As time passed, it gradually neared sunset.
It was the hour when lanterns were being lit one by one throughout Henan, their light held in readiness for the coming night.
Under normal circumstances, this would have been the time for people to drift into the street stalls or return home, yet the streets were packed with people.
It was said to have been like this every day since the start of the Martial Tournament, but even by that standard, the crowd was unusually large.
Especially around the Murim Alliance.
The area where the Martial Tournament was being held was filled with people even beyond the spectator stands.
There was only one reason for this.
“Is it almost his turn?”
“That’s right. The Divine Dragon’s match will begin soon.”
“Ah… If only I could get a little closer.”
It was the Divine Dragon’s match.
That was what the crowd had gathered to see.
One might wonder how so many people could gather merely to watch a single martial artist’s match.
Yet after hearing the rumors that had spread throughout Henan, the reason was understandable.
The hope of Shaolin and the pinnacle of the Six Dragons and Three Peaks—the Divine Dragon.
He had succeeded in proving his worth in his match against the Moon-Splitting Sword.
He had shown the world what the youngest Mastery Realm expert was capable of, and had made the extent of his own value unmistakably clear.
He was barely twenty.
For someone who had only just passed from boyhood into youth, his presence was far too lofty.
Because of that, another title had come to be used for the Divine Dragon.
The future Number One Under Heaven.
Or, the one destined to become the Number One Under Heaven.
In the current Central Plains—or at least in Henan—that was the value the Divine Dragon possessed.
Even if he was not there yet, he was a rising star certain to reach the summit someday.
That was the Divine Dragon’s worth.
And the title of Number One Under Heaven was more than enough to draw this countless crowd.
“Is the Divine Dragon really that incredible?”
When a man beyond the spectator stands voiced his doubts, the person beside him answered as though he had been waiting for the question.
“What? You haven’t heard the rumors, Mr. Zhang?”
“I’ve heard them, which is why I’m saying this. Rumors have to be believable before one can trust them….”
“I’ll say this with confidence. The rumors are actually understating things.”
“No… Does that make any sense? They say he used the Hundred-Step Divine Fist. Can a young martial artist really do that?”
The Hundred-Step Divine Fist.
A martial art called both the foundation and the ultimate technique of Shaolin.
It was said to bear that name because a single punch could reduce to rubble something more than a hundred paces away.
Even among Shaolin’s martial artists, few were said to be capable of using it.
The fact that a mere young martial artist had used it was difficult to believe.
“Hah.”
At Mr. Zhang’s suspicion, Mr. Tian, the proprietor of the Boundless Inn, let out a derisive laugh.
“This is why I can’t talk to people who haven’t watched the Martial Tournament.”
“…You’re acting awfully high and mighty just because you watched one Martial Tournament.”
“How could I not? You can’t even believe something as simple as the Hundred-Step Divine Fist.”
“Something as simple?”
Mr. Tian’s words made Mr. Zhang’s eyes widen.
“How can you call the Hundred-Step Divine Fist something as simple?”
“Anyone who watched the Martial Tournament would say the same.”
As he spoke, Mr. Tian sidled closer to Mr. Zhang.
“Don’t be shocked. The Divine Dragon used not only the Hundred-Step Divine Fist, but also… the Golden Crow River-Embracing Armor.”
“…What? The Golden Crow River-Embracing Armor!?”
Mr. Zhang was startled by his words.
“What’s that?”
“…”
“No, I really don’t know….”
Mr. Zhang spoke sheepishly, and Mr. Tian cleared his throat.
“How disappointing. You mean to say you don’t know Shaolin’s Golden Crow River-Embracing Armor…?”
“I’m not a member of Shaolin…. How could I know all of their martial arts?”
The Hundred-Step Divine Fist was famous, so he could understand that one.
But what was the Golden Crow River-Embracing Armor?
No matter how much Mr. Zhang thought about it, nothing came to mind.
It was only natural.
