It was the second day of the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering finals.
The incident happened in the very first match.
The only problem was that the fighters were disciples of the Mount Hua Sect and the Mount Zhongnan Sect—sects infamous for being bitter enemies.
From the opening move, both sides put their pride on the line and unleashed their ultimate techniques.
As the two swords collided, Sword Qi burst outward in all directions.
In truth, a protective formation had been set up so that stray attacks from the stage wouldn’t reach the spectators.
However…
That formation had a blind spot.
The resonance from two energy waves of exactly the same strength—without so much as a grain of difference—caused the formation to warp ever so slightly.
It was a flaw no one knew existed, because a situation like this had never occurred before.
As a result, the formation failed to trigger properly, and the Sword Qi spawned by the clash shot straight toward the crowd.
“Gasp!”
“Heuk!”
The spectators realized what was happening and froze in place.
It was so sudden they didn’t even have time to scream.
Of course, this wasn’t Sword Qi from true masters, so any expert present could have blocked it easily.
But it came too fast and too unexpectedly—even the experts couldn’t react in time.
Some people squeezed their eyes shut, bracing for the tragedy they were sure was about to unfold.
That was when a handsome young man sprang into the air.
Blue light streamed from the sword of the youth in red, and a blue Sword Qi stretched out like flowing water… or perhaps like a whip.
It was Sword Thread.
One after another, that blue Sword Thread intercepted the Sword Qi flying toward the spectators.
His movements were, quite literally, beautiful.
And he wasn’t alone.
Another warrior moved with him.
Dressed in white, he glided through the air as lightly and softly as a butterfly, blocking the Sword Qi the red-clad youth couldn’t reach.
The spectators could only stare, stunned by how fluid and seamless their motions were.
Tak!
Taat!
By the time the last streak of Sword Qi was stopped and the two men returned to their seats, no one was looking at the stage anymore.
Even the two fighters who had been battling fiercely were now staring at the pair who had prevented disaster.
“…”
A heavy silence settled over the martial arts arena.
I sheathed my sword.
Escort Guard Seo Wu did the same, returning his weapon to its scabbard.
I could feel countless eyes fixed on us. But there was something more urgent on my mind.
“Father, Mother. Are you alright?”
“Uh? Y-Yes…”
My father, still stunned, nodded again and again, while my mother patted his back and answered for them both.
“We’re fine.”
“That’s a relief.”
I turned to Merchant Lord Gwangjun and his wife, seated beside my parents.
“Are you and Madam alright as well?”
They nodded at my question.
Just then, an old man in the Grade A seats stared at me and spoke.
“Don’t tell me… Heavenly Flow Ice Sword? Are you a descendant of Extreme Heaven Sword?” (TL Note: Changed from Thousand Flow Ice Sword to Heavenly Flow Ice Sword)
At that, the arena broke into a buzz. The name Extreme Heaven Sword carried that much weight.
It wasn’t that people cared about how his descendants lived, or whether the bloodline had continued or ended.
But the moment his name resurfaced, it shook the room.
“Deputy Merchant Lord Eun! How can you use the Heavenly Flow Ice Sword?”
Commander Tang Dae-jeong gaped at me, astonished. The Zhuge Clan’s Grand Elder wore an expression that was… oddly unreadable.
In the end, the remaining final matches were postponed.
After an incident that had nearly caused mass casualties, it was impossible to continue the gathering as if nothing had happened.
Later, Escort Guard Seo Wu and I were brought to the Murim Alliance. More precisely, we were seated in the Alliance’s reception room.
The Alliance Leader had summoned me personally.
Right now, only Seo Wu and I were inside. The Alliance Leader and the others were likely discussing how to handle what had happened.
“I should properly thank you now. You saved us earlier.”
Seo Wu gave an awkward smile at my words.
“I am my lord’s escort guard. Drawing my sword to protect you is only natural.”
“Still, thank you.”
“However…”
Seo Wu asked carefully.
“How did you know that would happen? I know your skills are exceptional, my lord, but it looked as though you were already expecting it…”
He’d seen straight through me.
