Chapter 234: Martial Arts Tournament (3)
‘W-Why is he here?!’
I hurriedly sent a sound transmission to Gu Chil.
—How did you get here?
Last I heard, the Heavenly Demon Cult had declared the annihilation of the Illusion Clan.
Naturally, with such a major incident erupting, a complete lockdown of the Ten Thousand Mountain was inevitable—no way even an ant could leave.
—I was ordered by the Cult Leader. To support you, Young Master.
—Alone?
—No, Myeong-oh came with me.
That only left me more confused.
—What about the Underworld King’s Unit?
—Soryu is handling it.
—No matter if it was the Cult Leader's command, there's no way she would’ve let you two go that easily.
There’s a reason I call So Soryu the lunatic of the So Clan.
That woman would toss her life aside and go berserk, Cult Leader’s orders be damned, if she didn’t like something.
—Ah, that’s nothing to worry about. We won fair and square.
—Won? What… huh?
Then I recalled what Gu Chil had sent earlier through So Cheon.
—You said the Underworld King’s Unit had a duel, a contest of achievements?
—Yes. As a midterm assessment, the winning side would accompany me to the Central Plains, and fortunately, Myeong-oh won.
I was glad Myeong-oh won, but… wasn’t So Soryu the type to say she’d do something drastic if her side lost?
—Then the losers….
—They’re all lined up against the wall of the training ground. Very cozily.
—…….
She actually did it.
I could vividly picture So Soryu hanging the defeated members like some demon tormentor.
Well, whatever the process.
I gave a thumbs-up toward Myeong-oh, who was disguised as Gu Chil’s “wife.”
—Nice work, Myeong-oh.
—Don’t mention it. Felt great putting that cocky one with the big chest in her place.
I let out a snort at her smug, nose-in-the-air attitude.
Seriously, if So Soryu had won, I might have ended up with a stress ulcer and landed in the medicine ward.
‘Are those two part of the Cult Leader’s arrangement as well? What perfect timing for such useful cards to appear…’
No matter how well one draws attention, infiltrating the Namgung Clan was no easy feat.
But what if I could borrow the aid of those two, top-tier infiltration specialists?
‘I might not even need the Hao Sect’s help anymore.’
Even for the Hao Sect, locating two individuals within the vast Namgung Clan estate would be nearly impossible.
But with those two on my side? That changed the story.
“This round of the tournament ends with the victory of Flying Star Prodigy Baek Hon, Master of the Strange Star Technique! Next up: representing the Namcheon Baek Clan is the Heavenly Divine Dragon Jin Myeong, and representing the Azure Star Sect is the Azure Cloud Sword, Master Myeongjeon!”
“Master! It’s finally your turn!”
The excited shouts around me snapped me back to the moment.
‘Ah, so it’s my first appearance.’
With the Sword King’s help, I had entered the tournament under three different identities.
And I had manipulated the matchups so that, assuming everything went well, at least two of my identities would face each other in the finals.
Of course, if that actually happened, I’d have to forfeit one of them—an unprecedented situation.
I stepped up to the arena with a light heart.
‘Azure Star Sect, huh….’
Among the orthodox sects, they were ones I had particularly bad ties with.
I clearly remembered what Song Yangja had said before his death.
He claimed the Azure Star Sect had nothing to do with them.
I stared silently at the Azure Cloud Sword as he stepped onto the stage.
‘To be an elite disciple at that young an age, he must be considered a top prospect even within the Azure Star Sect.’
Which meant he might know at least some hidden truth.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Master. I am from the Azure—”
“Do you know Song Yangja of the Azure Star Sect?”
I deliberately cut him off to gauge his reaction.
Though his expression twitched slightly at having his introduction interrupted, his face changed dramatically once he processed the name I mentioned.
“You know Elder Song Yang? He ascended long ago. How curious that a junior from another sect would know of him!”
‘Ascended… huh.’
At the very least, his expression didn’t appear to be lying.
“Then, do you know Jeokun?”
“Hm? Jeokun?”
Since it was a more recent name, the Azure Cloud Sword caught on quickly.
And just as quickly, his expression shifted to one of hostility.
“How do you know that name?”
“Answer me.”
“Elder Jeokun… went missing long ago after departing on a martial expedition. Many of our disciples have searched high and low for him but…”
So they never found him.
“Hm… is that so?”
“Tell me! How do you know about Elder Jeokun?!”
I casually made something up.
“Just what I said. I once saw some Beggars' Sect disciples searching for him, purely by chance.”
“Ah. I-I see…”
“Well, for now, I’ll assume you’re not lying.”
Who knew—if I cornered a sect leader or elder, I might uncover more truths.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Nothing at all. You answered me, so allow me to face you with sincerity.”
