A martial arts competition.

It is a place where one competes as if showing off the skills they have learned, fills in their shortcomings, and strengthens their friendship.

Such a competition sometimes moves people's hearts and brings out cheers.

However.

"That, that's not a martial arts competition."

As someone said, the sight of Cheonyeong and Jeokseong could not be called a martial arts competition.

Jjeok! Jjeo-jeok!

A uniform hitting sound.

After breaking all his limbs, he was not satisfied and was holding him by the collar and punching him.

"Keu-eu-eu..."

Jeokseong could no longer even scream loudly, and all he could do was flinch every time a fist landed.

This was violence. Merciless and cruel, pure violence.

It was an act of making the opponent unable to resist and forcibly trampling on them.

And he was smiling.

Holding a fist and looking down at Jeokseong in his hand, he smiled a wicked and evil smile.

Ppeo-eok!

The fist did not stop.

The gazes of the people were completely different from before the match began.

The gaze that had pitied Cheonyeong was now as if looking at a devil incarnate, and the gaze looking at Jeokseong was one of pity.

They looked at him pitifully, as if they had completely forgotten the appearance Jeokseong had shown the day before.

"Stop him at once!"

"That's right! How can he show such wickedness in the sacred Taoist temple of the Blue Green Sect!"

"Stop!"

"I said stop!"

The shouts that erupted from the audience seats gathered into one, and became boos criticizing Cheonyeong.

Jjeok! Jjeok!

But Cheonyeong did not care and just focused on his work.

Criticism?

The gazes of the people?

So what?

He doesn't care.

Don't they always get swayed by rumors without trying to know the truth?

If you want to curse, then curse.

Call me a cunning Flood Dragon or whatever you want.

And the Blue Green Sect's opinion? Do I have to care about that?

If they stop me at this moment, the Blue Green Sect is also an enemy.

I, and the Tang Family's estate, will just walk the path we believe is right...

And for me right now, this is the most righteous path.

Ppa-ak!

As Cheonyeong did not stop his punching, the audience's boos grew louder and louder.

Ilhae, who was in charge of hosting the match, could not figure out what to do.

Hadn't he heard the conversation they had, being the closest?

It was cruel, but it was revenge.

No, it was cruel because it was revenge.

It was something that could not be stopped.

Hadn't they already signed the life-and-death agreement and entered the match?

On the competition stage, deciding the life and death of the opponent was solely the winner's right.

Since the loser had not yet admitted defeat...

But the audience's reaction was unusual, and he also thought that his actions were too excessive, so Ilhae looked at the distinguished guest seats and asked for help.

"Umm."

The distinguished guest seats were as agitated as the audience seats.

"Sect Leader, are you going to leave it like this?"

"Ghost Hand! Look at that! That lawless punk is trying to make your young master a guest who will never return! Why aren't you stepping in!"

"You must stop him!"

Despite the shouts of the distinguished guests, the Sect Leader and the Ghost Hand just frowned without a word.

But only the two of them could stop him.

In the first place, the Blue Green Sect had a hidden intention and had not invited famous martial artists or the heads of each sect.

Most of the distinguished guest seats were filled with pro-Blue Green Sect figures.

Except for the Ghost Hand, who had come uninvited and taken a seat in the distinguished guest seats as he pleased...

But even the Changlim Sword Saint found it difficult to make a judgment.

Why wouldn't he have heard?

How many people would show mercy to the punk who had given the poison that killed their father?

"Immeasurable Life Buddha, Immeasurable Life Buddha."

Il-u, unable to make a decision easily, muttered the Taoist greeting repeatedly.

"Sect Leader!"

"Ahem!"

Il-u, who had been muttering the Taoist greeting for a long time, finally let out a rough cough.

He had made a decision.

Although a life-and-death agreement had been received, if someone was injured or died, the organizers could not avoid responsibility.

Il-u gave Ilhae a look.

Ilhae, who understood the meaning, jumped onto the competition stage.

"Stop it! Stop!"

Cheonyeong, who had stopped his fist, glanced at Ilhae, who was trying to stop him.

