Chapter 42

Chapter 42
## Chapter: 42

### Chapter Title: Martial Arts Tournament (3)

—

Shifting his attention, Sima Geon did not see Hahu Gok, but rather Tang Ha Gyo as he vaulted onto the fighting platform.

Tang Ha Gyo had leaped upward in a desperate bid to intercept Tang Cheol Yeong before the Thunderclap Rain could be unleashed, yet the struggle had concluded before his feet even touched the wood.

The lethal gambit of Tang Cheol Yeong had failed entirely; instead, he had been met with a devastating counterstroke that shattered both of his legs.

Even as Tang Cheol Yeong reached this miserable state of defeat, Tang Ha Gyo remained frozen, unable to intervene.

From the second the Thunderclap Rain was revealed in what was intended to be a regulated trial of martial prowess, he—and indeed the entire Tang Family—was stripped of any defense, regardless of how they might try to explain it.

Sima Geon spared a brief look for Tang Ha Gyo before seizing the mangled, screaming Tang Cheol Yeong by his ankles, dragging him across the floor, and discarding him off the edge of the platform.

He possessed the option of delivering the man with decorum to Tang Ha Gyo, but he intentionally refused.

The spectators were left breathless by the display. Despite Tang Cheol Yeong’s blatant misconduct, he remained a scion of the Tang Family. To treat him like common refuse while a high-ranking elder of his clan stood right there was a stinging, public slap to the face of the Tang Family’s pride.

The eyes of Tang Ha Gyo grew frigid as he glared at Sima Geon, and a suffocating aura of murderous intent radiated from the Tang Family subordinates gathered below the stage.

They appeared poised to storm the arena at a single word, disregarding the rules of the competition entirely. Nevertheless, Tang Ha Gyo remained silent and descended from the platform without a word.

In this light, it was obvious to any observer that the primary fault rested with Tang Cheol Yeong.

Ultimately, even though Tang Cheol Yeong had been shamed and broken, the Tang Family knew that retaliating against Sima Geon now would only further erode their standing. Naturally, they had no plans to simply forgive his blatant disrespect.

“You certainly carry around some fascinating trinkets. If my memory serves, that is one of the Tang Family’s celebrated Ten Great Hidden Weapons, is it not?”

Once Tang Ha Gyo had returned to his place, Hahu Gok inquired with an air of expectation.

He wore a light grin and spoke with a casual air, but his gaze remained sharp and unforgiving.

It was fortunate that Sima Geon had handled the threat efficiently—otherwise, the platform would have been stained with a bloodbath.

“My sincerest apologies. As you are aware, such items are things we can never truly part with, regardless of the circumstances.”

“I am well aware of how the Tang Family treasures them. However, ‘never’ sounds like a convenient justification to me. Had anyone other than that idiot been standing there, this would not have ended so cleanly.”

“Quite right. The fact that the damage was contained to this degree is nothing short of a miracle.”

Namgung Su, a senior of the Namgung Family serving as a judge, added his voice with a mocking smirk.

The terrifying prospect that the Thunderclap Rain could have been used against Namgung Hak, who was already set for the final round, stoked a fire of indignation within him.

“This was an incident that nearly spiraled into a catastrophe. We cannot let this point go unaddressed.”

As Namgung Su pushed the matter aggressively, the other officials voiced their agreement, throwing cautious looks toward the Tang Family. Yet, because Tang Cheol Yeong had not claimed victory and had instead been hauled away with crippling wounds, it was difficult to justify further formal punishment.

In the end, Tang Ha Gyo offered a formal apology to the Hahu Family on behalf of his kin, and the chaos sparked by Tang Cheol Yeong was temporarily settled.

Because of Tang Cheol Yeong’s disastrous failure, Sima Geon became the primary focus of the entire gathering.

The audience was captivated by his supreme talent in neutralizing one of the Tang Family’s Ten Great Hidden Weapons at point-blank range, as well as his fearless nerve in mocking the Tang Family without a second thought.

The prior certainty that Namgung Hak would be the inevitable victor began to evaporate.

It was at that moment, as the restless energy of the crowd began to stabilize.

Sima Geon, who had been standing motionlessly on the stage, shifted his gaze toward the section where the Namgung Family members were seated, locking eyes with Namgung Hak.

