Chapter 21
“Fellow martial artists of the Jianghu. I am deeply grateful that you have come all the way to Liaoning. Also, I would like to thank the Martial Alliance once again for entrusting me with the opening address of this friendly martial arts tournament for the rising generation who will lead the martial world in the future. I hope the tournament ends successfully without any injuries, and I wish all the juniors the best of luck!”
The Young Heroes Tournament hosted by the Martial Alliance.
Its opening was decorated by the head of the Moyong Family, the representative family of Liaoning, Moyong Baek.
“Waaaaah!”
A roar of support erupted from the audience below the stage.
Although the number of people was smaller than the previous tournament due to the issue of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi, the enthusiasm was overwhelming compared to the last one.
And for good reason. The rising star who stood out in this year’s tournament would be granted admission to the martial arts academy being established by the Martial Alliance and would immediately become active as a member of the Alliance.
For the rising generation of the Orthodox Faction, whose lifelong wish was to become an official of the Martial Alliance and make a name for themselves, this was an opportunity they could not miss.
Moreover, in this year’s tournament, the self-proclaimed and publicly acknowledged best rising star, Namgung Mun, was participating.
This fact alone made the hearts of the young martial artists burn with passion.
“Let the tournament begin!”
With the cry of the Wudang Sect’s Jin-in, who was in charge of the tournament’s proceedings, the Young Heroes Tournament finally began.
***
“Young Master Tang. Don’t get hurt and just enjoy yourself. Haha.”
“Brother… don’t overdo it. Okay?”
So-ah and Tang Hwa-rin encouraged Tang Il-gi.
Tang Il-gi responded with a smile and stepped onto the dueling stage.
“Il-gi! Good luck.”
“You’ll do well.”
“Go all the way to the championship!”
Paeng Seong-un, Seok Won, and Eon Yeong-je also came to So-ah’s group’s side and began to cheer for Tang Il-gi.
They acted as if they had met a close friend, freely using titles like ‘Brother Jin!’, ‘So-ah!’, and ‘Little Brother!’ towards So-ah. Myo-seon wondered when So-ah had made so many friends, while Tang Hwa-rin and Moyong Hwa thought of them as shameless as they watched the three.
‘Do these people not know shame?’
‘Ugh, what simple-minded people. Do they really want to act like that after getting beaten up so badly by Jin So-ah? Goodness.’
But the two’s thoughts were completely erased in a fleeting moment.
It was because Tang Il-gi’s first attack unfolded on the dueling stage.
—Papapa!
“Wow…!”
The audience stirred at Tang Il-gi’s move.
In particular, the rising generation was watching Tang Il-gi’s duel with sparkling eyes.
‘As expected, Young Master Tang is not a nobody like Seong-un, Yeong-je, and Won.’
So-ah also admired Tang Il-gi’s smooth moves.
In this duel, Tang Il-gi used a whip instead of a sword or a saber. When the ultimate art of the Tang Clan’s whip technique, the Thirteen Forms of the Whirling Soft Whip, unfolded dazzlingly, reminiscent of a fierce venomous snake, the opponent was startled and hesitated.
‘I will definitely win!’
A smile appeared on Tang Il-gi’s face.
As expected, the initiative is important in a fight.
Tang Il-gi, who had perfectly seized the initiative, swung his whip like a storm.
—Papapapapapat!
“Brother! You’re doing great!”
“Young Master Tang’s martial arts are amazing…”
So-ah’s group burst into cheers.
Tang Il-gi’s whip, filled with a furious momentum, suddenly wrapped around the opponent’s wrist.
“Ah!”
The opponent couldn’t bear the pain and dropped his sword.
Blood pooled on Tang Il-gi’s whip.
—Hwiririk!
But the whip did not stop.
Tang Il-gi, with the single-mindedness of not missing the opponent’s opening, swung his whip and this time wrapped it around his neck.
In an instant, the opponent could only helplessly drop his head like prey caught by a giant serpent.
Just then.
“Tang Il-gi of the Tang Clan, victory!”
With the single cry of the Wudang Sect’s Jin-in, who was in charge of the duel’s proceedings, Tang Il-gi won.
“Are you alright?”
Tang Il-gi approached his opponent and asked in a worried tone.
