Chapter 157: The Thing I Wished To Show You (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 157: The Thing I Wished To Show You (1)
The quarterfinals concluded at nightfall without incident.
Or perhaps it was more accurate to say they concluded despite the incident—because the storm that crashed down on me afterward was anything but mild.
This year's Dragons and Phoenixes tournament had been rife with upsets from the very beginning.
The first shock was Tang Soyeol’s defeat.
No one had anticipated the Poison Phoenix falling in the first round.
After all, the general consensus was that the Lightning Dragon, the Poison Phoenix, and the Snow Phoenix would dominate the competition, especially with the Sword Phoenix, Sleeping Dragon, and Sword Dragon absent.
Yet…
The Poison Phoenix was eliminated outright.
The Lightning Dragon was defeated without even touching his opponent’s robes, left coughing blood in the arena.
The Snow Phoenix advanced as expected, but even she failed to display the overwhelming prowess many had anticipated.
The fall of the prodigies everyone assumed would lead this generation…
And the rise of new stars…
It was more than enough to set the crowd ablaze with excitement.
-The Harmonic Sword’s son took down the Poison Phoenix, didn’t he? I heard it wasn’t even close.
-It’s not that the Poison Phoenix is weak… It’s just that the Alliance Leader’s son truly proved the saying: a tiger father does not sire a dog.
-A puppy? Far from it!
Word of Jang Seonyeon’s victory spread like wildfire.
Though several matches followed his bout with Tang Soyeol, Jang Seonyeon’s brilliance never dimmed; he won each subsequent duel flawlessly.
His swordsmanship was peerless for his age.
His mastery of the Harmonic Sword Art left no room for doubt.
Whispers began to circulate that it wouldn’t be long before a new dragon emerged in the martial world.
But just a day after that spectacle…
A mere day after Jang Seonyeon’s star began to rise…
An even greater storm erupted—one fierce enough to nearly eclipse his fame entirely.
The Lightning Dragon, a favorite to win it all, had been defeated.
And by an unknown boy, no less.
-The Lightning Dragon vomited blood, I’m telling you. He couldn’t even land a scratch.
-Are we talking about the same Lightning Dragon? I heard the boy looks like he’s barely out of childhood.
-Exactly! Oh, this is supposed to be a secret from the Beggar’s Sect, but—
-…If someone like you knows the secret, is it really a secret anymore?
-You sound like you don’t want to hear it.
-…I-I’m joking, go on.
The man took a deep breath and continued.
-I heard that boy is said to have overcome his wall.
-Wall? Is he a thief? Why would he need to climb a wall?
-Don’t say things like that in public… I can’t be seen with you when you’re this embarrassing.
-…Why the insult? I genuinely don’t understand.
-How can you not know, living in this world?! Overcoming a wall means he’s reached the Peak Realm!
The man’s frustrated shout drew laughter from those nearby.
-Stop spouting nonsense, you fool! At least bring us rumors that make sense!
-Last time you were raving about some noble clan’s child reaching the Third-Rate realm like it was a miracle, and now you’re talking about the Peak Realm as if it’s some stray dog’s name.
-I—ugh, you rotten—! I’m serious!
The man continued to argue vehemently, insisting it was true, but his companions only chuckled dismissively.
After all, the idea of a boy not yet twenty reaching the Peak Realm was nothing short of ludicrous.
-That’s not just impossible for the Three Venerables, but for any great figure in history.
-I’m telling you, it’s true…
-You’re quite entertaining today. Fine, I’ll believe you. Now stop fuming and tell us the boy’s name.
The man seethed, knowing full well his friend was humoring him, but he couldn’t deny how absurd his claim sounded.
The Peak Realm? Not even the Ten Sect Alliance, let alone the Four Noble Clans, had produced a youth who had reached such heights.
With a sigh, the man relented.
-He’s a blood relative of the Gu Clan of Shanxi.
-Hmm? That clan sounds familiar.
-Of course it does. That’s where the famous Tiger Warrior and Sword Phoenix hail from.
-Ah, right! It’s coming back to me now.
-They had a male heir? How did I not know?
-It’s obvious you didn’t. This tournament is his debut.
-Even if the Peak Realm rumor is far-fetched, it seems he’s living up to the “tiger father, no dog son” saying, just like the Alliance Leader’s boy.
-If he really has reached the Peak Realm, he’s less a tiger’s son and more a dragon’s scion.
-Right, right! Hahaha!
Laughter once again filled the air.
The man who started the conversation was ready to burst from frustration, but his friends refused to take him seriously.
Nevertheless, the rumors about Gu Yangcheon continued to spread, slow but steady.
And the boy at the center of it all, who paid little mind to the gossip…
“Good job.”
“…”
“Taken out in one blow? Can you really call yourself a Gu after that? Maybe you should change your surname. I’m too embarrassed to show my face.”
“…Ugh.”
Was busy reprimanding someone.
