Book 5 Chapter 6

The Heavenly Sound Fairy Hong Ran's prediction was only half correct.

Regardless, for Bi Ryu Yeon, it was a rare miscalculation.

As he was implementing sound techniques in actual combat for the first time,

He himself had not taken the distance into consideration.

Surprisingly, sound techniques required more attention to distance than spears or bows. Since distance was a matter that directly determined victory or defeat, there was no way he could afford not to pay attention to it. However, it was already too late. By the time Bi Ryu Yeon realized it, it was too late.

His opponent had neither the leisure nor the magnanimity to listen to his zither music. A person lacking in temperament needed to be forcibly seized and their shortcomings made up for.

Dan Pyeong's sword techniques, as befitting a disciple of a well-trained prestigious school, were fast and sharp in their changes. Moreover, as he rushed in with excitement, his sword carried a fervor akin to madness that could not be lightly dismissed. However, Bi Ryu Yeon's movements to evade his sword techniques were incredibly simple.

Bi Ryu Yeon, who dodged the swift sword strike aimed at his neck by simply lowering his head, seemed to glide forward like sliding on ice, and before long, he was positioned behind his opponent. With just two movements, he rendered Dan Pyeong's sword techniques useless and secured an advantageous position. It was a movement technique that anyone would admire.

His all-out sword strike, unleashed hastily in anger, missed, and before Dan Pyeong could even recover from his mistake, he had lost his rear. Bi Ryu Yeon's seated movement technique, which he executed without any indication, was astonishing and unexpected by anyone.

"Tan Geum Haeng! When did that child learn that…!"

The Heavenly Sound Fairy Hong Ran leaped to her feet. A gasp of surprise escaped her lips after a long time. Even from her perspective, Bi Ryu Yeon's Tan Geum Haeng was flawless and smooth. It was natural for her to gasp. She had never taught it to him, and it was a secret art that she could not carelessly teach in the future. It was no wonder Hong Ran's eyes were bulging with surprise.

Tan Geum Haeng!

Those who practice zither music techniques, which have significantly lower physical capabilities compared to jade flutes, must master the extremely difficult secret movement technique, Tan Geum Haeng.

Tan Geum Haeng literally means all sorts of secret movement techniques performed while playing the zither. According to tradition, it is a secret technique where one moves while seated, as if a bead sliding on ice. It is considered one of the greatest secret arts of the sound sect because it is a footwork technique that does not use the knees, thighs, or hips at all.

Zither music martial arts that possess this secret movement technique, Tan Geum Haeng, are merely like the crippled legs of a physically disabled person.

Tan Geum Haeng is not taught to just anyone. It is the very foundation of the sound sect.

Despite the fact that Hong Ran had no memory of teaching it, Bi Ryu Yeon displayed it. One can imagine how great Hong Ran's surprise was. It was like the feeling of a sect leader whose secret art had been stolen.

If Bi Ryu Yeon hadn't made his next move, he would have been fully praised for Tan Geum Haeng alone. Even if he lost the match, Hong Ran would have praised Bi Ryu Yeon. However, no one who witnessed Bi Ryu Yeon's next move could recall the brilliance of Tan Geum Haeng. And Hong Ran, with a face as pale as death, became furious. Bi Ryu Yeon's next move was such an outrageous act that it threw the onlookers into a state of shock.

Bi Ryu Yeon did not showcase any divine martial arts secret. His move was very simple and crude. He held the 5-foot long ink zither he was carrying in both hands and soundly struck the back of his opponent, Dan Pyeong's head.

Perhaps due to its dark color, the ink zither, which felt quite weighty, whirled ferociously and struck the back of Jo Ja Hu's head with its sharp edge.

If Dan Pyeong had quickly ducked to evade this move, it would have been a better scene, and he himself could have avoided embarrassment, but this fellow, unlike someone who is called a master, was so sluggish that he couldn't evade it in time. The price he paid was brutal.

"CRASH!"

With a thunderous impact that seemed to shake the sky, Dan Pyeong's body plummeted towards the ground at a terrifying speed.

"THUD!"

The result was tragic. Despite Dan Pyeong's consistent training at the Heavenly Martial Academy, he was no match for this blow. And he lost consciousness due to the massive shock. Bi Ryu Yeon had shown Hong Ran a use for the zither in the most gruesome way possible.

The eyes of the spectators widened at this unexpected turn of events. They had never witnessed such a preposterous fight in their lives.

It was a match content that, despite winning, would not earn any praise. Everyone just shook their heads in disbelief, and not a single person offered admiration or applause.

The Heavenly Sound Fairy Hong Ran, upon seeing Bi Ryu Yeon's crude and vulgar (in her opinion) move, was so surprised she almost fainted, and then became insanely angry. She was so enraged that her reason completely flew away. Her fury was so great that her beloved instrument, the Heavenly Sound Flute, which she cherished as her life, was almost damaged by the force of her grip!

The venue became eerily cold. No one dared to speak rashly. A heavy silence pressed down on the martial arts arena. Even the onlookers couldn't make hasty judgments about this match. They had won, but something felt unsettling, like a fishbone stuck in their throat.

As there were no sounds of applause or cheers, Bi Ryu Yeon, perhaps finding it suddenly dull, simply descended from the martial arts arena. All that remained on the arena was the man who was once called the "Swift Joy Sword" and praised, now lying sprawled like a dead frog.

The stars, densely packed and shining in the night sky, were beautiful. However, the inability to perceive their beauty was likely due to an unsettled mind.

"Sigh…"

Hong Ran let out a forlorn sigh. Why was her heart so troubled… The reason was obvious, but she resented her inability to do anything and the rules of the Samsung Empire that had put her in this position.

Thus, Bi Ryu Yeon's advancement to the second round was decided.