Chapter: 746
Before the eighth river begins, after the sixteenth river ends.
I quietly examined the wooden board among the now eight people.
The results of the previous matches weren’t much different from my expectations.
The Tao King and Biseongdo advanced.
So did I and Dang So-yeol.
Among others, those who had hidden their skills—meaning all the Hwagyeong class martial artists—were now up, leaving only the strongest behind.
Moreover, this also indicated that the end of the martial arts tournament was not far off.
No matter how long it took, it would only last for seven days and nights.
Even if there was some time left, I had a lot to ponder while looking at the wooden board.
-Pengzhou of the Hebei Peng Clan vs. Gu Yangcheon of the Shanxi Gou Clan.
The words written in the middle of the wooden board.
Seeing the line that clearly indicated my opponent made me chuckle.
“Well, well.”
I could admit one thing from that.
This martial arts tournament was filled with surprises beyond my expectations.
‘They’re already paired up?’
Who would have thought I’d be fighting the Tao King before the eighth river?
That was an aspect I genuinely hadn’t anticipated.
I thought I’d be able to hold him off and face him just before the finals.
No matter how bad the Tao King’s current condition was, I never imagined he’d start using such a good card so soon.
‘I thought I’d face him in the finals.’
I gently stroked my chin, which was oddly still smooth.
What in the world was going on?
‘Hmm.’
Right now, my standing was quite significant.
I wasn’t bragging—this was true.
The buzz and crowd outside were even greater than during the Dragon Age.
This meant that expectations regarding me had risen tremendously.
And then…
‘My value has increased thanks to Mo Yong-hee’s quick response.’
Right after Jangwon Sangdanju’s entrance, Madam Mi took immediate action upon hearing the report submitted by Mo Yong-hee.
The way she did it? Through word of mouth.
[Jang Won-sang, the head of the company, personally showed up to offer support to So Yeom-ra.]
Just that fact halted the constant influx of high-ranking figures.
The richest man in the Central Plains even showed up.
This implied that my value was that exceptional and that I wouldn’t be met unless someone matched that level.
Thus, those on top would likely stop squabbling and begin sharing other discussions.
While Jang Won-sang’s presence on the board made it awkward to approach him,
In other words, this indicated that my prospective value was substantial.
Also…
‘The fact that Baekhwasangdan had preemptively sponsored such a person.’
As a result, Baekhwa was essentially advertising without advertising.
Such a response must necessarily yield considerable benefits.
‘In any case, they really are quick.’
Whether it was Mo Yong-hee or Madam Mi, their reactions were alarmingly prompt.
I heard that afterward, they requested to meet Jangwon Sangdanju?
‘I heard the letter arrived yesterday.’
The conditions they proposed back then were outrageous.
Jang Won-sang said he’d bring even more absurd conditions.
I made a peculiar expression just thinking about him.
‘I turned him down today because there’s a martial arts competition.’
However, on second thought, that seemed like a wise decision.
‘No matter what conditions he brought…’
It’s better to refuse now.
He must have arrived with some significant terms.
‘After today, my worth will multiply, and the value he brings will also carry a different meaning.’
This rejection was likely the right move.
That’s why I suddenly became curious.
‘Will he bring back even better conditions, or will he just give up?’
I covered my mouth and felt the growing excitement.
Unconsciously, the corners of my mouth kept twitching upwards.
‘I have no idea what Maeng is thinking…’
Unexpected twists have been rather enjoyable.
Thanks to that, things could progress quicker.
Tap, tap.
I flicked my hands to shake off the thoughts and loosened my body a little.
Then, I looked up at the sky.
A clear, sunny sky greeted me.
The sparse clouds made for a surprisingly pleasing view.
I smiled as I took in the sight.
‘Perfect.’
A terrific day for mischief.
Today felt oddly fitting for such antics.
Waaaaaaah—!!!
-Gwicheonmun Myungcheon. Victory!
Time had passed since the start of the eighth river.
The excitement of the tournament was heating up gradually, and the audience’s cheers grew louder and louder.
Of course.
The level of this martial arts contest had risen significantly compared to what I had witnessed in the past.
‘…Not bad at all?’
Even I was somewhat surprised.
The latest winner was Myungcheon of Guicheonmun.
He was a figure from a sect I had never heard of before, but his skill was remarkable.
‘He easily fits into the ranks of the hundred great masters.’
The opponent was Geumseon Yeoyeon of Geumseonga.
I heard he was an impressive warrior highly skilled in dual swordsmanship. Myungcheon managed to secure a victory against such a renowned warrior.
