As I roared loudly at the martial artists from Sama’s faction...

Gongsun Wol, the strategist, quickly intervened.

"Lord of the House, Lord of the Sect, please look at me."

In an instant, all the men's gazes turned toward Gongsun Wol.

Whether she belonged to the Martial Alliance or not, Gongsun Wol was a woman who simply couldn't be ignored, and even the bandits stared at her intently.

Is this why Alliance Leader Im Sobaek appointed her as a strategist?

With everyone's focus sharpened to the limit, Gongsun Wol spoke.

"A biwu is not a life-and-death match. Furthermore, if resentment remains between Haomun and Sama’s House even after the biwu ends, there is no need to proceed with this duel. Let me make it clear. Will you both promise to accept the outcome cleanly after the biwu?"

Sama Hak nodded.

"Naturally."

I also nodded.

"That’s how it should be."

Gongsun Wol looked at me.

"Especially you two must ensure that Haomun and Sama’s House remain good allies within Baekdo even after the biwu."

I responded with a backhanded remark.

"What strength does Haomun have? A sect that just gathers up bandits. It's hardly worth comparing to Sama’s House."

I dismounted my horse and handed the reins over to Jang San, who was waiting.

"......"

Gongsun Wol nodded.

"I will serve as the witness, overseeing the biwu, and will report every detail of today's duel and conversation to the Alliance Leader. Branch Leader?"

From within the ranks of the Hyeongsan Branch martial artists, a man responded.

"Strategist Gongsun, speak."

"Please set up the biwu formation."

"Let’s do that."

The man casually spoke to the members of the Hyeongsan Branch.

"Spread out widely."

"Yes."

The members of the Hyeongsan Branch swiftly fanned out, forming a wide circle and positioning themselves all around.

The Branch Leader of Hyeongsan spoke.

"Spectators, please move behind the members who have formed the circular formation. As a reminder, any act of interference during the biwu will be treated as a crime equivalent to a failed assassination, and the offender will be dragged to the Alliance. So please, do not embarrass yourselves by throwing hidden weapons or the like. Since we cannot predict the two combatants' strength, members, spread out even wider."

"Yes."

In an instant, a wide space was prepared for the biwu.

Sama Hak walked to the center and spoke.

"Lord of the Sect, with what shall we compete?"

I also walked to the center and replied.

"As the head of a sect that gathers bandits, what choice do I have? Do whatever you prefer, Lord of the House."

Sama Hak laughed and responded.

"Lord of the Sect, aren't you being a bit petty? Your tone is quite amusing."

I laughed as well and said,

"Petty and amusing? Let’s stick to one thing. Is backhanded mockery a tradition in Sama’s House?"

I met Sama Hak’s eyes, and at the same time, we both gave a fake laugh.

"Hahahahaha."

Sama Hak said,

"Though it’s not a life-and-death biwu, injuries are common, so please be careful."

"Let’s take it easy. Clenching your teeth against a junior of Jianghu who merely gathers bandits would be quite the disgrace, no? Other house lords will surely laugh at you."

As I persistently brought up the bandits, the smile slowly faded from Sama Hak’s face.

"Let’s do this. First, let’s compete using fist or palm techniques. If there is no clear winner, we may draw weapons at any time during the match. Since we’re fighting anyway, shouldn’t we show all the martial arts we have mastered? I am curious to see what kind of martial arts Haomun uses."

"Let’s do that."

***

Standing three paces away from Sama Hak, I tied my hair back.

'I'm thirsty. I should have had a drink before this. Come to think of it, I haven’t even been offered a cup of water since arriving. Damn it...'

As I stood still, Sama Hak made an unexpected suggestion.

"I’ll yield the first strike."

"Really? I’ve never participated in a biwu like this before. Is this normal?"

"Sometimes even the first three moves are yielded. But since I don't know your skill level, I’ll just yield the first strike."

"Alright. Thank you for your consideration."

"Don't mention it."

I yawned and hurriedly covered my mouth with my left hand, then widened the distance a bit more. The yawn came out long and lazy.

'When will I ever get to sleep comfortably again?'

I reconfirmed with Sama Hak.

"Then, Lord Sama, I will take the first move."

As soon as Sama Hak nodded...

I subtly wrapped flame energy around my right hand and looked at Sama Hak.

"......"

Without revealing any aggressive intent, I controlled the amount of internal energy infused into the flame, keeping it moderate. Naturally, it was less powerful than when I had obliterated the Namgak Gang’s wooden stockades without a trace.

Sama Hak looked at me with a slightly puzzled expression.

"Hmm?"

I had wrapped my hand in a red energy imbued with the extreme yang attribute, but since I hadn't yet attacked, that must have been why he was confused.