I held off the Azure Cloud Sword’s offense for about fifty seconds and then won the match.
Panting, the exhausted Azure Cloud Sword shouted at me.
“Y-You… Are you mocking me?!”
I hadn’t attacked even once during those fifty seconds.
I only counterattacked at the exact fifty-second mark and brought him down.
“I merely gave you the opportunity to display your full abilities.”
It was a chance to throw himself into the fight more than in any real-life battle.
Whether he took this as a blessing or a humiliation was up to him.
“Winner: Heavenly Divine Dragon Jin Myeong!”
“Ooooooh!”
Though it took fifty seconds, his opponent had been the first disciple of a prestigious orthodox sect that represented Murim.
Defeating such an opponent, regardless of the time, was enough to make the crowd erupt in cheers.
“Incredible. The title ‘Heavenly Divine Dragon’ is more than fitting.”
“Azure Cloud Sword might not quite match up to Mad Rage Blade, but he’s still reached first-rate level… and he was completely toyed with.”
"He's clearly reached the Master level. Looks like Namcheon had quite the hidden card prepared."
While many were astonished by the martial prowess of the Heavenly Divine Dragon, some felt a subtle sense of discomfort.
Especially those who knew the behind-the-scenes matters felt it more keenly.
"Something's off. Wasn’t Namcheon’s secret weapon supposed to be that guy, the adopted son of Elder Sword of Severance?"
"Y-Yeah, right? Then who the hell is that guy?"
Those from the influential clans, who had advance knowledge of how this tournament was supposed to unfold, couldn’t hide their bewilderment.
Particularly Baek Mun-jeol, the mastermind behind this Martial Arts Tournament, who scowled with an increasingly ugly expression.
‘Where the hell did that bastard come from?’
If his memory served correctly, this was the one whom the Sword King himself had vouched for.
‘So the clan head intends to interfere with my plans, is that it?’
At that moment, a cunning idea flashed across Baek Mun-jeol’s mind.
If the man bore the surname Jin instead of Baek, it was likely he’d been brought in as a potential son-in-law.
Which meant this guy had to be connected to the missing Baek Sang-ah somehow.
‘If I capture him quietly and interrogate him, I might be able to find out where Baek Sang-ah is.’
Even by his own standards, it was a pretty solid idea.
‘A masterstroke, or so he thought—but it’ll be your downfall, Clan Head. Heh heh heh!’
A twisted grin slowly crept across Baek Mun-jeol’s face.
"Yoooouuung Maaaasteeeer!"
"Maaaaasteeeer!"
I reunited with Gu Chil and Myeong-oh in what could only be described as a touching—(?)—scene.
Three Attendant and San Dojeon were good subordinates, sure. But if I had to name my true right-hand man, my subordinate in both body and soul, that would only be Gu Chil.
"I'm overwhelmed with emotion to see you again after so long, Young Master…."
"You two, I’ve got a job for you."
"……."
Their faces, which had been glowing with reunion joy, instantly turned sour.
"Come on, even if you missed us, you could lead in a little softer, no?"
"It's to rescue Lady Sa. I need your help."
"……!"
The moment Sa Biyeon’s name came up, the two’s contorted expressions turned serious once more.
"You're talking about Lady Sa Biyeon… and Lady Cheon Yujeong as well, right?"
"Yeah, the second one's a bit of a bonus."
"Can’t argue with that."
Neither Gu Chil nor Myeong-oh had any desire to rescue Cheon Yujeong—the arrogant and snippy rival. Strictly a side mission!
"Where are they?"
"Namgung Clan."
"…Shit."
Myeong-oh muttered under her breath.
After thinking for a while, she shook her head.
"No way. It's impossible. Not unless some legendary figure like the Taeguk Phantom Thief shows up."
The Taeguk Phantom Thief.
A legendary great thief who, around sixty years ago, became a myth after stealing the Emperor's seal.
Yeah, you'd have to be able to sneak in and out of the Imperial Palace like it was your backyard to get a free pass through Namgung Clan’s walls.
‘If only So Cheon were here, it might be possible.’
Back when we infiltrated Luoyang City, So Cheon had used that all-distorting technique, the All-Form Taeguk.
With a skill like that, it might not have been impossible.
‘But damn it, useful as he is, he’s nowhere to be found when I need him…’
As it happened, that punk So Cheon was now in hellish training, captured by the Heavenly Demon Founder himself.
‘Damn it. Should I find another way? No—if I can just figure out exactly where they’re being held…’
The best method would be finding a collaborator on the inside.
But that was practically impossible.
While I was still mulling over the options—
“Next up! The match between Demonic Heaven Dragon Jin Yeomyung and the Seven-Blade Sword Dragon Ja Cheongun!”
