Chapter 30
At Wolryong's first words as the chief supervisor, a look of tension crossed the faces of the applicants.
'... Just as the rumors said.'
'So the Dark Path Duel Banquet is truly a battlefield of survival of the fittest.'
'And the difficulty is considerable.'
'To have to protect your own number token while defeating ten other competitors...'
If things went on like this, only a handful would place in the Dark Path Duel Banquet.
It truly was a duel format befitting the Evil Faction.
The following explanation only reinforced that.
"There are no restrictions on how you steal another applicant's number token. You can take it by force in a duel, steal it secretly, or join forces. It's all your choice. And if you die in the process, the responsibility lies with you, the participants of this tournament."
"......!"
"However, if you declare you wish to forfeit the duel, a supervisor stationed nearby will appear to spare your life. So know your place well."
"......."
"Finally, the tournament ranking is determined by the number of tokens collected. Obviously, the one who collects the most tokens will be the winner. And the winner receives the Evil Path Association's special reward."
At Wolryong's words, the applicants whispered among themselves.
'... The Evil Path Association's special reward?'
'Will they be giving out elixirs like last time?'
"Now, each of you, come up and receive your number token."
Other supervisors handed out wooden tokens to the participants, each with a number.
But they weren't distributed randomly; there was a particular rule.
It was to distribute them in order, according to the size of internal power.
The one with the largest internal power received number one, the next largest number two, and so on.
Jaseong received a token labeled 'Eighty-eight (八十八)', the very last number among the applicants.
He was the last in this tournament.
"Why do I have the last number?"
"It's because your internal power is the smallest."
Exactly the same words spoken by Hyeonseung from Muhaksa three months before.
'... If they could see my true power, they wouldn't say that.'
The golden true ki that Jaseong had cultivated using the Heaven Evading Breathing Technique was so powerful that even Pacheon Gong, who sparred with him daily, was at times astonished.
But as previously noted, since his period of cultivation was short, the total volume of his internal power was inevitably small.
Receiving the last number was not a good start.
Competitors would assume the last number holder was the weakest, having the smallest internal power.
This is why, in the Dark Path Duel Banquet, the back-numbered participants invariably became everyone's prey.
'... I'm certainly the prime quarry of this tournament.'
Sensing the greedy, sideways glances of the other applicants, Jaseong let out a bitter chuckle.
"Begin."
No sooner had Wolryong finished speaking than all eighty-eight participants scattered at high speed, leaving afterimages.
Jaseong also dashed into the undergrowth.
He kept an eye out for a cave he could use.
'... The tournament lasts for ten days and nights. That means it's going to be a prolonged battle... I should secure a suitable base in advance.'
With that in mind, Jaseong ran through the moonlit forest.
At some point, he found a cave that seemed suitable as a base.
'... That place will do.'
But just as Jaseong was about to enter the cave he found—
Step! Step—
* * *
Someone approached, making their presence known before Jaseong.
An enemy appeared as soon as the tournament started.
'... As expected, because I received the last number, they must see me as the weakest and came to "hunt" me.'
But the enemies were not alone.
There were two.
One was a bob-haired girl, whose hair reached her earlobes.
The other was a boy with a shaved head.
Strikingly, their appearances were almost identical, as if they were twins.
They wore pure white martial outfits with the character '海 (sea)' embroidered on their chests.
"I've had my eye on you since earlier. You couldn't even use lightness skill, yet you somehow qualified. Heh heh."
The shaved-head boy sneered at Jaseong.
Next, the bob-haired girl spoke with a flat expression.
"We are the bloodlines of the Haesa family. If you want to live, quietly hand over your token and leave."
Haesa Clan.
When Hyang-I investigated the sects and families that regularly participated in the Dark Path Duel Banquet, the Haesa Clan was one she singled out as a notable threat.
In terms of danger, they ranked among the highest.
'In the Evil Faction, the Haesa Clan is a prestigious family.
Since they've mainly done smuggling in Guangdong Province, their wealth is enormous.
They raise their bloodline strong by feeding them all sorts of elixirs with that money.'
The brother and sister now standing in front of Jaseong were the very representatives of that clan.
From a young age, they'd been pampered, consuming all sorts of elixirs and enjoying luxurious lives.
They lived a far different, more privileged existence than Jaseong, who grew up barely scraping by in the Red Light District.
'And the Haesa Clan's formation techniques are notoriously fierce.
Their exclusive sword technique, Haesa Wave Sword, is made for joint attacks.
Two wielders form a formation with four times the power.
With four, the formation's power is said to multiply sixteen times....
Anyway, if you meet more than one Haesa clan member, your best bet is to flee immediately.'
Recalling Hyang-I's information, Jaseong looked at the siblings' number tokens.
[Twenty-four (二十四)], [Twenty-five (二十五)]
Solidly mid-high ranks among the eighty-eight participants.
Much higher than Jaseong's number eighty-eight.
"This is your final warning. Quietly put down the token and leave, and you won't get hurt."
The bob-haired girl repeated her warning.
Most back-numbered contestants would have handed over their tokens without a fight.
Their numbers were high, and everyone knew how terrifying the Haesa Clan's formation was.
To anyone, Jaseong seemed to stand no chance.
However—
Srrrrk—
Jaseong drew his sword, without a moment's hesitation.
'... I made a promise.
I would become an expert who could shock the world,
rip the limbs off those who killed my big brother and sister-in-law,
and wipe out both the Righteous and Demonic Factions.
