The Scent of a Familiar Presence
On the way back after finishing the preliminary qualifiers of the preliminary martial tournament, Namgung Sol’s face remained dazed and absent from the moment they left the training grounds until they stepped onto the main road. Then she suddenly looked down at her palm and froze again.
“She’s still like that. It’s not a sensation you can forget right away,” Paeng Ha-ryeong said with a small smile. The laughter carried a hint of empathy for her junior, who was behaving exactly as she herself once had.
She had been the same. The thrill of manifesting tangible qi from the blade for the first time. The memory was still vivid.
Jegal Seon-a seemed to feel the same; she nodded her small head vigorously, expressing her agreement.
“Gaga was like that too, right? Ah! Maybe the shock of creating sword gang was even stronger, so it overshadowed the earlier memory?”
“Uh… well… I suppose it was something like that….”
Namgung Woo, the man who had literally woken up one day as an absolute master, gave a vague, awkward answer and trailed off. The warm atmosphere that had been flowing just moments ago instantly chilled at his response.
A genius does not understand the hearts of ordinary people. Of course, both Paeng Ha-ryeong and Jegal Seon-a possessed considerable talent that placed them among the leading figures of the younger generation, but compared to Namgung Woo, they were merely average.
“Having too much talent isn’t always a good thing. No matter what you achieve, it feels natural, so you can’t even properly feel a sense of accomplishment….”
Perhaps it was because of her natural resonance ability. Jegal Seon-a’s reaction was quite different from what ordinary people usually showed. Instead of feeling frustrated or envious over the gap in talent, she looked at him with sympathy.
“Ahem. And the emotion Sol is feeling right now is probably even greater than what either of us experienced.”
All eyes turned to Namgung Sol, who was still repeatedly clenching and unclenching her fist as if chasing after the lingering traces left on her hand.
The reason Namgung Sol was so lost in her own world was not simply because she had manifested sword qi for the first time in the final preliminary match. More importantly, that sword qi had been the final key to victory.
“It was scheduled growth,” Namgung Woo assessed Namgung Sol’s achievement of reaching the Peak Realm.
Considering only her internal energy, Namgung Sol already possessed more than most Peak Realm experts. Having learned the Great Flame Heart Method from Namgung Si-hui since childhood, she had surprisingly consumed several spiritual medicines as well, leaving her meridians remarkably clean.
Namgung Woo suspected that Namgung Si-hui had probably taken some spiritual medicines or emergency funds with her when the Namgung Family fell. Above all, what allowed her to break through to the Peak Realm was the change in Namgung Sol’s mindset.
What had been blocking Namgung Sol was not her shallow understanding of martial arts, but the philosophy of life she carried within her. If she was chasing death rather than life, why would she train in martial arts?
Martial arts were ultimately a discipline meant to protect oneself from external threats, to cultivate longevity based on health preservation, and to achieve greatness in the world. Namgung Sol had been in a state where the meaning of learning held no value. Although she had swung her sword diligently to live up to the Namgung Family name, she herself had not been present in that effort.
Namgung Woo had given her a reason to learn martial arts. He had planted in her the genuine desire and motivation to become truly strong, rather than seeking death.
‘It sprouted faster than expected, but the soil was excellent. It’s only natural after teaching her the advanced Changgung Bi-yeon Sword Art.’
This was why prestigious families were so formidable. From a young age, they cultivated superior internal energy methods, consumed spiritual medicines to accumulate sufficient qi, and then used high-level martial arts as a pole to vault straight over the wall of the Peak Realm.
From the Transcendent Realm onward, even those superior martial arts lost their value as mere entry tickets, and an endlessly long and grueling journey awaited. But that was merely the complaint of those who had never even crossed the threshold of the Peak Realm.
Although they had come outside, Namgung Sol’s contemplation had not ended. It was difficult to call it a great enlightenment, but it suggested she had gained at least a small realization.
Namgung Woo maintained a qi barrier so that she would not be disturbed while organizing her insight. The fact that they were conversing aloud was precisely because they knew the barrier was in place.
“By the way, I wonder how the others did?” Jegal Seon-a changed the subject.
“I’m not sure about the Yang seniors, but I think Monk Geumsin definitely made it through, right?”
“The North District has the Fire Dragon and the True Martial Dragon, so it might be difficult….”
“You think so? Still, there’s a difference in experience. You saw how Monk Geumsin performed in the Dream Dragon Grand Tournament, didn’t you, Seon-a?”
“But… those two are considered among the strongest of the Seven Dragons and Four Phoenixes….”
Jegal Seon-a wanted to take Monk Geumsin’s side, especially since he had fought for the Jegal Family. However, due to the Jegal Family’s characteristic trait of ‘being unable to speak insincerely and feeling compelled to say what she believes is right,’ she could not readily declare that Geumsin would advance to the main tournament.
“Then let’s ask Gaga. Gaga’s eyes are always accurate. Gaga, what do you think?”
“I’ve never even seen those people called the True Martial Dragon and the Fire Dragon?” Namgung Woo asked, sounding slightly troubled.
