Dragon-Phoenix Martial Tournament (3)
I was momentarily taken aback by the head of the Dang Da-jeong Clan's question.
Is he asking if I'm entering the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Tournament? Right now?
I knew the clan head's realm was super first-rate, bordering on the Transcendent Realm. He must have sensed my own level and asked accordingly.
I gave an awkward smile in response.
"I'm grateful you think so highly of me, but I won't be entering the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Tournament."
"Why not? You're not even thirty yet, so you qualify."
"Clan Head, I'm a merchant."
"……."
"A merchant's goal isn't fame in the martial world—it's money. That's why I'm not entering. Does that answer your question?"
The clan head smacked his lips at my firm reply.
"If that's your stance, I can't push it, but it's a shame all the same……."
At that, Dang Su-bin Sojeo spoke up to the clan head.
"Clan Head, that's embarrassing."
"Em…… embarrassing……."
"Yes, embarrassing! So stop bothering someone who said no."
The clan head scratched the back of his neck sheepishly and said to me,
"Sorry about that."
"No problem."
I replied gently, and Dang Su-bin Sojeo turned to me.
"Still, I didn't expect to run into you here."
"Ah…… Every Dragon-Phoenix Martial Tournament, our merchant group sets up temporary shops in the commercial district. That's why I'm here."
"I see."
"When do you compete in the preliminaries?"
"Oh, I'm not in the preliminaries. I made it into the top 108 last time."
"Ah, really?"
So the young lady of the Dang Clan had competed before.
The finalists in the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Tournament fell into two categories.
Those who had advanced to the finals in the previous tournament, and newcomers who passed the preliminaries.
They combined to select the final 108.
But for various reasons, fewer finalists from before returned than one might think.
As far as I knew, only about a dozen were advancing straight to the finals this time.
That left just under a hundred spots for new qualifiers from these preliminaries.
There were good reasons why prior finalists skipped the preliminaries.
It gave the preliminary entrants more experience.
Starting against a finalist meant a high chance of early elimination.
Dang Jo-woong grinned and said,
"I'm entering the preliminaries this time."
"But you're still so young……."
I said worriedly, but he replied with spirited confidence.
"I'll turn fourteen after my birthday this time. Of course, I know I'm young. But being young doesn't mean I'm weak."
He had a point, so I nodded.
I'd reached the peak realm before twenty myself.
"And the Dang Da-jeong Clan Head encouraged me to enter."
The clan head added with a pleased smile,
"He's already far surpassed that age's typical level."
True, his talent was extraordinary.
In my previous life, he'd reached the peak realm despite years without proper training.
Though he died young and never breached super first-rate.
I looked into Dang Jo-woong's eyes and said,
"I'll be rooting for you."
"Thank you, Daehyeop."
Ugh, I told him not to call me that…… He'd already forgotten.
"Since we've crossed paths like this, care to join us for dinner?"
It was a kind offer, but I politely declined.
"I appreciate it, but I just ate dinner on the way here. Any more and my stomach might burst."
"Can't have that. Then I'll invite you again sometime soon."
"Thank you. I'll look forward to it."
I exchanged formal bows, then greeted Dang Su-bin Sojeo and Dang Jo-woong as well.
"Best of luck."
With that, we parted, and I headed back to the inn.
I wonder how many people I know are already competing…….
On the way to the inn, I glanced at the preliminary entrant list posted on the wall for tomorrow.
Oh…… Hyang-ok noona's competing tomorrow.
.
.
.
The next day, I headed to the martial arena with Mother.
"Hyang-ok's competing today! I can't wait to see what martial prowess she'll show."
I nodded at Mother's words.
"Yes, I'm really looking forward to it too."
"But I hope she doesn't push herself too hard…… I want her to shine, but also stay safe—it's such a mix of feelings!"
Kwang Jun Merchant Group's wife chimed in.
"Can't be helped. She's family."
"Yes, that's probably why."
The bitter expression on Mother's face from last night was gone.
She was simply excited, waiting for Hyang-ok noona's turn.
Whether she'd accepted it or just set it aside for now, I couldn't tell.
Meanwhile, the announcer started the preliminaries, and soon it was Hyang-ok noona's turn.
She was third after lunch.
"……Next up, Hyang-ok, disciple of the Ami Sect! Her opponent, Su Jin-uk of the Dong Mae Mun!"
"Woooaaah!"
Mother cheered loudly as noona appeared.
"Hyang-ok! You got this!"
Spotting us, Hyang-ok noona flashed a grin our way.
Dong-!
The drum sounded, and the match began.
After some probing, their swords clashed fiercely.
But…….
"That scoundrel!"
Mother fumed.
"That guy! He's doing it on purpose."
Kwang Jun Merchant Group's wife was outraged too.
It was because of Su Jin-uk, noona's opponent.
In martial duels, there were unwritten rules—like men not targeting vital points on women, or women not having their chests aimed at.
It'd mark you as a pervert.
But right now…… Su Jin-uk's sword was clearly targeting noona's chest.
"Oops! Sorry, my sword slipped."
"Haha, slipped again."
He apologized properly, so we couldn't outright call him out.
But his eyes gave it away.
It wasn't a mistake—it was deliberate.
Is he insane? Doing that in front of everyone?
The murmurs grew as others noticed.
"Was that really a slip?"
"Ahem……."
