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< Martial Arts Competition (1) >
Since ancient times, the land of Hanam has been the center of the Jeongpa martial arts world.
Numerous martial arts and schools were born here, and most of the masters who dominated an era left behind legendary anecdotes in this region.
-A master who is not recognized in Hanam is not a true master.
Since such stories were circulating, the sects and warriors who had settled in Hanam had great pride.
“Stand in line and wait for your turn! Anyone who causes a commotion will not be forgiven!”
Gaebong, the largest city in Hanam and the headquarters of the Murim Alliance, has recently become crowded with countless people flocking in from all over the place.
Those trying to enter Gaebong had to undergo inspection by warriors with sharp eyes.
A group of warriors with the mark of the Murim Alliance on their shoulders.
They were warriors dispatched directly by the Murim Alliance in preparation for the martial arts competition that was just a few days away.
“Please state your name and affiliation.”
The Murim Alliance warrior’s speech was quite authoritative. So the man who was asked that question answered a little bluntly.
“I am Wang Cheol-ho from the Wang family in Guizhou.”
The warrior of the Murim Alliance wrote the name down on a document and asked again.
“Gwiju Wanggajang… Do you have a nickname?”
“Of course. In Guizhou, they are called Geurikpaedo.”
The large man showed off the sword he was carrying on his back. It seemed like he wanted to let people know that his skills were no joke.
However, the warriors of the Murim Alliance did not care about his appearance. It was inevitable when dealing with hundreds of children from the countryside every day.
“What’s your purpose here? Just sightseeing?”
At that question, Wang Cheol-ho, a powerful man from Guizhou, frowned as if he was displeased.
“I have come to participate in the Yongbongbimu! You will hear my nickname a lot from now on, so remember it well!”
“Hmm. I see.”
The warrior of the Murim Alliance nodded roughly. He quickly filled out his entry pass without even looking at his opponent.
That sight angered the powerful men who had been doing well in their hometown.
“No matter how high the authority of the Murim Alliance is! How dare you insult me, a low-ranking warrior!”
The strong man’s hand gripped the handle of the sword tightly.
At that moment, the Murim Alliance warrior’s eyes turned cold.
“···If you pull out that sword, your nickname will change soon. Since you’ll lose your right arm, you might become a left-handed swordsman.”
It seemed like a joke, but it wasn’t a joke. At the same time, Musa revealed a deep murderous intent.
Creepy.
The powerful warrior from Guizhou froze in place as he felt an incredible murderous intent for the first time in his life.
‘I, I’m just a low-ranking warrior in the Murim Alliance…’
I thought about it that way, but I didn’t have the confidence to swing my sword at my opponent.
The warrior of the Murim Alliance, Cheongwoon, the vice-chairman of the Biryongdang under the direct command of the leader, who had been looking at the scene coldly for a moment, spoke.
“I apologize if what I said just now offended you. I was a bit blunt with my work.”
“···I, I also spoke too much.”
Thanks to that, Wang Cheol-ho barely managed to save face and withdrew from the island.
Cheongun just gave him the completed permit.
“Take this. You will need to present this when you are questioned at the front desk. So don’t lose it.”
“Oh, I see.”
Cheongwoon smiled brightly at Wang Cheolho, who still had a tense expression on his face.
“I hope you have a good result at the Yongbongbimu. I’m also participating, so if we have the chance, we might meet again on the stage. Please take care of me then.”
For a moment, the expression on his face became like someone who had chewed shit. He barely managed to mutter, “Please take care of me…” before entering the city.
A fellow warrior from the Murim Alliance who had been watching the whole thing from the side spoke to Cheongwoon.
“Hey, Cheongun. Aren’t you being too harsh on a kid who came from far away? What if you keep doing that and end up packing up and not being able to participate in the competition?”
“If a human being can only survive to this extent, will he be able to fight in the coming war against the Demonic Cult?”
When dealing with rough martial artists, there were times when a somewhat violent response was necessary.
If the warriors of the Murim Alliance appear weak, the warriors who have gathered in Gaebong are more likely to act recklessly.
That’s why the Murim Alliance deployed its elite soldiers to maintain public order in the city. They were by no means low-ranking warriors.
‘I wish the shift change would come soon. I don’t have any time to rest these days because of the preparations for the martial arts competition…’
Cheongun was yawning as he counted the remaining working hours.
From a distance, four shabby-dressed men were seen approaching.
‘This is another unusual combination.’
Two old people and two young people.
One of the old men was of a large build and appeared to be a skilled warrior at first glance, while the other looked frail and did not have much time left.
The young men next to him were also quite peculiar.
