Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: The Sects Assemble
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“Is one gold note not enough?”
As Cheonhwi smacked his lips.
“What’s a Daoist priest like you going to do, loving money so much?”
A rebuke came from the side.
Cheon Igai, who had been hiding secretly among the crowd, grumbled as he stood next to Cheonhwi.
Cheonhwi raised an eyebrow.
“Even a beggar is betting huge sums that ordinary folks couldn’t touch in a lifetime. What’s the difference if a Daoist loves money a bit?”
“Ahem, hmm. What do you mean by that?”
Cheon Igai cleared his throat repeatedly.
Cheonhwi grinned.
“Still, after watching you for so long, I’ll take exactly ten percent.”
“What nonsense is that?”
Cheon Igai jumped up.
But Cheonhwi was firm.
“You’re making free money thanks to me.”
“……It’s my money I bet.”
“So you hate it?”
When Cheonhwi asked expressionlessly, Cheon Igai suddenly felt uneasy rising from within.
“Argh! Fine, fine! Yeah. Ptooey! I’ll give it to you since I’m filthy.”
“Aren’t you the filthy one, Elder? You haven’t even cleaned the sleep from your eyes……”
“This brat’s turning my insides out to the end. Aigoo! I’m dying, I’m dying!”
As Cheon Igai pounded his chest like he was about to explode with rage.
“By the way, what did you do with Manbyeokgoe?”
Cheonhwi changed the mood and asked.
Cheon Igai clicked his tongue for a moment, then stopped his rampage.
“Handed him over to the Murim Alliance’s Shaanxi branch for now.”
“Handed him over? Weren’t you going to extract information from him?”
“He’ll be escorted to the Murim Alliance headquarters. The Alliance Leader will handle it.”
“That’s pretty irresponsible.”
A vein bulged on Cheon Igai’s forehead.
“What? Isn’t this all because you dragged me into it! I wanted to dig out what that guy was hiding too.”
Looking at the grumbling Cheon Igai, Cheonhwi tilted his head.
“I never called you directly, Elder.”
Cheon Igai’s eyebrows shot up.
“Then who else should I call when you need an informant?”
“Exactly.”
“You think I’m crazy enough to entrust your cleanup to other guys?”
“What’s wrong with that? Even another Beggar Clan member would suffice, no?”
Cheon Igai looked incredulous.
Were the things Cheonhwi had been up to something ordinary Beggar Clan disciples could handle?
Sect exterminations and parity with the Mount Zhongnan Sword Castle.
Each one could cause massive waves if known in the martial world.
His head aching, Cheon Igai pressed his forehead and shook his head.
“Sigh, forget it. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
At that moment, Cheon Igai’s eyes gleamed.
“More importantly, with Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua moving, a ton of people showed up.”
“Know anyone?”
“Only people I know. Even folks who shouldn’t be showing their faces here.”
Cheon Igai’s gaze swept over familiar faces in the crowd.
“Tch, even from the Low Heavens Association and the Evil-Black Alliance. Looks like Green Forest bandits too……”
As Cheon Igai grumbled.
“Waaah!”
Cheers erupted from afar.
“Hm?”
Cheonhwi turned his neck that way.
“Already here?”
The crowd’s eyes turned toward the large dueling arena set in Qingya Plain.
A crudely made arena, as if hastily constructed.
But as key figures appeared from both sides, the arena somehow seemed to sparkle.
And they were no ordinary people.
“It’s Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan!”
“The Shinju Four Evils!”
Shouts burst from both sides.
Their eyes couldn’t leave the figures appearing from each direction.
The two forces vying for supremacy in Shaanxi.
Mount Zhongnan, Mount Hua, and the Shinju Four Evils.
Especially, they gulped dryly at the Daoists from Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua emerging from the left.
The Daoists of the two orthodox sects strode forward confidently in their respective robes.
Light blue Daoist robes embroidered with cloud patterns.
White-purple Daoist robes embroidered with plum blossom patterns.
The sight of the two sects boasting the longest histories in Shaanxi, Mount Zhongnan Sect and Mount Hua Sect, appearing together was spectacular.
Some gazed in rapture.
“Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan together.”
“Look at the Sect Leaders. Don’t they look like immortals descending?”
“When will we see this again?”
Meanwhile, the other side buzzed too.
But it felt different from those watching Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua.
“Th-that’s vicious killing intent.”
“Such intense presence.”
The Shinju Four Evils’ aura was heavy.
Especially, eyes couldn’t leave the three men and women walking alongside the sect leaders of the Shinju Four Evils, excluding Sayugok.
A tall man with his hat pulled low.
A smiling young noble.
And a beautiful woman in her mid-thirties, leaning on the Sa-gwi Sect Leader.
The three exuded strange charms that overwhelmed the sect leaders beside them.
“Th-the Shinju Four Evils aren’t pushovers either.”
“No clue who’ll win……”
As the two forces formed ranks with the arena in the center.
“I’ll head out now, so gather some info here, Elder.”
Leaving words close to a notification, Cheonhwi vanished. Cheon Igai scowled at the afterimage before he could reply.
“You’d do that even if I didn’t say it!”
Grumbling, he brightened his eyes.
Qingya Plain, packed with people now, was an unprecedented trove of information.
He immediately perked his ears.
“I heard this too……”
“The Shinju Four Evils……”
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Cheonhwi arrived at the left formation where the Mount Zhongnan Sect and Mount Hua Sect Daoists had gathered.
“You’re here.”
The Sect Leader greeted him warmly.
But Cheonhwi’s eyes went to those in the formation rather than the Sect Leader.
“The mood here is peculiar.”
Even in the same formation, Mount Hua Sect and Mount Zhongnan Sect kept distance like water and oil, showing no intent to approach.