No matter how wondrous the Changnyeongmanan was, asking him to predict victory against someone he had never seen was asking for the impossible. That was no longer in the realm of analysis but of fortune-telling. Moreover, if he wasn’t observing the fight in real time, even Namgung Woo’s predictions could easily miss the mark.
A warrior’s battle was full of variables. Even if there was a clear gap in level, the outcome could change depending on the moment. Hadn’t Namgung Sol herself defeated three opponents with higher realms than her own to advance to the main tournament?
Those who rode the flow of fortune could make the impossible possible if luck was on their side.
“Still, someone of Geumsin’s level should…”
Namgung Woo suddenly cut off his words and sharply turned his head. Before anyone realized, his eyes had taken on a blue-white glow as he activated the power of the Changnyeongmanan.
‘That’s…’
There was no mistake. The singularity he had seen in Luoyang. He had wondered whether it had been a coincidence amid various overlapping circumstances, but this confirmed it. Namgung Woo had not seen wrong. The Changnyeongmanan, as always, accurately captured the sense of otherness.
That otherness was an energy similar to the one he had sensed from Lee Ja-ryong on Mount Wanse.
“Gaga?”
“Just a moment. Take Sol and return to the lodging first.”
“What? Suddenly?”
It was moving away. And growing faint. It had been the same back then.
‘This time, I’ll catch it.’
The mysterious phenomenon that pierced through Namgung Woo’s very existence. Lee Ja-ryong, who knew something even Namgung Woo himself, who was directly experiencing the world’s change, did not know. If this person was connected to him, then surely they could provide some clue to the question Namgung Woo carried.
“There’s no time to explain. I’m counting on you.”
After speaking urgently to Paeng Ha-ryeong, Namgung Woo even withdrew the qi barrier that had been enveloping Namgung Sol and channeled his internal energy through his legs using the Foot Technique. Then he immediately burst the true qi gathered at his Yongcheon point and shot into the sky.
Boom!
In his haste, he forgot to control the aftereffects on his surroundings. Yet even though he had hurried, the effect was tremendous. He flew using the Heavenly Wind Divine Art and sliced through the air with the Thousand-Li Tiger Step. The techniques of Riding the Qi to Soar to Heaven and Bow Body Bullet Shadow unfolded in succession, creating a gale.
Passersby caught in the sudden dust storm groaned and flailed their arms.
“Ugh! Who the hell uses a lightness technique in the middle of the main road! Such a lack of manners…”
“I’m sorry. Here, please use this to get a new set of clothes.”
Paeng Ha-ryeong quickly took out her purse and distributed some silver coins to soothe their complaints. Jegal Seon-a watched her swift response with admiration.
As expected. So this was what it meant to be a good wife….
While Jegal Seon-a was inwardly acknowledging her loss to Paeng Ha-ryeong, the barrier disappeared and Namgung Sol, suddenly exposed to external stimuli, snapped back to her senses.
“Huh? What? Where are we?”
“Ah, it’s alright. We were on our way back to the lodging.”
Namgung Woo’s figure became a blue streak that tore through the sky of Luoyang.
Namgung Woo ran. His form, stepping across the roof tiles, moved with renewed composure unlike before. His lightness technique now crossed Luoyang without disturbing even a single tile.
‘There.’
Namgung Woo, who had been running atop roof tiles and walls, stepped back down onto the road as the presence drew closer. There were pedestrians, but it didn’t matter. Instead of the straight-line-focused Wuhan Step, he used the graceful curves of the Lotus Thread Step that he had re-familiarized himself with while teaching Namgung Sol. It wove elegantly around the people.
The moment he turned into the side alley—
What Namgung Woo faced was not the expected figure, but a dead-end wall.
“I lost him…?”
Having witnessed the disappearance of the one he had been tracking, Namgung Woo spread his senses even wider and fully opened his upper dantian. The Gonglyeong Taeheo Divine Art combined with the Changnyeongmanan, rapidly expanding his perception. However, he could no longer detect the energy that had resembled Lee Ja-ryong’s.
“I was shaken off… The opponent had noticed me as well.”
What Namgung Woo had followed was a bait deliberately left by the other party. He had thought only he could see through others, never imagining he himself would be seen through. It was a blunder.
This was not the first time Namgung Woo had been shaken off. There had been the incident with Myo-rin, and several occasions during the Dream Dragon Grand Tournament. Therefore, he did not fall into despair. He acknowledged his mistake and extended his thoughts beyond it.
‘Still, there was a gain. I confirmed the existence. Is the purpose me? Or is there another objective?’
Considering the Meng Society, the latter seemed plausible. If it was the former, the shadow would eventually be stepped on while circling around him, but if it was the latter, it would become considerably troublesome. Knowing that a pursuer named Namgung Woo was following, the opponent would hide themselves even more carefully and move in secrecy.
“It would be nice if it was the former… but that isn’t entirely good either.”
