Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: The Dark Solitary Ghost
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Danri Hyang swept his gaze over the hushed spectator stands once more before turning away.
No one could stop him from descending from the arena.
He had fought several duels in succession and even asked if anyone else dared to challenge him, but not a single demon had stepped forward.
The crowd could only watch his retreating back and let out gasps of admiration.
"So that's the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad..."
"He surpassed even our highest expectations."
"What incredible spirit. I can't imagine him losing no matter how many more duels he fights."
"Didn't they triumph over the Sky-Splitting Black Wind Squad before? The Cult Leader's personal guard truly feels different."
It was the first time the cultists had witnessed the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad in combat from such close range. Naturally, they could only rave about the prowess he had displayed.
The ronin who had appeared on the arena were all proven warriors sought out by clans and sects across the land, strong enough that most people had heard of their nicknames.
Yet Danri Hyang had faced them without facing a single moment of peril.
On the contrary, he had overwhelmed them with sheer superiority and claimed victory in every duel.
Unsurprisingly, all eyes turned to Danri Hyang.
"His name was... Danri Hyang, right?"
"From the Danri Clan, I believe."
"Impressive. Even after defecting from the Central Plains to our cult, he earned the Cult Leader's trust and a spot in the guard."
"That must be an opportunity won through pure skill. There wasn't a single wasted motion in his swordsmanship. I'd love to teach that clean swordplay to the kids in our sect."
Those who knew martial arts and those who didn't alike showered him with praise.
Once Danri Hyang had fully left the arena, the spectators' attention shifted to the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad in the stands.
They sat with calm composure, as if it were the most natural outcome.
"If that's the level of their vice captain, just how strong is the captain?"
"The Divine Demon Blood Death Squad's captain needs no introduction. Everyone knows the feats of the Iron Armor Body Demon."
"You can't deny it. He's been one of the most trusted demons since the previous Cult Leader's time."
Ji Wolhon's mere nickname brought nods of agreement from the crowd.
Thus, the Divine Demon Blood Death Squad's reputation soared to the heavens, and Seok Mae resumed proceedings.
"With the arena cleared, we move to the next match. Anyone wishing to participate in the Martial God Arena, step forward."
"Ahem..."
"I'd like a break this round."
"I'll go next."
Yet even after Seok Mae's words, no one boldly ascended to the arena.
Danri Hyang's recent display had raised the bar so high that no one wanted to follow.
No matter how fine a meal might be, it pales after a feast of delicacies.
With the crowd utterly captivated by Danri Hyang, scarcely any warriors remained willing to take the stage.
"...No one to step up for the duel?"
As no warriors showed signs of approaching, Seok Mae furrowed his brow.
It wasn't that the opponent was too strong; they simply hesitated to climb the arena at all.
He could guess their thoughts, but this was the Demonic Martial God Arena.
The Cult Leader himself was watching—what embarrassment was this?
Seok Mae disliked the warriors' reluctance.
He was about to issue a stern rebuke in his role as announcer when...
"I'll participate."
"Hm?"
Seok Mae whipped his head around at the sudden voice from behind.
There stood a middle-aged man with a hand on his waist.
Of average height and build, he wore a gentle smile like a kind father gazing at his child.
But Seok Mae was slightly taken aback upon seeing him.
'When did he come down?'
Until the man spoke, Seok Mae had barely sensed his presence.
Likewise, those watching the arena hadn't noticed him until then.
"Hey, there's someone there?"
"When did he get down?"
"Who is he? Never seen him before."
The man on the arena had the ordinary, unremarkable face one might see three or four times a day on the street.
Most spectators tilted their heads in confusion at his appearance.
"...!"
"...!"
But a few warriors who recognized him doubted their own eyes as he stepped forward.
Some gulped nervously, others felt cold sweat down their backs, some hands trembled, and one gripped his sword hilt in vengeful fury.
Those reacting so had one thing in common: they were warriors active in Shin River's underworld.
And now, they watched him with tension far beyond anything before.
"I didn't expect you to step up."
Seok Mae slowly opened his mouth as he stared at the middle-aged man.
"Dark Solitary Ghost Dokgo Sain. We welcome your participation."
"D-Dokgo Sain?"
"Someone from the Lone Valley Clan?!"
"And Dokgo Sain... an elder of the Lone Valley Clan!"
The crowd gaped at the man in astonishment.
Dokgo Sain merely smiled calmly amid the flood of attention.
Hyeok Mulin, watching him, turned his gaze to where the Lone Valley Clan sat.
Clan Patriarch Dokgo Wi, shrouded in black robes, stared impassively at the arena.
'Was this planned in advance?'
In truth, even Hyeok Mulin hadn't anticipated the Lone Valley Clan's participation in the Demonic Martial God Arena.
Nor had anyone in the arena expected someone bearing the Dokgo name to take the stage.
The reason was simple.
The Lone Valley Clan rarely appeared in open arenas like this.
Their stage was the shadows, moving covertly in the underworld without revealing themselves.
Thus, spotting Lone Valley warriors once a duel stage was set was like plucking stars from the sky.
'But showing up at the Martial God Arena means...'
Having stayed out of the public eye for so long, they clearly intended to proclaim their might to the world once more.
