You're So Refreshingly Straightforward!
At Yeop Hyeon's provocation, Gong Cheongseong quietly shook his head.
"I'm more interested in you than in fighting. How about this? While you battle, I'll guarantee your little sister's safety. If you survive today, all you need to do is grant me three favors in the future. What do you say? I won't ask for anything too unreasonable."
Yeop Hyeon answered without a moment's thought.
"Deal!"
For Yeop Hyeon, whose top priority was Yeop Ryeong's safety, there was no reason to refuse Gong Cheongseong's offer.
Gong Cheongseong flashed a thumbs-up at Yeop Hyeon.
"You're so refreshingly straightforward!"
Gong Cheongseong shouted toward the silver-armored warrior and his group.
"Everyone, you've come here for riches, and I've come to show some grace. We're all in the same boat, so I hope you won't touch that little girl."
"Who the hell are you to tell us that?!"
A warrior beside the silver-armored man sneered and yelled.
"You think we have to listen just because you say so?"
In an instant, the black bead in Gong Cheongseong's hand flew toward the warrior.
Boom!
The warrior's body exploded without even putting up a fight, splattering blood everywhere.
The faces of the warriors in the arena paled dramatically.
A Penetrating Nether Realm expert!
The silver-armored warrior, drenched in the man's blood, looked at Gong Cheongseong with fear in his eyes.
At that moment, Gong Cheongseong scanned the warriors in the arena.
"People call you geniuses... but how can nobodies who can't even make the Mubang be called geniuses?"
Gong Cheongseong leaped from his spot and landed beside Yeop Ryeong. She stared at him intently and asked,
"Everyone else is after my brother's head, so why are you helping him?"
Gong Cheongseong grinned and replied,
"Sure, your brother's bounty is huge. But if he becomes an incredible figure someday, won't I gain even more from it?"
Yeop Ryeong thought for a moment, then nodded.
"Whatever debt my brother owes is his to pay, and the debt I owe you today, I'll repay someday too!"
Gong Cheongseong burst out laughing at her innocent words, finding her adorable.
However, he couldn't yet imagine what kind of reward saving this girl today would bring in the future.
Meanwhile, feeling much lighter now, Yeop Hyeon slowly walked toward the silver-armored warrior. The warriors tensed up, on high alert.
Yeop Hyeon pointed at his own head and said,
"The most valuable head in the world is right in front of you. What are you dawdling for?"
"I was just about to!"
The silver-armored warrior charged at Yeop Hyeon.
With him, a group of warriors behind him leaped forward as well.
Nearly ten warriors, each hailed as a genius in their own region.
They never even considered the possibility of defeat.
One-on-one might be different, but with so many ganging up, Yeop Hyeon was as good as dead.
There's strength in numbers, after all.
"I'm here!"
At that moment, a booming voice echoed through the arena.
Mu Yun Qi turned his head to see Bai Ze charging toward him.
Mu Yun Qi yelled in frustration,
"You idiot! How'd you take so long? Did you get lost or something?!"
Bai Ze stammered,
"Not exactly... I, uh, got the direction wrong..."
"......"
Bai Ze barreled forward at terrifying speed, bouncing aside any warriors in his path like a rampaging bear, and arrived at Yeop Hyeon's side. The warriors couldn't dare block him and hurriedly cleared the way.
"A bit late, huh?"
"Right on time!"
Yeop Hyeon, eyes fixed on the silver-armored warrior and his group, asked Bai Ze,
"How many you wanna take?"
Bai Ze pondered briefly, then shyly held up one finger.
Yeop Hyeon clapped his shoulder.
"A man's gotta have guts! You take ten, I'll handle the rest!"
Bai Ze stared at Yeop Hyeon, speechless.
Just then, Geom So-wang and Gong Cheongseong simultaneously turned their heads toward a distant withered tree. There, atop the tree, stood a man with hands behind his back, watching the arena.
Both their faces darkened instantly.
Geom So-wang withdrew his gaze and muttered quietly,
"Of all people, even that guy's here..."
Gong Cheongseong, looking more serious, said,
"This might get tricky—we could end up breaking even at best..."
Meanwhile, outside the Biyeong, I Hyeon-chang was laughing so hard it shook the mountains.
"Hahaha! You finally came! Now it's over! Hahaha!"
His laughter grew increasingly manic.
Outside the Biyeong, at some secret spot, a black-clad warrior appeared beneath a massive boulder and knelt.
"Your Highness, the Changmok Academy student from the Daeun Empire has arrived!"
"Who is it?"
The question came from Cheok Bal-eon, seated atop the boulder.
"It's Gam Samsip!"
Cheok Bal-eon's brow furrowed instantly.
The elderly man and woman behind her exchanged surprised glances.
Gam Samsip!
His name was quite famous among warriors.
Among the countless powerhouses on the Mubang, Gam Samsip's name ranked a staggering 11th.
In all of Qingzhou, with stars as numerous as grains of sand, making the Mubang meant you were a true prodigy or genius. Ranking 11th among them? He'd be infamous if he wasn't famous.
What truly skyrocketed his fame was another feat. He'd clashed evenly with a Divine Fusion Realm expert using only Soaring Realm cultivation.
This astonishing event from half a year ago spread his name across Qingzhou overnight.
"The odds?"
The elder shook his head.
"Not good. Unless he has some hidden trump card..."
Cheok Bal-eon silently turned to gaze at the Biyeong.
Outside the Biyeong. Atop a tree.
Gang Wol-cheon shouted in a sinister tone,
"Gam Samsip!"
Gu Lu-ju nodded.
"I already knew."
"And you're still so calm!"
"Please stay composed and watch what fate awaits Changmok Academy."