“It’s not a serious injury. I am in awe of Young Master Tang’s martial prowess.”
The two politely performed a cupped fist salute to each other.
It was possible because it was a friendly duel.
‘Ah… should I have given it a try?’
So-ah felt a sense of regret as he watched Tang Il-gi.
As befitting a disciple of the God of War, So-ah’s body had quickly warmed up.
***
“Brother, congratulations!”
“Young Master Tang, congratulations.”
“It was a divine move.”
Tang Hwa-rin, Myo-seon, and Moyong Hwa gave Tang Il-gi a thumbs-up.
His level was certainly different from the other rising stars.
“It’s just one win. Haha. Tomorrow is the girls’ division and the day Young Master Namgung competes, so there will be more to see than today.”
Tang Il-gi was being modest.
At that, So-ah slowly opened his mouth.
“Is that person, Young Master Namgung, that strong?”
“They say he has already reached the peak. But compared to Young Master Jin, he would be no match.”
At Tang Il-gi’s words, Myo-seon became extremely curious about the extent of So-ah’s martial arts.
“Is So-ah’s martial arts that great? I’m dying of curiosity.”
At that, Tang Hwa-rin interjected and spoke proudly, as if it were her own business.
“Don’t even mention it. So-ah is the best among the rising generation of this era. I can be sure of this!”
At Tang Hwa-rin’s words, Myo-seon’s curiosity was further amplified.
“So-ah.”
“Yeah?”
“Shall we have a duel?”
Of course, it was a joke, but she really wanted to gauge So-ah’s martial arts even if it meant doing that.
“Alright! But challenge me after you win the girls’ division, haha.”
So-ah joked.
Myo-seon smiled brightly and lightly tapped So-ah’s head.
“You little rascal, you’re so mischievous!”
“Oh? What’s this…? Come here! You get a hit too!”
Myo-seon ran away, hopping lightly.
So-ah pouted and followed the fluttering hem of Myo-seon’s martial arts uniform.
‘No! What is that? It’s totally ‘catch me if you can,’ isn’t it?’
‘Stupid… such a senior brother… I really hate it!’
Tang Hwa-rin and Moyong Hwa just looked at So-ah with a subtle gaze.
***
“The food in Liaoning is delicious too!”
“I know, right. If Sichuan food has a spicy and delicious feeling, Liaoning food is bland yet savory, not stimulating, and exquisite.”
The Tang siblings’ reviews flowed out.
So-ah’s group had entered a tavern called <Hwaryong Inn> to celebrate Tang Il-gi’s victory and had ordered various dishes. Since it was a restaurant famous for being delicious, everyone was busy awakening their inner gourmand.
Just then.
“The aroma of food is profound…”
A white-haired old man in rags entered the entrance of the tavern.
Perhaps because of his shabby appearance, the waiter frowned and spat at the old man.
“Hey, old man. You can’t beg here. Get out now!”
The old man looked like a beggar wandering the marketplace at a glance.
“Hey. Young man, why are you like that? This old man also brought money, so don’t be so harsh.”
“Ugh…”
The waiter shook his head.
He was clearly a beggar who had entered after receiving a few iron coins as alms.
It was difficult because customers would often be displeased if such beggars occupied a seat, but he had no choice but to guide the old man.
“Sit over there. What would you like to eat?”
“What’s the cheapest thing?”
“A plate of dumplings.”
“I’ll have that.”
The old man took a seat in a corner.
So-ah and Myo-seon, who were watching, felt their anger rise.
‘Are beggars not people?’
‘He’s so unfriendly, really.’
So-ah and Myo-seon projected their own childhood onto the old man.
“Hey!”
So-ah called out to the receding waiter.
“Yes? Young master?”
“Please bring that grandpa the most expensive and delicious food in this house. I’ll pay for it.”
“Hah… I understand!”
The waiter turned towards the kitchen with a bewildered heart.
So-ah approached the old man, bowed his head politely, and said.
“Grandpa. I’m sorry if you were offended that I ordered food for you. But the food at this house is so delicious that I wanted you to taste it, so please don’t be angry.”
The old man was bewildered as he looked at So-ah, who was speaking with a bright smile.
