Chapter 164: Once You Step Onto That Path
Chapter 164: Once You Step Onto That Path
That night, an unexpected visitor arrived at the quarters of the sleepless Jin Ha-ryeong. It was her grandfather, Jin Pae-cheon.
“Are you still awake?”
“Yes.”
“Shall we take a walk? It has been a while.”
“I’d like that.”
She strolled through the inner court with Jin Pae-cheon. The warriors guarding the various posts discreetly vanished from sight, granting them privacy.
“You’ve been distressed because of me lately, haven’t you? I’m sorry, Grandfather.”
Jin Pae-cheon didn’t comment on her apology, but he didn’t seem angry either.
“I heard you attended a banquet today?”
“Yes. It was hosted by Young Master Jo of Jinryong Manor.”
“How was it?”
Her grandfather had never asked such a question before. If he knew she had attended, he surely knew that Geom Yeon had been there as well.
“Grandfather. Have you ever looked at someone and had a specific image come to mind? Like an animal, or something else entirely?”
“I have. Quite recently, in fact.”
The person Jin Pae-cheon thought of was Geom Mu-geuk. He still couldn't forget the image that had flashed through his mind amidst the shock and awe when the young man blocked his momentum.
“I experienced it for the first time today. When I looked at someone, I thought of a snake.”
Even without her naming Jo Sin, her grandfather would know exactly whom she meant.
As expected, Jin Pae-cheon didn’t ask for a name. She had expected him to defend Jo Sin, but her grandfather showed no particular reaction. Since they were alone, she decided to voice her honest feelings.
“Even if I have to enter an arranged marriage, it won’t be with Young Master Jo.”
Then, Jin Pae-cheon said something unexpected.
“I have no intention of forcing you into an arranged marriage with Young Master Jo.”
“Really?”
“I am a man who already possesses everything. What could I possibly lack that would make me resort to such measures?”
At Jin Pae-cheon’s firm words, Jin Ha-ryeong beamed. Her grandfather truly was the most wonderful man.
“I knew you’d say that.”
Jin Ha-ryeong linked her arm with his.
“What is a grown woman like you doing?”
“Let’s just walk like this for a little while.”
Jin Pae-cheon looked down at his granddaughter with a benevolent smile. She was the child who had brought the only joy to his grueling life as the Alliance Leader. It felt like only yesterday she was toddling around, yet she had already grown so much.
“Were you upset with your grandfather?”
“No. I understand, Grandfather. What grandfather would like his granddaughter associating with a servant?”
“It is not because that boy is a servant.”
“Then why?”
Jin Pae-cheon did not explain. He felt there was no need to speak of Geom Mu-geuk’s true identity yet. Instead, he changed the subject.
“How is the Young Dragon Tournament going?”
“I’m giving it my all.”
“Are you confident you can win?”
“As you know, I’ve worked incredibly hard for this tournament. I’m definitely going to win!”
Because he knew that all too well, Jin Pae-cheon hesitated. Honestly, he wanted to advise her to withdraw. Even though he knew the Heavenly Mandate Society had intervened, his primary wish was for Jin Ha-ryeong to remain uninvolved.
However, knowing the effort she had poured into this competition, he couldn't bring himself to tell her to give up.
“Do your best.”
“I will, Grandfather.”
The two of them walked under the moonlight for a long time. Jin Pae-cheon noticed that with every step, his granddaughter was thinking of someone.
Since he could guess who it was... he could only hope it was a passing fever of youth.
*
Seo Dae-ryong was flushed with excitement when he returned from training.
“Do you know how many people recognized me on the way back?”
“You mean how many women tried to talk to you, right?”
“How are you always so quick on the uptake? How many do you think?”
“That would depend on how slowly you walked.”
Whenever Seo Dae-ryong was on a busy street, especially one with many women, he would manifest his Turtle Divine Art and slow his pace to a crawl. Then, if someone recognized him, he would come running back like a hyperactive rabbit.
“Five?”
Seo Dae-ryong flinched. “How did you know?”
“I gauged your current state of excitement.”
“No way. Were you watching over me? In case I fell into danger?”
“Ah! Now that I think about it, that’s a possibility. I never once considered the chance that our young master might be in danger.”
“...Because I’m so reliable, right?”
“...Naturally.”
“Liar! You forgot, didn't you? How could you just leave me be? What if I got into trouble!”
“Well, you get into trouble, you get taken hostage, you get hurt—that’s how you become a true martial artist. Come on, you know the drill.”
“I’ll pass! I want to live a quiet life as a Huangquan Pavilion investigator who doesn't get hurt, doesn't get caught up in conspiracies, and just trains hard. I only practice martial arts for my health!”
“Are you upset? Because I didn't pay attention to you?”
“No.”
“Actually, me not paying attention is probably helping you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Let’s say someone noticed us. If I don't pay you any mind at all, they won't think you have any value to use against me. They’d think that messing with you would only risk exposing their own identities for nothing.”
