Chapter 84 : Chapter 84

Chapter 84 Life-and-Death Tournament (7)

“Hey, you bastard! Get in line! I was here first, so where do you think you’re squeezing in?”

“Huh. What are you talking about? I’ve been waiting over there since dawn today.”

“I came here yesterday evening, you prick. Where do you get off sleeping comfortably and then cutting in line?”

“Look at this guy. Are you trying to pick a fight with me now? Have you said enough?”

Warriors filling the surroundings were causing a commotion, pushing each other to enter the outer court even a moment sooner.

Ban Cheol-hwi, who was staring blankly at the scene, turned his head.

“……What kind of mess is this.”

Ban Cheol-hwi grimaced with a disgusted expression.

“It is because from the main rounds onward, regular warriors are allowed to spectate.”

Ice Rakshasa spoke as she looked at the warriors making a fuss while filling the front of the outer court main gate.

“Since it is a match everyone has been waiting for, they are trying to watch from as close as possible.”

With the appearance of the Five Evils, who possessed outstanding skills, and the addition of Jaun as a special highlight, this Life-and-Death Tournament was creating a massive fervor that had not been seen before.

The eyes of the Sado Alliance warriors, filling the entrance of the outer court, were full of excitement.

In the midst of the tremendous heat, the voices of the warriors shouting at the top of their lungs were so loud that even the voice of a companion right next to them could not be heard well.

“It is nothing short of a mess. A complete mess. The entire city in this neighborhood is a mess.”

Ban Cheol-hwi let out a deep sigh.

The argument, which had been gradually worsening, soon developed into a fistfight. Seeing the front of the outer court in a state of chaos, Ban Cheol-hwi shook his head.

“Is there no other entrance?”

“There is a back gate that only participants can pass through. Though we have to go around a bit.”

“……Let us move that way.”

Jaun, who grabbed Ban Cheol-hwi’s wrist as he was about to step away, fell into thought for a moment and then wore a grin.

“Let’s enter through here.”

“Eh? You want to break through here? Why bother?”

“If I’m going to do it anyway, I should play the role of a clown properly. The Alliance Leader said she was bored, didn't she?”

Jaun shrugged his shoulders once and began to walk slowly toward the outer court.

Ice Rakshasa, who had been watching Jaun’s back, quickly approached and blocked Jaun’s path with her body.

“Wait. If you are going to enter through here, come behind me, Young Hero.”

Ice Rakshasa, hiding Jaun behind her body, turned toward the outer court.

Then, taking a deep breath, Ice Rakshasa shouted toward the front with her internal energy.

“Everyone, stop!”

HUMMM

At the shout imbued with Ice Rakshasa’s massive energy, silence instantly fell upon the outer court.

The warriors who were fighting each other stopped their hands, and all their gazes were focused on Ice Rakshasa.

“I-Ice Rakshasa.”

“Oh? If Ice Rakshasa is here, then…… Over there! Over there!”

In an instant, the warriors let out a massive roar.

Meanwhile, Jaun stepped out from beside Ice Rakshasa and waved his hand toward the surroundings.

“WAAAAAA!”

“Heartless Soul Stealer!”

“WOOOOOOO!”

A group of bald warriors with massive physiques responded to Jaun’s hand wave with immense cheers.

The hulking men, who were cheering toward Jaun while waving their muscle-packed arms, soon brought their mouths to each other’s ears.

“Is that child the Heartless Soul Stealer?”

“That must be him. That attractive face and provocative physique. I heard he and Dong-chun were a couple who have seen everything there is to see, right?”

“That bastard Dong-chun. How did he seduce a kid like that? But why did he do such a horrific thing in the last match……”

“I heard he is trampling over all his past lovers to climb up and become the Alliance Leader’s concubine.”

“……At such a young age, he is quite the ambitious one.”

The hulking men whispered and pointed at Jaun.

“Then, does he intend to take away the…… precious souls of all the men he meets in the future?”

“Would the Heartless Soul Stealer be called the Heartless Soul Stealer for nothing? Since he cleared out even his past lover so terrifyingly. He will eliminate all competitors.”

“No, but wait…… Isn't his taste toward men? Why is he suddenly interested in the Alliance Leader?”

“He must have learned the ways of the world as he grew up. The truth that power is more important than love.”

“……He is charming.”

Ice Rakshasa, who was looking at the hulking men whispering with their faces close together, turned back to Jaun with blank eyes.

“That…… Are they talking about Young Hero Jaun right now?”

“It seems so. I think I even got a title.”

Jaun scratched his head.

