Chapter 710
After the first day of the main competition, night had fallen.
We arrived at a guesthouse right after our schedule ended, and it was unusually packed with people.
“Hey… I wonder if there will be a place to sit.”
There usually weren’t this many people, but maybe it was because of the martial arts tournament; there were just too many.
“Well, since Lady Mo Yong has already secured a spot for us, it should be okay, right?”
Dang So-yeol said with a smile.
Right.
Since she had called upon Mo Yong-hee, she must have definitely set up a place. After all, she was a woman who disliked doing things in crowded places.
Meanwhile, watching Dang So-yeol chatter away made me chuckle to myself.
“You look happy?”
“Huh? Hehe…”
I wonder if winning truly feels that good.
Dang So-yeol seemed to be smiling much more than usual, her gestures light and airy, clearly radiating good vibes.
…I was a little scared on stage, you know.
The expression on her face when she swung her grenade sword with increasing force could have sent shivers down anyone’s spine, including mine.
I think that’s the kind of face the Poison Queen likely made in her past life when she was offing some Sapa or Demon Cult members.
Even if the times have changed, that expression still seems to linger.
Plus…
‘Wow, you’ve gotten a lot stronger!’
Dang So-yeol was much stronger than I expected.
I had vaguely predicted she would reach the flower garden, but it seemed she had landed in an even better place than that.
‘You didn’t even use your own martial arts.’
She didn’t even draw from the techniques taught to her by the Tang clan. The only martial art she seemed to use was…
‘The power of the Dark King.’
It was just that power from the Dark King I had witnessed before.
It formed a black curtain that created an uncanny sensation in the inner space. It was undeniably a rough power.
The catch, however, lay in the fact that…
‘It’s rather ambiguous to even call that martial arts.’
The power of the Dark King originates from his being a half-dragon and derives from the abilities he acquires as a result.
So, does that mean what Dang So-yeol just used is the Dark King’s power?
Dang So-yeol is human and can’t wield his powers—how then was she able to employ them?
Of course, the level of proficiency is overwhelmingly higher for the Dark King, but the key factor is that she used it.
Hmm…
It didn’t feel like she was directly using the power I had seen. It wasn’t martial arts, either.
So, what was left?
‘Is it a spell?’
Dang So-yeol appeared to have used the power of the Dark King in a sorcerous manner.
I thought that seemed to be the right perspective.
Since it wasn’t a direct power, the performance wouldn’t be stellar.
It must be magic because the usage and energy flow diverged from martial arts techniques.
‘Can a power be likened to sorcery?’
If sorcery was, in the first place, a skill brought forth by a dragon, that would also fit somewhat.
“Confucius?”
As I sank into thought, Dang So-yeol called out to me.
I shook myself back to reality at the sound of her voice.
“Oh, sorry. I was just lost in some other thoughts.”
“Are you very tired?”
“I’m not tired.”
What could make me fatigued? The fight had ended in just one blow.
“If you’re going to feel tired, you’re probably more exhausted.”
Given that I had been whacking the grenade sword with all my might, she would surely be feeling more fatigued than me.
“I’m not that tired. If anything, I feel quite refreshed…?”
…Uh… yeah…
Had she finally released some of that pent-up stress from the recent days by unleashing fury with the grenade sword?
Dang So-yeol looked fresh and bright, just as she mentioned.
Seeing her like that made me smirk to myself.
“Ugh….”
A groaning sound came from behind us.
It was Bong-soon.
Hearing this, I frowned and asked, “What now?”
“…It was, um, boring….”
Bong-soon sighed in response to my question.
I had a good idea of what she meant.
It’s fair to say it was somewhat bland.
While Dang So-yeol and I had fought against Hwa Kyung-mu-in, Bong-soon had battled an opponent who was already past their peak.
Thanks to that, there was no contest, and she easily won.
So after that, Bong-soon had been feeling a little down.
“Well, you should be happy you won. What’s with that face? Anyone looking at you would think you lost.”
