Battle Tournament – 7

“…Inho.”

When Inho conjured a clear flame in his hand, Namgung Soyu involuntarily gasped.

This was the disciple who couldn’t even ignite a tiny spark on their journey from Sichuan to Anhui.

She had secretly thought he would never awaken his fire.

At first, Inho’s inability to do even that simple thing made him seem incompetent.

Moreover, she felt resentful, as if her reputation as a master was being tarnished.

Regardless of her resentment, Inho continued to practice igniting fire on their way to Anhui.

Whether he was exhausted from sparring with her or soaked by a sudden downpour, leaving him no time to train, he persisted.

Perhaps it was because she saw a reflection of herself in his tenacity?

As they neared Anhui, the look in Namgung Soyu’s eyes as she watched Inho changed slightly.

From doubt to support.

Even if he could never ignite a flame, she would continue to support him on his path.

That was what she had thought.

Until Inho landed a blow on Cheong-yeon’s face.

When the ice created by Cheong-yeon gripped his body, Namgung Soyu sensed the end.

And she was thinking of what to say to her disciple, who had fought valiantly in his own way.

-You did well for someone like you.

She was definitely thinking of those words.

When Cheong-yeon’s palm struck Inho’s body, Soyou involuntarily clenched her fist.

When Cheong-yeon’s attack shook Inho’s body once more, Soyou bit her lip hard.

‘How dare she lay a hand on him?’ The thought consumed her.

Sensing the ominous energy gnawing at her, her master, Yeomjin, covered her mouth with a fan and whispered to Namgung Soyu.

“Control your emotions.”

If not for her master’s words, she might have jumped from the VIP seats and rushed straight to Cheong-yeon.

Barely regaining her composure thanks to Yeomjin’s advice, all Soyou could do was anxiously watch the match.

The ice prison created by Cheong-yeon had already risen to Inho’s waist.

She saw Cheong-yeon saying something to Inho, and Inho replying to Cheong-yeon.

She didn’t know the content because of the distance, but judging from Cheong-yeon’s subsequent actions, it didn’t seem to have ended well.

When Cheong-yeon’s hand moved back, Ice Sword, sitting slightly behind, muttered.

“It’s over.”

Yes, it was over. Soyou thought so too.

“Huh?”

A sense of bewilderment was mixed in Ice Sword’s cold voice.

Because Inho had broken the ice and struck Cheong-yeon’s hand away.

And then came a clean attack.

Breaking through the ice barrier created by Cheong-yeon, Inho’s attack struck her face.

Cheong-yeon fell backward.

She placed her hand on the ground to create distance between herself and Inho.

Cheong-yeon had the same look on her face as she did.

Bewilderment.

Cheong-yeon was looking at the same place as she was.

A burning fist.

“Yeomjin.”

Ice Sword called out to Yeomjin at the sight of the pure flame rising from Inho’s hand.

“Why, Ice Sword?”

“Didn’t you say he was a disciple?”

“I did.”

“Then what is that flame?”

What was in his hand was clearly a flame created by Yomryun Skill.

Ice Sword was not one to be ignorant of this.

Swish.

Refolding the fan she had opened, Yeomjin covered her mouth again.

Her eyes, visible above the fan, formed a slender curve.

“Well… maybe he learned it himself by watching Soyou train?”

At Yeomjin’s sly words, Ice Sword’s eyes turned coldly.

“Ah, so that’s how it is. That’s how it is.”

Understanding Yeomjin’s words, Ice Sword slowly nodded.

“Yomryun Skill, using any means necessary.”

Frowning, Ice Sword said.

“That’s why I hate you, Yeomjin.”

Ice Sword muttered, filled with all the emotions of hatred, and Yeomjin simply shrugged.

“Thank you for the compliment.”

Ice Sword shifted her gaze from Yeomjin back to the arena and crossed her legs.

Reflecting her unpleasant mood, the corner of her mouth twisted upward.

“It was a surprising attack, but it seems he only provoked Cheong-yeon.”

“He trained in Yomryun Skill… so it’s natural he can create flames? I was careless.”

Despite allowing the attack, Cheong-yeon didn’t lose her composure.

“Surprisingly, I couldn’t create flames until this morning.”

Inho told the truth.

“Anyway, amazing. I was surprised.”

Scanning Inho up and down, Cheong-yeon nodded slightly, as if acknowledging him.

“Then, can I really go all out now?”

Cheong-yeon took a step forward, her expression hardening.

Inho felt the surroundings rapidly cooling.

Ice spread from the foot Cheong-yeon had stepped forward with.

Her ice, which began to spread across the floor, quickly engulfed the entire arena.

“Ugh!”

Inho hurriedly stepped back, but the ice was faster than his retreat.

Solid ice bound his feet like shackles.

He tried to twist his feet to pull them out as he had done before, but his legs wouldn’t budge.

“Wow, I can’t get out of this.”

Inho looked down at his feet with a hollow laugh.

Meanwhile, Cheong-yeon glided toward Inho.

Stopping about seven steps away, Cheong-yeon paused in front of Inho.

“How did Divine Doctor introduce Bingryungong?”

“A Martial arts that uses cold energy on weapons to fight…”

Intimidated by her appearance, which was the complete opposite of how she was when they met in the garden, Inho stammered.

“Hmm….”

Cheong-yeon frowned slightly, as if she didn’t quite like Inho’s answer.

“That’s not the answer.”

Cheong-yeon extended her hand forward.

“Bingryungong doesn’t need weapons.”

Ice particles floating in the air gathered in her hand.

Like a vacuum cleaner sucking up dust, the particles gathered and formed a shape in the blink of an eye.

Something that resembled a wooden sword popped out of Cheong-yeon’s hand.

“Damn it, Bingryungong is a scam.”

Inho muttered quietly at the sight, and Cheong-yeon grabbed the ice sword with both hands and raised it high.

“It’s going to be very cold.”

Cheong-yeon brought the sword down through the air, and a huge blizzard swept over Inho from where she struck.

When the blizzard subsided, Inho appeared standing, unconscious with a pale face.

“Inho!!!”

Soyou called out her disciple’s name loudly, but Inho couldn’t respond to her call.

“W, Winner! Cheong-yeon of Bingryungong!”

The referee’s voice echoed through the arena, followed by the cheers of the audience.

“……”

Cheong-yeon’s slow gaze turned toward the VIP seats.

“…….”

Soyou thought that Cheong-yeon’s eyes, as they looked at her, seemed to be saying this.

[You’re next.]