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Chapter 16: The Beginning of the Sixteen Rounds

On the day the Sixteen Rounds began.

The number of personnel gathered in the waiting room was noticeably fewer than the first day.

While participants could briefly come and go on the final day of the main round, that had become impossible starting from the Sixteen Rounds.

Thanks to that, I could sit in a much more spacious waiting room.

‘What nice weather.’

Looking up at the sky, it felt particularly clear today.

Not a single cloud, truly a sunny day.

If I had the mind to, it would be a perfect day for a picnic.

In such weather, I casually rolled my eyes around, surveying the surroundings.

Contrary to the clear day, the atmosphere around was bleak.

It was all due to the momentum radiating from the martial artists.

‘Ugh.’

Feeling it, I let out a sigh.

Under the clear sky, this place felt dark.

The tension and wariness had seeped into the energy, transforming it into something rough.

The reason for this, as I mentioned earlier, was those martial artists.

Though there was somewhat of an issue with calling them ‘martial artists.’

‘That guy looks downright awful.’

Most of this overwhelming energy came from a middle-aged man sitting at a distance.

It emanated from the leader of the Peng Clan, the Sword King.

The pressure was heavy enough to weigh down the surroundings.

The Sword King was emanating an extraordinary amount of Qi in all directions.

I thought he might just be putting on a show like in the past, but…

‘This time it’s for real, isn’t it?’

The energy was drastically different from before.

Purely emotional, the surging energy was amplified, mixing in with the Sword King’s emotions.

Calmly sitting with his eyes closed, the Sword King radiated a chilling fury.

I wondered what had him so riled up, but the reason was obvious.

‘…It’s because that old man clobbered him.’

Although the sparring with Shin Ryong had slightly subsided, the fight between Two Dragons and the Sword King remained a hot topic.

The incident where one of the late-stage talents, Two Dragons, completely crushed the Sword King and then forfeited.

Because of that, the Sword King was surrounded by all sorts of petty rumors.

Wasn’t he unworthy of the title of King?

Rumors about him being an incapable clan leader overshadowed by the reputation of the Peng Clan.

Ah, the second one seems accurate enough to skip over.

Anyway.

‘Thanks to that, affiliated upper houses started fleeing.’

The support that used to flow to the Peng Clan had dried up, and people from the Central Plains began pointing fingers at the Sword King.

I could understand why that man became like this, but…

‘At his age, why take it out on innocent people?’

If he was that angry, he should just stay hidden away.

Instead, he was here throwing his weight around unnecessarily.

Tsk tsk.

I clicked my tongue and waved my hand dismissively.

Whoosh-!

I let my breath float out into the air.

As the emitted Qi mixed with the air, it unraveled some of the tangled energy.

Fwhoosh-!

With the Sword King’s Qi slightly loosening, I could hear the sound of people exhaling around me.

I thought things might get a bit better, but—

“…What are you doing?”

A heavy voice echoed from a distance.

It belonged to the Sword King himself.

“What do you mean?”

I responded to his question.

I knew he was directing it at me.

The Sword King opened his eyes, staring at me.

His gaze was sharp.

Being glared at by such an unpleasant-looking noble made it even more frightening.

“…Daring to meddle with my Qi….”

Was he upset?

The Sword King suddenly stood up from where he was seated.

With a puffing sound, an even denser energy flared up.

“Hmm.”

What’s this?

Has he genuinely lost his mind?

I knew the Sword King wasn’t in a good state, but he looked like he was prepared to actually fight.

If he fought in the waiting area without permission, he’d be disqualified! Is this man really crazy?

As I stared in amazement, it seemed the other martial artists were equally transfixed on the Sword King.

Swoosh.

A shallow sound made itself known from the side.

Tang Soyeol, who was with me, had something clasped tightly in her sleeve.

A dagger, perhaps?

‘Stop it.’

As soon as I caught a glimpse, I grabbed her wrist.

I understood her intentions, but if she did that here, only she would suffer.

So what to do?

Should I just stand up and try to block it? As I pondered and slightly nodded my head—

“Clan Leader.”

Someone grabbed the Sword King’s shoulder.

Upon confirming, it was Peng Woojin.

“Calm down. There are many eyes watching—”

Smack-!

A sharp sound startled everyone.

The Sword King had slapped Peng Woojin across the face.

Woojin’s head jerked back.

I could see blood flowing from the corner of his lips.

“Are you disregarding me as well? Now that you’ve become a Lesser Clan Leader, do you covet even this position?”

“…”

Peng Woojin wiped the blood from his lip at the Sword King’s words.

