Chapter 83

Translator: Penny

Chapter 83

Han Yoo-seong momentarily halted his movement.

Lying collapsed on the ground were a total of eight warriors.

Two Rank 5s and one Rank 4 were dead.

One Rank 4 and the remaining four had some part of their bodies broken and couldn't support themselves.

Han Yoo-seong had taken the Martial Arts World Survival Attribute course through the Transcendent Gallery before disembarking from the merchant ship.

Adding that life becomes arduous if you just kill indiscriminately, Senior Sword Saint continued the comments.

Those words were greatly helpful as knowledge, but they couldn't become Han Yoo-seong's standard.

It was simply the path he chose because killing the Rank 5s was simpler, clearer, and had a higher win rate than subduing them.

Ultimately, it was the correct judgment.

Since he killed the two instantly, the rest were terrified and lost their spirits.

"Did you get your bearings?"

The smell of blood tickled the tip of his nose.

Yeon Seol-ah nodded her head vigorously.

Han Yoo-seong's mouth moved again.

"Then let's hear the explanation while we go. Being a scion of a famous family, your footwork must be good."

Han Yoo-seong and Yeon Seol-ah. And Hyeongro. The three simultaneously began to run.

Han Yoo-seong took out the talisman and Holy Seal given by Senior Shrine Maiden from his Inventory and unfurled the 'Veil of Secrecy'.

And he distorted the scenery on both sides of the three.

He once again felt that there was no item better than this when escaping.

"B-but…!"

Yeon Seol-ah finally matched her pace with Han Yoo-seong's. Then she approached his side and opened her mouth.

"Why are you helping me?"

It was a question he had already anticipated.

And he had also thought of the answer beforehand.

"My late father mentioned once that he had received a favor from the Yeon Family. And hearing the whispers on the ship, it wasn't difficult to realize that the Hubei Yeon Family being pursued right now."

Of course, Han Yoo-seong's father was alive and well in South Korea.

He decided to use the fake identity designed by Senior Dang Ha-yeon to make Yeon Seol-ah understand easily.

As per Senior Dang Ha-yeon's advice, Yeon Seol-ah understood relatively quickly.

"…Thank you. Even though it's not something you experienced personally, you're helping like this."

"Don't thank me yet. If you make a wrong move, you could die right away."

Han Yoo-seong spoke coldly and quickened his pace.

"You were heading to the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly venue, right?"

The location of the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly venue was here, Suzhou.

The central point of Suzhou.

The three entered an alleyway.

Tststststs!

Han Yoo-seong spread his Energy Sense.

He could perceive the locations of all people nearby.

There was no one possessing martial power above a certain level chasing them.

He had completely severed the pursuit team.

At least for now.

Yeon Seol-ah wiped her sweat and finally gave an answer to the question Han Yoo-seong had thrown.

"Yes, that's right."

"The proxy participant we were going to field for the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly has died."

Yeon Seol-ah hung her head low.

"…Yes."

What a devastating situation.

"So, what do you plan to do now?"

At Han Yoo-seong's words, Yeon Seol-ah exchanged glances with Hyeongro.

Hyeongro opened his mouth.

"The method to ensure the young lady's safety within possible common sense was for the participant fielded by the Hubei Yeon Family side to become the number one in the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly, but…."

Possible common sense.

Han Yoo-seong recalled Senior Heavenly Demon's words.

Things outside the bounds of common sense.

Hyeongro opened his mouth again.

"Your martial power seemed to be around Rank 6. The same as the maximum standard for the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly, Rank 6… If you were to become our proxy participant, we would repay you handsomely in the fut…."

Han Yoo-seong cut off Hyeongro's words.

"I'm not Rank 6."

"Pardon?"

"I'm not Rank 6, I'm Rank 5."

Hyeongro blinked his eyes at my words.

Yeon Seol-ah also showed a dazed expression again.

"B-but you just defeated two Rank 5s, a Rank 4… and the rest in one go…?"

"That's because it was possible to defeat them. It's separate from me being Rank 5."

"So, that can't be separate…."

Yeon Seol-ah kept muttering as if it were truly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠unbelievable words.

Han Yoo-seong opened his mouth again.

"If I participate as a proxy, are there any disadvantages for me?"

It was Hyeongro who explained.

"There are no special disadvantages, but the absolute rule of the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly, no killing… when that is violated by a proxy, the damage the perpetrator receives is considerably reduced. However, that doesn't mean people try to kill easily. Because the perception is bad regardless."

Han Yoo-seong made a chin gesture.

"Conversely, if I kill the opponent?"

"…You will likely be killed under pressure from the Martial Arts Alliance. Unless it's a proxy from another powerful family with solid backing, but for a wanderer…."

"Ah, a wanderer."

Han Yoo-seong wasn't actually deliberating.

