“Kuh-uuaaack!”
Liu Tanjian rolled across the floor.
“Huaaaaaah!!”
Clutching his groin and thrashing about, he looked rather unsightly, but no one pointed this out.
At least not the men.
“I heard it….”
“It definitely broke. That definitely broke.”
To think the sound would be that crisp.
Everyone could only watch Liu Tanjian with pitying eyes.
“Kuh… kuhhh… keuh….”
He barely stopped flailing and straightened himself, but his face was dark and twisted, cold sweat pouring down in streams.
“Y-you…!!”
Seeing that, Ouyang Tian spoke.
“Ah, my mistake. I was aiming for your thigh, my apologies, Senior.”
He offered the apology with an expression that was anything but sorry.
Hearing that, Liu Tanjian’s eyes flooded red with blood.
“You demon-like bastard—!!”
“Well, if you go around swinging your dick like a dick, you’re gonna end up in a dick of a situation….”
Though Liu Tanjian screamed, Ouyang Tian merely shook his head back and forth with no particular reaction.
Unable to endure it, Liu Tanjian drew his sword.
Srrrng—!!
A thin blade was revealed to the world.
Soon after, something distinct enveloped it.
Gang Qi.
A faint azure Gang Qi swirled at the tip of Liu Tanjian’s sword.
It was a rather bizarre form of sword energy, emitted while he clutched his groin, but those who saw it couldn’t help but marvel.
“…Such beautiful sword energy….”
“That is the Liu Shanyixian Gong (柳善義纖功) of the Yaoling Baijia…! Beautiful beyond measure, just as the rumors said.”
Liu Shanyixian Gong.
It was the direct-line martial art of the Yaoling Baijia, and whenever one spoke of the most beautiful martial arts, it was among those whose names often came up, said to have flowing energy like floating stars.
Swoosh—!
The sword tip trembled, and the energy slowly began to spread.
The pain must have been immense, yet the hand gripping the sword was steady.
Unlike the bastard himself, his Huajing seemed to be the real deal.
“How dare you… u-use sorcery…!?”
“Sorcery?”
Ouyang Tian tilted his head at Liu Tanjian’s words.
Sorcery?
The surroundings began to stir at the words Liu Tanjian had spat out.
“Sorcery?”
“Did Liu Tanjian just say sorcery?”
“Then, does that mean what just happened was caused by sorcery?”
For words spat out in anger, their impact was immense.
This was due to the fame Liu Tanjian possessed.
“Well, it was strange from the start that a young man made Liu Tanjian look like that….”
“But didn’t nothing particularly strange seem to happen just now…? No, we couldn’t even see it.”
To ordinary people, or at best second-rate martial artists, the speed would have been too fast to perceive.
Those who could barely make out the situation would be first-rate martial artists or higher.
They must have clearly seen what happened moments ago, yet their faces showed undeniable uncertainty.
It couldn’t be helped.
Who was Liu Tanjian?
He was one of the absolute experts ranked within the top hundred of the Central Plains, and setting aside his chronic womanizing, he was a figure with a firm standing as a swordsman.
For such an expert of the Central Plains.
‘To be done in by someone so young?’
It was unbelievable even after seeing it. How could one believe it?
This could only have happened by sorcery.
“Henan, and to use sorcery in the Murim Alliance at that…! This could only happen if one were truly mad!”
Liu Tanjian shouted and thrust his sword at Ouyang Tian.
Ouyang Tian smirked upon seeing the flickering energy.
“It’s been a while since I heard that.”
Sorcery.
He used to hear it often, but having not stepped forward like this recently, it felt fresh.
Well.
‘These days, I kill them before they can even say such things.’
Since he had repeatedly killed and cleaned up the trash before they could spout such nonsense, he hadn’t had time to hear such words.
Ouyang Tian fixed Liu Tanjian with a characteristic gaze.
“Keep going. So? What exactly looks like sorcery?”
“Are you still trying to mock me!”
“No, it’s not mockery… Haa….”
He tried to speak but let out a deep sigh.
Why was it that whenever he came here, he could never have a human conversation?
