At the Martial Arts Tournament
The martial arts tournament, packed with every half-decent fighter the Imperial Palace could field, was now racing toward its climax.
Weapons clashed and spirited battle cries tangled together atop the lapis-lazuli sparring ground, weaving a fierce, relentless racket.
And the one who stood out most on that glittering stage was none other than Jang Sak, Manhojang of the Imperial Army.
He had raised the Imperial Army’s renown to new heights, riding his overwhelming Transcendent Realm martial prowess from victory to victory until he stood at the very threshold of the finals.
Though, to be fair, the cheers that used to erupt every time an opponent crumpled under his one-sided beatdowns had gradually settled into little more than polite, obligatory applause.
Having already swatted aside more than six high-level masters with ease, he now faced his final challenger.
The man who had climbed into the finals was a Peak Realm veteran—advanced in years, yet his eyes remained sharp as blades.
But the officials and royals who had already witnessed Jang Sak’s skill wore thoroughly bored expressions.
The spectators seemed to have lost all interest in a final whose outcome was as plain as day.
I glanced at the sparring ground while chewing on a duck leg the Imperial Consort had left me.
“Cheon Su-gong, that Jang Sak fellow fights really well.”
Ever since the Emperor had taken notice of me, Cheon Su-gong had stuck to my side like a personal watchdog. He furrowed his brow and answered,
“Hmph. Those Imperial Army bastards will be strutting around even more full of themselves after this.”
His voice dripped with open displeasure. The Director of the Eastern Depot clearly found the Imperial Army’s soaring momentum thoroughly distasteful.
Here in the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Army, the Eastern Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard seemed locked in a lively three-way rivalry, each keeping a close eye on the others.
I took another bite of duck and asked casually,
“If that guy fought you, Cheon Su-gong, who would win?”
I pointed at Jang Sak, who was warming up on the sparring ground. Cheon Su-gong snorted.
“What a stupid question. I would win, obviously.”
Confidence flashed in his eyes.
Men—whether young or old—never really changed when it came to this kind of pride contest.
Of course, even I could tell Cheon Su-gong was at least his equal, if not a cut above.
Back when he had pressed me with killing intent, and again through the new senses I had gained upon reaching Transcendental Peak Realm, I had felt it: the level Cheon Su-gong carried was anything but ordinary.
“If you’re that confident, why not step onto the stage yourself and knock the Imperial Army down a peg? Why are you still sitting here?”
A little provocation slipped into the question—why hide that kind of skill instead of showing it off?
Cheon Su-gong snorted and glared at me.
“We work for the imperial family from the shadows. We don’t strut around on stages like those thick-skulled Imperial Army dogs.”
“...Ah.”
His firm tone carried a flicker of pride in the Eastern Depot.
For people who supposedly worked in the shadows, they sure had stepped into the open more than a few times.
“Most of those times were because of you, you little brat.”
“...”
I must have muttered my private thoughts out loud again without realizing it.
The reason he had been glued to my side was that our eyes had met in a meaningful way, as if he and the Emperor shared some understanding.
In short, he was keeping me under protective surveillance so I wouldn’t cause some catastrophic mess the moment he looked away.
“Come on, I’m not the type to cause trouble the second nobody’s watching.”
I wiped my duck-grease-shiny lips with a cloth and muttered as much.
Cheon Su-gong simply stared at my face without bothering to deny it.
Just in case, I turned my head—only for Jo Harang to quietly dodge my gaze as well.
Someone, anyone, please just say I’m wrong.
And that was when it happened.
Emperor Hongrak of the Central Plains rose abruptly from the raised platform.
Until then he had been quietly enjoying the banquet with an unreadable expression. The moment the Emperor of the Central Plains made such a sudden move, the entire garden held its breath.
The simple act of standing drew every gaze. Emperor Hongrak opened his mouth with deliberate calm.
“Manhojang Jang Sak, your martial arts are truly outstanding. Skill worthy of spreading the imperial family’s prestige across the realm. We are deeply satisfied.”
His voice was low and deep, like an echo rolling through the mountains.
Moved by the Emperor’s praise, Jang Sak immediately dropped to one knee. Applause and cheers erupted among the surrounding Imperial Army soldiers at the recognition.
“However.”
The single short word that followed shut every mouth again.
Jang Sak stared up at the Emperor, waiting for what came next.
“Your overwhelming prowess has somewhat dampened the excitement, so We intend to put forth a new challenger. We wish to see the martial arts of the realm clash in greater variety.”
The Emperor wanted another sparring partner for the Imperial Army general who sat astride the tiger of Transcendent Realm power—an unstoppable force.
