Chapter 592
592
Episode 592. Everything Has a Reason (2)
It happened in an instant, so no one could react to it.
Except one person, me.
But once they came to their senses and grasped the situation, there were plenty of people who would immediately step in.
“Urgh!” (Seoho)
I groaned as if I had been pushed back by that man’s strength and retreated, and Captain Geum Yeonhwa and several others who had grasped the situation intervened.
Whirik! Pueok!
They acted decisively, and in an instant, subdued that man.
“Huh! What on earth is going on?”
“So right now, that man attacked Gale Fairy before she was even ready?”
“And Benevolent Chivalrous Pretty Boy blocked it?”
The audience seats were a crucible of confusion.
Meanwhile, Hyangok Noona approached me and held out her hand.
“Are you all right?” (Hyangok)
“Ah, yes. I am fine. Are you all right, Noona?” (Seoho)
“There is no reason I would not be. I’m safe thanks to you.” (Hyangok)
I took Noona’s hand and stood up.
“Thank you. I lived thanks to you.” (Hyangok)
“Not at all. Even if it had not been me, you would have handled it well, Noona.” (Seoho)
At my words, Noona shook her head.
“No. If it had not been for you, I would have died, or at least suffered a serious injury.” (Hyangok)
Noona turned her head and looked with a cold gaze at the man who had been laid on the floor unconscious.
Meanwhile, the people of the Seomoon Clan were flustered and did not know what to do.
Because they had never dreamed that a member of the Seomoon Clan would commit such an act.
I approached that man.
I could feel the aura of the criminal underworld from him.
Because he was imitating Mister Seomoon Ilshin’s aura, the others had not noticed it.
I carefully examined the area around his face, and soon noticed something.
As expected, that was it!
I called Captain Geum Yeonhwa.
“Um, Captain. Does something not look awkward here?” (Seoho)
“What do you mean?” (Geum Yeonhwa)
“If you look here, is the skin color not slightly different at the boundary of the neck?” (Seoho)
Captain Geum Yeonhwa soon understood what I meant and scratched that part with her fingernail.
Soon, a layer peeled off.
Swaaaaaak!
She peeled that layer off that man without hesitation, and his real face was revealed.
As expected, it was a human-skin mask!
Hyangok Noona recognized him after seeing the face that was finally revealed.
“That face is Two-Faced Yin Demon!” (Hyangok)
“That’s right! It’s Two-Faced Yin Demon!”
“Wasn’t he said to be dead?”
Two-Faced Yin Demon meant a yin demon with two faces, and it was an alias given because he usually imitated an upright orthodox sect member, but whenever he found the woman he was targeting, he unfailingly revealed his criminal-underworld side.
Because of that, he had not been caught for a long time, until it was eventually known that he had been executed by the Emei Sect.
Slaaap!
The Clan Head of the Seomoon Clan struck that man’s cheek with a furious face.
“Kugh!” (Two-Faced Yin Demon)
Two-Faced Yin Demon groaned and opened his eyes, and as if he realized that he had failed, he burst out in frustration.
“Damn it! I could have succeeded in my revenge! I failed!” (Two-Faced Yin Demon)
At this, one disciple of the Emei Sect shouted.
“You were definitely dead! I cut off your neck myself!” (Emei Disciple)
At this, he laughed.
“Hehehehe, the one you killed was not me. It was my subordinate wearing my human-skin mask!” (Two-Faced Yin Demon)
“You deceived us!” (Emei Disciple)
The reason Two-Faced Yin Demon had not been caught for a long time was partly because his skill had been at the pinnacle, but also because of his ability to make human-skin masks and his acting ability.
Because he could perfectly make another person’s face, and imitate their behavior, voice, and even aura so perfectly that he could fool even their family.
Why on earth did he use such talent for something so useless?
“So, you are saying you used a person of our Seomoon Clan to take revenge on the Emei Sect?” (Seomoon Clan Head)
At the Seomoon Clan Head’s question, even though he had been subdued, he answered slickly. It was as if he had given up on himself.
“Well, that’s how it is.” (Two-Faced Yin Demon)
“Then where is Ilshin?” (Seomoon Clan Head)
“Hehehehe, find that out yourselves.” (Two-Faced Yin Demon)
At that answer, the Clan Head of the Seomoon Clan drew his sword and stabbed that man’s leg.
