The Youngest Member Chapter 89

The heat from the duel between Song Yiyeon and Nangong Jin showed no signs of cooling down easily.

The Martial Alliance's military affairs departnt, which was in charge of the entire duel, had no intention of letting the atmosphere, which had once gained montum, cool down.

The purpose of the duel was largely twofold.

First, it was to give the low-ranking alliance mbers who had joined the Martial Alliance a chance to shine. Of course, there were those like Song Yiyeon who imprinted their existence, and there were also those like Seok Domyeong who were only disgraced and went down.

Second, it was money.

The Martial Alliance operated with well over a thousand martial artists.

Naturally, an enormous amount of money was needed. Of course, the Nine Sects One Gang, the Five Great Families, and the local officials would give out quite a lot of money, but... as they say, the more money, the better.

Especially in the current martial world where the Heavenly Demon Cult and the Black Plaque Star were still going strong, the fuller the treasury, the more reassuring it was. Because what required the most money in the world was war.

For that reason, the Martial Alliance provided all sorts of food, lodging, and entertainnt and earned money from the people.

"The enthusiasm of the people leads directly to money."

The Commander-in-Chief, Sima Hui, smiled, covering the corners of his mouth with his folding fan.

Although he was the one who always stood by the Martial Alliance Leader, Beili Tian, in official settings, he would mix with the military officials and observe the scene at the duel.

Because the military affairs departnt was in charge of the entire duel.

When the atmosphere showed signs of cooling down, he would induce a duel that would heat up the hearts of the people without fail.

It was like that when Tang Soyeon, the daughter of the Sichuan Tang family who had entered the realm of a poison master, perford a beautiful poison dance against the Poison King Unit Commander, and it was like that when Jin Yun, the Plum Blossom Swordsman who carried the hope of the Huashan sect, pointed out a martial artist of the sa Dragon and Phoenix Society and defeated him rcilessly.

And now.

"Deputy Commander. Are you ready?"

"Yes, I have made all the preparations."

Ahead of the climax of the duel, the military affairs departnt was preparing to sweep up the money for the last ti. People whose hearts were full of heat did not spare their money. The excited emotions would make them forget reality, and they would even pay a large sum of money that they would not normally pay.

The small consumption of the common people was not a consideration. No matter how urgent the money was, the Martial Alliance was a group that protected the common people.

The finest food and alcohol, accessories, and jewels were prepared for the local officials and high-ranking officials who had co to watch the duel. And as a trump card, beautiful weapons were prepared.

They could be sold at a truly enormous price.

"Send that guy up."

Sima Hui said in a tragic voice. At that, the atmosphere of the military officials also beca sowhat excited.

Soon, the official in charge of the proceedings, who had received the order from the military affairs departnt, went up to the dueling stage with heavy steps.

The people who were tired from watching the duels held all day let out a cheer.

There was only one person left.

Not only the crowd, but all the martial artists belonging to the Martial Alliance also looked at the dueling stage with expectant eyes.

"Martial Alliance mber Cheon Woojin, to the dueling stage."

The announcer intentionally did not add any flowery words. Because unnecessarily splendid modifiers could rather dilute his presence.

At the sa ti as he was called, the gazes of the thousand or so people gathered in the place were directed at Cheon Woojin at once. Even the Black Tortoise Unit mbers next to him were so overwheld that their breath was taken away for a mont.

Cheon Woojin was calm as always. He slowly went up to the dueling stage with truly dry steps.

The cheers and attention of the people poured down on his head, but it was just troubleso.

"Alliance mber Cheon, who will you point out?"

At the announcer's question, Cheon Woojin stood for a mont and watched the people. Because so many people had gathered, even the masters of a considerable level did not reveal their presence.

Even in that atmosphere, there were two people who stood out. In fact, there was already an opponent he had promised to point out. Tang Bicheon, the president of the Dragon and Phoenix Society and the young master of the Sichuan Tang family, was already shining his green light and preparing to co up.

