Swordsman Beauty (2)
Palgap's voice was quite loud, and those who heard it burst into laughter.
Feeling awkwardly embarrassed for no reason, I said to the Inbong warrior,
"S-sorry about that. My servant can get a bit overly enthusiastic."
"Not at all. You've got a fine servant there."
The Inbong warrior replied with a gentle expression.
He seems like a good person on the surface.
"Well then…"
"Yes. Let's resume."
In an instant, we were swinging our swords at each other again.
This was a place for sparring, not for pleasant chit-chat.
We exchanged blows several times like that.
I deliberately showed openings and let him land a few hits.
If I won overwhelmingly without conceding a single point, it'd reveal all my cards.
To get revenge on the Murim Alliance, I couldn't show my full strength.
I felt a bit sorry for deceiving the Inbong warrior, but I had my reasons.
Well, I could look after him or help him out later.
To make it look like our strengths were evenly matched, I dragged it out on purpose.
But… why did my opponent look exhausted already?
He shouldn't be tiring this soon.
"Hoo, haah… You have impressive stamina."
"Pardon?"
"Truth be told, I pride myself on my endurance, but compared to you, Daehyeop, I'm like a child."
Huh? That's not right.
"No need to continue—the outcome is clear. I concede. Honestly… I don't even have the strength to hold my sword anymore."
His hands were trembling, and blood was streaming from his palm where it had torn from gripping the hilt.
He sheathed his sword and laboriously raised his arms into a cupped-fist salute toward me.
"Thanks to you, I saved face. It was a good match."
With that, he left the sparring arena.
"W-wait, conceding so easily…"
At that moment, the Gold Guard captain climbed onto the arena and declared my victory.
"The winner of the final match in the first round of the preliminaries is Eunhae Merchant Group's Eun Seo-ho!"
"Waaaaah!"
Amid the crowd's cheers, I descended with an awkward expression.
"I-I'm back."
"Good work."
Jeong Ho hyung patted my back heartily.
"As expected! I knew you'd win."
"Haha, y-yeah?"
But why did it feel like I'd just come back from the outhouse without wiping?
I turned to look at the Murim Alliance leader.
The leader was nodding in satisfaction.
Originally, I'd planned to let him whittle me down to two points left, then take his last one for a dramatic win.
But I'd overlooked something.
My stamina.
Thanks to my master's brutal training, my endurance was now on par with anyone.
Plus, the boosted strength and speed that came with it.
I'd clearly won, so why did it feel so hollow?
Well, the world doesn't always go my way.
And with that, the day's sparring came to an end.
I was tired from the matches, but I couldn't neglect my main job.
Instead of heading straight to the inn, I went to the commercial district.
"Young branch leader! Congratulations on your victory."
"Thank you."
"Your performance was incredible."
"Haha, you're embarrassing me."
The merchants I knew approached one after another as I passed, offering congratulations.
Exchanging smiles and greetings with them, I soon arrived at our Eunhae Merchant Group's temporary shop.
I received the sales and status report.
Smooth sailing.
After inspecting the two temporary shops, on the way back,
a voice caught my ear.
"I knew it! If I'd sparred instead of you, that merchant brat wouldn't have lasted a single exchange!"
"Exactly. Why did someone like you represent our Cheongseong Sect…"
"You've tarnished our Cheongseong Sect's honor!"
"Why didn't you ask your ghost buddy? 'Ghost sir, make me win.' Haha."
"Hey, ease up. The kid's gonna cry."
This has to be about me, no matter how I slice it.
My guards noticed too, their faces darkening with displeasure.
"I'm fine. Restrain yourselves."
"Understood."
Palgap asked cautiously,
"So, what will you do?"
"What else? They're talking about me, so let's hear more. You know I'm a bit nosy."
Of course, having heard them badmouthing me, I couldn't just brush it off as nosiness.
"What about Captain Kwak?"
She shook her head at my words.
"I'll stay here. Looks like there might be some fun to watch."
A mischievous smile played on her face.
She used to be so reserved, but lately, her personality had shifted.
A bit more forward.
Not that it was a bad thing.
Compared to her frail days, barely clinging to life, this was much better.
And honestly… I didn't mind the change.
Ahem.
Thinking of Seo Hyang Sojeo made my face heat up, so I turned away, embarrassed, and said,
"Shall we go?"
As we approached the voices, we found five or six men gathered in a secluded spot.
They were all in Cheongseong Sect robes, surrounding one person.
As expected, the one in the middle was the Inbong warrior I'd sparred with.
From the snippets I overheard on the way, he'd been unilaterally blamed for losing to me.
And the vitriol grew harsher the closer I got.
"Letting a rootless bastard like this into Cheongseong Sect was the mistake from the start."
"Right. Shady, unlucky prick!"
"Stop! Insult me all you want, but don't mock my master!"
"What'd you say, punk?"
"What, birds of a feather flock together?"
"Puhahaha!"
"Don't insult my master!"
"Where does this jinxed shit get off yelling?!"
Displeased by the sight, one disciple raised his sheathed sword to swing.
That was when it happened.
