Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: The World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament (4)
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Lim Jeong, the Great Demon of Ultimate Slaughter.
As the current Master of the Mountain King Society, he was one of the martial world’s strongest figures, renowned for his unspeakable cruelty.
Ju Jeong-geum, the Man of Water and Gold Mountain.
As the Master of the Water Dragon Gate, which controlled the flow of the Yangtze River, he was a merchant prince who had piled up gold like mountains and wielded it like a sword. Moreover, his own martial arts had reached the pinnacle of mastery.
They were the two pillars of the Lion Alliance and titans of the Unorthodox Faction.
The first thing they did upon arriving at Nine Dragons Fortress was to find lodging.
Of course, with the World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament being held for the first time in over a decade, there were hardly any rooms left in the inns, but that wasn't a major problem for them.
A single scowl was all it took for people to willingly give up their rooms.
Thanks to this, the nearly one hundred martial artists from their two sects were able to rent out three adjacent inns entirely.
As soon as they unpacked, they blocked off the surrounding traffic and began to stand guard with iron-clad security.
It was partly because their masters were with them, but their visit had not been arranged in advance.
For an action taking place within Nine Dragons Fortress, known as the pillar of the Righteous Path, it was far too brazen.
It was as if they wanted Nine Dragons Fortress to know they had arrived.
“Master… no, Brother, do you believe the Green King Great Saber and the Underwater Heavenly Arrow are truly in Nine Dragons Fortress?”
Perhaps because of their closely intertwined backgrounds, the two men addressed each other as brothers despite a significant age gap.
“They are artifacts from a thousand years ago. It’s unlikely they still exist, and even if they were real, they’d be nothing more than scrap metal by now.”
“Then why have we come all this way? Surely you didn’t come just to see the face of the new Lord of Nine Dragons…”
“Must I spell it out for you to understand?”
“This younger brother is too dull to grasp your meaning, Brother.”
“To think the great Man of Water and Gold Mountain calls himself dull. You feign ignorance, though you’ve surely seen through my intentions at a glance.”
The Master of the Mountain King Society took a drink.
“The new Lord of Nine Dragons has called upon us to be his allies, to support him. I intend to have a discussion with him.”
“…Brother, you see too far ahead.”
“If rain leaks through a hole in the roof, is it not logical to replace the roof?”
“This could become a problem if the Alliance Leader finds out.”
“The Alliance Leader? The one who has been in seclusion for five years, lost in his own martial arts? I’d rather he come out and cause a problem.”
“…”
“And do I look like someone who fears the Alliance Leader?”
“…That’s not it, but Nine Dragons Fortress belongs to the Righteous Path. They are fundamentally different from us.”
“Hahahahaha!”
The Master of the Water Dragon Gate looked taken aback by the Mountain King Society Master’s sudden burst of laughter.
Though it was undoubtedly rude, the Master of the Mountain King Society seemed completely unconcerned.
“The current Nine Dragons Fortress, a part of the Righteous Path… Who would think so?”
“From ancient times, the Black Dragon Hall and the Blue Dragon Hall have stood at the forefront of the Righteous Path.”
“But the other Halls are places that cannot be judged by the standards of right and wrong. Above all, the War King, who has newly become the Lord, is a man whose very nature is closer to the demonic path.”
“…How can you be so certain of his disposition?”
“I met him in my youth. We crossed hands for two days and nights. I came to understand him then, so I am not mistaken.”
“His disposition could have changed over time.”
At the words of the Master of the Water Dragon Gate, the Master of the Mountain King Society slowly shook his head.
“I think not.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“One need only look at the War King Sect, founded by his disciple. Their drive to achieve their goals by any means necessary, their brutal methods that make even the ten thousand demons of the Ten Demon Alliance flinch…”
“…”
“And look at the actions of that sect master. Is he not a man better suited to the Unorthodox Faction than we are?”
The Master of the Water Dragon Gate nodded at the Mountain King Society Master’s words. He wasn’t wrong.