I knew this incident would occur during this Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering, so I hadn’t let my guard down for even a moment.
That was why I’d been able to block it in time.
But I couldn’t tell Seo Wu the truth. And the Alliance Leader would surely ask the same thing.
Thankfully, I’d already prepared an excuse, so I answered without hesitation.
“It’s because of the martial arts I’ve learned. They let me sense the flow of energy around me very keenly. I felt the pressure building and predicted that the Sword Qi would slip through the formation and erupt outward.”
“Hoh! You even knew there was a formation?”
At that moment, the door opened and the Alliance Leader entered. It seemed their discussion had ended.
Seo Wu and I immediately clasped our hands and bowed.
“This humble merchant, Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group, greets the Alliance Leader.”
“Escort Guard Seo Wu greets the Alliance Leader on behalf of Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho.”
“Raise your heads.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you.”
We straightened and looked up at him.
“Please, sit. I apologize for the delay.”
“Not at all.”
“First, let me express my gratitude for preventing a catastrophe today. If it weren’t for you, Young Hero, I dread to imagine what might have happened… even thinking about it now makes my head spin.”
“It was only what I had to do. Besides, my parents were there. The fact that I could save them—and so many others—makes me grateful I learned martial arts at all.”
“Whatever your personal reasons, you can’t know how thankful I am, speaking as the one responsible for this Gathering.”
The Alliance Leader went on.
“That said, how did you learn Extreme Heaven Sword’s unique technique? As far as I know, his lineage was severed long ago…”
“It wasn’t.”
I paused as if weighing my words, then spoke.
“Phew. My Master won’t be pleased that I’m saying this openly, but there’s no helping it. In truth, my Master is a descendant of the Great Hero Extreme Heaven Sword. As for the rumor that the line ended, he says he settled everything quietly and then went into hiding.”
Of course, this was a lie I’d already coordinated with my Master.
“Is that so? Why would he choose to hide himself?”
“He said it was the decision of a descendant who found the weight of the Great Hero’s name too heavy to bear at the time. And my Master’s family has always had few heirs, so the line has continued through only sons for generations.”
“So those were the circumstances. Then how did you come to know this descendant well enough that he taught you the Heavenly Flow Ice Sword?”
“Well… my Master runs an Escort Bureau. It has been a long-time business partner of our Merchant Group.”
“A descendant of Extreme Heaven Sword running an Escort Bureau…”
Perhaps because of the bitterness of failing to proceed with the Escort Bureau deal he was preparing this time, his expression darkened.
He’s quite greedy about a business that would have collapsed anyway.
But his sour look lasted only a moment before his gentle smile returned.
“So that’s how the connection formed?”
“The connection exists, yes, but he wouldn’t teach an outsider for that alone. Once, I saved my Master’s son’s life. I found him on the brink of death from a grievous injury while out walking, and I barely managed to pull him back.”
“Hoh! So there was a debt of life between you.”
“Yes. My Master insisted on repaying me, and I asked him to teach me martial arts.”
A convincing lie needs eighty percent truth and twenty percent fabrication mixed together.
If Palgap were here, he would probably say, ‘Sir, you’re spinning a whole novel.’
“So that’s why you were learning the Heavenly Flow Ice Sword.”
“That’s right.”
“Then how old are you now?”
“I’ll be twenty-one in a few months.”
“Peak Realm at that age! That is remarkable talent.”
“Thank you for your generous assessment.”
“No, I truly mean it. I can’t say how fortunate it is for Murim to have young people like you.”
From those words, I could already guess the outcome of their discussion.
They’d decided to turn Seo Wu and me into heroes.
A major disaster had nearly happened. In my previous life, countless people had died or been wounded here.
This time, there were no casualties, but the spectators might still direct their anger at the Murim Alliance.
If that happened, a massive refund crisis could follow.
The incident nearly struck the Grade B seats—the most expensive section. If refunds began there, the Murim Alliance would face a serious nightmare.
