That night, an unexpected visitor came to Jin Haryeong’s quarters while she lay sleepless. It was her grandfather, Jin Paecheon.
“You’re still awake?”
“Yes.”
“Shall we go for a walk with Grandpa for the first time in a while?”
“I’d like that.”
She walked with Jin Paecheon through the inner gardens. The martial artists guarding various spots stepped aside of their own accord and concealed themselves.
“You’ve been worried sick because of me lately, haven’t you? I’m sorry, Grandfather.”
Jin Paecheon didn’t mention it, but neither did he look angry.
“You attended a banquet today?”
“Yes. It was a banquet hosted by Young Master Jo of the Jinryong Estate.”
“How was it?”
Her grandfather had never asked such a question before. If he knew she had attended, then he would also know that Geom Mugeuk had been there.
“Grandfather. Have you ever looked at someone and had a mental image come to mind? Like an animal, or anything else.”
“I have. Recently as well.”
The person Jin Paecheon recalled was Geom Mugeuk. The mental image that had surfaced amid the surprise and shock of that moment, when he blocked Jin Paecheon’s momentum, still had not faded.
“I experienced it for the first time this time. When I looked at someone, a snake came to mind.”
Even without explicitly naming Jo Sin, her grandfather would know whom she meant.
As expected, Jin Paecheon did not ask who it was.
She had thought he might defend Jo Sin, but her grandfather showed no particular reaction.
Since they had a private moment, she revealed her honest feelings about Jo Sin.
“Even if I end up in a strategic marriage, it won’t be with Young Master Jo.”
Then Jin Paecheon said something unexpected.
“I have no intention of arranging a strategic marriage between you and Young Master Jo.”
“Really?”
“I am already a man who has everything. What would I lack to do such a thing?”
At Jin Paecheon’s firm words, Jin Haryeong broke into a bright smile. Her grandfather truly looked magnificent.
“I knew you’d say that.”
Jin Haryeong linked her arm through her grandfather’s.
“What is a fully grown lass doing?”
“Let’s walk like this for just a little while.”
Jin Paecheon looked at his granddaughter with a benevolent smile. She was the only joy in the hard life of an Alliance Lord. It felt like just yesterday that she had been toddling about, yet she had already grown so much.
“Were you upset with this old man?”
“No. I understand, Grandfather. What grandfather would like to see his granddaughter associate with a servant?”
“It is not because that child is a servant.”
“Then why?”
Jin Paecheon did not explain the reason. He saw no need to speak of Geom Mugeuk’s true identity.
Jin Paecheon changed the subject.
“How is the Little Dragon Tournament going?”
“I’m doing my best.”
“Do you have confidence you can win?”
“You know how hard I’ve worked for this tournament. I will definitely win!”
Because he knew that all too well, Jin Paecheon hesitated. Honestly, he felt the urge to advise her to forfeit. Even though he knew the Heavenly Fate Association had intervened, it was because he had wished from the start that Jin Haryeong would not become involved.
But because he knew the effort she had poured into this tournament, he could not bring himself to tell his granddaughter to give up.
“Do your best.”
“Yes, Grandfather.”
And so the two walked for a long while beneath the moonlight. Jin Paecheon realized that at every moment of their walk, his granddaughter was thinking of someone.
Because he could guess who it was… he only hoped it would pass as a fleeting fever of youth.
* * *
Seo Daeryong, returning from training, was greatly excited.
“Do you know how many people recognized me on the way back?”
“You mean how many women pretended to know you, don’t you?”
“How quick-witted you are. How many was it?”
“That would depend on how slowly you walked.”
On roads crowded with people, especially where there seemed to be many women, Seo Daeryong would display his Turtle Divine Skill. Then, if someone happened to recognize him, he would come running like an excited rabbit.
“Five?”
Seo Daeryong flinched.
“How did you know?”
“I analyzed it from your current state of excitement.”
“That can’t be it. Were you watching over me? In case I fell into danger?”
“Ah! Now that I think of it, that might be possible. I had never once considered the possibility that our young master might fall into danger.”
“…It’s because I’m reliable, right?”
“…Of course.”
“That’s not it! You forgot, didn’t you? How could you leave me unattended when I could have fallen into danger!”
“Well, you fall into danger, get taken hostage, get injured—that’s how you become a true martial artist. What’s wrong? You know this well.”
“I’ll pass! I’m going to live quietly as an inspector of the Hwangcheon Pavilion, not getting hurt, not getting swept up in conspiracies, just training hard in martial arts. I’m training for my health!”
“Hurt? Because I don’t pay attention to you?”
“No.”
“Rather, not paying attention to you is probably helping you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Let’s say someone has noticed us. If I don’t pay you any attention at all, would they think you have value to exploit? They’d think that touching you for no reason would likely expose their own identities instead.”
“Ah! You thought that far ahead.”