If there were few in Shaolin capable of using the Hundred-Step Divine Fist, then there would be even fewer capable of using the Golden Crow River-Embracing Armor.
Shaolin’s ultimate art, said to require a profound realization of cultivation that had reached its limit, regardless of realm.
One wrapped the teachings of Buddhism around one’s body and forged them into golden armor, wearing it as a symbol of those teachings.
An armor of enlightenment that could never be broken, worthy of being called an Indestructible Diamond Body.
An undefeated martial art.
That was Shaolin’s Golden Crow River-Embracing Armor.
“…You’re saying the Divine Dragon used something like that?”
The Divine Dragon had used it at the age of twenty.
That was why he was called a prospect for becoming the Number One Under Heaven.
“If that rumor is true… then I can understand why this many people have gathered.”
“They’re hoping to see it again, just in case. Wondering whether he’ll show it in this match as well.”
The Divine Dragon, wrapped in golden light, had been more radiant than anyone else.
In the current Shaolin, the martial artists capable of using the Golden Crow River-Embracing Armor could be counted on one hand.
No, there were likely even fewer than that. Since there were so few opportunities to witness Shaolin’s martial arts, many had come here in anticipation.
“Now that you mention it, I’m certainly looking forward to it.”
“Right? I knew even you would say that, Mr. Zhang.”
“Still, he has to show it for us to see it.”
It would be nice if they could witness it.
But there was one problem.
As Mr. Zhang had just said, this was not a power one could see merely because one wished to.
“I also heard the Divine Dragon is injured.”
The preliminary round held previously.
He had heard that the battle had been quite fierce.
As the Divine Dragon’s value rose, so too had the fame of the person who had fought him at the time.
The Moon-Splitting Sword, Wi Seol-Ah.
One of the Three Venerables.
And, they said, the successor of the Sword Venerable.
She had not been overwhelmed in her match against the Divine Dragon, who had reached the Mastery Realm. In the end, she had lost, but not before inflicting serious injuries upon him.
The Moon-Immortal Sword had been a martial art with distinctive characteristics. It was famous enough that her identity as the Sword Venerable’s successor had practically been proven by it alone.
And considering that she had not been overwhelmed even by the Divine Dragon’s crushing martial power…
“The future of the Central Plains is truly bright.”
At Mr. Tian’s proud expression, Mr. Zhang nodded as well.
“…It does seem that way. And now that the Moon-Splitting Sword has appeared, perhaps… the Sword Venerable himself may show himself once more.”
“Hm? Why are you bringing up the Sword Venerable here?”
“I don’t know about the future of the Central Plains, but isn’t the present rather dark? So if he were to appear again… I think I’d feel a little more at ease.”
“Dark? My friend, this is the brightest time we’ve seen in years.”
At Mr. Tian’s words, Mr. Zhang gave a pained smile.
Bright… Was it really bright?
‘We’re barely holding back the Red Demons… What exactly is bright about this?’
It was true that people were happy thanks to the unprecedented festival.
But to call this an age of light would be a lie.
They were in the midst of a crisis, and Mr. Zhang knew it well.
“With the Sword Immortal here, what is there to worry about? Just enjoy yourself for now.”
“…You’re right….”
There was no one who would accept such words even if he spoke them.
Perhaps his thoughts were mistaken as well.
So he offered a vague show of agreement and changed the subject.
“Oh, right. Who is the Divine Dragon’s opponent?”
He understood why the crowd had gathered at the mention of the Divine Dragon.
But who was his opponent?
When he asked out of sudden curiosity, Mr. Tian answered with a peculiar expression.
“I heard he’s a son of the Gu family.”
“The Gu family? If it’s the Gu family… you mean the Shanxi Gu family?”
“That’s right. The clan of heroes.”
“If he’s a son of the Gu family… then it can’t be the Sword Peak. Ah.”
Mr. Zhang remembered.
He had heard about it before.
On the first or second day, they said, a son of the Gu family had defeated a Mastery Realm martial artist with a single strike.