The royals and officials began murmuring and scanning the surroundings, wondering who it could be.
Amid the collective puzzlement, Emperor Hongrak silently pointed with one hand. His finger aimed somewhere in the Imperial Consort’s formation.
“Cheon Su-gong, His Majesty is calling for you?”
Cheon Su-gong heaved a deep sigh and shook his head vigorously.
“Not me. You, you bastard.”
“...Excuse me?”
I shot up from my seat and slid sideways. The Emperor’s finger cheerfully followed my movement, a look of pure amusement on his face.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”
With the entire imperial court’s attention locked on me, a string of curses slipped out before I could stop them.
“You little shit, didn’t you claim you had no connection to the Son of Heaven whatsoever?”
Cheon Su-gong immediately demanded an explanation.
“I-I really don’t!”
For someone who had been quietly buried in the crowd, the situation was utterly absurd.
I was even wearing a human-skin mask and infiltrating as a member of the Eastern Depot.
“Then why is the Son of Heaven singling you out like this?!”
Hell if I know—that’s exactly why I’m panicking right now.
Could he sense the star’s energy inside me even without knowing who I was, and was dragging me onto the stage because of it?
This was really getting out of hand.
“He appears to be one of yours. Will that be acceptable, Imperial Consort?”
The Emperor asked his clearly flustered wife.
I had been brought along as insurance against assassination. Now that the Emperor had pointed me out, the Imperial Consort nodded in a daze and gave her consent.
“As... as Your Majesty wishes.”
Her children, Princess Dohwa and Prince Suan, also turned my way as if asking what on earth was going on.
“Hey, Mujin, what the hell is this?”
“I have no idea either.”
I answered Jo Harang’s whisper in a hollow voice.
Cheon Su-gong’s demand that I keep a low profile, quietly block any assassination, and leave had already been smashed to pieces long ago.
Everyone was staring and whispering, trying to figure out who I was.
The man called Emperor of the Central Plains watched me from the platform with open curiosity, as if eager to see my reaction.
Looking at that face that clearly found this entertaining made something boil inside me.
I shot to my feet and bellowed,
“Your Majesty, I have something I wish to say!”
When the Son of Heaven told you to come out and fight, you were supposed to jump out and fight. Instead I was boldly addressing him, earning a look from Cheon Su-gong that screamed, Has this bastard lost his mind?
But so what? If a man has something to say, he should say it with his head held high.
“An audacious one. Very well—speak.”
Apparently my attitude did not displease him too much; the Emperor’s lips seemed to twitch for the briefest moment.
“Your Majesty said the excitement had waned and wished to put forth a new challenger. Yet I am merely of the Transcendental Peak Realm, while the Manhojang is a master who has reached the Transcendent Realm. The outcome would be obvious.”
“...Hmm.”
Emperor Hongrak gave no answer, merely gesturing lightly with his chin for me to continue.
“Therefore, in order to make the match interesting, may I bring one more Transcendental Peak martial artist?!”
I lunged and clamped a hand on Jo Harang’s shoulder just as she was trying to edge away from me.
She whipped around, eyes wide with shock.
“Hey—you—have you lost it?!”
The oppressive stares of all the high-and-mighty people that had been boring into me were now split in half and shared with her.
“Why do you think I brought you here? You’ve got to earn your keep.”
“You bastard! Even so, this is too much!”
Too much? What was too much?
Was I supposed to climb onto the sparring ground alone and get thoroughly thrashed by a Transcendent Realm fighter just so I could enjoy the abuse?
“If you win this tournament, the Emperor will grant you any one wish.”
“...”
And it wasn’t just about saving face—the prize on the line was enormous.
This was an imperial event overflowing with money. Even the Peak Realm fighter who had been asked to step aside so I could take the stage had been promised a hefty reward.
“Very well. That nameless woman may also participate.”
The Emperor of the Central Plains readily granted Jo Harang’s entry as well, as if he found the idea not bad at all.
Somehow... this felt like it had been his aim all along.
“Your Majesty, may Manhojang Jang Sak dare offer a word?”
At that moment, the Manhojang who had been quietly listening to our terms began laying out conditions of his own.
What he requested was permission to bring one Peak Realm fighter onto the stage as well.
“Cheonhojang Jang Son. A man of outstanding martial talent. If the four of us compete, it should make for a most interesting match, Your Majesty!”
Cheonhojang Jang Son. The name rang a bell.
“That’s the guy who dragged the cannons to the Byeok Clan!”
Jo Harang’s answer made me slap my knee.
Manhojang Jang Sak and Cheonhojang Jang Son. Same surname.
