My Father Is the Number One Under Heaven - Chapter 99

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 99. Struggle
“Whoa!”
Someone gasped in astonishment as the newcomers entered the Fighting Arena.
“Wait—aren’t those disciples from the Wudang Sect, the Xiaolin Sect, and the Kaifang Sect?”
“Indeed. I’ve heard that one of the Xiaolin disciples is counted among the Six Dragons Guardians.”
“Six Dragons from Xiaolin? Oh! Could it be Wuryong?”
“But… is this really all right?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s just that touching the Nine Sects and One Gang makes me rather nervous.”
“Set your mind at ease. No one who knows they’re here lives to speak of it.”
For those who had seen them arrive were no longer among the living.
At Youryeong Sinjun’s words, the middle-aged man who had worn concern relaxed into a smile.
“Your reassurance eases my heart. Then I’ll enjoy the spectacle with a clear conscience.”
“By all means. Haha!”
Youryeong Sinjun savored every moment of the Underground Fighting Arena’s operations.
He was the sort of man who derived pleasure not merely from profit, but from sport with human lives themselves.
From investing vast sums across the Central Plains to construct the Underground Fighting Arena, all of this was truly an investment in no one but himself.
An investment to sustain this for years to come.
It was absurdly fitting.
To harbor such sincerity about work so depraved.
He was nothing but a man rotted through to the bone.
Meanwhile, those who had just entered the arena felt their mouths go dry.
How could anyone remain unmoved at the sight of that massive, blood-caked bear before them?
“Damn it. This is insane.”
“Keep your wits sharp.”
Do Il moved quickly, retrieving dropped blades from the arena floor and pressing them into their hands one by one.
They weren’t their preferred weapons—the grip felt unfamiliar—but having anything was a mercy.
Do Il handed a blade to the man who had been captured last, advising him to stay as far back as possible and avoid engagement.
The man nodded briefly.
“True enough. They say even in a tiger’s den, a sharp mind can mean survival.”
“This is a bear’s den, which changes things. And we can’t even access our Internal Energy—what hope of survival is there? Hell. Damn it all.”
Myeong Hyeon was struggling to rally their spirits when Jong Pal’s pessimism struck again.
The moment Myeong Hyeon shot a glare at Jong Pal, their eyes met the bear’s.
Roooaarrr!
“No, why are you looking at me!”
Thud-thud-thud-thud.
With each thundering charge of the massive beast, the ground seemed to shudder beneath them.
It was suffocating.
A frame so enormous and heavy should never move so fast—yet it did, terrifyingly fast.
In a heartbeat, the bear closed the distance, then suddenly twisted its body, bypassing Jong Pal and raking its claws at Myeong Hyeon instead.
“Huh!”
Myeong Hyeon threw himself sideways with every ounce of strength.
Crash!
The ground where he had stood only a moment before gouged deep.
Gulp.
Myeong Hyeon swallowed hard without thinking.
A direct hit meant death.
Had he been able to draw on his Internal Energy, the outcome would have been entirely different.
As it stood, all he could do was throw himself out of harm’s way with reckless desperation.
Even so, he had no way of knowing how much longer he could sustain it.
Then the bear’s eyes rolled, and it fixed its gaze on Jong Pal again.
“No, not again!”
Sensing imminent danger, Jong Pal bolted in the opposite direction without hesitation.
Roooaarrr!
The bear, wild with excitement at the sight of Jong Pal fleeing, gave chase with frenzied fury.
Moments later, Jong Pal found himself pressed against the iron gate through which they had entered.
“Help me! Is anyone there!”
“Tch tch. Don’t bother hoping this gate opens. You won’t escape.”
“Right. Why thrash about so desperately? Once you’re dead, it’ll all be over. Why suffer?”
Cackle-cackle.
From beyond the iron door came the mocking laughter of Huanhui Palace disciples.
“That’s right. They’re in there. Those bastards.”
