Chapter 31 – The Eighth Dragon (5)

Dang Geon-woo hadn’t expected his trump card to be seen through so easily. He asked a question, not truly expecting an answer.

“If you were truly manipulating them with ki, you wouldn’t have needed to move your arms like that to control them. It’s impossible to defeat me with an incomplete technique.”

At Yu-jin’s words, Dang Geon-woo let out a sigh.

“The next time we fight, I will have perfected my techniques and will challenge you again, Brother Kang.”

“Anytime.”

Yu-jin readily nodded, and Dang Geon-woo stepped down from the stage. Once the match was decided, the spectators erupted in loud cheers. One of the existing Seven Dragons had been defeated, and a new rising master had fully revealed himself.

“Woooooah!”

“A new Dragon has appeared! Did you see that swordplay? That’s no longer the sword of a mortal!”

“A Divine Sword! A Divine Sword has appeared!”

The crowd shouted loudly, and before long, Yu-jin’s title was decided: the Divine Sword Dragon. At twenty-five, Yu-jin had already earned the title of Divine Sword, becoming the most prodigious talent in the martial world.

But Yu-jin gave a bitter smile. He now shared the same title as the family head he would one day have to fight.

‘What a twisted fate. Well, does it really matter?’

Having revealed himself so openly, the family head, Kang Yu-hyeon, would surely be watching him again. However, at this level, he likely wouldn’t take direct action yet. At least not until he believed Yu-jin had reached the Transformation Realm.

‘For now, I’ll just enjoy the moment.’

With that thought, Yu-jin smiled brightly and raised his hand, and the crowd cheered even louder.

* * *

Yu-jin’s progress was astounding. After defeating the Poison Dragon Dang Geon-woo in the round of sixteen, Yu-jin went on to defeat the Northern Saber Hegemon Dragon Paeng Won-jun in the quarterfinals. And in the semifinals, he faced the Wise Sword Dragon Yong Cheon-hwi.

*Kwoooo!*

A small whirlwind created by the Taiji Wisdom Sword rushed to swallow Yu-jin, but he soared high and cleaved it in two.

“Keuk!”

Shocked by his technique being broken in an instant, Yong Cheon-hwi staggered back, spitting blood. Yu-jin pointed his sword at Yong Cheon-hwi’s neck. It was so flawless that Yong Cheon-hwi had no choice but to admit defeat.

“Wooooah! The Divine Sword Dragon has defeated even the Wise Sword Dragon!”

Neither the hegemonic saber arts of the Hebei Paeng Clan nor the fluid sword arts of the Wudang Sect could stand against Yu-jin.

With three of the Seven Dragons already defeated by Yu-jin, it was no wonder the crowd was ecstatic.

Yu-jin’s opponent in the final was the Buddha Sword Dragon Jin Won-ho, who had defeated Mo Yong-jin to advance. Hailed as the greatest rising star of Shaolin, his swordsmanship was known to be the strongest among the younger generation of the Nine Great Sects.

However, the current popular opinion was that even Jin Won-ho would be no match for Yu-jin. The final was in two days. Everyone left, hoping to witness the birth of a new legend.

That night.

*Mwah.*

A young man and a woman were sharing a deep kiss. The young man was, of course, Kang Yu-jin, and the woman was Na Ye-jin. When the kiss ended, Na Ye-jin wrapped her arms around Yu-jin’s neck and spoke.

“Should you be expending your energy like this right before the final?”

Even for a master of her caliber, one of the best in the world, making love with Yu-jin left her exhausted and unable to move easily for half a day. They made love so intensely, which was why Na Ye-jin was worried about Yu-jin using up his stamina before such an important event.

“Don’t worry. This is actually more helpful for me.”

By enhancing his internal energy through the Yin-Yang Lust Arts, it was indeed beneficial for Yu-jin.

“If you say so, then I suppose it must be.”

Hearing her reply, Yu-jin promptly pulled off Na Ye-jin’s pants. Her thighs and undergarments were revealed. Her white undergarments clung tightly to her flower, clearly outlining the slit of its petals.

“Getting aroused from just a kiss. Ye-jin, you’re so lewd.”

Hearing Yu-jin’s words, Na Ye-jin grew even more excited, gushing a clear fluid.

“A-Aren’t you the one who made me like this?”

Na Ye-jin said hastily, but Yu-jin simply ignored her and began to gently caress her breasts and flower.

“Haaaahng!”

With each of Yu-jin’s continuing caresses, a greater pleasure spread through her entire body. Watching her, Yu-jin stripped off all her clothes and then his own.

His sturdy body and enormous member were revealed before Na Ye-jin’s eyes. Yu-jin grabbed Na Ye-jin’s legs and slung them over his shoulders. Because of this, her wrinkled, red petals, soaked and glistening, were clearly exposed, looking all the more obscene.

“Here I come!”

As Yu-jin’s member pierced Na Ye-jin’s flower, she let out a cry of pleasure.

“Aaaahng! Hnghaaaang!”

Wet sounds and lewd moans echoed endlessly. The two continued to make love, soon reaching their climax together.

“I’m… I’m coming!”

“Haaaahng!”

Reaching her peak, Na Ye-jin sprayed a clear fluid and lay still, as if exhausted. Yu-jin poured his milky white essence deep inside her body.

‘The Yin-Yang Lust Arts are truly incredible.’

In just a short time, his internal energy had faintly increased.

The Buddha Sword Dragon Jin Won-ho was a master comparable to Namgung Hwi or Kang Yong-hoon. He was clearly stronger than the other members of the Seven Dragons he had faced so far. Even so, while his victory was certain, he still needed to prepare properly.

