The next day, the second match of the main tournament began.

As always, a new tournament bracket was created for the winners of the previous day.

The first match was between Baekta and Yu Seongyeon.

"That bastard, I'll definitely reveal his true identity!"

Cheonyeong shook his head at the sight of Baekta climbing onto the competition stage, unable to let go of his suspicion towards the Blue Green Sect.

Oh my. As if he wasn't from the Beggars' Sect, how persistent he is.

But Cheonyeong was not looking at the competition stage.

Seuk.

He carefully observed the audience seats, which were boiling with cheers.

Thank goodness.

It seemed the punishment from yesterday had an effect.

Yongcheon is glaring at the competition stage with his eyes wide open. The three punks, Gwak and Go, are also glaring at the competition stage next to him.

Those copycat punks...

Well, Yongcheon is now no different from their idol.

Well, that's good.

The places where the Blue Green Sect had issued victory notices.

Although their individual skills were not much, their families would be within the top 100 in the Sicheon power list that the Beggars' Sect possessed.

In other words, thanks to Yongcheon, the Tang Family's estate would gain a friendly force.

"Begin!"

Just as he was looking at Yongcheon, the first match of the second day began at Ilhae's signal.

Pang!

Baekta's palm, which had dug in with the swift movement called Zhang Guo's Step, powerfully shot out...

Ppaga-gak!

The audience was surprised, and Cheonyeong was also surprised and stood up abruptly.

"Keuk!"

Baekta, who had lightly taken the first move, quickly retreated.

Clutching his wrist and frowning.

"The Beggar Dragon?"

"He was hit?"

"When?"

The participants' reactions were filled with much greater surprise than Cheonyeong's.

They hadn't even seen it.

What method Yu Seongyeon had used. But in Cheonyeong's eyes, the momentary movement was clearly visible.

The moment Baekta extended his palm towards his chest, a hazy sword-shaped energy struck his wrist.

"Concealed Sword?"

A sword hidden secretly.

There was no actual sword.

It referred to a method of attacking the opponent by changing one's energy into the shape of a sword.

It was a form of Qi Sword.

Although his achievement was still lacking and it didn't seem like he could injure his opponent, to be able to use the Concealed Sword at that age was amazing in itself.

If Baekta hadn't quickly pulled back his body.

"You, you bastard."

Baekta frowned deeply.

He had realized Yu Seongyeon's level, just like Cheonyeong.

"As expected of the Beggar Dragon of the Beggars' Sect. I never thought you would escape my range in that short moment."

Yu Seongyeon said in admiration. It was the first time he had spoken since participating in the Assembly of Elders.

"Damn it, he looks so pure and elegant, and his voice is even clear and resonant. Why is he smiling so unluckily?"

Baekta grumbled out of spite at his still throbbing wrist.

"I'm glad."

"...What?"

"That I finally have an opponent to fight properly..."

A bluish sword qi formed on Yu Seongyeon's sword as he smiled and aimed it.

What the previous participants had shown was sword qi created by squeezing out all their strength. Not properly condensed.

But Yu Seongyeon's was a real sword qi that could be said to be 100% pure.

Baekta laughed with a hollow expression.

"You son of a bitch, this punk was the real deal."

His conviction that he was a punk secretly raised by the Blue Green Sect grew stronger.

And the Changlim Sword Saint, who was sitting in the distinguished guest seats, secretly felt proud and smiled slyly.

It was a smile unbecoming of a Taoist.

He wanted to put down his dignity as a sect leader and shout to everyone.

I raised him.

He is the future of the Blue Green Sect.

"Then, here I come."

Yu Seongyeon said kindly.

Tung!

But his actions contradicted his words.

Unlike his kind words, his actions were sharp enough to make one's blood run cold.

He kicked off the ground and rushed towards Baekta in an instant, swinging his wooden sword fiercely.

It was still a long distance.

Pahak!

But with the sound of the air splitting, the terrified Baekta quickly rolled to the side.

Seogeok!

Even though he had dodged, the hem of his clothes was cut.

"H-sword wind?"

From that distance?

Isn't this a monster?

What on earth did the Changlim Sword Saint raise?

Although Baekta was bewildered, he couldn't just stand there and watch.

Swae-ae-ae-ae!

With a noise that seemed to tear the eardrums, countless sword illusions poured down.

