Everything Has a Reason (2)
It all happened in an instant, so no one else could react.
Except for one person. Me.
But there were plenty of people who would jump in the moment they snapped out of it and grasped the situation.
"Urk!"
I let out a groan as if pushed back by his force and retreated, at which point Geumyeonhwa Daeju and several others, having assessed the chaos, intervened.
Whoosh! Thwack!
They acted decisively, subduing him in a flash.
"What in the world?!"
"So that guy attacked Jilpung Seonja before he was even ready?"
"And Seonhyeopmirang blocked it?"
The spectator stands erupted into pandemonium.
In the meantime, Xiang Yu noona approached and extended her hand to me.
"You okay?"
"Ah, yes. I'm fine. Are you alright, noona?"
"No reason I wouldn't be. Thanks to you, I'm safe."
I took her hand and stood.
"Thank you. You saved my life."
"No big deal. Even without me, you would've handled it well."
She shook her head at my words.
"No. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead—or at least seriously injured."
Noona turned her head, glaring coldly at the man lying unconscious on the ground.
Meanwhile, the Seomun family members were at a loss, flustered beyond measure.
They never dreamed one of their own would do such a thing.
I approached him.
I could sense the aura of the Black Path emanating from him.
He'd mimicked Seomun Ilsin's energy so perfectly that no one else had noticed.
I examined his face closely and soon realized something.
Just as I thought!
I called out to Geumyeonhwa Daeju.
"Daeju-nim, doesn't something seem off here?"
"What do you mean?"
"Look at his neck—the skin tone changes slightly right at the boundary."
Geumyeonhwa Daeju caught on immediately and scraped the spot with her fingernail.
The skin peeled away.
Riiip!
Without hesitation, she tore off the mask, revealing his true face.
Human skin mask, as expected!
Xiang Yu noona recognized him the moment his real face appeared.
"That's Ibyeon Eumma!"
"You're right! It's Ibyeon Eumma!"
"Wasn't he dead?"
Ibyeon Eumma—the Two-Faced Seductress—earned his infamous moniker for masquerading as an upright righteous sect member by day, only to reveal his demonic true nature upon spotting his target woman.
He'd evaded capture for years until the Ami Sect finally executed him, or so it was said.
Slap!
The Seomun family lord struck the man's cheek in fury.
"Gah!"
Ibyeon Eumma groaned and opened his eyes. Realizing his failure, he spat in frustration.
"Damn it! I was so close to revenge! Failed after all!"
One of the Ami Sect disciples shouted.
"You're supposed to be dead! I cut your head off myself!"
He laughed.
"Heh heh heh heh. You killed my subordinate, not me—one wearing my human skin mask!"
"You deceived us!"
Ibyeon Eumma's elusiveness stemmed not just from his peak-level skills, but his mastery of human skin masks and acting. He replicated faces, mannerisms, voices, and even auras so flawlessly he fooled families.
What a waste of talent on such depravity.
"So you used our Seomun family for revenge against the Ami Sect?"
Despite being restrained, he replied glibly to the family lord, as if past caring.
"Pretty much."
"Then where is Ilsin?"
"Heh heh heh heh. Figure it out yourself."
At that, the Seomun lord drew his sword and stabbed the man's leg.
"Gaaah!"
He screamed in agony.
Watching, I recalled my previous life.
Did something like this happen back then?
I'd never heard about it from Father or my brothers. If it had, they'd have mentioned it.
Besides, Ibyeon Eumma was never captured by the Ami Sect in my past life.
He met a gruesome end at the hands of the North Sea Ice Palace instead.
I couldn't say why my actions had altered this timeline, but now wasn't the time to dwell.
"Tell me now!"
"Urgh! I-I don't know! Threw him in the river!"
"What?"
"So go find him. Heh heh."
Just as he tried to bite down on the poison pill in his mouth—
Thud!
Someone kicked his face, sending the pill flying to roll across the ground.
Crunch!
A foot crushed it.
The Alliance Leader had finally intervened.
He called out to one man as he ascended the stage.
"Maeng Eung Daeju!"
"Yes!"
"Find Seomun Ilsin gongja immediately!"
"Understood!"
Maeng Eung Daeju clasped his fists and departed swiftly.
The Alliance Leader turned to the Ami Sect leader.
"Though the Ami Sect fell for his ruse, your persistent efforts to capture him absolve you of blame."
"Thank you."
The Ami leader bowed in gratitude.
"To nurse grudges without remorse and commit such atrocities for revenge!"
The Leader's voice boomed, his aura suffocating Ibyeon Eumma.
His stern command followed.
"Sever his limbs' meridians and imprison him in the Brain Prison to suffer eternally!"
"As you command!"
"Postpone the bout between Xiang Yu musa and Seomun Ilsin gongja; proceed with the later matches first."
"As you command."
"And Eun Seo-ho gongja."
"Yes."
"How did you react so swiftly to his attack?"
I figured he'd ask that.
I gave my prepared answer.
"Truth be told, Xiang Yu noona is my cousin. I was watching her closely as family, and I noticed the strange look on his face when he glanced at her."
"You sensed something amiss from that alone?"
"Yes. Seomun Ilsin gongja embodies his family's valor. Having observed his previous matches, it struck me as out of character, so my body moved on instinct."
"I see."
The Leader nodded in admiration.
"Thanks to you, this friendly tournament avoided bloodshed. From the last Dragon-Phoenix Tournament to this—I'm at a loss how to express my gratitude."
"You're too kind. I merely did what was right."
"We should reward you, but with the matches ongoing and a disappearance, let's table it for later."
"I agree."
