Chapter 90

No further conversation was necessary, so I left the room without hesitation.

The rest will be shown through actions.

“Wait, hold on!”

…And Wolhwa hurriedly chased after Mantian, rushing out of the ward.

“……”

Without a word, I turned around and looked at the snow-white girl.

The start wasn’t good.

…But at Jeoseokhyeon, we joined forces to fight against the Demon Sect and saved each other’s lives.

During the journey to the Martial Alliance, we talked.

As Sososo said, she was more innocent than I thought, and our hobbies matched, so we became close.

Regardless of how it started, I now consider her a friend.

…And I just declared in front of Wolhwa that I would crush your brother.

“That is… I mean…”

I waited until her wavering golden eyes calmed down.

No matter what I hear now, I have no intention of stopping the fight.

It’s a fight he started, and I will end it my way.

“So… please…”

…But since she’s a friend I promised to play board games with.

I had to listen to whatever she said. I couldn’t avoid it.

The determined amber eyes and the flickering golden eyes faced each other.

“…I beg you.”

Wolhwa shouted towards Mantian, who was silently waiting for her words.

“Please stop my brother.”

Tears welled up in her eyes like a abandoned seal pup.

“My brother… is the coolest person in the world… No matter what others whisper… no matter how much he’s compared… he’s a cool person who works hard.”

As family, as a younger sister, I should want my brother to win. But I can’t.

“I don’t want to see… my brother doing something cowardly… killing himself…”

I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore.

“Please… defeat my brother.”

A desperate plea spat out in a jumble of confused emotions.

“I’ll buy you new dice when I come back. Let’s play together when it’s over.”

…But Mantian accepted without hesitation.

Carrying one more reason to fight, he turned back and headed towards the arena.

***

Inside the Martial Alliance, a grand arena was beautifully decorated.

Pushing through the excited crowd eager to see the future leader of the martial world, I walked towards the participants’ entrance.

“Young Master, the audience entrance is over there.”

I glanced to the side and saw Jang Sam-i walking beside me as if he had been there all along.

This guy was always like this. Always following me around.

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but the Martial Alliance warriors will stop you.”

“I know, so help me out this time too.”

…He always hid his identity and helped me.

At the casual request, Jang Sam-i’s eyes widened for a moment.

‘What are you talking about?’ – He considered playing dumb but eventually sighed and gave up.

“Since when did you notice?”

“Roughly after the Demon Sect attack.”

I wasn’t sure, but I must have noticed a long time ago.

‘…The friendly servant act ends here.’

A refreshing yet bitter smile lingered on Jang Sam-i’s lips.

Anyway, Mantian didn’t stop walking.

Naturally, the warrior guarding the entrance tried to stop Mantian and Jang Sam-i as they approached.

“Huh? From here, civilians are not allowed-?!”

Ting-!

A metal ball flicked from Jang Sam-i’s hand hit the warrior’s pressure point, paralyzing him.

“Young Master, inside there are not only Seol Mo-dan but also the prideful disciples of so-called prestigious sects and families.”

Ting-!

“Who are you-?!”

He continued to flick the metal ball, hitting the pressure points of the approaching warriors, paralyzing them.

“…Do you have a plan?”

“A trained body, a stick, and a bit of courage.”

At the shameless answer, a pleasant laugh escaped Jang Sam-i’s lips.

“Haha! That’s cool. I might fall for you.”

Jang Sam-i’s hand, flicking the metal ball, stopped. There were no more warriors to stop Mantian.

Surely, no one would think there would be a madman who would ruin the Dragon and Phoenix Association, the biggest festival of the righteous martial world, right in the middle of the Martial Alliance.

…But here he is, standing tall.

Passing the arena entrance, at the end of the long corridor.

Jang Sam-i watched Mantian’s back as he walked towards the arena without hesitation.

Anyway, instead of stopping him from causing trouble, he rolled up his sleeves and helped.

He was a dead man to Sima Bu. A sigh escaped him.

‘Sigh… Young Master will make a good excuse, right…?’

I really hope so.

***

Dragon and Phoenix Association.

A competition to find the future leader of the righteous martial world.

A martial arts tournament that attracts the attention of the Nine Great Clans, the Five Great Families, and various sects.

“Shaolin Temple, Qingsheng Sect, Zhongnan Sect, Hainan Sect, Sichuan Tang Family, Huangbo Family.”

A martial artist sitting in the audience counted the remaining sects and looked at the white-haired youth with the most striking appearance among the seven men and women standing on the arena, the Ice Dragon Seol Mo-dan.

“…And the North Sea Ice Palace, seven in total.”

“There are eight spots, so why are there only seven participants?”

“I heard Seol Wonhwa withdrew. Probably didn’t want to fight her brother.”

