Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: Evil Soul City
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“Alliance Leader! Urgent news!”
The Murim Alliance warrior shoved his way through the densely packed crowd.
His shout brought the martial tournament finals to a screeching halt.
“What is it?”
The Alliance Leader's voice was laden with gravity.
He too had faintly sensed the ripple of qi.
“Warriors from Evil Soul City have come to visit, Alliance Leader.”
The report turned the boiling arena cold, as if everyone had been doused with ice water.
Faces filled with confusion and fear.
Why would warriors from Evil Soul City come to the Murim Alliance?
“Did you hear that wrong?”
“What business could those scum possibly have here?”
The martial world's luminaries shot to their feet.
Evil Soul City was the heart of the Unorthodox factions.
The White Master, supreme lord of the Unorthodox, had secluded himself there ever since the Great Orthodox-Unorthodox War ended, showing no sign of movement.
No, the rivers and lakes folk believed he hadn't set foot outside even once.
And not just him—none of his subordinates had appeared in the martial world either.
Even as Unorthodox masters fell to the blades of righteous experts, Evil Soul City remained utterly still.
“I wouldn't know, sir.”
The Strategist stepped forward at the Alliance warrior's reply.
“I'll go see to it.”
But the Alliance Leader raised a hand to stop him.
“No need. Even uninvited guests deserve a proper welcome. Bring them in.”
“Understood.”
The Murim Alliance warrior spun on his heel and dashed toward the main gate.
“Brother. Why would the Unorthodox suddenly show up at the Murim Alliance?”
“How should I know?”
Se Yeong's eyes were fixed on the martial luminaries.
Rage burned in their gazes.
He turned to scan the spectators, the Elusive Squadron, and the Heavenly Martial Squad members.
The crowd wore the same mask of fear, but the Elusive and Heavenly Martial Squad warriors were tense yet unafraid.
'This might turn into a real brawl.'
As Se Yeong harbored such hopes, the packed arena parted down the middle.
Like waves splitting apart, the crowd yielded a path, and a dozen or so warriors strode in.
Leading them was a man in his early thirties, followed by young men and women in their early to mid-twenties.
Se Yeong recognized the leader as the one who'd unleashed his aura at the Alliance gates.
He'd deliberately spread his energy to alert the Alliance Leader of their arrival.
Sending it precisely so only the Leader would sense it meant this man was no ordinary master.
Se Yeong watched them with keen interest.
The man halted at the arena's center and gave a slight bow toward the Alliance Leader.
“A third-rate warrior of Evil Soul City comes to pay respects to the Murim Alliance Leader.”
The Alliance Leader accepted the greeting from his seat.
“What business brings the Unorthodox here?”
The man met the Alliance Leader's gaze head-on.
Even setting aside his own prowess, few in the martial world could stand so boldly in the heart of enemy territory.
“I bear a message from the supreme lord.”
“Speak.”
The Alliance Leader received the words calmly.
“First message: Hand over the Mount Tai Sword Hero currently competing in your tournament to Evil Soul City.”
“What...!”
The furious outburst didn't come from the Alliance Leader, but from the luminaries.
“Do you know where you are, you Unorthodox scum, spouting such nonsense!”
The elder masters' rage echoed through the Murim Alliance grounds.
Yet the Unorthodox man continued without a hint of tension.
“Second message: Hand over the Demon Lord's Sword, currently held by the Murim Alliance, to Evil Soul City.”
The Demon Lord's Sword?
This time, everyone except the Alliance Leader erupted in uproar.
“You must have a death wish...!”
“You bastard...!”
The luminaries' hands gripped their sword hilts, ready to strike the man down on the spot.
For Unorthodox rabble to demand the Murim Alliance's most treasured relic?
This went beyond the sword's value—it struck at honor and pride.
Yielding it would make the rivers and lakes see the Alliance as subordinate to the Unorthodox.
Kekekeke...!
But the Alliance Leader laughed heartily.
In truth, no one burned with more fury than he.
'To dare demand my sword.'
With so many watching, though, he couldn't show weakness.
“Tell them the joke was amusing. Now go.”
The Leader's magnanimity eased the luminaries' anger.
Hahaha...!
“As expected of the Alliance Leader.”
Tsk tsk tsk...
“How could the Unorthodox White Master ever match our Leader?”
The luminaries openly scorned the Unorthodox delegation.
But the man showed no anger.
On the contrary, a smile played on his lips as he glanced at the Elusive and Heavenly Martial Squad warriors.
“To think these are the ones meant to lead the Murim Alliance in the future... Its prospects look truly bleak.”
It was blatant provocation.
The luminaries, slapped with words after their own barbs, flared up again.
Namgung Seok's shout came a beat faster, though.
“You Unorthodox whelp dare...!”
Words weren't enough.
He'd already drawn his sword, aiming it at the man.
Kekeke...
The man chuckled and looked to the Alliance Leader.
“What say you, Alliance Leader? They've drawn first. Might this third-rate warrior request a lesson?”
'Damn.'
The Leader smiled outwardly, but inwardly he seethed.
A supreme master hailed as the martial world's greatest wouldn't fail to gauge the man's strength.
