Chapter: 705
“Here is your number.”
I accepted the wooden plaque handed to me by the blind martial artist. When I passed back what I originally had, he stamped a seal on it.
The plaque had the number seventeen clearly inscribed on it.
Hmm.
It looks like they plan to assign a number to each participant.
How many people are there in total?
Maybe a little over two hundred, perhaps?
Considering it was a three-day preliminary round, that seems about right.
You’re saying you’ve gathered over a hundred peak-level fighters?
It couldn’t be anything other than an absurd figure.
Even at their peak, these characters are hard to find, yet they’ve gathered hundreds of them.
I think I only saw numbers like this when I conquered Sacheon in my previous life.
If not then, perhaps it was around the time they first gathered to hunt the Heavenly Horse.
That timing seems correct.
It was when various sect martial artists converged.
I was completely swept away by the Heavenly Horse’s whims…
That’s the only impression I could muster in the midst of so many gathered martial artists.
I also thought it was quite peculiar.
“How many are you, Young Master Gu?”
“Seventeen, and you?”
“I’m number sixty-eight!”
“I’m number ninety-one!”
They had different numbers.
It wasn’t as if there was a simple order, so I wondered if there were any specific rules for assigning these numbers.
Or was it entirely random?
If there are rules, what’s the intent behind such a system?
All sorts of thoughts flitted through my mind.
Tsk.
While I was pondering, I clicked my tongue inwardly.
Now, I was looking at the numbers suspiciously, wondering if there was something more to them.
This is ridiculous. Am I becoming overly suspicious here?
I felt I should be cautious.
To clear my thoughts, I took a moment to look around.
The ambiance was already noisy.
“Well, we have to find a way.”
“Damn it. I can’t go back home like this…”
With the assignment of numbers in the bracket, the surrounding noise only intensified.
Most of them quivered with anxiety.
Those who met strong opponents were either calm or discreet, while those on the other end tended to react dramatically to their fear.
“Damn it! A six-section fist… He’s practically a walking disaster! How am I supposed to win against him?!”
“…Changsoo and I don’t mesh well. Is there any way out of this…?”
“If I lose and go back like this… the Sega will…”
The scenes weren’t pretty.
They’re all going to chicken out, aren’t they?
They had already accepted defeat and only saw themselves losing.
Not even half, but seventy percent seemed to share that fate.
This is just how things are with these kids these days.
Are they giving up without even trying?
It was an attitude I couldn’t wrap my head around.
In that case, why even participate? Why act like that when you’re at your peak?
I sighed as I watched them wallow deeper into their gloom.
…It’s not that I don’t understand it, though.
After the preliminaries, the finals commenced.
It was too many people to call it the finals, but from here on, it would be known as such.
People are watching the stage.
Unlike the preliminaries, which were conducted behind closed doors, spectators could now attend the main event.
To accommodate this, the Murim Alliance had renovated their interior and constructed an enormous duel stage.
With over ten sects sponsoring it.
The representative swords of the Maeng clan, which had vanished into history, were revived, and the Maeng invested efforts to restore their shaken position.
This essentially meant that the current martial arts festival held unprecedented value in history.
To get eliminated right from the start of the finals…
Moreover, this elimination would be watched by countless spectators, including the biggest power players of the Central Plains.
That alone would be an immense psychological burden.
Hmm.
Honestly, I can anticipate the reason.
As someone who rarely cares about others’ opinions or losses, it was something difficult for me to grasp.
I’m not even entertained by the thought of losing.
I shifted my gaze around.
Focusing on those who seemed poised, I left the gloom of the anxious behind.
Hmm…
Several peak-level individuals were present, with a few close to Hwagyeong.
Some had even surpassed that stage.
What was surprising was…
They’re concealing their auras.
There were also those who were hiding their true capabilities.
They look like elders, don’t they?
Elders from esteemed or influential families.
There were quite a few who appeared to be in that status.
The world is vast, but have there always been this many hidden powerhouses?
As I curiously examined my surroundings…
Woof.
Hmm?
I sensed gazes directed toward me from somewhere.
No single pair of eyes…
I felt several sets drifting past me, glancing in my direction.
What’s happening?
Why are so many eyes fixated on me?
Pretending not to care, I expanded my perception slightly.
Then, in an instant, the gazes disappeared.
See?
They noticed I was broadening my senses and turned away.
