The next day arrived.
Today was the day of my second-round main tournament match.
What had happened to Geum-bong of Qingcheng Sect?
Knowing the Sect Leader’s personality, I doubted he’d simply let the matter slide.
Just then, the door to my room opened and Palgap came in.
“Good morning, Young Master.”
“What’s with the cheerful greeting?”
He seemed far more excited than usual today.
At my question, Palgap grinned broadly.
“Heh heh heh, I found out something very interesting.”
“Information?”
“I mean that obnoxious bastard with no manners whatsoever.”
I immediately knew who he meant.
“Taoist Geum-bong?”
“Yes, him. I slipped over there and found out what happened.”
Perfect. I’d already been wondering about that.
“So, what happened?”
“They say he’s locked in the underground prison beneath Azure Wall Inn.”
Come to think of it, Azure Wall Inn belonged to Qingcheng Sect, and I’d heard that it had an underground prison.
“And the Sect Leader ordered them to uncover the source of the drug that poisoned him, no matter what methods they had to use. He said they didn’t need to consider his feelings at all.”
Wow!
The Sect Leader had truly steeled himself.
It couldn’t have been easy to give such an order when his own son was the one being interrogated.
Judging by my memories from my previous life, Warrior Geum-bong’s comfortable life probably hadn’t lasted much longer.
I remembered Qingcheng Sect getting a new Sect Leader not long afterward.
Perhaps something similar had happened back then as well.
Maybe resentment had continued building within Qingcheng Sect until the Sect Leader was eventually forced to step down.
Qingcheng Sect had maintained its lofty reputation despite allowing its members to marry and enroll their children in the sect because its discipline was so strict.
Yet the Sect Leader lost all reason whenever Warrior Geum-bong was involved. There was no way the others wouldn’t resent him for it.
That meant Warrior Geum-bong was probably in for a painful and merciless interrogation.
“Thanks for going out of your way to find out.”
“Who do you think I am, Young Master? I’m your one and only attendant.”
“That’s right.”
I nodded and chuckled.
Now it was time to set Qingcheng Sect’s troubles aside and focus on the match in front of me.
.
.
.
After breakfast, I began getting ready to head to the arena.
Just then, I heard Brother Jin-ho’s voice outside.
“Seo-ho, can I come in?”
“Yeah, come in.”
The door opened and Brother Jin-ho entered. The moment he came inside, he held out a small pouch to me.
“Take it.”
“What is it?”
I tilted my head and untied the pouch, revealing a small box inside.
The moment I carefully opened the box, a cool, refreshing fragrance spread through the room.
“It wasn’t easy to get.”
His words made my eyes widen.
“Is this… an elixir?”
“It isn’t a true elixir, but it’s close. It helps circulate and restore your Qi.”
Taking an elixir that aided Qi circulation and recovery immediately before a match wasn’t against the rules.
But no one took elixirs that increased their internal power.
Fighting immediately after taking something like that was the perfect way to cripple yourself.
“Thanks.”
“And… give it everything you’ve got today.”
“Of course I will…”
But Brother Jin-ho cut me off.
“Don’t even think about losing on purpose for my sake.”
“…”
How did he know?
I had, in fact, been wondering whether I should lose today.
Originally, I’d planned to win one more match, but a few things had been bothering me.
First, the farther I advanced, the more it enhanced the Alliance Leader’s prestige.
Second, Brother Jin-ho was destined to become Commander of the Eunpoong Division, the Eunhae Merchant Group’s combat force. It wouldn’t do him any good if everyone thought he was weaker than me.
“But, Brother. No matter how I look at it, nothing good will come from me advancing farther than you.”
“I don’t care.”
“People will talk.”
“Let them say whatever the hell they want!”
“But, Brother…”
“Hmm…”
Brother Jin-ho thought for a moment, then smiled as though something had occurred to him.
“Then how about this?”
“What?”
“Your epithet. Honestly, even though you need one, Handsome Young Hero is a little burdensome, isn’t it?”
“…It is.”
He was exactly right.
A beautiful man who performed righteous deeds with chivalrous grace!
With an epithet like that, I had no choice but to be careful about everything I did.
“But if you put on an impressive performance in today’s match, couldn’t you earn a better epithet and replace Handsome Young Hero?”
“A better… epithet?”
“Exactly. Something like Silver Sword Handsome Hero, because you wield a silver sword. Or Martial Merchant Sword Immortal, to show that you’re a merchant who practices martial arts.”
I couldn’t help being tempted by his suggestion.
“Th–that sounds good.”
“Right?”
“So don’t even think about throwing today’s match. Understood?”
“Yeah. Got it.”
Brother Jin-ho had merchant blood in him after all.
He’d actually found a way to persuade me!
Not bad.
.
.
.
I headed to the arena with my family, took my seat, and waited for my turn.
