Chapter 232: Martial Arts Tournament (1)

So much blood would be spilled?

And at the hands of the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult?

“No, you mustn’t!”

He didn’t care if the entire Murim was drowned in blood.

Even if the Young Cult Leader were to be killed here, Baek Mun-jeol believed the Assembly would take responsibility for the consequences.

But judging by what was just said…

“‘No’?”

He shouted desperately.

“You, you’re telling us to take responsibility for that?! Not only Namcheon, but the entire Gangnam region would be annihilated!”

Baek Mun-jeol was not incompetent.

He had grasped that the current Demonic Cult was experiencing its greatest era of prosperity in history, and that its Cult Leader was a being close to invincible.

Hadn’t it even been said in the Assembly that only after the Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult ascended in a few years would it be possible to plan anything against them?

Hwan Pyeong’s eyes grew cold and sharp.

“It seems you’re under some sort of delusion.”

And at that moment—

“Keuh-heok!”

Baek Mun-jeol collapsed on the spot, writhing in intense pain near his heart.

“Though our Society grants great freedom to its collaborators, that doesn’t mean we allow unrestrained behavior with no means of control.”

“Keuhk! Kuek!”

It wasn’t just pain. His heart’s blood was reversing its flow, and it felt as if his whole body would explode at any moment.

“You only need to obey me like a hunting dog. Then, the glory of the next era will naturally fall into your hands.”

“U-Understood! I’ll keep that in mind…!”

Only after Baek Mun-jeol writhed like a worm and pleaded did Hwan Pyeong release the constriction of solitude that had been pressing down on his heart.

“Huff! Huff! Cough!”

As Baek Mun-jeol vomited blood, Hwan Pyeong sneered coldly.

“Remember this. You are beings whose fates are bound to us. You’re in no position to attempt such half-hearted negotiations.”

Nod, nod!

“Very well. Relay this to our collaborators. Tell them to be ready to paint Namchang in blood at any time.”

With those final words, Hwan Pyeong’s presence vanished.

“D-Dammit…”

The subordinate who had been reporting was already dead, having coughed up blood.

He hadn’t been able to withstand the overwhelming presence of a peak-level master.

But Baek Mun-jeol had no time to concern himself with the dead subordinate.

“This can’t go on. I can’t just be dragged around like this!”

To overcome his origin, he had sold his soul to a demon. But now that the demon was demanding his dues, Baek Mun-jeol was gripped by terror and selfishness.

“I’ve sacrificed so much to get this far! I won’t collapse like this!”

He picked himself up and began preparing to contact someone.

Radiant Cloud Blade Dragon, Peng Unyeong

One of the six righteous dragons and a direct blood relative of the Hebei Peng Clan’s head.

Among the clan head’s sons, he possessed overwhelming talent, and until now, he had lived a life far removed from words like “failure” or “defeat.”

But then, for the first time in Peng Unyeong’s life, he suffered a crushing humiliation.

He had been taken down in a single strike by none other than a nameless foot soldier from the Demonic Cult.

“Unyeong.”

“Yes, Elder…”

In a gathering of the Peng Clan elders who had participated in the Namcheon tournament,

Peng Unyeong shrank under the cold gazes of his family elders.

“We cannot hide our disappointment in you.”

“…I apologize.”

Peng Jimun, one of the Peng Clan’s elders, clicked his tongue as he spoke.

“I’ll say no more. There are rumors that the subordinate from the Demonic Cult who humiliated you is under the command of one of the Six Demon Dragons. And that very Dragon is said to be participating in this Martial Arts Tournament.”

And not just any position—he was reportedly the new head among the Six Demon Dragons.

“You must defeat not only the foot soldier who shamed you but also his master, that Demon Dragon.”

“O-Of course, Elder!”

The elders of the Hebei Peng Clan regarded the incident with Peng Unyeong as an unfortunate mishap caused by a moment of carelessness.

“Three of the Six Righteous Dragons and two of the Four Star Standards are participating. You must not be outshone!”

“Especially not by that brat from the Namgung Clan!”

The Namgung Clan, the current leading family among the Five Great Clans.

Naturally, the Peng Clan, also one of the Five Great Clans, did not acknowledge such evaluations.

The Demonic Cult was a concern, yes, but what they were most wary of was the Namgung Clan’s Sky-Piercing Sword Dragon, Namgung Cheong, who had joined this tournament.

At that moment, one of the elders voiced a question.

“By the way, what became of the biggest variable—the Black Lotus Lord?”

“Oh, that matter?”

The tale of the Sword of Severance attempting to humiliate the Black Lotus Lord, only to fall into his own trap, had spread widely in just a few days.

