Chapter: 725
The first thought that crossed my mind when I looked at the match bracket was simply this:
“Why did they set it up like that?”
No, seriously, why on earth did they create the matchups this way?
It’s obvious to anyone watching that the matches have been tampered with by the Maeng side.
I had already known this ever since they changed the lineup upon adding more participants.
They must be up to something again.
It’s likely just an excuse for him, and I knew that much.
“Why?”
This bracket was something I hadn’t anticipated at all.
Tap. Tap.
As I tapped my waist with my fingertips, I pondered.
What on earth could the reason be?
“Didn’t Shenlong intend to fight against the Tao King?”
I was perfectly aware of the schemes those guys were pulling.
The purpose of this martial arts tournament was undeniably to pit Shenlong against the Tao King. It had to happen, whether in the semi-finals or the finals.
I had known it since the moment the Tao King announced his participation.
And there, Shenlong would show a good performance and be eliminated, allowing the Tao King to claim victory.
That was the story I had expected.
“It doesn’t make sense for the Tao King to lose.”
It doesn’t stem from issues of skill or ability.
“Because the Maeng won’t allow the Hebei Peng Clan to lose.”
The Peng Clan is one of the prominent families sustaining the Murim Alliance.
If their head were to participate and then lose in a martial arts tournament, it would hardly be a small blow to the Alliance’s reputation.
“Initially, the Tao King would have signed up in agreement with the Murim Alliance.”
The Tao King isn’t an idiot.
No, maybe he is, but still, it’s nonsensical for a king-level warrior to be part of something like a martial arts competition.
Why would the Tao King come out to fight a battle where he has nothing to gain?
“Naturally, there must have been some arrangement for him to show up.”
It could have been a good deal.
Or it might have been a threat he couldn’t avoid.
The important bit is that the Tao King actually appeared.
“They probably intended to use that to elevate Shenlong.”
The plan was to have Shenlong put on a good show and then lose.
Clearly demonstrating his strength as a Hwagyeong-level warrior, they wanted to show the audience he had enough potential to challenge the King at least somewhat.
That had certainly been my expectation.
“But an unexpected twist has occurred.”
Something unexpected has indeed happened.
“The Tao King has fallen!”
In the last battle against the two dragons, the Tao King’s standing was utterly wrecked.
It was the most humiliating victory of the entire decade.
The scene where he was toyed with by the late dragon and screamed while watching it abstain was one for the books.
The grip the Tao King barely held in the Central Plains was blown to smithereens that day.
“I can’t say for sure, but the Peng Clan must be in complete disarray right now.”
I’m sure the high-ranking members who witnessed the tournament began to back out. Some other upper-tier factions likely started to stir as well.
Given this kind of situation, it’s anyone’s guess as to how the Maeng will react since their plans have been thrown into chaos.
Are they going to pit the Tao King against Shenlong as initially intended? Or will they try a different strategy?
That’s hard to say.
“But I never thought it would play out like this.”
To think I’d be squaring off against Shenlong at this stage, when it’s only the fourth bout…
This was incomprehensible behavior.
“What’s the reason behind this?”
Why am I fighting against Shenlong at this particular moment?
This was not one of the variables I had anticipated.
Right?
“The Alliance has to find a way to elevate Shenlong.”
Even though the Tao King’s humiliation is evident, certain expectations must still be met.
Shenlong should be matched against someone manageable, but not so easy that it’s a walk in the park.
Setting aside Dang So-yeol and a few others who’ve already showcased their strength in previous matches,
“There are at most four or five people I can think of.”
That’s about the extent of suitable fighters slated for this lineup.
But I’m not one of them.
Bump.
“Did I come off as weak? Is that why they matched us up?”
It is certainly a possibility.
“But it shouldn’t be the case; no matter how incompetent the Murim Alliance may be…”
How many times had I intentionally shown my strength?
I’ve caught the eyes of both the Swordmaster and the Swordsman, along with demonstrating my abilities in the previous tournament.
Despite how little power I displayed, no one should think I’m weak.
“On the contrary, they’d likely find it suspicious.”
How strong must the author be?
“After all, with the chaos that’s gone down lately, they’re probably thinking even harder about my level.”
Especially since the enigmatic Two-Dragon has stirred quite a fuss recently.
Expectations and wariness regarding all the back-end contenders have shot through the roof.
So, given this context, arbitrarily tossing me into a match against Shenlong feels like a gamble.
