taken the role of the Murim Alliance’s strategist.

“It’s not terribly difficult. Just like a game involving hypothetical reasoning and deductive inference…”

However, Yi-gang interrupted Jegal Seon’s words, “Why bother with all that?”

“…What?”

“Not a martial arts duel but a battle of wits?”

Jegal Seon looked surprised at the unexpected question.

“Well, Young Master, you were born with meridian blockage disease, weren’t you.”

“That’s right.”

“Something like a martial arts duel would be impractical, wouldn’t it.”

He spoke in a roundabout way, but his meaning was clear.

Jegal Seon spoke as if troubled, “There would be a significant gap in martial arts skills.”

“Pfft.”

The one who spit out his tea was none other than Jun Myung of the Azure Forest.

He glanced around and wiped his mouth.

It wasn’t just Jun Myung. Yu Su-rin and Son Hee-il also wore peculiar expressions.

For the successors of the Seven Stars Conference sitting opposite, this attitude was incomprehensible.

Baek Ha-jun quietly opened his mouth. He was quite displeased.

“If you’re curious about the Baek Clan’s swordsmanship, face me instead.”

“Haha, Iron-blooded Genius is impressive, but I am curious about Young Master Baek Yi-gang.”

“…”

Peng Mu-ah and Baek Ha-jun seemed ready to stand up for Yi-gang.

Until Yi-gang said this, “Let’s not do that and have a martial arts duel instead.”

“…Yes?”

“Shall we do it before the food arrives, or after we eat? I have a place to visit afterwards, so I’d prefer to do it right away.”

Thump—

Yi-gang placed the Shooting Star Fang, tied to his waist, on the table.

The most surprised by his action was none other than Peng Mu-ah.

-What are you thinking!

She said that telepathically, but Yi-gang just glanced back and didn’t say anything.

Peng Mu-ah then looked at the third-generation disciples of the Azure Forest.

It was a hint to try and stop their senior.

In her mind, Yi-gang was still the boy who used to cough up blood, so it couldn’t be helped.

“What’s for lunch, Senior Brother?”

“Since it’s the Murim Alliance, it’s bound to be delicious, right?”

But they were just whispering such conversations.

Their indifferent attitude was perplexing. Whether they trusted Yi-gang or simply didn’t care.

With Jegal Seon frozen in front of him, Yi-gang stood up.

“Do you dislike it?”

“…What are you thinking?”

“I suggested we have a martial arts duel since you wanted to use the duel rights.”

“…You underestimate the Jegal Clan.”

Yi-gang laughed as if he couldn’t believe it.

Jegal Seon seemed genuinely insulted.

“Just because our clan is known for its strategy doesn’t mean our martial arts are inferior.”

It’s a common prejudice against the Jegal Clan. They were often thought of as just smooth talkers with average martial arts skills.

But their Heaven’s Secret Mysterious Step and White Feather Fan Technique were undoubtedly top-notch in the martial world.

“You’re the one underestimating.”

“…”

However, it was definitely Jegal Seon who had spoken arrogantly first.

Even though none of the successors who knew of Yi-gang’s Great Yin Meridian Blockage thought of it as an arrogant remark.

The atmosphere became heavy.

Yi-gang held a sword in one hand, and Jegal Seon changed the way he held his white feather fan.

The mood was as if they were about to start a martial arts duel right there in the lunch hall.

A drop of cold sweat trickled down Jegal Seon’s forehead.

‘…Wasn’t he unable to use internal energy?’

He was inwardly shocked.

When an expert above first-class level raised their energy, an invisible force called Intangible Qi usually was emitted.

For those of inferior skill, their bodies would freeze and their momentum would break. But Yi-gang didn’t seem affected at all.

Rather…

‘Intangible Qi?’

The energy Yi-gang was emitting was actually invading Jegal Seon’s territory.

Jegal Seon instinctively gripped his fan tightly.

In this fierce battle of aura, someone gently intervened.

“The passion of the juniors is impressive.”

The overwhelming pressure that seemed to swallow the Intangible Qi of Yi-gang and Jegal Seon was unmistakably from Mount Hua.

Mount Hua’s Divine Sword, Hwa Mu-cheon, inserted himself between Yi-gang and Jegal Seon.

“But, it seems you’ve misunderstood my words a bit.”

Even in the midst of the energy waves, he looked remarkably calm.

“The duel rights can only be used by those already among the 30.”

