Chapter 71

The beginning of the Yongbong Assembly (2)

『I hereby declare the beginning of the Yongbong Assembly.』

This Yongbong Assembly was hosted by the Namgung Clan, and the one who announced its commencement was the Sword King, Namgung San.

After that, the martial contests continued in full swing.

These were matches held only among those who had received bronze-colored and silver-colored invitations.

"They're desperate."

Wolyeong's eyes gleamed as she watched the two fighters locked in a life-or-death struggle.

Nearby, Hougae grinned crookedly.

"They can't help it."

"Why?"

"You have to win three times to get up there."

"Up there?"

"Yes. Over there."

Hougae pointed somewhere.

There, those who had received gold invitations were gathered.

It felt strangely alien, as if that place were completely separate from this one.

"It was always like this, but this Yongbong Assembly is especially bad."

Hougae was still smiling, but his expression was anything but bright.

The rules of the Yongbong Assembly always changed.

However, this time, even Hougae—who had seen countless ugly scenes—could only shake his head, as the intention behind the rules was blatantly obvious.

"You said they have to win three times, right?"

"Yes."

"So that's why they're fighting so desperately?"

"Because it's the path for their family or their sect."

"..."

They had reasons why they had to win.

Only by winning three times could one earn the qualification to participate in the main event of the Yongbong Assembly.

Reaching the main event meant not only being able to join the banquet with those who held gold invitations, but also being given the chance to directly cross martial skills with them.

"Tsk."

However, Cheon Muyang didn't like that at all.

"It feels like we're nothing more than a spectacle."

The gaze of the privileged class, looking down from above, was disgusting and unpleasant.

The reason was that he himself could also belong to that place.

But he didn't want to.

At that, Hougae asked with a meaningful smile.

"What will you do?"

"Sadly, this is the first I've heard of rules like this."

There was no way such an explanation would be written on the invitation.

Besides, how could an executioner possibly follow orders so obediently?

Cheon Muyang watched those laughing and chatting with his characteristic smile.

"Following the rules isn't really an executioner's way, is it?"

Hougae wanted to ask what that meant, but a long yawn from the nearby Wolf King came first.

"Yaaawn."

"..."

"Man, this is damn boring."

They were desperate, but there was no way it would catch the Wolf King's interest.

"So, when are you going to move?"

"Now."

"Oh, really?"

The Wolf King let out another deep yawn.

"Then do it before I fall asleep."

"That's the plan."

They waited for the match to end.

Just then, someone who had won three bouts emerged, and one arena was left vacant.

Cheon Muyang stepped onto the platform, pushing past those who were watching cautiously.

"..."

Those who were about to step forward flinched.

Most of them remembered the righteous sword Cheon Muyang had shown before.

"My name is Cheon Muyang."

Cheon Muyang introduced himself briefly.

"I hear you need to win three times to go to that seat."

By that seat, he meant the place where those with gold invitations were gathered.

Cheon Muyang raised his head.

He saw Paeng Do-hyeok glaring at him with murderous eyes.

"I also heard that those with gold invitations are exempt from that part."

It was clearly unfair.

A shameful truth that no one had ever questioned.

Whoooosh!

A wind blew from somewhere.

Dust scattered low across the floor of the training grounds.

For some reason, the atmosphere of the grand training hall sank heavily.

At its center, Cheon Muyang smiled as if nothing concerned him.

"To be honest, I don't like that rule."

"...!"

Gasps followed.

Cheon Muyang was openly declaring that the rules of this Yongbong Assembly were unjust.

"So."

Cheon Muyang raised Cheongwang.

In that instant, the surrounding space felt heavily oppressed.

"I want to ask whether they truly deserve to sit there."

Whooom!

Cheongwang moved.

Bluish energy bloomed in streaks along the blade of Cheongwang.

"Do you all agree?"

"..."

Silence fell.

Cheon Muyang nodded.

"Since ancient times, silence has meant consent. So I'll take it that you all permit this..."