A gamble where anything could happen.
“Why take a risk when there’s an easier path available?”
This is utterly ridiculous from the perspective of the Maeng.
That’s why it’s all the more baffling.
“What could their intention possibly be?”
I rapidly processed the situation.
An unknown variable.
To tackle this, I absolutely had to figure out the reasoning behind it.
Just as I was racking my brain feverishly,
“Old Sohyup.”
“…!”
I turned my head, eyes wide at the sound of someone calling me.
A familiar face came into view.
With a white uniform adorned with plum blossom embroidery—a trademark of the Hwasan Sect— and a strikingly handsome face.
“…Yeongpung Dojo.”
The illustrious first volcano, Sword Dragon Yeongpung had arrived.
“Haha. How have you been?”
His approach, always cheerful and refreshing, was as it ever was.
Kid… You’ve become more dashing as time goes by.
Not only was he good-looking; he seemed to have grown taller too, while I had to struggle for every inch of height…
“…Yes, I’m just the same as always.”
“Ah, I did mention you when I spoke to Lady above… Did you hear anything?”
“I heard.”
Yeah, I think I did.
Wi Seol-ah mentioned talking about me to Yeongpung last time.
“I wanted to meet you as soon as I arrived in Hanam, but… life got in the way, so I’m greeting you a bit late.”
“That’s alright. I haven’t welcomed you either.”
I was already aware that the Hwasan Sect had made their way to Hanam and had also heard that Yeongpung intended to participate in the martial arts competition.
I didn’t seek him out, knowing that much. No need for apologies.
As we exchanged a few more casual remarks,
I spotted a flicker of hesitation on Yeongpung’s face.
“…And well… about that last incident…”
“Forget it.”
I interrupted him before he could stutter out an apology.
He probably wanted to apologize for what had happened at the shaman’s place again.
“No need for apologies. It’s already been forgotten.”
That time when the thunder struck and the gust of wind flew by—they tend to flee memory faster than one would think.
I assumed he must have been carrying that moment in his heart, considering how odd he had acted.
“That was a little strange.”
Considering Yeongpung’s normal demeanor, it seemed completely out of character. I chose not to dwell on it.
Since I declined the apology, he took a moment to bite his lip and then said,
“…Thank you.”
Rather than an apology, it was a direct expression of gratitude.
That wasn’t necessary, but I chose to ride it out since it felt better than an apology.
“Ah, Dojo.”
“Yes, Old Sohyup.”
“By any chance… have you been hearing strange noises at night… or come across the voice of a grumpy old man or anything?”
“Yes…?”
He had that look on his face that screamed, “Why the peculiar questions?”
“I think I might have asked you this last time, haha. Not at all.”
“Good to know.”
“For whatever reason, don’t you worry. Even if something were to happen, I’m a Taoist, and I can handle it immediately.”
Wait, should I really joke about that?
Yeongpung responded playfully, and I was inwardly panicking.
“What if you end up banishing your ancestors?”
That kind of talk was dangerous.
Even though we might not be blood-related, there’s a certain kind of impropriety there too.
“Anyway, you don’t hear their voices, right?”
Even if Yeongpung is the successor of the Hwasan Sword, it seemed he couldn’t hear anything like I could.
Perhaps I was simply thinking of Noya after such a long time; it reminded me of something that had transpired in the North Sea.
“Did I mention that I’m the reincarnation of Noya?”
Clearly, I had been informed of this by Namgung Myung passing through Woohyuk’s vessel.
…
Thinking in this way made me feel a little dirty inside.
“That ill-tempered old man was my past life?”
That left a rather sour taste in my mouth.
“Old Sohyup? What’s the matter? Your face looks….”
“Nothing’s wrong. Just recalling an unpleasant memory.”
“Ah…I see.”
My unease grew. I quickly shook my head.
“This aside… is she doing well?”
I casually switched topics.
“Who is your ‘she’?”
“My sister.”
“Oh, you mean Miss Sago.”
My little sister residing in the volcano.
Upon inquiring about Gu Ryeong-hwa, Yeongpung seems a bit flustered, smiling shyly.
“Were you not two peas in a pod during the trip?”
“She is most likely at her place now. She seems a bit… angry.”
“Angry?”
“I think… the problem might’ve been that Old Sohyup didn’t come to find her.”
“Ha.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at that remark.
“What a ridiculous kid. She hasn’t even bothered finding me.”
