—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Three days.”
That was both a long and short time.
I folded the letter, tucked it into my pocket, and returned to my room, entering the cultivation chamber.
Both Hye-ryeong and Mokgyeong had other matters to attend to, so I couldn’t spar with them today. I decided to use the time to reflect on my recent experiences.
“Sigh.”
I sat cross-legged and closed my eyes.
As I looked inwards, I sensed my mana core, far larger than when I first arrived in Hainan. It contained roughly a century and a half worth of internal energy.
An unimaginable amount compared to my time on the battlefield.
Back then, I had neither elixirs nor time for leisurely meditation…If the Captain were still alive, he would have scolded me, demanding to know how I had acquired so much power.
…Thinking about the past left a bitter taste in my mouth.
I had to stop dwelling on people I would never see again.
I had only known them for two years, but I had grown attached to the knights. I pushed those memories aside and recalled my conversation with the True Immortal of the Great Void.
The man who had helped me break through my barrier.
He had told me to reduce my killing intent.
I had almost forgotten.
I had no face to meet him again.
But…if I didn’t stain my sword with blood, rivers of blood would flow.
If taking lives meant saving countless others, I had to walk that path.
I couldn’t let others suffer what I had endured.
However, reducing the killing intent in my swordsmanship was necessary.
Killing wasn’t always the answer.
…Though I wasn’t sure how to achieve that.
Removing killing intent from Arts designed to kill…what would remain?
I frowned, grappling with this new dilemma.
It wasn’t an easy problem to solve.
While I couldn’t find an immediate solution, I had to find one eventually.
For now…I should focus on the upcoming duel.
The duel with the Martial Alliance Leader wouldn’t be easy.
My first duel against a true master.
While there was no risk of death in a non-lethal duel, I wasn’t going to take it lightly.
I couldn’t afford to.
Therefore, I had to recall everything I knew about the Alliance Leader.
First…his martial arts.
Not from one of the Five Great Clans, but a relatively small sect, he was known for using a combination of family techniques and skills learned from a reclusive master.
While renowned for his swordsmanship, he was also skilled in fist techniques, spear techniques, movement techniques, and even divine steps, according to the original story.
While I wouldn’t know his fighting style until I witnessed it firsthand, I knew his swordsmanship.
Straightforward and powerful strikes.
Simple, direct, and fast.
And…
The Alliance Leader’s trump card.
The technique he had briefly used in the original story.
Could my Aura Armor withstand it?
…If it could, I had a chance. If not, I would lose.
I imagined the Alliance Leader’s swordsmanship, engaging in a mental sparring match.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Alliance Leader.”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Regarding the succession duel…”
Commander Seo’s voice trailed off, his expression unusually anxious.
The Alliance Leader, surprised by his demeanor, asked,
“Is there a problem?”
“No, sir.”
‘He’s been acting strangely lately.’
Why was the usually calm and collected Commander Seo so restless?
He felt a flicker of unease, sensing the hidden anxiety in Seo Mun-gang’s eyes.
“You seem unwell.”
“Haha…I’m getting old. My body aches.”
‘That’s not something a martial artist should say.’
While Commander Seo’s level was low due to his lack of interest in martial arts, he was still a martial artist. He shouldn’t be experiencing such health problems.
“You’ve been working too hard. Why don’t you take a day off?”
“N-no. I can’t miss the succession duel.”
‘There have never been any problems before…!’
The sudden silence from the Demonic Cult branches.
The strange developments within the Martial Alliance.
His sharp instincts told him something was wrong.
‘I can’t run…!’
He was too old to run.
Besides, running away would only confirm their suspicions. His only option was to face this head-on.
‘I bought some time by sending them to search irrelevant locations, but that’s just a temporary solution…’
There were numerous Demonic Cult branches. They had been establishing them secretly for decades. If even one was discovered, they could be traced back to him.
‘And that Zhuge fellow is already on my trail.’
Assistant Commander Zhuge San-wol was investigating discreetly. If he wasn’t careful, things could get messy.
“Haha, I’ll have the physicians prepare some tonics for you.”
