Before long, we reached the Zhuge Clan’s annex.
“Thank you for escorting me all the way here.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“Before you go, would you like to greet my grandfather?”
I shook my head at her suggestion.
“No. It’s late. I’ll pay my respects to the Grand Elder tomorrow. Please go on inside.”
Lady Yu-ah was about to step through the gate, but she paused and glanced back at me.
Did she still have something to say?
“Um, tomorrow… are you going to watch the preliminaries?”
“Yes. I’ll probably sit with Mother.”
“Will you… cheer for me?”
I nodded.
“Of course. I’ll be praying for your success.”
“Thank you.”
She slipped inside in a hurry.
I watched her for a moment, then turned away.
Anyway, if Lady Yu-ah is here… that means the Sichuan Tang Clan has arrived too.
I’ll likely run into some familiar faces there.
Still… Palgap’s eyes on me felt oddly disrespectful.
“What? Why are you staring like that?”
“…It’s nothing.”
.
.
.
The next day.
We were up early.
We stopped by the Eunhae Merchant Group’s temporary shop, returned to the inn, escorted Mother out, and headed for the arena.
On the way, we ran into the Gwangjun Merchant Lord’s wife and went together.
“They say the Zhuge Clan’s young lady is competing today.”
“So I heard.”
“And apparently the Hebei Peng Clan’s children and Mount Emei’s disciples are up as well.”
“Oh? Then…”
I cut in quickly.
“Sounds like it isn’t Cousin Hyang-ok’s turn yet.”
The Gwangjun Merchant Lord’s wife spoke with open excitement.
“Still, Zhuge Clan’s daughter! I can’t wait to see what she shows.”
“…”
For a moment, I felt like I finally understood why the heirs of great families resorted to the fraud called Buying Victory.
People naturally expect the children of the Eight Great Clans and the disciples of the Nine Sects and One Union to breeze through the preliminaries.
But expectation and envy cut both ways.
If they display skill worthy of their name, people praise them—of course, they’re from a prestigious house.
But if they fall short, ridicule doesn’t stop with them. It splashes onto their clan and sect as well.
Once that happens, their standing can only shrink.
So they cling to Buying Victory to make sure they advance.
They probably seek each other out under the excuse of comradery among those fighting on the same day, and strike their deals in the shadows.
We entered the arena.
After about fifteen minutes, the host finally appeared.
It was the Plum Blossom Swordsman I’d seen yesterday.
What was his name again?
“Thank you to all spectators for joining us. Now we begin the second day of the thirty-sixth Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering preliminaries. Today’s first match is…”
Yesterday, a few notable rising experts had shown themselves. Today was no different.
The matches rolled on, and at last, the bout everyone was waiting for arrived.
“Next match: Zhuge Yu-ah of the Zhuge Clan! Her opponent is Mun Suk of the Mun Martial Hall of Fujian!”
I couldn’t help smiling.
Lady Yu-ah’s entrance onto the stage was striking.
She and Warrior Mun Suk bowed to each other.
“Begin!”
Boom!
The drum thundered, and the match started.
Both took their stances and circled cautiously, testing distance.
How long had it been?
Warrior Mun Suk moved first. His sword darted toward Lady Yu-ah’s shoulder with sharp momentum.
She shifted lightly and slipped past the strike.
“If she counters while his balance is broken—huh? Why isn’t she attacking?”
Just as Mother said, a perfect opening had appeared, yet Lady Yu-ah didn’t take it.
Instead, confusion crossed her face.
Seeing that, Warrior Mun Suk pressed in hard, driving her toward the edge.
Lady Yu-ah looked flustered.
But for some reason, her expression gave me an inexplicable sense of déjà vu.
What is this?
Why does this feel so familiar…?
Ah.
In an instant, I clicked my tongue to myself.
Lady Yu-ah is acting.
That déjà vu was the same feeling I’d had when she played the simple-minded lunatic during the Zhuge Clan’s crisis.
Still, why put on a show now…?
Right then, Escort Guard Seo Wu spoke up.
“They call her ‘Divine Strategy Zhuge’ for a reason.”
“Hmm?”
“I think I see her plan.”
I tilted my head, watching the stage. A plan?
Wait—when did she get that close to the boundary?
Only then did I let out a small smile too.
“I think I see it as well.”
Warrior Mun Suk, fooled by her performance, didn’t notice a thing.
The decisive moment came quickly.
“Haaat!”
With a roar, Warrior Mun Suk thrust forward, triumph already written on his face.
But Lady Yu-ah was no longer in front of him.
In a blink, she was behind him, her sword sweeping in.
“Heok!”
Startled, Warrior Mun Suk twisted to block, but—
“Keuk!”
Her strike was fierce. Forced back by the impact—
“Ugh! Argh!”
Thud—!
He toppled out of the ring.
That was it.
One rule of the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering: step outside the arena, and you’re eliminated.
That had been Lady Yu-ah’s aim all along.
“Zhuge Yu-ah wins by ring-out!”
“Waaaaa!”
The crowd erupted.
“As expected of the Zhuge Clan!”
“I knew she’d do it!”
She could have won cleanly by striking earlier, so why choose a ring-out?
She wouldn’t do that without a reason.
I’ll ask her later.
The morning matches ended, and the preliminaries resumed two hours later.
Everyone rested and ate lunch.
Afterward, the bouts continued, and once again they wrapped up before sunset.
