Victories in the Blink of an Eye
Just like with the Jongnam Sect woman's match, most of the crowd hadn't properly grasped what had just happened on the arena stage. They'd only seen Baekunmun's senior disciple bravely swinging his sword—before clutching his head and crashing to the ground with a thud.
"Hey! Come on, snap out of it!"
Yi Jinun frantically supported the fallen Baekunmun disciple, crying out in desperation. He hastily stripped off his own upper garment and pressed it against the wound on the man's head to staunch the bleeding. When the opponent finally blinked his eyes open moments later, a hugely relieved Yi Jinun pulled him into a tight embrace.
"Thank goodness. You're okay—truly, thank goodness! Why on earth didn't you dodge? Why just stand there and take it?!"
The dazed Baekunmun senior disciple, wide-eyed in bewilderment, awkwardly shoved Yi Jinun away and crawled backward on all fours. When Yi Jinun tried to help him up again, a middle-aged man swept onto the stage, his robes billowing, and blocked his path.
"You brat!"
With his flying beard and deep wrinkles etched across his forehead, he looked nothing like a youth fit for the later-generation tournament. Twisting his face into a ferocious scowl, the middle-aged man drew his sword with a sharp shing and bellowed.
"A win is a win—so why humiliate Baekunmun like this?!"
"Pardon? Me? Humiliate you?"
"Who else but you?!"
The man, presumed to be the Baekunmun leader, aimed his razor-sharp sword at Yi Jinun. Instinctively backing away, Yi Jinun swung his scabbard in a wide circle. A light gust arose, fluttering the man's robes, and sensing the extraordinary energy behind it, the Baekunmun leader flinched and froze in place.
Yi Jinun, who had raised his scabbard in response to the man's aura, hurriedly clasped his hands in a fist salute and shouted.
"My apologies! Your brother's single stroke was so sharp that sidestepping to the right and lunging in was my only option! I figured you'd deflect my sword smoothly with a left pivot into a counter-stance, letting me retreat along the flow and slash horizontally to complete the exchange... I never imagined you'd try to block my attack head-on!"
Admiration and laughter erupted from the crowd simultaneously. Yi Jinun's words and actions stood out starkly from the others. He seemed genuinely worried about his opponent's minor head injury, and he explained what was supposed to be a formal duel like it was just a practice spar. Of course, from the loser's perspective, it might feel like even greater humiliation.
"Y-You... You insolent cur!"
The furious Baekunmun leader bellowed, but he didn't dare move recklessly. Everyone around Dongjeong Lake knew the Yi Gajang brothers were hopelessly kind-hearted. He knew Yi Jinun harbored no malice—and from that earlier movement, he realized charging in wouldn't guarantee victory.
Caught in a dilemma amid the unexpected standoff, the tournament supervisor eager to advance the brackets stepped in to resolve it.
"The match is over! Get off the stage! If sects have beef, take it outside Dongbeonhoe!"
The Baekunmun leader glared at Yi Jinun for a moment before sheathing his sword and turning away coldly. Baekunmun disciples rushed up to support their senior brother. Left alone on the stage, Yi Jinun politely saluted the supervisor and the crowd.
It was Yi Gajang's first victory in this tournament.
"Ooooh!"
Thunderous applause exploded from the onlookers. Regardless of Yi Jinun's words and demeanor, his exceptional skill was undeniable—against Baekunmun's senior disciple, no less, ranked in the top twenty among Dongjeong Lake factions.
"No wonder his lightness skill felt extraordinary—the second young master is a monster too!"
"So what was all that suffering for? Was he hiding his power all along?"
"Is that really Yi Gajang's second son? The weakling mocked as the White Bone Hero just months ago—how does someone get this strong?!"
Amid the applause, cheers, doubts, and attention, Yi Jinun stood at the center. As his face flushed red, an incongruous squealing erupted from somewhere. Heads turned in surprise to see the flower-like young women of the Nine Great Factions clustered together, giggling and staring at Yi Jinun. Utterly shameless, some waved, others winked.
Yi Jinun's face burned like fire as he ducked his head. Hastily donning his discarded upper garment to cover his bare torso, he hurried down from the stage. Now that they noticed, his tattered robes had briefly revealed a strikingly handsome face that shone brilliantly.
A talent with both skill and looks. And catching the eye of Nine Great Factions maidens, no less... The crowd's mood flipped cold in an instant, jeering at Yi Jinun with boos.
Returning to his seat, Yi Jingang greeted him with a bright smile and a tease.
"Little brother, you're quite popular."
Yi Jinun replied with a still-bewildered expression.
"I have no idea what happened. Why didn't that brother even think to dodge my sword? And why the cheers at first, then boos now...?"
