Let’s See What You’ve Got (2)

When day broke, the group arrived at the arena right on time.

Dong-gu seemed to have difficulty moving and was supporting himself with crutches, leaning with one hand on Yu Seol’s shoulder.

“Thanks, Seol. You didn’t have to go this far.”

“Don’t be in pain anymore. I prepared a gift for you, mister.”

“What gift?”

Yu Seol gave no answer. She silently helped him take his seat.

At that moment, Dong-gu, his face wrapped in bandages, broke into a satisfied smile.

“I can see the elder over there. Come on, let’s cheer together.”

Each bracket had four selected contestants.

Yang family’s top warrior, Yang So-cheon. A warrior of Yang Family Pear Blossom Spear, he was the favorite among Henan residents, since his family had produced the previous tournament winner.

The winner of the second bracket was the youngest participant named Tae-san.

Though he looked like a frail child, martial artists predicted him as a contender, likely because they sensed his identity as a Yin Monster.

The third bracket featured Ak Un-pyeong of the Shandong Ak family, a master of the Ak Family Spear Technique. The Ak family, famed for producing the hero Ak Bi, enjoyed great popularity among officials.

And one more: an inheritor of the Dragon Slaying spear method from Zhejiang Province was supposed to be present, but for some reason his figure was nowhere to be seen.

“Why isn’t participant number thirty-six showing up?”

“What’s the point? How long do we have to wait?”

The crowd’s jeers continued; the contest was being repeatedly delayed because of that person.

The referee, looking embarrassed, tried to calm them down.

“Now, now everyone! There are reasons for this, please wait a moment. He’ll arrive soon!”

The crowd’s anger did not abate; in fact, his excuse only fanned their rage.

“At least tell us the reason!”

“What on earth is going on!?”

“Do you think we’re people with nothing better to do?”

People tend to get brave in numbers.

Though stewards were posted to maintain order, the fervor only intensified.

At last, the referee, looking put upon, explained the background.

“Now, last night participant number thirty-six was attacked by assailants and suffered internal injuries; the treatment is just taking a bit longer. He’ll arrive shortly, I assure you.”

An attack by assailants on someone strong enough to be a tournament favorite?

It was nothing short of an absurd excuse.

No one wanted to believe him, except for a few martial artists at yesterday’s arena who had identified the Yin Monster.

“What kind of bullshit is that!”

“Attack my foot, do you think we’re fools?”

“Are you kidding right now, damn it!?”

Chaos was rising when suddenly—

A lone figure shot toward the arena like an arrow from somewhere.

A lightning-like movement. The well-known participant number thirty-six had finally arrived.

But his appearance was somehow different.

The face that had been smirking was now swollen and puffy, so much so that smiling seemed impossible.

Moreover, his left foot seemed injured, making his stance awkward.

“…W-what is this?”

“Where did you get beaten like that?”

Everyone tilted their heads in bewilderment.

All but one.

Waiting there, Yu Jinsan glared toward a spot in the stands. There sat the granddaughter demurely beside Dong-gu.

‘…Could it be her?’

If not the notorious Yin Monster, who else could have beaten him senseless in secret like that?

But Yu Seol merely shrugged, as if oblivious, and murmured a soft retort.

Having read the granddaughter’s lip movements, Yu Jinsan sighed.

So she’d play innocent and deny it.

No matter the opponent, he wanted to fight fairly in the arena; that was the point of entering the contest.

Unexpectedly, a blemish had appeared, so he couldn’t help but feel regret.

Dong-gu, as if understanding Yu Jinsan’s feelings, muttered with a worried look.

“Why did you do that, Seol? Grandpa will be angry if he finds out.”

“…How did you know it was me?”

“If not you, who else could have turned him into such a mess?”

Yu Seol had waited staring at the inn window until late into the night, waiting for the Blue Dragon Troops member disguised as number thirty-six to step outside.

Coincidentally, his prediction was right—she followed him to a deserted spot and beat him to a pulp.

“Aren’t you upset, mister?”

“Hmm. Well, yes, but it’s not the way Grandpa would have wanted.”

There was a resolute conviction in Yu Seol’s eyes about her actions.

“…Today Grandpa would have almost died. If I had left him be…”

Dong-gu had also heard what happened the previous night.

That the thirty-sixth participant had entered with malicious intent.

But the Yu Jinsan he knew was also a powerhouse none would dare challenge.

Just how terrifying must number thirty-six be for him to say such things?

“You did it to save Grandpa?”

“Yes. I had no choice. I thought he wouldn’t show up today…”

Yu Seol clicked her tongue, as if regretting that it had ended so conveniently.

It seemed she had intended to make sure he never appeared again.

That he still came despite being treated like that meant he was determined to accept death to complete his task.

And knowing the purpose, Dong-gu no longer scolded Yu Seol.

Whatever her reasons, they would be revealed in time.

The drum sounded as two men stepped forward to face each other.

Cheers began to echo from the stands in support of them.

“Come on, kid!”

“You have to win, Yang So-cheon! I’ve bet on you!!”

“Protect the pride of the Evil faction, great hero!!”

Among the martial artists who had deduced Tae-san’s identity as the Yang Monster were also figures sympathetic to the Evil factions.

They cheered for Yu Jinsan as if tearing their throats.

But their voices did not reach the ears of the two combatants.

As the saying goes, a warrior recognizes another warrior.

The two contestants focused all their attention on sizing each other up.

‘This won’t be as easy as I thought.’

It was the first thought that crossed Yu Jinsan’s mind as he faced Yang So-cheon.

He was of a completely different caliber than the opponents he’d faced so far.

A deeply set gaze and a posture showing not the slightest flaw.

Though his qi was sealed internally and his level couldn’t be read, at a glance he seemed like a peak warrior.