“Ah! You thought that far ahead?”
“Of course. It’s better if we act like strangers.”
Just then, Seo Dae-ryong looked toward the entrance of the inn.
“Here comes our Pavilion Master’s benefactor.”
The man walking toward them was Jo Sin. Seo Dae-ryong had teased him mercilessly after he'd been forced to shave his beard and buy new clothes.
“Well then, let’s scatter like strangers.”
Seo Dae-ryong scurried up to the second floor. A moment later, Jo Sin entered the inn and sat across from me.
“The noodles here are quite good. Would you like some?”
At my words, Jo Sin snorted, his expression saying this was no time to be eating.
Looking at Jo Sin, I realized that even villains need time to ripen. There was a vast difference between the Jo Sin who had been the head of the New Dragon Family and the Jo Sin standing before me now—a difference as great as him having a beard or not.
“Should you have won that duel yesterday? Or should you have been thrashed?”
“I did it without thinking. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry doesn't cut it. Miss Jin has fallen even harder for you now.” Jo Sin pulled out a dagger. “I suppose I have no choice but to carve a Go board into that pretty face of yours.”
If this were the middle-aged Jo Sin, he wouldn't have pulled a dagger. Instead, he would have taken me to the finest restaurant in the region and treated me with a bright smile. He would have fed his enemy the most delicious food while heaping praise upon them. He would have been subtle and patient, never revealing his true emotions until he got what he wanted. If he were like that, he would be as difficult to handle as the Demon Lords, but the current Jo Sin was dancing in the palm of my hand.
“Actually, if you use me, you might be able to win Miss Jin’s heart. I understand a woman’s mind well. If I help you, you might actually be able to marry her.”
I knew Jo Sin was desperate to marry Jin Ha-ryeong. He wouldn't be able to refuse this offer.
“What would a wretch like you know?”
“If I knew nothing, how could I have made Miss Jin fall for me?”
“So it was all intentional?”
“Of course. Every word, every action must be planned. Matters of the heart cannot be rushed.”
Back in my days as a ronin, there was a fellow who used to be a notorious womanizer. He would spend every break telling us stories of his exploits. Just sharing what I heard from him would be enough to pique Jo Sin’s interest.
“What’s your ulterior motive for helping me?”
“What motive could there be? It’s for the money.”
“I see now. You’re quite the piece of work.”
I had to keep Jo Sin from running wild until a winner emerged. When the Heavenly Mandate Society finally approached the winner, I would know by Jo Sin’s actions whether he was involved with them or not.
Until then, I had to play the part of a scoundrel who swindled women for money. I had to make Jo Sin feel he could tell me his secrets—not because he trusted me, but because he viewed me as someone he could just kill once the job was done.
“Do you know why Miss Jin is avoiding you right now, Young Master Jo?”
“Why?”
“Miss Jin is someone who pursues freedom. But since people are trying to force her into an arranged marriage, she’s naturally going to rebel. The reason she rejected you and showed interest in me was out of that very defiance.”
Jo Sin’s expression softened slightly. It meant the reason she disliked him wasn't because of him personally.
“Did she say that?”
“Does she have to say it for it to be true? You can tell just by looking at her.”
“And so?”
“Right now, she is focused entirely on the Young Dragon Tournament. Do you think pushing for marriage now will work? At a time like this, you should be cheering for her to win.”
Jo Sin nodded as if he hadn't considered that. That’s how people like Jo Sin are. They only think of themselves, so they have zero understanding or consideration for others.
“Go and congratulate her on the day of her duel.”
“Congratulate her? Should I buy flowers or a gift?”
“If she wins the whole thing, maybe, but receiving a gift for winning the quarterfinals will only feel like a burden. Just go and give her your verbal congratulations.”
“Then I should prepare a gift in anticipation of her final victory.”
“You truly are brilliant! Martial arts, family background, and even your face—you are perfect in every way, Young Master Jo. If you just choose the right method, there’s no reason for Miss Jin to refuse you.”
Pleased by my flattery, Jo Sin smiled. However, the look in his eyes still held an unmaskable murderous intent. He was likely imagining the moment he would kill me after using me to his heart's content.
“You clever little bastard! If she saw your true self, she’d run away in horror.”
As he stood up to leave, I called out to him.
“Make sure you have those hundred thousand taels ready!”
By the time I vanished like smoke from the Murim Alliance, this little villain who would have become a hypocrite in the future would also vanish from this world.
The moment Jin Ha-ryeong reached out to a servant and asked to be friends, she wasn't just taking my hand—she was seizing a new life for herself.
*
Two days later, Seo Dae-ryong won his quarterfinal match.
However, in the process, he suffered a serious injury, his shoulder pierced by his opponent’s sword. The officiating warriors rushed over, hoisted him onto their backs, and ran toward the tent where the physicians were waiting.
I ran after them. While being carried, Seo Dae-ryong sent me a message via Voice Transmission.