“Forget it. What conversation? Let’s just fight.”
Taking a step, Ouyang Tian swept his gaze around.
Every eye was fixed on him.
They piled up thickly, settling upon his head layer by layer.
It was a bloated, burdensome sensation.
“…Come to think of it, that young man…! I was wondering who he was—it’s Xiao Yanluo.”
“What? Xiao Yanluo?”
As the moniker shot out like a spark, the assembly rippled like waves.
“I clearly saw it yesterday too! Biseongdo was acting as if he knew that young man.”
“They said there was a commotion when Young Patriarch Peng appeared yesterday… Could it really be true?”
The more the words deepened, the deeper the gazes became.
Ouyang Tian was always like this, but such attention was never welcome.
A nauseating wave swept over him.
But he had to endure it. At the same time, a faint regret flashed by.
‘I shouldn’t have stepped forward.’
He had originally intended not to step forward, nor to draw attention like this.
The Martial Arts Tournament hadn’t even started; if an incident like this happened already, it would be troublesome later.
So he had tried to send him off moderately, but.
‘That bastard.’
If only that fucker—whether Liu Tanjian or Yoon Tanjian—hadn’t crossed the line.
If he had acted moderately, Ouyang Tian would have let it go even when the Alliance’s martial artist stepped in. But for him to flap his mouth recklessly even then—how could he endure it?
‘I didn’t like his face either.’
Despite his shit personality, his face was handsome.
He looked past his forties and yet was handsome enough to seem so; women couldn’t help but flock to him.
That made him even more displeased.
It meant that even when he tried to keep things moderate, it didn’t go as he wished.
As Ouyang Tian, thinking so, took another step.
“You bastard—! Do you think it’ll work a second time!”
Liu Tanjian displayed his momentum and executed a movement.
Azure Sword Gang blazed along a path, creating a sword trajectory.
Shwiiik—!!
A smooth and refreshing sword trajectory, as if displaying the realm he possessed.
Ouyang Tian moved nimbly and observed the sword trajectory.
Then he slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
The reason being.
‘This old man is scared.’
Because he detected a faint hesitation in Liu Tanjian’s sword trajectory as he swung.
‘He’s not completely stupid. Seems he knows.’
He had wondered if he was truly dick-brained for spouting nonsense about sorcery, but fortunately, he seemed to have some sanity left.
Liu Tanjian knew. That what just happened wasn’t simply sorcery.
That must be why there was hesitation at the tip of his sword.
Seeing that, Ouyang Tian moved lightly.
Brushing past Liu Tanjian’s sword trajectory ever so slightly, he calmly closed the distance.
“You—!”
With his attacks failing in succession, Liu Tanjian’s Sword Gang grew a shade deeper.
Before long.
Paaaack—!!
Ripples of energy scattered and began to rise into the air.
It was as if stars were rising in broad daylight.
Seeing that, interest sparked in Ouyang Tian’s eyes.
‘Is it similar to the Plum Blossom Sword Technique?’
At a glance it seemed so, but it might be different upon closer inspection.
Groan.
Opening his Mind’s Eye, he assessed Liu Tanjian’s martial arts.
‘Judging by the level, the destructive power must be considerable.’
Though it looked somewhat weak in form, the energy contained within was pure.
If that poured out as it was, it would be enough to sweep through the area.
Judging by Liu Tanjian’s realm….
‘Above Tang Shaolie in a head-on fight.’
If Tang Shaolie, an assassin, fought Liu Tanjian head-on during the day, he would lose.
If they fought at night….
‘I wouldn’t know about that.’
Since he didn’t properly know Tang Shaolie’s strength, he couldn’t say for sure.
However, he could tell that Liu Tanjian’s fame was no hollow rumor.
‘So, should I wreck him in advance?’
If he ignited his flames now, he could easily suppress him.
So should he beat that dick-Tanjian half to death?
He pondered so, but soon Ouyang Tian inwardly shook his head.
‘It’s a waste to reveal that much.’
Although he had stepped forward, the line he had set was clear, and even if he didn’t ignite his flames now.
‘There was someone who would step forward anyway.’
