Chapter 193
Chapter 193
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 193
Chapter Title: Baek Pagun's Challenge
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"Wow."
Cheonhwi's smile spread wide at Baek Pagun's shout, singling out the Soul Subduing Sect Leader.
"That's the fiery spirit I like."
It was exactly the kind of bold behavior he approved of.
A duel that decided the fate of Shaanxi Province.
When the first challenger stepped up with such overwhelming audacity, it was only natural for morale among his allies to soar.
And just as he thought.
"As expected of Great Hero Baek Pagun!"
"No matter how infamous the Shenzhou Four Tyrants are, they have to yield a step before Great Hero Baek Pagun!"
The allied camp buzzed with excitement.
Especially those from the mid- and small sects that had suffered at the hands of the Shenzhou Four Tyrants this time—their fervor seemed to pierce the heavens.
But not everyone felt the same.
"A double-edged sword."
Ha Woojin muttered softly.
The look in his eyes as he gazed at Baek Pagun was filled with concern.
It was good to call him out so boldly.
But if he lost the duel after that, the momentum would swing to the other side.
And it wouldn't just stop there.
It would undoubtedly grant the tyrants' camp even greater morale and momentum.
But he soon shook his head.
The one who had stepped forward was Baek Pagun.
Maintaining a one-person succession sect in the martial world was no easy feat.
The lineage could snap at any moment with death.
Yet the Small Sword Sect had preserved its hundreds-of-years lineage as a one-person sect, leaving no doubt about his skill.
"I just hope he doesn't get too worked up."
Ha Woojin voiced his one worry cautiously.
'He's got spirit and fire, but the opponent's a bad matchup.'
Cheonhwi kept his eyes fixed on the enemy camp.
As his gaze deepened on the three men and women.
"How dare he call out the Sect Leader?"
"Calling him out so openly..."
Meanwhile, the Shenzhou Four Tyrants' camp stirred slightly at Baek Pagun's sharp attitude.
All eyes turned especially to the Soul Subduing Sect Leader, directly named by him.
"That old bastard..."
The Soul Subduing Sect Leader's face twisted.
"Hehe. Looks like there's some grudge there."
A woman standing behind the seated Four Ghosts Sect Leader covered her mouth with her sleeve as she asked.
Grind—
The Soul Subduing Sect Leader ground his teeth.
His bad blood with Baek Pagun had arisen completely unexpectedly.
'If only I'd been a bit more cautious...'
The Soul Subduing Sect Leader's expression crumpled.
He had clashed with a small merchant group while rapidly expanding his forces. Who could have known the merchant leader's wife was Baek Pagun's adopted daughter?
"What, you hiding? Not coming out?"
Baek Pagun hurled another provocation.
"Is Baek Pagun that scary to you?"
As the provocations continued, the crowd, who had been covering their ears, gradually regained their hearing and erupted in cheers all at once.
"Waaah!"
"Baek Pagun! Baek Pagun!"
As the atmosphere tilted toward the imposingly standing Baek Pagun.
"What an amusing fellow."
A whisper echoed out.
It was a very low, calm voice.
Yet it chilled the chests of the loudly cheering crowd like cold air underlying the ground.
Immediately after.
"Let's keep our promises."
The man standing beside the Soul Subduing Sect Leader slowly walked up to the duel platform.
Step— step—
Leisurely footsteps.
As the watching crowd fell deathly silent, only those footsteps filled the Verdant Wild Plain.
Moments later, the man stood atop the duel platform.
Baek Pagun's eyebrow twitched.
He wouldn't normally step forward for such things; the reason he wanted to duel was to face the Soul Subduing Sect Leader himself.
But they were hiding in the back, sending instead a tall, six-foot man whose identity was unknown under his deeply pressed bamboo hat.
"The Soul Subduing Sect Leader won't come out himself, so you're stepping up?"
"It wasn't specified that the sect leader had to."
"Looks like you're scared now that I'm up here."
As Baek Pagun smirked mockingly.
"Heh heh heh."
The man's lips twisted under the bamboo hat.
"Quite the confidence you've got."
"What?"
"But haven't you considered this?"
The man snorted derisively as he spoke.
"That there's no need for our sect leader to deal with trash like you."
"......"
Baek Pagun's face hardened at the man's retort of provocation with provocation.
At the same time, his anger reached its peak.
Swish.
Baek Pagun's hand moved to his waist.
His beloved blade White Edge, which had walked the bloody fields with him for decades, was gripped.
Feeling the all-too-familiar touch of the sword against his callused palm, Baek Pagun closed his eyes, opened them, and steadied his breath.
His anger subsided.
And in its place, killing intent surged.
"Fine killing intent."
The man's lips curved up under the hat. Then, he placed a hand on the hat and flung it off with a flick.
At that moment.
"Gasp!"
"Kyaa!"
"H-his face?!"
Screams and gasps burst out here and there. The revealed man's face was covered in scars.
Not just any scars.
Horrific sword marks slashed across his cheeks, forehead, nose, and even neck.
So gruesome that some tightly shut their eyes and turned away.
Then the man's mouth opened.
"Janchil."
He uttered what was clearly a pseudonym and drew his sword.
A blood-red aura swirled around the blade, as if it had drunk blood.
Baek Pagun, watching, slowly drew his own crackling White Edge.
