Gains (2)
Today marked the final day of the first round preliminaries. With the results up to now, fifty-four contestants had advanced to the second round.
Dang Su-bin had competed today and secured one of those spots.
I headed to the inn alongside my parents.
Wherever we went, eyes turned our way from people who recognized me, drawing everyone's attention.
Honestly, it felt burdensome, I thought, but since this also served as promotion for our Eunhae Merchant Group, I was putting up with it.
Then a voice caught my ear.
"Did you hear? Apparently, the Baekcheon Merchant Group tried to set fire to the building where the Eunhae Merchant Group stores its goods."
"Baekcheon? Why on earth?"
"Word is, it's because the Eunhae Merchant Group kept selling Golden Wound Medicine ingredients at the old prices, so Baekcheon took a hit."
"A hit? What kind of nonsense is that?"
"No kidding! Eunhae's selling at the regular price, so anyone buying from Baekcheon at ten times the cost is the real fool!"
"Exactly!"
"It's not like they mixed in gold dust or anything."
"Honestly, I'm disappointed in Baekcheon this time."
"Same here. From now on, I'll buy from other merchant groups instead. Ideally, Eunhae's goods."
I had to stifle a laugh at their conversation.
Last night, we'd captured the intruders who attacked our warehouse. When we interrogated them about who was behind it, they claimed ignorance.
They'd received a hefty advance from a mysterious man in a black bamboo hat and done it just to scrape together travel money to return home.
"Gaaah! Mmph! W-wait a second! Hah! I-I remember something! Th-the guy who hired us had a cross-shaped scar on his collar area! And he spoke with a Sichuan accent!"
That told me exactly who it was.
One of Namgung Kang Merchant Group Leader's close aides.
And the man who'd been with Namgung Kang when I died in my previous life.
In other words, he was on my revenge list too.
Anyway, I'm not the type to just take it lying down. So I tasked Chun-il and Geun-seong with spreading a rumor.
The story that Baekcheon, resentful of Eunhae selling Golden Wound Medicine ingredients at the old prices, had sent men to raid the warehouse and burn the stock.
This would yield two effects.
First, it would tarnish Baekcheon's reputation among the people.
Second, it would plant seeds of doubt in Namgung Kang about his aide.
In short, sour the public view of Baekcheon to undermine Namgung Kang's position.
That would make him desperate, amplify his suspicions about his aide, and eventually lead him to eliminate the man.
This is what they call借刀殺人—borrowing a knife to kill.Heh heh heh.
From the chatter around me, it seemed my desired picture was taking shape.
It wasn't my favorite method, but there was no choice.
Truth be told, Baekcheon had brought this on themselves.
If they hadn't tried to hoard and corner bone meal and lime powder, I wouldn't have resorted to this.
So tonight, I'd have to make another trip back to the Eunhae Merchant Group headquarters in Hubei Province.
To restock the bone meal and lime powder.
In my previous life, Brother Jin-ho had struggled to keep those supplies topped up...
This time, it's me running myself ragged. Sigh.
.
.
.
Dawn broke.
I'd pushed lightfoot techniques at full throttle all night to go to headquarters and back, managing only about half a shichen of sleep.
This is irritating, I thought.
If Baekcheon hadn't pulled that stupid stunt, neither I nor my two warriors would be suffering like this.
Of course, thanks to it, we'd made a fortune and boosted our reputation.
Still, the annoyance lingered.
As I descended to the first floor, my parents—already prepared—were waiting for me.
Knowing the situation, their faces were filled with worry for me.
"You must be exhausted. Why not rest?"
"No, it's fine. Isn't scouting the rising stars born from the Yongbong Tournament important?"
"True, but..."
"I'll be okay, so don't worry. If it gets too tough, I'll head back midway."
At my words, they reluctantly nodded.
My insistence on attending the Yongbong Tournament stemmed partly from that reason, but also because certain people would sulk if I didn't show up to cheer them on.
Today and tomorrow would feature the second round preliminaries.
The tournament was reaching its climax.
After this round, only about twenty-seven would remain, earning fame as the new rising stars.
Just advancing to the preliminaries earned respect, but those reaching the third round were truly hailed as the next generation.
We soon arrived at the sparring grounds.
After a short wait, the announcer took the stage.
"The day for the second round preliminaries has finally arrived. First, let us introduce the heroes who advanced."
Fifty-four qualifiers ascended the stage amid the announcer's words.
Among them were Sister Hyang-ok, Jegal Yu-a, Dang Su-bin, and Jo Woong.
"Woooaaah!"
"Amazing!"
The crowd celebrated them with applause and cheers.
"Through matches spanning today and tomorrow, twenty-seven will advance to the third round. As you descend, please draw a number tag one by one."
The Yongbong Tournament uniquely drew lots not just for the first preliminary round, but for the second and third as well.
The qualifiers drew their tags while stepping down from the stage.
And... I shook my head.
Jo Woong, you lucky bastard. How does he have such luck?
Selecting twenty-seven from this round left an odd number, necessitating a bye.
The tags just drawn would determine the third-round bye.
And the one Jo Woong picked was exactly that bye tag.