Namgung Seok was exceptional, but this man transcended mere excellence.
Only a true master could provocatively project aura from the gates.
'The Alliance Leader's walked into a trap.'
Se Yeong eyed the Strategist's grim profile.
The luminaries behind laughed, oblivious, but the Strategist clearly sensed the peril.
“Insolent fool. But we'll let it slide this once. Leave.”
The Leader tried to send the delegation off with polite words.
But the luminaries struck the spark.
“Alliance Leader, we must show these Unorthodox dogs their place.”
“We can't just let him walk away, Leader.”
As things soured, the Strategist intervened.
“Calm yourselves. They're uninvited, yes, but they're Evil Soul City's delegation.”
The Unorthodox man, however, had no intention of backing down.
“I'm fine with it, Strategist Jegal. As a warrior of the rivers and lakes, my competitive spirit is stirred. Permit the duel. The crowd here wants it too, don't they? Life-or-death is fine by me.”
The crowd roared in approval at his words.
Wooo...!
“Get on with it...!”
“Crush the Unorthodox...!”
Namgung Seok was already a top contender in the finals.
Such a master couldn't possibly lose to one Unorthodox warrior.
“Entrust this to me, Alliance Leader. I'll shatter that bastard's arrogance.”
Namgung Seok piled on.
“What do you all think?”
Se Yeong turned to his squadmates.
“No matter how confident he seems, beating Namgung Seok won't be easy, brother.”
“I agree, Han Daehyeop.”
Even his squadmates, who despised Namgung Seok, couldn't root for the Unorthodox win.
Se Yeong looked up at the Alliance Leader's back.
'What now, Namgung Je?'
There was no longer any pretext to refuse the duel.
Refusal now would make the Alliance a laughingstock, spawning rumors that Evil Soul City outmatched it.
Yet watching his son lose was unthinkable.
The Leader spoke with deep, measured eyes.
“You want the Mount Tai Sword Hero? Duel him first. Win, and he's yours. If he wins, he'll be this tournament's champion.”
Namgung Seok reacted most vehemently.
“Father...! No, Alliance Leader! How can you decide the winner without a fight?”
“Quiet.”
The Leader's heavy tone made Namgung Seok tremble and step back.
“Seems settled.”
The man advanced; the young Unorthodox warriors retreated.
The pockmarked Mount Tai Sword Hero showed no fear.
“I, the Mount Tai Sword Hero, shall fell this Unorthodox warrior and prove that justice endures in the martial world.”
Wooo...!
The Alliance grounds thundered with cheers at his heroic words.
The man fixed him with cold eyes.
“I don't plan to take you back intact, so give it everything—no regrets.”
A chilling warning.
The Mount Tai Sword Hero countered with his own murderous intent.
“Since that's what you want, don't expect to leave alive.”
Killing intent chilled the air between them.
The crowd fell utterly silent, sensing it.
“Watch with eyes wide open.”
At Se Yeong's words, Paeng Se Gi truly bulged his eyes, and the squadmates tensed, staring at the arena.
'Cut him down, and I'll be the martial world's hero.'
The Mount Tai Sword Hero placed his hand on his sword hilt and cautiously stepped forward with his right foot.
The distance was three zhang, but he could close it in one move.
'Kill him in one strike.'
Shing...
The moment his left foot followed, the opponent rushed into view.
Slash.
Drawing his sword in a diagonal arc cleaved space—and the foe—in two.
But there was no resistance at the blade's tip.
'No.'
He spun desperately, flinging his sword wildly.
Slice... Thud! Roll...
His vision spun; the opponent loomed above, gazing down coldly.
The Mount Tai Sword Hero tried to speak.
But his mouth wouldn't open, and thick darkness swallowed everything.
The arena reeled from the unbearable shock.
No one dared break the hushed silence.
Click.
Only the sound of the Unorthodox warrior sheathing his saber.
“I'll take just his head, Alliance Leader.”
The Leader glared with heavy eyes.
“Permission granted.”
At his words, the young Unorthodox warriors stuffed the Mount Tai Sword Hero's head into a sack.
But Evil Soul City's delegation showed no sign of leaving.
“He was too weak; I haven't even warmed up. Who'll spar with me to loosen these limbs?”
His arrogance made the Alliance warriors and luminaries explode in outrage.
“Kill that bastard now...!”
“What are you waiting for? Cut him down...!”
The luminaries bellowed.
Clang! Shing!
At their orders, Heavenly Martial Squad warriors drew their weapons.
Yet the once-arrogant Namgung Seok hesitated, refusing to step forward.
“Stand down.”
The Leader halted the Heavenly Martial Squad with stern command.
“Leave now. Refuse, and you'll die.”
His icy warning made the Unorthodox warrior sheath his half-drawn saber.
Click.
“We'll head back for today. Next time, we'll claim the Demon Lord's Sword.”
Paeng Se Gi shot to his feet, watching them.
“Brother, I'm so pissed I can't stand it.”
Se Yeong restrained him and stood.
“Hold my swords for me.”
Se Yeong unfastened the swords at both hips and handed them over.