His alias was probably…
“Little Yama.”
Little Yama, Gu Ryunghwa.
He was the young martial artist who had stopped a great incident several years ago.
Mr. Zhang knew of him as well.
Despite the many rumors surrounding him, he had apparently been inactive for several years.
‘Come to think of it….’
Little Yama, Gu Ryunghwa. Around the time he had thrown the Central Plains into an uproar, another rumor had followed the young man.
“Wasn’t he also called the youngest Mastery Realm expert?”
When Mr. Zhang mentioned the thought that had occurred to him, Mr. Tian laughed heartily.
“From how long ago? Besides, that was just a false rumor.”
“A false rumor?”
“Of course. If it wasn’t false, why would the Alliance have declared that the Divine Dragon was truly the youngest Mastery Realm expert?”
“…Hm.”
That was true as well.
“Mr. Zhang, you’re more naïve than I expected.”
“I only mentioned it because that’s what I seemed to remember.”
Would it matter either way?
What mattered was this.
“…You say he defeated a Mastery Realm martial artist. Then doesn’t that mean Little Yama reached the Mastery Realm as well?”
“You could look at it that way, but… there was quite a bit of controversy over that.”
“What do you mean?”
“Some say Little Yama’s opponent had only recently entered the Mastery Realm…. Many believe it was a victory brought about by his opponent letting his guard down.”
Mr. Tian’s words drew a peculiar reaction from Mr. Zhang.
A martial artist in the Mastery Realm had let his guard down?
And against his opponent on the tournament stage?
‘…Does that make any sense?’
That was what he thought, but he did not show it.
At times like this, rather than simple carelessness…
‘Could it be that Little Yama was so strong his opponent couldn’t even grasp what was happening…? Wouldn’t that be the more accurate interpretation?’
He raised a fundamental question.
Of course, that made no more sense either.
So he did not say that aloud.
Even if there was something strange about the rumors surrounding Little Yama…
‘We’ll find out soon enough.’
If there were questions, he would have answers before long.
Mr. Zhang was not the sort to readily believe anything unless he had seen it with his own eyes.
-Waaaaaaah!
A sudden cheer rang out.
Mr. Zhang lifted his head and looked into the distance.
Then he could barely make out someone climbing onto the tournament stage.
‘That young man….’
A young monk with features like a sculpture stood there.
His benevolent and warm bearing immediately marked him as a member of Shaolin.
-Divine Dragon! Divine Dragon! Divine Dragon!
The spectators roared when the young man appeared.
As everyone repeatedly cried out the Divine Dragon’s name and the atmosphere around them heated in an instant, Mr. Zhang looked somewhere other than at the Divine Dragon.
At his opponent.
‘Hm?’
The starkly different impression made Mr. Zhang frown.
The young man stood with one leg cocked, and, as though annoyed by the noise, frowned while picking at his ear.
His black hair held a faint bluish sheen, and…
‘…He looks… frightening.’
His appearance was startling enough to make one flinch at first sight.
What was with that? How could a person look so vicious?
Was that young man Little Yama?
‘Something about him….’
His first impression was thoroughly ill-mannered.
He was blatantly ill-mannered, as if he had no intention of hiding it.
With countless people watching him, could someone of the orthodox sects really behave like that?
He carried himself as though he did not care in the slightest about the eyes of others.
Watching him, Mr. Zhang felt a subtle sensation.
For some reason, he did not feel uncomfortable.
Perhaps it was because the attitude suited him so perfectly?
It did not seem like the brashness of youth.
What was this feeling?
Unable to understand it, Mr. Zhang looked at Mr. Tian.
“Brother Tian.”
“What is it? I’m a little busy right now, so ask me later….”
“Who do you think will win?”
“Hm?”
Mr. Tian, who had been watching the Divine Dragon, flinched at Mr. Zhang’s question.
His expression changed as well.
It was the expression of a man wondering what kind of bizarre question this was.
