The Victor's Mercy
Bang!
Sa Ma-gang slammed the door shut behind him as he stormed in.
The emotions he couldn't show in front of others erupted the moment he entered his private space.
Sitting down, he unleashed his unbridled rage—unseen by anyone—and downed the still-hot tea in one gulp.
"Hoo…."
He took a deep breath, as if trying to calm his overly excited mind, then gently closed his eyes.
But his eyelids trembled slightly, remnants of his lingering emotions.
Everything had gone smoothly right up until the final clash between Woo-gang and Han Seo-yeon.
And not just Sa Ma-gang—everyone present must have felt it.
This was Woo-gang's victory.
Yet the scene before them overturned everyone's expectations and convictions.
Woo-gang lay collapsed and unconscious, while Han Seo-yeon, though internally injured, stood her ground.
"Damn it. Why…."
Sa Ma-gang spat out a short curse again.
But his reaction seemed a bit off.
Sa Ma-gang's anger wasn't simply from the defeat.
Who was he?
He planned meticulously, accounting for every variable, with success rates near certainty.
In Murim history, few strategists had accomplished what he had.
Would someone like him not have considered Woo-gang's potential defeat?
No, he surely had contingencies prepared.
Yet his rage suggested something else.
Sa Ma-gang spent the next moments repeatedly deep-breathing to compose himself.
And shortly after.
Cheopun Danju entered the office cautiously.
Without opening his eyes, Sa Ma-gang spoke.
"Yeom Woo-gang's condition?"
"He's under treatment. Not severe enough for a long recovery. They say he'll be back in two days."
After the report, Cheopun Danju gauged Sa Ma-gang's mood.
When he was in a foul temper, leaving him alone was best.
"The later-generation disciples' schedule proceeded as planned. I'll take my leave then."
Before Cheopun Danju finished, Sa Ma-gang waved him off dismissively.
Having reported swiftly, Cheopun Danju slipped out as quietly as he'd entered.
As Cheopun Danju said, Woo-gang lay in a treatment room within the Murim Alliance.
No external wounds, no severe internal injuries.
But since he'd briefly lost consciousness, they decided he'd rest fully for a day to ensure stability.
Thanks to their consideration, he had a quiet room to himself. Woo-gang gazed idly out the window near his bed.
"Haa…."
He let out a small sigh and turned to the door.
And moments later.
Bang!
The door flew open, and Han Seo-yeon stormed in, angrier than ever.
"What were you thinking?"
"What do you mean?"
Woo-gang frowned slightly at her abrupt accusation.
"Why did you hold back at the end?"
Woo-gang sighed again at her question.
Hold back? What did that even mean?
He looked at Han Seo-yeon and slowly spoke.
"If I hadn't pulled back, you would've suffered far worse than me right now. And since my injuries aren't serious either, isn't this a good outcome?"
"Unnecessary mercy. Even so, don't expect gratitude."
Han Seo-yeon replied coldly.
But she knew it too.
Though she'd never admit it aloud, without Woo-gang, things could've escalated badly.
Exaggerating a bit, it might've frozen relations between Bing Palace and the Murim Alliance overnight.
Despite her emotions, she hadn't fully forgotten her duty as young palace lord.
Han Seo-yeon squeezed her eyes shut.
Her clenched fists and eyelids trembled fiercely.
Shattered pride, frustration—emotions swirled within.
She replayed the final strike in her mind.
Her all-out blow, drawing every ounce of power. Confidence brimmed until the moment she unleashed it.
But that confidence vanished like mist.
Before Woo-gang's scorching heat, her chill and ice crystals faded like a mirage.
She felt a colossal wall.
An insurmountable one.
When she first met Woo-gang, his skills were laughably poor—barely martial at all.
Yet his growth was explosive.
She'd sensed it in their spars, and against Bing Palace warriors too.
Seeing his rapid rise, Han Seo-yeon felt alarmed.
She took pride in herself.
Her father couldn't bloom the flower, but she could.
To her, brimming with confidence and pride, Woo-gang's talent was shocking.