Hwa Mu-cheon casually placed his arm on Yi-gang’s shoulder as he spoke. Yi-gang made a slightly displeased face.

“However, our handsome Young Master has only registered so far. The competition will be decided after the selection of the 30.”

“…Yes.”

“Haha, since you seem to want a martial arts duel, I’ll arrange it for you later.”

He hadn’t forgotten Yi-gang’s intention to face Jegal Seon in a duel.

If Yi-gang completed his registration and won the competition among the minor sects’ successors, the duel with Jegal Seon would take place.

Mount Hua’s Divine Sword tapped Jegal Seon on the shoulder as well before returning to his seat.

Seated again, Yi-gang quietly brushed his hair.

“…Impressive.”

He wasn’t talking about Jegal Seon, but Mount Hua’s Divine Sword, Hwa Mu-cheon. His ability to walk unscathed through that razor-sharp aura was astonishing.

Indeed, winning the previous Dragon-Phoenix Conference was no fluke.

Jegal Seon spoke as if reluctantly accepting the situation, “Then, I’ll wait for now.”

Holding the teapot, he poured the lukewarm tea into a cup.

“Until the day of the martial arts duel.”

Then he slid the teacup towards Yi-gang.

The teacup gliding across the table—

The meaning of the action was all too obvious. Jegal Seon had initiated a battle of internal energy.

“…!”

It was a move to test Yi-gang’s true skills.

Thump.

Yi-gang caught the teacup effortlessly.

But the tea was swirling so fast inside the cup it seemed about to spill. If he couldn’t handle it, he would be humiliated by the overflowing tea.

“The tea has gone cold.”

However, Yi-gang’s clothes remained dry.

The expressions of Jegal Seon and the other successors changed. Yi-gang had certainly used his True Qi to counter Jegal Seon’s move.

But what happened next was unexpected by everyone.

Drrrrrr—

The rotation of the tea hadn’t stopped.

Instead, it began to spin even faster, causing the teacup to vibrate.

“I don’t drink cold tea.”

Then, unable to withstand the rotation, the tea violently spurted out.

Yi-gang tilted the teacup precisely, and the liquid splashed onto Jegal Seon’s face.

Pang!

Jegal Seon, greatly startled, swung his fan.

Had he not, he would have been drenched in the tea.

“The breeze from your fan is refreshing,” Yi-gang said mockingly.

Jegal Seon’s face turned beet red. He had been completely outmaneuvered.

He returned to his place without saying another word.

Then, with a voice more shocked than Jegal Seon’s, Peng Mu-ah asked, “How did you do that?”

“Well, I just returned the internal energy the same way.”

“Lies. That’s impossible unless your internal energy is enormous.”

Her astonishment was understandable.

Countering the internal energy in the teacup was feasible for those who had reached a certain level.

But to spin the still water and spray it out was a matter of skill. Only masters with immense internal energy could achieve such a feat.

“My brothers wouldn’t be able to do that either.”

This implied that even the Peak masters of the Peng Clan couldn’t do it.

Yi-gang silently poured himself more tea into the empty cup and drank.

Very few recognized the skill in Yi-gang’s move.

Yu Su-rin sent him a telepathic message.

-Senior, you used a spell, didn’t you?

Yi-gang nodded slightly. However, even Yu Su-rin was not without surprise.

-When did you learn to use the Water Drawing Technique without even chanting a spell!

The technique of moving water, the Water Drawing Technique.

Apparently, Yi-gang was weaker in sorcery than in swordsmanship. But his skills had improved drastically in just a few days.

He couldn’t possibly explain that he had absorbed the spiritual energy of all the suspicious items in the Criminal Repository.

“Ah, the food is here!”

As the servants brought in the meal, Yi-gang quickly diverted attention with his remark.

He completely ignored the curious gazes.

After the meal, there would be a selection test in the outer courtyard.

Today was bound to be busy.

---

Outside the banquet hall where the luncheon was taking place.

There were two holes in the paper screen separating the corridor and the hall.

Through the holes, eyes were peeking, and as the holes seemed too small, a finger moistened with saliva protruded to widen them.

The eyes reappeared through the slightly enlarged holes.

-What are they saying?

-Quiet, I’m trying to read their lips.

-When did you learn lip reading?

Inside the banquet hall was Mount Hua’s Divine Sword, a Peak master.

