Baek Yoonjun, heading to the place of the decisive battle, was digging a hole like crazy inside.

'For now, I'm not participating, but what should I do if something happens?'

The absence of the Heart Sword came as quite a burden to Baek Yoonjun.

Moving his feet, Baek Yoonjun quietly contemplated his inner self.

'My physical condition itself is not bad.'

Considering that he was in a state where he couldn't use the Heart Sword, his physical condition was very good.

If it were his past life, he felt he would have set a good record even if he participated in the Olympics.

'Good. My physical condition is not bad, so let's keep checking the escape route and run if necessary.'

Baek Yoonjun seriously memorized the path he was moving on.

Although he kept shrinking back because there were many people, perhaps because his survival was at stake, the mental shock was less than before.

'No, it's not just my feeling, it seems there are fewer people than I thought.'

No matter how he looked at it, it wasn't just his feeling.

And so, time passed, and after arriving at the place of the decisive battle, Baek Yoonjun was able to understand why there were fewer people.

-Ooooh!! They're here!!

It was because the place of the decisive battle was teeming with people, as if all the people in the neighborhood had gathered.

'Ugh. I feel like throwing up.'

Baek Yoonjun felt his mind become dizzy and his stomach turn.

Although Baek Yoonjun wanted to get out of this place right away, his companions, on the contrary, pushed through the crowd and headed for its center.

'Save me!!'

Fed up with the people, Baek Yoonjun followed his companions stiffly, in a frozen state.

And so, they arrived at the place of the decisive battle.

'They really went all out.'

Baek Yoonjun looked at the stage, which was splendidly made of marble, in disbelief.

'I don't think a stage like this would be in such an outskirts, it seems they stayed up all night to make it for the fight.'

Baek Yoonjun was fed up with that behavior.

'Are martial artists serious about fighting all the time?'

It seemed he had no awareness that he himself was also a martial artist.

'The other side is already here.'

Baek Yoonjun timidly looked around and found the other side on the opposite side.

With their unified attire and all of them having a fierce impression.

'No matter how I look at it, they look more like soldiers than martial artists.'

Baek Yoonjun observed the other side, being careful not to make eye contact.

'So Yuhwa is going to fight with guys like that?'

The martial artists on their side included the original Baek Yoonjun's party, the weary man, the woman from Gongtong, and an unfamiliar martial artist from Zhongnan.

'For now, from what I've heard, Hwaryeong, who is not a martial artist, seems to be out.'

It was a matter of course, but Zhuge Hwaryeong, who was not a martial artist, was excluded from the life-and-death duel list, and the weary man entered instead.

Since Baek Yoonjun was also excluded due to the strong protest from the other side.

'Since I'm not participating, let's step back a little.'

The two stepped back behind the party side by side.

And so, the two, who had become a little distant from the party.

"Master. What do you think? Do you think we'll win?"

Zhuge Hwaryeong asked, looking at the stage and the party with a tense expression.

At that question, Baek Yoonjun observed and gauged the other side and the party once more.

"Since the other side's strength also seems similar, I don't know yet."

"Ugh... I hope no one dies... No, why do we have to risk our lives and get involved in someone else's family feud?"

Baek Yoonjun automatically nodded at Zhuge Hwaryeong's indignant words.

Although it was a condition for Zhongnan to join the alliance, he thought there was no reason to risk their lives and fight.

'Is it a relief that the other side came out with a conscience?'

From what Baek Yoonjun had observed, the strength of the other side was similar to their side.

'At best, the strongest person is about the same as Elder Blacksmith.'

The fact that there was no one above the third-rate by his standards on the other side was a small comfort.

And so, after time passed.

-Let's not drag this out and start right away!

On the stage, the woman from Gongtong, who had moved with Baek Yoonjun's party earlier, took her place and politely performed a fist-and-palm salute towards the people.

"Hello! I am Ye Eunhee, a Taoist from Gongtong, who will be the judge of this event to determine the rightful owner of Zhongnan."

Ye Eunhee, the woman from Gongtong who seemed to be in charge of judging, introduced herself and smiled with her eyes.

Looking at such a woman, Baek Yoonjun.

'Her eye smile is seductive.'

Feeling needlessly burdened, he turned his head.

He wondered if there was any human who was not weak except for villains, but a person who smiled with their eyes like that was a bit burdensome.

As the judge took her place on the stage, a martial artist from the other side jumped up exaggeratedly, spun once in the air, and then landed on the stage.

"I am from the Martial Alliance...!!"