"I thought I was the only dense one, but you're just as hopeless."
Yi Jinpyeong shook his head at his two oblivious brothers. Regardless, Yi Jinun gazed at Yi Jinpyeong expectantly, as if craving praise for securing Yi Gajang's win. Unable to ignore the look, Yi Jinpyeong offered a curt verdict.
"Not bad."
"R-Really?!"
Yi Jinun's face lit up. Yi Jingang nodded, patting his shoulder.
"Yes. Excellent Pung Chwi Palbo. And your opponent didn't choose to take your sword on his head—he simply couldn't react to your movement."
"What?!"
Yi Jinun unwittingly danced a little jig of joy. To him, a few words from his brothers meant more than the roar of the crowd.
Yi Jinpyeong couldn't help but quirk his lips at the sight.
The past few months of dedicated training had transformed Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun beyond recognition. Their innate genius, honed by Yi Jinpyeong's guidance, had achieved in mere months what would take others years or decades. Both had surpassed the Geunlip stage of Gwi Hwa Yeon Cheon Gong's first tier and now stood on the cusp of the second—Cheonryu.
Yi Jinun, in particular, excelled in lightness skills, as proven against Jang Gapae's leader when they invaded Yi Gajang. Through brutal spars with Yi Jinpyeong, his swordsmanship had reached a solid level, though he remained oblivious to his own heights.
Yi Jinpyeong glanced at Yi Jingang. He seemed delighted by Yi Jinun's easy win, yet tension lingered. With Yi Jinun's first match safely done, it was now the eldest brother's turn.
Hmm...
Yi Jinpyeong had expected Yi Jinun's straightforward victory. But what Yi Jingang would show on this stage... even he couldn't predict.
The tournament continued.
Soon, another Yi Gajang brother's name was called—not Yi Jingang, but Yi Jinpyeong.
"Ooh, finally...!"
As he rose, eyes poured onto him. Young and old, men and women—from Dongjeong Lake factions to Nine Great Factions—all whispered among their groups. Attention on the tournament peaked.
The infamous mad third son of Yi Gajang. Star of grim rumors, architect of this chaotic event.
Among the hundreds below the arena, many youths hadn't seen yesterday's Yi Jinpyeong. All eyes focused on this youngest-looking participant.
Oddly, Yi Jinpyeong said nothing. No boasting, just clutching his pipe as he ascended the stage. He ignored the Nine Great Factions maidens entirely.
His opponent: young leader of Yunmeng House, ranked ninety-fifth among Dongjeong Lake factions. Running an inn, heading a faction at a young age—he evoked Nak Pung-hyeon of Chwi Hwa Bang. But his skill was the polar opposite. Credit to him for entering—and charging bravely without flinching.
But Yi Jinpyeong's pipe showed no mercy based on skill.
Thwack!
The opponent slammed into the stage like a frog. In the ensuing silence, Yi Jinpyeong walked down.
From yesterday to now, he'd shown one thing: swinging his pipe downward.
Gulp!
Someone's swallow echoed loudly. Yi Jinpyeong showed no cockiness or taunts like before. No words, no expression change—just casually knocking his foe flat, as always.
Shouldering his pipe indifferently, he descended, sending a chill through the crowd.
His brothers sensed the unease too. Greeting his return, Yi Jingang cautiously asked.
"Jinpyeong... Is something wrong?"
"...Nothing."
Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun exchanged silent looks. Their youngest often sank into solitary thoughts. They wished he'd share more openly instead of shouldering everything—but since recovering from madness, he was opening up bit by bit. They could only wait patiently.
Yi Jinpyeong pondered deeply alone.
His mind, tangled by No Gae's words, had somewhat settled after last night's talk with his brothers. Yet a nagging unease lingered.
What is it? Why this persistent itch?
He scanned the surroundings methodically, seeking the source—but nothing suspicious stirred.
Yi Jinpyeong reviewed events since entering Dongbeonhoe step by step. It took time: countless meetings, incidents, past-and-present conversations.
What could it be? The root of this unresolved anxiety.
As he ruminated, Yi Jingang and Yi Jinun bantered to ease the tension.
"...Big brother, I'm telling you, it's unfair. I didn't flirt first! I don't even like flashy-dressed women. Why would I wink or signal at someone I don't fancy?"
"You must have a type, then."
"Definitely. Strong-willed, with a mysterious aura. Seems prickly, but cracks witty jokes sometimes..."
"...Don't tell me. You're talking about Un Sa-nang?"
Un Sa-nang?
Yi Jinpyeong finally pinpointed his unease.
Un Sa-nang. Since entering Dongbeonhoe, she hadn't appeared—not once.