There were now seven matches remaining in the Earth Group.
Whoever survived to the very end and won the Earth Group would face Young Clan Lord Zhuge Yu-a, the final winner of the Heaven Group, for the championship.
“From this moment, the second-round main tournament matches for the Earth Group will begin! The first match is Hyang-ok of Emei Sect against Jin-su of Kongtong Sect!”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
Amid the crowd’s cheers, Cousin Hyang-ok and Warrior Jin-su climbed onto the stage.
They fastened badges to their clothes, then exchanged cupped-fist salutes.
Boom!
The match began with the pounding of the drum.
Warrior Jin-su immediately assumed an opening stance, and there was something unusual about it.
He crouched like a savage beast ready to tear his opponent apart at any moment, his gaze razor-sharp.
Then again, considering the nature of Kongtong Sect, perhaps such ferocity was only natural.
Kongtong Sect, along with Kunlun Sect, stood in the northwestern reaches of the empire.
Because of that, they frequently clashed with the Demonic Cult, and their martial arts had developed into something brutally practical and destructive.
Hmm, Elder Gyeongsanja is over there.
I’d met him once before because of the Sword Tomb on Yanzhi Mountain in Gansu.
There had been a fierce power struggle over the position of the next Sect Leader, but Elder Gyeongsanja had ultimately failed to claim it.
Before the previous Sect Leader ascended, he had suddenly made an unprecedented move and appointed his successor in advance.
The previous Sect Leader had understood.
If Elder Gyeongsanja, who had deep ties to the Murim Alliance, became Sect Leader, Kongtong Sect might lose its identity.
In any case, Warrior Jin-su was one of the warriors who had accompanied Elder Gyeongsanja back then.
It had been a while.
I remembered him as a responsible man who never hesitated to take action.
“Hah!”
Warrior Jin-su launched the first attack, and Cousin Hyang-ok calmly met him head-on.
Clang!
I wondered which of them would win.
The Peak realm was by no means an easy level to reach.
In a small sect or clan, a martial artist at that level could hold the position of Elder.
That was why friendly martial gatherings inevitably became contests of pride between the various factions.
Thud!
Swish!
Their weapons and fists flew back and forth as the two continued their fierce struggle.
Cousin Hyang-ok looked as though she was having the time of her life.
She had probably found an opponent against whom she could finally fight at full strength.
Of course, Emei Sect had no shortage of Peak experts, but they were all her seniors, people she had to treat with proper respect.
That made it difficult for her to fight them with everything she had.
Moreover, unlike the warriors she had faced until now, Warrior Jin-su neither looked down on her nor mocked her. He faced her seriously as a fellow martial artist.
That was what had put Cousin Hyang-ok in such a good mood.
Then again, finding someone you could fight without holding back was never easy.
How much time had passed?
“Haah, haah.”
“Huff, huff…”
Cousin Hyang-ok and Warrior Jin-su broke apart, both gasping for breath.
Thirteen badges lay scattered across the floor.
The only badge still intact remained fastened to Cousin Hyang-ok’s clothes.
“The winner is Hyang-ok of Emei Sect!”
“Waaaaaaaaah!”
A deafening roar erupted. Everyone from the Eunhae Merchant Group, myself included, joined in cheering for her.
“That was incredible, Hyang-ok!”
“The Gale Fairy, Hyang-ok!”
“The Gale Fairy! The Gale Fairy! The Gale Fairy!”
The crowd repeatedly chanted the epithet Gale Fairy.
It was a new epithet Cousin Hyang-ok had earned during this tournament.
The name had come from the way she wielded her sword like a raging gale, utterly without hesitation.
Sometimes an epithet was bestowed by a superior, but more often, whatever name the people gave someone and began using would become that person’s epithet.
That was why an epithet could change whenever someone revealed a new side of themselves.
Cousin Hyang-ok was smiling, apparently pleased with her new epithet.
Then again, when she had first heard the epithet Snow Sword Heroine, she had nearly drawn her blade on a random passerby.
Until now, she hadn’t had an opportunity to properly display her martial prowess, since she had defeated her previous opponents with words before the fighting could truly begin.
But today was different.
Today’s match against Warrior Jin-su of Kongtong Sect had put her martial prowess on full display.
And thanks to that, Cousin Hyang-ok had earned a new epithet.
“See?”
Brother Jin-ho spoke with a faint chuckle.
“If you do well, you can get a new epithet just like Cousin Hyang-ok.”
Now that I’d seen it happen before my own eyes, Brother Jin-ho’s argument sounded even more convincing.
“What are you thinking about, Young Master?”
At Palgap’s question, I answered.
“I was wondering what kind of epithet the crowd might give me.”
“I’m sure they’ll come up with something magnificent.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Palgap.
Only Lady Seohyang wore a strangely meaningful expression.
What was that supposed to mean?