Sima Geon did not utter a word, yet Namgung Hak knew precisely what that look demanded.

Namgung Hak stood abruptly and began a measured walk toward the fighting arena.

“Woooaaah!”

A thunderous roar erupted, vibrating through the arena and the entire Hahu Family estate.

The spectators understood that the ultimate duel to crown the champion was starting immediately, bypassing the thirty-minute interval the officials had previously announced.

The face of Namgung Hak was pulled tight with stress as he stepped onto the wood.

Before the first blow was even struck, perspiration gathered on his brow and his rhythm of breathing was unsteady—obvious symptoms of extreme pressure.

No one among the watchers judged him for this uncharacteristic display, even though he had previously cut through numerous masters and maintained his cool while defeating Hahu Yeon, the secret pride of the Hahu Family.

It was understandable. Everyone had just seen Sima Geon’s true power—shutting down the Tang Family’s secret technique in an instant and ending a fight in a heartbeat.

As Sima Geon walked to the center of the stage, the cheers became deafening.

Sima Geon, who had lacked a significant following during the earlier rounds, looked upon Namgung Hak with a slightly awkward grin, surrounded by the newfound worship of the crowd.

The two combatants exchanged a brief bow of respect, and a heavy silence fell over the grounds.

Every person present focused their vision on the stage.

They strained their eyes, refusing to blink lest they miss a single transition in the fighters’ stances.

‘Hmph, everyone is worked up, but they are going to be let down.’

Cheol Woo clicked his tongue, sensing the fever pitch of the audience.

Based on the message he had exchanged with Sima Geon right before the start, he knew Sima Geon intended to end this quickly. Having already exposed his true capability against Tang Cheol Yeong, there was no longer any benefit in holding back.

‘He seemed quite satisfied with his own talent, so this might be a bitter pill to swallow. Then again, if he has true character, it might just force him to reach a higher level.’

While Cheol Woo observed Namgung Hak with a look of curiosity, Sima Geon’s blade rose toward the heavens.

The expression on Namgung Hak’s face twisted sharply.

‘First the Sword Intent, then the Horizontal Sweep of Heaven’s Army, and now the Mount Tai Bearing Down.’

As the desperate Namgung Hak forced his internal energy to its absolute peak, Namgung Su, watching from the sidelines, stared at Sima Geon with a look of profound concern.

‘It is suffocating. To project this much weight from a basic stance like Mount Tai Bearing Down. Hak, stay focused. This is no ordinary Mount Tai Bearing Down. This is a momentum built upon hundreds of thousands of repetitions.’

The fears of Namgung Su were quickly validated.

The movements of Namgung Hak, as he gathered his strength for a final strike, suddenly became heavy and slow.

He looked lost, unable to comprehend why his body wouldn’t obey.

He struggled to regain his pace, but his efforts were fruitless.

In that instant, only a few individuals—Hahu Gok and perhaps three or four others—could withstand the crushing aura Sima Geon had unleashed, which had completely overwhelmed the presence of Namgung Hak.

No matter how much Namgung Hak was praised as a once-in-a-generation talent among his peers, he was a child compared to a true veteran of the martial world, making this a mismatch from the start.

The blade that had been pointed at the sky descended in a perfect vertical line.

An incredible pressure followed its arc, slamming down onto Namgung Hak.

Namgung Hak, using every bit of strength to break through the paralyzing pressure, instinctively threw up his sword to block.

Boom!

With a violent crash, Namgung Hak was sent spiraling through the air like a bird with broken wings.

He was thrown far beyond the boundaries of the arena, hurtling toward the judges’ table.

Just before he collided with the earth, Namgung Su blurred forward to catch his falling form.

A thick, heavy silence gripped the entire arena.

It had taken only one move.

Namgung Hak—the pride of the Namgung Family, the one who had inherited the techniques of the Sword Saint and was said to be peerless—had been brought down with a single strike.

The crowd, which had expected a legendary duel or at least a hard-fought struggle, stared in disbelief at the platform.

The only things remaining on the stage were Sima Geon standing with his sword lowered, the jagged remnants of Namgung Hak’s broken blade, and the wooden stage itself, which had split open under the sheer force of the Mount Tai Bearing Down technique.

“The matter is settled. The champion of this martial arts tournament is the Black Wolf!”

