The World's Greatest Troublemaker

Chapter 69

Martial artists have very strong pride. They rarely admit that they are inferior to or below someone else.

So, uncomfortable expressions appeared on the faces of the gathered people. To ask who the strongest is in a place where so many martial artists are gathered? This is openly trying to create a conflict. Taeseokgwan of Huashan spoke with his internal energy.

"Why do you ask that?"

As his voice echoed, the hall became quiet. It was an action filled with the will not to be dragged along by Seomun Daecheol's intentions. Seomun Daecheol made an expression as if to say, 'Not bad.'

"It seems it's difficult to answer. Well, you wouldn't know until you've fought directly. Many things change over time."

After saying something strange, he clapped his hands. At that, people came out with food. Various dishes with steam rising were placed in front of the people.

"A skilled chef made it, so it should taste good."

Although Seomun Daecheol said with a smile, no one ate the food. Who would touch the food, knowing what might have been done to it? And everyone looked at the Divine Physician Valley's side.

The Divine Physician examined the color and smelled the aroma, then took out silver chopsticks from his bosom and brought a little of the food to his mouth. He savored the taste and then said to Seomun Daecheol.

"It tastes good."

Only then did the people begin to eat. The Divine Physician's action was a guarantee that there was no problem with the food, so everyone was relieved. Since they had been staying outside and hadn't tasted proper food, everyone ate to their heart's content.

After waiting for them to eat moderately, Seomun Daecheol asked again.

"Which gang is the strongest?"

"Why do you keep asking such a thing? I don't think that's what's important right now."

When Taeseokgwan of the Huashan Sect asked, people agreed.

"When will you let us go to the Flame Pond?"

"That's right. Let's talk about the Flame Pond first!"

Seomun Daecheol said with a slight smile.

"Do you think I'm asking something that has nothing to do with it just out of curiosity?"

"Are you saying it's related to our gathering here today?"

"Yes. Of course."

Seomun Daecheol looked around at the people once and then said.

"The Flame Pond is a very dangerous place. So we've decided to send only those with the skill."

He'll only allow those with skill? That means there will be people who can't go from here. At those words, a few people stood up from their seats and shouted.

"What do you mean by that?"

"By what right are you stopping us from going?"

As a commotion arose, Seomun Daecheol grabbed the corner of his table.

Creak!

When he applied force, a corner of the wooden table was torn off. It was a thick table made of a log, so it wouldn't have been torn off like that just by applying force. At that sight, everyone shut their mouths. Besides, that wasn't the end.

He threw the piece of wood. The piece of wood hit the wall with a 'thud' and was stuck in it. It didn't seem like he had put much force into it. He showed that he was a member of the Ten Great Masters of the past. At that, the ones who had stood up quietly sat down.

"If you have a complaint, you can come to me anytime."

As expected, the skill of the one who was called one of the Ten Great Masters thirty years ago was amazing. A sudden silence. What broke it was someone's clearing of the throat.

"Ahem."

He cautiously asked Seomun Daecheol a question.

"You said you would send those with skill, but what kind of skill are you talking about?"

"Didn't I keep saying it? Who is the strong one, and where is the strong gang?"

"Then are you saying you'll only send the strong people?"

"Yes. We've decided to send only three gangs."

The people murmured.

- Why are you so quiet? Say something.

Pyon Juksu sent a telepathic message with a bored tone.

- Why? Are you bored?

- It's because I'm bored. What is this? It's so boring, just talking.

- Just wait a little. It won't just flow like this.

Mok Wigun thought there was definitely something. So he was just listening quietly. While thinking about what kind of scheme was behind this. In the meantime, the conversation was continuing.

"By what standard do you decide the skill?"

"Is there a need to make it complicated? We can just decide by a duel."

Although Seomun Daecheol said it as if it was nothing, its impact was great. He had just said he would send only three groups. But he was going to decide that by a duel.

"The Huashan Sect and the Mok family will be strong contenders."

Mok Wigun muttered. The Huashan Sect was composed of Taeseokgwan, Sa Hongmyeong, and one disciple. A very strong force.

The Mok family was also similar. The family head, Mok Sonkwang, Protector Jin Jaryun, and the Light Squad captain, Pyeong Gukdo. It was these three. It was a solid composition of skilled people. Perhaps because of that, the Huashan Sect and the Mok family were relaxed. On the other hand, there were also serious sides. Dan Bulseok whispered.

"The Baek family is in trouble. The family head can barely do martial arts, and the eldest son is only outstanding among his peers, isn't it difficult to be called a master in this place?"

"The Divine Physician Valley is the same. Two physicians and one warrior.

The Baek family had the family head, Baek Seokhu, the eldest son, Baek Jongmun, and the protector, Bang So-eung, here. The Divine Physician Valley was even more desperate. Because the Divine Physician, one physician, and one escort warrior had come.

The other three groups were also similar. Although skilled people had gathered, there were no masters like Taeseokgwan, Bang So-eung, or Jin Jaryun. So their power could not be considered strong.

"If we have a duel, how will it be done?"

Someone asked. At that, Seomun Daecheol explained. The method was simple.

"We'll decide the numbers by drawing lots."

Then, number one and number two would fight, and number three and number four would fight, and so on. After four matches, the winners would draw lots again.

