First match.

The young master of the Heungmun Hall, Yuk Geumuk. After a crushing defeat by the Six Harmonies Fist, he descended the mountain with a broken chest bone.

Second match.

The young master of the Udo Sect, a secular family of the Jongnam Sect in Shaanxi, Seok Ilgwang. After being beaten by the storm-like Three Talents Sword Style, he descended the mountain with shattered arm and leg bones.

Third match.

One of the Twelve Dragons of Sicheon, Hwang Deokchang of the Ungsan Martial Arts Academy. He pushed Tang Cheonyeong with his outstanding skills and almost won, but due to carelessness, he was stabbed in the Adam's apple by the one hundred and sixty-eighth Immortal Points the Way and descended the mountain.

And the last.

Ppeo-eok!

"Keok!"

The competitor who had fiercely fought for over three hundred exchanges collapsed to the ground after Cheonyeong's spinning back kick.

"Heok, heok..."

Cheonyeong, who seemed extremely exhausted and was catching his breath, didn't look like a winner at all.

The clothes he was wearing were torn to shreds, and his exposed skin was covered in bruises and wounds. Anyone could see that he had barely won.

Cheonyeong, bent over with his hands on his bent knees, panted and looked at Okseon.

Okseon, who was looking at the fallen opponent, frowned.

It was truly a case of a blind mouse catching a cat.

In a situation where his center was completely broken, a blow that was not even properly powered hit the opponent's chin.

No matter how weak the attack, if it hits at an angle, the lower jaw dislocates and the head twists. And when that shock is transmitted to the brain, one can temporarily faint.

That was the situation now.

A single blow allowed in a state of having almost won completely changed the course of the match.

But, that's how the martial world is.

The outcome is not always decided by skill alone. Even an outstanding master can die from the blind sword of a third-rate warrior.

The punk named Heavenly Luck had just come to Tang Cheonyeong.

"Master Okseon?"

"Hmm."

At Cheonyeong's call, Okseon shook off his thoughts and said.

"Family Head Tang has won. You have passed the final preliminaries, so you can go up to the Taoist temple and prepare for the main tournament."

"Hoo... that was tough."

As the outcome was decided, Cheonyeong collapsed to the ground like a deflated ball.

And at his limp appearance, Okseon quickly moved his brush.

Tang Cheonyeong, final preliminary victory.

Upon observation, he was lucky.

Okseon was completely deceived by Cheonyeong's acting.

"Family Head Tang, if you wait here for a moment, a disciple will come to guide you to the lodging prepared in the Taoist temple."

"Ah! Yes, thank you."

"Then, I'll be on my way."

Cheonyeong smiled faintly as he watched Okseon's back as he packed his book and walked away.

The displeased expression, the subtle contempt in his eyes.

It seemed his efforts had paid off.

How could it be so difficult to deceive one Taoist punk?

There were numerous attacks, and he had to narrowly avoid the ones that could have been fatal.

Pretending to be weak, his body was one thing, but his nerves were on edge the whole time, to the point where his head was tired.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Except for the headache... more importantly, how was it?"

"I remember most of it. I think there was one more form, but that damn punk suddenly got hit in the Adam's apple and collapsed."

"Good, that's enough."

One form, well.

He could study it slowly later and make up for it with the remaining forms.

It wasn't a perfect martial art.

Anyway, with this, four martial arts, it's enough as a side income.

The only thing that was a waste was.

"My clothes have become rags again."

Cheonyeong looked down at his clothes with a bitter expression.

How these damn punks loved to tear clothes... He had lost one set per match.

A total of four sets.

If the cloth store owner hadn't generously made ten sets of clothes, he would have had to send the Green Warrior Unit down the mountain to buy new clothes right away.

"More importantly, did you find anything among the spectators?"

"According to the Green Warrior Unit, they have looked at the same punks several times, but they couldn't find anything unusual."

"Hmm."

The Green Warrior Unit wouldn't have looked carelessly.

The warriors of the Tang Family's estate had better eyes than any other ability.

Because they had to learn the hidden weapons, the main weapon of the Tang Family's estate, from the moment they were selected for the Hoyeon Unit.

One of the most important abilities for hidden weapon techniques, eye power.

You have to be able to see to accurately hit the target with a hidden weapon. Therefore, all the warriors of the Tang Family's estate learn a pupil technique called the Red Eye Method, which temporarily enhances their eye power.

Although it was a basic eye technique of the Golden Eyes, which could grasp all movements within a dozen feet, it was enough to closely examine the faces of people nearby.

Especially, weren't the Green Warrior Unit the elite who had been selected after passing through the Hoyeon Unit?

If they couldn't find any peculiarities with the Red Eye Method they had been practicing for several years, then there were no punks who had changed their faces among the ones they had met so far.

"In the end, I'll have to meet Baekta. I'll have to hear what happened in other places."

Cheonyeong, who had raised his tired body, said to Yongcheon.

"Yongcheon, take out the spare clothes I brought."

"Are you going to change here?"

"The preliminaries are over. It's the first time I'm going to the main temple of the Blue Green Sect, which belongs to the Nine Factions. I can't go in this state. The Tang Family's estate also has prestige and face."

"I understand."

***

Among the ten paths, Cheonyeong was the last to be able to go up to the Blue Green Sect's Taoist temple.

A lot of time had passed because he had fought for over three hundred exchanges with his last opponent to hide his skills.

He had also tidied up his clothes.

"Wow!"

As the steep mountain path ended and the Blue Green Sect's Taoist temple revealed itself, Yongcheon let out an exclamation without realizing it.

It was understandable.

The Taoist sect, Blue Green.

