Chapter 108

The Hundred Flowers Dance Under the Moon.

This was a sword dance passed down through generations in Moon Lake Sect, a dance that incorporated the subtleties of various sword techniques along with the Falling Flower Illusory Footwork and the Lotus on Water Stepping Technique. In Moon Lake Sect, disciples would perform this sword dance at Full Moon Lake on every festive occasion.

However, this was not just a dance for visual enjoyment. It was clearly one of the methods for martial arts training.

The Lotus on Water Stepping Technique, when mastered, was a lightness skill that allowed one to step on fallen leaves floating on water. According to records, the sect's founding ancestor had performed the Hundred Flowers Dance Under the Moon on the lake's surface. It was said that when someone who had thoroughly trained in Moon Lake Sect's martial arts performed the sword dance properly on lotus flowers and leaves using the Lotus on Water Stepping Technique, a halo of moonlight would descend and surround them.

Of course, Cheong-ra's martial prowess hadn't reached that level yet. However, it was enough to captivate and amaze people.

The tip of his sword drew large arcs, shining white.

At the same time, his toes touching the ground moved like falling flower petals. He cut through the flowers falling from trees multiple times. As the countless divided flower petals fell into the lake, his black leather shoes softly touched the ground as if stepping on newly bloomed flowers or riding the wind. His blue robe fluttered like waves.

The Flying Emerald Piercing Sword. The swift sword moving at dazzling speed embroidered the air with light. The martial artists watching admired the quick sword that mimicked the movement of a kingfisher flying over a lake and piercing the water's surface. They knew it was a sword that could instantly cut off an opponent's breath.

The sharp sword tip, momentarily still in the air, suddenly pierced through the wind repeatedly with a sound-breaking speed. After countless repetitions of training, even the fluttering of his robe rippled in regular intervals.

Then, the ever-changing footwork that stepped on flower petals flowed smoothly into the Lotus on Water Stepping Technique.

Though clearly moving on the ground, it was a mysterious step as if treading on air. Cheong-ra's body spun, drawing dozens of circles in place. His long robe billowed with the movement, its hem fluttering. It looked as if a blue lotus had bloomed on the spot.

With a swish! Cheong-ra leapt into the air, his robe making a sound as it collided with the wind. As he made a large circle above the stage, Cheong-ra drew countless full moons with his sword and bloomed fully opened flowers with his body.

Then came the first form of the Rain Path Form Five Swords, the Thousand-Mile Continuous Rain Sword. Followed by the second form, the Spring Wind Transforming Rain Sword.

The sword struck in all directions, creating hundreds of lines as if rain was pouring down. The time it took was just enough to blink a few times. Then, kicking off the air once more, he drew a huge white circle.

Finally, he landed lightly on the ground and smoothly sheathed his sword.

A moment later, cheers erupted from the audience. Cheong-ra came down from the stage slowly, smiling brightly and waving his hand to the surroundings.

To match the half-hour time limit, Cheong-ra's sword dance ended after only the second form of the Rain Path Form Five Swords. In fact, he had no intention of continuing to the end even if he had more time. Originally, it should have included the Full Moon Sparse Stars Sword and the Moon Shadow One Soul Sword Technique to be complete, but he couldn't show martial arts that only the sect's core disciples could learn in a place like this.

Cheong-ra's eyes widened as he turned his head to see the judges' reactions. Among the judges applauding in admiration, he caught a glimpse of a familiar face. As soon as he saw the handsome man smiling at him, memories of the past surfaced.

'Yeon Jeok-san...?!'

However, in the blink of an eye, Yeon Jeok-san's figure vanished. Even as he deliberately approached the judges' seats to look closer, he could only see excited people. Cheong-ra frowned as he completely descended from the stage, and a person from the Golden Flower Merchant Group approached him.

"Young Master Baek, congratulations on advancing to the finals. The finals will be in ten days, and we plan to hold a banquet for the finalists the night before, so please come back in nine days."

Was it because they had selected a good sacrifice? His face was full of a bright smile. Saying this, he took out a finalist badge from his bosom and handed it over respectfully. Cheong-ra also received the badge with a smile and cupped his hands in greeting.

"I understand. I'll make sure to attend."

After quickly answering, he looked over the judges' seats and VIP seats once more, but Yeon Jeok-san's figure was nowhere to be seen. Had he seen wrong? No, that's not it. It was definitely the same appearance as Yeon Jeok-san. And it was his appearance from ten years ago...