Family or relatives? With victory right in front of them and a chance to catch the Emperor’s eye, the blood relatives were pulling strings like crazy.
“Filthy school ties, regional ties, blood ties!”
The Emperor nodded as if he found that entertaining as well, and so Cheonhojang Jang Son—who had once laid siege at the Byeok Clan—joined the match.
Unlike the bare-handed Jang Sak, Jang Son climbed onto the sparring ground carrying a long, heavy iron staff.
Thus a team with one Peak Realm and one Transcendent Realm fighter faced a team of two Transcendental Peak fighters.
Ordinarily a Transcendent Realm martial artist was an opponent even four or five Transcendental Peak fighters would struggle to guarantee victory against.
At a glance the balance seemed to tip heavily their way.
But our side wasn’t just two ordinary Transcendental Peak fighters—we were calamitous stars blessed by the heavens.
None other than an impossible combination: the Heavenly Killing Star and the Purple Micro Star.
“Imperial Consort, I’ll go earn the price of that duck.”
“Y-yes, do so.”
Imperial Consort Ma Ju-yeong still wore a look of lingering bewilderment as she answered my resolute declaration.
Honestly, I had no idea what was going on either.
But the Emperor had clearly taken a personal interest in me, so I had no choice but to push through this situation.
With a determined face, Jo Harang and I stood tall on the sparring ground.
“Mudong, you’re going to have to take responsibility for this somehow later.”
She used my Eastern Depot alias, telling me I had better make it up to her for dragging her into this mess.
“That sounds an awful lot like a confession.”
A woman looking me dead in the eye and telling me to take responsibility...
“Wh-what are you talking about?! Seriously!”
Hearing my take, Jo Harang smacked my arm repeatedly, complaining that I had no sense of tension.
“Eastern Depot martial artist Mudong! And the wandering martial artist Jaha! Take your places for the match!”
A temporary name taken from her sect, the Jaha Sect.
The official serving as referee for the tournament indicated where the two of us should stand.
On the opposite side, the two Imperial Army officers—Manhojang and Cheonhojang—faced us and rolled their shoulders.
“Mudong, is it? Faces I’ve never seen despite being of Transcendental Peak Realm.”
At that level, even an Eastern Depot agent should have some reputation—so why had he never seen our faces in the palace or in the field? That was Manhojang Jang Sak’s question.
“We of the Eastern Depot work for the imperial family from the shadows. We do not climb onto stages.”
I borrowed the words Cheon Su-gong had spoken earlier and answered appropriately.
Jang Sak snorted as if he had heard that arrogant line somewhere before.
“So you’re one of the ones that Cheon Su-gong fellow raised.”
Apparently he hadn’t said it only to me; he seemed to go around saying it loud enough for everyone to hear.
Thanks to that, the suspicion lessened a little.
“Then, the final match of the martial arts tournament shall begin! Jang Sak and Jang Son! Mudong and Jaha! Under the grace of His Majesty the Son of Heaven, give us your utmost!”
The official waved for us to fight and then stepped back.
Every eye in the place locked onto us.
“I am Manhojang Jang Sak. I have mastered the Loyal Nation Eighteen Arts.”
Before the match, Jang Sak released his energy and announced his name and primary martial art.
Right—I had heard the murim placed great importance on these empty formalities. Still, no matter how many times I heard that technique name, I could never get used to it.
“Mudong of the Eastern Depot. I’ve learned a little of this and that.”
Jang Sak’s eyebrows twitched as if offended by the perfunctory answer.
Then Jang Son, who had been dragged into this match thanks to Jang Sak, opened his mouth while staring at me with a strange look.
“You... the energy you carry, the way you talk—it’s a lot like that annoying bastard I ran into at the Byeok Clan.”
We had crossed paths only once, back at the Byeok Clan, yet the guy had an oddly sharp instinct.
At this rate, if he saw my martial arts up close, my identity might be exposed.
And if I intended to face a Transcendent Realm fighter seriously, I needed to eliminate obstacles like him as quickly as possible.
“Hey, your front gate’s wide open.”
“...Front gate?”
He didn’t understand what I meant, but when I fixed my gaze on his crotch he flinched and looked down.
In that instant my lightning-fast rising kick smashed into his face.
Crack—
Jang Son went flying, spraying blood and teeth from a single blow.
“...!!”
That utterly practical strike, completely devoid of even a speck of dignity, left every member of the imperial court in stunned silence.
“One down!”
The court official had already declared the match underway.
If you let your guard down, that was your own fault.
“You son of a bitch...!”
As Jang Sak erupted in furious rage, the match for the championship began.