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[Long]
“Kuak.”
Gap Won-chun’s face contorted In pain as I said in a sneering tone.
“Don’t act. Only half of the fingers have pierced yet, compared to the pain I went through, this much is nothing.”
Compared to the pain of having my body split in half, this was nothing. The reason why I put my fingers in without internal qi, was to let him experience the pain.
“Kuaaak!”
It was because with internal qi, it would be tough to move.
Pak!
After throwing him away, I looked at him with contempt.
“It is pitiful that someone who claims to be the leader of a small group in this Forces acts like a minion.”
“Ugh! Do you think you will be fine after doing this?”
He was spouting the same thing as Kang Mu-hyuk. Quite a bit of fear was visible on his face.
I fought with the guy so I could understand the feelings he held. At that time, the warriors around us started to surround me.
And Gap Won-chun had a vicious smile while suffering.
“You made a mistake by touching me.”
Yun Ja-seo the Palm floor head was also there and he frowned looking at my blood stained figure and the warrior down.
Gap Won-chun immediately moved.
“Mr. Yun. This warrior has harmed me, this guy to–”
“Be quiet!”
His words were interrupted as he turned to me, Gap Won-chun looked puzzled at this.
Yun Ja-seo looked at me and continued.
“You don’t seem to be in a good condition. Can you take the second test?”
I didn’t change my clothes nor had I wiped the bloodstains, so I must have looked dramatic to them, but I confidently uttered.
“There is no reason not to.”
“Then let’s get you up. Go on.”
With his hand raised, he asked people to give way. I thought I would have to explain but he just let me leave.
“Do you not need an explanation?”
“No need.”
At that, it was Gap Won-chun’s turn to be speechless.
“What do you mean by this? A warrior wounded a floor trainer, so how can you let him pass through! This cannot happen–”
Tak
Yun Ja-seo placed his foot on the ankle of the guy and pressed on it.
Crack!
“Kuaaak!”
Gap Won-chun’s ankle broke as he screamed in pain.
“What do you think you are doing!”
To that question, he responded.
“Among those who passed the first test 7 days back, the one with the most outstanding skills didn’t show up and the one who passed 3 days back didn’t show up either.”
Gap Won-chun, who knew what this meant, went stiff.
Yun Ja-seo didn’t care and continued.
“And this time three people passed the first test and one of them almost couldn’t make it.”
He turned to me.
To be precise, the blood stained shirt. Gap Won-chun was taken aback then waved his hand.
“What are you talking about? I am just a floor handler so how can I be involved in such things?”
“At first it might be a coincidence. But the second brought in doubt and then this happened the third time, which led to certainty.’
“…”
Gap Won-chun couldn’t speak anymore. Because I was the third victim.
“I understand not being given a reason.”
When Yun Ja-seo winked at the two warriors held onto the shoulder of Gap Won-chun, he yelled realizing he was in danger.
“You should have run. Not me, but if he knew he would come for you right away…”
Tatat!
He had his blood points sealed and his words halted there.
-Seems nice.
Short Sword giggled like she liked this. The struggling guy was dragged out and Yun Ja-seo told me.
“It isn’t long before noon. So hurry up.”
I began to run toward the stairs. As I climbed, Short Sword’s voice rang in my head.
-They are not stupid then.
Seemed like it.
Three talented people disappeared.
It was strange if this happened three times and no one had noticed.
Judging from the fact that Gap Won-chun, who was the head of a minor sect here, was immediately imprisoned without hesitation, everyone was anxious about this.
-This may have been the starting point.
I thought that might be the case. The truth was that only I knew the man on the 8th floor would die soon.
This might have been the starting point of the conflict.
-It is right to have a justification.
Right.
Shortly after the death of my father, Chun Mu-seong was selected to be the Lord of the entire forces.
What that meant was that he took the entire control of these forces. And to prevent that from happening I need to let this secret known.
Because I was an outsider here, I couldn’t throw out the allegations of someone being fake.
The only one to stand against him was the Invincible Wind God.