But, Cheon Woojin just stared at him blankly and did not call him out.

His heart kept going to another place.

Cheon Woojin's gaze slowly went up.

The place that was most visible to the people, and at the sa ti, the place where he could observe everyone the best. A martial artist who did not complain even though he had the world's renowned masters at his feet.

"Can I compete with the alliance leader?"

"..."

The announcer broke down.

Not only the Commander-in-Chief, Sima Hui, who was watching from a distance, but also Tang Bicheon, who was preparing below the dueling stage, and even Song Yiyeon and Zhuge Lin, who had expressions that said they wanted to wash their ears with water.

They all could not react and just froze.

"...Uh, what did you say?"

"I want to compete with the alliance leader."

It was then. A cheer that seed as if it would tear the eardrums erupted. Among the many who had gathered with great expectations for the duel, no one had thought that they would see the alliance leader's duel.

But, a crazy low-ranking alliance mber had pointed out the alliance leader.

A duel between the one at the very bottom and the one at the very top of the largest alliance in the world, the Martial Alliance.

How could one's heart not beco hot?

In that thunderous atmosphere, only Tang Bicheon ground his teeth.

'This crazy guy! What on earth are you doing!'

Had he ever felt such a great sense of humiliation in his life?

That guy, whose blood had not even dried, was mocking him.

A truly unbearable anger rose to the top of his head. Even without being conscious of it, a dark green haze was faintly rising around him.

He felt a strong urge to go up to the dueling stage and stab a dagger into that guy's two eyes.

However.

Tang Bicheon could never do that.

Because a certain old man who boasted an overwhelming presence had already gone up to the dueling stage. He moved his steps, letting out a laugh that was a mixture of bewildernt and amusent.

Even though it was just that, it created a mysterious atmosphere as if the quality of the air around him were different.

A martial artist who stood alone at the pinnacle of the white path.

The White Egret Sword Saint, Beili Tian.

It was said that there were less than five in the world who could oppose him. Such a master had moved his heavy steps to have a duel with a low-ranking alliance mber of the Martial Alliance.

'Commander-in-Chief. I'm sorry.'

Beili Tian gave a bitter smile inwardly.

Right after Cheon Woojin had pointed out the alliance leader, the Commander-in-Chief, Sima Hui, had rushed over and had pleaded with him not to respond.

Of course, the people would be more enthusiastic than ever. Their money bags would also open easily. However, there was a dignity and weight that he had to protect as the Martial Alliance Leader.

Sotis, what could not be exchanged for even hundreds of thousands of gold coins was the weight of the pinnacle of the white path, the Martial Alliance Leader.

Sima Hui knew that fact well.

Of course, he had pleaded even more because he knew that the alliance leader would eventually respond to the duel.

'How can I endure this fun thing?'

Since he had beco the alliance leader, there had been no one who had challenged him.

The Heavenly Demon Cult seed to have not yet healed from the wounds inflicted by the Dark Heavenly Son, and the Black Plaque Star Lord was originally a simple person.

The masters of the Heavenly Outer Heavens, including the Sword King, would always just talk and not act directly. It was because they already had too many family mbers to support.

But, to think that he would be called by a low-ranking alliance mber.

And the disciple of the White Flower Sword Saint senior at that.

"Woojin, you're no ordinary madman either."

"Did I make a mistake?"

Cheon Woojin asked nonchalantly. The announcer had already retreated far away from the mont Beili Tian had appeared.

"What a mistake, But are you okay?"

"What do you an?"

"It seems you've already made a promise."

Beili Tian's gaze was still directed at Cheon Woojin. However, Cheon Woojin realized that the alliance leader was saying it with Tang Bicheon in mind.

The alliance leader was watching over everything that was happening in the Martial Alliance. Naturally, he also knew about the conflict between the Dragon and Phoenix Society and Cheon Woojin.

Although he did not know the content of the bet they had made to have at the duel, he had noticed that there was so promise from Tang Bicheon's intense reaction.

Cheon Woojin let out a smirk.

