Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Chapter 36. Friendly Martial Arts Tournament (1)

Eon Mi-hee pushed off the ground and stood up.

She hastily looked back at Maeng U-gang. However, Maeng U-gang hadn't moved a single step from his previous position.

With his saber resting on his shoulder, he was looking this way with a leisurely expression.

He hadn't even pursued her.

Most importantly, despite having landed a decisive blow, there was no longer any trace of impact on Maeng U-gang.

In the single moment she blocked his saber, the reddish-black energy lingering on Maeng U-gang’s saber had pierced through her gauntlets and wreaked havoc on her blood and Qi.

That wasn't all. The amount of inner strength she had received with her body, even for a moment… was bottomless.

He was like a massive, dark tree.

The depth of his roots could not be fathomed.

The number one prodigy of the Evil Faction. An overwhelming difference in realm, similar to what she had felt in the duel with Lee Byeok earlier.

“Will you continue, girl?”

But it was no longer easy to even remain standing. There was no point in forcing a fight she had no chance of winning.

Eon Mi-hee stepped down from the dueling stage.

“This duel is won by Young Master Maeng U-gang of the Black Heaven Gang!!”

With the cheers erupting from the prodigies of the Black Heaven Gang behind her, Eon Mi-hee exited.

She headed towards Ji Soyak in the audience.

“You’ve worked hard, Mi-hee. I didn’t expect you to clash directly with the Black Heaven Gang. Are you sure you don’t need to go to the medical hall?”

But she had to watch the next match. The leader of the Flying Dragon Squad would virtually be decided by the outcome of that match.

Eon Mi-hee crossed her arms and silently watched Maeng U-gang standing on the dueling stage.

It wouldn't be much different no matter who it was, but she wanted to avoid being under that guy's command if at all possible.

‘…It will be difficult.’

She had no idea what the level of the Hainan Sword Sect was, but it didn't seem likely that there was a prodigy who could defeat that Maeng U-gang.

And the next moment, amidst the cheers of the Hainan Sword Sect’s camp, a man walked out as if it were a matter of course.

The great disciple of the Hainan Sword Sect, Pa Jin-seong.

It was the moment the match everyone had been waiting for was finally taking place.

The Black Heaven Gang and the Hainan Sword Sect.

With the Paewang Family having lost its presence, this would be a match that determined, in the short term, the leader of the Flying Dragon Squad, and in the long term, the future direction of the Evil Faction Alliance.

The two who stood facing each other on the dueling stage exchanged a few words. However, the contents of their conversation could not be heard from the audience.

With the referee's declaration signaling the start of the duel, Pa Jin-seong charged in first.

The sword he drew was unusually held in his left hand.

“It is the Hainan Sword Sect’s Azure Sea Twelve Swords.”

A sword style created by modeling the form of raging waves, its bizarre advances and retreats unfolded from the left hand were difficult to predict.

With a clear shout, Pa Jin-seong’s sword began to sway like a wave.

On the other hand, Maeng U-gang stood his ground, blocking the attacks with minimal movement.

Clang! Clang! Claang!

Like waves chipping away at a rock, Pa Jin-seong’s continuous attacks followed. Little by little, Maeng U-gang’s hands began to get tangled.

It seemed as if Pa Jin-seong was gaining the upper hand.

Crackle, a reddish-black energy began to form on Maeng U-gang’s saber.

“…Black Heaven Thunder Saber.”

Ji Soyak let out a groan.

“As expected, I wasn't mistaken. Mi-hee, even if it's not now, you must visit the medical hall after this duel is over.”

“That Qi art… is said to injure the opponent's blood and Qi just by clashing with their weapon.”

Eon Mi-hee understood that her senses had not been wrong. A tingling sensation still remained in both her arms.

“But to have achieved enough to use a secret ultimate technique in actual combat at that age… it’s hard to believe even after seeing it.”

The clashes continued.

Surprisingly, Pa Jin-seong did not lose his momentum so easily even in front of the Black Heaven Thunder Saber.

