A Colorless Presence
Some might brush it off as nothing remarkable.
It wasn't impossible for a young expert to possess exceptional skill, nor was it unprecedented.
Just look at Woo-gang himself.
Despite being the same age as these young experts, hadn't he earned universal recognition for his outstanding martial prowess?
And yet, the shock Woo-gang felt was profound.
Was it because of the man's unexpectedly superior skill?
No, that wasn't it.
He might have been surprised by that alone, but it wouldn't have shaken him this deeply.
It was that sensation—like facing a perfect vacuum, as if nothing existed at all.
Did he practice martial arts?
Did he have true energy flowing through his body?
It felt just like confronting air you couldn't see or sense.
What is this guy?
What's his real deal?
Woo-gang was struck with considerable shock, as if he'd encountered an entirely unknown world.
Even accounting for his limited understanding and experience of the martial world, the feeling was utterly alien.
And then there was the way the man's demeanor had shifted from initial tension to calm leisure in such a short time.
Ak So-cheon was full of aspects that defied easy understanding.
After encountering Ak So-cheon, Woo-gang could barely recall how he'd spent the rest of the afternoon.
His mind was consumed with thoughts of the man, and whenever he snapped back to awareness, his gaze would inevitably seek him out.
By the time the afternoon schedule ended and Woo-gang returned to his quarters, he wolfed down a simple meal before lying on his bed, pondering Ak So-cheon once more.
What a peculiar fellow.
Ak So-cheon, like Woo-gang, didn't mingle with the other young experts—he drifted on the periphery.
But there was a subtle difference in how it manifested.
The other young experts at least paid attention to Woo-gang, even if they hesitated to approach.
No one spared Ak So-cheon a glance.
They neither spoke to him nor looked his way.
As if he weren't even there.
The reactions around him were so pronounced that Woo-gang half-wondered if the man was visible only to him.
Is it some unique property of the martial art he practices?
The world was full of all sorts of martial arts, so it wasn't an impossible notion.
But if that were the case, the colorless, odorless nature of his true energy felt mismatched with spear arts.
Of course, that judgment came after witnessing Ak So-cheon's spear technique, but he couldn't shake the sense that such intangible energy clashed with the spear's inherent advantages.
In any event, Ak So-cheon seemed to exude a unique aura due to both his martial art's special qualities and his own personal eccentricity.
How many days left?
Woo-gang tallied up the remaining time in the event.
It had only just begun, so plenty of schedule remained.
For Woo-gang, who had been bored for various reasons, this was a rare spark of interest.
He had no idea how to build a relationship with Ak So-cheon, but at least tomorrow wouldn't be dull.
With those thoughts of Ak So-cheon concluded, Woo-gang brought the day to a close.
The next day.
Woo-gang, who had arrived precisely on time the day before, showed up a bit earlier for once.
As he warmed up idly, scanning the young experts trickling in one by one, his eyes lit up at the sight of Ak So-cheon approaching from afar.
In the morning light, the man looked utterly ordinary.
His presence was so colorless and intangible that he'd vanish completely into a crowd.
The only time he'd drawn notice was yesterday at the dining hall, when he'd spoken to Woo-gang.
At that moment, Ak So-cheon's eyes met Woo-gang's.
A faint smile spread across his otherwise expressionless face, and he gave a slight nod toward Woo-gang.
Woo-gang nodded back reflexively, and that was the end of their encounter.
Throughout the morning schedule, Woo-gang and Ak So-cheon kept their distance.
It wasn't deliberate, but it happened naturally.
Woo-gang was intensely focused on Ak So-cheon, but Ak So-cheon showed no interest in him.
And just like the previous day, mealtime arrived.
Woo-gang deliberately slowed his steps.
Pretending nonchalance, he entered the dining hall a little late and spotted Ak So-cheon alone in his secluded corner, as expected.
Grabbing his tray of food, Woo-gang headed straight for him.
As anticipated, numerous young experts' gazes followed Woo-gang's path.
But when he stopped right in front of Ak So-cheon, they all averted their eyes in unison, as if on cue.
It felt like stepping through an invisible door into a space severed from the world.
"Mind if I sit?"
"Ah, yes."
Ak So-cheon gave a brief reply.
Woo-gang sat across from him.
He picked up his chopsticks and ate casually for a moment before tossing out a comment.
"You're incredibly unique."
"Me?"
"Yes. It was like no one else could even see you. I wondered if you were visible only to me."
"Ah... I'm just not used to these gatherings and don't want to stand out. Isn't that the same for you, Young Hero Woo?"
Woo-gang nodded at Ak So-cheon's question.
"For someone like me from an unremarkable family, that's feasible. But for you, it must be impossible. You'd draw attention wherever you go."
"Not particularly. Didn't you see? No one approaches me."
"But I did."
"True enough. So why did you? Being seen with me will draw eyes to you."