"Umm."

The moment he met Cheonyeong's eyes, which held a cool smile that did not match the cruelty, Ilhae unknowingly flinched back.

What was that?

Killing intent?

No, it was different from that.

Because it didn't feel like he was trying to harm him.

But it was chilling, and goosebumps rose, making his hair stand on end.

At the gaze of a young warrior who was not even of age, he, an elder of the Blue Green Sect and known to the world by the title of Blue Cloud Sword, had shrunk.

Ilhae, whose face had slightly reddened, raised his clear true qi to relax his tension and spoke to Cheonyeong again.

"Family Head Tang, please stop. The match is already over."

"By whose authority?"

"What?"

"In this place, the beginning and the end... I decide."

Jjeo-eo-eok!

Cheonyeong looks straight at Ilhae and punches Jeokseong.

"You insolent! Didn't I tell you to stop!"

"Insolent? Insolent? That's good. Since there's no one under my eyes, it feels like I'm at the highest place."

Was it because of those words? Or was it because of the cool gaze that pierced his heart?

Ilhae grabs Cheonyeong's wrist as if to forcibly restrain him.

"Let go."

With a short word, a strange internal energy arose and deflected Ilhae's hand.

"Keuk!?"

One of Ilhae's eyebrows contorts at the throbbing pain in his hand.

How could this be?

He hadn't put much strength into it because he had just intended to stop him.

But even so, his hand? Did this person have that much internal energy?

Ilhae, whose face had reddened with shame, was about to draw out his full strength with a firm expression.

Kung!

The Ghost Hand, who had been in the distinguished guest seats, flew up and stood on the competition stage.

"Family Head Tang. That's enough."

"..."

"I can't understand all of your heart, but I'm not entirely ignorant of it. But, you must stop now."

"Why? If you have ears, you must have heard."

"Umm..."

"This is a match given to me."

As Cheonyeong refused in a single stroke, the Ghost Hand sighed and sent a telepathic message.

[Are you planning to make an enemy of the Blue Green Sect as well?]

"..."

[You can't. You are no longer alone. If you are a family head, you must think about what decision is more helpful to your family members before your soaring anger.]

At the Ghost Hand's words, the corner of Cheonyeong's eye twitches.

Ppudeudeuk.

Cheonyeong, who had mulled over those words, sighed and let go of his hand.

Teol-seok.

Jeokseong collapses weakly on the ground.

"Disciples, immediately take the young master to the Cheongheo Pavilion! Hurry!" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

At Ilhae's words, the warriors of the Blue Green Sect rushed over, put Jeokseong on a stretcher, and carried him to the Cheongheo Pavilion, the medical room of the Blue Green Sect.

Only the Ghost Hand, Ilhae, and Cheonyeong were left on the competition stage.

"Kick him out at once!"

"Send him out!"

"To think such a cunning person is a participant in the Assembly of Elders!"

"Disqualify him!"

The angry audience shouted at each other.

As the boos boiled over, Il-u, who thought it was difficult for Ilhae to handle alone, raised his hand to restrain them.

"Stooop!"

As the powerful shout filled with internal energy echoed, the boiling killing intent subsided and the criticism stopped.

"How could this humble one not know your will?"

Il-u, who had stood up and gathered the gazes of the surroundings, said in a low voice.

"I also admit that the family head of the Tang family's actions were excessive. But, this is a match where a life-and-death agreement was signed. Even if his actions were excessive and cruel! He did not break the rules. It is an unfortunate incident caused by the wrong rules set by me, the Changlim Sword Saint, and our sect, so I hope you will understand."

It was the words of the Changlim Sword Saint, before being the sect leader of the Blue Green Sect.

Because he was a warrior who represented the era, his words had the power to calm everyone.

And he bowed his head.

And since he had turned the responsibility to himself and the Blue Green Sect, what more could be said?

Further boos would be to insult the Changlim Sword Saint, who had put his name on the line, so even if they couldn't agree, they had to accept it.

"Ilhae, what are you doing? Although the opponent has not admitted defeat, he can no longer fight, so it is safe to say that the match is over."

