Ten Years in Seclusion, and I Come Down the Mountain Invincible

I make my way down the rugged mountain path, seething with anger. Every word in that taunting letter is like a red-hot brand, burning a mark of humiliation into my heart. Ten years. I've lived in seclusion here for ten years, thinking I could escape the conflicts of the martial world. Yet my enemies still won't leave me alone, and now they're acting this brazenly!

I sneer to myself. What kind of martial arts tournament is this? It's clearly a farce, with a rabble fighting over power and profit! Back when I roamed the martial world, people sparred and competed with restraint, using martial arts to make friends. No one would have fought over such petty gains like they do now. They've brought shame on the entire martial world!

What has become of the martial world over these ten years...? I mutter to myself, my heart a jumble of emotions.

"Sir," the thin man says. Seeing my gloomy expression, he assumes I'm worried about getting caught up in the trouble and quickly adds, "Don't worry. This 'Martial Arts Tournament' may be a bit chaotic, but ordinary folk like us won't get dragged into it. If you don't have any business here, you'd better leave quickly, before you get into trouble."

This story is entirely fictional.

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.