The Arrow
A considerable amount of time had passed. Taking only the bare minimum of rest, my companions and I pushed hard toward Dengfeng County in Zhengzhou, Henan. Thanks to our relentless pace, we arrived much sooner than expected. Nestled at the foot of Mount Song, Dengfeng County was a breathtaking sight, its natural landscapes blending seamlessly with the grand architecture of the nearby Shaolin Temple. Looking out the carriage window, I let out an involuntary murmur of admiration.
"My, what a splendid view."
Lee Hak nodded, eager to share his knowledge. "Dengfeng County is practically run by the Shaolin Temple, Lord Unwol. They oversee both its economy and its security. Naturally, that means the streets are lined with Shaolin architecture, and the town is teeming with those who serve the temple."
"There certainly are a lot of people." As our carriage neared the bustling market district, the sheer volume of foot traffic became overwhelming.
"Dengfeng is never a quiet town, but it is rarely this congested," Lee Hak remarked, waving his folding fan. "With the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering just around the corner, martial artists seeking to compete and spectators hoping to witness the spectacle have flooded in from every corner of the land."
Indeed, though the county was far from a metropolis, the sheer density of the crowd made it feel like one. I quietly shifted my gaze to Yeon So-o, who sat directly across from me. Her posture was incredibly rigid, and her eyes were fixed in a tense stare. It was as if an absolute determination to remain unshaken had taken complete control of her body; she looked straight ahead, utterly indifferent to the bustling world outside.
Hoping to ease her tension even a little, I spoke to her. "We have arrived, Lady Yeon."
"..."
"Lady Yeon?"
"..."
I leaned forward slightly, catching her eye. "Lady Yeon, are you quite alright? You look rather pale."
"...Ah, yes. I am fine. Just a bit fatigued, that is all."
She was clearly wracked with anxiety over the upcoming Dragon and Phoenix Gathering. I offered her a gentle smile and nodded. "Would you care to stretch your legs and look around the town for a bit?"
"Yes. Let us do that," Yeon So-o replied, her voice hollow. She stepped down from the carriage with stiff, mechanical movements. As she surveyed her surroundings, her gaze hardened even further at the sight of the massive crowds. Yet, in stark contrast to her resolute expression, her hands were trembling uncontrollably. She was desperately trying to suppress the dread clawing at her heart, but her body could not lie.
I watched her quietly for a moment before guiding her toward the inn Lee Hak had booked for us.
"I have secured lodgings at the grandest inn in Dengfeng County," Lee Hak boasted, gesturing toward a towering structure. "Naturally, I booked the most luxurious rooms on the top floor. These suites are typically monopolized by the pampered heirs of the great orthodox clans, but I took the liberty of sending my men ahead to snatch them up first."
"Oh, my thanks. It seems I will be resting in comfort once again, all thanks to you."
"Ensuring your absolute comfort is my sole duty, Lord Unwol! Hahaha!"
Biwol watched Lee Hak's theatrical display with a cold, deadpan expression before cutting in. "You would do well to learn some humility. Serving Lord Un—serving Lord Unwol is our natural duty. There is no need to make a spectacle of it."
"Yes, yes, of course!" Lee Hak dismissed her with a wave of his hand and turned away. A tiny vein throbbed on Biwol's pale forehead.
With that, we entered the inn and retired to our respective rooms to unpack, wash up, and rest. We agreed to reconvene on the ground floor for dinner once dusk began to fall.
I had been assigned the largest suite in the establishment. The moment I stepped inside, the sheer opulence made it clear that Lee Hak had spared no expense. "This is practically a house, not a single room," I muttered. Having no real luggage to speak of, I headed straight to the bath to wash away the grime of the road, then returned to my room and collapsed onto the plush bed.
With some time left before sunset, I stared up at the ceiling, letting my mind wander. My thoughts naturally drifted back to Yeon So-o's behavior earlier. Her rigid expression, her eyes burning with desperate resolve—and those hands, trembling with uncontrollable anxiety. Piecing together our conversation in the carriage, it was obvious she was trapped in a suffocating obsession. She had convinced herself that failure was not an option, and the sheer weight of that pressure was crushing her.
Yet, ironically, that very mindset was bound to sabotage her performance when the time came. She likely knew this herself. But perhaps, as she had implied, forcing herself to believe in an absolute certainty was the only way she knew how to quiet the rising tide of dread in her heart.
Suddenly, her words echoed in my mind:
"I will hit my target, no matter what. That is the sole reason I was born as an arrow."
In my past life, I too had once charged forward with that exact same desperate resolve—only to fail miserably. Of course, my past struggles were laughable compared to the dark history and heavy purpose she carried, but the memory left a bitter, ominous taste in my mouth.
I reminded myself of why I had traveled all this way with her. My goal was to aid a rising star of the orthodox sects—someone destined for greatness—and thereby alter the narrative to prevent my own awakening as the final boss. If I could provide her with a decisive advantage here, I would take a massive step toward securing my own survival.
