The two martial matches scheduled for the morning ended, and it was time for lunch.
Meanwhile, the Namgoong Clan Lord was in a thoroughly foul mood after watching the matches.
It was all because of his worthless grandson, Namgoong On.
As he left to have lunch, his third son trailed awkwardly behind him.
The Namgoong Clan Lord suddenly stopped.
“What are you doing?”
“Pardon?”
“Do you think following me around like that will somehow erase what happened?”
“…”
“Honestly, I never cared what On did outside the clan. It’s only natural for a man to enjoy the company of women, and something so trivial would hardly stain the Namgoong Clan’s name.”
“…”
“I could even overlook the fact that he let his guard down and lost to a disciple from some obscure sect called the Yeongyeol Sect. For a martial artist, such a defeat can become an opportunity to learn a valuable lesson. But…”
He turned and fixed his third son with a hard stare.
“To go around claiming he only lost because his opponent used underhanded tricks! And after today’s match, hasn’t that claim been exposed as a blatant lie? He hasn’t merely disgraced himself. He has dragged the honor of our entire clan through the mud!”
“…”
The Namgoong Clan Lord’s third son bit his lip.
He, too, was a Namgoong through and through. He knew the clan’s ironclad rule better than anyone.
They could live however they wished and do whatever they pleased, but they could never bring shame upon the Namgoong Clan.
That was also why the Namgoong Clan had become so adept at working behind the scenes.
The Namgoong Clan Lord handed down his decision without the slightest hesitation.
“Lock On in the Underground Prison.”
“What?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
“That place is far too harsh for On.”
“All the better. Perhaps he’ll finally understand that the privileges he enjoys are not his by right. He only deserves them if he fulfills his responsibilities as a member of this clan.”
“…”
“When I return to the estate after today’s matches, if On is not in the Underground Prison, your entire family will be locked in there with him.”
“…!”
He realized there was no defying his father’s command.
As though he had nothing more to say, the Namgoong Clan Lord turned and strode away.
The third son watched his father’s back recede into the distance. Before long, he let out a sigh.
‘Phew. This should be enough to keep my second wife from whining. She certainly isn’t the sort of woman who’d volunteer to take On’s place in the Underground Prison.’
He gave an order to one of his bodyguards.
“Take the Guards and lock On in the estate’s Underground Prison.”
“Yes. However…”
The bodyguard hesitated, trailing off uneasily.
“I expect he’ll resist rather violently.”
“Knock him unconscious or tie him up by force. I don’t care how you do it.”
“Yes, my lord!”
I headed toward a nearby restaurant with Warrior Dae-nok and Warrior Su-am.
I had reserved the place in advance to celebrate Warrior Dae-nok’s victory.
I was glad this had become a celebration rather than an attempt to console him.
Thinking that, I made my way there with the rest of my party.
Come to think of it, Master should still be around here somewhere. Why haven’t I seen him even once since then?
I was puzzling over that as we walked toward the restaurant when someone came up behind us and started shouting.
“What kind of cowardly trick did you use?!”
I turned around and saw Namgoong On.
Why was he here?
One look at his face was enough to tell me that he hadn’t come with good intentions.
I stepped in front of Warrior Dae-nok and asked,
“Excuse me, but what is this about?”
“Stay out of this if it doesn’t concern you! I have business with that man!”
“Then I have even more reason not to step aside. The Eunhae Merchant Group is sponsoring Warrior Dae-nok.”
“Sponsoring him?”
“Yes.”
I smiled as I continued.
“Is it really so strange for a merchant to sponsor a martial artist with great potential?”
“Ha! You must have money to burn if you’re willing to sponsor a coward who cheated his way into the main tournament!”
My smile only deepened.
“Are the senior figures of the Murim Alliance blind?”
“…What?”
“If there had truly been anything wrong with the match, they would have been the first to raise an objection.”
“Hmph! The person who crossed swords with him would know better than anyone watching from a distance!”
I had another answer ready for that.
“Young Lord Danmok Il was his opponent in today’s match, yet he accepted his defeat without a single complaint.”
“Hmph! The Danmok Clan’s judgment is clearly inferior to that of my clan. No wonder he failed to notice.”
Wow. He was even more of a spoiled bastard than I’d imagined.
Did he have no fear of what people might think?
Then again, that was probably why he didn’t realize he was humiliating himself and disgracing the Namgoong Clan at the same time.
“Are you claiming, then, that your judgment surpasses that of the Murim Alliance’s senior figures?”
“…”
“The Alliance Leader was there. The Namgoong Clan Lord was there. Several elder experts who have reached the Transcendent realm were also watching. Yet you continue insisting that everyone else failed to see what only you could recognize. I can only interpret your words one way.”
I smiled pleasantly.
“So please stop making unreasonable accusations and allow us to leave.”
“Why, you…!”
Apparently unable to come up with an answer, he huffed furiously before finally drawing his sword.
“Hmph! Words are meaningless. Martial artists should settle their disputes through martial arts! This time, I’ll prove that I didn’t lose because I was weaker! Draw your sword!”
