My heart was racing.

Ah, Baekta... that damn bastard.

He's no help.

Why on earth did he have to move now?

But now that the signal had been given, the warriors could not be stopped.

It was a wheel that had already started rolling fiercely downhill. Soon, a life-and-death battle with the assassins would begin.

Right, the Jingagu assassin punks. They're important. I have to catch them.

But what about my victory?

And.

"You sons of bitches! My mooooney!"

Cheonyeong, in his desperation, gathered all his Samyang True Qi into his wooden sword.

Kuu-woo-woo!

The energy, drawn up hastily like a soaring flame, swirled with intense heat and imbued the sword.

Ppadeuk! Jjeok! Jjeo-jeo-jeok!

The sword, unable to withstand the energy, began to break.

But one attack would be enough.

Because he planned to make it so they couldn't even think about what came next.

"Haap!"

"...!"

A sword strike swung with both hands.

It was as if the entire space was connected to Cheonyeong's wooden sword and was being torn away whole.

Chii-ik!

Yu Seongyeon's large eyes narrowed as he felt a burning smell at the friction point between space and space. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Is this a sword?

How am I supposed to block it?

How on earth...

"Hoo."

With a light exhale, he slowly raised his sword.

A sword strike he was using for the first time.

It was an enlightenment passed down by the Changlim Sword Saint, and it was still an incomplete sword strike.

No, it was a sword strike that had just taken its first step.

But there was no other way.

He felt that was the only way to block Cheonyeong's sword.

He didn't care if he got hurt from the reckless use. Because he had decided to do his best, as if today were the last.

"Geon-gon."

Yu Seongyeon, holding his sword high, muttered in a low voice.

Heaven and Earth.

The sword itself becomes the bridge that connects the gap between them, which are parallel and do not meet.

Seu-geok!

The sword falls.

It was not a sword that held a heavy momentum or made a splendid transformation, but a sword that was simply drawn vertically.

As if drawing a long straight line in the empty air.

"Th-that punk?"

The Changlim Sword Saint's eyes widened as he was observing the movements of the Beggars' Sect and preparing for the fight with the assassins.

Geon-gon, it was the teaching he had passed on to Yu Seongyeon.

He had not taught him to learn it.

He had only shown him the goal of reaching such a level someday.

But Yu Seongyeon was already taking his first step.

Although it was still utterly lacking...

"Ah!"

The Changlim Sword Saint let out an exclamation without realizing it.

He had been lamenting and regretting his wrong choice for a long time while watching the match between the Lee Family's Sword Dragon and the Tang Family's head.

It was as if Yeon-i was comforting him.

As if to say thank you for teaching him.

He had nothing more to wish for.

Even if Yeon-i were to be defeated, even if he were to be branded with the disgrace of having manipulated the match of the Assembly of Elders and be pointed at by the people.

Kwa-deu-deu-deuk!

Sword and sword clashed.

Cheonyeong's was like a fierce storm blowing with intense heat, and Yu Seongyeon's was like a lightning bolt striking down powerfully into the storm.

"Keu-euk!"

"Ugh!"

Groans erupted at the same time.

It was a battle of strength that had begun from the moment they clashed.

Kka-deu-deuk!

The crossed wooden swords screamed.

Teo-beok!

Yu Seongyeon's face contorted as he stepped back, unable to endure.

It wasn't just a matter of technique.

His internal energy... was lacking.

The words of the Changlim Sword Saint, who had made him take the Okryeongdan, the secret treasure of the Blue Green Sect, and had said, 'It will be hard to find someone with as much internal energy as you,' flashed through his mind.

But such a person was right in front of him...

A person who was far ahead of him.

"Haa-ap!"

With a shout, an even stronger force pushed in and sent Yu Seongyeon's wooden sword flying.

"Keuk!"

His palm tore as he gripped it even tighter so as not to lose it.

Anymore...

Ppu-gak!

A crack is forming on the wooden sword.

If this continued, he would be hit by Cheonyeong's sword strike whole. He had to make a choice.

Would he retreat and admit defeat?

Or would he be struck by the sword strike and fall gloriously?

The former would be better.

The time he would lose consciousness was precious. He wanted to talk to him as soon as possible.

To ask how he could be so strong.

Seu-reuk!

His strength drains.

He had let go of the sword himself before it broke.

"Family Head, I..."

Tu-ga-ga-gak!

"...lost?"

Yu Seongyeon, who was about to calmly admit defeat, could only stare blankly.

At the same time as he had let go of his strength, the Tang Family Head's sword was shattering into pieces and scattering.