But whenever she made that kind of face, she never explained herself, so I had no choice but to swallow my curiosity.
Before long, it was my turn.
“Today’s final match! Woo Hyeon of Mount Hua Sect! Facing him is Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group!”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
With everyone cheering me on, I climbed onto the stage.
Warrior Woo Hyeon, who was approaching from the opposite side, was Warrior Myeong Jong’s senior fellow disciple. Apparently, he possessed the greatest skill among those of his generation and carried many of Mount Hua Sect’s expectations.
I’m sorry, Warrior Myeong Jong.
But I have to win.
I need to earn myself a new epithet.
Warrior Woo Hyeon and I fastened our badges, moved toward the center, and exchanged cupped-fist salutes.
“Please take care of me today.”
“The same to you.”
After exchanging greetings, we each stepped back about one pace.
Boom!
The drum sounded.
The match had begun.
We studied each other and began a cautious probing exchange.
It was tedious, but it was a necessary process if we wanted to win.
Charging in without first understanding your opponent’s weaknesses and characteristics was the fastest route to defeat.
Which also meant I could deliberately manipulate my opponent through strategy.
I intentionally exposed a slight opening.
“Hah!”
Just as I intended, Warrior Woo Hyeon charged toward me.
Clang–!
Our swords collided.
And with that, our exchange began.
Plum blossoms scattered before my eyes, and a rich plum blossom fragrance filled my nose.
It was the Plum Blossom Sword Art, the signature martial art that represented Mount Hua Sect.
Directly using sword Qi was forbidden in friendly matches, but using it indirectly for defense was allowed.
That was why the plum blossoms had appeared.
Whoosh!
His sword shot toward me.
I answered by bending my own sword in a broad arc.
It was a decisive technique of the Heavenly Flow Ice Art, shaped after the image of a flowing river.
I used it to deflect his sword.
At the same time, I infused my blade with the principle of Snow Mire.
A swamp of snow.
Rather than immediately preventing the opponent from moving, it gradually slowed their movements until they were completely sealed.
Movement was so important that one could almost call footwork the beginning of every martial art.
How much time had passed?
Warrior Woo Hyeon’s movements gradually began to slow. His expression showed that he had realized something was wrong, but it was already too late.
Crack!
One of Warrior Woo Hyeon’s badges shattered.
His expression crumpled in dismay.
But I couldn’t simply destroy all of his badges while leaving mine untouched.
I needed to reveal only as much skill as the world already believed I possessed.
So I pretended that I couldn’t continue my attack and allowed one of my own badges to shatter.
By staging such a fierce exchange, we eventually reached the point where we each had only three badges remaining.
“Haa, haa, haa.”
Panting harshly, he lost his balance, slipped on the sweat pooled across the floor, and fell.
Of course, it wasn’t my sweat. It belonged to Warrior Woo Hyeon.
Bang!
It meant he was so exhausted that he could no longer maintain his balance, and that he had sweated enough to leave the floor slick.
Rather than swing my sword, I approached him and extended my hand.
“Oh no! Are you all right?”
“Ah, yes. I’m fine.”
“Take my hand and get up.”
He hesitated for a moment before taking my hand and pulling himself to his feet.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
Judging by the crowd’s cheers, they found the sight deeply moving.
“Then let’s continue the match.”
“Huff, huff, no.”
He shook his head and wiped away his sweat.
“The sun is setting.”
At his words, I looked up at the sky and saw that the sun really was setting.
When I’d first stepped onto the stage, the sun had still been high in the sky. When had so much time passed?
“And there’s no reason to continue the match. I wondered why Warrior In-bong surrendered, but now I understand.”
He continued speaking.
“Even if we cross swords any longer, I have no chance of winning. I surrender as well.”
“What? You’re surrendering?”
“Yes.”
He respectfully offered me a cupped-fist salute.
“I learned a great deal. Now I understand why the Alliance Leader recommended you.”
“…”
I couldn’t bring myself to stop him as he staggered away from the stage.
He was visibly exhausted. It was remarkable that he had lasted this long.
Why am I still perfectly fine…?
Commander Geum Yeon-hwa climbed onto the stage and made her declaration.
“The winner of this match is Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group!”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
“He offered a hand to his opponent! Just as expected of the Handsome Young Hero!”
“Handsome Young Hero! Handsome Young Hero!”
The crowd chanted my epithet, and I listened to their cheers with a hollow smile.
Why was I still the Handsome Young Hero?
There were so many other magnificent epithets in the world.
With that, I trudged down from the stage.
“I’m back.”
“You did well.”
“I’m proud of you! That’s my son!”
After greeting my parents, I approached Brother Jin-ho.
“Brother, you said I’d get a more impressive epithet.”
“…”
At my words, Brother Jin-ho cleared his throat awkwardly and turned his head away, unable to offer a response.
–TL Notes–
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