Namgoong On pointed his sword at Dae-nok as he shouted.
I immediately sent Warrior Dae-nok a Voice Transmission.
– Do not draw your sword under any circumstances.
He nodded before answering calmly.
“Our match has already been settled! Besides, I have no intention of crossing swords with you in a private dispute!”
“Then die!”
His sword shot toward Warrior Dae-nok.
I could have blocked it, but I chose not to. Someone was already rushing toward us from behind.
Clang–!
The newcomer’s sword knocked Namgoong On’s blade aside.
“You cannot behave like this here.”
“Ugh! Who dares… Chang Pa?”
Namgoong On seemed to recognize him, and his brow immediately furrowed.
“My lord sent me. Please return to the estate.”
“I refuse!”
“The Clan Lord and my lord are both furious. Please come quietly.”
“No! I cannot return until I’ve cleansed my sullied honor!”
Good grief… He was only making this worse and worse.
What you’re doing right now is sullying your honor even further, you know?
The Guard called Chang Pa sighed at those words. I could certainly understand how he felt.
Thud!
He kicked Namgoong On, sending him sprawling across the ground.
“Urgh!”
“Bind him!”
“Yes!”
The Guards who had accompanied him rushed forward and tightly wrapped Namgoong On’s entire body in white cloth.
In an instant, he looked like a giant cocoon.
Once they shoved a gag into his mouth, he was completely subdued.
Wait a moment… Was that Heavenly Silkworm Thread?
Well, I supposed they would need something at least that strong to restrain a Peak martial artist without making a mess of things.
And the Namgoong Clan practiced extreme yang martial arts.
Heavenly Silkworm Thread was a natural counter to them.
Chang Pa turned to Warrior Dae-nok and me, then respectfully cupped his fists and bowed.
“Our clan’s Young Master has caused you considerable trouble. Please accept this as an expression of our apology.”
He held out an envelope.
“It is not much, but I hope it will help soothe your anger. I assure you that something like this will never happen again.”
Warrior Dae-nok glanced at me, and I gave him a slight nod.
It wasn’t merely free money. This was compensation for the trouble they had caused, so of course we should accept it.
“We accept your apology.”
“Thank you.”
“I was also deeply impressed by your performance in today’s match. It was truly magnificent. I hope the next time we meet, it will be under more pleasant circumstances.”
“Likewise.”
Everything about his conduct was polished and courteous.
This was probably the sort of behavior that made people call the Namgoong Clan honorable and fair.
And just like that, Namgoong On, who had swept in like a storm, was hauled away by another group that had arrived just as abruptly.
Judging by the way they carried him off, he was in for a severe punishment.
“Now then, let’s go eat.”
.
.
.
Lunch was extremely satisfying.
Warrior Dae-nok must have been ravenously hungry, because he ate so heartily that I felt pleased merely watching him.
Warrior Su-am was no different.
“Honestly, I think this may be the first time I’ve ever been allowed to eat until I’m completely stuffed.”
“Is that so?”
“As I mentioned before, our sect isn’t particularly wealthy… We’ve never been able to afford meals this generous.”
“Ah… I see.”
He pulled a bank draft from inside his robe as he spoke.
“Yes. But with this, we should be able to live without worrying about food for quite some time.”
He looked genuinely happy.
“Oh, I nearly forgot to mention this. The Eunhae Merchant Group will also provide your sect with financial support every year.”
“What?”
“Didn’t I say earlier that the Eunhae Merchant Group was sponsoring the Yeongyeol Sect?”
“I thought you meant you were sponsoring us because I won the first round of the main tournament.”
I shook my head.
“The Eunhae Merchant Group is not so stingy. We are supporting a sect with a promising future. Since we’ve already formed a connection, we might as well turn it into one that lasts.”
Warrior Su-am asked,
“Is the money you’ll provide every year supposed to be that connection?”
“Yes, exactly.”
I grinned.
“So from now on, you won’t need to risk your lives by entering martial matches merely because you’re worried about having enough food. However, I do have one condition.”
“What is it?”
“Become stronger, and make your names known throughout the martial world.”
“What?”
I sent both Escort Guards a Voice Transmission.
– Become so strong and renowned that, one day, even the Namgoong Clan won’t dare make trouble for you so casually.
They seemed to understand my meaning. Determination filled their faces as they nodded.
.
.
.
Once lunch ended, we returned to the martial arena.
Perhaps because of his performance in the first round of the main tournament, the way people looked at Warrior Dae-nok had completely changed.
Their gazes now held the respect reserved for a true expert.
And at some point, he had even acquired an epithet.
“Look! It’s the Tempest Sword!”
“Where? Where is he?”
“The Tempest Sword really was the genuine article!”
The Tempest Sword.
It was a fitting epithet for Warrior Dae-nok, whose sword art swept through his enemies like a raging storm.
“You’ve even earned an epithet. Congratulations.”
“Hahaha. It’s rather embarrassing.”