Even with the bustling hall, they had to converse telepathically to avoid being caught peeping, given the presence of such a skilled individual.

-Can’t I understand what our cute Mu-ah is saying?

-Well, that’s true.

The two men clinging to the door were quite large in stature.

They were known as the Peng Clan’s Twin Tigers, two experts.

Peng Gu-hwi and Peng Gu-in, the twin older brothers of Peng Mu-ah.

Peng Gu-hwi, from a distance, was deciphering the lip movements of his younger sister, who was grappling with a teacup.

-Yeah. Tried to… follow… but can’t… sure… even brothers… can’t do. What about it?

Quite an accurate interpretation.

It was impressive lip-reading, but somehow, it seemed more disturbing than cool.

-Amazing… Yi-gang. Woah!

Peng Gu-hwi cried out telepathically. Peng Gu-in felt the same frustration.

-We could do that too!

-Using such a trivial trick to completely bewitch our Mu-ah!

The twin brothers, who had participated in the previous Dragon-Phoenix Conference, came here to Kaifeng with Peng Mu-ah.

However, they were not allowed to attend the luncheon.

Peng Mu-ah had vehemently forbidden them, certain they would do something foolish in front of Yi-gang.

And her concerns were not unfounded.

-Of course, we need to test him!

-See if he’s the real deal!

The twin brothers were determined to meet Yi-gang in person to see what kind of person he was.

They believed that Yi-gang had enchanted Peng Mu-ah.

While the Peng Clan’s Twin Tigers couldn’t attend the luncheon, they were here observing their sister and the other successors.

Drrrr—

Just then, the door opened, and a servant came out carrying empty dishes.

The servant, opening the paper screen door and seeing the two large figures attached to it, was visibly shocked.

“Gag!”

Peng Gu-hwi quickly moved to cover the servant’s mouth. Peng Gu-in swiftly caught the plate the servant had dropped.

There was no noise at all.

With a pot-lid-like hand covering the servant’s mouth, they moved to a corner of the corridor.

-Don’t be scared. We are the Twin Tigers of Peng Clan.

-Relax. We’re just here to see our younger sister.

The servant, trembling, nodded his head.

-If you promise not to scream, we’ll let you go.

The servant nodded again.

Peng Gu-hwi was about to release him with a sly smile when…

Drrrr—

The paper screen door opened again, and someone walked out.

It was Yi-gang, leaving early for his schedule. He planned to head to the guest hall in the outer courtyard, where the selection test for the external successors was to be held.

However, Yi-gang didn’t leave immediately but stopped.

His sharp senses were telling him something.

“…Was it my imagination?”

He looked around the corridor, but there was nothing there.

Yi-gang tightly tied his hair. He was preparing for physical action soon.

His necklace and the ring on his hand sparkled.

He descended the stairs and disappeared.

And then—

“Puhuck, Pwooooo!”

“Ah, sorry, you couldn’t breathe, could you?”

“Hooooek! What, in the world…”

The conversation between the servant and Peng Gu-hwi was heard from above.

In that brief moment, Peng Gu-hwi had grabbed the servant and climbed up to the ceiling beams.

“That kid… has quite sharp senses.”

“Indeed.”

They had hidden quickly, but they hadn’t expected Yi-gang to catch even a slight trace of their presence.

However, this didn’t change their perception of Yi-gang.

“Brother, did you see?”

“Yeah… I saw. Unacceptable.”

They flexed their muscular arms, burning with anger.

The Peng Clan had a family motto.

Burning Blood Breaks Iron.

It meant that hot blood could sever iron.

The martial artists of the Peng Clan must be dominating and strong.

Among the Seven Great Clans, the Peng Clan possessed the hottest blood, and they were also considered the most manly.

Therefore, if Peng Mu-ah liked a successor, he must be more manly than anyone.

But what about Yi-gang?

“With a neck so pale it looks like it might snap with a flick.”

“Wearing rings and necklaces.”

“Absolutely unacceptable.”

“Let’s follow him.”

Despite Peng Mu-ah’s warning not to approach Yi-gang, as her older brothers, they couldn’t just stand by.

They dashed off in the direction Yi-gang had disappeared.

Their movements were incredibly silent and light, belying their large stature.

From the spot where the Peng Clan’s Twin Tigers had left, a plaintive voice echoed, “C-could you… please let me down…”

There, the poor servant was trembling and clinging tightly to the beam above.

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