“Huh? What do you mean—”
The Huanhui Palace disciples were beginning to voice their confusion when
Thud-thud-thud-thud.
The bear charged at Jong Pal like something possessed.
Just as it reached arm’s length, Jong Pal threw his entire body weight low, sliding under the beast’s legs.
Because the creature was so massive, Jong Pal slipped through cleanly.
And then,
Crash!
The bear’s enormous bulk smashed straight into the iron door, obliterating it.
“Ahhhhh!”
The Huanhui Palace disciples who had been laughing at Jong Pal just moments before were crushed beneath the door and killed instantly.
“Phew. Phew. Hehehehe. Those dogs. Got what they deserved.”
Jong Pal staggered back to where Myeong Hyeon and Do Il stood.
The bear lay motionless for a moment, the impact from colliding with the door having been considerable.
“You’re mad, you know that?”
“Weren’t you furious with them too? Those whelps?”
Do Il and Myeong Hyeon could only laugh incredulously at Jong Pal’s words.
“But I’m at my wit’s end now.”
Beyond the rubble, the enormous bear was slowly beginning to rise.
A sigh escaped unbidden.
They had bought time, yes, but there was no hope to be found in this situation—none whatsoever.
Then,
“It pains me.”
Myeong Hyeon spoke up.
His eyes had grown red and glistening.
“What is it—do you have a wife or children hidden somewhere?” Jong Pal attempted a joke even in these dire circumstances, but
Myeong Hyeon shook his head.
“It’s not that. It’s that there’s nothing I can do.”
Myeong Hyeon exhaled deeply.
“If we die like this, what becomes of those powerless souls still waiting?”
Among those locked in the dungeons awaiting their turn were children, the elderly, and a woman in her ninth month of pregnancy.
Myeong Hyeon’s words spoke of his anguish at being unable to save them.
Tears began to stream down his face like beads.
Confronted by the sincerity in Myeong Hyeon’s eyes, Do Il and Jong Pal found themselves at a loss for words.
Only now did it become clear.
Myeong Hyeon was a true master of the Wudang Sect, one who carried genuine righteousness in his heart.
“Don’t give up!”
Jong Pal, who had been scratching his head, straightened his sword and cried out.
“Yes, we’re in the worst situation imaginable and can’t even use our Martial Arts, but from now on, we struggle—we struggle with everything we have!”
“Struggle?”
“Yes. Not to save ourselves, but to give those who remain any chance at all, however slim—we struggle for that. And if we can bring down that cursed bear, all the better.”
Do Il and Myeong Hyeon’s eyes widened. Jong Pal was saying such things?
Of course, such resolve changed nothing about their odds of survival.
But this was a matter of heart.
To struggle for those who remained.
It was not a bad sentiment.
Perhaps it carried its own meaning after all.
Of course, they might all be torn apart by that bear in seconds, but now that they had resolved themselves this way, the fear of death seemed to lift, just a little.
A low growl echoed through the space.
The bear regained consciousness and fully rose to its feet.
“Damn, that thing is repulsively huge.”
Even from a distance, its overwhelming size and presence were truly formidable.
The bear roared again, long and thunderous.
The cry reverberated through the chamber.
Spotting Jong Pal, who had made a fool of it, the bear began charging at him with savage fury.
“What grudge did I owe you in a past life? Every time you see me, you go berserk—what is it with you, beast?”
Jong Pal shouted at the charging bear.
Do Il and Myeong Hyeon, standing beside him, steeled their resolve and raised their swords with grim determination in their eyes.
It was truly a moment when they had to stake their lives.
And yet,
“Quite the fascinating people, aren’t you.”
A voice murmured softly,
Whoosh.
Do Il, Myeong Hyeon, and Jong Pal felt their bodies transform.
Suddenly, they could use their Internal Energy.
All three wore shocked expressions at the abrupt change.
“No, how, how is this possible?”
“Get back! Dodge it!”