“Those filthy bastards…… How dare they say such nonsensical bullshit about someone……!”

“It’s fine as long as I’ve drawn attention. Though I didn’t expect such rumors to spread. Well, it’s better the more people watch. In the end, what I’ll show on the tournament grounds is my martial arts.”

“What are you going to do by getting attention from these kinds of warriors instead of the Alliance Leader?”

“The difference in martial arts. I must awaken their sense of vigilance. Because the increased strength of the Sado Alliance will soon become the strength to oppose the Blood Cult.”

Jaun waved his hand once more while looking at the warriors of the Sado Alliance.

Jaun intended to use this Life-and-Death Tournament as an opportunity to stimulate not only the Five Evils but also the regular warriors of the Sado Alliance.

What did it matter if he played the clown for a bit? It was enough if they gained a sense of vigilance after seeing his martial arts.

Because eventually, their strength would be needed someday.

Amidst the cheers of the warriors, Jaun slowly walked toward the inner court where the main rounds of the Life-and-Death Tournament would be held.

****

“He’s coming.”

At Neung Hwa-yeong’s words, Jin Cheol-myeong and Yu Ha-rin turned their heads.

“……Heartless Soul Stealer.”

Jin Cheol-myeong slowly stood up from his seat with a tense expression.

Yu Ha-rin, who glanced at Jaun once, patted Jin Cheol-myeong’s shoulder.

“Do well so you don’t embarrass yourself. I happen to be in the first rotation, so I can’t cheer for you. I’m off.”

Yu Ha-rin walked slowly toward the side tournament ground. Neung Hwa-yeong, watching her back, turned her head toward Jaun again.

Jaun was smiling and waving his hands to greet the warriors in all directions.

“……He is overflowing with leisure.”

“That is only until today. After today’s match, I will make it so that a smile cannot be found on his face.”

Jin Cheol-myeong cracked his neck with a pop and warmed up his body.

“But…… Did that kid seriously bring that as a weapon? This is the main rounds, isn't it?”

Upon hearing Neung Hwa-yeong’s words, Jin Cheol-myeong only then focused energy into his eyes to scan Jaun up and down.

“……A chain?”

What Jaun had brought out was nothing more than a crude and thin iron chain wrapped around his waist.

Jin Cheol-myeong’s expression froze coldly upon confirming the fact that Jaun had not even brought out a sword.

“WAAAAAA!”

The closer Jaun walked to the tournament ground, the louder the surrounding cheers became.

The Life-and-Death Tournament was one of the few top entertainments for the Sado Alliance warriors who led tedious lives repeating only martial arts training, and the warriors of the Sado Alliance sent unreserved cheers toward Jaun, who was adding even more fun to that entertainment.

Jaun, who waved his hand a few times toward the Sado Alliance warriors with excited faces, entered the waiting area next to the tournament ground.

Ban Cheol-hwi, who followed behind while covering his ears as if it were noisy, sat on a chair placed on the side, and Ice Rakshasa also took a seat.

Finally, as soon as Jaun sat in the outermost seat, Ice Rakshasa, who was looking around, poked Jaun in the side.

“Look. Look at Black Blood Ghost Whip. His face looks like it’s about to explode.”

At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Jaun turned his head.

He could see Jin Cheol-myeong sitting on the opposite chair, glaring at him with eyes burning with intensity.

Jaun shrugged his shoulders once and turned his head toward the tournament ground as if it were nothing to worry about.

Not long after, two warriors who climbed onto the platform with large drums began to beat the drums alternately.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM.

The faster the drumming became, the louder the cheers of the warriors grew.

BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!

The warriors who had been beating the drums for a while stopped their hands in an instant, and then a man wearing a robe embroidered with colorful flower patterns leaped onto the tournament ground.

“WAAAAAA!”

“Sa-hyeol-gyeom! Sa-hyeol-gyeom! Sa-hyeol-gyeom!”

As soon as they discovered the man who had climbed onto the tournament ground, an explosive cheer erupted from the spectators.

The man, who bowed his head toward the surrounding spectators with a disciplined appearance, shouted with his internal energy.

“I am Sa-hyeol-gyeom, last year’s winner of the Life-and-Death Tournament and the one in charge of guarding the top floor of the Alliance Leader’s Palace.”

Cheers filled the tournament ground once again.

“We are about to start the main rounds of the Life-and-Death Tournament, so warriors who are participating, please prepare, and those who are spectating, please be seated.”

Amidst loud applause and cheers, Sa-hyeol-gyeom waved his hand as if telling them to be quiet.