The exchanged questions and answers were stories he had already heard through Senior Dang Ha-yeon.

'Can't be bad.'

Thinking purely from an experience standpoint, it was a good opportunity to have numerous sparring matches.

He might even grasp the sensation needed to break through to Rank 5.

'Almost all other choices are just fanciful. This has the highest probability.'

The most certain method to save Yeon Seol-ah's life was to become the number one in the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly.

Then, he had no choice but to select this path.

"I'll do it, the proxy."

He saw a gleam forming in the eyes of Yeon Seol-ah and Hyeongro.

"Thank you, but may I ask again why you are helping us this time…?"

Han Yoo-seong decided to apply Dang Ha-yeon's solution this time as well.

"I've been training only in the mountains for years, you see. I felt like I lacked real combat experience anyway, so I think it's a good thing, that's all."

This was the setting Senior Dang Ha-yeon had prepared.

"But I told you. I'm Rank 5."

The two nodded their heads vigorously simultaneously.

"That's alright…! You seem stronger than the proxy I had prepared!"

Han Yoo-seong twisted the corner of his mouth.

"Isn't that a problem in its own right? If that person had proceeded as they were, it seems they would have lost immediately and that would have been the end."

At my words, Yeon Seol-ah let out a faint sigh.

"Right… that is a problem in its own right."

"Do you know the way to the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly venue?"

"Yes, from here on, if we just properly express our intention to participate in the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly, they won't pursue us openly like they just did."

As if her mind had stabilized a bit now, she acted somewhat calmer.

"So, do you have a place to stay?"

The day was growing dark.

Even if they express their intention, they would have to do it after the sun rises.

"There's a small inn in front of the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly venue. The owner there is an acquaintance of mine."

"Is that so?"

So there was at least one corner she trusted.

As Yeon Seol-ah said, no elements that could pose a threat were visible at the inn, Cloud Dream Pavilion.

"Don't worry. I'm not so ill-bred as to harm the younger sibling of a friend."

The man who introduced himself as Hyeokun looked at Yeon Seol-ah and asked.

"Is Yooshin still missing?"

Yeon Seol-ah said powerlessly.

"Yes, still…."

"He should return."

Hyeokun said that and left his seat.

After devouring a bowl of cold noodles and dumplings, Han Yoo-seong subtly asked Yeon Seol-ah.

"You'll have to tell me now why the Hubei Yeon Family is in this situation."

At Han Yoo-seong's question, Yeon Seol-ah began to explain.

"Last year, the family's eldest son, my older brother Yeon Yooshin, went missing. The problem is something my older brother did before that… during a spar with Baekri Hyeok, the eldest son of the Baekri Family, he killed Baekri Hyeok and then went missing."

Killing the eldest son of another family and then missing.

"Did he kill him with the intent to kill?"

At Han Yoo-seong's words, Yeon Seol-ah slowly shook her head.

"I can't be sure of that. There's only one witness to that spar… and that person is from the Baekri Family."

"If that person Yeon Yooshin is alive, asking him would probably be certain."

At Han Yoo-seong's words, Yeon Seol-ah opened her eyes wide and said.

"Right…! I want to ask him! I really want to! I really wonder where he's holed up!"

She added in a low voice.

"Though it's better than him being dead, haa."

"The eldest son of the Baekri Family is confirmed dead. And using that as a pretext, the Baekri Family side is taking moves to swallow up the Hubei Yeon Family."

"That's right. It's not just any other family, but one of the Five Great Clans, the Hebei Peng Family side, is siding with the Baekri Family, so… using my older brother killing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Baekri Hyeok as a pretext, our main force warriors were killed last night."

Han Yoo-seong tilted his head.

"Then isn't the family's very existence in jeopardy right now?"

The stiffness of Yeon Seol-ah's face showed no sign of easing.

"For now, the family head, my father, is thoroughly protecting the family… but it's clear the situation will gradually become more difficult. If there was no Rank 6 restriction, Father would have participated directly, but my father is Rank 7, you see."

Han Yoo-seong's curiosity about the current situation was resolved.

The time remaining until the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly was one week.

All he had to do was stay still as a mouse for a week and then head to the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly venue.

Things to do overflowed for a week.

Repetition of mental method creation and martial arts training.

Private room.

I sat in a cross-legged posture inside an old building at the far end across from the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly venue.

A unique Internal Energy Cultivation Method.

In the same vein, he said you can only say you've completed the foundation for stepping into Rank 6 after creating your own unique Mana Cultivation Method.

To reach Rank 6, your own Mana Cultivation Method is essential.

That was a part written in the Dragon Slayer Sword Manual that Senior Sword of Light had given me not long after entering the Tower.

In a way, it wasn't recent; it was something I had been attempting continuously since right after entering Rank 5, but the mental method still wasn't complete.