“If I’d lost, I wouldn’t have cared like this! I want to fight a strong person…!”
“Next time, maybe. Quit whining; it’s noisy.”
“…Hmph….”
When I said that with a frown, Bong-soon quieted down.
Tsk! She clicked her tongue shortly and turned her head away.
At that moment, the person beside me shook their head in disbelief as they looked at me.
“Wow, you’re really tearing that kid apart.”
A striking black-haired beauty.
It was Paejon.
“What harm would it do to be a bit kinder?”
“Yes. It would do harm. Especially not with her.”
He was never particularly sweet-natured, but he couldn’t show that side to Bong-soon.
“By the way, what happened to Prince Bi?”
I almost said “elder” but changed my words mid-sentence.
Because there were people around.
“Hmm? What are you talking about?”
“When did you arrive? If you did come, you could’ve at least said something.”
Paejon also participated in the first round of the main event.
He hadn’t been visible, and he hadn’t had much to say, so I assumed he wasn’t in that batch.
Having just concluded our martial arts match and preparing to leave, I suddenly caught wind of a buzz nearby.
There was talk of the fighting dragon doing something.
Just then, I noticed that Paejon was descending from the martial arts arena.
“Was there anything to remark about? It probably wasn’t significant, anyway.”
That was indeed a valid point. So I looked at him and asked, “Are you genuinely planning on winning?”
“Well, who knows?”
Paejon grinned at my query.
Something about that smile sent chills down my spine.
“I’ll think about it based on the circumstances.”
“…”
That clearly meant he had no intention of backing down quietly.
Hearing those words made me internally sigh.
‘What a bother.’
This old man is never easy to deal with, and if luck has me face him in the arena, he will undoubtedly aim to take me down for real.
So all I had left to ponder was:
‘How on earth do I win?’
I have to defeat Paejon.
Since I need to win, I’ll find a way to ensure that victory.
That was the singular thought.
As I was lost in various futile concerns,
“…Over there… it’s Soyeomra and Dokbong.”
“Indeed. It’s really Soyeomra.”
I instinctively heightened my senses at the voices discussing nearby.
“They look younger in person.”
“Is that young man truly Hwa Kyung?”
“They say he’s tight with Dokbong, and looking at them together, it seems there’s truth to that.”
“Then who are the other two…?”
Interesting voices buzzed, unlike those from just a few days past.
My ears perked up at the fragments of conversation surrounding me and Dang So-yeol.
To be exact, they seemed far more focused on Dang So-yeol than me.
“Even from afar, it was clear she’s stunning.”
“That fragile-looking woman wields her sword like that….”
“A remarkable figure has emerged, separate from the Tang Clan’s legacy.”
Much was said about me defeating the wind… or whatever that was!
But if there was one person generating the most talk, it was undoubtedly Dang So-yeol.
That probably indicates she made a significant impact.
“A woman who hasn’t even reached her twenties is called Hwa Kyung. That means she’s at the level of a hundred great masters?”
“Isn’t she the greatest prodigy since Shinyong?”
“…Except that she’s a member of the Tang Clan. That’s undeniably true.”
“One, there are serious allegations about sorcery being used…”
Having heard everything there was to hear, I gathered my thoughts.
If it were a big deal, she had undoubtedly made a name for herself by now.
‘I reckon her alias will change soon.’
Since she pulverized the Hwa Kyung Muin Yutanggeom in front of so many people, you couldn’t simply call Dang So-yeol a mere later bloomer anymore.
So, until the martial arts tournament concludes, Dang So-yeol’s nickname will likely change, too.
We climbed the stairs while feeling all eyes on us.
It was rather different from the plan I had in mind, but I found more joy in Dang So-yeol’s growth than in the results of the planned outcome.
I don’t know why, but it just felt that way.
When I reached the fourth floor of the guesthouse, there were noticeably fewer guests compared to the first floor.
