Chapter 191
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 191
Chapter Title: The Day of the Match Between Fist Demon and North Heavenly Dragon
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Finally, the day of the match between the Fist Demon and the North Heavenly Dragon had arrived.
A massive dueling platform, over ten zhang in both length and width, was surrounded by throngs of people.
“Hahaha! I was pretty bored after the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament ended, but who knew a huge match like this would come up!”
“Tell me about it. Wow~! Fist Demon versus North Heavenly Dragon! Now we can finally see the true power of the North Heavenly Dragon, who took down two of the Four Great Evils of the Demonic Path.”
“But can even the North Heavenly Dragon surpass the Fist Demon?”
“Who knows? When he beat the Four Great Evils, did anyone expect that?”
“Still, the Fist Demon is the Fist Demon. He’s a monster who’s been writing an undefeated legend ever since he started being called the Demonic Path’s Fist Demon.”
“I’m looking forward to both. What kind of martial arts will they show?”
Amid the buzz from the Orthodox faction crowd like this, tents had been set up on the left and right sides of the dueling platform—one on the left for the Heaven-Shattering Sect, and the other on the right for the North Heaven Pavilion.
Even though there was still some time until noon, the hour of the match, both participants—Seol Hwa-un and the Fist Demon—were already in their respective tents.
The Fist Demon scowled as he surveyed the surroundings.
“What the hell is all this?”
Sinwol, standing beside him, chuckled.
“Hahaha! This tent—should we take it with us after the match? It looks better than most of our sect’s buildings…….”
“I told you to set up the match…… Did you have to make such a huge fuss about it?”
“Master, don’t say that. This is exactly why they agreed to the match.”
The Fist Demon frowned, clearly displeased.
“Still, isn’t this a bit too much?”
“Not at all. Once you show off your prowess in front of this many people, their view of our sect will change a lot. Please, let’s live without worrying about food or clothes for once.”
“Hmph.”
“Look over there. People from the Martial Alliance and the Justice Heaven Alliance have come too. I see some other unorthodox figures as well. Oh, by the way, when is the Bright King Sect Leader arriving?”
The Fist Demon smirked.
“Why are you asking me?”
“Well, didn’t you say you delivered the message to the Bright King Sect? He’s coming, right?”
“Heaven-Rending General isn’t coming.”
Sinwol’s eyes widened at the Fist Demon’s thunderbolt-like declaration.
“W-What……?!”
“I said I’d talk to him because you kept begging, but I never said he’d definitely come.”
“What?! You should’ve told me sooner! The match is about to start, and without an officiant…….”
“He said he’d send his son instead.”
“His son? You mean…….”
The Fist Demon turned his head to one side.
“Indeed, that’s a sharp aura. He’s coming this way.”
Following the Fist Demon’s gaze, a young man dressed in deep yellow robes was approaching the tent.
The Heaven-Shattering Sect disciples, who had been on guard, immediately parted to let him pass.
The young man in yellow, with sharp features and a tall, upright stature, had a gentle demeanor that would win anyone’s favor.
He soon reached the Fist Demon and cupped his fists in greeting.
“It’s been a while, Uncle Cho.”
The Fist Demon nodded.
“I see. Has it been about five years?”
“Yes.”
This young man, who called the Fist Demon “Uncle,” was Go Jin-cheon—the son of the Heaven-Rending General and known as the Demonic Path’s First Prodigy.
Most in the unorthodox sects believed he was destined to be the next Demonic Path Alliance Leader.
It wasn’t simply because he was the grandson of the Escaping Life Demon Emperor and the son of the Bright King Sect Leader.
He had demonstrated talent comparable to the Escaping Life Demon Emperor himself, with his crowning ability being the power to perfectly replicate any martial art he saw just once.
It was enough for the Escaping Life Demon Emperor to break his principle of not taking disciples and personally guide him in martial arts.
Go Jin-cheon smiled as he spoke.
“That one move you taught me back then was a huge help.”
“A help? Isn’t it just one among the countless martial arts you’ve mastered?”
“No way. It’s the Fist Demon’s fist technique, after all. It proudly claims one spot among the Five Great Absolute Arts I’ve learned.”
