Chapter 154 – The Orthodox Alliance (2)

When Sun-woo received a new mission, he was in the middle of struggling over the phone with Director Albert.

It was because of news that Chairman Douglas had disappeared.

At the story that Chairman Douglas had already semi-retired and left to handle personal matters, Sun-woo couldn’t help but express disappointment, while Director Albert held firm with a triumphant voice.

Meanwhile, Sun-woo’s current mission was a request that came through a summoner calling stone from Zhuge Hyeon.

Sun-woo, who accepted immediately, was soon dimension-traveled to Zhuge Hyeon’s office inside the Orthodox Alliance.

After meeting Zhuge Hyeon and Nanseol there and exchanging greetings, the three people came out to this plaza in front of the Orthodox Alliance.

The plaza in front of the Orthodox Alliance was an enormously large square showing China’s grandeur, and that plaza was filled with people.

Sun-woo showed a slightly surprised expression at the sight that appeared to be thousands of people at a glance.

Numerous tents were spread around the plaza, and flags of various sects fluttering while leaning on those tents was quite a spectacle.

Several sparring platforms were erected in the plaza.

In the center of the plaza, a sparring platform much larger than other platforms was positioned high up.

It seemed to be a platform used for conducting events.

Since the existing events seemed to have ended, martial artists were coming out on that platform and having matches.

The martial arts tournament was originally a kind of unity event for the Orthodox Alliance’s solidarity and to recruit new martial artists belonging to the Orthodox Alliance.

With the war against the Demonic Cult starting to intensify, even without the reason of removing brainwashed people, there was a need to hold a martial arts tournament for unity.

“So people gathered that way, and I understand up to calling me to remove brainwashed people. But I don’t understand why I have to go up there.”

Sun-woo asked Zhuge Hyeon as if genuinely puzzled.

Before he knew it, Seolmyo had left Sun-woo’s shoulder and climbed onto Nanseol’s hand.

Seeing how that creature, which fought like a top-tier expert, was acting cute like that made him feel quite annoyed.

Still, since its actions were cute, it was hard to get angry.

“Well, the work you did while bringing tribute became quite a big rumor. I and several summoners belonging to the alliance stepped forward and vouched for you, but… stories went around to confirm your proper skill.”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be talked about in the style of the alliance’s secret warrior?”

Secret warrior.

It was a name that somehow gave him goosebumps, but it was definitely a convenient way to operate.

“Your skill was shown too much to remain as a secret warrior. A secret warrior is only a secret warrior when their identity isn’t exposed. If you gain fame like now, it’s useless.”

The incident at the Orthodox Alliance branch had gone beyond rumors to attract the attention of the entire Orthodox Alliance.

The Demonic Cult’s Heaven and Earth Net that appeared beyond the front lines.

And the secret warrior who broke through the Heaven and Earth Net and saved the Orthodox Alliance’s warriors.

Plus the Tang Clan’s Poison Man who appeared after decades and the flying sword that defeated him.

The Orthodox Alliance was now greatly stirred up over the appearance of a new expert.

“We also need to raise morale that fell from the Demonic Cult’s attacks, and there’s a need to raise the standing of me or other summoners within the alliance, so I accepted it. Anyway, it’ll be easier for you to organize brainwashed people if you’re in a public position.”

It wasn’t easy to refuse at the story he poured out candidly.

“People might be disappointed because it’s not the skill they expected.”

“Well, seeing your skill when you defeated Tang Pyeong, you seemed to surpass the absolute level. You don’t seem to be at the super absolute level yet, but even that much is sufficient. I heard you have other abilities too, but you won’t be able to show those here.”

Sun-woo nodded at Zhuge Hyeon’s words. If there was no other way, he had to do it. However.

“There will be compensation, right?”

Zhuge Hyeon couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh at Sun-woo’s words.

“Is it because you’re from another world? I’ve seen it before, but you’re more like a mercenary or merchant than a martial artist.”

Zhuge Hyeon tried to subtly deflect the topic with a smiling face, but Sun-woo continued looking at him.

“Sigh, alright, alright. I’ll apply to give additional rewards when a new position is bestowed. Since it’s no longer decided by me alone, you might not like it.”