With their young master restored and aligned with the Cult Leader's faction, they aimed to usher in a new era for the clan.
"Good resolve."
The direction they had chosen now benefited Hyeok Mulin directly.
He could have ordered their participation, but they had stepped forward of their own accord.
Hyeok Mulin watched the stands with interest.
Most cultists eyed Dokgo Sain with excitement upon hearing the Lone Valley name, but some demons' gazes burned with murderous intent.
"This should be an interesting fight."
Dark Solitary Ghost Dokgo Sain.
It was Hyeok Mulin's first time seeing the face of this underworld operative.
Yet his nickname was renowned enough to reach Hyeok Mulin's ears, especially as the Lone Valley Clan's lone wolf operator.
'They called him a one-man army.'
Even as an elder, his frontline exploits were legendary.
He left no traces, and whenever people dropped dead in the night, the underworld knew without question.
—Looks like the Dark Solitary Ghost paid a visit overnight.
People devised every method to catch or at least block him, but all failed.
No matter the defenses, Dokgo Sain appeared and vanished like a ghost, effortlessly eliminating threats to the Lone Valley Clan.
Thus, the Lone Valley Clan seized control of the underworld, and no one denied Dokgo Sain's pivotal role.
"It'll be a bloodbath."
"Yes. Now that he's in the open, he'll be a target for all who harbor grudges against the Lone Valley Clan."
Ji Wolhon agreed with Hyeok Mulin.
The Lone Valley Clan ruled Shin River's underworld undisputed, but their ascent wasn't smooth.
They had crushed rivals through rivers of blood, leaving countless with grudges and vendettas.
Yet with their shadowy dominance, revenge had been impossible—until now.
As Hyeok Mulin predicted, people rose from various seats to challenge him.
But they were too late.
Thud.
A man had already climbed onto the arena.
Seok Mae approached the man glaring daggers at Dokgo Sain and asked,
"Who are you?"
"Hwang Manor Hwang Unchu."
"Reckless Tyrant Changing Fist Hwang Unchu...!"
"Who?"
"Never heard of him."
Most there didn't know Hwang Unchu, but those familiar with the underworld explained to those around them.
"He was once the patriarch of Hwang Manor, which ran a massive gambling den."
"Patriarch? He looks too young."
"No surprise. His clan nearly got wiped out a few years back."
He hailed from a clan that had amassed fortunes running a vast gambling hall in the outer castle's eastern underground.
Until one person reduced the hall and clan to ruins.
"It's been a while."
"Who are you? Have we met before?"
Hwang Unchu offered a greeting that wasn't quite one to Dokgo Sain.
But Dokgo Sain tilted his head as if facing a stranger.
Wrath flared in Hwang Unchu at the sight, creasing his forehead.
Fueled by burning resentment, he clenched his fist before letting out a hollow laugh.
"...I see. We've already been erased from your memory."
He understood.
The man had eliminated countless in the shadows; forgetting one or two clans or businesses was natural.
But for those victimized, the grudge lingered eternally.
As his fury showed, Dokgo Sain spoke with regret.
"You seem to hold ill will toward me, but I only acted against those who violated my clan's rules."
"For something so trivial, you destroyed a whole clan...!"
It might sound like an excuse, but his words were true.
Blinded by the gambling den's profits, Hwang Manor's patriarch ignored the Lone Valley Clan's warnings and tripled its size.
In doing so, they devoured new commoner patrons, raking in massive gains.
The Lone Valley Clan didn't tolerate those outside their control.
Days later, the patriarch, his influential wife, and over a dozen guards were found as cold corpses.
The residents who witnessed it knew instantly.
'The Dark Solitary Ghost visited in the night.'
Among them, Hwang Unchu, the great young master of Hwang Manor, had barely escaped the massacre with his life.
Forced to shutter the family business, he had trained in martial arts ever since, honing his blade of vengeance.
"I've waited my whole life for this moment."
As Seok Mae signaled the duel’s start, tyrannical demonic energy gathered in his grasp.
He didn’t move rashly but waited.
This was an arena visible from all sides.
Thus, he circled, baiting Dokgo Sain to move first.
Dokgo Sain shook his head slowly.
"That's a pity, then."
Dokgo Sain stepped forward first.
He advanced smoothly toward Hwang Unchu. Executing Demon Bird Three Phantom Ghosts, his form split into three: left, center, right.
Hwang Unchu's pupils dilated as he poured all focus into his eyes.
He was certain.
The right one was real.
Thus, he wrapped his fist in qi and unleashed Dragon-Breaking Single Fist toward the right.
But it was a trap.
"No...!"
As his fist connected with the form, it dissolved into afterimages, his strike cleaving empty air.
Realizing the ploy, he whipped his head around.
But the center and left forms soon faded into afterimages as well.
'What?'
As he questioned the opponent's total disappearance...
A growing presence made him turn slowly.
There stood Dokgo Sain behind him.
Hwang Unchu met the eyes of the man standing calmly with a secret weapon in hand.
"...?"
As he puzzled over the lack of motion...
Swish—
A thin red line appeared across Hwang Unchu's throat.
The line deepened, and thick blood soon erupted from it.
Thud.
His bloodless body collapsed, drained of strength.
Dokgo Sain looked down at him and murmured flatly,
"A lifetime of wasted effort."