As we chatted in high spirits, the afternoon matches began.
“The next match will be between Zhuge Yu-a of the Zhuge Clan and Eon Seung-yeon of the Jinju Eon Clan!”
Before I knew it, it was Young Clan Lord Zhuge Yu-a’s turn.
There had only been two matches in the morning because each one had lasted so long.
On the first day of the main tournament’s opening round, Young Lady Zhuge Yu-a’s match could be considered the most significant one.
After all, she was the Zhuge Clan’s Young Clan Lord.
Apparently, Young Clan Lord Peng Gang-un had also wanted to participate in this friendly tournament, but the Clan Lord had refused to permit it.
Young Clan Lord Peng Gang-un would undoubtedly have achieved an excellent result if he had entered the Murim Grand Assembly’s friendly tournament.
That would have elevated the Hebei Peng Clan’s prestige as well, so why had the Clan Lord refused?
Peng Gang-un merely sat beside the Clan Lord, quietly chatting with him.
There was not even a trace of disappointment on his face. Was that because he understood why the Clan Lord had refused to let him participate?
Or was he simply uninterested in martial matches to begin with?
He had said he wanted to compete, but he had only entered the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering because his position as Young Clan Lord had forced him to. Perhaps he had never truly wanted to participate in these tournaments at all.
In that case, he might have secretly celebrated when the Clan Lord denied him permission.
Well, I would probably find out eventually.
I turned my attention back toward the martial stage.
Seven markers had been attached to each competitor’s body, and the two of them stood facing one another.
“You fought my younger brother last time. He told me he learned a great deal from the match.”
Come to think of it, Young Clan Lord Zhuge Yu-a’s opponent during the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering had been a young member of the Jinju Eon Clan.
It seemed Young Lord Eon Seung-yeon was his older brother.
Young Clan Lord Zhuge Yu-a cupped her fists as she replied,
“I learned just as much from him. His martial arts were exceptional.”
“He’ll be delighted when I tell him the Young Clan Lord praised him.”
“I’m glad to hear that.”
Boom!
The drum sounded, and their match immediately began.
Young Clan Lord Zhuge Yu-a’s sword collided with Young Lord Eon Seung-yeon’s iron fists.
As accomplished martial artists, they exchanged dozens of moves in the blink of an eye, but the contest remained perfectly balanced.
Not a single marker on either side had been destroyed.
Yet as their exchanges continued, that balance gradually began to crumble.
Both of them began to show signs of exhaustion, but I could sense the scheme behind Young Clan Lord Zhuge Yu-a’s actions.
There was no chance Young Lady Zhuge Yu-a would tire from this much exertion.
Others might not realize it, but I did.
She was acting.
More time passed, and Young Lord Eon Seung-yeon’s movements grew slower and slower.
Whoosh!
The moment an opening appeared, Young Lady Zhuge Yu-a moved like a bolt of lightning.
Tap! Tap, tap! Crack!
Four markers shattered in an instant, and Young Lord Eon Seung-yeon recoiled in shock.
“H–How? Weren’t you exhausted?”
“If this were enough to exhaust me, I’d be in serious trouble.”
She continued,
“Thanks to a certain someone, I’ve trained my endurance so thoroughly that I doubt I’d lose to anyone in that regard.”
As she spoke, her eyes flicked in my direction.
“Now, let’s finish this.”
Young Lord Eon Seung-yeon desperately tried to turn the situation around, but Young Clan Lord Zhuge Yu-a still had plenty of stamina left.
Furthermore, he had become so wary of falling into another of her traps that he could no longer attack decisively.
In the end, the outcome was inevitable.
“The winner of this match is Zhuge Yu-a!”
“Waaaaah!”
“Hundred-Strategy Cold Sword! Hundred-Strategy Cold Sword!”
The spectators cheered as they chanted her epithet.
With that, Young Clan Lord Zhuge Yu-a had also advanced into the final sixteen.
She looked absolutely delighted.
The main tournament held two matches in the morning and two in the afternoon.
This allowed each competitor to enter the arena in peak condition, but it also served the Murim Grand Assembly’s original purpose.
After all, the Murim Grand Assembly was intended to foster friendship and goodwill.
After returning to the inn, I sat in my room and reflected on everything that had happened that day.
Clatter.
Just then, I heard the window opening.
“Who’s there?!”
Escort Guard Myeong Jong immediately shouted, but I raised a hand to stop him.
“Leave him alone.”
“What?”
I could sense Chun-il approaching.
A moment later, the window swung open, and Chun-il appeared.
“What happened to Namgoong On?”
“I’m told he has been locked in the Underground Prison.”
“The Underground Prison?”
“Yes. It seems the Namgoong Clan Lord is absolutely furious. Heh heh heh.”
The Namgoong Clan’s Underground Prison was anything but comfortable.
That punishment was extremely satisfying.
It felt wonderful to see my plan end with the Namgoong Clan cleaning up the mess it had created.
My plan had been a resounding success.
–TL Notes–
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