Everything Has Its Reason (1)
Father seemed absolutely thrilled with my victory.
"Hahaha! To have two finalists advancing to the second round from our family at the same time—what greater glory could there be for our house?"
"You're really that happy about it?"
"Of course I am!"
Father kept nodding vigorously.
"The thrill of seeing those who sneered at us as lowly merchants bow and scrape—words can't do it justice."
I chuckled and nodded along.
I'd faced my share of disdain for being a merchant, too.
"If it weren't for your match tomorrow, I'd drag you to the gathering. But I suppose I'll hold back."
"Hahaha. Just a little longer, Father. The matches aren't over yet."
Tomorrow was the day the preliminaries would wrap up with the third and fourth rounds.
I waved off my parents and elder brother Jin-ho as they headed to the banquet hall, then made for the Yeonpung Inn.
"Better head back and get some rest."
Palgap looked at me like I'd lost my mind.
"Young master, put your hand on your heart and be honest. Are you really running low on stamina right now?"
"……."
"Craving some restorative tonics or something?"
"……."
"Legs shaking, eyes twitching?"
"……."
I quickly clapped a hand over Palgap's mouth.
"S-stop! Fine, I get it! We'll just swing by the commercial district, alright?"
"Putting off what needs doing isn't wise, sir."
I knew that full well.
"But not tonight. Heading straight there after the matches would just wear me out. I'm grateful for the well-wishes, but fielding greetings one by one is more exhausting than the fights themselves."
"Better than having them hurl stones and call you scum to kill."
"W-well, true."
Why does your example have to be so extreme?
I sighed and headed to the commercial district anyway, where—as expected—crowds swarmed me.
Friendly branch leaders, heads of other merchant groups, chief stewards, and more.
By the time I reached the temporary shop, I'd probably given over five hundred thanks.
After checking on the temporary shop, I began巡视 the district.
Keeping an eye out for any issues was a pretty important task in itself.
The friendly tournament finals aren't far off now. It's about time.
Lost in such thoughts, I glanced at the spot where Baekcheon Merchant Group was running their temporary shop.
The prime location in the commercial district of this martial festival.
Yet I'd let them have it without a fight, securing two lesser spots instead.
And soon, the reason for that would come to pass.
As I pondered that while walking, a familiar voice reached my ears.
"Just as that gentleman said. We should have done this from the start."
"I hesitated back then, honestly. And I hated the idea of my master having to apologize to others because of me."
This voice... Im Bong the warrior?
He seemed to be talking to someone, but why couldn't I hear the other side?
Tilting my head, I followed the voice and spotted him sitting on a nearby rock, smiling at thin air as if chatting with an invisible companion.
Then it hit me—the rumors about him.
They said he learned martial arts from ghosts and commanded them. This must be why.
"H-hey! You're really talking to a g-g-ghost?"
Palgap's face paled in terror.
The others looked tense too. I felt it myself but took a slow breath to steady my nerves.
Stay calm in any situation, and the path reveals itself.
- Kuui! Kuui!
Geum-ryeong's transmission hit me then.
Huh? Someone insanely strong up ahead?
So Im Bong wasn't talking to a ghost, but a person.
Geum-ryeong had specified a person.
I circulated my Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art to probe, then smiled.
Just as I thought.
The others hadn't noticed, but my art let me see it.
Someone was right there in front of Im Bong, as Geum-ryeong said.
Stealth that advanced—Transcendent Realm level.
Without the art, even I'd have bought the ghost story.
Now it makes sense.
The rumors of Im Bong learning from ghosts probably stemmed from training under this guy.
To onlookers, an invisible conversation partner could only mean spirits.
But who was he, hiding like that? And why, if he was from the same Cheongseong Sect?
Questions piled up.
But I had to let them go.
I couldn't meddle in their affairs.
And I needed rest for tomorrow's match.
I didn't explain what I'd sensed to the group.
They had their reasons for secrecy; exposing it would be rude.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir. Right away."
Palgap hurried off, and we returned to the Yeonpung Inn.
After dinner, a bath, and heading to bed for tomorrow...
The window suddenly creaked open.
Kkiiiiiik.
- Kuui?
Geum-ryeong's alert transmission.
Then another voice echoed in my mind.
- Sorry to startle you.
"Who are you?"
- You saw me talking with Im Bong earlier, didn't you?
"……."
So he noticed me watching.
"That was you. This humble merchant Eun Seo-ho greets the daehyeop."
I rose and bowed with a fist salute toward his presence.
- Ha! You really spotted me! How? Even Transcendent Realm warriors miss me...
"My senses are a bit sharp. But what brings you here so late at night?"
- First, my thanks.
"I haven't done anything to warrant your gratitude..."