It felt like he was taking credit for something he should give originally, but Sun-woo decided to stop here.

Because he clearly felt that Zhuge Hyeon was doing his best with limited resources.

Zhuge Hyeon made Sun-woo and Nanseol wait, then approached the central sparring platform. As Zhuge Hyeon walked through the central passage, martial artists around him came forward to greet him.

In this world where martial arts were absolute, it showed how much people’s recognition he received.

After he left, Sun-woo gave Nanseol congratulations.

“I was suddenly dragged out so I couldn’t congratulate you. Congratulations. You’ve risen another level.”

Nanseol, who had been playing with Seolmyo, made an embarrassed expression at Sun-woo’s story.

“It’s thanks to the inner core you gave me. The martial uncles in the Orthodox Alliance stood guard, so I could barely convert it all into internal energy.”

At Nanseol’s words, Sun-woo scratched his head, recalling the memory of eating the inner core alone and rolling on the floor.

Nanseol had now entered a complete absolute expert state where internal energy couldn’t be felt outwardly at all.

Only martial artists who entered super absolute could barely glimpse her level.

Though rumors hadn’t spread outside yet, Mount Hua was very excited about the birth of the greatest female expert in the sect’s history.

“But how did you know? Even the alliance’s senior elders at the absolute upper level couldn’t notice well. Don’t tell me?”

Nanseol looked at Sun-woo with round eyes.

“I was lucky enough to cross the wall.”

Nanseol’s expression became bright, then changed to a gloomy expression again.

“I thought I finally caught up. You’ve gone far ahead again.”

Nanseol put down her belief in growing without external help and accepted the inner core to not fall behind Sun-woo.

But even her efforts couldn’t catch up with Sun-woo’s growth speed.

“Someone listening would curse you. The next Sword Empress being gloomy about her own skill.”

Of course it was true, but it was words that didn’t suit Sun-woo to say.

Nanseol glared at him slightly.

While the two talked, the friendly match on stage had ended, and before they knew it, another martial artist had climbed up and was shouting toward the people.

“Thank you for confirming the two people’s excellent skills. The distinguished elders among the guests will confirm their skills well and prepare good positions.”

The martial artists who had been sparring until just before seemed to be people who became Orthodox Alliance warriors this time. The Orthodox Alliance seemed to plan to verify skills publicly and seat them in appropriate positions.

“If it’s this way, it’s fairly fair.”

Though there was a purpose to raise morale, Sun-woo also nodded at the fairly fair-looking method.

“But if they arrange all positions like that, it’ll be a serious waste of time.”

“Honestly, things like this don’t happen often. If you’re from a known sect or it’s not a time like now, it’s almost decided internally and you go up. I also struggled for a while because I was decided as belonging to the inner core.”

Nanseol, who wanted the battlefield, had opposed the alliance’s decision to place her in the rear despite being a core position.

At Nanseol’s words, who suffered for the opposite reason, Sun-woo let out a bitter smile. As expected, places where people gathered weren’t much different.

“The next order is the time you’ve all been waiting for. The protagonist of rumors that swept through the alliance. The swordsman of the east. Black Wind (黑風) Min Sun-woo.”

It was an introduction like a medicine peddler.

When he spread his hand and pointed at Sun-woo, all gathered people made a fuss to see Sun-woo.

“What kind of nickname is Black Wind anyway. I’ll be back.”

After sighing, Sun-woo walked toward the sparring platform.

While seeing him off, Nanseol muttered softly.

“I recommended that epithet. Does he not like it?”

Since an epithet was needed to introduce him on the sparring platform, it was an epithet Nanseol hastily recommended.

She made the epithet thinking of his black coat and black pants, his black hair, and the sandstorm that swept the desert.

But seeing Sun-woo didn’t seem to like it much, Nanseol became dejected.

Sun-woo walked slowly toward the sparring platform.

Though people looked at Sun-woo with curious eyes, Sun-woo was more concerned about the auras felt from various places.

As expected, it wasn’t a place to take lightly. Moreover, the auras shooting at him didn’t feel like they welcomed him.

However, Sun-woo had already surpassed a level where he’d be shaken by such auras.

Sun-woo calmly climbed onto the sparring platform.

