Chapter 318

Chapter 318

Two days passed.

“The main tournament starts today, Sect Master!”

“Right.”

“Who do you think will face us?”

“I wonder. I don’t know.”

I smiled bitterly at Seohwa making a fuss and pressed down my Jukrip. The rough texture of a scrap of paper felt in my breast pocket.

“Whatever opponent comes, what needs to be done won’t change.”

There’ll be no problem as long as I don’t face a Sipcheon-level master.

Letting out a small sigh and shaking my head, I recalled the contents of the information Ilryun gave me yesterday. There were too many things to worry about right now to care about who my opponent would be.

‘Sangwi will arrive soon.’

That’s what the information said. That Sangwi would arrive here five days from now.

I received information about how much preparation the Sado Alliance, Murim Alliance, and Demonic Cult had made for that, and how the organization was being structured. It was even the final version that included information from Ilnachar… Jeokyeo, who had joined the day before yesterday, so the importance of that information goes without saying.

‘It’s more doable than I thought.’

That’s what I thought when I received Jeokyeo’s information. Perhaps it might be worth attempting.

The majority of the Great Yokai on Sangwi’s back were purged for not submitting to Heukya. Considering we had expected all the yokai on Sangwi’s back to have turned to Heukya’s side, this is likewise favorable news.

Of course, there’s a high probability that Heukya’s power has grown stronger. Because yokai are beings that get stronger even by consuming the fear of other yokai. However.

‘There are limits to what can be done alone.’

One hand cannot block ten hands.

No matter how strong Heukya becomes, if the battlefield itself expands, the possibility of plotting something while avoiding Heukya itself greatly increases. If Jeokyeo’s information is true, deployment of troops will be possible very efficiently, so it wouldn’t be hard to see that the possibility isn’t zero.

‘The problem is what role I should play there.’

What should I do?

—Thank you for waiting!

“Ah, they’re revealing the tournament bracket! Sect Master!”

“Hm?”

While continuing my thoughts, I turned my gaze at Seohwa’s voice that suddenly rang out. The organizers revealing the bracket to the public, loosening the curtain placed in front of the completed tournament bracket.

—We will now reveal the tournament bracket!

Match One. Geomseon vs Nangagak.

Match Two. Taeak vs Gwangryulgeom.

Match Three. Ilryun vs Doksimsusa.

Match Four…….

“They’ve pushed all the Talgakja to the front?”

“Since the results of the fights are obvious anyway, there’s no need to deliberately push them back.”

Nangagak, a master of the Neutral Zone, Gwangryulgeom, a master of the Black Path, and Doksimsusa, the family head of the prestigious Sichuan Tang Family of the White Path.

Of course, they’re excellent martial artists, but to Talgakja they’re no different from children. Even I’m confident I could finish those three within ten exchanges, so how much more so for Talgakja?

“What’s important isn’t the Talgakja but the other Sipcheon, Chilryun, and Samgong. Let’s see.”

Match Twelve. Geomje vs Maehwageom.

Match Fourteen. Bulgoe vs Daeryeokyeomwang…….

One by one.

I narrowed my eyes at a familiar name while searching for and counting Sipcheon names. My alias written in a spot just past the middle.

“Match Nineteen. Uicheon vs Geomwang.”

“Sword King is…….”

“Namgung Hyeok. Previous generation Sipcheon.”

The opponent I had fought and defeated together with Geomhu.

“Can you win?”

“I wonder. It’s hard to say definitively.”

I’ll only know after trying, but I can’t guarantee it. Unlike that time, Namgung Hyeok has completely cured the madness from Qi Deviation, there’s no Geomhu to help me this time, and I can’t use Cheonroesin.

However,

“I don’t think I’ll lose right away.”

Though I stopped midway, what I gained while attempting Talgak isn’t trivial, and moreover I’ve obtained a yokai’s body.