Despite having been in Hanam for a few days, Gu Ryeong-hwa hadn’t come looking for me either.
I get it; I’ve been busy and all, but what does she have to grump about?
“…I also mentioned that to her. But she said, how on earth would I get there….”
“…Huh?”
“Get there?” How complicated could it really be if you just walked over?
“Ah.”
Just then, realization dawned on me.
“It’s because of Lady Mi, isn’t it?”
Lady Mi.
It seems she’s hesitant to visit due to it being her residence nearby.
“Right.”
Gu Ryeong-hwa does not have a cordial relationship with Lady Mi.
I had almost forgotten that detail.
Tsk.
I guess I’ll have to pay her a visit sometime soon.
With a brief click of my tongue, Yeongpung chuckled lightly.
“I feel like I might’ve caused you some discomfort.”
“That’s not it. She’s just angry at me; it’s not your dojo’s fault.”
I had absentmindedly forgotten a key detail I should have been aware of.
Upon recalling it, my mood soured further.
I held back a long sigh that threatened to escape and turned to Yeongpung.
“Could you pass on to her that I’ll drop by within three days?”
“I’ll definitely let her know.”
“Thanks.”
As I expressed my gratitude, my cheeks flushed with a hint of embarrassment.
I’m not trying to play the big brother role after it’s all said and done…
“But still, I guess I should show some concern.”
I can’t just ignore this completely.
As I chewed over my bittersweet feelings,
“Anyway, it was a long-awaited conversation, so it was enjoyable.”
Suddenly, Yeongpung seemed poised to wrap things up.
“Are you heading off already?”
“Yes. Unfortunately, this feels like the right time to part ways.”
Seeing that he was done with business, Yeongpung arranged his final formalities.
In a serious tone, he spoke to me,
“I look forward to discussing the remaining matters with you on the duel stage.”
A smile crept to my lips at those words.
“Is this a declaration of war?”
I’ll win and hold my ground until our next meeting.
That kind of intent was unmistakably clear.
“Sure. I’ll be looking forward to it.”
If you can, give it your best shot.
I’ll not try to deter you.
After all, events had unraveled in Shaanxi.
To pull the spirit trapped in that well, I was willing to be an insurmountable wall.
My mindset on that has yet to change.
Come over; I still feel that way about Yeongpung.
“Thanks to you, things have turned out somewhat favorable, right?”
After bidding farewell, Yeongpung turned to leave.
I cast a lingering glance at his retreating figure.
“You’ve gotten stronger.”
Yeongpung had visibly grown stronger since I last saw him several months ago.
Whether or not he was at the Hwagyeong level was a little uncertain—it felt ambiguous, rather than outright invisible.
“Hmm.”
As I observed, my focus shifted to the side.
“Hey.”
“Huh?”
Someone lifted their head in response to my call.
It was Bong-soon, who had been dozing off with her back against a pole.
Seeing drool dripping from the corner of her mouth, it seemed like she’d been losing even more dignity than before.
She may look pretty decent, but those habits…
“What’s up?”
“What’s…?”
“Enunciate properly, I don’t want to hear it slurred.”
“What?”
“That guy—how do you feel about him?”
I pointed towards the departing Yeongpung, and Bong-soon blinked with curiosity.
Then she reacted,
“Oh.”
Letting out a short gasp.
“He’s incredibly strong!”
“That’s a given!”
“Then?”
“Think you can beat him? He’s your opponent, you know.”
“Hmm.”
Bong-soon is set to fight against the Sword Dragon in this martial arts tournament.
When she realized he was her opponent, she finally began to scrutinize Yeongpung with newfound interest.
She remained still and quiet for several moments.
Then, with a blank expression, she asked me,
“Can I kill him?”
“No.”
I responded without hesitation.
Upon hearing my answer, Bong-soon nodded and remarked,
“Then I guess I’m uncertain. It feels ambiguous.”
Bong-soon has somewhat of an acute sense of self-awareness.
If she’s saying that, it must hold some truth.
So, I decided to ask differently.
“Then, what if you could kill him?”
What would happen if killing were an option?
In asking this, she became more animated.
Her blank face lit up with emotion.
And she put on a smile as she said,
“Then I win.”
It was a grin that sent chills down my spine.
Not long after, the fourth preliminary round commenced.
This schedule began much earlier than usual.
The reason being that the participants from the third round were now mixed in with us.
Even so, even if we started early, we’ll still finish later than expected.