The Black Lotus Lord was clearly a peak master level. If she participated in the tournament, the whole event would spiral out of control—it was as obvious as daylight.

“I heard they somehow managed to resolve it. Apparently, instead of the Lord, a young man named First Strategist Black Thunder, her chief strategist, will participate in her place.”

At those words, the elders’ expressions grew subtly curious.

“First Strategist Black Thunder? I’ve heard of the Black Lotus Strategist, but First Strategist Black Thunder…”

“Namcheon confirmed it. He’s reportedly in his early twenties and in the peak master level.”

“Hmm.”

Strategists were not typically known for overwhelming martial power.

There were exceptions like the Jegal Clan, but generally, those with the nickname containing “brain” tended to be weaker than the top martial artists of their age group.

“He’s got a nickname, so he must be decent, but it’s probably just a token show of presence. No need to pay too much attention.”

“Judging by the matchups, as long as we’re careful around that Namgung Cheong boy, there’s nothing to worry about. As for the winner… well, it’ll likely be that boy from Namcheon, we can’t help that.”

“Go now, and let the world witness the might of the Peng Clan!”

“Yes, Elders!”

Peng Unyeong straightened his posture and headed toward the gathering place for the tournament participants.

To avoid unnecessary conflicts, the Namcheon Baek Clan had deliberately not grouped all First Rate Martial Artists into one waiting room.

The waiting rooms were strictly divided into four: the righteous faction, the Black Lotus, the Evil Path Castle, and the Demonic Cult.

‘Was it Baeksa? I won’t let my guard down this time. And Namgung Cheong! This time, for sure…!’

As Peng Unyeong entered the righteous faction’s waiting room—

‘Huh? Is that… Namgung Cheong?’

Peng Unyeong blinked in disbelief.

The sword demon, Namgung Cheong, who should have been polishing his sword with a solemn face—

Was chatting away excitedly with someone?

“Great Hero! Where on earth have you been?! Do you have any idea what a terrible ordeal we suffered in Luoyang?!”

The unidentified young man who had just heard a bitter remark from Namgung Cheong lowered his head with an abundance of remorse.

“I’m sorry, everyone. I had some personal matters to attend to, so Lady Cheon and I had to leave Luoyang for a while.”

Those who received the young man’s apology nodded in satisfaction.

“We were so worried when both Lady Cheon and Lady Jegal disappeared!”

“Hahaha, now that the great hero has returned, the championship is all but decided. I’m personally a bit disappointed, but knowing the righteous faction will produce the winner puts my mind at ease!”

‘…Who is he?’

Not just Namgung Cheong—several familiar First Rate Martial Artists were clinging to the young man.

Among them, none other than his younger brother Peng Unho was present.

“Unho! What are you doing?!”

“Huh? B-Brother?!”

Peng Unho, who had been standing there with a satisfied smile and arms crossed, lit up with joy at the sound of his respected brother’s voice.

“Who exactly is that man to cause such a commotion?”

“Ah! I completely forgot to introduce him to you. This is the Heavenly Divine Dragon, Jin Myeong, whom I became acquainted with near Mount Hua!”

“…What?”

Heavenly Divine Dragon?

Hearing a nickname he’d never encountered before, Peng Unyeong furrowed his brow.

Peng Unho, filled with unexplained pride, continued,

“He’s truly an incredible master! Be it the Demonic Cult or the Evil Path Sect, no one can stand against his sword!”

“……”

Peng Unyeong’s eyes narrowed.

He knew that Peng Unho had visited Xi’an with some of the young elites of the clan.

Since Mount Hua was mentioned, it was clear that this man had been met during that trip…

“A nickname like Heavenly Divine Dragon? I’ve never heard of it. Is that self-proclaimed?”

To that, Peng Unho nodded as though he’d expected the question.

“It was personally bestowed by the Alliance Leader himself!”

“What?! Th-The Alliance Leader?!”

“Yes, we were shocked too. We got separated from the great hero due to some incident in Luoyang, but this time the Alliance Leader himself visited and introduced him!”

“……!”

In truth, the other First Rate Martial Artists still harbored suspicions about Jin Myeong’s origins.

Even though they had benefited from his guidance in martial arts back in Luoyang.

When the Black Lotus began asserting dominance in Luoyang, Jin Myeong conveniently disappeared—this had only deepened their suspicions.

But those suspicions vanished like melting snow once the Alliance Leader personally vouched for him.

With the Leader’s authority added in, his disappearance now felt like a necessary secret they had simply not been privileged to know.

“He’s definitely… involved with Lady Baek…”

Just as Peng Unho was about to spill more details with excitement—

“You, you idiot!”