The two of them were neck and neck; it was a close match.
Had either made even the slightest mistake, they would have faced inevitable defeat.
Perhaps it had been a while since I’d seen a proper match, but I felt quite good watching it.
‘The level is definitely looking good at this stage.’
The clean execution from the first match made it a pleasure to watch.
Especially since it featured Hwagyeong-class martial artists.
-Yoryeonggun-ga Gundangseok vs. Cheonghae-do-mun’s Mukseoljin! The fight has begun!
Soon, the second match unfolded.
Kwazaa–!!
The energy emitted from the betting was enormous, and I felt the currents brushing against my cheek.
This year’s tournament broke expectations on several fronts.
Most of those considered favorites, or strong contenders, had been eliminated, making way for these unfamiliar faces.
The emergence of new masters was a highly welcomed event for folks in the Central Plains, and it further ignited the excitement.
I was no different, watching the matches with great interest.
“Was it fun?”
A heavy voice chimed in from the side.
I turned my head to see a grumpy-looking old man.
It was the Tao King.
“It seems you’re having a good time.”
I hadn’t expected him to strike up a conversation with me.
As I quietly stared at the Tao King, I couldn’t help but let out a comment.
“Yeah, it’s pretty fun.”
“…Hmph.”
Was it the lack of respect directed at him that bothered him? The King’s demeanor grew even more distorted.
However, he quickly collected himself and continued.
“Given you’re from an esteemed family, you seem to have received rather poor education.”
That was quite a blunt remark.
But,
“Exactly so.”
“What?”
I smiled broadly at his trivial comment.
“I thought being born into an esteemed family warranted a good education…but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.”
“…”
There were others here of esteemed lineage just like me, so the King’s expression crumpled instantly when he grasped my meaning.
That old man was somewhat amusing.
How could he react so strongly just because I poked at him a bit?
“How dare you…”
“Lord Peng, you’re quite fascinating, the more I see you.”
I interrupted the King, who was about to erupt in anger, and added,
“I reckon coming to me won’t get you a favorable response. So why do you keep coming over here just to be annoyed? Is it your taste?”
“…!”
At first, I had been letting things slide, but now I was genuinely curious why he seemed bent on picking fights with me every time we met.
Oh, wait a minute.
“Do you have a crush on me? If that’s it, as I mentioned to your son…I apologize, but I’m into another woman.”
“This guy—!”
Swoosh—!
The Tao King, unable to contain his rage, let loose his energy.
Well, he intended to.
Crack—!
“…!!”
In an instant, the aura he unleashed was suppressed by the crackling energy erupting from my body.
His eyes widened in shock as his energy was swiftly crushed.
His expression shifted to one of evident confusion.
Seeing that, I casually patted the King on the shoulder.
“Hey, just calm down. Given your age… Being full of vigor at that age is admirable, but if you keep doing this, things could get troublesome.”
Although I tried to speak as gently as possible, the King’s expression remained sour after hearing my words.
What to do…?
I felt like I might end up getting punched here.
Of course, I was talking about the Tao King.
‘I’m trying to keep my cool because of Pang Ah-hee. Why does he insist on acting like this?’
In reality, had this been under normal circumstances, I would have already knocked him flat.
But I felt ongoing guilt towards that girl.
‘It seems inappropriate to fight in front of your kid.’
I could only hold myself back because Pang Woo-jin was observing me from behind, ensuring our eyes would meet.
‘But, seriously, what’s with this guy?’
I couldn’t shake the feeling.
Why did the Tao King only seem to harbor such intensity against me?
‘Fan Gun is the real loser, so why is he directing his ire at me?’
Alright, let’s say I was hit by a traitor pretending to be a fighting dragon.
Sure, getting mocked and ridiculed in the Central Plains would naturally make him feel furious.
However.
‘Why is he so fixated on me?’
It got frustrating having him bark at me like a dog each time we crossed paths.
‘Hmm…’
Looking back, it seemed that this was the attitude right from the start.
Initially, I figured he was angry due to the broken engagement, yet reflecting on it, it didn’t look like that was the whole story.
So, what could it be?
Why does he seem so determined to take me down?
At that moment, questions bubbled up in rapid succession.
“…Those eyes.”
The Tao King gritted his teeth and added.
“That damned gaze you give me, it resembles your father all too perfectly.”
“…”
Out of nowhere, a comment about my father caught me off guard.
Upon hearing it, I simply nodded.
“…!”
I flinched.
The Tao King briefly glanced at me, trembling.
