Chapter 148: Friendly Martial Arts Competition (1)
Among the orthodox factions, there are three officially recognized martial arts competitions.
The first is the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament, hosted by the Murim Alliance, aiming to identify the most outstanding star.
The second is the Heavenly Dragon Tournament, also organized by the Murim Alliance.
This competition is the most prominent one faced by the orthodox factions. Unlike the annual Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament, it doesn’t have a set timeframe, making it an event many martial artists eagerly await.
And the third one…
‘I’ll just ignore this one since it’s not happening anyway.’
During the time this tournament would occur, the appearance of the Heavenly Demon would likely turn everything upside down, so it wasn’t worth worrying about.
The Heavenly Dragon Tournament could take place in a few years, but…
‘This timing feels a bit off as well.’
In conclusion, neither tournament really mattered that much.
What was important right now was that I needed to participate in the competition.
A competition for the young prodigies.
To determine which star is brighter.
And to announce any newly emerged talents.
That was the outward justification for this competition.
In reality, it wasn’t exactly a clean affair.
The era of the orthodox factions’ purity had long passed.
“Gu Yangcheon from the Gu Clan of Shanxi, third group.”
After a casual glance at the paper I drew from the box, I crumpled it into my pocket with a sigh.
‘Third group, huh… It’s going to take a while.’
I got stuck in the third group, so any chance of finishing quickly and taking a break had vanished.
Ugh-
As I stepped outside, it seemed the others had already picked their groups.
Immediately, Tang Soyeol approached me with an eager expression.
“Did you draw your group, Young Master Gu?”
“Yes.”
“What group are you in? I got the second group!”
Thankfully, it seemed I wouldn’t have to face her too soon since she was in the second group.
“I’m in the third… Why is she acting like that?”
In the midst of my conversation with Tang Soyeol, I noticed someone plopped down in a corner, sulking against the wall.
Despite the curious glances from others, Namgung Bi-ah was banging her head against the wall, completely indifferent.
What was going on with her?
Tang Soyeol responded with an awkward chuckle.
“She said she drew the first group…”
“What’s wrong with that?”
Wasn’t it a good thing we were all in different groups?
“She thinks it won’t be fun having to fight us later…”
“…”
That girl… No, I shouldn’t say anything bad.
She seemed fine for a moment, but suddenly she was acting like a ghost lamenting her inability to fight.
Why was she sulking about something like that?
It was utterly ridiculous, so I let out a chuckle as I approached Namgung Bi-ah.
“…What group…?”
Namgung Bi-ah turned her head slightly but didn’t stand, merely uttering her question.
Honestly, I had to look at the back of her head to answer.
“Third.”
…Ughhhh…
“Is it that bad?”
She moaned as if she was in pain, prompting me to reach out and pat her head.
She flinched a little at my touch.
After a brief pause, Namgung Bi-ah finally nodded.
Seeing that, I turned to the bystander Gu Jeolyub next to me.
“You.”
“Yes?”
“What group are you in?”
“I’m in the first group.”
“Hey, he’s in the first group too.”
…Lame.
It was intended as a effort to lift her spirits, but Gu Jeolyub’s face fell at Namgung Bi-ah’s retort.
…Sorry.
His sad expression forced an apology from me.
Namgung Bi-ah, still wrapped in gloom, slowly rose from her position of despair.
‘Did she feel better already?’
That felt a bit quick, didn’t it?
“Are you okay?”
Namgung Bi-ah offered a small nod.
…I thought about it.
Her sudden insight genuinely surprised me.
Wait, she actually thought?
She frowned slightly, possibly sensing the shock on my face.
‘She’s surprisingly observant…’
She always appeared dull, yet somehow picked up on these things remarkably quick.
“Continue. You mentioned you thought about something?”
…Isn’t it okay as long as I win?
“What?”
…If I win all my matches, I can see you, right?
