Chapter 92
The whole city of Sichuan was buzzing so loudly it echoed up to the second floor of the restaurant.
Do these people have nothing better to do? Or are they just that into it? But ironically, no one recognized my face—the star of the show—so nobody gave me a second glance. Except for one person.
"Young Master Kang. Try some of this too."
"...Lady Mi-bong, you should eat quickly too."
"I've started managing my figure again since yesterday."
"Ah, I see."
I knew that true beauty came from good genes plus consistent effort. What more does she have to lose? If Sword Phoenix—who had thick arms and thighs like an athlete—heard that, she'd spit blood.
"But staring like that all the time..."
"Just looking at you fills me up, Young Master."
"You'll get indigestion."
"Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"Yes. I feel a bout of dyspepsia coming on soon."
"Oh my! If that happens, I'll take full responsibility and nurse you back to health."
"Good grief..."
Conversation with her was utterly impossible.
Creak—
"Haha! What a commotion!"
Just then, Fist King—who'd followed us to the restaurant—naturally claimed a seat and shamelessly placed his order.
"Elder, didn't you say you were off to meet a friend?"
"The old fogies kept badgering me with questions, so I bolted! Haha!"
"That's why you had such a big tail."
"Oh! What a coincidence!"
Fist King feigned ignorance about his friends trailing behind him.
"Gasp! Sword Empress?!"
"Gait Empress too!"
"M-My goodness..."
The customers recognized the sudden influx of uncles and aunties flooding the restaurant. They set down their spoons and chopsticks and quietly slipped away.
I felt the same way. Why? Too many big shots!
The wuxia novel Is This Heavenly Demon For Real? spanned 215 volumes, so it featured plenty of heavyweights. I'd figured it'd be fine, but this martial arts tournament—the martial world's Olympics—acted like a magnet, drawing them all in.
"My friend, it'd be a shame if you went alone."
"Mind if we join you?"
"We'll cover the bill."
Having poured nearly all my funds from the tournament bets into more bets, my wallet was looking thin. I couldn't refuse.
"Please, have a seat!"
"We expected the Heavenly Demon's grandson to be some shady character..."
"Hoho! What a polite and spirited young man."
"Innkeeper! Bring the best liquor this place has!"
Clink!
Fist King's friends filled the table with liquor and snacks they'd ordered. Mi-bong, who'd been sitting across from me, subtly shifted to my side.
A man and woman in matching outfits sitting side by side? Perfect recipe for rumors...
"Ah, youth."
"The best time."
"Miss those days."
Clink!
The renowned martial world uncles and aunties exchanged drinks while looking at us fondly. Then they tossed casual questions my way...
"My father drowned in liquor and passed away, so I've lived alone since. Recently, fed up with poverty, I just ran off on impulse."
Not a lie. It was Kang Moon-soo's life—scraping by with part-time jobs after his ridiculous father's death. I wanted to change it.
"We get the gist. But age brings suspicion..."
"Any proof you're the Heavenly Demon's grandson?"
"Of course."
I flashed a relaxed smile and extended my right index and middle fingers.
"Two pieces of evidence. First: power."
Whoosh~
A gentle breeze began to stir around me.
"......"
"......"
But Fist King's friends, feeling it on their skin, couldn't laugh. The wind marked my territory—my attack range. Show even a hint of hostility, and my qi-enhanced kick would split their skull.
"Second: a keepsake. The source of my strength."
"Hm!"
"A manual...!"
I'd read it 32 times and gained nothing, but it'd be different for martial artists.
Shff—
I pulled out the book my skeletal master had asked me to deliver to the Heavenly Demon and showed only the cover: plain brown leather, no title or drawings. Yet no one doubted its authenticity.
"Young Master Kang, what's your goal in entering the martial world?"
"Money."
"That's truly all?"
"Looking for someone."
"A foe?"
"A man hiding his face in the martial world, masquerading as someone else. Find him, and I get a treasure. It's a commission."
"What treasure...?"
"Secret."
The 'real-world currency' reward from a Ranubel patient's family. Earning gold in the world of Is This Heavenly Demon For Real? meant nothing.
He's about due to show up...
I was genuinely curious about Mao Zai's reaction.
* * *
The Sichuan Top Martial Arts Tournament preliminaries ended, and the main bracket finally began.
Sichuan's Greatest Sword had shockingly dropped out in prelims, but aside from him, all the big names advanced as the organizers intended!
"Emei Fairy wins!"
"Poison King wins!"
"Emei Divine Sword wins!"
"Sword Demon wins!"
But the audience had zero interest in the famous fighters' matches.
Boom! Flash! Clang...!
Dust clouds hid the martial artists moving at invisible speeds. The fights were boring as hell. So most spectators only cared who won.
If the martial artist I'd bet on lost, I'd be out on the streets. Crucial stuff.
The rare exceptions?
"Whoa! What a clever move!"
"Paper-thin margin!"
"Brilliant counter."
A tiny handful of martial artists on par with the competitors watched with rapt attention. You see what you know, right?
The organizers knew it too, so they rushed the matches.
"Young Hero Kang Moon-soo."
"...Already my turn."
At this pace, finals in half a day—but no, they needed time for treatments and rest.
Shff.