Precisely, neither side showed any desire to approach or speak first.
“Can the deep chasm of conflict carved over long years be filled in just a few days?”
The Sect Leader said calmly.
His gaze turned toward the Mount Zhongnan Sect.
Some there showed goodwill, but that was it.
They didn’t approach further.
Plus, with them watching like that.
Cheonhwi read their emotions.
The feelings Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua showed each other seemed mutually wary at a glance, but closer observation revealed subtle differences.
Most Mount Zhongnan Daoists didn’t show it overtly but subtly looked down on Mount Hua Sect.
And likewise, Mount Hua Sect Daoists didn’t think highly of Mount Zhongnan Sect.
They can’t get close.
Cheonhwi’s eyes narrowed.
As he turned his head.
“Anyway, it’s about to start.”
The Sect Leader murmured lowly, looking up at the dueling arena in Qingya Plain.
Normally, he wouldn’t leave Mount Hua Sect, but this was different.
A duel staking Shaanxi’s fate.
For Mount Hua Sect, flapping its wings vigorously, this duel would decide if it soared higher or plummeted.
We must win.
Unlike the tense Sect Leader, Cheonhwi yawned and nodded off.
Then.
“Hm?”
A familiar face caught his eye.
Hwajin’s face lit up the moment their eyes met.
He waved and ran over.
“Cheonhwi!”
“Long time no see.”
“Yeah, long time.”
Hwajin beamed.
After a moment, he scanned the Mount Hua Sect Daoists, face hardening as he approached Cheonhwi.
He whispered cautiously in his ear.
“Mount Hua Sect’s representative wouldn’t be……”
“Me. Why?”
“Heh.”
Hwajin’s expression grew complicated.
“Not hiding it anymore?”
Worry laced his tone.
Cheonhwi nearly snorted.
Who’s worrying about whom?
Swallowing a laugh, Cheonhwi said.
“They said a crane among chickens.”
“……That fits too.”
Hwajin smiled wryly.
Thinking about it, hiding Cheonhwi until now was the bold move.
Since it’ll be revealed anyway, they’re letting him grab some fame.
It was understandable.
Understanding Mount Hua Sect’s decision, Hwajin nodded and spoke.
“Then you and I will step up for this duel.”
“Huh? You’re entering the duel?”
Cheonhwi tilted his head.
“What’s so surprising? Is it weird for me to enter?”
“That too, but I thought the Mount Zhongnan Sect Leader would step up personally.”
Cheonhwi said matter-of-factly.
Of course, Hwajin’s skills were decent.
After the decisive battle with White Ghost Castle, he seemed to have gained enlightenment, breaking through a wall with a different aura.
But.
Still not enough.
Compared to Im Yeong, he was lacking.
Since it’s a duel for Shaanxi’s fate, I thought he’d step up himself.
Hwajin smiled faintly.
“Don’t I seem reliable?”
“The Sect Leader’s stronger.”
Hwajin’s eyes widened.
He hurriedly glanced around, then whispered to Cheonhwi.
“……H-how did you know?”
“Pardon?”
Hwajin’s face turned serious.
“The Sect Leader’s martial prowess is said to have only recently reached the Wuji Realm in the current martial world. How……”
“You can tell just by looking.”
“What……?”
Hwajin stared in bewilderment.
Then burst into hollow laughter.
“No, I asked something pointless.”
The opponent was Cheonhwi.
Beyond his common sense.
As Hwajin smiled bitterly.
Thud— thud—
A sturdy white-haired elder approached.
Hwajin clasped hands in greeting upon seeing him.
He was Baek Pagun, Sect Leader of the Small Sword Sect, a one-man lineage sect, participating in this duel.
“Long time no see, Great Hero.”
“I heard you’re entering this duel too…… Is it true?”
“Yes.”
Baek Pagun’s eyes deepened.
“Then, one request.”
“What is it?”
“May I go first?”
He clenched his fist, eager to enter the duel as soon as possible.
“I request it.”
Hwajin’s eyes widened.
Baek Pagun was famed as a lone warrior. For him to bow his head.
“I don’t mind.”
Baek Pagun clasped hands.
“Thank you for yielding.”
“Haha, no big deal.”
As Baek Pagun turned to leave after raising his head, he paused and asked.
“By the way, do you know who from Mount Hua Sect is entering the duel?”
The moment the question ended.
“Me.”
Cheonhwi, among them, spoke.
“……!”
Baek Pagun’s pupils shook.
Mount Hua Sect’s fate was at stake too.
So he expected the Flowing Cloud Sword Gentleman or an equivalent master.
But such a young kid?
What’s Mount Hua Sect thinking?
After a moment’s thought, he shook his head.
What did Mount Hua Sect matter.
He wanted one thing now.
“If it’s not rude, may I enter the duel first?”
Baek Pagun’s words were grave.
No matter how young, the opponent was a Mount Hua Sect Daoist.
Participating in the duel, no less.
“Do as you like.”
“Thank you for permitting.”
“No big deal. It’s not that impressive.”
As Cheonhwi dismissed it lightly, Baek Pagun smiled for the first time.
“Heh heh.”
Baek Pagun wore a gentle smile like looking at a grandson, for a brief moment.
Tap.
Erasing the smile, Baek Pagun stomped and soared into the air in one breath.
Landing atop the arena instantly, he glared at the Shinju Four Evils side and spoke.
“This one is Baek Pagun of the Small Sword Sect!”
He roared a thunderous lion’s bellow.
So loud and fierce that the crowd, about to cheer his entrance, covered their ears.
But Baek Pagun, unconcerned, shouted again.
“Soul-Subduing Sect Leader, come out!”