I headed back to the inn with Mother, but her expression was oddly strained.
What’s wrong?
Worried, I asked.
“Mother, is something on your mind? You don’t look well.”
“Ah, do I? Sorry. I was lost in thought, and it must have shown.”
“What were you thinking about?”
At that, Mother gazed at the reddening sky.
“Long ago, before I married, my older brother competed in the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering.”
Mother’s older brother—my maternal uncle.
“He passed the preliminaries and entered the ranks of the one hundred and eight rising experts. But after that, he withdrew. I asked him why. If he fought again and climbed higher, he’d earn even greater honor—so why stop? And then he…”
She paused briefly, then continued.
“He said the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering is exactly what its name claims—a tournament for dragons and phoenixes. So don’t think of entering it lightly…”
“…”
“Live quietly. And when someone you love appears, if he’s a man without glaring flaws, persuade your father… marry, and build a happy family. Back then, I didn’t understand. I thought he was jealous of me. Honestly, I was far more talented than he was. But…”
Mother looked at me.
“Now I see it. He said that because he truly worried for me.”
I listened in silence.
“In Murim, ‘dragons and phoenixes’ refers to the unmarried children of the great clans.”
“…”
Mother sighed.
“Some of the matches today bothered me. Especially Young Hero Peng Baek’s match…”
Young Hero Peng Baek had been at the restaurant with Lady Yu-ah yesterday.
Mother had noticed their Buying Victory too.
“I felt it as well. His opponent had no will to win in his eyes.”
Mother nodded, her expression complicated.
“And that wasn’t the only case. There were plenty of moments where someone held back despite having a clear opening.”
“…”
She was right.
“But what can be done? It was their choice.”
“…”
“Still, I worry the Orthodox Sect will grow weaker because of it.”
.
.
.
Soon we reached the inn.
The sun hadn’t fully set yet, so it wasn’t too late.
“Mother, I need to stop by the temporary shop, then meet someone briefly. I might be a bit late.”
“Alright. Be careful.”
“Yes.”
Since I’d promised yesterday, I should visit the Zhuge Clan’s Grand Elder.
First I went to the temporary shop to hear the report. Then I headed for the Zhuge Clan’s annex.
I asked the gatekeeper to summon Lady Yu-ah.
It was the same guard from yesterday, and he promptly sent word inside.
Not long after, she ran out, bright-faced.
“Young Hero Eun! You kept your promise.”
“Of course. And congratulations on today’s win.”
“Thank you.”
She beamed.
“Come in. Grandfather has heard about you and is eager to meet you.”
I smiled awkwardly and followed her inside.
As we walked, I brought up the question that had been nagging me.
“Ah, Lady Yu-ah. May I ask something?”
“Yes?”
“Why did you win by ring-out today?”
“Ah… that?”
She gave a short snort.
“They were grumbling that I didn’t get involved in that business.”
“…”
So it was a kind of retaliation.
As expected… Lady Yu-ah has a temper too.
“Most people won’t know, though. I told them it was to conserve my stamina.”
I chuckled inwardly.
We soon arrived at the building where the Grand Elder was staying.
“Grandfather, Young Hero Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group is here to pay his respects.”
The door opened at once. I bowed, hands clasped.
“Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group greets the Grand Elder.”
“It’s been a long time.”
I lifted my head.
His face was hardly different from five years ago—if anything, he looked even healthier now.
“Have you been well?”
“Yes. This humble merchant has been well. I apologize for not asking after your health sooner.”
“No need. I’ve always been in good health. And I’ve heard news of you through my sworn brother’s letters.”
Internal Chief Administrator Yu was still writing to him frequently.
That was how he’d learned of Lady Yu-ah’s Hidden Dragon Journey.
It was good to see.
“Have you eaten yet?”
“Ah… not yet.”
“Good. Let’s dine together.”
“Yes?”
I’d only meant to greet him, but an unexpected dinner invitation…
“There was a dinner gathering today, but I didn’t want to attend. So I claimed I already had plans…”
He’d used me as his excuse.
With that said, I couldn’t very well refuse.
“I understand. I’d be honored.”
.
.
.
The meal was excellent.
After finishing the banquet and chatting over this and that, I left the Zhuge Clan’s annex.
Mother’s words from earlier surfaced again.
This Murim… is it really fine as it is?
In my previous life, no great upheaval ever shook Murim until my death.
But in this life, I intend to live a long time.
Then Murim must remain steady.
Historically, when Murim falls into chaos, the common folk suffer—and merchants suffer alongside them.
Come to think of it, strange incidents had started occurring shortly before I died…
Had those been the signs of a coming storm?
I was walking down the street, lost in thought, when—
“Great Hero Eun Seo-ho!”
A loud voice rang out behind me.
I turned, eyes widening.
“Huh?”
A boy was sprinting toward me.
Tang Jo-ung, the youngest son of the Sichuan Tang Clan.
“Jo-ung? Are you here for the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“My older sister is competing, but I’m taking part too.”
What?
Sensing a familiar presence, I turned—and there she was.
“It’s been a long time.”
Red Jade of the Sichuan Tang Clan, Lady Tang Su-bin.
Beside her stood Commander Tang Dae-jeong, the Crimson Blossom Whip King I’d met before.
I hurriedly clasped my hands and bowed.
“Hm…”
Commander Tang Dae-jeong studied me closely, then asked in a careful tone.
“By any chance, are you also participating in this Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering?”
–TL Notes–
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