Before the start of the main tournament, a brief preparation time was given. As if he had been waiting for this moment, Baek Woo Jin returned to the dormitory and gathered all the money he had. Then he despaired.
“Oh right… I’m broke, aren’t I?”
The 50 silver tael allowance from his family, combined with the 50 silver taels he had meticulously saved from completing missions, made up the total of 100 silver taels that Baek Woo Jin possessed.
“This is my fate.”
How can I be rich in my situation? Feeling disheartened, Baek Woo Jin headed to the inn he had visited earlier and at a much slower pace than before.
“Welcome, young master. Who will you be placing your bet on?
The man dressed as a servant greeted him. From his poised demeanor, he didn’t seem like an ordinary innkeeper but rather someone dispatched from the Hao Sect.
“Hmm… who should I bet on?”
One wall of the inn was filled with the names of the students who had advanced to the main tournament along with their betting odds.
The strong contenders for victory—Myeong Jin, Han Baek, and Namgong Soo—each had low odds of just 1.1 times, while Baek Woo Jin whom the two men had described as an unheard-of nobody, was given an astonishing 50 times payout for winning the martial arts tournament.
“Haha.”
This is a goldmine.
This is my chance!
He couldn’t afford to miss the chance to escape poverty.
Baek Woo Jin subtly spoke to the Hao sect disciple who was waiting for him with the same expression and posture as before.
“Uh, by any chance… do you also lend money here?”
The innkeeper’s eyes began to gleam like a tiger that had spotted its prey.
“It depends on your status, young master.”
The implication was that as long as his status was confirmed, they wouldn’t refuse to lend him money.
***
By the time Baek Woo Jin arrived at the main martial arts arena, the first match had already begun.
He had successfully borrowed money at the inn by using the name of the Shaanxi Baek clan.
What’s 300 silver tael? Just 300 silver tael.
It was certainly a significant amount of money, but considering he had used the name of the Shaanxi Baek clan, it felt rather small.
The reason given by the innkeeper was even more absurd when Baek Woo Jin complained about how stingy it was.
[We understand that Baek Woo Jin’s standing inside the Shaanxi Baek family is quite low. We actually consider 300 silver taels to be a generous amount.]
Since he was in the position of the borrower and he knew that their assessment was accurate, he couldn’t argue.
“You’re dead meat, all of you.”
Baek Woo Jin vowed to use the money they had lent him to win an unbelievable fifty-fold payout and make them weep tears of blood.
“Haat!”
“Hah!”
While he was vowing to win, the first match grew increasingly intense.
Baek Woo Jin clicked his tongue at the fierce fight between the two students who did not back down an inch.
Although they hadn’t resorted to lethal techniques, the fight was so fierce that it seemed something would break if one of them lost.
He could understand why they were pushing themselves so hard.
It must be because of them.
They were risking injury in hopes of impressing certain individuals.
Among the many seats surrounding the arena, the group sitting in the most prestigious section and looking down on the fight caught his attention. And at the very center of the group, seated in the most distinguished chair, was an old man with a head of striking white hair who commanded all the attention.
They call them the Three Sovereigns.
The Demon, the Emperor, and the Three Sovereigns.
These were the titles given to the five strongest figures in the current martial arts world.
The Demon referred to the Heavenly Demon, who was the leader of the Demonic Cult. The Emperor was the title for the Black Emperor, who was the leader of the Black Lotus. The Three Sovereigns were the three pillars supporting the orthodox faction.
The old man was one of the Three Sovereigns and also the current leader of the Moorim Alliance.
His name was Hyeon Hak. He was known as the Sword Sovereign and the greatest among the Three Sovereigns.
“Impressive indeed.”
On the surface, he seemed like just an ordinary old man. This, however, meant that he had reached the level of “returning to simplicity after mastering the essence”, which only those who had reached the Transcendent State could achieve.
Watching someone who had reached such a different realm stirred up a competitive spirit within him. This was a feeling he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
Maybe one day, I’ll get a chance to face him.