Just because I can’t use Cheonroesin doesn’t mean my full strength has decreased. Of course, if I could use Cheonroesin in this state I’d be even stronger, but even in my current state I can be confident I’m stronger than before.

“I did meet quite a formidable opponent from the start… but rather, this worked out well. If I start gathering attention from now, I’ll be receiving enormous attention by the day of execution.”

It’s a wall I have to break through anyway. If I was going to stop at this level, I wouldn’t have even walked this far.

Boom! Boom!

“Ah, the first match is starting.”

“Mm.”

Feeling Seohwa tugging slightly on my sleeve as she turned her gaze at the heavily resonating drum sound, I turned my gaze. The Sword Saint, already up on the large arena stage.

“It’ll end quickly, right?”

“Probably not.”

“What? Is Nangagak that strong?”

“Of course Nangagak is strong, but that’s not the reason. Because there’s a need to show off.”

“Show off?”

“I mean showing off a Talgakja’s martial power.”

Well, even if I don’t explain, you’ll understand by watching.

When I closed my mouth without giving any particular explanation, Seohwa tilted her head and turned her gaze to the arena. At the same time, the announcer gripping a flag in his hand.

“Watch carefully.”

“……Will I be able to see properly?”

“You probably will. What the Sword Saint’s martial arts are like.”

Seohwa is a child with exceptionally good eyes. And here, the Sword Saint will demonstrate his martial power so anyone can recognize it.

“It will be of great help regarding what path you should pursue going forward.”

“……Yes.”

At my words, Seohwa, who gulped, carefully nodded and turned her gaze to the arena. Simultaneously, the announcer’s voice cutting through the air.

“Both parties, Gisu!”

Nangagak’s leg extends long.

Confirming that Nangagak’s left leg, a master of leg techniques, takes the forward position, the Sword Saint clasped his hands behind his back with a pleased smile. And.

“Begin!”

The moment Nangagak shot forward at a speed invisible to the eye with the start signal.

“……What is that.”

Seohwa looked at the Sword Saint with disbelieving eyes.

The Sword Saint was holding a blade.

Still with one hand clasped behind his back.

A single Sudo.

***

Originally, wandering warriors drift around like buoys, so they don’t have proper reputations.

This is natural in a way. Those with reputation usually escape wandering warrior status, and even if they don’t escape wandering warrior status, if their reputation exceeds a certain level, dangerous commissions flood in like a tide, so survival rates are low.

No matter how much money it costs, there are many places that need masters. Rather, the more skilled a wandering warrior is, the more they take on dangerous commissions.

Therefore, when wandering warriors gain reputation, they generally conclude their fate by becoming retainers of major sects or retiring from wandering warrior life. However.

There are many extraordinary people in the martial world, and no matter how generally applicable a situation is, there are exceptions.

Nangagak Ji-uk was an exception in wandering warrior society—literally one of the few ‘renowned wandering warriors.’

That’s because it was accepted fact that even searching all of the Central Plains, there aren’t more than fifty masters of Ji-uk’s level.

Pwa-ang—!!!

The air bursts.

Swa-ak! Seuga-ga-gak!

Every time his instep stamps the air, sounds that can’t be thought of as kick sounds—as if something sharp is cutting through the air—echo in all directions, threatening his opponent. A sound announcing that skill and internal energy cultivation have reached a realm.

It’s different from typical leg techniques. Unlike other leg techniques that emphasize heavy strikes, Ji-uk’s leg technique, nicknamed ‘wolf’s fang,’ is a martial art that bites opponents, tears them, and ultimately even cuts them.

Ji-uk’s leg technique cuts opponents, body and weapon together, with a single kick.

Of course, that’s only when the opponent is an ordinary martial artist.

Thud!

“Hehe.”

The fiercely thrust leg technique is casually blocked by the raised hand blade.

If it were only up to there, it would be understandable. The opponent is the Sword Saint, one who stands at the pinnacle of all sword practitioners in the Central Plains.