So, Namgung Bi-ah was optimistic that winning her battles would lead her to cross paths with us.
That sounded likely enough, but…
“Did you consider the possibility of losing?”
…Who?
Whether it’s you, or me, or anyone really.
It was clear she hadn’t considered the chance of any one of us losing.
‘Hold on, didn’t she used to obsess only over sword-wielders?’
I distinctly recalled her single-mindedly pursuing sword-wielding martial artists.
Yet now, her obsession seemed to encompass any strong martial artist.
Had she undergone a transformation I missed?
I responded to Namgung Bi-ah.
“You could lose before I even get a chance to see you.”
There are always variables at play.
Though I highly doubted this tournament would turn out that way.
Namgung Bi-ah locked her gaze onto mine before speaking again.
“You won’t lose.”
Her words dripped with certainty.
“Or will you?”
Her eyes exuded pressure.
I found it hard to grasp why she held such unwavering faith in me.
I had to look away from her intense stare to answer.
“No.”
Satisfied with my answer, a small smile crept onto Namgung Bi-ah’s face.
For now, I returned to my barracks.
After all, it would take a while to set up the preliminary bracket, and with the competition starting soon, there was no need to wear myself out.
Of course, that applied to everyone else, not me.
Yet, after skipping training yesterday and today, my body itched for activity.
I continually circulated my Qi within my body to strengthen it.
But not being fully focused made the results seem lackluster.
It was bizarre how much I yearned to train, considering I had loathed it in my past life.
“Should I go for a training session?”
“Where are you planning to do that?”
It was Muyeon’s voice, who had been waiting outside the barrack.
“There should be a training area available, right?”
“Young Master, aren’t you supposed to be fighting today?”
“I think so.”
Honestly, I hadn’t paid much mind to the details since I didn’t care too much about fighting.
All I had to do was show up when called.
I wasn’t worried about messing up due to carelessness.
Yet, it wasn’t the time to be overly tense either.
“Want to take my place, Muyeon?”
“Haha… I appreciate those kinds of remarks.”
That wasn’t what I meant. I genuinely wondered if he was interested in fighting in my place since I was feeling lazy, but he seemed to have interpreted it differently.
‘Does he want to compete too?’
Muyeon was still young, and some of the participants in the tournament were older than him.
It made sense that he might have ambitions to enter the tournament given he was a martial artist.
‘Must ask him later.’
This question felt more suitable for the clan, not Muyeon.
They had sent Gu Jeolyub, so I doubted there would be an issue with Muyeon’s participation.
‘However, since he isn’t a blood relative, it might actually be problematic.’
I was aware the Gu Clan had high hopes for Muyeon.
I had quietly been preventing the swordsmen from picking him up again.
‘You’re not taking him from me.’
If anything, he seemed to have been loaned to me temporarily, but letting go of someone like him would be tough.
He had a good mindset, remarkable talent, and most importantly, he was someone I had no foreknowledge of in the future.
Though it appeared Muyeon wanted to return to his former team of swordsmen…
Not just yet.
I saw his desire to reunite with the swordsmen as a desire to recover past regrets.
I needed to give him a reason to come back to my side after sorting out these issues.
‘Maybe I have to rummage through my house storage.’
That thought was said half in jest.
There were certainly items at home that could help Muyeon.
Yet I felt they’d fall short when it came to persuading him to stay.
That’s how I viewed Muyeon.
“Muyeon.”
“Yes, Young Master?”
“Is there something you want?”
“Pardon…?”
He appeared startled by my unexpected question.
I noticed him turn from where he had been looking outside the barrack.
“I was just wondering if you needed anything.”
“Young Master…”
“Hmm?”
“Isn’t that something typically said to someone of the same gender…? Are you possibly-”
“You little…?”
There was a hint of mischief in Muyeon’s eyes.
When had he become comfortable enough to joke around me?
Somehow, I also found common ground with him thanks to what Peng Woojin had once said to me.