I never felt that my Mana Cultivation wasn't working properly.

I only vaguely anticipate that there are sections my Mana's flow hasn't reached.

My vessel as a Rank 5 is large, so it's slow?

Even if that's true, what am I supposed to do about it.

I know I'm not slow.

Ban.

Ban Ineoreu, who entered the Tower in a Rank 4 state.

'Huh? How long did it take from Floor 1 to Floor 13? 3 years and 7 months?'

Even Ban, who had sufficient talent, spent that much time.

'Rank 5 originally looked blurry, so I rose quickly. But Rank 6 was tough. It wasn't that it took long to clear the stages, but I spent most of the time in the waiting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠room.'

Unlike me, who fearlessly broke through the floors thanks to the help of numerous Transcendental seniors, Ban must have had to continuously gauge his own survival possibilities while ascending.

But I must look at myself based on my own standards.

If I don't want to make useless excuses.

There's no room to agonize and whine, saying it's this painful.

For a week, I continuously researched the Mana Cultivation Method.

I sat cross-legged.

Magic Power began to circulate continuously within my body.

Sometimes smoothly.

And sometimes explosively.

I tirelessly manipulated Magic Power to open the hidden path.

Magic Power flowed down to the endpoints of the two pillars it hadn't reached before.

Pain welled up from the tips of my toes.

As if I had climbed a tree I shouldn't have yet.

Grrind-

Muscles trembled and bones creaked.

Suppressing all the pain akin to dozens of swords stabbing my body.

I expressed and manifested the mental imagery of bringing these swords out into the world.

After starting the operation, more than 3 days passed, and I had completely forgotten how many days had gone by.

Finally, I was able to create my own unique Mana Cultivation Method.

It was as per Senior Heavenly Demon's comment.

The world became clearer.

Hoo.

I breathed in and out.

The flowing atmosphere.

It felt like the very breath of this world had become more familiar with my body.

I became convinced that this world would not reject my energy.

Finally, the prerequisite for heading towards Rank 6 was in place.

Title: Completed the Cultivation Method.

Author: ㅇㅇ*

The helpful advice from Senior Open-minded Alcohol was quickly buried by the other, less helpful comments.

The next morning.

The entrance to the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly venue became noisy.

"…So the prime culprit of the bloody massacre that shattered peace dares to set foot in the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly."

Yeon Seol-ah felt the gaze directed at her.

It was the gaze of the Baekri Family's second young master, Baekri Hwi.

"Don't tell me you still think Yeon Yooshin is not guilty?"

Yeon Seol-ah ignored that piercing gaze.

Clank!

Below the wall that looked like it formed a mountain ridge with vermilion stone steps, the Martial Arts Alliance's guard corps stood in strict formation, lined up.

"So, in the end, a scion of the Hubei Yeon Family is participating?"

"But you heard too, didn't you? That the proxy the Hubei Yeon Family prepared died before the merchant ship even departed from Yangzhou."

Furthermore, members of families, each and every one imposing and prestigious, were paying attention to the situation.

Inflicting direct harm on Yeon Seol-ah was impossible.

Therefore, Baekri Hwi, a Rank 5 Warrior, directed his sharp Killing Intent towards Yeon Seol-ah.

It was a dense Killing Intent that momentarily took her breath away.

"So, your chess piece, which you prepared with such sincerity, died before it even reached the starting line, yet why do you set foot here...!"

Baekri Hwi's mocking gaze suddenly shifted to the left.

A chilling Killing Intent crept up his spine.

The Killing Intent he had been pouring out towards Yeon Seol-ah was being torn apart.

And an even greater Killing Intent was pressing down on Baekri Hwi's body.

The source of that Killing Intent was Han Yoo-seong, standing behind Yeon Seol-ah.

The Martial Alliance Escort Captain, with his noticeable white hair, opened his mouth.

"If you do not properly state your name and affiliation, you will be arrested. Withdraw your Killing Intent and state your name."

Han Yoo-seong maintained the Killing Intent he had been directing at the Martial Alliance Escort, who had neglected to take action and left Yeon Seol-ah exposed to Baekri Hwi's Killing Intent.

"Hubei Yeon Family, Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly representative participant, Han Yoo-seong."

Han Yoo-seong gestured with his chin towards Yeon Seol-ah.

"Go in."

Only after Yeon Seol-ah entered the entrance of the Assembly Chairman did Han Yoo-seong withdraw all of his Killing Intent.

The gazes of the Martial Artists turned to Han Yoo-seong.

As per the advice he had received from his Transcendence Gallery seniors at dawn, he could hear the hearty laughter of those who appeared to be the higher-ups from afar.

Han Yoo-seong also entered the Heavenly Martial Arts Assembly Chairman's hall.