Feeling uneasy, Cheong-ra returned to the mansion and waited. Soon, Dang Ran-yeong also returned. With a satisfied expression, he started with praise.

"I enjoyed a good show."

As Dang Ran-yeong wasn't one to make empty compliments or praise often, Cheong-ra was inwardly pleased to hear this. However, he didn't show it and just nodded his head modestly. Seeing Dang Ran-yeong call a servant to bring refreshments, Cheong-ra remembered something and took out the tea leaves and snacks from his bosom.

"I brought some of the refreshments given to the participants, just in case. They might be poisoned."

Dang Ran-yeong put the tea leaves and snacks he received from Cheong-ra into his mouth without any hesitation. Even knowing that the other was a martial artist from the Tang Clan of Sichuan, Cheong-ra couldn't help but flinch. Dang Ran-yeong first savored the snacks, then put the tea leaves in his mouth and crushed them with his molars. He rolled them around on his palate for a moment to taste, then said,

"The snacks are ordinary, but the tea leaves contain a moderate amount of a drug that induces a good mood. It's not a problem by itself, but long-term consumption would lead to addiction."

No wonder the participants seemed to be in an unusually good mood. As expected, they contained poison. Thinking he had done well not to eat them, Cheong-ra moistened his dry throat with the tea brought by the servant. Today, the aroma and taste of the expensive Dragon Well tea were especially mellow. Dang Ran-yeong leaned forward, his eyes shining with interest.

"Does Beauty like sword dances too? Your movements seemed very skilled."

"I do like them. They're one of Moon Lake Sect's traditional martial arts, so they help with training."

In truth, he didn't like it because it was a traditional martial art. The main reason was that the appearance of performing a sword dance was beautiful.

He had always diligently trained in martial arts but didn't find much enjoyment in it. However, sword dances were both martial arts training and pleasing to the eye, so he had practiced them whenever he had the chance. As a result, whenever there was an occasion for a sword dance in Moon Lake Sect, Cheong-ra was always the first to be nominated.

"Is it really just because it helps with training?"

Dang Ran-yeong, who now seemed to see right through Cheong-ra, asked with a smirk. Cheong-ra didn't answer and just drank his tea, then changed the subject.

"By the way, I haven't seen Monk Gang-ryong or Miss Hwan since the day before yesterday. Young Master Wi too... It seems they've all gone somewhere."

"Yes. They're all working hard on their assigned tasks somewhere."

Dang Ran-yeong still didn't tell Cheong-ra the detailed plan. Feeling a wall in this aspect, Cheong-ra felt inwardly bitter. Well, it would be strange to tell him what they would be doing when they were about to part ways anyway. Drinking the fragrant tea again, he said,

"Oh, come to think of it, I think I saw Yeon Jeok-san at the contest venue earlier."

"Hmm, you mean Yeon Jeok-san, nicknamed Thousand Forms Sword?"

Dang Ran-yeong replied with an indifferent attitude as if uninterested, which slightly disappointed Cheong-ra.

"Yes. He might be related to the Blood Cult. His appearance hadn't changed at all compared to ten years ago. I might have seen wrong, but no matter how I think about it, it seemed like I saw him in person. So shouldn't we prepare for that? He was quite skilled in martial arts."

For a martial artist to earn a nickname meant they had the skills and fame to match it. Of course, no matter how high Yeon Jeok-san's martial prowess was, he probably wasn't as strong as Dang Ran-yeong.

"Well, if his target is me, he'll probably follow me, so he won't interfere with Young Master Dang."

At Cheong-ra's words, Dang Ran-yeong smiled an enigmatic smile.

"Don't worry, you'll soon have no need to care about such things."

No need to care? Cheong-ra recalled Dang Ran-yeong's words about handling it himself. He was about to ask if he had figured out Yeon Jeok-san's whereabouts when Dang Ran-yeong, looking at Cheong-ra's nearly empty teacup, asked,

"By the way, how's the tea? I prepared these refreshments with some effort."

"The tea is excellent as always..."

Cheong-ra replied while looking at the other with a suspicious gaze. It was strange that he was suddenly acting like a host and caring about the taste of the tea his guest had drunk. Regardless of Cheong-ra's reaction, Dang Ran-yeong stood up and said, grabbing Cheong-ra's shoulder,

"You must be tired from preparing for the contest. Go get some good sleep now."

And as he heard these words, suddenly his mind became dizzy and then went blank.