Jeonjong couldn't understand.
Why was Cheon Myeong speaking as if to shield Heo Cham, saying he wasn't a sinner?
As far as he knew, the one who had captured Heo Cham and thrown him in the prison was Cheon Myeong himself.
'The leader of the Chunguidae? What's that?'
That was also a question.
Chunguidae?
To his knowledge, no such unit existed within the Demonic Cult.
"Young Master... what on earth is the meaning of those words?"
"..."
"That sinner is the leader of the Chunguidae? What is the Chunguidae in the first place? I have never heard of a unit with such a name in our cult."
Like Jeonjong, the other people had the same question.
"The Chunguidae is a direct subordinate unit under my command."
"...!"
"The Leader has also already acknowledged the existence of the Chunguidae."
As Cheon Myeong said that, not only Jeonjong but also the other people's faces showed astonishment.
Cheon Myeong's direct subordinate unit. This was also surprising, but not to the point of being shocking.
However, the story that the Leader had acknowledged the existence of that unit was certainly shocking enough.
'A unit acknowledged... by the Leader?'
To think that the Leader would acknowledge a unit that moves under the command of someone other than himself.
Jeonjong had never even heard of such a case, so he couldn't help but be surprised.
'Impossible!'
That's why the leaders of the main headquarters, while pretending to be under the Leader's command, were mostly secretly lining up with those who could bring them profit, weren't they?
He himself had intended to stick behind Cheon Myeong on this occasion to secure a position.
"..."
Cheon Myeong's direct subordinate unit, the Chunguidae, and its leader is Heo Cham?
Jeonjong's mind couldn't help but become so complicated that he couldn't think rationally.
"Jeonjong."
"...!"
At that moment, Cheon Myeong's voice called him.
At that, Jeonjong barely came to his senses and looked at Cheon Myeong.
"Is it true that you committed a foul in the past duel with Leader Heo?"
"Wh-what are you talking about! I have committed no such foul!"
"Then prove that fact."
"...!"
Why on earth did he have to prove it?
As Cheon Myeong spoke in such a way, Jeonjong was momentarily dumbfounded.
"Isn't the one who has to prove it that person, not me?"
"..."
"I don't know why an innocent person like me has to prove it, nor do I know how to prove it."
"Then I'll tell you the method."
The moment Cheon Myeong said that with a meaningful smile, Jeonjong felt an unknown anxiety.
"The method is simple. You and Leader Heo just need to have a duel again in this place."
"...!"
"That side is claiming you committed a foul, and this side is claiming you didn't. To resolve this, you just need to prove that you can win a duel against Leader Heo without committing a foul."
"Uh..."
At first glance, those words sounded like a way to prove his innocence.
However, there was Heo Cham who had been proposing a duel from the start, and Cheon Myeong who had suddenly appeared and was pushing the atmosphere in that direction.
Jeonjong somehow felt a nagging feeling about readily accepting that proposal.
"Or, are you perhaps not confident?"
"...!"
"If you're afraid of losing the duel against Leader Heo, then I can understand."
As Cheon Myeong spoke in a taunting tone, Jeonjong couldn't help but get angry.
To speak in such a way in a place where all the members of the Eighth Grinding Squad were watching.
This was a matter of pride as a leader and as a martial artist.
"...Young Master. If I happen to cut off Heo Cham's head in that duel, will you be alright with that?"
"I don't mind."
"...Understood."
He couldn't just stand by after being made to look so ridiculous.
As Cheon Myeong said, if he won the duel against Heo Cham, everything would be neatly resolved.
Then, he would be the one standing superior to Cheon Myeong, and Cheon Myeong would no longer be able to look at him in that way.
'Cheon Myeong... I will make you feel an indelible humiliation in front of everyone.'
The thought of sticking behind him had vanished.
Instead, Jeonjong's mind was filled only with the thought of making Cheon Myeong feel the same humiliation he was feeling now.
"I will have the duel."
All he had to do was win. If he won, everything would turn in his favor.
Jeonjong thought so and decided to accept the duel.
"...It's decided."
Cheon Myeong muttered, looking at Jeonjong.
There could only be one person who could laugh in the end.
Who that would be would be decided in the upcoming duel.
***
In the center of the training ground, Heo Cham and Jeonjong stood facing each other for the duel.
And surrounding them in a circle were the members of the Eighth Grinding Squad.
They were the observers and the audience of this duel.
"..."
Jeonjong glared at Heo Cham, who was right in front of him, without a word.
In the end, the situation had turned out as the man wished, but on second thought, Jeonjong felt this situation wasn't so bad for him.
'I might have lost back then.'
But not now.
Comparing his past self to his present self, the difference was like that between heaven and earth.
Since then, he had become much stronger with the elixirs and sword techniques he had received from the cult.
"That left arm."
"..."
"Didn't you say it trembled so much you couldn't even hold a weapon?"
The corners of Jeonjong's mouth went up as he asked Heo Cham.
"I hope you don't make excuses later, saying you lost the duel because of that left arm."
"Don't worry."
"...?"
"It's fine now."
Does that mean his left arm has returned to normal?
Although he didn't show it on the outside, hearing those words, Jeonjong felt a sense of disappointment inwardly.
'Is that why you so confidently asked for a duel?'
Well, it didn't matter anyway.
Even if Heo Cham could use both his hands, the fact that he was superior did not change.
Jeonjong thought so and drew his sword.
"Draw."
"..."
"I'll wait that much."