Hoo-woo-ung!

Cheonyeong's body, unable to overcome the force, rotated as he had swung the sword.

"You, X-bastard!"

Yu Seongyeon was just dumbfounded, but that's how it is.

A battle of strength against strength.

When one side gives up in a tense balance of power, the other side naturally gets pulled in the direction of the force.

And it was even more so if it was an all-out attack.

Pa-pa-pak! Kung!

Cheonyeong, who had lost his balance in the unexpected situation, moved his legs dizzily and finally stopped, standing tall.

"Family Head, I..."

"Y-you X... bastard."

"Pardon?"

Yu Seongyeon, who was about to admit defeat again, made a blank expression at the sudden curse.

Cheonyeong, who had stopped without moving a muscle, was looking down at his own feet.

The place where his feet were located.

Outside the competition stage.

He had barely stopped.

"Hah, out of bounds."

If he hadn't been in a hurry, he wouldn't have tried to end it in one blow, and he wouldn't have tried to put so much strength into it.

Ah, the money... like a momentary dream…

"Um, Family Head?"

"Shut up!"

As Yu Seongyeon carefully spoke to him, Cheonyeong shouted.

"You X-bastard, yes, this is all because of those Jingagu bastards."

"Pardon? J-Jingagu?"

Yu Seongyeon couldn't understand what on earth he was talking about. Or why he was so angry.

"Move aside!"

"...?"

At the sight of Cheonyeong's fierce eyes as he turned around, Yu Seongyeon flinches and steps back without realizing it.

"Yongcheon!"

"Yes! Here."

At Cheonyeong's shout, Yongcheon jumped onto the competition stage.

"Huh? What's this?"

"What is he doing?"

The audience was just as bewildered.

The winner and loser had not yet been decided.

But what on earth was he doing?

The bewilderment soon turned into criticism and poured out.

"You punk! What do you take the Assembly of Elders for!"

"Such a lawless punk!"

"Are you trying to insult the Blue Green Sect!"

At the boos and criticism pouring from all over, Cheonyeong just smirked.

You're talking nonsense. The Blue Green Sect is staying quiet, so why are you guys making a fuss?

Cheonyeong brushed off the people's boos with a sneer and took the object Yongcheon had handed him, unwrapping the cloth.

A sword.

A sword decorated with a Rakshasa that eats evil spirits, in place of a hilt and a guard.

Seu-reung.

At Cheonyeong's touch, the blade revealed itself, growling like a beast.

The characters engraved on the blade, which exuded a cool edge, came into view.

Tianxia Bi Ben.

You should become the root of the world.

"Keuk!"

Danya, this person, really.

It was a good meaning.

The path the Tang family should take.

It seemed he had wished for them to spread throughout the world as a new root.

Ting!

The sword vibrated finely at Cheonyeong's finger.

The vibration is transmitted to his hand.

"It's a good sword."

Cheonyeong, who had smiled brightly, let the sword hang down and looked at the Changlim Sword Saint.

The Changlim Sword Saint, who had nodded, jumped up and landed lightly on the competition stage.

"Everyone, listen!"

The shout, filled with internal energy, echoed and spread.

The people, who had no way of knowing what was going on, stopped their boos and just tilted their heads with bewildered eyes again.

Why?

Why had the Changlim Sword Saint climbed onto the competition stage?

And why was he holding a sword in his hand?

"Rats have snuck into our sect and have made a mockery of the Blue Green Sect! We will punish the punks, so all distinguished guests, leave the competition grounds immediately!"

At those words, the surprised audience didn't know what to do and just looked at each other's faces, murmuring.

Then, the Changlim Sword Saint's sword is drawn in a direction no one had expected.

Swi-ik!

"Keok!"

Blood splattered.

And the head of a carpenter who had been on standby near the competition stage fell.

The atmosphere instantly turned cold.

"What are the disciples doing! Pursue and kill the enemies!"

"Yes! Sect Leader!"

The disciples of the Blue Green Sect, dressed in blue robes, poured out from all sides.

The Beggars' Sect members had already designated the targets.

At the flying swords, the audience finally screamed in terror and began to scatter in their own directions.

"Y-you damn!"

A curse burst out from the mouth of someone who had finally grasped the situation.

The master carpenter, Naeng Cheolsim, no, the Sangcheon-gwi, Jin Yiseon, who had led the Jingagu assassins and infiltrated the Blue Green Sect.

He had seen it clearly.

The three people next to him had stepped back and formed a triangular formation.