There was no more talk.
They simply assumed their stances.
Baek Pagun's pitch-black-and-white divided eyes emitted sharp killing intent.
In contrast, Janchil remained composed.
They glared at each other for a moment.
"Hah!"
Baek Pagun shouted his battle cry.
Clang!
Sword and blade clashed, unleashing a sharp whoosh.
Janchil lightly deflected the blade.
But Baek Pagun wasn't one to fall for such finesse easily.
Crack crack!
Twisting his arm, Baek Pagun swung the blade reverse-grip toward Janchil's waist.
A bizarre directional shift.
Ching!
But Janchil was no pushover either, blocking the blade with his sword.
Kaaang!
Intense sparks flew.
Bright enough for even those far from the platform to see clearly.
Clang! Ching!
Sword and blade sliced through the air, sharp sounds continuing endlessly.
The watching crowd couldn't tear their eyes away, fists clenched at the fierce clashes.
"S-such intense exchanges!"
"Hah, Baek Pagun is one of Shaanxi's top blade masters... Just who is that guy...?"
Someone muttered.
Most had predicted Baek Pagun's victory the moment the tyrants' sect leader didn't step up himself.
Yet the horrific-looking man who entered in his place was trading blows with Baek Pagun as if mocking their expectations.
"Wait, didn't Baek Pagun just get pushed back...?"
One man whispered.
"R-really? From what I see, they're still even..."
His companion stammered.
Those ignorant of martial arts couldn't grasp the flow.
They judged only by the sparks and surging energies.
But those versed in martial arts saw differently.
"None of the offense is landing."
Cheonhwi said quietly.
"......Was there such an expert?"
Ha Woojin couldn't hide his surprise.
Baek Pagun, as rumored, was a transcendent realm master freely wielding sword qi.
But his opponent was no slouch.
"At this rate, he'll lose."
Cheonhwi stated calmly, though a smile formed inwardly.
'I was worried they'd send mediocrity.'
He planned to uproot them entirely.
'Sending guys like this makes it perfect for a clean sweep.'
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed.
Janchil and the others from the Shenzhou Four Tyrants were decently skilled.
'Especially that bewitching woman.'
The woman behind the Four Ghosts Sect Leader.
The aura she concealed was far superior to the other two.
As Cheonhwi scanned them.
"Enough pointless flailing."
Janchil's sword suddenly changed.
Until now, it had been smooth and sharp.
Now it was heavy and fast.
Contradictory terms.
But none fit Janchil's current swordplay better.
"......!"
Baek Pagun's eyes widened.
'Why is an expert like this...?'
His first thought was puzzlement.
Though called the Shenzhou Four Tyrants, the Soul Subduing Sect was a newly risen faction.
Yet it had a swordsman this strong.
But the doubt didn't last.
The incoming sword struck fiercely, closing in.
"Haaap!"
Roaring in fury, Baek Pagun's White Edge surged from below upward.
In an instant, a white wave crashed.
It swept forward as if it could shatter even the heavens blocking its path, engulfing Janchil.
Baek Pagun's Signature Technique!
As White Wave Piercing Heaven unfolded, the crowd collectively held their breath.
Even from afar, the overwhelming momentum made them forget to breathe.
Kwaaaang!
A deafening explosion and intense shockwave swept the Verdant Wild Plain.
Silence blanketed the plain.
In that moment, atop the platform, Baek Pagun and Janchil stood with sword and blade locked.
Then.
Ching—
A clear ring echoed from the ground.
The sound of Baek Pagun's White Edge falling to the platform from his hand.
No one could open their mouth.
Despite the dense crowd.
But the silence shattered soon enough.
"Baek Pagun lost?!"
"A new star has risen in the martial world!"
Shouts of shock erupted everywhere.
Most had bet on Baek Pagun over the unknown Janchil.
Baek Pagun was renowned in the world, while Janchil was a nobody.
Yet the result was the opposite.
As all eyes fixed on the platform at the birth of a new martial world powerhouse.
Drip drip—
Blood trickled from Baek Pagun's mouth.
He'd taken deep internal injuries; blood kept flowing from between his tightly clenched lips.
"S-Soul... Subduing... that bastard... sicced an expert... like you on me...?"
"Just aligned interests."
Janchil replied coldly, raising his sword high.
Some glared in fury.
This was a duel, stakes or not.
Taking a life openly!
Swaeek!
The sword slashed toward Baek Pagun's neck.
No, it seemed to.
"Isn't that excessive?"
Ha Woojin, who had appeared suddenly, blocked the sword before Baek Pagun.
"The world of victory is ruthless."
Ha Woojin's eyebrow arched.
Fury flashed briefly on his face.
"S-sorry... I asked you... to stay back... from afar... but you... came."
Baek Pagun said with difficulty.
"Don't speak."
Ha Woojin urgently checked his pulse.
Feeling the fading pulse, his expression darkened.
He immediately hoisted Baek Pagun on his back and moved.
"Wait a moment."
Glare fixed on Janchil, he spoke before kicking off.
Descending in one leap, he placed Baek Pagun between Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan.
"Please treat him."
With those words, he kicked off the ground.
No time to waste.
With morale crushed by the opponent's victory, he had to win.
Standing on the platform, Ha Woojin coldly glared at Janchil and raised his sword.
"Your next opponent is me."