Ak So-cheon shook his head at Woo-gang's question.
"No. Actually, standing next to someone with a strong presence makes people like me even less noticeable. See? No one's paying me any mind right now."
He was right.
A few glances flicked toward Woo-gang now and then, but none toward Ak So-cheon.
"Then what's your purpose in attending an event like this? I heard it's meant for young experts to build camaraderie and share experiences."
"I didn't want to come. But with my family's expectations, I couldn't refuse. I stubbornly resisted and only came after a last-minute compromise."
"Compromise?"
"I'd attend, but do things my own way once here. They probably didn't anticipate me living on the fringes like this."
Ak So-cheon let out a deep sigh.
He was managing to stay low-key as he wished, but it clearly weighed on him, thinking of his family's hopes.
"Still, I'll have something to report when I get back. 'I ate and talked with the Flame King's disciple'—that alone will earn me praise."
Woo-gang frowned at Ak So-cheon's words.
"Is that really so important?"
"Of course."
Woo-gang's expression soured with incomprehension at the firm answer.
Forming connections with others.
The idea that merely doing so warranted praise was utterly baffling to him.
Noting Woo-gang's reaction, Ak So-cheon continued.
"You look like you don't get it."
"Honestly, no."
"The martial world revolves around power. An individual's strength, or that of their family or sect, determines status. But not everything is decided by one's own power alone."
"It's not just about personal strength."
"Exactly. For example, if my family were on friendly terms with you, the world would lump us together. They'd think, 'Harm the Ak family, and the Flame King's disciple will come to their aid.'"
"Ah..."
Woo-gang showed a glimmer of understanding.
"That's why individuals, families, and sects alike strive to build alliances. It makes relationships complicated and factions divide."
"Then isn't your approach putting you at a disadvantage?"
"It might. Truthfully, I hate picking sides. I'd rather everyone just get along."
"If you want everyone to get along, shouldn't you actively approach them and build bonds with all?"
"That's impossible. People have their own personalities, and what appeals to one repels another. True harmony among everyone is a pipe dream."
Woo-gang nodded emphatically in agreement.
"There is one way to make it possible."
"One way?"
"Overwhelming power no one can challenge. Force that suppresses all conflict. Though that's unrealistic too. Ah, looks like mealtime's already over."
Deep in serious conversation with Ak So-cheon, lunch had flown by unnoticed.
He hadn't finished his meal, but that was fine.
What lingered was regret at not talking longer.
Their exchange had sparked many thoughts in Woo-gang himself.
Especially that unrealistic notion of a colossal force quelling all strife—it provoked all sorts of reflections.
"Well, I'll head out first."
Ak So-cheon rose, and Woo-gang, lost in contemplation, was the very last to leave the dining hall.
From that day on, Woo-gang frequently engaged Ak So-cheon in such talks.
Sometimes, after all events ended in the evening, he'd invite Ak So-cheon to his quarters for conversation.
Despite his quiet nature and aversion to attention, Ak So-cheon held diverse views on worldly affairs.
Woo-gang had remarked on it once, and Ak So-cheon smiled as he replied,
"Precisely because I stay on the outside, I see and feel more. Standing in the thick of the world's chaos blinds you to much."
Such words were beyond what a young expert in his twenties should say.
They suited a seasoned veteran of the martial world with vast experience and insight.
"It's late. I'll take my leave."
Today too, Ak So-cheon chatted late into the night at Woo-gang's quarters before returning to his own.
Alone after his departure, Woo-gang sank into contemplation during these quiet hours.
"Looks like you've made a new friend. Congratulations."
Dok Go-seol-ran approached Woo-gang, who leaned on the corridor railing deep in thought, and spoke.
"A friend... Yeah, you could see it that way."
Dok Go-seol-ran smiled at his response.
Interacting with many and forging bonds was undoubtedly important and beneficial.
"He thinks deeper than I do—makes me reflect a lot. Some of his words really stuck with me."
"What did he say?"
"Seal all conflicts with overwhelming power."
Dok Go-seol-ran's face hardened at Woo-gang's words.
Then, with grave seriousness, she replied,
"That's a dangerous idea."
"Dangerous?"
"Yes. It's unrealistic, sure... but conflicts must erupt before they can be resolved. Suppress them without release, and they fester, exploding into greater calamities."
Woo-gang tilted his head at Dok Go-seol-ran's words.
"By that logic, isn't the Murim Alliance the same? It uses its vast power to prevent strife in the martial world."
"But the Alliance doesn't suppress every conflict with its might. Even now, disputes flare up everywhere. It curbs those that could spark catastrophe, but it doesn't smother them entirely before they surface."
There was a clear distinction, though to Woo-gang, it sounded much the same.
"Hmm..."
Woo-gang lapsed back into thought.
And Dok Go-seol-ran watched him with eyes tinged with concern.