“H-Huh?!”

Peng Unyeong’s eyes widened like someone who had just realized a massive truth and glared fiercely at Jin Myeong.

‘Is that why the Alliance Leader has been silent all this time?!’

The Namcheon Baek Clan’s main family had sent no First Rate Martial Artists to this martial tournament.

He had initially found that strange…

‘That man must be the Baek Clan’s secret weapon!’

In fact, not only Peng Unyeong—most of the righteous faction’s First Rate Martial Artists in the room were beginning to think the same thing.

And at that moment, Peng Unho, as if reading his brother’s mind, responded dryly.

“So what if he is?”

“W-What did you say?”

“To be frank, not even you, my brother, can match him. Even Namgung Cheong got beaten like a dog. The winner is practically already decided.”

“…?!”

Namgung Cheong beaten like a dog?

Peng Unho hadn’t said it quite so harshly, but that was exactly how Peng Unyeong interpreted it.

“W-What are you saying? Tell me everything…”

Unfortunately, Peng Unyeong couldn’t finish his sentence.

“Radiant Cloud Blade Dragon, Master Peng! Please prepare for the opening match of the tournament!”

From outside, the tournament staff who had been selected to oversee the event knocked on the door, calling for Peng Unyeong.

“Ah, understood!”

Peng Unyeong had no choice but to set his curiosity aside.

“It’s the opening match, so it can’t be helped. I’ll go take care of that demonic foot soldier and return—then you can explain everything in full.”

“Y-Yes, Brother! I wish you great fortune!”

Drawing the massive saber strapped to his back, Peng Unyeong stepped out of the room.

As he left to begin his duel,

“So that’s your brother, Master Peng.”

“Ah, Master Jin!”

Jin Myeong, who had been listening to their conversation the entire time, approached Peng Unho.

“He’s one of the Six Righteous Dragons participating in this tournament. He had a bit of an unfortunate incident recently, but he’ll bounce back in no time. Hahaha!”

Seeing the pride on Peng Unho’s face, Jin Myeong smiled subtly.

“I sincerely hope that’s the case.”

The Demonic Cult versus the Hebei Peng Clan.

Though it was only a match between First Rate Martial Artists, it was the first time in over a hundred years that the righteous and demonic factions were officially facing off in a martial duel.

Naturally, the public’s response was explosive.

The arena, built to hold thousands, was already packed with martial artists from all over, all eagerly chatting and speculating about the outcome of the fight.

“I’m telling you, the Demonic Cult’s rise is no fluke!”

“And what exactly are you basing that on?!”

A drunk pedestrian, already deep in his cups by midday, clenched his fist and shouted.

“In the battles of masters, there’s no such thing as a fluke! It’s all about skill!”

“But if everyone was so certain, they wouldn’t have built a stage for it, would they?”

“Ha! You ignorant fool.”

The drunk man pointed to a specific section.

“Look over there!”

He gestured toward the VIP seats reserved for the most prestigious figures of the martial world.

The elite of the righteous faction, the renowned masters, were seated there.

Someone observing them nodded.

“Their expressions… seem rather serious.”

“Then look over there on the opposite side.”

The man pointed across to where the Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader sat.

“Hm, they do look relaxed over there.”

“Exactly!”

The Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult leaned on one arm, watching the arena with a carefree smile—

While the righteous masters huddled together, whispering with tense expressions.

To the eyes of ordinary folks, it looked like there was some hidden secret in this match.

Of course, in reality, it had nothing to do with the match at all.

–Why in the world did the Fourth Army appear in a place like this?! And to act in such an outrageous manner!

–You say he even activated Solitude to pressure Elder Sword of Severance? Good heavens!

–What’s the Nine Schools’ stance on this? Surely they can’t stay silent.

–W-Well… The people from the Fifth Army are all ignoring our requests for a meeting. It seems they’re dealing with their own complicated situation.

–Ugh…

–For now, let’s wait until the tournament ends. There’s still time to devise a solution. Elder Sword of Severance is contacting the Ninth Army as we speak. Once we get their response, we can decide what to do.

–Agreed. If we keep whispering like this with sound transmissions, the Demonic Cult’s Young Cult Leader might get suspicious.

With that, they ended their sound transmissions and began minding their composure once more.

Because they were so preoccupied with appearances—

They failed to hear Cheon Yura softly muttering a short distance away.

“Namgung Clan, Hebei Peng Clan, Hwangbo Clan, Byeok Clan, Gon Family…”

Her eyes twisted playfully, filled with amusement.

“So many tangled threads. How very… entertaining.”

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