I'd been watching from the prime front-row seat—visible yet safe—when a tournament official called me. I stood.
"Young Master Kang! Blow 'em away!"
"Got it."
Mi-bong cheered cutely, clenching her fists.
I ignored Fist Dragon's clean "Give it your all, even for taking down Sichuan's Greatest Sword"—the guy who'd bet on last year's champ.
"Please! Pretty please!"
Sword Phoenix hoped I'd lose or get hurt, since the winner faced Emei Fairy—her bet. I'd crush that dream for sure.
"Young Hero Kang. Best of luck."
Fist Dragon offered half-hearted support, glancing at his master. Ignored, naturally!
I walked to the arena at a pace matching my opponent's.
"......"
"......"
No cheers for me.
The crowd who'd bet on Sichuan's Greatest Sword fumed! They'd come for his main bracket match, but he bombed prelims, and now I was up. Wasted trip.
Still, they're awfully quiet.
A mob drunk on rage could've jeered and cursed. But they stayed silent.
Rumors of me as the Heavenly Demon's grandson had spread like wildfire.
Heavenly Demon. Even commoners and officials ignorant of the martial world feared that name. Ignorance bred terror.
Instead,
"Emei Divine Sword sis~!"
"Emei Sect's genius swordswoman!"
"We believe in you! Emei Divine Sword!"
The crowd cheered the woman I'd face next.
Emei Divine Sword. She'd declared marriage to her sword, divorced it right after losing to the protagonist, then remarried him in shameless fashion... Timing suggested she hadn't divorced yet.
"Kang Moon-soo."
"Are you really the Heavenly Demon's grandson, like the rumors?"
"I don't get why someone who'd believe it only if I'm stronger than you is asking."
"...Sharp as a blade. I'm Emei Divine Sword."
We exchanged friendly greetings, then took positions at the agreed distance.
The referee announced,
"You know the rules, but I'll explain again. Surrender or knockout means defeat. Leaving the arena or using banned weapons too. Match starts when this coin hits the ground. Understood?"
"Yes."
"Got it."
I scanned Emei Divine Sword during his spiel. Song Seon-yeong's summary covered her swordsmanship and qi cultivation, but low priority—I barely remembered names. Rough idea of her style?
Her tall frame matched mine eye-to-eye, and her long, beautiful blade suited it perfectly.
Shing—
That blade's name? Emei Divine Sword too. Emei Sect treasure, the husband she'd sworn lifelong fidelity to—until she cheated and got divorced. Her grandiose title came from him.
"Your weapon?"
She eyed the Green Forest Eight Blades at my waist.
"Don't worry about it. Decoration."
"......"
Her face hardened at my answer.
"Prepare."
Referee's ready signal.
Shff—
I dropped into a sprinter's stance at the line. Crouching start: feet staggered front-back, fingertips on ground, weight forward for explosive launch. Leverages body weight for speed and reaction.
"That's...?"
"You'll see."
Ting~!
The referee tossed the coin midway between us and bolted from the arena.
Right after, tok.
Coin hit ground—I shot forward in a straight line.
Two steps. Qi-infused legs covered impossible distance compared to reality. Speed? Unmatched.
"Ah...?"
Emei Divine Sword poised gracefully, husband's blade tip aimed at me.
Crack!
My fist smashed squarely into her dumbfounded face.
'It's a match.'
A kick would've caved her forehead in, dead.
Whoosh!
The shockwave— a beat late—blasted the unconscious Emei Divine Sword and her husband blade out of the arena.
"......"
"......"
Silent arena. Feeling a tad awkward, I waved front and back as I exited.
"Young Master! What was that bizarre prep stance technique?!"
"Crouching."
"Crow-what?!"
"Not repeating twice."
"Tch."
Fist King pouted, but I didn't care about some uncle's feelings—especially not a non-beauty.
"Young Master, you okay?"
Mi-bong eyed Emei Divine Sword worriedly.
"Didn't kill her."
"Her face."
"Even Fist King Elder—who figured he'd only eat beatings forever—recovered quick, right? She'll be fine."
"If so, that's a relief..."
As a fellow woman, her face bugged Mi-bong.
Then,
"Young Master Kang! Finally showing your true colors! Punching a woman's face—her lifeblood—again?!"
Sword Phoenix, who'd sworn not to miss any expert bouts, had rushed over to chew me out before all matches ended.
What a tiring life.
Sword Phoenix survived meddling because she lucked into a good husband. Anyway,
"Next match, I'll avoid the face."
"How?"
Sword Phoenix—who'd bet on Emei Fairy—probed relentlessly.
"Rip her clothes off."
"...Pardon?"
"She'll surrender then."
"Strip her in front of all those men?!"
"Yes. Gentle—no scratches on the skin."
"No way! Got some grudge against Emei Fairy?! Worse than punching her face!"
"Hmm~"
"Absolutely not!"
"If you're that worried, I could tip her off."
"Don't underestimate me. Who'd pull such a cowardly stunt..."
"Suit yourself."
"......"
In Is This Heavenly Demon For Real?, Emei Divine Sword was a captivating beauty deluged with proposals. Yet she failed!
What about Emei Fairy?
Time to test if Mao Zai ignored her too.