All masters were the same. Even if they pretended otherwise, deep down, they harbored a much stronger competitive spirit than others. He was certain that if someone with the right skills challenged him, he wouldn’t refuse.
While Baek Woo Jin was momentarily distracted, the martial arts competition continued steadily.
Baek Woo-jin smiled contentedly at the sight of Hwangbo Jun Geol, who was fourth in line, quickly taking down his opponent.
“Now that’s more like it.”
The giant figure who now never let his guard down for even a moment was like a painting in a completely different sense from what Baek Woo Jin had seen before.
“Haaat!”
The twelfth contestant Shin Ye Hwa also shattered her opponent’s weapon in a single strike and secured her victory.
“Huh?”
Baek Woo Jin’s face twisted as he belatedly realized her number. It dawned on him that at this rate, he would face her in the next match.
This is driving me crazy.
The idea of having to eliminate his childhood friend with his own hands—what a cruel twist of fate. His already complicated thoughts became even more tangled.
“Ugh, I’m in a foul mood. I need a drink.”
He had taken a drink under the pretense of a good reason. Meanwhile, Baek Woo Jin’s turn approached.
Standing in the middle of the wide arena, he met Gu Wang Soo’s eyes. Unlike before, the boy now held his gaze with more determination and didn’t look away. Baek Woo Jin couldn’t help but smile.
“Young master Baek, you must win!”
“Kyaaah!”
The women who had somehow become Baek Woo Jin’s personal cheering squad screamed in support.
“Kill him!”
“Take that guy down!”
“Gu Wang Soo, we’re counting on you!”
On the other hand, Gu Wang Soo had gained the fervent support of the male audience. With newfound allies backing him, his shoulders lifted slightly. Perhaps this was what they called unintended benefits.
“Begin the match!”
As soon as the referee stepped back, Gu Wang Soo charged forward.
“Hiyah!”
With a sharp shout, his sword sliced through the air.
I will win, no matter what!
Since his disgraceful defeat at Baek Woo Jin’s hands in the Grand Training Hall, Gu Wang Soo’s life has begun to veer off course from his original plans.
He had managed to join the group by flattering and pleading, but Namgong Soo’s gaze had grown cold, and even those in similar situations began to mock him.
Soon, all the first-year students started to look down on Gu Wang Soo. Some who were far below his level even challenged him to duels out of nowhere.
It’s all because of that Baek Woo Jin!
He blamed everything on Baek Woo Jin. When he first saw the match lineup, he was taken aback, but not anymore. Now he saw it as an opportunity.
This is my last chance.
If he could utterly crush Baek Woo Jin in front of the crowd, he could regain the status he had lost within Namgong Soo’s group.
Gu Wang Su’s blade which was honed through relentless determination after his defeat, surged toward Baek Woo Jin with fierce resolve.
“Oh…”
Baek Woo Jin was genuinely impressed. Gu Wang Soo’s strikes were far more refined than in their first duel and he was sweeping in from all directions.
His once straightforward sword path had been improved. It was now mixed with feints that made predicting the attack direction more difficult.
Though his overall growth was impressive, that was as far as it went.
“Your luck is just too bad, Gwang Soo-ah.”
“My name is… Gu Wang Soo, you bastard!”
The days of enduring insults as “Gwang Soo” were poured into his sword. His attacks began to speed up.
Even so, they still didn’t connect.
Why is this happening?
Baek Woo Jin moved effortlessly within the razor-thin space between striking and retreating. His every motion exuded a sense of absolute freedom.
How is he dodging so easily?
Gu Wang Soo gritted his teeth.
“Your luck is just too bad.”
With his current skills, even if it might have been difficult for him to reach the top eight, he could still aim for the top sixteen.
“Don’t worry, Gwang Soo-ah. I’ll carry your burden and climb up for you!”