-Baek Hye-hyang, what about her?
Was she able to do it?
She lured him away.
But she couldn’t defeat him alone, so I felt concerned. The only way to know about her life or death situation right now was to drive the fake one out…
-That would be possible only when you meet your father.
It was hard to see his face though. I was required to pass the test before I could meet him.
When I reached the 8th floor, I saw three people standing in what seemed like a training ground.
Seo Mun-geuk, the leader of the spear floor, stood there, Lee Jong-gyeom was yawning and Jin Yong, waiting.
Jin Yong looked at me like he was disappointed.
Like… ‘Ah he showed up.’
“Huh. I thought you gave up.”
It was in the head, but he just spit it out. Each time I saw the guy it was like he had no filter to the mouth, but I thought he was similar to Song Jwa-baek.
‘Lee Jong-gyeom.’
I didn’t see it yesterday.
Seeing him stand this peacefully, it didn’t look like anything happened, but that was a question. As I approached the training room, the head of the spear floor began.
“It is noon. All three of you arrived on time, so let the test begin.”
I looked at the training ground which had red circles drawn. Before arriving at the second test, I heard something from Joo Ye-bin, the younger lord.
I heard that if the first test was completed then for the second test we would be able to choose our desired opponent.
Of course, I knew this was a simple test of a fight with my eyes closed.
-What is that incense over there?
The incense burner was placed close to the floor.
If one held on until the incense touched the red line they would pass the test.
-Then you only have to rely on your senses and hearing.
It was a lot more difficult to achieve compared to the previous tests.
“I will speak about the second test now.”
The guy began to explain and right then, Yang Do-bang of the second floor, Hwang Shin-jae, of the third, Jo Ryang of the seventh arrived.
I was puzzled at this, but the man continued to talk.
“Normally we give you the choice to pick the opponent you want, but since you people are so good, we chose them to come ahead.”
-They abolished the easy way.
Short Sword clicked her tongue.
Not all of them were strong among them, there were two near the super master level.
That was Hwang Shin-jae of the third floor and Jo Ryang.
-Still it is amazing
They weren’t called the Four Strong leaders for nothing.
Even Gap Won-chun, who was the head of a minor sect, was nothing much. But looking at the fact that two people who were here and this skilled made it seem like this was a worthy place to be in.
-You said the strongest?
Jo Ryang, the man from the seventh floor. It was difficult to guess his strength.
Perhaps, Lee Jung-gyeom would be his opponent.
-Did you say that you will get the next one then? It has to be him then.
He was a warrior who was really skilled and judging from my qi senses he had a similar level of skills to me when I only used my lower dantian.
Yang Do-bang would naturally fight against Jin Yong.
“Huh?”
Jin Yong snorted with an expression full of confidence. I couldn’t understand why the guy who came last was doing this?
“Now I am taking a test worthy of my time,” Lee Jung-gyeom said.
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“Confidence?”
“Since I have completed the basic tests, I can say that those tests were something that I can complete with my eyes closed. It might be difficult for me to lose but I need to keep my eyes open for this one.”
There was a reason he had this confidence, even though Jin Gyun was known to be strict, it looked like the man did nothing but train his disciple.
Lee Jung-gyeom smiled.
“Ah! Then I guess you will be the first to pass.”
“Of course.”
Hm?
Did the guy not know?
-What?
From what I knew, I heard that there was this group of Wudang Sect people who trained with something called the Dark Movement where light never touched them. I came to know later that people there would sleep and eat for 100 days and practice in a place of darkness.
-Didn’t he say that he learned the martial arts of Wudang Sect?
Yes, Wudang Sect’s martial arts was taught to Lee Jung-gyeom. Of course, there was no way he wasn’t trained in that technique. And honestly it looked like Lee Jung-gyeom would be the one who could close his eyes and fight.
-Which is why the other one seems like an idiot.
Right.
What made this test more difficult was the limitation of understanding we had with the surroundings once our eyes were closed with a blindfold.
