A grand stage was set on the summit of Zhurong Peak, where nearly two hundred Viridian Forest bandits had gathered. Some were direct subordinates of the Giant Spirit Boss and the Tiger Pass Boss, but more than half belonged to the mountain keeps under them.

"So it's true? The Bosses are really gonna have a showdown?"

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"Deciding the Viridian Forest Alliance Leader all of a sudden..."

"Hah! I thought that hairy bastard was lying."

"What's going on? Weren't we supposed to wait down below and crush the Yama Keep?"

The bandits were confused. They had rushed up Zhurong Peak after receiving the order to do so and cheered for Maeng Ryonghwi without thinking. It was only after the fact that they realized something was amiss.

"...There's no way those two bosses would do this so suddenly."

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"Fuck, I think we've been tricked."

Not all inhabitants of the Viridian Forest were simple-minded. The more intelligent ones, especially the bosses from the Seventy-Two Keeps, quickly realized that the situation had turned against them.

Nevertheless, Maeng Ryonghwi hyped the crowd like a skilled showman, "Soon, three heroes of the Viridian Forest will duel to prove their right to be the Viridian Forest Alliance Leader! Everyone, keep your eyes wide open and watch closely!"

No one had dared to claim the title of leader of the Viridian Forest Alliance since the Bandit King, who had unified the Seventy-Two Keeps, suddenly disappeared. There were several reasons for this, the biggest being that the bosses worthy of the position had always avoided conflict with one another.

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Hence, the thought that they might be witnessing a historic moment caused the hearts of many bandits to pound fiercely.

In contrast to their excitement, the unorthodox leaders frowned when they saw the swarm of bandits.

"You idiots! Have you lost your minds?!" Blue Eyed Freak roared, his pale blue eyes glinting with killing intent. Rising to his feet, he glared at the Tiger Pass and Giant Spirit Bosses. "How dare you bring so many men here? Don't you know the orthodox sects are on high alert because of the Blood Cult? If this conference location is discovered, how will you take responsibility?!"

"That's..."

"......"

Baek Suryong landed without a sound, his crimson eyes glinting in the silvery moonlight. "So this is what siding with the Cult reduced you to. Repenting like a sinner before an altar of rice bowls. Pathetic. You think remorse will cleanse your folly?”

The two bosses couldn't think of an answer. They had agreed to keep the meeting secret by limiting the number of attendees from each faction to four. Of course, no one expected the promise to be kept, but bringing ten people was not the same as showing up with hundreds of subordinates.

The Giant Spirit Boss offered a lame excuse, "We gathered them little by little from various mountains along the way, so there's no way anyone spotted us..."

The unorthodox leaders' expressions darkened further.

"Is that the best excuse you could come up with? Those fools just yelled so loudly that I bet they can be heard from fifty kilometers away," the Phantom King sneered sarcastically, instantly abandoning his former allies.

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The two Bosses didn't dare get angry. They knew they were in the wrong here.

"Giant Spirit Boss. Tiger Pass Boss."

A low voice made the two Bosses stiffen.

The Black Snake Alliance Chairman stared at them with deep, sunken eyes. Unlike Blue Eyed Freak or the Phantom King, he didn't openly show his anger, but they found his piercing gaze far more terrifying than the other two combined.

Baek Suryong landed without a sound, his crimson eyes glinting in the silvery moonlight. "So this is what siding with the Cult reduced you to. Repenting like a sinner before an altar of rice bowls. Pathetic. You think remorse will cleanse your folly?”

"There's no need to make excuses. If a problem arises, we will pin all responsibility on these two. Are we agreed?"

"...Responsibility?"

Baek Suryong landed without a sound, his crimson eyes glinting in the silvery moonlight. "So this is what siding with the Cult reduced you to. Repenting like a sinner before an altar of rice bowls. Pathetic. You think remorse will cleanse your folly?”

"If those bastards from the orthodox sects catch a whiff of your movements and find this place, I'll cut off your heads and hand it to them."

""......"" No one thought it was a simple threat.

"Hmph!" The Soul Hunting Bow Phantom stroked her bow quietly, showing her displeasure.

From the moment dawn cracked over the horizon, the air itself felt like punishment. The training grounds were still soaked in dew, but Demon Instructor Wiji Cheon stood there already, arms crossed, waiting like a specter of discipline. "You’re late, he said.

"...Don't worry, that won't happen," the Tiger Pass Boss assured through gritted teeth.

The Giant Spirit Boss glanced at the Black Snake Alliance Chairman before nodding silently.

"Let's hope so."

The Black Snake Alliance Chairman rose from his seat.

