Chapter 134

“Are you… challenging Changcheon Daeju now?”

A voice that seemed to doubt whether what they had just witnessed was real.

It wasn’t just one person who felt this way.

Just moments ago, those who were worried about the White Path Martial World, saying Dokgo Bin’s achievements were unbelievable, had calmed their anxiety triggered by Dokgo Bin, muttering, “Ah, that’s a bit…”

“Even if it’s a talent surpassing Namhwa-ok…”

“Changcheon Daeju is an exception.”

Thinking about it, the excitement over Dokgo Bin’s achievements now felt rather silly.

With Woljon, a young master of the Black Path comparable to Hagyeong Jinin, and if Namhwa-ok is surpassed by Dokgo Bin, wouldn’t the next generation of the martial world be dominated by the Black Path? Such worries now seemed pointless.

“Wait, wasn’t Changcheon Daeju almost taken as a son-in-law by the Paeng Family? So, isn’t Changcheon Daeju from the White Path?”

“With Hagyeong Jinin and Woljon, the next generation is Changcheon Daeju and Paesogun… aren’t we ahead?”

“Strong! The White Path Martial World is strong!”

“With Hagyeong Jinin and Changcheon Daeju, the future of the White Path is bright…!”

Excluding Namhwa-ok, who didn’t participate in the martial duel, and replacing her with Namgung Woo, they looked at Namgung Woo with smiles, as if they had seen a glimmer of hope.

How would he respond?

There was a possibility he might refuse, saying their levels didn’t match.

Unlike the old days when the Black Path officially sent participants, now they hid their identities and secretly participated in the martial duel, so it wasn’t impossible for him to ignore it.

In the midst of curious gazes filled with interest rather than anxiety, Namgung Woo finally made his move.

§

Long ago.

Ever since he first fell into this world and learned about the Namgung Family’s destruction and the existence of the Dokgo Family from Song Chaeji, Namgung Woo had always thought about it. It remained a certainty in his mind, like an intuition.

Someday, he would cross paths with them.

If he couldn’t return and had to spend the rest of his life in this world, he would inevitably face them.

That thought changed shape over time, as Namgung Woo decided to rebuild the Namgung Family.

It wasn’t about when he would clash with the Dokgo Family, but how he would respond to them.

That’s why Namgung Woo remained composed. Even when Dokgo Bin suddenly appeared in Luoyang to participate in the martial duel, and now, as she stood victorious, calling him out.

He had always been prepared for this moment.

Namgung Woo didn’t avoid it.

There was no reason to.

In fact, he had been waiting for it.

Namgung Woo stood up, with the Bonding sword naturally at his waist.

At this sight, all eyes in the room turned to Namgung Woo alone.

Had something like this ever happened before?

Over ten martial duels.

In the tradition that followed the first victor, the victor’s designated duel was like a teaching match, where the victor would always choose a highly skilled master to learn from.

In the previous martial duel, the victor Hagyeong Jinin had chosen Gakwon, seeking the path to becoming a Peerless Master.

But Dokgo Bin was different. She and Namgung Woo might not be considered the same age, but they were clearly of the same generation.

Some people called out to Namgung Woo as he stood up.

But Namgung Woo didn’t hear them now.

He could refuse.

This implicit follow-up duel wasn’t mandatory.

But just as no one had ever refused before, Namgung Woo also began to walk towards the duel arena.

Despite some promising candidates being absent, Dokgo Bin had defeated all the Late Blooming Prodigies of the White Path Martial World to claim victory.

Until Namgung Woo stepped onto the duel arena.

The only sound was the soft footsteps of Namgung Woo.

When Namgung Woo stood face to face with Dokgo Bin, Dokgo Bin threw off the bamboo hat that had been covering her face.

The string tied to the hat came loose, and Dokgo Bin’s jet-black hair fluttered.

Only then did the crowd exhale the breath they had been holding, murmuring about Dokgo Bin’s appearance and the overwhelming presence Namgung Woo exuded.

But for the two of them, the surrounding reactions were irrelevant.

Namgung Woo spoke.

“Whose will brought you here?”

They already knew each other.

Dokgo Bin must have realized the true meaning behind Namgung Woo’s question about whether she knew the Namgung Family when they first met.

The Dokgo Family must also know of Namgung Woo’s existence.

So Namgung Woo was asking if she had come as a representative of the Dokgo Family.

Dokgo Bin answered confidently.

“Mine.”

Namgung Woo nodded as if he had expected it.

“Right. That makes sense. If it were the Dokgo Family sending someone…”

Would a massive force like the Dokgo Family not have gathered information on Namgung Woo alone?

