Chapter 252

One day, two days, three days.

As time passed, the tournament bracket grew smaller. The more than five hundred participants who had filled the first day of the main event had dwindled to barely ten.

And along with the crowd’s rising excitement, one man’s mood was soaring higher and higher.

“This old man was thinking it over…”

The Fire King, Jeok Cheongang, continued in a solemn voice.

“I’m beginning to think our sect’s martial arts really are the greatest under heaven. What does everyone think?”

“……”

The people seated at the head table had to struggle to keep their expressions from crumpling.

It was hardly the first time he had said something like that. They had fully expected it, but that did not make it sting any less.

What was even more infuriating was that they could not refute him.

That they could not risk offending the Fire King was one thing. The performance of his disciple, the Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi, had been nothing short of astonishing.

He had caused a tremendous stir from the preliminaries onward, then continued advancing triumphantly while displaying overwhelming skill against one renowned master after another.

Yesterday, he had even beaten the Hebei Peng Family’s Hunyuan Saber as mercilessly as a dog marked for slaughter.

Damn old man. He couldn’t even wait before bragging again.

The greatest martial arts under heaven, my ass. All he did was raise one talented brat well.

Still, the kid’s the real deal. Where did he find such a monster?

Their thoughts were written plainly across their faces. Under normal circumstances, Jeok Cheongang would have threatened them for failing to control their expressions.

But right now, he was the very image of a benevolent Buddha.

He smiled contentedly as he looked around, then his gaze stopped on one man.

“Hey, Virility Saber King.”

“……”

The enormous old man, the Thunderbolt Saber King, pretended not to hear and stared at a distant mountain. His face had turned bright red.

“When someone calls you, you should answer. I’m three years older than you, too. Don’t you agree?”

“……Shut your mouth while I’m asking nicely.”

“Oh, come now. Why are you so angry?”

Jeok Cheongang responded slyly, widening his eyes in feigned surprise.

“Is it because that eldest grandson of yours—the one you praised until your mouth went dry, calling him the greatest prodigy in Hebei or whatever—was beaten for fifteen minutes by my disciple?”

“……!”

“Good grief. Haven’t you heard the saying that victory and defeat are simply part of war? Why get so worked up over it?”

Only then did the Thunderbolt Saber King, who had been snorting furiously, slowly turn his gaze toward Jeok Cheongang.

“Th-That’s right. There are times you win and times you lose.”

“Exactly. That’s how it is at that age.”

“You’re finally saying something sensible. Since we’re on the subject, my grandson was exhausted from traveling such a long distance. That’s why he couldn’t display his full strength.”

Jeok Cheongang smiled kindly and nodded.

“I understand. When someone’s martial arts are lacking, they need an excuse.”

“……What did you say?”

“Come to think of it, you aren’t even the same age. Your eldest grandson is over thirty, isn’t he? Our Taekyung is only twenty-two. Heh heh, it can happen. It can.”

“Y-You old bastard!”

“Hm? What was that? I can’t hear you very well. You’re the Grand Family Head of the Hebei Peng Family who was eliminated in the quarterfinals, after all. Hahahaha!”

The Thunderbolt Saber King’s eyes rolled back as he started to surge to his feet.

A hand holding a string of prayer beads blocked him.

The Dharma King, Hong Dao, sighed as he looked at the two men.

“Amitabha. The two of you should act your age. Have you forgotten where you are?”

This was the dueling arena of the Star-Array Grand Banquet, with thousands upon thousands of spectators watching.

Only then did the Thunderbolt Saber King notice the curious gazes pouring toward the head table. He lowered himself back into his seat.

“Urgh.”

“Benefactor Jeok, what about you?”

Jeok Cheongang stared at Hong Dao for a moment, then gave a small nod.

“……Fine. I understand.”

“Good. All of you should get along. What will you do when I’m not around?”

“What will I do? I’ll break that old man’s nose.”

Despite the Thunderbolt Saber King’s taunt, Jeok Cheongang did not react.

After giving Hong Dao a sidelong glance, he merely looked toward the dueling arena with a heavy expression.

One thing Hong Dao had said before continued to echo in his mind.

“I intend to step down after this Star-Array Grand Banquet.”

His old friend was preparing for death.

Had he said he had, at most, another year to live? Hong Dao could no longer read the heavenly patterns as clearly as before, but if the Dharma King said it was so, then it was so.