“Oh, is it my turn already?”
Gu Chil and Myeong-oh both widened their eyes in surprise.
“Huh? Didn’t you just fight a match a little while ago?”
"Ah, well, there's a bit of a story behind that."
I casually picked up an extravagant black robe I had prepared in advance.
Decorated with golden thread and intricate embroidery, it was the kind of robe only used for show.
I draped it over myself and untied my loosely bunched hair, smoothing it neatly behind me.
Then I even adjusted my facial muscles a bit and applied some light makeup.
“Whoa…”
“What the…?”
A sharp yet elegant face was revealed—completely different from before.
Gu Chil and Myeong-oh stared in a daze at my utterly transformed appearance.
With a grin, I asked them,
“How do I look?”
Gu Chil muttered, his mouth slightly open.
“Y-You're not the Young Master I know…”
“Seriously. Where’d this handsome young noble come from?”
“So what you’re saying is—I look good.”
Myeong-oh waved her arms and exclaimed,
"‘Good’ doesn’t even cut it! If you walked around like this normally, even the Young Cult Leader would’ve fallen for you long ago!”
“This is a one-time thing.”
Heavenly Divine Dragon Jin Myeong was a fake identity I wouldn’t use much longer.
But given the occasion, my real identity—Demonic Heaven Dragon Jin Yeomyung—had to leave a distinctly different impression than Jin Myeong.
Especially because I had lazily chosen similar-sounding names.
Well, under normal circumstances, I stuck to modest martial attire and a neat warrior’s topknot.
No one, not even my subordinates, were used to this look.
“Y-Young Master!”
“Y-You look incredible!”
Even the trio of Three Attendant, waiting in the Demonic Cult's private waiting room, gasped in awe at my transformed appearance.
People always called me ‘Young Lord’ this and ‘Young Lord’ that, but I rarely ever dressed like one.
Grin!
I slung my sword around my waist and waved a hand without looking back.
“I’ll be back.”
“Finally….”
“They say he’s the lord of Baeksa, the White Demonic Dragon who defeated one of the Six Spirit Dragons…”
“So now it’s time for Demonic Heaven Dragon to appear?!”
The impressive performance of the young fighters in this tournament had pushed spectators’ expectations sky-high.
Especially since, except for a few anticlimactic bouts, most of the duels so far had truly lived up to the name Martial Arts Tournament by offering plenty of spectacle.
“His opponent is the Seven-Blade Sword Dragon of Mount Hua, one of the Six Divine Dragons! A worthy match!”
“What kind of figure is this Demonic Heaven Dragon, this Young Lord of the Demonic Cult? A refined noble? Or a hulking brute with bulging muscles?”
Speculation over the Demonic Heaven Dragon’s appearance swept the stands like wildfire.
In contrast, the elders of the orthodox sects who had already seen Jin Yeomyung before didn’t seem very intrigued.
“If it’s the Demonic Heaven Dragon, then he’s that modest-looking young man, right?”
“The crowd might be disappointed. Sure, he’s handsome, but not quite the fantasy they’re all imagining.”
“Hahaha, well, at least we’ll get to see his skills. Who knows—he may have even reached beyond Master Level.”
“……”
“……”
Even though the people around them kept buzzing about Jin Yeomyung, both Cheon Yura and Baek Sang-ah remained surprisingly indifferent.
They already knew all about his strength and appearance, so there was no reason to join in the pointless hype.
Baek Sang-ah gave a shrug and said,
“Well, if it’s Young Master Jin, he might just stroll out there, destroy his opponent in one second, and walk back off.”
“Hmph. That does sound like him.”
Cheon Yura chuckled softly and nodded.
“Sorry for the crowd, but if he’s not planning to do anything flashy, they’d better adjust their expectations early…”
But her sentence never reached the end.
“Uwooooooooh!”
Baek Sang-ah flinched in surprise as the crowd suddenly erupted into an earth-shaking roar.
From the waiting area, a black-robed nobleman slowly emerged.
And it was his appearance that stirred such a thunderous reaction from the spectators!
“Wait? W-What?! That’s supposed to be… Y-Young Master Jin?!”
Baek Sang-ah’s jaw dropped as she stared at Jin Yeomyung, completely transformed in both appearance and aura.
‘From head to toe, he’s like a totally different person!’
Frantically, she turned her head toward the woman beside her.
“Hey! They’re saying that’s Young Master Jin—does that really look like—huh?”
Baek Sang-ah, who had been nearly spitting as she pointed toward the dueling arena, suddenly fell silent.
The reason was simple.
Cheon Yura—who never showed emotion about anything.
Was now staring unblinkingly at the arena, her cheeks tinged with red.