Jin Ha-ryeong ordered noodles and wine.
She had come alone, yet for some reason she ordered two bowls of noodles.
Her expressionless face and low voice made people tense; neither the waiter taking her order nor Seo Daeryong sitting across from her could properly meet her eyes.
And she had a knack for finding people who were not intimidated by her.
Our eyes met, and a faint unusual light flickered through hers. It must have been rare for someone to look at her face so calmly.
But soon she turned her gaze elsewhere.
Seo Daeryong’s sound transmission flew to me.
—She’s truly beautiful. Women of the orthodox sects really are far too beautiful.
Seo Daeryong’s voice was flushed with excitement.
Though she must have felt Seo Daeryong stealing glances at her, she paid him no mind at all, as if it were a familiar part of daily life.
Before long, the wine and two bowls of noodles came out.
As she was about to pour herself a drink, Seo Daeryong mustered his courage.
“Allow me to pour you a cup.”
Jin Ha-ryeong stared fixedly at Seo Daeryong.
“I don’t mean anything by it. It’s just that sitting together at the same table is a kind of fate.”
But Jin Ha-ryeong silently poured and drank by herself.
A sound transmission filled with self-reproach, as though the world were collapsing, flew to me.
—Ah, that was far too trite, wasn’t it? Sitting together at the same table is fate! Ah! Even my grandfather wouldn’t have said something like that.
Just then, setting down her wine cup, Jin Ha-ryeong asked me,
“Are you participating in the Little Dragon Tournament?”
I looked at her for a moment, then glanced at Seo Daeryong and said,
“Our young master is participating.”
“Young master?”
“Yes. I am the servant who attends upon him.”
With an unexpected look, Jin Ha-ryeong looked back and forth between me and Seo Daeryong. As if her eyes were saying, Aren’t you the young master and that one the servant? Seo Daeryong, for no reason, began scolding me.
“It’s because this young brat grew a beard. You rascal! Isn’t the young lady confused because of that scruffy beard of yours?”
“My apologies, young master.”
Soon, as if she had no interest in any of this, she began eating her noodles.
Seo Daeryong’s sound transmission flew to me.
—Now that I look again, she’s not that great. This woman.
Seeing Seo Daeryong pout, I laughed inwardly.
Just then, a man in his early thirties entered the inn. Judging by the aura he revealed and the way he walked, he was quite an expert, and he seemed to be Jin Ha-ryeong’s bodyguard.
“I’ve been searching for you for quite some time.”
“Sit.”
“You must go now.”
“Sit first. We’re not the only ones here, are we?”
The man quickly looked us over, then immediately sat down beside her.
She pushed a bowl of noodles toward him.
“Eat. The noodles here are good.”
She had ordered two bowls of noodles knowing this man would come looking for her.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m not fine. Hurry and eat.”
“Yes.”
The man began eating the noodles. He slurped down the noodles, then quickly finished even the broth.
If Ian had been here, he would have said he understood that man. Bodyguards, by necessity, got into the habit of eating that quickly.
Then Jin Ha-ryeong said to him,
“If you eat that fast, you’ll ruin your insides and die before you get cut down by a blade.”
“I am fine.”
“You’re fine. It’s always me who isn’t fine.”
The man rose from his seat and urged her on.
“You must go now. They will be looking for you, miss.”
“Yes, I should go.”
Jin Ha-ryeong emptied her wine, rose from her seat, and left with the man.
When she disappeared into the distance, Seo Daeryong said with a wistful look in his eyes,
“She came like fate, then left after eating only noodles.”
“You said she wasn’t that great when you looked again.”
“My heart is narrow, that’s all. It’s not that the woman is lacking. She’s the prettiest woman I’ve seen since coming here.”
“That woman is impossible.”
“Why? You mean I, who look like a servant, am impossible? Is that it?”
“Even I, this dashing man who can’t hide the fact that I’m a young master no matter how much of a beard I grow, am impossible.”
“Why you, Pavilion Master?”
“Because a romance between the son of the Heavenly Demon and the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader would be far too fated a love.”
At the words “granddaughter of the Martial Alliance Leader,” Seo Daeryong was startled.
“She’s the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter?”
“Yes.”
“Why would the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter eat noodles in an inn like this? And even share a table?”
“How would I know? Maybe she got sick of a banquet hall filled with expensive and rare dishes and ran out. Or maybe she just wanted to eat this place’s noodles.”
“Ah! Life truly is unpredictable. Who would have known that I’d end up sharing a table with you and the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter at an inn in front of the Martial Alliance?”
“Is that all? You’re going to have a martial duel with that Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter too.”
Seo Daeryong was even more shocked.
“What do you mean?”
“She’ll be entering the Little Dragon Tournament as well.”
Seo Daeryong’s eyes went wide.
That was the reason I remembered this Little Dragon Tournament. It was the tournament that made her name known to everyone.
The winner of this tournament had been none other than Jin Ha-ryeong.
At the time, I had simply accepted it and moved on. It wasn’t particularly surprising for the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter to win a martial tournament for rising talents.