The Fist Demon smirked.
“You’re always so cocky.”
“Hahaha, I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Go Jin-cheon also had tremendous charisma. No one who had spoken with him disliked him.
In fact, the top masters of the unorthodox sects cherished him and freely passed down their signature arts— the Fist Demon included.
Thanks to that, Go Jin-cheon, at just thirty-three years old, had become one of the top experts even in the unorthodox world.
The Fist Demon suddenly spoke to him.
“By the way, it’s impressive. Your aura has changed again.”
“Hahaha, no matter how great I am, how could I compare to today’s match opponent, the North Heavenly Dragon?”
“Both of you are rare martial prodigies, no doubt. I don’t think you fall short of him.”
“…….”
“Are you still wandering all over the place?”
Go Jin-cheon shrugged.
“What can I do? The world is so vast, and there are still so many places I haven’t seen.”
“Heh, your father must be fuming.”
Though he was the Vice Sect Leader of the Bright King Sect, his innate wanderlust made it hard even for Sect Leader Heaven-Rending General to see his face.
Heaven-Rending General was dissatisfied with that and tried every way to keep Go Jin-cheon in place, but failed.
Thus, paradoxically, Heaven-Rending General was one of the very few top unorthodox experts who disliked Go Jin-cheon.
“You managed to make it all the way here, though?”
“My father told me to come in his stead, and I was traveling north anyway, so I stopped by.”
Sinwol, who had been silent, quickly stepped forward.
“Have you finished talking?”
Go Jin-cheon turned to him with a gentle smile.
“Ah, Brother Wol. Long time no see.”
“Yeah, good to see you. You know you’re officiating in place of your father, even if it’s just nominal, right?”
Go Jin-cheon nodded.
“I’m well aware.”
“Since the officiant has changed, we need to get approval from the other side. Follow me.”
“Yes.”
Sinwol led Go Jin-cheon toward the North Heaven Pavilion’s tent.
Meanwhile, Seol Hwa-un, sitting in his tent, sensed a powerful aura and turned his head.
‘Hm?’
There, Sinwol and Go Jin-cheon were approaching.
‘That guy…….’
It was the first time even for him to sense such an aura from a young man.
‘He’s strong.’
He had seen countless prodigies from the Orthodox faction, but none matched the Go Jin-cheon before him.
‘Who is he?’
However, even the world-renowned Seol Hwa-un couldn’t discern his identity.
Go Jin-cheon was fairly well-known among the major unorthodox experts, but almost unknown across the entire Central Plains.
Sinwol arrived at the tent and apologized.
“Sorry about this. The person our sect put forward as officiant has unavoidable circumstances and can’t come.”
They had been wondering why Heaven-Rending General hadn’t appeared as the match time approached.
Yu Gong-seon asked.
“Then do we need to find another officiant?”
“No.”
Sinwol pointed to Go Jin-cheon and continued.
“This friend will officiate instead.”
No one from the North Heaven Pavilion had seen Go Jin-cheon before, so a look of puzzlement naturally crossed Yu Gong-seon’s face.
“Who is this……?”
“The Vice Sect Leader of the Bright King Sect.”
“……!”
Go Jin-cheon smiled and cupped his fists.
“Pleased to meet you all. I’m Go Jin-cheon.”
Most of the Orthodox folk in the tent looked visibly flustered.
It was no wonder—few had even heard rumors about the Bright King Sect’s Vice Sect Leader.
‘The Bright King Sect had a Vice Sect Leader?!’
Come to think of it, they vaguely recalled hearing that Heaven-Rending General had a son.
But with no activity as Vice Sect Leader, they had assumed he was just a recluse.
Go Jin-cheon added, as if understanding their reaction.
“Introducing myself as the Bright King Sect’s Vice Sect Leader with no outside activity sounds too bland. Ah, I have a nickname too. The world calls me the ‘Divine Wind Hero.’”
“……!”
“The Divine Wind Hero is the Bright King Sect’s Vice Sect Leader?!”
It was no surprise the Orthodox crowd was shocked.