"Hmph!"
These were seasoned martial artists. They could tell accident from intent.
Especially Ami Sect's Hae-cheong Shinni, who looked ready to storm the stage.
Huh, so that's why Hyang-ok noona held back her sharp tongue before.
I'd heard her opponent had been rude, but not the details.
I'd be pissed too.
Suddenly, I flinched. Hyang-ok noona's eyes had changed.
"Oh dear……."
Mother clicked her tongue.
"She's mad now."
I silently offered condolences to Su Jin-uk.
Cold sword intent poured from noona's blade.
In that moment!
I caught a glimpse of the legend: the one who subdued the Ami Mountain Tiger.
"Haaah!"
Noona's sword shot faster than a tiger, smashing down on Su Jin-uk's blade.
Clang-!
His sword snapped in half.
Wow, breaking an opponent's sword in one strike? Noona's realm must be nearing peak.
Noona looked up at him.
"If your sword keeps slipping, maybe I should cut it off."
"……."
"And to think you made it to the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Tournament with such sloppy swordsmanship. I applaud your courage."
"Are you insulting me?"
"Oh? Insult? If that's how it sounded…… at least your ears work fine."
"Do you know where you are, flapping that impudent tongue……."
"You impudently swung your hands first—am I supposed to just take it?"
Noona's sharp words kept coming.
"This is the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Tournament arena. Coming here with skills that can't even carve an apology properly! What do you take this tournament for? It's an insult to the Martial Alliance hosting it, the competitors, and the spectators. And your master, who let you come, is unqualified!"
Everyone nodded at noona's words.
"She's right!"
"Refreshing!"
"Exactly! Damn straight!"
At the crowd's fiery response, Su Jin-uk's face flushed with shame.
But pride made him snap,
"Don't insult my sect and master!"
"So you have real skill? Is that what you're saying?"
"Of course! I'm a second-rate warrior!"
"Then targeting my chest wasn't a mistake. A second-rate warrior slipping a dozen times……."
"That's……."
"Who rated you second-rate? Oh, you did it yourself?"
"N-no! My master……."
He was at a loss for words.
The more he spoke, the worse it made his master look.
So why do that in the first place…… Tsk tsk.
"And it really was a mistake."
"Is that so? Then……."
Noona's eyes turned icy.
"You haven't surrendered yet? I'll cut off that slipping hand."
"Ha……."
But he couldn't surrender. Noona's fist slammed into his face.
Smack!
"Gahk!"
Wow! Hyang-ok noona's on fire!
The crowd cheered her actions.
"Woooaaah!"
"Awesome! Hyang-ok!"
But noona didn't stop. She kneed his gut.
"Guh, guuuk!"
Her relentless bare-handed assault dropped him to the arena floor.
Noona approached with her sword, pressing her foot on his arm.
"Gaaah!"
She reversed her grip, raising it to sever his hand—
"W-wait! Hear me out!"
What?
He continued with a servile expression.
"S-someone ordered me to humiliate you."
What?
The crowd buzzed.
"Who?"
"Th-those guys!"
He pointed. Four burly men stood there.
Huh? They looked familiar…….
Ah! The ones who insulted Hyang-ok noona's group with crude words while they queued last time.
I pieced it together.
Ami Sect disciples realized too, jumping up.
"Hey, those guys?"
"The ones who mocked us vulgarly before!"
"They even signed a pledge not to do it again……."
The brutes waved their hands in panic.
"W-what did we……."
"When did we……."
As they denied it, Su Jin-uk yelled,
"So I'm lying? I have the contract right here!"
He pulled out a contract from his bosom.
Noona took it and read. Her lips twisted.
"Humiliate me, get ten nyang of silver. And the names match the pledge we got before……."
Cornered, the brutes had no escape.
"You sons of—!"
Before Hae-cheong Shinni could speak, the crowd erupted.
"Filthy scum!"
"What the hell in the Dragon-Phoenix arena!"
"Kick scum like that out of the martial world!"
They tried fleeing, but Hae-cheong Shinni had blocked the exit.
And…….
"Come with us."
The patrol squad arrested them and dragged them off.
With that resolved, only noona and Su Jin-uk's match remained.
"Then……."
Noona eyed him.
"I'll cut off that hand now."
"Surrender! I surrender!"
He cried out desperately, ending the match in noona's victory.
Su Jin-uk was hauled off by the patrol too.
Noona descended, and we rushed to her.
"Hyang-ok!"
"Auntie!"
"Congratulations on your win. You must've had a tough one."
"No big deal. You run into jerks like that sometimes."
I realized this wasn't noona's first time crushing a pervert.
That evening.
Mother invited the Ami Sect group to our inn again to celebrate noona's victory.
I went to their inn, picked them up, and headed to ours.
That's when it happened.
Someone on the street spotted us and said,
"Hey? Isn't that……?"
"The heroine who floored that pervert—the Tongue Sword Heroine?"
"Oh, yeah!"
Tongue Sword Heroine (설검여협).
The female hero with a blade-sharp tongue.
Hearing that nickname again.
"Tongue Sword Heroine? Seo-ho, is that about me?"
"Seems like it."
Ah, right—noona hated that moniker.
She'd caused a scene because of it, and cleaning up had been a hassle…….
I grabbed her sleeve quick.
"Noona! No causing trouble!"