Even though I acknowledged Peng Woojin was genuinely a madman.
“I’m not sure why I’m asking, but I’m alright.”
“Really?”
“Yes. What I currently have is more than sufficient for me.”
I nodded at Muyeon.
As expected, I couldn’t charm him with such things.
“Young Master, Young Master!”
“Hmm?”
“Do you want to eat dumplings?”
“…When did you even get that?”
Coincidentally, I happened to feel hungry around that moment.
Wi Seol-Ah presented the food as if she had been waiting for the right opportunity.
“I went to the market with Sis Hongwa this morning!”
“Oh… Is that for the fabric she mentioned?”
“Yep! We got dumplings on the way!”
I received a dumpling, tore it in half, and handed one half to Wi Seol-Ah.
Wi Seol-Ah hesitated but eventually accepted it.
Previously, she seemed to shy away from any food I offered.
“Young Master!”
“Hmm?”
“Can I go out later?”
“Where are you going?”
“Errand with Sis Hongwa!”
An errand? It didn’t seem like something I had assigned to her.
‘Did something run out?’
Food supplies could have dwindled, but was restocking necessary so soon?
I looked into Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes, and they remained bright and innocent as ever.
“Go ahead. Just make sure to uphold what I told you last time.”
“Yes! I’ll wear a cover! I’ll listen to Sis Hongwa’s words!”
“And the last one?”
“If there are no escorts, then take Bro Muyeon!”
“Pardon…!?”
“Exactly. You’ve remembered it well.”
Muyeon, stuck in the middle of the conversation, seemed puzzled, but I ignored him.
“Have a safe trip.”
As was habit, I affectionately patted her head, causing Wi Seol-Ah to beam.
“Yes! I’ll do my best! Young Master, you must win too, okay? I’ll cheer for you!”
What “doing her best” was supposed to mean intrigued me.
It felt like she was already giving her all.
‘Just this much is enough.’
She likely wouldn’t grow up normally regardless.
Even considering the best-case scenario, this kind of life wouldn’t last more than a few years at most.
Not to mention, this situation was created mainly for my own benefit rather than hers.
‘Will you resent me later?’
Contrary to my worries, she would probably not resent me.
I alone held memories of my past life.
So even if she were to feel disappointment, it wouldn’t alter anything.
“Right, I’ll put in my effort as well.”
After saying that, I stood up.
I began to hear a commotion outside my barracks.
It sounded like the moment I had been waiting for had arrived.
I pinched Namgung Bi-ah’s cheek to rouse her from her slumber and brought her along.
Upon stepping outside, where a crowd gathered, I spotted a large wooden board covered in names.
“Young Master Gu.”
Just as before, Tang Soyeol approached me upon spotting me. It seemed she had been waiting for me outside.
“The bracket came out faster than expected.”
I nodded, aligning my gaze with another spot.
‘Third group… Bi Clan’s Bi Yeonsum.’
That appeared to be my opponent, but the name didn’t resonate with me.
Given I neither recalled the name nor the clan, this person likely wasn’t influential.
‘…Hmm.’
But that wasn’t what was important.
I shifted my gaze to check the brackets of the others.
It seemed there was no need to worry about them.
Based on their assigned opponents, it looked like we would encounter each other in the later rounds of the tournament.
‘What are the odds of us all being in different groups? Did the Murim Alliance pull this off deliberately?’
Every bloodline from the four noble clans was placed in separate groups, and even those with noteworthy backgrounds were split apart.
‘Oddly enough, the participants themselves seem rather unconcerned.’
This wasn’t the first or second time the Murim Alliance had attempted something like this.
All hope I had for the orthodox factions had long turned to ashes.
However, one detail put a slight frown on my face.
The second group.
– Tang Clan’s Tang Soyeol vs. Taeryung Clan’s Jang Seonyeon.
The moment those words caught my attention, my expression turned serious.
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