I took a deep breath, feeling a sudden tension arise.
I nearly went too far.
‘I almost killed him.’
Just now, I nearly gouged out the Tao King’s eyes.
Phew. I barely regained control.
Why did he suddenly bring up my father? Was he looking to get himself killed?
‘What a shock.’
If I hadn’t been careful, it could have messed up my whole plan.
As I collected my startled thoughts…
‘Hm.’
The tone he took with that comment about my father felt charged with emotion.
That led me to ask him,
“Lord Peng. May I inquire about something?”
I bore no ill will.
“Have you ever had an encounter with my father back in the day that got you hurt?”
I purely asked out of curiosity.
But perhaps that proved problematic.
Crack—!!
An overwhelming surge of murderous intent erupted from the Tao King.
“What did you just say…?”
“No… Wait… Just hold on a moment?”
“What did you just say?”
Whoa, he really seemed furious.
I had not anticipated this kind of fervor.
Dang…
This was unnerving.
‘Have I touched on something I shouldn’t?’
It felt like I’d stumbled into a landmine.
So awkwardly, returning to a grin, I spoke.
“I’m sorry. I honestly didn’t know that would strike a chord. Haha! Friends often spar and argue when they are young, you know? Oh dear, maybe you weren’t friends at all…? Then I’m extra sorry.”
Once again, I found myself apologizing, aiming to dispel any bad memories.
Yup, I definitely should be apologetic about this.
Yet,
“You’ve truly taken after your father.”
The Tao King appeared unable to rein in his wrath.
What might usually have been interpreted as praise felt instantly offensive to me.
“The look in your eyes seems to know everything. That gaze dripping with pity is bone-chillingly similar to his.”
He spat those words, those sentiments filled with bitterness causing shivers along my skin.
“You little bastards…you really aim to carry on this legacy of disrespect across generations.”
Huff, huff.
His breaths came out hot and ragged, clearly struggling to keep his anger in check.
“Just you wait, son of Gu Cheol-woon. I wonder if you’ll still be able to look me in the eye when we face each other on that stage? Let’s just wait and see.”
With that, the Tao King turned and walked away.
He kept alluding to ‘my eyes’; did they have some problem I wasn’t aware of?
While watching the Tao King’s retreating back, I felt the urge to question my father.
‘How on earth did you mess up?’
What could have happened to him that left him in such a state?
Given my father’s characteristics, it seemed improbable he’d thrash someone without cause…but if it came to this, it could be considered excessive.
‘…I need to be more careful about hitting people in the future.’
Watching this unfold made me realize it was wise to be cautious when throwing punches. A poorly placed hit could lead to someone falling apart like that.
From now on, either I’ll strike more gently… or I’ll finish them off without causing a fuss.
I feel like I’ve made my choice already.
As I nodded with that newfound resolve, my gaze shifted past the Tao King, focusing on the person behind him instead.
Pang Woo-jin was staring intently at his father.
His expression caught my attention.
‘…’
That sight unwittingly froze me momentarily.
It was unsettling.
Pang Woo-jin’s eyes fixed on the Tao King revealed nothing within them.
Just an immense void existed there.
Not a shred of feeling in those inky eyes.
It was hard to believe those belonged to someone looking at his parent.
I pondered why he bore such a gaze, locking eyes with Pang Woo-jin.
Smile.
The prior emptiness vanished, replaced by Pang Woo-jin smiling at me.
Then, as if pleased to see me, he waved his hand…
‘…’
Did he forget that just moments ago, his father glowered at me as if ready to kill?
I was definitely not fond of that unwarranted cheerfulness.
At that moment, I became convinced.
‘The Peng family is doomed.’
Whether it was the head of the family or the subordinate, their sanity was non-existent.
‘Ugh.’
Things were just a mess over there as well.
To my amusement, I found some strange sense of camaraderie and shook my head lightly.
Then, I turned my gaze elsewhere.
An area where neither sight nor sensation could reach.
But I knew it was there.
Wiggle—!
The magic interwoven through my heart whispered to me.
‘Originally, I planned to handle this a bit later.’
But given the circumstances, it felt unnecessary to hold off on that any longer.
I fused my intent with the magic, sending forth vibrations.
Even if the meaning wasn’t perfect in transmission, those who received it would undoubtedly recognize it.
That prepared everything.
All that remained was to wait.
It might take a bit longer, but it wouldn’t be too long.
Also,
‘This time shouldn’t be boring at all.’
Choosing to smile as I observed the Tao King’s back.
Fortunately, there was a delightful little distraction before me to bide my time.
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