And the Taoists of the Blue Green Sect had rushed in as if by agreement and had flown their swords as if they had been waiting.

Kkang!

Jin Yiseon, who had quickly deflected the sword, observes his surroundings with narrowed eyes.

It was all the same.

The Jingagu assassins, who had infiltrated as carpenters, workers, and cooks, were all being attacked.

They had been discovered.

How on earth?

Kka-deuk! Kwang!

Jin Yiseon, who had deflected the rushing swords, looks at the Changlim Sword Saint standing on the competition stage.

It's not him.

If he had noticed in advance, the Assembly of Elders would not have reached the finals.

No way? That punk?

The place Jin Yiseon's gaze landed was none other than Tang Cheonyeong.

With a desolate smile...

"Yongcheon."

"Yeah."

"We should start too, right?"

"Yeah!"

At Cheonyeong's words, Yongcheon forcefully struck the ground with the iron ball he had slung over his shoulder.

Kuu-woo-woo-ung!

A sound as huge as its weight echoed majestically.

"Green Warrior Unit! Annihilate the enemy!"

"Yes!"

The warriors of the Green Warrior Unit, who had made preparations in advance, all jumped into the battlefield.

Their role was one.

Swae-aek!

"Keok!"

To throw bundles of hidden weapons from a distance at the assassin punks who were fighting the Blue Green Sect.

Seu-geok!

"Kra-a-ak!"

The moment the punks paid attention to the hidden weapons, their heads were immediately cut off by the swords of the Blue Green Sect Taoists.

There was no need to fight up close with a sword.

Why fight like that?

Although this was also his revenge, in the end, it was the Blue Green Sect's fight.

So he had to save them.

So that his kids wouldn't get hurt.

Especially since he had already suffered a huge loss from being disqualified for going out of bounds.

"Hoo-aap!"

Jjeo-eo-eong!

Of course, Yongcheon was an exception.

Every time the heavy iron ball was swung in the middle of the battlefield, the assassins were slammed into the ground.

Blocking was useless.

Hadn't he been born with divine strength, surpassing even dragon strength? And the iron ball, imbued with a lot of Samyang True Qi...

Kwa-deu-deuk!

It had the power to break swords, break human bones, and destroy everything in its vicinity.

"Y-you damn punk!"

Swi-a-ak!

The sword of an assassin who had accidentally dodged the iron ball is swung, aiming for Yongcheon's neck.

But that too was useless.

There was no way a sword like that would reach Yongcheon.

Because, unlike his build, he had incredibly fast movements.

Ppeo-eok!

"Where do you think you're swinging your sword!"

Yongcheon, who was rampaging, looked like an angry bull. Who only knew how to charge.

"Heh! Truly a hegemonic force..."

At Il-u's admiration, Cheonyeong smirked and said.

"He's the one I trust the most. Perhaps, if he had come as a participant in the Assembly of Elders, he would have ranked high."

"It seems so. Hoho, it seems my thoughts were wrong."

"Pardon?"

"Although it's still vague, it seems the day when the Tang Family's estate will be compared to the Blue Green Sect is not far off."

"Hey, no way."

At the words that were no different from a high compliment, Cheonyeong showed humility.

But.

Just compared to the Blue Green Sect? The place I dream of is higher than that.

The world!

Like the words written on this sword.

Cheonyeong smiles, looking at the blade of the sword in his hand.

"Shall we start moving too? It seems most of the audience has left."

"Let's do that."

"If possible, it would be good if you could capture a few of them alive. Because we haven't found out their purpose yet."

"Possible, you say. Hahaha!"

"...?"

"It seems I have been greatly underestimated."

"Ah, that's not what I meant."

"I will show you clearly. Why people call me Changlim."

Il-u laughs heartily and steps forward with his sword.

It seems he misunderstood.

My intention was, please save your strength.

In case the Changlim Sword Saint gets excited and cuts all the assassins to pieces.

"M-master. What on earth is this..."

Yu Seongyeon was still just bewildered.

It was so sudden. In the middle of a match, what kind of mess was this?

"Hey!"

"Pardon?"

"Don't just stand there blankly, you help too."

What are you looking at?

You winner punk!

How much was this match worth...

Just thinking about the prize money he had blown away with the out-of-bounds disqualification, he was about to die from the regret.

Ah! Should I try saying I just stepped on the line?

Although that thought crossed his mind for a moment, first, he had to take care of the Jingagu punks.

Anyway, there was still compensation to be received from the Blue Green Sect, so he could just receive a large amount later.

(End of Chapter)