“T-thank you, Alliance Leader.”
“Taking care of the Grand Commander’s health is the Alliance Leader’s duty.”
The Alliance Leader let out a hearty laugh and looked down at the pristine dueling arena.
In half an hour, the Westerner who had challenged him would arrive.
‘A succession duel…I never thought it would happen in my lifetime.’
And the challenger had secured endorsements from the Shaolin Temple, the Haenam Sword Sect, and the Peng Clan.
An unprecedented situation. He closed his eyes and imagined his opponent.
‘A Westerner.’
It was truly bizarre.
A Westerner challenging the Alliance Leader to a succession duel?
Even without the succession duel aspect, it was unheard of. A Westerner aiming for the position of Alliance Leader.
‘He challenged me simply because he wants to fight…and he’s barely in his twenties.’
He had no doubt he would win.
As far as he knew, the challenger was only a peak expert.
He had no chance.
At least, not according to the information he had.
‘Or…is this a ruse to approach me?’
The Alliance Leader, a seasoned veteran, began to piece together the puzzle.
‘An assassin? No, an assassin wouldn’t be so blatant.’
A succession duel was a significant event, potentially leading to a change in leadership.
Using it as a cover for a plot was risky.
The endorsements required for a succession duel were no joke.
The Haenam Sword Sect, the Peng Clan, and…the Shaolin Temple.
‘He might be able to fool others, but not Abbot Gak-won.’
Even he, who considered himself quite perceptive, couldn’t fathom the abbot’s thoughts. Even the most skilled spy would have difficulty deceiving him.
‘If he can fool Abbot Gak-won, the Murim is doomed.’
If someone could deceive the abbot, a respected elder who supported the Martial Alliance, then even he, the Alliance Leader, wouldn’t be able to handle them.
He dismissed the thought.
‘I’ll know once our swords clash…I’m curious to see what kind of duel this will be.’
He had fought countless opponents in his youth, but he hadn’t dueled since becoming the Alliance Leader. And now, his opponent was a Westerner.
‘I can’t embarrass myself in front of the younger generation.’
He might have to reveal the techniques he had developed since becoming the Alliance Leader. Excited by the prospect of a duel, he looked at his daughter, who had approached him.
“Seo-ryun, what brings you here?”
“You’re having a duel, Father. How could I miss it?”
“Haha, I’m glad to hear that.”
It was rare for his youngest daughter, his favorite, to visit the dueling arena. He turned his attention back to the arena.
“…I’m also curious about your opponent.”
“That Westerner? His name is…hmm…”
“William.”
“Hmm. Are you interested in him?”
“If you’re asking whether I’m interested, then yes.”
“Hmm…”
“Don’t get any strange ideas.”
“Ahem, I’m just…intrigued.”
“Perhaps you should change your expression.”
He forced a neutral expression at his daughter’s pointed comment.
“S-so…why are you interested in him?”
“It’s strange that a Westerner speaks Mandarin so fluently…and his eyes…he didn’t seem interested in me at all.”
“He’s a Westerner. He probably doesn’t know how to appreciate beauty.”
“Father, please…”
“Ahem…anyway, I understand you’re of marriageable age and interested in men, but first, I need to…”
“Father.”
“Alright, alright. Sigh…to be scolded by my own daughter…being the Alliance Leader isn’t all that great. Perhaps I should just hand over the position to him…”
He chuckled and looked at the Westerner who had entered the arena.
A tall man in a black robe.
With blond hair and a sword unlike any seen in the Central Plains, he scanned the arena, then his eyes met the Alliance Leader’s.
Eyes that held a depth rarely seen in someone his age, if the information in the file was accurate.
‘An intriguing young man.’
The Alliance Leader smiled.
“Father.”
“I’ll be back.”
“…Make sure you win.”
“Watch your father’s impressive display.”
Ignoring his daughter’s unimpressed look, the pillar of the righteous factions, the leader of the Martial Alliance,
Seo Yong-myeong stepped into the arena.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[Your Text Here]
Finally.
Time to clash.
Let’s go.