'But how?'
Making her stronger right this instant was simple enough. I still had the Hundred Soul Pill I had received from San Ireong. It was a demonic elixir refined from the souls of a hundred sacrificed humans. Even an ordinary person who consumed it would instantly gain power surpassing the Peak Realm. If Yeon So-o, who was already a Peak Realm master, were to take it, she would easily ascend to the Transcendent Realm.
With that kind of power, she would sweep the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering with ease. From what I had gathered, none of the young geniuses participating had reached the Transcendent Realm yet. But the true nature of the pill was the problem. If she took it, she would be forcefully transformed into a Blood Ghoul. Would she still look upon me with favor once she realized what I had turned her into?
I had already failed to handle San Ireong properly, which prevented us from building a relationship of genuine trust. Now, he viewed me as the supreme leader of some terrifying, monolithic evil organization, and believed himself to be one of its monstrous agents. I refused to make the same mistake twice by acting too late. But how could I help her without ruining everything? I was completely at a loss.
"...What a headache." As I sat there agonizing over the dilemma, a polite knock rattled the door.
"Lord Unwol, it is Biwol. It is nearly time for dinner, so I came to fetch you. May I enter?"
"Yes. Actually, do you have a moment to speak?"
"Of course." Biwol slowly opened the door and stepped inside, taking a seat across from me. Perhaps because she had just bathed, her pale, flawless skin seemed to glow with an even more radiant luster than usual.
"I was wondering... is there any way we might assist Lady Yeon with the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering?"
"Hmm?" She tilted her head in confusion before offering a prompt solution. "Do you not possess the Primordial Origin Pill you received from Jigok-do? Simply feed it to her."
"Ah, yes. Excluding any methods that involve turning her into a Blood Ghoul."
"Mmm..." Biwol fell silent, appearing to ponder the restriction deeply, before offering an utterly absurd alternative. "Then how about we simply cripple every other rising star scheduled to compete against her? If there are no other contestants left standing, the Sword Flower of the Jeomchang Sect will win by default."
"Ah, I see! What a truly marvelous suggestion. Yes. Let us go down for dinner."
"You flatter me, Lord Unwol."
"..."
It was entirely my fault for asking her in the first place. I should have known better than to expect a conventional, rational answer from Biwol. When it came to matters like this, it would be far more productive to consult Lee Hak, who at least possessed a modicum of common sense.
Biwol and I left the suite and headed down to the private dining room Lee Hak had reserved on the second floor. The inn was teeming with guests. I noticed a distinct social divide: those staying on the upper floors wore luxurious, immaculate robes, while those on the lower levels were dressed in far humbler attire.
On our way to the dining room, we crossed paths with several groups of young martial artists who practically radiated the pride of prestigious orthodox sects. They seemed to be holding informal gatherings of their own ahead of the tournament. When we finally opened the door to our private room, Yeon So-o and Lee Hak were already seated, waiting for us.
"Ah, please, sit here!" Lee Hak beamed, gesturing to the seat of honor he had prepared for me. Once we were settled, we began to dine on the lavish spread of dishes while conversing. After a quiet moment, I carefully broached the subject with Yeon So-o.
"Lady Yeon, if you ever find yourself in need of our assistance, please do not hesitate to speak."
"What sort of assistance do you mean...?"
"Anything at all."
She offered a faint, self-deprecating smile. "You have already given me far too much. To keep taking without offering anything in return... it goes against my nature."
She paused, hesitating for a brief moment, before looking up to meet my eyes. "If I may ask... why are you being so kind to me?"
"Pardon?"
"I am deeply grateful for your unwavering support, of course. But I find it difficult to comprehend. I have done nothing to earn such favor from you..."
"Hmm. Consider it an investment."
"An investment?"
"Once you have become a legendary figure in the martial world, any assistance we offer would be meaningless, would it not?"
"But there is no guarantee that I will succeed."
"How could you not? Did you not say so yourself, Lady Yeon? That you are an arrow flying straight toward its target. I believe in that unyielding resolve of yours."
"..."
Yeon So-o stared at me, stunned into silence. After a long pause, a genuine, soft smile graced her lips. "To be honest... I am a bit overwhelmed. This is the first time in my life that anyone has ever shown such absolute faith in me."
"My, it seems the rest of the world lacks an eye for true talent."
"My family, my martial brothers... none of them ever expected anything of me. They only looked at me with envy and jealousy. Even my master merely regarded me with mild surprise; he never offered the kind of unwavering support that you have, Lord Unwol. I think that is why I was so anxious. I believed I only had myself to rely on, and I was terrified of what would happen if I wavered. I wondered who would catch me if I fell."
The heavy shadow that had hung over her face since we arrived in Dengfeng County seemed to lift, her expression softening considerably.
"It is all thanks to you, Lord Unwol. I will ensure my performance at the gathering is worthy of the faith you have placed in me."
The paralyzing fear and anxiety that had gripped her seemed to have finally lost their hold.
— Two Days Until the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering —