Chapter – 53
“Have him forfeit.”
“What?”
“Make him forfeit.”
Hyunje couldn’t take his eyes off the arena.
“He’ll be ruined, your child.”
Hyungang furrowed his brows.
“What nonsense is that, all of a sudden?”
The match had already begun, yet now he was suddenly told to forfeit.
Moreover, Sahyeong’s gaze was fixed on the opponent of Sason. It seemed the remark was directed at the other person, which made it even more confusing for Hyungang.
Hyunje had watched most of the matches since the tournament started.
The opponent had barely made it to the intermediate round after immense struggle.
Thanks to a favorable bracket, he had initially faced competitors from less prestigious regions, including a weak contestant from Honam who had qualified early, and other relatively unknown martial arts schools.
Even so, he had struggled.
In fact, Cheongmyeong’s opponent had recorded the longest match duration among all intermediate-round qualifiers.
This made him an ideal opponent to loosen up and reduce tension before the main rounds.
Yet, in this seemingly fortunate situation, Sahyeong suddenly ordered a forfeit.
It was completely incomprehensible, but Sahyeong wasn’t the type to speak unnecessarily.
Hyungang asked urgently:
“What do you mean he’ll be ruined if he doesn’t forfeit? Explain!”
But there was no answer.
Hyunje’s gaze remained fixed on Cheongmyeong’s opponent.
“….”
Hyunje had thought it was just the bragging of a mischievous student. But seeing it up close, the reality was even more intimidating.
He was an incredible master that even Hyunje wouldn’t have recognized without prior knowledge.
“This is…”
Whatever you do, it’s a shaman’s business. Either way, Cheongmyeong—or the shaman’s reputation—would take a nosedive.
Eventually, the flaw would be exposed, but there was no need for the shaman to expose himself unnecessarily.
“Stop avoiding my question! What are you trying to say?!”
Hyunje stood abruptly. He was about to rush onto the arena, ignoring Hyungang’s warnings.
『That’s not allowed!』
A mental transmission reached Hyunje’s ear—it was Taecheonghwan, among the audience. The one who had been joking moments ago was now looking straight up at the podium.
『It’s not allowed. Do not intervene.』
Hyunje halted on the arena.
『Do not intervene. If you do, the shaman will only be humiliated.』
『Do you think interrupting the tournament will elevate the shaman?』
『Better to watch him collapse helplessly in front of the royal family and the leaders of the Nine Schools than to interfere.』
『Whatever you do, do not intervene.』
『That was before I saw him.』
『…Huh?』
Hyunje glanced at the arena. The referee was introducing both competitors. He looked back at Taecheonghwan.
『How did you even discover such a monster?』
『I told you. Just happened to meet him over a drink.』
Hyunje stared intently at Taecheonghwan in the crowd. His eyes narrowed.
『He passed the test, Geumjong.』
『…Huh?』
『From the moment he started speaking fluently, even though he never listened before, I knew. Don’t try to deny it.』
Taecheonghwan looked away, slightly embarrassed.
『I don’t know what you mean, master.』
But for Hyunje, who had changed Taecheonghwan’s “diaper,” such words held no sway.
『Of course. Who raised him? If he had failed, his eyes would be like a hound’s.』
『…』
It was the highest form of praise from a master. Taecheonghwan snapped out of his daze.
『Anyway, I don’t understand you, so just think whatever you like, and do not intervene in the arena. Otherwise, I’ll throw away the sect.』
Hyunje returned to his seat. Hyungang approached eagerly.
“Then explain later, and I’ll have him forfeit—”
“Enough.”
Hyunje glanced at Cheongmyeong in the arena.
“He wasn’t exactly my favorite, you know.”
He looked back at Hyungang.
“Top or bottom, it’s the same.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“Even the calmest waters need waves. Still waters only rot.”
“Huh?”
Hyungang tried to question him further, but Sahyeong didn’t respond. He was impossible to predict, even after decades.
Meanwhile, Cheongmyeong felt a sense of déjà vu from his opponent.
“During the match, avoid radial attacks that could hurt the audience, and assassins aiming for mutual destruction are also prohibited…”
“Have we met somewhere before?”
Cheongmyeong studied the opponent closely. Despite having faced him in battle, he felt oddly familiar.
The opponent nodded.
“Yes, at the inn.”
“The inn?”
“The day of that commotion with the so-called Blue Sky Divine Dragon.”
“Ah.”
Cheongmyeong remembered. It was the day he had tried to punish a pretender but was stopped by Samae.