“Sow rice, and you shall reap rice; sow beans, and you shall reap beans. He surely acts as he was taught by his master.”
Finally convinced by the Mountain King Society Master’s opinion, the Master of the Water Dragon Gate asked again.
“…If the Lord of Nine Dragons is truly interested in us, do you really intend to switch umbrellas, Brother?”
“Nothing is certain. However, a man must secure his own worth. I believe we must show that we can replace the roof at any time.”
“I see.”
“What are your thoughts? I understand the Water Dragon Gate’s standing within the Alliance has been worsening…”
“…The current Lion Alliance is the world of the Gung clan. I have been thinking that the scraps we get to eat are getting smaller by the day.”
“Just as I thought.”
Despite the affirmative answer, the Master of the Mountain King Society did not forget to observe the Master of the Water Dragon Gate.
If the man, who knew his intentions, were to betray him, things would become complicated.
He had brought him along only to add the weight of the Water Dragon Gate to the value of the Mountain King Society; he did not particularly trust him.
“The War King will summon us soon. Until then, let’s just drink.”
“Very well.”
The two had been sharing drinks for about two hours when…
*Crash—!*
“Stop them!”
“Aargh!”
A commotion erupted from outside.
As the Master of the Water Dragon Gate started to rise, the Master of the Mountain King Society stopped him.
“…The Lord of Nine Dragons is quite bold in his actions.”
It seemed their awaited guest had finally arrived.
“My, my, for a bunch of Unorthodox bastards, you’ve sure drunk a lot in a short time. A pleasure to meet you. I am Jin Mujeon, Master of the War Dragon Hall.”
Although, they had not expected a madman to show up with a sword on his back.
***
I had deliberately thrown out a shocking greeting to test the waters, but the Master of the Mountain King Society and the Master of the Water Dragon Gate treated me with respect.
The Mountain King Society Master, in particular, laughed heartily, maintaining an attitude that suggested he was quite fond of me.
“Hahahahaha! I had heard that Master Jin was a hero of the realm, but I never imagined you to be so magnanimous!”
If my master hadn't told me about him, I might have been completely fooled.
‘This is going to be easy.’
My reason for seeking them out was simple.
To get them onto the stage of the World's Greatest Martial Arts Tournament.
Only then could the bald monk’s and my true plan begin.
For that very purpose, I put my silver tongue to work with all my might.
“Well, as you’ve likely guessed, my master wishes to have you both join him.”
I, too, showed them courtesy and told them what they wanted to hear.
“My, you raise such a heavy topic from the start. How about we discuss it over a drink?”
“In that case, please pour me a glass. But who’s paying? You, Master? Or you, Gate Master? I hear the Master of the Water Dragon Gate is a great tycoon, no less than the Master of the Gold Dragon Hall.”
“Puhahaha! You’re a madman, through and through. I like you! Don’t you agree, Jeong-geum?”
“A hundred times better than those Righteous Path bastards with their insidious minds.”
“My thoughts exactly.”
A pleasant meeting, taking place in my territory.
But I couldn't let my guard down.
The Great Demon of Ultimate Slaughter, Master of the Mountain King Society, was a warrior capable of overpowering someone like me in an instant if he so chose.
The Master of the Water Dragon Gate beside him was no pushover either.
After downing his drink, the Master of the Mountain King Society’s eyes gleamed as he asked.
“Do your intentions align with those of the Lord?”
“I wouldn't know. They say you can fathom ten fathoms of water, but never one fathom of a man's heart, don't they?”
“Then?”
“Are you, the titans of the Unorthodox Faction, going to keep playing innocent? You should trust the situation, not the person. You already know.”
“A moment ago we were bastards, and now we are titans. Puhaha.”
The Master of the Mountain King Society burst into laughter, while the Master of the Water Dragon Gate frowned and asked.
“What situation are you referring to?”
“As you know, my master may contend for the title of the world's greatest martial artist, but his background is quite lacking. If you two were to join and support him, it would be a great source of strength.”