— If I die, please tell my comrades from our drinking sessions! Tell them Seo Dae-ryong fought gallantly and went without regrets!
— If you have any last words, leave them now. I suppose I should give your spot as my right-hand man to Jang Ho?
— No!
— Then who? Lee An?
— No!
— Then who?
— Even if I become a ghost, I’m not giving up that spot.
The physician finished the treatment. Fortunately, it wasn't life-threatening, but the wound was deep. The Murim Alliance physician applied Golden Wound Medicine and prescribed oral medication, advising him to rest.
After returning to the inn, I had Seo Dae-ryong sit down.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
I injected a stream of internal energy into his back. My True Qi slowly circulated through his blood vessels, soothing the injured area. Whether or not this process was done made a massive difference in the speed of recovery.
“Thank you. I feel much better.”
“Don't worry. I checked, and fortunately, it missed the vital vessels and the bone isn't damaged.”
Normally, the quarterfinals were the limit for someone of Seo Dae-ryong’s skill. His narrow victory this time was the result of pouring out all his luck, talent, and effort. But it seemed Seo Dae-ryong wanted to go all the way.
“Will I be able to compete in the semifinals in this state?”
Knowing full well that he wanted to go, I deliberately didn't try to stop him.
“Of course you should. You should go out there with your arm wrapped tight in bandages and win. Even if you lose the use of an arm, you have to go. This is such an important matter, after all.”
Seo Dae-ryong’s reaction was unexpected.
“Yes.”
His submissive answer made me jump instead.
“What do you mean, 'yes'? You’re supposed to say you can't go! You’re supposed to argue that a mere duel isn't worth losing an arm over!”
“But there’s something too important at stake, isn't there?”
“What? What could possibly be so important about a Murim Alliance tournament?”
“Not that. Your successor's test, Pavilion Master. I have to win so we can hunt those bastards down.”
I stared blankly at Seo Dae-ryong’s face. His eyes, which had been filled with loyalty and passion, finally avoided mine. Caught red-handed.
“So you were trying to move me with your devotion to get out of it?”
“Was it that obvious?”
“Obviously. That passion was far too unlike you. You’re the type who wouldn't give up an arm even if the sky came crashing down.”
“Of course. Even if the Murim falls, I’m keeping my arm. Good job, Seo Dae-ryong! You’re the best, Seo Dae-ryong! Making it to the semifinals is more than enough! I’m proud of you!”
I laughed at his antics, and Seo Dae-ryong laughed along until he screamed in pain.
“Agh! It hurts. Don't make me laugh.”
“You’re the one being funny. Get some rest.”
As I was about to leave the room, Seo Dae-ryong asked from behind.
“Is it really impossible?”
His tone was serious now, unlike before. I could feel his genuine desire to continue in the tournament.
“It’s impossible.”
“It’s partly for your successor's test, but it’s also for me. I’ve felt a lot during this tournament. I want to see it through to the end.”
A moment of silence followed.
“Investigator Seo, once you step onto that path, it’s hard to turn back.”
“What kind of path is it?”
“It’s the path where you climb onto the stage with a mangled arm bound in bandages. A path where you keep walking even as blood flows from your entire body, even as you limp, even as you lose sight in one eye.”
It was the image of myself when I was searching for the final materials for the Great Regression Art. Because I had lived that life, I wanted to stop him; yet because I knew better than anyone how much that life makes a martial artist grow, I couldn't stop him.
However, once he crossed that line and tasted that world, he would never be able to go back to being a Huangquan Pavilion investigator who practiced martial arts just for his health.
“At least this once, I want to go there.”
“Even without the injury, your next opponent will be hard to beat.”
“Show me the way.”
“If you overdo it, you might lose the use of that arm forever.”
“Then I’ll just find a new right arm. Oh, I guess for me it would be a left arm.”
“You could suffer even greater injuries.”
“I’ll take that as an excuse to get some rest.”
The resolve in Seo Dae-ryong’s eyes was no different from my own in the past.
“Well, you can't just sit there then.”
Seo Dae-ryong sprang up from his seat.
“Your fate always seems to change in an inn.”
“And you’re always there in that spot, Pavilion Master.”
How could that be because of me or the location? It was because of the unwavering decisions made by this small, stubborn man. I led him out of the inn.
Burning with fervor, Seo Dae-ryong shouted. “Alright, let the hell training begin!”
As Seo Dae-ryong strode toward the mountain where we usually trained, I called out to him.
“Not that way. This way.”
I started walking in the opposite direction.
“There’s somewhere we need to stop first.”
The place I took him to was the Central Plains Bank. I withdrew five hundred thousand taels.
“Why are you withdrawing so much money?”
“Because we aren't going to hell. If you do hell training with an injured body, you’ll only break yourself further.”
“Then where are we going?”
“Paradise.”
I gave the startled Seo Dae-ryong a meaningful smile.
“We are going to Paradise. To a Paradise with a very expensive entrance fee.”