But there was no way it wasn't painful. He must have had a premonition that if not now, the opportunity would never come again.

However, in the face of accumulating damage to his blood and Qi, Pa Jin-seong’s sword gradually lost its sharpness.

And by that much, Maeng U-gang’s saber began to show signs of leisure.

Eon Mi-hee sensed the outcome of the match.

Even if he continued to endure, Maeng U-gang’s weapon was not just the Black Heaven Thunder Saber.

In front of that overwhelming amount of inner strength, even a battle of attrition was meaningless.

The next moment, Pa Jin-seong, who had sensed that fact, retreated. He widened the distance and held his left arm with his right hand.

“Ha! Is this all you’ve got, Pa Jin-seong?! You fall far short of my expectations! The girl from the Rogues’ Guild was more useful than you!”

Maeng U-gang shouted loudly.

He had deliberately projected his voice with inner strength so that even the audience could hear.

Simultaneously, cheers rose high from the Black Heaven Gang's side. On the other hand, a solemn atmosphere gradually descended upon the Hainan Sword Sect's side.

Pa Jin-seong scowled.

This can’t be. Something was wrong. Even if he could lose, there was no way the gap between them had widened this much in just a few years.

But he soon accepted reality.

What could he do? Things had turned out this way.

He had no choice but to trust his own sword. If he took damage with every clash, then he would settle the match with a single clash.

Pa Jin-seong thought of the strongest technique he could currently unfold. He had never used it in actual combat before, but.

Pa Jin-seong jumped up.

He fell from the air, closing the distance to Maeng U-gang. The sword in his hand began to sway. Content orıginally comes from NoveIꜰire.net

Advancing and retreating.

Amidst the repeated advances and retreats, the sword's energy overlapped in the air, beginning to form a wave.

[ Azure Sea Twelve Swords, Wave-Breaking Smash. ]

Soon, a fierce wave arose. Pa Jin-seong’s sword charged towards Maeng U-gang with the force of a tsunami.

“Hmph, pathetic. Who said I would take that head-on?”

The next moment, the reddish-black energy on Maeng U-gang’s saber thickened abruptly. And taking a step forward, he swung his saber.

However, that saber was not aimed at Pa Jin-seong. The saber, struck downwards, dug deep into the innocent ground.

It was at that very moment.

Simultaneously with Maeng U-gang’s saber striking the ground, a thunderbolt shot up from under Pa Jin-seong’s feet.

Pa Jin-seong was engulfed in the thunderbolt.

Pa Jin-seong’s ultimate technique vanished in vain without even reaching Maeng U-gang.

“Gak! Y-you son of a—”

The arena was engulfed in silence.

Pa Jin-seong, the great disciple of the Hainan Sword Sect and the prodigy representing its supporting factions, was sprawled on the dueling stage.

He seemed to have lost consciousness.

It was natural for a winner and a loser to be decided in a duel, but no one had expected such an overwhelming result.

“Hmph, insignificant.”

Maeng U-gang sheathed his saber.

“T-this duel is won by Young Master Maeng of the Black Heaven Gang!”

The referee, who had checked Pa Jin-seong’s condition, finally declared the result, and cheers erupted from the Black Heaven Gang’s side.

On the other hand, an even greater silence fell upon the Hainan Sword Sect’s side. The joy and sorrow of the two camps were sharply contrasted.

“Alright, alright! Are there any other young masters who wish to challenge Young Master Maeng?!”

But of course, there was none.

Unexpectedly, due to the performance of Eon Mi-hee of the Rogues’ Guild, the duel between Maeng U-gang and Pa Jin-seong had happened too early, but now, who could possibly stand up to Maeng U-gang?

The prodigies of the Hainan Sword Sect remained silent. They looked around at each other with a glimmer of hope, but no one stepped forward.

“Hoho, congratulations, Hall Leader!”

“The efforts of the Black Heaven Gang have finally borne fruit!”

Congratulatory remarks flew in from all over. Responding to each one with a clasped hands greeting, the Silent Dragon Hall Leader, Maeng Jong-su, rejoiced.

