From the Very Beginning
"You bastard...!!!"
A booming voice echoed around the quarters.
The shout came from a handsome man who had just appeared, limping.
Watching him, I grimaced in disgust.
"Why are you shouting when I'm standing right in front of you? You're being noisy."
My ears were practically ringing. I wondered why he had to yell like that.
Squeeze.
Water poured out as I wrung the towel in my hands. It was all sweat.
"Phew..."
I wiped the remaining sweat from my forehead. My limbs were trembling. The aftereffects of the training were no joke.
Had I worked hard for once in a long time?
I easily ignored the ghost's dampening words. Ignoring him wasn't even hard anymore.
The problem was...
"You son of a bitch—!"
The idiot whose face was completely crumpled as he glared at me. He was the real problem.
A handsome loser approaching me in a raging fit. He limped slightly as he walked, clearly in discomfort.
Watching him, I asked,
"What is it this early in the morning? I haven't even had breakfast yet, and you're ruining my appetite."
As I clicked my tongue, he suddenly lunged forward and grabbed me by the collar.
"Do you truly wish to die?"
"...Oh, how terrifying."
I meant it. I hadn't sensed his presence at all until he grabbed my collar. To think he could move this fast even while limping.
...As expected.
He might be a loser, but he was definitely skilled.
"...How dare you...!"
His fingertips trembled, radiating a faint, murderous intent.
I almost swallowed hard in fear, but I held it in.
No matter how I felt inside, I couldn't let it show on the outside.
"Now, why are you doing this?"
When I asked with a sly grin, Namgung Seong ground his teeth.
"Are you asking because you truly do not know?"
"Of course. How am I supposed to know when you show up at the crack of dawn throwing a fit like this?"
I looked Namgung Seong up and down as I spoke. I made my gaze blatantly obvious.
I needed him to realize exactly where I was looking.
"Especially when you're not even in peak physical condition."
Where exactly was he injured? It didn't take long for Namgung Seong to realize where my gaze was lingering.
"You—!"
Rage flared in his eyes, and his grip on my collar tightened.
Ugh.
I felt like I was going to suffocate.
But I couldn't just brush him off.
Forcing a smirk, I spoke to him.
"Hey, let go of me."
"You... Do you honestly think you will get away with this?"
"Threats on such a pleasant morning. How refreshing."
He was incredibly pissed off. Normally, he would care about his surroundings, but right now, he didn't give a damn.
That made him even more dangerous. Blinded by emotion, there was no telling what he might do.
However...
"A mere nobody like you dared to humiliate me, Namgung Seong?"
"Humiliate you?"
I had no intention of backing down out of fear.
"I went out of my way to be considerate, and this is how you talk to me?"
Since I had already decided to screw him over, I had to go all the way.
"What? Considerate?"
"Yes, considerate. Did your sister not explain it to you properly?"
I thought I had delivered the message clearly, but it seemed Namgung Seong's comprehension skills were lacking.
In that case, I would have to spell it out for him.
"You lost the duel, so I had no obligation to give it back. Yet, I went through the trouble of wrapping it up nicely and returning what you wanted. If that isn't consideration, what is?"
"You bastard...!"
"Why do you keep calling me a bastard? Am I your son or something?"
Tsk. I clicked my tongue and narrowed my eyes, causing Namgung Seong's face to flush red. Honestly, I wanted to provoke him a bit more, but...
If I push him any further, it might get dangerous.
If Namgung Seong lost his mind and snapped, that would be a headache in itself.
"Let's let go and talk, shall we? It'll be troublesome for you too if people show up."
"..."
At my words, the corners of Namgung Seong's eyes twitched.
Indeed, since he had already shouted so loudly, it wouldn't be long before people gathered.
Since the current situation wouldn't benefit him at all, he slowly loosened his grip.
Only then did it become easier to breathe.
I forced down the urge to cough as he spoke to me.
"Do you think you can live in peace after making a fool out of me?"
"Who's making a fool out of you?"
I patted down my rumpled clothes and replied,
"You asked for it, so I gave it back. Why are you throwing a tantrum?"
"Ha."
Namgung Seong let out a hollow laugh at my refreshing response.
"Do you think I came here to play word games with you?"
"Then what are you going to do about it?"
"What?"
"I get that you're pissed off. But what are you going to do?"
Since he kept speaking informally, I dropped the formalities too. I tried to be polite, but if he was going to act like this, I had no choice.