Even if it’s a hand blade, a sword is still a sword. There’s no one here who doesn’t know that the Sword Saint’s capability is to cut down hundreds of martial artists with a single reed leaf. However.

Even so, isn’t this too much?

Thud!

“Here?”

“……Keuk.”

What was initially a hand blade has now become Geomgyeolji.

At the Sword Saint’s appearance of deflecting and breaking through all attacks with just his middle and index fingers raised, Ji-uk, feeling powerless, retreated five steps. And at that sight, the Sword Saint smiles broadly.

“Hehe. That’s the look wondering how such a thing is possible.”

“…….”

“Perhaps the look wondering if this old man can even read the future. Is that right?”

“……Correct.”

Late attack first? Deflecting attacks?

That’s nothing strange. Ji-uk too can sufficiently suppress opponents when facing those below his level even while yielding first attack.

However, the Sword Saint’s attacks are on a different dimension. Without even particularly containing internal energy, just attacks that stab at the center where attacks begin.

If he decides to throw a punch, his shoulder is grabbed. The moment he twists his body to kick, his waist is sealed.

All of Ji-uk’s extended attacks don’t reach the Sword Saint, and all attacks flying at Ji-uk naturally reach Ji-uk’s body as if it should be so. Literally the feeling of playing in Buddha’s palm.

“It’s not precognition.”

“…….”

“Though if you call it prediction, that would be right.”

The Sword Saint, narrowing his wrinkled eyes and smiling, extended his Geomgyeolji forward while continuing.

“Originally, a person’s martial arts are like trees. They branch out from one large trunk and finally form a giant tree.”

“…….”

“Ordinary people look at a tree’s leaves and judge the tree. Masters like you judge by looking at the branches with leaves attached. But this old man has a bit more interest in that, you see. I’ve put in effort.”

“Effort?”

“Effort to be able to recognize that trunk for any person.”

Understanding an opponent means being well-versed in the martial theory the opponent has rooted themselves in, and being able to read all possible cases that can derive from that martial theory.

“Ten thousand ways to strike, ten thousand ways to break, ten thousand ways to cut, ten thousand ways to stab……”

“…….”

“If one can master all of that, they could be called a Musin. Of course, this old man is still lacking and hasn’t mastered everything in the world.”

Even so, that number is absolutely not small. At least regarding martial arts in the Central Plains, there’s no one more excellent and knowledgeable than the Sword Saint.

“Come. This time I won’t block in advance.”

“……I’m grateful for your consideration.”

Huu.

With a short deep breath, Ji-uk took his starting stance to display his ultimate technique. To create just one effective hit against the unbeatable Sword Saint.

And the moment he sees that starting stance, the Sword Saint quietly murmurs.

“The left chest would be good.”

“…….”

He explodes forth.

Internal energy whirled from his toes rides up his waist and rotates to increase rotational power. Internal energy surging up from Yongcheon to Myeongmun in an instant, heating his entire body white-hot.

Daecheon Yuranggak

Yuseong Hwanu

“Taaaaat!”

Like a meteor scattering light, his toes draw countless white trajectories and rush toward the Sword Saint. However, the Sword Saint, unconcerned, simply extended his hand.

Gwan

Simultaneously, the light disappeared.

“Hehe. Did you learn something?”

“……How could I not.”

Looking at the Sword Saint’s finger that reached precisely his left chest as initially announced, Ji-uk, who let out a hollow laugh, quietly folded his extended leg and cupped his fists. Simultaneously, the following declaration.

“I have lost.”

Silence.

While everyone maintained silence at the result of a sparring match where no one was injured, Ji-uk looked below his feet.

It was there.

“……Enough to make even ghosts weep.”

Not drawn by the Sword Saint, but traces drawn by Ji-uk’s own feet.

[Gwan]

The character that showed he had been induced to perform all actions according to the Sword Saint’s intent from the start of the match.