In my past life, they’d spent an absurd amount of money to settle it.
That was why their finances struggled for a long while afterward.
Either way, the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering had to continue.
The simplest way was to place a “young hero” in front of everyone.
And the swordsmanship I’d learned with the North Sea Ice Palace Lord’s help was the legacy of Great Hero Gwak Hoon—Extreme Heaven Sword—who had become a legend during the war against the Blood Cult two hundred years ago.
‘A descendant of Extreme Heaven Sword appears and saves the crowd.’
Even to me, it sounded like a story the public would devour.
“That is why the Murim Alliance wishes to repay you.”
Repay me…
“Is there anything you desire?”
There were plenty of things I wanted.
Something small, like securing the Eunhae Merchant Group’s foothold in Luoyang.
Or something large… like Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang’s head.
The irony of the moment almost made me laugh.
In my previous life, I’d died at the hands of the Murim Alliance and Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang…
Yet now I was being treated as the Alliance’s hero.
I glanced at my palm. It used to sweat just stepping into Luoyang.
But now, even sitting in the Murim Alliance’s reception room, my heart was steady.
All I could think about was how to use this chance.
Maybe I was more suited to the battlefield than I’d ever realized.
Still, blurting out what I truly wanted right now would be amateurish.
After all, I was the one holding the sword’s hilt at the moment.
“Repayment? Those are disappointing words.”
I smiled and went on.
“I’m satisfied knowing my parents and countless others are alive because of me.”
I clasped my hands again.
“I’m merely a merchant. Since the Eunhae Merchant Group is drawing attention because of me, I believe it’s best that I close our temporary shop and return to Hubei.”
The Alliance Leader clicked his tongue and tried to hold me back.
“I understand your feelings, but could you not stay in Luoyang a little longer? Even if only Seo—”
Before he could finish, Seo Wu answered firmly.
“I am my lord’s escort guard. Remaining at his side and protecting him is my duty.”
I couldn’t tell whether that was sharp instinct or his honest heart…
Either way, it left the Alliance Leader looking even more troubled.
“Hmm. Then how about this? Since you are a merchant, let us make a deal.”
“…”
“If you remain in Luoyang until the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering ends, I will grant you the highest priority in future trades with the Murim Alliance.”
I put on a hesitant expression.
“But doesn’t the Murim Alliance already trade with the Baekcheon Merchant Group? How can you call it ‘highest priority’? Even if you say that, wouldn’t we still come after Baekcheon?”
“That is why I say highest priority. The right to trade… even before the Baekcheon Merchant Group.”
This was an unexpected windfall.
He must be desperate to bury this accident quietly and finish the Gathering without further turmoil.
Highest priority in Murim Alliance trade rights was no small matter.
But I still needed to keep my head down for now.
“It may be presumptuous, but shouldn’t you consider your relationship with the Baekcheon Merchant Group? They exist for the Alliance’s profit. Undercutting them would be like cutting your own flesh. For that reason, I can’t accept such an offer.”
“Haha! You’re concerned for the Murim Alliance itself?”
“Isn’t the Murim Alliance necessary to keep Murim’s ruffians from running wild? Thanks to that protection, merchants like us can travel the world safely. How could I not think of the Alliance?”
“I am truly grateful you feel that way.”
Wow… I really am thick-skinned.
Considering how many losses merchants suffer precisely because the Murim Alliance fails to ‘police the ruffians’…
And does he realize the Murim Alliance is counted among those ruffians too?
Not to mention, this was the very place that killed me in my previous life.
Yet here I was saying these things without blinking. Maybe I really did have a talent for acting.
The Alliance Leader thought for a moment, then said,
“Then I will grant you highest priority for three trades with the Murim Alliance. That should ease the concerns you have.”
“Could I receive written confirmation?”
“Of course.”
That was manageable.
Still, I wished he’d offer something I could profit from quietly, rather than something so visible.
“And…”
Huh?
I doubted my ears at what the Alliance Leader said next.
So he was far more desperate than I’d realized.
–TL Notes–
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