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Everyone's gaze naturally focused on him. Even the men of the Viridian Forest, who were seeing him for the first time, held their breaths.

The foremost unorthodox leader slowly strolled into the clearing. He was met with the stares of hundreds of menacing bandits, but this did not faze him in the slightest.

"We will now determine the new leader of the Viridian Forest Alliance. The three of you will engage in mortal combat until only one person is left alive. Does anyone object to this rule?"

Baek Suryong landed without a sound, his crimson eyes glinting in the silvery moonlight. "So this is what siding with the Cult reduced you to. Repenting like a sinner before an altar of rice bowls. Pathetic. You think remorse will cleanse your folly?”

The Giant Spirit Boss and the Tiger Pass Boss stayed silent, knowing they had no say in the matter.

Rather, it was the Viridian Scholar who stepped forward. "Before that, I have something to say."

He scanned the faces of the Viridian Forest bandits.

Namgung Su’s back is turned to you, shoulders tense as he scrubs the already spotless pan. His voice is calm when he speaks, but it cuts like frost. "You fed a thief, he says. "With my food."

Nothing but hostile gazes.

It couldn't be helped. Most of the bandits gathered here were from the Giant Spirit and Tiger Pass Keeps. Still, as someone aiming to become the leader of the Viridian Forest, he had to embrace them as brothers.

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Even if I kill the two Bosses here, they won't cooperate with me willingly.

If he had his way, he would tear those detestable bastards to shreds. Many of them were the children of vile villains who claimed to be the rightful successors after betraying the Bandit King and learning demonic arts.

He had more than enough justification to do it. The Black Snake Alliance Chairman himself had set the stage. Even if he killed them here, no one could blame him.

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However, if he did that, a deep schism would form in the Viridian Forest.

He hesitated, feeling torn.

[Calm down, Junior Brother. Now's not the time for mindless revenge,] Baek Suryong advised, sensing his junior brother's internal conflict.

[...I know.] The Viridian Scholar sighed, then met his opponents' gazes. "There's no need for brothers of the Viridian Forest to fight to the death. If someone admits defeat and steps down, I'll recognize it as a surrender."

""BOOOOOOO!""

Mimi sniffled quietly, her round eyes glistening. "They said there were pop-ups," she whispered, her cute voice trembling. "But... we don’t have any!"

Jeers erupted from the bandits surrounding Zhurong Peak. The Viridian Scholar's words sounded weak, like he was pleading for mercy if he surrendered.

Only Maeng Ryonghwi chuckled softly, "I wonder what expressions those simpletons will make in a little while."

Soon, everyone will understand who the true successor to the Bandit King is.

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The Tiger Pass Boss nodded suspiciously. "...Fine. I accept."

The Giant Spirit Boss bared his teeth in a savage grin. "Fufu, you're even more of a coward than I heard."

The three bandit bosses advanced toward the clearing.

"Wait! What's the rush?" A large man interjected, getting in their way. A striking scar ran diagonally across his bearded face, and he wore an animal hide eyepatch over his left eye.

"The One-Eyed Demonic Axe!" someone in the crowd shouted, recognizing the man's crimson axe.

From the moment dawn cracked over the horizon, the air itself felt like punishment. The training grounds were still soaked in dew, but Demon Instructor Wiji Cheon stood there already, arms crossed, waiting like a specter of discipline. "You’re late, he said.

Jang Geol and Gu Gil stiffened, recognizing the alias.

"There is a proper hierarchy and order to everything. Why should the bosses be the first to fight?" The One-Eyed Demonic Axe grinned, raising his axe and pointed it at Maeng Ryonghwi. "Before the Bosses have their duel, how about letting us subordinates test our skills first? To liven things up!"

Baek Suryong met the man's glittering, murderous gaze. For a simple suggestion to test each other skills, the man's killing intent was incredibly intense.

Oh, now I remember. He was standing behind the Giant Spirit Boss when I went to scout them out at Zigai Peak.

"I accept that challenge!" a man from the Tiger Pass Keep laughed heartily. He had a long face and a build that rivaled the One-Eyed Demonic Axe, and held a large dao in each hand.

"It's the Dual Strong Blades!"

Baek Suryong raised an eyebrow. This man also seemed to be a famous master in the Viridian Forest.

"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"

The Dual Strong Blades used his movement arts to land in the clearing in a single breath and stood facing the One-Eyed Demonic Axe.

A suffocating pressure emanated from the two powerfully built men as they faced each other.

Everyone looked at Maeng Ryonghwi. Now that two elite warriors representing the Giant Spirit and the Tiger Pass Bosses had come forward, it was only fitting that a master of equal caliber from Yama Keep participate as well.

