Crushing Momentum (4)
Whoaaaa!
As Hyeon Yucheon's victory became certain, the spectators—who had been frozen like statues atop Grave Father's Rock—finally grasped the reality and erupted in thunderous cheers.
They could scarcely believe it.
"This can't be happening!"
"How could the Blood Dragon Ghost Sword, the strongest of Sapa's younger generation..."
"He lost without even landing a proper attack? Is that even possible?"
If it had been a fierce battle ending in defeat, they might have understood.
But Gu Jin-ak had been relentlessly pushed back throughout, the gap in skill so vast it evoked memories of a master thrashing a disciple.
In the end, he flailed helplessly in the palm of Hyeon Yucheon's hand before succumbing. Small wonder they were stunned.
"Mugeom Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon!"
"No more doubts!"
"Mugeom Sword Young Master is Sapa's true strongest of the younger generation!"
No group burned hotter than the Sapa martial artists.
Even if they'd initially rejected, scorned, and refused to acknowledge him, once he proved it with overwhelming display, their tune changed in an instant.
"Younger generation? Didn't you see the sword aura?"
"Exactly! Hyeon Yucheon is already a Super Peak martial artist."
"He deserves a spot among Sapa's Ten Great Masters!"
Those with keen eyes and true expertise recognized Hyeon Yucheon's worth at a glance.
And they were right.
Hyeon Yucheon had declared to all under heaven that he was beyond the younger generation level.
Only Super Peak warriors could hope to defeat him.
In other words, only those who had reached Sapa's Ten Great Masters.
No—even among those Ten Great Masters, the lower ranks might fall to him.
After all, Hyeon Yucheon stood at the upper echelons of Super Peak, enough to overwhelm several of those vaunted experts.
"I... I dared to challenge that monster?"
One man was more shocked by Hyeon Yucheon's triumph than anyone: Ok Jangcheon, the pride of the Swift Sword Sect and its Hidden Dragon Quick Sword.
The Swift Sword Sect elders shared his astonishment.
"Our Swift Sword Sect... is in danger."
He feared not just Hyeon Yucheon's rise, but the Demon Sword Sect itself.
The Swift Sword Sect had seized a foothold among Sapa's Five Great Sects amid the Demon Sword Sect's downfall.
Now, with its original master—the Demon Sword Sect—revived under a leader akin to the reincarnation of the Demon Sword Fiend Cheon Baeksang, they faced displacement.
In short, the Swift Sword Sect might be pushed out of the Five Great Sects.
"Oh my...!"
On the flip side, one person rejoiced more than any at Hyeon Yucheon's victory: Seon Yeojin, the unmarriageable daughter of Great Dark Valley and bearer of the Dark Heaven Fist Peak title, who had hosted this Black Heaven Tournament.
Her eyes gleamed with fervent adoration, fixed solely on Hyeon Yucheon.
He's so utterly perfect.
Due to Great Dark Valley's remote location in a secluded gorge, Seon Yeojin had rarely encountered men, leaving her inexperienced despite her exceptional beauty.
To her, Hyeon Yucheon's flawless prowess was an intoxicating stimulus.
But one problem loomed.
She went on to face and smoothly defeat Hyeon Nebi and Tak Johong afterward.
Thus, she met Hyeon Yucheon in the finals.
Whoosh!
With the finalists decided, Hyeon Yucheon turned to gaze at Seon Yeojin.
A rare beauty, but no match for him.
The crowd reacted similarly.
"Everything's great, but... the finals feel anticlimactic."
"Yeah. Mugeom Sword Young Master crushed Gu Jin-ak. Beating Seon Yeojin will be a breeze."
"She couldn't even handle Gu Jin-ak. No way she beats Hyeon Yucheon."
Many clicked their tongues in disappointment.
Even Seon Yeojin herself recognized the clear gap between her and Hyeon Yucheon.
I could never beat Young Master Hyeon.
Setting aside her growing infatuation, as a martial artist facing another, she had zero confidence in victory.
Moreover, Great Dark Valley bore immense pressure to make this Black Heaven Tournament a resounding success.
Yet the tournament's crowning finale—a dull affair?
That would be a devastating blow.
"Father... may I forfeit?"
Unwilling to watch longer, Seon Yeojin approached her father—Great Dark Valley's lord and the tournament's organizer, the Dark Heaven Great Fist Seon Ganggyun.
"Hmmm."
Seon Ganggyun was deep in thought.
Frankly, his daughter stood no chance against Hyeon Yucheon, alive or dead.
For her safety, forfeiting was the only option.
But doing so would tarnish Great Dark Valley's honor, leaving him torn.
It was then.
"Valley Lord, allow me to make a proposal."
With the finals delayed, Hyeon Yucheon approached the organizers.
"A proposal?"
Seon Ganggyun eyed the poised young man before him with puzzlement.
What could he possibly suggest?
"As you know, a finals between Miss Seon and me would be lackluster and devoid of excitement. Moreover, her decisive defeat at my hands would harm her future prospects and bring no honor to Great Dark Valley."
Hyeon Yucheon's eloquence matched his martial prowess.
Nod.