"The two gangs that win there will go up, and the losers will fight once more. The two places that won before and the one place that won there. Only these three gangs will be given the qualification to go to the Flame Pond."

Everyone was busy talking with the people they had come with, weighing the pros and cons. Then someone shouted.

"Shouldn't we talk among ourselves for a bit?"

Although most people said they agreed, they looked at Seomun Daecheol's side. As if asking for his consent.

"As you wish. I will step aside for a moment."

Seomun Daecheol got up and went out altogether. At that, the people gathered and talked about what to do.

"What do you all think?"

When Taeseokgwan of the Huashan Sect spoke, Mok Sonkwang answered immediately.

"The Mok family agrees to the duel."

The Huashan Sect also agreed. But most of the other places were against it.

"The Divine Physician Valley is against it."

"The Baek family is the same. What kind of ridiculous thing is this?"

There were more voices of opposition. Then one person said.

"Is there a reason we have to follow Seomun Daecheol's words?"

"If we don't follow, what do you suggest we do?"

When the people asked, the one who had spoken first shared his thoughts.

"Although Seomun Daecheol is a master, aren't we overwhelmingly superior in numbers?"

"That's true. But isn't that swarm of butterflies the problem?"

How many people would there be on Seomun Daecheol's side? Although he didn't know the details, from what he had seen so far, it seemed there were no more than a hundred. In terms of numbers, this side was several times larger.

"Aren't butterflies weak to fire? If we just set a fire, the problem will be solved."

The opinion was to gather their strength, deal with Seomun Daecheol, and go to the Flame Pond. A few places agreed.

"But looking at what has happened in the past few days, it seems there are quite a few skilled people on that side."

Jin Jaryun said.

"The problem is not just the swarm of butterflies, but that we don't know for sure about the power of Seomun Daecheol's side."

"That's right. What if we attack recklessly and the damage just gets bigger? So it's not too late to move after we have a more accurate grasp."

The opinions were tense. The Huashan Sect and the Mok family were on the side of being cautious. The rest were on the side of joining forces and attacking.

"But how is the victory or defeat of the duel decided? Best of three? Or the one who wins keeps fighting?"

The people realized that they hadn't even heard the conditions for victory or defeat of the duel properly. Someone called a person from the manor and ordered them to get an answer from Seomun Daecheol. And after a while, the answer came.

"It's a system where the one who wins keeps fighting."

Then the side with the master is advantageous. When this news was delivered, there was a slight change. The Baek family had changed their opinion to the side of moving cautiously.

- Just overturn it. You're also bored, so you're just spacing out like this.

Pyon Juksu complained again. Mok Wigun was with them at first, but now he was sitting away from them.

- I'm bored, but that's not what's important.

- Being bored is a sin. Even if you try to live an interesting life, most of life is boring. If it were me, I would have started by beating them up.

It wasn't that Mok Wigun hadn't thought of that. But the words 'fairy' that he had heard earlier kept bothering him.

- Just wait. If you're really bored, you can go out for a while.

- Really? Is it okay to go out?

What's not to be okay? Mok Wigun told him to do as he pleased.

- Be sure to call me when the duel starts.

- Alright. And when you go out, take a look at the people here. Because they're suspicious.

- Hehe. I'm an expert at that. Now it's getting interesting.

Pyon Juksu said it was good and went out. The people were so busy fighting over whether to have a duel or not that they didn't even notice who was leaving.

"Just make a decision quickly. It doesn't matter what happens."

It was no problem whatever decision was made. Because Dan Bulseok alone could handle it roughly. And the real enemy was separate. Even if he stayed still, a cruel moment would come, and the real enemy would also appear then.

The people talked a little more after that. And in the end, it was concluded that they would have a duel.

* * *

"Jin Jaryun wins!"

With Seomun Daecheol's declaration, the Mok family won.

There was no upset. The weak had hoped for a bit of luck in the lottery, but that didn't happen. The Baek family, the Huashan Sect, and the Mok family won. The Baek family was smiling brightly thanks to Bang So-eung defeating three people in a row.

The Divine Physician Valley had been eliminated after meeting the Huashan Sect and was watching with a face full of dissatisfaction. Now, only the last one remained.

"One person is missing, is that okay?"

The opponent pointed out that Pyon Juksu was missing. It was a group of martial artists from the Hamyang region, and they were stronger than he thought.

All three were masters at the beginning of the peak, so they could be said to be the strongest force except for the Huashan Sect or the Mok family. Even Bang So-eung of the Baek family might have found it burdensome to face the three from Hamyang in a row. It was not easy to predict the victory or defeat, but Hamyang had a slightly higher chance of winning.

"It doesn't matter."

"Well. Since he's a physician, it's the same whether he's here or not."

The opponent subtly ignored him. In fact, except for the people who knew Mok Wigun, everyone was treating Mok Wigun's party as an exception. They thought that among the three, Dan Bulseok was the strongest, but even he was at the level of a first-rate master.

Mok Wigun said to Dan Bulseok.

"You can handle it alone, right?"

"The three of them?"

"Yes."

Mok Wigun, who patted Dan Bulseok's shoulder, saying it was more than possible, said to Seomun Daecheol.

"We will only send out one person, Captain Dan. Because we can win with just that."

(End of Chapter)