- Thanks to you, Im Bong's at ease. This morning, he formally challenged his bullying seniors and crushed them all. No one dares ignore him now. Heh heh heh.
He continued via transmission.
- He could do that because you dealt with Geum-bong. He was holding back, worried it'd get his master in trouble.
"I see."
I pressed on.
"But no need to thank me. It was just payback for deceiving Im Bong warrior."
He laughed heartily at that.
- Hiding your true skill?
"You saw through it."
I smiled casually, though my mouth went dry inside.
If he spilled my real power to others, it'd be trouble.
Unlikely, given his own secrecy, but still.
"Just to be safe, please keep that to yourself."
- If you keep quiet about me, I'll do the same.
Conditional, but fine by me—I had no intention of talking anyway.
"Agreed. Let's keep it that way."
I accepted readily.
"Since you're here, mind if I ask a few things?"
- If I can answer, I will.
"Why hide yourself? And why care so much for Im Bong warrior?"
Silence stretched for a meal's time, then the transmission resumed.
- He's my son.
...What?
Not as shocking as when I learned Geum-bong's father—the Cheongseong Sect leader—had been poisoned by his own son.
It was one possibility I'd considered.
- But he doesn't know. I haven't told him.
"……."
- And I can't reveal myself to him right now.
Why not say he's your father?
"Did you get drunk and beat him?"
- As if!
"Starve him and kick him out to earn money?"
- No!
"You're not that bad a father—why hesitate to show yourself or claim him?"
Bitterness tinged his transmission.
- I don't know how he'd feel, but I essentially abandoned him at Cheongseong Sect.
"……."
- I left the sect to wander the jianghu and met a woman. When I returned, a Black Dao had killed her. Despite the hardship, she'd borne my child. I left the infant at the sect and sought revenge—a dull tale.
"You finished your vengeance and returned."
- Yes. But too much time had passed. He was over twenty. My body was a wreck...
"……."
- Then I heard rumors of him talking to ghosts. Heh, with how I look, it's not wrong.
Complex emotions laced his voice.
Back at Cheongseong after revenge, he'd sheltered there.
To the sect, a long-gone warrior—but his skills demanded acceptance.
Once settled, he found his son, approached as a kind uncle, teaching martial arts and offering advice.
"Quite the story."
- Spilling it to you lightens the load.
"You trust me."
He chuckled.
- We're both holding secrets, aren't we?
Coldly pragmatic—the mark of one who'd survived the slaughterhouse of the jianghu.
- I came late for thanks, a warning to keep quiet... but something more important.
What? More important than that?
- Info on who supplied Geum-bong that potion. The sect leader won't tell you—it's their shame.
He was right.
Even after I helped, they'd guard such secrets.
Harsh, but that's the martial world.
- They saw a man with a red maple leaf tattoo.
"……!"
- I've seen one too.
I'd heard of it before.
The mastermind behind the North Sea Ice Palace plot had such a tattoo.
My guess: the Blood Cult.
High-ranking members bore it.
"Do you know who they are?"
- No. But they had a purpose.
"……."
- Be careful. If they learn you restored the sect leader's sanity, you could be in danger.
Worry and caution for me.
That was the real aim.
- I'll go now. Sorry for the late intrusion.
Whiiing.
A gust like wind, and his presence vanished.
The barrier sealing sound dispersed too.
"Whew……."
I flopped onto the bed.
Damn it.
I barely slept tonight.
How am I supposed to fight tomorrow if you leave out the most crucial part?
Is this payback for making his son forfeit?
I could only grumble.
.
.
.
.
Dawn broke.
Tossing with thoughts, I barely slept.
Luckily, some meditative breathing cleared my head.
Taiyin Ice Sea Divine Art never fails.
Family and I ate a hearty breakfast before heading to the arena.
Cheers followed us to my seat.
Whew...
Father and Mother came home late, mobbed with congratulations.
Sorry to disappoint them, but I planned to lose this match.
This was high enough.
I'm a merchant, not a martial artist. Winning the friendly tournament changes nothing.
The matches began.
Geum-yeonhwa the Grand Leader announced the first pair from the stage.
"Our first bout features Ami Sect's Hyang-ok, newly dubbed the Gale Swordsman!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Gale Swordsman! Gale Swordsman!"
I cheered with the crowd as Hyang-ok noona ascended amid the roar.
"Her opponent: Thunderclap Wanderer Seomun Il-sin!"
"Waaaaah!"
The Seomun Clan heir in their signature blue, famed for his Lightning Triple Blade.
Hm?
Something felt off about him.
Is that really Seomun Il-sin gongja? His aura's weird.
Then it happened.
His lips split in a grin, and he slashed at the unguarded Hyang-ok noona mid-prep.
Shweeeeeek!
In the stunned chaos...
Clang!
I blinked. I'd blocked his blade.