Jeonjong continued to maintain his arrogant attitude.
Heo Cham stared at him silently.
Soon, Heo Cham's gaze turned to Cheon Myeong, who was mixed in with the crowd.
'This opportunity was created by Young Master Cheon Myeong.'
From healing his left arm to training him all this time.
And if Cheon Myeong hadn't intervened just now, this duel itself might not have even happened.
'I absolutely cannot lose.'
Finishing his own revenge was important, but for the sake of Cheon Myeong who had believed in him until now, Heo Cham thought he absolutely could not lose this duel.
Swish-
Heo Cham drew the Zanbato he was carrying on his back with his right hand.
At that moment, a wind rose within the training ground.
Although it was quite subtle, it was enough for the people near Heo Cham to feel it.
"...!"
The same went for Jeonjong.
A sharp energy that touched his skin.
He had only drawn the Zanbato, but somehow Heo Cham's appearance seemed quite different.
'This feeling... what is it?'
Could it be that he was feeling fear towards Heo Cham?
Jeonjong had that thought for a moment, but he shook his head to the side as if to strongly deny it.
"What's wrong?"
At that moment, a voice came from the front.
This time, it was Heo Cham who was speaking to Jeonjong with a light smile.
"Are you perhaps scared of me?"
"...!"
As Heo Cham provoked him in such a way, a subtle change occurred in Jeonjong's expression.
"Before the duel begins, provoke him first."
Cheon Myeong's advice to him.
Heo Cham was putting that advice into practice.
"Swear at him or something to get him riled up, no matter what."
Looking at him, it didn't seem like he was riled up yet.
In the end, to practice Cheon Myeong's advice, Heo Cham continued to speak with an even more arrogant smile.
"Come to think of it, you were wagging your tail trying to get into Young Master Cheon Myeong's good graces, weren't you?"
"What...?"
"But what to do? In the end, the one who was chosen was me, not you."
"...!"
"You didn't seriously think a guy like you could be chosen by Young Master Cheon Myeong, did you?"
Grind-
Jeonjong's face turned several times redder than before.
A face that could be called the very image of a ferocious demon.
Seeing that reaction, it seemed no further provocation was needed.
"I'll kill you!"
Jeonjong shouted and rushed towards Heo Cham.
'Success.'
It seemed he had angered Jeonjong more than necessary.
But since he had succeeded in provoking him, Heo Cham recalled Cheon Myeong's next piece of advice.
"If he gets angry, he'll rush at you right away."
That was right. Even now, he was rushing at him with a terrifying face.
"Between the neck and the chest. That's the first place he'll aim for."
Jeonjong had already come right in front of Heo Cham.
Simultaneously, Jeonjong quickly thrust the sword he had held to the side.
The place the sword was aimed at was a perfect match with the spot Cheon Myeong had told Heo Cham about in advance.
Clang-!
"...!"
Jeonjong looked at the Zanbato blocking his path with wide eyes.
His sword strike, perfectly blocked by Zanbato.
As Heo Cham blocked his thrust so leisurely, Jeonjong couldn't help but be flustered inside.
'He... blocked my first attack?'
He had thrust with the intention of ending everything with this one move.
His fast sword must have become several times faster compared to the past.
But Heo Cham had blocked his fast sword so simply, not with a regular sword, but with that giant Zanbato.
'This can't be... I've become much stronger than back then!'
Jeonjong put some distance between himself and Heo Cham.
Heo Cham watched him silently from behind the Zanbato.
"If you successfully block the attack, he will put some distance between you."
Squeeze-
"After that, he will continue with a series of fast sword attacks. Before that, break through and finish him."
'Understood, Young Master!'
Heo Cham answered inwardly and rushed to Jeonjong.
"...!"
Seeing Heo Cham rushing at him, Jeonjong hurriedly moved his sword.
This time too, it was a thrusting sword strike, but compared to the first move, it was much faster and the sword path was more varied.
However, Heo Cham continued to move forward, dodging Jeonjong's sword with minimal movements like an eel.
'Compared to the Young Master's sword, it looks like it's standing still.'
It wasn't that Jeonjong's sword was actually like that, but since his eyes had already grown accustomed to Cheon Myeong's sword, it was true that Jeonjong's fast sword seemed slow.
The training he had done every day for the past half-month.
In that training, Heo Cham had experienced hell.
"Let's just watch with your eyes until you get used to the fast sword."
Cheon Myeong had said that and made him stand against a wall.
After that, a one-sided attack followed.
Every time the sword Cheon Myeong swung narrowly grazed past his body, Heo Cham had felt the fear of death.
The result of that was this very form.
Only after dying and coming back to life as many times as Cheon Myeong had swung his sword could Heo Cham stand in this place now.
'H-how can he... my fast sword like this...'
For Jeonjong, who knew nothing of Heo Cham's circumstances, this situation was completely incomprehensible.
To think he was dodging all of his sword strikes just by moving his body.
That appearance was to the point where it seemed he had no fear of the sword at all.
Cheok-
At that moment, Heo Cham set the Zanbato he was holding with his right hand to the side.
And then.
He swung it towards Jeonjong's neck with tremendous force.
"...!"
Jeonjong, who belatedly discovered the Zanbato approaching him.
However, it was already too late to dodge.
"...What are you going to do?"
"..."
"Are you going to say you surrender this time too?"
As if it would touch, as if it wouldn't.
Heo Cham asked, aiming the Zanbato at the vicinity of Jeonjong's neck.
(End of Chapter)