“Kuaaaak!” (Two-Faced Yin Demon)
He screamed from the pain.
I watched that sight and recalled my previous life.
Did something like this happen back then too?
I do not think I ever heard of such an incident from Father or my hyungs. If something like this had happened, they would have told me.
To begin with, Two-Faced Yin Demon had never been caught by the Emei Sect.
Because in my previous life, Two-Faced Yin Demon met a horrific end at the hands of the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s side.
I do not know why things have changed from the previous life I knew, but now is not the time to ponder that.
“Speak at once!” (Seomoon Clan Head)
“Ggggh! I, I don’t know either! I threw him into the river!” (Two-Faced Yin Demon)
“What?” (Seomoon Clan Head)
“So find him yourselves. Hehehe.” (Two-Faced Yin Demon)
And just as he was about to bite the poison pill inside his mouth.
Pueok!
Someone kicked his face, and the poison pill flew from his mouth and rolled across the floor.
Kwajik!
A foot stepped on the poison pill.
The Alliance Leader had finally moved.
The Alliance Leader, who had come up onto the dueling stage, called one person.
“Captain of the Alliance Hawk Unit!” (Alliance Leader)
“Yes!” (Alliance Hawk Unit Captain)
“Find Mister Seomoon Ilshin immediately!” (Alliance Leader)
“By your command!” (Alliance Hawk Unit Captain)
The Captain of the Alliance Hawk Unit gave a clasped-hands greeting and immediately moved.
The Alliance Leader turned his head and spoke to the Sect Leader of the Emei Sect.
“Although the Emei Sect was deceived by that man’s trickery, you made ceaseless efforts to catch that man, so it does not seem you bear responsibility for this.” (Alliance Leader)
“Thank you.” (Emei Sect Leader)
The Sect Leader of the Emei Sect bowed her head and expressed her thanks.
“To think he could not repent for his past wrongdoings and committed such an act in order to take revenge!” (Alliance Leader)
The Alliance Leader’s voice rang out resoundingly, and under that force, Two-Faced Yin Demon could not even breathe properly.
The Alliance Leader’s stern command continued.
“Cut the blood vessels in this man’s four limbs and imprison him in the prison so he may suffer forever!” (Alliance Leader)
“We obey your command!” (Alliance Members)
“And the duel between Warrior Hyangok and Mister Seomoon Ilshin will be postponed for now, and the later scheduled duels will proceed first.” (Alliance Leader)
“We obey your command.” (Geum Yeonhwa)
“And Mister Eun Seoho.” (Alliance Leader)
“Yes.” (Seoho)
“How were you able to respond to that man’s attack so quickly?” (Alliance Leader)
I knew he would ask that anyway.
I gave the answer I had thought of in advance.
“In truth, Hyangok Noona is my cousin. Since she is a close relative, I was watching her carefully, and I saw that man making a strange expression while looking at Noona.” (Seoho)
“You noticed something was wrong just from that?” (Alliance Leader)
“Yes. Mister Seomoon Ilshin is a martial artist who has inherited the spirit of the Seomoon Clan exactly. I had watched his duels until now, and because someone who had no reason to act that way suddenly showed a strange reaction, my body moved before I knew it.” (Seoho)
“Huh, so that was what happened.” (Alliance Leader)
The Alliance Leader nodded with admiration.
“Thanks to you, these friendly duels were able to avoid being stained with blood. Following the last Dragon-Phoenix Martial Arts Tournament, even this incident! I do not know how I should express my gratitude to you.” (Alliance Leader)
“You overpraise me. I merely did what I had to do.” (Seoho)
“I should reward you for this, but since the duels are currently underway and a person has even gone missing, it would be best to postpone that discussion until later.” (Alliance Leader)
“I think so as well.” (Seoho)
In the meantime, Two-Faced Yin Demon was dragged off to the prison, and the dueling stage was put in order.
Captain Geum Yeonhwa came up onto the dueling stage.