Then the bell signaling the start of the match rang.

Ziiing-!!!

The clash did not begin immediately.

The two, gripping their wooden spears, slowly circled, continuing their probing battle.

Seeing no opening, neither could easily take the initiative.

Then Yang So-cheon spoke quietly.

“While investigating yesterday I discovered your identity as the Yang Monster. They say you’re quite famous in Shaanxi.”

“What do you want to say with all this?”

“I hope you won’t feel slighted even if I win.”

Yu Jinsan was not clueless about his intention.

He was likely worried that, depending on the duel’s outcome, the Yin Monster might come to his clan and cause trouble.

It was absurd, yet not surprising—the Yin Yang Twin Monsters’ notoriety had been greatly exaggerated among the Justice factions.

“I’m not that petty; give it your best.”

“Thank you.”

This match would determine which spear-master family was supreme.

Inwardly, he longed more to defeat the Yang family than to win the tournament; he wanted to do it with his own hand as head of the You family.

‘No need to drag this out.’

Yu Jinsan silently shifted his grip on the wooden spear.

He purposely exposed a flaw to lure his opponent’s attack.

As if waiting for the bait, Yang So-cheon’s spear dove toward his side.

In the blink of an eye, his wooden spear surged close like lightning.

Having anticipated it, Yu Jinsan calmly executed his technique.

Yu family Wind-Slaying Spear, 14th form Branch in Wind. A technique that absorbs an opponent’s attack and returns it.

His bustling wooden spear wrapped around Yang So-cheon’s shaft and began to press in.

Grgrgrk-!!

With the sound of wood being cleaved, Yang So-cheon’s wooden spear lost direction and trembled.

At that same moment, it was poised to strike at his wrist.

An ordinary opponent would have been caught, but Yang So-cheon was no pushover.

In a split second he switched the hand gripping the shaft to his left, while his right hand struck his own shaft.

He used the rebound to shake off his foe.

Thud-!

Yu Jinsan took two steps back and regained his stance.

No sooner had he done so than Yang So-cheon’s attack resumed.

This attack felt somewhat different.

The spear tip split into two and approached at a shifted angle.

But that wasn’t the end—the tip changed unpredictably and split into four.

‘I fell for that technique last time. But not this time!’

Yu Jinsan stood his ground rather than dodge—he’d already thought of a counter.

Yu Family Wind Slaying Spear, 11th form: Attack on Giant. A whirl-infused spear tip advanced to intercept the opponent’s technique.

Yang So-cheon looked visibly shocked that his attack had been so effortlessly thwarted.

He withdrew his spear, preparing the next move.

But Yu Jinsan’s motion was one step quicker.

A flash of light blinked, and before he knew it, it had touched Yang So-cheon’s shoulder.

It was One-Light Extreme Flash, the fastest form of the Yu family Wind-Slaying Spear.

In a real fight it would have pierced the shoulder, but Yu Jinsan tempered his power, leaving Yang So-cheon only slightly injured.

He couldn’t let the hard-won advantage slip.

Yang So-cheon tried to create distance, but Yu Jinsan wouldn’t relent.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

His feet danced dizzyingly, tenaciously closing in—his family’s Immortal Wind Step.

At the same time his wooden spear began to slash the front. Yang So-cheon couldn’t recover, overwhelmed by the indiscriminate flurry of Salpung-spear techniques.

Not only that: each time he swung the spear, a deathly wind hissed eerily, disorienting the eyes.

‘…What kind of spear art is this?’

He was thrown into utter confusion.

Every form of his Pear Blossom Spear was being countered as he executed it.

Their movements were so fast that most of the audience couldn’t properly follow.

Only the versed stewards and martial folk kept exclaiming in admiration.

“The Pear Blossom Spear being outmatched?”

“Whatever it is, it’s truly incredible, isn’t it?”

The small-framed Yu Jinsan darting like lightning resembled a goblin.

It was at the height of the crowd’s astonishment—

Kwakwak-!!

Two short impacts rang out.

With that, Yu Jinsan and Yang So-cheon separated.

At last the victor and loser had been decided.

It ended so quickly that very few had actually seen the final exchange.

Yang So-cheon, spear held horizontally, was the first to speak.

“That was splendid spearsmanship.”

It was praise coming directly from the Yang family’s top expert.

Yu Jinsan’s small hand trembled.

At last the lingering regret of his life was resolved.

He was overjoyed, but how could he show it?

For the sake of dignity, he put on as composed a smile as he could.

“Seems you take after your father—quite a manly fellow.”

Yang So-cheon lifted his head with a puzzled expression.

“Do you know my father?”

“Why wouldn’t I? He handed me my first defeat in life. Without that experience, how could I have beaten you like this?”

At that moment, a small smile spread across Yang So-cheon’s face—he must have judged it not a shameful loss.

“Still, the result wouldn’t have changed.”

“Thanks for saying that. It was a fine match.”

Facing each other, the two simultaneously offered their salute and congratulations.

As if on cue, the stands erupted in enthusiastic cheers.

“You both were truly the best!”

“Waaaaah!!”

Yu Jinsan’s heart pounded as if it might burst.

The World’s Best Spear Technique Tournament—grand in name, but compared to the martial contests held by the murim world, its level was decidedly lower; even the Nine Great Sects wouldn’t bother participating.

Even so, this tournament held special meaning for him.

To defeat the Yang family in a spear contest was the utmost honor for the head of a spear-master house.

‘Now I might die and still have the face to look my ancestors in the eye.’

Yu Jinsan’s head unconsciously turned to the stands.

At that moment, he couldn’t help but snort with laughter—he couldn’t hold it in.

Because he saw the granddaughter among the crowd, shaking her hips and dancing.