His appearance was little better than that of a beggar, and he was walking with a weary gait, carrying a cheap iron sword on his waist.
Cheongun looked at the two young men approaching him and gauged their martial arts skills.
‘The short, handsome young man looks like he has solid foundations. The tall man… has he learned martial arts?’
As they approached, Cheongun took out some documents and spoke in a businesslike manner.
“Tell me your name and where you are from.”
The young man who had assessed that Cheongun knew little about martial arts opened his mouth.
“I am a landlord from the Baekgajeommun in Guangdong. These people are all my companions.”
“Do you have a nickname?”
“The nickname is···.”
The man hesitated to answer for a moment. He felt embarrassed and wondered if he really had to say this himself.
“Why can’t you speak?”
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Namgung Hyeon, who was standing next to him, spoke confidently on behalf of the elder.
“Recently, it has been called the ‘double sword of medical chivalry.’”
At that moment, laughter erupted from all around, saying, “Phew.”
‘Have you heard? It’s called the Dual Swords of Justice.’
‘Do they still use such childish words in nicknames these days?’
‘Judging by your appearance, you seem to have come from some remote place.’
Cheongun frowned and glanced around at the muttering warriors. Then, the warriors’ laughter quickly stopped.
‘Tsk. Those people called Jeongpain···.’
Cheongun asked, writing down their origins, names, and nicknames on the documents.
“The Twin Swords of Justice. Don’t you each have nicknames?”
“Not yet.”
This time, Namgung Hyun answered. She looked quite excited after arriving at Gaebong.
“What is the purpose of your visit to Gaebong? Are you planning to participate in the Yongbongbimu?”
Cheongwoon wanted to tell them not to do that, because they both looked weak in martial arts.
Fortunately, the man shook his head.
“It’s just tourism.”
“What about the two elders behind you?”
“It’s the same.”
The procedure was over quickly. Cheongun said as he handed the person his pass.
“Be careful. The police are being careful, but there are so many unmanned vehicles roaming the city these days that you might get involved in an accident.”
“Hmm. Thank you.”
The man nodded and entered the city. Namgung Hyeon and the two old men followed him.
Cheongun stared blankly at the back of the man entering the city.
He chuckled.
“In this day and age, a man of chivalry… He must be a man who knows romance.”
Shaman’s Dragon, Cheongun.
He too was a young man who knew romance.
***
“That guy. He looks pretty useful.”
The man immediately knew who the ‘guy’ Manbaknogoe was talking about.
“Are you talking about the guy who gave us the passes earlier?”
“Keep on going. Yes. He’s not only good at martial arts but also handsome. He reminds me of my younger self.”
It was only half a joke, but it was rare to see Manbaknogoe praise someone like that.
The man asked slyly.
“How do you compare to me?”
“You mean with your face? You’re not even worth a damn to that guy.”
After entering the city, Manboknogoe told the group to go ahead, saying he had some business to attend to.
“You guys go first and reserve a table. I’ll find my own.”
Without even listening to the answer, Manbaknogoe used his divine technique. His appearance disappeared like a mirage.
“Anyway, I’m saying that only Hong Gil-dong is like that.”
The man grumbled softly and looked around.
It seemed like if I didn’t find a place to stay quickly, I would have to sleep out in the city.
The city was teeming with people, most of whom were armed men.
The man stuck out his tongue at the sight. He spoke to the old man.
“I guess the martial arts competition is really popular?”
The entire city was sweltering with the heat emitted by the drones.
The old man said.
“The martial arts competition is held periodically, but… this is the first time I’ve seen so many martial artists gathered in one place. That must mean that this martial arts competition is special.”
The old man slowly looked around with a hazy expression, as if recalling old memories.
“Is it because of the upcoming Great War?”
Namgung Hyeon, who was looking around, his eyes drawn to the scenery of the big city he was seeing for the first time, said.
The old man nodded.
“This is the first battle of the Jeongma War in almost 100 years… All the warriors who want to make a name for themselves will gather here.”
This martial arts competition hosted by the Murim Alliance was that special.
I wasn’t really interested in the big picture though.
‘I just need to take the Heavenly Sword and leave this place.’
After a while, the group managed to find an empty inn on the outskirts of town.
They washed up like humans after a long time. Then they went down to the inn and ordered a lot of food.
The inn owner, who was worried that he had been fooled by some broke martial artist, saw the gold coins the man had handed him and began to provide services that he had not even requested.
“Okay. I guess I can live a little now.”
The man who had eaten a hearty meal leaned back in his chair and burped.
However, Jinnoin and Namgung Hyeon’s expressions did not seem very bright.
The old man put down his chopsticks and spoke with a worried expression.
