Chapter 190
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: The Sword Demon's Warning
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Two days had passed since Seol Hwa-un emerged from his closed-door training.
The duel was now just three days away, and in Taewon's open plaza, a duel stage was being constructed with the cooperation of the Shanxi Sword Sect.
Meanwhile, Seol Hwa-un had finished handling his backlog of work and was sipping tea in his office.
"Hmm."
At that moment, someone knocked on the office door.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The door opened, and the one who entered was Yu Gong-seon.
"Fortress Lord."
He bowed politely, and Seol Hwa-un asked,
"Have you brought more work?"
"Almost everything has been wrapped up. Even this much is only because the North Wind Brigade Leader handled most of it while you were away."
"I see. I should delegate more to the North Wind Brigade Leader going forward."
"Haha."
Yu Gong-seon, seated across from Seol Hwa-un, got straight to the point.
"The Breaking Heaven Sect has notified us of their arbitrator."
"Interesting. Who is it?"
"The Bright King Sect Lord."
A glint appeared in Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
"Pa Cheon-gun. Unexpected."
Though they were both part of the Eight Demonic Sects, the Breaking Heaven Sect and Bright King Sect weren't on good terms.
They had once been quite close, but their relationship soured after Pa Cheon-gun became sect lord.
For that very Pa Cheon-gun to serve as arbitrator was certainly out of left field.
"Has our arbitrator given his approval?"
Yu Gong-seon smiled faintly.
"It took quite some convincing, but he accepted in the end. He refused so vehemently, insisting he couldn't possibly take it on."
"Hahaha."
For this duel, Seol Hwa-un had designated the Shanxi Sword Sect Leader as their arbitrator.
"I'm curious what face the Shanxi Sword Sect Leader will make when he learns Pa Cheon-gun is the opposing arbitrator."
"Haha, he'll regret volunteering for sure. But since he's already agreed, there's no backing out."
"How's the situation in Shanxi City?"
Yu Gong-seon shook his head.
"Don't even ask. More people are flooding in than during the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament."
While Seol Hwa-un was in seclusion, the date and location of the duel had been announced. As a result, countless martial artists were swarming toward Shanxi City with eyes ablaze.
Some were even pitching tents around the duel stage already, determined to snag good spots for the event.
"It's drawing more attention than I expected."
"It couldn't be helped. Even going back ten years, there's never been a matchup this big in a public duel."
Of course, Seol Hwa-un had taken down two of the Four Demonic Armies, but that happened in the heat of battle, with no way for the masses to spectate.
But this was a showdown between Seol Hwa-un, who had built his fame by defeating those Four Demonic Armies, and one of the supreme unorthodox leaders among the Four Demonic Emperors.
It would be weirder if the martial world didn't pay attention.
As the hottest rising star among recent martial artists and a Fist Demon who had commanded followers for twenty years already, it was billed as a clash between new and old.
Some were even saying it would shake the martial world no matter the outcome.
Yu Gong-seon's expression turned more serious than ever as his thoughts reached that point.
"Fortress Lord, I have something to ask."
"Go ahead."
"Answer me honestly. This duel with the Fist Demon—do you really have confidence?"
Seol Hwa-un chuckled.
"Have to say the same thing again?"
"I still remember the moment I first saw you after your seclusion. I felt a strange sense of unease in your confident expression."
Yu Gong-seon's eyes burned intensely.
"I could never presume to gauge your level from mine. The others have all marveled at how much your aura has changed beyond recognition, so maybe it was just my imagination."
"......"
"I know you achieved great results in your closed-door training. But... isn't it still not quite enough to surely defeat the Fist Demon?"
Yu Gong-seon didn't doubt Seol Hwa-un.
As a strategist, however, preparing for the worst-case scenario was crucial. That's why he was confirming again like this.
Seol Hwa-un shrugged.
"As expected of the First Steward—no, Strategist Yu. It's not easy to fool you. Truth is, I can't guarantee victory over the Fist Demon."
"......!"
"No matter how much my realm has advanced, overwhelming him is impossible. 'Worthy of a fight' is more accurate."
"Ah......"
"Victories can't be promised lightly in the first place. Even a third-rate warrior can beat a first-rate one with luck and the right approach."
Seol Hwa-un's eyes gleamed clearly.
"I'll just give it my all. But I can't tell the North Heaven Fortress family that I might lose, can I?"
"......I understand."
"No need to worry too much. Back when I faced the Blood Sound Four Armies, my realm wasn't a match for them either. Yet didn't I win in the end?"
Just then, a warrior came to the office.
"What is it?"
"Fortress Lord, a guest has arrived."
Yu Gong-seon frowned.
"Didn't we decide not to accept guests until after the duel?"
