Arriving at the Closed Door Sect of Seongneung-hyeon.
According to Black Cat’s investigation, there was once a sect that made quite a name for itself in the past, but now only remnants were left.
Really, aside from the traces of a sect, there was nothing but a barren plain. Among the remnants of walls and crumbling buildings, I could see people gathered from a distance.
From an expert’s perspective, I could really see ten li away.
Clatter!
Thus, the Bicheongmacha stopped ten li away as agreed with Jeong Cheol.
I patted Seo Gong, who was resting on my knees.
Watching the fellow close its eyes comfortably, accepting affection without a care in the world, naturally calmed my heart.
Tap tap!
When I gave Seo Gong’s backside a gentle tap, it stretched its body and moved over to Hyeok Gi-rin’s lap.
Perhaps because Hyeok Gi-rin had cradled Seo Gong during the Bicheongmacha’s rampage, Seo Gong often found itself around Hyeok Gi-rin.
It might be the fruit of Hyeok Gi-rin’s dedication.
Shaking off the pointless thoughts, I looked at the faces of my companions. Their expressions were a mix of trust and worry.
“Don’t worry about the safety of the matches. We’ve deployed enough members.”
“Hmm. Thanks.”
Jeong Cheol had prohibited the Sacheon sect and the Moyong Clan from entering within a radius of ten li of the matches. But that didn’t mean we could just enter unprotected.
I borrowed connections from the Sacheon clans and the official disciples of the Nine Great Sects to insert martial artists into the scene. We checked the safety of the Closed Door Sect through those martial artists, and for now, everything seemed fine.
Well, that didn’t mean Jeong Cheol’s underhanded schemes made us completely safe, but it had reached a point where it was practically impossible for him to use any further underhanded methods.
There’s a limit to what one can brush off with excuses. The continued manipulations had driven Jeong Cheol’s credit to rock bottom in the Martial World. In this situation, using underhanded methods again was practically impossible.
“Honorable Person, let’s put an end to this tiresome fate.”
“You will definitely win.”
“Go and do it.”
“Please dispose of that insufferable fellow cleanly.”
After hearing my companions’ encouragement and support, I nodded and stepped out of the cart.
I pulled the Black Rib down and strapped the Great Sword to my back.
Now that I think about it, I named Seo Gong, but I still hadn’t named this fellow yet. I lightly let Qi flow through my hand gripping the sword.
The name for the sword had slipped my mind until now.
A fleeting thought passed through the calmness of my mind.
Oh, I hadn’t thought of it until now, so there’s no way it would come to me at this very moment.
Maybe future me would figure it out.
Instead of giving it a silly name like “Boom” or “Swish,” I should really think seriously about it after this matter is settled.
Ten li away.
It was a distance that could easily be crossed with proper lightness techniques, but for some reason, I didn’t want to do that.
I walked at a normal pace, recalling Jeong Cheol.
The one who caused the incident that led to the launch of the Sacheon Outcasts.
A person who had endured many long years and waited for the right time.
Then, when the changes I made in Sacheon City turned against his plans, he immediately broke his seclusion.
And then he cut ties with the Sadoryeon as if severing his tail, abandoning his reputation while persistently fleeing up to now.
He was also someone who, despite setting up for the last matches, had prepared an escape route.
“Huh.”
Truth be told.
I understood Jeong Cheol’s psychology and actions very well.
Because I was an Outcast too.
In the Martial World, only the strong can enforce “alliances” amidst weapons and resentments. Strength is important, but the current martial arts skills alone aren’t the only criteria for being strong.
Why are those in the late stages of martial arts respected in the Martial World?
Because even if they don’t hold power right now, they possess all the conditions of a “strong person.”
They have solid backgrounds, promising rising martial arts, and stable environments where they can strive whenever they put their mind to it.
Even if they aren’t strong right now, they have a high likelihood of climbing up.
So what could be the opposite of such late-stage practitioners?
I believe it’s the Outcast.
Right now, physical strength is everything. The martial arts suitable for their disposition are unclear, and it’s uncertain whether they can acquire skills leading to the next level throughout their lives. They urgently need money to survive today, so they can’t even dream of investments for the future or long-term training.
Reputation? Trust?
If they could sell something to buy time or strength, they’d scrape the bottom and sell below that if necessary.
If late-stage practitioners can dream of a long and stable future, then Outcasts are the ones selling everything just to survive the day.
Their pride. Their honor. Their trust.
They’ll sell it all as long as it’s for money.
So it’s not surprising that Outcasts are scorned by others.
Who would respect someone with no trust, loyalty, or agreements?
Jeong Cheol was simply one of the many Outcasts scattered throughout the world.
He merely excelled among the Outcasts in various aspects.
Talent. Insight. And a desire to succeed.
“Kuk.”
Suddenly, a smile escaped my lips.
Among Outcasts who sell everything, there were those who wore a Black Rib for the sake of preserving Jeong Cheol’s honor, which brought them no benefits.
Those who wanted to live with dignity while surviving in the world of Outcasts did not sell their “conscience.”
And as the actions of these misfits resonated, the Sacheon Outcasts continued to exist.
However.
The reason for the birth of the Sacheon Outcasts, and the focal point, Jeong Cheol, was by no means an “Outcast.”
He was simply an Outcast contemplating how to sell even the Sacheon Outcasts while wearing the Black Rib.
This realization made me furious, prompting me to come all the way here.