Seon Ganggyun and Seon Yeojin nodded in agreement.
In other words, the finals offered Great Dark Valley nothing but loss.
"So, how about a duel between me and the Valley Lord? I humbly propose it."
Before father and daughter, Hyeon Yucheon dropped a bombshell.
"...!!"
"What?!"
Seon Ganggyun and Seon Yeojin recoiled, eyes wide in shock.
"Such insolence!"
"How dare a tournament participant challenge the Valley Lord?"
Great Dark Valley's leadership raged, even suspecting Hyeon Yucheon's motives.
But Seon Ganggyun differed.
A man of deep insight, and above all...
This Mugeom Sword Young Master isn't one for empty words.
Like his daughter, he found himself increasingly drawn to Hyeon Yucheon.
It evoked memories of the Demon Sword Fiend Cheon Baeksang.
Great Dark Valley had long clashed with him, yet as Sapa warriors, they respected him more than anyone.
Even after Cheon Baeksang's disappearance, Seon Ganggyun had lamented:
—Our Sapa martial world will greatly regress without Lord Cheon.
The rumor spread widely, shocking Sapa.
Coming from Great Dark Valley—known for hating the Demon Sword Sect and its fiend most—no wonder the impact was huge.
"Quiet, all of you!"
The Dark Heaven Great Fist Seon Ganggyun silenced his debating subordinates.
He wanted to hear Hyeon Yucheon's true intent.
"Young Master Hyeon, why this proposal? Surely you're not mocking our valley and me..."
His words carried a warning: Mockery would not be tolerated.
"Of course not. As a Sapa martial artist, I respect Great Dark Valley and believe this Black Heaven Tournament has been a resounding success. My presumptuous proposal stems from..."
In that moment, Hyeon Yucheon's eyes sharpened.
"As you said, Valley Lord, Sapa martial world is in steady decline. The orthodox sects, led by the Murim Alliance and Heaven's Five Venerables, overwhelm us. Thus, I believe Sapa needs a unifying force—a powerful figure and sect to rally us."
"Ho, intriguing. And?"
Unexpectedly, Seon Ganggyun showed curiosity rather than anger.
He shared similar thoughts.
Any Sapa sect leader would.
"After my master's tragic passing, Sapa lost its supreme sovereign. So, I dare step into that role. But to claim Sapa martial world, must I not first defeat Great Dark Valley's lord?"
A bold declaration indeed.
Hyeon Yucheon and the Demon Sword Sect would seize Sapa—starting by crushing him.
"Hahaha!"
Seon Ganggyun clutched his belly in laughter, then grew serious.
"Why should I accept?"
He had a point.
For the Dark Heaven Great Fist, it offered no gain—only a must-win duel where defeat meant total dishonor.
"If I lose... I'll designate Miss Seon as this tournament's champion, not myself."
"...!!"
The words stunned Seon Ganggyun and Seon Yeojin alike.
It bordered on insult, but the Black Heaven Tournament's winner held special meaning: the prize.
The champion received the Saryeonghwan (Evil Spirit Pill), a supreme elixir crafted jointly by Sapa's Five Great Sects.
It boosted inner power immensely, coveted by countless Sapa warriors.
So prized that it rivaled Shaolin's Great Return Pill in orthodox tales.
"Then the winner's prize as well..."
"Naturally goes to the victor."
Seon Ganggyun smirked at Hyeon Yucheon's firm assurance.
I know you're a Super Peak expert. But victory isn't just about that.
Truth be told, he believed he could best the Mugeom Sword Young Master.
With his vast experience and cunning, even Hyeon Yucheon couldn't prevail—or so he thought.
Of course, ignorance of Hyeon Yucheon's infinite inner power fueled this.
He had inherited everything from the Demon Sword Fiend.
Cunning? Experience?
Seon Ganggyun could never surpass Cheon Baeksang there, no matter what.
"Very well. A man's word..."
"Is worth a thousand gold. I'll honor mine."
Thus, their interests aligned.
For Seon Ganggyun, securing the championship and prize for Great Dark Valley was ideal.
He's hooked!
For Hyeon Yucheon, defeating Sapa's Ten Great Master—the Dark Heaven Great Fist—would cement his fame beyond top younger expert, paving his path to Sapa supremacy.
Sapa was a brutal world of survival of the fittest.
Crushing Seon Ganggyun decisively would subordinate Great Dark Valley without full war.
If I beat Hyeon Yucheon... the long-dreamed Demon Sword Sect will bow to Great Dark Valley!
Seon Ganggyun harbored the same ambition.
A perfect case of same bed, different dreams.
"What's the holdup with the finals?"
"Are they canceling?"
"Looks like Dark Heaven Fist Peak might forfeit."
As the two dreamed their opposing visions, the crowd awaiting only the finale grew restless, voicing complaints.
Just as dissatisfaction threatened to explode—
"Soon... in place of the official finals, a duel between Valley Lord Dark Heaven Great Fist Seon Ganggyun and Young Master Mugeom Sword Young Master Hyeon Yucheon will commence!"
Bong Ilwol's voice—shocked even to himself—boomed across Great Dark Valley, infused with inner power.