Uncertain what was happening, their immediate priority was to escape the danger bearing down on them.
But the circumstances had shifted from before.
The three of them, without hesitation, each deployed their Divine Art and slipped past the bear’s charging assault before retreating sharply.
Taking advantage of the brief opening, Jong Pal glanced about.
Though it seemed almost too obvious, there was no one in this Underground Fighting Arena who could help them.
Yet suddenly they could use their Internal Energy?
“Ha, haha! Is this what a miracle is?”
That was the only way to interpret it.
Or rather, the only way they wanted to interpret it.
The light in all three pairs of eyes had transformed completely from before.
“Whatever the reason, I haven’t the faintest idea.”
“But this changes everything!”
At once, Jong Pal, Myeong Hyeon, and Do Il surged toward the bear, their eyes blazing coldly.
Time wore on.
Shriek…
Thud.
The massive beast, now drenched in blood of its own making, finally collapsed face-down onto the ground.
Looking at the limp body of the bear, they understood.
The fiercest of all the predators that had claimed countless lives had finally breathed its last.
“Gasp! Gasp! Gasp!”
The three stood soaked in sweat, their breath heaving to the top of their throats.
Soon Do Il, who had driven the final blow into the beast, collapsed to the ground alongside Jong Pal and Myeong Hyeon.
They had barely managed to bring down that cursed bear.
Then came the moment.
“Ho.”
Youryeong Sinjun revealed himself before them.
His Divine Art was so ghostlike that no one could have detected his presence.
“Impressive. To think you’d bring down that creature.”
Youryeong Sinjun’s gaze, which had lingered on the fallen bear, now turned toward those who had survived.
Each of them looked utterly wretched.
And well they might.
However they had suddenly gained the ability to use their Internal Energy, this enormous bear was no creature to be faced lightly.
It was the very beast that had long reigned as king in some distant mountain beyond the borders.
Considerable time and expense had gone into acquiring such a creature.
“Hmm.”
It was rare for events to deviate so from their anticipated conclusion.
But it mattered little.
It had provided ample entertainment nonetheless, which was gratifying enough.
That would suffice.
‘Have we… survived? What happens now?’
Just as such questions began to form in the three men’s minds, Youryeong Sinjun spoke.
“Well, we’ve had our amusement. Clear them out and move to the next round.”
“What, what did you say?”
A command issued as though ordering away mere objects.
Whether they died by the bear’s claws or slew the beast, their fate had been predetermined from the start.
The next round would be fresh beasts, and with them, new victims drawn from the civilian population.
It was the sequence all of them most enjoyed.
This hellish spectacle was only just beginning.
Soon, at the command of Youryeong Sinjun—the Palace Master—Hyeolmyeon Gwi, the Vice Master, appeared at the head of his elite guard.
At this sight, Myeong Hyeon’s face twisted as he cried out.
“You vicious, contemptible wretches! Heaven will punish you for this.”
“Heaven? If heaven were going to punish us, wouldn’t it have done so long ago?”
A dark smile spread across Youryeong Sinjun’s face at Myeong Hyeon’s words.
“But as you can see, I’m thriving quite well, living comfortably—unlike vermin like you. How amusing.”
In the meantime, Hyeolmyeon Gwi drew his blade and advanced toward them alongside the palace disciples.
“You worthless dogs!”
Jong Pal spewed curses freely, while Myeong Hyeon trembled violently with rage.
Do Il made no attempt to hide his despair, chanting sutras under his breath.
It was a moment of absolute crisis.
But then,
“I thought you were just moderately wicked. Turns out you’re nothing but irredeemable trash.”
“What? Who are you? Who dares speak so insolently!”
Hyeolmyeon Gwi, the Vice Lord of Huanhui Palace, cried out and whirled around, searching.
“It’s me, you rotting bastards.”
A man who had been standing quietly in the shadows until now.
The man who had been brought to Huanhui Palace captive only yesterday.
Yeo Unhwi.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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