So... whether it's the Haesa Clan or anyone else, I won't kneel to the likes of these.'
A freezing murderous intent glazed Jaseong's eyes.
* * *
When Jaseong drew his sword against the Haesa Clan siblings, there were onlookers.
Atop tree branches, cliff edges, and in the shadows of the forest.
Dozens of middle-aged men moved about invisibly to spectate the battle.
These men were the Evil Faction experts, validated by the Evil Path Association to spectate the Dark Path Duel Banquet.
As it was a duel tournament, naturally there would be an audience.
Among them, one middle-aged man clicked his tongue upon seeing Jaseong face off with the Haesa siblings.
"The Hao Clan... though they've grown in influence over the years, for back-alley scum to dare set foot in the Dark Path Duel Banquet. Tsk."
This was Hae Ak-hyeon, head of the Haesa Clan.
The Iron Blood Gate elder by his side, Gwak Cheolsan, chimed in.
"His internal power is pathetic. I wonder if he even learned proper martial arts. His internal power is less than even a typical trainee... Why would an supervisor grant such a brat entry? Tsk tsk."
"Allowing a clan like the Hao Clan to enter was a mistake to start with. There are rumors that the new Hao Clan leader is an outstanding expert, but no one has ever seen him, have they? If it turns out to be groundless nonsense..."
But as Hae Ak-hyeon continued to mock—
"What did you just say?"
Suddenly, a voice echoed behind Hae Ak-hyeon.
He started, turning his head, for someone had appeared behind him without any sign.
Behind him stood a woman clad in black clothes.
The instant they saw her, Hae Ak-hyeon and Gwak Cheolsan instinctively realized she was a formidable expert.
For such pinnacle-level experts to be unable to sense her presence, and for such an unusual aura to flow out from her, was no ordinary feat.
"Who are you?"
Tilting her head curiously, the woman in black replied,
"I was already certified by the Evil Path Association to attend as a spectator. Need I reveal my identity even to you?"
At the woman's arrogant reply, Hae Ak-hyeon frowned, ready to retort.
But at that moment—
KUUUUUNG!
An enormous force exploded from her.
The leaves shook, and nearby birds flapped away in alarm.
The impact caused Hae Ak-hyeon's pupils to tremble violently.
'Who is she? As far as I know, there aren't many in the Evil Path Association of this level...?!'
The woman in black, who made Hae Ak-hyeon shrink in an instant, was none other than Gal Seo-ryeong, the Hao Clan's guardian general, famed as the Black Forest Sword Empress.
The reason Gal Seo-ryeong appeared at the Dark Path Duel Banquet was singular.
It was the first time a Hao Clan disciple had entered the tournament.
Moreover, that participant was someone even she held an interest in.
'Ansun branch leader of the Hao Clan, a young boy from the Red Light District, Jaseong.
A talent scouted by the Lord of Black Blood Hall, connected with former Paecheol Branch leader Pacheon Gong, and he recently defeated three of the Seven Freaks of Zhejiang. But...
That terrible internal power. At this rate, the Haesa siblings will defeat him right away...'
A faint hint of disappointment appeared in Gal Seo-ryeong's eyes.
Five years ago, after the new Hao Clan leader took the position, the Hao Clan's policy shifted.
From the shadows to the light.
From an information-gathering group to a sect wielding real 'strength'.
It was to be expected that she had high hopes, with a Hao Clan branch leader participating in the Dark Path Duel Banquet for the first time.
'... As that old Haesa man just said, our Hao Clan is still dismissed as a group of lowly people in the martial world.
So, sweep away those Haesa brats and make the Hao Clan's name resound, Red Light District boy.'
While Gal Seo-ryeong muttered silently and watched Jaseong, the fight between Jaseong and the Haesa siblings began.
"So in the end, you want blood. Heh heh."
The bald-headed Haesa boy sneered at Jaseong brandishing his sword.
The bob-haired girl viewed Jaseong no differently.
"Big sister. Isn't it lame for both of us to gang up on a guy like this? Let me handle it alone."
"No. Let's just finish it quickly before others show up."
"Tch. Guess it can't be helped. A pack of wolves always swarms the weakest prey."
With that, the Haesa siblings drew their swords in unison from their waists.
Like wolves closing in on prey, they slowly tightened the encirclement around Jaseong.
Then suddenly—
Shuaaak!
The Haesa siblings both sprang out with flash steps, thrusting their sword tips at Jaseong.
'Haesa Wave Sword third form, Blue Moon Cold Wave!'
'Haesa Wave Sword sixth form, Swift Sword of the Bright World!'
The bald boy's sword whipped up a powerful gale, striking at Jaseong's right.
The bob-haired girl's sword twisted like a snake for his left.
A flawless, dazzling opening move of formation swordplay.
One that even the tournament's best would struggle to deal with.
"Hmph. For a rookie from the Hao Clan, our swordplay is too fierce to endure."
Haesa Clan head Hae Ak-hyeon, watching, wore a mocking smile.
In contrast, Gal Seo-ryeong's face stiffened.
'Dodge, Red Light District boy. If you don't avoid the Haesa Clan's joined attack from the start, you'll just be swept away.'
But why was it?
Contrary to Gal Seo-ryeong's expectations, Jaseong simply raised his sword and stood firm.
And he looked utterly composed.
Even as the blades of the Haesa siblings came slashing for his face.