* * *
His head was bowed so low I could clearly see the crown of his black hair. Just staring at it, I could feel his misery.
And rightly so. How could he not be disheartened?
“Hey, are you crying? Are you?”
“N…No.”
“At least wipe your nose before saying that.”
Sniff…
Gu Jeolyub’s choked sobs were difficult to listen to.
Why was a grown man crying like a child?
“What did you do that was so great to warrant these tears?”
Annoyed, I snapped at him, and Gu Jeolyub shouted back.
“I’m crying because I didn’t do anything great…!”
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
“How dare you raise your voice when you accomplished nothing!”
I had gone out of my way to visit him this morning, only to find Gu Jeolyub curled in a corner, eyes red-rimmed.
I could understand why.
He had lost to Namgung Bi-ah in yesterday’s duel.
Being knocked out in a single strike was humiliation enough.
That’s that.
One might wonder why I was scolding him when he was already down. But I had my reasons.
“You tripped?”
Gu Jeolyub’s shoulders flinched at my words.
Hearing what transpired in last night’s duel left me speechless.
I had expected Gu Jeolyub to lose.
So it was no surprise that Namgung Bi-ah returned to my quarters after effortlessly defeating him.
The problem was just how effortless it had been.
Even if Namgung Bi-ah was more skilled, the gap shouldn’t have been so vast that she could end the match in one move.
Had Gu Jeolyub been focused, they would have exchanged at least a few blows.
He couldn’t even use the excuse of being caught off guard.
This wasn’t his first time facing Namgung Bi-ah; he knew exactly how formidable she was.
But he tripped?
According to Namgung Bi-ah, Gu Jeolyub had been so tense he froze before the match began…
And then he tripped mid-attack.
“How can I face anyone after such shame?”
“…It was my mistake, so why does Young Master—”
“You idiot, I told you it’s because we share the same surname! Do you think our clan is that massive? That we have hundreds of martial artists like Mount Hua?”
“…Don’t we?”
“Then how many martial artists with the Gu surname do we actually have? Do you think they’re all blood relatives?”
“No…”
“You know that, and yet you lost because you tripped!?”
“Ugahh…!”
For a martial artist, a crushing defeat was the ultimate humiliation.
It meant being utterly powerless to resist.
And for Gu Jeolyub, it was worse—his loss was due to his own blunder.
“I didn’t mean to—”
“Are you making excuses?”
“…”
“Do you even have one?”
Gu Jeolyub fell silent, pierced by the truth.
Of course, he had nothing to say.
The loss was entirely his fault.
His lips stilled…
And he hung his head once more.
Seeing this, I sighed.
At least he’s not making excuses.
If he had dared to claim defeat was inevitable, I would have beaten him black and blue right here.
But Gu Jeolyub recognized his own failure without shifting blame.
He’s not so bad, all things considered.
If I overlooked the fact that his grandfather was the First Elder, he was actually decent.
I even found myself wondering what became of him after the First Elder’s demise in my past life.
His talent was respectable, and so was his character.
Should I take him under my wing?
I briefly entertained the idea of keeping him around if circumstances allowed.
Though I knew I had neither the time nor the peace of mind for such things.
“Hey.”
“…Yes.”
His voice was thick with tears. Hearing it, I softened my tone.
“She asked me to pass on a message.”
“Huh?”
“She said, ‘I want to fight you for real next time.’”
At my words, Gu Jeolyub lifted his head and met my gaze.
His eyes were swollen, and as he raised his head, a trail of snot followed suit.
“…Wow, you look utterly pathetic.”
“…”
I didn’t need to specify who “she” was.
Gu Jeolyub knew it was Namgung Bi-ah.
“Instead of crying, you should be training to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
“…”
It probably didn’t comfort him much, but his despondency was a good sign—it meant he hadn’t given up, even knowing he would lose.
“Answer me.”
“Yes… sir.”
“If something like this happens again, I’ll burn your leg off.”
“…Y-Yes, sir!”
Even after that, frustration lingered. I delivered one final smack to the crying fool’s head before turning to leave.
As I stepped out of the barracks, I found Namgung Bi-ah waiting outside.
I hadn’t come with her, so she must have arrived separately and waited for me.
And the way she looked at me was… odd.
“Why are you staring like that?”
Irritated, I questioned her, and Namgung Bi-ah’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“…I never said anything like that, you know?”
“…”
She had heard.
My mistake for not erecting a barrier, assuming it wouldn’t be necessary. As she said, Namgung Bi-ah had never expressed a desire for a rematch.
I had made it up.
But she heard.
I was mortified. Caught in such a pointless act.
“…I never said you were the one who said it.”
In the end, I chose evasion.
It was true, wasn’t it? I never explicitly credited her.
Of course, she wasn’t buying it.
Hearing my weak excuse, Namgung Bi-ah’s smile only widened.
“…It’s fine.”
“What is?”