“An unpleasant incident occurred, but with the help of many people, we were able to settle the situation. In this way, although we have faced countless difficulties until now, everyone has joined forces to overcome calamities, and we have achieved the prosperity of the murim we have now.” (Geum Yeonhwa)
The people quietly listened to her words.
“We will continue to do so in the future as well! Even when countless hardships approach us, we will join forces and advance for the peace of the murim!” (Geum Yeonhwa)
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
At her words, everyone cheered in unison.
The incident that had just occurred seemed to have already been forgotten from everyone’s memory.
Not bad, Captain Geum Yeonhwa.
It seemed there was also this reason for appointing her as the host and referee of the friendly duels.
“Then we will begin the duel from now on. The Benevolent Chivalrous Pretty Boy of the Eunhae Trading Company, Eun Seoho!” (Geum Yeonhwa)
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
“His opponent is a warrior of the Pungha Sect, the Unyielding Blood Hero Soan!” (Geum Yeonhwa)
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
The opponent who came up onto the dueling stage amid the people’s cheers was none other than the one who had waged a bloody battle against a warrior of the Bigyeok Sect, his bitter enemy, in the first round.
At that time, a dangerous situation had arisen due to excessive blood loss, and Captain Geum Yeonhwa had stopped the duel through her authority as referee.
And because he ultimately won even in the resumed duel while still fighting a bloody battle, he gained the cool alias Unyielding Blood Hero.
Damn it, but why am I still the Benevolent Chivalrous Pretty Boy?
Originally, he was supposed to become Hyangok Noona’s opponent, but because the order of the duels changed at that time, the order of the bracket also changed, and he ended up facing me.
Well, this kind of thing is also the charm of friendly duels.
At any rate, the disciple of the Pungha Sect defeated his opponent in the second round too and came up to the third round.
We each attached seven tokens to our bodies and faced each other.
I gave him a clasped-hands greeting and said,
“An unpleasant incident occurred in the previous duel, but I do not think that is any reason for us to be unable to duel. I hope we can have a good match.” (Seoho)
At this, he gave a clasped-hands greeting with a meaningful smile.
That smile… what is it?
Warrior Soan’s mouth opened.
“I appreciate your words, but I cannot accept them. I saw your divine might just now, Master, and judged that I could not possibly win.” (Soan)
No way… No, surely not? It cannot be!
“Therefore, with a humble heart, I intend to give up this duel. My condition is already very poor due to the unreasonable duels I have fought. With this body, I do not have the confidence to withstand your divine might, Master. Please understand.” (Soan)
He looked at the audience seats and shouted.
“I forfeit!” (Soan)
As if they had already finished discussing it, the Sect Leader of the Pungha Sect was nodding readily.
“Uh… um, wait…” (Seoho)
But my hand merely waved vainly through the air.
Captain Geum Yeonhwa came up onto the dueling stage and declared,
“With Soan’s withdrawal, the winner of this duel is Eun Seoho!” (Geum Yeonhwa)
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
“Benevolent Chivalrous Pretty Boy! Benevolent Chivalrous Pretty Boy!”
And so, while listening to the cheers, I had no choice but to trudge down from the dueling stage.
“I am back.” (Seoho)
“Yes, you worked hard.” (Father)
“I wonder if it is really all right for this to happen without me swinging my sword even once.” (Seoho)
At my words, Father laughed and spoke.
“They say it does not matter what road you take, so long as you reach Beijing. In any case, is it not enough that you won like this?” (Father)
“Is that so?” (Seoho)
“And it is not as though that man simply forfeited for no reason. He forfeited after seeing the skill you showed earlier when you leaped in to save Hyangok, so would that be a flaw on your part?” (Father)
“That is true too.” (Seoho)
With this, it meant I had advanced through three consecutive forfeiture wins.
Just then, the Captain of the Alliance Hawk Unit hurriedly ran to the Alliance Leader.
He quietly reported to the Alliance Leader, and the Alliance Leader called Captain Geum Yeonhwa.
Captain Geum Yeonhwa nodded and went up onto the dueling stage.
“The postponed duel between Warrior Hyangok and Warrior Seomoon Ilshin will unfortunately be decided as Warrior Hyangok’s victory, as Warrior Seomoon Ilshin is not in a condition to duel.” (Geum Yeonhwa)
* Kkui! (Geumryeong)
At that moment, Geumryeong returned inside my sleeve.