"What can I do?"

It was an ambiguous answer.

What can I do since I've already done it?

What can that guy dare to do?

To Beili Tian, it sounded closer to the latter. Because the White Flower Sword Saint senior would have definitely said so.

"Hahaha! I see."

Beili Tian's laughter spread loudly. A voice filled with truly profound internal energy echoed in the ears of the thousands of people gathered at the duel.

Even while spreading the sound so widely, he did not make the common people, who had not a single ounce of internal energy, feel tired at all.

It was truly an overwhelming internal energy operation ability.

Cheon Woojin was purely impressed. It was a mont when he had confird once again that his choice was right.

"Let's begin."

Cheon Woojin was about to draw the Crescent Moon Staff, but he gripped the Crane Feather Fan instead.

How could he wield the Crescent Moon Staff against the beloved junior of his White Master?

At that, Beili Tian licked his lips as if disappointed.

"You're not going to draw that?"

"The Crane Feather Fan is a better weapon."

Beili Tian's eyebrows twitched. He was almost the only martial artist who had faced both the White Master, who held the Crane Feather Fan, and the Black Master, who held the Crescent Moon Staff.

It was true that the Crane Feather Fan was a better weapon. Because its uses were truly endless.

However, if it were limited to pure strength, the Crescent Moon Staff was overwhelmingly superior.

"The strong one would be that iron staff."

Since there were many ears listening, he did not call it the Crescent Moon Staff.

Cheon Woojin gave a positive smile. Because that look felt quite provocative, Beili Tian's words continued.

"Alright. It's not right for , the alliance leader, to have a duel with all my strength against an alliance mber who has just passed the age of twenty. If you draw that iron staff before five exchanges have passed, it will be my victory. If you endure, it will be your victory, Woojin."

Beili Tian said it so that everyone could hear.

It was not right to show all one's strength in front of everyone. It was sothing that would not be beneficial to either the alliance leader or Cheon Woojin.

Of course, it was not that he did not feel disappointed, but he was not an alliance leader who would make a mistake because he could not overco a montary emotion.

"As you wish."

Cheon Woojin took his stance.

The announcer, who was watching from a distance, was about to approach to throw the Exploding Ball.

The alliance leader lightly raised his hand and stopped him.

Although the Exploding Ball developed by the Byeokryeok Mun was certainly an interesting and amazing object, it was just gunpowder.

He knew that a martial artist from the Byeokryeok Mun was present in this place. He needed to show them properly once. That a tool made of gunpowder could never surpass that of a martial artist.

'So please just give up on the conquest of the martial world that you think is a secret plan among yourselves.'

Sreung-!

A pure white blade was drawn, just like the first snow that had fallen overnight. It was the alliance leader's beloved sword and was called the White Phoenix, a rare divine sword.

"Thank you all for attending the event of the Martial Alliance. I will begin the final duel."

The alliance leader expressed his gratitude to the crowd. In the anti, the White Phoenix was covered with a pure white sword ki that was so bright it was blinding.

Soon, the White Phoenix was lightly swung towards the sky.

The long duel had reached its end. The sun had already set, and the surroundings had beco quite dark.

The sword ki shot out from the White Phoenix rose endlessly towards the clouds like a single white egret.

Hwiiiing-!

The sound of the air being torn also sounded like the cry of a bird. Exclamations erupted from here and there. Even though it was a dark evening, the pure white sword ki brightly lit up the surroundings and ascended.

Soon, as if the white egret were hiding in the clouds.

Kwaaaaaang-!

It exploded, spreading splendid flas in all directions, to the extent that it was on a different level from the Exploding Ball of the Byeokryeok Mun.

It was so beautiful that the soft-hearted children and won were even wiping away their tears. Only the martial artists of the Byeokryeok Mun, who had co to see the splendor of the Exploding Ball, just returned with dejected faces.

And so, in that ecstatic scene.

The two martial artists, who stood at the top and the very bottom of the Martial Alliance, rushed at each other.

(End of Chapter)