“Of course. It’s good to act like strangers.”
Then Seo Daeryong looked out beyond the inn and spoke.
“Here comes our Pavilion Lord’s sponsor.”
The person walking toward them was Jo Sin. Seo Daeryong had teased him endlessly about having his beard shaved and being bought new clothes.
“Well then, let’s scatter like strangers.”
Seo Daeryong hastily went up to the upper floor.
Shortly after, Jo Sin entered the inn and sat facing me.
“The noodles here are delicious. Would you like some?”
At my words, Jo Sin snorted with an expression that said now was not the time for noodles.
Looking at Jo Sin, I thought this: even a villain needs a process to ripen. The difference between Jo Sin, who had been the head of the Shinryong Clan, and the current Jo Sin was as great as whether I shaved his beard or not.
“Should you have won that duel yesterday? Or should you have gotten beaten?”
“I couldn’t help it. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not something that ends with an apology. Miss Jin has fallen even harder for you.”
Jo Sin pulled out a dagger.
“Now I have no choice but to turn that handsome face of yours into a go board.”
If it were middle-aged Jo Sin, instead of pulling a dagger, he would have taken me to the place with the best cuisine in this region and treated me with a bright smile. He would have fed even more delicious food to someone he hated while praising them all the more. Subtly and persistently, he would never have revealed his own emotions until he obtained what he wanted. Had he been like that, he would have been as difficult to handle as the Demon Lords, but the current Jo Sin was in the palm of my hand.
“Rather, if you use me, you can win Miss Jin’s heart. I know women’s hearts well. If I help you, you will be able to marry Miss Jin.”
I knew Jo Sin was determined to marry Jin Haryeong. Therefore, it would be hard for him to refuse this offer.
“What could someone like you know?”
“If I knew nothing, how could I have made Miss Jin fall for me?”
“It was all intentional?”
“Of course. Every word, every action must go according to plan. Matters between men and women cannot be rushed.”
There had been a wandering martial artist who was a womanizer. Whenever he rested, he would tell everyone his experiences, and even recounting what I had heard from him would be enough to pique Jo Sin’s interest.
“What is your motive for helping me?”
“What motive could there be? It’s money.”
“Now I see, this fellow is quite something.”
I had to keep this Jo Sin from acting up until the winner emerged. When the Heavenly Fate Association approached the winner in earnest, I would see how Jo Sin acted then. Whether he was truly connected to the Heavenly Fate Association or not.
Until then, I had to become the type of person who scammed women for money. That way, Jo Sin could tell me his secrets. Not because he trusted me, but because I was someone he would kill once the job was done.
“Do you know why Miss Jin is avoiding Young Master Jo right now?”
“Why?”
“Miss Jin is someone who pursues freedom. But when people try to force a strategic marriage on her, she naturally rebels. The reason she rejected Young Master Jo and felt goodwill toward me was also because of that rebelliousness.”
Jo Sin’s expression relaxed slightly. It meant the reason she disliked him wasn’t because of him personally.
“Did she say that?”
“Must she say it outright? You can tell by reading the room.”
“So?”
“Right now she is devoted to the Little Dragon Tournament. If you push for marriage at this time, would that work? At times like this, you should cheer for her to win the tournament.”
Jo Sin nodded as if he hadn’t thought of that. People like Jo Sin were always like that. Thinking only of themselves, they had no understanding or consideration for the other party.
“Go and congratulate her on the day of her duel.”
“Congratulate her? Then should I buy flowers or gifts?”
“Winning the entire tournament might be different, but if she receives a gift for winning the Round of Eight, it would only burden her. Just go and congratulate her with words.”
“Then I should prepare a gift in advance for when she wins the tournament.”
“As expected, you’re clever! Martial arts, clan, and even looks. Young Master Jo is perfect in every way. If you just choose the right method, Miss Jin will have no reason to refuse.”
Jo Sin smiled at me, pleased by my praise. But the gaze directed at me still contained unmistakable killing intent. He was likely imagining the moment he would kill me after using me to the fullest.
“You sly bastard! If she sees your true self, she’ll flee in horror.”
I said to him as he rose from his seat.
“Make sure to prepare one hundred thousand nyang!”
When I disappear like smoke from the Martial Arts Alliance, this little villain who would become a future petty lord would also disappear from this world.
The moment Jin Haryeong reached out her hand to the servant and suggested they be friends, she had not taken my hand, but had grasped her new life.
* * *
Two days later, Seo Daeryong won his duel in the Round of Eight.
But in the process, he suffered a grievous wound, his shoulder pierced by his opponent’s sword.
The officiating martial artists rushed over, hoisted him up, and ran toward the tent where the physician was waiting.
I ran after them as well.
While being carried, Seo Daeryong sent me a voice transmission.
