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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“You actually obtained all three endorsements.”
Zhuge Xian-shang looked at the three letters in my hand with admiration, then smiled.
“Now, all that remains is to formally request the succession duel.”
“…I spent over thirty days running around for this…”
“Reviving a long-forgotten tradition is worth the effort, wouldn’t you say?”
“That’s true.”
I nodded.
Earning the right to duel the leader of a faction wasn’t easy. Especially in the righteous factions, which valued tradition and decorum.
If this were a Demonic Sect, I could have simply barged in and demanded a duel.
While the righteous factions valued rules and etiquette, the Demonic Sects respected only strength. Though, the Demonic Sects weren’t particularly influential in this world…
When were the Yangtze River Waterway Bandits and the Green Forest supposed to make their moves?
I only remembered it happening after the Martial Alliance Leader’s death.
It occurred some time after his assassination, so I would have to deal with the Yangtze River Waterway Bandits immediately after the duel and my visit to the Yunnan Pill Valley…I had no time to rest.
I almost missed the days when all I had to do was eat, sleep, and fight. Back then, I just followed orders. Planning and executing my own strategies was surprisingly tedious.
“Let’s go request the duel.”
“Hero Wi, are you confident you can win?”
“As they say, ‘You never know until you try.’”
Honestly, my chances of winning were slim. It would be absurd for someone who had just reached the transcendent expert level to be on par with someone who had been at that level for over a decade.
While I was strong for my age, I couldn’t overcome decades of experience.
However, I wouldn’t be completely outmatched.
I knew the Alliance Leader’s techniques, but he had never experienced mine.
…Besides, victory wasn’t the goal.
The purpose of the duel was to discreetly convey information to the Alliance Leader. That was why I had been running around in the lion mask.
To prevent him from connecting me to the masked martial artist and further confuse Commander Seo.
Officially, I had simply returned after securing the Peng Clan’s endorsement.
“I hope you win.”
“I’ll try.”
Even if I lost, the duel itself would be a valuable learning experience.
I turned and headed towards the Alliance Leader’s residence.
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“So, the rumors were true…”
“What rumors?”
“Haha, there were rumors of a martial artist intending to challenge the Alliance Leader to a succession duel. But I never thought it would actually happen…I never imagined I would witness a succession duel in my lifetime.”
The Alliance Leader’s secretary looked at me with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. He seemed fascinated by the revival of a long-forgotten tradition.
“Could you arrange the duel as soon as possible?”
“That’s for the Alliance Leader to decide. But…may I ask your reason for requesting a succession duel?”
“I want to fight the Alliance Leader. But the only way to challenge him is through a succession duel.”
“Hmm…”
The secretary looked at me strangely, as if thinking, ‘What kind of person are you?’ He seemed bewildered by my answer.
“…That’s your reason…you do realize that if you win, you’ll become the Alliance Leader?”
“I doubt I’ll win.”
“…Indeed. No one can defeat our Alliance Leader. He’s one of the strongest transcendent experts.”
The secretary’s confidence was unwavering.
He was certain the Alliance Leader would win.
“I agree. However…you never know.”
“You’re quite confident. It’s good to see such youthful spirit.”
“Haha. Then, please inform the Alliance Leader.”
“Very well. Return to the Haenam Sword Sect’s residence. We’ll send a messenger with further details.”
I turned to leave.
And I ran into Seo-ryun.
“It’s been a while.”
“Indeed.”
Our eyes met awkwardly.
An unexpected encounter.
I bowed slightly and tried to pass her.
“I heard you’re challenging my father to a duel.”
She had stopped me.
“That’s correct.”
“A duel with my father…isn’t that a bit reckless? I heard you’re not even thirty yet…”
She looked at me with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.
“Age is irrelevant when it comes to martial arts.”
“Your Mandarin is very fluent.”
“I’ve been practicing.”
“Why…do you want to duel my father?”
“I want to fight him.”
Why was she asking? Was she simply curious?
Or was there another reason?
“You’re a strange person…”
Seo-ryun murmured.
I chuckled awkwardly.
“The world is full of strange people.”
“But I’ve never met anyone as strange as you, Hero Wi. Obtaining endorsements for a duel with my father…”
“Word travels fast, I see.”
“Everyone in the Martial Alliance knows. It’s the talk of the town…”
It had spread that quickly. While it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, it meant there would be a large audience.
A succession duel was a rare event, occurring only once every few decades.
People would flock to witness it.
“A duel in front of so many people…I’m nervous.”
“That’s what you’re worried about?”
“I’m joking. Then, I’ll take my leave…”
“…You really are a strange person.”
Was she teasing me, or was she genuinely impressed?
I ignored her soft voice and walked past her.
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“Mister! Did you request the duel?”
“Of course.”
“It’s strange that a duel with the Alliance Leader is actually happening.”
I nodded in agreement with Mokgyeong.
I had spent the past month running around the Central Plains, visiting the Peng Clan, helping the Hao Clan, and disrupting Demonic Cult branches.
It had been a hectic month.
“Challenging the Alliance Leader is a lot of work, Mokgyeong.”
“You’re truly remarkable, Benefactor.”
His voice was filled with genuine admiration. I looked at him.
Mokgyeong, now a permanent member of my group, averted his gaze when our eyes met.
What was that about?
Before I could ask, Hye-ryeong clung to my arm.
“Mister, when will the duel take place?”
“They said they would inform me later…we’ll find out eventually.”
“Are you going into seclusion training?”
“Seclusion training? I need a place for that.”
“Um…maybe we can rent one?”
Could you even rent those?
…Well, this was a world where anything could be bought and sold, so perhaps renting a training space wasn’t that strange.
“I’m not planning on going into seclusion.”
I didn’t believe in the concept of seclusion training. True mastery came from practical experience.
While it might be helpful for consolidating one’s understanding, spending that time in life-or-death battles was far more effective for improving one’s skills.
Of course, my Arts were based entirely on practical combat, focused on efficiently killing opponents, so seclusion training was irrelevant to me.
Murim martial arts were more philosophical.
“I’ll be sparring with you two.”
“Sparring with me won’t be very helpful…”
“It’s fine.”
“I doubt either of us can help you prepare for a duel with the Alliance Leader.”
“Just maintain your combat instincts.”
On the battlefield, one could encounter superior opponents at any time.
But I had always survived.
“We’ll start sparring tomorrow. Get some rest today.”
“Okay~”
Then, I should rest as well.
“I’m going to rest. If you have anything to say, say it now.”
“…Good night, Benefactor.”
“Good night, Mister!”
I left them and headed towards my room.
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thanks for the chapter