It would be difficult to fight within this range even without anything covering the eyes, then if the eyes were covered, one could be taken out with a small mistake.
Jin Young smiled.
“Your luck is out too.”
I didn’t bother answering him.
When I didn’t, his face contorted but I didn’t care. I wasn’t interested in him.
And a thick black cloth was passed to us.
“When you are ready, enter the circle.”
Kneeling on one knee, Yun Ja-seo said to a middle-aged man with a tall face and strong eyes reading a book at the table.
“The Martial Heavenly Sect has crossed the line, Leader.”
“And where is he?”
“Locked up in the underground prison. Are there people who didn’t know about that guy working for them?”
The middle-aged man didn’t take his eyes off the book.
“We did expect there to be some disturbance.”
“If we leave them alone, this will continue. We need to hold the meeting of sects to give them a warning.”
“Hmm.”
“This is a mistake. Unlike before, there is a cause this time.”
Yun Ja-seo looked to the side. If he walked out from there he could enter the 8th floor. That was the location of the second test.
“You seem to like him.”
At the question of the middle-aged man, Yun Ja-seon said, “The guy hit the Martial Sword Emperor on the back of his head, a person who can go against the Eight Great Warriors. Who could be better suited to be the successor, Leader?”
The one being called the Leader.
It was Jin Song-baek, the Invincible Wind God.
Seeing how his expression didn’t change, he guessed that it couldn’t be it.
“You never know.”
“Are you going to give a chance to Lee Jung-gyeom then?”
“That guy is bold. He didn’t shy away and said what he had to. Now I understand why Baek Hyang-muk took the guy as his disciple.”
It was Jin Song-baek who called Lee Jung-geom right after the first test. He was puzzled why a kid of the Murim Alliance was here so he wanted to talk.
And he liked the guy.
“Since you said that, I want to see.”
Jin Song-baek closed the book, making Yun ja-seo surprised.
“You will see him?”
“Since the eyes are covered, it wouldn’t be bad to take a look.”
“You will not be disappointed.”
Yun Ja-seo got up and took the lead with Jin Song-baek behind him. The door was opened up and they looked at the place the test was being conducted.
A test where one was blindfolded and had to hold on within the circle until the incense lasts.
No one had passed this test.
“Huh.”
Yun Ja-seo exclaimed looking at the test. The one on the far right, Jin Yong was against Yang Do-bang.
Yang Do-bang was used to fighting with his eyes closed. And this situation looked dangerous.
On the other hand Lee Jung-gyeom was against Jo Ryang in the middle.
Jo Ryang had more experience.
“I think I know why he is praised so much. So good.”
But the eyes of Jin Song-baek weren’t on Lee Jung-gyeom, but on Haun who was at the left.
He was frowning.
‘Ah… I guess he doesn’t like him.’
And Hwang Shin-jae was going against Haun. Although the fight was happening steadily, it didn’t seem like a flashy one.
‘He surely deserves to be a disciple of the Eight Great Warriors though.’
He had no choice but to think that Haun right now was inferior to Lee Jung-gyeom and then Jin Song-baek added.
“That child. He is hiding his skills.”
“Uh?”
Yun Ja-seo was shocked at those words. He couldn’t understand why he would hide the skills here.
But Jin Song-baek shouted.
“If you continue to hide your skills, you will be eliminated.”
At those words the movement of Haun stopped.
It was because he understood the words were meant for him.
‘No.’
Hwang Shin-jae didn’t take this chance and kicked him in the head, it was a deliberate low kick.
But then something happened.
Until now, Haun, who was barely defending the attacks and walking into the circle, caught the kick.
‘What?’
He blocked it so effortlessly that it felt like his eyes weren’t covered. Flustered he tried to make him release the leg by twisting himself in the air and using the other leg.
Papak!
Haun slightly moved his head to avoid any kick and then immediately hit the chest of his opponent with a punch, not the sword.
Puak!
“Kuak!”
Hwang Shin-jae, who got hit first, flew out of the circle and rolled out.
Yun Ja-seo was shocked.