Naturally, since Baek Yoonjun was not interested in his self-introduction, he let it go in one ear and out the other and only observed his impression and martial prowess.

'He looks a bit cunning and sinister. And there are signs that his left hand is more trained than his right, and it seems he uses a saber.'

After the other side's introduction was over, Tang Yuhwa ran towards the stage.

As if conscious of her opponent, she jumped towards the stage, spun once in the air, and then.

Thud!

She landed on the floor with her face.

'Yuhwa!!'

Without realizing it, Baek Yoonjun covered his face and was about to rush out.

Before he could rush out, fortunately, Tang Yuhwa stood up from her seat as if nothing had happened.

Drip.

Although she had a nosebleed.

As if nothing had happened, Tang Yuhwa took out a handkerchief from her bosom and covered her nose.

At Tang Yuhwa's intact appearance, Baek Yoonjun swept his chest.

'Phew, she must be okay. I was really scared.'

Baek Yoonjun covered his pounding heart with his hand.

For some reason, the feeling of the jade comb he had put in his chest touching his fingertips was strangely conscious.

Whether Baek Yoonjun was anxious or not, Tang Yuhwa performed a fist-and-palm salute towards the audience as if nothing had happened.

"I am Tang Yuhwa from Sichuan."

Although her intonation was the same, her speech was a polite tone, unlike usual.

"Although my skills are humble."

Tang Yuhwa's intense gaze swept over the audience and the other side.

"I have come up to this place so that no one will die here."

Tang Yuhwa's quiet but firm voice spread in all directions.

-Wasn't it a life-and-death duel?

-What kind of random thing is that to say!

Because of that, the audience was in a frenzy, but as if nothing had happened, Tang Yuhwa turned towards her opponent and politely performed a fist-and-palm salute.

"I am Tang Yuhwa."

"Um... is your nose okay?"

The opponent received Tang Yuhwa's self-introduction and looked at her with concern.

"I'm fine."

"Well, if you're not feeling well, you can go down. Although it's a life-and-death duel, we've agreed to accept surrender."

"I'm fine."

"..."

The opponent, at a loss for words at Tang Yuhwa's 'I'm fine', shut his mouth and performed a fist-and-palm salute.

"From the Martial Alliance..."

Since Baek Yoonjun was not particularly interested in the opponent, he seriously observed Tang Yuhwa.

'Except for the nosebleed, her condition looks better than ever. On top of that, she remembers the things I taught her in the Sigongjin.'

Although it was perfectly disguised as a hair accessory, the Hojebpyo and various other hidden weapons were prepared to be taken off and used at any time.

Immediate-acting non-lethal poisons were prepared to be used when she couldn't draw poison from her body.

Tang Yuhwa's condition was close to perfect in the state she could be in now.

However.

'The opponent's level of martial arts is superior.'

Baek Yoonjun gauged the strength of Tang Yuhwa and her opponent.

In terms of the level of martial arts, Tang Yuhwa was clearly behind.

'But for Yuhwa, the level of martial arts itself is not the main thing.'

While Baek Yoonjun was observing Tang Yuhwa and her opponent, the life-and-death duel began.

"I was impressed by the young lady's words, so I will also show mercy."

"I will not refuse."

Fortunately, it seemed the first decisive battle would not become as hostile as Baek Yoonjun had worried.

The other side held up a saber and took a ready stance, and Tang Yuhwa also took a ready stance so that she could use the hidden weapons in her body at any time.

However, since Tang Yuhwa's ready stance was far from that of a martial artist, it was strange.

Because of that, the opponent seemed to be wary of Tang Yuhwa and was constantly observing the situation.

"Master. Neither Senior Sister nor the opponent is moving. Is it originally like this?"

"In a situation where you can kill or be killed, observing the opponent is basic."

"You don't do that, Master?"

At Zhuge Hwaryeong's words, Baek Yoonjun recalled the appearance he had shown her so far.

'I either killed them right away or was about to kill them.'

Baek Yoonjun reflected on himself and looked at the stage.

A confrontation that was beginning to get a little long.

At that moment, Tang Yuhwa moved first.

She naturally brought her hand to her hair, took off the Hojebpyo, and threw it.

The Hojebpyo, showing a bizarre movement, flew towards the opponent.

"A hidden weapon!"

The opponent lightly dodged the Hojebpyo.

No, the word 'dodged' was a misnomer.

'Since it wasn't thrown to harm the opponent in the first place.'

In the Sigongjin, Baek Yoonjun had shown a demonstration by throwing the Hojebpyo with the purpose of tearing the opponent to shreds.

