The Haenam Sword Dragon's Pride
To the people of Haenam Province, if you asked a hundred of them, all hundred would say the same thing. The Haenam Sect was the pride and glory of Haenam Island. Its prestige held a special place in their hearts. It wasn't hard to understand why. For islanders dismissed by the Central Plains folk as backward hicks from a remote backwater, the existence of a sect that stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the great prestigious schools of the Central Plains was something they couldn't help but identify with emotionally.
So, it was no surprise that the current hot topic among the people of Haenam was utterly predictable. The duel between the Haenam Sect's great disciple and Geom Bong, one of the top young experts of the Central Plains. And not just any duel, but a marriage duel—naturally, interest was pouring in.
"Hahaha, looks like you guests are heading to watch the marriage duel too."
The coachman, sporting a scruffy beard like some bandit, chuckled as he drove the cart. Riding in it were the Southern Beauties—or rather, Bang So-un's group, now including Muyeong Bido. It was a rickety open cart without a roof or even doors. Hardly the sort of ride for the Golden Dragon Battlefield's lord, who wouldn't rank second to anyone when it came to money. Bang So-un usually traveled in grand, ornate four-horse carriages. But there was no helping it this time. He couldn't very well bring the lord's carriage all the way to Haenam Island.
Still, true to his roots as the heir to a third-rate escort agency, Bang So-un didn't complain like some spoiled young master unused to hardship. Instead, he leaned back against the jolting cart with utter familiarity.
"That's right. I heard it's between the Haenam Sect's great disciple and Geom Bong."
"Haha, spot on."
"Figured as much. Can't miss a clash of that magnitude."
"You know your stuff, sir."
The coachman grinned. Bang So-un turned to him.
"By the way, it's not some internal duel closed off to outsiders, is it?"
"No way. Never heard anything like that. Geom Bong's a famous young expert from the Central Plains, right? Inviting an outsider of that caliber and then keeping the duel secret? Doesn't make sense."
"Hmm, true enough. Just checking."
Bang So-un nodded. The marriage duel had only come together because Geom Bong accepted. Turning it into a secret affair unilaterally wouldn't fly. Especially with marriage on the line—a matter of utmost importance. Sure, one side might try to force secrecy to avoid public humiliation from a crushing defeat. But that seemed unlikely. Geom Bong went without saying, and the Haenam Sect clearly had their own confidence. They'd want a resounding victory in front of everyone to boost their prestige.
"Since we're on the topic, one more question."
"Fire away."
"Who do you think wins?"
"Haha, do I even need to say? The Haenam Sect's great disciple, obviously."
The coachman answered without hesitation. As a local, that was to be expected. But beyond mere hometown bias, his face brimmed with genuine faith and conviction. Absolute trust in their great disciple. Bang So-un's eyes sparkled with interest.
"I'm an outsider, so I don't know much, but from what you say, this great disciple must be something special."
"You bet. He's the one who's gonna carry the Haenam Sect—no, all of Haenam Island—into the future. Everyone thinks so. They say he's a heaven-sent genius that comes once every hundred years."
"Ho ho."
Bang So-un smiled thinly, amused. The martial world was full of them. Geniuses that appeared once every few decades... or centuries. Every region, every sect had their share, laced with exaggeration. Most were just boastful hype to prop up the sect. But.
When it came from a major sect like Haenam? That changed things. Even with some puffery, it wasn't empty posturing like from minor schools. If anything, the odds were high it was true. A sect like Haenam wouldn't throw around words like that lightly.
However.
'Geom Bong's the real deal among the real deals.'
He'd seen her with his own eyes—no need for words. She was a true phoenix. Her nickname, overly grandiose as it was, fit her perfectly. So, there was no undue anxiety. Even in a situation where the phoenix he'd set his sights on might slip into another man's hands.
"Hey, coachman."
"Yes, sir?"