They say the third and fourth floors can only be accessed under certain conditions.
As I stepped onto the fourth floor, I was led by a staff member to a seating area.
“Oh, here it is.”
Not long after, I spotted Mo Yong-hee waving a delicate hand.
Wi Seol-ah was seated next to her.
From the moment I arrived, Wi Seol-ah had been beaming at me.
“You could’ve eaten first.”
“I just got here.”
“Don’t lie. You couldn’t possibly have arrived just in time for our appointment. You must have been here long before that.”
“…”
When I called her out on it, Mo Yong-hee paused momentarily.
Namgung Bi-ah was nowhere to be seen.
I heard she was capable of moving, but was taking a little more time to recover.
‘That brat Woohyuk and the little princess didn’t come either.’
They will take care of that themselves.
I didn’t have an ounce of interest in that for now.
Shortly after we sat down, the dishes were served.
Considering I hadn’t ordered anything, it was most likely Mo Yong-hee’s doing.
“You seemed quite busy today. Are you all right?”
Hearing Mo Yong-hee’s inquiry made me chuckle.
“Do you recognize this face?”
“It was quite loud around here. So congratulations to you too, Lady Dang.”
“Ah… Thanks.”
At her congratulations, Dang So-yeol subtly blushed.
Unlike in the preliminaries, the Martial Arts Festival had a massive audience.
So, Mo Yong-hee must have pieced it all together by now.
“Was it a bit overkill? Are you fine?”
“Hmm? What do you mean?”
“Confucius… didn’t you want to keep a low profile?”
The contest against the Wind Forest’s martial artist.
The strength shown there was more than enough to stir up a buzz today.
Though thanks to Dang So-yeol, it was a tad quieter, Mo Yong-hee seemed somewhat concerned about that.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t particularly trying to hide myself.”
I was merely waiting for the right moment to showcase my abilities.
Furthermore…
“Honestly, I had to show it at some point.”
Even if the timing wasn’t perfect, it’s tough to keep it concealed indefinitely.
The circumstances proved just right.
“I see….”
After acknowledging my response, Mo Yong-hee nodded in understanding.
While nodding, her expression reflected she seemed absorbed in thought.
If left to her own devices, she might come to a conclusion soon enough.
Mo Yong-hee, lost in contemplation, took a bao and popped it in her mouth.
With a slurp, as I chewed my food, I noticed the glass at my side filling with water.
Wi Seol-ah was gently pouring water for me.
The amusing thing was that Dang So-yeol tried to do the same but missed the mark.
“…Thanks.”
“No worries.”
After refilling my cup, she then filled Dang So-yeol’s and lastly, her own cup.
Mo Yong-hee and Paejon, along with Bong-soon, were skipped over.
Neither Paejon nor Bong-soon seemed to mind, but I could see Mo Yong-hee’s brows knitting subtly.
Did those two have a thing going?
A strange tension seemed to hang in the air.
“…So, you said you’re competing tomorrow, yes?”
Changing the topic, I directed my question towards Wi Seol-ah.
“Yes! That’s correct. I’m competing tomorrow.”
Wi Seol-ah, along with Seong-yul, would participate in the first round of the non-competitive main event.
Hmm…
The fact that Meng’s martial arts event today was probably the real deal.
Most high-profile individuals were slated for this day.
A few were present on the first day, but in terms of frequency, today was far superior.
It likely wasn’t a coincidence.
It’s probably a pre-planned arrangement by Meng’s side.
“Right, make sure to give it your all.”
“Yes! I’ll definitely win. I promise!”
With my encouragement, Wi Seol-ah’s face lit up with a smile.
It struck me as cute, so I handed her some of the food from my plate.
‘…But why is she trying so hard to win?’
Not that I understood that completely, but since her grin was adorable, I let that slide.
It had been ages since we all had a meal together.
Lately, I had been too preoccupied with matters and training, making it difficult to find time.
It would’ve been nice if Namgung Bi-ah had joined us as well.