But now I knew. Behind this tournament was the Cheonmyeong Society.
The reason Jin Ha-ryeong’s fate later flowed in a direction that shocked the world was that this tournament had been the starting point.
“Win, Inspector Seo.”
Seo Daeryong, realizing that I was speaking sincerely, drank the wine set before him.
“You’re saying something I can’t answer while sober.”
* * *
The next day was Seo Daeryong’s first martial duel.
The outer court of the Martial Alliance had been arranged with dozens of stages, and each stage was crowded with participants and spectators.
Yet despite the large number of people, the duels proceeded in an orderly fashion without a hitch.
There was a certain pressure that the Martial Alliance gave off. In addition, the warriors overseeing the tournament were from one of the Martial Alliance’s elite organizations, the Azure Dragon Corps, so there was no one picking fights or causing disturbances.
The warrior managing the Yellow-character group to which Seo Daeryong belonged came and informed them of the precautions.
“If you deliberately inflict serious injury on or kill your opponent, you will be disqualified without exception. Also, you may be held accountable for your crime and imprisoned in the dungeon, so be careful. This match is a proper martial duel, not a fight to the death.”
His first opponent was a warrior from a sword sect in Hubei. He had a fairly solid build and sharp eyes.
“I’m so nervous I could die.”
“Were you this nervous when you took the promotion exam for inspector at Hwangcheon Pavilion?”
“I wasn’t nervous at all then.”
“It’s the same, isn’t it? The effort you put in.”
Seo Daeryong opened his eyes wide and looked at me.
“I know better than anyone that you trained hard. That’s why you’re here. If that weren’t the case, I would have grown my beard longer and gone up there myself.”
Perhaps my words gave him strength, because Seo Daeryong nodded vigorously.
“I’ll go win.”
Seo Daeryong knocked his opponent down and came back down in just three exchanges. He even won without drawing his saber.
“That was too easy.”
“Don’t forget whose disciple you are.”
Seo Daeryong had finally gained an opportunity to view his own skill objectively. He did not yet know how important that was for Seo Daeryong the martial artist.
Just then, the warrior overseeing the duel came and informed him,
“There will be one more duel this afternoon, so do not go anywhere and wait.”
Since it was still the early stage of the tournament, it seemed they were holding duels twice a day.
“So if you get injured in the morning duel, you have to fight the afternoon duel while injured. They’re testing our fighting spirit too, aren’t they?”
“What fighting spirit? It’s probably because their schedule is tight.”
“Don’t look down on the fighting spirit of our orthodox sects!”
“Yes, young master! Let your fighting spirit burn!”
Seo Daeryong won his afternoon duel easily as well. This time too, he won without even using his saber.
“How does it feel to win both matches on the first day?”
“It feels good.”
Though Seo Daeryong had trained diligently under the Blood Heaven Saber Demon until now, he had never fought martial duels like this in actual practice.
“I was very nervous before going up, but once I actually stood on the stage, I wasn’t that nervous. It was a strange experience.”
“I told you it would be a good experience.”
“I’ve never regretted listening to you, Pavilion Master.”
“Go back first and rest.”
“What about you, Pavilion Master?”
“I’ll look around a bit before going.”
“Yes, then I’ll go ahead.”
After sending Seo Daeryong ahead, I walked around the dueling stages.
Duels were still in full swing on every stage.
Then I saw that one stage in particular was unusually crowded with spectators. When I went over, Jin Ha-ryeong, whom I had seen yesterday, was on the stage.
She was the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter and a beauty called the finest in Hubei, so she was truly at the center of attention. The spectators were exchanging stories about her.
“But why did the Alliance Leader’s granddaughter enter this tournament?”
“It means they won’t simply hand her a position just because she’s his granddaughter. If she wants to join the Martial Alliance, she has to enter proudly through skill, doesn’t it?”
“That’s right, that’s right. Didn’t Miss Jin’s older brother win the tournament a few years ago and enter the Martial Alliance too?”
“As expected! Our Alliance Leader is a fair and impartial man.”
Jin Ha-ryeong also subdued her opponent without drawing her sword.
Receiving cheers as she stepped down from the stage, she left without giving a single glance to anyone. At that aloof appearance, the crowd grew even more excited.
After watching a few more duels, I returned to the inn. Seo Daeryong had gone to the mountains to train and came back late at night. Though he had won easily today, it seemed he was concerned about the remaining duels ahead.
“As I told you, I’m the sort who can’t stand not taking first place. If I don’t enter, that’s one thing, but if I do, I have to do my best.”
Seo Daeryong’s grit could not have appeared from nowhere. It must have been a character forged through efforts like this.
Seo Daeryong won his match the next day as well.
“You’re saying you didn’t even watch my match?”
“There was an interesting duel on another stage.”
“Who was it? Don’t tell me it was the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter.”
“That’s right.”
This time as well, I watched Jin Ha-ryeong’s duel. Judging by Seo Daeryong’s ability, he might have to face her. Of course, since they were in different groups, it would not be immediately, but if he became his group’s winner and advanced to the main tournament, he could end up facing her.