"I saw Geom Bong not long ago. She's an absolute stunner—takes your breath away."
"Oho, really?"
The coachman's eyes widened, ears perking up. No red-blooded man could resist talk of a beauty.
"Any real man worth his salt has to harbor ambitions to claim a peerless beauty like that."
"Eh?"
"But can ambition alone snag a woman like her?"
Bang So-un murmured like to himself, his lips curling into a sly smile.
'Hmph. Only I can tame that phoenix. Only I deserve her.'
Utter arrogance, given his current standing. But Bang So-un's eyes burned with sincere conviction. That very audacity suited a man nursing the absurd ambition to conquer the martial world.
Haenam Sword Dragon Sau-bi.
Despite his grandiose nickname and fame on Haenam Island, he wasn't particularly well-known among the Central Plains' martial artists. He'd deliberately minimized his activities there. For a reason.
He was a thorough man. He hated half-measures. If he was going to make a name, it had to be done right—thoroughly imprinting his prestige on everyone. If he was to become a famed young expert, he'd stand at the top. Lacking confidence in his ability to achieve that immediately, he'd held back on Central Plains ventures, honing his skills relentlessly on Haenam Island.
But now, things had changed. His tireless efforts had borne sweet fruit.
Namhae Thirty-Six Swords. The pinnacle of the Haenam Sect's signature swordsmanship—its symbol and essence. He'd mastered it up to the tenth form.
A year ago.
An achievement worthy of immense pride. In the sect's long history, no one had reached the tenth form of Namhae Thirty-Six Swords at his age.
Naturally, Sau-bi brimmed with overflowing confidence. He was certain he could stand unrivaled above countless young experts in the Central Plains. Yet he hadn't rushed off. True to his thorough nature, he'd waited for the perfect stage to unleash his fame in one go.
That stage was the marriage duel with Geom Bong.
"Hmph. 'One Dragon, One Phoenix'? The arrogance."
Sau-bi snorted.
One Dragon, One Phoenix. A term lumping together Volcano Sect's Hwasan Sword Dragon Baek Mu-gyeol, the top young expert, and Geom Bong Yu Seol-young.
At first glance, innocuous. But there was a clear problem. The vast martial world had plenty of young experts with dragon or phoenix nicknames—not just them. Sau-bi himself was the Haenam Sword Dragon. And that was just the start. Wudang's top talent, Cheongsong, was the Taiji Sword Dragon. Tang family's genius, Dang Se-hwa, bore Hwan-hon Dok-bong.
Young experts with dragon and phoenix epithets everywhere. Yet only those two were treated as representatives? Insulting to the rest. Sau-bi felt it keenly.
"Baek Mu-gyeol from Volcano Sect? Fine. But some rootless wench from obscure Geomgak, her origins unclear? How dare she."
He especially despised Geom Bong. Because of her sect. Geomgak—packaged as a mysterious sword school, but short on history and riddled with bizarre, unorthodox actions unfit for the righteous factions. A wench from such a group claiming One Dragon, One Phoenix? Absurd.
Thus, Sau-bi planned to crush Geom Bong in one stroke, announcing his prestige to the world. Her face was stunning, at least—parade her around as a trophy, and it'd satisfy the masses.
"Great senior brother."
A sound came from outside the door.
"Come in."
Sau-bi chuckled lightly, fanning himself leisurely with the fan beside him.
The door slid open, and two men entered. Haenam Sect seniors and juniors who'd sailed with Geom Bong. They bowed politely to Sau-bi.
"Sit comfortably."
"Yes, great senior brother."
The senior and junior sat beside him.
"You know why I called you?"
"Yes, you said you had something to ask..."
"Haha, nothing to agonize over. I heard you saw Geom Bong's skills up close."
"Ah, yes. We saw it clearly. With our own eyes."
"Good."
Sau-bi snapped his fan shut with a grin.
"So? What'd you think?"
"Well..."
Their report began.