Silence meant consent.

Interpretation was a matter of perspective.

"I'll ask them directly, as your representative."

"What are you saying?"

Hougae asked.

Cheon Muyang replied with a smile.

"I'm asking whether they truly deserve to sit in those seats."

With a confident grin, Cheon Muyang pointed Cheongwang toward them.

"Anyone want to fight me?"

"...!"

Gooooo!

He looked ready to strike at any moment.

Cheon Muyang openly provoked them.

"So this was it."

Hougae marveled as he observed their reactions on the raised platform.

As expected, those with short tempers reacted first.

Crunch.

Creeeak.

The sound of grinding teeth could be heard all the way over here.

Even so, they couldn't move rashly.

An invisible hierarchy.

There was an order to things.

"Let's see... where is Paeng Do-hyeok?"

Hougae searched for Paeng Do-hyeok.

Everyone watched Paeng Do-hyeok carefully.

Given his massive build, he was easy to spot.

"Ah, so you can't become a tiger either."

Hougae snorted softly.

Paeng Do-hyeok merely ground his teeth in feigned fury, unable to move.

A tiger with no fangs.

When Paeng Do-hyeok remained silent, the others began to glance around cautiously.

They were well aware of the rumors between Paeng Do-hyeok and Cheon Muyang.

"Could those rumors really be true?"

"Or did he have some kind of weakness exposed?"

The reason didn't matter.

What mattered was that Paeng Do-hyeok wasn't stepping forward.

"Taking the seat of the Dragon Slayer."

"That mere executioner...!"

"There must be another reason!"

Rather than the truth of the rumors, they focused only on the spoils they could gain by defeating Cheon Muyang.

Wasn't it possible that they could seize the seat of Dragon Slayer that Paeng Do-hyeok held?

A strange desire welled up.

Glance.

The gazes that had subtly been fixed on Paeng Do-hyeok shifted to Namgung Sang-hyeok.

If it was the Sword Dragon, everyone wondered how he would respond.

"..."

Namgung Sang-hyeok also remained silent.

"The tiger and the king remain silent."

Even among those with gold invitations, there were differences in rank.

"Below them, the wolves and lords will see this as an opportunity."

Hougae could already predict how they would move.

"So, who will step forward?"

That opportunity fell to those below them—the foxes and the lords who coveted the king's seat.

'Now is the chance.'

'There must have been some sort of secret pact. Otherwise, that executioner wouldn't be acting so brazenly.'

Hougae smiled faintly.

Their thoughts were completely transparent to him.

'Of course. There's no way they'd believe it.'

Rumors, by nature, always had their truth distorted.

That was why they never believed the rumor that Paeng Do-hyeok had been defeated by Cheon Muyang.

In fact, Hougae himself had already arranged for distorted information to reach them.

'Wait a moment.'

That was when it happened.

Hougae suddenly questioned himself.

'Why did I arrange for distorted information to flow to them? Why?'

Chill.

In that instant, Hougae felt a chill run down his spine.

'D-don't tell me… he expected this outcome f-from the very beginning?'

Snap!

Hougae turned his head sharply.

There, Cheon Muyang was looking straight at him, wearing the grin of an executioner.

"H-hahaha...."

Thud!

Perhaps his legs gave out.

Hougae collapsed into a chair beside the Wolf King.

At that, the Wolf King, now awake, scolded Hougae.

"Tsk. That's why I told you not to rely on cheap tricks."

"Yes. I suppose I should, from now on."

Hougae smiled bitterly.

Wolyeong, who had no idea what was going on, suddenly asked, puzzled.

"Huh? Why are you acting like that all of a sudden?"

"There are things like that."

"...?"

"Cheon Muyang is truly an incredible young master."

"Of course. Our young master is amazing, you know."

Wolyeong beamed with excitement.

Hougae fell silent and waited to see who would step forward.

'Whoever it is, may they rest in peace.'

That was when it happened.