It even made her feel ordinary.
Then Woo-gang entered Hanchon Secret Cave, left Bing Palace before she could check his progress.
Han Seo-yeon gritted her teeth and resolved anew.
Ignoring Han Si-rang's concerns, she entered Hanchon Secret Cave and triumphantly overcame the trials.
She was certain she'd still hold the edge against Woo-gang.
But he'd surpassed her expectations, racing far ahead.
Realizing that, Han Seo-yeon faltered.
Not her body—her spirit.
Woo-gang noticed her shift.
He couldn't read her exact thoughts, but her focus wavered clearly in that final exchange.
So he held back.
Continuing full-force would've caused her severe injury.
Worst case, her life could've been at risk.
Han Seo-yeon might not care, but Woo-gang harbored no malice toward her.
Why go this far?
Their rift stemmed from misunderstanding—calm talk could've resolved it.
But Woo-gang hadn't controlled his emotions perfectly either, letting things escalate.
Acknowledging his share of blame, he pulled back without hesitation.
The result was the scene everyone witnessed.
Even with her focus shaken, Han Seo-yeon couldn't miss it.
"Lady Han. I've never forgotten searching for Grandfather, not even here in the Murim Alliance. Any new lead on him, and I'll leave immediately. Even if the Alliance deceives me and breaks its word."
Woo-gang stated firmly he could leave anytime.
"Hoo…. Fine. I believe you."
With him drawing this line, she couldn't keep raging.
Turning to leave, Han Seo-yeon paused.
She tossed one last line over her shoulder.
"We'll clash again."
With that, she exited.
Only cold frost lingered where she'd stood.
"Anytime."
Woo-gang murmured to the empty space she'd left.
Sa Ma-gang's face plainly showed his discomfort.
The cause: a visitor in his office.
Unlike Sa Ma-gang, the guest seemed nonchalant—almost pleased, though suppressing it.
The visitor was Dok Go-yeong-mu.
"Why'd you come?"
"Just to offer some comfort."
Sa Ma-gang frowned at Dok Go-yeong-mu's reply.
"No need for comfort. Leave."
His sharp retort only made Dok Go-yeong-mu appear more at ease.
"How could you make such a mistake? Overconfident that Woo-gang would win, as if it were obvious? Not like you."
Sa Ma-gang glared at Dok Go-yeong-mu's words.
Then spoke.
"My calculations weren't wrong."
"Denying it? The result says otherwise."
"No. You know it too. Anyone could've seen Yeom Woo-gang winning. But he held back at the end. Absurdly so."
Dok Go-yeong-mu neither confirmed nor denied.
But as the closest witness, prepared for contingencies, he couldn't have missed it.
With no response, Sa Ma-gang eyed him steadily before speaking.
"You didn't tip him off, did you?"
"Me? Tip him? About what?"
Sa Ma-gang narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Though doubtful, Dok Go-yeong-mu had no motive.
It might endanger Woo-gang instead.
'Then it was Yeom Woo-gang's spontaneous choice….'
Sa Ma-gang couldn't fathom why.
He frowned again.
Time to reassess Yeom Woo-gang.
Initially, he seemed predictable, low variables. This changed everything.
Unpredictable now—when or where he'd act out of expectation, who knew?
This one variable might spawn countless more.
Watching Sa Ma-gang's troubled expression, Dok Go-yeong-mu flashed a faint smile.
He quickly schooled his face to neutrality and stood.
"No need for comfort, so I'll go. You're busy anyway."
Sa Ma-gang merely glanced at the rising Dok Go-yeong-mu, unresponsive.
"If you need help, say so. Can't match you in cleanup or damage control, but a little aid couldn't hurt."
Words laced with mockery—uncharacteristic for Dok Go-yeong-mu.
Sa Ma-gang caught the barb; his face flushed.
But venting now would mean defeat. He clenched his teeth and endured.
Leaving the seething Sa Ma-gang behind, Dok Go-yeong-mu exited.
Only then did his face break into a satisfying grin.