Dragon-Phoenix Martial Meet (5)
Fortunately, I'd managed to stop my older sister from kicking up a fuss against those who called her the Frost Sword Heroine.
"Why did you stop me? Calling a martial artist 'silver-tongued'! Don't you know that's a humiliating moniker?"
I nodded at her words.
"I know. But I don't think that title is humiliating at all. It carries people's affection for you."
"Affection? What affection is there in calling me the Frost Sword Heroine?"
"It means people hold you in high regard. It ends with 'Heroine,' doesn't it? If it were truly meant to mock you, they'd have tacked on something like 'witch' or 'madwoman' instead."
"Hm……."
"Honestly, when I heard what you said on the martial stage earlier, it felt so refreshing."
The other Ami Sect disciples chimed in agreement.
"Yeah."
"It felt great for me too!"
"You were so cool!"
Hyang-ok sister cleared her throat awkwardly, her anger subsiding.
"Ahem, ahem. R-really?"
"A swordsman's blade is used for righteous causes, which is why you're a swordsman. In other words, you earned the title Frost Sword Heroine because your words upheld justice."
She nodded at my explanation.
"Now that you mention it, you're right. I almost made a mistake without you. Thanks."
"No need to thank me."
I quietly sighed in relief to myself.
That should keep her from causing any trouble now.
"But didn't you just say 'witch' or 'madwoman'?"
"I did, but……."
"Why bring those up as examples? You don't actually think of me that way, do you?"
"!"
I waved my hands frantically.
"N-no! Absolutely not!"
"Heh heh, just kidding."
She strode forward confidently. I sighed in relief once more.
She never lets her guard down for a second.
Then someone approached stealthily from behind.
"Impressive."
"……!"
Turning around, I saw Hae-cheong Shinni, who had been delayed by some business, grinning at me.
Feeling a bit sheepish, I scratched the back of my neck.
"To persuade that one so easily—your eloquence is something else."
"I didn't do much. She just listened to me."
Hae-cheong Shinni only smiled enigmatically.
"Let's get going."
"Ah…… yes."
We soon arrived at the inn, where the food Mother had pre-ordered began to arrive.
I ate diligently.
I needed to finish quickly so the Ami Sect disciples could eat without worry.
A few days passed.
The preliminaries proceeded smoothly, and yesterday Dang Jo-woong had competed in his.
And he won.
His opponent, who had underestimated him based on his age, couldn't block Dang Jo-woong's fierce sword and took a hit.
In truth, for a clan like the Sichuan Tang Clan, where poison and hidden weapons were their main strengths, official matches like this were a huge disadvantage.
Poison and hidden weapons were banned in tournaments.
At best, they could use ground wind techniques.
The Sichuan Tang Clan, famed for poison arts and hidden weapon skills—being unable to use them was like binding their hands and feet.
Even so, Dang Su-bin the young lord advancing to the finals last time, and Dang Jo-woong passing the first preliminary now, was remarkable.
And at this moment, I was heading to the Sichuan Tang Clan's annex at the invitation of Clan Lord Dang Dae-jeong.
I glanced back at Yi Pil warrior following me and asked,
"Are you sure you're okay?"
His expression wasn't great, which prompted the question.
Yi Pil warrior nodded.
"I'm fine. No need to worry."
Since he said so, there was nothing more I could do.
The reason I worried about Yi Pil warrior was that his father, Instructor Dang Du-jeong, was currently staying at the Sichuan Tang Clan's annex.
Yi Pil had abandoned the Dang surname and run away from home. But blood was blood, no matter what.
This invitation was to celebrate Dang Jo-woong's first preliminary victory, apparently.
It was a long tradition to hold a feast for the first win at the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Meet.
That's why Mother had thrown one for Hyang-ok sister and her group before.
Yi Pil was surely going to run into his father…….
Sigh…… I don't know.
We soon arrived at the Sichuan Tang Clan's annex.
A servant led us to the reception room at Clan Lord Dang Dae-jeong's behest.
As we sipped tea lightly there, Dang Su-bin the young lady arrived.
"Thank you for inviting me to such a joyous occasion."
"We're the ones grateful you came."
"It's a celebration for Jo-woong's victory—of course I had to."
"The Clan Lord is busy greeting other guests, so I came in his place. Follow me; I'll take you to the banquet hall. Oh, wait a moment."
Dang Su-bin looked at my face, and I tilted my head.
Why all of a sudden?
"I was recharging my energy just looking at your handsome face."
"……."
Her face-obsessed nature hasn't changed.
"Ah! So handsome……."
"Ahem."
Embarrassed, I cleared my throat, and Dang Su-bin giggled.
"Then let me guide you to the banquet hall."
It wasn't far.
The annex wasn't that spacious to begin with.
Not small, of course, but still.
On the way, Dang Su-bin called out ahead.
"Ah, Uncle!"
She explained to me,
"That's Uncle Dang Du-jeong. He's currently an instructor at the Murim Alliance."
"Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Dang Du-jeong here. Pleased to meet you."
After greeting me, Instructor Dang Du-jeong turned to Yi Pil warrior beside me.
Dang Su-bin realized with a start.
But Instructor Dang Du-jeong spoke first.
"Might I have a word with the vice-leader's guard? If you'll permit it."
Instead of answering immediately, I looked to Yi Pil warrior, who sighed and nodded.
"Go ahead."
Then we headed to the banquet hall with Dang Su-bin.