Whoosh!
His scabbard flew off the sword toward us.
Palgap pretended to dodge but threw himself into its path.
Thwack!
"Aigoo! I'm dying! Aigoo!"
Palgap made a huge fuss as if he were on death's door.
But I saw it clearly.
The scabbard had lost momentum and was falling harmlessly—no real impact.
Yet Palgap took it for me on purpose and played it up.
To give me a pretext to intervene.
As expected of Palgap.
Startled by Palgap's antics, the Cheongseong Sect Taoists approached, faces paling.
Anyone could see they'd assaulted a passerby.
"Sorry."
"We're truly sorry."
As they all apologized profusely, one disciple stiffened his neck and snapped curtly,
"Who told you to pass through here?"
What's with this rude bastard?
The others jumped in shock and tried to restrain him.
"Hey! What are you saying?"
"It's our fault! Apologize properly!"
"Honestly, it's not my fault, right?"
"Hey! Geumbong! It was your scabbard!"
I smiled and said,
"It's hard to say if it's our fault for passing by or yours for brandishing weapons in an unauthorized area. Why don't we call the Murim Alliance patrol and sort it out?"
Their faces drained of color at my words.
During the Murim Grand Assembly in Luoyang, drawing weapons without permission meant prison.
Even with the scabbard on, hitting a passerby meant assault charges.
"Th-that's…"
"Please, anything but that…"
Knowing what would follow, they dropped to their knees in apology—even forcing Geumbong down, though he kept his head high.
Obvious.
Guys like that usually have backers.
Acting arrogant because of it.
"Rise, all of you. Do you think I'd report a minor squabble between sect brothers over this?"
Their faces brightened.
"Y-you're really letting it slide?"
"Yes. I know someone on patrol who'd come running, but I'll let this one go."
"Thank you!"
"Truly, thank you."
"In exchange, apologize properly to my servant."
They apologized to Palgap, who graciously accepted.
Well, he wasn't hurt anyway.
"That said, I couldn't help overhearing something on my way past."
I continued,
"Something like, 'If I'd sparred instead of you, that merchant brat wouldn't have lasted a single exchange!'"
They averted their eyes, embarrassed.
Then Geumbong spoke up.
"Yes, I said that."
Wow, bold.
"I see. But I feel like I need to correct that statement."
"Pardon?"
"Geumbong, was it? You wouldn't last three exchanges against me."
His face twisted.
"How can you say such rudeness?"
"And what grounds do you have for your words, Geumbong Dojang?"
"I'm stronger than that Inbong loser! Isn't that obvious?"
"You're sorely mistaken."
"What?"
I smiled and continued.
"The Cheongseong Sect elders sent Inbong warrior to spar because he was qualified. Criticizing that is like criticizing their decision."
"…"
They bowed their heads.
It wasn't wrong.
But Geumbong still scowled defiantly.
"Even so, I can't accept it. I wouldn't have conceded like he did—I'd fight to the end and claim victory, raising Cheongseong Sect's honor!"
I chuckled inwardly.
He really knows nothing.
"Then the answer's simple. Pick up that sword and attack me."
"Pardon?"
"Your strongest move."
"You'll regret it."
I smiled.
"Would you sleep well tonight backing down?"
He gripped his hilt.
"No, I wouldn't."
He grinned viciously.
"You proposed it first, so if you're too injured for your next match, it's not my fault."
"Don't worry about that."
"Heh, alright then."
He raised his sword into stance.
The killing intent on the blade prickled faintly… but no tension.
Geumbong's skill was barely peak First-rate.
Not naturally achieved through insight and effort, but forced somehow.
Inbong, however, had reached it organically.
Those who climb step by step differ from those who don't.
One difference: sword aura density.
The hazy aura on his blade proved it.
"Haaah!"
Geumbong shouted and charged.
Screeech!
Threaded Wave Sword.
But having seen better from Inbong, it barely registered.
I casually flicked my middle finger at his forehead.
Thwack!
"Gahk!"
He'd swung with all his might, but the sword didn't graze my collar.
Just bounced back from my finger to his brow.
Roll roll.
Nice tumble.
Like a puppet with cut strings, he rolled across the ground, dazed.
Unable to comprehend what happened.
I approached him.
"Too bad. Couldn't end it in one shot."
"…"
"Don't spout baseless claims. I don't know why you're treating Inbong warrior this way, but he's a Cheongseong Sect disciple like you—and the strongest here."
"…"
"I doubt anyone here could last five exchanges with him."
"…"
"Don't mock his concession. It was respect for me. If you keep insulting him, I'll take it as an insult to me and formally protest to Cheongseong Sect."
They stiffened, grasping my warning.
I turned to Inbong warrior.
"Enduring isn't always best. You could formally challenge and crush them."
"But…"
I sent him a sound transmission.
They won't listen to words. If people repented easily, there'd be no villains. Stop wasting effort and put them in their place properly.
"…!"
Cheongseong Sect is a murim sect—strength rules. No matter his backer.
This advice was also atonement for deceiving him earlier.
A wise man would catch the implication.