Apparently, their paths had crossed that day, but he had left no impression.
People have predetermined positions in life. This one had risen above his station.
Cheongmyeong clasped his hands cheerfully.
“It is an honor to face a warrior like you on the first day of the intermediate rounds. I hope to learn from you.”
The unnamed martial artist bowed first to the disciple of the Great Shaman. A true display of chivalry.
Hyungang observed the scene from behind the opponent, clearly pleased.
Even though the opponent was insignificant, this moment would become a lifelong memory.
Cheongmyeong shifted his focus back to the opponent, frowning slightly.
“…”
The opponent’s expression was indifferent. He didn’t return the gesture and merely looked down at him.
“Too late now.”
Even though Cheongmyeong had bowed first, he was slightly annoyed.
“Too late? What do you mean?”
“No matter what I say now, my mind won’t change. I’m not really serious.”
“What…?”
Cheongmyeong stopped speaking. He didn’t care what the opponent thought.
In fact, it was convenient. Any lingering compassion wouldn’t matter.
He straightened up.
“I’ll finish this quickly.”
Their conversation reached Taecheonghwan in the stands. He recalled the previous conversation at the inn.
Cheongmyeong? He’s my brother’s first intermediate opponent?
Yes, why?
Ah… hmm.
Tomorrow’s opponent will end quickly.
Why, why all of a sudden?
His brother’s gaze was unusually sharp.
I just don’t like him.
…
For some unknown reason, he couldn’t act freely.
But if you just beat him down, won’t it expose the identity you’ve hidden all this time?
Of course, there’s a way to avoid being found out.
A way?
I can only use it this once.
…
Unlike the preliminary rounds, the intermediate round has only one match per round.
All eyes are on this one match. Ending it quickly without revealing his identity was tricky.
That’s why he came here. Even risking revealing his identity after seven years.
Our affiliation is…
Don’t worry. I’ll make them keep quiet.
We work for the same Pyo-guk.
…Huh?
Right?
The two brothers, one in the capital and one elsewhere, always planned the next move with precision. Trusting them without suspicion would lead exactly where they wanted.
At that moment, the brother on the arena scratched his nose three times. A signal.
Taecheonghwan stiffened and raised his voice.
“A snake! A snakkkke! A snake!”
Soon, the crowd repeated it.
“It’s a snake! A giant snake!”
Among them was Yeodongwan, who had befriended the brother in the capital. Their eyes met. Another voice rose.
“It’s Chilteomsa! Chilteomsa! Seven spots on the head!”
Even he locked eyes with Taecheonghwan. It was an old beggar, Yong Sobaeck, head of Cheonjiil. Why was he involved?
“Chilteom….”
The crowd panicked at “Chilteomsa.” The arena became chaos. Even the VIP podium murmured.
During the commotion, Kanggu asked the referee:
“Excuse me, what happens if a competitor cannot continue due to poor health?”
The referee frowned.
“What? Didn’t you ask the same question before?”
“Yes. Was that so?”
The referee shook his head.
“The competitor is responsible for their own condition. If they can’t compete, they automatically forfeit. No rematch.”
“Then if someone is too sick to fight, they lose without playing? No rematch either?”
“Exactly. Are you asking about someone?”
“No, not me.”
Kanggu pointed at Cheongmyeong.
“He seems quite unwell.”
Cheongmyeong cursed involuntarily.
“What nonsense…”
Kanggu bent his fingers in a circular motion.
“Gah…!”
A sudden, excruciating pain struck Cheongmyeong’s abdomen. He doubled over. Kanggu reported to the referee:
“Look at him. I told you he didn’t look well.”
The referee looked at Cheongmyeong.
“Are you really hurt?”
“Ah… no… ah, no…”
Kanggu bent his fingers again.
“Gah…!”
Cheongmyeong bent further, unable to bear it. He finally vomited violently.
“Ugh…!”
The arena was soaked in vomit and spittle.
“Are you okay…?”
“Ughhh!”
“…”
The referee waved his hands helplessly.
Cheongmyeong’s match was ruled impossible.
While the audience panicked and the Great Shaman’s disciple fell embarrassingly, Taecheonghwan watched, satisfied.
‘How does it feel? Now that they say it’s not true, it’s unpleasant, isn’t it?’
“Ughhh…”
Kanggu had finally taken revenge on the one who had falsely accused him at the inn.
When leaving the village, the elders had emphasized: Never allow yourself to be wronged, wherever or whenever.