It was a shower.

A rain filled with killing intent filled the space above Baekta's head.

Ppadeudeuk!

Baekta, who had clenched his teeth, grabbed the short staff that was tucked behind his waist.

"You want to do this for real, is that it?"

Kung!

A foot that was thrust out with full force.

At the same time, Baekta's body shot out like a flash of lightning, dodging the shower.

The swift Zhang Guo's Step.

Kwa-deu-deuk!

The sword strikes poured down on the spot where Baekta had been and broke the ground.

"Haap!"

At the same time, Baekta, who had twisted his body, shot out a divine light from his two eyes, and stepped forward heavily with fighting spirit.

Originally, all attacks begin with the movement of the feet.

Iron Crutch Li's Step.

Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!

Baekta rushed towards Yu Seongyeon, stomping the ground as if drawing a zigzag.

Hwa-ak!

The descending short staff seemed to contain the weight of a great evil and pressed down on Yu Seongyeon.

Starting with the Dangdu Bonggal, which means to scold by striking the head, the Beggars' Sect's proud Beggar's Staff Style was splendidly displayed on the competition stage.

Ppaga-gak! Ppaga-ga-gak!

Every time the wooden sword and the short staff clashed, a deafening noise echoed, and the qi wave contained within it scattered in all directions.

"Heh!"

"Th-this is..."

The audience could not take their eyes off the fight between the two that filled the competition stage.

Even the renowned martial artists in the distinguished guest seats stood up, clenching their fists.

Juniors under thirty, that was the rule of the Assembly of Elders.

Ordinary people might think it was the age when a person was most physically healthy, but it was a little different for a martial artist.

The age of a budding sprout.

Originally, the race of martial artists was like that.

Senility.

Weak because of old age?

That's only from a general perspective.

Martial artists get stronger day by day, and more vigorous day by day.

Of course, there are those who cannot. But such people were mostly eliminated and could not remain in the martial world.

Anyway, martial artists firmly reinforce their weakening bodies with internal energy as the years go by.

The track is different from the start.

The moment the internal energy deepens, the body exerts a stronger force than it had before.

That is precisely why those called old monsters or old masters sit in the high places of this martial world.

Those who have gone against the flow of time and defied the principles of life.

Therefore, for the renowned masters, the Assembly of Elders was no different from a talent show that they could enjoy while clapping.

But.

Kwa-deuk! Kwa-kwang!

The left side of the competition stage collapses under the powerfully descending sword strikes.

Nevertheless, it does not stop.

Already hundreds of exchanges.

An exchange of blows without even catching a breath was continuing in front of their eyes, as if the internal energy they possessed and the stamina they had were infinite.

Although their neat hair was disheveled and fluttering, and their clothes were in rags, they exchanged intense moves that could inflict fatal wounds on each other.

If someone stops, they lose.

They can't let go.

Isn't it a rope that has already been pulled taut from both ends?

"F-Family Head. Isn't it truly amazing?"

Lee Cheongik, who was as astonished as the participants who were stuck to the wall of the waiting room, said, sticking out his tongue.

"Tch, it's close."

"Pardon?"

"It'll be difficult."

"...Pardon?"

Lee Cheongik blinked his eyes at the words Cheonyeong said with a frown, sitting with his arms crossed in a corner.

What did he just say?

Close, difficult... huh?

"He's going to lose?"

"He's lost. Since a while ago."

"Pardon?"

He almost hiccuped.

Where on earth...

If someone else had heard it, they would have been utterly dumbfounded.

But fortunately, it was a small voice like a mumble, and it seemed everyone was focused on the match and didn't hear it.

"Family Head, what do you mean by that? He's been losing since a while ago?"

Lee Cheongik asked in a low voice that could barely be heard.

Are you a mosquito?

Why are you whining instead of speaking loudly?

"That punk probably already knows. His fingertips keep missing the opponent's vital points. He's trying his best to endure it so that he won't be found out."

"Pardon?"

"If that punk named Yu Seongyeon realizes, the match will end... tch, it seems he's already realized. What an amazing punk."

"Pardon?"

At those words, Lee Cheongik turned his head towards the competition stage.

Ppeo-eok!

"Keuk!"

The taut rope snapped.

Baekta was hit in the solar plexus by the wooden sword and was pushed back.

"Heok, heok... damn it."