The one Hougae had just prayed for boldly stepped out.

"Do you even know where you are, committing such rudeness! Young Master Cheon!"

"Oh."

Those who had failed to act in time let out short sighs.

Whoosh!

Spinning several times in midair, the man landed in the training grounds.

It was Eon Somyeong of the Jinju Eon Clan.

Like Paeng Do-hyeok, he belonged to the group that had mocked and tormented Cheon Muyang back when he had been a pig.

Perhaps because of that, just seeing Eon Somyeong's face made Cheon Muyang's anger boil over.

'I kind of want to punch him.'

Of course, he didn't know who the man was.

So he asked.

"Who are you?"

"You don't recognize me?"

"I asked who you are."

"I am Eon Somyeong of the Jinju Eon Clan!"

"Alright. Eon Somyeong."

"...?"

"Let me ask you one thing."

"What is it?"

"Did you bully me too?"

"W-what nonsense is that—!"

"Looks like you did."

Cheon Muyang nodded.

It felt like he wouldn't be satisfied unless he vented this unexplained rage inside him.

"Let's begin."

"N-no, wait a moment!"

Cheon Muyang took his stance and immediately charged at Eon Somyeong.

Eon Somyeong, who had intended to put on a dignified display, was horrified when he saw Cheon Muyang rushing at him with ferocious momentum.

"Gah!"

Fast and powerful.

Cheon Muyang's sword, true to that simple principle, surged forward in a lofty arc.

"How dare you!"

Even rotten fish still counted as fish.

As if to prove why he had stepped forward so boldly, Eon Somyeong quickly took his stance and threw a punch.

Boom!

The force from the step he took to drive his fist forward was so immense that the floor of the grand training hall caved in.

Sword and fist met in midair.

Kwaaang!

A thunderous boom echoed through the hall.

It was as if steel had collided with steel.

Wooooong!

A tangible aura faintly bloomed around Eon Somyeong's fist.

Cheongwang was knocked aside.

"Is that all you've got!"

Eon Somyeong shouted triumphantly.

As if convinced that he held the advantage in strength, his confidence returned.

'Now.'

With the balance broken,

Eon Somyeong judged that he must not give Cheon Muyang time to recover.

So he pressed forward immediately.

It was the distinctive movement of a fist fighter, meant to negate the very distance required to swing a sword.

'Yes. This is more like it.'

However, Eon Somyeong didn't know.

That Cheon Muyang was smiling.

Cheongwang being knocked aside had only been to test Eon Somyeong's level.

'But compared to Paeng Do-hyeok and Namgung Sang-hyeok… you're a notch below.'

Step!

Cheon Muyang regained his stance far faster than Eon Somyeong expected.

'W-what?!'

The center of gravity he thought had collapsed was perfectly stable.

As a result, Cheongwang thrust forward a beat faster than Eon Somyeong anticipated.

Screeech!

Fist and sword crossed paths.

Slice!

Something was cut.

"...."

Near Eon Somyeong's heart,

Two sword marks remained.

Thud.

Meanwhile, Eon Somyeong's fist could no longer advance.

"R-rebounding hardened qi...."

He had struck an invisible wall.

That wall was called Rebounding Hardened Qi, and Eon Somyeong had yet to gain the strength to break through it.

It was a clear defeat.

But Eon Somyeong couldn't accept it.

"Normally, I'd beat you senseless a few times."

"...!"

Eon Somyeong's body trembled violently.

'W-what kind of eyes are those?!'

Just that gaze alone felt capable of killing a man.

"I'll stop here."

"W-what did you say?"

That was when—

"Urgh!"

Eon Somyeong felt excruciating pain as his internal organs twisted.

"Cough!"

Blood surged back up his throat.

In the end, Eon Somyeong vomited a large amount of blackened blood.

Whoooong!

Leaving Eon Somyeong behind, Cheon Muyang once again stood at the center of the training hall and spoke coldly.

"Next."