He swung his arm which fluttered like it would be blown away by the wind. The sword in his hand severed all of Gu Wang Soo’s sword paths and advanced forward.
Gu Wang Soo was startled but quickly regained his composure. The incoming sword was not fast at all. He was confident he could avoid it using his movement techniques.
“I can dodge something like this…!”
Just as he was about to take his first step, the sword which had been approaching slowly suddenly accelerated. He tried to respond somehow, but it was in vain.
Before he knew it, Baek Woo Jin’s sword was touching his neck.
“Ah, aah…!”
It was just like before. He hadn’t even been able to react properly and had once again offered up his neck. As memories of the past began to resurface, Gu Wang Soo’s face turned pale.
“Well done, Gwang Soo-ah.”
“Ugh, urgh…!”
It was a perfect defeat, so perfect that he couldn’t even make an excuse. Faced with the same bright smile as back then, Gu Wang Soo could only hang his head.
“Baek Woo Jin wins!”
The cheers of the women followed.
***
When Baek Woo Jin first stepped onto the martial stage, many of the distinguished figures seated in the upper seats voiced their discontent.
“He lacks even the basics.”
“Drinking heavily before a match? How disgraceful.”
“Tsk, tsk!”
Even from a distance, these experts had no trouble recognizing Baek Woo Jin’s condition.
“To think such a person was born into the Shaanxi Baek clan.”
“A tiger father, yet a dog of a son…”
“Haha, the head of the Baek clan must be deeply disappointed.”
Within the Moorim Alliance, there were many who resented the Shaanxi Baek clan, since it aggressively expanded its influence and vied for a place among the Five Great Clans.
But while they eagerly took this opportunity to disparage the clan, Baek Young Hak kept his mouth shut and kept his gaze fixed on the stage to hide his discomfort.
At that moment, when even his father remained silent, someone stepped forward to defend Baek Woo Jin.
“Haha, my opinion differs a bit.”
“A-Alliance Leader?”
It was Hyeon Hak, the leader of the Moorim Alliance.
His gentle gaze seemed to have seen something in Baek Woo Jin that was entirely different from what others saw.
“Let’s wait and see.”
“Ahem…”
When the most skilled of them said that, all those who had been chatting excitedly at this moment had no choice but to shut their mouths.
And as the match progressed, the way people looked at Baek Woo Jin began to change.
Amid the sharp and relentless sword strikes, he moved with such ease that even the spectators felt their legs tremble yet his own expression remained perfectly calm.
Damn it, I heard he was a fool.
First the eldest son, now the second…, Baek Young Hak, you’re lucky with your sons!
Hearing the groans of those seething with jealousy, Baek Young Hak couldn’t hide his astonishment even as he smirked.
How could that boy…?
Though he was amazed by the achievement of his son which far exceeded his expectations, he frowned at the strange movements Baek Woo Jin displayed.
What on earth is that movement technique?
The martial arts of the Shaanxi Baek clan were solely obsessed with speed and their movement technique was no different. Instead of the graceful and curved movements Baek Woo Jin was now displaying, the clan’s techniques focused on fast and linear motions that dazzled the opponent’s sight.
Could it be that he had a fortuitous encounter?
Naturally, Baek Woo Jin’s disappearance came to mind. Perhaps during that month, he had obtained one of those legendary opportunities spoken of in the martial world like a romantic tale.
It doesn’t matter either way. But…
He desired it. The Baek clan’s martial arts were linear which made them fast but also easy to predict if the opponent could capture the movements with their eyes.
For years, the patriarchs of the Baek clan had focused solely on increasing speed to cover this weakness, but Baek Young Hak thought differently.
If one could master both this martial art and the White Flash Sword Technique at the same time …!
He believed that the key to overcoming the clan’s shortcomings was not to overshadow the weaknesses with greater strengths but to eliminate the weaknesses altogether.
In Baek Young Hak’s eyes, the martial arts Baek Woo Jin was now displaying appeared to be the very means to enhance the Baek clan’s techniques.
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