The next day, Ho Gyeong’s martial arts challenge arrived without delay.
The duel was scheduled for noon the following day.
I conveyed my intentions through Ho Gyeong’s lackeys, and instantly the Sacheon Outcasts surrounded me.
“Have you perhaps reached the peak stage?”
“What?”
“Otherwise, there would be no reason for you to accept a duel with the peak expert Ho Gyeong.”
The Outcasts awaited my answer with tense expressions. They were well aware of when I had reached the peak level—after all, I had achieved it at the training hall in the Outcast Inn.
It had barely been less than a year since then to now be considered a peak expert.
This must have been a significant event for the Outcasts.
I looked at the Outcasts surrounding me and grinned.
“Not telling.”
“Wha…?!”
The outraged accusations of the Outcasts flew at me, but I shrugged them off and moved to where my companions had gathered.
They could always verify my strength by the duel tomorrow, so I decided to let it be and went along my way.
The Black Cat, watching the agitated Outcasts leap around from behind, smirked and spoke up.
“I’ve gathered some intel on the current situation in Sacheon City.”
“Oh.”
The Black Cat had brought the information I needed the most.
“The righteous factions in Sacheon City are significantly weakened. As you know, their actions have not been commendable.”
Well, that made sense.
I initially thought of them as heroes, but it turned out the whole thing was a sham. The sense of betrayal from the residents of Sacheon City must have been monumental.
I reviewed the documents provided by the Black Cat to understand the current status of the factions in Sacheon City.
“Hmm, it seems it’s fortunate it hasn’t ended worse.”
“It’s still a recent past, so it’s understandable. The culture of clean matches established through the bandit subjugation in the personal martial arts tournament kept things in check; otherwise, the righteous factions would have been completely disbanded without a trace in the past of Sacheon.”
That’s a relief.
Ultimately, the factions in Sacheon City must protect the city itself.
With fewer than thirty Outcasts, it would be impossible to fend off the incoming outside forces.
The righteous factions may have suffered blows from Jeong Cheol’s justification, but they appear to have endured largely.
Even if they were weak in force, in a place like Sacheon where cunning and scheming are required to survive, they must have found a way.
“Next is the intel on the Outcast factions.”
I grimaced as I read the next document.
“Wait, has there already been four peak experts entering Sacheon City?”
I thought that peak experts were just starting to show up, but it seems a considerable number had already infiltrated. The expansion of the Outcast factions was quietly occurring beneath the surface.
“The one who received the martial arts challenge, that Ho Gyeong, is really considered a latecomer among the Outcast forces. After all, the entertainment district of Sacheon is like an empty land, right?”
Wherever there are people, there are bound to be dark aspects—gambling houses, slums, and people who thrive on crime and illegal trade.
In a Sacheon without Outcast factions, such dark territories were almost deserted. Without any Outcast forces, there were only a few petty hoodlums that could barely be called Black Bandits.
It wouldn’t be strange for an Outcast faction led by a peak expert to swiftly occupy the dark territories.
“Black Fist Shisik, the bandit vehicles, and Ji Jik of the Western Park along with others are fiercely clashing for control of the underbelly of Sacheon.”
The classic territories of the Outcast factions had already been occupied. The relatively latecomer Ho was likely extorting merchants to build up his power in the cozy (??) shadows.
“Perfect timing.”
“Indeed.”
I had arrived right as the power of the Outcast forces, rising from the underworld, was beginning to overflow into the open. As more and more factions flocked to Sacheon, there would be no room left in the shadows for them, and they would definitely start attacking the surface, resulting in damage far beyond what Sacheon had experienced before.
“So, what are you planning to do now?”
Tang So-yeol asked, sounding excited.
I organized my thoughts and replied.
“For now….”
The Unknown Elder once said, if your body is unwell, your mind suffers as well.
How true that is.
Unable to windmill, I resorted to overworking my mind. Simple solutions are always there. The only shortcoming was a lack of strength and capability to apply them.
“How about we just beat them all up?”
The mind gets to take a break for a while.
Now it’s time for the body.
* *
The Sacheon Martial Arts Arena, transformed from the land owned by the Hwang Gold Clan.
It was a place where people always gathered for daily martial arts exhibitions, and on the days when the competition called the Platinum Championship took place, it was a veritable sea of people.
However, following Jeong Cheol’s notice revealing the true nature of the Sacheon City factions, fewer people started to visit, and the participation of martial artists began to dwindle significantly.
But today was different.
“This Sacheon Outcast No. 28 has returned?”
“They say No. 28 was the one who confronted Jeong Cheol?”
“Didn’t they declare that they would completely wipe out Ho Gyeong today?”
“Really? I heard they vowed to clear out all the Outcast forces located in Sacheon!”
With rumors circulating, people flocked to the arena!
Some were curious if the Sacheon Outcast No. 28 could truly defeat Jeong Cheol, while others wondered if they would eliminate the Outcast forces running rampant in Sacheon City. Some even came out in outrage at the audacity of the Outcast faction making a public martial arts challenge.
Despite their varying reasons and emotions, there was one common denominator among the gathered folks.
They all wished for the victory of Sacheon Outcast No. 28 and the defeat of Ho Gyeong.
As the crowd gathered, commotion began to stir.
“They’re coming!”
“The Sacheon Outcasts are here!”
“How many are there? Is No. 28 among them?”
The crowd parted ways to clear a path for the group led by Black Rib. One of the Outcasts took the stage, handling Black Rib delicately.
“That great sword! It must be Sacheon Outcast No. 28!”
“Wowwwww!”