The person who would put an end to this situation had long since been prepared.
Recalling this, Ouyang Tian’s gaze turned somewhere.
Shifting his Mind’s Eye beyond the countless spectators, sure enough, he could gradually feel it.
‘If I’ve gone this far, I need to take the profit.’
Since he had caused a ruckus that wasn’t quite a ruckus, he couldn’t suffer losses.
He would gain whatever he could gain.
Having judged so, Ouyang Tian looked at Liu Tanjian.
Shwiiik—!!
In the time he was thinking, Liu Tanjian’s sword trajectory had already begun to accelerate.
Ouyang Tian widened the distance.
Then, like a ghost, the sword tip followed.
Moreover, the energy Liu Tanjian had spread rushed toward Ouyang Tian as well.
It poured out.
Numerous split energies poured down on Ouyang Tian.
Thud-thud-thud-thud—!!!
The energy began to sweep the ground.
“Uwaaack!”
“Hiiik!”
Those nearby screamed at the sudden bombardment.
Fortunately, there was no significant harm. It seemed Liu Tanjian had controlled that aspect.
‘He must be feeling the pressure.’
Though he fought desperately, he must have known too.
That turning the Murim Alliance into a mess wouldn’t do him any good.
Swish—!
The sword brushed past the top of his head.
While dodging the Gang Qi, Liu Tanjian persistently followed and kept swinging his sword.
It was a martial art that was quite tricky to deal with. It would be easy if he could just push through with raw energy, but since he couldn’t do that, it was more problematic.
But it didn’t matter.
“You only run like a rat!”
Because there wasn’t long left anyway.
Kwaaak—!
Thinking Ouyang Tian was being pushed back, Liu Tanjian raised his momentum.
Thud! He stomped on the ground and then shot his body forward.
The distance closed in an instant.
No, more accurately, it was right to say he had allowed the distance to close.
“It’s over—!”
Liu Tanjian extended his sword. The blade imbued with Sword Gang rushed toward the upper body, and upon seeing this, Ouyang Tian also slowly extended his hand.
Slightly slower than the flying sword, at a speed where the sword tip would reach first if they clashed like this.
Just before the sword finally reached Ouyang Tian.
“Enough.”
Someone appeared between the two.
Tuk—!
“Hup!”
Liu Tanjian’s sword and Ouyang Tian’s hand were simultaneously blocked.
Wooooong—!!! In an instant, sword cries reverberated.
The sound ringing from Liu Tanjian’s blade. His blade was caught in someone’s hand.
Caught between the index finger and thumb, the blade wailed.
Ouyang Tian’s hand was also caught before it could reach Liu Tanjian.
“It seems you two have momentarily forgotten where you are.”
At the chilling voice, Liu Tanjian’s shoulder flinched.
Conversely, Ouyang Tian raised the corner of his mouth upon hearing the voice.
‘He came.’
Fortunately, he had appeared properly.
Flutter.
A white dao robe fluttered in the wind.
Those who saw that figure let out voices filled with admiration.
“Th-that person is….”
“…The Jinling Sword Emperor!”
Exclamations mixed with admiration rang out.
In an instant, the surroundings quieted down.
The white martial uniform symbolizing a figure of the Alliance.
The presence of the old man wearing it made those around him close their mouths.
The appeared old man twitched his white eyebrows as he looked at the two.
“Within the Murim Alliance, the drawing of blades is forbidden except for duels permitted by the Alliance.”
Speaking while looking at Liu Tanjian, he saw the man’s hand tremble.
“Furthermore, during the Martial Arts Tournament, conflicts between martial artists are also forbidden.”
The Jinling Sword Emperor.
Or the Number One Sword of Henan.
The one who protects the Murim Alliance, and a true martial artist among the ten said to exist in the current Central Plains.
‘One of the Ten Great Experts of the Central Plains.’
He was one of the Seven Sages and Three Authorities.
The old man who had been speaking flashed his eyes.
“According to the laws set by the Alliance, I will arrest the two of you who have violated them.”
“H-have mercy!”