*If I die, please tell our drinking comrades! That this Seo Daeryong fought valiantly and left without regrets!*
*Leave your last words quickly. I suppose I’ll give the right-hand man position to Jang Ho?*
*No!*
*Then who should I give it to? I-an?*
*No!*
*Then who?*
*Even if I become a ghost, I won’t give up that position.*
The physician’s treatment was finished.
Fortunately, his life was not in danger, but the wound was quite deep.
The Martial Arts Alliance physician applied Golden Wound Medicine and prescribed internal medicine as well, advising him to rest for a while.
I returned to the inn and sat Seo Daeryong down.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
I infused a stream of internal energy into Seo Daeryong’s back. My true qi slowly circulated through his meridians and soothed the injured area. Depending on whether this process was done or not, the speed of injury recovery differed greatly.
“Thank you. I feel much better.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve examined you, and fortunately, you avoided vital meridians and your bones are unharmed.”
Originally, the Round of Eight was the limit of Seo Daeryong’s ability. However, barely winning this time was the result of pouring out every drop of his luck, talent, and effort.
But it seemed Seo Daeryong wanted to go all the way to the end.
“Can I participate in the Round of Four duel with this body?”
Because I well knew that he wanted to go, I deliberately did not dissuade him.
“You have to go. Bind it tight with bandages and go win. Even if you lose the use of one arm, you have to go. That’s how important this is.”
Then Seo Daeryong’s reaction was unexpected.
“Yes.”
At his meek answer, I jumped up instead.
“Yes? You should say you can’t go. What kind of duel is worth risking your arm for? You should argue!”
“But there’s too important a matter at stake.”
“What matter? What’s so important about a Martial Arts Alliance tournament?”
“It’s not that. It’s the Pavilion Lord successor exam. If I win, we pursue them.”
I quietly stared intently at Seo Daeryong’s face. Seo Daeryong’s eyes, which had been filled with loyalty and passion, finally avoided my gaze. Caught him.
“Are you trying to back out by making me feel guilty?”
“Did it show?”
“Of course. That passion was so unlike you. You’re the type who wouldn’t give up an arm even if the sky fell.”
“Of course. Even if murim falls to ruin, I’m not giving up my arm. Well done, Seo Daeryong! Looking good, Seo Daeryong! Making it to the semifinals is more than enough! Praise!”
His clowning made me laugh, and Seo Daeryong laughed along before screaming that it hurt.
“Aaah! It hurts. Don’t make me laugh.”
“You were the one being funny. Rest.”
I was about to leave the room when Seo Daeryong asked from behind me.
“Is it really impossible?”
Unlike before, his tone was serious. I could feel how badly he wanted to continue in the tournament.
“No.”
“Your successor trial is one thing, Pavilion Lord, but it’s also for my own sake. I felt many things during this martial arts tournament. I want to see it through to the end.”
A brief silence passed.
“Inspector Seo, once you set foot on that path, it’s hard to leave it.”
“What kind of path is it?”
“The path where you bind up an injured arm and step onto the sparring stage. The kind of path where, even with blood streaming down your whole body, even while limping, even if you can’t see out of one eye, you still walk forward.”
It was the way I had looked when I was gathering the final ingredient for the Great Art.
Because I had lived such a life, I wanted to stop him. And because I knew better than anyone how much such a life could make a martial artist grow, I could not stop him.
But once he crossed that line and tasted that world, he would no longer be able to live as an investigator of Hwangcheon Pavilion who practiced martial arts merely for his health.
“At least this time, I want to go as far as I can.”
“Your next opponent will be hard to beat even if you weren’t injured.”
“Please show me the way.”
“If you push yourself too hard, you may never be able to use that injured arm again.”
“Then I’ll get a right arm too. Ah, for me it would be a left arm.”
“You could suffer an even worse injury.”
“I’ll take that chance to get some rest.”
The resolve in Seo Daeryong’s eyes was no different from my own in the past.
“Then you shouldn’t be sitting there like that.”
Seo Daeryong sprang to his feet.
“Your fate always changes at an inn.”
“And you are always there, Pavilion Lord.”
How could it be because of me, or because of the place? It was surely because of the decision not to give up made by that small, stubborn man.
I took him and left the inn.
Burning with fervor, Seo Daeryong shouted.
“Now then, from this moment on, it’s hell training!”
As Seo Daeryong strode toward the mountain where we usually trained, I said to him,
“Not there. This way.”
I turned and walked in the opposite direction.
“There’s somewhere we need to stop by first.”
The place I stopped at with him was the Central Plains Money House. There, I withdrew five hundred thousand nyang.
“Why are you withdrawing so much money?”
“Because we’re not going to hell. If you try hell training with an injured body, you’ll only ruin it even more.”
“Then where are we going?”
“Paradise.”
To the startled Seo Daeryong, I gave a meaningful smile.
“We’re going to paradise. A paradise with a very expensive admission fee.”