The sight of the Taoist temple, peeking out from between the several peaks surrounded by a forest that was green all year round and the mysterious fog that covered them, was reminiscent of a divine realm.

"To think there are pavilions of this scale on the summit..."

Not only Yongcheon but also the Green Warrior Unit kept looking around and exclaiming in admiration.

They were no different from country bumpkins who had just come up to the city.

"Yongcheon."

"Uh-huh? Ah! Yes! Family Head."

"Shut your mouth."

Teop!

At Cheonyeong's frowning words, Yongcheon shuts his mouth tight.

My goodness, a Vice-Family Head with no dignity... and there's a Taoist punk guiding us next to him.

"It's alright, Family Head. Most people who visit the Blue Green Sect have the same reaction."

"Keum."

"Master Okseon has instructed me to guide you to your lodging, so I will take you there. If you wait there for a moment, food to satisfy your hunger and a warm bath will be prepared."

"Thank you."

"Don't mention it. This way, please."

The place they entered following the Taoist was like a forest of pavilions.

How many buildings were there?

And the characters carved on the signboards of the pavilions were gilded?

The punks who live in seclusion in the mountains and cultivate the Tao have a lot of money. Secular punks. That's why they call Taoists "drunken."

Cheonyeong rolls his eyes to look around, trying to maintain his dignity.

"Huh? Cheon... Family Head Tang!"

As he was walking towards the lodging, Cheonyeong turned his head towards someone who called his name.

As expected, it was Baekta.

The voice was too familiar.

"I greet the Beggar Dragon."

"Ah, Taoist, hello. It seems you are guiding him to his lodging."

"Yes."

"Then let's go together. I have a close relationship with Family Head Tang."

"Please do."

The Taoist readily agreed.

An order had already been given from the Upper Hall to the entire Blue Green Sect.

The Beggar Dragon of the Beggars' Sect was a guest that the Blue Green Sect had invited with great care, so they were to treat him politely and make sure he was not inconvenienced.

"My friend, why are you so late?"

"Well, it just happened."

"It just happened? That's strange. As far as I know, on the path you were coming from, your steps..."

As Baekta tilted his head with a curious expression, Cheonyeong nudges him in the side.

"Why?"

"Let's talk about that later. Every opponent I met was so strong that I was in trouble several times. Here, you see the bruises?"

"Huh?"

Baekta was bewildered at Cheonyeong's words.

The opponent was strong?

In trouble?

You?

As far as he knew, there was no opponent of that caliber...

However, Baekta, who had noticed Cheonyeong's intention, cleared his throat and nodded.

The guiding Taoist.

Cheonyeong was conscious of his eyes and ears.

Although he didn't know the reason, if Cheonyeong was trying to hide his skills in front of the Taoist, there must be a good reason for it.

"S-so that's what happened. No wonder you were late. Well, that makes sense. The Evil Dragon of the Way was on your side, right?"

"Oh my, was it just him? I barely beat the punk named Yuk Geumuk whom I met at the beginning. I was really lucky."

"Well, it's not like you're known for your martial arts."

"...Huh?"

"If it weren't for your cunning tricks, would you have gained such fame? That's what I'm saying."

"..."

"You won this time with your outstanding tricks too, right? My goodness, please practice your martial arts. Because you keep trying to solve everything with tricks, isn't your reputation as the Flood Dragon just getting stronger? You know, right? People call you the Sicheon..."

Baekta suddenly shut his mouth tight.

Because Cheonyeong's expression as he looked at him was no different from that of a fierce and evil god.

That's enough.

You damn dragon punk whose name is a beggar.

It would have been enough to just go along with the mood, but why did you have to say something unnecessary?

"Keu-heum! Anyway, y-you've worked hard."

At Cheonyeong's unusual expression, Baekta broke out in a cold sweat and finished his words.

"Ah! It seems we've arrived."

As the guiding Taoist stopped walking, Baekta hastily changed the subject.

"This is where the Family Head will be staying. The subsequent schedule will be sent by a separate messenger, so please rest comfortably. If you need anything, you can ask the Taoist boy staying in the pavilion."

"Thank you, Master Taoist."

"Immeasurable Life Buddha. I will pray for Family Head Tang's good fortune in battle."

The Taoist bowed and left the pavilion.

Baekta, who was watching his receding back, asks Cheonyeong.

"Cheonyeong, what on earth is this..."

Teok!

However, before he could even ask, Cheonyeong, who had looked around and confirmed that there were no Blue Green Sect people, grabbed Baekta's neck from behind.

"Ch-Cheonyeong."

"Shut up."

"...Huh?"

"What did you say, you punk? Flood Dragon?"

"N-no, I just..."

"If you weren't my friend, I'd just!"

As Cheonyeong glared with his fierce eyes, Baekta slowly lowered his gaze.

"Try saying Flood Dragon one more time. I'll really rip your mouth open then."

"Uh-huh."

Baekta nods at Cheonyeong's murderous threat.

With his neck still grabbed.

"Um... shouldn't we let go and go inside now?"

"..."

"I saw you trying to look weak earlier, but if someone sees this."

As Baekta spoke carefully, Cheonyeong finally let go of his hand.

"Yongcheon."

"Yes."

"Make sure there are no listening ears around."

"I understand, Family Head."

Cheonyeong, who had given the order to Yongcheon, turns and enters the pavilion.

"What are you doing! Aren't you coming?"

"...Uh-huh."

At Cheonyeong's shout, Baekta's shoulders slump and he follows behind.

I'm the Beggar Dragon...

I'm a shoo-in for the next leader of the Beggars' Sect, and I might even become the Beggars' Sect Leader in the distant future.

Damn punk, to grab my neck so hard in front of everyone.

(End of Chapter)