All I could feel was regret.
I should pack some leftovers to take to her later.
With that thought, I finished up my light meal.
A day passed.
I finished my morning training and started walking out.
Today was the day of the first round in the martial arts tournament, and I also had plans outside.
As I navigated through the bustling crowd.
I glided along and glanced back.
“Are you okay?”
“…Yeah….”
Walking behind me was Namgung Bi-ah, sporting a modest cotton turban.
It felt like a long time since the two of us had walked together like this.
“If you find it uncomfortable, just let me know.”
“…What if I say…?”
“I’ll either carry you or give you a hug.”
“Uncomfortable….”
“I’m just joking.”
“…”
My playful banter had Namgung Bi-ah’s expression curling into a rare frown.
It was amusing, so I carefully tugged at her wrist to draw her closer.
She hadn’t been able to come out yesterday, but today she was mobile, so I decided to take her along.
If possible, I had wanted to drag Mo Yong-hee and Dang So-yeol along, but since both mentioned having separate plans, I just took Namgung Bi-ah with me.
The destination? The venue where the martial arts competition was being held.
I headed straight for the stands.
There were far more people today than yesterday; even on the first day, there seemed to be a lot of attendees.
Today’s gathering had no room for any gaps.
“…There are a lot of people….”
As Namgung Bi-ah spoke, she inched closer to me.
I led Namgung Bi-ah into the seat I had already reserved.
I heard the audience seats are typically reserved in advance, but when I asked Mo Yong-hee yesterday, she arranged it effortlessly for me.
After finally squeezing through the crowd, I settled into two seats.
I had landed the worst spot imaginable.
The front row was for eminent top dogs or officials from various clans to sit.
Mo Yong-hee said if I wanted, she could’ve pulled some strings to get me those seats too, but I politely declined.
“That feels a bit too overwhelming.”
A decent spot would suffice.
Sitting quietly, I gazed at the empty dueling stage.
The murmurs echoed all around, yet I paid them no heed.
My focus was solely on the dueling platform.
Did my gaze catch someone’s attention? Namgung Bi-ah turned to me and asked.
“…Seol-ah… Are you preoccupied with something?”
“What?”
I raised my eyebrows at her. When I turned my head, I found Namgung Bi-ah’s calm eyes fixed on me.
“What are you saying all of a sudden?”
“…So… that’s why you came?”
“…”
I couldn’t refute Namgung Bi-ah’s deduction.
Honestly, what else could have driven me here?
I simply offered an awkward grin.
“It’s true, but I didn’t come solely out of worry.”
“So then?”
“I came due to anticipation rather than worry.”
Yes, anticipation.
I was indeed concerned about Wi Seol-ah going out on stage alone.
Yet, that wasn’t the fundamental reason.
Both Dang So-yeol and Wi Seol-ah were on my mind.
The eagerness to witness how these children would manifest differently from their past selves.
To see them sprout wings and take flight independently.
A sudden urge to see that arose within me.
“…”
While observing me in silence, Namgung Bi-ah raised a hand and gently ruffled my hair.
“What?”
“…Nothing.”
Strange as it was, I found no need to resist.
While waiting there, someone walked up to us and handed over something.
A few slips of paper that seemed to have been printed copies of the matchups.
I promptly unfolded it and searched for names.
‘Seongyul… Seems like he got caught on purpose… And Yeongpung is on here too?’
The name of the sword dragon Yeongpung, the first weapon of the volcano, popped up in the mix.
Alongside that were several other martial artists from the Hwasan Sect.
I spotted Peng Wujin and Dowangdo too. Finally.
“…Huh?”
My heart skipped a beat momentarily at the names listed on the match card.
The Shaolin’s Yuyuan facing Shanxi’s Wi Seol-ah.
“…Haha.”
I chuckled upon noticing that on the bracket.
“Seriously, these little bastards.”
It felt like an underhanded move by Meng, right from the start.
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