“Hah… young man. Why are you being so kind to this old man?”
So-ah hesitated.
He couldn’t say, ‘I also used to be a beggar, so I’m being kind out of sympathy!’
“Hehe, it’s because I have a lot of money. Enjoy your meal!”
As So-ah was about to bow and return to his seat,
The old man grabbed So-ah’s wrist.
Grab!
‘Huh?’
So-ah was a little surprised.
It was because he felt a faint internal energy flowing from the old man’s grip.
But the one who was more surprised was the old man.
‘Hmm? This child… what on earth…’
The power of So-ah’s heart and fine meridians transmitted through his palm was so profound.
‘What a great prodigy…!’
The old man thought but did not show it and expressed his gratitude to So-ah.
“Young man. Thank you. I will not forget this favor.”
“A favor? Don’t mention it.”
“This old man cannot live with a debt. I will surely repay my debt to you.”
So-ah’s group tilted their heads at the old man’s words.
How on earth could an old beggar in rags repay his debt to So-ah?
They thought it was a strange occurrence.
***
After finishing their meal…
So-ah returned to the family residence and then went out for a walk alone.
So-ah, who had trained his stamina to the extreme every day when he lived at the Samryun Peak estate, had been feeling an itch in his body from his recent activities.
‘Shall I work up a sweat for a change?’
So-ah started to run lightly.
He did not use his internal energy.
So-ah always excluded his internal energy and used only his physical strength when training his stamina. This was due to Moyong Cheon’s training philosophy.
“Hoo… hoo…”
So-ah’s breathing became rough.
This was to induce hyperventilation and raise his body heat.
In fact, the current So-ah’s stamina had reached a divine level, so no matter how much he ran, rolled, and moved his body, he rarely got tired.
He ran like that for about a shichen.
Although it was just running, for a human to sprint at full power for one shichen (2 hours) without using lightness skills, footwork, or internal energy was unimaginable.
“Hoo-ah…”
After sweating profusely in a state of self-forgetfulness, his body felt much refreshed.
“The scenery is nice…”
Bathed in the moonlight in the quiet darkness of the mountains, he was swept up in a strange emotion.
“I wonder if Grandpa is doing well. I miss Huin-dung-i too…”
He suddenly missed the Samryun Peak estate.
So-ah vowed to himself that he would not waste the three years and, as his grandfather had said, watch all the fights in the world and return as a grown man.
Just then.
“Hoho, grandpa? Surely that grandpa isn’t the war fiend, is he?”
Goosebumps rose all over So-ah’s body.
He turned his head in the direction of the voice.
But there was no one there.
‘I didn’t sense it at all…!’
It was astonishing.
So-ah’s ki sense was so outstanding that he could detect even the slightest sound.
But for someone to appear without him knowing, speak, and then disappear again?
‘If it’s not Grandpa or Grandpa Wi-ji… they can’t do this!’
That’s right.
To approach without being detected by So-ah’s ki sense was impossible unless it was the God of War, Moyong Cheon, or the Heavenly Demon, Wi-ji Un.
“Who are you?”
So-ah shouted in a warning tone.
At that, an old man in a black robe appeared before So-ah’s eyes like a mirage.
“What a truly handsome child.”
“I asked who you are.”
“Hoho, is there a need for you to know who I am?”
“What do you mean by that…”
“Because you will die here anyway.”
Only then did So-ah become certain that the old man before him was an enemy.
And he instinctively felt that this old man’s martial arts were by no means inferior to his own.
“This old man is originally someone who should not have appeared in the world yet. So, I was going to hide my identity, but it seems there is no need. After all, the dead tell no tales.”
“…”
“In the past, the people of the world called this old man and my sworn brother the Twin Demon Geezers.”
Twin Demon Geezers!
The moment So-ah heard those words, he vaguely remembered.
The Profound Realm masters his grandfather had told him about on the day he left the Samryun Peak estate.
‘Master Yong-gak of the Jongnam Sect, Grand Master Gong-seung of Shaolin Temple, the Blood Demon of the exterminated Blood Cult, and… the legends of the Unorthodox Path, the Twin Demon Geezers!’
So-ah clenched his fist.
Thinking that he might have to risk his life today.
(End of Chapter)