The voice of Hahu Gok boomed across the grounds—he was accepted by all as the lead authority.

Only then did the spectators shake off their shock, erupting into a frenzy of cheers and high praise for the champion who had secured his victory with such overwhelming power.

“Kahahahaha!”

Cheol Woo, standing among the shouting masses, laughed loudly and slapped his hands together in genuine delight.

—

“So, you have come?”

Hahu On stood up from his chair, a wide grin on his face.

“I came because you sent for me. What is this about?”

Hahu Gok gave a short reply and took a seat.

“It seems the spirits were to your liking.”

Hahu On chuckled as he refilled the empty vessel in front of Hahu Gok.

When Hahu Gok scowled at him, Hahu On let out a boisterous laugh and continued.

“I was informed that nearly an entire storage room of it has vanished.”

“Tsk, tsk. There are far too many gossips in this household, talking about things that don’t matter. An entire storage room? Who told you that lie? It was merely a few jars.”

“Hahaha! I did not intend to annoy you. There is plenty more, so help yourself whenever you wish. It came from the same source as before, but this particular batch was masterfully crafted. The profile and scent were top-tier.”

“That they were.”

Hahu Gok smoothed out his expression and emptied his cup in one motion.

“But you did not summon me just to talk about beverages.”

“Must I have a motive to see you? I simply wished to enjoy a drink together after all this time.”

“Hmph.”

Hahu Gok made a skeptical sound and raised his cup, though his demeanor was much friendlier than before.

“And I wanted to give you my thanks while we were at it.”

“Thanks for what?”

“That young man who won the competition. I was told he came on your recommendation.”

“Ah, him. Yes.”

Hahu Gok nodded, looking rather pleased with himself.

“I remember it has been almost ten years since you went into seclusion within the family. When did you encounter such a person? He appears young, but his martial skills are truly staggering.”

“Yes. Truly staggering… skill.”

Remembering his own brief clash with Cheol Woo, Hahu Gok felt a slight pang of regret that he hadn’t tested Sima Geon personally.

“Because of him, we were spared from embarrassment. Their plot to humiliate the main family’s festival was completely destroyed. It is a shame that Yeon fell to Namgung Hak, but that was unavoidable.”

“He was certainly remarkable. To reach that level at his age is not something that can be explained by natural gifts alone. He must have endured grueling training. A lazy prodigy could never achieve that.”

Hahu On felt a strange conflict in the words of Hahu Gok.

“A prodigy…?”

“What else? Do you think I kept him around out of charity?”

“I knew he had potential, but a prodigy? I hadn’t considered him in those terms.”

“He is a genius. Namgung Hak is one as well, and Yeon is undoubtedly one too. She reached her current level without even trying. Think of what she could become if she actually applied herself.”

Hahu On found it hard to give a casual reply. A mix of hope and anxiety washed over him.

“If that girl finally gets her act together, we won’t have to endure humiliations like this again.”

Bang!

Hahu On struck the table without thinking.

As his cup bounced into the air, Hahu Gok caught it with a quick hand and narrowed his eyes.

“What was that for?”

“What am I—what are we—supposed to do?”

Hahu On spoke with a trembling voice.

“After we treated her as if she were worthless, what do we do now?”

“Well, but…”

“Leave it be. Stirring things up now wouldn’t bring her any joy anyway. Regardless, the flame seems to have been sparked.”

“A flame?”

“She was crushed. Geniuses often become lazy for many reasons, but a major one is arrogance. That is what happened to her. She looked around and saw only mediocrity, so she never felt the pressure to improve.”

At the mention of “mediocrity,” Hahu On’s face reddened. It was a direct critique of the younger generation of the Hahu Family.

“But now she has been thoroughly defeated. There is no way her pride isn’t burning right now.”

“A hidden blessing, then.”

“That is why I have one thing to inform you.”

“What is it?”

“I believe I must depart from the main house for a period.”

“What?”

The eyes of Hahu On went wide at the declaration from Hahu Gok, who had lived in seclusion for nearly a decade.

“Namgung Hak isn’t a sufficient lesson. I intend to show her exactly how meaningless the talent she clings to really is when compared to the world.”

“Where do you plan on going?”

Hahu Gok offered no reply to the question. He simply smirked, picturing Cheol Woo and Sima Geon making their way home, satisfied with the rewards of their victory.