"Hoo, I was lucky."

"You're talking nonsense. You, who aimed for the opening precisely."

"Nonsense?"

"Then? Do you think a loser would be polite and courteous?"

At the blunt words, Yu Seongyeon smiled awkwardly and said.

"It's just that I had a little more internal energy than you. I was lucky."

Baekta let out a hollow laugh at the sight of Yu Seongyeon, who was calm even while catching his breath.

What's with this punk being so polite?

And that sincere expression.

He was born with it, born with it.

Talent, personality...

Baekta glanced at the distinguished guest seats.

Changlim Sword Saint.

He chose the kid well.

It was worth putting up the Seventy-Two Faction Sword Manual. Because he must have thought that Yu Seongyeon would take the victory anyway.

"Tch!"

Baekta, who had barely caught his breath, suddenly put his short staff back in his waist.

"Huh? Why?"

Yu Seongyeon's eyes widened in surprise at his appearance, as if the match was over.

"I lost."

"Pardon?"

He couldn't understand.

Because he thought that the attack had connected was really due to luck.

"It's a martial arts competition. We've fought this much, that's enough. Why fight more?"

"But, the match is not yet..."

"That's enough. It's not a fight to the death. Anyway, I think I'll lose even if we continue. I didn't come here to win in the first place."

"..."

"Damn it, there's not a single corner of my body that doesn't ache."

Baekta grumbled and looked at Ilhae.

"Elder Blue Cloud Sword."

"Huh?"

"I lost."

"...Ah!"

Ilhae, who had never thought that Baekta would give up the match, belatedly announced the outcome.

"In the first match of the day, Seongyeon of the Yu family has won!"

Although he had shouted forcefully, the audience seats were quiet.

Everyone had a blank expression.

But soon, the cheers that started from someone's voice made the competition stage shake as if it would be torn apart.

The silence was not because Baekta had admitted defeat.

It was because they were momentarily speechless, as if electrocuted by the fierce and high-level match that the two young warriors had shown.

Because the excitement had remained and blocked their mouths.

Clap, clap-clap-clap.

Applause erupted from the distinguished guest seats.

It was a standing ovation.

It was admiration and praise for the young new star who would lead the martial world.

The applause spread like wildfire, filling the distinguished guest seats and moving to the audience seats.

It was a barrage of applause like a wildfire.

"Well, it's not bad even if I lost."

Baekta, who had smirked, passed by the still dazed Yu Seongyeon, patting his shoulder.

"You were amazing. I was surprised."

"Pardon?"

"But don't let your guard down. It doesn't mean you've won."

"..."

"There's a real monster down there. So since you beat me, you must go to the finals. Because I want to see. Both his real skills, and the real skills you have. I don't know if you can draw all of it out."

It was a strange statement.

A monster?

And wasn't he talking as if the opponent Baekta was talking about was much higher than him?

Yu Seongyeon couldn't leave the competition stage and stopped, following Baekta's back with his eyes.

"You've worked hard."

"I was impressed."

The participants who greeted Baekta stood up and showed their respect.

It was a great match, and since they had shown something much higher than them, it was of course sincere.

"Yes, yes, thank you. But wouldn't greetings be more fitting for the winner than the loser?"

"Pardon?"

"Well, that's what I'm saying."

Baekta grinned at the bewildered people and approached Cheonyeong.

"I lost."

"I know."

"You son of a bitch! Is that all your comment is?"

"What, do you want me to comfort you or something?"

"Tch!"

Damn punk.

He didn't even want comfort. It was a word that didn't suit Cheonyeong.

"He was strong. Be careful."

"Yeah."

At the short answer, Baekta grumbled out of spite.

"You're so full of confidence, so full of confidence! You've already won, right? Huh?!"

"Why are you making a scene after losing?"

"What, you punk?!"

"Move aside, it's my turn next. Jeokseong has been waiting since a while ago."

Cheonyeong's eyes, as he pushed Baekta aside and passed by, were so cold that no emotion could be felt.

"Hah, this is dangerous."

Baekta grabbed the collar of Cheonyeong, who was pushing him away and heading to the competition stage.

"Cheonyeong-ah."

"Why?"

"It's a bad relationship, right?"

"Yeah."

"By any chance... are you going to kill him?"

"We'll see."

(End of Chapter)