The long-awaited appearance of Sacheon Outcast No. 28 drew cheers from the audience. Ho Cheon-an, still unaccustomed to the warm welcome of the Sacheon people, awkwardly adjusted his position as Black Rib, thinking it was a gesture of greeting, only boosted the crowd’s excitement even further.
The Outcasts watched with amusement as Ho Cheon-an awkwardly made a fool of himself on stage, hidden behind Black Rib.
Just then, on the other side of the arena, the pandemonium began.
“Get out of the way!”
“Don’t block the path of your busy older brother!”
Ho Gyeong’s entourage barged through, creating a ruckus!
“It’s Ho Gyeong!”
“That, that immoral guy!”
*Boo! Boo!*
As he forcibly pushed and endured the crowd, Ho Gyeong climbed onto the martial arts stage, and the audience erupted with jeers.
Ho Gyeong laughed, taking in the commotion.
“Hahaha!!”
His laughter, laden with internal power, pressed down on the crowd.
“So many have gathered to witness my victory! Watch closely how your beloved Sacheon Outcast No. 28 is going to eat dirt!”
*Boo!*
Even though the crowd remained jeering, their voices were significantly reduced.
It was only natural, as rationally speaking, they understood that Ho Gyeong stood a good chance of winning this duel.
The story of Sacheon Outcast No. 28 confronting the expert Jeong Cheol had indeed struck a chord with the residents, but it hadn’t lulled them into forgetting reality.
The Sacheon people were more aware than anyone that there wasn’t a peak expert among the Outcasts.
Even though No. 28 claimed to have reached the peak stage, it was evident they would just be scraping the surface of it.
In contrast, Ho Gyeong had long been a renowned peak expert.
Which one was stronger—the answer was clear even to a child, diminishing the cheers in a rocky decline.
The audience could only wish for a miracle where No. 28 would manage to defeat Ho Gyeong!
They gazed at the martial arts stage with earnest eyes.
“Hoo hoo hoo… finally, this Sacheon will be mine.”
Ho Gyeong chuckled darkly as he drew his Dao.
“If I win, my name will soar to the heavens! Taking control of Sacheon will be child’s play!”
“If you can win, that is.”
“Hahahaha! The winner is already evident, yet still with this bluster…wait…”
Suddenly, Ho Gyeong’s expression darkened.
Because Ho Cheon-an had just drawn the Long Sword. It was longer than any common blade and over three inches wide.
Yet he wielded it effortlessly with one hand, an unusual stance that signified he was no average opponent.
Even if most martial artists couldn’t easily handle such a heavy blade, he maintained a perfectly stable posture without flinching in the slightest.
‘Surely… before, he was beneath me! Wasn’t he just a rookie fresh off the peak stage?’
Ho Gyeong deemed Ho Cheon-an’s composure merely bluster.
“That’s quite the arrogance you’ve got!”
Without uttering a word, Ho Cheon-an simply flicked his Long Sword.
Ho Gyeong lost patience and charged forward, unable to contain his rage.
An explosive momentum of peak power surged through the space as he swung down with full force.
Amidst the audience, screams erupted as the deadly strike came crashing down.
Ho Gyeong roared, gauging Ho Cheon-an’s response. Externally he seemed furious, mounting a vigorous attack, but internally, his actual force was minimal.
‘This is a match I’m sure to win. No need to fall for his traps!’
*Clang!!*
The swords collided. In that instant, Ho Gyeong sensed something was terribly wrong. No matter how half-hearted his strike was, being deflected so suddenly felt bizarre.
Even with a great sword, the lack of impactful force was unexpected.
While Ho Gyeong was taken aback, he suddenly felt chills as he watched Ho Cheon-an’s next move.
Defensive actions are still actions themselves.
A master’s attack can’t be parried by merely lifting your weapon. No matter how weak, one needs to invest effort into maintaining stability and balance.
But what about Ho Cheon-an now?
He had received the blade directly yet swiftly transitioned into offense as if nothing happened!
It was a testament to having easily deflected the strike, not just managing to barely fend it off.
How could someone I deemed inferior be so?
Such questions spiked in Ho Gyeong’s mind, but he had no time to ponder further.
Ho Cheon-an’s sword was already advancing.
‘So fast!’
In a panic, Ho Gyeong raised his Dao.
*Clang!!*
“Graah!”
The implacable strength that accompanied Ho Cheon-an’s attacks forced Ho Gyeong back repeatedly.
Having received the blow while already unsteady, Ho Gyeong stumbled back five steps!
‘What power…!’
Ho Gyeong gulped nervously as he felt his hand gripping the Dao tremble.
*Woooooo!!!*
Who’s the master, and who’s the novice?
It became painfully clear to the audience.
Amidst the thunderous cheers, Ho Gyeong glared at Ho Cheon-an and spoke.
“You’ve hidden your capability!”
“The one fooled is the fool.”
Ho Cheon-an realized how wise it was to conceal his strength.
‘The truth is hidden within the world.’
Concealing 30% of your capability for emergencies is merely shell deep.
Who would dare charge headlong at someone they knew was stronger? How frustrating would it be to also have to run if you concluded that you couldn’t win?
Yet, when you conceal your strength, like now, the prey rushes right into your hands.
What convenience and efficiency!
The actual effort minimized, yet the situation resolved effortlessly—like magic!
Ho Cheon-an realized he had unknowingly received massive wisdom from the Unknown Elder.
‘For now, I’ll just use half; I’ll savor the rest later!’
“If you’re not planning to come, I’ll be leaving.”
*Boom!!*
Ho Cheon-an unleashed a sword strike infused with half his power towards Ho Gyeong, and Ho Gyeong’s face turned pale as he faced down that impending strike.
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