“…It’s not entirely… a lie.”
The way she spoke, with that smile, made her look like a blooming flower.
Did she not come for me?
I felt embarrassed for assuming she had. I’d been so sure.
But it seemed Namgung Bi-ah had come to see Gu Jeolyub.
“Are you going in now?”
When I asked if she intended to visit him, she shook her head.
“…No, there’s no need anymore.”
With that, her expression returned to its usual distant blankness.
My business here concluded, I turned to head back to my quarters.
But Namgung Bi-ah fell into step beside me and suddenly spoke.
“…That was unexpected.”
“What was?”
“…I didn’t think you cared about such things…”
“That’s my line.”
It was what I wanted to say to her.
It made no sense for Namgung Bi-ah to show such concern for someone else.
The fact that she woke up early—when she usually rose at noon—just to visit Gu Jeolyub…
It was intriguing.
Hearing my response, Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head in confusion.
“Is it strange?”
“Wouldn’t anyone find it strange?”
“…Why?”
Her inability to grasp the situation was almost amusing.
Then again, she had always been like this.
Though she had changed significantly by now…
We continued walking at a leisurely pace, but Namgung Bi-ah seemed to have more on her mind.
“Hey.”
I perked up at the clarity in her voice. It had been a while since she spoke so distinctly.
“Were you… planning to do something for Soyeol?”
“…Hmm?”
I frowned, unsure what she meant.
Do something for her? Had I promised anything?
“She told me you agreed to grant her request if you faced her in the tournament.”
“Ah.”
I remembered now.
She was referring to when Tang Soyeol asked me to speak to her informally.
Had Tang Soyeol told Namgung Bi-ah about that?
“She just asked me to speak to her more casually.”
Could that even be called a request?
To me, it seemed more like a casual remark.
But Namgung Bi-ah looked somewhat dissatisfied.
The faint smile from earlier had vanished.
“What’s wrong?”
“…Nothing.”
It clearly wasn’t nothing.
“Do you want something too?”
I asked, just in case.
Perhaps, like Tang Soyeol, Namgung Bi-ah also had a request.
Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case, as she shook her head.
“That would be… unfair, so I won’t.”
Why was it unfair? Just like Tang Soyeol, she was making decisions without consulting me.
Though my own reticence was partly to blame.
“But… I might want something.”
Hearing this, I responded incredulously.
“If you want something, just say so… That would be better.”
When someone says they “might” want something, it usually means they do.
In that moment, Namgung Bi-ah seemed almost childish, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Then, as if reminded of something, she began to complain.
“…You… never spar with me…”
“…”
I had no rebuttal.
I had promised I would, but I rarely followed through. I didn’t have a good reason, either.
The thought of sparring with Namgung Bi-ah simply bothered me.
…Is it because of my past memories, or my present feelings?
Perhaps it was the guilt gnawing at me.
It was perfectly understandable for her to be disappointed.
Hence her current expression.
“I’m sorr—”
“It doesn’t matter…”
I tried to offer a belated apology, but she cut me off.
“Whether it’s a request… or a duel…”
Namgung Bi-ah’s gaze was sharper than usual.
Her diamond-like blue eyes shone brilliantly—the same eyes I found difficult to meet.
They reminded me too much of the eyes that had stared up at me from my arms in the past.
So I avoided looking at them for too long.
Whether she knew this or not, Namgung Bi-ah held my gaze and spoke with determination.
“You won’t be able to avoid it this time.”
My breath hitched at her clear, resolute words.
Now I understood why she had gone out of her way to participate in the tournament, despite her aversion to crowds.
Without waiting for a response, she finished speaking and began walking ahead.
After a few steps, she turned back to look at me once more.
“…!”
I gasped as Namgung Bi-ah spun around unexpectedly.
A proud smile graced her lips, as if she knew she had gained the upper hand.
She was now capable of such playful expressions.
With so many changes happening at once, my heart raced.
“…Let’s go.”
Her smile vanished as quickly as it appeared, and she whispered softly.
Then, as if to add the final touch, she reached out her hand.
Her beautiful, pale hand.
I found myself staring at it for a moment before slowly closing the distance and taking it.
“…Huh?”
Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened in surprise; she hadn’t expected me to actually take it.
Only then did my frozen expression begin to thaw.
I had no particular reason for holding her hand.
I just thought she might be cold.
That was all.
I reassured myself with that thought.
* * *
Some time after returning to my quarters, noon arrived, and the brackets for the semifinals were announced.
When I went to check them, I found Tang Soyeol already there, just as I expected.
Her expression was frozen stiff.
And just by looking at her, I knew.
Just as I had anticipated…
-Gu Yangcheon of the Gu Clan of Shanxi vs. Moyong Hi-ah of the Moyong Clan.
-Namgung Bi-ah of the Namgung Clan vs. Jang Seonyeon of the Taeryung Clan.
The bracket had unfolded exactly like this.