I considered suggesting splitting the dates, but since the Maeng chose not to do so, it appears there’s some sort of logistical issue at hand.
“Well, that’s not my concern.”
It’s okay if time gets stretched.
I wouldn’t mind as extending the dates would cause issues for me, so I don’t have to dwell on that part.
Boom—!!
I heard a tremendous noise.
When I turned my gaze towards the duel stage, I saw a giant knocked flat on the ground.
It was known as the “Barrage Stone Fist.”
A peak level martial artist known far and wide.
It seemed he had suffered defeat at the hands of his opponent, the Six Noble Swordsman.
“The Iron Man of Muangan Pyomun, wins!”
Woohoooooo—!!
As the referee declared the results, it unleashed a wave of cheers.
Throughout all the days I had watched, the roaring cheers remained immense.
I found myself nodding along,
“Not bad.”
The Six Noble Sword—The Iron Man.
He hails from a sect I’ve never heard of, called Muangpyomun.
A practitioner who employs martial arts from a completely independent sect.
“His level is just on the brink of Hwagyeong.”
He’s just about to cross that threshold.
Before long, he’ll likely find his way into the ranks of Hwagyeong, and just by the feeling of things, he seems poised to make it into the top hundred masters too.
Good vibes.
I noticed others among the upper crust stirring, likely thinking the same thing as I was.
“They have to act quickly.”
They’re surely rushing to gather intel on both the Muangpyomun and the Kyocheolin.
Some might even be looking to negotiate directly with the Iron Man.
The arrival of a remarkable fighter has everyone moving rapidly.
It was the same as before, though it’s intensified with the red monster’s emergence.
“They should be preparing soon too.”
I’d already told Mo Yong-hee, so I’ll let her take care of it. I should also set up my own plans to ensure I’m not too late for anything.
I glanced at the man standing in front of me while pondering my plan.
“Your turn is coming up soon.”
“Yes.”
Seongyul nodded in acknowledgment of my words.
Just one more battle to go before it’s Seongyul’s turn.
I turned my gaze, catching sight of Seongyul looking a bit aloof.
It landed on a young man standing alone at a distance, not mingling with anyone else.
Peng Woo-jin.
The son of the Tao King—who has been suffering from a decline in reputation.
Once the former Shenlong, he is now known simply as Bisungdo.
Observing him quietly, he met my gaze, and our eyes locked.
Then, as if he had been waiting for me to notice, Peng Woo-jin waved at me.
Even though his father finds himself in such odd circumstances, it seemed Peng Woo-jin didn’t care one bit.
Every time I saw him, it felt peculiar.
“How could someone like that be born from the Tao King?”
The phrase “an apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” had always rung true for me, yet he seemed the opposite.
Could it be called “the inverse apple effect”?
Peng Woo-jin was a truly remarkable figure.
He’s smaller in stature than the majority of the Peng clan and doesn’t exude an overly aggressive temperament.
He bears a resemblance, so he’s definitely the King’s child, but…
“What a strange sensation.”
“Hmm.”
Having observed Peng Woo-jin for a moment, I shifted my focus back to Seongyul and nodded.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
Seongyul looked my way.
His playful golden eyes seemed brighter amid his otherwise concerned demeanor.
Yet he appeared almost content, if a bit fatigued.
I couldn’t help but wonder if he felt at ease not having to deal with the Kunlun scholars.
“Kid, if you’re going to wear that expression, you might as well tell me what’s bugging you.”
The sight of him trudging around feeling sick was starting to irritate me.
But it seemed like he had absolutely no intention of sharing.
That just made me more frustrated.
Alright then, maybe that’s exactly why I feel this way.
“Let’s make a bet.”
“Huh? Why all of a sudden?”
“Yeah.”
“…What do you mean…?”
I spoke off the cuff, for sure.
“Look at your opponent over there.”
I pointed towards Peng Woo-jin, and Seongyul followed suit with his gaze.
“Yeah.”
“Go beat him.”
“Pardon?”
“Find a way to win, no holds barred.”
Grinning, I continued,
“About that whole Cheonghae Ilgeom incident we talked about last time…”
“…!”
The instant I mentioned it, Seongyul’s eyes went wide.
“I’ll explain just why it’s the Murim Alliance’s fault.”
Silence fell.
Seongyul’s expression grew ice cold at the mention of the Cheonghae Ilgeom incident that didn’t get fully articulated.
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