You bald-headed bastard. You should live another ten years at least.

Even when Jin Taekyung’s victories lifted his spirits, thinking about Hong Dao quickly weighed them down again.

Just as they were now.

Sensing the change in Jeok Cheongang’s mood, Hong Dao suddenly spoke.

“In any case, there have been unusually many upsets at this Star-Array Grand Banquet. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“The Abbot is right.”

“None of us expected these results.”

The Sect Leaders seated at the head table nodded.

“The Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi goes without saying…”

At the mention of Jin Taekyung, the muscles in Jin Wikyung’s face twitched from his seat at the lower end of the table.

He had remained silent only because his age and standing in the martial world were still insufficient. If he had been given the chance, he would have stood up long ago and performed a happy dance.

The Sect Leaders looked at him with undisguised envy and continued.

“But the most unexpected upsets were the Life-Sustaining Sword—or rather, the Always-Victorious Sword—and the Invincible Divine Sword.”

“Ah, yes. Those two surprised me the most as well.”

What kind of place was the Star-Array Grand Banquet?

It was a gathering attended by countless young and renowned martial artists from every corner of the world.

Yet the Always-Victorious Sword and the Invincible Divine Sword were not disciples of any famous major sect, nor had either of them ever made a name for themselves.

The fact that they had remained in the bracket until now was even more surprising than Jin Taekyung’s advancement. After all, Taekyung was both the Fire King’s disciple and a member of the Jin Family of Taiyuan.

“The Invincible Divine Sword is particularly impressive. He seems capable of standing against even an Elder of our sect.”

At the words of one of the Sect Leaders from a mid-sized sect, Jeok Cheongang, who had been quietly listening, suddenly spoke.

“Keep your mouth shut. At least then you might pass for average.”

“……Excuse me?”

“I don’t know what sect you belong to or who you are, but that child is already far beyond the level of a young prodigy. Are you truly unable to guess, or are you pretending not to know even though you do?”

Hong Dao and the Thunderbolt Saber King also chuckled in agreement.

“Benefactor Jeok’s words are harsh, but he is right.”

“I hate agreeing with that old man, but he’s right. It may only be natural. The Sword… Ahem. Anyway, the kid is incredible.”

The Thunderbolt Saber King trailed off and glanced sidelong at someone.

It was a middle-aged man with a gentle smile—the Sect Leader of Huashan, the Heavenly Sword True Person.

“Hahaha. It seems even I cannot deceive the eyes of my Senior predecessors.”

At the Heavenly Sword True Person’s ringing laughter, the others asked in voices filled with suspicion,

“Could it be?”

“That’s right. The Invincible Divine Sword is a disciple of our sect.”

“Ah, I knew it!”

“You have an outstanding disciple, True Person.”

A few of the stronger martial artists nodded silently, as though they had already guessed the truth. Others exclaimed in astonishment.

But an even more shocking statement soon passed the Heavenly Sword True Person’s lips.

“Not a disciple. He is my junior brother.”

“Th-Then you mean…”

“Through a twist of fate, we came to serve the same master. The last time I saw him was more than ten years ago…but it pleases me to see how wonderfully he has grown.”

The same master.

No one properly heard what followed. Not a single person present was unaware that the Heavenly Sword True Person’s master was the Sword Saint, Mae Jonghak.

The Invincible Divine Sword is the Sword Saint’s disciple?

As the people around him were swept up in shock, the Heavenly Sword True Person merely smiled in silence.

The sight made him resemble a Daoist who had attained enlightenment.

His thoughts, however, were very different.

I finally caught you, you little punk!

After his master, the Sword Saint, even his youngest junior brother had run away.

A year ago, he had thought he had finally caught up with him, only for the boy to beat down his disciples and flee again.

Every time the Invincible Divine Sword stepped onto the dueling platform, the Heavenly Sword True Person had to suppress the urge to grab him by the collar and drag him back to Huashan.

“Heh heh heh. He is a treasure of our Huashan.”

The Heavenly Sword True Person concealed his true feelings and smiled like an immortal. Congratulations poured toward him.

“What a tremendous occasion. The Sword Saint’s name will remain in Huashan even in the next generation.”

“Congratulations, True Person.”

“Congratulations!”