At Il-u's words, Ilhae hastily shouted.

"The family head of the Tang Family's estate! Has won the match against the young master of the Blue Serpent Sect!"

Although the winner was decided, there were no cheers.

"Kyak! Tweh!"

"To think such a punk is a family head, I can tell what the Tang Family's estate is like!"

"Why else would he be called the Cunning Dragon of Sicheon?"

The audience each criticized Cheonyeong and left the seats as if they didn't even want to see him.

The emptying seats.

Today, Cheonyeong was the villain of the era.

"V-Vice-Family Head. What should we do?"

"What is it?"

"No, it seems Family Head Tang did something wrong..."

"What? Who said that?!"

At Gwak Wolhyeop's words, Yongcheon suddenly grabs his collar and glares at him.

"Keok, keo-eok..."

"Which punk said Cheonyeong did something wrong? Is that what you think?"

"N-no... what I meant was..."

"Anyone who says that, I'll smash their head and make them change their mind."

Gwak Wolhyeop, who was crushed by the menacing gaze, apologized regardless of his will.

"I'm sorry. I misspoke."

"Heung!"

Yongcheon, who had let go of his collar, looks at the competition stage with a displeased expression.

"The family head did nothing wrong."

"Pardon?"

"That bastard, the young master of the Blue Serpent Sect, did something wrong."

"Ah, by any chance, is there some kind of grudge?"

"I don't know."

"Pardon?"

"But I know."

It was a very difficult statement to understand.

You don't know, but you know?

"If the family head acts like that, there's definitely a reason."

"..."

"It was the same with Baekgang. He was so angry that he couldn't even make eye contact. Baekgang said it. That the family head at that time was really scary. And that he was really grateful."

It was a rather old memory.

One day, when he was living as a vagrant in Inhoe.

"We know. An angry family head is scary, but he is right."

"..."

"Tch, he's taking all that damn blame by himself. I should be blocking it."

Everyone says he's a villain. But in Yongcheon's eyes, Cheonyeong just looked pitiful.

How could he not be having a hard time, taking all the criticism from people who don't even know the circumstances?

"Brother Gwak."

"Yes?"

"By any chance, can you get some liquor?"

"L-liquor?"

"Yeah."

"I can get it, but."

"Then please do."

"..."

"For some reason, I think the family head will need some liquor today."

Yongcheon's expression became bitter.

And in the place where everyone had left, Cheonyeong spoke to the Ghost Hand.

"For now... I'll stop here."

"A wise decision."

The Ghost Hand nodded.

"But, I will soon hold the Blue Serpent Sect responsible."

"Hmm."

It was not a statement that a young family head who had just founded his family would make.

The weak says he will hold the strong responsible.

But isn't the speaker Tang Cheonyeong?

The power he had shown today had far exceeded his expectations.

Those with rotten eyes wouldn't have seen it.

Violence?

What a foolish thing to say.

To make the act of subduing someone who has reached a certain level look like merciless violence, one must be several times stronger than the opponent.

Cheonyeong had neutralized Jeokseong's all-out attack with a single punch. He had reached that level.

The power contained in the foot that kicked the competition stage was almost on par with his own.

The Changlim Sword Saint would also know.

With this match, he would be able to roughly predict the extent of Cheonyeong's martial prowess.

But he knew a fact that he didn't.

That the power Cheonyeong possessed was not just his own martial arts.

Cheonyeong was a person who could single-handedly face hundreds. If he had a hidden weapon in his hand...

"Hoo, so it ends like this. I was worried."

"Please tell the sect leader. That after the Assembly of Elders is over, I will go straight to him along the main road."

"I will tell him so."

"I hope you are not at the Blue Serpent Sect on the day I go."

"That won't be possible. I am still under their care."

"Then I'll see you as an enemy."

"That would be so."

"I will do my best."

"As will I."

"Then."

Cheonyeong leaves the competition stage.

The Ghost Hand's heart kept aching.

Because throughout their conversation, Cheonyeong had not once turned his head to look at him.

(End of Chapter)