They probably sensed something but didn’t pinpoint it; it was more instinctive.
Hmm.
It’s not odd to observe others, but having so many eyes trained on me simultaneously felt strange.
What could be the cause all of a sudden? After a moment’s thought, I recalled a possible explanation.
Is it because of the preliminaries?
It seems I might have flaunted myself too much during the preliminaries. That could be why the attention shifted toward me.
The issue is…
Didn’t they say the other side wouldn’t know because of the taboo?
Only those in my group would know of my actions.
Hmm.
Who was it?
Even if I tried to figure it out, it’s tough to discern from this many participants.
For now, I felt it was enough to realize someone was observing me.
How long will the main event take?
Given the massive number of participants, it’ll span over two days, even if it won’t take as long as the preliminaries.
I’m unsure how many duels there’ll be, but with the status of the martial artists, they most likely won’t fight twice a day.
Then it should wrap up in ten days at most,
It may seem lengthy, but for me, it’s quite adequate.
They also mentioned that Cheonla Daeju is nearing completion of their preparations.
I have to find a fitting opportunity.
With such a complicated plan, I needed to identify the right timing.
As I sorted my thoughts, a voice rang out from the exit.
“Participants who received numbers from one to fifty, please prepare!”
Are they already ready?
Upon hearing this, I stood up.
“I’ll be back.”
“Alright! Be careful!”
“Take care!”
Two people waved me off as I took my leave.
I chuckled at their demeanor and began walking.
Alongside me, fifty participants moved together.
Most wore expressions of despair or tension, like sheep being led to the slaughterhouse.
What are we doing here, seriously?
I struggled to hold back laughter at their faces.
No, we haven’t even got the real players involved yet. This is just day one!
Even the disciples of Gupailbang, along with those born from prestigious families, mostly didn’t show up on the first day.
It’s likely the Maeng had arranged them differently.
For the first day, they probably placed only a few notable individuals to drum up interest.
Just teasing the excitement like that should pique the curiosity of the audience.
However, those who kept their skills hidden wouldn’t have been noticed.
-Thus, in this gathering…
As I moved forward, I could hear sounds getting closer.
Observing the state, it seemed to be a voice raised in excitement mixed with bets.
-This shaking that has befallen the Central Plains… the Murim Alliance is in control of it…
If one listened closely, it was a swordsman’s voice.
It sounded like they were addressing the crowd outside.
-So, I humbly request you to welcome those celebrating this festival with great cheer.
As we approached the entrance, the sound audibly intensified.
As the swordsman spoke, the martial artist pulled the gate wide open.
-Now! Allow me to introduce the key players who will lead the righteous factions moving forward!
As soon as the door opened…
-Waaaaahh…
The deafening cheer erupted.
-Waaaaahh…
A massive surge of spectators filled the stands.
Inside, everyone was enthusiastic, shouting in jubilation.
The sounds brushed past me, causing my skin to tingle.
When was the last time I heard such a cheer?
I was feeling a bit apprehensive about the first day…
A showcase of barely ready challengers.
To be honest, I’d just been watching until now, but such cheering felt like something I’d only experience on the first day.
Yet, there’s a little doubt lingering.
If you’re going to do this, wouldn’t it be better to invite everyone and do it all at once?
Either invite everyone at once and let them feel the atmosphere.
Only about fifty participants were called forth initially; it felt disappointing to experience this.
Moreover…
I guess I still haven’t matured at all.
I lightly stroked my arm and frowned a little.
Cheers.
That monumental shout stirred a warmth within me without my realization.
I never thought I’d be swayed by something like this.
Part of me felt like it wasn’t right, as it was a feeling I hadn’t really encountered before; it left me momentarily unsettled.
Don’t get carried away.
Those cheers aren’t for me.
I’m not marching toward those cheers.
I had to keep reminding myself of this.
As I took a deep breath to calm my emotions.
What’s my deal,
Life has gotten a lot easier it seems. Yet here I am, getting swept up in a mere cheer. It shouldn’t be like this.
Remember what you need to do.
I must not forget.
I pledged, once again and again.
Just then, as I was trying to maintain my focus, the final words echoed out ahead of me.
“From now on, the Shinryu Martial Arts Festival will begin.”
With the swordsman’s declaration, cheers erupted once more.
-Waaaaahh—!!
It marked the start of the damn battle royal.
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