For over a decade, a mysterious wanderer had appeared across the Central Plains to perform acts of chivalry and vanish—that was the Divine Wind Hero.
With his name and affiliation unknown, people assumed he was a hidden Orthodox expert, but now his true identity was revealed in an unexpected place.
Sinwol chided Go Jin-cheon.
“Why boast about a nickname like that?”
“Don’t you need at least this much fame to be an officiant?”
“Hm, fair enough…….”
At that moment, Seol Hwa-un cupped his fists toward him.
“Pleased to meet you, Divine Wind Hero.”
Go Jin-cheon brightened at Seol Hwa-un’s greeting.
“Ah, you must be the North Heavenly Dragon. Pleased to meet you.”
Their eyes met.
“…….”
A glint appeared in Seol Hwa-un’s eyes.
‘His gaze is clear, unlike most unorthodox folk. The Divine Wind Hero title must be genuine.’
It was suspicious enough that the son of an unorthodox leader like Heaven-Rending General was called a hero.
Whether he knew Seol Hwa-un’s thoughts or not, Go Jin-cheon let out an exclamation.
“Ah! What an incredible aura! I look forward to your match with Uncle Cho.”
“Thank you.”
Sinwol asked.
“How about it? Is this guy as officiant okay with you?”
“The Divine Wind Hero is more than sufficient. No problem.”
Sinwol burst into relieved laughter at Seol Hwa-un’s response.
“Hahaha, straightforward as always. Then we’ll head back.”
As Sinwol and Go Jin-cheon withdrew, the North Wind Brigade Leader came to Seol Hwa-un’s side.
“An incredible master.”
Others hadn’t noticed because Go Jin-cheon had concealed his aura, but a master like the North Wind Brigade Leader could vaguely sense it.
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
“Definitely an astonishing aura. Who knew the unorthodox had such talent.”
Unable to contain his curiosity, the North Wind Brigade Leader asked in a low voice.
“I couldn’t predict the outcome against him. ……How does he compare to the Pavilion Lord?”
“He’s so adept at hiding his aura that even I can’t be sure. But if you fought him right now, it’d be a good match.”
In other words, it would be an even contest.
The North Wind Brigade Leader’s eyes widened.
“That strong?”
“I’ve heard rumors that the Escaping Life Demon Emperor’s grandson is an extraordinary prodigy. It wasn’t exaggeration.”
“Heavens! I never imagined there’d be a young man who could rival the Pavilion Lord.”
“The Central Plains truly has depths.”
No matter when or where, a master could pop up anywhere in the Central Plains.
* * *
Noon finally arrived.
Go Jin-cheon, the officiant, and the Shanxi Sword Sect Leader took seats in the upper stands above the dueling platform, with Sinwol and Yu Gong-seon sitting beside them respectively.
On the platform, the Fist Demon and Seol Hwa-un faced each other.
The crowd of thousands couldn’t hide their excitement and roared.
Waaaaah!
“It’s finally starting!”
“Fist Demon versus North Heavenly Dragon!”
“Aaah! To think I’d witness a clash between such masters!”
“Stay focused! If you don’t want to miss a thing, don’t even blink!”
“Right! A fight between masters like that can end in a flash before you even know what happened!”
Amid the rowdy crowd, the Fist Demon smiled at Seol Hwa-un.
“It’s a bit noisy…… but anyway, we finally get to clash.”
“…….”
“Heh heh heh, you have no idea how long I’ve waited for this day.”
“Is that so. Sorry. I hadn’t given it much thought.”
“Hmph.”
“But there’s one thing I can say.”
Seol Hwa-un’s eyes flashed.
“I’ll make you regret giving me three years.”
The Fist Demon burst into laughter.
“Hahaha, young blood indeed. I like the spirit. Shall we begin?”
“Very well.”
The Fist Demon’s face suddenly hardened coldly.
“You’d better not hold back on the Heavenly Collapse Fist Emperor’s signature arts. Unless you want it over in an instant.”
“I’ll handle that myself.”
As soon as Seol Hwa-un finished speaking, the Fist Demon’s figure vanished like a flicker.