And there was an even more important reason I was paying attention to her. She was both the target and the center of the scheme the Cheonmyeong Society was plotting this time. She would surely become the path that connected me to them.
“What if I’d met a strong opponent while you were gone?”
“You think I just left? I checked who your opponent was before I went. You won by attacking the opening on his left, didn’t you?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“From the way he walked.”
I appeased the amazed Seo Daeryong’s mood. This was the moment when I ought to be admiring him.
“Does winning feel good?”
“Honestly, it feels amazing!”
“Well done.”
Seo Daeryong could not hide the joy on his face.
“Do you know when it feels best? Surprisingly, it wasn’t the moment I knocked down my opponent. It felt best when the duel was over and I stepped down from the stage. That moment when people looked at me, cheered, and applauded was more thrilling and exciting. This time, I learned that I’m someone who’s very conscious of other people’s eyes.”
“The stronger you become, the more you’ll want them to watch you.”
“There’s no way.”
“Why? Do you think you’ll become more dignified? More humble?”
“Is that not the case?”
“Let’s suppose someone becomes the greatest under heaven. The moment he becomes the greatest under heaven, will he be happy because he defeated the previous greatest under heaven? Or will he be happy because from that day on, everyone respects and looks up to him as the greatest under heaven?”
Imagine going somewhere and hearing someone shout, “The greatest under heaven is arriving!” Imagine every person you meet looking at you with eyes full of respect and envy. Imagine the drums of victory always sounding, applause and cheers always ringing out.
“People’s hearts are all the same. No, perhaps the stronger one becomes, the hotter and more primal that desire becomes. The heart of the greatest under heaven is broader? Is that really so? I’m the greatest under heaven, and they dare treat me like this? Are you confident you won’t fall into that trap? Are you confident you can keep that pettiness buried to the end, when you no longer have to hide it?”
After a brief pause, Seo Daeryong said,
“But you aren’t like that, Pavilion Master, are you? You won’t be like that, right?”
“Why do you think I’m different? Am I not human? I’m the same. I’m simply trying not to be.”
“It feels so good to have this kind of conversation with you, Pavilion Master. I finally feel as though I’ve become a true martial artist. I can’t remember the last time my heart pounded like this. I sincerely apologize for insisting that I wouldn’t enter this tournament.”
But this feeling of our Seo Daeryong changed immediately the very next day.
“I almost died! I’m not exaggerating—I really almost died! Ugh, I told you I didn’t want to do this! I want to go back!”
“It’s just a scratch. You’re fine.”
“A scratch? Can’t you see all this blood? Ah, seriously, if I hadn’t dodged by a hair’s breadth, I’d have a hole this big in my shoulder! And his sword was enormous, too.”
“Your opponent can’t even get up right now.”
The opponent who had drawn blood from Seo Daeryong’s shoulder was still unconscious, unable to come to his senses.
“I don’t care. Please send me home! I have to go water my flowerpots!”
Seo Daeryong, who had been like that, was in high spirits again the next day.
Seo Daeryong was receiving the kind of attention he had wanted even below the sparring stage.
Even though he was simply walking, there were many eyes glancing at him. They were whispering among themselves, too.
“What is this?”
“The man you beat yesterday was a favorite to win the Hwangja Division. Thanks to that, you’ve become one of the people drawing attention in this tournament as well.”
He had taken all the attention from the opponent he had barely defeated yesterday.
“Don’t look, but the one in blue on the right over there. She looked at me twice. Ah, she’s looking again.”
“Even so, couldn’t you walk a little faster?”
Seo Daeryong was moving slowly, savoring everyone’s gazes.
“Ah! I think the women at the far left over there are whispering while looking at me.”
“To my eyes, it looks like they’re discussing what to eat.”
Just then, a young woman wearing a sword trotted over and greeted Seo Daeryong.
“I enjoyed watching your match yesterday. Fight well today, too.”
She bowed and left.
Seo Daeryong froze, staring blankly at her back.
“Pavilion Master.”
“What?”
“You didn’t perhaps pay people off to cheer me up, did you?”
“Considering how smug you are, I’d like to say I did, but no.”
“You really didn’t, right? This really feels like a dream.”
Seo Daeryong was truly delighted. It seemed this was the first time a woman had come up to him first and shown him such favor.
I hoped he would fully enjoy this joy and excitement. He would never forget the duels here for the rest of his life.
I hoped Seo Daeryong would someday sit his grandson on his knee and tell him about these days. A story that began with, “It may be hard to believe, but when your grandfather was young…”
“Let’s go! To win!”
Was it thanks to the woman’s encouragement?
Seo Daeryong kept winning, and he easily took first place in the Hwangja Division, advancing to the main tournament. Now the main tournament would be a series of duels between the first-place winners of each division.
“I’m going all the way!”
Seo Daeryong was burning with passion, separate from the mission. Yes, this was a moment that came only a few times in life. More thrilling, more exciting, and more precious than becoming the greatest under heaven in his old age. Yes, burn bright, Daeryong.