“Tsk tsk~ Two spots taken by outsiders? Pathetic.”

At that moment, a martial artist in Huashan Sect robes interjected into the audience’s conversation.

“Seol Mo-dan was taught by a Huashan Sect elder when he was young. He’s practically a Huashan disciple.”

Zhongnan made it, but a Huashan figure fell, so he seemed uncomfortable.

“Anyway… who do you think among the seven will take the Dragon’s name?”

The audience’s gaze naturally focused on Seol Mo-dan.

The other participants weren’t weak, but he was on a different level.

To win, they would need to bring the Jiegal Family’s Dragon or the Namgung Family’s Sword Dragon.

…The problem is, neither of them participated.

“Maybe for the first time, an outsider will take the Dragon’s name.”

“Huh? But who is that guy…?”

Murmur murmur~ Buzz buzz~!

Suddenly, the audience’s gaze turned to an uninvited guest walking out of the participant’s corridor with a cane.

“…A cripple?”

“Is he crazy? What are the guards doing?”

Despite the audience’s jeers and curses.

The uninvited guest, a troublemaker, climbed onto the arena without anyone stopping him.

After taking a deep breath, he let out a roar filled with internal energy.

“Sima Mantian has come to challenge!!”

He issued a challenge to the disciples of various sects, in a place where the leaders of the righteous martial world had gathered, without a hint of hesitation.

…And in the VIP viewing area on the second floor, reserved for the high-ranking members of the martial world.

In a nearly private room assigned to the Jiegal Family, one of the Five Great Families.

A girl who had finished cleaning and was dragged out by Jiegal Yang to watch the fights but had no interest and was sleeping.

“……”

Guhae’s long eyelashes fluttered, revealing beautiful blue eyes reminiscent of the morning sea.

“…Mantian?”

She quietly muttered, savoring the voice that woke her up.

***

Among the seven participants, the first to move was Ding Chou from Shaolin Temple, a favorite to win the Dragon and Phoenix Association.

Tap tap-!

In an instant, he closed the distance and swung his staff with force, stopping just inches from Mantian’s nose.

“I don’t know why you’re doing this, but if you don’t want to get hurt, step down.”

As a disciple of Buddhism, he warned with a serious voice.

“There will be no more mercy.”

Mercy… thanks, but it’s a useless consideration.

I said I came here to fight.

Mantian’s left hand moved quickly, grabbing the staff in front of him and gripping it tightly.

Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Snatching the Staff from the Dog’s Mouth.

Pulling the staff that the dog won’t let go of.

From now on, this staff is mine. You’re the one holding my staff.

Pure yet heavy internal energy flowed through the staff, pushing Ding Chou’s hand away.

“What…?!”

He seized control of the staff.

Ding Chou, panicking at the unexpected situation. That was the end of the match.

The cane in Mantian’s right hand mercilessly struck the opponent who had left an opening.

“You should have kept hitting without stopping.”

Without even glancing at the fallen Ding Chou, he calmly voiced his thoughts and moved on.

Shaolin Temple disciple, Ding Chou, defeated.

“Do you… know what you’re doing right now?!”

The second to step forward was someone Mantian recognized.

Long black hair, a sly smile hiding her true intentions.

Sososo’s fiancée, the Poison Phoenix of the Sichuan Tang Family, Tang Mirang.

…But she didn’t leave a good impression.

Without a word, I closed the distance.

“Tsk-!”

Tang Mirang clicked her tongue and took a few steps back, then swung her sleeve, scattering hidden weapons towards Mantian.

Daggers rushing to tear and bite flesh.

…But Mantian didn’t step back.

He raised his cane, kicked off the ground, and threw himself into the rain of hidden weapons.

If you move too much to dodge, you’ll just get hit. You have to break through head-on.

…And sorry, but I’ve already figured out your pattern from our few encounters.

Dog Chasing Stick Technique – Flipping the Dog to the Sky.

Using the cane to hit the dog and send it flying.

The hidden weapons hit by the cane lost their power and spun helplessly in the air before falling, opening a path to their owner.

“……?!”

Tang Mirang tried to create distance again at the sight of Mantian closing the gap instantly, but.

“Guh-!”

Mantian’s fist was faster.

Tang Mirang, hit in the solar plexus, lost consciousness from the pain spreading through her body and collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.

The Tang Family’s hidden weapon techniques were fierce, but Tang Mirang herself wasn’t threatening.

You always used someone as a shield when you messed with Sososo.

At the first inn we met, and at the second Dragon Gate Inn, you used Jeon Jong as a shield instead of yourself.

You were afraid of getting hurt by stepping forward yourself.

“A martial artist shouldn’t be afraid of getting hurt.”

Sichuan Tang Family disciple, Poison Phoenix Tang Mirang, defeated.

Now, five remain.