By then, Ibyeon Eumma had been dragged to the Brain Prison, and the stage cleared.
Geumyeonhwa Daeju ascended.
"Despite this unfortunate incident, thanks to everyone's aid, we've resolved it. Through countless trials, we've united to overcome chaos and built today's prosperous murim."
The crowd listened quietly.
"And so we shall continue! No matter the adversities ahead, we'll join forces for murim's peace!"
"Hooray!"
Cheers erupted in unison.
The recent drama seemed already forgotten.
Impressive, Geumyeonhwa Daeju.
Appointing her as emcee and judge made sense now.
"Let the matches begin! Representing the Eunhae Merchant Group, Seonhyeopmirang Eun Seo-ho!"
"Hooray!"
"His opponent, from the Pungha Sect, the Indomitable Blood Bear So An!"
"Hooray!"
Amid the roars, my opponent took the stage—the very warrior who'd clashed bloodily with his rival from Bigyeokmun in the first round.
Excessive bleeding had endangered him then, prompting Geumyeonhwa Daeju to halt the match via her authority.
Even upon resumption, his unyielding fight secured victory, earning him the heroic title Indomitable Blood Bear.
Damn, why am I stuck with Swordsman Beauty?
He was originally Xiang Yu noona's opponent, but the schedule shuffle altered the bracket, pitting us together.
Such twists were the charm of friendly bouts.
Anyway, this Pungha disciple had advanced to the third round by defeating his second-round foe.
We faced off, each with seven flags pinned to our bodies.
I clasped my fists.
"Despite the unpleasantness in your prior match, it shouldn't prevent a good bout. Let's make it one."
He returned the gesture with a meaningful smile.
What's with that smile?
So An musa spoke.
"I appreciate the words, but I can't accept them. I witnessed daehyup's prowess just now and deem myself unable to win."
No way... no, it can't be!
"Thus, with humility, I forfeit this match. My condition is poor from prior overexertion. I lack the confidence to face daehyup like this. Please understand."
He addressed the crowd.
"I forfeit!"
Evidently pre-arranged, the Pungha leader nodded readily.
"Uh... w-wait..."
But my hand merely swiped at empty air.
Geumyeonhwa Daeju ascended and declared.
"So An concedes! Victory to Eun Seo-ho!"
"Hooray!"
"Seonhyeopmirang! Seonhyeopmirang!"
And so, amid cheers, I trudged off the stage without a swing.
"I'm back."
"Good work."
"Is it really okay to win without drawing my sword?"
Father chuckled.
"They say all roads lead to Beijing. A win's a win, right?"
"I suppose."
"Besides, he didn't just forfeit randomly—he saw your skill saving Xiang Yu and bowed out. How's that a blemish on you?"
"True enough."
Thus, I'd advanced via three straight forfeits.
Then Maeng Eung Daeju rushed to the Leader and whispered a report. The Leader summoned Geumyeonhwa Daeju.
She nodded and took the stage.
"The postponed bout between Xiang Yu musa and Seomun Ilsin musa is awarded to Xiang Yu, as Seomun Ilsin cannot compete."
- Kui!
Geumryeong had returned to my sleeve.
The moment I'd sensed Seomun Ilsin gongja's oddity, I'd tasked Geumryeong with finding the real one and aiding him.
- How'd it go? He alive?
- Kui!
Thank goodness he was.
I'd have felt guilty if he'd died.
This mess clearly stemmed from the future I'd changed.
Still, no regrets.
The future I'd forged was undoubtedly better; I'd press on undeterred.
"Thus, the integrity winners—post-lunch bout between Ami Sect's Jilpung Seonja Xiang Yu and Eunhae Merchant Group's Seonhyeopmirang Eun Seo-ho."
With matters settled, I sought out Xiang Yu noona.
She needed consoling.
"Xiang Yu noona. You okay?"
She nodded calmly.
"Yeah. Fine."
"What a twist of fate."
"Tell me about it."
Noona met my eyes.
"So, what're you planning?"
"Pardon?"
"You gonna throw it?"
"......"
I had no reply. Truth was, I'd intended to lose on purpose.
But now...
"I know you're stronger than me. If you hold back, I might end up resentful."
Cold sweat beaded at her words.
Imagining a twisted Xiang Yu noona terrified me.
"So think it over."
Then Palgap appeared.
"Young master. The Leader summons you."
"Got it."
To noona, I said,
"I'll take my leave."
I followed the Leader's man into the Martial Alliance headquarters.
Dealing with them was always tense, but knowing they'd massacred the Wind Palace made it worse.
No room for errors.
We arrived at the same chamber where my Dragon-Phoenix merits were discussed before.
Murim Alliance elders sat on either side.
Some I knew well, others by face, a few strangers.
I clasped fists in greeting.
"Your humble servant Eun Seo-ho greets the Leader and elders."
"Come closer."
I stood straight and advanced to the center.
"Once again, you've averted disaster."
"As I said, it was my duty. Had harm befallen my cousin, my family would grieve."
Cautiously, I continued.
"Any word on Seomun gongja? Is he safe?"
The Seomun lord replied.
"Thank you for your concern. Fortunately, someone fished him from the river; he was on the bank."
"Relief."
"But we don't know who saved him..."
"Must be a good soul who prefers anonymity."
"How do you know?"
"I'm feeling that way myself right now."
I pressed on.
"Just being here leaves me ill at ease."
"Too modest. You earned it."
"I apologize."
"So, what reward do you seek?"
"Well..."
"Ah! Can't ask to be excused from the match."
Darn, so close.
I pondered, then hit on an idea.
Perfect. That'll do.