The mention of “world’s greatest” seemed to wound his pride, as the Mountain King Society Master’s eyes twitched.
Even a fox who lives and dies by profit and loss is still a warrior, it seems.
“First, I’ll accept a drink. I will answer after I’ve had it.”
“Thank you.”
As I drained my cup, the Master of the Mountain King Society spoke slowly and deliberately, as if to ensure I wouldn't misunderstand.
“It is not easy to abandon a foundation that has been built over hundreds of years. We have accomplished a great deal, you see.”
“I’ve heard the Mountain King Escort Agency is the finest in Gangnam. If you come over, you will become the one and only escort agency in the Western Heavens (the western part of the Central Plains) overnight.”
“Ahem.”
I met the gaze of the Master of the Water Dragon Gate, who looked somewhat expectant.
“I will hand over the operational rights to the Hanzhong Merchant Guild. Better to be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon. How about becoming the head of a merchant guild, rather than just one of many merchants?”
It was all a bluff anyway, so I made empty promises freely.
“I’m not sure if our conditions will be to your liking.”
However, the two men were calmer than expected.
It seemed they were trying to weigh various practicalities rather than acting on immediate feelings.
“…I cannot give you an answer right away.”
“Of course. It wouldn't be easy to abandon a foundation built over hundreds of years.”
“However, I will consider it favorably.”
“That’s enough for me. Ah, but there is one condition.”
At the sudden condition, the two men looked at me with curiosity.
“Master of the Mountain King Society, you must participate in the martial arts tournament. It would be even better if you both did. It seems it would be easier to persuade the old-timers of this fortress if you two demonstrate your skills.”
The two men didn't react. They didn't seem to doubt my reasoning, as it was persuasive, but they didn't seem keen on the idea either.
“Oh, and of course, my master and the Master of the Green Dragon Hall will not be participating, so you can just warm up and collect your prizes.”
The Master of the Mountain King Society tilted his head.
“Aren't they fakes anyway?”
“Of course, how could they be real? They are fakes. However.”
I drew something long and slender from the scabbard on my back.
“That, that’s?!”
The eyes of the Master of the Water Dragon Gate widened at the sight of it.
A thin, long harpoon.
It was the Underwater Heavenly Arrow.
This was why I had come wearing a scabbard.
“We gathered every last bit of Black Iron from the Western Heavens to restore it. This Underwater Heavenly Arrow alone contains five catties of Black Iron.”
I could feel the look in their eyes change completely. Relieved, I continued speaking.
“I couldn't bring it with me now due to its size, but the Green King Great Saber contains over twenty catties. Please think of them as a small gift from us to you.”
If it contained that much Black Iron, its strength alone would make it tantamount to a divine weapon.
That is, if what I said wasn't a lie.
The five catties of Black Iron in the Underwater Heavenly Arrow were borrowed after scraping the Gray Dragon Hall clean. Twenty catties was pure nonsense.
Not a single ounce of Black Iron went into the Green King Great Saber.
Even for Nine Dragons Fortress, the Hegemon of the World, it was impossible to possess that much Black Iron.
If they had it, they would have forged it into a weapon long ago.
Before the two could point that out, I continued my demonstration.
*Whoosh.*
As I pushed my energy into the Battle Lord Arrow and made it move, the jaws of the two men dropped.
“Frankly, for masters of your caliber, what does it matter if you have such fakes or not? But this is different.”
*Thwack.*
Seeing the Battle Lord Arrow shoot out like a thunderbolt, the Master of the Mountain King Society shouted loudly.
“It truly is the Lightning Arrow!”
“Hehe. So, are you feeling a bit more inclined to participate in the tournament?”
With such a perfect example, people tend to believe easily.
“They say the War King’s temperament is fiery, but to think he would offer such a treasure. Very well. Tomorrow, I shall ascend the tournament stage and display the might of the Mountain King Society to the world.”
Watching the two men nod, I thought to myself.
‘I haven't lost my touch.’
The artist of the tall tale was still alive and kicking.