Liu Tanjian tried to say something with a blanched complexion, but upon hearing this, the Sword Emperor’s blade-like gaze turned toward him.
“Resistance, is it? Liu Tanjian.”
“…!”
At the heavy question, Liu Tanjian’s lips trembled.
“…It… is not.”
The one who had walked around holding his head high as a master of the Hundred Great Experts was nothing more than a nobody before the Sword Emperor.
Contrary to the countless murmurs heard upon seeing him, only silence lingered before the Sword Emperor.
That was the presence of one of the Ten Great Experts.
As Liu Tanjian closed his mouth with a miserable expression, the Sword Emperor this time looked at Ouyang Tian.
Their gazes met.
Ouyang Tian immediately smiled broadly and spoke.
“Please arrest me quickly. I won’t resist or anything.”
“...”
Hearing those words, the old man somehow slightly distorted his expression, but Ouyang Tian didn’t care.
The arrest was the same.
Ouyang Tian didn’t care much about that either.
‘Even if I’m taken in like this, anyway.’
He would be released soon.
******************
“What is the meaning of this?”
The Alliance Leader of the Murim Alliance who had received the report on the situation, the Wudang Sword Immortal, furrowed his brow.
“…Liu Tanjian was arrested?”
“Yes.”
The Sword Emperor, kneeling on one knee before him, answered.
“He caused a battle inside the Alliance, was subdued and arrested, and is currently placed underground for interrogation.”
“...”
Even after hearing the explanation, the Sword Immortal’s expression did not ease. Liu Tanjian was suddenly arrested? And he was subdued while fighting?
‘That Liu Tanjian?’
A famous figure who was one of the Hundred Great Experts was captured while fighting?
And inside the Murim Alliance at that?
In this incomprehensible situation, the Wudang Sword Immortal examined the captured report.
Rustle.
The letter contained a detailed account of the incident.
As the Wudang Sword Immortal slowly read down, his expression began to contort more and more.
“His groin…?”
“...”
At the Sword Immortal’s words, the Sword Emperor said nothing.
He seemed unable to bring himself to say it.
“…What was his condition?”
“They say he needs some treatment, but there is no major problem.”
“…That is a relief.”
It was a relief in many ways.
“Anyway… then, this means that in the end, Liu Tanjian showed his skills, does it not?”
“Yes.”
“Was he earnest?”
To the question of whether Liu Tanjian fought with all his heart, the Sword Emperor answered,
“Since he was preemptively struck, it is insufficient to say he was at full power, but at the very least, he did not appear to underestimate his opponent.”
“Hmm….”
It was an ambiguous answer, yet also an accurate one.
In any case, Liu Tanjian had certainly shown his martial prowess.
The problem was.
The opponent Liu Tanjian had fought was the problem.
“Xiao Yanluo… of the Gu Clan’s bloodline…?”
The Sword Immortal’s eyes widened after reading the text.
It was a name he knew.
And rightly so, as wasn’t he said to be a close friend of the child the Sword Immortal cherished yet found troublesome?
‘So it was that child.’
The Wudang one recalled Xiao Yanluo’s face.
He had encountered him at a past Righteous Faction conference.
He was the son of the Tiger Hero, and at the time was being called the True Dragon.
‘That child fought Liu Tanjian?’
Did it mean that not only did he wreck Liu Tanjian’s groin, but also held off his sword?
‘Hmm.’
The Sword Immortal’s wrinkles deepened.
‘Is that even possible?’
An ambush could somehow be possible, but based on the reported circumstances, it was difficult to see it as simply an ambush.
Then, did the Gu Clan’s child truly fight Liu Tanjian?
He held off the sword and endured until the Sword Emperor intervened?
‘Strange indeed.’
Although there was talk that he had broken free from being a Hugijisu due to the Shenlong Hall incident.
‘In any case, he’s just a child.’
He had only just passed the age of twenty. Furthermore, he was a child said to be younger than Uhyeok, the Sleeping Dragon.
Could such a child endure Liu Tanjian’s sword?
Recalling this, the Sword Immortal immediately looked at the Sword Emperor and asked.
“Guardian Elder.”