Plenty of people visited Fortress Lord Seol Hwa-un even normally. For now, though, they had asked for understanding and stopped receiving them.
All to avoid disturbing his frame of mind.
"We know that well. But we're quite perplexed ourselves......"
As the warrior hesitated, Seol Hwa-un asked,
"Who is it?"
"Well...... he calls himself the Sword Demon."
Seol Hwa-un and Yu Gong-seon looked at each other as if on cue.
"......!"
"......His aura is so overwhelming we can't judge if it's genuine."
Seol Hwa-un's eyebrow twitched.
'The Sword Demon?'
"I'll check myself. Bring him here."
* * *
The visitor was indeed the Sword Demon himself.
Seol Hwa-un didn't know it, but after meeting the Fist Demon in Sichuan Province, he had rushed straight to Shanxi City.
The Sword Demon, seated across from Seol Hwa-un, spoke.
"North Heaven Fortress, eh. Not bad at all. Plenty of decent martial artists here."
"I didn't expect Cheol Daehyeop to come all this way."
"The rumors are everywhere. Should I call you North Heaven Fortress Lord now?"
"Whatever suits you."
"Kukuku, you've risen fast. Feels like it wasn't long ago you were roaming the Central Plains like a ronin."
"I didn't know Cheol Daehyeop was so interested in me."
The Sword Demon chuckled.
"Yeah, tell me about it. You're getting under my skin."
"......"
"I'll be direct. Forfeit this duel."
Seol Hwa-un's expression changed.
"Forfeit?"
"That's right."
"That doesn't seem like your business, Cheol Daehyeop...... Why?"
"Because I don't want to watch a guy who should be my rival someday die before he even blooms."
"You think I'll definitely lose to the Fist Demon?"
The Sword Demon nodded.
"Yeah. You'll lose—and die in that instant. Just like all his opponents so far."
"Is that so? That doesn't match what I know."
"Sure, some have survived defeat. But none were fist masters."
"......!"
"The Fist Demon's pride in his fists is unmatched. He doesn't tolerate any fist art beneath his own."
The Sword Demon's eyes sharpened.
"Anyone else might not see it, but you can't fool my eyes. You're still no match for the Fist Demon. And the gap is considerable."
Seol Hwa-un asked,
"How can you be so sure?"
"Because I met the Fist Demon before coming here. We even exchanged moves."
"......!"
"Thanks to that, I got a sense of the immense power he's hiding. You can't handle him."
"Let's say that's true. But does that mean I'll definitely lose?"
The Sword Demon shook his head firmly.
"No. Other martial arts might vary, but fist arts are honest. A lower-realm expert almost never beats a higher one. You know that."
"......"
"Forfeit. Endure a moment's shame, and in ten years—no, five—you challenge the Fist Demon, and you'll win for sure."
Seol Hwa-un wore a peculiar expression.
'Unexpected. Who knew the Sword Demon cared this much about me.'
Their bond with Seol Wi-myeong must have been tighter than he'd thought.
"......"
He could feel the Sword Demon's genuine concern in his eyes.
After a moment of silence, Seol Hwa-un spoke.
"I'm grateful for Cheol Daehyeop's words, but I can't accept them."
The Sword Demon scowled.
"You idiot! Throwing your life away for pride? You have to survive to keep your pride!"
"It's not about pride."
"......What?"
"How do you think the North Sea Ice Palace established itself in the Central Plains?"
"......?!"
"Through our journey to the Central Plains and the Shanxi conflict, we kept winning one after another. That's how North Heaven Fortress barely secured its place as a Shanxi faction. Even so, plenty still look down on us."
"......"
"So far, our string of successes has won applause. But if our reputation takes even a slight hit here, what do you think happens?"
North Heaven Fortress had charged ahead successfully so far, but it was still too soon to say they were fully established.
Even after shaking the world and toppling two of the Four Demonic Armies, the label of Outer Realm forces still clung to them.
"One failure, and public sentiment will turn completely. We might even have to withdraw back to the North Sea Ice Palace."
"......"
"If the rumors hadn't spread yet, maybe. But the water's spilled. I have no choice but to fight the Fist Demon."
The Sword Demon's lip curled.
"Hmph! Sounds good, but even without rumors, you wouldn't have refused the duel. Am I wrong?"
"I can't deny that. But if Cheol Daehyeop came like this, I might've thought twice at least."
"Lip service."
The Sword Demon stood.
"Leaving?"
"Yeah. Wasted trip. Stubborn fools are hopeless."
Hearing that, a glint entered Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
'Stubborn fools? Did he tell the Fist Demon to forfeit too?'
The Sword Demon's concern came through loud and clear.
"I'm off."
With that, the Sword Demon vanished.
'Don't worry, Sword Demon. I'll definitely win.'
Seol Hwa-un's eyes sharpened.