To strip that fake Black Rib off him entirely.
As I thought of the Black Rib, I instinctively recalled the shadow cast by it over my face.
I fiddled with my own Black Rib and smiled wryly.
Fake Black Rib.
If Jeong Cheol’s is a fake Black Rib… what about mine?
Could it be that I am a true Sacheon Outcast?
With a situation that’s dire, yet still refusing to sell my conscience, I wore the Black Rib.
I was in a completely different position from those Sacheon Outcasts.
Unlike them, I had accumulated vast knowledge and information from experiencing the Martial World within the game.
Compared to the other Sacheon Outcasts, I had a lot more to sell.
Even if my execution capabilities were reduced due to the “blood-related issues,” it wasn’t difficult to convert information into value if I moved diligently with Iryu’s body.
No one knew, but I was a wealthy investor holding immense assets.
An investor who could buy whatever I wanted by selling just the right amount at the right time.
My reason for becoming a Sacheon Outcast was not to rise by following the right path.
It was merely to enjoy the anonymity that the Black Rib provided.
So, can I really be called a Sacheon Outcast?
It was a mystery.
And simultaneously, a useless worry.
I would surely achieve victory over Jeong Cheol, and I would throw off this Black Rib.
Today, I would no longer be the Sacheon Outcast Ho Cheon-an, but simply the Outcast Ho Cheon-an.
As I finalized that resolution, I was just approaching the Closed Door Sect.
“Brain Knife Outcast…!”
“It’s the Brain Knife Outcast!”
Numerous martial artists surrounding the matches opened a path while chanting my name. I responded with a fierce stance to those displaying their martial arts and stood above the matches.
Clatter.
The old and weathered floorboards of the matches shook, creating a grinding sound. Well… after all, when realms collide, any match would likely be destroyed, so this should suffice.
While I was lost in such pointless thoughts, a commotion arose from the opposite side.
A familiar figure clad in black death robes.
“Nangya Sword…!”
“Jeong Cheol!”
As Jeong Cheol stepped onto the arena, he and I drew our swords, as if on cue.
Jeong Cheol wielded a regular short sword, while I had a Great Sword over twice the size and thickness.
Jeong Cheol adopted the position of the Nangya Sword, lowering his stance while pointing his sword to the ground, while I held mine aloft, taking the stance of the Single Cut Blade Technique.
As a blue aura rose from Jeong Cheol’s body, my own energy began to surge.
Ssssss!!
Wooooo!!
A clash of energy dividing the matches in half.
As the exchange initiated practically upon our faces, the air became tense.
“I never expected to get caught here when I first saw you.”
Jeong Cheol frowned and spoke.
“Your determination alone is commendable.”
“That’s something I should be saying.”
I retorted to Jeong Cheol’s words.
“Breaking your seclusion and drawing your sword led me to believe you’d at least slice something… but all you’ve done is hide and run away, haven’t you?”
“Ha ha, wasn’t your behind-the-scenes maneuvering what kept me trapped?”
“Well, if a single person can destabilize an alliance, can we even call it an alliance?”
“Where did someone like you even come from?”
Jeong Cheol’s eyes sparked with fury.
“The world calls you an honorable person, but I know the truth. You are merely a monster.”
“Whether it’s hunting bandits or the Sacheon City martial arts tournament or the late-stage selection tournament, is that all? What have you done in the capital to move the experts of Podalap Palace? In Yunnan, didn’t you directly stir the alliance of the Sadoryeon with your venomous tongue and deception?”
“Is that not enough? Rising swiftly from peak to peak is an unprecedented event in the history of the Martial World, so how did you achieve your current realm? You are nothing more than a masked monster, a malignant being harming the essence of the Martial World!”
I felt the surrounding martial artists whispering among themselves.
Whatever twisted logic they came up with, the truth was clear: it was indeed a fact that I had ascended to a level in the Martial World previously unattainable.
It was only natural that other martial artists would harbor doubts about my rapid growth as Jeong Cheol stirred the crowd against me.
Even now, standing on the matches, he completely lacked any sense of decorum.
“Don’t you know how I reached the pinnacle? Aren’t you more informed than anyone else? Care to spill the beans?”
You bastard, you’ve been a collaborator of the Demon Sect for ages.
Go ahead, shout that I received a brain crystal from the Heavenly Demon.
Jeong Cheol’s mouth snapped shut.
He probably hadn’t expected me to respond like this.
The rumor of being involved with the Demon Sect was pretty lethal to my reputation, after all.
If I had plans to use that afterwards to elevate my renown and name, I would’ve hastily silenced Jeong Cheol.
But I had long since moved past any desire for fame and reputation to stand here now.
What happens when someone with a lot to lose isn’t afraid of losing and chooses to expose secrets?
The revelation of the Unknown Elder’s story being an opponent to the Heavenly Demon, and the disclosure of Jeong Cheol’s past as a pawn of the Demon Sect.
It was clear which would be the greater loss.
“…A vicious man.”
“I’ve sacrificed a lot to be here, Jeong Cheol.”
My resolve was different from yours, who cleverly played with words while setting up this stage.
From before I even reached the peak stage…
No, since the moment my eyes were opened in the Tang Clan, I have pushed forward only to bring you down.
Wooooo!!!
So I spin my brain crystal with all my might, accumulating power to my legs.
“That means, now that you stand here, you must risk your life to face me.”
Kwahhh!
With a forceful burst, the duel with Jeong Cheol began.