His cheek was turning red, apparently from the weight of the slap.

“Don’t let a bit of talent go to your head. The Clan Leader is me. Don’t overstep your bounds.”

Wow.

Just looking at it makes me want to puke.

I could feel the broken pride and abundance of insecurity radiating from him.

It’s pathetic how low he can go.

Even worse.

‘I can sense the evil spirit.’

I could detect traces of an evil spirit within the Sword King’s demeanor.

It was still weak, but if left as it is, it might consume him whole.

‘Looks like he took quite a beating from Pejon.’

If he had gotten hurt by Pejon, he wouldn’t have ended up like this, but it seems he’s attributing it to Two Dragons.

How ridiculous.

While I was looking at the Sword King with that expression.

Peng Woojin, who had just been slapped, broke out into a grin.

Seeing that made my eyes involuntarily squint.

“I will keep that in mind. However, it seems best for you to restrain yourself right now.”

Everyone around was looking at the Sword King.

No matter how odd his state was, they knew better than to act as though they were unaware.

“…Keh.”

After hearing Woojin, the Sword King looked around and shot me a glare.

“You’re lucky, but don’t think there will be a next time.”

“…”

After saying that, he turned his back.

‘What the hell.’

I couldn’t help but grimace at his ridiculous villain-like words…

‘Feels like I’ve heard that line almost never in my life.’

I must have heard it from somewhere.

But before I could even fully let it out, I’d probably have killed the guy.

“Ugh…”

How cringeworthy, my skin crawled.

I rubbed my skin lightly and shivered.

Oh, that’s so pathetic.

‘Why’s he acting like that?’

I forced myself to endure the urge to retch.

Was this what the auras of evil spirits and shattered pride looked like?

I shouldn’t grow old like that.

It made me think that without realizing it.

Moreover.

‘Their household seems to be a total mess as well.’

I grimaced upon glancing at Peng Woojin.

At the moment he was slapped, I saw killing intent flash in his eyes.

Not just anger; it was actual killing intent.

Whatever the situation was, it seemed that side was also dealing with some serious issues.

‘Hmmm.’

That’s not something I should concern myself with.

‘They’ll manage, I suppose.’

Our household was already chaotic enough; it wasn’t the time to worry about anyone else’s.

After diverting my gaze from the Sword King, I spoke to those around me.

“Let’s ease up a bit. It seems like there’s nothing going on here.”

As I said that, Tang Soyeol relaxed her shoulders.

Clang.

From my left, I could hear Yeongpung adjusting his sword.

I could let Soyeol go, but what about Yeongpung?

“…You weren’t planning to fight, were you? Why do you have your sword ready?”

I asked in disbelief, and Yeongpung gave an embarrassed laugh.

“Hahaha. Rather than that being my intention… I unconsciously tensed up a bit.”

A bit? Yeah, right.

He seemed ready to draw his sword at any moment.

It was nice of him, but it felt overly excessive.

‘We need to focus on the sparring, not waste energy on useless stuff.’

Especially on something pointless like this.

Even as I averted my gaze, I took a peek at the Sword King.

‘King?’

The Six Seats.

Connected by their influence, they were those who inherited their titles.

They weren’t at the level of the top martial masters but were situated among the higher ranks of transformation realm martial artists.

‘…Influence.’

I pondered as I felt the nuanced weight of that term.

‘Hmmm.’

While they carried a significant weight from their title, it was also not solely dependent on their merit as martial artists.

The strange sense of discord stemming from that difference was delicate.

If things go well…

‘There might be a way to use this.’

I’m not saying I should use the Sword King. An incapable man like that was not worth utilizing.

What I mean is that I might find a way to leverage the reputation of a King or Queen.

‘How can I use that?’

I thought deeply.

I made sure to catch onto any sudden ideas that popped into my head.

Because that usually led to a decent conclusion.

Just as I was trying to think hard at that moment—

-Contestants, please prepare!

I clicked my tongue at the words that echoed from the entrance.

Looks like I won’t have time to think after all.

-The Mount Shan Clan’s Gu Yangcheong and Hwasan Sect’s Yeongpung, please come up right now!

Because I was the very first match in this martial arts tournament.

“It seems it’s our turn.”

As soon as I heard the call, Yeongpung stood up.

“Thank you for your support.”

Yeongpung flashed his usual smile as he spoke.

As I looked at his face, I nodded.

‘Alright.’

For now, I should focus on the guy in front of me.

Yeongpung had something to say to me.

‘There’s something I need to tend to myself.’

More precisely…it was with the energy within Yeongpung.

The familiar energy present within him.

That was what I needed to address.

 

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