"A preliminary bout, huh? This should be interesting." The Black Snake Alliance Chairman grinned. "I wonder if your skills are as impressive as your words, Bladesman of Yama Keep."

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"Haa..." Forced into an unexpected fight, Baek Suryong sighed softly walked into the clearing.

Ugh, whatever. Ultimately, the star of this stage won't be me, but Junior Brother.

From the moment dawn cracked over the horizon, the air itself felt like punishment. The training grounds were still soaked in dew, but Demon Instructor Wiji Cheon stood there already, arms crossed, waiting like a specter of discipline. "You’re late, he said.

Although he had learned the Bandit King's martial arts, the Viridian Scholar was the one who inherited their master's dream.

Master Maeng, I hope you understand why I'm not using your martial arts here.

Mimi sniffled quietly, her round eyes glistening. "They said there were pop-ups," she whispered, her cute voice trembling. "But... we don’t have any!"

He lightly tapped the scabbard of his willow leaf dao with his left hand, causing it to loosen in its sheath. In that instant, he gripped the hilt with his right hand and drew the blade in one smooth motion.

"Ooh! This is getting more and more exciting!" the Black Snake Alliance Chairman cheered.

Baek Suryong paid the irritating spectator no mind and let his dao hang low.

Everyone focused their attention on the three men. The bandits swallowed hard amid the hair-raising tension.

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Finally, the Black Snake Alliance Chairman announced, "Begin!"

The One-Eyed Demonic Axe and the Dual Strong Blades immediately closed in on Maeng Ryonghwi in a lethal pincer, spreading out to his left and right as if they had planned a coordinated attack beforehand.

""Die!"" they cried in unison, releasing powerful weapon qi befitting the best warriors of the Viridian Forest.

For a moment, even the atmosphere seemed to blur and distort from their power.

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Baek Suryong snorted. I'll exchange a few blows with them and then force them to their knees one by one. Though... it's been a while since I've used Master Crazy Demon's martial arts in a real fight...

He relaxed his body and controlled his breathing. Since the Asura Blood Heaven Blade heightened one's killing intent, he suppressed this urge as much as possible and swung his dao dispassionately.

First, I'll just parry... huh?

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Unfortunately, he overlooked one thing. The Asura Blood Heaven Blade was so difficult to control that even its creator, the Crazy Demon, struggled to suppress his murderous desires. Even worse, the blade technique was designed to aim for an opponent's life with every strike.

Suddenly, Baek Suryong's simmering lust for revenge against Master Maeng's murderers flared up. Reacting to his opponents' killing intent, his instincts took over and guided his blade.

The sky briefly turned red, and a single silver streak of light arced across it.

"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"

SHIIIIING!

The One-Eyed Demonic Axe and the Dual Strong Blades blinked in confusion, wondering why the sky had suddenly changed color.

That was their last thought.

THUD! THUD!

Two heads flew into the air while their headless bodies crashed to the ground. Blood gushed out belatedly, puddling all across the ground.

From the moment dawn cracked over the horizon, the air itself felt like punishment. The training grounds were still soaked in dew, but Demon Instructor Wiji Cheon stood there already, arms crossed, waiting like a specter of discipline. "You’re late, he said.

Silence descended upon the scene. Everyone was stunned speechless, from the bosses about to fight to the Viridian Forest bandits and the unorthodox leaders, all of whom were rumored to be the most cruel and vicious people in the world.

"Whoopsie..." Baek Suryong muttered, just as shocked.

He glanced down at his gleaming willow leaf dao, unsullied by even a single drop of blood.

Damn, I guess I can't really blame Wonkang for screwing up this shit. This technique is fucking hard to control.

"Ads?" Ak Yeonho complains, his voice dripping with disbelief. "What ads?"

Well, he could have altered the trajectory partway through, but he allowed the blade to move as it willed. After all, the bandits were the ones who had tried to kill him first.

He just hadn't predicted they would die in one hit.

"...I guess it can't be helped if they die before they get the chance to surrender," he mumbled, sheathing his squeaky clean willow leaf dao and turning around.

"WAHAHAHAHA!"

Among all the martial artists watching, only the Black Snake Alliance Chairman roared with mirth.

----------------------------------------

From the moment dawn cracked over the horizon, the air itself felt like punishment. The training grounds were still soaked in dew, but Demon Instructor Wiji Cheon stood there already, arms crossed, waiting like a specter of discipline. "You’re late, he said.

Translator's Note: Sorry for the late chapter, was drunk yesterday and hangover today...