Chapter 149. Leader of the White Forest Alliance (1)
“A-Alliance Leader...”
Watching Zhang Siyuan panic, Kang Yujin looked at the man in front of him.
So this long-haired man with the appearance of a refined scholar was Yang Weizheng, leader of the White Forest Alliance.
They said the Unorthodox Faction considers the Black Dragon Society Chairman the strongest in China, while the Orthodox Faction considers the White Forest Alliance Leader the strongest.
As Kang Yujin quietly studied him, Yang Weizheng turned his gaze toward Kang Yujin as well.
“Hmm. So you’re Kang Yujin.”
Yang Weizheng recognized him immediately.
“What brings you here?”
“A-Alliance Leader! Lord Kang Yujin is a special guest today...”
Zhang Siyuan hurriedly stepped in.
“He came to watch this martial competition. I invited him.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Yang Weizheng nodded calmly.
“I thought you might have come to barge into the competition.”
"...!"
For some reason, Zhang Siyuan flinched.
“Kang Yujin, you weren’t planning to intrude on our competition and cause a disturbance, were you?”
“Of course not.”
Kang Yujin answered immediately.
“Why would I do something that unreasonable? This is an internal martial competition for the White Forest Alliance, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“I came to watch. Zhang Siyuan went out of his way to arrange a seat for me. If I caused trouble however I pleased, I’d feel bad for him.”
Guo Yunzhao had said some strange things earlier, but Kang Yujin had never intended to do anything like that.
“Right, Zhang Siyuan?”
“Ah... yes... that’s right.”
For some reason, Zhang Siyuan looked deeply depressed.
“Hmm. Then that’s good.”
Yang Weizheng nodded.
“If you had tried to interfere with our martial competition, I would not have tolerated it.”
"..."
“I’m glad to see you’re a man with common sense.”
There was genuine sincerity in Yang Weizheng’s voice.
“Zhang Siyuan!”
“Y-Yes!”
“Treat our guest properly. I’ll prepare for the competition.”
“Understood...!”
After giving Zhang Siyuan his instructions, Yang Weizheng spoke one last time to Kang Yujin.
“I would like to have a proper conversation with you sometime.”
He gave a slight nod.
“I’ll arrange an opportunity soon.”
With those words, Yang Weizheng left.
“Haaah...”
Zhang Siyuan sighed openly, looking completely disappointed.
What exactly had been bothering him all this time?
“The Alliance Leader hates schemes like this. He’s too straightforward... This is completely ruined.”
“What?”
“No, it’s nothing. Please, come this way...”
With all motivation clearly drained from his voice, Zhang Siyuan led Kang Yujin to his seat.
The martial competition was more entertaining than Kang Yujin had expected.
The Contractors of the White Forest Alliance’s Shanghai Branch were generally quite skilled.
The branch leader in particular seemed comparable to one of Korea’s Eight Guardians.
But the most impressive person was...
Yang Weizheng.
He’s incredible.
From the beginning, Yang Weizheng had declared that he would not use internal energy or Skills.
Instead, he warned his opponents that he would not hold back in any other way.
At first, it had sounded like empty bravado.
It wasn’t.
Every single fight so far... ended in less than a minute.
Yang Weizheng never went easy on his subordinates.
He didn’t even give them a chance to demonstrate their abilities.
Using movements refined to absolute efficiency, he subdued them immediately.
His basic physical ability is absurdly high. What happens if he adds internal energy and Skills on top of that?
Of course, his body had been enhanced through Enhancement Engravings.
Even so, displaying that level of combat power without internal energy or Skills was astonishing.
Just watching this is useful.
In the past, Kang Yujin wouldn’t have understood what made those movements so impressive.
He might have been able to imitate them instinctively.
But understanding each movement perfectly would have been impossible.
Now, however...
thanks to the Fist Venerable’s teachings, his understanding of fundamental movements had improved considerably.
I haven’t even been learning for that many days... but I’ve already improved a lot.