She whispered,
"Sorry. I should've asked Uncle to skip today's event if I knew."
"It's fine. Yi Pil warrior seems to have come prepared to face his father today."
That's why he followed me despite my urging him to stay at the inn multiple times.
Watching Eun Seo-ho glance back worriedly, Instructor Dang Du-jeong said,
"A fine liege you have."
Yi Pil warrior nodded.
"Yes. Truly a good man."
"Meeting a good liege is great fortune. Have you been well?"
"Yes."
"I got a letter from the Clan Lord. About what happened at the Sichuan Tang Clan……."
Yi Pil bit his lip.
"I'm sorry."
"……."
"I know no words of mine can heal your wounds."
Yi Pil closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.
"Father."
"……!"
Instructor Dang Du-jeong's eyes widened.
He hadn't expected Yi Pil to call him "Father" so suddenly.
"Honestly, as a child, I resented you. No…… I resented the whole world. It was the only way to endure."
Instructor Dang Du-jeong's heart tore as he watched his son speak calmly.
"But now, I don't resent you. I realized you did your absolute best for me."
"……."
Yi Pil met his father's gaze.
"One thing I want to ask."
"What is it?"
"Did you love my mother?"
Instructor Dang Du-jeong nodded without hesitation.
"Your mother, Oh-hwa…… She was the one woman I truly loved and cherished."
"Then that's enough. At least my birth came from your love."
Yi Pil bowed to him.
"Father. Take care of your health."
"Yes……."
Yi Pil left those parting words and hurried after Eun Seo-ho.
Watching him go, Instructor Dang Du-jeong looked up and murmured,
"Oh-hwa…… Our son grew up so well. Even worrying about his worthless father's health……."
As I sat at my seat in the banquet hall, Yi Pil warrior approached our table.
He looked much brighter than before—relieved, even.
The talk must have gone well.
"Hahaha! I'm grateful you think so highly of Jo-woong."
A loud voice came from outside, and the doors opened as a group entered.
Clan Lord Dang Dae-jeong, Dang Jo-woong, and some familiar faces.
Dang Jo-woong spotted me and ran over grinning.
"Great hero! Thank you for coming."
His enthusiasm piqued the guests' curiosity about me.
"Who's that young man……?"
Clan Lord Dang Dae-jeong answered,
"Ah, Eun Seo-ho, vice-leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Eunhae Merchant Group…… Oh! The ones supplying silk to the imperial court!"
"The puppet makers?"
"Don't they make those folding fans too?"
Our Eunhae Merchant Group was more famous among martial artists than I'd thought.
I greeted them politely with a cupped-fist salute.
"As you said. Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
But their faces showed disinterest now that they knew I was a merchant. Disappointment, even.
They couldn't understand Dang Jo-woong's over-the-top reaction.
"Ahem, so the Eunhae Merchant Group is sponsoring the Sichuan Tang Clan?"
It was a natural question—sponsorship was the main link between martial folk and merchants.
And top clans had merchants lining up to sponsor them.
Their arrogance made sense.
"No, not that."
Clan Lord Dang Dae-jeong continued,
"Our Sichuan Tang Clan once received a great favor from young hero Eun. Details are internal matters, but…… if we slighted young hero Eun, the Sichuan Tang Clan would never stand for it."
They shot him strange looks at the veiled threat, and I could only scratch my ear awkwardly.
He's not just gilding my face—he's dusting it with gold powder.
I took my seat and began eating.
Even for a first-victory celebration, he could've invited me privately, but putting me on display like this…….
There must be a reason.
Whatever it was, I resolved to eat quickly and leave.
Time flew, and the preliminaries with hundreds of participants finally ended.
Including last tournament's finalists, they selected 108 for the main round, so 99 had advanced from preliminaries.
With a bracket where winners advance, numbers didn't always align perfectly.
To resolve this, the final preliminaries used a special format.
A point-accumulation and streak system.
Finalists were called by the announcer to the stage.
They dueled another randomly selected fighter; three straight wins meant direct advancement to the main round.
Not many managed three in a row, making it easy to fill the list.
Thus, Jegal Yu-a the young lady, Hyang-ok sister, and Jo-woong each passed four preliminaries and the finals to advance.
I'd expected Jegal Yu-a and Hyang-ok sister, but Jo-woong's fight exceeded expectations.
He had far more talent than I'd realized.
And today, at last,
the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Meet's main round began.
I headed to the venue with Mother and took our assigned seats, surveying the front.
The VIP stands, nearly empty during preliminaries, were now packed.
Seeing the true heavyweights made it feel like the real tournament had begun.
Father was supposed to come today too, but urgent business kept him away.
"Everyone who has gathered at this martial arena! The day of the long-awaited main round has dawned!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Before we start, let's hear from the leader who upholds this Murim Alliance—our Alliance Leader!"
As expected.
Events always feature a rep from the hosts.
The Murim Alliance was no different.
An elderly man rose from under the red canopy over there.
He stepped onto the stage.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all. I am Namgung Jin, the Murim Alliance Leader, as just introduced."
Murim Alliance Leader Namgung Jin.
One of the heroes who shone in the past battles against the Blood Cult remnants.
He earned the title Pyeong-san Sword Emperor for those feats—said to level mountains with a single sword swing.
"To grace this Dragon-Phoenix Martial Meet……."
It was all boilerplate, so I let it flow in one ear and out the other.
But…….
A chilling premonition hit me, like seeing something that shouldn't be there.
What is this feeling?