Chapter 314

Chapter 314

How many people in this Central Plains Murim want to become Cheonhajeil?

Though I don’t know the exact number, it probably isn’t much different from the number of martial artists existing in the Central Plains. Except for those who learn martial arts for Yangsaeng, no—even those who learn martial arts for Yangsaeng occasionally dream of becoming Cheonhajeil-in, because that’s what martial studies are.

Of course, that doesn’t mean there are many in this Central Plains Murim who can actually claim to be Cheonhajeil-in—at most, fewer than twenty. Most martial artists wouldn’t dare claim to be Cheonhajeil except for truly extremely powerful masters or a few martial artists who don’t know their place.

However,

Even if one doesn’t claim to be Cheonhajeil-in themselves, that’s no reason not to participate in a martial competition that determines Cheonhajeil-in. If the person determined here is Cheonhajeil-in, wouldn’t even crossing swords with that opponent once give you drinking stories for life?

And from that perspective, those gathered at the preliminaries of this Cheonhajeil Martial Competition were, needless to say, extremely numerous.

In short, it means over several thousand martial artists participated in a single martial competition.

“Five thousand… That’s tremendous.”

“Is that a lot?”

“Do I even need to say it? It’s tremendously many.”

“Eu-eum.”

I smiled faintly watching Seohwa tilt her head as if she couldn’t grasp it at my words. Seohwa didn’t seem to feel it physically, but it truly was a tremendous number.

“Do you know? No matter how many martial artists there are in this Central Plains Murim, they don’t exceed five hundred thousand.”

“Five hundred thousand… It seems like a huge amount but it’s less than I thought. The Gaebang has a hundred thousand Bangdo.”

“The Gaebang’s Bangdo includes even ordinary beggars, so having a hundred thousand Bangdo doesn’t mean they actually possess a hundred thousand martial artists.”

“Ah…”

“Moreover, the Gaebang isn’t a group that exerts influence over all hundred thousand Bangdo. The Bangdo they can properly mobilize would be about one-tenth of that.”

The Gaebang is a group that represents beggars, not a group that rules beggars. Being able to mobilize one-tenth is certainly impressive, but most of them are ordinary beggars, not martial artists.

“Even including all the ragtag martial artists who haven’t learned proper martial arts, not being able to gather five hundred thousand is the reality of Central Plains Murim. Yet five thousand of them participated in this martial competition. Do you know what that means?”

“One percent… It would be hard to see it that way, right?”

“Right. Because there are countless others who didn’t receive this news, or couldn’t come here even if they did. Nevertheless, five thousand gathering here means one thing. The total force of the Central Plains is concentrated here.”

Five thousand participants in the martial competition alone.

It may be called one percent, but it’s fair to say more than seventy percent of Central Plains Murim’s power is here. The Murim Alliance and Sado Alliance’s martial corps are also stationed to prevent disturbances, and every single person mentioned as a candidate for Cheonhajeil-in is attending here.

“If the martial competition has five thousand participants, then the number excluding participants would roughly be ten to fifteen thousand. How would it be if I said over twenty thousand martial artists came here to watch this competition?”

“…When you put it that way, I really feel it.”

“Right. It’s also why they’re holding the preliminaries that way.”

The preliminary format had already been announced. Rather than fighting one-on-one, roughly a hundred people would be crammed into each arena and the last one standing would advance to the main tournament.

“Will you all participate?”

“I’d like to as much as a chimney smokes, but… we couldn’t win, could we?”

“I don’t know about going one more round in the main tournament, but if it’s advancing to the top 64, it’s not impossible. Especially San could give it a try.”

“…Huh, me?”

“Yes.”

Baek Risan is in the midst of thoroughly learning the sensations I adjusted for her last time. The other children are also rapidly growing in skill, having accumulated very intense real combat experience during this opportunity.

In Baek Risan’s case, if she fought against sect leaders of major sects like Gupa Ilbang, she might win once if she fought five times. I’ve made her explosive power in critical moments second to none. The other children…

Could they win once if they fought a hundred times?

“I’m just going to watch this time.”

At my gaze, Seohwa smiled brightly and shook her head.

“I haven’t even fully absorbed all the enlightenment I gained from the last real battle yet, so there’s no reason to enter combat. It’s also a competition that doesn’t match our level.”

“Alright.”

“Munju-nim will participate, right?”

“I need to draw attention. I also need to adapt to this body.”

As I spoke while pressing down my Jukrip that covered my face, Seohwa smiled and tugged at my Durumagi, which was like my symbol, organizing it.

“We’ll cheer for Munju-nim. Please smash Sipcheon and everything else and advance. So we can boast that you’re our Munju-nim.”

“Ha-ha. Couldn’t you boast until now?”

“It wasn’t really to the degree of boasting?”

“You brat.”

“He-he. I’m kidding. But it’s good to have more things to boast about, right?”

“Well, no matter how much honor you have, it’s never enough.”

If a disciple asks to see their master’s power, what can I do? As a master’s duty, I have to show them.

“We will now begin the preliminary matches! Participants in the first match, please come up!”

“It’s starting now.”

“Do your best!”

I smiled faintly at Seohwa showing her two clenched fists and approached the Murim Alliance clerk handling the proceedings up front. The clerk glanced at me wearing my Jukrip pulled low and spoke.

“A participant in Match One?”

“That’s right.”

“I’ll confirm. Your name?”

“Uicheon .”

“…An unusual name. It seems to be registered.”

After looking at me as if sizing me up for a moment at my words, the clerk recited in a businesslike tone.

“The rules are simple. Survive until the end. Don’t intentionally inflict serious injuries or kill people. If you fall outside the arena, you’re disqualified.”

“Truly simple.”