As soon as I noticed earlier that Mister Seomoon Ilshin was suspicious, I had asked Geumryeong to find and help the real one.
* What happened? Is he alive? (Seoho)
* Kkui! (Geumryeong)
Fortunately, he was alive.
If he had died, I would have felt sorry to him.
Because no matter how I looked at it, this seemed to have happened because of the future I had changed.
Even so, I will not feel guilt.
Because the future I changed is certainly a better future, I will silently move toward it.
“Thus, after lunch, the winner of the Earth Division will be decided by the duel between Gale Fairy Hyangok of the Emei Sect and Benevolent Chivalrous Pretty Boy Eun Seoho of the Eunhae Trading Company.” (Geum Yeonhwa)
After the situation was settled like that, I went to find Hyangok Noona.
Because I had to comfort Noona a little.
“Hyangok Noona. Are you all right?” (Seoho)
Hyangok Noona nodded with a calm face.
“Yes. I’m fine.” (Hyangok)
“By coincidence, things turned out like this.” (Seoho)
“They really did.” (Hyangok)
Hyangok Noona looked into my eyes and asked.
“So, what do you intend to do?” (Hyangok)
“Yes? What do you mean?” (Seoho)
“Do you intend to lose on purpose?” (Hyangok)
“…….” (Seoho)
At Noona’s question, I could not answer. In truth, I had intended to lose on purpose this time.
But… the situation had turned out like this.
“I know that you are stronger than me. But if you fight while going easy on me, I might become twisted from the humiliation.” (Hyangok)
At Hyangok Noona’s words, cold sweat flowed without me realizing it.
Because when I imagined a twisted Hyangok Noona, something felt extremely frightening.
“So think carefully.” (Hyangok)
Just then, Palgap appeared and called me.
“Young Master. The Alliance Leader is looking for you, sir.” (Palgap)
“Yeah. I got it.” (Seoho)
I spoke to Noona.
“I will be taking my leave now.” (Seoho)
And I followed the Alliance Leader’s person who had come to find me into the Martial Alliance.
Getting entangled with the Martial Alliance was always something that made me tense, but after learning that the Martial Alliance was the culprit that destroyed the Seolpung Palace, it made me even more tense.
Because there could be no mistake in my actions.
The place I arrived at was the place where they had discussed my merit and reward when I saved people in the previous Dragon-Phoenix Martial Arts Tournament.
Inside, the important figures of the Martial Alliance were seated on the left and right.
There were people I was acquainted with, people I had only seen before, and people I did not know well.
I gave them a clasped-hands greeting.
“I, the humble merchant Eun Seoho, greet the Alliance Leader and the important figures.” (Seoho)
“Come closer.” (Alliance Leader)
At the Alliance Leader’s words, I straightened my body and walked to the center of the meeting room.
“Thanks to you, we were able to avoid a great disaster this time as well.” (Alliance Leader)
“As I said earlier, it was something I naturally had to do. If something serious had happened to my cousin, all my family members would have been saddened.” (Seoho)
I cautiously continued.
“However, I have not heard news of Mister Seomoon. Is he all right?” (Seoho)
The answer to that came from the Clan Head of the Seomoon Clan.
“Thank you for worrying about him. Fortunately, someone must have saved him after he fell into the river, because he was on the riverbank.” (Seomoon Clan Head)
“That is a relief.” (Seoho)
“But I do not know who saved him…” (Seomoon Clan Head)
“It must surely be a good person. They must simply have hidden themselves because they did not want their good deed to become known.” (Seoho)
“How do you know that?” (Seomoon Clan Head)
“Because that is exactly how I feel right now.” (Seoho)
I continued speaking.
“Right now, merely being in this place makes me not know what to do with myself.” (Seoho)
“That is excessive humility. You did something worthy of this.” (Seomoon Clan Head)
“I am ashamed.” (Seoho)
“So then, what reward do you want?” (Alliance Leader)
“That is…” (Seoho)
“Ah! Asking to be removed from the duels is not allowed.” (Alliance Leader)
Tch! I got excited for nothing.
After thinking for a moment, I came up with a clever idea.
Yes, that should do.