"......"
Back inside the Biyeong.
The battle between Yeop Hyeon and the others against the silver-armored man and his group had already begun.
Outnumbered, Yeop Hyeon and his allies were being pushed back from the start.
Yeop Hyeon faced the silver-armored man head-on, a fat dual-sword wielder to his left, and a long-spear user to his right—all three at once. On top of that, an arrow from somewhere had already pierced his shoulder. Mu Yun Qi and Bai Ze had similar wounds from arrows.
If this continued, they were all in danger.
"Big guy, hold the line for me!"
Yeop Hyeon shouted at Bai Ze and shot forward. His target was the archer some ten zhang away. Unless he took that guy out soon, the three of them would be pincushions!
Seeing this, the silver-armored man yelled urgently,
"Stop him!"
As he spoke, he chased after Yeop Hyeon. A nearby axe-wielding man hurled his axe at Yeop Hyeon.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—
The axe tore through the air with a terrifying roar that echoed in the arena.
At that moment, Bai Ze stomped the ground hard.
Boom!
The earth shattered beneath his foot, launching his body skyward in an instant.
Thud!
Bai Ze blocked the flying axe with his own body. Blood poured from his chest as a result.
Though his flesh was as tough as Yeop Hyeon's, it wasn't invincible.
Bai Ze wiped the blood from his chest and charged straight at the silver-armored man and his group.
Thanks to Bai Ze's sacrifice, Yeop Hyeon reached the archer without interference. Right then, three arrows flew at his brow. Their speed and power were chilling!
Yeop Hyeon's lips curled into a savage grin. With that, he slashed horizontally with the Spirit Water Sword.
Splat!
All three arrows shattered under his single strike.
The archer tried to backpedal hastily. But in that instant, the Spirit Water Sword left Yeop Hyeon's hand.
Slash!
Before the man could take a single step, the Spirit Water Sword claimed him.
Without stopping, the Spirit Water Sword flew toward another target.
The silver-armored man, who had been pressing Bai Ze hard, suddenly looked up. He saw a sword streaking toward them like lightning!
At that moment, a burly warrior beside him swung his axe fiercely at the sword.
The axe flew with a sharp burst of air, finally biting into the sword's tip. And then!
Boom!
A massive shockwave erupted. Cracks spiderwebbed across the huge axe, and it shattered into pieces.
The Spirit Water Sword trembled briefly in midair before rocketing toward the burly man.
The man's eyes shrank in terror. Just then, the silver-armored man's leg shadow struck the flat of the Spirit Water Sword.
Clang!
The Spirit Water Sword barely missed, veering off course.
Right then, a shadow dropped from above, unleashing a punch at the burly man.
It was Yeop Hyeon!
Ferocity gleamed in the man's eyes. Instead of dodging, he countered with his own fist.
"Watch out!"
The silver-armored man shouted desperately.
Crack!
The sound of breaking bone rang out as the burly man's arm exploded, blood spraying from it entirely.
The burly man recoiled in shock, trying to retreat. In that instant, a flying dagger pierced between his brows.
Thud!
A trickle of blood flowed from the back of his head.
His limbs stiffened, and the burly man slowly toppled to the ground.
Thud!
As the flying dagger pierced his skull, a long spear thrust toward Yeop Hyeon. He caught the spear shaft with both hands, holding it steady.
The spear-wielding warrior smirked and twisted the spear, shoving it forward with all his might.
Stab!
The spear tip pierced half a cun into Yeop Hyeon's chest.
At the same time, the silver-armored man's leg shadow flew at Yeop Hyeon's head.
A dire pinch!
Yeop Hyeon hurriedly drew on the earth's power to summon his Earth Battle Armor. But in that instant, a saber flashed like light, striking the leg shadow.
Boom!
The silver-armored man's body was blasted several zhang away.
He steadied himself and glared murderously at the woman who had appeared beside Yeop Hyeon.
It was Ji An Zhi!
Yeop Hyeon looked at her happily. But her complexion seemed off somehow.
"Ah... did I eat too much breakfast...?"
In a flash, her hand darted into the bundle at her waist and back out. Somehow, a chicken leg was now in her grip.
"Eat after."
"......"
Yeop Hyeon refused, so Ji An Zhi took a big bite of the chicken leg and turned toward Mu Yun Qi, who was still struggling against his foes.
"I'll help you."
Ji An Zhi shot toward Mu Yun Qi. Yeop Hyeon shook his head at the sight of her not letting go of the chicken leg even in battle.
"Glutton..."
Composing himself, Yeop Hyeon bellowed sternly at the silver-armored man and his group,
"Time to offer up your heads!"
His figure rocketed toward them like an arrow.
Meanwhile, atop a large boulder, Geom So-wang watched and muttered,
"His combat sense is unreal!"
Gong Cheongseong nearby chuckled.
"Definitely. But if that's all he's got, we're in trouble."
As he spoke, Gong Cheongseong glanced toward a man standing atop a tree dozens of zhang away.
The man showed no intention of joining the fight, simply observing the arena quietly.
Beside Gong Cheongseong, Yeop Ryeong clenched her fists, watching Yeop Hyeon fend off four attackers. Her frozen expression made it impossible to read her thoughts.
Yeop Hyeon accelerated, closing in on the silver-armored man in a flash. But the man retreated while unleashing a flurry of kicks with his right leg. Each extension whipped fierce winds past Yeop Hyeon's nose.
Yet Yeop Hyeon calmly deflected each assault with swings of the Spirit Water Sword.
When the distance shrank to about two zhang, the Spirit Water Sword left his hand, shooting forth like a streak of light.
Flying Sword!