“Simple, but also something that must be followed. Since those who’ve already advanced to the main tournament are monitoring for misconduct, it would be best not to even think about committing misconduct.”

“There’s no need for that.”

Would there be any need to injure anyone just to subdue a mere hundred martial artists?

“…You can’t escape the eyes of absolute masters. Understand? That means no underhanded tricks.”

“I understand.”

“…Your number is thirty-three. Go inside and stand at your designated spot.”

Shrugging my shoulders with that meaning, the clerk sighed and let me inside, perhaps interpreting it somehow. Then people entering the training ground one by one.

‘Did they say the preliminaries would be held over two days?’

It’s the work of filtering five thousand people down to about fifty.

Finishing it all in two days actually isn’t easy either. It means there are about twenty-four more matches like this just today.

“I look forward to working with you. I look forward to working with you.”

“You’re noisy.”

“Heo-heo, I’m just greeting you wanting to compete in good Chosu, but you’re so cold…”

“Riffraff always have long tongues.”

Should I gather attention from the start?

Watching a martial artist greeting the surrounding martial artists and another martial artist ignoring such a person, I stroked my chin. Drawing attention is good, but shouldn’t it be a match where everyone is satisfied?

“Is everyone here?”

“…”

“Everyone’s here.”

The clerk who had been letting participants in earlier confirmed that everyone was positioned in their places and nodded. And the declaration that followed.

“From now on…”

Tension cuts across the stage. Away from me.

As I leisurely crossed my arms and looked around, the martial artists rolled their eyes. The sight of them racking their brains over who to strike first, how to survive.

One, two.

The noisy arena falls into silence deep enough to hear a pin drop. And.

“We will begin the preliminary match!”

The moment the announcer’s declaration fell.

“Die-!!!”

“So suddenly?”

Crack!

“Eok!”

Crack! Crack!

“Keu-a-a-a-ak!”

I immediately slapped the face of the unlucky martial artist charging at me, sending him outside the arena.

And soon shouts began to fill the martial stage.

***

Seong-uk thought he was currently very calm.

‘Stay calm!!! Seong-uk!!!!! If I just keep my wits, I’ll survive!!!!!’

Self-proclaimed Cheonhajeil late-stage rising star , commonly called Yunnan native Seong-uk.

He had headed to Uichang following Baek Riyun’s group to see a broader world. All the people from his hometown in Yunnan had already evacuated to Guizhou anyway, and there was nothing more to do if he stayed there.

—A noble person recognizes a prodigy!!!

The Cheonhajeil Martial Competition would attract numerous masters, and if there were so many masters, there would surely be someone who recognized his talent.

Therefore, despite knowing he was still lacking, Seong-uk participated in the martial competition and stood at this spot.

At this place where the very first preliminary match was being held.

“You ba-astard! Bungsan Sword Technique-!”

Bu-u-ung!

“Heo-eo-eok! What a formidable strike!!!!!”

Seong-uk barely twisted his waist to avoid the heavy sword strike flying from behind, raised his blade, and spun his body once to attack his opponent’s side. The giant became flustered as Seong-uk wielded unexpectedly powerful and fierce blade techniques unlike his shabby-looking exterior.

“Sw-Sword Qi! Youngster, you hid your power!”

“Pokwon!!! Chosanghwa!!! Troublesome!!!!!”

He split the sword in half with one strike and immediately kicked to send his opponent outside the arena.

“Nothing special. Whew!!!”

Smiling while breaking out in cold sweat, Seong-uk confirmed no one was attacking him and clearly assessed the situation. Sword Qi flashing here and there, and even Sword Kang visible in this situation.

‘It’s hard for me to take first place!!!’

Seong-uk knows his own skills very well.

Maybe two years from now, but not yet—wielding the blade techniques of Hwaryudo Sect, which is still just a country bumpkin sect in a rural village, he would have difficulty overcoming the villains here. If he jumped into that fray without properly assessing his abilities, what would come out probably wouldn’t be Seong-uk but Seong/uk.

‘I’ll preserve my stamina as much as possible while watching the situation, then jump in when I can be most active!!!’

When would that be? When ten people remain? When thirty people remain?

Even then it wouldn’t be enough. If about half were eliminated, then at least he could knock down one or two before being eliminated.

‘The strategy is perfect!!!’

It’s a flawless strategy. Even Master, who crossed the Yellow Springs, would shed tears seeing his judgment and do a handstand while giving a standing ovation if he saw this.

Having completed what he thought was a perfect calculation, Seong-uk clenched his fist tightly. A wide highway unfolding in his mind.

What would happen if he learned new martial arts here?

Meeting a new master and serving that master, he would surely learn martial arts counted among the top ten fingers in Gangho. And while learning those martial arts, inside the secret cave he would discover someday, there would be the secret manual of the greatest person in history.

Reading that manual, he would become Cheonhajeil-in and become the savior of the Gangho Murim that had fallen into chaos due to Hyeolma’s  rampage. And in his later years, he would wear the crown of the greatest person in history.

‘It starts here… the legend of me, Seong-uk…!!!’

Everything was prepared. Only one thing remained.

Thinking that, Seong-uk exhaled through his nose and stepped forward. And at that moment, a low voice reached him.

“I suppose it’s about time.”

“…?”

A familiar voice.

But before he could determine whose voice it was, the Jukrip-wearing man at the edge of Seong-uk’s vision quietly murmured. And the scene that unfolded shortly after.

“Is this how it’s done?”

Gunrimbo

“…?”

Seong-uk closed his eyes and opened them.

“The, winner…!”

Only the Jukrip-wearing man stood alone on the martial stage.

“Uicheon!”

“Damn it, my new master!!!!!!!”

Shattering all of Seong-uk’s plans.