The shadow of the Paewang Family was long.

He couldn't raise his voice for several years because he was afraid of them, who had locked their doors for no reason.

The efforts they had made underground were finally coming into the light.

In the first place, today's duel, and the Flying Dragon Squad, were a stage set up for the Black Heaven Gang from the beginning.

Even if the Hainan Sword Sect belatedly showed its ambition, there was nothing they could do about the efforts they had accumulated.

Even if Maeng U-gang had been defeated by Pa Jin-seong today, in the long run, the Black Heaven Gang's sky would have eventually opened.

But such a thing did not happen.

His nephew, Maeng U-gang, showed strength that far exceeded expectations, and thanks to that, a quick and easy path had opened.

‘I am proud of you, U-gang.’

Maeng Jong-su was happy.

There would be no surprises. Even if the Paewang Family tried to rise again, there was nothing they could do about the tide that had already turned.

Those who sleep will only fade away.

“Hall Leader Maeng, it was a good match. You have raised a great talent.”

“Hoho! Well, I don't know where to put myself. It was all his own effort, what did I do?”

Just then, the one who approached Maeng Jong-su and bowed his head was Pa Ho-nam, the leader of the Evil Faction Alliance’s Hocheon Squad and a member of the Hainan Sword Sect.

A quick realignment was taking place.

In any case, the Black Heaven Gang couldn't just cast out the Hainan Sword Sect and its subordinate factions, nor could the Hainan Sword Sect break away from the Evil Faction Alliance.

They both knew that fact.

No matter what, to protect the territory of the Evil Faction’s Murim from the Righteous Faction, they had no choice but to go together in the end.

“Alright, alright! In that case! Let’s conclude today’s friendly duel as is—”

It was just as the referee was about to announce the end.

A figure stepped onto the dueling stage, crossing paths with Pa Jin-seong who was being carried away on a stretcher.

The figure stood facing Maeng U-gang.

However, the arena, still filled with the lingering cheers, did not even notice the presence of the new figure who had appeared on the stage.

“I will challenge him.”

The figure said to the referee.

“C-challenge? You mean a duel?”

“N-no, but who in the…”

For a moment, the referee’s bewildered gaze turned to Maeng Jong-su in the seat of honor. Only then did Maeng Jong-su, who had grasped the situation on the stage, contort his face.

The moment he confirmed the identity of the new figure, the events of a few days ago flashed through his mind again.

The Evil Faction Alliance Lord had appeared at an official function for the first time in several years. In other words, that meant this kid held that much significance.

In any case, Maeng Jong-su had prevented that fact from being known to the outside.

The next moment, an unbelievable sense of anxiety welled up in Maeng Jong-su. No, there was no way Maeng U-gang would lose.

The fight was already over. But…

“Y-young Master, who are you?”

At the referee's question, the figure was silent for a moment. He furrowed his brow as if lost in thought, and then opened his mouth.

“Rogues’ Guild… no, Lee Byeok of the Falling Sword Sect.”

“Hmph, I'll praise you for not running away. Of course, you will have to pay a price for it.”

Lee Byeok looked at Maeng U-gang.

Maeng U-gang, who was standing opposite him, did not try to move from his spot even though the duel had started.

He beckoned with his finger.

Is he offering the first move?

The reason was unknown. But there was no reason to refuse. Lee Byeok’s hand went to his waist.

The next moment, Lee Byeok’s figure shot forward.

The Azure River Sword Style unfolded. The six principles contained in the Sword-Drawing Form and the Sword-Withdrawal Form were embroidered.

A seemingly repetitive sword path.

But the aspect of the sword changed every time.

Before even ten exchanges were made, Maeng U-gang’s saber, which was blocking, began to lose its direction.

Just then, a reddish-black energy arose on Maeng U-gang’s saber. The moment the Black Heaven Thunder Saber shone, Lee Byeok sensed danger.

After deflecting the saber, he took a step back.

“Hah! You’re quick to run away!”