"Anyone would think you're innocent. Who was the one who sent his own sister to pull a cheap trick?"
"..."
At the mention of Namgung Hyeon, Namgung Seong's face contorted.
"You tried to screw me over by using your own sister, and now you're mad because you got screwed over instead? That's a bit hypocritical, don't you think? It's pretty pathetic."
Grind.
He seemed speechless, his face crumpling further. I wondered how much more distorted it could get, but at the same time, I checked something else.
Specifically, behind him.
Namgung Seong hadn't come alone; he was accompanied by members of the Namgung Clan.
Among those who followed him was Namgung Hyeon.
The moment our eyes met, she quickly looked away.
Hmm.
Their demeanor was strange. They all looked like martial artists, and they were clearly on guard against me.
Ah, I see.
They were afraid I might draw my sword and fight the Socheonggeom. That was what they were wary of.
I was the one who had defeated the Socheonggeom. In their eyes, I probably looked like a dangerous variable if I let my emotions take over.
This is actually quite amusing.
To think I'd be treated as a threat by the Namgung Clan.
It was a novel feeling.
"Besides, isn't it embarrassing to bring a whole crowd just to do this?"
When I pointed that out, Namgung Seong bit his lip. It seemed he did find it embarrassing.
However...
"Phew."
He took a short breath and quickly regained his composure.
"It seems you are under a delusion."
I watched him with interest.
"Do you not realize that you are in no position to treat me so lightly?"
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"Have you forgotten? You used a lethal strike against me after the duel was over."
"..."
I tilted my head at his words.
"What lethal strike did I use?"
"Ha. Playing innocent now, are we?"
A smirk played on Namgung Seong's lips, as if he found my reaction predictable.
"There is no way you forgot. Right after the duel ended, you definitely..."
"After?"
"My..."
Namgung Seong trailed off and fell silent. What a shame. I wanted him to say it himself.
"Ah. You mean that?"
With a grin, I said the words he couldn't bring himself to utter.
"Are you talking about when I crushed your crotch?"
"You..."
"You even fainted back then. How is it? Is it okay?"
I spoke while staring directly at his lower body.
"Looks like it's fine. What a relief. I was actually a bit worried. But then again..."
I let my smirk return to my face.
"There wasn't much to hit anyway, so I figured it would be fine."
"You bastard—!"
Unable to hold back any longer, Namgung Seong reached for his sword.
At this rate, his real sword would threaten my life, but...
Thanks to the old man's warning, I was able to suppress my anxiety.
Right then.
"Stop!"
With a loud shout, someone stepped between Namgung Seong and me. It was Cheon Ui-jin.
"Young Master Namgung. What do you think you are doing?"
Cheon Ui-jin stood in front of Namgung Seong, radiating his own fighting spirit. Seeing him, Namgung Seong's expression distorted even further.
"Young Master Cheon."
"I asked what you think you are doing."
Cheon Ui-jin channeled his energy, showing no intention of backing down.
"Do not interfere. This is a personal matter between that man and me."
Not wanting to deal with Cheon Ui-jin, Namgung Seong kept his eyes fixed solely on me.
However...
"No, I cannot do that."
Cheon Ui-jin simply blocked Namgung Seong, refusing to budge.
"...Ha..."
Seeing this, Namgung Seong let out a low sigh.
"Every single one of you... keeps getting on my nerves."
His voice was incredibly cold. I almost rubbed my arms to get rid of the goosebumps.
"Young Master Cheon. There are situations to interfere in and situations to avoid. Do you not know this?"
"I do. And from the looks of it, this is indeed a matter I must intervene in."
"Ha. By what authority, Young Master Cheon?"
Namgung Seong glared at Cheon Ui-jin.
"That bastard used a lethal strike against me, a direct descendant of the great Namgung Clan. This is no different from a direct challenge to the Namgung Clan itself."
He wasn't entirely wrong, so I didn't bother denying it.
"He even insulted me just now instead of reflecting on his actions. Yet, you stand in my way. Should I take this as you, Young Master Cheon, choosing to antagonize the Namgung Clan?"
"No."
"Then step aside quietly. I have business with him..."
"If what you say is true, Young Master Namgung, then can we also assume that you are disregarding Cheongwol Gate?"
"...What?"
The name that came out of Cheon Ui-jin's mouth made Namgung Seong freeze.
"...Why is Cheongwol Gate being brought up here? There is no connection."
"No, there is a connection."
Cheon Ui-jin gripped the hilt of his sword and continued speaking to Namgung Seong.