“Good grief. Why would you ask such a thing?”
The answer was obvious.
“The Divine Dragon, of course.”
“…You think so?”
“Then do you think the Divine Dragon might lose?”
“You never know what might happen in this world.”
“Ha! Good grief. How can a man who makes his living trading goods know so little about the world?”
Indeed.
Mr. Zhang nodded at Mr. Tian’s words.
The entire world was saying it would be the Divine Dragon. So why did he feel otherwise?
A young man he had never met before.
Someone who had once been famous, though everyone now called it a false rumor.
Why did his eyes keep being drawn to that young man he had just seen for the first time?
Despite knowing all that, Mr. Zhang found himself thinking—
For some reason, it did not feel as though the Divine Dragon would win.
He simply had that feeling.
A short while passed as he thought so.
-The Shaolin representative, Gu Ryunghwa of the Shanxi Gu family.
-The match begins!
From the distant tournament stage came the announcement signaling the start.
At that moment—
-Buzz!
“...!”
Mr. Zhang immediately felt the air around him change.
It was heavy and stifling.
-Whoosh!
“Ugh!”
The people nearby hurriedly covered their eyes.
An immense light erupted from the tournament stage. A golden radiance resembling the sun illuminated the surroundings.
At the same time, warmth slowly seeped into their previously constricted chests.
-Whoosh!
The wind blew.
It was warm and benevolent, as if embracing their bodies.
Feeling it, Mr. Zhang opened his eyes.
“Ah…?”
He had to swallow a gasp as he looked at the tournament stage.
“Hahahaha! There it is! That’s the one! That’s exactly what I was talking about!”
Mr. Tian spoke excitedly beside him.
Only then did Mr. Zhang recall what he had mentioned.
The Golden Crow River-Embracing Armor.
Shaolin’s ultimate art.
A sense of overwhelming pressure enveloped the entire stage.
A massive suit of armor dyed golden light wrapped around the Divine Dragon’s body.
“I can’t believe we get to see that from the very beginning…! It seems the Divine Dragon intends to fight seriously, no matter who his opponent is.”
“...”
Mr. Zhang could not answer.
Was that truly a power wielded by a human being?
‘Indeed… I can see why it’s called the Indestructible Diamond Body.’
One could tell just by looking.
That solid armor seemed impossible to break by ordinary means.
No, it was impossible even to imagine it breaking.
-Waaaaaaaah!
When the Divine Dragon deployed the Golden Crow River-Embracing Armor from the very start, the cheers grew even louder.
A great moment that would be recorded in history.
It felt as though they were witnessing that moment together.
The Divine Dragon was at the center of the history that was about to begin.
Knowing that, the fervor rose even more rapidly.
‘…This is….’
Observing it all, Mr. Zhang gave a bitter smile.
‘Incredible.’
They said he was the most likely candidate to become the future Number One Under Heaven, and they were right.
The Divine Dragon was certainly a martial artist worthy of such a title.
And yet…
‘Why do I still keep looking at him?’
Mr. Zhang’s gaze turned once more toward Little Yama.
Even before that brilliant light, Little Yama wore the same expression as before.
Had he given up on the match?
Had he lost his will to fight the instant he saw it?
His expression naturally invited such thoughts.
Blank and detached.
He acted as though he had not the slightest interest in the martial art the Divine Dragon had deployed.
How could that be?
How could anyone remain so unaffected in the face of such an overwhelming sight?
Mr. Zhang wondered, but his question did not last long.
The match began.
The Divine Dragon, cloaked in the Golden Crow River-Embracing Armor, charged at Little Yama at once.
Crack.
A brief sound followed.
“…Huh?”
-Waaaaaaah… Huh?
Confusion mingled with the cheers.
It could not be helped.
“What the hell is that?”
“…Wh-what?”
The golden armor said to be akin to an Indestructible Diamond Body—
the armor wrapped around the Divine Dragon—
Crack!
Little Yama began tearing it apart with his bare hands.