Murmuring to soothe his regret, Namgung Woo exited the alley. He had run so frantically that the Luo River was now right before him. If he used his lightness technique as he had on the way here, he could reach the Blue Martial Guesthouse in no time, but there seemed to be no need to rush now that the pursuit had ended.
Thinking he might as well take a leisurely look around late-night Luoyang, Namgung Woo walked slowly and spotted a girl of similar height to Jegal Seon-a questioning merchants at their stalls.
“Excuse me! Have you perhaps seen a woman wearing red battle attire? She’s about five cheok four chon tall, and she ties her hair up like this.”
The girl raised her hand above her head to indicate the height. The sight of the pretty girl gesturing as she explained seemed both cute and pitiful, so the merchants tried to recall, but apparently with no success.
Finding the anxious girl stamping her feet pitiful, Namgung Woo thought, My nature really is like this, and approached her.
“Excuse me. The woman you’re looking for—does she happen to practice martial arts?”
The weather had not fully warmed yet, so it was still quite chilly. The fact that she was walking around in battle attire meant she either had a constitution resistant to cold or had trained in martial arts enough to withstand such weather. A third possibility of poverty could not be entirely ruled out, but judging from the woman’s clothes, that seemed highly unlikely. Though plain in design, the fabric was of considerable quality. Namgung Woo now had enough discernment to recognize the quality of cloth.
The girl carefully examined Namgung Woo, who had suddenly spoken to her.
‘What? I didn’t sense anything… When did he…’
Even while tense, the girl answered with a hint of expectation.
“Yes, she has trained quite a lot.”
“What is her aura like?”
“Pardon?”
“I mean the feeling of her aura. Is it similar to yours?”
“Ah… It’s very different from mine. It feels more… spreading outward… um…”
The girl did her best to explain, even using gestures since she wasn’t sure how to put it into words. Her vocabulary wasn’t exceptional, but her description provided enough conditions to identify the target.
“Fortunately, she isn’t too far. If you head toward the Murim Alliance, you’ll come across a large road…”
Namgung Woo paused his explanation upon noticing the girl’s troubled expression and changed his words.
“Is this your first time in Luoyang?”
“Ah, yes, yes. I came this time to see the Meng Society…”
“Let’s go together. I’ll guide you.”
“B-but it would be troublesome for you…”
“It’s roughly the same direction as where I was headed anyway, so don’t worry about it.”
Having said that, Namgung Woo began walking in the direction the girl had indicated. Unable to use her own vision technique, the girl had to work hard, moving her legs quickly to keep up with Namgung Woo, whose stride was much longer than hers.
“U-um, are you perhaps a warrior of the Murim Alliance, Great Hero?”
“No. I’m in a similar situation to you.”
“Ah… so you came to watch the Meng Society too…”
After asking once, the girl kept her mouth firmly shut and focused solely on following Namgung Woo. She seemed very shy, keeping her lips pressed tightly together. Since Namgung Woo also did not attach much meaning to this short companionship, the two moved in silence.
And that quiet companionship ended when the girl finally found the person she had been searching for.
“Young Lady!”
“Oh! Serim!”
“Really… where did you go… I’ve been looking for so long…”
Fearing she might lose the woman again, the girl ran forward and hugged her tightly. Although it was clearly the girl who had grabbed her, because of their height difference, it looked as if the girl had run over and thrown herself into an embrace.
“But how did you find me? I was even thinking of giving up and asking the Murim Alliance for help…”
“Ah, someone helped me… Huh? Where did he go?”
The moment Namgung Woo confirmed that the girl had reunited with the person she was looking for, he immediately went on his way. The girl pulled away from the woman’s arms and looked around frantically, but Namgung Woo had already long disappeared from her sight.
In the end, the girl gave up searching for him. Her shoulders drooped at the thought that she had failed to express her gratitude. The woman hugged the girl from behind, wrapping her head in her ample bosom, and spoke in a soothing voice.
“Let’s talk while we walk. If he’s in Luoyang, we’ll meet again. If not, I’ll ask someone to find him.”
“Ah, yes.”
Unlike Namgung Woo who had headed south, the two were walking toward the north, beyond the Luo River. This time they walked hand in hand so as not to lose each other again.
“But Luoyang really is amazing. I guess the name ‘City of Martial Fragrance’ wasn’t given for nothing.”
“Why? Was the person who helped you find the way that impressive?”
“Yes. He came right up behind me and I didn’t notice at all! And then he asked, ‘What is her aura like?’ After listening to my explanation, he immediately said ‘I’ve found her’ and started walking, you know?”
The woman smiled warmly as she watched the girl describe her encounter with Namgung Woo, even doing a clumsy impression of his voice.
‘She said she didn’t want to come, but she’s the one who’s more excited now.’
The woman chimed in supportively as the girl, completely forgetting how she had gotten separated while distracted by the sights, continued to recount the meeting with great effort.
“Wow… he could do that?”
“Right?”
“Would Uncle Yang be able to do it?”
“He probably could. But that man looked really young…”
“Hm?”
“Young Lady?”
“Ah, it’s nothing. Let’s go. They’ll be waiting since I said I was coming.”