“Yes, Alliance Leader.”
“To what extent did you see Xiao Yanluo’s level?”
“...”
Since it was the Sword Emperor who went directly, he must have surely grasped the child’s realm.
That was what he had believed and asked, but.
“I do not know.”
“…!”
At the Sword Emperor’s words, the Sword Immortal’s eyes widened like lantern flames.
“You do not know…?”
“Yes.”
He had failed to grasp the realm.
The Sword Emperor was saying so.
Hearing this, the Sword Immortal furrowed his brow.
“Does that make any sense?”
This was the Sword Emperor, of all people.
He was a man who would have taken the position of the Sword King had it not been for the Sword Monarch, and is currently called the Number One Sword of Henan and the Protector of the Alliance.
That one who is said to be among the lower ranks of the Ten Great Experts of the Central Plains couldn’t gauge the level of a mere Hugijisu?
The Sword Immortal showed a reaction close to shock, but the Sword Emperor’s expression did not change.
“There is no lie. I failed to grasp Xiao Yanluo’s realm.”
To be precise, he couldn’t see it.
He hadn’t put his whole heart into grasping it. But even so, the fact that he couldn’t see it remained the same.
Nevertheless, the Sword Emperor could not look into Xiao Yanluo.
What this meant was none other than.
‘That the Sword Emperor and Xiao Yanluo’s realms are the same, or similar.’
Or.
‘Has he mastered a special martial art?’
If he had mastered a special martial art that made it difficult to ascertain the opponent’s realm.
The Sword Immortal stroked his beard as he read the part written in the letter.
‘There is the part where Liu Tanjian mentioned sorcery.’
There was a report that he shouted asking if sorcery was used while exhibiting Gang Qi.
‘Sorcery…’
Did Xiao Yanluo truly use sorcery?
In the center of the Murim Alliance at that? A child of the Righteous Faction?
‘The former case is unlikely.’
He didn’t consider the case where his realm was similar to the Sword Emperor’s.
That was something that couldn’t be explained simply as talent.
It would be something that surpassed a miracle, beyond reason and reality.
The only sticking point was.
‘That this child is the son of that Tiger Hero.’
Of all people, the Tiger of Shanxi.
That he was of his bloodline was the issue.
Because while a miracle was one thing, being the bloodline of that man could change things.
Rustle.
The Sword Immortal neatly folded the letter, put it in his bosom, and cooled his eyes.
“Hmmm….”
This was not good.
Not the fact that there was friction before the Martial Arts Tournament even started.
What was important to the Sword Immortal was that Xiao Yanluo had begun to draw attention.
He would try to kill the rumors somehow, but they were already spreading quietly.
That Xiao Yanluo fought on equal footing with Liu Tanjian.
That a young martial artist’s attack worked on Liu Tanjian.
Rumors would flow out somehow.
And that was the part that was a problem for the Sword Immortal.
‘Why must he show his talent now, of all times?’
Yes, now of all times.
Of all times, a martial artist of the same age as the Divine Dragon was showing such talent.
‘If that child has also touched the Huajing, just like the Divine Dragon.’
He wanted to believe that wasn’t the case. But the circumstances were suspicious.
If that happened, it would clearly become a problem.
The matter currently being pursued by the Alliance together with Shaolin.
‘The Meteor Birth Plan might face setbacks.’
The Shaolin Abbot had foreseen the calamity to come, and the plan for the complete annihilation of the Demonic Faction before that.
The plan being carried out for that purpose might be twisted.
Such an uneasy seed sprouted within the Sword Immortal.
Rattle.
Feeling this, the Sword Immortal finally rose from his desk.
“Where are the two of them now?”
“In the underground interrogation room.”
“Then, let us… go there now.”
At the Sword Immortal’s words, the corners of the Sword Emperor’s eyes moved slightly.
“Are you going personally, Alliance Leader?”
“I am.”
The Sword Immortal nodded and moved his steps.
“I need to see for myself.”
Only then did he think he could be certain.
Whether the Gu Clan’s child was truly someone who would benefit the plan, or.
Someone who would harm it.