When Sun-woo’s appearance became visible, the commotion below the stage grew louder. Because Sun-woo’s clothing and appearance were very unfamiliar.

“Wonder if it’ll be okay.”

“It’s fine. If he’s not going to change into our side’s clothes anyway, it’s better to make them familiar this way.”

At Sun-woo’s muttering, the martial artist introducing him on the sparring platform winked one eye.

“First time seeing you. Still, I’ve heard a lot from King Thief. I’m Tongue Sword (舌劍) Bang Muin.”

A sword made of tongue—it was an epithet that perfectly suited this person.

Unexpectedly, the host was also a summoner. At the unexpected meeting, Sun-woo tilted his head.

Because the man before his eyes was merely first-rate.

“Everyone became summoners because they have their own specialties, so no need to look with such disbelieving eyes. More than that, let’s proceed with the event first.”

After whispering softly to Sun-woo, he shouted loudly toward the people again.

His shouting voice, by volume alone, was almost like an absolute expert.

“Now, now. Stop the commotion! He is a warrior from a traditional sect in the east, and his background has been confirmed and vouched for by Strategist Zhuge and the distinguished elders. However, we must bestow a new position, so we wish to confirm his skill.”

Sun-woo, who hadn’t even heard his traditional sect’s name yet, just watched his words.

“Then, to see his skill, our Orthodox Alliance’s absolute warrior Master Yuho Sword will personally…”

“Wait!”

While Tongue Sword was passionately speaking, someone suddenly interrupted his words and jumped onto the sparring platform.

The middle-aged man who climbed the high platform over 3 meters as if flying had graying beard and hair. When he climbed up, people who had been quiet started murmuring loudly again.

“It’s Absolute Leaf Hand!”

“Did the Tang Clan step forward?”

After climbing onto the stage, he cupped his fists in all directions and shouted loudly.

“I apologize to all fellow Taoists. I am Absolute Leaf Hand Tang Chan. I climbed here in personal capacity to resolve the injustice of our Tang Clan being investigated for the recent incident. Tang Pyeong attacked the strategist and people after falling into qi deviation, but he used ordinary poison techniques, never the forbidden martial arts. I climbed here to prove that.”

The Tang Clan seemed to plan to handle this incident as Tang Pyeong going on a rampage after falling into qi deviation.

Absolute Leaf Hand seemed to plan to defeat Sun-woo and inform that Tang Pyeong, whom Sun-woo defeated, wasn’t that terrifying Poison Man.

If Tang Chan defeated Sun-woo, how could Sun-woo have defeated Tang Pyeong who turned into the Poison Man!

There was a high possibility that Tang Chan didn’t come out in personal capacity either.

Of course, it was quite a forced story, but it might reveal the Tang Clan’s difficulties.

However, unlike Yuho Sword at the beginning of absolute level, Tang Chan being a mature absolute expert beyond Tang Pyeong was the problem.

“Tsk tsk. The Tang Clan was desperate. He’s a skilled person famous within the alliance with rough hands. You can refuse.”

“It’s fine. It doesn’t matter.”

When Sun-woo shook his head, Tongue Sword looked at him with a puzzled expression, then nodded.

Soon after, Tongue Sword asked for understanding from Yuho Sword who had been waiting below the stage, received permission from the distinguished elders, then shouted to the people.

“Then accepting Master Tang Chan’s request, we’ll start the match between Hero Sun-woo and Master Tang Chan.”

Hearing the people’s cheers, Tongue Sword went down, leaving only two people on the sparring platform.

“I’m sorry. I know breaking up newcomers like this isn’t right, but I can’t watch the Tang Clan go wrong.”

Absolute Leaf Hand lowered his hands with an apologetic expression.

However, unlike his expression, the small throwing weapons in his hands were gleaming green, clearly coated with deadly poison.

And the next moment.

Absolute Leaf Hand’s hand was raised, and soon a loud sound echoed.

Bang!

Everyone watching the stage with expectant eyes made bewildered expressions.

Because Sun-woo stood alone with his fist extended in the spot where Absolute Leaf Hand had been standing.

“It’s over, right?”

At Sun-woo’s words spoken nonchalantly, the plaza fell into silence.