Realizing that, Kang Yujin kept closely observing Yang Weizheng.
At the moment, Yang Weizheng was delivering the final blow to his semifinal opponent.
“It’s over.”
At Zhang Siyuan’s voice beside him, Yang Weizheng’s opponent collapsed helplessly onto the ring.
[A-rank Constellation ‘Flower-Tattooed Monk’ looks unimpressed, saying the result was too obvious.]
[B-rank Constellation ‘Golden and Silver Children’ complains that it was boring because everyone already knew who would win.]
Quite a few Constellations had been watching the martial competition as well.
Their reactions weren’t particularly positive.
At first, some had been impressed by Yang Weizheng’s skill.
But the matches ended so easily that they seemed to have gotten bored.
Most of them had apparently left, because hardly any messages appeared now.
“Next will be the final against our Branch Leader.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Haha. You’ve been watching very intently.”
“Yeah. It’s been extremely useful.”
Kang Yujin nodded.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
Zhang Siyuan’s face immediately brightened.
“I’m glad to hear that!”
“If I had my way, I’d almost want to climb up there and have a match myself.”
“Ah, that would...”
“I said that’s just how I feel.”
"..."
At that moment, several people climbed onto the ring.
“Now, we will reveal the prize for this martial competition!”
A prize.
Well, it was a martial arts tournament.
It made sense that there would be one.
“The prize for this year’s martial competition is... an S-rank piece of equipment recently acquired by our Shanghai Branch!”
“Ah...”
Zhang Siyuan suddenly sucked in a breath.
“What?”
“Well, actually, that...”
As Zhang Siyuan trailed off, the prize was unveiled in the ring.
The instant Kang Yujin saw it...
his breath caught as well.
"...!"
It looked extremely similar to something he knew well.
The B-rank equipment he had obtained on the Ghost Train long ago.
The gloves that granted additional Divine Power damage.
But these weren’t exactly the same.
They looked far more refined.
More sacred.
“These gloves are a unique piece of equipment recreating the power of the prophet said to possess enough combat strength to strike down even angels!”
The announcer raised his voice.
“The ‘Saint’s Divine Fist’!”
Kang Yujin’s [Saint’s Iron Fist] had come with almost the same description.
However, the [Saint’s Iron Fist] had been described as a failed product.
Even though it was a failure, it still provided a considerable Blessing.
But then...
could those gloves be the completed version?
“This equipment adds S-rank Divine Power damage to physical attacks!”
The announcer continued.
“If you encounter an enemy vulnerable to Divine Power, its effects will be tremendous!”
“Oooooh!”
Cheers erupted throughout the venue.
Everyone understood how extraordinary the item was.
If those really were S-rank gloves that added S-rank Divine Power damage...
they would be enormously useful in the coming war against Pandemonium.
“Zhang Siyuan.”
Kang Yujin swallowed.
“Either your Alliance Leader or your Branch Leader is going to get those, right?”
“Yes. That’s... probably what’s going to happen.”
"..."
Kang Yujin bit his lip while staring at the gloves glittering beneath the lights.
Do I really have to just sit here and watch someone else take those?
The [Saint’s Iron Fist] had helped Kang Yujin tremendously over the years.
It was only because he had obtained those gloves that he managed to escape the Ghost Train.
Afterward, they had continued helping him in battles against demons such as Baphomet.
But recently, against Demon God-class enemies, they had started becoming less effective.
B-rank Divine Power damage wasn’t enough to fully penetrate a Demon God-class demon’s demonic barrier.
But if the [Saint’s Divine Fist] truly provided S-rank Divine Power damage...
then even a Demon God-class demon should take significant damage.
It was equipment Kang Yujin absolutely wanted for his future battles against Pandemonium.
“You want them?”
A low voice came from behind him.
Kang Yujin recognized the voice and turned.
An elderly woman wearing a hood was sitting in the previously empty seat behind him.
“How did you get in here...?”
“Quiet, Kang Yujin.”
The Fist Venerable.