“What are you going to do now? Are you going to do it as originally planned?”
The reason they came to the Murim Alliance.
It was to get the Heavenly Sword, which was being kept by the Murim Alliance, back in the name of the Geomhwang Sect.
And in order to do that, Namgung Hyeon had to first reveal his identity to the Murim Alliance.
The problem was that the enemy was within the Murim Alliance.
“···The enemy is the Five Great Powers. If we reveal our identities rashly, it will be dangerous.”
They attacked the base of the Dark Blood Clan in Liaoning and obtained many documents related to the Blood Clan of the Sword 15 years ago that were hidden there.
There was one thing that I learned for sure from that.
‘The Five Great Powers intervened in the affairs of that day.’
The name that forms the main axis of the Jeongpa along with Gupailbang, Odaesega.
Among them, there was evidence that at least Mo Yong-se and Namgung-se were involved in the Geomhwangmun bloodshed.
It was circumstantial. It wasn’t perfect evidence.
The old man gritted his teeth and said:
“I would like to report them, but···.”
It’s impossible.
Even if there was perfect evidence, the opponent was a huge force that would cover it up.
Running away like before and living in hiding in the outskirts as if they were dead was the only way for the two of them to survive.
That is, if the Great One had not appeared before them one day.
“I don’t think I’ll be going to the Murim Alliance right now.”
The man crossed his arms and took a moment to collect his thoughts.
‘The original plan was to send Namgung Hyun to get the Heavenly Sword back, or at least let him examine it. Then the plan was for the three of them to take the sword and fly to Earth together···.’
But if the opponent is the entire Odaese,
There was a very high probability that they would deny Namgung Hyeon’s existence in order to cover up their crimes.
Since there are many figures from the Five Great Families in the leadership of the Murim Alliance, it would be easy to manipulate public opinion to that extent.
‘In the worst case scenario, you could be accused of being a spy of the Demonic Cult and thrown in prison.’
Given the current atmosphere, this story was entirely possible.
Namgung Hyun said in a gloomy voice.
“If I could find a way to prove my birth···.”
We searched through the entire base of the Dark Blood Group, but unfortunately we were unable to find any solid evidence to prove Namgung Hyeon’s identity.
“Even if I found it, it probably wouldn’t have been of much use.”
The man folded his arms and thought about it.
At first, it was a plan that seemed easy, but somehow the scale of the work seemed to be growing larger.
Namgung Hyeon and Jin Noin couldn’t raise their heads.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help you. Brother, you helped us so much…”
“···I’m sorry.”
The man scratched his chin at the sight. He didn’t really intend to blame them.
“Let’s think about it slowly. It’s not urgent right now.”
I have no intention of giving up the Heavenly Sword, but I am still learning martial arts from Manbok Nogwae.
In other words, it is not as necessary as when you first came to the world of martial arts.
“Let’s wait until the martial arts competition is over. A solution might come up along the way.”
“Click, click. You punk. If you keep doing that, someone else will get it first.”
When I turned my head in the direction where the voice came from, I saw Manbaknogoe entering the guest house.
Manbaknogoe sat down in his seat and said, having heard the conversation the group had had on their way here.
“I heard some rumors while I was doing my job. The leader of the martial arts world did something interesting.”
“What’s so funny?”
The great man filled Manbaknogoe’s glass with bamboo leaf tea.
Gulp, gulp.
Manbak Noegwae emptied his glass in one gulp and put it down on the table as he spoke.
“It is said that the leader of the newly created Myeolma (滅魔) Group has been appointed to the winner of the Yongbongbimu Competition and that he will place him at the forefront of the Jeongma War.”
The man frowned as if he hated just thinking about it.
“I don’t know who you are, but you’re pitiful. You finally won, and now you’re being sent to the most dangerous place.”
“Phehehe! You’re probably the only one who thinks that way.”
It was a great honor to fight at the forefront of the Jeongma War. Moreover, if you fought while leading the skilled men supported by the Alliance, you had the opportunity to make more contributions than anyone else.
“That’s not all. They even provide elixirs to the winners and top-ranking winners, and they also help them learn the techniques listed in the Murim Alliance’s notes.”
“Not bad.”
The person’s reaction was lukewarm.
It was the leisure of one with the best martial arts skills in the world.
‘Click click. That guy.’
Even Manbaknogoedo knew that he couldn’t seduce a great man with something like this.
But this one thing will be different.
Manbaknogoe said with a grin.
“What if the leader of the martial arts world put the Changcheon Shingeom at stake as the grand prize for the Yongbong Bimu?”
< Martial Arts Competition (1) > End
ⓒ Ganjjajang