“So there’s no time to rest, Ye-jin.”

Though she had nearly lost consciousness, Na Ye-jin’s body twitched as if she had heard his words.

After embracing Na Ye-jin to replenish and enhance his internal energy, Yu-jin embraced Namgung Hwa-rin the next day, maintaining his peak condition.

And on the following day, the long-awaited final arrived. In the waiting room before the match, Namgung Hwa-rin and her four handmaidens saw Yu-jin off.

“Young Master, show us another splendid performance today.”

“I will. I’ll be sure to win and put on a great show for you.”

Namgung Hwa-rin smiled at his words. The two naturally hugged and shared a brief kiss.

Yu-jin walked slowly from the waiting room toward the tournament stage. As he stepped onto the stage first, the Buddha Sword Dragon Jin Won-ho soon followed, walking slowly.

The duel between the rising star of the martial world, the Divine Sword Dragon Kang Yu-jin, and Jin Won-ho, a member of the Seven Dragons and Five Phoenixes and one of the top three, was more than enough to capture the fervent interest of the public.

Not only the common folk, but also renowned martial artists watched the two intently.

Furthermore, the Martial Alliance had even dispatched people to watch their match and judge their skills firsthand.

As the crowd watched the two, Han Sung, the very person who had organized the tournament, rose from his seat.

“I thank you all for coming all this way for this old man. And I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the two young heroes who have graced this tournament.”

Having said that, Han Sung clapped his hands, and a martial artist brought over a box. Everyone’s gaze naturally turned to the box. Even a fool could guess that it was no ordinary item.

“This is a special prize I have prepared for the winner of this tournament.”

Han Sung said this and lifted the lid of the box, raising the prize high. It was a sword. A magnificent blade, so fine that even someone who knew nothing of swords could recognize its quality.

“This sword was forged by Cheol Ung, the greatest swordsmith in the martial world.”

“Ooooooh!”

At Han Sung’s words, everyone cheered. The most famous weapons in the martial world were the Twelve Treasures, but possessing one was nearly impossible.

For one, not many of the weapons had been revealed. Therefore, most martial artists desired to own a sword made by Cheol Ung. And such a masterpiece was now in Han Sung’s hands.

“It will be given to the victor, so I hope you will both do your best until the very end, young heroes!”

With those words, Han Sung placed the sword back in the box. Kang Yu-jin and Jin Won-ho looked at each other and began to radiate their fighting spirit.

‘He’s a master who defeated the Poison Dragon, the Northern Saber Hegemon Dragon, and the Wise Sword Dragon. He should be exhausted, yet he’s exuding such a powerful aura.’

Except for his semifinal match against Mo Yong-jin, Jin Won-ho had faced relatively easy opponents.

Yu-jin, on the other hand, had fought only renowned opponents from the preliminaries to now, and had faced three of the Dragons in the main tournament.

Any ordinary martial artist would have been utterly exhausted and unable to even stand, but Yu-jin was different.

‘If anything, he seems to have gotten stronger.’

Jin Won-ho’s thought was not wrong. Having increased his internal energy by embracing women for two days, Yu-jin’s aura had indeed grown slightly stronger.

Seeing Yu-jin like this, Jin Won-ho could feel his heart beat faster and his body grow hot. The thrill of being able to fight a worthy opponent enveloped him.

“I look forward to our match, Young Master Kang.”

“The pleasure is all mine.”

The pleasantries were brief. Because greetings between martial artists were not exchanged with words. The two drew their swords and pointed them at each other.

When the referee shouted “Begin,” they rushed toward one another. Sword met sword, and a fierce spark erupted from the violent clash.

‘Hoh? He’s definitely on a similar level to Yong-hoon or Namgung Hwi.’

Though they had only crossed swords once, it was not difficult to gauge Jin Won-ho’s skill.

Jin Won-ho attacked Yu-jin with techniques so fast and sharp it was hard to believe they were from Shaolin. But Yu-jin calmly blocked all of Jin Won-ho’s attacks.

*Clang!*

As Jin Won-ho brought his sword down with force, Yu-jin immediately parried it. The force was so immense that an opening naturally appeared in Jin Won-ho’s stance, and Yu-jin unhesitatingly threw a punch into that gap.

“Damn!”

Not expecting Yu-jin to throw a punch, Jin Won-ho hurriedly tried to block it with his other arm, but it was too late. Yu-jin’s fist slammed squarely into his right side.

“Keuk!”

The powerful, ki-infused attack caused immense pain, and Jin Won-ho’s face contorted.

But Yu-jin’s assault didn’t end there. He immediately followed with a kick to Jin Won-ho’s chin. Unable to withstand the impact, Jin Won-ho’s body was launched into the air.

Without the ability to use the Air-Walking Step, there was no way to move in mid-air, and Yu-jin moved first to where Jin Won-ho would land. But Jin Won-ho did not go down so easily.

“Haaat!”

Even while falling, Jin Won-ho threw a punch. An immense energy formed in his fist and flew straight toward Yu-jin. The Hundred-Pace Divine Fist, the pride of the Shaolin Temple, was unleashed from his hand.

Yu-jin watched the Hundred-Pace Divine Fist fly toward him, then pivoted on his left foot and swung his sword fiercely, splitting the energy of the fist in two.

‘Damn.’

The Hundred-Pace Divine Fist wasn’t just an attack on Yu-jin. It was also to secure Jin Won-ho’s landing. Having corrected his posture, Jin Won-ho unleashed another of Shaolin’s prized martial arts, the Thousand Hands Buddha Palm.