Literally, I hadn’t launched my first move yet.

I scratched the back of my head with my left hand and casually glanced at the bandits. Just then, the eyes of the bandits I had brought were all bulging out as if they were about to pop.

"......!"

Jang San looked at me, seemingly about to say something, but then stopped. Seeing his mouth half-open, he appeared completely stunned.

Sama Hak asked me,

"Lord of the Sect, what are you doing?"

"Ah, sorry. I feel weak today for some reason."

"Your hand... it’s on fire..."

I gave a dry laugh, then discreetly wrapped my left hand with a much weaker cold energy, the Lesser Moon Freezing Art.

Moving my hands in a circular motion like a performer tossing a ball in the air, I hinted at an impending attack.

"Are you ready? Now, let’s start the first move. Ta-ra-ran, ta-ra-ran, boom-cha-cha..."

Before Sama Hak’s eyes, the red and cold auras began spinning in the air.

Only then did Sama Hak’s expression harden as he opened his mouth.

"……No!"

‘No, your ass, you bastard.’

Without hesitation, I launched the Sun and Moon Radiance, wrapped in both extreme yang and extreme yin energies, toward Sama Hak, pushing it forward with a burst of energy.

The Sun and Moon Radiance spun fiercely in the air, creating a horrifying sound.

Pajijijijijik!

Sama Hak’s face was overtaken with a look of 'Oh no!' He stomped his left foot hard, crossed his twin palms, and let out a ki shout.

The internal energies of the Sun and Moon Radiance and Sama Hak collided with full force.

Every time I unleashed the Sun and Moon Radiance, I noticed something strange...

The Sun and Moon Radiance had a tendency to devour all surrounding sounds in an instant. I didn’t know why. I couldn’t ask anyone about it either, since I had created it myself.

"……!"

Kwooooooooom!

Had it been the full version of Sun and Moon Radiance, created with Flame Incense and Moonlight Freezing Art, Sama Hak would not have been able to withstand it. But since this version was made with entry-level flame energy and Lesser Moon Freezing Art, it was somewhat balanced against Sama Hak.

Or so it should have been.

Apparently not.

With a deafening roar, Sama Hak was blasted away.

At the spot where the Sun and Moon Radiance had struck, the ground was gouged out into a crescent shape.

Dust rose like an inverted blizzard, thickly filling the surroundings.

The moment Sama Hak was thrown into the air, I moved at full speed.

Just as he was about to crash to the ground, Sama Hak managed to regain some sense and spun his body to land awkwardly.

The entire area was now filled with dust from the Sun and Moon Radiance’s impact. I darted through the swirling dust and appeared right in front of Sama Hak, stomping the ground deliberately with a Tremor Step.

Kwaaaaaang!

Pebbles shattered and dust soared again. Sama Hak faced me with disheveled hair and tattered clothes.

Was he still capable of fighting?

With a half-vacant expression, he thrust both palms at me again. I deliberately swung my fists, clashing six or seven times in quick succession, then drove a single punch into Sama Hak’s abdomen.

Thud!

Matching Sama Hak’s strength and speed again, I fiercely exchanged internal force and punches five or six times, then drove my fist into Sama Hak’s chest.

Thud!

I didn’t hit him particularly hard on purpose.

Because if Sama Hak could endure it, I would be able to hit him more.

So I controlled my strength.

Even while coughing up blood, Sama Hak swung his hands toward me in a desperate flail. I wrapped the Lesser Moon Freezing Art around both my hands and countered Sama Hak’s internal force...

Thud!

Then I switched to footwork and struck Sama Hak’s danjeon with freezing energy.

I stopped moving and stared at Sama Hak.

Sama Hak kept staggering back, and even the speed of his retreat was slowing.

As the dust that had risen all around slowly began to settle, I followed after Sama Hak and whispered,

"Lord Sama, shall I spare you? Since this is a biwu, I should spare you, right?"

Sama Hak looked at me with a panicked expression.

I said indifferently,

"You look like the kind to hold grudges. Should I just shatter your danjeon?"

Sama Hak barely managed to open his mouth, but perhaps because of the Lesser Moon Freezing Art, his jaw kept trembling.

"Lord of the Sect..."

"What?"

"The match..."

I looked around. Those with weak internal strength had all been swept away by the explosion of the Sun and Moon Radiance and were lying scattered around.

Meanwhile, I blew onto my fingertips.

"So you're saying the match isn’t over yet? Alright. Then here’s the winning flick."

I charged my finger with the essence of external martial arts and the energy of the Wooden Rooster, then smacked Sama Hak’s forehead.

Thwack!

Sama Hak’s body spun three or four times in the air before tumbling across the ground. I extended both arms into the air and unleashed the Absorbing Star Great Technique, then lightly shook my hands as the swirling dust, drawn toward me, came close.