"I admit that Young Master Bang went too far during the duel. However, there are proper procedures for these matters."
Oh...
I couldn't help but admire Cheon Ui-jin's words. I thought he was just a handsome pushover who stuttered all the time, but he spoke much better than I expected.
"If you wish to make an issue of this, Young Master Namgung, then you should raise your objection directly to Cheongwol Gate. Would that not be the correct way?"
"This is absurd. Why do you keep bringing up Cheongwol Gate regarding his affairs..."
Namgung Seong spoke in disbelief, then suddenly shut his mouth.
It seemed he had realized something was off. Namgung Seong's gaze shifted to me.
"...Could you...?"
Before Namgung Seong could finish his thought, Cheon Ui-jin added,
"If you ask why Cheongwol Gate is interfering in Young Master Bang's affairs, the answer is simple."
For some reason, Cheon Ui-jin's voice sounded exceptionally confident.
"Young Master Bang has been recognized as the successor of the Sword Saint, Yoo Chun-gil, and has officially joined Cheongwol Gate."
"..."
At Cheon Ui-jin's words, Namgung Seong's face turned sour. This was the favor I had asked of Cheon Ui-jin.
The first was:
Return the Blue Dragon Orb to the Namgung Clan under the name of Cheongwol Gate.
If that happened, it wouldn't be Namgung Seong recovering the Blue Dragon Orb; it would be Cheongwol Gate graciously returning it.
Whether Namgung Seong lost the Blue Dragon Orb himself or the Namgung Clan sent him to find it...
Either way, he would be in deep trouble.
If he lost it himself, the Clan Leader would find out before he could cover it up. If the clan sent him, it would now be officially revealed that he failed to retrieve it himself.
Even if it were the latter, and the Namgung Clan had sent him to find it...
In the end, Namgung Seong couldn't find it, and Cheongwol Gate was the one who retrieved and returned it.
No matter the situation, Namgung Seong was screwed.
Especially if Namgung Seong was currently in the middle of a succession battle for the position of Young Clan Leader, the problem would be amplified.
This was the reason why I had asked for the Blue Dragon Orb to be sent under Cheongwol Gate's name.
And the second favor was:
To officially join Cheongwol Gate.
Since I had already become the successor of the Sword Saint and possessed those ridiculous Moon Eyes, this was bound to happen eventually.
Only...
I needed to speed up the process.
If it was going to happen anyway, I had to make it happen as fast as possible.
Because I have no backing.
Even if I was affiliated with the Martial Alliance, it was only temporary. And my family was just a rural household on the verge of ruin.
If the Namgung Clan decided to pressure me, I wouldn't be able to withstand it.
That was why I needed a backer quickly.
And I got that backing by asking Cheon Ui-jin.
Fortunately, the solution was right in front of me.
Cheon Ui-jin, the direct descendant of the Sect Leader of Cheongwol Gate.
I had asked him to recognize me as a member of Cheongwol Gate.
And Cheon Ui-jin's response to my request?
It was obvious.
"...You bastard."
Namgung Seong glared at me, trembling with rage.
Now that I was affiliated with Cheongwol Gate, and Cheon Ui-jin himself had verified it, Namgung Seong was in a tight spot.
No matter how much trouble I had caused, since this was now a matter between two major factions, the clan would have to go through official verification procedures.
"Do you really have time to glare at me? You should probably get moving."
Namgung Seong didn't have the luxury of time to wait for that.
"It won't be long before Cheongwol Gate's gift arrives. Are you going to keep wasting time here?"
Once the Blue Dragon Orb reached the Namgung Clan, chaos would break out.
Grind.
Namgung Seong ground his teeth so hard it sounded like they might shatter.
There was nothing he could do.
He had to return to the clan as quickly as possible.
A dilemma. I couldn't think of a better word to describe Namgung Seong's current situation.
As I stood there grinning at his utterly ruined face...
"...I will ask you one thing."
Namgung Seong asked, his face flushed red with fury.
"...Since when?"
"Since when what?"
"Since when did you plan all of this?"
This wasn't something that could be pulled off in just a day or two. He seemed to have realized that this was a trap I had laid out in advance.
I guess he wasn't completely brainless after all.
So, I answered him as if giving him a compliment.
"Why even ask?"
Obviously...
"From the very beginning."
The moment I laid eyes on that blue orb called the Blue Dragon Orb.
And the moment I saw him and the ghost lingering behind him.
This was all planned from that very moment.