Meaning Jo Woong and his opponent would both advance to the third round, win or lose.
Lucky guy.
Oh, his opponent got lucky too.
That's why luck in draws grew crucial as the Yongbong Tournament progressed.
"The bracket is set! Let the second round preliminaries begin!"
.
.
.
Through today's matches, Sister Hyang-ok and Jegal Yu-a advanced to the third preliminaries.
Both far exceeded my expectations in skill.
Jegal Yu-a's prowess especially astonished me.
I'd known the girl once called the Peerless Jade Maiden excelled in calculations, but I'd never witnessed it firsthand in my previous life.
Seeing it now, her reputation hadn't been exaggerated at all.
As expected of the Prodigy Jegal, I thought.
At this level already... how formidable will she become?
It hit me anew how fortunate I was to be on good terms with Jegal Yu-a.
As we returned to the inn, a fleeting sense of familiarity struck me from someone who'd just brushed past.
What was that?
I turned to look at the man. His gait felt oddly familiar.
Light yet riding the wind...
Huh?
It was a trait unique to those who'd mastered the Unchanging Wind Steps.
And only one person I knew had reached that profound level in it.
"Father, something just came up. You go ahead to the inn and eat."
Excusing myself from Father, I said to Seo-u Warrior,
"Just you follow me, Seo-u Warrior."
"Understood."
Thus, Seo-u Warrior and I pursued the man.
He wove through twisting alleys, halting in a deserted spot.
"Well, I didn't expect to be tailed like this."
As I'd suspected, it was my master.
"Disciple greets Master."
"It's been a while. You've become a hero in the meantime. And that move saving the spectators was impressive."
"You're too kind."
I scratched my nape sheepishly.
"I merely acted for my parents and those around me."
I continued,
"That said, my apologies to you, Master. The Alliance Leader inquired about my martial arts origins... so I revealed our connection."
"As we discussed last time?"
"Yes. Exactly as we planned."
Master smiled at my reply.
"Well done. And my disciple, a hero... As your master, I'm proud."
"Truthfully, I'm a hero with strings attached. So not a true one."
I confided the truth to Master.
I didn't specify what I'd gained, but it was explanation enough.
"You say it's a compensated heroism, Young Division Leader, but heaven forges true heroes. To the people, you're simply a hero."
Master grinned.
"So, how does it feel to be one?"
I gave him the same answer I'd told Father.
"The best."
Master laughed at my response.
"By the way, I thought my disguise was perfect. How did you spot me?"
As Master said, his current appearance was utterly unlike the one I knew.
No human-skin mask in sight, either.
"Honestly, I didn't realize until you passed by. But something felt familiar."
I went on,
"Turning around, your gait rang a bell, so I followed on instinct."
"My gait?"
"The light, wind-riding steps unique to those who've mastered Unchanging Wind Steps."
"Ah..."
Master let out a soft exclamation.
"I hadn't considered that."
"Your face looks so different, though. What technique did you use?"
At my question, Master touched his face.
"This is Transformation Art. A method to reshape the face with inner energy."
Looks useful in all sorts of ways, I thought.
"But at the Peak Realm, you can only alter a small part. True mastery requires Super First-rate or beyond."
"Quite demanding conditions."
"That's why it's nearly obsolete. But I learned it from a close friend and put it to good use."
"That friend... You mean Elder Yeom Jin-yeon of Yangyang Martial Hall?"
"No, someone else."
Sensing my interest in the art, Master spoke gently.
"I'd love to teach you what I've learned, Young Division Leader, but propriety demands his permission first. Can't transmit it prematurely."
"I've put you in a tough spot, Master. My apologies. I won't press if that's the case."
"Thank you for understanding."
Ah!
Come to think of it, there was something I'd meant to ask Master.
"Master, I have a question."
"Speak."
"Actually, when the preliminaries began, I had a strange experience. I sensed an ominous energy, like glimpsing something that shouldn't exist."
I described the sensation to Master, whose expression grew grave.
He closed his eyes briefly, then spoke.
"Truth be told, I missed the preliminaries start due to circumstances."
"I see."
"I'm not entirely sure about what you felt, but I vaguely recall Father mentioning something similar. He called it not good."
Regret tinged Master's face.
"Could it be Demonic Cult energy?"
"No."
Master shook his head.
"It's different from what you feel encountering Heavenly Demon Divine Cult members."
"..."
"Such a pity. If only texts on it had survived."
All the books burned when Seolpung Palace fell.
A sudden doubt arose.
Typically, when a sect is destroyed, they burn their own martial manuals to keep them from enemies.
But books don't burn easily, and doing so mid-attack is no simple task.
Yet all had burned—proof the attackers did it.
Meaning they had reason to destroy the texts.
Was the goal of Seolpung Palace's annihilation the manuals and records?
No, that doesn't fit.
Exterminating the entire palace just to erase books was overkill.
Then... was it the palace's martial arts themselves?
Hence killing everyone who'd learned them, manuals included?
"What are you thinking?"
I quickly shook my head at Master's question.
"Nothing."
But the thought wouldn't easily fade.
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