“Then, according to custom, we will listen to the words of the Alliance Leader and proceed with the main rounds immediately. Silence, everyone!”

A silence full of tension filled the tournament ground.

The Alliance Leader, who was sitting in a high grand chair at the center back of the tournament ground, slowly rose from her seat.

“……The Life-and-Death Tournament is, as the name suggests, a place to display each other’s skills with the determination to separate life and death.”

The Alliance Leader’s voice gently shook the tournament ground.

“I will not care what kind of means or methods you use. Everything is left to the participants’ discretion. The strong will survive, and the weak will be weeded out. And those who prove their strength here will seize the opportunity to dwell in the Alliance Leader’s Palace.”

As the Alliance Leader’s voice continued, the tournament ground began to heat up with excitement.

“The only rule is, do not take the life of your opponent. Even that will be tolerated if it is judged to be an unavoidable situation. Overthrow, trample, and ultimately rise above. Every step of yours will remain as the history of the Sado Alliance and will become its footprint.”

The Alliance Leader, who paused for a moment and looked around at each of the warriors filling the surroundings, stopped her gaze at Jaun.

“I sincerely hope that your efforts, which you have built up all this time, will shine fully in this place. I will watch every single moment, and the warriors participating in this place will become the witnesses of your lives.”

The Alliance Leader, after taking a breath, shouted with her vigorous internal energy.

“I, as the Alliance Leader, declare here that this year’s Life-and-Death Tournament has begun.”

As soon as the Alliance Leader’s words ended, the cheers that had been held back erupted.

And through that massive cheer, Sa-hyeol-gyeom’s powerful voice spread to the surroundings.

“We will begin the Life-and-Death Tournament! Warriors of Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, please come up to the tournament ground!”

Warriors from all directions leaped onto the tournament grounds.

The main rounds were conducted simultaneously on a total of three tournament grounds.

Jaun, who belonged to Group 3, also stood up from his seat and slowly headed toward the stairs installed on the tournament ground.

As soon as Jaun climbed onto the tournament ground, Jin Cheol-myeong’s figure soared up from the opposite side.

BOOM!

As the hulking Jin Cheol-myeong climbed onto the stage with flamboyant movements, cheers and shouts of Jin Cheol-myeong’s name followed along with applause.

“Oooooh! Jin Cheol-myeong!”

“Do it properly so you don’t shame the name of the Five Evils!”

“Blow that frail guy from the Murim Alliance away in one hit!”

“Show the true power of the Black Blood Ghost Whip!”

The spectators cheered and shouted toward Jin Cheol-myeong, but Jin Cheol-myeong, who had climbed onto the stage, was in a state of focusing all his attention and gaze only on Jaun.

Subsequently, Jaun turned toward the spectator seats.

And as he bent his waist slightly to offer a greeting to the surroundings, a cheer erupted once more from all directions.

“Heartless Soul Stealer! Finish it off hotly today as well!”

“Heartless Soul Stealer’s victim this time is Jin Cheol-myeong. Hahaha! Take good care of your lower half!”

Jaun, after finishing his greeting, turned toward Jin Cheol-myeong and slowly untied the chain from his waist, winding it around his right hand.

“Eh? Did the Heartless Soul Stealer bring a chain too?”

“Hehehe. Is that guy bringing out a weapon that matches his opponent's? Come to think of it, I feel like he’s been fighting all his matches so far with the same weapon as his opponent?”

“Huh. Now that I think about it, that’s true. But a chain will be a bit difficult. How can one use that as a weapon unless they are considerably skilled?”

“He must have brought it out because he has a plan. This, Group 3’s stage today is going to be the most exciting, isn't it?”

As the murmuring of the spectators grew louder, warriors who had been watching other stages also began to move one by one toward Group 3’s stage.

Jin Cheol-myeong, who was glaring at Jaun regardless of the surrounding spectators’ reactions, ground his teeth with a grit.

“……You fellow. Even though I clearly warned you.”

The massive Black Blood Ghost Whip that had been wrapping around Jin Cheol-myeong’s body began to rotate with a clattering sound.

Jin Cheol-myeong, who gritted his teeth, slowly raised his hand toward Jaun.

“What will happen from now on is the result brought about by your arrogance. I will make you regret entering this sacred Life-and-Death Tournament with such a rotten mindset.”

Jaun also opened his mouth toward Jin Cheol-myeong.

“We’ll see the result soon enough. One Ilgak. I will end this match within that time, so do your best from the beginning.”

At the same time as the words of the smiling Jaun ended, the supervisor’s flag fluttered in the air.