The dust poured down around Sama Hak and me with a fluttering noise.

As the dust cleared, I erased the smile from my face.

When my vision cleared...

I returned to a blunt expression and looked around at the martial artists of Baekdo.

‘Wow, so this is how biwu is conducted in Baekdo. If they always let me take the first strike, I could probably beat the crap out of most of my seniors. What funny guys. Why the hell would you yield the first move, anyway...’

With a dull expression, arms crossed, I looked at Sama Hak.

The martial artists of Sama’s House cried out desperately, "Lord of the House!" as they rushed toward the collapsed Sama Hak.

Even though I had held back my strength, it was still impressive that Sama Hak managed to endure.

Of course, I had also deliberately kept my distance to avoid completely obliterating him.

As the lord of a martial house, it was only right that he could withstand attacks of that level.

Gongsun Wol and the members of the Martial Alliance also used light footwork to quickly approach.

Gongsun Wol spoke with a flustered expression.

"Lord of the Sect, surely you didn’t..."

I glared at Gongsun Wol.

"Lord Sama is alive and well. A biwu is just a biwu."

Everyone’s eyes turned to Sama Hak.

Even with his retainers helping him up, Sama Hak collapsed back down and, with his eyes closed, began circulating his energy. Even while practicing circulation, his entire body ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) shivered due to the Lesser Moon Freezing Art.

Gongsun Wol sighed, then spoke to me.

"Lord of the Sect, was it really necessary to go this far..."

"Strategist, shut your mouth. Our opponent is the lord of a martial house. Besides, the two of us have never fought before. It's only natural and proper to give it our all. Even if the outcome turned out this way, no junior or senior here could afford to fight Lord Sama half-heartedly. Am I wrong?"

Gongsun Wol swallowed once and answered,

"You are correct."

I looked toward Sama’s House and spoke.

"...I admit that I got a little excited during the fight. I barely kept my mind together enough to spare Lord Sama. It was heavenly fortune, perhaps."

While saying "heavenly fortune," I deliberately looked over at the bandit bastards.

‘Heavenly fortune, you bastards.’

The bandits were all staring at me with various expressions. Especially the foolish Woo Chun, who, upon making eye contact with me, silently clenched both fists.

‘We won!’

That was the kind of expression he had. The bandits didn’t say anything, but I said a word to them.

"It was nothing but heavenly fortune."

Heavenly fortune, my ass...

It was my skill.

Since I’m the type of man who never forgets a grudge, I deliberately beckoned the bandits over.

"All of you, come here."

The bandits rushed over and came to a halt.

In a solemn tone, I spoke to the bandits from the Namgak Gang.

"Show your respect properly to the martial artists of Baekdo. It wasn’t just by my will that you were accepted into Haomun. It was thanks to the approval of many seniors and juniors of Baekdo that you were able to have a new life, so you must sincerely express your gratitude."

The bandits started offering words of thanks here and there. Their chaotic chatter seemed to irritate Sama Hak, who was trying to circulate his energy.

I cut off the bandits' noise.

"Shut up."

"Yes!"

I sighed and, with my hands behind my back, looked up at the sky.

"Truly, it’s not an easy thing to repent and live a new life."

I wasn’t saying it to the bandits — I was saying it to myself. Anyway, I lightly slapped my own cheek and then ordered Jang San.

"Jang San."

"Yes, Lord of the Sect."

"Bring the small box containing general silver from the spoils and deliver it to Sama’s House. It’ll be for medical expenses."

"Understood."

See, I’m a generous man like that. Though come to think of it, it was all the bandits’ money anyway.

Just then, several people from Sama’s House shouted at once.

"Lord of the House!"

Startled, I turned to look, and there was Sama Hak, glaring at me with a furious expression but unable to open his mouth. He was trembling uncontrollably.

‘Wow, that means he’s seriously internally injured.’

I frowned and spoke to Sama Hak.

"Lord Sama, calm your mind. You might fall into internal deviation. It was a good match."

At that moment, Sama Hak coughed up blackish-red blood with a choking sound. Having experienced internal deviation several times myself, I knew that at this level, he would have to spend at least ten years focused solely on energy circulation to recover his former internal strength.

I leaned over and whispered to Jang San.

"What does this make me look like?"

"I'm sorry. It's because of us..."

"This is all because of you damn bandits. You’d better do well from now on, got it?"

"Yes!"

"Bandits that weren’t even in my fate... Tsk."

I dusted off my robe with the air of a true man and turned away. The swirling dust would no doubt fly straight into Sama Hak’s nostrils as he was trying to circulate his energy.

I’m that much of a bastard.

Ahh... Really, even I shake my head at myself.