“A duel between the Sleeping Dragon of Shanxi and the Invincible Divine Sword. The finals will be even more exciting now. Hahaha!”

Amid the warm atmosphere, a wrinkle formed between Jeok Cheongang’s brows.

At the same time, a strand of Sound Transmission reached Hong Dao’s ear.

—Everyone is forgetting one person.

Hong Dao quietly rolled his prayer beads.

—You mean Jongni Chu, the Always-Victorious Sword?

—That’s right. Him.

The Star-Array Grand Banquet was a gathering of the martial world where anyone could participate regardless of background or affiliation. As a result, participants did not have to undergo a particularly detailed verification process before applying.

But that was only how it appeared from the outside. The reality was different.

—I mobilized the Hidden Shadow Pavilion to investigate the identities of every participant who advanced to the main event.

A year ago, when Hong Dao first sensed the existence of Dark Heaven, the first person he sought out was the Thousand-Faced Fox, Song Ho.

After hearing the circumstances, Song Ho summoned his former subordinates without hesitation. The Hidden Shadow Pavilion, which had been reduced to nothing but a name, was reborn.

—And the result?

—The result was the same no matter how many times we checked. Everyone’s identity checked out except for one person. We could find no trace of the Always-Victorious Sword, Jongni Chu, anywhere.

—Are you certain? If he had concealed himself thoroughly for some reason…

—It was only a suspicion. At least, it was until contact with Shadow Killer was lost three days ago.

—Shadow Killer? You mean someone got to him?

Shadow Killer was an extraordinary figure, impressive enough that even Jeok Cheongang knew of him.

He was the Hidden Shadow Pavilion’s finest intelligence agent, and as an assassin, he had reached the Supreme Peak.

The fact that contact with him had been lost meant—

It was not difficult to imagine Shadow Killer as a cold corpse by now.

—What do you think? Can you identify his martial arts?

Hong Dao’s Sound Transmission caused Jeok Cheongang’s gaze to deepen.

—I don’t know either. That is the greatest mystery.

He had seen countless martial arts throughout his life.

He had watched them with his own eyes and even fought against and overcome them personally.

But the martial arts Jongni Chu displayed were utterly unfamiliar to Jeok Cheongang.

—His martial arts don’t even seem particularly powerful…and yet he has somehow won every time and made it this far. His martial arts are unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

—Then are you saying his martial arts defy common principles?

—Defy common principles?

Jeok Cheongang’s face hardened.

Decades ago, saying that something defied common principles meant only one thing.

The Demonic Path!

At the same time, the same word crossed both men’s minds.

Hong Dao and Jeok Cheongang had lived through an age of war. They understood its meaning better than anyone.

—Then are you saying he is a descendant of the Demonic Cult?

—I don’t know. Whether he belongs to Dark Heaven, the Demonic Cult, or something else entirely.

Just as the two men finished their Sound Transmission with grim expressions, a shout filled with internal energy shook the dueling arena.

“Martial artists of the world, allow me to introduce the rising young master, the Invincible Divine Sword—and Wudang’s Willow-Cloud Divine Dragon!”

The Invincible Divine Sword—or rather, Cheongpung—looked especially excited as he climbed onto the dueling platform.

He hopped up and down in place, waving his hands at the thunderous cheers directed toward him.

“Wow! Woooow! Hello! This is my first time reaching the quarterfinals at the Star-Array Grand Banquet!”

His opponent, the Willow-Cloud Divine Dragon, was warming up with a stiff expression.

He was one of the Ten Dragons and Phoenixes, considered one of the leading young prodigies of orthodox Murim. Along with Jin Mukyung, he was said to rank at the very top.

He’s definitely strong.

Not only was he over thirty, he was also the direct disciple of the Wudang Sect Leader.

According to Zhuge Gyun, he had long since accumulated considerable real-combat experience on a journey of duels.

But still.

Well, you never know how a duel will turn out.

I leaned back comfortably in the spectator stands.

Only yesterday, I had crushed the Lesser Family Head of the Hebei Peng Family as Jeok Cheongang had wished and advanced to the semifinals.

Unless there was a major upset, I would make it to the finals without much trouble.

And my opponent there would likely be Cheongpung.

Let’s see what you can do.

At the same moment my eyes began to shine, the flag signaling the start of the duel rose.