But Tang Yuhwa's method of use was the complete opposite.

She used the bizarre movement of the Hojebpyo to not harm the opponent as much as possible.

Thanks to that, the current opponent had no damage other than minor cuts.

The opponent was also flustered by the bizarre movement of the Hojebpyo at first, but seemed relieved that there was no particular damage.

"The hidden weapon itself is excellent in its bizarre movement, but the skill of handling it seems a little immature."

The opponent, relieved that there was no next move from Tang Yuhwa.

"Then this time, I will go."

He held up a large sword and stepped on the footwork towards Tang Yuhwa.

The opponent, who had reached Tang Yuhwa in an instant, swung his saber.

'It'll be hard for Yuhwa.'

The opponent's movement was linear, but it was a form that pursued fast efficiency.

'He doesn't seem to have any intention of killing.'

What was being swung was the flat of the saber.

It seemed the opponent's purpose was to neutralize Tang Yuhwa.

Tang Yuhwa quickly stepped back and dodged the saber.

'Oh no.'

While dodging, she actually touched the flat of the saber, and a slightly deep cut was made on her arm.

'Her movements are still terrible.'

The movement of Tang Yuhwa that Baek Yoonjun saw was simple.

The footwork that he had taught her, focusing only on survival, for the sole purpose of Tang Yuhwa's survival.

But even that, Tang Yuhwa was not perfectly digesting, and because of that, she had gotten injured.

The opponent also seemed to have noticed that and approached Tang Yuhwa, swinging his saber in succession.

"Dodging was a bad move. It would have been over if you had been quietly suppressed."

The opponent still swung his saber with mercy.

Although Tang Yuhwa was still diligently stepping on the footwork in her own way and dodging the saber, she couldn't dodge it completely, and only her wounds increased.

'Since the purpose is to save people anyway, if she surrenders, no one will die in the current decisive battle.'

Baek Yoonjun looked at Tang Yuhwa with a worried gaze.

Since the opponent was showing mercy, there was no big problem right now, but a weapon was a tool that could harm a person even if handled slightly wrong.

'It seems she succeeded in what she was aiming for, but I'm still worried.'

With Baek Yoonjun's worry, the one-sided situation flowed like that.

At that moment, Tang Yuhwa's movement stopped.

Tang Yuhwa stood still and stared at her opponent.

"Have you given up? A good thought."

Seeing that, the opponent seemed to think that Tang Yuhwa had given up.

Whether that was the case or not, Tang Yuhwa raised one hand.

"Five."

She began to count by folding her fingers one by one.

"What are you doing?"

"Four."

At Tang Yuhwa's strange behavior, the opponent frowned.

"Three."

Whether that was the case or not, Tang Yuhwa continued to count by folding her fingers.

"If you don't surrender, I will no longer show mercy..."

"One."

Tang Yuhwa folded her last finger.

At the same time, an abnormality occurred in the opponent.

"Keuk. W-what did you do?!"

The opponent suddenly clutched his chest and then collapsed on the spot.

Tang Yuhwa looked down at such an opponent indifferently.

"It's not a fatal poison, so it's okay."

"Poison?!"

"If you sleep soundly for about a day, your physical condition will actually be better."

"What does that..."

The opponent couldn't finish his words and collapsed, losing consciousness.

At the situation where Tang Yuhwa, who had seemed to be pushed back one-sidedly, was standing fine and the opponent had collapsed, the audience became quiet.

Observing the situation, Baek Yoonjun was perfectly understanding the current situation.

'Loading an invisible and odorless poison on the Hojebpyo and poisoning the opponent.'

Since it was a method of using the Hojebpyo that Tang Yuhwa and Baek Yoonjun had researched together, he naturally had to grasp it.

Tang Yuhwa quietly performed a fist-and-palm salute to the collapsed opponent and then turned her gaze to the other side.

"Next."

At that sight, Baek Yoonjun was able to understand why Tang Yuhwa had not surrendered and what she was trying to do.

'Yuhwa, that brat. Is she really trying to defeat all the opponents by herself?!'

Of course, he had heard it before.

But just saying it and putting it into practice were different matters.

'Are you really going to do it?'

Baek Yoonjun felt an insanely worried feeling rising.

'If you're going to face them all, showing the invisible and odorless poison and the Hojebpyo in advance is a bad move. On top of that...'

Baek Yoonjun's worries endlessly piled up in his head.

"It's sorcery!!"

One of those worries arose on the spot.

(End of Chapter)