They must have objectively and coldly assessed Namgung Woo’s strength.

That’s the kind of place the Dokgo Family is.

And if they truly aimed to eliminate Namgung Woo…

“The Dokgo Family Head would have come personally.”

You’re not enough.

At this blunt declaration, Dokgo Bin’s lips twisted.

“I know. That’s why I didn’t say it.”

“I see.”

“…What?”

“The Dokgo Family has no intention of moving. At least not yet.”

Dokgo Bin belatedly realized that her answer had given Namgung Woo a clue about the Dokgo Family’s movements and pursed her lips.

They don’t chase down those who flee without claiming the Namgung name.

The Dokgo Family’s elimination order only applies to those who claim to be members of the Namgung Family.

Only the descendants of Namgung Sihee, who abandoned the Namgung Family and sided with the Dokgo Family, can claim the Namgung name and escape the elimination order.

The reason the Dokgo Family didn’t move even after Namgung Sol revealed herself as a descendant of the Namgung Family was that they already knew she was Namgung Sihee’s daughter.

Having roughly figured out the nature of the elimination order, Namgung Woo understood why the Dokgo Family hadn’t come after him.

“If I had known from the beginning, would I have decided to rebuild the Namgung Family?”

If he had known there was a way to avoid being entangled in unrelated grudges, would he have chosen that path?

“Now, pondering over it is meaningless.”

The path has already been taken.

There’s no turning back.

Though it turned out differently than he thought, Namgung Woo now stood in the center of the martial duel.

As if the stage had been set for him to act on his thoughts.

Namgung Woo willingly stepped onto the path laid before him.

“Prepare yourself.”

Dokgo Bin wasn’t one to misunderstand Namgung Woo’s words.

But she pretended to be nonchalant.

“This is fine.”

“I won’t say it twice. Prepare yourself. I’ll serve as your protector.”

At Namgung Woo’s serious words, Dokgo Bin’s expression also changed.

An opponent on a completely different level from the Late Blooming Prodigies of the White Path Martial World she had faced so far.

She had thrown off the bamboo hat because she knew she couldn’t last a single round wearing it.

Dokgo Bin sat cross-legged on the duel arena floor. She took out a pill from her family, not one provided by the Martial Alliance, and began circulating her internal energy.

Once. Twice. Thrice.

Following the energy circulation path of the Dokgo Family’s secret technique, the Yujon Shimgyeol (唯尊心訣), Dokgo Bin’s internal energy flowed.

When Dokgo Bin opened her eyes after completing the circulation, a clear light shone in her pupils.

Originally rooted in Buddhist martial arts, the Yujon Shimgyeol had later incorporated demonic arts, transforming into a martial art between righteousness and evil, but its internal energy remained pure.

“Now, I’m ready.”

Dokgo Bin was in perfect condition.

The internal energy consumed in the previous duel was insignificant compared to her total reserves. If anything, the previous duel had sharpened her senses to their peak.

Namgung Woo said no more.

When Namgung Woo acknowledged her readiness with silence, Deung Jong-yu, who had been watching from the side, slowly approached.

“Since this is… an extension of the martial duel, I’ll serve as the referee, but I can’t guarantee I can stop everything.”

In the main tournament, three Martial Alliance leaders are stationed.

Three Supreme Peak Masters. An excessive force just to referee a martial duel, but such safety measures are necessary to prevent any mishaps.

But even such masters couldn’t guarantee they could perfectly stop a clash between equals or superiors.

“The Alliance Leader is here, so the worst won’t happen, but still, be careful.”

Especially since Changcheon Daeju is—Deung Jong-yu swallowed his words.

Dokgo Bin’s achievements, which didn’t seem far behind the Martial Alliance leaders, were astonishing, but Namgung Woo was even more so.

Despite recognizing the clear difference in strength, Deung Jong-yu didn’t add more because this duel belonged to the two of them, and it wouldn’t be right to give such warnings to only one side. Also, personally, Dokgo Bin wasn’t someone he cared enough to warn.

‘Changcheon Daeju will handle it.’

Returning to his original spot after stepping down from the duel arena, Deung Jong-yu raised his internal energy to a level reminiscent of actual combat. No, it was the same as actual combat.

No signal was needed to start.

This duel was an extension of the tournament, but separate from it.

External interference would only taint the duel.

“Dokgo Family, Dokgo Bin.”

Yet, a duel is still a duel.

Dokgo Bin first announced her name with a formal greeting.

Unlike their first meeting, where Namgung Woo had introduced himself first, this time she took the lead.

To which Namgung Woo responded.

“Namgung Family, Namgung Woo.”